Prologue:

My feet moved to the beat of the pelting rain. My throat was dry, my clothes were wet and my chest was on fire but I would not and could not stop. The biting wind went through my skin to my bones. My ankle was like an anchor caught in the sand…almost impossible to move.

"You look so gorgeous honey! The perfect dress for this perfect night... Remember, Head held high, smile and enjoy yourself." I took a deep breath and looked at my mother.

"Thank you." She smiled and her mouth formed an 'O' of recognition.

"I forgot the pin. One second Bella and we'll go out to the car." I watched her walk out and took a seat on my bed. The gloves were slightly itchy and the dress was way to poofy but it made my mother happy and I was the only heir after all…

"What are you doing here?" My mother's panicked voice drifted through my bedroom door. There was a loud sound like thunder and complete silence. My breath hitched and I stood slowly. I grabbed my lamp and walked to my doorway before peering out. I could see a shadow on the wall and my mother passed out in the hallway. There was a dark substance on the ground around her and I didn't have to think it to know. She was gone. I turned my head frantically searching for a way out. I bit my lip to keep from crying out. This couldn't be happening. A minute ago we were smiling at each other. My only escape was the window. I crossed my room quickly and looked out. About thirty feet…not too bad. I tore off the top layer of the dress skirt and tied it to the windowsill. As quietly as I could I began to scale my wall but my foot hit a potted plant and caused a crash on the pavement. I heard loud footsteps and dropped the rest of the way down before taking off. I would get away. I would live to tell her story…

I couldn't tell the difference between my tears and the rain anymore. All I knew was I was getting closer to town.

I knew I had reached safety when the first waft of fresh bread hit my nose. No one would recognize me. Not like this. I thought about going to the cops but I just couldn't. Not yet. I walked to the first clothing shop I could find and checked my self for any money. Pulling my credit card out of my bra, I smiled and looked around.

Three hours, a new wardrobe, luggage set, and some cash later I was at the airport waiting for my flight. My only choice…the United States. Mom had always told me stories about my real father but I have yet to meet him. Maybe he'll take some pity on his abandoned daughter. If not, I could fend for myself…

Chapter 1- Introductions:

I took my seat and put my new iPod headphones in. I didn't like to spend a lot of money but music was my one exception…I had never been in a public plane before but riding first class didn't feel too different. I could care less. Today I was no longer Princess Isabella Marie Swan; I was just Bella Swan.

"You're pretty." I turned in my seat and came face to face with the cutest little girl I had ever seen. Her brown hair had red highlights and her green eyes looked straight through me. I smiled at her and was granted the pleasure of hers. We talked most of the plane ride and her mother, Elizabeth, just gave me cheerful glances once and a while. I would wink at her and the tease the little girl, whose name I had found out was Renesme, about silly things. When the flight landed I felt torn. I didn't want to say goodbye but I gave the girl a hug and exited. The look on her face as she watched me leave pained me to no end…

The flight from New York to Seattle was a little less entertaining and I found myself missing Renesme's warmth. Her carefree nature made me reminisce on my childhood that I should have been forgetting. I looked around at all the business people in their suits and skirts with their shiny laptops and that at my converse and jeans. Maybe I had gone a little TOO casual…

Luggage was a mess but luckily nothing was lost. I probably looked like a madwoman the way my foot was tapping impatiently and I kept checking the time. I didn't know why I was still panicked; I may have gone into a state of shock…

I took a deep breath and stepped outside.

"HOLY MOTHER OF JESUS!" I ran back inside and scrambled for a coat. It was probably below thirty out there. I heard some snickers behind me and blushed. With a deep breath and some cotton warmth I stepped outside yet again.

"Forks." I told the cab driver. My mother hadn't given me full details about him but I still remember the one short conversation clearly.

I stopped playing and stared at the ivory keys.

"Honey, to practice, you have to play." I took a deep breath and looked in her eyes.

"Can you tell me about my father?" Her eyes darted away and she became visibly nervous.

"What about…Charlie?" I sighed. His name was Charlie. That was a good start.

"Anything." She looked at me and I saw water brimming her eyes.

"He lives in Forks, Washington. In the United States." The look in her eyes told me that was the end of the conversation.

I sniffled and hid my face behind my hair. I was taught to not show emotion. Whether I just listened to my mother get murdered or not…

"Miss, we've reached Forks. Where do you wanna go?" The cabby's scratchy voice woke me with a start and I looked around. I hadn't realized how tired I was…I told him to pull in the gas station and wait for me. I stepped out of the car and took in my surroundings. It definitely wasn't Italy but I was ecstatic. I wasn't made t live that life. There was a welcome sign across the street that read "Welcome to Forks! Population 260!" I guess if there were only 260 people in this town maybe some one could give me an address to Charlie Swan.

The gas station was like any other gas station. Maybe a bit smaller if possible. The woman at the cash register regarded me with a smile so I approached her.

"Hi. Umm do you happen to know a Mr. Charlie Swan?" Her eyes widened and she gave me a once over. It was a bit disturbing but I chose not to say anything.

"Yes I do. He's the Chief of Police here. If you want, I can give you directions to the station?" I nodded and she wrote something on a piece of paper. I took it and waved goodbye. I gave the piece of paper to the cab driver and he nodded.

"Thanks. Here…keep the change. Sorry if I kept you out too late." I grabbed my entire luggage and took a deep breath. If anything, I'd just hitch a ride to a hotel.

"Here goes nothing…" I mumbled to myself.

The station was somewhat foreign to me but I made it look like I knew what I was doing. I set my luggage outside the door. Who would steal from in front of a police station anyway? I opened the door and the lady at the front desk looked up. Two things happened at once. Her eyes widened and the squinted. What did I do?

"Excuse me miss…can I help you?" I walked up to her and gave her a genuine smile. Well as genuine as I could at the moment and asked her if I could speak to Charlie Swan. Her Eyes darted to the side to what looked like a lounge and she started tapping her pen frantically. She was nervous. She stared at me for a long while and then hit a button on her desk. I expected big strong arm to wrap around mine a pull me out the door but heard her voice instead.

"Chief Swan?" I heard the clearing of a throat before my father's voice.

"Yes?"

"I have a girl by the name of…"

"What's your name sweetie?" I blushed.

"Bella." I knew she expected me to say my last name but I couldn't tell him…not like this.

"And your last name?" I bit my lip and thought quickly.

"Meyer."

"Her name is Bella Meyer, sir." I sighed in relief. I was a terrible liar. Always have been. I would never do it again.

"Okay, send her in." She nodded towards an oak wood door at the end of the hall. I gave her a small smile and slowly walked towards the door. Would he know it's me? Would he send me away? With a deep breath I knocked on the door.

"Come in." I turned the knob slowly and stepped inside. Without a word I looked at him. Something about his features changed. Maybe he notice my puffy eyes and lack of sleep or maybe it was something else…

"Renee?" That caught me off guard. He knew my name. The lady had just told him. Why did he call me my mo-…oh.

"No, it's not Renee." He blushed like I do and chuckled a little.

"Sorry about that…I was having a senior moment. I smiled. This was it. Like a band-aid…just tell him.

"You were close though." He dropped his pen. He didn't need explanation for that comment. It explained itself. He stood and strode to where I stood.

"You must be my daughter I'm guessing?" I nodded and looked down at my feet. I was seventeen years old yet I still acted twelve. We stood in silence for a while. Until he wrapped his arms around me and engulfed me in a hug. He got really close to my ear and whispered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I hugged him tighter before we both let go. He smiled really big and I could almost see the light bulb go off in his head.

"You lied about your name. In a police station. Are you a trouble maker?" I laughed because I couldn't help it. Of course he would notice that small detail at a moment like this.

"No sir." I gave him my best innocent smile and he patted my back.

"Of course you aren't. I have to be here for a while but Emmett is home if you want to go get settled in…" My eyebrows knotted.

"Emmett?"

"Your…umm…brother." My jaw hit the floor.

"Brother? How old is he?"

"Seventeen."

"Is he adopted?"

"No."

"When is his birthday?"

"August 10th." I closed my eyes and opened them again. Yep, I'm still here.

"I have a…twin?" Charlie looked anywhere but at me.

"I'll tell you the rest of the story later?" I took a deep breath and nodded. I don't think I could handle that right now.

"Umm where do you live?" He clapped his hands together.

"Oh I apologize. It's hard to remember little things like that when you are staring at your daughter." He hit his intercom and a young man walked in. He reminded me somewhat of a puppy and had shaggy blonde hair. He smiled and held his hand out.

"Seth."

"Bella." Charlie waited until we were finished and gave Seth some weird cop look or something.

"Can you please drive Bella over to my house? Tell Emmett I'll be home earlier today and that we are all eating together so don't go running of with Rosalie." Okay?" Seth nodded and I gave Charlie a quick hug before leaving the office.

After we got my entire luggage and I got settled in Seth's cruiser, something inside of me changed. I felt…home.

"So. Bella, what brings you here to the rainy town of Forks?" I turned to him and shrugged.

"Charlie." I've never been a talkative person so I wasn't surprised that's all I could say.

The house we pulled up to was a two stories and white. But not huge. There was a yellow jeep in the parking lot with some high school bumper sticker on the back. Seth grabbed my luggage and walked up to the door before knocking loudly. The music that had been blaring throughout the house was lowered quickly and someone shouted

"Come in!" Seth shrugged and opened the door. The inside matched the outside of the house. Old but classic. While I took in my surrounding I heard a booming voice.

"Seth! What's up man?" This guy talks way too loud then need I turned to face the guys saying hello and held out my hand.

"Hello. I'm Bella." Emmett stared at my hand and the looked at my face. At first he looked taken a back and I realized why. I felt like I was looking in a mirror. Accept I was a guy with muscles the size of a continent. (Okay, maybe not THAT big but this guy had to work out a lot.) He grabbed my hand slowly and we shook without our gazes wavering. It wasn't weird it was kind of normal.

"Emmett." Seth looked between us and noticed the similarities too.

"Whoa! Are you guys cousins or something?" I coughed.

"Something like that." Emmett cocked his head but I just shook my head slightly.

"Anyway, Charlie said he's coming home early tonight and that you guys are all having dinner together so don't go running off with Rose." Emmett laughed and I realized how much I liked his laugh.

"Will do."

Okay so how do you like? Reviews please!