Chapter Two: Five Years Later

BELLAS POV

"Bells, sweetheart, can you grab Lexi from daycare?"

"But Jake" I whine "I have to finish packing."

"Seriously Bella. How long have you known that we're going to visit with our father's for the holiday!?"

"Long enough—but in my defense you knew all my bad habits when you married me."

"Sure, sure, whatever." He smiled my favorite Jacob Black smile at me, and I had kiss his perfectly full lips.

"Mmmhmmm—can't we just stay—kiss a while?" my eyebrow raised seductively.

"With how absolutely wonderful that sounds—and believe me babe it sounds like heaven. You know our dad's will be extremely upset if we don't visit this year. We've avoid Forks long enough."

His words remind me of the day that I packed up my bag. Hand and hand with Jacob, we headed for someplace sunny and dry. Someplace that my memories couldn't follow. Jacob had known the real reason that we left Forks, and the reason that I was scared to death to return. However, to my father, it just appeared that I was avoiding him.

"I know--"

"They're gone Bells. You're father has insured me for the past five years that they haven't returned. I promise you, they won't ever hurt you like that again. Not as long as I'm alive and well. I will never let them do that to you again."

I sighed happily, as I leaned against Jacob. He kissed the top of my head.

"I love you Bells."

"I love you too Jake."

He kissed my lips lightly.

"Now, I'll pack for you—you go get Lexi--"

"Fine." I sigh, smiling softly.

Grabbing my purse and the keys to our small SUV I head out the door.

Pulling up to the curb of the Little One's Daycare, I see Sarah Jones holding onto Alexandra's hand. Her long flowing black hair and her dark Indian skin color is the only indication that Jacob is her father. Every other feature about Lexi had me written all over it. She even inherited my clumsiness, which upset me at first. Not that I really shouldn't have been surprised. When you have someone as clumsy as me, having children, well those children are bound to pick up a trait or too of clumsiness.

"Momma!" Lexi shrieked once inside the vehicle.

"Hi baby, how was Daycare?"

"I missed you and daddy."

This was her answer everyday that I picked her up from daycare. I watched as Sarah walked slowly around to my side of the SUV, and I knew it meant that Lexi had done something. Whether it was good or bad though, was the answer I was soon to find out.

"Hello Bella, getting ready to head off to see your folks?"

"Yeah, I believe that our plane takes off in a couple of hours. Jake's finishing up the packing as we speak."

Sarah laughed lightly, we have been friends for a few years— since Lexi's been coming to the daycare. She knows that when I say he's finishing up the packing, I mean mine.

"Do I really want to know?" I raise my eyebrow, and glance over my shoulder at Lexi who has dragged a couple of her toys into the front seat and is playing with them.

"Bella—she needs to start school soon. She's too intelligent for just plain ol' daycare."

"Well, we couldn't get her into a preschool, they were all full at the time. She can't start Kindergarten until next year--"

"I guess that'll have to be fine. I mean it though, she's so very intelligent Bella."

"It almost makes you wonder where she gets it from."

Not that I wasn't saying that me or Jake aren't smart. More so though, is that Lexi can already spell small words, recite her alphabet and her numbers. She can almost write her name—not that it's very legible, but still. She isn't even five yet.

"You and Jake are smart--"

"Me and Jake couldn't do the things that our 'gifted' child can."

The words I speak make me thing of them—or well him in particular. It's been nearly three years since I've thought of him. I haven't utter his name, or so much had a dream of him since we left Forks.

"Sometimes things like this happen."

I know as she speaks shes not just talking about how smart Lexi is anymore. Alexandra is the tallest child at the daycare—though most of them are nearly a year younger than her. She's still very tall for her age. She appears to look more like a six year old, than an almost five year old. I know where she gets her size from.

"Though I guess it's no surprise about her height. Jacob is what—seven foot tall?"

She laughs lightly. Only she's not far off. "No—but close—he's six foot seven."

"Seriously? Why have I never asked that before? I mean I know he's near giant status, but I can't believe I haven't asked before."

I shrug, and fake looking at the clock. I'm done talking to her about Jacob and Lexi.

"We really have to go. Jake's gonna wonder where we're at. I'll see you when we get back."

With a small wave at Sarah, I put the vehicle in gear, and we're off.

EDWARDS POV

I know where we are headed, and I am fully against it. I only agree because my constant poor outlook on life has worn about as thin as it can on my family. I don't want to lose the last thing in this world that I care about, so I relent and allow them to take me back to Forks, in an attempt to win back my lost love.

"I have to warn you Edward. Finding her might be difficult. What with your inability to read her mind, and since I've lost the ability to find her future."

"Are you sure she's still---"

"Yes Edward, she's alive—I think."

"Gee Alice, why don't you be a little more descriptive."

"Edward, your sour mood is really starting to wear on my patience."

I notice for the first time that she isn't smile, or cheery—or any of things Alice used to be, before I left Bella and turned into the worlds most depressed vampire.

"I am sorry. I don't mean to bring everyone down." If I could cry, I know I'd be crying right now.

"Edward, sweetheart. It isn't so much that you've brought us down. It hurts us to see you like this. That girl means the world to you. Sweetheart, she means the world to all of us."

I know better than to include Rosalie in that, and Esme changes her tactics after she hears a low rumbling grow coming from Rosalie.

"She is important Edward. Do not feel bad for loving her so—she deserves all the love in the world."

"Thank you Esme--"

I sigh deeply as we come into the town's limits. In no time I will see Bella Swan, and for the first time in five years, I feel almost—happy. If I had a beating heart, it would be going crazy in my chest right now, at just the thought of seeing Bella.