author notes:

Wow! This took a lot longer than I had hoped. Here it is the answer (sort of - he he) to your questions.....

Thanks to everyone who reviewed - i love reading your reviews, they keep me going.

Bella

The wind rushed through my hair as I ran. I needed this run, alone, through the forest, nothing but wind and movement, no people, and no questions, just me.

The events of the past few days ran through my mind. Renesmee and I had still been giggling when the men arrived. I really wasn't sure why we were giggling but it felt so good to be happy for a moment, I didn't question it.

Apparently, Charlie had never cleaned out the back of his closet shelf. We found several boxes that had belonged to Renee. We finally came to a very unusual box in the very back. It was hidden so that the only way we could get to it was if the shelf was completely cleared off. We pulled the box out and four of us watched as Jake opened the box. It was a tricky thing, some kind of Quileute puzzle box. At the top of the box was a letter from Billy to Renee.

Renee-

Here is the information Isabella will need.

Don't worry she will be fine.

I know she will do what we spoke of.

The prophesies are clear.

Billy

Suddenly four sets of eyes were on me. I looked at Jake. "What prophesies? What in the world?"

"I have no idea," Jake shook his head.

There was a very old leather bound journal inside and blanket, a basket and a few other odds and ends. We looked at all of the stuff and Jake offered to take it home to show to Old Quill and see if he knew anything about it. I thought about asking my mom. I wanted to know what Billy had told her and I really needed to know what everything meant but something in my heart told me it was not the right time to mention it to her.

I continued to run enjoying the breeze. I tried to avoid thinking of the next time I saw Jake and Ness but the thoughts wouldn't leave my mind.

Jake and Ness had shown up at the cottage the next morning to talk to us. Old Quill could not read the journal because it was written in a very old form of Quileute but he knew of the prophecy and they brought the news. The prophecy was old and mostly forgotten as it had not been spoken of since my birth.

Old Quill gave Jake the basics. There was to be a mother of a new era in the tribal nation. She would be white. She would bring strength and prosperity. Billy believed with all of his being - she was me.

I forced my mind to stop. I could not, would not rehash the words through my mind again. I focused on the details of every tree I passed. I had run Jake's words through my head a million times since they were spoken but I could not make them apply to me. It was not me.

Jake was going through some stuff trying to find away to translate the journal. The papers were easier and Old Quill could read those but he would only read them to me. That was part of the reason I was running. I had to choose did I want to know? We were leaving in two days - would it matter if I waited? Could I stand to wait? I looked around me and noticed I was almost to the reservation. So, I did want to know. I came to a quick stop.

I hadn't seen Old Quill in years. I took an unnecessary breath and continued at a slightly slower pace to the small home I knew to be Old Quill's. I stopped outside his front door. Deciding again, did I really want to know? I looked at my feet, thinking, trying to decide whether or not to knock. I heard feet shuffle to the door; a hand touched the door knob. I listened to metal scrape against metal as the door knob turned and the old rusted hinges came to life.

I looked up. Old Quill's dark eyes looked at me, assessing. I took an unsteady breath. He nodded with a small smile. "I knew you would come, Bella."

I simply nodded. He opened the door further and invited me in.

"I hope this isn't a bad time." I nearly whispered as I took the seat he had offered me.

He settled into a chair across the room. He shook his head, "There is never a bad time for you. I feel honored you decided to come here."

I nodded. Embarrassed, I kept my eyes down.

I could hear Old Quill rustling papers. "These pages were written by Billy. I helped him write them. We did everything we could to get our scents off of them. Charlie didn't know what they were. But, Billy tried to tell Renee. Two days later you two were gone. We knew it would happen, it is in the prophecies." He shook his head, "They are some of the most detailed we have ever had."

"How do you know it is me? I don't think it is me."

"There is no doubt. It is in the book. This," He held a small leather book, "will help you translate it. You are the only one who should know what it says."

"So you know all of what is in the book?"

"I know a very small part of it - just what Billy and I rewrote. It is the part we heard Ephriam read." He picked up the hand that held the papers form Charlie's dresser. "I could write it in English, but I don't want just anybody to read it. Jake and Renesmee cannot read it, yet." His eyes held a new intensity. "You will understand later - but you cannot tell them anymore than they already know."

I nodded and let myself breathe. I didn't realize that I had stopped.

"That's really all I have to tell you," the old man shrugged.

"So, Renee took me away because she knows?"

"She doesn't know everything - very little actually. Billy just told her enough to freak her out." He chuckled lightly. "She was leaving soon anyway. I could see the sadness in her eyes growing each day. His eyes displayed the sadness he remembered.

"Why did Charlie have all this stuff?"

"For safe keeping." We decided that the new generation of wolves should not know.

I nodded. "I'm sure you need to be on your way." I nodded again.

"I'm too old to get up again right now, so you come get this book. I'm sure you will have it all figured out before you know it."

I got up, clutched the small book in my hand and made my way out the door. I bid my friend farewell and started for home. The journal was there- Jake had brought all of the stuff from Charle's closet back to me.

No one was at the cottage when I returned and I was glad for the quiet. I opened the small book to see what I could learn. The information inside would have taken years to take in for a human but my vampire mind sucked it all in and in a few hours. I took a deep breath and opened the journal.

I had only read about 3 words when I heard footsteps. Edward was coming up to the door. I closed the book. Edward had been understanding and oddly quiet about the whole affair. He came up behind me and planted a sweet peck on my cheek. I opened my mind and showed him my conversation with Old Quil.

As my memory finished, he put his hands on my shoulders rubbing them gently. "I can help you translate, if you want me to."

I handed him the small book and I took the large one. We cuddled together and started reading. I started the journal again carefully translating the first three pages and going over it several times to check myself. Edward looked up. "How is that one going?"

"I don't know if I want to know all of this. I think it might be better in smaller chunks." I closed the book. He followed my example and we sat together enjoying the quiet for several minutes before he started speaking. His voice was very quiet as if he wished not to break the comfortable silence between us.

"Do you still want to go?"

"Yes. I think even more so now." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Some time away from all this nonsense would be nice. I really needed some time to let it sink in without the funny looks.

"I have everything ready so we can go in the morning, like we had planned." A few days ago we talked about leaving at dawn. It still seemed like as good of a time as any. I nodded my head.

"I think Alice is planning a little send off party so we can say good bye to everyone," He smiled.

"That sounds like Alice."

"Everyone's supposed to be at the house around five am and the sun will rise at about seven."

I nodded. I was excited to go but the time had passed so quickly that it caught me by surprise.

"Do you want to see the stuff I got for us?"

I looked at him, "Do we need stuff?"

"It is just a few things."

He showed me a couple of backpacks just slightly larger than I used for high school. He had gotten us hiking gear and we each had an extra outfit and a wet suit. He was starting to explain the reasoning for wet suits when Alice knocked on the door. Edward invited her in and she opened the door. Jasper followed her in.

"I got you a couple more things." She handed Edward an odd package. These will keep your backpacks dry when you swim the Bering Strait and you will want those books extra dry," she nodded to the leather bound volumes on the couch. "This will take care of them for you." She handed me what felt like a bag made from heavy duty plastic wrap.

Edward thanked her for her thoughtfulness. Alice and Jasper hung around for a while visiting with us. It was nice to have some quiet visiting time. I would miss Alice dearly.

Just after sunset, Alice and Jasper left. Once again, I longed for tears. I wanted this trip, I wanted to time with Edward. But, I would miss our family. I would miss our cottage. My eyes stung and Edward pulled me close.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I do want to."

"You know we can come back at any time. Just say the word and we will be on a plane home. You know that, right?"

He brushed my hair away from my face and placed gentle kisses all over the now open area.

I opened my mind to him. I showed him all the reasons I wanted to go: our shorted honeymoon, I wanted to explore the world as a vampire and by his side, Renesmee. I gave as many reasons as I could think of. Then, I showed him that despite all of those reasons I would still miss our family and Renesmee and Jake. I would miss our little cottage that we would be leaving, probably forever.

"Oh, sweetheart," he murmured. "I understand and agree."

He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed comforting circles around my back. He held me in that sweet embrace for a long time, comforting away the sadness threatening to take over.

Our last night in the cottage was so peaceful; I wished it would never end. However, I knew that five am would be there soon and so at about four we began final preparations. We showered and dressed in our hiking gear. I carefully packed the Quileute books along with a few family pictures and our ID's - some real, most forged for our trip. They all fit perfectly into the water proof case Alice had provided me with. Everything fit into my backpack with room to spare. Edward's pack held a Cell phone and a satellite phone, enough money to run a small country for over a decade all in a waterproof case, the oddly shaped package Alice had brought the day before and his personal effects.

As I packed and prepared my excitement increased. We were really going to do this. We were going to go out and see the world. I was anxious to get going. I was ready to try something new. I didn't realize how much I really needed this trip until that moment. I had spent the last 6 years being a mother. I had lived in the same place and seen the same things and I was ready for change, for new, for my new life. I knew would always be a mother but it really seemed like that part of my life was mostly over and now I had my forever with my husband, with Edward, and I was raring to go.

It was just a few minutes before five when we slung our packs on our backs and made our way to the Cullen home for our send off party.

I couldn't contain my excitement I giggled and bounced from the ground into the trees and back again. Edward laughed at me. We jumped over the river together and raced to the house. I felt free. I felt good. I was a new me.

The pack had arrived just seconds before we did. The Cullen's and the pack were all there to wish us a good journey. The pack still looked at me with strange expressions but I was in such a good mood it didn't bother me at all. I giggled and laughed and teased with Emmett and Alice.

I was so excited until I saw Esme. She was a mess. I could tell she was not taking this well. I nearly changed every plan right there and then. I could see the pain on her face and I could not hurt her. I could not hurt the most loving person on the planet. Edward went to her and gave her a big hug.

"We'll call at least once a week, I promise. I heard him murmur. And we'll be back before you know it." The words seemed to calm her a little but her eyes still showed sorrow that made my dead heart ache.

I went to her. "Please, don't be sad." She tried to smile but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I will be OK" she whispered. "I just hate it when you all go off the see the world. I want you to be safe."

"We will be OK."

"I know," she whispered but her expression held so much doubt.

"Will you do one thing for me?" Her eyes held fresh curiosity.

"Will you take care of Renesmee and Jake?" A new smile formed and this one lit up her face.

"You know I will. You didn't even need to ask."

"I know - but I feel better asking." We hugged again. Esme had become the mother Renee never was. I could tell she loved the mothering and I loved being mothered, now. It had taken some getting used to. I wondered if there were any women who learned how to be mothered while mothering their own child at the same time. I don't know if I would have been as receptive to the idea if I hadn't understood how closely her feelings mirrored my own.

I turned and watched as Carlisle handed Edward a laptop. I laughed to myself we were certainly going to have plenty of technology to help us along. Edward put it in his pack. He turned to Carlisle for the customary handshake-and-pat-on-the-back manly hug. His brothers and Jake's too followed suit wishing him good luck while I hugged the girls and wished for tears. Of course, Renesmee, Emily and the other imprintee's cheeks were stained with trails of tears. The female Cullens all looked as though they joined me in my wish. We had several occasions to get close over the past few years and I wondered how many knew more about the prophecy than I did. Would that cause more sorrow for them when I left, now? The thought floated through my head but found no place to land and continued on its way without any attention.

I wished good bye to all the boys while Edward said good bye to all the girls. When we had finished, it was nearly sunrise we went out to the back porch. Alice handed me my back pack. It felt just slightly heavier and I wondered what she had added. I had a feeling she would be helping us along as we journeyed.

Finally, we said heartfelt goodbyes to Jake and Ness. Renesmee was now holding her emotions in check, so like her father. I reminded them that the Cullen's and especially Esme would be there if they needed anything and I made sure they had the phone numbers to contact us. With one last hug to each of my children- how could I see Jake as anything else? - Jasper flooded the group with hope and feelings of happy farewell.

Edward took my hand. "Are you ready?" His eyes danced.

"Of course, my love."

We turned and waved to the group. Everyone waved back and we were off, running through the forest. We passed our cottage and then made our way to the meadow. We stopped there, briefly.

Edward kissed me and I watched his skin sparkle in the early dawn light. It reminded me of our first visit. The biggest difference was my skin sparkled now, too. My heart was over filled with gratitude for the changes of the last nearly 8 years. I had found my soul mate and he had decided to keep me forever. I would never regret my decision to become a vampire. This was the life for me. This was what I was born to be.

A small part of the prophecy flitted through my head. "And her heart will know her destiny. She will become what she is born to be despite the counsel of the elders."

My heart nearly started again. Maybe it was true, maybe.

I smiled at Edward. He nodded with his wonderful crooked smile and we were off toward Alaska and the beginning of our adventure.

Author's note: I want to know what you think - do you hate it... do you love it... what do you want to happen next?

Also - I am looking for a new beta - as mine seems to have fallen off the planet. (I would love to hear from you emm) So, if you would like to beta for me let me know. This is my first fic so I am really looking to improve my writing as I go.