It's not what's happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it's your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you're going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny – Anthony Robbins

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

EMMETT'S POV

"Bella…"

"No, Carlisle I don't want to hear anything, any of you have to say. As Rose has so eloquently put it, nothing I do or say is going to change the outcome of my life so why waste the few breaths I have left trying to. When the time comes just do it and then leave me alone," Bella calmly announced through gritted teeth, trying to control her rage.

"Since when do you think you can call me Rose?" Rosie balked, fury flashing through her eyes.

"Since we're going to be family," Bella shot back, in a clearly hostile way that said, 'What are you going to do about it?'

"I think we all need to take another break," Carlisle suggested, pinching the bridge of his nose. I never realized he did that. I just thought it was an Edward thing, but seemingly Carlisle had picked up the habit from Edward.

"Yes, that would be for the best. Bella needs to eat and have a few human minutes," Edward announced for her as if she didn't have a mouth or a mind to speak up for herself. I think he was thinking of the old Bella and not the new and improved one.

"Don't tell me what I need," Bella informed him, getting up and storming out of the room. She sure had developed a habit of walking away when things got rough. Not a good trait to have. Sure retreating to save your ass was always encouraged, but turning your back on the enemy was ill advised. So was running after a female when her tail feathers were ruffled.

The first lesson Jasper had taught me, the second was a lesson I learned from years with Rose.

It was clearly a lesson that Edward had not learned, but he certainly was about to. The clash of objects hitting the wall signaled the lesson was over and just on queue Edward came walking back in with his tail between his legs.

Wow, Bella had transformed into one hot little hell cat in her time away from us. I hadn't seen anyone hand Rose her ass in a while and never a human. Once Bella was changed Rose better watch out. Bella might be the one to finally take her down a notch or two.

Just when I was about to taunt Edward relentlessly the doorbell rang. Who the heck was that?

"That should be Abigail," Carlisle explained.

"Are you serious? Don't you think that we should deal with Bella before we bring another one of them into the mix?" I questioned. It would be one thing if Bella was on our side, but she wasn't. She was volatile. She was likely to say or do just about anything at this point.

"I think that maybe the best thing for Bella is going to be Abigail and vice versa. Speaking of Bella, could you go and get her?" Carlisle explained, though he looked less than confident.

"Why me?" I questioned, thinking the last place I wanted to be was anywhere near an overemotional, pissed off woman. I mean that was why I hadn't had sex is months. Well at least not with Rose. Miss Michigan had been keeping me company.

"Because you might be the only one of us she isn't upset with right now. And please explain that Abigail is here and ask if she could please keep herself under control," he insisted.

"I'll tell her, but I wouldn't count on her listening," I explained wondering if there was anything left in that room that she might think about throwing at my head. Not that I was scared of her. I just didn't want her hurting herself.

I knocked on the bathroom door. She didn't answer. Not that I thought she would. So I went to open the door, but thought better of it. I mean what if she was taking a dump? That would be totally embarrassing, for her.

"Bella, I'm going to open this door unless you tell me not to. So if you're doing something you don't want to share with me, tell me now."

When no answer came I opened the door and walked in. Glass littered the floor from the doorway all the way to where Bella sat in the far corner. I expected to find her crying, but she wasn't. Instead she just looked pissed.

"Carlisle sent me to fetch you."

"Ask me if I care?"

"I know you don't care and that you hate us all. I get it."

"I don't think that you do."

"I'm not stupid or blind. I know what is going on. I understand what you are feeling too. It isn't about getting changed. You are mostly upset about having them take the decision away from you. It sucks. I know this because usually I have no choice in what happens either. I didn't have a choice whether or not to be changed. Sure I would have died if I hadn't been, but that's not the point. At least that is Rose's argument. It's a load of crap if you ask me. So is this shit about her wanting a baby. I would bet my XBOX that it is more about her not getting what she wants. Having a baby is the only thing she can't have so she wants it more then anything. I mean seriously does Rose seem like the motherly type to you? Can you imagine the first time it threw up on her? She would go ape shit."

"And what about you, what do you want?" Bella asked me.

"When I was human, that would have been easy. Get married to some sweet little girl and have a house full of unruly kids. It would have been a good life and I would have been happy, but that was then and this is now. Now instead I'm married to a hell cat that makes me crazy, but also makes me feel more alive now then I ever was before. Someone who I would give anything to, do anything for, maybe even have a baby with, in a round about way, that is. You see Bella; it isn't about what was or what could have been, or what should have been, but what is and what could be. This life, it's a trade off. You lose so much but you gain so much as well. And I know right now, you hate us, you hate what we are, what we've done, all the things we didn't do right. You hate that we can't protect you, even from ourselves. But we love you; each and every one of us loves you, even Rose, but don't tell her I told you. Like any other family you take the good with the bad and in the end you hope the good out ways the bad. You won't like each other all times, sometimes you even hate them, but you are still a family and no matter what you will always be part of this family. I hope that you realize that because we need you. I need you, but don't tell Rose I said that either. I know I have an image to uphold. Anyways, enough about that, come on, we have a guest," I told her crossing the bathroom to pick her up in my arms carrying her over the broken glass. The last thing we needed was Bella cutting herself. Once we were safely out of the room I set her down on the floor and waited for her to balance herself. She pulled away the moment she did. Boy was she stubborn. I smiled thinking I couldn't wait to play with her once she was changed.

"So who is this guest you are talking about," she questioned as we walked back to the family gathering at her pace.

"Well you are not going to believe this, but it is Abigail."

"The human that Carlisle plans on changing?"

"Bingo."

"Do you really think that is a good idea right now?"

"That was what I said, but according to Carlisle this is the perfect time."

"She must not have much time left," Bella mumbled as we reached the family room.

The room was silent when we entered. Like eerie quiet. I knew that had to do with the girl sitting alone on one of the couches and the room full of vampires trying not to eat her.

"There you are," Carlisle smiled walking over to usher us into the room. "Abigail this is my other children, Emmett and Bella." Bella stiffened next to me at Carlisle's remark.

"Howdy," I smiled bouncing over to give her a hug. She was slightly taller than Bella, but thinner. Her hair was a light brown with streaks of blond though it seemed dull. So did her skin. As she stood back I could see that her eyes were dull too. The blue was watered down and lackluster. I guess that had to do with her being so sick. It also explained why she smelled so crappy, kind of like rotten meat sitting out in the sun for a few days.

"Hi," she meekly replied.

"Hello," Bella said from a distance.

"Hi."

Awkward! I thought as we just stood there staring at each other. I so wished that I could read this chick's thoughts. I was sure she was freaking out.

"Please, everyone sit down and get to know Abigail. I have to take a call and then I will return and we can talk more," Carlisle commanded before he disappeared from the room.

"I will go and get snacks," Esme announced directly after Carlisle left, heading out of the room as well. I was sure they were conversing.

"So…" I said dropping down on the couch.

Bella and this Abigail chick both looked around like they were looking for the nearest escape. Finally though Bella sat down next to me and Abigail next to her.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you look as out of place as I do. I know Dr. Cullen is big into charity and all that. Is that what this is, take an ugly girl home day?" she whispered over to Bella and I had to bite my cheeks not to laugh and comment. "Not that you are ugly, but compared to the rest of them, well…."

"Don't worry about it; I know exactly how you are feeling."

"Dr. Cullen doesn't really talk about his family that much so I'm a little confused. For one, he and Mrs. Cullen are too young to be any of your parents. Plus none of you look that much alike. Though besides for you, they all seem similar, somehow."

"I'll give you the short version of the family," Bella told her. "First, none are their biological children. They have taken in and adopted us all. First Edward…"

"Who is Edward again? I know he introduced everyone, but I was too in awe to pay attention."

"The one with the bronze hair over in the corner alone," Bella explained to her in hushed tones as if we wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Then came Rosalie, the blond, and then Emmett. Rosalie and Emmett are together, married in fact."

"How old are they?"

"Trust me, old enough. Then Alice, the dark haired pixie, and Jasper, the tall blond, became part of the family. They use to be together also, but now Alice is with Dante, the dark haired guy whose lap she is sitting in. I just met him today so I don't know much about him."

"And what about you? When did you become a Cullen?"

"I'm not an official Cullen anymore. I was married to Edward, but it only lasted a few days before he realized what a mistake it was and had it annulled."

"Seriously? I mean what kind of family is this? Is everyone hooking up with everyone?"

"I know it is kind of hard to understand, but once you drink the kool-aid and receive your Cullen crest, you will completely grasp all the family workings."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I thought you had talked about this with Carlisle already…I guess not. Carlisle and Esme are going to ask you to become one of the family."

"I doubt that. I mean what would be the point? I'm dying you know," Abigail just blurted out.

"Carlisle shared that with us."

"So you know that I'm not going to be around long enough to be part of this family or any other. Not that it is a big deal. I lived this long without one so what is a few more weeks…"

"Don't underestimate Carlisle's ability to keep you alive for a long time to come," Bella explained to her though there was quite a bit of sarcasm in her tone.

"How come I get the feeling that there is more to all this than meets the eyes and that you are not sure you want to be a part of it? You haven't drunk the kool-aid yet either, have you?"

"No, but they want me to. Don't get me wrong, the Cullen's are wonderful and this is going to be an amazing fit for you, but for me, I'm not so sure."

"Because of Edward?"

"Partly, but there is more to it. It's complicated."

"Isn't it always?"

"You have no idea."

"Well the way I see it, if they want to adopt me for the short time I have left, I'm all in. I mean they are rich and beautiful. People sell their souls for just one of those. Plus, it seems you get a boyfriend or girlfriend as a welcome to the family gift. That alone is worth it. I'll take the sexy blond," Abigail announced.

"Jasper?" Bella gulped.

"Yeah! I mean no offense, but I like boys and there is only him or Edward and well Edward is cute and all, he just isn't my type. He looks way too uptight and he is your ex anyways."

"There is nothing between Edward and me. If you wanted to be with him, you have my permission."

"Like I said, he really isn't my type. Jasper on the other hand…I mean unless there is something going on between you and Jasper…"

I thought that Bella was going to shallow her tongue as she gulped over and over. Her eyes seemed quite large and buggy too. Her heartbeat had picked up a bit as well. No matter what she said her reaction was enough to showcase her true feelings. She wasn't going to admit it though.

"No, nothing."

"Good. Now if we are going to be family, please call me Abby, I can't stand to be called Abigail."

Oh, fuck. Things were just about to get really interesting.

"Abby's in…" I announced to Carlisle and Esme when they finally walked back in.

"Abby?"

"Yeah, she's like Bella. She doesn't like to be called, but Abby instead. But unlike Bella, she has no problems being one of us as long as she gets Jasper in the bargain."

"Excuse me?" Carlisle questioned, looking confused.

"Bella was just filling Abby in on some family dynamics," I explained as everyone in the room looked uncomfortable, pissed, confused, or indifferent, depending on who you were.

"Enough already with the chit chat and the beating around the bush, can you please get on with this shit so we can all get on with our lives," Rose demanded.