*Peeks around corner* Well, here I am! I am still around! I am so sorry for the massive delay in getting this chapter out to you. After some horrendous problems with my internet, then my computer, then my internet, then my computer… well, you get the picture. It hasn't been a pretty path, but I think I am finally at the end of that tunnel. Super thanks to my fabulous beta, JennyCullen, aka Jenrar, for all of her work and also to my partner in crime and ficwife, EternallyCullen. If you are in the mood for some good reading (especially citrus), check their profiles out!

And now, without further ado…

Bella walked woodenly through the zoo, only snapping out of her daze whenever Matt would pull on her hand to show her some new animal. While she was there in body, her mind was a million miles away. Actually, her mind was back on the sofa from the night before, straddling Edward. She felt her cheeks flush at the intimate memory.

Edward had not behaved as if he was uncomfortable around her, but she caught him glancing at her often. Several times, he had slipped her fingers between his own and squeezed gently.

She wondered what last night had meant. Had it been a purely physical response between them or more? She was able to admit to herself that she liked Edward. She enjoyed being around him and simply watching him. His features were a lodestone to her, her eyes returning to him of their own accord, time and time again. But she also enjoyed just being with him, which led her to believe that there was more to her feelings than only lust.

But what about him? What are his feelings for me? Bella wondered with trepidation. The very idea of exploring how he felt about her was frightening. She had been rejected once in her life, and it had been a painful experience of the highest magnitude. She had allowed herself to love, and the result had been that she'd ended up alone – with a baby on the way. She now had to be so careful with her choices. Every decision she made would affect Matthew. And he was the cornerstone of her life.

She was also terrified over the fact that she was possibly creating an entire relationship in her imagination. What if he didn't feel the same for her? If she brought it up first, she would look like a complete idiot, and the thought of Edward Cullen thinking she was nothing but an overly-emotional female caused her stomach to drop.

Since when did his opinion of me matter so much?

Since he kissed you on that picnic.

Bella bit her lip at the memory. Yep. That was the moment she had started to fall for Edward Cullen.

But you know that he only took you out because he felt sorry for you…and wanted to make sure you cooperated with the project so he'd get a good grade, her inner voice mocked.

But he seemed interested…and he was turned on last night during our make out session…

Duh! He's a guy! Most guys his age are ready to fuck any girl that shows an interest in them!

I don't think Edward's like that –

"Mom!" Matt yelled, tugging on her hand. "Which one?"

Bella pulled herself away from her silent argument. "What?" She had not paid one iota of attention to what they were doing. She could have been led into the lion's den and would have been none the wiser.

"Which one you wanna eat at? The rain forest or the ocean?"

"The what?" she asked, still confused and embarrassed to have been daydreaming about Edward while he was right next to her.

Edward chuckled. "Do you want to eat at the Rain Forest Pavilion or the Pacific Blue Chowder House?"

"Um, it doesn't matter. Whichever is good," she replied.

Edward led them toward the Rain Forest Pavilion, and they loaded their trays up. He took them through the line, paid for the small feast, and then followed Matt to a table that was a bit out of the way. They sat in silence, eating their lunch. Trekking all over the zoo had made them very hungry.

The three had finished their meals and were resting when an elderly couple walked by and stopped beside them.

"What an adorable little boy you two have there," the gray-haired woman remarked, a smile on her face. "He looks just like both of you!"

Bella felt her face flame. "Oh, uh…"

"Thank you," Edward replied smoothly, sliding his arm across the back of Bella's chair. "We're both very proud of him."

The elderly woman smiled at them again and then followed after her family.

Bella was stunned. "Edward…why…?"

He hoped he had not overstepped his bounds. "I thought that would be easier than to explain the dynamics."

"Oh," she said quietly.

See? He's not interested in an instant family. He just wanted to avoid a lengthy explanation. Don't read more into it than it was!

The remainder of the afternoon passed in a blur. Bella could not pull her thoughts away from what had passed between the two of them the night before.

They finally finished in all of the exhibits and headed toward the car, an exhausted little boy in tow. Edward had barely merged into traffic on the 104 when Matthew fell asleep in the back seat. He took advantage of the quiet and threaded his fingers through Bella's.

"You've been very quiet today. Penny for your thoughts," he said softly.

"Nothing major," she lied. "Just tired."

He made a noncommittal sound. "Well, the way you've chewed on your lip all day, I thought it would be something really important."

She forced a smile. "No," she replied, a bit too brightly.

"Look, Bella, about last night…"

And here it comes…

"Yeah?"

"Well, I-I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy being with you," he started.

She pressed her lips together into a hard line. "But you think it's best that we just be friends," she finished for him.

Edward looked over at her askance. "Huh? Where the hell did you get that idea?"

Bella stared at him, surprised. "Well, I figured that's what you were going to say."

"Why would I say that? Did last night not show you any of my feelings for you?"

She picked at a loose thread on her jeans. "I just thought it was only a physical reaction…"

He shook his head slightly. "No. I mean, it was. I mean, you are the one who makes me feel this. You," he emphasized.

She stared at him in silence. Finally, she found her voice. "But, why me?"

"Because I feel something special for you. Something I've never felt for anyone. I don't go around making out with just any girl I meet, you know."

"But we're too different," she argued. "I wouldn't fit into your world." She stared out of the window, sorrowful at the knowledge that they could not be together. But she just wasn't good enough for him.

Edward sighed. "Damn it, Bella. None of that matters! All that matters is how we feel about each other, and call me a liar, but I know you feel something for me."

"Don't," she whispered. If she gave voice to her feelings, her heart would be torn in two when things didn't work out.

He pushed her. "Admit it. You feel something; I know you do."

Before she could stop herself, the words were flowing out of her mouth. "Yes, I do, okay? You know I do. Do I want something with you? Of course I do! But it would never work!"

"Why wouldn't it work?"

She couldn't believe he was going to make her say it. "Because you're…you! And I'm me. You should have a tall, beautiful blonde on your arm, one who's from a good family with money. Like you are. Not me…"

Edward shook his head. "The only way it won't work is if you are damned determined that it's not going to. Shit, Bella, we're not in the fourteenth century! Social classes don't matter anymore, unless you make them matter!"

She wanted to believe him. God, how she wanted to! Now that she had admitted to herself that she felt something deeper for Edward, she wanted nothing more than to be his. But it was easy for him to say this now. What about in the future, when they were at some fancy cocktail party? Would he be embarrassed of her around his colleagues when she didn't have the pedigree or education the rest had?

"I-I don't know," she said quietly.

"I do. Let's at least try. Please? I can't let you go now."

The thought of letting him go was killing her, but she knew that she had no right to keep him for herself. Her mother's old saying came back to her: If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it's yours. If it never returns, it was not yours to begin with.

She chose to stay silent, hoping that he would come to his senses. The simple fact was that she knew she didn't deserve him.

~CA~

Edward walked Bella to her door, Matt in his arms. The little guy had fallen asleep as soon as they had hit the road, and he was still sleeping soundly. Edward followed her inside the apartment and laid Matt down in his bed, gently removing his shoes.

"He's worn out," he said quietly.

"Yeah. He's had a busy day."

They looked at each other awkwardly, neither of them knowing what to say. They had only made small talk the rest of the way home, not wanting to mention the elephant in the room. Bella had hoped he had wised up, and he prayed she would give in to her emotions.

Edward fiddled with the keys in his pocket. "Well, I guess I'd better go. I've got an early day tomorrow."

She nodded, unable to look him in the eyes. "Yeah, me, too."

He walked to the door but turned around before he entered the hallway. "Bella… I'm not going to push you on this, but please think about things before you make a decision. Don't shut the door on us before we've even begun."

She finally looked up into his face and was surprised at the raw pain she saw on his features. Did he really want her that badly? She remembered the elderly lady at the zoo who had complimented them on their family. Did he want that? She nodded in acquiescence. "I will."

He smiled in response. "Good. Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow," he said and placed a quick kiss on the top of her head.

He quickly turned on his heel and headed back to his car. Pulling out of the parking lot, he thought back over the last twenty-four hours and felt a silly grin pull at his lips. Bella wasn't going to make it easy, but he felt confident that he could charm her into admitting that she did want to be with him. Taking the twists and turns of the road easily, he allowed his mind to wander back to Bella.

No, he had never intended to get involved with a single mother.

Yes, they were from different circles of society.

Yes, it appeared on the surface as if they had nothing in common.

But he knew that they did have something in common – the most important thing in any relationship. They wanted to be with each other. And he'd be damned before he let her go just because of some asshole from her past that made her feel as if she wasn't good enough.

Edward had not planned on a relationship at this point in either his life or education. He had planned to get through med school and his residency without the pressure of maintaining a relationship. However, no one could plan on falling for someone, and he was not about to let Bella go just because it hadn't been in his original plan.

He was determined to make her see reason – to make her see that they belonged together.

He only hoped that his confidence in his abilities to make things happen wouldn't end up blowing up in his face.

End Notes: This chapter wasn't as long as I originally intended, but this was a good place to stop. Be on the lookout for the next chapter! The delay will not be nearly as long! And I would really appreciate it if you clicked on that little "review" button right down there and dropped me a line!