"I saw him" Bella said tiredly.

She was in the kitchen fixing some breakfast still in her pyjamas even though it was one o'clock in the afternoon. She'd had barely been able to sleep because she had too much on her mind.

"Where?" Anthony asked curiously.

"He was in the woods last night."

Bella could tell Anthony didn't quite believe her as he carefully approached the subject.

"Yeah, so... Are you sure it was him? I haven't picked up on anything and we both know that you have a wild sense of imagination" he pointed out.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"If it was him, which I doubt, not saying you're hallucinating or anything.."

"But you are" Bella flicked in.

Anthony ignored her.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked.

She smiled at him and had a sip of orange juice.

"You sound like my therapist" but her smile faded quickly.

Who by the way is sleeping with Jacob she added soundlessly.

"What was that?" Anthony asked his face full of shock.

"I didn't say anything. Did you read my mind?" Bella asked equally as shocked.

He looked uncomfortable.

"I didn't even try, you kind of just let me!" he accused still looking shocked.

She had to judge in Anthony's favor. Afterall she was very tired and had probably let her guard down without thinking about it. Letting her guard down now didn't feel like the best time.

"I'm so sorry" Bella said. "I guess I'm... exhausted."

Anthony still looked uncomfortable.

"Is it true?" he asked her.

Now it was her turn to look uncomfortable.

"Yes" she answered.

"That's bad" was all he said his eyes wide with this new information.

"Yeah but do you want to know what's great?"

"Not really, but I have a feeling you'll tell me anyway."

Bella smiled.

"I saw her at the restaurant. She was trying to hide behind a hat and sunglasses but Jacob started behaving really odd and I remembered my therapist asking about him in an odd way. He didn't even deny it, so I left. It was a fun night out" she said ironically.

"And what was the great part?" Anthony asked disbelieving.

"That was ironically meant" Bella said.

"Why would your therapist even follow you guys to dinner? It all sounds really weird."

Bella hadn't even thought about that but now that Anthony brought it up, it really sounded weird. She merely shrugged her shoulders. Then came a question she hadn't at all expected.

"Did you get a flashback from when he cheated on you?" Anthony asked.

Bella twitched against her own will.

"He didn't cheat on me. It was after the break-up" she said stubbornly.

She'd lost track of the times she'd questioned whether or not a steady and trustworthy friendship could grow out of a start like that. You'd think out of respect that Jacob could've waited a little longer before moving on, a little longer than a day at least. But time had washed away the doubt and she'd learned how to trust and love Jacob again as a friend. During tough times, for example when Charlie died, he'd really been there for her and it was hard to ignore something like that.

Anthony looked uneasy as he took a deep breath.

"Yeah... Mom, about that. I don't think you see Jacob the way other people do."

Bella frowned.

"He's kind of a womanizer" he explained, but quickly added "or that's how a lot of people see him."

She shook her head trying to get rid off the thought. This was an ideal time to switch subjects.

"Anyways, today is going to be a good day. Little Ed's cast's coming off!" she said exictedly looking down at the puppy who was lying in his kitchen-basket.

He wiggled his tiny tail. Yes, today was going to be a good day.

After she'd gotten ready, Bella put Ed in the bicycle basket and jumped up. When she passed by one of Forks' grocery store. Jacob was there in the parking lot loading his truck. Somehow he got sight of her and waved for her to come to him. Bella immediately made a drastic U-turn and headed another way. Unfortunately for her, this way was a lot longer and she had to speed up in order to make it there in time. She arrived five minutes late and ran inside with Ed in her arms.

"Still a good day" she concluded happily after Ed's cast had been taken off.

His leg was going to function normally in two weeks time. Now he needed small walks to help him to literally get back on his feet. Bella took the same road she'd taken home last night. From time to time she looked into the forest, half expecting to see a pale face, but it never happened. However when she got home she saw Jacob on her porch. She felt angry.

"I thought I made it pretty clear that I was avoiding you" she said coldly. "I need space."

She parked her bicycle on the front and started locking it up.

"Bells please" Jacob said.

Bells? He hadn't called her that in years!

"Don't you Bells me!" Bella exclaimed loudly.

"I need you!" he pleaded.

She took Ed in her arms and headed for the door focing Jacob out of the way to no use, he followed her in the house. She put Ed in kis kitchen-basket and poured herself a glass of water.

"Need me?" she repeated. "I think your wife needs you and I think you're a douchebag for not realizing that!"

"I know that" Jacob said quietly, having a sit by the kitchen table. "It's just that sometimes I wonder if that is what I want. Do I want a family? With Lea?"

Bella nearly spat out her water.

"Jake!" She called out. "You have a family with Lea. Two wonderful kids remember? And a third on the way. Sort this thing out whatever it is and talk this over with the right person, your wife!"

Jacob sighed.

"I need to talk to someone objective" he said.

Bella was close to laughter.

"Well you should see a therapist, but unfortunately Forks only has one right now and that is our dear Dr. Ross, but you've already seen her" Bella said icily.

"I thought I could count on you" Jacob said sadly.

Bella shook her head.

"You need to talk to Lea, but I'll give you some advice. Stop seeing Dr. Ross."

He looked like a child being scolded but it didn't stir any sympathies with Bella. She found it only made him look more pathetic. What had she ever seen him? she asked herself. Where was the Jacob who had it all figured out, who was a decent guy?

"I know" he agreed.

For a second Bella lost energy but it was quickly fuelled on thinking about what Anthony had said earlier about Jacob being a womanizer.

"You know you've given me no reason to believe that you were faithful for me during our time together. Consider the trust we had for each other gone."

Without saying another word, Jacob left. Bella felt horrible, but knew she couldn't back him up on this one. This whole thing with friendship, to always be there for each other, it clearly had a line to it and Jacob had definitely crossed that line. She downed the last bit of water and got her purse; now it was work-time. She grabbed Ed and went outside to put him in the basket again. Then she was off. It was windy. The sun was covered by clouds and it looked like another storm was on the way. Bella liked the storms that so often visited Forks, but not when outside; sometimes the wind got so strong she was nearly knocked over on her bike. She arrived at the flower-shop. She didn't know why, but somehow her business was a success. Even on a stormy day like this the shop always had at least one visitor in it. Often they were men who wanted to buy flowers for their wives; and sometimes they were nasty men, Bella thought. They could be talking about their wives and then all of a sudden ask Bella if she wanted to go out for a cup of coffee someday. Ever since Bella had dated James those types of men had increased. Forks was a small place and word got around quickly. If Bella had dated one of her customers, surely there was a possibilty she could date another.

The day floated on without any weird incidents much to Bella's satisfaction. Bella was on her way home when she hit the brakes so hard little Ed almost fell out the basket. She had almost forgotten to visit Charlie's grave. She held back the tears and the guilt as she turned around and headed for Forks cemetery.

Then on her way home she felt annoyed for other reasons.

Why did Jacob have to make such a mess out of everything? Plus, she was still real confused about her hallucination or whatever it was last night. Why were all the Cullens suddenly here? Why now? And what was Alice doing? And why did Bella feel like she should tell Lea all about her husband's indiscretions? Really, that was none of Bella's business and it wasn't up to her to tell Lea anything. She didn't even like Lea!

"Oh darn it" Bella muttered under her breath as she made a drastic u-turn with her bike.

She was on her way to Jacob's house.

"Bella?" Lea said as she opened the door.

Her face immediately scrunched up as if she felt a bad smell by just looking at Bella. Bella vaguely recalled finding Lea pretty the first time she saw her but with the constant look of disapproval on her face, it was easy to forget her first impression. Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Couldn't Lea at least pretend that she was neutral?

"Lea" Bella answered neutrally. "Is Jacob home?"

She suddenly realized this could be a very bold move if Jacob actually was home. He'd known right away what she was up to. Lea looked even more disapproving when she answered.

"What do you want with him? But as a matter of fact, he's not. He's at work."

Bella prayed to God that "work" didn't mean Dr. Ross, but somehow she had a feeling he was seeing her.

"Actually I'd like to talk to you. Can I come in?"

Lea sighed and opened the door wider. Bella shot a glance at little Ed who was peacefully asleep in the basket. Lea would never let her take him inside, since she wasn't too fond of animals but surprisingly offered Bella to take the basket inside and let him sleep in the hallway. Relieved Bella went inside and intended to make it a quick visit since Jacob could be home any second.

"So where's Jake and Lucy?"

"At my mother's. Me and Jacob were supposed to go to dinner today but he had to work late again so it's just me."

Bella nodded. She was acting cordial, that was good.

"Jacob works late a lot" she said just to strike up conversation.

Lea immediately looked suspiscious.

"What are you saying?"

Darn it, she hadn't realized what it could sound like. Bella didn't wait for Lea's invitation to do so and had a sit by the kitchentable. She started playing with her hair, something she did when she felt nervous.

"Is everything alright with you and Jacob?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Lea shot Bella another glare of disapproval.

"Come on Lea, help me out here. Look, I'm not your friend. We don't even like each other and we don't need to pretend, but I respect you. You're a good mother to Jake and Lucy and you've made Jacob a very happy man" she tried hoping some flatter could work on her.

"Something you never succeeded in" Lea said sourily.

She's pregnant. It's the hormones talking, too, Bella told herself.

"Apparently not" Bella agreed politely. "Last night when I and Jacob were having dinner and..."

Lea looked harshly at Bella.

"You and Jacob were having dinner? When he got home he told me he had been working late!"

What?! Why would he lie?

"Maybe it was some misunderstanding" Bella tried.

"Uhu" Lea said looking very angry.

"Please sit down. I really need to tell you something" Bella tried.

Lea had a sit and looked very suspiscious.

"If you're trying to tell me you and Jacob are thinking of reviving your dead romance I'll have a really hard time believing it. Jacob's not a confused adolescent anymore. He knows what he wants and it's not you. He's got better taste than that."

She's pregnant, she's pregnant, she's pregnant Bella repeated soundlessly to herself. No need to get worked up.

"It's not about me and Jacob. It's about Jacob and someone else." Bella took a deep breath and decided to take a careful approach. "I think maybe he's cheating on you. Think about how often he works late and how little he's at home... He's seeing someone."

The silence was deafening. Then Lea's eyes bore into Bella and looked so viscious she felt the need to back away.

"Get the hell out of my house" Lea said coldly.

Bella nodded. From experience she knew it was no use in pushing Lea's buttons anymore than necessary. If she would try to tell more, it could turn ugly. While Jacob was wrong about many things, he was right about one thing. When Lea was pregnant, she could be real scary. Bella retrieved Ed from the hallway and then took off on her bike.

She hadn't expected Lea to believe her, but at least her conscience didn't feel as heavy.

Thank you for letting me know how you feel about the age difference! If you find it inappropriate I give you fair warning to not continue to read this story as I haven't decided yet which direction to take. I'll go with the flow and if the flow leads me to romance, that's where I'm going :) I've gotta say the comment about Edward having a grandmother complex made me laugh out loud. Bella's not that old, maybe I should've made her 92 ;D

Oh and about what I meant with Edward and Bella's love story being epic. I don't mean it in the most epic sense of the word epic, but more like it's one of the modern day love stories (for me at least) but not Romeo and Juliet kind of epic :)