Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Edward~

Saturday night I sat beside Emmett on his couch watching a baseball game I wasn't particularly interested in. I wasn't nervous about the bid I'd put in on the house. After realizing it was far to low, I came to my senses and raised it. Tanya had said over and over that I should look at it, tour it at least once before I agreed to buy it. I didn't need to. I knew whatever shape it was in I'd still take it. Not only was it somewhere to live but it was all a huge show of commitment on my part. I wasn't sure how the gesture would be received.

"I did something today." I told Em confidently. He took a long swig from his coke can and kept his eyes on the screen, "Good for you. Do you want a cookie?" he said with a smirk, ever the wise ass.

"I bought a house....I think....I'll know Monday. I'm pretty sure it's mine though." I wanted to wipe the shit eating grin off my face but I couldn't.

"You just woke up this morning and said 'hey I'll buy a house'?"

"Well I talked to Bella and she wont let me see Lilly until I've proven myself. She said she would have to see it to believe it. What's more proof of my commitment than to buy a home and put down roots here?" It made sense to me but I could see now I should of run it by someone else.

"I am just shocked you could just go out and buy a house. Shit, I couldn't even buy Rose the bar." he sat his empty can on the table in front of him and picked the bag of chips up off the floor.

"Rose wants to buy Blacks? Jesus Christ, why? It's a shit hole." I said. I was glad Rose wasn't home. She was actually being some what civil to me and I didn't need to ruin that.

"You know it's a shit hole. I know it's a shit hole but she loves it. She thinks it's got potential and shit. She's there more than she's here." I looked at Emmett for a moment, "Wait so because she can't by it, she works there?" I was trying to understand. "No. she's working off the down payment. Billy Black told her he would show her the ropes and she can keep her tips. Her actual paycheck goes back to Billy to go for the down payment. She should own it by the time we're eighty." he said sarcastically.

"Em I don't mean to pry but did she get anything in writing?" I made a mental note to contact Carlisle on Monday and check the legality of there arrangement.

"Nah. Billy owns the bar out right. He's going to sign over deed and all to Rose. Besides if he screws Rose over I'll mow him down with his own steam roller." Em let out a chuckle.

"You work for the Blacks too?"I hadn't thought to ask Em what he was doing for a living before.

"Yep. Going on three years now. Billy and Harry started it about five years ago and when Billy's health turned bad and Harry died the boys took it over. Sam, Seth and Jake. Black Water construction and demolition." I had to laugh a little, "You managed to find a job where they let you blow shit up? That's like your dream come true!" Em smiled, "Yeah. I'm a certified contractor and a demolition expert. Sadly I don't get to blow up as much shit as I'd like."

"If I do end up with this house would you mind coming over and taking a look at it? Tanya says it needs a lot of work." I took his empty pop cans and sat them on the counter in his kitchen. I got us each another and sat back down beside him.

"Sure. No problem. Which house is it? The one on seventh?" Em popped his can open and took a long drink. "No. it's the colonial on Maple." Em spit pop all over the living room. I jumped back to avoid the spray.

"Bella's house on Maple? THAT HOUSE ON MAPLE?" He yelled. I looked at him with wide eyes, "Is that to much? Is she going to hate it?" I asked him. He stood up, his hand on his forehead and started to pace. "No No she'll love it but there's a problem. You know there's another bidder?" I shook my head, "Yeah. I probably paid way more than I should of trying to outbid them." Em laughed and wiped his palms over his face, "The other bidder is Jake Black. He's been going on and on for a week about how he's going to buy Bella this house and they are getting married. Even went to his dad and got his mom ring. He wants your girl, your kid and your house, man." I stood up in front of Em, "Well he can't have them. I am going to get Bella back. I'm going to be a father to my daughter and damn it, I'm going to live in that house. I am going to make it the best damn house in Forks!" I yelled. "YEAH!" Em cried. I was fired up. He wasn't getting my family. Hell I might not be getting my family but at the very least I was going to win that house and show her I'm staying. Em, apparently as fired up as I was, put his fist out of me to bump. I bumped it hard and sat back down. I didn't care what I had to pay, he wasn't getting Bella's house on Maple.

My mother left the house early on Sunday morning. She had a standing brunch date with my Aunt Esme on Sundays. I stayed in bed until I knew she was gone. She didn't know I had bought a house. She would have thrown a fit or tried to talk me out of it. Seeing for the first time how easily she talked me into things I decided it was best not to tell her before the deal was done. I waited until I heard the garage door go down before I went into my fathers office. I had to search for the key with the precious little time I had while she was gone. No one had been in his study since he passed. It was a his private place. It unnerved me that I would have to disrupt his things. I opened the door slowly. The big mahogany desk was still in the same place as was his filing cabinet and his book cases. I walked around the edge of the desk quickly and began opening drawers and shuffling papers. I looked around the room turning in a circle. If the key was hidden in this room where would it be? I immediately opened the file cabinet and searched his folders. I ran my hand down over the bottom of the cabinet to make sure he hadn't taped it under the files. No luck. I moved over to the book case and started looking for books with the word key in the title on the off chance he decided to be clever. I searched the books and found nothing. I moved down on my hands and knees and lifted the edges of the rug. I wiped the palm of my hand all over the floor and found nothing. Not even dust! I cursed in frustration and replayed my conversation with Carlisle in my head. He hid it in the last place she'd ever look. I thought it over for a moment and ran to my parents bedroom. She hadn't gotten rid of any of his things yet. I opened his dresser drawers and flipped through piles of tank tops and boxers. Polo shirts and folded khaki pants, Nothing. I walked into there large walk in closet and started digging in the pockets of my fathers suits. Nothing. I wondered briefly where she had put his wallet. I had never thought to ask. Surely there was a bag of his personal effects from the night he entered the hospital. Where would she have put it? I closed the drawers and ran downstairs. I flung open the hall closet doors and there it sat. the bag I was looking for. I stared at it. I hesitated a moment knowing his clothes were in there from the night he died. This was what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to find that key. He wanted me to know the truth. I picked it up gently and opened the bag. Luckily the wallet was on top with a medium sized manila envelope. I sat down on the hardwood floor and opened the envelope first. I dumped it out on the floor in front of me. Inside were his keys, his wedding band, his rolex watch. I caressed the articles gently and smiled. I opened his wallet next. All the standard things were in there. Credit cards, drivers license. I smiled at the school photo of Lilly he had in the plastic picture holder. She looked adorable with her hair in a pony tail, her tiny hands tucked beneath her chin. I took it out to get a closer look. When I slipped it out a folded white piece of paper fell from behind it. I sat the wallet and picture a side and unfolded the paper. In my fathers hand writing it said "Build a bear work shop. May 2008. " What the hell was that supposed to mean and what the hell was build a bear workshop? I put everything back in the bag and put it back in the closet. I walked up the stairs with Lilly's photo and the paper. I went back in the office and made sure there was nothing out of place and then went into my room and fired up my laptop. When it came on and I was connected to the Internet I did a Google search for Build a bear workshop. What I found was as funny as it was surprising. My father had directed me to a store where you can stuff your own toys! Where would he keep something like that? What the hell did the key have to do with these toys? There was nothing like that in the house. It would of stuck out like a sore thumb. I snapped my laptop closed and laid back on the bed. My cell phone rang on the night stand next to me. I rolled over and picked it up.

"Hi, Edward? It's Tanya Denali. I know I said we wouldn't know about the house until Monday but I have great news." she was very energetic.

"Oh?" I said.

"Congratulations! The other bidder pulled out. You are now the proud owner of the house on Maple street." my heart swelled in my chest at her words. I won. I had bought Bella's house.

"We need to discuss financing. When would you like to meet?" she said.

"I won't be financing it. I'll pay cash. How soon can we finish this up?" I wanted to start moving as soon as possible. The sooner I was moved the sooner I could focus on the key and Bella and Lilly.

"I can have the papers drawn up by Wednesday at three. You bring the money and I'll have the keys and deed for you then!" I smiled wide and sighed, "Thanks Tanya. I'll see you at your office on Wednesday." After my call to Tanya was done I called Em. We had a lot of work to do.

Bella~

All day Sunday my stomach was in knots. I knew I had to break up with Jake but I didn't actually know how to do it. What was I going to say? Mostly I was worried about how he would take it. I didn't understand how he could be so emotionally invested in us when I had never given off the indication that's what I wanted from him. I stood in the kitchen watching Lilly play in the back yard. She was supposed to have a play date today but it was canceled at the last minute. This was nothing new to me. It routinely happened to her and I felt like it was my fault. Having a baby out of wed lock wasn't something that happened often around here. When I got pregnant with her the rumors swirled about who her father was. I always knew she was Edwards but I never confirmed it to anyone. It wasn't there business. Many parents didn't want their kids playing with Lilly because of the questions it would raise with them. "Why doesn't Lilly Swan have a Daddy?" I could just hear the questions. She had some friends but she wasn't close to any of them. She considered Alice her best friend and the feeling was mutual. Lilly talked animatedly to Pinkie at her tiny plastic table. I loved watching her.
"Hey Bell's." My Dad called from the front door. I needed to tell him about breaking up with Jake. I didn't want him to hear it from anyone else.

"Hi Dad. How were the fish today?" I asked sweetly.

"Biting. Billy did better than I did." he shrugged and handed me his latest catch to put in the freezer. I turned and walked back into the kitchen.

"Hey Dad. I have to tell you something." I said with my back to him. I fumbled around with things in the freezer trying to avoid facing him.

"Yeah I heard something interesting today and I wanted to ask you about it." he said. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, "Okay you first." I shut the freezer door and turned around.

"Is it true you're getting married?" he asked softly. I nearly threw up, "NO! Who in the hell...."

"Billy said Jake came to him and wanted Sarah's rings. I didn't think you guys were that serious." he said gruffly. I understood his hesitation. If I was getting married and didn't tell him it wouldn't of been the first time I kept a life changing event from him.

"We aren't that serious. I'm breaking up with him! He's talking crazy about buying a house and being around Lilly." I was so frustrated with him and the situation. When things started with Jake it was more or less to please my Dad. He was good friends with Jakes family. He was worried about me and said being a mother couldn't be my whole life. He said it wasn't healthy not to have my own life. So when Jake asked me out the first time I said no but he was persistent until finally I agreed to go out on one date with him. That was two years ago and since then it was just more and more draining. I always smiled at the right times and played the proper girlfriend but inside I felt nothing.

"Good. I think it's for the best. I meant for you all to go out on one date. You know sorta get you back out there. I didn't think he would get so attached." he sat down at the table folding his arms across his chest.

"Me either. I always kept him at arms length for a reason." I shook my head.

"Yeah. Heard you had a run in with Edward Masen over at Blacks." My Dad's feelings about Edward were understandable. I knew he wasn't pleased I had seen him.

"Yeah. I had some explaining to do. So did he." I looked down at the kitchen floor. I felt like a kid again that got caught sneaking in after curfew.

"So he knows all about Squirt then?" I closed my eyes, "Yeah. I also told him he cant see her. It's not fair to her. He's just gonna run off again."

"Maybe he won't." My head shot up, "How can you even say that?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Bella, I don't like the kid for what he did to you but that's not Lilly's fault. She deserves to know where she came from. She's half him. It's not fair to her." my mouth gaped. "I can't believe you're defending him. Has the whole town lost there minds? Alice is defending him. Emmett's having lunch with him. Jasper has basically forgiven him! Can't anybody seem to remember what he did to me?" I said. My Dad smiled, "Oh baby. Haven't you figured it out yet?" he asked me.

"Figured what out?" I asked him.

"Your life stopped being being about you the day you had her. She's what matters. She deserves to know where she came from. You don't have to tell her anything she wont understand right now but there may come a time in her life where she came from. It's not your place to keep that from her."

"I'm protecting her!" I yelled.

"Protecting her or protecting yourself?" he asked softly.

"Her. When he leaves again it will break her heart. I won't let him hurt her." I said. I looked out the window again and saw my baby sitting on her swing set. She really was a perfect mix of Edward and I. His bright emerald green eyes and my pale skin. Her hair was a bronzey red brown. In the sun it glowed like Edward's always did. I looked back at my Dad. He walked over slowly and kissed my forehead. I wrapped my arms around him.

"Oh Daddy this is such a mess. I have to break up with Jake and Edward being here just makes everything more complicated. What am I going to do?" I asked him on the verge of tears. He stroked my back gently, "One thing at a time baby. Just take everything one thing at a time." he said. I nodded that I understood.

"And Edward?" I asked hoping for advice.

"You're a smart girl and a wonderful mother. You'll figure it out." I wish I had as much confidence in myself as he had in me.

"Mommy?" Lilly said behind my Dad. I let him go and straightened up.

"What baby?" I smiled reassuringly.

"I want to look at pictures. Will you look at them with me?" she asked. I smiled, "Sure. Go get an album and I'll meet you on the swing." she ran off happily to pick a photo album. She loved to hear the story of the day she was born. She really liked the part where her grandpa passed out and Aunt Alice took over. She liked looking at pictures of my mom too. I loved showing them to her but it made my heart ache a little. Dad excused himself to go shower and clean up. I grabbed a blanket from the couch and waited for my daughter on our front porch swing. A few minutes later the screen door banged and Lilly climbed up next to me with a large leather photo album in her arms.

"You want to see this one?" I asked her. She didn't usually want to look at my high school photos.

"Yep." she said happily. I put the blanket over her lap and opened the album. The first picture was of Alice, Rose and I sticking our tongues out at the camera. Lilly laughed. The next one was of Edward and I at prom.

"Mommy you looked like a princess." she said with amazement. My gown for that prom wasa a soft baby pink with little crystal flowers. Alice picked it out but I remember truly loving that dress. My hair was pinned back with pink crystal barrettes and Alice had spiral curled it all down my back. I felt like a princess that night.

"Well Aunt Rose was prom queen. I was just on the court." I smiled at her. She pointed to my very handsome date, "Who's that?" she asked. I had a policy against lying to my kid so I told her, "That's Edward. He was Mommy's prom date." not the whole truth but not a lie.

"He's handsome. Like a prince." she said in awe. It was that kind of thinking that got me in this mess in the first place. I quickly turned to another photo and tried to distract her.

I paced back and fourth in the coffee house on Monday night after we closed. I had to break up with Jake here because I didn't want him at the house. Alice picked Lilly up from school for me and was taking her back to her place. What was I going to say to him? I had practiced in my head all day but nothing sounded right. Nothing was going to stop this from hurting him. I had never done this before. Edward was my first boyfriend and when he left I thought he'd be my last. I never thought I would have to break up with someone. I looked up at the clock on the wall. Jake would be here any minute. I left the front door unlocked and sat down at a table to wait for him. I watched out the window as his big black truck came into view. He parked in front and climbed out. He carried a manila folder with him as he came in.

"Hey baby. I am so glad you called. I've got good news and bad news. What would you like first?" he sat across from me. He looked a little upset but still smiling. He was always smiling. It was almost annoying.

"I need to talk to you." I reminded him. He laughed a little, "Oh well bad news first then. We lost the house on Maple. The bid got pushed up really high and I just couldn't do it. The good news is we have lots of other houses to look at. I made an appointment to see one tomorrow." he wasn't listening, again. This was one of the things that got on my nerves the most. He just kept talking. It was like nothing I had to say mattered.

"Jake, I'm sorry about the house but it's for the best. " I looked him in the eyes. I wouldn't be a coward about this. I wouldn't look down in my lap while I hurt him.

"How can it be for the best? You love that house."

"I'm breaking up with you. I can't do this anymore." I said. He looked at me for a moment like I was crazy. Like this was the silliest thing he'd ever heard. "Bella, we are buying a house. I practically asked you to marry me and now we are breaking up? This doesn't make sense." his face was tense. He didn't understand. To him what we had was perfect. There was no way he would understand this.

"No Jake, you are buying a house. You want to get married. I don't." I sat up straight in my chair. I couldn't let him see me falter. I couldn't look hesitant in anyway.

"This is because of Masen, isn't it?" he asked me. I shook my head, "No this is because of me. I don't want the same things you want so I think the best thing is to let you go so you find someone who wants those things." It was the kindest thing I could do for him. It was the kindest thing I could do for both of us.

"I don't want us to break up. I'm in love with you. I want you and Lilly. All I've ever wanted is for the three of us to be a family. That's all I've ever worked for." I could see the pain in his eyes. It was killing me to hurt him. I knew how bad this must hurt.

"Jake you've been wonderful to me. I'm sorry it had to end this way but it's for the best it really is." I stood up from the table and walked over to the front door. I opened it slowly and stood beside it. It was time for Jake to leave. He stood up and walked to the door. I looked down for a moment. It was to sad to actually watch him leave. He gently caressed my face with both of his hands. He lifted my chin up to meet his eyes.

"Bella this isn't over. You'll figure it out, you love me too." he whispered softly.

"Goodbye Jake." I turned my face away from him. He walked out pausing by his truck for a moment, "I love you Bella. I won't give up. This isn't over." I shut the door and locked it behind me. He was wrong. This was very very over.

A/n- I hope this chapter was more exciting than the last. Thanks for all the reviews and favorites. It really does help me write. As always review are appreciated and so are suggestions.