Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

EPOV

I sat with an empty cup of coffee on the porch steps surrounded by the annoying chimes of the ten windchimes that filled the space not taken by plants. I suppose in some world this was supposed to be calming, but I could only feel dread.

It had been hours since I had left Bella.

I could still smell her on my skin as I struggled with whatever last night was.

"Edward?"

I turned from where I sat to find Aro standing above me. He was dressed in a robe that was barely closed covered what appeared to be his naked body. His long hair was mess from sleep and he clutched the paper that had been delivered not long after I had come here.

"You got a minute?" I asked him quietly, hating that I needed his hippy dippy guidance.

"For my favorite client?" he chuckled softly as he looked me over carefully.

"You know I do," he finished as he gestured dramatically with his arm for me to come into his home.

His house reeked of weed and incense as I stepped into the semi light front room. He practically pushed me past the bong in the center of the coffee table and towards his office as I turned back to give him a skeptical look.

"It's for medicinal purposes," he explained firmly as I rolled my eyes in a wordless response.

"Aro?" a soft female voice called out causing me to stop as I listened to the man who was rushing me sigh.

"Darling," he cooed, as we both turned around to face the girl cowering on the steps, wearing a worn thin Phish t-shirt two sizes too big.

"Why don't you go ahead and go on home. We can discuss your extra credit later today, no?" he said as he waved her on as she nodded quickly.

"I would love to hear that conversation," I commented as he pushed me once more towards the closed office door.

"You wait right here and I will be back," he said as he motioned for me to sit down in my usual spot before turning back towards whatever possible barely legal, unethical situation that he had created for himself.

Minutes turned into almost half an hour before Aro appeared dressed in jeans and a t shirt, with two mugs of what I hoped was coffee.

"Thank you for being patient with me," he greeted me with a smile as he handed me the mug.

"I didn't mean to interrupt any tutoring sessions," I quipped with a straight face as I watched his smile falter for a moment before returning.

"I appreciate…your dedication to education, Edward," he said with a nod before motioning for me to drink the brew.

"Now, tell me, what brings you to my door step at the crack of dawn."

"She didn't take the money," I said as I pulled a crumpled check out of my pocket. I could not help, but to flinch as I saw her name on it once more.

"Who didn't take…" Aro began with irritation and then sighed he took the check from my hand to read it. I remained silent as he sat down across from me.

He remained silent as he stared at the piece of paper for a long time before meeting my graze. I half expected some sort of an asshole I-told-you-so response, but instead he only looked at me with a worried sad look etched upon his face.

"So now you know," he finally whispered before sitting the check in the middle of the table between us.

"I…" I began slowly, uncertain of which sin to confess to first, not that Aro didn't know them already.

He knew I had blocked Bella out of my life at every turn.

He knew I could not stay away from her.

He knew I had loved to hate her and hated to love her for years now.

He knew that I suspected Dad's interference and always believed that she had benefited from her departure from me.

"I can't just…" I stuttered uncertain as to what to say since there was so much to say.

"You can't just what?" he asked me in a calm tone.

"This was what you wanted to know. You wanted to know if Bella took money to leave and… well, now you know," Aro said before casually taking a sip of the coffee in his mug.

"Now what do I do?" I asked him softly as I looked up to meet hos confused look.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, now what do I do?" I repeated as Aro sat the steaming mug down to look at me with a slight scowl.

"Edward…"

"I have to fix this," I said as I met his confused gaze with a determined one of my own.

"What is there left to fix?" he asked me as I shook my head at his answer.

"I was... I was wrong and I…" I stammered as I felt the crushing weight of what I had done pin me to the seat before him.

"Yes, you were wrong," he nodded as he met my eyes with a comforting smile.

"I need to fix this," I breathed out as he smiled at me.

His smile was more of an amused smirk laced with pity.

"Aro, you don't understand," I said as he promptly placed his hand over mine in what he intended to be soothing manner as he shushed me softly. It only sent a molten wall of rage crashing over me as I pulled my hand away.

"Edward, there is no fixing this."

An:

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