A/N: Thanks again to all of you reading along. I am now back home (with my wifi - yay!) and we're back to our regularly scheduled posting. Thank you all for reading along - I love reading your reviews and what you have to say about this fic. Some of you have questions, and I itch to answer them, but I also want the fic to play out without giving too much away at once. I will say this...The entire fic takes place over the course of one full day and is 14 chapters long. Everything will be answered within those chapters. So, we're a little over halfway to the end. Thanks again for sticking this one out with me!

Big thanks & love to my own personal dream team: Char, Gin, Caren & Ash - they help make my words purdy and my ideas not suck so bad.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I just come up with random things for them to do.

Bella

I roll my neck, feeling it pop repeatedly as I stretch it from side to side. A memory of coming home to two strong hands that would skillfully knead my shoulders and back until the dull ache subsided flits through my head. I close my eyes and savor it.

It's been a long day. No longer than any other, time-wise, but it feels like an eternity. I'm itching to get out of here, and when I glance back up at the clock, I whisper a small prayer of thanks that it's only five minutes until closing time. Victoria and Peter have been gone for almost an hour, leaving Alice and I to close up shop.

Sensing how weary I am, Alice goes around and alerts the last few straggling customers that we'll be locking the doors in a few minutes, and I wrap up the leftover pastries to sell at half price tomorrow. I notice we only have one raisin scone left and decide to keep it for myself, not remembering the last time I ate. I slump down behind the counter as Alice wipes down tables and allow myself a minute to relax. I break off a piece of scone, popping it in my mouth.

I can't help but smile, remembering Edward and how much he enjoyed the one he bought earlier. Watching his eyes light up as he ate it made me happy. Despite the long day and the near panic attack from this morning, having that memory of Edward smiling seems to dissolve all the shitty parts. If only a smile could solve all of life's problems .

I sigh, picking at the scone some more once I realize how hungry I actually am. Within a minute it's completely gone.

Brushing myself off, I stand up to see that the cafe is empty, save for Alice and myself. Even with the last few tasks I need to do, I'll have just enough time to rush home and shower before my evening plans. Thinking about what's to come puts a smile on my face, and I may even find myself whistling as I take off my apron to hang it up. These mood swings of mine are bound to give me whiplash, and it's a miracle that I haven't gone completely crazy yet.

Alice says she'll finish up out front, so I grab the print out from the register to finish up some paperwork in my office. I turn my iPod on because I always work faster that way. I'm almost through the receipts when the music switches and I'm no longer rocking out to The Who. Instead, it's the Beatles, and in particular, the song that played as I first danced with my husband at our wedding. I haven't heard this song in a long time, and I'm almost surprised I still have it on my iPod.

I close my eyes as the lyrics wash over me, and a bitter chuckle escapes as the irony of the words is not lost on me.

There are places I remember,
All my life though some have changed.

The song continues, and I squeeze my eyes shut, both to stifle the tears and so I can see the images clearer.

Some forever not for better,
Some have gone and some remain.

I see the two of us spinning around the room, whispering silly things to each other as our guests cheered and clapped for us. His cheeks flared just as red as mine as everyone demanded we kiss .

All these places have their moments,
With lovers and friends I still can recall.

Warm, strong hands clasped around me, stroking my back through layers of satin. He started singing to me, and his voice was the only one I heard, eclipsing even that of John Lennon's.

Some are dead and some are living,
In my life I've loved them all.

The music continues, and I wipe away a stray tear that's escaped and sniffle, keeping the rest at bay. At least I didn't have a complete breakdown this time . That's progress, right?

I'm humming along, lost in the moment when Alice's voice breaks through.

"He came in again today, didn't he?"

"Hm...?" I ask, slowly opening my eyes, sad to have been pulled from that memory.

Alice is standing in front of my desk, looking at me curiously. She repeats her question, and I can feel my cheeks heat up at the mention of...him.

"How can you tell?" I challenge her, wondering if I'm that obvious. He did always say that he could read me like a book.

"You're different on the days he comes in," Alice remarks, trying to figure out what to say. "Like there's a current of happy through the stress."

I smile, but it's fleeting.

"It's so hard," I admit to Alice in a whisper.

"You're never going to be able to give him up, are you?" she asks, leaning against my desk.

"I don't think I could, even if I wanted to. "