Chapter 8


A thousand times over is how many times Bella had played out scenarios in her head of what her conversation would be like if she ever saw Edward again. How she would feel. What she would say, and what she would do. Bella couldn't help but roll her eyes and fight back a laugh. If this had been happening under any other circumstance, Bella would have found this to be the most ridiculous conversation of all time.

"Seriously? After three months of no contact and no conversation, after vanishing into thin air and that is your opening line?" Bella mused, unable to control herself.

Edward did not respond, but neatly jumped down from the nearby branch landing gracefully in front of Bella. Bella could feel an odd feeling, almost of a pain radiating throughout her body. It was almost like being this close to Edward was causing her to be in pain, not because she missed him or wanted him back but because her body and every instinct was telling her to get away from him. Bella's sharp chocolate brown eyes did not leave Edward. Bella was fighting to phase, and it was the hardest thing she had ever done yet. She had a strong feeling, urging her not to let any of it be shown. Edward may have at one time been her friend, her lover even, but that time had passed. Bella could not fight the feeling that by revealing this side of her to him, she would be making a grave mistake. Edward focused on Bella, his darkening eyes squinting as he looked at Bella's chest. Bella allowed her eyes to shoot down for a second.

"It became official just a few moments ago. Carlisle offered it to me along with the coven's support. I accepted." Bella mused. She should be more afraid than she was. Bella could feel his anger, his jealously. But something inside her had changed. He had already hurt her in ways that she had never been hurt, ways that no one ever deserved to be hurt. It was hard to imagine how it could be any worse.

"You will never be one of them." Edward mused, leaning against a tree branch.

"Jake was right, you are a little dense. I'm wearing the pendant. I was there, it happened. You can't convince me that it's not real, Edward. I just experienced it." Bella responded with a roll of her eyes.

"Wearing the necklace does not make you one of them, Bella. You are a human. You will never be able to connect with them the way you need to in order to be accepted. They will never turn you. You will grow old as they outgrow their infatuation with you." Edward murmured, smiling lightly as he saw Bella's jaw lock into place, " You know that I'm right. I mean look how it easy it was for them to replace me with you. What makes you think that you are immune to that same fate?"

" I don't know what my future looks like, Edward. But I'm not going to worry about it. If they decide to leave, then that's how it is. I lived through it once thanks to you, I can do it again." Bella said through gritted teeth. Despite her best efforts, he was beginning to piss her off.

"Don't believe me? Ask Alice. She's seen visions of you, not being turned. Being a human forever. Or hasn't she shared that with you?" Edward smirked as Bella looked away and at the ground, her fists clenched. Surely, Edward had to be lying. Alice wouldn't have gone to these extremes to be with her, said the things she did, did the things she did if she did not want to be with Bella, right? Bella shook her head trying to clear her mind, not that Edward could hear her thoughts, but the thought of Alice betraying and using her to that extreme, was simply too painful to bear. Bella's mind was running a mile per second, and she needed to get away. She needed space to recollect.

' Bella!' Bella heard echo throughout her mind, and turned around in surprise, she would know that voice anywhere, it belonged to her beloved pixie.

" We aren't done here," Edward snapped and lunged towards Bella who was too distracted to notice his move until it was too late, " Don't turn your back on me!" Edward roared, grabbing Bella's forearm and wrist too tightly. Bella was brought back to the real world as she felt and heard the sickening snap of bones. Her stomach instantly felt sick and she fell to one knee, her left arm holding her injured one gingerly as Edward let go, and took a couple of uneasy steps backward, his eyes wide. Bella did not say a word, and could not look at Edward. Bella gritted her teeth together through the pain as her stomach churned. Bella only had time to look up to see a flash of dark hair and her senses were engulfed in the sweet aroma of chai and sandalwood. Alice leaped through the thick bushes moving at a lightning fast pace and soared through the air, landing a solid kick on Edward who had not been expecting it, and was thrown back into the air. Edward twisted in the air, and skidded to a stop, hitting a nearby tree and sending pieces of wood flying upon impact. His eyes were huge. He had always been the fastest in the family, when did Alice become so fast?

"Bella!" Alice gasped, quickly kneeling down to look at Bella. Her eyes shot down to Bella's arm, and she saw the deep blue and purple markings of fingerprints and hissed. Bella looked up to Alice, seeing blood was still dripping from the corners of her mouth from the hunt. Alice made eye contact with Bella only for a moment before standing up and facing Edward, her fists tightly clenched, her eyes blazing.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." Edward finally sighed and he moved forward.

"Funny, you never seem to mean to but you are always good at hurting me." Bella murmured, earning a quick glance by Alice, who's eyes were full of curiosity. Bella ignored Alice and stood up, still holding her arm. She flexed it, and realized it was healed apart from the bruises but she could not let Edward know that.

" Bella, please. Believe it or not I did not come to fight. I've come back to ask your forgiveness. I want you to come back to me. I want you to come with me, leave the coven. Just you and I. Together, forever, as it should be." Edward finally sighed, causing Alice to gasp. Bella could not believe her ears, and took a couple of steps backward.

"You have got to be kidding me. After all of what just happened, after what you did? You threw me away like I was nothing to you. You stole my family from me. You made me question everything that I had thought I had known and trusted in this life. Why on earth would I ever want to be back with you?" Bella snapped, her eyes glaring.

"Because, Bella. I will give you what you want. What no one else here will do. If you come back to me, I will change you." Edward replied.

"Edward, no!" Alice snapped, her eyes shooting to Bella with concern reflecting off her orbs.

Bella's eyes widened and she looked at the ground. Could she be changed? Vampire venom was toxic to the shifters, this much she knew, but would it matter in the end? If she did not change, she would live a normal life with Alice, well as normal as a life could be with shifters and vampires. But what would happen to Alice once she passed? Would she be able to recover from that? If she accepted, at least she could always be a part of Alice's existence, right?

"Well, you aren't going to change her, are you?" Edward replied back with a smirk.

"Edward, please just drop this. You know that I can't because of the treaties." Alice hissed her concerned gaze locking onto Bella. Why was she taking so long to respond? Jake paced making sure to keep a barrier between Alice, Bella and Edward, growling deep in his throat.

"Edward… please, just stop." Bella finally replied, earning surprised glances from everyone.

"Bella…" Alice warned, but Bella stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Edward.

" I made a mistake, I'm trying to own up to it. I love you!" Edward tried to argue, but was silenced as Bella shook her head.

"We have so much history, I understand why this has been so hard on you. I understand that you are now dealing with the emotions that I already went through after you left. But, I am begging you. If you really love me, please… Put my heart down, release the hold that you are trying so hard to have on it. This already hurts enough, please don't make it worse." Bella sighed, looking at the ground and then back up to Edward who had nothing but pain reflecting off of his eyes.

" I need a reason, Bella" Edward sighed, his eyes locked onto Bella.

"I… I have already moved on. I can no longer be yours. And I refuse to hurt that person by leaving them now to be with you." Bella finally replied, flinching at she felt Edward's pain increase.

"What? With who?" Edward asked, his eyes shooting to Alice.

" With me, Edward, she's my mate." Alice replied, walking forward and putting a gentle arm around Bella's waist. Edward's eyes became darker and he hissed.

" So you used me, this entire time so that you could be with her?" Edward finally questioned, his pitch black eyes locked onto Bella.

" How dare you" Bella gasped through clenched teeth, feeling very insulted at the accusation, "I never used you. I didn't know my true feelings for Alice! You created this by leaving. By leaving, you allowed a whole new series of events to unfold. You should know this but the future is not set in stone. It has moving parts and the simplest of decisions can change everything. This, this is my future now. She is my future. My past. My present. I am never leaving her. And you only have yourself to thank for this." Bella finished.

With that, the rest of the Cullen's finally reappeared, creating a line of defense between them.

"Alice, get Bella to the house. Now" Carlisle instructed, his sharp eyes locked deep into the dark eyes of his son. Alice nodded and slid a gentle arm around Bella to urge her back to the house, Bella sighed and turned around and began walking with Alice.

"Bella, stop!" Edward yelled, rushing forward but stopping as he saw the stern looks of his family. He knew that they would not let him pass, and he could not take them all on, " How can you do this to me? How is this so easy for you to do!"

Bella stopped, despite Alice's urging for her to continue.

"Bella, please. You are not safe." Alice pleaded but Bella wiped around, and glared harshly at Edward, who took a couple of steps backward.

" What the hell is wrong with you?" Bella shouted, her anger finally getting the best of her, " You may think that this is easy for me but I'll have you know that for weeks after you left I had to fight myself night and day to push you out of my mind, my thoughts, my being. I mean, did you honestly believe that I would not have sat where you left me, for hours, without hoping that you would run back to me? Edward, there was a time when I would have sacrificed everything just to watch you grow into the being that you never thought you could be. But you left. Things have changed now, and things are in motion that I am powerless to stop... You're the reason why everything had to change." Bella finished, shaking her head and turning back towards the house.

"Bella, please. Don't" Edward pleaded.

" This is the final chapter of you and I and I don't have it in me to fight. So please, go find whatever it is that you are looking for in this existence. But it's not me. I wish nothing but the best for you." Bella paused to look over her shoulder as tears found the way to her eyes, " Good bye, Edward" Bella murmured before allowing Alice to lead her away and into the house. Edward's eyes squinted in anger, and before his family could respond, he tore off his Coven pendant and tossed it towards Carlisle, who let it fall to the soft dirt. Carlisle looked at the pendant and then back up, but Edward was gone. Carlisle sighed and bent down to retrieve the pendant. His son was no longer his, and he had failed. Esme ran a gentle hand down his arm.

"It's not your fault, love. This is not your cross to bear" Esme soothed, and the rest of the family nodded in agreement.

"No, but I have a feeling that it will be my responsibility to end, if it comes to that" Carlisle muttered and looked up at the house. The family was not done hunting.

"Jacob, we need to finish the hunt. Can you watch over them while we are away?" Carlisle murmured and Jake nodded moving towards the house. With that the family set back out into the woods, with the exception of Alice.

Alice walked with Bella up the stairs to their bedroom in complete silence before instructing Bella to sit, who obliged.

"Now then, let me see your arm." Alice mused, noticing the bruising was slowly fading and almost gone. Her orbs shot to Bella's.

"Healing abilities apparently are a thing." Bella lightly replied, before looking up to meet Alice's concerned gaze, "Alice, you have twigs and dirt all in your hair." Bella chuckled lightly as she removed the vegetation from Alice's unusually unkept hair.

" I was in the middle of hunting and enjoying a mountain lion when I felt this sickening feeling that something was wrong. I didn't have a chance to say a word to anyone. I just…left. When I got closer, I sensed Edward. I had to get to you before he could do any more damage." Alice murmured, her gentle hands removing Bella's from her hair and placing them into her own.

"Yes, so I noticed. You have blood on your lips still, Alice." Bella mused before sliding one of her hands free from Alice, gripping her sleeve over her hand and gently wiping the blood off. Alice's eyes were transfixed to Bella's.

"Bella, I thought I was going to lose you" Alice finally admitted, earning a light sigh from Bella, " Are you okay?"

" I thought I was going to lose myself… but I'm fine. Honestly. It's good that it finally was all able to get out. I needed the closure." Bella admitted, her eyes shooting to the ground. She was not proud of all the emotions she had felt with her conversation with Edward. As strong as she thought she had become, she still had considered her options. She still had felt his pain and felt terrible that she could not save him from himself. He still had power over her. She nervously bit her bottom lip. Alice's expression softened and she ran a gentle hand against Bella's arm, causing Bella to look up at Alice.

"I will never let that happen. Even if you lose yourself, I promise. I will find you." Alice promised, earning a halfhearted smile from Bella. The two were broken apart with a light knock on the door.

" Come in" Bella replied and Esme opened the door.

"Bella, I need to borrow Alice for a bit. She needs to finish her hunt if she is going to be around a large group of people tomorrow. Charlie… his body has been delivered. We need to set things up for tomorrow morning. Will you be okay?" Esme asked, suddenly watching Bella's expression change entirely.

Bella looked at the ground and sighed with a slight nod.

"Bella, I should be okay. Honestly. I don't have to go" Alice responded; her worried orbs locked onto Bella.

"No, Esme is right. You need to finish your hunt. I will be okay." Bella sighed, faking a smile.

'I can't do this, this is too much…' Bella thought to herself, running a hand through her hair.

"Well, only if you are sure. Maybe you should rest up, take a nap Bella. I promise, we won't be far. Text me if you need anything, anything at all, and I will come running" Alice smiled lightly, before kissing the top of Bella's head.

Alice stood up and stole one last glance at Bella, her concerned gaze locked onto her. For just a split second, there has been an unrecognizable emotion shinning off of Bella's eyes. Alice hated when she could not read her, it always made Alice anxious. Bella nodded and smiled at Alice, who closed the door. Once the door was closed, Bella rolled over and hugged the pillow tightly. Thoughts of the recent events weighed heavily on Bella's mind. How could she have hurt her family by driving a wedge between Edward and them? How could she have hurt them so? It had only been an hour, and she was fiddling with her phone. Bella didn't want to disrupt Alice. She was busy trying to make tomorrow easy for her.

'That's what everyone does, people clean up after my messes.' Bella thought to herself as she relocked her phone and tossed it across the room. The phone landed on a nearby chair with a light thud.

Bella walked over to the closet and grabbed a lightweight red sweatshirt and put on her all black Nike shoes. She grabbed her phone and plugged in her earbuds and turned on Pandora. Bella grabbed the keys to the Cullen's house and left, setting out on a nice steady paced run, heading down the familiar trails back to her old home. Bella lost herself in the run, focusing only on the music and the steady beat of her heart. Bella was happy to see that she indeed had higher stamina. She continued her run through the forest, finally ending up at her old home. Bella stopped on the weathered wooden porch, breathing heavily but not as much as she would have been previously to the turn. Bella sighed to herself and used the key to let herself into the house.

Bella walked in, and saw everything was exactly how she had left it. Bella walked to the back of the house, and out the door, walking to the detached garage. Her eyes fell for just a moment on her truck, the gift from Charlie. Bella felt a familiar tightening of her throat and ignored it, pushing the feelings to the back of her mind. Bella grabbed a few boxes, saved from when she had moved to Forks from Arizona, and walked back into the house. Bella walked up the stairs to the bedroom, and began the tedious task of packing once more. Bella took a minute to open her laptop to send the weekly update to Renee and asked if she would be at Charlie's funeral tomorrow. Despite their relationship, Bella was hopeful that she would, she could use the support. Bella quickly went downstairs and into Charlie's room. She grabbed the few pictures he had of her and him, and left the rest. She knew that eventually she would have to deal with his belongings, but not now.

Bella left the room with a gentle close of the door, and walked back upstairs to her room, and put the pictures in a box with her clothes. Bella heard the notification sound from her laptop and turned around, seeing a response from Renee.

' Sorry, love. Phil and I are just too busy right now for me to get away.' Bella read that line over and over again.

'Too busy?' Bella gritted her teeth and slammed her laptop down hard, shattering the screen. Bella couldn't care right now. She was too pissed off. Bella moved the final box to her right, she was done packing. She didn't own much anyway. Bella left her room and walked downstairs to the kitchen. Bella looked over and saw the one and only framed picture of Charlie, Renee and Bella as a family. Bella picked up the picture and studied carefully, her eyes locked on Renee.

'You destroyed our family' Bella thought looking at the picture in disdain. Suddenly, Bella threw the picture against the wall, shattering it upon impact. Bella looked over to the kitchen table and ripped up the college applications, and flipped the kitchen table, causing the contents to go flying. Suddenly, Bella felt the tears flowing down her face. Bella clenched her fists tightly together.

'Alice…please, I need you' Bella thought to herself desperately before running out the front door and into the woods. It was all too much, and Bella simply could not take it any longer. Bella kept running at full speed, and kept doing so as she stole one last glance at the house behind her. Bella suddenly collided with something hard. Bella fell onto her back, landing on the soft ground, groaning as the wind had been knocked out of her. Bella lay there for a few moments, trying to collect herself and her thoughts. Finally, Bella stood up, and came face to face with a very concerned Alice.

"Well, I'm glad you had a good hunt." Bella finally awkwardly stated, motioning towards Alice's eyes that had returned to their honey state.

"Bella…" Alice began, concern reflecting off her orbs.

"How did you know?" Bella muttered, her eyes falling to the ground.

" I had just finished hunting when I felt a strong need to be with you, almost as if you were calling to me. You weren't at the house, so I followed your scent and it led me here." Alice explained.

"Ah, must be an imprint thing then." Bella murmured, running a hand through her hair and looking up to meet Alice's steady gaze.

" Bella, why didn't you text me before things got this bad? I told you, I would have come right back" Alice questioned, with just a hint of annoyance in her tone.

" I'm sorry, alright? I'm trying, I really am but I have never had a bond like this before. I'm not used to having anyone really check in or care what is going on in my life. Everything is falling out of my control, and it's just… It's too much, you know?" Bella groaned in exasperation.

Alice's expression softened and she sighed lightly and walked over to Bella, taking her hands in to her own.

" Come, you need to unload that mess in your head. I don't care how jumbled it is. I will make sense out of it, and you need to let it go." Alice smiled lightly, leading Bella back into the house. Alice's sharp eyes saw the mess in the kitchen area, and frowned as she saw the shredded college applications. Alice continued with Bella up the stairs and to the bedroom, where they laid down on the bed. Bella automatically curled up into Alice, breathing her scent deeply, trying to calm down.

Finally, after a few moments, Bella sat up so she could make eye contact with Alice.

"Alice, I am so sorry that you had to lose Edward because of me."

Alice froze at Bella's words and her mind began to work frantically. She did not want Bella to feel this way, not at all.

"Bella, that is and never will be your fault. He manipulated the family. He hurt you, used you. No one blames you for what happened, and there is no need for you to feel guilty. You shouldn't let him have that much control over you." Alice murmured softly, intertwining her finger's with Bella's.

" Alice, I feel like everything is my fault. I told Charlie it was okay for him to go. I shouldn't have. I should have asked him to stay..." Bella sighed.

"Bella, listen to me please. Every decision you have made has led you to this point. There have been loses, terrible ones, but also gains. You and I are together now, and as selfish as this sounds, I'm glad everything happened the way it did because if it didn't, our fates might not have been connected the way we are now. I only hope that I am enough." Alice replied, running a gentle and calming hand down Bella's face.

"You are, truly," Bella paused to make eye contact with Alice and bring her own hand up to cover Alice's, " I just can't bear the thought of hurting you."

"The only way you can hurt me is by pushing me away, Bella. Nothing else in this world matters to me as much as you do. It's okay for you to be blunt. It's okay for you to be selfish for a change. I can help and I desperately want to, but I can't unless I know there is a problem. My visions help but you already know how those work. I know you've been hurt, and I know that I was one of the people who caused you to be hurt and part of the reason why you don't want to open up and communicate, but this relationship will not work unless you try, we try. Please, I am begging you, I can help. You just have to let me in, and please do before it ever gets this bad again. It pains me greatly to see you so upset." Alice replied softly, running her fingers against Bella's hands. Bella did not say anything, but nodded in understanding. Bella curled up next to Alice, and closed her eyes, falling into a fast and deep slumber safe in her mate's arms.


Bella woke the next morning, finding herself back in her room at the Cullens. Bella stretched out, and got out of bed. Bella could already feel the heaviness of the day weighing down on her shoulders. Bella walked into the bathroom, and quickly showered. She got out and threw her wet hair into a simple but classy bun, leaving her bangs down to frame her face. Bella put on some foundation to cover the dark circles under her eyes. Bella added just a touch of eyeliner and mascara for good measure. Bella left the bathroom and made her way into the bedroom, and opened the closet door. She pulled out a simple long sleeved black dress which she put on, and a pair of low heels. Bella left the bedroom and walked down the stairs silently, where the family is waiting, all wearing funeral fitting attire.

Rosalie stepped forward and gently embraced Bella, who returned the embrace.

"Bella, it's time to go. Here, take an apple for the road, you should have something in your stomach at least" Rosalie lightly smiled, and handed Bella an apple. Bella nodded and took the apple in one hand and Alice took her free hand, interlacing their fingers. Carlisle opened the door, and the family exited the house. Alice walked with Bella to Alice's Porsche, she opened the door for Bella and Bella slid in. Alice walked over to the driver's side and let herself in and started the car. Alice reached over and locked fingers with Bella's as the two drove into town.

They arrived just a few moments later, and parked. They met up with the family and they all entered the Church. Alice and Bella walked hand in hand to the front row, designated for Bella and the Cullen family. Bella sat down on the end, with Alice by her side. Bella sat still, her eyes unfocused and transfixed in front of her. Bella was not used to the heightened senses, and was having a difficult time ignoring the comments that were made by her previous classmates.

'We're at a funeral for my Father and all Jessica can talk about it how I walked in holding Alice's hands? What a bitch.' Bella finally snapped and turned to the back row where Jessica was sitting with everyone else. Bella and Jessica made eye contact and Bella glared at Jessica, who's eyes grew wide and stopped talking immediately. Bella turned back around, and Alice smiled a light and understanding smile, as she had heard the comments too and kissed Bella gently on the cheek, causing Bella to smile and relax slightly.

Bella watched as the pastor made his way to the front of the stage. Bella's hollow glance met with the pastor's who smiled an apologetic smile, before beginning the ceremony. Bella could not register what was being said. Her world was unfocused, and her eyes were locked onto the casket. The casket, where her father lay. Bella felt a nudge by Alice, and snapped back to reality. Her eyes shot to Alice's and then to the Pastor. It was time. Bella stood up and made her way gracefully to the stage. The Cullens, especially Esme and Carlisle smiled proudly at Bella. They both noticed how much she had changed, grown. They could not help but to be proud.

Bella made her way to the podium and looked over across the crowd and began her speech.

" We are gathered here to say our goodbyes to Charlie Swan. To this town, he was the local hero who did everything that he could to keep this town a safe place. Charlie selflessly gave up his own life in pursuit of a murderer, located in the northern part of the state. He didn't have to, but chose to, trying to keep the danger from reaching us here. Charlie was my pillar who taught me everything I know from how to tie a shoe to how to change my oil for my truck. He loved me and provided for me better than anyone else ever had or ever could. He left behind a hole in my life that may never be filled," Bella paused to look at Charlie, and stopped. Her eyes squinted in concentration, and she saw it. A scar. A scar on his neck that matched the one on her hand. The one from James. Bella's eyes slightly widened and she felt her heartbeat increase.

' He was killed by a vampire' Bella thought to herself, her mind running a mile per second. Bella quickly regained composure and cleared her throat. She turned back to the crowd, her eyes filled with tears. " Thank you, Dad. For everything. You will be missed more than you know." Bella finished and excused herself off stage. Rosalie quickly stood up and met Bella and escorted her out of the room to the back of the Church. Alice and Jasper made eye contact and quickly stood up as well, leaving the room as the Pastor continued the service.

Alice and Jasper followed Rosalie and found her holding Bella, gently patting her back. Alice's eyes softened at the sight. She was beyond happy to see that Bella was being accepted.

"Thank you for looking after her." Alice smiled at Rosalie who smiled lightly in return.

"She looked frazzled, I thought some space would be good. Besides, she is my sister now too, how could I not look after her the same I have looked after you?" Rosalie replied before Bella pulled away with a thankful smile on her face.

" Bella, will you be able to return to finish the service?" Jasper inquired, and Bella nodded. The three returned in silence and sat as the service finished. People began to exit to meet up at the common area for the wake but Bella stayed behind.

" I'll be out in just a moment, I just need to say my goodbyes" Bella said to Alice who nodded in understanding.

"We'll be waiting for you outside" Alice smiled and left with Jasper and Rosalie.

Bella moved to the casket, and pulled up a chair. She sat in silence for a few moments, before moving the collar to inspect the scar in greater detail. Her sharp eyes inspected the past wound and sighed with confirmation. It was a scar from a vampire bite. Bella sighed and reached out to take her father's lifeless hand into her own, and felt a crumpled piece of paper. Bella's brows furrowed and she pulled the wad of paper out and flattened out as neatly as she could. Her eyes saw the markings and saw it was a letter. Bella leaned back against the chair and began to read the note.

" Bella,

If you are reading this note, it would appear that I have been killed. I am sorry that I could not return to you. I can't imagine how you must be feeling but you have to be strong. I know that's all you have been lately but keep at it. Most fathers would be sharing some irreplaceable advice at this point but you that I'm no good at this stuff. All I want to say is I want you to follow whatever path you feel is best, for you and for you alone. I believe in you and you have my full support even if it's only in spirit. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, that's how we learn. In the end the only mistakes that will cost you more than you can bear are those that are caused by you being too afraid to make them. I don't want you to have a life like mine filled with "what ifs" but rather a life full of "oh wells". Bella, I'm sorry, I don't have much time here. I just want you to know that having you as a daughter has been a privilege and my greatest accomplishment. I love you.

P.S. You will find a key hidden under a loose floorboard in my bedroom. The key opens a safe, located behind the fridge. Inside you will find my life savings and emergency funds for you. Please take it and use it well.

Love always,
Dad."

Bella blinked a few times to stop the tears from falling that were gathering in her soft brown eyes. Bella folded the note, and put it in her small clutch she was using to hold her phone and wallet. Bella left the room and joined up with the rest of the Cullens. Alice and Bella excused themselves and drove back to the house. Alice walked in with Bella, and they moved the boxes into Bella's truck.

"I'll be right out, just give me a second" Bella mused to Alice who nodded.

"I'll be out front, take the time you need." Alice murmured, and gave Bella's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Bella walked into Charlie's bedroom, and found the loose floorboard. She lifted it up to find a small key. She then moved into the kitchen, and moved the fridge with ease, to find a rather large safe. Bella used the key and opened the safe to find 100,000 dollars in cash and a policy for $250,000. Bella closed the safe, and relocked it, taking it into her hands and moving the fridge back in place. Bella exited the house one last time, knowing that whatever killed Charlie would likely be coming back for her and she was not safe here. Alice smiled lightly, and Bella put the safe in the front of her truck, next to her and then climbed in. She drove back to the Cullens, Alice following closely in her own vehicle. They arrived back, and quickly moved the boxes into the room. Bella quickly unpacked her clothes and belongings as there wasn't much, and then laid down next to Alice, who wrapped her arms around her lovingly.

"Rest up, Bella. Tomorrow is the beginning to the rest of our lives" Alice smiled lightly and kissed Bella gently. Bella curled up and closed her eyes.


Far off in the distant land of Italy, screams could be heard echoing off of the cold stone walls. It was feeding time.

Edward moved forward down the long hallway, before reaching a spacious opening. His golden orbs met that off Aro.

"Edward Cullen, now this is a surprise! For what do we owe this honor?" Aro smiled lightly, walking down the stairs to meet Edward.

Edward looked around and then meet his gaze to Aro's blood red eyes.

" Please, I beg you. Please help me to develop my powers and I will pledge my allegiance to you."

" Edward, I am shocked. You are always welcome here and I will gladly take you on as my disciple, but first…" Aro snapped his fingers and a young woman was brought to his feet by Jane, who tossed her roughly to the ground. The woman looked up at Edward, tears running down her dirty face, " We have no room for vegetarians. If you are serious, please. Have her as your first meal. We can begin training tomorrow, once you are settled in." Aro smirked lightly.

Edward looked down at the women with slight remorse. He knew though that this was the only way, the only way he could seek revenge on those who had wronged him and the one who had stolen everything from him. Edward paused for only a minute before reaching down and lifting the squirming women in his strong grasp. He looked into her eyes, and then sunk his teeth into her neck, draining her life supply. Edward moaned at the taste, and felt his strength increase. He let her lifeless body drop the floor and wiped his mouth clean with the back of his hand. It was time for his journey to begin.