"Alright bro?" Emmett wondered as he came into the lounge, sitting himself down on the other chair.

Emmett wasn't good at reading situations but it didn't take an idiot to know something was wrong with Jasper; he was scowling at the television, his hands screwed up into fists at his side.

Jasper looked at his brother and shook his head. "No." He laughed a little then frowned. "Got myself into a bit of shit."

"Oh?" Emmett laughed. "Going to explain?" he wondered, curious now. It was rare Jasper was honest with him; usually whenever he asked him if he was alright; he'd just nod.

"You know Alice got hit by that guy?" He said and seeing the anger cross Emmett's face; he clearly did. "Well I went to find him...stupid I know." He knew Emmett would have done the same though. "And we had a fight." He didn't tell him the outcome. "Basically this girl that was with him told me to watch my back...said he doesn't usually just leave it when someone fights him."

Emmett listened to him and then laughed. "And you're scared this guy's going to come and beat you up?" He sighed when Jasper nodded. "Well I've got your back, I'm sure Ed will too." He said. "Everything will be fine. Promise." He tried to stay serious but ended up grinning. "Rose tells me you've got some new girl?"

"How the hell does she know?" Jasper shook his head getting up. "It's...nothing. At the moment." He sighed. "Just shut up about it." He said moving into the kitchen grabbing the mail off the side.

It was the usual stuff; bills for Carlisle, Esme's home design and gardening magazines but at the bottom was an envelope with Alice's name written on.

"Alice?" He called, but he got no reply, he expected as much. He went up the stairs and knocked on her door but there was no answer. "Alice." He frowned, opening the door seeing her on her bed; laptop in front of her.

"Yes?" she glanced up but looked right back at the screen.

"Oh so you can hear then." He frowned taking a step into the room, throwing the letter towards her. "Mail." He turned away and headed out again.

Alice rolled her eyes and leant over the edge of her bed, grabbing the letter off the floor.

She opened it up and read it out;

Alice darling,
It's your Mother here. I couldn't think of any other way to get to talk to you. No-one would give me your mobile number, the services aren't arranging meetings yet until I've gone through checks.
It's ridiculous! I need bloody back ground checks? I'm your Mother, I have rights. Don't they know that?
Anyway; I know you're mad, I know you said you don't want anything to do with me, but please darling, it's killing me.
You're my baby girl, I want to protect you, I want you here with me. I'll look after you love, I swear.
I had my reasons when I left and if you believe them or not is beside the point. If I had the choice I would have stayed or even taken you with me.
I don't want you being mad at me, I don't want you thinking I don't care about you because baby girl I do. You're everything to me, please say we can meet?
We don't need to get the services involved, we don't need to tell those people you're living with, it can be our little secret.
My mobile number is on the back, just give me a ring.
Please darling.
Lots of love;
Mom xo

She read the letter through again and then slumped back onto her bed a little frown on her face.

She wanted nothing more than to get in touch with her Mother, pretend like everything was fine, but everything wasn't fine; her Mother ran out on her.

Her reasons didn't matter, she still ran out and left Alice and her Father.

But now her Father was gone...Alice had no family, no blood family anyway.

"Oh Dad whatever should I do?" she groaned rolling over, burying her face into the pillow. "Should I call her?" she looked up to the photo of her Father and then back to the letter. "Maybe I should call her...I mean, you'd want me to get in touch right?"

Was she just making that up? Would her Father really want her to see her Mother; he hardly ever spoke of her.

Maybe there was no malicious reason her Mother left; maybe they just didn't get on any longer, maybe she couldn't care for a child?

She sat up and frowned a little taking the phone, dialling the number in that was on the back of the letter.

It took her a moment but eventually she pressed call.

"Hello?"

"Hi." Alice said quietly. "Mary? Eh...Mom." she sighed. "It's Alice."

"Oh! Alice sweet heart! You called, baby are you alright? Do you want to meet up?"

"I'm fine." She muttered glancing back to the letter, reading through it. "I suppose so. I do want to see you Mom...but I want to know the real reason you left and don't give me that story that Dad abused you; he would never!"

"The real truth Alice?"

A sigh came from the other side before she continued.

"The real truth was that I was terrified. I was young Alice, a kid myself when I had you. Your age, practically. Do you really think I could cope? Your Dad was older, he had a more stable job. He could afford to keep you better, you were better off with him. We weren't getting along when you came unfortunately, I managed to stay for a few months but I had to go."

She frowned a little as she listened to her Mother.

"I did it for you baby, it killed me to leave you behind. You were the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen, you were my little pumpkin." She laughed quietly. "I had you dressed up as a pumpkin you know? You first Halloween. You were just over a month old, bless you. You were so adorable. I cried every night after I left you, it was horrible, but what stopped me coming back was knowing that you were safe with your Dad, that he'd care for you."

"If all that is true...then why did you tell me he hit you?" She frowned, she couldn't understand that. Why would her Mother lie?

"I didn't want you to think bad of me darling, didn't want you to think that I just upped and left. It was a horrible lie and I'm so very sorry. Your Father was lovely, if it had been different; if we were older when you came along, if the age difference wasn't so great then maybe we could have worked out."

Alice nodded to herself then decided she had to give her Mother a chance; her reasons for leaving weren't as awful as Alice had made up many times before.

"Right." She said quietly. "I suppose we can meet up sometime then." She nodded.

"Tomorrow?"

"Mom...it's Monday tomorrow, I have school." She frowned to herself. "Maybe next weekend or something?"

"Oh Alice sweetheart, what's one day at school? You're not going to miss much baby girl, it'll be fine I promise...but don't mention it to anyone yeah? Set off for school and I'll meet you...at that store yes? The one I saw you at the first time."

"Right, promise I won't get in trouble?" she was worried.

"Darling, I won't let you get in trouble, I promise. I best go, I'll see you tomorrow yes? Around nineish? Love you baby doll."

"See you tomorrow." Alice said before hanging up.

So she was skipping school tomorrow to see her Mother.

Weren't Mother's supposed to be the responsible ones? Yet here hers was convincing her to play truant!

"Alice! Get a move on, we're going to be late." Emmett called, banging on her bedroom door as he passed.

She looked at the time then towards the door. "You guys go on ahead; I'll make my own way there." She promised laughed hearing his mutters before he sighed and agreed to leave without her.

When the house fell silent Alice rushed out of the room.

Carlisle was on the early shift, Esme had left to do some shopping and the rest of them had gone to school.

She left just before nine and found as she headed to the store she was rather excited to see her Mother.

"Alice darling!" She heard her calling the second she rounded the corner. "There you are sweetheart." Mary ran to her daughter's side and wrapped her arms around her. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming." She laughed quietly, pressing her lips to her head.

"It's only just nine." Alice whispered holding onto her Mother, letting her eyes close for a moment. "I said I'd come and I did." She smiled a little bit. "So what's the plan for today?" she wondered as she let go and stepped back.

"We're going shopping baby doll!" Mary exclaimed taking hold of her daughter's hand, pulling her eagerly in the direction of town. It was quite a walk but she was sure they could make it in just over twenty minutes. "I'm treating you today, spoiling you rotten; I've missed out on spoiling my baby girl all these years."

Alice laughed to herself following her Mother along. "You don't have to spoil me Mom." She said looking up at her. "I'm not a little kid."

The day was surprisingly easy; they shopped all morning, shopped and talked about life, about what they'd both been up to, what they both liked.

It was more like old friends than Mother and daughter and Alice couldn't be happier.

She knew it was stupid but when she was with Mary she felt closer to her Father; her Mother told her all of these stories about her Father from before she was born and then in the few months they were together when she was born.

She missed him so much.

"Right." Mary said looking over at her daughter as they sat together in Subway having their lunch. "What time do you need to be home for love?"

Alice shrugged picking the tomato off her sandwich, they always put too much on. "Well School ends at 4 and I usually get back home around 4:15 or so." She said. "So about then yeah?"

Mary nodded. "How about we go to the cinema after this then? See that Smurfs movie?" she suggested with a little laugh. "Childish I know, but it's the Smurfs!"

"Sounds like a plan." Alice said finishing her lunch. "Thanks for today Mom, it's been fun."

"It's not over yet baby doll." She grinned getting to her feet. "Come on, let's get to the cinema." She glanced at her watch; if they timed it right she could get Alice home right on time.

The film ended just before four, Alice would be a little late home but she could make up some excuse.

"I'll call you soon love, we can arrange another day out yes?" Mary said looking down at her daughter, squeezing her hand a little. "Would you like that? I had fun today sweetie."

Alice looked to her Mother and nodded. "Yeah." She said. "I'd like that." She leant against her side and stopped at the bottom of the drive up to the Cullen's house. "Thanks for today." She smiled.

"You're welcome baby, anytime." Mary smiled letting go of her hand. "I'll call you." She promised then kissed her forehead. "See you soon."

Alice waved her Mother goodbye before she went up to the house.

When she opened the door Esme and Carlisle were stood there waiting for her.

"Where on Earth have you been?"Esme exclaimed, trying to stay mad but the relief in her voice was obvious. "School called; said you'd not turned up...no-one knew where you were. Do you know how worried we were?"

Alice looked down and frowned at herself. She hadn't thought the school would call home.

"I just...went out." She mumbled.

"Out?" Carlisle piped up now. "That's not good enough Alice. Where exactly have you been?"

"Out." Alice repeated with a little frown.

"Where out?" Carlisle's voice raised now. "We've been worried sick!" he snapped. "You leave for school on your own and then you never get there. Do you know what we've been thinking?" he shook his head. "You need to tell us where you're going, where you are. We need to know."

"No." Alice frowned stepping back. "No you don't. You don't need to know anything. You're not my Dad, she's not my Mom." She shouted. "You've no right to tell me what to do." She turned then and stormed right back out the front door, slamming the door behind her, locking it with her set of keys on the other side.

By the time Carlisle had the door unlocked he'd lost sight of Alice. "Damn." He shook his head. "Get the boys, she can't have gone far." He said putting his shoes on and going to his car.

He needed to find her before it started getting dark, he was worried what would happen to Alice if she was out at night on her own.

Sorry there has been a delay; I'm having a few issues lately in real life but hopefully they'll be sorted as soon as they can!

Reviews make me a happy bunny! And we all love happy bunnies right? :)