It's going to take time... I liked Angela's advice about not being late and never forgetting the milk. :)

Author's Response:

Angela definitely has wisdom beyond her years:)

Thanks so much for reviewing!

I think Anglea and Esme gave both Edward and Bella alot of insight that they needed.  Hopefully they can both take that information and work to get back what they lost.

Author's Response:

They really needed to hear what those two had to say!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

When shirtless Daddyward peeks out to say hi, men all over the world get lucky and have no idea why.  LOL 

Great angsty chapter. 

Author's Response:

HAHAHAHA!  Yes, Shirtless Daddyward has a profound affect on sex lives across the globe!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

I really enjoy reading this story. However I hate that everyone is blaming Edward for what Bella went through.
No he shouldn't have left but she chose to leave to. He can't and shouldn't be held responsible for Bella's bad choices too. She could have stayed at home with Charlie but she chose not to. Everything that happened after that was of her own doing. She mad the exact same assumption about Charlie that Edward made about her. She thought that her leaving would be the best thing for Charlie just like Edward thought that him leaving would be the best thing for Bella. She has just as much to fell bad for in situation as he does. She risked the health of her unborn child for a misplaced sense of right and wrong. The fact that she lived in squalor and was sickly was her fault not his. Bella needs to take ownership of the part she played in her current situation. She doubts whether she can trust Edward with Elizabeth, but how can she be trusted when she was willing to risk the health of her baby during her pregnancy in order to salvage her pride.

All the being said I really do like this story although it may not seem like it from my little rant.

Author's Response:

No!  Rant away!  There is a lot of truth to what you're saying!  Just keep in mind that this is a story told by a bunch of different character's emotional perspectives, not a narrative based on the reality of the decisions made.  What we *feel* and what actually is are often vastly different.  And Bella does feel she made mistakes as well.  We just haven't gone on that journey quite yet!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

So glad to see it finally updated....:)  Wonderful chapter as usual, you know how much I adore this story.

Author's Response:

*hugs to my Right Brain*

What would I do without you?

 

Wonderful chapter! I love Esme's caring way.

Author's Response:

Esme is really the mom I could only hope to be. 

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing this tale!

Great chapter!  Thanks for writing!

Author's Response:

My pleasure:)

Thanks so much for reviewing.

great chapter....beautiful, in a hopeful way...

Author's Response:

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

Angela is such a sweet girl! She was really nice to Edward and really held back a lot of shit she should have told him that would crush him to death, if she as cruel. But how would that help, after all? It is clear that he is suffering and trying his best to resolve the mess he created.

As much as I've tried, I cannot put myself in Bella's place. Of course I empathise, but I have no idea what I'd do in her place. Whether I'd go complete apeshit and send them all to hell or just be glad they were back and I was no longer alone... not sure at all because I've never been through a situation that was remotely similar to hers.

Now, I just think there is such a gap between her reactions towards the other Cullens and Edward. I mean, they were her family too and she literally just accepted them with open arms without questioning much their actions. They left her too and though they missed her, they moved on with their lives. None of them were just "existing" like Edward. And none of them contacted Bella.

They allowed Edward to make that stupid and extremely difficult decision and live with the consequences of it, even if it was destroying him. Not judging them. Just stating the facts. Esme and Carlisle, in my view, are the worse. For fucks sake, this is a family, not a coven and who the hell is the boss here? Aparently, a 17 years old boy. He says so and everybody moves across country......

Of course the depth of the relationship Bella has/had with Edward is greater than with the other Cullens so the pain and the betrayal runs deeper too. But I'd like to think that she had a special relationship with each of the Cullens, which were independent to her relationship with Edward, and therefore they all abandoned and betrayed her trust too.

Let me say that I am not judging her actions, I am just trying to understand what is going through her mind and heart, and from where I stand, if  we were to establish a parallel she is either being too lenient when it comes to the Cullens or too harsh on Edward. But I supposed after all she is been through, she can behave the way she wants and nobody is going to question her.

Thanks for the update :)

Author's Response:

I love this analysis!  I'm glad you're exploring her mind.  She may be slightly too lenient to the other Cullens, in my mind, but at the same time, she's so afraid and lost she's clinging to what she can and the rest of the Cullens are the lesser of the evils, so to speak.  You hit the nail on the head that the depth of that betrayal was directly related to the depth of her love.  She loved the Cullens and were hurt by them, but it was her extreme love for Edward that made that betrayal all the greater.  Also, to some degree (like the 17 yr old boy calling the shots), I am taking license to parallel the story a bit more.  I want this to be real, but some things just had to be bent a bit from reality to fit with the New Moon themes. 

Thanks so much for the wonderful review!

its throwing me for a loop with such anticipation for the time when they become an actual family..what can i say im a sucker for happy ending... till next time!

Author's Response:

It's on its way!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

wow...incredible...as per usual tho! i love this...it always makes me happier when they reach a milestone, get some answers...:) you should post this on fanfiction.net too...my friends cant read it because its on here and they cant access their account...

and these chapters always seem to come at the right time. i was sad-still am-because we think my dog-that i have had for ten years-might have mange. depressing. and then i read this and i get happier for a while...:) thank you. :)

such an incredible fic...

Author's Response:

Aw!  I am so sorry about your dog!  I will hope for the best.

I used to post on ff.net in a different fandom and had so many of my stories stolen and reposted by someone else, I stopped posting there.  I am sorry!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

i loved it.Esme's part especially =)
hope you dont have writer's block! *crosses fingers*

Author's Response:

Not at all!  Just got stuck in the validation queue.  I've got through 47 written!

Thanks so much for reviewing!

I can't tell you how much I love this story.  Truly, it keeps getting better and better and I am also, loving Becoming The Swan...I did sneak and read this when it was posted on the 21st, Thank you by the way!!!!  I really miss these updates and was grateful when you gave us all a sneak peak!!!  I hope that whatever the cause in delaying your updates, is taken care of.  I can't wait for the real conversations with these two.  There is so much to discuss and I can't wait!!!!  Beyond great job and looking forward to more!!!

 

Author's Response:

Alas, validation queues can get backed up.  I generally submit the day after a chapter goes up.  I'll submit the next one tonight or tomorrow.  We just have to be patient!  I'm glad Sue was able to post a sneak viewing on her blog!

Thanks so much for reviewing!