A/N OME, you guys are great. :) I literally buzzed of your reviews. Amazing. Thank you all soooo much. I seriously wanted to update straight away but this is the first chance I've got – hopefully you will like it.

Chapter Eleven – Bella's Story

"I thought you were dead!" screamed Bella hysterically.

I froze.

"What do you mean" I breathed, slowly turning to face her. Bella was on the floor hugging herself to try to keep herself together and Edward was holding her furiously as if he could stop her from breaking.

"Please Alexis," she whimpered, "let me explain." Her eyes were wide and pleading, I could feel my defence wearing away slowly. Bella was on the floor in pieces begging me for a chance to explain. "Please" she repeated.

"Fine" I sighed reluctantly. I was curious to know what her excuse was. Maybe it would help me find some solace.

"Well," she began," when Edward left me while I was still human I fell to pieces as you all know." They nodded, and I guessed she was explaining this to her family as much as me. "What you didn't know was that I was pregnant. I don't know how it happened; I thought that vampires could not have children.

"Regardless, I was over the moon. I had a part of Edward inside of me, a part that he could not take away. I felt happier knowing that it could now never be like he never existed and I suddenly had a reason to wake up in the morning. With the help of Jacob my life got better."

"Who's Jacob?" I interrupted rudely. Bella smiled as if she believed that she won me over. I narrowed my eyes at her; I still hated her. She left me. I don't think I can ever forgive her for leaving no matter what her excuse was; it was programmed in me now, my hate had eaten away at me until it was all that I had.

"Jake was my best friend. He was in love with me, although I never felt the same way. He did help me through the pregnancy though and he always kept me smiling. He also was a werewolf."

"A werewolf?" I asked loudly a snarl on my face, "what the hell where you doing with that dog? Have you got a death wish or something?"

Edward snickered at my reaction until I shut him up with a death glare.

"That's exactly what I said" he smirked. I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

"Anyway," smiled Bella, "everything was going great. Well as good as it could be considering that Edward had left." Her smile faded slightly and Edwards face twisted with pain. I scoffed; they had no reason to be sad, I was the victim of all this.

"Never again" he whispered kissing her palm lovingly. She looked at him with so much love it physically hurt me. Love was something I could never comprehend.

"Right are you going to explain or not?" I snapped impatiently.

"Sorry Alexis" stammered Bella, still worried that I might take off at any moment. "Well, then what happened was the pack started to notice strange things. It did not take long for them to realise that there was some vampires in the area. At first, I was ecstatic, because I thought that He had come back for me. But, soon, we realised that they were different vampires, most likely who fed off humans.

"I thought I was safe because of my friendship with the pack and I really did not worry too much about myself – more Charlie and other people. Then one day I was in my bedroom and for some strange reason, I lifted up my floorboards. I'm not sure why, I just had this instinct. Underneath I found all my things. They were my pictures of Edward and I and there was the CD with my lullaby on. They didn't soothe me though, they sent me into panic and all the old pain came flooding back. I was in such a state that my waters broke,"

"Me?" I whispered, despite knowing the answer. I was crying silently; I had never thought of my mother as being like this. She was supposed to be the bad guy. Bella nodded sadly.

"I tried to call Charlie, I really did, but she came for me. The vampire. She took me and carried me somewhere in the woods until I was sure I was too far for the pack to come and rescue me. She dropped me on the floor and laughed as I withered around in pain for a good hour before I gave birth to you. When I held you, I felt like I had won the battle, for a minute I completely forgot about the vampire standing above me.

"She took you. I tried to save you, I really did but I didn't stand a chance. She kept laughing and tormenting me about how she was going to kill you. She mocked me, saying that I had neither Edward nor my baby and that I would live for eternity in hell alone. You were crying and I dived forwards to reach you. She just laughed and grabbed me by the neck. Then she bit me.

"The last thing I remember was her saying how my baby, you, looked good enough to eat. I swear I believed that she had killed you. I would never have left you. I loved you from the beginning. Then when I woke up I was a new born vampire and blood thirst seemed to be the only thing on my mind. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Please"

She didn't leave me? What? How? I wanted to forgive her, I really did. I wanted to trust what she said and have the family I never had. I couldn't though; how could I forgive the person that I had hated for so long. I was not sure that I knew how to forgive her.

Everyone's eyes were upon me. I knew if they could that everyone would be crying. I think my tear ducts should have been dry by now but my eyes watered never the less. Bella and Edward looked at me intently, waiting for my response.

I did the only thing I could do in a situation like this. I fainted.

***

I came around and Josh hugged me closely to his chest. I didn't make an effort to move; I was emotionally drained and rather comfortable.

"Would you like to lie down?" he whispered in my ear making me shiver involuntarily. I nodded numbly and he picked me up bridal style. No one made an effort to stop him as he carried me upstairs. I think they knew that I needed to think about what I heard and they did not want to pressure me.

He took me into a large blue room filled with modern designer furniture and a large black bed that dominated the room. He pulled back the covers and gently, he laid me down on the bed. I sighed and snuggled between the warm covers. The bed was huge making me feel tiny in comparison. Josh pushed the hair off my forehead and smiled reassuringly,

"Come down when you're ready ok?" he breathed before turning to leave.

"Wait" I said, "I'm sorry for hating you, for hating you all. I don't know if I can make myself forgive them but I am sorry for what I've done."

"You've done nothing wrong" he frowned, "hitting a vampire, sending around a rumour which actually ended up being true and a few pathetic jabs at us are nothing." I scowled; there was nothing pathetic about my jabs. "What?" he asked curiously.

"There was nothing pathetic about my jabs" I smirked. He grinned,

"See you in a bit Ali."

He left and I finally could breathe properly. It stung a little that he called me Ali as it had been what my ex-best friend had called me, but somehow I liked it. I liked how he now felt comfortable enough to shorten my name.

I closed my eyes and pulled the duvet over my head. Forgive them. Don't forgive them. Decisions raced around my head but I knew what my choice was. There had not been a choice really; it was the only thing I could do. However, I stayed in the bed, not quite ready to face them and tell them my decision. I did not drift to sleep but I lay in comfortable agony waiting for the time to ascend where I must get up.

5.30 am. Time; I still had to sneak back to the home. I got up and looked at myself in the full length mirror. I was a state, with black smudges down my face and puffy eyes. Quickly I went into the on suite bathroom and washed my face. The cold water did wonders for my nerves although the butterfly sensation was still there. I let my hair down and ran my fingers shakily through it before tying it back up neatly.

5.45 am. I could not put it off the inevitable any longer. I left the room and went downstairs. They were all waiting, all in the exact same positions. Bella and Edward were still clutching each other on the floor.

"Alexis!" smiled Bella enthusiastically when she saw me. I grinned nervously back. "Have you come to a decision? I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

"Bella. Mom," I said and her eyes lit up at the word, "I'm sorry. I've hated you for so long now it's etched into me. I don't think I can undo that. I want to forgive you but I cannot. I'm so sorry, but thank you for telling me the truth."

Bella's face scrunched up with sadness. No heartbreak.

"I'm sorry Alexis I really am, but I understand. Just do what you have to do."

"Thanks," I smiled, apologetically, "and, Bell- Mom there's one thing I need to know."

"Anything."

"Who was it? Who changed you? Who took me?"

"Victoria."

A/N Ha. I'm sorry for ending on cliffy's all the time. It's just easier to be honest :)

Thoughts?

Susie xx