AN: Here's the next chapter for you, and it's only been three days so be happy. Actually it's only so soon because I'm going to be in Philly and New York City for the next week and a half and I'm not so sure how much time I'll have on the computer, but you never know so just cross your fingers and hope I get a chance to! And only have two more reviews to go until I reach 100, so please help. A big thanks to my BETA Lena Bergal for editing this chapter on a last minute notice!

I do not own twilight or New Moon, as always

Chapter 11

Bella's Pov

We continued to walk the dark path through the sleeping city. Although I knew almost nothing about Alec, I felt safe, just as I did with Edward. Feeling safe did not inspire me to drop my guard; after all, I was a magnet for danger.

I was still being careful not to let my mind wander to my speculative thoughts on how I had ended up here. I could not convince myself that this was a mere coincidence, just as I could not deny Edward's view on life.

As we wound our way deeper and deeper into the city, the lights began to dim, until there was no light at all.

Treading carefully over the uneven pavement, I made my way to Alec's side. "Did you ever think anything like this could happen?" I asked quietly. I was hoping not to disturb his desolate mood, though from my perspective, it seemed like an impossible task to overcome.

A brother who you thought was dead has suddenly turned up, and is cursed just as you believe you are, the brother that you loved with all your heart is a bloodsucking monster fighting against his instincts, just as you are. Knowing how hard it is to succeed without human blood, how hard it is to resist the temptation, even after all these years.

Somehow, I shouldn't have been able to understand how he felt; after all I was an only child and was not yet a member of the "forever cursed".

"No. I mourned them for the first year after my "birth", and I never could find their graves. I don't know... I guess at first, I used to hope that they were still alive, and that one day I would find them.

"The next thing I knew fifty years had passed, and all hopes of finding them were diminished. Not that I didn't think of them often." His voice had dropped so low by the ended that I had to quiet my breathing to here his final words.

"I'm sorry," I whispered back to him, my voice layered thick with sincerity.

His head turned to me with a smile, similar to the crooked smile I loved. It was hard to forget they where brothers while spending time with one of them. All of the habits that I loved, and hated, in Edward were present in Alec. I had yet to decide if I liked the fact that the two brothers were all most identical in personalities.

A cool wind blew through the darkened street, bringing me back to thoughts of wishing I had a jacket. So many questions filled my brain, so many that I had to bite my tongue to keep from blurting them out.

I knew I felt guilty for my fight with Edward; I loved him with all my heart, and could never stay mad at him longer than a few hours. We were meant to be together forever, just as the rest of his family had decided. I knew that the guilt pulsing fast through my veins was the only thing making me reluctant to face him.

I knew how much pain I had caused him, and it hurt me. I would do anything to make his situation easier, becoming a vampire one of them. After I was changed he would no longer have to worry about hurting me, or having others in his family hurt me unintentionally.

I was so deep in thought that when Alec gently grabbed my hand in his marble grip to lead me down an empty ally, a shot of adrenaline shot through my blood. I had to breathe slowly to try and clam my frantic heartbeat, which, I knew Alec could hear. At least I wasn't blushing yet.

At the end of the ally, a silver Volvo sat. Somehow, I wasn't surprised by the fact that the brother's had the same type of car. I was sure it could get confusing, but I wasn't going to worry about that now.

I felt as if I was letting down Alec by not telling him about my connection with Edward, I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about our relationship, and I didn't want him to be surprised when he learned about our against-all-odds relationship.

I had always hated the fact that silence made people over-think issues, and become even more confused than you had been at the beginning.

Alec drew a pair of keys from his pocket, and quickly unlocked the doors. As I arrived at the passenger side of the car, Alec appeared, pulling the door open seconds before I had a chance.

He gestured for me to climb in, and like a good girl, I obeyed. The minute the door closed, I had the sense of being alone with Edward on the night I discovered his darkest secret. I could just hope the ride home wouldn't follow the same path.

The car's quiet motor came to life, and Alec started to drive out of the ally. I could already feel the warmth starting to spread throughout my body. I gently massaged my ears with the tips of my fingers, trying to bring the warmth back to them.

"I know I haven't had the best manners tonight, and I would like to apologize. You have to understand the shock I went through when I found Edward was… alive."

"After so many years of believing him to be deceased, I can't get my mind to accept the information you have told me." The pain and confusion was evident in his voice, weaving its way in and out of his whispered words.

He truly wanted to believe me, and I could fully understand his doubt. His instincts telling him not to trust a mere human such as me.

"That's okay, I've gotten used to it by spending so much time with Edward." Not that he had trouble speaking, that was on me, and it was hard to hold a conversation while the other could not respond due to the fact that she is concentrating completely on not hyperventilating.

"How do you know Edward?" he questioned. I closed my eyes, and mentally sighed.

"He's my…" What was I to say? He wasn't my boyfriend, he never had been. I suppose that technically he was my fiancé, but we had always seemed beyond the silly nonsense of marriage promises. I guess I would have to settle for fiancé though.

"… Fiancé," I finished in a rush.

He looked puzzled, "Oh. How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"That's very young," he responded, distracted.

"Well, Edward's 105."

"I guess that makes sense, but I also assume he's going to turn you?"

"I hope so." I whispered sadly. I saw Alec's head jerk slightly at my response. "Even if Edward thinks I'll be cursed for the rest of my life, empty of a soul."

He seemed to be surprised by this because his fingers, that had been drumming a pleasant melody on the dashboard, froze in place.

"If he thinks this why has he agreed to change you?"

"He hasn't, his family made the decision for him." Minus Rosalie, I whispered quietly to myself, not that it kept him from overhearing."

"He… has… a family?" he asked meekly. I realized my mistake; I shouldn't have mentioned them until he had had a chance to meet with Edward.

"Yes, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind adding someone else to the family, they accepted me after all and I am only human."

"How many are there." He voice had grown a hint more confident.

"There are seven, including Edward."

"What are there names?"

"Well… there's Emmett and Rosalie and Alice and Jasper. They and Edward are like the siblings of the family, Esme and Carlisle take the place of parents." I spoke calmly.

"I noticed that you paired them all together, all but Edward. Is that why they've chosen to accept you into the family, so that Edward can be with somebody?"

I bit my lip, and didn't respond.

"I'll take that as a yes." I smiled slightly; he did not really seem to mind about Edward having another family after hearing about them.

I noticed that we had crossed into Forks. "Welcome to Forks, a town infested with Vampires and occasionally, werewolves."

His eyes grew wide at the word werewolves. "They live here, with werewolves?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. They live in La Push, it's near here. They don't bother us, well they don't bother them because I'm with them," I glanced quickly at Alec's perplexed features, and continued, "They're my friends, it's a long story."

He nodded, and turned his head back toward the front. I directed him through the sleeping town, over the bridge and into the forest.

"I always have trouble finding the turn off in the dark, my eyes aren't as good as yours," I admitted sheepishly.

"That's okay, I think I can find it."

I nodded slightly and went back to my task of staring out the window. He turned onto the hidden rode, and I directed my vision to the windshield, where the house was growing closer with each passing second.

I took a deep breath as Alec pulled the key out of the ignition, and stepped out of the car. Cautiously, I walked up the front steps and onto the porch. I approached the front door and opened it, letting Alec enter a good few feet in front of me.

Out of nowhere Esme appeared in the front room, a puzzled expression poised on her friendly face.

"Bella dear, who is this may I ask?" she asked politely.

Before I could answer Carlisle appeared beside Esme, and as his eyes turned toward Alec's direction, they grew wide.

"Oh boy, I'd forgotten." For once Carlisle seemed uneasy and uncertain of what to do.

"Carlisle, Where's Edward?" I asked quickly, before the rest of the family appeared downstairs to see what was going on.

"He's in his room..." Though he had answered my question, his tone was distant and distracted.

I turned toward Alec. "Come on, let's go." I ordered, heading for the staircase.

"Bella dear, I'm not so sure that's the best idea." A thought became clear at that moment, the reason why he was not already downstairs, greeting me.

"Edward's not going to forgive me is he?" I asked quietly, the wound, that I hoped would always remain healed, opened, letting its pain seep through my body, causing tears to cloud my vision. What had I done?

B/N: Oh my god. Is it ok for me to be sad and mad as hell right now? Cuz I am. I love this story though! That's really all I have to say right now. Keep reading folks! And Happy Turkey Day! LB (a.k.a. Moonlight313's BETA, Lena Bergel)

AN: well the end of another depressing chapter, it'll start heating up in the next chapter though so don't worry, too bad the next chapter's not going to be up until I get back! Happy thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates it, don't forget to eat a tone of good food! Moonlight313