Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything but my plot! :)

AN: Hello my loves! I'm sorry it took a little while to update but anyway... Thank you so so so much for all of your reviews!! I appreciate it more than you could know! You guys seriously were the 2nd best Christmas presents I got! ... The absolute best being my new Macbook that my boyfriend bought me!! I didn't want anything this year and couldn't think of anything so he literally dragged me to the Kenwood Mall out here (I mean LITERALLY dragged me) and gave me 3 choices: a purse from the Coach store, diamond earrings from a jewelry store, OR a Macbook from the Apple store. I chose the most practical of the 3 and got my Macbook!! I love it! I thought I wouldn't because I'm super used to his Dell laptop but it's really easy and fun to use! :) If you have a Macbook or a Mac, you SO know what I mean!

Anyway, in response to "shortie2010", I'm sorry that you think it sounds like a romance between Bella and Jasper, but trust me, it's completely NOT a romance between them. I am TOTALLY Bella/Edward, and you'll soon find that any romance Bella has is between her and Edward. :)

A LARGE thanks to "Projekt-Failure", "truelover", "missyskywalker", and "vkballerina" for their long, helpful reviews, and of course thank you to my ever-loyal "rougekat" and others for their wonderful reviews! Now, ON WITH THE STORY!

Bella's POV

2006. Forks, WA.

I let go of my breath that I took in while I kept looking out of the large windows. I allowed my eyes to flash over the Cullen family, resting for a moment on the Adonis look-a-like, Edward, and then traveling over my brother.

"Where should I start? When you left, or when I went to find you?" I asked.

Jasper went rigid, "Went to find me?! You- you went to find me?!"

I nodded slowly, "After Mama and Papa got the news you had disappeared. Maybe I should start there, yes?"

"Did anything happen after Jasper left for war, you know, before he disappeared?" Alice asked quickly in an obvious attempt to keep Jasper from yelling, "If anything did, then maybe you should start there."

I shook my head, "No, not really. I kept up my practice of shooting and Papa still worked with me on throwing a good punch like you wanted me to. He wasn't exactly as in to teaching me as you were though..."

A roar of laughter suddenly burst from Emmett, "You taught your sister how to do all of that?!" He turned from Jasper to me, "Were you any good?"

"At which? Shooting or punching?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Both!" he grinned eagerly, rubbing his large hands together in anticipation.

I grinned, all of the Cullen's seemed very interested in my abilities that were very unheard-of for a woman during that time in history. Esme had her eyebrows drawn together in concern, Carlisle looked merely interested, Alice was practically bouncing in her seat, Rosalie was only looking intently at me, Emmett looked so eager, and Edward's brow's were drawn up in mild-disbelief, and my brother looked proud. He knew I was good before he even left.

"Oh, I got really good at throwing a punch. I knocked out one of the boys in town once because he wouldn't leave me alone. He kept badgering me to allow him to see me alone sometime and I got fed up with it and just hit him. Mama thankfully never found out, but Papa gave me a little talking-to..."

Jasper and Emmett burst into laughter, "What about shooting?" Emmett asked, "I bet you weren't all that good at that."

I narrowed my eyes, "I was better than Jasper after he left."

That silenced them. Apparently they knew that my brother was a master shot.

I grinned, "I could shoot any target anyone could give me. Ask Jasper. Before he left, I couldn't get everything perfectly, but I got pretty close."

I looked at my brother who was nodding in agreement, "Bella was actually an incredible shot, especially for a girl of that time. No other girl back then would have dreamed of touching a rifle, let alone shoot it with the accuracy Bells had. Have you kept up with it all of these years?"

I nodded, "Yes. I love showing up men at the range when they challenge others to hit whatever little thing they throw in the air. It's quite funny. It's not exactly fair now that my senses are hundreds of times better than when I was human, but still. I'll have to show you sometime. Anyway, back to the story.

"It was about two years after Jasper left that we received the news that he had disappeared. I recall that we hadn't gotten a letter from him in nearly a month which was odd because Jasper usually wrote us at least once every two weeks. We were getting worried!

"Mama and I were in the sitting room waiting for the mail boy, yet again, when we heard galloping outside. We rushed outside and I knew immediately when I saw that it wasn't the mail boy. It was two Confederate soldiers riding up towards our home. I remember Mama shouting for Papa to come quickly and us receiving the news that no one was able to find you." I paused, my eyes moving to my brother who had straightened.

"I disappeared because another vampire, Maria, found me and bit me. I assumed at the time that she was a straggler and I offered her my aid. She was one of those behind the newborn wars and intended for me to be one of them," He began quickly, "After she noticed I had a special ability that would help her, she kept me around to train newborns."

I nodded in understanding, "That explains what happened then I suppose. Anyway, I was so torn and upset that you had gone missing. You know how close we were; it was ridiculous. I ran to my room after Papa read the letter we received from the soldiers out loud and locked myself in, crying for hours." I stood and walked to the windows, studying the tree-line as I spoke, my mind flowing back in time, "Once I had calmed down a bit, around nightfall I believe, the most suicidal yet incredible idea formed in my head." I looked directly at Jasper, "You do recall that too-small uniform that you left behind?"

His eyes went impossibly wide, "You DIDN'T! Isabella, tell me you didn't! Please?!"

"You took your brother's uniform and went to war to find him?!" Edward was incredulous. I looked to him, confused, why would this bother him so?

Jasper stood, "Bella, you did? You really did? Why?! Not that I feel wonderful that you cared so much, but still, why would you do that?"

"Because I needed to find you! You were my brother! You were the only reason Mama didn't marry me off to some boy from town or the first rich man that came to our door!" I cried. I shook my head and continued with my story, "Besides, at the time I thought that they weren't telling us everything. I thought that by going, I could get more information about what happened to you and, if I could find you, bring you back and if I couldn't find you, be at peace. I couldn't stand not knowing everything about what happened.

"Since I knew that because I was a woman, I wouldn't be able to get the information I wanted. So, that night I pinned my hair to my head, put on the uniform, stole lots of food and water, Papa's extra rifle, ammunition, prepared a horse and left in the middle of the night when Mama and Papa were asleep. I travelled for what seemed like forever before I came across some other men that were ironically heading to exactly where I was going. I was relieved that no one suspected that I was a woman, which would have ended badly for me if they would have found out."

"Damn right it would have!"

My brother was certainly not very happy with me at the moment. I shrugged, "But no one thankfully found out."

"No offense or anything," Rosalie spoke up, "but how did you manage to pass for a man when you so obviously have breasts?"

I laughed, "That was easy! I tied my leggings tightly around my chest and once I had the uniform on and buttoned up, you couldn't tell the difference. Oh, and no offense taken."

I smiled at her quickly before returning to my story, "Once I had arrived at Jasper's base I decided to give my horse a rest and sat to wait for nightfall to begin my search. I was desperate for any information that I could get. I had thought that since they were the army, they would keep good records, or at least attempt to, but to my dismay there wasn't anything written about you other than you were missing in action after you went on a patrol. I was devastated."

I paused here, the pain coming back to the surface. This time it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been in the past since now I knew that he was actually okay, in a way. He wasn't quite alive, but he wasn't dead either. I felt a wave of calm hit me and suddenly I looked at my brother who also looked pained.

"I'm sorry Bells," he whispered, "I wish there was something I could've done, but at the time, I was a newborn; I had no control. I would have killed you!"

I nodded, "I know that now, Jazz, but at the time I didn't. But thanks for the thought." I sighed, "As I said, I was devastated. I had to return home with nothing and face our mother's wrath for leaving in the middle of the night and everything. But I didn't even get the time to put my belongings back on the horse when I heard gunshots and a scream."

I sat back down and with my eyes on Edward, continued, "I ran out of the tent that had the records I looked through (I still, for some reason, had my bag with my most precious belongings still strapped around me) but grabbed my rifle, loaded it and took off towards the sound.."

I took a deep breath and in my mind, I was back in 1863, walking through the woods as I kept recounting my story.

"No!" Jasper was standing again and he came towards me, "How could you be so stupid Bella?! You should've ran away not towards the sound!" He grabbed both of my arms roughly and I heard Edward growl, "What were you thinking?! Anything that could have gotten me could've still been out there!"

I growled at him, my eyes flashing, "I knew that Jasper, but I wanted to go! Yes, I was absolutely terrified, especially when I heard one of the men shriek! I had never heard a man make a sound like that before in my life, and it terrified me," I pulled away from him, "I went farther and father into the woods which was when I heard that man scream. I started to berate myself, wishing that I had truly just stayed home like a good little lady but once I noticed that everything around me had gone completely silent, my fear that had started to dissipate came back full force."

I shook my head as I remembered what happened next, "I knew that I should've ran but I was frozen to the spot when I heard a twig snap to my right. I know now that it wouldn't have made any bit of difference since he had caught my scent while hunting, but it seemed like a good idea at the time." I laughed quickly. It was a short slightly hysterical laugh that made my shoulders shake and Jasper step back, "I called out threatening to shoot but I suddenly heard a growl and breath on my face as I froze. Then he bit me. I barely recall pulling the trigger as he drank from me but something pulled him out of it and he let me go. I heard him whisper in anguish wondering what he had done when the burning began."

I stopped speaking for a moment and looked around, anywhere but at my brother or Edward or any of the Cullen's.

I was lost in my memories of the pain again, of my mindless cries and pleas for death. My mind wasn't in the Cullen's sitting room anymore but I was quickly brought back when I felt small but strong arms circle my shoulders and a head on my shoulder. I looked down in surprise and saw that it was Alice that had come to comfort me.

"Alice?" I questioned.

She looked up at me, her eyes sad but encouraging, "It's okay you know, everyone remembers the burning. I don't remember a thing from my human life but I certainly remember bits of the burning from the change." She squeezed my shoulders, "You're family now and believe me," she suddenly gave me a large, gorgeous smile, "there are no secrets in this house!"

I smiled back at her and nodded, "Thank you, Alice." She let go of me, but kept a hand on my knee for comfort as I began again.

"As you all obviously remember the pain, I'll bypass that, sorry for my spacing out."

"That's fine!" "No problem." "Of course, Bella." "Understandable." "We don't mind at all, dear." The Cullen's replies rang out around me, Alice's being the loudest, "As I said, you're family, who cares?"

"I remember, just before the pain, thinking that now I'd never know what happened to my brother, but the pain took all coherent thought away from me," I sighed quickly, "The next thing I remember after the change was waking up and meeting Alistair, the vampire who changed me. He too drank from animals usually, as his eyes were gold, but as I said, he caught my scent while hunting and thought it delectable. He explained everything to me, and showed me, after I freaked thinking that I would hurt other people, that hunting animals was an option and I immediately jumped on that wagon." I smiled at the chuckles that surrounded me. I could get so used to being around them, they were so wonderful to me so far and I had only known them in the time it's taken me to explain up to here about my life.

"It didn't take me long after having run-ins with other vampires that I had an ability. I later guessed that my ability was what my control came from." I looked at Carlisle, who had straightened in his seat in interest, "You see, I'm a mental shield. I explained this before you arrived Carlisle, but basically, Edward cannot hear my thoughts because of this shield. This shield over my mind makes me immune to mental attacks and mental powers. I can throw it from me and protect another person's mind too if I wished. I can draw it into myself too."

He nodded, "How interesting! You'll have to tell me more about this later, but please, continue." He made a waving gesture with his right hand, motioning for me to continue. Esme smiled brightly at his side.

I continued by telling them about my first year, reminding them about my impeccable control, and giving them a brief summary of the rest of my existence up until now.

"... and then I walked into the cafeteria, saw you, and ran because I was so scared and sad that you, too, had been changed Jasper. You chased me and here we are." I finished.

The Cullen's were staring at me; a few of them had their mouths open slightly. Jasper's expression looked like a cross between him being impressed, scared, wounded, and like he was in pain.

"Jazz? You okay, man?" Emmett laughed, "Dude, you just found out that your little sister is freaking badass, dude. Sure it sucks that she's a vamp now but still."

Jasper nodded and looked at me, "I'm glad that you're okay," he started, "but I swear to God that if you do anything that stupid again, I'll kill you myself."

I grinned, "What could I get myself into?"

"Please, just promise me Bella that you won't go off doing something that stupid again..." Jasper tried again.

I huffed, "Honestly, Jazz I've spent my time in school learning nursing and then many times over I went to med school, not to mention the countless times I've gone to high school! What if I get bored?" I whined, "I do that, you know, get bored. Sometimes a girl's gotta go do crazy stuff like skydiving and other crazy dangerous things!"

I was startled by the growls that both Jasper and surprisingly Edward emitted. I'd like to pull him aside sometime and ask him what his deal was but I knew I couldn't because I'd stumble over my words and get all shy. He was breathtakingly beautiful. I wondered quickly if he was taken but I pushed that to the back of my mind, I could ignore that thought and wish he was mine. I shook my head, what was I thinking? I've only met the man and now I'm wishing he was mine?! Was I going insane? I shook my head again.

Alice suddenly squealed, startling me again, and clapped her hands together. "Yes!" She squealed, "Wonderful! And no, Edward, I won't unblock you!" She had turned and pointed a finger at Edward and I once again found myself swooning before mentally shaking myself out of it.

I looked at her oddly before remembering that she had visions and she confirmed my suspicions by stage whispering to me, "Vision!" I smiled shyly and giggled a little.

My eyes traveled around the room once again, actually taking in the luxuries that the Cullen's obviously spent their time in when my brother spoke up, "Wait a minute, you said that you've been alone since your first year was up and your eyes changed from red to gold?"

I nodded, wondering where he was going with this.

Edward cut in, obviously catching my brother's train of thought, "Why would the vampire who changed you let you be on your own? Why would you want to be on your own without a coven or family? Impeccable control be damned."

I shrugged, I figured this would come up sometime, especially after Jasper brought it up in the woods after we ran from the high school. "I guess it's just that I didn't want to have any other family than the one I lost when I was human. Alistair was a wonderful person, he bestowed upon me money and all sorts of dresses and anything I wanted really. He taught me everything I needed to know about not exposing us and he taught me how to act as human as I could." I shrugged again, "Yes, I suppose I really didn't want to bother with getting another family subconsciously." I walked towards the back door, "Do you mind if I go hunting or something? All of this reminiscing has made me thirsty, it's taken a lot out of me."

Jasper stood and, either from overprotectiveness or just wanting to be around me after so long, said, "I'll go with you."

I was about to protest when suddenly Edward and Alice stood too, both agreeing and deciding to go too. I was ruled out.

"Okay." I said, slightly suspicious, but I brushed it off.

After we had each hunted and caught mostly deer, (me catching Edward staring at me a few times, but I'll admit, I snuck around a bit to catch a glimpse of him hunting too) we met back up in a small clearing.

"I want to get to know my new sister! We need to decide when you're going to move in!" Alice jumped up and down, "This is so exciting!"

I was shocked, move in? What? "I beg your pardon?" I said, "Move in?"

"Of course you have to move in, Bella," Jasper nodded.

"Do I get a choice in the matter?" I asked, but they began to laugh.

This time, it was Edward's wonderful, honey-like voice that spoke, "Not anymore, especially now that Alice and Jasper have decided that you will." He winked at me and I felt my knees go weak. I looked away, an odd, fluttering feeling beginning in my stomach.

Jasper have the both of us an odd look and Edward looked to him suddenly and unnecessarily cleared his throat. I guessed that Jasper had thought something that caught Edward's attention. I shrugged it off and jumped into a tree with every intention to climb high into it and look out and catch the scenery. I left the two of them to have their conversation.

Alice was already at the top of my tree, and at my questioning look she simply tapped her head, making me roll my eyes playfully.

"So," she whispered, "When do you want to move in?" I opened my mouth to answer that at this point I didn't mind since I was sure I didn't have much of a choice in the matter when she spoke up again, "Oh, and when do you want to go on a date with Edward?"

I was suddenly stupefied.

Well, what did you guys think? I'm sorry if it's really not much of a chapter, but I hope it was enough! Be nice, this is my Christmas present to you guys! I wrote this on Christmas day for you guys! lol 3,652 words! Merry Christmas! haha