Chapter 1

Elena – Morning – December 25, 2009

Dear Diary,

It is Christmas morning and I'm missing Mom and Dad a lot so far and it's only 10:30 in the morning. I haven't gone down to Ric and Jenna. I can smell a yummy breakfast wafting up to me. I'm about to give in and go down to eat.

The house Ric and Jenna bought looks like a typical 1960's 2-story on a quiet street in a quiet little town. The next door neighbor is apparently a cop because there is a cruiser parked in the driveway every evening. But inside it is a newly renovated five bedrooms and four bathrooms home. The previous owners must have been addicted to the Home and Garden Television Channel.

When you walk in the front door there is a foyer with a spiral staircase to the second floor. To the left is a large living room with a fireplace. To the right is the dining room. If you go through the dining room it opens to a large professional-looking kitchen that's been in every woman's dreams. Then there is a breakfast nook just beyond the kitchen. And beyond that, wrapping around, you find the other end of the large living room. Then between the nook and the living room is a half bathroom for when we entertain as well as a hallway that leads to the back addition that has the best master suit I've ever seen. It has the works, his and her walk in closets with built-ins and a built-in California King Size bed in one area of the room and a sitting area with large fireplace in another part of the room. The master ensuite has a waterfall shower system with body jets, and a deep spa tub and marble top vanity with his and her sinks. Jenna said I can try it out someday.

At the top of the stairs there is a hallway, with a door straight ahead. Behind that door is a full bathroom. The hallway to the right goes to two bedrooms. The doors to those bedrooms are across the hallway from each other. And in between them there is a hall closet. Each bedroom is the same size. Each has a walk in closet with built-ins. And between the two bedrooms is a Jack and Jill bathroom to share, complete with separate sinks. The hallway to the left leads to two more bedrooms that mirror the ones on the right side of the hallway. These bedrooms also have a shared Jack and Jill bathroom.

Ric and Jenna want children someday. I have the bedroom on the left side of the upstairs. The adjoining room is a girl's guest room for when Bonnie or Caroline or other girl friends stay over. Jeremy has the right side of the upstairs. His bedroom and the adjoining room is his guys only friend cave; complete with video gaming systems, an air hockey table, a foosball table and a set of bunk beds in the corner of the room. Ric had a long talk with Jeremy about the drugs and smoking issue on the trip. They drove out in the U-Haul while Jenna drove Ric's car with me. The talk must have worked. Jeremy hasn't tried anything, yet. I'm assuming the decking out of his adjoining room was a bribe from Ric (as well as a Christmas gift), but so far it's working out perfectly.

Well, the smell of waffles or pancakes is wafting up here, making my mouth water, along with the smell of eggs, sausage, bacon and maybe some hot wassail.

So Diary, I'm headed down for this amazing smelling food and whatever gifts may be under the tree for me. I'll write when school starts, or when something happens, whichever comes first!

Bella – Morning – December 25, 2009

There was a U-Haul parked in the driveway next door for the last couple of days. Charlie asked me to make Christmas cookies to bring over to the new family next door. I think Charlie just wanted to sneak cookies for himself. I was missing a couple of gingerbread girls, some trees and a couple snowflakes. All he had to do was ask. There seems to be a teenage girl and boy with a younger couple. I figure that Charlie and I will stop over this afternoon when Charlie gets home. For now I'll eat some cereal and prep our Christmas "feast". That will at least give me something to do. My gifts for Charlie still were unwrapped upstairs.

After my breakfast, I decide to first wrap Charlie's gifts. I grab some wrapping paper and head up to my room to wrap his gifts. I grab the new fish-finder for his boat. It is a bigger box, and it took most of the paper. The next was a new fishing rod with a professional reel. And the third was a three day fishing trip to Three Rivers Resort. I decided to jokingly label this trip "From Santa" and put it in one of his old wool socks pinned on the mantel with a colored push pin.

I head back downstairs to put Charlie's "Wool Stocking" on the mantle and put his gifts under the Christmas tree. You could tell where Charlie gave up on the tree decorating and where I took over and finished. I still was unsure what to make for our "Christmas Feast". Fish or ham? I decide to make Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry. It is Charlie's favorite and I have learned to love it too. I planned on making homemade sweet potato waffle fries, fresh steamed string green beans, and a toss salad to go with it.

Then it hit me! Every single store is closed today and most closed early yesterday. I wonder if the new family next door had been able to get to the stores before they closed. I decided to put on a smile and bring the plate of cookies I made over to the new family. I figured I would invite them over to join us for our Christmas feast. We may not be in the South, but who says you can't be friendly to neighbors? I shrugged on my parka and headed out the door.

I knocked three times and heard a woman from inside yell, "Elena, can you get the door sweetheart?"

"Sure, Aunt Jenna!" another female voice responded.

A few moments later the door opened. A girl, of about 16, answered the door. "Hello, can I help you?" she asked.

"Hi, I live next door. My name is Isabella Swan, or just Bella." I was going to continue that I made the cookies for them and how I was inviting them over for Christmas dinner, but her mouth dropped and she looked at me like she had seen a ghost so I stopped talking. I glanced behind me to see if someone she was afraid of was behind me. I didn't see anyone or anything. I turned back to her. "I made these cookies…."

"Bella Swan?" she asked bewildered, cutting me off.

"Yes, that is my name. What is yours?" I replied raising an eyebrow.

"Bella Swan?!" she still seemed confused.

Then it hit me. Tabby had told me I should change my name in the book, but I was stubborn and secretly hoped Edward would see it and realize the extent of my feelings. He still hadn't showed up to my door begging forgiveness like it was portrayed in the fictional part of New Moon. Tabby was probably trying to keep me from this exact situation.

"You actually exist?!" the girl asked.

"Yes." I said dully. "Weird coincidence, isn't it?" I added. Protect them I thought to myself.

"Oh wow that is strange, maybe you should sue for a cut of Stephenie Meyer's profits. I'm Elena Gilbert. Sorry for the gawking and staring. I was just so stunned. Come on in quick."

"It's OK. I get that a lot" I assured her, even though I had never run into it before. "Anyways, I made these cookies for you and your family as a welcome to Forks thing. My dad, Police Chief Charlie Swan, insisted on it." I glanced up. She looked at me wryly, but didn't say anything, letting it go. "I wanted to invite you and your family to my place tonight at 6:30 for a Christmas fish fry. I figured all the stores are closed and it would be nice to get to know our new neighbors since we are, apparently, so close in age." I noticed I was rambling so I shut up.

She turned, "Aunt Jenna!"

A fairly young woman, in her mid to late twenties, came into view. She looked lovely. I smiled as she greeted me.

"Hello, I'm Bella." I said, and I noticed her glance at Elena, but I continued. "I was wondering if you would like to have Christmas dinner with my father and me. The stores are closed today and I've made enough for a small army. We will be eating around 6:30."

"That would be a relief. I can't find our cooking dishes anywhere, and we don't really have that much in our fridge. Thank you!"

"It's my pleasure," I said smiling. "See you later then!"

I turned around waving and walked back to my house to prepare the feast. Maybe the books weren't the best idea since I refused to change neither my identity nor anyone else's. This could end up being an interesting life. I should have known that after I saw the sales of the first book. Was I actually endangering the family I loved and longed to protect?

Elena – Noon – December 25, 2009

Dear Diary,

Bella Swan exists! I'm not sure how, but my next door neighbors are "Police Chief Charlie Swan" and his daughter, "Isabella (Bella) Swan". This is so surreal. Am I actually awake? She came over and invited us all to have Christmas dinner with them. I will defiantly never ever forget this Christmas! I've got to get ready. I'll write later tonight for sure!

Bella – 4:45PM December 25, 2009

I heard the cruiser pull in the driveway. Charlie let me keep my Toyota Prius in the detached single stall garage. He had explained since it was personal property and not a "company" car that it belonged protected in the garage.

Charlie never asked where I got all the money. I mean, he knew about the books, but he thought that Edward and his family were figurative vampires and he knew the Quileute legends about being descended from wolves. He thought that this was the basis for the werewolf part of the second book. Never once had he brought up money, which was just his way. He asked me, once, about the second book and I told him that my counselor wrote the part after Edward left.

I decided to check on the apple pie I had in the oven baking. What was a Christmas feast without dessert? And since I hate pumpkin pie, I made an apple pie instead. It was a perfect golden brown on top. I had cut a little tree out of dough and had put it in the center on top.

I heard Charlie coming down the hall.

"Hey Dad! How was work?"

"Hey Bells! Work was quiet for the most part. I pretty much just played cards with the guys. What's that amazing smell?" he asked sniffing the air.

"I decided to make an apple pie. I invited the new neighbors over to share Christmas dinner with us. They didn't get here in time to make it to the stores for food before they closed for the Christmas holiday. I brought the cookies over around noon and invited them then. I'm making Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry. I figured I'd show off our town's flavors."

"What time will they be coming over?"

"I told them 6:30."

"What time is it now?"

I rolled my eyes quick before answering. He got off work at 4:30PM today, and it would have taken 10 – 15 minutes to drive home so he SHOULD have already known the time, but, "its 4:45, Dad."

"That gives us a little time then before you have to slave in the kitchen, right? Do you want to open your gifts?" Charlie asked shyly. I hadn't noticed anything under the tree for me.

"Sure Dad," I said, a little confused.

"Great!" was his enthusiastic response.

Charlie pulled out an envelope from behind his back and handed it to me. He had put a sticker bow on it and had sloppily written: Bells. I slid my finger under the envelope flap. I cut my finger a little. And a single drop of blood dripped from my finger. And that's all it took, and the floodgates opened and I was sobbing. Charlie didn't know what to do.

Elena – 5:00PM December 25, 2009

"Aunt Jenna, can I talk to you?" I requested

"Sure Sweetie! What's on your mind?"

"What are the chances that we move to Forks, Washington and our neighbors are Charlie and Bella Swan? And Charlie is the Police chief of the town? It seems so weird. And Bella looked uncomfortable when I was in shock over her name. I don't know what to make of it. We know that Stefan and Damon are vampires, but they always joke about being 'REAL vampires in the real world where vampires burn in the sun' I just don't know what to think. Do you have any advice for me? I'm just so confused."

"Elena, I think you need to try to be her friend. Maybe it's a coincidence, but if it isn't, she probably needs a friend. Especially if she published Twilight as a way to protect the family she clearly loves, at least according to the books she loves them. Elena, be a friend and support her first. That's my advice. Now let's get ready and plan on enjoying this time to get to know our neighbors. Now can we focus on that for tonight? Friendship doesn't happen overnight."

"Oh, alright! It's just so weird." I groused

"Elena, I get that, but she isn't likely to open up to a complete stranger. Build a friendship" Jenna encouraged, "Besides how long did you keep Stefan a secret?"

She was right, as usual. "Okay. What should I wear?"

"Oh, Elena! What you are wearing should be fine. I'm gonna go put on some blue jeans, too, and get my red sweater. If you want you could wear the locket necklace Ric and I got you. Get used to wearing it so that way you always have your parents with you. Love you Sweetie!"

Jenna blew me a kiss and went to got dressed herself. Ric and Jeremy were in Jeremy's guy cave. It sounded like they were watching a game on TV. You would think with all the space between my room and his that I wouldn't hear anything. Then I heard Jenna tell them to get dressed to go next door. Jenna is definitely the kind of friend I needed during this time.

I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie and Caroline have been up to and how their Christmases were going.

Bella – 5:30PM December 25, 2009

"I'm sorry Dad! I'm so sorry!" I kept blubbering my apology over and over.

"Bells! Baby! What's wrong?!" Charlie's voice sounded alarmed.

"It's just, so many memories. I'm such a klutz." I managed to get out between sobs. Charlie managed to get me to the couch to sit down. He went over and plugged in the tree before sitting down next to me. "Why am I so accident prone?"

"Bells, some people are. There really isn't a good explanation as to why. What's brought this on?"

"I don't know," I lied, "maybe the sting of the paper cut. Can you get me the ointment and a Band-Aid?" How could I tell my father it was my fault that everyone had left…?

"Sure thing, Bells. Here you go."

"Thanks, Dad." I took the ointment and put a dab on the cut before wrapping my finger in the Band-Aid. I mentally got control of myself, just like Tabby and I worked on. Soon enough I was back to being myself. I gave myself a mental beating for the break down.

I finished opening the envelope. Inside were two vouchers to Florida to see my mom. The dates listed on the vouchers were for Spring Break. I looked down and the vouchers were for three passengers. "Wow, Dad! Thanks! But who will I take?"

"I thought that you, Angela, and maybe Jessica would all like some time in the sun. And it would give you a chance to go see your mom."

"Thanks, Dad! This is great!" I barreled into Charlie giving him a huge hug and a small kiss on the top of his head. I went over to the mantle and grabbed his old wool sock and tossed it to him. I didn't have the best arm, but he still was able to catch it. Then, walking over to the tree, I grabbed the two other presents and sat them down by Charlie. "Now, it's your turn!"

"Now Bells, I know I told you no presents," he grumbled, pretending to sound stern.

"I know, but I didn't listen. And you didn't listen to me either, I might add."

Charlie grabbed the large box. As he removed the paper from the box, he saw the new fish-finder sonar radar system for his boat. Lifting the next package, he grinned at me. "I think I know what this is," he teased, "it's a new fishing pole." I shot him a grimace. But even though he guessed it, I could tell from his face he wasn't expecting this nice of one. "Oh, Bells, thank you Sweetheart! Thank you! This is much too nice. You shouldn't have."

"I'm glad you like it, Dad" was all I said in response.

Charlie then looked at the sock in his hands. "You know, Bells, a mismatched, old sock is kind of a letdown after these two gifts," he teased.

"Look INSIDE the sock, silly!" I bantered back.

"Oh," he chuckled. He pulled out the small envelope containing the information for his fishing trip. As he read the papers telling him what it was, his eyes widened. "Bells, I can't accept this from you. It's too much, far too much!"

"Dad, it technically isn't from me. Didn't you read the tag?" I teased. Charlie glanced at the tag.

"Santa, huh? Aren't I a little old for a gift from Santa?" he asked.

"Nope! Santa visits everyone, a dad should know that!" I said jokingly.

"Well," he said to the ceiling, "Thank you Santa!"

Charlie's Cuckoo clock on the mantle rang out telling us it was 6:00PM. I jumped up and ran to the fridge to pull out all the food I had prepped earlier. I turned the oven on to pre-heat before turning to the deep fryer. I poured some vegetable oil into the deep fryer and turned it on. I normally would use peanut oil but I wasn't sure about peanut allergies so I used vegetable oil instead. I also had scrubbed the stainless steel deep fryer to remove all residue of peanut oil, just in case.

When the little light turned off to indicate the oil was hot, I placed the first fillet of fish into the basket and dropped it in. After a couple of minutes that piece was finished. I placed it onto a paper towel covered plate to catch the extra grease before placing it on a cookie sheet in the oven to keep it warm. I continued this process with the rest of the fish. Then I planned on frying the sweet potato waffle fries. And this should take me until the neighbors arrive.

Elena – 6:15PM December 25, 2009

I was almost bouncing off the walls with excitement. I was trying to sit still on the little bench in the foyer by the door. Ric ran upstairs quick to get Jeremy. Apparently Ric is the only one who Jeremy trusts right now. He was struggling back in Mystic Falls living in the house we grew up in, but now he was struggling here. He thought we were going to the neighbor's because I had made a quick friend. Ric said he would try to convince him to give the neighbors a chance, at least for the free food. I sat bouncing on the bench glancing from the large grandfather clock, which was just inside the living room, and the stairs and back. Finally, I saw Jeremy and Ric coming down the stairs. Jeremy had his arms crossed over his chest.

"At least he came down," I grumbled to myself. "So, can we finally go?" I added.

"Yes, in three minutes. It will literally take a minute tops to walk across the yard." Jenna replied.

"Fine," I consented, glancing back at the grandfather clock.

"Ric, should we bring that bottle of wine as a gift?" Jenna asked.

"That is a nice idea, Babe, but I'll bring our neighbor one of my bottle's of Jack."

Jenna and I both rolled our eyes as Ric went and grabbed the whiskey out of the kitchen, when he returned, we headed out the door.

A/N:

There it was! The Prologue and Chapter 1! I decided to give you Chapter 1 to let you see how my style is and get a feel for what I was doing. Is it good? Do y'all like it? Think it's worth sticking to? I know my Beta loves it. Until Sunday the 20th!