Chapter 5: Acceptance

Nessie's POV

It felt very surreal. All of it. I could not believe that my father had lied to me. That he betrayed me this way. Or that my aunt had sold us out for a makeup company. There was just one question I had that really bothered me.

"Bella, can I ask you something?"

"Sure you can ask me anything baby. What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry but I really need to know. What did Edward tell you every time he would come visit me? What was his excuse for leaving the family?"

Bella gritted her teeth angrily. "His excuse was that the pain of losing you was to much and every time your birthday or Christmas came around he needed to be on his own because the pain was to much for him to handle and he didn't want anyone to see"

I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes. This whole situation was just so twisted and wrong. I couldn't even begin to understand how my mother felt. Having your husband, who you trust more then anyone, tell such a vicious and cruel lie and keep it a secret all these years? I'm amazed that she was keeping it together so well right now. I felt like I was going to fall apart at the seams at any moment now.

"You know I always thought it was odd that your father always refused to show us your body or where you were buried. I should've looked into that. I should've known that something was right. But I did nothing!" she yelled.

"Mom-" The word slipped out before I could even catch myself.

Of course being a vampire and all my slip up hadn't escaped her notice.

"Did you just call me-"

"Yes I did. You don't mind if I call you that, do you?"

Her answering hug and the sobs resonating from in her chest gave me the answer without her having to say it.

"Mom what if they don't accept me?" I asked her suddenly scared that the Cullens wouldn't accept me since I'm human.

"Nessie they'll love you. When I was pregnant with you they were all looking forward to meeting you. They were all saddened by your 'death'. They loved you Nessie and I'm sure they still do"

As soon as we got home I saw Carlisle waiting for us.

"Nessie what's wrong?" he asked concern immediately overcoming him.

"My ankle" I said.

"She thinks she twisted it" mom added.

"Come inside and I'll look at it. Also, we really need to talk"

The house was oddly empty inside. Where was everyone?

"Where's-"

"They all went out looking for you awhile ago. Honestly I'm surprised it took this long to find you" Carlisle said.

Hmm that was kind of strange. Carlisle instructed me to lay down on the couch so that he could more properly examine my ankle. His icy fingers numbed the pain. Not sure if that was his intention or not but that's what happened.

"Nessie I just want you to know that we've always loved you. If we had known what your father was going to do we would've stopped it immediately. Honestly I've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of him in my life and I've known him for more then 100 years already. I've never been so ashamed of Alice either. I never would have thought that she was capable of doing something like that"

"So you accept me then? Even if I'm human?"

"Nessie of course we accept you!" Carlisle scolded as he finished putting the brace on my foot.

"See Nessie? I told you that you'd have nothing to worry about" mom said.

"Why would you worry about something like that Nessie?" Carlisle asked me curiously.

"Because I'm a human and I was worried that you wouldn't accept me because of that"

Carlisle shook his head in disbelief. "You were afraid we wouldn't accept you because you're human? Nessie it doesn't matter what you are. We would still love you just the same. Anyway here we value human life"

"Oh yeah, that's why you're vegetarians, right? You do realize that being a vegetarian means not eating animals which is kind of the opposite of what you do"

Both my mom and Carlisle laughed.

"That's why it's an inside joke" mom laughed.

I smiled. Being with her made me happy.

Then I thought of my aunt and my father and all of the havoc that they caused my family. The hurt and the pain they so cruelly caused.

"Carlisle you're really nice, you know that?" he just smiled.

"Thanks Nessie but if you think I'm nice you should see your grandmother. She's the most amazing person that you'll ever meet. She's amazing-"

"Are you guys talking about me?"

My heart actually stopped and skipped several beats when I heard my grandmother's voice enter the room.

As soon as she saw me she rushed up to me and hugged me tightly. Yes, she loved me. The same way that my grandfather did. I was stupid to think I wouldn't be accepted by my own family. Having only known them for a few hours I could accurately say that they were good people and I would have loved to have been raised by them.

"I can't believe what my kids did. Nessie you have no idea how sorry I am" Esme said.

"It's not your fault Esme. It's no one's fault"

"No it's my fault" Bella said. "My fault for not demanding that your father show me proof that you had died. I was stupid and I could have discovered the truth a long time ago had I questioned him a long time ago"

"I can't believe that Alice went along with this for a makeup company" Esme shook her head in disappointment.

"I can't believe it either" Bella said. "I think I'm more hurt by her betrayal then anything"

"Wait a minute what was the name of that makeup company again?" I just had a horrible realization but part of me hopes that I was wrong even though I was 99% sure I wasn't.

"Sexy Cullen. Why?"

I felt the blood drain from my face as my fear was realized.

"Nessie what's wrong?" mom asked me looking worried.

"Go through my bag please. It's on the floor over there" I pointed it out to her.

It took her only two seconds to find it. My makeup bag.

There it was with that damned logo of that makeup company that I used to love so much but now could not stand the sight of. Yes, I was a loyal customer of the company that had caused my aunt to betray me, my mother, and my entire family. It sickened me to the core that I had been supporting this company and had even turned my friends into customers, all the while not knowing the true reason of its existence in the first place.

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