BPOV

Marcus started to get our bags out, but Edward stopped him as he helped me out of the car. "That won't be necessary, Marcus. My uncle got us a room at the Omni in town," Edward explained, pulling me closer.

"Uncle?"

"Carlisle, he's Esme's husband," I told him as he nodded.

Emerson decided it was time to kick and I must have winced because Edward searched for her. When he felt her he let his hand rub where she was banging around. I patted his hand as we started up the walkway to the mansion. I felt like the Fresh Prince waltzing up to Bel Aire.

"She's kicking a lot," Edward commented.

"I think she's aware we're headed into the lion's den," I said, raising my eyebrows a few times.

Edward snorted, giving me a quick kiss. "You're funny, baby."

"Not a shocker," I grinned.

Marcus opened the door and led us into the house. I'm pretty sure my jaw was on the floor. The white spacious foyer opened up to a grand staircase. I was kind of an a-hole about my overlook at the apartment, but this staircase screamed, "Bella and her overlook are insignificant compared to me". This place was huge and contemporary. I wanted to vomit.

I reached up, grabbing Edward's face. "I want to go home," I plead as I started to cry.

He pulled me into his arms, letting me bury my snotty face into his shirt. I heard the bustling of the house. I noticed men in suits and women in blazers and pencil skirts. I was certain they had to be the help but I couldn't figure out why they would be dressed that way.

"Baby, don't cry," Edward murmured in my ear.

"Missus?" Marcus asked and I turned my head a little to peek at him.

He smiled warmly and waved carefully as if I were a child. I guess I was behaving like one, but in my defense this house was overwhelming and I could only imagine Edward's grandmother was a million times more overwhelming.

"This is a bit much," I mumbled to him.

I felt Edward's lips press to the top of my head. We hadn't even been here five minutes and I was having a meltdown like a crazy person. I pulled back, peering up at my husband.

"I'm a hot mess," I sniffled.

"No, you're my beautiful mess," he grinned wide down at me.

"Let's go to the sitting room. I'll notify Irina that we're here," Marcus offered.

"Irina?"

"She's Mrs. Masen's assistant."

I nodded like that was a perfectly logical answer. She had a freaking assistant. We followed Marcus into yet another white room. I was beginning to wonder if this whole house was sterile white.

Edward helped me sit on the white couch and then sat beside me, pulling me closer to his side. I snuggled in close, letting my head rest on his shoulder. My eyes skimmed the room until they landed on the huge portrait over the mantel.

The people looking back were like extras in American Psycho, yuppies to the enth degree and looking very eighties. An older man and woman sat beside one another and Edward's clone stood behind them with a devious smirk. The older man and the clone wore the same navy suits with a red tie and the woman looked prim in her navy shoulder padded blazer. Her frosted hair was very coiffed and big while the man's hair was slicked back, a stern look on his face. They both screamed power. The clone was the only one that looked disheveled and perfect all at once. His hair was exactly like my husband's. This was Eddie Masen.

I tilted my head, looking at Edward as he looked down curiously at me. "What?" he asked, brushing my bangs out of my face. I gestured to the portrait and a frown filled his face.

A throat suddenly cleared, breaking our thoughts. The older woman in the archway was fabulous to say the least. Her blonde short hair was combed back and her ruby red lips were pursed. She was wearing a pristine white blouse with the collar popped and her black skirt looked more like the bottom of a ball gown. I had seen Carolina Herrera in a lot of Alice's design magazines and this woman was almost a carbon copy.

"Isabella, I presume," she said disapprovingly.

"Grandmother," Edward said.

Her face softened looking at him and then turned to something of surprise. I don't know if it was from him speaking or the fact he looked so much like her only son.

"Edward," she breathed.

I peered up at him seeing his frown deepen. I reached up, smoothing the crease in between his brows.

"Hey," I smiled.

He pecked my lips, giving me a crooked grin back.

"He talks now," Margo said.

I started to sign to him. She said you talk now.

"I've always been able to speak. I just can't hear thanks to your son," he replied coolly, his focus now back on his grandmother.

"He was sick."

My eyes widened. Was she serious with this? He beat a six-year-old little boy. Edward was nothing more than innocent.

"When you see the signs of abuse you try to help the victim not help the abuser," Edward snapped. "My daughter… if anyone ever lays a finger on her, I will kill them."

Margo glared at me. "So it was a marriage based on a pregnancy."

"We've been married longer than a year. This is a marriage based on love. I love Bella more than anything. She is my entire life," he glared right back. "You have no right talking down to my wife."

She straightened at that, gliding further into the room to sit in an ornate white chair across from us.

"I did not ask you to come here to argue with you, Edward."

"We came because I'm legally obligated to. My uncle said that if I didn't show then there would be legal repercussions."

"I see Esme has gotten married then."

"I'm not here to discuss Esme."

Margo took a deep breath while studying Edward for a moment. If I were a betting person, I would say not many spoke up around her. It was as though she had no control with her grandson and she didn't know how to handle it.

"I left my family in Washington and dragged my very pregnant wife here when she should be at home, letting said family pamper and spoil her… I was forced here to tend to business," he said firmly.

She turned her head from him, looking at the portrait. I saw it then. When I found out I was pregnant, I felt this overwhelming love for my unborn child and Edward. He gave me our daughter. She was a product of the love we had for one another. Margo Masen had lost her child more then a decade ago and now her husband was gone as well. Though she didn't cry, I saw this loss in her eyes.

"Then tend to your business," she snapped.

Edward's brow furrowed because he couldn't see her face to know she had said anything. I decided I needed to say something.

"Mrs. Masen, I'm very sorry for your loss," I murmured, watching her turn her head back toward us. "I can't even imagine the pain you're going through, though I know what it's like to lose someone close like that. My father was killed when I was sixteen and it changed me and my mother's lives forever. I also know it is good to have your family close to you in those hard times."

I knew why she wanted Edward here. I got it. He was the only person she had left. She was alone and even with everything that happened in the past, this was her trying to reach out to her grandson.

"You know what Bella, let's just go to the hotel," Edward sighed, standing and helping me to my feet.

Margo watched us even though she tilted her head away. Emerson started to kick again and like it was Edward's sixth sense, his hands went to her, soothing her resting spot.

"Be here for breakfast at eight. Marcus will take us to Jenks office after," Margo snipped before leaving.

We have to be back for breakfast.

I really think that is a bad idea.

I cupped his face, letting my thumb brush his jaw.

"This could be a great opportunity to find the closure you never got," I told him and reached up to kiss him.

He pulled me into a tight hug, being very careful of the baby. "I love you so much, Bella," he said in my ear. We stood there holding onto each other and I couldn't help, but look at that portrait over Edward's shoulder. The green eyes staring back were one of a monster, a cold smugness etched on his face. There were times I would step into the bathroom and see Edward blankly staring into the mirror and now I see what he saw. I saw where his fears lie. He was afraid he was his father.

When we checked in at the hotel and finally made it up to our room I made my way to the bathroom with my phone in hand.

"Bella?" Esme said relieved.

"You should have warned me what we were walking into," I sighed.

"Why did you think I wanted to come with you two," she defended. "But no, you are both too stubborn and independent."

"We're adults," I huffed.

"See, that right there. How is he?"

"He seems fine but it was weird. She was cold… I swear she softened some with him though. I've never met anyone like her before."

"The first time I met her was the funeral and I had to bring Lizzie and Edward back to Washington. Lizzie brought Eddie home a couple of times, but we had no clue about Edward. My parents were furious when we showed up and here Liz had a twelve-year-old son. She kept that from us," she murmured.

"She brought Eddie home?"

"For a few holidays. She went missing for about seven years. I believe she started showing up when Margo and Ed sent Edward to boarding school. It was after he lost his hearing. They acted like they were in love… to learn the truth I was sickened."

"Edward looks like him. I saw their family portrait hanging in the sitting room. They are identical."

"I know and I think that's why Lizzie was suffering once Edward got older. He was the spitting image of his father."

"His mother is sick and delusional," I spat. "Edward is… he's such a good man. He is so unbelievingly caring. It kills me that he would ever doubt who he is," I cried feeling my sobs wrack my body.

"Sweetie, I know. Please don't cry," she whimpered.

Now we were both blubbering messes. I didn't hear him come in, but Edward pulled me up enough so we switched spots and I was sitting on his lap. He gently tugged my phone out of my hands and started tapping around on the screen. I imagined he was texting Esme that he had me. I buried my face in his neck and cried.

"Bella you don't need to cry for me. I'm okay. Look at me," he said, tugging on my chin.

I blinked as he brushed my tears away. "I love you, you silly girl. When I was seventeen I met this shy yet fiery girl who made me better. Bella, you made me okay. I was very damaged and bitter and you took all that away and helped me become the man I am today. It's my honor to be your husband and Em's father. I am me and you are you; we are not my parents and I know that. Yes, it bothers me to see the face that tormented me when I look at my own reflection, but I am not Eddie. I know this, baby."

My tears continued as I rested my forehead against his. He held my face in both of his hands, letting his fingertips stroke my cheeks. I captured his lips with mine, trying to convey my love back to him.

Pulling away, he moved his hands to my stomach. "You are my heart. You both are." I nodded, feeling my tears start again, but this time they were happy tears because he understood what he had and how loved he really was.

A/N: Look at that, Edward's all grown up! I'm going to say about 2-3 chapters left and an epilogue. I have the first two chapters written of the new story, but am waiting til this is done. I'm trying this whole pre-written thing. Conversations has a ways to go, but I'm trying to wrap it up. My betas for the chapter are Dolphin62598 and rainydays23. Let me know what you think I see some of you have left…