Bella's POV

It was the little things that triggered me the most. All of the advancements and growth that I had missed in my time in captivity. Some of the books that James had brought me to read were newer and glossed over new technology and things, but most of it still seemed so foreign to me.

"Charlie gave me this yesterday… he sort of showed me how to use it and told me I could phone people with it." I had pulled out of Edward's arms, he looked unsure, but patient so I continued as I held out the small device. "I tried to figure it out this morning… to call Alice…" I laughed darkly, remembering as I had pressed the screen and swished my finger across, trying to remember what my dad had shown me the previous day.

"I had to give up… and then… a newspaper type of thing came up and it was me… and my picture when I was little - it was about me and Nessie…" I sighed as I remembered the article that had all sorts of facts listed about my disappearance and our discovery. It was surreal to read something and to know that they were talking about you.

"It's on every news channel on tv… the radio… and even this stupid thing." I said with a humorless chuckle. It wasn't funny… but how else could I react. This wasn't really what I pictured my freedom looking like. I wanted the world in my dreams where I had been rescued and lived happily ever after… the one where I forgot about James and the twelve years that he stole from me.

"I can't imagine what this is like for you Bella." Edward began as I reached back down to hold his hand. It was strange how comfortable it felt to touch him… at first I was positive that I would never allow anybody to touch me again… but Edward wasn't just anybody. "But we are all here, whatever you need… you can call any of us – Me, Mom, Dad, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie… your Dad… any of us. Anytime. I can show you how to use that cell phone and simplify it for you. I can block out the new apps if you'd like… or show you how to do it yourself. If you want to be left alone, we'll respect that, but if you just need someone to sit with you, that's cool too." Edward assured me softly and I tried to smile at him. It didn't reach my eyes, but it was close.

"She loves the freedom… I'm so glad that she is taking so well to the outside world." I had been watching as Nessie sat in the sand, picking up handfuls of damp sand and letting it travel between her hands. My daughter was brilliant when it came to reading and writing, but even I could see how delayed she was in ordinary experiences. Hopefully she would catch up quickly, although I also suspected that at some point the sparkle of our new life would fade and we would really begin to see the effects of her childhood.

"Considering the circumstances… you did an amazing job with her Bella." Edward seemed just as fascinated with her as I was. In part I could understand why… I knew exactly how much she looked like I had at her age. But I also felt that there was more to it… that Edward was drawn to her because I was her mother.

"So… can you tell me a little about you? What have I missed? With you and everyone else? I've kind of seen things, but nobody's really told me much about your lives…" I asked carefully. It was the truth. I had seen the changes obviously and I knew that Edward had followed my Dad into policing… but I didn't really know much else. Everyone had been too focused on Nessie and I to tell me anything about themselves.

"What do you want to know?" He asked and I shrugged. I wasn't sure.

"I know that Emmett and Rosalie got married… and they have their baby Haley…" I began, remembering the brief visit where they had come to say hello, bringing Nessie a beautiful doll. They had left the baby with Esme, and hadn't stayed long so I didn't know much else. "And Alice and Jasper are engaged to get married?" I asked again, remembering the ring I had spotted on my former best friend's hand and the way that Jasper hovered protectively behind her.

"Do you have a girlfriend? Or a wife?" I asked quietly biting down on my lip, "And why become a police officer? You always swore that you wanted to be a doctor like your father?"

"No… no I've never really dated anyone." He confessed and I saw his cheeks turn pink at the admission. I was surprised by his answer… I know I didn't have any experience in judging a person, but he was sweet and he was handsome... "And I became a police officer because it seemed like the best thing for me when I graduated high school… I didn't want to leave Forks, and working with your father gave me access to all of your old case files…" He whispered softly, looking down at his hands. Despite his admission in the hospital that he had never stopped looking… I hadn't fully believed it at first. But seeing him here beside me, talking to him… I knew now that it was true.

"You told me before… you still live at home with your mom and dad?" I confirmed and he nodded quietly. "Is it still the same house? The one your mom was renovating when we were kids?" I asked, trying to picture the big old house. I remembered Esme being excited to remodel it, oftentimes when we were there, she had drawings and plans laid out as she tried to decide how to upgrade the old home, without taking away from the classic charm. A few days before the fair… she had told me and Alice about her plans to make the back wall out of glass, a window into the woods she had told me. I had pictured their house too many times… often using it as a basis for my stories to Nessie.

"Yeah… it's the same house." Edward smiled, and I nodded my head. "She finally finished it a couple of years ago." He said and I tried to picture it again.

"Do you still play the piano?" I asked as Nessie stood up, wiping her hands down her dress and trying to shake the dirt off.

"I do… it's my own form of therapy." He said quietly. "Perhaps one day you and Nessie can come by the house and I can play for you." He suggested, looking up into my eyes.

"This… this is the first time I've left the house…" I admitted shyly.

"I know." He offered. But there was no judgement… no shame. He simply acknowledged where I was and what I had needed up until now.

"We should head back to the house before Charlie sends out a search party…" I pictured my Dad waking up and realising that we weren't home. I knew he would panic.

"We left a big note for him before we came out looking for you." Edward reassured me as he stood up, reaching over and helping me up. Thankfully Nessie came towards us then as well, ready to head back to the house… she wasn't sure she like the dirt that was now almost completely covering her.

"When we get back… would you like to stay for a while?" It was a stretch… it wasn't that I hadn't wanted to see anyone once I was released from the hospital. It was simply that I didn't know how to act around them all… it was awkward. But with Edward… with Edward it was different. When I was with him I almost felt like I was the same girl… the one who had laughed and loved as a child, who had believed in sunshine, and rainbows, and happy endings. With Edward, that little girl was still alive.