Disclaimer:

Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all it's characters

APOV

Leaving my human life far behind me, had turned out to be the easiest thing in my life. Each day the memories of my previous life, had faded away further and further. Up until the point, that now they were only a collection of faded pictures. Occasionally my memory would be sparked by an event or object that I would come across, compelling me for a second with a snapshot of how my life had been. Only to be pushed aside by the many splendorous things, my new life had given me. Each day felt like the first day of my life with each new detail I found in the world that had never caught my eye.

Even simple and ordinary things, seemed beautiful and extra-ordinary. Like the rainstorm I was watching now. Perched on the edge of an overhanging rock, with my legs dangling over the edge. My feet bare and glistening from the rain that fell down on my body. Each drop touched my skin, finding no resistance on the cool marble skin and slowly sliding down my leg, to my feet and finally toes. Each drop, creating it's own sound as it touched my skin and vibrated through my body. And each drop added to that hum I felt inside my body, until they were a full rhythmical spectacular, coursing through my body.

The rainstorm wasn't my main reason for being perched up on this ledge. Below me in the woods Bella and Emmet where hunting. Chasing a large pack of wolves who had been causing trouble in a nearby village.

Even after living this life for 150 years, the killing still was the only regret I had in this life. Thanks to my gift, I had never been tempted to even touch a human. Just the mere thought of taking their life left me flooded with the images if grieving family, little children that like me had no one to turn to anymore or would not be born. Important destinies would sometimes be taken away, changing the course of history.

The memory of my own years spend on the street, alone and helpless.. combined with the vivid details of the life or future I would ruin. It was a lethal combination to my appetite. So instead of aching for humans, I had willingly committed to animal blood instead. As Emmet enjoyed actively hunting down his prey, we had from the start agreed to a silent understanding.

I directed him to the most exciting chase, presented the best choice in dinner. And he would then take down the animals. When he was done and only after that I would drink the last animals blood.

There was just one thing that left me with a burning ache in the back of my throat. My one secret I had kept from my family.

A recurring vision that seemed to get more and more detailed with each year that passed. The vision had started with a glimpse of blond hair, later showing me it was wavy and long. Resting on a pair of broad shoulders. His face now occupied many hours of my day as I tried to recall in perfection the soft full lips and angular jaw with that light stubble. He was blond and only shaved every few days, leaving him with a slightly messy look that made me want to palm his cheek. Sometimes in my vision, I reached out to touch his face. He stared down at me with serious grey eyes, and each time my hand was about to touch his cheek. The vision would stop. Almost like he wasn't meant for me.

But he was and I was sure about it.

My only problem was, in each of theses visions. Bella was with me, and in each vision... the ring was on her finger. A bright sparkling green that faded away as soon as I was introduced to him.

Whoever my mystery man was, his destiny was closely tied in with Bella's Edward. And as a sister I felt an obligation to put my own longing aside, if it would ensure she had her second chance in love.

BPOV

Hunting with Emmet usually excited me. He was an excellent tracker and always found a hidden trail, leading to an exciting prey that Alice had pinpointed him to. This time however he had outdone himself.

A large pack of wolves were in the area. They had been coming close to town and as a result of that, our peace would be disturbed. Alice had seen hunters coming into the forest to shoot part of the pack, decreasing the pack and restoring some of the natural balance.

The only problem with them standing up for the town population, was the fact they were in our forest. Hunting at the same time we were. The thought excited Emmet. He joked about leading a secret mission and leaped from branch to branch high up in the top of trees. Claiming it was the only way to stay out of sight. Offcourse, at the first sound of the humans getting close we could disappear so quick, they would not see more than a blur. And even that would only be possible if they were really paying attention.

No my faith was on my sister. Sitting high up, watching us from above. Looking ahead for us. She would join us the second we caught our prey, drinking the blood from our last kill. Just like she always did.

We gave it to her with great pride and satisfaction. Finding some relieve in the fact that I had turned her into a vampire but not taken her humanity. Where I had managed to shield my vampire senses, cutting my basic instincts to kill all living creatures that had crossed my path, giving me time to think and react whenever I felt tempted.

Alice, from the moment she had been turned, seemed to have perfect control. She had explained that the emotional pain her decision would cause others, was enough to stop her from even being tempted.

With Carlisle studying to become a doctor, Esme participating in the women volunteer groups in town and Alice watching us silently. It was Emmet and myself who spend many hours together. Hunting or just practicing our fighting skills. No matter how much we tried, neither of us could master perfect control of our bloodlust. Not even my ability to shield the enhanced vampire senses could help me.

And no matter how many times Alice would reassure Emmet that the Volturi would not track us down and claim him back, Emmet still wanted to be prepared. To Emmet, being prepared meant ready to fight. So we spend hours and hours practicing different fighting technics.

At first I had been no match, but through time, I had gained power and managed to beat him sometimes. Our fights had also taught me more about my own gift.

The day the Volturi had attacked us, without knowing I had pulled up a shield to protect myself. Allowing me to deflect the powers that Jane had unleashed on me. In the process, she had hurt herself.

I had also learned that if I focussed on my opponent. I could strip my opponent from for example their enhanced ability to see or hear. Emmet had reacted like a wounded lion, leaping at me with blind fury the first time it had happened. But now, he was ready for my cheating as he liked to call it. Using his strength to even out our fight. Lately our playful fighting had become more and more complex, up to the point that Carlisle joked we could wipe out the entire Volturi guard together.

Sadly no matter how skilled our fighting was, it could not prepare us for the task that was appointed to us by Carlisle. In his attempt to blend in, he had decided that starting tomorrow. The Cullen children would become students at our local High School.

At the presentation of this news, Alice had clapped her hands and jumped up and down with great enthusiasm. It was a miracle she had been able to keep it all inside until Carlisle had officially announced his decision. Emmet had pumped his fists in the air with a deafening roar, claiming he would try out for the football team. I had smiled and put up a brave face for all of them. Knowing that being around humans each day, all day in a small room.. would be a very big challenge.

And that challenge was the exact reason why I was letting Emmet lead me on a wolf hunt. The idiot was still up in the treetops, jumping silently from branch to branch. His movement causing the trees to sway under his weight at each leap. It looked like an invisible giant was rustling the tops of the trees, and perhaps to many people who would come across Emmet for the first time, that was not far from the truth.

"Bella, pay attention."

From above, Emmet called out my name.

"What?"

Throwing my head in my neck, I looked up into the treetop. Above me, Emmet was hanging upside down while waving at me with a goofy smile.

" You missed the fact that Alice has joined us."

Pointing behind me, I turned around to see Alice standing there, Her arms crossed and one foot tapping on the ground.

"Really Bella." A big frown appeared on her face when I smiled an apologetic smile at her. "You don't even notice me?"

"Sorry. I was preoccupied by the giant baboon, dangling up in the trees."

Pointing at Emmet, who still looked ridiculous in his upside down position.

Alice laughed and Emmet huffed.

"At least this baboon won't be caught and also has the first choice in dinner tonight." Dropping himself to the ground, he turned in the air, landing silently in front of us. "Are you girls ready?"

Turning away from us, he lead us towards the pack. True to Alice her promise, they were with many. Too many for us to kill all of them. For a second I deliberately paused, listening closely for the strongest heartbeat. Emmet had already grabbed two wolves, tossing one aside, for Alice.

I set my eye upon a large grey wolf. It's stance aggressive, almost like it would attack me. Then I leapt forward and the moment I did. The animal knew, it did not stand a chance. In his eyes, I could see the fear and defeat and still it did not stand down. Mid-air, I twisted my body and landed next to the animal. For the first time in my life, missing my target and letting it slip past me.

Confused about my own action, I pushed forward and caught another one. Like a coward, from behind. Making sure, that I did not come face to face with my prey for the second time. This time I did catch the animal and the moment I did, the frenzy started and my lust for blood took over. Seconds later, the lifeless body fell to my feet. As I stared down, it's reddish brown coat was smeared with it's own blood. The color reminded me of Edward's hair and for a moment I imagined the animal opening it's eyes and staring at me with desperate emerald eyes.

A strong hand, wrapping around my upper arm, caused me to spin around. Emmet was next to me. Staring down at me with a masked expression. "Let's go home." He did not let go of my arm, instead he stepped sideways. Making room for me to start walking. Past him and towards Alice. She too looked worry, a big crease showing between her eyebrows as she stared at me.

I stepped forward, leaning into Emmet. He kept at my side all the way, right until the moment we reached the house.

"Go change into the clothes that are on your bed."

Hugging me for a moment, Alice told me what to do. Grateful for her suggestion, I nodded again. Pulling away from Emmet and rushing upstairs.

There on my bed was a dark blue dress with matching shoes and cardigan. Perfectly respectable for the doctors daughter to wear. It wasn't however the clothes that caught my eye, it was the little wooden box on the shelve above my bed.

Without even taking the time to take my shoes off, I stepped on the bed. Reaching up to collect the wooden box from it's safe place. It weighed as little as a feather but still I felt the need to hold it securely in both hands. Afraid to drop it or accidentally break it.

Slowly I sank down on my knees, not caring about the fact that I was sitting on my dress. Alice would find me something else to wear for school today. Right now I wanted to see something else. Something Esme had kept safe for me, for so many years, claiming that when the time was right. I would know and feel drawn to the ring.

Taking a deep breath I placed the box on the bed in front of me and removed the lid. Inside, cool satin lined the box. Gently I folded it away, shaking as I did. Then I stared down at the object of my desire. A ring, pure and simple. But no matter how pure and breathtaking the simplicity was. The heart of the ring caused me to feel a sharp stabbing pain in my own heart.

Staring down at the ring, my perfect vampire sight, could not be mistaken in the color of that stone.

APOV

Bella had seemed gutted from the moment she had missed her kill. Watching her twist in the air and miss her target, had been the strangest thing I had ever see her do.

The strangest thing was, I had not seen it happen. Usually all events regarding the hunt were clearly shown to me previous to them happening. This however, appeared to be a split second decision. Almost like she had changed her mind and course of action by instinct rather than make a conscious decision and plan her movement.

Emmet had brought her home. He to was worried by this sudden change in behaviour. And now as we both sat downstairs, waiting for her to join us, neither of us knew what to say.

Carlisle wanted us to go to High School. And today would be our first day. A first day I had already replayed over and over again in my head. It would have been great. Would have been. Now it just faded away and every second a new flash came through.

In most of them we were together, just me and Emmet. In some of them Bella was there with us and each one time, the images were completely different. Bella's memory had been triggered by something in the woods today. And whatever that was, the event had caused Bella to become unpredictable, causing all our futures to shift at every second that passed by.

Now, the prospect of going to school. Suddenly wasn't all that wonderful anymore.

"Do you think we should go get her?"

Emmet nervously stood at the door. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he stared at the stairs.

" No, she should be downstairs soon. We have some time left." Trying to reassure him, I joined him at the door. "She'll be fine once she comes downstairs."

If she comes down stairs. I silently added to myself.

Minutes ticked away. Making Emmet more and more nervous. Finally I heard movement upstairs.

"Is she coming downstairs now?" Protective about his sister, Emmet turned to me for confirmation. Anxious to see Bella act like her old self, instead of the way she had this morning. Like all of my family, he had come to rely on my gift. Expecting me to know what would happen.

In my mind a clear image of Bella coming down the stairs wearing the exact outfit I had selected for her, faded away. Something that didn't surprise me. Bella hated wearing dresses or anything fancy.

"Why don't you wait for her in the car?"

To my relieve, he did. I waited downstairs for a few more minutes until finally I could not stand waiting any longer. Walking upstairs I listened closely, trying to hear any movement in her bedroom. It was completely silent.

Usually I would burst into her room, now I waited in front of the locked door.

"Bella, can I come in."

There was no answer, only the sound of footsteps coming to the door and the click of her door being unlocked. Trying for the second time, I was relieved to find she had unlocked the door. It opened smoothly when I carefully pushed again.

At the other side, Bella stood. Still dressed in blood smeared clothes, her hair hanging down her face in a wild arrangement of windswept curls. Her right arm was curled around her waist and her left hand a tight fist, resting against her chest. Exactly over her heart.

I stared at that fist. Baffled by the fact that for the second time today, Bella's action had surprised me. Reaching out for her left arm, I pulled it away from her body. Holding out her closed fist between us. She let me but did not open her fist. Anxious to see what she was holding on to with such desperate force, my fingers pried open her fist. One by one until finally her palm was opened.

Both of us stared down at her hand, to the tiny object she was holding. Dead and dim, but in full view. Was the ring Edward had given her. The heart black and cold. And like that stone, Bella's eyes had lost all spark.

"I need you to take this thing, away from me and destroy it." Placing the ring in my hand, she whispered the words softly. "I get my hopes up, and each time they are crushed. I don't think, I can handle that one more time."

Turning away from me, she walked over to her wardrobe and grabbed some clothes.

"Meet me downstairs in the car?"

Her words were a cool demanding question, it left no room for negotiation. I nodded, still stunned by what had just happened. "Sure, in the car." Mumbling I backed out of the room. Closing the door behind, leaving it the way it had been when I came upstairs.

The ring in my hand felt cold and heavy as I walked to my room. It was the first time, I had really seen it. Touched it and held it. All the other times I had seen it, had been in my vision. Now the accuracy of these visions seemed very unlikely.

Opening my own jewellery box, I pushed the ring deep down under all my other rings, necklaces and earrings. Hiding it.

Bella had asked me to destroy it, but I couldn't.

Not until I had found out what was going on with my visions.

Not while in my mind, I could still see a clear picture of Bella meeting the man I loved with a sparkling green ring on her finger.

A/N: What is Alice up to? ;-)