Bella

"Eight. Nine. Ten. You better be hiding, munchkin."

I turned around from the corner I was put in and glanced across my living room, where I immediately saw two little feet sticking from under the curtain. I love my niece with all my heart, truly. But she really sucked at playing hide-and-seek. Of course, I wasn't going to tell her that. Even I am not that cruel.

"Oh, where could she be?" I asked overly dramatic while sneaking through the room. Immediately I heard her soft giggles, which always fill my heart. God, I love that sound.

For several minutes I kept putting up an act of not being able to find her, making her fill the room with soft laughs and whispers. "I'm here," my 4-year old niece sang, with quite possibly the cutest voice ever. Again, not that skilled at playing hide-and-seek, but I was hoping she would never learn.

Quietly I made my way to my reddish curtains and suddenly pulled them away, making the little girl with long, bronze curls give a little squeal and roar with laughter. She tried to get away from me and ran to the couch.

"Oh no. Come here, little shrimp," I said laughing, while I went in pursuit. Soon I snatched her from the ground and pinned her down on the couch, tickling her without any mercy. "Do you surrender?" I asked her, stopping the torture for merely a second.

"Never!" She has her aunt's stubbornness.

Just when I wanted to make her beautiful laugh appear once more, the doorbell rang and we both sat up. "Who could that be, miss Ellie?" I asked shocked. Though there wasn't any doubt in my mind it would be my lovely, little sister.

"Mommy!" She shrieked as I picked her up and made my way to the door.

Before I turned the handle, I turned to my niece again. "Just like we practiced, alright?" She replied with an enthusiastic nod.

The moment I opened the door, she spoke and shook her head. "We didn't have ice cream for lunch, mommy." I would also have to teach her how to lie.

"Good job," I whispered, making her giggle.

Renesmee simply chuckled and took over her little girl. "Of course you didn't, otherwise your auntie Belle would be in a whole lot of trouble," she said as she looked me in the eyes.

I innocently raised my hands. "You heard the kid. We'd never do that. Right, Ellie?"

"We didn't have ice cream for lunch," she simply repeated, just like we practiced – though this time she added the pout. I love that kid.

"Hm-hm," she snorted. "Did you have fun at aunt Bella's, sweetheart?"

She extensively nodded and started to explain with grand gestures. "We built a fort and made cookies and played outside and I got sprinkles on my ice cream!" She froze as Nessie gave her a strict look. "Uh-oh. Sorry, aunt Bella."

"Traitor," I whispered and planted a kiss on her curls. I loved that she always seemed to enjoy herself with me. She herself was one of the few human beings I myself liked spending time with. My sister was also one of them.

"That sounds like fun," Nessie replied with a wide grin. She's a natural mother, that one. Even though she panicked like crazy when she found out she was pregnant and it took us lots of girls-nights to get her to calm down. The moment she saw Ellie, she fell in love with her. It's crazy to see how she evolved from the rebellious younger sister to the mature, responsible mother and wife. I guess I got stuck a phase. "You'll have to tell me all about it when we get home."

"You want to come in for a cup of coffee?" I asked following social convention, though I could see she was in a hurry.

"I can't," she admitted. "Jake's cooking tonight." Ah, her lovely husband, who I happened to have briefly dated in high school. "But we should go out soon. Mommy needs some grown-up time."

She sighed and gave me a kiss on my cheek, even though she knew I hated it when she did. "How have you been? You look good."

"I'm fine."

"Charlie says you found a new therapist?" I nodded. Although Charlie's not her father, the two of them immediately bonded, so it didn't surprise me he would've told her. I was grateful, actually. Nessie grew up with our mother and her second husband, whilst I stayed with Charlie. He would have had every right not to care about her, but he still did.

"You plan on visiting this one more than once?" She skeptically raised her eyebrows at me. Damn those Dwyer-genes. I blame my mother for this.

I shrugged my shoulders, playing with one of Ellie's curls. "I might," I said honestly. To be fair, I had been thinking about it all day, while it had been a week since I last saw him. There was something about Edward Cullen that made me want to go back. This oddly was something I never had difficulty with before, I hated each and every one of my psychologists.

"Woah, he must either be real good or real hot for you to be interested in him," she teased, as I rolled my eyes at her. Although I can't deny he's damn good-looking. It still wasn't the reason I wanted to see him again. "Thank you for baby-sitting, Bells," she continued. "What do we say, Ellie?"

"Thank you, auntie Bella."

"No problem, munchkin," I replied with wide grin and gave her another kiss on her head. "Any time, Nessie."

With those words she disappeared outside. I watched for awhile while she strapped Ellie in her seat and drove off, before closing the door behind me. Immediately I let down my smile. My niece was probably the only one who could make me even remotely happy these days, yet at least Renesmee and my father thought I was doing okay. I had no desire having them check up on me again, how good their intentions might be. I also felt guilty enough that two people I love, couldn't make me feel content about my life.

After I had cleaned up the mess – who knew such a tiny human could cause it to look like a hurricane passed by? – I took an apple and my car keys, making my way outside. I didn't really know where I was going and drove around for a while, until I found myself getting closer and closer to Cullen's practice.

With a sigh I got out of my car. Stupid brain, making me go to shrinks. Was I really about to step inside a second time?

I can leave whenever I want, I told myself. No need for getting personal. I stepped inside and looked at the blonde receptionist, who remembered me from last time. Part of me wondered if she planned on tackling me to the ground this time, to prevent me from going inside unannounced.

To my surprise she simply looked confused, which quickly changed to a kind – albeit forced – smile. "Miss Swan," she said. "He's expecting a patient in 30 minutes, but he's not busy right now."

"Good," I said. It was the perfect excuse for me to get out of there fast enough. Knowing the way, I stepped towards his office, but took a deep breath. This was unfamiliar territory. Never had I chosen to go a second time, basically saying I wanted to talk. I didn't, I think. I'm not even sure anymore. I just never wanted to talk to the others, but him I wanted to tell things. Personal things. I had to be careful I wouldn't, not this soon.

Without knocking I made my way inside again, finding him at his desk again. Immediately he looked up and I saw a wide smile appear on his face. "You came back," he simply stated, pointing out the obvious.

"No, I just happened to find myself back here," I answered sarcastically, and sighed. "We have to have rules." That honesty for honesty-shit might've sound appealing, but I had given it enough thought to know there was a catch.

He slowly nodded. "Alright."

"A question for a question. But we have to be able to pass some of them. Otherwise the deal's off," I told him. "And I'm paying you, so you basically have to do what I tell you to do and you can't disagree with it." I took a step forward. "I'm also not promising coming back after this. This is nothing more than a trial-run."

He got this amused smirk, making me feel like I just made a damn fool of myself. "Alright," he simply repeated and got up, this time leaving the notepad behind. He seemed genuinely happy I returned, which didn't make any bloody sense.

"Alright," I mimicked and took a seat on the leather chair, closest to the window. "Let's get this over with."

AN: For Bella, this is a big deal.

I realize this chapter doesn't contain much Edward/Bella-action, but this is something I have given some thought. The explanation is simple: Most of the actual session-parts will be from Edward's point of view, because the story revolves around him being intrigued by this woman whose behavior he can't logically explain.

This doesn't mean the both of them won't be meeting outside of the shrinking.

I hope you'll enjoy this.