A/N: Hey everyone! So I'm back behind the keyboard and decided to continue the story! But before I do a big HUGE thanks to Emily J. Redbird, it really made me feel better to know someone would still be reading even if I took some needed time off Also thanks to Carlisle's Wife for reviewing today because it just gave me that extra push to write again So chances are this chapter's going to be a bit rusty but hopefully it doesn't stay that way for long, thanks for reading!

Last time: "Oh, Daddy," she smiled as she slipped back into her drawl, "like any good story it began with love."

Carlisle's Point of View

Why, oh why did it have to be something so hard!? Why couldn't New Orleans be special because of Mardi Gras or the French Quarter? I knew love could be the most beautiful thing and also the most painful, and I had a feeling this story was going to be one that ended with pain.

Instead of continuing though, she threw a couple of twenty-dollar bills at Danni telling her to keep the change and got up, clearly wanting to leave. I assumed it was just so we could be somewhere more private to discuss what I was now sure was a story full of heart break, but I was mistaken.

"So want to see the city, Daddy? I give great tours. Well sometimes, it depends on a lot of things like how interesting the place is and how much slee-"

I cut off her babbling knowing that she could and would keep it up as long as you didn't stop her. "Are you ever going to tell me what happened, Natalie? I know it's going to be hard but you said you wanted to talk about it and I think you need to."

She sighed and continued walking at a leisurely pace. "I promise I will, Daddy. Just go along with the whole 'tour' thing and the story will make more sense then."

Although I didn't want to wait to know what had happened to turn her life into such a nightmare lately, I knew there was no alternative. The only way Natalie ever opened up about something serious was on her own terms and own time.

"Alright," I said, "lead the way."

We went everywhere there was to be. Little cafés and street corners with jazz music, a voodoo shop and a random store of knick-knacks until we reached the waterfront. So far Natalie had explained the reason for visiting every location but when it came to the waterfront, she just sat and starred.

Lights from a nearby restaurant glimmered and reflected off the water. I did have to admit, it was extremely beautiful and I could see how one might be awe-struck by it. Especially someone as thoughtful as Natalie, but when I could smell the saltwater of silent tears being shed I became instantly worried.

"Natalie, sweetheart, what's wrong?" I cooed while rubbing her back in an effort to not only comfort her but get her to open up.

"It's nothing…it's just, this is where John proposed."

I don't know why it took so long for me to piece together the pieces myself. I knew she had been married before, she'd told me. And she also had told me just earlier today that her story had revolved around love. Why I didn't see that the two would come together here was a sad mistake on my end.

"So that's why you're in New Orleans? To relive the memories or?"

"Well, it just started out as someplace familiar to go but it turned into something more the closer I got."

"Like?" I prodded.

"Not yet," she said, "You haven't finished the tour."

We walked a short ways to a large house, clearly old yet one of those houses that would probably (and hopefully) never be torn down because of it's beauty. She inserted a key she had stored in her pocket into the lock on the front door and entered the beautiful house. It was even more exquisite on the inside.

"Well," Natalie squeaked, seeming nervous suddenly, "this is home."

I looked around me taking it all in. This is what my darling daughter had considered home for who knows how long, maybe still did. Even though I was hoping she would start calling Forks home, I knew that this place must have meant a lot to her and couldn't blame her for not wanting to give it up.

"It's beautiful!" I said, awe-struck. I was used to beautiful houses, but this was different somehow. Knowing my daughter had a past here, that she put hard work into it, made it extra spectacular.

"I'll show you around"

She walked upstairs and showed me the office first, then the guest bedrooms, then her master bedroom and bath. At first I wasn't expecting her to, and let her know that but she later said she wanted to, that it would feel better. She wouldn't, however, let me see the balcony, stating that was for later. There were a few things that were added later, but the integrity of the house remained the same, beautiful.

She continued the story downstairs and ended with the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.

After the water was done boiling she asked to be excused for a minute while the tea cooled, and said that she just needed to get something ready, and stepped out the back door without showing me what was behind the shades.

After she had taken a small breather, she started her way back upstairs mug in hand, and beckoned me to follow. She went back into the master bedroom and opened the doors to the balcony, and it was clear why she would save it for last.

There was a couch there that had clearly been added later, but it didn't take away from the magnificence of it at all.

The back was covered with all different kinds of flowers with chuncks of grass and moss throughout the yard and what seemed like hundreds of candles were placed throughout illuminating the yard in the most magical of ways. There wasn't any walking space in sight. Just beyond you could see the river and because it had gotten dark the stars were twinkling above us. It was practically a picture right out of a fairytale book.

"This is my favorite place in the world. This spot right here" she whispered as she shifted slightly to the left.

"It's amazing" I was in awe. Even though there was no rhyme or reason to it all, it was still one of the most beautiful sights I'd seen in my entire life.

She sat down on the couch and took a long sip of her hot tea, "So I suppose now is when you want the hear the whole story, huh?"

"That would be nice, yes." I joked.

"Well, everything went crazy back in the roaring twenties…"

A/N: So how'd I do first time back? Please review!