Strength and Second Chances

AN:I do not own Twilight. SM does. I do however own Strength and Second Chances!

I would like to thank you all for your reviews. They mean so much to me. I hope that you continue to enjoy reading this as much as I like writing it.

Special thanks to my beta for help with this chapter. Trixietraci.

Without you, I would not be able to post this. Thank you again for all your hard work! ILY!

Chapter 2

I slip on my shades and just enjoy my surroundings until she walks up to me. She being my brother's wife, and my soon- to- be ex husband's sister. Fuck my life.

"What the hell, Bella? What has gotten into you? I cannot believe you left my brother! Why Bella? Why?" Rose screams at me as she stops in front of my chair.

"Why not, Rose? You of all people know how he has treated me the last 7 years. I am done with it, Rose. You can either respect my decision or not. It is up to you, but either way, nothing is going to change my mind. I don't want to talk about it. You will be in my life still either way, but this is not up for discussion," I tell her firmly. She is just going to have to understand that I am over it, no matter if she respects it or not.

Rose stands there for a minute trying to decide how she is going to reply, but ends up saying nothing and instead turns around to tend to my nephew E.J. Emmett James Swan, Jr. was born 4 months ago on May 9, 2010. He looks just like his daddy. Brown curly hair, blue eyes, chubby cheeks and dimples to die for. He is the sunshine in my life right now. Even though Rose seems to always call Edward for anything from a toilet overflowing, to a flat tire, we still have a decent relationship. E.J. has made it stronger. I just hope that my leaving Edward doesn't mess it up.

The next couple days go by fast. I realize that leaving Edward is the best decision I could have made. I don't have to answer to anyone. I enjoy watching whatever I want to watch. Best of all, if I don't want to cook, I don't have to cook. I hated that I had to have supper ready for him every night and if I didn't, all hell broke loose.

Before I know it, it's already Monday and I find myself heading to my agent's office. I have had the same agent since I wrote and published my first book 2 years ago. I walk into the building to find a dozen black roses waiting for me at the receptionist's desk with a card that reads You will never be free of me. Love, E. To say I'm not a little scared would be a lie - I literally have a panic attack. I end up working on my new manuscript for only half a day and go back home. When I get home, I call the Chief of Police, Charlie Swan, aka my dad. I file a report with him and then go to the court house to pick up the divorce papers to file.

I start looking over the papers before I call my Uncle Garret. He is a family attorney that handles divorces and other domestic issues. I set up an appointment to meet with him on Wednesday so he can help me file. All I want to do is cut my ties with the asshole. He can have the house and all the crap in it for all I care.

Just as I get off the phone with my uncle, Emmett walks in. He has been stopping by at least once a day to check on me. I love my brother and all, but he still annoys me to no end.

"So, he sent you black roses at work. The asshat may be Rose's brother, but it doesn't mean that I like him. I am going to beat the shit out of the bastard if he doesn't leave you alone!" Emmett just about yells as he takes a seat across the dining room table from me.

"Emmett, you will do no such thing. There is no reason to turn this into a family war. As I told him, he needs to keep his mom out of it. That means you have to stay out of it too. This is between Edward and me. I made a report with dad; that is all that needs to be done right now. Well, besides me seeing Uncle Garret and filing these papers," I say to him as I point to the pile in front of me on the table. Emmett seems to be satisfied enough and backs off, for now anyway.

By the time Wednesday gets here I am antsy as hell. I want to just get this appointment over with and have the papers filed. I walk into my Uncle's office and am greeted by my Aunt Elizabeth, his secretary. I give her a hug as she tells me, "I'm so glad you are doing this, sweetie. You are so much better without him and will be just fine. Your Uncle is waiting for you. Go on back, my dear, his door is open."

I walk in and take a seat in the black leather sofa in his office. He's just finishing up on a phone call and then comes to join me. I hand him the packet I got for a simple divorce since Edward and I don't have any children -I figure I'll just represent myself. He flips through the pages and says, "You know, I can just do the divorce for you. I know you like to do things yourself, but I think it would be better if I represented you. Of course that will mean I use my own documents so these will just be put in the shredder."

I sit there and think about it for a minute and decide to take him up on his offer. I look at him with a mischievous smile on my face and say, "Alright, but he can have everything for all I care. I just want to cut my life free from his reigns."

We get right down to it and begin going over everything in the packet; documenting all assets and debts – but there aren't really any debts since we own the home and our cars outright. When we get to the alimony part, I am torn. He's caused me so much mental anguish – and physical, to a point as well – that I just am not sure if I want it or not.

"Look, Bella. You deserve something out of this marriage, and if some of his money is it, then so be it. Your whole marriage has been nothing but you being strung along by a puppet master. He has done nothing but cause you pain, whether it be mental or physical. Alimony is well deserved," my Uncle Garrett stresses sternly.

So we decide on filing for $2,500 in alimony a month, which will not even put a dent in his pocket. Edward is an Orthopedic surgeon and makes a pretty good amount of money, not to mention he is a trust fund baby so he is pretty set.

By the time we finish all the paper work, I feel a thousand times lighter. I hug and thank my Uncle Garret, he wishes me a happy birthday, and I walk out to my car to leave. As I'm getting in the car, I call Leah. Tonight is a cause for a girl's night out and I am ready to party.

"Hey there cuz, whatc'ha doing tonight?" I ask Leah cheerfully as I start up my car.

"Oh, the usual. You know me, always looking for a good time. Why, what's up?" she asks me sounding all kinds of distracted.

"Well, I just filed my papers with Uncle Garret and I was wondering if you wanted to get together at New Moon in Port Angels to celebrate. I am ready to get drunk and dance my ass off," I say as I turn on the radio and hook up my ipod. It is time for a little Tom Petty.

"Sure, I'll meet you there at about 8, babe. I cannot wait to have a few shots to celebrate this. It's about damn time. I also believe that it is someone's birthday today," she states before hanging up and ending the call rather quickly. Hmm, I wonder if I interrupted something. I shake my head laughing, thinking I really don't want to know. From what I heard she was not alone.

Getting ready to go out is not fun. I am not one who ever goes out at all – well, I was not allowed to go out is more like it. I have no idea what to wear, how to do my makeup or my hair. UGH! Where is the pixie when I need her. Jasper and Alice left to go home Monday night. We had a good time catching up and having a girl's day in watching movies, eating ice cream and giving ourselves makeovers. I really miss that time when she is not here. We made plans for another visit in a few months so that gives me something to look forward to at least.

Since she is no longer here, I am left to my own devices. Opening up my closet, I find my favorite skinny jeans, strapless heels, and a midnight blue silk sleeveless shirt that hangs low in front to show off my ample cleavage. I get dressed and head into the bathroom to do my hair and makeup. I end up keeping the makeup light. A little powder, blush, mascara, and lip gloss is all I need anyway. I just leave my hair down with natural waves and I am ready to go. Slipping on my heels, I give myself one last look in the mirror. Satisfied, I call a cab and walk out the door. It doesn't take long to get there or get in since the owner of the club is related somehow to my agent.

"Beellllaaaaaa, that guy over there is so hot. He keeps looking at you. Maybe you should dance with him," Leah slurs as we are on the dance floor grinding it out to "I'm Bringing Sexy Back".

"Oh God, no thank you, bitch. I don't care how hot the guy is, I am not dancing with him. Let's just enjoy ourselves for one night without bringing a guy into the mix," I respond to her sarcastically. I want nothing to do with any man right now.

"Whatever, I'll dance with him then." Leah stomps off to the guy and asks him to dance.

I decide that I have danced enough and make my way back to the bar. I ask for a Jack and Coke and just watch everybody in the club dancing and drinking. What a way to celebrate... If only Alice were here to enjoy it with me.

The last time we celebrated a birthday was a combined party for all of us the summer after my high school graduation. Alice planned it all. She always seemed to be in her element with that kind of stuff. I was never much one for a big party scene. To say that that party was big was an understatement. There were at least 175 people there and it took us two and a half days to clean up outside and inside my dad's house.

After a while, the bartender shouts "last call" so Leah and I get a cab to head home. As we're getting into the cab, I realize I have 10 new texts - all from Edward. I open the first one and it is a picture of me from the bar. The second one is of the bartender smiling at me. There are a few of me dancing and the last one is of us getting into the cab. The text attached to it says "I'm always with you." I drop the phone on my lap just as the panic starts and the darkness and memories overtake me.

Flash back...

We're in college at UW and I am walking out of my English Lit class talking to my Shakespeare project partner and Edward is waiting in the quad under a tree. I look up and see him. He doesn't look so happy. I tell Riley I will see him later that evening to work on our project and I make my way over to Edward.

"Who the hell was that, Bella, and why was he walking so close to you?" Edwards huffs out with anger as he grabs my arm and starts walking in the direction towards his car.

"Chill out, babe. That is Riley. You know, my project partner I was telling you about? Do you mind letting go of my arm? You are hurting me," I reply through clenched teeth to try and dull the pain.

This is one thing about Edward that I have been trying to rein in. He has this possessiveness in him. We have talked about it often. I just do not understand why he still acts like this after I have told him time and time again that I am not going anywhere and there is no one else that I want. I also stressed that I am not a possession, I am his girlfriend.

"I don't care who he is. You will not be alone with him and he will not be that close to you again. Don't think I won't find out about it, Bella. Always remember, I will be with you everywhere one way or another," he seethes out and I could have sworn he spat venom like he was a vampire or something...

End flash back...

By the time I wake up, I am in my bed at the cottage. I sit straight up, the room is spinning a bit, and I have a horrible headache. I start freaking out wondering how the hell I got here. Last I remembered, I had just gotten into a cab to head home from the club, and then checking my cell for messages. Oh crap, Edward and those texts. Shit,I need to talk to my dad about that.

Looking around, I notice my dad sleeping in the chair in the corner at the end of my bed. I also notice some aspirin and a glass of water on the night stand by the bed. I take the aspirin with some water, then sit the glass back down. As I get up to go to the bathroom, my dad wakes up and starts to get out of the chair.

"Bells, would like to tell me what happened last night?" he asks me with concern in his voice.

"Sure dad, just let me use the bathroom and I will tell you about it when I get out."

I walk into the bathroom and turn on the light. I use the bathroom, flush the toilet, wash my face and brush my teeth. As I am brushing my teeth I notice that last night's outing left me looking rough. I grab my brush, brush through my hair and throw it into a loose pony before I head out to talk to my dad.

I walk into the bedroom and grab the clutch with my cell in it and head out to the dining room table where my dad is sitting with a cup of coffee. I sit down in the chair across from him, pick up the coffee he made for me, and slide my cell over to him with the first text message from Edward up.

"There are 10 texts from Edward last night. The one that is up now is the first one he sent. Right after we left the club and got into the cab I opened up my phone to read my messages. I got a couple read just before I started to panic and passed out," I explain to him before I take another sip of coffee with shaking hands.

I watch him as he goes through the texts, his face getting redder with anger by the second. I hear "shit" a few times,followed by "that asshole." Even a few "he is so dead meat." By the time he's done, my dad just about has smoke coming out of his ears.

"So dad, what are we going to do about this?"

"Well, Bells, I am not quite sure. The father in me wants to take my shot gun to his head, but the Chief of Police in me wants to file charges against him," he replies while running his hands down his face.

Whatever we decide to do, I have a feeling that there will not be a pretty outcome.

AN: Thank you so much for reading. Please leave some feed back. Update will come soon.

Xo,

Dani