Okay guys; I've put below the families ages, since it's been a while and I began to wonder how old my characters were. And if I'm forgetting their ages then I wouldn't expect you to!

Brandon is about 3

Bella, Edward, Jasper and Rose are all about 17 years old.

Alice is 12

Emmett is 19 years old.

Chapter twenty six

I watched Mrs. Cullen leave; silently wishing I could tackle her from behind.

But she stopped and turned around, "You're not good enough for my boy" She said to Esme. Who let out a small gasp.

I heard Emmett and Edward begin to argue, even Rose started shouting.

I took a step forward "Listen here!" I began.

But she left, ignoring everyone.

I turned to Esme, who had stood and begun to approach me, tears slowly forming in her own eyes. She took my face in her hands and examined my cheek. "Oh Bella!" She gasped and then pulled me to her for a hug "I'm sorry"

I shrugged "I've had worse, don't think about it" I told her, pulling her away so I could look at her "Are you okay?" I asked, using a finger to wipe away one of her tears. Nothing hurt you more than seeing someone such as Esme cry.

She smiled sadly "I'll be alright"

Esme's parents had apparently gone out to the kitchen and came back in "Esme, where going to go okay, get the boat with Carlisle's parents, we want you to have some time with your family"

"Oh you don't have to go" She said quickly.

"No honey, we know you... you'll want some time with the kids and Carlisle"

Esme smiled, keeping on arm around my waist "Thank you, for coming and well, for understanding"

They both kissed and hugged each of us before following Carlisle out to the deck. He looked furious, grabbing the bags from the boys and heading to where the boat would be. I've never seen him so angry.

"Let's go to the lounge" I announced after a few moments of silence.

Esme let out a breath and took Alice's hand, leading her into the lounge. I stayed back and began to clean the table, the boys left for the lounge but Rose stayed to help.

Carlisle came back in just as we finished cleaning; he came straight over to me and pulled me into a hug. "Are you okay?" He asked "I went out and heard her saying some things about you"

"I'm okay, really..." I said as he tightened his arms around me "I'm fine" I assured him. "Esme's upset though, I think"

He nodded and let me go, going to the lounge room to find Esme.

"Are we still going to do presents?" Rose asked quietly as we stared silently at the room.

I nodded "Perhaps we can save the night" I told her, grabbing my present Brandon had left on the steps and followed Rose into the living room.

"Okay guys, let's salvage!" I announced, moving to sit next to Esme. "Who's first?"

"Guys, Carlisle and I, we might just go to bed..." Esme began but I held up a hand.

"Listen, we spent a good amount of time working to make this perfect, and we screwed it up." I said, fighting back guilt and regret for ever making those phone calls "So, we shall cover you in company, love and presents until you forget they ever came" I concluded, wrapping my arms around Esme and kissing her cheek several times.

She laughed and rested her head on my shoulder "We don't blame you"

"My parents have never been very supportive, they've always wanted me to have biological kids, but since we can't, I've never giving it a second thought" Carlisle said sadly.

"You had a child?" Rose whispered cautiously, she had Brandon on her lap and held him in a hug.

Carlisle wrapped his arm around Esme and smiled. He, Esme and I were on one couch, Edward, Emmett and Alice were on another, Jasper was leaning against that couch and Rose and Brandon were curled up in an armchair. "Henry Louis Cullen, he was our son."

I frowned sadly, glancing at Brandon.

"He died during birth" Esme said quietly "And I got hurt that I wasn't able to have any more children"

I hugged her side sadly.

I saw even Carlisle wipe his eyes slightly.

"But that was more than 12 years ago" He said sadly.

We were all silent for a moment, thinking hard.

I sent a little prayer up for Henry.

"Mum, Dad, the boys, so myself, Jasper and Emmett picked this out for you" Edward said, breaking the silence.

"I'm a boy!" Brandon said loudly.

Edward chuckled "and apparently Brandon"

Carlisle handed it to Esme to open it and she smiled as she opened the envelop it was in. I knew what it was, since Edward had asked for my opinion. "Oh Carlisle!" She said happily, handing him the voucher for a family photography session.

They thanked the boys over and over. Rose and Alice then handed them there present. They gave them some concert tickets and a voucher that said 'Bella will babysit' which caused me to frown.

Then, Brandon, who knew it was our turn, grabbed the present from my hands and then gave it happily to Esme. He then climbed up between Esme and Carlisle to help them open it.

Esme took the paper off and I saw tears begin to form. I had made them a scrap book.

On the cover it read 'Our Family'.

First page had Carlisle and Esme. Next page had Emmett growing up. Then Edward growing up. Then Alice growing up. Then it had a copy of the photo of me, Alice and my mother, since it was the only one of me as a child, and then some of me since I'd been here. Then it had Brandon growing up. The last two pages had Rose and Jasper, a few photos that they had from when they were little.

"Oh wow" Esme whispered, passing the other pages that had lots of photos of all of us. "It's beautiful"

She leant over and kissed Brandon before turning and kissing me. "Thankyou" She whispered in my ear.

We all sat around in our dresses and suits in the lounge, talking and laughing. "Dessert!" I announced happily.

Heading into the kitchen, Esme followed me.

"Bella, I just want to thank you, it really was great" She assured me.

I smiled, knowing she was trying to make me feel better, but I could see her pain. "You want to talk about it?"

She shook her head "No, I'm fine Bella, don't worry about it"

I took her face between my hands, looking into her eyes, raising an eyebrow "Mum?"

"Really Bella, she's said those things before"

"Bitch" I hissed angrily.

Esme laughed "Don't swear" She scolded.

I took out the dessert and some plates, beginning to cut the cake here and putting it on pates rather than taking everything out to the living room. "She's wrong you know" I told Esme as I cut the cakes.

"About what in particular?" Esme asked, pulling out forks.

"You're good for him. I don't think he'd be able to find anyone better"

"Oh Bella, I told you not to worry about that"

"Bella's right Esme" Carlisle said by the door. When had he come? "If anything, you're too good for me"

I smiled at them both, taking in three of the plates with me. I handed them to the boys, who looked the most hopeful, before heading back for more. Once we all had some, I sat down and shared mine with Brandon.

We all finished the dessert and talking and laughing by about 11pm. I'm not sure where all the time went, but it went and Brandon was sleeping in the bean bag.

"Time for bed" I told everyone, gently picking up Brandon "I'll come back down to say goodnight"

Once Brandon was tucked in bed, I came downstairs to find Carlisle and Esme getting ready to go next door. Esme came up to me first. "Thank you Bella, really." She said as she wrapped her arms around me. "It was the best it could have been"

I smiled into her shoulder.

Carlisle hugged me next, apologising for his parent's behaviour. When he pulled away, he saw my cheek and the slight bruise that had formed. "What happened?" He asked surprised.

I shrugged "it's nothing..."

"Your mum hit her" Alice pointed out while standing near the stairs, waiting for them to leave to go to bed.

Carlisle stared at me for a long time. During that time, flashes of emotions I have never seen on his face came. He was first worried, then ashamed and then furious. "I am so, so sorry" He said, lifting my chin to get a better look at my cheek. "I promised that you had gotten away from all that and here you are, still being hit..."

"Dad, please, its fine... it's not like you hit me"

"It might as well of been" He said angrily. He wasn't angry at me. He was angry at himself.

I shook my head and took his hands "I have never been safer anywhere in my life. Please don't begin to doubt yourself now. Do not end what I and what everyone else has here"

Esme appeared by his side, rubbing his back comfortingly.

Carlisle looked like he was going to cry.

"I don't blame you" I whispered, moving to hug him again. "You're my favourite father, please don't forget"

He unfroze and hugged me back, unable to say anything.

Once the parents had left, after a few more goodbyes, we all trudged upstairs and parted to the different rooms.

I fell asleep immediately, happy to be safe in my warm bed. We only had 3 more days here on Esme's Island, and I wanted to make use of being away from the world while I had the chance.

Please review. Let me know what you think should happen with this story... I'm at a loss as to where to go