Chapter 4

Willow stopped in a meadow that held a gorgeous three story house painted a soft white. It was old, but well taken care of. The first floor had a deep wrap around porch. She followed the men around the house, to see that the whole back seemed to be made of all glass. Floor to ceiling windows took up most of the walls. There was a deep shade that covered the house. She turned to see tall ancient trees ringing the property, their leave covered branches blocked out the sun. The backyard butted up to a river that was about fifty feet across. The sound of the running water was soothing.

"This is beautiful." she said to the Edward and Jasper. Emmett had already gone inside while she looked around.

"Yes, it is." Edward replied. "Esme did most of the renovations."

Willow nodded as she followed them through the back door. Edward had told her a little about their family on the way there. Esme was their 'mother', she was Carlisle's, the 'father', wife. Rosalie was Emmett's wife, as Alice was Jasper's. Edward had looked away when she asked who his partner was.

"He's picky." Emmett had answered, with a smirk on his lips.

They entered the house into a large modern looking kitchen. As they went into the next room, Willow was surprised to see a bright, large room spread out before her. It looked as if several walls had been removed to open the room up. To her left was a staircase that led to the floors above. To her right along the far windows, were desks that held computers on them. Ahead of her was a comfortably set up living room, that had several couches facing a large flat screened TV. To the right of the living room a raised section of the floor held a grand piano.

Willow hung back a bit as Jasper walked over to a short pixie looking girl with cropped black hair. She looked away as they shared a gentle kiss, the romantic gesture making her think of Tara. To her surprise, the grief that usually came with thinking of the dead blond, wasn't as sharp. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she saw Edward looking at her with a sympathetic gaze. She gave him a small smile and turned to see Emmett coming downstairs with a tall golden blonde girl following him.

The other couple in the room were striking. The man was tall, with pale blonde hair. His face looked as if angels had carved it. The woman by his side had long softly flowing carmel colored hair. She was short, and had soft rounded features.

"I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen." the pale blonde man said stepping forward with his hand extended.

"Willow." she said and grasped his hand, not sure of her welcome.

"This is my wife Esme." he said gesturing to the soft looking woman next to him.

"Welcome to our home, dear."

"Thank you. It's very beautiful." she said sincerely.

With a roll of her eyes, the black haired pixie bounced forward and took Willow's hand. "I'm Alice," she chirped. She turned to Edward and said," Aren't you happy I told you to go to Gunderson instead?"

Edward stared at the short girl with an annoyed expression. "You could have just told me you know." he said grumpily. Turning to Willow he said, "Don't mind her, she's annoying at best." Alice stuck her tongue out at him.

Willow laughed at the by-play. "You told them to come get me?" she asked skeptically.

"Not exactly. I just said it would be more interesting in your area is all."

Willow looked at her questioningly. "Are you a seer or something?"

"Wow," said the statuesque blonde next to Emmett, "She pegged you in one shot Alice. I'm Rosalie by the way." She gave a small half-smile to Willow.

Willow smiled back at her. 'Everyone is so nice. Why couldn't I have meet them first? Why did I have to be attacked by the others?' she thought.

Edward cast a sharp glance at the beautiful red-head and said, "Attacked? Who attacked you Willow?"

Willow could hear the concern in his voice, but was hesitant to mention her earlier experience. "I .." she began, but her voice was cut off as the memories choked her up. She felt her throat close as the remembered burning pain flashed in her mind. Her slender body started to shake as Laurent's oddly dark but pale face swam in her minds eye. James's cold voice floated in her ears. Victoria's cruel red eyes studying her face. The frightened humans face looking at them all in fear. Her disgust and horror at what she had done to the poor man. Willow couldn't shut these thoughts out of her mind. She felt a familiar stinging in her eyes, the closest thing to tears that her new body could produce. She gasped, panic making her eyes go wide.

Edward swore quietly as everything that had played out in her mind, echoed in his own. He moved to her side swiftly, and gripped her by the shoulders. He pulled her into his embrace, cradling her against his chest as noiseless sobs shook her small frame."It will be alright. They won't hurt you again." he said determinedly. He pulled back to look into her crimson eyes. He could see Carlisle and Esme move closer to them, as the rest of his family looked on in concern and shock.

Willow looked past her panic and met his honey gold eyes. 'They're not red?' she thought distractedly

"No." he answered her thought gently. "We don't eat people, only animals. In time, when all you've eaten is animal blood, yours will turn gold too."

"Wait," Rosalie said stepping closer, "she was attacked?" She met Edwards gaze above the shaking form of Willow.

"Yes Rose," Edward said, " From what I gathered from her mind, it was three of them. They made her against her will." He saw compassion flare in the blonde's eyes. He turned back to Willow and said gently, "How did you get away?"

Willow rested her head against his strong chest and murmured, "I froze them in place, then set fire to the cabin and ran away."

"Froze them, dear?" Esme asked.

Willow met the kindly woman's eyes hesitantly. "I was a witch... before. I guess I still am." She shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

The older woman patted her shoulder comfortingly, giving her a soft smile. She turned to Edward saying, "Maybe you should take her upstairs to rest. I'm sure she would like to have a quiet moment to relax."

Willow pulled away from Edward, embarrassed by her breakdown. "Oh, I don't want to be a bother.." she started.

Esme simply shushed her saying, "Never you mind that, dear. You are no bother. Now, lets get you settled somewhere quiet."

Willow let Esme pull her from the room, heading upstairs. The two woman were moving down the hall when Willow caught sight of a ancient wooden cross hanging on the wall. She felt no aversion to symbol of God. No painful reminder of her damned status. She turned wide eyes to the woman beside her. "Crosses don't repel us?"

"No, dear." Esme chuckled. "We aren't effected by holy symbols, or holy water. Very few things can harm us." She stopped outside of a open door. "You may rest in here. Though we don't sleep, as you know, some time to relax is not out of the question. When you feel better, come downstairs and we'll talk some more."

"Thank you." Willow told her as she left the room. Willow looked around, taking in the green themed decor. She sat on the chaise lounge in front of the tall windows, and drank in the peaceful sight of the river below. She cleared her mind and simply enjoyed her surroundings. After a time she closed her eyes and leaned back against the soft cushion, letting everything that had happened sink in.