Been a minute, huh? I'm gonna stop, I'm not cool enough to use that kind of slang lol…Shutting up now. Anyway, here it is. Chapter 7. Hope someone enjoys it

Rosalie and I sit on the love seat, watching as Brandon destroys Emmett at whatever they're playing. Juliet is sitting on Jasper's lap, the blond man obviously feeling nervous and a little fearful of the child in his arms. Alice is sitting next to them, trying to calm her mate down as he gets used to holding my daughter. Esme and Carlisle are in the kitchen, the doctor helping his mate make dinner for the three of us that can eat. Edward is sitting beside Emmett, alternating between looking at me and looking at Brandon with a curious expression.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I think, his head turning to me when he hears. He gets up and motions for me to follow him, though I know the gesture is an invitation rather than a command.

"I'll be right back." I squeeze Rosalie's hand and stand as well, following Edward outside.

We walk for a while, neither of us saying anything until he stops. We're pretty far out of earshot and I chuckle nervously. "You're not gonna kill me, are you?"

He must realize how this looks and lets out a chuckle of his own, shaking his head. "No, I'm not gonna kill you. I just…have a few questions and I'm sure you don't want everyone to know your business before you're ready."

With a confused look, I study the man in front of me. He's courteous enough to bring me out here to avoid anybody knowing whatever business he's talking about before I'm ready, but I haven't told him anything. Then I remember he can read minds, a gift he can't shut off, and I let out a huffing sigh. "Ask away, Broody."

A smile tugs at his lips before it disappears and he speaks. "I feel like I should remind you that I can't turn my gift off, but I try not to linger or intentionally look into your thoughts when I know I shouldn't." He pauses, as if thinking about how to word what he's going to say next. "Throughout Biology and while Emmett and Brandon were playing…I noticed he would go…blank? Like, he would go into a daydreaming state; stuck in his mind. His thoughts go by too fast for me to pick up on them individually, but I'd catch snippets like "catch us" and "safe" but that's all…"

I know where this is going and feel grateful he didn't bring this up around the others. I'm not ready for all the questions I'm sure would follow, especially from Rosalie. "Brandon and I ran away from our pack. The alpha, Kato…he's not a kind man…"

I start thinking about my time in the pack under Kato's control and it isn't until Edward pulls me into a hug that I remember he's even there. I don't feel very comfortable in his arms at first, not like I do in Rosalie's, but I know he's making an effort to comfort me as best he can. "I'm so sorry, Bella. Nobody deserves that, especially not you."

I return his embrace, allowing my guard to lower a little, and find myself relaxing against Edward. Whether it's from the way his hand is running through my hair or that he's just tall enough that my head rests perfectly against his chest, I wonder if this is what it's like to have a brother. Someone who senses something's wrong and tries their best to help you through it.

He soon pulls away but keeps his hand on the middle of my back. "Let's head back, Rosalie's probably missing you already."

Rolling my eyes, I smack his arm and we both laugh a little. When we get back to the house, we see nothing's changed and we're just in time for dinner. Brandon and I sit at the table, Juliet in my lap as she eats some macaroni and cheese while Brandon and I eat some ravioli that Esme made.

"Do you want me to hold her while you eat, dear?" Esme asks, seeing me struggling a little to eat with Juliet in my arms.

I shake my head, swallowing my food before I speak. "No thank you, Esme. I went through this with Brandon, I've got it." Brandon raises an eyebrow at me, as if to deny it. "You were a mama's boy, darling, don't even deny it. I couldn't set you down for 5 minutes before you started crying."

The vampires all let out various chuckles and giggles while my son goes red, choosing not to reply as he quietly eats his dinner. After we eat, Alice snatches Brandon up while Juliet reaches for Rose. I feel guilty as a mother for not helping clean up so I begin drying while Esme does the dishes.

"I'm glad Rose found you, you know."

A smile blooms on my face at the mention of my soulmate. "I'm glad I found her too. I wish it wasn't at this time in my life, but I'm glad."

I don't realize what I said until a few seconds later and thank whoever that Edward comes to my rescue before Esme can question me. "Hey Bella, do you have any diapers? I think Juliet needs changing."

With a nod, I follow Edward out of the kitchen; still feeling Esme's curious eyes on my back.

Time skip

Brandon POV

"Hey punk." This guy, Thomas, smirks as he shoulders past me. It's been two weeks since our first day and my design notebook fell out of my locker, falling open in front of Thomas and his gang of bullies. You'd think a school this tiny wouldn't have bullies but I guess it's unavoidable for high school.

I see my mom glaring at them and sigh, shaking my head at her. "Leave it alone, please. If they think my "sister" is fighting my battles for me, I'll never hear the end of it."

She nods hesitantly, heading to Calculus while I make my way to Anatomy. Unfortunately, I share this class with Thomas and he happens to sit right behind me. My only saving grace is Edward has this class with me too.

The desks aren't like the tables we have in Biology where it's two to a table. They're single desks with the chair attached and that makes it easy for Thomas to kick my seat every few seconds. Usually it doesn't bother me, but he's doing this because of something I love. Because I'm into fashion and design rather than sports. And Thomas isn't Kato, I can retaliate without fearing for my life.

It's half an hour into class and I'm about ready to punch Thomas in the face for repeatedly kicking my chair. Before I can, the teacher begins walking around to hand out worksheets. "Now class, you can work with a partner or on your own, it's up to you."

Edward moves his desk closer to mine and I know it's his way of saying he wants to work with me. Thomas' only choice is moving across the room to work with one of his buddies. He's not smart enough to do this on his own.

We're steadily and silently working through our worksheet, Edward letting me copy off of his, until he speaks up. "That Thomas guy…he's giving you problems, isn't he?" I don't need to respond, he already knows. "Do you want me to make him stop? I'm sure Emmett wouldn't mind scaring him into leaving you alone."

A small smile lets its way onto my face. "That would be nice, actually…I know mom's just trying to help and she could probably get them to back off easily, but…it's a little embarrassing to have your mom fight your battles for you, you know?"

Edward nods understandingly, waiting for me to finish with my worksheet before he takes them both to the teacher and returns to his seat with a small smile. "I'll let Emmett know, then."

My next class is Art, one I share with mom and Alice. It goes by slow, me tuning Mike out while he talks my ear off about irrelevant things like how hot a certain girl is. I don't really want to date anybody, preferring to wait for my soulmate. I feel like it would be empty with anybody else.

"Dude, are you even listening?"

I look over to Mike and shake my head. "I didn't get much sleep last night, sorry. I'm really out of it today…"

He gives me a small smile and nods. "I get that. I was just asking if you thought I should ask Jessica to prom. I know she'll say yes but I really like her and I don't know if she likes me for me or if it's just because she wants to prove that she can have me."

I give him a sympathetic pat on the back. "I'm sure she likes you. From what Bella tells me, she's always gushing about how cute you are and stuff…she hears it from Angela, my sister wouldn't be caught dead listening to gossip."

He chuckles, letting out a sigh in relief. "So…you think I should?"

I give him a cheesy thumbs up and the bell rings, Mike giving me a pat on the back as his way of saying bye and I walk with my mom to History.

Life has been hectic, I apologize for not updating. But I won't bore you with the details, nobody wants to hear those

Hugs and kisses to those who want them and love to those who need it xo