Three

(One Month Later...)

Sophia climbed out of her Mini Cooper and looked over at Bella whose face seemed upset. Bella had gotten out of her car, which she admitted was probably the most normal car aside from Edward's Volvo, she admittedly liked Sophia's car. Sophia had been living with the Cullen family for a month, and everyone who had asked got the formulated story of Sophia being one of Carlisle's nieces. Emmett, Edward, and Alice were all adopted, however Emmett was supposedly off at college. Rosalie and Jasper were supposedly off at college and they were twins. Everyone seemed to just flow with the story because they already thought the Cullen parents very generous with their house and space. This only elevated everyone's opinion of Carlisle.

"What's wrong, Bella?" Sophia asked.

She sighed as she followed Sophia. "I just hate it when Edward is gone. I'm always afraid that he'll leave again... even though part of me knows that he will be here."

Sophia couldn't stop the frown from forming on her beautiful face. She remembered the day she had asked Edward about what had happened with Bella when it came to the horrible things that had happened between them. She had been curious after the conversation the two of them had the first day they met while she awaited her fate playing the piano. Edward told her to go into his mind and she felt like she lived it, and she remembered the feeling he had when he left her, the image of her face when he told her he didn't love her. She even saw the images that Jacob had shown him of what she looked like when he had left her. Sophia had hugged Edward quickly afterwards.

"He'll be back, and Bella, don't worry I know that you feel so alone when he's gone..."

"It's harder because he won't let me see Jacob."

Sophia nodded. "Ah, the werewolf friend."

Bella laughed once, absolutely no humor in her voice, and followed Sophia through the front door of the house. "Yes, the werewolf friend."

"He's a young werewolf, Bella. Edward, and Alice are just being cautious to ensure that you are not harmed... and yes, I know that you believe he would never lose his control, but it doesn't matter if he doesn't want to lose control... no werewolf ever wants to lose control around a human that they care about, but the problem is that they cannot help themselves. Their transformations are so dependent on their emotions that there is no telling what will happen. Those who care about you know this, and they just don't want you in that situation. Werewolves can't control what they are like we can."

Bella took a long look at Sophia as they sat on the sofa in the living room was a long pause of silence. "Do you still feel lonely?" She asked quietly.

Sophia could feel the ache from deep inside that she always worked so hard to push away. "I have a family now, and I would never trade that..."

"That isn't what I meant by that question..." Bella's voice trailed off, and she took another breath before she began again. "It's just that you haven't mentioned anything about it lately, but I'm just wondering have you ever considered maybe trying to talk to..."

At that moment the front door flung open and Emmett walked in with Esme, who happened to be carrying an armful of food. The two looked back towards the girls. "How was school today, Bella? Trip over your own feet, or did you manage to make it through the day unscathed?" Emmett asked with a laugh.

Bella rolled her eyes and said, "Do I look injured to you? I came out just fine, not even a scratch, but as for school it was boring... and uneventful."

Esme gave Bella a sympathetic look. "He'll be back in a couple of days, stay positive, dear." She drifted into the kitchen silently leaving the three of them standing in the living room.

As Edward, Alice, and Jasper were out hunting for the weekend everything remained fairly quiet. Carlisle was working so he wasn't there with them very often, but he and Esme had gone hunting the previous weekend so after returning from a hunting trip Carlisle tended to spend a lot of time in the hospital making up for what time had been lost. Emmett was alone now that Rosalie had not returned since the day that Sophia joined their family, and that made things strange around the house for her. He rarely ever talked to Sophia, and when he did it was only out of necessity rather than out of want. Everyone had already paired up for hunting, which left her with Emmett in this round, and she wasn't sure she wanted to go hunting with him, but that was the way that it seemed it was going to work. She was thinking she might be able to drag Jasper with them as she had gotten very close to everyone in the family Alice, Jasper, and Edward being her closest friends, as long as Jasper was okay with going out a second weekend in a row.

Emmett shifted uncomfortably in the spot where he stood and then looked back and forth between the two girls on the sofa. Sophia looked away from Emmett and down at the homework that sat open on her lap. She wanted to do anything that would occupy her mind instead of having to worry about what kind of angry look would be on his face at that moment. She knew that he partially blamed her for the fact that he was alone, and she couldn't stop the feeling of guilt that washed over her every time he would look at her with that hurt expression. His eyes expressing everything, and only made her wish sometimes that she had chosen to leave instead of stay.

She waited until she heard him leave the room until she looked up again, and in those short few minutes of awkward silence she had finished her homework, and so she sat there with Bella at her side struggling through hers. Sophia left Bella concentrating on her work, and walked over to the piano and began to play a song she came up with on her own. Esme drifted into the room a peaceful smile on her face, she always loved the music whenever she or Edward played. As Esme stood there watching her newest daughter Sophia transitioned into her favorite song. She had learned it when she heard Edward playing it for her once. The smile grew wider on her face as she watched Sophia.

Thank you. Esme's voice rushed through Sophia's thoughts.

Time seemed to pass slower than usual, and once Bella finished her homework she sat with Sophia on the piano bench. "So, you never did answer my question correctly."

"I'm not going to answer it the way you want it answered. I just don't feel comfortable talking about that knowing there are other people in this house now who can hear every word if I decided to say it out loud. It's not something I care for people to know."

"I don't understand why you feel so embarrassed about it... maybe you should try talking to..."

Sophia hissed at Bella, interrupting the middle of her sentence. She had jumped off of the piano bench, and for the first time a human looked genuinely afraid of her. "I know where you're going with that sentence, and I'm telling you that it's not a good idea. You might believe that the option in your head is the best option there is, and it would solve this problem, but it's not."

Bella sighed. "You don't even know what I'm thinking, so you have no idea what I was about to say to you."

"Believe me when I say that I'm not quite as blind as Edward can be. He depends a whole lot more on his ability than I do, and I'll tell you now that I've learned to read people in more ways than one. Hearing everything they ever think about is only an added perk." Sophia explained. "I know you well enough now to know where your mind was going with all of that."

"In that case I wish I could make it harder for you to figure me out." Bella muttered throwing herself down on the sofa.

Sophia looked at Bella's pathetic and sad expression and an idea came to mind. She jumped up and grabbed Bella, dragging her towards the front door. "Come with me."

"Why? Where are you taking me?" Bella asked.

"I can't tell you, but I'll tell you this. It's my plan therefore Alice can't see it, and by the time I get you to where I'm taking you it'll give you some time..."

Bella fell into Sophia's car with a bewildered look on her face. "You're being cryptic, and I have to admit that it scares me."

"Yes, well, you shouldn't be scared of me. I already explained this to you."

Sophia sped out onto the main road, soon Bella began to recognize where they were. "YOU CAN'T! You just said..."

"STOP! I need you to listen to me and listen very well." Bella nodded, and then Sophia continued, "You want to see your werewolf friend then this is how you're going to have to do this. Alice can't see my future unless it impacts someone in a huge way. This won't impact anything, plus Alice can't see anything that has to do with werewolves, so now the only way that she can see anything is if you switch your path. I need you to really focus on Edward. So long as you keep thinking about him, I think it will buy you a few minutes, enough for me to get you back to the house before they figure anything out. Got it?"

"You're helping me..."

"Didn't I just say think Edward?" Sophia asked, eyes never leaving the road.

"Edward, yes... you're going to be in so much trouble when we get back." Bella stated, as if she felt this trip weren't worth the trouble.

"You don't worry about me."

They had reached the border of La Push, and Sophia stopped the car. She had always wanted to go on the reservation and see what it was like. This battle was not hers to fight, and it upset her that the Quileute people thought that all of her kind had asked for this fate, and that they were all the same in their desire to hunt people. She sighed at that thought and noticed in the woods a person looking back at them, and he walked out of the trees to the road. Sophia was staring back at him and she focused solely on him.

Who is that person? I've never seen her before... I wonder why Bella is with her, and why won't she come... no... she can't be another one. I have to warn the others before she hurts anyone, especially Bella.

Sophia sighed in frustration, opening her door as she spoke to her friend. "It looks as though I'm going to have to explain to this one my story, of course, I don't have to necessarily speak to him I could just show him my story seeing as if I tell him alone it may not make much of a difference he doesn't appear to be the type to listen much."

"That's Jacob for you." Bella commented, as they walked forward.

Sophia was fully aware of the line and she stopped short of the line and waited for him to walk up and meet them. "Just be quiet and keep thinking Edward."

Jacob glared at Sophia as if she were the most repulsive thing he had ever seen. Then he stood confused for a moment. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I'm Sophia."

"What are you doing with Bella?"

"Well, just what you see now. I'm bringing her here so that she could see you. I'm breaking all the rules letting her come here, but it is necessary that she has all of her friends, and for some reason unknown to me, she cares about you very much."

Jacob growled. "Let me guess, you're a filthy bloodsucker like the rest."

"I would calm down right now if I were you Jacob Black. That part of the story I can show you." Sophia stated.

Bella watched as, before Jacob could say anything, his eyes looked distant and he stood frozen for a moment as if he were daydreaming while standing there. His facial expressions showing shock, and surprise in places, disgust in others, but his eyes always held that same lost look.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked in a whisper.

"I'm showing him my story before he can decide he hates me. However, for now, he doesn't need to know for SURE that I'm part human. For now, I'll let him sit on those visions and let him form whatever opinion of me he cares to form." Sophia answered.

Jacob shook his head as if he were trying to pull himself out of a dream and looked over Sophia in utter amazement. "Was that... how did you do that?"

"Unfortunately, one of my few gifts given to me when I became what I am now... not that I wanted it, but I can't exactly give it back."

"What was that you showed me? Were those your memories?" He asked, sounding slightly sympathetic.

"Sadly, it is. I only wish I had come up with that on my own." Sophia answered, hanging her head down her voice quiet.

Bella reached to comfort her but Jacob growled. "Don't get close to her, Bella."

She shot an angry glance in his direction. "Look, Jacob, this was her idea for me to come here. You should be thanking her instead of treating her like trash."

"Yes well, we don't fraternize with the enemy too well."

"Did you not pay attention to her story at all? She didn't ask for it, she was attacked trying to help someone."

"I saw."

"And yet you have no remorse because you are too proud. You're saint Jacob always doing the right thing. It's your view or not."

Jacob stood still not knowing what to say. "Don't argue with your friend over me, Bella, he's going to think what he wants of me. I just wanted to give him the opportunity to form an educated opinion of me, rather than just to go with the standard view."

"I'm a little confused about you though..."

Sophia turned her attention on the young boy. "What is it that you're confused about?"

"Well, it seems like... maybe... you don't smell quite like the others..."

She laughed, "That would be because I am not like them exactly."

"So, you're still part human?... That would explain the blue eyes... why do you have blue eyes?" He asked. The only response she gave him was a nod. "How is it that you're still alive, and still look the same? How is it you haven't been killed by one of your own? You're so tiny... like the other one, the fortune teller one..."

"Nobody will know exactly, I guess. That's a story for another time, for now, Bella is here to spend time with you. I need you to promise to be as careful with her as you can be. I did not bring her here to get myself into trouble for more reasons other than the fact that I broke the rules bringing her here. I'm willing to deal with what's waiting for me so long as she's unharmed when I come to get her." Sophia explained, a serious expression over her face. Bella almost smiled because Sophia really was a petite girl, her face so pretty that even when serious looked painfully beautiful and not very threatening at all.

Jacob laughed. "You don't know me very well then if you're warning me about taking care of Bella."

"Oh, I know you plenty well, and I know your temper which is why I warned you. Keep it under control, do you understand me?"

Jacob pulled Bella over the boundary line and answered. "Don't worry about me leech, she'll be safe."

"I'd be careful about throwing insulting names around. I am here on purely civil terms, and let me just say that karma can be a very mean thing without me even having even the slightest hand in helping it along." Sophia stated matter-of-factly, she turned and walked back to her car, she looked back at them for a moment, "I'll call you when I'm here to pick you up. Remember... Edward."

Bella nodded quickly, something told her by the look in Sophia's eyes that she had better just agree with anything that she said at that moment. She watched as the car sped away from her, and she and Jacob turned to go farther into La Push, Edward on her mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sophia climbed out of her car and walked toward the house taking a deep breath. "Where is Bella?" A voice asked behind her.

She rolled her eyes and turned to face the source of the question. Emmett stood facing her with an angry look on his face. "Don't worry about it, she's safe."

"Now, see, that's not the answer to the question I asked. I asked, where is she... not how is she doing." He took a step closer to her and she saw that he looked as though he were about to challenge her.

"Does it matter where I took her?"

"It does if it happens to be somewhere that my brother doesn't want her to be."

"Look, you might think he's dangerous... but I don't think it's such a smart decision to keep them apart. Let me just tell you, that if you continue holding Bella hostage she will be quick to decide that she doesn't care about Edward and his childish behavior nearly as much as she cares about Jacob and how he's been such a rock and how he's so willing to take her back despite the fact that there have been people, or vampires, trying to keep her away. Stop trying to baby her and let her be with her friends. Honestly, yes, I agree that it's a dangerous situation, but no more dangerous than the crazy vampire that's trying to kill her. Maybe, it's not such a bad idea to let the werewolves keep an eye on her, maybe... you might need their help someday."

"You have no idea what you're talking about. You haven't been here long enough to know, and you weren't here the first time we came in contact with them."

"Oh, believe me when I say that I have a bit of a better idea than you do... about everything, and let me just tell you that you will be sorry when you need their help or you need an alliance and one that could work to your benefit won't be there... all because you were all too ridiculously proud and stupid."

Emmett growled. "Don't EVER call our family stupid."

"Oh no, you're not stupid, but you're acting it... and I know it's Edward's doing. There are ways to be friends with them without necessarily breaking the treaty, and I have no problem telling Edward that to his face."

"I will tell them what you did."

"Go right ahead, he still can't go and get her."

"You're making a big mistake." Emmett warned, his eyes were dark, and she knew this argument was more than just Bella, Edward, and werewolves.

Sophia dropped her purse on the ground and crossed her arms over her chest. "Really? Is this all about the werewolves? I think this is a delayed reaction to the whole Rosalie thing. I had nothing to do with her. She could've stayed... and had she stayed, I would've gone, but she made that decision for me easily by leaving all on her own accord."

"You still could've gone, and maybe she would have come back."

She laughed slightly, her eyes narrowed on him, a smirk drawing over her beautiful face, and she heard Emmett's fast intake of breath. "Maybe she would have... or maybe she would still be missing, but in the end why should I suffer all because one person thinks that maybe I should leave? I have had plenty of problems due to all of these vampires... I didn't ask for this. You, Rosalie, Esme, and Edward were all dying and I understand that maybe you didn't really comprehend what was happening, but me... I wasn't dying... I was trying to HELP someone. He looked hurt, he looked like he needed help, he looked sick. Then he just turned on me, and left me there... I didn't know what was happening, but yet... all this time, Esme was right, I felt like I didn't deserve to be around a family... I didn't deserve company-"

"You could've found another family."

Sophia was so close to him she could feel his body against the front of hers and she stood on her toes, despite the heels she wore now and looked him straight in the face. "It's been this long, and I have yet to come across a coven bigger than two vampires, and let me inform you that all I have come across enjoy humans, and no... they enjoy drinking from me. Just like your ridiculous, selfish Rosalie did, and yet you still want to deny me this happiness, this family..."

She knew what he was going to do before he did it, and Sophia's hand flashed up stopping the hit that was coming to her face. "Men, do not hit women. It's not polite."

"You... are no decent woman."

"I have done nothing to you."

"You insulted-"

"What? Insulted someone who insulted me? You think I didn't hear everything that crossed her mind, and believe me she was not so innocent as you believed her to be."

"She had every right to be angry."

"Because I was pretty? She hated me because I was beautiful, and she was afraid people would think I was more beautiful than she was. She didn't love you, she thought of you as a prize. You were the little boy she could never have, the marriage she never got. She flaunted you for her own gain, and you let her."

They stood there for a moment, Emmett's fist alone, almost as big as her hand but he stood there with his large fist in her hand in the same position as when she had first stopped him from hitting her. "I'm sorry, I genuinely feel guilty that she left you, but I've seen your thoughts and you deserve someone better than that. She treats you like a dog, and you can't argue that fact with me because you know it deep down."

Emmett dropped his hand, turned, and stalked away slamming the door behind him. Sophia inhaled deeply and spun around to face the opposite direction. Oh yes, hunting with him this coming weekend was going to be a lot of fun. She could see it already, they were going to end up not talking even once. Now she just had to hope that Jasper would need to hunt again this weekend so maybe she could take him as a companion, a mutual peacemaker.

She shook the thought out of her mind and took off in a run in the woods toward La Push. She stopped by the boundary and waited patiently for time to pass. Thoughts of the conversation she had just had flooded her mind and she cursed the whole situation she was now in. No, maybe she could have been a little more tactful with her delivery of the information, but he wasn't giving her much of a choice he was being so stubborn.

A branch cracked nearby, and Sophia turned quickly to the sound. She inhaled deeply, smelling a scent she did not know. She didn't have to wait long for the source to appear. A woman stood in front of her with wild red eyes and bright red hair, her skin was pale and she wore clothes that looked like she had been stuck in a forest for far too long, her hair equally a mess.

"Aw, did you get lost in the forest? You're a pretty little thing..." The woman said.

Sophia laughed. "Oh yes, I'm so lost in the middle of this forest, and me? Pretty? Why thank you."

The sly smile that was on the woman's face slipped for a moment before it returned confidently. "Hmm, this might be an interesting type of prey. I'm glad you're a bit feisty, I'm sick of those who just let me have my way. I want to hear you fight while I kill you then."

Sophia stood for a moment contemplating the words, she could hear her thoughts, she knew that this woman... Victoria her name was... was going to try to kill her. The pictures in this woman's mind of her drinking Sophia's blood were a bit sickening. Suddenly, it dawned on her where she had seen this face before. She saw it in Edward's thoughts, this was the one who was trying to kill Bella. Sophia pulled out her phone and dialed the phone number to Emmett's cellphone despite the fact that she figured he would not answer.

"Aw, are you scared? You're calling a friend? Hmm... more for me... that should be fun."

Sophia held one finger up as she put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

She could feel the relief flooding through her instantly. "I have a situation." She said slowly.

"Aw, well that's just too bad." She heard Emmett say sarcastically.

"Emmett... it's.... her... by La Push... help me." She hung up the phone and heard Victoria laugh.

"I don't think your friend is going to be able to help you from me. I'm a little too dangerous for your kind." Victoria said. "Now... how about we get the festivities started?"

She had crouched down facing Sophia her lips curled back over her teeth as she hissed, waiting for the fear to show on her prey's face. When Sophia didn't react she stood up again. "Are you going to pretend that I don't scare you?"

Sophia shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I don't have to pretend... you really don't scare me at all."

She needed to bide her time until Emmett got here... if he was coming. Then Sophia stopped and thought, maybe he isn't coming...

Victoria hissed again and jumped at her. Sophia took off in a run away from her, and Victoria screamed. "What ARE you?"

"Well, I'm like you, I believe."

"...but you don't smell..."

There was a growl that came from another direction, and Sophia saw Emmett running straight for Victoria, but she jumped over the boundary to La Push and took off in a run along the border, Emmett chased her and Sophia stood there watching the direction they had left in for a moment. She fell back against a tree and sighed. Victoria was a crazy woman, and her mind was one of an obsession to kill, so far gone that she lost all traces of humility and humanity. After she composed herself she turned and walked back towards the road, closing her eyes for a moment.

Sophia was caught up in her thoughts of what had happened that she didn't realize anyone had come up behind her but she shoved as hard as she could when she felt an arm go around her, and began running full speed. She didn't even turn around to see who was chasing after her, too afraid she would see the wild eyes craving for her blood.

"Sophie! Wait! It's just me!"

The familiar voice made her completely calm, she stopped and turned around to see Emmett still running towards her. She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck holding onto him without thinking about the actions or repercussions her actions would cause. When it hit her, what she had just done, she quickly pulled away with an apologetic look at him. He reached forward and pulled her back to him and wrapped his arms around her for only a moment.

"Did you call me Sophie?" She whispered against his chest.

"I'm glad that you're okay, I thought I might be too late." He said as he stepped back away from her with a sheepish grin on his face, completely ignoring her question.

"Thank you... I didn't think you were going to come after the argument that we had before I left... and I thought I could just be here close to Bella just in case I needed to be close... then she showed up, but when I heard her thoughts, I froze for some reason... I don't know..."

"It's okay...."

"Did you get her?"

Emmett shook his head. "She was too fast for me to catch up to her."

The two stood in the middle of the woods staring at each other for a long moment. "So, does this mean that we've made peace?"

Emmett's calm face suddenly turned down into a frown, he shook his head, and as if she couldn't understand the simple gesture he said, "No... I just... I protected you for two reasons only, one was that I can't allow you to die because you're part of the family and they'll never forgive me. The other reason was that I really want to have Victoria dead."

Sophia nodded and began walking away from him towards the road she could now see. She picked the phone out of her pocket and felt a hand push it back down. She turned to see Emmett's face showing confusion.

"I want to like you, and I want to forgive you for the things that happened, but... I just can't yet." He whispered.

She sighed. "Fine."

Shaking him off, she resumed her walk towards the road and dialed Bella's number. "Sophia?"

"I think it's time I got you back, I'm sorry that your visit was so short."

"No it's fine, I'll let Jacob know to bring me to the boundary."

"No need to rush, I'm not on my way just yet, but I will be in just a second."

"Okay, thanks." She said, and the line went dead.

Sophia turned to go back towards the woods and saw Emmett still standing, watching her. "I thought you would've gone."

He shook his head. "I didn't come all the way out here just to leave you and possibly put you in danger again."

She ignored his comment and began running to their house. She could hear his even breathing right behind her while she pushed herself to run as fast as possible back to pick up her car. They reached it sooner than she expected and she quickly jumped into her car and spun around heading back in the direction that she had just come from. When she reached the line she saw Jacob and Bella leaning against a car.

She waited for Bella to get into the car before she waved to Jacob, with a smile on her face and sped back to the Cullen house. Bella immediately picked up on the unusual silence. "What happened?" She asked.

"Your redheaded friend happened to make an appearance and wanted to kill me."

She rushed into a panic at those words. "What happened? Where? Were you alone? Did someone come and help you? How did you get away? Did you catch her?"

"I was walking in the woods around La Push after getting into an argument with Emmett. I was alone, and she showed up, I think I shocked her when I ran... I called Emmett and surprisingly he came to help me. He attacked her and chased her, but we didn't catch her... well, let me correct myself, he didn't catch her."

Sophia could hear Bella's breathing fast and nearing hyperventilating. "I want Edward back now."

"Don't worry, if Emmett does what he says he's going to then chances are he's already on his way back if he's not already back and not because of Victoria."

"So, are you and Emmett okay now?"

She sighed at her naïve friend. "I only wish we would be at least okay, but he doesn't feel he can forgive me just yet."

"He saved you..."

"Only for the family's sake, and for his own hope to catch Victoria."

They pulled into the driveway at the Cullen's and the two walked into the house in silence. Carlisle was home and he showed up in front of her almost the moment she walked in, and pulled her into a hug.

I'm glad that you're safe. She heard his thoughts.

She only nodded and pulled away. Esme too, was there now and embraced her. I don't know what I would have done if we lost you today. I'm so glad that Emmett answered his phone and was able to save you.

The door flew open and Edward, Alice, and Jasper all walked in. "Emmett told me what happened and we came back as soon as we found out." Edward said.

Sophia braced herself for the furious words that she was sure would come from him as soon as he turned to her. Instead, she was shocked when all three had each pulled her into a hug. "Um?"

Edward shook his head in mock disappointment. "The whole thing with Victoria."

"Oh... her."

"We're all glad to see that you're okay." Jasper commented, a smile on his face.

Sophia nodded, and without another word turned and left to her room. She didn't want to be in the room where everyone was looking at her as if she were too weak to fight for herself, but in reality, she had completely forgotten how she would be able to defend herself. Victoria's red eyes shone in her mind and she laid herself on her sofa.

She heard the conversation downstairs. "She's back, so this means we're going to have to be careful what happens." Carlisle stated.

"Maybe we should keep an eye on Sophia too." Jasper added.

"She'll be okay, trust me... there's more to her than meets the eye. I just think she was taken by surprise, but if this happened again she would be okay." Carlisle replied.

"What are we going to do... she's actually back..." Esme's voice trailed off.

Sophia thought to herself, what are we going to do? Certainly, the return of this villain was not a good one, and something just didn't seem right. She could feel something brewing whenever Victoria crossed her thoughts. No. She thought. Next time I will be ready to fight her, and next time she will remember who I am...