I apologize for this taking so long. I've been stuck with a sprained ankle and just haven't felt much like writing, but I finally got through it and I'm on to chapter 14. Hope you enjoy it.

Damien's POV

Time which is usually of no relevance to me suddenly became long. The drive home from the Cullens cottage was made on autopilot. I felt cold being away from Robyn.

I had a lot to think about. 3 days ago I was happy living a life of solitude, now I want to have a family.

The weeks past without much excitement. I waited for a call from Robyn, but one never came. She'll be starting school soon; she probably has a lot on her mind.

Emmet and Jasper have come up for a few days. Emmet noted that the forest needed thinning around my place so we have been labouring over that with countless sparring matches. He told me that the hot tub had been installed at their home and he loved it.

Jasper has been quiet when he's been here. He likes my study, and has been reading my thesis papers when he visits. I enjoy his company but it's so different from Emmet's boisterousness. I feel like he just comes to take in the atmosphere. I can't imagine what life would be like living in a constant emotional climate.

Neither one has said a word about Robyn though I know they've seen her at the house. I'm waiting for her to call.

And I keep waiting till her first day of school when Alice calls me.

Robyn's POV

Today is my first day of school. I've survived a new town; I've met some of my dad's friends. Bella's friends have been great to take me in, now I have to fend for myself. Bella, Edward and Alice graduated in June. I'm on my own.

They (Bella and Edward) decided to put the wedding off till American Thanksgiving, as well as postpone a semester at Dartmouth. I can't believe my sister got accepted to an Ivy League school, it makes me proud.

When the alarm went off this morning I wanted to crawl back under the covers. I've known this was coming; Alice and Rosalie took me shopping in one of the neighbouring larger towns while Emmet and Jasper went to visit friends. We bought all the stuff I was going to need for classes and I updated my wardrobe a little. I like to shop, but I guess Bella doesn't.

The shopping trip was fun, but on the drive back home Rose was quiet. I had been napping in the back of the car while Alice and Rosalie were talking in the front. I heard Rose ask when I would find out. Alice said she didn't know. What didn't she know? What was I going to find out? I sometimes wonder about this family. There's something about them that just doesn't match up, but Bella and Charlie seem to think they are ok, so what can you do?

Bella offered to drive me to school this morning. I was a little surprised because even though she's been pleasant she hasn't gone out of her way for me since we got back from the cottage. I don't understand what happened that morning, but feathers were ruffled for sure. Edward avoids me if he can which has been awkward when I've been at their house.

I've been up, showered, breakfasted, now I'm ready to face the day. All I want to do is crawl back into bed.

"Are you ready to go?" Bella's getting impatient.

I nod and walk out to the truck. It was resurrected from the dead (apparently) by Rosalie so that I would have a vehicle till I got a job and could pay for one. But since I didn't have my licence yet I had some time to think about what I wanted to do.

So Bella was driving her old truck since she refused to drive the car Edward bought her for their engagement. I heard her mumble something about "stupid before car," before what? Too many secrets…

She dropped me off at school, telling me how to get to the office. I was surprised that I actually liked the school, it was homey and comfortable. It lacked the institutional feel that most had.

I found my way to the office easily and got my schedule. I guess Charlie had registered me a few days prior because everything was waiting for me. My classes were pretty standard, and I was still getting used to the American system but my day seemed to be going well.

Too well. I should have known better.

When lunch passed without a hitch I really should have been suspicious. But it was a decent day today, just overcast, no rain, so I ate my lunch outside while I read a book. I didn't really have any aspirations of making friends here. I wasn't a social butterfly at home and was still upset that I had to move. I just wanted to get through the next 2 years intact. If I was honest with myself I was angry. I felt like everything was spiralling out of control; but that was only if I was honest.

My last class of the day was math. I was sitting beside this guy Chad and he kept shooting weird looks at me. He was a normal looking guy. Some might call him good looking, but I was quickly getting over normal being around my sister's fiance's family and their friends.

When the bell rang I was gathering my books to leave when he said "So you're the new girl?"

"I guess you could say that." I had no patience for small talk. It bores me.

He smirked and I got a bad feeling. "Charlie Swan's bastard daughter, who would have thought."

He was gone before I could even react. I was floored. Who says these things to people! What was going on here? And what a great way to make a first impression.

I was supposed to be walking home so when I walked outside I wasn't looking for a familiar vehicle, and to be honest, I don't think I would have recognized the one that was waiting for me anyways. So when I walked out with my head down I wasn't expecting to hear anyone call my name, or to walk right into someone.

Someone tall and muscular who smelled like heaven; but I did.

I looked up and couldn't believe my eyes. "DAMIEN!!!" oh god what was he doing here?

"Hey Robyn, its good to see you." He smiled at me. He genuinely looked pleased to see me, and this day was so sucky that I was glad to have someone smile at me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought you might want to see a familiar face at the end of your day."

Did I ever! Today had been hell. I wanted to hug him, he would never know just how much it did mean to me to have someone here today of all days. With Chad's sting still in my mind I followed him to his truck.

I had seen his truck when he was at the cottage, but not sat in it. I loved it. Leather seats, nice sound system playing a popular radio station. He even had the seat heater on for me. Someone bless him!

"So how was your day?"

I thought about lying and saying it was great, but for some reason that just didn't seem right. "It sucked. I pretty much avoided all the chatty people, ate lunch by myself outside, and then my last class of the day some idiot made a crack at the fact that I'm literally a bastard child."

He took a minute to take all that in, his face stayed blank. Finally he looked at me. "Your day did suck."

We drove around town for a while before he took me to the Cullens. Aparently Bella was already out there, and had told Charlie that we would be home later. It was quite convenient.

"So now that we've established that my day was horrific, how was yours?" I was curious about how he spent his time. He lived alone, and did distance courses for college. He must do something…

"Just the usual, worked on a paper, went swimming in the lake. Then Alice called me and asked if I wanted to visit for a couple days. I think Emmet and Rosalie are coming up this weekend, do you want to come to?"

He wanted me to come up for the weekend? To his house? I've never been to his house, but I've heard Jasper say it's beautiful. But will Charlie let me go to someone's house that he doesn't know, especially when they live over 2 hours away. "I'll ask Charlie if I can." I don't want to get too excited, he will probably say no.

We drove the rest of the way just listening to the music. It was nice to take in the silence. I have never felt the need to fill the silence so to speak. Mom and I valued quiet time in the house, we also valued each other's privacy as well as our own.

Arriving at the Cullens Alice bounced out to the car to greet us. She gave me a quick hug before saying "Hi" to Damien and walking us inside. I love their house. It's so open and airy and spacious. If felt like home to me.

I walked into the living room and was surprised to see someone new sitting on the couch. He was tall, tanned copper skin and black hair, and he was beautiful. He looked young, but somehow timeless, like his age would be really hard to guess because he looked older than he really was.

"Hey, you must be Robyn. I'm Seth."

"Hi." I didn't really know what to say to him. He seemed very comfortable here, but I hadn't seen him before. Not that that really meant anything because I had only been here a few times, but it was still confusing to me. And where did Bella find all these good looking people?

Alice giggled behind me but when I turned to look at her she was the picture of innocence.

I needed some time to clear my head. "I'm going to go down to the river to do my homework, is that ok?"

"Do you really want to go down there? You could use the study if you want, I'm sure Jasper won't mind."

I thought it over. I loved Jasper's study (why someone just out of highschool needed his own study was beyond me), it was timeless, filled with all the classics, and so many war journals it was astounding. But what I loved more about it was the atmosphere it gave off. It was the only room in the house that you could notice the dust settle. It wasn't perfect. And that might sound strange to hear, but it creeped me out a little bit that I never saw a single thing out of place in this house.

On the other hand, in Jasper's study everyone would still be in the house. And even though I know that people can't hear your thoughts or know what you're feeling I wanted a sense of privacy that you just don't quite get with a closed door. I didn't need the computer for my homework, and that was the deciding factor.

"No, I think I'm going to go to the river. You know I love sitting under the willow tree out there. Do you know where Bella is though?"

"She's with Edward. I think they're walking the property. They had some things to talk about, wedding stuff, you know."

Yes, I did know. Everything was the wedding these days. You would think that they would have had all the details worked out since it was already supposed to have happened. But apparently not.

I wasn't upset about the wedding. I was happy for my sister (even though I had only known her 2 months), and I liked Edward's family. It was just Edward himself. He had been avoiding me, and I wasn't sure why. It unsettled me.

I walked out the back door, took a chair off the deck and walked down to the river. It took me a minute to get set up under the tree the way I liked but when I sat back and was alone with my thoughts I relaxed. I got out my book for English and started reading.

I was a few paged in before I heard someone walking up behind me. I was surprised when I turned, it was Seth.

"Are you ok out here?"

"Sure. Why?" He looked concerned.

"Just because I know that the Cullens can be intimidating, and it's a lot to take in."

"I guess. No, its fine, I just wanted to get my homework done outside. It's not that often that it doesn't rain here." I really had no idea what he was talking about, but bluffing seemed to go pretty well so far.

He nodded; I guess he took my response as an invite to enjoy the weather because he sat down on the grass beside me. He looked like he wanted to chat but I returned to my book before he could say anything. I wasn't trying to be rude; I just wanted to get it done.

But apparently that wasn't to be. The next time I looked up Damien was walking towards us. He looked close to scowling and it unnerved me. What did I do?

But when he sat down on the other side of me and started talking about the book I was studying I decided I had imagined it.

Before long it was getting dark and we were heading inside. Esme was cooking something in the kitchen when we walked in and Seth ran over to taste test. It smelled great whatever it was.

Damien went upstairs to talk to Emmet so I sat at the table with Seth. I could hear Bella coming in from the living room, talking to Alice about fabrics and flowers and how she didn't want fancy. Alice seemed to have other ideas.

"Oh hey Seth, I didn't know you were still here. How are you?"

"Good, just hanging out with your sister. Why haven't I been introduced before this?"

"Haha, umm… because you haven't been around? I don't know. Have you heard from Jacob?"

Seth looked sad before shaking his head. I had heard from Charlie that Jacob was a friend of Bella's. He had gone missing just after graduation. Charlie was very upset that Jacob's dad didn't seem that worried; saying that he was an adult, that he could make his own decisions, insisting that he was safe even though he hadn't heard from him in months. Charlie had put posters up all over town in attempt to keep his face out there if anyone saw him. It was like Charlie lost his own son.

"Here you go guys. The soup is ready." Esme brought the pot of soup over to the table then got 3 bowls and spoons.

"Are you not having anything?" I thought it was strange that she wasn't eating when she had been cooking all afternoon.

"No, we ate a late lunch, just help yourselves."

The soup was wonderful. It was a chicken and rice, perfect comfort food for a first day of school. I wondered if Damien had told Esme about my day. I hope not.

"So Robyn, how was your day?" Esme had sat down in front of me.

"It was ok." I didn't want to upset her.

"Was it really? You seemed quiet when you came in." She was looking at me closely, as if seeing into my soul.

"Ok, it sucked. But I didn't expect it to be good, and tomorrow is another day." I wanted to be bright and cheerful, or at least as much as I could be.

"Your right, tomorrow is a new day." She smiled at me again before getting up and cleaning in the kitchen.

Damien walked into the kitchen and sat beside me. For the first time today I took note of what he was wearing. Darkwash snug fitting jeans (asshugging) and a white Tshirt accented his pale skin. He looked great. I really wanted to go up to his place this weekend; must remember to ask Charlie.

Thoughts of Charlie reminded me I should check the time. It was getting late, I needed to get home. Bella didn't have to be back till midnight, but I had to be home by 10.

"Damien, would you mind driving me home?"

"Sure, just give me a couple minutes. I need to talk to Edward."

"Ok, do you want me to wait in the car?"

"No, just relax for a couple minutes, I'll be right back."

I watched him walk out of the kitchen, appreciating all that God had given me to appreciate.

It was then that I noticed that Seth was looking at me. "What?!"

"Nothing. Your just more like your sister than you know."

Ok, that puzzled me, but then again what doesn't with this family? I've accepted that I just can't know everything.

I got up and went to the living room. Alice was sitting on the couch flipping channels so I sat with her.

"Are you going to ask Charlie if you can go to Damien's this weekend?"

"I'm going to ask, but I'm not sure he'll let me go."

"Well, if it will help, I'm planning on going to. Mention that when you ask him. It always worked for Bella. And for what it's worth, I really hope you can come with us. It's going to be a good weekend."

I really wanted to go; if this week didn't get any better I was going to need the time away, and even if it did get better I would appreciate the time with Alice and Rosalie not to mention Damien.

Damien was jogging down the stairs so I got up to get my shoes on. When I looked up he was holding my jacket for me. I slipped my arms into it and he moved it onto my shoulders. I've never had anyone do this for me before and it was a little awkward. I didn't know quite what to do but he did it for me. I bet he would be a great dance partner.

He opened the door for me at the car just like he had at school. I've seen Jasper, Emmet, Edward and Carlisle do this for the girls, so it didn't surprise me. It was so normal for them.

We didn't talk much on the way home. But when we pulled up in the driveway he turned to look at me. I felt like he was taking me in in a way I didn't understand. I needed to break the tension.

"I'm going to ask Charlie, do you want me to call you and let you know?"

"I'll be at the Cullens tonight, you can text me and let me know."

I was turned to get out of the car when I felt his hand on my back. I turned back around and he hugged me. He felt cool to me, but it was still a very comfortable hug.

I got out of the car and walked to the house. He waited till I was inside before he drove away.

Time to face Charlie.

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