Chapter 5: I'm Her, She Is Me

Annabella stood up slowly and allowed Esme to half drag her back to the house. Carlisle was sitting on the couch beside Sophia, looking through a large book.

"Mummy!" Sophia jumped from the couch and ran at Annabella.

She scooped her up and buried her face in her daughters soft curls. "I hope you were good for Carlisle."

"She was. I can't believe her abilities. She is fast, much faster than an adult."

"You were showing off huh Soph, you know that is rude."

"Just a little. Come on mum, you said that we could always be ourselves here." She studied her mothers face. "Why do you look so sad? Did Mrs Cullen upset you?"

"No honey, we were just talking about old times. Times before I met you."

"Wow that is old." Sophia muttered jumping down from her mum.

Esme took a step forward toward Carlisle. "Carlisle, you remember Isabella Swan." She motioned towards Annabella.

"Oh Bella, I thought it was you, at the hospital, but I knew it wasn't possible. Your turning changed you quite significantly, but I can see you now." He opened his arms to her and she walked into his hug. She heard him make a decision she really couldn't change. He had decided that their family would not let her go again, regardless of what the outcome of meeting Edward would be. "I don't understand why you have a different name. Most vampires tend to keep their human names after they are turned. Their name tends to be one of the clearest memories they have.

"My human self, Isabella Swan asked me to change my name in a letter she left before she was turned. I followed the letter and decided to go with Annabella Lee after Reading Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe in the cabin where Victoria and I stayed. I couldn't seem to shake the Bella part of me and kept it. How about we just call me Bella from now on."

"You are coming home with us aren't you. I know Alice will be dying to see you, if she hasn't already."

"Carlisle, this is my home. I will come with you to your house but I doubt Alice has seen me coming. My shield has been up since I met you at the hospital and Sophia has one on her permanently."

"That would explain why Alice only seen you. They should be back from their hunting party shortly. I will call Rose and Emmett as well. She would like to see you too I imagine. Will you let Alice see you now? They will come home quicker."

"What and give up the chance to be the first person to surprise Alice in over 200 years? I don't think so." Bella laughed softly.

Bella and Sophia followed behind Carlisle car, covering the 20 miles to their home in no time at all. Law enforcement was pretty thin on the ground in these dark days and none of them ventured into countryside outside of the town; too many bandits. It was perfect for vampires with a likening to fast cars.

The Cullen house in Burton was exactly what she thought it would be. Even though her memories on the house in Forks were sketchy at best, this house seemed Esme and Carlisle to a tee. The three level house stood on the side of a hill, buried deep in the forest. It was far from the main road, up a winding driveway. It blended in to the forest seamlessly. The walls were made from a darken wood, that Bella surmised came from the surrounding forest, the windows were large and the ones on the ground floor went from floor to ceiling. Garages were situated to the left of the house, no doubt housing the super cars that the Cullen family were always so fond of, as were most vampires. They followed Esme up to the house as Carlisle parked the cars. The inside was opened into one huge room with what looked like a small kitchen area in the far corner. The decor was much muted with splashes of pale greens, blues and creams defining each space. The furniture was contemporary yet looked homely. Bella hated to think how she had managed to collect furniture of this quality or look in current climates. There was little money to be had amongst the human population so luxuries were rarely manufactured and on the whole not encouraged.

"Esme, it is beautiful. To think you only furnished it a week ago. Where?"

"Oh we had to pull a lot of it out of various storage areas we have. It's not exactly to my taste yet but it's getting there and there are a few additions I would like to make to the house itself. We call it home for the moment."

"How long are you planning to stay?" Bella was horrified at the fact she might lose Esme again.

"Well this area seems more peaceful that the last one and we're much better hidden here. We plan to be here a while yet."

Bella let out a sigh, a while in vampires time was at least a century. "We've only been here a year, just managed to get away with our lives in the last place. It is the last time I let Soph to convince me to try South America. They are far too superstitious for their own good."

They shared a laugh as Esme showed her own home off. By the time they had finished Carlisle had returned and was standing in the living area with two guests, taking in hushed tones. Sophia had stayed behind in a room with a piano and was busy rattling out Bach. The two guests turned in her direction; Emmett and Rosalie.

Emmett gasped and made his way towards her. Bella stood stock still and waited for his reaction. She was prepared for them all; revulsion, anger even hatred. What she was not prepared for was Emmett being Emmett. He picked her up with his hands on her slight shoulders and he turned her around his arms before crushing her to his chest.

"Bella, it's really you."

He crushed her into a hug and Bella let out a playful squeal. She heard Sophias rapid footfall towards her and made Emmett put her down. She looked to find Sophia standing beside her in a crouched defence position. As much as she would like to see the little rugrat go up against Emmett she placed a calming hand on her daughters head. He would have to catch her first.

"No harm, no foul Soph. Emmett was just happy to see me."

Rosalie and Emmett stood in as much shock as a vampire could possibly get, staring dead at Sophia. She fidgeted under their intense glare before looking up and giving them a small wave. They turned to Bella, confusion and disbelief across their faces.

"It's OK. This is my daughter Sophia. Don't worry, it's all perfectly legal." Still they didn't wavier. "I didn't create Sophia, someone else did. The Volturi and I have a deal and Sophia stays with me."

"She seems very in control." Rosalie offered.

"I would hope so, she is 100 years old. Her diet makes it easier on her as long as she hunts regularly." Bella took a small step in Rosalie's direction. "Rosalie."

She shifted, almost embarrassed. "Carlisle said you don't remember much of your time with us."

"Its slowly coming back, patchy but getting there."

"I was horrible to you, beyond mean." Bella nodded her understanding. "I even refused to help you when..."

"James came after me." Bella shrugged. "Maybe we can start afresh. You know, take advantage of the fact my memories aren't up to scratch yet."

Rose nodded and moved to embrace Bella in a light hug. "I'm glad you're back, for all our sakes." She muttered. "The others?" She asked Carlisle.

"Alice called while we were driving back. They'll be here in an hour. She doesn't know Bella is back."

A known tension filled the room as the weight of what was coming descended on those in the room. Bella had excused herself to take a run and clear her head and left Sophia in Emmett and Rosalie's capable care, Sophia begging for a piggy back ride.

Her thoughts were buzzing in her head, unmonitored and uncontrollable. The memories Esme had induced were still coming to her accompanied by new ones. There was one scene that constantly played out. Isabella was lying in a small bedroom, lying in the covers while Edward lay beside her, her head on his chest. She appeared to be asleep and he was watching her. Given her change to a vampire she could now understand the massive level of self-control he had to have just be there with Isabella. The sacrifices he must have made. That made her earlier memory so much harder to bear. How could he just leave Isabella, her, as if her were just some trivial relationship. He had said he loved her. The agony folded in on her without warning, no wonder Isabella had made her forget the pain. He didn't just leave Isabella, he left her, and she was Isabella. The pain cut right through her. If was like nothing she ever felt before, ripping a hole in her chest she feared would swallow her whole. Bella had never wished more in that moment that she could cry, that she could release some of the pain consuming her.

Slowly she could feel the pain ebb to be replaced with anger. He had left her, whatever the reasons, he had left her when he had promised never to leave her. The memory was clear. When she had woken up in the hospital after James attack he had promised. 'I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here as long as you need me." Her thoughts were interrupted by the rare sound of a car. It was at least three miles out but moving fast. She stood up and made her way quickly back to the Cullen house. Sophia had jumped into her arms and snuggled in, picking up on her mums' emotions.

"They're back." Bella muttered as the front door opened.

Many thanks go to my wonderful reviewers but especially to 'I Do Not Stumble For Thy' who loves the Immortal Child as much as i do.

Writing that chapter was the second hardest of the story for some reason and i am still not completely happy about it. Let me know thoughts opinions and idle wonderings with a wee review with thhe button just down there.