Chapter 10 – Closer

I wanted to cry. She did do what I want, now, if she would do what I wanted now. I wanted to hug her, wrap my arms in the protective circle they once were for her. Her scent lingered as she walked through the hall. When I met up with my family, I saw five people sitting at our usual table, Renesmee had joined us today. "But you should have been here at Halloween. Everyone wore costumes and my," she looked around herself, "aunt and I wore matching costumes. I was a cheerleader and she was a football player. She wore white form-fitting capri pants and a low cut skintight blue Giants jersey. She had a large sapphire charm, which hung down to her chest and white strap heels. My costume was a white mini-skirt, with mid-thigh boots, a blue Giants top with blue and white pompoms. When we got out of the car, people stood dead in their tracks. The guys gawked and I heard Mike say how he wanted to tackle her." She giggled, "You want to see what she looked like?" she asked. "How?" Alice asked. Renesmee put her palm on Alice's cheek and Alice gasped. I saw through their minds of Bella's costume. "Honey, how did you do that?" Renesmee smiled, "I'm gifted, like my mom, I mean my aunt," she rolled her eyes.

Rosalie sighed, "Another one. Wonderful," she smiled affectionately at Renesmee. This is really unbelievable. I can't believe Bella had a baby. She was such a beautiful child. If only I was human, Rosalie thought to herself. I knew how much Rosalie a child. Renesmee spoke with Alice, "This Saturday, we're going shopping." Alice snorted, "Wow, she has changed. When she was human, she hated shopping." Maybe she knows. "Alice, do you know who it was that left my mom?" Alice blinked, "I don't think I should talk to you about that. Bella kept it from you for a reason." She bit her lip, "I thought you might say that." Maybe I can find out how much she knows, Alice schemed herself. "Well, what did she tell you?" Renesmee shrugged, "I knew she loved him beyond all reason, even though he thought he was bad for her. She didn't care. And honestly, sometimes I think she still loves him." She sighed, "Promise me, all of you that you won't tell her this?" This is gonna be good, Emmett anticipated. "I read her diary a few months ago, right when we moved here. She wrote that it was difficult for her to be back here, the town where she met him. She wrote that the whole in her chest that his absence created wasn't filled. She was healed in many ways because of me, but she still is in pain because of him. She's not over him, that's why I think she still in love."

This was great, but terrible. I left such a gap in her life, but she still loved me. Renesmee will hate when she finds I was the one who hurt her mother so much. I don't know him, but when I find him, I heard her think. I wouldn't deny her whatever she wanted to do to me. She was completely justified in doing it. I hurt Bella so much, and in turn, hurt Renesmee. She was so sweet, just like Bella. They were linked, hurt one, hurt both. She sighed, "Well, anyway. There are a lot more stories I could tell you, like the time we lived in Canada and she stated she was my mother." That brought me back, "What happened?" She smiled brightly, "Well, I got into a lot of trouble at school. The first time she came to my school and the students saw her. My friend, Brittney asked who was she and I told her my mom, she was completely shocked."

"She was going on saying 'No way, that's not your mom.' But some guys were saying some awful things like they were going to be my new step-dad. I actually punched one boy in the mouth, breaking his jaw. They wanted to press charges, but Momma showed up in a mini-skirt and I was just suspended. Oh, and by the way, don't let that demure of hers fool you, she knows what she looks like. She knows what she does to human males." She looked to the doors, "Here she comes. You'll see what I'm talking about." We watched the doors as Bella entered. She stood in the doorway and I had to admit, she looked more confident. The complete opposite of the insecure little girl she was when I first met her. She walked through the cafeteria with authority and everyone noticed. I watched as her hips swish in her pants, the way her legs moved in her boots, the way her arms swayed and how she ran her fingers through her hair. I was completely hypnotized. Bella did the impossible; she was even more beautiful and desirable. She looked towards our table and Renesmee waved, fluttering her fingers. She smiled back and winked at her daughter. Bella's head snapped in the opposite direction when she saw two boys starting to fight.

She flew through crowd and separated the boys, holding them at arms length, "Stop it!" she snarled. Even with the anger on her face, she was so angelic and my heart swelled. She held the boys by their collars, though they were a head taller than she was. "My office, now!" She didn't release them as she walked them from the cafeteria. Renesmee smiled, "See. Bet you even money those boys were fighting over her." Emmett elbowed Jasper, it was too easy for them to ignore, "You're on." Momma was right; they would go for it. What do we need done? I know. "Ok, I bet you that the fight was regarding and I get," she pretended to deliberate, "you two to carry mine and my mom's shopping bags on Saturday, drive us to and from any store we want and you have to pay for the whole trip, including the things we buy." Jasper and Emmett looked at each other, "Cool, but if we win, you have to be our maid for a month and you have to drive us to school for that month." Renesmee blinked once, "Done" and she held out her hands for them to shake. Jasper looked at me, "Well, Edward what was the fight about?"

I cupped my hands on the table and sighed deeply, "Get out your chauffeur's hats, because Renesmee was right. They were arguing about who was going to ask Bella out first after graduation." YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! BELLA!! Emmett thought. I snarled at him and he retracted his thought. "You're good, kid," Jasper confessed. Renesmee smiled, "Yea, yea, be at my house at 10. And I hope you have money, because there's a huge shoe sale and I need to stock up," she winked at them. The bell rang and Renesmee and Alice pranced out of the cafeteria, giggling. Alice was hoping to get in on the shopping trip.

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After school, Renesmee told me about her bet. "Honey, you shouldn't have done that," I looked towards Emmett and Jasper, "but I'm glad you did. I need new skirts." We high-fived and laughed aloud. When Emmett and Jasper glared at us, we laughed harder, "You may want to get some rest," I stated getting into the car. As we drove home, I noticed their car behind mine. This didn't bother me, I was happy that they were back in my life and Renesmee was getting along with them. Even though I was standoffish with him, part of me was happier still that Edward was near me again. As we pulled into my driveway, they parked their car on the curb. "Do you mind?" Emmett asked. I was about to answer, but Alice did it for me, "She doesn't. Let's go." She walked past me, taking Renesmee's hand and walked into the house. I watched after them and looked back to the others, "And you've dealt with this for the past century." They shrugged and I heard something coming towards me from behind. I spun around a caught the large saucepan that was going for the back of my head, "You say that one more time and we're fighting." I huffed, "Bring it on, honey." Jasper took the pan and guided me inside.

Inside, Renesmee and Alice were watching television, talking about the shopping trip. I drifted into the seldom-used kitchen and went through the mail. It was odd, having the Cullen's in the house; permanent kids and I was the adult, though they were all older than I was. I turned on the radio and began singing along with the song. I was so used to singing aloud that it didn't phase me if anyone heard; especially since my voice was like a bell. I sang to myself, going through the bills, my feet up on the other seat. I heard footsteps coming down the hall and recognized them immediately. What did he want now? Can we just put the past behind us? I didn't look up, "Yes, Edward." I was surprised to see it was jasper, "Wishful thinking?" I laughed sarcastically, "What's up?" He looked down, "Bella, I owe you an apology." My eyebrow furrowed, "For what?" He sighed, "For what I did on your birthday. Bella, I cannot tell you…"

I growled and he stopped, "Jasper, it's been a century. Get over it, I have. I'm not upset and even then, I wanted you to know I wasn't mad. I felt terrible. I was the one who should have been more careful. It's your nature, well ours now." I hugged him and he hugged me back, "Don't worry about that," I smiled, "but what you need to worry about is that quiz I'm giving tomorrow." He scoffed, "Come on, Ms. Platt, can't you cut us a break considering our history." I laughed, "Nope. You've got to earn that trip." We laughed and went into the living room. Alice was rubbing her temples, "Give it up, Alice. I haven't made up my mind yet." She grimaced, "No, its not that. I can't see clearly." Jasper flew to her side, "Are you alright?" She sighed, "Yes, but I think I know what's causing the blurs in my vision." She looked at Renesmee, who was sitting on the floor with Rosalie, "Me?"

"I can't see you or around you," Alice looked at me, "I think that's why I didn't see you Bella, when you were alone and pregnant. I've never been a vampire-human hybrid, so it seems, Renesmee isn't clear to me." Renesmee stood up and came by me, "I'm sorry, Alice, I didn't know." I hugged her reassuringly and Alice looked at us, "Don't worry, sweetie. I'm not upset, it's just an interesting development. Don't worry yourself. You need to study for you're mother's bloodbath of a quiz." I smiled wryly, "Ness, stay with Alice while I make up the exams." Renesmee giggled and went back to the floor with Rosalie. I saw Edward smile sheepishly and looked back to the television. I went back to the kitchen and began making the exams.

While I worked, a felt a rush of wind as someone flew into the room, "Would you please let me do this?" I stood and spun around only to face Edward. His face was apologetic, "Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." I snorted, "Yes, you did. That's why you came in here." He chuckled once, "True. I just wanted to know if I could talk to you." I sighed, "Yes, but I won't discuss why you left." He sighed, "Please Bella," his eyes smoldered into mine, "I need to tell you this." I sighed and looked over his shoulder, "Not now. I know it's frustrating, but I promise we will talk, just not now." I walked past him and he grabbed my arm; an electric current ran through my body from his touch, spinning me back to look at him, "When?" I stared at his face, trying not to look at his lips, "Soon." He sighed and left the kitchen, going back to the living room.