I was up in one of the trees that surrounded the Forks cemetery. They were burying my father. I had seen his obituary in a paper while I was passing through Seattle. I watched the ceremony, heard the minister speaking, and watched the humans cry under their umbrellas. I wished I could cry. I wished that I could shed a tear for the one man that had loved me. I was picking through the murky memories of my human life trying to remember Charlie.

I caught a scent as the wind came up, whipping the rain sideways. It reminded me of something familiar though I couldn't place what that was. Then I saw him. He was standing at the outskirts of the cemetery wearing dark clothes and a somber expression. It was Edward Cullen who stared back at me.

I jumped down from the tree and ran through the rain soaked forest toward the Cullen's old house. We needed a safe distance from the humans when I killed him. I could hear him running after me. He was slightly faster than I. I jumped over the river and rounded off so I was facing the forest.

He walked out of the trees at barely more than a human pace. He stayed on his side of the river. The look on his face was one of awe and agony all smashed together.

"Bella?"

"Edward."

"How?"

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose not."

"I thought you were dead."

"Why would you care?" I spat.

"I love you."

"Liar!" I screamed as I jumped across the river to stand in front of him.

"I'm so sorry Bella."

"Save it Edward."

"I can't believe you're alive. This is the best thing I could ever have dreamed of."

"Really, is that so?" I had turned sarcastic.

"Yes."

"You are a lying piece of shit Edward."

"I deserved that I suppose."

I turned and was about to walk away when I heard him and felt his hand on my arm.

"Don't leave me again. I love you." I whirled around and slapped him in the face.

"Me leave you! You left me remember!" I was furious. "It'll be like I was never there." I quoted him. "You were wrong! I was never the same. You were always in my thoughts tearing my heart out even after it stopped beating you idiot!"

"I thought I was protecting you."

"Well nice job sport. Save your excuses for someone who cares Edward."

I was furious with him and had been for the last fifty years. Seeing Edward at my Father's funeral brought all my hurt and rage to the surface.

"How did it happen?" He was whispering now.

"Victoria came for me after you abandoned me." He blanched but I continued. "She wanted to kill me. She was angry that you killed James. He was her mate. She was laboring under the impression that you gave a damn about me." He stared in horror and flinched again.

"She found me in the woods and broke my bones. Then she bit me. She had the control to pull away and watch me burn."

"Bella." He was horrified and repulsed.

"How did you survive?"

"The wolves came as she watched me burning. They ran her off and I assume they killed her. They tried to save me but the venom had gone too far. Jacob convinced them not to kill me if I never came back to Forks. And I haven't until now to say goodbye to one of the only people that ever loved me."

"I'm so sorry. I never thought. I never dreamed. I'm sorry."

"Save it. Why are you here?" I spat.

"I came for the funeral. I came in part to say one last goodbye to you Bella. He was the last thing that made me certain you were real."

"Why do you care? You abandoned me if you don't recall." I was all acid now.

"I came back when I saw you had gone missing fifty years ago. I looked for you. I went to your funeral and I nearly died. I wanted to go to the Volturie and die, but you made me promise that I never would."

"Wow, you kept one promise. How proud you must be."

"I thought I was protecting you. I never stopped loving you. I've been dead and useless for fifty-one years."

"How dare you talk about love to me!"

I couldn't handle the feelings he was unearthing from my human past. I still loved him, but I also wanted to hurt him. I wanted him to suffer as I had suffered.

"Bella, you cannot imagine how happy I am to see your face again. How long I have wanted to die rather than sit with the knowledge that I could have saved you. I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I am asking you for it. Come home with me where you were always supposed to be."

"I've wandered the world alone for fifty years Edward. I don't remember what it's like to have a family, to be loved."

"Come with me I beg you. I love you Bella. I cannot exist without you."

"I…I don't know Edward."

I was stunned. I was elated. I was angry. I tried to wrestle with my emotions only to fail and become more confused. I wanted a family. I wanted love. I wanted him. I was scared, afraid that this was a dream that he would disappear.

Edward stepped closer and reached to out to touch my face. My skin was electrified at his touch. I stood in shock as the love of my existence stared at me warily. He was so close. He was too close.

I was suddenly very self conscious. Before the change I had stopped eating in my depression. I had been painfully thin when Victoria had changed me. So even in my new, strong, body I was too thin. I was wearing a shabby dress I had stolen from a clothesline a year ago. It was too big and a dingy purple. My feet were bare. I was a nomad. My eyes, however, were proudly gold. I had a perfect record. Not a drop of human blood had been spilled by me.

Edward didn't seem to notice my imagined flaws. He looked at me in awe. I reached out and touched his bottom lip. I wanted the life I had dreamed of fifty odd years ago, and here he was offering it to me. He was infinitely more lovely than my muddy human memories recalled.

"I've missed you." I breathed.

Suddenly Edward was kissing me, crushing me to him. In a second I realized that I was kissing back. Had I forgiven him? I didn't know or care.

When Edward and I were finished with our reunion he took my hand and led me to his car. He opened the door for me and we drove north. He never let go of my hand. We reached the Denali National Park and stopped at a large white house not unlike the one in Forks.

Alice came skipping out of the house only to freeze when she saw me.

"Bella?"

Hey Alice." I smiled.

Everyone came out of the house to see who belonged to the strange voice. They all stopped dead when they saw me. Alice jumped down and hugged me, closely followed by Esme.

"How did this happen?" Carlisle asked as he smiled in awe and hugged me.

"It's a long story." I said.

"We've got time." I laughed and hugged Emmett.

Edward told them all my story and they were, like him, horrified and unimaginably sorry.

"What on earth are you wearing?" Alice gasped as she registered the faded purple dress. She hadn't changed a bit.

Alice grabbed my free hand but Edward wouldn't let go.

"She cannot wear that for another second Edward. So help me I'll take her by force." She tugged and glared menacingly at her brother.

"I will come back Edward. I promise."

He let me go and Alice whisked me up the stairs. She found me a pair of fitted jeans and a blue sweater. She washed my hair and let it dry into it's natural curls as we caught up. She told me about the aftermath of my apparent death. How only his promise to me had kept him from attacking Volterra.

"He was dead to the world and has been for fifty years. Today was the first time I have seen him smile since we left Forks. We were all distraught when we learned of your disappearance. I looked for your future and saw nothing. Even so, Edward went looking for you in Forks. He came back a broken man."

"Was it really that bad?"

"Yes."

We stopped talking as my lullaby drifted up the stairs from the piano. My heart swelled.

"He hasn't touched that piano in fifty years. Esme keeps it tuned out of hope."

I ran downstairs and sat next to him as he played. Esme was thrilled to see me and to have the real Edward back. She kicked us out and started decorating for a party. Of course they had not forgotten my birthday. I didn't even know that it was October the fourth. Edward took me out hunting in the mountains.

I killed a black bear and watched in awe as Edward gracefully hunted a grizzly. He returned to me as I sat in the fading sunlight. I sparkled like diamonds and he did too. We were equals now. He kissed me, twisting his hands in my hair. I didn't feel lonely now. I felt whole again.

It was dark when we returned and the lights blazed inside the house. Alice came out and covered my eyes.

"Come along upstairs with me. I have to dress you for the occasion."

"Alice!" I objected.

"Please Bella, I've missed you."

Once upstairs, she pulled out a blue silk dress straight out of the 1940's.

"It's beautiful Alice."

I hadn't spent any time around mirrors in the last fifty years, so when I looked in Alice's floor length mirror I was speechless.

"You are beautiful Bella." Edward had come upstairs to find me.

"Thank you."

"Alice. Will you give us a minute?"

wordlessly she smiled and left the room.

"I was hoping you would let me give you something. I have something to ask of you."

"Alright."

"Bella Swan I never want to lose you again. Will you please do me the honor of marrying me?"

"Yes I will."

He beamed and slid a delicate gold ring onto my finger.

"It was my mother's." He said quietly.

"It's beautiful."

"Let's go downstairs. They're waiting."

He took my hand and we walked together down the large staircase. Everyone was smiling up at me including Rosalie. There were new faces in the crowd. I was introduced to Tanya and her sisters Irina, and Kate. I was also introduced to Elezear and Carmen.

"Elezear, Carmen, this is my fiancée Bella."

Elezear's eyes bugged out when I cam closer.

"You have an impressive talent my dear."

"What do you mean?" Edward was puzzled.

"She should be the one to tell you."

"Tell me what?" He paused. "Elezear can sense the talents of others. What are you hiding?"

I sighed. I guess it had to come out sooner of later.

"I can control the actions of others by touching them."

Everyone apart from Elezear gasped and Jasper hissed.

"Don't be alarmed. I would never take your will away." Jasper still looked wary.

"How did that happen?" Edward was focused on me.

"I don't know." I shrugged.

"Carlisle?" Edward turned to his Father.

"While you were human I remember wondering at your strength, determination, and persuasive abilities. I believe you must have brought those qualities with you to this life. Amazing."

"Best not let the Volturie know about her." Elezear cautioned.

"Why?" I was curious now.

"Aro is a collector. You would be the crown jewel of his collection. Can you imagine what you could do in battle my dear?"

"Would you mind demonstrating for us love?" Edward was also very curious.

"Are you volunteering dearest?"

"Yes," He paused. "Try to make me do something and I will try to fight the compulsion."

"You asked for it."

I reached out and touched his hand. My voice became smooth and silky as it always did when I used my talent.

"Run to the river and jump into it."

Edward wavered for a fifteenth of a second and ran out the French doors a mile to the river. We all ran after him. We heard a splash and then Edward laughing. When we reached him he was standing waist deep in freezing water though of course nothing felt cold to us.

"Damn Baby!" Edward was proud and amused. "I tried to fight but as soon as you spoke my body reacted as if I was controlling it."

"You are very powerful my dear." Carlisle put a hand on my shoulder.