Two days later in Alaska:

Edward stalked passed the bed yet again. He had been pacing its length for the past two hours. His hand's raked through his hair yet again. He couldn't believe the disaster they had found themselves in. How on Earth did Alice miss seeing this?

And why, oh why, was the hotel ballroom located in an old stone basement that blocked cellphone reception? Carlisle hadn't discovered Emmett's frantic messages until he and Esme had stepped out under the guise of getting some air.

After that horror inducing phone call, the family had quickly made their excuses and rushed home to find Emmett laying in Edward's room with a thrashing Bella clinging to his chest, deep in the throws of the turn.

It had only been hours since the bite and both Edward and Carlisle expected Bella's arm to be shredded from the glass. Yet, with the exception of a couple of deeper cuts on the upper surface of her wrist, most of the slices were well into the healing process.

Edward had crawled onto the bed and attempted to pull Bella into his arms to soothe her but she had reacted horribly both then and anytime after he attempted to separate her from Emmett. Emmett had resumed speaking calming words to her – it seemed in her current ordeal she had become attached to his comfort. Edward had instead taken up a position beside her, consoled that so long as she wasn't separated from Emmett, his presence did further settle her.

At least he had until Carlisle began questioning Emmett about the accident. He hadn't gotten around to doing that until shortly before Edward's pacing began. Up until that moment, there had been other priorities; cleaning up the mess at the Swan house; torching their own house to make it look as though the family had perished; even abandoning most of their vehicles in Forks to give credence to the theory.

Emmett hadn't thought about the accident before then – he was instead focused on the torturous pain Bella was going through.

But when Carlisle requested details, Edward had seen the entire episode in Emmett's mind. Only - unlike Emmett - Edward had viewed it without panic. He had recognized the green tinge to Bella's skin for what it meant – sickness to the smell of blood. He correctly assumed Bella had taken a breath in response to the pain of removing the shard from her arm, and fainted in reaction to the scent. Rather than from blood loss.

Because Bella hadn't lost near as much blood as Emmett had perceived. The towel Emmett deemed saturated was really only bleeding through at the site of the removed shard. In fact, more blood had escaped down Bella's neck from Emmett's bite than was spread on Charlie's kitchen floor.

Edward was pacing in agitation because he was torn between wanting to kill Emmett for taking Bella's humanity from her when she had not in fact been in danger of dying and feeling grateful that his brother so loved Bella he had found the strength to change her when he believed her death imminent.

Carlisle sighed and Emmett jumped as another crash sounded from outside. Rosalie hadn't taken Edward's revelation as well as the others. Esme and Alice were doing their best to calm her but clearly they weren't having the best of luck with their mission.

Jasper was futilely attempting to calm Edward's panic with his gift.

Poor Emmett had been subdued since Edward and Carlisle had clued him in, but he had taken to comforting Bella with renewed determination.

After another round of pacing, Edward paused as his terror spiked, "She's going to hate me! She won't want anything to do with us!"

Carlisle stood up and placed his hand on Edward's shoulder. Shaking his head, he disagreed, "Now Edward, deep down you know that isn't true. Bella is the most forgiving soul this family has ever encountered. She'll be hurt, yes; she'll need our support and comfort, but she won't hate you."

Edward wasn't ready to be calmed. With wild eyes, he turned to Carlisle, "She's lost everything and everyone Carlisle! No goodbyes, no graduation or wedding memories for her parents." He shook his head in desperation, "She'll leave us. As soon as she can control herself, she'll leave us."

Emmett sobbed and pulled Bella closer to him, his soothing words becoming interspersed with desperate pleas not the blame the family for what he had done.

Jasper sighed with impatience, "Edward, this situation is far from what Bella planned, but stop the dramatics. Bella was well aware she had to leave everyone behind; knew an emergency situation could negate the planning we had done. And Bella hasn't lost everyone – she has this family to support her."

Moments later, Jasper snapped to attention when they all heard Bella's heart begin to race. Her cries, impossibly, increased several decibels. When she convulsed in Emmett's arms, Jasper barked out an order, "Let her go Em and back away." He knew she was about to awaken to this life.

Emmett did as instructed, easing Bella onto the mattress and stepping to the door. Hand on the knob, he said, "I…I can't bare to see her hatred when she realizes…" with that Emmett walked out the door and sped into the woods. Careful to choose a path far away from Rosalie.

Back in the bedroom, Jasper and Carlisle took up strategic, yet non-threatening positions. Edward stood in a far corner and clenched his fists, bracing himself for the reaction he expected from Bella.

On the bed, Bella's heart gave one final beat and stopped, never to function again. She laid there with her eyes closed.

It was Carlisle who spoke first, "Isabella, Sweetheart, open your eyes. You are safe here."

Bella's face scrunched in confusion before clearing. Then her eyes snapped open. She took a deep breath and instinct kicked in as her body recognized the scents in the room. In a graceful, unBella-like move, she went from laying to crouching on the bed facing the men.

The move seemed to shock her and she looked down at herself. Drawing a hand up in front of her face, she examined it before doing the same with the men.

Cocking her head, she questioned, "Am I?"

Nodding, Carlisle answered, "Once of us? Yes Bella dear."

Having realized who the scents in the room belonged to and what she now was, Jasper was shocked when he felt Bella's guard instantly relax. She plopped right down on the mattress and tucked her legs under herself.

She looked at the three Cullens again and Jasper felt the pang of heartbreak take her when she processed how standoffish Edward was.

Her eyes began to glisten and she turned to Edward, "You don't want me like this." It was a statement said matter of factly.

Edward was stunned. Stepping forward, he began to stutter, "What? No...I mean yes…That's not!" Edward cut himself off, and squeezed the bridge of his nose before beginning again, "I desperately want you Bella; human, vampire; it doesn't matter."

Drawing her knees into her chest, she quietly asked, "Then why are you as far as you can get?"

In a flash - which Bella realized with some shock she could actually follow - Edward was sitting beside her and taking her hand. Cupping her cheek, he turned her eyes to his, "When you realize…Bella I know it is you who will not want us."

Bella's brow furrowed, "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard!"

Jasper couldn't help it, he chuckled.

Carlisle broke in then, "Isabella, what is the last thing you remember?"

Bella shuttered, "Horrible burning pain…and…Emmett? He was soothing me." Looking around the room, she asked, "Where is he?"

"He is outside. The burning was your change, Sweetheart. What do you remember before that?"

Bella thought. She found herself flipping through hazy memories. Glancing at her arm, then back up at Carlisle, "I cut my arm…Emmett was there?"

Carlisle nodded and would have continued but Bella's face creased with shame and she said, "It's my fault. I was clumsy and hurt Emmett. He bit me didn't he? Is he ok?"

Edward wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. Of course Bella would blame herself. He had to comfort her even if she was going to demand he get the hell away from her any minute now.

Jasper increased the calm in the room and Carlisle stepped to the edge of the bed. Reaching out, he took one of her hands between both of his. When she didn't react as if she felt threatened, he spoke, "I'm afraid that's not quite what happened Isabella. You were cut yes, and Emmett did bite you, but not because he lost control."

Confused, Bella scrunched her eyes as she went back over the memory, "I don't remember…the cuts weren't bad…"

Sadly, Carlisle shook his head, "No Sweetheart, the cuts weren't bad. Emmett…" He sighed and continued, "Emmett got scared for you I think. Not knowing how to help you and unable to reach any of us, he panicked. Emmett believed you were dying."

Jasper kept a close watch on Bella's emotions as she processed this. Right before she spoke again, he grinned. 'Leave it to Bella to surprise us Edward' he thought.

"He bit me to change me?" Her voice was full of awe, "He managed to change me?"

Looking at Bella like a patient that had just been given the worst news and he was waiting for it to catch up to them, Carlisle said, "He believed you wouldn't make it otherwise, but Bella, I'm sorry, he overreacted. You should still be human right now."

Nodding sagely, "That's why I don't recognize this room. We had to leave Forks, right? Charlie thinks I'm dead?"

"Yes," came the careful reply. Edward's arms tightened in instinctive reaction.

Bella extracted her other arm from Edwards embrace and placed it on Carlisle's bicep. Looking at him with a grave face, "I'm ok Carlisle, I understand what this means. It's Emmett I'm worried about, he did something amazing, but judging from your reactions I'm guessing he's blaming himself for what was my fault."

Carlisle sat there half stunned. Jasper grinned wider. Edward gently asked, "Bella love…I think maybe you're in shock?" Looking to Carlisle, "Is that even possible, for her to be in shock?"

Shaking her head in frustration, Bella informed him, "I'm not in shock, Edward. Or denial or anything else. I realize this means I'll never get to say goodbye to my family. Your back to waiting for me to run screaming Edward. It's not going to happen. If anything, I love Emmett even more for the fact that he was able to find to will to change me and not drain me when he believed I was dying."

Edward heard what Bella said, but he was having a hard time believing it, "You're not angry? You don't blame us?"

Twisting to look him in the eye, she said, "Edward, did you ever once believe Emmett would have the control necessary to turn me? Especially with no warning ahead of time?" Bella clapped a hand over her mouth as something horrible occurred to her. With venom shinning in her eyes she asked, "No, Edward…tell me you didn't?"

It was Edward's turn to be stumped. Cocking his eyebrow, "Didn't what?"

Bella barely whispered, "Tell me you didn't blame Emmett."

Relieved, Edward smiled, "No love. Emmett may have panicked, but he truly believed you were dying. I don't blame him, I'm forever grateful for the love he showed you." Here his smile dropped, "But I was convinced you would want nothing to do with us once you knew the truth. You've lost so very much."

Understanding dawned, "That's why I remember Emmett with me through all the burning but he isn't here now; he thinks the same."

Smoothing her hair from her face, Edward said, "He believes you'll hate him and he couldn't bare the thought of you looking at him like that."

Resolved to fix this, Bella demanded, "Take me to Emmett."

Jasper spoke up at this point. He was amazed how controlled Bella seemed but he knew that wouldn't last, "Bella, let Edward take you hunting first. You can talk to Emmett later."

Bella shook her head, she had made up her mind.

Carlisle gently laid his palm on her throat, "Aren't you thirsty Bella?"

Bella considered his question. Sure her throat was a little sore, but she could manage. It wasn't anything like the flaming need Edward had talked about in the past. She had a feeling they wouldn't budge though, so she got crafty. "Carlisle," she said slowly. "Doesn't a sire have responsibilities to those they turn?"

Jasper narrowed his eyes. 'Edward' he thought 'Bella's feeling a hearty dose of sneaky right now'

Edward tightened his hold on Bella with Jasper's warning thinking she might be about to run for it.

Carlisle answered her, "Yes, Bella. Usually that is so. However, that doesn't mean others cannot stand in."

Bella put on her best pouting face, "You would make me go on my first hunt without my sire?"

Carlisle grinned. He comprehended what Bella was up to. Really, if she was willing to put up with the burn, it wouldn't hurt anything to take her to Emmett first. They were deep in an Alaskan forest, with no humans for hundreds of miles.

Listening to Carlisle's thoughts, Edward growled, "No harm Carlisle?! She'll be in pain."

Carlisle raised his brow at his son, "A brief pain of her own choosing Edward. I think Bella has had quite enough decisions made for her these past few days."

They all cringed as the sound of several trees falling outside reached their ears after those words. Bella asked, "What is that?"

Carlisle sobered, "Rosalie is not quite so understanding of Emmett's error as you have been. As angry as she was with me for turning her, her level of ire at Emmett does not compare."

Jasper cringed as he was hit with the sorrow Bella suddenly felt. "But he's her mate! She knows it was an accident right?"

"I think that it was her mate who turned you, and the circumstances, makes it that much worse for Rosalie. She spoke to you of her reasons for voting against your turn."

Bella nodded at Carlisle's response. She didn't agree with Rosalie's take, but with Carlisle's reminder she could understand it. She looked around the room again, suddenly realizing Esme and Alice were absent.

"Where?" She didn't need to finish the question.

Jasper answered, "Esme and Alice are with Rose."

'So Emmett was alone' Bella thought. Turning back to Edward, she set her chin and asked, "Take me to Emmett please Edward."

Sighing in disagreement but knowing Carlisle would only take her in his stead and not about to miss out on Bella's first run as a vampire, Edward nodded his head once. Releasing her, he stood up and offered his hand to assist her off the bed.

He led her to the window, raised the glass and said, "Follow me Beautiful".