EPOV

I came to the decision I needed to reevaluate my life. My situation wasn't improving at work and I was able to convince Aro that maybe with some time off I could regroup. At first, he was hesitant, but he was also a businessman and I was one of his leading profits. Even though my performance had been lacking all my clients still requested me for dates, which left Aro with a lot to consider.

He gave me a month to get my shit together and when I returned, I'd better come back with my head in the game. I tried taking up Carlisle's offer for a research position at the hospital, turns out that my contract with Aro was more iron clad than I thought. I was supposed to meet with Emmett later on in the week to see if there were any loopholes for my situation.

After my conversation with Alice, I was afraid but also determined to gain Bella's friendship. I thought it would be better for me to use my time off being Edward instead of Anthony. I hadn't really been Edward for the past seven years and I was scared that no one would like him or what he had to offer.

Which leads me to where I am now. I am standing in front of The Ugly Duckling wearing a black t-shirt, jeans, and my old pair of Chucks feeling out of my element. I spotted Bella sitting at her usual table and she was beyond words.

Her usually curled hair was straightened, hanging to her waist my fingers twitched wanting to run through it. She had on a navy blue tank top and cutoff shorts making my need for her grow. She was normal and simplistic; everything my heart screamed that I needed.

She appeared to be alone today I couldn't see if she had Rylan with her. He was another constant I had running through my mind. This little boy didn't know who I was, but I could sense a trust he had for me. I knew that was another thing I had to consider in my relationship with Bella. It wasn't just her they were a package deal.

I took a deep breath opening the door to the shop. Bella was focused on her book; I noticed she was reading The Stranger. Her taste for books seemed to be rather eclectic. I walked over to her table waiting for her to look up at me. She was too engrossed in her book so I sat down finally catching her attention.

"Hey," she said slowly taking in my appearance. All she had ever seen me in were suits. Correction, she saw Anthony in suits. This is what Edward wore.

"Hello I'm Edward Cullen," I grinned holding out my hand to her.

"Edward?" she asked quietly giving me a curious look, I gave her a sheepish smile trying to tell her to play along.

She must have understood because the next words leaving her mouth were "Bella Swan."

"Is it just Bella, or is it short for something?"

"Isabella… my mom was obsessed with Italian when she was pregnant with me. The weird thing is we're not even Italian. She named my brother Jasper after some character in a Harlequin civil war book she read."

"Imagine if she read Gone with the Wind he could have been Brett or Ashley," I teased and for the first time in several years, I was actually communicating what I was thinking and not what others expected to hear.

"I think that book would have been too complicated she's easily distracted," she giggled.

I laughed with her wanting to know more about her. As if she knew where I wanted this to go she asked me, "Did you grow up in Seattle?"

"Chicago until we were ten," I said quietly, remembering that we didn't want to leave, but we had too for Carlisle.

"You liked it there?"

"I loved it, my dad would take me to Cubs games when he wasn't at the hospital," I explained nervously. I had never talked about my parent to anyone not even my sister or brother.

"He was a doctor?"

"Yeah, that why Carlisle got into medicine."

"What was your mother like?"

"She was exuberant about everything. Because of her, I learned piano and Rose knows Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. She was the best mom," I sighed. "What about you?"

"I was born in Forks, Washington it's about an hour away, but I have lived in Fresno, Manhattan, and Phoenix with my mom. I had just turned ten when my dad moved my brother and me back to Forks."

"Why did you have to leave your mom?"

"Let's just say she's a free spirit, Jazz and I needed to be with Charlie. It was different, but I liked Forks the most," she smiled pushing up her glasses.

"Have you worn contacts before?"

"Yeah, they irritate my eyes."

"Your glasses are cute," I admitted to her cupping her cheek without thinking.

"I have a son," she blurted out. I chuckled liking that she was playing along with this.

"You do?"

"He'll be two in October… he is the best thing I've ever done," she murmured looking down at her hands that were resting in her lap.

"He's very lucky."

"Really?"

"Of course he has a mother that loves him and puts him first," I explained causing her to blush. I talked to Carlisle earlier and he said if I was to do this, start a friendship with her, I needed to think of Rylan too.

That wasn't a problem because they were both all I could think about. I felt her intertwine her fingers with mine.

"Give me one truth," she whispered peeking up at me over the rims of her glasses.

"I've been sober of narcotics and alcohol for five years," I breathed. "One truth?"

"I was never in love with Rylan's father," she whimpered.

As soon as I saw her first tear trail down her delicate cheek, I pulled her to me and embraced her. We were broken and if I went about this the wrong way, I could destroy this innocent creature in my arms.

"I…you make me feel and that scares me," she cried into my neck.

"Bella," I soothed pulling back so I could see her eyes. "I am not a good person."

She brought her small fingers to my jaw line and begun tracing. "Carlisle believes you to be good… I trust his judgment."

"Bella…"

"I heard what you said to Alice will you work for my trust?"

"I'm here."

"I can see that, but you have to understand it's not just me. I had a best friend once and I screwed that up beyond belief. I'm tired, Edward," she exhaled brushing her tears away. "I'm tired of regretting the past three years. I want to live again."

I leaned in kissing her forehead. I couldn't say anything because my hands were tied; I was trying to leave the Volturi Agency, but knowing Aro he wouldn't let me go. Aro Volturi had connections in this city and he would never let me lead a normal life. I was his top profit even with Emmett helping me I felt that there was a dead end at every turn.

I decided to get our happy friendly conversation back on track. "I think this is the first time I've seen you without a band shirt," I commented, but knew that night at the bar she didn't wear one.

"Alice hid them," she huffed.

"May I ask why?" I asked chuckling at her pout.

"I need to grow up," she mumbled biting her lip.

"I like the band tees," I grinned.

"You like them?"

"Yeah, I use them as a mood indicator of sorts," I said this causing her to giggle she nudged me to continue. "If you're wearing a Queen shirt you're ready to rock out not hide."

"Carlisle told you that?"

"It was his theory so maybe I should give him the credit."

"Well you're not wearing a suit," she said tugging at the sleeve of my shirt. I tried to fight back my smile, today she was giggling and playful and I loved this side of her.

"I decided to slum it," I said casually leaning back in the chair.

"How that working out for you?"

"What, slumming it?" I asked and she gave me a timid nod. "I think it might become a frequent occurrence."

"Good, I would hate to feel underdressed all the time," she giggled at her joke. I grabbed her hand holding it in mine as my thumb traced the back of her hand. This felt good all of this felt good. She made everything seem so simple.

"Edward?" her quiet voice broke my thoughts.

"Hmmm?"

"Please, don't hurt me I don't know how I would deal with it," she murmured looking at our joined hands.

Before I could reply, Alice practically floated into the shop with Rylan in her arms. He held a blanket and was sucking his thumb sleepily. With Alice's noticeable stomach and packages hanging on her wrist, I hurried to help her sit down her bags and take Rylan.

He snuggled into me letting his eyes drift shut. "Thank you Edward," Alice smiled, but still gave me a 'Fuck up and see what happens' look.

I carefully shifted the small boy and sat in my seat. Bella's face was utterly gorgeous. She had a few tears sliding down her cheeks so I brought my thumb up to rid her of them. She started rubbing little circles on his back.

"You don't have to hold him," she said quietly.

"He's fine," I assured her.

I didn't know what it was about her and this child that affected me so much, but I felt like I needed to be here with them, for them.

BPOV

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him; he had been sitting at the table holding Rylan for the past thirty minutes since our evening rush came in.

"Bella if you look any harder at him he might turn to stone," she teased patting my shoulder.

"Alice, look at them though," I whispered.

"I know," she grinned holding up her phone. "I got pictures."

"I need to get home," I sighed, not wanting to wake Rylan from his sleep.

"He can help you," she nodded towards them.

"Edward," I said causing him to jump slightly. "Sorry I need to get home and make dinner…"

"Here," he stood effortlessly not even waking Rylan once and started for the door.

Alice handed me my bags and I felt like this was a little weird. Edward held the door for me and he grabbed my hand as soon as we hit the pavement of the parking lot.

"My truck's over there."

"You drive in this with him?" he asked shocked.

"Are you saying I endanger my baby?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"No…How does this thing run?" he asked incredulous.

I opened the door to take Rylan, but Edward was already placing him in his car seat. I leaned against the door watching him. He surprised me when he kissed his head smiling down on him.

He turned to me and I hugged him. Nice Bella he was kissing another girl last week and now you're a sap for him when he shows some kindness. "Thank you."

He pulled away giving me a devastating crooked grin. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nodded not able to find my words. Edward liked being around me.

A/N: Welcome to the new reader I have heard from! Should I be worried I haven't heard from some of you last chapter? I hope you get an idea that Edward is really trying here. Bella seems to be crushin'. I'm just saying that these two can maybe change each other for the good or bad, but also remember what you and me think as good Edward might think it is the badest (not a word but works) of bad… I'm done, please read and review. Tell me what you think. As always Dolphin62958 is my beta and she helps me make the words flow!