BPOV

"I'll kill them! How dare they turn up here! Now! When Bella's finally getting her life together! It's like they're trying to break her!" Leah was in a rage and I couldn't blame her, she saw how I was back then, how close I came to killing myself and now I was finally starting to feel like things would be okay and they show up, making me feel like the vulnerable, eighteen year old human I was all over again.

"Stop it, love. Bella can take care of herself, let her deal with them. She'll make them regret ever hurting her. Isn't that right, Bells?" I just looked at Jacob, I didn't know what to do. Well, I knew what to do about Edward. But the others? My family? No! His family! His, not mine. My family were here with me, waiting for me to tell them I was going to kick their asses. But I couldn't say that because the truth was that I didn't want the Cullen's to leave again. I wanted… What did I want?

"Bells? Come on, I know that face, you can't honestly be considering letting them into your life again. Look what they did to you." Jake was pleading with me but…

"Hey, guys. Give Bells a break, this is obviously hard for her. Let her decide what to do about them. We can't make these decisions for her and it wouldn't be fair of us to try." Selene was right, she was always right, always thinking of others. She was an angel, m guardian angel. At that point there was a tentative knock on the door and I let out a huge sigh, already knowing who it was.

"Come in." I was laying on the sofa, one hand behind my head, the other holding a glass of whiskey. To anyone else I'd look like I couldn't give a shit who was coming in but my emotions were in a turmoil and remembering that Jasper was an empathy I let my shield cover me. Alice was the first through the door and I smirked at the pixie –she was even smaller than I remembered –she ran over to give me a hug and then stopped short. Good. I wasn't into touchy-feely shit. I nodded to her.

"Alice." Tears that wouldn't fall filled her eyes, I weren't too sure why she was crying but if I had to take a guess it was probably because I hadn't welcomed her with open arms. Esme was next over and she didn't stop like Alice did, as soon as she saw me she folded me in her arms and was sobbing into my shoulder. I awkwardly patted her back and looked at my band for help. Most of them were snickering but Leah was giving Edward the stink eye and I rolled my eyes. When Edward met my eyes he started talking and that's when I realized the voice I'd thought was so beautiful was now uber-annoying.

"Bella, I'm so –" I cut him off as I gently pushed Esme away. Remember that I didn't do touching? Yeah, well unfortunately the Cullen's hadn't gotten the memo.

"Don't. Just don't." I stood, downed my whiskey and slowly stalked towards him. "Do you have any idea what I went through when you left? Do you even care? DO YOU CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF!" By now I was in his face, screaming at him, my body burned with the desire to punch him and his next move made my already slim self-restraint disappear. He tried to place a hand on my cheek.

"Please, love –" I slapped his hand away and placed mine around his throat before shoving him into the wall, hard enough to prove my point but no so hard as to dent the wall. That would be difficult to explain.

"I'm not your love. I'm not your anything. Touch me again and I'll rip out your balls and feed them to the wolves –literally." My voice was a growl and I heard Jasper snickering. I released Edward who dropped to the floor and unleashed my anger on him.

"What are you laughing at, Major?" His eyes widened when I used the name I'd heard the Volturi referred to him as. Although after the shock wore off his smirk was back in place and I felt my own lips start to curl up into a smile.

"Just you putting Edward in his place, ma'am." His use of the word ma'am made me squirm and I had to fight to pull myself together. Damn his accent was… yeah… it was… oh come on, who doesn't love a cowboy,

"Good. I'd hate to have to hurt you." I winked at him and his smile got impossibly bigger. "Okay here's how it's going to be. No touching. I don't do no touchy-feely crap. Not anymore. Ask whatever questions you want but if I don't want to answer. I won't. Okay, now that that's out of the way. Take a seat. Oh, Seth? Throw me that bottle, I'm gonna need it." Seth snickered and threw the bottle of Jack Daniels over, I caught it in one hand then plonked myself back where I started. Jasper came over and moved my legs so he could sit down. I threw him a playful glare before putting my feet back up only this time instead of being on the sofa they were resting in his lap.

"Thought you just said no touching?" He whispered I just shrugged.

"You moved them, I moved them back, not my fault you're in the way." I winked at him before turning to the family. Everyone was smiling –well not my band but the Cullens… oh wait, Edward wasn't. Good. Still the way everyone else was smiling at me, like it was the second coming of Jesus had me on edge. Talk about creepy. Esme spoke first.

"How have you been, Bella?" Typical first question and the one I hated answering. Still, I couldn't find it in myself to be a bitch to Esme and I didn't want to lie to her either so I just answered as truthfully as possible.

"As well as to be expected, yourself?" My tone was formal but soft, I loved Esme and I didn't hold it against her that they left. I doubt it was her choice.

"We're in good health as always but you've been deeply missed." I struggled to hold in a snort and thankfully Seth was the one who lightened the conversation.

"Course she was, who wouldn't miss her. She's a babe." I giggled a little at the boy who was like a little brother to me and raised my re-filled glass to him before taking a sip. I caught Jasper taking a swig out of the bottle and raised my eyebrow at him which earned me a shrug and a sexy smirk.

"When we're you turned Bells?" Em looked like a lost puppy dog and I sent a gentle smile his way.

"About 2 months after you guys left." No need to give them more information than they were asking. It was Rosalie's turn to speak and I was pretty shocked she was speaking to me at all. I mean, we were never all that close but she looked at me with nothing but kindness. What the hell happened to the ice queen?

"How? I mean, who turned you?" With a deep sigh I went into the whole tragic tale. I held off a giggle at my own thought and then continued on to explain everything. When I got to Charlie's death my voice broke a little and Jasper started rubbing soothing circles into my feet causing my head to loll and me to aim a weak smile at him. Hey, no judging, every girl likes a foot rub. It was Carlisle who broke the awkward silence once I'd finished.

"We are incredibly sorry Bella, we never wanted to leave you. We just thought that you could have a normal, healthy, happy lifestyle without us." I snorted in disbelief at the good doctor.

"You thought? Or he did?" I nodded my head towards where Edward sat with his face downcast and struggle to hide a laugh at his obvious discomfort.

"Bella. Stop. This hateful attitude? It isn't you." I turned my gaze to Alice and let my anger shine through my eyes. I sat up and felt my mouth curl into a snarl.

"You're wrong about that; this 'hateful attitude' as you call it is a result of having no one but yourself to rely on. So, sorry if I don't match your old, best friend check box but I've changed and just so you know I'm more me than I ever have been before. So suck it up or fuck off." The Cullen's went silent as Alice's eyes started to fill up and she left the room, Edward ran after her. Good.

"Okay. Soooo… Is that all or…" The leftover Cullen's didn't know what to say it seems and I just sighed before laying my head back against the cushions and downing my drink. I reached down for my bottle but couldn't feel it. I sat up a little to look only to find it in Jaspers hand. I grabbed it off him, stuck my tongue out and refilled the glass. He smirked down at me and I felt myself flush. Thankfully no one else would see being as there was no blood but it most definitely confused me.

"Bella honey, do you mind if we visit you again? I know this conversation hasn't gone as well as it could have but we do miss you." I sighed at Esme and rattled off my cell phone number. Esme smiled and stood, came over and held her arms out in a question. Well at least she didn't just hug me so I just nodded, thankfully this embrace wasn't nearly as awkward as our first and then Carlisle came over and grabbed me in a hug too. A little awkward being as he'd never hugged me when I was human but I let it go.

"So what are you going to do now, Bells?" Em's question had me smirking.

"Clubbing." Jasper's eyes widened a little at the idea of me clubbing and I gave him 'the look' you know the 'you know nothing' look.

"Do you mind if we tag along?" It was Rosalie who asked and I was shocked but it sounded okay. I mean, these were the only ones in the family who hadn't tried to change me at all or make me feel bad because I wasn't perfect. Don't get me wrong Esme and Carlisle had been good to me but… well they acted like parents and whilst the 'kids' were actually old enough to be… well… dead they still acted like teenagers.

"Sure. Why not?" Jasper smirked at me and took my hand, pulling me to me feet. Well, looks like we're leaving now then.