Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind... or forgotten."Author: Lilo & Stitch
I swallowed nervously, my heart must sound like a drum to them, beating out a frantic, panicked rhythm. Carlisle's question caused the feeling of dread to well up, as well as embarrassment; they would finally know the truth about my mother and they would change their opinion of me entirely. After all, I was just a weak human who was unable to stand up to her own parent.
"My Mum is..." I trailed off, struggling to explain her to someone who had never met her, never known her. "She is very forward and loud." I said unsure, there didn't seem to be a correct way to explain the complexity of my mother.
"I'm sorry, Bella, but she was downright vile to you." Esme said, tears that couldn't fall shone in her golden eyes.
"No, she wasn't, she was just hurt that I didn't tell her straightaway." I said stubbornly. I knew deep down, my Mum loved me, she really did.
Carlisle's brow puckered as he thought quickly. "When is she arriving?" His voice sounded strained, I wondered briefly if they'd been conversing too quiet for me to hear them.
"She said she'll be getting the next plane available." Esme said so softly that I almost missed it completely.
"No." I moaned, Edward rubbed my back comfortingly, but it didn't help soothe my anxiety as I could feel the growl rumbling in his marble chest.
"Where will Renee be staying?" Rosalie asked in a clipped tone.
"She invited herself to stay with Bella." Esme said.
"Charlie will not be pleased." I frowned, mentally trying to work out a different solution.
"Not at Charlie's, here. She wants to stay here."
I muttered a curse under my breath, only to be given a reproving glance from Esme, "Sorry." I mumbled.
"It's ok, Dear." She said.
"I can promise everyone will be on their best behaviour." Carlisle promised and took a seat next to Edward and me. "We can hunt at night and keep up appearances through the day as per usual."
"It's not you I'm worried about, it's her." I admitted.
"We won't let an ickle human scare us away, Bells." Emmett cheered.
I frowned. They didn't understand.
"We'll be there for you the whole time." Esme told me as Edward nodded frantically at her words.
"You promise?" I asked, feeling a lot younger than my eighteen years.
"I promise." She said sincerely.
-Time Gap-
A few days later I found myself sitting in the Cullens' sitting room, pacing anxiously as Emmett and Edward drove my mum from the airport. Esme had spent a few minutes dusting the surfaces and hoovering, politely ignoring all of my offers of help. Alice's golden eyes followed me back and forth as I paced relentlessly. Jasper had attempted to calm everyone down, but every time I was relaxed, another new problem would present itself in my head causing me to resume my pacing.
Carlisle was waiting on the chair, his calm expression was beginning to irk me slightly. I knew it was just the anxiety causing me to feel irritated, but it was rather unfair that they could all stay so relaxed, while my hair was practically turning grey before my eyes.
"Every thing will be alright." Esme soothed, placing a hand on on my shoulder comfortingly.
"But what if it isn't? What if she doesn't control what she says?" I said worriedly, she would probably offend every single one of them.
"Don't you worry about us Darling." She said softly, before resuming her housework.
My heart thudded loudly as I heard the familiar purr of Edward's Volvo just outside the house. The engine cut and I could hear Renee's shrill laugh. She was getting closer and closer; if it wasn't for Jasper placing a hand on my shoulder to calm me, I would have ran away.
I took a deep breath as the door opened.
"Hello, Mum." I murmured.
"Isabella, there you are." She sneered. "I was most disappointed that you sent these two gentlemen to get me instead of coming yourself."
"I'm sorry, Mum." I said quietly.
She snorted and dumped her bags into my arms. "Take these to my room, and then do the polite thing and introduce me to these generous people."
"Don't worry, Renee, I can do that." Edward said moving to take the bags, Renee obviously didn't hear the steely edge in his voice.
"Don't be silly, Edward. Isabella is perfectly capable of carrying a few bags, she could do with the exercise anyway." She added dismissively as she wandered through to the sitting room without being invited.
I took a deep breath and carried the bags up to the spare room, what on earth did she pack, bricks? I placed them carefully by the foot of the bed and shut the door quietly as I left.
Esme met me outside the sitting room before I entered, she looked devastated. She hugged me tightly before walking to the kitchen without saying a word. When I walked in the Cullens had generously left the seat next to Renee free for me. With a small sigh I perched on the end, trying to sit as far away as physically possible.
"There you are, what took you so long?" She demanded.
"It's a large house," I said, looking at the floor nervously. Edward's twitch caught my eyes, and I noticed that he looked angry. No. Furious.
"Hmm. Never mind. Are you going to introduce me or not?" She asked harshly.
"Oh, of course. That's Edward." I said indicating towards him. He smiled tightly. "Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Carlisle and you saw Esme earlier." I wondered where Esme had gone.
"Yes, yes. Of course." She said, eyeing up Carlisle with obvious lust. I shifted uncomfortably as did Jasper, Edward and Carlisle.
"So, how is Phil?" I asked, trying desperately to change her line of thought.
"He's fine, but of course you'd know that if you called more often." She said sharply, I winced.
"Sorry." I said shyly.
She stood up and then reached out and grabbed my arm, her nails digging in sharply as she dragged me to my feet. "I want a tour." She announced.
"Of course," Alice said skipping over. "I can show you where you'll be sleeping."
Before she could resist, Alice dragged her out of the room. I sat back on the sofa and curled my arms around my legs.
"So..." I said, "she's a bit bossy."
"A bit?" Rosalie snorted.
"Rosalie." Carlisle warned.
"No, she's right." I said quickly. "I can't believe she's staying here." I groaned. In a flash I was in Edward's arms.
"It's only for a week." He said reassuringly.
"I'm sorry." I apologised sincerely.
"There's no need to apologise Honey," Esme said, appearing behind me.
"But she's just so ru-" I was cut off by her shrill voice.
"The colour scheme was very bland, perhaps a little more vibrancy would make it feel more homely." Renee announced re-entering the sitting room.
"I think it's perfect." I said quietly.
"Hush, Isabella. You never did have any sense." I winced, and felt Edward's grip tighten around me.
"Well, I think Bella has a wonderful ability to see the best in people, even those who don't deserve it." Esme added the last part as an insult to Renee.
Renee's eyes focussed on me then. They narrowed into slits. "Back to the reason why I'm here. I need to discuss this wedding." She said as though it was a curse.
"What's there to talk about?" I asked, my tone borderline rude.
She reached out and slapped the back of my head. "Tone." She demanded, hypocritically.
Edward snarled quietly in my ear, one of his hands winding it's way to my head as if to shield me.
"Why don't we discuss this in the kitchen, Renee?" Esme asked, her eyes no longer a soft gold, but instead a dark, pitch black that made her look truly dangerous.
AN
I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.
Was it alright? Renee's a bit of a bitch, but honestly I've never been that fond of her.