Chapter One
It had been twelve long years since Edward left. Twelve years of misery, hiding what happened to my family and Renesmee. I had spent so long, trying to forget him, trying to forget the broken promise. Twelve long years of me hoping he would come back, hold me in his arms, kiss me and tell me he loves me. I know that it will never happen, but I can't stop loving a man I planned to forever love. What was I thinking? I should have said goodbye to that when I was reborn, but I remembered it all as if it was through vampire eyes. Why? I need to forget. I thought I would never see him again. I say to myself, "Get it together, Bella. You have just come to Alaska to visit Tanya and the others. You don't need to have a break down." The Denali coven had lost contact with the Cullens, and they to thought they were gone for good. We talked for a while, catching up. There were so many questions about Renesmee and Jacob. Tanya specifically said "How do they even live with each other? I know they travel and never settle long enough, but his stench is sooo repulsive! And they sleep together! My, is she asking to gag to death? Or does she like the smell of wet dog mixed with death?" We all shared a good laugh. All the others agreed, even though I tried to get them to realize that we smell as bad as they do to Jacob. Time seems to fly, so I had to say goodbye and get back to Forks. "We have got to meet up more often Bella!" Kate exclaims. I answer "Of course, Kate! Anytime!" Kate looks happy, then gives me a sad expression. "Bella, you really need a coven. You can't be alone like this. You need to move on from… him." The waves come crashing down, but I hold it together. All I say is "Bye guys." Then I run. I don't know where, there seems to be a blizzard. I don't care, I must get out of here, away. I am very fast and have very good vision. That's why I could see seven distinct figures far out, coming my direction in the blizzard. "Who are those people?" I say to myself. Then I see the amber eyes. His eyes. I immediately stop. "No. It can't be. This can't be happening." This can't happen, especially not like this. Not in the middle of the blizzard, barely able to see each other. Not after twelve years. All the pain and sorrow I have had bottled up for all these years come crashing down. "Oh my god. They're here. He's here." But why? They must be traveling. Passing by. Visiting Tanya. Anything. It can't be for me. They think I'm dead. They might as well killed me. Get a grip, face this head on. "Be strong, Bella. You are a rock." At the very least, I can make this dramatic. I start running again, my life flashes through my eyes. I get closer, but they still don't notice me. They seem to be straining to see me, not realizing yet and are running. They probably don't even recognize me, but they're coming. I must face the one thing I've been avoiding thinking about. We become blurs, then we stop a few feet away from each other. In the first time in twelve years, I looked at Edward Cullen's face. Now, as I faced the Cullens, I have a flashback on what happened.
Twelve Years Ago
"No Edward, I'm trying to tell you that my period is five days late" He didn't respond. He had turned into a sculpture. "The dreams," I mumbled to myself in a flat voice. Sleeping so much. The crying. All that food. Oh. Oh. Oh." Edward's stare seemed glassy, as if he couldn't see me anymore. Reflexively, almost involuntary, my hand dropped to my stomach. "Oh!" I squeaked again. I lurched to my feet, slipping out of Edwards unmoving hands. I yanked the blue fabric out of the way and stared at my stomach. "Impossible" I whispered. I was only five days late. If I was pregnant, my body wouldn't have even registered that fact. I would not have morning sickness. I would not have changed my eating or sleeping habits. And I most definitely would not have a small but defined bump between my hips. I ran my fingers over the subtle budge, surprised by how rock hard it felt under my skin. "Impossible," I said again, because, bulge or no bulge, period or no period, there was no way I could be pregnant. But yet I was. During my breakthrough, the phone started ringing. I half expected Edward to get it, but he just sat there, in shock. I climbed over him and picked it up. "Hi Alice," My voice was dry and hoarse. "Bella, are you ok?" "Yeah. Is Carlisle there?" "He is. What's the problem?" "I'm not exactly sure. What did you see?" There was a long silence. "Here's Carlisle." I thought of a beautiful baby boy or girl, warmth seeping through my veins. ''Bella, it's Carlisle. What's wrong?" I hesitated, then said "I think I'm pregnant"
After Edward had gotten out of his shock, he insisted on going back to Forks. He seemed upset and angry. I started to cry. He ran to me "Bella! Are you ok?" "No, I'm just scared" "Don't worry, when we get back, Carlisle will get that thing out of you." He called it a thing. He wants to kill it. The beautiful picture in my head was now gone. Edward thinks it's a monster. I stayed silent throughout the plane ride. I had to save this child. There wouldn't be any person who would understand. When we got back to the house, they all were prepared to operate, So I went up to Edward and told him what I wanted. He went ballistic. "Are you crazy? You're asking to die! I can't let you! This thing will kill you, Bella! I don't want you to die for a child, and I won't watch it!" I felt like he had slapped me. Everyone quietly left the room. I yelled "This is my decision Edward! Not yours!" He looked at me with such a hurt expression before yelling "I love you Bella, but I won't let you do this!" "Edward, you can't do this! I love this baby!" His face turned to stone. "You love a monster. Of course. You love that thing, me, Jacob Black. You fall for the monsters. Well I won't watch it." What? What is he saying? "Edward, what are you saying? You are not a monster! I love you more than anything!" "Me to, which is why if you won't let us take it out, then I won't watch you die to have a monster" "It's not a monster! It's our baby!" As fast as lightning, he scooped me up and ran deep into the forest, where the wolves wouldn't even find us. "I won't watch you die. I'm leaving you. This is a goodbye, Bella. A permanent one. You won't ever find us in your remaining week." What was he doing? He's leaving me and his baby! I replied angrily "Edward, are you leaving me and your baby? Because you're afraid I'll die? And you don't want a "monster?" I love you, Edward, how could you do this to me!" He gave me a hurt expression, then said "I won't watch you die. I love you, Bella" Tears were in both of our eyes. Before he ran, I yelled "I love you, Edward. And so does Renesmee" He stared into my eyes for a second before running.
After a week, it was as Edward said. I was sick and huge. Luckily, I called Tanya and she told me she knew a friend that would help. "A vampire named Iris. She can help you, Bella." I felt so relieved. "Thank you for everything, Tanya. And please don't tell them anything." "Of course, Bella. And… I'm so sorry."
From then on, Iris cared for me, got me blood, and helped me deliver the baby early. That still couldn't save me, and my heart nearly gave out. I gave Iris permission to bite me. She then bit me everywhere on my body just so I could survive. From then on out, I was reborn. And my baby was not a monster. Just beautiful Renesmee.
Present
Edward's face had never changed. It was still the face of a beautiful god, eyes of amber. But I had. That's why none of them recognized me. And the fact that they think I'm dead. "Who are you and why are you here?" Carlisle asked. I was going to make this dramatic. I haven't waited twelve years for this just to make this lame. "Well, I'm just someone visiting an old family friend, Carlisle." He relaxed. Then gave me a strange look. "How do you know me?" I smiled, then said "You're all vegetarians. As well as me. Carlisle, you're the father and the doctor. You spent a very long time perfecting your bloodlust to do what you love. Esme, you're the sweet mother and you jumped off the cliff in your human life. Jasper, you and Maria trained and created a newborn army, then you realize it's wrong when you left and met Alice. Alice, my dear friend, you can see the future and spent your last human day in an asylum. Rosalie, you're the prettiest vampire you would ever see. Your lost your chance at a family when that man beat you up and left you to die. Luckily, you found Emmett. Emmett, you were attacked by a bear. Rose found you and she carried you back to Carlisle." I paused, just let them look confused, and to think of something good for Edward. He gave me a strange look, then said "So what about me? Do I have a life or what?" I gave him a death stare, then said "Yes Edward Cullen, you do. You were dying of Spanish influenza when Carlisle saved you. You 'fell in love" I said with air quotes "With Bella Swan, a human. You two got married and got pregnant. When you found out, you wanted it out of her immediately. But she loved it, and refused to let it die. It was a baby, Edward. When you realized what she wanted, you told her, specifically "I won't watch you die. I'm leaving you. This is a goodbye, Bella. A permanent one. You won't ever find us in your remaining week" Her last words to you were "I love you, Edward. And so does Renesmee" Then you ran and left her for what she thought would be forever." Edward had turned to stone. They all had, but he was the most effected. After a minute of me staring at them with a blank expression on my face, Edward regained himself and looked like he was going to rip me apart. Thankfully, Carlisle was the one who spoke. "How do you know our family like it was your own?" I didn't answer, and felt the tears coming. "Edward." I said, looking at him in the face. He looked at me. Now he had tears in his eyes. I whispered "She loved you more than anything, Edward. And you left." I've never seen him look so helpless and broken. When he spoke, it was only a whisper. "She was going to die. When she told me, that was what would happen. I wouldn't watch her kill herself for the monster I gave her. So, I left her… I had no choice. She had to have died those many years ago." He sat down and look at me in despair. I slowly looked at Carlisle, who was to shocked to say anything. "To answer your question, Carlisle, I know your family because it used to be my own." He looked at me in surprise. "How? Who are you?" I gave Edward a sad expression and showed him the ring on my necklace before replying.
"My name is Bella Cullen."