I want to thank kimmydonn for writing this. Today is my birthday and this was my gift from her. LittleLea05 was the pre-reader for this and Ruthperk the beta, so I have to say thank you to them as well. This was the best gift I received. I only wish my real-life ending happened this way.
Doing a double take, Edward turned completely around and followed the woman he thought he recognized. He was supposed to be doing his Christmas shopping, but he was sure that had been Bella - a twenty year older Bella, but still Bella. He saw her open a door and step through it. Rather than follow into the shop, he looked through the glass as she picked out her purchase. It had to be her. There were threads of gray in her hair, and lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth, but those brown eyes and the curl to the hair were the same as he remembered.
He was still standing next to the door when she emerged.
"Bella?" he asked.
She turned at her name and gasped. "Edward?"
Good, he hadn't changed too much then.
"It is so good to see you." He took her hand and pulled her to the side, out of the traffic moving on the sidewalk. "I thought I'd never see you again."
He regretted the words instantly as tears sprang to her eyes. He had to amend somehow. "I mean, I wanted to, but it seemed you needed to go. I didn't... You can always... God, Bella, it really is amazing to run into you."
She sniffed quickly, dabbing her eyes and nose. "It's good to see you, Edward. I never dreamed I'd see you again."
"Do you have time? Would you like to get a coffee?" Gifts for the girls could wait. This was a better present than he could have hoped for.
"Um... okay." Tentatively, she took his arm and let him lead her to a corner coffee shop. He brought both steaming mugs to a small table where she draped her coat on the back of the chair.
"How long has it been?" he asked with a smile. "Twenty years?"
"Not quite that long," she said with a smile of her own. "Seth is only just twenty-one and he was three when I met you."
"Seth?" he asked, confused. Who was Seth.
Her face fell. "I forgot. You never even met him. Edward... I... I don't even know where to begin."
He shook his head, urging her to be at ease. "Don't worry about that. I'm more interested in what you've been doing since you... since we parted ways." He was still hurt by her sudden departure from his life, but it seemed she was hurt almost as much. It made no sense to him, but he would do anything to spare her the pain.
Her smile was small, and she sipped her coffee to give herself a moment to answer. "I had a couple of children," she said.
He grinned. "Fancy that. I did, too. Three actually, all girls." He pulled his phone out, revealing the photo of him and Danika and Janelle throwing snowballs. "Lorna didn't want to play with us. Don't know why," he said to explain the lack of a third daughter. He flipped through menus until he had the photo of the three in front of a Christmas tree, a year old now.
Looking at the girls seemed to calm Bella and she pulled out pictures of her children as well. Angela and Ben made all manner of strange faces for the camera, making Bella and Edward both laugh. Seth appeared in the background of one. Edward kept his curiosity in tight rein, not wanting to push her.
"I'm actually out shopping for the girls today, you?"
"Visiting Rose," Bella said, stopping abruptly. "Leaving you was the worst thing I ever did, Edward."
He had longed to hear it, but would never ask her to repeat those words. "Hush. If not for that, where would Angela and Ben be?" Still, Bella's tears came and Edward wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her nearer. She smelled the same. Was she still using the same perfume. Maybe he could buy her some.
He shook his head at his folly. Just because he didn't have a wife any longer, didn't mean she didn't have a husband, or boyfriend, or whatever.
"It was. I did it for Seth. I had to get him back, Edward. I... I'm sorry I never told you."
Wiping her cheeks with both thumbs, he held her face to make her meet his gaze. "We can't go back, only forward."
The tears renewed and he frowned. What had he done wrong?
"B-but, your ring," she managed to stutter.
Damn it. He'd completely forgotten he still wore that. "No. I... It's easier. Lauren left me years ago, but I don't want anyone new, so I left the band on."
Bella nodded, seeming to understand.
"Did you marry?"
She shook her head. "I lost Jake before that. It was hard. He was almost -" She looked into her cup for a moment before continuing. "Almost as good to me as you. He... was killed."
"Oh, Bella." Edward moved to hug her again, but she shook her head.
"I'm dealing with that. It's not easy, but it's better. Angela and Ben help. I still have them." Her smile was small, but true.
Edward hurt for her. He wished he could take her pain. She didn't deserve any of this. She was such a vital, vibrant woman. Why did fate conspire against her? Why had she left him? No, he wouldn't ask that.
"So, you're visiting Rose. How long?" he asked, afraid of the answer.
"A week, over the holidays."
His smile broadened and his nerve grew. "Would you be willing to go to dinner with me, Bella? One night while you're here. I know I can't win you back that quickly or easily, but will you let me try?"
She didn't answer. She didn't blink. Was that a no? Had he pushed too far, too fast?
Tears welled in her eyes again. He shouldn't have done this. He pushed back his chair and rose, planning to leave her be.
"Yes," she whispered. "I... I would... Oh my God." It was all mumbled, all quiet and her hands went to her mouth.
Edward reached out to take them, stroking her fingers and crouching beside her. He was daring to hope. "Yes?"
"Yes, Edward. And it's me who has to win you back. I never deserved you, and I don't deserve a second chance."
Edward stared, dumbstruck. She didn't deserve... There was so much he still didn't understand, but he would learn. First though, he would do everything he could, in one night, in one week, to make her see that she deserved the very best he could give her. He would give it to her, happily, eagerly, anything to have her back.