A/N Hey this is my first story and im posting the opening note here because i forgot on ch.1. after starting to read fanfiction this is the first story that came into my mind. and ive really enjoyed writing it so i hope everyone enjoys reading it! if you read please reveiw! any feed back is good feed back! even if you want to tell me it stinks and i should put up my laptop forever please tell me! thank u for reading
Thanks to Cullenfan101 for being my beta!
About the mature rating im not really positive yet how much smut will really be in this story im undecided what do you guys think?
anyways enjoy! im done talking
Jerrica!
Oh and i dont own twilight or any of the characters! although they do pretty much own me!
Edwards POV
The plane ride here was completely uneventful. Besides the fact that we had to fly to Seattle then get on another plane to some town called Port Angelas? Now we were on the hour drive to Forks. It was completely hard to believe this was where my Mom and Dad had grown up, met and fell in love eventually. We were going to live with my Aunt and her family till my dad could find a job somewhere. But what kind of job can you get when you've spent your whole life being a lawyer. Who up till about a year was thought of one of the best lawyers in Illinois? My Aunt and Uncle ran the local sporting goods store. From what I had heard made a pretty good living out of it too. Supposedly there was lots of hiking and camping going on in the incredibly exciting town of Forks. But what else could there possibly be to do?
"Were almost to your Aunt Judy's, now Edward please try and be social, Mike has been looking forward to seeing you for years. I know that you may not have anything in common with him anymore but please try." My dad said begging me to be anything but myself. "Oh and can you try to not um.....say anything about you know your ability?"
"Ed! I cannot believe you just said that. He has the right to be himself. It's not like he can hide it? If were going to be living with them they need to know. You got us into this mess and this is something you're going to have to deal with." My mother almost yelled at my father. Oh so now she has an inkling of a backbone? I swear the woman could be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
"Ill do my best." I simply said in a monotone. My father rolled his eyes at my lack of emotion for just about anything these days. While my mother showed a small smile. I assume from her small fit. I guess she was proud she had finally spoken up about something.
I started to look out the window but it was the same it had been ten minutes ago just trees beyond trees. And green on top of green. I so much missed the constant sounds and smell of trash and exhaust of Chicago. Great I actually missed the smell of trash maybe along with my mother I was going off the deep end. As I was staring I started seeing small buildings that appeared to be tiny shops. This must be Forks. My dad was already pulling into a neighborhood, the houses were fairly nice. Mostly all older, paint a little weathered but in good condition none the less. We started pulling into the driveway of a large white house with a large porch. It looked to be three stories with blue shudders; it looked just like what you'd think an average American family would live in. Located on the porch was my family. Aunt Judy who looked to of gained some weight which was probably a good thing? Tall and skinny seemed to run in the Mason genes. Her bronze hair slightly redder than mine was thrown into a messy bun and she was wearing just jeans and a t-shirt. My uncle looked the exact stereotype of a man who owned a hiking store. Wearing a flannel shirt and jeans and his blonde beard seemed to be considerably thicker and a little grayer. My cousin Mike looked like the all-American guy. Blonde hair like my uncles, I'm glad he got to skip the unruly strangely colored haired my Dad and his Mom had. I was excited to admit I actually had missed him. We had been almost inseparable as children when we'd visit. But I doubt that was the same since I hadn't seen him in 5 years.
The car had come to a stop. Stopping me from dissecting my family's appearance, my mom and dad quickly got out and started delivering hugs and hellos all around. Well I would have to touch them someway. I sat in the car a little longer mentally preparing myself to see the thoughts of my distant family. I took a deep breath and got out.
"Oh, Edward you've grown into such a man, how tall are you these days?" Aunt Judy said walking up to me preparing to hug me. I attempted to close myself off as much as possible but when we touched all I saw utter and complete sympathy for me and my mother hinted with a little disgust for her brother. I think I like Aunt Judy a little more already.
"Hi Aunt Judy it's really great to see you." I said trying to smile and add a little emotion in my voice. It didn't work she detected immediately I was extremely unhappy. She gave me an understanding look and patted my back before glaring at my father. I didn't remember my Aunt having so many levels. Hm...Maybe I was her son, instead of my slimy fathers. My mind started going off on love child scenarios and how it all sounded like we needed to be Maury before I noticed my uncle was now addressing me.
"Edward it's been far too long, Judy's right you're looking so much like a man." He said while clapping me on the back. The contact was so brief I didn't get much of a read besides the fact he was nervous. That's when I remembered Uncle Jim had never been much of a touchy feely kind of person. I started to remember how much I truly enjoyed spending time with them. They always seemed to be the ideal family.
"Thank you, Uncle Jim. It's great to see you as well." Showing a little more emotion in my voice, I was in some ways extremely happy to see them. I didn't know about living with them for an unknown amount of time but still happy. Next Mike walked up. "Hey man, I've missed you round here, we might have to go find some worms and chase around Stanley for old times sake." He said as he quickly hugged me, only thing I saw was that he was incredibly anxious to get back to his play station. I always liked Mike for his simple minded thinking. "Hey and yes we will definitely have to do that." I laughed. I almost fell over from the feel of it. I don't think I had actually truly laughed in months.
"Well guys come on in I got supper sitting on the table, and I know you guys must be exhausted from traveling." Aunt Judy said smiling at my mom and me. She was almost completely ignoring my dad's presence. Holy hell, I may hug her to just show her how much I appreciate her reaction to this. I can't believe I thought that. I never hug people voluntarily; hell I never touch people unless it's completely necessary.
"That sounds great Judy." My mom said as she walked with my aunt into the house. I silently followed behind. I was in a better mood since seeing my Aunt's feelings towards her brother. I think half my animosity towards my parents was because my mother was doing nothing to show my father he'd been wrong in his doings. Once inside the foyer, Mike walked up to show me to my room.
"So Edward, what do you for fun these days, I assume comic books aren't your only interests anymore?" Mike said with a genuine smile.
"Honestly back home, I mostly played the piano in my spare time from school, but seeing as how we had to sell that." I said instantly sorry I had been so openly bitter.
"Man, I'm sorry. This whole situation completely sucks."
"Yeah it really does. Sorry, I'm such a downer; I'm just in a really bad place with my parents right now." I said trying to install sometime of understanding in him as to why id turned into such a jerk. We came up the stairs to the first door on the right. It appeared to of been a sewing room at one time. There were fabrics and a sewing table in the far left corner. The walls were completely bare, just an off white color. There was a twin-size bed in the middle of the room with some purple covers, then a small dresser and night stand. It was small but completely secluded from most the house. Oh how wonderful, seriously as this day went on I may kiss someone.
"Well this is it, sorry about the purple covers. It was all we had; we can go into town soon and get you some different color." Mike said with an apologetic smile
"No, it's completely fine, I just sleep on them right?' I said trying to keep the nice conversation going between us.
"BOYS, dinner is ready. Come down please." Aunt Judy yelled from the bottom of the stairs. I don't think my mother had cooked a home made meal since I was a child. I started to have a little better of an outlook on living here. My life was still in pieces, but I got the feeling id be around people that loved me at least. I walked around Mike to go downstairs careful to not touch him. I didn't want to ruin my new found hope in life with unwanted thoughts from him.
"Well we better go, but my room is on the third floor with the rest of the rooms if you ever need anything." Mike said with a small smile.
"Yeah, ill keep that in mind. Thanks for showing me my room."
"No problem, do you need anything for school? I know your private school is going to be a lot different than Forks High." He laughed. Crap, I had completely forgot tomorrow was our first day. My hopeful outlook was most likely on the way out the door by the time tomorrow came around.
BPOV
Shopping was completely uneventful; mostly the family followed around Alice, Rosalie and Esme and watched them shop. I hated shopping with the passion of a thousand suns. I don't think I got near the kicks of making the women happy as the guys did. Once we got home I went up to my room and stood in front of the window looking out into the forest. I loved this alone time. I think my family sometimes got the message to not bother me.
Honestly I wished I had stayed home like I planned to. I was always being dragged to these things. I sometimes enjoyed the sibling bonding with them and the parental one with Carlisle and Esme. But the truth was I always felt out of place. Only person older than me was Carlisle and that wasn't by much in the vampire world. I had always looked at Carlisle like a father figure; in my human life I didn't have one. He had died along with my mother at the age of 10 leaving me all alone. I had two people in my life after that. Before Carlisle there was my grandmother and Garrett.
I took a large breath after thinking that thought, all kinds of memories rushing back to me. I remembered the way his eyes followed me. I remember seeing so much good in him even though at the time he was a monster, I most of all remembered how he loved me irrevocably and how I had loved him. I was a lonely 16 year old who had never had anyone but my grandmother. I knew I loved him. All of our human memories fade, but I somehow in some way had managed to remember everything in out courtship. I don't know if that was a gift or a complete curse. Knowing and always remembering what it was like to have the love id always wanted. I started to think back to the very first day my short life began. Everything taking place was leading up to me meeting him....
After my parents died I moved in with my aunt and uncle it wasn't a good environment there was 4 other children and my uncle was extremely abusive. I left at 14 and moved to Venice, Italy. I ran into a woman one day while I was begging for money on the streets of the market.
"Please mam do you have a spare coin, I'm very hungry. Please?" I asked looking at the older woman in her fancy clothes and fur. Envying the life she must have had. She started to look at me with disgust before her face turned to one of concern
.
"What's your name young lady?" she asked looking like she knew me from somewhere. I knew that was impossible.
"My name is Isabella swan."
"Where is your family from?" she now looked extremely troubled. She was giving off an extremely anxious vibe. She was certainly starting to make me uneasy. "I am from Treviso, its not far from here. I just moved here alone, 7 days ago." The woman made a small gasp and reached out quickly and grabbed my filthy hand and started looking at my eyes intently.
"It can't be it isn't possible. Was your fathers name by chance Charles?" she said the last part at barley a whisper, suddenly looking troubled and pained. I automatically felt incredibly bad for her. And then it hit me this woman knew my father. I knew from my aunt telling me that my father had been from an incredibly wealthy family and came from Venice but when he met my mother and decided she was the one he wanted to marry, the family disowned him. My father gave up, his money, college everything to be with my mother and the child, they soon bared after marriage. They moved to Treviso, my mother's hometown before I was born.
"Yes Mam it was, his family was from here. I'm afraid I have to tell you though he passed 4 years ago, I'm his only child." I didn't hurt anymore to talk about my parents. My life was just hard that's all there was to it; I wasn't among people who were privileged. I had everything I had ever love taken away from me.
"Oh my goodness child, please come with me. I'm afraid I can't explain in such a public setting. But id love for you to accompany me to my home. I have food and everything you might need there." She tried to give a small smile but she looked as though she was about to cry instead of giving a smile.
"Okay mam thank you for your hospitality." I said giving a small smile of my own. I had no idea who she was, or how she knew my father but I hadn't eaten in 2 days. I would take anything I could get. I silently followed her back to her home. She would sometimes look up at me and smile. It was then that I noticed that in her day she must have been extremely beautiful. She had beautiful creamy skin even with her heavy wrinkles; she had full lips, and the bottom one slightly larger than the top. Her clothes were gorgeous she was wearing a black fur wrap along with a hat, and a beautiful gown. Her clothes seemed far too extravagant for going to the market. We arrived at her villa. It was breath taking, I don't even know if I could call it a villa it was huge with many acreage surrounding it. I was too lost in thought to notice that we had walked quite a distance now just on the outskirts of Venice. We walked in where two servants greeted her and regarded me with extreme curiosity but said nothing. I followed her into the living area that was immaculately decorated, it seemed fine lace and gold was a common accessory. I immediately felt bad for sitting on anything. All the chairs looked expensive.
"Isabella, please take a seat. I have much to tell you." She said pointing at the overly sized chair to the left.
"But I cant I'm filthy and everything here is so beautiful." I said looking at her once more. Completely bewildered about how this situation had come about but she just let out a small laugh and politely said. "Isabella, it is fine nothing here is irreplaceable, I've ordered us tea and sandwiches to snack on while we talk. Please sit down." She pointed again at the chair. I finally sat on the very edge, so I could touch the least amount of fabric possible. She rolled her eyes at me before she sat down across from me.
"Isabella I'd like to start things off with explaining who I am to you. I'm Marie, your paternal grandmother." I stared her with wide eyes. I was completely shocked, of all the people to run into. "I hadn't seen your father in 10 years. May I ask how he and your mother died?" she let only slight flicker of pain cross her face but besides that her face remained was stoic. Void of any emotion she felt for her son's death. She took off her gloves, wrap and hat. Leaving her in one of the most beautiful black satin gowns I had ever seen. A young man in a white uniform came in and sat the sandwiches and tea in front of us. She prepared my cup and sat it on my side of the table along with 2 sandwiches. I grabbed it quickly; I don't think I even chewed. She regarded me with concerned eyes before I continued.
"My mother and father both died of the bubonic plague when I was 10. I was sick as well but somehow made it through. They were not as lucky." I said the sadness I felt for them clear in my voice.
"Oh I see, did they not leave any wealth for you to live on, I thought my son had joined the police force in Treviso?" she said obviously questioning why I was begging on the streets for money.
"They left me some, but I'm afraid not much. I went to live with my mother's sister Ada after they died her and most of her family was spared from the plague. But her household was not very well off. I gave most of the money my family left me to keep them afloat." I didn't want to go into with this stranger that my uncle had been a gambler and a drunk and my aunt was a heroin addict. I still felt bad for leaving my cousins. But they were all close to my age and seemed to be taking the same path. I had to get out of there before I to suffered the same fate.
"I'm sorry; it sounds like you have had an extremely hard life. That sounds nothing like what I wanted for my grandchildren." Her facade was fading; I could now see how much guilt she harbored under the surface. She had grown quiet lost in her thoughts when something came to my mind
.
"How did you know who I was?" I asked just remembering she had first asked my name. I had given no indication of who I was. She gave a grim smile before beginning.
"Your eyes" she paused gazing into them once again before she continued. "They are the exact same color as mine and your fathers, and plus you looked an immense like me when I was your age. I looked into your eyes and immediately saw Charles. I had thought maybe by chance he might be with you. But I knew that my son would not let you beg on the streets if he were living. My hope faded of a reunion with him. But I knew there was a lot I could help you with." Thousands of thoughts went rushing through my head. No, I did not leave one controlling household to go to another. She would be the same auctioning me off to the best suited man. None of them were suited. I was myself and would walk this life alone till I loved. I wanted so much what my mother and father had. There love for each other sometimes was blinding. I deserved that, wherever it was I would not settle.
"Mrs. Swan, I appreciate so much you giving me food and shelter but I'm not looking for you to take me in. That wouldn't be right; you don't know me at all we just met. I very much want to stand on my own feet and have a life that is my own. Not controlled by my family or a man. I am by myself, and I'm prepared to suffer through till I find what I want." I gave her a stern look. I knew I was being rude, my mother was probably rolling in her grave as I vocally assaulted my paternal grandmother. She might have been poor but manners she did have. But looking into the eyes of the old woman, my eyes, I only saw a look of pride and love. I didn't understand how she could love me, after I basically told her to go to hell with her help.
"You seem very sure of yourself, I know the feeling. You remind me so much of someone I once knew." She said smiling. I knew she was thinking of my father I had undoubtly inherited my stubbornness from him.
"Yes, I know my dad was just as stubborn and stupid. Running off with a poor woman like my mother for love." I said a little exasperated. She stifled a small laugh then once again looked at me with pride in her eyes.
"I wasn't talking of your father Isabella. I was talking of myself. Do you know I'm not originally from Italy?" she asked with inquisitive eyes
"Um... ...yes I suppose, there was something different in your dialect." I had noticed immediately that her accent was different from my own.
"I'm from Monaco, France. I was from average family there. Working class you might say. And all they wanted for me was to marry a rich man. It was their dream. My mother wanted me to never have to lift a finger but what she never understood is that was what I desperately wanted so bad to do. Was to work and make my way in the world. At the age of 16 I was propositioned by a wealthy man of 30 to become his wife. My parents agreed he was a good man, and that was where I was to go. I didn't have many choices. I had hardly any money and I knew that unmarried women usually reverted to prostitution to get by. I was not going to lower myself to that. The night before our wedding, I ran away. I knew they'd search for me. I didn't care; I was not going to go through life miserable to be wealthy. I went the small distance to Italy on foot. I had sold all my jewelry and anything that might be worth something." She paused to take a sip of tea before she got lost in the past once again.
"My grandmother was a midwife; I had worked with her shortly and enjoyed it very much before my mother decided a working lady would never get noticed by a respectable gentleman. My grandmother had said that I to processed a talent for the craft. I arrived in the town of Genoa approximately 3 days after I left my home. I had used a lot of the money I had on housing and food on the way. Monaco being so close to Italy made me know quite a bit of Italian, I was able to ask someone where the nearest midwife was. When I found her she insisted she needed no help and had no need to teach anyone. I begged the woman and said I needed little attention I just needed her to help me make a name for myself. She had been a midwife for close to 20 years. Reluctantly she took what money I had and gave me housing and food with the promise of teaching me everything to become a skilled midwife. I worked under her for 7 years. I was not interested when men tried to court me. That would only lead to me having to quit what I loved most. When the old woman become ill, I took care of her till she passed. I then became the local midwife of Genoa, Italy. I made good money and stayed in the house the woman had had. I was very happy I was able to make such a name for myself. At 26, while I was at the market I met a man. His name was Charles Swan. He attempted to court me in the average fashion but I was having nothing to do with that. He started to come to the market on the days he knew id be present. I came to find out that he was from Venice and was in medical school. He was also 30, and had never been married. He started to accompany me on trips with my patients. And for the first time a male treated me with respect. We were a team. I quickly began to fall in love with him. When the time came for him to go back to Venice. I let him leave. I didn't want to leave my town and my independence. I stayed away from him for 3 months. I was miserable and decided that after 11 years of being alone I was ready. I still intended to work, but I was ready to relinquish my independence to the man I loved. I went and found him shortly after that. And we were married within 2 months, I was a simple woman. Although the Swan family was extremely wealthy, I only wanted a small wedding. I continued to work till I became with child. Then I had Charles."
She stopped talking looking at me waiting for me to absorb the story of her life. How different she was from I had thought. I thought her life must have been the typical one of a local aristocrat. Never having to work a day in her life. But I was wrong, this woman expressed exactly all the things I had been wanting, I wanted to be free to make my own decisions. And from the sounds of things she didn't want to marry me off. She understood this feeling of independence. She could help me. I was so happy to have actually found a woman who understood me, I almost forgot a part of the story she didn't reach.
"If you were poor at one time and found love, real love. Why did you disown my father for marrying the woman he loved?" I wanted to know so badly. How different things in my life might have been if when my parents died I could've lived with my grandmother. Or would my parents have even died if we hadn't been in Treviso. I looked at my grandmother with a little anger in my eyes. My father wouldn't have been a policeman helping carry away the bodies of the sick. He would've been an educated man in Venice. They could've lived, she could've helped. I started growing angrier by the second.
My grandmother cleared her throat. "That was my husbands doing, I tried nothing more than to tell him to accept his choice and let it be. I didn't want to loose my only son. But he wouldn't listen. I don't know how much you know about your mother's social status but..."
I interrupted her quickly. "What that she was poor, and had run away from her abusive parents? That she was a good and loving person. That gave me the best life possible. She was the best mom I could've ever asked for and she was taken away from me. I don't need to know of her social status, because I knew the real person. If you would have waited you would have seen all those things." I was almost at a shouting level. So bad that the servant came to check on Mrs. Swan but she quickly shooed him away. My tears unable to be stifled any longer came pouring out of my eyes. I wasn't sad anymore, I was angry I never had anyone to blame for their loss. Well now I did and I planned on putting it on the shoulders of my grandmother.
"Yes Renee was underprivileged but that wasn't the extent of it." She paused suddenly looking very uncomfortable she took a deep breath and continued "she was poor but also very mixed up in life. She was a prostitute and a drug addict." She stopped suddenly looking at my face to search for my reaction. I could only stare at her with a shocked expression. I gave a little nod, letting her know I was okay with her continuing.
"I was worried for Charles. I was afraid shed drag him under with her. He was so very young barely 18. He told us that he had fallen in love with her during there affair and she was pregnant. We told him to care for the child but we could pay her off. Tell her to leave, anything. But he insisted upon marriage, I was afraid and worried." She bit her bottom lip obviously nervous with having to share this part of the history. "Where as his father was outraged, he had been going to whorehouses and not taking care of his studies. Charles and Renee left after that conversation never giving us another chance to help or to accept their relationship. I tried finding them but didn't for awhile. Till I found out where she was from one of her "colleagues" informed me, and when I did. I came to him he'd have nothing to do with me. Said he made it fine on his own and didn't need our money. He wouldn't even permit me to see you. I believe you were four at the time. I'm so very sorry had I known they got sick or anything I would've helped. I was so hurt that I didn't think I could forgive them." She paused tears finally streaming down her face as she remembered her last conversation with her only son. I couldn't believe my father did that. Or that my mother was like that. I always wondered why she took such pity on my inexcusable aunt and uncle. My grandmother grabbed a silk handkerchief off of the table and began wiping at her eyes. She soon began trying to calm herself. I could tell now that this stoic expression was a mask. She didn't like to let her emotions show through. You had to search for glimpses of her real self. She cleared her throat and started to speak again.
"I'm so very glad to hear though that she turned around her life, and was a great mother to you. I very much wish things could've been different. But they aren't but I can finally help you. I can help you become that strong independent woman if you'll let me." The emotionless tone was back in her voice. I didn't know why she had built up this wall. But I recognized the ability to close your self off from others in myself. I had been doing that for 4 years.
For the first time in four years I looked at someone with respect. Behind the mask of a wealthy elderly woman sat the sprit of a young girl trying to make it in the world.
"I think ill take you up on that offer." I gave her small smile. I didn't know if this was going to work. But it was my only chance.
I was brought out of my memories from a light tap on the door. I turned to see who it was when I saw Rosalie and all her beautiful glory standing in the doorway. She was wearing jeans and a light red sweater. She looked completely dressed. I couldn't imagine where she was going at 6:30 in the morning.
"Hey Bella, I was told to come up here and tell you that we'll be leaving in an hour for school."
"Oh Crap, I completely forgot. I got lost in myself again." I said completely taken aback at how much time I had spent just standing here doing nothing. Rosalie laughed and walked in and sat on my bed. Her beautiful gold hair flowed around her shoulders. I always thought that of anyone's gift I could absorb it would have been her beauty.
"Well I think Alice for saw you doing that because she got your books and stuff ready and told me to come help you pick out an outfit. She distinctly said no sweatpants though." She laughed. How my sisters have come to know me so well. "I actually volunteered to help you. Only imagining the outfits for you she had conjured up. I was thinking your blue cashmere sweater and jeans." She looked already completely decided.
"What shoes?"
"Well your chucks of course." She laughed. When Rosalie first entered our family I wasn't at all happy, I was just getting use to Esme when a new person was thrown into the mix. But I understood Carlisle did what he had to do. I know in that situation I would have done the same. But I and she had made quite a bond. We both were quiet sometimes, but completely outspoken in our opinions. She wasn't as exuberant as Alice, but made up for it with her tenacity. And I loved that about her, we understood each other. We had an extremely unbreakable relationship. Out of everyone she understood me the most I think. She wasn't happy with this life either, but we both made it work.
She had gotten my clothes out my closet and laid them on the bed. I silently began to think if I could just jump out the window and not go to school. I didn't think Rosalie would chase me. Hmm.....
"DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT BELLA!!!" I grimaced when I heard Alice's squeaky voice yell from down the hall. Rosalie shook her head and walked out of the room. We both knew once Alice was determined there was no force of any kind that could stop her.
Well here goes to the first day of junior year.....again.
