1

"Mr. Cullen . . . Mr. Cullen."

The silence that once filled Edward Cullen's office was broken apart by the high-pitched, nasally voice belonging to his personal assistant Beth. With a sigh, Edward swiveled his chair around and faced the doorway, where the short, pudgy brunette stood with one hand on the doorhandle and the other supporting her large frame against the doorjamb. A sheen of moisture glistened across her forehead, as it always did when the woman was forced to walk from her desk to the office.

"What?" he finally asked.

"Your brother is here to see you," she prated, trying to smile at him, but the look wasn't attractive on her. "Should I send him in?"

"Well, it'd be hard for him to see me from outside my office, don't you think?" Edward asked, shaking his head. When Beth just stood there, he said, "Yes, send my brother in."

"Yes, sir," she chirped, pushing the door all the way open. However, she had to step out of his office in order for his brother to step into the room. The men waited until Beth shut the door before they spoke.

"Little brother," Carlisle laughed, walked around the desk and pulling the younger man to his feet and wrapping his arms around him. Carlisle had a couple inches on Edward, and unlike the younger man, he had shaggy blond hair that had been bleached from spending hours in the sun. "How are you doing, man?"

"Can't complain," Edward lied. The fib was easier than it should have to spout.

"Suppose not," Carlisle chuckled as he released him and threw himself in Edward's chair. "This is nice. Comfortable, too."

"It is," Edward agreed, and gestured to the small bar on the far side of his office. "Drink?"

"Naw, can't stay long." Carlisle leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk. Unlike Edward, who was wearing an expensive black suit, he was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a T-shirt with the logo of their family's beach resort, Ilha dos Sonhos Perdidos, or Island of Forgotten Dreams. "Only came into the city to pick up an order from the Volturi Brothers."

Edward nodded. The Volturi Brothers provide all of the produce for the resort. They cost an arm and a leg, but their fruits and veggies were the best money could buy. "So, what are you doing here?"

"You know why I'm here," Carlisle said, quietly. When his brother sighed, he groaned and stood up. "Dude, come on. It's their fortieth."

"I know," Edward muttered.

Carlisle walked around the desk, stopping when he was in front of Edward. "I don't know why you left like you did, or why you refuse to come back. It's none of my business, but Ma really wants you home this weekend. She and Pop won't push you, but I'm asking you to come home. Just for the weekend." Reaching up, he placed his hand on Edward's shoulder. "Please, Edward, for them."

"I'll think about it," Edward promised. When Carlisle cocked an eyebrow, he added, "I promise, I'll really think about it. Just can't commit to anything yet. I've got a busy schedule."

"Guess that's better than nothing." Carlisle pulled Edward in for a hug, patting him a few times on the back. "Miss you, bro."

"I miss you, too," Edward whispered, returning the gesture. "Tell everyone I love them?"

"Course I will." Carlisle released him and walked out of his office, letting the door close behind him.

Edward dropped back into his desk chair and turned his attention back out of the large windows behind his desk. Could he really go back? And would they want him back if they knew what he had done? Ten years was a long time to be away, and there were some mistakes even time couldn't fix.

—BoR—

Edward's heart was pounding in his chest as he drove his car into the circle drive in front of the main house on his family's resort. The land had been in his family for several generations. For almost a century it had been one of the biggest cotton plantations in the south. It was his grandfather who turned it into a resort. Of course, back then it was more of an Inn than a resort, but over the last seventy-five years, it had tripled in size and was now the biggest resort in the state. And Edward hadn't returned in ten years.

"Well, well, well," drawled the deeply southern voice of Jasper Whitlock.

Edward smiled as he turned and looked to his left, where the tall, thin man stood with a smirk on his lips. His blond hair had been pulled out of his face by a backwards baseball cap. He had on a pair of baggy, khaki carpenter shorts and a blue T-shirt with the resort logo over his heart.

"Didn't think you were coming?"

"Neither did I," Edward admitted.

"They'll be glad you did," Jasper said, placing his hands on his hips. "Though, you look like you're about to shit your pants."

"Just been a long time," Edward told him, tilting his head toward the house. "Everyone inside?"

Jasper nodded. "I'm late, actually. Last run to the airport took a little longer than expected. Place is officially closed for the next four days." He turned and trotted up the front steps, pausing and looking back at Edward. "Comin'?"

"Yeah."

The word sounded off to Edward as he reached into the backseat of his convertable and picked up the small bag he'd packed for the weekend. As he followed Jasper up the front steps and into the house, he could feel his legs shaking, and the urge to turn and leave crept over him. But before he could a loud squeal filled the room and a moment later he felt his mother's warm arms wrap around his neck as Charlotte Cullen threw herself into his arms.

"My baby boy is home!"

"Ma," Edward grumbled, knowing his cheeks would be bright red as the tiny woman stepped away, but left her hands on either side of his face.

"Don't 'Ma' me," she giggled. Her electric-green eyes were sparkling with tears. "You said you couldn't come because of work."

"Um, yeah," Edward muttered, feeling the pentatrating stare of his brother and sisters melting into him. "I was able to rearange a few meetings."

"Good." Charlotte smiled as she slide her hands down to his shoulders and looked him over from head to toe. "You are way too skinny, Edward. I'm gonna have to fatten you up."

"Ma, I'm fine," he insisted.

"Lottie, let the boy breathe." Laughing, Peter Cullen stepped up behind his wife of forty years and reached around the woman to offer him his hand. "Son."

"Hey, Pop," Edward said, wrapping his fingers around his father's hand. Where Charlotte's eyes were bright green, eyes that both Carlisle and Edward had inherited, Peter's eyes were a shocking baby blue.

"We're glad you're here. It wasn't going to be the same without you," Peter added, smiling.

And for a split second Edward meant it: he was glad to be home. "Me, too."

"Well, I guess we just don't matter anymore, Rosie."

At the sound of his youngest sister's voice, Edward's smile faded and he turned to where Carlisle, Alice, and Rosalie stood. Carlisle was the oldest out of the four siblings. Then came Edward, Rosalie, and then Alice. There were exactly two years and six months between each of them. Next to Carlisle was his wife of almost six years, Esme. They had been high school sweethearts. Carlisle proposed to her the night the two graduated from college, and after a three year engagement, they were married. Esme was a beauitful women with long, caramel-colored hair and bright brown eyes that were warm and welcoming.

On the other side of Esme stood Alice. The youngest of the Cullen kids, Alice hadn't taken it well when it became obvisous that Edward hadn't planned on ever returning. They visisted him at school and then the city, where he worked as a lawyer in one of the biggest firms in the state, but Alice had tried time and again to get Edward to come home. Christmas and birthdays, but he never did. She was the spitting image of their mother, except for her eyes. She and Rosalie had their father's blue eyes.

"Allie."

"Don't Allie me, Eddie," Alice scoffed.

"Now, honey," Jasper crooned. "Keep calm."

Alice blew out a deep breath before she turned and walked out of the room. A moment later, Edward heard the screen door slam shut. Jasper gave Edward a look before he turned and followed his fiancee out of the room.

"Give her time, Edward," Rosalie siad, walking over to him and giving him an awkward hug. Unlike Alice, who was tiny like their mother with dark black hair, Rosalie was a tall, leggy blond. "Emmett was going to take your room, since you werne't coming down, but I guess we can move him to one of the guest rooms."

"No, I'll take the guest room," Edward insisted.

"Nah, he wouldn't feel right about that."

"Yeah, I guess so." Edward paused before asking, "Em's doing good?"

Rosalie smiled. "He's good. Working hard. Trying to prove himself to Daddy."

"And he'll keep trying," Peter laughed. "That boy will make a good husband one day, Rosie."

"Not anytime soon," Rosalie scoffed. "Anyway, he should be along shortly. His cousin is new to town. He's been helping her get her shop up and going. She owns a bakery. She's actually making the cake for Ma and Pop's party."

Edward nodded, unsure of what to say. Emmett McCarty and Rosalie had been an odd relationship. Unlike Carlisle and Esme, or even Alice and Jasper, who seemingly had easy relationships, Emmett and Rosalie had broken up with each other more than a dozen times over the last six years, yet they always found their way back to each other within a few days.

"Okay, Edward, you get settled. Supper will be ready in an hour." Charlotte sighed as she placed her hand on his cheek agian. "I am so happy you're here. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too, Ma."

His mother had never pushed for a reason on why he left town so suddenly. Charlotte Cullen knew her children better than they knew themselves. Alice was always so eager to share her feelings, where Edward was more reserved. Rosalie and Carlisle were a mix of the two. Peter gave him a look before he followed his wife into the kitchen.

"Just give her some time, Edward," Esme said, quietly. "You know how hard it was when you left on Alice."

Edward nodded. "Yeah, I do. I'm just. . ."

He motioned toward the stairs, and before they could stop him, he was upstairs and opening the door to his bedroom. He stood in the doorway and looked around. Of course it hadn't changed since he walked out of ten years ago with two suitcases and dreams bigger than the small island could hold. That's what he told himself when he left. That he was leaving to make something of himself, that he was better than this God forsaken island. That was a lie, of course. She'd been the reason he left, the reason he never came back.

Edward stepped into his room and tossed his bag onto the bed before walking over to the closet, and pulling the door open. Reaching for the top shelf, he pulled the beat up shoe box off the top shelf and carried over to the bed, sitting down with it still in his hands. He took a deep breath before he pulled the lid off and tossed it onto the bed, picking up the first picture on top. Tears flooded his eyes, though he managed to keep them from falling as he placed the box on the bed and stared at the picture, the hurt still as fresh as it had been that night ten years ago when she was taken away from him, away from everyone who loved her. Especially him. Though, if he hadn't been such an asshole, she wouldn't have left in the first place, and for that, he would never forgive himself.

Thank you for reading the first chapter of my new fic! Do me a solid and leave me a few words, add it to your alerts/favorites.