Twelve beautiful vampires were presented to us. Although I had never seen five of them, I recognized the first seven immediately. The honey topaz eyes stared at me in shock and admiration. Drake didn't seem to notice.

"Welcome friends. Welcome to our home. I am Drake Winters and this is my wife and partner in leading this coven Isabella Swan-Winters."

I couldn't quite focus on what he was saying. The Cullens stood in front of me, just a few feet away. And of course, the most striking and beautiful in the whole room, Edward Cullen gazed at me with eyes full of amazement, love, and pain. Our eyes locked. I couldn't look away. I couldn't hear anything else. If I had been human, I would have surely fainted. Then I was quickly snapped from my trance. Drake nudged me rather roughly. I turned to him to see anger and impatience.

"Darling, aren't you going to welcome our guests as well?" He asked sweetly and happily, but his eyes registered a very different emotion.

"Why of course. Welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay with us." I miraculously composed myself and with a smile, warm and fake, greeted the twelve vampires. Now it was their turn to speak.

"Isabella? Is that you?" Alice blurted out and Carlisle quickly turned to her.

"Hello Alice. It is I." I said.

Drake turned to me once again.

"You know her?" he asked surprised.

"Yes. I know all seven of the Cullens. We knew each other when I was human." I kept my voice smooth and controlled. No one could have recognized that my mind was a tornado.

"Well then. I suppose you'll have some catching up to do." He grinned at me quickly and turned to face the others with a pleasant smile which everyone except the guests knew was false.

We were introduced to the other five vampires. They were the friends the Cullens had in Alaska. Soon we dispersed and everyone started to mingle. The Alaskan friends spread out, but the Cullens surrounded me.

"Bella what happened?" Esme asked astonished.

"I was changed soon after you left. Actually, the very next day." I continued to explain my transformation, where I went after, how I met Drake. The whole time I was friendly, but not overly enthusiastic or forward, playing the good hostess Drake wanted me to be. I didn't give anything away about our relationship or lack there of.

Everyone seemed excited to see me and all seemed pleased that everything went well for me, that I didn't become a murdering monster. Yet, I could sense the hint of sadness they all felt. I was no longer the Bella they knew. I was no longer Edward's one and only. I turned to him. He just stared, his amazement subsiding, and a blank look coming over his eyes. He never looked so dead before. I felt a sharp pang in my heart. All the while I tried to figure out how I came to be here, why I ever accepted Drake's proposal.

Here we were. Edward and I. We were immortal, we were reunited. Such a perfect situation. So falsely perfect. I only had to move a few muscles, move a few inches, and we could have been in each others arms, yet the divide that stood between us was greater than anything I could imagine. I was married. I had pledged my life to Drake, and to the coven. There was no way we could ever be together. My heart grew heavy. This was a terrible situation. I cursed myself for what came next, but I wished that he had never come back. I hung my head in shame at the thought as Alice and Emmett continued blabbering on about how amazing the house was, how wonderful I looked, etc.

I fled the house the moment they turned away. I couldn't stand being anywhere near him. I flew to the small garden by the wood that was specifically reserved for me. Even Drake knew better than to enter it when I was there. The freesias and primroses turned their heads toward, as if waiting to comfort me. I stood absolutely still, taking in the night air, luscious with the scent of flowers and trees.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn't hear him coming.

"Bella." I could recognize that voice even if I was dead.

"Edward." I said still gazing into the dark horizon, my back to him.

"I would have never thought…" He began. He was nervous.

"Never imagined to find me here? Like this? One like you?" I finally turned to face him once I had mustered up enough courage and control over myself.

"Yes." He breathed softly, quietly.

I couldn't help but fall into those golden eyes, so full of emotion. I wanted to cry. Instead, I put on an indifferent façade.

"So where did you go Edward? You never told me. Just said you were in danger. I think after all these years you could manage some explanation." My tone grew increasingly resentful.

"We went to Canada. We didn't want to scare you, but Victoria and some of her friends were up and about in Forks. They weren't exactly after you, but they did want revenge. We decided against any confrontations, and we knew if we stayed we would endanger you. So we had to leave." His beautiful voice was pained, apologetic. I looked away so that he couldn't see the grief in my eyes.

"You never decided to come back?" I questioned further.

"We moved around. We went back to Alaska a few times, then to Europe: England, France, Italy. Lived in San Francisco for about ten years. And now we're here in Maine."

"I see." But I didn't. Why, why didn't you come back? I wanted to scream.

"Well, it seems you've done very well for yourself." He changed the subject.

I merely nodded. I didn't want to go into detail.

"So… are you happy?" I cursed myself for looking at his eyes. Now I couldn't lie. I decided to be vague.

"Happy is a relative term." I replied.

"Are you relatively happy then?" He smiled faintly, but his eyes remained melancholy.

"In some ways, yes."

"Are you in love?" That one took me by surprise. I really, really didn't want to go into detail or let him know about my failed marriage.

"Love is also a relative term."

"There seem to be lots of "relatives" in your life." He observed keenly.

"He's my husband. He's my partner and we run the coven together." I replied, backing away from his original question.

"But that doesn't quite answer my question." He commented.

"Well, if it's one thing I learned, it's that you can't always get what you want. Including answers to certain questions." I turned away from him, growing angry. He had no right to demand anything from me, no right to ask me anything he wanted.

"Alright, I won't push it. But I want you to know, that I really do hope you are. In love I mean. I hope you are happy. I've never wanted more." I hated him for saying things like that. He should have been jealous, he should have begged me to come back to him, he should have confessed his love. No, he wanted me to be happy.

"And you Edward? Are you in love, are you happy?" I asked turning around swiftly, my tone harsh.

"I'm not happy, I'll admit. But I am in love. I have been for the last half century."

"Then why aren't you happy?"

"I may love her, but I can't have her. I can never have her. She is with another. And I don't think she may feel the same way about me. At least… not anymore." He looked at me with such passion and love I had to use every ounce of strength not to fall into his arms.