Chapter 4

A/N: alright you guys I want to let you know something. While I was writing this chapter I dug deep and pulled out emotions from when I lost my great-grandmother. Every emotion at the funeral Bella experiences is what I felt. So I hope that they come across powerful like they did when I was writing.

The Funeral

Bella's Point of View

I got up before anyone and headed upstairs for a shower. I started the water and stripped down. As I got under the water I thought back to everything had happened the last two days. I had finally started letting go of Jake and Edward, lost the one person in my family I could relate to, met up with my best friends, made new ones, and started to fall for a guy. Today though I had to confront reality; today I was burying Aunt Lizzie and I would tell my father I wanted to stay here. I got out of the shower, dried my hair, straightened it and did my make up. I had decided to wear my black sleeveless dress; the last time I had worn it was for Elena's parents' funeral, but no one knew I had been there. It was on my way to Forks and I changed my flight plan; I was only here for an hour and I felt horrible about it. After I got dressed I decided to go and sit in Aunt Lizzie's room for a bit. I walked in and nothing had changed except the fact that it didn't feel like it used to. Whenever I walked in here it always felt so vibrant and full of life; now it felt dull and lifeless. I went to her big window and looked out at the garden; it looked lifeless too. The flowers had started to wilt; Aunt Lizzie always had a green thumb. As I looked out at the garden I thought back to the last time she and I had been in it;

(Two years ago Bella is 16)

"Aunt Lizzie how come your garden is always so full of life and no one else's is?" I asked her.

She laughed, "Well Izzie do you remember what I told you when you were younger?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yes of course; you said it was magic. That the magic ran through us and into the garden because we had the power to will it to life."

She smiled at me, "Exactly and I still stand by what I told you. There is magic within our souls and we have the power to do what we want."

I laughed, "Come on Aunt Lizzie I'm not five anymore. Tell me the truth; you use some freaky growth stuff don't you."

She started to get up off the ground and I went to help her. She looked at me, "One day Izzie you will see I am telling the truth."

"Aunt Lizzie I need to ask you something." I said to her as we walked over the bench so she could sit.

"What is it dear?" she asked me.

I hesitated, but than blurted, "What happened when I was five? Why do

Mom and dad not want me to come here? Why don't any of you speak to each other anymore?"

She sighed and put her hand on my cheek, "Izzie that is very complicated and long story. I can not tell you it right now, but when the time is right I will tell you. One day I will my little lily, but that day is not today. Now let's go inside and get some hot tea shall we?"

I smiled at her and she held onto my arm as we walked into the house.

When the memory ended I heard Elena calling my name and I knew it was time to go.

When we got to the church we were the only ones there; I went over to the town mortician, "Mr. Buckley how are you?"

"Oh have been better Bella. I am so sorry about your aunt. She was a good and kind lady." He said as he gave me a hug.

"Thank you Mr. Buckley. I was wondering if I could have a few moment alone with my aunt?" I asked him and he simply nodded. I followed him to where her body was and watched him open the casket and than he left.

I stood there and just stared at this lifeless shell that once held my aunt's beautiful spirit. I realized I would never hear her laugh, or her voice. Never see her smile or have long talks with her on the patio or under the gazebo. We would never work in the garden together again, cook dinner together, or watch Roman Holiday, our favorite movie, together. I began crying because the one person in the world I wanted to share what had happened to me was gone and I could never get her back. She was never going to be able to offer me advice to help me out. She would never be able to give me a hug or kiss to make me feel better and tell me everything would be alright. The one person I could always count on to support me was gone forever.

Mr. Buckley came in, "Bella people are arriving and we need to get started."

I nodded, wiped the tears away and went to join Elena, Bonnie and Caroline. Immediately they pulled me into a hug and we cried together. I can't tell you what the preacher said because I didn't pay attention. All I did was look at the casket that held Aunt Lizzie. When the preacher finished we all headed to the cemetery. Everyone passed by her casket and laid a white rose on it, than they came to me and offered their condolences. All I did was nod like a robot until Damon came up to me.

"Bella I am so sorry. I met her once, but in that one meeting I could tell that she was a good woman with a good heart. She told me about her Izzie and I now know that is you. She loved you dearly and wished for nothing but happiness for you." he said with sincerity.

"Thank you Damon I appreciate you telling me that." I told him.

He nodded and moved out of the way for Elena's aunt to crush me with a hug. After everyone had passed by me it was Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline's turn to say goodbye. I was the last one to say goodbye; it was so hard as I walked up to her casket. I was on display for everyone as they watched the grieving niece say goodbye. I looked over to Mr. Buckley and he opened the casket. Everyone was silent; I suppose they thought I hadn't seen her yet. I leaned down and kissed her forehead like she had done to mine so many times and I whispered, "I am so sorry Aunt Lizzie I wasn't here for you, but I'm going to try and make it up. I'm moving back here no one will ever live in your house besides a Swan. I love you." I straightened up. Mr. Buckley closed the casket and I walked to the limo.

Elena's Point of View

We followed Bella back to the limo and sat there for a while in silence until she spoke up, "I'm going to call my dad when I get home. How long will it be before everyone shows up?"

"Probably in about 30 minutes Bells." I told her and she just nodded.

"Thank you guys for sitting with me. I really appreciate it; I can't say thank you enough." she said and we told her it was no big deal.

We arrived at the Swan mansion and got out. Anna and Lexi were waiting for us. We went into the kitchen as Bella went upstairs to her aunt's bedroom to call her dad. We decided we would keep the guests busy until Bella came back down. We all had our duties and if anyone so much as tried to disturb Bella they would suffer the wrath of us five.

Bella's Point of View

I started up the stairs to my aunt's room while the girls were in the kitchen when I noticed Harper, Lee, Stefan and Damon standing at the front door.

"Oh hey guys. Now before I invite you in I need your solemn vow that you will not try to kill me, or bite me." I said trying to keep a straight face. They looked ashamed and I busted out laughing, "Chill out I'm just joking; come on in the girls are in the kitchen. I need to make a quick phone call."

With that I went upstairs to my aunt's room. I shut the door and went over to sit on the window seat and pulled out my phone and dialed my dad's number.

He picked up on the first ring, "Bella is that you?"

I smiled, "Yea dad it's me. How are things in Forks?"

He laughed, "Rainy as always. Saw Billy and Jake today; they asked where you were and when you were coming back."

I sighed; why would Jake care where I was and when I was coming back, "What did you tell them Dad?"

"I told them where you were and that you should be pack in a few days. Bella you gotta forgive Jake and try to work things out, but forget that for now; how are you doing?" he asked

"I'm ok I guess; we just got back from the cemetery. The funeral was nice and everyone sends their condolences. Dad I need to talk to you about something and your not going to like it." I said.

"You want to stay there don't you?" he said and it caught me off guard.

"Bella I knew there was a chance you would want to stay after everything that has happened and I don't blame you. You always did feel at home at Lizzie's house and if you want to stay that's fine with me. It will be lonely and the cooking won't be very good, but if your happy than I'm happy."

I smiled, "Thanks Dad; I feel happy here. Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline sat with me. I met some new people and they are really nice."

He laughed, "I'm glad Bells; that's all I want for you is to be happy. Do you want me to pack your things and send them to you?"

"No Dad; I'm not going to move here without coming back to say goodbye to you. Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline are coming to help me pack. We fly out the day after tomorrow." I told him.

"Bella there is something I need to tell you, but we will talk about it when you get here ok?" he said.

I was confused but shrugged it off, "Well Dad I gotta go and get back to playing the grieving hostess."

He laughed and we said our goodbyes. I stood there for a minute looking out the window filled with all these emotions. I was angry that Aunt Lizzie was gone, angry that Jake had the nerve to ask about me and if I was ok after he told me "Go away Bella and don't come back; or you're going to get hurt." That just made me angrier as I thought about it. As I listened to the noise downstairs I remembered everything I had felt when I saw Aunt Lizzie in her casket. I could feel my heart pumping faster and I began hyperventilating; my chest began to constrict and than I fell into darkness.

Damon's Point of View

I was standing in Bella's doorway as she talked to her father and when I heard her say she was moving here words could not explain how I felt. I watched her by the window and in the light she looked radiant. The sunlight danced off her hair like tiny diamonds. Than I saw her arm where the sparkly vamp bit her and it faintly sparkled, but not noticeable to the human eye. When she hung up she just stood there in front of the window. She looked like and angel, but than she started breathing faster and than there was labored breathing. She started to crumble and I caught her immediately I laid her down on the bed; it didn't take long for her to stir.

"Bella are you alright?" I asked her frantically. She just nodded. "What happened Bella?" I needed her to speak to me.

"I guess that after everything that has happened today I guess I just collapsed from it all. My brain and body just shut down." she said in a weak voice. "How long have I been out?"

I smiled, "Not long at all; if you prefer go ahead and pass out again. I will make sure no one bothers you."

She laughed, "Well Mr. Salvatore as much as I would love to pass out I don't think I will with you here. I mean we have only known each other for not even a day."

I laughed, "Well Miss Swan I am hurt by the fact that you don't trust me."

"Well can you blame me? What kind of girl do you think I am?" she asked me.

I contemplated her question for a moment, "No I can't blame you; if I were you I would stay far away from me. As to what kind of girl you are well I believe you are the most caring, straight forward, honest and beautiful girl there is." I started to leave.

"Damon please don't go." she said and I turned around as she continued, "You don't give yourself enough credit. You are a sweet guy and yea I can tell you like to play the jerk, but that's not the real you."

I went to sit back down beside her and we just stared at each other. I took in everything about her and slowly we inched closer together until we were merely a breath away. I looked into her deep blue eyes and saw hope for the first time in 145 years and I wasn't going to let it pass me by. As I leaned in to close the small distance between us the door opened and I quickly moved so that I was standing at the end of the bed.

"Bella people are seriously worried….." Elena was saying, but she stopped when she saw me, "What are you doing in here Damon? We told you to leave her alone…"

Before she could continue chastising me Bella stepped in, "Elena it's fine; in fact it is a good thing Damon did come up here because I passed out and he caught me before I fell. The last thing we need is for any more excitement" she laughed weakly.

Elena's eyes narrowed at me and I gave her my normal smirk. She huffed, "Ok Bella, but as much as I hate to rush you if you don't come down they are going to come up here."

Bella laughed, "Alright you guys go ahead and go down I just need a minute to get my bearings ok."

Elena and I nodded and we walked out of the door, "Damon don't you dare hurt her. Do you hear me?" Elena said threateningly and I realized that she cared for Bella like a sister.

"Elena you have nothing to worry about. Hurting Bella is not on my agenda; in fact if anyone tries to hurt her I plan on thoroughly torturing them before I kill them." I said to her and I meant it.

She rolled her eyes and as we descended the stairs I took one more look towards the door that Bella was still behind.

Bella's Point of View

After Damon and Elena closed the door I went into my aunt's bathroom to freshen up. I looked in the mirror and saw my eyeliner was smeared; I quickly did a quick fix and left my aunt's room. When I descended the stairs all eyes were on me. Immediately Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline were by my side and than people started coming up to me. We had all decided not to tell anyone right now about me moving back and surprisingly Caroline didn't spill the beans. Whenever someone came up to me it was always the same thing; I'm so sorry for your loss, if you need anything let us know, and on and on. After about an hour I couldn't handle it and excused myself to the garden.

"Well, well Bella aren't you playing the grieving niece well." I turned around to see Tyler.

"Tyler I am not in the mood right now; you need to leave." I said, but of course he didn't listen.

"You can fool everyone here but me; I know the truth. You are just like your parents; you couldn't wait for her to die and get your hands on that money. She died of a broken heart you know." he said to me and I could smell the liquor on his breath.

"Tyler you are drunk and you need to leave now…" but I didn't get to finish.

"What are you going to do huh? You know what your aunt wasn't perfect she was crazy. She went against the council all the time and they had enough of her. The truth is your aunt was a bitch." he yelled.

I turned to, "YOU WATCH YOURSELF TYLER LOCKWOOD AND GET THE HELL OFF OF MY PROPERTY!" I screamed at him and waved my hand. When I waved my hand Tyler went flying back twenty feet into the bushes. I looked towards the back door and I saw Bonnie running towards me.

"Bella you just threw Tyler." she said.

I couldn't talk and than Mayor Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood came out and asked what happened.

"Your son was insulting the memory of Ms. Swan and calling her horrible things to Bella. I think he needs to leave." Bonnie said. They came over to us and apologized for Tyler's actions. Tyler was already at his parents' car and I watched as his father hit him up side the head.

"Bella we need to talk, but not now. Go inside and lay down; we will tell everyone you don't feel well." Bonnie told me and I just simply nodded, but I couldn't move. "Damon take her upstairs and make sure no one bothers her while we get rid of everyone." Bonnie told him.

I was immediately handed off to Damon and I blacked out.

A/N: alright you guys I hope you enjoyed that. Review and let me know.