Disclaimer:

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. However, I, under the penname listed above, do own this story, plot and its variations. I prefer it not to be plagiarized and thank you in advance.

This stories initial inspiration came from a Miranda Lambert song called The House That Built Me. I do not claim to own the song, or the characters mentioned.

I know they say, you can't go home again

Well, I just had to come back one last time

And Ma'am, I know, you don't know me from Adam

But these hand prints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs, in that little back bedroom

Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar

And I bet you didn't know under that live oak

My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years

From "Better Homes and Garden" magazine

Plans were drawn and concrete poured

And nail by nail and board by board

Daddy gave life to mama's dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

You leave home, you move on

And you do the best you can

I got lost in this whole world

And forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around, I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me

The dirt road on the outskirts of Forks seemed to go on forever. I didn't remember it being this long the last time I had been on it. Then again, ten years would do that to a persons memory. I often used to sit with my twin sister, Rose, and we would tell each other all we could remember of this place. Everytime we'd tell a story, certain things would change throughout the years.

"I loved that green color mom had the kitchen painted."

"No, Bella. The kitchen was yellow. Like the sun, remember?"

We used to cry for pictures of our home. We were twelve when we left. No one let us take anything with us, no one offered any explanations while we were ushered to the back of a black SUV. Our mothers sister, Kate, was with us at the house when they showed up. The only thing she said before driving away was for us to stay calm and she'd come get us soon.

Ten years ago, our aunt disappeared. She didn't die, as we were later told. She simply just couldn't raise two girls on her own and left the state. With that, the last of our family was gone. We found ourselves in foster care. The people we were sent with were nice, but usually only in it for the check that housing twins would get them. For three years we were bounced from house to house until the Denali's adopted us and we moved to Arizona. We were told that we were lucky they chose to take us both, as sometimes that didn't happen for siblings. I was grateful everyday for Tanya and Demetri for taking us in. Not many teenagers ever found themselves out of foster care. Most were there until they were sent out at 18.

My sister and I didn't want for anything, as Tanya and Demetri were very wealthy and loved to shower us with presents. For our sixteen birthday we both received a vehicle of our choosing. Rose chose a red Ford F-150 and I chose a white Chevy Silverado. They were both surprised with our decisions to get trucks, but our father never had anything but a truck and they were safer than a small sports car. This wasn't to say that we were spoiled brats. We both had to get after school jobs to pay for any gas we needed and half the insurance. When we graduated, the college funds our parents opened at our birth were released to us. The money we had inherited wasn't given to us until we turned twenty one. I've yet to touch a dime out of mine, and neither had Rosalie as far as I knew. My parents worked hard for that money and it wouldn't be fair for me to use it when they had to die for me to receive it.

I also refused to spend it because half of it had come from the selling of my childhood home. The home our father had started to build for our mother when we were three. From the moment they were married, mom planned that house. Every detail in it was one she cherished. It was her pride and when we learned it was sold, as requested in the will, Rose and I were devastated, to say the least.

I hadn't been back to the house since the day they took us. Rose and I both decided to go to Seattle for school. It was where our parents met and it helped us feel close to them. Rose graduated with a degree in business and I with a degree in English. When Tanya and Demetri asked us to get jobs Rose shocked everyone by applying with a garage. She was only hired as a receptionist, but quickly found her way under the cars with the other guys. She's wanted her own shop ever since. Her dream was rapidly becoming a reality. I was proud of her, and I knew my parents would have been, as well.

The ringing of my phone brought me back to reality and I smiled when I saw her name on the Caller ID.

"Bella, where are you?" She sounded breathless, excited.

"I'm just driving around right now, sis. What has you so excited?" I knew she'd be upset I'd decided to come back to the house by myself. It was a conversation I wanted to have in person. She knew I came to Forks to interview for a possible job offer at the high school here. I had one back in Seattle last week for the local elementary school. I hadn't decided which route to go with and found myself wanting to just drive and think. My subconscious brought me to this road and I didn't turn around. I needed to see if it was still here. If it was still a light blue with a garden in the side yard or if the new owners had painted and abandoned the garden my mother had attended to everyday.

"I just went and looked at a building near the school and its perfect! The previous owner is selling all the equipment in it with it. He's retiring and I'm going to get a real deal on all this stuff if I do it this way! It's right after a little café that we could meet at for lunch, and there is a shopping complex down the street. It's in a prime spot and I already put an offer in with my inheritance. I can't pass this up, Bella. It's amazing and I could get setup in no time."

The opening of her business is the one thing Rose was willing to open her inheritance for. I didn't fault her in it for one second. Tanya and Demetri would have offered their assistance, but really all we needed from them was their support. Which we had without question.

"That's great, Rose! I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to see it. Although, we both know I'm undecided on the career front." I could see the beginning of the long driveway now. There was an old mailbox at the end that had a name written on it. I couldn't see it from here though.

"Even if you did go with the stinky high schoolers over the wonderful first graders, the spot is still perfect. I can't wait for you to come home and have a look around. The agent said there was no other offers as of yet so I have high hopes. Anyway, I know your doing your weird thinking thing and I'm about to get in the truck so drive safe and call when you get close to home. I'll order take out and we can pros and cons the shit outta this thing." I laughed at my sisters obsession with pros and cons lists. She had to make one at school once for some kind of project and has used them since then.

"I love you, Rosalie. See you at home." I hung up the phone just as I reached the end of the driveway. I couldn't control my wide eyes as I looked around the house. It looked exactly as I remembered it. There was now a swing set in the front yard and a tire swing sat tied to the tree that I knew had our chow, Shy, buried underneath it. She had been a present to Rose and I when we turned five. She was three when we got her and died at eight when Rose and I were ten. I couldn't remember the specifics but she had died from a form of cancer, much too early. Our parents asked if we wanted another but we refused. Losing Shy had been the worst thing to live through before losing our parents two years later. The car idled while I took in my surroundings. My mothers garden was still there and now housed many more beautiful flowers. The steps leading up to the front door were the very same ones that our father had allowed us to mold our very tiny four year old hands in when the place was finally finished.

There used to be a picture hanging in the front entry way of Rose and I holding up our concrete covered hands kneeling behind our masterpieces. We had large smiles on our faces while our father took the shot. I wondered what ever became of that photo. If it was thrown away or packed away and stashed in a storage unit that housed most of the things from the house. Neither Rose or I had ever been inside it, too afraid of the memories that lay in it. Tears formed in my eyes and I worked hard to rid of them when I noticed a little girl open the front door. Behind her stood a short woman with light brown hair that reminded me of Rose. I wished she could be here with me. To see the love this family had shown our home.

The woman stepped out of the house and pointed to the swing set. The little girl, who had beautiful reddish brown curls, ran to it and she began to walk towards my truck. I quickly killed the engine and stepped out, running my hands down my skirt to straighten it. I was still in my interview attire and looked far too formal.

"Hello." Her voice sounded cautious, but friendly. "Are you lost? This is far from the main road." She stopped a few feet in front and smiled kindly.

I gave her my best smile and shook my head. "No ma'am, I'm not lost. I do believe my mind brought me here on its own after I got in the truck." Her smile faltered a little and I waited for her to ask me to leave. I wouldn't blame her, I probably sounded crazy from her point of view.

However, she smiled wider as she looked me over. "You know, you look an awful lot like a little girl that I have a photo of somewhere in my closet."

My brow furrowed as she spoke. "Excuse me, I'm not sure what you mean." The woman closed the remaining distance between us and held out her hand. My manners kicked in and I quickly shook her hand. Her touch was gentle and she turned her head to the side a little to listen to the girl laughing on the swing set. "My name is Isabella Swan, but I prefer Bella."

"Esme Cullen. Please, come sit on the porch with me. I can't leave Lily out by herself." I nodded and followed silently behind her. After we settled on the comfortable patio furniture she looked at me, still smiling brightly. She reminded me of my mother. Happy and carefree.

"When my husband and I bought this house it was left with many of the furnishings from the previous owners." I knew this already. The storage unit only held clothing, pictures, and kitchen items, as I was told. It was small and they didnt find the need to take out the bigger furnishings. "We decided to have most of it removed, but I decided to go through it all first. In the master room they had left a bed with drawers underneath it. It was empty, besides a few random knick knacks. Sewing items, more than anything. At the very back however I found a photo of two little girls. Cutest things I'd seen until my Lily came along. They had brown curls, rosy red cheeks and smiles that could light up any room. Each girl had a spark in their eyes that I'm sure was slightly dulled due to the lens. But they were beautiful and happy. You look a lot like one of those girls, Bella." She smiled and patted my hand that was lying atop the patio table.

I nodded, silently agreeing to what she didn't ask.

"Your name, Bella Swan, is also forever ingrained into my front steps, right next to a Rose Swan. I'm willing to bet that that's what brought you here today. It's been a long time since you've seen the place, I assume."

I nodded again, shocked that she had found a photo. My mother loved to take pictures, so I hadn't the slightest clue as to which of the many it could be. "I'm so sorry for interrupting your home, Mrs. Cullen. I wasn't even sure if anyone still resided in the house and it's been a long while since I've found myself in Forks. We left right before it was sold, never to return." I felt horrible for intruding. This house wasn't mine anymore, no matter how many memories it held for me.

"Oh please, dear, call me Esme." The smile never left her face as she turned to check on Lily again. "You weren't interrupting anything. Lily and I were just enjoying the rare weather we're having today. If you had shown up ten minutes earlier, you'd have been subjected to a garden tea party set for a queen. Now, back to the house. How long did you live here? I recall the agent saying only one family resided here previously."

"Actually, Esme, I lived here from the time it was built when I was four until we sold it at twelve. My father and his crew built it for my mother. It was her dream home, carved from many examples in one of her many home magazines. It was sold when they passed."

Esmes smile quickly vanished and she took my hand once more. "I am so sorry for your loss. How rough that must have been for your sister and you, and at such a young age. I couldn't even imagine." I was used to the words by now, but they had never sounded more sincere than when coming from Esme Cullen.

"Thank you, Esme. While the pain is still there, it happened a long time ago and it's since dulled slightly. It's certainly become more bareable. we were adopted by a wonderful couple when we were fifteen. They are supportive of us and love us as parents should. They are the closest thing I have to a mother and father and I love and appreciate them more than anything. They actually convinced me to accept an interview here in Forks. They live in Phoenix, but haven't pushed once for us to come back to Arizona. They know we are very happy here."

Before she could respond Lily came bouncing up the front steps. She walked right past Esme, who I assumed was her grandma, and stood in front of me.

"My name is LilyAnne Elizabeth Cullen, but you can just call me Lily. What can I call you? " Her bright green eyes sparkled with her smile and I wondered how old she was. She looked to be six at most, and she was absolutely adorable from her wild curls to her pink toenails. She was also apparently very friendly.

"Well, Lily, my name is Isabella Marie Swan, but you can just call me Bella." I winked at her and she giggled.

"You are very pretty, Bella. I like your skirt. Maybe my daddy or nana can buy me a skirt like that." I laughed when she sent a sly look to Esme, obviously hinting to her 'nana.'

"Thank you, Lily. You are very pretty, too. That dress you have on looks fit for a princess. Are you a princess, Lily?"

The look she gave me had me hiding my smile behind my hand. "No, Bella. I'm Lily Cullen. You look like Belle though. Are you a princess?" She raised an eyebrow at me and I raised both of mine in surprise. I remember not being able to do that until at least junior high. Her tone also seemed very sarcastic, like she knew I was just being silly.

"No, I'm not, but you knew that, didn't you?" I smiled and winked again and she threw her arms around my neck for a tight hug. Surprised by her forwardness I lightly hugged her back until she pulled away.

"Silly, Bella. Nana," she said, turning to face Esme, "Can I have a snack before daddy comes picks me up?" I see her open her eyes wide and stick out her bottom lip, a pout so perfect that I knew Esme wouldn't resist.

Just like expected, Esme stood and took Lily's hand. "Of course sweetheart. Bella, would you like to come have a look around? I'm sure you're just as curious to see the inside. I really haven't changed a thing except the furnishings." Her kind smile was contagious and I found myself standing to follow.

"Thank you, I would love to. I promise to be out of your hair soon, though. I feel horrible for just popping in." Her vivid green eyes, which were an exact replica to Lilys, lit up with excitement and happiness. So much like my mothers had been.

She didn't acknowledge my apology as she opened the door to the house and walked in. At the doorway I took a few calming breaths. When I first made the decision to interview in Forks I never imagined myself back here, on this porch, so close to being back inside. Vivid memories played through my mind like a movie when I stepped inside. I was seeing the living room, my mother and father curled on the couch together while Rose and I performed the Christmas songs we were to sing in the school recital. My father upstairs, in his office, making blueprints for the tree house I secretly hoped was still in the backyard. My mother in the kitchen, dancing to her old school music with a spatula held up to her mouth. The walls were actually painted a dark red with light wood cabinets, not the green or yellow that Rose and I pictured. Looking up the stairs I pictured the room at the back of the hallway. Rose and I used to sit in that room for hours everyday. We would do our homework until one or both of us got distracted by the guitar our father had in the corner. When we turned six we begged him to teach us, when we were eleven we were officially better than he was. I'll never forget the first time we played a full song for him. He sat at one of our desks, our mother sitting in his lap with her head on his shoulder, and his pride for us spoke through his eyes and his words.

"Daddy, did you hear? We finished the whole thing! No mess ups this time!" Rose smiled widely and rocked back on her heels. My mother and he clapped loudly and smiled even wider than either of us.

"You were brilliant, girls. I am so proud of you, I didn't finish my first song until after about a year!" His mustache twitched with pride while our mother continued to clap. Her light brown hair was up in a messy bun, making her seem even more carefree than usual, and she was beautiful. Rose and I would often stay up at night and talk about how much we hoped to look like our mother one day. My mom hopped off his lap and kissed each of our cheeks.

"This calls for celebration! My babies are musicians! I'll go make some of my famous apple pie and we'll have some ice cream with it. What do you say, girls?" We both nodded, and she took my hand, kissing Rose and my dad one last time.

My mom always let me help her bake. Rose was never very into it, and mom loved twirling me around the kitchen, our aprons in place, old school on the radio. Neither of us have touched a guitar since our parents died. Too much pain, too many memories.

Baking, though? Baking was something I did when nervous. During exam week every year our refrigerator was filled to the max with pies, cookies, cakes, anything that required baking. Rose complained that she would, without fail, gain ten pounds right before summer. She was a nervous eater. I baked, she ate.

"Bella? Are you coming? Nana has cookies and milk!" Lily was tugging on my hand, taking me away from lingering in the doorway. I laughed and followed into the kitchen. Tears filled my eyes again while I looked around the house. Esme hadn't been lying. She literally didn't change a thing that I could see. There was even a radio by the windowsill, just where my mother had hers. I never remembered wanting my sister more than right now, in this house. I knew she'd he upset that I had driven by, but she might be livid when I tell her I had actually gone in.

Taking a seat at the island, I looked around some more while Esme was preoccupied getting Lily set up with cookies and milk. The house had an open floorplan and I could see into the living room and dining room and partway down the hallway that I knew had a guest room and a full bathroom down it. It was easier to picture my family now that I was looking so openly. Esme had put one of the couches in the center of the room, facing a massive entertainment center. The other was paced next to it, directly across the front window. We had ours the same way. Sometimes our dad would sit on the larger couch, watching whatever sport or fishing show that was on, and our mom would take the tinier sofa. Preferring to look out the window while reading a book, the tv not even on her radar. Dad used to have a large recliner there, but after mom stealing it many times when he'd get up for whatever reason, he replaced it with the sofa. He was always one step ahead of her. She cried when she saw it. That recliner had been a staple in his life since college and for him to get rid of it for her, without ever being asked, was a big deal. I smiled fondly at the memory and turned back to Esme.

"Tell me what you're seeing, dear. All you remembered. I'm so happy to be able to give this to you. I know it's been mine for a little over a decade, but you grew up here, really. I bet you have so many memories." She sat across from me and gave me a smile that made me want to tell her everything.

So I did.

I told her about marking the steps, the tree, the kitchen and the living room. I told her about the room in the back and she insisted I go up and look around. She said it was a music room and library now. They took out the desks and added bookshelves, two chairs that were too comfortable not to sit in and a piano. Apparently, her son played the piano and the guitar, but took his guitar when he moved out. Her eyes filled with tears when I talked about my memory of playing our first song and how proud our parents were.

"They sound like they were wonderful people, Bella. I'm so sorry you lost them." I nodded and leaned back in the chair I was sitting in. I could hear Lily laughing in the room Esme said was hers when she stayed over. It used to be her son's, Edwards, when he still lived there. I told her it also used to be mine, and she smiled. The house had five bedrooms. Our parents, mine, Roses, the guest room and the back room. Esme said they only really used three. The other two reserved for guests. After an hour of talking up in the room we went back downstairs after checking on Lily, who was watching some show about a talking dog, and playing quietly.

"Carlisle should be home any minute, I know he'd love to meet you." We sat in the living room now, her on the couch facing the television and me in my mothers favorite spot, on the sofa. She said he was Chief of Medicine at the local hospital, and was usually home in time for dinner. "Edward dropped Lily off yesterday afternoon to spend time with us and will be here shortly to pick her up. He usually stays for dinner as well, before going back home early in the morning. He's a doctor at one of the hospitals in Seattle. He just transferred there from this hospital. It was rough for a while, but his cousin Jasper and his wife, Alice, watch Lily for him while he's at work." She never mentioned Lily's mom, and I never asked. It wasn't any of my business.

"I'm so sorry for taking up so much of your time!" My watch read three, which meant that I had been here for almost three hours now. "I should probably get going and let you get back to your family." I was kind of surprised that I hadn't heard from Rose by now. Usually she called every hour when one of us was out of town, but so far I hadn't even gotten a text since I got off the phone with her earlier.

"Oh nonsense, please stay for dinner. I'm going to make spaghetti and garlic bread. It's Edwards favorite, one of the only things I could teach that boy to make when Lily was born." She shakes her head and laughs silently. Just being in this house makes me want to bake so I ask Esme if I could have a look around her ingredients and she nods enthusiastically. Looking through her fridge and cabinets I'm happy to find that she has all the things I need to make the apple pie that my mom swore by.

"Alright, I'll make you a deal. I'll stay for dinner if you allow me to fix the dessert. I'd love to make you my moms apple pie. It was her favorite thing to make, the first thing she ever taught me." The look Esme gives me makes me want to smile and cry. She's so genuinely caring, even to this perfect stranger. I can't imagine letting some random girl into my house just because she claims it used to be hers. Unable to control myself or my emotions, I pull her into a tight hug just as the front door opens.

There is a wall that slightly obscures the view to the door so we don't immediately see who it is, but the man calls out to Lily and I know then who it is. His voice is deep, but soft and I can hear the excitement and smile in it from here. I let Esme go and turn to face the wall, so I can introduce myself when he walks around it. Loud footsteps can be heard upstairs that signals Lily knew her dad was here. Faster than I've ever seen a child move, she ran down the steps and crashed into the man as he rounded the corner. A loud gust of air can be heard leaving his body and I smiled brightly at the interaction when he picks her up and spins her around while she squeals, "Daddy, you're back!" The man, who I've assumed is Edward, has hair that looks like it's never been brushed, and it's the same color as his daughters, only a little darker. He's tall, probably 6'3 or so, and is pretty muscular. He doesn't seem like he's hit the steroids, but you can just tell by how tight his sleeves are around his arms that he does some form of activity to stay fit. The plain gray tshirt and jeans he wore made me bite my lip. This man was fine. Like, I could stay up all night just to look at him, fine. More than fine, even. Sexy, handsome, gorgeous. All things to perfectly describe him. I'm brought out of my staring when Esme joins the duo and places her hand on his arm.

"How was the drive, honey?" He sets Lily on the floor but keeps one hand on her shoulder while he bends to kiss his mom on the cheek. I don't even know the man, but a move like that made my stomach flutter.

How many men still kiss their moms on the cheek after elementary school?

Apparently, just this one.

I could feel my cheeks heating the longer I watched the scene and I look down and away. Lily noticed this, of course, and interrupted their conversation. "Daddy, come meet Bella. She thinks I'm a princess." This made her giggle and I laughed silently with her until she drags him in front of me. My breath catches when he looks at me, smoldering green eyes that are somehow more intense than his mother and daughters, and a sexy, crooked smirk on his lips. That look right there could send Nuns panting after him and he seemed to know that. He sent one more soft smile to Lily and looked back at his mom. Even from here I could see his confusion. When he turned back to me he also held out his hand. My smile almost faded when he grasped my hand in his and I felt another flutter in my stomach. His fingers are long and could probably work magic on my body. I blush instantly at those thoughts and he chuckles under his breath.

"Hello, there." My smile is back full force when he squeezes my hand briefly before releasing it and smiles at me softly, the same smile he gave Lily, who I can hear giggling from her place beside him. I think I even hear Esme laugh quietly. I pay them no mind though, when he starts talking. "My name is Edward Cullen, and you are?"

His smile tells me I'm in trouble here. Oh, so much trouble. But my filter kicks in before I can tell him that.

"Bella Swan." And with boldness I've never experienced before, I wink at him.

So, so much trouble.

Alright, so how was it? I've been a ghost reader on this site for years and wanted to try my hand at writing something for once!

Let me know if you enjoyed it, I would love to hear from everyone!

I plan on updating once every week or two. No more than two weeks though, I promise! Posting days haven't been set yet, but will be in the middle of the week when I'm off.

Thank you for reading!