This one's a long chapter since the next one will have a time-skip!

New characters you all know and love are coming soon. Can anyone guess who? I've left some hints, but you might need to do some digging on my Tumblr ;)

When Carlisle returned from work Thursday night, he'd been welcomed home by two brooding vampires. Edward and Emmett were sulking as they played video games on the flat screen while Esme flitted about in the kitchen, humming happily to herself. Rosalie was down in the garage per usual while Jasper was reading one of his many history books on the couch.

"Hey dad," Jasper had greeted as Carlisle patted his shoulder in passing, "how was your day?"

"Good and long but I'm glad to be back, son."

Jasper had simply smiled, "You were missed."

Feeling the affection and admiration pouring out of Jasper to convey just how true his words were, Carlisle shared his unending fatherly love right back.

He smiled warmly at his wife as he spotted her walking around the island. Frank Sinatra sang away on the record player, filling the room with jazzy tunes. The curls in her hair seemed to swirl around her porcelain face as she spun to face him. A warmth gathered in his chest as soon as her kind eyes met his.

Carlisle grinned, "Love."

Esme was in his arms before he knew it, pulling him into a tender kiss that would have left him breathless were he human. Her lips were soft against his, pliant and sensual. Carlisle nearly dropped his bag and coat as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her closer. A carnal need to be with his wife after not seeing her for so long was impossible to ignore but now was not the time. Sadly, that was the only downfall of having a house full of children. Of children with heightened hearing and senses...

Esme pulled away with a smile, pecking his lips once more before running her hands over his broad chest.

"It's good to have you home. You've missed quite a bit."

Carlisle's relaxed demeanor shifted to concern, "What do you mean?"

"Yeah why don't you tell him, mom? Tell him what that sneaky human did to your Bella!" Emmett was suddenly in the kitchen, waving his controller around in clear distress.

Now Carlisle was on alert, "Bella? What happened to her? Where is she?" In sharing a loving embrace with Esme, he'd neglected to ask where his youngest and second eldest daughters were. "Who are you referring to, Emmett?"

"Don't mind him, he's just being overprotective and dramatic. Maybe next time you all go to college you'll get an acting degree," Esme pushed her son away with a giggle. When she turned and found Carlisle still frowning she explained, "Flynn asked Bella to the school dance."

"Ah, I see."

"That's it?"

Carlisle turned to head upstairs, "Yes. It's good it wasn't serious."

"Carlisle," Esme mused as she realized he still didn't truly understand what she'd said. Leaning against the wall as he paused midway up the stairs Esme grinned, "She said yes."

This time his wife knew he'd understood because the expression on his face changed from serene to...dumbfounded? Stunned?

"She said...yes?" He asked slowly.

Esme nodded, her face brightening with the breathtaking smile that took over. She motioned upstairs, "She's upstairs with Alice picking out a dress!"

Indeed when Carlisle poked his head into Alice and Jasper's bedroom, both of his daughters were laying on their stomachs on the bed. Flipping through magazines beyond the eyes can see.

It was a sight.

Never in his wildest dreams could Carlisle have imagined Bella ever taking an interest in fashion let alone shopping.

But...

He leaned against the door frame, arms folded across his chest as he titled his head.

Bella was smiling.

Truly, unapologetically, and without putting up a front for anyone. This was her first real smile in an entire week since the seizure.

She was happy.

Carlisle had thought tirelessly of ways to bring back his little girl that found the good in small things. The one who rolled her eyes comically at her siblings and grinned when she was being mischievous. The same girl that blushed at nearly everything but never tried to hide it. A child who'd been shoved aside and harmed all her life and never once shared an ounce of hatred towards anyone. Not even to monsters like them.

The road towards her happiness has been far from smooth. It's been this way ever since she was a child. After her parent's murder and the nightmares and...so much more he wasn't sure he would ever tell her about. Not yet anyway—not until he was absolutely sure she could handle all the revelations of her past. It's a constant battle trying to protect a child from the trauma and harm the world introduced them to.

Seeing Bella happy was like seeing the sun for the first time since being reborn into a world of monsters and night.

Smiling, Carlisle pushed away from the door and let his daughters indulge in their excitement. As much as it pained him to know his little girl was growing up and going to a dance with a boy.

"Okay, you ready to go, sweetheart?" Carlisle asked as he rounded the corner and peered into the open doorway of Bella's bedroom. "Don't want to be late."

Today Esme was busy with upcoming projects and had to go to the construction site of her latest build. With the rest of his kids close to graduating from high school—for the hundredth time or so—soon it would be left up to him and Esme to take turns in driving Bella to school. They wouldn't truly be leaving once they were graduated, much to their relief considering they didn't want to deal with yet another school yet.

Not until Bella was finished with middle school that is...

That would be a topic to discuss at a later time.

For now, they were all more than happy to be with their little sister. Bella was sure to go a little crazy knowing that she would have to keep up the appearance of the youngest child being alone without her annoying, doting siblings home. In front of Flynn even more so.

She did too much, he knew. They put too much pressure on her to keep up the lies that they were all more than accustomed to. Bella never complained, but Carlisle could imagine it was difficult keeping so many secrets for them. Keeping them from her best friend.

They all knew the risk of having Flynn in their lives. The boy was growing up just as Bella was, and he was just as smart. He was bound to start asking questions. Wonder why they all looked so different from other humans, and why they didn't age. Carlisle knew the inevitable move would cost Bella greatly. And he hated himself a little more for bringing her such pain.

When Carlisle peered into Bella's bedroom he spotted her sitting on the edge of the bed, one of her shoes dangling from her fingertips. Unmoving, she stared out the ceiling to floor window in her room. He frowned, "Bella?"

It took a few seconds before she blinked and glanced around before noticing her adoptive father was standing in the doorway. Her brows twitched in confusion, "Sorry...what was I doing?"

He motioned towards her shoes, only one of them were on and the other was still dangling, "I came to see if you were ready."

Bella nodded, blinking a few times as she moved to slip her sneaker on her foot, "Right. I'll be right there."

Wanting to give her some space, he turned and made to head back downstairs. He'd gathered the lunch he'd packed for her from the kitchen before returning to the base of the stairs, waiting for what felt like an eternity. A rarity considering Bella was normally fast when it came to getting ready. Just as he was about to go back upstairs to check on her, Bella appeared. She was halfway down the steps when she stopped, her foot slipping.

Carlisle was fast to prevent her from falling, catching her in an instant.

"Are you alright?" He asked when she rested her head against his chest, unmoving.

Panic began to weigh heavily in his heart.

Carlisle leaned back, helping her straighten, "Bella, are you alright? What's wrong?"

Again, she was staring ahead. Not at him, but more like through him. Her hands did little slight twitching motions but she was standing on her own. Her heart...it was steady yet...

No.

Carlisle gently moved her to sit on the top of the steps, mindful to keep a hand on her at all times as he looked to his watch. Counting the minutes. The seconds that felt too long. Agonizingly so. As she experienced yet another seizure.

"It's okay, Bella. I'm here, love." He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as she blinked and stared into nothingness. His eyes filled with sadness, "I'm right here."

When Bella finally came to, she was disoriented and stared at Carlisle with the same confusion she'd had upstairs.

"What's wrong?" She asked, running her hand over her face. She appeared somewhat paler though he was sure she didn't realize that. Patients experiencing absence seizures rarely realize when time has passed them by. To Bella, everything probably seemed normal save for the fact that she was sitting atop the stairs. "What was I doing again?"

Carlisle kissed her forehead, "We were going to school."

"Right. Sorry."

"It's alright, I got you," He helped her stand and kept a hand on her shoulders as he guided her down. By the time they were in the car, Bella had another absence seizure. He felt guilty for not telling her that they weren't going to be able to go to school today. They were going back to the hospital.

Bella woke up in her bedroom, blankets piled on top of her as she laid on her side.

She blinked at the blue nightlight that lit up her room. The sun had settled and the stars were starting to sparkle in the sky. A beautiful sight and one she loved seeing every night. For once however, she felt nothing.

This time, she didn't want to feel anything.

She was so tired.

Tired of her life. Of this...condition she'd been diagnosed with for a week now.

Epilepsy.

She had epilepsy. It was official.

Tears sprung in her eyes and she shut them tight, hating the way she felt every time she thought about it. Hating to see the prescribed medication on her nightstand that Carlisle and Esme always came to give her to help keep the seizures at bay. It was so strange explaining what she feels when she has seizures now.

Lately, they've only consisted of absence seizures where she loses all track of time. Feeling lost and as if she'd zoned out for seconds when in reality it was probably a little longer. Whenever someone in her family was suddenly sitting beside her, holding her hand, she knew it was much longer than a few seconds. Whenever a teacher called on her before remembering that she was epileptic and had to call her family to come pick her up. Because, who wanted to deal with that right?

Some teachers were better. Some like Mrs. Wyatt, sat with her or helped her lay down whenever Bella felt scared that she was experiencing a seizure. Holding her hand or patting her back until she was back.

Flynn was always on alert, keeping an eye on her even though he didn't have to. He was always close.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she recalled the school dance. The dress she'd wanted to pick out and now, she never would. Because there were strobe lights and blaring music. Crowds that would overwhelm her because they always did ever since she was a kid. Because she was scared of having a seizure in front of the entire school and being ridiculed for it.

Scared.

She was so scared.

So scared.

A hand rubbed her back as she tried to stifle a sob.

"Bells," Emmett murmured as he sat on the bed. She hadn't even realized he was here. Maybe he wasn't and knew something was wrong. Bella sobbed into her pillow, feeling like the world had chewed her up and spit her back out.

"I'm fine," She said in between sobs. Sounding ridiculous even to her own ears.

She wasn't supposed to react this way. She was supposed to smile and say she was okay just like she had when she'd been diagnosed. Reassuring Carlisle that she was okay. That this was just an adjustment that she would learn to live with. But...she didn't want to live with this!

The bed dipped and suddenly strong arms were picking her up, pulling her onto a lap and a strong, comforting embrace. Rocking her back and forth. He whispered, "It's okay to let it out. Let it out, kid. You don't have to pretend with me."

Bella clutched his shirt in a fist, burying her face against his broad chest as her entire body trembled.

They didn't speak as Emmett continued holding her closer, cradling her like he would a baby. Resting his cheek against the top of her head.

When the delicate notes of the piano transcended through the walls, Bella sighed against him. Staring at the wall over Emmett's shoulder with tears streaming down her cheeks, she listened to Edward's beautiful melody.

Her melody she recognized.

Edward had written her a song on her birthday after she'd told him she didn't want anyone to spend money on things that didn't matter. Not when she had everything she needed. So instead, he'd given her something irreplaceable. The best gift of all.

Every time Bella felt lonely or sad, he always seemed to know because he was always playing her song. Caring for her in a way Edward knew how. Through his music. Through his very beautifully cultivated delicate soul.

More tears rolled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her brother's shoulders. Her voice was a hoarse whisper, the words unravelling in rivulets and broken shards of glass, "I'm okay, Emmett."

His arms tightened around her.

When her brother spoke this time, he sounded pained as if he were trying to hold back tears.

"You will be, Bells." He said with all the love he could muster. "You're the strongest kid I know."

Two Weeks Later...

Bella and Flynn were walking out of school when he finally mentioned, "So I was thinking I'd come get you at six with mom? Go get something to eat at the diner before we go to the dance from hell." His laugh died down when he realized Bella looked down, pausing as they made it outside where a line of cars were waiting. He spotted the black Mercedes parked by the curb a few cars down and knew Dr. Cullen had come to pick her up this time.

"Flynn, I don't think it's a good idea that I go to the dance anymore."

He frowned, "What do you mean? You said you were excited to go last week, what changed your mind?"

Bella blew out a breath, "I changed my mind."

Something was wrong. She wasn't even looking at him now. For well over a week now, Bella had moments when she was really down and moments when she was positive as can be. He knew she'd been going through a difficult time, understood it more than she would ever know if the medical textbooks he'd rented from the library the other day had been any indication. He'd been carrying them everywhere he went. Jostling them around in his backpack even today to read them whenever he could.

There was so much he wanted to learn about epilepsy, figuring out ways to help his best friend. His crush and the first—the only—girl he's ever liked. It was because he liked her so much that he wasn't going to let this go.

"Hey, wait," He gently grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a stop before she could walk away. Flynn practically towered over her, staring down in concern as she still averted her gaze. Flynn gently took a hold of her hand, ignoring the curious glances students gave them in passing. He didn't care what they thought. He only cared about her. "Talk to me? I don't understand. Is something wrong?"

"Is something wrong?" This time she did look at him but there was an anger shining in her tear filled eyes that startled him. Bella released a humorless chuckle that made every hair on his forearms stand on end. Who was this girl? This angry, saddened girl that replaced his best friend? Seeing her change like this...it frightened him in some inexplicable way. "Really Flynn? Is something wrong? Of course there is! Look at me, I'm a ticking time bomb. And you think I want to go to a dance the way I am?"

Flynn flinched, at a loss for words. Guilt swirled around in his chest, "Bella...I'm sorry I just thought you'd like the distraction. I thought you still wanted to go. I didn't-"

Bella shut her eyes, biting her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood but then she said, "It doesn't really matter what I want. Not with this. I can't go to the dance because of the strobe lights. It's too much of a risk and I don't want to have another seizure. Especially not in front of everyone. In front of Ashley and her friends so they can all make fun of me. I know what they say about me, Flynn. You can't protect me from every kid's joke, as much as you pretend they don't call me names."

Flynn shook his head, "Bella, it doesn't matter what they say. You know it's not true. I know it's not true."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going so you should just ask Ashley to go with you. I'm sure you'll have a good time." When she pulled away, he let her go without question. Bella turned, tears still in her eyes as she murmured, "I'm sorry, Flynn. I can't go, no matter how much I might have wanted to."

And she did.

He knew she did.

But he let her go all the same.

Bella walked as quickly as she could, her head down the entire time so as not to attract any attention to her teary eyes and flushed cheeks. She knew Carlisle had to have heard her conversation with Flynn which made it so much harder to get into the front of the car. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she slumped into the seat and tossed her backpack over her shoulder, the bag landing with a hard thump on the backseat.

Carlisle greeted her the same way he always did, and she gave him a watery smile in return but found it incredibly difficult to speak.

Her father started driving, letting the gentle melody of a song play on the radio as he got onto the main road that led back to their secluded home. Bella stared out the window, blinking away the tears that didn't go away no matter how many times she tried.

She wrapped her arms around herself, crying silently as she watched the snow fall from the gloomy sky. The leaves on the trees painted in snowflakes.

When Carlisle took her hand in his, Bella still couldn't look at him as she cried and cried. Feeling so sorry towards Flynn for what she'd done. For not going to the dance with the boy she liked. For not being...normal.

The night that she was supposed to go to the dance, Flynn hadn't so much as called.

Normally he'd call every night to talk about nothing at all. To simply joke around or discuss a book they'd decided to read together.

He was probably at the dance, hanging out with Ashley and her giggling friends having a good time. And he deserved to have a good time after always taking her care of her at school or when they hung out. She couldn't be the one to hold him back from that.

A quick, cheery knock brought her out of her thoughts as she tried to read the same page of her book for the last hour. Looking up with tired eyes, she wasn't surprised to see Alice standing there with a gentle smile on her lips.

"You busy?" She asked.

Bella shook her head, closing her book and tossing it onto her bed, "What is it? Bored?"

Alice grinned, "Something like that. I brought you something." Bella arched a brow as the pixie skipped into the room and procured a bag from behind her. A long black bag with a zipper.

Bella frowned, "Is that body bag for me?"

Alice snorted, "Your humor is so dark, have I ever told you that? I knew I shouldn't have let Edward introduce you to Law and Order." She draped the bag over Bella's lap and practically sang, "Now go put this on and I don't want to hear any grumblings from you. Hurry up!"

With a sigh and a roll of her eyes—true to her teenage persona—Bella did as she was told. Knowing she'd never hear the end of it if she didn't listen to the seer. Alice always knew how to win an argument.

Bella disappeared into the walk-in closet and hung the bag on the nearest rack before unzipping the bag. Her breath caught the moment she saw the silken lavender ruffles of a dress spill out. The layered frilly material reminded her of the petals of the hanging fuchsia flowers in Esme's garden. The bust was made entirely out of silk. Bella was mesmerized by it and so touched that Alice had bought her the dress she'd wanted despite telling her sister she'd decided not to go to the dance. It nearly brought tears to her eyes, but she'd made herself promise that there wouldn't be anymore tears.

No more.

She needed to be strong. For herself. For her family that always worried so much about her.

Running her fingers of the pretty fabric, Bella smiled softly before slowly taking the dress of the hanger.

When she stepped out wearing the dress she'd fallen in love with the moment she saw it on the magazine, Alice's head snapped up. The pixie had been looking over the many books on her shelves with mild interest, but when her golden eyes landed on Bella—it seemed as though it was Christmas morning.

"Perfect! Ah, I knew it was the perfect size." She skipped over to a blushing Bella, fluffing up the skirt of her dress before gently pushing the loose strands of her hair behind her ears. Her sister nodded with pride, "You look beautiful, Bells." Alice took her hand then, "Come on, let's go show everyone downstairs."

"Alice..."

"No grumbling!"

Being the obedient little sister that she was, Bella trudged down the steps with her mismatched socks—one with black and blue stripes, the other orange and black since she couldn't be bothered to sort through her socks this morning—until she found Carlisle, Emmett, and Edward standing at the bottom of the stairs. They gazed up at her appraisingly, smiling and grinning like they were in on some secret she didn't know. In all honesty, she was so confused. They were making such a big fuss over nothing.

Carlisle took her hand as Alice disappeared into the kitchen to find Esme and Rosalie. Her father kissed her forehead, "You look lovely."

Emmett whistled before feigning to cry, wiping his eyes with the back of Edward's shirt. The latter elbowed him in the ribs before he told Bella, "All grown up, huh?"

"Tell her to stop it, I don't like it," Emmett mock sobbed, throwing his arm around Edward and their father. "Even if she looks adorable."

Bella stared at him with a comical sort of disgust before skirting around them in search for the ladies. When Bella walked into the kitchen however, she found there were little tea lights all over the floor, leading into a straight line towards the sliding doors which led onto the backyard. Her heart stuttered as she hesitantly walked towards it, seeing little colorful lights that gave off a faint glow from here. They weren't harsh or flashing. Simply hanging in zigzag patterns between the trees.

She held her breath as she stepped out and found Jasper standing on the porch, hands tucked behind his back as he turned to face her.

When he moved, that's when she saw him.

Saw Flynn standing in the middle of the backyard, behind the fire pit which had been lit up. He was dressed in a dark blue sweater, a shirt tucked beneath it and pants. His shaggy red hair was brushed back somewhat with a few strands resting over his cheekbones. It was difficult to tell if he was blushing due to the rainbow of colorful lanterns overhead. But she knew he was. Because she was.

Jasper took her hand and placed a kiss atop it, "Don't be too mad we did this."

"Alice." She murmured while unable to fight off the smile on her lips. Utterly awestruck by her sister's devotion.

"Alice and Flynn actually. This was all their doing. We just set everything else up," He gently led her down the steps before releasing her hand. A wave of encouragement hit her then and it meant the world to her. When Bella looked over her shoulder to her brother his eyes were swimming with emotion, "Go have fun, baby sister."

Nodding, Bella turned towards Flynn before changing her mind in a split second to run back to Jasper and throw her arms around him. She held him for a second before stepping away. Smiling brightly at him as she said, "Thanks, Jazz."

He watched her go, practically running to a waiting Flynn, and only turned when she and Flynn hugged. Making up after their little argument. Jasper closed his eyes, feeling all the love and friendship between them amplifying, growing.

Shaking his head as he entered the kitchen, Jasper called out all the members of their family who were without a doubt watching the two teenagers dance along to the music playing on the speakers. He walked into the living room, spotting all of them gathered by the windows, "Did you want binoculars to go along with your spying?"

"Shush and come over here, Jazz!" Alice waved him over eagerly.

"He better keep those hands where I can see them," Emmett said to Edward who nodded, agreeing with his overprotectiveness for once.

Jasper laughed, unable to keep himself from joining the rest of the family as they watched Bella and Flynn dance the night away.