Wee! A new chapter, all ready for you guys. This one was fun to write, and I liked it a lot when I finished. I'd like to once more disclaim Stephenie Meyer's characters, but I take credit for Riley and the plot. There's a bit less past in here, and more present. Mainly because of Edward, of course – everything's for Edward. XD Alright, I'd like to give special thanks to jadesabre75, for sticking with me and reviewing for both chapters. This chapter is for you. =] Oh, and I've decided to start having chapter songs. I've seen so many authors put them up, even though most of the songs I've never heard of before. XD Mainly because I'm a freak… I don't know.

So, Featured Song: Fooling Yourself, By: Styx (Hey, I listen to old-fashioned stuff. This is from the 70s.)

And, since I don't feel like editing the other chapters right now, here are the songs for them…

Chapter 1: I Have A Dream, By: Abba (Not much to actually do with chapter, but I listened to it a lot.)

Chapter 2: Coming Around Again, By: Carly Simon (Just kind of has to do with Bella's inner hope of a good relationship some day.)

X-x-X

Chapter 3: A Game of Ketchup

Bella

Well, Alice's idea of lunch was going to a fancy restaurant right smack-dab in the middle of downtown Chicago. So my pickup truck looked so out of place amongst all of the fancy cars and fancy people. I winced when I noticed that Riley and I were totally underdressed. Then again, the only fancy wear either of us owned was at home stuffed unceremoniously in the back of our closets. Neither of us were big fans of dresses or party-wear.

"We're going here?' Riley asked me in surprise, raising her eyebrows in my direction.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "It was Aunt Alice's choice, honey, not mine," I told her. Riley sighed, and shook her head. She ran her fingers through her hair swiftly as if she were combing her hair.

"Why didn't she tell us we would be going to this fancy place?" she asked frantically. "I look like a mess."

I chuckled and gave her a hug around the shoulders as I unbuckled myself. "You look beautiful, hon. Don't worry about it," I told her reassuringly as I got out of the car. She followed my lead and we went to join Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward.

Rosalie was one of our more beautiful actresses. Her blonde hair right now was pulled back into an elegant ponytail that revealed her sapphire blue eyes and brought out her evenly tanned skin. She smiled when she saw us, dressed up in her black satin-like pants and a red halter-top.

But she was nothing compared to Alice's beautiful brother Edward.

Though I normally stared at Rosalie in all her beauty, my gaze went to Edward this time. He was observing me in the same way, which made me blush slightly. I pulled Riley close and kissed the back of her hair to hide it. He didn't notice, so he just smiled dazzlingly at me. Little did he know that he was only making it worse.

Riley was confused by my actions – I normally didn't show these signs of affection to her in public. I only grinned and released her, pushing her away playfully. She winked at me, understanding something that I didn't think she could understand at the age of fifteen. Alice must have been teaching her the wrong things. It was either that or there were splotches of red across my face. But from the amused looks on Jasper and Alice's faces, it was probably the fact that I was red in the face. Wonderful – I was making myself look like an idiot.

"Why didn't you tell me that we were coming here?" I asked of Alice as we approached them on the sidewalk.

Alice shrugged. "It was a last minute decision. I forgot you were wearing jeans. Sorry." Her expression twisted into one of apology, and I shrugged as if it were no big deal.

"I'll be fine."

Alice took that as a reassurance and let out a sigh of relief. She smiled at me and, taking Jasper's hand, went into the restaurant. Riley and I followed with Emmett and Rosalie – Edward taking up the rear.

The restaurant was pretty much empty, probably because most of the normal customers here were still at work at their major corporations. The hostess raised her eyebrows as we came in. Mostly her eyes were on my jeans. At least I had chosen to wear my designers today; that had to count for something. She took our party number and had us sit for about five minutes so they could put a few tables together to seat all of us. I didn't mind the wait.

But Riley's stomach growling beside told me that she hadn't eaten much breakfast.

When the hostess returned, she escorted us to a group of three tables that had been put together. We all sat down as she passed out the menus, and I took mine and flipped it open. My eyes bugged out at the sight of these prices. There were no meals underneath ten dollars. Who did Alice think we were? Riley and I didn't make enough money to even dine like this for a day straight.

Alice seemed to catch on and looked at me worriedly. She was beginning to regret her decision in coming here, and then I began to feel bad for giving her a hard time. She was just trying to welcome back Edward as best as she could. So, I put on a fake smile as the hostess said,

"Your waiter will be out in a minute."

As soon a she had walked away, Riley, who was of course sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered, "Mom, how are we supposed to afford this? These prices are totally insane."

"I know, baby, I know," I whispered back.

Edward turned his head to look at us – he was seated on my other side across from Alice. He gazed at us curiously, as if he had never seen a mother and her child on good terms before. But there was something else behind that look that told me that he had heard what Riley had just said… and like he was going to do something about it.

At that moment, a middle-aged man came by our table. "Hey, I'm Eric, and I'll be your server today. What can I get you to drink?"

The consecutive order around the table was either Diet Coke or Mr. Pibb (Emmett was the one who order that drink, and Edward playfully followed suit). When the orders came to me, I said,

"Water."

Riley looked at me briefly before ordering the same thing.

"Alright… so have you decided on what you're going to order?" Eric then asked us.

Nobody was ready. Jasper told this to the server and Eric smiled, telling us that our drinks would be right out. Everyone began looking through their menus for something to order, so I turned to Riley and began conferring as to what the cheapest things on the menu are. The only cheap things were gross looking chicken dishes. Riley wrinkled her nose at me when I suggested it.

"I couldn't really help but overhear," a silky smooth voice from behind me said. I turned my head to find myself staring at Edward. He smiled slightly. "If you two don't mind, I can cover the bill for both of you. I don't wish for you two to get food poisoning all because you want to save money."

"We can handle ourselves," I replied smoothly. I didn't want him thinking we were some beggars who were entirely dependent on other people. Edward frowned.

"I bet you can, but at least allow me to pay for this," he insisted. "It's the least I can do for my new assistant and her daughter."

It was hard to argue with a god. "Er… fine," I said, giving in with poor grace. Riley looked so much more relieved that she didn't have to get the disgusting looking chicken a la carte. So she began searching the menu with new enthusiasm, and I looked at Edward again. "Thank you," I added softly. Edward grinned and dipped his head.

Alice seemed to miss our exchange, and smiled at us from down the table. Jasper was sitting beside her, with an arm around her shoulders as he observed his menu. Emmett was sitting across from Riley, and Rosalie sat at the head of the table. I saw that their hands were connected underneath the corner of our table. I smiled to myself, glad that they were so happy together. I also didn't miss the sappy glances they sent each other and suddenly their moment seemed to private that I had to look away.

"Are you ready to order?" Eric was back, with a tray full of beverages. He passed them around and Riley began sipping on hers as soon as she got it. She always did that, and I didn't know where she got it.

"I'll have the spaghetti marinara," Riley piped up before anyone else had a chance to speak their order, and went back to sipping her water. "And with the salad, I'll take ranch."

When Eric looked to me, I ordered the first thing I saw – not knowing what I wanted. "Er… the mushroom ravioli for me," I confessed.

Everyone else gave their orders and Eric left with a kind smile in my direction and went off again.

"So, Edward," Alice chirped, and everyone turned their attention to the so-called 'prodigal' brother. "What have you been doing these past few years?"

Edward ran his fingers through his hair with a slight smile and shook his head. "I've actually been working for a small production studio out in San Francisco. I was the studio assistant manager, and it paid well. But when I heard that Chicago Metropolitan was looking for a new director for a show, I decided to come home. Not to mention the pay here was better anyway. And I also decided it was time to take to the family business… well, where most of my family was working."

"Well, I'm glad you came back, bro," Emmett chuckled. "Making fun of Alice hasn't has been much fun without you around."

Edward raised his eyebrows. "You're still going at her?" he asked.

Emmett shrugged with a grin. "Hey, somebody's got to keep her in line. You have no idea how annoying she is sometimes with that freaking costume crew of hers."

"I am not that bad. It's just that you don't have the respect for that kind of stuff like you should," Alice replied stiffly.

Rosalie patted his arm with her free hand. "She keeps me looking good on stage, babe," she reminded him with a mischievous smile. "And if you remember last show… I think that was a night to remember. And it was all because of Alice's genius."

Emmett grinned wolfishly, and I scowled at the pair of them. "Riley is here, you two," I reminded them sharply.

Riley giggled and I heard a low, silken chuckle from Edward. I sighed, and rolled my eyes – so Riley was less innocent than I had estimated. This was just great. "You and I are having a talk when we get home," I teased my daughter as I ruffled her hair. She squealed in disdain and shoved my hand away. I heard Edward laugh lightly.

Jasper chuckled. "Bells, Riley is fifteen," he told me.

"Really? I thought she was five," I answered jokingly.

"Hey, where have you been for the past ten years?" Alice teased, and I heard Riley giggling beside me. Edward looked surprised at our banter, but he was smiling. I suppose he would have to get used to how close we all were. We were a family – no matter how closely related we all were. It made me reassured at the end of every day that I had friends like these who would always be there to help take care of my daughter.

Lunch passed like that, in playful banter that introduced us only lightly to Alice's amazingly handsome brother. Although I thought he was handsome, I knew that these physical attractions were just physical and nothing else. And I'd had my share of 'physical' relationships.

"Hey, babe, what's your name?" the man asked, sitting next to me at the bar.

I wrinkled my nose. The bar wasn't my first choice in dinner choices, but Riley was with her Uncle Jasper and his girlfriend Alice. Riley was only ten, and Jasper had been pestering me for a while for a chance to spend some time with his niece. I had agreed, of course. I looked at the man who had sat beside me skeptically, taking in his appearance.

He had russet skin, with deep brown eyes that were even darker than mine. His hair was ebony black and went a little ways past his shoulders. All in all, he was beautiful in that Native American, almost Asian kind of way. He noticed me staring and grinned widely, and I felt red spread across my ivory skin. It was odd that a woman like myself of twenty-seven was still blushing. To think I had gotten over that in high school, or maybe even junior high. Apparently I had some growing up to do still. The thought was a bit disturbing.

I winced to think of high school.

"What's your name?" the man asked again with a kinder smile this time. He looked at me expectantly until I decided to tell him.

"Bella," I murmured softly. Men hit on me like this every day, and I was getting a bit tired of it. My past with men wasn't so great, and I was hesitant about anyone who even approached me or glanced my way.

"Huh. Italian and Latin for 'beautiful'," the man mused, sipping on his martini. "A fitting name, I suppose. The name's Jacob. You can call me Jake." He sent a grin my way and the red was back across my face. It had been a while since I had met or spoken with an educated man.

"You speak Italian and Latin?" I asked, surprised.

Jacob chuckled and swirled the drink around in his glass. "Yeah," he said, almost like a boast. "And French too. English is my specialty." He winked at me and I giggled at the lame joke. "Where are you from? Someone like you normally doesn't hang around here."

"Hm? Oh, I live a couple of miles out of town on the north side," I answered, fiddling with a napkin that was in front of me as I avoided this curious man's gaze. "My daughter and I live in a small two-story."

"Daughter? You're a bit young to have a daughter, aren't you?" Jacob frowned with something that I didn't quite understand – it could have been disapproval. It was how most people reacted whenever I mentioned I had a daughter. Most men said 'No way!' or 'You've got to be joking, babe.' But of course I wasn't joking. How could I ever joke about Riley, who I loved so much?

I smiled faintly. "I had her when I was seventeen. She's staying with her uncle right now," I confessed. This Jake was so easy to talk to, and a faint spark of hope flickered in my chest. Maybe this time I had found someone different. Maybe this time I would have found the prefect, beautiful man.

All men had their flaws. So how could I not doubt that Edward had his?

X-x-X

Edward

"Edward Anthony Cullen, you get down here this very minute!" came the bubbly voice of my sister from downstairs. "Get your butt out of bed – we have to drive into work early today! It's auditions, you great lump!"

I groaned and nearly rolled out of my double bed. Back at my apartment in California (which I had secretly sold before I came – I was planning on staying here for a while and was keeping it a secret from my family until I thought it was a better time), I'd owned a king-sized bed that I never had to worry about falling out of. But Alice and Jasper had given me the only spare room they had – the room that Jasper had explained had been used for Riley Swan whenever she came over for an overnight visit while her mom took a vacation for being a mom.

Ah, Riley's mother. The amazingly beautiful Isabella Swan – my assistant.

Then I remembered that Alice was right. Today was going to be auditions for the show, and I would have to make the final cuts as to who would play whom in the musical. It was a very important day for everyone. Including myself, the director of the show.

I stumbled out of bed in a fluster, grabbing clothes just like I did every morning when I realized I was late. I wasn't sure if we were behind schedule, because there was no clock in this room. I'd have to change that rather soon.

I ended up going downstairs in a blue button-up shirt with khaki pants – a reasonable outfit for a director on his first day.

"Oh my God!" Alice exclaimed when I walked into the kitchen. "You look like a tornado swept through your room last night. Look at your hair, and that outfit! Ack! I'll have to fix it before we go. For now, breakfast." She gestured to the empty seat at the table where Jasper was sitting. He smiled at me apologetically as I sat down and grabbed a fork and knife. He seemed to know what Alice was screaming about.

"Sorry," my soon-to-be brother-in-law murmured when Alice had her back turned. "She does this to me too, sometimes."

"I heard that," my pixie of a sister snapped over her shoulder as she worked at the stove. "Don't think you'll go unpunished tonight, Jazzy. That remark was harsh." She looked back over her shoulder to wink at him though, a sure sign that he was automatically forgiven… it was either that or it was a extremely suggestive gesture that showed they'd be doing something later while I hopefully wasn't home. I liked to think it was the first option.

"Yes, ma'am," Jasper muttered, looking back to his bowl of cereal.

I laughed. Alice had him wrapped around her little finger.

"So when are we going in?" I asked. I felt strangely eager to get going. I had prepared the script I wanted some of the actors and actresses trying out to use, so I was ready for 'work'. Alice sent me a skeptical glance as she brought the food she was preparing over to the table.

"We're going in when I say we're going in," she told me proudly.

"Really?" I asked, surprised by her attitude.

"No, we're going in around eight." Alice giggled when I sent her an exasperated look. Sometimes my sister could be so daft – it was near infuriating at times. But she was my favorite sibling, considering as Emmett had used to have making fun of me as one of his favorite habits. "We need to be there early today, and Bella's coming in early too. You two need to get a talk or something in before auditions, I decided. Riley will be there too, and if I know her she's going to need me to calm her down."

"What do you mean, calm her down? What could Riley possibly be upset over?" I questioned skeptically. I hadn't known Riley for very long or very well, but I knew that she wasn't one for being overly exertive about her emotions.

Alice sent me a warning look. "I can't tell you that," she replied simply, jutting her chin out. "Something I've been working on with her for a while now. You're not allowed to tell anybody. Nobody can know until it's the right time." She turned away and went to clean off her hands in the sink. Jasper and I shared a nonplussed look before she returned, demanding that we eat our breakfasts.

The drive to the theatre was practically nerve-wracking. I was nervous; because this was my first play ever directed here at the Chicago Metropolitan. And besides this, there had only been three other plays that I had directed. None of them Anastasia. I had read through the script twice on the way on the plane, so I knew that it vaguely resembled the cartoon movie, and so I knew a little bit about how things were supposed to go. I bet that Bella probably knew a lot more about this play than I did.

Isabella. That beautiful woman I had met yesterday. She was wonderful, and I knew that our partnership would be one to remember when I eventually went back home. If I couldn't get her to go out on a date with me, that is. As we pulled into the parking lot, I silently vowed to myself that I'd get her to say 'yes' to me someday.

Alice pulled on my hand and dragged me into the theatre behind her, and Jasper walked with his hands in his pockets behind us.

As soon as we entered, Riley was there with her mother checking in. Riley looked like a nervous wreck, and every time her mother looked at her, she was bewildered at why her daughter was acting so strangely. When Alice came in, Riley looked at her helplessly and her aunt-to-be smiled encouragingly. I wondered what they were sharing silently, though I could just about read the minds of those around me. And I could tell that there was a secret they were both keeping from everyone. I figured I'd find out what it was soon enough. It was almost like a foreboding, in a way.

"There are a lot of people waiting to try out for this play," Isabella informed me with weary eyes, and I wondered if she had gotten any sleep last night. And if she hadn't, I wondered what was going on in that head of hers. "We'd better get started. I know we're supposed to start in about forty-five minutes, but I'd like to be out of here by two."

"Agreed," I answered immediately, looking down at her as she clutched a clipboard to her chest. "Is everything set up? As in, note sheets and everything like that?"

She nodded briskly. "I had Emmett and some of his friends bring out a table, and Angela and her department has taken care of all the note sheets. We can start right now, if you want. Do you have scrip passages ready for people to read?" she asked me skeptically, glancing at the rather small briefcase I was carrying.

"There's some in here, yes. Do you want them right now?" I replied.

She nodded, holding out her hand. "I'll take them and distribute them to everyone trying out," she said bluntly. I pulled them out of the case and handed them to her. That was when I noticed that both Riley and Alice were missing. Bella seemed to notice it at the same time I did, and rolled her eyes. When I looked at her questioningly, she shrugged. "They're probably off on their own. Alice and Riley do that a lot. Alice is Riley's private school teacher."

This interested me. Alice hadn't told me this over the phone or over the night. Jasper didn't looked surprised as he stepped forward and gave Bella a quick hug. I felt a pang of irrational jealousy when I remembered that he was her brother.

"See you later, Bells," Jasper told her. "I'm going to go and work on some lighting." He went off backstage.

Bella nodded and looked down at the passages I picked her. She raised her eyebrows. "You picked the scene between Demetri and Anastasia?" she asked skeptically.

"For the two trying out for the leads. There are three other scenes for some of the other characters," I pointed out. She nodded in a business-like manner and went off without a word. I waited until she returned, and she began walking towards the house.

"We're ready to begin, Mr. Cullen," she said to me.

I'd have to get her to call me Edward.

Well, fifty-two actors/actresses later, we'd come up with a few select choices for some of the main characters. Rosalie Hale, Emmett's girlfriend, would be playing Sophi. A boy named Seth Clearwater would be Demetri. Someone named Michael Newton would play the evil sorcerer. That was all we had. And I whispered to Bella that we were ready to look for Anastasia. She nodded briskly.

"Whoever's first, come on out and give us your name," she called out.

The person to walk on stage at her call was not a twenty-year old woman. It was Riley, Bella's daughter. She was trying out for Anastasia.

EOC: Oh! Somewhat of a cliff-hanger. Sorry for the crappy, non-descriptive ending, but I wanted to get this done for all you guys. Edward's perspective could have been better, but I couldn't have it from Riley's or it would spoil it, and Bella's just didn't fit for this part. I'm going to have to watch Anastasia again so I know the names and stuff. XP And some of these scenes are really based off the movie, but they're written by me because I have no idea if there's a musical version of that movie. I doubt it, and we all know how plays aren't always like the movie. Anyways… I hope you guys liked it. I'll be back soon with a new chapter, because I know some of you are going to want more! XD 'Til I update again. – Dark and Wild