Chapter 8: Memories

Nessie's POV

I stood there shaking from the shock of the sudden memory. Before I could even react I was suddenly in the ice cold arms of my mother. That's when my tears started flowing. No words needed to be spoken. My memories were very vague still but they were slowly returning. This was my mother. The man that had suddenly joined in our hug was my father.

"Mom? Dad?"

"My baby," mom cried. "My sweet innocent baby girl," she sniffled.

"You're really here," dad sounded just as drought with emotions as my mother sounded. Oddly though neither one of them were crying.

When I really looked at my parents though I realized something. They still looked like teenagers. They could've easily passed for my siblings rather than my parents. But why?

My head started to hurt. I knew there was an explanation somewhere hidden deep in my subconscious. Another memory that hadn't yet floated to the surface of my mind. The doctors had said that as time passed my memories were less and less like to return. I had begun to think that maybe they would never return. Yet it happened. Just by simply seeing my biological parents I remembered who they were. Maybe, just maybe that mean that all of my memories would eventually return.

My dad looked at me curiously as I pondered on my thoughts. I looked around at the rest of my family. Took in each and every one of their faces. Slowly recognition began to dawn on me. I remembered each and every one of them vaguely.

"Nessie?" My head snapped up when I heard my name. This was from the guy that was clearly the eldest of the group. Though he only appeared to be in his mid to late twenties. "Do you remember us?"

"Very vaguely. Nothing concrete. You're all my family aren't you?"

The man just smiled and came over to hug me tight. "We are. I'm your grandfather,"

"Grandfather? But you don't look old enough to be my grandfather?" It came out more like a question than a statement.

"She doesn't remember that yet Carlisle," my father quickly informed him. Though what exactly 'that' was is beyond my understanding.

"She's starting to remember and that's what's important,"

I felt quite a bit overwhelmed as I met the rest of my family. The names all rang with familiarity. Grandma Esme, Grandpa Carlisle, aunt Rosalie, aunt Alice, uncle Jasper, and uncle Emmett...uncle Em. Like from the dream. Did that mean that the dream of being kidnapped was more than just a dream? Was it another memory perhaps?

"Oh and we almost forgot someone," my mom said as she rushed out of there. She returned a minute later with a large chocolate Labrador retriever. "You probably don't remember him since you haven't seen him he was a puppy but this is your dog. You named Hershey

Again. Just like in the dream. In the dream I always had a chocolate Labrador puppy named Hershey. This dog was old now. Evidenced by the white fur on his face but if the timing of 12 years was correct this could easily be the dog from my dream.

The dog sniffed me a few times and licked my hand. His tail wagged happily. I smiled. I wondered if he remembered me even though I'd forgotten him.

"So you're really my family then?" I asked in again not quite able to shake the shock that I still felt surging through my body.

"We are honey. We really are," mom cried as she hugged me again.

"I'm sorry that I forgot you all. I'm sorry that I still don't remember everything,"

"Nessie nobody is faulting you for not remembering everything. You're barely starting to remember," the woman who I still couldn't believe was my grandmother spoke.

"Your grandmother is right," grandpa stated. "You're starting to remember and that's a great thing. We will help you regain the rest of your memories,"

"I-Jacob did you know about this?" I turned toward Jacob who looked like he didn't know what to say.

"Yes I did. I knew but I wasn't supposed to say anything just yet,"

So that explained why Jacob seemed so familiar to me. He was the Jacob from the video. The video worked. The video actually worked. It brought my family back to me. Now I could finally know the truth.

"Why did you give me up?"

"We never gave you up Nessie. You were stolen from us," I saw my mom's fist clench in anger. "We don't know who took you or why but that's what happened,"

So I was stolen. But why? How did I end up in that hospital? How did I end up in the system? How did I get adopted? None of this was making any sense whatsoever.

My head was hurting so badly I felt like it was going to split open. It was like all the memories buried deep in my head were begging for a release.

"I need to go sit down," I said as I walked back. Marie, Eric, and Lucky are right where I left them. In the living room watching TV. They only looked up when the rest of our company had walked in.

Lucky excitedly got up and greeted my other dog. The chocolate lab didn't seem very amused by the much younger dog's antics.

"I know it's a lot to take in," dad said as he sat down beside me.

"That's putting it mildly," I said. "But I wanted the truth and now I got it. I never dreamed that video would actually work,"

Mom smiled as she sat on the other side. "It did honey and right now that's all that matters. Thank you for posting it baby. We've never once stopped looking for you but we've never had any luck until you made it easy for us,"

"So what happens now?" I asked.

"Nothing," grandpa answered. "For now anyway. I'm going to get a job here. We will live here for awhile, For now we will just help you regain your memories. See if you remember who took you and why. Then we will come up with a plan,"

"I guess that's a good plan,"

"Once I do have an office Nessie I would like to give you a physical if you don't mind,"

"Huh? Sorry I don't follow,"

"Oh that's right. I'm a doctor,"

"Okay but I've already had all my physicals,"

Grandpa sighed.

"But hey if you're looking for work Jacksonville General Hospital is hiring. I know because my adoptive parents are physicians there and it just so happens they need someone who can work the night shift. No day shifts available unfortunately,"

"Actually night shift is perfect," grandpa said eagerly. Wow I've never seen someone so eager to work nights.

I was happy though. Inexplicably happy with the night. Happy that I was so close to finding out the truth.

Time had passed so quickly that I was shocked when I looked at the clock and saw how late it was. Everyone looked sad when I announced that I had to get back home. I knew my parents wouldn't be home for awhile still but I should get the kids back to their parents.

"I will go with you," Bella said once Jacob offered me a ride back. "I want to stay with you as long as possible,"

I smiled for the millionth time that night. I may not have remembered my parents all that well but being around them still made me happy.

When we got back I could tell that Renee and Phil still hadn't returned so I would have the kids a little while longer. Jacob and mom stayed because they refused to leave just yet. Mom was eager to get to know more about me and my past.

I looked through the mail really quickly and was surprised to see that I had gotten another envelope from Italy. I ripped it to shreds certain that it was not really meant for me since I didn't know in anyone in Italy. If I had family out there I was sure the Cullens would've told me.

The doorbell rang and I rushed downstairs to answer it. It was Renee. There to pick up her kids.

"Hi Nessie sorry for leaving my kids with you so long but it was truly an emergency but-" she stopped mid sentence and stared at something behind me in shock.

"B-Bella?"

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