Disclaimer: I don't and never will be Stephanie Meyer, so I will never own Twilight.

I would really like to address some of the issues that came up in the reviews, and I'll try to keep this as short as possible, but I would appreciate it if you read it…

Longer Chapters: My style of writing is to write shorter chapters and to update more often. If you would like me to consider changing that, please let me know. That would mean longer chapters more infrequently. Also, this story is still in the beginning stages, so shorter chapters have been necessary to set up what is coming. I already have some much longer chapters written, so please keep that in mind.

More Detail: I was worried about that, but wasn't aware of what the readers thought. Now that I know, I'll keep that in mind. Also, once the story starts to develop more in the next few chapters, I promise there is more detail.

We don't know anything about Bella's appearance or feelings: Remember that Bella herself doesn't know much about her new appearance. All she has done as a vampire so far is run to Alaska and explain her story to the Cullen's. It hasn't completely sunk in to her what has happened yet, but don't worry…that will come! Also keep in mind that she is staying behind with Rosalie…the master of appearances.

We don't know about Bella's Ability: If you actually read the last chapter, you will know that Bella is a shield and that the explanation about her gift will be in THIS CHAPTER!

VAMPIRES DON'T BLUSH: I know, I made a little 'whoopsie' and I'm really sorry about that. I realized after the fact that Tanya couldn't have blushed, but thank you so much to the people that reminded me. I'm really sorry about that mistake, so please forgive me!

You're Story is PATHETIC: I'm very sorry that you feel this way, but you don't have to read it. If you really think that it's pathetic, please don't feel forced to. The only reason I write is so that others can enjoy my story.

On than note, I LOVE getting reviews and hearing your feedback, but please make sure that it is constructive criticism. I have no problem if you point out mistakes, (I encourage it), but please don't be rude about it.

I'm very sorry about that long note, but I felt that it was important to address those topics. Thanks so much everyone, and please enjoy this chapter…

Previously:

"How on earth did you manage to find a shield?" Eleazar said.

Most of the vampires in the room gasped, and I noticed many of the Cullen's and Kate look at me with some newfound respect in their eyes. I was really confused, what were they talking about. I decided to voice my question.

"A what?" I asked stupidly.

Eleazar smiled kindly at me and motioned for everybody to sit down. "You are aware," he said, "about how some vampires have special abilities?"

I nodded, "Like how Jasper can sense emotions and how Alice can see the future?"

"Exactly," Eleazar said, nodding his head. "I have the ability to sense the abilities of other vampires. There is a type of gift called a shield. No two gifts are ever the same, but there are generally two different categories. Mental and Physical."

He turned his attention to Carlisle, "Have you ever met a shield?"

He nodded, "Once, when I was living with the Volturi. Renata was Aro's personal bodyguard. She could create a force field around herself and Aro that would confuse anybody who came into contact with it."

"She would be an example of a physical shield," Eleazar explained. "A physical shield generally has two…settings. On, where they are focusing their energy on producing a shield. And off, where they aren't shielding and are unprotected. You, Bella are a mental shield, which I can tell because you are blocking my ability completely. Mental shields are difficult, because almost nobody can determine what they are fully capable of. Their shields generally have many layers, which they can control individually after much practice. However, due to the complexity of their shields, many don't ever gain control over all of them. They are generally limited by the number of layers that their shield has, because that dictates how powerful they are and by the fact that they can only block mental gifts, not physical attacks. "

Carlisle was thinking very carefully about his old friend's words, "So," he said. "Basically you're saying that Bella had a yet found limitation on her gift that even you cannot sense."

Eleazar nodded, "You can practice, but it will likely take a long while to make a difference." He said, looking at me.

I nodded, " I have a question, why was-," I noticed Alice shake her head slightly from her spot on the couch. It was such a tiny movement that I don't think anyone else noticed it. I trusted Alice though, so I change my question immediately. There must have been a reason that she didn't want me to ask my original one. "Jasper able to influence my emotions?"

"And why wasn't Bella flat out on her back when I touched her?"

I looked at her curiously, "I still don't know what you can do."

Everyone laughed, "I can create an electric current around my body," she said.

I shuddered, and Eleazer explained. "Your gift Kate, doesn't physically pain anybody, you only create the illusion of pain in somebodies mind. Since Bella is a mental shield, she was able to block you. Jasper, and Alice, you gifts are the opposite. Jasper you actually use your gift to change a person's emotions, you don't just make them think about a different emotion. So, although your gift affects them, it's not a mental illusion. Alice, your gift had nothing to do with a person's mind. You are able to 'see' a potential path in their life. If, say, you were able to influence their path, that may be a different story. But, because your gift doesn't involve Bella's mind, she had no power to stop it.

Everyone nodded their heads in comprehension, but Alice still looked slightly puzzled and confused. This confusion turned to dread and anticipation when she looked up at me, and I panicked for a second. Did she know, I thought. But, before I could become scared, the vampire named Irina coughed.

"So how did B-you become a vampire?" She asked curiously.

Carlisle stopped smiling, and Rosalie grimaced. "I was bitten," I said cautiously. The other vampires rolled their eyes at me. "When I was out hiking, I was alone. He was hungry?"

"Do you know who it was, sweet child?" Carmen asked.

Carlisle quickly spoke before I could, "It was Laurent," he said, carefully looking at Irina when he said this. 'And unfortunately, the werewolves that live in the neighboring reserve killed him. We're so very sorry, Irina."

Irina hissed, and froze, and started to break down. Tanya and Kate growled. "Carlisle, how could you say such a thing? Surly that child is mistaken, it couldn't have been Laurent, he was changed. He was only going away to visit a friend."

Carlisle smiled gently, "Sadly, it is the truth Tanya. We are all very sorry, we know that you and Laurent were very close Irina."

Irina growled at all of us, "Close," she snarled. "WE WERE MATES."

I was shocked for a second, mates? He wasn't even a vegetarian, and he had lied to her."

It was quiet in the room until Elezaer spoke, "No you weren't," he said softly.

"Elezaer!" Tanya said, shocked at her old friends words. "How could you say such a thing? You saw the two of them together."

"I know Tanya," he said gravely. "But I can still say in the greatest of confidence that they were not mates, for a number of reasons."

Tanya gave him a glare that could rival one of Rosalie's, "EXPLAIN," she demanded.

"Well," he said. "To start, Irina had no qualms about Laurent leaving to visit his friend, and she was not longing to be nearer to him. I realize that she missed him, but there was none of the longing that exists between mates. She also had no idea that Laurent was dead, if they truly shared a mate bond then she would have realized it the second her other half ceased to exist. Finally, although she is very upset right now, she is not trying to seek revenge. If Laurent had truly been her mate, then she would have been trying to Avenge his death until the end of her time."

When he stopped talking, every vampire in the room was staring wide-eyed at him, and looking around at the others in the room. Finally, their eyes settled on Irina, each set realizing the same thing as Eleazer's words set in…they weren't mates.

Hello my lovely readers. I really hoped you liked the chapter, and I'm ever so sorry about the delay. I was surprised with a trip, and then I had some serious writer's block when I got back. The bad news was that it took me much longer to update, but the good news was that I wrote some pretty good one-shots (if I do say so myself) to cure the 'blockage', most of which I hope to upload soon.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing my story, and pleas let me know the answer to my question above about the updating times, and the length of the chapters. Thanks so much,

Until next time,
TFG