I sat a few miles away from the house, tracing a pattern in the dirt as i pondered. I had sought refuge in the ruins of an old, run down building, not daring to show my face again until things were calmer. I knew better than to run from my problems, but it didn't make much of a difference where i chose to wallow in my misery.

The girls' screams had been torturous, her eyes wild with fear. Alice hadn't left her side since she brought her to the house and Carlisle had remained close by, only leaving her to check on me. He didn't need to say anything; her screams spoke with enough volume. I couldn't bear the look of sadness and disappointment on Carlisle's face. Seeing my red eyes reflected in his, no longer golden due to my actions, had made me drop my face in fresh shame.

The rest of the family were handling the events in different ways. Jasper, who could feel every part of pain, shame, sadness and anger emitting from us, had to leave the house for his own sanity. Esme, the ever-loving heart of our family, was upset and sympathetic towards the poor girl and me. She had tried to hug me once Emmett had brought us home, but i had pushed her away, unable to accept it; i knew this had hurt her, but i would find a way to make it up to her later. Emmett, while not one to take things too seriously in life, understood the ramifications this could bring. He also didn't want the girl to be suffering, but knew there was little he could do. Come what may, he'd stand with his family, if this girl was a part of that or not. The reaction that hadn't left me was Rosalie.

She'd been working on her car in the garage when Alice brought the chaos into the house. She'd wondered if there'd been an accident as she followed, she and Esme frantically making space in the study. She spotted the cause at the same time Alice started her rapid explanation over what had happened, freezing them both to the spot.

"Edward? Edward did this?" Esme's tone was one of disbelief, Rosalie remaining silent as Alice nodded in confirmation. She continued to say nothing, a mixture of emotions as she watched them trying to calm the girl. Carlisle arrived not too long after, rushing in as if to make sure what he'd been told was true, before taking vigil beside Alice.

Rosalie stood as still as a statue by the doorway, the only movement was the clenching and unclenching of her fists as she waited for my return home. As soon as she heard the Volvo stopping outside of the house, she was out the front door and, with a growl, stormed towards me as i opened the car door. I didn't try to defend myself as she harshly threw me to the ground, her thoughts replaying what she'd seen as she unleashed her fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! Look at what you've done! This poor girl will forever be a victim by your hands, you monster!"

She was beyond disgusted with me, her thoughts turning into a tirade of abuse, as if she was translating the girl's screaming for me.

Emmett tried to reason with his furious wife. "Rose, give him a moment to-"

"No, Emmett! He's taken everything from this girl and only has himself to blame for it! What do you have to say for yourself Edward?!"

I looked up to see her face full of anger, appearing for all the world like she wanted to rip me to pieces. Emmett brought her into a restrictive embrace, holding her back from approaching any further. I remained submissively on the ground, the truth striking like a whip crack with each, angry word she hurled my way. By this time Esme and Carlisle had arrived on the porch, front and center to what was sure to be the first of many moments between us.

"There is no excuse for my actions, Rosalie, i know that. There's nothing i can say or do to make this any better."

That's it?! What's done is done?! How dare you! Her mind continued her own line of angry questions and insults, enraged beyond the point of speaking as she struggled in Emmett's grasp.

Carlisle had slowly approached me, offering a hand to pull me up from the ground. His mind had only one question for me; Why?

I shook my head in response; this wasn't the time or place to discuss, or to try and make sense over what had happened. Rosalie was practically pawing the ground to have another moment with me as Carlisle led me towards the house, nodding to Esme's heartbroken face in reassurance when i refused her welcoming arms, lacking the strength to even look her in the eyes. We had passed through the entryway when i stopped, a particularly loud bout of screaming from the study freezing me in my place. I couldn't help wincing at her obvious agony, which set Rosalie off again.

Oh no you don't! She broke free from Emmett's hold and started marching towards me again. I just managed to catch her thoughts as she harshly grabbed my arm, dragging me forward towards the noise. You will face the problem you've caused!

I didn't fight her as she pulled me up the grand staircase, the others trying to call her back to her senses. I raised my hand to stop them, knowing i fully deserved whatever plans she had for me. As we came to the study, Alice looked up with a sad, expectant expression as Rosalie shoved me into the room and blocked the doorway. I ignored the thoughts around me, not paying attention to anything else other than the girl on the hospital cot in the centre of the room. Her heart was frantic, her breathing was heavy, her screams halted for the moment as she appeared to try and take in her surroundings. I could already see the changes starting to affect her body; her skin around her shoulders looked firmer, a slight glow from the lights, but not yet diamond like. There was slight bruising visible on her upper arms, the marks matching where i had grabbed her; i knew this would fade with the venom, but it didn't stop my self-hatred towards my actions. My bite, while still noticeable, was no longer glistening as before. I hadn't taken a breath since we entered the house, afraid of being overcome again, so i wasn't sure how much the venom had consumed other than from my visual observations.

Slowly, hesitantly, i moved forward towards Alice, feeling it was my responsibility to stay with them both during the girl's painful transition. I could feel Rosalie watching my every movement, ready to stop me if i tried anything else, but that changed when a confused pair of chocolate brown eyes found me. I wasn't sure how aware the girl was, remembering how disorientating the change could be, but once she caught a glimpse of me her fear seemed to amplify, her screams starting back up louder than before as her fists flailed around, as if trying to fight someone off. My body, frozen like a deer in headlights when she spotted me, immediately turned in the other direction and rushed for the doorway. Rosalie didn't waste time trying to stop me, wanting to spare the girl any additional torment that my presence seemed to bring. I continued rushing down the stairs, passing the rest of my family who had gathered in confusion. I said nothing as i made a beeline for the door and sped off into the surrounding forest, the fresh screaming spurring me on.

I kept going until i could no longer hear the girl's agony, could no longer hear everyone's concerned thoughts or Rosalie's rage. Sitting in the ruins, i replayed everything that had happened as i tried to make sense of it. I recalled a previous victim of Emmett, his memory of the event and how he couldn't control himself as soon as he caught the scent of her blood. It was very similar; maybe that's how he knew the best way of snapping me out of it. Despite the girl's suffering that had followed, i was grateful he had managed to save her life if anything else.

I didn't notice the time that passed as i sat here, hiding, trying to piece together the mess i had created while the others handled the consequences. Every few hours, someone would come to find me to talk and try to bring me back; nothing worked. Esme's gentle words of encouragement and support, her arm around me as we sat in the dirt, brought no response. Emmett, trying to cheer me up with his 'everything will work out' approach, did nothing to raise my spirits. Carlisle patiently staying with me, not speaking a word but letting me know he was there, didn't make me head back with him. I just stayed in my spot, seeing those chocolate brown eyes staring at me in what i portrayed as accusation for taking everything away from her.

When my phone vibrated in my pocket as another new dawn was approaching, i answered it without a word as Alice's voice came through the line.

"The change is nearly complete, i give it an hour before her heart stops and she's ready for the next steps. You should head back; be there for that, Edward, at least."

I didn't respond, knowing she was right, though i found my legs didn't seem to want to obey. She was quiet for a moment before she continued.

"We've managed to speak to her a few times; she understands what's happening though doesn't know the cause yet. We've spoken a little bit about who we are and i think it would be good for her to meet us all together, as a family."

Again, i knew she was right, but my head continued to focus on the ground, those brown eyes still staring through me as i listened to my sister. I was grateful i could no longer hear screaming while she spoke, though it sounded like quiet, indistinguishable murmuring in the background; i could tell Carlisle's tone, but i didn't recognise the other.

"I also thought you'd like to know she told us her name; Isabella Swan."

My head lifted at this information, looking towards the rising sun as i spoke for the first time in three days.

"Isabella?"

I walked through the door as i heard her heart's final beat, keeping watch through Alice's eyes as i headed towards the study. The rest of my family were already in the hallway, waiting for Alice's que so we didn't overwhelm her.

Esme, hearing my approach, moved towards me and gently squeezed my hand in gratitude of my return. Rosalie, however, was glaring at me by the doorway, still angered by the sight of me, but at least mildly pacified that I'd returned to face the music. Jasper, who had returned a few hours before me, was using his powers to keep tempers cool and to avoid another incident between us. He gave me a small, awkward smile as he confirmed my assumptions; i thought it would be wise to avoid Rosalie's wrath at a key moment.

I nodded in gratitude as the door opened, Carlisle smiling to us; I'd missed the conversation in the room, but focused again as we walked in. The shutter was now lifted from the window and the girl, Isabella, was standing beside Alice facing towards it as we came forward one by one. I could feel my nerves increasing as i got closer, though she seemed calm. She was quietly watching us, smiling shyly as we were introduced, though her eyes looked a little sad. I felt the guilt rise again as Alice then looked to me, indicating for me to come into view. I held my breath as i stepped in front of them, keeping my face lowered until i came to a stop.

"And, lastly, this is Edward."

Nervously, i raised my head and looked at her properly for the first time. Her eyes were a brilliant, scarlet red, far brighter than my own as her skin glowed in the light of the early morning. The striking lines of her face, the graceful curve of her neck, her full lips parting to speak. I exhaled, my eyes widening as i took in her almost ethereal beauty, stunned into silence by my own reaction.

She's... exquisite... I was so caught up in my own, confused thoughts that i didn't notice the eyes nervously watching us, or how her own had widened before turning into a deadly glare. The only thing that snapped me out of it was the unexpected growl suddenly emitting from the beautiful vampire in front of me. I had just enough time to notice her crouch before she launched herself at me, her newborn strength sending us hurtling straight through the glass window.