Esmee's POV.
On the way back I was totally lost in me thoughts. With my vampire mind there were thousands of thoughts racing through my mind. All were focused on Bella and her life. Carlisle had told me little things about what he had found out about Bella's life here in England. He couldn't tell too much as he considered Bella's secrets to tell but it was clear that she hadn't had an easy life. From the scars that now marred her face and arms it was clear that the last four years hadn't been easy either.
This Bella was very different from the Bella we had known in Forks. From what I saw this evening, the Forks version of Bella hadn't been anything like the British Bella. I wondered if her shyness and her reserved character had all been an act to protect her secret and her life.
Now Bella was hardened, more serious and had lost that innocence that had always drawn us to her. I believed that being in a war like Carlisle described a little would do that to a person but there was more. That haunted look just told my cut feeling that there was a lot more.
These thoughts left me wonder as to how Bella would fit into our family. Would she ever become the part of our family completely again or would she stay just a human we liked?
I was pretty sure that the Bella I had just spoken too would never accept the crap Edward and Alice had sprung on her while in Forks. This Bella wouldn't be told what to wear or what to eat. It had been ridiculous anyway. This Bella would set fire to a vampire before she accepted an order like that ever again.
"What are you thinking about, love?" Carlisle asked.
"Bella." I sighed. "This Bella is certainly not like we knew her back in Forks. I'm sure that her shyness and reserved character in Forks was an act but it's difficult to reconcile that Bella with the one we saw just now."
"She has been through an awful lot these last four years. Harry told me that Edward had left her broken and that she wouldn't be fixed. It was only after seeing Edward again last week that she snapped out of it. Not to mention that she is seen as one of the most powerful and dangerous witches in the magical community. Something happened over the last four years that has made her as she is now." Carlisle explained.
"I don't mind it though. I like this Bella just as much as the old but I can't help but worry about the reactions of Alice and Edward." I mused.
"Me too. This Bella isn't the perfect old-fashioned lady Edward has always imagined himself with. He will have some adjusting to do if he wants to be with Bella."
"That is, if Bella ever lets him back into her life. I know a danger when I see one and Bella will finish him as soon as he makes a wrong move." I sighed. "I also noticed that she wasn't as enthusiastic about Alice as she used to be. I guess she realizes that the way Alice has treated her in Forks wasn't proper behaviour of a best friend."
Carlisle nodded and looked ahead of him. We were almost home and I knew the whole family would be waiting for us to tell how it went. I glanced at the box that held the bottle of dragon blood.
I was amazed at the way Bella seemed so kind and forgiving. Maybe she was a little too forgiving in my opinion. I know that would I have been in her place I would have thrown quite the fit.
"Loosing their parents made them desperate for a parent figure." I mused. "That's why Bella so easily accepted us. We are that family she feels she needs. She has been searching for a loving family all her life and she found that with us."
"And we walk out on her." Carlisle sighed. "It's a wonder she forgave us so easily."
"Yes, but I don't think she will ever truly trust us again. Not like she did anyway."
Carlisle nodded and parked the car and helped me out like the ever-lasting gentleman he is. I heard the others talk inside which confirmed them all waiting for us.
"Do you think Bella would be upset if we share one bottle with the rest of them?" I asked.
"No, I think she expect us to do as much." Carlisle chuckle.
"Good, I'll get the glasses you go talk to them." I said.
As soon as we walked in everybody turned to us. I focused my thoughts only on preparing the glasses and the look on Bella's face when she gave us the bottles. I hurried over to the kitchen and pulled out seven wine glasses. As I carefully opened the bottle I listened to my kids bombarding Carlisle with questions.
"How did it go?"… "How is Bella?"… "When can we see her?"… and on and on. I chuckled as I placed the glasses on a serving tray and picked it up.
"Let's wait for Esmee before we tell you about it. However she did accept the letters and promised to be in contact at the end of the week." Carlisle said. I walked in and held up the tray.
"A gift from Bella." I told them and handed out glasses to everybody.
"This looks so human." Rosalie chuckled.
I watched as everybody took a careful sip before smiling.
"What is this?" Jasper asked. His smile made me more then happy. It had been a long time since Jasper had been happy about drinking blood. Probably never before.
"It's dragon blood, according to Bella from quite the vicious Hungarian Horntail." I answered. "She gave Carlisle and me both a bottle. I'm sure she wouldn't object that we shared this with you. She even offered to supply more."
"I could kiss Bella right now." Jasper moaned as he took another sip. The others agreed with him. Only Edward looked worried and thoughtful. I guessed he listened to mine and Carlisle's thoughts.
"How was Bella?" Alice asked after a while.
"She… she was okay." Carlisle started. "She has been through an awful lot over the last four years and it has changed her. However she is doing good at the moment. She broke down the moment she saw us and missed us deeply but this Bella is very much a different Bella then the one when knew in Forks."
"She is starting her first job on Wednesday and is busy decorating her own apartment." I told them.
"Starting a job?" Edward asked. "Isn't she going to college?"
"I don't think there is some sort of college in the magical world, Edward." Carlisle told him. "Both Harry and Bella already have highly placed positions in their community. Harry is a head auror, some sort of police officer in the magical world. From what I found out he is leading quite the large team."
"And Bella?"
"She is starting her job as head of the department for the welfare and safety of magical children at their ministry." I told him proudly.
"Really?" Rosalie asked. "I had no idea Bella cared for children."
"I'm not sure if she does care for kids like you do. She got this position because of her status in the magical community but also because she and Harry were the first in their world to recognize the lack of care for orphaned children. They are even planning on building an orphanage."
Rosalie nodded and looked thoughtful for a while.
"Does she want contact with us?" Emmett asked. I knew Emmett had loved Bella as his little sister. He had been most upset when we left her and hadn't been for Rosalie than he would have stayed in Forks no matter what.
"I'm not sure how far she will take it. It was clear that we hurt her very much. She has lost all trust she had in us but she still sees us as family, in some way." Carlisle explained. Emmett's face grew even sadder.
"We know for sure that she wants some sort of contact. She will write us somewhere next week and she had a job offer for me and Rosalie." I explained.
"What?" Rosalie yelped.
"She asked us what you all were doing. When I told her that you and Emmett had wanted a period of no obligations she smiled and told me that for her new work she would need people around her that could advise her. She had immediately thought about you."
Jasper, who sat next to me, shook his head.
"Bella is way too good for this world." He chuckled.
"She is." I agreed. "She actually told us to tell you all that she still loves us but that four years changes a lot."
Through out the whole conversation Edward stayed silent. I worried about him. Bella would want to keep her distance from him while having contact with the rest of us. It would be very hard on him.
I sighed in sadness. I wanted the family to be complete.
