[Disclaimer] I don't own Twilight.

[A/N] I was re-reading some of my old stories and when I came across this one, it just didn't feel right where I left it off. So, here is an unexpected update. I haven't written in forever but I miss it. Writing is my happy place.

Hugs to everyone who is still with me. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 5

There are conversations that literally scream for alcohol. Only that it was way too early in the day for a drink. The coffee they served us was nasty. I added more sugar to mine than I usually did.

"The correct name for what we are doing is called co-parenting. We are all raising Iris. Edward, Jasper and I are raising Iris together."

"You could have told me. I thought you are trying to cheat on your husband with me." I told Bella while I added more creamer to my already very light colored coffee.

She should have told me, right?

"I don't cheat, That's how my parents got divorced. I didn't tell you because...it's an unusual living situation.To be honest I don't know you that well. I mean, I don't know you that well yet."

One side of her mouth curved into a half smile.

I know she was right but yet I wanted to know everything about her. In order to be able to understand her decisions I needed to know everything.

"So, you and Edward are married but you aren't together. Did I get that part right?"

She gives me a thumbs up.

"Hundert points for you, Alice. I don't like guys…that way. I never have. Edward has been my best friend since school. Even if we were straight. There is just no chemistry. He is a control freak. I don't understand how Jasper can handle that."

I sipped on my coffee. It's nasty sweet and too cold. How much sugar did I put in it?

"Edward is very possessive of Jasper and terribly jealous."

"Maybe it's what Jasper needs. They seem happy as far as I can judge it."

She nodded her head.

My mouth felt dry. I coughed twice before I could speak again.

"What about Iris? I mean how did this all happen?"

Bella filled her own mug with black coffee. After adding creamer, she pushed it over to me.

I sipped carefully. Much better like this.

"We went to a clinic together." She explained. "There is some issue with my ovaries. I don't have much time to have kids and I always wanted to be a mom."

"And why Edward?"

She sighed. "He offered to help me. The clinic wasn't going to treat us unless we were married. I wore his mom's dress. That was his only request. It's an ugly nightmare in silk."

My brain was unable to process all the emotions at the same time. I could feel a nasty migraine building up behind my eyes.

"But you are getting divorced now? Why wait so long if it was just pretend for the clinic?"

"Divorces cost lots of money. Even amicable ones."

"I see."

"Also, it wasn't really necessary until Jasper proposed to Edward. I don't want to be in their way to get married for real."

I nodded my head in agreement.

"You don't need to understand." She whispered. "I mean, I would understand, if you don't understand how we are living together. "

I placed my hand gently on top of hers.

"It's alright, Bella. To be honest, I am very happy that you and Edward aren't actually together. "

'Why?"

I felt my face turning hot and quickly lowered my gaze.

"Like you said…there is no chemistry between you guys. Even I have to admit you make beautiful kids together."

Bella cleared her throat.

"It's too bad. I thought you were happy about it because you liked me."

Xxxxx

At least I managed to ask her out on a date. We were going to meet up for an early dinner before her night shift tonight.

Still there was something bothering me.

You should have told her how you feel. You should have just told her. Why was I so emotionally paralyzed when it came to Bella?

I was upset with myself because usually I was good with emotions. With Bella, everything was different somehow.

I was in love.

I knew it from the first moment I saw her.

Yet I couldn't tell her because I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed.

We needed to take things slow. Especially since a little kid was involved.

This kid was also the reason why I had asked Angela to meet me in the teachers lounge before class.

"I thought you love Kindergarten. Why do you want to switch classes? Did something happen?"

"It's personal and kind of complicated."

"What's personal?" Victoria asked from across the room where she had pretended to study the inside of the printer thoroughly. She was so freaking nosy. "You can tell us."

"It's just personal." I whispered under my breath.

"You need to come up with something better for the Principle than it's personal." Angela stated. "They hate changes during the school year. Is there a problem with a student?"

I wondered if, I don't want to teach my hopefully soon to be girlfriend's kid, would count as a better excuse to switch classes.

Victoria sat down next to me, casually pressing her knee against mine for a moment. I tensed up. Why was she doing this?

"I see you at lunch." Angela said, getting up. "Don't worry, Alice, everything will be okay."

I was biting my tongue to not ask her to stay. I didn't want to be alone with Vicky. She was so intrusive.

"Do you need my help maybe? Is it a student llike Angie thinks? I know this JJ kid is a little shit."

"It's not because of him. JJ is spoiled but okay. It's his mom who is a stressful. Her picture is right next to the word helicopter mom in the dictionary."

Victoria leaned closer and touched my elbow. Then her fingertips moved down to the back of my hand to caress it with her fingertips.

I pulled the hand back and pushed my chair a bit further away.

"You need to stop hitting on me. I don't like it when you touch me. Please, stop."

"Why? Do you have a girlfriend now? Is she the jealous type?"

What did it matter to her? Is molesting people more acceptable when they are single? This was getting ridiculous.

I got up from the chair.

"I'm not interested."

Vicky laughed. She wasn't taking me seriously at all.

Some people don't get a no even if it looks them straight in the face.

"Look, Vicky, I like you but I don't like you like this. So, please leave me alone. I am not interested."

She laughed again. Her glossy lips touched the top of my head. It made me feel dirty.

"You aren't interested yet. I love good challenges, I always have."

Xxxx

There was an old police car parked in front of the school when I left at the end of the day. It was partially blocking the pick-up line.

"Sir? Sir, you can't park here. "

The officer leaned against the hood of the car, checking his phone several times before he acknowledged me.

"Miss?"

"Can I help you? Are you aware that you are blocking the pick-up line where you are parked?"

"Then, that's where I need to be. My girlfriend was supposed to meet me here, so we can pick up her grandson. It's a surprise. He loves police cars. Maybe you know him. JJ Black?"

"JJ is in my kindergarten class but I can't let a stranger just show up and take a child with them."

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. The lines around his brown eyes deepened a bit for a moment. Without the ridiculous porn mustache he would have looked much younger and friendlier.

"I am the police. You can trust me. It's all okay."

"You might be the police,but you are still a stranger. The school is strict with this. There are too many sick people out there."

He held his batch up too close to my eyes.

"Does this look real enough to you?"

He was getting on my nerves. He was a big mouth trying to impress me with his uniform. Uniforms and batches could be forged, couldn't they?

JJ's mom hadn't mentioned anything about him and his grandmother picking him up. The woman texted me way more than I cared for it. So, her not telling me about this was fishy.

Another car pulled up next to his police car. The woman looked like an older JJ version with long hair and makeup on.

"Oh Charlie, I am so sorry about being late. Where is JJ? He didn't take the bus, did he?"

"His teacher here said, we can't take him home."

I counted slowly from one to ten inside my head.

"Ma'am, like I told your boyfriend here already. I can't let strangers take kids away from the school. Your daughter should-"

"Grandma! Grandma!"

JJ ran towards her. His grandmother showered him with a bunch of pouty-lipped kisses.

"Can we go home now?"

Xxxxx

I hated being late. I hated being late for a date with Bella even more.

She looked adorable sitting at the table.

"Thank you for waiting for me."

I leaned close to touch my lips against her cheek.

"You are worth waiting for."

I sat down and put my hand on hers.

"I am sorry for being late. Had an issue at school."

She smiled.

"I was starting to worry if you would come."

I sat down and rubbed my thumb over her hand.

"Of course I would come. I was looking forward to seeing you all day."

"Me too."

I told her that I ended up calling JJs mother who got mad at me for not letting her mom take him to go home with his grandmother.

"I can't stand Leah. She won't let Iris have a playdate with JJ because of our family situation."

"That's crazy."

"She is very homophobic. Did you know that she won't speak to her own brother anymore because he came out gay?"

She sprinkled some pepper over her salad.

"I shouldn't gossip. That's Jasper's influence. He always knows what everyone is up to. People tend to talk too much when they are drunk."

I agreed and continued eating my pasta. For a while Bella was chatting happily about her upcoming shift. They had transferred her to the cardiology unit.

She was the type of person who got talkative once they warmed up towards you.

"You got something in your hair, Alice.."

She tried to wipe it off with her fingers. It looked like blood…sticky blood with glitter in it.

"Is this lipgloss? Why do you have red lipgloss in your hair?"

I grabbed a napkin from the table and tried to rub my hair clean. It didn't work. I needed a shower. I felt dirty.

"That's why I keep my makeup to a minimum. The stuff is just too messy."

I nodded. I wanted to tell her about Victoria but I didn't want Bella to think I couldn't handle the situation myself. Victoria was making me feel uncomfortable.

"Iris loves anything makeup. It sucks for her that I'm not really interested in it."

I lifted Bellas hand to my mouth to blow a kiss on it.

"I like you just the way you are."

"I like you the way you are, Alice."

She hesitated for a moment before she spoke up again.

"Edward wants me to ask you if you want to come to our family dinner on Saturday? My Dad is coming with his new girlfriend."

"Sure, I would love to meet your Dad. How's he like?"