A/N: So, *pops gum* it's been over a year since I've uploaded anything for this. I'm kind of interested to see who's still reading. *pops gum* That's a lie. I'm interested as hell. Fuck, if you're STILL reading this, lemme know, or something, and I'll send you teasers. Or something. And, woah, I definitely lied in my last A/N, but that's only a technicality because I was never really a scout. I only made it to brownie level, and then my ass quit. ;)

This one's gonna be shitty and short, but whatever. I still lufffff you. 3 *pops gum*

CHAPTER TEN

Where'd you Go?

The last time you checked in:

And then, for the second time in twenty-four hours – we collapsed onto each other – this time it wasn't in pure ecstasy. This time, it's safe to say that we all felt the complete and utter opposite. My mom, their second mom, she was… gone. Oh my God.

BPOV

"We are gathered here, not to mourn, no, but to appreciate the life of the late Renee Swan. The faces around you are her closest friends, her dear family. The people who loved her with their whole hearts. The people Renee loved, with her whole heart. Let us still in a moment of silence." Reverend Weber eloquently spoke, addressing us, the crowd in front of him. I tried, as well as I could, not to think of my mother when he spoke, but someone who I didn't know. Easier said than done.

Since arriving in Forks five days ago, I had done nothing. I didn't help plan the funeral, the reception, the burial… nothing. Detached, they were all whispering. She's in shock, pure and simple.

Yeah, and who were they? Faces, swirling, pretending to have known my mother? My poor, dead, mother? Yeah, they all said they knew. They knew.

Six months later

"You're sure, Dad? You got everything? The leftovers are in the crisper, there's a three week supply of food in the freezer. I went shopping Monday for those pears you were talking ab-" I paused, blinking. Silence.

Charlie was crying.

"Ya know Bells, I miss you when you're not here, but when you're actually leaving, we can never get you to stop rambling! I love ya kid, but you need to breathe once in a while, too." Charlie rumbled, a slight smile on his gruff, only barely forlorn (other than the tears) face.

"I know, Dad. I'll miss you, too," Traitor eyes. "But, I really do need to get going; my flight takes off in exactly… forty-three minutes. I'll visit before you know it, and call even sooner. Oh! Before I forget, the chocolate syrup is in the…" I trailed off. Leave it alone, Bella. He's a grown-ass man. Just get on the plane. Just do it.

He guffawed, a sound I hadn't heard in a long, long while.

"Bella! I can handle myself! Just go, before you're late! I love you, have a safe flight. Now, shoo." He said, faux-mechanically.

"Well, aren't we just Charlie the Comedian? Alright, alright, I'm going, nag. I'll call you when I land!" And with a wave, I was boarding.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Counting the seconds on my watch obviously wasn't helping me with the fidgeting issue.

Flagging down a flight attendant, I asked the question I wish I hadn't had to.

"Tissues?" I sniffled, pathetically. Oh well. I was recovering. I knew I was almost there.

She nodded, and returned moments later with the smallest damn Kleenex box I had ever seen. I thanked her, and blew.

Sure, Renee was my mom, and I loved her more than anything. But I had just spent six months of my life grieving, and was ready to take part in her life motto – ce'st la vie.

I stumbled off of the plane (truthfully, when wasn't I stumbling somewhere?) and immediately wished I had chosen to tell Rose the exact date and time I was flying in. Excusing the lack of planning away to 'the element of surprise', I was leaving both she and Alice chomping at the bit for my arrival home. I figured we would all enjoy it more if they were surprised, and enjoyment, I most certainly needed.

Bumming a cab to my apartment, I slithered out of the taxi, and hauled ass inside. My girls were right. Up. Stairs. I couldn't wait.

I jogged to the elevators, barely stopping to wave at Jake, who looked a little over-excited to see me, and must've pressed the button thirty times before it –finally- squealed to a stop in front of me.

Practically throwing my bags inside, I pressed our floor number, and did an Alice-like hop the entire way up. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there, and… finally!

I grabbed my load, and tore down the hall, so ridiculously anxious I thought I would puke. I couldn't remember the last time we had been apart for longer than a month.

Having gotten my key out before I was even out of the cab, it slid easily into place, and opened the door to my home. And family.

There, on the couch, were Rosalie and Alice, staring back at me. Some vague part of my consciousness noticed others in the room – but not much. I was finally here. Right here, where I should've been.

We must've stared at each other for a good three seconds before we all three let out ear-piercing screams and dove for each other.

"BELLAAAAAA! I MISSED YOU SOOOOO MUCH! We missed you sooo much! The apartment missed you! Heck, I'm pretty sure the coffee pot, the closets, even the freaking carpet missed you! It has been far, far too long. I needed my Bella. You've been AWOL longer than Ja-" Alice rambled, latched onto me like some sort of hyper-leech. I wasn't gonna lie, I had missed it.

"Oh, I know. Forks was as crazy-boring as always; I had forgotten what it was like being there without you two bombshells! I can't even tell you how much I missed you. There aren't words." I shrieked, just as excited as Ally.

"I feel the same, sweet. Not a thing could've kept us away any longer. We were lonely without our Bella-boo, I'll tell you that much. But, right now, I'll refrain from the rudeness we're exuding. Bella, do you remember our new neighbors? From right before we left?" Rose eyed me, trying to see my reaction.

"Um, yeah, I remember the one with the-" Ever the impatient one, Alice butted in;

"Yeah, well they aren't just our neighbors anymore… they're our boyfriends! We're sorry we didn't tell you, but we didn't really know what state you would be in out there, so we wanted to tell you in person. Are you mad? Please don't be… we just didn't want to overwhelm you!" Alice, again, rambled, being saved only by Rose's hesitant introduction.

"Well… anyway, here, again, are Jasper and Emmett. Emmett's with me, and Jazz, here, is Alice's. Guys… Bella." Rosalie gestured, the only one brave enough to face the awkward, yet tinted-with-reunion moment.

"Hey, guys, it's really nice to see you again! Um… how've you been?" It really was nice seeing them, but I couldn't help but wonder about there unmistakably sexy younger brother… Where was he?

"OH! And Bella; of course, you remember Edward!" Alice chirped, less nervous now that the awkward was diffusing.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, they say. Only this time… even better looking, I thought.

A/N: Until tomorrow,

Shannon

P.S. – please review :) ...no, really.

A/N: Re-vamped (ha) 06/23/12