Chapter One: An Unexpected Reunion

Edward Cullen sighed as he stared up at his bedroom's ceiling fighting off unwanted memories. His family had recently moved to Chicago, yet this house was already so eerily familiar to Edward. In fact, every room he entered sent waves of long forgotten memories, blurry in their humanness. This was the house he had been born in, in the year 1901. He was the red headed, green-eyed, only child of Edward and Elizabeth Masen then, instead of the red headed, golden-eyed, adopted son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen.

It doesn't sound so strange when you say it like that… Edward mused. People tend to scream and run away when you add in that the year was 2072, and that the entire Cullen family, adopted children included, were vampires. Edward sighed again as a soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He jumped; surprised that he hadn't realized anyone was coming towards his room.

"Edward?" Esme's soft voice asked. "Your sister would like to inform you that you're going to be late for school if you don't move soon." Edward sat up and smiled sadly at Esme. Had he really been that caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't heard Alice screaming at him from downstairs like he could now? He pushed the thoughts and memories away and focused on Esme.

"Thanks, Mom." Esme smiled in return as she sat next to Edward on the bed.

It still makes me so happy when you call me that. Edward already knew that. It had taken him the longest to accept Esme as his mother. He had been stubborn and refused to see anyone other than his own birth mother as a mom. But, it was hard not to accept Esme as a mom once you knew her. She was warm and inviting to everyone, and only wanted her family to be safe and happy.

She loved Bella almost as much as I do… Edward grimaced at the name. Even sixty-seven years apart couldn't stop the love he had for Isabella Swan.

Esme patted his hand lovingly. Thinking of her again?

"You can read minds too now?" Edward attempted to joke.

I know the look of pain, and I hate seeing it on my children's faces.

Edward hung his head. "She's moved on … 85 years old. Probably had a career and a Husband by now, probably a child or two and now Grandchildren if not great-grandchildren… She's better off this way, human, alive." What he wouldn't have given to have lived that life with her, to be there with her always, to have raised a family together, and to now be growing old with her.

Edward… He brushed away Esme's concern and stood.

"I need to get going. Don't want to make the others late."

Esme nodded and dropped the subject, but Edward could still hear her thoughts as he raced to the garage. He hasn't been complete since we left. His eyes stung, even though tears would never come. He felt a wave of peace as he entered the garage, and sent Jasper a grateful nod.

Any time, little brother.

As the new black Mercedes pulled out of the garage followed by Emmett's newest Jeep, Edward glanced at the ancient silver Volvo that he refused to part with. Esme was right. He hadn't been complete since leaving Forks, and he never would be again.

"I am Isabella Davidson." The former Bella Swan repeated over and over in her head. It was a routine that she had to repeat about every four years or so, on the first day of class. Each time there was a new last name, a new identity, a new story. Though she knew that both of her parents as well as Phil had died years ago, she never went back to Swan. To many memories tied to that name, memories of loved ones lost. But she could never part with her first name, it was who she was, thought now she never went by Bella. That chapter of her life had closed decades ago. Now she was Isabella Davidson, daughter of Oliver and Heather Davidson.

Bella had met Oliver and Heather in 2015 in Buffalo, NY and learned that they too, considered themselves vegetarians. Bella formed a connection with the two older vampires, both turned in the 1800's, and joined their small family. They traveled together much like that Cullen's did, but with a smaller family their story wasn't nearly as complex. Decades later, in 2062, Taylor joined the family as well. Taylor was only sixteen years old when they found him in Vancouver, Canada having been turned at fifteen, and abandoned by his creator. He picked up to their ways quickly, but a recent slip-up is what had them moving to Chicago where Bella and Taylor were both accepted into a private school, St. Benedict High School. Private schools meant smaller crowds, which made it easier for Taylor. He would be starting as a freshman with Bella as his older sister in her sophomore year.

Bella sat in the back of the classroom, trying fruitlessly to hide from amazed stares. She watched as her fellow students filled in, the new faces interrupted by two familiar faces. Two faces that she could never forget, and wondered if she was imagining them. She blinked hard but when she reopened her eyes still saw them sitting there, turned around to stare at her with the same questions. One was a tall young man with honey blonde hair, and confused golden eyes. He was muscular but lean, and covered in silver crescent shaped scars, nearly invisible to the human eye. His companion was a small pixie-like girl with short black hair, and golden eyes that matched the man's. But unlike her partner's the girls eyes were glazed over with what Bella knew was a vision. Alice and Jasper! Shaking her head and still not believing them to be there, she turned to the front again as the teacher called roll. Sure enough the first name on the roll was Cullen, Alice followed by her own Davidson, Isabella. And farther down was Hale, Jasper. Unbelievable! Is he here then too? Again shaking her head to clear her mind, she tried to pay attention as the teacher passed out a few first day papers and dismissed the class for the day. She raced as quickly as she dared out of the classroom and into the nearest abandoned room, a small broom closet, knowing that Alice would follow.

It was only a few moments later that Bella found herself wrapped between two small but strong arms. She sighed happily as she wrapped her arms around her best friend after a long separation. She was happy to see them, Alice and Jasper, but she couldn't help but drift back to him. A wave of calm covered the small room and Alice let go of Bella reluctantly. "Thank you, Jasper…" He nodded his head, many questions obviously on his mind.

"Bella?" Alice asked, staring into Bella's identical golden eyes.

"I've missed you." She didn't know what else to say to fill the awkward silence.

"When did this happen? How…?" Alice asked.

"A year after you left… Victoria wanted revenge for James." For the longest time those names had been impossible for her to even think of without cringing, but she had long ago accepted how her life had turned out.

"You've been alone since then? For nearly seventy years?" Jasper asked, a slight Texan accent still present in his voice.

Bella shook her head. "Not completely. I've been with a vampire couple, Oliver and Heather who pose as my parents, for almost sixty years now. Taylor is still relatively new to both this life and our family, but he's become the little brother I never had… It was never the same without all of you though, of course."

Alice threw her arms around Bella again. "Oh Bella! I'm so sorry! We should have never left you!" Memories of that day came back full force, memories that she had long ago pushed to the back of her head. She cringed in Alice's arms before another calm wave passed through her.

"It wasn't your fault." She comforted Alice.

Alice suddenly pulled away and held Bella at arm's length. "We have to tell the others! Bella you have to come over tonight! Esme would love to see you! And you can meet Sara, our latest addition!" Alice jumped around with excitement, but Bella could only think of one thing. As much as she would love to see the others, along with them came him, and she couldn't handle that right now. She wasn't sure if she could ever handle that.

"Alice, I don't think that tonight will work…"

Alice looked devastated. "But…" Jasper silenced her with a glance. Bella watched as they shared a conversation with their eyes like only a married couple could. Alice's eyes widened with understanding before turning back to Bella and taking her hands.

"He won't be there… I'll see to that. Rosalie can take him out hunting. We won't even let him know you're here if you would prefer that." Bella nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

"We'll pick you up around five!" Alice said happily as the bell rang.

"How will you keep this from him?" Alice and Jasper exchanged a smile.

"We have our ways of keeping things from him."