Wow! So good! So glad your back :)

Intense.  What's up with Felix?  Is being a bit of a creep.

Great start to your story.  Looking forward to more.

What an wonderful and intense chapter!

That was intense! :)

Long time no see...great chapter!!

Awwww - I love the ending of this chapter! It's time to start fresh!

Ok - I am feeling sorry for Edward now. I wish someone would figure this dilema out!

Wow! great story - cannot wait for the gala!

Great chapter. Thanks for the update.

Bella definitely needs help, she needs to get over herself before she ends up exactly where she left off.

wow amazing this chapter was orth the wait

What an ass, it's not like she purposely fell down the stairs.

OMG!!!!! This chapter was the BOMB!!!!! GREAT GREAT GREAT CHAPTER!!!!!! Loved the whole thing. You are doing a great great job writing. Can't wait for more and more and more.

So glad that he was able to clear it all out between them now they can start working it out

i love this chapter. i am so happy that they r finally working things out

im glad all the secrets are out now. its nice to know he never cheated on her in all those years!

awwww for the ending

oh that really sucks.  that can be really painful.  loving the story!!

Oh My I hope you get better soon with your carpal tunnel in you hand hun! Thanks so much for the update and I can't believe that happened to him in Vegas that Victoria and James slipped him E! I wonder what James wants now why he wants all of a sudden to help Edward out with the Tanya situation?..... I hope they finally give into each other in the next chapter and start on the making babies part even thou it might be too early for something like that for them but hey it might go the other way and what they truely need! I know they still have some issues to work out as well but ya just never know :-) Have a wonderful Easter :-)

I think you are doing an aweswome job! I love that Bella and Edward are finally realizing to that they need to straddle the hurdles to survive.

wow that was a mouthful can't wait to see what happens next thanks for sharing....

I love this story!  I Love the way you write it, it draws you in and you feel the pain they both are going through.  Thank you, for an amazing chapter and a good cry.

beautiful simply beautiful i love your story plz continue to write amazing story such as this one. 

well wow she really isn't getting a break here is she?

wow..... poor jake... understand but shit.. poor jake....

I am full on crying here...... so sad.....

oh this is getting worse and worse she needs to tell him.........

aww how hard must that shoot be!!!?? and victoria what a bitch

awwww..... and love the groan from felix and jacob.. LOL

oh god that is so sad...........

OMG I am in tears.. that was heart wrenching!

awww... poor Bella.......

One cannot deny the E/B chemistry and yet he is drawing back from her. Earlier in the story he drew back wanting to take things slow and do things right. But I am beginning to question why. I am reminded of his thoughts in chapter 17 and how he doesn't know if he wants to do this and thoughts of divorce even came up. Then there was the conversation between Bella and Alice in the last chapter about Edward and Victoria in Vegas. I find myself questioning that relationship. Alice said she was sure her brother did not sleep with Victoria but they hit it off and she made him laugh. So what is happening in his mind? Is he questioning all the drama that surrounds Bella and yearning for a more carefree relationship? But I digress.

Just as they are about to talk about what is going on in walks Charlie. It is as if these two cannot catch a break to talk about the issues they are faced with. At least the men attempted to have a conversation. I could not help but snicker as Bella referred to Avoidance as a chapter title in the Swan handbook in reference to the men talking.

Enter Jake and Sam. It was good to see Jake and Edward agree to be on the same side in figuring this whole thing out. On the other hand listening to Jake and Bella talk was a bit awkward and kinda pulled at the heart strings for how does one get over a life long friendship? Too bad that before long Jake was back to secrets and the trust me thing. I was so proud of Bella for taking a stand and speaking with such conviction.

Too bad Edward chose this moment to return to the room. That in itself was bad enough but then he had to go and jump to conclusions. I hated that they argued but even more I hated that he now wanted to dominate Bella. It's kind of like whenever Bella thinks or acts in a way that others don't like they try to turn it around on her and change her thought process. Is it wrong to be happy when she is assertive? In any event it made for a rather intense ride to the ground floor. I breathed a sigh of relief when Edward handed Bella her sunglasses. She was right in that she didn't need to be fighting with anyone and before you knew it it was business as usual as the two men worked together to get her out of the hospital safely. And I must add here how much fun it was to read Lola Hardy's role as a decoy and her flirtations with Edward as he turned on the charm. The man displayed no shame in an effort to keep his wife safe.

~*~

So Paul asked Felix represent him. Very interesting. You do realize that I do not trust Paul as I think he is an inside rat. And Felix. I have gone back and forth with that man. Okay so maybe I am thinking he is in cahoots with Paul now. That is until you throw another wrench into the works. We'll see.

And let's not forget Charlie's rant about Aro. The man obviously hates Aro and blames him for Renee's death and pulling Bella away from him. To top it off were Jake's earlier words "... Aro was going insane!" Yeah, what was that all about? Esme's words about Charlie being afraid really rang true. He has to feel overwhelmed and helpless. I mean how does one man go up against the mob.

I do notice that Edward continues to stand next to Bella.

~*~

What pieces are we missing FD? I for one am ready for the conversation that leaves us at the point of no return. Just who is Aro?

Sandra

is he her grandfather?

Over the course of time you have told us that not everything is as it seems. With that in mind I sometimes find myself down the rabbit hole chasing the white rabbit with Alice. Sometimes I feel like I am late for a very important date and often times want to stop and ask the characters "Who R U?" But alas I have no hooka so I find no answers. I exhaust myself as I search for answer when all I find you among the trees wearing your Cheshire grin. At least no one is saying off with her head.

So I look at this chapter and I wonder what is real and what is not. However going on the assumption that the third time is a charm I am going to jump in with both feet and draw my line in the sand with my new and improved thoughts.

#1. Leah is distraught. Why is that FD? She has been with Bella for oh so long and served her well. And here she is all jumpy. Working as a servant, for lack of a better word, she would be privy to all kinds of behind the scenes info. I have cast doubts upon her in the past. But now that I am in Wonderland I have to rethink my thoughts in that they can go one of two ways. Who does she have to meet, perhaps Jacob? And why is she falling apart? Does she feel remorse for anything she may have done? OR. Has she heard things here and there that were perhaps not for her ears to hear? Why do I get the feeling that Jacob being gone affects her safety? And what are these apologies in Italian? Why is she falling apart?

#2. Paul? Why do I smell a rat? How did he get separated from Bella? Why did he allow himself to get separated from Bella? For cryin' out loud her is paid to protect her and he pushed her in front of him. Now I am no rocket scientist but something is rotten in the state of Denmark. I believe I have made mention in the past that I suspect there is someone on the inside. Is Paul that someone? In the restaurant he is busy flirting and looking elsewhere and not paying a whole hellalot of attention to the person he is paid to protect. And when he does go to the powder room he shoots the man with the coal black eyes. There is something pretty stinky going on here...maybe it is a fish I smell. Does he do this to save Bella? Or. Does he pop all these caps into the man to make sure he is dead, that he now swims with the fishes, so that he can not sing like a stool pigeon when he is taken into custody and tell everything he knows. Okay and one more question about Paul. Why did he let the blanket that was shielding Bella slip? Did he want to make sure someone had a good line of sight on her? Just sayin...

#3. The man with the coal black eyes. How is it that when Paul is held back by the crowd that a man with mirrored glasses appears and "helps" Bella with the throng of reporters. You know, and this just now came to me, why the hell were there so many reporters out there to begin with? It's not like Bella called a news conference or anything. So he swoops in like a knight in shiny eyewear and asks if he can ask a couple of questions, for his efforts of course. Bella agrees to answer one and of all the questions he could ask he asks how Rosalie's pregnancy makes her feel. Bella is relieved that he did not ask about the gravestone in her hotel room but I found it just plain creepy. I mean did you get a load of that guy? He was huge. I shudder to think he could have carried a headstone. So he moves closer and snaps her picture, see creepy, and leans into her ear as they make it to the door and tells her to be careful because the crowds are getting rough. I shudder again, idk, maybe it is because it is cold at my house. So Bella meets up with Alice. The conversation is not exactly pleasant and she excuses herself and who should join her in the powder room but Mr. black eyes sans the eyewear. Can you say i.n.t.e.n.s.i.t.y? Holy Mother of Pearl! I damn near had a heart attack reading that. Good thing the phone was next to the computer and preprogrammed for 911. But as it turns out someone else call the police. But before the chaos of the police, before Alice and Paul, it was just ofd blach eyes and Bella and he said a couple of things that got my attention. He asks about Jacob and her Uncle protecting her. That right there takes my suspicions away from both of them, well Jacob at least. There is still something about Aro that I can't shake. And of course he tells her he is going to kill her. But why. Why does he want her dead.

#4. Now to backtrack and go back to lunch with Alice. I think I have alsways known that sooner or later Alice would question Edward and Bella's relationship. Try as she might Bella could not dodge the questions that plagued the Cullen clan, namely the all knowing Alice. I was somewhat surprised that Alice let the slip about Vegas out. It was the explanation of happened through her eyes that most enlightening. And while Bella had her epiphany, FD, I swear the light came on in my own mind and I think I get it.

I mean really get it. Not just a standard light bulb version but a 3 way bulb that gets brighter on each level. I could very well be wrong but her is what I think ... Lightbulb click one - Leah is really freaking out because Jacob is not there to help keep her grounded. Lightbulb click two - Aro is guilty of keeping Edward and Bella apart. He may have even kept her mildly sedated to accomplish this. But not because he wants to control her for evil but to control her to keep her safe. And lightbulb click three - Edward did not cheat on her. He came close but he did not because he could not. His love for her is too pure. And with this thought my heart sings.

#5. Last but not least. Bella is in the hospital and goes after Edward and he turns to her as he calls her name. He takes her in his arms and returns her to her room and crawls into bed with her. And whether my lightbulb folly is correct or not is neither here not there. This moment, as he kisses her head and tells her he will be here and never let her go, is so intimately filled with love. I sigh and think to myself all that matters is that they are going to be okay and my tears gently fall.

"When a man loves a woman, can't keep his mind on nothing else..." What an appropriate song title for this chapter. From the moment I read "...After everything that happened. I loved her. I wanted her. I needed her..." I began to play the song in the background.

As I read I found myself smiling as Edward remembered seeing Bella for the first time. Laugh if you will at the expression, "It was love at first sight" but destiny knows no time limits.

Their stolen moments, heated kisses away from watchful eyes ... oh how I giggled when Rosalie told them they were not fooling anyone and that everyone knew. Yes, it was obvious to all of us their lives were forever changed.

As he continues with his early memories of Bella we get a glimpse of just how deeply he loves her. I found myself smiling through my tears when he holds Bella and knows at that moment that he has found his mate, his destiny and that he'd never be able to let her go.

"When a man loves a woman, down deep in his soul She can bring him such misery..."

I became so enrapt with the symbolism of the shower scene and what it could mean to their future that I may have lost sight of the root of the problem. Bella comes home to deliver the most wonderful news to the man she loves and finds another woman in her bed. Her husband is in the shower and the woman's clothes are on the floor of her room. As a woman it is very easy to view the situation through Bella's eyes. She saw what she saw and she fled without a word like a thief in the night.

Back in the present we watch Edward drink, his mind full of memories, and the anger seeps in. Anger with himself. Anger with Bella. Anger with those that have worked so hard to keep them apart. Anger with the shroud of deceit that has encompassed his world for four long years. The list goes on...

My heart sinks as he recalls that night . One misunderstanding and his world was shattered. All the coulda, shoulda, woulda's can't change what happened. Hell no one ever bothered to tell him what happened.

In a fleeting moment he tells himself he never signed up for this. In that same moment the word divorce comes to mind. Cut his losses and run. But could he ever do that to Bella? No. He he is only too familiar with the pain caused by running. But even that is not it. He loves her plain and simple ... "When this man loves a woman / I give you everything I have / Trying to hold on to your precious love / Baby please don't treat me bad.

He continues to drink. He wants to stay because he loves her, only her, she completes him. And he drinks more. He knows he is drinking too much. He caresses the bottle. He reminds himself that his drinking has limits. "Remember Vegas?"

All of a sudden I am sitting so straight I can balance books on my head. Ok Funky D you have my attention now. My smiles ... my tears are gone. My eyebrows have been raised so high I can feel them at the nape of my neck. As I look at my computer screen I ask "Uh, Funky, just exactly what do you mean by 'Remeber Vegas?'"? Now here is a thought to ponder. And ponder. And ponder. A clue of sorts? Something we have missed? So I read further looking for something, anything that will explain "Remember Vegas?" I read further many times, mind you, and it is getting late.

*****

He rubs his hands over his face to push out the thoughts. He wants Bella dammit. He loves her. She completes him. There is no other woman for him. She is a permanent part of his soul. He presses his palms on the cool granite. He does not want his emotions to overtake him but they do. It is not fair. He wants his dream. He wants Bella. He wants her to have his child.

He thinks of her alone as she loses their child. Of course he is filled with agony and despair. He should have been there. He would have been there. But he didn't know. And she was alone. True, she had people around her, but she did not have Edward, therefore she was alone.

And what is this, "the man with the coal black eyes"? -- Apparently this means something to Edward but have we met him? (Perhaps, if it is not too much trouble of course, you could post a list of characters and their eye color on the forum, lol. -- But I am happy to see him admit that he, too, realizes that someone is in fact out to hurt Bella. Now we just have to find out why.

His list of asses to kick made me giggle. I want to tell him that it may have taken awhile but Jake now knows that Bella will never love him in the way that he loves her. There is just no pain that Edward could ever inflict on him that would be worse than that he inflicts upon himself knowing the pain he has caused Bella in the name of protecting her. Now Aro, that fucker, is a whole other story. Have we met Demitri yet? Does he have coal black eyes? I am surprised that Felix was not mentioned. He is in love with Bella. Hell, he even bid $75,0.00 to dance with Bella. Don't you know that Edward hates his smart ass.

The bottom line always come back to Bella. His love for Bella. The baby and how she had to go through this alone. And all the mistakes.

*****

Edward continues to drink. One of my favorite parts of this chapter is Edward's self admission that he went out of his way to be photographed knowing good and well Bella would see the photos. Did he want her to be jealous? To be hurt her as she had him? To flush her out and bring her face to face with him again? Did he not know her well enough to know that irregardless of his actions that she would withdraw and face it alone?

So I cry as I realize that after all this soul searching he still asking himself if Bella should be in his future. He failed. She failed. They failed. He loves her so much yet how would he ever live through this another time should history repeat itself? How would she ever live through it? And the kicker is the fail was based on something that was not even real.

So I keep coming back to "Remember Vegas?" Way too much to drink. Hallucination? Or just a nightmare? I have read this drunken sequence several times and I won't lie, I am at a loss. There is something in this sequence that haunts Edward beyond that of a bad dream I just don't know what it is. Okay, okay theory - Edward is in Vegas and his drink is spiked and enters Tanya (?). I swear to you I have not been on the thread, lol. "I can pretty much guarantee I am going to catch up over there in the next couple of days!

*****

I loved Emmett's visit to the room and the conversation between the brothers. I let out a huge sigh of relief when Bella was in the shower. But most of all I loved the ownership statement "...for the sake of our lives.

*****

"Yes, when a man loves a woman / I know exactly how he feels / 'Cause baby, baby, baby, your my world."

This chapter is this song.

Yes, well, apparently that herd of turtles I was hanging with earlier wanted to watch "The Amazing Race" so anyhoo...

Wow. Wow. Wow.

The letter. She finally read the letter. His love of Bella is so clearly obvious in his letter. I do wish she could have read it sooner. Had she done so he could have help put her back together. What is it they say about hindsight?

Felix was really creepy in this chapter. He makes my skin crawl in that he doesn't even try to hide his unsavory characteristics. Does no one but Bella see this side of his vile nature?

I was very happy for Rose and Emmett. I could not help but feel bad for Emmett though. Sharing this news with his family should have been one of the happiest moments of his life. It saddens me that it was foreshadowed by Emmett's knowledge of Bella's miscarriage.

Edward's response to the "bombshell" was not unexpected. Although I must admit, I had hoped I would be wrong once I read the his letter. I was afraid this would happen but I have to believe once it sinks in he will understand. The weird thing here is his reaction, his words, they were a little like the pot calling the kettle black. If you think about it his over reaction is not unlike hers when she ran away. The only difference really is he did not find a naked man in her bed.

It really is a shame. They had come so far. I won't lie. I understand where he is coming from in that all these years he has beat himself up for something he did not do. To his knowledge there was NO naked woman in his bed...Nor did he ever give her the benefit of the doubt. In essence history is repeating itself and he is doing to her what she did to him.

So where does that leave us? I don't think I can take another four year split. And we all know there are those that will love this turn of events just as we know there are those that will be happy to comfort each of them.


Ah, but alas, the ball is in your court Funky D. Do you give Edward a chance to calm down and rationalize so they can begin to pick up the pieces together. Or is Bella destined to fight the forces that have kept them separated alone?

One thing is for certain. I will stand with her to yell at the likes of Felix and suspect everyone's motives as I not so secretly wish for Bella and Edward to find their way back to one another.

This chapter is filled with so much love that one tends to forget there are unpleasantries looming above them.

Couldn't help but laugh when Alice attacked the door demanding they open up. Would Edward have remembered his resolve to do things right had it not been for that?

I do believe Barbara Walters asked a few questions that were not pre-approved. Edward to the rescue on that front was very endearing.

Back at Bella's suite I was as happy to see Edward as was Bella. I do believe it was best that they went back to Edward's suite as I don't know that Jake's heart could take it. I'm sure you noticed he did not mask his feelings well.


The digital picture frame was a nice touch. I may have to rethink my thoughts indiscretions. The way he explained to her about missing her and doing what he can to keep her close was the sweetest thing. His resolve to "do it right" this time was enough to warm even the grinches heart. I would not have been so patient.

With the shift in their dynamic the albatross she has carried has become increasingly heavy. The longer she waits the more difficult it will be...Not only to tell him but for him to accept it as well. It is not something she can just blurt out and she really has not had the opportunity to tell him. ie. Edward ~"Bella I have these pictures of you so I could keep you near these last four years." or "Bella I want to do this right. Just let me hold you." She can exactly blurt out ~ Edward I was pregnant but I had a miscarriage and I never told you because I was hurt and mad. Can you ever forgive me?" It just does not fit. A dilema, yes. Will there ever be a good time to tell him? Probably not. I do believe his reaction will help to dictate the future of their relationship.

Take that you skank smut slut, Victoria! Bella, girl, you go ahead and mark your man.

At the onset of this chapter I felt bad for Jake. You could see it in his eyes that taking Bella to Edward hurt him even though it is what she needed. So I am going to take him off the block and put him on the good guy list.

Then in walks Victoria! She is a smut slut if I've ever seen one. She must be the red head we saw in the Tabloid a while back. The one in Vegas I believe. Edward's reaction to her did and did not surprise me. It appears they have a history and it is not platonic. Vic's interaction with Bella may have caused my eyebrow to disappear into my hairline but WTF! I wanted to take her down myself. I was just sorry Bella turned to the bottle. When Edward came up behind Bella and, for that matter, throughout the picture shoot I may as well have been the little voice you have given Bella as I all but glared at Victoria...effin' b*i*t*c*h. I have to ask a couple of questions here though ~ 1. Does Alice know the history between V and E? I got the impression she was not surprised. And 2. Do you watch The Young and The Restless? One of the characters is Victoria Neuman.

Ok, I think that is all for this chapter but I did mean to ask last time if you are familiar with Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20? The chapter reminded me of his song Bed of Lies.

Good chapter, lots of good information.

So Edward did in fact try to follow Bella. They were very wrong to keep that information from her. To make him think she had moved on brought on his own indiscretions.

And Jake is obviously in love with Bella. He would do whatever it takes to keep Edward away.

I still have questions about everything that has happened, Tanya being one of them. I don't know that I will trust what she has to say! Everyone has played so many mind games with her. They have capitalized on her love for Edward and use it against her every chance they get. I can't help but wonder if they have over medicated her as well. It's as if they are trying to drive her insane.

I am beginning to suspect everyone! Leah is almost too kind. Aro appears to be a loving uncle but thinks nothing of keeping Edward away. Jake has his own motives. Felix, the rat ba*st*ard, I haven't trusted him from the onset. And please don't throw things at me, but Edward is on my list at this time too...I just can't wrap by head around his thoughts yet.

Sometimes I feel like I've walked into the movie Gaslight. I will say this it has been an interesting read.

 Ah, so he does admit it to her by telling her it was a mistake. And although I do not think this was the time or place to ask for the divorce I can certainly understand why it would happen this way. Poor Bella. It is obvious she still cares but I don't blame her for locking her heart away.

Wow I haven't been able to put this story down.  You are a very talented writer.  So did he or didn't he with Victoria? I hope you post soon I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this story.

It was so evil to stop there. I've been waiting for this to come up in conversation for such a long time. Dont' make me wait too long.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about letting the cat out of the bag

Love Love Love this chapter!!

Really gave a back bone to Bella and helped her ease her doubts.

It hurts more when it's the people you trust that are manipulating you.

Arrgh!! I screamed at the screen because of you cliffy!!!! LOL

Honestly, I don't remember how I found your story. I think it was rec'd on another story I read on Fanfiction.

But, boy am I glad I found you!!!!

I really like this story. I recently discovered twcs and come here often to look for interesting stories and I happened across yours. I was instantly hooked and could not stop reading until the most recent chapter. Now I can't wait to see what happens, please update soon !!!

OMG please send me a teaser i need to know because honestly  if he slept with her i dont think she can forgive him that fast but i do think she would deal with it. I dont think he will be happy of her accussing him of cheating because i think its something else.

GAH! well if he didnt cheat with Victoria what the hell happened? Please update soon.... and its a great chapter and I really hope they carry on talking after Edward tells her what happened! it's great that they are getting closer but I have the feeling that Edward is gonna fly off the handle and they are gonna get worse off than they already are.... Or is this when he had his breakdown and ended up loosing it?

my mistake..lol. I have a ton of stories and sometimes I get them mixed up. The rest was accurate though. I originally started reading this on FF, but followed you here. 

I decided to read your story while cruising the titles on this site and it just popped out at me. Bella's life could rival the Soprano's series, only it would be called the Volturi's. Great chapter, who doesn't like a good cliffy?