Sorry to keep you all waiting, but I think you'll be surprised at this chapter. Hopefully this is the last filler chapter and I can get the action going in the next one. Just wait and see!

So Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year! For my presents, I just want lots and lots of reviews! Come on people I know you got it in you. More reviews, faster I write. Oh, and if you haven't read my new story, please do! That's what kept me from writing this but it was totally worth it.

The disclaimer still applies, I claim nothing that isn't my own cause it's Stephenie's.

"It's good to be back," I said, looking around at all their beautiful faces, saving the most beautiful for last. Edward smiled at me and took my hand. Alice glided past us and skipped into the house, beckoning us to follow. It felt like coming home.

The Cullen's house had not changed since I'd last seen it five years ago. Everything was exactly as it was, from the piano to the dining room that was never used. I must have been glowing, because Edward took one look at my face and smiled, squeezing my hand gently. He then led me over to the couch so I could sit. He, of course, sat next to me and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close to him.

All of this made it feel like nothing had changed between us, and that those five horrible years had never happened. I was perfectly fine with forgetting they ever happened. I thought that maybe I should be angry with him for lying to me so completely and for leaving me thinking that he didn't love me. But I could not find any anger in me, not one ounce. Yes, I thought it was stupid that he left just to protect me from himself, but he's Edward and that's what he does. I had no anger though. I was just indescribably happy that he was back in my life and that he loved me, and that he always had. Love does strange things to a person.

We chatted amiably together for a time. Carlisle told me the places they had been and about the hospitals he had worked at. Apparently, the Cullens had lived up with the Denalis first after "it" happened, but from what I heard, I surmised that Edward had not been a part of that. Then after people started to get suspicious, the family moved to New England. Carlisle had found a small hospital in Maine to work at, and Esme had taken on several lighthouse restoration projects. Jasper had gone back to college for a degree in psychology (not his first) and Alice had opened a small boutique, designing her own clothing line. Rosalie and Emmett had taken an extended vacation/honeymoon around Europe and returned to the family six months later. The entire family had moved around New England several times in the past five years, only returning west now, because Edward had asked them to. In the stories they told me, few to none mentioned Edward or his doings. I didn't know what to think. Had he not been with his family? I would have to ask him later.

Things were settling and I felt very content, when Edward suddenly became very distracted. His head jerked up as if someone had called his name. I guessed that someone was talking to him mentally.

"No," he said in a firm, even tone. I had no idea who he was speaking to and he wouldn't look at me so I could ask.

He looked away for another moment. After staring out the window for a long moment, he said, "Fine. I'll bring her up."

My face must have displayed my confusion, but he said nothing. He just took my hand and cocked his head toward the staircase. I was starting to put two and two together. There was only one person who wasn't downstairs. His mental conversation suddenly made sense. Rosalie wanted to talk to me. I gulped and my pulse picked up. I had been dreading this. Rosalie had never liked me. I was afraid of what she would say now, coming back into her family's life and ruining everything once more.

Edward scooped me up at the bottom of the stairs and carried me to the top. I would have protested but I knew he was just trying to be helpful. He set me outside the door that I remembered belonged to Rosalie and Emmett's room and knocked once.

"Come in."

He opened the door for me and I stepped inside, peering at my surroundings. The room was lavishly decorated, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to me, considering this was Rosalie we were talking about. The huge king-sized bed dominated the room, with a white canopy above it, the sheer silk drapes drawn back in a bow. The furniture was antique but perfectly preserved and beautiful. Everything was white and pristine and perfect.

In my reverie, I almost missed Edward's silent departure. He shut the door as he left. That was when I noticed Rosalie. She was sitting in front of the wall of glass, perched on a white chaise with her back to me. I knew this wasn't going to be easy.

I stood there waiting with my hands resting on my stomach and feeling my baby kick up a storm. He or she could feel my accelerated pulse. I was a bit nervous. Then after what seemed like minutes, Rosalie spoke.

"Bella, did anyone ever tell you why I have always disliked you so?"

That caught me off guard. "I'm sorry, what?" I stuttered.

She turned to look at me, her expression hard but not menacing. "Did Edward ever tell you why I have had such an aversion to you?"

"He only said that you felt like I was barging in on your family and ruining your secret," I said quietly. It was hard to remember exactly. I hadn't dwelled on that for a long time, since it wasn't as important to me as the memory of Edward had been. I had missed the entire Cullen family, even Rosalie, but had never given a thought to her reasons for disliking me. However, now I was curious to know why.

She pursed her lips. "That is somewhat true, but not the real reason. Edward told you the bare minimum so as not to hurt your feelings, I suppose. But my reasons go far deeper."

"Oh," I said softly, not being able to manage anything else. I stood there uncomfortably for a quiet moment.

"You can sit if you want. I will tell you my reasons," she said as she gestured toward her bed. I waddled over to it and very ungracefully plopped down on the bed. I noticed Rosalie was watching me closely, but I didn't know what to make of it.

So I waited until she spoke.

"Bella, do you know my story? I mean, did Edward ever tell you why Carlisle bit me?"

"No he didn't."

She grimaced. "I didn't think so." She gripped the edge of the seat for a moment and then said, "To put it simply, I was raped and left to die in the streets. Carlisle found me and changed me. But that's not all.

"Bella, you have to understand," she said in earnest, "I had the perfect life, or so I thought. I was beautiful and everyone adored me. My parents had money, I had fancy dresses and went to lavish parties and was doted on constantly. Yes, I was spoiled, and yes, I was utterly vain, but it was all I knew. And I was content with it. Shortly before I was changed, I had gotten engaged to one of the wealthiest and most handsome young men in the city, Royce King. His entire family was loaded beyond belief. My parents were ecstatic and I thought I had found my prince. Now all I needed for my happily ever after was a family of my own. You see, Bella, when I became engaged, this idea of a perfect family settled into my head. Suddenly, I wanted children more than anything in the world. I could picture mine and Royce's perfect little children running around on the front lawn of a giant country home, their blonde hair fluttering the breeze. I wanted a beautiful daughter who looked exactly like me so I doted on her and love her to no end."

She sighed. "I had all of this settled into my head and heart. I was ready to get married and have my happily ever after. But you know it didn't happen like that."

Rosalie then stood up and turned her back to me. She gazed out the window.

"It all changed one night. I was walking home from a friend's house one evening. It had only just become dark and my house wasn't far off, so I thought I didn't need an escort home. Well I was wrong. Just a few blocks from my house, I saw several men lounging outside an alley. I walked to the opposite side of the street so as not to come near them, but they saw me and followed. Before I knew it, I was cornered. Two men forced me to come back to the alley where the others were waiting.

"'Rose, baby, what a surprise.' I was shocked to see my fiancé, my Royce, out drunk on the streets like this with his so-called friends. I had never seen this side of my man. I was disappointed entirely. But I wasn't expecting what happened next.

"'See boys, I told you she was a beauty,' Royce said in a boastful tone. The men cackled. Then one stepped towards me and stroked my cheek with his index finger. I stood there, frozen and unable to move or even breathe. Then he said, 'I bet she looks even better with her clothes off.'"

At this point, my eyes were bulging and my mouth was gaping slightly. I couldn't believe Rosalie was telling me all this and that I had had no idea about any part of her life. I could almost picture it perfectly, the whole scene in the alley. Five or so years ago I was in the same place, only I had had Edward save me. I knew Rosalie had not been as lucky.

She turned and saw my face. "I won't tell you the rest, but I ended up lying unconscious and naked in the street, with my own blood pooling around me. I was clinging on to my life with all I had left, but then, just when it started to fade, I felt a sharp pain, and I was fire. Carlisle had found me, and decided to change me. In truth, he created me in hopes that I would be a mate for Edward. I still laugh at that idea. Edward irritated me from the moment I heard his voice, and we both never had feelings for each other besides that of siblings."

I internally cringed at that thought. Just the thought that Rosalie was meant for Edward was terrifying, since I could never compete with her.

Rosalie turned and sat on the chaise so she faced me. "I love my family and I love my Emmett without a doubt, but I would give anything to be human again. I wanted my own family. I wanted my own little ones. But I can never have that, and I have to live with it for eternity. My choice was taken out of the decision. I don't begrudge Carlisle for it, but if I had had a choice, I would have chosen to die. That would have been my happily ever after. But this is no fairy tale. At least I have Emmett, because if I didn't, there would be no way to keep going through all this monotony.

"But you see, Bella, I disliked you for several reasons. First, you are human. I'm jealous of just that. And then, I disliked the fact that you were willing to give up your humanity so easily. You had already barged in on my family's life and learned our secrets, but now you wanted to join us. I couldn't stand that, plus the fact that Edward thought that you were prettier than me. Sadly, I was vain enough that I cared at first. Now it doesn't bother me."

In a flash, Rosalie was sitting next to me on the bed. In the depths of her eyes I saw the pain and sadness that she had. She really wanted her humanity back and I was sorry for her.

"Bella, you are so fortunate. You are still human, and you are having a child of your very own, something I can never do. I don't know if you plan to stay or not, but I'm asking you now, please do not leave. When Edward left you, he was a mess. He left our family, making us fall apart. For awhile, he sat and did nothing in a dark attic in another country, wallowing in his misery until Emmett, Alice, and Jasper went and got him. Still, he hasn't been the same. Now that you're back, everything feels right again. None of us have seen Edward this way since you've been gone. I just want you to know that if you stay, and I mean forever, I'll help you with your child. I know we all will."

"Wait, what?" I asked stunned.

"Forever, Bella. If you leave, then our family will fall apart again and none of us will be able to handle it." She put her head in her hands.

"Esme was a wreck while Edward was gone. And she never stopped missing you. Alice was always more irritating than normal and Jasper felt guilty and that everything was his fault. And you know that when Jasper isn't in a good mood, no one can be. Even Emmett wasn't the same. He attempted to cheer everyone up, but after awhile he stopped trying and even he became a little depressed. I had never seen any of us like that before. Even I was more bitter than usual. I couldn't help it."

She sat up and looked at me with a sorrow and yearning in her eyes.

"Please stay, Bella. Our family won't survive without you, as reluctant as I am to admit it. You're still young, so the change would be easy, and while you are a newborn, we can help you take care of your child. It won't be so bad. I know you're still throwing your humanity away, but it's different this time. You will already have had a child, and we need you. Maybe you are meant to be a vampire."

I sighed, shocked and a little overwhelmed. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn. The ideas she spoke of had crossed my mind, but it wasn't as easy as it sounded. I figured it was best if I didn't bring up the problems at this moment. I had Rosalie liking me right now, and I wasn't going to ruin it.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I mean, I'm not going anywhere right now and I have a month or so until the baby is born, so no decisions have to be made just yet," I said to her. She nodded slightly, knowing as well as I did that no decision could be made without Edward's stubborn opinions getting in the way first. I sighed again and placed my hands on my stomach, feeling my little one kick.

"Is the baby kicking?" Rosalie asked softly. I could see that anything to do with the baby made her drop her defenses a bit. A baby can make any woman's heart melt.

"Yes," I said. "Want to feel?"

She nodded and lightly placed her frigid hand on my stomach. The cold seeped through my clothes but I didn't mind. I was used to it from Edward. The baby showed off a bit by kicking a whole bunch for her. Rosalie's face lit up and she smiled.

"I think he or she likes you," I said, smiling myself.

"Why don't you know what it is yet?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I never felt the need to know."

Rosalie grinned wickedly. "Well let's go find out. Carlisle has a sonogram machine in the house, but I'm sure Alice already knows."

Before I could even open my mouth to say anything, Alice was jumping up and down in front of us.

"Oh please let me say, Bella. I want to tell you what you're having!"

I grinned and rolled my eyes. "Not yet Alice, I want to wait."

She blurred and came right up to me and took both of my hands in hers. Her eyes pleaded with me.

"Pretty please, Bella. Why don't you want to know? I want to tell you."

"I just don't want to know yet. If I change my mind I'll let you know."

She pouted. "Fine. But will you at least let Carlisle do the sonogram?"

I knew nothing was going to stop Alice from getting this, and I didn't have an excuse not to.

"Oh alright," I said. Alice beamed, released one hand and started to pull me along out Rosalie's room and toward the staircase.

"Easy Alice, I can't exactly go that fast."

Then suddenly, my feet were swept up off the ground and I found myself in Edward's arms. I hadn't even seen him come in. My heart picked up speed as I wrapped my arms around his cold neck.

"I think I can help," he said smoothly as he carried me out the door and down the stairs. To my surprise, the sonogram machine has already been set up in the middle of the living room. Everyone else was there waiting. Edward set me down on the recliner they had the machine next to and took my hand. Carlisle was on the opposite side and asked me,

"Are you ready?"

"Sure, why not," I replied. Everyone stood around me anxiously as gel was squirted on to my exposed belly. Alice was smiling impishly since she already knew, but was keeping Edward out of her head. Edward just gave her a look. Then, Carlisle pressed the transducer against my belly and rubbed the gel in, which tickled a bit. On the screen, an image popped up. I smiled as I saw my baby on the screen, kicking me and sucking on his or her little thumb. Everyone was smiling and watching intently as Carlisle moved the transducer and showed different angles. As soon as I saw what Carlisle was looking for, I turned my head away, not wanting to know. I knew he saw what he was looking for when Alice said, "Ha, I knew it all along," and Esme said, "Oh, Bella."

"Stop, please don't tell me," I said, looking at Alice directly. She made a face at me. I felt Jasper's calming influence settle on me, trying to make me relax. It worked of course.

Carlisle said, "You don't have to know if you don't want to, Bella. But you're baby is healthy otherwise." He turned off the machine and gave me a towel to wipe the gel off with. Then he packed up the machine and said, "I think I'll go put this away now."

"And I'll come with you, dearest," Esme said.

"Why don't the rest of you go hunting?" Carlisle said to Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper. I could see what he was trying to do. Everyone quickly left the room, leaving Edward and I alone. He gently picked me up once more and carried me over to the piano. I sat next to him on the bench as he started playing. I immediately recognized my lullaby. Tears flooded my eyes and spilled over.

"Why are you crying," he whispered.

"I haven't heard this in so long. I missed it. I missed you."

He kissed my forehead. "And I missed you constantly. It hurt to play your lullaby because it invoked such strong memories of you. Now it feels so right because you're here."

We sat silently for a bit as he played. Then he turned to me and asked,

"Why are you so against knowing the sex of the baby?"

"Because it doesn't matter to me, I will love the baby no matter what."

"Well if it doesn't matter, then why is it a big deal?"

He had me there. "I don't really know."

He smiled. "Can I tell you then?"

He was playing my lullaby and dazzling me at the same time. Plus, I had run out of excuses. I nodded and leaned my head against his shoulder.

We were quiet for another minute. I rested my hands on my stomach to feel my little one kick as Edward kept playing.

"You know," he whispered, "She seems to like it when I play. I bet she'll be easy to sing to sleep."

I gasped and sat up to look at him.

"I'm having a girl?" I asked excitedly.

He smiled. "You're having a girl."

I hope that makes up for the wait! Bella's having a wee girl, but it isn't Nessie though. Breaking Dawn never happened here, remember.

Review Reviews please! I'm such a review whore but make me happy!

Oh and in all my stories, Bella's lullaby is not the one from the movie. It is the song River Flows in You by Yiruma which is the unofficial Bella's lullaby and can be found anywhere online. I suggest listening to it, it is so beautiful. Actually, here is my online playlist. It's the first song. http:// view. playlist. com /11668185611 (just take out the spaces in the middle cause that's the only way I could post it here)