NOTE: This chapter begins after her flight to Washington, because I get tired of writing how her flight went and yadda yadda. And, yes she'll eventually meet the Cullens.

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Bella's POV

I flexed my fingers as I stared at the empty page on the screen, I was going to send Renee an email after she graciously sent me hundreds of her own, but I didn't know what to type. What do you to tell someone, or in this case type, after you've been gone for two years?

I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding, and began to type.

Hi Mom,
I know I've been gone for a while and I'm sorry I didn't tell you goodbye but I needed to take care of some things especially since Dad died, I'm fine. I saw the news story, and I'm sorry you worried about me, right now I'm currently staying in Port Angeles.

I paused, thinking carefully what I would type next, re-reading what I've typed so far I knew that it wasn't good enough, but unfortunately this was the best I could do.

I would like to see you again, there's a lot of catching up to do.
-Bella.

I sent the email, and closed the window. At the moment I was staying at a cafe that had internet access and was free as long as you bought some coffee. "Is there anything else you'd like?" the woman asked me, "No," I replied and she walked off to another table. I looke at my full, steaming cup of coffee and then to the screen I got up from the computer and walked out of the cafe.

I sipped at my coffee as it warmed my body, I smiled and continued walking down the sidewalk. Many people passed me, not having the slightest clue who I really was, and not Drew. I should feel guilty and ashamed for taking Preese's life, and maybe I did but I wasn't too sure because the only thing I felt at the moment was freedom and relief, and I was a bit happy.

When I shot Preese, I did it in self-defense but I didn't know I was also lifting the heaviest burden on my shoulders and for many other assasins, I didn't have to answer to anyone but myself and that felt good.

No missions, no black files with printed gold letters, no jumping in manholes, no bright lights, no guns, no more flying from place to place just to kill someone. I didn't have to do any of those things anymore. The more I thought about it, the happier I was. I would have preferred to gain this freedom in a different way though.

Kill to save my own life, and kill again to have it back. By now, I was half-way done with my coffee I continued walking and pulled my coat tighter to me as the wind blew harder in my direction. I walked inside a small store, it was nicely heated as I looked around the store I realized it was a boutique.

The walls were a pastel pink and it was also painted with a clean white, I looked down at my feet and saw that the carpet was also pink. I wrinkled my nose, too much I thought, too much pink.

A woman came up to me then, "Excuse me but, drinks aren't allowed in the store," she said and pointed to a sign that stated, NO DRINKS, NO FOOD, NO SMOKING, NO EXCEPTIONS. "I'm sorry," I told her, before leaving the store. I shivered, and walked quickly to my car just as I opened my door I saw something yellow from the corner of my eye.

I turned, it was a yellow Porsche and it looked brand new, it was parked right behind my car and another car was parked in front of mine and I frowned. I was stuck, there was absolute no way I was going to be able to drive out of this tight spot with my luck I'd scrape both of them.

I guess I would have to wait until one of the owners of the vehicles came to leave, I sat in my seat and placed down the coffee and turned on the radio. I waited as patiently as I could and leaned back as the music enveloped the car and my coffee began to get cold.

There was a knock on my window and my eyes snapped open, I rolled down my window as two golden eyes stared into mine, "Bella!" she said, happily. "I knew you'd be here," she said.
"Alice," I began.

"You have to come with us, the whole family would be happy to see you again!" she continued. "Alice, I can't.."
"Sure, you can you have loads of free time! I know so, and you can't deny it you're a horrible liar."

I sighed, she was right. "Great! Just follow us." I turned and saw as Alice got in the driver's seat of the Porsche and Rosalie sat in the passenger seat, admiring her nails. I waited, and followed Alice down the streets and to their home, I wasn't sure what would happen from here, I wondered if Edward told Alice about me. I didn't think so since she was so nice to me, she wouldn't do that if she knew what I'd done.

We drove through Forks, then Alice began to drive faster, much faster and I was forced to ignore the speed limit sign and drive faster as well. We eventually reached the famaliar looking white mansion and our tires slowed down as we parked on the gravel driveway.

I stepped out of the car, then I took off my wig and popped out my contacts, Alice smiled at me, "That's better, if it wasn't for your scent I'd never recongnize you." "That's kind of the point," I muttered, forgetting that she could still hear me. She acted as if she didn't and continued to lead me to the front door before going inside, "Everyone downstairs, we have a special vistor," Alice called, "Alice, I'm not special," I said.

"Aw, Bella now they know your here!" she whined. "They can hear my heartbeat, and smell my scent," I reminded her. She huffed, "Fine, but you have to let me shop for you! It's been two years!"

I opened my mouth to refuse, when everyone came downstairs, Rosalie walked over to Emmet and Esme smiled warmly at me, she hugged me. "Bella, your beautiful! You've grown so much!"

"Thank you?" I said, it sounded like a question, I wasn't so sure that I've changed much over the years and I wasn't beautiful at all. Suddenly, I was lifted from the ground and being spun in circles, I saw a flash if his curly hair and knew who was carrying me, "Emmet! Put me down!"

He put me down on my feet, dizzily I lost my footing and began to fall backwards, then two stone arms pulled me back up before I could fall and steadied me, "Thank you," I mumbled. "Why did you have to catch her Eddie?" Emmet complained, "it's funny when she falls."

Behind me Edward growled, "It's not funny," he hissed, "And don't call me Eddie," he added. "Let's all sit down, we have a lot of catching up to do," Esme said, and she led me to the couch. No one mentioned the reason we haven't seen each other for so long, everyone took their seats, and waited for me to start.

I cleared my throat, to start from the beggining when Edward left me would be too painful and it would be uncomfortable for me to tell them that I ran away and the many things after that, so I decided not to beat around the bush and be blunt.

For a minute I noticed Alice's eyes begin to cloud over, she hid it well and soon she was staring at me with an odd expression on her face, maybe it was pity?

"So, one night Charlie took me with him on his patrols in Port Angeles," I began, but then Emmet interrupted. "Why did he have patrols in Port Angeles?" "The crime rates was rising, and they needed some help so they contacted Forks police station, anyway Charlie took me with him because he didn't want me to be alone because of the motorcycle accident-"

"Motorcycle accident?" Esme asked, she was concerned. I nodded, "Yes, it was nothing bad I just crashed into a tree and fell off," I said, shaking it off. The motorcycle was a wreck, but luckily (well at least for me) I only had a gash on my forehead and a few scrapes and bruises.

"That's nothing?" Edward asked, I ignored him and continued speaking, "There a burgular shot Charlie in the chest and got away, Charlie died before the ambulance came and after a police officer questioned me about what happened he drove me home and then I packed my things and got on a flight to Ohio."

"Out of all the places in the world, you pick Ohio?" Alice asked, she shook her head, and I continued speaking faster so I wouldn't be interrupted again, "I became a police officer and got a new identity it only lasted for about a year before I was 'kidnapped' by Jeff," I said, making qoutation marks with my fingers when I said, kidnapped.

This of course did not go by undetected by them, "Why the qoutation marks on kidnapped?" Jasper asked. "Because, in Preese's eyes kidnapping is hiring someone to work for him," I answered.

"Who's Preese?" Carlisle asked, curiously. "And, what type of name is Preese?" Emmet asked. "Preese was my boss, but he let me go and now I'm no longer working for him, I came here after that," I answered.

I left out the parts about being an assasin on purpose, I didn't want to dwell on those memories and I didn't want them to know, I was too ashamed of myself to speak about it. Hopefully, Edward didn't already tell them and if he didn't wouldn't tell them, although I have a feeling Alice might already know.

They must have known I didn't want to talk any further about it, because they stopped asking questions, "How about you? Anything interesting happen in the last two years?" I asked, eager to chang the subject.

"No," Edward said, quickly. I stared at him curiously, but didn't say anything, "Ok, then I guess I should be leaving then," I said, standing up. "No!" Alice yelled, then she composed herself and said, "I still have to take you shopping, and besides it's been two years Bella!"

I thought about it, I did miss them... "Yes!" Alice said, happily. "How long are you staying here?" Esme asked. I shrugged, "As long as I need to, I was going to see Renee soon, I haven't seen her since Spring," I said, I noticed that Edward cringed. I glanced down at my wrist for a brief second, it was long enough for all of them to notice though.

It was silent for a few moments, all of us remembered that time, I was so close to dying. But, Edward saved me. He always manages to save me somehow, just in time. I also began to remember that night in the alley, it felt like it happened a long time ago, but in reality it was so much more recent than that.

"Where are you staying?" Alice asked, I looked up at her, "At a motel in Port Angeles," I answered. Alice gasped, "A motel! Are you crazy? You can't stay there!"

"Why not?" I asked. "Because it's a motel! Besides, it would be so much better if you stayed here with us!" "I dont know Alice, I don't want to intrude," I said.

"Yes, Alice she doesn't want to intrude," Rosalie said. Alice ignored her sister, "Bella you won't be intruding! Everyone will love to have you here!" "Well, almost everyone," she muttered.

I hesitated, but Alice was giving me the puppy dog face! I knew she'd have her way eventually, she always does. So, I nodded.

I sincerely think Alice is trying to push me and Edward back together, at first I was going to be staying in the guest room, but Alice 'forgot' to tell me that she used it as a second closet. I thought, I could use a little space that was left of the room, but not only does Esme refuses to have a guset stay in a closet, but Alice quickly filled that spot too.

So, now I am staying in Edward's room, Alice got Emmet to move the bed that was in the guest room and move it in there. "I'm sorry, you have to share your room with me," I told him. When was the last time I was in this room? It seemed like ages, I still couldn't believe I was back, I looked over everything as if I was seeing it for the first time.

"Don't be, you are the guest, I just hope you aren't uncomfortable." I shook my head, "Never." It was silent again, I sighed, "You have any paper?" I asked, he looked at me confused but still handed me a sheet of paper, I got out the pen in my pocket and began to write.

Did you tell anyone about my former 'job'?I slid the pen over to him, he read it and began writing his reply.

No.

Can you not tell anyone?

Yes. Bella, he didn't let you go did he?

I shook my head, "He didn't," I whispered.

"Then how?" he asked, I picked up my pen.

We had a disagreement and he tried to kill me and then I managed to kill him.

I waited for him to tell me how horrible I am to kill people, but instead he did the last thing I'd expect him to do he walked over to me and hugged me. I was shocked at first, but then I relaxed and hugged him back, smelling his sweet indescriable scent that no other flower or perfume could ever possess.

Without thinking I whispered, "I missed you." My eyes widen, he pulled back and smiled, "I missed you too." I returned the smile, he wrapped his arms around me again, I closed my eyes and felt at peace, and felt whole. A feeling I thought I'd never experience again, I smiled again. I missed this.

The door opened, "Oh, I'm sorry I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Edward and I sprang apart, "Emmet!" Edward yelled, annoyed. Emmet laughed, "Haha, Alice wants to take Bella shopping," he said, before walking away.

I groaned, "Do I have to?" "YES!" I heard, Alice yelled from another floor, I sighed, "See you later," I told, Edward. He nodded.

"Bella!" "I'm coming!"

R&R! And, please don't tell me to update soon because I just did! =)
I hope you liked it, and I wish that you love it!

Thank you to everyone who has read, and added this story to their favorites or story alerts. =)