I've not been writing in a while and I'm still currently working on The Secret which has been on hiatus.

This is my new fic, I hope you enjoy it.

All human, romance, hurt & comfort, angst, mystery. Rating M.

THE LOST BOY

At 17, Bella returns to Forks to live with her father after a long separation. Her last visit 4 years earlier ended abruptly after an incident in the woods involving Charlie's mysterious new foster child and herself. Edward Meyers, the boy with no memory found wandering in the Olympic Forest. What will happen when the two finally reunite? And who really is the Lost Boy of Forks?

I do not own the characters of Twilight, I just like to play with them.

Pixie

Chapter 1 – Remember Me

It has been four years since I'd last seen him. Four long years of wondering what he'd be like, if he'd changed over that time, whether he'd remember what occurred in the forest that night when we were both only thirteen years old. The night he'd left me there in the darkness, abandoning me, leaving me sobbing in the freezing rain with bruised lips and sore wrists.

I pushed him too far that night, trying to discover the truth. He was so angry with me and I was equally furious with him. But I was so close to the truth and he knew it.

He screamed at me to stop asking, stop pushing. He yelled for me to 'Stop... just stop!"

But I didn't stop, I screamed back at him until I finally yielded; he gave me no choice, silencing me with his mouth.

But I think he remembered something, he was scared. He ran.

He abandoned me. Then I was the one who was scared.

Would he mention that night to me? Would I?

Or would he just pierce my eyes with that fierce green stare of his that I remembered so vividly with shame and fear? Just like he'd done when they'd found me lost in the dark forest and brought me home to Charlie. Would he stand there begging me with those hypnotic green eyes to remain silent, to keep his secrets and save him from the fate he'd succumb to if I'd utter the truth of his actions to my father?

I closed my eyes briefly, sighing deeply. Willing my erratic heat beat to please slow down.The repetitive rain pounding against the car window as we drove.

"Don't be nervous Bella, please...Edward feels as anxious as you do I promise. Having you both under the one roof again is going to be a little strange for everyone. But there is no reason for either of you to feel awkward or uncomfortable." Charlie's voice was quietly concerned as he tried to reassure me.

I opened my eyes, glancing over at him, giving a chaste smile.

"I'm not nervous...just tired. The flight, the move in general, I'm just digesting everything...I promise I'm okay with this. I was the one who wanted to come back, to live here remember? It was my decision." my voice sounding even and confident.

It was the middle of a damp cold February. I'd just flown across the country from my home in Phoenix, Arizona leaving my ditzy and somewhat featherbrained mother to enjoy wedded bliss with her new husband. I'd made the decision that had been itching in the back of my heart to return here to Forks, to rainy Washington State and live with my father Charlie and ...Edward.

Edward Meyers..., well that's what his name was now. No one really found out what his real name was; his surname at least. All he could remember was 'Edward'. That was the only thing he ever remembered.

They found him in the Forest, at the time it made the local and state news here. Boy with no memory found wandering deep within the Olympic National Park, near Meyers Ridge. They said it was a miracle he was alive at all, they had no idea how long he'd been out there. I was still 12 years old at the time. At home with Renee, my mother when she received the call from Charlie about what had happened.Charlie was one of the first people who were there for Edward when they found him.Local Quileute's, from the nearby Reservation discovered him in the forest wandering like a lost soul. He didn't know who he was, how he got there, what had happened to him, how long he'd been surviving. He was emaciated, his clothes were torn, and he was very frightened and confused. When they got him to the hospital and he began to receive treatment they discovered that he had amnesia. There was evidence of resent head trauma, there was still dried blood in his filthy hair but no one knew the cause. The local newspaper ran a story on the incident. They called him 'The Lost Boy of Forks".

Charlie was assigned to the case. From the beginning he was heavily involved, he seemed to have taken more than professional interest in the 'Lost Boy'. No one seemed to have reported him missing; no one ever came forward to claim him. Charlie and his colleagues tried to make sense of the mystery surrounding Edward but at every turn they came up with nothing. There were plenty of theories, some more sinister than others. Truth was no one knew the truth. Nobody knew what really happened to Edward, whether it was sinister or just a simple accident. A couple of months later Charlie was made his temporary guardian. I didn't understand the details of how it came about at the time. I was still young and naive. But it had something to do with Charlie being friends with the Cullen's. The local doctor and his wife who were also foster parents. They were extremely well respected in the community and had a lot of connections. Apparently Charlie had unbeknown to anyone taken an interest in fostering himself and with their help had applied to take on Edward and his temporary guardianship had been granted by the state. Temporary eventually turned into permanent.

Like I said, I didn't pay attention to the details. Edward was to start his life over, rebuild from having no memory of who he used to be. It was over 8 months later that I would first meet Edward, the summer we were both 13, well assumed he was 13 and I was to stay in Forks for my annual holiday. The last time I was ever in Forks...

Charlie lifted one of his hands from the wheel to briefly rub a palm over his mouth, the bristles of his moustache making a soft scratching sound as he did so.

"Hmmm" he breathed out, contemplating my words.

"It's just been a long time, maybe I'm nervous too. I just want you both to get along. Last time you were here it was so different, it was all new. Edward was still trying to settle, to get his bearings...it was a difficult time for him. I know you both were kind of forced together and expected to be comfortable with one another, I know that you were never happy about the situation..."

"Dad...!" I interrupted his musing.

"That's not why I didn't want to be here" I gestured out the blurry rain soaked window, shades of green and brown passing in a rush of rural Washington State, large imposing trees of the forest that consumed the land like a rash.

"You never wanted to come back after I took him in, you never wanted to visit...I blamed myself. I didn't want you to feel like you weren't welcome..."

"Dad"

"Please..." I cut him off a little forcefully.

"I was thirteen; I was a moody hormonal teenager who wanted to be with her mom and not a house full of males who would not be able to assist me in the day to day trials and tribulations of a growing teenage girl! No offence dad but I don't think you would have coped to well with certain things..."

Charlie caught my eye briefly and slightly uncomfortably, he caught on quickly thank god at what I was insinuating.

"Mom was there when I needed mom time. You had your plate full. Edward..."

My voice caught in my throat unexpectedly when I said his name aloud, I coughed quickly to disguise the unexpected slip of my true feelings.

"Edward..." I continued more confidently, "he needed you more, you both needed time alone together to get to know each other, for him to trust you and be there for him. You needed each other and I didn't want to ...to get in the way. That's all it was!" I insisted.

"You still could have visited us..." he muttered quietly.

A wave of guilt washed over me at his words.

"I just wanted you both to be happy, me being around...would just have mixed things up" I finished.

"I thought perhaps you were upset with me. That you thought I'd replaced you somehow!" Charlie confessed soberly.

My stomach twisted uncomfortably at my father's candidness. This was probably the most adult conversation we'd ever had with one another. His eyes remained fixed on the road though and I preferred it that way.

"I never thought that, what you did...wanting to foster, I always thought that was an amazing thing you did."

Charlie turned, giving me a quick glance. It was hard to read the expression on his face but his eyes were warm. A moment later he was concentrating on the road before him again.

"You've grown into an intelligent young woman Bella, I feel like I've missed out not seeing you all these years, talking on the phone it's not the same but I'm glad you're here now. You're not my little girl anymore are you?" sounding melancholy.

"I'm forever thirteen in your head, aren't I?" I questioned teasingly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah you are kid..." he grinned.

"Wait till Edward see's you, he won't believe you're the clumsy, curious little girl he saw last time you were here".

"Um, let's not get ahead of ourselves...I'm still kinda clumsy" I joked.

Charlie grinned briefly at my words.

"Well, Edwards, he's definitely not the same frightened lost boy that he was back then. He's come a long way".

He was so lost...poor lost Edward. His intense green eyes would pierce you as if he was begging you to take him home, to make him remember. His features would take your breath away, he had a beautiful face and he fascinated me. I'd never seen anyone who looked like that before. He was frightened and wary of everything. And he would barely talk to me. He didn't like me being there. When I'd get too close or try to talk to him when we were alone his frightened gaze would turn fierce, warning me to back off and I always had. His fierce eyes were biting and intimidated me. He clung to Charlie like a life line and there was I getting in the way. It hurt. I wanted him to not see me as a threat, but then I realised that was exactly what I was to him, especially after I followed him into the woods that last day.

"I'm glad I've got Edward to keep an eye on you when I'm busy at the station because I have a feeling the young men in Forks are going to be noticing you" he said gravely.

What? Oh Charlie.

"I don't think so Dad, besides I'm not interested in dating." I shuddered at the thought.

No guys were interested in me back in Phoenix so why would it be any different here? I was a plain Jane, always had been.

I'd been a gangly thin girl. I hadn't grown much vertically over the years. I was barely over 5'2. I'd filled out a little, though still slim but I most definitely had curves now. My hair was long and dark, a mixture of chestnut and warm shades of brown. I had Charlie's dark chocolate eyes and pale white skin. I didn't tan easily but I kind of liked that I was different from everyone else in Phoenix.

"And since when was Edward my guardian?" I probed.

It was clear Charlie had got an idea into his head pre my arrival; did he see Edward as taking on the role of 'protective sibling'? I couldn't imagine him like that in a million years. And he certainly didn't act like my sibling when we were last alone together.

I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the memory. Bruised lips, sore wrists...his eyes were fervent green, fierce, raw.

We were barely into our teens then. We were strangers really, yet... I bit my lip as I remembered that kiss. My first kiss! It wasn't how I'd imagined it would be.

"Edward's very mature, I'm so proud of what he's achieved. He promised me he'd keep an eye on things when I wasn't around and I'm glad of that to be honest." Charlie chuckled, his eyes drifted to me briefly again.

"You're a beauty; you inherited your looks from your mom. I remember what teenage boys are like, I used to be one" he laughed.

I felt my cheeks blaze. This was humiliating.

"You don't need to worry about boys Dad" I groaned. "I'm the epitome of ordinary".

"I wish that were the case" he sighed. "You are going to give me grey hair when the boys start knocking on the front door to ask you out, I'm not cut out for that stuff. You're my little girl and here you are sitting next to me and I ask myself where did all the years go?"

"You're wrong." I accused.

"Oh am I now?" Charlie challenged.

"Well, because I'm pretty sure I can see a few grey hairs already on that head of yours from where I'm sitting" I teased.

Charlie let out a loud bellowing laugh, it was infectious and it had been too long since I'd seen him laugh like that.

"Hey look, there's the house up ahead."

He shouted out excitedly as he noticed the modest white house.

I caught sight of it; it looked the same as I remembered, nestled next to the surrounding woods, just on the outskirts of Forks. The lone little white house, kitchen, living room, two bedrooms...

Two bedrooms! Shit!

"Dad, where am I going to sleep?" I barked out suddenly.

Shit the sleeping arrangements. Why had I not thought of that? Last time I visited Edward slept on the sofa in the living room. I took my old bedroom which he had been using himself. And I knew from Charlie telling me over the years that Edward had moved into my bedroom permanently in my absence. Obviously..!It was his room now and there was going to be three of us living here now.

"Relax Bella..., you think I'd make you share a room with Edward?" he laughed in amusement.

I looked at him incredulously. Sharing with Edward? Christ!There was a thought.

"I finally got around to having that loft conversion done; remember I was talking about it?"

No...I would have remembered him mentioning that. Had he?

"I finally got organised knowing you were moving up here permanently. You remember Esme Cullen? She organised it. She works in interior design and had a friend who could do it for me for a reasonable price. They did an amazing job. Wait until you see it, was just finished last week. Edward has already moved his stuff into his new room."

"New room?" I asked confused.

The loft! It's been converted into a third bedroom, Edwards's room. He wanted it that way, said you should have your old room back."

"He did?"

The cruiser pulled up into the driveway and Charlie switched the engine off. The sudden silence seemed to stun me as I stared at the front door of the house.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry, still trying to digest Charlie's words while anticipation ate away at my insides.

I even felt light headed. My eyes were burning into that door.

Charlie shifted next to me.

"What's wrong Bells?" noticing the odd expression on my face.

Where was he? Why hadn't he come out yet?

"Oh right!" Charlie seemed to realise.

"Edward's not home. He thought he'd give you some space to settle in, he's out with friends for the day" he explained.

My body seemed to sink into the seat as I exhaled dramatically.

"I thought you said you weren't nervous?" Charlie asked suspiciously. "I mean I don't want you to feel uncomfortable Bells, this is your home too you know!"

"It's just been such a long time since I last saw him, that's all? I'm just wondering what he's like now." I confessed biting my lip.

I jumped slightly when Charlie's warm hand came into contact with my knee.

"Hey kid, its okay. You're going to get on great with Edward. He's a good person, very intelligent and responsible. He's a quiet soul, hasn't got a bad bone in his body. You are very alike; you will both be just fine."

My heart twisted at Charlie's words. The way he described Edward was the way a loving and proud father would talk of his pride and joy. And I was so very glad that Charlie and Edward had each other over these years. The thought of Charlie being alone and the idea of Edward going to some other family just didn't seem right. It was like it was fate that brought them together. Charlie got the son he always wanted and Edward found someone to care for him as if he was their own flesh and blood.

Poor Edward, I couldn't even comprehend what he'd been through over these years. What it must have been like for him?

I always knew I'd made the right decision that day. Not to tell Charlie the real reason I had been lost in the forest. It hadn't been an accident. I'd not got lost while exploring. If Charlie knew Edward had been to blame and that he'd left me there then his life with Charlie would never have come to pass. I don't think Charlie would have ever forgiven him.

I'd lied for Edward. I'd lied because those green eyes begged me to lie.

"Guess I should start unloading the car and get unpacked" I sighed, changing the subject.

"That sounds like a plan" he agreed.

It was nearly six in the evening. Charlie had told me that he'd ordered pizza for dinner, I'd offered to cook but he seemed abhorred by the suggestion. Telling me how exhausted I must be and that he would organise dinner. Even if that meant picking up the phone and having someone deliver the goods.

I was tired. I'd unpacked my last suitcase; I'd brought three large ones. Mom gave me a check worth a considerable amount of money before we'd parted ways, telling me to spend it on some new clothes and things for my fresh start. I think it was really because she couldn't be bothered organising to have the rest of my belongings sent up to Washington State. That and maybe she felt guilty about me leaving to begin with. Her new husband had a very well paid job. And they were going to be moving into a nice new house together. So money wasn't really an issue for her. I had a sneaky suspicion that she also thought that Charlie was living in some kind of bachelor type clutter and disarray with Edward.

That couldn't have been further from the truth. The house was in great shape, better than I ever remembered. The inside was very tidy and organised. It had been redecorated, yet still seemed homely. A new kitchen had been fitted; Charlie explained that Edward and he had made some changes over the years. Even the outside of the house seemed to have a recent coat of pristine white paint. I think Renee would have fainted from shock if she'd seen it for herself.

Even my bedroom, which only just last week had been Edwards seemed to have received a little makeover. Charlie had Esme Cullen give it the once over before my arrival. She'd had it redecorated, the walls were painted sage green, and there were some nice photos on the walls of what looked like parts of the Olympic Forest. She'd even organised new bedding and I worried how much money Charlie had spent on my pending arrival.

My bedroom used to be lilac and I wondered what color Edward had changed it to in my absence?

I lay on my bed and imagined him lying here. It was the same bed. I recognised it. The mattress was obviously new though, it was springy and firm.

"What's Edwards new bedroom like?" I'd asked Charlie.

He'd told me to have Edward show me himself when he eventually got home.

The new spiral staircase at the end of the hall next to my room seemed to beckon to me.

"I'm not going into his room uninvited Bella..., man has to have his privacy" Charlie had explained.

Maybe that's how their relationship worked so well. They were both very private and respected that about each other.

Dinner was good. Why did pizza always hit just the right spot? I wolfed mine down not that Charlie really noticed as he seemed to inhale his.

"So where did Edward go today?" I asked Charlie as I did the dishes. He sat at the kitchen table finishing off a beer.

"He's with the Cullen kids; he's good friends with them. They have a lot in common" he explained.

That's right, the Cullen's were foster parents too though I think they also adopted. Charlie had tried to adopt Edward but it was Edward himself who had refused. The reason being that he truly believed that his family was out there somewhere and he didn't want to give up hope that one day someone would look for him. I think at the time it had broken Charlie's heart but their arrangement worked despite things. At the end of the day Charlie was Edwards's father and they both knew that. Edward also knew if the adoption went ahead then he'd be Edward Swan. I had to agree with Edward on that one. It didn't seem right that we share the same last name, not because I was being jealous and possessive of Charlie it was more to do with the fact that I didn't see Edward as my brother. That's not who he was to me. Your brother didn't pin you against a tree by the wrists and nip at your lips before pushing his tongue between them...still so vivid.

I jumped as the wet glass I was placing on the worktop slipped between my fingers and clanged on the hard floor. Unbelievably it didn't shatter, opting to roll across the linoleum until it stopped at the pair of large converse sneakers by the door.

"Jesus...Bella. You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Charlie chocked as he coughed up the beer that got caught in the back of his throat.

My heart pounded and my eyes remained frozen on the floor. I stared at the glass and the worn black sneakers that hadn't been there a moment before. Pale long fingers reached around the wet glass picking it up, my eyes following as I took in the long, long denim encased legs, then hips, a dark t-shirt hung lose at the waist.

My eye's continued their journey upwards while the glass remained in his long fingered hand around his middle.

I took in his abdomen, his wide muscular chest that seemed to rise and fall rapidly, his broad manly shoulders, his neck, Adams apple bobbing, his...oh my god...his jaw!

I think I licked my lips.

I closed my eyes briefly as if mentally trying to prepare myself for the inevitable and then I opened them. His chiselled face, his sharp cheeks, his wild bronze hair, it was like a sensory overload.

Edward's potent green gaze penetrated me, he was more beautiful or handsome than I ever could have imagined.

Charlie had emailed photos but none were recent.

Before me stood a man, the most heart rendering beautiful man I'd ever laid eyes upon. His eyes were the same, ancient green eyes. And I still felt it, how can someone be so fascinating yet terrifying all at once.

His eyes sharpened on me like he could read my thoughts. And I knew that he still had secrets and he frightened me. I don't know why but he always had. That wasn't the worst part though because the worst part was I liked it.

"Hello Bella..." a deep, confident voice welcomed.

A sharp audible gasp was the only response I could reciprocate with.

Well that's chapter 1. I didn't want to give too much away to begin with. Now where's the fun in that? So what exactly happened in the forest between 13 year old Bella and Edward? Who is Edward really? What is the truth behind his mysterious past and why does he have no memory? What is the relationship between them or what will it be?

And I've not even mentioned the sleepwalking... all in good time.

All will be answered eventually, so please keep reading and review. I'd be happy to answer any of your questions and would love to hear from you.

Pixie