A/N:

All characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer.

So far Bella and the rest were pretty much in character (well, more or less…), but here you'll see a lot of OOC. Consider yourself warned :-)

Chapter 4 : Ashes to Ashes

Bella was not looking forward to meeting the Cullens. It is not that she didn't want to see them at all, oh no, she had a lot to say to each and every one of them. But a busy airport in the early hours of the evening was neither the place nor the time. She had been gone for two whole days and the first person on her mind was Charlie – she wanted to know how he was holding up.

Bella walked slowly across the airport. Mostly because walking quickly, and it doesn't matter if it was on a flat even surface, was something she had a hard time doing without falling – even on a good day. In her current state of mind – tired and worried as she was – attempting a quick march might prove dangerous. But she had to admit that part of her was just terrified of meeting Rosalie. Not for the reason one might think. She wasn't afraid of Rosalie, she was afraid of whatshe might do to Rosalie. Bella knew Rosalie will throw herself at her at the first chance she gets, and she was already irritated by the thought.

"Bella if you walk any slower, you'd be walking backwards." Alice growled at her.

"We can't all be super-fast and highly coordinated." Bella growled back. The flight back home took its toll on the both of them. Alice spent most of the time sobbing without tears, or on the phone with Jasper. Bella was trying her best to keep her mind busy with the movie that was shown during the flight.

Despite all of Bella's attempts at stalling, after a few minutes they reached the Cullens. They stood next to one of the columns, away from the entrance. Carlisle and Esme stood in the front, behind them stood Emmett and Rosalie – holding hands, and Jasper. All five of them had dark eyes with purple shadows underneath. Carlisle and Esme looked sad, Rosalie looked furious and Emmett seemed to be doing his best to hold her back. Jasper had eyes only for Alice – who, at the moment she saw him – almost ran to him. Well she walked – she just so in a vampire speed. To the humans around her it looked like she was running. They stared into each other's eyes for a few minutes. Not hugging, just staring. Like a pair of bloody puppies, Bella thought.

"Bella," Carlisle spoke first, "I'm glad to see you." his tone was quiet and honest. He was hurting over the loss of his first son, but he always thought of Bella as a daughter.

"I'm sorry I can't say the same." Bella replied curtly.

"Bella, don't say that." this time it was Esme who spoke to her.

"Why not?" Bella folded her arms across her chest and stared at the woman who was like a mother to her. "I mean it."

"This is not the time or the place." said Carlisle.

"I agree." Bella said.

"You're right, Carlisle." said Jasper, approaching from behind him "We'll talk at home."

Bella didn't respond. Home? She thought, their white mansion wasn't her home anymore. It was a collection of rooms which held much too many memories. Most of which were memories she'd rather forget, others she'd never allow herself to – in order to make sure she never turns back into the old Bella.

Bella joined Jasper and Alice in the car. Although Jasper was the one who had actually tried to kill her, she thought it would be safer than riding with Rosalie – who never hurt her, but definitely wanted to at the moment.

The drive from Seattle to Forks usually lasted over an hour. With the way Jasper had been driving – well, actually, Bella thought, all the Cullens drove like maniacs – they reached the city limits of Forks in less than half an hour. It took only three more minutes before the car stopped in the driveway of the secluded mansion at the edge of the city.

Bella got out of the c6ar just at Carlisle pulled in, his black Mercedes coming to a stop next to Edward's Volvo Jasper had been driving. Rosalie flew out of the car in a blink of an eye and was holding Bella by the throat.

"How could you do that to my brother?" she hissed.

Bella croaked. Rosalie was holding her so tight that she was hardly able to breathe.

"Rose, let her go." Emmett came behind her. Rosalie turned to him with a furious look on her face. "Babe, she can't answer you while you're holding her like that." he pointed out. After giving a moment's thought, she let go of Bella.

"I didn't do anything, Rose." Bella said as soon as she could breathe again "You're the one who couldn't wait to spread the happy news about my demise!" she spat at her. "I guess you couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you?"

"You little bitch!" Rosalie roared and Emmett had to hold her back again.

"You should know!" Bella answered with a smile "You're the expert!"

"Girls, please don't fight." said Esme, trying to calm them down.

"I'm not fighting." Bella said. "It's not my fault that dear Edward went to Italy and got himself ripped into pieces." Bella had to admit that even when Rose was angry, she was still the most beautiful woman on earth. "If Blondie here could keep her mouth shut, nothing would have happened."

"It's not Roses fault, Bella." Alice tried to protest.

"No, you're right." Bella suddenly turned to her "It was Edward's. The idiot acted like a drama queen and he got what he was asking for. I'm just sorry I had to leave Charlie and travel to another continent, trying to stop the fool."

"Bella, stop it!" Alice snapped "You were not much help! You just stood there! You let them kill him and you didn't even try!"

"What did you want me to do, Alice? Beg and grovel like a little grateful bitch that Mr. Prince Charming was paying attention to me? Edward left. He took off and never fucking looked back!" she shouted "He came to Italy to die. Well, mission accomplished!"

Rosalie growled at her. Bella turned her back to the fire spitting blond and took a lighter out of her bag. At that same moment Emmett lost hold on Rosalie. She tore away from his hold, leaving one of her arms in his hands. She didn't seem to notice anything when she jumped at Bella.

"Rose! No!" Alice shouted. But it was too late. Bella held the lighter when Rosalie tackled her. The flowing venom from her severed arm ignited instantly. A second had passed and Rosalie's entire body went up in flames.

"Rose!" Emmett cried in pain and jumped in to the fire after his beloved one.

"Will you blame me for her death as well?" Bella hissed at Alice "Miss Psychic! Didn't see that one coming! Looks like you're not worth much. God knows you weren't any good for Edward, and apparently not for Rosalie either!"

"Bella, please stop it." Esme was pleading, her eyes glistening with tears she could not shed.

"Shut up Esme!" Bella yelled "You have no right to talk. Even Rene is a better mother than you. At least she writes me e-mails every once in a while. You just turned your back and left without bothering to check up on me." Bella accused Esme. "You said I was like a daughter to you. Well, I guess you've just proved how much you love your daughters, didn't you?" Bella said, gesturing towards the flames.

Esme's heart broke. It hadn't beaten in decades, but Bella's words hurt her more than she could take. Because they were true, Esme thought. I did abandon my daughters, and I was no better with Edward. The grief of losing three of her children in two days and now a fourth was too much for her to bear. "I'm sorry Carlisle." she whispered to her mate, kissing him for the last time.

"Esme, no! Carlisle, stop her!" Alice screamed in terror trying to reach Esme, but it was too late. Esme threw herself into the flames that had already claimed two of her family members. Carlisle was just after her. The pain of losing so many people was just too much, he couldn't live without his mate. Alice didn't see it coming so she couldn't even shout.

A minute later the only ones standing in the small clearing which was the front lawn of the Cullens were Bella, Alice and Jasper. Jasper was crumpled on the ground, the grief of the others and his own pain was just too much. Alice was leaning on him, her whole body shaking.

"You killer!" Jasper shouted suddenly. He jumped from under Alice's small body and launched himself at Bella. She had an instant flashback to her 18th birthday party. He had launched himself at her in the same way then. Bella closed her eyes, knowing death was only a breath away.

But it never came.

Bella waited with her eyes closed for a few more seconds, but when it became apparent that death was not going to come, she opened her eyes. There was no one left. She saw Alice and Jasper intertwined with the flames. Just as Jasper launched himself at her, Alice jumped after him – and they both fell on top of the rest of their family members. In the few moments Bella's eyes were closed they almost burned completely.

Bella waited. She watched the flames until they subsided. The thick smoke gave the air a sweet fragrance, a little too sweet, Bella thought. It took only ten minutes for the flames to burn out and all that was left from the five vampires was a small pile of ashes.

Bella couldn't feel sad. She had lost them a long time ago. She grieved their loss for four months. All she felt now was empty. She took out her cell phone and dialed Jacob's home number.

"Hello?" answered a familiar voice.

"Hi Billy," Bella greeted Jacob's father with a smile "Is Jake around?"

"Yeah, sure, just a second." there was a long pause before Jake picked up the phone "Bella!" He greeted her with a very cheerful tone.

"Hi Jake," she smiled "How are you doing?"

"I'm great. How was Italy?"

"You wouldn't believe me when I tell you…"

"Oh, come on! It's not nice not to share!"

"I'll share. I just wonder if you'll believe me." she laughed. The events that took place over the last forty-eight hours seemed almost fictional.

"Spill!" he commanded.

"Not over the phone."

"I'll come over then?"

"I'd love to, but I'm not home yet." Bella admitted "Actually, I was wondering if you could come and pick me up?"

"Where are you? Something's wrong?" Jake was immediately concerned.

"Well, I'm at the Cullen's – "

"Bella you know I can't go over to their land." Jake cut her off "Can't they drive you to your home and I'll meet you there?"

"Not really." Bella let out a nervous laugh "They're kind of a big pile of ashes right now."

"What?" Jake was shocked "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. But there's not a living soul left. And I really don't want to try and drive Carlisle's Mercedes or Edward's Volvo. Too conspicuous."

Jacob thought about it for a few seconds. I guess if they're all dead, there are no more treaty lines. "I'll be there in fifteen."

"I'll wait." Bella said and hung up.

Bella knew that no one was aware that the Cullen's came back. Alice told her at some point that they were staying in Alaska with the Denali family before they came to pick them up from the airport. If no one saw the cars, Bella thought, then no one will even know that they came back. She drove both cars – the keys were still inside them – into the garage, and then she went over to sit on their front porch to wait for Jacob.

What a day…

A/N: Don't be too mad at me for killing the Cullens... Pretty please?

Update 11-18: The next (and final) chapter (Named: "A Lemon With A Twist") is currently in Beta and will be up soon. Please Let me know what do you think so far.