DISCLAIMERS: I don't own Twilight. I wish I did so I could be filthy rich and be enveloped with so much heartwarming reviews and support. Stephenie Meyer, you're so awesome!

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

Isabella Swan

"Hello?" Renesmee's voice was slow and curious from the other line. My breathing began to go shallow from anxiety. Why did I even dial the Cullens' home number?

"Renesmee..?" I finally croaked out. Then I heard shuffling from her side. I began tapping one foot on the tiled floor. I self-consciously wrapped my free arm around my stomach, my fingers involuntarily playing with the hem of my shirt. I was alone in my dorm because my roommate went out to de-stress her self. Harvard was taking its toll on her, too.

"Mommy?" her voice was bright and innocent, as if I didn't just betray her a week ago. A lone tear trailed down my face and I wiped it off with the back of my hand. Why was she still calling me that?

"No, Renesmee," I said, "my name's Bella. You don't have to call me mommy…"

"But I want to," she said. I began imagining her twirling the telephone cord with one little finger, her toes wiggling cutely. I saw her do that once, when she was on the same phone with Edward's uncle.

"Um, I just wanted to say hi," I said, trying not to dwell too much on why she wasn't mad at me. Was I happy or sad?

"Daddy and Granny miss you," she mumbled—a whine evident in her tone. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"They do?" I asked, trying to sound okay with it. But I wasn't okay with it.

"Especially Daddy," she said. Oh, kids are so unsuspecting I just don't get it. "He keeps looking at his phone. He's waiting for you to call, Mommy."

"I feel too bad to call," I reasoned, trying to sound coherent. "Besides, I'm not in the city, Renesmee."

"Are you mad at me, Mommy?" she asked suddenly, sounding so sad that it made me feel worse. "You left after you kissed me on the head."

"It's not you," I sighed. "If things are fine, I would be there with you right now."

"Then fix the things, Mommy," she sniffled. "I want you to come home."

"Okay," it was all I could say because the tears came. "I'll try to call again. Goodbye." When I hung up, I let out a sob and frantically wiped the tears away.

I sat on my bed and stared at my phone. What was I supposed to do? Just call Edward and fix things? It wasn't that simple. There was the thing with his uncle that I didn't want to face yet.

Edward Cullen

Uncle took a sip of his white wine, acting as if there was no tense air hovering around us. My grip on my fork tightened. I couldn't eat because I was too busy watching his moves.

Finally, he spoke, his eyes on mine. "Edward, you must know why I am doing this." He said. He looked at me meaningfully, expecting me to nod. I didn't. I wasn't sure what he was referring to. "Well, do you?"

"To be honest," I said, "no, I don't, Uncle."

"When your father died, I promised myself that I would complete his task of molding you into the best you could possibly be," he started, "we both saw your potential and I didn't want you to waste it on petty things."

"So my family life is petty?" I cut him off, surprising my self by sounding so calm.

"Renesmee and your mother are you priorities, Edward," he said, meeting my eyes once more. "But what I mean by petty is your way of de-stressing."

"I didn't use Bella as a way of de-stressing," I retorted. "You know why I did what I did."

"For Renesmee," he nodded, "I know." then he looked at me again. "But what do you think Isabella felt about it? All of us raised you to be a gentleman, Edward. I— we—expected you not to use a woman for personal purposes."

I put down my fork—it clanked on the table—and glared at him. "I did not use her."

"Then what is it called?" he demanded.

I didn't answer.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Edward, I do not want to go over this conversation again." he said.

"But it seems this is what you had in mind," I replied.

"Edward," the way he said my name made me remember my father. I looked at him, my brows furled in anger and confusion. What was he trying to say here?

My jaw flexed and I didn't say a word.

"I've treated you like my own," he said, his tone going soft and careful. "I know my methods aren't like your father's but you have to know I care a lot. I just don't want you to end up like the others.

"I've ruined your relationship with Isabella," he continued, "I know and I am sorry. This situation you have gotten your self into is beyond me. But I want to try to fix this. Just let me help you, Edward."

I felt calmer after that but I didn't bother to say anything. We began eating, silence coming over us. But for the first time, it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt like eating with my real father—with Carlisle—again.

Isabella Swan

"Where do you want to meet?" Alice asked from the other line. I was already in Manhattan for my well-deserved rest. Amanda and Irina suggested that we go to some club but I refused. Familiarity, I knew, kept me sane.

"How about the Starbucks across my apartment..?" I suggested. I was already a block away from the said place.

"I'll be there in five!" she said then hung up. I shoved my phone into my bag and continued my walk.

…

"Ohmigod, I missed you!" Alice hugged me tight when we met in front of Starbucks. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I missed you too," I said. When we pulled apart, I added, "People in Harvard are really uptight so I'm grateful for your burst of energy."

She curtsied at me and I laughed. "Why, thank you, Miss Swan," she said in a fake English accent. "Glad to be of service to you."

I hooked my arm around hers and we entered the coffee shop. The aroma of coffee made me smile. No smell of textbooks in the vicinity—good.

After buying our coffee, we settled onto a table and started catching up. It felt really nice talking about nonsensical things. It made me feel human again.

"I'm glad I'm talking about my classmates and not about John Milton," I laughed. "Literature is better off being discussed once—not for a week."

"Well, it is Harvard," Alice grinned then gingerly sipped her vanilla frappe.

"How's it been here?" I found my self saying.

"The same," she said, shrugging, "the usual hustle and bustle."

I nodded. Alice looked at me carefully.

"How about you?" she asked. "How have you been?"

I shrugged. "I'm tired from studying," I said. I knew what she meant but I refused to answer it. I wasn't sure how I was yet.

"I'm guessing you don't want to talk about it," she said. I nodded then sipped my coffee.

…

"Bye, Dad," I said into the phone. "See you Friday."

"Love you, Bells," he said. I laughed and told him that I loved him back. Then we both hung up.

I was walking through the streets, on my way to Emmett's house. I missed the Big Bear and his kids.

I was stuffing my cell phone into my bag when I bumped into someone. "Oof!" I mumbled from the impact. The guy was probably talking to someone on the phone.

"Sorry," a velvety voice said. I stiffened and, before I could stop my self, I looked up. His green eyes widened in surprise. "Bella…"

"E-Edward," I muttered in the same flat tone. "It's you."

DUM, DUM, DUM, DUUUUUM

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