Hey Guys! Sorry for the long wait. Real life and all that Jazz. But here it is, finally, chapter 14!

I want to say Hi to all the new readers out there. There's been a bit of a jump in readers since the last chapter, so I want to welcome you all to the world of Normality. This story is my baby at the moment, even though I'm pretty sucky at updating. I do get there eventually though.

Anyway, if you wanna connect with me more, I have a Facebook account. My name is Hidden Secret Fanfiction and I'm not all that active on it, but I love to have more friends on there, and it's a great way to pester me if you want me to update! :D

Ok, without further ado, read on my pretties!

Chapter 14 - Thursday Afternoon

Ring ring...click.

"Hello. Bella? Are you ok?"

I jump a bit, yanking the phone away from my ear and staring at it in amazement. It sounds so clear, like he's actually standing right next to me. I look at Rosalie, and she nods in reassurance, so I hesitantly put the phone back to my ear.

"EDWARD?" I see Rosalie's face twist a little at my loud voice. I clutch the phone close to my ear, scared that I won't be able to hear his reply.

"Bella? Why are you yelling sweetheart. Is everything ok?"

Rosalie gently places her hand on my arm to get my attention. "Try speaking quieter. Just speak like you would normally and he'll hear you just fine." Before I can process what she's saying I hear Edward's voice in my ear again.

"Who's that? Where are you?"

"IT'S ROS..." I cringe myself and try again, quieter this time. "It's Rosalie. I'm at her house. She's teaching me how to use the phone. I've never used one before." Edward is silent on the other end. Did I say something wrong? "Edward?" I shouldn't have told him that. Will he think I'm useless because I haven't even used a phone before.? I don't want that. I...

"Oh Sweetheart..."

He voice is strained, but gentle. I'm trying to figure out what his tone means, but even though I'm getting better at it, this time the hidden meaning is his voice escapes me.

Emotions are just so difficult.

I can feel my frustration levels growing and, strangely enough, tears begin to fall. I swipe my hand across my cheek and stare at the dampness. I've never had this reaction before, but then again, I've never gotten so frustrated over my own inabilities, never wanted to understand more than I do in this moment.

"I'm sorry." The thick, tear soaked words leave my mouth without me realising it.

"No Bella, I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't realise you would need help with this stuff. Why didn't you tell me you needed someone to show you how to use it when I gave it to you?"

I sniff and try to stop crying so I can answer him. I jump slightly when a tissue comes into my vision. I hadn't realised Rosalie had left to retrieve it, returning with the box of tissues in her hands. I take it and try to control my voice as I reply.

"I di...didn't want to bother y...you. And you had to g...go to work." I heard him sigh on the other end. "Are you angry?" I whisper, hoping it isn't true.

"No Bella. I'm definitely not angry at you. I'm more angry at myself. I wish I could be there for you. I'm glad you're with Rosalie. How did you get there?"

"She found me in a coffee shop. I was panicking and she found me."

"I'm so glad you're ok Bella. Do you want me to come and get you? We can spend the afternoon together, get you settled in more."

"No Edward, you have to work. I don't want you missing any more days because of me." Edward sighed again, and stayed quiet for a moment.

"Ok, can you put Rosalie on the phone for me? I just want to check things with her."

"OK". I hand the phone over to Rosalie, who holds it to the side for a second while she addresses me.

"Do you want to go into the other room and watch some TV with Lexie while I talk to Edward?" I hesitate. I want to talk to Edward again. I'm nervous about being here, even though being around Rosalie is still so new and nice. But after everything that's happened today so far, I'm just tired and I really want Edward to be here with me. However it's barely past lunchtime, and there's still several hours of the working day left.

Rosalie notices my torn expression and tries to encourage me with a smile. "I promise you can talk to him again before I hang up." Finally I nod and leave the room, heading in the direction that Lexie went running in earlier.

I find her in what appears to be a playroom. The walls are bright pink, with an edging around the top with tiaras all in a line. There's a toy box in the corner which is open, a trail of toys leading outwards to spread around the room. In one corner is a small children's table and chairs with coloring equipment, and in the other is a TV set up with bean bags in front. This is where I find Lexie, propped up in a pink beanbag chair, a stuffed animal dog hugged to her chest. She looks up as I enter, a smile stretching across her face.

"Aunt Bella! Come sit with me!" She bounces to her feet and grabs another bean bag chair, this one blue, and drags it so that it is next to hers. "You can sit in Daddy's chair." I hesitantly cross and room to her. I've never sat in a bean bag chair before and I gently lowered myself down into the plush seat, startling at the feeling of sinking deep into its interior. I glance back a Lexie to see her attention once again focussed on the television, engrossed in an animated movie playing on screen. I don't know what it is, but I settle down to watch with her.

"Cinderella's my favourite princess movie. What's your favorite?" I shrug. "Hmmm...I think you would like Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. You have pretty brown hair like her. And she likes to read. Do you like to read?" I nod excessively. Lexie giggles at my experience and I smile at the nice sound. Children should always be laughing. Without further ado, we sit back to watch.

It's a strange movie. There's a fairy godmother, and mice that turn into men and a pumpkin that turns into a carriage. And girl dressed in rags gets to go to a ball in a beautiful dress and dance with the prince. I'm captivated by the characters and the story, and can't help but think of Edward, my own personal prince.

As the story continues and the clock strikes twelve and the girl goes home to rags and leaves only a slipper behind, I start to get upset. Is that what will happen to me? Will I be taken to home to Phoenix, back to Mother and my life before? I don't want to go back. I hated living there and I never want to leave Edward and his family. This is my home now.

When the nasty stepmother and stepsisters come home, I feel even more upset, but Lexie pulls her bean bag closer to mine, leaning against my side.

"It's ok Aunt Bella. It gets better at the end, I promise."

I look down at her, meeting her gaze and find that I can't look away. The innocence and honesty in her eyes shocks me, and settles my anxiety. I nod in reply and bring my arms up to wrap around her. She settles into my hold and focuses back onto the screen. Still taken aback by her absolute trust in me, I study her for a second, before settling back to watch the movie.

It does end happy. The girl gets her prince, the evil, nasty stepmother and stepsisters are taught a lesson. Everyone lives happily ever after.

It isn't until the credits are rolling that I realise Lexie is sound asleep in my arms. I'm tired as well, from the stressful morning and the new environment. I don't remember deciding to go to sleep, but I'm soon being woken by Rosalie.

"Edward had to go into a meeting, but if it's ok with you to stay here for the the afternoon he'll come straight here after work." Her voice is a hushed whisper, so as to not wake Lexie. I agree, my mind still fuzzy and fatigued. Rosalie smiles. "Go back to sleep if you want. Lexie will be awake soon anyway."

When I wake again, its because the small body lying next to me is wriggling. Lexie quietly slips out of my arms and tiptoes out of the room. As soon as she passes the doorway I hear her run, her feet thundering down the hallway in search of her Mom. Blinking, I rouse myself more and launch to my feet, struggling to pull myself out of the constantly shifting chair. I find Rosalie and Lexie in the kitchen.

"Would you like something to eat Bella? I'm making sandwiches." Rosalie asks as she moves around the stylish kitchen effortlessly. I nod in reply.

"What can I do to help?" I request, almost plead. I need to help in some way, it wouldn't feel right otherwise.

"Could you get me three plates please." I rush to her aid, opening the cupboard she indicates and pulling out the plates. She puts the last finishing touches on the sandwiches - Ham, lettuce, cheese and tomato, - and serves them.

Lunch with the Mother/daughter pair is an interesting experience, and a large insight into their interactions as a family. I've never really eaten in the presence of others that often, hardly ever before I met Edward, and never before in the presence of a child. She's easily distracted and full of energy, her focus continuingly drifting to things around the room, or out the window. Rosalie is patient but stern as she constantly draws her attention back to her food and instructs her to eat. It makes me think of my own eating habits. I often find myself overcome by the urge to do something during a meal, like writing or cleaning or something else around the house, and I'll come back later to find my meal half eaten. It only happens occasionally, and if I'm completely focussed on my meal I'll consume the entire portion in a methodical sequence.

After lunch Rosalie teaches me more about the shiny phone, like how to text and other applications, as well as how to use the credit card. I try to keep up, keep focussed on what she's saying, but eventually it all gets to be too much. I can feel myself pulling back, becoming stuck in my own mind. My thoughts, feelings and emotions sweep through me uncontrollably, without understanding or comprehension. I wish had my notebook, I would give anything to be able to release onto paper the turmoil I've got inside. Instead by body curls in on itself protectively as I try to sort through it all. I can vaguely feel the warmth of Rosalies hug before she leaves me be, grasping my knees to my chest and rocking slowly back and forth.

A defective girl out of place in a perfect world.

Edwards voice is the first thing that breaks through the haze. I can hear it in the distance, and it drives me to swim to the surface of consciousness. I can hear footsteps and faint voices coming from the front door. My arms twitch as I try to unwind them from around my legs, but I'm still frozen in place. The voices cut off and I hear footsteps hurrying down the hallway towards me. Some part of me knows that it's Edward, can feel the ever present pull getting stronger as he gets closer. Finally he enters the room, his hair mussed from his usual nervous fidgeting and his eyes wide with concern, searching for me. His stressed appearance finally gives me the push I need to throw myself out of the chair, across the room and into his arms.

It's like finding my way home again.

Finally my shaking stops, my breathing calms, my heart stops pounding and my thoughts stop racing. Edward gently rubs my back in a soothing manner, whispering apologies and reassurances in my ear. He picks me up and settles us both on the couch, me on his lap.

After all and panic confusion to the day, I find that now that I'm with Edward I'm a lot calmer than I expected. Now that I'm in his arms and it's quiet and peaceful, I'm perfectly fine.

"I missed you." I whisper softly against his skin, my head resting on his shoulder nuzzled into his neck. Edward breaths a sigh and I feel it brush against my hair.

"I missed you too, Sweetheart. It sounds like you've had a stressful day."

"It's all better now."

Eventually we untangle and Edward leads me towards the kitchen to find the others. Emmett has come home at some point but I hadn't noticed. I'm surprised to find that he's the one cooking dinner in the kitchen, while Rosalie is occupying Lexie. She smiles at me from her seat at the dining table, but doesn't make any more of a fuss. I'm glad.

When Emmett notices us his smiles easily in a big cheesy grin. I'm starting to realise this is his default setting. He's big and boisterous, but he's also gentle and cheerful.

"Bella! Welcome to our Casa. We're having Fajitas for dinner, Chica!" his attempt at Spanish is laughable, but his mood infectious. I automatically move to go help, pausing to look up at Edward in question. Edward gives me a strained but genuine smile, placing a kiss on the back of my hand before releasing it and heading towards the table. I hesitantly step further into the kitchen.

"C...can I...help with anything?" Emmett's grin widens even more, if possible.

"Sure thing, Doll. Get your cute little butt over here."

Cooking with Emmett is...interesting. He's good at it, but his attention is all over the place, doing lots of small tasks all at once and bouncing from one side of the kitchen to the next. It's completely opposite to how I do anything in my life, calmly and methodically. I'm nervous around him at first, not sure what to do with his energy and trying my best to dodge his erratic movements. After a while I find it too draining and I give up. Instead I plod along at whatever task I set myself to do and let Emmett ricochet his way around me. I find that even though his movements seem to be random, he takes care to give me my space and not intrude too much into my personal bubble. With the open plan kitchen/dining area meaning I can constantly see Edward and Rosalie, it's not long before I'm completely at ease.

While we cook, Emmett chats enthusiastically about work. How the high school football team he coaches is getting ready for the upcoming season, and how he thinks they have a great chance and going far this year. His voice swells with a rich warm quality. Pride, I realise. He really loves working with these kids.

Pretty soon we've whipped up a delicious dinner of chicken fajitas and salad. The mood at the dinner table remains calm and casual, a vast difference on last night. I tuck in easily, not taking part in conversations but not feeling like I'm required to. I'm comfortable enough to be myself, to observe and absorb what's happening around me with the comfort of Edward at the side.

After we're done Edward and Rosalie clean up, refusing to let us help. Emmett intercepts my attempts to argue.

"It's the rules Bella. We cooked, now we get to play. Have you ever played Playstation before?" My confused look must have given him my answer, and he leads me into the lounge, causing me to forget about the dishes. Soon he's going through the basics of some game involving the both of us running around with guns and shooting things. The controls were weird, but after a bit of practice I can start to see patterns, both in how to press the buttons and where to dictate my character to go to on the screen. Even so, the first game I lose horribly, getting shot at from all over the place.

"You do this for fun?" I ask him, as my character once again gets shot in the head and the screen shows Emmett as the winner. "Isn't it a bit...morbid?"

Emmett chuckles. "I suppose it is a bit. I've never really thought about it. Didn't you play cops and robbers, or something like that as a kid?" I frown slightly and shake my head. "Really? Never?" Emmett asks in surprise.

"I didn't have any friends." I go back to studying my controller, trying to remember and memorise the different button combinations, oblivious to the effect I've just had on him. When I finally realise that we've entered into a somewhat uncomfortable silence I look up to see Emmett looking at me. He isn't saying anything, just looking, but not in a mean way. I have no idea what it means though.

When Emmett finally does speak it's quiet and serious, different to how he's been all night. "Never?" The question hangs heavily in the air between us, and I simply shake my head to confirm my answer. We go back to silence, and now I start to feel uncomfortable with Emmett's strange mood, like he's upset. I feel the need to placate him somehow.

"I used to play with my Dad." The sentence comes out before I realise it, but it's true. "I can barely remember it, I was young. He was my best friend. He would play with me in the back garden all the time. I think I..." I pause, unsure of how to say what I want to say next.

"You think what?" Emmett prompts gently.

"I think...I miss him. A lot. I..." It's like a door has been opened in my brain. Memories come roaring to the surface, accompanied with a rush of emotions and feelings so strong that I don't know what to do with them. It's like for years I've bottled it all up, because the memories of him are the strongest thing I had ever felt previous to meeting Edward. I can see his face, see his kind eyes and bushy mustache. I can feel the crippling ache in my chest that I haven't felt in a long while, so scared to experience it again that I had refused to let myself remember him.

I'm in Edward's arms once more. My body is shaking with the force of the emotions streaming through me. I can hear myself gasping in breaths, but still I feel starved of oxygen. The video game is turned off but Emmett doesn't leave. Instead Rosalie and Lexie come in a join us, Emmett on one side of us on the couch and Rosalie and Lexie on the other. They lean in to form a protective barrier around me, and I feel safe to surrender to the tidal wave inside me.

For the first time in many, many years I cry for the loss of the Father I loved dearly.

There you have it, a bit of a sop sop moment. I'm trying to make things happier in the future, but Bella has a few more things to work through yet. I have no idea when the next update is, but I will get started on it as soon as I can. Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed so far.

Love and Rockets

Secret xoxo

P.S. I got a kitten since last time I updated. He is my baby. I love him more than most human people I meet :P