Ok…so I was practicing Sonata in Eb major for the clarinet when inspiration just struck, and hey, what are you gonna do? Anyway, I'm sorry it took so long to update, but oh well, I have now: )

Disclaimer: Yes, I know…I don't own Twilight and if you thought I did then, well, that's just not right. But I do own this plotline!

Thanks to those of you who reviewed…keep them coming! Now, on with the show! (Or is it story?)


As we began to make our way downstairs, it hit me that my life as I knew it was pretty much over.

I walked with Alice on my left and Edward on my right, his arm around my waist. I still wasn't exactly steady on my feet.

Once we reached the top of the stairs, I saw what my ears had already told me; Esme and Jasper were sitting on a couch talking. Emmett and Rosalie had since joined them and Carlisle had arrived home.

As we began to make our way down the steps, conversations ceased and all eyes were on us, or rather, me.

"Oh Bella," breathed Esme as she rose from her seat to give me a hug at the bottom of the stairs.

All eyes remained on me as we walked over to where the others sat. I was suddenly very self-conscious of how I looked.

Before anyone could say anything, Edward said, "Alice and I have already explained to Bella what our basic plan of action is and she has agreed." Carlisle nodded.

For the first time since coming downstairs, I actually looked at the family surrounding me. The family I suppose that I was now a part of. Esme looked worried, Jasper glanced at me uncomfortably, Emmett seemed to be lost in a daze, and Carlisle peered at me thoughtfully. But Rosalie…Rosalie appeared sad, almost as if she would cry if she could.

I realized with a start that I'd been staring at Rosalie for several minutes and only broke my gaze after Alice repeated my name three or four times.

"Bella? Does that sound alright by you?"

"I'm sorry," I said, "What were you saying?"

With a small laugh and a warm smile, Alice replied, "I said, we'll wait until it's dark out, we don't want you being seen, and then Edward and I will teach you to hunt. Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie will secure a perimeter to make sure no one accidentally stumbles upon us.

"Tomorrow, you, Esme, Rosalie, and I will go to Port Angeles. It shouldn't be too crowded, but enough to test your self-restraint."

"What about Edward?" I asked stealing a quick glance at his face. He smiled and gave my hand a slight squeeze.

"We figured we would make it a girls-only day," answered Esme.

"Okay," I said with a smile. As much as I loved Edward, there were times I felt more than a little smothered.

"Since we have almost four hours until it's dark enough to go out," Alice said, "Feel free to explore the house, watch TV or just do whatever. Remember, you're officially part of the family now," she added with a smile.

Everyone seemed to interpret Alice's little speech as a dismissal from the conversation that had just occurred. Emmett turned on the television and proceeded to watch it with Jasper and Alice. Esme and Carlisle made their way out onto the back porch, talking. And Rosalie ran up the stairs, presumably to her room.

I turned to look at Edward who was already staring at me. "What should we do?"

"Well…" he replied with a mischievous grin.

With a laugh, I turned and ran up the stairs, Edward close behind.

He caught me in front of Rosalie's room. His strong arms held me close to his chest. His topaz eyes, filled with love and excitement, bore into mine. I was in heaven.

At that moment, Rosalie opened her door and Edward's head and mine snapped simultaneously to look at her.

"Bella, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Um…sure," I replied, looking away from Rosalie toward Edward. He was staring at her with a look of utter confusion and, if I didn't' know better, I'd think that there were bits of fear and anger there too.

"Alone?" she emphasized.

"I'll meet you in your room in a few minutes," I told Edward.

He finally looked away from his sister in frustration, smiled at me, and walked away. I suppose he either didn't like what he saw in Rosalie's mind, or she was being careful not to let anything on.

Rosalie stepped back to let me enter the room, then closed the door quietly.

She bade me to sit on a soft, navy blue loveseat across the room from the bed. She looked uncomfortable sitting down next to me.

Rosalie sighed and then began. "I'd like to begin by offering my humble apology for my previous actions. I was…snobbish and stubborn." She seemed to feel awkward as she kept playing with her fingers and kept her gaze on her lap. However, she continued, "I suppose Edward told you I was jealous," I nodded," Well, he was right…to an extent. It's just that I don't really remember being human, and normally we avoid them socially at all costs, so I'd forgotten many things.

"I won't lie to you; I didn't think we could trust you with our secret. But when I saw you and Edward, I became more jealous and hated you even more. You were experiencing everything for the first time, whereas there is nothing new for me. Anyway, will you forgive me?" She finally looked at me sheepishly.

"Well,…" I hesitated, "Of course." I was still irritated and extremely aggravated though. How could she be so cruel, even going so far as to admit that she hated me only days before, and then expect an apology to fix things?

"Anyway, I'm wondering, have you actually looked in a mirror since you've been changed?"

I shook my head, not sure whether it was meant as a compliment or an insult.

Rosalie stood, dragging me along with her to the back of the door, where a mirror hung. "I think you'll be surprised."

I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't what I saw.

My reflection showed me, but far more pale than usual. My hair was still wavy, but it was now shiny and free of frizz. For the first time I realized that I was wearing different clothes than what I was last conscious in. I had on a pair of jeans that were tight in all the right places and flared at the bottom. My top was a simple black tee-shirt that hugged close to my body. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I realized that, though little had changed, I felt extremely attractive. I looked far more self-confident and my posture was perfect. The only real change I noticed was my eyes. They were still brown, but they now had golden highlights.

All the while, Rosalie had been talking about fixing my hair and applying make-up to me. I found it slightly unnerving how friendly she was now when just days ago she had loathed me.

She kept talking as she pulled my hair into a high ponytail and curled the strands in the front that were too short to reach. If it were possible, I now looked even better.

"Um…Rosalie?"

She tore her gaze away from our reflection in the mirror and looked at me.

"If we're done, do you mind if I go back to Edward?"

She smiled and replied, "Not at all, I hadn't realized how much time had passed."

With that I walked out of the room and made my way towards that stairs leading up towards Edward's room only to find him sitting on the bottom steps waiting for me.

"What did Rosalie want?" he questioned while standing.

"You don't know?" I teased.

He didn't return my playful deposition. Instead, he looked angrily towards her door.

Sensing trouble, I said, "Edward, relax. She just wanted to apologize for her behavior earlier."

With obvious relief and a laugh, Edward scooped me up in his arms and had run up to his room before I could even protest.

He carried me into his room and put me on a couch that now faced the window-wall so we could watch the sunset over the forest.

A moment later he joined me, but not before he put on a collage CD of Debussy's Claire de Lune.

As we spent the next few hours watching the sunset and listening to Claire de Lune, I realized that, as long as I was in Edward's arms, I wouldn't change my situation for anything in the world.


Ok, ok…I know overload of fluff. But I needed to somehow connect what already has happened to what will happen. Also, I have outlines for the next several chapters written and chapter 4 is almost done, so be sure to check back soon! Thanks again for reading and be sure to be brutally honest in your reviews!