Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

~A few days later

The airport was just as Bella remembered since she had left Forks nine months ago, small, freedom giving and empty, save for the man and woman who she knew to be Mr and Mrs Cullen.

After realizing she was to head back to Forks, Bella almost punched herself in the face for hopes of a concussion. But, when she kept on seeing the down trodden face of her little neighbour, she knew that she couldn't let the other woman go by herself, to face her grief alone, especially when she had specifically asked Bella to come with her. Rosalie, from what Bella could discern, had also been distraught from the passing of her grandmother, she looked so wound up and Leah looked so tired. Rosalie had Leah for support and, in hindsight; Bella would have assumed that Alice would ask her girlfriend Tanya to come with her. So, why the smaller woman had asked Bella, she was unsure, but she wasn't going to question it. Not now.

Alice let go of Bella's hand for the first time in two hours and Bella was glad to get some feeling back in the appendage. She saw the smaller woman race to Mr and Mrs Cullen, giving them both a bear hug. She glanced over at Rose, who was staring at her intensely, as if to gauge her reaction to the meeting that was about to take place. Bella looked away from the interrogating eyes and slowly walked up to the family. As soon as she saw Alice's father, she was brought back into a memory that happened so long ago. A surge of emotions welled up inside her and it took everything within herself to not get knocked back.

"Dad, mom, this is Bella, she's our across the road neighbour in San Francisco," Alice beamed, like a child who was introducing their playmate to their parents.

Bella looked at Mr. Cullen, he looks more tired since the last time I saw him, but then, I suppose death does that, she thought to herself. She saw the doctors eyes widen for just a fraction and just knew that he remembered her.

She took the lead and extended her arm, that was a conversation for another day, "Hi, um sir, pleasure to meet you, I'm sorry that we aren't meeting under better circumstances."

The doctor nodded his head in silent understanding and then took her hand gently into his own, "You also Ms. Swan, call me Carlisle."

It had always amazed Bella that the man could always hold such integrity and inner strength, qualities that she knew, she herself didn't possess.

Rose watched the scene intently, how did her father know that Bella's last name was Swan?

After introductions were made, the six adults crammed into the Cullen's car and drove home.

"So Bella, how are you enjoying the raining town of Forks?" Esme asked , despite her pain she was able to care for other people, this was a trait that Bella had instantly learned and respected the older woman for.

Bella had been staring out the window and knew that the Cullen residence was about 15 minutes away.

"It feels strange to be back," she murmured without thinking. She saw another large cloud in the dark sky and just knew that it was going to rain, she really hadn't missed the dreary weather.

Bella felt a slight shift next to her and started to panic when she had realised what she had just said.

"You used to live here?" Alice asked, confusion written all over her face.

Well, no use denying anything now, Bella thought to herself, she nodded her head, "Many years ago, I lived here for like a year and a bit, but then I moved for College and just haven't really returned since, you might even know my dad, Charlie Swan," she replied, hoping to not get a severe backlash.

At this there was a bout of recognition in Alice's eyes, "Chief Charlie Swan? Wait, you're his daughter? As in, Isabella? The home schooled kid?"

Bella winced at the title; she had never liked being known by other mainstream students as "the home schooled kid".

"Yeah."

Alice continued staring at Bella, she was hurt and she couldn't understand why. Did Bella lie to her? Not really, as Alice had never asked where Bella had come from. Was it a lie by omission? She wasn't sure. Clearly, Bella knew who she was, if the fearful look she was giving Alice was any indication.

"I just, never knew," Alice settled with and then sat straight, looking forward again.

Bella knew what this meant, they were going to have a serious talk later, "There's a lot you don't know."

"It seems so," Alice commented ending the conversation.

Rose and Leah just looked at each other as if waiting for a storm.

As soon as the four women stepped out of the car, they saw a huge man run towards them, Rose and Alice braced themselves for the oncoming bone crushing bear hug by the man.

The man embraced his two sisters and lifted them up from the ground.

"Emmett!" The girls squealed in surprise at being abruptly picked up.

"I missed you Squirt and Barbie Doll," The man named Emmett replied. Bella look at the man cautiously, from what she could see, he was just as big as Jake and had the same air of cheekiness to match.

"Em, don't call us that! And let us down," Rose replied, smacking him on the back.

"Honey, let your sisters down, they were just up in the air, I don't think that they appreciate being there again," a voice called.

Emmett turned around and saw his wife giving him a reprimanding look, causing him to give the girls in his arms one last squeeze and then let them down.

"Well, I think Squirt and Barbie suits you both so well," he replied haughtily and then, for the first time noticed the other two women that had accompanied his sisters.

"Yo Leah, good to see you again man," he said fist bumping her and then he gaged Bella, "Emmett Cullen, nice to meet you," he introduced, taking out his hand.

Bella studied the hand carefully as if the man was going to snap it back and say, Too slow, because that was what Jake would do, but the genuine look of curiosity in his eyes made her take his hand.

"Bella."

Emmett furrowed his brow for a second, "Bella, Belly-Button, Bella Bear, Stella Bella, Bella a Great Fella."

Bella remained still and perplexed so as to let the scene proceed.

Emmett was quiet for a few moments in thought before something clicked in his mind, "You will be known as Bella Bear," he said with unabashed pride. In response Bella continued to stare, not really knowing what to say or how to react to what had just occurred. And, it was especially awkward because the man still hadn't let go of her hand.

The large male tilted his head to the side and looked at the features of the woman in front of him, "You look really familiar, have I seen you somewhere before?" he asked her curiously. Bella was about to reply when suddenly the voice of Dr. Cullen called out for his son.

With a final glance and nod, Emmett let go of Bella's hand and then proceeded to help out his parents in getting the girl's suitcases inside the house.

Dafaque just happened? Bella asked herself, faintly wondering if the past minute was a delusion. She felt a hand on her arm and somehow knew that it was Alice ushering her inside.

"Kate this is Bella, Bella, this is Kate, Emmett's wife," Alice introduced.

Bella shook from her daze and looked at the blonde woman in front of her, she wasn't as beautiful as Rose, but then, not many people were.

"Hello..."

Kate smiled, "Hello Bella, you're going to have to excuse my husband, he christens everyone with a nickname when he first meets him, he believes it helps to remember people's names." She explained for her husband, Bella could see the maternalistic nature within the woman; she was nice and calm, the opposite of her husband.

In return, Bella just nodded, "Wait, how about Leah? He called her by her name."

Kate started chuckling, "He had tried to give her the name Leah the Great Eater, but was terribly embarrassed to what the name could insinuate, so he's called her Leah and only Leah ever since."

Bella smirked, yeah, the guy was definitely like Jake.

"Why don't you familiarise Bella with the house Alice? I have some things I need to discuss with Rose. It was nice meeting you Bella," Kate said and then greeted her sister in law.

Alice and Bella walked further into the house and Bella couldn't help but be amazed at the depth of it. It was a large, spacious manor, but it felt like a home.

"You ok?" Alice asked, hoping that the woman wasn't freaking out with all the new faces. She knew that Bella was a bit socially awkward and didn't much like being surrounded by people, least of all strangers.

The brunette in return just smiled at the thoughtfulness, "Yeah, Emmett caught me a little by surprise, but, he reminds me of Jake so, I think that I'll be able to handle him."

Her companion giggled and was relieved that the other woman wasn't going to run away, "He's the goofy one of the family, all of us are pretty much sane in comparison."

Bella's smile grew, she didn't have siblings so she couldn't empathize but, from the intonation of Alice's voice regarding her family, she knew that the smaller woman loved them. It was nice to see.

"He may be the goofy one of the family, but at least he isn't the goofy looking one," she replied whilst pointedly looking at Alice.

This earned a playful shove, which caused the taller woman to lose her balance and face plant into the door which joined the hall into the kitchen. Bella felt the pain in her nose first and instantly clasped it, hoping that there wouldn't be any blood.

She heard raucous laughter and knew that it was Alice, "Oh my God, Bella, I'm so sorry, are you ok?" Alice said in between breathes of air.

Bella looked at her hand and was grateful that she didn't see any blood, she looked at Alice who was still keeled over in laughter and scowled, "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up you evil little fairy," she muttered.

"You are the only person I know that could turn a playful shove into a full make out session with the door," Alice said somewhat sobering. She noticed the glare still directed at her so she walked up to Bella, placed her hands on either side of her neighbours face and then lifted herself up to be nose level.

Blue, that was all Bella saw in her line of vision, she was a little miffed that Alice had laughed on her account, but then, she probably would have done the same. However, she had not expected the smaller woman to get so close to her, she wasn't just in Bella's personal bubble, she was filling it. She felt Alice's breath wisp past her face and faintly noticed the familiar smell of cherry and honey.

"No blood, no damage," she heard, saw and felt Alice whisper. Bella was about to respond when she heard someone clear their throat. This caused both of the woman's heads to snap at the sound and finally notice the two males sitting at the dining table, just watching them.

Alice immediately let go of Bella and Bella took a step back as if to prove a point, both women began to blush for reasons unknown. Alice was the first to recover and then ran towards the two men at the table.

"Edward! Jaz!" She greeted them excitedly, as if the past minute didn't happen.

Bella stood in the doorway a little awkwardly, not only because of what had just happened, but because of the semi family reunion that was taking place between the siblings. As if reading her mind, Alice looked at her and smiled, "Bella, these are the bane of my existence, my brother Edward and my best Forks friend Jasper."

Bella took this as a cue to intrude on the reunion and as she got closer, both the boys stood up.

"Hello," "Pleasure" the boys greeted formally, whilst appraising her form.

"This is Bella, my across the road neighbour," Alice continued, Bella was half surprised that she hadn't added, And Charlie Swan's home school kid.

"You brought a girl home?" Jasper asked with a quirk of an eyebrow.

"She came for comfort," Alice replied as if daring him to challenge her, but her best friend just let it go.

"Of course," he placated. Bella felt incredibly awkward and tired, as the hours filled with meeting new people was beginning to take its toll on her.

"Bella, Alice has told me a lot about you, it' good to finally put such a befitting face to your beautiful name," Edward said with a grin.

The brunette was slightly confused by this and misinterpreted Edwards grin and words as an act of charm, so, instead of receiving the compliment with tact, she blurted out the first words that came to her mind.

"I'm gay," she announced.

The grin whipped itself off of Edward's face followed by surprise at the proclamation; he had only meant to be polite. The two just stared at each other for a split second until Edward started laughing, causing the other siblings to erupt in laughter as well. Bella, for the hundredth time that day, had no idea what was happening.

"Bella, Ed didn't mean anything by that, he's gay with Jasper," Alice explained.

Bella made an O shape with her mouth and started to blush, to which Alice just looked on with endearment. It was definitely a good idea to ask Bella to come with her, she still felt grief over the passing of her grandmother, but with the brunette's support, she felt that she was going to be ok.

Edward looked over at his little sister and noticed the way she was staring at Bella, he felt a hand tug on his own and looked at Jasper, who just gave him a slow nod.

"Welcome to the family Bella," Edward said, ignoring the glance that Alice sent them.

Alice was surprised by her brother's words, this was the first time that her protective older brother had accepted one of her friends upon first meeting, usually, the initiation took many trials and tribulations. It was because her older siblings maintained that Alice was the youngest girl, therefore, she needed the most protection and, where she did find it cute upon her first few years living with the Cullen's, it made it extremely difficult for her to date during her teenage years. Alice moving out to San Francisco only exacerbated their worries but, as she had moved out with Rose, they weren't overtly worried. So, for her brothers to instantly accept Bella warmed Alice greatly, this momentary happiness however, was cut short by Emmett bursting into the kitchen.

"Come on guys! We're going to go get something to eat," he boomed.

Esme followed after her wayward son, "I'm sorry I didn't prepare anything earlier, but we still have some things to sort out for the funeral," she apologized to the cohort.

Alice walked up to her mother and gave her a comforting hug, "It's ok mom, we understand, give us a call if you or dad need anything ok?"

At this, the matriarch smiled tearfully, "Of course, it's so good to have my baby's home."

"Mom, we're in our late-twenties and early thirties, we're hardly babies anymore," Edward objected.

"Regardless, I changed most of your diapers thank you very much, looking at you all now just, your Gammy Cyn would be so proud of you all," tears were gathering around Esme's eyes, but she felt the small grip on her get tighter.

"Mom," whispered Alice, but in return, the eldest woman just shook her head.

"Go, I'll be fine, Carlisle is here," she ushered her children out the door and continued the preparations for the upcoming funeral.

Everyone, barring Esme and Carlisle walked towards where the cars were situated, each were in their own thoughts, until Emmett looked up at Bella.

"Hey Bella Bear?" He said, garnering her attention.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

Bella quirked an eyebrow and shook her head in the negative, "No, why?"

Emmett's forehead scrunched in confusion, "You nose is all red."

This comment caused Alice, Jasper and Edward to simultaneously burst into a fit of giggles. Bella looked at the siblings who were laughing at her so openly and although, she may have felt embarrassed, for the life of her, couldn't care less.

The group made their way to a diner which the Cullen kids used to frequent as teenagers, when they entered the establishment, they had looked at it in awe, as it was still the tiny draughty place from their memories all those years ago. Since high school, each of them had moved on from Forks, to different cities, leaving their parents behind in search of their own adventures and life, in doing so, a wave of nostalgia hit each of them.

They were greeted at the door by a young waitress who they weren't familiar with, "Wow, huge clan today, let me see, eight of you, I think we have a table that can seat all of you in the middle here, feel free to move around some chairs if there aren't enough. When you're ready to place your order just give me a yell." The teenage girl said, she seemed to be about 17 and seemed very excitable.

Each person took a seat and made themselves as comfortable as possible being seated so close to each other. The table that the waitress had showed was large, but not that spacious, it was going to be difficult eating without hitting each other's elbows.

"Nice place," Bella commented, taking in the serene atmosphere, there weren't any other customers about and, by memory, she hadn't ever visited this particular diner before.

"Hey Eddy, didn't you work here one summer back in the day?" Emmett asked suddenly, whilst subtly adjusting himself in the small seat.

Edward glared daggers at his older brother, "Shut up Em," he said through gritted teeth. He could feel the heat rising to his face and noticed that Jasper's was as equally enflamed.

"You did too! You got fired, that's how you and Jasper got together! I had forgotten all about that!" Alice exclaimed.

Leah quirked an eyebrow at this, "Ok, now you have to tell us the story," she said, very much interested. She had always known Jasper and Edward to be together, but had never actually known how they had established their relationship.

Edward and Jasper just looked everywhere except the group so Emmett decided to take the reins, "Right, so, Eddy boy here was working one summer when he was fifteen and served Jasper who had just moved into Forks with his folks. And by serve, I mean, he served Jasper all right," he ended with a smirk and wink.

The table erupted in laughter, whilst Jasper and Edward blushed, "You don't have to make it sound as if we had sex Em," Jasper barely managed to get out.

"Dude, you were caught in the bathroom making out, same thing," Emmett replied.

"Man, you're smooth Edward, I would have pegged you as a, make terrible conversation with lots of back and forth emotions and then chastely make love, type of guy," Leah commented to the usually brooding male. She didn't really know Edward but knew enough to characterize him as a generally pensive and pessimistic individual.

Before Edward could comment, Jasper entwined his hand with his partners and smiled, "My Edward is a complete gentleman who knows how to get what he wants," he replied looking into Edwards eyes.

Leah grinned at the couple next to her, "O.k, even I have to admit that that was kind of cute," she said, she felt a familiar hand on her thigh and knew that it was Rose just desiring contact.

Alice smiled at the entire scene, it wasn't often that they were all together like this, her family with their partners, but she was enjoying it immensely. One day, she knew that she would have a partner as well to join in with the family. She had only dated Tanya for a few months but, whether or not the small woman believed that she was family material was a different story. She looked over at Bella who was sitting next to her, the brunette surprisingly seemed at ease with her everyone and that caused her to grin wider, for now, she had Bella, so she really couldn't complain.

"Sooooo, Bella Bear, what do you do for a living?" Emmett probed after they had all ordered their meals.

"I'm a writer," she answered drumming her knees with her fingers, she was still nervous but sitting in between Alice and Emmett assuaged her a little.

"Really? Anything I've read?" the large man asked.

"Mostly young adult fiction that's a real load of shit," she answered honestly causing Alice to almost smack her in disapproval. Although the smaller woman still didn't know what her neighbour had written, she was trying to get Bella to not be so negative about herself, after all, that's what friends do.

"Hey man, as long as it isn't anything like that Twilight series, I think you're sweet," Emmett said, clapping the back of Bella's seat and then started laughing. In return, Bella fought everything within herself to not crawl into a hole and die.

After he had stopped laughing, Bella thought it best to stray away from the topic of her occupation, "And yourself?" she asked conversationally.

"I'm a psychiatrist," Emmett replied.

To say that Bella was shocked would be an understatement; she looked at the childish man again with a quirk of an eyebrow, but then caught herself and put up her straight face, hoping that she wasn't caught out for being rude.

The entire table however, had caught her facial expressions and started laughing, "Yeah, that's the look I always get whenever I say that," Emmett replied with a laugh, he wasn't offended, he loved gaging people's reactions.

The laughter died down and their meals arrived in the nick of time and everyone engaged in their own conversations. However, at one point during the meal, Bella had felt Edwards intense gazing on her.

So, she decided to look at him with a quirk of an eyebrow.

"Sorry Bella, but it's been bugging me this entire time, do I know you from somewhere?" Edward asked sheepishly.

Bella didn't really know how to answer that, she didn't know how much the occupants of the table knew of her and she didn't really feel like explaining anything for the time being, she was just content in eating.

However, she didn't have to as Alice replied for her, "Bella used to live in Forks, she's Charlie Swan's daughter."

At this, Edward's eyes widened in recognition, "Wait, you're Isabella Swan?" he asked in disbelief.

"The one and only."

"You were the kid that came to live with Charlie in the last year of high school. Weren't you home schooled or something?" Emmett asked joining in on the conversation.

"Yeah."

As a child she had always lived with her mother until her last year of high school when her mother married another man who travelled a lot. In doing so, for stability's sake, it was decided that Bella would be best living with her father. At first, Bella was a little miffed that her mother couldn't wait one year, but she understood that the man she was marrying needed to move around and she believed that the man was good for her mother. So, she compromised and stipulated that she would move without a fuss if she was allowed to be home schooled. In honesty, it was one of the best decisions she could have made, she loved her father in all his simplicity and strength, if she hadn't been made to move in with him, she would never have known the man that he was. She missed him, she needed to visit him.

Bella felt a hand on her own underneath the table and looked up, Alice had sensed that the brunette was lost in thought as she tended to do and was silently asking if she was ok.

The brunette nodded her head and then looked back at Emmett, "I guess, I just couldn't be bothered moving to a new town, finishing high school and making friends, so, I decided to be home schooled instead," she finished, whilst squeezing Alice's hand in return.

Alice smiled at the reciprocation, "Jeez Bella, hoity toity much?"

Bella turned her head towards the smaller woman in incredulity, "You're calling me hoity toity, Miss. Soy late double shot extra hot with two sprinkles of cinnamon?" she retorted.

The two women had happened by chance, to meet at a café one day in San Francisco and the brunette had overheard Alice's coffee order. When she did, her jaw almost hit the floor at the absurdly complicated order, Alice however, had just looked at the brunette with a quizzical face and a what?

Alice rolled her eyes, "There is nothing wrong with ordering the right coffee, everyone's different."

"Alice, I've seen mathematical equations for astronomy less complicated than your order," her neighbour replied with a laugh, causing the smaller woman to huff indignantly and mutter, "Philistine."

By now, the two had garnered the attention of the entire table at their amusing antics. Emmett smirked at his little sister, "Wow Alley cat, looks like you've met your match," he commented with a wink.

Before either woman could reply, Edward cut in, "That's why you're so familiar Bella, I almost ran you over with my car once, you were chasing squirrels or something."

Bella forgot her little quarrel with Alice and looked at Edward with a quirk of the eyebrow, "Actually, I was chasing my dog and by memory, you were too busy checking yourself out in the mirror to notice a teenage girl on the road."

Edward had the audacity to look embarressed, whilst Emmett burst out laughing, "Dude that totally sounds like something you'd do."

Alice looked at her brothers, Rose and Leah and then frowned, "Does everyone here know about you?" she asked Bella.

"Not really."

She was unsure where that question had come from, out of everyone at the table, Alice knew Bella the most, the others either knew about her passingly or through the vine.

Emmett rubbed the stubble of his chin, "Yeah come on Squirt, you've basically lived with Bella Bear for the past nine months or so I've heard, surely you've got some dirt on her."

Alice frowned and thought about something that she could say about Bella, something that only she knew. She thought about their interactions from the past nine months and realized that there wasn't really an in between that was neutral and yet interesting. For example, it would probably be inappropriate for her to relay that Bella had soft lips that tasted like cherry lip gloss or that the brunette had an ex-wife. On the other hand, it would probably be mundane for Alice to stipulate that Bella couldn't function without coffee in the mornings, that she doesn't like the feel of beds, that, when she is in deep in thought three crease lines appear on her forehead, that the woman walks as if there were music always playing in her mind at all times, that Bella notices and observes everything, even if she doesn't know it. Alice knew the big things and the little things about Bella, but she realized that she didn't really know how her quirks developed, heck; she didn't even know what Bella's favourite colour was.

Before she could reply a voice cut into the atmosphere, "Well, if it isn't the Cullen Kids, all reunited together again," everyone's head whipped towards the voice. It belonged to an older woman of mid 50's with blonde hair who adorned the same waitress uniform who had greeted them.

Emmett welcomed the stranger with an inviting grin, "Jane, how are you? It's been a while since we've all been here again to torment you."

The woman looked at the table and cocked her hip, "Indeed it has, we're still cleaning the graffiti off of our tables Mr. Emmett. But look at you all, all grown up, such handsome men and women you all turned out to be. How are the folks?" she asked.

"Mom and dad are well, same old same old," the eldest Cullen son replied.

"And your Gammy Cyn? Is she still raising hell and giving your parents strife?" Jane asked with a wink.

At the mention of Gammy Cyn the entire table seemed to recoil from the woman, everyone momentarily looked down suddenly remembering why they had all returned to Forks in the first place.

"I'm sorry to be the one to inform you this, but Gammy Cyn passed away last week."

Jane was shocked at the news, "Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry to hear that," she sat down needing a moment to process.

Emmett stood up and bent eye level to Jane; although they weren't particularly close, she had known the family since they were teenagers. "She had a heart attack," he informed her gently, placing his hands into hers.

"Oh my," she replied not really knowing what to do or say but feeling the tell-tale signs of tears desperately seeking release.

Emmett smiled softly, "It's ok, she was probably just having too much fun and her poor little heart couldn't take it, so, not a bad way to go. The funeral's in two days, if you'd like to come."

Jane nodded her head, sniffed her tears away and then patted Emmett's hands, "I'll definitely consider it, she was an amazing woman and I am so sorry to hear about her passing, if any of you need anything, you let us folks know ok?" she stated.

She stood up, causing the larger man to do the same, "Of course, thank you for you condolences," Emmett finished with a nod. The waitress took one last look at the table and then walked away, a little worse for wear.

A silence fell on the table, the death of their grandma still fresh in their minds and their pain resurfacing.

Emmett rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand and then sighed, "Come on, let's go."

He stood up and paid for the bill with everyone silently following suit, holding onto their partners for comfort and support, with Alice and Bella mirroring their actions.

Later that night~

There was a melancholy atmosphere in the kitchen, ever since the interaction with Jane at the diner all the Cullen children had stayed quiet and were currently staring at the dining table in their own thoughts. Bella played with the hem of her jumper sleeves; she didn't know how to comfort someone, let alone a room full of people. So, she thought back on the times when she had lost someone, the motions in which she had endured and what she would've wanted in that instance.

"You know…" Bella started unsurely, this was the first time in an hour someone had spoken and she felt several pairs of eyes on her form which almost silenced her next words.

She looked up at the Cullen kids and smiled, "I remember when my grandmother used to be alive, she had quite the affinity towards alcohol, so one day she got really really drunk, climbed up onto the table with her dress over her head and her cane in one arm screaming, "THE CHARLIES WILL NEVER GET ME!"

She saw a few smiles on the Cullen's' faces and, taking it as a positive sign, continued, "She'd never been to a war in her life," she finished. At this comment, there were chuckles from each of the occupants at the table and Bella couldn't help but smile.

It was a sincere memory, one in which she would hold forever, one of the better times when her grandmother was lucid yet not at the same time. She missed her grandmother and smiled in remembrance of the woman who had graced her life as a child.

There was a silence that continued for a few moments until Emmett took a swig from his beer bottle and smirked.

"Hey Rose, remember when Gammy Cyn caught you drunk and smoking when you were sixteen?" He asked Rose, but at the same time addressing the table.

The oldest Cullen daughter cracked a reluctant smile and let the past event wash through her.

"God, yes, don't remind me, Em," she replied.

The Cullen kids remembered the event clearly and started to chuckle, however the outsiders of the group looked at Rose and urged her to continue.

Rose rolled her eyes and relented, "She made me smoke a whole packet of cigarettes in her own version of aversion therapy."

Edward was trying to keep the laughter from exploding his face, so he settled for covering his mouth with his right hand.

"You remember what she was saying the whole time?" he asked, the barely contained mirth not lost on anyone.

Rose palmed her face and shook her head in embarrassment, "She was waving incense in my face screaming; 'the Power of Christ compels you!'"

Leah furrowed her brow, "Wait, I thought Nana Cynthia was atheist?"

Rosalie let herself crack a smile, "She was, she just did that for effect and it worked too, I haven't smoked since."

With this one sentence, the table erupted in laughter, all the tension from the upcoming funeral, the sombre atmosphere, their parents sadness and their own pains were washed away in an instant and replaced by heartfelt laughter from this one woman who used to be alive.

Edward was the first to recover from his laughter and recounted another memory that possessed his mind.

"Hey Alice, do you remember the time when you were eight and she caught you in her wedding dress?" He asked with excitement.

Alice cringed at the memory, "I was so scared that she would've yelled at me."

Edward smirked, "Remember what she did instead?"

The small woman just blanched, "She insisted that we have a mock wedding and that I be married to Miss Angela my favourite ragdoll."

The entire table once again laughed at the memory as each of the Cullen kids were attendees at the mock wedding, each had a special role to play that day and it was then that they remembered how welcoming and loving their Grandmother was. Regardless of the fact that most were not biologically related, each and every one of them had a special memory with her, each had a beautiful relationship with their Gammy Cyn.

Something in Alice clicked at the memory.

"She totally knew I was a lesbian!" She exclaimed, for she remembered how insistent her grandmother was that she should marry Ms Angela as opposed to Big Ted.

Emmett winked, "She even had a bet going with mom and dad." He articulated in true big brother hazing, to which Alice gave him a smack on the arm.

She folded her arms and pouted, "That is so typical of Gammy Cyn."

The Cullen kids could only laugh and agree, because it was true, it was just like their Grandmother to place bets on her grandchildren.

Jasper perked up at the thought of another memory,

"Emmett, remember when she dared you to…"

Bella looked up at Alice and was glad that she had made the small woman smile, Alice smiled at her and mouthed a grateful 'thank you,' to which Bella nodded.

And that is how the night continued until the early hours of the morning; each Cullen kid had a story of their own to tell and the rest couldn't help but just laugh at all the past antics that were being professed.

It wasn't until 3am when such alcohol had been consumed and stories told, that each person was allocated a shot of whiskey. And, every one of them drank in memory of Gammy Cyn because, as Emmett proudly articulated, "She was our Gammy and she was full of fucking Sin."

Cheers.

Thank-you for reading.