A/N: So, yea, sorry this is late but RL can be a bitch sometimes! So I apologize for this being late, but i figured something is better then nothing at all, yes? I plan on having the second half to this up no later then tomorrow. So that being said...Read on!

-Jenny

Father/Son Time pt. 1

EPOV

I had called Bella the next morning to set up something for Ethan and I to do together. I had a million idea's floating through my head and I needed her help to narrow down what he liked to do. After finding out he loved animals, I decided on the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. It was a bit of a drive from the one in Seattle but I figured I'd take him somewhere he's not been before. Now that we had the place nailed down, I was on pins and needles waiting for Saturday. With Ethan being in school its not like we could just take off whenever. So, by the time 7:30am Saturday morning rolled around I had already been up, showered and dressed. Now I was staring down the clock waiting for it to hit 8:00 so I could head out, the zoo opened at 9:30, so with about an hour drive I was hoping to get there as soon as it opened.

Bella and I had also discussed what to do if Ethan had started asking questions about her and I and we decided to tell him the truth, well as much of the truth that a nine year old would understand. Glancing at the clock, it read; 7:50. Eh, close enough. I grabbed my cell phone and keys; made sure I had my wallet and was out the door. I arrived at Bella's apartment in 15 minutes. Of course that's when I started to get nervous. I'd be alone with Ethan the whole day. I'd spent some time with him through out the week, but Bella had always been there and it certainly hadn't been a whole day. Maybe I should have Bella come with us…No, no I can do this. I just need to take a few breaths, and calm the fuck down. Squaring my shoulders I get out of the car and into the apartment building. I knock on Bella's door, seconds later, I hear small feet pounding the ground and then finally the door opens.

"Edward! You're here! I'm so excited about the Zoo! I've never been to this one, have you? What kind of animals do they have? Will we have time to see them all?"

I chucked as I walked in, the kid sounded like he just ate half a bag of sugar, today should definitely be interesting.

"No, I've never been to this zoo before, so I'm not sure what kinds of animals are there and I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to see them all." I couldn't help but grin, how could I have been nervous about today?

Bella chose that moment to enter the room. She had a backpack in one hand.

"I packed him a few snacks for the car ride, he's already had breakfast, but I'm sure he'll want a snack here soon. Also there's an extra pair of clothes just incase." She looked nervous; I needed to assure her that today would be ok.

"Thanks, I didn't think of that, I'm glad you did. But, I promise we'll be ok. Nothing dangerous, just going to the zoo, then coming home, I won't take him skydiving this time." Her eyes widened minutely. I cocked an eyebrow at her to let her know I was kidding. She shook her head and her shoulders seemed to relax a bit.

"I know he's safe with you. I just worry, no matter who takes him out, I'm a mother, it's in my job description!" She said jokingly. Then turned serious again;

"If you need anything don't hesitate to call me, ok? He can be a handful especially when excited."

"Bella, I swear if we need anything we'll call, now relax, you're going to give yourself an ulcer with all this worrying, doctors orders." I gave her a smile, then glanced at my watch. "Well, its time to get going so we can be there when the gates open!" Bella leaned down to give Ethan a hug.

"Be a good boy for Edward, ok? Do what he tells you, and don't run off without letting him know where you're going first ok?" You could tell he's heard this speech before. Trying not to roll his eyes, he responded with a quick, "Ok, mom." Then he was by the door waiting for me. "Come on Edward, I wanna go!" I let out a short laugh, and glanced at Bella to let her know we were leaving.

"Could you text me when you get there, just so I know you guys made it ok?" She looked unsure as she asked this.

"Of course. Bye Bella, take it easy today, just try and relax. I won't let anything happen to him, I swear it." She nodded but didn't seem too convinced. Honestly she was starting to piss me off a bit. What did she think I was going to do? Feed him to the tigers? Sighing, I walked out the door with Ethan. We were not on the highway ten minutes when the questions started up.

"Edward, why'd you leave mommy?" Shit, this kid wastes no time diving in.

"Well, I went to school in New York; I didn't know your mom was pregnant with you when I left." That sounded like a good answer. I glanced in the mirror, he looked deep in thought, I drove quietly waiting for the next question, and I didn't have to wait long.

"So, then why didn't mom tell you about me until now?" Maybe I should say he should ask Bella about this, but I promised I'd be truthful so…

"Well, I think she was afraid that I'd be mad at her, but I never would have been. I think she was just scared. Maybe that's something you should ask your mom about?" I'm starting to think Bella and I should of sat him down together and answered all of this.

"Are you going to stay here now? Or will you have to leave again? Cause, I really don't want you to leave." I felt my throat tightening up. He thought I might leave again? There's no way, I'd fight with everything I had so I'd never have to leave here again.

"No, Eth, I'm not leaving again. I couldn't leave you behind. If I had known about you sooner, I would have come back, I promise." He nodded, seeming pleased with my answers. I thought that was all he was going to asked and was happy I was getting off easy. We sat in silence for a bit, with him quietly singing along to the radio. Then came the mother of all questions…

"So, does this mean that you and mom will get married now? Since you know about me and mom and dads that have kids are usually married. Oh and when can I start calling you Dad?" Oh, God. Double whammy. I pulled the car to the side of the highway. Sitting there a few seconds, I tried to un-scramble my thoughts so I could form a coherent sentence. I had no Idea what to say, about the marriage part that is, I was ecstatic that he wanted to call me dad. So I decided to start with that. Turning around, I said;

"Ethan, you can call me dad, whenever you want. You don't have to if you don't want to, that's entirely up to you." He tilted his head to the side he reguarded me for a few seconds.

"So, if I wanted to call you dad now, I could? Cause, I think I'd like to, if you're ok with it?" He sounded unsure of himself. Quickly, to calm his fears I answered.

"Nothing would make me happier, if you did." He nodded. I thought I avoided the 'other question', but nope, he came right back with it.

"So, will you and mom get married now?" The kid doesn't give up, I'll give him that much. I decided once again not to sugar coat it and just be honest.

"No, Ethan it doesn't mean your mom and I will get married. We're just friends, right now." Wait. Right now? Does this mean I want there to be more? Filing that little nugget of information away for later, I looked back at my son.

"Oh, ok. But that doesn't mean you won't in the future!" With that he put his head phones in, effectively drowning out any comeback I might have had. The kids smart and a part of me feels like he might be up to something. Pulling back out on the road, my thoughts drift to Bella. Could we be more then friends? Maybe. But at the same time, I don't know if it's a road I want to go down, she couldn't be bothered to tell me I had a son for almost 10 years, what if we did get into a relationship and she lies about something else, then what? I get her reasoning for not telling me about Ethan in the first place, I suppose I would of considered the same thing had our roles have been reversed. But it still makes me wary of her. I guess time is the only thing that will tell. This morning wasn't. Its like she didn't trust me to take our son out for a day. I get that I'm new to this whole father thing, but cut a guy some slack. I wasn't the one who lied for damn near ten years. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, I have to admit the past 10 years have only made Bella hotter. But more then that, when we're not being awkward around each other, we're comfortable, almost natural. Like when we all had dinner at her place when I first met Ethan, I had this sense of belonging there. So, maybe Bella and I could be together. Hell, I'm planning this all out and I don't even know if she wants the same thing, she might not. Although, Now that I think about it, the more that I like the idea of Bella and I being an 'Us'. I still have some major trust issues with her, but maybe in time we can over come that. Maybe we really could be a family one day.

So, what did we think? Think Ethan's planning something? Is he done asking all his questions yet? What questions do you still think he might have? Next up we'll continue in EPOV. Bella's off having a relaxing day so she doesn't have much to say. Plus Daddyward is way cuter to write!