Reunion

AN: I know I am evil leaving off where I did last chapter, I just did not want to do another 6000 plus word chapter soooo... on we go.

Nope still not the brilliant Stephenie Meyer just messing with her characters

The crunch of gravel under tires was the only sound as we pulled down the long two mile drive to Granny's house. Confusion fills me as I look between Alice and Mrs. Cullen's faces. Alice appears to be stuck somewhere between fear and excitement, Mrs. Cullen looks like a mother who has lost a child and has been told they may have been found. I wish I could see Mr. Cullen's face but the rear view mirror is angled wrong. I wish I knew what was causing these precious people to look so depressed.

As the car pulls up near the porch I jump out the door grabbing my bags and violin. Dashing up the steps I yell out for Granny. "I'm home and I've brought my new friend and her parents to meet you."

Granny Bell walks through the front door wiping flour off of her hands on an old apron, spots of flour speckle her face and neck her huge smile radiating down at me. "Perfect timing as always Lenai, I just put a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven. Take you friends into the living room and I will just get cleaned up and be right in." Granny says as she leans down in to kiss my cheek and waves to the three figures sitting perfectly still in the shiny black car with very dark windows.

I set my stuff inside the front door and race back to the car. "Come on in, Granny said to take you" my breath catches in my throat as their faces come into view. I have never seen anyone look as sad as Mrs. Cullen looks right now. Alice looks like she is about to cry, even Mr. Cullen looks choked up. Why are they all acting so weird. "to the living room and she will meet us in a minute. She just put some cinnamon rolls in to bake and needs to get cleaned up first. Hey are you all alright? You don't look so good." I finish wearily.

"Yes" Mr. Cullen replies pausing a moment. "Yes Lenai we are all fine let's go meet your grandmother."

The three of them slide out of the car shutting the doors gently. Alice walks slowly to my side grabbing my hand as if for support. "Don't worry she's going to love you!" I try to reassure her as I drag her up the steps and into the living room. Mr and Mrs. Cullen follow behind us looking around the house as if in a museum. Alice gives me a small smile but for some reason her eyes remain looking worried and a little scared.

"Can I get you guys something to drink? We have water, orange juice, or milk if you'd like?" I ask as they all choose their seats in the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Cullen sit close together on the love seat as Alice chooses a place on the far end of the couch.

"No thanks Lenai, we're all good. Why don't you sit with us, I am sure your grandmother will be in soon." Mr Cullen replies for all of them. I take my place beside Alice who reaches over and grabs my hand tightly in her cold grip one more time while we await Granny.

Not a sound can be heard as we wait. Mrs. Cullen is twisting and untwisting her fingers Mr. Cullen reaches out and lightly runs his fingers along her jaw meeting her gaze before he reaches down and takes one of her hands in both of his. Granny's footsteps echo lightly down the hall.

Granny starts speaking before as she nears the living room entrance. "It is very kind of all of you to bring Lenai home this morning. I was hoping to get to meet you soon. The cinnamon rolls should be ready in" Granny freezes as she turns to enter the living room.

BPOV

It was very kind of Lenai's new friend's parents to come by to meet me this morning. I do like to know Lenai's friend's families. Since their children will be attending my school this fall as well it is nice to get to know them before semester starts. Lenai surprised me the other day when she asked to go shopping with this new girl Alice; Lenai does not normally open up and trust people freely. This young lady must be a pretty unique person. It will be nice for her to have a friend to spend time with this summer. I finish cleaning the flour off of my face and arms hanging my ancient apron on its wooden peg and walk toward the living room taking one last quick peek at the rolls in the oven. Good only a few more minutes. I hope our company enjoy cinnamon rolls.

It's very quiet in there. I hope they're comfortable. "It is very kind of all of you to bring Lenai home this morning. I was hoping to get to meet you soon. The cinnamon rolls should be ready in" OH GOD. I can not be seeing this. This can not be happening they left, he said they would never be back. How can they be sitting in my living room. Wait a minute, they knew all along who Lenai was didn't they. No surely not, this is just one big coincidence. But they would have noticed my scent the moment they walked in maybe that is why the look so, what is that, why they look so scared? Are they scared? Of what, of me? My legs can no longer hold me as I sink down along the wall sitting with my back against the wall for support as my eyes roll back into my head and darkness engulfs me.

LPOV

"Bella!" Alice screams as she lets go of my hand jumping up from the couch and flying across the room to Gran.

Mr. Cullen is at Granny's side before Alice can get to her. "She's okay Alice, she just passed out. I have to say this must be quite a surprise for her, I should have thought about that. Fortunately she still has a strong heart, her heart rate is normal. She'll come around in a minute or two." Mr. Cullen slides his arms under Granny's legs and cradles his other arm around her back picking her up easily and sitting her in favorite arm chair.

Alice follows kneeling down in front of Gran holding both of Granny Bell's hands in hers staring intently at her face. "Silly Bella, still passing out after all this time. What are we going to do with you." Alice is staring so lovingly at Gran.

I try to get up, I need to go to Granny Bell but my muscles will not listen to my commands. Shock is overtaking me as well it seems. At least confusion is. What is going on here? Everyone is acting as if they have known Granny for years and that is just not possible. I know all of Granny's friends.

BPOV

They're here. They're really here. I open my eyes slowly willing myself not to slip into unconsciousness again. I feel a cold iron grip wrapped around my shaking hands. "Alice?" I question weakly. Her beautiful pixie face is smiling up at me. Tears stream down my face as I stare at her. "Alice, you are really here aren't you. I thought I would never see you again. You left, you left and you never even said goodbye."

"Bella I am so sorry!" Alice sobs as she stands to take me into her arms. I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life. "If I could go back and do it again Bella I would never leave, I would have never left you. I have missed you so much. We have all missed you." I never thought I would ever feel this way again. Wrapped in her cold embrace I felt complete. My family is home. They have come back to me.

Alice backs away enough for me to look around the room. Esme and Carlisle are standing just in front of the love seat smiling sedately. "Esme!" I can speak no more, the lump in my throat swelling so large it's threatening to cut off my air supply.

Lifting my arms I reach toward her. Esme lets go of Carlisle's hand to come to me. Wrapping my arms around her I cling to her for all I am worth. Carlisle walks across the room wrapping his arms around both Esme and I.

"Gran?" A small voice whispers from the other side of the room. Lenai, I had completely forgotten Lenai. What must she be thinking seeing her new best friend and said friend's parents embracing me and acting like long lost family. I guess it's time to share my story with her. I can only hope she is open minded enough to accept it as true.

Breaking away from the loving embraces of the only family I ever longed to join, I wipe the final tears away from my eyes and clear my throat so I can speak. "Lenai, I would like you to meet some very dear and greatly beloved old friends of mine."

Lenai had curled up in a ball on the couch. Her knees tucked tightly under her chin, arms wrapping securely around her knees fingers locked, a glassy dazed look covering her eyes. Oh baby, it'll be okay. Walking across the room to my sweet granddaughter I sit beside her and take her into my arms. Her heart is racing and her skin feels cool to the touch. "Carlisle, please come help me, I don't think Lenai is handling this well. Can you help me get her up to her room?"

Moving to her side Carlisle looks down at Lenai placing one hand on her forehead. "She'll be okay, I think she is just a bit shocked by all of this."

He picks her up easily and follows me upstairs to her room. He lays her down in her bed as her eyes close. I wrap my Gran's quilt around her body and sit next to her on the bed cradling her tightly and hum my favorite lullaby softly to her.

"Let her sleep for a while, her body is forcing her mind to take a much deserved rest." Carlisle instructs me.

"Yes, I think that is a good idea." I reply quietly. "Will you wait for me downstairs? I just want to stay with her for a little while till I know she is sleeping well."

"Of course we will Bella, we are not going anywhere unless you ask us to." Carlisle nods as he exits the room shutting the door silently behind him.

I lay beside Lenai for a while listening to her breathing slow and become deeper. I love the Cullens more than words can express, but I can not let anything hurt Lenai. She has to come first. I can not withhold the truth from her any longer. As soon as she awakes I will tell her everything, maybe after we speak I can have Carlisle explain their history to her. She will finally know where her names come from and why they are so very special. Something deep within me tells me she will accept this, even more so, she will come to love them as much as I do. Leaning down I kiss her cheek, "Sweet dreams my love." I need to get downstairs now. There are many questions to be answered.

As I descend the stairs I gaze down upon my chosen family. All three are looking back up toward me. Ha they are probably waiting for me to trip I wonder who would dash over to catch me. A light giggle escapes me as the thought of my sixty three year old body falling down these stairs only to be caught by one of my vampire body guards flows to its conclusion in my mind. I guess I will not have to worry about any broken hips if they stick around. I straighten up slightly as a strange acidic smell burns my nose.

"Shoot, the cinnamon rolls are burning! I'll be right back" I call to them as I race past to save my pastries from flames. I am of course to late, they are as black as could be. The fire alarm erupts in loud peals as smoke fills the kitchen from the open oven door. "AHHHH I hate that thing!"

High tinkling laughter fills the kitchen. "Just as graceful as ever aren't you?" Alice comments as she deftly jumps up removing the fire alarm from the wall and taking out the battery. "Don't want to wake sleeping beauty upstairs now do we." Alice opens the kitchen door while I open windows to let the smoke escape. We return to the living room where Esme and Carlisle are waiting for us on the love seat once more.

"So I guess we have a lot to talk about don't we?" I ask.

"Bella, you're a grandmother! I love her I do she is every-bit as cute as you were! No she's better, she likes to shop and play dress up!" Alice squeals. "Oh, and her music! Her music makes me feel like I'm flying! I have never heard music like hers."

"She is something very special. I have lived a very blessed life indeed." I reply. "So Lenai tells me I will be having five new students this fall?"

"About that Bella, we will do nothing you are uncomfortable with. If you do not want us here, all of us, we will find another place to go. This is your home, we will not push you from it." Esme responds in a quiet reassuring voice.

"If I don't want you here? What type of statement is that!" I exclaim incredulously, "Of course I want you here, all of you! I never thought I would see any of you again. Your return is the best gift anyone could ever give me. Lenai also said that Alice's siblings were out of town till school starts back, where are they and when will they be back?"

"Rose and Emmett are spending a few months on a small island we own in the Caribbean, I'm afraid they needed a break, some time to be by themselves. They will be back by mid August though." Esme shared. "Jasper, and Edward remained behind in Denali while we made sure we could live here without being recognized. We will be calling them tonight to let them know it is time for them to come too."

"How is Edward?" When he left it tore my world apart but that was so long ago and I have made a life for myself since then, a happy one. I only hope he has found his happiness as well. It will be strange seeing him again though still frozen in his perfect seventeen year old body when my grandchild is almost his age. No my life did not turn out the way I had planned for it to, but if I could somehow reach into the past and change things knowing what I would loose if I did I would not change a thing. My life has been a gift, a gift he could only give me by walking away.

"Edward has not been good. It nearly killed him when he left you. He even tried to provoke the Volturi to kill him a few months after we left but fortunately Jasper and I were able to get to him before he could do anything stupid enough to make them punish him." Alice replies. "He has been severely depressed ever since we left here. Leaving you was the biggest mistake of his existence and he has paid for it every day." The look of abject sadness that fills her face is too much to bear.

"No how can that be. He told me, he told me he did not love me, he had never really loved me, and he would be fine. He said he would be easily distracted."

"He lied Bella." Alice answers sadly.

"Oh Edward, dear sweet beautiful Edward, why would he do such a thing? Do you really think bringing him back here is a good idea?" I ask.

"It is time he faces his past Bella, so he can move on to his future, like you did." Carlisle answers with no shadow of doubt in his voice.

"So Bella tell us all about you. How has your life been? We know you have a wonderful granddaughter but what about the rest. Tell us about your husband, your son, your college days, your job, we want to hear it all." Esme asks pleadingly.

"I think that it will be best if we wait for Lenai to wake up before I share all that. I am sure she would like to hear it to. I have never been open with her about my life for reasons I am sure you know, but now that you are here it is time I tell her. I will of course have to start with my move to Forks, I hope you don't mind."

We continued to chat for a couple more hours while we waited for Lenai to awaken from her nap.

Sitting around the living room chatting with them felt just like old times. It is hard to believe how so much time can change so little.

AN: I am starting to write the "Bella's story" chapter right now but it may not be up till sometime later in the day tomorrow. I am getting ready to go visit my daughter in the hospital and the social worker thinks the doctor might let her come home for a few hours tomorrow to see how she does and then spend one more night in the hospital. If she does well with her home visit she may be able to come home on Sunday. If she does get to come home, which I hope she does, it may be a little while before I update again since she will be needing a lot of extra attention for a while. Thanks for reading and being patient with me.