Chapter 2: Chapter 1

Three Years Later

When Renee had told her that she and Phil were getting married, Bella knew that she was going to lose everything again. Renee and Phil had both promised that nothing would change, and that they didn't mind the fact that Renee had to stay behind while Phil travelled with his minor league baseball team, but Bella knew the truth. She could see the sacrifice and longing in Renee's eyes each time Phil drove away, and the boredom and unhappiness that filled her when it was just the two of them. And now, after six months, Bella knew that she couldn't take it anymore.

Renee had taken her in when Brian had become a fugitive, giving her a home that she could rely on. She had gone toe-to-toe with her ex-husband, Charlie, for the right to joint custody after Brian walked away. And then, she'd uprooted her whole life to a different city, so that they could pretend that Bella had been born her child. Renee and Charlie had pulled all sorts of strings to make it look as if Bella had been their daughter all along. They said something about not wanting Brian's choices to affect her life, not that she understood it at the time. The point was that Renee had given up so much for her, and Bella didn't want her to give up anymore.

That's why she was moving in with Charlie. As much as she hated the rain, and would miss the warmth of the desert, she knew that it would be best for everyone if she left. After all, forcing people to stay only made them resent you.

With one last glance around the room that had been hers for three years, she checked for anything that she might have forgotten. Satisfied that she had everything, she zipped up her suitcase and brought it out to the car. Renee was standing by the trunk, chatting on her phone to Phil. Finishing up the phone call, helped Bella load her bags into the car. Shutting the door, she stopped Bella with a gentle hand on her arm.

"Bella, you know you don't have to do this, right? You can stay here, with Phil and I. We want you to stay."

Stumbling a bit over her words, Renee looked so earnest that Bella was momentarily tempted to say never mind. To go back into the house and unpack her bags. But the sight of Renee's wedding band flashing in the sun stopped her. As much as she would love to stay, she couldn't do that to Renee. She and Phil deserved something for themselves after taking care of her for the past few years. So with a practiced smile, she shook her head and tried to reassure her adoptive mother.

"I know. But I think feel like this is something that I have to do. It's just too hard to be here, especially after the latest news on Brian."

Looking away uncomfortably, Bella hoped that Renee would believe her lies. While it was true that Brian's becoming a fugitive and disappearing from her life has rocked her world, it didn't affect her as much these days. Her brother had left her three years ago, had turned his back on their family in order to make a new one without her. She may still care about him, but she didn't want him in her life. At least, that's what she tried to tell herself. Most days she actually believed it.

"Well, if you're sure."

Renee pressed a soft kiss to her head before circling around to get in the driver's seat. As they headed toward the airport, Bella knew that she had made the right decision. It had been brief, but she had seen the flash of relief in Renee's eyes before she started the car. With her mind made up, Bella focused on soaking up the all the sun that she could, mentally preparing her self for the land of clouds and rain.

Racing Twilight

Sitting at the Seattle airport waiting for Bella's flight to arrive, Charlie thought back on how they had arrived at this point. When Brian had first called Charlie for help taking care of Bella, he never imagined that this is where it would end up. Brian already had a few undercover operations under his belt; there was nothing to indicate that this one would be any different. But then one month had turned to two, and then all of the sudden he was getting a call from his old friend Tanner, telling him Brian had gone native. That Brian had not only helped to turned a blind eye to his marks' activities, but that he had let one go after assisting in a revenge killing.

When he heard that the man Brian helped kill was the son of a gang leader, Charlie knew that he had to protect Bella. If anyone in that world ever found out that Bella was Brian's sister, they'd use her to get to him. Not only would the gangs be after her, the Toretto family would be too. So, Charlie had called in a favor from a computer hacker that he'd once busted for shoplifting.

Skye had changed all of Bella's records, making it look as if she had been born as Isabella Swan and had no connection to Brian O'Connor. Three weeks later, Bella and Renee had left Tucson and moved to Phoenix for a fresh start. Charlie had tried to convince Bella to come up to Washington, but both Bella and Renee had refused. When the FBI had shown up looking for Brian, Charlie was glad that he hadn't fought the girls on their decision. Like the gangs, the agents would have dangled Bella in front of Brian as the perfect bait. But with no official connection between Renee and Brian, and Skye's hacking, Bella was safe.

Brian's safety was less assured. Three months after Brian had gone on the run, Charlie had received a burner cell in the mail, with only one number programed. When he called the number, he was relieved to hear Brian on the other end. While he wasn't pleased his pseudo-son was on the run from the law, he understood what he had done. Sometimes, doing what was right and following the law weren't the same.

Brian had continued to call all through his work with the feds in Miami, needing a sounding board that supported him regardless of his choices. The only thing that the two men did not talk about was Bella. Somewhere in his trek from LA to Miami, Brian had decided that it was better if he was no longer apart of Bella's life. The two men had argued for weeks over Brian's decision, but nothing would change his mind, even after he joined the FBI. Charlie kept Brian updated on how Bella was doing, but the younger man refused to let Bella know where he was or what he was doing. To this day, Bella still believed that her brother was a wanted man. Charlie hadn't had the heart to tell her that Brian was free to see her, but refused to.

Startled out of his thoughts by the sudden ring of his phone, he frowned in confusion when the screen remained dark. When the ringing continued, he scrambled to retrieve the burner cell Brian had sent him from the glove box. Glancing around to ensure that Bella wasn't around, Charlie quickly answered the phone.

"Brian? What's wrong?"

Brian never called in the middle of the day. He also never called when he knew that Charlie would be around Bella. Something had to be wrong for Brian to be calling now.

"Charlie listen, I'm sorry. I wish that it didn't have to be this way. But I've got to do what I know is right. You won't be hearing from me for a while."

"What's right? Brian, what's going on? Where are you? Are you hurt? Talk to me!"

"Tell Bella that I love her, okay? And…Thanks. For always being there for me."

"What? Brian! Dammit!"

With a curse Charlie looked down at the phone screen to see that Brian had hung up. With a growing pit of dread in his stomach, he tried to call Brian back, only to be sent to voicemail.

"Charlie!"

Glancing up, Charlie forced a smile onto his face, praying that his worry wasn't visible. Bella waved at him, at motioned to the pile of luggage by her feet. With a nod, he pulled the car up to the curb next to her and got out to help her. Giving her a hug, he prayed that whatever Brian was involved in wouldn't break Bella's heart.

"Hi baby girl. Glad you're here. Let's go home."

Racing Twilight

Hanging up his phone, Brian tossed the burner out of the window. Pressing down harder on the accelerator, he glanced to his right and met Mia's eyes. With a nod to her and then to Leo and Santos he shifted his focus to the job at hand. Busting Dom out of the prison bus.

AN: This takes place at the start of Twilight and the end of Fast & Furious (the fourth movie)