Bella POV

"Hello, Alice," said the man. It didn't take me any time at all to recognize him, not only from the fact that he hadn't changed at all from the one time we had met.

"Alistair?" asked Alice. "What are you doing here? Wait here, I'll get Carlisle."

Carlisle came downstairs. "Get me for what?" He saw Alistair. "Ah, Alistair, my friend!"

Alistair nodded politely. "Carlisle."

Carlisle asked, "What are you doing here? Don't get me wrong, you're always welcome, but it's hardly been a year since we've last seen each other, and I know you're not one to visit often."

Alistair replied, "Well, Siobhan, Liam, and Maggie found me while returning to Ireland. They told me what happened with the Volturi. I stayed hidden for a while to be safe, then decided to visit you, since I had left so suddenly before."

While Carlisle and Alistair chatted, I noticed that Stephenie and Alice were gone. I went into the backyard and found them there.

"I didn't want Alistair to see her," said Alice.

Stephenie shook her head. "He would never hurt anyone under Carlisle's roof, he respects him too much."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"I'm positive." she smiled. "After all, I'm the one that created him. I know him better than he knows himself."

"Okay," Alice said. "If you're that sure."

Stephenie got up and walked into the house. Alistair looked up at her approach, and said with a sneer, "I knew I smelled a human in here."