Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight.

Jared POV

"Hey, Beth, Melody, B, get down here!"

Austin was wound up almost to the point of overexcitement. Curiosity emanated from our sister and wives as they appeared before us a moment later.

"What's up?" Beth asked as she came over and wrapped me in an intimate embrace. Austin wound his arm around Melody's waist and kissed her hair, while B sank down onto one of the beige couch we had in the living room.

"We met some other vampires," I stated quietly.

Immediately, they tensed up. "Relax." I sent a few waves of calm around the room. Once they relaxed, I continued. "They're vegetarian, also."

The room was completely silent. They were all shocked. Strangely, though, B was also feeling reluctance and sadness. I glanced at her, and instantly, I could no longer feel her emotions.

"They invited us to meet them. Should we go?" Austin queried, oblivious to B's reservations.

"Of course."

"Awesome. I didn't think there were any others like us."

I, however, was only paying attention to B. She was silent as she stared at the floor.

"B?" I asked gently.

She jerked her head up, as if she had forgotten we were there, and smiled. It was a careful smile, full of reservations and some unknown emotion that I couldn't identify.

"Yeah, when can we go?"

"They said any time was fine," Austin answered exuberantly.

"Oh, let's go now!" Melody was more excited about getting a new shopping partner than she was about meeting new vampires.

B laughed, slightly forced, and suggested we all go change before we go, eyeing our grimy shirts. Austin chuckled self-consciously; we had decided to wrestle a bit before we returned.

Austin and I were the first ready. Beth came down 45 minutes later in a short khaki skirt and a tight white tee with beads and sequins scattered along the neckline. Melody was down a little later, having finally settled on some dark wash jeans and a blood red v-neck sweater with strappy silver stilettos. We all glanced around, surprised, to realize we were waiting on B. She was always the first one done. Just as we began to think she was outside waiting, she descended the stairs.

She looked stunning in tight black jeans that accentuated her legs. Her simple royal blue top hung off of one shoulder and hugged her every curve. Unsurprisingly, the sleek black boots she wore had a very short heel.

"Wow, you look amazing, B!" Melody praised her with a pleased smirk. She had been attempting to 'improve' B's fashion sense for years.

She gave a knowing half-smile. "Thanks. Let's go."

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Beth POV

We debated for a while on who should drive. We were all excited to meet the vegetarians, but we all wanted to drive. I quickly opted out. Another few seconds later, and Melody proclaimed she didn't care who drove, just as long as we hurried up. B, Jared, and Austin continued to debate heatedly over who would drive what car. Finally, they decided to take B's Ashton Martin, and since she was the only one who was ever allowed to drive her car, she got to drive.

Shortly after we climbed into her car, a new argument over what we would listen to began. Quickly, Austin put a CD in and "I'm Not Okay" by My Chemical romance began to blast through the speakers. We all laughed before singing along, in an ecstatic mood.

Still excessively happy, we arrived outside of a beautiful Columbian-style house. Deep red brick were on all four sides of the large 3-story house. A gorgeous mahogany door was in the center of a large wrap-around porch. Lights shone welcomingly from every window. Whoever had decorated obviously had great taste.

We walked up to the door slowly in a single file line, more reserved and wary than before. When we reached the door, Austin knocked quickly.

"Come in." A warm, welcoming voice that exuded calm and an undercurrent of authority commanded.

Austin opened the door and walked in confidently, a large smile stretched across his face. Melody trailed after him, smiling warmly. Jared followed, completely relaxed.

I could feel tension rolling off B, even though I wasn't an empath. Her jovial mood in the car had disappeared and in its place was a wary, untrusting being, almost like a predator backed into a corner. As I entered, I shot a reassuring smile over my shoulder to B. Sure enough, her eyes were wary, her muscles tensed as if she might bolt at any second.

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APOV

I was bouncing around in excitement. We didn't find many who shared our diet. In fact, the Denali coven was the only other we knew of. I knew they would come, but for some reason, I couldn't see them.

I stilled as I pondered this. I was still confused as to why I couldn't see them, since this had never happened before. No one else had any ideas to offer as an explanation, save Carlisle. He suggested that they might not all have decided to come yet. Everyone had reservations about this, but they all agreed it was plausible. Everyone except Edward. He had nothing to offer.

We all knew it was a bad idea for him to leave Bella, but he begged us, so we agreed. He didn't realize that he destroyed Bella just as surely as he destroyed himself.

A few hours after we returned from hunting, I suggested we go sit in the living room. They would be here soon.

"How do you know that?" Emmett asked, puzzled. "I thought you couldn't see them."

"I can see four vampires standing in our doorway."

"Didn't they say there were five of them?" Jasper asked.

"One probably just decided not to come," Rosalie said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs and sat in Emmett's lap.

"Yeah." I didn't sound confident, but none of them asked any more questions. I could see four vampires, but behind the fourth, there was a blurry area. I dismissed it as the last one still debating on coming.

I glanced around at my family.

Edward was leaning against the wall, tucked into the farthest corner from the door. His face was blank, but his eyes betrayed all the pain he felt. Most of the time, he stayed locked in his room listening to music. We had to physically force him to hunt. His eyes were pitch black at the moment. He needed to hunt soon.

Emmett was sitting comfortably in an armchair, Rosalie perched on his lap. His face had always held a smile before. Now his face hardly remembered which muscles were necessary to contort his mouth into such a carefree expression. He had easily accepted Bella as a younger sister and missed teasing her, protecting her, comforting her, missed her period. Rosalie, though she would never admit it, also missed Bella and grieved in her own way. She wasn't as bitchy and greater-than-thou. She may have not been civil to Bella most of the time, but she did like her.

Carlisle and Esme sat on a love seat. Esme had her head on his shoulder, their hands intertwined. Esme had her eyes closed, a peaceful expression gracing her face. She had considered Bella as her own and was still a bit depressed. She covered this well and none of these emotions shone through. Carlisle, of course, loved Bella as well and hated to see Esme feel this way. He hated to see his family hurting, and we had all been hurting for the past few decades.

Finally, I looked at my love. Jasper hadn't been the same since Bella's birthday. He still blamed himself for doing what was instinct, insisting that he should have had better control and that he was the reason we moved, that he was the reason our family was falling apart.

I leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. I sighed. Though our family was slowly decaying, he could always make me feel like there was absolutely nothing wrong in the world. He didn't even have to use his gift. His presence was enough.