Disclaimer: I don't own them...
EPOV
Why am I shaking?
I open my eyes. The room is still dark - I can feel Bella lying next to me.
"Edward," a voice whispers to my right.
I carefully move away from Bella and kiss her cheek.
"What's wrong? Where...can I step?" I ask, remembering the baby was in here last night.
"Oh Edward," Rosalie says quietly.
We step into the hallway and she quickly turns on the flashlight she has in her hand.
"What time is it?"
"Just after eleven. Edward...Kate's gone."
"Okay. Did she take the baby with her?"
"No. She told everyone she was going to the bathroom and she never came back. She left him here."
I looked over at my sister and closed my eyes, moving the flashlight away from my face. "Oh, sorry."
We walk into the living room finding my parents, my grandfather, the baby and Alice. "Tanya?"
"She went out to find Kate."
I looked outside, the wind had calmed and the rain was not as fierce as it had been earlier.
I sat down and took a deep breath. "So," I looked around the room. "What's the plan?"
Alice sat forward and took my hand. "Edward, Kate gave Ben your last name."
"She what?" I yelled. The baby startled and let out a loud cry. "Shit. Sorry, sorry."
Rosalie took him in her arms and rocked him gently.
"Why would she do that?"
Alice held out a piece of paper. I took it; Certificate of Live Birth.
Date of Birth: January 31, 2013
Borough: Manhattan
Name: Benjamin Michael Cullen
Mother: Katherine Marie Dailey
Father: -
She didn't list the father's name. I looked at Alice and she shook her head.
"What am I supposed to do here?"
"Edward," Alice sighed. "I'm so pissed off I could spit, but you are not responsible for Kate or this little boy. I do, however think it would be a good idea for you to take a paternity test."
She was quiet for a moment, and her eyes were far away, but when her eyes met mine again, they were resolved. "I'm going to keep him. Once the test is done proving you're not his biological father, I'm going to file to be his guardian, and I will change his name to Dailey. God, once word of this gets around...Mr. Cullen, do you think you can help this move more quickly?"
My father nodded. "Let me make some calls." He stood and walked into his office.
"I don't know what else to say Edward. I'm sorry for everything."
Alice looked like she was going to cry. She is the same age as Rosalie and while we'd never been close, I'd always thought of her as a little sister.
I wrapped an arm around her pulling her into my side. "We'll figure it out, Alice."
We were quiet for a few minutes, absorbing the somber atmosphere in the air.
"My mother and grandmother are going to be livid," Alice said quietly, and then started laughing. "Oh my..." she burst into a full belly laugh. Tears rolling down her face and I was staring at her; the stress must have gotten to her. "Can you see...?" She started laughing again. "The botox..." I was even chuckling at this point and then she made a surprised face, and started laughing again.
"My mother's angry face," she made the surprised face again.
I couldn't help but laugh along with her. When I looked at Alice, her face transformed into 'surprise' again and we both fell back into the couch cushions laughing.
I could hear my mother and grandfather laughing now, also.
"How am I going to keep a straight face for that conversation?" Alice said, still laughing.
We calmed down and took a deep breath. "I need a drink. Who else wants one?"
Bella walked into the room as I stood and smiled softly. "Nice nap?"
"Yes, actually; until all of the laughing woke me up."
I looked over at Alice who made her 'surprise' face again and couldn't help the laughter from bubbling again. "Alice will show you." I kissed her lips softly, "would you like a drink?"
"Hmmm... yes, please. Whatever you're having."
The next week passed by quickly. I went to the hospital first thing the next morning for the paternity test. Dr. Cole has been my father's friend since grade school, and he agreed to run the test and keep it quiet.
The results came back negative, as we all knew they would. Alice came into the office and met with my father before going before a judge to discuss the reason behind the legal guardian request.
Was it fair that we were able to get things done so quickly? No. We took advantage of our positions and the lifelong friendships we held, but in the long run it will be better for Benjamin. Hopefully, he won't have to suffer the ridicule of the people in this town.
Once everything is said and done, Alice is planning to move to California. Away from our small community and her family.
Sadly, as anticipated, the Dailey family was not thrilled to find out about Kate's child. They did try to come after me, but the paternity test killed any arguments they had.
Kate hasn't resurfaced since the night of the storm and that makes me a little worried. While I don't care for her the way I once did, I still want her to be safe. I want her to heal and move forward with her life.
I locked up my office and walked out toward the elevator. The office is quiet, it's well after eight o'clock and everyone's gone home for the night. The trip in the elevator is short and I wave good night to the security guard at the reception desk. As I walk out of the building, I pull my keys from my pocket and unlock my cell phone. I hope Bella won't mind some company tonight.
I pull up her name from the recent call list and smile as her picture fills the screen.
"Edward!" she yells. I look up smiling. She's running toward me and she looks frantic, tears are streaming down her face. "Edward!"
I pocket my phone and as I get ready to call out to her, someone bumps into me.
The breath leaves my body.
"Edward!" she's sobbing, but she's so far away.
I feel my pockets being emptied, my keys fall from my hands.
Shit.
I fall to my knees, and try to catch my breath. I feel Bella's hands on me and she's crying.
"Bella," I groan. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Are you okay?" she says, her hands waving in the air around me.
"I'm okay. I'm okay." I think I'm okay.
"Mr. Cullen," Henry, the security guard calls out. He helps me to my feet. "Are you okay, sir? I've already called the police."
He was huffing, did he chase after the guy?
"I think so." My phone lay on the sidewalk cracked and my keys were next to it. Interesting. Why didn't he take those? I tried to grab them but I couldn't move my arm.
Bella was still crying next to me.
"EDWARD!" A loud voice rang in my ear.
My eyes opened and the dim light in the room illuminated Bella's face.
BPOV:
"Edward!" His eyes finally open and he frowns in confusion. His forehead has beads of sweat and his heart is beating erratically.
"Bella?"
"You were dreaming."
He rubbed a hand over his face. And then pulled me into his chest.
"A dream? It was so real...you were crying and I was lying on the street."
I gasped and he adjusted himself so he could look at me. "What is it?"
I close my eyes and I can see the flash as if it just happened.
Edward walks out of the building.
He's not paying attention; he's looking at his cell phone.
He smiles.
Men walk out of the building behind him.
Dressed in black.
One of them carries a gun.
The security guard yelling.
Edward looks up and sees the man.
His eyes flash with recognition and the man is smiling.
He leans in and says something.
Boom.
Edward on the ground.
His eyes meet mine.
I shudder and I feel Edward's arms tighten around me.
"Tell me."
I shake my head. "It won't change anything."
"Tell me."
"I didn't realize it was you. I only saw the green eyes. I didn't realize...and then Kate brushed my leg the other night."
I shook my head, I saw everything. And I recognized the building and Edward's tall frame.
"Months ago, before I moved here, I had a dream of a man being shot in front of a bank building. When I sketched it out in my journal, I only sketched an eye. I didn't remember any other features. That night, Alex and I broke up and a few weeks later, I moved to Charleston. I honestly didn't connect that dream with my life here."
"And Kate brought back the dream?"
I nodded. "I didn't say anything because..." I trailed off. "I don't know. What am I supposed to say? If I try to alter the image I could make things worse! You would still end up in that situation. I was worried that if I told you, you would be on edge and start altering your life. I was worried that if I told you...you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore."
"Oh, Bella."
His arms wrapped around me tightly and I could feel myself shaking. His hand moved soothingly up and down my back.
"You know," his voice rumbled in his chest. "This gift you have is a little scary but I've taken comfort in the way you use it.
Your profession allows you to give people back things they once had; Memories of love, family, happy times. I'm sure you have these little bursts of information all of the time, but you never share them. Sometimes, I catch you looking at someone with the sweetest smile on your face. I saw it the first time I met you, with Rosalie and Emmett."
He was quiet for a moment and I took in his words.
"We can get through this, Bella. We will get through this. But for now," he turned his face toward mine. "We need to know where Kate is. If she triggered the memory, then she must be involved somehow."
I sighed, and kissed his jaw.
I hope his desire to solve the mystery doesn't end the way my dream does.
a/n: Hi,hi! So first off, let me say I'M SORRY for the huge delay on this one. Family events and visitors have kept me away from my computer. Thanks so much to everyone for the reviews last chapter. I know I didn't respond to them but I appreciated all of them. I am hoping I can get back on track after this weekend. Seriously, my family is nuts. It's my only excuse.
I hope you like this, please let me know. Enjoy the weekend!
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Oh! and thanks to JoanOfArt, Dinia and Fran for helping with this one. :D