| 23 |

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


Bella smiled, watching her daughter and her husband as they played the piano. The soft tinkling washed over her and for a moment it was so easy to forget the danger they were in.

Sensing Kate as she walked through the house was the only thing reminding her of the situation.

With her family in grave danger and Alice and Jasper gone, she was sure had she still been human she may have had some sort of mental break. Bella's face twisted slightly as she remembered the last time she'd completely given in and broken down.

Her unbeaten heart was filled with sadness as remembering that time no longer reminded her of Edward leaving, but of her sister coming home.

Tears she would never shed filled her eyelids as she loss hit her a thousand times harder in her newborn stage.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Edward grow incredibly tense. Carlisle appeared in the room instantly, staring at his son, worry in his expressions.

"What's going on?" She asked, standing and holding her hand out for Renesmee. As soon as she cradled her daughter, she wasn't as afraid.

"Are they friendly?" Carlisle asked softly.

Edward's tense posture relaxed and his alert expression softened as he smiled slightly.

"Bella, I believe it's for you." He said cryptically, eyes shining with love as they gazed into her own.

Bella frowned slightly, unsure of what to think. A soft and quiet knock on the door echoed through the Cullen home, so soft that only vampires could hear it.

Whoever was here knew what lay behind the door.

At a human pace, Bella walked down the stairs and to the door. The lack of heartbeat confirmed that they weren't human and so she took a deep breath, taking in a scent that seemed so familiar but she was unable to place it.

She pulled open the door, looking right into soft red eyes.

Instead of crashing to her knees like she thought she would, she fell right into her sister's strong and loving embrace.

"I'm home." Evelyn whispered, squeezing her sister so tight she would have crushed her in her human body.

V

"I thought you were dead, I got the phone call and then Alice couldn't see you and I..." She trailed off, seemingly still in disbelief that I was here.

I grinned and shook my head. "Can't get rid of me that easily, now are you gonna invite me in or am I gonna have to freeze out here?"

Bella smiled at my joke and moved aside, allowing me in.

Waiting for her to take point so I could follow, I realised she was still staring at me. I raised an eyebrow and waited for her to speak.

"Sorry, I just can't believe you're here. You're... different." She spoke, crinkling her nose, realising that 'different' was definitely the wrong word to use.

I laughed and looked her over. She was still my sister, but that scar on her chin was gone, replaced with perfect smooth marble.. She was glowing, confident in herself, more so than I think I had ever seen before.

"You're different too, this life suits you."

Grinning, she grabbed my arm and zoomed off. I laughed, doing my best to keep up.

As the family room came into focus, I was engulfed in a strong, but warm hug.

As I parted from Esme, Carlisle also came over.

"Welcome to the family." He said to me. I softly smiled back as my eyes trailed towards Rosalie and Emmett, whom I gave a small wave too.

Edward looked at me curiously and I knew he had already gathered why I was here. I ran through my painful and most recent memories so he would know all he'd need to.

He cringed, watching my thoughts as I was turned.

It was then, that a small body crept forward. I fixed my eyes on the immortal child I'd heard of. However, her beating heart and flushing blood was proof that the rumours were wrong.

Bella stepped forward, having noticed that I was staring at the child.

"It's okay, Bella." Edward interjected, having seen me go to extreme length to deny myself blood at the beginning of my inhuman life. "She can handle it."

Curious glances were exchanged around the room and I adjusted my stance, rolling the sleeves of my shirt up and crossing my arms so the white scars I had left on my own body were noticeable.

They were curious, but nobody spoke a word and Bella's protective posture became more relaxed.

The child approached me slowly, but unafraid and as she came closer, I began to notice some startling feature.

"You're right." Edward confirmed my thoughts just as this girl, my niece reached me.

Reaching up, she gently placed her hand on my cheek and suddenly I was thrown into what I came to realise were her memories.

Her birth. Bella's fragile face staring down at her as the light left her eyes.

Rosalie. Jacob.

Charlie.

I pulled myself away from her hand, staring at her in awe before I turned to Bella.

"Dad was here?" I knew that my pain was leaking through into my voice but I was so overwhelmed that I hardly cared.

She nodded, walking over to Edward.

"We were supposed to tell him that I got sick, that I didn't make it. But Jacob, he told Charlie that I was okay." Bella explained, eyes glancing to Jacob who stood in the corner of the room, glaring at me and my proximity to Renesmee.

I snarled low at him, surprising those around me that had known me before as I embraced what I was readily.

"Does he know?" I didn't need to elaborate.

Bella shook her head.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I relaxed a little knowing that Charlie was safe from the laws of Vampires.

"I guess we've got a lot to catch up on." I said, looking around at the family before me.

Warmth filled me as I became incredibly glad that I'd followed my heart and come home. It had been an instinct that I couldn't ignore. Even if it did come with a price.

I rubbed at the sore spot in my chest. The twinging was constant now, though faint, Caius had explained that until I was able to accept him fully, it wouldn't be too bad, on my end at least.

I felt a little guilty at the pain I was no doubt putting him through, but part of me felt justified for the way I was turned.

Besides, watching this family, I knew it was more than worth it.

Edward lifted his head to look at me and I nodded, giving him a small smile.

I'd fight for them, if it came to that. 

a/n: 

So, how was that? I was planning to reunite them and then make the time skips until we got to the clearing. However, this story is already coming to a close, I didn't want to make it any shorter. 

Anyway, this may be the last update for a few days or so. I'm going to be busy editing my podcast tomorrow and then I'm working all day Sunday. I also don't have my rota for next week yet so I could be working through til the weekend but we shall see. Hope you're all satisfied for now!

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net