By the time realization struck, the rest of the Cullen's had made their way outside to witness the end of the train wreck. For a moment, Bella regretted her decision to start the whole process that led her to this particularly mortifying predicament. But for the hundredth time she remembered, this wasn't about her.

With a side glance, she could see that her son was waiting in anticipation, probably hoping for some sort of fantastical reunion with his estranged father. However, she knew that it would be no fairytale ending, for either of them. She wouldn't ride off into the sunset with prince charming and Kohl wouldn't end up with the father figure he deserved.

She may not have had Alice's gift of foresight but she knew this without a doubt.

"Bella?"

Her ruby eyes honed in on frantic golden ones.

"Why?"

His eyes held so many emotions and spoke many volumes that the burly vampire could never express in words but Bella could see them clear as day. Why didn't she come to him, why had she kept it a secret, why now?

A sudden burst of anger surged throughout her body. Why?! What other reason that the fact that he was Kohl's father did he have the right to ask such a question?

"Well let's see Emmett, I was dating Edward at the time, you were with Rosalie, you left, what real reason do you need? I didn't want to mess up your perfect little life. Sure, it was selfish of me but I didn't want to get hurt by you, nor did I want that to happen to Kohl. And we both know that, like you already have seemed to, you would have promised to stay with Rosalie because that's just who you are and I don't fault you for that. But let's face it, it would have been a royal mess like it's becoming now and Kohl would have taken the brunt of it. I didn't want that for a child."

Bella was on the verge of nonexistent tears. If she missed one thing about being human, it was being able to cry. She missed the release it provided. As it stood, she was a bottled up emotional mess that was dangerously close to exploding.

"Bella…" She could tell he wanted to say more, to do more, but he seemed to be held back by an invisible chain.

All she could do was shake her head and try a different route. She grabbed Kohl's hand and pulled him up to Emmett.

"It's about time you two have a proper meeting. Emmett, this is your son, Kohl." She said with a sad smile. Dropping her son's hand, she turned to leave them to catching up. She didn't need to be there, she had done her part but now she needed some time alone.

Emmett watched as she walked away, leaving him with the one thing he never thought he'd have in his eternal life; a child, though he looked more like a man now.

"Just give her some time, I'm making her face a lot of things by asking to see you." The boys tone bordered on ashamed. Emmett could see so much of Bella in this boy; his son, and part of him was glad for it. He had never been the type, as a human, that had wanted kids. He had always been the overly childish one, even in his vampire existence, but having Kohl in front of him now made him want to do more, be more, to prove his worth as a father.

Bella had once again ventured out into the wintery Alaskan wilderness to clear her mind.

Emmett…he was there. For the first time in nearly a hundred years she had seen his face, almost like no time at all had passed.

But it had. She had gown emotionally and mentally but no matter what changed in her, she still felt like the same teenage girl with a crush on her boyfriend's brother. Granted, a lot of things in that basic scenario had changed but the lingering feelings remained. Time had not diluted or tainted them. If anything, they had grown. Now she was faced with the object of her affections and she couldn't even tell him. He had already promised his life away to Rose. Not that she faulted him for that, she never would, it just hurt so much to think that her chance at happiness with him was nonexistent.

A shudder wracked her form, not from the cold, but rather the buildup of emotions that could not be released.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice that she wasn't alone until a hand laid upon her shoulder. Swiftly she twirled around, only to recognize Alice's scent.

"Easy Bella, I just came to talk." She said as her hands were held up in a placating manner. A whoosh of air escaped Bella, most likely releasing the built-up tension from the sudden intrusion.

"What more is there to say, Alice? Emmett is here, he knows about Kohl, and it seems like he's trying to make an effort to know him. What more can I ask for?" Bella didn't dare to look the seer in the eyes, if she did Alice would know, and she didn't want the pixie woman to make a deal out of it.

"Bella…" Alice began, only to stop. She seemed to consider her words before she began once more. "Don't give up hope. I know you have been through some much over the years, and I am partially to blame for that."

Before Bella could protest, Alice held a hand up. "I saw what you were going through and I did nothing to aid you. For that reason alone, I am responsible. I just knew that you wanted to keep Kohl from us, so I didn't want you to feel like I was intruding, but that is no excuse."

This time Bella interrupted. "Sure, it would've been nice to have someone to talk about things with but I made do. I don't hold you responsible, if anything I'm grateful that you kept my secret even though it could've destroyed your family if they were to find out that you knew all along. By me coming here, I took the brunt of the disappointment. I wouldn't have wished that on you. I am sorry that you had to keep it from everyone, including Jasper. That had to have been hard on you."

Alice just shook her head with a small smile that Bella remembered from her human days. "Still so quick to be the martyr Bella. The family isn't disappointed in the fact that Kohl exists, I think they're more hurt than anything, that you couldn't trust us enough to come to us when you were in need. If anything, they would've welcomed you with open arms. Well…maybe not Rose." The pixie chuckled, causing Bella to smirk. "But they would've never made you feel like having Kohl was a bad thing. Esme and Carlisle have always loved you like you were a part of this family, even after we had left they were always wanting to check up on you but Edward guilt tripped them into staying away."

Alice looked off into the distance, as if reminiscing. "Even though it seemed like a clean break from our end, we didn't want to leave Bella but Edward in his own stupid way made sense. We were dangerous to you, to your humanity, but if I had thought for one second you would need us like you did I would've convinced them all to stay."

Bella was suddenly confused. How did Alice not see Kohl coming? How did she not see the night that she and Emmett shared?

"Alice, how did you not foresee this?"

Alice looked down, her hands fidgeting in a completely un-Alice like manner.

"I didn't see you and Emmett until after it happened, I guess the choices were too quick for it to register. I saw you go to Peter and Charlotte and a quick glimpse of what you looked like at the time, and then I saw you as a vampire. In truth, I've never been able to see Kohl's future. He is kind of like a blind spot to me, like the wolves were."

Bella look incredulously at the seer. "Wait wolves?! And what is that supposed to mean that you can't see his future?"

Alice shook her head. "Yes Bella, wolves as in for best friend Jacob Black was a wolf shifter. That is a story for another time though. As for Kohl, he may just have a gift that prevents me from seeing him. It's not saying that he doesn't have a future because he's had 100 years."

Bella relaxed at her friend's comment. It was true that Kohl had already had a hundred years, so it meant that he had a future. She had just always been so worried that him being half human would cut is life expectancy somehow. The pixie not being able to see her son had just played on existing fears.

"You're right Alice, it just freaked me out a little bit."

Alice smiled lightly. "It's understandable."

With all the heavy stuff out of the way, the two sat and caught up with the on goings of each other's lives.

Rosalie was beyond furious. Things were most definitely not going the way she wanted them to. First off, she had thought that fatherhood would have mortified Emmett, to the point of him fleeing but it seemed the opposite had happened. He had jumped in with both feet, determined to be the father his son had been lacking.

The thing that had the blonde enraged the most was the fact that Emmett had a child. He was supposed to be hers. If she couldn't have a child that she so desired, why should Emmett? It just wasn't fair. It didn't help that he had a child with the woman she despised the most. She was the reason they had to move so soon, the reason the family was in constant torment, and now she was the reason why Emmett looked so happy. She just couldn't believe that after everything they had been through together that he would've cheated on her. In truth, it was a blow to her pride. But she contented herself with the promise he made to stay with her. No matter what happened while they were home, Emmett would always be hers.

Knowledge in tow she ran towards Canada for a long due hunt. All the stress had her hungry quicker than normal. She would never know the cloaked figure that followed her or just what it meant for her and the Cullen family.

Throughout the next few days the same scene played, Emmett would spend time with Kohl, Rosalie would go sulk, and Bella would seclude herself from everyone. Occasionally, Alice or Aria would join the confused and hurt woman but for the most part she stayed to herself. Carlisle could see how much all of this affected the girl he considered his daughter. She had always been the one to carry the world on her shoulders, and it seemed that vampirism did nothing to sway that trait. He knew that she felt like they were disappointed in her, but in truth they were in awe of her. She had gone through so much at such a young age and handled it with grace and wisdom far beyond her years. Of course, they were a little hurt that she didn't seek them out but Carlisle knew why.

He looked over to Esme as she watched her children fall into the new routine and he could she the worry etched all over her ageless face. He grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. She smiled, though Carlisle could easily see it was forced.

He frowned.

"I guess it's time we intervene." He spoke without looking at his wife.

"But you said…"

"I know, but they'll never work things out at this rate. I know we have eternity but this is getting to be too much…for them and us."

A side glance revealed Esme nodding. "You know as well as I do Carlisle, if Bella is left to her own devices for too long she's going to start seeing things that aren't there. She's going to drive herself away. I can't bare her leaving."

This time Carlisle nodded. "Maybe it's time we have a chat with Alice to see if she's seen anything that can help."

Esme came to stand in front of her mate and gave him a quick kiss. "You really are wonderful."

Carlisle smiled, he could see the spark returned to his love's eyes.

I hope everything works out for the best my dear. He thought as he kissed her crown.

Bella had been avoiding everything and anything that involved Emmett, including her son. She knew she was being irrational but at the same time, she had never once throughout the years had hope for her and Emmett and as quickly as the light of hope entered, it was chased out by darkness; his promise to Rose. It was all too much to be around the brawny vampire and even her son caused unwanted feelings to pop up. So she did the only thing she could, she went off by herself to think on things.

As time progressed she was beginning to think more and more that her presence was unnecessary. Rosalie had behaved for the most part, Kohl was adapting well, as was Emmett. In truth, she wasn't needed. With her resolve set, she went to find her son to announce her departure. But it seemed that a certain pixie woman would not be having any of that.

"Bella…" She could hear the warning in her tone.

"Alice, I've made up my mind and there's not a thing you or anyone else can do about it." Bella held firm, her body rigid, and eyes hard.

Alice, seeming to ignore the body language, pressed on. "What did I tell you about not giving up hope?"

Bella scoffed. "Hope is for those with no sense. I've thought about this Alice, it's not like I'm doing this without thinking it through. I'm not needed; therefore, I do not need to be here."

Especially when it hurts me like this.

Bella unconsciously grabbed the fabric over the spot where her heart once beat, which didn't go unnoticed.

Alice grinned. "What if I told you that there was a reason to stay?"

Once again Bella scoffed. "And what reason would that be? I'm not going to stay and subject myself-you know what, just no."

Bella made to push past Alice, intent on telling her son and Aria goodbye but one word stopped her in her tracks.

"Mates." Alice said with her bright smile. "There's your loophole."

With that information divulged she left the stunned vampire to her own devices to let the information sink in. She knew Bella was smart enough to piece it together.

Once upon a time Edward had told Bella a story of mates, back went he claimed that she was his. She did a mental eye roll at that thought. He had said that mates were very rare, very few vampires ever found their mates. Carlisle had found Esme when she was human and realized that she was his mate, he had kept an eye on her to make sure she was happy. Edward had said it took all of Carlisle's willpower not to intervene when she was getting abused because he felt the alternative, becoming a vampire, was worse. He saw her blossom when she had her first child and he also saw the complete devastation it wrought on her when the child died suddenly. It was when she was at death's door that Carlisle could no longer take it and changed her.

Alice and Jasper were another story. Alice had the gift of foresight and thus had an advantage for finding her mate. She had waited and tried to maneuver around his decisions to finally meet up with him in that café.

But her, how is it that her mate had been in front of her for so long and she didn't notice? How did he not notice? There was also the small fact that killing another's mate was punishable by death from the Volturi. Did that mean that keeping them a part, knowingly, was an offense as well?

She'd have to ask Alice later. But if all this was true, did Emmett know now. He had to, the pull when she first saw him was so much stronger than when she was human. Was it his promise to stay by Rosalie that was keeping him away?

So many questions bubbled up with not many answers.

With a new direction, she sought out Carlisle. He probably had more knowledge on the matter than even Alice did.

It didn't take long to find Carlisle in his study with Esme looking like they were drawing up a plan. Bella knocked on the door, attempting to give some semblance of privacy.

"Come in Bella, we were just getting ready to go look for you." Carlisle responded.

Bella paused. In all her time knowing the Cullen's she had never heard that tone from Carlisle. It was polite but also seemed like he was…hiding something. Shaking the feeling, she stepped into the room.

"I need to speak with you, both of you." They two older vampires look slightly taken aback by the request but their expressions soon morphed to one of happiness.

"Whenever you're ready." Carlisle encouraged.

"I want to know more about mates, specifically the rules of others interfering with them. I know from what Edward said that killing one unjustly can be punishable by death but is there anything else?"

Carlisle smiled. It seemed Alice was correct in her thinking that Bella would seek him out after she had revealed the possibility to Bella.

"Well, as per the Volturi's rules, since mates are a rarity they are to be protected at all costs. Even something as simple as keeping them apart is punishable, though not as severely as if one were killed as you said. It has even occurred where vampires have been pardoned of their crimes because they had a mate."

Carlisle had an odd smile on his face, like he was waiting for something. She thought over what he had said. So that meant that if Emmett was her mate, Rosalie would be punished but that seemed to be self-explanatory. He had said that vampires had been forgiven of their crimes because they had mates.

Her mind flashed back to the one and only time that she and Jasper had been alone. He had revealed his story about how he was in a newborn army, one that would have gotten the attention of humans and Volturi alike. Was that a crime? Was Jasper the one that had been pardoned because of Alice?

"Jasper?" She said, unsure of her response.

Carlisle's smile broadened. "Yes, he was one of the only ones to ever received that treatment. It goes to show how serious they are about keeping mates together."

Bella's brow furrowed. "But why?"

The smile faded. "Marcus, one of the three Volturi Kings, lost his mate and they saw the toll it took on him. They vowed that it would never happen to another vampire. That is why James was such a tricky situation. We feared that Victoria was his mate, she had thought she was, but Edward had confirmed that she wasn't. James had kept her around to play upon the Volturi law. If other vampires thought he had a mate, then he would be safe. There would have been many more hoops to jump through if she was in fact James' mate and it wouldn't have ended well for you since we know that Edward is not your mate like he claimed."

Carlisle shook his head at the thought of his first child.

At the mention of Edward Bella seemed to ponder. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him in a while. Did he leave?" It wasn't like she cared, more like curious. She hadn't seen him since Alice put him in the spotlight.

Carlisle gave an out of character snort. "He left after he tried to help Rosalie stay off the grid and after the incident with Alice, I'm guessing he didn't want to be around if Emmett came back. I'm pretty positive he went to stay with some of our friends in a rural part of Alaska."

Bella chuckled. Edward was never one that could brush things off and often dwelled on them, thoroughly.

"So Bella, is there something else we can help you with." Esme asked, almost seeming as if she was pushing for something.

"Nope, just wondering is all." She said popping the -p. Esme's face fell minutely before she corrected it.

"Alright dear, we're here anytime you need to talk." She said sounding a tad bit sad. Bella left the office and headed back outside to think over what she had learned.

Bella couldn't figure out what they were trying to accomplish. Surely, they would want Emmett and Rosalie together, they had all been a family for so long.

But, the rational side of her brain added, if you and Emmett are mates wouldn't they support that since they too are mates? Bella shook that thought away. She and Emmett weren't mates, she really didn't even know why she had asked about it or why Alice had even planted that thought in her head.

But…

That but was what had her frozen in place. Her body wouldn't let her move and the feeling of incompleteness grew in her chest. She hadn't had that feeling since they had all left her and she had assumed that is was a collective loss but maybe, just maybe, it was the loss of Emmett that caused the horrid feeling.

She didn't dare to hope but Alice's words floated through her mind 'Don't give up hope.' A rueful smile and a disbelieving chuckle decorated her lips. Leave it to Alice. With that last thought she headed to the only person who could clear the whole mess up. She only hoped that she wouldn't be getting herself more hurt than she already was.

Emmett had learned a lot about his newly discovered son and his mate. He had learned that Kohl had met Aria in Seattle of all places. She had thought she was saving him from getting mugged when in reality Kohl was luring the guy down there for his own meal. Aria told of the instant spark when their eyes met, and how she was completely thrown for a loop when he didn't runaway screaming as she tore into the thug that was following him. She had said he even looked a little peeved that she had showed up. Kohl laughed and stated it was because she had stolen his dinner.

For the most part, Emmett sat back and listened to his son's tales, adding comments here and there. But then Kohl asked the one question he knew would come up but one he didn't really want to answer.

"So how did you meet mom. I've heard it from her perspective but I get the feeling she's leaving out quite a bit."

Emmett froze. He remembered clearly how and when he met Bella. The first time he saw her, that girl…Jessica if he remembered correctly, was telling all about the mysterious Cullen's. She had brought up her theory of he and Rosalie being together, which was true. He paid them no mind since every school he had ever went to talked about them like they were some sort of celebrities.

It wasn't until he noticed how hard Edward was staring at her, trying to get a read on her mind, did he finally set eyes upon the girl that would rock him to the core. At first, he thought it was a fluke, that what he was feeling was maybe Jasper projecting what Edward was feeling but as he looked around the table, no one seemed to be affected. Jasper didn't even seem to notice his change but that may have been because he was so focused on not eating the entire school population. But Bella never seemed to notice him. When she finally did, it was in a brotherly type way, so he rationalized his feelings away. If she wasn't affected, then there was no way she could be his mate.

It wasn't until the night that Edward had asked him to watch over her while the family went on a hunt did things change. He had caught her masturbating of all things, all because Edward wouldn't go any further with her. If he had loved her like he claimed, and was she was his mate, he wouldn't have been able to deny or hurt her. But Emmett had given her what she wanted without harming her. He remembered feeling whole for the first time in his life, not even Rose filled the gaping hole. If anything, that woman made it bigger, something he hadn't noticed until Bella came along.

"Emmett…"

Emmett started, coming from his reminiscing.

"Yeah?"

He looked over at Kohl and Aria who were waiting expectantly. "I asked how you met my mom."

He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I just got caught up in my own thoughts, sorry."

Kohl smirked. "Is she your mate?"

Aria smacked Kohl's arm and gave a chastising warning, "Kohl" Her mate just shrugged, like he just hadn't just open Pandora's box.

Emmett stuttered. He had told Rosalie that he thought Bella was his mate and looking back over his memories and seeing her again just reaffirmed it all. Bella was his mate.

"It's alright Aria, he has a right to know." He said, finally coming to his senses.

Kohl's fingers drummed seamlessly on his forearm. "Well?"

Emmett shot his son a look, "Impatient aren't we, I'm sure you get that from you mother."

Kohl once again shrugged, "Probably. But I bet my nonchalant attitude came from you." Emmett's glare faded and he, against his better judgment laughed. "Probably."

"Yes Kohl, I am certain that your mother is my mate." Emmett admitted.

The boy grinned and nodded behind his father. "Why don't you tell her that?"

Emmett spun around to see a stunned Bella. Her head whipping back and forth between her son and Emmett.

"I wonder where you get your conniving side from." Emmett whispered under his breath but Kohl heard him clear as day.

"Ahh" Kohl said as he leaned forward. "That would be a trait that I mastered on my own. And maybe with a little help from Alice." With that said he stood and offered his mate a hand. As he passed his mother he whispered in her ear, "Here is your chance."

Bella was dumbstruck. She had been on her way to get answers straight from the horse's mouth but she hadn't expected it would be that easy. He had said it bluntly, and even though she knew this was a setup, she couldn't find it in her to care. Armed with the knowledge she had gained from Alice and Carlisle she made her way to the one vampire she never thought she would see again.

But when it came time to speak, she couldn't seem to form an intelligent response.

"So, we're mates huh?"

Emmett, despite himself, laughed and the tension in the air dissipated.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all. She thought to herself.

"What the hell Emmett?!" She heard the banshee screech.

Or maybe it will.

A/N I apologize for taking so long to update. I hope this longer chapter somewhat made up for it. In the next chapter, we will find out who the cloaked figure is and how it pertains to the family. A special thanks to jessa76, without her pms you would probably have been waiting for chapters still.