Thank you to my awesome beta, Moonstruck Kitten, without you and your brilliantness I'm not sure this rewrite would be possible… Thank you!

No copyright infringement intended.

CHAPTER 2

"M-m-mommy?" Edward stuttered, a look of pure shock covering his face.

Fuck! I thought, turning around to face Masen.

"I-I'm …," I stammered, walking towards my son. "I … I'll be right back …"

Edward didn't respond, his eyes had fixated on Masen's green ones.

"Masen" —Edward gasped again— "Honey, why don't you go back into your room for a little while … give mommy a few minutes with her friend … I'll put on Cars?"

"Okay, mommy," Masen agreed, taking my hand.

I could feel Edward's eyes trained on my back until I turned down the hallway and out of sight.

"Climb up on the bed, baby," I said, as tears began flowing down my cheeks. I dabbed at them discreetly, hoping he hadn't noticed.

What the hell am I going to do? I thought, Fuck! Why did he have to come here? I was not prepared for this. I figured — though I often prayed it didn't — that this day would come eventually, but I was sooo not ready for it to be today.

"Alright, baby, you stay right here and watch Cars until mommy tells you to come out, okay?"

"Uh huh." Masen nodded in agreement. Placing a kiss on his forehead, I headed for the door. "Mommy?" he called, grabbing my attention before I exited it his room.

"Yeah, baby?" I asked him, wiping away more tears before turning in the doorway.

"Who's dat?"

I sighed, moving back to sit on the bed, running my fingers through his unruly hair.

My beautiful baby, how will I ever begin to explain this to you?

"That's mommy's friend, Edward. He just stopped by to see mommy for a minute … just watch Cars, okay, Mas? Everything will be fine, baby, I promise … I love you."

"I love you too, mommy." I placed another kiss on his forehead before returning to the living room where Edward sat on my couch — his head in his hands.

"How old is he?" Edward whispered, not once looking up.

"Um … three and a half?" I responded, my words coming out as more of a question then an answer.

That did it. His head snapped up. "Three and a half? Are you fucking joking … when's his birthday?"

"August sixteenth." Silence reigned for a long time after that, me avoiding his eyes. I really didn't want to know what he was thinking.

"He's mine?" he asked quietly, breaking the silence.

I couldn't find my voice to answer him. I wanted to tell him. I really did … I just … couldn't. Nothing—and I mean nothing—would come out.

"Bella?" Edward hissed. "Is. He. Mine?" Still, nothing. "Bella!" he roared. "I want a fucking answer! IS. HE. MINE?"

"Ye-yes," I gulped. "He … he's yours."

"Why … why the fuck would you do that Bella? Don't you think that's something I had a right to know … something I'd want to know?" he was angry, and I'd like to say I was surprised by this, but I wasn't.

"I don't … I didn't know."

"You didn't know?" he shouted. "I fucking loved you! How could you not know?"

"YOU CHEATED ON ME, EDWARD!" I screamed, definitely finding my voice. "I DIDN'T KNOW!"

Edward sighed. "I didn't cheat on you, Bella … but either way, you should have told me."

"I'm sorry, okay? I know I should have told you ... I just …" I sighed, stopping mid-sentence as another thought occurred to me. "What are you doing here Edward? I asked you to leave me alone!"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" he hissed. "I wanted to see you! I haven't seen you in four years, Bella. Jesus, you just fucking disappeared—"

"Mommy?" Masen whimpered, appearing in the doorway of the hallway. "I gotta potty."

I got up and went to him. "Okay, baby, let's go potty." I waited until I got Masen into the bathroom before turning around, facing Edward again.

"Edward, we can't do this now … I gotta get him ready for bed …"

"Can I meet him?" he asked suddenly, catching me completely off-guard.

"Wh … what?" I stuttered nervously.

"My son. Can I meet him?"

"Edward, I don't …" Edward got up and stalked towards me.

"You've kept him from me for three and a half years, it stops today! I want to meet my son."

I nodded my head meekly. "Do you want him to know … well, that you're his dad?"

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked incredulously.

"Well I wasn't sure … never mind …"

"Damn it, Bella, don't do that shit … you know it pisses me off!" he hissed. "What were you going to say?"

"I was wondering …" I began, then thought better of it. "I just didn't …" Nope not that either. "Don't you want a paternity test?" I managed to say.

Edward laughed. "Why? I know you weren't with anyone else while you were with me … did you fuck someone within days of us breaking up?"

"Of course not."

"Okay then, why would I ask for a paternity test? I know he's mine … you can look at him and see that." I knew that to be the truth, Masen was the spitting image of his father.

"So you want me to tell him you're his dad?" I asked again, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Yes!" he snapped, a bit too loudly for my taste.

"I just … Edward …" I started to say, but he quickly cut me off.

"I want to know my son, Bella," he roared. "Don't make me take you to court …"

Now I was starting to get pissed. "Don't threaten me, Edward ..."

"It's not a threat, Bella. I don't want to do it, but if you don't let me see ..." He trailed off; Masen was standing in the doorway. I looked over at Edward, and his eyes were pleading with me. I knew I couldn't keep them apart anymore; it wasn't fair to him or to Masen.

Taking in a deep breath, I turned to my son, saying, "Masen, honey, come here for a minute."

"Okay, mommy," Masen said, walking shyly into the living room, watching Edward timidly. I motioned for Masen to join me, as I sat on the couch. He climbed up between Edward and me, scooting against my side.

"Baby, mommy has something to tell you …"

"Ooh, ooh, what?" he asked, excitedly. I kind of felt bad for him.

"Well, honey … you remember when you asked me about your daddy?" I remembered the conversation Masen and I had about his father — the day the little neighbor boy asked Masen why he didn't have a daddy — and explaining to him that some children didn't have daddy's as some didn't have mommy's. That God blessed him with a mommy that loved him enough for two parents. I knew that eventually I'd have to really explain to Masen why his father wasn't around, but at that moment in time, it was all I could come up with without confusing or hurting my child anymore then I'd already had.

He nodded. "Uh huh."

My eyes filled with tears. I really wasn't ready for this. "Well, um … Edward, he's uh … your daddy."

"My daddy?" Masen asked hesitantly, looking at me intently.

I nodded my head. "Yeah, buddy. Your daddy."

Masen turned to Edward. "My daddy?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Edward nodded his head. "Yeah, little man, your daddy."

Nobody said anything for the longest time; we all just sat there, silently. Masen occasionally snuck glances at Edward before looking away again. It was a rather uncomfortable situation.

"Masen, honey." I nudged his shoulder slightly. "Why don't you go shut off your T.V. and pick up your room? It's almost bed time, buddy."

Masen hesitated staring at Edward as if he was reluctant to leave him, and honestly, I couldn't really blame him. I'm sure this was all very confusing for my little guy, and I'm sure he wondered if he'd see his dad again after today.

I nudged Masen again. "Come on, buddy. Time to pick up," I prodded. He sent one last look at the two of us and then got up, trudging off to his room. I turned to Edward. "Don't take it personally; it's just a lot to take in for a three year old."

"Oh, I'm sure it is …" — he rubbed his temples — "I need to spend time with him, Bella; he's never going to get comfortable with me if I don't spend time with him."

I nodded my head. "I … you can see him whenever, Edward."

"Thanks, Bells." My breath caught at the use of my childhood name.

Edward and I had grown up together in the little town of Forks, Washington. We were neighbors, his sister Alice was my best friend. Edward's about four and a half years older than I am, but that didn't stop us from dating.

His family had taken all of us on a vacation after Alice and I graduated high school, and one thing led to another. Things just progressed from there. Edward had been accepted to Dartmouth, in Hanover, New Hampshire, while I had been accepted to Simmons School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts. Even though we were two and a half hours apart, we were together every moment we could spare. He sometimes came to Boston, to the apartment I shared with three other nursing students, but mainly I made the trip to Hanover, to the gorgeous little townhouse he'd rented with a few buddies. Life was going great … or so I thought.

It was a cool winter day, the sun was shining, and the air was crisp with just a slight breeze. My exams were over and I decided to make the trip to Hanover a day early. I was super excited to see Edward and couldn't wait to start our winter break. He was going to be spending a week in Boston with me looking at apartments for the spring term.

I couldn't wait to take the next step in our relationship! Our own place together, no more alternating weekends, or missed opportunities to spend time together. He'd managed to finagle it so that his next six months of clerkships were all in Boston. I was nearly jumping with enthusiasm at the thought of spending more time together.

I was so excited I didn't pay any attention to the red Mercedes parked out front of Edward's townhouse. I didn't notice anything until I'd parked and was heading up the walk to his porch. Only then did I see that Edward was standing in his doorway. A strawberry blonde woman was with him—had her hands looped around the back of his neck while his held her securely by the waist. Did I mention they were kissing? Yeah, silly me. Normally I would have been able to handle such a sight, but this time my stomach revolted, spewing its contents all over Edward's immaculate lawn.

"Edward?" the strawberry blonde questioned, having a full view of the spectacle I was making. Edward turned, as if noticing for the first time the horrid retching noises I couldn't help but make.

"Bella?" Edward gasped, running towards me.

"Edward …?" the woman asked again.

Edward reached to pull the hair out of my face, snapping at her, "Not now Tanya!"

"Edward!" Tanya snarled, sounding pissed off.

"Don't!" I groaned, waving him off. "Don't touch me! How … how could you? Oh my god …" I threw up all over his sock clad feet.

"Bella …"

"NO! Just stop … I'm … I gotta … why, Edward? I don't … you said … I gotta … go …" I rambled, moving as fast I could to my car, still feeling sick. I had to get out of there!

"Edward..." the strawberry blonde started. "What…?"

Edward was forcefully holding my car door so I couldn't shut it. "Not now, Tanya! I'll call you tonight …just go!"

A sob wrenched from my chest and I screamed, "LET GO!"

"No! You're going to listen to me—"

"No, I'm not!" I yelled, effectively cutting him off. "Go take care of your fucking girlfriend … let me go!"

"Edward!" Tanya said forcefully as I yanked the door from Edward's hands, slamming it shut. I threw my car in reverse and jammed my foot onto the gas pedal—just barely missing Edward as I peeled out of the driveway.

I didn't talk to Edward again. He called me for a while, leaving messages I couldn't even bear to listen to. I moved out of the apartment and in with my friend Bree. I spoke with Alice maybe a dozen times that first month, but when I found out I was pregnant, I broke all contact with the Cullen family.

I couldn't cope with knowing what Edward had done, and Alice wouldn't be able to keep quiet about my pregnancy so I'd had no choice.

My dad had been offered a partnership at the law firm of Sands & Sands—now known as Sands, Sands & Swan—in February, and had gladly accepted. So luckily my parents had already relocated to Seattle, Washington—where the firm's headquarters were—by the time I needed the comforts of my family. I lived with them there until Masen was born and I could afford my own little place.

I transferred schools, determined to follow through with my original plans, with or without Edward. I received my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing the year Masen turned two and landed a job at the city's best hospital, the University of Washington Medical Center. It was a lower level care position, not exactly what I'd been hoping for, but it was a job, and it allowed me to take care of my little man in the way I wanted to.

Life was looking up. I missed Edward terribly but slowly the ache started to subside, at least until Masen started growing into the spitting image of him. Now there wasn't a day that passed that I didn't think about Edward and what might have been…

His abrupt re-admittance to my life had turned it upside down.

~OOO~

The next few weeks went by in a flash. Edward spent time with Masen every chance he got, and they were definitely forming some sort of bond. Masen now looked forward to Edward's arrival, barely able to contain his excitement.

He truly liked having his dad around. He wasn't calling him 'dad' quite yet, but he didn't call him Edward either. I'm not sure what he used to address him, but the lack didn't seem to faze either of them in the least.

Edward and I on the other hand, we weren't even a quarter of what we used to be—even before we started dating—our relationship downright sucked at the moment, and I hated it.

I had always loved the relationship Edward and I had. We'd always been friends first, boyfriend and girlfriend last. There was never a time—not counting the past 4 years—that we weren't, but now he seemed to … well, hate me …

It was heartbreaking, but I couldn't say I didn't understand. I knew that I hurt him and I could never make up for the years that he'd missed with our son. Thinking about it now, I'd be lucky if he ever forgave me.

"Mommy?" Masen yelled, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, baby … what?"

"Is he coming ova?" Masen asked excitedly, knowing I'd just gotten off the phone with Edward.

"No, baby, he's not. He's gotta work tonight … but tomorrow, we're um … we're gonna go meet your grandparents." Wouldn't that be fun?

Author's Note

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