A/N: Squeezed in a lot of places for my Facebook group, mainly California, but Illinois is in there too xx Alexis

Fate! It's What You Make It!

Thanksgiving 2005

So there she, Miss Bella Swan or should I say, Miss Sabel Phoenix, now known as Belle, was heading south. With her new identity stating she was twenty-one, a new look and a truck full of pumpkin seeds. There were some in individual propagation cells, also some in trays. Because of this, she needed her own transport, it was essential. For now, nothing seemed to be happening and Bella was both worried and more than a little heartbroken. He had been her friend, her best and only friend and she couldn't lose him like this. It would take a couple of weeks for her to realise that her being in the vicinity of danger would cause the seeds to sprout. It was a random carjacking attempt that caused the initial growth. So where was this attempted carjacking, California?

Bella had made her way down through Oregon and even stopped for a break in Oakland. But it was unfortunately in San Jose where it happened. So danger to her, made them grow, well, that's good news, no it was excellent news! She wouldn't be hanging around to find out if anything happened to them. Luckily for Bella, it was she and not them who was armed; having a cop for a father had given her plenty of access to guns. She could shoot just as well with a handgun as a shotgun, having taught herself all those years ago out of sheer boredom! She had gotten fake documents from Jenks to carry both. Nothing like hours of free time and the drive to learn everything she could, since nobody cared to teach her anything important! She was academically clever, but sadly lacking in life skills.

So she had just gone into the forest and set up a target range for herself and got down to learning a new skill. Like everything else she knew, Bella just set her mind to it and eventually, she mastered that skill, maybe not sharpshooter level, but good enough. She was starting to notice other things about her new self, strange things! She didn't get tired anymore as the day wore on and needed less and less sleep now. Eating also became a slight problem everything made her feel nauseous at first, then plain old sick to the stomach. That's when the vines took over, once they started growing they got thicker, larger and generally bigger and the back of her truck was one huge prorogation tank. The first time she complained out loud how hungry she was they just wrapped themselves around her and basically fed her.

They grew small fruits and fed them to her whilst also injecting their sap into her. Was she scared, maybe a little at first, but these were Mr Pumpkin's children technically, so why be afraid. She stopped often and climbed into the back of the truck with them. That's when she slept, surrounded and protected by them as they cradled her body. Bella was just meandering down through California, not really heading anywhere as she learned all about the new her. So she was surprised to find herself in Firebaugh two days before Thanksgiving. She got herself a room, only to shower and clean up a bit. This is when she found out the only foods and drinks she could keep down were all pumpkin-based. She had gone to a store to buy sunglasses to shade her eyes from the much stronger than she was used to sun.

The owner was handing out little glasses of homemade Pumpkin Wine because Thanksgiving was just around the corner she explained. Bella not wanting to refuse the friendly offer drank it and it was absolutely wonderful. She smiled widely and complimented the woman, who did the same about her hair. Everyone was assuming it was dyed for Halloween and Thanksgiving, she didn't disabuse them. So she could consume anything with pumpkin in it, which was brilliant news. Bella was also looking to trade in her truck for an RV, that way she would have her own shower and more protection for both herself and the vines. She spent a couple of days researching them and decided after Thanksgiving she'd get one in Madera. In the back of her mind, Bella was starting to see a great business opportunity.

Some of the seedlings were just plain ordinary ones, with no magic involved, but really healthy and strong. They had started to grow after the main vine did. These were her food now and she could make so much with them. But to do that she would need a home base, the hunt was on for a place to live, at least for now. Somewhere where she could make food and drinks from pumpkins to sustain herself and maybe sell to others too, eventually. Like for instance pumpkin bread or pumpkin loaves and even pumpkin muffins, the choice was endless. So where would be the best place to grow pumpkins? With a quick Google search, she found it would be Texas or Illinois for this new venture. One other thing that started to happen was a pattern under the skin on her arms and legs that looked more like vines instead of veins had appeared.

Bella knew now she was more than just an ordinary human, she was part plant now! What that meant for her was anyone's guess, but she was happy to be free of Forks and out in the sun for once. Searching the internet Bella was torn between Long Point, Short Point and Ancona, all of which were in Illinois! Well, once she got her RV she could drive around and get the lay of the land. She wasn't in a rush; the only pressing matter was more room for the vines. She used this time to scour the internet for things she could make from pumpkins alone. Wow, there was so much, not just food but drinks too. More ideas popped into her head of a way to make a living in the long term. Both pumpkin cider and hard cider sounded good options to Bella. One of these was much easier to make now than the other.

The name 'Miss Sabel' was bouncing around in her head and that's when she realised she could start a company of that name and whatever she could make would be sold under that brand. She'd have to speak to Mr Jenks once she was settled and start with 'Miss Sabel's Farm'. Bella had a feeling she might have more time than most to start a company and get it running. So that was what she did and in the next five years, her pumpkin farm in Ancona was running smoothly and had expanded very quickly due to the vines being very disease-resistant. What she didn't know at first and for about all of these five years was she wasn't ageing at all. This she could see would become a major problem for her and once more plans started to formulate in her head.

Thanksgiving 2010

It was time for Bella to make a speech to her staff on Thanksgiving, to break it to them that 'Miss Sabel' wanted her to travel abroad to see what other varieties of pumpkins were out there and she was to make Mr Andrews, the new General Manager for the farm here in Ancona. Also, Mrs McAllister was now in charge of the bakery, both would still report via her. Telling them she would still be answering to the 'Miss Sabel Group' for now. She joked with the other woman how she might even meet a nice young man out there! But she knew she had to leave before they really noticed she wasn't ageing in the least. They were sad she was going; this young woman and the 'Miss Sabel Group' had brought jobs and prosperity to their hometown. The farm they had bought over had been slowly failing and Bella was a breath of fresh air.

She too was sad to leave as these people had been her first friends ever and had renewed her faith in mankind over these five years. The only thing they didn't know was she was actually 'Miss Sabel'. Since she had gone by the name Belle Phoenix. Explaining she was affiliated with the 'Miss Sabel Group', she would do the same when and if she returned to her real name. So as she sat with her staff and friends eating stuffed pumpkins her mind was still making plans for the future. A new farm in Texas next, yes she said she was going abroad and she would eventually. But she wanted to have a couple of strong businesses in the US first. The original vine had propagated itself before it died after one year and that had continued to happen each year that followed.

The best thing that had happened was the first Halloween after she settled in Ancona, which was back in 2006. Mr Pumpkin appeared in the bed with the vines, but he was the original one from when she was two years old. It was like he came to check on her, he no longer was her healer and protector. No, he was an old and dear friend, who she loved very much. Just like before he only stayed for twenty-four hours and then disappeared until the following year, but it gladdened her heart that he had survived and been reborn just as she had. She knew no matter where she was he would find her and had no fear of leaving Illinois for Texas. She hadn't done the drink side of things yet, except for personal use so maybe that would be the route she took in Texas. Starting with soft drinks and maybe bottled smoothies.

Thanksgiving 2015

Once again it was time for Bella to move on; five years seemed to be her limit. Before people mentioned things like what good genes she had or how great her plastic surgeon was! Not helped by the fact her hair was totally red now, it had slowly changed as if she'd stopped dying it and she noticed her eyes were lightening to be more hazel than brown. Couple that with the halo of autumn foliage that grew out of said red hair around Halloween and yeah she had to move! Constantly telling people this was her favourite time of year was wearing thin. Texas had had some good times, but it also had some bad and downright scary times too. The good was the newest business of 'The Sabel Group', which had started with bottled cloudy Pumpkin Cider and bottled Smoothies.

Then it was refined crystal clear Pumpkin Juice and finally the making of Hard Pumpkin Cider. Once she'd toured around Texas looking for a good place to settle and not too close to other growers she settled for buying out a place near the Texas and Mexican border. This time it was Isabella Swan who worked for 'The Sabel Group'. Unfortunately, it seemed like a mistake for a couple of reasons she never knew existed. Bella was beginning to think it was her real name that drew trouble! The bad was the turnover in staff, many only staying for a short while and moving on to who knows where. Then there was the fear of the Red-eyes demons everyone talked about. Demons that killed without thought or care, and worst was, the locals seemed to accept it as a way of life.

Due to the border's proximity, she was employing both Americans and Mexicans in the fields and eventually the factory. It took Bella's sheer will and determination to not give up and move on when some of her workers just disappeared around the middle of year two. Then it became apparent it was always the night shift caretakers, she, herself began to work that shift instead. That was her first encounter with what she later learned were Vampires or according to Quileute tribal lore Cold-Ones! Hells teeth the tribe from outside Forks, Washington had run-ins with them over the centuries. Was she destined to meet vampires one way or the other? These were the scary in this scenario, as well as what happened to her. Three vampires appeared out of nowhere as she was making the rounds.

Bella was checking the pressure of several vats to make sure all was well. They weirdly sniffed the air and spoke to each other, ignoring Bella who stood there transfixed.

"Is she even human?" A slimy-looking ponytailed blond had asked his two companions,

"Qui (Yes), but she has a..., how do you say? Parfum à base de plantes (Plant-based scent)" The dark-skinned one with dreadlocks had replied,

"Go check around Laurent, while James and I play with our new pet!" The ginger-haired female commanded in a high, but childlike squeaky voice,

Bella watched them all closely and although they were speaking at speed and in a higher-than-normal range for standard humans, she heard every word. The female had darted forward before the aforementioned Laurent had even left the room. She screamed as she missed sinking her teeth into Bella's arm and bit down on a vine instead. Bella had no idea what just happened to her, but thick vines were snaking out of her arms, torso and legs.

"Victoria!" The blond had then yelled, but she was clutching her mouth and throat as if she had been poisoned,

She, this Victoria, now rushed out of the room as Laurent backed further away from them all. Bella's vines had been slashing through the air around her, totally out of control as she tried to rein in her fear.

"You bitch, what did you do to my mate?" The one she knew was James, then screamed at her,

Bella had no answer because she had no idea either! One of her vines had slashed the support of a vat to one side of her and it was leaning over dangerously. As Laurent had turned to run it fell and battered him straight into the concrete below his feet, like a nail. James had them grabbed up a large and heavy length of pipe and came at Bella swinging wildly. She had taken a deep breath to centre herself and whipped out all her vines towards him. He was easily hoisted in the air and then she instinctually pulled him apart. Behind her, a fuel gauge valve had blown and a fire was spewing outwards. Bella hadn't stopped to look at the bits of James, they were too creepy and she was a little freak out. She had only wanted to get rid of the evidence; unfortunately, Bella had wrongly assumed he was already dead.

Therefore when she threw him into the fire and he disintegrated it was an added bonus she'd thought in relief. Laurent had been forgotten about in the panic to cover up any signs of foul play. He had it seemingly kept quiet, waited until his broken bones were mended and then high-tailed it out of Texas and headed north, as north as he could get. Unknown to Bella everywhere he had gone he told others about the freaky plant woman, working at 'The Sabel Distillery'. Many thought him to be lying or mad and Randall had wished Charles was here so they would know for sure because stranger things had happened. On the other hand, while Bella covered up the vampire attack, out there a sick and terrified Victoria was going out of her mind hidden in a cave. She hadn't stopped vomiting stained venom, since she bit that freaky woman!

Bella had made it look like a faulty vat strut had just crumpled, which caused the valve to blow and start a fire. She prayed this would be the last she saw of vampires. Especially the other two who'd run leaving the one called James, to die! For a time she did get a reprieve, about another eighteen months or so actually. A very different-looking Victoria came for her; she was barely coherent, demanding to know where IT was! Bella had no idea what the it, she wanted was and felt Victoria didn't either strangely enough! This female vampire Victoria looked like she had been burnt by acid on her lower jaw and throat. Her skin had a strange jaundiced tinge to it and her hair looked frazzled or poisoned as well. Bella pulled her apart, once more assuming this would kill her and buried her over the border in Mexico.

Now as her five years were up it was time for Miss Bella Swan to leave Texas, just as Miss Belle Phoenix had previously from Illinois. This was the part she liked the least the continual moving on and not being able to stay in one place for any length of time. Once more over the Thanksgiving dinner, she had with the approval of 'The Sabel Group' promoted her second-in-command to run the distillery as General Manager and someone else to be the Senior Farm Manager. Bella had not gotten quite as close with the staff here as she had before, but they were good people whom she trusted to look after the business while she moved on to..., where did she want to go? In her mind, she had been toying with diversifying into things like Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin butter spread, or Pumpkin Cream Cheese and even Pumpkin Mousse.

So she needed access to cheese, soft cheese to be exact. Well, she did have a hankering to go back and finish her initial tour of California, so why not do both. Work and pleasure at the same time, yes a little break for her personally might be nice. Mr Jenks the lawyer called around the time Bella was ready to leave and told her someone was enquiring into Miss Isabella Marie Swan's whereabouts. Bella explained she was ready to move on and for safety's sake; she'd go back to being Belle Phoenix for now. She never actually used either Isabella or Sabel as names; it was as if she was covering her tracks without planning it! So who was looking for her, some unknown to her family called Cullen! Jenks said they had moved to Forks recently and he had worked for them for years and he trusted a couple of them, but he did not offer them any information.

Just confirming, yes he'd been her lawyer in 2005 but did not know her location now. She thanked him for his help and they talked business for a while longer before she started to pack up to leave. That was strange why would people she didn't know and never met be looking for her? Well, whoever they were they were ten years too late to find her and she wanted to keep it that way. It just felt wrong and a little weird to her; anything to do with that town was probably trouble she thought! Bella had traded in the old RV for a state-of-the-art one which was so much bigger and roomier for her and the vines. It was going to be a little bit of a road trip, but she thought she might avoid entering Mexico, that place seemed to be a hot spot for vampires from all she'd heard over the last five years!

Better to be safe than sorry Bella decided, and stayed at least seventy-five to one hundred miles away from the border which added a little time onto her journey, but she was okay with that. Otherwise, she was just going to enjoy the scenery and aim towards San Diego. She had no interest at all in Los Angeles, so she would skirt around it on the other side of the National Park. Going via Corona, Upland, Phelan and Wrightwood before stopping for a rest. The next day she would be heading over to Santa Clarita and dropping back down to Newbury Park before driving up the coast for some hopefully spectacular scenery and maybe a little beach time. Bella had never lived by the beach in the past and she wanted to see what it was like. She didn't count La Push, that was not her home and even though there were beaches she never got to go!

One day she promised herself she'd stand on the edge of every sea and ocean in the world and it looked like she'd have plenty of time. But for now, she'd just meander across the USA and make plans to have plenty of money to see her through her seemingly long life. Two things on her journey made her both anxious and annoyed. The annoyance was the easiest to deal with, a flat tyre just outside Silver City in New Mexico. It was just a matter of calling an Auto Repair shop after a quick Google search and she was back on the round within a couple of hours. The anxiety was as Bella neared San Diego and closer to the border with Mexico than she realised. Bella had stopped to eat and was sitting quietly just chilling out when her excellent hearing picked up an argument a little ways off.

Four men were shouting at each other to make sure they burned every last bit of the demon and that piqued Bella's interest. Oh no, she thought!

"Get that hand before it wanders off! These fucking things give me the creeps!" One yelled with a shudder in his voice,

"¡Sí, es diabólico. Cuidado con el veneno!" (Yes, it's diabolical. Watch out for the venom!) Another replied in a disgusted tone,

"Thanks, for your help you guys. These newborn vampires are the worst, but the easiest to destroy thank the Lord!" A third said as Bella saw the pall of purple smoke,

"That's your third in the last five years, Dan! Where the hell do they think they're going?" The fourth man asked randomly,

"Hell knows, the grass is always greener and all that, I guess!" The first one said now,

Bella was stunned, four humans knew how to kill a vampire and she didn't! But then these people lived with the constant threat it seems and they were bound to work it out someday. Now she knew Victoria was still out there and would come looking for her once again, no doubt. Well, at least she now knew it was the fire that killed the other one! This was never something she ever thought she'd have to deal with! Why was her life so damned complicated, she wondered. Bella decided there was no point worrying about the crazy ginger vampire until she caught up to her. She wasn't afraid, especially as she knew how to finally deal with her, permanently! Was the world just throwing everything at her now because her youth was boring, well except for Mr Pumpkin!

Bella was thoroughly enjoying her journey up the coast, even when she had to move further inland due to the Vandenberg Space Force Base. She was hoping to reach Arroyo Grande that evening. Giving her the chance to see Pismo Beach and Shell Beach by daylight. Because it was early December by now it was cooler but not cold by any means and Bella was enjoying the less busy time of year. Now it was time she thought to head further inland towards Kerman and Fresno, she laughed when she realised how close she was to Madera. Ten years had passed since she was last in the area, ten life-changing years at that. Wow, so what would the next ten bring her she wondered? Once in Fresno, she spent time pouring over maps of the area and then she found it, the perfect place to settle Terra Bella.

Thanksgiving 2020

Once again Bella had spent five years in one area and set up the third part of her business. She had really enjoyed this venture into more cheese-based pumpkin products. But it's time for her to move on and she has just the perfect excuse this time. What would that be? Well, for once she had a partner, a man in her life and she was ecstatically happy. It was only one year into her stay in Terra Bella when a little more compos mentis Victoria arrived. She was furious at Bella for killing her mate James, forgetting conveniently they attacked her first. While she was ranting and raving at Bella a male vampire came up behind her, signalling Bella to ignore him. But Victoria's gift had finally resurfaced and as she made to run Bella caught her in her vines, this time only using the ones on her arms.

She had been practising with them, knowing Victoria would come. The male darted forward and ripped Victoria's head off. So Bella finished the job by pulling her apart and it was him who bent down and set her alight. He stepped back away from her and introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Randall. Sorry to jump in but I've been trailing her for months. I heard her tell Laurent she was going to kill you for killing James. Laurent reminded her they had attacked you first and she ripped him apart for that. His mate Irina Denali just barely managed to save him from being torched!

Victoria was unstable and our leaders don't take kindly to rogue insane vampires wandering about. I work for them occasionally to save them from sending the Italian guard here. I had heard about you from Laurent a while ago and thought you were one of his tall tales. But when she started ranting on about you too, I was surprised for once" he explained to her,

For some reason, even with his red eyes, Bella wasn't scared and she retracted her vines. Unlike the previous three vampires she'd met, he was polite and without being rude, clean! They had been dirty and unkempt, whereas Randall looked normal, if a vampire can look normal?

"I'm Bella and thank you. I didn't know back then that fire killed your kind, it was a fluke that I tossed James into the flames. She tried to bite me and that's what burnt her face I guess, she missed my arm and got a vine instead!" Bella told him and he slowly approached,

"I'd love to hear your story if you feel like sharing and I'll tell you my story as well," he said smiling and Bella felt her heart do a little flip,

It didn't take long for the two to become firstly firm friends and slowly much more. Randall admitted he was tired of being a nomad with nowhere to call home after almost fifty years. Bella too wanted a place to have a permanent home. But the two were happy for now to live in Terra Bella and would leave together when the time came. Meanwhile, Bella convinced Randall to take online classes to upgrade what he already knew. He had long ago done Business Studies in college, but that was in the sixties and time had changed. She could see a future when he was the one looking out for the business and not Mr Jenks who was unfortunately getting older. Randall couldn't believe that this Nymph, because what else could she be loved him and he knew she was his mate.

He recognised that fact the day they met, but didn't want to scare her away. The vines also must have known because they often let him within the cocoon they wrapped Bella in as she slept for just a couple of hours each day. He for his part was in awe of the care and attention they gave her and by extension him. And so four more productive years passed and now it was once more time to move on for Bella. This time when she promoted the staff and told them she was off to see the world's Pumpkins she really would be, plus not alone as she once thought! This was going to be a cross between a vacation and a honeymoon for the two who decided to tie the knot once she retook her real name. Randall didn't know his surname and never knew who turned him either; he only recalled little things about his human life.

So he was going to take Bella's name of Swan and swap back and forward with her when needed as the years went by. The one piece of information he did give Bella when they met was about a coven he knew, called the Cullens.

"The Cullens! Jenks said they were looking for me and I have no idea why! I moved away ten years before they got there and all they might hear about me would be gossip and exaggeration. The story of poor Isabella Swan the scarred freak who used to live there!" she said angrily, it all still rankled in her mind even all these years later,

"Yes, they are the definition of what not to do once you become a vampire! Two of them have invasive gifts and are allowed to do whatever they want without recourse. They believe they have lots of friends, but the truth is hardly anyone likes them! So let's forget about them, with luck you'll never meet them" Randall said hoping he was right,

They would be the last vampires on earth he'd want around his truly unique mate!