CHAPTER 25 – FOUND THE LOST

Corner – Allie Moss

We have choices to make
We have promises that we can't break
There is nothing left to lose
So hold on to me
I'll hold on to you

A/N: You ALL made my FRIDAY – Thank you for the helping me hit the 200 mark. Virtual hugs all around – can you feel the 21st century technological love. I can.

As a MASSIVE THANK YOU - I worked my fingers to the bone and wrote three chapters. Hope you enjoy. So without further ado…LIGHTS CAMERA and…ACTION!

Someone cleared their throat in annoyance, making us finally break apart but his arm was still wrapped around me but I still couldn't find it in myself look away from the great man that had influenced my life in so many ways, even through the blurry vision of my salty tears.

His blonde hair was shorter than the last time I saw him and instead of the long curls, it was now pushed back. Like the rest, he also had golden eyes but his were brighter but I watched as the light dulled within them as he directed his stare onto the others, a small crease forming on his forehead.

I followed his line of sight, worried as to what had caused this change of emotion only to find the rest of the vampires wore similar expressions.

Emmett, Jasper and Alice just seemed to be torn as they fell deep in thought and I was staggered with the raging anger that Rosalie emitted as she released her darkest glare onto me but what really took me back was Esme and Edward's pained expressions as they looked between me and Carlisle.

I couldn't decipher what had caused such a great transition in the happy atmosphere.

"Isabella…" Stregone began but I interrupted him before I could help myself.

"Just Bella" I corrected and it almost seemed to be a reflex action. I could not stand him or anyone else for that matter calling me Isabella.

He finally turned back to me with a pensive expression and narrowed eyes but I quickly turned away before he could read me. He was one of the few people that could.

While looking away from Stregone, I had turned around to face the others only to widen my eyes when I caught Edward's clenched jaw and crossed arms, making me fearful for his thoughts. Was he angry with me? Did I do something to anger him?

"No you haven't" Stregone answered and I whipped my head around to look at him.

Had I said that out loud?

"Carlisle?" it wasn't my voice and we both looked towards the timid Esme.

She looked broken at the moment but I could also see that she was fighting back the pain that was slowly eating at her and I worried that I had contributed into causing her that much anguish.

Stregone had responded to the name and I looked back at him in question. "Stregone?" I voiced my surprised thoughts at the sudden name change. When I had returned back to Italy, he had introduced as Stregone so I couldn't understand why he had changed it. Was he running too?

It took a moment for his own confusion to clear before realization hit him and he turned back to me, "I go by Carlisle now" he explained but his golden eyes were cautiously swiveling towards Esme. A troubled expression etched his features as he tried to send a mental message to Esme but I couldn't understand what it was.

I tried to release the tension by smiling at the new name, "It suits you better" was my pleased reply; he chose to finally turn to me and then returned my smile. Once I knew that I had his attention, I braved myself to ask, "Is that your real name?", he had never mentioned this name while we were in Italy and I could not help but feel the spark of betrayal.

"Yes. The Voltur-" he was about to explain but was rudely broken off.

"Sorry to interrupt" we whipped our heads around to looks at a furious Rosalie, "whatever this is" she exclaimed in her anger and I jumped at the new volume and murderous rage that seeped in her voice, "Could one of you please explain what is going on?" she looked frustrated now.

I finally focused on the anger that choked me as I felt it being directed towards me from all sides. Only Carlisle was trying to reign in the frustration was rolling off him waves but I could tell he was battling with control for my sake, to which I was thankful for.

"Have I offended you?" my question came out as a gasp as I looked towards them with wide eyes.

Seeing as no one else was speaking, Rosalie chose to, "How do you know Carlisle?" she hissed through gritted teeth. I don't know if she knew it but she had taken a menacing step towards me, her glare darkening which only made me stumble back but I was thankfully righted by Stre- Carlisle.

"Rosalie…" Esme whispered but it sounded broken and her distressed expression made me feel worse but I still didn't know where my fault was.

My worst fears began to creep back and their overwhelming emotions burdened me and need to escape grew too strong. "I should leave" I hurriedly whispered , turning to make my first move to run away but Carlisle was quick to reach out and grab my wrist and pulled me back before I could take another step away. Whereas Rosalie had flashed before me to block the exit but I didn't understand why she would with the hatred that she was emitting.

Reluctantly, I let Carlisle pull me back to his side.

"What is Bella to you?" Alice questioned in a troubled voice and it finally dawned on me as to why they were all disturbed about me knowing Carlisle.

"Oh no, no, no" still shaking my head, "It was never like that" I was actually disgusted that they would think like that because it had never been and never would be that kind of relationship with Carlisle. "Me and Carlisle met in Italy" I added to the explanation and took a cautious step away from him as I feared that our close proximity was only making it worse.

"Were you ever together?" Rosalie quizzed.

I shook my head as the image filled my mind. It wasn't because of what he was, more because of who he was and I voiced that to put their minds at ease, "Never" still shaking my head at the very thought, "We met in Italy and he and my father were very good friends" I explained and felt the profound apprehension slowly fade as they processed my revelation. "Stre- Sorry Carlisle" it was strange calling him this new name but I knew it would catch on soon, "Carlisle was like my teacher" I answered and for some unknown reason, looked directly at Edward when saying this, hoping that he would read into my honesty. "Maybe even family", turning back to Carlisle who returned my smile.

Finally, I felt the air clear and watched as Edward broke into a relieved smile and I was about to return the favor. I couldn't stand the idea of having Edward against me.

Rosalie gained my attention as she stepped forwards with an apologetic smile, "Bella, I realize now that I shouldn't have accused you" she said and Ii waited for her to continue but nothing else was said but I knew that this was as good as the apology would get seeing as it was from Rosalie.

Not really knowing what to say in reply, I just gave a slight nod to her before diverting my gaze back onto Edward who was still staring back at me. He's calmed down and the happiness sparkling in his eyes which was a great contrast to the murderous glare he once had.

"I never thought I'd see you again." Carlisle smiled, turning to me, capturing my attention once again and I found that it was easy to return his smile. It was surprisingly comforting to know that he was still alive – vampire or not – Carlisle was practically family to me and now he was here.

The joyous expression on his face turned into excitement as he inquired, "Where are Charlie and Renee?" his golden eyes twinkled with the possibility of seeing them while I felt myself crumble, just with the sound of their names but he remained oblivious as he continued excitedly, "Have you all moved here to Forks?" he quizzed but froze when he finally caught my dulled expression.

Not able to look at him anymore, my head bowed as I bit down on my bottom lip to stop the tears from falling. How could I tell him that his friend was no longer with us? Or tell him that the person he had trusted was the cause of their death?

"Is-Bella...?" Carlisle stuttered and his fear had crept into his voice and I had to battle away with the tears so that I could explain to him. He deserved to know.

I pulled away from him hold, keeping my head down as I shuffled my feet awkwardly, trying to form the words and then squeezed my eyes shut, taking a deep breath before lowly muttering, "He killed them" my reply was met with the a sharp intake of breath before silence ascended and all you could hear was the cool breeze causing the trees to quiver.

I kept myself trained on the low whistling of the breeze, not wanting my thoughts to transpire into the darkness where I would relive the nightmares.

"They're d-" Carlisle began but I couldn't bring myself to say anything so I shook my head, willing it all away but Carlisle still wanted answers, "Who did?" he finally spoke with a wavering tone.

It was easier to be angry than to wallow in sadness which is why I let my rage drive through me when sharply whipping my head up to glare at him as I spat out, "Who do you think?"

His eyes widened in surprise, and it was like someone slapped him as he took a step backwards making me feel guilty. Then his mouth fell open before he breathed out, "No...", so much pain constricted in that one word that I realized then that he truly believed that Aro wouldn't be capable of such evil and fell remorse for snapping at him so I turned away in shame but Carlisle gained my attention again with his unnecessary apology, "Bella, I am so sorry" his voice cracked as he was close to tears.

I was about to tell him that it was not his fault but we were brought back by Edward's worried tone, "What is going on?" he asked.

This brought me back to my senses and I choked back my emotions by masking it with a smile that was twisted into a grim line but it seemed that Esme could read my emotions because she stepped forward, ignoring my wince as she took my hands in hers and met my eyes with her apologetic ones, "Maybe we should move this conversation inside?" she asked softly, wrapping a soothing arm around my waist.

I looked up at her in surprise in order to check if she was serious and was happy to find nothing but trust in her eyes before she finally nodded.

Another stony cold hand took hers before lacing his fingers with her perfectly manicured ones. Both, me and Esme looked up to Carlisle whose eyes were trained down onto Esme with so much love that brightened his warm golden eyes that I couldn't help but smile.

It reminded me of the way my father would look at my mother.

I had never seen this look on Carlisle before and I was happy to know that he had fared well after leaving the Volturi. It was reassuring to know that all these years, he had finally found his other half. He deserved that much with the kind heart that he bore.

There was a tingle that trembled through my fingers and my eyes looked down to the other pale hand that was now threading its fingers with mine. The cooling touch of his thumb made small circles onto my hand that felt so good I had to bite down on my lip to prevent a purr from being released. Burning heat that emitted from my palm now warmed his icy cold touch but I could not help but smile at how perfect the touch felt.

Tilting my head up, I locked eyes with him and the corner of my lips tugged up into a small smirk which he mirrored. Seeing him smile, gave me the courage to act out my hesitant thoughts as I willed myself to rest my head onto his chest.

"Thank you, Edward"

A/N: Love to write the small Bella and Edward moments – what are your thoughts?

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