WARNING: References to sexual assault are made in this chapter. If you are sensitive to this subject matter then please don't read. This is during Dawn's long speech between the points, "He was flirty and kind and the most handsome man I'd ever seen." to "It got better." If you don't want to chance it then skip to the very end of the chapter and PM for a brief overview void of any description.

BPOV

Sometimes I hated how my mind could have different thoughts intertwine and be running wild in my head all at once. It was times like now when I was watching Jenna interact with her brother and laugh at them, taking in everyone's smiling faces around one table that I wished it could be that moment that dominated my mind. As much as I wanted it to, it wouldn't work. Everything that had transpired over the last few weeks was running around in my head. I was making plans like I was planning a war, preparing for the worst scenario in which they just wouldn't leave us be. Despite being away for ten days, the break hadn't helped clear my mind. Nor did the conversation I shared with Dawn last night telling her all my worries and aspects of my past that I could actually talk about as if she were my guidance counsellor. Believe it or not, Dawn and I had never discussed our past lives until I bought it up last night, normally focusing on the present and our children. There were some bits that she'd told me; I knew all about how she came across her gifts, how grateful she was that Shane found her, and how naive she was when she thinks back to the night she discovered vampires. She didn't divulge into that story though, she didn't trust me enough at the time.

Dawn's chair scrapped away from the table as she rose to her feet, bringing me back to the present and silencing everybody with her words, "Right I'm dismissing you all, I volunteered to help Bella with clean up duty, so bugger off!"

I smirked as I noticed that it was Renesmee and Jenna that left the table first, shying away from offering to help. I shook my head amused. My daughter had a head on her shoulders, that's for sure, but she still liked being taken care of, despite her need for independence. I scoffed lightly, look how well that turned out.

Dawn frowned and looked at me. I shrugged her off like it was nothing but I knew she wouldn't drop it. Last night whilst the kids were in La Push I filled her in on what the past few weeks had sprung, informing her on every bit of my past without much reserve. I trusted her though, aside from Jake, I never had anyone to confide in about my past. Renesmee doesn't count. I could never talk to her about the Cullen's because I didn't want to paint a skewed picture in her mind; instead leaving a blank canvas-which apparently looks similar to mine anyway.

"You're worried." She pointed out as she piled the dirty dishes on the counter at human pace.

I moved to put the condiments back in their respective spaces, "How could I not be? The family that abandoned me ten years ago have returned and expect me to fall back into their arms. Their appearance- look at what it's done, to me, Ness... God, look what it's done to her: the anxiety, the crying, and the accident." I paused, my mind whirling uncontrollably, "What should I do?"

I leaned against the table calming my mind. Dawn came up next to me leaning against the table to look at my face, "Hey, it's Christmas. Don't dwell on it today...as for Nessie, let her make her own mind up. But sooner or later they're going to find out who she really is. Wouldn't it be better coming from you?"

I sighed running my fingers through my hair, "Your right, let's not talk about this today, it's not necessary."

We cleared away the rest of the table before we began washing the mounds of dishes, placing all the food that could be consumed tomorrow in containers to be frozen. Reasonable conversation flowed as she took the job of washing the dishes whilst I dried and put them away. It was then that, surprisingly, Dawn opened up about her past.

"He was everything I wanted - well, thought I wanted – until Jenna ..." She broke off from her abrupt confession, "You know, you're not the only person to have what you thought was love ripped away, you know?"

My rhythm halted. I looked over and saw her holding her breath; her eyes screwed shut.

"What do you mean?" I prompted cautiously.

She huffed, "I mean it in every sense of the word." She began, "You know that Dawn used to be my middle name, don't you?"

I nodded, Renesmee having already shared this detail with me. Dawn's eyes kept me quiet. I could see her replaying her memories in her mind; her face betraying her completely.

"I changed it when I left England." She told me. "I loved Jenna's dad, Richard, more than anything in the world. We'd been together since I joined sixth form and I eventually followed him to Leeds for university. He was a year older. After my first year at Leeds Met, I fell pregnant and had to drop out. He wasn't around a lot so I moved to a village nearby so I could still be close to him." She was silent for a while, reengaging herself in her thoughts. She laughed bitterly before she carried on, "He was hardly ever around. He blamed lectures and assignments that he had to complete and he frequently missed her scans and appointments he knew I had. He even questioned the paternity once. He was there for her birth, and it was the first time I'd ever seen him cry. It was then I thought things would get better. He moved in with us and commuted everyday but his loans couldn't cover the cost of everything so he had to work to support us; we hardly saw him. After his graduation he went out and came back drunk. He walked out the next morning and we never saw him again."

"Dawn," What could I say? "I'm sorry."

She looked over at me and smiled, "its okay, we were better off without him anyway. But there's more..."

I stayed silent, signalling for her to continue, "Four years later my only close relative was murdered, my nanna. The police turned into wankers when they found out there were no witnesses that could testify so they gave up. What made it worse is that she'd come to visit for the weekend. I was running late home from work- I worked in a bank-and when I got home, she was on the floor, blood pouring out of her head, and it was too late to do anything. She was gone."

Her breathing hitched and if she could cry she would be. I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her. The world was an unfortunate place where fate controlled our lives, I mean, look at us now. This was never something we could have imagined and despite the obstacles I seemed to face at every corner of a never-ending maze, I was glad that I hadn't lost Charlie in the process. I suppose him to me was like Dawn's grandma was to her.

"After that, I asked my boss for a transfer. The bank was a worldwide corporation so I got my green card and Jenna and I came to the states."

"You don't have to tell me, Dawn, You're getting upset about it." I pleaded. I didn't want to see her like this, especially not on Christmas.

"I'm fine; it's good to talk about it with someone. Shane doesn't know what happened before I came to America." She went back to washing the dishes at a slow rhythmic pace, "I changed my first name when I moved, paranoid that someone would find me. Veronica, well, Ronnie was left behind along with my old life."

I contemplated my next question before I decided to ask it, "Do you miss her? Ronnie I mean?"

"Some days," She replied sincerely, glancing at me, "More recently than I used to. I never did when we first moved. I was given a new lease of life with Jenna and it felt good to leave the past behind. We were comfortable with our new life. Jenna had settled well and for the first time in a long time I was truly happy." Her eyes turned back to her job as she continued, "One day we'd secured a good deal and the boss decided to treat us all to a late lunch. He took us to this small bistro close to the bank and it was there that I met...," She hesitated, drawing in a shaky breath, "Justin's father."

She appeared to have the same trouble saying his name as I did with Edward's. Even that thought caused my chest to tighten considerably in the place my heart lay confined, long dead since he left. Maybe it was in a male vampire's ability to dazzle human, female suitors.

"He was flirty and kind and the most handsome man I'd ever seen. He was completely different to Richard but there was something that drew me in. His eyes were violet, which at the time I thought strange but beautiful, and his long dirty blond hair looked so soft. I stayed in his company until the taxi's arrived for the staff. When it was time to go he asked me out with him the following night. I turned him down at first but he just smiled and said 'I'll look forward to the chase'. The next day he came to my office with a stunning bunch of flowers and asked me to have dinner with him. I thought it was a romantic gesture so I agreed he could pick me up from my place after work. I'd never felt more excited. I can still remember the butterflies in my stomach and the small grin I had on my face for the rest of the day, hoping that this would be the happiness I deserved...

"That night he picked me up in stylish car; different to what I thought it would be, I had it in my head that he'd have a beat up old car, like a battered Camaro or something so I was surprised when a polished, black Audi R8 sat outside my apartment building. He was dressed in a suit and his hair was pulled back but some of it dangled lose in the front and he had that smile that melted me plastered across his face." He voice and her expression conflicted, giving off two contrasting emotions: desire and disgust. "Anyway, he took me to a little restaurant out of town and charmed his way into my heart in one hour. I was too stunned to notice that he never ate one bite of the meal he'd ordered. The teasing turned into more and soon I found myself on the way to 'his place'." She articulated with matching hand gestures. "It was there that everything changed."

She resumed washing the dishes with more force than necessary, still aware that it only took a small amount of pressure for them to shatter in her palms, allowing her overriding memories to play like a movie. I remained silent, giving her the time to continue when she could as I continued dry the crockery she cleaned.

She exhaled sharply through her nose before she carried on, "We got into bed but there was no foreplay or anything, he touched me roughly and at first it turned me on, but then his grip burned to the point I was screaming at him to stop but he was relentless. He took me roughly and my legs ached that much, I had no idea if he'd just ripped me in two. I begged and I pleaded but he wouldn't stop!" Her face was crumpled and I wanted nothing more that to ask her to stop but she was trapped now, in her own mind, recounting the night that changed her, "The worst part was when he threw me against the wall, so fast my head blurred and I only just heard him say, 'I always wanted to know what a human would feel like'. He looked at me for the first time then and the violet was gone and all I saw was a pure red surrounding his pupils and I froze. I couldn't scream; I just let him take me praying that I would survive so I could get home to Jenna.

"He finished and when he did, something in him changed. He became tender, in a way. He took me back to the bed, straightened my clothes and then kissed me. He told me I was beautiful and that if I wasn't tempting his thirst then he'd probably keep me for himself. I was too scared to say anything so I just lay there, waiting for him to say something. He moved away from the bed to the window so I got up and ran for the door but he was in front of me in an instant. He looked at me and told me that it would be pointless saying anything to anyone because he'd never be found. He kissed me roughly then opened the door and let me leave. As I ran out, I ran past a woman with the same red eyes but never thought of anything at the time. I went home and cried thinking that somehow I'd deserved all of it, all the shit in my life and the added bruises on my skin."

She rubbed the heel of her palm into her eye before she carried on, "I found out I was pregnant a week later. I cried myself to sleep every night, and as my stomach expanded I came to realise that this child wasn't a normal child. I'll never forgive myself for what I put Jenna through. She took care of me and I sort of forgot that she was only eight years old. She burnt herself and I realised that I'd stopped being a mum to her and that she still needed me. I had to give up my job anyway so I took us both to Mississippi. I explained to her as best as I could what was happening but I tried to hide it as much as I could. A week after we'd gotten to Mississippi, I went into labour but there wasn't much I could do. I could feel him eating at my insides, trying to get out. Jenna was still in the house so I had to get away, I couldn't let her see me and I didn't know what would happen to me in the end so I crawled into the woods that connected to our garden so she couldn't see me and just collapsed." She finally looked up at me, "I could feel it Bella, the pain of losing love and the fear that I might not see my children grow up. Even when I felt him bite me and the burning began, nothing could overpower that sense of loss."

"Dawn, please, you don't have to talk about this." I tried again but she shook me off with a small smile.

"It got better." She told me, "I'm not sure about the time frame but about a day later, Shane turned up. I didn't know him but he must have smelt the blood and came to investigate. He took Justin in his arms and sat with me once he understood what was happening. He explained everything to me; what he was, what I was becoming and what I was to expect. He talked to me to keep me distracted, explaining about bloodlust and said, if I wanted it, he would help me through it. I manage to tell him that my daughter was in the house. I was terrified that I would hurt her but he said he'd show me another way; that I didn't have to survive on humans; animals were just as satisfying. It was then I noticed his yellow eyes and everything fell into place. He looked after Jenna and Justin whilst my change took place and once I turned he took me on my first hunt. I did well the first time but on the second I had a lapse and it was only when I saw the limp body of a hiker under me that I felt utterly disgusted with myself. I knew I'd killed an innocent person, but knowing that my daughter's blood could appeal to me hurt even more. I wasn't safe to be around and Shane knew that too. He forced me to stay away from her for three month-"

"Three months?" I exclaimed. If anyone tried to force me away from Renesmee for that amount of time, I'd probably kill them. She was everything to me. But then again, if I had been in Dawn's position, I would probably allow it if it meant keeping her safe.

"I still saw her, the first night I went home but held my breath. I told her that everything was going to be okay and that I was stronger. She fell in love with Justin immediately and took on the big sister role. He never bit her; I think he understood that he shouldn't. She didn't really understand who Shane was for a few weeks but because he was there full time and the motivation of being able to see them kept me focused, she sort of fell in love with him. He didn't let me back in the house fulltime until my eyes were yellow and by then they were calling him 'Uncle Shane'" She laughed at the memory; I was relieved that the smile on her face was back. "You already know about how he found out about mine and Justin's gift, but it was a while after that we found out about his second. It was one particular day in the summer last decade when he told me and Shane that he had this weird feeling, like someone was connecting themselves to him physically and all he could think was that each day it was getting stronger. Of course I was concerned but we didn't know at the time so we ignored it. That was until she showed up."

"Who?" I questioned as I picked up the last plate to dry.

"The woman I saw that night. She just appeared out of nowhere. There was such malice in her eyes that it frightened me, her hair looked on fire and her eyes...I'd expected red, but they were black. I wasn't trained to fight and she was raring to. She told me that she was going to kill Jenna and I because I took him away from her. She claimed she was his mate and that since me he hadn't been the same with her. He'd forbidden her to come after me but since he'd been killed she could take all the revenge she wanted. She demanded I hand over Justin because he belonged to, to..." She took a deep breath and continued, "I refused and she attacked. Luckily, Shane was there and he knew how to fight. She ran away and he told us we had to leave. Justin told us that the link he felt was to her and he worried that it was something evil in him. It was then that Shane figured out that it was a second power. Like with his other, they opposed his parent's ability."

Placing the plate in the cupboard I picked up the last item on the side, the large glass bowl and began to dry slowly. Dawn drained the water in the basin and turned to face me as she continued.

"That's why we move around a lot. She's not given up. That's the reason I know what love being ripped away feels like. It's okay now but whenever Justin can sense her, I'm reminded of a love that never existed and the added consequence of having a demonic, blood-thirsty, red-headed bitch chasing us around the country." She finished bitterly.

"How long has it been since she last time she..." my question trailed of, not really sure how to phrase it.

Dawn smiled slightly, animating her features, "Longer that I expected actually, almost a year. I'd like to think someone has killed her or that she's finally given up." She sighed despondently, "But I'll never let my guard down. I'll always be waiting for her face to appear somewhere." She scoffed to herself, "Victoria,"

My head snapped up to look at her, "What did you say?" I couldn't help the distaste that fell off my tongue as I replied.

Dawn looked me over, her brows furrowing slightly before explaining, "Victoria, that's her name."

Red-head, hair looked on fire, all the revenge she wanted, Victoria, he'd been killed, 'look forward to the chase, long dirty blond hair...

It's not possible, "Please tell me his name wasn't James," I begged, pleading internally that it was just a sadistic coincidence that forced us to have this connection.

If it were possible, Dawn's face grew whiter, her eyes widening in a mask of horror, "How- How did you know?" She whispered.

"Oh my god," I whispered. James was Justin's father. I was the reason he was dead. Not long after he'd raped Dawn, he came for me. Renesmee's father killed Justin's. Victoria was after both of us. My head was spinning whilst Dawn remained silent, coming to terms with her confusion. In my turmoil, the light grasp I had on the glass bowl faltered and I let it fall, not caring as the glass shattered onto the hardwood floor. The tiny flecks of glass sprung off in multiple directions, tickling my feet and dusting the floor in what looked like miniscule clumps of diamond.

I could do nothing but stare into Dawn's eyes, unable to compose myself as I sensed our families move in the other room. Silence surrounded us until I finally broke it.

"Dawn," I crocked. What was I supposed to say, "Dawn, he...James, he was the one that attacked me. Remember, I told you about the baseball field and..." I trailed off.

"Wait, so the vampire that's in La Push. The one that's after you for revenge is," She gulped, "...Victoria?"

"The red-head?" Jake interrupted. I blinked at everyone gathered in the doorway of the kitchen watching us with uncertainty. I nodded in reply. "What's going on?" He asked.

I couldn't speak. I looked back at Dawn and the understanding spread across us both at the same time. A silent message passed through the air as we both tensed at the realisation.

"Mom," Came Renesmee's voice, "What about Victoria? Is she back?"

I smiled at my daughter, trying to reassure her, "No she's not... but it seems we aren't the only people she's trying to kill."

Dawn whimpered, "You don't think that she knows we're both here do you? She wouldn't try to-"

"She won't get near any of you; we'll make sure of that." Jake spoke collectively for the pack.

"Yeah, and Mum, if she was tracking me I'd feel it so we've got nothing to worry about. "Justin inputted.

"Although, Dawn, I would suggest you all stay here for safety. If she does know then you'll be better in a larger group." Jake suggested.

I sighed but it was Charlie's gruff voice that broke us out of it, "Not that this isn't entertaining, but do we really have to get into this now? Its Christmas folks, can we enjoy it?"

The tension thinned, lifting the mood of everyone as they led each other back onto into the family room. Renesmee remained in the doorway looking at me, worrying her lip, a habit she'd inherited from me.

"Baby, don't worry. Everything will be fine; it just took us by surprise, that's all." I told her calmly, "You go with Dawn into the others whilst I clean this up."

Dawn moved forward and wrapped her arm across Ness' shoulders, leading her into the other room.

I made quick work of the mess I'd made, dumping it into the trash before I wiped down the counters. I was shouted numerous times by everyone to come and join them in watching the film they'd selected as I finished. I through the dishcloth into the empty basin and was heading to join them all when a knock came from the front door. I walked over to it and pulled it open before the smell hit me.

I was roughly pushed aside and the two of them came through the threshold without being invited and turned in the hall facing me. Their faces were still perfection, even more so through my vampire eyes. I hadn't seen either of them since I was human.

"Excuse me," I hissed, "what do you think you're doing? Get out of my house!"

"Not until you hear us out, Bella!" Rosalie yelled back.

"I have nothing to say to you!"

"But we have stuff to say to you!"

"I don't want to hear it!" I snapped back

Rosalie stepped into my personal space, threateningly menace, "Well, you're going to!"

"GET OUT!" Jake shouted from behind me, spitting through his teeth; his body already vibrating with anger.

"Shut it, dog, you have no authority here!" She countered.

"But I do!" Charlie's voice came from behind, "Rosalie, Emmett, neither of you have any right to come onto my property unannounced, particularly not to shout in my daughter's face. You've been told twice, but now I'm telling you...Leave." His voice was calm and controlled, carrying a grace and power than no one else had.

"Chief Swan-" Emmett tried this time.

"LEAVE!" I shouted, completely losing my temper.

"DAMN IT, BELLA!" Emmett lost it too, "We just want to know what happened to you! We have a right to know considering we bought you into all of this. It's tearing us apart not knowing what happened and with you being so hostile towards us all, the Bella that we knew has changed and we just want to know what we can do to help, we want to know you but you're not giving us the chance! Please, we've missed you!"

I scoffed at the nerve of him, "Bella, listen-"

"No, you listen. I don't want to hear anything any of you have to say to me, I don't care. You left me and I've moved on. You weren't concerned for me when I needed you the most so you do not have the right to show concern now." I was fuming, revealing more than I wanted to, "Christmas day of all days, are you serious?"

Emmett sighed, Rosalie folded her arms in annoyance, "Okay, so today may have been a bad day, but Bella, you don't know what's happened to our family, we've not been the same. We're not blaming you-" He defended as I glared, "We're just trying to get you to see that you mean a lot to us and we just want the chance to explain and hear your story, I mean, you have a sister now?" He asked in disbelief.

I saw Rosalie's eyes flicker to Renesmee and I had to suppress a growl. I didn't answer him but what Dawn said earlier came back to me: her identity would be better coming from me, "Not today." I told them, "Give me three days and I'll come over. I 'm not staying long and that does not mean I want you back in my life. As far as I'm concerned, you are all dead to me, am I clear?" That was probably low and I wanted to believe it. As much as I wanted to protect Renesmee and as much as I hated them for what they did, I didn't hate them enough for them to die.

Emmett looked withdrawn but nodded anyway, "That's all we can ask."

The front door was still wide open so I stepped aside gesturing for them to leave. They took the hint and left, Jake slamming the door behind them.

Everyone remained silent, allowing everything that happened in the last few minutes to sink in. I looked at Renesmee and saw the fear on her face. I pulled her into a hug and kissed her head.

"I'm coming with you." She mumbled into my chest. I nodded knowing that she wouldn't want me there without her. I planned on bringing Jake with me anyway.

"So am I." Dawn told me, "I'll call Shane and tell him what's happened. He'll be there too."

I sighed, clinging to my daughter, "Thank you,"

Three days.