EPOV

"Yeah," Hadley smiles into the phone. "Will you send me one?"

She's been talking to Rose since she woke up twenty minutes ago. This had become a routine of sorts for the both of them. For the past few days, Rose has been calling her when she wakes up before school.

The first week Rose wasn't allowed to call out as they needed her to assimilate into the facility, to the rules and expectations of her treatment plan.

She needed a routine as part of her recovery and her calls to Hadley were becoming part of that routine.

I tried to act like I was getting things ready for the day instead of openly eavesdropping in on their conversation. I think I'm succeeding since the kid really wasn't paying me any mind as I move around the living room.

"I think we'll be there for family day," Had says before looking up at me for an answer.

I nod in confirmation.

It was going to be a weekend trip due to the drive. Bella was going with us but staying back at the hotel while we go to visit Rose. It was still a month out so I was surprised Rose was asking.

Carlisle said she was still having difficulties remembering things and she had a habit of repeating the same questions over and over. I tried to be sensitive to the situation and be understanding.

This wasn't something that was going to go back to normal overnight. Right now, Rose was trying to heal and be whole for herself and Hadley. Things wouldn't always be like this, Rose would get better and eventually, our new custody agreement would need to be worked out.

I look up when I hear Bella's bare feet padding down the hall. She rubs her eyes as she goes and stops to give me a kiss as she passes to the kitchen.

It had been three days since her conversation with Renee and I could see she was stalling to call her to tie up the loose ends. I think she was holding off to prove she wasn't eager and didn't need the closure of hashing it out with her mother but I knew it needed to happen.

"Bella's taking me after school," I hear Hadley say.

I turn to see her frowning slightly.

She had an eye doctor appointment after school which Bella was taking her to, they were also going to pick out new frames for her.

They were both excited about it and to now see Hadley's excitement dim had me wanting to wrap up their call.

"Well he has to work—"

"Hey Had, want to hand me the phone you need to get ready for school and I'm pretty sure Bella will have breakfast ready when you get out," I say holding my hand out for her phone.

I knew breakfast would consist of Pop-Tarts for the both of them but I didn't need to say it.

She says a quiet goodbye to Rose and hands me her phone before she hurries off to her room.

"Rosalie," I greet ready for a fight.

"Uh, hey," she mumbles.

I lower my annoyance with her a little.

"Is there a problem?" I ask.

"No— I just didn't know that she'd needed new glasses. She has the cutest frames already—" Rose rambles.

Understanding dawns on me, she wants to be the one to pick frames out with her.

"I'll tell you what, she needs to see the eye doctor since this is her yearly exam. She normally gets a couple pairs so she can… accessorize," I say rolling my eyes, it was the only way Esme and I could get her to wear them.

She was a toddler when she got them but when she got into school she got self-conscious that she was one of the few kids in her class to be wearing them.

Esme was the one who suggested we get a few pairs for the sake of fashion.

"When you get back maybe you can go with us to get another pair," I suggest.

"Really?" she asks, surprised.

"Yeah," I confirm.

"Okay."

"I need to get Hadley ready for school but she'll talk to you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, same time. My doctor said it's good for me to form routines," she explains.

"Sounds good, bye," I say quickly getting off the phone.

It felt weird to have a somewhat normal conversation with Rose. She was a reactive child, then a wild teenager, and a reactively wild adult.

The only other time I could remember her being like this was when Hadley was conceived.

I take Hadley's phone into the kitchen with me and set it on the counter.

"Uh, Bell?" I ask watching her make what looks like a frittata.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?" I ask carefully.

"Making breakfast," she says simply while shooting me a side-eye like I'm losing it.

"That looks very ambitious," I tell her.

Sure she can make different kinds of eggs and toast but her skills were pretty limited otherwise.

"Didn't I just hear you tell your daughter that I was making breakfast?" she asks feistily.

"I did," I say before pausing. "But I assumed that would consist of you toasting Pop-Tarts."

I watch her teeth clench.

"I can make a frittata," she says while her eyes never leave the bowl in front of her.

I won't argue any further as I take a seat at the island and watch her cook. Hadley walks in and carefully eyes Bella, which makes Bella turn her head slightly to look over her shoulder.

"What?" Bella asks accusingly.

"What are you doing?" Had asks carefully.

I snort as Bella glares.

"What do you mean?" Bella grumbles.

"Well you usually toast Pop-Tarts," Hadley responds.

"Fuck Pop-Tarts," I hear Bella mumble now earning a hearty laugh from me.

Bella huffs before pouring her bowl into the skillet and placing it in the oven. Hadley takes a seat beside me as we watch Bella fiddle with the timer.

When she's finished she turns around with a scowl.

"Everyone's a critic this morning, huh?" she asks with her hands on her hips.

"Someone's sensitive this morning, huh?" I throw back with a smile.

This was grouchy Bella and I know that she was in this mood because of Renee. I can also see today being the day she calls her mother.

"Someone's pushing buttons," she accuses.

"Bella?" Hadley suddenly asks. "Can you look at my social studies paper?"

Bella gives me one good glare before she nods at Hadley. Hadley leaves to get her tablet and I stand to pull Bella to me.

"What's wrong?" I ask, placing a kiss on her neck and I can feel her melt into me.

"I think I'm going to call Renee today." Knew it.

"Oh yeah?"

She nods against my chest.

"I need to get this over with."

"It might help," I suggest.

"Got it," Hadley says as she comes in through the kitchen door.

Bella gives me one last kiss before she pulls away.

I watch them both work until the oven timer goes off. Bella hurries to get the frittata out and starts to plate them for us.

It's when I take the first bite that I'm pleasantly surprised.

"This is really good," Hadley tells her before taking another bite.

I take in Bella's smug face and have to hold back my laughter. Part of me wants to ask her if we should be crediting Aro for this. She made it, but I know it's definitely his recipe due to the flavoring.

I decide to let her get away with it.

I look at my phone seeing I need to head out for work. I kiss the girls goodbye before heading out to the hallway to get my shoes on.

Bella and Hadley decide to follow me out.

"You'll be okay at the optometrist?"

Bella nods.

"I think we've got it handled, Dad," Bella tells me as she bumps my hip with hers.

I hold my hands up before pulling my coat on.

"I'm getting clear frames," Hadley says decisively.

"A popular choice," I say encouragingly.

She nods.

"Let's say goodbye to Dad again and then we'll get ready to head to the bus stop," Bella suggests.

Hugs and kisses go around until I'm out the door and heading to the subway station. I see Irina watching me from her post at the bus stop. She hasn't given Bella any more shit but I still don't trust her, especially the way she's always watching.

My ride into work is uneventful as I stand on the packed train, it's when I get into my office and my assistant, Tia, is waiting for me with coffee that I know I'm in for a turn.

"What's up?"

"Marcus reached out to say that there is a lack of efficacy in the J and J trial," she confesses.

I run a hand through my hair in frustration.

"Okay, okay," I say before I am off and jumping from meeting to meeting.

At lunch I have time to breathe so I call Bella to check in.

"Hey," I greet.

"Hi," she says meekly.

"Did something happen with your mother?" I ask automatically.

"No, I don't know..." she trails off warily.

"What happened?"

"She said something weird."

"Weird, how?"

"She mentioned Hadley by name and I never told her—"

"Her name," I finish. "Maybe she looked into you like you did her."

"Yeah, maybe, but she has nothing to do with this—"

"I don't like it either," I say with a sigh. "Did you call her out?"

"I did, but she was resigned or something. I'm having dinner with her tomorrow," she tells me.

"You're okay with that?"

"I need closure or whatever," she sighs after saying it like she has to keep telling herself so she believes it.

I wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not. I also didn't necessarily agree with the way Charlie handled things in regard to Bella and her mother. I don't think he's a monster, but I think what he did does affect Bella's ability to trust.

"We can talk more about this when I get home," I tell her. "I wish I could make this better for you."

"I know, I love you," she tells me.

"Love you too," I tell her before hanging up.

All Bella had said is that she wanted me nearby, nothing about wanting me there. The least I could do is be in the restaurant, but they didn't need to see me.

I grab my phone and call the only person that I know who would be down to crash Bella's dinner from a distance with me.

"Yellow," Em picks up after two rings.

"Hey man, I need your help with something," I tell him, hoping this won't get me into too much trouble.