The Things That Make Me Happy

Chapter One: The Mall, Alice and Talk with Leah

Bella's POV

It's been six years since Edward left me. I haven't heard from or seen him since the week after I turned eighteen.

Two days after my eighteenth birthday I found out that I was pregnant with his baby.

I went to school the next day with every intention to tell him about the baby but he wasn't there or the day after that.

It was the following day that I got to see him, he told me there was something that he wanted to tell me and asked for me to take a walk with him. I figured now is my chance to tell him about the baby but of course I was wrong I didn't even get a chance to say even a sentence because he told me that he and his family were leaving; that he didn't want me nor did he love me anymore and with that he left and I never saw or heard from him again.

Five months later when I was six months pregnant I had complications with my pregnancy so I went to the hospital and had to have an emergency c-section.

Leila Rosalie Cullen, yes I gave her; her fathers last name, was born on February 14th at 5;07 pm she weighed only three pounds one ounce. She couldn't breathe on her own so she had to be put in a incubator and on a breathing machine. She ended up staying in the hospital for two more months. Leila came home mid April with a heart monitor. For the first four months she had to be hooked up to it.

"Mommy?" a small soft voice broke me out of my thoughts

I looked down to see my daughter looking up at me. I smiled she looks exactly like her father. She has long curly bronze hair and green eyes. She gets all of her facial features from him. She got nothing from me. She's not even as clumsy as me. Which I thank the heavens that she's not.

"Yes, baby?" I finally answer her just as soft as she said.

"When are we going to the mall? I need new clothes for school." she asked me.

"We will go within the next ten minutes okay?" she only nodded to me "why don't you go get the pictures you drew for Auntie Leah and Uncle Seth and what you made for Papa Charlie and Nana Sue we are going over there for dinner tonight." she smiled and bounced upstairs to her room.

Three years ago my dad married Sue Clearwater. Ever since they got married Leah and I have been able to settle our differences and are now closer then ever. Leah took the role of my best friend. No matter how much I love and miss having Alice's company she left me and it hurt just the same as when Edward left. Leah loves Leila despite her hatred for the Cullen's. She knows that Leila is Edward's daughter and she knows what he did. To say she was pissed would be an understatement. She didn't even question me when I gave Leila the last name of Cullen instead of Swan. In my eyes she'll always be a Cullen even if she doesn't know her father.

A year ago we moved out of Charlie's house and found a house ten minutes away. We live in a average sized two story house with three bedrooms. We live in a nice neighborhood. Charlie wouldn't let us move until he checked out everything. Eight months my old truck completely died so Charlie and his new wife Sue talked me into getting a new car. I knew I needed a new car, one that was safe for not only me but my daughter too.

For the first two years after my daughter was born I took time off of school I didn't go to college right away and I worked at a restaurant part-time as a waitress on the weekends. During the week I would work at the daycare were I would bring Leila. Between those two jobs I saved everything I made and was able to afford a down payment on the house we are currently living in now.

"Mommy I'm ready" Leila shouted to me

"Honey, there's no reason to shout I am right here." I said to her as I made my way to the door where she was standing all ready with her shoes on and her little backpack. "what's in your backpack?"

"The pictures for Auntie Leah and Uncle Seth and the clay bowl and my handprints I made for Papa and Nana." she said happily I couldn't do anything but smile at how happy she was

"Alright then lets go." No sooner when the words were out of my mouth she ran outside. "Be careful Leila!" I yelled out to her.

After grabbing my purse and keys I started out to my car, locking the door behind me. I made it to my car to see that Leila was already buckled in and ready to go. I laughed at how excited she was I'm not sure if she's excited for shopping or to see her papa. I got in the car and headed towards the mall.

"Mommy, I wish Daddy was here." my daughter told me quietly I almost didn't hear her say the comment; it was so quiet. I wish Edward was here if not for me for his daughter. I wish he was here to see her being born and be here for her first birthday and her first word and when she took her first steps. But he wasn't and it hurts.

"Me too sweetie." I said after a thoughtful minute

For the rest of the ride it was silent. I pulled in the parking lot and found a parking space before I shut the car off Leila was unbuckled and out of her seat.

"Leila, you need to stay buckled and seated till I shut the car off and tell you to get out." I told her in my 'mom' voice or at least that's what Seth calls it

"Sorry momma, I forgot but I'll remember next time. I promise." she rambled on

"Okay sweetie, lets get going and get the shopping over with so we can go see papa, nana, auntie Leah and uncle Seth" I said as I got out of the car.

She squealed out a yay and got out. I walked over to her and took her hand and we made our way into the mall. Once we were in the mall I asked Leila where she wanted to go first she told me that she wanted to go to the gap so we made our way towards there.

On the way towards the gap I looked in Victoria's Secret as we passed by it and standing there at the checkout counter was a short pixie-like girl with short spiky hair. There at the checkout counter was Alice.

Oh no their back was all I could think about. I never even thought about them coming back. He told me that he wouldn't come back. So what are they doing back.

I looked up and seen we reached the gap. I decided that I wouldn't think about it right now. I would shop with my daughter then go to the family dinner at my dads. Later tonight I will talk with Leah and tell her about the Cullen's coming back.

I spent the next hour and a half shopping with my daughter getting her new school clothes and supplies. I didn't see Alice again after that. And I was thankful that I hadn't.

Leila and I walked out to the car, I put the bags in the back of the explorer while Leila buckled herself in her booster seat.

"Mommy are you okay?" Leila asked me once I got in the car.

I turned around to face my daughter "Yeah I'm fine sweetie. Why do you ask?"

"Because you barely talked since we got to the gap." she told me while playing with the hair on her Molly her American Girl doll that her auntie Leah got her for Christmas last year.

"I'm sorry sweetie I didn't mean to worry you but mommy's fine." she nodded at me but didn't say anything. I took that as a sign that the conversation was over so I started the car and headed towards my dad's house. Leila was asleep within minutes after I started driving.

We reached my dads house about twenty minutes later. I got out and went over to my daughters side of the car. I opened the door a touched her face.

"Wake up baby girl." she mumbled something like 'no I don't want to' and turned away from me "don't you want to go see Papa and Nana and Uncle Seth and Auntie Leah." that did it cause her eyes shot open and she quickly tried to unbuckle herself.

"Whoa slow down there." I told her with a laugh.

"But I wanna see everybody."

"They will still be there sweet pea." I said while I reached over and helped her with the buckle. She got out and started towards the door. "Hey what about your backpack." she stopped in her tracks and turned around and made her way back to me and grabbed her bag and my hand.

"Come on Mommy lets go!" she exclaimed.

I let her drag me to the door. I knocked on it and waited for someone to answer. Not two seconds later the door opened.

"Auntie Leah!" Leila squealed and threw herself into her aunts arms. Leah laughed.

"Hey princess how is my favorite little princess?" Leah asked while picking Leila up. And leading us into the house.

"I'm good mommy took me shopping I got lots of new clothes."

"That's awesome. Why don't you go surprise Uncle Seth. He's in his room you remember which room is his right?" she nodded and ran up the stairs. Leah and I laughed at her excitement. She turned to me and gave me a hug. We heard a loud 'Uncle Seth!' then a 'Bumblebee!' Seth gave Leila that nickname when she was four and she and some of the kids from the daycare put on a play and she was a bumblebee and the name kinda stuck. But only her Uncle Seth can call her that.

"So how are you doing?" she let me go and started towards the living room. We sat on the couch. "and don't both lying to me cause I know you to well so I know when your lying."

I sighed and looked away. "I was fine till I brought Leila to the mall."

"What do you mean? What happened at the mall?" Leah looked at me with concern in her eyes. I didn't talk for a couple minutes but when I did I said the four words that I never thought I'd find myself saying.

"The Cullen's are back."