Disclaimer: If I were Stephanie Mayer, I would have more Jasper time in the books. Until I do own them (which will be never), I'm going to be content reading and now writing here.

"Belle, pass me a stick of gum," said Dora as she put her hands in the fresh dish water, intent on doing dishes while Bella cleared the leftovers from that night's supper. Dora always chewed gum while cleaning, just like she always sang to the song she had stuck in her head that day. The words had barely left her mouth when her twin sister had a stick in front of her face. "Thanks."

"No problem."

"Do you think tonight will be the night?" she asked. Phil, their mom's boyfriend, had asked for the girls' help over two months ago in picking an engagement ring. He hadn't proposed, and the girls were starting to think he was getting cold feet.

"I don't know, Dore. He said it was going to happen last month."

"Then mom cancelled on him for her knitting class. That lasted long, didn't it."

"It would help if she had actually paid for them."

"Good thing we pay the bills."

"Ya. Speaking of which, did you pay the cable?"

"Yup. You pay the mortgage?"

"Duh! I don't want to loose the house. Who do you think I am, Renee?"

"At least she doesn't forget to get up to go to work."

"Only because I set her alarm clock at night. And turn it on. And get her schedule from work."

"What? Dora! She doesn't get up in the morning?"

"Calm down, Belle. She gets up. She just needs help. Especially after one of her dates."

"I can't wait till Phil actually proposes. She deserves to be happy." Bella always wanted her mother to be happy, and so did Dora, but the elder twin was the romantic of the two, always the dreamer.

"Of course she does, but we still have to prepare for the fact that he might have changed his mind. I mean, come on, I wouldn't want to take care of someone for the rest of my life. I love Renee, I really do, but I can't wait for her to start taking her responsibilities. If she doesn't, Phil might decide she's not worth it and leave." Dora, on the other hand, was always the more realistic one. She knew there weren't always happy ending. Look at their parents. They finalized the divorce before the girls were five.

"But mom is worth it."

"I know that. I'm just prepared for Phil to leave and then we have to pick up the pieces with mom."

"Phil makes her happy."

"I know. I'm happy she's happy. I know Phil is good for her." The girls sat down at the kitchen table, dishes washed, dried and put away. "She does a load of laundry once a week since she's started going out with him. Putts too much soap in the machine, but at least she's putting an effort. And she makes her bed every morning now, because she doesn't want him to see a messy bedroom. She's started taking some slack in the work. All because of Phil. I'm just getting myself prepared so that if things don't work out, I'll be able to be strong for her. And if things do work out, I'm surprised and I'm all the more happier that it's really happening. For Renee's sake, I hope he proposes to her and she gets her fairy tale."

"What about for your sake? You really need to stop being so negative, Dora. It's not healthy."

"I don't care. If things don't work out, I'm not disappointed. If they do, I get an even better reaction because I wasn't expecting It's how I cope."

"With what? Since Jerry, you've been acting so pessimistic."

"Look what he did to her, Belle. To you. To us. We move here, and Renee starts dating him within a week. He hurt us in the worst way. I really thought he was going to be someone to take care of us. That he loved us. Instead he moved in and started beating us. It left us vulnerable and I don't want to feel like that again."

"It started three years ago."

"Jerry was around for a year before he started beating us. And Phil's only been around for eight months. Who's to say he isn't the same?"

"Because Jerry didn't want to marry her. Phil does. He loves her. He made sure we were ok with it. That we were happy. What Jerry did was wrong, but he was in a bad place..."

"And he didn't have to take it out on us, Bella," Dora interrupted. "I might be a pessimist, but you're too forgiving for your own good. It's going to get you hurt."

"It's a chance I'm willing to take. Are you willing to chance being unhappy just because you're being negative?"

"Just call me a stone angel."

"Do you even know what that book is about? I've noticed you haven't opened it since you found it in the library. How is that late fee going, by the way?" Bella teased. She could tell Dora was not going to humor her with the conversation anymore, and didn't want to cause an argument with her sister, so she changed the subject.

"They let me buy the book ages ago. It was cheaper that way. Besides, now I can read it as slow as I want."

"Again I ask if you've even opened it."

"No, not yet. I'm more into my music right now."

"And the Star Wars movies. You're obsessed with them."

"Hey. Don't knock it. Natalie Portman's a good actress. Have you seen her in Where the Heart Is? Or Anywhere but Here?"

"No."

"Right. You're too busy putting your nose in Jane Austen and the Bonte sisters."

"Hey. Don't knock it," she quoted, and the two started laughing. "What are you reading anyways?"

"Right now? I'm working on getting ready for the Annual Children's Hospital Christmas Ball auditions. I really want to perform there. I'm just not sure I'm good enough."

"You are good enough. More then good enough."

"You're just saying that because you're my sister and it's an unwritten rule somewhere."

"I'm saying it because it's true. Didn't you say that those people at the circus thought so too?"

"Belle, I was eight. They were being nice to the eight year old who had lost her mom and sister. They didn't mean it. Besides, Renee said they weren't real, remember?"

"But you said they were."

There was a long pause, as Dora's eyes glazed over, lost in thought. Bella knew that Dora still truly believed they were real, and couldn't figure out why she wasn't saying what she wanted to say: they are real. She always insisted they were. Even today. So why wasn't Dora continuing to insist they were. It was like she wasn't sure if it really happened anymore.

But Dora wasn't even part of the conversation anymore. In her head, she saw Renee and Phil leaving the restaurant, on their way back to the house. They were both smiling and holding hands.

"They're on their way home." It was all she said. She didn't know what brought this on, but since they moved to Phoenix, Dora had been able to see things before they happened. They didn't happen often, and when they did, she didn't know what to make of them; she just knew she was seeing them. She never mentioned them, not even to Bella, but she was aware that her sister knew something was up. Just like when she was so in tune with the emotions of others. That's why she had been so hurt when Jerry had abused them. For some reason, she felt not only her's and Bella's pain, but her mom's, and Jerry's anger when he did hit them. What was going on with her?

"How do you know?"

Dora had no idea she even said anything out loud. Great. How was she going to explain this one? "It's been long enough for them to have supper and talk. It feels right."

Bella wasn't stupid. She could see Dora wasn't telling her something. Did her twin think she was going to judge her? Isolate her? Hate her? Bella loved Dora more than anything. She just wanted her sister to open up to her. She also knew Dora wasn't going to talk about what she was hiding until she was ready. She was determined to wait until then, but it still bothered her that she wasn't trusted enough by her own twin sister.

"Oh. Well, I hope he finally asked her. It would be nice to have someone else take care of the bills around here."

"Ya." Dora got lost in her thoughts again, barely paying attention to the fact that Bella was watching her. Bella just stared at her, trying to get a feel for her sister's feelings. When they were younger, they could almost read each other's thoughts; they were in tune with the other's emotions and they moved like one being. Moving to Phoenix changed everything, and Bella knew it was more then what happened with Jerry.

They didn't know how long the silence between them lasted, but before they knew it, the front door was opening and Renee and Phil walked in, hand in hand, and all smiles. Once they came into the kitchen, they saw the girls sitting at the table.

"Hi girls. How was supper?" asked Phil.

"It was good. Dora made her lasagna and I made the garlic bread and salad. We have leftovers set up for both of you for lunch tomorrow," answered Bella. "How was the restaurant?"

"It was fantastic!" exclaimed Renee, sitting down beside Dora. Phil sat between Bella and Renee. "It was so romantic! Candle lit dinner, quiet atmosphere. And it was the same table we had on our very first date. And Phil asked me a very important question that will change all our lives. He asked me to marry him!" She decided to let go of Phil's hand to show off the ring the girls had helped choose.

"Wow mom! That's wonderful!" exclaimed Bella, hugging Phil and her mom.

"Ya. Congratulations guys." Dora's reaction was more subtle than her sister's. It made Renee pause for half a second to look at her youngest daughter.

"Are you ok with this?"

"Of course I am. This is great." And it was. Phil had surprised her. He wanted a commitment with Renee, who was eight years his senior. And he was going to start his baseball career. Dora only hoped he was going to keep making her mom happy. She hugged them both, and whispered to Phil. "Thank you for making my mom happy."

"No problem, kiddo," he whispered back.

Plans for the wedding quickly got under way after that. Renee wanted to get married before the girls' thirteenth birthday, which was just over three months away. They had to hurry to make all the plans. It was going to be a small wedding, the week before the girls were going to spend two weeks with Charlie.

They normally went to Forks for those two weeks, but this year, Bella didn't want to spend her time with her dad fishing. Even if it didn't bother Dora one bit, they still made plans to go to Disney Land in California, while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon.

In between planning the wedding, honeymoon, and the trip to Disney Land, Dora auditioned for the Annual Children's Hospital Christmas Ball. She had decided to sing a few songs, and play the guitar. She didn't try the piano, since she had given it up not long after moving to Phoenix. She wanted to focus her talents on what she was good at, and the piano wasn't it.

The auditions were opened to all kids sixteen and younger. They wanted the Children's Hospital Christmas Ball to be by kids, both those who were ill in the hospital and those around the community. Every year, the children in the hospital voted on a theme they nominated. This year, it was Disney Songs. The event was going to have songs from the movies played and sung by the kids.

They only wanted three males and three females to perform, each taking their turns singing the songs, but only one of each was going to be the star. They did plan for alternates, however, just in case one of the kids who were sick was too ill to perform that day. Dora didn't mind being the star, but would be happy to be a back-up, just to get her face and talent out there. She would get the results of the auditions in a few weeks.

The day of the wedding was, as usual, sunny, dry and hot. Bella woke up first, and quickly got out of bed, making as much noise as possible to take up her sister. All Dora did was roll over and tried to go back to sleep. Bella decided to skip all her usual tactics and go straight for the last resort.

She grabbed the guitar leaning on the wall and started playing a made up tune.

Time to wake up

It's the wedding day

Time to be the bridesmaid

So get your butt out of bed

Her singing was awful to begin with, but the combination of Bella's shouting and slamming on the guitar strings was enough to make Dora jump out of bed in a flash. Unfortunately for her, she was tangled in her bed sheets, causing her to fall and landing hard on her knees, and she immediately knew she had rug burns.

"Great. Thanks Belle. Just what I need. Red knees for Renee's wedding day. And give me my baby. That's not how your supposed to play it. If you want to learn, just ask. I don't want to have to replace another string." She quickly got up from the floor and took the instrument from her sister's hands, and pet it like she would an animal. "There, there. I won't let her hurt you anymore. She's a big meany isn't she, Lucy."

"Lucy?"

"She's the queen of comedy. Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!," she tried, and failed miserably, to mimic Dezi Arnaz.

"Eeeeeewwwww." Bella tried, and also failed miserably, to mimic Lucille Ball. They laughed a bit, then cleared her throat. "Come on, we have to get Renee up and get her ready for her wedding."

Dora reluctantly put her guitar down, and went to the bedroom door. "Let me pee first. If I don't do it now, she'll hog the bathroom till next week."

"She better not. She's getting married today."

The morning went by quickly. In no time at all, it was time for the wedding to start. Unfortunately, Renee didn't even have her dress on. This was not the way things were supposed to go today.

"I can't believe I'm not ready. This is a disaster. This is a sign. It's not meant to be. It's going to be awful. He won't want me. He'll realize I'm too old for him and leave me. He'll..."

"Mom, shut up and listen!" Dora interrupted her mother's panic monologue. "He loves you. Phil loves you. I know he does. I can't feel it, deep in my soul. This is meant to be. This will happen. When has anything ever happened to us on time? When have you ever been on time? I know you're scared; but it feels right doesn't it? Do you feel like this is right for you?"

Renee thought about things for a second, took a deep breath, and looked into her daughter's eyes. "I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life, apart from the two of you."

"Then put on that dress and get out there. You need to marry the man of your dreams."

The bride smiled and hugged her daughter tightly. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love you. So very much."

"I love you too mom. Now come on. Let's get something to dry those tears and fix that makeup." She went to the washroom, and grabbed a kleenex. When she turned towards the door, she saw Bella looking at her, with a soft smile on her face.

"You did good, sis. There's hope for you yet."

Let me know what you think so I'm not writing this for nothing.