Disclaimer: I only wish they were mine.

Chapter 10: Almost Family

I was still sitting on the ground near the car when I sensed a presence. I ignored it, not wanting to be confronted by anyone. I let my tears fall down my face and kept my head buried between my folded knees. I was practically in the fetal position, just sitting up. I waited for the presence to go away or say something. It was kind of weird waiting. The silence wasn't a true silence and I could sense that the presence was enduring some kind of struggle. Finally a voice spoke, "Bella?"

The voice was not the velvety tones I had been hoping for. Instead all I got was an extremely happy, booming voice. I looked up and found...Emmet. His grin was stretched right across his face and his face was about the only thing I could see since it was now about five inches from my own. I figured that I should probably wipe away my tears and offer some form of reply.

I stood up and Emmet followed my example. I quickly wiped away the tracks my venomous tears had left on my face and offered Emmet a small smile.

"Hi Emmet," I said quietly.

Before I could even comprehend what was happening I was swept up into the bear's big arms and given a crushing hug.

"I knew it was you!" He boomed in my over sensitive ears, "I told you it was her!" he said to someone behind him.

I hadn't realized until that moment that there was anyone else with him. I enjoyed the rest of the hug as he set me back down on my feet, unsure if I would ever get another one. I smiled hugely up at the beast in front of me and said, "I missed you too, Emmet."

He chuckled and turned to the people behind him. I stepped around his huge form to see who it was as well. I paused and felt my breath stop. There in all their immaculate beauty stood three others.

Alice was in my line of vision first. She was bouncing up and down excitedly.

Rosalie was next. She stood with her arms crossed, for once not glaring at me, but smirking at her easily excited husband.

And there he was. Beautiful. Hair blowing in the breeze while the rest of him remained completely motionless. My heart broke again; if that was possible as I realized that his face was completely blank. His eyes betrayed no emotion. Perfectly smooth. Inhumane. Just like the day he left me.

For some reason this made me feel defensive. My chin went up and I challenged him with my eyes. He did not know what I had gone through because he left me. He didn't know what I had lost first when he left me, and then again when I was discovered to know too much for any normal human.

This assessment only took a few seconds at most and then I couldn't handle the tension anymore.

"Hello," I said, "It's good to see you again Alice, Rosalie, Edward."

I was proud that I did not stumble over his name as I usually did when speaking of him.

Alice reacted to my greeting first. She squealed loudly and flung herself at me. I felt her small arms wrap around my waist and pull me into a hug. My arms automatically went around her shoulders and pulled her closer. I had missed her so much and I wasn't about to begrudge her, or myself, one hug. She pulled away after a few seconds and looked me up and down.

"My God, you are gorgeous, Bella!" she exclaimed, "And are you wearing Gucci? Wow!"

I chuckled at her assessment of me and nodded at the clothing comment. I didn't shop for my clothes, Gianna did. She always made sure I was fashionably dressed.

Alice stepped aside, still smiling, as Rosalie approached me. To my surprise she also embraced me. It wasn't a cold hug by any means, but it also felt like an obligation or formality. Then she whispered in my ear, so that only I could hear her, "Welcome home, Bella."

I looked at her angelic face, confused. Home? But I had no time to think about that. Edward was now standing in front of me. His eyes were liquid gold and burning with a fire. They still took my breath away and if I had a heart, I'm sure it would be accelerating just from that one look. He stared into my eyes for a moment and upon seeing something there that obviously displeased him, he held out his hand. I had expected nothing more, so I took his cold hand into my own and shook it firmly, once again challenging him with my eyes.

"Well," Emmet boomed once again, "Shall we go inside and plan how to kill 20 or so newborns?"

The others chuckled at his enthusiasm and I grimaced. I didn't want to be a monster anymore, but now I had to kill our own kind. I turned back to the trunk and pulled out the suitcases. Emmet automatically took more than half of them and left me with only mine and Felix's luggage. I picked them up easily and followed the moving forms of the others up to the red front door.

I paused at the red door. It was ironic really that it matched my eyes, I thought with a silent chuckle. I took my first step through the door and was once again welcomed with delicious scents and the beautiful, light, open space that was always found in a Cullen home. Sunlight poured through the glass windows and one glass wall that faced south. Everyone was perched on some piece of furniture and appeared to be in full-on planning mode. I stood quietly just to the left of the doorway and listened as they perfected their plans. They finished only a few seconds later and Jane stood from her place on the sofa.

"Well that about covers it," she said quietly, "We will now leave for a few days to hunt. We will stay out of the immediate area to provide your family cover."

"Thank you," Carlisle said sincerely.

She nodded at him and turned to everyone else in our little group, "Let's go."

But I couldn't go. I wouldn't. I didn't want to be a monster anymore. I would never kill another human if I could help it. I would never.

It took me less than a minute to come to my decision though it had been a long time coming, and by the time I looked up I found Jane watching me with a hint of impatience in her eyes.

"Let's go, Bella. I don't have all day."

It took me less than a second, "No."

Her eyebrows rose in disbelief, "Excuse me?" her whisper was filled with venom.

"No." I repeated more firmly.

Now Felix, Demetri, and Alec were looking at me like I was crazy too. Jane looked murderous and I couldn't help but smile inside at the thought that she couldn't force me to do anything.

She was still fuming, "Bella, you will come along now."

Oh no she didn't just order me to do something. She should know by now that doesn't work with me. Stupid vampire. "I said no. I will not come with you. I will not hunt humans any longer. You can't make me anymore."

"Bella," she smiled, "you forget who you are here for. Masters will not be pleased at your disobedience."

I sniffed derisively. Masters. Not mine. "I do not forget anything, Jane. And 'masters' already know I am not coming back. I am here for me."

She harrumphed. She knew I was right, "Fine. Have fun with the Cullens, Isabella."

I froze. I hadn't thought about that. Now I would be left alone with them. Oh dammit. Before I could say another word she swept out the door followed closely by Alec and Demetri, and reluctantly by Felix. He shot me a look of hopelessness and concern before he closed the red door behind him.

Silence filled the room behind me and I knew there were seven vampires awaiting an explanation as to what the hell I was doing being a vampire, living with the Volturi, etc.

I figured the sooner I faced them the better so I turned gracefully to be confronted by a million questions and found not seven vampires, but eight.

A young girl stood just behind Jasper's chair. Her long red hair fell in perfect ringlets to her waist and her golden eyes stood out among her typically perfect features. She was tall, maybe about 19 when she was changed.

Her eyes narrowed infinitesimally as I studied her, and I knew she didn't like me looking at her this long, so I turned my attention to everyone else. No one had said anything yet so I decided to break the ice with a wisecrack.

"So," I said, "you guys heard the one about the lion and the lamb?"

Nobody got it, except Edward whose eyes finally flashed with some emotion. I was glad he wasn't completely hopeless.

But the lame joke did its job. Esme approached me. I was tense. I didn't know what she would say or do, and I think I feared her rejection most of all. But there was nothing to worry about. She wrapped her arms around me and I felt myself sag into the embrace.

The burden of death I had carried for so long was suddenly lessened as my true mother welcomed me home. I suddenly understood what Alice had meant by 'welcome home'. Home is where the heart is, and I had suddenly found mine again. It had left with my almost-family, but they had kept it safe for me. Even though I thought my heart was present when I had Jacob and Samuel it wasn't the same. Now I had the heart back that had been forbidden for years. The heart that loved vampires, not werewolves. The heart that loved Edward Cullen, and still did.

*

*

*

A/N: Confusing? Bella's story is next. Even though you know most of it the Cullens don't so please keep reading. Promise it will be good. So did you love or hate the reunion? Let me know by clicking the little green button? And does anyone think I should change the rating on this story to M? If I don't get an answer this time I won't bother changing it. Ok. That's it.

Click the button please? :)