The rest of the week passed in a pretty uneventful manner. It seemed– for the time being at least– that Edward had decided to back off and give me some space. I had lunch with Charlotte a couple of times during the week, and met Rosalie for coffee in her office, but before I knew it the weekend as rolling around again.

In fact, it was Friday afternoon before anything uneventful happened at all. I had just been sent out to an office supply store down the street to pick up an order of staples and ball point pens before the store closed for the weekend. I rode the elevator like normal, but when I reached the lobby and began walking towards the doors, I felt a strange feeling come over me.

Someone is watching you. My brain said, but that was crazy.

Immediately I scanned the lobby for Edward but, there was no sign of bronze coloured hair in any of the directions I looked. I shrugged it off, I was probably just being paranoid, but the feeling didn't go away. It hadn't dissipated by the time I reached the store either, nor when I returned to the building. I caught myself looking over my shoulder constantly, but Edward was nowhere around me, so I let it slide.

Three hours later I was heading through the lobby again, when I noticed a man who had been sitting on a couch in the waiting area get up and start to walk towards the doors as I did. I tried not to let it bother me, I was clearly just projecting my earlier fears on to the innocent man who was simply leaving the building. I tried to force myself not to notice as the man turned and headed down the street in the same direction as I did. It's a big city Bella, he could literally be going anywhere.

By the time I reached the subway station I had lost sight on him, and settled in for the long journey back home. I was beginning to get tired of returning to an empty home every day, but it was already the 18th of November, it finally seemed like Christmas was getting closer everyday.

I'd barely been back to the apartment ten minuets when the landline began to ring.

"Hello?" I answered, hoping to god that it wasn't Edward who was calling me.

"Hey Bells, how's it going?"

"Hi Dad. Not much, I just got in from work. How're you? How's Antony?" I hoped my questions didn't sound too forced, Dad and I had only just rekindled our relationship and there were times when I found talking to him strained at best.

"We're doing good Bells, he seems to be settling into school pretty well."

"That's great Dad." I said, before we settled into an awkward yet familiar silence.

"Actually Bella, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. The school is having a two day week for Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd bring Antony out to visit for the holiday. Figured we'd make a vacation out of it. How does that sound to you Bella?"

I was speechless, it was as if Dad could read my mind and knew how lonely I was without my baby boy.

"That's perfect Dad! Are you sure it's ok though? Can Forks P.D spare you for an entire long weekend?" I ask, only half mocking him.

"I cleared it with the guys Bells, they know how important Antony is to his Grandpa Charlie."

"This is really great Dad, really great. I'll have to check with work but I think I get thanksgiving day off at least. Will you be ok to look after Antony while I'm working Friday though?"

"Of course Bella, not a problem. Listen I've gotta get going, Antony's due to finish school any minute. I'll call when I have the flight details but we'll definitely be with you on the Wednesday at some point. Miss you Bells."

"You too Dad." I smiled. "Say Hi to Antony from me."

As I placed the phone back onto the holder, I practically squealed with excitement. Thanksgiving was just over a week away, I'd be reunited with Antony so much sooner than I had hoped. That was definitely something to celebrate.

I decided to treat myself with dinner tonight, nothing fancy just some pasta and tomato sauce. If Dad was coming for Thanksgiving, he'd insist on buying groceries and, that meant my current supply had to last me a week less than I had originally planned. I was so elated that I even let myself have a slightly larger serving than usual. I was on an emotional high for the rest of the evening, settling down on the sofa with my copy of Jane Eyre and losing myself– for a couple of hours at least– in Jane's narrative.

By the next morning, I was still on cloud nine. I hadn't realised just how down I was without Antony until I was faced with the glorious prospect of seeing him again. I woke up just before ten and hopped straight into the shower, the hot water and exquisite feeling on my skin in the frigid November air. I didn't bother to heat the apartment until there was snow on the ground. The tenants downstairs had theres on most nights in the winter, and the leaky insulation meant that their heat kept my place hovering just above uncomfortably cold for most of the winter.

I dressed in a soft oversize knit sweater– a relic from my teenage days in Forks, and a pair of once skinny jeans. I wasn't sure why I was up so early on my day off, I had nothing to do and nowhere to be. I figured that I might as well make something of the day and padded towards the kitchen table where I had left my purse. My cell phone was an utter brick, a relic from the days that cameras on phones were a radical notion. Somehow, it still worked almost perfectly. Apart from the camera, and the left click button, but that didn't really matter.

I tried Charlotte's number first, she'd mentioned about doing something this weekend the other morning, but when it when to voicemail for the second time, I gave up and dialled Rosalie instead. She answered before the second ring.

"Hey Bella."

"Hi Rose, hope I'm not interrupting anything." I say, realising that its before 10:30 on a Saturday morning and not the sort of time that most people want to be up on their day off.

"Nonsense Bee, I just said bye to Emmett, he's gone off to Long Island fish for the day with…Never mind. Anyway, what can I do for you Bella?"

Edward, clearly she was going to say Edward and stopped herself.

"Oh um, its ok Rose, I've totally forgotten." I say, hoping she wont notice that I'm lying through my teeth. But if Emmett is hanging out with Edward, theres always a chance we will bump into each other.

"Bella, you're terrible at lying, even over the phone. You know that just because Emmett is with him, I would never force you to be in the same room together unless you agreed to it right?"

"Thanks Rose, I really needed to hear that."

"Anyway, what can I do for you Bella?"

"I was wondering if you have any plans for today? And if not would you like to hang out? We could, I don't know, get coffee or something?"

"Ooh yes great idea! I was going to clean the apartment today but that is work and it is the weekend. How about I meet you in Williamsburg so you don't have to come all the way to Manhattan? We could wander round the shops and that there, if you want?"

"Sounds excellent to me Rose."

"Okay cool, want to meet outside the subway in like 2 hours? I still have to get dressed."

"No worries, sounds great. See you then."

I was so relieved to have plans for the day that the two hours seemed to fly by in minutes. I felt that I had barely blinked before I was standing, just as Rosalie had instructed beneath the canopy of a quaint Brooklyn coffee house that stood just next to the exit of the subway.

"Bella!" Rose shouted to me as she got near enough to see me through the crowd.

"Hi! Thank you so very much for agreeing to keep me company today, you have no idea what it means to me." I gushed before realising that I probably sounded like a idiot.

"Hey Bella?"

"Yes Rose?"

"Relax. We're friends. Friends are there for each other, it's practically the definition of the word."

I feel a traitorous blush begin to creep across my face.

"Now, tell me what has got you in such a strange mood today. You've got a huge smile on your face and I demand to know what or who has caused it."

"Well, if you must know. My Dad is bringing Antony to visit for Thanksgiving and I've never been so excited for turkey day in my entire life as I am for this years."

"Oh Bella that's great!"

"I know, I can barely contain my excitement." I confess. "Actually Rose, I have to ask, E.M is closed for business for Thanksgiving right? I mean, I don't mind not having the Friday off but, ideally I'd like to spend the day with my family."

The look on Rose's face confirms that my panic has been entirely unfounded.

"Of course we are closed for Turkey Day, what kind of American company do you think we are running over here?" She jokes.

"Oh great, that really puts my mind at ease."

"So, does this mean that I finally get to meet the adorable Antony Swan?" Rose asks me expectantly.

"Of course Rosalie, I mean, if you really want to."

"Bella, I would love to meet your son. He'll be like the nephew I've always wanted. So you'll bring him– and your Dad too of course– to dinner with Em and me on the Friday night"

"Are you sure Rose? I mean, if you had plans already you don't have to change them just for us."

"Bella, remember the part where I'm your friend? It's totally fine, besides, I want to meet your son. Trust me."

"Im sorry, you're so right. We'd love to come for dinner, we really would."

"Good, so it's settled then. Now, lets go have a wander." Rose links her arm through mine and we stroll off towards an indoor market that she's heard great things about.

Our afternoon is relaxing, just wandering about Williamsburg and chatting. There's really a lot going on there, I can't believe I'd never really been there before. Rose told me that there were a ton of free things going on here in the summer, and I made a note to check it out with Antony when he was back with me. We strolled around until the sun had gone down, and Rose insisted upon us getting dinner (her treat) before we left.

We stopped into this artisan pizzeria and shared a mushroom and artichoke thin crust, it was delicious but so filling, I felt that I would have to be rolled home.

"Shit Bella, that was good pizza. I'm gonna have to bring Emmett to this place, he would absolutely love it."

I giggle, if there is anything I learned about Emmett from dinner the other night, it is that he loves food. Suddenly his physic makes a lot move sense. After ordering an individual size Italian meat pizza to go for Emmett, we walk back towards the subway and make plans for coffee in Rose's office during my lunch break on Monday.

When I arrived back to my street, I get that familiar feeling of being followed that I had felt on Friday. There was no one around, but still the feeling lingered. I unlocked my door and hurried inside safe as fast as I possibly could, dead bolting the door when I was inside. I hadn't seen anyone out there, but the feeling was real, and bolting the door calmed my nerves somewhat.

I spent most of Sunday in bed, I had nowhere to go and the hours of walking around in the cold had knocked my immune system for six. I'd always been a little sickly, but ever since having Antony I seemed to have lost what little natural immune system I had developed as a child.

By Monday morning my nose was clogged like a public toilet and my throat felt as though it was on fire whenever I tried to drink, let alone speak. Still, I had no alternative but to drag my infected body out of bed, swallow down some fever reducers and a decongestant and go to work.

The journey to work was hell. My body convulsed in agony with every jolt of the subway and the stuff air seemed to clog my nostrils further still. By the time I had reached my desk and sunk like a sloth into my chair, I was wishing I had stayed at home.

The hours dragged. By lunch time I already felt like I had been there all day. I dragged myself to the bathroom and spent my thirty minutes sitting curled up on the toilet. At least I didn't need to hurl.

When lunch was over I made my sluggish way back to my desk and sunk into the chair. There was a note sitting on top of my keyboard on monographed paper.

'Meet me in my office at 5pm. Say no and you're fired. -Edward.'

I gulped. Of all days, why today? I asked in vain, the universe hated me. I already knew the answer.

Walking to his office at the end of my shift felt like marching towards my own death. The prospect of talking with him coupled with my already exhausted body had me in a state of what might only be described as panic. I had half a mind to turn around and leave this conversation for another day. But this was Edward Cullen, and that threat was nothing if not serious.

"Come in Isabella." He said before I had time to knock. I closed the door softly behind me.

"Edward," I nodded, taking a seat in the soft fabric chair that was closest to the door. I was keeping my escape route in mind this time. "You look well."

"Enough pleasantries, I didn't call you here to make small talk." His words cut through the air like daggers. "I've been patient Isabella, but even a patient man can only wait so long. I'm going to ask you again, where is my son? I think you ought to think very carefully before you answer. Like I said, my patience is wearing thin."

My mind was whirling at his question. I was torn. My heart said that this man was dangerous, that he was a danger to myself and to my son, that I should leave everything before he could make his way back into our lives and hurt us. But my head was wiser, my head told me that Edward Cullen was a dangerous man, true. But it warned me that a dangerous man is only so when there is something that he wants but does not have.

"You can't see him Edward, I won't let you hurt him." I mumbled, unsure of the strength of my argument.

"Isabella, before you say anymore stupid shit I should warn you. I have my lawyer drawing up the necessary papers to remove Antony from your care. So you might want to reconsider what you are about to say."

I froze. Edward's empty threats were one thing, but if he was going to begin legal proceedings, there was nothing I could do to fight it. Even if I could find a lawyer willing to take on my case pro-bono, theres no way in hell we would win. I had no idea about Edward's financial situation, but the man had his name on the door of his office, so he could clearly afford a better lawyer than I could. I found myself trapped, the walls on either side of me seemed to close in around me. My heart beat wildly in my throat and I felt a pang of nausea in my stomach.

"Edward…" I stuttered. "I…I'll let you meet him." The words tumbled out of my mouth on a whisper of shame. I could barely believe I was saying them, I disgusted myself, but there was no other option. I wouldn't lose Antony.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses. I'll have my driver meet us outside and we'll go right away." Edward stepped away from his desk and began for the door.

"No." I shouted, my voice louder than I had intended. "You can't see him now."

"Why not Bella. What possible reason can you have to deny me this."

"Well, he's not here. He's not in New York right now." I replied, defiantly as I could.

"Where is he Isabella? I demand you tell me."

I sensed Edward's anger growing, and knew I had to talk, quickly, before he got too mad.

"He's living with my father Edward. Just while I get back on my feet. But, he'll be here next week, for Thanksgiving. You can meet him then." I could feel myself babbling, but it felt so wrong to be saying this, to be inviting this dangerous and cruel man into my life that I had to speak quickly or not speak at all.

"Excellent. I'll ask you to stop by later in the week to arrange the details."

I was stunned at how quickly my words had subdued him. I could merely nod in reply.

"Now, if you don't mind I have somewhere to be. If you would see yourself out."

I left the building with the bitter taste of disgust in my mouth. If I had been sick earlier in the day, I hardly felt it now. If I had been excited for Thanksgiving, and the promise of being reunited with my darling son. I now only felt guilt and revulsion at the notion that I would be exposing him to that danger which I had sworn he should never have to endure. That it would be my fault, if anything were to happen to him, because it had been I who had permitted the introduction of evil into my six year old's otherwise safe world.

I went home and cried myself to sleep, finally passing out when my tears and energy had deserted me. I was a failure of a mother.

A/N

If you have reached this point, I can only thank you. I realise that the quality of the opening chapters is, at best, poor. However I do not know when I shall find the time to revise them whilst also continuing on with the story.

If you have enjoyed it, please review. It really does spur on the writing process for me.

This story has evolved from my original plan, as stories often do when you let them lie for years at a time. But I feel I know where it is going now, and your reviews will get me there faster.

Thanks for stopping by,

Liv