The Prologue

Alice Cullen's eyes scanned over the small summary on the front of the manuscript found in the mailbox. There was no address, nothing, that indicated where it came from.

She had to read it with the family. No, there was no note. But she felt in in her gut. Instinct.

But then there was Jasper. If this thing was read, she would lose him. He would fall for another, she knew it. And would love that other girl far more than Alice.

"Family meeting!" she yelled. Yes, she knew they could hear her if she whispered. But, there was a human feeling to it, yelling for her family.

All the remaining Cullens stumbled in. Carlisle and Esme were first, followed by an all knowing Edward, Bella, and Seth, Leah, and Leah's imprintee, Jacob Black, who had happened to imprint on her also. The last to appear was Jasper.

"Storytime," Alice whispered, forcing a smile. Edward gave her a reassuring nod, and Alice read the summary quickly. "Lissie Hale never had a reason to become immortal. That is, until she meets the family her parents once belonged to, and might just find a reason for eternity." She looked up at her family. "I say we read it. Together."

And so, they sat down on the couches that were arranged in an oval shape.

"Who wants to read first?" Alice asked. Esme leaned forward for the manuscript, and the pixie like vampire handed it over to her mother.

Prologue: Meeting, Esme read.

Rosalie McCarty

"Rosalie?" Five different voices either gasped out the blonde vampire's name, or just sounded confused.

pulled her husband into the orphanage, expecting to finally get herself a child. At last, it was possible. Her control was perfect, as was her husband's, and she had looked up so much about children of all ages. She was ready.

"She always did want a child of her own," Esme murmured.

"Good for her," Bella said.

"That's Elisabeth," Mrs. Deidre, the wife of the owner, told them, following their gaze which was on a little girl in the corner. "Interesting little thing. She looks a little like you, Mrs. McCarty." That the young Elisabeth did, Rosalie had to admit. The six year old had the same shade of golden hair that Rosalie and her brother had had, and had been born with a shocking shade of violet eyes the immortal Mrs. McCarty had as a human.

"Do you think they're related?" Jacob asked rather stupidly.

Leah smacked him on the arm. "My imprintee is a total moron," she cried, looking up towards the roof hidden sky.

"How long has she been here?" Emmett asked.

"One year," Mrs. Deidre responded sadly. "She's a little...snappish, I'm afraid. These people seem to want an innocent sweetheart."

"Sound Rose-ish," Edward mumbled.

"She's not innocent?" Rosalie whispered.

"What!" Bella and Esme exclaimed.

"Saw her parents die-after they were brutally beaten to that. Death. I wouldn't call that innocent compared to most of these kids here whose parents died before they could remember, or left long before their memory." Mrs. Deidre swallowed a small sob for the little girl she loved.

Everyone in the room was silent for a moment.

"Poor child," Carlisle said quietly. More silence followed, then Esme read again.

Rosalie wanted to meet the girl. It was official. "May we say hello?"

Mrs. Deidre nodded. "Lissie!" she called.

"I thought her name was Elisabeth?" Jacob. Leah sighed, smacking herself on the forehead.

"I feel for you, Leah," Seth chuckled.

"Can we move one?" Jasper aked.

"I don't know, Jazz," Bella said sweetly. "Can we?"

Jasper rolled his eyes.

The blonde child scurried up, a custom scowl adorning her face. "Yes?" she answered.

"Custom scowl?" Esme was filled with confusion.

"You can't blame her, really," Jasper defended. "Nobody likes her that much because of what happened."

"True," Esme agreed sadly.

"Meet Mr. and Mrs. McCarty," Mrs. Deidre told her gently.

Elisabeth, or rather Lissie, turned, her eyes narrowed, lips pursed ever so slightly. "Nice to meet you," she greeted icily. It was surprising that a child, a mere little girl, could be so cold.

"Still sounds Rose-ish." Edward spoke for what seemed like the first time, though he had said something before.

Rosalie liked her more so than before. "I'm Elisabeth Rose Hale, named for my great grandmother and my great aunt."

"Totally related," Jacob shouted.

"As if we hadn't figured that out, Jake," Bella murmured somewhat sarcastically.

Rosalie smiled softly, putting out her hand. Lissie looked at it for a moment, then Rosalie began to speak. "I'm Rosalie Lillian McCarty, though I once was a Hale such as you are." Lissie grinned tightly, taking the hand of the woman she knew was to be her new mother.

"Awww..." Jacob cooed. "Happy ending." He paused. "That is the end of the prologue thingy, right?"

"Yes, dear," Esme said gently. "That is the end."

Jasper snorted.