Thank you to those that read and reviewed the first chapter. It is encouraging to get a positive response, you never know if people are going to be interested in your story or not. Hopefully you continue to enjoy it.

This story is rated M for mature content.

I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 2

Alice

December 31st 2010

I had the television on for background noise, if only to remind myself that life did go on and that there were people out there enjoying themselves on New Year's Eve. I stared at the happy faces on the screen as I tried to forget the last year of my life.

Exactly one year ago today - almost to the exact minute – I had my four best friends around me as we toasted the coming of the New Year. Our faces were flushed with excitement, our hearts were light and our optimism overflowed; we all knew that change was in the air. Foolishly we did not consider that all change would not be good. That possibility did not even enter our heads.

Exactly one year ago today, I suggested that we all make resolutions, ones that would indeed alter the course of our lives. It had almost turned into a competition of sorts, each one of us pushing each other and ourselves to the brink, determined to succeed no matter what. If only I could have known the future back then. If only I could go back and change everything. If only…

Present day, 31st December 2009

"3-2-1…Happy New Year!"

I looked around at my group of friends and laughed, truly caught up in the moment. I was bursting at the seams from holding my news in, and could not wait to share it a minute longer.

"Right, so are we going to do it then. This resolution thing, I mean," Bella asked us all.

"Okay, so let me go first then, after all it was my flippin' brilliant idea," I said with a laugh.

"Sure, sure, get it started. And god forbid you actually curse, Al. You do know that you are an adult now, don't you?" As always, Rose was the smart alec who had to pick up my lack of swearing. Ever since I could remember, it just made me feel uncomfortable, and none of the girls ever let me live it down.

"Sooooo, my new years resolution is…" I drawled, trying to put as much suspense into my announcement as I could.

"Come on, Al." Rose said, impatient as always.

"Well, you have probably noticed that I didn't partake in tonight's beverages, and you no doubt have guessed…"

"I knew it. Congratulations, Al, I'm so happy for you," Rose squealed as she bounced over in my direction.

"Careful Rose, precious cargo on board," added Bella, as she hugged me from the side and whispered her own best wishes.

"Well done, Ali. You and Jasper will be the best parents," Tanya chimed in as she wedged in for her own hug.

"Thanks guys, I knew you would think something was off when I refused our infamous Margaritas." I had given up all of my little vices, alcohol included, from the moment that Jasper and I decided to try and start a family. I would do whatever it took to make sure that this baby was healthy and happy.

"So, Al, we need details. How far along are you, was it planned, do you have names picked out yet?"

"Holy buckets, Rose, one question at a time!" I knew that Rosalie would be over the moon at the news. Having a family has always been number one on her list, and she would be the best - if somewhat over protective - aunt that any child could ask for.

"Okay, so I am only about 6 weeks along. We were going to wait to tell everyone, but I just couldn't keep it from you guys any longer. It's the reason that we are moving back to Port Angeles in a month, and …."

"What!" All three of my girls yelled at the same time.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you that. Jazz and I are moving back to the Port at the end of the month. We figured that we can still organise and set up tours from anywhere, and where better than the place we all grew up and where my girls are." I shrugged; it really was a no brainer. Jasper and I had had enough of the travelling and living out of a suitcase, and we wanted somewhere that felt like home to raise a family.

"Al, this is the best news. Ever!" Bella shouted, doing a little jig on the blanket and promptly falling over her own two left feet.

"We can't wait to move back, we have just been waiting for the right time I guess. And to answer your questions Rose, yes, it was planned and no, no names yet. I'm hoping that you guys will provide me with some inspiration." I was sure to be bombarded with names from the girls. In fact, the serious look of contemplation on their faces already told me that they had already started to think about it.

"So, no need to throw any names my way just yet. We are going to find out the sex of the baby, so as soon as I know, I will spread the good word."

For a couple of minutes we all just sat in silence, as we enjoyed the atmosphere and the company.

"Okay, Al. The news is wonderful and all, but I thought that this was going to be your resolution - to start a family this year. It's already a done deal, so what is your resolution going to be? A natural birth, maybe? You know, no drugs or anything." Bella looked at me with interest. I'm surprised she even remembered the resolutions with the amount of alcohol she had in her system. One thing about Bella and alcohol; they did not mix. At all.

"Oh, I had forgotten about that in all of the excitement. And can I just say, do you even know me at all, Bella? Natural and I do not exist in the same sentence. Anything that will take away the pain is just fine with me. In fact, the more the merrier. Load me up and I'm good to go!" I couldn't resist a shudder as I thought about going through childbirth with nothing to mask the pain. When I said that Bella and alcohol do not mix well, the same can be said for pain and me. In fact, I had been known in the past to pass out before the needle even got anywhere near my arm when I gave blood. The very thought of it was enough to send me running for the hills.

"No, it's actually something quite serious, and something that I haven't told anyone, except Jazz of course, before now," I said when I noticed that they had quieted down a little.

"When I told mom and dad our good news, they decided to pass on a little something to me as well. Turns out, I'm adopted, and my parents never knew the right time to tell me. I guess they figured that now that I am about to start my own family, I should know the truth. My birth mother was apparently young, unwed and pregnant with an unwanted child. My father was not even listed on the birth certificate, so he must not have wanted to have anything to do with the whole situation. Anyways, I was taken to an orphanage, and the rest, as they say, is history. My mom and dad adopted me, and raised me to be none the wiser."

Even though I had learned all of this a couple of weeks ago and had just stated the facts, I was only a couple of sentences in before the tears fell. It still hurt that my parents had taken so long to tell me, and that I had a family out there that I had never had the opportunity to know.

The girls were instantly by my side, and as they hugged and comforted me, I knew that I had made the right decision to get it out into the open. I had briefly considered not telling anyone and just going on with my life, but I really needed to come to terms with this, and I was positive that they would all help me.

"Thanks guys, for being there for me. It means more than you'll ever know." Tanya handed me a tissue, and Rose gave me a squeeze.

"All right, so where were we? Right, so now I know that I am adopted, and all I can think about is finding my birth mother and learning a little bit more about her. And that is where my resolution comes in. This year, I am going to find her. I know her name, the hospital that I was born in and the orphanage that I was taken to. Shouldn't be too hard, right?" I raised my eyes to the circle of friends and I noticed that all of them had tears in their eyes.

"Guys, please don't cry. I know that it is a lot of information to deal with, but I am seriously okay with it all, and now I just need to move on. Besides, I have happy things to deal with, like moving back here and setting up house – complete with nursery and all." That got the desired result, and everyone broke out in smiles once again.

"I'm going to be an aunty," cried Rose as she started to pour another round of cocktails. It was no fun being the only sober one, but I certainly would not miss the hangover tomorrow morning.

"So are we," added Tanya and Bella, with their arms already extended for another drink. Hopeless cases, all three of them. And I couldn't love them any more than I did right now.

Minutes ticked by, cocktails were consumed and the conversation got sillier. It wasn't long before Tanya, Rose and Bella were all fighting to stand in the center of our picnic rug.

"What the flip are you all doing?" I asked, only to be laughed at by one and all.

"We all want to be next with our resolutions," Rose yelled, simultaneously pushing the others out of the way.

"So I guess the floor is yours then, Rose. So let's have it. What does the new year have in store for you?"

I already knew what her resolution was going to be. Rosalie was always transparent in almost every aspect of her life. For the past few years, all of her dreams had settled around that mother trucker Royce. We had all vocalised our dislike of him over the years, but Rose would never listen to a word that any one of us had uttered. She was such a smart and independent woman, and none of us could figure out how she put up with his heavy-handed tactics and complete domination. We were all hoping that she would figure it out on her own.

"Weellll, I've been thinking long and hard about this," she started, as her gaze swept over the three of us. One thing that Rose could do exceptionally well was control a crowd – she knew she had our undivided attention.

"This year is going to be the year of the rose, where all of my dreams will finally come true. That is why, the only resolution that I have for 2010 is…"

Taking a leaf out of my book, Rose had decided to draw it out. As I looked around our little circle, I noticed that we were all on the edge of our seats, or blankets as it may be.

As she continued to talk, I plastered a smile on my face and pretended that I was as excited about this as she was. For once in my life, I really hoped like heck that one of my closest friends didn't realise their dream. Unfortunately for Rose, I saw similar expressions on the remainder of the dream team. I just hoped that we could all be there for Rose, whether we liked it or not.

A/N: Thanks for taking the time to read. So, Rose's resolution is more predictable. Guesses, anyone?

Reviews are welcome.