Disclaimer - I do not own Twilight sob do you have to keep reminding me ??

A/N - Wow, I guess this whole holding-chapters-hostage-till-I-get reviews-thing kinda works ! I'm sending big cyber hugs to my lovely reviewers, and to the people who added this to favourite story and me to favourite author !! Thank you guys sooooo much !! Sorry this is late, my Mom needed the computer for work so I couldn't update till now, on the plus side I've got the next 5 chapters planned out so if I get reviews I can update right away !! So please review people !! I've made this chapter pretty long to make up for the wait, once again sorry !! Ok - now on with the chapter !!

"Bella, are you alright ?" Ciara asked gently, scrutinising my face worriedly. I nodded my head mutely, still staring at three of the people I thought I would never see again. I had spent the past 95 years trying to get over losing him, them, the entire family that I had chosen who had abandoned me. "Oh sorry, Bella this is Doctor Carlisle Cu-"

I found my voice suddenly, "I know who they are Mom," I whispered, the hole was threatening to take me over, the pain becoming even more intense than it was when I saw Rosalie. To find three members of the family who hadn't wanted me sitting in my living room was almost too much, He had told me that it was his choice to leave so I didn't, couldn't blame them or even Him for leaving me, I was just a stupid, worthless human, still, seeing them, brought back all the pain I had felt. I heard a gasp from the other side of the room where they were sitting. They were all staring at me, shock evident on their perfect faces.

"Bella," whispered Alice wondrously. I found that I couldn't speak, I was too busy staring at them, even through the pain and sting of betrayal and abandonment, I felt whole again. Happy. Something I hadn't really felt in years.

"Oh, Bella," squealed Alice joyously running to me and hugging me with such force that I fell backwards onto the soft leather sofa. She held me so tightly that if I were human I wouldn't have been able to breathe. I felt myself hugging her back in return as her squealing turned to sobbing, she rasped out quiet tearless sobs. "Bella," she murmured over and over again as I rocked her, holding her tight against me as she cried. It was amazing how I felt around Alice, she always made me feel better, even when she was crying.

"Bella," I looked up. "Yes Mom ?" I spoke softly, Alice was beginning to calm down but she was still shaking and letting out small quiet sobs. "Bella, how do you know Doctor Cullen and his family ?" asked Ciara, confusion evident in her voice. "Do you remember who I told you about , erm … Him … Edward ?" I answered quietly, taking deep breaths to stop myself breaking down. "Yes," she answered, I could see her eyes turning black at the mention of his name, she is as protective as Charlie was of me. "Well, this is his family." I held on even tighter to Alice, clinging now instead of comforting, I still couldn't bear to say his name, even after all these years, just saying it caused such intense stabs of pain that that Jasper cried out and looked at me in wonder. His eyes locked on mine and he whispered "everyday ? ," I nodded "All the time." His eyes showed sympathy and understanding. Carlisle and Mom were looking at us in confusion. Alice's sobs stilled and she looked up at us curiously, her arms still wrapped around my waist. "Jasper, its alright of you have to leave," I said quietly. "Bella, how do you-" "I manage" I muttered looking at the floor. "Jazzy, I'll tell you everything later," mumbled Alice, Jasper nodded in agreement and ran swiftly out the door and into the surrounding forest.

Before anyone could say a word Emmett Cullen ran through the door accompanied by the most beautiful vampire I had ever seen, Rosalie. Alice was forced to let go of me as Emmett picked me up in a vice tight bear hug, I hugged him back forcefully.

He put me down and stared at me, an expression of amazement crossing his face, he shook it off quickly and grinned. "Sorry, I'm just not used to my lil sis being so strong." He laughed. The hole rippled at his calling me his sister, he didn't know how badly I'd craved the title.

Rosalie steeped out from behind Emmett, gently but firmly tugging me into her embrace. I was so shocked, I didn't know how to respond, I just hugged her back. She released me after a few minutes. "I'm sorry I didn't speak to you in biology" I mumbled "I was just so surprised." "I know so was I," she laughed her tinkling laugh .

"Bella, this is his coven ?" my Mother whispered. "Yes," I replied, sitting back down beside Alice, while Rosalie and Emmett moved to sit on the loveseat.

"Well then, I have one question," she turned to Carlisle, her voice hard, "is your son here ?" "No," he answered sadly looking at the floor.

"Bella, do you mind me asking how you were changed ?" Carlisle asked. "No" I mumbled, I knew this was coming "do you remember James and his coven?" He nodded seriously, everyone's attention was on me. "Well Laurent changed me." There was a collection of gasps. Even Carlisle looked shocked, but continued, "when ?" he whispered quietly.

"Six months after you guys left," I murmured, looking at the floor.

"Oh my God !" Alice was gasping again, sucking in great lungful of unneeded air. "Alice," soothed Carlisle in a low voice. She jumped up. "No, Carlisle ! I told him ! I told him not to leave her and look what's happened ! It's bad enough that he's ruined his own life but look at Bella's." With that she turned and pointed to me. I rose and pulled her into a tight hug, "it's ok Alice, I'm fine honestly, it's not his fault" I murmured into her spiky black hair. I pulled her gently onto the couch and she collapsed in a heap beside me, though gracefully, after all it was Alice.

Alice laughed, a garbled version of her musical laugh, after a few minutes. " Look at me Bella, I'm sorry, I should be comforting you !" I grinned, "it's ok Alice, I'm fine." The silence that followed my reassurance was broken by Emmett's question, "Bella, how many times did you … you know, slip in the first year ? See Jasper and I had this bet going - Ouch !!"

Rosalie had elbowed him hard in the ribs, "Not now" she muttered fiercely. " I couldn't help but smile, that was so like Emmett. "How many times did you bet Emmett ?" "Under 20 times," "And what did Jasper bet ?," "Erm, 20 to 40."

"Looks like you won then Emmett," I smiled, it was so easy to like Emmett, though the pain was still there, just being around Emmett made you feel content and happy.

"Yes !" he yelled, jumping up and punching the air with his fists. "How many times did you slip Bella ?" I looked up quickly to see Carlisle's worried face.

"None," I muttered. "What ?!" my answer caused every Cullen in the room to stare at me in astonishment. "Bella how is that possible ? Where were you changed ?" called Rosalie from across the room. "In the meadow, you know, in Forks. I didn't feel thirsty when my change was complete, Laurent was gone and I was scared to go back home in case I hurt Charlie so I moved to the edge of the forest, far from Forks. But two hikers came by, they smelled disgusting !" Emmett's booming laugh echoed throughout the room at my obvious repulsion. "But them I heard them talking about a girl who got killed by bears in the forest-" "Oh Bella," Alice interrupted me by wrapping her thin arms tighter around my waist. I continued " Charlie thought I was dead so I stayed away, search teams had found a lot of blood and fragments of my clothing, I didn't want to hurt him more. I wandered around different forests in Washington for about two weeks, there were still search teams looking for me so I had to get out of Forks. Two weeks later I met Ciara and we've stayed together ever since." She is my mother in all the ways that count, I thought to myself.

The Cullen's looked amazed, either at my lack of bloodlust or my history , I don't know. "So how often do you have to hunt ?" Carlisle asked curiously. "About once every six weeks, but that's just to be comfortable, I don't really need to for about once every two months.

Carlisle looked impressed, then he checked his watch. H jumped up from the armchair he was sitting in, " Bella, I'm really sorry but I have to go, my shift at the hospital begins in in 5 minutes, I'll have to run, I'd stay but it's my first day."

He walked over to me slowly and gave me a quick hug, he released me quickly, as if realising how painful it was to be close to him, with Alice and Emmett the happiness outweighed the pain, but Carlisle reminded me too much of … Him.

He surveyed me sadly and then murmured quietly, "I'm so sorry Bella." I was confused, what was he sorry for ? It wasn't Carlisle who said he didn't love me and then left me alone and unprotected, and I didn't even blame Him … Edward, for that, it wasn't his fault that he didn't love me, he couldn't help his feelings… these thoughts just brought back the painful memories of the day he left, the day my life lost its meaning…

Flashback

"Bella I don't want you to come with me."

"You … don't … want me ?"

"No."

End flashback

I almost crumpled to the floor in pain, but managed to nod silently at Carlisle. He turned and thanked Mom. Though I was concentrating too hard on my breathing, trying to make it seem normal. I saw Carlisle walk to the door and run quickly into the dark, foreboding trees. The pain was beginning to ease. Rosalie got up next, saying to Emmett "Come on, we have to go. Esme will be worried." The pain rippled again at the mention of Esme's name, the mother I almost had. They both hugged me, Rosalie was gentle while Emmett pulled me into one of his infamous bear hugs, lifting my feet right off the ground. They sprinted out the door and were gone in seconds, leaving Alice, Mom and I alone.

A/N - If I get, let's say, 10 reviews I will update happily ! SO REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW !!