Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight


"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." - Oscar Wilde

EPOV

A pealing giggle erupts from the squirming bundle in Alice's trying arms. Thin and short, they struggle against the rustling fabric of the coat attempting to escape maternal embrace. I sip my coffee slowly, registering the crackling dynamite bounding in the lap across from mine. Bella's fingers are smooth, pearly in my palm and I decide that it may in fact, be too early to handle the explosive, albeit sweet, Annabel. Blonde tufts of hair sway in accordance with the ringing laughter as my jolly niece buries her face into the crook of her mother's collarbone.

"Annabel, calm yourself." Alice emits an exhaustive sigh. She shifts the explosive child onto her other hip, all the while permeating a haggard air about her. The coffee finally leaves my lips and the mug lands with a small thud against the table.

"Mumma," She shrills. "Mumma, Mumma, Mumma." Bell tugs at a strand of Alice's raven hair, straining her milky skin at the crown. A scowl treks across her face quickly, yet her impatience lingers.

"What?" She sighs. "What, what, what? Here, go to Dada." She smirks slightly and hands her daughter off to Jasper. He receives her almost reluctantly, that is, until his arms furl around her tiny body in the most affectionate of ways.

"Hey, Sugar." His lips curl into a loving smile and she erupts into more giggles.

"Dada." She pats his shoulders and puckers her small, ruby pout. Jasper kisses her three times, quickly and lovingly. Bella emits a small sigh, the generic, longing one in which one says, oh, look, how adorable.

"Why does she only do that with you?" Alice frowns and fluffs the crown of her hair. Her thin fingers wrap around the abused strand and they twist it gently into place.

"I guess it's a Daddy thing." Jasper grins and a small pang hits my chest.

"Well," Alice mutters. "Keep it up. It's a Sunday and I need my breakfast." She sips her coffee as well and sighs.

"A Daddy thing…" Bella repeats with a coy smile and squeezes my hand.

A Daddy thing? I ponder the notion that I will be a father to potentially a firecracker or a passive bundle of Bella and I. I pray that it's a girl, because even on a Sunday morning during breakfast, Bella is the most beautiful woman in the world. If my daughter resembled her, her full lips, her chocolate eyes, her creamy skin, I'd do Daddy things all day and night for that angel. Only eight months left.

BPOV

"Elizabeth," I smile brightly, "Hey." She lounges at the usual table, elbows propped, back slouched forward. Today, she dons a creamy blouse, and as the ruffles run across her skin, it's growing hard to deny the woman she is growing in to. Her collarbone isn't quite as hollow, and her curves have made their entrance. The ruffles skim, falling into a waterfall of white. Her long hair is twisted into a braid and thrown delicately over her right shoulder. The scar creeps out meticulously, her mark of pain missing its twin, for Edward's is hidden beneath the smooth, black peacoat.

"Hello." He greets her with a slight wave and she lifts her chin.

"Hey, guys." She tilts her head to the side as we both take seats across from her.

"How are you?" Edward blinks, yet before he is answered, a warm voice calls me.

"Bella," The three of us glance up at the voice to find a tall, dark-haired man gazing at me. His hazel eyes bore into mine, and when he blinks those long lashes, I recognize his straitlaced face. It's handsome, very, very handsome. The sloped, pointed nose, the milky skin, the small, straight pout. All of it is attractive; all of him, but beauty without a spark means nothing. Possessing a sort of rigid beauty, the man of my past blinks at me. "Bella Swan."

I find myself speechless as the beautiful man next to me gazes into my side. Who's this? It sits on the tip of his tongue, but he's far too much of a reformed gentleman to even dare. I swallow, the saliva traveling down my throat in a sticky manner. And I tell myself that the man next to me is more beautiful than Henry Burke, because he does possess that spark. His beauty is not rigid, rather… Celestial. A celestial, Olympian beauty.

"Henry." I force a smile on my lips and wonder if he'll see the ring. If he'll call me a hypocrite and storm off into the shadows he emerged from.

"How are you?" His pout hardly moves and I blink twice.

"I'm fine. Just fine. How are you?" He nods silently to himself, making his way from behind Elizabeth. He skims his hand across the tabletop, gazing at me, receiving daggers from Edward.

"Fine, Bella." He murmurs and Elizabeth finally clears her throat.

"Hey, Edward, this is Henry Burke. He co-owns the orphanage… You know, thus helping out sometimes. And Henry, this is Edward Cullen, my attorney. And that's Bella Swan, but I think you already know her…" She gestures and idly trails at the end.

"A pleasure, Mr. Cullen." He glances at Edward yet gazes at me.

"Likewise." He responds cordially, however, his undertone is venomous and I shift.

"Do you mind?" The corners of Henry's lips curve slightly as he gestures toward the empty chair next to Elizabeth. Edward splays a prosthetic smile and nods once, allowing, before all eyes are on me. I'm to give final permission? My eyes widen conspicuously, and as a token of reassurance, or perhaps, male pride and domination, Edward clasps my head. And after Henry's glare, I'm thinking the latter.

"Go ahead." I attempt a shot at being chipper and Elizabeth yawns.

"I've grown to know Elizabeth over the duration of here stay here," Henry begins and folds his hands. "And she's very different from the others. She's wonderful. However, I am here to inform you, that I will be involved in her court case as well. We understand you're vying for legal guardian rights, and similar to you, Bel – Ms. Swan, I am to observe," He clears his throat. "It is to my knowledge you're a guardian ad litem?"

"Was." I correct and glance down at the table.

"Oh? Well, it is my duty to observe to the fullest you and Mr. Cullen's lifestyles, habits, living conditions… Professions. If I may ask, what is your relationship with one another?" He probes.

"Bella here is my fiancée." Edward fires back politely, straining the smugness in his voice.

"Congratulations," Henry strains a smile against his rigid countenance. It stretches across too tight, and the prosthetic glint nearly blinds me. "And it is to my understanding that you are Elizabeth's attorney, Mr. Cullen?"

"I am." He nods and squeezes my fingers.

"Hopefully I'll be testifying on your behalf." Henry smirks wickedly and I bite my lip. Edward smirks slightly, tracing circles into the table with his fingertip.

"And if you do not, Mr. Burke, I am sure that we will successfully gain guardianship rights, regardless." He does not blink, and the two men ensue in a cordial war of words. I sink in my chair, willing myself death and eternal sleep.

"That's a bold statement, Mr. Cullen. And you're certain of this… verdict?" He retorts and unfolds his hands.

"Nearly certain." His tone is now smug.

"I'm dubious as to how you are so sure. Arrogance, Mr. Cullen, is a not a favored trait." They stare at one another, emerald boring into hazel as it is reciprocated.

"You mistake arrogance for confidence, Mr. Burke." Edward's crooked smile appears and Elizabeth smothers a giggle.

"Confidence perhaps… Or an excess dosage of braggadocio." Henry refutes and raises an eyebrow. I run a hand over my belly and shut my eyes, dreaming of my baby.

"Braggadocio. Hm. Your professionalism is slipping, Mr. Burke."

"I state what I see. My job is to observe, and I am doing such." There is a long pause, so unsettling that my eyes pry themselves open. Edward and Henry stare at one another, as their anger is apparent and sizzling. Elizabeth grins, gazing at Edward.

"I'm a busy man," Edward finally says. "Unfortunately, I do believe it's time for me to depart such a lovely conversation," He scowls and begins to rise. "Good day, Mr. Burke."

"You may be a busy man, but have you asked your fiancée if she is just as busy?" Henry snaps and all eyes are on me once more. Here we are, either follow your man and stay silent. Stay by his side. Defy all sounds of independence. Or, stay here. Don't stand by him, fly every independent color you have. I either let go of his hand or let him help me up. I gaze at his long fingers curled around mine, and then up at his emerald eyes. And it's that Olympian beauty and my Titanic-sized abundance of love for him that helps me decide.

"I'm busy as well." I rise and turn to stare at Henry. His face falls slightly and Edward's arm is around my waist in a victorious pose. His face is smug as his grip is tight, yet I strain a smile for Henry.

"Have a good day, Mr. Burke. And kiddo," He turns to Elizabeth. "Have an even better one." Her grin is imprinted in my mind, yet before we can turn to leave, Henry rises.

"Bella, may I speak with you for a moment?" His question lingers and my eyes widen. Edward stares down into my eyes, and I suddenly forget about the other man.

"I'll wait with Elizabeth." He says strangely, and his kiss is too long and too steamy to be genuine. Stupid, jealous Edward.

My heart is still thudding against my ribcage as I seat myself across from the man who could potentially be credited for piecing me back together all those years ago. I fidget with the zipper of my purse as I stare in the handsome, sober face of Regret and Guilt. Shit.

"It's been years." Henry's tone is softer. He drums his fingers on the tabletop lightly, idly creating a beat.

"It has." I offer a smile and note the rare, buttery sunshine spilling into the room. It trails into every niche, yet for some reason, I don't want to welcome sunshine today.

"You look great. Happy." He notes and I feel a blush creep up my cheeks.

"You do too." I continue fidgeting and a silence falls across us. The zipping of my purse is almost calming, the tiny metal sound reverberating.

"Elizabeth is great, isn't she?" He smiles calmly and I can't hide a grin.

"Wonderful. Edward and I are hoping to win guardianship." And at his name, Henry frowns.

"He's a bit arrogant, isn't he?" He runs a hand through his dark hair - an Edward habit.

"Confident." I correct with a smile and he nods.

"Yes, well… I suppose we have different opinions."

"I… Suppose." I murmur and continue my zipping.

"I've missed you. I… Miss you." He says softly and I stop breathing.

"It's been awhile, has it not?" I answer meekly… The only thing that comes to mind.

"So why'd you leave?" He finally asks in a quiet voice, the question I've been avoiding for six years. My fingers will themselves to stop zipping, and my heart stops in my throat.

"I… I don't know." I whisper and the rest goes to shit. I attempt to swallow my heart back down, but it lodges.

"You do know," He refutes steadily. There is a pause. "Was that him, Bella? Is that him?" I stare at the table, him staring at me, and I'm suffocating.

"I'm not telling you." I murmur. Still suffocating.

"And he gave you that ring? Was it him? I want to know. I want to know why I wasn't the one who was able to give you a ring." Looming silences tend to rule my life, and that familiar layer of tension settles about. Breathe, Bella.

"That… That was him." I raise my head and stare into his handsome face. Straitlaced, rigid and safe as always.

"And you left me to go find him again? After he ripped you up and stomped on you and I had to fix you up? And then you go back to him." His safe face stares at me and I realize why. My heart begins trailing down to my stomach, and I can suddenly breathe once more.

"No, that's not why." I fold my arms and sigh.

"So why couldn't I have given you a ring?" Goddamn, Henry.

"I… I don't… Know." I lie, paling against him.

"You said no to me, Bella. So you do know. I hate to make you feel uncomfortable, but a guy likes to know after six years without an answer." There is a pause, as my silly brain racks for subjects to change to.

"I'd like to thank you for that year." I offer.

"Christ, Bella. Still trying to be chipper as always." He mutters. His sober voice is calming, and his safety, his security, is the reason I'd ever stayed with him at all.

"I love you," He says, brushing my hair from my cheeks. "So much." In his arms, nothing can hurt me. No tigers, daggers, murderers or an emerald eyed Adonis. Nothing from Pandora's Box. With his soothing warm voice and strong, safe embrace, I almost think about staying with him. Forever. Because maybe a hazel-eyed guardian who can fend off Pandora and her evils is better than a green-eyed God who cuts me up and fills the cracks and slits with burning love, desire. Do I play it safe? Do I say, I love you too, Henry? I would. I really would, if it weren't for that fact that I'm too cut up, too scarred, too battered to know what safe is anymore. I kiss him gently, issuing no response, and turn the light off. And he waits for my response to this day, because in the morning, I was gone. I was his Edward. And in the light, despite his perfect, straight face, I can see the cuts I placed on him, too.

My eyes prick. "I'm sorry." I rise hastily, stumbling all the while against my sheet of hot tears.

"Bella, stay." He rises with me and reaches forward. The tips of his fingers graze my bare arm and I flinch with regret. Staring him in the face, seeing what I'd made of him, I cannot even face myself.

"I never loved you," I whisper shakily, withdrawing my arm. He winces slightly, that icy face faltering. "I'm so sorry."

"Bella…" He trails, but I'm already turning on my heel.

"It's why I left," I stop myself to look over my shoulder at Henry. Gashed, bleeding, done for. All my doing. "I was in love with him. And I am so sorry." I blubber and wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. Before he can follow me, the clacking of my heels echoes off the ceilings, the walls, and his perfectly shaped cheekbones.

…….

In the Volvo, the tension fails to subside. Edward is silent, both hands on the wheel. I fail to grasp why. I chose you, Edward. I chose you, I want to say. Yet how can I? Stupid, jealous, shiny Volvo owner. I bite my lip, chewing away the time. His beautiful face is stone as no emotions mill about, unsettling me. When we park outside our apartment, he opens my door wordlessly. I meet his gaze, pleading with him, teasing him into speaking with me again.

"Talk to me." I coax and amble alongside him across the parking lot.

"About what?" He mutters and holds the golden door open for me.

"You know." I scowl and our respective footwear clack and reverberate off the walls of the marble lobby.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He mutters bitterly and punches the elevator button. We wait together in quasi-darkness, the silence pooling in.

"You have absolutely no right to be angry with me." I cross my arms and peer up at my Adonis.

"I'm not angry." He replies monotonously and the there is a ding before the elevator doors open. We enter wordlessly, and as the doors shut, I turn to him.

"Then what are you?" I scowl. He punches our floor number and idly leans against the western elevator wall.

"Nothing." His eyes scan the mirrored ceiling and I huff.

"Okay. Fine." I snap and turn from him. There is a ding as the doors open for us, and I'm the first one out. I amble down the corridor and retrieve my key to the door the second from the end. After turning the knob, I stumble inside and don't bother to hold the door for him. His irrational anger doesn't deserve my time.

I pry the heels off my feet and toss them into a niche just as Edward silently closes the door behind him. I flop my purse onto an end table as he meticulously removes his loafers. Our electric anger still in the air.

"Could you clean up after yourself?" He mutters and I turn on my heel.

"I'll do what I want. I live here too." I refute with a scowl. He rolls his eyes lightly and issues an exhaustive sigh, igniting my flame.

"You scarcely clean up after yourself." He says under his breath as he walks past me into the kitchen.

"I do clean up after myself." I scowl hotly and follow suit.

"Oh, hardly." His voice grows louder and I stamp my feet in place.

"Don't get mad at me over every little petty thing just because you're jealous of Henry." I jab as he flings the refrigerator open.

"Why would I be jealous?" He pokes his head out. "That man is unprofessional, ridiculous, insufferable, disdainful, judgmental and further, cannot keep his eyes to himself." He disappears again.

"So you are jealous!" I cross my arms in the doorway. He glances up from the fridge once more and raises an eyebrow.

"No, Isabella. It's just rude to stare at a woman when she so blatantly has a ring on her finger." He scowls and I growl through my teeth.

"You don't know him, Edward Anthony."

"You're right. I don't. But apparently you do. Would you like to tell me what that was about?" He withdraws a carton of orange juice and shuts the door.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I lift my chin and he rummages through the cupboards.

"You had a good ten-minute chat with him." He grunts and the clinking of glasses rings throughout the kitchen.

"We… Erm, we…" I fidget and Edward pauses pouring his juice.

"You what?" He questions darkly.

"Used to date." I say meekly and fiddle with my earrings.

"Hm," He issues while taking a swig. "And we're going to be spending boatloads of time with him?" He mutters and I bite my lip.

"Hey… Why are you even worrying about him?" I assuage and patter toward him, my anger fading.

"I'm not worrying." He sighs, exasperated. He sets the glass down with a clink and leans back against the counter.

"Well… You are. And I assure you, we were nothing serious." Lie.

He frowns. "I just hate to think of you with someone else." His green eyes are set on mine, yet my anger bubbles again.

"Are you serious?" I snap and he furrows his brow. "You have a bitchfit over the one guy I dated after you so classically smashed my heart up? I can't even imagine how many girls you screwed while you gallivanted around for eight years, so don't you dare lose your balls and mope around like a hormonal teenager just because an ex-boyfriend of mine is now in your life."

"Bella," He seethes hotly and steps toward me. "He was ogling you. That's barbarous! And you're fine with this? I understand you dated him once, but is that not in your past? I've apologized countless times for the pain I've caused you, and you're still going back to that? Don't wear the ring if you can't let it go. We can't get married if everything always comes back to this." He snaps and a layer of filmy, hot tears blockades my vision.

"Fine. We won't get married. Asshole." I choke and step backward from him. The dam breaks and my hormones guide the tears down my cheeks. They cascade, only to be wiped away by my grubby fingers. His emerald eyes soften, his eyebrows drawn.

"Bella," He murmurs softly and holds his arms out. "Bella, love, come here. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, you know I didn't mean that, my love." I stand in place, blubbering with speech as he snakes his arms around me.

And in a flash, his lips are on mine. His fingers waste no time undoing my blouse buttons and mine do the same on his belt buckle. Soon enough, we're in the throes of wonderful makeup sex. Counter sex, if you will. Sweaty, passionate, mind-blowing counter sex.

… At least it's a marble counter.

I begin unraveling into a bundle of nerves, an animalistic creature with no thoughts. My brain spills out my ears as my insides fold. Everything's heightened, and I'm almost certain I'm more cat than human at this point. No longer Bella Swan, I'm a thing. A moaning, bundle of nerves. Yet toward the end, a loud noise rings throughout the kitchen: my phone.

"Mmm… Don't… Pick it… Ugh… Up." Edward pants in my ear, his sweet breath trickling down. My brain, a pile of mush, attempts to register this.

"It… No… Oh, Edward… No, no, stop! It could be… Important." I pant and he groans loudly.

"You're joking, right? Please, ugh, tell me… You're joking." He pleads and nuzzles his perfect face into my neck.

"Sorry, sorry!" I entwine my fingers through his thick hair, yet with a final thrust, I've reached my peak. My hips buck and I forget what the hell a phone is. I finish contentedly, issuing a long sigh, and he's not far behind. We go limp, and my brain attempts to reconnect itself. Edward presses his chiseled body against mine, planting lingering, heavy kisses all over. I pat for my phone, eyes rolling back, giggles escaping my lips.

"I love you. And I'm sorry." He mumbles into my collarbone and I run my hand through his crop of bronze hair.

"I love you too," I giggle. "It's fine. But be quiet. I have to call this number back…" I flip it open, yet to my convenience, the loud ring reverberates around the kitchen once more. I close my eyes, issue a sigh and press the send button.

"Hello?" I greet in a shallow breath.

"Bella? This is Henry." He greets in a strange tone. Edward growls into my neck and I shush him with a poke to the temple.

"Oh, hi, Henry." I sigh, peeved with the insignificance of the call.

"Are you busy?" He murmurs and I grunt.

"Mm, well… Yes, a bit busy." I smile and I can feel Edward's crooked one in my neck.

"Oh, then I won't waste time. Bella, I've been thinking, and you really deserve better than that guy you have," At this, Edward jerks up and glares at my cell. "So, I won't even play fair at this point. Leave him, and I'll testify on his behalf. He can have Elizabeth –"

"Henry! Absolutely not," I seethe. "Edward is my fiancé. We're fighting for Elizabeth, not only him." I cut him off but he chuckles lightly.

"Oh, I realize that. So, I'm going to force you out of this relationship."

"Excuse me?" I raise an eyebrow.

"If you don't leave him, Bella, I'll tell him what happened. I'll tell the whole goddamn world what happened. And you know what I'm talking about."

My phone hits the floor with a crack, snapping in two, laying in pieces. I slink off the counter, Edward with me, as he shoots thousands of questions with his countenance. I ignore them all and rise quickly, running into the bathroom and slamming the door. And then I sob so hard I think my ribs have broken themselves. He's going to leave me. He pounds on the door, asking for me, and I smooth my belly, hoping to God it'll look like him. Because it might be the only thing I have left of Edward after this.


I don't think any of you deserve to wait this long for an update. I'm really sorry! If I could,

I'd transfer all my thoughts and writing skills to a robot or someone else so they could update at

responsible and reasonable intervals, hehe. Oiiii, and cliffhanger, right? You all hate me now :)

P.S. The makeup sex bit was SO originally full of hilarity. That goes out to xXxFreeHellxXx... Ha!

Happy reading! Sorry about the update again. And happy summer

x, JC44