Disclaimer: This story is based off of the characters written by Stephanie Meyer in the Twilight Saga. I do not own any of these characters.

Bella

I'd been running with Emmett for about three hours. Rosalie had said the others would be back around ten and we were getting dangerously close to that time.

"Should I have told Carlisle I destroyed Edward's piano?" I had been over thinking everything in my attempts to not think about anything. Emmett chuckled.

"I think Esme might be a little upset, but it's replaceable." He looked over at me, "You worry too much."

"There's a lot to worry about."

"There's nothing to worry about." Emmett punched my shoulder and I shoved him back. He grinned and hit me harder. Our pace slowed as I shoved him sideways and I halted as he slammed into the side of a tree, I heard the air leave his lungs and the trunk of the tree crack with the force. Once he pulled air back in he laughed, side stepping the tree and elbowing it so that the trunk split the rest of the way, the tree tipped with a loud groan.

"Oops." I said after it crashed to the forest floor. Emmett shook his head.

"You've got some fire lady, but I still think I could take you." He looked me up and down and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You'd have to teach me to fight first."

"Nuh-uh, you got all that new born strength and speed. I told you I'd get you back - that's how I'll do it." I smiled and rolled my eyes.

"If you rip off one of my ears, I'll kill you." Emmett's laugh echoed through the trees and we started the run back to the house.

"I'd like to see you try."

"You underestimate me." I scoffed.

"No, I saw you with that bear. I know what I'm up against. I'll be winning that money back and then some." I snorted and shook my head.

"And I'd pay you with what?" Emmett side eyed me and squinted eyes in thought.

"Guess we'd just have to make a deal." I watched his devious brain at work and after a second he turned to me and grinned. "When I win, you have to eat a belly full of human food."

I thought of the day Edward took a bite of my pizza in the cafeteria at school. It couldn't be that bad could it? He compared it to eating dirt, which as distasteful as it was - was still something I could do.

"You have to learn how to act human at some point. Why not start there?" His tone didn't sit well with me but I brushed it off.

"Fine."

We were close to the house now, and as we leapt across the river Emmett threw a hand out and pushed me down into the water. I landed waist deep and steadied myself in time to watch Emmett topple over in laughter on the other side. While he was distracted I launched myself at him and grabbed him by the shoulders. I used my momentum to yank him up and swing him around. His massive body arced back the way I'd come and he landed in the river with a loud splash. He stood up and ran at me I crouched low ready to shoulder his weight but he stopped abruptly.

I straightened up and after a second followed his gaze to the six other members of the family staring at the two of us. I briefly looked between Emmett and myself, both throroughly soaked, and questioned what all they had seen. Then I caught the amused look on Jasper's face and figured they'll likely gotten the whole thing. I briefly scanned the faces in front of me and settled my gaze on Carlisle.

He gave me a warm smile and I returned it with one of my own. I was happy to see him, he had been nothing but kind to me while they lived here, and had been more than helpful the last few days. I tried not to look too close at the others, nervous of what I would see in their eyes, and more of what I would feel in response. My gaze shifted quickly to Rosalie and she offered a soft encouraging smile before I turned back to Carlisle. I was about to open my mouth when Emmett piped up.

"Esme, Bella's worried you'll be mad at her for trashing Edward's piano." I closed my eyes and hung my head, before I did I caught Rosalie bring her fingers to her forehead and the smile disappear from Carlisle's face.

That seemed to have done it for Jasper though, his chortle hung in the otherwise quiet air. I kept my eyes closed and wished I could laugh with him, I knew this conversation needed to be had. I just wasn't expecting it to be the first conversation upon their arrival.

After a moment I collected myself - as did Jasper - and looked up to meet Esme's eyes.

"I'm really sorry, I was upset but I shouldn't have taken it out on someone else's property. I know how much you enjoy his music. Please know it wasn't something I'd planned." Esme offered a small smile and shook her head.

"It's already forgiven, you've been through a lot in the last week. You could have torn the whole house down and I would have understood." I stared at her for a moment allowing her words to sink in.

"Told you you were worrying for nothing." Emmett put his hand on my shoulder and shook me a bit. I glared at him and turned back to Esme.

"I'll find a way to replace it." I told her, and she shook her head again.

"Don't worry about it Bella." We shared a smile and Carlisle cleared his throat.

"How about you and Emmett go get into dry clothes and we can sit down and talk about some things. Quite a bit has changed since we left." I nodded and Emmett started in front of me. I smacked the back of his head, he turned and I caught his return strike in my hand.

"I was in the river first. I change first." He glared at me for a second before he relaxed and I ran past him into the house. I caught the sound of Jasper's snicker as I moved.

...

When I came back down stairs, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper were all sitting at the table. I looked between them and Carlisle nodded to the far head of the table. I took a seat there and couldn't help the furrow in my brow.

"Where are the others?" I asked.

Carlisle and Rosalie shared a look before he addressed me.

"Still around, we just thought you would prefer to take things slowly." Carlisle seemed to be choosing his words carefully and I stared at Rosalie for a moment before I responded.

"I appreciate the concern but I really am fine." I told them.

Their eyes all flickered to Jasper who was watching me curiously. After a second he smiled and shrugged, he leaned back in his chair and hollered Alice's name over his shoulder.

She appeared behind him after a moment, and the others watched me.

Her eyes met mine, and I could see how much had changed since her and my last encounter. I wasn't sure if her state was because of my words or because of something else, but she was a mess. I sighed, her and I would need to talk soon. But there were other things that needed to be dealt with first.

"Are you going to sit?" I asked softly. She paused for a second longer before she slid into the seat next to Jasper. They were all being very cautious and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Rose tells me you're friends with the Quileute's Alpha, Jacob Black." Carlisle started. When I didn't respond everyone looked at me, I could read concern in all their expressions.

I shook my head, "When I said I was fine, I meant with everyone. I don't see a point in Edward hiding in the other room when he should know just as much of this as the rest of you."

"Edward's basically in the room anyway." Emmett said, pointing to his head. I rolled my eyes.

"Edward." I called. The other's were quiet and Jasper was watching me carefully. I raised an eyebrow at him and his head cocked to one side. After a second Edward walked slowly into the room.

Our eyes met and I could see the guilt in them. I didn't offer a smile, but gestured to the seat between Emmett and Esme. He didn't hesitate which was nice, but was watching me warily as he moved. My emotions remained at bay and I found that I was surprisingly calm. I glanced at Jasper but couldn't see or feel any waves around me. I was steady without his help, I smiled to myself, satisfied.

I looked at the family in front of me, and most of them seemed impressed at my stature, I turned back to Carlisle.

"Billy and my father have known each other for a long time and because of that I knew Jacob and his sister's growing up. We weren't close as kids though, that didn't happen until you all left." I sighed, I might as well say it to all of them. It wasn't as though it would be a secret forever, and this way I wouldn't need to repeat myself.

"I tried to chase after Edward in the woods, and when I finally stopped running, I blacked out in the forest. Sometime later Sam Uley - the pack's former Alpha found me. I don't remember much from that night, or the weeks after. There were several months where I was living in sort of a zombie state. I didn't do anything but what needed to be done, wake up, go to school or work, do homework, go to bed. But eventually Charlie told me I needed to do more so I went to the movies with Jessica and-" I paused.

Did I need to tell this part of the story here? I'd touched on what I was like when they left with Rosalie and Emmett when they'd arrived but never spoke about putting myself in danger. I stared at the table in front of me. This was something they needed to know, something I needed to get out. I looked up from the table, and met each of their eyes individually, bracing myself for whatever reactions I would receive. My gaze traveled back to Carlisle hoping he would be the most composed after many years in the medical field.

"Jessica and I went to Port Angeles to see a movie and there were men outside a bar we passed when we were leaving. I thought I recognized them as the men who'd followed me when we'd gone dress shopping last year." My eyes flicked to Edward and I could see the rage pooling in his eyes. I looked back to Carlisle before I continued.

"It wasn't them, but I'd approached them to find out. And when I did, I hallucinated Edward's voice telling me not to do it." The already quiet room went silent I couldn't bring myself to tear my eyes from Carlisle, he opened his mouth I assumed to ask a question, but I held a hand up asking him to wait.

"At first I figured that the hallucination was caused by adrenaline, but it didn't take long for me to realize that it was me putting myself in danger that triggered it. Hearing his voice was the only thing that could ease the aching in my chest, so I started looking for ways to hear it again. A couple days later I came across some junk motorcycles at the neighbors and I brought them to Jake to help me fix them up. I was working and had some money so I would buy parts and sit with him in the garage while he worked. Once they were fixed he taught me to ride - and the hallucinations returned. During the time we spent working on the bikes I realized that being around Jake made things easier too, he has a warm personality and I'd always feel a little better when I was spending time with him. We became very close, and our friendship is the only reason I'm here in front of you now.

"He was the one who found me in the woods after Laurent bit me. He took the role of Alpha to protect me because he knew the others may not take to kindly to what I'd become, and he's been here helping me and my parents through this transition period." I stared at Carlisle for a moment and when he didn't speak I added, "So yeah, I know Jacob Black." My lips pressed together and I heard Emmett snort from next to me, I kicked him under the table and did what I could not to laugh. My delivery of the last comment had been a bit comical and after a moment Emmett, Jasper and I were all laughing.

The rest of the family sat still until we fell silent, I looked back to Carlisle with a guilty smile.

"I know I shouldn't laugh-" I started, Carlisle shook his head.

"There is no need to explain, people handle tragedy in different ways. It's good that you have such a graceful way of getting through it. Laughter heals." The corner of my mouth pulled up in a smile. That was a strange thing to hear coming from a three hundred year old doctor.

"I wouldn't call Bella graceful." Emmett chuckled, I rolled my eyes and caught the look on Edward's face. I could only imagine what Emmett was thinking about, me body slamming a bear, probably. I breezed past that.

"I haven't handled everything with grace." I said, honestly. Carlisle paused, seemingly to assess me.

"I'm not sure you realize what and anomaly you are, Bella." He said, my brow furrowed in response and he smiled. "As a newborn - less than a week old - you have maintained a vegetarian diet starting without any guidance. You have befriended werewolves and have reached out to a family who has caused you emotional trauma in order to help someone you love move on. Most newborns aren't able to think of anything but blood for the first several months after their change, and here you are steps ahead in your transition than anyone - even beings as old as we are - could have thought possible. You truly are remarkable." I felt the prick of tears at my eyes at Carlisle's words but I ignored them.

"Why can't most newborns think beyond the thirst?" I asked, seven pairs of eyes bore into me, "It doesn't bother me if I'm not actively thinking about it." I said slowly.

Carlisle's eyes shone in excitement, "Like I said, remarkable." He smiled wide and I returned it with one of my own.

"So I'd imagine you'd like to speak about the wolves and the treaty?" I asked. Carlisle reassessed and seemed to understand that I would give him an opportunity to discuss myself more later.

"And also figure out what you would like our role to be in helping Charlie in this time." Esme spoke for the first time at the table. I smiled and nodded at her.

"That sounds like a good idea." I agreed.

The rest of the conversation was laying out all the things that had happened over the last week. I let them know that Jake would likely arrive some time today to give an update, and we could speak more about helping Charlie then. I also made them aware that the top priority would be for Charlie to see the family, which may mean that he would need to come to the house for a visit so that he was aware the entire family was here and I hadn't run away with Edward.

Each of them were listening attentively, but I desperately wanted to ask Alice what the best course of action would be. She hadn't offered any advice up however, and I didn't want to push anything. Jasper had said there was a possibility that Alice could no longer see me, but I wouldn't be around Charlie so that shouldn't have posed an issue - unless that included any plans I was involved in.

I figured when the two of us did speak, we could try to figure that out together.

When we were done discussing things I asked Carlisle if I would be able to speak with him alone, and the others dispersed.