I do not own any of the characters or settings.

Finally, the girl did faint. Probably my sudden, unintentional return to visibility was too much for her. I didn't care. My craving to see her expressions was gone. My epiphany would be easier to deal with if she was unconscious.

Slowly, I released my hands from her shoulders and pulled my face back so I could stare more easily at the girl's features. It was remarkable really, she looked nothing like me and yet the sight of her had triggered a revelation.

I continued to stare while a very small portion of my brain wondered when the shock would wear off enough to allow me to move. The rest of my mind was trying unsuccessfully to wrap itself around the new concepts that were racing through my head. Or maybe they were old concepts. All I knew for sure is that they were human concepts.

I made myself to take a deep, calming breath, one of the first ones I'd bothered with since oxygen became unnecessary. With surprise I discovered that the human scented air that came with the action irritated my throat but did not send me into the usual frenzy. The overpowering strength of my thoughts had driven my bloodlust almost completely away. It was possible to control my instincts. On my own. Without a death threat hanging over me. Wow.

I breathed in again, slowly, testing this new control. Then my eyes went wide and I was on my feet. With the Cullen's distinctive scent in my nostrils, I was no longer paralyzed, but on full alert, my every nerve tingling. I wanted to crouch, to prepare myself for the attack I knew was coming, but I forced myself to remain upright. Crouching was my instinct for hunting as well as defense and I had no desire to accidently hurt the girl. It felt too much like suicide.

I was still scrambling to find a defensive position when the three of them came through the hedges. Our hunting party was back together, but it was not a happy reunion. We glared at each other in heavy silence.

I felt my familiar contempt rise as I watched them. They were completely relaxed. Even after everything I had accomplished, they refused to view me as a threat. I fought hard to drown the sensation. I did not want to hate them anymore. Not now that I understood.

"Bree," Carlisle broke our silence. His voice was back to the soft, understanding tenor that I had come to expect from him. But the reassuring tone did nothing to ease my tension. He wouldn't keep talking to me for long; he hadn't bothered during the last attack.

I wasn't going to be cornered again. It was time to take control of this situation.

I glanced back at the girl lying on the ground and heard the Cullens simultaneously step closer, afraid that I would attack her. I ignored them and focused on conjuring up the emotions—the human emotions—I needed to make myself invisible. It was harder this time because I had to think about it. Now that I knew what the emotions meant, a large part of me never wanted to feel them again. I suffered a nightmarish moment when I thought that it would not work but, eventually, I managed it.

I heard Jasper groan loudly, a satisfying sound. I looked up to find that the group was frozen. Only their eyes were moving, shifting wildly back and forth as they searched for any sign of me.

I watched in amusement as Jasper shut his eyes and his eyebrows furrowed. Then he blew out an exasperated sigh and turned to Carlisle. "She's blank again."

"Again?" Emmett moaned. He ran his fingers roughly through his hair. I thought he might actually grab some and pull it out. "Carlisle, where else would she go?"

"I'm still here," I told them. The words were low in volume but I forced every ounce of my determination into them. As I expected, they locked onto the sound of my voice and six golden eyes stared directly at the place where I was standing. I took a few steps back and to the right before continuing. "I won't kill her. I don't want to."

Jasper and Emmett merely found me with their eyes again, but Carlisle actually stepped toward me. "What do you want, Bree?" he asked with a curious combination of frustration and fatherly concern.

I shrugged out of habit before remembering that gestures were useless. "I'm not sure." I moved back to my original position in a fruitless attempt to confuse them.

Unfortunately, my statement was true. Even with my new knowledge, my next step was unclear. I still didn't know if I would ever be able to commit fully to the group standing in front of me. I could never hurt this girl, but I wasn't so sure about everyone else.

My thoughts and feelings could only be described in two words, "I remembered."

The effect was immediate. Their postures did not relax but each of their faces softened, even Jasper's. They were still tensed, ready for battle, but their expressions told me that they didn't actually expect a fight anymore. Not with this girl at least.

I continued awkwardly when they did not take the initiative. "I…..understand…." but I couldn't finish. I pulled my eyebrows together to show exactly how frustrating this was for me and again had to remember that they could not see me.

With a half sigh, half annoyed groan that probably told them my feelings better then the sight of me would have, I brought myself back to visibility.

Again, they reacted immediately, but this time they surprised me. I expected them to become even more apprehensive, but instead, they did the opposite and straightened until they were completely upright.

I relaxed too, not caring if my feelings were caused by Jasper's power. Most likely, it was Jasper's expression, not his ability, that was putting me at ease. I had never seen him look so unguarded, even his eyes seemed lighter in color. If he had no plans to attack me, then I was safe. For now.

Carlisle moved so close to me that he blocked the others from view. I met his eyes without fear for the first time and realized with shock that I envied their golden hue.

"I understand why," I told him quietly. It was easier to talk to just Carlisle. "I need to learn how."

"She means it this time," Jasper said, his voice drifting over Carlisle's shoulder. I was offended by Jasper's obvious surprise. But then I reminded myself that I deserved his skepticism and let the feeling drop. The last thing I needed was another emotion clouding my head anyway.

"Do you?" Carlisle asked me.

It was a simple question, but still, I hesitated. Saying yes meant committing to their way of life. No more messing around. Telling them no meant death. I wouldn't try to run from them again. I was through with running.

I was also through with lying. Now that I knew who I was, who I am, it was almost impossible to lie to myself. And I knew now what I was capable of. I could restrain myself and I was ready to learn how, regardless of how difficult it was going to be.

I looked down at the girl one last time. I wanted to say something to her even though I knew she couldn't hear. I stared at her for almost a full minute but I couldn't decide whether I wanted to thank her or curse her so in the end I remained silent.

Finally, I took a step away from Carlisle and looked each of the vampires in the eye.

Then, fully aware that my words would change my eternity, I spoke. "Yes, I do mean it," I told them, my voice strong with conviction. "I'm ready."