A/N: Yeah, another long chapter! Anyway, thanks to all you awesome reviewers! I would love to get 95 reviews, but I'm not begging.

So this chapter is one of my longer ones. Anyway, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, they belong to Stephenie Meyer. I only own this shiny purple ring.

Chapter 13-Nothing But a Ghost

I looked out the door, my foot wavering over the hall floor, trying to decide if I would leave my room, or stay in it's warm protective grasp. I sighed, remembering what Jasper had told me.

"Bella, you don't have to worry, nobody is going to hurt you. Plus, if anything does happen, you're a vampire now, you have all that strength."

That was true, I was extremely strong. Just this morning I'd shattered a ceramic mug when I grabbed it too quickly. Jasper had handed me a mug of blood, just thinking the word made me shudder, and I grabbed it, calmly, but with too much force. The mug broke into tiny pieces, and the blood spread everywhere and covered my clothes.

Right now I was wearing black cargo shorts that had hardened where the blood dried. My deep purple tank top had become more of a maroon color on the stomach with some black splotches.

Even when Jasper offered me some new clothes, I refused. This is what I'd been wearing when I woke up. These clothes were familiar. Plus, they smelled good-really good.

I looked out into the hall again, taking in everything I could see.

The entire hallway was painted in warm beiges and whites that gave the area a warm comforting effect. The floor was a light glossy stained wood that matched the golden accents on the walls. When I glanced down I could see the light, coming through the huge window, reflect off the glaze.

In front of me was a staircase that came up and opened to my left. On my right was the staircase that lead up to the next floor. There were two other doors on this floor, each one was closed tight and was a lightwood that, of course, matched everything perfectly. The handles were some sort of golden crystal that cast bright rainbows on the doors.

I heard the gentle creak of floorboards and waited for the person to appear at the top of the steps. Jasper's calm face came into view and I let out the breath that I'd, unknowingly, been holding in.

He saw me and his face fell. "Come on Bella, just take the first step," he said, shaking his head.

I looked at him, my eyes widening and my face pleading. I wanted to do this, but I didn't think that I could.

Jasper glared at me, his normally calm façade contorting into a strange look of annoyance and confusion. I quickly tuned into his power, trying to figure out what he was feeling. At first it was confusion, but when I dug deeper through the waves coming off of him, I felt curiosity and suspicion.

I was about to close my door, but something was clutched around my lifted ankle in a death grip. Jasper had moved blindingly fast, and was grabbing my ankle, pulling my foot down. He and I both knew that if my foot touched that floor, I would be able to walk out of this room.

I was easily able to resist his pulling. I was so much stronger than he was. I was watching him carefully when he glanced up and smirked. That's when he called out Emmett's name, and I knew I was in for it.

Jasper had told me all about his family. He explained in great detail how strong Emmett was, and how his super strength equally matched my newborn strength.

I saw a brown curly head pop out of a door in the hallway, it was Emmett.

"Jasper, what's up?" he asked smirking, obviously knowing what was going on.

"Curse that vampire hearing," I mumbled under my breath. His smirk just grew as he stepped out of the doorway. I watched his brown curls bounce as he jauntily walked toward the Bella-Jasper spectacle.

Quickly, I lifted my leg, trying to shake Jasper off, but it seemed that they both knew what I was planning to do.

Jasper had wrapped his arms tighter around my leg and Emmett lunged at me. I was hit on my shoulder and was sent flying sideways into the doorframe. I heard the wood crack and bend unhealthily as I slid down and fell into the hallway.

I felt two stone cold arms grab me around the waist and pull me upright. Now, I was standing in the hallway across from my room and watched as Jasper made a show of slowly closing my door, cutting me off from my personal sanctuary. Even though Jasper tried to get the door closed, it wouldn't fit all the way since I'd made a Bella sized dent in the frame. I struggled against Emmett, trying to get to Jasper, but he just held me tighter and started carrying me down the stairs.

"I can walk just fine on my own thank you very much," I growled at Emmett. He just laughed at my expression and continued to carry me against my will.

We walked out into a wonderfully open room. One wall was huge and completely made of glass, letting me see out into a surprisingly clear sunset. I watched in admiration as the low sun sparkled on the horizon, making the magnificent trees turn black in the shadow. Even though it was dusk, I could clearly see as each blade of grass silently move in the wind. I saw the slight shadow of a bird high up in the sky, and I could hear an animal crawling up the huge oak that I assumed was next to the house.

I looked around and saw a beautiful painting filling the space on one of the walls. One of the other walls had an assortment of small frames, and when I moved closer I saw photographs.

The largest of the frames was a wonderful family photo. I looked at each person and tried to match him or her with the mental picture I'd formed in my mind.

Jasper had been coming to talk to me for the last couple days. I'd heard all about the family members, while he carefully avoided the one subject I'd most wanted to talk about; my past. I was glad when he didn't mention it at all.

In the photo, a tall blond man was standing at the back of the picture with his arm around the shoulder of a sweet looking woman with caramel hair that curled and flowed to her shoulders. These two must be Carlisle and Esme, the oldest-the parents of the family.

Emmett was sitting on the ground in front of Carlisle. His legs were out in front of him, his bare toes curled in. His face was turned up in a bright grin that made his face glow and his eyes shine. One of his hands was resting in his lap while the other was stretched out holding the long slender hand of an alluring blond woman. She was sitting on a small pillow with her legs tucked to her side and her back stiff and straight. Her long flowing long blond hair was draped around her shoulders and framed her flawless face. This must be Rosalie; she was exactly how Jasper described her.

To the left of Carlisle and Esme was Jasper an Alice. Jasper was standing behind Alice with his hands on her shoulders. Alice had her hands on top of Jasper's and she was leaning into his chest. They looked calm and peaceful and, well, perfectly matched for each other.

Edward was standing on the other side of the picture. He was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed across his chest. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't frowning. When I looked in his eyes, I didn't see much happiness-just boredom.

The picture was so beautiful, but something bugged me. Something in the back of my mind showed me a different picture of Edward, an Edward who looked happier and more in tune with everyone.

I closed my eyes and saw the picture, but with one difference; I was standing there, a part of the family. But this would never happen. I looked back at the family picture, but wrenched my gaze away from it when my dormant heart threatened to break open.

There were other beautifully captured scenes adorning the walls. One picture showed Esme in sweat pants and a tee shirt painting the walls. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her "painting clothes" were perfectly spotless.

Another picture was of Jasper and Emmett. They were sitting on the floor, both of them holding video game controllers. It was obvious to tell that they were caught up in the game by the way they were staring just to the right, not straight out.

My favorite picture, though, showed Edward, obviously oblivious to the photographer. He was sitting at a large grand piano, his eyes were closed and his face was the epitome of perfect serenity. His lips were upturned in a slight smile, like he was thinking carefully about something. I stretched out my hand and carefully traced the outline of his lips, closing my eyes and imagining the picture in my mind.

I felt a slight breeze on my arms and opened my eyes.

"Hello Bella. It's wonderful to see you again," a soft motherly voice said.

Esme was standing beside me, a warm smile on her face. When I continued to stare, her smile faltered and she looked at the picture I was still touching. I slowly pulled my hand down, utterly embarrassed, and turned my gaze away from her.

"Would you like to see the house?" Esme asked trying to fill the awkward silence. I nodded and she took my hand. I started walking behind her through the palatial mansion.

OoooooOoooooO

I had been sitting on the couch for about a day now. As soon as I'd marked this spot as my territory, I sat here comfortably and watched as everyone moved around me-having something to do or someone to talk to. At one point, Jasper had been in here, lounging in one of the chairs reading an exceptionally large book. He only acknowledged my presence by sending me a wave of happiness when he entered.

Emmett had come in at one point, as well, but his activity was much louder than Jasper's. He was playing some video game. I could hear horses and dramatic orchestral music, but tuned it out.

I'd also seen Alice. She'd walked in with a laptop and sat in the chair next to me. I didn't talk to her, but she enjoyed talking at me. I heard about her online shopping. She'd seen a bag in a magazine and was trying to find a store that sold it. I now knew exactly how much leather was used for the bag and exactly what type of seams and buttons were used, as well. To sum it up, I knew more about a handbag than I'd ever intended on knowing.

Alice had also said something about my blood stained clothes, but I'd just shrugged; I was comfortable in what I was wearing.

Each member of the Cullen family had been with me in the room at some point or another, and they all had different ways of acting around me. But the one person that I'd wanted to see didn't come in until late the next day.

Edward walked in, looking around nervously, but when I checked his emotions, he was exuding confidence. I kept my eyes carefully trained on him, watching for any sudden movements, but he just came and sat beside me on the couch.

I was anxious at first, but settled back into my comfort when Edward didn't say anything.

I remembered Jasper telling me something about Edward's mind reading ability, and I wanted to see if I could absorb it as well.

I didn't know how my power specifically worked, so I just tried projecting my mind out to Edward. Something I did worked, because I started hearing quiet voices in my mind. I sifted through them, trying to find the one that felt like him.

Suddenly, almost as if I'd conjured it, a soft velvety voice rang throughout my head. I could see what he was seeing, like a movie screen in my mind. His eyes were focused on a large piano on the other side of the room. His thoughts seemed to be focused on that as well.

I could play, but I don't want to disturb her. She looks so peaceful sitting on the couch; it might distract her from what she's doing…

He played? I'd love to hear him play!

I cleared my throat and spoke for the first time in a couple of days.

"Edward," he turned towards me, "Play something," I said, nodding towards the piano. He looked shocked, but stood up and walked over.

"Well, are you coming?" he asked over his shoulder. I quickly got out of my nest and followed him to the shiny black instrument. He sat down smoothly and gracefully while I pulled the ottoman over and collapsed onto it. He smirked slightly and poised his fingers over the keys, waiting to start his music.

I know exactly what to play… His musical voice said, ringing through my mind.

As I looked out the window, a soft melody started weaving through the air. It had a silvery sound, very complex, but the complexity was so subtle that you only registered it if you listened closely. I closed my eyes and saw a river, deep and calm. I walked along the banks through a dazzling green forest and listened as the music played in harmony to the gentle trickle of water.

I calmly followed the river, turning when the music sped up and slowed down. At one point the music became larger and stronger with deep background notes and a calm scattering of a high melody. I pictured the river opening up into a large majestic ocean, waves beating lightly against the shore and lapping up against my toes.

The music stopped, ending with a series of ringing notes and an intricately woven pattern of all the melodies played throughout the piece. The ocean slowly disappeared around me, but the ending notes continued to play in my mind.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Edward watching me with an expression that I couldn't quite place. Adoration? Concern? I couldn't quite tell.

"Well, what did you think?" his soft musical voice asked.

I opened my mouth, trying to come up with the right words to describe what I thought, but extraordinary didn't feel strong enough.

I decided the only way I could truly explain to him what I thought would be to let him feel what I had felt. I gathered all of the emotions I was feeling and pushed them out into the air, willing them towards Edward.

He was watching me with a careful look that became one of shock when my emotions touched him. Everything played through his eyes, letting me know how much of my emotions he'd received.

"That was…" he trailed off in awe but picked up where he'd left off. "I don't know how to describe it." He seemed truly frustrated by this fact.

I watched his face, absolutely angelic and beautiful in the dim light. His eyes, a bright golden topaz, glowed and sparkled at me, causing my idle heart to pound. I was captured by the look on his face, and when I looked into his mind, he was thinking the same things about me. But how could he compare my plain old self to his beauty? How could he look and see his own clear golden eyes and not think them better than my murky red ones?

This didn't make sense to me, but I was so caught up in the moment that all my thoughts were lost.

I wanted to reach out and grab his hand, intertwine my fingers around his, and stare into his eyes forever. That would be pure bliss.

I leaned in, trying to bring myself closer to him, and he brought his head down to my level. I saw his lips move as he spoke, but I couldn't hear a single thing that he said. All I could do was inhale his amazing scent and lean in closer.

A tingling shiver worked its way down my spine as Edward took my hand and slowly intertwined his fingers in mine. I couldn't feel anything else except for the shocks that seemed to be coming from my fingertips.

Edward lifted our hands and brushed the back of his along my cheeks. I leaned into his hand, and he left it there against my face.

We sat like that for several minutes, just sitting and looking into each other's eyes.

Suddenly, he stood up and wrapped his arms around my waist, standing me up with him. I placed my hands on his shoulders and he lowered his face to mine as I lifted mine to meet his.

That was the moment that I changed.

That was the moment that brought back my memories.

That was the moment that started my new life.

A/N: Aww, sweet.

Anyway, this chapter is taking the story in a little bit of a different direction, but I will obviously continue to explain everything.

So how 'bout you hit that nice green review button, and maybe I'll put up another chapter soon.