A/N: This scene takes place right before Bella calls everyone to her house for the confrontation. It's a bit of a flashback.

She stares out the window, letting her mind steers the wheels on its own. The sky is torn into two colours; shades of dark blue and spikes of orange hues. Bella's never been a complicated person. She often lets the day take its natural course with no plans.

It had been that way since her childhood days with Renee too.

When she was tall enough to tower slightly over the stove, she became the chef at home. Like Charlie, her mother preferred takeouts, much to her grandmother's distaste.

Her eyes dart back to the screen.

Mom

Travelling had kept her busy, Bella knows this. But she had wished her mother is more present in her life. She's genuinely happy for her, she really is. But sometimes she wishes for something a little more from her mother.

Bella thinks of the way Esme raises her adopted children, of how loving and present she is with the others. Bella envies them a little for it. A home with two parents and many siblings. She wonders if she would feel less lonely if she had a sister or a brother.

She stares again at the screen, sighing as her third attempt to reach her mother only ended up in hearing her voicemail.

At frustrating times like this she couldn't help but admit that it bothers her. She isn't a child where she needs her mother for the most of the day, she's already entering adulthood and she's proud of her independent ways. But the thought that she could have been an unwanted child who once stood in the way of her mother's way of happiness just sends her spiralling.

How does one process that thought and come out unscathed? She wonders if there's any counselling books out there that covers this specific topic. But then again, maybe there is. But no book isn't going to fix what's going on here.

The strain in their relationship had become much more apparent after Bella got involved with Edward. She guesses maybe it was because Renee had seen how the Cullens could be there for her when she couldn't. Or wouldn't?

"I'm so sorry that I have to leave early, sweetheart. I need to catch up to Phil in New York and the only available flight is today," Renee apologised.

She helped Bella get on her feet, cast on one, "It's alright, Mom. I'll be okay." Edward had explained James' attack was that Bella tripped down two flights of stairs and went barreling through the window.

Renee set her bag down, a heavy thought on her mind. She looked at again at the stale living room she had lived so many years ago. The feeling of being trapped traumatised her but she shook it off to try and change her daughter's mind one last time.

"Honey, are you really sure you don't want to come back to Jacksonville? With me? We could be a family together."

Bella smiled bitterly and shook her head. A small part of her was tempted but she remembered all those times she had seen the sullen face on her mom. And the way Phil made her smile so big. Had to cut her some break, she came from a broken family with a mother who didn't properly love her. She knew all her mother wanted was to go on a big wild adventure. Renee was a free spirit after all. Ever since she was seven, she knew she took up more after Charlie. She loved her mom. Renee was the epitome of life. She taught her the many secrets of life, even if some of them were way too early for young Bella.

But her heart was already set on Forks. It was the right thing to do; for Charlie and Renee. Perhaps even for herself.

"I'm sure, Mom."

"Bella's like one of our own, Renee. We'll take good care of her," Esme interjected from the doorway.

Renee looked like she was struggling but after seeing Esme in action, she felt relieved. She knew how absent and stiff Charlie could be. And somewhere deep inside she felt elated. She felt like she could let go of Bella now. And now she could relive her youth which she had missed for most of her life and she had Phil to thank for that. Little that Renee knew, observant Bella saw it. If the human could, Bella was pretty sure Esme did too, especially after that how Esme quietly held Bella in the car after Renee's plane took off.

On that fateful day when she is turned, she thinks she will miss Charlie more than she does Renee. With him, at least he's there for the big events. As awkward as he is, he tries and that meant a lot to her. Sometimes, it was as if he was trying to make up for lost time.

"Is there anything else you need, Bella? What about some cash for your redecoration plans for your room?" Charlie had reached into his wallet on to a few 50 dollar bills.

Bella, knowing her father, decided to check their pantry. He could be as bad as Renee. Seeing the empty fridge and kitchen cabinets, she only asked him enough money to stock them all up. Charlie ended giving her a few more extra bills.

"Incase you want to go out or something. Or keep it for gas money."

He was trying so hard Bella couldn't say no to him. And when she took the money, she saw it was the right thing to do seeing Charlie's proud face. She'll just use the extra for their essential items but Charlie doesn't need to know that part.

She's sure if she says the word, Charlie would gladly use his authority to put Edward in place. Maybe he couldn't ever physically hurt her ex-boyfriend but for the sake of keeping up appearance, Edward would have to give in somehow. Because she knows there's one thing she would love to do more when she turns; sucker punch one Edward Cullen.

She's not stupid. Not only would her wrist hurt if she attempted it while she's human, her pride would too. Emmett has offered her quite few times to do it for her but vengeance won't quite taste the same.

"I'm serious Bellsy. His face, his groin, his vinyl or his Volvo, your pick. I've been waiting so long for this," he grinned while cracking his knuckles loudly.

She wanted to, oh she badly wanted to. She wanted to do it herself if she could. And Emmett's offer was the second best option. But she empathised Esme. She knew Rosalie had been right, Edward was the golden boy in the family. So if her children were found to be killing one another, it would break her heart. She had seen how horrified and torn Esme was when Rosalie ripped Edward's arms off. So she didn't want to break Esme's heart or get Emmett in trouble as well. She had felt so guilty for straining Rosalie and Esme's relationship. Their yelling in the house was proof of that.

"He's not human, Esme! It's just his limbs!"

"In this family we don't turn to violence when there's adisagreement. You know better, Rosalie."

"For your information, he started it! He came after me first but of course you had to jump to conclusions when it came to me. I'm always the problematic one, aren't I?"

"Rosalie..."

And she took off for a few days, only telling Bella and Emmett of her departure.

Edward.

He's proof that age doesn't equate maturity or wisdom. What goes through his mind, she wonders. Now that she has had some more time to process what he had told her, she feels ashamed for once again letting him get the best of her. She should have known better.

What she knew now, it feels wrong for it to come from him. But it irritates her to have to guess how long the Denalis wouls have kept it from her? Or would they not tell her at all? On one hand, there isn't a need to, not when she remembers she meant nothing to the Denalis. Who was she except this fragile human who got lured into a world of vampires?

Okay, that wasn't fair. But she's still hurting. And it pains her as she realised she misses the blonde vampire. Bella's desperate so she texts the only one other person she can tolerate with at this time before the painkiller kicks up its effect.

The cold woke her. She feels something hard pressed against her chest. Opening one eye, she finds a familiar face staring down at her and her arms wrapped around a vampire's torso.

"Hi," Rosalie whispered and ran her fingers through Bella's hair. The act didn't help with Bella's sleepiness.

"You know I'm never getting out of bed if you keep doing that," Bella shut her eyelids again.

Rosalie chuckles but doesn't stop what she's doing. Normally she'd stop it to get the human to wake up but it has been a hell of a week. She missed the human. Questions - she has them all but as of now she just wants to appreciate this. Those can come later.

"Have you had dinner yet?"

At the perfect time, her stomach grumbles and Rosalie rolls her eyes, "I figured. Which is why I got Esme to cook you up something."

"Thanks. But can we just stay here for awhile?" she requested.

Rosalie was ready to get up but she heard the sadness in the human's voice so she relented. And they stay in the same position for at least the next half an hour before Bella's stomach growled again and they head downstairs.

"How's Irina?" Bella asked after she's done with her dinner.

"Not great."

"Wow geez, TMI much?"

Rosalie snorted, relieved that Bella's spirit seems up again. "Do you want to see her? Is the mating pull hurting you again?"

Bella shrugs, "It doesn't hurt so much. I have questions for her."

"Then why text me instead?"

Bella grows quiet and looks away. There is a purpose for the invitation. She needs to talk Rosalie first before she could face the music with Irina.

"Is there..." she stopped.

No, no, that's not a question for Rosalie.

"Do you think..?"

No, she knew Rosalie would chew her head off with that.

"Since it's clear you cannot form a proper sentence, I'm going to ask you a question. What did Edward say to you?"

Bella's head whipped so fast Rosalie fears she could have sprained her neck. Looking to see she's fine, Rosalie proceeded, "You said some things before you passed out on me. Which was scary by the way. You should know better to call me when you need help."

The vampire's glare actually has its effect as Bella mutters an apology.

"How you figured it was Edward?"

"He's the Dickward, master of manipulation. Only he could do this kind of damage."

Bella nods understandingly.

"You can't trust Edward, Bella. He has a history of hurting you."

"What do you know about Irina and Laurent?" Rosalie's eyes turned guilty and she looked away.

This expression alone told Bella a lot. Her silence was defeaning, "So you knew?"

"To be clear, I'm not entirely sure which part you are referring to but l know that not everything is as Edward painted it to be."

It was vague. And didn't help sate Bella's need for answers. "Even if he made some really good points?"

Rosalie scrunched her eyebrows at that. She mulled over the possible horrying lies Edward had planted in her mind. It definitely had a lot to do with the Denalis. But if that were the case how come the Cullens also caught im the crossfire?

"You obviously have doubts and concerns Bella. But I'm not the one with the whole answers, am I? Ask me questions that I am able to answer, Swan," Rosalie hissed, frustrated with the human.

"You said you trusted the Denalis."

"I do. More than I trust Carlisle and Esme combined."

That is shocking to hear, but not that much. The whole Edward debacle might have caused the distrust.

"Is it really safe then for me to do the same with them?" Tears pooled in her eyes and the heartache started to build inside her chest.

All these doubts, worries, fears are surfacing with her questions. She needed answers damn it but could she handle the truth if it's not what she wanted to hear? Could she take it?

Rosalie's cool hands grab her face, stopping her train of thoughts.

"I believe Irina is incapable of hurting you. She couldn't if she tried. But, having said that, if after talking to them and you want an out, Emmett and I will give it to you."

"An out?"

"Runaway. Move. Disappear. Anything you need."

"You would leave? Leave your family behind? Leave the comfort of Forks?" Bella asked skeptically.

The vampire rolled her eyes at Bella's last question, "Forks isn't the only safe haven for us Bella. It's a big world. And besides, it's starting to feel like Edward's family more than mine with how Carlisle and Esme oblige to his every whim."

Bella's heart breaks at the thought of another ruined family. Would being a coward lead to a happy life? Does that not mean she'd have to leave Charlie behind? Her friends in La Push. What about Irina? Heck, what about the Volturi and their laws?

"Is that what you want, Rose?"

Her eyes turned glossy. She stared into those brown orbs and felt her breath hitched. Damn Bella's observant nature.

She was busying herself in the garage, thinking she was safe in here. The human had been curious but she knew not to enter the lion's den. But if she did, well, Rosalie will figure out what to do then.

It was when she popped the hood when she smelled her. Her body tensed and she froze.

It couldn't be.

Her mind had decided and she stood her ground. She allowed the human's footsteps to approach her and she automatically crossed her arms in act of defiance. Stupid Edward! She had told him she will not be held responsible for the girl's reaction towards her viciousness.

"What do you want? As you can see, your precious boyfriend isn't here."

"If I was looking for him, which I obvioulsy wasn't, this is the last place I'd look for," she shrugged nonchalantly.

Taken aback by her sudden courage, Rosalie held her tongue from proceeding.

"Why are you hiding from me?" the human questioned.

"Hiding? Please, I know you're not as self-absorbed as my annoying brother to have assumed that."

The human had the audacity to chuckle at that. Bella had agreed, Edward could be a little too much sometimes. All Rosalie wanted was for her to leave and she wished she could just ignore this child but she knew this child was persistent so no amount of silent treatment could deter her away. She had tried before. It failed miserably. For unknown reasons, silence suffocated her more than the human.

"Well, everytime I enter the room you were in, you suddenly vanish, like magic."

She stared at her unamusedly. Seriously? Learning the Cullens were a coven of vampires didn't stop her from making such absurd claims as magic? Where did Edward find her anyway? Oh yeah, Biology. Stupid Biology class. And stupid Edward!

"Should it not be obvious? Unlike my delusional family, to me, your company is unwarranted and definitely not welcomed," she hissed.

"See, any other day I might have believed you.You're much too fast, much too confident and definitely much too capable to kick me out and yet here we are; conversing properly for the first time ever."

Rosalie almost choked because what the human said was true. She never had the qualms to kick anybody out, even Carlisle, out of her room when she didn't want them around. And yet she allowed Bella to enter her most sacred place.

She had the time to even lock all entrances but she didn't. And she couldn't figure out why.It angered her. Who did she think she was, prancing around the vampires and calling them out on their bullshit?

"What do you want?"

"Hang out."

"And you'd think I'd like that?"

"I think you'd tolerate it."

"I hate talking."

"It's alright. I can just watch you work."

Normally, glaring and cursing were enough to warn humans to stay away from her. However, it had never worked with the Chief's daughter. And so Rosalie begrudgingly let her make herself comfortable while her eyes focused on Rosalie's hands working on the rusty engine.

Ten minutes into it, her anger greatly subsided and irritation at the human never came. For the first time since a long time, she felt at peace.

If anyone had asked her, Rosalie would say that was the beginning of their friendship. Bella's visits to the garage had become more frequent and Rose only had one rule: no Edward.

The first time had been a total silence except the noises from Rosalie's handiwork. The second time it happened, Bella only asked one question that opened the portal. She had asked if she could help. Rosalie figured it was better than the brunette staring at her while she worked and so she had agreed, only speaking when needed. She noticed there was a small bubble of happiness at the thought that Bella cared enough to learn Rosalie's interests. She couldn't even get annoyed at the fact that the mechanical knowledge she imparted to the human never actually got processed by her brain. Bella was no damsel in distress. She had truly wanted to learn and Rosalie was more than eager to become a teacher.

Perhaps that was why she built up a level of patience so suddenly.

The third time they spent time at the garage, something had shifted. Bella didn't have to announce her arrival and the human didn't have to do much to get Rosalie to talk. Engineering and cars were subjects that came easily for her. The words flowed like the river current, strong but gentle.

"It sounds appealing during this whole thing."

"Not appealing enough to counter the guilt," Bella shot and Rosalie knew she had her there.

"Fine so when's your next move gonna be? I swear if you don't face them soon I'll tie you to the bed and carry you in it if I have to."

For the first time today Bella gave a sincere laugh at that image, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Rose."