*All characters except Emily are the intellectual property of Stephanie Myer. Emily is the intellectual property of me.*

I glanced out the window, wanting to see if Mom was okay. It had been too long since I had gone to check on her. I needed for her to have moved on, for her to be okay. Perhaps Alice would be able to see her future if I asked her to look. I quickly stood, looking around but not hearing anything. Everyone seemed afraid to hang around me as if they could make me feel caged in.

"Alice?" I gently called out knowing that she wasn't far. She skipped into the room towing Jasper behind her. He still seemed on edge and incredibly untrusting. I wondered what his past was like that had made him this way.

"Yes?" Her eyes were like stars, forever twinkling.

"You saw me coming right?" She nodded. "I need a favor Alice. I know that I will never be able to settle down until I am completely sure that my Mom is going to be okay. I mean, she had only ever had me. Dad was some one night stand that never even gave her his name. She was shunned by my grandparents because of it. Is she going to alone forever?" I felt my voice beginning to give way. My mother had been more of a child to me than an actual mother but it was time that I moved on.

"Hmmmm, well I see a handsome young man has already come along and swept her off her feet. He is very handsome and responsible. They have made your room into a oh!" I heard Alice gasp was immediately was in front of her. "A nursery. Oh Emily, I see a little girl. A beautiful baby girl named Renee Higginbotham. Your mother is going to be just fine." I smiled at the thought of my mother having another daughter to look after. Hopefully she had learned from me and would be able to be a mother.

"Thank you Alice." I wrapped my arms around her and let go of my mother. She was going to be just fine.

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Jasper approached me two days later when I was sitting on the deck admiring a photograph book that Esme had put together.

"Emily?" I turned my head to see him standing at the other end of the deck, his hands in his pockets.

"Yes Jasper?" I sat up and turned to face him, keeping my movements slow as to not scare him.

"I am sorry but I don't think I will be comfortable with you here until you feed." I had to laugh at his tone, he seemed afraid to offend me.

"Feed? Jasper I don't eat people." I couldn't keep the confusion out of my voice.

"On animals. I know I am not the best person to be asking this of you but please, put my mind at ease." His tone was one of fear, fear for his mate and his family. Yet I was afraid. I had never tasted meat while I was human so how could I drink the blood of one now?

"Jasper, I'm not sure that I can." I looked him in the eyes, wanting him to understand the dilemma that I was facing. "I don't want to ever hurt anything. Be it an animal, a human or a plant. When I even consider it, I feel as if my soul is being torn apart. It is agony for me. The reason I never tried is that I don't think I would ever be able to handle the pain."

Jasper just stood there watching me, gauging my reaction to see if it was the truth or not. He nodded and left, quickly returning with Carlisle.

"Jasper tells me that you have considered feeding on animals before?" He sat down on the chair next to me.

"Ya. He came to me to ask if I could feed to set his mind at ease. Yet I am unable to. I want to do everything that I can to be able to stay here but I don't think I can do that. The pain would be unbearable." I began fiddling with my fingers afraid that this was my last day here.

"Can you describe the pain Emily?"

"Um ya. It's an agony that I have never felt before, not even during the transformation. It feels as if every part of me is being ripped apart. Yet the pain is only here, where my heart used to beat." I gently set my hand against my chest, hoping that perhaps Carlisle would have the answer.

"I have to say that I have never heard of that before. Would you be willing to try? I cannot say that Jasper is the only one worried about you. None of us have knowledge of a vampire going this long without feeding. We are worried about what it will do to you." He set a hand on my arm, perhaps the first moment of fatherly concern that I had had in my life.

"Carlisle, I can't do it alone." I looked at him, afraid that everything was over. "I need you. All of you." I swallowed although there was nothing there. I felt anxiety for the first time since I had been changed. Carlisle picked me up in one swift motion and set me in his lap. Wrapping his arms around me he began to hum.

"You are never going to be alone again." He kissed to top of my head and stood, holding me against him like a child. I didn't mind.

Jasper gathered everyone in the living room and I sat between Carlisle and Esme. It had been agreed upon between the three of us that they would be called Mom and Dad from now on. Everyone else was still in the dark. Carlisle cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.

"Emily has told us that she is willing to try feeding to put everyone's mind at ease. This decision is not an easy one and she needs our help. All of us." He paused making sure that everyone understood that this was not going to be a simple task. "She has been a vampire for six years and had fought the urge for all of those years. Now we need to teach her how to feed on animals without allowing the bloodlust to take over. This isn't going to be easy or simple. I need to know that everyone is willing to be there and help us." Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement. "Esme and I have also agreed that Emily is now a part of the family. If we could officially adopt her we would." He reached down and took my hand in his, Esme holding the other. We stood and Carlisle walked towards the door.

I felt the pain beginning in my stomach and clutched Esme's hand tighter. Carlisle felt me beginning to pull back and he wrapped am arm around me, guiding me through it.

"You can do this Emily." I heard Emmet and Jasper take off into the woods while Alice and Rose walked in front of us. I kept my feet moving forward even though the pain continued to grow. Jasper suddenly screamed, having come into range of me and feeling the pain for the first time. Alice ran into the woods most likely going to console her mate.

"Get. Him. Away." I was barely able to force the words out through the fog that now clouded my mind. Emmet suddenly appeared, carrying a buck over his shoulder.

"You said you couldn't hurt anything so I thought what if we brought you the food?" Emmet set it at me feet and gently squeezed my shoulder before stepping back. I couldn't help but smile at his kindness.

Carlisle and Esme knelt to the ground with me, keeping their promise to not leave me alone. I took a small breath and felt my venom begin to flow. Perhaps I would be able to do this. I slipped my hands from theirs and gripped the shoulders of the deer. I took another small, steadying breath and sank my teeth into its neck.

As the still warm fluid spilled over my tongue, I gagged. Esme began rubbing circles on my back and I swallowed a small amount. It felt wrong but the pain wasn't there. I took another small sip and slowly began to accept the taste as something that was positive rather than negative. The hunger was there but mild and I quickly finished it off. Dropping the corpse, I gasped in a breath of air, shocked that this had gone as well as it did. I glanced down at myself and saw that I was an incredibly messy eater. My clothes were covered in blood, most likely from when I spat out the first taste. My hands were no better off. I could only imagine how awful I must look. I turned to Esme and let out a fake snarl.

"I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD!" She began to laugh and soon everyone was doubled over in laughter. I was clutching my sides, begging Jasper to make it stop. After several moments everyone began to calm down.

"I believe you need a shower." Carlisle pulled me to my feet and spun me in a circle before shoving me gently towards the house.

"Yes sir!" I squealed and took off before he could catch me. Once inside, the joy that I felt could not be explained. I had fed, without pain. I may always require someone to bring my food to me but I would survive. I now had forever and a family who would support me no matter what.

I took a quick bath, making sure to leave no evidence behind. Upon emerging from the bathroom, I noticed Jasper waiting in my bedroom. He had his back to me and was waiting patiently. I cleared my throat but he never moved.

"Jasper? I'm decent." I couldn't help but giggle at the idea of Jasper's shock if he had seen me naked. He slowly turned around praying that I was not lying to him. I saw he shoulder's drop when he saw that I was in a dress.

"I'm sorry to do this like this but I had to apologize to you. I assumed that you were a threat although I had no proof. I should have realized that you are much like Carlisle. You have a kind heart and I want to say I am sorry for assuming otherwise." I quickly went to him and pulled him into a hug.

"All is forgiven brother." I pulled away and saw a smile cross his face. He took my arm and guided me downstairs where everyone was doing something. I spotted Edward playing the piano and went to listen.

He played beautifully. I enjoyed allowing the music to take over all my senses and the pleasure that Edward emitted as he played. He offered to teach me but I shook my head preferring to listen.

Esme eventually dragged me away to teach me something called chess. The rules were straight forward but it was still a challenge and I immediately fell in love. I played for hours, Esme and Carlisle taking turns. As the sun began to peak over the horizon, everyone stood and began to get ready. I glanced at Esme and she just smiled, unmoving.

"Where are they going?" I was confused why the sun rising meant that it was time to get busy.

"Work and school sweetie. Until we are sure that you won't hurt anyone we would like you to stay home." I nodded, hoping she knew that I understood.

I went and stood by the window and almost gasped when I noticed my eyes. They were a bright red. Apparently time had done nothing to affect the original color. Would they ever turn golden like my new family or would I look like a monster for forever?