Streams of light were dancing behind my eyelids and through the glass, the sound of birds singing floated into my ears telling me morning had arrived. I refused to open my eyes, wanting to lay in this comfortable peace for just a little longer.

I had spent the night in Alice and Jasper's bed, giving as vampires don't sleep the bed was free for the night. It did gross me out a little that they did have the bed for only one reason, but it was all I had considering I didn't even have a bedroom. Besides, I didn't think I could have stayed in Rosalie and Emmett's room after what Alice said last night.

I rolled over so I was now turned towards the middle of the bed, away from the window, so I could now open my sensitive eyes and not be blinded by the sunlight. As soon as I opened them I jumped out of my skin and nearly fell off the bed. "Alice! What the hell?" I stood up from the bed quickly, placing a hand over my erratic heart. How long had she been laying there next to me?

"Good morning to you, too, little sister." She sat up, the huge smile on her face as usual, as she looked over me.

"Why were you watching me sleep?" I gasped as I tried to slow my breathing.

"It's interesting." She shrugged before elegantly jumping off of the bed. "Now, I went shopping last night and bought you some things. It's not a lot but it'll do for now." She grabbed my hand, and my sock covered feet slipped on the hard wood floors as she pulled me along.

She practically swung me around the corner of the hallway and into her closet, which was actually bigger than her bedroom. I was surprised to see the whole floor covered in shopping bags, most of them designer brands, she must have gone to Seattle in the middle of the night. There was no where around here she could get all this stuff from.

"Alice this is too much." I sighed as I rubbed my eyes. I was not awake enough for this.

"Please! This is inadequate. Just wait until you have a closet." She rolled her eyes at me, as if my opinion on the quantity of clothes had offended her. "Okay so first we are going to start with pants..."

God save me now!

* * *

"Alice, it's been three hours. Give her a break she hasn't even eaten yet." Carlisle stood in the doorway to Alice's closet, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked at her in disbelief.

The make-shift fashion show had been non-stop. I had only finished trying on the clothes she bought me half an our ago, since then Alice had been modelling me for today's outfit. I was allowed no input. Don't get me wrong, the clothes she bought were beautiful, some were just a bit much for a tribe girl who lives in La Push. I'd be laughed out of town if I showed up back home in a pair of stilettos.

"But we aren't done!" She whined and Carlisle rolled his eyes.

"Alice please, I like what I'm wearing now." I protested, looking down at the plainest outfit Alice had dressed me in all morning.

It was an oversized black t-shirt that has a knot in the front of it to reduce the length. She had matched that with a pair of blue denim jeans and some nude heels.

"Fine, I guess I'll let you go." She sighed as I stepped down off the podium she had set up for me in front of her floor length mirrors.

"Thank you." I cheered, smiling happily, ignoring Alice's subtle scowl.

Carlisle stepped to the side and allowed me to pass him into the hallway. "Just remember, heels are essential!" Alice called out to me as I hurried away from her. I've had enough Alice for today.

"I do expect you need another nights length sleep after that emprise." Carlisle chuckled from beside me as we made our way out of Alice and Jasper's area of the house.

"Maybe not a whole nights sleep... a few more hours would be nice." I laughed, I did feel exhausted before but maybe that was just because I was bored. Now that I was talking with Carlisle I felt wide awake.

"It's been centuries since I last slept." Carlisle said sullenly, he must miss it.

"Edward told me how old you are." I began, looking at his face with sympathy. "How did it happen?" I asked as he led us into his private library. I hadn't been in this room yet.

Three of the walls were covered in bookshelves whilst one was completely made of glass, much like most of the exterior walls in this house. The centre of the room had an old mahogany desk with two plush, leather couches facing one another in front of it. The room smelt musty yet it was inviting due to the amount of history it held.

"My father was a pastor. My mother had died giving birth to me, I'm not sure which year, some time during the 1640s. Time wasn't as accurate back then." He began, gesturing towards one of the couches for me to take a seat. I did so as he sat opposite me.

"My father and other pastors believed they could remove evil from the earth, and send the demons that walked among us back down to hell. They often held hunts for these creatures and for years I watched my father accuse innocent people again and again. When I finally become of age, and my father began to grow old, it was my duty to my father to take over." He was struggling to remember, it was written on his face as it contorted with concentration. Edward had told me last night that your human memories fade but your vampire ones stay with you forever.

"After studying what little information we had on vampires, I was able to find a coven of real vampires hiding in the sewers of London. I led a party of 30 or so men into the sewers one night, I hadn't anticipated the damage it would do." He looked torn, there was a hatred for himself for leading those men to their deaths but he didn't regret what his life had now become.

He stood up from the couch and walked over to the window that he had previously had his back to. The sunshine that had awoken me this morning was long gone; heavy, grey clouds now covered the sky as the first few drops of rain began to land on the glass in front of Carlisle's face.

"If its too much for you Carlisle, you don't have to tell me anymore." I stood to join him, placing my hand on his icy shoulder to console him.

"No, I was just reliving my struggle. I'll continue." He confirmed with a nod, though his eyes didn't leave the forest surrounding us. "In the chaos that followed, I was attacked and left bleeding in the street. I managed to drag myself into a nearby potato cellar when the pain began, it was then I knew what was happening to me, what I was becoming. I was disgusted with what I had become, how I knew my father would reject me and try to kill me." I felt a great sympathy for Carlisle after hearing this. My fear of going home after finding out what I was. I knew my father wouldn't try to kill me but he could have rejected me.

"I tried to end my life in so many different ways, starving myself, drowning and throwing myself from cliffs. Obviously, nothing worked, but one day when I was hiding in a cave in a forest, the hunger just became too much, and I attacked and fed on a herd of passing deer. It satisfied the hunger completely and that was when I knew that I could survive without drinking the blood of a human." A relieved smile pulled at his lips as he relived the memory, the satisfaction and comfort he found in that moment must have been astounding.

"It was like I had been reborn." He continued with a much lighter, joyful tone. "Over the next two centuries I was able to perfect the ability to resist the bloodlust. During this time, I studied and learnt anything about everything, I had all the time in the world. I had been alone for most of my life, only sharing companionship with a vampire named Alistair, but we didn't travel together for long."

"It must have been so hard for you. Being alone for over two hundred years, I couldn't imagine how depressing that would have been. To just have someone you could relate to." I lamented; I would have gone crazy.

"It was very hard for me, yes. But whilst studying in Italy I came across the Volturi, they are the most dominant vampire coven, they have ruled for centuries-" I felt rude, but I just had to cut him off.

"They've ruled? As in like kings and queens? Vampires have leaders?" My questions made it obvious that I found this piece of information completely weird and absurd. An actual coven of vampires that ruled over all others?

"I guess you could say that. They are led by three vampires named Aro, Caius and Marcus. I had never come across anything like them before, the only other coven I had seen, had been the ones that attacked me centuries before, this coven of course lived on human blood but were much more educated and refined. They wanted to convert me to human blood, but I refused, and they seemed to accept that though they found it strange. I spent around twenty years with them, learned their ways and rules before departing to the New World." He explained and I nodded absorbing the information. He had endured a very fulfilled life, though it was only expected with his eternal life span. 

"What are their rules?" I asked inquisitively.

"They are basic really, it's just to ensure the secret of vampires aren't exposed to humans. If they are broken it's punishable by death. We have to hope the Volturi don't find out about you, who knows what their decision would be surrounding a half immortal. Especially with how you were created, the Quileutes could be slaughtered to ensure no more of you are created." He said seriously and I nodded quickly. I'd never let my secret out.

"Let's change the subject." I laughed lightly though slightly awkwardly. I didn't want to meet the Volturi. "What happened after you came to America?"

"I became a doctor." He smiled triumphantly before continuing. "It made me happy helping people, though I still wasn't fully satisfied with life. I wanted a friend, a companion, a lover even. Someone to share my value for human life and someone whom I could share my knowledge and life with. I thought about changing someone myself but hated the idea of cursing someone to the same life as myself."

"I thought you changed Edward though?" I asked clearly confused.

"I did. In 1918, I was working night shifts in a Chicago hospital during the Spanish influenza epidemic. I was tending to a dying women named Elizabeth Masen and her son, Edward, was close to death too. She begged me to do anything in my power to save Edward, and out of loneliness and after finding out that Edward would be alone in the world after his mother's death, I changed him. We then began travelling together, Edward taking the role of my late wife's younger brother." Carlisle explained with a soft smile. Edward was his first friend, no wonder their bond was so strong.

"How did you come to meet the others?" I wanted to know everything about this amazing family, all their knowledge and all their history.

"Not long after, in 1921, we moved to Ashland, Wisconsin, where I was called to the bedside of a dying woman. It turned out to be Esme, she suffered injuries from a failed suicide attempt spurred by the loss of her child. I changed her into a vampire to save her life. I couldn't let such a beautiful woman leave this earth when I could do something to save her. I explained to her what I had done to save her. To my complete surprise, she was not upset by what I had done, and we soon fell in love and married. The whirlwind romance she said she had only ever dreamed about." If vampires could blush, he would be doing so right now. Despite my happiness for them both, my heart ached for Esme. How terrible for her.

"In 1933 I turned Rosalie. I found her in the street dying after she had been abused by her fiancé. I had hoped she would have become Edward's mate, but they never had any attraction to one another so acted as siblings. In 1935, whilst Rosalie was out hunting, she found a young man named Emmett McCarty who had been viciously mauled by a bear." I couldn't help the smile that etched onto my face, no wonder they were so in love. She saved him. "She carried him over one hundred miles back to me to be changed. And in 1951, Mary Alice Brandon and Jasper Whitlock joined us. Alice and Jasper met in Philadelphia in 1948 and sought us out based on Alice's visions." He explained smiling brightly. "And now we have you." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders to hug me into his body. 

"I guess everyone came to you quite quickly compared to how long you had been alone for." I commented looking up at him as I hugged him back.

"Yes, and I couldn't be happier." He grinned as we pulled away from our hug. "Now, you must be hungry after hearing my life story." 

"It was very interesting. I would like to hear more stories but you're right, I'm hungry." I agreed with a laugh as Carlisle led us out of the room, shutting the door behind us.

We continued down the corridor and ascended the stairs that brought us to the middle floor of the house. We turned towards the main living area where Rosalie and Emmett were cuddled up on one of the couches, Jasper and Alice were playing a game of chess and Esme was sat at the kitchen counter with her laptop.

"Where's Edward?" I asked Carlisle after my eyes flitted around the room noticing he was the only family member missing.

"He's sulking." Alice answered over her shoulder before Carlisle could respond.

"Why?" Rosalie asked turning in her seat to look at Alice.

"Because of the Bella incident and he thinks it's his fault for Aria's transformation." Alice said nonchalantly as Rosalie groaned and cursed under her breath.

"Really?" She asked rhetorically before standing up from her seat and charging out the room. My guess was to go find Edward.

"Come on let's get you some food." Carlisle insisted, placing a hand on my back to shuffle me along to the kitchen. "What would you like?" He asked me as I took a seat beside Esme.

"Hello sweetheart." She smiled sweetly at me, briefly shifting her eyes from her laptop screen.

"Hello." I smiled back before answering Carlisle's question. "Whatever you're willing to make, I guess this is the only field you'll need practise in." I joked and he smiled and chuckled lightly.

"I guess you're right there." He acknowledged before tuning away towards the fridge.

I turned to Esme, glancing at her computer screen. I was slightly surprised to see a 3D computerised design of a bedroom. "I didn't know you liked interior design?" I asked, scooting closer to get a better look.

"It's just something I picked up along the way." She beamed proudly. "Do you like it?" She asked me, turning the screen so I could have a better look.

"Yes! It's beautiful." I said enthusiastically and she giggled.

"It's going to be your room." She admitted and my eyes widened drastically.

"No way!" She handed the laptop over to me so I could get a better look.

The main theme of the room was a slate grey colouring with silver accents. As if I'd be walking into the room, I'd be faced with a wall with a door directly in front of me, Esme notified me that would be my closet, that part would of course be designed by Alice. I'd continue down a wide corridor with shelves all the way along which I could fill with whatever I had collected over my lifetime. At the end of the corridor there was a corner which opened up onto my bedroom. Along the right-hand wall was a huge dressing table with an extravagant mirror set above it. A little further along the wall was a plush sofa and armchair around a coffee table, set to see the view of the forest out of the window. Of course the wall directly in front of me was completely made of glass. In the middle of the room was a huge California king sized bed that was pushed up against the outside wall of the closet. The left hand wall of the room was completely made up of a mirror and in the back corner of the room was an ensuite.

"This is all just for me?" I asked completely amazed. I was never going to leave my room, maybe I could even install a mini fridge in there...

"Of course, you're one of us now remember. It's only fair that we treat you that way." Esme gushed, hugging me in to her side.

"Thank you, really." I said seriously, looking between her and Carlisle.

"No, thank you." Carlisle joined in our conversation as he stirred the pot of water and pasta over the stove.

I was about to ask why but Esme finished for him. "It's nice to care for someone that's still human." She smiled warmly at me before her eyes turned sad. "Someone who still needs looking after." She still grieves her child.

"I'm sorry Esme." I took her hand reassuringly as her eyes peaked over to Carlisle now knowing that he told me.

"I was telling Aria my story." Carlisle informed her and she nodded slowly.

"Well, I guess it's only fair you learn mine too." She smiled warmly, patting the top of my hand that held hers. "Well, I was born in 1895 on a farm just outside Columbus, Ohio. I was a joker, often getting told off for my pranks and my mischievous nature. My mother hated it, said I wasn't lady like." She said with a smirk, what could her mother have expected though when being brought up on a farm. I guess it was different times though.

"When I was sixteen, I did get myself into trouble. I fell out of a tree and broke my leg." She laughed lightly.

"Guess someone should have listened to their mother." Carlisle added patronisingly without looking up from the stove.

"Excuse me! If it wasn't for me doing that we wouldn't have met." She gasped though there was a smile pulling at her lips.

"Hey, you didn't tell me you met Esme before!" I scolded Carlisle as well, playing along with a giggle.

"I wanted to see if Esme would mention it." He smiled endearingly as he leant across the counter to kiss her.

"Anyway," Esme continued with a smirk. "We got on very well and I never forgot him. He was such a gentleman. However, life went on and I decided that once I was old enough, I would move west to become a schoolteacher. My dream was short lived when my parents pressured me to stay and marry, so in an attempt to make my parents happy, I married when I was 22." Carlisle then reached over to grasp Esme's hand tightly as her face sunk. 

"It didn't take me long to realise that Charles was an abusive man. I told my family, but they told me to keep quiet and I had no choice but to live through it. A few months after the wedding he got drafted to fight in World War One and I was safe from his violence and was able to relax. I was happy for a while until he returned in 1919, and it didn't take long for me to find out I was pregnant. I didn't want to raise my child in a home like that, so I ran. He eventually found me, so I ran again." She paused for a moment, the light draining from her face as she stared down at the worktop. "There were complications after the birth... he was diagnosed with lung fever. He died at two days old." I gasped as my hand flew up to cover my mouth. Of course, Carlisle had told me she had lost her child but at just two days old was tragic.

"Esme I am so sorry." I placed my hand over her cold one and squeezed it.

"It's okay, dear. I have come to terms with it." She placed her hand over mine and smiled warmly at me before looking back up at Carlisle. "I was in a bad place after he died, I felt like I no longer had any reason to keep on living." She paused again, sadness briefly crossing over her face. "Carlisle told me, after I awoke from the change, that the other doctors didn't even try to help me and sent me straight to the morgue. Carlisle changed me seeing there was no hope for me as a human." 

I glanced at Carlisle, and he was smiling down into the pot of pasta and cheese sauce he was stirring. "What are you smiling at?" I asked curiously, the way he described turning someone made me think he'd be feeling slightly guilty about it.

"He just likes that I remembered him, and that I was happy to see him." Esme answered instead, waving Carlisle off.

"And then they fell in love the end!" Alice's loud voice suddenly burst into my eardrums as she appeared beside me. "Let's go try more clothes on!" She beamed excitedly and my only response was to glare at her. 

"Aria still needs to eat, Alice." Carlisle reminded her as he handed me my bowl and Alice huffed.

"Thank you." I said to Carlisle before turning back to Alice. "I'm not trying on anything else today. Hey, shouldn't you be at school anyway?" I asked, taking a mouthful of my pasta.

"Edward wants to put some distance between us and Bella..." Alice drawled out meekly, a huge contrast in tone compared to thirty seconds ago.

"Why?" I asked with my eyebrows furrowed, my mouth full.

"You'll have to go ask him." Alice shrugged and I nodded before speeding off towards Edward's room, my hands grasping my bowl of food tightly. 

As I suddenly stopped in front of Edward's door, it opened, revealing a very depressed, black-eyed Edward. "You look horrible." I tried to joke with him, but his face kept it's hard exterior, I guess his conversation with Rosalie earlier didn't go well. "Can I talk with you?"

"I already know what you're going to ask." He lamented; his eyes boring into mine darkly.

"Well answer my question then." I provoked him, raising an eyebrow at him and placing a hand on my hip.

"She needs distance from us. It's too dangerous at the moment." He admitted sullenly and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I could see him tense up at my action, he was becoming irritated with not knowing what I was thinking.

"We have already established I am not a threat." I snapped, pointing at myself.

"I didn't mean you." He snapped back, mimicking my tone. "I meant vampires in general. Victoria mostly." He added, his expression mellowing slightly into sadness instead of anger.

"Oh, but how does not knowing what Bella is doing help keep her safe?" I didn't understand his reasoning.

"Alice watches her." He spoke evenly as my eyes pierced into him.

"But surely it's better for Bella to be near you-" He cut me off sharply. I jumped and stepped back at the sudden loudness of his voice. 

"I am not discussing this any further!" He seethed before slamming the door in my face.

I knew it was best to leave him to his own devices as this point. There was nothing I could do to ease the mood. I supposed me being related to Bella didn't help the situation either. I turned and made my way back down the stairs to join the rest of the family again.

I spent the rest of the day with Carlisle and Esme, hearing more of their stories from over the centuries. After dinner that evening I gave into Alice again, allowing her to dress me up like her doll into the early hours until I had tried on every possible outfit. I thought I might as well get it over with.

The morning after Esme went out with Rosalie to buy supplies for my new bedroom and by the afternoon, we were already painting the walls slate grey, it was a beautiful colour. I didn't notice until the sun hit the drying paint that there was glitter mixed into it. The room must have looked like there was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling with the sparkles coming from the wall, Rosalie, and Esme. The subtle glow on my skin was hardly noticeable. 

Edward and Alice hadn't gone to school again and Edward had remained locked up in his bedroom since I left him yesterday. Esme was worrying and Emmett tried to get me to read Edward's mind, but I refused not wanting to invade his privacy.

He finally emerged late afternoon, asking us all to gather in the lounge. He looked even worse than he did yesterday. I took a seat in between Rosalie and Jasper before we waited for him to begin.

"We have to leave." His voice was weak but certain. What did he mean by they have to leave? I couldn't leave, I needed to stay here for my family.

"Are you serious!" Rose spat furiously, shooting up from her seat beside me. Her face was pure rage. 

"Yes, I'm serious." Edward spoke calmly and this only seemed to aggravate her more.

"Are you stupid? I'm not packing up my life here just for some human." She snarled, shoving him back harshly leading to Carlisle standing quickly to get between them, though Edward didn't look like he was going to retaliate.

"Rose, calm down." He said sternly and she ripped herself from Carlisle's grasp before joining me back on the couch. "Why have you decided this? It needs discussing-" 

"No. I can't take being here anymore. It has caused too much damage." He said, this time looking directly at me.

"I told you I'm fine." I insisted, not wanting to be the reason for this.

"And I told you it wasn't just because of you!" He was blunt and Esme warned him about his rudeness. "Bella has been in too much danger over the past year and I cannot let it continue. My love for Bella has caused too much trouble, ruined lives," he addressed me again, "it's not right. I made a mistake. Victoria is still out there and us leaving will help protect Bella and Aria, she'll be drawn away." 

I didn't know what to say and it seemed like the rest of the family didn't have a clue either. The stunned silence was deafening as we all looked at Edward with disbelief. "Are you sure?" Carlisle asked hesitantly and Edward nodded. "Let's go talk." Carlisle then motioned for Edward to lead the way out of the room, and only a few seconds later they disappeared into the forest. 

"Everyone, just remain calm please." Esme began but I was lost inside my head. I needed them here, I couldn't leave, I couldn't disappear and leave my family or Jake. What would my mother say if she found out I left Dad's. What cover story would I use? 

"What do I do?" I said quietly amongst the commotion that was leaving Rose's mouth. She hated Bella and this gave her another reason to.

"Come with us of course." Alice said nonchalantly as if it was an easy decision for me to make.

I stared at her completely dumbfounded. How could she expect that from me?

"Alice," Esme called for her attention and shook her head gently. "Aria still has her family here. Sweetheart, so much has happened to you in the last few days, I know this is all new and you need us, but I think you should stay." Esme's opinion shocked me, we had such a connection I thought she would want me to go with them.

"What?" I breathed.

"You could come visit once we get settled wherever we go. Join us in around ten years' time when you look too young for your age. Alice will keep an eye on you to make sure you're safe. If we leave it won't be the last time you'll see us." Esme tried to reassure me, but I felt like I was completely torn. 

I needed them to learn from, to go to when my vampire hating family become too much for me, but on the other hand I couldn't leave my family. I couldn't disappear.

Carlisle's footsteps then sounded through the house, and we waited until he appeared in the doorway. "It's happening. Edward has gone to tell Bella we are leaving." Carlisle said quickly as Esme joined his side. "Go and pack your things, only what's essential, we must leave tonight." He cautioned and I felt like all the air had been sucked out my lungs. Tonight?

"This is bullshit!" Rose practically screamed, jumping up from her seat and speeding out the room, Emmett cautiously following after her. 

"What am I meant to do?" I asked quietly, Esme obviously wanted me to stay here but Carlisle might think I have to go with them.

"Aria, we want you to spend as much time with your family as possible. To tear you away from them now wouldn't be fair. We won't tell you where we are going, and we won't contact you for risk of Bella finding out. If anything goes wrong however, Alice will see ahead of time, and we will come straight to you." Carlisle said calmly, coming to take the spare seat next to me. Tears began to sting at my eyes as I took in the possibility of not seeing the family I had grown so close to the past few days.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything you have done for me." I acknowledged, looking at all of them.

"We will always be here for you." Esme added placing her hand on my shoulder.

"How do I act normal?" This was my fear, what about my eyes and my powers. How would I deal with Bella?

"Just be yourself, remember your contacts. I'll make sure to send more to your house every few months." Alice offered and I nodded. "We'll leave you a key to come and go as you please. You can take some of your clothes home with you tonight." She added patting my knee and giving me a reassuring smile. I didn't want to go home yet; I was still nervous around them.

"Thank you again, I guess everyone better get packing." I said hesitantly, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. Everyone gave me a sympathetic smile as they left the room, they knew how scared I was with the thought of going home. "Don't you need to pack too?" I asked Carlisle when I noticed that he didn't leave the room like everyone else.

"I just wanted to tell you what the story will be." He explained before continuing. "I've been offered a job in a different state and had to leave immediately for this opportunity. Edward doesn't want a specific place mentioned in case Bella tries to find us. When he gets back, he'll explain some things to you and then we'll part ways. I know it's all very quick and rushed but Edward feels that this is best for Bella and you." 

"I know and I understand. I'm just sad to see you all go." I admitted standing from the couch. "I guess I better go pack some clothes to take home."

"Alright then, I better ring the hospital." We parted ways as he made his way to his study and I to Alice and Jasper's room to pack the few items I had brought here.

Edward arrived back home about an hour after he told us the news looking completely heartbroken. God knows how Bella was handling it. Alice came over to tell me he was waiting for me outside.

"Aria I just want to start off with saying how sorry I am." He began, the harshness from before long gone, his face now the epitome of guilt. "If I hadn't fallen for Bella and been selfish to not allow her to live a normal life none of this would be happening. Victoria wouldn't be after us and you would be..." He stopped looking at me painfully. 

"Edward, everything happens for a reason. This happening to me may not be what I planned but I'll have to go along with it. I'm glad I'm now a part of this world and that I have you and your family to help me." I smiled gently, pulling him into a hug which he returned.

"Thank you for making it seem less painful." He let out a small smile before continuing. "But we are leaving. It's the only way to keep Bella and you safe. You'll still be here to protect her, but she can't know the true reason as to why we are leaving, and you must not tell her. You have to ensure she doesn't do anything reckless." He said seriously and I nodded despite knowing this will be breaking her entirely. 

"I promise." I gave him a small smile before my bottom lip began to wobble and I bit it to stop it. It just suddenly hit me that I'm not going to see these people again for a very long time and even if it has been only a few days I had grown attached. I was one of them and I needed their help. 

"Aria don't cry." He said bringing me back into his arms. "This is what's best. For both of you." I nodded against his chest as he rubbed my back. "We will see each other again. Despite only knowing you for a short while and you being exposed to our life for only a few days I still think of you as a sister." 

We hugged for a little longer before going back to the house where I was pulled into Esme's arms. "I'm going to miss you; I've never had a daughter I could cook for. To still mother." Esme could never replace my mom, but I will still think of her as a mom. She is the mother of my adoptive family. "Just remember to be safe okay and stay out of trouble." She held my face in her hands before kissing my forehead. 

Alice pulled me into a hug next. "Remember my fashion tips. God knows what you're going to be dressed like in ten years' time." She laughed and I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'll be watching you so be good." 

Before I could respond I was flung up into the air and into Emmett's arms. "Gonna miss you kiddo, I was looking forward to having a newborn around to mess with." He spun me around before placing me back on the ground.

"I would have owned you." I joked, doubting that statement completely.

"I doubt it." He laughed cockily as Rosalie pulled me in for a hug.

"It was nice to have a normal sister if only for a few days." She smirked and I laughed lightly, not entirely sure if she was joking or not.

Jasper was next, hugging me quickly before regaining his composure. "I have never been more impressed by a newborn. But just remember, if anything changes you know what to do." He warned seriously.

"I promise." I confirmed before Carlisle was the last one to say goodbye to. "I'll miss learning your stories." I mumbled into his chest as I hugged him.

"We'll both have plenty to tell in ten years' time." He rubbed my back as I held in the tears.

"Thank you for making me feel so welcome and looking after me. I'll miss you all so much." I addressed all of them, the tears filling my eyes.

"Oh sweetie, we'll miss you too." Esme gave me a small smile before hugging me again.

The family walked me to my car before waving me off, all standing in front of the place they had called home for only three years. I don't think they even knew where they were going to live next, Edward's rash decision had shocked them.

When I got home, I sat in the car for a few moments trying to think of how I would tell my family the Cullens had left, I had to try to remain calm. No doubt some of the tribe would have some nasty comments about them.

I looked up at the house, the porch lights illuminating the front of the house in the darkness. Dad and Jesse were home, I could smell their scents and hear their voices from inside the house. They were loud and agitated until suddenly Jesse burst through the front door, his body obviously relaxing when he saw my car.  

"Hey what's wrong?" I asked, quickly, jumping out the car and jogging over to him.

"Thank God you're okay." He pulled me into his arms swiftly, my own stuck to my sides and he held me.

"What?" I was completely confused; he knew I was at the Cullens'.

"Bella's gone missing. We thought they may have taken you as well." Jesse said quickly, turning to call Dad out of the house.

"What! No." This was my fault; I should have gone straight to her after leaving the Cullen house. "The Cullens have left, yes, but Bella didn't go with them Jesse." I tried to explain quickly, I couldn't give them another easy option to blame the Cullens. 

"What?" His serious expression became mixed with questioning.

"They left because they felt it was wrong for Bella to be involved in their lifestyle, they left her so she could lead a normal life." I explained just as Dad was exiting the house.

"The Cullens left Dad." Jesse said with a slight pang of joy in his tone.

"With Bella?" Dad asked furiously.

"No, she's gone on her own, most likely to try and find them-" I began but Jesse held his hand up stopping me.

"Wait, wait, wait... you're saying the Cullens left in order to help Bella? Those selfish bloodsuckers! They bring you into their mess and then disappear once they've realised their mistake." He spat, his body shaking fiercely.

"No, Jesse it's not like that." I tried to reason with him but Dad intervened.

"That's enough for now, we'll discuss this later, but right now we need to get to Charlie's."

The drive over was stupidly tense and silent. I had expected more questions from my family members but they remained quiet. I wasn't really in the state of mind to answer questions anyway, my focus was on Bella. Maybe I could sneak away from the crowd and go track her scent, I really hoped Victoria wasn't still hanging round.

The search party was immense for such a little town, but I guess that's the effort people put in for the chief's daughter. We had to park a little way down the street due to the amount of police cruisers blocking the road. Everyone had torches in their hands as they gathered around maps that were laid out across car bonnets. Jesse had left us just before we reached the crowd, running off into the woods where he said Sam was searching with Paul. As my dad and I jogged towards the house, Jake came into view and it was like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. I hadn't realised how much I had missed him.

His eyes caught mine, his face lighting up completely as he stepped around Billy to run to me. When Billy saw where he was going he scowled angrily, I hated that Billy hated me now, he had been like my second father growing up.

"Aria, oh my god." Jake scooped me up into his arms, holding me tightly against him. "I've missed you." He said into my hair.

"I missed you too." I felt the tears prick at my eyes but I blinked them away. We had to find Bella.

We separated from each other and he took my hand before leading me back to the group he was standing with before. Uncle Charlie, Harry Clearwater, Billy and now my dad were all crowded around the bonnet of Uncle Charlie's cruiser. "What is it with the girls in this family going missing?" Charlie spoke frustratingly as I felt myself wince.

"Hey." Jake spoke in my ear from behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, I think he noticed my discomfort. I quickly spun around and wrapped my arms around his neck. "We'll find her don't worry." He spoke soothingly, kissing the side of my head. He didn't understand how guilty I felt, no one could. I leant my head against his chest avoiding the gazes from Billy and Harry.

"I'm going to try the Cullens' place again." Charlie said as he picked up his phone and began dialling.

"The Cullens left town Charlie." Dad said as Charlie pressed the phone to his ear. Jake tapped my shoulder in questioning and I nodded.

"Good riddance." Harry spat and my lips curled up into a snarl. How dare he knowing I'm here. Dad caught my eye telling me with his eyes to calm down.

"Where'd they go?" Charlie asked.

"We'll find her Charlie." Harry reassured.

"Thanks Harry." Uncle Charlie spoke just as I smelt Bella's scent fill my nose, as well as Sam's weird earthy one.

I shot round, bringing Jake with me, to see him carrying her from the forest line by Bella's house. "Charlie!" Jake said quickly gaining Charlie's attention. He sprinted towards them before gathering Bella in his arms.

"She's alright." Sam told him quickly as he passed Bella over.

"I've got her. Thank you Sam." He said before turning and walking back to us.

I watched as Sam looked to Harry and they nodded at each other. Sam's gaze then travelled over me, his face hard before he nodded again, and I returned it. I knew Jake was watching me probably as confused as anything. He then switched to Jake, a knowing look on his face. I looked up to Jake as well to see him swallow hard before looking down at me again. 

"Come on Blue let's go." He pulled me along with him away from Sam and back to the group. 

What just happened? 

Uncle Charlie had already made his way into the house with Bella, the rest of us filing in after him to see if she was okay. He placed her down onto the couch in the living room, the words "he's gone" tumbling out of her mouth over and over again in a quiet desperate cry. 

Sam, Jesse, Paul and Jared then entered the room, the people from Forks all staring at the four large men in amazement as they looked completely cramped in the small Swan living room. "Excuse me, please." A small, round-faced man made his way around my brother and his friends and over to the couch where Bella laid. Dr. Gerandy was a well-known doctor about town, and I guess the best one around now that Carlisle had gone. 

"Do you know where the Cullens have gone?" Uncle Charlie asked as the doctor checked Bella's vitals. 

"He was offered a better position at another hospital. Must have been for good money to leave so suddenly." He shrugged as he stepped away from Bella. "She's completely fine." He was unsure about the word fine due to Bella's current mental state, she was still mumbling those same two words. 

"Aria, could you hand me that blanket from behind you?" Uncle Charlie asked and at the mention of my name, Bella bolted upright suddenly, making us all jump. 

I grabbed the blanket quickly and moved towards Bella, wrapping it around her to warm her up. Her skin was like ice. "They left." She stated, her eyes dark and dim as she clasped onto my hands. 

"They left." I confirmed, her eyes welling with tears. We had everyone's attention, and I prayed that in her sadness she wouldn't say something stupid and expose us.  

"Are you going?" She sounded like a child, completely lost. 

"I'm staying." I promised her, pulling her into my arms to warm her up, my higher-than-average body temperature should help. "I think she needs to be less crowded." I said quietly to Uncle Charlie, hinting that the huge crowd of townsfolk needed to leave. My eyes scanned the room quickly only to find Ryan standing beside his dad. He smiled at me briefly but there was an irritation in his eyes. 

"Let's give Bells some space guys. Thank you for all your help." Charlie announced before trying to usher people out of the room. 

"Dad?" I called out and he stopped to look at me. "I think I'll stay here with Bella tonight." He nodded in understanding before leaving the house as well. Bella still clung to me by the time the house was empty, and it took both Charlie and I to get her up the stairs to her room. I could have done it myself, but I obviously wouldn't risk exposing myself.  

I laid awake that night as Bella laid passed out beside me, her tears and the stress had knocked her out for the night. I had to be prepared to deal with her devastation tomorrow. She'd most likely think it was all dream, I had to promise myself I would keep Edward's promise and keep her safe. If she ran away tonight after hearing the news, who knows what she'll risk in the weeks to come.