The character names from the Twilight series are owned by Stephenie Meyer. However, select characters and ideas presented in this story are property of A Thousand Red Petals. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without permission.

Charlie,

I'm glad Sue is now doing your cooking, or you would've died of starvation years ago. I know it's been a while since we last talked, and saw each other, but I've fallen ill again and the doctors won't let me visit anyone. They said that my condition (I can't remember what's it's called) is steadily getting worse, and I'll probably be in the hospital for over Christmas. I love you, Dad, but I want you to imagine me as the young seventeen-year-old, instead of my sick 50 year-old self. I really hope you understand.

My nurse, Ana, says "Hi." She's been a wonderful help to me over these last few days, and I don't think I could do anything without her. I have made a few new friends at the hospital; Ana's husband, John, is the doctor I usually see. He's wonderful, just like Ana.

I love you Dad; say "Hi" to Sue for me,

Love,

Bella

I shut the lid to the laptop as I saved my last email to Charlie in the "Drafts" folder. This was the tenth time in the twenty-three years that I had fallen "sick" and I knew Charlie was feeling as hopeless as I was. My web of lies was slowly falling apart, and I could feel Charlie's desperate pleas for understanding in his responding emails. My dead heart ached for my father, but I knew seeing him wasn't an option anymore.

Now that I was a vampire.

It had been a while since Laurent had me cornered in the meadow. I hadn't imagined, when I had entered the meadow that day that Laurent would try to kill me. His nails, so sharp and fast, had made a nasty slice on my chest, too close to the heart to allow me too survive. I had gotten lucky when Serena, a vampire of seventy years, had seen my dead body, and had bit me to save my fading life. Although my blood loss and fatal wound would have deemed me dead, Serena's venom moved through my veins and turned me into a beautiful creation: a vampire.

Thirty-three years later, after some lies to Charlie and a move to northern Minnesota, I lived with Serena, her mate Ryan, Ana, and her mate, John. I made sure to include bits about my new family in my emails to Charlie, calling them my doctors or neighbors, even though they were so much more. I knew their stories and personalities, and their never ending love and support was exactly what I needed.

Although I usually deemed myself as "independent", I found myself welcoming their hugs and seeking their advice. After thirty-three years together, we had all created a bond, so strong that it couldn't be broken.

I smiled to myself as I thought of my family, and, putting my laptop aside, I left my couch to go find them. Our house, though designed with warm walls and an inviting layout, created an adventure for one vampire trying to seek another. It was massive, to say the least, and had a variety of hidden doors and secret stairwells. Although we could always call out to each other, we all enjoyed a game of hide-and-go-seek, especially in moments like this, when we had nothing to do.

"Alright, everyone." I murmured quietly, looking around the living room/ kitchen area as I prepared for a wild game. "I will give you five seconds to hide. One…two…three…four…FIVE!" On the word I flitted up to the second floor, whipping my head wildly as I tried to hear even the softest sounds. I heard a slight creak in the last bedroom and sprinted to the closed door. I stopped breathing, as I tried to hear any more noises inside that would give the hider away.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of glass hitting the floor, and a slew of Italian curse words, as Serena opened the door and stormed out. "Oh my!" she cried, throwing her arms around me as I laughed at her frustrated expression, "Honestly, I've lived with the man for forty-two years; does he know not to leave things so close too the edge of the mantle? I always hit that thing, and one of those godforsaken photographs fell off and"-

"What?" cried another voice, as Ryan stepped out of secret passageway next to his room, "Which photo? And it's not my fault! I was in a hurry to put that back on there, because you took them down the last time we"- Serena shot him a look as she flipped back her black hair and straightened out her purple top. Ryan remained silent, as I internally groaned at their banter. "Whatever." She replied, evenly, ignoring Ryan's eye roll as he went down the hall and down the stairs. Turning to me, and lightening her expression, she said, "Sorry about that. How's Charlie?"

I smiled back at her, shrugging to tell her that their pointless spat was no big deal. "Good, I think. I feel so bad about not being there for Christmas. He's going to have Sue over, and, he"- I took a breath to control my overflowing emotions as I thought about my lonely father –"He really wanted me to be there." Serena patted my shoulder sympathetically, while I stared at the ground and tried to recompose myself. Charlie was always a tough topic for me, and everyone, especially Serena, knew that.

"Bella, I am so sorry. I know how much your father means to you, and I wish you could see him. All I will say, though, is that he is doing better. I remember the first day, when you told him you weren't coming home, and he panicked. But now? Look how much better it is!"

I smiled at Serena as she gestured towards the staircase, leading us both back to the kitchen, where Ryan was strumming his hand on the counter, deep in thought. Leaving my side and going to her husband, Serena gently asked him what was wrong. After Ryan murmured a fast string of words in her ear, Serena gently called, "Game over. Come down here, please, everyone!"

In a second, Ana and John appeared in front of us, leaning against the island. "I'm sorry about Charlie." Ana said to me softly, coming over to give me a light hug. Ana was around my age when she had been changed, and she was known for her quiet demeanor and small frame. John, her tall and shy husband, met her when she was at an orphanage in Russia, and changed her on her seventeenth birthday. Although John was about eight years her senior, they were a perfect match.

"I have a proposition." Announced Ryan, causing all of our heads to turn towards him in silent shock. Ryan's voice was surprisingly serious, something we didn't hear from him much. Serena was the coven leader, and, sometimes with my help, decided where we would next move to stay inconspicuous.

So it surprised us all when Ryan continued to explain a move to my old town of Forks, Washington.

"I know this will be hard for you, Bella." He said calmly, as I felt my body go rigid, "But that's where Laurent is and I think he's up to something with the red-head. When I talked to that nomad, Charles, he said he'd seen something, well, nasty building up in the Washington area. Like, an army of some sorts. He said they were heading to Forks, and since we're the closest coven to that city…" Ryan didn't finish, letting us all process our thoughts on the situation.

John was the first to speak. "You want us to go to Forks to help fight? If there even is a fight." John's voice wasn't accusing or astounded, but more curious. I myself wanted to hear Ryan's plan.

"Yes." Clarified Ryan, as I continued to consider the idea of revisiting my hometown, "Serena said she saw some wolves when Bella was attacked, and they helped fight off Laurent. Although Laurent got away" – Ryan growled at the memory –"I think they can help us. Serena never got to talk to their leader, but I think they knew who we were. I also think they may need our help."

"How many?" asked Serena, her leader instincts taking charge. I looked at Ryan, praying for a small number. Even with the 'wolves', we wouldn't win against more than fifteen vampires. Come to think of it, if they were skilled fighters and drank human blood, we wouldn't win against more than five.

True, the coven I was a part of was made of skilled fighters. Even I was considered "good" by many of the nomads I had fought with. Although we were all on a diet of animal blood, we were still skilled. I had killed a rogue vampire or two before and it had been relatively simple, even with the disadvantages of an animal blood diet. Ever other member in my coven had the same, if not more, experience.

"We need more information." Stated John, standing up tall and crossing his arms, his expression one of deep thought, "But I'm in."

Ana rested her head on her chin, before quietly saying, "Me too." Serena did the same, looking towards Ryan, who nodded grimly. They all turned too me, and I found myself unable to give a response.

"I"- My voice broke as I tried to explain my feelings. Forks? The place where he had left me all those years ago? The place my father resided, oblivious to the supernatural world around him? Could I really face it all?

There was only a little doubt in my mind that we would lose, but still. What if someone got killed? We were a small coven; even losing one person would make the biggest impact. Together we were an unstoppable machine, but with one member gone…the outcome was unthinkable.

"Bella?"

I turned towards Ana, who was staring up at me with her golden eyes. "I know this is hard…" she began slowly, her Russian accent becoming more pronounced as she continued on, "But, you can do it. I know it will bring back some memories, but that's what we're here for." Ana gestured around to the three other vampires, who looked at me, nodding their heads in agreement, "And, maybe, you could work everything out. You left a lot behind when you moved. It's not your fault, but, maybe, you need some closure."

I looked at Ana, pondering her wise words. Although she remained too herself and distant, something John blamed on the neglect she faced at the orphanage, Ana was very intuitive. In moments like this when I couldn't decide, she always came through for me. After a few more silent moments, in which I spent thinking over my options, I slowly nodded my head, feeling almost relief at being able to make a decision. "I'm in."

I finished packing the last of many cardboard boxes into our truck. We didn't have many items, since there was no doubt we would be returning to Minnesota, but we still needed some vital things. I had pictures from my human life, some newer photos, a nearly destroyed copy of Wuthering Heights, and some CD's. While I enjoyed my listening to my iPod, I remained a fan of CD's and albums.

"Got it there, Bells?" asked Ryan, coming over too me and setting down his stack of boxes before grabbing mine. "Yeah." I muttered, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was really leaving my beloved house. The morning had passed in a daze and I finally felt the impact of what I was doing. I left my now bare room, and headed down the stairs, listening into the various conversations going on around the house.

"Bella!"

"Coming!" I called back, quickly glancing at the lifeless kitchen and living room, shaking my head as I ran out to the truck. I slipped into the backseat of the Volvo, and rested my head on the headrest, hoping to close my eyes for a while. Before I zoned everyone out with my iPod, I turned and noted the boxes that had been stuffed into our large trunk.

"Why do we need all of this stuff anyways?" I asked Serena, who was sitting in the front seat besides Ryan. She turned around to face me, lifting her sunglasses off of her face, "We bought a house there. For our cover, you know." She added quickly, noting my shocked expression, "But no worries, we're just going to say you're all homeschooled. You won't have time to attend school anyways; we will be spending our time talking with the wolves." She turned to face the front, putting her sunglasses back on, and nodding at Ryan to start the car.

I sighed. This trip was going to be a lot more permanent than I had anticipated.

A/N: Hello, everyone. This is my first FanFiction, and I hope you are all enjoying the first chapter. I will try to update once a week, so expect updates every Sunday. This is around 2200 words, so please give me feedback on length. I would love to hear some reviews, as this is my first FF. If you want to Beta this story, that would be greatly appreciated. PM me ASAP.

Until next week,

ATRP