Author's Notes: This started out as a short story assignment I had to do in a photo history class where we were to choose a picture from the 1800's and write a short story about it. When I saw the picture that I wanted, to me, it had Bella written all over it. I am trying to paste this picture in this document but if it doesn't upload correctly then just click on my profile first to take a look at the picture so it will be in your mind while you're reading. I am trying to use the pic as my avatar. Enjoy!

Also want to give a shout out and say a big thank you to my very first beta, PHO3N1X 5ONG.

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything.

I stood on the creaky old hardwood floors of my new home. It was, on the outskirts of Seattle Washington, tucked away in the lush and beautiful spring foliage. I looked, out my new bedroom window, experiencing the sights and sounds of a lazy spring thunderstorm. I took a deep, cleansing breath. This was just part of the new life that I would be sharing with my new fiancé, Edward Anthony Cullen.

I was happy. I couldn't believe that I, Isabella Marie Swan, was actually feeling happy, but I was. I smiled and let a couple of happy tears slide down my cheeks, catching them with my bottom lip so I could savor their salty meanings.

My plan for the day was to relax, spend some quality girl-time with my bff/soon to be sister-in-law, Alice, and unpack a few of the boxes that were strewn about and piled high along the walls. I knew unpacking all of our stuff was going to be a big job, so I had decided to have some fun with it. I was just going to do a little each day and reminisce as I went. I mean, when else do you really look at half of the shit in your house?

Edward was out with "the boys" today, playing baseball and doing whatever else a group of grown men do in their spare time, so Alice and I would have the house to ourselves.

"Umm…Bella?" Alice called from the living room.

"What?" I threw back, still in my moment at the window, and not really paying attention.

"Is this you? What the hell?"

I finally broke out of my mental fog and started to walk into the living room. I had no idea what she was talking about, but from her mixture of what sounded like amusement and disbelief, my curiosity was aroused.

When I found her, she was holding up an old picture of me that I had not seen in years. My eyes quickly scanned the area around her, wondering where she had found it.

I delicately took the picture from her outstretched hands and slowly sank down on the couch next to her, staring back at myself within the frame.

Alice's amusement had turned into curiosity and concern. I was sure she watched a myriad of emotions play across my face as I looked at the photo.

"Where did you find this?" I breathed out.

"It was in this box right here." She pointed to the box sitting next to her.

I leaned over her legs a little and saw that it was one of Edward's boxes. I was suddenly overcome with emotion as I realized that he had kept this photo of me for all these years. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and I tried to blink them away.

"Okay…Bella? You're killing me here. I mean, I can see that's you," she said, pointing at the picture in my hands, "but last time I checked, you were not some Quaker girl from back in the freaking stone ages. Secondly, what is with that expression, girl? Like…who pooped in your cheerios that morning? Or…I guess…porridge might be more accurate?"

Her amusement was starting to resurface. I finally looked up at her and couldn't help but laugh a little.

"And thirdly," she took back the picture and held it up closer to her face, "is that a real deer? I know you like animals, but you didn't tell me you were like little Miss Dr. Doolittle!"

By now we were both laughing so hard that I had to stop for a minute to catch my breath before I could answer her.

"Oh, Alice, this is why I love you." I was still letting my laughter die out and took the picture back, wiping my hand across the glassy surface.

"This was the summer that I met Edward."

"Oh my god, is this from that weird camp he insisted on going to every summer?" she shrieked. "You were there?" Her mouth slowly turned up into a smug smirk.

All of a sudden, Alice jumped off the couch and sprinted into the kitchen. I heard her rummaging around in the drawers and cabinets. Then she walked back into the living room like a woman on a mission, a gallon of cookie dough ice cream in one hand and two bowls and spoons in the other. I knew what was coming and smiled at her.

She dumped everything out on the coffee table and huffed as she sat back down on the couch beside me.

"Look, I can tell this story is going to be good," she said, tearing the lid off of the ice cream and handing me my bowl and spoon, "so I had to get all of the necessary components."

Once she had everything straightened out the way she wanted, she sank back into the cushions facing me and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'm ready. You may start, my dear, whenever you are ready." She dipped her head to me as if giving me her permission to begin.

"Well, all right, Miss Thang," I laughed, "I can't believe I've never actually told you the story of how I met your brother, but…ummm…here it goes." I dug out a huge scoop of ice cream with my spoon and took myself back to the summer I turned eleven.

Chapter End Notes: Did you like? Review and let me know what you think?