Chapter 21 Bonus Scene~

While Seth was busy with Edward and Isabella was being comforted by her Nonna, Jasper and Emmett were having a heated discussion in Jasper's office. Oh, they weren't aggravated with each other, but rather both were extremely pissed at Edward...and rightfully so.

Gideon was paying close attention to the two men because Seth was otherwise occupied. He had to chuckle to himself, he did NOT envy his young friend, not in the least.

"Jasper, man, what the fucking hell is up with Edward?" Emmett asked as he paced back and forth in Jasper's office. "I mean, he went from happy go lucky Edward back to Sullen Cullen almost overnight. I mean...shit, did you see how upset Bella was?"

Jasper grunted in annoyance when he thought about just how upset she'd been and it was all he could do not to stomp down to Edward's office and kick the ever-living shit out of him. He wasn't standing by this time, he vowed to himself. No fucking way. He'd watched, most of the time without comment, as Edward continually sabotaged himself where Bella was concerned, but there was no way in hell he was doing it again. Something was up with his friend, and he was damn sure going to find out what it was.

"I have no clue, Em, but whatever it is, it's something big," Jasper finally said.

"Shit," Emmett growled and threw himself in the seat across from Jasper.

Jasper nodded and stared off into space as he went over the past few days in his head. Edward had continually regressed as the week went by, growing more and more distant and more like the Edward of old with each passing day. When he found himself remembering the first meeting of the week on Monday, he groaned out loud.

"He's pissed about what we talked about on Monday," Jasper said emphatically. When Emmett looked at him with a confused look on his face, Jasper reminded him, "We all talked about how glad we were that Isabella could take over for him if anything ever happened to him."

"Ah, fuck," Emmett said and nodded his head. He knew Jasper was right, and though they'd all had a feeling Edward wouldn't really want to talk about it, Emmett had to admit, he was surprised by just how upset Edward was. "I just don't get it, Jas," Em told him. "I mean no one wants to think about dying, but it has to be done; we've all agreed it does and Edward is smart enough to realize we're right."

Jasper sighed but only because he thought he knew what might be causing Edward to want to hide from what he needed to do. "Em, I don't think that is really what's wrong."

"No?"

"No. I mean think about it. Something happened a few weeks ago to Edward and he makes this total about-face personality and attitude wise. You know he's had to have a lot of regrets over his past actions toward us all, but no one more so than Bella. He's been so damn happy lately, imagine knowing you could have always had that, but were too stubborn, or scared, or whatever it is that's held him back, to experience it. Then all of a sudden, you have all of us telling him, well, we need you think about what happens if you die. I don't know about you, Emmett, but I'm not sure I would be able to handle it either if I was in Edward's shoes," Jasper said.

"Well, you never would have shut us all out," Emmett snapped back and then felt bad, though he knew he was right.

When he saw Jasper raise his eyebrow at him in that annoying way he had of making you feel like shit for saying something bad about Edward, he held his hands up. "I know, I know, Jasper, there is obviously a lot Edward hasn't shared with us, but man, admit it. The last month and half with Edward has been amazing and I'll be pissed...really pissed, if he goes back to the way he used to be. Bella isn't the only one that couldn't handle it, you know. He's my damn brother and I feel like I've just now gotten to know him." Emmett swiped at his eyes and took a few deep breaths to keep himself from saying or doing something he would regret.

"I know, Em, I know. Let's just hope it isn't too late to reach him. I don't want to lose him either," Jasper answered him back quietly.

Gideon shook his head as he watched from above and then checked in on Seth and Edward...there was a lot at stake at the moment, he only hoped Seth could get Edward to do what he needed to do.

The time had come.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

"Seth?" Gideon questioned while his young friend stared at the stairs Edward had just run up.

Startled, Seth turned toward him. It was rare...very rare, when Gideon came down...from up above, though at the moment, Seth was exceedingly grateful for his presence.

Noting the shocked expression on Seth's face, Gideon chuckled softly and the sound was reminiscent of the rapids of a river as they flowed over the rocks. Smiling he said, "Seth, don't look so shocked to see me...you know I do mingle with the humans on occasion." His smile faded when he continued, "Besides, I figured you needed me."

Seth had turned back around and stared up at the ceiling, as if he could see through it. He could do many things, but seeing through walls and floors wasn't one of them, though with his supernatural hearing, he heard Edward beg Isabella to let him tell her what she'd needed to know for so long.

With a sigh full of regret, he turned toward his mentor and asked, "Do you think I could have done anything different these past few days?"

Poor Seth, Gideon thought with a sad shake of his head. He loved both Edward and Isabella so much and seeing them in the pain they were in right at this moment was agonizing for him. "My friend, you and I both knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. Edward facing the realities of his mortality was going to be difficult and there was every possibility that the walls Isabella has fought so hard to break through would go back up again. Surely you can't be too surprised that they did?"

Agitated, Seth floated around the room while he thought over the week thus far. He never should have allowed Edward to pull away like he did after Emmett and the others made their comments during Monday's meeting. He had no idea what more he could have done mind you, but the angel felt like the reason his two humans were upstairs, heartbroken, was very much his fault. It was a totally wrong way of thinking of course, but Seth was rather prone to self-recriminations...especially where Edward and Isabella were concerned.

For the past four days, Seth had hovered and cajoled. He'd teased and threatened, he even tried ignoring his stubborn friend...all to no avail...which led to the events of today. His heart was positively shattered as he recalled with his perfect angelic memory, the anguish that was rolling off Isabella when Edward had sent him to her aid earlier. He couldn't stop the sudden smile and burst of pride he felt though. Edward was so concerned about her, so hurt at seeing her suffer that he thought nothing of his own pain...helping her was all he cared about.

If that didn't say everything about his honest and true feelings for Isabella, nothing did.

Edward had been a mess all week, literally. He had been moody, irritable, and on edge. He walked on egg shells around Isabella because he knew she was getting frustrated at his continual refusal to tell her what was wrong. Of course, if he would have done that, there was a likely possibility that they wouldn't be where they were right now, so Seth wasn't one hundred percent convinced that it had turned out all that bad.

He hated that there would be pain and tears, for both of them, but he truly hoped they were well on their way to healing. Even as perceptive and highly sensitive to their kind as Isabella was, there was little Seth had been able to do before to help her. He was able to offer her a bit of comfort, but honestly Edward was the only one that could help her the way she needed.

The questions she'd asked Edward earlier were...hard...but necessary. Edward had taken her for granted, hadn't been fair, and at times hurt her deeply so she'd had every right to be as angry and hurt as she was. Both Seth and Gideon knew she was close to her limit. She'd kept things inside for such a long time that the fear of losing the Edward she'd just found, after so steadfastly believing he was always there, was more than she could take.

She lashed out, she purged...and now hopefully, she would be granted the healing that only Edward could offer her.

Everything rested in Edward's hands now and the only thing both angels could do was hope and pray he was ready...that they all were for what was to come.

Chapter 21 Bonus Scene~

While Seth was busy with Edward and Isabella was being comforted by her Nonna, Jasper and Emmett were having a heated discussion in Jasper's office. Oh, they weren't aggravated with each other, but rather both were extremely pissed at Edward...and rightfully so.

Gideon was paying close attention to the two men because Seth was otherwise occupied. He had to chuckle to himself, he did NOT envy his young friend, not in the least.

"Jasper, man, what the fucking hell is up with Edward?" Emmett asked as he paced back and forth in Jasper's office. "I mean, he went from happy go lucky Edward back to Sullen Cullen almost overnight. I mean...shit, did you see how upset Bella was?"

Jasper grunted in annoyance when he thought about just how upset she'd been and it was all he could do not to stomp down to Edward's office and kick the ever-living shit out of him. He wasn't standing by this time, he vowed to himself. No fucking way. He'd watched, most of the time without comment, as Edward continually sabotaged himself where Bella was concerned, but there was no way in hell he was doing it again. Something was up with his friend, and he was damn sure going to find out what it was.

"I have no clue, Em, but whatever it is, it's something big," Jasper finally said.

"Shit," Emmett growled and threw himself in the seat across from Jasper.

Jasper nodded and stared off into space as he went over the past few days in his head. Edward had continually regressed as the week went by, growing more and more distant and more like the Edward of old with each passing day. When he found himself remembering the first meeting of the week on Monday, he groaned out loud.

"He's pissed about what we talked about on Monday," Jasper said emphatically. When Emmett looked at him with a confused look on his face, Jasper reminded him, "We all talked about how glad we were that Isabella could take over for him if anything ever happened to him."

"Ah, fuck," Emmett said and nodded his head. He knew Jasper was right, and though they'd all had a feeling Edward wouldn't really want to talk about it, Emmett had to admit, he was surprised by just how upset Edward was. "I just don't get it, Jas," Em told him. "I mean no one wants to think about dying, but it has to be done; we've all agreed it does and Edward is smart enough to realize we're right."

Jasper sighed but only because he thought he knew what might be causing Edward to want to hide from what he needed to do. "Em, I don't think that is really what's wrong."

"No?"

"No. I mean think about it. Something happened a few weeks ago to Edward and he makes this total about-face personality and attitude wise. You know he's had to have a lot of regrets over his past actions toward us all, but no one more so than Bella. He's been so damn happy lately, imagine knowing you could have always had that, but were too stubborn, or scared, or whatever it is that's held him back, to experience it. Then all of a sudden, you have all of us telling him, well, we need you think about what happens if you die. I don't know about you, Emmett, but I'm not sure I would be able to handle it either if I was in Edward's shoes," Jasper said.

"Well, you never would have shut us all out," Emmett snapped back and then felt bad, though he knew he was right.

When he saw Jasper raise his eyebrow at him in that annoying way he had of making you feel like shit for saying something bad about Edward, he held his hands up. "I know, I know, Jasper, there is obviously a lot Edward hasn't shared with us, but man, admit it. The last month and half with Edward has been amazing and I'll be pissed...really pissed, if he goes back to the way he used to be. Bella isn't the only one that couldn't handle it, you know. He's my damn brother and I feel like I've just now gotten to know him." Emmett swiped at his eyes and took a few deep breaths to keep himself from saying or doing something he would regret.

"I know, Em, I know. Let's just hope it isn't too late to reach him. I don't want to lose him either," Jasper answered him back quietly.

Gideon shook his head as he watched from above and then checked in on Seth and Edward...there was a lot at stake at the moment, he only hoped Seth could get Edward to do what he needed to do.

The time had come.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

"Seth?" Gideon questioned while his young friend stared at the stairs Edward had just run up.

Startled, Seth turned toward him. It was rare...very rare, when Gideon came down...from up above, though at the moment, Seth was exceedingly grateful for his presence.

Noting the shocked expression on Seth's face, Gideon chuckled softly and the sound was reminiscent of the rapids of a river as they flowed over the rocks. Smiling he said, "Seth, don't look so shocked to see me...you know I do mingle with the humans on occasion." His smile faded when he continued, "Besides, I figured you needed me."

Seth had turned back around and stared up at the ceiling, as if he could see through it. He could do many things, but seeing through walls and floors wasn't one of them, though with his supernatural hearing, he heard Edward beg Isabella to let him tell her what she'd needed to know for so long.

With a sigh full of regret, he turned toward his mentor and asked, "Do you think I could have done anything different these past few days?"

Poor Seth, Gideon thought with a sad shake of his head. He loved both Edward and Isabella so much and seeing them in the pain they were in right at this moment was agonizing for him. "My friend, you and I both knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. Edward facing the realities of his mortality was going to be difficult and there was every possibility that the walls Isabella has fought so hard to break through would go back up again. Surely you can't be too surprised that they did?"

Agitated, Seth floated around the room while he thought over the week thus far. He never should have allowed Edward to pull away like he did after Emmett and the others made their comments during Monday's meeting. He had no idea what more he could have done mind you, but the angel felt like the reason his two humans were upstairs, heartbroken, was very much his fault. It was a totally wrong way of thinking of course, but Seth was rather prone to self-recriminations...especially where Edward and Isabella were concerned.

For the past four days, Seth had hovered and cajoled. He'd teased and threatened, he even tried ignoring his stubborn friend...all to no avail...which led to the events of today. His heart was positively shattered as he recalled with his perfect angelic memory, the anguish that was rolling off Isabella when Edward had sent him to her aid earlier. He couldn't stop the sudden smile and burst of pride he felt though. Edward was so concerned about her, so hurt at seeing her suffer that he thought nothing of his own pain...helping her was all he cared about.

If that didn't say everything about his honest and true feelings for Isabella, nothing did.

Edward had been a mess all week, literally. He had been moody, irritable, and on edge. He walked on egg shells around Isabella because he knew she was getting frustrated at his continual refusal to tell her what was wrong. Of course, if he would have done that, there was a likely possibility that they wouldn't be where they were right now, so Seth wasn't one hundred percent convinced that it had turned out all that bad.

He hated that there would be pain and tears, for both of them, but he truly hoped they were well on their way to healing. Even as perceptive and highly sensitive to their kind as Isabella was, there was little Seth had been able to do before to help her. He was able to offer her a bit of comfort, but honestly Edward was the only one that could help her the way she needed.

The questions she'd asked Edward earlier were...hard...but necessary. Edward had taken her for granted, hadn't been fair, and at times hurt her deeply so she'd had every right to be as angry and hurt as she was. Both Seth and Gideon knew she was close to her limit. She'd kept things inside for such a long time that the fear of losing the Edward she'd just found, after so steadfastly believing he was always there, was more than she could take.

She lashed out, she purged...and now hopefully, she would be granted the healing that only Edward could offer her.

Everything rested in Edward's hands now and the only thing both angels could do was hope and pray he was ready...that they all were for what was to come.

Look for me on Twitter, I am finding myself spending more and more time on there! @les_sh_16

If you're not on Twitter but are on gtalk, hell, find me there, too! Me and my girls are always on there...erinsharpe.16(@)gmail(.)com. Friend me and I'll accept!

Remember to email me if you're missing a bonus scene, from yours, and I'll send it to you.

Okay, here is Vincent and Anna. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

See you Sunday. I'm nervous and excited about Chp 20, EEEK!!!

Hugs and Much Love,

Erin~

~*~*~*~
Chapter 19 Bonus Scene~

Vincent stood ramrod straight and had so much anger and frustration coursing through his veins he was like a volcano waiting to erupt as he watched Edward and Isabella and the rest of their clan turn away from him like he was nothing.

Who the fuck did they think they were, he thought as his mind raced with thoughts on how to get back at them for even thinking about calling him out like that in front of his colleagues.

He took a step forward and had every intention of going after Edward but was stopped when he felt Brody grip his arm, hard.

"No you don't, Vince. This has gone on long enough, it's time for you to cut your losses and move the fuck on," Brody told him angrily.

He was so tired of all the bullshit between Vincent and Edward, and though he'd be a fool to say it out loud, he knew that most of it was because of Vincent. He wasn't a huge fan of Edward Cullen, but the man knew his shit. He ran Cullen Publishing with an eye always on the bigger picture and never once lost sight of the fact that his job as CEO was to run the company, not to see how many times he could screw over his competition.

Vincent turned and stared coldly at his right-hand man. "What the hell does that mean?" he demanded as he yanked his arm out of Brody's grasp.

"It means, Vince, that this dick measuring thing you've got going on with Cullen needs to come to a fucking stop. You are ruining the company with your incessant need to try get the best of him and not only that," Brody said hotly, "you're ruining mine and everyone else's reputations along with it. If you are hell bent on continuing this ridiculous game with Edward, count me the fuck out. I'm tired of it, Vincent," Brody said and took a deep breath. He knew he was quite possibly slitting his own throat, but he couldn't hold back any longer.

"If you want to go down that's one thing, but don't expect me to go down with you. And Cullen," he said as he narrowed his eyes at him,"won't stop until he ends you if you keep antagonizing him the way you did tonight. Go after him, man to man if you have to, but even for you, going after his wife was fucking low...and not only that, it was suicide. I'm not married, but if I was, there is no way in hell I'd ever let anyone talk to my wife the way you did Isabella Cullen. I'm afraid you've just woken up the sleeping giant, my friend. Good luck with that, you're going to need it."

"So what, you're going to let Cullen get the best of you, too?" Vincent asked as he looked from Brody to Josh, Cameron, and Trent. "The three of you pussies, too?" he questioned incredulously when they all looked at him with the same look of disgust. "What the fuck ever," he said bitterly and waved them off. "Anna, let's get the hell out of here."

Anna had held her tongue, but only by biting down on it to the point she could taste blood. If she didn't have a choice but to leave with him, she wouldn't, but she had a few things of her own to take care of with Vincent. She stepped forward, without saying a word and without looking behind her either...somehow she had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing any of them anytime soon...if ever.

Vincent of course had kept the car and driver waiting for them, always needing to keep people at his beck and call and they both climbed into the backseat without saying a word. The air was tense between them and she felt her stomach twist in knots knowing what she was going to do and say once they'd returned to their apartment. She'd known it had been a long time coming and had made up her mind to finally put herself first after speaking with Edward, but watching Isabella had solidified her decision even more.

Anna was quite frankly...in awe of Isabella. She was fierce, loyal, and obviously not easily intimidated. Anna had never admired another woman the way she did Isabella, but even she had to admit how amazing she was as she handed Vince's ass...and his balls to him. Watching Isabella stand up for Edward, for their company and family and friends was an incredible thing to witness and gave Anna the push she needed to do what she should have done a long damn time ago.

Edward had given her a second chance by forgiving her; there was no way in hell she was letting it go to waste.

They arrived back at their apartment and Vince didn't even try talking to her...nor apologize for the way he'd talked to her, not that she really expected it anyway. As soon as he opened the front door, she strode without looking behind her to their bedroom and pulled a suitcase from the closet and threw it on the bed. She heard Vince walk to the wet bar in the living room and pull what she assumed was a bottle of Vodka from the small freezer but paid little attention to the muttering she heard him spew.

A few minutes later when she'd walked out of the bathroom carrying her toiletries, she looked up and saw him walk into the room. His bow tie hung limply from around his neck, he'd taken his jacket off, and frankly...he looked like shit.

"What the hell?" he asked stupidly when he spied the suitcase on the bed.

"I'm leaving, Vince," she said simply.

He looked from the bed to her and then repeated the motion several times before blurting out, "But I thought we were gonna fuck?"

Anna snorted at him and then rolled her eyes. She threw the bottles she'd taken from the bathroom on the bed and then turned to look at him. "You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm letting you lay your hands on me again."

He smirked at her and then shook his head. "Babe, are you still pissed about what happened earlier? You know I didn't mean anything; that was just because Edward-" he started again but she cut him off abruptly.

"Shut the hell up, Vince. This has nothing to do with Edward and everything to do with you," she told him levelly.

"Me? What the fuck did I do? If Cullen wasn't such a cocksucker," he began to rant again and she'd had enough.

"You know for as long as we've known each other you have blamed every bad thing that has ever happened to you on Edward and that's just fucking pathetic. Try looking in a mirror sometime, Vincent. You have no one to blame but yourself for the mess you've made of things and it's about damn time for you to realize that," she told him as she began throwing more clothes into the suitcase.

Vincent sneered at her, trying to figure out how to get her into bed instead of thinking about what she'd said to him. He knew she was pissed, but he didn't believe for one second she'd leave him.

"Yeah? What the hell do you know about anything that has been going on anyway? All you do is shop, go to the spa, and gossip with your girlfriends about who has had work done to their tits or asses and what you want to get done next. I haven't seen you complain about anything up until now, Anna," he said nastily.

Anna wanted to disagree with him, but she knew she couldn't. She had done all of those things...but no more.

"You're right. I have done that, but I'm done, Vince. I'm not letting you walk all over me anymore because I'm too afraid to be by myself. I deserve better than that," she said and then realized instantly how good it felt to say that...and really mean it.

Watching Isabella and Edward all night as they stood side by side really drove home how much she was missing from her life. Then to watch them both face Vincent, together, was really the icing on the cake. Edward wasn't one to be underestimated, but neither was Isabella. They were a true team, one that respected the other, and she wanted that for herself.

She deserved it.

Up until she and Edward spoke Anna never believed that, but she did now, thanks to him...and to Isabella.

Isabella could have been a jealous bitch, and Anna knew she would have deserved it, but she hadn't. She'd been nothing but gracious, if a little cold at first, but only because Anna had tried to intimidate her because that was what she did. Instead, Isabella treated her fairly and with respect, even though she probably didn't deserve it.

"Where the hell are you going to go?" Vincent questioned, still not believing for one second she was leaving.

"I don't know, but anywhere is better than here with you," she said succinctly as she closed the suitcase.

There wasn't anything left she couldn't live without or buy again and she turned to Vincent to say the last thing she needed to tell him before she left to start a new chapter of her life.

"I'm sure you won't be alone for long, just give Biannca a call, I'm sure she's not busy," she said slyly and then smirked when he quickly swallowed and his eyes darted nervously around the room.

He opened his mouth to deny what she said but Anna held up her hand. "Save it, I don't care anyway. I'm done with you so what you do from now on doesn't matter to me. But," she said as she picked up her purse and suitcase off the bed and then walked to the doorway. She turned and finished her thought, "never forget who I am, Vincent, or who my family is. Stay away from Edward and Isabella. My family is very powerful and if there is anything left after Edward gets through with you if you keep going after him, I'll finish the job."

With that, she turned and walked out, not looking back.

Edward and Isabella gave her a second chance to find out who she was...she was damn sure going to take advantage of that.

Look for me on Twitter, I am finding myself spending more and more time on there! @les_sh_16

If you're not on Twitter but are on gtalk, hell, find me there, too! Me and my girls are always on there...erinsharpe.16(@)gmail(.)com. Friend me and I'll accept!

Remember to email me if you're missing a bonus scene, from yours, and I'll send it to you.

Okay, here is Vincent and Anna. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

See you Sunday. I'm nervous and excited about Chp 20, EEEK!!!

Hugs and Much Love,

Erin~

~*~*~*~
Chapter 19 Bonus Scene~

Vincent stood ramrod straight and had so much anger and frustration coursing through his veins he was like a volcano waiting to erupt as he watched Edward and Isabella and the rest of their clan turn away from him like he was nothing.

Who the fuck did they think they were, he thought as his mind raced with thoughts on how to get back at them for even thinking about calling him out like that in front of his colleagues.

He took a step forward and had every intention of going after Edward but was stopped when he felt Brody grip his arm, hard.

"No you don't, Vince. This has gone on long enough, it's time for you to cut your losses and move the fuck on," Brody told him angrily.

He was so tired of all the bullshit between Vincent and Edward, and though he'd be a fool to say it out loud, he knew that most of it was because of Vincent. He wasn't a huge fan of Edward Cullen, but the man knew his shit. He ran Cullen Publishing with an eye always on the bigger picture and never once lost sight of the fact that his job as CEO was to run the company, not to see how many times he could screw over his competition.

Vincent turned and stared coldly at his right-hand man. "What the hell does that mean?" he demanded as he yanked his arm out of Brody's grasp.

"It means, Vince, that this dick measuring thing you've got going on with Cullen needs to come to a fucking stop. You are ruining the company with your incessant need to try get the best of him and not only that," Brody said hotly, "you're ruining mine and everyone else's reputations along with it. If you are hell bent on continuing this ridiculous game with Edward, count me the fuck out. I'm tired of it, Vincent," Brody said and took a deep breath. He knew he was quite possibly slitting his own throat, but he couldn't hold back any longer.

"If you want to go down that's one thing, but don't expect me to go down with you. And Cullen," he said as he narrowed his eyes at him,"won't stop until he ends you if you keep antagonizing him the way you did tonight. Go after him, man to man if you have to, but even for you, going after his wife was fucking low...and not only that, it was suicide. I'm not married, but if I was, there is no way in hell I'd ever let anyone talk to my wife the way you did Isabella Cullen. I'm afraid you've just woken up the sleeping giant, my friend. Good luck with that, you're going to need it."

"So what, you're going to let Cullen get the best of you, too?" Vincent asked as he looked from Brody to Josh, Cameron, and Trent. "The three of you pussies, too?" he questioned incredulously when they all looked at him with the same look of disgust. "What the fuck ever," he said bitterly and waved them off. "Anna, let's get the hell out of here."

Anna had held her tongue, but only by biting down on it to the point she could taste blood. If she didn't have a choice but to leave with him, she wouldn't, but she had a few things of her own to take care of with Vincent. She stepped forward, without saying a word and without looking behind her either...somehow she had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing any of them anytime soon...if ever.

Vincent of course had kept the car and driver waiting for them, always needing to keep people at his beck and call and they both climbed into the backseat without saying a word. The air was tense between them and she felt her stomach twist in knots knowing what she was going to do and say once they'd returned to their apartment. She'd known it had been a long time coming and had made up her mind to finally put herself first after speaking with Edward, but watching Isabella had solidified her decision even more.

Anna was quite frankly...in awe of Isabella. She was fierce, loyal, and obviously not easily intimidated. Anna had never admired another woman the way she did Isabella, but even she had to admit how amazing she was as she handed Vince's ass...and his balls to him. Watching Isabella stand up for Edward, for their company and family and friends was an incredible thing to witness and gave Anna the push she needed to do what she should have done a long damn time ago.

Edward had given her a second chance by forgiving her; there was no way in hell she was letting it go to waste.

They arrived back at their apartment and Vince didn't even try talking to her...nor apologize for the way he'd talked to her, not that she really expected it anyway. As soon as he opened the front door, she strode without looking behind her to their bedroom and pulled a suitcase from the closet and threw it on the bed. She heard Vince walk to the wet bar in the living room and pull what she assumed was a bottle of Vodka from the small freezer but paid little attention to the muttering she heard him spew.

A few minutes later when she'd walked out of the bathroom carrying her toiletries, she looked up and saw him walk into the room. His bow tie hung limply from around his neck, he'd taken his jacket off, and frankly...he looked like shit.

"What the hell?" he asked stupidly when he spied the suitcase on the bed.

"I'm leaving, Vince," she said simply.

He looked from the bed to her and then repeated the motion several times before blurting out, "But I thought we were gonna fuck?"

Anna snorted at him and then rolled her eyes. She threw the bottles she'd taken from the bathroom on the bed and then turned to look at him. "You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm letting you lay your hands on me again."

He smirked at her and then shook his head. "Babe, are you still pissed about what happened earlier? You know I didn't mean anything; that was just because Edward-" he started again but she cut him off abruptly.

"Shut the hell up, Vince. This has nothing to do with Edward and everything to do with you," she told him levelly.

"Me? What the fuck did I do? If Cullen wasn't such a cocksucker," he began to rant again and she'd had enough.

"You know for as long as we've known each other you have blamed every bad thing that has ever happened to you on Edward and that's just fucking pathetic. Try looking in a mirror sometime, Vincent. You have no one to blame but yourself for the mess you've made of things and it's about damn time for you to realize that," she told him as she began throwing more clothes into the suitcase.

Vincent sneered at her, trying to figure out how to get her into bed instead of thinking about what she'd said to him. He knew she was pissed, but he didn't believe for one second she'd leave him.

"Yeah? What the hell do you know about anything that has been going on anyway? All you do is shop, go to the spa, and gossip with your girlfriends about who has had work done to their tits or asses and what you want to get done next. I haven't seen you complain about anything up until now, Anna," he said nastily.

Anna wanted to disagree with him, but she knew she couldn't. She had done all of those things...but no more.

"You're right. I have done that, but I'm done, Vince. I'm not letting you walk all over me anymore because I'm too afraid to be by myself. I deserve better than that," she said and then realized instantly how good it felt to say that...and really mean it.

Watching Isabella and Edward all night as they stood side by side really drove home how much she was missing from her life. Then to watch them both face Vincent, together, was really the icing on the cake. Edward wasn't one to be underestimated, but neither was Isabella. They were a true team, one that respected the other, and she wanted that for herself.

She deserved it.

Up until she and Edward spoke Anna never believed that, but she did now, thanks to him...and to Isabella.

Isabella could have been a jealous bitch, and Anna knew she would have deserved it, but she hadn't. She'd been nothing but gracious, if a little cold at first, but only because Anna had tried to intimidate her because that was what she did. Instead, Isabella treated her fairly and with respect, even though she probably didn't deserve it.

"Where the hell are you going to go?" Vincent questioned, still not believing for one second she was leaving.

"I don't know, but anywhere is better than here with you," she said succinctly as she closed the suitcase.

There wasn't anything left she couldn't live without or buy again and she turned to Vincent to say the last thing she needed to tell him before she left to start a new chapter of her life.

"I'm sure you won't be alone for long, just give Biannca a call, I'm sure she's not busy," she said slyly and then smirked when he quickly swallowed and his eyes darted nervously around the room.

He opened his mouth to deny what she said but Anna held up her hand. "Save it, I don't care anyway. I'm done with you so what you do from now on doesn't matter to me. But," she said as she picked up her purse and suitcase off the bed and then walked to the doorway. She turned and finished her thought, "never forget who I am, Vincent, or who my family is. Stay away from Edward and Isabella. My family is very powerful and if there is anything left after Edward gets through with you if you keep going after him, I'll finish the job."

With that, she turned and walked out, not looking back.

Edward and Isabella gave her a second chance to find out who she was...she was damn sure going to take advantage of that.

Look for me on Twitter, I am finding myself spending more and more time on there! @les_sh_16

If you're not on Twitter but are on gtalk, hell, find me there, too! Me and my girls are always on there...erinsharpe.16(@)gmail(.)com. Friend me and I'll accept!

Remember to email me if you're missing a bonus scene, from yours, and I'll send it to you.

Okay, here is Vincent and Anna. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

See you Sunday. I'm nervous and excited about Chp 20, EEEK!!!

Hugs and Much Love,

Erin~

~*~*~*~
Chapter 19 Bonus Scene~

Vincent stood ramrod straight and had so much anger and frustration coursing through his veins he was like a volcano waiting to erupt as he watched Edward and Isabella and the rest of their clan turn away from him like he was nothing.

Who the fuck did they think they were, he thought as his mind raced with thoughts on how to get back at them for even thinking about calling him out like that in front of his colleagues.

He took a step forward and had every intention of going after Edward but was stopped when he felt Brody grip his arm, hard.

"No you don't, Vince. This has gone on long enough, it's time for you to cut your losses and move the fuck on," Brody told him angrily.

He was so tired of all the bullshit between Vincent and Edward, and though he'd be a fool to say it out loud, he knew that most of it was because of Vincent. He wasn't a huge fan of Edward Cullen, but the man knew his shit. He ran Cullen Publishing with an eye always on the bigger picture and never once lost sight of the fact that his job as CEO was to run the company, not to see how many times he could screw over his competition.

Vincent turned and stared coldly at his right-hand man. "What the hell does that mean?" he demanded as he yanked his arm out of Brody's grasp.

"It means, Vince, that this dick measuring thing you've got going on with Cullen needs to come to a fucking stop. You are ruining the company with your incessant need to try get the best of him and not only that," Brody said hotly, "you're ruining mine and everyone else's reputations along with it. If you are hell bent on continuing this ridiculous game with Edward, count me the fuck out. I'm tired of it, Vincent," Brody said and took a deep breath. He knew he was quite possibly slitting his own throat, but he couldn't hold back any longer.

"If you want to go down that's one thing, but don't expect me to go down with you. And Cullen," he said as he narrowed his eyes at him,"won't stop until he ends you if you keep antagonizing him the way you did tonight. Go after him, man to man if you have to, but even for you, going after his wife was fucking low...and not only that, it was suicide. I'm not married, but if I was, there is no way in hell I'd ever let anyone talk to my wife the way you did Isabella Cullen. I'm afraid you've just woken up the sleeping giant, my friend. Good luck with that, you're going to need it."

"So what, you're going to let Cullen get the best of you, too?" Vincent asked as he looked from Brody to Josh, Cameron, and Trent. "The three of you pussies, too?" he questioned incredulously when they all looked at him with the same look of disgust. "What the fuck ever," he said bitterly and waved them off. "Anna, let's get the hell out of here."

Anna had held her tongue, but only by biting down on it to the point she could taste blood. If she didn't have a choice but to leave with him, she wouldn't, but she had a few things of her own to take care of with Vincent. She stepped forward, without saying a word and without looking behind her either...somehow she had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing any of them anytime soon...if ever.

Vincent of course had kept the car and driver waiting for them, always needing to keep people at his beck and call and they both climbed into the backseat without saying a word. The air was tense between them and she felt her stomach twist in knots knowing what she was going to do and say once they'd returned to their apartment. She'd known it had been a long time coming and had made up her mind to finally put herself first after speaking with Edward, but watching Isabella had solidified her decision even more.

Anna was quite frankly...in awe of Isabella. She was fierce, loyal, and obviously not easily intimidated. Anna had never admired another woman the way she did Isabella, but even she had to admit how amazing she was as she handed Vince's ass...and his balls to him. Watching Isabella stand up for Edward, for their company and family and friends was an incredible thing to witness and gave Anna the push she needed to do what she should have done a long damn time ago.

Edward had given her a second chance by forgiving her; there was no way in hell she was letting it go to waste.

They arrived back at their apartment and Vince didn't even try talking to her...nor apologize for the way he'd talked to her, not that she really expected it anyway. As soon as he opened the front door, she strode without looking behind her to their bedroom and pulled a suitcase from the closet and threw it on the bed. She heard Vince walk to the wet bar in the living room and pull what she assumed was a bottle of Vodka from the small freezer but paid little attention to the muttering she heard him spew.

A few minutes later when she'd walked out of the bathroom carrying her toiletries, she looked up and saw him walk into the room. His bow tie hung limply from around his neck, he'd taken his jacket off, and frankly...he looked like shit.

"What the hell?" he asked stupidly when he spied the suitcase on the bed.

"I'm leaving, Vince," she said simply.

He looked from the bed to her and then repeated the motion several times before blurting out, "But I thought we were gonna fuck?"

Anna snorted at him and then rolled her eyes. She threw the bottles she'd taken from the bathroom on the bed and then turned to look at him. "You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm letting you lay your hands on me again."

He smirked at her and then shook his head. "Babe, are you still pissed about what happened earlier? You know I didn't mean anything; that was just because Edward-" he started again but she cut him off abruptly.

"Shut the hell up, Vince. This has nothing to do with Edward and everything to do with you," she told him levelly.

"Me? What the fuck did I do? If Cullen wasn't such a cocksucker," he began to rant again and she'd had enough.

"You know for as long as we've known each other you have blamed every bad thing that has ever happened to you on Edward and that's just fucking pathetic. Try looking in a mirror sometime, Vincent. You have no one to blame but yourself for the mess you've made of things and it's about damn time for you to realize that," she told him as she began throwing more clothes into the suitcase.

Vincent sneered at her, trying to figure out how to get her into bed instead of thinking about what she'd said to him. He knew she was pissed, but he didn't believe for one second she'd leave him.

"Yeah? What the hell do you know about anything that has been going on anyway? All you do is shop, go to the spa, and gossip with your girlfriends about who has had work done to their tits or asses and what you want to get done next. I haven't seen you complain about anything up until now, Anna," he said nastily.

Anna wanted to disagree with him, but she knew she couldn't. She had done all of those things...but no more.

"You're right. I have done that, but I'm done, Vince. I'm not letting you walk all over me anymore because I'm too afraid to be by myself. I deserve better than that," she said and then realized instantly how good it felt to say that...and really mean it.

Watching Isabella and Edward all night as they stood side by side really drove home how much she was missing from her life. Then to watch them both face Vincent, together, was really the icing on the cake. Edward wasn't one to be underestimated, but neither was Isabella. They were a true team, one that respected the other, and she wanted that for herself.

She deserved it.

Up until she and Edward spoke Anna never believed that, but she did now, thanks to him...and to Isabella.

Isabella could have been a jealous bitch, and Anna knew she would have deserved it, but she hadn't. She'd been nothing but gracious, if a little cold at first, but only because Anna had tried to intimidate her because that was what she did. Instead, Isabella treated her fairly and with respect, even though she probably didn't deserve it.

"Where the hell are you going to go?" Vincent questioned, still not believing for one second she was leaving.

"I don't know, but anywhere is better than here with you," she said succinctly as she closed the suitcase.

There wasn't anything left she couldn't live without or buy again and she turned to Vincent to say the last thing she needed to tell him before she left to start a new chapter of her life.

"I'm sure you won't be alone for long, just give Biannca a call, I'm sure she's not busy," she said slyly and then smirked when he quickly swallowed and his eyes darted nervously around the room.

He opened his mouth to deny what she said but Anna held up her hand. "Save it, I don't care anyway. I'm done with you so what you do from now on doesn't matter to me. But," she said as she picked up her purse and suitcase off the bed and then walked to the doorway. She turned and finished her thought, "never forget who I am, Vincent, or who my family is. Stay away from Edward and Isabella. My family is very powerful and if there is anything left after Edward gets through with you if you keep going after him, I'll finish the job."

With that, she turned and walked out, not looking back.

Edward and Isabella gave her a second chance to find out who she was...she was damn sure going to take advantage of that.

Look for me on Twitter, I am finding myself spending more and more time on there! @les_sh_16

If you're not on Twitter but are on gtalk, hell, find me there, too! Me and my girls are always on there...erinsharpe.16(@)gmail(.)com. Friend me and I'll accept!

Remember to email me if you're missing a bonus scene, from yours, and I'll send it to you.

Okay, here is Vincent and Anna. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

See you Sunday. I'm nervous and excited about Chp 20, EEEK!!!

Hugs and Much Love,

Erin~

~*~*~*~
Chapter 19 Bonus Scene~

Vincent stood ramrod straight and had so much anger and frustration coursing through his veins he was like a volcano waiting to erupt as he watched Edward and Isabella and the rest of their clan turn away from him like he was nothing.

Who the fuck did they think they were, he thought as his mind raced with thoughts on how to get back at them for even thinking about calling him out like that in front of his colleagues.

He took a step forward and had every intention of going after Edward but was stopped when he felt Brody grip his arm, hard.

"No you don't, Vince. This has gone on long enough, it's time for you to cut your losses and move the fuck on," Brody told him angrily.

He was so tired of all the bullshit between Vincent and Edward, and though he'd be a fool to say it out loud, he knew that most of it was because of Vincent. He wasn't a huge fan of Edward Cullen, but the man knew his shit. He ran Cullen Publishing with an eye always on the bigger picture and never once lost sight of the fact that his job as CEO was to run the company, not to see how many times he could screw over his competition.

Vincent turned and stared coldly at his right-hand man. "What the hell does that mean?" he demanded as he yanked his arm out of Brody's grasp.

"It means, Vince, that this dick measuring thing you've got going on with Cullen needs to come to a fucking stop. You are ruining the company with your incessant need to try get the best of him and not only that," Brody said hotly, "you're ruining mine and everyone else's reputations along with it. If you are hell bent on continuing this ridiculous game with Edward, count me the fuck out. I'm tired of it, Vincent," Brody said and took a deep breath. He knew he was quite possibly slitting his own throat, but he couldn't hold back any longer.

"If you want to go down that's one thing, but don't expect me to go down with you. And Cullen," he said as he narrowed his eyes at him,"won't stop until he ends you if you keep antagonizing him the way you did tonight. Go after him, man to man if you have to, but even for you, going after his wife was fucking low...and not only that, it was suicide. I'm not married, but if I was, there is no way in hell I'd ever let anyone talk to my wife the way you did Isabella Cullen. I'm afraid you've just woken up the sleeping giant, my friend. Good luck with that, you're going to need it."

"So what, you're going to let Cullen get the best of you, too?" Vincent asked as he looked from Brody to Josh, Cameron, and Trent. "The three of you pussies, too?" he questioned incredulously when they all looked at him with the same look of disgust. "What the fuck ever," he said bitterly and waved them off. "Anna, let's get the hell out of here."

Anna had held her tongue, but only by biting down on it to the point she could taste blood. If she didn't have a choice but to leave with him, she wouldn't, but she had a few things of her own to take care of with Vincent. She stepped forward, without saying a word and without looking behind her either...somehow she had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing any of them anytime soon...if ever.

Vincent of course had kept the car and driver waiting for them, always needing to keep people at his beck and call and they both climbed into the backseat without saying a word. The air was tense between them and she felt her stomach twist in knots knowing what she was going to do and say once they'd returned to their apartment. She'd known it had been a long time coming and had made up her mind to finally put herself first after speaking with Edward, but watching Isabella had solidified her decision even more.

Anna was quite frankly...in awe of Isabella. She was fierce, loyal, and obviously not easily intimidated. Anna had never admired another woman the way she did Isabella, but even she had to admit how amazing she was as she handed Vince's ass...and his balls to him. Watching Isabella stand up for Edward, for their company and family and friends was an incredible thing to witness and gave Anna the push she needed to do what she should have done a long damn time ago.

Edward had given her a second chance by forgiving her; there was no way in hell she was letting it go to waste.

They arrived back at their apartment and Vince didn't even try talking to her...nor apologize for the way he'd talked to her, not that she really expected it anyway. As soon as he opened the front door, she strode without looking behind her to their bedroom and pulled a suitcase from the closet and threw it on the bed. She heard Vince walk to the wet bar in the living room and pull what she assumed was a bottle of Vodka from the small freezer but paid little attention to the muttering she heard him spew.

A few minutes later when she'd walked out of the bathroom carrying her toiletries, she looked up and saw him walk into the room. His bow tie hung limply from around his neck, he'd taken his jacket off, and frankly...he looked like shit.

"What the hell?" he asked stupidly when he spied the suitcase on the bed.

"I'm leaving, Vince," she said simply.

He looked from the bed to her and then repeated the motion several times before blurting out, "But I thought we were gonna fuck?"

Anna snorted at him and then rolled her eyes. She threw the bottles she'd taken from the bathroom on the bed and then turned to look at him. "You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm letting you lay your hands on me again."

He smirked at her and then shook his head. "Babe, are you still pissed about what happened earlier? You know I didn't mean anything; that was just because Edward-" he started again but she cut him off abruptly.

"Shut the hell up, Vince. This has nothing to do with Edward and everything to do with you," she told him levelly.

"Me? What the fuck did I do? If Cullen wasn't such a cocksucker," he began to rant again and she'd had enough.

"You know for as long as we've known each other you have blamed every bad thing that has ever happened to you on Edward and that's just fucking pathetic. Try looking in a mirror sometime, Vincent. You have no one to blame but yourself for the mess you've made of things and it's about damn time for you to realize that," she told him as she began throwing more clothes into the suitcase.

Vincent sneered at her, trying to figure out how to get her into bed instead of thinking about what she'd said to him. He knew she was pissed, but he didn't believe for one second she'd leave him.

"Yeah? What the hell do you know about anything that has been going on anyway? All you do is shop, go to the spa, and gossip with your girlfriends about who has had work done to their tits or asses and what you want to get done next. I haven't seen you complain about anything up until now, Anna," he said nastily.

Anna wanted to disagree with him, but she knew she couldn't. She had done all of those things...but no more.

"You're right. I have done that, but I'm done, Vince. I'm not letting you walk all over me anymore because I'm too afraid to be by myself. I deserve better than that," she said and then realized instantly how good it felt to say that...and really mean it.

Watching Isabella and Edward all night as they stood side by side really drove home how much she was missing from her life. Then to watch them both face Vincent, together, was really the icing on the cake. Edward wasn't one to be underestimated, but neither was Isabella. They were a true team, one that respected the other, and she wanted that for herself.

She deserved it.

Up until she and Edward spoke Anna never believed that, but she did now, thanks to him...and to Isabella.

Isabella could have been a jealous bitch, and Anna knew she would have deserved it, but she hadn't. She'd been nothing but gracious, if a little cold at first, but only because Anna had tried to intimidate her because that was what she did. Instead, Isabella treated her fairly and with respect, even though she probably didn't deserve it.

"Where the hell are you going to go?" Vincent questioned, still not believing for one second she was leaving.

"I don't know, but anywhere is better than here with you," she said succinctly as she closed the suitcase.

There wasn't anything left she couldn't live without or buy again and she turned to Vincent to say the last thing she needed to tell him before she left to start a new chapter of her life.

"I'm sure you won't be alone for long, just give Biannca a call, I'm sure she's not busy," she said slyly and then smirked when he quickly swallowed and his eyes darted nervously around the room.

He opened his mouth to deny what she said but Anna held up her hand. "Save it, I don't care anyway. I'm done with you so what you do from now on doesn't matter to me. But," she said as she picked up her purse and suitcase off the bed and then walked to the doorway. She turned and finished her thought, "never forget who I am, Vincent, or who my family is. Stay away from Edward and Isabella. My family is very powerful and if there is anything left after Edward gets through with you if you keep going after him, I'll finish the job."

With that, she turned and walked out, not looking back.

Edward and Isabella gave her a second chance to find out who she was...she was damn sure going to take advantage of that.

Isabella exited the bathroom and immediately looked for Edward. Not finding him where she thought he'd be, she made her way to their group of friends and family figuring he'd be there. As she approached, she could hear a few murmurs and noticed Alice and Alec looking off to the right and exchange a worried glance.

When she looked in that direction and found Edward and Anna sitting together and facing one another for what looked like a very private conversation, she turned back toward her friends and smiled...after rolling her eyes.

"Your eyes are going to stay that way, Alice, if you don't stop staring...not to mention you look like a fish with your mouth hanging open," she said as she stepped into the circle where everyone was standing.

"Ali, sugar, I told you that." Jasper laughed at his wife and reached up and pressed on her chin to close her mouth. "You're way too beautiful to stand around looking like a fish," he teased and kissed her on her now closed mouth.

"But...Bella...didn't you?" she started to question then snapped her mouth shut.

It really wasn't any of her business but she was shocked at how calm...and confident her friend appeared. She knew if she saw Jasper sitting and having what appeared to be a very intimate conversation with an ex...and an ex he'd lived with for two years no less, there was no way in hell she'd behave the same as her friend.

"Yes, I see them. What do you want me to do, march over there with my hands on my hips and demand to know what's going on? I don't think so, Alice. I trust Edward, completely, and if he has something he needs to talk with Anna about, then I'm sure he'll tell me what it is...later," Isabella answered her friend.

Alice spluttered in response to her and everyone in the group laughed at her. "Sugar, let's go get another drink," Jasper said sweetly and gave Bella a wink before turning his overly excitable wife toward the bar.

Rose shook her head at her friend. She adored Alice, but sometimes she was like an annoying puppy, always into everything. Once it seemed like there would be no major drama, not that she expected any from Bella anyway, the guys all picked their conversation back up again. She noticed Bella smile at Edward...and Anna and sighed. The world would be a much better place if more people acted like her sister-in-law, no question about it.

"So, you really don't mind Edward and Miss Skankalicious having a conversation without you?" Rose asked her.

Isabella chuckled and rolled her eyes at her blunt as ever sister-in-law. "No, Rose, I don't. Like I said, I trust Edward, so there isn't anything for me to worry about. I mean he's sitting less than a hundred feet from me in a roomful of people so I highly doubt it's anything more than healing some old wounds."

In fact, she was positive she was right, especially when she glanced back at Edward and Anna and noticed both of them looked infinitely more relieved than they had at the beginning of the night.

"I take it, judging from the fact you haven't scratched her eyes out, Edward told you about her?" Rose questioned a bit hesitantly.

Isabella nodded her head and said, "Yes, thankfully for my husband, we talked about her last night."

"You didn't know about her before?" Rose immediately asked and couldn't help the snarl that accompanied her question.

Edward really could be such a fool sometimes.

Isabella sighed and shook her head. "No, I didn't. In all defense of Edward, I've never pushed for many answers either about his past or what happened before me. That's as much my fault as it is his," she admitted.

Rose gasped and then quickly tried to cover it up hoping Isabella didn't hear, but it didn't work.

"I know, Rose. I have no doubt that knowing what she did to him and how their...relationship for lack of a better word...ended would certainly have helped me understand him better," she said quietly.

"He's always been so different with you, Bella, than he has with anyone else. I don't just mean other women either, though there haven't ever been many of those. Since I've known him, besides Anna and Sophie, there wasn't anyone but you," Rose told her. "You have to know, and judging from your reaction to seeing the two of them together, I'm sure you do, how badly he was hurt after he found Anna and Vincent together. I know that they were together only to keep William off his back and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what Anna was after, but even someone like Edward, or like he used to be, has to be hurt and angry at being treated the way he was."

Rose sighed again. There were times she felt incredibly guilty because she was extremely grateful that William had set his sights on Edward as the chosen one to run Cullen Publishing. She would have detested it if Emmett had been put under the same pressure and scrutiny as Edward had been.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Rose said quietly.

"Whatever for, Rose? It's not your fault he didn't tell me and I never asked any of you about his past, not that I ever would anyway. Whatever he wants me to know, he'll tell me. He's sharing more all the time and it's only a matter of time before he tells me everything," Isabella answered and laid her hand on Rose's arm.

"That's really great to hear, but that's not really what I'm sorry about. I just realized how grateful I am that William chose Edward over Emmett and that makes me sound like a selfish bitch...though we both know that's not that big of a stretch," she said with a grin. "Seriously though, William did a real number on Edward, everyone could see that. As much as I hate to admit this, we all just sort of sat back and let it happen. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, me, Jasper...each of us just let William do his thing. Me because I didn't want it to be Emmett; Emmett for the same reason, and Carlisle and Esme...who the hell knows. Poor Jasper was the only one that even tried to do anything about all the pressure William was putting on Edward, but even he could only do so much."

Isabella closed her eyes to try to keep the thoughts of her poor broken husband at bay. She knew she and Edward were closer than ever and she knew it was only a matter of time before he shared everything with her...or at least it better be. The time was quickly approaching, she realized, that it would become necessary to press him for answers. He owed it to her...and to the rest of the family as well. As disappointed and yes, even angry, as she was at all of them for not doing more to help Edward, it was way past time to lay the past to rest.

"So much unnecessary hurt and anger," Isabella said with a sad shake of her head.

She felt her skin tingle and knew Edward was near and sighed when she felt his lips on her neck. When she turned around and looked at him and could see no trace of anger or pain, she smiled at him. As long as he was okay, nothing else mattered.

Rose watched the two of them and felt Emmett wrap his arm around her shoulders. "We're so lucky to have her, you know? She's going to put this family back together."

"I sure hope so, babe," Emmett answered quietly.

Rose smiled knowingly at him and said, "I have no doubt; it's about damn time, too."

Isabella exited the bathroom and immediately looked for Edward. Not finding him where she thought he'd be, she made her way to their group of friends and family figuring he'd be there. As she approached, she could hear a few murmurs and noticed Alice and Alec looking off to the right and exchange a worried glance.

When she looked in that direction and found Edward and Anna sitting together and facing one another for what looked like a very private conversation, she turned back toward her friends and smiled...after rolling her eyes.

"Your eyes are going to stay that way, Alice, if you don't stop staring...not to mention you look like a fish with your mouth hanging open," she said as she stepped into the circle where everyone was standing.

"Ali, sugar, I told you that." Jasper laughed at his wife and reached up and pressed on her chin to close her mouth. "You're way too beautiful to stand around looking like a fish," he teased and kissed her on her now closed mouth.

"But...Bella...didn't you?" she started to question then snapped her mouth shut.

It really wasn't any of her business but she was shocked at how calm...and confident her friend appeared. She knew if she saw Jasper sitting and having what appeared to be a very intimate conversation with an ex...and an ex he'd lived with for two years no less, there was no way in hell she'd behave the same as her friend.

"Yes, I see them. What do you want me to do, march over there with my hands on my hips and demand to know what's going on? I don't think so, Alice. I trust Edward, completely, and if he has something he needs to talk with Anna about, then I'm sure he'll tell me what it is...later," Isabella answered her friend.

Alice spluttered in response to her and everyone in the group laughed at her. "Sugar, let's go get another drink," Jasper said sweetly and gave Bella a wink before turning his overly excitable wife toward the bar.

Rose shook her head at her friend. She adored Alice, but sometimes she was like an annoying puppy, always into everything. Once it seemed like there would be no major drama, not that she expected any from Bella anyway, the guys all picked their conversation back up again. She noticed Bella smile at Edward...and Anna and sighed. The world would be a much better place if more people acted like her sister-in-law, no question about it.

"So, you really don't mind Edward and Miss Skankalicious having a conversation without you?" Rose asked her.

Isabella chuckled and rolled her eyes at her blunt as ever sister-in-law. "No, Rose, I don't. Like I said, I trust Edward, so there isn't anything for me to worry about. I mean he's sitting less than a hundred feet from me in a roomful of people so I highly doubt it's anything more than healing some old wounds."

In fact, she was positive she was right, especially when she glanced back at Edward and Anna and noticed both of them looked infinitely more relieved than they had at the beginning of the night.

"I take it, judging from the fact you haven't scratched her eyes out, Edward told you about her?" Rose questioned a bit hesitantly.

Isabella nodded her head and said, "Yes, thankfully for my husband, we talked about her last night."

"You didn't know about her before?" Rose immediately asked and couldn't help the snarl that accompanied her question.

Edward really could be such a fool sometimes.

Isabella sighed and shook her head. "No, I didn't. In all defense of Edward, I've never pushed for many answers either about his past or what happened before me. That's as much my fault as it is his," she admitted.

Rose gasped and then quickly tried to cover it up hoping Isabella didn't hear, but it didn't work.

"I know, Rose. I have no doubt that knowing what she did to him and how their...relationship for lack of a better word...ended would certainly have helped me understand him better," she said quietly.

"He's always been so different with you, Bella, than he has with anyone else. I don't just mean other women either, though there haven't ever been many of those. Since I've known him, besides Anna and Sophie, there wasn't anyone but you," Rose told her. "You have to know, and judging from your reaction to seeing the two of them together, I'm sure you do, how badly he was hurt after he found Anna and Vincent together. I know that they were together only to keep William off his back and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what Anna was after, but even someone like Edward, or like he used to be, has to be hurt and angry at being treated the way he was."

Rose sighed again. There were times she felt incredibly guilty because she was extremely grateful that William had set his sights on Edward as the chosen one to run Cullen Publishing. She would have detested it if Emmett had been put under the same pressure and scrutiny as Edward had been.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Rose said quietly.

"Whatever for, Rose? It's not your fault he didn't tell me and I never asked any of you about his past, not that I ever would anyway. Whatever he wants me to know, he'll tell me. He's sharing more all the time and it's only a matter of time before he tells me everything," Isabella answered and laid her hand on Rose's arm.

"That's really great to hear, but that's not really what I'm sorry about. I just realized how grateful I am that William chose Edward over Emmett and that makes me sound like a selfish bitch...though we both know that's not that big of a stretch," she said with a grin. "Seriously though, William did a real number on Edward, everyone could see that. As much as I hate to admit this, we all just sort of sat back and let it happen. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, me, Jasper...each of us just let William do his thing. Me because I didn't want it to be Emmett; Emmett for the same reason, and Carlisle and Esme...who the hell knows. Poor Jasper was the only one that even tried to do anything about all the pressure William was putting on Edward, but even he could only do so much."

Isabella closed her eyes to try to keep the thoughts of her poor broken husband at bay. She knew she and Edward were closer than ever and she knew it was only a matter of time before he shared everything with her...or at least it better be. The time was quickly approaching, she realized, that it would become necessary to press him for answers. He owed it to her...and to the rest of the family as well. As disappointed and yes, even angry, as she was at all of them for not doing more to help Edward, it was way past time to lay the past to rest.

"So much unnecessary hurt and anger," Isabella said with a sad shake of her head.

She felt her skin tingle and knew Edward was near and sighed when she felt his lips on her neck. When she turned around and looked at him and could see no trace of anger or pain, she smiled at him. As long as he was okay, nothing else mattered.

Rose watched the two of them and felt Emmett wrap his arm around her shoulders. "We're so lucky to have her, you know? She's going to put this family back together."

"I sure hope so, babe," Emmett answered quietly.

Rose smiled knowingly at him and said, "I have no doubt; it's about damn time, too."

Hi Again~

Well, what did you all think of seeing Edward and Emma together? Pretty cute wasn't he? And Jack, too. I know I've had A LOT of questions about Isabella and Edward having a baby. I won't answer that with a yes or no, but to clear one thing up...there is no medical reason why Edward can't have a baby. The rest, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

I am so looking forward to Sunday to see what you all have to say about the next chapter. I'll remind you again, be sure you have tissues handy and keep chanting, 'Must have faith' over and over again, okay. HEA...don't forget that.

Don't forget to sign up on the discussion board if you haven't already...and I know most of you haven't! We'll be posting lots of information on there and it's a place where you can ask me any questions you might have about TGG, TPWC...or anything else. Also, be sure to check out the story rec thread and leave your favorites there. I'm always looking for new things to read, and I'm sure lots of you are, too.

Voting has begun for the Walk of Fame Awards and runs through the 31st. I've been nominated for the Rising Starlet Awards and there are a TON of great stories nominated for all kinds of things. Please go check them all out and vote at:

www(.)twinklingswfa(.)blogspot(.)com

I am still willing to give any of you that haven't gotten the other bonus scenes a copy of them. Instead of trying to get a PM...which FFn doesn't like if you include whole email addresses, let's try this. Email me at:

Hi Again~

Well, what did you all think of seeing Edward and Emma together? Pretty cute wasn't he? And Jack, too. I know I've had A LOT of questions about Isabella and Edward having a baby. I won't answer that with a yes or no, but to clear one thing up...there is no medical reason why Edward can't have a baby. The rest, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

I am so looking forward to Sunday to see what you all have to say about the next chapter. I'll remind you again, be sure you have tissues handy and keep chanting, 'Must have faith' over and over again, okay. HEA...don't forget that.

Don't forget to sign up on the discussion board if you haven't already...and I know most of you haven't! We'll be posting lots of information on there and it's a place where you can ask me any questions you might have about TGG, TPWC...or anything else. Also, be sure to check out the story rec thread and leave your favorites there. I'm always looking for new things to read, and I'm sure lots of you are, too.

Voting has begun for the Walk of Fame Awards and runs through the 31st. I've been nominated for the Rising Starlet Awards and there are a TON of great stories nominated for all kinds of things. Please go check them all out and vote at:

www(.)twinklingswfa(.)blogspot(.)com

I am still willing to give any of you that haven't gotten the other bonus scenes a copy of them. Instead of trying to get a PM...which FFn doesn't like if you include whole email addresses, let's try this. Email me at:

Hi Again~

Well, what did you all think of seeing Edward and Emma together? Pretty cute wasn't he? And Jack, too. I know I've had A LOT of questions about Isabella and Edward having a baby. I won't answer that with a yes or no, but to clear one thing up...there is no medical reason why Edward can't have a baby. The rest, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

I am so looking forward to Sunday to see what you all have to say about the next chapter. I'll remind you again, be sure you have tissues handy and keep chanting, 'Must have faith' over and over again, okay. HEA...don't forget that.

Don't forget to sign up on the discussion board if you haven't already...and I know most of you haven't! We'll be posting lots of information on there and it's a place where you can ask me any questions you might have about TGG, TPWC...or anything else. Also, be sure to check out the story rec thread and leave your favorites there. I'm always looking for new things to read, and I'm sure lots of you are, too.

Voting has begun for the Walk of Fame Awards and runs through the 31st. I've been nominated for the Rising Starlet Awards and there are a TON of great stories nominated for all kinds of things. Please go check them all out and vote at:

www(.)twinklingswfa(.)blogspot(.)com

I am still willing to give any of you that haven't gotten the other bonus scenes a copy of them. Instead of trying to get a PM...which FFn doesn't like if you include whole email addresses, let's try this. Email me at:

Hi Colleen!

Yay! We finally got the 'I Love You's!' I know that lots of you have been waiting on that to happen and I hope you all thought it was the right time. Our boy has done good, hasn't he? He's come such a long way already. Now, I know lots of you are worried about the upcoming talk with Carlisle, huh? I will tell you that Chapter 12...full of lots and lots of information and one part I've been assured will melt all of you! Chapter 13...it's gonna be a little rough, just warning you now. But then 14...my favorite...favorite one so far! So excited to get these next chapters to you guys. We're moving right along...but always keep in mind my promise...I am a HEA girl through and through. You've all shown so much faith in me, just keep hanging in there, okay?

Hi again!

Yay! We finally got the 'I Love You's!' I know that lots of you have been waiting on that to happen and I hope you all thought it was the right time. Our boy has done good, hasn't he? He's come such a long way already. Now, I know lots of you are worried about the upcoming talk with Carlisle, huh? I will tell you that Chapter 12...full of lots and lots of information and one part I've been assured will melt all of you! Chapter 13...it's gonna be a little rough, just warning you now. But then 14...my favorite...favorite one so far! So excited to get these next chapters to you guys. We're moving right along...but always keep in mind my promise...I am a HEA girl through and through. You've all shown so much faith in me, just keep hanging in there, okay?

Hi again!

Yay! We finally got the 'I Love You's!' I know that lots of you have been waiting on that to happen and I hope you all thought it was the right time. Our boy has done good, hasn't he? He's come such a long way already. Now, I know lots of you are worried about the upcoming talk with Carlisle, huh? I will tell you that Chapter 12...full of lots and lots of information and one part I've been assured will melt all of you! Chapter 13...it's gonna be a little rough, just warning you now. But then 14...my favorite...favorite one so far! So excited to get these next chapters to you guys. We're moving right along...but always keep in mind my promise...I am a HEA girl through and through. You've all shown so much faith in me, just keep hanging in there, okay?

Hi again...

So, here we are after another chapter. You have to admit our Edward is making progress! We're going to finish the dinner in Chp 11 and then, I am positive, is a moment we've all been waiting for. I absolutely CAN'T wait to get your reactions to what's coming in the next few chapters! It almost makes me want to post them right away!

Okay, an answer to a question quite a few of you have asked me. When Seth appears to Edward, no one can tell Edward is talking to Seth. Think of it this way, kind of like a movie that stops. When Edward and Seth talk, no matter for how long, time stops and then begins again when Seth leaves. No one knows any different and no one can tell any time has passed. I know it might be pushing the boundaries, but just go with me, okay? I mean we have an angel that curses and doesn't have wings...it's fiction!

Don't forget to sign up on the discussion board if you haven't already...and I know most of you haven't! We'll be posting lots of information on there and it's a place where you can ask me any questions you might have about TGG, TPWC...or anything else. Also, be sure to check out the story rec thread and leave your favorites there. I'm always looking for new things to read, and I'm sure lots of you are, too.

www(.)les16(.)proboards(.)com

Also, don't forget to check out the Author Spotlight interview I just did. I know you guys will LOVE one of my answers! So embarassing but true!

www(.)sparklingwand(.)com

Okay, with that out of the way....here is our first peek at the Swan's...and the angel's too!

Enjoy!

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

 
Seth Bonus Scene #5~

"He's pushing for answers, isn't he?" Gideon questioned as he approached Seth.

Seth gave a mighty sigh, one that rumbled through the air and said, "Yes. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Gideon could not help but chuckle at his young friend's obvious discomfort at addressing those unpleasant topics.

An angel's work was often difficult, especially in circumstances like these where their presence was known while the human was still alive. Gideon was positive that Edward hadn't quite realized just how incredibly lucky he was to be granted the time he had been in order to make things right with Isabella and the rest of his loved ones and friends.

It was an opportunity very few were ever given.

Seth flitted around, huffing as he went. Edward Cullen was the most maddening human...more so than he ever was himself, he thought with a scowl. He had to be because Seth was sure he'd never been as worked up over another assignment as he was over this one.

"Damn human," Seth muttered though with his kinds extraordinary hearing it came as no shock when Gideon cleared his throat at him.

Seth turned and looked at his mentor and gave a sheepish smile. Gideon's ice blue eyes twinkled in response and then he said, "My friend, you must be patient with him. So far, Edward has done better than any of us could have anticipated. None of this has been easy for him and honestly, Seth, you have done wonders with him already. It's time for him to find out, as unpleasant as it's liable to be."

He knew it was, as unwelcome as the realization was. Edward was about to have face some startling revelations and Seth wasn't sure anything could prepare either one of them for what happened when the time came.

"I only hope I can make him understand," Seth said in an anguished voice.

Gideon smiled encouragingly at his prodigy. "I have no doubt you can and will, Seth. Now how about we check in on the magnificent Gianna and Charlie and Reneé?"

"Neé!" Charlie Swan hollered as he barreled through the kitchen door of their comfortably middle-class home in Wheaton.

"Honey, I'm right here. Stop that yelling," Reneé Swan admonished her husband, though it was done with a loving smile, as she entered the kitchen to greet her adored husband.

Charlie shrugged off his gun holster and set it on the table and then swept his wife up in his arms, kissing her soundly on the lips, complete with a loud smack. "How's my girl today?" he asked as he swatted her playfully on the bottom when she walked to check the food in the oven.

"Which one, dear? You have three, though we all know who your favorite is," Reneé teased him.

Charlie chuckled heartily at that, especially since he couldn't disagree. He took the beer his wife offered him and took a long, delicious drink. "Well, I meant you, fiore," he answered her, smiling so big the corners of his eyes crinkled.

"Charles Swan, I swear," Reneé giggled.

Lord, she loved her husband. More today than she did when she married him all those years ago, she was lucky to say.

Gianna Santoro walked into the kitchen, loving seeing her daughter and son-in-law so happy. It made her miss her Angelo, but she'd missed him every day since he'd passed away.

"Ah, and there's my other girl," Charlie said as he made a move toward his mother-in-law.

Charlie didn't differentiate between mother and mother-in-law because he loved Gianna as much as he'd ever loved his own mother. More in fact as the years had gone by. Gianna Santoro was unlike any woman he'd ever met. Feisty, strong, stubborn as hell, but with a heart of gold so pure the only one who could hold a candle to her was his Isabella.

Then again his baby girl was leaps and bounds above anyone else as far as he was concerned.

"Mama," Charlie said as he kissed her on the cheek, like he did every day.

"You had a good day?" she questioned in the thick Italian accent she still had even after being in America all this time.

"Yes, ma'am. I only had to arrest three bad guys today; I didn't even get to shoot any of them," Charlie said with a wink.

They'd played this game for as long as he could remember. Gianna loved to hear about his day, but worried for him until he came home.

Reneé pulled the roasted chicken and potatoes and vegetables from the oven and transferred the food to the large platter waiting on the counter. Charlie grabbed the bowl of salad and Gianna, the basket of bread and they all took their seats at the table.

As they did every night, Charlie said grace, and as he also did, he asked for God's blessings for Isabella and Edward. When Charlie finished, Reneé served everyone their food and they began to eat.

"So...how's my baby girl?" Charlie asked after he wiped his mouth on his napkin.

Reneé didn't answer right away, instead she took a few moments to think quickly back over her lunch with her daughter. There was something different about her, though she couldn't articulate what it was. Isabella's entire demeanor was different. She was relaxed, though she checked her phone almost obsessively throughout their lunch...something she never did. Her smile was as beautiful as ever, but there was more behind it. When she asked about Edward and his trip out of town, Reneé was sure she'd never seen her smile so bright or her eyes dance with excitement the way they did as she talked about him.

Not even after playing a soccer match had she ever seen Isabella exude such happiness.

She looked at her husband and smiled at him, loving the way he was so invested in their daughter's life. There wasn't a day that passed that Charlie didn't mention Isabella with pride...or a brilliant smile to go along with it.

"She's just fine, honey. I mentioned having her and Edward over for dinner for her birthday in the next week or so. She seemed more excited than usual...even though she'll be turning thirty. I have a feeling Edward has something to do with that, though," she said as she looked from Charlie to her mother.

Charlie let out a groan at the thought of his baby girl turning thirty. Not that he or Reneé were old, not in the least. Hell, he had just turned fifty-five and Reneé wouldn't be fifty-three until November. Though if you asked him, his wife could easily pass for someone at least ten years younger...as evidenced by the way his deputies acted whenever she stopped by the station.

He ate it up, honestly. He loved his wife, madly, and had no problem whatsoever when she was appreciated by others...as long as it was done respectfully of course.

Now, ogling of his beloved daughter was another matter altogether.

"Well, he'd better damn well keep a smile on her face or else he'll have to deal with me," Charlie said with a hmph.

"Charles Swan!" Gianna chided him, though she knew her son-in-law was blowing smoke...well, for the most part.

"Yes, I know, Mama. Isabella loves him," he said with a sigh.

"And you can be assured he loves her back. That man was lost until our girl found him, and don't you forget it," Gianna said sharply and then flashed him a quick wink to ease the sting of her words.

Gianna had always known how much Edward had needed her granddaughter. Knew it from the very beginning.

"Don't you worry, honey. Judging from the smile on her face today, I'd say Edward has done something right," Reneé said and then stood to help her mother clear the dishes.

"Well, if they're as happy as we are, fiore," Charlie said as he grabbed his wife and pulled her on his lap, "then I couldn't ask for more."

The two heavenly beings smiled at one another. It always brought both of them great joy to watch the Swans together. Love like theirs didn't come along everyday.

"Seth, my young friend. That should give you hope, if nothing else does. Isabella has learned from the best how to give and to love and be happy. Things will work out, you'll see," Gideon said before they parted ways.

"I sure hope so," Seth muttered quietly before preparing to return to his two humans.

Things were going to be changing...and soon.

*fiore-means flower in Italian

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

I love me some Charlie! I hope you liked that. Her birthday dinner is coming in chp 14 so not much longer until we get more of the Swan's. Now, a bit more business. I am still willing to give any of you that haven't gotten the other bonus scenes a copy of them. Instead of trying to get a PM...which FFn doesn't like if you include whole email addresses, let's try this. Email me at:

les_sh_16(@)yahoo(.)com

and then I will reply to the emails. If you've sent me a PM and haven't gotten a reply back, it's because you've disabled your PM's and I don't have a way to get in touch with you.

Okay, I hope you liked the bonus scene. Let me know what you think, I'd love to know! Oh, there is an announcement on the TGG blog I haven't been able to tell you all yet, if you want to know what it is, take a look. I think you'll all be happy about it!

See you Sunday...Thanks as always for the amazing love and support you continue to give me. I'm blown away every week by it all!

Hugs and Love,
Erin~ (les16)

Follow me on Twitter- les_sh_16

Hi again...

So, here we are after another chapter. You have to admit our Edward is making progress! We're going to finish the dinner in Chp 11 and then, I am positive, is a moment we've all been waiting for. I absolutely CAN'T wait to get your reactions to what's coming in the next few chapters! It almost makes me want to post them right away!

Okay, an answer to a question quite a few of you have asked me. When Seth appears to Edward, no one can tell Edward is talking to Seth. Think of it this way, kind of like a movie that stops. When Edward and Seth talk, no matter for how long, time stops and then begins again when Seth leaves. No one knows any different and no one can tell any time has passed. I know it might be pushing the boundaries, but just go with me, okay? I mean we have an angel that curses and doesn't have wings...it's fiction!

Don't forget to sign up on the discussion board if you haven't already...and I know most of you haven't! We'll be posting lots of information on there and it's a place where you can ask me any questions you might have about TGG, TPWC...or anything else. Also, be sure to check out the story rec thread and leave your favorites there. I'm always looking for new things to read, and I'm sure lots of you are, too.

www(.)les16(.)proboards(.)com

Also, don't forget to check out the Author Spotlight interview I just did. I know you guys will LOVE one of my answers! So embarassing but true!

www(.)sparklingwand(.)com

Okay, with that out of the way....here is our first peek at the Swan's...and the angel's too!

Enjoy!

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

 
Seth Bonus Scene #5~

"He's pushing for answers, isn't he?" Gideon questioned as he approached Seth.

Seth gave a mighty sigh, one that rumbled through the air and said, "Yes. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Gideon could not help but chuckle at his young friend's obvious discomfort at addressing those unpleasant topics.

An angel's work was often difficult, especially in circumstances like these where their presence was known while the human was still alive. Gideon was positive that Edward hadn't quite realized just how incredibly lucky he was to be granted the time he had been in order to make things right with Isabella and the rest of his loved ones and friends.

It was an opportunity very few were ever given.

Seth flitted around, huffing as he went. Edward Cullen was the most maddening human...more so than he ever was himself, he thought with a scowl. He had to be because Seth was sure he'd never been as worked up over another assignment as he was over this one.

"Damn human," Seth muttered though with his kinds extraordinary hearing it came as no shock when Gideon cleared his throat at him.

Seth turned and looked at his mentor and gave a sheepish smile. Gideon's ice blue eyes twinkled in response and then he said, "My friend, you must be patient with him. So far, Edward has done better than any of us could have anticipated. None of this has been easy for him and honestly, Seth, you have done wonders with him already. It's time for him to find out, as unpleasant as it's liable to be."

He knew it was, as unwelcome as the realization was. Edward was about to have face some startling revelations and Seth wasn't sure anything could prepare either one of them for what happened when the time came.

"I only hope I can make him understand," Seth said in an anguished voice.

Gideon smiled encouragingly at his prodigy. "I have no doubt you can and will, Seth. Now how about we check in on the magnificent Gianna and Charlie and Reneé?"

"Neé!" Charlie Swan hollered as he barreled through the kitchen door of their comfortably middle-class home in Wheaton.

"Honey, I'm right here. Stop that yelling," Reneé Swan admonished her husband, though it was done with a loving smile, as she entered the kitchen to greet her adored husband.

Charlie shrugged off his gun holster and set it on the table and then swept his wife up in his arms, kissing her soundly on the lips, complete with a loud smack. "How's my girl today?" he asked as he swatted her playfully on the bottom when she walked to check the food in the oven.

"Which one, dear? You have three, though we all know who your favorite is," Reneé teased him.

Charlie chuckled heartily at that, especially since he couldn't disagree. He took the beer his wife offered him and took a long, delicious drink. "Well, I meant you, fiore," he answered her, smiling so big the corners of his eyes crinkled.

"Charles Swan, I swear," Reneé giggled.

Lord, she loved her husband. More today than she did when she married him all those years ago, she was lucky to say.

Gianna Santoro walked into the kitchen, loving seeing her daughter and son-in-law so happy. It made her miss her Angelo, but she'd missed him every day since he'd passed away.

"Ah, and there's my other girl," Charlie said as he made a move toward his mother-in-law.

Charlie didn't differentiate between mother and mother-in-law because he loved Gianna as much as he'd ever loved his own mother. More in fact as the years had gone by. Gianna Santoro was unlike any woman he'd ever met. Feisty, strong, stubborn as hell, but with a heart of gold so pure the only one who could hold a candle to her was his Isabella.

Then again his baby girl was leaps and bounds above anyone else as far as he was concerned.

"Mama," Charlie said as he kissed her on the cheek, like he did every day.

"You had a good day?" she questioned in the thick Italian accent she still had even after being in America all this time.

"Yes, ma'am. I only had to arrest three bad guys today; I didn't even get to shoot any of them," Charlie said with a wink.

They'd played this game for as long as he could remember. Gianna loved to hear about his day, but worried for him until he came home.

Reneé pulled the roasted chicken and potatoes and vegetables from the oven and transferred the food to the large platter waiting on the counter. Charlie grabbed the bowl of salad and Gianna, the basket of bread and they all took their seats at the table.

As they did every night, Charlie said grace, and as he also did, he asked for God's blessings for Isabella and Edward. When Charlie finished, Reneé served everyone their food and they began to eat.

"So...how's my baby girl?" Charlie asked after he wiped his mouth on his napkin.

Reneé didn't answer right away, instead she took a few moments to think quickly back over her lunch with her daughter. There was something different about her, though she couldn't articulate what it was. Isabella's entire demeanor was different. She was relaxed, though she checked her phone almost obsessively throughout their lunch...something she never did. Her smile was as beautiful as ever, but there was more behind it. When she asked about Edward and his trip out of town, Reneé was sure she'd never seen her smile so bright or her eyes dance with excitement the way they did as she talked about him.

Not even after playing a soccer match had she ever seen Isabella exude such happiness.

She looked at her husband and smiled at him, loving the way he was so invested in their daughter's life. There wasn't a day that passed that Charlie didn't mention Isabella with pride...or a brilliant smile to go along with it.

"She's just fine, honey. I mentioned having her and Edward over for dinner for her birthday in the next week or so. She seemed more excited than usual...even though she'll be turning thirty. I have a feeling Edward has something to do with that, though," she said as she looked from Charlie to her mother.

Charlie let out a groan at the thought of his baby girl turning thirty. Not that he or Reneé were old, not in the least. Hell, he had just turned fifty-five and Reneé wouldn't be fifty-three until November. Though if you asked him, his wife could easily pass for someone at least ten years younger...as evidenced by the way his deputies acted whenever she stopped by the station.

He ate it up, honestly. He loved his wife, madly, and had no problem whatsoever when she was appreciated by others...as long as it was done respectfully of course.

Now, ogling of his beloved daughter was another matter altogether.

"Well, he'd better damn well keep a smile on her face or else he'll have to deal with me," Charlie said with a hmph.

"Charles Swan!" Gianna chided him, though she knew her son-in-law was blowing smoke...well, for the most part.

"Yes, I know, Mama. Isabella loves him," he said with a sigh.

"And you can be assured he loves her back. That man was lost until our girl found him, and don't you forget it," Gianna said sharply and then flashed him a quick wink to ease the sting of her words.

Gianna had always known how much Edward had needed her granddaughter. Knew it from the very beginning.

"Don't you worry, honey. Judging from the smile on her face today, I'd say Edward has done something right," Reneé said and then stood to help her mother clear the dishes.

"Well, if they're as happy as we are, fiore," Charlie said as he grabbed his wife and pulled her on his lap, "then I couldn't ask for more."

The two heavenly beings smiled at one another. It always brought both of them great joy to watch the Swans together. Love like theirs didn't come along everyday.

"Seth, my young friend. That should give you hope, if nothing else does. Isabella has learned from the best how to give and to love and be happy. Things will work out, you'll see," Gideon said before they parted ways.

"I sure hope so," Seth muttered quietly before preparing to return to his two humans.

Things were going to be changing...and soon.

*fiore-means flower in Italian

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

I love me some Charlie! I hope you liked that. Her birthday dinner is coming in chp 14 so not much longer until we get more of the Swan's. Now, a bit more business. I am still willing to give any of you that haven't gotten the other bonus scenes a copy of them. Instead of trying to get a PM...which FFn doesn't like if you include whole email addresses, let's try this. Email me at:

les_sh_16(@)yahoo(.)com

and then I will reply to the emails. If you've sent me a PM and haven't gotten a reply back, it's because you've disabled your PM's and I don't have a way to get in touch with you.

Okay, I hope you liked the bonus scene. Let me know what you think, I'd love to know! Oh, there is an announcement on the TGG blog I haven't been able to tell you all yet, if you want to know what it is, take a look. I think you'll all be happy about it!

See you Sunday...Thanks as always for the amazing love and support you continue to give me. I'm blown away every week by it all!

Hugs and Love,
Erin~ (les16)

Follow me on Twitter- les_sh_16

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Seth Bonus Scene #4~

"That human, I swear," Seth grumbled as he returned back to his kind.

"Problems, my friend?" Gideon questioned as he glided next to him. Gideon was quite pleased with the events of the day. Young Edward did exceptionally well for his first foray at Cullen Publishing as the new and improved Edward Anthony Cullen. He had also been happy to see that Jasper, Emmett and the others seemed to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...for the time being anyway.

He still had such a long way to go and so much to do.

Seth said, "Hmph. No, not problems per se. I suppose he did well today, but there is still so much for him to come to terms with. He's been so convinced he wasn't worth loving that finding out there are a whole slew of people just waiting for a chance to show him is going to be a lot for him to handle."

"Isn't that the truth? Just look at what happened with Jasper today, not to mention how excited Emmett was about the invitation to have dinner with Edward and Isabella," Gideon replied.

Seth let out a loud, booming laugh when he thought about the effervescent Emmett Cullen. He had to be one of the most happy-go-lucky humans he'd ever come across. That was not to say that Emmett wasn't serious when he needed to be, as evidenced by the meeting today. Beneath his happy, jovial demeanor lay a sharp mind. Emmett Cullen was loving, kind, and gentle, but Lord help anyone that hurt his family. Family was the most important thing to him and when they hurt, he hurt.

He'd hurt a lot when it came to his brother over the years.

Seth turned his ice blue, troubled eyes toward Gideon as his many thoughts raced through his mind. Sure Edward had a good day today, but what happened when he stumbled, as he was sure to do? His instinct to hide and protect himself was strong...deep, and it would only take the merest hint of trouble to send him into a tailspin. Isabella was his rock, his anchor, and it would take everything she had to reach him if his walls went back up again.

"Seth, what is it?" Gideon questioned softly...well, as soft as his kind was able to.

Seth floated to and fro for a bit, trying to come up with the right words to express what he was feeling. He was really angry today for some reason, and he didn't understand it...not at all. He'd been an angel for a long time now, he'd seen and done many things, helped numerous people, but for some reason, Edward Cullen and the rest of his family had touched him in a way he hadn't expected. They'd been watching for a long time, even before the events that took place when he was fourteen. It went against his nature to sit and watch, day after day, as Edward's spirit broke, as the light dimmed in his eyes until it was distinguished completely.

They had all hoped that Esme and Carlisle, along with Emmett, would be able to bring the light back, but they hadn't. Instead Edward retreated farther and farther until he was practically unreachable. It wasn't until Isabella entered his life that any of them had had any hope of bringing Edward back.

"He has so much to give, so much love. I just don't understand why he had to suffer the way he did, why we waited so long. We could have spared him so much pain," Seth said sorrowfully.

Gideon sighed mightily, for this was the one aspect of being an angel that Seth had the most trouble accepting. Being an angel was wonderful, but it had its difficult moments as well. Watching humans hurt each other was just one of them.

"My friend, you know the answer to that. Our job is to guide, it's not to interfere. Humans have free will, which means that yes, there are times they have the free will to hurt others, either intentionally or unintentionally. I know this is hard for you Seth, I know how much you have come to care about Edward and Isabella, and the rest of their family as well," Gideon responded, ever patient as always.

"He could be so happy if he'd just let himself," Seth said with a heavy heart.

"Well, maybe the dinner with Emmett and Rose will open the first of many doors for him," Gideon said hopefully and then the two beings looked in on the aforementioned couple.

"Babe!" Emmett called as he bounded through the front door. He couldn't wait to tell Rose about the invitation to dinner at Edward and Isabella's on Thursday night.

Rose smiled when she heard her husband's voice and bent down to pick their daughter, Emma, up from the floor and carried her to meet him.

"Daddy's home," she said and laughed when the little girl clapped and smiled. She sure loved her daddy.

"Ah, there are my two favorite girls," Emmett said happily and kissed them both. He plucked his daughter from his wife's arms and swung her up on his shoulders, just like he did everyday when he got home from work. "Jack is in his room I suppose?" Emmett asked, checking on his son.

Rose rolled her bright blue eyes but smiled and shook her head when she said, "Down in the game room. Something about challenging Noah to the baseball game of the century or something like that on the XBOX."

"Cool, I'll have to go see if he needs help," Emmett said as his eyes danced in excitement. He loved playing XBOX Live, especially with Jack.

He ran around the room for a few minutes, delighting in Emma's happy squeals before he lifted her from his shoulders and set her on the ground. "You're never going to believe what happened today, babe."

"Edward decided to take the stick out of his ass?" she quipped.

"Rose," Emmett huffed, even though he had to admit his uptight brother probably deserved the comment. "No, but, well, maybe you're right," Emmett continued as he thought about Edward's actions at the office.

"Em, just tell me what happened," Rose said as she walked toward the kitchen to finish making dinner.

"Edward invited the four of us to their house for dinner on Thursday...and I, um, well, I told him we'd be happy to go," Emmett answered his wife, bracing for the wrath he'd been expecting all day.

Instead of that he got a sad sigh. "Are you sure you want to do that, Emmett?" Rose questioned softly.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she didn't want to see Emmett get his hopes up...again, only to have Edward crush them...again. It was a never ending cycle it seemed like, and she couldn't watch her husband reach out only to have Edward slam the metaphorical door in his face.

"Rose, you should have seen him today. He smiled, he joked around with me, he seemed...happy. I don't know what's going on, but something's changed," Emmett trailed off.

"I don't know, Em," Rose said slowly. She wanted to believe her brother-in-law was being honest and sincere, but she'd seen him act cold and distant too many times to take anything at face value when it came to Edward.

"I miss him, Rosie. I love him and I want my brother back. If he's going to reach out and try, I'm going to do whatever I can. I want my brother back," he said again.

Rose knew she couldn't tell him no, not that she really wanted to anyway. Her husband was one of the happiest people she'd ever met, in everything except when it came to Edward and the rest of his family. He was heartbroken over the distance between them all and he would do anything he could to fix it. If he was willing to give Edward another chance, she had to as well. Emmett deserved her support and she hoped against hope that Edward was really going to make an effort this time.

"I know you do, Em. Fine, let's have dinner with the Iceman and Isabella, but I'm warning you right now, Emmett, if he pulls that asshole shit again, I'm going to go off on his ass," she promised him.

"That's my girl. Now, I'm going to go help Jack kick some ass. We'll be up for dinner in a bit. Love you, Babe," he said and ran down to the game room.

"Edward, you'd better not blow it," Rose said quietly before she turned back to her dinner preparations.

"See, Seth," Gideon said with a smile. Rosalie Hale Cullen was tough as nails, but beneath that hard outer exterior was a soft, loving heart. "Even Rosalie wants to give him another chance. He'll get there, my friend. He has to."

Gideon floated away, leaving Seth to ponder his words.

Edward had no idea how much was riding on his shoulders. Seth only hoped he was able to help him carry it all.

So much to do...so little time.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Soooo...what did you think? I know lots of you have been dying to see the others so there is your first peek at Em and Rose. The start of the dinner is coming up in the next chapter as well as a few other very important tid bits of information. We're getting there, I promise. Charlie, Renee, and Nonna will be the next Bonus Scene and I'm dying to get that one to you all.

If you've reviewed and haven't gotten any of the previous bonus scenes, send me an email, a PM, or a DM on Twitter and I'll send them. And...because it's that time of year...if you've only reviewed Chapter 9 and didn't review 6, 7, or 8 and want the Bonus Scenes, let me know, and you can have them! I'm feeling generous! Again, I hope you all are enjoying these extra peeks into the others, I'm really enjoying writing them.

If you haven't done it yet, be sure to check out Dr. Cullen's Love Shack and look at the write-up Andi did for The Greatest Gift. The site is really great so take a few minutes and go look! Thanks again, Andi, what an awesome surprise!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter...les_sh_16

Have a safe and Happy New Year and I'll see you all on Sunday!

Hugs and Love,

Erin~ (les16)

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Seth Bonus Scene #4~

"That human, I swear," Seth grumbled as he returned back to his kind.

"Problems, my friend?" Gideon questioned as he glided next to him. Gideon was quite pleased with the events of the day. Young Edward did exceptionally well for his first foray at Cullen Publishing as the new and improved Edward Anthony Cullen. He had also been happy to see that Jasper, Emmett and the others seemed to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...for the time being anyway.

He still had such a long way to go and so much to do.

Seth said, "Hmph. No, not problems per se. I suppose he did well today, but there is still so much for him to come to terms with. He's been so convinced he wasn't worth loving that finding out there are a whole slew of people just waiting for a chance to show him is going to be a lot for him to handle."

"Isn't that the truth? Just look at what happened with Jasper today, not to mention how excited Emmett was about the invitation to have dinner with Edward and Isabella," Gideon replied.

Seth let out a loud, booming laugh when he thought about the effervescent Emmett Cullen. He had to be one of the most happy-go-lucky humans he'd ever come across. That was not to say that Emmett wasn't serious when he needed to be, as evidenced by the meeting today. Beneath his happy, jovial demeanor lay a sharp mind. Emmett Cullen was loving, kind, and gentle, but Lord help anyone that hurt his family. Family was the most important thing to him and when they hurt, he hurt.

He'd hurt a lot when it came to his brother over the years.

Seth turned his ice blue, troubled eyes toward Gideon as his many thoughts raced through his mind. Sure Edward had a good day today, but what happened when he stumbled, as he was sure to do? His instinct to hide and protect himself was strong...deep, and it would only take the merest hint of trouble to send him into a tailspin. Isabella was his rock, his anchor, and it would take everything she had to reach him if his walls went back up again.

"Seth, what is it?" Gideon questioned softly...well, as soft as his kind was able to.

Seth floated to and fro for a bit, trying to come up with the right words to express what he was feeling. He was really angry today for some reason, and he didn't understand it...not at all. He'd been an angel for a long time now, he'd seen and done many things, helped numerous people, but for some reason, Edward Cullen and the rest of his family had touched him in a way he hadn't expected. They'd been watching for a long time, even before the events that took place when he was fourteen. It went against his nature to sit and watch, day after day, as Edward's spirit broke, as the light dimmed in his eyes until it was distinguished completely.

They had all hoped that Esme and Carlisle, along with Emmett, would be able to bring the light back, but they hadn't. Instead Edward retreated farther and farther until he was practically unreachable. It wasn't until Isabella entered his life that any of them had had any hope of bringing Edward back.

"He has so much to give, so much love. I just don't understand why he had to suffer the way he did, why we waited so long. We could have spared him so much pain," Seth said sorrowfully.

Gideon sighed mightily, for this was the one aspect of being an angel that Seth had the most trouble accepting. Being an angel was wonderful, but it had its difficult moments as well. Watching humans hurt each other was just one of them.

"My friend, you know the answer to that. Our job is to guide, it's not to interfere. Humans have free will, which means that yes, there are times they have the free will to hurt others, either intentionally or unintentionally. I know this is hard for you Seth, I know how much you have come to care about Edward and Isabella, and the rest of their family as well," Gideon responded, ever patient as always.

"He could be so happy if he'd just let himself," Seth said with a heavy heart.

"Well, maybe the dinner with Emmett and Rose will open the first of many doors for him," Gideon said hopefully and then the two beings looked in on the aforementioned couple.

"Babe!" Emmett called as he bounded through the front door. He couldn't wait to tell Rose about the invitation to dinner at Edward and Isabella's on Thursday night.

Rose smiled when she heard her husband's voice and bent down to pick their daughter, Emma, up from the floor and carried her to meet him.

"Daddy's home," she said and laughed when the little girl clapped and smiled. She sure loved her daddy.

"Ah, there are my two favorite girls," Emmett said happily and kissed them both. He plucked his daughter from his wife's arms and swung her up on his shoulders, just like he did everyday when he got home from work. "Jack is in his room I suppose?" Emmett asked, checking on his son.

Rose rolled her bright blue eyes but smiled and shook her head when she said, "Down in the game room. Something about challenging Noah to the baseball game of the century or something like that on the XBOX."

"Cool, I'll have to go see if he needs help," Emmett said as his eyes danced in excitement. He loved playing XBOX Live, especially with Jack.

He ran around the room for a few minutes, delighting in Emma's happy squeals before he lifted her from his shoulders and set her on the ground. "You're never going to believe what happened today, babe."

"Edward decided to take the stick out of his ass?" she quipped.

"Rose," Emmett huffed, even though he had to admit his uptight brother probably deserved the comment. "No, but, well, maybe you're right," Emmett continued as he thought about Edward's actions at the office.

"Em, just tell me what happened," Rose said as she walked toward the kitchen to finish making dinner.

"Edward invited the four of us to their house for dinner on Thursday...and I, um, well, I told him we'd be happy to go," Emmett answered his wife, bracing for the wrath he'd been expecting all day.

Instead of that he got a sad sigh. "Are you sure you want to do that, Emmett?" Rose questioned softly.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she didn't want to see Emmett get his hopes up...again, only to have Edward crush them...again. It was a never ending cycle it seemed like, and she couldn't watch her husband reach out only to have Edward slam the metaphorical door in his face.

"Rose, you should have seen him today. He smiled, he joked around with me, he seemed...happy. I don't know what's going on, but something's changed," Emmett trailed off.

"I don't know, Em," Rose said slowly. She wanted to believe her brother-in-law was being honest and sincere, but she'd seen him act cold and distant too many times to take anything at face value when it came to Edward.

"I miss him, Rosie. I love him and I want my brother back. If he's going to reach out and try, I'm going to do whatever I can. I want my brother back," he said again.

Rose knew she couldn't tell him no, not that she really wanted to anyway. Her husband was one of the happiest people she'd ever met, in everything except when it came to Edward and the rest of his family. He was heartbroken over the distance between them all and he would do anything he could to fix it. If he was willing to give Edward another chance, she had to as well. Emmett deserved her support and she hoped against hope that Edward was really going to make an effort this time.

"I know you do, Em. Fine, let's have dinner with the Iceman and Isabella, but I'm warning you right now, Emmett, if he pulls that asshole shit again, I'm going to go off on his ass," she promised him.

"That's my girl. Now, I'm going to go help Jack kick some ass. We'll be up for dinner in a bit. Love you, Babe," he said and ran down to the game room.

"Edward, you'd better not blow it," Rose said quietly before she turned back to her dinner preparations.

"See, Seth," Gideon said with a smile. Rosalie Hale Cullen was tough as nails, but beneath that hard outer exterior was a soft, loving heart. "Even Rosalie wants to give him another chance. He'll get there, my friend. He has to."

Gideon floated away, leaving Seth to ponder his words.

Edward had no idea how much was riding on his shoulders. Seth only hoped he was able to help him carry it all.

So much to do...so little time.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Soooo...what did you think? I know lots of you have been dying to see the others so there is your first peek at Em and Rose. The start of the dinner is coming up in the next chapter as well as a few other very important tid bits of information. We're getting there, I promise. Charlie, Renee, and Nonna will be the next Bonus Scene and I'm dying to get that one to you all.

If you've reviewed and haven't gotten any of the previous bonus scenes, send me an email, a PM, or a DM on Twitter and I'll send them. And...because it's that time of year...if you've only reviewed Chapter 9 and didn't review 6, 7, or 8 and want the Bonus Scenes, let me know, and you can have them! I'm feeling generous! Again, I hope you all are enjoying these extra peeks into the others, I'm really enjoying writing them.

If you haven't done it yet, be sure to check out Dr. Cullen's Love Shack and look at the write-up Andi did for The Greatest Gift. The site is really great so take a few minutes and go look! Thanks again, Andi, what an awesome surprise!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter...les_sh_16

Have a safe and Happy New Year and I'll see you all on Sunday!

Hugs and Love,

Erin~ (les16)

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Seth Bonus Scene #4~

"That human, I swear," Seth grumbled as he returned back to his kind.

"Problems, my friend?" Gideon questioned as he glided next to him. Gideon was quite pleased with the events of the day. Young Edward did exceptionally well for his first foray at Cullen Publishing as the new and improved Edward Anthony Cullen. He had also been happy to see that Jasper, Emmett and the others seemed to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...for the time being anyway.

He still had such a long way to go and so much to do.

Seth said, "Hmph. No, not problems per se. I suppose he did well today, but there is still so much for him to come to terms with. He's been so convinced he wasn't worth loving that finding out there are a whole slew of people just waiting for a chance to show him is going to be a lot for him to handle."

"Isn't that the truth? Just look at what happened with Jasper today, not to mention how excited Emmett was about the invitation to have dinner with Edward and Isabella," Gideon replied.

Seth let out a loud, booming laugh when he thought about the effervescent Emmett Cullen. He had to be one of the most happy-go-lucky humans he'd ever come across. That was not to say that Emmett wasn't serious when he needed to be, as evidenced by the meeting today. Beneath his happy, jovial demeanor lay a sharp mind. Emmett Cullen was loving, kind, and gentle, but Lord help anyone that hurt his family. Family was the most important thing to him and when they hurt, he hurt.

He'd hurt a lot when it came to his brother over the years.

Seth turned his ice blue, troubled eyes toward Gideon as his many thoughts raced through his mind. Sure Edward had a good day today, but what happened when he stumbled, as he was sure to do? His instinct to hide and protect himself was strong...deep, and it would only take the merest hint of trouble to send him into a tailspin. Isabella was his rock, his anchor, and it would take everything she had to reach him if his walls went back up again.

"Seth, what is it?" Gideon questioned softly...well, as soft as his kind was able to.

Seth floated to and fro for a bit, trying to come up with the right words to express what he was feeling. He was really angry today for some reason, and he didn't understand it...not at all. He'd been an angel for a long time now, he'd seen and done many things, helped numerous people, but for some reason, Edward Cullen and the rest of his family had touched him in a way he hadn't expected. They'd been watching for a long time, even before the events that took place when he was fourteen. It went against his nature to sit and watch, day after day, as Edward's spirit broke, as the light dimmed in his eyes until it was distinguished completely.

They had all hoped that Esme and Carlisle, along with Emmett, would be able to bring the light back, but they hadn't. Instead Edward retreated farther and farther until he was practically unreachable. It wasn't until Isabella entered his life that any of them had had any hope of bringing Edward back.

"He has so much to give, so much love. I just don't understand why he had to suffer the way he did, why we waited so long. We could have spared him so much pain," Seth said sorrowfully.

Gideon sighed mightily, for this was the one aspect of being an angel that Seth had the most trouble accepting. Being an angel was wonderful, but it had its difficult moments as well. Watching humans hurt each other was just one of them.

"My friend, you know the answer to that. Our job is to guide, it's not to interfere. Humans have free will, which means that yes, there are times they have the free will to hurt others, either intentionally or unintentionally. I know this is hard for you Seth, I know how much you have come to care about Edward and Isabella, and the rest of their family as well," Gideon responded, ever patient as always.

"He could be so happy if he'd just let himself," Seth said with a heavy heart.

"Well, maybe the dinner with Emmett and Rose will open the first of many doors for him," Gideon said hopefully and then the two beings looked in on the aforementioned couple.

"Babe!" Emmett called as he bounded through the front door. He couldn't wait to tell Rose about the invitation to dinner at Edward and Isabella's on Thursday night.

Rose smiled when she heard her husband's voice and bent down to pick their daughter, Emma, up from the floor and carried her to meet him.

"Daddy's home," she said and laughed when the little girl clapped and smiled. She sure loved her daddy.

"Ah, there are my two favorite girls," Emmett said happily and kissed them both. He plucked his daughter from his wife's arms and swung her up on his shoulders, just like he did everyday when he got home from work. "Jack is in his room I suppose?" Emmett asked, checking on his son.

Rose rolled her bright blue eyes but smiled and shook her head when she said, "Down in the game room. Something about challenging Noah to the baseball game of the century or something like that on the XBOX."

"Cool, I'll have to go see if he needs help," Emmett said as his eyes danced in excitement. He loved playing XBOX Live, especially with Jack.

He ran around the room for a few minutes, delighting in Emma's happy squeals before he lifted her from his shoulders and set her on the ground. "You're never going to believe what happened today, babe."

"Edward decided to take the stick out of his ass?" she quipped.

"Rose," Emmett huffed, even though he had to admit his uptight brother probably deserved the comment. "No, but, well, maybe you're right," Emmett continued as he thought about Edward's actions at the office.

"Em, just tell me what happened," Rose said as she walked toward the kitchen to finish making dinner.

"Edward invited the four of us to their house for dinner on Thursday...and I, um, well, I told him we'd be happy to go," Emmett answered his wife, bracing for the wrath he'd been expecting all day.

Instead of that he got a sad sigh. "Are you sure you want to do that, Emmett?" Rose questioned softly.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she didn't want to see Emmett get his hopes up...again, only to have Edward crush them...again. It was a never ending cycle it seemed like, and she couldn't watch her husband reach out only to have Edward slam the metaphorical door in his face.

"Rose, you should have seen him today. He smiled, he joked around with me, he seemed...happy. I don't know what's going on, but something's changed," Emmett trailed off.

"I don't know, Em," Rose said slowly. She wanted to believe her brother-in-law was being honest and sincere, but she'd seen him act cold and distant too many times to take anything at face value when it came to Edward.

"I miss him, Rosie. I love him and I want my brother back. If he's going to reach out and try, I'm going to do whatever I can. I want my brother back," he said again.

Rose knew she couldn't tell him no, not that she really wanted to anyway. Her husband was one of the happiest people she'd ever met, in everything except when it came to Edward and the rest of his family. He was heartbroken over the distance between them all and he would do anything he could to fix it. If he was willing to give Edward another chance, she had to as well. Emmett deserved her support and she hoped against hope that Edward was really going to make an effort this time.

"I know you do, Em. Fine, let's have dinner with the Iceman and Isabella, but I'm warning you right now, Emmett, if he pulls that asshole shit again, I'm going to go off on his ass," she promised him.

"That's my girl. Now, I'm going to go help Jack kick some ass. We'll be up for dinner in a bit. Love you, Babe," he said and ran down to the game room.

"Edward, you'd better not blow it," Rose said quietly before she turned back to her dinner preparations.

"See, Seth," Gideon said with a smile. Rosalie Hale Cullen was tough as nails, but beneath that hard outer exterior was a soft, loving heart. "Even Rosalie wants to give him another chance. He'll get there, my friend. He has to."

Gideon floated away, leaving Seth to ponder his words.

Edward had no idea how much was riding on his shoulders. Seth only hoped he was able to help him carry it all.

So much to do...so little time.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Soooo...what did you think? I know lots of you have been dying to see the others so there is your first peek at Em and Rose. The start of the dinner is coming up in the next chapter as well as a few other very important tid bits of information. We're getting there, I promise. Charlie, Renee, and Nonna will be the next Bonus Scene and I'm dying to get that one to you all.

If you've reviewed and haven't gotten any of the previous bonus scenes, send me an email, a PM, or a DM on Twitter and I'll send them. And...because it's that time of year...if you've only reviewed Chapter 9 and didn't review 6, 7, or 8 and want the Bonus Scenes, let me know, and you can have them! I'm feeling generous! Again, I hope you all are enjoying these extra peeks into the others, I'm really enjoying writing them.

If you haven't done it yet, be sure to check out Dr. Cullen's Love Shack and look at the write-up Andi did for The Greatest Gift. The site is really great so take a few minutes and go look! Thanks again, Andi, what an awesome surprise!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter...les_sh_16

Have a safe and Happy New Year and I'll see you all on Sunday!

Hugs and Love,

Erin~ (les16)