Bella's POV

Edward.

Did I just…shoot Edward?

I closed my eyes tightly but snapped them open when I heard a crash. I saw that I just grazed his shirt and the bullet went through the large glass screen behind him, shattering it instantly.

I looked back at him. At his face. I couldn't believe it. Here he was. Right in front of me, after all this time.
Slowly, hesitantly, I brought my hand to his cheek. His icy cold, granite cheek, and sighed.
I felt him exhale as I inhaled his scent.
The scent I'd been longing for since he left 2 years ago. Since the apocalypse started.

The apocalypse…

I gasped and jumped back.

"Bella…" I heard him say questioningly. I didn't listen.

I lifted my gun and aimed it right ahead of me with extended arms, almost as a warning.

"Isabel," I heard from behind me. I turned around and saw the rest of my team all gathered at the foot of the staircase. "We heard gunshots…"

"Stay back!" I warned.

"Are they infected?" Kyle asked, his gun pointing at the rest of the Cullens as he moved to stand beside me.

"I don't know," I said back to him. "They don't appear to be…but…"

"Appearances can be deceiving," he finished as I heard a few other guns cock behind us.

"Are they seriously talking about us like we aren't here?" Rosalie exclaimed, annoyed.

I turned to her and pointed my weapon directly at her. "Who are you?"

They all seemed to blanch for a second.

"ANSWER ME! I asked you a question! Who are you?" I kept my gun up and face straight.

"Rosalie," she said, her face scrunching in fear.

"Are you vampires?" Kyle asked.

They all nodded, stiff with fear. Of course they would be scared. These bullets can kill anything. That's what the army designed them to do.
For a few minutes, nobody moved and we all just stared at one another. The Cullens with their hands slightly raised as a sign of peace, and us with our guns pointed directly at them, prepared to kill.

After a moment I looked back at Edward and examined him. Then I couldn't help but relax my stance a tiny bit as I remembered his gorgeous features. His bronze, wind swept hair. His angular features. His plump, slightly red lips. His beautiful, clear amber eyes…

Suddenly, I thawed out and lowered my gun.

"It's alright," I said. "They're not infected."

When nobody relaxed, I groaned and dropped my arm to my side.
Then everybody seemed to exhale simultaneously. Still, nobody moved, and my team was still clutching onto their weapons. I smiled. At least they knew to be cautious.

"It's okay," I said a little louder, turning to face them. They nodded and lowered their weapons.

Only Kyle seemed to keep his stance. I put my hand on his shoulder and shook my head when he looked at me. Then he nodded and relaxed some.
I turned back to Edward who was slowly backing away to the rest of his family, their hands still raised.

"Sorry for pointing a gun at you," I said to them. Then I looked at Edward. "And almost shooting you in the arm."

When none of them responded I shrugged and turned back to my team. "Well, I guess I was mistaken by thinking nobody would be here." Then I looked down at the towel that covered my body. "And I wasn't prepared for this. So, let's get our things and leave, okay?"

They all nodded and packed away their guns, that is, except for Kyle and Angie.
I turned back to the Cullens and prepared to apologize on behalf of my family.

"We're very sorry. I didn't think you, or anyone, would be here. It was careless of me and I apologize on the behalf of my team. We were just leaving, anyway." I didn't wait for their reactions before heading towards the staircase.

"Wait," I heard. I turned around and saw Carlisle walking towards me, though still keeping a safe distance. "You don't have to go. There's enough room for everyone." At that I heard Rosalie snicker. I ignored it. "Please, stay."

I was about to refuse when Angie stepped forward, opening her big mouth once again.

"Thank you. It would mean a lot to us," she said.

"Angie!" I scolded, moving towards her, "we cannot stay. It would be rude."

"They offered," she said, without even looking at me.

Suddenly my blood boiled. Without thinking, slammed her into the wall to our side and held her there by the collar. She didn't move.

"Bella!" I heard from behind me. I didn't turn to see who it was.

I was too focused on the girl in front of me.

"You listen to me and listen well, Angelica," I started, in a deadly whisper. "I am your superior. You do as I say!" I got up into her face. "You don't ever talk back to me. Now I'm fine with staying if that's what you wanted, but I don't like your attitude. You will straighten out, or I will do it for you. Do you understand?" When she didn't answer, I lifted her and slammed her harder into the bricks, earning a whimper. "I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"Y-Yes," she whispered.

"Know your place," I said, before letting her go.

She nodded and scrambled away from me.
I sighed and shook my head, turning to the rest of them, who were now staring at me with wide eyes.

"That goes for all of you," I said to them. "I'm here to guide you and I will keep you safe. Of course, I love you all. You're my family, and I only want what's best for us. What will keep us alive. But if any of you step out of line," I said looking directly at Angie, now standing behind Chris, "I have no problem shooting you in the arm myself. Got that?"

They all nodded and I heard a few mumbled apologies from them.

I sighed and turned to the Cullens. "Fine. We'll stay for a while. Now if you'll excuse me." I said walking up the stairs. "I'll be right back."

After changing into my clothes, I lingered in the bathroom for a while. I felt sorry for what I had done to Angie. She was like a sister to me. But they all had to know their places. And it was my job to show them what that was.
After a few minutes, I decided to go and see what they were up to.
I don't think I was ready to accept that Edward was back. It was all too much. I decided to put off the realization for as long as possible.

When I got downstairs I shocked at what I saw.
My team…and the Cullens….sitting in a circle…talking…

It was too much. I started getting dizzy. I needed a smoke.

"Hey, Kyle," I said as I entered the room, "You got any smokes?"

He nodded and pulled out an opened pack of Ace cigarettes. I took the first one I touched as he handed me a lighter.
I placed the cancer stick in my mouth and lit it up, taking a deep drag.

"Bella," I heard Alice say, "you smoke?"

"Obviously," I said, blowing out a cloud of smoke into the air. "You guys don't mind, do you?"

They all shook their heads politely but Edward and Carlisle.

"Bella, that is an extremely bad habit," Carlisle said.

"Call me Isabel or Isabella, please," I said taking another pull. "And I already know that."

"It could kill you," Edward said quietly.

I blew the smoke in his direction. "We're all dying anyway aren't we? Every day? I mean," I said taking another long drag, "you wanted me to be human. And this is it in all its glory. Sad, isn't it?"

He didn't respond. I chuckled and took another drag. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Esme shaking her head. This offended me for some reason that I couldn't possibly fathom.

"Kyle," I said, dropping the filter of my cigarette to the floor and crushing it beneath my boots, "will you please be a dear and escort everyone outside for a few moments. I have a feeling the Cullens might want to see me privately for a little while."

And looking at each of their anxious faces I could tell it was all too true. I wasn't looking forward to it, but the sooner we got it out of the way the sooner we could move on with our lives.

"Sure," he said, standing up.

He had walked a few steps before he realized that nobody was following him. He turned around and saw that he was the only one walking out.

"Guys," I said, looking at each member of my family, "please. I won't be long."

After exchanging a few hesitant glances at me, then at each other, they all slowly stood up and began walking towards the front door.

"Don't go too far, alright," I called after them. "Stay safe!"

Once they were securely out of earshot, I turned back to the seven vampires that were seated in front of me. We all seemed to be waiting to see who would be brave enough to begin the forthcoming and inevitable conversation. But I was not a patient person.

"So . . . " I began, unsure of what they were thinking, "Is there anything you would all like to know?"