A/N: So here we are again. Our 2 favorite Twilighters are in a rough spot in their relationship and definitely have some things they need to work out … I wonder if they can make it through this and if they will finally admit the depth of their feelings for each other? What do you think?

A poll on my Facebook page told me that you all aren't quite ready to find out if Edward is going to be Daddyward yet… so what I have here is a chapter that isn't so much a filler as it is more detail into their relationship and what happens after Bella shows up and Edward sings to her… I hope you like it and leave me some review love, because I have to say I was extremely disappointed at the lack of actual reviews I got for the last chapter, especially since a lot of love, sweat, and tears went into the last one… we can do better with this one my lovelies, can't we?

Remember my lovelies, LOVE does indeed conquer ALL, and I am at heart a romantic, who loves a nice HEA story…

A big thanks to my beta D.T. who continues to rock my world with her superior comma placing skillz and all the hard work she does to make my story readable for all of you! She is the pearl in my oyster! You da best D!

Things I own: A crazy dog that likes to sleep with all 4 paws in the air like she's dead and 2 cats that each weigh more than my toddler…

Things I don't: All things Twilight and any of the song lyrics you find posted here...

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming…

Chapter 13

BPOV

I stood rooted to the spot as the melodious tones of Edward's voiced rolled over me and into me, tears streaming down my face.

Every word in my heart and my soul was echoed in the song he sang to me. In that moment, nothing meant more to me than him, my love for him totally overwhelmed me, my heart full to bursting. I wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel his heart beat close to mine, but I was unable to move.

It was a sad moment as well, since it was utterly impossible to forget what had put us in this position. The beginning of a relationship should be all flowers and hearts and song, romantic and idealistic, and our relationship so far had been anything but. It, of course, didn't in any way diminish the feelings I felt for him as he played and sang for me. I briefly looked around at the place he had chosen for this meeting and its significance was not lost on me. This was the first place we had performed together, the place where I realized the depth of my feelings for him, and his for me.

He had transformed this jazz club, with the help of Alice I would imagine, into a quiet place for us to talk, and if the smells coming from the kitchen were any indication, to eat, in relative privacy. I wasn't sure that I wanted to hear any of this yet, but I knew I wouldn't leave. Just over 24 hours had passed since he saw me sing at the bar and because I knew that he understood what I was trying to say, I realized conversation was going to be awkward no matter how much either of us wished otherwise. While I didn't want to hear any excuses or attempts to get me to see past his current dilemma, part of me just wished he would tell me it was all a mistake and we could get on with our relationship like it had never happened.

But I wasn't an ostrich and I couldn't just bury my head in the sand, either. I needed to face this, no matter what, and take what life was handing me, handing us, and do the best I could with it. I needed to try to make some sense of what had happened with us and see if we could work with it, for the sake of our love. And I did love him.

There was no mistaking that.

I had never felt the depth of what I was feeling now for anyone else. As I looked into his deep emerald pools, I was transported and transformed, to a better place, into a stronger person.

I needed to fight for him, for us, I just needed to find the strength to do so.

He finished his song as I stood there watching him. His band mates and family members slid offstage slowly as they laid down their instruments, to give us our moment in peace. Alice gave me a reassuring smile as she slipped her violin into its case and laid it onto the piano bench. Edward dropped his guitar and silently moved toward me.

Before I was able to register it, I was in his arms, crushed against his chest. I could feel his face in my hair, his breath warm and erratic. I closed my eyes and just focused on the feelings of his arms, bands of steel, clasping me to him mercilessly, almost as if he expected me to run. Oh God, I had missed him. Missed him more than I had wanted to admit to myself. I missed his arms and his hands and his breath and his voice...just his mere presence. I felt like the other half of my heart had been missing for a thousand years and was just now returned to me.

"Bella," he whispered into my hair, as he stroked my back.

My tears had soaked through his shirt as he held me to him, but he didn't seem to mind. I could feel him shaking softly as if he was shedding tears of his own while we stood there together, but I made no move to pull myself away from him, not yet.

I took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of him, spicy and clean, and all Edward. It was the scent of him that served to calm me somewhat, which was surprising. I kept my eyes close as I stood in his arms. He stroked my back soothingly as I gathered myself and stepped away from him to look up into his face.

What I saw there surprised me.

His face was tired, his eyes red and puffy. He had tears in his eyes and his cheeks were wet with them. I knew I had to say something.

"Edward, I-" I began.

"Bella, let me begin, please," his voice was thick with emotion.

"Okay," I acquiesced, unsure of what else I could possibly do, given the situation.

This was his stage, his show if you will, and I was merely the audience. I was going to let him play things out. I felt I owed him at least that much.

"I've thought a lot about what happened yesterday. I have obsessed about it, actually. I know I can't offer you any explanation that will magically make things okay right now and I don't even want to try. I can't blink or wish that it would go away, because it can't and honestly I'm not sure that I would want it to all go away. I could be a father, and as scary as that is, I don't think I have it in me to wish away a life, whether I had a hand in creating it or not. My life isn't easy right now and I have no right to ask you to stick around, but Bella, baby, that is exactly what I am doing right now. I know that it's a long shot here, but I think you've been feeling the same thing developing between us that I have and I just can't let that go." He held my hands tightly in his, his eyes boring into my own. "Bella, I need you. I need your laughter, your beauty, your strength in my life. I need to see your smile, and hear your laughter. I need to hear your voice as you sing love songs while thinking of me because I can't imagine you singing them to anyone else. Just the thought of it is tearing my heart in two."

"Edward-"

"Bella, I know it may seem like this is too soon but I just can't help it. I need you to understand what it is you mean to me. I need you to know."

"Edward, I know-"

"Bella, I love you."

He loved me. Edward Cullen just said that he loved me.

I held my breath for what seemed like an eternity while my mind went through all the implications of his confession, "I don't know what to say, Edward."

"I don't expect anything from you Bella. I don't expect you to love me back, especially after everything that has happened, but I needed you to know how I feel. I want you to know that no matter what, you have my love."

"Oh Edward, you have no idea. You have absolutely no clue how I have wanted to hear you stay these words to me, because I do, I love you too. So very much," my voice broke as I said it, unsure of what his reaction would be to my confession.

I barely had time to take a breath before his lips crashed against mine, his large warm hands gently framing my face as he did so.

I didn't think that I was ready to take this to a physical place just yet, but my traitorous body and yes, even my heart, proved me wrong in that moment. My body's reaction to his nearness and warmth was instantaneous. My nipples pebbled under my shirt and my core clenched as his tongue entered my mouth, dueling with my own, rubbing and tasting.

My fists, tight in his hair, sifting and pulling through his thick, silky locks, caused the most delicious moan to come from deep within him. One of his hands left my face to stroke its way down my neck and shoulder, running softly down my spine, stopping at my lower back to press me closer to him. The heat from that hand seemed to burn through my shirt and skin, directly into my bones, branding me as his.

As good as he felt, I knew that I needed to pull away. We had so much to talk about and I didn't want to get lost in the physical sensations, which was so easy to do with Edward. No one had ever made me feel the way he did, it was almost as if my body wasn't my own when we were together, his body, hands, and mouth called to mine.

Quickly, before either of us were really ready, I pulled away, the abruptness of my movements startling him.

"Edward, we need to stop," my shaky voice betraying my resolve.

"God, Bella, I am so sorry. I just- Did you mean it? You love me? Even after everything that's happened?" His eyes were wide and his voice were earnest, and for one second, he almost sounded like a little boy.

"Yes, I do love you. I think part of me has loved you since I was 13 and you caught me singing like a goof for Alice that day in your family's music room," his smile got impossibly wider, and I quickly continued, "but that doesn't mean I can forget everything that has happened. We have so much we need to talk about and figure out." I had pulled myself away from him and was pacing now, my hands pulling my hair back and twisting it into a sloppy knot at the base of my neck to keep it out of my face. "I want to know what you're thinking, and what is happening with you and Tanya," I gulped awkwardly, loudly, "and with the baby."

Edward placed a hand on my arm and stopped my manic pacing, "please Bella, sit down, eat. I have all of your favorites tonight, which looks to be a good thing because you look as if you haven't slept or eaten a thing since I last saw you. Please humor me and have some dinner, and I will tell you everything you want to know." He cupped my cheek with his long fingers and stared into my eyes, "Bella, I don't want to hide anything from you, I don't want to keep anything to myself. I love you and I want this to work, if it can, if you want it to."

"Let's sit then and you can tell me everything, from the beginning."

As we sat, Laurent sent out our dinner. There were pan seared scallops and perfectly cooked steak, fresh broiled asparagus, roasted root vegetables, mushroom risotto, warm bread with fresh sweet cream butter, and wine to compliment all of it. It smelled delicious and Edward was correct, all of it was on my favorite foods list, but I had no desire to eat just now. I wanted to hear what he had to say, I needed to hear it, all of it.

He sat across from me, his hands twisting and his knuckles white, as he fought for a place to begin.

"Six months ago I was a different person, Bella. I was a man who really had no purpose. I wasn't happy with my job, I wasn't happy with my personal life. I dated a lot, or rather, I saw a lot of women."

I winced as he said this. His words were painful and hearing them forced me to see an Edward I didn't want to see, didn't even want to think about. He continued, completely oblivious to my reaction.

"I wasn't sleeping with all of them, it was more like I was searching for something and none of them possessed it. Anyway, I was home one night six months ago, tired of the same old clubs and places Emmett dragged me off to and there was a knock at the door. It was Tanya. I was drinking and feeling lonely and she was insistent, and in some ways, familiar and we slept together. I wont make excuses for it, it just happened. The next morning, Alice showed up and found her in the kitchen and ripped her a new one. After Tanya left, Alice started in on me. I knew I didn't want to get back together with Tanya, which I told Alice that morning. I also told Tanya that the next day when she called me. Alice was accepting of it, Tanya, not so much. She called and texted trying to get me to change my mind for a while but I was consistent in my responses, and she eventually gave up. I haven't seen or heard from her since, until you saw us together the other day. She says the baby is mine and as much as I want to say it isn't, I just don't know. We have a paternity test scheduled in a few weeks and I'm trying to prepare myself for both eventualities while remaining somewhat detached from it all. It's so hard to think that she may be doing all of this to mess with me and somehow trap me into a relationship I don't want, but I have to think that that's a distinct possibility here. Tanya will do anything to get what she wants and as much as I hate to think that she would use a defenseless child to get what it is she's after, I know that she is exactly the type of person to do it. If the child is mine, I not only have a responsibility to her and the baby, but I WANT to do what's right, I want to take care of my child. If the child isn't mine, then that is something I will have to face when that time comes. But either way, I won't just push her out the door. I'll see she gets the help she needs to care for her child, because that is what I would want someone in my place to do for a woman I had once cared for."

I nodded and took a deep breath, "Edward, I don't know what to say. It is admirable that you want to care for your child and see that Tanya is taken care of even if it isn't your baby, but where does that leave us? What do you want from me? And before you answer, please know that I'm not asking to be selfish. That is not my intention. I just need to know how you see me fitting in here. Edward, I want to make it work with you. I do love you and I can't think of my life without you in it without my heart breaking into a million pieces, but I need to be realistic about it."

"I want all of you Bella. I want you in my life, but only you can tell me in what capacity you want to be with me. I will take whatever you are willing to give me, whether it's friendship or love, or both. You just need to know that I will never give up on us. Knowing that you love me is one of the most precious gifts you could possibly give me, Bella." His head dropped slightly as he finished.

We sat at that table for a while longer, picking at the delicious food spread out before us, one of Laurent's waiters coming out periodically to remove dishes and refill our wine glasses. The longer we sat there drinking wine and talking, the more I became resolved to be with Edward through this ordeal and not give up on the love I had for him. There was no way I was going to give up on him now.

I knew I wasn't ready to start a family, at least I didn't think I was, but I also didn't want to lose Edward, not now, when we were just getting started.

Eventually, the plates were cleared and the wine was drunk and we sat in a surprisingly companionable silence, when he finally asked me to dance with him.

"There isn't any music, Edward."

He stood and reached his hand out to me gallantly.

"Please Bella, humor me. Dance with me."

His eyes twinkled mischievously in the low light of the club, his ever present smirk gracing his gloriously fine face. I could tell he was up to something.

"What the hell; why not." I said, as I stood and placed my hand in his.

As we stepped around the table to an area that had been cleared of furniture, I heard strains of soft violin music. I glanced toward the stage area to find Alice sitting on a chair on the stage, her eyes closed as she played a tune from memory. It was slow and sultry, and I shuddered as Edward drew my body to his and held me close as we swayed.

My arms wound themselves around his neck and my fingers teased the soft hair at the nape of his neck, as he twirled us in a circle. His face was so close, his breath fanning my face. I looked up to meet his gaze only to find his eyes looking deep into mine as we danced. It was so easy to lose myself in him, in his eyes, while they gazed upon me as if I was the only woman in the world. His hands slid to my hips to clasp me gently but firmly to him.

I wanted to kiss him but thought better of it, as his sister was sitting not 20 yards from us. I knew what his kisses generally led to, and while my body was ready to mate with his in the most primal of ways, I was still unsure if my head and heart were there yet. I laid my cheek against his strong shoulder and felt his lips caress my hair in a soft sweet kiss and I sighed deeply.

I could have stayed wrapped in his arms forever, slowly swaying, breathing in his scent for all eternity. Gone, in this moment, were my concerns and worries about Tanya and the serious things that were happening, gone were my fears that we would not make it. All there was, in this moment, was him and me and this dance, our arms around each other, his hands drifting slowly up my back in a soothing motion as he whispered to me.

"Bella, I want you with me always, no matter what. I love you." His voice deep and passionate as his hands stroked my shoulders.

My traitorous body quivered at the sound of his voice whispering into my ear as he said those words. I knew, in that moment, that I could deny this man nothing. He owned me completely. Whether he was going to have one child or forty, he was mine and I was most definitely his. Forever. And no ex-girlfriend crawling out of the woodwork, no life changing event, was going to keep him from me.

"Edward?"

"Yes, Bella?"

I stepped away from him slowly and reached for his hand, clasping it tightly in my own before meeting his eyes.

"Please Edward, take me home with you."

A/N:

Yes I know that I am evil leaving you there ... I am the queen of cliffies lately and that we didn't have much time elapse here… but I'm building something for you my lovelies … and they had much shit they needed to work through… I hope you enjoyed and whether you did or not, that you will leave a bit o' love in the form of a small, tiny review! You know how they make my day!