Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight. The entire Twilight kingdom belongs to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.


6:45 AM.

"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP…"

The loud alarm clock startled me out of my deep sleep. Looking at the clock, I turned off the noisy machine and sat up, rubbing my eyes with balled fists. The day officially began.

After putting on my robe and shuffling into my slippers, I padded down the carpeted stairs to begin my morning routine. As I made my coffee, I spotted a note taped to the countertop. Smiling, I read:

I just wanted to say I love you one more time. Have fun today, and make sure you tell Schuyler I said Daddy loves her. You should have seen yourself last night, talking in your sleep. You are adorable. Be safe today-I'm not there to protect you from your own clumsiness. I love you more than you know.

-E

The smile that overcame my lips was enormous. I giggled, folding the piece of paper and reaching for the remote to turn on the news. Twirling a strand of hair around my finger, I waited for the screen to come to life.

"…and like I said before, it looks great here in sunny New York. It's 66 degrees and sunny with a slight wind on this gorgeous September 11th. Well, that's it for the weather. I'm Alan Sprouse, wishing you a delightful day. Now, let's send it back over to Karen…"

I watched for a few more moments, then changed the channel. 'Nothing special is going on…I'll just put it on Schuyler's channel…she'll be awake in a few moments anyways,' I thought, before putting down the remote and jogging up the stairs to go wake up my daughter.

7:59 A.M. American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 with 92 people on board, departs Boston's Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

After both Schuyler and myself were dressed and ready, I loaded my four year old up and headed to Stonybrook Preschool.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?" Schuyler asked, twirling her hair mindlessly around her finger, a habit that she obviously developed from her mother.

"You know Daddy's at work, you silly goose. He says he loves you, and he'll be home for dinner," I replied, looking at my bubbly daughter through the rear-view mirror.

"O-tay," Schuyler replied, sighing with bliss.

8:14 A.M. United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 with 65 people on board, departs from Boston's Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

As I pulled up infront of the building, I spotted Alice pulling a stubborn little girl on the sidewalk. Opening my car door, I couldn't help but laugh at the situation unfolding before me.

"But I don't want to go!!" The girl was screaming. Her hands were grasped firmly by her mother's, and her feet seemed to be cemented in place. Her little butt, masked behind a flowery pink dress, was sticking out behind her in an odd angle, resulting in a very humorous scene.

"But honey, you're going to be late!" Alice took this time to glance at her watch. "Come on, Aisling. I promise you're going to have fun today!"

"NO! I hate this dress, I hate these shoes, and I hate this bow in my hair! I don't like my teacher, either. I'm not going in!" Alice and Jasper's daughter, Aisling, was a year and a half older than Schuyler. And much to Alice's dismay, she was a total tomboy with an extensive vocabulary for a five and a half year old. However, Alice still dressed her up in little expensive dresses and ribbons, hoping that one day she would change her mind and become the girly girl Alice had always hoped for.

8:20 A.M. American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 with 64 people on board, departs Washington Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

"Aisling Hale, you better listen to Mommy. You are going inside, and you're going to have fun today. I bet Schuyler is already in there, waiting to play with you!" Alice cried, giving another gentle tug to her stubborn daughter's arms.

"No, she's right here," I laughed, speaking up for the first time since I had walked with Schuyler to the sidewalk. "Come on, Ais. You can walk Schuyler inside with you."

"Mkay!" Aisling laughed, skipping over and taking her little cousin's hand before running through the entrance.

"Bye Mommy!" They yelled in unison.

After waving and blowing kisses to the girls, Alice and I turned to walk back to the parking lot.

"I still don't get why she'll listen to you so easily. I've been fighting with her like that all morning," Alice huffed.

"It's because I'm not her mother," I chuckled, pulling my keys out of my purse and unlocking my door.

Alice laughed. "I know. She's just such a stubborn little girl sometimes. But hey, before I forget, Jazz mentioned something about us bringing lunch to the firehouse for the boys, and staying awhile to eat. He said he figured it was going to be a slow day."

"Yeah, Edward mentioned that too. How about I'll pick up something, and then you can meet me there at noon. Bring a movie!" I replied, kissing my fairy-like sister-in-law on the cheek.

8:40 A.M. The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector of the suspected hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11.

8:42 A.M. United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 with 44 people on board, departs from Newark International Airport bound for San Francisco International Airport.

8:43 A.M. The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector of the suspected hijacking of United Airlines Flight 175.

8:45 A.M.. American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the north World Trade Center tower (1 Tower). The plane enters the north face at floors 94-98.

8:58 A.M. FDNY firefighter radios erupt with a "10-60", the code for a major emergency.

9:02 A.M.

After I had returned home, taken a shower, and had occupied myself by doing laundry, I heard the shrill ring of the telephone.

"Hello?" I answered, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder, still loading dirty clothes into the washing machine.

"Have you talked to Rosalie?!" Alice shouted. "Is Emmett working today?!"

"Alice, calm down. What are you talking about?" I answered, rolling my eyes as I poured fabric softener into the dispenser.

"I tried calling Emmett's cell, but he didn't answer. I tried calling Rose on her cell and at home, but there wasn't an answer there either. Oh my God, Bella, I hope he's okay. He has to be okay. I can't believe this is happening! I just—"

"Alice! Deep breath! Calm down!" I interrupted, reaching over to turn the dial to start the washing machine. "Now, tell me what you're talking about."

"Oh my God, Bella, you don't know?! Go turn on channel four, now."

I sighed, walking from the laundry room into the living room. After searching for the remote, I turned the channel on.

"…and for those of you just tuning in, we have breaking news. At around 8:45 this morning, there was a plane that crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center…"

9:03 AM. United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center (2 Tower). The plane enters the south face at floors 78-84.

"…and oh my God, there goes another one! Another plane has just crashed into the second tower!" The news reporter was yelling.

I was speechless as the phone fell to the ground, my jaw opened slightly in shock. All I could think about was Emmett. My lovable older brother worked in the north tower.