I've always hated how the Cullens just up and left Bella without a word. So, I decided to write about what it would be like if the family returned home early and faced the consequences of their actions.

I don't know how long this story will be. I'm thinking about starting off small and deciding what I want to do with this later.

Hope you enjoy. :)

Bella POV -

I feel numb. Empty.

The days seem to pass by in a slow blur.

I prefer the numbness. There is no pain when you're numb.

I didn't even want to think of their names. The thought of their names alone brought me out the numbness and threw me into a pool of excruciating, chest-crushing pain. Like someone took my heart and ripped it from my chest leaving a gigantic aching wound that couldn't be stitched closed.

I've been sleeping a lot these days. I can't help it, I'm just so tired all the time. But when I sleep, I have night terrors. I wake myself up every night by my own screams. I think Charlie is about had it with me. He wants to send me away to some mental hospital. He wants to throw me away too, just like them.

The dreams are the same every night, or at least some variation of the same dream.

I'm always chasing something. It's always dark, pitch back but there is this beautiful, warm light at the end. The entire duration of the dream, I am chasing this light. I can never seem to reach it and I feel more and more hopeless by the second. Until finally, after what feels like hours later, I finally reach the light.

And there is nothing. Absolutely nothing.

As if whatever this beautiful light is trying to tell me is that there is nothing left for me. That there has never been and never will be.

And I know, I know that beautiful light is him.

I've decided to go to his meadow today.

I need to know that he is real, that they all were. I'm so tired of feeling insane. I'm so tired of everybody looking at me as if I'm insane. I need validation.

So, I'm hiking. I've been hiking for hours now and it feels like I've been going in circles.

I was supposed to do this with Jake, not that he knew the exact reason as to why I needed to find this place, but he's been distant lately. Recently, he told me he no longer wanted to be friends. How am I suppose to continue on if my own personal savior is tired of dealing with me now, too?

Finally, after 4 hours of walking (and falling) I saw the light through the trees.

For a moment, my breath caught in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. It reminded me so much of my dreams even if my dreams are pitch black.

I walked slowly, keeping my eyes on the light through the trees as if it would disappear.

Slowly, very slowly I approached the clearing.

Keeping my eyes closed, I took a deep breath and stepping into the meadow.

I didn't open my eyes. I was too afraid. Would it be there if I opened them?

Just open your damn eyes, Bella. Quit being ridiculous. I thought, frustrated with myself.

Taking one more deep breath, I opened my eyes.

As I looked around, tears gathered in my eyes again.

The flowers that covered the forest floor were wilted and dead. The leaves and grass on the ground were brown.

It didn't look anything like his meadow, yet at the same time, it did.

I slowly walked to the middle of the meadow and just stood there. My heart hurt.

So, he is real. He's real and he doesn't want me. I didn't realize on some level, I had hoped, albeit only a little bit, that maybe he wasn't real. I had hope that if he wasn't, it would make the pain of his rejection diminish somewhat.

I stayed there for God knows how long, silently crying and praying that I could see him one last time. Or any one of them, really. Just to ask why. What did I do wrong?

Eventually, I decided it was time to head back. I stood up, not realizing I had sat down when something caught my eye.

Immediately, my instincts kicked in, sensing danger.

My heart stuttered upon realizing who stood before me.

Laurent.

Esme POV -

The house feels so empty.

Two of my children are gone. One on his own free will and the other...

I just don't understand what could have possibly possessed me to have agreed to leave my daughter behind.

Truth be told, at the time I thought Edward had made some good points about Bella's safety. I also agreed with him that she should live a human life, get married, have children and grow old. Only now, I realize that that decision should have been Bella's to make and hers alone.

And we didn't even say goodbye to her! I am so ashamed.

I love her like she was my own. She is my daughter, in every way but blood, yet I abandoned her.

The emptiness I feel, the emptiness we all feel is part of our punishment, I suppose. I know we deserve it.

Every single one of us has changed since we left.

I know they're all feeling the loss of one of our own, that coupled with Edward's absence.

Emmett lost his little sister that day. His partner in crime. Jasper feels so terrible. They may not have been as close as Emmett and Bella or Alice and Bella but he loved her as well. He lost his little sister too. Alice lost her best friend and closest sister. Rose...well, she tries to hide it but I know she regrets how awful she's been to Bella in the past. Carlisle feels just as heartbroken and empty as I feel at the loss of our daughter. And Edward...

Edward, I sighed in frustration.

Why does he have to be so stubborn and hardheaded? I just don't understand how he could possibly do this to his own mate. He left for her safety, and only now do I realize that Bella is a danger magnet?! How could that have escaped my mind so easily? We should be there protecting her. I should be there. I'm supposed to be her mother so how could I have left her to fend for herself? Left her to lick her wounds. Left her to feel unloved and abandoned by the family she so desperately wanted to be a part of.

How could I choose between my two children? My first son or my youngest and most vulnerable daughter?

Suddenly, I realized there was no competition. I realize that if Bella dies, Edward will too. Not one of us will be happy without all of us present.

Edward left Bella because, despite his concern over her safety, I know his greatest fear is changing her.

Well, I'm not scared of changing her. If she is still willing to be a member of my family, despite how we wronged her, then I will change her myself if I have to, regardless of Edward.

Smiling to myself, I walked inside and up to my husband's study where I knew he'd be. Hell, if he's not constantly busying himself at work then he's locking himself in this damned room.

He made no move to acknowledge me.

"Carlisle," I started.

He looked up finally and I looked into his beautiful eyes, so filled with grief and sadness and guilt. He feels so guilty because he made the final decision to leave.

"Carlisle, I'm going back for our daughter," I told him bluntly.

His eyes widened. "Esme, we promised."

"I don't care what we promised, Carlisle. I miss my daughter. Since when did we value one of them over the other?" By now, the rest of the family, minus Edward, had gathered into the room.

"We pride ourselves on being a family, a family that takes care of each other and is there of one another, yet we turn around and abandon our youngest member? How is that right, Carlisle?" I demanded.

Looking around, I noticed everyone's eyes have started to fill with hope.

"You're right," Carlisle said. I smiled.

"I've made a huge mistake. I've always had faith in Edward and believed his opinions and decisions to be right, what with his gift and him being my longest companion. But now, I see Edward was blinded in his haste to keep Bella safe."

"We all left, dear. All of us. It was not one single person's fault here, but all of ours. The only innocent one is Bella. We need to return to her."

"Then we shall." He decided firmly.

I smiled as happiness filled me. I turned to look at my other children, "Pack your things. Just a few bags of your essentials for now. I want to get back to Forks as soon as possible. We can come back for the rest of our things later if we need to. We'll drive since it's only a few hours." I told them.

They all scattered and started getting ready. Everyone was filled with a hope and happiness that we haven't felt since before we left Bella.

I sighed. Bella, my beautiful girl. We're coming back for you. I hope you can forgive us.

Carlisle POV -

The drive to Forks was long and uneventful.

As we approached our old home, I realize just how much this place feels like home.

This is where our family was made complete.

However, this is also where our family was shattered.

I walked into the house, looking around. I breathed in deeply and smelled the faint scent of Bella in the air.

I smiled. These last four months made me truly appreciate how complete she's made us.

The guilt set in then. I know that despite what Esme says, I still made the final decision to leave. All of us argued with Edward over his decision, myself included, but in the end, I agreed to leave. I doubt I'll ever forgive myself for making such a horrendous mistake.

And my daughter ended up getting hurt the most. We all hurt so much when we left, but we had each other. Bella had no one. Because we abandoned her.

The family was excited to see Bella again, all of them ready to drop to their knees and beg for forgiveness.

Esme decided it was best if we all hunted again before going to see her. I agreed.

I'm worried about our reunion, though. I'm nervous about her reaction. Will she accept us? Or will she throw us away? I wouldn't hold it against her if she chose the latter. We'd deserve nothing less.

The family was already done with their hunt and it was just me left. They all were waiting nearby until I was finished. I had just finished taking down my third deer when I heard Alice gasp and scream, "No!"

I ran toward her, hearing everyone asking questions at the same time.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

"It's Bella! We have to go. Now!" she ordered.

She led the way and we followed, right on her heels.

"Bella is in these woods. She's at that special place Edward always use to go." She explained. "Laurent came back to Forks to search for Bella, on Victoria's request. He just met up with Bella and decided that regardless of Victoria's orders, Bella would make a nice snack." We all growled hearing that.

Suddenly, it was like a red haze covered my vision. Over my pile of ashes, I growled. No one touches my daughter!

Running faster than I ever have, I reached the meadow only to see Laurent with his teeth latched onto Bella's neck, drinking from her.

Laurent, sensing a threat, whipped around and growled menacingly.

The others wasted no time in circling around him, preventing an escape.

I didn't care to watch the rest, my main focus was on my daughter.

"Carlisle!" My wife was sobbing.

"She's going to die. Her heart beat is slowing. She'll die if we don't change her. She won't make it to a hospital." I was desperately trying to remain calm but my composure was slipping. I was panicking.

"Then bite her!" She demanded. I vaguely noticed the sound of metal being ripped apart.

"Bite her or I will!" she continued.

Bella looked up at me then, trying to focus but barely able to keep her eyes open. She would die if I didn't make a decision within the next 30 seconds. Could I do it? Could I damn yet another person to this life?

Then I heard it. It was barely a whisper, almost too quiet for a vampire to hear but I did.

"Dad...dy?" Bella struggled out.

I knew then. I wouldn't lose her. Not ever.

"Yes, it's me, baby girl. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." I told her. "You're not going anywhere," I added, too quietly for her to hear.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, I lowered my mouth to her neck, "I love you, Bella." I whispered.

And then I bit.

Let me know what you think. :)

I'm not sure what this story will turn out to be. Maybe a two-shot. I don't know yet.

Read my other story and let me know what you think of that as well. xx