Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"What?" I breathed out slowly, uncertain if I had heard him correctly.

"Edward, you have to know there is no fixing this, right?" Aro asked in an almost sad chiding manner that did nothing for the irritation brewing under my skin.

"I mean, that fact that she tolerated you refusing to leave her apartment is a testimony to her patience," he chuckled as I stared at him in shock.

"She had…" I began only to be silenced.

"Isabella Swan does not owe you anything, remember?" he said silencing me with the mention her of name.

"Do you remember all of our conversations about past behaviors?" he asked me as I stared at him, mouth gaped open as I struggled to find what argument I could to challenge him.

"Do you remember when I told you that your response to your daughter's death could not be judged by your dad or others because they were your responses and you had the right to feel any way you wanted in response to something so traumatic? Do you remember this and how I reminded that you were just a kid trying your best to survive a situation that would have broken many adults? "He asked me in a serious tone that made my heart ache.

I did remember this.

I remembered how he told me that dad could not tell me how the right way to grieve was or how long was an appropriate amount of time to mourn Maura's loss or Bella's, for that matter. Aro had always defended my right to grieve as I needed and reminded me that I had been just a kid dealing with some very serious adult situations without adult support.

"Yes," I whispered as I knew what he would tell me next.

"So was Isabella."

The silence that followed his summation of the situation hurt as I sat there soaking in it.

"She was a kid too, Edward, and I will defend the fact that she needed grace in that situation every bit as much as what you did, and continue to," Aro finally said as he squeezed my hand locked in his with a comforting reassurance that felt off.

"I don't know…"

"No, you do, Edward. You do know what to do," he said in a father tone that brought tears to my eyes.

"What did she say to you?" he asked me in a soft tone, easing the truth of the situation out of me word by word even though it hurt to say it.

"She...uh…she wants me to be happy," I said as I looked down at the worn table that separated me from him.

"Yes," he agreed, encouraging me to tell him more.

"She said…uh… she said she loves me and always would," I admitted as I watched him nod.

"Of course, she does," he murmured as he motioned for me to continue.

"She asked me to leave her alone because she can't be happy if I'm not," I whispered to him and then looked up to see him nod thoughtfully.

"Makes sense. How could anyone be happy if the person you love isn't?" he mused as I shook my head.

"Aro…" I began only to be cut off once more.

"Isabella is quite the woman," he mused as I stared at him, waiting for something.

Wise words.

A plan.

Something that someone else has done that saved themselves from the issues that they had created.

"So," he began after a deep breath.

"Are you ready for the wedding?"

I sat there staring at him in disbelief.

"What?" Aro asked as I stared, unabashed at him.

"That's it?" I asked him incredulously.

"What do you mean?" he asked me as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat before me.

"That's it?" I demanded.

"That's all you have to say?"

"No wise words or discussions over how that makes me feel? Or talk of how to address this with Bella to make any of the last seven years appear to be reasonable or... or…or forgivable?" I demanded as rage boiled over inside of me as he sat there unaffected by my outburst.

"I told you, Edward, there is no fixing this," he shrugged in a noncaring manner that only added to my anger.

"You can move forward and maybe try not be so hostile towards each other. Maybe not, but there is definitely no going back," Aro said as he brought the mug to his lips to take a drink.

AN:

Thanks to all that have continued to read this. I want to share that when I write fan fic it's not to build an audience. It's not to stroke my own ego. It's something fun for me and while I love that you read what I write & appreciate my words, I would write (and did write lol) when no one read my work. Reading is subjective. There will always be stories & genres that you will not like or flat out will not read. I have my own genres that I refuse to read. Westerns and fluff… who needs those imho? LOL.. I also have flounced every fic I have tried to read since returning. In my flouncing, I have not once sent a review advising the author that their story was not up to par for me for whatever reason I was leaving. I think those that do that, those that must announce that they are flouncing are like the people on social media that announce to a group that they are mad & leaving. It's an act of 'look at me as I throw a fit because I don't like something.' It's just embarrassing for them, not so much the writer. Just my thoughts. Oh… and I do have a beta reader & editor for my published work, not that the crowd who reads my erotica are ones pointing out a missing comma as long as the scene is hot. Fanfic is a fun, adventure for me & I hope you are having as much fun as what I am.

XOXO

Lori