Hi, Harpies. I have four chapters completed so we should be on an every other week schedule now. Thanks for your patience.

Thank you, as always, to Team Harpy.

23

Bella

I lean against the doorframe, smirking into the living room where Edward is folding the blankets he slept under last night. He had insisted on sleeping in the living room.

"You know you're being a little ridiculous, right?"

He smiles, his eyes sleepy and his hair messy. "Just saying, it's better than the couch he used to own."

I look at the new sectional Sue made my dad purchase a few months ago. "Yeah, the perks of a woman living here. I tried getting him to buy a new couch for over a decade, but his stubborn ass wouldn't do it. Refused the delivery on the one I bought and donated it to a women's shelter instead." I say with a giggle.

He just looks at me with this look in his eyes, like he's seeing me for the first time or something, and I need a second to process all of this. "Coffee?" I offer, already backing into the kitchen to make some.

He's hot on my heels as if he feels me retreating. "Don't do that," he says.

"Do what?" I ask innocently.

"Run."

My hand halts mid-scoop, and I turn to look at him, dry coffee spilling onto the counters. "I'm not. I'm not," I insist as he gives me a doubtful look. "I just needed a minute to take in the fact that you're in my dad's kitchen, and this is all real. I was so tired last night I just fell asleep, and I … it's almost surreal, that's all."

"So, no doubts?" he asks.

"You're the one who slept on the couch last night," I deflect, filling the carafe before putting it in place and pushing the button. "But to answer your question, no. No doubts. You?"

"I doubt my sanity at the moment since I could've slept in your bed with you, but we're a lot older now, and that twin size …" He grimaces.

"It's a queen now," I tell him as I grab two mugs out of the cabinet.

"Really?"

"Why are you surprised? A lot has changed over the last decade," I remind him quietly. I concentrate on the hot stream of dark brown liquid dripping into the coffee pot like my life depends on that thing filling up. Suddenly, two muscular arms and one hot body are holding me in place. My breath hitches as his hits my ear.

"Stop. Running," he chastises.

I sag against him. "I'm trying. Since we've reconnected, I did everything in my power not to think about this moment because, surely, it couldn't happen, and now that it has …" I turn around in his arms, locking mine around his neck. "I want this, but I've told myself for months that it was wrong, and I can't switch mindsets that fast. I'm sorry," I apologize as I rest my forehead against his.

"Don't be sorry. Just be present. I'm the same way, but the thought of letting you, once again, slip through my fingers terrifies me."

"I won't," I assure him. His hands slip into my tangled hair, and he leans down to kiss me deeply until we're both gasping for air.

"Down, boy," I tease, talking to both him and his lower counterpart that is currently hot and heavy against my lower abdomen. He backs away, grinning, and it takes everything I have not to look down. So instead, I turn toward the coffee and pour us both a cup before putting a table-length distance between us. Bemused, he sits across from me and subtly adjusts himself.

"So, what now?" I ask, cradling the hot mug between my hands.

"I emailed Austin this morning."

"Austin?"

"Marks. He's an attorney in Seattle now, and I've used him since I moved back."

"Huh. I guess spending years arguing his way out of trouble served him well," I say with a laugh, remembering the tall, blond jock well.

"I'm just waiting for a call back. He's pretty good at getting back to me promptly."

"And then what?"

"I'm not sure, but Austin will know. I just hope she agrees to everything."

"Which we both know will never happen. Edward, she could drag this out for years," I whisper.

"I'm going to try like hell to avoid that. Just means we can't get married until I'm divorced."

"What … who … huh? Marriage?" I look at him in astonishment, but all I'm met with are mischievous eyes and a smirk. "You ass. We just got back together or whatever this is."

"It's called a relationship, and I'm just messing with you. But make no mistake, I plan to marry you, Miss Swan. And if you don't stop biting your lip, I'm gonna christen this new table Charlie has."

I release my lip instantly, not even realizing I was biting it. I also don't trust him not to make good on his promise as it wouldn't take much to get me naked.

"Pretty sure he and Sue already have."

The look of disgust on his face makes me break out in a fit of laughter. "That's just wrong, Bella."

"It helped you with your problem, didn't it?" He looks down at his lap and nods begrudgingly.

"I'm not saying we need to wait until you're divorced because, quite frankly, it could take years if she has her way, but I would like to wait until after the first hearing, if that's okay with you."

"Of course, it's okay. I've waited for what seems like forever to be with you again, so a few more weeks or months is nothing in the grand scheme of things."

We smile at each other across the table, and then his phone goes off, startling us both.

"It's Austin," he says as he slides his finger over the screen to answer. "Hi, man, thanks for calling me back." I start to get up to give him his privacy, but he stops me. "Hold on one sec," he says into the phone. "Stay," he tells me. I sit back down, and he activates the speaker phone, placing it between us on the table. "Okay, I'm here."

"Hi, Mr. Big Shot Actor. What can I do you for?" I smile at our old friend's greeting. He doesn't seem to have changed much.

"Unless you currently live under a rock, I'm sure you can assume the reason for my call."

"Just waiting on you. I've taken the liberty of starting the paperwork for you. Just need to know what your stipulations are before moving forward."

"This is why I pay you the big bucks," Edward laughs before turning serious. "She's gonna go for blood, Austin."

"They usually do. I'm ready. The question is, are you?"

Edward smiles warmly at me. "More than ready. This has been a long time coming."

"Can I get an amen and a hallelujah? Okay, what are your demands?"

"We sell the penthouse, and she can have all profits from the sale; I'll pay off her Lexus and give her a reasonable amount of spousal maintenance for a reasonable amount of time."

"That's more than fair."

"Well, I'm sure you've seen the shit that hit the fan." I want to say that he knows I've just been merely existing and that I was never happy. That I'd still eventually be divorcing even if Bella didn't want me but I don't. He knows.

"Yes, how is fair Bella?"

"She's fine, Austin; thanks for asking," I answer, bemused.

"Bella Boo, my girl. How's it hanging?"

"Limp and slightly to the left, and you?"

"Neither of us want that answer, Austin." Edward hastens to intervene.

"Always a dull boy, Edward." I can practically hear Austin roll his eyes. "But then again, this does brighten you up a whole bunch. Didn't know you had it in ya."

"I can go get another attorney, you know."

"Oh, simmer down. I got this. Come into my office when you can, look over everything, and we'll have the future-ex served."

"Okay, can you give me a timeline on this?"

"If everything were to go as planned? At least four months. Washington has a ninety day cooling off period, so nothing would be granted until after that deadline, which would start after you come to me, so the sooner the better on that. Once she's served, she'll most likely counteroffer through her attorney, who will send it back to me. Since it's doubtful she'll agree with your offer, she'll petition for spousal maintenance as soon as two weeks through a temporary hearing. Then we do discovery—"

"What's discovery?" I ask.

"I know something you don't?" He mock gasps.

"I work on a medical drama, not a legal one. I do watch a whole lot of true crime though so …" I threaten.

"Okay, okay. Discovery is when her attorney and I gather all the information needed to proceed with the case and prepare it for either mediation or—if that doesn't work—trial. It's gathering financials, mostly since you're in a no-fault state."

"Layman's terms, dude." Edward sighs.

"No-fault state, meaning she can't get you legally for adultery. So any evidence her attorney tries to bring forth regarding the reason for your divorce is immediately null and void. She can, however, sue you civilly if she so chooses. I'll start figuring out some numbers and see exactly how much she can get from you and for how long, and I'll have all that ready for you when you come in."

"I'll be there Tuesday …" He looks to me for confirmation, and I nod. It's Sunday now, and that gives us the Memorial Day holiday to spend together before facing whatever music is coming.

"Okay, just check in with Becky when you get here. I'll tell her to expect you."

"Thanks, Austin."

He presses the button to disconnect the call and takes a deep breath.

I nibble on my thumbnail as I let him decompress.

"You okay," he asks, noticing my nervousness.

I pull my thumb from my mouth. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"I'm fine. I just know how this is gonna go, that's all."

My mouth twists, but I relax and force a smile. "Well, we still have two days before we have to face the world again."

"What do you usually do on Memorial Day?" he asks.

"I usually stay in LA and go to Jake and Sam's. They know how to throw one hell of a party."

"I'm sure. The reason I'm asking is because my mother texted early this morning, wondering if we wanted to spend tomorrow with them."

I'm in the middle of taking a gulp of my almost cold coffee and choke on it. I wave him off as he hovers over me, ready to do the Heimlich or something. "I'm fine," I croak, then spend the next minute clearing my throat. "Did she say the word 'we', or are you just making that assumption?"

He unlocks his phone, opens the text thread, and places it in front of me.

'Would you and Bella be interested in coming to our house for Memorial Day? It would be just us four in case you're worried about that. We can grill and take the boat out. Let me know if you're interested soon. Love you.'

"But why?"

"Bella, my parents love you. They have since you were like fifteen."

"Yeah, but your marriage is over, and I had something to do with that."

"You are not the only reason. You know how my marriage was," he reminds me. "We don't have to go. We can stay here in our little bubble."

I think for a minute and decide if things are going to keep moving forward, I do need to get reacquainted with his parents.

I pick up his phone and type out a reply.

'We'd love to. We'll see you around noon.'

"Are you sure?" he asks, reading the message.

I smile reassuringly at him. "I'm sure."

"Burgers and hot dogs okay with you, Bella? If not, I have some of that impossible meat," Esme offers as she slices up some watermelon for later.

We're sitting at the bar while Edward and Carlisle grab the supplies to go light the grill.

"Are you vegan?" I ask, somewhat surprised after having had dinner with them multiple times before. But that was years ago.

Carlisle laughs, and she shushes him. "No, but I wasn't sure if you were now, and I forgot to ask Edward, so I grabbed some, just in case."

"No, I still eat like I used to. I just have to work out more now."

Carlisle looks dismayed. "Oh dear, we might not have enough. I forgot the volume of food she used to ingest."

"Don't you have a grill to light?" I remind him. He grins as he practically drags Edward with him, leaving me with his wife. I bite my lip, unsure what to talk about and what not to talk about.

"Stop that before you damage the skin," Esme chastises lightly. "It's me, Bella. You never have to be apprehensive around me."

I let go of the death grip on my lip and nod. "That was then. A lot has changed since then."

"Yet here you are, sitting at my island like time never passed. The more things change …" She trails off smiling.

"I know you have an opinion on how things went down," I press.

"Of course, I do. And none of those opinions have me thinking less of you, and I won't stand for you thinking they do. Do I wish things had gone a little differently and that no one had gotten hurt? Yes. Do I still care about Jessica? Also, yes. That doesn't change because she's no longer with my son. She was in Edward's life for a long time. Do I want my son happy? Yes. Do I love and care about you? Also, yes. See where I'm going here?"

"I think so."

"Things just don't work out sometimes, and that's okay. Hold your head up, let go of some of that guilt you're carrying, and move on. I learned a long time ago that everyone is a villain in someone's story." She smiles and passes me a cantaloupe. "Get to cutting," she instructs as she starts in on the strawberries.

"Yes, ma'am."

I wish every day could be like this, I think, as the wind rushes through my hair. Lake Washington mists all around us as his parent's boat speeds through the water. Here I am, enveloped in the arms of the love of my life, and not for the first time, I question the choices I made in the beginning. Could we have been married for ten years now and still be this much in love? Or would I have resented him for choosing another path?

"You seem lost in thought," he murmurs. "Is everything okay?"

I look up at him, smiling. "Yes, for the first time in a long time, everything is perfect." And it is, in a way. Even though everything feels a little uncertain, I know this is exactly where I need to be.

Today was a fairytale

All that I can say

Is now it's getting so much clearer

Nothing made sense 'til the time I saw your face

Today was a fairytale - "Today Was A Fairytale" Taylor Swift