CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

"Surprise!"

The surprise wasn't for me but that didn't stop me from practically jumping three feet into the air. Our friends and family had planned a surprise party for Edward's birthday. So when we arrived home from Chicago a couple of days later, needless to say, I was not included in on the surprise party plans.

"Were you surprised Uncle Edward?" Gracie asked as Edward picked her up and kissed her cheek.

"Yes, I was but I think you mother was even more surprised." He whispered. "I think she peed her pants."

"Edward." I scolded.

Gracie just laughed and laughed.

"You know my birthday's next and I want a surprise party too." Gracie requested.

"It can't be a surprise if you already know it's coming." Becky replied.

"Okay, then I want a pony. Daddy, will you get me a pony too?" And she was off to pester Embry the rest of the day with her birthday wishes.

"Happy Birthday, Edward." My mom came up and gave both of us a hug. I suddenly could see how much she had aged. She wasn't vibrant anymore and I was really worried about her.

"Mom, thank you for coming." I squeezed her tight.

"Coming? She did all the work practically." Embry announced.

"Thank you, Rene. I really appreciate it." Edward smiled to her.

"We have the grill going and swimming outback." Emmett announced.

"Let us just put these suitcases upstairs and we will be right down. Thank you everyone." Edward said pushing me along upstairs. Since I had come to Chicago with nothing, one day while Edward was filming he had me go and buy some clothes and toiletries. I had to buy an additional suitcase as well.

"Kinda bummed out that I have to share you again." Edward whispered.

"It's only for a couple of hours, Mr. Cullen. Besides, don't you want to see the new swimsuit Marcus sent over?"

"No. I rather see you out of it."

"Oh Edward."

We tried to hurry back downstairs but like a couple of horny teenagers we needed just a quick moment together…or a quickie. I don't know what happened to all the sudden turn us both on but between all our amorous moments in Chicago and that rather long plane flight home; I was surprised my poor kitty wasn't raw.

"About time. How long does it take you to change into a swimsuit?" Alice criticized.

When I finally did manage to make it back down stairs, the girls were already lounging around at the cabana. Savannah and Gracie were in the pool with Kate and Garrett's girls and the men were of course by the grill probably discussing sports or something equally boring.

"Well, I wanted to put away some of my new clothes…didn't want them to wrinkle in that suitcase any longer." I lied. Edward was having trouble keeping the smile off his face.

"Awe, my Bella…you're finally all grown up." Alice swelled with pride. Knew that lie would do the trick.

"Geez Alice, look at her. Does anybody really look that flushed from hanging up clothes?" Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Thanks Rosalie." I grumbled.

"Anytime." She winked.

"I need to talk to you." Jacob interrupted us ladies.

"Not right now, you don't." I knew what he wanted to talk about and I wasn't about to start hashing things out in the middle of Edward's birthday party.

"Bella."

"Not now, Jacob." I warned.

"What's wrong with you?" Rosalie asked him.

"Thank you for asking, Rosalie. I personally go through all the trouble…" Jacob began.

"NOT NOW, JACOB!" I was done with subtlety.

"Bella turned down the job of a life time. A job I helped her get. I think it's only fair if you tell me why."

"What job?" Alice asked.

"To direct Two Moons." Jacob replied.

"Awe, I love that book. Why would you turn that down?" Alice started with her sad eyes. I stood up and grabbed Jacob by the arm and pulled him toward the house.

"Ow!" He complained pulling his arm from my grasp. I will admit I was not gentle.

"What is the matter with you?" I spit. "I am trying to enjoy my husband's birthday. Why couldn't you get the hint the first time?"

"I haven't even had a chance to talk to you, Bella. You haven't answered any of my calls while you were away. I want to know why you turned that job down. Do you even realize what I did to get you in the room with Carly Garcia?"

"I didn't answer your calls because I was pissed off at you. I overheard Edward telling you how he left you in charge of me. Nobody is in charge of me, the least of all, you."

"Oh get off it. You and I know that Edward needs to feel in control of things. Of course I didn't think I was in charge of you. If I really believed that, with your track record, I would have put a homing device on you."

"Well you could have told me." I replied. "You're my friend and I trust you but I don't need a friend whose purpose in my life is to just watch over me like I'm a child. Like I told Edward, I don't need a second. Your services are no longer required."

"You have made that very clear to me, Bella. Over and over and over but what if I was just a friend who really did just care about you and worry about you. Do you know what it's like to have your husband calling me up and yelling at me because once again you disappeared? Sometimes I wonder if I'm more of an employee to you people then a friend." He spit.

I was taken aback by his harsh words.

"Yes I care about you. Sorry if that inconveniences you, princess. I found that job because I really believed that you could do it and that it was the perfect job for you. You already loved the book. The author loved you. Wasn't hard to convince her but Carly was apprehensive of your small but impressive body of work. But I got her on board because I believe in you and then you not only turn down the job but you just fucking leave without even a word to me. You have no idea how hard I worked to get you that opportunity. But what the fuck do I know; I'm just your fucking babysitter."

Jacob took off and what could I say to try to stop him? I just stood in that room replaying his words. His harsh words. Why did I feel a storm brewing? Even then I already felt it coming and I could look back and see how right I was.

I returned to the party trying to put on my fake face that I had learned to master. Unfortunately, it really was something everyone person in Hollywood needed to master.

Edward looked over at me from the grill and gave me the "what's up" look and I shrugged it off, happy that Savannah was already pulling me toward the pool so he couldn't search more. Edward was really good at reading my face and he knew when fake Bella came out to play. I didn't need another heated confrontation at the moment.

Jacob came down and had dinner and cake. He too was a master of the fake face but after cake he was nowhere to be seen.

"So why did you turn down that directing job. Sounded like a great project." Garrett rarely ever talked to me. Ever since our more than bumpy start we didn't really converse. We had both gotten to that point of respecting each other from a distance and any conversations we had in the past were mostly pleasantries.

I sighed, "I wasn't ready."

"Ready?" He asked.

"I…I'm just not there yet. Two Moons is a big fish. It would be biting off more than I can chew." I replied.

Garrett who had been an actor for most of his life finally gave directing a chance and was found to be more successful in that discipline.

"I don't think a person ever feels confident and ready their first full length project out. It's one of those things that are better done with falling out of the nest and trying to fly. I think you would handle it just fine."

Was that a compliment?

"I don't want to be the reason a great story fails."

"If a movie fails it's not just the director who's at fault." He pointed out.

"I just want to have more experience on a film before I take over such weighty responsibilities. Besides, I didn't completely turn down the job. I did say that I would be open to assistant directing or producing. Jacob is just making it sound much worse than it is."

"Well, just keep an open mind. That's all the advice I'm good for, unfortunately."

It was such a weird conversation and I tried to put our past as water under the bridge but it would take time. The rest of the party I swam with the girls and did my wifey duties for the day; entertaining, eating dinner and serving cake and ice cream.

Knowing that eventually Edward would read through my fake façade I tried to get up to bed before his friends had left that evening.

"You came to bed without me." Edward climbed into our bed and pulled me to him.

"Sorry. I guess I was just tired." I whispered.

"It's okay, baby." He gave me a kiss on my head and we settled in.

"Edward." I called out.

"Yes, honey."

"Do you…think my mom is happy?"

I heard him exhale, "No." He answered honestly.

"That's what I thought." I replied softly. "I think she's lonely. I'm really worried about her."

"Do…you think…maybe she could come and live here. Do you think that would help?" Edward proposed.

"Another person in this house? My god, we'd have to get city ordinance to declare this place a hotel."

"It's a big enough house. You know she could take over the pool house?" Edward suggested.

"But that's my office."

"Bella." Edward sighed. "There are a half a dozen other rooms in this main house you could turn into an office."

I pouted knowing I was going to give up my oasis of an office but it was for the right reasons. My mother would come to live with us and even though she could get on my nerves at time, it was truly the best move. Being a grandmother to Savannah and Gracie gave her purpose. She was so great with those two girls. She retired and we rented out my childhood home just as Edward had envisioned so long ago.

Edward would be in town for just three days before setting back off to Chicago. Once again I didn't know how this was going to work. I already started planning to go with him since I wasn't currently working on any projects. That was until I had gone to the studio and met with my boys from Liberty Project.

"A little surprised you called. I thought you were supposed to be out on tour." I said as I entered their studio space.

"Leaving in a couple of days for the long haul. Won't be back for a month." Aaron replied.

"Wow, I'm so jealous. I can't imagine all the cool things you will get to see."

"We wanted you to listen to something. At the concert last week, we met your friend, Silver J." Scott started.

"Well, I don't know if we are friends per say. Our daughters are besties but I just met him that night, same as you." I corrected.

"Whatever…anyway. We started talking and we managed to collaborate on a couple of tracks. He's coming right now to hear the final product and we wanted you to hear it as well." Scott finished.

"How cool. You guys and rap…didn't see that coming. I can't wait to hear it."

"So…Embry's cool with you hanging around with Silver J?" Matthew asked.

I cringed. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

"I so don't want to be in that room when he finds out." Matt replied and the boys laughed.

"Hey, I can do whatever I want, be friends with whomever I want." I defended probably a little too much but lately it was really starting to bug me that people were making innuendo's that I wasn't my own person, free to make my own decisions.

"Uh-huh." There was a chorus and for the first time I did start to feel a little worried about that but come on Embry can't expect me to not hang out with him just because he has beef.

Silver J whose real name by the way was Sean walked in all cool with his sunglasses still on and a style all of his own that only he could ever pull off.

"Nice to see you again." I welcomed.

"Very nice to see you again. I had no idea until my wife told me the other night that our children were such good friends. Hope it didn't cause any problems. I don't want Tianna and Savannah's friendship to suffer because their fathers are assholes."

"Well, Embry still doesn't know but I promise it won't. So I heard you guys put together a killer collab." I replied trying to get off that subject of Embry for a while.

We listened to the work they had done and I loved it. But then again I do have a bias. However one of my favorite things is hearing Rap being mixed with other types of music. For me it really worked.

"So you guys are coming back in a month? I'll keep working so that so when you get back maybe we can release something." Sean said.

"That would be awesome. Thank you, really." Scott replied.

"What are you working on next?" Mark asked.

"Well, I agreed to do this Peace Concert coming up next month so I need to figure out that but my girl has been nagging at me to take her and the baby on vacation so…god knows."

"Peace Concert?" I blurted out. My publicist had told me about that coming up but I hadn't focused well enough.

"Yeah…up near San Fran." He replied.

"Yeah…I heard about that. My publicist mentioned something but I hadn't really decided anything."

And then it hit me.

What better of a performance at a peace concert then a performance with Silver J and E.C. Crime coming together to build a metaphorical bridge. It would be brilliant. It could be epic. It would be the perfect message to send out to thousands of people but more importantly their own children.

"Uh-oh. She got that look in her eyes." Scott joked.

"Look, her heads going to explode." Matthew laughed.

"Shut up. I got it. Damn, do I got it." I snapped my fingers together. "Your peace concert…what could be better than two rivals setting aside their differences to come together in the name of peace."

Silver J was already shaking his head. "Naw, naw, naw. That would not be a good idea."

"Yes, it is. Think of Tianna. You know eventually she will have to learn why you and Savannah's father don't get along. What message are you sending her? Wouldn't you feel better knowing that she could grow up in a safer, happier environment? In a world where even the biggest differences can be settled. Don't you want that for her?"

"Awe man, come on. This isn't just about me and E.C. Crime. This shit goes back to Run it Thru Crew versus Volatile Rap."

"Who gives a shit? You have the power to take the first step and do really think you're going to get a negative response from people. It would be inspiring. Would you at least just think about it?" I gave him those great big eyes that I learned from Gracie.

Sean rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Just don't' say anything….just go and think really hard. When you get home and you see your baby…you beautiful miracle just think how you can make a positive difference in her world." I really laid it on thick.

"Bat shit crazy, this one." Sean shook his head.

"You don't know the half of it but she's a genius." Scott replied.

"How bout you go home and tell Embry all about you little epiphany and then come back and tell me all about it."

And it was left at that. I had to go home and figure out a way to get Embry on my cray cray train.

When I got home the house was quiet which was helpful since I had been rehearsing my little speech in my head the whole time. All that needed to be done was to find Embry. Give him my proposal and then wait to hear his rebuttal which I was assuming would be negative but then I would slap him with reality.

I walked into the living room and found Embry watching some show on the television. Here we go.

"What's up, B?" He asked as I sat a little too straight on the couch.

"Um…how's it going?" I asked completely not myself.

Embry pulled back to look me over. "What's wrong?"

"Uh…well…you know that…well…you…I don't think that anyone knows me…no." I stopped. Rocky start.

"What's matter with you?" Now I had his attention.

"Well…"

Jacob walked into the room cutting me off. He handed me a piece of paper which was menacing since he hadn't spoken to me since our fight.

"What's this?" I asked.

"My two-week notice." He stated.

"Two weeks?" Embry asked.

"Yeah…Becky and I are moving out. I think it's time."

"Jacob." I sighed.

"It's for the best." He replied stiffly walking out of the room.

I shook my head not knowing whether I should be mad or upset. I could feel tears forming so I guess my initial reaction was heading toward upset.

"What's his deal?" Embry asked.

"He's mad at me."

"You okay? I could go talk to him." Embry offered.

"It's okay. Just forget about it."

With the interruption I didn't have the strength to talk to Embry about Silver J. I didn't tell Edward about Jacob's self-imposed eviction notice. I already knew he would find some way to blame me or make me apologize for this and the more I thought about it the more it upset me. In mean after everything we have been through.

I knew that this was just the temper tantrum of a grown man but it still angered me that he would act this way.

The next day before I had a chance to turn my office back into living corridors for my mother, I invited Silver J over to confront him one more time. Silly but I thought if I could just get one of these guys to break then maybe it would make it easier for the other guy to agree.

"I already know what you're going to say. Blah, blah, blah…do this for the children, the future of American rests on you. Have a heart and so on." Silver J rambled coming into my office.

"Did you talk to your wife?" I asked.

"Why the fuck do you think I'm here."

Last night before I went to bed I texted his wife and told her all about my big plan. I had a feeling she would get on it. There were two women in every man's life that usually could bring even the roughest and toughest men to their feet; their wife and their mother.

"You're doing the right thing." I smiled.

"I ain't agreed to shit."

I couldn't help but smile at him. "Thank you! You really are amazing."

"Yeah? And what did Embry say?"

I bit my lip cringing slightly.

"Well…" I started.

"That's a deep subject. See his ass isn't even here." Sean noted.

"Because…I haven't asked him yet."

"Ah hell, I'm getting the fuck up out of here." Silver J took off out the front door to my pool house. It had been a miracle I could get him through the house in the first place without anybody seeing him. "I can't believe this shit."

Silver J was still yelling about which probably wasn't the best way for Embry to find out.

"What the fuck are you doing in my house?" Embry roared from the top of the stairs when we managed to make it to the entry way.

"Embry….I can explain." I tried to cut in.

"The fuck is it to you? I was invited." Silver J spit.

"I don't give a fuck. Get the fuck out of my house." Embry shouted.

"Embry! This isn't just your house. I invited him here. He is my guest." I yelled.

"Whatever, I'm out." Silver J threw his hands down and left quickly.

"What do you mean he was your guest? What the hell are you doing talking to Silver J? You know our history." Embry yelled.

"Because he just happens to be Tianna's father. I thought that maybe you both could teach a lesson to your children about forgiveness and peace and all the shit your supposed to be teaching them." I yelled back.

"That asshole's Tianna's father?" Embry asked.

"Yes. I wanted to work with him on an upcoming project. The Peace Concert is coming up and silly me, I thought you could teach Savannah something about that."

"Hell no. She isn't going anywhere near Tianna anymore. That is done." Embry spit.

"The fuck it is? I am Savannah's mother. Remember when you asked me to be that role? I am not about to let you rip away Savannah's best friend for your stupid beef that happen nearly fifteen years ago."

He was seething but I didn't care. This was the talk we needed to have yesterday and I think my idea of it being somewhat plausible for us to have a civilized conversation went right out the window.

"B." He paused trying to reign in his anger. "I love you, you know I do but you have to choose…"

"You don't want to do that, Em." I cut him off from the very big mistake he was about to make.

"Either it's him or…"

"Stop." I ordered. I could see him fighting to not say another word.

"You know someone once tried to make the mistake you are about to make. I was once asked to choose. I made it very clear that night to every single person in that room including my own husband that if anyone ever gave me an ultimatum and asked me to choose, I would always choose the person who didn't make me make a choice. I would remain loyal to those loyal to me. And you know what happened? The very next day, you ended our friendship and even though I was hurt and upset, I didn't regret my decision the night before to choose you because I know that if a person really does care about you they would never give you that choice to make. I stood behind our friendship even though it was so new. I stood behind you. This isn't about you, Embry. This is about them. Their future. Your daughter's future. Do you really want Savannah and Gracie to have to go through life fighting a battle that was over long ago? This isn't about you or Sean or the Run It Through Crew. This is the moment when you have to decide what is more important; your career and your grudges or your family and their futures. You have the opportunity to show them that even the biggest wars can be solved with Peace and compromise. Wouldn't that outweigh every prejudice you had?"

"Don't ask this of me. You have no idea what it is that you are asking from me. You don't know shit about what happened between us and Volatile Rap. It was a war, you're right about that. People died. That kind of shit doesn't just get forgiven."

"People died. Yes, they did and I'm sure that on both sides people died. And you know what those people are saying?" I shook my head. "Nothing. Because their dead. I know you didn't kill anyone. I know that you may have lost friends in this war but they're not in heaven rooting you on to avenge them. You are a grown ass man. You, Darren, your whole crew, Silver J and his whole crew are grown ass men who should be old enough to realize the error of your ways. And I am just sick that you aren't ready to step up and show Savannah and Gracie what it is to be a real man."

I wasn't going to get anywhere with him. There was just too much history but I would be damned if I would allow that history to mess with my kids future.

First Jacob and now Embry.

My friends were dropping like flies.

AN: Thank you all so much for such kind words last chapter. I really am happy that you are loving this story. Thank you for taking the time to read...I know it's been a really long journey and I truly appreciate it!