Chapter 9! Okay guys there's something I need to say here. I realized that when reading my fanfic on line none of my paragraphs are indented and I need you all to know I indent my paragraphs. Really I do! I don't know why it doesn't show up on .

Also another point I would like to point out to my lovely readers is about comments on Edward's intelligence. I know I know he doesn't seem very smart at the moment but he is. I mean intellectually he defiantly is, street smarts for his job he has those too, stuff having to do with Bella not so much. But remember Bella is someone he had as friend until one day he realized he felt more but do to her age and the fact they were friends he felt he could never be with her. Not to mention that he never thought she liked him that way either. Their one night stand was spurred on by alcohol and the fact he was leaving, at least that's how he feels was her reasoning to it. So yes he is dense on the Bella subject but he is also in denial and has his head shoved so far up his ass he can't see that she could ever possibly have feelings for him.

So I hope that answered any questions people may be having. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Remember Twilight and Justified are only my inspiration and not actually mine!

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BPOV

"Oh thank you so much for watching her Rose." I sighed with relief as I let Rose in to my home. "Mrs. Cope wasn't feeling well and didn't want to get Carlie sick."

"It's my pleasure Bella. I've been missing Carlie so now she gets some Auntie Rose time." She smiled. God bless her. Rose has been one of my closest friends since high school and through everything she never turned away from me. Her, Alice, and Jasper really helped me through a lot of bull shit; from Edward leaving, to my pregnancy, to the abuse that Jacob put me through. Never once did they give up on me.

"Carlie's up in her room playing at the moment," I informed Rose. "I already fed her dinner. So bath at 7 and bed time at the latest 8. What am I saying, you know the routine."

"I got you Bella," she smiled and laughed a little. "So how have you been? It's been a little while since I saw you last."

I knew this was going to come up. Yes to anyone else this was a simple and friendly question but I could tell that it was more. She knew I had seen him. "I've been good." I didn't really know what to say to her other then that. Should I tell her I haven't gotten Edward out of my head since the day he had been on my door step? Do I tell her that I've only been dreaming about him since well for ever but more recently every god damn night and nap? That fucking ass hole was in my mind 24/7.

"So there was no issue when you saw him," Rose questioned. I could tell she was trying to get information as to see if she needed to kick some ass.

"No issues," I spoke, "he was nothing but professional. Top notch US Marshal if you ask me."

She nodded at my response but there was still some worry in her eyes. "And he met Carlie." It wasn't a question. It was one thing for her to know I had run into Edward but for her to know he met Carlie was another thing. I hadn't mentioned that to anyone. That means that she actually ran into him and her knowing about me seeing him wasn't just word moving around a small town.

"So I see you ran into him as well," I asked curiously. She nods. "What happened?"

"He asked me how I was doing, I told him, he told informed me that he had questioned you about Jacob, and Carlie came up." Rose informed me.

"What about Carlie," I wondered.

"Oh it was pretty sweet actually," she softly smiled. "He asked if Carlie was ever hurt by that Bastard. He seemed really worried. I told him she wasn't, that you took care of your baby girl." It was kind of sweet but his worry was a little too late. I mean it was all over now. "Oh and I threatened him." My eyes went wide at that. "It was only about that if he ever hurts you again I'll hurt him."

"He won't hurt me again Rose…he never hurt me before." I had to love Rose for her protectiveness and loyalty but I didn't want her make it awkward with herself and Edward. I mean they are technically cousin-in-laws and will probably be seeing a lot of each other now.

"And what do you call all those nights crying," Rose questioned while raising a perfect eyebrow at me.

"Missing a dear friend who had a life to live," I responded.

Rose was about to say more when Carlie came running down the steps. "Auntie Rosie Auntie Rosie," she joyfully sang out. Rose picked her up with a hug and a kiss. I didn't miss the look that I was given though informing me the conversation we had been having prior to Carlie's arrival was yet to be over.

After saying good-bye to my baby and Rose I got in my old beat up truck and drove to work. Parking in the employee lot out back I grabbed my purse and hurried inside through the back door. When I got into The Rising Sun I was greeted by a few of the other girls who worked their as well. I liked most of the girls I worked with. Jane also known as Tink and Victoria whose stage name was Cherry were my favorite people there. Although they would never replace Rose and Alice it was nice to have people who were in a similar situation as me. Who were also strippers. Alice and Rose although they never judged me on my job they didn't truly understand. They offered to help me out and although I had allowed them to help me over the years I needed to be able to pay for myself, my house, and my daughter on my own. Victoria and Jane understood this, hell they were even going through it.

"Hey girly," Jane greeted as I sat in front of my mirror applying make-up. I looked at here through the mirror. Jane was gorgeous; she was short, around the same height and body type as Alice though the likeness of them ended there. Jane had long platinum blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back. I couldn't help but wonder what it would look like if I placed her and Alice next to each other, how shocking would the contrast between Alice's short, dark hair and Jane's long, super light hair would be. "You're on stage with Victoria and me tonight."

"Thank god," I mumbled only loud enough for Jane to hear. Jane chuckled at me. She knew I hated when I had to go on stage with Tanya whose stage name was Barbie and Lauren who was called Candy. I mean Lauren wasn't too bad on her own. Sure I couldn't trust her with my personal life or problems as far as I could throw her but I could share a few laughs with her when it came to gossiping and talking about the slime ball men that came in here and our even slimmer boss, Riley. Really it was Tanya who drove me up the wall and Lauren was Tanya's room-mate and best friend so when they were together Lauren became just as much a piece of work as Tanya.

The thing is I never liked Tanya and Tanya never liked me. We had known each other since I was 13. Unlike Lauren who lived in Port Angels all her life and went to the school here, Tanya and I both had grown up in Forks. She had been Edward's girlfriend when I had first moved to Forks. If I remembered correctly he had broken up with her shortly after my 15th birthday.

Even back then she was a grade A bitch. She hated when I would hang out with Edward. When he wasn't in ear shot she would say things to me about how he just felt sorry for me and that when I wasn't around he made fun of me. I tried not to believe her and when I got older I realized that wasn't true but when I was 13 and 14 I couldn't help but believe her. She knew Edward longer then me, she was his age, and they were dating. A few times I would run away crying and Alice would comfort me telling me Tanya was just jealous bitch. Once Edward found me crying after a particularly cruel experience with Tanya and when he tried to get information about as too why I was crying I tried my best to lie, since although I hated Tanya I didn't want to be the cause of a break up. I'm not sure if he believed me because from then on he made sure that when I was over Tanya was either not around or him, Alice, or his parents were with me when she was. I never did find out the reason why he broke up with her. When I asked he told me he just didn't have feelings for her anymore and left it at that. Even at 15 I knew it was more than that. Still to this day Tanya hates me.

"Come on Bells," Victoria called pulling me from my inner thoughts. I gave myself one last look over to make sure everything was in place. I had my sexy school girl outfit on. My long brown hair was in two pig tails and my make up though noticeable was simple. Victoria was in her secretary outfit and Jane in her Police outfit. Victoria was a firecracker of a red head that was tall. She mama henned over both Jane and I. I got up and followed them both back stage behind the curtains.

We all strutted out as our DJ, Eric, announced our names. I took the middle of the stage as Jane and Victoria flanked my either side of me. I put on my sexy yet innocent look on as I danced on stage. My persona on stage was an innocent girl; many times I was up on stage in my sexy school girl outfit. My name stage name Bambi even showed that. As Jane was the one who came up with my name. She told me my big brown eye reminded her of a deer, all innocent like. So here I was Bambi the stripper dancing my way on the stage as men stuck bills in my g-string.

I was now in only in my g-sting. As I danced I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I mean of course people were watching me I was practically naked dancing on stage but this was different. I couldn't tell who it was but there was a set of eyes on me that I could feel. The sense of their gaze was so palpable that I thought if I could reach out and touch the line of sight I could most certainly be lead back to its owner. Yet I knew this gaze was also no threat. It didn't feel like how Jacob used to stare at me while deciding whether he would beat the shit out of me or not. No, this didn't feel as though I would come to any harm from it.

I danced and worked the rest of the night still feeling the gaze when I wasn't back stage. I didn't mention it to Jane or Victoria not wanting them to think too much into it or be worried. It was 1am by the time I left the club. I walked out the back door in a hurry wanting to get home and sleep so I could actually be awake to play with Carlie tomorrow. After all there were only so many days of summer and next fall she would be starting kindergarten and our time together would be broken up between her schooling and my work. As I was lost in thought about Carlie I felt it, the gaze I felt all night in the club I looked up and that's when I saw him. Edward standing by my truck.

And that's when I realized that the mysterious gazer all night had been none other the Edward Masen. Now if he hadn't been at my only means of transportation I would have gladly ignored him and hoped he never would mention being in the club when I was working, but sadly he was right by my truck. Taking a deep breath I walked over to him. "Edward," I tried to smile but when I saw the look on his face it fell. We stood there for what had to be 10 minutes without either one of us saying a word. I couldn't put up with this. If he wasn't going to talk then I was going to go home and get some much needed sleep. "Well it was good talking to you but if you have nothing to say I need to be getting home."

I went to grab my door handle when he let out an audible sigh that made me pause and look at him. He pinched the bridge of his nose before looking up at me. "A stripper Bella…really," he spoke softly but it was in a harsh tone.

"A girls gotta work," I spoke looking him straight in the eye.

"But as a stripper Bella," Edward questioned louder. "You couldn't have gotten a normal job as a waitress or in retail?"

"Well here's the thing Edward," I spoke raising my voice. I wasn't in the mood for this judgmental bull shit. "The economy is crap, I have not only my own mouth to feed but a child's, and I lost what ever source of income my shit head of an ex-husband had been using to help keep a roof over our head. So yeah I wasn't going to get all that picky with what job I was going to get, especially when no one was hiring!"

"But you could get a better job then this or even what I just said! You were almost done getting your English/Lit degree at the University of Washington. What the fuck happened to that?!" He spoke frantically as he did his typical running his hand through his hair.

"Are you that fucking dumb Edward," I yelled at him.

"Apparently I am," he yelled right back, "Because I can't see why you would ignore your degree to become a stripper."

"Well I can't ignore something I don't have," I yelled back hating what a failure I was and how now he was seeing it.

"What the fuck do you mean by that?"

"It means I fucking dropped out of college before I could get my degree that's what it fucking means, Jesus and you're suppose to be the smart one?!"

"Why the hell would you drop out and limit yourself like that. You had so much potential Bella. What were you so busy with that made you not put school first?!" I felt my anger boil over as he said this. I can't believe what a moronic ass he was being.

"Fuck you Edward Anthony Masen," I yelled, "I dropped out because I was fucking pregnant!"

Edward calmed down a little at my words. "What about Charlie," he asked me no longer yelling.

"What about him," I spoke harshly. "Yeah I bet he would be disappointed in his little girl. She couldn't finish her degree, she couldn't be a wife, and now she's fucking stripping to pay for her fatherless child."

"I was going to say isn't he helping you? He was already paying for your schooling I can't see him stopping only because you got pregnant. I mean he loves you more then life itself anyone can see that. He would never be disappointed with you." Edward slowly stepped a little closer to me.

"He's dead Edward," I spoke breaking down into tears.

"What?!" Edward gasped. "When how?!"

"Four months into my pregnancy," I spoke as tears rolled down my cheeks. "He didn't even get to meet her. He wanted to meet her so bad." I felt myself sliding to the ground. The gravel digging into my knees was barely even noticeable.

Soon I felt myself getting picked up and placed in my truck. I don't remember giving Edward my keys or him even asking for them but he obviously had them since he was now driving me home. I couldn't stop sobbing the entire way there. I had been so brave for so long. I had to be, for Carlie. Tonight the flood gate finally broke though. Edward hummed to me as he drove but I could barely hear him over my sobs.

When we got to my house he pulled me out of the truck and into his arms again. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and immersed myself with his scent. I wanted to remember that smell clearly, in hopes that when he left again I wouldn't lose it like last time. When we got into the house I could hear Rose questioning Edward but I couldn't really make out what they were saying. I felt Edward walk what was a familiar path for me to my room and gently lay me down before tucking me in. I began to drift asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I wasn't sure but I thought I felt his lips brush my forehead not one but twice before completely fading into slumber.

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And there you have it, Chapter 9. I hope you enjoyed more insight to Bella's mind. I will try to do that more often. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following!

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Spunkransom12