Chapter 2

BPOV

Typically an hour later I heard the front door and a large booming voice which I could only presume belonged to Emmett call out questioning as to why they had been summoned back. I sighed and shifted in my chair suddenly feeling quite nervous at coming face to face with the almost complete Cullen family unit until my father turned and smiled his 'everything is going to be alright' smile that he always used to give me while I was growing up.

Taking a deep breath I stood up and felt him put his arm around my shoulders in a comforting gesture as we both wandered down to face the rest of the family.

They were sitting in the Cullen's dining room round the big table that was only there for show and clearly used as a meeting table as none of them ate, Bella sat at the head of the table with Carlisle sitting on her left hand side followed by Alice and Jasper and then Esme on her right hand side followed by Rosalie and Emmett. As Bella looked around the table she saw that each of them had questions and knew that this was not going to be an easy task to win them over but she had to try, she also saw an empty chair next to Jasper and knew that it belonged to Edward which made her heart sink at the thought of how close she was to him but also how far away she was to, "Ok lets answer the main question that everyone is thinking right now, I am not a vampire and I am most definitely not a werewolf" she said sensing the impatience around the table "what are you then?" Rosalie asked in distain not liking that someone knew who she was without her knowing the reason why and instantly disliking the brunette in front of her as she considered her to be more beautiful and a threat, "I am a peacekeeper" she replied not flinching under the hard gaze which silently impressed everyone around the table knowing the Rosalie was using the glare that could cut through glass if it were possible, "Of course! Now it makes sense" she heard Jasper say causing the others bar Carlisle and her to look at him, "you have heard of them?" Alice asked looking confused at her husband as did the others wanting to know what was so special about Bella watching as she indicated to her husband to continue with his knowledge, "oh yes … I even met a couple of them while I was training newborns … they are responsible for trying to maintain the secrecy surrounding our world and other mythical creatures such as werewolves etc … if my memory serves they are also extremely talented" causing Bella to smile at him impressed with his knowledge "yes you are correct … I have the traits of being a vampire except I don't sparkle in the sun, I am not cold and rock hard and I don't need to drink blood, I also have telekinesis, teleportation, healing of others, mind reading and speak ability to block others and their powers … but they are constantly developing"

"How old are you?" Esme asked looking curiously at her wanting to know how she knew Carlisle and why he had never mentioned her to him, "which life?" she asked

"What do you mean?" Alice asked causing Bella to turn to Carlisle for advice

"Bella actually helped me when I was changed" he said causing the others to stare at her and try to remember how old Carlisle actually was. "In fact I alerted Carlisle to most of you … however before I continue I do owe you an apology … Rosalie" she said breaking off as the blonde stared at her in confusion, "I know you wouldn't have chosen this life for yourself but I thought you deserved a second chance of some sort of life so I alerted Carlisle to your presence he unfortunately arrived too late to save you so I am sorry about that" she said breaking off to let the new information sink in before saying, "though I must say you impressed every member of The Council with your level of self control on your first unsupervised visit" Bella said with a grin,

"You saw that?" Rosalie asked in surprise,

"Hell yes … I was there anyway concerned I would have to step in … but when I saw how well you were handling yourself I called the others in to watch and by the way the wedding dress? Lovely touch … I honestly couldn't of done better myself and believe me when I say that I have had my fair share of issuing vengeance" causing the blonde to smile a true smile and Bella felt relieved that she had managed to start breaking through her defences. "In total I am over five hundred years old ... but with the life that I am currently living I am one hundred and seven years old"

"I don't understand" Esme replied looking confused

"Even though I am like you and have immortality I can still die … the difference is that when I die I have three choices I can end my life permanently … I can come back to life in the same form providing the body has not been destroyed … or I can choose to be reborn completely … I died in what 1888?" she asked looking at Carlisle for confirmation the centuries having started to blur slightly for her "sounds about right" he agreed after a moment, "I chose to be reborn again in 1901 with the agreement that Carlisle would be waiting to bring me up … as when a peace keeper is reborn they do so with complete memories and knowledge of their past life … we then continue to age normally up until the age of seventeen … so it is quite difficult being reborn to humans as we have to learn to control ourselves quite early on … I broke quite a few rules with that request" she said smiling grimly

"Why did you want to brought up by a vampire?" Esme asked

"Because I knew that Carlisle was lonely … and I knew that it was going to be difficult for both of us to be by ourselves having got used to looking out for each other … we used to be quite cold hearted … he absolutely resenting himself for what he was and I was fighting demons from my past but I saw the potential in him as he did with me … I knew that we could help each other just like he has done with all of you … I honestly couldn't of asked for anyone better as a father and the same can be said for all of you" she said with a small smile at her father as he reached over and squeezed her hand, "the main reason that you have not heard about me before is because there was an … well lets say an incident that meant I needed to live separately from him which was difficult as I really wanted to get to know you all … but we have kept up to date throughout the years"

"Both The Council and I were unhappy about Bella being brought up by me … I was worried about my abilities to be a father figure to Bella and her bosses didn't make life particularly easy at first but then they realised that this could work to their advantage" Carlisle said,

"I don't understand" Jasper said his forehead creasing in confusion

"Yes you do … think back to your training J … particularly the phrase 'keep your friends close …" Bella said

"And your enemies closer" Jasper finished off nodding his head in understanding

"The Council truly didn't believe that Carlisle would be able to stick to his chosen diet … nor did anyone else in the neighbouring communities … as you probably know it had never been attempted before … and it is the one thing that brought out typical human reactions in all … if you don't understand it then fear it" Bella said, "so you can imagine their reactions when not only did I go against my nature and view Carlisle as a friend … but to then request that he became my father it sent shockwaves through the community until they realised that it would give them a measure of control over him"

"So that if he slipped up …" Alice questioned

"Then I would be there to deal with the problem … so we acted as controls for each other" Bella finished, "you have to remember that everyone is terrified of the unknown and for a peace keeper to be brought up by a vampire that really was pushing the unknown boundaries"

"But we made it work"

"We certainly did … and to The Council's great surprise Carlisle achieved what was once thought unachievable he managed to silence the voice within and he continues to impress as do you all"

"You still keep tabs on us?" Rosalie asked raising her eyebrow

"Of course but more for me then anything else I like to always know where you are and Esme? The work you did on the house in Alaska is lovely" she added

"How did you know that?" Esme asked smiling at the compliment

"Carlisle and I found it easier to share properties along with money and income so there is one at least in every part of the world … I do my best to try and control the weather for you when you go to Spain and other hot countries"

"I always wondered about that" Alice said with a grin

"Well at least that way it gives you guys a chance to experience the world with no limitations and it means that you have more options" Bella said, "I know that this might be quite a shock for you all and I do apologise for dropping in unannounced but I had business to attend to in the area which has some how managed to involve you … I wanted to make sure that you were all ok before disappearing again as technically I really shouldn't be here" she said looking at her fingers before looking up and smiling at the table. "Why?" Emmett asked

"Because a long time ago I had to make a decision that changed someone's life … and the price for me was losing Carlisle which led to losing the opportunity to find all of you too" she said causing the others to look curiously at each other, "anyway it was really lovely to meet you all but I now need to be going" she said realising that the catch up was now over, "please don't Bella" Carlisle said placing his hand back on hers, "dad … please don't make this harder for me" she said to him quietly

"Bella we would love to get to know you" Esme said seeing her husband look unhappy at the thought of her leaving and knowing that she needed to make the first move in order to try and get her to stay causing the girl in question to sigh and mentally think through her options, "I will stay until I am needed elsewhere" she said quietly as Emmett cheered, "perfect … a new body to play with!" he said with a gleeful expression until Rosalie slapped him in the back of the head, "thank you" Carlisle said squeezing her hand as she smiled at both him and Esme silently hoping that she was not making a mistake.

An hour or so later they had gone into separate groups, Emmett and Rosalie had gone to their room to do things that no one wanted to think about, Carlisle was working a shift at the hospital and Esme had gone to do some interior design at a clients house in Seattle, Jasper and Bella were currently in the library talking quietly about the civil war and Bella's powers and Alice had gone hunting and also to put enough distance between her and everyone else so that she could try and look for Bella's future, as she raced away from the house feeling the wind flow through her short hair she was suddenly hit with a vision.

APOV

"Isabella? I would like you to meet our new neighbours Mr and Mrs Masen and their son Edward" Carlisle said in a pleasant voice as he knelt down next to his daughter and indicated the people that he had just introduced. "Please Doctor Cullen there is no need for such formalities, Isabella? My name is Elizabeth and this is my husband Edward Senior" the lady said with a gentle smile on her face as she looked down at the nervous girl, "it is a pleasure to meet you" she said politely looking across at the little boy with emerald green eyes.

Once the vision had released her she continued to stand in shock having seen the past for the first time, something that she had never been able to do before and she realised that she had seen a young girl who looked like Bella and also a young Edward. Quickly making a decision Alice pulled out her phone and hit speed dial tapping impatiently while she waited for it to be picked up, "hello?" she heard a voice say, "Edward? I think you need to come home" she said hanging up before he could say anything and then wondering whether she had done the right thing.