Home

"It smells like father."

"No one's been here apart from a few people since, father. I had a few people clean it up and bring in some furniture and things, but other than that no one else has been here."

"Is that father's grandfather clock?"

"Yes. I have it shipped to whatever home I'm going to next. I have a lot of these things shipped. It reminds me home."

"It's been so long since I've been somewhere that reminds me of our Chicago home."

"We can go back at some point. Most of the furniture is still there and what isn't I have in various other homes."

"What happened to Margaret?"

"She found a man. He wasn't very rich but they got by. Our mother actually left her some of the family money. I did what I could to help though. When she got married, I was there, hiding in the trees. She saw me for the briefest of moments. She never mentioned it to anyone though. I bought her and her husband a small house for their wedding present. They grew old together and had two children. A boy and a girl. They died in 1982 in each other's arms. It was a peaceful death. She lived the life she wanted."

Edward carried me up to my room, and left me on the bed whilst the other two walked around the house, just thinking back over all their memories. I hopped to my closet and grabbed a halter top and pair of shorts. I stuck them in a back pack a before grabbing some photo albums if the years.

"Edward?"

"Yes Bella."

"Come here."

I held my hand out to him, but he wrapped his arms around me, carefully pulling me into his chest.

"What have you got there love?"

"Take a look."

I opened the photo album, filled with pictures of the Mason's. Edward flipped through it, smiling sadly. He got to the end where a note, written by a dying Elizabeth was placed. I knew Edward would be crying if he could. His lips crushed to mine as he lifted me into his arms and lay me on the bed. Keeping our lips connected he hovered over me tangling his hands into my hair. My hands went to his chest, roaming over his abs.

"I love you. My Bella."

"I"

Kiss.

"Love"

Kiss.

"You."

His tongue entered my mouth as I pulled him closer to me. We kissed for a couple more minutes before he pulled back. He lay down next to me, holding me as I lay my head on his shoulder.

"How long have you liked each other?"

I looked up to see Jasper leaning against the door frame smiling at us.

"Since we were young. I've always liked Bella but only realised how much I liked her when we were eight."

"Why then?"

"We shared our first kiss. It was amazing."

"That's why your behaviour changed. You both became beyond happy any time the other would come into the room and there was no way for me to describe it. I'm guessing you've been together since you were eight."

"Yeah. We made it officially because Elizabeth wanted Edward to start courting and tried to get him together with Mary. I've always loved him and always will."

"We have forever."

"Forever."

I pecked his lips before standing up and walking over to Jasper. Wrapping my arms around him, I lay my head on his shoulder.

"I love you Jasper. Thank you for being my brother."

"I love you too Bella, you're my sister. Thank you for letting me come here."

"Your history is here."

I showed them particular photos or objects before grabbing my bag and running to the Cullen's with Jasper and Edward. We took our seats in the living room, everyone watching me.

"Bella I'm sure the others are just as curious as me, but what happened during the fight? How did all that happen?"

"Ever since I was changed, I've had these abilities. I can take away life and if it's not too late I can give it back. I don't like killing them; there have been times I've had to though. Aro doesn't believe I can kill anyone important to him, that's why I killed Alec. When Jane begged me to save him, she promised not to harm you. I had gained some relief. I know Jane is Aro's favourite and by eliminating his best guard member he'd feel slightly unsure of what was going to happen next."

"What are your abilities?"

"I can do anything you think of."

I saw Rose's eyes light up.

"But I can't reverse the transformation."

Rose leaned into Emmett, deflated. I stood up and kneeled down next to Rose.

"I'm sorry Rose. I wish I could change you, but life doesn't work that way. None of us asked for this life. If you hadn't changed you would never have met Emmett. Think about your life if you hadn't been changed. How would you feel if you never met Emmett?"

"I wouldn't have lived a full life."

"Would you swap Emmett for being human?"

"No. I'd never do that."

"If you stop living in the past and live in the present then you'll appreciate what you have at the moment. We may be vampires but it won't be there forever."

"Thank you Bella. For everything."

"It's okay Rose."

"Thank you Bella."

"Take care of her Emmett."

"I will."

They both pulled me into a hug before I went back over to Edward.

"I love you."

"Mhhmmm. I love you too Edward."

I pulled him into a quick kiss before turning back to see the others all watching us.

"Bella, why hasn't your leg healed yet?"

"I heal really slowly."

"Why?"

"My past."

"What happened in your past Bella?"

"This wasn't my first fight with the Volturi."

"Why does Aro think you belong to him?"

"I went to Italy after about twenty years of being changed because I heard from some nomads that they ruled the vampire world. I didn't have very much information on vampires and wanted to fill in the gaps."

"Understandable."

"When Aro couldn't read my mind he asked me to join him. I declined. Whilst I stayed there to gain information, he continued asking me. I'd always denied and when I decided to leave he took me to a room and locked me up."

"How did he do that?"

"He had created a fire pressured room. I may be able to control fire, but that's only fire I have created. I couldn't escape without being burnt."

"I can't imagine Aro doing that. He never would have done that before. How long were you there for?"

"Twenty five years."

I stood up and started pacing. Thinking back over what happened made my anger rise and my mood drop. If I stayed still for too long my anger would become too much; fires would start, and I'd dry cry for hours.

"Bella. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Esme. My anger gets the better of me sometimes, moving helps."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Someone's hand lay on my back and I fell to the ground in pain.

"Bella, what's wrong Bella? What happened?"

"It's okay, it's just my back."

"What happened to it Bella?"

I sighed and looked at each of their worried expressions.

"I'll get changed so you can see. Give me a moment."

"Okay Bella. Do you want some help?"

"No thank you Esme. I'll be fine."

I picked up my bag and ran upstairs to a bathroom. After changing into my halter dress, I slowly walked to the top of the stairs.

"Don't judge me okay?"

"We won't Bella. I promise."

As I walked down the stairs and their mouths dropped open. No one had seen my thousands of scars before. There were too many to count to know for sure. They over lapped each other forming a delicate pattern.

"For the past seventy years I've been running from the Volturi. They always know where I am and never give up. I've been in three hundred and sixty four fights with them now and their numbers increase each time. I receive new bites every battle, reminding me that no matter where I go they'll find me. The bites don't bother me so much though. It's what they did to me when they held me captive. They'd take turns torturing me in their own ways. I spent day after day wishing for it to end and it never did; Jane was the only one who took pity. When it was her turn she'd put her power on low and I'd act the pain."

"Why didn't you use your powers?"

"I couldn't. They refused to feed me so for the first year no one visited me or had any contact with me. I grew so weak; I could barely keep my eyes open. Aro then asked me to join him again. When I refused to he let each guard member in one at a time and they tortured me over and over again. After ten years Aro started developing a knife that could penetrate vampire skin. He tested it on me and when my venom seeped from my back he stopped testing it. Instead he branded me. Every day he'd come into my room and lie me on my front. He'd carve his name into my back and pour his venom into the cut. The venom stung as it mixed with mine. Eventually, the cut healed over and he'd keep trying until it didn't heal over properly. He then got someone to reopen the wound everyday pouring more venom into it. Occasionally, he'd do it himself, but liked to watch others doing it and seeing the pain on my face. Every day was the same, someone would come in and brand me, and five vampires would take it in turns torturing me until the next morning. I wanted my life to end. I wished for my family."

I turned around, revealing the branding. Gasps echoed through the house as they took in what was written on it. Edward stood in front of me and I leaned my head into his chest.

"I'm sorry Bella."

"I don't want to hear you apologise Edward. It wasn't your fault."

"No one deserves that Bella. Especially not you."

"It's in the past Edward. I have at least a year before they come back."

"I'll fight for you Bella."

"I can protect myself."

"You don't need to do that anymore Bella. You won't be alone ever again. You've got me."

"Thank you Edward. I love you."

"I love you too Bella."