When I woke in the morning I had to re-cap everything that had happened to me the day before. Things weren't okay. Things were far from okay. I was alone, and yet confused and crowded. My head felt like a sledgehammer had taken a swing at it. I sat in my bed, and found that I was surprised by two things, two people to be precise.

Alice was on my bed, curled around me, in Edward's usual protective position. This was only slightly unusual. I figured that she'd be there for me... when she finally figured out what happened. The second person that surprised me was not on my bed, and seemed to have issues with Alice. The spirit lady was glowering at her from the desk chair. I stared in confusion at the desk chair. It's inhabitant was very there.

I breathed in a big breath, trying to focus my attention on Alice. She stroked my hair, and pulled away from me, tucking herself nimbly into a seated position facing me so that she could sign at me.

Bella I'm so sorry.

"What?" I asked, still definitely out of it.

She winced, motioning quiet.

Charlie is awake, just next door.

Sorry. I responded.

I should have seen you, I should have been looking. I didn't see you get lost. I didn't see anything. I couldn't find you until half the town were on the loose, and I saw Charlie bringing you inside. I saw his future, but not yours. I didn't see you get lost. I'm so sorry, and I feel like this is all my fault. I should have never have left you alone in the state you were in. In the discussion you were about to have. I didn't realize Edward was going to drag you into the forest for some privacy either. For as smart as he is, he's stupid.

At the mention of his name my chest lurched. Spirit lady rubbed hers, and looked more ticked off than she had previously.

"It's rude to converse in another language when you have more than one guest." She pointed out, quite loudly. I flinched, and noticed that Alice did not. She continued signing, and I tried not to listen to my hallucination, focusing on Alice instead.

I didn't see you get lost. I wasn't particularly looking, but I figured that meant your future was uneventful. Edward's was insane with grief and stupid decisions. I sent everyone I could after him. Emmett and Rose were out of town, ticked off by some choice words from Edward a few days ago.

She didn't realise it, but each time she mentioned his name, my chest gaped and my eyes tickled. My throat tightened and I felt as though I couldn't breathe.

"Will you ask her to stop that? It's painful." Spirit lady scolded. "Stupid vamp should know better."

My eyes darted over to her in shock. She knew what Alice was? Then I scolded myself. Of course she knew what Alice was. She was a figment of my imagination after all. I looked back at Alice, she was continuing her story.

The rest of us were halfway to Vancouver, chasing him when Esme got the phone call. She made up some bull story about us being in Port Angeles for a family gathering, and that we had no idea where you were. Esme and I doubled back to try and find you while the boys continued after Edward. Unfortunately, by the time we got back there were dozens of people combing the forests, and a good deal of them from La Push. If we'd have been found prowling around the forest at night, shit would have hit the fan. I started to scan through futures, after not finding yours, that is. I focused on Charlie, because obviously he'd be one of the first to know. When I finally knew you'd been found, I shot back here like a bullet. I hid - quite childishly - in your closet. You clambered up to bed, half asleep, Charlie wrapped around you for help. He got you settled in, and went back downstairs, to start phoning people about your rescue. As soon as I knew it was safe I couldn't help but try and soothe you. I should have been there, and I damn well will in the future. You're my sister and I'm not letting anything get in our way.

I tried to blink back tears, but instead I ended up hastening their retreat from my eyes. Alice leaned forward, pressing her cold body against mine in a hug. I hugged her for a while, crying, until I had got more of a hold on myself.

"Why do you think you couldn't see me?" I asked in a whisper.

I don't know. I still can't. I'm very confused. I'm clearly overworked. She winked, jesting as best she could. I knew her, though. She was worried. I couldn't think of what to say. I knew I wanted to ask about Edward, but also, didn't want to start down a painful road, when another individual I loved was doing her best to soothe me.

"Well, I think I'm taking today off. Come visit me officially?" I asked, softly.

Of course.

I went to rub my nose and smelled dirt on my hands. I needed a shower.

"I'm going to go shower." I whispered. "Try and wake up, warm up." Alice nodded at me.

I'll be back then, officially, soon.

She gave me one last squeeze, and slid open the window. She took another worried look at me, and then in a blink of an eye, she was gone.

"You never told me you hung around with a vampire." Spirit lady said from the desk.

"You didn't come back. I figured maybe you were gone." I said, looking at her curiously.

"In this form I may have unlimited stamina, but not unlimited speed. At least not outgoing. I can't teleport to places. I actually made it all the way to La Push last night."

"You can teleport back?" I blinked at her.

"Sort of. I'd describe it as a retractable dog leash. If I relax, I come whizzing back to the start, but it's hard to pull away."

"Always the dog analogies." I frowned at her.

"What?" she shrugged. "I like dogs. Besides that, you very clearly redirected the conversation."

"The Cullen's are different." I started explaining.

"There are more of them?" She asked horrified.

"The doctor and his wife, five children, all sort of around my age." I said. "They don't drink from people, only animals. It's why their eyes are gold, and why they try to integrate themselves into society, as best they can. They really are a family. Don't judge them until you get to know them." Spirit lady sat there thoughtfully for a moment.

I realised that I had essentially been arguing with a figment of my imagination, and got up, and went to have a human minute. I took a tylenol, and hopped into the shower. When I was done, I opened the bathroom door, only to be surprised by Charlie.

"Hey kiddo. How are you?"

"I'm okay." I said, and signed. "I'm sorry I got lost, and scared you so badly yesterday."

He hugged me tightly, mumbling something I couldn't hear. When he pulled away he looked stern.

"If you EVER go hiking again-"

"I won't." I interrupted him. "I think I've been scarred enough, don't you?"

He shook his head at me, and suddenly whipped his head around. Clearly he'd heard something. Maybe the phone? He cantered downstairs, while I slipped into my room to get dressed. Spirit lady was there, peering at my book collection, in the muddy outfit from yesterday.

"Can you look away for a second?" I asked. She rolled her eyes, and turned towards my window.

"So who was the vamp in here today?"

"Her name is Alice." I muttered as I got dressed.

"And are you two a couple?" She asked blatantly. I dropped my t-shirt with surprise, then picked it back up again. "You two seemed pretty cozy last night, and were clearly fighting or making up about something this morning?"

"She's like my sister." I explained. "She has a mate. His name is Jasper. Rosalie and Emmett are a couple, and Carlisle and Esme are the parents." I explained. I sat on my bed, brushing my fingers through my hair so that I could braid it out of the way.

"You're missing one? You said there were seven?"

My chest gaped with a massive pain and Spirit lady looked shocked. It took me a second to catch my breath.

"Oh." She smiled sadly. "I see."

When I looked back at her, she was in the same clothes that I was.

"Shall we go get some breakfast? You did an awful lot of exercising yesterday, and I have some exploring to do."

"I thought you weren't staying?" I asked.

"Oh trust me, I'd rather not. I really want my own body. Your life seems complicated enough as it is, without me stuck inside of you."

"Can you please tell me your name?" I asked. "In my head you're the spirit lady, and it's kind of tiresome."

"No. Not until I find one I like. Seriously, my last host had an abysmal name. Not going to let it ruin my new life."

I blinked at her blankly, and then went downstairs. I guess if I was going to go crazy, I may as well have a complicated delusion spirit. Keep things interesting.