*Disclaimer - Sadly, I own nothing of Twilight with the exception of merchandise, bought and paid for. I do, however, own my love for borrowing the characters and playing with them however I choose to. I thank Stephenie Meyer for creating the TwiWorld and for allowing us to have our fun with it. She owns Twilight, the insanity it created in my mind is my own.

Shug beta reads for me, msj2779 pre-reads - I'd be lost without either.

Whatever Works

Lemon Tree Dreams

And so a new Van Morrison song held its place on my iPod – frozen in time until I could decipher its meaning. Edward called me again a few days later; this time on my cell and late at night.

"I hope I didn't wake you." His slow, smooth voice purred into my ear.

"In a few minutes, you may have. Good timing," I replied with a grin. I closed my eyes and pretended he was there beside me. Amazing that a little distance could make me forget that he was an ass. Sad that just the sound of his voice made me want him again.

He laughed softly. "If there's a long lull, I'll know that I've bored you to death or put you to sleep, at the very least."

"I always liked you putting me to sleep."

Silence. I pressed my lips together. Why did I say that? It was the absolute truth, but we were working on being friends. That came out sounding desperate and/or flirtatious.

He finally spoke in his careful diction. "I always liked the distraction you provide. I don't know if you're succeeding with that this time."

"Sorry."

His soft laugh sounded out. "Don't be. I'm keeping you up, and I'm calling for a selfish reason. I simply wanted to hear your voice."

That put a smile back on my face. "Talk to me then. Give me something to flow with, and I'll keep you from boredom. Are you bored?"

"Extremely. I'm sitting in a trailer in the middle of the woods waiting for a grave to be dug – don't ask."

"Ohhhh! I have to!" I laughed.

Sighing, he poured out the story of the new scene being added to a movie that was shot months earlier and how he was to be buried alive. They'd already attempted to shoot it early on in the day, but the ground was too wet. "I literally had a mud bath. There's still mud in my ear, even after an hour-long shower."

"And now you get to do it again," I said teasingly.

"They're reinforcing the sides so it doesn't ooze in on me this time. Hopefully it works."

"No double?" At least I had learned some details of what his job entailed over the past months. I knew about stand-ins and stuntmen.

"Not for the close-ups. Now they've got to ensure they film from the right angle so they're not showing the mud build-up," he laughed at his own predicament. "Is it raining there too?"

"No! We had a beautifully sunny day."

"Pisser. Well, good for you. Makes me feel even sorrier for myself here though."

We chatted some more about what other scenes he had to complete before he was done with this one for good and then talked some silliness.

"They're knocking on my trailer. They're ready for me," he said with remorse. "I have to go. Got a song rec for me for later?"

He hadn't mentioned the earworm he'd sent. I couldn't return with something silly, it had to be good. "It's an old one. Dad used to sing it me when I was little, and I always remembered it – it's called 'Ambulance Blues.' It kind of fits you too. I don't have a file to send you, sorry. Maybe you could look it up?"

"I will. Thanks for the sanity check, Bella. Sleep well."

"Bury well," I said, snickering. "Good luck and I hope you sleep well later on."

~ 0 ~

He didn't call back with news on whether he made it out of his mock burial actually alive, or whether or not he liked the song I recommended. He didn't call, period. I checked for messages and email every morning and night. Finally, I got a text message.

'B – Can u check the sunroom? Thx. E'

The sunroom? Crap. There must be a problem, and how do I go about fixing it? I grumbled to myself about calling up Mike and telling him to deal with it. I took a shower first. I needed to be ready for whatever shit the day tossed my way. Piling my wet hair on top of my head, I made my way down the stairs. Esme was already up and in the kitchen with a bright smile.

"Good morning, Bella! Happy birthday!" She walked the few steps that separated us and embraced me. "I'm taking care of you on your special day. Coffee will be ready soon. Why don't you wait in the sunroom?"

"How did you even know?" I laughed and shook my head at Esme. "I didn't even remember." My birthday meant nothing. Truly.

"I have my ways," she said with a wink and shooed me away.

"Call me when the coffee's ready! I don't want you to carrying it!" I warned with a strict voice and a smile that matched her own and then walked through to the sunroom, freezing at the doorway. There was a tree in there. I turned around to question Esme, but she just laughed and shooed me again.

"Okay…" I mumbled. "Why is there a tree inside Edward's house? Esme… a tree? Inside?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, honey. Edward always puts a lot of thought into the gifts he gives so it must have significance, but it is a strange one."

I walked over to examine it and saw the card with my name on it. Then I really looked at the tree. It was a potted lemon tree. My heart thumped as I opened the card with shaking hands.

'The lemon tree of your dreams, I hope. A unique birthday gift, don't you think? A little weird, I know. But so am I, and you know that. Yours, Edward.'

A lemon tree. He bought me a fucking potted lemon tree! The lemon tree of my dreams? He recalled one comment that was made about a stupid dream I'd had. It was completely inane, and he'd remembered it. I was still shaking when Esme called out to me.

Not only did she make my coffee, but she had also baked a batch of biscuits, just like Sue and Emily used to make, and served them with Sue's marmalade.

"I know it's your birthday, dear, but I have a favor to ask."

"Sure!" I replied enthusiastically around my mouthful of biscuit. It was light and flaky and tasted like a dozen more. "What do you need?"

"I used up the last of the eggs, and I promised Evan cookies. I'm babysitting later on. Would you run out and pick some up for me?"

"Absolutely! Oh, I'm glad he's coming by – I forgot I picked up a new train for his set the other day. He told me he needed a 'boo' one." I giggled, recalling how cute he'd look trying to say 'blue.' His little red lips popped out when he said it. "Eeee! This is going to be a great birthday, and I had no expectations for it at all!"

Esme chuckled and stood to wrap her arms around my shoulders. "That's precisely why we all love you, dear. I hope it exceeds any dream, let alone expectation you've ever had."

I merely shook my head, bewildered at her statement as I grabbed a light jacket and headed off for the store. There was a strange car in the driveway when I returned. Immediately, I assumed Lauren had brought Evan over already, but it wasn't her car.

I went in the side door to put the eggs in the fridge and heard voices between the main door and the living room. "Okay, buddy, let's get your coat off, and you can show me where you put it."

Evan! I smiled and went out to see my new little pal. The smile fell from my face when I saw who had brought him to the house – the red-headed porcelain doll. Maggie. Now that I saw her again, I made the connection. She was Evan's mother. The hair… Evan's odd coloured hair… it had to be her red tones. It's a good thing I didn't still have the eggs in my hand or they would have been on the floor. Though that would have given me a reason to run out and never come back.

"Which way now?" The familiar voice pulled me out of my silent horror and intensified it at the same time. Edward rounded the corner from the living room with Evan in his arms, carrying a coat.

It was too late for me to hide in the kitchen. Evan saw me and called out to me instantly. My eyes were torn between the two. Evan, with his wild reddish hair, green eyes, plump cheeks, and rosy lips, and Edward with his own wild hair, green eyes, and perfect lips… ohhhh… ohhhh… My lip quivered, and as I struggled to catch a breath, Edward smiled at me.

"I see you've met my son."

Evan was waving at me frantically. Keep it together! Don't let Evan see you upset… "Hi, pal! Want me to put your coat away?"

He nodded shyly, but Edward shook his head. "Noooo… Evan's going to show me where it goes. Remember we talked about this?" He hoisted the small boy up off his hip as he addressed him. "It's Bella's birthday, remember? What are we supposed to say?"

"Birthday, Bella!" The little angel beamed and squirmed to get out of his father's arms. As he raced up the hall towards me, I stooped to accept his hug. "Why are you crying?" he whispered and wiped at my cheeks.

"Because I'm so happy to see you on my birthday, of course!" I squeezed the heck out of him and willed myself to knock it off. I could deal with letting myself be foolish enough to fall for his father for a second, stupid time later on. "Go put your coat away, Ev, and then I've got a surprise for you!"

Edward had followed him up the hall and stood in front of me when I rose and sent his son towards the cloak room.

"Right here, Daddy!" he called out as he hung his coat on the hook I'd screwed in for him at just the right height. "Where's my prize?"

"Evan, it's Bella's birthday, not yours. Why don't you give her the surprise you brought instead?" The boy toddled off, and Edward grinned at me. "He picked this out himself. I don't know if it has any significance to you at all, but he was quite pleased with it."

"I'll act thrilled no matter what I'm handed," I stated flatly and then pasted a smile on my face for Evan as he handed me a gift bag. I sat on the floor, cross-legged, and he sat on my lap as he liked to do when we'd read together. "What did you bring for me? I can't wait to see! Such a pretty blue bag, I bet you picked this out, didn't you? Let's read your card first, shall we?"

He held it and 'read': "Happy Birthday, Bella. I love you. Evan."

"Oh see, now you're going to make me cry again! That's so sweet, honey. Thank you! Did you draw me this picture?" He nodded with his curls bouncing around his face. "Is it our trains?" He nodded again and giggled. "I knew it! Now let's see what's in the package. Can you help with it?"

I tried not to pay any attention to the tall, gorgeous man leaning against the wall in front of us as he carefully watched our interaction. He's invisible… he's a mirage… he's not even real… Evan is real and he's right here… I laughed and gave Evan a big hug when he pulled out the train he'd selected for me. "My own train? Oh my goodness! I feel so special!"

"It's boo, Bella. "

Edward stifled a chuckle. "He really likes blue. And you."

"I like you too, Evan. And you know what? I have to show you something. Come with me." I stood and took his little hand, leading him into the kitchen where I'd stashed his surprise. "I thought of you when I saw this, and I had to get it for you."

"It's the same train!" He giggled and hugged it close to his chest.

"It is! I think we were meant to be friends, huh? We have the same taste in trains."

"Look, Daddy! My boo train!"

Green eyes smiled up at more sparkling green eyes, and I wondered how I'd managed to not see it. I always pictured Edward as being just like Evan, but I didn't see the exact replication until they were here with me together. In that moment, it also hit me that the baby picture I'd thought was Edward on Esme's laptop and the other one in the frame in her room wasn't Edward at all – it was her grandson.

"Why don't you go show Mum your new train before she leaves, okay?"

He darted off obediently, and Edward stayed behind, gazing at me as I tried, unsuccessfully, to look unfazed. "You didn't know," he said softly. "I can tell. You honestly didn't know."

"Is that why you sent us here? So I'd meet him and figure it out? Well, I guess I'm the world's most incredibly stupid woman, because I didn't. But I did fall in love with him, and you've made this really difficult! I don't want to hurt him in any way…" Words flew from me in a whispered hiss. I was livid. And heartbroken. And stunned.

Edward was confused. "Why would you think you'd hurt him?"

"By leaving? I can't stay… I can't… I can't do this!"

Edward's face fell, and he sighed as he looked away from me, gripping the back of his neck with both hands. "Can we talk about this?"

"Talk about what, Edward? Your hidden family? The son you never thought to mention? His mother?"

Frowning, Edward dropped his hands and fisted them at his sides. "That little boy is in my thoughts always! You don't understand –"

"No, I really don't. I would have thought you'd handle this differently." I knew it was a low blow, but he had issued the first fatal blow.

He blew out a deep breath and calmed himself. "We do need to talk. But I thought you could actually meet Maggie this time. She's about to leave. I have to see them off. Please come with me."

I took my own calming breath, wiped at my face, and let him usher me towards the woman he was involved with. Wife? Girlfriend? I had no idea if they were even still together, but I thought it was extremely poor taste to introduce her to someone he'd slept with – even if it only involved sex one time. I had thought we were emotionally connected well beyond the physical side.

"Maggie, this is Bella," he said in a smooth voice as we met.

The beautiful girl smiled at me. Evan's glowing smile. "Hi, Bella. Thank you for everything you do for Evan. He adores you already. He natters on about you endlessly! This one too!" She smacked Edward in the chest, and he smirked.

I was aware of my gaping mouth, but still it hung. And I acted out Edward's facial expression routine before I settled on a baffled smile. "Nice to meet you. Your son is lovely. A little gentleman."

"Hmmm." Maggie chuckled. "My husband's influence, not this one's, surely. Ben! Come meet Bella!"

A tall, olive-skinned man walked out holding Evan, and my eyes flew to 'this one' – Edward. He lifted his eyebrows and smirked at me, mouthing, "We need to talk!"

Maggie turned to her husband. "Benjamin, meet Bella."

"Ah! Edward's girl! I'm so glad to finally meet you! You're even more angelic looking in person than when you sleep!"

All three chuckled at their inside joke, and I felt utterly in the dark. Edward pulled his phone from his pocket and held the screen up for me to see. Evan clapped and called out, "Bella!" as he stretched from one father's arms to the other's to see the picture on his phone. It was me. The day he'd left me in his bed.

~ 0 ~

"Come on, Evan. I promised you cookies, but you have to help me," Esme beckoned her grandson once his parents left and he implored me to play trains. "Bella needs to talk to Daddy for a bit, so you can be my helper. Daddy used to make cookies with me all the time when he was little."

"Biscuits, Maymay! You said chocolate biscuits!"

Esme held her hand over her mouth in mock shock as Edward laughed at his son's admonishment. "You should know he likes biscuits, Mum."

"I should! Let's go make chocolate biscuits then!"

"You knew Daddy when he was little, Maymay?" Evan asked when Edward lifted him onto Esme's lap.

Esme hugged him close as we chuckled. "Yes, darling. Daddy is my little boy! He was once very much like you." She ran her hands through his wild mop of hair. "So much like you, sweetheart. Let's go get to those biscuits!"

Edward watched them adoringly until they left the room. "I still get amazed by him. Every time I see him," he said softly, wiping at his brow. "I can't believe he'll be three in a few months."

Still seated on the floor where I'd been with Evan, I stayed put. It was impossible to digest all that had been thrown my way in just a few minutes. Edward had a son. Maggie was married. Benjamin called me 'Edward's girl.' He had shown them a picture of me – sleeping! I was wrong. I'd been so wrong about everything.

"Does Esme know we…"

"She knows I care for you, yes." His quiet reply came as he sat on the floor beside me. "She doesn't necessarily know we already explored our feelings… physically… but she's always known there was something there. She claims to have known before I did myself." He chuckled and flashed me his little boy smile. Evan's smile. I chewed on the inside of my mouth to stop from sobbing out loud.

I suppose I wasn't successful, because his arm flew around me and he pulled me against his chest and held me before the sob actually came out. He murmured soothing words as I battled my tumultuous emotions.

"I'm ruining your birthday. This wasn't at all what I'd planned. I didn't want to come home and make you cry. I thought you'd be happy to know everything. I'm sorry, Bella. In retrospect, this was the shittiest time to spring all of this on you. I should have left it with the tree."

"You could have called!" I blurted the first annoyance that came to mind. Ruining my birthday was not high on my list of complaints since I didn't give a shit about my damned birthday.

"I couldn't do this over the phone!" he protested. "Please. I know I'm an arse, but give me some credit."

"Not for this." I pulled back in exasperation. "In general!"

He stared at me in quiet contemplation. "I didn't call initially because you said you would honor our business agreement. To me, that said, 'fuck you too' – in a professional manner."

I nodded my agreement reluctantly, shooting him an angry glare. I'd been wrong, but he could have told me I was wrong before now. "You could have told me when I saw Maggie in your room."

"One gripe at a time, okay? I wanted to call you after I left you here… same thing. I got the keep-it-professional vibe. I thought it would be a good idea to have Emmett make the first contact, since you like him." He paused to smirk, and okay, I did too. "You shut down as soon as he mentioned me – he had you on speaker."

"God! You heard me singing that crap!"

He chuckled with his crooked grin. "You put Sporty to shame. It also made me think there could be something behind your earworm, because there was with mine. I thought, if I'm ever going to get another chance, I have to let you know that I'm there for you, even when I'm not actually there. So I called. I totally expected a cold shoulder, but when you relaxed and we talked, just like we used to, I really wanted to play everything out right so I didn't fuck it all up again."

My eyes dashed to the doorway, instinctively making sure Evan wasn't lurking around.

"Language… I know. I'll watch it. I haven't called this week because I've been going crazy trying to tie things up to make it here for your birthday. I wasn't supposed to be home until next week. Do you wish I had waited? Would I have done better to just call you today instead?"

I calmly gave that some thought and then quipped, "Well, I had been looking forward to spending a nice day with a sweet boy who makes me smile no matter what he's doing. Instead, I got stuck with you."

A/N ~ Your thoughts from the last chapter were confirmed. So... glad that it's out? Bella had a rough emotional ride with this one. It would appear that Edward is ready to come clean. You'll finally get answers next week. ;)Bella thanks you for all of your support. As do I. Thanks for reading. XX ~ SR