A/N: Hey guys, I know I never put Author's Notes at the beginning of the chapter, but this one seems relevant. I realize that up until the last chapter I've been writing in the present tense, and when I started this story, that was what made the most sense to me. However, ever since Bella left the mental institution and started to open up, it's been harder for me to write that way, so for the time being I'm going to use the past tense. For those of you who see this update and start reading, today, I'm sorry, this is the sort of thing that causes me to leave a story, I hope that doesn't happen to you.

BPOV

I didn't know what to do. There was no other way to put it. Looking at the situation objectively, I realize how ridiculous it actually was. Here I was, a mental patient, who was being treated by her ex-boyfriend's step-sister in their mansion, and now the ex-boyfriend shows up, despite being incommunicado for months.

It really sounded bad, even before sticking the vampire element in there.

I could feel myself starting to shut down as I gazed into his angry amber eyes. He hadn't changed a bit, not that I had expected him to. The only thing different about him was his expression, a mask of pure fury I hadn't seen on his face since the first day I saw him. Finally Esme moved to get out of the car, and I followed her lead.

"What is going on here?" he hissed. I didn't know how to answer the question, but thankfully I was saved by Alice, who had just come zipping out of the house.

"Well, Edward, I would think it's rather obvious. Bella and Mom just got back from doing the grocery shopping."

Edward turned on his sister then, I could see his lips moving in a rapid vibration, but he was speaking too low and quick for my human ears to comprehend. So I stood there like an idiot while the rest of the Cullen clan dutifully filed out onto the front lawn.

Jasper went immediately to his mate, eager to defend her against his irate brother. Carlisle went to Esme to comfort her, while Emmett turned to break up the fight that was clearly brewing between Edward and Jasper.

Rosalie flashed to my side, whispering in my ear, "Come on, let's get you out of here."

Somehow she sensed the fact that I couldn't move and grabbed my hand, encouraging me. We hadn't taken more than a few steps before Edward was directly in front of us.

"Where are you taking her?" He asked.

"In the house," Rosalie responded, her tone aloof, "clearly you're having some sort of moment, and I don't think Bella needs to be around to see it."

With that she stepped around Edward and continued to walk me towards the house, my eyes on the ground the entire way.

Once we got inside I wasn't sure what to do, but the obvious first step seemed to be to go up to my room and pack. I tried to make my way towards the stairs, but Rosalie intercepted me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I sighed, "Upstairs, I want to get a start on the packing I need to do. Not that there should be too much of it anyway, all of the stuff up there is yours. I hope you won't mind if I bring a few things to tide me over for a while though, I'm going to need clothes you see."

Rosalie got a disgusted look on her face, "Okay Bella, let's say that I decide to go along with this self pity party you have going on here. Let's say that anyone in this family would be willing to let you go. Where are you going to go huh? What's your next move?"

I realized I hadn't thought it through that far, but I came up with an answer anyway. "I have to go back to the center don't I? I mean, it's not like I can go back to Charlie without drawing attention to your family. Of course I'm going to need to get a ride back there, but if one you will bring me, I promise it's the last you'll hear of me, you won't need to worry about me anymore."

Rosalie just shook her head. "Do you really think we ever had any intention of letting you go back there Bella? Seriously? That place was horrible and there isn't anything they can do for you there. In fact as far as their records are concerned, you were discharged the day you came home with me."

"But, what about Charlie? There's no way he would have approved that."

"He didn't have to Bella, when he put you in the center, he signed your care over to them, which they in turn signed over to me… well I guess Carlisle technically. Anyway, since you were over eighteen when you were admitted, they technically don't need to contact Charlie at all."

I was beyond confused, "But the doctors said I would have to go back."

Rosalie smirked, "Bella, I have documents claiming I'm everything from sixteen to twenty-eight, in a variety of last names. Do you really think it was that hard to forge discharge papers at a second rate mental institution?"

Well, when she put it that way…

"Well, thank you for everything you've done Rose, but I still don't see what bearing this has on the issue at hand. Whether or not I was discharged from the center, I still have to leave here. I suppose I'll need to find somewhere to live now, but the end result is still the same."

She let out a huff of frustration, "You aren't getting it are you? Bella, as much as you may not want to hear it, you belong here. You belong with us."

Ironically, those were the words I wanted to hear more than anything, but they did not change the facts. I was not going to be responsible for breaking this family up a second time.

"Oh I get it, I think I get it better than you think. Look, I don't know why Edward has stayed away from your family for this long, but I'm not naive enough not to realize I had at least something to do with it, you were all happy before I came along, and you'll all be happy again once I'm gone. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go upstairs and pack."

With that I turned on my heels and ran up the stairs, surprisingly maintaining my balance. I wasn't foolish enough to think that Rosalie couldn't catch up to me and stop me before I managed to take a step, but somehow I knew that she wouldn't.

I had enough energy to run into my room, shut the door, and pull a duffle bag out of the closet. But as soon as I'd placed it on my bed and went to the dresser to start packing some things, I froze, my mind moving a mile a minute.

My limbs started to tingle and my chest was tight, like no matter how hard I tried I wasn't able to get enough oxygen into my lungs. I started to shake, and I was vaguely aware of tears streaming down my face. My vision started to fade in and out and there was a strange pounding in my head. Then the world faded to black and I landed on the floor with a thud.

There were voices speaking in hushed tones near me. I couldn't make out what they were saying, it was too quiet and too fast, but most of the buzzing seemed to by urgent and angry. I wanted to yell at them to shut up, I'd been having a very pleasant dream involving a unicorn and a teddy bear. They were getting married, and it was a lovely ceremony, at least until it was invaded by the rapid buzzing noise that the voices made.

Just as I was about to attempt to speak with the voices, they stopped. I tried to snuggle back into the covers, but someone chose that moment to say something at a speed and volume I could comprehend.

"Bella, sweetheart? Can you hear me?"

I knew that voice, it was so familiar, but I couldn't seem to place it.

"Bella, if you can hear me, could you try to open your eyes for me?"

I liked the voice, and there was a part of me that wanted to please it, so I tried to do as it asked. My eyelids fluttered and I was looking into the face of Carlisle, Alice was standing right behind him.

Suddenly I tried to sit up, but he hands were on my shoulders, restraining me.

"Easy there Bella, you had a bit of a fall. How's your head feeling?"

Well, it was fine until he brought it up. I groaned, "Not so great what happened?"

Carlisle smirked and shook his head, "Well, from what I can gather, you seem to have had a panic attack and you fainted." He seemed to be laughing at me.

"I don't really get how that's even funny a little bit Carlisle." I said, frustrated.

He instantly made an effort to contain his mirth, "I'm sorry Bella, it's just that you were standing right in front of the bed. Anyone else would have fallen back against the mattress, but you fell at an angle and conked your head on the bed post. It's nothing serious, and you don't have a concussion, but it's something that would only happen to you."

So that's why I felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to my skull. I groaned and pulled a pillow over my head. It was removed instantly, by a black haired little pixie with an enraged look on her face.

"And just why were you having a panic attack Bella? Could it have had anything to do with your sudden decision to leave? Even though I just got you back, and we just decided to try and be friends again? Is any of this sounding familiar to you?"

I sighed, "Alice, if Edward is here then I shouldn't be. He's your brother and I don't want to interfere with your family."

Alice shook her head and started to talk before I could open my mouth to give her my full explanation as to why I should leave. "Oh no you don't Bella Swan! You are the best thing to happen to this family since Jasper and I came along fifty years ago. You say that my brother belongs here more than you do, but damn it Bella, you're my sister, even if you don't feel that way right now, and you're not going anywhere, especially so soon after I got you back. I don't care if I have to lock you in this room and bring you food three times a day until you start to see reason. You're not going anywhere, do you hear me?"

At the end of her tirade she launched herself at me, burying her face in my hair. I could tell she was shaking, and I was surprised to say the least.

"Okay Alice, it's okay, I won't leave, but there's a condition to this."

She lifted her head from my shoulder, her gaze wary. "What would that be?"

I took a deep breath, drawing in the strength I needed to say this.

"If I'm going to stay here with Edward around, I need him to stay away from me, or I need to stay away from him, but either way, we can't be around each other if it can be avoided. And I definitely don't want any of you leaving us alone together, at least not until I say you can."

Halfway through my condition Alice started to shake her head rapidly, "But Bella –

"No!" I said, firmly, "No 'but Bella' this is how it has to be Alice. He left me, which means he obviously doesn't want to be around me, and I will not force my presence on him in his own home."

"Bella, this is more your home than it is his!"

I sighed, "Okay, Alice, but see, here's the thing, he left me broken and alone in the woods, he tore down my self esteem, killed my relationship with my parents, took away my family, and ultimately put me in a mental institution. If you won't do it for him, will you at least do it for me?"

Alice nodded her head, and opened her mouth to say something, but the voice I heard wasn't hers.

It was her brother's perfect voice, although it was marred by some emotion I couldn't recognize.

"Mental institution?"

I sunk down into the pillows, trying to hide my face from his topaz gaze.

"You're really doing a bang up job of keeping us separate Alice."

A/N: So that's this chapter… reviews are always appreciated, and thanks for reading!