Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; only my original character Lucy

Edited by Mione Boleyn

AN: When I started writing this, I had hoped to be finished with it by the end of 2013 but it seems to have a mind of it's own. Have now actually planned all other chapters of the story, so now it is just a matter of writing it all up ~Zyii

Seventeen

When Lucy awoke everything was blurry and she couldn't see Edward or any of the other Cullen's. Everything was just a little bit brighter and she could tell she wasn't standing in a familiar place. She started to panic until the space before her started to change, what she saw was becoming clearer and more focused and she suddenly had the distinct impression that she was having a flashback. This was much more relaxed than the others she'd had and almost felt like a dream.

The brightness of the forest floor that had appeared sent her spiralling upwards, through the clouds and the atmosphere and into nothingness. She couldn't tell what year it was or how far back in her past it was but she felt brand new, like a shiny toy.

She watched at the clouds below her formed shapes and patterns and she gazed at the darkened sky, watching as a few bright stars came out to shine. Two seemed to shine brighter than the others, they didn't belong to any constellation as far as she knew but they were beautiful. They were situated next to each other and the one on the left seem to pulse brighter for a moment. Then the most beautiful voice began to speak, it was like bells, making sweet music as it talked.

'Lucia welcome,' it said.

Lucia was scared, worried that the unknown voice knew her name – her old name and not her current name. Lucy realised this was a flashback and not a vision.

'Who are you? How are you speaking to me? How do you know my name?' asked Lucia.

'We are everything, we speak because we have the power to speak and we know the name of everyone that lives down below,' said the voice.

'Why can't I see you?' asked Lucia.

'You see us as we have chosen to be seen, we light up the sky with our brightness and look down on everything below'.

Lucia looked in wonderment at the two stars before her that were burning every so brighter than the other stars.

'You're stars?' she asked in awe.

'Essentially yes,' said the star.

'We are guardians of this world,' said the other.

'Why am I here?' asked Lucia.

'You have an important destiny,' said one.

'What sort of destiny?' asked Lucia.

'One that will see you completely destroyed before you rise again and finish what was started,' said the other.

'That isn't very conclusive,' said Lucia.

'It is the future, it isn't meant to be easy to read,' said one.

Lucia sighed. 'Could I call you something other than star? It's all rather confusing'.

The stars were silent for a moment.

'You may call me Eta,' said the star on the left.

'And I am Iota,' said the one on the right.

Lucia nodded. 'How am I breathing beyond the atmosphere of my own world?' she asked.

'We have entered a different plane of existence, the rules are different here,' said Eta.

'When you say I will be destroyed what do you mean?' asked Lucia.

'We cannot tell you, we know little of your destiny as it is,' said Iota.

'Then how do you know my destiny is important?' asked Lucia.

'We see everything and anything, we know important when we see it,' said Iota.

'You just said you didn't know my destiny,' said Lucia.

'We chose what to reveal and what to keep hidden, know that the lies we tell are for your own protection. Without protection there would be little to save in the world,' said Eta.

'You seem to be placing a lot of pressure on me, I'm just an ordinary girl,' said Lucia.

'Now that's not true, is it,' said Eta.

Lucia shifted uncomfortably. 'If you chose to have secrets can I not be allowed the came courtesy?' she asked.

'Your behaviour is problematic,' said Eta.

'We can offer a piece of advice for the beginning of your journey,' said Iota.

'I'm listening,' replied Lucia.

'Find the three brother's that are worthy of your teaching and teach them everything you know,' said Iota.

'How will I know they are worthy?' asked Lucia.

'You will know when you see them,' replied Eta.

Lucia was about to reply that that answer wasn't particularly helpful when she was pushed away from the place she'd been sent and quickly found herself back on the forest floor. Here Lucy was separated from her past and flung out of the flashback.

[BREAK]

The flashback had left Lucy searching for more answers than before. It was clear that she'd been a slightly unpleasant person in her previous life, someone who was incredibly bright but didn't hold much in the way of social actions. She had been hoping that her old self had some hidden emotions but she had yet to find them. Her previous life had been quick to judge the stars; Eta and Iota and had written their words off as nonsense and unhelpful. Perhaps if she'd been more open to the idea of her important destiny she'd have spent more time wondering about the supposed 'great demise' she was due to have.

Lucy supposed that the idea of passing on her teachings had appealed to her previous self as candy would appear to a small child – too good to resist. If anything these flashbacks and visions were showing Lucy all the things she shouldn't do, as much as she was unlocking the key to her past she was also learning from those mistakes and was determined not to make them this time. Perhaps this is what the stars meant when they said she would 'rise again and finish what was started'. This was her change to right all the wrongs and place the progression of things back onto the right course.

A part of her mind had come to the conclusion that although damaging to her soul – the experiences she'd had while growing up and all that time locked in the hospital, then the bullying at the school in Forks were good for her character. They had opened her up to emotions and feelings and she was grateful as she wondered if without them if she would have been just another carbon copy of what she had been before. She hadn't heard the stars mention her getting a third chance at life and she shuddered to think of what would happen should she fail at things this time round.

She just hoped that in this lifetime she didn't have to pass her teachings onto anyone for she didn't think she had the strength or patience for it and she did not want to be put in any similar situations as those from her past life.

Emmett found her sitting on the sofa deep in thought. He'd been feeling guilty as since the arrival of his new baby he hadn't spent much time with Lucy. He was still intent on being her Father figure and had been berating himself for quite some time. Even though Rose had told him that Lucy would not have been bothered by his business, he was determined to spend some quality time with her. He was actually surprised that he found her alone as nowadays her and Edward seemed joined at the hip. At first he'd been angry and suspicious at the amount of time Edward was spending with her but the more he watched them the more he realised that they both made each other happy and as long as Edward didn't hurt Lucy, Emmett was more than happy for them to be together. He didn't know how strong their feelings for each other were but was happy to wait to see how things played out between them.

'Sweetheart, why is it that whenever I find you, you are deep in thought?' he asked.

'Dad!' she said, feigning shock that he'd managed to sneak up on her.

He chuckled. 'What are you thinking so hard about?' he asked.

'My past,' she replied.

'Did you have another flashback?' he asked.

She nodded.

'Well are you going to tell me or am I going to have to beg for information?' he asked.

She giggled, 'my destiny was determined by two stars who called themselves Guardians of the world. They were called Eta and Iota'.

'That sounds rather like you just made it up,' said Emmett.

She nodded. 'I know but I didn't. Dad, I don't much like the old me, she didn't seem to have much emotion if any'.

'I know you worry a lot but you shouldn't. We all love you regardless of who you were. I know that you want to unlock who you were but remember that who you were doesn't have any meaning on who you are now. Besides you don't know the whole truth yet, you are still seeing glimpses of who you once were, you may find that when you learn the whole truth it will surprise you in ways you didn't imagine' said Emmett.

'You are right,' replied Lucy.

It was silly for her to become so preoccupied by her past when she didn't know the whole story yet. It was true that what she had seen hadn't been particularly good in her eyes but she shouldn't judge her past self until she had seen it all.

'Your flashbacks are becoming more active aren't they,' said Emmett.

'Yes and no,' replied Lucy, 'the flashbacks don't follow a pattern, they happen when some information needs to be given to me or if I've been wondering about something particular for a long period'.

'How do you feel now?' asked Emmett.

'Like there is something waiting close by that I need to discover'.

'What is it?' asked Emmett.

'I do not know what it is only that it is important that I find it,' replied Lucy.

'That's pretty cryptic,' said Emmett.

'Sorry, but unless I have a vision or flashback about it I am pretty much in the dark. I suppose if I think on it hard enough I will be able to force a flashback but they aren't usually pleasant,' said Lucy.

Emmett nodded. 'Well I won't force you to have a flashback. I'm afraid I cannot do much more than tell you to follow your heart. I know that sounds rather cliché but it's the best I've got'.

Lucy giggled. 'Anything you say is important to me, Dad,' said Lucy warmly.

If Emmett could have blushed he would have right then, 'I am sorry I haven't spent much time with you recently'.

'It doesn't matter; you have a new baby to attend to. I'd rather you spent time getting to know him than listening to my troubles,' said Lucy.

Emmett frowned at this. 'You are still important to me Lucy, Myles might be my biological son but you will always be my daughter'.

Lucy smiled as she bobbed her head. She had been troubled that she'd be forgotten in the light of Myles' birth and needed the confirmation that that was not so.

[BREAK]

Lucy had had a rather busy couple of days and had hardly any time to think by herself. The cause of all the business was Alice. It seemed that the warning Edward had given her was incredibly vague when it came to Alice. Alice wanted Lucy's opinion on everything and Lucy was quite surprised that Alice hadn't thought of a career in events. Then again Lucy could easily see Alice terrifying her potential customers with her over the top attitude. However, the fact remained that Alice was determined to ensure that this Christmas was the best one to ever grace the Cullen household. She'd even gone as far as to ensure timeslots for Lucy to spend with the wolves. She knew everyone was hoping for a relaxing peaceful Christmas and had even heard Carlisle and the Elders of the reservation going over talk to re-design the pack made between them now that Lucy had arrived.

Lucy had stopped worrying about getting Christmas presents for everyone after Alice had given her a talking to. The small elf like vampire could be scary when she wanted to be. She assured Lucy that although she hadn't seen what Lucy would be buying the family for Christmas, she knew that Lucy would find the appropriate presents so worrying really wasn't an option.

They were currently going over the colour scheme for the Christmas tree when someone rang the doorbell. Alice refused to be parted from her project so it was Lucy that went to answer the door. On the other side of the door stood a smartly dressed man in a crisp black suit and matching tie. His white hair had thinned and his eyebrows were bought together in a small frown. Lucy thought that this man felt familiar but couldn't place where she'd seen him before.

'You look much different from when I last saw you Lucy, may I come in?' asked the man.

'I'm sorry, but I do not know who you are,' replied Lucy.

The man nodded slowly, 'ah, I am your parent's lawyer, Daniel Stevens at your service,' he said formally.

Lucy remembered him now; she had only met him a couple of times but found him unkind and obsessed with money. On her first encounter with him she'd tried to plead with her eyes to get her out of the situation she was in but he didn't seem to care for her living arrangements. It was the lesson she learnt knowing she could trust no one except herself.

'I remember you now, though I dislike the thought of opening my home to you. I do not remember you ever being particularly nice to me,' replied Lucy.

Daniel Stevens had the grace to look slightly embarrassed and guilty.

'If I could just have a moment of your time, I will then leave,' he said stiffly.

'You have a moment,' replied Lucy not moving from her position in front of the door.

She heard a slight movement behind her and knew that the Cullen family had come to offer their silent support.

'The case involving your parents murder and the consequences you suffered at the hands of your kidnappers and by extension your parents has finally been solved. On behalf of the court system I would like to present you with this check for $15 million, the money is rightfully yours as the heir to the family. It seems your parents were richer than anyone ever imagined and part of the money came from other families that were involved in the kidnapping. It seems you are now a very wealthy lady,' said Daniel Stevens.

Lucy took the check from his hands in shock; she was speechless that she had this amount of money available to her. She was already rich without this added money and didn't quite know what to do with it. She understood that with her being immortal the money would be quite handy to have but she would feel guilty keeping it all without giving some away to charity.

'If you would ever need a lawyer, know that I am - ,' began Daniel Stevens only to be cut off when the door slammed in his face.

Lucy understood that he was trying to get his hands on her, she already knew that he was driven by money and would use her to extract as much of her fortune into his bank account as possible. She didn't need a lawyer, much less one as slimy as him.

'Well…that was certainly interesting,' said Carlisle breaking the silence.

'I didn't even see that coming!' said Alice outraged.

It broke the silent tension and made everyone laugh.

[BREAK]

The woods of old were once peaceful and remote. Animals wandered the forest floor without fear of being eaten or killed. No one lived here for no emigration had started. The world of America was still new and wasn't even called 'America' yet. Everything was overly bright like there was a filter over everything, the birds chirped their morning song, squirrels raced to find the biggest nuts and the badgers ran along with the hedgehogs and rabbits.

Four strangers – to you and me – walked through the forest. The animals didn't cower back in fear because these people were known to them. They parted to let them through and followed behind them. They were heading to the large oak tree. The tree had been split in the middle and a large open space was found inside, it was here that the final resting place was found.

Three of the four strangers had been working here for many an hour, perfecting each corner of the place till it fit their own requirements. It was not a place for the dead but a place for the resting. It was light and open and filled with promises and hope. The three strangers entered first and waited for the fourth to arrive.

They were not disappointed by the look of wonderment on the fourth strangers face.

'You have outdone yourselves,' said the fourth.

'We are glad you like it'.

'Though we wish you wouldn't go'.

'My dear friends; Barrow, Elma and Dorin, if there were but another way for me to stay you know I would have found it. I will take with me the memories of us four into my new life. I am only sorry that this chapter of my life has ended here. Perhaps if I had shown more emotion to the ones I taught, life would have been different'.

'Anassa Lucia, you cannot blame yourself for what has come to pass. Your destiny has been the most complex and did not Eta and Iota tell you that you would fall before you rose again. Perhaps this parting is your fall and when you awake you will rise again, and your past knowledge will help the future'.

'My dear friends, how right you are. I will miss our friendships dearly,' said Lucia.

'I do not know if this is the last time we will meet but rest assured if it is, you will be seeing our descendants when you return. We would not leave you alone,' said Dorin.

'I know you would not and I am thankful for it,' said Lucia.

'Remember if you are lead from this place and remember it not, you will be drawn back to it. We will help you find this place again,' said Elma.

'Thank you,' said Lucia.

'You will need your strength in the future, this place is a part of you,' said Barrow.

Lucia nodded, 'I am ready'.