DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Twilight nor any of the characters in this story. This right belongs to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N: I do plan on trying to keep couples as canon as I can, meaning that aside from Peter and Bella, all other MATED pairs will be canon. Also, there won't be any heavy bashing but I can say there will be a little bit. I will try to keep this story as plausible as possible as there is nothing I hate more when I read a fic and roll my eyes at the lack of realism. (As real as a story of vampires can be anyway.) I normally write exclusively Harry Potter, however this fic is for my mother who is an avid Twi-hard. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Chapter One

The ambiance of the kitchen fit my mood perfectly. Tinted blue by the stormy weather and oppressively silent; Charlie didn't want to talk, that much was obvious, but we both knew that we had reached a breaking point. We could not go on as we had been, too much had changed. I didn't blame him for not wanting to be the one to start this uncomfortable conversation but he had to. I was afraid that if I did open my mouth I would lose control and spit the vile things drifting through my mind. Don't get me wrong, I loved Charlie but to see him so happy…so in love while I felt like the empty space between two stars was difficult, to say in the least.

But they were, happy and in love that is. Charlie and Sue Clearwater had started dating about a year and a half ago, after Harry had died of a heart attack in the woods. It was ironic really, Charlie found love that changed him completely, and he found his happiness…while that fateful day in the woods was the start of my doom. You see, it hadn't been wolves that had been attacking hikers in the woods like the newspapers had said. No, it had been Victoria, the red headed vampire that had been mated to James, the tracker who had nearly killed me in Phoenix in my junior year.

As it turns out Jasper Hale had been right. The Cullen's should have killed Victoria when they had the chance because not only did she come back for me, but the third and final member of their coven had come back as well, Laurant. Laurant had been the first to make an attempt on my life and he would have been successful if Forks, Washington wasn't a melting pot for supernatural creatures. Giant, horse-sized wolves had sprung into action at the last moment, just as I had realized I was going to die. They leaped over me, seemingly effortlessly, in fluid motions that were so fast that I had a hard time following. Before I knew it the olive skinned vampire was in pieces and a half a dozen wolves were staring right at me.

I learned quickly, after getting around some unnecessary gag orders, that the boys in La Push were far from normal. I learned exactly why the Cullens never went anywhere near the reservation. They weren't allowed. That was a difficult pill to swallow, not learning of shape shifters as I knew there couldn't only be vampires in the world, but that the mighty Cullens were restricted in some form. They had always seemed so untouchable. The thought made me snort now.

Laurant may have been the first to step out of the shadows but he definitely wasn't the last. I began spending more and more time with the pack and encouraging Charlie to do the same. It was the only place I knew we'd have some semblance of protection against Victoria, who Laurant had told me was after my blood. Little did I know that I was pushing Charlie straight into Sue's arms. I wish I hadn't, as horrible as it is, if I could turn back time, I would keep Charlie far away from the reservation. I've decided I don't think it was Harry who carried the dormant wolf gene, I think it's Sue. From the moment they laid eyes on each other it was as if they were teenagers again. Like when I had first laid eyes on Edward, only neither of them was an immortal teenager with control issues. Anyways, the pack and I had decided it wasn't an imprint, but it was something powerful. Something irrevocable.

"I love her," Charlie finally said, breaking me from my reverie. I nearly rolled my eyes at the silly half grin that ghosted across his lips as he uttered the three words I hated most. I know they had told each other, but it was the first time Charlie had uttered them to me. He believed that I was totally unaware of how much they loved each other because of how distant I was. But I'm not. I saw what was happening and I knew I couldn't stop it. I knew this day would come, but I still wasn't ready for it.

You see, this was the conversation every parent has with their child, the "it's time for you to move out and do something with your life" speech. I want to say I'm different than the other teens who receive this speech, but in the end, regardless of the supernatural circumstances, I am just like them. Lost and afraid, unsure of what my future holds or even what I want it to hold. There was a time when I knew exactly what I wanted, back in the blissful days of naivety and love. I barely held back a snort. I had been so sure I would become a vampire and spend my days as a vegetarian by Edward's side. I had been pathetic.

But had I become less pathetic? Not really. Even if the gaping hole in my chest was gone, so was everything else. My emotions were limited to disgust, anger, and cynicism. And still I waited here in this watery grave. I knew the Cullens weren't coming back, that dream had died the day I watched Victoria and seven other wild vampires glide from the trees like a graceful death squad. Collin died that day and he took my hope with him. Reality had finally slapped me in the face. The Cullens weren't coming and they never would. They had gotten me into this mess and then left me, a mere human, to try and survive it.

Yet still I waited here because I didn't know what else to do. How could I go back to being human after being shown so much more? How was I supposed to look at any human boy, rampant with hormones and spitting out lies for lust, when I had witnessed soul mates? I knew the answer, I couldn't. But like I said, I was just like every teenager. I felt like I was flailing and fighting the tide just to keep my head above water. I was being forced to do something with my life, to grow up and, once again, face reality.

Charlie was moving in with Sue and I couldn't follow.

I couldn't follow not only because it would be weird for his twenty year old daughter to live with them, but because I was shunned from the reservation. I was as bad as vampires to the pack, to be attacked on sight. Well maybe not attacked, but to be forcefully removed. And that was only for Charlie's sake.

Losing Collin, almost losing Seth, and Jake's near life threatening injury had changed the pack, hardened them. However when I finally made it clear to Jacob that I would never want to be more than friends and not even that if he kept pushing for more, he stopped fighting for me. I admit I had been a little harsh, but he just wouldn't stop. So when Victoria came around again the pack became infuriated after not catching her and deemed me not worth the risk. I was not one of them, therefore not their responsibility. As of now the pack still patrols all of Forks, but again that was only for Charlie and Sue.

Now my protection was ending. Charlie would be moving to the reservation and selling the house. I would be on my own. I was frightened and pissed off.

I wanted so badly to tell Charlie why I needed him to stay. Why I couldn't leave. But I couldn't. I wouldn't risk him to other vampires. I may hate seeing him so happy and I may wish I could change it, but I won't rip it all away from him now, like Edward did to me. No one deserves that. No one deserves to only exist and have to risk their life in order to feel anything. I wouldn't condemn Charlie to the life of a crazed adrenaline junkie. Besides, Charlie would know everything one day, when he marries Sue. Maybe then he'll understand my crazed state and not hate me so much. I wish I could see the day when he no longer wars with himself when looking at me but I don't honestly think it will happen. I won't make it four or five months before Victoria catches up with me.

Charlie cleared his throat and once again brought me back to the conversation neither one of us wanted to have. I let out a staccato breath and rubbed my temple with a shaky hand, "I know."

"It's time for you to move on Bella." Charlie's voice was gruff and exasperated. I didn't have to be empathic to feel his frustration and his disappointment. "You have to do something with your life. Your twenty years old!" I didn't wince as his voice grew steadily higher until his fist slammed on the table with a dull thud but I did nod lamely, trying to appear like an ashamed girl. In reality I was just a pissed off frightened young adult who was about to go on the run from a vampire.

"I know."

"I love you Bella." Then call me Bells, don't make me leave-' I cut my childish thoughts off and blinked back tears. Charlie hadn't called me Bells in over a year and I knew it was time to face the music. "But this is called tough love," Charlie continued, unaware of my chaotic emotional state. "You have two weeks Bella."

Two weeks. Fourteen days. He was giving me just enough time to turn twenty one and maybe hash out something that resembled a plan. What would I do? Where would I go? I would need to get as far away from Forks as possible, but I couldn't head anywhere near Renee. Not with the baby on the way, it was too much danger. South would be good, lots of sunshine so at least I'd be protected during the day. But what would I do when the sun set and the things that go bump in the night come out to play?

"Okay," I finally choked out, not looking at Charlie but at somewhere over his head. After a few seconds of tense silence I fled the room and almost subconsciously grabbed my purse and walked out of the door. I didn't realize I had forgotten my coat until I was unlocking my truck and sliding inside. I also didn't know where I was going. It slammed into me then, the reality of how hard it would be to run in two weeks. As I stared at the steering wheel my throat felt like it was swelling closed and my fingers gripped the steering wheel in a death grip. I pulled out of the drive way after a few minutes and figured I'd just drive around until some epiphany came to me.

It wasn't even ten minutes later when I stopped. I had parked on the curb and looked up at the one other house in Forks that was surrounded by the same gloom as my own. Angela Weber. One of the only humans I could tolerate in high school and now one of the only people in Forks that wasn't sunshine and rainbows. Her gloom would mix well with my own.

The lawn was uncut, a first I had ever seen for the Weber's, and there were no curtains in the windows. Mr. Weber had died of cancer about five months ago and since then Mrs. Weber had decided that it would be best if she moved away, she took the twins to Idaho with her to go stay with her sister for a while. The only thing weirder than the uncut grass and vacant feel was the for sale sign stuck by the curb.

"Bella?" My head snapped up and I found Angela on the porch holding a large trash bag. It took everything I had not to gape at how much Angela had changed over two years. The awkwardness that had plagued her was very much gone and now she held a confidence that oozed authority when matched with her tight bun and glasses. Angela Weber looked like a librarian who might pull out a riding crop and start whipping you for talking to loud.

"Charlie said you were in town and I thought I might stop by. It's been a while." I felt grossly inadequate in my jeans and t-shirt. Angela had become a woman whereas I felt like I was still stuck in my awkward teen years. Add that to the fact that I had literally done nothing but work at Newton's store while Angela had gone off to the University of Washington and was no doubt on her way to a great degree, my body was being plagued by envy and rage. Once again I cursed the Cullens silently.

"It has, go on inside and get out of the rain I just have to throw this in the bin out back." Angela gestured to the trash and I nodded. Inside was nearly all cleaned out. The only furniture left was a blow up mattress and duffel bag in the living room; bottles of cleaner, paper towels, and a broom were by the stairs. So Angela was only here to clean out the house and prepare it for a long wait on the market.

"There's not much but there are still chairs in the kitchen and a fold out table," I turned and found Angela taking off her knee length coat revealing a crème top that elegantly molded to her curves and black pants. Once again I felt a rush of embarrassment at looking like I just stepped out of junior year. "Do you want some coffee?"

"That'd be great," I replied while forcing myself to look her in the eye. I felt like she was scrutinizing me, searching me for something. She obviously didn't find it as she nodded and turned around. My cheeks flushed in anger as I followed her. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea.

"So how have you been Bella?" Angela asked as she waved me towards a foldable metal chair and started filling the coffee pot with water. I hated this question. It was the question everyone asked and there was no right answer to it without lying. No matter what I said I sounded completely lame but I guess that's what you get for wasting two years of your life. God I was lame.

"Oh you know, same as always." God that sounded even worse than in my head. "I'm moving soon," I threw that out there to try and save myself from complete embarrassment. Angela's head snapped in my direction and I was instantly curious when her brown eyes went wide.

"You are? Where to? The reservation?"

"No," I said slowly. Angela was feigning casual interest but the way her hand shook and the look in her eyes gave her away. "I'm actually not sure yet, but I was thinking somewhere down south. Maybe Texas or Nevada, somewhere warm at least."

"Oh," Angela responded as she grabbed to small foam cups from a bag on the counter. "When are you moving?" She put one cup in front of me and packets of sugar and powdered crème in the middle of the table before sitting down.

"Two weeks, Charlie really deserves to be with Sue and I'm excited to see the sun again." I lied smoothly, a talent I had picked up from hanging in La Push. I was in no way excited to meet death. "I've actually been thinking about maybe taking a road trip before deciding exactly where I want to settle down." An indefinite road trip, I couldn't stay in one place for too long.

Angela only nodded but she looked visibly deflated so I decided to change the subject. "How are you and Ben?" This was obviously the wrong question because Angela straightened up and her expression changed to one of…was that disgust?

"We broke up about eight months ago."

"Oh." I replied lamely. "I'm sorry. What happened?"

"It's alright," Angela rose to grab the coffee pot but it wasn't a move to hide tears as I expected, she seemed fine. Which was odd, since I had thought Ben and Angela would go the long haul, complete with a white picket fence and little toddlers running around. "We had different interests in what we wanted."

An awkward silence reigned after Angela set the coffee pot down on the table, she looked as if she were fighting herself and I was half tempted to set off my ringer and make an excuse to leave. But just as I was reaching for my phone Angela straightened her posture into a rigid stance that screamed determination and my stomach dropped into the balls of my feet.

"Bella you can't let Charlie move to La Push."