AN: I'm not sure where this story is heading, but you can travel with me on this road, an we'll see where it takes us.

This will be Bella's story.

Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, I own my mistakes, and this plot.

Chapter 1. You be nice to the gentlemen honey, and they'll be nice to you.

These are the last words my mother said to me as I was bundled off, never to see her again.

What on earth I was supposed to make out of those words, I had really no idea, except that I might have to play nice with a group of much older, well dressed men, whose faces and manners were unfamiliar to me.

These strangers accompanied me on an evening out; I had no idea where we were headed, just that I was alone in a limo with five strange men and a driver.

I was just fourteen years old...it was still my birthday.

I had been dressed up in a ridiculous low-cut black dress of my mother's, had my hair put up in a stylish pile of curls on the top of my head, made up with lipstick and eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I also was wearing some stupidly high, high heels.

I felt like a four year old, who dresses up in her mother's clothes for fun, except, this situation wasn't going to be much fun.

I was nervous as hell, my mother had given me no real clue as to what I should or shouldn't be doing with these men. And I couldn't stop shaking and feeling like I was a leaf in the wind...being blown around, having no sense of direction, or expectations as to what my near future held.

I sat in the back of a car, a very large and expensive car, surrounded by strange men. They seemed much older than me, older than my mother. They didn't even bother looking at, or talking to me. They weren't even looking at, or talking to each other.

I was scared to ask where we were going or what we were going to do, I was scared to even ask them their names.

I wondered what all these old guys would want with a fourteen year old like me.

I had led a sheltered existence until then.

I grew up with my mother, although I guess she wasn't so maternal, compared to the mother's of other girls I had met. She called herself a free spirit, but I saw a woman who had no back bone, no sense of responsibility, no love towards me, and no idea of what actually being a mother involved.

I had pretty much taken care of myself after I had turned seven.

We always had enough money and a house; my mother never seemed to work, so I'm guessing she got money some other way; I never knew where exactly. It might be something to do with how she went out all night; every night...she was always picked up by late model, up market cars and returned every morning the same way.

I don't know who my father is... I asked once and mom shrugged and looked away. I guess I'll never know.

My mother spent her free time making herself beautiful, getting treatments for this and that...botox, collagen, hair dyeing and styling, nails, skin wraps, mud packs, waxing, plucking, fasting, liquid calorie controlled drinks.

Always preening and primping in front of a mirror...it was her favourite spot anywhere in the house, in front of a mirror... any mirror...we had a lot of mirrors now that I think of it.

After that, if she had enough energy, she might do trips shopping to buy more clothes, or if she didn't she would take naps. Lots and lots of naps.

She had no intellectual capacity that I could make out; she wasn't interested in world affairs, the economy, the environment or learning about anything other than superficial things like clothes, or hairstyles.

She avoided me, there was hardly ever any eye contact or conversation at all.

My mother was as shallow and as superficial as a mirror...her favourite object.

There was no depth to her mind or interests other than ways to make herself look younger and prettier.

I didn't know anything about her history or background.

She had no emotional strengths...

Just an acceptance of everything being ok...she was an unemotional blank canvas.

She never seemed to think that there was anything more to life, than how she lived it.

She never read anything. Never even watched any tv...

I had books which I borrowed from the library and from school.

She never really talked to me, except to say she was going out. To lock the doors and to not to get into any trouble, not that I ever did... I was a quiet kid.

She was only interested in herself and her strict diet and regime of beauty treatments.

Food was something I learnt how to make myself by watching tv programs.

Otherwise I'm sure I would have starved to death, I got great at shopping, and cooking.

Not that my mom ever ate anything.

I enjoyed food.

I enjoyed books.

I enjoyed other people's mothers and their families, and watching them interact.

I loved going to stay and play with other girls, at their homes.

It was from this, that I learnt what other homes were like, and how much other people loved their kids.

They might not have as much money as my mom, but those girls had love, nurturing, nourishment and loving acceptance from their families.

When I was small, I asked my mother what she did.

We were discussing families at school. Other girls had mothers who were teachers, doctors, lawyers, researchers, scientists, engineers or chefs. There were some mommies, who stayed at home to look after the household or have more babies.

My mother didn't have an answer, except to say this...she said that she got paid to 'look pretty and act nice'.

I remember...I was only in grade one, probably six years old I guess...she looked at me with hard clear eyes and said...

"One day, you'll do the same thing as me Isabella."

Even then, I was shocked and confounded. I had just discovered that I loved reading and I loved school more than anything...even then, as young and small as I was, I knew my mother wasn't remotely interested in learning or school or doing the same fun things other mothers did.

Even then, I knew I never wanted to be like my mother...I wanted to be like my teacher Miss Taylor, or the librarian Mrs Whimsy ...even my headmistress Mrs Longstar, or Alice's mom Mrs Brandon.

I liked the lady at the corner store Maggie; she always gave me a little treat when I came into her shop everyday after school, to buy something for my dinner.

I also liked the school canteen lady; who was a friendly older lady called Rusty. I don't know if that was her real name or not, but she was always laughing and joking and being friendly and I liked her and how she always said hello and smiled at me.

I wished my mother spent time joking and chatting, even smiling when I was near her.

I knew there were men at the school who did jobs like cleaning, maintenance and security.

Some of my friends had fathers and brothers who I met, and even occasionally talked to.

We had neighbours, some of whom were men. But I never really talked to any of them.

There was a boy next door about my age or a little bit older who went to another school.

We would wait at the bus stop together and sometimes he'd look over towards me, but it seemed, just like me, we were both too shy and confused to say hello.

I shook my head; I had to remember where I was...sitting in a strange car full of strange men. Being driven somewhere unknown.

So it was confusing for me, to know exactly how to act around these strange men.

Two were either side of me, in the back seat, rugged up in thick dark coats and wearing dark suits and shiny black shoes.

On the seat facing me in the back of the limo, were another three men, all dressed the same, seated silently, all ignoring me.

I glanced at each of them, their faces obscured in the gloom of the night, inside a limo with no interior lighting. None of them looked remotely familiar.

They even smelled strange...like cologne and cigars and that odd chemical smell you get from clothes which have been to the dry cleaners. And there was another smell, cognac, maybe?

Oh God!

Please Please God Help me...I need you to keep me from safe from harm...I had to try and calm down...

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe slowly and deeply, like we had been taught in health class.

My teacher, Ms Newbury was big on meditation.

I settled in the leather seat as comfortably as I could, sitting with my backside right into the far back of the seat.

I straightened my spine, slightly lowered by chin and focused on my breaths.

I loosely placed my palms together on my lap.

I set into a slow steady rhythm of breathing...not taking any notice of the strange men and their smells...or what on earth I was supposed to do, or how to act.

I was settling into a wonderful dream about finding some treasure at the end of the rainbow, when I was shaken softly and told to wake up.

The man's voice was firm but gentle and I realized suddenly that I'd fallen asleep on a strange man's shoulder.

I squeaked and jumped like a startled rabbit into an upright position. I was still in the backseat of the limo, I was still in the company of the two guys seated either side of me.

I looked around and they were smirking at me, like I was funny and they had already thought of a few jokes about me...the girl who couldn't stay awake on a night, where I was supposed to be on my best behaviour, in clothes that were uncomfortable and ridiculous.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep...umm where are we?" I asked quietly.

"Come on, no need to worry about anything, just come with us...there's a good girl."

What? I sighed, just like my mother; I wasn't likely to get anything remotely useful or informative, out of these guys anytime soon. I should try to be nice and co-operate with them, I suppose...

"Okay." I shuffled along the seat towards the open door and got out. It was crisp and cold and the night sky was full of stars.

I looked around but only saw park-like lawns, a gravel driveway, some mature oaks and a few garden beds full of flowers. I turned and saw where the men were leading me. A grand house.

Three stories high of old stone, and a high entrance with pillars on each side...very grand and intimidating...very old money...very scary and weird.

What was I doing with these strange men in the middle of the night? Coming to a place I didn't know, dressed up like someone ten years older than I really was. I had only turned fourteen this morning...

My friend Alice came over with a present and card... and she had made some chocolate cupcakes with me... we lit a candle and she sang me happy birthday.

My mom was asleep as usual for a Saturday morning, she didn't rise or talk to me until four in the afternoon grumpy as usual. She told me to take a long bath, wash my hair and then get dressed in an outfit she had brought into my room.

When I asked her about why I was getting dressed up in her clothes and having my hair piled up on top of my head like some Edwardian actress, she told me in a cold voice, with razor sharp eyes.

"Isabella Dwyer, mind your manners, don't ask questions and stop being such a big burden and reminding me of why you were the biggest mistake of my life."

Her icy attitude and demeanour, was in such sharp contrast to Alice and her loving friendship that I started to cry.

I let my tears silently roll down my face while she pulled and fiddled with my hair, not taking care to be gentle.

She yanked me up and forced me to look into her face. I had grown to her height in the last few months.

"Stop crying for God's sake! You should be grateful that the life ahead of you isn't anything like what some of us had to go through. (What does that mean?)

So get a grip and don't embarrass me any more than you already do...honestly, the things that I have to do for you!"

After this she didn't say anymore till the limo rolled up outside of our house and the doorbell rang.

She stood by my side and as she opened the door, she looked me up and down, didn't touch me or look upset...and calmly said in an unemotional voice...

'You be nice to the gentlemen honey, and they'll be nice to you'.

The man who had come to the door, nodded at my mother and she pushed me out of the door and closed it, before I could properly stand in my perilously high heeled shoes.

I stumbled forward and the man caught me by my shoulders. I was wobbling on the idiot heels and he gently helped me down the stairs to the car.

Another man stood by the open door and helped me into the backseat.

I was too scared to cry, I just shivered in fright like someone about to go to the death-chamber instead.

I shook my head.

I had to stay in the present!

I was being led up the gravel path to a large stone mansion.

In the company of nameless men, to a place I didn't know.

My future wasn't looking so great, now that I really think about it...

Was I going to be some sort of sex slave to a bunch of creepy old paedophiles?

Was I going to be tortured, abused, and forced to have things done to me against my will?

Was I allowed to continue studying, allowed to have a life that I wanted, rather than being at the whim and mercy of others?

I had dreams of studying and researching...

Maybe working with books, my wonderful world of anything to do with my beloved texts, books, and journals... always leading me beyond the small world in which I had lived up until now...

I started to cry again, the silent traitorous tears slid down my face, down my neck and crept down to my dress. The plunging neckline started getting all wet and I stopped to wipe the tears away with my hands.

I was shaking and my breaths were shallow... and although I tried to be quiet, I was still making unbidden little noises that sounded like my world was breaking apart.

I wobbled and shook harder.

I couldn't move any further...I felt faint and I felt sick ...stars were swirling around my head.

I heard a woman's voice and felt a warm hand brush my hair off my forehead and place a cool wet cloth against my sweaty skin.

"Good heavens child, what on earth did your mother do to you? I don't know what the hell she was thinking with all of this crazy stuff she dressed you in, honestly, she made you look like a low-life under-aged hooker!"

I opened my eyes and looked into her soft sweet curious eyes...her eyes were the same colour as mine.

"There you are honey; I'm your long lost granny. I bet you didn't even know about me, did you?" she quirked her eyebrows and chuckled.

I shook my head and sat up. I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming or hallucinating.

I blinked and reached out to touch her, she felt real. Her skin was soft and wrinkly she was warm and vital.

I looked down... I had been changed into soft warm pink floral flannelette pyjamas. I shook my head and smiled. I felt around and my hair was loose and hanging down around my shoulders, no longer piled in a weird up-do... it swung free... I felt my face, it was clean of that horrible clown makeup my mother had put on me.

"I'm your father's mother, Fiona Swan. Your father was Charles Henry Swan. He died recently, and it has only recently come to my attention that he fathered a child, my one and only precious granddaughter, you my beautiful little Bella." she stroked my face and smiled.

"Charlie kept all knowledge of you quiet, I'm not sure why. I'm guessing it had to do with his ex-wife who was quite the nasty jealous bitch, when she got her temper up. They divorced a while back, and Charlie then started to try and get his life back together, but sadly died of a huge heart attack,while he running in the New York marathon," she shook her sadly.

"Bella sweetie, it'll take some getting used to, I know...but if you want, I'd like to take charge of your upbringing, and do a better job than I understand than your mother has been doing...what I mean to say is, would you like to get to know me and come here to live with me, and keep your old granny company? This mausoleum, my husband, your grandfather built fifty years ago, is huge and empty and full of silly antiques and valuable art. None of which I like at all! I employ lots of staff to keep it clean and maintain it, but honestly, it's not really me, I have always had simpler tastes..." she chuckled and I smiled shyly...

Could this dear lady be my actual real life, honest to goodness grandmother... someone I had always longed and wished for?

"Are you really my grandmother? My mother never ever spoke about my dad...never gave me any sign that I even had one."

"Yeah well, stupidly enough, my son agreed to keep all knowledge of your birth and background a secret, and I only found out about you a week ago. Charlie's lawyer made contact with me, to let me know of your existence, and the circumstances of your birth and life up until now."

She got up off the edge of the bed and looked at me with a smile.

"Feel like a little supper with me?"

I nodded, I no longer felt so scared and lightheaded. Actually I was hungry. My tummy rumbled.

"Come with me Bella sweetie, I'll show you where the kitchen is; we'll make ourselves a little something that'll tide us over to breakfast."

With that she took my hand and gave me some soft slippers for my feet that matched hers and we made our way downstairs to a huge kitchen which looked like something out of a giant catering facility from a top end hotel.

I looked around in shock.

My granny laughed, "oh honey, don't be scared! It's only a kitchen, a mad, large-overly outrageous one, but a kitchen none the less!"

She patted my hand with hers and pulled me over to sit at the kitchen bench.

"Let's see where the cook left her plate of left-overs."

I was gob-smacked... this kitchen was insane! The giant refrigerators sat in a set side by side, shiny glass doors and long stainless steel handles. It was just like you see in retail outlets, full of frozen or chilled goods.

"Ah here we go, let's have some of this. Do you want a bit of roast turkey on a couple of slices of sourdough? Maybe a little cranberry sauce and some nice Swiss cheese or sprouts to add to the sandwich filling?"

I got up and helped her; she put a lovely loaf of beautiful fresh sourdough bread in front of me, a chopping board and bread knife. She nodded as I smiled and started slicing the bread to make our sandwiches.

We sat down together and ate slowly, I tasted the delicious bread and turkey...slowly swallowing the wonderful food. Making the most of being in a peaceful wonderful place, beside this woman who possessed my eyes, my nose and my smile. She really could be my grandmother!

"Is it alright to ask a question?"

"Why heavens yes dear, ask away, I'm all ears!"

"Can I call you Gran, or would you like something more formal?"

"Oh I don't know dear, Gran would give me a real kick! God knows its been my dream all of these years to become a grandmother, so let's try it out and see shall we? If that doesn't sound any good to you, we can try any variation you want, I'm very flexible."

"So, um, Gran...who were those men who picked me up this evening from my mother's house? None of them talked to me, except when I asked where we were going, and who they were. They wouldn't tell me."

"Well, I can just imagine what a strange business it felt like for you dear...were you scared? To get into a limousine with a bunch of strange men, who you didn't know...but I'm sorry it had to be that way...a little cloak and dagger...a bit undercover, if you get my meaning."

She stopped speaking a looked serious for a second, and then took my hand to try give me reassurance.

"A few days ago, it came apparent to me and my son's lawyer that you not only existed, but it also became a real matter of urgency, that I took over your care immediately Bella dear."

"The lawyer,who was one of the men to pick you up tonight, had sadly found out that your mother had put out inquires, through her nefarious underground network, to auction you off to the highest bidder on your fourteen birthday."

I gasped in shock. So that's what she was doing, when she dressed me up and told me to be nice to the gentlemen...

"She wanted to sell me?"

"I'm sorry and sad to say that she did my darling."

Gran took her arm and pulled me close to her, holding me like someone precious.

"How a mother could ever do such a thing, is beyond my comprehension, but, nevertheless, by some wondrous miracle, here you are in my arms, and if you'll let me, I'll make sure you'll always be safe from harm, for as long as we are together."

"So one of the men who picked me up was my father's lawyer, who were the others and why did my mother let me go, did she know who they were? Did you pay for me?"

"Oh honey, well I'll tell you the short version, because it's getting very late. I'll just tell you that those men are all special friends of your dead father, and they were all there to bring you here to me."

Gran stroked my hair softly, and started plaiting it loosely in one long row down my back. It was very soothing.

"Your mother was under the impression, that they were men who were paying an obscenely large sum of money, for the opportunity to act out their cruel and disgusting paedophilic tendencies, on her only daughter...unfortunately she had to be given that clear impression, other wise she would have never given you up so fast... she thought she was getting her wishes come true- a lot of money for her daughter, and she wouldn't need think about you a moment longer. So yes, we did trick her, and did pay her with a cheque, which will be sure to bounce and not to be accepted by any bank in the country...she didn't even know the names of the men involved with your removal...and she'll realise too late, that you have gone and won't be back."

I knew my mother was a cruel and heartless piece of work, but until this moment I naively hoped I was wrong, but now it was clear as day that she really hated me so much, that she was willing for me to be sold to a bunch of strange men, to do with as they wished...she didn't care if I was hurt, abused, tortured, exploited or repeatedly raped...she sought out an opportunity for me to be placed with such men, and pushed me out the door, wearing the clothes of a much older woman.

No goodbyes, no tears on her part, just pushed out of the door... so that I stumbled into a stranger's arms...

I took a big breath and shook my head...tears sprang up and my Gran hugged me tighter.

"I'm sorry that there's no easy way to explain this nicely Bella my sweet. If I could, I would have saved you knowing all of this terrible information, but I've got to tell you the truth! We have both been lied to, and I am going to promise you that I'll make all of my remaining years on this earth, ones loving you and caring for you like you are my most special and precious gift that God has given me. A gift so wonderful that I will always nurture and cherish you ...Will you let me do that for you darling? I think we should try and get some sleep my dear, it's been a big night and you can sleep in... and I'll tell you as much as I know in the morning, ok?"

We walked up to my new room. Well, I guess it was once a spare bedroom, in this enormous house, with heaps of bedrooms. Joy of joys, it was now mine!

"Tomorrow, I'll show you around this huge place. There's a bathroom you can use just through that door, it's stocked with all the stuff you might need."

"I'm just next door, in this room here see? We have adjoining doors, so if you get scared I'm just here, so don't worry you can come and keep me company."

"We'll soon start making this bedroom more to your liking and tastes, ok Bella?"

I nodded and hugged her.

"Thanks so much, I can't tell you how relieved I am to have miraculously been found by you Gran, you saved me tonight! I hate to think what could have happened, if you didn't find out about me"...I shivered with the horrible thought...

I hugged and kissed her goodnight. She walked me over to the bed and tucked me in and told me to leave the bedside light on, so I wouldn't get unnerved in the night if I woke up. I suddenly realised no one had ever tucked me into bed before...this was my first time, it felt really nice.

I was so tired and although my mind was spinning, I just let it go and relaxed into my lovely new bed. It was so soft and warm. So comfortable and wonderful to feel wanted...to be safe...and to have a grandmother!

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