Oops! Forgot this little technicality the last time around:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. That being said, please be nice and don't copy or translate without permission. Thank you.

My undying gratitude to CullenCrazy01 iadorepugs for their support and encouragement. Pugs is slowly trying to cure me of my dash addiction – but sometimes I'm a slow learner :) Love you guys so hard! More at the bottom... enjoy

Chapter 2

I stood at the counter, chopping vegetables for the salad when I heard the front door slam, the sound rattling the windows a bit. "Mom, I'm home!" shouted a voice from the front of the house, followed by the twin thumping noises of a backpack and a duffle bag being dropped in the foyer.

"In the kitchen, sweetie!" I called, turning and smiling at the boy who galloped into the room. Will looked just like pictures I had seen of his father at that age – all legs, arms, hands and feet. He was muscular but skinny, although he ate like a horse, and at thirteen was already several inches taller than me. He had the same beautiful russet skin as his father, although his hair was more brown than black, and his eyes a shade of brown just darker than my own. Brushing aside the sleek hair that constantly fell into his eyes, Will walked forward and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"Hi mom!" he yelled, and I motioned for him to remove the earbuds from his ears. He grinned and tucked them into his pocket. "Wow, something smells great. What's for dinner? I'm starving!" He reached around me and snagged a carrot from the cutting board, popping it into his mouth like Bugs Bunny.

"Chicken enchiladas, your favorite," I told him, swatting playfully at his hand. I caught a whiff of eau de boy and wrinkled my nose. "Hard practice today? Whew - you need a shower!"

He smiled unabashedly, then swiped another carrot. "Going to take one now. When's dinner gonna be ready?"

"In about thirty minutes, so hurry up and shower and pack. Oh, and could you send your sister downstairs, please?" I asked, turning back to the vegetables.

"Sure thing, mom. Sarah! Mom wants you downstairs!" he yelled as he crossed the room. He turned towards me with an apologetic grin, "I know, I know, tell her when I get upstairs, don't yell it across the house." Will loped up the stairs two at a time with a grace that I envied, wondering how he didn't trip over his feet. He was going to be huge, just like Jake. I knew that the girls at school were already swooning over his good looks and basketball prowess. To top it off, he was the sweetest kid ever and perpetually happy. He had a rough time of it when Jacob and I announced our split almost a year ago – he'd had nightmares and difficulties sleeping when his sister had given in to her anger. Once things calmed down with Sarah, he reverted back to his sweet self. There were still times he was too quiet and thoughtful in my opinion. Those moments concerned me as much as Sarah's outright rage.

I heard the pounding of Will's fist on Sarah's door and his shout over her loud music for her to come downstairs. I heard Sarah yell something back that I couldn't quite make out, pretty sure it contained one of my forbidden words. He yelled back at her, then I heard his heavy footsteps go down the hallway to the bathroom. The music from Sarah's room continued for a minute, then shut off. I heard her pad down the hallway and skip down the steps, before she stopped abruptly at the bottom. She sighed heavily and I rolled my eyes internally, knowing she was putting on that martyred expression she had become so adept at displaying lately.

I watched her surreptitiously out of the corner of my eye as she entered the room, knowing how she hated it when I studied her outright. Sometimes it was hard for me to reconcile the young woman before me with the baby girl who had once thought the sun rose and set with her father and I. Sarah had been the happiest of children, and the easiest of pre-teens to raise. She was sometimes a little too serious, as I had been at her age, but she had Jacob's streak of mischief and humor to balance out the intensity. She was paler than Jacob but darker than me, her skin a perfect warm honey tone, and her slightly wavy, ink black hair stretched all the way to her waist. Her eyes were the same color as mine, but with the beautiful exotic tilt of her Quileute ancestors. She was about an inch taller than me, with a beautiful slim figure that made Jacob wish for Charlie's service revolver every time she donned her cheerleading uniform. When she smiled, which wasn't as often as it used to be, it lit up the entire room. I could see that smile was nowhere in evidence as she slunk into the room, her shoulders set and a frown marring her pretty face.

"You wanted to see me," she sulked, her eyes refusing to meet mine. I sighed inwardly, struggling to keep my own martyred look off my face.

"Could you please set the table, sweetheart?" I asked in a cheerful voice. "I'm making enchiladas, and we're having a salad."

"Enchiladas are too fattening," she told me, her frown deepening. "I'll just have some of the salad." She flounced across the kitchen, grabbing plates and cups and silverware from the cabinets, sighing dramatically as she performed the simple task that had been her responsibility since she was seven.

"They are not fattening. I used a low fat recipe and whole grain tortillas. Besides, you don't have to worry about your weight anyway, you're perfect," I told her, frowning in return as I studied her slim hips encased in her favorite low rise jeans.

She turned back to me, looking pointedly at my hips and stomach. "I've got to be careful, because I think becoming overweight might run in our family." I felt the sting of the insult, and saw the small vindictive smile that crossed her lips. She noticed my eyes narrowing, and quickly changed the subject. "The table's set. Can I go finish packing now?"

I debated whether to call her out on her rudeness, but I didn't want to start her first weekend away with a fight, so I let it go. "Sure, dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," I told her. "Make sure you take your algebra book with you to study. I know you have that test on Monday."

"Yes, mother," she sighed again, quickly escaping, leaving me alone with my heavy thoughts. I heard her music start up again, a little louder this time, the thumping bass rattling the kitchen window. I could hear Will in the shower, singing in his loud, slightly off-key voice, and grinned, glad that some things remained the same. I finished the salad and placed the colorful bowl on the table, then checked the enchiladas, inhaling the delectable smell. I ran my hand over the curve of my hip and frowned, wondering if Sarah was right about the enchiladas. Lost in myself, I startled when the doorbell rang.

"I'll be right there!" I called out, washing my hands in the sink. As I reached for the towel, I heard Sarah run down the stairs, then squeal in excitement when she threw the door open. I wondered which of her friends was at the door and stepped forward to greet them. I stopped short when I spotted Renesmee in the doorway, hugging Sarah, who had a huge, radiant smile on her face. I felt my stomach clench in jealousy over the affection my daughter gave her so freely, and I unsuccessfully stifled a frown.

Renesmee pulled away when she saw me. "Hi, Bella. Jake's at the garage, and he asked me to pick up the kids for him."

"I'm ready, let me go get my stuff. Will! Ness is here to pick us up!" Sarah yelled, bounding up the stairs toward her room.

I stared after my daughter's retreating form, momentarily stunned into silence. I then turned to Renesmee, who hovered in the doorway, uncertain of what to do next.

It was hard to remember sometimes that the pretty young woman in front of me – only seven years Sarah's senior – had not been the cause of my divorce, simply the catalyst that caused Jacob and I to finally declare the marriage over. It would have been so easy to hate her, this beautiful girl who had stolen Jacob's heart the moment he saw her, if I didn't like her so damn much. Not only because she was everything Jacob needed, but everything my kids would need when they were away from me as well. Despite my reluctant affection for her, I was sometimes unable to stifle the feelings of jealousy and inadequacy that rose to the surface when she was around, especially when Sarah seemed to prefer her company over mine.

"Did Jacob tell you why he wants the kids picked up an hour early?" I asked softly, pretty sure I already knew the answer and that it had nothing to do with Jacob.

Renesmee look startled. "Sarah sent me a text a half an hour ago saying they were ready to go, could I pick them up now. I had to wrap things up at the garage. Otherwise I would have been here about twenty minutes ago."

I could feel the heat rising in my face, certain that my cheeks were now a flaming red. Were I a cartoon character, I'm sure that steam would have been pouring out of my ears. "Sarah?" I called up the stairs in an even-toned voice that, to an outsider, sounded perfectly civil. My kids, however, knew it meant that I had been pushed too far. "Could you come down here, please?"

Sarah skipped down the stairs, her backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, the strap to her suitcase over the other. She smiled innocently at me, stopping next to Renesmee and dropping her bags at her feet. I could hear Will's heavy footsteps coming down the hall, and struggled to maintain my composure in front of my son and Renesmee.

"Sarah, did you ask Renesmee to pick you up early?" I asked softly, feeling the anger being replaced by hurt at the self-satisfied smirk that played along her lips.

"I didn't think you'd mind, mom. I just really wanted to see Daddy – it's been so long since I've spent any time with him," she said sweetly. Guilt now eclipsed the anger and hurt. "Besides, you know how I feel about the enchiladas, and Ness said they're going to order pizza for dinner."

My inner snark wanted to comment about the fat content of pepperoni pizza. My immediate guilt forced me to hold my tongue as Will appeared at my side, his eyes wide with concern as he studied my exchange with Sarah. "Mom, what's going on?" he asked, putting a protective hand on my shoulder. Sarah noticed and rolled her eyes, stopping abruptly when I narrowed mine.

"Ness came to pick us up early, and she and dad are ordering pizza for dinner, isn't that cool, Will?" Sarah gushed. She shot me a look out of the corner of her eye, and added, "I know how much you said you were missing dad this morning, and I thought maybe we could leave just a little early, if it's okay with mom."

Panic and guilt filled Will's eyes as he looked at me, his fingers tightening convulsively on my shoulder. "But Sarah, mom made our favorite dinner, and…"

I cut him off. "It's okay, sweetie. Go ahead with Ness and your sister. Spend some time with your dad. You know how much I love enchiladas, now I'll have plenty to eat this weekend!" I babbled, wishing more than anything I could make it all right for him again. I saw him shoot a hard glare at his sister. Renesmee shifted her weight, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. Good! I thought to myself vindictively. Why should I be the only one to suffer?

I patted Will's hand on my shoulder and smiled brightly at him. "Go, get your stuff, and enjoy your time with your dad!"

"Are you going to be okay?" he persisted, ignoring his sister as she sighed loudly.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I will be fine. Go, eat pizza, have fun!" My voice sounded falsely cheerful even to me, and I cringed inwardly, hoping that Will couldn't hear it. He studied my face for a moment longer, then smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. I felt an eerie sense of déjà vu – that was how Jacob had always said goodbye to me. I watched as he loped up the stairs, returning moments later with his backpack and duffel bag.

Will picked me up in a ferocious hug, and I laughed a little hysterically, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll miss you, mom," he whispered in my ear, then kissed my forehead again.

"Me too, sweetie. Have a good time. Be good for your dad, and nice to your sister, okay?" I turned to Sarah, who gave me a look as though she dared me to try and hug her. I reached out and touched her cheek, ignoring the way she flinched away. "Be kind to your brother, okay Sarah?"

She stopped herself before rolling her eyes at me, but I could tell that she really wanted to. "Of course, mom. C'mon, Ness – let's get out of here!" she called brightly, leaving the rest of us standing behind in the foyer. Will cast one last sad look at me, then followed his sister outside, leaving me standing alone with Renesmee, who looked just as uncomfortable as I felt.

"Bella, I'm sorry, I didn't know…" Renesmee started, but I waved her off, feeling the panic start to set in, wanting her to be gone before it all came crashing down around me.

"No blood no foul," I told her blithely. "They've both got studying to do for next week, if you can remind them. Sarah might need some help with her algebra. Jake's been working with her. Call if you have any questions, although Jacob should be able to handle…" I trailed off, desperate to get her out of the house before I broke down.

"Okay," Renesmee said unsurely, her dark eyes shining with sympathy. I felt my irritation rise at that. What right did she have to pity me? "Have a good weekend, Bella," she said softly.

"Yeah, you too," I said, itching to slam the door the moment she stepped onto the porch. I forced myself to stand in the threshold, waving goodbye until they turned the corner, knowing that Will was watching the whole time. As soon as the car was out of sight, I slammed and bolted the door, turning my back against it and sliding down to the floor, the tears coming fast and hard as I pulled my knees up and sobbed into my folded arms.

I don't know how long I sat there, but the foul odor of something burning finally pulled me from my reverie. I shot to my feet and sprinted to the kitchen, where smoke was starting to leak out of the oven. "Damn it!" I shouted to the empty house as I opened the oven to find the blackened enchiladas. I grabbed an oven mitt and pulled the offensive casserole dish out of the oven, hurtling it into the sink with enough force to crack the dish. I turned on the range fan and opened the kitchen window, trying to rid the kitchen of the awful stench, surprised to hear the text alert on my cell phone over my own commotion.

RCullen: Bella, pick up the damn phone.

I checked my call log. There were two missed calls from Rosalie in the last twenty five minutes.

I stubbornly decided to wallow and ignore the text, and sent the call that followed it directly to voice mail. I started cleaning up the dishes from the dinner table, the tears welling up again when I saw that Sarah had spitefully set a place for her father.

Another text alert sounded. I flipped open my phone.

RCullen: Stop ignoring me.

I tossed the phone down on the counter, then dumped the salad in the trash, when yet another text message alert sounded. My irritation grew.

RCullen: You can clean up your kitchen later. Answer the door.

At that moment, the doorbell sounded, and I jumped about three feet. I stood stock still in the kitchen, not sure what to do, when the pounding started. "I know you're in there, Bella! Answer the damn door!"

A shorter one, but the chappies get longer as we go along. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all who read, reviewed, and put me on favorite for Chapter 1 of my little story. I'm having a blast with these characters, and there's a lot of story to come. I'd love to hear what you think so far, so please leave me a review if you are so inclined.