Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight characters, but I did write this fic and I hope you will enjoy it for what it is. A fictional story.

What can I say? I'm impatient!

Okay, let's thank those that make this fic better. First is Fran for working her beta skills all over these chapters. Next up are the prereaders: Lissa, Judyblue and Michele. You guys each bring something different to the table and I appreciate it so much!

I love a slow burn.

I love a unique plot.

I love a fic that makes you feel ... something, anything.

I love twists and turns and shocking revelations.

I love for Bella and Edward to live happily ever after.

BPOV

"Jacob, come on, we've got to get a move on," I yell to my three-year-old son. He's always dragging behind these days.

"Coming, Mama."

"Fruity Pebbles for breakfast?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

I chuckle. "Well come on down, so you'll have time to eat."

"Sam, let's go boy." I hold the back door open and let our rescued pit bull out into the yard. I had a pet growing up and wanted the same for my boy, so when the shelter had their annual stray adoption, I made sure we were there. Jake fell in love with Sam on the spot so there was no other choice for us.

By the time I get him out and the back door locked, Jake's trudging down the stairs, his backpack dragging behind. Slowly, he crawls up into his seat, and with a big yawn, picks up a spoonful of his cereal.

"Are you still tired, sweetie?" I rub my fingers through his hair. "You aren't sneaking your Gameboy in bed at night, are you?

He shakes his head and eats another bite. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He's tired all the time, and I know all about clumsy, but this is a whole new level. New bruises pop up as the old ones start to fade. I figure it must just be because he's a boy and more rough and tumble than I was as a kid.

I load the dishwasher while he finishes his breakfast, and when he's done, we head out to the car.

I'll never forget how scary it was trying to find the right daycare for my six-week-old son. I interviewed countless centers and was almost to my wits end, when Angela Webber suggested Esme.

Meeting Esme Cullen literally changed my life, in more ways than one. First, she put me at ease instantly and I knew right away that her place is where Jake would be staying. It wasn't much later down the road when my younger sister, Alice, met Esme's son, Jasper, while picking Jake up for me. Their connection was instantaneous and they married just six months ago. The Cullens had become like family to me over the years, and now they actually are.

I pull up and walk Jake inside. "Morning, Bella, Jake," Esme calls out as we enter.

"Morning."

Jake runs off to join Paul and I walk up to chat with her for a quick second. She envelops me in a warm, motherly hug. 'How are things?' she asks, pulling back.

"Everything's good. I just wanted to let you know that Jake seems awfully tired lately. I don't know what it is, but he just seems a little off."

She hums. "I noticed that, too. Do you think he's coming down with something? I can always schedule him for a visit with Carlisle one day this week," she suggests. Carlisle is her husband and has been Jake's pediatrician since shortly after I met the Cullens.

"I don't know if it's that serious. Why don't we just keep an extra eye on him and decide if he gets worse."

She nods. "Sounds good, and you know he's in good hands here."

I smile at her and lean in for another quick hug. "Of course I do. I should be here at my regular time this evening."

"Just call if anything changes," she assures.

"I will. Bye, Jake, be good," I call over to him.

"Bye, Mama, love you."

"Love you."

The drive to my office is the same as every other morning, congested highways and crazy drivers. I park in my spot and make my way to the fourth floor, where my company is housed.

Tanya greets me as I enter. "Morning, Bella, Mr. Crowley's already called twice this morning."

I roll my eyes. "Thanks, Tanya." I give her a smile and continue to my office. It's not the twentieth floor view of Seattle I've always dreamed of, but it's mine and I love it. Owning your own business can be frightening, but exhilarating. I settle my things in and get to work by returning Mr. Crowley's call.

Two hours later, I'm finally able to exit my office to get a cup of coffee.

Tanya smirks. "Did you straighten out Mr. Crowley?"

I chuckle. "I did, and after an hour and a half on the phone, he decided to leave everything as is."

She barks out a laugh. "Well, that was pointless."

I stop beside her desk. "Not really. Every account I have matters and if I have to spend time making sure they're happy with my services, then it's a win because I still have their business."

"I never thought of it like that. I wondered where you got the patience to deal with … touchy accounts."

"Just remember, those touchy accounts pay your salary as well as the easygoing ones." I raise my brows and move off into the break room.

Coffee at last. One thing I learned years ago, is never skimp on good coffee. Good coffee equals happy employees. I pour myself three-quarters of a cup of the steaming liquid, and then proceed to finish it off with milk and four teaspoons of sugar.

Just as I sit back behind my desk, my partner in crime enters my office. "What's up, Swany?"

Jasper Cullen is Esme and Carlisle's son and Alice's husband, but he's also my partner in the firm. We opened the doors two years ago this month. I was already in the process of opening a small business before I met the Cullens, but when Jasper entered our lives, the whole scope changed.

We're not small; we're a large company that handles accounts ranging from the average, wealthy older couple to some of the biggest corporations in Seattle. Jasper was fresh from receiving his CPA, but he's a natural and had the funds in his trust to double my original investment. We decided to become equal partners.

I lean back and cross my arms, smirk firmly planted on my face. "Just handling some accounts. What about you … Jaspy?"

He blushes and chuckles. "Am I ever going to live that down?"

"Nope. Not on your life."

Early in Alice and Jasper's relationship, we went to a local club and all ended up pretty hammered; Alice a little worse than the rest of us. Jasper stayed over at our apartment and I was awoken early the next morning to pants and moans of 'Jaspy, oh, Jaspy.'

"So how did the meeting go this morning? Do we have a new client?" I ask him.

"Of course we do, Swany. Did you ever doubt me?" He smirks.

I shake my head. "Not even for a second."

He stands and starts to make his way out the door before stopping and leaning in the doorway. "You and Jake still coming over Saturday?"

I nod. "We wouldn't miss it for anything." It's their six-month anniversary dinner. Yeah, that might be crazy for some, but Alice and Jasper have had one for every month so far. Therefore, the six-month mark is a momentous occasion.

Let's just hope Alice orders dinner this time. I love my sister, but she can't cook … at all. I'm no chef in the kitchen either, but when you have a kid, you learn to get by. Alice is horrible and should never be allowed near a stove again.

"Good, Alice was worried after last month's debacle."

"What're you talking about? Jake loved it. Whoppers make everything better." We both laugh as he strolls out into the hall, headed for his office.

After a few more phone calls, I look up and realize it's already lunchtime. Buzzing Tanya, I ask her to step into my office.

"What sounds good today?" she asks, leaning against the doorframe.

I stop and think for a second, before deciding on sandwiches. "How about that little deli on the corner?"

"Yeah, I could go for a roast beef on rye."

"Good"—I grab my purse—"I think I'll have a turkey club with no greens and a bottle of water." She collects my money and begins to make her way to Jasper's office.

She stops and looks back. "Do you want me to direct your calls to you or Lauren while I'm gone?"

"Just send them to me. No need to add more to Lauren's load."

Not even five minutes later, my phone is ringing. "Hello, Bella Swan speaking."

"Ah, Bella, answering your own phones now? Times must be hard." His voice is playful, but it still rubs me the wrong way.

I chuckle into the receiver. "Mike, I didn't expect to be hearing from you." Mike Newton is my ex-fiancé. He's a cardiac surgeon now, but in those days, he was just another resident, working all hours trying to make something of himself. In the month leading up to the wedding, I made a discovery that was a deal breaker.

He didn't want kids.

I had just received my Master's degree and was soon to be Mrs. Newton. I couldn't think of anything I wanted more. A new career, a husband and a family soon to follow, that was my dream, or so I thought. My soon-to-be husband let it slip that he didn't want kids for at least ten years. I was devastated but knew it was a no brainer. I called off the wedding, packed my belongings and moved in with Alice all in the span of two days.

Mike was heartbroken, too, but I couldn't allow him to live my dreams instead of his own. He'd only resent me in the end. At the time, he didn't think so and begged me to change my mind. But over the years we've settled into a tenuous friendship; one where he can now admit that having a kid so young was definitely not on his agenda; maybe even never. Don't get me wrong, he adores Jake when he does see him but is glad the responsibility isn't his.

"Now, Bella, don't sound too excited. I'm just calling to let you know I'll be out of the country for the next six months. I know we don't talk very often, but I felt I should let you know."

"Oh, well of course. Can I ask where you'll be?" Even though I realized he wasn't my dream man, I do still care about him and wish him the best in all his endeavors. We usually get together a few times a year just to catch up or hang out.

He sighs. "I've signed up for a stint with Doctors Without Borders. I'll be in Africa and incommunicado at least some of the time I'm there."

I smile to myself. He always wanted to make a difference when he went into medicine and I can't think of a better way for him to do that. "Mike, that's wonderful! I'm so happy to hear you're doing something for you."

"Well, Bella, I think I need to thank you, actually. I never would've followed this particular dream if we'd married. It feels like a calling, though, and I can't wait to get there."

I slump in my chair. Hearing these words from him, lets me know that he's over what we never began and is finally living his life for himself. "I don't know what to say, Mike, you know I'm so happy for you." My voice cracks so I take a second to collect myself. "Enough with all the mushy stuff, tell me when you leave.

He's quiet for a second. "Friday," he finally answers, then rushes ahead. "I know it's soon and I'm sorry I didn't contact you before, but I wanted to make sure I was committed before I told you. I didn't want to change my mind."

"I understand completely. Sorry we can't get together before you leave, but I'd love to hear from you while you're there, if you get the chance?"

I can hear the relief in his answer. "You know it, and if I can't call, I'll write you a letter."

"Sounds good. Thanks for letting me know," I say, meaning it completely.

"Of course, Bella. It was good talking to you."

"You, too. Bye, Mike."

"Bye, Bella."

The line goes silent and the call is disconnected. I've been worried about him since we separated. A lot of meaningless relationships and work have left him unfulfilled. Maybe this will get him out of his funk and let him actually move on. That conversation assures me once more that I did the right thing in breaking it off with him.

I sit, staring across the room at nothing, considering my life up to this point. I have my own company, a beautiful house with a fenced in yard, a dog and the most perfect son ever. I really do have it all, minus the husband and one point five kids. I'm living the dream.

Tanya breaks me out of my reverie entering in a rush with lunch in her arms. She places it all on my desk and pulls up a chair. We sit and eat, while she tells me about the cashier at the deli hitting on her.

"As if," she says and rolls her eyes.

Apparently he's either a teenager or barely in his twenties and slipped her his number with the receipt. I laugh out loud. "I guess the deli's off the list for a while."

"More like, forever." She stands and cleans up our lunch, before making her way back to her desk.

After making a trip to our payroll department, I settle behind my desk once more. Not even ten minutes later Tanya buzzes me.

"Bella?"

"Yes, Tanya."

"I have Mrs. Cullen on line two."

"Thank you."

I pick up the phone and press to connect the call.

"Esme, how is everything?" It's not unheard of for her to call me at the office, so I don't think anything of it until I hear her next words.

"Bella, I need you to stay calm."

I immediately tense. "What do you mean stay calm …Has something happened?"

I'm met by silence.

"Esme, you're scaring me. What is it, please, tell me," I almost scream into the phone.

I've already jumped from my seat and am pacing around my office, my mind going a million miles a minute.

"Bella," she says finally. "It's Jake."

And if you read the teasers you know the next little snippet, so no major cliffy here.

See you Sunday with chapter 2!