I do not own Twilight.

Carlisle

I had come home from work early at the request of Jasper, yet they were late arriving. It must have been important to warrant such a request so something serious must have happened to delay them. I could sense Esme's anxiety too.

"I'm sure they will be here soon and there will be a good reason." I said trying to sooth her.

We were sitting on the love seat together watching the fire. She had found comfort in the warmth ever since losing Bella. It was rare that the fire wasn't burning in the comfortable living room. The room was furnished smartly and professionally, as our houses always were, but it lacked the jaw dropping brilliance that they usually held.

I looked down at her face. Her once glistening eyes were now dull and lifeless, barely reflecting the flames she was so intently staring at. I wondered if she thought that this was all some nightmare that she would wake up from. We all wished that, but all knew that it wasn't true.

My biggest fear was that my family was irreparably broken.

I sat there, my wife's lifeless body in my arms for what felt like an eternity. Time loses meaning for a vampire. Without the respite of sleep or the up and down of a normal day, everything starts to bleed together. Only the sun and the clock gave us any idea of how time passed. I heard the hum of the engine turn down our drive.

Just like in Forks, our house was set back well away from the human population. Using our many contacts and hacking skills we successfully acquired a section of land. This area was inaccessible to cars and most humans, so it granted us the solitude we needed. Anyone wishing to visit needed to park their car at the garage just under half a mile away and run to the house.

Unfortunately, the house building project hadn't sparked some new life into Esme as I had hoped. The grounds hadn't either. She had completed the needed tasks like a robot, never doing more than was needed.

"Hello everyone," I said as they walked through the door. I could tell from their expressions that something had happened, and I doubted it would be something pleasurable.

"Good afternoon Carlisle," Jasper greeted me. He was guiding Alice who seemed unaware of her surroundings. The blank look I recognised as her being lost in the future.

Turning to look at Emmett, I saw an expression that surprised me. Beneath the usual morose look, he held a glimmer of hope. I continued to stare at him in shock before he met my eyes. There I saw the greatest relief.

Emmett opened his mouth and managed to stammer "She's alive" before breaking down in dry sobs. It was rare for Emmett to show any emotion in front of anyone except Rosalie, I was astounded.

It was at the sudden movement from Esme on my lap that I stopped to process what he had said. "She's alive." Who is alive? Did something happen which endangered their lives while they were at school? Surely that wasn't possible.

I looked around the room and saw that Rosalie was missing from the small gathering. I immediately panicked. Emmett was distraught and his mate was missing. What had happened?

"Please would someone explain what has happened today?" I said with a calmness that I didn't feel. "Where is Rosalie and what has happened to Emmett."

I glared at the three of them, hoping someone would answer soon. Emmett was inconsolable on the floor; Alice still had the far away look and Jasper was focused on Alice. I was about to demand that they reply, when Esme spoke.

"Come sit," she was ever the mother and her quiet comfort was working. She walked over to Emmett and offered her hand. He took it and allowed her to guide him towards the couch. Jasper had done the same with Alice.

"Jasper, can you explain what happened to cause such extreme responses?" Esme spoke softly.

It appeared to take an extraordinary amount of effort for him to tear his eyes away from Alice. "It's like Emmett said, she's alive." He paused for a moment to place his hand on Alice's cheek. "Bella is alive."

Had I been human, I likely would have collapsed on the floor right there. Instead I stared at him, my mouth hanging open.

How could she be alive. She died; we all know she has died. The family has cracked, they're going crazy. What on earth do I do now. My thoughts were reeling.

I looked at my wife. Looking in her eyes, I saw what I wished I hadn't. There was a glimmer of hope. How dare they do this. Do they not realise what effect this will have on the family? This is a sick joke.

"I don't know what you are all playing at, but this joke is unacceptable. How could you come home and do this to your mother? Explain yourselves." I shouted at them; I had lost control of my anger.

"It's true," Emmett said finally looking up. "She was there at school."

I looked from him to my other children, they simply nodded. "Someone explain." I demanded.

"Bella seems to be a freshman at the college." Jasper stopped. I nodded to him to continue, but he didn't. I looked back at Emmett, hoping he would continue the explanation. He said nothing.

Deciding to take a different approach, I asked, "Where is Rosalie?"

This time it was Alice who replied. None of us had noticed her return to the present day. "She is taking Bella home, something happened."

"Is she alright?" Esme rushed out in panic. "What happened? Was Bella happy to see you? Do you think she will be okay if I visit? Why didn't you bring her back with you?" I placed a hand on her shoulder to cease her ramblings.

"Calm yourself Esme, I am sure all questions will be answered soon." I sent a glare towards the children clearly showing that they had better start talking soon or there would be trouble. "Let's start with what happened."

The three looked at each other, their eyes pleading not to be the one to explain. Something bad must have happened. Finally, Jasper nodded and turned to me.

"I don't really know what happened, you'll need to ask Rose the details." He took a deep unneeded breath. "I saw her about an hour before the others, but from a distance. I don't think she saw me. That's why I requested the family meeting." I nodded for him to continue. "We were preparing to come home when I think she spotted us across the parking lot. She said, 'oh crap' and then sort of passed out."

I saw him hesitate and look towards Emmett. "Just tell us, we won't be mad."

"It was my fault," Emmett said, "I panicked and forgot to act human."

Not another move, not so soon. Not if Bella was here. We had a chance to fix the family. We couldn't leave now. I was broken out of my thoughts by Jasper.

"Luckily, no one noticed. The lot was pretty much empty, and no one was paying attention." I let out a woosh of air, silently thanking every deity for this small reprieve. "I held onto Alice while Rosalie dealt with Emmett. It was safest for Alice and I to stay back while Emmett was being possessive. We didn't need any lost limbs in the middle of school."

Alice looked to him relieved. "I thought you didn't want me getting involved with her," she whispered. "I didn't understand why you wouldn't let me help. Thank you."

He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead and continued the story. "Rosalie said she was having a seizure, but I don't know any more details about that. I was busy keeping tabs on the humans. She was out for about 10 seconds and then seemed pretty out of it. Rosalie said she was taking her back to her place and sent us back here."

"So, just so I understand, Bella is alive, and no one has been exposed." I looked to the family with longing in my eyes.

"That's right." Alice said. "I have been looking at the future. Both ours to check if someone saw us and Bella's. We are safe this time, though you really need to be more careful. I can't get a clear hold on Bella or Rosalie, its like trying to see your reflection through a clouded mirror. I saw her leave not long ago so she should be arriving soon." She was frustrated at the lack of clarity. I nodded towards her in thanks.

Turning to Esme I took her in my arms. "She's alive," she was whispering on repeat, her body heaving with dry sobs.

We all stood comforting each other, immersed in the feelings of hope and relief. I was sure that Jasper to some extent was projecting, but none of us called him out on it.

Rosalie arrived sometime later, none of us managed to speak before she started her explanations. "I put her to bed and waited for her team to arrive, she's fine." Tension I hadn't noticed building relaxed at these words.

"If she recognised me, she didn't give any inclination, I would say she was too out of it. I left her a note explaining what happened, that we were here and a number to call if she wants to talk to us. From the sight of her place, there is a lot going on that we don't know about."

She had walked over to Emmett and embraced him whilst talking. "We need to decide how we want to play this. If we are going, we need to leave soon. I am not prepared to give that poor girl hope if we aren't going to be sticking around."

I nodded. "What does everyone think? This needs to be a family decision."

"You can all do what you like, I'm not leaving her." Emmett said firmly. "She looked like hell."

Esme looked up sharply at those words. "What do you mean?" she asked terrified.

"She's sick Esme." Rosalie said.

I felt the woman in my arms collapse and tremble. Grief wracked her body as she processed her child once again being sick. Watching her first precious baby deteriorate had nearly killed her, I could only imagine the despair going through her mind now.

My brain flipped into medical mode, "Do we know what is wrong with her?"

"Only the basics. She has seizures and mobility problems. I didn't want to go snooping around her place."

"We could check her medical records." Alice suggested.

"No, we can't invade her privacy like that." I said sternly. However, much I wanted to know more I couldn't forget the fact that she had asked us to leave. "We need to wait and let her make the next decision."

Bella

Damn, I thought to myself, slowly becoming more aware of my surroundings. I did not need to have a fit on my first day. Charlie is going to kill me.

I slowly pulled myself up to a sit and took a mental check of myself. All my limbs are intact. Nothing hurts, so I didn't break myself this time. Everything seems to be moving alright. I started experimentally flexing my limbs.

Where am I? I looked around the room and recognised it as my bedroom. How did I get here? Blinking my eyes clearer, I took notice of what I was wearing. When did I put on pyjamas?

Something funny was definitely happening here. It wasn't unusual for me to feel so disorientated, but it was still an experience I didn't like. I shook my head trying to remember what had happened.

I came up blank.

Reaching for my stick to stand up, I noticed a sheet of paper.

I grabbed it clumsily and unfolded it. Inside was handwriting I didn't recognise. The text was fuzzy, but I was able to make out the words.

If you haven't already, drink the water.

I looked up, there it was, a full bottle of water sitting innocently on the side next to a plate of cookies. I glugged it down, grateful to whoever had left it here. When the bottle was empty, I took a cookie and nibbled on the corner as I continued to read.

Appeared to be an atopic seizure lasting just under 9 seconds. I have informed your support team and they said they would be checking in on you.

I'm sorry this happened, it must have been due to the stress of seeing us again. We need to talk. Call or text us when you feel able.

Rosalie

Underneath was a neatly scrawled list of number.

What the hell? I re-read the note, obviously I had missed something. It was clear as day, I didn't know anyone else with the name Rosalie and no human managed handwriting like that. Did Rosalie put me to bed? She hates me!

I was incredibly confused. Placing the note beside me on the bed, I put my head in my hands.

A knock on the door brought me back to awareness. "Yes?" I said. Liz walked in with a smile.

"I see you're awake, how you feeling?"

I could only stare and nod.

"You have one great friend." She said to me. At my look of confusion, she carried on. "I think she said her name was Rosalie Hale. She called me saying she had brought you back after you had a seizure on campus. Said she knew you from high school. Really knows what she's doing that kid." If she carried on speaking, I didn't hear it. This confirmed it. The Cullen's were here.

Liz noticed my panicked look. "Want to tell me what's going on?"

"I – I," why were words so difficult. Liz was eternally patient, she simply waited for me to find the right words. "I dated her brother in high school. He broke up with me and they all left without much notice; dad got a new job." I was trying to clear my mind enough to remember the cover story they had given, desperately hoping I wouldn't be blowing their current one.

"I haven't heard from them in nearly a year. I didn't think I would ever see them again."

She smiled and nodded at me. "That must have been quite a shock, no wonder this happened. You've only been asleep for an hour or so, Diana will be back in another hour and a half. I spoke to her."

I groaned, knowing that I was going to be in trouble. "She said you didn't look good when she walked you to the bus stop. You should have called us."

I looked down at the floor. "I know, I would have been alright if I hadn't seen them. It was just all the walking from the tour making me tired. I'm sorry, I'll make sure I phone next time."

"Good, we haven't called you parents or Dr Gardner yet, I'll leave that up to you. Is there anything I can do before I leave?"

"No thank you, I am alright here. I'll just have a quiet evening." She nodded and stood to leave.

"You know how to contact us if you need anything."

I waved her goodbye and sank back onto the bed with a groan. This was NOT how today was meant to pan out.

Why couldn't my life be easy for a change. Thank goodness they hadn't phoned dad yet; I would need to think of something to tell him. No way am I telling him or Jake that the Cullen's are around. They'll wrestle me onto a plane and lock me in my room. Why were the Cullen's even here? Was E – HE here?

I needed answers.

Looking around for my mobile, I started to dial. It barely rang before someone picked up.

"Hello, Bella?" It was Rosalie. I found myself speechless. "It's alright, I understand this is a bit of a shock, we are equally as surprised."

"Ye."

"Before we get onto the heavy, are you alright? You were pretty out of it earlier."

So it had been her who put me to bed. Damn, why did they need to be nice?

"Yes, thank you for your help, you didn't need to."

"Of course, we did, besides I didn't mind. Everyone has missed you and would love to see you if you're up to it." Did I want to see them? See him? "It's alright, I understand. Maybe some other time." She almost sounded disappointed.

"I have questions," I blurted out.

"I am sure that you do, we would be happy to answer them for you. We have some questions we would like to as too if you are amenable."

My brain was starting to reel, getting overloaded with possibilities and questions and confusion. She must have heard my breathing increase because she said, "Calm down, that won't help anything."

"Why are you being nice to me?" Crap didn't mean to say that out loud.

"That is a long story, but I can get someone else if you'd feel more comfortable." I mumbled a quick no and she continued "How do you feel about meeting some of us to sit and talk? You can choose who, where and when. You don't need to decide now, just drop us a text or a call or let us know in the hallways."

"Okay." I knew I was being rude, but my ability to process and reply coherently had disappeared.

"We will wait for you then. Just a heads up, the family are rather excited to see you again, I will try to keep a rein on Emmett, but you know what he's like. If he bothers you, or any of the others, let me know." Her concern seemed genuine, had I fallen into a strange alternate reality? Had I hit my head hard in the fall? Maybe I was dead!

"Are you real?" Again, why did I say that out loud?

She laughed slightly and said, "Yes, we are very real. I'm going to leave you to process everything." She paused for a moment and I heard whispering in the background. "Esme asks if she can bring you anything."

"No thanks, Diana will be home soon, we can sort it together."

"Alright, feel free to call any time, even if it is just to chat or check in that we are real." Rosalie made a joke?! "Bye Bella."

I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at the screen bewildered. This was not what I had predicted when imagined my first day.

Thank you for reading, please review. Massive thanks to all those positive reviews from the last chapter, it really made my day.

Next chapter will be the big reunion and discussion! You will all find out where Edward is too.