Falling Dusk.

Preface

There was something in her eyes that I hadn't seen before, despair I couldn't quite pinpoint. Tears formed around the rims and threatened to spill over. I could hear the racing sound of her heart and felt a twist in my stomach as I watched her breathing quicken and her hands tighten into fists, threatening to pierce her seemingly invincible skin.

She stood by the glass wall of our home, watching the autumn leaves get swept away and around in circles outside, I could feel her heart breaking and wished for the first time in 7 years since it stopped beating that I had a heart to beat for her, too. I felt almost guilty that I didn't.

"Mom..?" She whispered, only loud enough that I could hear, I didn't have to say anything before she continued talking, "I want to go home.. I want to see Pop."

She didn't have to look at me to have noticed my body stiffen, a tightness found itself inside my throat when she turned around and looked at me with pleading eyes, with Charlie's eyes. Her lips were trembling and her tears no longer faltered. I cautiously walked toward her, wanting to feel the warmth of her body near my own, she did not move as she eyed me, waiting for me to say something.

I put my hands on her shoulders and leaned into her, our foreheads touching as I looked into her eyes. For a moment there was only silence, until she let out a wet sob and wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my neck. She cried herself to sleep in my arms, her body curling into a ball when I brought her to the nearest couch.

I could hear Edward, Jacob and Emmett coming back from their hunting trip together, roaring with laughter over the happenings of their day, I sighed and pushed the shield from my mind, calling out my husbands' name as I did so. In less than 30 seconds, Edward was at my side, his arms around me, his face to mine and his breath in my ear. I started crying, short of tears and he held me silently, as we watched our daughter being carried away by Jacob, downstairs to their room.

1. Changes

It had been 6 years since I had become a Cullen and I was still happier than ever. A few years after Renesmèe was born, everyone relocated to a small town in West Virginia, though a little larger than Forks, called 'Elkins'. Edward, our daughter and I stayed behind in Forks and laid low until Renesmèe grew up a little more, Charlie had refused to leave the town and Renesmèe didn't want to leave Charlie or Jacob behind, either. In true Cullen tradition, we had made a compromise, to stay in Forks until she looked old enough to pass for my little sister, looking at most a couple of years apart.

Moving away from Forks was heartbreaking, Charlie helped load whatever belongings we were taking with us into our cars, making small talk as he did so, it wasn't really necessary for him to help, between Edward, Jacob, Renesmèe and I, moving was pretty easy, but we let him help regardless, it made him feel better.

His greying hair shone in the little sunlight that the clouds over Forks offered, as he stood back to lean against the truck Edward had given him, for 'safe-keeping' until we had come back from Elkins. It had taken a lot of coercing before Charlie had accepted the truck, since he had retired as chief, he was driving around another old busted up Chevrolet he had bought off Billy and Jacob.

Renesmèe and Charlie were quite close, he never mentioned how much seeing her grow so fast made him feel, or that he had noticed in the first place. Even so, Edward knew exactly how anxious he was about every little situation that was classified under his 'need to know' basis, but nothing changed how much he loved her, and that seemed to be enough.

Edward held my hand and walked with me to my father, I could already feel the choking feeling in my throat start, and I was glad my eyes couldn't produce tears. Charlie closed the small distance between us and took his fingers out of his pockets, looking mildly uncomfortable; goodbyes were never his strength.

"So, I guess that's everything," he started, finding it difficult to keep eye contact, "I'm gonna miss you kid." He smiled weakly, and I could tell he was trying not to cry. I pulled him swiftly in my arms and hugged him as hard as I could without hurting him, wishing against all wishes that I were able to hug him as tight as I could, tight enough so I could fulfil my own needs. Renesmèe lined up behind me, crying, and waited for her turn to say goodbye.

"This is not goodbye forever, Pop," She winked at him, and he chuckled a little, "I love you more than Jake, mum and dad combined!" He laughed this time, as I peeled myself away from him and she almost knocked him over with the force she was putting into her embrace. I watched as his cheeks flushed red and his eyes gushed with the love of his family. Renesmèe looked at me, her eyes smiling through her tears.

Edward hugged Charlie last after Jacob had said his goodbyes, I could see them whispering to each other and I pretended I couldn't hear Charlie telling him to look after his girls. Edward shook his hand then, after promising that, and that we would all keep in touch and come back to visit.

Jacob put his arm around my daughter, escorting her into the car, he was driving my car, following behind Edward and I, we hadn't really made plans on the driving schedule, but I was guessing that I would be taking over driving for Jake when he wanted to have a sleep.

We all waved and shouted out the windows as we pulled out of the Cullen's old driveway, leaving Charlie to his own devices, he had insisted that he stay behind and make sure everything around the house was locked up and safe.

"I love you," Edward took my hand when we were in the car, safely on the road to our new home and far enough so he couldn't hear Charlie's heart breaking anymore, "He's going to be fine, love."

"I hope so." I said, honestly contemplating going back, "I'm just going to miss him."

He nodded, and looking back toward the road he smiled, "Jacob and Ness are arguing again."

*

Jacob and Renesmee were discussing high school in Elkins, Renesmee wanted to start off in 9th grade, while Jake wanted to start in 10th. Of course Renesmee didn't really care where he started, so long as they were in the same area code. Jake, on the other hand, wanted to be in every single class, every single day with her. I rolled my eyes as Edward relayed their conversation to me.

The drive was going to take just under two days, it could have been done a lot faster, but Jake and Ness had insisted on taking it slow, if we weren't going to enjoy the sites completely, we may as well have been able to observe them from the cars.

Edward held my hand for most of the drive only letting go when we were refilling the cars, Jake and Ness had stocked up on food to eat so we didn't have to stop as many times. I was eager to see the rest of my family; it had been almost a year since I had seen any of them and the closer we got, the more I realised how much I had missed them.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Edward's smooth voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter, my stomach fluttered for a moment. I sighed, my eyes still wandering out the window, watching the blue of the mountains and ground roll passed.

"I've never done the vampire slash high school thing," I murmured, "What if I mess this up, what if people don't like me, what if.."

"Baby, baby stop!" he chuckled, looking at me and shaking his head, his hand squeezed mine just that little bit tighter, "Firstly, what's not to like.. Secondly, the only difference between doing this human and doing this like us is that we've done it before, and are more knowledgeable, therefore grades aren't really something to lose yourself over."

"School is more like a long term method acting job for us, and thirdly... We don't really need to be making friends, we usually stick to ourselves, which I guess wipes out social awkwardness." He winked at me, "What's the worst that could happen?"

"I could eat someone." I argued, quietly.

He rolled his eyes and laughed, leaning over to my chair to kiss me. He didn't slow down the car when his eyes closed and his lips touched mine, the butterflies in my stomach bashed into each other. My phantom heart fluttered and my hands instinctively wrapped around his neck, reaching upward into his bronze hair. Our lips danced together until the picture of my daughter and Jacob making disgusted faces played into my head. By the way Edward pulled away from me and laughed my favourite laugh, he had seen it too.

Renesmee and Jacob were driving by us, close enough so we could open our windows and hold hands, laughing and pretending to gag. Ness's power had developed so she didn't even need to touch us anymore. I made a mental note to make sure I tackled both of them when we got to Elkins, shaking my head and laughing at myself.

*

The drive was long and arduous; I had taken over driving for Jacob when he and Renesmee wanted to sleep. It was getting cold, by the gauge in the car, so I made sure Ness was covered up with the blankets she had brought with her. I looked over at my daughter, pride still filled my heart. She was still the most beautiful being I had ever laid my eyes on, along with Edward.

Her long brown hair formed ringlets at her waist, her skin was pale, warm and soft and her face was the most incredible mixture of Charlie's, Edward's and my own. She reminded me of Alice a little, with her stature; she was small and thin and looked so breakable. I watched her eyes flutter underneath their closed lids; she was murmuring slightly and as far as I could see, definitely dreaming. For her dreams, I was envious, when her lips turned up slightly at the corners and her breath was steady and calm, relaxed and comfortable. Her nightmares broke me, I would hear her from where I was, and run to her side, sometimes Jacob would already have her awake, or lying in his arms.

Her nightmares had her shaking violently at times, and she would never really let us know about them. Edward knew, of course, but it had been a while since I even asked him to tell me.

And then I thought of Edward, in the car with Jacob in his passenger seat. We were still entranced by each other and in love more than anyone could think possible. I was somewhat glad not to have had Emmett around the last few years, sometimes I could hear his voice in my head, laughing hysterically at the way Edward and I had broken a few homes together, this was a little fact we had always planned to keep to ourselves when we saw him.

Jacob and Renesmee had lived in the main Cullen house in Forks, in separate bedrooms, mind you. Edward could always tell if that rule had been cheated, so they eventually quit trying. Nothing sinister of course, they just seemed to enjoy sleeping next to each other, protecting each other. I remembered the most recent argument we had, after finding them sleeping with their arms around each other one morning.

"Jacob! She's only 6 years old!" I fumed, feeling disgusted and betrayed and beyond composed.

Jacob started to stutter, his hands up in front of him, as if waiting for me to attack. "Bells, its not like that, I swear.."

"MOM!" Renesmee had screamed, standing between Jacob and myself, her eyes piercing my own, "I might be six in age but I am so much older in body and brain!"

I didn't make a noise.

"I am taller than a first grader; I am stronger, faster and smarter than someone in Olympic and Guinness records!" She scowled, "I can do whatever I want!"

With that she had stormed off, grabbing Jacob by his t-shirt on her way out the door.

I stood there in shock, not moving until I heard a stifled laugh come from behind me. I turned around angrily and stared Edward down.

He smirked, "She has a point, you know?"

I shook the memory from my mind and followed Edward's car down a turn-off. I had no idea where we were but I was guessing we were pretty close. With the two 'half-humans' asleep, we were free to drive as fast as we wanted, therefore cutting off a very large portion of time from the road trip.

We turned down a long street, fairy lights were over every little shop and business building. The town was quite cute, bigger than Forks, population, 7,038. Well, 7,042 now, I couldn't help but think.

We drove through the streets and before I could really think, we were driving along the side of a lake, there were trees opposite the road we were on from the lake. The beauty of this town made its way to my mouth and I smiled unknowingly. Edward drove a little slower now, looking for the right turn off, and when he found it he raced down the little dirt path, I almost wondered if the cars would fit through the tiny stretch of path.

Without knowing where we were, he parked the car and started to nudge Jacob awake, I did the same for Renesmee and waited for her to wake up before stepping out of the car. Jacob walked passed me on the way to say hello to her while I walked up a small path to stand next to Edward. His hand closed around mine and he kissed my forehead before returning his gaze to the sight before him.

I finally lifted my eyes and noticed what he was looking at. The most majestic looking home I had ever seen stood in front of us, sitting quite gloriously not far from the edge of the lake, I wondered briefly what would happen if there were an earthquake or something of the sort. It was so beautiful, if I had real breath, it would have taken it away.

The home looked larger than the Cullens' home back in Forks, and still there were windows everywhere I could look, and anywhere I figured one could be put without looking ghastly.

Music was playing inside, I could hear that now. Edward smiled and made sure Jacob and Ness were behind us before we started waling down a small path toward the house. Standing at the doorway I realised this place was a lot larger in comparison to what I had just thought.

It was then that the most refreshing sight caught my eyes, Alice had swung open the huge double doors to the entrance, her smile wide and her eyes sparkling and flung herself around my neck.

"Oh, OH It's so good to see you!" she kissed all over my face and then went to Edward, then Renesmee and finally high fived Jake, "I could tell you were here when I couldn't see you at all anymore!"

The bitterness of her not being able to see things with Jake and Ness around had dissipated over the years, and in true Alice tradition, she had even welcomed the idea of being in the blind.

She showed us into the house, moving us into the large entrance foyer; there were staircases on either side of the room, curving upward to what looked like a balcony leading to another room. In front of us there was an opening to what I guessed was a living room. A grandiose chandelier hung above us, sparkling a thousand lights and yet everything seemed so quiet.

Edward leaned down and smiled, whispering into my ear, "Here they come..."

All of a sudden there were loud cracks and streamers and balloons' coming from God knows where, and around us there was Emmett laughing, Rosalie grinning, Jasper smirking, Esme beaming and Carlisle smiling, his arms open in welcome. They all screamed 'SURPRISE!' as if this weren't expected, from Edwards' point of view, anyway, and in another instant, my family had embraced us entirely in a group hug that made me feel for the first time.

I am home.