[Disclaimer] Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer

[A/N] Somehow I feel like this story is not doing very well. I try not to give up on it though. I love the characters in it way too much to do so. Thanks to those of you who are still will me. I cherish your support a lot.

**7**

The next Morning comes way too soon. Tiredly I turn around on the bed, noticing the empty place next to me. She's gone.

Panic spreads through me as I jump up. I quickly throw a sundress over my head and try to braid my tangled hair.

"Alice?" I call downstairs and when her light voice greets me cheerfully, I sigh in relief. After washing my face, I apply some mascara and swallow my medication. My head hurts again, but it's tolerable. A bit of fresh air will probably help.

"Morning Mommy! We're making omlette."

I hug Alice from behind and push her curls over her shoulder to press my lips against her neck. There is a red mark on her milky-white skin, next to a second one. Shit, I really marked her last night.

"You were gone when I woke up." I whisper, kissing underneath her ear.

"I wanted you to get a bit more rest and so I took the little one down here when he came to our room."

"Okay," I mumble, sitting down to drink a bit of the coffee she's made for us.

Andy climbs on my lap and starts racing one of his cars all over the kitchen table.

"Sweetie, please go and play in your room. We'll call you when breakfast is ready."

I kiss his nose and he wrinkles it instantly.

"No kissies."

"Too bad," I tell him as he walks off.

When the little one is out of sight, Alice clears her throat awkwardly.

"Look, there is something, I'd like to talk about with you. Please, promise me not to be mad at me."

"I try to."

She sits down next to me and takes my hand in hers, rubbing her fingertips gently over my knuckles.

"I want us to see someone professional. Our relationship is too important to me that I'm willing to risk it. Things are so complicated at the moment."

Blowing a kiss over the back of her hand I tell her that I'm okay with doing some counseling. Right after we've finished breakfast, I call Zafrina Hayley's office to make an appointment. There is actually one free this afternoon and although I'm close to chicken out, I tell her secretary to book it.

"We'll need a babysitter for the little monster." Alice says, her eyes focused on one of her paintings. I don't like it when she works in the living room, everything smells of paint afterwards, but I bite my tongue. I don't want us to fight over stuff like that again.

"Andrea said you have a new admirer of your work."

"Hmm, Mrs. White seems very fond of my paintings. Even of those that I didn't like myself. She's trying to talk me into coming to Dallas to do an exhibition in her Gallery."

"Really? That's fantastic. Isn't that what you've hoped for? Why are you hesitating?"

"Andy. You. Do, you need any more reasons? Plus, I'm scared that a whole lot of people are going to look at my paintings. What if they hate them?"

I pull her on my lap and hold her close against my chest

"You're a very talented artist and you have nothing to be afraid of. If you want me to come with you, I will."

"What about Andy?"

"I'm sure Andrea will love to babysit him for a few days. Or we could ask Edward."

"My cousin is going to let him eat marshmallows for breakfast and watch Action movies all day long. He's not really doing that good at the whole responsibility thing."

"You're probably right about that. Do you think that's the reason, why he doesn't manage to have a proper relationship?"

She shakes her head and stand up to continue working on her painting. I watch her fascinated, admiring how she manages to turn the yellow and red colors into a breathtaking sunset.

Time is running out and I drive the little one to Esme's place because she's the only one who has time to look after Andy while we see the therapist. Esme's pretty smitten with him. Andy is good at making people, especially women like him. Even Erica loves him dearly and she's not very good with kids usually.

I cringe when Esme makes a comment about the nail polish on Andy's fingers but she instantly apologizes for it right after when she sees the look on my face.

"Is the little one, is he…is he like you?"

I shrug my shoulder and swallow hard.

"I don't think so. He never says he wants to be a girl but when you ask him if he's wants to be boy or girl, he says he wants to be Andy. I'm okay, with whatever he decides to be. All I want is for my child to be happy. Does that make any sense?"

"Oh it sure does. I'm always worried about Edward. He should have found himself a new wife by now. Boy is not willing to grow up. Or that..slu…that woman broke his heart too bad."

"Maybe," I mumble, twisting a wisp of my hair around my fingers.

"Bella, there is something else that I wanted to ask you. Carlisle and I are arranging a little celebration for our anniversary. You and Alice are welcome to come too. But, I know you don't like going back to Forks too much."

"I don't like going anywhere I'm going to run into my parents. They hate me."

"Renee doesn't hate you. A mother can never hate her kid. As for your father, he's a very old-fashioned man. Too old-fashioned if you ask me."

"Yeah, probably, I'll ask Alice if she wants to go. Are you inviting Charlie and Renee too?"

"She's in Florida now, living with another man. At least that was what Mrs. Cope told Carlisle when he was there the last time. Charlie took it pretty bad. He's drinking again and no one wants to be near him when he's like that."

"I know," I whisper, trying to shove the unpleasant memories aside. It's not working very well though…