Thanks to my beta, cedward2417. Thank you for giving my story a shot. I am new to this and a slow writer - just warning you.

I don't know Twillght just these crazy kids and plot line.

Speak chapter 1

BELLA

"Rose, I have to move. I can't stay here forever," I explained for the hundredth time.

"You know I love having you and Leah here; you can stay as long as you want! Besides, Forks is just too far away!" she whines.

I sighed loudly as I continued to watch Rose brush her manicured nails through my daughter's hair.

Rosalie Hale is one of my best friends. I met her when I moved to Phoenix to attend the same college as my boyfriend, Jake. I had been accepted to Dartmouth, but not only could I not afford that type of college, but Jake could not go there. We both agreed that Phoenix was the best place for the two of us. On my first day, I was running late for my class when I bumped into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. As it just so happened, I spilt my coffee all over her. She looked at me with her huge baby blue eyes and started to laugh. Then she told me that I was paying for her dry-cleaning, flipped her blonde hair, and asked if I wanted grab another cup of coffee with her. I went with her only because I knew that I had no hope of getting to class on time now, and I didn't want the attention I would get if I walked in late. We've been the best of friends ever since then. I don't know what I would have done without Rose the past few years; she has helped me in more ways than I can mention, but I need to stand on my own two feet now. I need a fresh start, not just for me, but also for my daughter.

"You can always come with us Rose." I offer.

"God, I want too Bella, but I can't just get up and leave right now. I have my job, my family, and Royce to think about."

I can see the sadness in her eyes. I know she would not leave the life she's created for herself here in Phoenix. Rose had spent the last four years building Jacob's garage and car shop. I never thought that anybody could love that shop as much as Jake, but Rose proved me wrong. She knows what the garage had meant to me, so I was more than happy to give it to her when she asked if she could be the one to buy it. I knew that she would take care of it and make it into the business that Jacob wanted, and she has.

It makes me feel as though Jake is still alive when I see that garage. When I drive past it, or go in now and again I swear that I can still feel him there. I expected to see his big, muscled legs dangling from underneath a car, or hear him singing softly along with the radio. He's never there anymore, at least not physically, but the comfort of his presence is still around-whether it be in the colour of the walls, or the tools that still lay in their boxes. Jake's spirit still lives in that garage, just like his soul lives in our daughter.

"Well you can visit anytime you want, and we will come and see you every chance we get," I reply.

"You'd better, Bella," she scolds, pointing her finger at me.

"I'm going to miss you so much sweetheart. Who am I going to play with now?" she whispers to my daughter.

I watched Leah turn around and hug Rose tightly. It's really breaking my heart knowing that I am separating them, but I have to do it. I have to move home for the sake of my daughter. I have to take her away from all of the bad memories that have been created here. I hoped with all my heart that I'm doing the right thing. I've prayed that by moving closer to my father, and Emmett, that Leah will be able to heal.

It has been 6 months, 6 long months since I last heard my daughter's voice. I have not heard a single word, or giggle, or any noise escape her beautiful mouth. I am constantly worried that if I don't do something soon, I will never hear her voice again.

Before Leah's voice disappeared, she was an advanced speaker for her age. I loved spending time listening to her talk about her day, the things she loved and the things she hated. We would have conversations that lasted for hours, which is rare for a little girl her age. She was also an avid reader, she read far above her age level too. She still reads a lot, only never aloud anymore. She keeps all of her stories to herself - both real life and fantasy - and I'm petrified that the way she is keeping everything bottled up will make me lose her forever.

Now, Leah does everything in silence; I have grown accustomed to her facial expressions and body language. I am now also an expert in lip reading- it's the only way that I can understand what she wants to say. It's the only way that I can keep the communication line open with my daughter.

Leah has always loved going to Forks; she has all her family there, and I believed that family is what she needs the most right now. She needed the love and encouragement from the people who loved her the most. She needed people to help her put away all the pain that she has bottled up inside of her. I just wished that she could put everything she has witnessed behind her, and begin to heal. I knew that by staying here, she will not get any better. Somewhere she feels safe; somewhere that she can feel comfortable again is what she needed, in order to blossom into the amazing little girl, I know, she is.

"Bella, do you want to go out for lunch before you leave?" Rose asked.

"Sure, I'll let you decide where." I responded.

"Where do you want to go sweetheart?" She turns towards Leah.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice that Rose had braided Leah's thick, mahogany hair into a French plait. It's something I can't do to her hair, so I'm happy that Rose did it before we left; I didn't want her hair in her face on the plane.

Leah turned to face Rose and mouthed something to her. I can only see her back, so I didn't know what she wanted.

"Alright then, let's get ready and go," Rose instructed, moving her silky blonde hair over her shoulder and straightening her shoulders. She had a determined look in her eyes, and I knew that this is Rose with her wall built. She wrapped her arm around herself, to prevent herself from falling apart. I know this wall, I already had mine up and sealed.

"Where are we going then honey?" I asked.

I saw Leah mouth the word 'pizza' to me, with a sad smile. True, happy smiles do not exist anymore for her, and it broke my heart to see the pain in her eyes everyday; it makes me feel so helpless. I just wished that I knew how to take all of the pain away from her. I've tried everything: taking her to therapy, moving in with Rose, attempting to talk to her about what happened, trying to make her feel safe.

Moving to Forks was my last option.

I wanted to create new memories and a new life for her; I wanted my baby girl back.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by my cell phone ringing. I smiled at Leah and grabbed my phone.

"Hello handsome," I purr. Leah quickly jumped onto my lap and listened to the man she knew was on the phone.

"Hey, sweet cheeks, you ready to come home to me?" His voice was deep and soft, but also filled with amusement.

I can't help but to laugh. "Home to you, eh? Yeah, we're all packed and ready, Em."

"Great, I can't wait. I have found the perfect house for my girls. It's right next to my co-worker's house, so you'll have a cop next door if you need him. He's great, Bells, he has the cutest little boy ever, so Leah will have someone to play with. Plus, I'm only ten minutes down the road, just in case. God, Bella, you just can't believe how excited I am," he babbles. I'm about to comment on how I don't believe he took one breath while saying all of that when he starts again.

"Oh, we can take Leah to La Push beach, or go to the zoo. We can even take Ants with us, he loves the zoo and …"

"Emmett, will you stop!" I shout.

He finally stopped talking and I am surrounded by silence. I can see Leah holding her hand over her mouth silently giggling, which then made me giggle.

"First, tell me about the house, where is it exactly?"

Emmett continued to explain about the new house that he had arranged for me and Leah to move into. We needed somewhere that was ready to move into straight away or that was close to being ready. I didn't want to stay with my father for too long, and I wanted to get Leah settled into her new home before she goes back to school in a few weeks. I also wanted to be settled before I started my new job.

I finally managed to hang up the phone as we made our way into the restaurant. I spent my day with Rose and Leah, bonding over pizza and coke. It was the perfect last day in Phoenix; we even managed to take Leah to her favourite park before we had to leave.

A few hours later, the tears poured from my eyes as I say goodbye to my best friend, and the town that I had called home for all of these years. This is the place where my boyfriend was murdered, the place where I gave birth to my baby girl, the place that held some of the best moments of life; but it is also the place that stole Jake from Leah and me, breaking me both physically and emotionally. I am going to miss Phoenix, but I am excited to go home, to my real home.

Once we landed in Seattle, I carried a very tired and grumpy five year old off of the plane and around the airport. I collected the luggage that I had brought with me – the rest was being sent over in the next couple of days – and dragged them behind me.

I looked around for Emmett, but I couldn't see him. I looked at Leah and noticed that she was now sleeping soundly. Her hair looked darker and it was draped over her face, covering her like a blanket. Her hair is the same as mine-thick and glossy, yet still naturally straight like her father's. I pulled her closer to me, the aroma of strawberries filling my nostrils, something else she inherited from me: we both love and use the same shampoo. She looks so much like Jake when she sleeps. I miss him every day and I wished that he were here to see how beautiful our daughter is. He would have been able to protect her like I couldn't. I failed him. I failed her.

"Bella! Bella!" I turned my head to follow Emmett's booming voice.

"Beellllaaa," he continued to yell just as his dark curly hair and dimples, at each end of a wide toothy smile, came into my view. I felt a smile appear on my face as I rushed over to my childhood friend.

"So happy you're here, Bells." He pulled me into hug, and kissed both mine and Leah's heads. I could see the love and happiness in his eyes as he stared at me.

"Me too, Em."

"Let me grab those." He went to grab my suitcase, but Leah attached to my hip was heavier than the luggage.

"Em, do you think you can carry Leah instead, she's getting really big," I asked.

"Sure, guess she takes after her dad eh?" His deep laugh rumbled through the airport.

Emmett is not only my best friend, but he was Jake's too. I met Emmett on my first day at Forks Elementary school. He ran up to me, gave me a cupcake, and asked if I wanted to sit next to him. He soon became my best friend, and we would hang out every day.

Jake was a couple of years younger than us, but he would still come up with his dad and hang out with us. For the next ten years we were inseparable.

When things changed between Jake and me, I was worried that it would affect our friendship with Emmett, but he was happy and supportive of our relationship. He never took anyone's side when we had an argument.

"I'm Switzerland," he would say.

He never interfered with anything in regards to our relationship, just when it was involved with the friendship that the three of us shared.

When Jake died, Emmett was my rock. He stayed with me for the first couple of months, he took care of all the arrangements, he even took the place of Jake when Leah was born-staying with me the whole time whispering how proud he was and how much he loved us. Emmett understood me better than anyone else; he understood what I had lost with Jake, he did lose his best friend too. I'm a stronger person because of him.

I just nodded my head in reply at him, and sighed happily with my shoulder now free again. We made our way out of the airport, pushing through the throngs of people, and made our way towards Emmett's car.

"The police cruiser?" I questioned him, raising an eyebrow.

"What? I am a police officer, Bells."

I just rolled my eyes at him and put the luggage in to the boot while Emmett secured Leah into the car seat. I climbed into the passenger's seat, put my seat belt on, and rolled down the window to inhale the damp, moist smell of Forks. My whole body finally relaxed; I am home.

"Hey Em, do you think you can show me the house so I can take a look around?" I asked.

I really wanted to see where we will be living and what the house looked like.

"Sure," he replied.

We fell into a comfortable silence all the way to Forks. The rain was lightly patting the roof of the car. It was amazing how the rain brought me comfort, especially since I have spent the last few years in a city where the sun was like a second arm to me. I thought about all the things I needed to do over the next few days. My dad enrolled Leah in the local school, so that was one less thing to tick off my list. But I needed to meet with Miss. Cullen, the principal of Forks High School; I had to see what my studio was like and what I needed for my classes when they began. I also needed to go shopping; Leah needed clothes that are suitable for the weather here. Most of the clothes she owned were summer clothes, so I'll give them to the local charity although I knew that they would be useless with Fork's weather. Leah also had her first therapy session next week, but I wanted to talk to Ms. Stanley before she met Leah. Rose suggested that maybe I should see a therapist as well, that way I could possibly understand what she has been going through, and how to help her emotionally without hurting myself in the process.

"Honey, you're home."

I looked at the house Emmett just stopped in front of; it's big, really big. It had a long path in the middle of the garden that lead to the front door. The garden was beautiful, decorated with a few small bushes following the path. There were even a few tiny trees in front of the house, as well as large bushes around one side of the house that blocked out the house next door. I couldn't describe the beauty of the outside of this house; I never believed in a million years that I could live somewhere like this.

Emmett must have noticed my excitement as he opened the door – with a huge grin on his face – and shook the keys at me.

"You coming in?" he asked. I looked behind the seat and notice that Leah was sitting in her car seat, her small hands on the window, and her face squished against the glass. I could only see the back of her head.

"Leah, do you want to go in and see our new home?"

She nodded her head and I noticed that she was running her tongue up and down the window. I wanted to tell her to stop, as I watched in disgust as Emmett moved to the window and started running his tongue on the outside of the window, copying what Leah was doing.

I finally got too grossed out and got out of the car, and walked around to where Emmett was still bent at the window.

"You two are gross." I stole the keys from his giant hands and made my way to the front door.

When I walked into the hall, I stopped. The hall was wide, light, and very bright. The walls were painted in a creamy beige colour that blended with the light oak pine doors. There were two doors in front of me, and when I turned around there was one extra door in the far corner and a set of stairs next to the door. Wow was the word that echoed in my mind.

"Are you going to look around or just stand there with your mouth open?" Emmett appeared with Leah wriggling in his arms.

"Wow, Emmett it looks amazing! I don't remember this house being here before."

"They knocked down the old houses here a couple of years ago and built new ones." He put Leah down and she ran straight through the door in front. I followed her while I still listened to Emmett. "Most people who live here don't want to leave the houses they already have and the rest just can't afford it, so it was easy to buy."

I walked through the living room which was big and cozy, but not as big as I thought it would be, the walls were the same colour as the hall and I could envision the stuff that I had in this room. My eyes zoomed in to two sets of bookcases that were built between the main window and the fireplace. This house was perfect for us. I never imagined it to be anything like this.

"This is a new house." I still couldn't believe it, there was no way that I could own a brand new house.

"Yep, like I said, it was easy. I managed to get it for less then what you gave me, so you have plenty of money left over to decorate it and make it the best home ever for Leah and yourself." I just nodded, as I tried to take all the information in.

He left and took Leah outside, talking about where he wanted to put the princess castle he was buying for her. I continued walking through the rooms in the house, and decided not to even attempt to stop Emmett from buying her that castle because he'd just do it anyway.

The kitchen was breathtaking, it was long, and split into two areas; one area was a dining area at the far end of the room, and the other was a main kitchen at the top end. I fell in love with it straight away, with the dark cherry oak cupboards and marble counters. There was even a little island in the middle of the room, so that I could still watch the dining area while I cooked.

I moved from room to room and imaged us living in this house. I had a good feeling about this house and believed, once again, that I was making the right decision. Once I made it back to the living room, I noticed Emmett measuring the blank wall across from the fireplace.

"What are you doing" I asked him.

"Measuring for your TV Bella, every house needs a wide screen honey, Leah will love it."

"You mean you want a wide screen so you can watch sports whenever you're here." I giggled, knowing how his mind worked.

"Well, I will be here a lot Bells." I just nodded my head at him.

"How much was the house, Em?"

"Sixty percent less than what you gave me."

"Sixty percent? Emmett how did you manage that?" I asked, but he continued measuring my wall, ignoring my question. I knew there was something he was keeping from me, but I keep quiet and decided to ask again later.

I now wanted to go and see the back garden knowing that was where Leah was.

The rain had stopped, but it was still dark and cloudy outside. The air was fresh with a chilly wind blowing around. I stopped at the door and looked around the garden. I found myself really excited about my future and our new lives here. I felt like I had something to look forward to because something major was going to happen soon. I didn't know what that was, but I knew that it was something that would change my life forever.

I looked at Leah sitting on the grass. She was looking through the small wooden fence, nodding her head at something. I walked closer to her and spotted a little boy on the opposite side of the fence. He was also sitting on the grass with his feet tucked under his legs, mirroring Leah's position.

"Hey, who's your new friend pumpkin?" I asked Leah as I looked at the little boy. He was the cutest little boy I had ever seen; with his unique copper hair sticking up on his head. When he looked up, I found the biggest green sparking eyes staring back at me.

"Hello." I smiled at him, as I watched his eyes dance with excitement.

"Hi, I'm Anthony." He replied in a sweet polite voice. He stood up, wiped his hands on his dark jeans and offered his small hand to me.

"Hi, Anthony, I'm Bella." I was in awe at the manners that he had; I shook his hand through the gap in the fence.

"Are you Leah's mommy?" he asked.

"Yes I am. Do you live here?"

I looked at Leah and she was smiling at me, and for the first time in six months I saw her eyes as they sparkled with excitement. I looked back at the little boy and his eyes matched my daughter's.

"Yep, I have a pirate's ship, look!" He pointed to wooden ship that was in his garden.

"Can Leah play in it with me?" He smiled a wide crooked smile at me and my heart melted. I wanted to grab him, take him with us, and pass him off as one of my own. Instead, I smiled at him and looked again at my daughter. She stood up beside me and started jumping up and down nodding her head, telling me she wanted to play with the boy. I noticed that her trousers are wet from sitting on the grass and I was thankful that I had a spare pair in the car. Anthony started copying Leah and soon they were both jumping up and down, with their hands in the air doing a fancy little dance. I giggled at them; they were just too cute for words.

I was just about to answer Anthony's question when a female voice called him. He suddenly stopped jumping the same time as Leah and started running towards the door leading into his house, but stopped half way.

"Nice to meet you Bella," He smiled, my new favourite smile. "See you tomorrow, Leah." He gave us a wave and ran inside the house next door.

I sighed and stared at the now empty garden. "Let's go to Grandpa's now honey, are you hungry?" I asked. Leah just nodded and ran to the back door.

I slowly followed her back through the house towards Emmett's car. My thoughts were filled with the copper haired little boy and the sparkle in his eyes. How the excitement in his eyes matched Leah's …

How did he know Leah's name? He's too young to read lips.

Then I remember that Emmett mentioned that he works with the neighbour next door. Maybe he had mentioned us to him. I will have to ask him later.

I buckled my seat belt while Emmett buckled Leah up, and looked back at my new house.

We were going to be okay. I made the right decision. I knew in my heart that not only was my daughter going to be happy here, but I would too. I couldn't stop the wide smile that appeared on my face.

"Ready, Bells?"

"Absolutely."

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