Authors' Note: Woohoo! Plot!

Disclaimer: It's hard to believe but we STILL don't own Twilight or The Shop Around the Corner

"Uh, mom?"

Bella froze in place, looking down at a surprising mixture of twisted noodles and vegetables.

"Yes, honey?"

"Why'd you get Americanized Chinese?"

Dinner had already gotten off to enough of a weird start without this, Bella reflected in confusion. Creeping down the stairs a good ten minutes after her mother slammed the door, Bella had prepared herself for full-fledged warfare, only to find her mother humming over a salad she had just finished making. It was unlike her mother not to dwell on things; it was even more unlike her to go out of her way to be pleasant when she had just had a quarrel. Handing her a plate piled quite unnecessarily high with food (and adding in a rather sincere-looking smile), they'd settled in remarkably good humor down at the dinner table.

Yet even so, Bella had not come to the full realization that something huge was afoot until she'd considered the food. Which, good grief, was take out.

"Oh, well, you know, I thought it might be nice to break out of the routine a little bit," Renee said casually.

Bella swallowed nervously. Her mother loved cooking to a fault. Giving up the chance to experiment disastrously with what they would have to consume at various meals was similar to another person agreeing to let the doctor amputate.

This could only mean one thing. Her mother wanted to have a talk.

Bracing herself, Bella took a sip of water and pretended not to notice that anything unusual was happening. Situations such as these required careful handling, and she could guess well enough that the best course of action was just to let Renee start on her own. So she allowed herself to enjoy the noodles as she ate them. They were, after all, the first food that resembled normal since Renee had forced her to a "friend"'s house for lunch two years ago. Unless you counted the school lunches, but then again, what school food is "normal"?

"Bella..." Her mother started after a few minutes of silence. Then she hemmed and hawed for a little bit, while Bella leaned into her hand.

"You might have noticed how happy Phil and I have been when we were together recently," Renee shot off suddenly.

Her daughter nodded numbly. Well, yeah. I assume that's why you got married.

"I know that you can't really understand this, but to be in a real relationship like ours, not the virtual type--" and here her eyes flashed a little, showing that after all she hadn't forgotten the argument just now "--that you seem used to, it's important not to let yourself be shy. Get to know people, allow yourself to get close -- well, it helps you to not only share your lives, but to share your thoughts, and understand each other. That's what relationships are all about."

Bella couldn't help thinking back to her training with Lehstat earlier in the day. They always enjoyed their conversations together, even though it was carried out with thought bubbles over animated heads. They had really gotten to know each other, discussing all manner of things during their months together online. She had convinced him to read some E. M. Forster when she had recited her favorite quote : "The only thing worth giving away is yourself." He had gotten her listening to new and exciting types of music when she had never really considered experimenting before. She felt a closeness to him that she had never experienced with anyone else...

...but she wasn't about to tell her mother all that. After all, her mother's concern over online safety had meant that they didn't even know each other's first names. Although Bella, at least, knew that Lehstat lived in the US. Renee had been convinced that giving away any information of that sort would lead to certain death for her daughter.

Renee was continuing to talk about all the friends that Bella would make if she just put herself out there a little more. "You're just too quiet and you definitely spend too much time in your room. You should really do something besides just lie around all day. With a beautiful daughter like you I should be beating back the young men with a stick, but you never seem to be dating anyone."

Bella tried to suppress an eye roll with limited success, but her mother was too busy waiting for some type of reply to be angry. How could she explain to her mom that a pale brunette just didn't inspire the boys of Phoenix the way the tall, tan blondes did?

Not that it mattered anyway.

"Mom, you know that I don't just lie around all day," Bella argued, twisting some more noodles around her fork, "Yes, I'm in my room a lot, but I'm usually learning something, or reading, or programming... I've also met some great people online. I know you might not be able to understand this," Bella said pointedly, mimicking her mother earlier, "but they've really helped me to see the world."

Renee sighed, her brow furrowing. "I just worry about you not getting out very much." She considered for a moment, her innocent but very perceptive eyes raking over Bella as the two of them sat somberly at the table. "I don't mean to be neglecting you by spending so much time on the phone with Phil. It'll probably be easier for you… and me… when he gets signed somewhere. We can all settle down together and--" suddenly she was grinning – "I'll make sure that you don't have to worry about anything else when all the boys start falling for you."

Bella raised her eyebrows and wondered how the conversation had gotten so serious so quickly. "Honestly Mom, you're not neglecting me. I know that you love me and you love Phil too."

Then she was staring down at the table, biting her lip. The topic of Renee and Phil brought up some thoughts that she had been trying to keep buried. The ideal picture of their family, the vision her mom saw already, was of all three of them, together. Yet, Bella knew – and had known for some time – that right now they weren't ready for that.

"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that," she said slowly, searching for how to say this. "You know…basically you guys are on your honeymoon and you're watching out for me too."

"But that's what we want to do!"

"Yeah, I know," Bella murmured. "I know. But I also know that both of you deserve some time with each other – just the two of you." And now she had reached the point of no return. Frowning down at her Chinese, she finally decided what the action was she had to take.

"I've actually been thinking about moving to Forks to stay with Charlie. Not because I don't love you, but because I do."