-Chapter 11-

The following day found Aria, Ron, and Hermione through downtown Forks, browsing through the shops, walking beside the small boardwalk they had, reminiscing on the old days, and really just enjoying the normalcy of what friends should be able to do.

"It is crazy to think that just a few months ago we were in the forest, hiding and searching to help end a war." Hermione said her hair a little less frizzy in the cool Fork's air.

"Don't forget stinky!" Ron added, "Merlin not having a real shower for those few months killed me almost."

Aria laughed, rolling her eyes at the statement, "Imagine the Daily Prophet headlines, Ron Weasley death by smell!"

"I'm sure it could happen!" Ron laughed defensively as the three stopped at a park bench.

Silence surrounded the three besides the sound of seagulls as they flew by, the passing cars from the street behind them, and the occasional conversations of people passing by. It was almost odd, in the years of their friendship, Aria could not really remember a time, besides maybe at the Burrow, when they were truly relaxed, doing normal things that people do. Since the moment the three became friends, people stared at them, came up to speak to them, or just yelled at them. If someone came up to them they quickly learned it was a fan, a curious/rude person, or an enemy. Even walking through Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade they had to be on guard constantly. This was different though.

The other two must have been thinking along the same lines, because a sigh sounded from Ron, one that felt safe, carefree, like there wasn't a worry in the world.

"It's weird isn't it?" Hermione finally said; it wasn't a question, it was a statement, after all their friendship had come so far since they first met on the train all those years ago.

Aria closed her eyes for a moment, opening them to truly enjoy the view with the two closest people she had. "I have to admit, I never really pictured life after the war…I don't know if I didn't expect to make it out, or if I felt like it would be a tease to think about it….but I never thought we would be here today."

Hermione nodded, a smile forming on her face, "I know what you mean…some days it really seemed so hopeless to imagine."

Ron wrapped an arm around both of their shoulders, "I knew all along that we would make it!" he stated, adding a squeeze as he said it.

"Oh and how did you know that Ronald?"

He grinned, that grin that only Ron could do, lopsided, childish, mischievous, and yet loving, "Because if there was one thing I have learned about Aria it is that she never does what people tell her to do, and with Voldemort telling her she must die, I knew she wouldn't."

The girls looked at each other as they always did, rolling their eyes, and yet knowing that it was somewhat true.

"Though I hate to admit that you could very possibly be correct Ronald, I feel you are very much correct!" Aria laughed, running a hand through her long hair and wrapping her jacket tightly around her. She took a peak at her dark red nails, making sure they weren't chipped, something Rosalie had taught her was very important for appearance purposes.

Silence greeted the trio once again.

The sound of a boat horn sounded from the distance.

"Where do you think you will end up in a few months Aria, you know after Dumbledore feels it's safe to come home." Hermione asked.

Aria whistled low, truth be told months ago she would have jumped to return home, but things were different now. The Cullen's were the family that Aria had always yearned for, and then there was Emmett. But home was home, and England was defiantly that for her. Homesickness had made her feel depressed in a way, and she couldn't imagine ever not living there again.

"London is and will always be home, and I can't imagine not returning." She stated.

"But…" Hermione said, turning to look her in the eye.

"Home is with the Cullen's now too…." She muttered, biting her slightly chapped lip, her cheeks flushing for more than just the cold now.

Hermione smiled, "There is nothing wrong with that Aria."

Ron stayed quiet, unsure what to say obviously by his demeanor.

"But London is home, and I know when it is safe I need to get back there…"

"Maybe they will move there?"Ron finally commented, having stayed quite the entire time, "You said so yourself they can only stay in one place for so long, but in the Wizarding World they could actually settle down."

Aria stayed quite biting her lip, "But who knows if they would even want too…I mean I don't even know…"

Hermione reached across and placed a hand in hers, "Aria, you don't have to know anything right this moment." She leaned back, letting out a small sigh herself, "That is the beauty in all of this now… there are no decisions that need be rushed, nothing that has to be chosen right at this very moment…it's like we can be…"

"Ourselves," Aria finished for her.

"Yeah," Aria said with a smile, "Ourselves."

The three relaxed for a while longer, before taking the venture back to the Cullen's.

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"Come on you have to come to the beach!" Bella said a small frown on her face when Aria had first said no. "You have only been there once yourself, and now your friends are here!"

Aria was shuffling around the kitchen cleaning up after her three friends while they were in the living room, just she, Carlisle, and Bella remained; Aria cleaning, Carlisle reading the paper, and Bella frowning.

"Where I come from the beach isn't everything." Aria said, placing a plate in the dishwasher. Truth be told she loved Bella, she was a great girl, but it also made her extremely uncomfortable when she saw Bella with Jacob. She wasn't trying to judge, but she just did not like the feeling she got when she was around the two. And on top of all that she felt like she was going against Edward and the Cullen's as a whole by hanging with the two.

"It is just the beach, you said so yourself last time that it brought back memories from Shell Cottage, and that was where you went with your friends!" Bella said, "Come on it will be fun I promise you!"

"It does sound like something your friends would enjoy." Carlisle finally stated, putting down the paper that Aria knew he was not really reading, and only using it to be mediator for the two girls.

Aria bit her lip, washing the last of the dishes, she realized there was no way that she could actually win this battle without coming off as a major bitch. "Okay, that sounds fine."

Bella smacked her hands together in triumph, "I'll call Jacob and tell him." She stated, before disappearing from the room, and leaving an uncomfortable Aria, and an observant Carlisle.

Aria finished her cleaning, washing her hands before Carlisle finally spoke.

"You seem and have for some time very resistant on spending time with Bella and Jacob."

"How long have you been waiting to use that line?" Aria asked a small laugh accompanied with it.

He just peered at her, clearly waiting for her to continue on.

Aria sighed, drying her hands, and taking a seat atop the counter top, swinging her legs as she tried to find the right words.

"Sometimes…do you ever feel like you are hiding something from people, because you see something else going on that you feel they wouldn't approve of."

Carlisle nodded, folding the paper neatly as he stood. "One thing I have learned over my long, long life is that you cannot control ones actions."

"But what's the saying?" Aria bit her lip, "Something like you're in just as much wrong as the person who is doing wrong when you do not do anything about it."

Carlisle hummed lightly, "That implies when one is doing something truly wrong, in the sense of hurting someone, harming someone or more." He continued, peering at her more closely, "Just feeling as though someone is doing something wrong does not make you responsible for their actions."

Aria sighed, the way Carlisle was talking made her think he knew why she was uncomfortable, maybe even agreeing with her. At the same time he was telling her she was not responsible for others actions either, regardless if she agreed with them or not.

"Yeah I suppose you are right."

"Aria, live your life the way you want too, and defend the ones you love most, but do not, not do things you want to because of others." Carlisle stated, "Everyone is responsible for their own life choices and how their life turns out, after all it is our choices that make us who we really are."

Arai smiled at that, "Dumbledore told you that."

Carlisle smiled back, "Or did I tell him that?" he chuckled, walking out of the room swiftly, leaving Aria in the silence.

She drummed her fingers against the counter, listening for the moment that she knew would come.

"AWESOME BEACH TRIP!" Ron shouted, thundering up the stairs to change.

She sighed, jumping off the counter, well obviously Ron wanted to go, she was sure George would want to go, and Hermione would probably want to go.

She needed to take Carlisle's advice and let Bella do what she wanted to do, enjoy the day with her friends, and breath in the fresh salt water.

Hermione was in her room when she entered, looking excited but calculating all at the same time.

"So we will meet Jacob?"

Aria smiled; even through letters Hermione could tell that Aria was not a huge fan of Jacob. She should have known that Hermione would pick up on that. "It appears so."

Hermione hummed as she changed her clothes. "Is there anything I should know?"

"No." Aria stated, throwing a shirt over herself and throwing her hair into a pony tail, "I think I will let you see for yourself."

Hermione gave her a knowing smile.

"HURRY UP!" Ron hollered as he passed the girls door.

The two laughed, gathering their things and heading out the door, all gathering into Bella's truck.

It was a quite ride to the seaside, unless you count Ron's countless questions if they were there yet. Aria could tell almost immediately when they were getting close, the air changing, almost as though you could taste the salt. As it came into view Aria smiled, there was always something about the ocean that made her feel so small and so safe at the same time. The ocean was so big, and seemed like such a mystery, it reminded her almost of the same feelings as the forest. Somewhere she can go to get lost in thought, figure out life's biggest decisions and a place that always felt welcoming. Maybe it was the darkness of both of them, from all those years in the cupboard, but whatever it was, Aria never felt more at home than the feel of the ocean breeze, the smell of the salt air, and the feeling of sand between her toes.