Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Give Me A Little Trust

Chapter Six: Checked Out

Edward's POV

It was officially happening; we were going to have to go to court and get a divorce. Lauren dished up the papers and I was sent a copy at work. That was a real surprise, looking through the spreadsheets to suddenly find my divorce papers, already signed by Lauren.

I shouldn't have been surprised since things had gone from bad to worse. We started off arguing and then she turned to throwing me out, that's really not an improvement. I've tried to make this work but clearly she's giving up. In all honesty, it hurts.

If someone had told me on my wedding day that it would end in divorce I would never have believed them. Back then we were the perfect couple. Lauren was amazing, a godsend, nothing like she is right now. I remember her on our wedding day, walking down the aisle with such confidence and looking so radiant. I was head over heels for her and she knew it. Though the feeling was mutual.

But now we're getting divorced. Gone is the image of my perfect bride and in replace is one of a woman who hates my guts. The only problem is I still love her. I still remember waking up next to her every day, the first date we went on, the first time we made love, the first holiday we went on together, our first apartment, and all the other firsts we had.

I would have said Lauren was the one, but clearly I'm not the one for her. Maybe she'll find what she's looking for, a man whose sperm works. Hell, she could pick any man off the street and she could probably get pregnant by them, apart from me. Who would want that? Who would want a man that they could never have children with?

I mean, that's what we're here for. What woman would tie themselves down to a man who couldn't give them a baby? No one. So by losing Lauren I'm destined to be alone. Granted I will have relationships but they could be nothing serious. No woman would want me for longer than a fling.

With all that said and done I couldn't sign the divorce papers. I wasn't ready to yet. It required time and thought to truly abandon my marriage and I'm not sure I can. Then there's the backlash of getting divorced. People will want to know why and I am not up for explaining that it's because I'm infertile. The press would have a field day with that.

Being the focus of the gossip columns is not what I want. Instead I want to be ruling over the Financial Times and doing what I do best, making money. Of course it's not all about the money, I'm not a selfish guy so don't keep everything I earn just for me. With the money the company makes me I donate, sponsor, support organizations and people that need it the most in the local areas so I can see the change taking place and help get involved. Throwing a check with a list of zeros is not going to solve the problem; it also involves time and effort.

With me now living so close to the office I work more than ever so volunteering and getting involved in these groups I've been sponsoring over the years could give me a break from the chaos of my wife wanting rid of me.

The divorce papers were sent to me a week ago but were still unsigned. Signing the papers would mean I would have to admit I failed as a husband. I never fail at anything so this would certainly be a shock.

"Hey Edward." Alice said, prancing into my office.

"Hi." I buried the divorce papers under the files and hoped she didn't notice how I kept them from sight. "What can I do for you?"

"I want to buy Jasper a birthday present but I don't know what he'd like." Rose walked in smiling at us both, picking up what Alice said.

"Let's put you in some sexy underwear and stick a bow on you, he'd love that." I shot her a glare but she just ignored me.

"As your brother I advise you don't do that, I like Jasper; I wouldn't want to kick his ass for sleeping with my sister."

"Oh Eddie, they wouldn't be sleeping." Rose said, gaining another glare. She just laughed it off. "Come on you two, you need to loosen up a bit. Okay well Alice you probably shouldn't but Edward you need to."

"What makes you say that?" I played with my purple tie while she replied.

"Because you're a stick in the mud. You have fun but come on, lately you've been miserable. Get whatever the hell is stuck up your ass out and we'll all be more relaxed." The two of them set themselves down across from me.

"Rose does have a point Edward." Alice said, looking at me

"No, she does not."

"I do, you mope around. Where did our fun Eddie go?" Rose asked.

"He checked out for a while." I answered, a little tired from everything going on in my life.

"Well anyway, I came here to ask you about Jazz's b-day present and to tell you that the guys are having a night in and you're invited." Alice said, grabbing Rose's hand as they made to leave. "Call Bella, she has all the details."

Then they left, leaving me with a headache and another thing to add to my to-do list, though calling Bella was probably the best thing on said list. She answered after a couple of rings and I could tell I had caught her at a bad time as there was a smoke alarm going off in the background and Bella didn't greet me with any of the normal pleasantries but instead a rather rushed 'Hold on please!'.

So I waited, and waited then heard the smoke alarm go off and Bella muttering to herself. After another ten minutes I was unsure of what to do. I had put the phone on loudspeaker and returned to my work while waiting from Bella to come back to the phone.

"Oh god I'm so sorry. Hi, who's this? I totally forgot about the phone; if you haven't gathered things were a little crazy." She rushed out in her frantic voice causing me to chuckle. "Oh, hi Edward."

"Hi Bella." So she could tell who I was from my laugh, that was good to know. "Everything alright now?"

"Yeah. I burnt the chocolates I was making, the oven was on higher than I thought and smoke was everywhere but luckily no fire." She said relieved.

"Well thank god."

"My thoughts exactly. So what can I do for you?"

"Alice told me to call for details about a guy's night." She laughed on the other end. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"Your tone of voice. You're making it seem like it's a night of pure torture." I chuckled, not realizing that's how I come across.

"No I just…I'm not sure about it. I don't know Emmett and Jasper all that well."

"That's why this is your chance to get to know them." She said brightly. "Look honestly all your doing is coming over to my house and playing a bunch of video games, drinking beer, watching sports, playing poker and whatever else you guys want to do. It's not bad."

"Why is it at your house?"

"I have the biggest TV compared to those two so Emmett always claims it for nights like that. I don't mind, I'm use to their antics now. So are you going to go?"

"Yeah, I'd like to get to know your friends better and hopefully you as well. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go get something to eat or-"

"Edward." Bella said cutting me off. "We can't do anything that could be thought of as a date while you're still married. I'm sorry."

"No, no it's fine." I said a little deflated but I knew she was right. "Sorry for asking and possibly making things uncomfortable between us. I'd still really like to be friends with you."

"Good, 'cause I don't think you're going to get rid of me easily." She said lightly, changing the atmosphere of the conversation to the low point I had brought it to.

"Well, thanks for the details on that, I'll call Emmett or Jasper and see what they say, maybe just get a chance to talk to them outside of when we meet as that's the only time I see or speak to them."

"That would be good."

"So I'll leave you to it. Have a good day Bella."

"You too Edward. Bye."

"Bye." We hung up and I felt like a fool.

I asked her out on a date practically and I'm still married. Hell, I'm still trying to salvage my marriage so why the hell would I do something like that? What a bloody idiot I am. Sighing loudly I shook my head, ignoring my thoughts, and went back to work, going to call Jasper or Emmett later on in the day.

The following evening I was going to have my guy's night with Jasper and Emmett. Just like Bella said on the phone we were just going to hang out, play video games, watch TV and chill. As I was about to ring the doorbell I realized that I hadn't had a proper guys night in over eight months.

Lauren didn't think of it as very good for our marriage and wanted me to spend my time with her or at the office. At the time I didn't think much of it but now she cut me off from many friends I had had. She gave me a rather restrictive life to be honest but for some reason I did nothing to prevent that. And I have no idea why.

Well things were going to change. I couldn't hold onto this dream of the perfect life and perfect family when I can't have kids and my wife only wants to give birth to her husband's child. The papers would have to be signed and I'd have to break the news to everyone. That I was a failure of a husband.

"Oh hey." Bella said, opening the door before I had a chance to ring the door bell. "How are you?" She asked, pulling me into a hug.

"I'm okay thanks, and yourself?"

"Good. Just off to meet Alice and Rose for some drinks. Have fun tonight."

"You too." We smiled at one another before she walked away to a cab waiting for her on the corner that I hadn't noticed. "Bella!" I called after her. I wanted to tell her I was getting a divorce and that would change things but for some reason the words got caught.

She was looking at me with her eyebrows raised in question, curious as to see what I was going to say. "Eh…you look beautiful this evening." I saw her blush and smile.

"Thanks." With that she turned away and darted into the cab before driving off.

She was certainly something else and something unattainable at this stage. Though that would change. I want…to be honest I don't know what I want but it has something to do with her, that's for sure. Lauren's now out and Bella's in.

Although Bella may not be 'The One' for me I sure as hell know she's a better match to me than Lauren will ever be anymore. Maybe a few years ago I would have seriously thought differently but now Lauren was a vicious character and Bella was my sweet angel.

I'd call my lawyer in the morning, get everything set up and make sure the divorce was all kept under wraps, especially the reason why we were getting divorced. I'd put it down to 'differences of opinions' and that way I could at least save myself in some way.

A.N.

Thank you to bronzehairedgirl620 for beta reading this chapter and every other that you worked on.