The pace Edward set was impossible, so much so that I had to tug his hand to let him know I wasn't that fast. He stopped abruptly in the middle of the forest, catching me off guard I sped right past him tripping over the hem of my jeans. He caught me as I was an inch from the smacking the ground.

"Bella, are you all right," he asked, concern etched in every word he spoke. I nodded, and (with his help) got to my feet. I bent over my hands on my knees, my breathe coming in sharp bursts. It was times like these I felt so human.

"Bella!" He was by my side in an instant, holding me away from the ground like it was contaminated.

The familiar noise of five silent vampires whipped through the air. In a second the Cullens were standing in the small clearing, that hid itself in the fores,t confused looks on their faces.

"Why did we stop," Emmett whined, a hint of disappointment in his voice."Jasper and I were racing."

"Bella stopped," Edward said, never once taking his eyes away from me.

"Only because you...run...too fast," I snapped with all the dignity I could muster. A smile crept its way onto Edward's inhumanly perfect face.

"Too fast, "He sounded skeptical. "You were keeping up just fine."

"Barely. And stop that smiling, it's making my breathing even more drastic." He chuckled lightly, setting me back down on the ground.

"You don't need to breathe." I scowled.

"I know that, but keeping up with you takes all the breathe that I want."

"Then stop breathing."

"Your still too fast." He grinned as he bent down to kiss my neck lightly. I let all my defenses drop, so he could slide his lips along the side of my neck. I didn't shiver, but I wanted to.

"I'll go slower," he promised. "Better yet, I'll carry you."

I protested, but he ignored me, signaling to his family that he was ready to go.

There was rap music blaring from my house when we entered the space where my home was located, I identified it coming from the downstairs speakers. Gideon wasn't home yet. I turned to Carlisle and the rest of the Cullens. They were all eying the house with disbelief.

"Sorry," I whispered, suppressing my laughter. "Gideon will be home any minute. The music is just...they're angry." Carlisle nodded, following me as I walked up the stone steps and onto the front porch. "I'm sorry for this," I warned them. "It's the only way to get their attention."

"Do what you must," Carlisle said in a very puzzled tone. I gave him a reassuring smile.

I begun to bang loudly on the door, then rang the door bell. The music got louder. they did not just do that! "Arielle Colette Gray, turn off the damned music or I will smash those speakers!" The song changed to a punk song...Gabriel's choice.

"They're fighting for who gets to listen to what. Gabriel has just changed CD's, I assume Arielle is smacking him by now," I explained to the dumb-founded Cullens. None of them had seen me yell at anyone to this extent before. The music changed from the hard core punk to a gothic sound with an angels voice. Jamie

"James Matthias," I gritted my teeth, ready to kick down the door. And then the song changed back to a pop/hip-hop song. It was Arielle again but Gabriel was the one who was in charge.

"Gabriel Aaron Gray you are supposed to be in charge! I am going to kick down the door and blame it on you." He didn't respond. I pushed up my sleeved, in annoyance. "Fine Gabriel I will begin with a little blackmail...what shall I announce to the whole world first. Hmm." If that didn't get a rouse out of him than I didn't know what would. "I have one. When we were at our last school you made e reach into Jesse Andrew mind and find out his darkest fear. I did. And do you remember what it was. Well in case you have obtained some form of amnesia and you can't remember, it was vampires! So one day in gym you screamed 'Vampire' at the top of your lungs, and he went into a corner and cried. Did I tell Gideon...no."

Gabriel didn't respond, thought I could hear him mentally cringing at the dirt I had on him.

"Fine, when you were asked to house-sit for the Kemp's you killed their gold-fish by poking it with a pencil, because you claimed it was giving you an evil glare---." At this the music snapped off and the door swung open. Gabriel stood in front of me, a fake smile plastered over his face to hide the embarrassment gathering behind his face.

"That gold fish had it coming," he snapped, breaking his cheerful composure. "It was giving me dirty looks."

"Sure, Gabe," I said, sarcasm dripping from my words. I patted them gently on the shoulder.

"Don't tell Gideon about the Jesse Andrew thing, he told me that that kids had enough emotional scarring for one lifetime."

"Never."

"And the gold-fish?"

"How many things do you have on me?" He tilted his head sideways, thinking deeply.

"One," he answered blandly. "No...no...three. I have three pieces of black mail on you. Which I will carefully remind you of as of...now." Gabriel took no notice to the Cullens, and to my horror he began telling me the three pieces of bribery he had against me. "One, there was the chandelier incident, where Arielle and you fought over something unimportant, and you rolled over the balcony and broke the poor ladies chandelier. Gideon never knew about that.

"Two. When you snapped Gideon's priceless painting in two and then proceeded to buy the fake and hang it up, after trying to glue the original. BACK TOGETHER!" I buried my face in my hands, humiliation washing over me.

"You helped with that!" I accused him. "With the breaking and the buying!" He ignored me.

"Then there's the whole Edward/Cullen thing, which I would never use against you, because you love him and them more than the world combined with any unnatural force, and you kill me if I did say anything. Besides I wouldn't want you to get all mopy around me. I like the fun Bella. She's not as dead."

"It is good you think that, because tonight is the night Gideon is having a chat with Carlisle Cullen." Gabriel's face paled at my words.

"Truth be told Bella, I don't really want to apologize to...Jasper again. And you didn't make Jamie apologize."

"You sound like a sulking baby, and Jamie is my baby brother...therefore he wins." Gabriel frowned.

"That doesn't make any sense, I'm also your baby brother."

"Your a hundred years older than I am."

Gabriel didn't answer with his usual quip, I glanced up at him, his golden eyes were wide with shock...and embarrassment.

"Oh yeah," I said attempting to keep myself from roaring with laughter. I patted gently on the arm. "Did I tell you they were already here." I turned to the Cullens, giving them what I hoped to be a welcoming mile. "Please come in, I'm sorry for my families rudeness." I elbowed Gabriel in the stomach. They all nodded in shock. I grabbed Edward's hand and dragged him inside, the rest followed, passing Gabriel who was still too stunned to speak.

In an instant the music blasted again, the lyrics screaming through the speakers.

Crowded streets and the memories of all the faces you see you don't know who i am when you're looking at me hang me tonight in the false and jaded light in the center of the square, m u r d e r e r's breeding in the air we're all i n n o c e n t. the shadow's playing with our eyes...

I snapped off the power cord for the CD Player. Arielle or Jamie had gotten into my CD collection. The Cullens were watching me with curious eyes. "Please sit,"I begged them, I wanted them too feel comfortable in my home.

Gabriel walked in, his eyes still wide in shock. "Gabe," I called, as he entered the living my room. "Which child got into my CD's?" He stared at me blankly. I rolled my eyes. "I don' think that with Arielle's preference for rap, an Jamie's preference for his own Gothic lullabies, and Josh...who well has no preference, that someone had to have ransacked my CD's. And I know you didn't do it, because you openly detest my music."

"Jamie," he answered simply, sitting down on the opposite couch from the Cullens. I rolled my eyes.

"Gideon should be here soon," I said in a apologetic voice to the Cullens. I turned back to my brother. "Gabriel, can you get the two monsters who like to steal my things." He jumped up and sped out of the room in a the blink of an eye.

"Your house...,"Alice began to say in a very shocked voice.

"It is a very confusing place to live, but there is never a dull moment. With my lack of balance, Gabriel's cynical views, Arielle's temper, and Jamie's mathematics brain, it works out pretty evenly."

"I like it."

"Thanks." I moved across the room, and settled myself on Edward's lap. I knew that I would have to move when Josh entered the room.

"Bella!" A kind, clear voice yelled. "Are the Cullens here yet?"

"Yes." I said in a natural voice, knowing Gideon would hear me. "Were in hear, Gideon."

"Good...good." I turned to the Cullens, giving them a wide smile.

"Gideon lives on history, he is a bit scatter brained at times, but he's brilliant." Gideon entered the living room a wide grin plastered on his face. He immediately shook Carlisle's hand, then Esme's, making away around the family.

I stood up in a flash, and walked over to the far side of the room. I had felt the ruffle of something moving but I hadn't placed it, with my euphoria of Edward being in my house. I felt all eyes on me. I reached out one hand to pull the curtains away from the window, then something fell, almost knocking me backwards.

"Found you," I said, the delight evident in my tone. Jamie had jumped down on front of me, from where he had lodged himself in between the window and curtain. "Not a bad place to hide," I complimented. "But I will always find you."

"One of these days," he assured me, brushing a lock of black hair out of his face. I wheeled Jamie around so he could meet the Cullens. Gideon was laughing at the sight of both of us.

"I'm sorry," he boomed in a loud voice. "Jamie can sip into any space, forcing the others to try and find him. It's a statistics of stealth study."

"Found the monster, did you?" Gabriel said in obvious disgust, dragging Arielle in by the collar.

"Only one." I replied, frowning at the sight of Arielle's struggling form.

"If I were a human," Arielle snapped, her French accent making her sound as if she were a snob. "Zou would have killed me!"

"Don't play the human card," Gabriel spat back at her, dragging her over to the couch where he had been sitting previous. Jamie followed suit. Only Gideon and I were left standing.

"Where's Josh," Jamie asked in a bored voice.

"Here," A voice came from the other room. Josh entered drying his thick dark hair by shaking his head furiously. He smiled when he saw me, then sat down next to Jamie.

I winced when I looked at him, feeling slightly guilty, but more than happy to finally be with my one and only, Edward. I instinctively made introductions.

"Gabriel, Arielle, Jamie, and Joshua, this is the Cullens, and the Hales. Jasper and Rosalie Hale, and Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Alice, and Edward Cullen." No one but Esme and Carlisle made moves to introduce themselves. The rest sat with murderous expressions on their faces, except for Alice, who was trying to sooth Jasper.

As soon as the introductions were finished, Gideon and Carlisle struck up a lively conversation, each were enjoying it greatly. Esme was involved too, but she mainly listened. I watched them for a few minutes, but then faced the rest of the room.

I instantly realized, with terror, I had now where to sit. I could either sit with the Cullens and give my family the subtle write off, or do the same to the Cullens, and Edward. I debated silently with myself for a few moments, only coming to the conclusion it was decision time.

I had two options. The first sit next to Edward and silently tell my family they were dead to me. I knew they would feel betrayed, and I couldn't have that. Then there was the other options. I could sit with my family, and watch the pain in Edward's eyes as I chose my new family. A stab of pain shot through the empty space that had been filled by Edward. I knew what my choice was.

I walked slowly, at a human pace towards the arm-chair Edward was sitting in, and sat next to it. I was only a few feet away from Gabriel who knew my thoughts on this. I was choosing both of them...Gabriel, Arielle, and Jamie that is. I didn't think Josh would appreciate me too much after this. I felt Edward sigh with relief as I reached up to hold his porcelain skinned hand.

A pang of guilt shot through me as Josh's eyes widened in disbelief. I looked him straight in the eye, wanting more than anything to tell him ow sorry I was, but he didn't seem to realize this.

Bella? Why are you holding his hand...that monster family of his attacked us, did you know that!

Edward growled at Josh's interpretation of the Cullens as monsters. I kissed his hand gently, hoping he would relax. He did, but threw a scowl my way.

Bella, came a different thought, I snapped my head towards Jamie who was watching me with a peculiar expression.

That's the guy that made you feel empty, right?

I nodded once, while watching a fly on the opposite wall.

And now he makes you feel whole again?

I nodded again.

He loves you...I can tell. I grinned, Jamie was smarter than I gave him credit for.

"I think we should discuss the previous events that have split our families into separate groups,"Gideon announced, suddenly, snapping me from my reverie.

"I quite agree," Carlisle said, glaring meaningfully at his family. I smiled at his thoughts to Edward. I wasn't sure Carlisle knew I could read minds yet.

Behave. Gideon tells me that Bella has had a relationship with his son Joshua. But apparently it wasn't too serious, poor boy. And Gideon knows about us.Did you know about this?

Edward nodded curtly, then turned to me. Of course he had known I had over heard Carlisle's thoughts. I beamed, barely able to suppress my laughter. He frowned, unable to find the odd humor I found in his Carlisle's train of thought. I couldn't really find it either, but I think I was suffering from nerves.

Gideon cleared his throat, ready to begin the arguments, or discussions as he liked to call them. "I knew about Gabriel's fight with Jasper, and I was heartened to find Bella made him apologize. However I did not know about Jamie attacking with Emmett. Jamie."

Jamie hung his heard, embarrassed, I knew by what he had done. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"It doesn't matter," Emmett laughed, trying to cheer Jamie up. "You put up a good fight." I grinned appreciatively at Emmett.

"And," Esme cut in. "Edward fought with Joshua. Edward." Edward was livid. I knew full well that he had no intention of apologizing to Josh, and I didn't blame him.

I shot Esme a worried look, her face was concerned but not frightened. "Edward?" She pushed, a very motherly ring to her voice. Edward snarled in his throat so quietly that I was sure that only Esme and I could hear it. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen," Esme shrieked. "You apologize this instant."

I was shocked, never had I heard Esme yell at any of her adopted children. She was usually to well collected. Edward grunted his apology, if you could call it that, not wanting push Esme further. She seemed satisfied that he had at least attempted to speak.

"What is you hunting range," Carlisle asked Gideon, and they were back into a full steamed discussion of how we should alternate driving farther on weekends. Once again Esme joined in with the conversation, leaving the rest of us to sit and glare maliciously at one another.

I sighed in dejection. What was I going to do with them?

Bella,

Gabriel thought. I glanced up at him with a concerned expression on his face.

I hate to do this, but you...everyone needs to talk about this. Now my feelings on the matter are, that you will always be my sister but and I refuse to make you unhappy so I am kicking you out. I stared open mouthed at him. Shock was one of the hundred of emotions that was filling my body.

"You can't do that!" I burst out. Everyone turned to watch Gabe and I's argument. Only Edward knew what it really was about.

Bella, be sensible. You love him more and more every day. You can't leave him, he can't leave you. You both are the connecting pieces to each others hearts. The missing links. Jamie, and I think you should be happy.

"Not fair," I managed to get out before I had to stop myself from breathing. All I could manage was hot anger running through my body.

You are still our sister and we won't let you go, we'll see each other once every year or more. I promise, but you will be an empty shell without Edward.And I know that you couldn't decide for yourself you love both of our familiies too much. So I'm deciding for you.

I didn't protest, I knew he was right. Gabriel had always known me too well for my own good. I nodded, already missing my family.

"Gideon," Gabriel said. My stomach clenched, I knew what he was doing and all I could do was watch him, knowing that he was right. Gideon glanced up from his conversation with Carlisle, and stared at Gabriel. "Jamie and I are kicking Bella out of the house." Gideon's jaw dropped, his eyes wide in astonishment.

"I don't think-," he began but Gabriel stopped him in mid sentence.

"We've already given her six hours notice," he lied perfectly. "And she will spend the rest of eternity with Edward and his family. Of course she is expected to visit us twice a year."

"Bella! Do you agree with this." I knew Gideon wouldn't be angry with me, all he wanted was too see me happy. In a way he was like a father.

I nodded eagerly, squeezing Edward's hand as tight as I could. He barely noticed, for he was already hoisting me onto his lap. I snuggled myself closer to his body, feeling warmth rush through my face. I would have blushed just then if I could have.

"As long as you are happy, my dear." He raised his hand waving me off. "We will all miss you, but you had better make sure to call us once in awhile and visit us."

"Frequently," I agreed. Edward suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a very protective way. At first I hadn't noticed why, but then I glanced at Gabriel whose eyes were full of fear.

Bella get out of here!

He warned me, but I didn't listen. My eyes snapped towards Josh, whose eyes had turned the color of a midnight sky.

"How could you do that!"Josh yelled at Gideon. "She can't leave us!"

Gideon sighed, massaging his temples. "She can Josh and she is going to. I think that you should accept that. Of all people."

"Your my father," Josh roared, launching himself across the room towards Gideon. No one was fast enough to stop him. In a split second, Josh had thrown himself on top of his father and was ripping him apart. I watched the closest thing I had ever had to father besides Carlisle get torn to shreds by his own son. Had Josh gone crazy?

Gideon's screams penetrated my ears like gunshots, as Josh lit a match, he had grabbed from the coffee table and dropped it over his fathers body. Horror filled every ones faces as they watched. All too stunned to move. Then Arielle's cry burst through the stretching silence.

"Gideon!" In a movement to fast for me to see, she was knelling by the flames.

"Arielle," Gabriel called, racing after her. He pulled her back from the flames, and Josh who was continually ripping his fathers ashes to pieces. Arielle was sobbing into his arms. In spite of all the pandemonium surrounding me I realized Gabriel and Arielle were a very good couple. The thought was drowned out by her sobs. I whipped my head around to face a stunned Jamie, his eyes staring blankly at the scene before him. Gabriel was beyond tears.

I felt close enough to vomiting, turning my head I buried it in Edward's chest. Dry sobs wracking my body. In the background I heard Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper trying to stop Josh. I sobbed harder. Edward's hold was comforting and I felt safe, he was whispering soft words in my ear, but I didn't hear most of them.

This was all my fault. I had never thought Josh, calm and serene Josh would ever react like this. He had killed his own father, and left his brothers and sister with absolutely no where to go. And all of this was because I loved Edward with every inch of my heart. I hadn't even realized that Edward had left the living room with me in his arms. He was running up the stairs before I realized what was happening. Desperately I wanted to ask where he was taking me. Arielle, Jamie, and Gabriel needed me. I opened my mouth to ask but all that came out was a sob.

Edward carried me into my room, not bothering to turn the light switch, and sat me down on my bed. He held my shaking body as he laid backwards, his back against my pillows. I nestled myself as close as possible towards him, praying that he wouldn't let go.

"I had to get you away from the commotion downstairs," he explained in a soft voice, tucking my brown hair behind my ear. I moved closer, his arms reaching out to wrap themselves around me in a protective cage.

We were silent for a few minutes, leaving my mind to wander down the horrible paths it could have possibly ever taken. Memories of Gideon and Josh flooded my brain. They had never even fought before this. And now Josh had actually killed his own father. My second father.

"It's all my fault," I whispered, my voice shaking with horror at what I had done. "It's all because of me. I never thought Josh would react this way, he's always been so calm, never lost his temper. Gabriel hasn't seen him ever become consumed with rage either, and he's been with him for years. I can't believe I...I ruined my family..."

"Shh, Bella," Edward hushed me. "None of this is our fault. It's mine." I wrenched myself away from his body to look him in those beautiful topaz eyes. Sorrow and torture filled those wondrous orbs of life.

"Edward this is not your--." He put two fingers to my lips, quieting me.

"I should have never left you, I should have changed you when we were both still in Forks. If I had listened to my family we could have avoided all of this pain and loss."

"I'm glad you didn't change me then." Hurt crossed his face, I kissed him lips softly before continuing. "Because if you had then I would have never met Gabriel, and Arielle, and Jamie, and Gideon."

He understood where I was coming from, and the hurt subsided. "I shouldn't have gotten involved with Josh at all," I continued. "I knew that I still loved you and I never would stop loving you and I still let Josh believe I was open to someonelse's love. If this is any ones fault it's mine." Edward stoked my head, letting it rest on his shoulder.

Minutes slipped by as I laid in my angels protective arms. Minutes turned into half hours then half hours turned into hours. It had been along time since either of us had seen anything down stairs. I knew that Carlisle had stopped the fire, because I had heard him asking Gabriel where the fire extinguisher was. Anything after that was unheard by either Edward or I. We were wrapped in our little world nothing could affect us there.

A soft knock on the door, brought my temporary calm crashing down around my feet. Alice entered followed by Jasper, who instantly gave me a dose of serenity, I smiled at him grateful for his work.

"Everything's cleaned up down stairs, there is a scorch mark but that's all," Sweet little Alice declared, sitting down on the edge of my bed.

"Josh?" Edward asked, tightening his grip on me.

"Contained," Jasper answered a hint of disgust woven in his voice. "Gabriel, Emmett, and Carlisle have him on the couch downstairs. So far he has just been staring at the opposite wall. I think he's in shock."

"Esme and Rosalie are taking car of Jamie and Arielle,"Alice said trying to ease my worries. "Or they're containing Arielle, Jamie is still sitting wide eyed where we left him."

"He'll be like that for awhile longer," I stated, remembering what Jamie had once told me about his human life. "He's been traumatized before, but he'll bounce back before the morning."

"Jasper and I will keep a watch on him, just in case."

"Thanks Alice."

"Carlisle wants both of you downstairs, he's in debate about what to do about Josh."

Edward growled deeply, making it clear what his opinion was. I agreed with him, but didn't really want to say anything just in case Alice or Jasper didn't think the same.

"We better go downstairs then," Edward whispered in my ear. "I promise, I won't let you move from my side." I nodded, and let him carry me out of my room. Jasper shutting the door gently behind us. I buried my face in Edward's chest, hoping...praying that this was all one big nightmare.

Of course it wasn't what would happen next was even worse.