Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Give Me A Little Trust

Chapter Eight: Lacking

Edward's POV

"Come on Edward, talk to me." Alice said, giving me another one of those looks.

She had managed to clear my afternoon like she planned even though I begged my secretary to change it back but clearly with no luck or I wouldn't have been in the coffee house a block away from the office with Alice.

"There isn't anything to say." I said rather glumly. She placed her hand onto mine and looked at me softly.

"Please Edward, you can tell me. When did things change for you?"

"Eh…"I sighed and pushed my emotions away. "We were trying to have a baby and after a while nothing happened so we went in for a check up. We decided I would get looked at first as my procedure was easier and I gave them a sample. It came back that I was infertile and things just went down from there." I said slowly, thinking over everything that had changed recently.

"When did you find out?"

"Our one year wedding anniversary." That night flashed before my eyes again, bringing with it conversations and people I'd like to forget.

"Aww. Honey why didn't you say something to me?" Alice hugged me and kissed my cheek.

"What was I to say, that I was a failure of a man?"

"You're not, I promise."

"Who would want me Alice? I can't give any woman a baby." The emotions were ripping through my chest but I would not let them surface no matter how hard it was.

"Did you only want to have a baby that was your own?"

"No I tried to convince her that we could adopt but she was very put off. Lauren wanted to carry her husband's baby and if I couldn't give her the baby then I couldn't be that husband."

"That's awful. You know what Edward you are so much better than her and she definitely never deserved you."

"I thought you liked Lauren?" I questioned.

"She was okay, but the second she ditches you because you can't give her a baby she just went on my hit list." Alice nodded in confirmation, to enforce her point. I smiled at her, glad she didn't think less of me.

"So how did it get out? I know you didn't tell." Alice asked after a few seconds.

"Eh…well only three people knew. Lauren, Dr Marshall who diagnosed me and Bella."

"Who do you think it is?" I pondered over the conclusion I had made and decided to stick to it.

"Bella." I said glumly. Alice looked at me shocked and shook her head.

"No Edward, you're wrong, you've got it wrong. Bella would never do that to you. Edward she cares about you. There is no way that she would break our trust like that. What makes you think it isn't Lauren? In all honesty that's the first person I would think told."

"Lauren is currently accepting a settlement through the divorce. If she referred to why we split as anything other than 'differences of opinions' then she wouldn't get the deal. We haven't signed those papers yet Alice, she wouldn't have done it. The risks for her are too high, divorcing me means she gets nothing unless I chose to give her anything."

"Well she could have told someone?!" She said exasperated.

"I don't think so. She was embarrassed by the thought of people knowing I was a failure of a man and couldn't get her pregnant. It wouldn't make her look good."

"Then the doctor? It was one of them, not Bella."

"Alice come on, we both know the medical industry well, a very successful doctor would not throw away their career to spill a few secrets to the papers." She bit her lip and frowned coming to the conclusion I had come to earlier.

"I know it wasn't her Edward. Bella really cared about you, there's no way that she would have stabbed you in the back like that. You need to talk to her."

"She called this morning and I told her not to call back." I stated earning a nasty look from Alice.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I'm hurt and pissed and betrayed. The only person it could be is Bella as she had nothing to lose by telling the press." I said angrily.

"You're wrong there Edward." Alice stood up, shaking her head.

"No. If Lauren did it she would have lost a home, a wealthy bank account and a lifestyle she loves, if the doctor did it he would have lost his career and most likely have been sued. What would Bella have lost?"

"You." Alice said before kissing me on the cheek and leaving.

I felt like crap the rest of the afternoon and went back to my temporary apartment around ten o'clock at night. I figured that I could put off my problems by burying myself in work but then the building was being locked up so I had to leave. It was pathetic of me but I didn't know how to handle things better.

I needed to know, for sure, who let it out that I was infertile. So that meant that come the morning I would be hiring a private investigator to search for the squealer. If they told me it wasn't Bella then I had to give her one hell of an apology but as far as I'm concerned right now it could only be her.

I just wish it wasn't.

The irony of the situation was though that I wanted to call Bella and talk to her about my problems, when in fact she is the problem right now. Before, anytime something was difficult I would talk it out with her but now I can't exactly do that.

My cell phone rang on the kitchen counter while I was making pasta so I pulled myself away from the boiling pot and answered it. I knew I would eventually be getting this call.

"Edward, sweetie, is everything okay?" My mother asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine." Though really it wasn't, the pasta just boiled over.

"Is it true?"

"Yeah I'm infertile." I sighed; this was not the way I wanted to have this conversation with my parents.

"You know your father and I are here for you, right?" Esme asked, if she had been in the room she would have been hugging me.

"Of course. I just, didn't…wasn't ready to tell people yet. Though someone took away that option for me."

"Do you know who?" There was a slight defensive tone and I knew my mother would stand up for me and no doubt have a few words with the person.

"No." I didn't voice my opinions of Bella, though I don't know why.

"Oh, well we're sorry honey. If you ever need to talk about it you know we're just a phone call or a car drive away."

"I know thanks."

"Have a good night, love you."

"Love you too, bye." She hung up which let me focus all my attention on plating the pasta rather than the pain from all the pity I seemed to be gathering.

So there I was, eating by myself with only my work to keep me company. There were over six hundred television channels but absolutely nothing worth watching. This would have been the exact time I would have called Bella. Even though I know I can't call her but the temptation is still present. Of course I wouldn't want to bother Rose or Alice with my insecurities so I was just going to have to cope alone.

With nothing to do after my food I headed straight to bed, not trying to prolong the fact that going to bed was the only thing on my agenda. Due to the thoughts plaguing my mind I had a restless sleep filled with guilt.

I jumped the gun and wanted to apologise to Bella, but not fully. Although I want to believe she had nothing to do with my secret getting out I couldn't come to any other conclusion. Soon enough a plan was forming in my mind.

I would take Bella to lunch; explain my point of view and why I thought she had betrayed me. She probably won't like what I have to say but until I'm certain it was her; I want to leave enough room to still be friends with her. Though I really should have thought about that earlier.

Bella's POV

I was exceedingly surprised when Edward turned up at my door after lunch looking like hell. His suit was rumpled and creased with his tie skewed and with the top buttons undone at the top. There were dark circles under his eyes and a sorrowful look across his face.

The anger and confusion over the last time we spot was still present but there was a pang of worry for him. I opened the door wide for him and let him in. He didn't say anything but just entered and stood awkwardly in the living room.

"Take a seat." I suggested as he tugged at his tie nervously.

"Thanks." His voice was rather gruff but he took a seat.

"Would you like something to drink or eat?"

"No thank you."

"Then why are you here?" It came out harsher than I wanted it to but he didn't seem surprised.

"I…I'm sorry." He said, looking deeply into my eyes. "I never gave you an explanation as to why I am angry with you and that was not fair. But after coming to my senses, with some prodding from Alice, I realise that there may be some error of doubt into my anger."

"Edward." I sighed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I know." He shook his head then stood up, walked over to me. "Only three people knew I was infertile, Lauren, my Doctor and you."

"So you think I did tell?" I accused.

"Yes." Now I was seriously offended.

"So you would automatically assume that I would tell rather than your psycho ex-wife."

"She's not my ex-wife yet but that's not the point. In the divorce Lauren would lose everything if she told, that's how I know it wasn't her. I jumped to conclusions quickly; you were the only one I thought could have done this to me."

"And know?" I asked.

"I'm not sure."

"How not? Edward why would I do that to you?"

"I…when I found out about it I was angry, upset, hurt and betrayed. I'm still not sure who told but I wanted to ask you point blank." He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, looking at me softly. "Did you tell anyone that I was infertile?"

"No, Edward. I would never do that to you. If we are going to have any friendship you have to trust me. I won't betray you and I haven't." I held out my arms to hug him, which I had wanted to do since he walked in.

Instantly he fell into my arms, wrapped his arms my waist and laid his head onto my shoulder. I heard him breath in deep and his muscles instantly relax. I soothingly patted his back wondering how we even got here. When he turned up at the door I was angry and pissed but now here I was comforting him.

"I'm sorry I can't give you my full trust, not yet and I understand perfectly if you don't want me around." Edward said, pulling back but still keeping his arms around me.

"You've apologised so I guess there is nothing else for me to do but forgive you." He relaxed slightly and gave me a thankful smile. "But don't think that I'm not hurt by your accusation."

In fact I was very hurt by his accusation but even through all that anger I still had a soft spot for him. I could forgive him but only because I didn't want to lose him, in the long run though this lack of trust will never be forgotten. I thought we had an understanding but apparently Edward thought differently. So if we weren't friends before what the hell did that make us now when there was even less trust involved?

A.N.

Poor chapter, hopefully they will improve soon.