Chapter 8! I do not own Twilight or Justified, I am just inspired by them. Enjoy!

EPOV

"Talk to me."

"Hey Emmett," I spoke through the phone receiver.

"What's up Eddie? I was wondering when you would call. How is everything over there?" Emmett joyfully questioned on the other end. I had called him tonight because I needed some advice and advice from someone who wasn't involved. Of course Jasper gives good advice but I already know that Bella has a lot of trust placed in him and he would never do anything to break that. Not that I would ever want him to. This is why I needed Emmett.

I been two days since I had ran into Rose and I couldn't get Bella out of my head, not that I was doing a great job before I talked to Rose granted. I just couldn't help but wonder what I was missing. What prompted Rose's threat on me? I mean yes Bella and I had always been close before I left and me leaving was most likely hard on her, I mean I know it wasn't a cake walk for me, but it's not like it was a huge surprise that I was going to leave.

"Don't call me that," I stated in mock annoyance. "I just need some advice, man."

"Like advice on a case?" Emmett was always trying to get me to talk about cases. He said being an owner to a bar, no matter how successful said bar may be wasn't nearly as interesting as being a Marshal. Emmett and I met one a particularly bad day of mine. I had just got a double homicide case of two girls that reminded me a lot of Bella and Alice. I had only been in Chicago for a year during this case and me missing Bella and Alice on top of it being my first truly bloody murder took a toll on me. I walked in his bar for a drink alone and still pretty friendless and existed with a new best friend.

"No…well I guess kind of but mostly no," I spoke with a sigh. Emmett hummed for me to continue. "Well the case that I'm involved in at the moment…which I will not tell you about…involves Bella."

"Bella as in Isabella Swan…the girl that has never let you have a decent relationship since…well ever?"

"I've had relationships," I defended.

"Not good ones," Emmett points out. "What was you're longest relationship since I have known you…hmmm…2 months?" Okay he had a point but I had to be focused on my job. I didn't have time for girlfriends and relationships. Honestly I barely had time for friends. The fact I had Emmett was amazing. Other then him I didn't have many close friends in Chicago, I had co-workers I would go to a bar with at times or have a lunch break with but Emmett really was one of my only true friend during those five years.

I sigh. "Yes that Bella. The guy I'm going after is her ex-husband."

"Oh so she doesn't want to help ya out to catch him?"

"I don't think that's an issue. He was pretty abusive to her during their time together. I think she wouldn't give a fuck to see him back behind bars."

"Damn there are a lot of sick fucks in this world," Emmett muttered. Being a bar tender he had seen plenty of shitty guys come in his bar but there was more to it then just that. Emmett had a rough childhood, his Dad was abusive towards him and his mom and he hated having to witness abuse like that. I had seen him, and even helped him, deal with abusive people who thought it wouldn't matter to show their true colors in the bar. That since the owner was a guy it would be no problem. Once a guy tried to convince Emmett to roofie a girl stating, "A girls personality doesn't matter if you have roofies." I swear Emmett was going to murder the guy; I arrested the bastard on the spot. Not only did he have roofies but also had coke on him as well.

"Yeah tell me about it," I murmured. "The thing is I can't get Bella out of my head. I mean how can I in this small town where everyone knows her. I mean my sister, my brother-in-law, and cousin-in-law are all friends with her."

"Why don't you get to know her again. I mean if she's going to be in your life and you used to be friends, why don't you go out for coffee…or you could always just shack up again." I could tell Emmett was joking at the last part but it still made me frown.

"I feel like I can't. I mean I'm on her ex-husbands case, it's a conflict of interest. Not to mention everyone keeps threatening me not to hurt her again and that I haven't been there for five years so I don't have a right to try to butt in. Anyway I don't think she wants anything to do with be especially since she has a daughter now."

"Wow I guess that's pretty big for you, that and her being married. Ex-husbands kid?"

"No, although the topic seems to fall under the "you were gone for five years" category I was told first by her then by Jasper that Carlie isn't her ex's. Jasper mentioned how Bella said it was just a one nighter with some guy passing through. He only told me that much though. Said it was her story to tell, if she ever wanted to. I mean I know she has a life now that doesn't involve me, and that I have been gone for a long time, and that I have no real right to be apart of the life she has, but I can't get her out of my mind. Even if I have only seen her once since I have gotten here."

"Well you have three options man," Emmett spoke. "One you can try, maybe after this case closes…or if you don't think it will cause a conflict of interest before, to get to know her and her daughter and be a part of there life even if it only as a friend. Two forget about her all together and just be polite in passing."

"I'm not sure if she will let me do the first and I don't want to push her, but I know I can't do the second. What's the third?" I asked.

"Well it's a little radical but it may just help you out. Just let loose and forget about it all if only for the night and get your ass to a strip club. Do they have one of those in that small town of yours?"

And that's how I ended up at a strip club. I told Emmett that he was crazy, before saying goodbye, and hanging up. I then decided fresh air was probably what would be best, not a fucking strip club. I mean I wasn't the guy who went to them, actually Emmett wasn't really either so why the fuck did he even mention that in the first place?As I was walking though I ended up in front of the club, as if my feet had known all along where I was going even if my brain didn't.

So here I was a scotch in one hand sitting at a table fairly close to the stage waiting for the dance to come out. The music had a steady bass that I could feel reverberate through my chest as the dancers strutted out. The DJ announced there names. Cherry, a fiery redhead in a secretary outfit that was on the left side of the stage, Tink a short little blonde in a police officer outfit on the right side of the stage, and then Bambi a brunette in a sexy school girl outfit in the middle of the stage. It took me a moment but then I realized something about the girl named Bambi and my eyes grew wide, my mouth dropped open, and my dick may or may not have twitched.

Bambi was Bella.

There ya go chapter 8! I know it is short but don't worry there is more to come. Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following! It means so much to me.

Write on,

Spunkransom12