A new Chapter! :D I'm so tired. Life has picked up its speed and work has started to pile on. Ugh. But I'm still gonna update! Don't worry. :)

"I have told you about how I held on to my human memories?" they nodded and she took a deep breath, "I couldn't let go of you guys. No matter how hard I tried pushing you out of my mind you kept coming back. When the time came that I finally could, I realized that it was not possible for me to stop loving you. I could not break away as surely as you seemed to. I allowed them to burn away memories of my childhood but I still retained everything from when you first entered my life to when I met the faeries."

She looked at them each in turn, trying to decide whether they should know just how much pain she was in. She nodded to herself. "They then took me aside and placed me in this…substance I suppose. It was indescribable. I felt as if I was being crushed. There was some burning I suppose, but the overwhelming feelings were a slow crushing and a huge headache. I was sensitive to the world around me, like it was a fever, for weeks, but the transformation as a whole took about three days."

Edward clenched his fist and Bella made an attempt to smooth it out. "It's no different than a vampire transformation," she said quietly.

He nodded stiffly, "I'm trying to tell myself that." She softened as he took a deep breath. She kissed his cheek.

"So how did they not figure out you had cheated the process?" Alice asked.

Bella shrugged, "My head's always been my own. No one can get into it. I allowed them to see some of my memories fade to prove to them that I was no threat but I think they could not penetrate my mind anymore than Edward can. It's a little confusing to explain."

Carlisle eyes brightened at the thought and Bella smiled wider. "I spent fifty years existing with my new family before it was shattered."

Jasper cocked his head, "Existing?"

Bella dropped her gaze, "I cannot call it happiness nor contentment. I was away from my true family and I felt that in my heart."

"Way to ruin a mood Jazz," Emmett boomed while hitting his shoulder. Jasper didn't seem perturbed by the comment. He was smiling and held Bella's gaze. She smiled also and took a deep breath as his feelings washed over her. She leaned into Edward's side.

"It doesn't matter now because I'm here and I'm home." She squeezed Edward's hand and he kissed the top of her head. He had relaxed considerably and Bella was pleased. "I spent fifty years with my new family. Lily, who was about my age, figured out my secret soon enough but she was so excited to have a sister and a new best friend that she could care less. She would ask me endless stories about my life, or at least, as much as I remembered. She always knew I was hiding specific information about certain people," she smiled wryly at everyone, "but she knew enough that she shouldn't ask."

"I don't know exactly how the others found out. Maybe they just had a hunch and my leaving just confirmed it. I don't know. Lily was the one who had found out accidentally and she was in such a panic that she could barely get out the words." Bella stared out the window, watching the sun set slowly

"Accidentally?" Esme asked.

Bella laughed, "Lily gets in trouble a lot because of her gift. She has the power to-" She cut off abruptly leaning towards the window. Something had moved on the horizon. Something with wings.

Bella shot up off the couch. She ran to the nearest door calling out, "Stay here!" to her family. She doubted Lily would be gracious to her vampire additions. She flew as fast as she could toward the figure, happiness bubbling up in her heart. Ten feet from it her heart sank to her toes. It was an elderly male sprite, not Lily.

He turned towards her, his wings twitching as if readying for flight. Bella held up her hands. "I did not realize there was a tribe in the area," She apologized.

He looked her up and down, "There isn't anymore. What is your name young one?"

Remembering the faerie formalities she curtsied and stated, "Isabella Marie…Swan." She used her human last name, unsure if this sprite was sent to search for her.

He nodded in response and gave the return bow, "I am Joe Peck Cane. My tribe has been lost among the earth."

She tilted her head, "I am sorry to hear of your loss. I too have lost my tribe. If I may say, you have an unusual name among the faerie culture."

"You do yourself." He stated, being very formal and impersonal. She knew that he was not willing to trust a sprite he had just met.

"I come from human lineage. I was transformed fifty season turns back. I have been on my own for less than one season." Bella said in her best use of the faerie language.

Her words slowly relaxed him until he was drooping towards the ground, "So young. My parents had an affinity for the birds of the air and the humans of the earth therefore named me after both. My tribe was decimated by fowl things two season turns ago. I have just finished mourning and have decided to find a new tribe. You are welcome to join me in my search. One can always use the company."

The idea of fowl things made Bella shudder. Not many things could so effectively wipe out an entire tribe. She bowed her head and looked back towards the Cullen house, "I gratefully acknowledge your offer and it is sorely tempting but I have found a home here. I wish you the best of luck."

He nodded and picked up his backpack, "You remind me much of my daughter. She was full of spirit and life." He pulled out two pieces of jewelry. "I notice you wear a Bontal but if you are truly on your own you must have lost you other half. Please take these. They were my daughter's. Let it remind you that there is always a new sunrise to greet the day."

Bella took the Bontal, admiring the significance of the gift, "I am honored sir."

He rose in the air as he nodded, obviously trying to hide his tears. "Best of luck to you young Isabella." Then he was gone, leaving Bella in the woods alone.

She turned her attention to the Bontal. It was woven with bronze wire and sapphire stones. Carefully she placed them in her pocket and flew back.

The whole family was in the exact same place as she left them but she doubted that they hadn't attempted to see what was going on. Fortunately they didn't pry her for information, asking instead, "What power did Lily have?"

Bella smiled to herself as she cleared her throat, "Teleportation. An extremely powerful gift for someone who is pure faerie blood. I told you earlier that most of the stronger gifts are those that have human blood in them. Unfortunately she didn't have much control over it. She would be transported to various places all over our land and possibly hear some things she shouldn't. Hearing about my sentence was one of those times. And then I left."

Her words hung in the air. They all knew had happened afterwards. She had been attacked and then ended up here, pregnant and horribly hurt. She shook her head and pulled Edward to her bedroom. She held onto him, needing his comfort. He smiled as he kissed her softly.

She pulled back, "What are you smiling about?"

He gently rubbed her cheek and ran his fingers through her hair. "Because I love you so much and you were willing to hold on to that for fifty years. I don't deserve you but I have you and it makes me selfishly happy."

She leaned into his chest. "Thank you for not giving up either. You didn't know whether I was alive or dead but you still held yourself together."

Bontal = a piece of jewelry. It will be explained later on! I promise! (Next chapter actually)

Season turns = years. seasons = seasons. :P Hope that helps now please press the green button, it's begging with adorable big green eyes and a little bys voice, "Pwease?"