A Distant Memory

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 3: Moving House

Alice POV

I've never told anyone what I saw the day Bella left. I couldn't bring myself to think on her. I didn't want to. I couldn't get over the fact that she left us. I know she did what she thought best, but how could she have left all of us, especially Edward and Allie?

It's been two years, and still, I have no visions of her returning. I've been keeping my eyes open for visions of her, but so far, I've had nothing. It's almost as if she's disappeared off the face of the planet.

"Carlisle is on his way home. He wants to talk to all of us. It's very important. Edward's not going to like it," I said, even though there wasn't anybody else in the room. I knew that they would hear me.

Pretty soon, I heard his car pull into the drive. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"I'm assuming you've told everyone, Alice, that I'm having a family meeting. Please make your way to the dining room."

When we got there, everyone was there except Edward.

"Allie, run upstairs and get your father. You're the only one he listens to anymore," Esme told my little niece.

"Okay, Nanny," she replied and rushed upstairs.

We could hear her talking to him in his room.

"Daddy, come on. Papa wants to talk to all of us. He says it's very important," her angelic voice whispered.

I could hear two pairs of footsteps make their way down the stairs.

"What is this about Carlisle?" Edward's gruff voice asked.

"We're moving," he stated.

"WHAT?" Edward yelled.

That's the most of a reaction we've got from him in a long time. Without Bella, he's been like a zombie. He doesn't laugh anymore. He doesn't smile anymore. He doesn't do anything except hunt and take care of Allie. She tries to make him smile, but when he does, it's only a shadow of his old smile. It's strained and forced.

Of course, we've all been feeling Bella's absence. Jasper, Rose, Emmett, and I have lost a sister and a best friend. Carlisle and Esme have lost a daughter. Allie has lost her mother. Edward's lost his other half. We're not as close a family anymore. We fight over the slightest thing. It's been really hard on Jasper, because he's been feeling everyone's pain, sorrow, regret, and anguish. It's put a strain on our relationship also. Bella's leaving has put a strain on all our relationships. She's the glue that keeps us together.

"You heard me. It's inevitable. We were going to have to move sometime soon. Edward you are not going to pass for twenty-two much longer. Esme and I have to pass for thirty-five. We have to move. Make a fresh start."

"I told her that I'd wait for her. What happens if she returns and we're not here?" Edward cried out.

"I'm sorry, Edward, but we don't know when Bella will come back. Alice hasn't had visions of her. I know she said she'd return, and I have no doubt that she will, but we cannot stay here. We'll leave a note behind or something to explain the situation. Bella will understand. She's had to move around herself."

I could see the logic working on him, and he reluctantly nodded his head.

"Don't worry, Daddy. We'll see Mom soon. I just know it," Allie said. I wish that I could believe that myself.

"Where are we moving too?" Emmett asked.

"Chicago," Carlisle replied.

Chicago! I couldn't help myself. I had to think on all the shops there in that big city. It was like heaven. I could feel my mood lightening already.

"Alice, is that all you ever think about? We may never see Bella again and all you can think about is stupid shopping," he spat out.

"Don't you dare talk to Alice like that," Jasper warned. He stood up straight, showing his full height.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I miss Bella too, but I know she wouldn't want us moping around like a sick dog all the time. She would want us to live. Just because you miss her doesn't mean that there's nobody else in your life that needs you. You have a daughter that needs you. You have brothers and sisters that need you. Your mother and father need you. Have you forgotten that?" I yelled at him.

See, Bella? Do you see what your leaving has done to us? Please come back to us soon.

I stormed out of the room before I could reply.

"We're moving tonight," I heard Carlisle say.

I drove to Chicago with Rose and Jasper. I didn't want to ride with Edward, as things were still pretty awkward between us.

We pulled up to our new house. It was in the suburbs and was an English Country Tudor styled house. It was one of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen. It was a grey stone house, but the stone around the front door was a lighter shade. It had many, many windows but a large one on the upstairs overlooking the front garden.

The garden was huge. Esme would enjoy working amongst the flowerbeds. A tall tree grew just at the front of the house.

Inside, there was a very modern kitchen, a library with a fireplace, a living room also with a fireplace, a dining room. It also included a breakfast room, two bathrooms, and a butler's pantry. Since we have no need for a butler, we could convert that room into something else.

Upstairs has a master bedroom and four other bedrooms. The basement had been converted into several other rooms, a bar, a media room, an office, a laundry room, and a storage room.

To say it was huge would be the understatement of the century.

"Alice? Do you want to hit the shops?" Rose asked.

"Sure. Let me get my purse and we'll go."

Rose and I lost count of how many different shops we'd been in. We had bought so much stuff for ourselves, Allie, and even the new house. We bought saucepans and cutlery, even though we had no need for them. They were on sale, okay? I'm sure Emmett could amuse himself with them for a while.

We walked into a really cool clothes shop when we met another vampire. She said her name was Dawn and she had a sister called Isabella in the changing room.

It couldn't be our Bella could it?

Of course not. Bella hates being called Isabella. She loathes it. Besides, I would've seen it if we were going to meet Bella..

"I'm sorry, Rose and I really must go, but it would be so nice to see you again and meet your entire family," I said to Dawn.

"Of course.. Here's my number."

As we were walking out of the shop, I thought I smelled something familiar. It smelled an awful lot like Bella, yet it was different somehow. I ignored it and walked on.

We heard running footsteps behind us, and someone was calling us.

"Wait! Please wait. I need to talk to you," I heard her voice say.

Rose and I turned.

Bella?

"Is your names by any chance Alice and Rosalie?" she asked.

What? Doesn't she know who we are?

"Of course we are, Bella. Don't you know who we are?" Rose answered.

There are so many questions, like why I didn't see us meeting Bella.

"I'm sorry, I don't know you. Am I supposed to?"

"But, how did you know we were Rosalie and Alice?" I asked.

"I don't really know. It's hard to explain. I know your family too. There's Carlisle and Esme. Rosalie's husband is Emmett. Alice has a husband called Jasper. There's a little girl too ... um ... Allie, I think, and someone else. A guy. Edward! That's it."

"Bella what on earth is going on?" Rose asked.

"Why do you keep calling me Bella? My name is Isabella. Nobody calls me Bella."

"Isabella!" I heard the vampire from the store call. "Alice, Rose, do you know my sister, Isabella?"

"No, not this one anyway," I said too quiet for them to hear.

"We met briefly a few years ago. I was wondering if I could borrow Isabella for a few hours. I would really like her to catch up with my family. You're more than welcome to drop by later on. I'm sure you'll be able to find us."

I dragged Bella and Rose to the car. Bella looked a little shocked.

"Let me go. What is going on? I don't know who you are. Why did you lie to Dawn?" she yelled.

"Bella, just sit down, and we'll explain later. But first of all, you have some explaining to do yourself."

We pulled up outside our house and got out of the car.

"Guys! Get down here, now. We have a lot of things to talk about!"

A/N There you go guys. Good stuff happening next chapter =]

Happy New Year =]

Helen =]

p.s Read and review