Stephanie's Pov

As I woke up I was pleasantly pleased with the fact that I had slept well. I hadn't had one nightmare and I was pretty damn thankful for it. I was sick off waking up in cold sweats brought on by immense fear.

I climbed out of bed and easily got dressed in shorts and a basic white T-shirt, along with my runners. Alice wasn't here so I wouldn't get in shit for wearing something so plan and boring, or at least that's how she would see my clothes. I was sort of a tom boy, so even though I liked dressing nice, I didn't mind slumming it.

I left my room as I pulled my hair into a ponytail and jumped onto the railing, sliding down it. I jumped off when I hit the bottom and ran into the kitchen, noticing Carlisle and Esme on the living room couch, kissing. Part of me wanted to go yuck, but I found it beautiful that they were still so in love after being together for as long as they have. Still, I didn't want to see it.

Shaking my head, I went into the kitchen and over to the kitchen cupboard and grabbed out cereal. Part of me wondered where Rosalie was, but since I doubted she was eating the locals it wasn't really any of my business. I wondered what she'd say if I told her what I had just thought.

"Emmett, I am not running home just to fix your Jeep. I may be your wife, but I'm not your slave. Fix it yourself." Rosalie said as I opened the fridge to grab the milk. I laughed that he still wasn't able to fix his Jeep. I mean seriously, it wasn't actually that hard for him to fix. Then again, I was a racers/mechanics daughter, so of course it was easier for me. "He wants to talk to you." Rosalie said as I put the milk on the bench, her hand outstretched. I took the phone from her and put it to my ear.

"Hi Emmett." I said cheerfully and I smiled as I started to pour my cereal into a bowl.

"Squirt, tell me how to fix my Jeep. It's been days." Emmett demanded and I laughed. He seriously thought I'd tell him.

"Nope, you can figure it out your damn self." I said as I poured the milk. I couldn't believe it had been six days since I had tampered with it and he still hadn't figured out how to repair it.

"I will come and get you Steph, I'm not kidding!" Emmett said and I laughed.

"Do you really think Esme and Carlisle, or even Rose, will let you run all the way here, then run me all the way home?" I asked, then I smiled to myself, though Rosalie saw it and gave me a suspicious look. "Or that Alice will let you come if I threaten to never go shopping with her again if you do?" I added, causing Rose to smile. I was playing dirty, I know, but I didn't care at all.

"Emmett, don't even think about going after her!" Alice yelled, though I had a suspicion that she wasn't too mad and found this funny too knowing her, both Rosalie and I laughed. Huh, I knew that would work in my favor – mad or not, Alice would play along.

"You knew she'd say that, didn't you?" Emmett asked.

"Of course, I did, now goodbye Em. Good luck fixing the Jeep." I said and I ended the call, throwing the phone back to Rosalie who caught it easily.

"You know you really are torturing him. He's had to go to school with Edward and Bella the last three days because of what you did and he's not happy about it." Rosalie said and I shrugged.

"He's a vampire, he can deal. Besides, I figured he'd have it fixed by now. I didn't do much to it." I said as I climbed up onto the island bench and started eating my breakfast. My mom had always scolded me for doing this, yet I had never stopped. It was one of the only things that annoyed her.

"Well I'm the one who usually fixes his Jeep; most of the time he just holds it up for me." Rosalie said and I smiled. So, he was the car jack. That sounded about right.

"Well maybe he should learn to use more than just his muscles." I said with a smile. It wasn't exactly a lie; Emmett did rely on his muscles a lot.

"Stephanie, that's a bench, not a seat." Esme scolded as she entered the kitchen.

"I disagree completely on that one." I said with a smile and I just kept eating. My house, my rules. "Where's Carlisle?"

"He's getting Renesmee and Jacob up. He decided it was better that he do it before you did." She said, giving me a knowing look.

"Huh, I'm amazed he could stop kissing you for long enough to do that." I said with a pointed look as I put my bowl down and I swear to god if she could have blushed she would have right now. It was bad enough that Rosalie burst into laughter behind me.

"What did I miss?" Carlisle asked, coming in and wrapping his arm around Esme's waist. Rosalie and I quickly looked at each other, then we both burst into laughter. I was laughing so much that I actually fell off the bench (something Carlisle looked really concerned about) which made me laugh even more. I was so glad I'd put my bowl down though.

I loved it though that I could laugh with Rosalie. She had told me that she and Bella hadn't gotten along until Renesmee was born, yet we had gotten along almost immediately. Don't ask me why, but there was a connection between the two of us.

"What have we missed that has got these two laughing their heads off, especially Aunt Rosalie?" Renesmee asked as she entered the room and I forced myself to stop laughing, though unlike Rosalie I was completely breathless.

"That's exactly what I'd like to know." Carlisle asked as he looked between Rosalie, Esme and I in confusion. Esme was doing her best to avoid everyone's gaze. I guess vampires can get embarrassed, no matter how old they are.

I picked myself up off the floor and winked at Rosalie.

"Nothing Carlisle." I said innocently as I dumped my bowl in the sink. I ate breakfast really fast these days. I walked out of the kitchen, Rosalie following after me, and I decided to be me and have a bit more fun. "We we're just talking about how you demonstrated your mad skills on the couch this morning Carlisle." I said and I saw his body freeze while Renesmee tried to hold back her laughter and Jacob laughed.

I went into the lounge room and went over to the box of DVDs, starting to search through them. I found the earliest DVD easily enough, I mean it wasn't that hard.

"You know you remind me a lot of Emmett. He's always bringing up things he shouldn't. You should have seen him after Renesmee was born." Rosalie said and I laughed.

"Yeah, but he was doing it decade's before I was." I said as I put the DVD in the TV.

"What are we watching?" Renesmee asked as she entered the room, a bowl in hand. I knew she preferred blood, but she did her best to eat human food, which wasn't too hard since she liked most of it.

"My life, you wanted to see it." I said and when I saw Carlisle and Esme enter I smiled. "Couch is all yours, just do me a favor and only sit on it this time." I said and I plopped down in the other one with Rosalie, not waiting to see their reactions. Renesmee and Jacob took the love seat and I hit play.

The TV showed this house years ago, the camera faced at the front door.

"Where are they?" My aunt Rebecca asked as she held Noah in her arms. He looked so cute as a kid that it was ridiculous.

"Calm down Bec, they're on their way." Uncle Joseph said from behind the camera I was guessing. It explained why I couldn't see him.

"Is my sissy coming home?" Noah asked in his cute little three-year-old voice and I smiled.

"Is that your brother?" Renesmee asked and I nodded.

It was then that the front door opened on the TV screen and my parents walked in, my mother carrying me in her arms. Everyone started cheering when they saw me, and Mom brought me over near the camera. I was so small that it was weird.

"Look at you, you were a little cutie." Jacob said and I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Can it Jake." I said.

"Oh, she's so adorable. Have you picked out a name yet" Aunt Rebecca asked and Dad nodded as Mom smiled down at me.

"Yeah, we're calling her Stephanie Ann." Dad said, then he carefully took Noah from Aunt Becca "Noah, meet your new little sister. It's going to be your job to take care of her."

"She's really small" Noah said and everyone started laughing.

"Of course, she is son; she's just a baby right now. But when she grows up she is going to be beautiful and it will be your job to fight off the boys." Dad said and everyone laughed again, including my mother. I never knew my father had said that. Typical Dad though.

The DVD played through a lot of my life. It showed me growing up until I was six. It showed my first ballet recital and me playing with Noah. It also showed Samantha. That's when the last part of this DVD came up.

Noah and I were running around the yard like hyped up squirrels, with Dad and Uncle Joseph chasing after us. I had a football in my hands and so did Noah, and I was giggling as I ran away from them. Samantha and Mom were sitting on the grass watching us, which meant Aunt Becca had to have been holding the camera.

"The point is to catch them boys. You're a cop Joseph, you should be able to catch a nine-year-old and a six-year-old." Aunt Becca called from behind the camera and Joseph glared at her, but then he took off after me as Dad scooped Noah up in his arms, causing him to laugh. I was running from him and then I was squealing as he scooped me up.

"Huh, I got you now." He said and I threw the ball at his head, which made him put me down.

"No, you don't." I squealed and I took off again.

"I can't believe you fell for that. She's a Cross Bro." Dad said and he took off after me. He was faster than Uncle Joseph and caught me in seconds, scooping me up in his arms as I laughed.

"She's fast Jack, I've got to give her that. No kids gonna wanna mess with her when she's older." Joseph said as dad let me climb onto his back, where I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Yeah. What's our motto Steph? Race on the track…" Dad said and little me smiled.

"And always fight back." I said and he messed my hair, kissing my cheek in the process.

"That's my girl." He said and suddenly the DVD cut off. It was so weird seeing my old life again, but it was good seeing my parents had kept such a good documentary of it.

I got up and switched the tapes over. The second tape showed my life up to my twelfth birthday. It showed a lot of my life, which the others seemed intrigued to see. It showed me winning my first martial arts fight as well, which had been so awesome, though Esme didn't seem too happy to see that.

It was the last disk though that showed some of my other big events. This was the last disk that had been made. It started off with my first skating competition, which was when I was thirteen. I was dressed in green and was doing a triple Lutz when my brother yelled out.

"Go Stephanie." Noah yelled.

"Noah, you'll mess her up." Mom said and Noah just smiled. Dad had purposely put the camera on them.

"No way, Steph's going to win this thing." Noah said and then the camera was being turned around so I could see Dad's face, which was bright.

"See Steph, if you ever see this it proves your brother believes in you more than your mother does." Dad said and then he was being slapped across the head, causing him to go ouch, and the camera was being taken from him. Mom held it in front of her and smiled.

"Sweetheart, that is not true. Please ignore you pain in the arse father and know I always believe in you, despite his teasing." Mom said, then it the camera went back to me just as I did a tuck Axel.

"Did you really pull off a tuck Axel when you were thirteen." Rosalie asked from beside me and I nodded.

"Yeah, a lot of people were shocked by that." I admitted and then cheering filled the TV. Next thing that came up was me holding a trophy.

The DVD kept going through all my events. The first surfing competition I had won at fourteen. The first basketball game I had won. There was my first day at high school, where Noah had teased me and I had smacked him upside the head, causing him to chase me around the house. Then it came to me doing stunts on a horse and Renesmee stared at me.

"Okay, is there seriously anything you can't do?" Renesmee asked and I just shrugged.

"Of course there are things I can't do Ness, but I did train a lot to get good at the things I can do. These tapes prove it. I didn't sit at home playing video games all the time like half the human population, I was out doing anything and everything." I said and she just shook her head.

"No wonder you don't like talking about everything you're good at. Everyone would think you're a show off." Renesmee said and I smiled. The fact that I was good at a lot of things was why I kept my mouth shut.

It was then that the DVD came to the grand finale of my singing competition. My parents were in the front of the crowd and I was on stage in a midnight blue dress that was shining in the light, the silver threaded in it reflecting the lights. I was belting out 'It's all coming back to me now' by Celina Dion.

"She's so beautiful up there." Mom said, but I couldn't see her.

"I've got to agree with you Mom. Steph was born to be on a stage." Noah said and as I watched I realized how much I did miss it. Singing was a part of me and that part wasn't just going to go away.

"Stephanie, you have a beautiful voice." Esme said and I smiled.

"Yeah, it might be coming back soon." I said and I turned to smile at Rosalie who smiled back. She was the only one who had heard me sing properly, as in not on a TV scene.

There was clapping on the TV screen and suddenly it flashed to the final ceremony, where me and two other people were standing on the stage. Their names were Eric and Bridget.

"And now, the winner of California Vocal Master's competition is….." The announcer said as he opened the envelope. I had been so nervous that day it was ridiculous. "Stephanie Cross!"

I covered my mouth on stage and my mom, Dad and Noah started to cheer as I accepted the trophy.

"That's my girl." Dad yelled.

It suddenly went to the backstage where I was hugging Mom close to me, tears in my eyes as Noah took my trophy.

"I am so proud of you sweetheart, you were so beautiful up there." Mom said and I smiled.

"Thanks Mom." I said as she pulled away. She took the camera from Dad and suddenly he was hugging me.

"You did us proud kiddo, just like you always do." He said and I smiled again.

"Well now you have another trophy to add to the humongous collection you already have." Noah said and TV me scrolled.

"Hey, it's not that big." I protested and he chuckled as he handed the trophy to dad.

"Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed about. I'm proud of you sis, you kicked some major butt up there and proved that you are indeed a vocal master." Noah said as he hugged me and I laughed and he scooped me up and swung me around.

Next thing I knew the tap was going to my sixteenth birthday. Noah was following me around with the camera as I walked around the house.

"So how does it feel to be a year older?" Noah asked from behind the camera and I just rolled my eyes as I finished up with the decorations.

"I'm only a day older genius, so I don't feel any different." I said blankly as I stepped down from the chair.

"Oh, come on sis, it's your sweet sixteenth." Noah complained and I placed my hands on my hips as he put the camera closer to my face.

"And I'm not always sweet, now get that camera out of my face." I snapped and he laughed.

"Or what?" He asked and I smiled.

"Or I'll tell Mom and Dad what I walked in on you and Troy doing the other day." I said with a smirk. I had never actually clarified what they had been doing, but let's just say that I had wanted to go blind. I loved my brother, but I hadn't wanted to see that much of him.

"You wouldn't." He said and I smirked up at him, my eyes looking above the camera.

"Well technically I sort of just did since dad's going to see this when he puts it on a DVD." I said, then I started to move away.

"Oh, you are so dead." He said and he placed the camera down. He chased after me as I ran around the living room and tackled me to the ground, where we started wrestling each other, which I was winning in.

It of course didn't take long for Mom to enter the picture as she stood there with her hands on her hips.

"What are you two doing to my lounge room?" She demanded and we both stopped fighting, with me having my arm wrapped around Noah's neck. We carefully got off the floor and I smiled.

"Redecorating." I suggested and she scrolled at me.

"Well feel free to stop." She said, then she looked at Noah "Also, your father needs help setting up outside Noah."

Noah took off without a word. "Mom, we were only mucking around." I protested and crossed her arms.

"The lounge room isn't for mucking around." She said and I got an evil smirk on my face.

"Really? So, what exactly would you call what you and dad were doing in here the other day. Yuck, by the way." I said and she shook her head as she came over to me.

"You are a demon child, you know that right." She said as she came to my side and I smiled brightly.

"I live to torment you." I said brightly and she wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"A daughter's duty I suppose." She smiled and I smiled back.

"Exactly." I said and we both started laughing as we left the room together.

"So, you tormented your parents and brother about that stuff too." Rosalie said and I smiled at her, nodding, while Carlisle shook his head.

The next image that came up was me sitting outside near the pool, my friends and family surrounding me as I stood in front of my cake in a dark blue bikini.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Stephanie, happy birthday to you." They all sung and I smiled as I blew out the candles on my choc strawberry cake.

"Here you go." Mom said and she handed me a knife. I cut into the cake and of course I touched the bottom.

"Come on Steph, you've got to kiss the closest guy." Aaron said and poor Leo looked frightened, but Rick saved the day as he placed a hand on his shoulder. I remember this day fondly.

"Don't worry Leo, I'll take this honor." Rick said and in a second he was pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply, causing my friends to cheer loudly.

"Isn't that the boy that was here the other day?" Esme asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, we dated for a while before I left here. Now we're just friends and we're fine with it being that way again." I said and it was true. We were better as friends then we were as a couple.

"Oh, come on, I am standing right here. It didn't have to be on the lips." Noah complained from where he stood with Troy, his arms firmly wrapped around Troy's waist.

They had been so in love. I knew it had destroyed Troy to lose Noah, just as much as it had destroyed me. They were supposed to live a full life together, yet that had been taken away quickly.

"Well then, why don't you take a dip?" Screen me said as I went behind him as Troy stepped away and shoved him into the pool, causing a big splash and lots of laughter, which came from my friends, Noah's and Troy.

"Why don't you." Rick said to me and I turned around just in time, meaning I was facing him as he picked me up into his arms.

"Rick, no!" I laughed, but it was too late. He jumped into the pool with me and everyone else soon followed. The rest of the film played out over the party, then it ended.

"So that people was my life." I said as I stood up and collected the DVD, putting it back into its case.

"It looked really good Steph." Renesmee said and I chuckled as I shoved the DVD back into the box.

"Of course it did Ness. It didn't include all the badness in my life. But you're right, I did have a pretty awesome life." I said and it was true. My life had been wicked. I had done a lot of good things and had done everything I had ever wanted. I had never given up on my dreams and I realized I couldn't start now.

It was then that there was a knocking at the front door and I realized the boys must be here.

"That will be the boys." I said and I took off to the door. I made it there in seconds and threw the door open to find Tony and Luke, but no Troy. "Where's Troy?"

"Out in the car." Tony said with a glum look.

"I don't think he really wants to do this." Luke said and I couldn't blame Troy. I was having an impossible time doing this, so of course it was going to be hard for him.

"You guys go inside, I'll talk to him." I said and I let them pass me before I started walking out to the car.

Troy was in the backseat, which wasn't surprising since the guys had picked him up from the airport. When he saw me, he opened up the car door and ran around once he was out. He still looked the same as always, which funnily enough wasn't gay. Neither he nor Noah had ever looked gay, though they definitely were. The moment Troy reached me he hugged me tightly.

"Hey Steph." He said and I smiled into his shoulder. See Troy kinda reminds me of Blaine off glee. He doesn't dress like him, but he does sing like him, which is why he got into Julliard.

"Hey." I said and I carefully pulled away from him. He looked really tired and his eyes were red, which meant he had been crying at some point. "You know you didn't have to come when it's so hard for you to see this place again."

"I loved Noah, Steph, that's not a secret and neither is the fact that I'll never forget him or stop loving him, but this is your family home and if you can do this, then so can I." He said and I smiled.

"But I can't really do this. I broke down when I got near the crash site and every time I pack something away I have to force myself not to cry." I said and he nodded.

"I know the feeling Steph. I also know that I'm not as strong as you are, I mean not many people could survive the crap your uncle put you through." Troy said and I shook my head.

"Does everyone know about that?" I asked and he nodded, though his expression was hurt.

"Yeah, but I had to be told by Tony and Luke." He wasn't happy. "Why didn't you call me and tell me what was happening? You're like family to me Steph and Noah would want you taken care of." He said and I sighed.

"I didn't tell you Troy because you lost the love of your life. You and Noah had an epic love and I knew you were struggling with getting used to life without him. Also, I am being taken care of. The Cullen's are kind people and I love them like family, just how you love me and I love you." I said and he smiled.

"I'm glad Steph, because I did lose the person I loved more than anything, but you lost your family. If they take away some of that pain then I'm thankful." He said and it was my turn to smile.

"They take away more than some of my pain Troy. They gave me the reason I needed to keep on fighting" I said and he smiled.

"Good, then I guess you've just given me the reason to do this." He said and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

Together, we walked toward the house. I realized I had missed him more than I had let on. I mean the way he and Noah had been going I wouldn't have been surprised if they had gotten married in a few years, though now that I thought of that it was depressing since it was never going to happen now.

We walked into the house together and I led him into the lounge, where the boys were trying desperately not to look at Rosalie, who had a big smile on her face because of it. I loved it.

"Hey guys, this is Troy Matthews, my brother's boyfriend." I said, since there was no other way to say it. They hadn't broken up, Noah had died.

"It's nice to meet you." Esme said and she came over to shake Troy's hand with a smile on her face.

"Troy, this is Esme and that's Carlisle, they're the ones who took me in. Over there is Renesmee and Jacob, and the girl who Tony and Luke are trying not to ogle 'cause they know they'll be in for it is Rosalie." I said and he chuckled as the guys got whiplash as they turned to look at me, causing me to smirk.

"It's nice to meet you all." Troy said and I smiled, looking over at the other boys.

"Come on guys, we have a painful job to do." I said and I led them upstairs. We went into Noah's room and I had to admit it was painful. I had been avoiding coming in here since I had come back. I mean he was my brother and I had lost him.

"It still looks the same." Tony said and I smiled sadly.

"No one's been in here since he… since the accident." I said softly and Luke put a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's just do this. I think it's time for all of us to finally accept the fact he isn't coming back. It's been nearly a year." Luke said and I nodded.

We started going through the things and the boys talked about who wanted what, while I just sat on Noah's bed crossed legged. I didn't want to be involved in this. I could deal with going through my parent's stuff in some ways, but not my brothers.

"How's Julliard Troy?" I asked when it just became too much. I needed a distraction and so did he.

"It's really great. I'm learning a lot there and I'm having a lot of fun. New York was always my goal." Troy said and that's the only conversation we had. Actually, none of us really talked, not even when they left. A lot of us had built up feelings about what we were doing and what had happened to Noah. Still, they all left with things.

Once they were gone, I just sat down and did the paperwork for the house with Carlisle and Esme. I was glad for their help, because honestly, I was still too young for all of this. Sometimes I think life just wanted me to grow up way to fast.