AN: Hey all! Yes, it's finally finished! Sorry it's been so long! It's been hectic around here! It's getting closer to the holidays and all so here is a present to all of you readers for the holidays. This was hard to do. I had a writers block for a while and I hope it won't take so long to write again later. So sorry for keeping you all waiting. I would love to hear what you all think this chapter so please read and review! I really want to know what you all think about it! If you are a reader of my other story "What Happened in 1918?" I'm gonna try and update it in the coming weeks, hopefully very soon. I still have the poll up so if you want to vote this is your last chance because soon I'm going to start writing in winning response. Check out my poll please if you read the story because I may be able update sooner if I know your guys' opinions so please vote! If you don't, I'm just going to choose so...please let me know! I really do apologize for this being so late and hope you all forgive me for it. This chapter took forever. So if you have ideas please share them so this doesn't happen again! Read and Review! Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters! Stephenie Meyer does!

Summary: Set after Edward left in New Moon. Bella's life started to fall apart when he left but then some surprises come her way and practically takes away her life in Forks. Edward and his family come back a year later to find out Bella had died about two weeks after they left. Edward and his family are heartbroken until Jasper gets a call from an old friend asking him and his family to be a part of her wedding. Tensions rise and some angers are tested. Secrets and pasts are revealed and some relationships are tested. It's time to see what all of them are made of.

Chapter Thirteen

Edward POV:

When I heard about what happened to Bella in the years after I had been gone, I couldn't feel anything but guilt. I was a terrible person. Not only did I leave the love of my life but I left our children. Bella really needed me then and without John and Jason she would have died. John, Jason, and Jacob saved her life. Jacob brought her to John and John and Jason changed her. She went through everything alone. Then the dog imprinted on our baby girl and I couldn't be there to keep him away from her or calm Bella down the best I could. I just found out I had a daughter and now I find out she has a guy in love with her already, a guy she feels the same way about. This was a lot to take in. I'm glad though that she has someone, that I don't have to worry about her always being alone. I never realized how hard it is to be a father. You worry about her being alone yet you don't want her with anyone either. I was though happy that E.J had fallen in love with someone. She seemed like a great girl when I talked to her and she really seemed to know him. From what Nessie has told me, she makes him easier to be around. He's, as she says, a lot less of a party pooper than Emma is.

Emma being alone was a bit concerning. It's always concerning when they are alone and I worried about her not finding someone. She looked like I had before Bella. That did worry me. I didn't want that for her. She deserved better. She is better than that. I love her and I just want her to be one hundred percent happy. I see the way she gazes at her sister and Jacob and how she looks at me and Bella. It's the same way I tended to when I was alone. We are more alike than even she knows. I don't want her to feel that way. She deserves better than that. Emma is better than that. She deserves all the happiness in the world and I know one day she'll get it.

I looked at Bella, speechless. I didn't know what to say. Sorry wasn't going to be enough no matter how many times I said it. I didn't know what I was going to do but I was going to make it up to her, no matter what. I love Bella and I'm going to do whatever it takes to show her that and to make up for what I had done. I saw my family look at her apologetically and also unsure of what to say. Bella looked at us expectantly.

"Bella, I am so sorry." I said again making this the hundredth time I said it. She smiled and put her hand to my cheek.

"Edward, it is ok. I'm not upset anymore. I really do understand." she replied.

"Bella, I will make this up to you. I don't know how but I am going to make this up to you."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes I do. I left you, alone and broken. Then you had kids, my kids, and you needed me and I wasn't there. They needed me and I wasn't there. I'm not going to make that mistake again. I will make this up to. I have to. I don't care what it takes but I will make this up to you." I responded firmly. In the corner of my eye I saw Alice grinning.

"As long as what you do doesn't mean spending a ton of money on me. I don't want you spending a lot of money on me. You have already done that enough when we were dating before. I mean it. No spending massive amounts of money." She replied, her eyes narrowing on me. She knew I would want to spend money on her but that's not something I had intended on doing to make it up to her. I could do better than that. Maybe I could talk to Emma and Nessie about what I should do. "Edward?" I heard her say. I looked at her. "Do you promise?"

"Promise what?" I asked.

"That you won't spend a lot of money on me." she answered. I took her hand in mine and smiled her favorite smile.

"I promise, love." I said. We gazed into each others eyes before hearing an annoying voice speak to us.

"Yeah, yeah. You guys are cute. Can we go play baseball again?" said my annoying brother, Emmett. I hate that guy sometimes. He's such an idiot sometimes and also inappropriate with his stupid innuedos. I glared at him. He was unaffected by this because he just kept smiling at me and looked at me with an eyebrow raised. 'You gonna fight me, Eddie?', He thought to me, flexing his muscles.

"Emmett, I could take you down quicker than you think." I stated. He looked at me astonished.

"You think you can take me? You may be faster but I'm both stronger and smarter...and better looking but that's beside the point." he replied. I looked at him calculating before shaking my head.

"Nah, you are going to lose. And you are smarter than me? Emmett, what's the square root of 1?" I asked. He looked down for a minute and counted with his fingers. Wow this is a lot of work for a simple math problem, even for Emmett. He did this for a few minutes before throwing his hands in the air.

"You know I'm not good at science." He replied.

"It's not a science problem, Em. It's a simple math problem. This isn't brain surgery." I explained.

"Maybe not to you but it is to the rest of the world. Right Rosie?" he asked, turning to Rosalie. She looked at him apologetically.

"Sorry, babe, but it is really easy."

"No it's not. It's as hard as adding 90 million to 10 million." he argued. She looked at him scared for him and trying not to offend him.

"Honey, that's easy too. It's 100 million." she replied.

"Well well well aren't you smart? You're as smart as a rocket scientist." he said sarcastically. Rose glared at him. She didn't like his tone. He cowered under her glare. "I'm sorry. You really are a smart one." he revised. She kissed him on the cheek.

"Good. Now I want to talk to Bella." she replied, smiling at Bella.

"You want to talk to me?" Bella responded, surprised. Rosalie nodded. Bella looked at me and I nodded, telling her it was alright. Bella and Rosalie then walked outside. I saw my family look at me sympatheticly, knowing I was hating myself for what I had done all those years ago.

"Edward, you really do need to forgive yourself for what happened after Bella's party. You were trying to protect her. Everyone gets that. She gets that. She forgave you. You have to forgive yourself." said Alice. The others nodded in agreement.

"Not everyone." I replied. My family looked at me confused.

"Not everyone what?" asked Esme.

"Not everyone gets that. E.J doesn't get that." I answered.

"Don't worry about E.J." said Emmalie. We all turned and noticed her leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. She smiled and came over to me and sat down beside me. "E.J's just being stubborn. He really will come around. You just have to have patience and wait. Mom always says that he is just as stubborn as you are. He will give up this whole 'I hate my dad' phase when he spends more time with you and he won't do that until he's ready. Just wait. He will like you and will understand why you did what you did. He just needs time. Just like I did" she explained softly, placing her hand on mine and showing me her smile that mirrored mine.

"Are you saying you believe me?" I asked hopefully.

"I'm saying that I'm ready to listen to your side of the story." she said, starting to walk out. I didn't move, shocked. She turned her head toward me. "Are you coming?" she asked. I snapped out of my shock and got up and walked out with her, anxious. This was the moment I have been waiting for since I first knew about her existence. Hopefully she would understand. Hopefully she won't hate me. Hopefully, everything will go well.

Jase POV:

I walked into the forest for the hundredth time since Edward and his family came here. I was thinking about things a lot more since then. This time it wasn't about something they did but something I did. Hearing Bella's story wasn't hard until she talked about what had happened between us before she left Phoenix and moved to Forks. That time period put a real struggle in our relationship. For a while I had hated her for leaving. Now I feel like a bad person for hating my sister because she wanted to live with Charlie.

Bella and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. We both tease each other incessantly but we are still friends. I've also always been highly protective of her. She is my baby sister and I always took it upon myself to take care of her, to protect her. We always got along really well. I could talk to her about anything and she could do the same with me. Our whole lives we were best friends. We never really fought. We didn't have huge blowouts until that day. That day we had the biggest blowout. That day I lost time with my sister.

When Bella told me she was leaving, I wanted to believe she was joking. I wanted her to tell me that she wasn't serious but I realized by her facial expressions that she wasn't. I felt a little betrayed then. I never thought of how Bella felt. She wanted to not cause Mom to choose between her and Phil. I understood that. I just felt like she should have stayed with me. I felt that we should stay together until one of us goes to college. One of my worries was something everyone else would think is stupid. I wanted to protect her in high school. I wanted to protect her there and at home. I couldn't be there though since Charlie was there.

Charlie and I have never gotten along. He and I argued a lot. Part of it was because I complained a bit but besides that he argued with me about my future. He didn't like the idea of me taking off for a year to go to Europe or taking a road trip around the United States during that year. I wanted to just take a break and if I went on a road trip take Bella around with me for the summer because I knew she'd want to go to college. But he hated that plan. He demanded I go to college. Then there was a matter of opinions and how he told me when I was in a bad relationship. Like I don't know when I'm in a bad relationship! I'll break up the relationship if it's bad! I'm not stupid despite what everyone in the world thinks! I may not be the sharpest tool in the box but I'm at least smart enough to know what's bad and what's good! I know what's good for me! No one should tell me what to do and what's good for me! I know he means well but that doesn't mean he can interfere with every matter of my life! ARGH! Charlie just drives me insane sometimes! Hence why we can't be in the same house! We'd kill each other! We are at each other's throats all the time and it just gets annoying!

But even through all those things, I still think of him as my dad. I just have a hard time with him and then there's the fact he and Mom split when I was just a kid. I did feel sorry that Charlie and I couldn't have a good relationship but we had nothing in common. I needed someone I could relate to. I always wanted to mend my problems with Charlie but it never happened. Anytime I tried we'd fight anyway.

Our last fight was a huge blowout. At first it started off as a fight over my future. Then it turned into a fight about me getting into trouble at school for fighting. To be fair, I was protecting Bella's honor. Charlie thought I just wanted to fight since I didn't tell him what the creep said about Bella. If Charlie knew what he said, he'd have the jerk locked up and would have thrown away the key. That idea didn't seem to bother me but I thought that would cause trouble for Charlie and Bella'd probably find out and I didn't want that. Then the argument moved to my girlfriend who I thought I was in love with at the time, before I'd known what love truly was. The fight ended when I'd said the worst thing possible: I'd blamed him for my mother leaving him.

I couldn't face Charlie after that. It was the worst thing I could have said to him. How could I do that to him? I'm his son. I shouldn't ever say anything like that to him. It is an awful thing to do. I didn't really ever forgive myself for that. That day I left because I knew I had upset him. I couldn't stand to see his face after what I had said. I knew I broke him. Since then I never said a word to him or saw him ever again. I regret that every single day since I had said it. I wish I could have been there for Bella in Forks. I wish I could talk to Charlie and laugh with him like I used to as a little kid. I wish things could have been better then and that Bella and I could have been closer after our fight. I wished I could be closer with Charlie but I know now that it's too late. I can't exactly be close with him after becoming a vampire. Any shot I had at having a real relationship is now nonexistent and I will regret not having a real relationship with him forever.

I leaned my head against a tree and listened to the birds chirping. It was kind of annoying but it was better than hearing how awful of a brother I was to abandon my sister because I was selfish. I should have stayed with her regardless of my problems with Charlie. I could have protected her more in Forks. It might have been better if I were there. I could have helped her more and made her happier just by being there. I sighed.

"I'm a terrible brother." I said to myself, closing my eyes.

"You're not so bad." said a familiar voice. I opened my eyes and saw Bella standing between two trees, smiling.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were talking with Rosalie." I said, leaning back and closing my eyes again.

"I was. We are done talking. She just wanted to tell me her history." she replied. She came over and sat next to me

"And?" I asked with my eyes still closed.

"It's terrible. It's an awful experience no one should go through. I don't really blame her for being upset with me after what she went through." she summarized. I understand her not sharing. It wasn't her story to share. If Rosalie wanted me to know, she would have told me. I accepted her explanation. We were both silent for a while. "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh you know, acting like Edward. I'm wallowing in self-pity." I responded dryly.

"Why are you wallowing in self-pity?" she asked me gently. I was hesitant to tell her. I didn't want her to know how upset this made me. I let out a breath before answering.

"I'm your big brother. I was supposed to be there for you as much as I could. But I wasn't there when you left and you needed me there and I stayed when I should have gone with you. I was the one that abandoned you. Not the other way around. I have a hard time forgiving myself for doing that." I admitted.

"You really do sound like Edward. Look, Jason, you are my best friend and my brother. I'm not mad at you for what happened. It was just as much my fault as it was yours. It's normal for brothers and sisters to fight so shut up and deal with it!" countered Bella. I was shocked. She's not usually like that.

"Bella! You don't usually say something like that. What gives?"

"I'm tired of listening to everyone complaining like that. I'm done telling everyone I forgive them because everytime I do I end up having to repeat it later. I'm done! I'm sick of it so suck it up! You're my brother. I love you but you get on my nerves and if you don't suck it up soon I'm not going to forgive you!" she replied angrily. I was once again shocked by what had happened and proud at the same time.

"Alright, I'll suck it up. You know what? Oddly enough, you yelling at me made me feel better and you also made me very proud. You have never really said something like that to me before. I'm proud of you for that." I responded. She smiled.

"Well I learned how to be more open after spending time in Forks. Edward and the rest of the Cullens bring out this side of me that no one really knows and I was too afraid to let out. I'm learning to be myself and be more outgoing. Maybe being away from you, although it was hard and I missed you a lot, wasn't so bad for us. After all, I never would have been as close to the Cullens had I not been alone. And you...you never would have met Anne. Jase, it wasn't a bad thing for us. It was a good thing. Don't sulk. It worked out well for both of us." she replied. I nodded. I hadn't ever thought of that. I can't even think of how life would be like for me without Anne. She's right.

"You're right. I shouldn't sulk. I can't even imagine life without Anne and besides it's in the past. I'm going to focus on the present." She nodded sharply, approving. I smiled. "Yeah so how's that present going, Bell? Are you getting me a new car?" She rolled her eyes.

"Oh you are going to focus on THAT present? Well this is what I'm going to get you..." she said leaning into my ear. "I'm not telling you." she whispered. Dang!

"You suck, Bells!" I yelled. She laughed.

"Oh do I? Maybe I won't get you a present then."

"NO! You have to I'm your brother. Please! Pretty PLEASE!" I begged. She chuckled again.

"I wasn't serious, Jase. Of course I was going to get you a present." she replied. I gave her hug, excited.

"Thank you, Bellsy! I Love YOU!" I yelled. She laughed. "Let's go! I want to go play Guitar Hero with you!"

"Why? You know I'm going to cream you!" she declared. I scoffed.

"Yeah right! I'm going to win! I'm older therefore I shall always win!" I commented. She laughed again.

"Then why did I win last week?" she asked, smirking. I glared.

"I let you win, Bellsy! But not this time! I'm going to win and you are going to lose!"

"We shall see."

"Race you back to the house?" I asked. She nodded.

"Of course!" she replied, running instantly.

"Hey that's cheating!" I yelled before taking off after her. Everything was now back to normal. I was not worried anymore. Bella always made me feel better. I wasn't going to act like that again, hopefully. I'm going to beat Bella back! I have to!

Emmalie POV:

I walked out the door with Edward slowly walking behind me. I was ready for this. I had been waiting for Aunt Rose to decide to tell Mom her story soon. I knew that she was going to tell her it today. Nessie had warned me ahead of time. I was a little nervous to hear the story that my father had to tell me. I didn't know if it was truly for a good reason that he left my mom. I obviously though wasn't going to show him that.

I led him to the spot I usually sat at to think. It was near the water. The same place where Seth and I had talked after I found out my father was here. It was my favorite spot. I loved to hear the trickling of water. It was a perfect place to think. I sat down on a large rock and then Edward sat next to me. We were both silent for a while.

"So we are here. What's your side of the story?" I asked, tired of the silence.

"I left to protect you mother. I know that that sounds so ridiculous but it's true. I grew up believing in God and heaven. Well I believed at one point, I'm reconsidering it now, that vampires are souless monsters. I believed vampires didn't belong in heaven when they died or whatever it is we do. I spent my whole existence as a vampire loathing myself. I didn't think I had a soul. That was until I had met Bella.

"Bella at first was just a mere human. I didn't think of her as significant. But I realized that her blood had tempted me more than anyone else's. It was hard to resist. I hated her for it. It fueled the monster inside me. I was hungry for her blood. She was nothing to me than a being created to torture me. I wanted to kill her and to keep myself from hurting her I left to Alaska to get away from her. After a while I realized that she was nothing but an insignificant human but that was far from the truth.

"When I came back I actually talked to her. She was an impressive human. She was selfless, kind, caring. She was incredible. I was impressed by her. I liked her. I didn't even realize how much I liked her until I saw a van nearly crush her. I saved her before it could kill her. I couldn't see her get hurt. My family with the exception of Alice, Carlisle, and Esme were a little mad at me for saving her. Rosalie was the worst. I waited for her to say something about what she had seen and she said nothing to anyone. It surprised me. I tried to ignore her but couldn't. I was attracted to her.

"It was hard for me. I was torn. One part of me told me to stay away and to push her way. But the other part begged to keep her with me. In the end the attraction won. I kept saving her when she needed saving. She even found out what I was. It wasn't until quite a while later before I said I loved her. After that I had stayed with her and introduced her to my family. It had all been going great until we ran into three other vampires, nomads.

"They fed on human blood. We tried to mask her scent and pretend that she was one of us but one caught the scent and tried to hunt her. I hated him. I couldn't let him do it. I loved her and I could never let him hurt her. He did end up getting to her and she got hurt. I never forgave myself for that. She got hurt because of me and my world. It scared me to death. That had been what I feared would happen. I didn't want her to get hurt and she did. It made me very careful around her, more cautious. I was so cautious of other threats that I hadn't realized my family was a threat to her.

"On her birthday my family accidently attacked her. The bloodlust was strong and I couldn't handle it after that. I feared for her. I couldn't even let her be around my family without her getting hurt. It hit me that day that the only way I could protect her was to leave, seeing as I wasn't going to change her. I left her so that she wouldn't ever accidently get hurt by me and my family. I was trying to protect her from us. I guess I didn't really protect her. It didn't stop her from becoming a vampire." Edward explained. I was a little touched but also a little confused.

"Why would you want to stop my mom from becoming a vampire?" I questioned.

"I told you about me believing vampires are souless, right?" He asked. I nodded. "Well, I didn't want that for Bella. I thought she deserved better than that. I wanted her to have a human life. I wanted her live her life. She could have a child as a human. I wanted that for her. I wanted the world for her. What was I supposed to do when I believed that vampires are souless? Could I take away her soul? I loved her and I could never do that to her. I could never turn her into a monster like me." he replied. I understood him better now. I could finally see what my mom saw in him. He was easier to like now. I could actually see him as my father now. I sighed, needing him to understand something.

"You need to know that you are not a monster. You are a good man. You were trying to protect my mom. I understand that now. And that's not something a monster would do. You are not a monster and you need to believe that if you want me to accept you as my father." I replied. He smiled.

"Thank you and I'm actually starting to believe that now. I've heard a lot of people yell at me about that. It's starting to sink in. I told you I was reconsidering my stance on vampires and souls. It's true and I am starting to believe it." he responded.

"Good because if you don't, you'd better start,...Dad." I said, smiling at him. He grinned at me. I got up and hesitantly gave him a hug before walking away. When I walked away, I saw a familiar face who seemed to be watching us from a distance.

AN: Anyone know who that is?