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

I waited until nightfall then exited the cave that I had been staying in. I didn't know if I would ever be able to feel emotional pain again, but my heart felt as if something was shredding it into tiny little pieces. It had been a month since I had left the Cullen's and I missed them more than anything. I would catch myself turning around to talk to Alice or Rose but they weren't there. I had given up on hunting and was just barely alive. I tended to spend most of my time sitting at the very back of the cave, unmoving. My existence held no meaning for me anymore and if I could kill myself I would.

ESPOV

I stood watching out the window, wringing my hands together. Jasper and Emmet had been spending their days searching for Emily and there was still no sign. While she had only been with us a very short while, there was a hole in the family. I knew that everyone could feel it, especially Jasper who blamed himself for this. He knew he had over reacted but the love that he felt all of us have for her fueled him to be very protective of her.

In the last few weeks Jasper had only stopped searching to hunt, twice. He was riddled with guilt and felt that he had to find her before he could ever begin to forgive himself. His greatest fear was that her maker had gotten a hold of her and killed her for not trying to find and join him. If she was dead, I knew that he would never forgive himself.

Carlisle walked up to me and wrapped his arms around my torso. I leaned against him, yearning for his touch. He gave me a kiss and then just held me, joining me in my silent grief. I could hear Alice pacing in the kitchen as she kept trying to get a vision on Emily's future. So far she could find nothing. I hoped with all my soul that she was just not making any decisions and that she would eventually come home to us.

…

Three weeks later I was at the hospital, working with some of the sick children. There was a young girl named Lilly who had a brain tumor but highly enjoyed reading. She was currently sitting in my lap as I read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis to her.

When she had first come into the hospital, she had been a vibrant and energetic young girl. At the age of six, her life was basically over. She had been here for six months and was now skin and bone, with only the energy to lift her head. A smile was a precious thing from this fragile child. Yet she did not hesitate to give her heart and try to make friends with everyone who met her. Since Emily had disappeared, I had been spending more and more time here with Lilly.

Carlisle would be working himself to death if he was human. He worked all day then went out at night searching. A few days ago Jasper had caught a trail but it had gone cold after several miles. His eyes were especially black these days with dark purple rings around them. Alice was beginning to worry that she was loosing Jasper and I was inclined to agree. He knew that he had over reacted but he still had no idea why he had had such an extreme reaction.

We had never really had the chance to talk with him due to the fact that he spent so much time away from the house now. From what Edward had been able to see in the slight glimpses that he got, Jasper had been feeling all the love that we had developed for her. He had reacted in desperation created by that love, a hole that had begun when he thought she may have been taken. His past was everything that explained why he had done this. That was all we needed to know. I know that in my heart I had forgiven him as soon as it had occurred.

"Mrs. Esme? I'm cold." Lilly reached up and wrapped her arms around me, trying to find some warmth.

"Alright sweetie, lets tuck you into bed then. We shall finish this another time." I scooped her into my arms and laid her onto her bed. I quickly pulled the blankets over her small frame and tucked her in. She gave me a small smile before her eyes fell closed and she drifted off to sleep.

I placed the book on her side table before quietly leaving her room. All the other children would be having lunch at this time so I made my way to Carlisle's office. Upon entering the hallway, I could hear him speaking to someone but could not hear the reply so I assumed he was on the phone. I knocked on his door before slipping inside, taking a seat.

He quickly finished and then turned to me.

"Alice has had a vision. Emily has made a decision but I don't think she is in her right mind. She is planning to return to the house tomorrow, while we are all away. Alice isn't sure why but I figure that she is just trying to find some peace, much like us. We have to be careful but I think we may be able to being her home." Carlisle smiled at me and held out his arms. I threw myself against him, joy replacing the fear that had been plaguing me all these weeks. Emily was coming home.

…

EPOV

Everything hurt. I lay still hoping that I might just fade into another daydream and get away from all this pain. My head felt as if it was going to explode from the constant train of thoughts that kept circling around and around. I tightened my arms around my body, trying to make myself even smaller than I already was. Right now I just wished to cease existing.

I had seen them, in my dream if that's what I could call it. Esme's smile was as warm as I remembered it. Was it a memory? Or had I simply made it all up? I had seen the teddy bear again as well, the one Alice had picked out for me. I yearned to wrap my arms around the soft fur and bury my face into the head. But it wasn't here. Had it ever existed?

I needed to know that the Cullen's were not simply a part of the loneliness that I was used to. I had to be sure that I had not simply made them up to get away from this world for a time. Tomorrow, I would sneak to the house and see if it really was all true. Perhaps I would even take the teddy bear with me, if Alice had left it in my room.

My room. I shook my head as I threw that though out the window. I was no longer a part of that family. I was a problem and needed to stay far away. I just had to make sure that I wasn't crazy. I wasn't sure how long I had been here anymore. I had dug a hole into the ground with the side towards the entrance higher, blocking out any and all sunlight. I knew that my pale hands were caked with dirt, my fingernails not really there anymore. I had scratched away at the rock, trying so hard to feel something. I had eventually given up and curled into the hole.

Here I was safe, where no one could find me. I suppose I was warm and I didn't really need anything to survive. I could live inside my mind, after tomorrow. Tomorrow would be the end, the closure that I needed. Perhaps I could even move somewhere else. But where? I don't know anywhere but here. I closed my eyes and allowed the images of my family to dance before me.

…

Just as the moon began its descent, I crawled out of the hole and dragged myself to the entrance. I was surprised that my muscles remember how to work after not using them for so long. The opening showed the beauty of the forest bathed in silver moon light. I could hear crickets chirping as they sang to each other across great distances. Occasionally a small light would flash and sparkle before disappearing to reappear several feet away. Night lights. No that wasn't right. Light bugs? That was close but still not right. Hmm whatever were they called? Never mind, they were beautiful regardless of their name.

A spider was rebuilding her web just to the left of the entrance. She had laid several pouched of eggs yesterday and needed to feed more from the look of things. Her web was so white. I was amazed that something so yucky could be so pure. With a small smile I took a small step out, scenting the air before moving into the tree line. Nothing was nearby which was good. I had to be careful, if the family was real I couldn't risk them finding or following me. Right now it is still a big if, but I had a small flicker of hope.

I found the main road easily, as the memories of how I got here came flooding back. Huh, apparently vampires could block out memories. Good to know. I allowed my body to guide me back to the home that I had left. I walked slowly, well at a human pace so slowly for me, which kept me from arriving too early. I knew that by nine everyone would be gone so I would be safe to go inside.

As soon as I saw the driveway, their scents became overpowering. They had to be real, figments couldn't leave a trace could they? I continued just in the tree line, stopping to calm myself every few feet. As soon as the house came into view I felt my legs go weak. It was real. I could smell them all as if they were standing right next to me. I had not made them up. I went to step outside of the cover of the trees and stopped dead. If the good memories were true, then so was the bad one. The reason I had left. I still didn't understand it the memory so vivid that I felt it couldn't be real but it had to be. Why had he done that? I had just gone for a walk. Perhaps I had done something wrong and just wasn't aware of it. I would have to make sure that I was careful enough from now on. I definitely could not risk upsetting another vampire especially one with practice and skills. Even though I didn't feel like living, I knew that dying was not really an option either.

Taking an incredibly shaky breath, I slipped into the driveway and crept down the drive to the house. I circled around and made sure that I could see anyone inside. I knew that the spare key was hidden under a lion statue next to the front door. It was small but large enough that a human would have difficulty lifting it. I snagged the key and quickly entered the house. The warmth was like a blanket when one was exhausted. I wanted to sit on the floor and just saturate myself into the smells. But I couldn't. I had come here to confirm that I wasn't crazy and to find my teddy.

I took the stairs silently and found the room where I had been staying completely in tack. The bear was sitting where I had left it, tucked under the blankets its head on the pillow. I reached up and drew the bear towards me, bringing the soft fur to my face. I pressed my lips into the head and then turned to leave. I had been so wrapped up in the bear that I hadn't been paying attention to any of the noises in the house. Carlisle now stood in the doorway with Esme at his side. He had his arms at his side and was not moving. I heard a small creak behind me and knew that the windows were blocked as well.

I crouched, feeling my mind slipping away. I had to get out. I had to get away. Now.

"Emily it's okay. It's us, your family." Esme was suddenly in the room reaching out to me. Her scent was like vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day mixed with freshly mowed grass. All I wanted was to be in her arms, to be held by hear.

A sob tore out of my throat as I launched myself at her. I heard Edward scream behind me as Carlisle tried to move to block me. I sank into her embrace feeling everything let go. She sat on the floor as I collapsed into her. I was a rag doll in her arms, home at last.