Thanks to everyone who stuck around and waited for my last update! Again, apologies for taking so long to get that one done!

I worked double time to get this one out quickly, and I hope it makes up for leaving y'all hanging at the end of the last chapter!

Sadly, I'm running out of Ramone's song titles...not sure what to do about that. Maybe I'll move on to Squeeze songs if I don't wrap this up before RamonesMania runs out LOL

Once more, thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed! I do appreciate it a great deal!

Time for a little bit of business before moving on...Twilight,t it's characters and situations, belong to that lucky girl, Stephenie Meyer, and sadly, not to me :(

Please enjoy this chapter, and if you like it, tell your friends! Oh, and don't forget to click that little 'review' button and let me know what you think as well!

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Chapter 25: Commando

Wild copper hair and sparkling emerald eyes stared up at Edward from his phone.

Everything~time, his breath, his heart~stopped. He ceased to exist for that moment. Then, his mind whirled, spun into a blur, went black, and then blindingly white.

He felt his entire body start to shake violently as he folded in on himself, sliding off the bench and onto his knees as he wailed. He clutched the phone tightly to his chest as warm tears fell from his closed eyes onto his icy cheeks, pulling himself into a fetal position and rocking himself on the frozen ground.

How long he lay there sobbing, shaking and rocking, he could not say. But, suddenly, strong hands were gripping him around his waist and he found himself being hoisted back into an upright position and onto the bench.

"Edward…Edward…it's ok…it's ok…" Jenks soothed him as he wrapped his arms around the trembling boy, hugging him tightly.

He buried his face in the warm down jacket the old man wore, sobbing uncontrollably. He finally had his answer…it just wasn't the answer he had hoped for, prayed for.

"It's true…it's…true," he sobbed. "It's all true!"

"But it's ok, Edward," Jenks ran a gentle hand through the sobbing boy's wild hair. "You'll see. It will all be ok. It will all work out."

They sat silently on the bench, the sad young man and the old elegant butler, holding on to one another. Jenks let him cry, holding onto him tightly, soothing him with soft words and gentle pats on the head, trying to keep him warm in the bitter Chicago cold.

Finally, when his sobs quieted down some, Jenks pulled away.

"You'll catch your death out here, Edward. Let's go inside where it's warm, shall we?"

Edward nodded silently, breath still hitching from quiet sobs. Jenks helped him up from the bench, holding him tightly as they walked back into the house, Edward's trembling legs giving out on him as he tried to walk.

"It's ok, Edward. It's all going to be ok," Jenks sat him down on the little cushioned window seat near the door inside the warm kitchen. "You just sit here for a few minutes and warm up. I'll fetch you a nice warm drink." The old man closed the kitchen door, shutting out the cold wind that was now swirling snowflakes all around. He slipped his down jacket off, laying it over Edward's shivering form. "This should keep you warm for now."

He walked quickly over to the small staircase in the far corner of the kitchen that led up to his quarters, calling up loudly. "Tanya!" Edward jumped slightly, never having heard the butler raise his voice before.

A soft, round grandmotherly woman hustled down the steps and into the kitchen carrying a heavy, brightly colored hand crocheted afghan. She shuffled over to where Edward sat unmoving, and pulled the down jacket off of him. She quickly wrapped the warm afghan around him, rubbing his icy red cheeks with her warm meaty hands.

"You will be warmed up in no time, dear heart," she whispered to him. She had a slight accent that, even if he were in a semi coherent state, he probably wouldn't be able to place.

Edward watched her, not knowing who she was or what to say to her. He was suddenly aware that his teeth were chattering and his entire body was trembling. From the cold. From the shock. The plump woman tucked the afghan around him more tightly, running her thick hands up and down his arms a few times in an effort to help warm him up.

"It is ok, dear. You will warm up shortly. You will see. You will be all right. It will all be all right," she ran a warm hand down his chilled, red cheek.

Jenks reappeared, carrying a steaming mug. The woman whom Jenks had called Tanya, moved away, hands clasped tightly to her chest as she walked over toward where the stove was. Jenks sat down on the bench next to Edward.

"Here we go," he offered the cup up to Edward's slightly blue lips. "Please drink this, Edward. It will make you feel better."

His lips trembled as he took a small sip. The sweet, warm liquid made him shudder a little more than he had already been shuddering.

"What…what is that," his raspy voice shook as he spoke.

"This is a hot toddy, sir," Jenks smiled slightly at him. "I thought you could use it."

Edward took another sip when Jenks offered. It warmed him up inside and made him feel good. He shifted on the bench, sitting up a little straighter and taking the mug from Jenks' hands. He wrapped both of his cold hands around the mug, feeling the warmth as it tried to penetrate his frozen hands.

"Thank you, Jenks," his voice was low, dead.

"I have some nice chicken soup on the stove for you. Tanya will set out a bowl for you when you are ready to eat."

Edward took a long sip from the mug. He could feel the warmth radiating inside of him as his body started to calm. Whatever a hot toddy was, it was making him feel slightly better. "I…I can't eat, Jenks," he looked away from the older man, shaking his head, embarrassed by what he was, by the monster he was.

"Oh, but you must," Tanya reappeared in front of him. He looked up at her. She wore a dark green wool dirndl skirt that was loose enough not to cling to her rounded middle. A thick red and green cardigan sweater that looked hand knit and was fastened with elaborate silver hooks fit just so over her pristine white cotton blouse. A sparkling green crystal pin was clasped across the collar of the blouse. Her green snow boots had green fur lining sticking out of them and made a squishing noise on the brick kitchen floor when she walked. One thing he could be certain of about Tanya: she liked green. Her gray hair was pulled back tightly, and fixed in an elaborate twist of braids on the back of her head. Her deep blue eyes stared at him intently.

"Master Edward, this is my wife, Tanya."

Edward stared at Jenks in disbelief. "You have…a…wife?"

"And three children, and six grandchildren," he smiled at Edward.

"With number seven on the way," Tanya smiled softly as she pulled a chair from the breakfast nook over to where Jenks and Edward sat.

"I'm sorry. I…I'm not thinking straight right now," he apologized as he shook his head. "I'm Edward Ma-Cullen. Edward Cullen," he offered his hand, and Tanya took his still cold fingertips in both her warm hands.

"I know, dear heart," she smiled a sad, sympathetic smile at him.

"I'm sorry. I never knew that you were married," he offered to Jenks before taking another sip of his hot toddy. He liked this. It made him feel lighter, happier. Something was definitely in this, but he wasn't about to ask. Whatever it was, he needed it desperately right now.

"You were a child, sir. Of course you wouldn't have known-or cared to know," Jenks smiled.

"Please," Edward shook his head. "It's just us here. I'm not a sir or anyone's master. I'm not much of anything. I'm just…Edward. Edward the screw up," he sighed.

"You are not a screw up," Tanya shook her head, gently scolding him.

"Then I guess you didn't hear the news. Congratulations are in order. It's a boy," Edward sarcastically patted himself on the shoulder.

"I am well aware of what is happening, Edward," the tenor of her tone surprised him. She was being terse with him, scolding even. He looked at Jenks.

"Your father called me before he sent you his message," Jenks admitted. "He wanted to make sure I was aware of the situation and took care of you until he got home."

"He…he did?" Edward looked surprised. "Was he…was he mad?" Edward's brow furrowed as he looked down at the floor. Way to ruin your future and disappoint your entire family, you idiot, he thought.

"He was concerned for you, Edward. Not mad at all," Tanya took his hand. "He is your father and he loves you dearly. Do you think one youthful indiscretion would or could change that?"

Edward sipped from his mug. "This is one hell of an indiscretion."

"Nonsense. In this life, things happen. The measure of a person is not these things that happen. It is how a person meets these…these…" she searched for the correct word. "These…challenges," her face brightened. "Yes, challenges. You will be judged on how you deal with this challenge, Edward. Not on the challenge itself."

"But I…I've been so horrible to everyone," Edward looked down, feeling embarrassed about his behavior for the last few days. "To my dad, my mom, my whole family," he sighed. "I've been a monster to everyone I love." To Bella, he thought.

"Then now is the time to fix these things with your family, Edward," Tanya's blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. "Now is the time because now is when you will need them the most. And, make no mistake, they will be there for you. Now is when you need to rise above everything, and show your family what you are made of in the face of this new challenge in your life."

Edward looked at her for a long moment, lost in thought, before he finally spoke. "You're right, Mrs. Jenks," he sighed, sipping his now warm toddy.

"I know I am right," she smiled. "And now, for this challenge ahead of you, you will need to keep your strength up. We need you healthy. So, come and I will fix you some soup, yes?" She stood up, her boots making that same squishing noise as she shuffled over to the stove.

Edward looked at Jenks with a questioning expression on his face.

Jenks shrugged and smiled. "Why do you think I brought her here, Edward? Do you think that I could capable of being that wise?"

Edward stood up, keeping the afghan pulled tightly around himself. He turned to face the old butler. "I think you are a very wise man, Jenks. If someone other than my father had to be with me today, well, I'm glad it was you."

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Charlie stomped into the hallway again, slamming the front door behind him in a ritual he'd grown all too familiar with. He blew into his freezing cold hands to warm them a bit before grabbing hold of the ice cold metal zipper and unzipping his jacket.

"Well, for better or worse, it's done! The whole damn house is covered in lights and if you two don't like it, you can go out there and fix it yourselves, because I am finished with this decorating crap," he called into the living room as he took of his jacket and hung it on the coat rack. When he heard no response from inside, he poked his head around the door jam. He spotted the two girls sitting on the sofa, holding tightly onto one another. "Hey…who died?" He regretted saying it the instant it was out of his mouth.

Alice pulled away from Bella, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Bella sat, with her head down, and buried her face in her hands. Alice stood up from the sofa, walking slowly toward Charlie, who stood still as a statue, knowing what was coming.

"Oh…Alice," he breathed as she held the iPhone out to him. He took the phone from her trembling little hand, and, looking at the screen, sighed. "Alice…I…I don't know what to say."

A loud sob escaped her as she lunged at Charlie, wrapping her arms tightly around his middle. He held his arms out for a moment, unsure what to do, then, gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, iPhone still in hand, and patted her quivering head, buried in his chest, with the other.

"It's ok, Alice," he glanced at the sofa, noting his own daughter curled up in a ball, head in her hands. "You'll see…it'll all work out. Hey…Alice…Alice, come on," he pulled at the tiny girl, breaking her strong grip from around him and lead her by the hand over to the sofa. "Come on, now. I know this is upsetting for everyone. Hell, I'm upset about it myself," he sat her down on the sofa and then squeezed himself in between the two girls. "But, well, sweetie, what's done is done. We can't change any of it."

Bella curled herself into her father's side, burying her face. in his chest as Alice did the same. Charlie sighed, wrapping one arm around each girl.

"Come on, guys," he hugged them tightly. "You knew that this was a distinct possibility. I mean, we all knew it was going to go one way or the other. There's no need to be this upset."

"It's not...it's just...it's just that things will never be the same again, Charlie," Alice lamented.

"Well, Alice, that's sort of just life, I suppose," Charlie sighed. Nothing was ever the same again, was it? That's just how life was. "Everything changes at some point. I mean, look at me. I went from young and single, to married, to being married and a father. Went to bed one night married and a father one night, woke up the next morning old and single, seeing my kid only 2 weeks a year," he snorted. "Life's going to deal us some bad hands from time to time, girls. We just need to learn how to play with the cards we're dealt. Make the best of what we have and try not to let it beat us."

Bella fisted Charlie's plaid shirt in her hand. He understood that the changes involved here were far more different for his daughter than they were for Alice. For Alice, the change meant sharing her brother with this new member of the family. But regardless, Edward would always be Alice's brother. For Bella, however, things were forever changed where Edward was concerned.

Alice's phone rang, a happy little version of Jingle Bells, performed by actual jingle bells. Sitting up, she wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands again before taking her phone back from Charlie.

"Mom," she sighed into the phone before getting up and running quickly into the kitchen to talk to Esme.

Charlie took the opportunity to wrap both arms around his only daughter.

"Hey, you gonna be ok, kid?"

She sniffled, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her old Diamond Backs sweatshirt as she pulled away from him a little bit. She looked up at her father with her red, tear filled eyes, and nodded. "Yeah, I'll live," her voice was low and raspy. "I mean, yeah, I knew this could be the outcome, but it…it's still shocking to find this out, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," he sighed, tightening his grip on her.

"I just hope he's ok," she sighed before resting her head back on his chest.

Charlie ran his large, warm hand up and down her arm. "Does this change how you feel about him?"

She shook her head. "No, nothing could ever change that."

Charlie sighed. "I know that boy loves you, but you should realize and be prepared. He's going to want to do right by that child."

She sat up and stared at her father before closing her eyes and hanging her head. "Do you think I don't know that? I know what kind of a person Edward is, Charlie."

"Then I want you to promise me something, Bells," his voice was so soft she could barely hear it over Alice's shrieking hysterics in the kitchen.

"What's that?"

"I want you to promise me that you won't sit home pining away for him, wishing and hoping for something that will never be. I want you to make sure you get out of the house. Go hang out with your friends, and, oh, hell, I want you to date other boys," he tilted her chin up with his finger so she was looking at him. "I want you to live your life, Bells."

She stared at him for a moment. A life without Edward Cullen wasn't much of a life to her, at least in the way that it wasn't the life she wanted to live. But it was the only life she seemed to have any choice but to live. It wasn't the choice she would make, but it was the choice that Edward had made for her. She sighed, nodding her head. "Of course," she relented. "What other choice do I have?"

"That's my girl," Charlie hugged her tightly. "There's nothing worse than living with what might have been. Trust me…I'm living proof."

"What do you mean?"

"When your mother left…I…I didn't adjust very well," he looked away from her, toward the huge Christmas tree in the corner, feeling his face reddening from the embarrassment of his confession. "It took me a long time to get used to the fact that she was gone and she wasn't coming back."

"How long did it take?"

He looked at her, his hang dog face sad. "Years."

She studied her father's face, memorizing the lines, memorizing the hopelessness in his eyes. She didn't want that. She didn't want this to be her. She didn't want to be Charlie Swan.

"Promise me, Bells. Promise me you won't waste your life away wishing for a love you'll never have again," his voice was low, desperate.

"I promise," she breathed, just as Alice huffed back into the room.

Alice flopped down in Charlie's beat up old recliner, arms folded across her chest, a look of defiance on her face.

"She won't let me go to Chicago," she seethed.

"Well, you do have to go back to school tomorrow," that was Charlie. Not always getting it.

"Screw school. My brother needs me," she whined.

"Dr. Cullen is there," Bella sounded defeated. "You know he'll take good care of him."

"It's not the same thing," Alice shook her head. "Edward has a different relationship with me than he does with our parents."

"Right now, I think that what your brother probably needs is some space and some time, Alice," Charlie tried to reason with the angry girl. "He needs to clear his head so he can think, sort things out. He has some important decisions to make. "

"He's already made the most important decision, Charlie," her tears began to flow again.

"Oh…well…then…uh…what? What decision?"

"He's already decided. He's not coming back to Forks, Charlie."

"He's not…he told you this, Alice?"

"Not in so many words, but I've never been more sure of anything before. He's going to stay out there in Chicago. To be close to them," Alice stared blankly over at the tree that she and Bella had spent most of the day painstakingly decorating. But now, the mood in the room was anything but festive, and the glistening Christmas tree stood there, mocking her.

"And how is he going to do that? Stay in Chicago? Your parents going to rent an apartment or something? Or…are you all going to move back there," Charlie scratched his head. He couldn't fathom Carlisle picking up the whole family and relocating them yet again.

"They still own Edward's grandfather's house there, Charlie," Bella spoke quietly. Alice had spent most of their drive to Port Angeles that morning filling her in on their lives back in Chicago, and how Edward's life there had been far better than what it had been since they moved to Forks. "Or…some trust owns it or something?" She didn't understand how rich people operated and she didn't try to pretend that she did.

"It's part of Edward's inheritance," Alice's voice was a dead monotone.

Charlie looked at her. Edward's inheritance? He had no idea what she was even talking about. "So…so your parents are going to just let him live out there? In that house? On his own," Charlie sounded incredulous. What kind of parents would allow a seventeen year old boy live on his own in a big city? The Cullen's had never struck him as being that irresponsible, and he doubted that this new revelation was going to change that now. Surely Alice was mistaken. She had to be.

"I don't know, Charlie. I'm sure they'll work something out for him. My parents will do anything to make sure Edward is happy," Alice sulked. "Even if it means that I get to be miserable."

"Alice, you don't know that for sure," Bella shifted away from Charlie and leaned over the sofa toward her friend. "Your parents could tell him no if he asks. Plus, you don't even know if he wants to stay there. You're just assuming that he does."

"Bella, I'm right about this," Alice's voice was quiet, but she looked at Bella with hard black eyes. "You know I'm never wrong."

"You've been wrong before, Alice, and you know that."

"Name one time," Alice dared her.

Bella swallowed hard, glaring at Alice.

"I'm not wrong about that," Alice's voice was firm. "You'll see."

"You said yourself he's not coming back," Bella shot back.

"One thing has nothing to do with the other," Alice shook her head. "They are two separate and distinct things, Bella."

"What the hell are the two of you talking about," Charlie sounded exasperated as he looked from one dark haired girl to the other, noticing for the first time how utterly exhausted they both looked.

"Alice thinks that Edward has never stopped loving me," Bella sighed as she closed her eyes. She knew for a fact that Alice was mistaken about that.

"He hasn't. And they will be together," Alice affirmed to Charlie. "They are destined to be together, Charlie."

"Well, Alice," Charlie nodded at her. "That's easy for you to say, but, as the old saying goes, actions do speak louder than words, and your brother's actions have quite the opposite meaning than what you are saying."

"You'll see, Charlie," she closed her eyes, sighing as she leaned her head back against the chair. "I'm never wrong, and Bella knows that."

"Whatever, Alice," Bella curled into her father, tucking her feet under herself and closed her eyes. "You'll see that this is the one instance where you are absolutely wrong."

There was quiet for a moment, until Alice broke it.

"You know that everyone at Jessica's Halloween party thought your boobs were fake, don't you?"

"What?" Bella's head shot up.

"Yep. They were all talking about Chief Swan's daughters boob job and they wondered how the Chief could afford boobs like that on his salary."

"Don't be ridiculous, Alice," Charlie shook his head, laughing a little.

"I'm the one who told them they were real. I was the only one who knew they weren't fake. And that was before I even touched them."

Charlie leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes. "Alice, we need to have a little talk later on about boundaries and how sometimes too much information really is too much information."

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Carlisle kicked the snow off his shoes before he entered the front door. It had been a long, difficult day, and he wasn't sure what awaited him inside the old Masen house. He was just thankful he'd had the foresight to call Jenks and let him know what was going down so the old butler could look after Edward and watch the boy until he was able to get home.

After he had completed his mission and left Victoria and her family, he had driven around his old home town, lost in thought, for a long time before he finally turned into the driveway of the massive old estate. The gray stone main house had always looked so much like a cathedral to him, and that hadn't changed. It had started snowing on his way home from Victoria's and it made the old house look like some sort scene from a Dicken's story. He hoped that this story had a happy ending for his son.

It had almost given Carlisle the willies when Charlie Swan had given him Victoria's new address. Less than ten miles from this house. A chill ran up his spine when he thought of the odds, but he wrote that off as the cold Chicago winter that was blowing up a storm outside and chilling him to the bone inside.

Carlisle remembered how he and Esme had looked at houses in the very neighborhood of Northbrook when they were bringing Edward into their family. In fact, if he recalled correctly, they had even looked at a house on Victoria's street. He shivered again when he thought of the odds that Victoria and Edward's child could be living in that very same house.

But now, now he was back in the stately old mansion of Edward Masen, Sr. in the stately old suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois. The old house was warm, in so many ways. Once upon a time, there had been life and love and family here. And perhaps the residue of all of that life and love was still here. Maybe old Ed's spirit was still lurking among the wood paneled walls and plush upholstery, watching over his beloved grandson, showering his endless supply of love onto the boy.

At least Carlisle had hoped he was, and said a little prayer to old Ed, just in case.

"Hello?" His voice echoed in the empty, massive entranceway.

"Edward? Jenks?" He walked into the warm kitchen, but there was no sign that anyone had even been in there. Puzzled, he wandered through the butler's pantry and out into the formal dining room. From there, he headed down the hallway and back to the main entrance hall, where he started up the stars. Perhaps Edward had gone to his room to lie down?

"We are in the library, Dr. Cullen."

Carlisle jumped, not expecting to hear anyone. He looked down to see Jenks standing at the foot of the stairs, looking up at him. He stood in his usual position, with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to startle you."

"It…it's ok, Jenks," he headed down toward the butler, noting that the old man was now wearing a warm burgundy cardigan instead of his usual black suit jacket. The pristine white shirt and black tie were still in place, however.

The butler noticed him staring. "I'm out of uniform, I know. I'm sorry, sir. I'll go and change."

"No, no, not at all," Carlisle smiled. "I was just admiring your sweater. It's quite nice. Looks hand crafted."

"My wife knits," Jenks smiled slightly as he headed around the stairs and down a long hallway toward the library, Carlisle trailing along behind him like a lost child.

The massive solid mahogany double doors to the library were closed, but even so, as they approached the end of a long hallway, Carlisle heard it.

The Steinway.

He stopped at the closed door as his heart pounded and his breath caught in his throat. The most sadly beautiful melody floated from the room. He recognized it immediately.

Bella's song.

"Sir? Are you alright?" The butler sounded concerned, as the color drained from Carlisle's face.

"I…I can't go in there," he whispered to the butler, his voice shaking.

"Why not, sir? Master Edward has been playing the most beautiful concert for us this afternoon. I must say he's quite talented. His grandfather would be very proud of him. This one is his own composition."

"I…if…if I walk in there, he'll stop playing. He…he needs to play," Carlisle shook his head, backing away from the door nervously. "He needs to at least get through this piece."

Jenks studied Carlisle's face, and understanding dawned on him. "Now it makes sense."

Carlisle's brow furrowed. "What makes sense?"

"Earlier, when he made a phone call…" the butler's voice trailed off.

"He was calling his mother," Carlisle sighed.

"If you saw his face, you would have known it wasn't his mother who he called, and I don't think it was done on purpose."

"He called her by accident," Carlisle whispered.

Jenks nodded. "I believe he did. If you don't mind me asking, what is her name," he asked quietly.

"Isabella."

"He must have loved her very much."

"He still does, Jenks. He still does."

"Then…why?"

Carlisle looked at the butler, an eyebrow quirked.

"If she loved him back, she would understand."

"She does understand. It's Edward who doesn't understand," Carlisle's voice was sadly quiet.

"Ah, now I understand why this particular piece has such a forlorn quality to it. So beautiful, and yet, so melancholy."

Carlisle leaned against the wall across from the door and waited, scrubbing a hand over his face as he exhaled a long breath.

"My son has a good heart, but he doubts himself so much, Jenks."

"He's a good man, Dr. Cullen."

Carlisle looked at the older man with watery blue eyes. "How…how did he…was he…is he ok?"

"He fell to the ground in his anguish, sir. It was to be expected. We've not left him alone since."

"Was it…I wanted to be here to tell him in person," he closed his eyes. "But he…he had insisted…the wait was eating him alive, he said," Carlisle hung his head down as a lone tear escaped his eye. "I'm a terrible father. I shouldn't have listened to him. I should have been here for him."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Carlisle," the butler placed a fatherly hand on the younger doctor's shoulder. "You did as he requested. He wasn't alone. Tanya and I were here for him."

"I'm his father," Carlisle sighed. "I should have been here."

"You are here, aren't you? And you were there for him. You are the one who went to find out, so he wouldn't have to," Jenks shook his head. "Carlisle, you are a good father to this boy. Dr. Masen would never have trusted you with him if he wasn't positive of that. And you've proven him right today."

Carlisle looked at the elderly man, tears running down his wind burned cheeks. "I was terrified to come to Chicago. Terrified of what I would find here, what it would do to Edward."

"It's going to make Edward a better man, Carlisle."

Carlisle noticed that the sad melody had stopped and he heard laughter from the room as someone fumbled through Chopsticks on the Steinway. He looked at Jenks with a puzzled expression on his face.

"I'm afraid that would be my fault, sir. I gave him a couple of hot toddy's," Jenks looked apologetically at Carlisle. "He looked like he could use them."

Carlisle smiled sadly. "A couple of hot toddy's are the least of his troubles, Jenks." The doctor sighed and, closing his eyes while offering up a silent prayer, pushed open the doors to the library, and to his beloved son, Edward.

XXXXXXXXXX

Well, there it is...resolution...

*ducks*

I don't know how this will all go down...but things are definitely going to change. What will Edward do? Will he stay in Chicago like Alice is so sure he will? Will he go back to Forks and have Carlisle send a monthly check? Beg for a DNA test? Deny, deny, deny?

One thing is certain...both Edward and Bella have a lot to think about.

And then there's Bella's promise to Charlie to contend with...

Like I said...things are definitely going to change.

Thanks so much to everyone who's continued to read my little story. Please let me know what you think (and I know some of you who definitely will be letting me know LOL) by pressing that little review button right there on the bottom. I really do want to hear from you :)

And, if you do like it, why not pass it along to your fanfic friends?

I promise to try to be more regular with my updates now that things have settled down in real life. Can you believe it's August already? I can't! And soon it will be Christmas in Forks ;)

Thanks again for reading and reviewing!