A/N:
Disclaimer: All characters and basic plot belong to Stephanie Meyer and her alone
she 's just nice enough to let me play dress up with them :P.

Welp, here be Chapter four.
Like I said before with your lack of reviews, I have little motivation to continue this story.
But for those of you who are interested, I will finish it.
The updates are just going to be slow.
Want that to change?
Then start reviewing! Sillys :P

Read away my lovelies!

Chapter 4 - Family Reunion

APOV

Jasper was literally pushing my shoulders down with all his strength to keep me from bouncing. "My love, you're going to ruin the surprise before Esme even pulls into the driveway." He was chuckling and trying to send me waves of calm but to no avail. I was too giddy and nervous.

Carlisle and Esme should be arriving any minute now and I had to get myself under control. I shook my head back and forth to try to shake off the excitement. "Ok, ok. They will be pulling up any minute. Everyone needs to stop breathing and stay perfectly still so she doesn't hear you. The wind is in our favor tonight so she won't smell you until she walks through the door. Well, here goes nothing." I grabbed my husband's hand and headed out the door as I heard Carlisle's car pull onto the road leading to our driveway. I tried my very hardest to not look as excited as I felt when Carlisle's car came into view and with Jasper next to me it was relatively easy. The car pulled to a stop right in front of me and they both stepped out. Carlisle eyed me wearily while Esme still looked void. She gave a weak smile and walked past us and headed for the front door. I looked up at Carlisle and gave him a huge smile as I turned on my heel and followed after my mother. Jasper just shrugged his shoulders as Carlisle looked to him for answers.

We all were next to Esme as she opened the door and flicked on the lights. She let out a startled gasp as Emmett and Rose came into her line of sight. "Hey mamma!" Emmett boomed as he swept up Esme into one of his famous bear hugs and twirled her in a circle. He set her on her feet and Rose was the next to hug her. While all this was unfolding, I stole a glance at Carlisle and saw him staring intently at Edward. Edward had a pained look on his face as he tore his gaze away and looked at Rose and Esme hugging.

Esme let out a small sob and hugged Rose ferociously back. "What are you guys all doing here?" Emmett swept past me and made his was to Carlisle and gave him a hug as well. As they pulled away he left his arm around his shoulders. "Well Esme, we thought it was time for a family reunion." Esme spun around to look at Emmett as he spoke and as she did so Edward came into her line of sight. She stopped mid spin and a sob wrecked through her chest. "Edward." If it wasn't for our immaculate hearing we wouldn't have been able to hear it. Edward swept forward and engulfed our mother. He gently whispered against her hair, "I've missed you all so much."

We all moved forward and encircled them. As Edward finally pulled away, Carlisle grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a hug. "We've missed you too, son. It's so good to see you. It's so good to see all of you." He pulled Esme against his chest and kissed the top of her head. "I assume we have Alice to thank for this family get together." They all beamed at me as Esme pulled me into a hug and whispered her thanks to me. Everyone had radiant smiles on their faces, all except for Edward that is. I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

A week passed by with little incident. It was still hard to get Edward to open up but I could still tell he was genially trying and I was so thankful for that. We were all doing a fantastic job not thinking about her, except for Edward. There were a few times he took off for a run when thoughts of her flooded his mind. I knew I could never stop him from thinking of her so I thought he might need some more distractions. None of us attended school, too many memories, so I figured giving Edward a task and getting him out of the house would be best for all of us.

I always wanted to open up my own night club but never got the opportunity so I figured now was the best time. Edward could help me decorate it and get it up and running. Jazz and I just got through buying a place in Peoria and we were trying to think of how to furnish it when Esme walked into the living room. "Got any ideas yet dear?" It was amazing how much Esme had perked up. It made me so happy to see her making improvements.

"I was thinking modern art maybe, lots of bright colors, animal prints, and paintings all over the walls. Problem is finding art that I like." I let out a frustrated grunt as I plopped down on Jasper's lap. "I've been browsing the internet all day for artwork but have gotten no luck. Nothing I find jumps out at me. It's so frustrating."

Esme sat down next to me and looked at the laptop screen I was currently contemplating on crushing. "Don't take it out on the computer, Alice. It's not its fault you're so picky." Edward antagonized me as he walked into the room. Damn mind reader. If I want to crush my computer screen I will. He chuckled at my thoughts and shook his head at me. I just stuck my tongue out at him and flipped the laptop closed. I flipped over on my back and crushed the palms of my hands into my eyes.

"That's a great idea Esme." I peeked through one eye at Edward and cocked an eyebrow at him. What's a good idea? "Evidently, Carlisle took Esme to Bradley University last week and she was introduced to a great artist there." I sprang into a sitting position and stared questioningly at Esme. A vision hit me of an average height girl, pretty skinny, with amazingly blonde hair, and ice blue eyes. She was standing in front of a painting describing it to me and Edward as Esme and Rose browsed around in the background. As the vision ended I squealed in delight. "Oh! I love it already! Esme call her and set up a meeting! Please!"

"Okay, Alice calm down. Her name is Claire, as you have evidently already seen, she is amazingly talented. Hand me the phone I will give her a call now." I could tell Esme was trying not to laugh at my bubbliness as she dialed the girl's number. She picked up after four rings.
"Hello Claire, its Mrs. Cullen."

Oh, Hi Mrs. Cullen! How are you?

"I'm doing good thank you. I was calling on behalf of my daughter. I told her about your artwork and she really wants to meet you and see some more of your pieces."

That sounds great! I'd be delighted to meet with your daughter.

"Great! When are you free to meet with us?"

Hmmm, anytime actually. I'm free all day today and for the next three days. I'm actually going to be at the studio in about two hours if you're free to meet me then.

"I do believe we will be free by then. Thanks a lot Claire. We will see you in about two hours."

No problem Mrs. Cullen. See ya then!

EPOV

Why I had let Alice drag me along on this outing I will never know, but here I am standing in front of Claire as she points out several of her art pieces that she thinks would look great in Alice's new club. This girl seemed generally good natured, very sweet, and lively. I bet she was adored by all of her friends. She seemed to have the kind of personality that always drew people in. She had a southern drawl which made it obvious she wasn't from Illinois. Soon the conversation drifted from the art, to the club, to fashion, then to everyday life. As Alice conversed about us just moving here and wanting to start something new I was drawn back into the conversation. Claire looked at me and smiled "Where y'all from anyway? Can't be nowhere fun. This stickler here is way too quiet." She gave me a playful wink and looked back at Alice. Amazingly this girl wasn't flirting with me. I mean I don't have a huge ego but because of my inhuman beauty most girls drooled at the site of my brother's and me. Even Claire's mind was tame.

Alice giggled at Claire poking fun at me. "My brother never has been the life of the party." She pushed her shoulder into me and gave me a nudge and I smiled down at her. She continued her conversation with Claire. "We're from the state of Washington. Dreary, rainy place, we needed some fresh air." A low growl rumbled in my chest. Dreary? She speaks of it as if she hated it. Washington was the best state I'd ever been to, it's where I found… OW! Damn pixie! Did she just pinch me?! I'm just making conversation Edward. Calm down. "So you chose Illinois as your next destination?!" Claire laughed and shook her head. "It's not much better then Washington. I was born in Texas but moved to Phoenix, Arizona when I was six. Bet you couldn't tell that from my accent." She laughed again and rolled her eyes. "I just moved here myself about three years ago to attend college…"

Oh shit. Edward, don't please… I immediately tuned Alice out.
"Well Claire, it was nice talking to you but I really have to go." I made a quick escape ignoring the pleading thoughts of my family. Washington, Phoenix, uhg! They just have to mention where she's from and the memories come flooding back! I knew coming to visit would only spell disaster. It was inevitable with my mind reading. Someone was bound to slip. Who would have thought it would be a stranger to slip first before any of my family members? Before I even realized it, I had made it back to the house and jumped in my car and had taken off. I barely even recall Carlisle and Emmett running out of the house to try to figure out what was wrong, but I was already out of the driveway before they could stop me.

My phone was ringing and buzzing relentlessly. Numerous calls and text messages from my family and it wasn't helping my state of mind. I was practically hyperventilating behind the wheel of my car and I was trying to focus on not crushing the steering wheel beneath my fingers. I let out a roaring growl, crushed the cell phone in my hand, and threw it out the window.
Silence. Oh, thank God. It was just a small slip. Not even from a member of my family. It's not their fault. My own mind was berating me, trying to convince me to turn around and go back to them. I pinched the bridge of my nose and pulled to the side of the road. When I glanced up through the windshield a road sign stated Rockford Exit AB 2 ½ miles. Great, I drove over three hours and didn't even realize it. My hands fisted in my hair. Oh, how I wish it was someone else's hands… UHG! I clutched at my chest and doubled forward.
After minutes of waiting for the pain to subside, I finally sat straight up and looked out the window. Morning? How can that be? I thought I was only sitting here for a couple of minutes. I turned my Volvo back on and looked at the clock only to discover I had been laying there for almost eight hours. Luckily, this state was pretty overcast all the time so I didn't have to worry about being exposed. I took a deep breath and pulled back onto the highway. I would give my family the benefit of the doubt and head back home.

Part of me wanted to go back to them but another part, a part I was trying with all my might to force down, was screaming at me to run; to get the hell out of dodge.
Something big was coming and I could sense it but I just couldn't will my body away.
I have a feeling I'm going to regret going back home…

A/N:
Bella and Edward are thrown together in the next chapter!
So you're finally going to find out if she lived or not!

I do believe I said that your reviews are her medicine
and as of now I only have one review
*huggles one review*
that's not going to be enough to make her live...