Disclaimer: As much as we'd like to claim these characters, nothing Twilight-related belongs to us.

A/N: Hey guys, hope your breaks were amazing. We know ours was. :) Also, if you haven't already, check out the new and improved version of what was Typing Love in French. It's called Cursed, and it's on our page. We love it, and you should too. :D This chapter is like 98 percent dialogue. It's mostly just filling you in on what the Cullens think they know, and the rundown on what happened after Bella left. So without further ado…

Turning Eighteen
by cALLIEfornia BENches

Chapter 8: Stranger's Reflection

I woke up before Isa the next morning, but I decided to stay under the warmth of the bed sheets with her for a while before getting up. I ran the back of my hand over my eyes to rub to sleep away.

She unconsciously hugged herself closer to my chest and sighed. "Masen," she muttered, smiling. But then her brows furrowed in the most adorable way. "Edward?" I chuckled at her sleep talking. She was way too damn cute.

My eyes lazily drifted over to the frame that was now standing up on the nightstand. The picture of the couple made my lips twitch. They looked so in love—and so much like Isa and me. I wasn't sure what to think. Part of me really wanted to believe them… But what was I supposed to do? Drop everything and just start letting everyone call me Edward? I only wish it was that easy.

I rested my head back down on the pillow and let a deep breath escape my lips. I really had no idea what I wanted. Part of me—the majority—wanted desperately to go back towards Seattle (if we weren't actually there) and just live my life as it had been a week ago. Blissful, happy, and content. Perfect. But the other part of me was still highly curious as to see what would happen if I stayed. Would it be as perfect?

There was a world beyond the one I was so familiar with. It included seemingly mythical creatures, a family whose love has survived decades of unchanged appearances and personalities. It included two lovers. And there was no doubt in my mind that the resemblance was uncanny. There was a definite connection Isa and I had with this family; it wasn't some kind of mistake.

But could I really believe it?

Could I simply stop the life I knew for seventeen years for another that, while images and names gave vague familiarity, was completely unknown to my mind? By allowing all of these changes to happen, and to accept all the facts Esme and Jasper told us last night, what was to become of us? Masen and Isa? Would we become "Edward" and "Bella"?

I released my hold on Isa gently, raising my free hand to pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

I simply couldn't be this "Edward." He was a vampire, over a century old, and he apparently sparkled in the sun. But I was Masen: I enjoyed school, my dog, my family, and the other numerous activities that had filled my day. And Masen loved Isa. Not "Bella." Masen had a life in California and a life in Seattle. "Edward" didn't seem to occupy any single amount of room within Masen's busy and crowded life.

I gently returned my hand back around her waist, comfortably adjusting my grip.

And what about Isa?

She had not said a word after Jasper had flung the photograph before our feet last night. She simply stared, wide-eyed, at the frame, as I'm sure I did as well. But no questions were exchanged, nor was there an inclination for acceptance on her behalf. Isa had continued to look at the photo in a mesmerized and dazed expression before slowly lowering herself back on the bed to sleep. I was more deeply worried for her than I was for my own sanity. The small amount of sleep I had achieved only temporarily numbed my apprehension, and any attempt to release myself from Isa was a failure; she had mumbled for me to stay. And that was the only promise I knew that I could keep at the moment.

If she accepted it, could I? Was I willing to follow this unknown path towards immortality for the woman I loved? I scoffed; that was the stupidest question running through my mind at the moment. Of course I would. If she wanted to put up a tireless fight against two "vampires," I would be right by her side with my fists raised.

A delicious scent wafted under my nose, and a large groan escaped from my stomach; in all the hours, possibly days, that I had been here, I had not eaten. The smell of food had awakened my dormant priority. I was momentarily relinquished of all my problematic thoughts. But they filtered back as speedily as they had left.

I sighed.

I had to eat. But I also had more problems than solutions. Hopefully, Esme or Jasper was near the food enough to alleviate those concerns. While guilt seeped into my thoughts for abandoning Isa for a while, my wish that answers for both of us would override my previous promise.

I pressed a kiss to Isa's temple—grinning stupidly when she mumbled that she loved me—before slowly and deliberately removing myself from our tangled embrace and off the bed. I ran a hand through my messy hair and went to the door: it was still unlocked.

As soon as I opened it, I was met with more white walls; exactly the same as the room Isa still lay in. Sunlight managed to shine through many large windows, accentuating the walls and bringing a blinding brightness to the whole house; it was oddly appealing.

Weakly, I discovered an elegant spiral staircase, which inevitably led towards an open square within the house. My mouth instantly watered when the smell of bacon wrapped itself around me. The heavenly scent was even more pungent outside of the bedroom.

I looked around curiously for the first time.

Colorful paintings littered the walls of the hallway in a simple and classy touch, defining a sharper contrast from the white-painted décor. Lush carpet and cherry wood floors ironically brought a sense of comfort to my captors' house. As I ventured slowly downstairs, an ancient wooden cross was displayed prominently at the foot of the steps.

How familiar.

My growling stomach got the best of me and I hastily toddled towards the smell. It led me towards a creamy marble-tiled kitchen, adorned with various metallic furnishings I could only make out as a luxurious stove and refrigerator.

My eyes drifted finally towards a large rectangular dining table, where a giant pile of bacon and pancakes were waiting to be devoured. I drooled.

"That smells delicious," I whispered

"Edward—" Esme started, but then caught herself. "I mean, Masen. I'm glad you're up. Would you like some breakfast?" She held out a plate of pancakes and bacon to me. I licked my lips, and my stomach growled in response. I was famished.

"Please," I said as I sat down at the brown, wooden table. Esme had in her hands the business section of the morning newspaper.

She sat down next to me and watched me eat. I felt a little awkward, but I went on eating anyway. It was all really good. I told her so and she smiled. "Where's Bel—er, Isa?"

A grin spread across my features as I thought about her, asleep in bed and whispering my name. "Asleep still, last I left her."

"You love her, don't you?"

I nodded eagerly. "Of course I do. She's my better half. I don't know where I'd be without her. I'd do anything for her." Those were nothing but words of truth, and they had easily slid out of my mouth in a natural manner.

Her smile, if possible, grew larger, despite the growing awkwardness between us. The silence stretched on, the only sound being my fork scraping against the empty plate. I had devoured it. And even though my plate looked as though I had licked it clean, I still sat and watched as I twirled my fork around.

I couldn't help myself any longer. I wanted some answers. I looked up at her with curious eyes. "Can you tell me what happened? To Edward and Bella, I mean?"

Immediately, regret and sorrow filled her eyes. "If you really want to know…," she trailed off. I nodded. "Okay, then. I don't see any problems with that." She took a deep breath. "As you know, Edward and Bella were very much in love. Nothing could separate them, not even the fact that fate had, at almost every chance, tried to separate them."

For the next hour, I listened to her recount the tales of Edward and Bella. She told me about the huge misunderstanding that led Edward to run away to Volterra. She said that Edward was taken away from them by a powerful coven of vampires called the Volturi, and because of this Bella was distraught. She explained Bella's months and months of sorrow, and the eventual dream of Edward's death. Esme continued, somewhat hesitantly, about finding one of the other members of their coven, Alice, in a flower shop as a human again, and the proceeding fight that drew Bella away from them and towards Volterra.

"We didn't hear from her for ages. Well, ever again, really. The next thing we know we're getting a visit from Aro, the leader, and he's telling us about Bella's visit and how she came in search of what Edward had been looking for: death. He told us how Bella had asked to be killed, and threatened to do the same thing Edward had. She left them no choice. So they killed her.

"We were happy, though, knowing that they would be together somewhere, wherever the afterlife is. But it didn't stop us from feeling guilty. Carlisle was really intense for the few weeks after Bella died. We rarely saw him. He was always up in his study, or at the hospital. We could never get him to talk about anything, either.

"His guilt was overbearing. Jasper had to leave for a while, in order to get his act together. But then we all went out hunting one day, and smelled the Volturi. I assumed they were just coming to visit and say hi, but Carlisle was determined they were up to no good. He just looked at us and simply said 'We're leaving.' None of us questioned him, just ran back to the house, packed our things, and got ready to go.

"We never stayed in one place for very long. A month at the most. Carlisle was convinced that the Volturi was after us, but I couldn't understand why they would do something like that. They'd been so nice to us since Bella's death. They even stopped by every once in a while just to see how we were coping."

A sigh escaped her lips as she looked out the window in front of us. "But it never deterred him. He told us he wanted us to keep moving, and he'd go a different way for a while 'to throw them off,'" she said, using her fingers as quotes. She shook her head, defeated. "That was six months ago. We haven't seen him since. We hear from him every once in a while, but he never says where he is. We assume he's in Volterra, because the Volturi have been awfully quiet lately."

My brows furrowed. "You mean to say you haven't seen him in six months and you're okay with that?" My tone wasn't angry, but it wasn't happy either. It seemed weird to me. You'd think she'd cling onto him more after what happened to Edward and Bella.

"Of course not," she said. "But I want to let him decide what to do. I tried to get Edward back, and he was killed. I kicked Bella out, and she was killed. I'm not going to let the same thing happen to my husband."

I decided to keep my mouth shut. It seemed to only get me into trouble, and I didn't want to piss off the vampire. I shoved my fork around my plate, gathering the nonexistent food into a pile of crumbs. My lips twitched.

Just as I was about to go back up to mine and Isa's room, Esme said something more. "Carlisle wasn't the only one who felt guilty, you know," she said.

I furrowed my brows and looked up at her. "What?"

"It's my fault. Everything. I know Carlisle thought the exact same thing about himself, but there's no denying it. If it weren't for me, Bella would still be here. Edward would probably still be here. None of this would have happened if I hadn't gone all selfish and made people do what I wanted them to. I have to live, every day for the rest of eternity, knowing that am responsible for the death of Bella." Tears, or what seemed like tears that didn't ever spill over, came to her eyes. "I betrayed my son by abandoning the love of his life. How am I supposed to live with that on my shoulders?"

She let out a frustrated breath and closed her eyes, letting out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "Sorry I'm getting all teary on you. You probably don't want to hear all my emotional baggage."

"It's fine," I murmured. I tried to put myself into the situation. If I was Edward, I probably would be angry. That would be like my mother banishing Isa… Or, I thought vaguely, Joey banishing me from Isa. The irony didn't escape my notice, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. She didn't need the burden of knowing that something similar happened to me and how I reacted.

As hard as it was for me to grasp, I knew she couldn't go on living like this for… well, eternity. And if she said I was Edward, maybe she would feel better if I said I forgave her. Maybe she would consider it Edward forgiving her. Would Edward forgive her? From what I'd heard so far, he would. So what would the harm be in that?

"Esme," I said cautiously, "You don't need to keep this on your mind. Edw—I mean, I forgive you. If none of that had happened, I never would have met Isa. This is kind of a second chance, don't you think?" I ducked my head in order to catch her eyes and she looked up. I smiled, encouraging her to smile. "Everything happens for a reason. And you shouldn't believe that E—I wouldn't forgive you."

She smiled a watery smile. "Thank you," she whispered before the silence took over us once again. I looked up at the clock and sat back down. I could spare a few more moments away from Isa. I had more questions to ask.

"Tell me about Bella."

Esme seemed surprised by my sudden outburst, but quickly smiled at my enthusiasm.

"She was human when you first met her, as you know," she went along, "and it was incredibly dangerous for you two. You thirsted for her blood unlike any other you had come across." She laughed, her eyes staring to a distance, as if she were recounting old and cherished memories. "And even then, you loved her. You couldn't help it in the same way you couldn't help your thirst for her. She made you into such a good person, and she showed you the soul that you didn't believe you had," her voice was soft and joyful.

"She saved you."

In that moment, I understood, as if a resounding click echoed in my mind, bringing back all the past information and answers I had received.

I understood the connection Isa and I had with our former lives, with Edward and Bella, and our endless capacity to love each other through better or for worse. Isa was everything to me that she apparently had been before: she cared for me, she believed in me, and she loved me. There was no denying that this kind of love, the kind Esme was telling me about, could be duplicated between two people that weren't Isa and myself—or, rather, Edward and Bella.

It was true.

It was all true.

I could have cried in epiphany-filled relief. But I chose to smile instead.

Our love was evident even past our own lives. Fate, or time for that matter, didn't seem to be able to separate us. As I looked at Esme, I could tell she knew what I realized. There was no hiding who I was, and who I had been.

"Tell me more?"

She smiled the most I had ever seen her smile. "She was stubborn as hell."

"Still is," I said with a chuckle.

"She loved you with all her heart. So much so, she was devastated when you left her."

"Why did I leave her? That doesn't seem like me."

A sigh escaped her lips. "You left her to try and let her have a normal life. You thought, if she didn't have you, she could grow up and get married and have children and hopefully, with time, forget about you. You wanted her to be happy. You thought that every moment she spent with you were moments she spent in danger. You'd have rather been unhappy than put her in any sort of danger. You had been thinking it for a while, but an incident at her birthday party that nearly cost her her life and then an unfamiliar scent in her room, you decided you had to do what you thought was best. You left her."

"How did I deal with it?" I knew that what little time I had to go without Isa was tough. I could hardly function. Deep pain shot through my chest as I tried to picture a life without Isa. A life where I was forced to leave her side.

"With being without her?" she asked. I nodded. "You didn't," she said simply. "You were terrible. What time you didn't spend hunting for Victoria, the woman whose scent was in her room, you… well, you wallowed. You wouldn't leave your room, unless it was to hunt, which you only did about once every two or three weeks."

It reminded me of how Esme had described Bella when I was gone.

"You were this black hole that no one could get to. It was almost like we all wanted to help you, but if we got too close we'd get sucked in too. And we couldn't risk that; we needed to have as many people in the family as strong as they could. We could only take one emotional wreck—two, if you count Jasper—at a time."

A moment of silence befell us as I processed this new information. "What was I like?" I asked, pushing my plate to the side and scooting my chair towards her. "As a person, I mean. Or vampire, whatever."

"Ah, you were just as stubborn and she. Selfless, too. You kept thinking that you didn't have a soul, or a chance at a happy afterlife. You were convinced you were a monster, despite Bella's pleas for you to believe otherwise. You had a huge heart, as I believe you still do, and you always respected peoples' privacy, which was hard considering your gift."

Right, I thought, internally scoffing. I could read minds. It still wasn't in an exact understanding of how that worked, but I had believed Esme when she told me towards the beginning of her speech that it was what I had carried over from my first human life.

"You were very popular with the ladies, though you never spared them a second glance."

I blushed and she laughed. "I see some things never change. But no matter. You only had eyes for Bella, anyway."

Her laughter died down and I gently placed my hand on top of her cold one, flinching only slightly at the temperature. "Thank you so much, Esme. I'm so glad I know this now. Everything seems to make more sense."

Tears were, yet again, brimming in her eyes. "No, Edward—Masen." She glanced at me, judging my reaction to her slipup. "I'm sorry, you just remind me so much of him sometimes, it's easy to get confused."

"Don't worry about it, Esme. Call me whatever makes you feel comfortable."

She smiled and placed a cold kiss to my forehead. "Go back up to your girl. I would hate for her to have to wake up without you, dear." She paused. "I can hear her getting restles. We can talk later, the three of us. Or perhaps you'd like to talk to Jasper, Rosalie, or Emmett? They're out hunting right now, but should be back by tomorrow morning."

"That sounds nice." I smiled. "I better go up and get her, though. I think she'd be afraid of being alone right now. She's still really confused."

"Well then what're you still doing down here? Go on," she said, ushering me toward the stairs.

I smiled again at her over my shoulder. "Thanks again, Esme."

She smiled before she disappeared into the kitchen. I quickly made my way up to our room and slipped inside, taking my place at Isa's side. She sighed and wrapped an arm and a leg around me before burying her face into my chest. "You weren't here when I woke up," she mumbled tiredly.

"Sorry. I was downstairs talking to Esme."

"I know. I heard a lot of what you were saying. These floors are extremely thin."

I glanced down at her, even though I could only see the top of her messy hair. "You did?"

She nodded and placed a chaste kiss to my chest. "Mhmm. It's okay. I feel the same way about everything. I understand it, and I think I'm coming to terms with it. I believe them all, even though it's a difficult concept to grasp." Her words surprised me. Did we both accept what our lives were to become?

"You think this means they're going to have to change us?"

"Probably. Sooner or later."

"Are you okay with that?" I asked, worried. It was kind of a big deal, and I didn't want her to make that decision with only a night's sleep under her belt.

"I'm fine being wherever you are, as whoever you are."

I sighed into her hair and pulled her closer to me. Bella or Isa, I loved her. So much.

"I agree wholeheartedly."

A/N: Meh. I (Allie) wrote a lot of this chapter. And I won't lie, I don't like it. It's boring. And I apologize. But the good stuff is coming. So just hold on to your britches, lovelies.

Ben's A/N: Props to Allie! She wrote pretty much the whole dialogue, except the part we used for the preview, and most of the descriptive paragraphs. Hope you liked it; it was indeed a little filler, but it all leads up to a major event! And possibly Masen's (or maybe Edward's) eighteenth birthday?! I've said too much!

REVIEW please, and we'll use the compliments to fuel the quality of next chapter. If you do, we guarantee you won't be disappointed. Stay tuned Tuesday for the next chapter of our new story Cursed.

Until next week,

cALLIEfornia BENches