That was an amazing story! Even with it not being finished? You left us at a good spot. (well a sad spot) but still realistic. Keep up the writing you have a great talent. Thank you for sharing.

Oh and I forgot to mention one more thing I really like about this story: no wolves! Soo good haha

I just found this story… it blew my mind! Thank you so much for writing this! Finally a NM AU where you can not only see how broken Bella is since the break up, but also a more realistic path that Victoria would have taken, Bella not being immediately accepting of Edward and the Cullens and real sibling bonds between the Cullens and Bella, as well as Carlisle and Esme coming off as real parental figures. I hope Bella finds herself and of course that she somehow can forgive Edward and find her way back to him, with them finally being happy again and thus the whole Cullen household being happy again in the end. I hope you are doing well and that you might consider continuing this until the end when or if you find the time. I cannot tell you how much I would look forward to thisYou are incredibly talented! Thank you for putting this story out there. Stay safe!

This story is brilliant.
I do hope you will gift us the remaining chapters
Thank you

I just came across this story and it drew me in. I spent all night reading it.. it's truly amazing and hoping someday it will be finished. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us.

This was great up to the point of the constant arguing apologizing and when Bella turned into grumpy Edward. Was very annoying.

I do hope you come back to this.

HIS IS FOR CHAPTER 20: Just read what I wrote and it needs to be re-worded. So this is my attempt to do just that.

Wow wow wow, talk about Deeeeprrrresssssiiiiinnnnnggggg. SMH. Seems kind of over the top. But if you are going for 'realism' you have done a better job than SM.

But where I believe you actually went over the top, to the point that I think you are forcing this state of depression and angst in your writing, is your portrayal of EXB mating bond. You have other people able to reach Bella in her depression and talk to her, all the while having her seemingly throwaway her relationship with Edward and their mating bond. When, to me, it should've been only him that is able to support her through this.

Why, because if the bond was so easily put aside, and ignored, then what Edward did in leaving was RIGHT! She would've been able to 'move on' then. Found other relationships. And that means to your story NOTHING THAT CAME BEFORE this chapter, MATTERS! You have effectively Erased everything you've written before this chapter. Because if the bond doesn't matter, or can be ignored, or broken then none of it matters! Not Edwards leaving, not his return, not her previous suffering, or what she went through with Charlie, or any smiles EXB had prior or since, NOTHING! Because it all existed and came about because of that Bond! ALL OF IT.

Her being saved, his pursuit of her, her love for him, his for her, her willingness to sacrifice her human life then, her willingness to try again after his return, ALL OF IT, was for the maintenance of the bond. The one you now want to ignore or dismiss, or throw away. Your writing seems to want a depressive atmosphere so much that, it overlooked the ONE THING, that should not have been overlooked. The EXB mating bond no matter how stretched should've been her ONLY ANCHOR POINT during her time of crisis. For it is written as the Alpha on Omega between all mated couples in the family. The real reason any of them do anything or suffer any situation. The bond first, and somewhere down the flag pole, the family link they all 'agree' to share. But the mating bond is first and foremost. Yet look what you have Bella doing. Especially after the change. Especially in her first days and weeks.

The ability you've made to allow a mate to push aside that bond so that they can wallow in unnecessary misery has written a rule to your universe that Negates everything that came prior. It is all meaningless. Or at best, means much much much less than it did before. They all might as well have regular disposable human relationships now. That's what you've done. You've made it ALL meaningless.

When Edward did it, he did it for the PROTECTION of his mate. To preserve her life. A selfless act, done out of LOVE. What the HELL is Bella doing it for? Who benefits? Who is protected?

Edward gets to have his guilt... sure that's his punishment. But in all his guilt he never lost sight of his love, and why he did what he did, and why at the time he believed it was the right thing to do. He did it all for Bella. Bella and the bond they shared. He was WRONG as all F*ck, and has to be made to pay and suffer for all that, but the Bond he shared and his love for her could at least be looked to as an anchor point for all his reasoning.

This Version of Bella doesn't have that. She is FORCING it off herself and doesn't want anything to do with Edward or anyone else. SHe just wants to WALLOW under the guise of 'finding herself'. And that just seems to me, like an author writing for the sole purpose of very FORCED angst and drama.

Just an opinion... others won't think so critically so don't worry. What's done is done.

Secondly... if Esme feels a certain way about Bella leaving... why doesn't she go with her? Apparently mating bonds only last as long as its first bit of struggle between couples in this version. LOL

Why doesn't Edward chase her where ever she goes... if letting go of her the first time was a mistake, how is letting go of her now prove to her or anyone that it wasn't wrong the first time? He should stick true to his vows and follow her to the ends of the earth. But your version of mating bonds means nothing so that act will mean nothing either i guess.

Why is the family ready to let Bella go, to wallow away in her depressive thoughts, and work on things by herself? Why are they agreeing to make the same mistakes? Don't they learn from mistakes? What are they going to do while Bella is away... go live on their happy lives? Seems like they are all 'running' again. Cowardly running, away from their failings and inability to deal, THEIR OWN FRESH MISTAKES WITH BELLA. Kind of the same reason Edward ran, yet, HE IS THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED? They ALL need to be punished. And staying and dealing with the situation, they FAILED to prevent, should be their punishment! The hypocrisy is THICK!

Third: They know she is a newborn, RIGHT? Mistakes Ahead, is surely written on the side of the package. Why aren't they doing more to help her. Why don't they share some of thier stories! Why is all that brain power in their heads only used to make one bad decision after the next? No one is thinking! SMH.

End of rant.

Thanks for the update. You know how to write that is for damn sure. Bravo to you! Loving the Author notes. Helps me get into your head.

Changes soon?
I’m wondering if Bella is going to become Emmett’s mate?

Hmm why is Bella sorry?

I was surprised it took them so long to wonder about Charlie and figure out that it was Victoria
They should also follow up on seeing what happened to Renee- she could be with Victoria being held hostage,
Also isn’t anyone in Forks wondering where Bella is?

Love the story, it’s very well written, I thought I have read every story in Fl but either I missed this or forgot I read it!
One question, Alice eludes to the thought that Bella had chosen death rather then immortality but was Bella given a choice? The Cullen left how could she have chosen?
Did I miss something?

Great fic, really enjoyed this!

One of the best fanfics the I read i all those years being a fan of twilight saga

Wow. This is what the story should have been if SM followed the world building she had originally laid. Very well written and equally heartbreaking.