The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. -RICHARD BACH

I jumped to my feet, despite everything, I didn't want anyone to argue. "Good idea, Esme." I said quickly. "I'll make some lunch too, it must have been a long flight."

Renee snorted and walked through to the kitchen with a snide; "That's the first sensible thing you've said so far."

I took a deep breath and moved to follow her, only to be stopped by Edward. "There's no way you're going through there." He said, eyes dark and mouth unhappy.

"I have to Edward. I warned you what she was like, remember?" I said, defensively.

"No, you said she was forward and loud, even opinionated. You didn't say she was so cruel and harsh." Edward said firmly.

I sighed. "Look. I know she can be a little hard to take, but she'll be gone soon. Chances are she won't come to the wedding and she'll stay with Phil."

"I know, but I hate to see her hurting you, I don't think I can bear this." He kissed my forehead gently.

Esme walked up and stood next to me. "Come on honey, I'll stay with you. Edward will grab some sheets out the linen cupboard for Renee's bed." The sentence was both to reassure me and divert Edward.

I smiled and nodded. "I'll be fine." I told Edward and walked with Esme as she took my hand. It did not escape my attention that Carlisle and Emmett both followed immediately.

"What would you like to eat, Mum?" I asked with a fake smile as I walked into the kitchen.

"Surprise me." She said coolly, her fingers flying over the keys on her phone, she never even bothered to look up from the screen.

I nodded and took out a plate setting it to the side, then I heated some butter in a frying pan. I methodically started to beat a few eggs; mixing in pepper and salt for seasoning.

I saw Esme smile slightly as she watched me cook. Her eyes were slowly turning back to their usual ocher.

"I hope you're cooking for the Cullens too, Isabella." Renee said sharply.

"Oh- of course." I stuttered, then whispered a very quiet apology to the Cullens. Esme smiled and patted my shoulder, but she had a slight grimace on her stunning face.

"I'll help you, Bella. There is a lot of us, after all." Carlisle said calmly, moving to my side.

"Oh, there's no need for that, Carlisle." Renee simpered. "Isabella can cook by herself."

"It's no problem Renee, I enjoy cooking." He lied. "In fact, I usually help out at the hospital's charity events by doing some of the food."

"Really? Do you cook for your family too?" Renee asked, I winced slightly.

"Oh yes, I'm the Jamie Oliver of the Cullen household." He joked.

"I'm sure. However, you have many children, surely Isabella could do more cooking and less lazing around."

"Bella helps me a it wasn't for her I don't think anyone would get fed." Carlisle said defensively, the wooden spoon in his hands creaked ominously.

Renee huffed and returned her attention to her phone.

Finally I had set the table and served the food. Renee turned her nose up immediately and prodded the omelette with her fork. I picked at mine, too nervous to actually eat it. To be honest my attention was more focussed on Edward. He shot me a crooked smiled and popped a forkful in his mouth, swallowing it with a grin. If I didn't know better I would have assumed that he actually enjoyed it.

All the Cullens were perfect actors, even Rosalie - who I thought wouldn't touch the eggs with a stick- decided to eat the whole thing with a dazzling smile. It was strange to see how dislike for one person -Renee- could bring us closer.

"Well that was adequate." Renee sighed, standing up. "I am going for a shower, grab me a towel please and leave it by the door."

With one last glower towards me, Renee sauntered out of the room. "Thanks for the help, Carlisle. I'm sorry you all had to eat that." I sighed, collecting all the plates together.

"It's alright, we have to keep up our 'human image' anyway." Carlisle said. "At least she won't be suspicious."

Esme blocked me at the door, and took the plates from my hands. She washed faster than I could comprehend and was back in the dining room by Carlisle's side in seconds.

They all looked towards me, as though waiting for me to say something.

"I'll go grab a towel for Renee, then I'll probably hide away." I joked. "I'd advise you do the same."

Edward smiled, making my heart skip a beat, with a quiet chuckle he took my hand and we walked out of the room. On our way to the bathroom, I grabbed a towel from the cupboard and laid it by the bathroom door.

Edward led me to his room, and I lay on the carpet like I had done before Renee had arrived. He handed me my book and played with my hair as I continued reading from where I'd left off.

"Bella, can I ask you a question?" Edward said gently after a while.

"Of course." I said closing the book and turning towards him.

"Do you love your mother?" He asked.

"Of course I do." I said, then sighed. "Although I suppose it's not really 'motherly love', more like how you'd love a friend."

He stroked my cheek with a long, cool finger and I knew he wasn't done.

"What was your childhood like?"

"What do you mean? It's pretty hard to sum up so many years." I laughed nervously.

"You did ballet, right?" He waited for my nod. "Tell me about that." I couldn't deny him anything.

"I started when I was quite young." I said. "I was never any good at it, I'm too clumsy, and I always messed up the routines."

"Did you want to be a ballerina as a child?" He asked, his liquid gold eyes enticing me into spilling my guts.

"No, I wanted to be an astronaut." He laughed slightly at my unexpected answer. "Renee though it was too 'boyish' and instead I found myself at ballet lessons three times a week. It was awful, I think my medical file doubled during that time."

"Why didn't you just quit?" I couldn't fathom his curiousity.

"Renee payed for a block session because she knew I would want to quit, that way I couldn't until the lessons were up." I sighed.

"Maybe it's a good thing that place burned down."

I was too shocked to laugh, it was the first time Edward had joked about the ballet studio incident. As he opened his mouth to ask another question, there was a knock at the door and Emmett popped his head around it.

"Is this a private party, or can anyone hide here?" He said with a grin.

AN

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I don't own Twilight or any of the characters associated or recogonised with Twilight.