Hey everyone! I know this was kind of unexpected but It just popped into my head. Don't worry; it won't interfere with B+E or the course of their relationship. Thanks! I don't own these characters, except James.

BELLA POV

I was really glad Edward had talked me into going, because I was enjoying myself. I watched him go up to the stage, looking embarrassed, and accept a handshake. I clapped hard, and he beamed at me, coming back down the aisle now. We watched the rest of the students accept their handshakes and greetings and then listened to Brooke again. But then, waiters began flowing out of the doors at the sides of the stage and laying plates piled with food onto the tables. I was shocked at the service, it was amazing. I couldn't believe Julliard had paid for all this, just for one concert. The dinner was wonderful, and I stuffed my face, not really caring. I hadn't eaten properly in a while, and it felt good. We danced as we had hundreds of times before, and it felt even better. That is, until, Edward brought up the subject of Carlos. My mood took an immediate down turn,

"I'm just trying to forget about him." I said, biting my lip. "I really am." And it was true, I had been trying very hard to just focus on this trip, and nothing else.

"It's going to be alright." He assured me, and I felt a tiny bit better, as Edward always made me feel. I moved my arms from his neck to wrap around his chest instead, hugging as we danced. His head rested on top of mine, a comfortable position. I closed my eyes and listened to the music, completely absorbed in this moment, my bare feet on top of his, his head on mine, my arms around him, our gentle swaying, the song I knew well. I sighed, allowing myself to relax in his arms, and get carried away by the peacefulness of it all.

I woke up the next morning bright and early, with the fall sunshine streaming through the large windows in our room. Edward snored lightly from beside me in flannel pants, his face squished and one arm hanging off the bed. I smiled to myself and got up reluctantly from underneath the down duvet, grabbing a sweater that was hanging on a chair and slipping it over my head. I made my way to the small kitchen and made myself a cup of tea, and brewing some coffee for Edward, knowing he would need it this morning. Tonight was the night of the big concert, and I was expecting Edward to awake any moment in a panic, roused from the peace of sleep. Sure enough, as I sat down with a sigh in one of the arm chairs and curled my knees to my chest, sipping my tea, he stirred. He sat up rubbing his face, and made sleepy noises. I chuckled, waiting for him to realize what day it was. He took a look around, and then his eyes grew wide, and he literally jumped off the bed.

"Holy ****!" He yelled. I laughed heartily now.

"The concert isn't in ten minutes you know..." I told him. He looked at me, running a hand through his hair.

"It's in eight hours! Can you believe this?" He asked, looking shocked.

"Believe what?" I asked him.

"That we're here. That I'm performing in New York City." He said, smiling.

"Yes, I can believe it. You're talented you know." I said, sipping my tea. He sauntered over and grabbed it quickly, taking a long sip. "Hey!" I objected.

"I need caffeine." He shrugged, smiling.

"Yeah, that's why I made coffee. Leave my tea alone." I said, covering it with both my hands.

"Thanks, beautiful." He said, pouring some into a cup, and adding cream, no sugar, as he always took it. He sat down in the chair opposite me and took quick sips, jiggling his knees.

"Stop worrying." I said, and he frowned.

"I can't. I have so much to do." He told me. "Informational meeting at 9, meet the judges lunch at 12, dress rehearsal from 2 until 4, and then set up. The show is at 8." He listed.

"I see. I was thinking I would look around town at some stuff, you know, while you're doing that." I told him, and he smiled.

"Sounds fun, I wish I could go." He said, getting up and pulling an olive green shirt out of his suitcase and putting it on. He finished dressing and rubbed a hand through his hair, sighing and giving up trying to make it behave. It was useless, Edward's hair never behaved. He left an hour later for the informational meeting, after I forced him to eat some eggs and drink some juice, and I began getting ready for my day. Thankfully, Alice had let me pack my own casual clothes, and I chose to wear a pair of stretchy black yoga pants, a white spaghetti strap and I sneakily stole Edward's new navy blue Julliard sweater, tying my curls into a casual knot on the top of my head, some falling out. I put on my comfy boots and scarfed down some oatmeal before heading outside into the brisk air. It wasn't quite cold, but it was just chilly enough to be comfortable in what I was wearing. I walked out of the hotel and down the blistery street, wondering where I should go first. I had about 7 hours before I had to catch up with Edward. I decided on just walking and seeing where it would take me, window-shopping. I needed to buy a congratulations gift for Edward for his show, and wondered vaguely what he would like. I was lost in the clouds as I walked down the busy streets, when I literally bumped into someone.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed. The woman, who looked to be about in her forties, mumbled something unintelligible, and then looked up. I was shocked to be staring into a familiar pair of eyes. The last pair of eyes I had expected to meet. It was my mother, quite recognizably, her face more wrinkled and more careworn. Her expression of annoyance changed to one of extreme shock as she looked back into my eyes.

"Bella?" She asked, uncertain. I considered telling her I didn't know whom she was talking about, and walking away, telling her my name was Ashley, but then I saw her eyes again, and I crumpled. I wanted to hug her, to crawl up into her arms and be held like I had when I was small. I wanted to hear her sing me lullabies and laugh as I twirled around the living room. I missed my mother. I nodded, biting my lip. She pulled me off to the side of the walkway so that other people could pass, and looked at me once again in shock. "Bella?" She said again.

"It's me, mom." I said softly, and unexpectedly, she threw her arms around me. She smelled like she always had, of soap and clean laundry, to me one of the most comforting smells in the world. I wrapped my arms around her as well, squeezing her tight and relishing in memories, which all seemed to be flowing back. The last time I had seen her, I was eleven, when she came for Christmas, and even then, it had only been two days. We released each other, and I saw that I wasn't the only one who had tears in their eyes.

"Why are you here?" She asked enthusiastically, "Are you going to Julliard?" She said, eyeing Edward's sweater. "What happened to your face?"

"No, I'll tell you everything in a minute." I winced. "Let's go somewhere."

"I know just the place." She said, literally dragging me across a couple of blocks and sitting us down in a chique looking cafe. She went inside to order a drink, and I quickly texted Edward.

You'll never guess who I'm sitting at a cafe with.-B I sent.

The president?-E.M He jokingly replied.

My mother!-B I sent, putting my phone down as my mother came out again. It was awkward, sitting there with her, after all that had happened. She had left us, and I would never quite forgive her for that, but she was my mother, and deserved to know what was going on.

"So," She began, smiling. "Tell me everything. I want to know about that scar first." She said worriedly.

"It happened a couple months ago, at this party." I said, embarrassed. She urged me to go on, and I shrugged internally. What harm could it do? "I drank too much, and this guy named James Benna took me far up a trail and sort of tried to take advantage of me." I said blushing.

"Oh, Bella." She gasped.

"Well I hit my head on a rock and a tree, giving me this." I motioned to my scar. "And a concussion. Edward found me and brought me home, and then gave James the beating of his life."

"Oh baby." She cooed. I was again overwhelmed with the urge to be a child again, secure and safe in her arms.

"It took a while to heal, but it's getting better now." I said quietly, looking down. She nodded, not knowing what to say.

"And about Julliard?" She asked.

"Oh, I don't go there, Edward does. I'm just here for his entrance concert. We get to stay a free three nights at the Four Seasons." I said. She nodded again.

"How is Edward doing?" She asked me.

"He's good, stressed of course." I said, smiling. She chuckled.

"Still best friends?" She asked.

"The very best." I smiled. There was a silence.

"I can't believe how much you've grown..." She mused.

"Well, I'm almost eighteen." I said matter-of-factly.

"It's insane." She shook her head. "Bella, I hate to be rude, but I don't want to leave just yet. Do you think Edward would mind if I came to see his concert?" She asked nervously.

"I think he would love to see you." I said, smiling. She smiled too, relieved.

Thanks for reading! New update soon. Reviews?

xox