Disclaimer: I own everything but their names.

August 17, 2001 – Santa Cruz, California

That morning sucked. Jasper still hadn't returned, and he refused to talk either Edward or me, so Edward was forced to work on the floor instead of staying in his office. And grumpiness was totally not conducive to a positive working environment.

After our night of nearly no sleep, both of us were not mentally prepared to handle it when a stranger walked inside the door and said the words, "I'm looking for a Mr. Edward Cullen."

My stomach dropped as Edward and I looked at each other in confusion.

"That's me," Edward answered.

The man moved closer and held out an envelope. "You've been served."

I didn't hear anything after that. My eyes were glued to that envelope; I knew, even before he turned it over and flipped it open, that what lay inside was nothing but bad news.

Edward's hands were shaking. "I don't want to look at this."

"You have to," I said, trying to be supportive, when the truth was I didn't want him to look either.

"I know," he admitted sadly, sticking his hand inside and sliding the stack of papers out onto the display case.

My eyes moved quickly over the words, and the first ones that registered in my mind were in big, bold letters at the top:

Petition for Sole Custody

… State of California

… Makenna Cullen vs. Edward Cullen

"Fuck," Edward whispered as his hands curled around the stack of papers. He closed his eyes tight and turned away, still holding the papers in his flexing hand. The sound of paper crinkling mingled with the sound of his breathing as he heaved in and out and tried to calm down.

Just hours before we'd been cuddled in bed, discussing how we were going to handle my father, how I thought he'd be upset at first, but that he'd eventually get over it and understand that I'm not a kid anymore.

And now we were facing this…

"Can she really do this?" I asked stupidly.

Edward turned back to me, a frown on his pretty face. "Technically, yes."

"For what reason? You're an amazing father… what possible reason could she have for even thinking this was a possibility?"

His eyes roamed over the papers as he leafed through them and read. His frown only got deeper. "She's claiming that I parade multiple women in front of… she says I'm a—" he couldn't even finish his sentence as the papers crinkled again and he tossed them across the store.

I was suddenly angry. That … woman could call me every name in the book she wanted, but when it came to Lisle… she had absolutely no right to try and separate him from his father for a reason as petty as not being wanted.

For her to try and use him as leverage to get back at Edward was just downright dirty.

"I'm closing the shop for the rest of the day," Edward said, rubbing his eyes. "I need to call my lawyer. I have to deal with this."

I nodded and looked at the door, wondering if he wanted me to stay or go. After all, I was the reason this was happening… and we already knew how I felt about being put in this position. There was no way I would stand in the middle of Edward and Lisle being together.

It would kill me, but if I had to walk away to fix this… there wouldn't even be a choice for me. I would do it.

Somehow I ended up in Edward's office staring off into space. In the background, I could hear him out in the shop discussing the papers he'd received with what must have been his lawyer.

I don't know how long it was before I heard him knock on the door and come inside.

"There you are." He came over and leaned on the desk. "He got a copy, too."

"What happens now?" I managed to ask, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

"Now, he negotiates with Makenna's lawyer and we hope this whole stupid thing gets dropped." He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands and sighed as he said the words, already looking beat up by this whole thing. And it had only just begun.

"What if it doesn't, Edward?" I blurted out, and then instantly felt bad for reminding him that he was in a very real position to lose his son because of his bitch of an ex-wife.

"I can't think about that." He looked down at his watch and then changed the subject. "I'm going to pick Lisle up from day care early. Do you want to come with me?"

I wanted to go more than anything, but I really didn't think it was a good idea. I needed time to think.

"I think I'm going to head home for a little while, get some sleep. Can I call you later?"

"Sure." Edward leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Lock up when you leave?"

I nodded, feeling bad that I hadn't offered to come with him to at least offer some kind of moral support. But this was big… this was the kind of baggage he'd warned me about. This was the kind of baggage he'd been afraid I wouldn't be able to handle.

And I had to ask myself a very important question: could I?

Thank you all for reading and reviewing!

Please know that I did take a bit of creative license here… but I also got some kickass advice from the fabulous Legna989, and she's awesome for letting me pick her brain.

Reviews are love.

Until tomorrow!

xx