Bella

I had a serious heart to heart with my father this morning, told him everything that had happened with the Cullens before they left, while they were gone and since their return. How I was in love with Edward in the beginning, but it had just been first love and not meant to last, but how his leaving had seriously dented my perception of myself and my self-esteem. And the withdrawal symptoms from the glamour had given me what appeared to be depression. He was raging about that, how Edward could be so cruel and thoughtless about the effects on me, a sudden departure would make.

Then I told him about how relentless Jake had been, trying to take advantage while I was in that state when all he ever wanted was to take me from Edward as if I was a prize they were competing for. Then his wolf had twisted it up in his mind to be so much more than it ever was, yes I loved the boy, as a friend and confidant, but I was never in love with him, but he was too immature to understand the difference. So he also hurt me emotionally, while I was already battered and bruised and all this while Laurent and Victoria perused me inexorably.

So by the time I had to go to Volterra to save the fool, I had changed, I wasn't prepared to fall blindly in line as before. The complete lack of passion he showed, my annoyance that I had given up everything for him but he would give me nothing in return, that's not love, that's ownership. Then meeting Garrett and seeing the difference immediately, he would die for me as I would for him, he treats me as an equal even though he is a seasoned veteran and warrior. In his mind I come first, in everything he does now, he takes my needs into consideration first and foremost, it's a heady feeling to be loved unconditionally.

Then my plans for the future, I was not asking his permission, but informing him I would one day soon be a vampire and live for eternity with my soul mate. That I was glad he knew now, but even though it was something I wanted, it was also a necessity as the Volturi would check up on me eventually, something that Edward had refused to take into account and was fooling himself into believing wouldn't happen, I told him I'd only found this out recently from Garrett, that all the Cullens are in danger too, they could be been killed for keeping me human.

So I left him to digest all this information because we really were alike, I knew he would need to process it in his own time, so I suggested he take Billy fishing, both of them needed a break.

Charlie

Wow, I always knew there was more to the Cullens than they ever let on, but hells teeth this was not what I expected. Billy's stories over the years, they were all true, even before he believed it himself, but the Cullen's returning had made legends become fact. He could hate them for him losing his son, but he doesn't, they knew it could happen, it was documented as a possibility. Poor Jake, it might have seemed to be his age that was the problem, but no Seth was coping better than everyone else and he was only fifteen.

How did I feel about my daughter becoming a vampire, about the same as I do about my future wife being a wolf, scared, scared shitless really? I always thought nothing could happen here in my sleepy town, that I was destined to die a boring old fart, just like Renee said, haha! Well, my life is anything but boring now!

Garrett

Little Swan and I are going to Seattle tomorrow, we asked Rose and Emmett to join us, she thought now would be a good time for me to help them with the human blood thing, Rose is scared, but I know if I show her how to target, rapists and Paedophiles she'll cope just fine, I always see it as a bit of divine intervention, becoming a vampire never dented my faith in god, like Carlisle I still believe and hope one day for redemption. After all, I'm still one of God's creatures, just a creature of the night.

Little Swan is going to be digging into the archives while we hunt and then the following day we are going ring hunting, I love the fact she's looking for something that we both will like and that she wants it to reflect us, both. She's unlike any woman I've ever encountered, she's selfless and no matter how many times she's knocked down she dusts herself off, learning from the fall and ploughs on regardless, many would have folded under the weight but not my angel, she's strong and resourceful and thank the Lord she loves me unreservedly. She will be one hell of a vampire and I can't wait!

Speaking of angel's here she comes, dear god that truck has got to go it's deafening, I don't think Little Swan realises how strained and unfit it really sounds to us, time to get a replacement I think, one we can both drive and goes a tad faster too. "Hey Angel, how'd your dad take things?" I asked as she pulls up in front of the cottage. "Good, better than I thought, he's off to get in some fishing and ruminate!" she told me as she comes over for a hug. "Little Swan, I hate to tell you, but 'thing' is starting to struggle, it's not the noise it's the underlying groaning and grinding that worries me. I'm terrified it just gives out on you and you might be hurt! What if the steering or brakes failed? Please angel for me, can we buy a newer, safer one?" I plead and she cocks her head to one side watching me and just nods, well okay, car shopping tomorrow too.

Carlisle

We were sitting in the lounge when Rose's cell rang and we heard Garrett ask her to come to the cottage to help them pick a new car, as they had no idea, she was off like a shot and Edward looked confused "How did he convince her? she would never let me buy a new one to replace it!" I laughed, "Son, he sounded so relieved when he spoke to Rose, so I'm guessing it was the fear in his voice that swayed her!"

He still didn't see, "Edward, did you ever want to replace it for any reason, other than it offended your sense of style? Did you ever plead or beg her for your sanity and her safety? No, you insulted it, therefore you insulted her! The truck was a gift from her father, you constantly telling her is was ugly, old and rusty, did nothing but hurt her!" I tried to explain to him.

"Plus you would have replaced it with the most expensive car on the market, further proving that her father's gift was in your mind, cheap and shoddy, yes? I assume Garrett just plain begged and that's all it would have taken! I also expect that the new car will be a reasonably priced mid-range one and not in the least flashy, which will suit Bella much better" he really still knew nothing about her at all.

Jasper

Peter and Charlotte were just about ready to head home, they could only cope with this amount of people or a short time. They were truly happiest on their own and travelling. I had just regained myself from the Major and was happy to see Alice was much more stable and content.

I know I bit her, whilst I was in my Major persona, it was something I should have done years ago, but I didn't seem to care and had let her run amok, to keep the peace, big mistake! I knew deep down we had problems, but had just let them slide, I had given her unconditional love as her husband but never as her mate and that was unintentionally cruel, she needed structure and rules, Alice had no frame of reference to guide her and therefore she became cold and greedy and needed attention all the time.

but now I could see a big change in her, she was behaving as a vampire for the first time since I met her before she acted as though she saw herself as a human, she probably did. We needed to talk more and communicate, she also needed to see things from my perspective and also do as I bid her when it was important.

I was hopeful, as I stood here with her by my side, she was actually listening to me talking to my brother, not off doing some nonsensical thing for the hell of it. The most telling thing was she apologised to them both and said she hoped in time they could become friends, as they should always have been because they were important to me.

Peter

The change in Alice was astounding, she was behaving like a mate, not a single vampire like she used to. We were going to take our leave but Jasper and Alice were coming with us to Portland, time for him to get back to feeding from humans, I suggested drug addicts to him as they were so chilled out and if they were overdosing, then they were totally out of it and would not emote fear. We were hopeful this would be the answer for him after all this time.

So we swung by the house and said our goodbyes and then down to the cottage to say goodbye to Bella, Garrett and Rose. Char and I would really miss them, but it won't be too long before we're neighbours and Bella one of us. We reminded them to call when the wedding date was set as we wouldn't miss it for the world.

Esme

Poor Carlisle, he was having a terrible time accepting that he needed to drink human blood, so he was going to use donated blood for now. I had asked Edward to take me hunting humans, with his mind reading he was going to pick out the rapists and child abusers for me, if I had to kill then I would help the humans by taking out the garbage for them, so to speak. As everyone was going in different directions we decided on Olympia, now that we were all feeding as vampires should we would need to spread out the kill zone, or we would draw attention and that was not going to happen, is it wrong that I'm a little excited about this?