thank you for my loyal readers, who waited for me to update. sorry. i'm just being all studious because school is here and more hectic than ever. it's my senior year already-EEP!

I'll post the next chapter-please don't hate me for this-next week so that i can up my reviews till then.

~*~*~ Playing Mommy~*~*~

Isabella Swan

Everyone could tell Edward was troubled. And it started when I saw him arguing with his uncle last night. My stomach lurched as I recalled the event.

Edward and I were in our room. I was lying on the bed, my body facing in Edward's direction. He was sitting on his chair, looking angry out the window. He was unaware that I was watching—worrying for him.

I didn't know in what stage we were now. After our kisses, I lost track. What was I to him? Were we still employer and employee?

My stomach lurched once more, the blood draining from my face. The thought of not being closer to him dreaded me.

I guess it was inevitable to say that I had grown to like him—in an incredible way. And that thought also scared me. What if he didn't feel the same?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to make it mute as possible. But I realized a sob was threatening to come out.

A whimper escaped my lips.

Edward turned in his seat and I automatically put a hand on my mouth, my eyes open in embarrassment. "Why aren't you asleep?" he asked flatly, his voice only a whisper.

Slowly, I sat up, not meeting his gaze. "I keep waking so I gave up in forcing myself to sleep," I admitted.

He let out a sigh and trudged toward his makeshift bed. "Well, try again," he said sternly.

I pursed my lips. Okay. He was really angry.

Reluctantly, I lied down and tried to sleep.

After a moment, I did.

…

"Where's Daddy?" I opened my eyes to the sound of Renesmee sobbing outside. I immediately stepped out of the room and saw her being carried by Esme.

Esme saw me and walked over to pass the girl into my arms. Renesmee let out a sob again as she wrapped her little arms tightly around my neck. "Daddy left without saying goodbye, Mommy!"

I stiffened. "Well, he's upset, baby," I said softly. "He just wants to be alone for awhile."

"Without a goodbye?" she cried.

"He's really upset, baby," was all I could say and hugged her tighter. "You have to understand your daddy."

She pulled back and met my eyes with her bloodshot ones. Her lower lip jutted out into a pout. "Did someone steal his toy? I get upset if someone steals my toys."

I let out a faint laugh. "Maybe," I said. "Daddy just doesn't know how to be calm about it. He likes his toy very much."

"Well, I can teach him," Renesmee sniffed. Beyond her tiny shoulders, I saw Esme smile at me. "There's this boy in school who keeps stealing my toys but I just ignore him and he returns them back after awhile."

"Well, I'll go find him so you can teach him," I smiled and put her down.

"Bring Daddy quickly," she whined. As if on cue, her nanny gestured her to her room.

When she was out of earshot, Esme approached me. I noticed that, like me, she was still in her sleeping attire. "Do you have any idea where he is, Bella?" she asked.

"Honestly, I haven't got a clue," I sighed in defeat, deflating onto the nearest sofa. I looked at her. "Where does he usually go, Esme?"

She smiled. "Knowing him, he'll probably be in a place where he was happiest," she said cryptically.

A few seconds passed, and something clicked in my mind. I stood up and smiled at her. "I think I know now."

…

I slid my hands into my jean pockets and let out a sigh in relief. So he was here.

I turned my head in the direction of the waves, the horizon almost empty of people. The wind whipped around and made my hair fly back. With my heart hammering in my chest, I tried to be casual as I trudged through the sand toward him.

Edward was looking grimly at the ocean, his elbows propped on his knees. His hair swooshed in time with the wind, the same way mine was.

Hesitantly, I sat on the sand beside him. Like him, I locked my eyes in front of me. "You were happy here, huh?" I asked conversationally.

"How did you know I was here?" he asked, not biting.

"Renesmee cried," I said, although it didn't answer his question head-on.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with anger and hurt. "Do you think I'm a bad father to her?" he asked—his voice hoarse.

I looked back at him, and there was no sign of nervousness in my system. Huh. That was weird. "Honestly?" I said. He waited. I pursed my lips. "Yes."

His jaw clenched and said nothing.

"But," I added. "You'll be glad to know you're improving."

He let out a laugh without a smidgen of humor at all. He turned back to the ocean. "I guess I'm really a failure at everything," he muttered bitterly.

"You're not," I said.

"Don't even try to make me feel better this time," he spat.

"Hey, you said you wanted my honest answer," I countered. He gritted his teeth. I sighed. "This has something to do with last night, right?"

"I just can't take my uncle," he said. "He's already forcibly molding my career, and he doesn't have to take over my personal life as well.

"Ever since my father died," he angrily gripped a handful of sand and slowly opened his fist and let the grains fall. "He's been nothing but hellish. When is it going to get to his head that I'm—not—him?"

"He knows you can do it," I reasoned. He turned to me again. "What, you haven't heard of tough love before?"

"It's not that," he said. "It's just that he keeps pressing me to strive harder. How can he expect me to be like my dad when I can't even independently keep my family under wraps?"

"You just need to balance things out," I said softly. Slowly, I twined my fingers with his. He tightened his grip.

"How?" he asked softly.

"I have no idea," I blurted out. He scowled.

"I thought you were giving me a solution," he stated.

"Well, I'm not really an expert," I grinned diffidently. "But at least I helped you clear things, didn't I?"

A small smile tugged at his mouth. "Bella," he said.

"Yes?"

"I want to go for a walk."

…

Hand in hand, Edward and I walked on the oceanfront, sometimes talking—sometimes just listening to the waves lapping against the shore. I was happy that slowly, Edward began to relax.

We sat down on boulders, near a cove.

Suddenly, Edward turned to me and said, "You don't know how much I want to kiss you right now."

I blushed and blushed deeper when he leaned closer and pressed his lips onto mine. After a moment, I closed my eyes and let myself be engulfed with his sweet taste. There was nothing urgent about it. It was like he was thanking me—through this action. And he was thanking me really slowly, not minding the concept of time.

A little too soon, he pulled back. He chuckled when I pouted at the loss of contact. He put his index finger under my chin, willing me to look into his eyes. I did.

And I was immediately hypnotized, not minding as he led me into a cabin.

…

Edward wrapped his bare arms around me, and I snuggled in his perfect chest, inhaling his sweet scent. A smile slowly appeared on my face as he kissed the top of my head. I looked up and saw that he was grinning at me.

"Hey," he said gravelly. I wrapped my own bare arms around his neck, pressing him closer to me, our chests coming into contact—skin on skin. I kissed him gently and he licked my bottom lip. I granted him entrance.

I pulled away and he groaned. I giggled. "Hey," I said finally.

His arms tightened around me. "You," he whispered, his voice slightly muffled against my hair. "Are so extraordinary, Bella."

"I just know how to tame you," I joked. He pulled the comforter closer to us.

"I guess you do," he agreed.

I looked up at him once more. "You're okay now?" I asked carefully.

"Never been better," he said and he attacked me for the second time. And no way was I going to complain.

…

"Thank goodness," Esme sighed in relief when I stepped into the apartment with Edward in tow the next day.

Edward let his mom hug her and he chuckled. "I'm okay now," he said.

"Good," Esme said. "You had me worrying."

"It won't happen again," he said, looking at me. I blushed and smiled at him as he smiled back.

"Mommy and Daddy are here!" Renesmee bounded toward us from her room, clad in a cute frilly dress and leather Mary Janes. She jumped into Edward's arms and laughed with glee.

Edward kissed her forehead and settled her on the sofa. He got to his knees so his eyes were leveled with hers. "Sweetheart, I need to tell you something," he murmured in his professional tone.

My eyes widened in realization in what he was doing. "Wait, Edward—" I started but it was too late.

"Bella is not your mom," he said. Renesmee's almond eyes widened the same way mine did. "Your real mom is up in heaven, and—"

He was cut off by the little girl's sobs of disbelief. I felt like crying as well, but I held it in. how could Edward tell her now?

I wanted to disappear right then and there. I had become part of this girl's horrific revelation.

Author's Note: please don't hate me for hurting her. It was like this in the movie—but I tweaked, of course—so don't react in a bad way. =P

Sadly, we're already nearing the end. But I'm going to prolong it—don't worry.

Peace!