Hello all you lovely readers! I am so happy you stumbled upon my story!

This is going to be a 2 shot story. I was going to make it one giant story, but I thought it would be received better as a 2 shot. I don't want to drag it on forever and I already had the end in mind. I love this story so much and hope you all will as well.

Description: What happens after 68 years away from Forks for the Cullen family?

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer. I own the plot line.

Enjoy!


It had been 68 long and depressing years since my family and I have stepped foot into Forks, Washington. With time, you would expect everything to change, but something I've learned in my 172 years is that some things always stay the same. Like the same gut wrenching ache that sprung alive in my non-beating heart the moment we pulled into the long drive to our old home. After 68 years, the dire pain and guilt I still felt were just as prominent as they were that very day they occurred.

I had tortured myself over and over again for the last half of the century. I came to terms that I would never forgive myself for putting my sweet and precious Bella in harm's way like I had done foolishly so many times before. It was so stupid of me to think that I could protect her. I was a complete fool and daft idiot to think that my love would always be enough to save her. Another wave of pain crashed over me as the thought of Bella's death. She had jumped off a cliff in Alice's vision and everything had gone pitch black. That was the thing that destroyed me the most; knowing I had caused her death. Emmett and Jasper had stopped me from ending my own existence several times. I couldn't hurt my family more than I already had. It was not fair to them. I deserved to live with this pain.

"Edward, it's not your fault. The guilt you are feeling is nearly consuming my entire being. I'm going to send you some tranquility." Jasper's thoughts rang out clearly in my mind. It was another thing that I had mulled over for these last years. I brought so much grief and pain to my family and still hurt them even now with my emotions. I felt the calm begin to come over me and I shot Jasper an apologetic glance.

Alice, Jasper, and I were the first to park in the long drive. We stepped out of Alice's new car, a 2072 Porsche. The house that Esme loved and cherished dearly was just the same as when we left. It stood beautifully in all of the same glory it held before. I knew Esme would be pleased.

It wasn't long before two more cars pulled into the drive. Carlisle and Esme got out of his classic Mercedes and Rosalie and Emmett arrived in the ever beautiful M3; all this year's newest model. I took in the sight of my family arriving back at a place that they each loved and cherished for their own reasons. I sighed, knowing that my reason had died long ago.

"I want to visit her grave." Alice's thoughts cut into my mind. I glanced at my sister for all intents and purpose and saw the sadness in her golden orbs. I nodded briefly to which she returned a small smile.

It did not take very much time to fill the house with all of our current belongings. The thoughts of my family all sounded similar. Everyone was glad to be back in this house, but we all remember the pain that was left here. I did my best to hold onto the peace that Jasper had spread through me as I finished decorating my bedroom. I refused to think of any old memories that were made in this very room so long ago. It felt like I was being swallowed by the bearer of depression.

"Edward, are you ready?" Alice's pixie voice drifted up the stairs. I suppose Jasper had told her of my tremulous emotions. I was standing next to her in an instant.

"I suppose." I murmured quietly as we climbed into Carlisle's Mercedes. It was at least a little less flashy than a bright yellow sports car. Alice drove through the small town expertly and in a few minutes, we were at the only cemetery in town. "Do you know where it is?" I asked her as we began to make our way into the burial grounds.

"I had looked online and it showed which row would have a Swan." Alice commented softly as she led the way through the eerily empty graveyard. I wasn't sure if my dead heart would be able to handle seeing it, but I knew I had to try. We walked at the antagonizing slow pace for a few minutes until Alice came to a stop in front of a light grey headstone. I kept my eyes downcast for a moment until Alice gasped.

"What's wrong?" I questioned, moving to stand beside her. I glanced at the headstone and felt my own shock. It was not Bella's. It was Charlie Swan's. He had passed away in 2035 at 71 years old. I studied his grave intently. There were fresh flowers placed in the vase in front of the headstone. I glanced around the cemetery and confirmed it wasn't just groundskeepers who put them since Charlie was the only one who had flowers.

"Edward, look." Alice murmured while squatting down in front of the headstone. I followed her lead and began to look where she pointed. In the middle of the headstone, there was a faded picture of some sort. It was hard to make out what it was, even with our eyesight. Alice licked her hand and began to rub vigorously on the spot till it became clear. We each shared a look of shock as we stared at a picture of a very old Charlie with an older Bella by his side.

I collapsed onto the ground with the pain coursing through me. I couldn't believe that Bella was still alive after Alice's vision. There was hardly an explanation as to how. It was still possible that she was also here in the cemetery as well.

"Where's her grave?" I growled softly towards Alice. She looked at the surrounding graves and back at me.

"There's only one Swan here."

My head was spinning with the new revelation. I knew it meant nothing, but a small place inside of me began to find hope that Bella could still be alive. My rational side was arguing that she had just died somewhere else and wasn't buried here; or had a different name from her maiden one.

"Let's go by Charlie's house?" Alice suggested in her thoughts. I could sense that she was just as shocked and confused as I was. I nodded to her and we made our way back to the car quickly. "I'm going to text the others to meet us there." Alice said as she began to drive towards Charlie's. I knew it would not take long for my family to reach the old and familiar house of Charlie Swan.

If my heart was beating, I am positive that it would be going frantic in my chest. There were anxious nerves building inside of my body as I tensed. I didn't know what to expect and the thought was driving me wild. I had spent years driving myself mad with 'what if' questions and now that I was facing tons of them, no answer seemed logical enough. My foolish hope was getting the best of me.

Alice parked outside of the house and we both took it in. Everything was still the same about Charlie's house, even the color. It was noticeably older with fading wood and damage near the bottom of the home, but it still looked just like it always had. I stole a glance at the second floor window that I had gone through so many times years ago. There were curtains drawn over it which blocked any view I might have had.

"Oh my God." Alice exclaimed suddenly. I nearly jumped at her sudden shriek but I looked to where her gaze was captivated. My heart nearly came out of my chest. Sitting on the front porch in an old yellow rocking chair was a very frail old woman. She had white hair that was pinned nicely up on the top of her head. Her small hands were shaking as she was trying to hold the piece of fabric that she was knitting still. Her head suddenly jerked up and she looked directly at the car. When I looked into those chocolate brown eyes, any doubt I had vanished.

Bella Swan was still alive.

I went to jump out of the car, but Alice's firm grip on my arm stopped me in my tracks. I growled at her from deep in my chest. Her eyes were set hard as she pulled me back further into my seat.

"I don't think you should go up there." She snapped softly. Behind the hard look in her eyes, I could see concern burning in them.

"Why not? Are you insane? Bella is alive. I need to tell her everything." I growled once more as I pushed her dainty hand off of my arm.

"Bella's also an old woman. Seeing you could give her a heart attack." Alice snarled. I returned it with the same fierceness. As much as I hate to admit, she is right. I wouldn't want to hurt Bella. Not at all.

"Why doesn't Alice go up to her first? It might be easier for her to handle."Carlisle's thoughts came out loud and clear in my mind. I glimpsed to where the voice came from and saw them parked further down the street in Rosalie's M3. Carlisle always had a rational idea no matter what the situation was. I nodded to him from inside the car and he nodded back.

"Tread carefully, Alice." I murmured as she got out of the car. She gave one of her infamous glares back towards me as she slowly made her way up to the porch. She stopped a few feet away from Bella. Bella had been looking down at her knitting after her first glance towards the car, but when Alice stepped onto the porch, her head snapped back up.

"Well, I'll be damned." The voice that left Bella was raspy and you could hear the age in it. Her feisty attitude had taken me by surprise. It took as much control as I could muster to hold my jaw up.

"Hi Bella…" Alice murmured slowly. I could see Bella's weaker eyes absorbing in Alice with a look I couldn't decipher. Disgust? Shock? Gratitude? "Do you remember me?" It felt like a very long moment had passed before Bella answered, a small smile coming to her lips.

"Who could forget a Cullen?" Bella grinned with a hint of bitterness in her tone. I could see Alice give her an apprehensive smile in return. For once in her existence, Alice felt blind to what could happen. It has been so long since Bella's future was relevant in Alice's eyes that she had no clue what to expect. None of us did. "What brings you to Forks?" Bella asked, her eyes still warily trained on Alice.

"We're starting over again. The house here had always been one of our favorites." Alice responded, trying to contain the bubbling joy inside of her. She was elated that Bella had survived that terrible vision.

"It was a lovely home." Bella offered thoughtfully. How I wish I could read her mind. Her mood is fairly normal. She's surprised, but at the same time, she's not. I can pick up bits of anger and more pain than I could possibly imagine. Jasper's thoughts rang out to me. I could feel my own heart clench at the thought of the pain she suffered over the years. I had so many questions I wanted to ask and my self-control was dwindling. "Are the others here?" She questioned suddenly, looking towards the Mercedes and down the road at the M3. How she knew the other car was there baffled me.

"Yes. We are all back." Alice replied softly. She was trying to read Bella's expression as desperately as I was.

"Hmm." Bella mused, more to herself than Alice. Suddenly, the screen covering the front door flew open and my mouth dropped at the sight.

"Grammy!" A little boy who looked about 5 years old shouted as he came running outside straight towards Bella. Bella's face lit up like the sun was shining right on it as the little boy jumped into her arms. This time I could not stop my jaw from dropping.

"Hiya Anthony." Bella squealed happily, pinching the little boy's cheeks. Alice had the same expression that I did.

"Wow… Congratulations Bella." Alice whispered softly, still mesmerized by the little boy.

"Anthony, I want you to meet someone. This is Alice. She is a friend of mine. Alice, this is my great grandson, Anthony." Bella smiled, formally introducing the two. Anthony stuck out his small hand to shake Alice's. He shivered when they made contact but gave her a bright smile.

"You're really pretty." Anthony said with a smile. Alice smiled in return and said thanks. That was all it took for her heart to be won over.

"Go inside with your sister." Bella said, swatting him gently on the bottom as he headed towards the door. Alice still held a mesmerized look once he was gone.

"I can't believe it." Alice murmured in utter amazement. Bella folded her arms across her chest.

"Things happen, Alice." Her voice was hard. I didn't need to read Jasper's thoughts to know the pain she was feeling. She twiddled her knitting needles in her hands for a moment, refusing to look up at Alice.

"I'm sorry."

Bella did not look up to meet Alice's sincere eyes. She continued to twirl the needles in between her fingers with difficulty. Another minute passed before she looked up, the hard line of her mouth gone. "Well, if the rest of you are just gonna sit in cars like stalkers all day, be my guest." Bella's grumbled, her voice light once again. As if on cue, the rest of my family and I got out of the vehicles and slowly began our way to the porch.


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GVE