Chapter 4: My Diamond Heart

I decided to go ahead with the story like this. I may post alternate chapters (in between 3 and 4) later, but for now, Edward and Bella are still together! Yippee! Sorry this took so long to write. Hope you like it!!!!

-GG xo

That night my family moved in with the Cullens. It just seemed right, somehow. We had to stick together, and it was not like there was a lack of space in their gigantic house anyway.

Again, I wondered if I was being foolish. If me running back into Edwards arms was not the right thing to do. But somehow, I could not see my life as being any other way. I loved Edward. That was a fact.

Esme and Carlisle embraced me right away with open arms, glad for me to be back in the family. Esme in particular approached me at one point early on to express her love, and to tell me how sorry she really was for having left. I felt so welcomed and happy. It was happening all over again, me being so lovingly invited into the lives of the Cullens. I was still baffled at how as a human I had been able to hang out with the most gorgeous and indescribably perfect people I had ever laid eyes on, and I was just as baffled now. I had to tell myself repeatedly, just like on that first day, to stay calm. They loved me. Especially Edward. He really did love me with all of his heart. That also, was a fact.

I was bursting with excitement, and I needed to share it with someone. I needed to share the news with my best friend. Later that night, I announced that I was going to see Jacob.

At first Edward tried to stop me. 'They're dangerous Bella!'

The ridiculousness of his statement made me laugh out loud, 'Edward, it may take some getting used to for you to be able to remember that I'm not the same breakable human I used to be.' I said raising my eyebrow.

The Cullens laughed and playfully punched Edward for being over-protective of someone virtually indestructible.

I set off at a run, pausing as I passed Charlie's old house. I wondered, remembering I had placed some things under the floorboard in my room, if they were still there? I decided it that it wouldn't hurt to have a look.

The new owners weren't home. Old owners, I corrected myself. They weren't new owners anymore. They had lived in her childhood house for over 70 years! Charlie had moved into a small apartment a few years after I had… died.

It was an odd sensation for me, climbing up the tall oak that led to my rusty window, knowing that Edward had done this every night watch me sleep. I jiggled the window open, and stepped inside.

It's funny how in the moment a place can seem like your own, but within time all traces of you can be gone completely. My room had drastically changed. There were now bunk beds where my desk had stood, and a crib in the place of my bed. The room seemed to have become a storage space for old toys, cars and Barbie dolls.

I thanked god the floor had not been redone. It was the same worn out wood that had splintered my feet since I was young. I carefully removed the sixth floorboard to the right and was faced with memories.

There were pictures of Edward and me smiling, waving at the camera. I remember foolishly asking if he would show up on film the very first time I had taken his picture, it had only been a few days before he left for the first time.

Digging deeper I found what I had been looking for. My old charm bracelet. I placed it on my wrist gingerly. Adorned with both a carved wooden wolf and a diamond heart, it perfectly symbolized how my life had been, and reflected my life now as well. The wolf hung next to my diamond heart, but my heart would be diamond forever.

Remembering what I had set out to do, I restored the room to its proper order and continued on my way towards Jake.

As I walked in the door, I was greeted with a hug.

'Bella!' Jake said happily. 'I have someone I want you to meet! Come on out honey.'

'Dad, I'm almost forty!' A girl laughed, walking into the room. Izzy.

I was taken aback. She didn't look a day over 20, and would have been able to pass for younger easily. She looked just like her father, but I could see traces of Renee in her too, in her short and choppy reddish hair and her deep brown eyes. The same eyes as me, I thought. Mostly though, she looked like her father. Tall and thin with smooth tan skin. She was beautiful.

Izzy looked just as shocked as I must have. Obviously unprepared, she looked me up and down her, openness and warm demeanor turning rigid. 'I…uh, wasn't aware that we had company. Um… hi, I'm Izzy, I think I've seen you around at school? Dad?'

'Sweetie, this is Isabella Swan.' Jake said, nervously testing the waters.

'Isabella? Bella? Your… Moms…How? I, I… But, you're dead!' She walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch, obviously shaken and confused.

We followed her. Jake took a seat beside her and I stood facing them both.

'Well,' I began with apprehension. 'I don't know what you've heard about me, but-'

Izzy interrupted. 'I know the whole story. I'm part of the pack. We all do. You're dad's first imprint, but you were in love with some leech. Right?'

I nodded. 'Well, ya, that's pretty much it,' I paused tentatively. 'Also, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am a vampire.' I watched her eyes to gauge her reaction. They widened at first in shock, but then narrowed in suspicion.

'I was never actually killed in a car crash like everyone thought.' I continued hurriedly. 'I was changed. But, I'm different from others of my kind, I…I don't drink human blood. Never tasted a drop of the stuff in my life.' I announced proudly and Jake smiled. 'Also, as you know, your mother would have been my half sister, making me your aunt. Renee was my mum.'

I exhaled waiting for her response.

'Well,' Izzy said. 'It's… nice to finally meet you.' Jake placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

Just then she did something that surprised us both. Izzy stood up and hugged me tightly, almost lovingly.

'It's been kind of lonely around here, with mum gone, and all. My dad, he loved you, still does as far as I know. And if my dad can trust you, I guess I can too. ' She said staring into my eyes.

Jacob chuckled at the word trust. A werewolf, trust a vampire so willingly? I guessed that she had gotten that particular trait from Renée. It was a quality we shared.

It felt so good to be welcomed for the second time that day. This was my family by blood, even though I had none. I was deeply impressed by Izzy's maturity. I didn't have to be completely isolated anymore. These people cared for me, loved me unconditionally.

We moved into the kitchen and Izzy began to make a coffee (for her and her father, of course).

She explained to me that Jake had gotten the idea from the Cullens of her going to high school like a normal kid. So, every few years she started off at a new one. This year, her father had finally agreed to let her go to Forks High.

'I wonder why I haven't seen you around at school.' I mused aloud.

Izzy laughed. 'Ya, well, I've seen you. You vamps don't really understand the meaning of inconspicuous, do you? I mean, you don't even try to be normal. I saw your lovely,' she chuckled,' display on the first day of school.'

I would have blushed had it been possible.

'Never did. Always stuck out like a sore thumb. The beauty, how they don't go to school on sunny days, how they don't ever eat at lunch…' Jake added.

I would have been blushing even more by now, a deep scarlet. 'We DO try… I mean, we don't bring in water bottles filled with mountain lion blood, do we? It's just hard.'

Jacob and his daughter laughed.

'So… tell me Iz,' I said, trying to get the conversation off of me. 'Have you imprinted yet, or are you having a hard time like your dad?' I instantly felt insensitive, but Jake didn't falter. I was kind of disappointed that he didn't even blush.

Chuckling, she replied 'No, not yet, but there are some boys at school who won't leave me alone.'

'Ooohhh… tell me all about it!' I gushed. Jake snorted and we headed out of the room, back to the old couch. The two of us sat Indian style facing each other.

'Well, there's one boy; he's in my gym class. His name's Jay, short for Jason. He's totally obnoxious. I can't count the number of times he's asked me to the Halloween dance! He even kissed me on the cheek during basket-ball once!'

I laughed, remembering each of the boys with whom I've shared high school classes with throughout my life, especially when I was human and single in those first few weeks. They were so annoying, and I never had a clue of how to react.

'Last name?' I asked knowing I would be spying on a gym class of hers soon, for laughs of course, but also to make sure he was just playing. All of a sudden I felt protective of my niece. It was new and odd, but it felt good. A new kind of love.

'Newton. Jay Newton,' I heard a howl of laughter from the kitchen. My suspicions of Jake having been listening to our conversation were now confirmed.

'Newton… as in Mike Newton? No way.' I murmured, mostly to myself, forgetting I was not the only one in the house with amazing hearing.

'Yup.' Jake answered re-entering the room. 'His Grandson, actually. Good old Mikey boy married Jessica Stanley about a month after your tragic death.' He paused for a moment to laugh. 'You should have seen his speech at your funeral; he made it sound like you were in love! It wasn't exactly a surprise to hear that a little Mike Jr. was on the way days after the wedding.'

'Ah, Mike. What's he up to know-a-days?' I said mock-wistfully, rolling my eyes.

'Actually,' Iz answered. 'He's your principal. Funny how you haven't met Principal Newton yet. Don't all students meet with him within the first week? I saw him yesterday.'

I palled. 'Um, actually, my meeting is tomorrow morning!' Oh no. God no.

Jacob laughed ' Well, have fun with that one Bells!'

I buried my face in a pillow, wondering what I had ever done to deserve this.

So, did you like it? I am very excited for the Cullens to meet Mike! Yes, I know he would be very old, but my principal is in his 90s and still runs the school (he's finally retiring next year, thank god). So no complaints about that please, it's not going to change. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! IT MAKES ME HAPPY, AND WHEN I'M HAPPY I WRITE FASTER!!!!

-GG xo