A/N: Hey. It's been a while. I've been getting sicker. Got a diagnosis. Lost my job that I was so excited for incredibly suddenly. (They had me train my replacement and I had no idea. Got no significant reason and no warnings). My husband and I finally had our wedding, which I had set up and created all by myself. Got sicker. (Ever heard of Mast Cell Disease and POTS? Sucks). I can't guarantee when the next update will be, but I promise that this story will absolutely be finished. It might just take a super long time. It's also why this chapter is actually split into two parts. This is super short, but I wanted to assure you that I am still working on it when I have the energy and ability to do so. My husband got a really good job, so I don't have to return to work right away, not that I am able to do so anyways. Because of this, I might actually have the time to work on this when I get better. (If i can cope with my illness at all).

Thank you. I hope you like this chapter. I'll update as soon as I can.

i

SHE HAD BEEN WITH EDWARD, involuntarily, for two weeks when he'd finally dragged her to his home. Only a week before, she had been taken home for the sixth time by Edward, but this time her dad had been able and ready to pick her up. (It had seemed strange that he'd been unable to pick her up from school for a full week, and when he finally could, and she wasn't there, he didn't freak out on her at all. It was so unlike her dad). Something had seemed off about the whole situation, but she ignored it. (Not that she had much choice; whenever her mind tried to grasp the concept it slipped away from her).

Edward had taken Bella straight from school, much to her quiet dismay and worry, to his home. It was deep in the woods, as her nightmares had suggested. (Those had caused an unnatural disquiet within her. Something more powerful than the instincts that scratched and screamed at the back of her mind. Yellow eyes, they were always watching her). The house was gigantic, so much bigger, and sleeker, than anything else in Forks. It had large windows that seemed to cover any outer wall they could. The trees wrapped around the back of it, and with the windows, it felt as if the house was melting into the forest itself. An amalgamation of modern and natural.

Bella was shaking with fear. Over the last week her ability to stay calm, even with the fog over her thoughts, had dwindled. She was always frazzled, and it had unfortunately brought the ire of Edward down on her.

"Hurry up, Little Singer," Edward told her, gracefully removing himself from the driver's seat.

Edward was instantaneously at her door, opening it up and impatiently waiting for her to slide out of the spacious seat. Unlike her truck, which had a nice flat bench seat, the Volvo had cupped seats, where the lip would catch on her thin legs. Without the use of her right arm, it made getting out a little more difficult. (She was stuck with the cast for at least five more weeks. With the treatment she got from Edward, however, she was unsure if that was going to be the case).

Edward huffed, an odd sound to come from one who didn't even breathe naturally. "You must move faster, Isabella," he said, grabbing the back of her hoodie, pulling her from the seat and out of the car. Her breath went shallow for the brief moment the pull of the hoodie cut off her air. Edward smiled, showing off his bright, white teeth. "I don't mind you being clumsy, I'll gladly catch you and lick your wounds," the curl of his lip made her heart race at the thought. "However, you can't be slow. Patience isn't something common among vampires. We move so fast that we hate the pace of you humans."

He was already walking away, and Bella could only trip over herself in an attempt to catch up with him. She wanted to scream. She hated the way he talked to her. He always made such rude comments about her hair, her body, her clumsiness. The last comment he had made had her crying all night. ("Please, Isabella, you must watch the way you dress. Women must be modest." "Do not forget that the only way you can protect yourself from me is to hide what little I can see.") She was stuck wearing thick sweaters and jeans, never showing anything lower than her neck. (Yeah, it was similar to her Autumn style anyways, but she had been sent a nice dress by her mom. She wasn't the most feminine, but the thought was nice, and it was something flattering to her slimmer figure). Bella finally got close enough behind him that she could grab at the back of his shirt- not that she would.

Edward led her inside, and the first thing she thought was- "Dear gods I am going to die."

ii

Bella liked Rosalie almost immediately. Rosalie wasn't particularly nice, but there was concern in her eyes that she hadn't really seen from anyone else. Her husband- or whatever Emmett was considered- had been kind from the get-go. He had greeted her instantly, giving her a smile that didn't make her shiver, and he had a full laugh. Edward had been bothered, however, and had pulled her away from the bear-sized vampire.

"Hello- you must be Bella," said a smaller, vampire woman, standing beside a blonde. She had a soft smile, but there was something in her statuesque stance, ( perhaps the way her chest failed to move in an effort to breathe), that sat with Bella wrong. Of course, she would be uncomfortable with her either way. "I'm Esme."

Bella was glad that the woman did not offer her hand or move to hug her, and offered a shy smile instead. (She just wanted to go home and enjoy a long night of sleep. Maybe gorge herself on ice-cream and contemplate the possibility of her death). Edward seemed pleased by her demeanor, however, and waved his hand in the direction of a blond, male vampire who stood a short distance behind Esme.

"This is Carlisle, our father," Edward said, his tone pleasant. His smile was a tad smug, and Bella couldn't help but wonder why. Carlisle, however, stepped forward to offer his hand to her before she could contemplate further.

"Isabella," Carlisle started, his voice smooth and his smile genuine. "I have heard quite a bit about you."

Bella, feeling like she had no choice in the matter, gave him her hand. He was incredibly cold, just as Edward was. His skin was smooth to the touch, like marble. He lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a gentle, barely there, kiss to her knuckles. Goosebumps rippled up her arms instantly. (The voice in her head got louder, and her mind filled with static at the intensity).

Edward grabbed at her arm, and a tight squeeze made her look over at him. His stormy face made her realize that she had yet to respond to Carlisle.

"Oh! Edward has mentioned you a few times. All nice things, no worries," Bella responded, anxiety bleeding into her voice and forcing it to raise in pitch. Edwards' grasp loosened, seemingly pleased with her response.

Carlisle's smile widened ever so slightly, and he finally let go of her hand. Her damaged arm, which Edward had grabbed, was dropped as well, and she latched onto the sole comfort of not being touched.

"I sure hope so, Bella," Carlisle started. He made more of an effort to move than his wife did, his chest moving with false breaths. "My son is properly raised. It is only polite to let you know about our family before meeting us."

Carlisle stared her down with his blue eyes. Bella felt rooted to the spot. There was something in his tone that made her feel like he was telling an inside joke. As if this was some skit they had planned well before her arrival. (Bella decided she was going to shower as soon as she got home and then eat her ice-cream while crying. She wouldn't be able to sleep for sure). Finally, he took his eyes off of her and gestured to Alice and the other blonde that had just entered the room.

"You've met Alice, and this is her partner, Jasper." Carlisle waved his hand, trying to get them to come closer to the rest of the group. Alice practically pranced over, taking right to Bella's left side. Jasper, however, kept his distance. He was glaring at Bella openly. There was a deep hatred in her eyes that made her shrink back. She couldn't get far, as Edward had moved his hand to her lower back. Bella felt trapped on all sides, nowhere to run, and no way to hide.