AN: Hi guys! This is a piece I wrote for this year's FAGE (Fic Awesome Gift Exchange). It's a story told in 3 parts, based off a few prompts. The other two chapters will post later today. I really fell in love with these kids, and they reminded me why I loved writing Parachute so much.

All of this year's FAGE stories will be uploaded into a C2 and shared on FanficAholics Anon's Facebook page.

To the lovely Ciara Shayee, I hope I've done your prompts justice and that you enjoy the story. xx

FAGE 11. Are You In…?

Title: Sanctuary

Written for: Ciara Shayee / CiaraShayee

Written By: KitsuShel / Michele Angelo

Rating: M for language

Summary/Prompt used:

1. Kids get into a silly fight at school- parents are called in and are old flames from high school who lost touch.

2. Old flames rekindled/blended families

3. goo . gl / images / gq4LGb

This is our sanctuary

We can find shelter and peace

This is our sanctuary

You are, you are safe with me

~ Sanctuary by Welshly Arms

o.O.o

Part One

o.O.o

Edward Cullen took a deep breath through his nose and let it out slowly from his mouth. He unlatched his seatbelt and stepped out of his car in front of Forks Elementary school. It had been almost a week since he'd last seen his eight-year-old son, Garrett, and he was eager to surprise his little man. Edward had headed to his hometown immediately after finalizing the sale of their house in Chicago earlier that morning. He had stayed behind while Garrett went to live with his grandparents in Forks, Washington, and start the school year while Edward finished settling their affairs. To say that Carlisle and Esme Cullen were eager to spend more time with their only grandchild was an understatement. Carlisle practiced medicine in the small town while Esme owned a small event planning business, leaving her schedule flexible enough to spend a good bit of her time babysitting and volunteering at the elementary school.

Esme adored children, and even though she was happy with the two she gave birth to, she would have gladly given Carlisle a baseball team if she'd been physically able. Edward was born first, followed by his sister Alice two years later. Complications during that last pregnancy led to Esme having a hysterectomy and losing her opportunity to have more children. She had been devastated at first, but having Edward and Alice to care for helped keep her out of a severe depression. Over the years, she took in a number of children, either through foster care or by stepping up to help out young parents who needed assistance caring for their little ones.

While Edward had decided to venture off into the world, Alice chose to stay closer to home. She attended college in Port Angeles, which was a short drive from Forks, and got her master's degree in record time. She was the youngest principal that Forks Elementary had ever had, and she was great with both the students and her staff. She married her college boyfriend, Jasper Whitlock, who worked as an accountant for quite a few local businesses. Edward felt guilty for staying away from his family for so long. He had felt like he needed to make a fresh start, which didn't include Forks. This was the first time Garrett had ever set foot in town, and Edward was ashamed of that. Leaving everything familiar was going to be hard on his son, and he couldn't help but wonder if these changes would've been easier if Garrett were more familiar with the town and locals.

Carlisle and Esme tried to assure him that children were resilient, and a change of scenery would be good for the boy, especially while he was still coming to terms with the death of his mother. Tanya Denali had been Edward's closest friend for the past decade—since they met freshman year at Northwestern University. He had been a shy, young man with borderline anxiety issues, and Tanya's friendly, outgoing personality had been Edward's polar opposite. Somehow, they ended up fitting together like puzzle pieces. They had never had a physical attraction to each other, but one drunken night during their sophomore year changed the complexity of their relationship. It had been a struggle balancing school, work, and a baby, but Tanya and Edward had remained steadfast friends and shouldered the responsibility equally. Tanya's younger sister, Kate, was always on hand and willing to help out with her nephew as well.

Both Tanya and Edward had graduated and moved into a three bedroom apartment together. They remained best of friends and dated others, Tanya more so than Edward, who still struggled occasionally with anxiety. Edward enjoyed working as an architect in a busy firm where he could immerse himself in his sketches and not deal with many people. Tanya modeled and had a few minor acting roles on television, where she was in her element jet-setting across the country. It was on her way home from such a trip to New York City that Tanya's car was hit head on by a drunk driver, killing her instantly six months ago.

With Kate's help and shoulder to lean on, Edward had done the best be could to be there for his son while drowning in his own grief as well. It wasn't easy to watch his normally effervescent son slowly fade away into a shadow of his former self, but once they started seeing a family therapist, things started to get better. Dr. Aro had even given them a referral to a family therapist in Port Angeles so they could continue learning how to cope and deal with Tanya's sudden death.

Biting back his worry, Edward leaned against his bumper, waiting for the school bell to ring so he could hug Garrett. The boy had called him every night this week, telling his father all about how he was having a hard time adjusting. He was lonely and felt out of place here. Not only was he the new kid in town, but he was moved up into fourth grade, skipping third because of how well he had performed on his placement test. Edward was sure Garrett would settle in quickly, but he still worried for his son. Garrett was normally such a friendly and precocious child, never failing to bring a smile to anyone's face. He definitely took after his mother and her outgoing personality. Hopefully, time would help him overcome his awkwardness.

After a few minutes passed, a shadow fell across Edward, causing him to look up to his right. A large, muscular man grinned down at him before extending his hand.

"Heard you were back in town, Eddie."

Edward immediately recognized the joyful, shining brown eyes of Emmett McCarty. They hadn't been friends in high school, but by no means were they enemies—more like passing acquaintances. Emmett had been Isabella Swan's boyfriend. Bella had been a girl whom Edward had been friends with since childhood and crushed on her all throughout high school. Her father, Charlie Swan, was a single parent as well as the chief of police in their small town. Growing up, Bella spent a lot of time with Edward and his parents since her mother left town when she was around Garrett's age. She had been one of Esme's favorite charges, one that she loved as much as her biological daughter.

Up until high school, Bella had always felt like just a best friend, like a sister. Once hormones came into play and Edward started to develop feelings for his best friend, he began to drift away from her, knowing that she would never return his feelings. That divide became even greater when Emmett moved to town the summer before their senior year and immediately had eyes for Bella. Once school started that fall, she and Emmett had been inseparable, and Edward felt like a third wheel whenever they hung out together, which was rare in those days. It had made Edward's decision to move and choose Northwestern over Washington State much easier.

"How have you been, Emmett?" Edward asked politely.

Emmett shrugged with a smile. "Can't complain. Happy and healthy family, a great job. I'm a trainer with the Seattle Seahawks." The larger man paused for a moment. "I heard about your girlfriend. I'm sorry."

Edward swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. Even though Tanya hadn't really been his girlfriend, he loved her deeply, even if it wasn't romantically. They had been a close-knit family—he, Garrett, and Tanya—unconventional as it was.

"Thank you," Edward replied in a quiet voice, not needing to correct the other man.

At that moment, the school bell rang and children started to pour through the doors.

Emmett clapped Edward on the back and pointed across the walkway. "Looks like our boys have met."

Edward's gaze followed Emmett's to where Garrett and another boy talked animatedly as they were leaving the building. He automatically grinned as he took in Garrett's messy strawberry blonde hair and shining green eyes. He had inherited his father's eyes and untameable locks, but his hair color and smile were an exact replica of Tanya's. As Edward's eyes slid over to the boy walking alongside of his son, his breath caught in his throat. The young man was a few inches taller than Garrett, with a heart-shaped face, chestnut hair and warm brown eyes. Edward immediately knew he was Bella's son.

Emmett chuckled when he heard Edward's gasp. "Yeah, Beau looks just like Bella. The only thing he's gotten from me is his height."

Beau. The male version of Bella. Edward wondered briefly whose idea it was for that name.

"DAD!" Garrett called out as soon as his eyes landed on his father and dropped his backpack before running straight into Edward's waiting arms. Edward lifted his son and hugged him tightly, feeling whole for the first time in six days. He set Garrett down on his feet and squatted in front of him, his hands resting on the child's shoulders. Edward's bright smile mirrored his son's.

"Hey, little man. I missed you!"

Garrett gave him a toothy grin. "I missed you, too, Dad! Are you here for good now?"

Edward nodded. "Yup! The move is all finished. We just need to find us a house, but Nana said we don't have to rush."

"Dad, I don't think Nana wants us to get our own house at all."

Edward laughed. "You're probably right."

He stood up and noticed Beau watching them with an odd expression on his face. It was almost wistful. Emmett put his hand on the boy's shoulder, and he immediately tensed and glanced away from his friend. Edward wondered what that was all about.

"Dad," Garrett started, "this is my new friend, Beau."

The older boy smiled and waved. "Hi, Mr. Cullen."

Edward smiled and waved back. "Hello, Beau. Nice to meet you."

"Well, we've got to be heading out," Emmett said. "See you around, Eddie."

"Bye, Gar," Beau called as they began walking away.

"Bye, Beau! See you Sunday!" Garrett called excitedly.

"Sunday?" Edward inquired as he helped Garrett buckle his seat belt.

"Beau is hanging out with me and Nana. I'm super excited! We're going to have so much fun."

Edward smiled at his son's enthusiasm. "I'm glad you've made a friend. I guess you're doing better than the other day?"

Garrett was quiet for a few moments as his father pulled the car out into traffic. "Forks is… Forks is growing on me, Dad."

Edward raised an eyebrow at his son through the rearview mirror. "That's a very adult way to look at things."

Garrett shrugged, looking down to pick a piece of invisible fuzz off of his seat.

"I think… I think it was a good idea to come here," the boy said quietly enough that Edward almost didn't hear him.

"Oh?" Edward asked in surprise. The way Garrett had been talking earlier in the week, he had been expecting constant complaints and whining.

Garrett nodded. "Yeah. Beau needs me."

"Why do you say that? How did you guys meet? Is he in your class? He looks older than you."

"Beau's mom had to work late, so Nana picked him up from school with me. She made us a snack while we did our homework. He's ten and in fifth grade. He doesn't have many friends, but he's pretty cool to me. Nana says it's just because he's shy."

Edward let his mind wander for a minute, wondering what Bella had been up to all these years. If Beau was ten, that meant she had to have gotten pregnant while they were in senior year or right after they graduated. He couldn't imagine how hard that must've been for her, knowing she had dreams of college and traveling around the world as a writer. Then again, he thought, maybe she did just fine and was still able to accomplish her goals. She had his parents and Charlie here. He was sure they would've been a rock for her. Obviously Emmett was still in the picture. Edward felt a tinge of jealousy that he and Tanya had waded through the early years of parenthood pretty much alone because her parents had disowned her when she refused to have an abortion.

Edward let out a small sigh. He had no one but himself to blame for pushing his own parents away. It actually made his regret feel worse. Maybe if he'd have come back or at least visited sooner, Garrett and Beau could've been friends already. He shook those thoughts from his mind, instead trying to live in the present. There was nothing he could do now to change the past, but he could hopefully learn from those mistakes and make better decisions moving forward.

Garrett looked out of the window and sighed. "He doesn't like his dad. He said he doesn't really know him. A couple of kids tried to be friends with him last year, but he said they only wanted to hang out with him because they knew his dad was a football player."

Edward's brow pulled together in a frown. "Really? That's sad. You're right. Maybe it is a good thing we came here, then."

Garrett smiled and met his father's gaze in the rearview mirror. "Yeah, I know it is, Dad. I still miss mom so much, but I can't imagine not having you."

Edward's heart clenched, the love for his son filling it to capacity. He knew they'd never be able to replace Tanya, but hopefully they could continue to lean on each other and weather the storm.

"Same here, buddy. Same here."

o.O.o

I see your hurt, I feel your pain

o.O.o

On Sunday morning, the smell of freshly brewed coffee pulled Edward from his slumber. He and Garrett had spent a considerable amount of time yesterday just talking and unpacking some of their things. It was nice to have the one-on-one time with his little boy since it had been so hectic lately. He stopped right before the kitchen archway and smiled, hearing laughter and soft giggles coming from inside. Edward peeked carefully around the archway.

Garrett and Beau sat at the kitchen island, eating and laughing while Esme leaned against the counter next to the sink, quietly taking in the boys with a serene smile on her face. Edward watched his mother and felt the familiar strings of guilt wrapping around him. He really had been a selfish ass, not letting his parents be more involved in their lives.

"Good morning, Mr. Cullen." A soft voice spoke up, breaking into Edward's thoughts.

He glanced over at the boys to find them both smiling at him, Garrett with his toothy normal grin and Beau with more of a soft, sweet smile. Once again, it struck him hard at how much the boy looked like his mother. He rubbed his chest lightly to try to ease the ache that popped up suddenly. He was disappointed that he missed seeing Bella when she dropped off Beau this morning.

"Hey, Daddy-o," Garrett chimed in.

Edward shook his head and laughed. "Morning, boys." He walked over to the coffee pot, stopping to kiss Esme on the cheek. "Good morning, Mom."

She smiled brightly. "Good morning, Edward. Want me to whip you up some pancakes, too?"

He nabbed a few pieces of bacon off of a plate resting on the counter. "Nah, some coffee will be fine."

Edward looked back at the boys to meet Beau's gaze watching him curiously.

"So, Beau…" Edward started off. "What do you call my parents?"

Beau's head cocked to the side slightly. "What do you mean?"

Edward leaned forward on the other side of the island, resting his elbows on the marble. "Like, do you call them Mr. and Mrs. Cullen or by their names?"

Beau nodded in understanding. "Oh, okay. I call them Nana and Pop. I always have." He glanced over at Esme, questioning silently if that had been the correct answer.

She smiled and nodded. "That's right. Beau's just as much family as you guys are. In fact, I was the first person after Bella to hold him when he was born. Charlie was so mad," she stated proudly.

It warmed Edward's heart to know that Bella had stayed close with his family, and it gave him hope that they'd be able to easily rekindle their friendship. While it had meant the world to him when they were younger, it mattered even more now with their sons creating such a close bond already.

Noticing the boys had finished their breakfast and were already dressed, Edward glanced out the window to see the sun shining brightly.

"Since it's so nice outside, why don't we go play some catch? I'm leaving in a few hours to head over to Seattle for a meeting, but I'd love to spend some time with you guys."

Garrett jumped up and pumped his fist in the air. "Yes!" he shouted enthusiastically. "Come on, Beau. Let's go get our shoes!"

Beau looked a little apprehensive at first but allowed the younger boy to drag him out of the room. Esme placed a hand on Edward's arm.

"Edward, don't take it personally if Beau is a bit standoffish with you. He's quite shy and hesitant around adults when he doesn't know them well."

He smiled at his mother, appreciating the way she looked out for everyone. "It's alright, Mom. I understand. Hopefully a game of catch will help ease the tension."

Esme gave him an odd look and shrugged. "Don't be surprised if it doesn't, sweetheart. He tends to shy away from sports. I think it reminds him of Emmett too much."

Edward gave her a questioning look. "What's the deal with that, by the way?"

"It's not really my story to tell, but I will say that Beau barely knows his father. Emmett has only really started coming around these past few months. He got hurt during a game about a year ago, and the injury forced him into early retirement. He took a job on the team's staff about six months ago. Then he randomly popped up just after that, demanding that Bella let him be a part of Beau's life."

Esme shook her head. "As if Bella had ever denied that man anything. In fact, she was too damn easy on him," she finished angrily. "He's always had visitation rights with his son, and Bella was the one who had to pick up the pieces and comfort Beau when his father flaked and never showed up or brought him home early because his girlfriend flew into town."

Edward started to wonder what exactly had gone down between Bella and Emmett to bring out such ferocity in his mother. Esme was such a kindhearted person that it was strange seeing her so worked up. He smiled at his mother and placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. He felt a slight surge of irrational anger. He couldn't imagine not being a part of Garrett's life. What kind of father blew in and out of the picture?

"I'll be careful; I promise. He seems like a really good kid."

Esme smiled brightly. "That's all Bella. Beau is like a mini clone of hers, inside and out."

"Do you know when she'll be back to pick him up? I'd really like to say hello."

Esme tapped her fingers on the counter thoughtfully. "Hmm, she has a wedding today, so she probably won't be back to get him until around seven. On days like this, she usually stays to have dinner with us."

"Wedding?" Edward inquired.

"She owns a little bakery in Port Angeles. She's gotten fairly popular since she opened up four years ago," Esme replied, her voice full of pride.

"That's great," Edward said with a smile. "I remember how you two would always bake on the weekends. I think that was the reason I barely made weight for the wrestling team junior year."

Esme shook her head and laughed. "I think that was more your addiction to Reese's Cups."

He shrugged, not able to deny his love of the peanut butter and chocolate confection.

Garrett and Beau came back into the kitchen wearing their sneakers and hooded sweatshirts. Garrett was clutching a football as well as a worn baseball mitt.

"Dad! I found this in your closet," he said eagerly, handing his father the mitt, which held an equally worn baseball inside. "Can we use it?"

Edward smiled fondly. "Wow, I haven't seen this thing in years. Sure, you can use it. Maybe we'll take a trip to Newton's and see about getting you a new one."

Edward noticed Beau looking at his feet awkwardly. "If Beau would like, we can get him one, too," he added thoughtfully.

Beau looked up at Edward quickly, his eyes round with surprise. "You'd get me one, too?"

Edward shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, if you'd like one. You don't actually need one to play catch, but with a baseball, it helps a lot." Edward squatted down next to the boy so that he was at eye level. "And only if you want it—no pressure if you don't like the game."

Beau smiled widely. "Thanks, Mr. Cullen."

Edward smiled back. "No problem, buddy. Oh, and you don't have to call me Mr. Cullen. Remember what Nana said earlier? We're family now."

Edward felt his heart clench when tears started to swim in the little boy's eyes. Beau nodded enthusiastically. "Ok. Can I call you Eddie? That's what my dad called you the other day."

Edward inwardly cringed. He hated that nickname, especially coming from Emmett McCarty's mouth, but there was something endearing about the way Beau said it.

"Sure, little man. You can call me that if you'd like."

Edward stood up and met his mother's gaze. Her hands were covering her mouth, and she was blinking back tears. He smirked and shook his head. He could tell already that this little boy would be just as easy to love as him to love Bella.

"Come on, guys. Let's enjoy some sunshine."

o.O.o

I've walked that road, I've felt that shame

o.O.o

Edward groaned and banged his head on his steering wheel as soon as he parked in his parents' driveway. The meeting with a potential new client had gone very well, but traffic had been a nightmare coming back from Seattle. He glanced at the time and groaned. He had really wanted to be back in time for dinner and to see Bella, but it was almost nine o'clock, and he was sure she'd be gone by now.

The outside light was still on, same with the living room, but the rest of the house looked dark. He sighed and let himself into the house silently.

"Well, it's about time." A soft voice spoke from his left.

Surprised by the sound, Edward turned and couldn't hold back his smile at seeing Bella sitting on the couch.

"Hey, stranger," he replied. "Sorry, traffic was a nightmare. Where are the boys?"

Bella smiled. "Someone wore them out today. They're sleeping up in Garrett's room. Esme offered to take him to school with Garrett tomorrow since he already has some clothes here."

She stood and moved over to stand in front of him. Nervously, she slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans and rocked back on her heels. His gaze swept over her appearance, eagerly drinking in the sight. Chestnut brown hair flowed past her shoulders, halfway down the blue sweater that was covering her full breasts. Her mocha eyes were warm and friendly. His eyes were drawn to her lush mouth when she bit her bottom lip, a nervous habit she had. He was amused to find that she still held onto it over the years.

"Would it be weird to ask for a hug?" she inquired in a shaky voice.

Edward dropped his briefcase on the floor and held his arms open wide. Bella grinned and wrapped her arms around his waist as he drew his own around her shoulders. She rested her head against his chest and sighed. Edward closed his eyes and let her warmth overtake him. It was a cliche thing to say, but the feeling was literally like coming home. Her head nestled just under his chin, as if she were made to fit him like a puzzle piece.

"I've missed you," she murmured quietly.

"Me too, Bella. I can't believe it's been so long."

She pulled back to look up at his face, although not severing their contact, and smiled sadly.

"Life got away from us. It's understandable. Esme has kept me up-to-date on how you've been doing, but it was still shitty that you never even came to visit."

Edward sighed. "I know. I honestly have no good excuse for that, either. I just kept putting it off. Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. I regret that more than you can ever know."

She gave him one last squeeze before letting him go. Edward ached at the loss of contact.

Bella walked back over to the couch and sat down, patting the seat next to her. Edward followed eagerly like a puppy, desperate to stay near her. She leaned back against the arm of the couch and smiled at him.

"So, you seem to have stolen my son's heart, Eddie."

Edward pulled his gaze away from her bright smile to look into her eyes curiously. "What do you mean?"

Bella rubbed her chin thoughtfully with her index finger. "Bowie is pretty shy, especially with guys. I think it's because Emmett is so much larger-than-life. Men tend to intimidate him. But not you. You're the only thing he could talk about all day. Eddie this, Eddie that. It was really sweet."

"You call him Bowie?"

Bella grinned. "I was obsessed with The Labyrinth when I was pregnant with him and would play David Bowie music all of the time. Emmett used to get so annoyed at me." A strange look came over her face.

"I—I don't want to pry, but if you're willing to tell me, I'd like to hear what happened with you guys," he said hesitantly.

She gave him a sad smile and shrugged. "Emmett was cute and I was teenage girl. It really wasn't that deep. We dated, we had fun, but I don't think I was ever in love with him. We both got accepted into UW, him on a football scholarship, and I was going to study English Lit. One night after we graduated, I was feeling particularly lonely and tired of being a virgin, so I finally gave in to his constant nagging about having sex. Bam! Two months later I found out I was pregnant. A kid wasn't in Emmett's plans, since he needed to play football for that scholarship. He assumed I'd have an abortion and be done with it. When I didn't, he made it clear in no uncertain terms that he didn't want any part of us."

Edward felt a jolt of anger in his belly. Once again, he wanted so much just to punch Emmett McCarty in the face. How could he just toss Bella and his unborn child away like that? Granted, he was still a kid himself, but even at eighteen, he had had just as much responsibility as Bella in Beau's conception.

"You know, it hurt at first, but your mom was a blessing. She made see inside myself that I was better than him anyway and that I would be okay. My dad was pissed, still is pissed at Emmett, but he told me that he admired my courage and stood by me. The minute he saw Beau for the first time, it was all over. Charlie would move heaven and earth for that boy."

She played with a thread on her sweater for a minute before continuing her story. "I lost my UW scholarship because I ended up taking a year off due to the pregnancy, but once again, Esme came to rescue. She helped me set up online classes and then watched Bowie while I attended classes at the community college in Port Angeles. I changed my major to business management, thinking it would help me provide a better life for my son. A few years back, your parents became investors and helped me open up a bakery."

She looked up at him with pride in her eyes. "It wasn't what I had originally planned for myself, but I did just fine. Beau is a happy and well-adjusted kid. Emmett flits in and out of his life, but up until six months ago, he never made any real attempt at being his dad. Even now, it's so awkward for him. That's why it means the world to me that you were so kind to Bowie. He's my everything. I can't thank you enough for that. You even let him call you Eddie, and I know how much you hate it."

Edward noticed the tears in her eyes and reached out to touch her hand. She turned over her palm and squeezed his fingers. "You don't need to thank me. He's a great kid. He reminds me a lot of you."

She smiled and shook her head. "Still a sweet talker, Cullen?"

He scoffed. "Right. Like I could ever string more than three words together around anyone other than you back in school."

She squeezed his hand again. "It's kind of funny. It's like our kids are following our footsteps in reverse. Bowie is the shy one, and Garrett is the one pulling him out of his shell."

"Yeah, well, hopefully one doesn't develop an unrequited crush on the other." Edward froze as soon as the unintended words left his mouth.

Bella stiffened. "How- You knew?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Edward looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean? Knew what?"

"You just alluded to one of us had an unrequited crush on the other. I had always assumed that I hid it pretty well. The only one who ever guessed was your mom."

He sat back against the couch, trying to digest this new information. He sat back up quickly when comprehension hit him.

"You?" he asked incredulously. "You had a crush on me?"

Now it was her turn to look at him in confusion. "Um, yeah? What else did you think I-"

She stopped mid-sentence, and her jaw dropped when it dawned on her. "No. Fucking. Way."

Edward threw his head back and laughed. He then leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands, trying to compose himself. He could feel the laughter turning to tears at the irony of the situation. Everything could have been different if they'd taken a chance to tell each other their feelings. At that thought, he took a shuddering breath. No. It didn't matter because everything really would have been different. He would never have met Tanya. Garrett wouldn't exist.

He felt Bella's hand rub his back. He looked over and saw a sad smile on her face, and he could tell that she was thinking along the same lines as he was. He reached for her and pulled her into his arms, positioning them so that they could rest against the couch, her head lying comfortably on his shoulder. After a few quiet moments, Edward broke the silence.

"I honestly don't know how to compartmentalize all of this," he said quietly with a chuckle. "Where do we go from here?"

He felt her body move as she shrugged. "We move forward. There's no use looking back. We made choices that molded us into who we are now. I really have missed you and would love to spend time getting to know you again."

He turned and kissed her on her forehead gently. "I'd like that, Bell. I really would."

She let out a small sigh. "We have to be mindful, though. It's not just us. It's our boys. They're already close as hell. I don't want to hurt them."

"I think you're getting ahead of yourself, Swan. I only agreed to rekindle our friendship," he replied with a chuckle.

Bella reached up to cup his cheek and gently pulled his face down to hers. She brought her lips to his and kissed him softly. Edward didn't move for a moment, shocked by the bold move, but all too soon was reciprocating the kiss. He ran his left hand through her hair, letting it rest at the back of her head, pulling her body closer to his. Their mouths slanted, tentatively at first, but soon growing passionate.

Their kisses slowed, becoming soft and gentle. Bella sighed and rested her forehead against Edward's, breathing deeply. She'd never felt like this before. Her relationship with Emmett had been tumultuous and always about what was best for him. She'd never felt such desire before in her life, not until she had tasted Edward's lips.

Something had shifted with that kiss, and they both felt it. The time for regrets was over. It was time to move forward, together. The road would no doubt be bumpy, but it was the journey that would make it all worth it.

o.O.o

No place is home, but times they are changin'

o.O.o

Disclaimer: Author does not own any publicly recognizable entities. No copyright infringement is intended. Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Lyrics are from the song, Sanctuary by Welshly Arms.