T.O.T.O.O.S.M :)


It was almost noon when I woke up the next day. Edward was gone but there was a note on my bedside table.

I instantly recognized his elegant script.

Bella,

Renee has been checking up on you every 15 minutes so I thought it would be best to leave for now. Call when you need me. I'll be back later today.

I love you,

Edward

After reading the note over a few times, I rose from my bed and went to shower. I took my time, still undecided as to what I'd say to Renee. I put on some cute black sweats and a t-shirt, towel drying my hair and letting it down.

Sighing, I made my way down to the kitchen where Renee was sitting at the table.

"Good morning," she smiled at me.

"Good morning," I murmured awkwardly, following her with my eyes as she rose and made me hot chocolate.

I sat at the small table and watched her.

Finally the silence became too much for her, "Bella, please tell me what you're thinking, the suspense is killing me!" she begged, not facing me.

I chuckled softly at her anticipation, "I guess I'm still getting used to it; you being here,"

"Me too."

"But," I hesitated, "I am glad you're here, mom. I was angry, but I missed you."

She looked at me; fresh tears in her eyes. "I've missed you too, honey. More than I could ever tell you."

She handed me the mug of hot chocolate and sat down with me.

"Are you still angry?"

"Not as much," I admitted, "I think it's going to take some time to get things back to how they were, though."

She looked down, "I know. I'm glad you're willing to try, though." She moved as though to come closer and give me a hug but hesitated.

I took my hands off my mug, and waited for her to work up the nerve. She finally came over and hugged me. I felt a her give a huge sob as her grip tightened on me. I couldn't stop my own tears from forming as I hugged her back.

This felt right. I realized now, more than ever how much I missed my mother. We both cried, hugging each other, finally reunited.


Later that Day

It was a very snowy Sunday in Forks so my mother and I had decided to stay inside and spend the day watching movies like we used to, but not before we gathered the necessities. We took my car to the grocery store, leaving her rental car parked in the driveway. The trip to the grocery store had been exactly as all the ones we used to have in Phoenix; crazy.

"Ugh! I forgot that there's no Whole Foods around here," she exclaimed as we arrived at the Thrift Way.

"Oohh! I miss their sushi!" I exclaimed, remembering the one in Phoenix.

"Are there any good sushi places around here?"

"Yea right, mom, we're in Forks. They don't even have Mexican food, you think they're gonna have Japanese?"

"Good point." She said grabbing a cart, "So let's get some snacks. We're going to need sugar."

"Kit-kats," I said as we found the candy isle.

"And marshmallows." She said as she added both things into the cart, "we'll also need chocolate bars and graham crackers for s'mores."

"Pixie-styx" I said, throwing in a bag.

"Man, we're going to have the worst sugar rush ever." She said, analyzing what we had so far.

"Nah, do you remember the sugar rush of '02?" I asked with a smirk.

"Oh my gosh! I forgot all about that!" She gasped, suddenly cracking up, "I think I blacked out at one point!"

"Yea, but too bad you didn't black out before going to flirt with the single guy next door."

"Ugh! No wonder I blocked that out. He never looked at me the same way after that." She grimaced in humiliation.

I was laughing now, "I never told you this but he came over later that night to check on me. He wanted to make sure you weren't 'still drunk' and that you weren't forcing me to get high with you."

Renee's eyes widened as she gasped, "No!" We both laughed.

"Ok, enough sugar," I said, leading her to the chips isle, "We'll need popcorn of course."

"And, caramel popcorn,"

"More sugar mom? Good thing we don't have any neighbors."

"Ok, good point, I'm supposed to be on a diet anyway." She said.

I laughed and shook my head, "ok, lite popcorn then."

"Andbaked tortilla chips."

"Andlite cheddar salsa… wait," she said looking around, "where's the lite cheddar salsa?"

"Mom, I don't think that exists."

"Damn. I guess we'll have to make do with the regular." She said, "Oh! I almost forgot the Oreos and peanut butter!"

"Ew!" I said in disgust.

"Hey, let me remind you that you used to eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches."

"Mmm, I'd forgotten about those."

"Ugh!" she made a face, "I haven't. I used to have to put those foul things together for you."

"Ok, we seem to have enough here to slowly rot our insides. Let get to the video store."

We paid and made our way to the video store, where she bought about ten dvds, all our old favorites. After that we headed to the local pizza place and ordered a lot more food. By the time we got back home, we had to make two trips to the car to get everything inside.

She got the fire started as I put went to put on my slippers. My cell phone rang while I was upstairs. I picked it up and it was Edward.

"Hi!" I said into the phone.

"You sound happier," he chuckled.

"Yea, we're working things out." I said. As I was talking to him, Renee came into the room to borrow some sweats.

"Are you talking to your boyfriend?" she whispered excitedly. When I nodded she jumped in enthusiasm, "Oh my gosh, that guy is so hot! You have excellent taste, Bella."

"Mom!" I said as my face went red.

"Relax; I'm whispering, he can't hear me over the phone,"

I rolled my eyes, knowing that with his vampire hearing abilities he very wellcould hear her. I heard him laughing on the other line, confirming my suspicions.

My mother was looking at me, biting her tongue, "maybe, you want to invite him over so I could meet him?" she asked warily, unsure if I wanted to share that much with her so soon. "You don't have to, forget I asked." She turned quickly to my closet and busied herself looking for sweats.

"Edward," I said into the phone, "do you want to come over and watch movies with us?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw Renee flash a delighted smile.

"Yay!" she squealed, doing a perfect imitation of Alice. "Hey, your wardrobe had definitely improved! I'm so happy."

Edward laughed as he heard that, "Alice heard that and she's jumping for joy."

"Oh jeez." I rolled my eyes, "Honestly, it wasn't that bad before!"

By the time we heard the doorbell ring we had both changed. Renee insisted on me changing my shirt.

"After all," she'd said, "it's your boyfriend! You have to look nice."

I'd rolled my eyes and complied. She eventually got me to agree to wear a little lip gloss and she put my hair in a pretty half ponytail. She made me take off my comfy slippers and leave on hot pink socks to match with the fitted long-sleeved t-shirt she put on me.

"Ok, mom." I said to her sternly, "ground rules for tonight are as follows-"

"Bella, I wouldn't embarrass you," she assured me in an innocent tone.

"Yea, right." I rolled my eyes, "ok, so NO mentioning of the time I cut my hair by myself."

"Oh! But you were only 4!" Her eyes sparkled as she remembered, "And it was so cute that you wanted to have the same haircut as me!"

"Mom!"

She groaned, "Fine. Is that it?"

"Not even close. NO talking about my ballet days," I waited for her to argue but she didn't, "NO embarrassing questioning of my boyfriend. And please, mom, don't talk about how I thought I could fly… in fact, no stories about my childhood at all."

Renee thought silently for a minute before responding, "Well what if he asks me?"

"What if he asks you about whether or not I ever thought I could fly? Then, yes, you can tell him. But I don't think that's going to happen."

When I answered the door, Edward and Alice were standing there. Alice looked so excited and dressed in cute designer velour sweat suit in a pale yellow.

"Hi Bella!" she pecked me on the cheek. "I hope you don't mind that I crashed,"

"Not at all, come on in,"

Edward gave me a very loving hug, lifting me off my feet. "You look so lovely," he whispered into my ear as my heart fluttered.

When we broke apart I saw Alice introducing herself to my mom and giving her a big hug. My mom looked delighted.

"Mom, you've met Edward," I said to her.

"Hi, Edward, it's so nice to see you again, under… uh… better circumstances."

He extended his hand to her and flashed her his dazzling smile. I smirked as my mother was stunned for a second at his brilliance.

"Uh… what was I saying?" Renee stammered, still dazed.

I cut in, "why don't we head to the living room, everything's set up." I linked my arm in Edward's and followed Alice and my mom. I reached up and kissed his cheek when they were turned around.


I don't know if it seems to you like she made up with Renee a little too quickly, but the thought occured to me. But to me, Bella is very mature and she's not generally an angry person. I just can't see her holding a grudge.

Anywho, reviews are greatly appreciated.