A/N: Only one chapter this time and only three more to go including Epilogue! :( Caz is going to start writing the next one which will be a Jasper POV chapter. So getting bugging her on twitter to hurry up haha

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Disclaimer: Copyright of original story & characters Stephenie Meyer.

POVs: Alice

August 10th 2009

Found

Forks, Washington. WA News

BREAKING NEWS

Eight years ago we reported the devastating news of a local resident, Alice Cullen, who had gone missing at the young age of just ten years old. Today we can confirm that she has been found.

She had disappeared without a trace of a sign as to where she went missing or why. The only puzzle the police managed to piece together was that she had left on her own accord as no one broke into the house of the Cullen's that fearful night, 3rd August 2001.

"There are no signs that a kidnapper actually entered the house, we can only assume for now that she let herself out. Which is why it is important that we interview everyone who is close to the Cullen family and the other local town members for any information on the early hours of this morning." Chief Swan further reported. "We do ask if anyone has any information to please come forwards, this news is a struggle to her entire family who are missing her dearly, so please come forwards." August 3rd 2001, Friday.

Sadly no one came forwards with news on Alice, the investigation soon died down and the family had to face the conclusion that their little girl was lost forever. To say it shocked the town is an understatement. The entire town of Forks was in a state of numbness and fear as it loomed over the town with many questions. Will our children be next? Was she the first? Have others gone missing from other towns nearby? Who and what could have done this to her? Many possibilities and rumours surrounded the town from someone kidnapping the young girl, to numerous animal attacks, from wolves to other ghastly creatures lurking in those woods. It certainly put fear in parents as they locked their children up in hopes that this didn't happen to their own.

However, the investigation did heat up for a brief couple of weeks after Alice disappeared. Reports worked there way from Seattle to Port Angeles and finally Forks with Alice. The final count was nine girls who happened to stumble across a mysterious stranger (all fitting the same profile) who tried to lure them by promising them what they wanted the most if they met him at night. As soon as the news on Alice came forwards, girls around her age were finally coming forwards and admitting what had happened to them. But just like the news on Alice, it soon died down as the man was unfound.

Today however, we are happy to report Alice Cullen was found in Texas on the anniversary of her disappearance, 3rd August 2009. A source told us. "Alice was found in a shabby house by a Forks friend, Jasper Hale. He saw Alice that same day and knew it was her immediately, bravely he came in aid of her rescue that same night." When pressured for more information, the news flowed. "I think I'm safe to report this, Alice was taken from the house unconscious, I cannot comment yet on what she suffered from but we can report a body of a male was found in the house battered severely and dead." When asked for more he had to decline.

However, we did catch up the police of Texas, yesterday. Officer Royce reported, "There was a male body found a few miles away from the house Alice was found, along with another male body. Coincidently, the male who we can now name as Jim Smith was found dead the same day Alice was found. Even more suspicious, the body of the male found with Alice, who we can now reveal to be James Witherdale, was the one who reported Jim Smith dead." When asked what happened he could only guess at this stage. "From the severity of the injuries on both males, so far were assuming these victims are of the same line of killers. The brutality is beyond words, these men were beaten to death with many weapons. We have a hunch were not only hunting one killer, but a gang of them."

We managed to catch up with the Chief of Police in Forks, Chief Charlie Swan. "We had reports the same day Alice was found that a male and a female, Pete Gills and his wife Sarah were found murdered in a house near Forks High School. We found the phone off the hook and when the call was traced back we found the call came from Texas about an hour before the estimated time James Witherdale was murdered and found with Alice. The investigation is getting larger and we are working hard on this case with the Texas police in order of solving this. Alice Cullen may have been found, but there are killers on the loose. This nightmare is far from over I'm afraid."

Since Alice disappeared eight years ago, no other child was taken before or after and Forks was deemed safe once more. With Alice safely returning home in the next few days, we can only hope Forks remains that way. We will update you all soon on future news.

APOV

Carlisle turned the radio off as we drove back to Forks. The car was silent as me and Edward sat at either side of Jasper, a gap was between us as I squeezed myself up against the side of the door. Esme kept stealing nervous glances back at me but I had no energy to smile at her, I had no energy to even glance up at her. I just felt every eye in the car focus on me from time to time… especially Jasper, his eyes never left me. Carlisle had kept playing with the radio as each station kept reporting news of my reappearance. In the end I just told him to stop and let me listen. He settled on the Forks news station and I listened in horror at the details the press had managed to gather.

We all sat in awkward silence as we were filled in with what was happening on the outside world. Jasper's hand had twitched when something particularly bad hit a nerve and I winced, but he didn't touch me, I was thankful for that. I'd been cooped up in hospital for a week after my Heroin overdose… It has been the worst week of my life craving that drug. It was strange, I was finally away from James, he was dead, I had my family back, I had Jasper for real, I had everything I ever wanted but I still craved that drug above all of them. I hated myself for that and it was the reason I didn't want him to touch me, I felt ashamed. The first three days of going cold turkey had burned every inch of my body on the inside and I literally thought that would be the end of… I didn't even know what to call myself anymore. Mary Witherdale? Alice Cullen?

I focused my thoughts back onto the news I had just heard. Thinking of Heroin was only bringing back my burning need. It filled me with nothing but fear knowing that James's killers were still on the loose. I didn't know who they were or why they did this to him or Jim. And most importantly, I still don't know why James had done this to me in the first place. The one answer I seek the most, one of the main reasons that really kept me with James was wanting to know why he did this to me. Why did he choose me? What was his purpose? Why was he now dead? What had he been hiding from me? It filled me with depression which I welcomed as it numbed me from all feelings.

The police had been to visit me at my hospital bed to question me on what had happened to me over the eight years. They wanted to know what happened to James and Jim, who had murdered them. I couldn't answer any of their questions. They came at the wrong time, the worst time, Heroin shot to the front of my mind again. It was only day two of going cold turkey as I writhed on the bed and tried to keep my emotions under control. I felt the shakes being to happen and I closed my eyes. I clenched my hands into fists in an act of control and breathed in the air gushing through the open window. Remembering being in the hospital was painful but I couldn't stop the hateful time replaying in my head…

"I know this is a difficult time for you Alice, but we really need as much information as you can give us. Do you have any idea who did this to James and Jim? Any information, no matter how small it is will help us." That patronizing voice rang out again at the side of me. He'd asked me the same fucking question six times. Oh he may have worded it differently, but it was all the same and my answer was the exact same.

"Like I said before, I don't know what happened to James. I don't know who fucking killed him. I don't know who fucking killed Jim. I don't know why the FUCK James did this to me and most importantly." I stared into his eyes, he was slightly blurred; I didn't know if that was through rage or the fact my body was burning alive. "I. Don't. Give. A. Fuck!" I spat through my teeth and closed my eyes.

God I was in so much pain. It was like someone had thrown me on a fire and I was tied to a cross unable to move as the fire surrounded me and burned my flesh away. My skin was on fire and every time I moved, the pain would only increase. The worse part was; I felt like I was clinging onto that cross, like I deserved to be in this pain. Ever since I heard James had slipped me the date rate drug, I'd felt empty inside and I simply just didn't give a damn anymore.

What was the point in caring? I didn't know why he had done this to me… I didn't know why he had abused me over the years, made up these lies and forced me to do things that I could never be clean of… I knew nothing of James; he was a dark stranger to me. I didn't even know if he had told me the truth before he slipped me a heroin overdose, obviously in an attempt to end my life. Only he would want to end my life, he wouldn't give the pleasure to anyone else. No. His hands had to do it. His drugs had to do it. Hisfinal act.

"Okay Alice. We can come back to that later." I sighed in frustration at his statement; we wouldn't come back to it later because I knew fuck all. "What I'd like to know, is anything you could tell me about the eight years of living with Mr. James Witherdale." That froze me. It's the first time anyone had asked me what had happened. I felt all eyes on me and for the first time I was very aware that it wasn't just me and the annoying fucking detective in the room, but Esme and Carlisle. I kept my eyes tightly closed; I couldn't look at them as they all waited for my answer.

"Please leave." I said as calmly as I could without screaming. I didn't like to swear in front of Esme and Carlisle, something about them made me feel guilty every time a curse would escape my lips.

"Miss. Cullen. I really should insist-" I cut him off; he had grated on my last nerve.

"And I insist you leave. Now." I said forcefully, finally opening my eyes to him.

"I can leave you for now Miss. Cullen. But we will have to have this discussion." He said a little harshly and I completely snapped then. I'd been waiting for him to give me an annoyed tone, anything that would give me a reason to really lose my rag.

"What's your name?" I said, catching him off guard.

"Umm… John, why?" He seemed flustered; maybe it was the raged look I was giving him. Maybe it was the fact my body was shaking violently. Maybe it was the many eyes staring at me, tensed as if about to spring at me if anything bad were to happen. Or maybe that was just his annoying fucking way…

"Do you have a family? Kids and a wife? Family pet? Picket fence? Lush home?" I asked him, still holding in the bubbling rage.

"I think you're being a little personal with your questions." He was clearly annoyed, I could see he was eyeing the exit every now and then, or maybe he was looking at the faces of the people in the room, wandering where I was getting at.

"I'm being personal?" I laughed loudly, it made him jump and step back a little. "Have you ever taken a drug before? Cocaine… Heroin…" I asked him outright, still keeping my tone as level as I could.

"Miss. Cullen, I am a police officer, I don't take such illegal substances." His tone rose then to anger. Defiantly anger. Perfect.

"I'm sorry. Did I pry were my nose wasn't wanted? Did I touch on a subject that offends you in any way?" My tone rose and I continued before he could answer. "Well since you're such a goody two shoes, I'll tell you exactly what it's like to take Heroin." He tried to cut in along with Carlisle but I raised my voice higher. "It feels fucking fantastic." I growled. "The best fucking feeling in the world."

"Miss. Cullen-" I cut him off, nearly shouting.

"When that drug travels through your veins it sends you higher than the clouds, it's like having the best orgasm of your life. Sex is shit compared to Heroin, that's were it gets real sweet. It touches places no man can ever reach; it makes you feel better than any man could make you feel." The need for Heroin was very strong right now; it was easy explaining the feeling.

"Alice, that's enough." Carlisle butted in but I continued, ignoring him.

"You like sex? Like any other male out there, right?" I kept my eyes on John.

"Alice." Carlisle shouted but I ignored him.

"Imagine never having that again. Imagine how that would feel to have that taken away from you. Never again will you blow a load; never again will you touch another female." John backed away now outraged and offended but I wasn't through with him. Carlisle was shouting again, calling my name and basically telling me to shut the fuck up but I shouted louder. "Now picture yourself strapped to a fucking bed, desperate for some sweet tart to suck on your dick, just so you could get that release you have been craving for."

"I apologize for her words John, she's having a difficult-"I spoke over Carlisle once more.

"Then in comes some prick asking you questions about the nightmare that is your life, prying when you're in desperate need for a release." Everyone was silent now; I was crying loudly, it had shocked me and them. "You wouldn't want to answer them, am I correct?" He didn't answer, I didn't expect him to. He just left.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on getting my breathing back to normal. I couldn't believe I had just said half of that stuff, especially in front of Carlisle and Esme. I allowed myself to be embarrassed for a short while. I didn't open my eyes to them, I could feel my face had flushed a violent shade of red and I was fighting back fresh tears, but the battle was useless. They let me cry in peace and eventually I said I was sorry, they gave me sympathetic looks that only increased my guilt. Where was that feeling of numbness when you wanted it?

"Alice?" Jasper called from the side of me and I finally focused back on reality.

"Huh?" I replied, dazed.

"Uh, you're home." His tone was unsure as if he didn't know whether that was the right thing to say or not. I faked a smile and climbed out first, shortly followed by the rest of my… family.

I was thankful there were no cameras pointed at my face; Carlisle had been kind enough to warn me on the way here that there might be press outside the house waiting to get a photo of me. If I was being honest, there could have been press outside the gates; I wasn't paying attention at all. He'd managed to drive up the driveway and safely park in the garage. I walked out and felt the chilly cold air, I looked up and saw nothing but grey clouds, I mused; it would rain in a matter of minutes. These clouds were the darkest I've ever seen them before. It hardly rained that much in Texas.

I hadn't noticed that everyone had walked past me and were in the house, it was Esme who waited for me patiently. I breathed in a fresh breath of air and held back a painful moan as the rush of need came back to me. Why do I want you in my system now? You have everything you ever wanted! Why now? I turned towards Esme and gulped as I faced the big white house that was now my new home.

It's strange; I thought that once I came here I would remember things. Looking at this huge house brought nothing back, I felt empty and lost and defiantly intimidated. I hesitantly moved my steps on and walked into the house. As soon as I was in I just stood there, looking around at the clean white walls with pieces of strange artwork and photos on the walls. I wanted to ask who painted what and what some of the photos were of but somehow it felt like none of my business.

I saw photos of London, back when well known landmarks were being built, to newer photos of a beautiful built city. It was clear that they loved the country, I wondered why they wouldn't want to live there seeing all these photos. Some were of people's faces I didn't recognize; I assumed they were family members and by the aged look they were deceased members. The paintings were bizarre to say the least; they made no sense as I looked at the random abstract patterns. I shrugged; to each their own.

As soon as you walk into the house, you're faced with a gorgeous wooden staircase; the texture on them is unique. It's like the wood had smudged is natural patterns into different oak shades, all near the same. Finally it was finished with a gloss, I mentally noted not to walk down these in socks or I would go flying down them. The longer I stared at one step, the more it reminded me of the abstract paintings.

"Alice?" Esme said sweetly behind me, as patient as ever.

"Yeah?" I tore my eyes away from the step and looked back at her. She had a sad smile on her face which changed quickly into a mask, a fake cheerful smile but she hadn't fooled me. What she saw now was a different person. They all treated me like another person. That first day when I came round in the hospital, they were talking to me like I'd been gone five minutes. But once I started craving that damn drug, they didn't see their Alice anymore. No, I'm Mary.

"Would you like to see your rooms?" I frowned at the word 'rooms.' She must have seen the question on my face. She laughed lightly. "We didn't redecorate your old room, we kept it the same, didn't move a thing…" She trailed off and started a new sentence, it obviously struck a nerve. "So we did up the guest room, it's got a double bed, an on-suite bathroom and a nice balcony."

I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded. I didn't feel I deserved this attention and generosity. Growing up with James I'd pretty much gotten used to having no money, no luxuries and a hard bed that was rarely changed and smelt of sex.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jasper linger and fidget on the spot. I could tell he wanted to follow me so I looked at him and told him with my eyes, 'not yet'. He seemed to understand as he walked up to me and brushed my shoulder with his hand. He whispered in my ear. "Whenever you need me…" He didn't need to finish the sentence.

A lump formed in my throat and I whispered back. "Thank you." Those two words thanked him for more than one thing. He understood and stepped back, his hand leaving my body.

I followed Esme up the stairs. She took me first into my old bedroom; I hesitated in the doorway like I had downstairs. I was afraid to enter, I was afraid to remember something painful, like the night I packed my things and left this house. I didn't want to remember that… should I tell Esme why I left? Would it make her feel worse if she knew I left for her? Or would she feel better finally knowing why I did leave? I chose the latter.

I didn't know when I would tell her or how, but I would one day and I would make sure she was guilt free… and that day will be when I can call myself Alice again. While I crave this drug and I'm haunted by the memories of my other life, I am Mary Brandon, the name James had given me before I married him.

Every time I thought of James and that fact I was his wife I looked at my left hand were the golden ring still sat on my third finger. I hadn't had the strength to take it off, not yet, I wasn't ready. "Do you want me to leave you in peace?" She asked, as she perched herself on the bed, also staring at my left hand. Jasper had asked me questions about it during the time I was drugged up and wasn't craving that sweet drug, I didn't answer him though; I just hid my hand from his view and changed the subject.

"No." I whispered and stepped into the room. I held my breath because I didn't know what to expect. I looked around and my heart started to speed up, I remembered nothing. I was sad by this fact but also grateful. The old Alice shouldn't mix with Mary. When I'm ready to be the girl they want me to be, I'm sure I will start to remember things. I hope.

I looked around at the light pink walls. It was so girly, I felt like I was stepping into Barbie's bedroom. As I scanned the room I found I used to like Barbie a lot, I had loads of them on shelves along the back wall. Every piece of wooden furniture was glazed with the same shade of light pink. The draws had white knobs on them and as I looked closely at the wallpaper, I saw tiny little white flowers every now and again, pattern loosely. I turned to Esme finally and that same look of sadness was on her face, but this time she didn't try to hide it from me. I was thankful for that.

"Ready to see your new room? You can always come back here if you want some alone time. Or if you feel more comfortable, you can always sleep in here." She said quietly.

"Umm… thanks. I'd rather not sleep in here though." I felt awkward to say the least. I didn't want to taint this clean room with myself right now, it wouldn't feel right.

She nodded and walked out of the room first. I didn't look back at the room, if I was being honest, I wanted out of there as soon as possible. As we walked down the hallway I noticed we passed Esme and Carlisle's room. I looked back and found a study where Edward and Emmett used to sleep, the door wide open and inviting. "Were does Edward sleep now?" I asked, knowing Emmett had moved out.

"What do you mean?" She looked back, shocked.

"I… They used to sleep near my bedroom right? They shared a bedroom…" I said warily and then it clicked. I'd just let her know I remembered something. They all thought I didn't know anything. I opened my mouth matching her shocked expression and she quickly turned on me and grabbed my arms.

"Alice?" She asked her voice soft but scared. "You remember…" She sighed.

I opened my mouth to say something but I couldn't form any words. She was now crying silently as she looked into my eyes, searching for her little girl. "I only remember that night." I answered her honestly, I couldn't lie to her.

"What do you remember?" She spoke desperately and I was surprised she wasn't trying to shake the answer out of me.

I shook my head; I felt tears coming to my own eyes now. I couldn't tell her… not like this… not here… it's all wrong. It shouldn't be this way… I started to panic.

"Please." She cried. "I have to know why you left."

"I can't tell you here." I said what I was thinking.

"Then we can talk in your room, in private." She nodded eagerly and turned around, speed walking up the next set of stairs. What was I going to say to her? How would I tell her this? Shit… its going to break her heart knowing why I left. I couldn't lie to her though, how could I? She's waited eight years for me return; she's lived eight years thinking I might be dead. She deserved the truth, but the truth was painful, again I thought, how would she take it?

I wanted more time but we had reached my room, she walked in and I followed her silently, lost in my thoughts. She shut the door behind her and stood there, blocking any escape I had. I turned around to face her and sat on the floor, bringing my legs up into a foetus position that I used to do when James was going to hurt me. I felt safe like this, like I was holding myself together. She pushed away from the door and sat in front of me; she brought her legs behind her and leaned her body on one arm, waiting for me to tell her what she so desperately needed to hear.

"What do you want to know?" I was going to be brave.

"What happened… why… why did you leave? Who took you? What has happened to you? I need to know Alice, you're my little girl. I have to know, no matter how painful it will be to hear. You… you're different now." I looked at her and started to cry silently with her again. "I see the look in your eyes, your reactions towards us. Were not your family anymore, you don't recognize us. I think… that if you tell me, it will not only help me to understand but it will help you by sharing."

I shook my head. "I can tell you why I left but I won't tell you what I've been through."

"I'm your mother Alice." She reached a hand out and I instinctively back away from it. I felt bad as soon as I did and I could tell I had hurt her feelings. "I have to know." She said matter-of-factly.

"You want the truth why I left?" She nodded. "You won't like it if I tell you."

I could see the pain in her eyes. "Please."

"Promise me one thing; promise me you won't feel guilty."

"I promise." I didn't think she meant it but I had to tell her.

"I first met him in the woods that same day. I was playing hide and seek with Jasper and I went to hide in the woods. He found me there, his name was James." I looked away from her; I didn't want to see how this story affected her. It was selfish, but it was the only way I'd get through this. "He started to talk to me, asked me my name, why I was in there alone, where you were. He seemed kind and concerned; I saw no threat in him whatsoever. Conversationally I added that it was…" I stopped and looked at her.

"Go on." She whispered.

"That it was your birthday." I cried; my voice betraying me and laying out every emotion I was feeling right there for her on a silver platter. Hurt, guilt, anger, shame, disgust… "He asked me what I was getting you, I said I didn't know yet. Then he offered to take me to buy you something."

"Stop." She cried and stood up. "Please stop for a minute." She paced in front of me and cried. It wasn't loud or throaty; it was soft and full of emotion. They were real and raw tears; her heart was breaking right in front of me at this news. It was painful to watch so I stood up and lay on the bed, facing away from her. I hadn't even looked at my new room; I didn't even know what colour my bed sheets were. I just closed my eyes and cried silently into the pillow.

It was quiet for so long, she could have slipped out of the room and I wouldn't have known. I dare not look though, I just tried to quiet my cries and listen carefully. I heard an intake of breath and a sniffle; she was still here, gathering herself up. I felt the bed move a few minutes after and she rested at the side of me. "Go on…" She said.

I turned around and faced her. She was staring up at the ceiling so I did the same. "I wanted to get you something great, something wonderful, something you would be proud to say your daughter bought you. I was young, naive and I didn't know what I was getting myself into." I turned my head. "Please don't feel like this was your fault. You knew what I was like, I remember that day clearly, I was happy, joyful and full of spirit and love. I would have done anything for you or Carlisle, Emmett, Edward… Jasper."

"You were the kindest, most sincere child I'd ever met. You're right, you loved everyone beyond words. You were so full of life; you loved every second and made sure you lived every second of it to the fullest. You were fond of Jasper; it was nice to see you in love with him, you were mature for your age and sensible… even if you were just ten. You'd already planned your future out, college, marriage, children and grandchildren." She sounded sad as if that memory were never going to come true, as if it were an impossible dream. And it was true.

"I'm not that same girl anymore." I said sadly.

"To me you are. You always will be." She looked at me and brought her hand out; I flinched but didn't back away. She brushed my cheek and wiped the tears away. "This is why I need to know. I see the look in your eyes, the fear and pain trapped inside of you. I want to take some of that away; I want to make you feel better."

"By telling you my life with James won't help at all." I moved away from her hand, I couldn't bare the affection anymore.

She was silent for a while but when I felt her hand on my left I tensed up and looked at her. She had my left hand in front of her face, fondling with the ring. My heart was going into overdrive, for some bizarre reason I was scared of her taking it off. I wasn't ready for that yet… I clenched my hand into a fist. "You were married?" I didn't think it was a question, more of a statement.

"Yes." I whispered.

"Did you love him?" She whispered back.

"No."

"So why did you marry him?" I knew what she was doing; she was being tactical about it. Maybe telling her this one thing wasn't so bad; it wasn't the worst thing I'd lived through with James.

I sighed, resigned to telling her. "He loved me. I knew he did, I may not know the reason why he took me, but I knew deep down that he did love me. Inside of him lived a monster though, when he changed into that beast, there was no stopping him, he was a different man. I feared what he would do to me…" I stopped and changed my sentence. "I was eighteen when he woke me with a passport, told me to get ready and that he had a surprise for me. I didn't know that the trip he had planned was to go to Las Vegas to marry me."

"Did he force you?" There was a hint of anger but she kept her voice level hoping for more answers.

I sighed. "No, he blackmailed me."

"How?"

"I was seventeen when I started to take Heroin. At first it was just once a day, then it was twice, then it was three times in order for me to sleep. I got so dependent on the drug that I couldn't sleep without it in my system." I felt ashamed and I would have hidden this part of my life if it wasn't for the overdose James had given me and the fact I was acting like a crazy lunatic in the hospital, practically if not verbally begging everyone who visited me for a dose. "Every time I took that drug I would dream of a young girl and a young boy. I didn't know at the time that I was dreaming of my life with Jasper." I spoke sadly. "You saw what I was like in the hospital, when I crave that drug it burns and the need is so overpowering I just can't think straight. So he didn't give me a dose that day, I went hours craving it but he said no, not until we get to out destination and I marry him."

Her hand tightened on mine as I was telling the story and when I finished she loosened it up. "How come you forgot us?"

I didn't see the point in holding back anymore. "He brainwashed me. Built a coffin in the floorboards of our spare bedroom; locked me in there and gave me sleeping tablets and then he lulled me to sleep with lies."

"How…" Her voice cracked. "How long until you forgot us?" She swallowed back a sob; I could hear it in her voice.

I blushed as she looked at me. "I scratched Alice into my skin." Unconsciously I started stroking the spot on my stomach where I had done it. "I'd been with him for so long that I knew I couldn't escape him, I knew he wouldn't let me go and it was just too… painful to remember you. I felt myself forgetting and the only way I truly knew that that life was real, was the markings in my skin. I chose to stop it, I chose to be Mary."

"Don't feel guilty." She whispered.

"But how is it fair that I chose to forget you, yet you lived eight years of remembering that little girl? I don't feel like Alice, Esme. I feel like Mary. That's who I've grown to be, I've developed a different personality to the little girl you used to know. I had too to survive with him. If I'd have been that same caring and loving child I wouldn't have lasted two minutes…" I shook my head. "The things I've done to survive. The things I let him do to me; blackmail me and talk me into."

She brought me into her arms and I hugged her as I cried. She stroked my hair, my back, my face; it was as if she was trying to feel as much of me as she could to make sure I was real. "You are so brave. You're home now. You're where you belong." She cried into my hair. "You did what you had too to survive; you choosing to forget us helped you to live. I don't blame you for a second for doing that, if you hadn't I might not have had the chance to hold you in my arms again."

"I hate that I've forgotten everything." She shh'd me and rocked me.

"Don't." She whispered. "You're safe and you're away from him now. The nightmare is over. You have a chance to be whoever you want to be now. I will get you through this Alice, I'm here for you, I love you and I'm your mother."

We cried for a while before I finally revealed more of my time with him. It was like I couldn't stop myself, I have to admit that I felt a little better after getting things off of my chest. I thought I would feel worse letting her in on my worst nightmares. She never cried out loud when I told her something hard she just hugged me as if trying to squeeze the horror out of me.

Only once were we interrupted and that was by Carlisle who brought us something to drink and sandwiches to eat. We both sat up and took what he offered us; I couldn't help but notice something move on the other side of the open door. I thought it was a shadow of a person but ignored it. Carlisle kissed me softly on the forehead before he left, whispering that he was glad I was home again. Then he left us in peace.

Before I knew it, it was dark outside. The sky was pitch black, the night was silent and there was only one sound and that was me whispering my tales. I felt myself getting sleepy and I clung onto Esme, I didn't want her to leave me now. She felt the same as she continued to stroke my hair and tell me everything was going to be alright.

I knew these stories were hard for her to hear. She didn't react in the way I expected her to. Any normal person would have screamed at the horror of my life with James, would have told me to shut up and that they didn't want to listen to anymore… I certainly expected it from my old family. But she was like my rock, she was being brave and she stuck by me when I told her everything. She didn't once back away from me, she just held me tighter to her body letting me know she won't be going anywhere.

She started to whisper sweet things in my ear. She told me stories of what I'd missed over the years, happy stories especially. There weren't many and that made me feel guilty seen as I caused their unhappiness. She told me every now and then that she loved me, that she always will. Before I closed my eyes I said I loved her too, I felt her smile above me as she kissed me softly and we both fell asleep I each other arms, enjoying the feeling of being back together again. I may not remember Esme that well, or Carlisle, but she was my mother and when I hugged her it felt right. I felt comforted and safe. It's been a long time since I felt that way…

You don't get to choose your family. They are god's gift to you… I'm starting to believe in the big guy again. Maybe James wasn't my punishment if I'm back in their arms again.

Sad chapter :( But at least Esme knows the truth. No dragging that part out, just straight in and telling the truth. Hopefully it will give Esme peace and they can start working on a new mother and daughter relationship.

Next chapter as i said above will be Jasper based. Its going to be a sweet and sad chapter. But eventually it will equal something you will have all been waiting for. AHHH I'm dying to tell you! haha

Next chapter will probably take a while seen as Carrie-Ann likes to take her time with her chapters lol

Until next time, thanks for reading! LEAVE US A REVIEW.