[Disclaimer] Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer
[A/N] Thank you for the great response for the prologue. It's great that so many of you love the idea of a Bella and Rosalie pairing. Let's see how you like the first real chapter. Shall we?
This one here is dedicated to Gmac62, for being the first reviewer and to jm1708 for giving me a hug when I needed it.
**1**
Bella Swan hated working nightshifts. She had always been more of a morning person. Yawning, she clasped the can of diet coke between her hands and lifted it up to drink. Caffeine was exactly what she needed right now to stay awake. Still, four more hours to go, she thought with a sigh after checking the time above the car radio.
Maybe nightshifts wouldn't be so tiresome if something would actually happen. Something that would make the young cop aware, she wasn't wasting her time by guarding an empty street for the whole night. The last car, Bella had seen, had passed her by over two hours ago. No one was out at such a late time in Forks.
She sighed. This was exactly why she had hesitated to move back into her hometown. Working as a police officer in Forks meant tons of endless hours with pointless observation or handing out traffic tickets. At least she hadn't been called to a deadly accident yet. Letting poor parents know that their son or daughter would most likely never walk again after a bike crush was nothing Bella was looking forward to do.
It's just for a year, the young woman reminded herself. Just for a year, maybe two and then you can finish your degree and get the job you really want.
"Fucking nightshift." She hissed, angrily reminding herself how she had managed to get so many of them. It had been her own fault, she admitted.
"I want you to treat me like you would anyone else." Bella's own voice echoed in her head. "I don't want special treatment—ever." She had told her father on the first day she had showed up at the police department in her brand new uniform.
Charlie had looked up from his desk, the dark hairs of his moustache twitching into a grin he could barely hold back. "Like everyone else? You want me to treat you like any other newby?"
Bella had nodded her head eagerly. "Yes, Sir, that's what I want."
For a few moments Chief Swan had flipped through the pile of paperwork in front of him, pretending to ignore the young woman in front of him. Then, he had cleared his throat.
"Like anyone else? Well, congratulations, Deputy Swan, you've just won yourself an entire month of nightshift. I hope those make you feel very much treated like everyone else."
After finishing tonight's shift, Bella made her way home to her father's house. It made her feel awkward to live there again. It was like being a child again somehow. But living with Charlie meant lots of rent she was saving herself. Plus a free babysitter on top of it.
Like every morning when she returned from her nightshifts, Charlie was already up in the kitchen. He never went to the station himself before making sure his daughter had returned home safely.
"Good Morning, Dad." She greeted him. "Morning, sweetie." Bella bend forward to plant a kiss on her six-year-old daughter's cheek. At least the kid had taken their move to Forks well. She loved having her grandfather around so much.
"Hi Mommy," the girl mumbled with a full mouth. "Grandpa and I are having Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. Do you want some too?"
Bella shook her head. "I'm not hungry right now." She turned to her father. "Dad, why are you allowing her to eat this sugary stuff again?"
Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "Cause she likes it? I always let you eat what you liked as a kid. Hasn't done any harm, has it?"
He didn't see how Bella rolled her eyes behind his back when she turned to the sink that was filled with dirty dishes. She would do them later. Right now, she was too tired.
"Did you finish your homework?" Bella asked, sitting down next to her little daughter.
The girl nodded her head. "Grandpa helped me."
"That's good. Do you want me to look over it too?"
"Do you doubt my academic skills?" Charlie said, standing up to place his bowl into the sink to the rest of the dishes. "I'll be off now. Do you want me to drive Resha to school?"
"Yes!" the girl called out. "Can we turn the lights on today?"
Charlie laughed. "Only if grandpa finds someone he can hand out a ticket to on the way to your school. Now, go upstairs and get your backpack."
"Brush your teeth!" Bella called after her. "And don't run inside the house. You're going to fall down and hurt your knee again."
"You're too strict to her." Charlie stated, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Give the kid a rest. Your split-up from her asshole of a father was bad enough for the girl."
Bella cringed. Being reminded of her ex wasn't her favorite thing on earth. It had been a mistake. The whole relationship had been a mistake and it had taken her way too long to acknowledge that. For a moment Bella wondered if she had ever truly been in love with her daughter's father.
"It's hard for children when their parents split up. I remember how you were like when your mother left."
Bella's mouth twitched. She hated discussing Renee with her father. It was like she was always sitting between chairs when it came to that.
"Resha's a smart girl. She'll be alright. By the way, did he call again?"
"Nope." Bella's father answered monosyllabic. After hesitating for a moment, he said. "Maybe I should give him a call instead? I would really like to have a nice long talk with him. What kind of low-life doesn't pay child support for his only kid?"
Instead of answering Charlie, Bella just shrugged her shoulders. "It's okay. I don't want or need anything from him."
"It sure as hell is not okay, Bella. Oh, before I forgot it. Rosalie called, twice. I told her you are working and would call back."
He planted a kiss on Bella's head and walked out. A minute later she could hear the engine of her father's cruiser roaring to live. It sounded odd. Maybe Rosalie could have a look at it when she came to visit Forks the next time.
Bella yawned. She was so sleepy now that she could barely keep her eyes open anymore. Let's go and catch some sleep, she told herself. Upstairs she hopped under the shower, knowing that the hot water would help her to relax more and sleep better.
Downstairs, the phone was ringing, when she was just about to wrap a towel around her dripping hair.
"Coming!" she called out, rushing down the stairs, taking two at a time. I'm really a bad role model for the little one, she thought, grabbing the receiver before the machine would pick up.
"Swan," she said, hoping it wasn't her ex-boyfriend on the other line. She wasn't in the mood to talk to him now.
"Did I wake you up?" her best friend's voice greeted her, sounding concerned. "Charlie told me you're on nightshift. I didn't wake you up. Did I?"
"Had a shower, but I'm going to crash now. How are you, Beautiful? It's been forever since we talked."
Bella opened the fridge to look for something cold to drink. "God, I miss having you just a five minute drive away."
"Then you should have stayed in Seattle like I told you to. Now, tell me, how bad is it like having your Dad as your boss?"
"It's fucking fantastic." Bella said. She took the milk out and pulled a glass from the cupboards. When Bella lifted the milk to her mouth, she realized it had turned bad. Quickly she went over to the sink and spit it out again.
"Bella, are still there?"
"Yes. Sure, I'm here. Have you ever tasted sour milk? It's disgusting."
Rosalie coughed. "I can imagine that. Look, I know you must be tired but I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you the news."
Filling her glass with tap water, Bella asked Rosalie what the big news was.
"I met someone." Bella's best friend told her cheerfully.
Well, that's nothing too surprising, Bella thought. She had gotten used to having her best friend fall in and out of love again and again. Long term relationships weren't anything for Rose it seemed.
"Really?" Bella said, faking some enthusiasm. "That's fantastic."
"It is, Bella, honey, it is. He's so special." She giggled. "He's different than the others."
"What do you mean, he's different?" Bella asked, taking a gulp from the water.
For a moment the line was silent. Then, Rosalie spoke up again. "Promise not to be judging, will you?"
"Never," Bella grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter and bit into it.
"Well, he's a bit older."
"How old does a bit older mean? Like grandpa-ish old?"
Rosalie laughed. "He's fourty-two."
"Jeez, that's only five years younger than Charlie. Rose, that's gross."
"Bella! Please, you promised not to be judging. I really care for him."
Bella sighed, swallowing another mouthful of sweet apple. She knew she needed to be supportive. Even, if she didn't approve of her friend dating someone, who was old enough to be her dad.
"I'm sure, he's a great guy. Where did you two meet?"
"At work. Oh, Bella, he says, it was love at first sight. You know how I never give my phone number out to clients? He was so persistent. That impressed me."
"Great," Bella murmured, chewing the apple loudly. "You must bring him with you when you visit the next time."
Until her next visit to Forks in a few weeks, everything would already be over again. Bella was sure about that. It was always like this with Rosalie. She was always head over heels for whatever kind of guy she was currently dating. Soon, though, she would break up with them again.
As soon as Rosalie realized that her Prince Charming was more of a frog. Who was only interested in having a pretty face on his arm to show off, she was out. Years of years of only being reduced to her looks had made the young Blonde a bit sensitive to that kind of behavior.
"There is more." Rose breathed into the receiver. "As my friend you are supposed to be happy for me."
"I'm always happy for you, Beautiful." Bella whispered, leaning back against the counter behind her. "Tell me."
"He proposed to me. I'm going to get married. Isn't that incredible?"
Bella dropped the phone. Quickly she kneeled down on the ground to pick it up again. Getting married? What kind of a stupid idea was this now? How long could she possibly know the guy? A month?
"Bella, are you still with me?"
"Yes, sure, I'm here." Bella mumbled. "Congratulation, Rose."
"See, I knew you'd be happy for me. Mom is thrilled too. She is organizing everything and won't let me decide a single thing myself."
"Lucy loves planning way ahead. Let her have some fun."
"This is my wedding and not my mother's." Rose stated sullenly. "I have been dreaming about it since I was a little girl."
Bella frowned. Why did everyone dream about getting married? Marriage was nothing but a worthless sheet of paper in her opinion. She had seen that with her parents.
"I'm sorry." Rosalie said, noticing that Bella hadn't said anything for a while. "I keep talking and talking while you must be so tired. Just call me again when you wake up. Yes? Love you!"
"Love you more." Bella whispered, but Rosalie had already disconnected the call. Getting married…It looked like Rose was serious this time.
Bella's eyes moved to the picture of Rosalie and her that was pinned on the refrigerator with a bright blue magnet. Even back then, Rose had been the prettiest girl she had known. Even without the tons of hairspray and make-up, Lucy loved to use to pretty her daughter up.
"You're going to be a beautiful bride, my Rose, Bella thought before she went upstairs again to finally get some much needed sleep.