I don't own Twilight.

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Last chapter:

Edward and Jasper began sliding open the counter so we could get out when the gunshots started going off. I felt myself fall into unconsciousness as everything went into chaos.

I slowly opened my eyes to find sunlight coming through a large window in front of me. The shades were pulled back which is why everything seemed so bright. I could feel the soft bed underneath me, but I couldn't remember how I got here or where this room was. My head ached, and I ran my fingers through my hair trying to remember what had happened. I sat up quickly, fearing that they had taking me back. The last thing I could recall were the gunshots.

"Hey, hey, hey. You're okay, Isabella."

I glanced over and found Edward sitting in a chair near the bed. "What happened?"

Edward walked over to me and sat down on the edge of the bed, "You passed out when the gunshots started. Alice helped me get you up here before they could get to you. She stayed with you the whole time. James and Laurent saw a glimpse of Emmett through the window and decided to open fire on the house. The bullet just grazed Emmett's arm. Everyone else is fine. Rosalie grabbed his gun and fired back on them. She definitely did more than graze their arms."

"I'm so sorry to be causing you all of this trouble. I shouldn't have come. I'm so so sorry," I said with a whisper. I couldn't believe the things I've already caused for these people. Emmett could have been hurt much worse, and it would've been all my fault if that had happened.

"Isabella, no. Don't think like that. We knew that you would be coming at some point, and it was going to be our job to help keep you safe," Edward reassured me with a small smile.

"Please, call me Bella. Isabella is just…Please don't call me that."

Edward watched me closely, "Bella…I can do that. Why are they after you, anyway? What happened?"

My head jerked up to meet Edward's eyes. "You mean you don't know? Do any of you know?" If they didn't know why I had run away, then I wasn't tainted here. I could be myself. I wouldn't have to be defined by them and what they did.

Edward shook his head, "Esme knows something, I'm assuming. She told us not to bother you about it. All we know is you are Renee's daughter and you would need a safe house."

"I'd rather not talk about it. Not now at least. I'm very sorry, Edward."

I would never talk about it again. You can't trust anyone anymore, and if they knew the truth, they might even send me back. Esme knows, but I doubt my mother even told her the details of everything. Details are where things get tricky. Details are where perspectives and biases come into play, and that is something I can't afford to have turned around on me. So the less people that know, the safer I will be.

Edward nodded and mentioned that he should go tell Esme that I was awake. I had only slept through the morning, so nothing was concerning. I watched Edward leave and then made my way over to the window. The sun was so large shining down on everything. I don't remember the last time I was even allowed outside in the sun. I guess I still shouldn't go outside now, but this is better than nothing. I still have to be confined even though the situations are different. Flowers were beginning to bloom in the fields, so I figured that it must be spring leading into summer. It wasn't cold during the day anymore so I knew winter was officially over. It was easy to lose track of time, being confined in a cell. I could see a deer in the distance standing by a grove of trees. There were butterflies fluttering around the partially opened flowers and birds chirping away from their nests. I wanted desperately to go outside and be a part of this beautiful world, but I have grown to understand that it isn't for me. I'll always be the one on the inside, looking out to the world.

"Bella, honey, I'm so glad to see you awake. You had me worried."

I spun around to find Esme coming into the room. "I'm okay. Thank you so much, Esme. I'm sorry to be causing problems to you and your family."

Esme walked over and enfolded me in a hug. "My dear, your mother told me about you many years ago. How is she now?" Esme asked with a smile.

My heart skipped a beat at that question. I had thought she knew about my mother. "My mother is dead."

Esme's smile quickly fell and her eyes filled with tears. "Bella…I'm so sorry."

I shook my head and walked back over to the bed to sit down. "She made them mad. She refused to have another for them. I'm assuming you knew what my mother did there?"

Esme gave a small nod and came to sit beside me. "You don't need to talk about it now. Your mother was a brave woman, Bella. You should be so proud of everything that she accomplished."

I swallowed back the tears that I could feel coming and took a deep breath. "How did you know my mother?"

"We grew up together. Carlisle got me out of that place when I was very young. We were going to come back for Renee, but they wouldn't let him do anything for her. Then you came along and she refused to leave. There was no way she could have made that run with a baby, and she never would have even thought about leaving you behind. You were Renee's little spot of light in that terrible life. We went back to see her in secret twice a month for a year, but then it got too dangerous. They increased security and we never got to see her again. On the last night, she told me that she was going to raise you knowing the secrets and how to escape. I told her that Carlisle and I wouldn't leave this house, no matter what. Renee was an astounding woman. And she loved you more than the world, Bella."

I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks and I quickly wiped them away. I threw my arms around Esme and cried into her shoulder. "Thank you, Esme. Thank you for staying and keeping your promise to my mother. Thank you for saving me."

Esme held me close and ran her fingers through my hair. "I promise that you are safe now, my dear. Nothing will happen to you as long as you are here."

XxXxX

I fell back asleep after Esme left the room. When I woke up, the sun was beginning to go down. I could hear someone talking downstairs so I decided to see who was there. I walked around the corner at the bottom of the stairs and found Edward talking into a phone.

"Yeah, dad. I'm on watch. Don't worry about it…I think I can take care of her; she isn't even awake…Okay…Okay, dad…Yeah, I'll see you all later on." Edward hung up the phone and sat down on the couch, turning on the television.

I cleared my throat as I walked over to him. "Hey, Edward."

"Oh, Bella. Hey. I didn't know you had woken up. Everyone ran out on some errands. Carlisle and Esme are getting some more groceries. Everyone else went to get some clothes for you."

I went and sat beside him on the couch. "I'm so sorry for causing trouble for you and your family."

"No, it's fine. James and Laurent are assholes. They would have shown up at some point to accuse Esme and Carlisle of something else at some point."

I nodded and looked down at my hands. I couldn't tell if Edward was being friendly or snobby. He wouldn't look at me when he talked, but his words seemed kind enough. Alice and Esme are the only two that I definitely knew didn't despise me being here.

"Hey, you okay?"

I looked up, meeting Edward's eyes, and nodded. "So none of you know why I'm here?"

Edward shook his head, "You don't need to talk about it though. It's okay."

"I would like to tell you. If you want to hear it. It's just difficult for me to get through. With as much as you all have already helped me though, you deserve to know."

I took a deep breath and got ready to tell my story.

What did you think? Next chapter will be Bella's story. Does anyone have any ideas of what she might have went through? Please review and let me know your thoughts!