Previously…
She went into the bedroom and shut the door. Sitting on the bed in shock she started to tremble and the tears started to fall, before she knew it she was wracked with sobs. She didn't hear the door, and she jumped when she felt arms surround her.
She looked up to meet his sad eyes, "I'm so sorry baby." She began to cry again and buried her face in his neck. He rocked her gently allowing her this moment after all this was just the beginning.
He held her until her crying ceased. In his heart he knew it had overwhelmed her, she had known it was coming, but somehow knowing and actually having it happen are two different things. He stroked her long hair looking out the window as the sunlight began to fade.
"Baby, are you ok?" He asked lifting her chin and looking deeply into her brown eyes. She nodded, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all upset. It just kind of shocked me. I don't want you to feel guilty Edward. I'll be ok. It wasn't like we didn't discuss the possibility several times."
"I know love, but it doesn't matter. I knew you would be upset when it happened. I just want you to be ok. We'll deal with it a little better from here on out."
"Yeah like being secluded more right?" She replied with a sigh. He shook his head, "No, we can still go out we just have to be prepared. It's a certain process usually the same one, you'll get used to it. I promise I'll try to make this as easy as possible on you and our son."
"I know you will, you didn't have to leave work. I told you I would be ok."
"Bell, I love you, and you being happy and feeling safe that is my priority. I can't work worried about you being frightened. It's not fair to you."
"Me having you take off work is not fair to you." She fought back. He chuckled, "So we were both right and both wrong. I can live with that love." He stroked her pale cheek. "Vangie has Timmy with her in her hotel room. I didn't want him to see this."
She nodded, "I didn't cry in front of him."
"I know love, it was just so we could talk more or less. I wanted to hold you in my arms and reassure you that this will all be ok. I promise." She let her eyes wonder from the strong determination in his eyes to the line of his jaw.
"What are your reps going to say?" She asked with concern. He inhaled deeply not speaking for a moment, "That's another reason I sent Timmy to Vangie's they are coming over. I insisted that any discussions we have about Timmy involve you."
"I appreciate that."
He kissed her gently smiling, "You are his mother and my girlfriend. It should be that way." She sat up rubbing her eyes, "I better go wash my face. I don't want to look like this when they get here."
"You look beautiful, but I understand."
Standing she went into the bathroom and shut the door. She walked out finding them in the living area of the hotel room. Edward stood walking to her. "You feel better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Bella this is Shane and Aubrey. They are my representatives, management, whatever you want to call them."
They said a polite hello and shook her hand. Edward sat down pulling her beside him. "Shane was just running through a few ideas to see how we wanted to handle this."
"What are the choices?"
Shane leaned forward, "Well, we can deny this. The downside will be they press will be hounding you to prove the theory right and find out everything about you they can. They very well may find out the truth."
"What's the other?" She asked her eyes downcast. Edward pulled her hand into his lap.
Aubrey spoke then, "We can admit it, Edward can go public that this is his son and you two are dating. Again, the press will hound you for a while just because it is new, but after the initial shock it will die down. There will still be camera's but not quite as bad as it will be when it first hits."
She sighed looking at Edward, "What do you think?"
He smiled, "I love you baby, I want what is less stressful for you both. There is no option that will completely alleviate what is going to happen, but the best choice to me is just come forward and admit it. Then they won't be hounding people about your past and digging up things."
She nodded, "I think you are around this all of the time, so you would know what would be the better option." He lifted her chin, "I am sorry that none of this will keep Tim out of the spotlight, but I will keep him as well protected as I can."
"I know you will." She reassured him. He kissed her cheek, "We'll figure it all out." Aubrey smiled, "I know this will be difficult for you Bella, my job is to make it as easy as possible. I think if you are in agreement Edward should have Timmy with him. It gives the press time to take pictures and keeps them from having to be so aggressive. They will go to any lengths to get pictures of you two after this."
"Do I have to be there?"
"It would be best."
Edward shook his head, "Why not make it simple, just call a magazine have them come out and do an interview, take a few pics and it's done."
"That's always an option also." She agreed.
Bella looked back and forth from them as she thought. Edward squeezed her hand, "What do you think? If they came to the house, or in this case here it would keep Timmy from being overwhelmed by all of the media."
"They'll still be after him." She said softly back.
"Yes, but it won't be as bad. Bella, just give me the word. If you are uncomfortable with this, I'll nix it all. We'll leave it alone and let them dig. Maybe they won't find out anything."
"They don't have to look hard, my life is not a secret and I'd rather them not bug my friends and family. Oh God!"
She stood pacing, "Edward, I never told my parents. I mean I think my mom suspected when she saw him, but I've never admitted he was yours. They still think it was some stranger at a party."
"I doubt that." He said with a small smile.
"Why do you say that?"
He ran his hands through his hair, "Love you are not easy. Your parent's know you were and are a sweet and respectable girl. Something tells me they had an idea it was me all along. They know you were never that irresponsible."
"I guess you could be right."
"Yeah I could be, then there is the fact that he looks just like me. Your parents have been around me since I was little sweetheart. I am sure they remember what I looked like."
"I never thought about it that way. Mom always asked if we were still talking, she told me all of the time it was good we remained friends. I wonder if that is why?"
"I am betting on it, however you could call and prepare them just the same."
"Yes, I will."
Shane nodded, "So it's settled. We'll call…"
"Someone reputable." Edward said knowingly. Shane nodded, "People would be good. They have always been really fair to you."
"Bell?" Edward questioned then turned to them, "How about I call you. We need to discuss this some more."
Aubrey stood, "I think that's a good idea. It was nice to meet you Bella."
"You too." She said back but didn't look at her. Edward walked them out and found her curled up on the couch. He sighed sitting behind her and pulling her close. She looked so small and fragile in his arms.
"I know this isn't easy. Putting our son and yourself out there for the world to see. I am sorry it has to be this way. It is who I am. If I could change things…"
She turned slightly to see his face, "If you could change things it wouldn't be you the Edward I fell in love with. You are right this is who you are. I am proud of you and what you have accomplished. I think the people idea is great."
He brushed a lock of hair our of her face, "I love you Bell."
"I love you too."
He buried his face in her neck, "Promise me you'll be patient with me, I'm truly trying and I'll do anything to make this work."
"You already know that I will be patient, I don't know how else to convince you."
"You don't have to do anything, it is me who is changing. For the better I think, working on it anyway. It is not easy being in love, being in this life is like fighting an uphill battle. I am working hard to change the way I address people, I was unhappy for so long I tended to take it out on my employees. It wasn't their fault, but it doesn't change that I did it."
"You acknowledging it is the first step, I'm proud of you."
"You keep saying that, to be honest I was quite the bear. You have no idea." He added kissing her head. She giggled, "Perhaps, but the past is in the past right? This is a new beginning all the way around."
He knew she was right this was their beginning, the start of his new family. The family he had always wanted with the woman he had always wanted it with.
The magazine interview was taking place before they knew it. Management didn't want any more procrastination than necessary. It was best if the story came out as soon as possible. They took several pictures of him and his son, him and her, and them as a family. She tried to pretend she wasn't uncomfortable with this even though he knew she was, after all she needed to get used to it right?
The magazine came out and she had to deal with the constant presence of photographers. She and Vangie had to plan trips around the bodyguards making sure the area was safe and protected. It had been like this for three weeks. Edward was working long hours and she felt like her being there wasn't the best thing anymore.
He came in late one night and found her curled up on the balcony in an oversized lounge chair. Tossing his coat he walked out rubbing his arms, "Babe it's freezing out here, what are you doing?"
"Looking at the stars and thinking."
He caught the look in her face and sat beside her, "What's wrong baby?" She met his green eyes with her caramel ones. "I think Timmy and I should head home for a while."
"What? Ok, well I'll send the bodyguards with you. Vangie was planning on heading home anyway. I know I've been busy it wasn't intentional that I've been ignoring you. I just tend to get into my character."
"I know, and you could focus better if I wasn't in the way. When I say home I don't mean Los Angeles."
He looked shocked, "What do you mean? Forks?"
"Yes, I want to check up on my shop. Not to mention it would be good for Timmy to get out of the spotlight a bit. He doesn't like going out anymore because he says he is tired of the cameras."
He swallowed hard looking off she could see the emotions playing over his face. He shook his head, "It's not like I can stop you. It is your decision. I can't help but think that this is you making a decision."
"What does that mean?" She asked turning to face him. Pain ripped through his chest, he had never felt anything like it.
"I feel like I am losing you. I feel like when you go home you will realize this isn't where you belong. Bell you haven't touched me in two weeks."
"You have been getting home late, I am usually asleep it's not because I didn't want to."
He smirked, "Funny we found time before no matter what was going on."
He rubbed his arms again and stood, "I'm going inside." He left and dressed for bed. She followed him, "You are going to sleep?"
"Why not? Then I can pretend my life isn't falling apart."
"I never said I wasn't coming back, Edward I love you. Timmy needs you, it's not as if I can just cut you out of our lives. He just needs some stability right now. This is overwhelming to him. Give him time to adjust, besides I want to see Rose and Emmett."
"I thought we were getting them to come here." He said crawling into bed.
"Edward, you aren't listening to me. I never said this was over. You are busy filming when you are finished we'll talk about what's next. Vangie is leaving and we are basically here alone all day. I think it's best."
"I don't mean to act like an ass baby, I'm just worried you will change your mind and I've waited so long to be with you." He pushed the covers down irritated, "I will miss you. I know this isn't fair to you. Just this one and one more then we'll figure it out. I promise."
"I know, and I'll go home where I am comfortable and it's familiar. It's not like you're in LA anyway right now."
"I want you to be comfortable in my house." He groaned sadly. She sat beside him running her hands through his tousled hair. "I will be, in time. Edward, don't give up on us. Give us time to adjust please."
He pulled her into his arms, "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
He sighed, "Do me a favor?"
She looked up meeting his eyes. "Anything." He gave her a sad but sinful grin, "Make love to me tonight. Show me you mean what you are saying."
She nodded, "I can do that." She lifted herself so that she was laying on him and looked down at his beautiful face. "I love you Edward. Please don't worry."
"I love you too." He replied with an urgency she didn't remember hearing from his voice before. His hands tangled in her hair and pulled her lips to his.
The next morning he watched them set their bags on the couch.
"I hate that I can't see you off." He said with a wishful look. She kissed him, "It's ok you have a film to do." Timmy ran in flying into his arms, "I will miss you daddy."
"I'll miss you too little man, I'll call you as often as I can ok?"
He felt his heart split when he saw the huge tears in the boy's eyes. He wiped his cheeks, "It's ok Tim, I'll always be with you, remember where I told you?"
"Here." Timmy placed a small hand over his heart. Edward smiled, "Very good. When daddy gets finished with this film we'll be together again. It will all work out ok?"
"You promise?"
He kissed his head pulling him close. Bella had to turn away as the tears fell from Edward's pale cheeks.
"I promise my son, I promise. Whatever it takes."
He released him standing, "I have to go." He pulled her into his arms, "I love you."
"I love you too baby. You'll call often right?"
He smiled kissing her deeply then pressed his forehead against hers, "All the time love."
He heard a knock and stepped back, "Call me when you get home, let me know you made it ok. I'll see you soon."
"Bye daddy."
He met his eyes and smiled walking out as fast as he could before he changed his mind. He knew she was right she needed to go home and have a normal life for a while. His life was far from normal. The thing that concerned him was what if she decided she didn't want to go back into his chaotic world? He closed his eyes he could not lose her again, not now.
Sorry for the delay. My work schedule is a little off so I am writing whenever I can. Thank you all for the wonderful replies. :) They are my brand of heroin.