Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original characters, content and ideas of this story are mine.

Chapter 5

Mending the Pieces

EPOV

As I exited the plane in Port Angeles and powered back on my cell phone it chirped with a text message from Alice.

"To what do we owe the pleasure for this visit? I'm sure mom and dad are going to think they saw a ghost when they see you! Anyway, I can't pick you up because I have a meeting with the fashion show coordinator from Bergdorf Goodman, but Jazz says he can get you and take you to mom and dad's house. See you soon! "

I sent her a reply before retrieving my luggage from baggage claim and then headed to the passenger pick up area.

"Thanks Alice and don't tell mom and dad, I want to surprise them. Oh and Alice don't tell Bella either!"

Jasper pulled up as I closed my phone and I quickly through my bags in the back seat and hopped in the front passenger seat.

"Cullen, I don't even want to think about what or should I say who brought you to town." He said giving me a knowing smirk.

"Can't a guy visit his family without getting the third degree?"

"Sure, as long as that guy's not you, because we can barely get you here for holidays let alone a "just because" visit, so spill it Cullen, why are you really here?"

I chuckled to myself at how perceptive Jasper is. He has a way of knowing just what a person is thinking or feeling.

"Alright, alright I came to make sure Bella has any extra help she may need for her parents service on Saturday, that's all."

"That's all? Really? With all of us here to help her you flew five hours from New York just to lend her a helping hand when you could have just picked up the phone and called Esme or Alice. Not to mention Bella has my sister Rosalie to help, remember she is Bella's sister-in –law. But don't worry your secret is safe with me bro!" he said smiling and then turned his focus back to the road. The rest of the ride was spent catching up and him telling me he had asked my dad Carlisle for Alice's hand in marriage.

"So when are you going to ask her?"

"We're having dinner at your parent's house tomorrow night I am going to ask her right before dinner. You should ask Bella to dinner."

"I don't know if she will feel up to it the night before her parent's funeral."

"Or it may be just what she needs at this very stressful moment in her life."

"We'll see I am going to go by her house later to see if she needs help with anything."

"Does she know you are in town?"

"Not exactly."

"Sooo, you're just going to show up at her house?"

"No of course not, I am going to call her as soon as I get to my parents house."

"Well knowing Alice she may already know."

The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable silence with each of us in our own private thoughts. We turned onto the road that leads to my parents house and as we neared their home I noticed a sky blue Toyota Camry parked in the drive way. I quickly got out of the car and retrieved my bags and headed into the house. As I entered the front door the sight that I was greeted with stopped me in my tracks and caused a lump in my throat. My mother Esme was sitting on the staircase looking up at the most beautiful human I have ever seen. Bella turned and looked at me and gave a soft smile and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I was frozen to that spot as she held my gaze and it was Jasper's voice that startled me out of my Bella induced haze.

"Edward close your mouth and get out of the way man!" Jasper said while pushing past me.

"Edward, son you're home! I don't believe it!" Esme said walking over to me with tears in her eyes to embrace me.

"Hey mom, how are you?" I said hugging her back and placing a light kiss on her cheek.

"I didn't know you were coming to visit, where's Tanya?"

My eyes quickly darted to Bella and she turned away as soon as our eyes met.

"Mom, Tanya's back in New York she wasn't able to make this trip."

"Oh I see, well it's great to have you home anyway, son. I was just getting ready to make Bella and I a cup of coffee would you like one?"

"Sure mom."

Esme turned on her heels and went into the kitchen leaving Bella and I standing by the staircase in an awkward silence.

"Hello." I said breaking the silence

"Hi" she said as she stood staring at me as if waiting on an explanation for my presence in Forks.

"This was kind of a last minute decision; I had no idea when I took you to the airport yesterday."

"Really, so what exactly brought you here, because your family seems to be just as shocked as I am, so that rules out a "family" gathering?"

"Honestly Bella, I know you have…."

I was cut off by my father Carlisle walking through the front door

"Edward I thought your mother was hallucinating when she said you were here" my dad said chuckling.

"No I'm really here dad." I said giving my dad a hug.

Just then Esme came out the kitchen and announced that the coffee and the apple/cranberry muffins were ready, so we all relocated to the kitchen table with the exception of Jasper who left to pick up Alice from her meeting.

"Edward did you know Bella is planning to move to New York in the next couple of months? Maybe you and Tanya could show her around and help her get to know the big city." Esme said while placing the muffins and coffee on a tray to carry over to the table.

"Yeah I think I do recall hearing something like that, mom." I said looking at Bella with a slight smirk on my face.

"Bella I think it will be just the change you need and I know Charlie and Renee would be so proud of you. Hey before I forget I made an appointment for you with my financial planner like you asked. He said he can sit down with you either Thursday or Friday of next week and help you decide where to invest your money." Carlisle said in his fatherly tone.

I looked up at Bella and suddenly her face turned a beautiful shade of crimson and she looked away. So she had taken my advice after all and decided to get professional advisory for her finances.

"Well, Esme, Carlisle thank you for everything you have done I am truly grateful to have guys in my life. I need to go upstairs and finish one last final before tomorrow. Esme I cannot thank you enough for dropping off my parents clothes to the funeral home for me I hope I packed everything they asked for."

"Oh honey I'm sure you did and if there is anything missing we will go by the house together and pick it up."

Bella got up and left the kitchen and I followed her with my eyes until she turned the corner and I could no longer see her. When I turned back around my mom and dad were both staring at me with knowing smirks on their faces.

"Carlisle, would it be fair for one to assume that a certain beautiful, brown eyed brunette is the reason for our son's surprise visit home?" Esme said quirking her eyebrow.

"Why yes darling I think it would be fair for one to assume so." Carlisle responded while looking back at my mother smiling with his arms folded across his chest." Then they both turned to look at me.

"What? I just thought maybe she may need some help and as a friend I wanted to be here for her, that's it." I said staring between the two of them who looked just as unconvinced as I sounded to myself.

"Uh huh" my mother said before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Well she'll be staying with us awhile maybe even until she moves to New York she can't handle being in her parent's home right now." Carlisle said looking at me and it took everything in me to hide the excitement I felt knowing she was staying here and would not be staying with Jake. Just then my cell phone rang and as I looked at the caller id and saw Tanya's name I quickly hit the talk button and made my way out of the kitchen and into the living room for some privacy.

"I was wondering when I would hear from you." I said smiling as I took a seat on the oversized chair in my parent's living room. "Are you still upset with me?"

"I'm still debating, but you can start making it up to me by taking me to dinner tonight and if you're charming enough you may just get to take me home tonight."

Running my fingers through my hair and pulling at the ends has always been a tell-tale sign of me being nervous or frustrated and at this very moment I was both. Nervous about what her reaction will be when I tell her I am in Forks and frustrated that in two years Tanya and I had rarely had disagreements and now I can't seem to stop disappointing her.

"I'm sorry baby I will not be able to take you to dinner tonight I really wish I could."

"Why, are you working tonight?"

Now that would be an easy way out Edward just tell her yes.

"N…no sweetie I am at my parent's house in Forks, but how about breakfast on Sunday morning anywhere you want to go."

I couldn't lie it's just not me and I don't want to lose Tanya's trust.

"Sunday! Edward today is Thursday how long will you be in Forks?"

"Until Saturday evening my flight will get in at almost 1:00am Sunday morning but I don't have to start my shift at the hospital until 3:00pm."

"Fine Edward but you could have at least told me you planning to visit your parents, what if I hadn't called you?"

"Then I would have called you and it was last minute this was not a planned trip."

"Why are you in Forks anyway?"

A gigantic lump formed in my throat and it felt like I had swallowed a walnut whole, shell and all. Be honest Edward it's always better to be honest I told myself.

"I came to help out a friend." I said trying to keep my answer as brief as possible.

"Jasper?"

"No... Bella"

"What? Bella! Why the hell would you be in Forks to help Bella, Edward?"

"Her parents died Tanya remember? I came to help her get everything ready for their service on Saturday plus I wanted to attend their funeral to pay my last respects after all Charlie was the Chief of Police in the town I grew up in and Renee and Esme were very good friends."

There was silence for what seemed like forever but was actually seconds.

"Look Tanya I'm sorry I left town without telling you and I know things have been really strained between us lately and I'm sorry for that also, but Bella is going through a really rough time right now and the only family she has really is Emmett and his wife and my family. I just want to make sure she is ok I couldn't imagine losing both my parents suddenly and so tragically."

"Edward, should I be worried?"

"About?"

"About us"

"No sweetie, I love you and we will work through this together. Will you pick me up from the airport?"

"Yes I'll be there and I love you too. I'll talk to you soon."

"I'll call you before I go to bed tonight, bye sweetie."

I headed upstairs to my old room to unpack my bag and take a much needed nap.

BPOV

After finishing my last final and submitting it online to my professor I sat on the bed in the guest bedroom staring into space. Why was Edward here? He hadn't mentioned anything about visiting his parents on yesterday before I left New York and why did he act as if he did not know I was planning to relocate to New York? I mean after all it was his idea for me to move there. A knock on the bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in" I said trying to sound normal and praying it was not Edward.

"Hey Bella, are you ready to go shopping?" Alice said bouncing in the room and sitting next to me on the bed.

"Not really Alice I'm exhausted and I do not think I can take the inside of a mall right now."

"Sweetie I know this has been a very exhausting week for you and I would not be so cruel as to drag you from store to store no matter how tempting the idea is. We will have plenty of time for that later. I had a good friend of mine set aside a few black dresses from Macy's that I saw online and she shipped them here from Silverdale, Washington for me. They are downstairs and you can try them on later and decide which of the four you like best. Today we will shop for shoes and hosiery only and then I have a surprise for you and I promise you will love it!"

Alice wrapped her tiny arms around me and just like when we were in high school she knew how to make me feel better. We left the house and headed to Port Angeles to find shoes. As we drove down the wet streets of Forks I reminisced about all the times I had rode down these streets with my parents as a young child and a teenager. As we passed by The Forks Police Department my eyes filled with tears as I thought about how many times Charlie drove me to school in his police cruiser and how embarrassed I would get when other students saw me. What I wouldn't do now to ride in that cruiser with him just one last time. As the tears streamed down my cheeks I felt Alice reach over and grab my hand. She remained silent allowing me my time to grieve in my own way and I was grateful for that.

After only two stores I found a pair of black Aldo peep toe shoes that were pretty stylish as well as comfortable with a three inch heel which is about my height limit if I did not want to end up in someone's emergency room.

"Now that we have your shoes out of the way it's time for your surprise." Alice said grinning widely.

I have never cared for surprises but I was too exhausted to argue. We walked a couple of blocks and entered into a spa where I immediately spotted Esme and Rosalie sitting in the waiting area. Rosalie and Esme both came over to hug me and just then the receptionist at the front desk addressed Esme.

"Mrs. Cullen will this complete your party?"

"No, we are waiting on one more and then we'll be ready."

One more? Who else could there be? Oh no, it must be Tanya she must have come into town. I was instantly filled with disappointment and knew that this would not be much of a "relaxing "day for me. As I sat preparing myself to have to put on a facade all afternoon I was more than relieved and a bit overjoyed when I saw the fifth person walk through the door.

"Angela, you made it darling." Esme said giving her a hug.

Angela came over and gave me the warmest hug I had had in a long time and as she looked at me with a sympathetic smile my eyes filled with tears and spilled over. We just stood there holding each other and no words needed to be spoken because as one of my oldest friends she understood my silence and I understood hers. Angela and Jacob are my two oldest friends that I have in Forks. The Cullens did not move to Forks until high school and that is also when I met Rosalie and jasper Hale.

We were escorted to a room where we shed our clothes for plush white terry robes. The next room we sat in had white wicker couches and chairs with periwinkle cushions and pillows. There was light classical music playing and we were each served spicy crab meat sushi and glasses of white sparkling wine. There was also an assorted cheese tray to go with the wine. Next we sat in the sauna for twenty minutes and then the hot tub for another thirty minutes. We each had one hour facials and ninety minute full body deep tissue massages. Our day of pampering ended with manicures and pedicures and dinner at Bella Italia where I had the best mushroom ravioli I've ever tasted. I had to admit I did love this surprise just as Alice had promised.

I rode back with Esme and Alice took Rosalie home.

"I hope you enjoyed your day of pampering Bella. We really wanted you to have a day of rest."

"I did Esme thank you so much. I can't believe how much you guys do for me."

"Bella I love you like my own daughter and though I could never and would never try to take the place of your mother there is nothing I would not give to you all you have to do is ask." she smiled warmly at me and then turned back to the road.

"Esme I feel the same way about you, all of you. Alice and Rosalie are like the sisters I've never had and Jasper is wonderful too. I don't know which one is more protective of me, him or my cousin Emmett. I feel very blessed having all of you in my life."

"I know you really don't know Edward but he is quite fond of you also. I can tell he wants to help but he doesn't want to get in your way or upset you."

Somehow this knowledge brought a smile to my face and I could feel my face heating up. Could he really have come to Forks just for me? Oh Bella get a grip do you really think Edward would fly to Forks interrupting his entire vacation just for you? I quickly dismissed the ridiculous thought from my mind.

Once we were back at the Cullen's house I quickly headed up to my room to shower and change into my pajamas. Once I had changed I headed down to the kitchen to fix a hot cup of tea before bed. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Carlisle and Edward sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen talking. The three of us stared at each other and Carlisle was the first to break the silence.

"Bella you guys made it back did you enjoy your day of pampering?"

"Absolutely it was very refreshing and relaxing."

"Good I'm glad to hear that, you deserve it. Well kids I'm going to head upstairs to kiss my other half and get some sleep I had a long day. Edward we'll continue our talk tomorrow okay?"

"Alright dad thanks again."

"Anytime son." Carlisle said while leaving the kitchen and suddenly Edward and I were alone. Feeling awkward and avoiding eye contact I walked over and opened the cabinet to get out a mug and a tea bag. I then filled the tea pot with water and placed it on the stove over a low fire. Edward was so quiet I didn't know if he was still there so I took a chance and turned around. What I saw next nearly made my heart jump out of my chest. Edward was standing only a few feet in front of me with that sexy crooked grin I loved so much.

"Hey, how are you?" he said with his hands in his front pockets of his jeans.

"I'm good how are you?"

"I can't complain at all; Hot tea before bed?" He asked pointing to my mug

"Uh…yeah just my way of winding down."

"Mind if I wind down with you?"

His question caught me off guard and to avoid him seeing me blush I turned away from him while answering.

"Sure not at all, would you like some tea also?"

"No thank you I'm a coffee drinker I only drink tea when I am sick. I'll just have a glass of juice."

Okay Bella here's your chance to find out why he is in town, just ask him.

"So I don't remember you mentioning coming to Forks when I left yesterday, what brought you here?"

"Uh…good question and I wish I had a good answer but the truth is I was worried about you and just wanted to be here in case you needed me as a friend. Even if it was just someone to sit and watch TV with." He said with a chuckle.

I turned his way with my tea and smiled back at him while walking over to the island to sit down.

"Well I have to say that is probably the nicest thing a guy has ever done for me, thank you. So how long will you be here?"

"I leave on Saturday evening so anything you need me for I'll be here. Hey have you thought anymore about how soon you would like to move to New York?"

"I should have all my financial affairs squared away in the next four to six weeks and pretty much after that I'll be ready."

"Well maybe we can start looking for some places online tomorrow for rent in the Manhattan area."

"Who said I was moving to Manhattan?" I said trying to look serious knowing there was no other place in New York that I'd even considered. Edwards face fell and I held my breath to keep from laughing.

"Well… I…I just assumed you would probably want to move to…"

"Why would you assume that, because you're there?" I said cutting him off and using all my strength to not roll out of my chair with laughter. He looked so embarrassed his face began to turn red as he ran his fingers through his unruly bronze locks.

"Bella… I am…um…I am so sorry I just thought that…"

I couldn't contain myself anymore and I burst out laughing

"I'm only kidding Edward, of course I want to move to Manhattan." I said laughing.

Edward blew out a sigh of relief and began to laugh with me.

"Geez Edward don't take everything I say so serious. I know you think I'm fragile right now, but it's ok to be yourself. By the way now that the Knicks are out of the playoffs who do want to win?"

"I guess I would have to go with Oklahoma not that I care at this point since New York is out."

"Yeah I guess I have to agree Oklahoma is who I would like to see win also."

"Well I'll be back in New York and at work for their game on Sunday so you'll have to text me the score."

"Will do… so Tanya's okay with you being here without her?"

"She wasn't at first but I assured her she had nothing to worry about. I guess I've neglected her lately so I'm going to plan something really nice for us when I get back so we can spend some time together. She's picking me up from the airport Saturday night."

A surge of jealousy shot through me and I had to plaster a fake smile on my face to keep Edward from knowing how I really felt. Ugghh Bella you have got to get over this he is just your friend nothing more.

"Oh wow that's great I'm glad to hear you guys have worked things out, she seems nice."

"She is you'll like her once you get to know her and she's really good at decorating so maybe once you are settled in your new apartment you and her can do some furniture shopping. She helped Esme decorate my apartment."

I gave the best smile I could and after I realized my tea had gone cold I excused myself to my room.

"Yeah that sounds great Edward, well I'm going to head upstairs to bed I'm exhausted. Thanks again for coming here to check on me I really do appreciate your kindness." I said as I stood to place my cup in the dishwasher.

I left the kitchen and headed upstairs with Edward on my heels. When we reached the second floor he turned to me and grabbed both my hands and looked into my eyes.

"Bella again you do not have to thank me I'm here because I want to be. You're very special and important to this family and I am a part of this family."

As he held my hands it felt like an electric current flowed between us that warmed me all over and I never wanted him to let go and as I gazed back into his green orbs all thoughts escaped me once again and all I could do is stare at him. He pulled me into an embrace and then turned to go to his room. I immediately felt the lost of warmth and for some reason my feet was frozen to that spot. The sound of Edward's bedroom door closing brought my moment of musing to a halt and I turned to go in my room. As I lay in my bed exhausted from the day's activities it did not take long for sleep to overtake me

A/N: Okay here is chapter 5 I am sorry for the delay I am recovering from a bad car accident and I'm having trouble seeing out my left eye. Hope you guys enjoy it and please if you like the story leave reviews, thanks again!