Chapter One: An Unexpected Reunion

Edward Cullen sighed as he stared up at his bedroom’s ceiling. His family had recently moved to Chicago, yet this house was already so eerily familiar to Edward. This was the house he had been born in, in the year 1901. He was the red headed, green-eyed, only child of Edward and Elizabeth Masen then, instead of the red headed, golden-eyed, adopted son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen.

It doesn’t sound so strange when you say it like that… Edward mused. People tend to scream and run away when you add in that the year was 2034, and that the entire Cullen family, adopted children included, were vampires. Edward sighed again as a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Edward?” Esme’s soft voice asked. “Your sister would like to inform you that you’re going to be late for school if you don’t move soon.” Edward sat and smiled sadly at Esme.

“Thanks, Mom.” Esme smiled in return as she sat next to Edward on the bed.

It still makes me so happy when you call me that. Edward already knew that. It had taken him the longest to accept Esme as his mother. It was hard not to accept Esme as a mom once you knew her. She was warm and inviting to everyone, and wanted her children to be happy.

She loved Bella almost as much as I do… Edward grimaced at the name. Even Twenty-nine years apart couldn’t stop the love he had for Isabella Swan.

Esme patted his hand lovingly. Thinking of her again?

“You can read minds too now?” Edward attempted to joke.

I know the look of pain, and I hate seeing it on my children’s faces.

Edward hung his head. “She’s moved on by now… almost 50. Probably has a career and a Husband by now, probably a child or two in college… She’s better off this way, human, alive.”

Edward… He brushed away Esme’s concern and stood.

“I need to get going. Don’t want to make the others late.”

Esme nodded and dropped the subject, but Edward could still hear her thoughts as he raced to the garage. He hasn’t been complete since we left. His eyes stung, even though tears would never come. He felt a wave of peace as he entered the garage, and sent Jasper a grateful nod.

Any time, little brother.

As the new black Mercedes pulled out of the garage, Edward glanced at the ancient silver Volvo that he refused to part with. Esme was right. He hadn’t been complete since leaving Forks, and he never would be again.

“I am Marie Dwyer.” Bella Swan repeated over and over in her head. It was a routine that she had to repeat about every four years or so, on the first day of class. Each time there was a new name, a new identity, a new story. She couldn’t have anyone know where she was. Renee still looked for her, and she knew that Jacob would never give up, but she couldn’t have them know what she had become. It would put her mother in danger, and it would make her best friend her sworn enemy. The bell for class rang, and another year at St. Benedict High School began.

Bella Swan sat in the back of the classroom, trying fruitlessly to hide from amazed stares. She watched as her fellow students filled in, the new faces interrupted by two familiar faces. Two faces that she could never forget, and wondered if she was imagining them. She blinked hard but when she reopened her eyes still saw them sitting there, turned around to stare at her with the same questions. One was a tall young man with honey blonde hair, and confused golden eyes. He was muscular but lean, and covered in silver crescent shaped scars, invisible to the human eye. His companion was a small pixie-like girl with short black hair, and golden eyes that matched the man’s. But unlike her partner’s the girls eyes were glazed over with what Bella knew was a vision. Alice and Jasper! Shaking her head and still not believing them to be there, she turned to the front again as the teacher called roll. Sure enough the first name on the roll was Cullen, Alice. And farther down was Hale, Jasper. Unbelievable! Is he here then too? Again shaking her head to clear her mind, she tried to pay attention as the teacher passed out a few first day papers and dismissed the class for the day. She raced as quickly as she dared out of the classroom and into a storage room, knowing that Alice would follow.

It was only a few moments later that Bella found herself wrapped between two small but strong arms. She sighed happily as she wrapped her arms around her best friend after a long separation. She was happy to see them, Alice and Jasper, but she couldn’t help but drift back to him. A wave of calm covered the small room and Alice let go of Bella reluctantly. “Thank you, Jasper…” He nodded his head, many questions obviously on his mind.

“Bella?” Alice asked, staring into Bella’s identical golden eyes.

“You’re the only ones who know now… Everyone else thinks I’ve run away.” The room fell silent as she let that information sink in.

“When did this happen? How…?” Alice asked.

“A year after you left… Victoria wanted revenge for James.” For the longest time those names had been impossible for her to even think of without cringing, but she was comfortable with what she was now.

“You’ve been alone since then? For twenty-five years?” Jasper asked, his voice still having a bit of an accent.

Bella nodded. “I’ve run into other vampires of course, over the years, but none that shared our… outlook on things.”

Alice threw her arms around Bella again. “Oh Bella! I’m so sorry! We should have never left you!” Memories of that day came back full force, memories that she had long ago pushed to the back of her head. She cringed in Alice’s arms before another calm wave passed through her.

“It wasn’t your fault.” She comforted Alice.

“We have to tell the others! Bella you have to come over tonight! Esme would love to see you!” Alice jumped around with excitement, but Bella could only think of one thing. As much as she would love to see the others, along with them came him, and she couldn’t handle that right now.

“Alice, I don’t think that tonight will work…”

Alice looked devastated. “But…” Jasper silenced her with a glance. Bella watched as they shared a conversation with their eyes like only a married couple could. Alice’s eyes widened with understanding before turning back to Bella and taking her hands.

“He won’t be their… I’ll see to that. Rosalie can take him out hunting. We won’t even let him know you’re here if you would prefer that.” Bella nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

“We’ll pick you up around five!” Alice said happily as the bell rang.

“How will you keep this from him?” Alice and Jasper exchanged a smile.

“We have our ways of keeping things from him.”

Hello everyone! I hit a road block with Love Remains the same again, but in the meantime this came to me. Hope everyone had a great new year!