"Victoria had brought with her three other vampires to keep the wolves busy. And her strategy worked just long enough for her to make it through their defenses to me."

Bella shuddered as she remembered, unconsciously rubbing the lower set of scars with her left hand.

"She grabbed me by the arm and asked if I loved her new friends. She said, 'I created them just for you Bella. Too bad we don't have time to drag the fun out.' Then she smiled evilly and pulled her free arm back. I was certain she planned to crush my skull but then Sam was there. He leapt right over my head and caught her arm in his mouth as it started to fall forward."

"Victoria went over backwards, but she didn't release my arm." Bella felt no need to describe the obvious result.

"There isn't much of the fight I remember after that. They told me Sam kept his hold on her arm long enough for Seth to catch her by the head and end her. Then Jake and Seth rushed me to the hospital while the others finished off the last of the attackers and cleaned up the beach."

Carlisle didn't ask her to expand on her injuries or the packs response to them. That information was fairly obvious to all, even those in the room who had never attended medical school.

Instead, he wondered if Bella had been the only victim of the attack, "Did the pack make it through the fight unscathed?" He seriously doubted it, given they were up against three newborns plus Victoria.

Sure enough, Bella cringed in response. "No one on our side was killed. But several of the younger wolves suffered broken bones. Sue – she's a nurse and the mother of Seth and Leah – she managed to set all the bones before they healed."

"Ah yes, the wolves heal extraordinarily fast," Carlisle acknowledged.

Jasper spoke up next, "They managed to avoid the grasp of the newborns Bella?" He found this somewhat surprising since the wolves would have had no experience in fighting newborn vampires.

Bella started to shake her head and then chose to respond verbally instead, "The wolves are fast learners. Leah went for the obvious grab early on and almost got crushed in one of their grips, but I'm told Jake managed to bite off one of it's arms before it had her fully wrapped. She suffered a few bruised ribs and the pack learned just how strong they were."

Bella intentionally did not mention the pack's shared mind. She might have decided the Cullen's were speaking the truth, but that did not entitle them to pack secrets. She felt a twinge of guilt remembering the Cullen secrets she had shared with the pack, but pushed it aside. What she had told the pack was a direct consequence of the Cullen's abandonment – not a reprisal – but a survival necessity for herself and the young teenagers who became her protectors. If Jasper picked up on that twinge, he made no mention.

Carlisle gently grasped Bella's right arm and rubbed his thumb over the upper scars in assessment, "May I contact your surgical reattachment team for your records Bella? I'd like to see what was done and if there is anything more I can do for you. Assuming you'd be interested in anything I may suggest."

Bella looked at Carlisle's hand and then up at him. She admitted, "It was the Fork's Hospital general surgeons who repaired my arm, Carlisle. I refused the specialists they wanted to call in."

Carlisle was floored by this information, "Why did you refuse them?"

"I was lying to my father's face about a mountain lion attacking me. I knew how lucky I was to even be alive. The insurance company denied pre-approval on what they said was an elective procedure and I refused to allow Charlie to risk using his home to guarantee a bill we couldn't afford when I wouldn't even do him the decency of telling him the truth. Since I was legally an adult, and fully alert, he couldn't override my decision. Though he certainly tried."

Bella smiled in remembrance now, "He even pulled his cuffs out and gave the impression he might arrest someone if they didn't declare me temporarily incompetent."

Emmett guffawed at the image Bella painted and asked, "So what happened next? How'd any human resist your angry Dad's orders?"

"Jake dragged him out of the room, and Seth convinced the staff that Charlie was just a distraught father." Bella's grin slipped with the next sentence, "Since Seth was still wearing my blood all over his shirt, it didn't take much effort."

Pulling away from Carlisle's grip, Bella stood up and pushed her chair in. She glanced around the room and winced at the sight of the broken chairs. "Sorry about your furniture Esme," Bella apologized.

Esme waved her hand in dismissal, "That's not even worth worrying about Bella. Gives me an excuse to go shopping."

Bella then turned to Carlisle knowing it was his decision that would release her from her current 'captivity'. She decided against asking, "Well, I've heard what you all have had to say and that's everything on my side. I really do have a good bit of homework, and I'm sure you understand I could do with some rest. I'd greatly appreciate a ride back to my dorm now."

Carlisle side stepped responding to Bella's non request for a moment, "I didn't get your permission earlier, Bella. May I pull your medical records?"

Bella thought it over quickly then shook her head in denial, "No offense Carlisle. I'm usually completely independent despite my disability. Today's company forced an exception to that. And while I appreciate the protection you all showed today, you haven't been my doctor in five long years. I'd like to get to know you all again, but I see no reason to change that fact."

This time around Bella was determined to maintain some distance from the Cullen's. After all, it was only a matter of when, not if, they moved on. She had no expectations she'd be included. Maybe this time they'd keep in touch.

Carlisle wasn't completely surprised at Bella's refusal. She had been an independent person back in Forks and her experiences only would have solidified that. There was no changing the fact that they had abandoned her for five long, harsh years. Her knowing the reason would not reestablish the trust that she once had in one conversation.

"Fair enough Bella. If the time comes that you wish me to assess the injury, know that I am more than happy to do so."

"Thank you Carlisle. May I trouble you for that ride now?"

Thinning his lips, as he knew she would not like his answer, "I'm sorry Bella. I'm afraid you aren't leaving this house today. In fact, since there is no way for us to easily remain near you given the school's dormitory setup and maintain our privacy, you will be moving in here." Raising his hand to forestall Bella's instant objections, Carlisle asked, "Do you have a room mate or neighbors who would raise an alarm over your immediate absence?"

A shell-shocked Bella shook her head no. "I have lots of neighbors but I mostly keep to myself."

Carlisle frowned, not happy with that information, and issued commands, "Rose, Emmett – please go quietly pack up Bella's dorm room and bring her items here. Alice – see about arranging a schedule so one of us is always in Bella's immediate vicinity until the nomads have moved on. Esme, dear, would you make up a room for Bella?"

As images of Rose and Emmett packing up her private domain and her meals being prepared for her like a child began flipping though her brain, an increasingly horrified Bella finally found her voice, "No, stop! You can't just take over my life. You don't have that right!"

Bella tried and failed to fight off the wave of acceptance Jasper washed over her.

Carlisle didn't look the least bit chagrined as he said, "I know it seems that way Bella, and I'll acknowledge that to an extent that is exactly what I am doing, however, I have no intention of taking your independence from you. While concessions will need to be made by all to prevent accidents, no one will do for you what you are fully capable of handling yourself." Gentling his voice a bit, he continued, "I meant it both when I said you are our daughter and my greatest error was leaving you behind. I intend to rectify that beginning immediately. And since history shows us you have an innate tendency to encounter our kind, you are safest here among your family."

Bella shook her head and for the first time today, slipped her hand into her pocket to grasp the device that usually comforted her with its ability to connect her to the pack with the touch of a button. "You don't understand what you are doing Carlisle."

Carlisle doubted that but to encourage Bella's input asked, "What am I not considering?"

Trying to think through the sudden upheaval she faced, she explained, "My dormmates won't question my absence immediately, and we'll have time to lay a reasonable explanation. But that doesn't mean I don't get visitors from time to time. The kind of visitors who won't take kindly to my new housemates."

Carlisle nodded, "I surmised you were likely still in contact with the pack. I assume you don't expect any of them out for awhile?"

Bella stepped back, and held her hand out in a halt gesture. "I owe the pack my life many times over Carlisle. I believe you when you tell me you left for my safety. But you still left. My first loyalty is to them. I won't keep this from Jake." Bella narrowed her eyes as a thought occurred to her, "I don't put it past you to confiscate my phone. I can't stop you but know if I don't contact the pack or Charlie reasonably soon, you'll have angry wolves howling at the door."

Carlisle chuckled, "I'm not kidnapping you Bella. Simply enforcing a change of residence and the establishment of bodyguards whenever you leave the house. Though I suggest you ease your friends into the knowledge of your new address as I'm certain they will not be so accepting of us. I have no desire to see anyone injured should the pack determine you need 'rescuing'."

Sighing in defeat, Bella eyed the bourbon remaining in her glass but knew she'd had plenty already. Instead she sat back down in her chair, "Alright Carlisle." Bella glanced in self defense at Emmett before she admitted, "I'm not any less clumsy so I have no idea how you possibly see this working, but we'll do it your way."

Sure enough, Bella saw Emmett begin to grin but he quickly smothered it after Rose raised her eyebrow in warning.

"We'll have to take care to hunt more frequently, especially until some of us get reacquainted to your scent again, however there is no reason that we can't collaborate to make the living situation workable for all. You'll have to be open with us regarding your needs or any adaptions, and perhaps you can help Esme plan her grocery shopping so as to avoid meals that require our assistance unless you desire it."

Bella nodded her head, "I'd much prefer that. I'm not interested in hurting anyone should I cut myself, nor do I wish my food prepared for me."

Esme spoke up now, "Bella, I've only just begun the new addition to the house. It would be very simple to make design changes at this point. Perhaps you'd prefer to go over the plans with me? We could pick the best location for your room, and we could create it's layout together?"

Bella didn't miss the hopeful suggestion in Esme's voice. "That sounds nice Esme, thank you." Bella immediately decided she'd take the farthest available spot from Jasper and Alice. She knew having her in residence would be the hardest on Jasper. She grinned internally at the immediate pout that crossed Alice's face.

Clearing his throat unnecessarily, Carlisle brought her attention back to him, "I don't mean to upset you further Bella, but I don't think you'll appreciate my keeping this from you…I have every intention of contacting Edward this evening. I would imagine he will return here immediately."

Carlisle watched as Bella absorbed this information. Nodding her head, she said, "He certainly has a right to know someone is moving in. I don't suppose I could convince you to hold off?"

Carlisle shook his head, "You're his mate Bella, he deserves to know immediately."

Bella opened her mouth to argue that point but realized there was no doubt in Carlisle assertion. Alright, she figured. Let him continue to learn the hard way.

"Ok, Carlisle. Thank you for letting me know." Then Bella picked up her glass and immediately downed the contents.