Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I just play in the sandbox. I do own Ella, Adrian and the fey world I've created.

AN: Heylo, so this chapter stumped me mostly because it's sort of a recap/connecting chapter rather than a plot involved chapter - hence why it's so short. The rest of the chapters for Book Two are longer and better. ~Hannah

Book Two Chapters

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Book Two Intro

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Attention

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Summer Camp

Chapter Thirty - Pushing Forward

Chapter Thirty-One - Emails From Alice

Chapter Thirty-Two - A Welcomed Surprise

Chapter Thirty-Three - Planning The Music Video

Chapter Thirty-Four - Challenging Emmett

Chapter Thirty-Five - The Thrilling Theme Park

Chapter Thirty-Six - Broken Bones

Chapter Thirty-Seven - A Visit To The Fey World

Chapter Thirty-Eight - Video Shopping

Chapter Thirty-Nine - News From The Hunt

Chapter Forty - Dreams Or Nightmares?

Chapter Forty-One - The Problem With Fey

Chapter Forty-Two - Missing Him

Chapter Forty-Three - Alice's Vision

Chapter Forty-Four - Last Day Of Camp

Chapter Forty-Five - Rescue Me

Chapter Twenty-Seven – Book Two

The first couple of days that past, were the hardest. I felt incomplete, I felt lost and I felt angry. I understood Edward's reasons for leaving but that didn't make me like the fact that he left. I hated it and I hated that his family had left as well. It was loneliness but it was different.

I had to wonder if things would have turned out any different if I'd followed along with Edward's plan and not dragged him to Adrian's house. Would Edward still be with me now? Or would he still have left?

I had always thought we'd save each other and live as one big family but I was starting to think I was wrong.

I didn't wallow. I didn't cry much and I didn't walk around like a zombie. They were coming back, that's what they'd said. Whether Edward was coming back was another matter. I didn't want to give up on him but at the same time I didn't want to pine for him. The Cullen's had changed my life but I had been a strong woman before they became part of my life and I would be a strong woman again.

I knew everyone was waiting for me to crack. If it had been Bella in my shoes we probably would have been thinking about sectioning her right now. Bella didn't have as much grip on the control of her emotions as I did – which was saying something!

I had four summer months to enjoy and I intended to enjoy them to the full. I'd filled in an application for a scholarship to a summer programme and was hoping I'd get a letter from them soon. It was best to keep busy so my mind didn't wander too much.

I liked to think that however much I was hurting, my life wasn't so pitiful that it would collapse because of one boy. Even if that boy was over one hundred.

I was happy-ish.

Bella and Angela surrounded me like hermits and talked about anything they thought would take my mind off things. As much as I appreciated what they were doing, I really wanted to swat them away as they were driving me crazy. Maybe I'd have to become a limpet the them…follow them away everyone and chat non-stop and maybe then they'd get how annoying it was.

To escape them I went fishing with Dad. Not something I'd done since I was little and though it wasn't something I particularly enjoyed I loved spending time with Dad. He let me have my space and didn't overcrowd me. He was the one person who didn't underestimate me and who knew I could handle almost anything that life threw at me. Dad understood that I was hurt and angry over what had happened but that I was like him and would continue to live my life despite what was happening around me. Bella was too much like Renee, dramatic and over the top with her emotions. She just couldn't understand how I could be so normal when she thought I should have collapsed on the floor and never gotten up.

"It'll get better kiddo," said Dad.

"I know. I just wish things hadn't played out this way."

"That's life. I doesn't play how you'd like. Maybe you needed time apart to grow. You've got a jam packed summer ahead of you and Edward, well he needs to do some growing up as well and when he returns hopefully it'll be as a man."

"Thanks Dad."

"No problem Ella but if he hurts you, vampire or not, I've got a loaded shotgun in the house."

I giggled, the first of much laughter on that trip. I loved my Dad and I valued all advice he gave me.

I received my first email from a Cullen a week and a half after they left. It was from Alice.

Dear Ella,

It's disgusting here. I broke a heel already. We tracked Laurent to this gross marshland where the smell makes you want to keel over and die. Everyone walks around with an unhappy scowl upon their face and I have to wonder why they even live here!

Edward has become obsessed with catching Laurent; I know you probably already knew that but without you here to calm him he's become positively rabid. You must understand how possessive Edward is of you. It's not a bad thing, but a slight on you is a slight on Edward. He feels that he can't protect you because he almost failed with James and Laurent. He needs to prove himself.

This need runs deep inside him; I don't have to read minds to see what he's thinking. You mean the world to him Ella and I know he said to stop waiting for him after a year but I beg you to wait a little longer. I can't get a clear look at the future yet so I can't tell you much.

We all miss you. I don't think Edward thought it would be this hard to leave you. I've never seen him look so heartbroken.

We'll be home soon, I think, I promise.

Stay strong.

Oh and congratulations! Looks like your summer will be exciting.

Love,

Alice.

Reading Alice's email made me both happy and sad. I didn't want Edward to suffer but Alice's explanation of what he was going through gave me a better understanding of his thought process.

She had said congratulations though, something I had an inkling of and hoped I was right. Seeing Dad walk toward me, beaming a megawatt smile and carrying an envelope confirmed my suspicions. I opened it quickly and squealed in delight. I'd been accepted to the summer programme I'd applied for and got the full scholarship. The programme was in music and art. It was close enough for me to be able to drive to it daily rather than having to board and I was so excited!