Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

**warning! Not beta'd**

Chicago in January was colder than I had remembered. It had been five years since I had been here last. Five years and everything had changed. In five years I had changed everything.

The coffee shop that I was waiting in was quiet and soothing as I sat there waiting on my wife who was at a book signing while my parents took the children to the Museum of Science and Industry. I was just left to my own devices while waiting for my family so I escaped to a coffee shop to drink and read.

"Edward," I heard someone call, catching me off guard since I had not expected to know anyone in this tiny shop. Charlotte has changed very little in our five years apart. She was still beautiful with her soft features and kind eyes.

I had never sought her out like I had wanted to apologize for that had been our failed marriage. I had never done it because it seemed unfair for me to approach her, to thank her for pushing me into getting what I needed while leaving her to deal with the fallout. Instead, I lived my life, thankful for second chances and love that never dies.

"Charlotte," I said as I stood up and took hold of her hand in mine in a warm hand shake. We stood there for a moment looking at each other, taking each other in while categorizing the difference time apart had done to us.

"Well, this is awkward," she said with a nervous laugh as she sat down across from me while I offered to buy her a coffee.

"Tea. I only drink tea now," she said as she looked at me with a nervous smile as I nodded in response. Tea only was a change.

Once I had her tea and she was settled she looked at me with a guarded expression.

"I have no idea what we are doing here, Edward," she said as she looked at me with a worried look. "But, I 'm glad I found you since I needed to speak with you for the longest of times, but there was never a right time to do this," she finished with a sigh.

"I wanted to tell you that I am sorry," she said in a rush as she looked at me with an embarrassed look.

"I'm sorry about that last night. I should have never…." She said as her face flamed red as I remembered her desperate cries and refusing to stop or listen as she rode me.

"Char…" I started to say, but she stopped me.

"Let me finish, please. I knew better, but at the time I just wanted a piece of you, something, anything that showed that you were mine even though I knew you weren't," she said in the same nervous tone as she looked at me with wide eyes.

"I'm not that person anymore," she finished in a rush before launching into what her life had been like without me.

She spoke of mission trips in exotic locations. She spoke of finding healing and peace. She spoke of the man named Laurent that she had married with a bright grin. She was happy and that was all I needed to know.

"How about you, Edward? Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked me with a smile that still lingered on her lips after speaking of her new life and the happiness it brought her.

Her question was a simple one, yet it left me smiling as I thought about the women in my life. I thought about my daughter Lu who was now fifteen and fully aware of whom her father was. I thought of Gracie with her blonde hair and kindness that exuded from her that reminded me of a man I had never met, but owed my life to. I thought of Sarah and Michael, two children that we had never planned on, yet made our family almost complete. It wouldn't be complete until the birth of the final child that was growing happy and healthy in my wife's belly. I thought of Bella and how she was everything to me.

"Life is good, Char," I said as I smiled in response.

"Did you ever find Bella?" she asked me, making me smile with the mention of my wife's name. It was with this prompting that I pulled out my phone and showed her picture of my life as she had done for me. I showed her a wedding picture and pictures of the children. I showed her everything that ruled my world and all the happiness that they gave me.

"I'm happy for you," she said with a sincere smile that eased some of the guilt that I had always felt when it came to her and how our marriage fell apart as our conversation turned in an easier one until Char finally stood while exclaiming she needed to go, she was meeting her husband. It was with one last hand shake and soft good bye that she left me just as my phone rang, alerting me that Bella was done and on her way to be with me once more. I watched as Char walked out, and once more I silently thanked her for her part in me returning home.

***The End***

AN:

Thanks for reading! This story as has been a fun journey.

Xoxo

Mamasutra