Hey everyone! Sorry that it's been a while. This chapter isn't the best, but I hope you enjoy it. I've been working on a few other ideas so watch for new stories to come up! :)

Anyways...On with the Chapter :)

Chapter Nineteen: Replaced

At first, I thought I was dreaming. I have had dreams like this before and they always made me wake up with such an intense longing in my heart that it would make me cry. However, this dream was slightly different from normal. In this dream, I had just left school. I had told Edward that I would meet him at home. I wanted to go back to Charlie's house and face whatever might be there-whether it was emptiness or Renee.

This was when the dream began to change from its normal course. When I pulled up to the house, there were two cars there. I recognized one of them as the car I had noted Edward admiring on my last trip here. The other I didn't recognize at all. But only when I reached the front door did I realize that this must be a dream. For I could hear three people laughing from inside the house. One was deep and gruff, clearly belonging to a man. The second was more feminine but matured. The third however was a sound I knew well. It was a high tinkling laugh, the laugh of a child.

It was the laugh I knew belonged to me as a child.

I opened the door quietly as if not to alert my dream family, my dream past. And the scene I saw before me looked as a dream I had dreamed many times except I was watching. Normally I was the child. Renee was sitting on the couch with the young girl-the young me-seated in her lap. The child's back was to me, but she had the long brown hair that I knew belonged to me.

Charlie was sitting in the chair in such a way that his back was to me. I noticed subtle differences in his physical looks. His hair was full and much darker than his normal brown. His build also looked slightly more in shape which confused me. I shrugged it off though. This was just a dream. Things could I change, I suppose.

I watched as my dream Charlie said in a voice that I didn't recognize "Come here, squirt!"

I watched as the young child jumped off Renee's lap and turned to run to her father. However, she stopped as soon as her eyes locked on mine.

As soon as her sharp blue eyes locked on mine.

This was not me. This was not my past. This was happening right now.

"Mommy, who is that?" I heard the young girl ask.

Renee finally noticed my presence, as did the man with his back to me. I studied the man whom I did not recognize. He had black hair that was full and slightly curly. His eyes were the sharp blue that the young girl also had. His face was round and gave away how young he was. He had to be at least ten years younger than Renee.

The young girl's face had the same roundness as the man's did. Her hair was the same brown as my hair and as my mother's hair. Her sharp blue eyes studied me as she tugged on my mother's hand.

"Bella?" My mother said. "What are you doing here?" She asked, alarmed.

I cocked an eyebrow while I tried to let my mind adjust to the fact that I wasn't dreaming. "This is my house, Renee. You left it behind long ago."

Renee sighed and looked down at the little girl who was still tugging on her hand.

"Mommy? Who is she? Is this her house?" She asked.

Renee smiled lovingly at the little girl. "Lizzie, this is Bella. And yes, this is her home. Remember how I told you that I had to come here to see someone special? This is her."

My mouth felt dry. "I have a sister?" I asked.

Renee nodded. "Yes. Lizzie, this is your sister Bella."

The little girl, Lizzie, stared at me with wide eyes. "I have a sister? So is daddy her daddy too?" She asked.

The man who I now assumed was Phil shook his head. "No, Lizzie. You see, mommy had her a long time ago."

Lizzie looked confused. Her little brow wrinkled. I had to admit that she was a very cute child. And she seemed just as confused as I had been.

"Then why doesn't she live with us?" Lizzie demanded. "Am I not gonna be able to live with you when I get older?" She looked worried.

Renee looked shocked. "Of course not sweetie. I would never do that."

I couldn't control the snort that came out of my mouth. Renee glared at me. I rolled my eyes at her.

I needed to talk to Renee and I had a feeling that Phil would want to be present too. But I didn't want Lizzie to be a part of this. She was a young child and I wouldn't let Renee's mistakes ruin her childhood like they did mine.

I quickly located a bag of Barbies over buy Renee so I walked over and scooped them up.

"Hey Lizzie?" I said.

She looked up at me. "Huh?"

"I really need to talk to your mommy and daddy for a few minutes, so why don't you go play Barbies out in the kitchen?"

She smiled and walked over to me. "Will you come play with me? I've never had a sister to play with."

I smiled. "I will when I finish talking to your mommy and daddy. Okay?" I said.

She nodded and smiled again, then skipped out of the room, Barbie dolls in hand, and headed into the kitchen.

I looked up at Renee and Phil wanting to get this over with.

"She's going to need to know the truth someday. And sorry, but bull shit that you would never do that to her."

Phil walked forward. "Bella, my name is Phil. I'm Ren-"

I glared at him and interrupted. "I know who you are. I'm bitter, not stupid."

He sighed. "I understand that you're angry, but you have to understand the circumstances."

I hated this man. I don't know what shit Renee had given him, but he needed to be re informed.

"The circumstances? Do you even know the circumstances? Did she ever tell you about the note she left?" He demanded.

I could tell by the guilty expression on my mother's face and by the confused look on Phil's that she had never told him. She may have told him that she made mistakes, that she made me, but apparently he doesn't know the way she left.

"I'll just let you fill him in on that later then, Renee." I said simply. "Why did you even bring them here?" I demanded.

Renee sighed. "They came to stay with me for a while. I want to try and make things right with you, Bella. I want you back in my life. But I needed support. I wanted my family to be with me."

I snorted again. "Your replacement family. You replaced me and dad. I don't think you realize everything you put us through. Charlie being in rehab, me not living here…this is just the after math. You missed the actual storm. The storm lasted eight years."

Renee looked sad and hurt by what I had said, but it didn't bother me. She had no right to look sad and hurt. "Speaking of which, where are you living?" She asked.

"With some friends. Dad is happy that I'm with them and that's all you need to know."

She sighed. "Please, Bella. Just tell me. Let me at least try to make things…better."

I sighed, looking at the woman I had wanted to be just like at one point in my life. She wanted to try to come back into my life. Did I want her to? No, not really. Not anymore. But telling her where I was at couldn't do any harm.

"I'm living with the Cullen's. As in my boyfriends family. His dad is a local doctor."

She nodded. "Okay, I just wanted to be sure you're being taken care of."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. I'm out of here. I have to get home." I started to walk to the door but then I stopped myself. I sighed and started heading towards the kitchen where Lizzie was sitting on the floor, playing with her dolls.

"Bella!" She exclaimed. "Come on! You've got to help me save Barbie from evil Ken!" Her eyes were wide and innocent. I couldn't refuse her.

"Oh no! We better save her!" I said as I sat down next to her.

I stayed and played with her for about a half an hour. I don't know why I did. Maybe it was my maternal instinct or something. I couldn't stand to let a child down. I was let down my entire childhood. I didn't want Lizzie to have to go through that. Even if it was just playing Barbies.

When I finally decided it was time to leave, Lizzie was disappointed.

"Do you have to go?" She whined.

I nodded. "Yes, I have to get home."

She looked confused. "I thought you lived here."

I shook my head. "I can't live here alone. So that's why I'm living with some…extended family." I said simply.

She shrugged. "You wouldn't be alone. You'd have me, and our mommy and my daddy."

I sighed. "I can't, Lizzie. I'm sorry."

She pouted for a moment but then got over it and hugged my legs. "Will you come see me soon?" She asked.

I smiled at her. "Yes. As soon as I can." I said simply.

She nodded her head and then ran back to her Barbies and began to play again.

I made my way quickly out the door, not in the mood to talk to Renee and Phil again. Even though I had to admit I had a soft spot for Lizzie, I had to wonder what changed or what was different about her that made her good enough for Renee to stick around. I felt replaced by her, like I was her first try and clearly a mistake, so she had to leave and try again. I sighed. I was being selfish.

But in the back of my mind the entire way back to the Cullen's, I couldn't help but think about the little blue eyed girl and how worried I was for her. Renee was a flake. I'd hate to see her hurt Lizzie.

But when I finally made it back to the house and found Edward waiting for me outside, I let all my worries go for a few moments. All there was in this world was me and Edward.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck.

"How did it go?"He asked.

I sighed. "Sucky. Turns out that Renee has a whole replacement family. I knew about the husband, but the little girl was a shock to me."

Edward's eyes narrowed. "Bella, listen to me. Your mother was horrible to leave you and she had no excuse. Her new family is no better than you so don't even think that you aren't worth it."

I glared playfully. "I hate when you do that." I joked.

He looked confused. "Do what?"

I smiled. "Read my mind. It kind of creeps me out." I joked.

He laughed and pulled my face to his and kissed my lips softly.

"I love you, Edward." I said softly.

He smiled at me. "I love you too. And I'll never take your love for granted."

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