I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT!

CHAPTER 13
(BELLA)
Since it was a Saturday, Edward and I decided to meet at Starbucks at One that afternoon. I was a nervous wreck, no it wasn't really a date, but he was gorgeous and so sensitive, everytime I looked at him it was like I could see into his soul as well as he could see into mine. I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then slipped on my converse shoes.

"You look great Bella," Sue said when I walked into the kitchen.

"Thanks," I said blushing. "Hey Sue, do you think its too soon?" I asked softly.

She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into the livingroom pulling me down next to her on the couch. "Bella, what are your intentions? Why did you decide to ask him out on a coffee date?" I tensed. "Yes Bella, I said date, get over it."

I laughed softly. "He's sweet, been through hell and he understands me and what I'm going through."

"And," She said motioning for me to go on.

"And, I'm lonely."

She smiled sweetly at me and took my hands in hers. "Take it slow and see how today goes, you are a smart girl and you will know, but remember, Jaycie comese first."

"And his son," I added.

"You know Bella, Jake wouldn't want you sad, he'd want you to move on and be happy as long as you and Jaycie were being cared for."

I sighed. "Sue, it's just coffee."

"Bella, you never know, you might go with him today and really hate him. Or you might find someone who really does care about you the way Jake did."

I wiped the tears away. "Would Jake really want some other man raising his daughter?"

"As long as the other man really loved her and was willing to keep his memory alive."

"Thanks Sue," I said hugging her tightly.

"Go have fun Bella and don't hesitate to jump if it feels right."

I got up and headed for the door and turned. "Love you Sue."

"Love you too Bella."

I pulled into the parking lot and got out just as Edward pulled in. My heart skipped a beat, he'd actually showed up. I waited for him by my car.

"Hi," He said walking towards me holding a pink carnation.

"Hi," I whispered suddenly feeling very shy.

"I got this for you," He said handing me the flower.

"Thank you." I said sniffing it. I set it in my car and turned back to him.

"You look beautiful."

"You don't look half bad yourself," I said giving him a one armed hug.

"I was thinking that we could get coffee and go for a walk." He said nervously.

"That sounds like fun, it's nice out today."

We ordered our drinks, then headed back outside. We didn't say much at first, we just walked quietly drinking our coffees. It wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be, he always seemed to have a calming effect. Our hands brushed against each other and an electrical current surged between us. We both tensed, but didn't say anything. I wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold his hand, but resisted the urge.

"Lets go over to the park where we can sit and talk."

"And swing," I suggested.

"Slide to," He said smiling. "I might even see what you got on the monkey bars."

"Um go right ahead on those, I hate those things," I laughed. It was so easy to be myself around him and I liked that.

We crossed the street and walked into the park, there weren't many people there so it was easy to find a place to sit. He lead me to a picnic table and we sat down. "How was Matt when you got home?" I asked.

"He was pretty upset, he's so scared something is going to happen to me."

"Well that's pretty understandable," I said.

He shook his head. "It hurts to watch him struggle the way he is, he's really missing her."

"But Edward, you miss her to."

"I do, but I also get the fact that she's not coming back, he's still waiting for her to."

"That was the issue yesterday wasn't it?" I asked.

"Yep, he'd dreamed about her the night before."

"That's heart breaking."

He looked at me. "So you have a little girl?"

"I do, her name is Jaycie and she's 2 months old," I said smiling.

"How did you do it?" He asked.

"Do what?" I asked him.

"Go through a pregnancy alone right after losing him?"

"I did what I had to do for her. It hurt and was very hard, but she was my life," I took a deep unsteady breath. "Had I not been pregnant, I would have probably killed myself. The thought crossed my mind so many times, but I couldn't, it was my job to protect the innocent life that I had growing in my stomach."

"Wow," He said sadly.

"My step-mom Sue and my dad were really supportive. Eventually I went back to work, but I was lonely."

"Did you always live with them?" He asked.

"No, Jake and I rented a small house. I lived there throughout my pregnancy alone and even went into labor there alone. However, when she turned 2 weeks old, I was exhausted and I lost it. I couldn't take care of myself let alone her. Sue came over to find me on the couch crying and her and my dad basically didn't give me any choice, they moved us back in with them."

"That had to have been hard," He said. "Lauren was diagnosed with breast cancer when Matt was six weeks old, she had a mastectomy and lost all of her hair, but she was my wife and I loved her."

"Damn," I muttered. "I couldn't imagine going through something like that."

"It wasn't easy, then she got better and was determined to be the best mom to Matt she could be, but it didn't last. The cancer came back full force, there was nothing that could be done. I ended up calling hospice, she didn't want Matt to see her die. We were all sitting around her bed, I knew she was tired. Matt spelled his name for her and I told everyone to leave so I could be with her and she could rest. She died not long after that in my arms."

The tears that he had been fighting began falling down his cheeks. I got up and went around to him, wrapping my arms around him. "I'm so sorry," I whispered rubbing his back. We sat there holding each other.

"Sorry," He murmured pulling away from me after awhile.

"Don't be," I whispered. "You were the one who told me it was okay to cry."

"I did, didn't I?"

"You did," I said.

Our eyes locked, he was beautiful from the inside out. I caressed his cheek with my thumb, he leaned into my touch. It was so easy to be with him and to talk to him. I could be open and even cry with him and he understood me, the way I understood him. We had both lost our best friends.

"Don't hesitate, jump if it feels right." I couldn't stop the emotions as I heard Sue's words over and over in my head. Tears slid down my face.

"Bella?" He asked looking at me.

"I, I, I can't do this, I'm sorry."

(Edward)
Tearfully, Bella got up and started to run off. "Bella!" I called running after her. I grabbed her arm spinning her to me. "What the hell Bella, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I can't do this Edward," She sobbed.

"You can't do what? Bella, talk to me."

"This," She sobbed. "You and me."

"Bella," I sighed.

"You are so easy to talk to, I can be myself and I can cry."

"Then Bella, what is the problem?"

"I'm scared!" She exclaimed.

"Bella, it scares me to. For the first time since Lauren died, I've found someone who understands me, someone who is easy to talk to and I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not." I kept a gentle hold on her.

"I feel the same way," She sobbed. "You and Matt are all I think about."

I smiled. "Bella, please stop crying. I check my phone every night to see if you have text me, I think of you every time I drop Matt off at school." I took a deep breath. "I know it hasn't been that long since you lost Jake, but is it worth fighting the feelings we obviously both have?"

"Edward, I don't know if I'm ready."

"Listen, we'll take it slow, I wont say anything to Matt and we can just see where it takes us."

Bella wrapped her arms around my waist. "I'm scared Edward, I still love Jake."

"Sh Bella, and that will never change, you shouldn't stop loving him, he was a huge part of your life just as Lauren was mine."

"I don't know if I'm ready for a relationship," She said finally looking up at me.

"Bella, I don't know if I am either, but I've never met anyone like you."

"I feel the same way about you."

I wrapped my arms around her hugging her tightly to me until her tears stopped. She looked up at me and smiled shyly. She really was too cute. "We sure do cry well together."

"That we do," I laughed.

"Slowly?" She asked.

"Slowly," I agreed.

She bit her lip. "I'm going to swing." With that, she shoved away from me and ran for the swings. I chased after her and once she was on, I began pushing her. "Get on the other one," She laughed.

I was just getting on the swing, when my phone rang. "Hello," I answered.

"Hey little brother, are you and Bella having fun?" Alice asked.

"What? How did you know?" I asked.

"Oh chill out, you two make a perfectly depressed, but kinda cute couple," She giggled. "And mom told me."

"Wonderful," I groaned.

"Don't worry, I wont say anything." She said, I could hear her roll her eyes. "Anyway, I was calling because Jasper and I want to keep Matt over night and take him to the zoo in Seattle tomorrow."

"Oh, um, have you talked to him about that?" I asked.

"Maybe," She giggled. "He wants to go."

"Alright," I said not sure if I was making the right choice.

"If anything happens, we'll come back immediately."

"Go and have fun, but remember he has school on Monday."

"Really Edward, I think I have to work myself."

"Alice," I warned.

"We'll be back by six Sunday night and we wont tell him that you are sneaking around with his teacher."

"Goodbye Alice, take care of my son."

"Love you to." She giggled.

"Is everything okay?" Bella asked walking over to me.

"It was Alice, she knows we are together this afternoon, my mom told her." I said answering her unspoken question.

"Great," She said.

"She wont say anything." I assured her. "Her and Jasper are keeping Matt over night and taking him to the zoo in Seattle tomorrow."

"He'll have a lot of fun as long as Alice doesn't tell him about us."

"She already said she wouldn't. She knows better than that."

I had a thought, that maybe I could take her for supper. "What are you doing tonight?" I asked.

"Sue and my dad are going out, so it's me and Jayc," She said. "Why?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to get something to eat tonight, but it's okay."

She bit her lip. "Well, I know Matt and even though he doesn't know about us, you could um, come over and meet everyone including Jaycie, she's 2 months old, it wont effect her like it would Matt."

"Are you sure?" I asked her. I didn't want her to think I was forcing her into something she wasn't comfortable with.

"If we are going to be spending time together, you should meet my dad." I gulped loudly. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Cop, gun." I stuttered.

She smiled. "You'll be fine." Then her smiled. "Maybe it's too soon for you to meet them."

"Bella, this is totally up to you, it's okay with me either way."

This time she didn't bite her lip, she nibbled it, I wanted to lean down and nibble it for her, but I knew it would freak her out.

She took a deep breath. "Do I introduce you as my friend or my boyfriend?"

I laughed softly. "Bella, if you introduced me as your boyfrined, I'm not going to toss you over my shoulder throw you down on your bed to have sex with you." I blushed as soon as the words left my mouth.

"Damn," She muttered. "I mean, shit, um, I didn't, fuck." She blushed bright red. "I didn't mean it that way."

"I get it," I said still blushing.

It was very awkward for a moment. "Tag, your it!" She exclaimed slapping my arm and running off.

I ran after her chasing her around the play equiptment. "I'll get you!" I laughed.

She ran up onto the play equiptment and slid down the slide looking back grinning at me. "Ouch!" I gasped falling down holding my knee.

"Oh shit, you okay?" She asked running over to me. She leaned over to look at my knee.

"Gotcha!" I said grabbing her around the waist and pulling gently down next to me tickling her.

"Edward, stop!" She giggled.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Cheater!" She giggled squirming away from me.

I stood up ad helped her up, but keeping her hand firmly in mine. "Did I hurt you?" I asked.

"No, but if you do that again, I'll kick your ass." She laughed.

"You couldn't catch me." I threatened.

"You're on!" She exclaimed slowing down.

"Next time, you and me!" I laughed.

We walked hand and hand out of the park. "It feels good to laugh," She said.

"It does," I agreed.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and I wrapped mine around her shoulders. This wasn't going to be easy, we both had a long ways to go, but I was willing to give this a try. I'd had longer to grieve, while Bella not only lost her fiance, she dealt with child birth on top of that, maybe it was too soon, but I was willing to take this slowly and not rush things. Did I want to kiss her? Yes! Did I want to make love to her? Sure, I was a man, but neither of us were there or even close to that. For now, we would just have fun getting to know each other and see where it lead to.

We got to her car, she unlocked the door and I opened it for her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," I said.

"Um, I guess follow me to the gun store to get a bullet proof vest and then we'll head over to my place."

"Very funny," I said breaking out into a sweat.

"Just kidding, follow me over there and keep breathing."

I followed Bella to her house feeling like a sixteen year old meeting his girlfriend's dad for the first time. I shouldn't have been so nervous, I was an adult with a son, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to turn around and go home. Maybe I'd been wrong, maybe we weren't ready for this step. We pulled up in front of her house and I turned off my car.

(Bella)
I was nervous about introducing him to my dad and Sue, but they had always been so supportive of me and my decisions that I wasn't too concerned over them meeting him. However, I did call Sue telling her he was coming over so she could give my dad the head's up. She was excited and promised that if Jaycie was awake from her nap, she would have her smelling fresh when we got there.

The minute I turned off my car, he was there to open my door, I jumped. "Sorry," He said smiling nervously.

"Do you always do that?" I asked getting out.

"Do what?" He asked.

"Open car doors for people," I said.

"Yes," He said smiling.

"You look like you're about to pass out or puke," She commented.

"And you seem very calm."

"Edward, you are worrying too much, it's going to be just fine."

We walked up the front steps and onto the porch. "Just remember to breathe, my dad does know CPR, but that doesn't mean he's going to use it on you if you pass out."

I groaned. "Gee Bella, thanks a lot."

SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET THIS CHAPTER OUT TO YOU. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS MEETING WILL GO?