I was back in the forest. I felt the burning in my legs as I kept trudging forward, just making out the trees, and the occasional root. However, this time it forced me to the ground. Looking around me, all I saw was an eternal darkness, the forest that he left me in.

That . . . Edward had left me in.

Crawling into the fetal position on the cold dirt, I gripped my hair till my knuckles turned white, and I couldn't hold back my scream.

Jerking awake —I was torn out of my nightmare as my screams finally reached my ears, my breathing heavy and rapid. Forcing my eyes to stay open I found myself back in my room with its green walls, and the crickets playing softly in the background. I could feel the tears falling down the sides of my face as I tried to catch my breath, while my hand kept a firm grip on—a hand that wasn't Charlie's or my own.

Turning my head to the side I caught a pair of deep brown eyes staring back at me, and whatever emotion they held was quickly replaced with a gentleness that gave away the mystery of who would be in my bed in the middle of the night.

"What are you doing here?" I got out between my rasping breaths.

The sound of my blood rushing in my ears started to dim, and my mind began to ease as her smell, and warmth settled around me. There were only a few people that could calm me like this, and with a deep rooted trust—her hand gripped mine back. Lily.

Her eyebrows tilted down for a fraction of a second before a small smile graced her face.

"I felt like going for a drive. Well, my dad and I felt like going for a drive. He's down stairs with Uncle Charlie," she whispered to me.

Turning back around—the stillness of the moment began settling over us while the crickets sang.

Lils took a deep breath and I knew she was bracing herself to say something else. She was dancing around the issue; trying to gauge if talking was the right course. However, my silence spoke volumes.

Please don't say it. I'm not ready.

Thankful for whatever familial bond we have because she just breathed out again, and then went quiet. Cuddled up behind me, we both just laid there, two pale swans facing the dark.

This time when sleep started to claim me again—I didn't feel so alone.

The morning light streaming through the windows woke me, and giving a quick peak to the clock told me it was 9:34 a.m. Taking a deep breath I looked over my shoulder at the auburn mess that was my cousin's hair, still passed out next to me. I couldn't stop the smile that came over me, but it quickly fell away—the feeling foreign on my face.

Looking around my room, I couldn't believe how long I had slept.

Slipping out of bed, I decided to go and make breakfast for the Swan bunch before the she-monster woke up. Lily can be a grouchy redhead if not fed in the morning, and I owed it to her for being there last night.

Mixing the batter in the kitchen allowed me to zone out. However, I almost dropped the bowl I was prepping when I heard the slurping of someone taking a drink behind me.

Whipping around I couldn't stop the breathy laugh as I saw my Uncle Tom standing there with a mischievous smirk on his face as he was drinking his coffee, now silently.

"Jumpy Bella?" he questioned, smiling. "Sorry I really couldn't help myself."

Letting out another laugh—I walked over to him and gave him a rare hug.

My Uncle Tommy was a character. Whereas Charlie was calm and quiet, Uncle Tom was always full of laughter, a good dose of mischief, and like my cousin had a gentleness about him that you couldn't help but notice. Before I started to move back, he gave me another quick squeeze before pulling away.

Uncle Tommy was also a cop, but he worked for the local county Sheriff's Department in Shoreline, outside Seattle, and for the life of me I couldn't see him with that stern cop face that Charlie wears when on the job.

"How you holding up, kid?"

"I'm fine, just fine."

Scoffing, followed by another small smirk. "Yeah okay I'll accept that for now, I don't mess with people who handle my food. It's a rule."

On cue I heard the shuffling of my cousin and the firm steps of Charlie walking towards the kitchen. Getting back to mixing the batter, I shot my Uncle a look—mixed between amused and well amused.

Lily walked in with her hair actually tamed and pulled back into a messy bun, still sporting her neon green Relay shirt and purple plaid pajama pants, with Charlie right on her heels.

Standing at five-foot five, Lily looked a lot like me, but in the way people would compare sisters—they know there's blood relation, but there's some subtle differences that set us apart. We did share a few things in common like her deep brown eyes, pale skin and of course the light freckles running across her nose. However, unlike me, Lils definitely inherited her mother's slightly larger bust. Which oddly enough, is one of the reasons for one of my fondest memories.

My crazy mother, Rene taking us to get Lily's first training bra when she was 12-years-old, with a very reluctant Uncle Tommy being dragged behind.

Letting out a slight laugh at the memory. I finished up frying the pancakes, and looked back at my small family settling around the table.

I've always been close with Lily, whenever I would come to Forks my Uncle would bring my cousin to stay with me or as we got older, and I decided I didn't want to spend my summers here, she would fly to Phoenix. Rene wanted Lily and I to have a relationship, just as much as my dad and Uncle Tommy wanted it.

Finishing up the pancakes, I turned off the stove, and made my way to the table.

"Pancakes are done," I announced as I set down the food.

Quickly grabbing a fork Uncle Tommy slapped three on my plate and three on Lily's, before helping himself. "Well it's about time, Chef Swan-"

"Well I'll just get my own food then," Charlie interjected. "Thanks Tommy," he continued, dry sarcasm dripping off of every word.

"No problem Chief, you know me—always helping others," Uncle Tom said, followed by him taking an unbelievable mouthful of food.

Poking at my own food, I let out a light laugh at my cousin who was gearing up to comment.

"Wow, dad that's . . . disgusting." Gesturing with her fork at her dad's stellar eating habits. She gave me a quick smirk as she continued, "It gets better with age, wouldn't you agree Bells?"

"Famous bachelors . . . women just don't know what their missing, huh Tommy?" Charlie teased.

"And I'm officially ending this conversation," Lily said laughing.

Uncle Tommy was trying and failing not to spit his food out while laughing at his brother's comment.

For a moment the empty pit that opened when he left seemed to lessen, if only for a moment. I loved my family, but I felt a cold realization—I could never go back. The world—for me was forever changed. And my good mood quickly fell back down. I wondered if I would ever feel whole again?

Months Later…

Sitting next to Jasper and Alice as the meeting between pack and coven ended I still couldn't help but feel conflicted. I just wanted Edward, Jacob, and well just about everyone else away from the possibility of death and violence.

I was torn from my thoughts as my phone started ringing—looking at the caller ID Charlie's name glared across the screen. I quickly picked up.

"Hey dad."

Charlie's breathing was heavy and before he spoke, his breathing hitched.

"Dad? Are you okay?" I asked fearfully.

Standing up I looked up at Edward, who in the next second was right in front of me looking down at me with concern.

Everything fell away as Charlie struggled to get out that my Uncle Tommy had been killed in what they assume so far, was an animal attack.

"Bells . . . he's gone and they . . . they found Lily a few miles away unconscious, with a pretty bad head wound." Taking a deep breath he continued, "They had gone camping not far from the shore with some friends. So far Lily is the only survivor. And Bells . . . I need you to come home," he rushed out.

The forest fell away as tears clouded my vision and I struggled to breath. The news was sinking in. My Uncle Tom, my goofy, sweet Uncle, was dead—murdered, and my cousin Lily was hurt. Edward took the phone from my hand and started speaking with Charlie. I couldn't focus on what was being said, as the implications of what this meant really hit me.

Looking up at Edward as he hung up the phone.

"An animal attack?" I whispered, doubt clouding my voice.

And by the look on his face and the clenching of his jaw—he didn't believe that it was an animal attack either. I'm the reason my cousin is hurt and now orphaned. And my Uncle Tommy—he's gone.

The last thing I remember was feeling Edward's arms around me as the world went dark.

Mandatory disclaimer: Everything in the Twilight Universe—Twilight, and its characters belongs to Stephenie Meyer. Similarities to the original characters or themes from the movies and/or books are used on here for entertainment purposes only. No profit is being made. No infringement intended.

All I claim is the made up OC, Lillian (Lily/Lils).

A/N:

This is my first FF and after years of reading some really awesome stories I'm attempting the first of my own. So please be gentle if you feel tempted to review this and any corrective criticism on grammar, spelling, or if something just sounds awkward would be helpful.

Feedback is appreciated!

This story starts out in New Moon when Edward leaves Bella and then jumps into the Eclipse storyline after Bella graduates, and the wolves are watching the Cullen's get ready for the newborns. The first chapter is in Bella's POV and is meant to introduce her cousin Lily and Bella's Uncle Tommy.

I will try to stay as canon as possible to the characters. Thanks for reading.