While it would be nice to claim ownership over Handsome Rob, I do not. Nor do I own anything Twilight related. No infringments intended...just a bit of fun.

The chandeliers in the ballroom glistened like a spring rain on the petals of roses. The air smelled of the finest cuts of beef. Breasts were exposed and heaving while curls were coyly tucked behind diamond encrusted ears. It was so strange to see these men who were normally covered in tattoos and mud to now be covered with bow ties and plastic smiles. I have never understood what it was about the word 'gala' that made everyone loose their mind.

Since we exited the limo mere minutes ago, I felt more on edge than I had ever imagined I would. Daddy had been gone over a year now, and I still couldn't stand the look of pity when people talked to me.

As Edward extended his elbow to me in an effort to escort me to the open bar, I was actually glad that he was here with me. The drive over here had been tense, and Edward and I had barely looked at one another. It had worried me then, but I was glad for him right now.

"My Lo..Lady." He smiled sheepishly, and I knew he was hoping that I overlooked his near slip.

I wrapped my hand around his arm, and I followed him to the bar.

After nearly an hour had passed and I had managed to speak with virtually everyone in the room about how much they missed Charlie, Edward finally pulled me to our seats and made me rest.

I couldn't even find it in myself to protest.

"You need to eat something." Edward started to get up from the table, and I placed my hand on his arm to stop him.

"I'm sure dinner will be served before long." I was starving, but I didn't want any special treatment.

"Hey, I know a guy in the kitchen, I'm sure I can get you something to nibble on, okay?"

He placed his palm over the top of my hand and smiled down at me.

"I know what you like. Don't worry."

As I watched him walk across the room, I wondered how true that was. He had changed so much in 4 years. Not his appearance, as mine had, but him. The once wild and crazy boy that was full of attitude and a cocky demeanor was now replaced with a calm man who was almost...quiet.

Waiting for Edward to return, I watched Alice and Jasper twirl around the room. I envied them. They had managed to hold on to the love they had for each other all this time. My mind drifted to Rose and Em, who were undoubtedly absent because they were making out in a corner somewhere. So many obstacles had been overcome by both couples, so much love cherished.

I would be lying if I didn't admit that there had been times that I wondered if I had made the wrong choice all those years ago.

I've wondered what would have happened if I had tried harder to get Edward help? Would things be different now? Would he have gotten better sooner?

I shake my head in an attempt to rid myself of 'what if's' and 'maybes'.

Taking a long sip of my champagne, I notice Edward striding casually back to our table with a plate overloaded with food. I notice the eyes full of smoky shadows and false lashes that follow him. He always did draw attention.

"They only had romaine lettuce, so I ask them to make one with spinach for you. It should be out in a few minutes."

As he placed the plate on the table in front of me, I noticed it was full of my favorites. There wasn't a single thing on the plate that I didn't like. My mind automatically drifted to a Saturday night a few months ago when Jamie brought dinner to my house. He had brought a wonderful salad, but I couldn't eat it because Romaine lettuce hurts my stomach. That night it just seemed like an oversight-something I had never told him. Tonight, it seems like just another item on a long list of ways I had never let him know me.

When Edward sat beside me without a plate, I stopped eating.

"Didn't you get yourself anything?"

"I ate a little before I left home." He gripped his glass full of dark liquid.

"Is that Coke?" I asked before I even realized the words had fallen from my lips.

He looked down at the glass and took a deep breath.

"Yeah."

I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed thickly. He turned his body toward me and stuck out his hand. Unsure as to why he wanted to shake my hand, I slowly placed mine in his, and he shook it gently.

"Hello. My name is Edward Cullen and I'm an alcoholic."

If the music continued, I didn't notice. If the crowd continued to dance, I didn't notice. If anything but Edward and I existed in that room -I didn't notice.

Alcoholic? I never knew Edward to have a drinking problem. Yeah, he had partaken of a little here and there, but we all had. Addict? Maybe. I did find him in the act, but drinking?

"Since when?"

I wanted answers too badly to be subtle.

"Since the accident." It was a simple statement. One that should be self-explanatory. But all it did was fuel a million more questions in my mind.

Was he drinking while I was still here? Was it the catalyst for the drug use or did the drug use cause the drinking?

"Stop." He said, looking deeply in my eyes.

"I know you're asking yourself about 70 questions right now, but stop."

I finally broke his gaze and realized that the room had continued to go on without us. No one was looking, but I couldn't help but feel like the world was caving in on me. Questions that had long been buried beneath the surface of my soul were suddenly dancing with new questions, neither finding any answers.

Struggling to compose myself, I knew I needed to get away.

"I need to..." I wasn't even sure how to finish that sentence. I sat for a moment, waiting to find the words, but when they failed me, I simply dropped my fork and stood.

I walked as briskly as I could toward the bathrooms, trying to avoid running.

Once I got to the bathroom, I placed both hands on the granite counter and dropped my head. Tears that I had stored for years threatened my make-up, but I resisted the urge as much as I could.

After I had patted some water on my face and pulled myself together, I took a deep breath and started my journey back to the table.

As soon as I exited the bathroom and stepped out into the hallway, I felt a hand pull at my elbow. Edward led deeper into the hallway, before pulling me into a dark room. It was an office that was dimly lit by a table lamp. The reflection of the warm bulb glowed on the polished mahogany.

"This is what I was trying to tell you the other night. We have so much to talk about and it's long overdue. In fact, it should have happened years ago."

His words were quick, but rehearsed. This was a conversation that he had thought about many times. Oddly, it was one I had never planned to have at all.

"Edward..." Before I could finish, he cut me off.

"We aren't going to have it here, but we are going to have it, dammit. I'm tired of chasing you all over town, trying to get you to listen to me."

It was the first time since I had been home that Edward had shown any sign of his old self. At a time when it should have scared or intimidated me, it only made me feel better, more at home.

He took two large strides toward me and placed his hand on my shoulders.

"I know you have questions, and I promise you, I promise you, Bella, you will get your answers. I will tell you everything you need to know and I will do it happily."

His hand came up from my shoulder and gently stroked my jawbone.

"There are so many things that should be different. We should be here, waiting to get home to our kids. You should have been able to get ready tonight with your only worry being which dress was the most flattering for your round stomach that should have been full with our love. I should have made that happen. I should have...I know that now."

As his words filled my ears, his touch filled my heart. I found myself burning for him, the intense and familiar pull that only Edward had ever caused. My lips were on his before I even realized what had happened. They were just as I remembered them and the feeling in my body was the same too.

I felt alive and wanted, beautiful and confident. When Edward's lips parted, begging me to explore further, the reality of the situation crashed back down on me.

Pressing my palms against his chest, I pushed him away from me.

"Stop. I can't, I just can't." I turned away from him and wiped my mouth.

"I know. I shouldn't have done that. You aren't ready, and I respect that."

He turned away from me, and he subtly adjusted himself as he blew out a shaky breath.

My head was screaming at my heart, and that traitorous hussy, which I am pretty sure was in league with my vagina, laughed in her face. My mind was a mine field. It was filled with pieces of time, so painful in their composure, that I hadn't given them much thought in years. Yet, those memories mixed with snippets of the man I had met since being home. He was a thoughtful, sweet and charming man that I craved more of.

Edward straightened his tie and checked his cufflinks before he headed toward the door. I pressed the invisible wrinkles out of my dress and followed behind him. When Edward's hand gripped the knob, he turned to me.

"But I damn sure won't say I regret it. Or that I don't miss hearing you moan my name."

With a smirk and a wink, he walked out the door.

Now there is the Edward I remember.

Once Edward and I made it back to the table, the others are eating and I notice that the ceremony had begun. When I checked the itinerary sitting beside my plate, I noticed 'Charlie Swan's Tribute,' was only minutes away.

The unexpected turn of events with Edward had been a distraction from the events of the gala, I had nearly forgotten that I was due to speak any minute.

When the program changed and I knew it was time for the tribute, the screen behind the presenter displayed a slideshow of daddy. As the pictures changed from his youth, to photos of me and daddy, the tears building in my eyes became harder to hold back.

Wordlessly, Edward's hand covered my own, and I realized that his comfort was needed more than I realized.

As the photos chronicled daddy's life, I couldn't help but notice how many were of Edward and him. It was the first time that I thought about how much Edward must be hurting too.

I placed my hand onto the pile of our intertwined fingers, letting him know in the simple gesture, that I understood.

I could only barely hear the words of the presenter, but I knew that I was supposed to go to the stage to speak. Barely holding back sobs, I wondered how I would ever manage to talk on that stage.

When the clapping ceased and the eyes of the crowd turned toward me, I realized the screen behind the podium displayed a photo of Daddy and me. It was the last one that was ever taken. Alice and Daddy had come out and visited me. We took the photo on the beach just before they left for the airport.

When I pulled my eyes from the screen, I looked at Edward and we spoke silently. It was familiar and I was surprised at how much I had missed someone knowing me so well.

With a small smile and a pat to my hand, Edward rose, pushed his chair up and made his way to the stage.

The MC scrambled a bit, but before Edward began, the photo behind him changed and was replaced with the one that sat on my nightstand for years.

It was Daddy, Edward and me. It was from the race that Edward won just before he got his sponsorship. It was one of the best days of my life. In the photo, I sat sideways on Edward's bike, while he held it up. Dad was on the other side of me, and they both had their arms around me.

"There aren't enough words to describe who Charlie Swan was. He was more of a man than anyone I know. Thousands of riders got a chance to do what they love...all because of him."

Edward swiped below his eyes and took a deep breath.

"He changed my life. When I met Charlie, I was young and stupid. I thought the world owed me something. Charlie showed me, right away, a man is only as good as his character. Plain and simple."

Edward ran his hand through his hair and looked out over the crowd.

"Looking out, I see at least half a dozen riders who wouldn't be where they are today, if not for Charlie. He helped me, gave me the tools to make something of my self."

Edward's eyes locked on mine.

"Gave me the world."

He paused and the corner of house mouth lifted.

"The last words he said to me were, 'who you've been, isn't who you have to be.' I didn't get it then, like I do now..."

Edward's words continued, but I didn't hear them. The moments from my past collided with those from my present. Thoughts of how close Daddy and Edward were began to haunt me, and I wondered how much I didn't know. How much did Daddy know?

Before I realized my body's movement, all I could hear was the sound of my heels clicking on the tile floor as I fled the room. Stumbling out the doors and into the parking lot, I searched for the limo.

The driver was startled when I flung myself in the back.

"Where to Miss?"

"Home. Take me home."

As the car pulled from the parking lot, the plans began to click in place. I couldn't do this. I couldn't just forgive him and pretend that everything was okay. I couldn't forgive all the pain, the hurt. I couldn't forget the cheating or the drugs.

This Edward was so different. Where was he 4 years ago? Where was he when I cried myself to sleep? Where was he when I held Rose's hand and promised Emmett would walk again?

As the limo pulled into the driveway of Alice's house, I flung open the door and spoke to the driver.

"Wait here for just a few minutes. I'm going to change and grab my bags. I need you to take me to the airport.

So, I've been review fail for the last couple chapters. Not because I don't love and cherish every single one, but because I'm working very hard to get this story finished. I've drug it out so much longer than I had ever intended to. It's hard for me to say exactly, but I see us ending someone around 25 or so. Anyway, I appreciate all those reviews, and just because I may not get back to...I promise, I cherish your words...even the bad ones!

As always, a huge thanks to TwilightMom505 who is the best beta ever. I always tweak after she sends, so all those mistakes are mine and are of no reflection in her! I love you, T.

See you guys soon!