Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters. I am making no money…

Special thanks to Jayeliwood for your support and ideas, but most of all for your help with commas. She is the best beta a writer could ask for. I must also thank ObsessingOverEdward and TheSpoiltOne for all their contribution. All three of you rock!

Chapter 22: Forgiveness

Edward Cullen

I drove as fast as I could back to Bella's house. I knew I had made a mistake by leaving this morning, but in a way I couldn't come to regret it. I had needed the time to think things through. I had now come to the realization that I needed her and wanted her in my life. And, that included her son.

I was not surprised to find Alice's Porsche parked outside Bella's house. Alice was Bella's best friend and I expected her to be looking after her. I took a deep breath as I picked up the vase with the orchids. I knew I was going to have to face an angry Alice the minute I walked inside. I had to prove to Alice that I really did care for Bella. I had to prove to her that I wasn't going to hurt her again.

I knocked on the door and my pulse immediately began to race. What if Alice didn't open the door? What if Bella didn't forgive me? What if I wasn't good enough for her? All these questions ran through my head as I stared at the closed door. Why did it all affect me? What kind of power did Bella have over me?

"What do you want?" Alice asked, crossing her arms across her chest after she had opened the door. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here."

"I want to apologize to Bella. I want her to know that her son doesn't change anything," I said, staring down at the floor in nervousness. "I still want to be with her."

Alice stayed quiet for a minute or so before she used all her strength to slap me hard across the face. "It took you long enough," she seethed, stepping to the side and allowing me inside.

"What was that for?" I asked, rubbing my cheek as I placed the vase on the foyer table.

"For being an ass and making Bella cry. You hurt her, Edward. You hurt her far worse than her ex-husband did. I have never seen her this way," she explained in a concerned tone.

"It's not like she was perfectly honest with me, either. This is as much her fault as it is mine," I replied, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. "But, for some reason, I really do care for her and I want to make this work."

"Then you better get your ass up there and beg for her forgiveness," Alice said with a meaningful glare. "And, you better hope you never hurt her again. If you do, I will personally hurt you, Edward Anthony Cullen."

"I don't expect anything less," I replied before picking up the vase again and making my way up to her bedroom.

Bella's bedroom door was open and my heart broke the moment I stood at the entrance. She was curled up on the side of the bed I had slept on, clinging tightly to the pillow. "Bella," I said, softly hoping to get her attention. I had no experience with this. I had no idea what to do or how to behave.

"I'm sorry," she cried as one of her hands reached out to the side. "Please," she continued and I instantly knew she was asleep. Her eyes were closed, but her body was tense. She was sleeping uneasily.

I settled the vase with the orchids on the nightstand closest to her before going around to join her in bed. I climbed in carefully, making sure not to disturb her before gently wrapping my arms around her middle.

Her eyes were puffy and her nose was red and I knew that I was the reason she was hurting. I had made her cry. "I'm here, Bella. I'm not going anywhere," I whispered softly against her ear. "I'm so sorry."

I waited for her to wake up, but she was too exhausted to stir any further. Her body simply turned towards mine as her small hands gripped the collar of my shirt. It was as if she was subconsciously afraid that I was leaving.

"I'm sorry," she repeated softly a few times as I ran my fingers through her soft hair. "I should have…" she trailed off before burying her face against my chest.

"I shouldn't have left. I don't deserve you," I continued, thankful for the chance to hold her. But, I was terrified that she wouldn't want me once she woke up. I was afraid that I had messed up too badly. I didn't know what I was going to do with myself if she didn't forgive me.

Alice appeared at the door a short time after, making sure everything was alright. She had her purse in her arm and I knew she was entrusting me with Bella's care. She gave me a meaningful look before giving me a small smile and leaving us alone.

I pressed my lips against hers as I pulled her closer to me. I needed the assurance that she was with me. For the first time in my life I just wanted to hold a woman. I was not tempted to push things further. Her closeness was enough. I felt closer to Bella at that moment with just holding her than I had ever felt with anyone before.

"I love you," she whimpered in a barely audible voice causing my eyes to widen in shock. Did she really love me?

I stared down at Bella in disbelief. I knew she was asleep, but the possibility that she may loved me made my heart soar. And, I had no idea why. Love had always been an emotion that scared me, but I no longer felt that way. I wanted Bella to love me and I wanted to love Bella.

But, I couldn't tell her just yet. I wanted to be completely sure before I told her.

Bella Swan

I knew I had to be dreaming and I was afraid to wake up. I had dreamed that Edward had returned and he was holding me tightly. In my dream everything seemed better. I wasn't alone and I felt safe. I knew Edward wasn't leaving me. In my dream Edward wanted to be with me and Matt.

I wanted Edward to forgive me and to give Matt a chance. I knew that I was hardly an ideal match for him. I wasn't a supermodel and I didn't have a lot of money, but I cared for him. I loved Edward and I wanted a real relationship with him. I wanted him to get to know Matt and accept that I am also a mother.

"Bella, wake up," I heard the voice of an angel whisper as his lips kissed mine before trailing down my jaw and neck. "It's morning."

I shook my head, clinging to the material I was holding. I didn't want to wake up. I didn't want to face the hard reality that I was alone. But, I felt like Edward was holding me. His presence was far too real. Was it only a dream?

"Wake up, Bella," he repeated and I knew I had to be hallucinating. He didn't call me Bella. He always called me Isabella. It couldn't be real. "Please, open your beautiful eyes," Edward's voice pleaded as his lips kissed the pulse point of my neck causing my eyes to flutter open.

My eyes immediately met his and I instantly felt like crying. Edward had returned and he was holding me tightly against his chest. I had no idea what his presence meant, but I was relieved to be in his arms.

"Edward," I whispered, my fingers reaching out to touch his face. I wanted to be sure I wasn't imagining him. "I'm sorry. I should have told you from the beginning," I stated as the tears began to fall.

"Bella, you're not the only one that needs to apologize," he replied, his hands cupping my face gently. "I'm the one who ran away without an explanation. I should have stayed and heard you out."

"I never really meant to keep him away from you, Edward," I began to explain. It was better to get it all out in the open while I had the chance. "I just don't know how to do all of this. I haven't dated in so long and I wasn't sure how you would take the news."

"I wish you would've trusted me, but I can see why you didn't," he answered, his thumb tracing my lips. "I was mad at first. You kept this from me and you shouldn't have, Bella. This is a big part of what you are, I can see that now. But, I know why you didn't. I wouldn't have told me either if I were you. If we are going to be together, we need to be honest with each other, completely."

"Forgive me?" I asked in an unsure tone.

"Only if you forgive me," he replied before his lips gently touched mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck pressing myself closer to him. I felt completely relieved that he had forgiven my stupidity. "Don't leave again," I begged in between kisses as one of his hands disappeared into my hair and the other slid from my waist to my hip.

"I'm not leaving," he assured me before his lips returned to mine in a deep and passionate kiss.

Edward Cullen

I was elated that Bella had accepted me back, but I wasn't sure how I was to act around her son. I didn't know what to do or say. I was at a complete lost. But, I was curious to know more. I wanted to know everything about him in the hope that I could learn how I was supposed to behave.

"Tell me about your son," I said as I cherished the closeness of her body.

"His name is Matt and he's six years old," she started, her eyes shining with happiness. It was completely obvious that she loved her son and loved talking about him. "He loves video games. I honestly believe that if I allowed him he would play them all day."

"Does he have a favorite console?" I inquired, trying to determine whether or not I could relate to him.

"He has the Nintendo DS and the Wii. He's perfectly content to play whichever," she answered with a smile.

"Does he like sports?" I inquired. I had the urge to know more about him. I wanted Matt to like me.

"Does he like sports?" She laughed loudly causing me to smile. Bella looked absolutely stunning when she laughed. But, did that mean he liked them or he didn't like them? I gave her a look, urging her to explain the laughter.

"He's a huge fan of the Mariners. He watches all the games religiously and gets mad when they are over too late and he can't finish them," she explained with a giggle.

"That's mean of you," I commented with a sly smile. I knew all too well how much it sucked when you couldn't see the end of the game because of bedtime. My mom used to do this same thing to me when I was a child.

"He's six years old, Edward. He has to have a bedtime," she protested causing me to roll my eyes.

"I still say it's unfair," I added causing her to pout.

"He obviously thinks it's unfair. A few weeks ago he sneaked out of bed to watch the end of the game. I didn't realize what he had done until the following morning when I found him sound asleep on the couch," she recounted with a shrug. "Matt could barely stay awake that day in school."

"He sounds like quite the trouble maker," I commented with a laugh as I thought back on my childhood. "Reminds me all the trouble Emmett, Jasper, and I used to get into. My mom used to send us to bed before the games were over too and we always sneak back out of bed once we knew she was asleep."

"Edward!" She scolded as I smiled mischievously.

"What? It was good practice," I added with a shrug. "We would sneak out of bed as small kids and then sneak out of the house when we got older."

"Out of the house?" Bella questioned in disbelief. "Are you saying my Matt is going to sneak out of the house?"

"Bella, calm down," I stated, noticing the panic in her eyes. "Emmett, Jasper, and I were huge trouble makers. You can't worry about that now. Come on, Matt is only six."

"But one day he won't be," she whispered softly before I gently placed a kiss on her lips.

"He sounds like a fun kid," I replied with a laugh smile. "I want to meet him," I added, hoping she would agree.

"You don't have to, Edward," she stated in an unsure tone. "I don't want you to think like you're being forced to spend time with him."

"Bella, Matt is part of who you are and I want to get to know every part of you. And, that includes the part that is a mother," I replied, giving her a deep and meaningful kiss. I wanted her to know that this what I wanted. I wasn't sure why I suddenly wanted all of this. But the truth was that I did want it.

Bella Swan

I was a nervous wreck as I waited for Edward to arrive. I wasn't quite sure how to introduce Edward to Matt and I was even less sure how the two would interact. Would they like each other? Would it be weird? I really wanted them to get along.

"Mom, where are we going?" Matt asked for the hundredth time as he made his way down the stairs.

"I don't know, sweetheart," I answered for the first time, not having a clear answer for him. I had asked Edward where we were going, but he insisted on it being a surprise. He had left not long after our talk, determined to come up with something for us to do.

"Then why do I have to get dressed?" Matt inquired with a pout causing me to sigh.

"Matt, honey," I started, kneeling down to face him. "A very special friend of mine is going to take us out. Can you promise me that you'll be good and behave?"

"I'm good," he protested making me smile.

"I know you are, but you have to be extra good today. Would you do that for me?" I questioned, hoping to convey the importance of what was going to happen. I really didn't want to scare Edward away.

Matt simply nodded before I pulled him into a hug. "Thank you," I whispered just as there was a knock on the door.

Matt immediately extricated himself from my grasp before running towards the front window to see who it was. "Mom, it's the man that was here before," he announced causing me to smile.

"That's mommy's friend," I explained, smoothing out my shirt and running my fingers through my hair before opening the door.

"Hi, beautiful," he greeted, kissing my cheek softly before turning his attention to Matt.

"Hi there," he said before bending down and holding out his hand for a high five as Matt looked at me for assurance before high fiving Edward. "I'm Edward and you are?"

"Matt," he replied shyly once I had nodded, letting him know it was alright. Matt tended to be weary of strangers.

"It's nice to meet you, Matt. Are we all ready to go?" Edward inquired, looking towards Matt and then at me for confirmation.

"Where are we going?" Matt questioned as Edward stood up.

"Well, I was thinking the three of us can go to Fun World. I hear they have pretty cool batting cages and video games," Edward answered causing Matt's eyes to widen.

"For real?" He questioned in excitement.

"For real," Edward replied before Matt zoomed out of the door and towards the cars.

"I think you won him over," I commented to Edward as he held the front door open for me. "Baseball and video games, very clever."

"I thought it was," he laughed before leading me towards his car and opening the passenger seat for me then the back seat for Matt.

The drive to Fun World was a bit awkward. I knew Edward wasn't exactly comfortable around children and I was very impressed over how much effort he was putting into everything. He seemed to really want to make things work. But, he didn't have any real conversational topics.

"So, what will it be guys? Batting cages? The arcade? Or pizza?" Edward asked once we had arrived.

"I'm not so sure about the batting cages," I said, biting my lip nervously. Matt had never really played and he sometimes had the tendency to be as clumsy as I was.

"He'll be fine," Edward whispered, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Come on, Mom, please," Matt begged as he looked towards the cages, watching as some of the older kids hit the baseball hard.

"I don't know. Matt, you've never played before. Why don't we go on the bumper cars instead?" I suggested, hoping to shift the attention somewhere else.

"Can I drive?" He asked, his eyes brimming with excitement as we walked towards the line. "Can I mom, please?"

"But be careful," I warned with a laugh as he watched the people who were on the ride already.

"You really are something," Edward stated softly as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed his lips on my neck.

"Edward, not in front of Matt," I scolded, moving slightly away from him even though I really wanted to be closer to him.

"What's wrong?" He questioned, taking my hand and pulling me towards him. "Did I do something?"

"I just don't want to be my ex. I don't want to set the wrong example for Matt. Plus, he's young. Let's keep it PG in front of him," I explained as I turned to face him.

"I don't think I know PG," he teased, his hands moving to rest on my waist.

"You're going to have to learn," I replied, giving him a flirtatious smile before kissing the corner of his lips. "Now come on, I'm going to kick your butt in bumper cars." I urged, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the cars.

A/N: Remember to discuss the story over at the Twilighted forums.

Next Chapter: Change of Plans

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