A/N: Hello, everyone! Sorry for the late update. RL happens. I have an interesting week. Saturday, I found myself stuck in the Forbidden Forest ride in Universal Studios Hollywood. I was already on the ride when it stopped. Thankfully, I managed to get out unscathed. The ride was perfectly safe. I didn't feel like I'm in any danger at all. However, it's one of those moments where it felt like I found the man behind the curtain. I saw that without the projection, the Quidditch match was just a big white screen.

Sunday, I donated blood. I donated more than one pint-my blood leaked and spilled on the floor.

Monday, I felt like I'm coming down with something. I was perfectly fine in the morning but in the afternoon, I felt like I'm coming down with a terrible cold/flu. I had to call Red Cross to warn them that I'm coming down with something. They said that they will test my blood to make sure that it's safe to use my blood. I also have to watch myself for 24 hours and to tell them if I've gotten worse. I hope they can as my blood type was in shortage at the moment. It happens from time to time. I have donated for at least 17-18 times for the past 12 years and this has once.

-FTP-

Since it's Saturday and it's Edward's day off, Edward and Vanessa spent the whole day together playing together-after she finished her chores, of course. I made sure that Vanessa dust the furniture and vacuum every week. Although we had a maid that comes five days a week, she gets a day off on the weekend. I wanted Vanessa to learn responsibility. I wanted to teach her life skills before she went off to college.

Jacob and I spent the whole time designing some bags for next season and baking lasagna at the kitchen. Jacob had a good eye when it comes to accessories. He was the reason why our male line was popular.

Cooking and baking has always helped Jacob and I brainstorm for the new line. It also helped us break the routine when we feel stuck. Once a week, Jacob and I tried to do the cooking and baking while we brainstorm. Let's just say that by the end of it, we both have enough food to eat for the week and even bring the rest of the food at work.

"How do you think the Edward and Vanessa are doing?" Jacob asked.

I just shook my head and laughed. The two had been playing the piano and singing for an hour-after Vanessa had finished her homework of course. Edward helped her too.

"You should know that I approve of Edward. I didn't know why he left you when you were younger but it seems to me that he never got over you. However, if he ever hurt you again I'll-"

"You'll break his bones," I completed. He's always on my side and wouldn't think twice to defend me if the situation calls for it.

Some people think that it's misogynistic to open doors for women. In our small town, that's how men were raised. They were shown to open doors for women. They were show to protect women. It's not because they were weak-quite the contrary. It's because we're taught to respect our mothers. Every woman-whether they're our sisters, daughters, aunts, and mothers-were going to be mothers someday.

Meanwhile, they taught us women that we need to act like it. We need to accept men's help because men were supposed to protect us. It's not that we were weak and couldn't do anything ourselves. It's because according to our biology, women were supposed to be the nurturing kind and men were supposed to be the protectors.

When I started my business, my entire family was behind me. Jacob and my dad made sure that nobody tried to cheat me on my loans. Jasper took out a veteran's loan for me as well. Eventually, I paid my loans back and managed to expand my business.

The oven timer went off. Lasagna was done. Jacob got the big pot holder ready and I put it next to spaghetti, which was right next to the rising sourdough bread from the sourdough starter Jacob was cultivating-a.k.a. his pet.

"Edward, Vanessa, lunch was ready!" I shouted at them.

We sat on the island counter. Edward sat next to Vanessa, who was across from me. I sat next to Jacob who was facing Edward.

"Uncle Edward, you should try the spaghetti. I made it with the help of mommy and Uncle Jacob, of course," Vanessa said.

"Really? Let me have some." Edward took a bite of the spaghetti. He was surprised. "This is really good."

I took a bite myself. It was good. We let Vanessa experiment with cooking. She picked the ingredients and we help her by being her sous chef as it often takes her too long to prepare by herself. It was a hit or miss sometimes. Her spaghetti was a hit.

"Mom, can I attend a martial arts class?" she asked.

"No, Vanessa," I said. Not that I didn't want her to take martial arts. She had asthma so too much strenuous activity could cause her asthma to flare up.

"Mom, I promise I'll stick to it for six months," she said.

"For the last time, NO!"

She was about to start crying but she surprisingly, she held it in. The good thing about Vanessa was that she was not a spoiled brat. She often didn't try to push me into caving in. There were a few times, however, when she wanted something that she would insist on it. Taking martial arts was one of those things.

I knew she was being bullied. Being a musical child prodigy gave her a hard time fitting in with her peers.

We were silent while we eat. I was sure it was because of our conversation. Jacob had seen our disagreements more times than I could count. However, this was Edward's first time.

When we finished eating, Vanessa volunteered to wash the dishes. Jacob went to help her. Edward and I were left alone.

"Why don't you want Vanessa to do martial arts?" Edward asked.

"Aren't you her doctor? Didn't you see that she has asthma?" I retorted.

"I do. I'm also her father," he pointed out.

"How did you-"

"Besides the fact that she's musically inclined and has the same hair color as me? Not to mention that I could count? I confirmed it when Jacob told me after giving me a black eye," he said.

"Oh." Last week, Jacob, my usual "date" to any event I go to, told me that he couldn't go to my parents' wedding anniversary. That following Monday, Edward was sporting a black eye.

"I've always been jealous of Jacob. However, what he did last week, I realized that he's the better man. He even said that he'll stand as Vanessa's father until I could get my act together. You deserve to be with him. He'll take care of you better than I can," Edward said.

"Jacob and I are just friends. There are no romantic feelings between us," I said.

"Really?" There was a slight grin in his face.

"Yes."

"So, Vanessa. I don't think it's a good idea to put her on martial arts training. She has asthma," I said.

"As her father and her doctor, I say it's okay if she gradually exercises. She can't do it quickly or else she'll have asthma attack," he said.

"But her asthma-"

"They recommend swimming as a sport to people with asthma to strengthen their lungs. Martial arts is also a physical activity. She will need to learn proper breathing techniques to expand her lungs," Edward said.

Edward addressed all of my concerns regarding my daughter taking martial arts classes. He recommended some breathing specialist and a trainer who used to be a former marine to make sure that our daughter would be fit enough to do martial arts. The plan would be to gradually make Vanessa was strong enough to do martial arts. It would be a shame if I could not use my resources to help my own daughter do what she wants to do.

"So, when should we tell Vanessa that I'm her father?" Edward asked.

"I'm waiting for a good time. I don't want her to know that you're her father if you plan on leaving afterwards. I'm trying to give her a stable home," I said.

"I won't. She's my daughter so she's my responsibility. And besides, your bodyguard would likely not let me live if I ever hurt Vanessa," Edward said.

"I don't know how to tell her yet. I'll work on that. However, you need to visit her at least every weekend. You are her father after all," I told him.

Edward went home before Jacob. He hugged Vanessa, kissed her on the cheek, and promised to come back tomorrow-we're all going to church together.

Vanessa went upstairs to do her homework. As soon as she was gone, I slapped Jacob on the arm.

"Ouch!" he said.

"You didn't tell me you punched Edward!"

"He deserves it and then some. He needs to be a man and to take responsibility of his daughter," Jacob replied.

"You know, I should be mad at you right now but I won't. You mean well."

"Why would you be mad at me for telling the truth?"

"I just didn't want to disappoint Vanessa."

"You were young then and made a lot of mistakes. So had Edward. I'd like to think that all those mistakes made both of you a better person. And besides, why won't you take him back? He looked so cute with those emerald green eyes," he said.

"Jacob!" I couldn't help but smile. Jacob had a crush on Edward.

With this secret revealed, I was hoping that Edward and I could start over.

-FTP-

Closing Notes: What do you think of Jacob punching Edward? I think Edward needs to get punched for what HE did instead of what he hasn't done. Edward needs to step up to the plate. He finally confirms that he's a father and needs to take care of his daughter. Edward also didn't know that Jacob was gay so he's willing to stand by and watch as he sees Jacob take good care of Bella. After all, Jacob would've been perfect for Bella if isn't for the fact that he and Bella both like men.