Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N Unbeta'ed is unbeta'ed so please overlook my mistakes.

Age 9

Bella avoided going home soon in the afternoon by staying at the school library. The elementary school offered a chess program every afternoon and she took the opportunity to get away from her mother. Her friends would call her a nerd or a smarty pants but she didn't care. She knew they were just teasing her. Almost everyone admired her now. She had won the spelling bee for the second time in a row, as well as coming first in several Maths competitions.

The only problem was Jessica and her group. They were rude to her. Bella would sometimes find herself with tears in her eyes. Jessica always called Bella a dork and it made Bella feel awful inside.

When times were dark, and her father wasn't at home, she always wrote to Edward – just little pieces whenever she felt down. She knew exactly what she was going to write today.

Pulling out a piece of paper, she began to write while waiting for the chess students to arrive.

To Edward

Jessica is so mean to me! She called me a dork today and I wanted to cry.

Mommy is upset all the time and she won't tell me why. She says I'll understand when I am older. I can't wait for that to happen.

From Bella

She hated when her parents fought with each other. She knew that she didn't understand why but it was obvious to her that Mom and Dad were not happy living together anymore. Bella, being curious as she was, once crept into her mother's room finding that she was crying, curled up in the bed.

"Mom!" Bella gasped. "Mom, are you okay?"

Renee stilled her sobs when she heard her young daughter. She knew that her baby girl was frightened but she was in no position to comfort her. "Nothing, sweetheart. I'm just having an off day today. I'll be better tomorrow."

Bella shook her head. She wasn't going to fall for that one again. "But Mommy, I hate it when you cry. Why doesn't Dad ever comfort you?"

"When your father's busy," Renee said, struggling to tell her the truth. It was not going to be possible right now. Her little girl was not old enough to understand even though she was growing up so fast. She went in for a half-truth. "When Daddy is busy and comes home later, it makes me sad and worried. It's just like how you feel."

"I know," Bella said softly. "It makes me sad but Dad works very hard."

"He does," Renee agreed.

"Why don't you go check the mailbox," she asked, trying to change the subject. "Maybe Edward has written back."

Bella's face suddenly lit up like a child on Christmas day. "Oh! Thank you for reminding me, Mom!"

Bella ran downstairs and flung open the front door, racing to the mailbox and sure enough, there was not just one, but two letters addressed to her. Two letters!

Bella squealed in excitement. This was probably the only time she actually wanted to read.

Peeling the tab off the envelope carefully she flipped the carefully creased letter and began to read.

To Bella

I think school is now awesome. I love it. I have lots and lots of friends and heaps and heaps of awards from sport.

Everything's awesome.

Are you cool with your parents? Dad says that Renee is having a bad time.

Hope to see you soon.

From Edward

Hope to see you soon. Bella wondered what that meant. Spring was coming to a close and it was almost Summer now. She really wanted to visit Edward again. She wasn't able to go last year because her parents took her on a road trip.

She shook her head. This time, she wasn't going to let the chance slip away. This time, she was going to go. This time, she was going to convince her parents.

She opened the second letter.

To Bella

I know. It's me again.

I hope you can come this summer. It will be fun with Em and everyone here. They'll love you. It's a sure thing.

See ya soon!

From Edward

"Mom!" Bella shouted. "Can we go this year, please?"

"Where?" her mom called back. "To visit Edward, I guess?"

"Of course!" Bella rolled her eyes. What else would she get excited from this time of the year?

"We'll see. Ask Daddy when he gets back."

Bella went back to her room. There were a lot of things to think about. She wondered if Edward was having a good time in Forks with all his friends. She wondered if he thought about her as much as she thought of him. She missed his playful, carefree teasing and laughter. There was so much to him that Bella loved. When she was near him, it was the only time she felt like she could truly become herself. She wasn't like Jessica, who was loud and talkative. Everyone in the class had been shocked when she kissed Mike outside in the sandpit.

Bella could never imagine her first kiss, but she sure as hell did not want it to be like Jessica's. It was a few sloppy seconds.

Bella thought it was disgusting.

The front door slamming open downstairs made Bella snap out of her daydreams and hurry downstairs.

"Dad!" Bella said, going down the stairs two steps at a time. "We're going to Edward's place this year, right?"

Charlie shrugged out of his jacket and hanged up his gun on the hook by the front door. He looked down at his little daughter, whose hopeful wide brown eyes stared at him impatiently.

"Well," Charlie began. He loved taunting his little girl. "Has my beautiful girl been good this year? Did you get good grades on your report card?"

Bella fist pumped in her mind. If her father was going to ask her these questions, she would get whatever she wanted.

"Straight As, Daddy."

Charlie grinned and lifted Bella up, swinging her around. "Well, I don't see why not, then!"

Bella beamed. "Thank you so much, Dad. I can't wait to go to Edward's place. I miss him so much."

…

Edward waited patiently on the water's edge. This year was going great for him. He made heaps of new friends. Jasper was a guy who just moved from Texas and he and Edward clicked almost instantly. Emmett was still his best friend, even though he teased him about a lot of things.

Edward's hair was a rare shade of bronze and even though he was nine, his body was becoming more toned from all the swimming and basketball. Girls were starting to like him, which made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he started to notice girls as well.

Tanya, a girl almost the same height as Edward with strawberry blonde hair, once asked him to join her birthday party. Edward eventually did reluctantly to not make her upset.

"Eddie!"

Edward turned around, disappointed to find Rosalie instead of Bella. He had been waiting all day. She was supposed to be here today.

"Hey, Rose."

"What are you doing here?" Rose asked, flipping her long golden blonde hair back. "Waiting for someone?"

Edward nodded. "Bella."

Rosalie grimaced. Even though she only met her once, there was something about her that prevented her to become friends. "Okay."

Edward's eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "Why don't you two get along well? She didn't do anything, you know?"

"I know," Rose answered flippantly. "That's the problem. We don't click, I guess."

"Where're you going now?"

"Tanya's."

It was Edward's turn to roll his eyes. He didn't understand what was so fun with hanging around Tanya. All she wanted to do was play with her dolls. Edward imagined dragging her by her hair and tossing her onto the beach and into the muddy lake Bella loved to play in.

It was hilarious.

Edward burst into laughter at the thought.

"Wanna share? What's so funny?"

Edward smiled. "Nothing. Just thinking."

"Okay."

Edward stilled and turned around again. Ho could it be? That wasn't Rose's voice, or Tanya's. It was a sweet, musical voice.

It was Bella.

"Bella!" Edward grinned. "Can't believe you're here! I missed you last year when Dad said you couldn't come. How was the road trip? Did it beat our water gun fight?"

"Road trip was boring," Bella said, smiling slyly, fingering the water gun in her pocket. "Remember the deal we made last time I was here?"

Edward blinked and the next thing he knew that happened, he was drenched in water.

"Hey!" he said indignantly. "What was that for?"

"It was our deal," Bella smirked.

"You're gonna lose," Edward said, before plunging deep into the water. He filled water in his mouth and came back up to spit out the water at Bella, who was looking in another direction.

"Ha! I got you!"

"That wasn't fair. I wasn't looking for where you were!" Bella protested.

"Hey, Edward!" A voice nearby called out.

Bella turned around and her heart sank. "Oh, hi Rosalie."

Ignoring her, she turned her head towards Edward. "Do you want to come play with Tanya and me? You don't have to get all dirty and smelly with Bella."

Edward looked confused. "I thought you were with Tanya."

"I was, but I missed you. Come on!"

"What about Bella?"

Rosalie shrugged. She was losing her patience. "I don't know, okay? Just come on. Tanya's waiting for you."

Edward shook his head firmly. "No. I don't want to play with girls."

"Bella's a girl."

"Bella's my best friend."

Bella didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She loved the way Edward defended her and called her his best friend, but she didn't know if he saw her as a girl at all. She knew she wasn't like Rosalie or probably Tanya, even though she had never met her before. Rosalie was like Jessica. They were both tall and beautiful. Bella, on the other hand, was shorter and had dark brown hair. She didn't wear flashy clothes which had big name brands. She didn't even have her ears pierced. There was nothing noticeable about her.

She casted her eyes downwards and avoided Rosalie and Edward's gazes.

Edward touched her shoulder gently. "Are you okay?"

Rose snorted. "'Course she is. She's breathing and everything."

There was a burning inside Edward's chest that had never happened to him before. "Don't talk about her like that!"

"Whatever. So you want to be a loser when school starts?"

"I don't have to be friends with you to be popular because I already am. I have Em, Jazz, and Alice. So there!"

"I'll tell Em you were mean to me."

"Em's always on my side!" Edward growled.

"Okay guys, break it up!" Esme said, chiming in, running towards the bickering kids. She hated it when Edward was in a fight – it wasn't gentlemanly, especially when it was with a girl. "Time for lunch. Rosalie, would you like to join us?"

Rosalie smiled sweetly. "Thank you so much, Mrs Cullen. I'd love to join you guys for lunch."

Such a nice, little girl, Esme thought. Just like my little Edward.

Rose looked pleased with herself and Bella gave her the stink eye.

God, she hated her so much.

…

"Bella?" Edward called out. After lunch, instead of going to his bedroom, he watched Bella walk away to the beach. "What are you doing? Are you sad?"

His eyes widened in horror at the recognition. "Oh no! What did Rose do to you?"

"Nothing."

"Are you okay?"

"No. Everything's just peachy."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Why don't we do something. The mean witch is gone so we can have fun now."

"Water-gun fighting?"

Edward shook his head. "Nope. I want to introduce you to Alice and Jazz."

Bella hesitated. She knew Edward just wanted her to meet his friends, but what if they turned out like Rosalie? She wouldn't want to come back here if everyone hated her for no reason at all.

Edward sensed her hesitation. "Bella, I promise they aren't like Rose."

Alice tuned out to be a complete opposite of what Bella imagined her to be. Her short black hair and small stature made her seem like a pixie.

"Bella!" she squealed. "It's so nice to meet you. I can tell we're going to be best friends very soon."

Edward coughed. "Alice has this kind of 'future-telling' thing. She always does it, and she's normally right."

"Yeah," Jazz chimed in.

Jasper had blonde wavy hair and was the same height as Edward. He seemed cool and collected, and Bella found herself sigh in relief.

There was certainly no mean witch over here, Bella thought.

"We just have to go shopping together, Bella. Please say yes," Alice begged her, holding onto her arm. "My mom will take us, and I'll give you a hair makeover. I can do plaits now!"

Bella smiled at her. She hated shopping and makeovers, but she was determined to make at least another friend here. "Sure, Alice. Just tell me when."

Alice hugged Bella tightly. "Thank you!"

Bella can't help but laugh at her a little. Alice over-reacted to the smallest of things. "No problem, Alice."

"So where are you going to now?" Jasper asked.

Bella looked over at Edward, who was looking back at her and shrugged. "Don't know. Edward just told me we were going to come here to visit you guys."

"Can we please play Monopoly?" Alice asked. "Please?"

Edward and Jasper groaned in agreement.

"Whatever you say, Alice."

Halfway through the game, it was clear that Bella was the one who was going to win. She had all the railways and the most expensive hotels.

"Ha! I'm going to win," she declared happily.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door but Bella ignored it and dropped the two dice. Double six.

"Yeah!" she exclaimed, realizing that she landed on Go. "That's two hundred dollars to me."

"Bella!" a voice called outside the door. "I know you're in there."

"Damn," Bella mumbled. "I think it's mom."

The look on Renee's face was worried and anxious. "We're going back to our beach house. Daddy wants to talk to you."

Bella shook her head and crossed her arms. "Nope. I'm staying right here."

"Bella, we're going."

"Will I be back later?"

Renee sighed exasperatedly. Her daughter was so stubborn. "Yes, that's fine."

"I'll going to say bye to Edward and my new friends, okay?'

"I'll be waiting right here, sweetheart."

There was some uneasy tension on the walk back to the Swans' beach house. Renee didn't know how her nine year old daughter would take the news. Her main priority right now was to tell her that everything was just going to be the same, bar a few minor changes.

"Daddy!" Bella exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek.

"Bella, honey. There's something Mommy and I have to tell you."

"Are we going staying here?" Bella's eyes widened with hope.

Charlie's heart sank. He didn't know how to tell his daughter the news. He had plenty experience telling distraught parents that their children were reported missing, but now this was his own daughter. He had to think before he said it.

"Your Mommy and Daddy are separating. Mommy's going to live in Phoenix and we aren't."

Bella froze. "What? Why? Mom, don't you want to live with me?"

Renee felt a tear slide down her cheek. Her daughter's question, despite its innocence, hurt her in more ways than she thought possible.

She tried to explain. "I love you, sweetie, but Daddy and Mommy aren't getting along well. We fight too much because we are different people now."

"What about me?" Bella asked. "What do I do?"

Charlie cleared his throat. "Everything's going to be the same, except that Mommy won't live with you anymore."

"But I can call her every day?"

Charlie nodded firmly. This was something he would not deny her. "Definitely. And we will go back every summer to visit her, or we can come back here. Maybe Mommy can take Edward and his friends to visit you sometimes, too."

"Really?" Bella couldn't believe her ears.

Renee nodded. "Sweetheart, do you know what this separation is called?"

Bella shook her head.

"It is called a divorce."

Bella blinked. She didn't know what a divorce was. "Oh."

"Your mother and I may not love each other anymore, but we both love you. We will always be with you when you need us and we will always love you."

Bella hugged her father. "Thank you."

"Where are we going to live, then?" Bella asked. Her heart was pounding fast. Please let us stay here. I want to stay here with Edward and my new friends forever.

"I got a new job in Syracuse, New York. I've been investing in an apartment for a while now. It's ours."

"New York?" Bella asked. "No! That is so far away from Mom!" And Edward, and Alice, and Jasper, and Emmett.

"We're going to be leaving tonight. To set up our new place."

"I don't want to go!"

Bella was becoming worried. She didn't know how to take it. She felt like she didn't know anything anymore.

"It's alright, Bella. There's nothing wrong with you. It's not your fault your parents are like that," Edward said, when Bella told him the news. "We'll still be friends, right?"

"Friends, forever," Bella agreed, holding onto Edward's body tightly.

"Best friends." Edward added with a smile on his face.

Promise next chapter is a BPOV or EPOV. They're growing up so fast. Next will come the eleven year olds.

Update will be in the next week or so.

Please review and share your thoughts. Should I continue?

Thanks for reading