Italics for past.

BPOV

I was able to avoid interacting with Rosalie through the staff meal and the first hour after we opened.

It was when Esme finally came out from the back that things became interesting.

"Hey," she says from beside me as I make a dirty martini.

"Is Carlisle still alive back there?" I ask while impaling a few olives.

"Barely," she mumbles.

"What's the problem with her coming back early?" I ask before I move to give Frankie the bar food runner the drink for table six in the dining room.

"I wanted you to be prepared… and the way she went about it was very Rosalie behavior," she explains.

"Es, so far so good when it comes to Rose. Since her overdose, she's been very cordial with me. Was I a little surprised to hear she is back? Sure, but as long as she's not a bitch to me I'm okay with it," I tell her honestly.

She eyes me.

"You're really okay with it?" she asks skeptically.

"When have I ever been one to hold back?" I retort with a shrug.

She noticeably relaxes at that.

"I'm still going to let Carlisle think he's in the dog house," she adds stubbornly.

"Are things okay between you two?" I ask, noticing that Rose only seems to be the real problem in their marriage.

"His guilt when it comes to Rose clouds his judgment and Rose isn't the only person affected by her situation. Hadley and Edward get caught in the cross hairs and now you."

"Me?" I ask surprised.

"You live in the house with them and help care for Hadley. When her custody gets reinstated Edward will lean on you—"

"You're right," I nod. "But I think you need to take a breather when it comes to Rose. I saw it at the rehab facility. You don't trust her," I tell her.

Her brow furrows much like her brother's does when he's deep in thought.

"She ruined his life," she finally says a little too loudly.

Rose hears that from the table she was waiting on in the dining room.

I tell Jazz over my shoulder where we're going hoping it's not long and I gently take Esme's arm to guide her back to the employee lounge.

By the time we get back there, she's visibly upset.

"I hope that you know that Edward would never say his life was ruined by Rose," I tell her when I sit on the edge of the table.

"Because he has Hadley—"

"Not only that but Edward is successful, he gives Hadley a great life because he works so hard. He would probably credit Had for making him a better person," I say with a small smile thinking about his former man whore ways he's told me about.

"He wanted to be a doctor," she argues.

"Are you really this hung up on the past?" I ask surprised.

She has never once really delved into how much he lost because of Rose. Here and there she has told me her frustrations but this was new.

"It's not the past as much as it is her affecting his future," she says with a sigh.

I frown.

"You just moved in and I know how much my brother loves you, Bella—"

"Hold the phone, Rose isn't going to chase me away, I mean she hasn't yet," I tell her frankly.

"You live with them now and I worry that you'll see what it's like for Edward."

"I'll be there for him to lean on if things get hectic again. I love them both too much for Rose to be the one to keep me away. I'm here to stay," I say honestly.

I'm not sure what the future holds but I'm pretty sure Edward and Hadley will be in my life for the foreseeable future.

Esme's face softens.

"I'm sorry, I've just been…" she trails off trying to find the best way to explain her feelings.

"Protective," I finish for her.

She sighs before nodding.

"I just want them both to be happy," she tells me.

"I'd like to think they are," I say with a small smile.

At least I can say I was really happy with them.

"You're right, they both seem to be pretty happy these days," she grins.

I nod mirroring her same goofy smile.

"Take a few in here, I'm going to head back out to the bar," I say lightly hoping she'll take a minute for herself.

I hope that our talk helps her mellow out on Rose and maybe even Carlisle. He's not horrible, just feels guilty for Rose and her actions on his watch.

The bar is getting busy once I step back behind it to assist Jasper.

"I was getting worried," he tells me as he shakes the shaker.

"She's just concerned," I shrug.

"You're her family now, she's always going to worry about you," he tells me.

My mind drifts to the essays housed on my laptop and it warms me to think Esme feels the same way about me as I do about her.

I wait on the customers who sit in front of me and pour the Lambrusco they order.

"Do you have a minute?" Rose asks from the end of the bar.

I keep the sigh that wants to leave in.

"Sure," I say instead.

I grab a stack of napkins to fold and gesture to Rose to help me.

"I didn't want to come back to start drama," she tells me. "I know what you all think of me but I need to start some kind of routine."

I feel a little bad for her because I know how she values a routine these days. She talks a lot to Hadley about it and even Em has mentioned it.

"Rose, I know you probably were going stir-crazy so I get it, but you need to give Esme some time," I tell her empathetically.

"She still doesn't trust me," she says in deflated understanding.

I sigh.

"It's okay, I understand," she mumbles. "I just wanted you to know that I didn't come back to be difficult."

I wasn't sure what else to say but she must have sensed that since she went back into the dining room.

That's what it took, time. Well it's still taking time.

I don't think Edward and Esme are completely there but we're at a point where Hadley can now spend weekends at Rose's place.

"Isabella Swan?" the receptionist calls.

I nervously stick my hand up.

"Ms. Rodgers is ready for you," she says with a smile.

I stand making my way into the ginormous midtown office of my new editor. Emmett knew people who worked at Random House and after my core people gave me such rave reviews of my essays I submitted my book for review in hopes someone would be interested in it.

And Charlotte Rodgers was very interested in what I had written.

It all happened fairly quickly.

Edits were minimal since it was optioned to buy and she held my hand through the publishing process.

I even had a literary agent now.

I've been scared shitless for the last six months.

Scared for unwanted opinions and harsh judgments.

Scared that the book will flop.

Scared that it will succeed and I'll be known outside of my friends and family.

"Bella," Charlotte stands in greeting as soon as she sees me in the doorway.

Today I was here to discuss the marketing strategy for my book release.

She dives right into it once I take a seat in front of her.

I will be doing press engagements such as GMA and The Today Show, social media posts are also a must, and a book tour around the country that will be taking me away for a month.

Edward has been nothing but supportive but I know being gone for a month will be as hard on him as it will be on me.

I blink staring down at my book launch itinerary feeling more than overwhelmed.

"I know this feels like a lot but everything will pass by in a blur," Charlotte explains.

"These dates are all confirmed?" I ask.

She nods.

"Can I take this home?"

"Yep, I had an extra copy of the itinerary and content calendar made for you. I figured you'd want it for your records," she smiled tightly.

She thought Edward wore the pants in this relationship but me having a copy was more so out of consideration for him instead of him wanting to keep tabs on me.

I wasn't going to tell her that since it's really not any of her business.

I like Charlotte but she has a tendency for going off on feminist tangents especially since my book is about the archetypes of motherhood.

She wasn't a mother but she had one that hounded her about producing a grandchild for her.

Another tangent for another time.

Our meeting lasts an hour before I'm on the train back to Brooklyn.

My phone starts ringing once I'm off the train.

Dad.

"Hey Padre," I greet.

"Bells," he chuckles.

Things were definitely better between us and I think he was surprised while reading my book. I credited him a lot for his sacrifices and for my being somewhat well-adjusted.

Renee hasn't read the book that I'm aware of.

Charlotte and the publisher's lawyer felt that I had nothing to worry about when it came to her. I hadn't used any names and what I wrote was open as to who I was writing about.

"You've been busy?" Charlie asks.

"Just left my publisher's office," I inform him.

"How's that going?"

"I get to be on TV," I tell him brightly even though I really hate the idea of it.

"Oh boy," he laughs. "Will you be on script?"

"Nope, I get to say whatever I want," I tease as I walk up the stoop to the brownstone. "How's Sue?"

They had managed to work things out and were in couple's therapy, which was interesting that my dad was willing to go to any therapy.

"She's good, she's coming with me to your book signing in Seattle," he says nonchalantly.

I'd been home twice since she moved back in and so far so good but I was still cautious. I also knew he wanted to make an honest woman out of her and was waiting for the right moment to propose.

"Good, I'm glad you'll make it out to support me," I tell him honestly.

He scoffs.

"Like I'd miss it. My kid wrote a book," he boasts proudly.

It warms me that he's proud of the book.

Renee turned out to be another story.

My Instagram was public and she had recently seen the teasers that my publisher had me post. Her lawyers had sent a cease and desist to me. I gave it to the publisher and their legal department got involved, even sending Renee an advanced copy of the book.

Her lawyers didn't have a leg to stand on and they knew it. I told Charlotte we should have billed her for the book.

"I just got home, I'll call you later this week?" I tell Charlie.

"Sounds good, kid."

We say our goodbyes as I unlock the entrance door to the brownstone.

My meeting was later in the day and I knew Edward left work around noon so he could finish the rest of his day from home. He likes to do this on Fridays and he might like it so much because he gets some afternoon delight from me when he's home early.

I kick my shoes off and grin when I see him working on the couch.

He's lounging in a gray t-shirt and black basketball shorts that look good on him.

"Hey hottie," I say, taking a dive beside him on the couch.

He rolls his eyes.

"How was the meeting?" he asks.

I pull out the itinerary and content calendar from my bag and hand them to him.

He scans over it and smiles.

"Very detailed," he states.

I roll my eyes.

"I'll be swamped," I tell him.

I didn't voice it in my meeting with Charlotte but I'm terrified to be doing this on my own. New York was such a big move for me since I spent my whole life in the state of Washington.

This would have me traveling all around the country living out of my suitcase for a month without Hadley and Edward.

"What's going on, Bell?" he asks softly as he closes his laptop and moves it to the coffee table.

I shrug.

He takes my hand in his.

"Tell me," he gently urges.

"I'm not gone yet and I'm already homesick," I mumble.

He pulls me to him and I wrap my arms tightly around him.

"We're going to come to your Seattle stop and I have my flight for L.A.," he reminds me.

Those were the two dates Charlotte got to me in advance. Hadley was coming with him to Seattle but staying with Rose when he came to L.A. Esme would be checking in on them while he was away.

"Edward," I whine.

"We both can FaceTime," he encourages.

"It sounds like you are itching to get rid of me," I tell him.

He glares.

"I'm trying to be rational. Business trips will come up from time to time whether it's for you or me," he points out. "You wrote a book, Bell and we couldn't be prouder."

I feel my face heat.

Two of my biggest cheerleaders were Edward and Hadley.

I kiss him.

We get a little carried away for God knows how long but pull apart when Hadley shuts the front door.

"Dad," she calls.

"I should probably get dinner ready before I head in for my shift," I tell him.

I still work at the restaurant and probably will stay there. Not all books sell and for right now I'm fine where I'm at.

I mean that on all accounts.

I'm happy living in Brooklyn with Hadley and Edward and working as a bartender for the foreseeable future. All the other stuff I'll deal with as it comes my way.

A/N: At this point is anyone even reading this? I'm well aware of the alerts nightmare but I've never used the alerts feature on this site for any of the stories I've read. I only update the filtered Twilight fanfic section throughout the day to see what's updated. Will post the epilogue and finish this.