Penname: SammieLynnsMom

Title: Hell Froze Over (A Blind Intentions Outtake)

Rating/Warning: T, no additional warnings needed

Summary: This is the beginning of the friendship we see between Bella and Alice.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A huge thank you to kas90_ for betaing, and morethanmyself & jadsmama for pre-
reading. Thank you to everyone involved in putting together this compilation, and to
all the wonderful people who donated! It never seizes to amaze me how awesome this
fandom can be when we all pull together! You're all amazing!

"Hi," Alice said cheerfully as she took the seat opposite me.

Few things shocked me these days, but receiving a call from Alice Cullen because she wanted
to meet for coffee definitely made the list of shocking events for the year.

"Hello," I replied back cautiously.

Though she wore a smile on her face, I was still heavily defensive. The last time I saw Alice was
at Edward's wedding, and we didn't part ways amicably. She felt that because Edward would
miss his time with Nathan while he was away on his honeymoon, she should get some time to
babysit him. I had already arranged to take Nathan out of town with me on a mini vacation, and
that simply wasn't going to happen. We ended up in a screaming match because I refused to
give in-frankly, I didn't feel the least bit sorry considering Edward agreed with me, anyway.

"So, you're probably wondering why I called, huh?" she started, and all I could do was nod as I
sipped my coffee. "Well, I wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

"For?" I asked after she didn't continue.

"Well, everything. I'm sorry about how I treated you when I first met you, and I'm sorry for the
way I've continued to treat you since I moved to Forks," she rattled off, all the while I just sat
there guarded.

"I see," I replied unsure of what else to say.

"Look, I don't expect us to be best friends, but I just wanted you to know that I was wrong. My
mother was delusional to think what she did, and I was crazy to follow. It was insensitive of me
to assume I could watch Nathan whenever it was convenient for me, and I'm sorry I
reconnected Edward and our mother to begin with," she clarified.

"Why did you ask me to meet you in Port Angeles?" I changed the direction of our conversation.

"Because I didn't want to be interrupted," Alice answered vaguely.

"You mean, you didn't want to be seen with me?" I rephrased, and her eyes went wide. "Look,
though I thank you for your apology, if you're too scared to be seen in public with me, well, I'd
rather not waste my time." I stood up to leave, and it took Alice a second to try and stop me.

"Bella, please don't leave. It's not that I'm embarrassed of you, or of talking to you. It's just that,
I figured if we weren't seen, it would make life easier on you," she explained, and I laughed.

"Make it easier on me? Alice you've got to be joking," I scoffed as I walked away.

"No, really. It was Jasper's idea not to meet in Forks. My mom, she doesn't talk to you, right?
We were both scared if she knew I was talking to you, that she's start to target you again, and
we didn't want that," she forced out causing me to stop.

I turned around and could see the sincerity of her words. She looked apologetic and panicked
that I was walking away, so I sighed and sat back down.

"Thank you," she said, and I shrugged.

"Why now?" I asked next, and Alice started to explain that she'd been seeing a therapist
recently to handle some of the issues from her childhood. She came to realize that the only
reason she was so cruel to me was because she was continuing to try and please her mother,
despite knowing she'd never receive her approval.

In my time of knowing Edward, he rarely spoke of his childhood. I knew that his parents came
from money and his medical history as it pertained to our son, but that was where the
information stopped. Having Alice open up to me like this was my way to try and learn more
about that time.

"You want to know about how we were raised?" Alice asked slightly shocked, and I
nodded. "Well, that would depend on who you'd want to know about. Are you asking about me
and Emmett or Edward?"

"Didn't you grow up together?" I asked confused.

She started to laugh, and that was when I realized there was a lot more that I didn't know. I
hoped any information she could give me would help me in understanding why Edward had
gone from being a near perfect father to nonexistent in the matter of a year.

"Emmett and I were ignored once Edward was born. Our mother hired a nanny and, for the
most part, she raised us. Emmett took it better than I did. I just wanted my mom, ya know?" she
asked, and I nodded. I could sympathize with that part. "Edward, though, well, they were
attached at the hip. In our mother's eyes, he was the 'Golden Child,' and he was always treated
as such."

"You resented him?" I stated, even though I knew the answer.

"I still resent him," she replied honestly. "I sat back and watched Edward be perfect. Now that
my eyes have been opened, I see his failings, but he's so wrapped up in her there is nothing I
can do."

I cocked my head to the side in question because that statement was incredibly vague.

"Sorry, I meant with you and Nathan. It was Jasper that pointed out to me that I was the reason
they started talking after the whole court fiasco, and I regret that phone call so much. I have no
idea what it was like for you two, but if I could go back in time, I would," she explained, but I
waved her off.

"It wouldn't have mattered. He would have found an excuse to call her," I dismissed.

"So, nothing would have happened? I mean, between you two?" she asked cryptically, and I
rolled my eyes.

"I'd be lying if I said things hadn't gotten better, but no, we wouldn't have gotten back together if
that is what you're wondering. As long as Esme was around, that would have never happened,
and now, well, I don't even know Edward anymore," I muttered.

"What do you mean? Of course you know my brother," she corrected.

"Sure, I know him, but I also don't know him now. I honestly regret moving to Forks because the
second we came here, everything changed. He's never there for Nathan anymore, and I swear,
Tanya sees him more when it's his time then he does. Frankly, I'm at the point where I want to
file for sole custody and stop putting Nathan through the back and forth," I answered honestly,
and for a second, I regretted my words. I still didn't know if I could trust Alice, and Lord knows
what would happen if Esme heard me say that. I think Alice could tell my internal struggle when
she let me know nothing said would go back to anyone.

"So, he never spends time with him?" she wondered, and I shook my head.

"No, not really. He's missed more time in the last year than he'd missed the previous five years

put together. I don't know what to do because I've tried talking to him, and it's like he's not even
listening. I don't think he's happy," I suggested.

"I don't know why he wouldn't be happy," Alice said errantly.

"Well, I can tell you he lives at that damn hospital, so it's not like he's spending any time at
home. I've seen Edward be dedicated to a patient or a project before, but never like this, and I
really don't want to intervene, but it's getting to a point where I have to," I explained the details
of my situation, and Alice just nodded.

"Yeah, he was over at our parents' house last week, and he was acting off. I mean, I'm not
really friends with my own brother, but it was weird," she went on to recount the family day they
had, and how Edward was constantly on the phone followed by leaving early to take an extra
shift.

"It's getting late," I said as I glanced at my watch. "I need to go pick up Nathan."

"Isn't today an Edward day? It's why I picked it," she tried to correct.

"It is, but Tanya already called earlier to let me know Edward wouldn't be home, so I normally
just pick him up, anyway. At least he gets attention from one parent," I muttered.

"I know I'm not my brother's ally, but try not to give up on him. He really can be a good guy," she
tried to explain, but I shrugged her off.

"I used to know that guy, but he's given up on Nathan," I stated, and her face went pained.

"I know what that's like," she said sadly. "Anyway, you need to get going, but I'd really like to do
this again. Edward may not be around for Nathan, but I'd really like to get to know him better
outside of family holidays."

"I'll think about it," I said cautiously, and for a second she looked hurt. "I'd say it's not personal,
but we'd both know that would be a lie. I just need some time to process this, okay?'

She nodded, and we walked off in separate directions.

Sure enough, Nathan was ready to go as soon as I pulled up into the driveway. He looked so
defeated, but I was able to cheer him up with a movie and ice cream.

"When do you think Dad will play with me again?" Nathan asked dejected. "He's never home
when I go to his house."

"I don't know, but I'll call him in the morning, okay?" I offered, and he nodded.

I tucked Nathan into bed and found my phone.

Even though it was late, I dialed Edward's number anyway, knowing he'd be at the hospital.

"Dr. Cullen," Edward answered after the first ring, which meant he didn't look at the ID.

"Are you busy?" I asked even though I didn't honestly care at that moment.

"Bella?" he questioned and replied, "Um, no. I have a minute."

"Good, I'd like to know when you planned to spend a day with your son?" I asked irritated.

"Look, I know it's been bad, but..." he tried to excuse, but I'd had enough.

"Edward, I don't want to hear an excuse. I just put our seven year old to sleep with tears in his
eyes because he doesn't understand why his father wants nothing to do with him. Tomorrow,
you will be at my house in the morning to pick him up, and you will do something together. I
don't care what it is, but it needs to be you and him. Do I make myself clear?" I snapped.

"Bella, I don't get off until five, and you expect me to take Nathan for the whole day?" he whined.

"Yes, that is exactly what I expect," I agreed.

"Look, I get off at five, and I'm expected back in at..." he tried to get out of it again.

"Edward, you will do as I say, or I will take you to court. I can't do this anymore, and Nathan is
the one getting hurt. You will be here or you won't see him again," I explained before hanging
up on him.

When Edward didn't try and call back, I decided I didn't have much else to lose by giving Alice a
chance. So I then called and invited her over for lunch the next day. She accepted, and I went
to bed hopeful that at least Nathan would get to know his aunt, and prayed I'd see Edward first
thing in the morning.