Do forgive me for taking a very long time. I hope you enjoy this chapter a lot

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or it's characters

Something's Never Change

The smell of my blood nearly knocked me out, but before everything went dark I felt something cold grab my arm. I looked up to see Carlisle gently wrapping my arm in a towel to stop the bleeding. His eyes were no longer black and I couldn't help but wonder why. He never had problems with blood back when I was younger. I would have it ask him this if I had a chance later. I turned my head to see Esme helping Alice and Jeffery. Her eyes were still black, but they looked like they were fading back to topaz. She didn't seem to be breathing, and I wondered if Jeffery would notice.

While I was making these observations I saw Jeffery inspect Alice for any injuries before coming to me. "Bella are you okay? Let me take a look at your wound," but as he reached the towel surrounding my arm Carlisle cleared his throat. Both Jeffery and I looked up at him only to see him motion behind Jeffery. When we both looked we saw the manager and our waitress coming towards us. I knew that this was going to take sometime and I really wanted to talk with Carlisle, so I leaned towards Jeffery and whispered, "I'm fine honey. You go ahead and handle this, and I'll have Carlisle take a look at my arm. Then we can go home. " He nodded his head and I leaned up to kiss him on his cheek before turning to Carlisle. I knew he heard what I said even if it was a whisper. He motioned to a vacant table close enough for them to see us, but far enough so we couldn't be overheard.

"Well it's good to see you again Bella. The family has really missed you a lot," said Carlisle as he slowly unwrapped the towel to inspect my arm.

"I missed you all very much too. How is Alice? I'm sorry that I never was able to say good-bye," I responded while Carlisle gently rewrapped my arm. He stood there a moment just smiling at me before saying, " She is fine. They are all fine. Now about this wound. The cut was clean so there wasn't much damage done, but you will need a few stitches. I'm going to let Jeffery know that I'm taking you in, then we can go."

I nodded my head and watched Carlisle walk back to Jeffery who was now surrounded by several of the restaurant staff. I turned away from the crowd with a smirk on my face. Poor Jeffery he's probably ready to scream bloody murder with all those people trying to apologize. I was still musing over Jeffery's situation when I heard my Alice approaching.

"Mom are you okay?" she asked timidly. I saw her inspecting my arm, but all that was seen was the blood that stained the towel.

"Yes, honey I'm going to be fine. Dr. Cullen is going to take me to the hospital to put in some stitches and I should be good as new, " I answered while giving her a warm smile. I knew she was worried, but there was no need. I was going to be okay. I was being taken care of by Carlisle he wouldn't let anything happen to me. Alice nodded her head in understanding then looked up when we heard someone approaching us.

"Bells Carlisle has just told me. Don't worry go with him to the hospital and I'll finish taking care of things here. Once I'm done here Alice and I will go and meet you at the hospital. It shouldn't be too long." Jeffery explained.

I nodded my head in understanding and was about to reply when Jeffery turned to address Carlisle. " As soon as I can Carlisle I'll take her off your hands. I know you and your wife need to get home to your family. "

"No, don't worry about it Jeffery. Bella is no problem in fact I feel like she's part of my family. I'll take care off her, and return her to you good as new. Believe me my family would want me to, " replied Carlisle with a twinkle in his eye. A small smile spread across my face at his comment. Jeffery would never know how truthful Carlisle was speaking.

Jeffery nodded in understanding, "Thank You Carlisle. She's very important to me. Bella, listen to everything Carlisle asked you to do. I'll be there as soon as possible okay," he said. Then gave me a passionate kiss on the lips before turning to Carlisle to shake his hand and then returned to the restaurant staff. I turned to Alice, who was standing beside me, and kissed her on the head. "I will be alright honey. I'll see you at the hospital in a little while, " I said to her before walking away with Carlisle.

As we made our way towards the entrance Esme joined us. She was smiling at me and I returned the smile. "I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused the two of you tonight, " I said as we made our way to the door. "Thank you for everything your doing Carlisle. Esme I'm sorry for making this dinner uncomfortable for you in anyway, " I apologized as we walked through the entrance doors.

When we were outside I was taken by surprise when Esme wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a careful hug. It took a few moments for the shock to go away, but when it did I returned the favor. This was the woman I thought of as my second mom. I missed the kindness and love she always showed me when I would spend time with the family. "Bella you have nothing to be sorry about. The accident was not your fault and I was okay," Esme assured me as she pulled back from me to look into my eyes. I smiled timidly at her. She pulled me back into her hug and said, "Oh Bella we've missed you so much. You look just like you did seventeen years ago."

I laughed when she said this, "Esme you do realize I am older than both you and Carlisle where when you were changed."

"Bella you don't look a day over twenty," she said as we released one another. I laughed and then turned to Carlisle. He had a huge smile on his face and I couldn't help myself. I threw my arms around him and pulled him into the tightest hug I could muster. I felt his body tense in shock, but felt him relax and then return my hug. I released him from the hug and we continued to their car. We came to a stop I front of his old Mercedes.

"You haven't fallen for any of this new modernized cars Carlisle?" I asked as he held the door open for me.

He laughed, "No I think I'll stick with old faithful for a couple more years," he replied as I slid into the backseat. Carlisle shut my door, and opened up the passenger door for Esme. He headed to the drivers side to take his place behind the wheel, and off we went.

My arm was still wrapped tight in the towel from the restaurant. I was feeling a small burning pain from the wound that was starting to get a little bothersome. I was staring out the window when Esme caught my attention. "Bella your husband and daughter are very nice. When did you get married?" she asked.

"We got married out of high school. Jeffery came along in February. His father accepted the open position at the hospital when Carlisle left," I hesitated a little after that last line. This memory was causing me to remember how I was before Jeffery came into my life. "He's a really good man. Very gentle, sweet and caring. I think he had me from the first time he made me laugh. I hadn't laughed in a long time."

I looked up to see Carlisle staring at me through the rearview mirror. His eyes were portraying many different emotions, but the one I saw the most was sorrow. I couldn't think of any reason why Carlisle should fell sorrow.

"That great to hear Bella. He looks like a good man. The daughter you two have created is a very beautiful girl. She looks a lot like you," said Esme.

"She may look like me, but she's a daddy's girl all the way. When she was born she had Jeffery wrapped around her finger. We are the same in a lot of things, but still different in many. Alice is a great pianist. She can even rival Edward," I smiled as I thought about him. I had come to terms with my heart a long time ago. I missed him dearly and still loved him in a way, but I learned to accept the truth. "How long have you all been living here?" I asked.

"Only for two years. The others started attending the prep school there freshman year. This is the first school they've attended since Forks," Carlisle answered.

"Wow they let you put them back in high school. Edward always hated it. He use to say he could teach the classes better than any teacher in the school," I sighed before I asked the one question I've had on my mind since I first saw them, "How is he?"

"He is still the same Edward in a way. We haven't heard him play the piano in years, but he is there. A lot happened when we left Bella. The family has gone through many changes since Forks," Esme answered.

'Changes? I wonder what could have happened to this family that caused things to change? They were so perfect together I thought nothing could ever tear them apart' I thought to myself.

We had arrived at the hospital with no problems. Esme went to park the car while Carlisle and I went inside the hospital and up to the front desk. "Good evening Debbie. This is Mrs. Carson, Dr. Carson's wife. She had a little accident at dinner this evening, so I'm just going to take her into one of the rooms to get stitched up," Carlisle explained to the nurse at the front desk. "Dr. Carson should be in very soon. I think he can handle any paperwork for Mrs. Carson."

"No problem Dr. Cullen. I'll let him know where you're at when he gets in," replied Debbie. She turned back to her computer screen as Carlisle and I made our way down a hall full of rooms. Carlisle picked the first vacant one and I stepped in. "Bella go ahead and get comfortable. I'm just going to get the supplies we're going to need. I shouldn't be too long," Carlisle said before closing the door.

I looked to the bed where a hospital gown was laid out for the next patient. I knew I would not be staying, so I gladly overlooked the gown. I sat down on the edge of the bed to get comfortable for the long process. Stitches weren't painful from what I remember, but the last time I had stitches I was eighteen. In fact Carlisle was the last doctor to take care of me. Every since they left I stayed out of the emergency room. Edward had told me to stay safe and I did. How strange that I start getting hurt again the moment they come back into my life.

Carlisle walked back into the room while I was analyzing this new development. "Well Bella let's get started," said Carlisle as he finished placing out all the tools. He gently placed my arm on the table tray in front of him. He unwrapped the towel to show the clean cut once again. The towel had done very well at stopping the bleeding. Carlisle cleaned the wound before he started to close it. This entire time we sat in silence until I remembered about his eyes when the accident first happened. " Carlisle why did your eyes turn onyx when I was first cut? I can understand Esme's changing, but why did yours change?" I asked.

"I haven't hunted in a long time and just the smell of blood set me off, but that feeling was only there for a split second. Nothings changed with me I'm still immune to the scent of human blood" he answered.

We fell into a comfortable silence as Carlisle worked. I had so many questions running through my mind that I finally decided to break the silence. " Carlisle, what things changed after I left?" I asked.

He was quiet for a long time after I asked the questioned. I wasn't sure if he was going to answer, until he cleared his throat and looked me straight in the eyes with the same sorrow I saw back in the car. " Bella I can't give you the reason why Edward left you that has to come from him, but I can tell you it was probably the biggest mistake in his life. It was a mistake that nearly tore the family apart," he said.

I looked at him and saw a man who was full of life look deflated. A man who was strong, start to crumble at the memories of everything that's happened to them. 'What could have happened that destroyed this wonderful family' I thought to myself. I sat waiting for him to continue, but he never did, so I asked him, "What happened that nearly tore you all apart?"

Again it took him a while before he answered. I think he was trying to decide how much to tell me because when I said, "Carlisle I want to know all of it. Don't hold anything back. What happened to the family?" He looked at me with wide eyes.

I think if he could have I would have seen a tear fall from his eye. This man sitting before me was a broken man. He looked like he had been lost for the last seventeen years. Finally he sighed and said, "Like both Esme and I have said it wasn't the same without you. The reason the kids haven't been to high school since Forks is because we haven't been together as a family since Forks. The day after your party we all packed up and left. The whole family headed here, because we known another vegetarian coven here. Edward stayed behind to speak with you. When he joined us everything changed. Alice was angry with Edward for living you. She couldn't understand why he did it, and Emmett constantly questioned him. Jasper stayed away from Edward because he knew he was part of the problem, and Edward couldn't forgive him for almost killing you. Alice and him fought ever time Edward would bring up Jasper. Rosalie hated you even more because you being human caused all this. She was mad at Edward for making us move and she couldn't understand why he left you. Eventually a huge fight broke out amongst all of them. It was finally time to go our separate ways. Alice and Jasper headed to Europe and lived there for about ten years. Rosalie and Emmett went back to Africa for five years then just traveled around the world. Edward left Esme and I alone in Denali. We had no idea were he went until everyone else come back. Once everyone returned Jasper and Emmett set out to find Edward. Alice helped by looking for him in the future, and they were able to find him eventually," Carlisle paused with a sigh. " Emmett says he found him in a dark attic in a run down house. His clothes were ripped and were the ones he was wearing the last time we saw him. He stopped feeding and was just wasting away up there. They brought him back and he slowly started to get better. Everyone was back, but all the wounds that were created were never fully healed. They don't do things like they use to Bella. The day Edward left you was the biggest mistake he ever made."

I just looked at him in awe. 'Did the family really suffer that much because of me' I thought. I continued staring a the face of this broken man before I was able to respond, "Carlisle I am so sorry I caused your family this much trouble. I am so very sorry. If there was ever anyway I could fix this I would."

"Bella you did nothing wrong. Seeing you happy and with the family you have is the greatest gift I could receive. It lets me know that my son did a very unselfish thing. Everything will be better after this, I believe. Things will become clearer to our family," Carlisle answered with the look of hope back in his eyes. I wasn't sure what he meant, but something told me I was going to find out whether I wanted to or not.

"Bella what are you going to do when you see them on Monday? Do you want me to tell them we've seen you or do you want it to be a surprise?" Carlisle asked.

I thought about it for a little while before answering, "Carlisle I have a family now. I have a daughter to look after and a husband I love with everything I can give him. When I see them at school Monday they will be my students. I miss them all dearly, but I don't see us returning to the same relationship we were seventeen years ago. They will be my students and that's all. If they wish to make friends with Alice I won't stop them, but with me it's not going to be the same. I'm sorry, but things are more complicated now."

We both sat in silence as Carlisle finished up the last of the stitches and bandaged me up. " Well there you go as good as new," he said smiling down at me. "Don't worry, I'll let them find out on Monday."

"Thanks Carlisle. Let's just wait to see what fate has in store for us," I said. Then I thought about all of them seeing me again and laughed. Carlisle gave me a quizzical look when I told him, "I was just thinking about how it's going to look when they see me teaching the class. They probably won't even recognize me if it wasn't for my scent."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that Bella. Esme was right you look like the same eighteen year old girl I used to experiment on with a new kind of stitches seventeen years ago," he responded.

We both laughed at that as we stood up and headed toward the door. We continued in silence as we walked back down the hallway towards the front desk were Nurse Debbie was. "You know something's never change Bella." Carlisle said as we entered into the waiting area to only be greeted by Jeffery, Alice and Esme.

I quietly whispered back to Carlisle, " And something's do." Jeffery came up to me and quickly examined my arm. He then pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. He turned to Carlisle, and thanked him for taking care of me. Before I knew it we were heading towards the door. I pulled myself free from Jeffery only to see a confused expression on his face. " Let me go say good-bye to Esme honey. I'll meet you and Alice back at the car." He nodded his head in agreement before Alice and him continued to the car.

I walked back to stand in front of a smiling couple. I took Esme in my arms and whispered, "I'm sorry for everything I put you and the family through. I hope you all can forgive me." She pulled back from me to look me in the eyes with confusion written on her face. Suddenly it dawned on her what I was talking about and she quickly shook her head.

"Bella don't you ever think that what's happened to us was every our fault. Everyone made their own choices, and now they have to suffer the consequences. We should be apologizing to you for everything that happened on your birthday and after. None of this was your fault, and I don't want you blaming yourself for this," she said firmly. "Now hurry up and go to your husband. He's been anxious to make sure you're okay."

I smiled at her then gave her a kiss on her cheek before releasing her. I turned to Carlisle and wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you for everything Carlisle. I hope your right."

I turned and made my way to the entrance when I heard Esme call my name. I turned to look at her when she shouted, "Bella don't forget you owe me a piano concert."

I nodded my head in an affirmative before walking out the doors. I was meet by Jeffery in the car waiting for me. I opened the door to the passengers seat and slid in. We drove home in a comfortable silence as I thought about what was in store for me in the coming days.

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