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EPOV

The past few weeks had gone by in the blink of an eye. Bella and Charlie were slowly coming to terms with Renee leaving. Bella insisted on making dinners for Charlie and freezing them after discovering that for the first week he had lived on pizza and take out from the diner.

Renee had tried a few times to call Bella but she wasn't anywhere near ready to talk to her yet.

Things on the Jacob front were still quiet. As far as we knew from Charlie via Billy, Jacob had left to go and stay with family on another reservation. We weren't sure why but were glad all the same. Billy assured Charlie that Jacob had received the papers from Bella's lawyer but he wasn't sure what Jacob was going to do. As yet Bella's lawyer hadn't had any word from anyone representing him to say he was contesting Bella's case so that looked as though everything would go through as planned. It was set to go in front of a judge on December third.

Things were going good right now. My work had taken off and I had quite a few jobs lined up. The girl's boutique was ready for it's opening so they were happy. Emmett thought he had found a place to open his bar just outside of Forks. Jasper worked from home as an architect. His firm had agreed to him working from Forks, only having to go up to Seattle when needed.

There was only one problem right now.

Bella and Alice currently weren't speaking over the whole halloween costume debacle. Bella successfully dodged Alice beforehand so Alice took it upon herself to buy a vampire costume complete with make-up, hair gel, fake blood and little boots. Bella told her she was grateful but that she already had a costume for Carson that he would be wearing. One word led to another and Bella told Alice to quit being so controlling and Alice told Bella that she needed to take the stick out of her ass.

Needless to say they hadn't spoken a word to each other since. I was left wondering what was going to happen this weekend at the opening. Obviously as her brother Alice expected me to go and especially with me having shot the photographs for the store. Bella told me to go but that she wouldn't be there. I wanted to go but at the same time, weekends were mine and Bella's time and I didn't want to miss out on that. I was hoping to speak to Bella about it, try to get her to come with me for an hour and then we could go get dinner somewhere.

I had two days to try and talk some sense into both of them. We were currently on our way to Charlie's to deliver the latest batch of food for his freezer. When we got outside there was a familiar silver truck in the driveway. It was the same silver truck I had seen at the gas station when I ran into Jacobs friends.

"What the hell is Sam doing here. Jacob better not be here or me and my father will be having a serious conversation." Bella fumed as she she started for the house.

As we got to the front steps the door opened and the tall guy from before stepped out and closed the door.

"Bella," he sneered then looked at Carson, "There he is. Our future leader who has no idea where he comes from. You ever gonna stop being a bitch and let the boy see his father? Or are you too busy playing house with this poor substitute?"

"Your future leader? He's two. If you guys down there are so bored you want to watch Disney cartoons then you all need to get a life. Go home Sam," she stated and walked away a bit toward the house.

When he didn't get the reaction he wanted he turned on me.

"So does it feel good to break up a family just so you can get in her pants?" he spat at me ad then smirked.

"You show me the family I broke up and I'll let you know." I replied.

"Jacob and Bella should be living on the rez with Carson so that he can learn about his birthright. Instead Jacobs heart is being ripped out and you couldn't care because you get to fuck her whenever you want. Why don't you two just give the boy to Jacob and then you can get on with your petty little lives without interruption."

Before I had the chance to answer Bella went into mama bear mode. She turned around and I seriously thought she was going to launch herself at Sam and beat the crap out of him.

"I should be where now? Living on the the rez with a bunch of fucking ingrates like you? If Jacobs heart is being ripped out then where the fuck is he? Disappeared to some other dumping ground. He hasn't even asked to see his son let alone acting upset about it. He can't even bring himself to stop drinking long enough to visit with his son, but yeah I'll hand him over and let you all have at it. Yeah I'll get right on that. Now get out of my fathers driveway you piece of shit and don't come here again." she yelled at him and then stood daring him to answer her.

Sam turned a scary shade of red and then turned and stormed to his truck and squealed out of the driveway.

We headed into Charlie's to find him and Billy Black in front of the tv. Billy had been over a lot these past few weeks. As much as he was shitty towards Bella, he was really being good to Charlie.

"Why was Sam here?" Bella demanded.

"He was dropping me off Bella. No more no less." Billy said evenly.

I knew that Charlie had spoken to Billy about the way he had been treating Bella. He still wasn't in any way friendly toward her but he tried to be civil.

"Okay. Could you maybe have someone else drop you off in future? I don't really appreciate being talked to like a piece of crap in front of my own fathers house. I'm going to put this food away." she finished and went to the kitchen, Carson following for a cookie.

"What happened Edward?" Charlie asked.

I told him what had went down outside.

"Billy I can't have him treating Bella that way. Especially when everyone down on the rez knows the way Jake has acted towards Bella. If she was just doing all of this out of spite then I could understand but she has a damn good reason for keeping Carson and him apart."

"I'll speak to him" was all Billy said on the matter.

"Have you heard anything from the lawyer yet Bells?" Charlie asked as Bella came back into the room.

"Yeah. I have a date for court." was all she answered.

She didn't want to say to much in front of Billy. The first time Charlie spoke about the custody case in front of Billy I was really taken aback but he explained to Bella that it was his way of showing Billy that he was a hundred percent behind her.

We stayed a little longer and chatted with Charlie. Billy barely spoke, only answering when he was asked something directly. We left and headed to Bella's. Once we got there and got Carson settled for the night I decided to broach the subject of Saturday with her. Before I got the chance she brought it up.

"So, Rose is really excited for Saturday. She said they have everything organized and it's just a case now of waiting. I hope it goes really well for them."

"Me too. I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Is there anyway you would come with me for an hour? I thought if you would we could go, show face and then we could go have a nice dinner somewhere. I know things are awkward with you and Ali right now but Rosalie would love it if you'd go. You two are close now and I think it would mean a lot to her if you were to show." I said honestly.

"Yeah, she already asked me. I don't know. I mean as much as I would love to be there for both of them I don't want to make things difficult for Alice. It's not even as though I'm mad at her any more, I just wish she would reign it in a bit. I know she thinks I'm being uptight when I refuse to do things her way but usually there's a good reason behind it. She just gets so carried away. The last time we were out shopping we passed a bridal boutique and I had to fake feeling sick to get out of trying on dresses. She can just be so crazy sometimes."

Wedding dresses?

"Why would she want you to try on dresses?" I asked confused.

"According to her she has one of her 'feelings' that we'll get married someday and apparently it just wouldn't do to buy off the rack so she wanted to get an idea of shapes would suit me best so that she can plan ahead. See, what I mean? Crazy. I mean we've only been dating a few months and to be honest I just never saw myself as the marrying kind." she answered looking down at her hands.

Did this mean she still never wanted to get married?

"So do you never want to get married or was it that you just never thought about it?" I asked, surprisingly feeling nervous about her answer.

"I guess I just never saw it happening for me. After I had Carson I never dated because I wanted to focus on him and not some random guy. Then since I met you I think I've just been so overwhelmed at the feelings I have for you that I never thought about it."

"So you could maybe see it happening now? I mean in the future" I clarified.

"Maybe. I think this is just all so new for me that I want to concentrate on building more on that before I even think about weddings." she looked nervous.

"That's fine Bella. I mean my divorce isn't final yet and you're going through the custody thing with Carson. Don't get me wrong, the way I feel about you I could see us getting there some day. But I mean way in the future. We don't have to even think about it and if Alice starts that shit again just tell her to back off. I think she just struggles with you because her whole life she's been spoiled. And I don't mean with material things, we all got treated the same, but Alice always craved a lot of attention. We all gave in to her because it made life easier and a hell of a lot quieter. Even now, if she knows my mom has an event she'll show up on the doorstep with a garment bag with a whole outfit in it and just expect my mom to wear it, no questions asked. And my mom will do it because she doesn't want to upset her.

You're the first person who has actually told her no and stuck to it. She'll eventually cotton on that you aren't going to back down, and she'll ease up. The thing is she thinks she's helping out, she doesn't see it as interfering or being overbearing. She's sees it that she takes care of things for us to look after us. In her own way she's just treating you as she treats us. She's showing you in her own way that she accepts you as part of the family."

"And now I feel horrible. I do appreciate the fact that she thinks it's nice to take care of things. I'm just used to taking care of things my self and there a lot of things that I want to take care of myself. Especially when it comes to Carson. I love doing the little things like picking out his costume for one. In a couple of years he'll want to do that for himself and then I won't be able to. Even the wedding dress thing. No offence to Ali but if and when the time come I want to pick out my own dress whether it be off the rack or having it designed. If I decide to ask her then fine but I don't want my choice taken away from me.

If you think it'll be okay with Alice then I'll come with you but can you de me a favour? Talk to her tomorrow and ask if she'll be okay with it. I don't want ruin her big day." she finished.

"Yeah I'll talk to her. And I'll also talk to her again about taking over." I answered.

The next day I asked Alice to meet me for lunch. She was at the store doing last minute checks and I had been at the studio preparing shots for the ad company that had hired me for their latest campaign. She agreed but said since I was still working she would pick some sandwiches up and come to me.

Typically Alice, she arrived bang on one o'clock.

"Hey baby bro, hows the photos coming along?" she asked as she kissed my cheek.

"Good. I'm almost done. Listen I wanted to talk to you," I started.

"About Bella I take it," I nodded.

"Look Edward, I was only trying to be involved. If Bella and Carson are going to be a part of your life I want to get to know them properly and get along with Bella. She's just not making things easy. You know I would never do anything to intentionally piss her off but it seems that's all I do. I don't know what to do to get along with her." she looked sad.

"Ali, you have to remember that we all know you and what you're like. Bella's not used to someone doing all these things for her. And when it comes to Carson she likes doing small things like the whole costume thing. She was so proud of herself when she found him that little outfit because she knew how much he would love it. It's his favourite thing right now. Then you went in and told her it was crap and tried to force her to do it your way. Then there was some issue about a wedding dress? We've never even discussed marriage and you're sizing her up for a dress, that she hadn't even asked you to design. You just need to back off a little."

"Why wouldn't she ask me to design the dress? I mean how would that look, my brother's wife to be doesn't ask his sister to design her gown when I have a list the length of my arm with bridal appointments?" she looked peeved.

"You're missing the point Ali. If and when we get married we have to be allowed to do things our way. If Bella asks you to make her dress then fine but if not then you just have to let her do her own thing. And as for Carson, you have to remember that he is her son. If she chose not to get him a costume at all, if she chose to wear clothes on him that you deem hideous, then you just have to clam up and let her get on with it. All you can do is offer her your opinion. If she chooses to take it great, if not then tough. That's what it boils down to. She feels that you just get an idea and run with it and don't stop to consider her feelings on the matter."

"That's not true" she frowned.

"Ali, think about it. How many times did she tell you she had an outfit for him for halloween?"

"I suppose. Is she still pissed?" she asked sadly.

"No. I think she just wants you to be a bit more considerate. She wants to get on with you, in fact most of the times you guys have spent together shopping and having dinner and stuff she's really enjoyed it. I think you just need to calm down a bit. I asked her to come tomorrow."

"What did she say?"

"She said she would as long as it didn't make you feel uncomfortable. She didn't want anything to ruin your opening for you. If it's okay, we'll come for a while and then I'm going to take her to dinner."

"Who will watch Carson? Her dad and all of us are going to be at the opening as are Angela, Leah and Luciana. I don't think there's anyone else she would trust him with. Unless she brings him and then one of us could take him home for the night. Why don't I call her and we can straighten things out and then figure out tomorrow. I would offer to take him home with me and Jazz but I don't know how late I'll be at the shop after the opening."

"Call her and we'll figure it out." I answered as I opened my sandwich.

After her and Alice spoke for a while Ali passed the phone to me.

"Hi baby, what you doing?" I asked.

"I'm just on my break. Your mom and Rosalie are here. I think Rose is headed to Port Angeles when she's finished her lunch. Alice apologized but I guess you know that." she laughed.

"I do. Did she ask about tomorrow? About Carson?"

"Yeah. Your mom has already offered to take him but I think I'll ask my dad. He won't stay that long anyway. Clothing boutique openings aren't really his style" she chuckled again.

"Yeah I can't see Charlie hanging around that long. You know if he really doesn't want to go he doesn't have to. Alice and Rose won't be offended."

"I know but he thinks it's great how successful they are and wants to show his support. He'll probably only stay an hour or so anyway. Carson staying with him will take his mind off of everything for a while anyway. He got divorce papers in the mail today. He called me earlier." she said thickly.

"I'm sorry baby. You okay?"

"I'm just hurting for him you know? She could at least have let things settle a little more before she did this. It's like rubbing salt in the wound. Anyway, enough about that. What time are you finished today?"

"About another hour I think. You still seeing the girls tonight?" I asked.

She had arranged to have Angela and Rose over for dinner and movies. I looked up and saw Alice quickly look away. She looked hurt.

"I'm going to go now baby so I can finish up. I'll be over to see you and Carson before the girls get there okay? I love you baby. See you soon."

"Love you too. Bye."

I decided to call Bella back once Alice had left. I had a feeling my sister was feeling left out. Alice was about to leave when her cell rang.

"It's Bella" she said as she answered.

"Hello, no I'm not doing anything. I'm just going to finish a couple more things and then I'm heading home, are you sure?, yeah I would love that, do you need me to bring anything, okay sure, I'll see you at seven, okay thanks Bella, bye."

She hung the phone up with a huge smile on her face.

"Bella invited me over tonight. Did you ask her to?" she narrowed her eyes at me.

"I swear I didn't. I was going to but she obviously decided for herself. She does like you Ali, she just needs to get used to your hyper activeness!" I ducked as she swatted her hand at me.

"I am not hyper. I'm enthusiastic!" she huffed.

"Whatever. Now get out of here. Some of us need to work today."

She kissed me and left.

I was really glad the women in my life were coming together.

Characters not mine.