Hi everyone, this is my first story ever published. Please don't be too hard on me okeh? I appreciate feedback but just don't be mean and make me sad. Also, don't expect updates every day because I'm always very busy unfortunately. Sometimes you may have to wait a week.

I would like to dedicate the entire story to my good buddy Meilzdoggg01, She is an absolutely amazing writer, so check out her work! If you like Edward then by GOD you are going to love this...the way she writes Edward makes you lust after him even more! She is always so full with ideas and takes her stories in unexpected directions that are better than you could have dreamed. I GUARANTEE that you will like it and become as obsessed with her stories as I have. When it comes time to review, you better! Though if you are anything like me, you will be rendered speechless and unable to complete proper sentences.

Then there is also the lovely Emmy1512, her writing always keeps you on your seat. You will not dare to venture from your computer as she either makes you laugh until you choke on skittles or cry your heart out or something else. The emotion in her story is always very powerful and that's one of many things i adore about her writing. Read and Review people!

The Emeralds and Roses Soundtrack

1. Opening- Desperate Times ( Sanctuary by Secret Garden)

**Also, i don't own twilight nor any characters, i'm not Stephenie Meyer okiedokie?

Ok *phew* let's get started with the story now ok?

Bella Pov

"Would you hold still!" I yelled at the pluffy stray cat that was rolling around innocently in the dirt. I tightened my hold on the pencil in my hand out of frustration.

Carlisle and Esme had given me a kit with paper and pencils for my birthday a few days ago but every time I tried to draw something, I would end up destroying it completely. I was particularly picky choosing my subjects and when I did manage to find one, it would move far too much. Prime example, Mr. Kitten in front of me.

I had considered drawing landscapes since they obviously didn't move but we didn't exactly live in a town with a nice view. Rather, the dull grey of buildings was everywhere you looked, making it dreary and lifeless. Even though we lived at the edge of town and had no neighbours too close by, nothing was worth drawing.

I ripped my latest picture into millions of pieces and stuffed the remains in my pocket while loading my arms with my art supplies. Abandoning my subject, I ran the short distance home. That is, home for the last five years.

Carlisle and Esme, had in a sense, adopted me. After my parents had died I was left to wander the streets but was found before long by Esme. She was on her way home from the market and saw my starved body lying in an ally. Being the kind soul that she is she dropped everything and took me home and had Carlisle, who is a doctor, nurse me back to health.

My new siblings were in a very similar situation. Emmett and Alice were brother and sister; their mother died delivering her third child which passed along with her. This brought their father into despair so he began drinking and neglected his children. Needles to say, he didn't come home one evening. They were out on the streets for months but the streets, being so unsanitary, soon made Alice very ill. Emmett dragged her almost lifeless body almost directly into the arms of our personal angels. My other siblings Rosalie and Jasper, also brother and sister, were the children of Carlisle's brother. After both he and his wife had died they also came to the Cullen household. Clearly, all of us had depressive stories of our own, but now we couldn't be any happier. Our new parents treated us as their own children, which they, even if being the most wonderful people in the world, could not seem to be blessed with. Our family wasn't well off but that didn't matter as long as we had each other.

I opened the door and was greeted by the smell of Esme's wonderful cooking. When I walked into our snug kitchen Emmett was already eagerly awaiting dinner and had fork and knife positioned in his hands. He looked like he was ready to devour the meal as soon as it hit the table.

"Someone looks hungry." I noted teasingly. This earned me a booming laugh only Emmett was capable of. We all knew he was always hungry; working in the cotton mill almost all day certainly does that to you.

"Some of us work my dear sister!" telling me what I already knew. Little did he know that I would be joining him soon; though I said nothing.

The others all filed in silently as Esme brought dinner to the table and we all took our respective seats. As soon as a serving of food was positioned on his plate, Emmett consumed it like there was no tomorrow. When he went for a second and third serving Esme begged him to slow down; for we still had to eat too. The rest of us ate at regular pace actually tasting our food and made light conversation.

"So dad, how was your day? Did you have any more visits from Mrs. Stanley?" Alice suddenly questioned; excited as usual. Carlisle often shared funny stories about his patients, knowing he could trust us to keep it confidential. Beatrice Stanley was our neighbour and just like her daughter, was one for gossip and continuous flirting. Even though she had a husband, the whole town knew she was laying around with , Mr. Yorkie the owner of the cotton mill. This earned her a few extra shillings and a bigger ego, while she deceived her kind-hearted naive husband. He didn't seem to notice that his two youngest children, Lydie and Damien, did not look anything like him. She got her share of benefits from the company and wasn't afraid to let the rest of us know. Her daughter Jessica was like her mother, behaving much like a young apprentice who trained in the arts of seduction and deceit. She was out and about with many young men in hopes to earn money for buying inessential beauty products and fashions. Luckily she did not have the brains to do too much damage and was treated more as someone to occasionally call upon. Mrs. Stanley would often visit Carlisle for check-ups although we all knew what she really wanted. But Carlisle was not one to fall for her trickery and loved Esme like no man could love a woman. Mrs. Stanley's failure was often hysterical to all but Esme. She scowled at his response and he didn't seem too happy about it either.

"She decided to disrobe so I could properly examine her heart-rate." He shuddered while we kids laughed at his misfortune. Cruel, I know, but what's life without a bit of teasing to rid us from melancholy moods? "She nearly got hold of my hand and drag me towards her but I managed to utter a cough just in time." he cheered up at that. "You know how she is with germs and all that; I thought she would have a fit! Either way, she went off pretty quickly after I explained I might have gotten a contagious illness from the last patient." Mrs. Stanley always made sure to stay clear of the ill that littered the streets because she was terrified of getting one of their "disgusting diseases". Besides, she needed to be in good health so she could continue to see the pompous Ernest Yorkie.

Carlisle glanced at Esme who seemed to have left the conversation completely. Mrs. Stanley 's behavior bothered her more than anyone. He turned to me, changing the conversation for his wife's benefit.

"Bella you know, you should have take another serving of potatoes." He smiled widely at me. "Before they're all gone."

Emmett scoffed but suddenly realized what he had meant. "My dear sister is coming to work with the rest of us?" His smile grew tenfold. "Well squirt, I'll show you the ropes. You will learn from the master." Though he laughed, he was sincere; he'd help me. Besides, Emmett always smiled or laughed, even when he was serious.

"But don't you need Bella to gather herbs for you dad?" Jasper asked curiously and taking another bite. I had been helping dad gather medical herbs since he didn't have much time between clients. Then when he approached me a few days ago with the proposition I didn't complain because I really wanted to do my part. Besides, you couldn't be picky as there was hardly enough work to go around as it is.

Carlisle was about to respond but Esme answered instead in a motherly tone "Now, you know children that things are growing increasingly difficult for us. Mr. Yorkie dropped your pay rates last month and well…we need the money dears. So we pulled a few strings and got Bella a job at the mill." Strikes across Europe had been occurring for a few months now which stopped all work at those factories. Though our local mill wasn't affected with strikes, it still meant that there would be no one to sell the cotton produced to. In order to avoid losing too much money our pay rates had been cut dramatically.

On top of that, Carlisle contributed little to the household. People from all over town flocked to our household knowing that he would not be able to resist helping them. He hardly got paid but continued helping them nonetheless because that's just the kind of man he is. None of us had a heart to make him stop doing what he loved.

"Alright sis, eat up" Emmett said before all of us had too much time to think about our hopeless situation. He filled up my plate with the last scrap of food remaining. "Tomorrow, you're coming with me!" I cringed knowing I'd have to wake up at four from now on. Suddenly the unanimated life that the outside world provided didn't sound all that bad anymore.

Sorry i reposted this like 3 times but it got all messed up and i had no choice. Thank you for your awesome first review Meilz, you're the best!