Hey everyone just wanted to say hope you enjoying the story thus far and thank you for your comments. Also, this chapter is a little longer than the other ones, so please bear with it. Thanks again for the support and feel free to leave a comment in the review box. Thanks and stay awesome everyone. And I don't own Twilight or most of characters.


Mary Alice searched high and low for her mother but to no avail. She was about to completely give up until she heard a distinct laugh in the distance. It was her father, Edgar John Brandon. He was a lanky built man, who had thin cheekbones that went well with his short dark hair and eyes. Edgar was a professional looking man, a dress as such; but despite his strict looking nature. He was an honest hardworking man; at least that's what Mary Alice thought.

Skipping over to her father she tugged on his pants leg trying to get his attention.

"It's no trouble at all Tom; you know boys will be boys. And don't worry about our-" He said before he was interrupted. Looking down, he saw his daughter. Giving off a tight smile, he said.

"Ah, Mary Alice there you are," He said bending down to meet his daughters gaze, "I would like to meet Mr. Smith."

Diverting her eyes toward the man her father mention. He was an average looking man with ginger hair and a curly mustache. He wore a gray pinstriped suit and a black bowler hat. But for some reason, this man looked oddly familiar.

"How do you do young lady ?" He said with the tip of his hat and a friendly smile. "Are you enjoying your birthday ?"

"I am now sir." she happily answered; while she thought about her new friend.

"Well, I wanted to wish you happy birthday, young lady. And someone else wants to say something to you too…" He used hand to beckon a little boy how came running over his mouth full of cake.

Oh no. Mary thought, her smile dropped as she saw who was running over.

"This is my son Theodore. I believe he said something inappropriate to you today and wants to apologize properly." He said nudging the boy in front of him. For a moment the boy stared in disbelief, and then turn his head back to look at his father with pity. Only to be met with an angry glare from his father.

Swallowing the rest of his cake, he looked her square in the eyes then said, " Sorry Mary Alice, I shouldn't have said that stuff and Happy Birthday." Before running behind his father's leg.

"Thank you, Theodore. I'm sure Alice forgives you," Edgar nodded, "Now would you like to say anything, Mary Alice ?"

"Yes…" she said turning to her father, "I… made a new friend today and I want you to meet her."

"That's nice dear but is there anything else ?" He said as his jaw tensed in his tight smile. " Perhaps saying sorry to Theodore ?"

"Why father?" She innocently tilted her head.

"Because you were running and made him mess up his suit. Go ahead and apologize Mary Alice."

"But it was an accident." she quipped, looking at him in disbelief.

"Mary Alice." Her father voiced edged a bit.

Begrudgingly she turned toward Theodore, who peeked from behind his father's leg. "I'm sorry I made you spill your drink, Theodore."

"Good girl," Edgar said, gently lightly patting her head. "Now you two run along, Mr. Smith and I need to talk."

"But father I…"

"Not now Mary Alice, go run along with Theodore." He father said as he and Mr. Smith walked away. Leaving her with the cruel boy who was currently making his way toward the cake table.

"Don't follow me." The boy snapped at her as he went to grab another piece of cake and stuffing his face. Mary Alice could only look in disgust at the gingered boy.

"I'm not and don't you think that you ate too much cake ?" she said crossing her arms.

"Don't you think you ate too much cake ?~" The boy mocked as he finished scarfing down his cake before he reached for a huge piece.

That piece is perfect for Bella! Alice thought before she snatched out of the boy's hands.

"Hey!" He sneered at Mary Alice. "What doing that's my cake!"

"Well, it's my party." Mary Alice quipped, her eyes looking for a certain brunette. "And I need this cake for someone."

"No, you don't you just want it for yourself!" He said before tugging on the plate, with his frosted covered hands. "Give it back!"

"No, I need it for my friend." she tugged back.

"No, you don't."

"Yes I do," she argued.

"Know you don't! Everyone knows you don't have any friends; they all think you're a freak!" Outraged, Mary Alice let go of the platter, which flew backward into Theodore. Covering his face with white frosting and chocolate; he stood there in shocked.

Mary Alice giggled, feeling quite proud of what she did. But this was short-lived, when Theodore reached out to push her. Only to be stopped, when a smaller hand grabbed his arm.

"Don't touch her." a small voice growled, before pushing into the cake covered boy back into the cake table, causing the few pieces to fall and land on him. After wiping the cake out of his eye, he looked up to see a short scruffy looking girl.

"Bella!" Mary Alice smiled, before running up to the girl and pulling her in for a hug. Causing embarrassment for the young shifter, as she wildly blushed, not used to such close contact. "Thank you so much."

"You're w-welcome.'' she stuttered.

"What is going on here ?" An older woman appeared, a look of shock plastered across her face.

"Hello, mother!" Mary Alice excitedly said despite her current circumstances.

"Mary Alice, what happened here and why is Theodore covered in cake ?"

"Well…"

"He tripped, Mrs. Mary Alice's mom." Bella quickly pipped up from behind her friend, but then ducked back behind her when Lillian glanced her way.

"And who might this be-" Lillian starts to say until she was interrupted by a certain cake covered boy.

"She a monster !" Theodore yelled, before he quivered in fear as Bella gave him a quick but subtle angry look. "She pushed me into the cake table!"

"Are you sure, Theodore ?" Mrs. Brandon asked skeptically; before taking another look another look at the smaller girl, who hid behind her daughter. The girl was half of the boy's size; making it highly unlikely for this girl to push him into a table.

"Yes! I am sure!" He snapped, not noticing he father and Mr. Brandon coming towards the small group. "Theodore," His father said causing the boy to whirl around and to come face to cake covered face with his father. " Why are you covered in cake ?"

"Because of…" He started to say, until he looked at Bella and froze. She stared at him with such an intense look on her face. As if she would attack, if he told his father what had happened. And then there were her eyes…they were glowing an unsettling silver-gold color; which was covered by her hair. Feeling the more scared each passing second, he quickly ran out of the room like his life depended on it. Sighing, Mr. Smith apologized to all three of the Brandon's and went after his dunderheaded son.

After much a few moments of befuddled looks; Lillian finally spoke. "Well, that was odd."

"Quite odd." Edgar quipped.

"Regardless…Mary Alice ?" she said as she and her husband, looked down at their daughter and her guest. "Whose this little one ?"

"Oh! This is Bella, she's my friend!" Mary happily spoke. "We met on the beach today !"

"Really?" Lillian said as she peered at the timid girl before she asked, " Are you the one who brought a smile to my daughter's face ?"

With a timid nod, she peeked out from her friend's shoulder. Finding the young girl simply adorable, a warm smile spread across her face, "It seems you made my daughters birthday even better."

"Mother." Mary Alice blushed. Laughing at her daughter's expense, kneeled down to eye level with Bella outstretched her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Bella. My name is Lillian Brandon, I'm Mary Alice mother and thank you for being my daughter's friend."

Cautiously stepping out from behind Mary Alice, Bella grinned before shaking Lillian's hand. "It's no trouble at all, Mrs. Brandon. Mary Alice is really kind."

"Isn't she ?" she smiled. "Why don't you stay for dinner ?"

Quick clearing his throat, Edgar spoke. "Dear, I'm sure Bella has to go back home for dinner," he said as he looked down towards the scruffy looking girl.

"I can stay for dinner." Bella answered, "My dad is coming to pick me up later."

"Oh, so you do have parents ?" Edgar callously says with a toothy grin; while his wife gave him a sharp look.

"Yes, sir. Why wouldn't I ?" Bella innocently asked.

Derailed by the girl's question, Edgar let out a false chuckled and said, "It just why isn't father here with you dear ?"

"He's busy with work, sir." she answered back.

"I'm sure he is dear…" Edgar said before checking his pocket watch. Excusing himself in order to take care of some business; he wished his daughter a happy birthday before he left.

Sighing at her husband's boorish antics, Lillian and Mary Alice led Bella into the kitchen to get her something to eat.

"So Bella, tell me more about yourself." she politely asked, as she prepared a meal for the girls, who sat at the kitchen counter along with Mary Alice.

"Like what ma'am? " Bella said as she and her friend played rock, paper, scissors.

"Well, anything. Like… where are you from ?" she said as she set a sandwich on the counter for the two friends.

"I'm from Italy, ma'am."

"Italy! Well, aren't you a long way from home."

"Yeah. Me, my mom and dad are just staying here for spring up until the last two weeks of summer."

"Oh. So you're taking a family vacation here ?"

"Something like that."

"So how do like the states, so far Bella ?" Lillian asked as she leaned on the counter. "Not to busy over for you is it ?"

"No, ma'am. It's a beautiful country it's just is a little louder than I'm use too. Especially in New York." she said after taking a bit out of her sandwich.

"Mmh, well the northern states, we're always a little rambunctious. But don't worry, don't here in the south, it's a bit more quiet. It'll grow on you in no time; especially with Mary Alice around." she smiles.

As time passed and grew late, the trio continued to chat in the kitchen as the party outside slowly ended. Though Mary Alice didn't seem to mind. She was busy have fun with Bella and her mother as the two continued to ask the young girl question. And Bella happily, but carefully answering each of them.

"So Bella what does your father do for work ?"

"He's an…enforcer," she says, looking down at her plate. While the two Brandons stared in confusion."

"What's that ?" Mary Alice asks.

"He goes after the people whose does something bad and stops them." she shifts nervously say, hoping she said the right thing.

"Oh you mean a sheriff ?" Mary Alice says her eyes lighting up with excitement. While Bella sits there slightly confused at the word sheriff, but none-the-less agrees. "I guess. Is that what you call it here in America ?"

"What do you call them in Italy, Bella ?" Lillian asked but before Bella could answer, the kitchen door opens to reveal a slight disturbed looking Edgar.

Concern by her husband's demeanor, Lillian spoke. "Edgar dear, what's wrong ?"

Nervously fiddling with his pocket watch, as he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. Never in all Lillian years of being married to Edgar had she seen him so nervous; not even on their wedding day. "It-it seems," He swallowed "Bella's father is here to fetch her."

While Lillian stood there confused as to why Edgar was acting in such a manner; Mary Alice was more thrilled to meet Bella father. Jumping off of the stood, she tugged Bella's hand "C'mon Bella, I want to meet your dad!"

Nervously smiling Bella, hopping off the stool, she runs out of the kitchen with Mary Alice. Until she spotted someone in the living room. The stood an average sized man, who 6'0 feet tall. He looked to be about in his early thirties, he has straight black parted hair and a full beard. He wore a plain button shirt with a suit vest, tie, pant and shoes along with a heavy fur coat. Even though it was in the middle of spring. This man looked a bit…odd, to say the least. But what really caught Mary Alice's attention was demeanor. There was a certain wild-ish manner about him, that made her even more curious.

Holding Bella hand, a bit tighter. She and her friend walked to the man.

"Hello!" she cheerfully spoke, as the man peered down. A shy smile on his appeared on his face, his warm brown eyes lighting up in curiosity.

"Hello." he calmly spoke, "Bella, who is this ?"

"This is my friend Mary Alice," Bella answered blushing, as Mary Alice stood there flabbergasted. "This is your dad? Wow, he is really tall. "

"Yep. I'm her dad." he laughed. "Nice to meet you, my name's Charlie Swan. But you can call me Charlie. And Happy Birthday young lady, I hope Bella hasn't been causing you too much trouble. "

"No, not at all. In fact, she made my birthday a whole lot better." She smiled at her now bashful friend, who was hiding behind her hair. And just before she asked another question; Mr. and Mrs. Brandon quickly came into the living room.

"Oh my…" Lillian said as she was taken aback by Charlie's odd but intimating appearance. "You must be Mr. Swan."

After answering her with a nod, Lillian continued, "It's lovely to finally meet you." she said shaking his hand. "You have a wonderful daughter. So bright."

"Thank you. And thank you for putting up with her for today, she can be a little trouble-maker at times." he laughed, while Bella rolled her eyes.

"Her? Trouble ?" Lillian laugh looked at the bashful girl and then her father. "Can't be. She is sweeter than a freshly picked peach."

"Mmh. You've met her on a good day." he joked, much at Bella's expense, "Well thank you again, but I'm afraid we must take our leave. Her mother gets a bit worried when we're out too late."

"It was no trouble at all." Edgar awkwardly says as he leads them towards the door, opening it.

"Mmh. I sure…Edgar." Charlie says in a dead tone before he walks out with Bella in tow.

"It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Brandon and you too Mary Alice." he waved as he and his daughter steps out, but before they leave Mary Alice rushes toward them.

" Charlie wait !" She said as she was within reach of them, "Can Bella come over again? I had so much fun spending time with her."

"Really." Taking a moment to think, Charlie finally relented after he saw her puppy dog eyes. "Sure after she un-grounded from running off today… and if it's alright with your parents."

Thrilled at the fact, that there would be a possibility to see her friend again. Mary Alice turned her head back to see if her parents approved. With a silent nod from her mother and a hesitant one from her father; Mary Alice was ecstatic. So much even she pulled Bella in for one last hug before they parted.

"See you soon Bella." She happily said before a bashful Bella responded with,

"You too." And with that, Bella and her father left Brandon Manor. An eager smile on both of the girls faces as they returned to their respective homes.