A/N Look! I'm here! Only a few days later! I promised I'd be better :) I'm actually sick right now, so that's why I can do this right now, I'm not going to school tomorrow, I've already got the next chapter on lock, just need some reviews to make that post button look a little inviting ;)

Disclaimer- I don't own these characters. :)

Chapter 17

That night was, thankfully, dreamless. It would have been the moment for my dreams to resurface. Thinking back on it, my nightmares hadn't returned when I was staying with the Cullens, but maybe that was normal, because I had the very thing that had caused the nightmares in the first place. Still, though, my sleep was shallow and not very peaceful.

I woke up early the next morning and not because of Ean, for once he was out like a light. I took a quick shower, dreading what was coming. Luke was already out of bed, and neither of us had work for a few hours. Part time jobs at the mall weren't ideal, not by a long shot, but the little book store I worked in felt like a second home, and we were making ends meet while getting through college, so it was all we needed.

I walked into the kitchen and Luke was sitting at the table, staring at a cup of coffee like it would answer his questions. I grabbed some cereal, (I had never been the coffee kind of girl) and sat down across from him. We ate in silence, and after I had started cleaning the dishes he finally acknowledged me.

"Ready to talk to me Bella?" I knew it was serious; he only used Bella when he was worried or upset. It was always Bells, because of that silly musical we watched together once. It talked about finally hearing the birds and the bells because the characters fell in love. He told me I was the bells he heard ringing, and it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Cheesy, I know, but you had to see his eyes when he said it. I think that was when I really let my walls down, when I saw that look in his eyes that I had only seen one other place before. I snapped out of my flashback, and nodded solemnly at him.

"Luke, I was going to tell you after you met everyone—"

"Bella." He cut me off, letting me know he was going to say what he needed to say.

"I always knew you had a soft spot for him in your heart, I did. But meeting his family, and learning the whole truth yesterday, I knew you two had even more than you had told me. When Esme showed me those pictures, I saw his eyes. In every picture he seemed alive, but not really there. Until she showed me the one in Forks, of everyone with you. Bella, he had his arms around you and in his eyes I saw the happiest man on earth. The look on his face, and yours, told me everything. I thought maybe it had just been a thing back when you were seventeen, but then I met him. When I answered the door, the first thing he said to me was

'I don't like you and you don't like me, but, Bella loves you so we're going to get along. For her, and for Ean.' He looked at me with a fierce determination, until he said your name. Then his face softened and he looked like a broken man in that moment. He kept talking though,

'Thank you, for taking care of Bella and for being a better father to my son than I will ever be.'"

I couldn't believe how much about Edward he had noticed. I could believe that Edward was blaming himself for not being there, and almost using it as an excuse to kick up the self loathing a notch. Luke looked at me, and for once, his face was unreadable, the way Edward would get when something bad was about to happen.

"Bella, I can't, no I won't, stand in the way of the two of you being together, and being the family Ean should have had in the first place. I won't be the other man in your life, or in Ean's life." I couldn't take it anymore, I was so angry about everyone trying to be noble. I stood up from the table, my eyes tearing up I was so angry.

"He said the same thing you know! He said he wouldn't stand in the way of my happiness. That's what he said when he left me alone, hurt and pregnant. He wanted me to be happy. He offered again, you know, when I found him this weekend. He said he would leave, and make sure he never bothered me again, just like you are now. It's honestly like neither of you want me! Luke, I told him two days ago that I love him," Luke opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't stop there,

"I told him that I love him, but I am in love with you. I picked you, because it was never even a choice. I am in love with you Masen Lucas Andrews. Edward will always have a special place in my heart, he was my first love, and is the father of my children. I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't love you, or if I didn't want you to be the father of the rest of my children. So please, just man up and fight for me. I'm sick and tired of everyone trying to make me happy. Make yourself happy, Luke. If you want to leave, get out. But know that before you get out the door I'll be fighting for you to come back. You're mine, and I hope that I'm yours too."

I had started out screaming, but by the end I was whispering, trying to keep my voice steady. It really made me sick, the way everyone thought walking out of my life without a fight was okay. Like I was some coldhearted bitch, who didn't bat an eye whenever someone left. The anger from Edward leaving, that I had always thought was behind me, had come back with a fury I hadn't felt before.

"And what about Ean? What about when he's a teenager, and just wants you and me to leave because of some awful fight. Will you just walk away, Luke, to make him happy?"

Edward left, Charlie got rid of me, Alice offered to leave again, so did Edward, and now Luke wanted to walk out. Everyone was trying to save me when I can save myself. Yes, people had left and it had hurt, but eventually I had recovered. It was coming to the point that I was tempted to tell Luke, Edward, and everyone else to leave until they felt the need to stay. Having a life filled with people who will walk away for your happiness feels like no one cares enough in the first place to be there at all.

I wouldn't leave if Luke, Edward, or anyone else I cared about told me to leave, so why was everyone else so willing to step out?

"I love you Luke, and I will fight for you the way no one has thought to fight for me, because that's how much I love you. If you don't love me like that, maybe we do need to talk."

At that point, I was shaking, looking him straight in the eyes, with tears pouring down my face. Then I heard Ean crying.

"I'm going to go take care of my son, and you can come help when you can decide if you want him to be yours too." I turned away, and a second later there were arms around me.

"Bells, I will fight for you forever. You are my life, and so is my son." His voice was cracking; I knew I had finally gotten through to him as I wrapped my arms around him. Ean was still crying though, so I drew back and grabbed his hand, kissing him once softly, as we walked towards our son's room.

What I didn't find out until later was that someone was standing outside my door, with something very important to tell me.

As he walked away, forgetting what he had to tell me in the first place, eyes filling, for once, with tears that couldn't fall, he had never wished for a second chance anymore in his entire existence.