Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Twilight. This is just a fanfic.
AN: Sorry for the wait.
Chapter 3: Home Sweet Home
I'm finally home. The place where most of my family stayed behind while I had to move away with my mom after the divorce. As the door in front of me opens, flashes of my childhood come back to me from the summers I used to spend here so many years ago. It's like stepping into a time capsule.
Our house is more of a two story mini mansion; well, three if you count the basement. I guess that's what happens when you have so many teens living together who have a Judge as a father. The first floor consist of the main hall with a grand staircase, living room with a working fireplace, a dining room, kitchen, a guest bathroom and Charlie's home office. Under the staircase is a door that leads to the basement. The basement doubles as the laundry room and the game room. Upstairs there are seven bedrooms and one bathroom in the hall. Only three of the bedrooms have a built-in bathroom in them: Charlie's room, the guest room and my room. Sometimes it helps being the only girl. Each of the boys has his own room, but they have to share the one bathroom. I don't even want to think about what it looks like in there. Charlie had to add a garage at the side of the house to hold all the vehicles. Every one of them drives but me, for obvious reasons.
Walking inside I can tell that they tried to make it presentable. However, I can also tell that a female hasn't lived here for a while.
Charlie is on the couch in the living room, watching some game on TV. I know he hears us come in when the TV goes mute.
"Hey Bells. How was the surprise?" I can tell he is amused by all of this.
"Did it work?", he asks the boys.
"In more ways than you want to know." Andrew quips.
"Trust us." Mathew chortles.
They are probably still thinking about hitting on their kid sister. That will teach them not to assume anything about girls for a while. I hope.
"It took us awhile to catch on to who she was." Jasper admits.
"IT WAS AWESOME!" Emmett adds, who else.
"Looks like we did a good job then." Oh, Charlie. He is so proud of himself.
"Yeah dad, we did. It was so funny. I wish you could have seen their faces." We all laugh. I really missed this.
"Oh Bella, I almost forgot. Renee called. She wanted you to call her back when you got home." I groan and walk over to the phone in the kitchen. She worries too much.
I dial my mom's number and put it on speaker. While I'm here I might as well figure out what to make for dinner. I swear, the phone doesn't even have time to ring before her frantic voice comes on the line.
"Oh my God, Bella?"
"Mom . . . ."
"Are you Ok?"
"Mom . . . ."
"How was the plane ride?"
"Mom . . . ."
"Why are you not answering me?"
"Mom . . . ."
"Did anything bad happen? Anything at all?"
"RENEE!"
"Yes, Bella?"
"I'm fine Mom. Nothing bad happened."
"Oh. Ok then. I was just worried."
"I know, Mom. Listen, I'm going to see what there is for dinner. I'll call you soon. Ok?"
"Sure honey. Oh, don't forget that I made a doctor's appointment for you on . . . ."
"Monday at 4:30, Love you."
"Alright, love you too. Night ,Bells."
"Night, Mom."
With that I go to end the call.
Laughter erupts from behind me making me jump. I hang up the phone, almost having a heart attack.
"She will never change. Will she?" All five men are cracking up at the doorway. I decide to give them some time. Charlie leaves but the others try to calm down.
I continue my exploration of the kitchen. And what did I find? Eggs, bacon, a jar of peanut butter and a ton of leftover takeout that I don't want to go near.
"What do you guys do for food? You obviously don't go food shopping." Now they're calm. Did they all just shrug at me? Is that supposed to mean something to me?
The doorbell rings and then I hear Charlie calling us to come eat. The next thing I know my brothers are attacking the table as if it's survival of the fittest. Then I see Charlie walking towards me with two plates in his hands.
"I hope pizza is Ok for tonight." Charlie hands me a slice.
"Are they always like this?" I am completely dumbfounded by the scene in front of me while I take the offered plate.
"Yes. Most times. We usually order takeout." Charlie is acting like it was no big thing.
"Well, takeout is fine once in a while. But now that I'm here, I'm breaking you all of that habit." I love pizza as much as the next guy, but I will not eat take out every day.
"Be my guest, Bells. I'll leave a card on top of your dresser so you can get whatever you think we need." Charlie says a little to eagerly.
"Yeah! Dad's card!" Oh, Emmett, will he ever learn?
"Only you are to use it." Charlie tells me in all seriousness.
"Why? Don't you trust us?" Well, that was a dumb question Matt.
"With my credit card? No." Charlie retorts. At least he was honest. Poor Matt.
It's really late when we finish dinner.
"Well, I'm going to bed. I'll unpack in the morning. Good night." It really was a long day.
They all say in unison, "Night, Bells."
As I reach the stairs, I stop at the base and turned around.
I almost forgot. "Oh, and boys? Tomorrow we clean." They are not backing out of this.
When my brothers hear this, they laugh like it's the funniest thing they've ever heard. I shoot them a look that says, "Try me." Charlie clears his throat to get their attention.
"Guys? It's not a good idea to laugh at the woman who is giving you chores." He's amused by how scared the boys seem when they finally turn to see my face. "And Bella, I'm sorry but I have an early case in the morning so I won't be able to help."
"That's alright, Dad. Just collect your clothes and put them in the hamper. They can help with the rest." With that I bid goodnight to a grateful father and four very nervous brothers and make my way upstairs.
I am so tired that I don't bother with anything once I get to my room. I don't even turn on the light as I kick my shoes to the side of the door frame and put my bag in the same spot. I know that there are boxes in the corner of my room and that I am still wearing my travel clothes, but right at this moment, I am too tired to care. I can take care of them later. I find the bed and collapse on it.
Tomorrow is a new day.
AN: I am sorry again for the delay. School just started a few days ago. Needless to say, it is going to take me a little while between updates. I will finish the story, I'm just writing as I go along. If there is anything that you would like to see in later chapters, just tell me. Again, sorry for the wait and I hope you enjoy the story. All I ask is for patience.