*Bella's POV*

Who could be knocking? I wasn't expecting anyone, and Emily hadn't mentioned anything. I opened the door and frowned when Dash smiled at me.

"Yo."

"What do you want?"

"It's not what I want. It's what Bambi wants."

"What?"

Dash sighed, as if there was something difficult, he had to say. This was the first time I'd seen him nervous or annoyed like this. Not gonna lie, my curiosity had been peaked.

"Look, Bella, Bambi would like you to pick her up from school today."

"Huh?"

I was not expecting that.

"Okay? I suppose I can. Why though?"

"I don't know! I've been asking myself the same question all day. She's known you only two weeks. She's known me her whole life, but now she's replacing me? All those years! Those sleepless nights? Do they mean nothing?!"

I laughed. "I'm just cooler than you are."

"In the literal sense only."

"Oh please."

"There's no competition."

"No competition because you've already lost."

"Wow, okay then. You know what? I'm going to walk away. Be at the school by three. I hope you have a bad day."

"Thank you. I hope you have a bad day too."

"I already am."

I couldn't help but laugh. He always tries to win our little battles of wit, but he always loses. I fear the consequences if he were ever to win.

He chuckled like he always does and smiled boyishly. "Alright then. I'm off. See ya round."

"Bye."

He walked away and I closed the door. I'd been cleaning when he'd knocked and now, I returned to my chores, but I quickly finished. I checked the clock and saw that it was nearly two o'clock. He'd said be at the school by three. The walk there might take me ten minutes. I shrugged. I got nothing better to do.

"Em, I'm going out for a while! I'll be back later!"

"Okay, have fun!" Emily called from somewhere deep within the house.

I walked out the door and headed towards school. It was a pleasant walk. The sun was shining, but it wasn't too hot. It was autumn time, so the air was cool, and all the trees looked really pretty. I started singing quietly as I walked. It felt good to sing again.

I reached the school before long. I was almost an hour early, but I didn't mind. I sat with a happy smile and I waited.

******

"Bella!"

Bambi ran up with a huge grin. I laughed and hugged her.

"Hey, did you have a good day at school?"

"It was alright. Kinda boring."

I chuckled. "Don't tell your dad that."

I turned and started walking back towards home.

"Um, Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we... can we just walk around town for a while?"

I frowned at the question but figured it couldn't do any harm. I smiled. "Sure."

Bambi looked at me with an open mouth and sparkling eyes. I laughed and started walking towards town. She walked happily alongside me. For a little while she talked endlessly of school and her friends and everything they did, but she eventually fell silent.

We'd reached the fountain in the town's square. I sat by the fountain's edge and she sat next to me. She stared silently into the water.

I nudged her gently. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"What?"

"You wanted me to pick you up instead of your dad and then you didn't want to go home. Is something wrong?"

"I... I'm sorry... I just wanted to see what it was like."

"What what's like?"

"Having a mum."

I frowned and sighed. "Bambi, I..."

I could see tears pooling in the corner of her eyes. I didn't want her crying, but I couldn't be her mother... could I?

"Why do you want a mother?" I asked gently.

"Today was Mother's Day at school. Everyone came in with their mummy and they all hung out together... but I was alone."

My heart sank. This little Eevee... Inwardly I glared at her. Damn her sad stories and adorable eyes. I laughed quietly.

"Mother's Day huh? Too bad I missed it. Maybe next time... you could take me?"

Bambi looked up at me with big wet eyes. I smiled gently and she hugged me, crying into my chest. I was surprised, and didn't really know what to do, so I just hugged her tight.

I'm not sure how it happened, but I guess I'm a mother now.

******

*The next day*

It was Saturday morning and I'd just finished breakfast when I heard a knocking at the door. Emily was tending the garden, so I moved to answer it. I opened the door and got crash-tackled by a small Eevee. I laughed and ruffled the fur atop Bambi's head.

"Hey, ya lil fluff-ball. What are you doing here?"

Dash answered for her. I could hear the confusion in his voice.

"She keeps saying she wants to see her mother."

"Uh... okay."

I didn't really know what to say. I pushed Bambi off and stood there dumbly.

"Dash, I-"

He raised his paw to cut me off. It annoyed me but I stopped talking. I stood and waited silently for him to say something. After a moment he smiled.

"Why don't we take a walk?"

"Yeah!" Squealed Bambi. She pulled and tugged at my leg. "Come on, mum! Let's go!"

I laughed nervously. "Um, sure."

I walked out and gently closed the door behind me. Dash led the way across the road and into the forest. I walked slowly after him while Bambi raced away into the bush.

It was a pleasant day. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot, in fact, a cold breeze whisked through the forest. I quite enjoyed it's refreshing kiss.

I walked alongside Dash and Bambi ran ahead, disappearing into bushes and bouncing back out again moments later. Watching her play made me smile; she looked so happy.

"Bambi's really happy," said Dash.

"Yeah, looks like it."

"I suppose I should be thanking you for that."

"Thanking me?"

"Bambi came home from school yesterday more excited than I've seen her in... well... ever! When I asked her about it, she said she was happy because she had a mum."

"Oh."

"Care to explain?"

Dash didn't sound angry or annoyed, just confused and curious.

"Well, after I picked her up, we went into town and sat by the fountain. She told me how all her friends at school had mothers and she wanted to know what it was like. So..."

I trailed off and waited for a response. I looked nervously at Dash. He had a blank look on his face, and I started to worry; I really didn't want him hating me.

"Okay then, I guess you're her mother now," he said in a monotone voice.

"Dash, you're a great dad. She just wants to know what it's like having a mother."

Dash grinned. "Oh, I'm sure. I'm not worried you'll replace me, if that's what you're getting at. I'll always be her favourite."

I smirked and the game was on. "Oh yeah? Hey Bambi, want a Casteliacone?" I shouted.

"No fair!" Yelled Dash.

Bambi jumped out from a bush and clambered onto my back. She peeked over my head and looked me in the eye.

"Yes please, mum!"