Disclaimer: We own nothing. All characters are property of Stephenie Meyer. And we do not get any sort of profit from this.

A/N: I'm not even going to look to see when the last time we posted an update for this story. We're so sorry that it's been FOREVER. Thank you all so much for sticking with us! We really do appreciate that. Both kalejay and myself have been busy with our real lives and working on our own fictions - Bloodlust and Secret Prophecies. We'll be doing our best to post updates for this story in b/t the others, so we ask you all to please continue to be patient.

Another thing, I would seriously like to comment on the response that we received from the A/N that I posted last time that was in regards to certain people not liking the change in plot. Several of you voiced your opinions and proved that you all were truly loyal to the story and we honestly couldn't be more happy or thankful to have readers such as yourselves. Thank you all so much for your support. I promise you that Bella's change in behavior is pertinent and even though Chapter 19 was WAY out there, it was something necessary if not also fun to write. ;)

This update isn't exactly the longest thing ever... in fact it's pretty short, but the next update will be much more informative. It was all I had time to write for now but I thought you all would enjoy reading something new from this story. :)

Enjoy!

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Part One

Bella's POV:

Small drops of liquid pelted the ground. Clear crystals glistening in a cerulean haze, clinging to the verdant blades of grass, the emerald, waxy leaves of trees – trees that stood high above, like arms reaching towards the heavens.

Fresh, sweet, moist air embraced my skin, cool against icy cold. I closed my eyes as water slid down my lids.

Rain.

It was strange how different it felt now. Every aqueous bead traveled down my body in their own paths, trickling from head to toe. I could feel the miniscule rivulets of water snake along the crevices of my fingers.

As a human, I hated the rain. But as I vampire…

I relished in it.

Refreshing – it washed my body away of the dirt and grime, the blood and pain. Ochre and cerise.

Eyes opened, taking in passing splintered trunks, I walked through the forest. The cascade of rain shattered against the leaves, like fingers dancing across piano keys. It played my requiem.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my eyes looking everywhere but his.

Fingers slid across each other, tangling at their joints, the skin wet and cold. Palms kissed, wrists intertwined.

Forgiveness.

"Don't be."

Shutting my eyes, the guilt coursing through my dead veins, my hand squeezed his and together we continued our journey home.

It wasn't until we were several feet away that the pungent odor of disinfectant met my nose. I grimaced in disgust.

"They're trying to get rid of your scent," Edward told me, his hand firmly holding mine, as if he were afraid I would leave. Yet, how could I blame him? After my behavior, I wasn't even sure I could trust myself from not running blindly into the woods before the rest of the Cullens could even see me. "They would have done it earlier, but no one thought you would make it." His voice was sad, hollow.

I stopped suddenly and turned to him. The blood red of his eyes had dulled infinitesimally as his gaze was cast downward, studying a colony of ants that raced past our feet. My thumb automatically began tracing comforting circles across his skin.

"Alice knew of course," he continued, glancing up towards the direction of our home. With my now enhanced vision, I could make out the white paneling of the mansion and just within a swift black shadow danced across a side window. Alice.

Sure enough, I saw the image of my undead form awakening on the forest floor in her mind and the sudden wave of shock as she told the rest of her family. I glanced away, not sure if this was such a good idea. She would have surely seen everything else that I had done.

"Don't be afraid," Edward whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

"Edward, I know you're out there keeping my best friend from me," Alice called out.

I smiled.

"Yeah, stop being so selfish." A soft giggle escaped my lips at Emmett's teasing words. "We want to see her!"

Careful.

I frowned, gripping Edward's hand even tighter. "Jasper doesn't trust me," I said, recognizing the tone of his thoughts.

"Jasper will be like that at first, but don't worry. He'll come around, Bella. Alice hasn't shared the rest of her visions with the family so for the time being, it's just our little secret."

His words did little to comfort me but I knew he was right. He moved a few steps forward, turning around to look at me. His gaze was so… tired, concerned, worried, yet through all of it, there was love.

Follow him, Bella. It was Alice, nudging me forward as if her voice where hands on my back, gently pushing me towards him.

Reluctantly, I followed him through the trees and out into the clearing that encompassed the large home. All of them were there on the porch, waiting for us. But I knew Edward was wrong about one thing. It would be a long time before Jasper could trust me. And by the tense stance of his body as he stood protectively close behind Alice, I knew that he was right in his feelings. I'm sure my unease was felt tenfold by him and it didn't help that my guilt and underlying defiance was nearly as strong.

The tension was thick in the air, coating the invisible particles that hung between us as Edward and I stopped just in front of the stairs. I'm sure the two of us looked quite the pair - the newborn with black eyes, the older one with red.

Carlisle had his arm wrapped around Esme's shoulders as they both smiled at me. Though his gaze continually darted to Edward. Rosalie seemed the same as ever, sneering at me in distrust, as Emmett beamed down at me. I didn't dare look over at Alice and Jasper. While most of them seemed genuinely pleased to see me, worry tainted their thoughts.

"Bella." Esme was the first to break the silence, moving from Carlisle to me. Her small arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing me affectionately. "I'm so glad you're okay," she murmured, her voice quiet in my ear. I hugged her back but Jasper's blistering gaze on my face made it nearly impossible for me to enjoy the reunion.

Edward stepped towards Carlisle, murmuring in fast, sharp hisses that I could barely register and it was obvious they were speaking so quickly to make sure that I would not understand. Even though I was a newborn, I still had to get used to hearing them speak at that pace. However, words such as "...she killed..." and "...treaty..." stood out to me. Choosing to ignore them, I released Esme, finding it difficult to not feel somewhat relieved at the beaming smile that graced her beautiful features.

Alice was next, bouncing down the stairs. Even though she knew my previous behavior, it did not hinder her excitement in seeing me. The rain still soiled the earth, its droplets sparkling in her onyx hair.

She threw herself at me without a care – the optimistic pixie that she was. And as I held her, a smell lingered there, sweeping past my nose. My senses seemed to heighten as Edward and Carlisle's conversation echoed in my mind.

"Why are her eyes black?" Carlisle asked.

"I don't know," Edward whispered. "You know what I told you. Alice saw it all. Carlisle, what does that mean? She's… she's not herself. I don't know when her personality will snap again and I don't know if I'll be able to control her when it does."

Freesias. Sweet. Floral. My mouth pooled with venom at the smell of my once human self. It was all over Alice.

A tiny gasp escaped her lips and she immediately released me, her startled gaze mirrored in the ebony depths of my eyes.

"Bella?"

She had seen my reaction to the scent before I had felt it. Images flickered in my mind like that of an old movie film, reeling across the screen. I was attacking her. And then everything went black in her mind's eye. She frowned, confused.

Come here, Alice. I thought, focusing in on the command. My hand outstretched to her as she took a robotic, timid step forward, her gaze now locked on mine. "Come to me."

Jasper was between us before she could make another move, pushing her back behind him.

Mud flew into the air at his halting feet, his body crouched low as a feral grow broke through his bared teeth. But I wasn't able to see his reaction after that for Edward rushed in front of me, hisses rippling through his body as he faced his brother.

I stumbled backwards, the motion snapping something within me. It was as if what had triggered my malicious behavior had suddenly come to an end. I glanced up at Alice in horror.

"Oh God," I murmured, eyes wide. "Alice… I'm so – "

"Don't talk to her!" Jasper roared, his gaze still focused on Edward. "Don't even look at her!"

"Jasper!" Alice pleaded, her gaze darting back and forth from Jasper and Edward to me. "She doesn't understand. Can't you tell that she's confused?"

"I don't care!" he seethed. His black eyes turned to me suddenly, two pools beseeching death.

Edward cut him off. "If you so much as lay a finger on her – "

"Boys!" Esme chided. "Please! Don't act this way."

Emmett and Rosalie watched on in shock, too taken aback by the sudden change in events to understand how to react. Whose side did they choose?

I merely shivered in the rain, not because of the cold but because of the fear that immediately consumed me – fear of myself.

"You keep her away from Alice, Edward," Jasper hissed, his voice threatening.

Edward growled. "And you would do well to keep away from Bella."

"Edward, stop," I pleaded, but he continued on.

"We all know how you react around her." Images of Jasper's near attack on my birthday flashed through my mind.

Jasper lunged at him, teeth gnashing.

"That's enough!" Carlisle was between them, his gaze dangerous. A deadly silence emanated throughout the air as lightening crackled overhead. Carlisle glanced at both of his sons, disgusted. "I will not have this family ripped to shreds. Bella is apart of us and always will be." He turned to Jasper then. "And regardless of her actions we can not turn against each other, is that understood?"

Jasper looked towards his father in disbelief, too stunned by his words. Carlisle still held his gaze but his next comment was directed to someone else. "Edward, you will take Bella to the cottage behind the house. Until we can figure out why she is behaving in this way she is not welcome here anymore."

Edward let out a strangled breath. "But you just sa – "

"I know what I just said," Carlisle hissed, turning his attention to his other son. Pain laced through his glittering, tawny eyes. "I'm so sorry, Edward. I love Bella like a daughter and I always have. But we can't trust her right now and if she went after Esme… I don't know what I would do."

He turned his apologetic gaze to me, but I could do nothing but stand frozen in place, feeling as if I had been crushed, stomped on like an unwanted bug, too disgusting and useless for my own good.

"Carlisle." Edward's voice shook, desperate in his plea. "Please – "

Numbly, I walked over to Edward, moving cautiously as to not startle anyone. "Edward," I murmured, gently placing a hand on his upper arm. "Come on."

Still he didn't budge. The hurt expression that transfixed his gaze lingered on the individual who had given his existence life.

"Edward, please. It's going to be okay. Carlisle is right." I tugged on him lightly, pulling him with me. "Come on."

I didn't dare look at the rest of them as Edward blindly followed me away from his family. He felt betrayed. I felt betrayed. But then I had betrayed all of them. I wish that they would let me do this alone but knowing Edward, that option was out of the question. And if I was being honest with myself, I don't think I could do this without him.

Voices lingered in the air as we continued into the woods, jumping across the small river that flowed furiously in the rain.

The little cottage was before us in no time, beckoning to me with its warmth and comfort. Yet it was a lie – an asylum for the sadistic mind that was nestled inside my head. I felt suffocated.

We stood in the threshold and I glanced around at the comfortable furnishings – all Esme's doing.

Edward wrapped his arm around me and I leant into him, my eyes fixed on nothing in particular as the weight of what had just occurred finally set in. "It's going to be okay," he whispered, smoothing out my soaked hair. His voice seemed different, lost. "We're going to be okay."

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*to be continued*