For those of you who don't recognize the title of this chapter, it's a Trace Adkins song. I listen to almost every type of music and I saw this song on a TV show, and remembered that I owned it and when I listened to the whole thing I realized how perfect it was for this chapter, so I made it the soundtrack, listening to it like 1000 times!

If you like this story, please check out my others.

EPOV

It had been 36 hours since Alice's vision and I still haven't been able to let the information sink in. Bella, my Bella, was on her way to me, but I couldn't allow myself to truly believe it until I saw her. Because after everything I've survived in the last 100 years, losing Bella again would be too much to bear. I had lost her twice already; the third would be the finishing blow to my dormant heart.

My family was ecstatic that Bella was on her way, and I had to admit that seeing her again was my wildest dream come true. But that dream was coming at a high cost, Bella had to suffer for it to happen, Charlie had to lose his life. Remembering Charlie's face from the vision proved what I had always told Bella and what she had never believed, werewolves were dangerous and people got hurt, or sometimes killed because they lose their temper.

It was somewhere in that thought process that my phone vibrated in the drawer of my nightstand. Who was calling me? My family never really used them, and I had put that phone away shortly after we moved up here…trying to lessen the temptation to contact Bella after I had promised my silence. A quiet beep alerted that there was a message, so I got up and took the phone out, calling the voicemail and waiting for the message to begin.

"Edward, its Bella. I don't know if Alice saw any of this because I have Leah with me, but I'm on my way to you. I know you live in Denali, but I'm not sure where. If I don't hear from you I'll understand and I won't come, but if you still want me, let me know where to find you. Everything's screwed up and…I need you. It'll take another day and a half to reach Denali, so call me before then. Okay…bye."

The line disconnected and I was in agony and ecstasy in the same breath. Bella was coming to me; she needed me and remembered that I had promised to always be there. But the pain in her voice, even with her attempt to hide it, was evident to me. After four years, I could still read her well. I started to feel hope, that maybe we would be able to fall easily into the way we once were, but as soon as the thought came to me I instantly dismissed it. Things had changed, even if we still loved each other the same way, she has a child now. The beautiful girl from the vision; the infant with Bella's hair and eyes, and her father's complexion, if only slightly lighter. I had always hoped that Bella would become a mother, because it was one of the things I could never give her, and if she was going to spend her life with Jacob, then she should at least get that experience. As I thought of all the things that had changed, I couldn't help but think that it didn't matter, because we would find a way to overcome it.

Just then, Alice ran in my room and took the phone from my frozen hand. She typed furiously and then threw it back at me. "The call would have been awkward; you'll know what to say to her when you see her. Oh and here." Alice threw me a vacuum-sealed bag with a sweatshirt in it. I looked up at her confused and she shook her head at me. "It was Bella's; I took it before we left in case you ever needed it. You have to get used to her scent before she gets here."

Alice danced out of the room and I sat there stunned. Bella's scent. I hadn't thought about that. I was almost afraid to open the bag, but I knew I had to. I pulled apart the seal and was overwhelmed by the force of the sensory memory overload.

Alice flew into my room at the big glass house and looked at me with wide eyes. "Bella's future just disappeared. An hour ago I could see you going to console her on the side of the road…but now-"

Alice's voice was already miles behind me as I ran through the forest, terrified that Jake had hurt her. When I caught Bella's scent, she was parked about a half mile on our side of the line. I ran quickly to her truck and wretched open the door. Bella was sprawled out on her seat, weeping hard as her body shook with it. I climbed in and pulled he to me, holding her tight, and letting her cry as she soaked the front of my shirt. After a while she pulled away from me, looking deep into my eyes with a pained expression. "Bella, are you alright?"

Bella looked down at her lap and whispered to herself, "I wish Victoria had just killed me today."

I took her face in both of my hands, forcing her to look at me, speaking with a quiet fervor. "Don't you ever say that! Whatever it is, we'll get through it together-"

"Edward." Bella stopped me mid-sentence, but nothing else followed for a long minute. As I watched the agony in her eyes I wanted more than anything to take away her pain, but then she spoke again. "I didn't know…none of us knew. It took all of this with Victoria and the aftermath for Sam to finally recognize what had been there all along."

I wasn't following her train of thought, of all the moments to not be able to see inside her mind, this was definitely the worse. Was Jake planning an attack, was he going to break the treaty over Bella? "Bella, please, the suspense-"

"Jake imprinted on me." She had started crying again. "He had loved me so much before the change that they didn't notice it with everything that was going on…Edward, please say something."

This was what I had wished for when I left her, but now it seemed like a cruel joke. It explained the pull she feels towards him, the desire to be with him even when she knows he is dangerous. The pain she feels when he hurts, and her reaction to his absence. I had seen in the pack mind the way imprinting works, and how the person who was imprinted on feels the draw. Why wouldn't you choose someone who would be your everything? That was Jacob, not me. "You made your choice Bella, which was all I asked of you. I wanted you to choose who would make you happy and-"

Now Bella grabbed my face in her tiny hands. "Edward, YOU make me happy. Don't ever doubt the love I feel for you. But this thing with Jake is…"

"Fate. Bella, it's okay, please don't worry about me. We'll leave so that it's easier for you to adjust, just please be happy, that's all I want from you. And remember this, I'll wait for you, no matter how long, if you ever need me I'll be there. I will never stop loving you."

I kissed her forehead and then pulled myself away from her and got out of her truck, running home before I collapsed in the front lawn. I sobbed, clutching my chest as if someone had shot a cannonball through it. But I had to let her go, because that pull would always be there, and we could never truly be happy with things the way they were. I cursed myself inwardly for the last thing I said, because that wasn't going to make it easier on her, but I needed her to know it. Our love for each other wasn't erased by this, it was merely trumped by the world of make believe. Esme came out to see me lying there and quietly pulled my head to her chest and rocked me like a small child who had been awakened by a nightmare. Overwhelmed by the simple gesture, I clutched tight to my mother.

The memory faded and I looked up to see my family standing around me as I clutched Bella's sweatshirt to my face. The burn in my throat was powerful, but her fragrance was undeniable, sweet and potent, and somewhere I remembered the restraint that had bought me every beautiful moment I had spent with Bella, the restraint I would have to summon up if I was going to see her soon. I stood up and looked at my family. "I'm going hunting, I'll be back soon." Without another word I walked past my family and headed out into the snow alone.

BPOV

Leah and I had been driving for a day and a half, making our way to Edward. He had texted me his address, but hadn't called, which made me nervous. Leah kept encouraging me that it simply meant he wanted to wait until he saw me before he talked to me, which I guess made sense. I'd believe anything that would mean that Edward wanted to see me as bad as I needed him. For four years I had locked him away, trying to be fair to Jake, unaware of how unworthy Jake was of that kind of consideration. Jake had filed for divorce the day we fought in the woods, in fact that was the reason for it, he had filed for divorce without talking to me about it. Jake had done what he always did, what was best for him, and damn the rest of us. Well now I was doing what I needed, and he could go to hell if he didn't like it.

According to the GPS on Leah's phone we were about seven hours from his house. I had started driving again about an hour ago; taking over for Leah who had drove all night, so we wouldn't lose any time. As we drove down the highway everything reminded me of Edward. The snow on the ground reminded me of the snow and ice that caused the accident that he had saved me from, the sun in the sky brought back the image of him sparkling in the sunlight of our meadow, the woods we drove past turned into the forests of Forks, where he ran carefree with me on his back. I was awakened from my daydream by the sound of my daughters cry. I pulled over and got out, climbing into the back seat with her and pulling her to my chest.

"Beth, baby its okay momma's here." I stroked her back, trying to calm the tears.

"Where's grampy?" Beth looked up at me with her big brown eyes wet with tears and my heart broke, she missed Charlie, and soon she'd be asking about her father. I hated Jake more than anything in this moment for doing this to our daughter, because I would survive the pain of what had happened, but my daughter didn't deserve to feel these losses. Not when she was so young.

"Grampy had to leave us baby, but he's always going to watch over us, like an angel."

Beth's breathing quieted and I gave her another hug and a kiss, before strapping her into her child seat and pulling away from the side of the road.

EPOV

After my hunt yesterday I felt better, and I had spent nearly 30 hours with some article of Bella's clothing lying across my face, desensitizing myself to her scent, so that when I saw her I could handle it. Alice came into my room and smiled. "She'll be here in about five and a half hours, Leah's going to run the last hour or so, that way I can see her coming."

I laughed, Bella had planned this well, and she was almost here. "I'm going to go hunting again before she gets here, I want to be sure."

Alice pulled the blouse off of my head and looked down at me. "I can't talk to you with a woman's shirt draped over your face, you look like a pervert. And as for being sure, I am. Edward you aren't going to hurt her." I nodded and turned up the stereo, letting the lullaby I had composed for Bella fill the room. "All of this wallowing will be pointless the moment you see her, just clean yourself up and get ready to see Bella."

I did just that. I got dressed and took the few articles of Bella's clothing that I had and hung them in my closet. I straightened up the room, paying particular attention to the bed. When we moved here I insisted on it, because I had spent some of my best moments lying in bed, even if I was just watching Bella sleep. This bed would be Bella's now. She could have the room to herself if she wanted it, but I wished that she would want me to stay with her, even if I stayed on my couch. I'd take this as slowly, or as quickly as she wanted, and be grateful to have her at all.

I finally got up and decided to go hunting now, so I could be back in plenty of time for Bella. I ran farther than I had yesterday, and found my lunch. I drank slowly, feeling the blood rejuvenate me. I was full, like I used to get those early nights when I would sneak into Bella's room before she knew it. Bella would be here in just under two hours, and I was starting to get anxious. I thought about the vision, trying to notice any differences in her appearance, but all I saw was her beauty, untouched by time. I turned to head back to the house when I caught it.

The sound of a lone car on the road, and then a whiff of the most beautiful scent ever created; lavender, freesia, honey and that same strawberry shampoo. I hadn't even noticed it at first, but I was barreling out of the trees and onto the bushy plains. I was surprised that the emotion that drove me forward was not bloodlust, but longing. I now knew that Alice was right, losing her the first time had cured me of the desire her blood had once caused me, and losing her again had only strengthened that aversion. I cleared the brush and found myself standing in the middle of the unpaved highway as the station wagon ¾ of a mile ahead of me came to an abrupt stop.

BPOV

We were getting close, just over two hours until I would see Edward. The thought sent a thrill through me and edged my foot closer to the floor as the speedometer inched a little higher. Leah was reading, having woken up about an hour ago. We had decided that we would stop in a little bit and she would run from there, close enough in case I needed her, but far enough away that Alice would hopefully see me. Leah was a runner, and she had refused to phase at first, but I soon convinced her that Jake knew where I was heading, and he could always command Seth to tell him, so it was pointless. I wasn't making much use of the rearview mirror, seeing as we were the only car for ages. The sky was starting to darken, as the long Alaskan night was on its way. Just as I was about to look up I saw a glimmer and my eyes flickered up to the mirror and my foot slammed on the break.

"Bella? What the hell was that?" Leah was staring at me like I was crazy, and at the moment I wasn't sure myself.

I stared at the steering wheel as I implored her to listen to me. "Look behind us, is there someone standing in the middle of the road?"

Leah turned and froze, and I knew what she had seen. "You're not losing it…well, what are you going to do?"

I unbuckled my seatbelt and looked at her. "As soon as I get out, you get in the driver's seat, and if I motion to you, you drive on to the house, otherwise, I'll see you when I get back." I pushed the door open and Leah did the same, running around the front of the car to get in the still open driver's side door. I reached the rear of my car and he was still standing there, staring at me. Even with my weak eyes I could see his magnificence.

I started walking towards him, and he started to move as well, both of us taking our time, prolonging the moment, testing our resolves. My pace began to pick up, and I noticed his do the same, within three minutes we were only twenty feet apart. We stopped almost at the same time as I stared at the most beautiful man I had ever known, the man I loved more than anything else with the exception of the toddler sleeping in her car seat. He was dressed in a green button down shirt and dark wash jeans, simple, understated, and yet heartbreakingly beautiful. I went to speak, but then I noticed the intensity of his stare, his eyes were slowly scanning me, as if he was searching for the things that the years had changed in me. I had spent too long away from him; what if he didn't like what he was seeing? What if time had changed me too much? Before anymore questions could come into my mind Edward finally spoke.

"I thought the girl I left was the most beautiful creature in creation…but the woman in front of me is far more stunning." My eyes welled up, Edward was right in front of me and I was still beautiful to him. He looked at me for another moment before he continued. "I'm sorry about Charlie."

The tears spilled over and I strode over to him very deliberately as he did the same, flinging my arms around his neck as his snaked around my waist, pulling me into a tight embrace. We stood there for at least five minutes as I cried, ruining his shirt. I cried for my father, and my daughter, for the four years I had lost with Edward, and the destruction of a once proud pack. I cried for the loss of my Jacob, my friend, who would have never done this, and for being stupid enough to believe him for all those years. All the while Edward stood there holding me, breathing in my scent off my hair. I looked up at him and he smiled at me. "You still smell amazing."

I laughed at that and gave him another squeeze. "I never stopped loving you…and I'm sorry that I was foolish enough to believe that stupid mutt."

Edward rested his forehead on mine so that our noses touched, I lightly rubbed my nose against his, giving him Eskimo kisses, when in Rome right? "That doesn't matter now love, we're together, that's all that is important. Now, how about you introduce me to your daughter?"

I froze, he knew about Beth, and he was reacting so well. I mean I never expected him to react badly, but to be so willing… "She's asleep right now, why don't we wait until we get to the house?"

Edward nodded and took my hand, walking back to the car with me. Leah got out of the car and walked around to sit in the back seat behind me. Edward climbed in the driver's seat and I got in next to him. Edward adjusted the seat and then turned to look at Leah. "Leah, thank you for keeping Bella safe."

Leah smiled. "Thank you for proving me right, Edward." Edward looked confused; I'd have to explain that to him later. We drove, and Edward quickly tested the limits of my car, but within 45 minutes we turned onto a mountain drive and Edward slowed some. Shortly after entering the mountain pass I saw the lights, the same Japanese lanterns Alice had used to decorate the house in Forks were now lining the trail, like runway lights ushering us home. As we made the final turn, I could see that every light in the house was on, and the entire family was waiting on the porch. Edward parked the car and got out, as I followed, and Leah took Beth from the car seat, holding her behind us.

Carlisle was the first down the stairs, pulling me into a hug and then looking down into my already moist eyes. "Welcome home, Bella."

Esme quickly followed, pulling me into a hug and kissing both of my cheeks. "Dear we've missed you so much." Emmett and Jasper were next, both hugging me quickly before running to the back of my Passat. "Glad your back Bells, hasn't been the same without you. Now give us a few minutes and we'll have you all moved in." Emmett boomed.

The boys quickly unloaded my car with the help of Carlisle and Esme, as Alice bounded over to me. "BELLA! I missed you! We have so much to catch up on, but I'm sure you're exhausted." Alice looked over my shoulder and turned her attention to Leah. "Leah, we have a room set up for you. I wasn't sure if you had any clothing with you so I took the liberty of going shopping for you. There's plenty to choose from, so have fun."

Leah looked at Alice with the strangest combination of confusion and gratitude, finally settling on the latter. "Thanks Alice."

Leah came up behind me just as the screech started. Rosalie still hadn't moved from her spot on the porch, but the sound of Beth's scream drew her eyes to me as Leah handed over the squirming child, calling out for me. The rest of the family was there in a flash, evidently not aware of the child Edward and Alice obviously knew all about. I bounced her, crooning sweetly and consoling her until she calmed down. Rosalie came down the stairs quickly and stopped in front of me, before leaning around my child to kiss me once on the cheek. "Hi Bella." She retreated back into the house, and I immediately felt ashamed.

Edward was rubbing gentle circles on my back. "She just had a strong reaction to her own feelings, it is nothing personal, I promise." I nodded as Jasper took the keys to my now-empty car and pulled it into the garage as Edward walked by my side into the house.

As soon as I entered the open house I felt a swell of déjà vu. Although the houses were not identical, this was definitely a Cullen home, with the glass wall and the pale color scheme. Leah handed me the diaper bag as I walked into the kitchen and sat down on the stool by the island. Esme was securing the high chair onto one of the dining chairs and I sat Beth in it, pulling it close to me. Reaching into the bag I pulled out some food and a juice box and began feeding Beth. I was only vaguely aware of my audience, but continued taking care of my daughter before she got fussy again.

Esme had moved to the fridge, pulling out the ingredients for fried chicken and potatoes. She began cooking and the smell immediately brought back memories of Charlie, and how much he loved it when I made it for him. I took in a staggered breath and Leah grabbed the fork from my hand. "I've got her." As soon as she did, I was off the stool and out the front door.

A minute later Edward was pulling me into his arms and I let it go for a minute. I hadn't really mourned Charlie's death, because I was too busy dealing with everything else and getting Beth and I safely away. But now that I had done that, my mind was free to think about what had happened in the last two weeks. My marriage was over; in fact the entire thing had been a lie. My father died to protect me, and I was now standing in the arms of another man. I felt Edward's hand under my chin as he tilted my face up to look at him. He began to lean down and I knew what was coming, but I also knew I wasn't ready for it, no matter how much I wanted to. "Edward. Not tonight."

He pulled back, a look of pain flashed in his eyes as he dropped his hand from my chin gently. "I understand."

I took his hand in mine and kissed his icy palm. "I do love you, and I want you more than anything, but when we start this again, I want it to be about us. Not a reaction to Jacob Black." He smiled remembering the words he had once spoken to me. "I want to take it slow."

Edward nodded and then led me back inside.

EPOV

Bella ran out of the kitchen and Esme froze. "Oh goodness, is it the food, because I could always-"

Leah looked at Esme apologetically. "It wasn't anything you did, Bella gets overwhelmed sometimes and she walks out so she doesn't say or do something she may regret. It's a survival instinct you pick up around Jake. She just didn't want to hurt your feelings."

Hearing Leah talk about Bella having to guard herself around Jacob made me angry. I went outside to check on her and I quickly embraced her and she started crying again. I hated seeing her in so much pain, but after hearing how she had to be with Jacob, knowing that she trusted me enough to let down those walls and let me in made me feel a little brave. I reached my hand under her chin and leaned down to meet her lips for the first time in years, and then she spoke. "Edward. Not tonight."

I pulled back. Part of me knew why she did it, with everything that had happened, the fact that she was still technically married, but the part of me that felt how easy it was to reach back through the years and be with her like no time had passed felt the sting of rejection. Bella had never stopped me from kissing her before, I was always the one to pull away, so to be on the other side hurt, but I tried my best not to betray those feelings. I let go of her face and whispered, "I understand."

Before my hand had fully dropped, Bella took it in hers and pressed her soft, warm lips against my palm, sending an electric current through my body. "I do love you, and I want you more than anything, but when we start this again, I want it to be about us. Not a reaction to Jacob Black." I smiled, thinking back to the time I had said those words, and she was right, it was partly a reaction to him that drove it. "I want to take it slow."

I nodded to her and lead her into the kitchen where Esme sat a plate of food in front of Leah and then turned with another one for Bella. Bella sat down and smiled. "I'm sorry about that, I just needed a moment. This smells delicious Esme."

Bella and Leah ate while her daughter sat in the high chair reaching for Leah to let her taste some of her dinner. After they finished eating, I lead Bella up to my room to show her where everything was. Bella looked around and then finally rested her eyes on me. "I have to set up a few things, would you mind holding Beth?"

I shook my head. "Of course not, I'd love to hold her."

Bella smiled and shifted slightly, looking down at her daughter. "Beth, this is your mommy's best friend, Edward. Edward, this is my daughter, Elizabeth Alice Black."

I smiled as I took Beth into my arms and she cooed at me, resting her head on my arm. "Hello Beth."

She smiled up at me. "Hi." Then Beth turned her face into my arms as she hid her eyes from me.

"Edward Cullen, did you just dazzle my daughter into not screaming her head off?" Bella stared at me in mock outrage.

I knew she was joking, if only slightly, but I still felt the sting like a child that just caught doing something that they knew better than to try. "Maybe a little, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, she's never been fond of strangers, a little dazzling will let me finally get some sleep. She hasn't been sleeping well."

Instead of going through that subject with her when she was already tired enough from her long journey, I decided to go a slightly more playfully route. "I know Alice will be thrilled when she hears her middle name, but Elizabeth?"

Bella blushed and my heart almost exploded from pleasure at seeing that sight. "Lizzie Bennett is one of my favorite fictional characters, and even though I wouldn't admit it at the time, part of me chose it because I knew it was your mother's name." Bella looked down and I lifted her face up to look at me.

"You never really stopped, did you?"

She looked in my eyes and shook her head slightly. "No matter how hard I tried, I never could. I thought it was like what Sam felt for Leah, or her for him, the feeling of loss that was due to knowing exactly how much pain you had caused, and not being able to heal because the other person wasn't healed." Bella looked back around the room and quickly set out to organize her things.

I showed her the closet, that had plenty of space and she quickly set some of the boxes in there to get them out of the way before she saw the few pieces of her clothing. "Edward, are these mine?"

I looked down at the carpet now, posturing as Beth giggled in my arms. "Alice took them in case you ever came back, to prepare me for your scent. I've spent the past day and a half breathing you in so that there would be no question in my mind when I saw you, then I caught your scent while I was hunting and-"

Bella looked up slightly alarmed. "I interrupted your hunting?" Her eyes flashed to her daughter for a second and then to my eyes and she relaxed. "I'm sorry, I know you'd never have taken her if you couldn't handle it, it's just…"

"You've had to be that protective the past few years. Don't worry about offending me; it will take some getting used to for the both of us."

Bella smiled and set up a playpen in the corner, still close to the bed, but not in the way and then moved most of the other things along the wall so she wouldn't trip during the night. Finally Bella put a blanket into the playpen and then went to her overnight bag. "I'm going to give her a bath quick, and then get in the shower myself. I'll be back with her in a little bit."

I nodded and Bella walked out with Beth in her arms. I sat on the bed looking at all of Bella's earthly possessions and felt a small twinge in my stomach, she had packed up everything that mattered to her, most of which was her daughter's, and come to me. That was huge, because seeing her daughter and how protective she was of her, and how wonderful a mother she was, for her to uproot her meant that she had thought about this long and hard, and that she wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. Bella reentered and handed Beth to me and I quickly sat there with her, making a new friend, and falling instantly in love. It wasn't hard to fall in love with those brown eyes; I had with the original, why should the next generation be any different.

Before I realized it had been that long, Bella was back with her pajamas on and her hair pulled into a loose knot. She smiled at the image of her daughter in my arms, before walking over to place her in the playpen. "You're a natural. And she's hard to please."

"She's easy to love," I reiterated my earlier thoughts, "she has an angel for a mother, and that angelic nature is there in her as well."

Bella turned to me and stroked my cheek. "I know it may be asking too much, and if it is, then just say so, but do you think you could lay with me the way you used too. I'm afraid of what I'll see when I close my eyes, and you're the only thing that makes me feel safe."

I took her face in both of my hands. "Bella, I would love to hold you in my arms tonight. I'll be as little, or as much as you need me to be." I leaned down and kissed her forehead very softly before walking over to the stereo, turning the volume to a soothing level.

"My lullaby?" I nodded and tears welled up in her eyes again. Bella turned off the lights and climbed into bed, where she curled up next to me and fell asleep in my arms.