Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's note:

So this is the sequel to Shooting the moon, it pretty much picks up where we last left off so hopefully no confusion.

Hope you enjoy it .

R & R

Xxx

Third person POV

Sandra and Jason Jules stood with tears in their eyes as the doctor pronounced their first child dead. As he covered her beautiful but battered face with a white sheet, they pondered if they were doing the right thing.

Holly had seemed so calm about her coming death and the letters they found she had written showed that she understood that her life was coming to an end. There were no regrets, no bitterness just acceptance and love.

As they said their last goodbyes to their daughter they wondered if the choice they had made was really what she would have wanted or if they were governed by their own selfish nature.

Refusing to let her go because it would hurt them too much.

Would she see eternal life as a blessing or a curse?

Would she want to live forever as an 18 year old never to see her friends again because they would think she died?

Never to go to university next September as she had been planning.

Never to have children and give them all the love she held inside her.

Was death really the better option for their daughter instead of what they had chosen for her?

Would the pain of losing everything cancel out the happiness of having the chance to live again?

Ashleigh meanwhile had no such thoughts, her mind was centred on how her sister would smile again. She didn't think of what the after effects may be. Whether or not her sister may have wanted to live forever, to never die or age or change. No, as always Ashleigh concentrated on herself and the benefits of having her sister with her. Never having to be put through the pain of losing her.

These were just some of the thoughts that kept the family silent as the doctors took Holly to the morgue. There would be no post mortem as the cause of death was known. To the doctors it was a fatal blood clot caused by a tragic road accident. To the family it was the bitter revenge of a mentally unstable teenage boy.

It had hurt Holly's parents to learn that their daughter had endured so much without complaint, without telling them about it. The phone call she had given them whilst in Bath had only hinted at the problem that really existed. Sandra cursed the fact that she had not noticed the fear in her daughter's voice when she told her of Jack and his 'pestering' whilst Jason held nothing but anger and blame for himself that he had been unable to protect her.

Carlisle and Edward had returned to their world whilst the Jules family came to terms with what was ahead of them. Carlisle knew that on some level they hadn't understood what they had asked him to do. Not really. They were just desperate to keep her with them. If it were just for them he would probably have refused, their reasons were not clearly thought out.

But the look on his first son's face when they had received the letters had made him resolute that he would do whatever he could to save the girl that had brought his son to life again. When they had stood in her hospital room and he saw Edward's sobs rip through him he knew that if this girl was lost forever he would never get Edward back from that. He would be left with an empty shell of the boy who had been his first companion. When Ashleigh told him to save her, he refused though he knew deep down he would. Part of him knew Edwards views on this life therefore he wouldn't change her unless he knew Edward wanted it too.

The moment Edward had decided, he knew that their family could still be saved from the pain of seeing Edward fall apart in front of them. They could still have a happy ever after.

* * * * *

The hour Holly was in the morgue at the hospital was the longest hour Jason had ever experienced. Ever since they made the decision to let Carlisle save her, he had been ticking down the minutes to when they could finally take Holly home. He was a little apprehensive at the idea of a secret portal within their home. Even more worried that Holly had been able to hide it from them, even introduce them to these people knowing what they were and never letting on.

His daughter had been able to hide all of this from him and it made him wonder. Had he ever really noticed his daughter? Surely if he knew her as well as he thought he did, she wouldn't be able to hide something so monumental. He had watched countless rugby games with Edward and his brothers, talked with Rosalie and Alice, even invited Carlisle and Esme to the salsa class he and Sandra went to. He should have known there was something different about them, not that they appeared threatening but there was just something about them. The similarities between them though they were of no relation. The cold temperature of their skin that he had just put down to poor circulation. The odd moments when it seemed they communicated in near silence, just whispers to his ears.

He didn't hate the Cullen's but he felt a little foolish and ignorant for never noticing what was right in front of him.

* * * * *

The ambulance took Holly's body back to their home. The hospital didn't ask any questions about why they wanted her body back at their home. It was for the best since they were in no state to lie. Excitement was buzzing through Ashleigh whilst nerves threatened to cripple Sandra and Jason.

Edward met them at the door and helped bring her limp body into the house after the ambulance drove away. Curtains twitched as nosy neighbours watched the sad procession enter the house. They would be asking questions in a couple of days, pretending to be concerned for the family but really just rooting for gossip to spread.

Edward walked through the house up to Holly's bedroom, holding Holly's deathly still body in a bridal style. Sandra desperately tried not to see the similarities between this walk to her daughter bedroom door and a funeral procession.

Slow and sombre.

Her room didn't seem any different but somehow everything had changed. The sun didn't flood through the southern facing window, instead the light was cool and dim. The photographs and drawings Sandra had always loved to look at suddenly brought a lump to her throat. They were full of Holly. The drawings screamed her emotions and love of life, whilst the photographs documented how she had grown and lived every moment to the fullest. It hurt to see that the room seemed to hold more life than her daughter's deathly sleeping body.

Edward stood in front of the poster Holly had gotten for her 18th birthday. She was so happy that day, finally 18, finally free to live life to the fullest. Now look at her, sleeping dead in a statues arms.

It seemed surreal.

Sandra smiled weakly at the memory of when her daughter had received that poster. It was obvious she was smitten with this Edward character ever since she read the twilight saga, she talked non-stop about it. But when she got given the poster by her friend she blushed as if it was some big secret. Then again Holly had always kept her emotions close to her chest, never wanting to let on how she really felt. Jason knew she got this from him. He never felt the need to open himself up with emotional talks or constant affection. His family knew how he felt about them. However the idea that Holly had the same discomfort at showing emotion troubled him. She had always been such a quietly confident girl. Not like Ashleigh who was loud and could demand your attention. Holly would sit patiently waiting for it, comfortable that she didn't have to 'in your face' to get it. He hated to think his bad habits had rubbed off on his daughter. That she had gone through life embarrassed to show people how she really felt. Had she ever missed out just because she had copied his behaviour? Jason hoped not.

Sandra watched Edward with careful eyes; he was so gentle with Holly in his arms. Holding her as if she was the most precious thing in his world. Was it possible that the character her daughter had loved so much could love her also? Did Holly love him too? The possibilities made Sandra's heart glow, if it was true her daughter wouldn't have to lose everything she could gain something worth so much more than what she lost.

The Jules family stared as the poster melted away in front of them, revealing a swirling mist that seemed so fine it would disintegrate at any moment. Ashleigh heard her parents gasp as Edward stepped through the mist and disappeared before them, along with Holly. She stepped into the mist and turned back to hold her parents hands.

It was time for them to see the world Holly had loved so much.

* * * * *

Ashleigh's POV

My parents looked around nervously at the gorgeous hallway we stood in. It was hard not to be taken aback by the light open spaces that somehow felt safe and secure. Just like home.

I had loved the Cullen house from the moment Holly first brought me here. It was so fresh and modern.

Only Esme was present as we stood there in the hallway. She reached out to my parents with a loving caring face. She looked like a caramel haired Snow White. So motherly and soft looking, even though her body was rock hard.

"I'm so sorry for what has happened to Holly. We were beyond distraught when Ashleigh gave us the letter. She's become like part of the family, so special to all of us. They both have." She gave me a quiet but sorrowful smile. "The thought of losing her..." Esme cut off a sob choking her voice. I knew this must be hurting her. She had lost a child before and this would feel the same.

"Thank you Esme, we can't put into words how grateful we are. This has all been so much to take. I don't think my head has stopped spinning. Where is she?" Mum had always liked Esme and that wouldn't change now. The Cullens had warmed their way into all our hearts and so they were as much family to us as our actual family . Maybe even more so since our other family didn't really contact us often. They probably didn't even know Holly was dead, dying, or whatever she was. I didn't look forward to teh day of Holly's funeral when my several aunts and uncles would console my parents whilst my cousins acted as if the world hadn't changed at all.

"Carlisle is just making her comfortable in the guest room. I'll take you there now but I think it would be best if we left him with her at the beginning of the change. It can affect us all in different ways" Esme's voice gave away nothing of just how the change would effect her. I was glad, I couldn't bare the thought of my parents backing out now. I needed their ignorance to last until Holly was bitten and it was irreversible.

My parents nodded almost happy that they would be moving forward. Of course they didn't know what I knew. They thought it would be painless and quick just like dying but I knew the burning Holly would have to endure. I felt a twinge of guilt at having chosen this for her but she was strong, she would last through it.

My big sister could do anything.

We made our way upstairs. Mum and Dad were quiet, maybe contemplating if they'd made the right choice, or maybe just stunned by how pretty the house was. No cobwebs or coffins here. When I'm older I definitely want a house like this.

The Cullens certainly have style.

As we entered the doorway to where Holly was kept the sight we saw was a shock, but a good one to an extent.

The whole family was crowded in the small room, each one showing mixed emotions. Rosalie looked deeply upset, she wouldn't have wanted this for my sister. She hadn't wanted this for herself. But anger would flash every now and then in her eyes. She knew this was no accident and fury must have been lighting her veins at who had brought Holly to this point. I wonder how she would kill Jack, did she even know? Maybe I could persuade her to tear him apart. Make him feel just a small amount of the pain he'd put Holly through.

Emmett looked worried but part of me thought that maybe he liked the idea of Holly being one of them. Especially a newborn, that gave too many opportunities to pass up. He liked immortality but that didn't mean he liked that Holly had been forced into it.

Alice's face was the hardest to watch second only to Jasper who had every emotion in the room flooding his face. I was afraid he would buckle under the pressure but something made him stay.

Alice was distraught. I could hear her muttering about the future being unclear, her blindness. It made me uneasy but like Schrödinger's cat till the box is opened anything is possible. Though there was a chance Holly might not make it or be happy there was an equal chance she would. It was that chance that kept me filled with hope.

Esme comforted my parents and the Cullens separated to let them through to my sister's bedside. I stayed at the foot of the bed, with the whole family behind me. The big white bed nearly swallowed Holly up completely it was so plush.

Edward had returned to his place beside Holly opposite my parents. He had his eyes closed and his forehead resting on his and Holly's intertwined hands. His lips were moving in what seemed like silent prayer but nothing could be heard. I remembered the first time I'd met him, I'd just found out about the portal so obviously I was in shock.

Then I saw Edwards face in front of me and I swear to god I nearly fainted at the beauty of it. That boy was sex on legs and I couldn't stop the lustful thoughts running through my head. He must have thought I was some kind of sex fiend. I'm glad to say since that meeting I've managed to immune myself. Not completely, sometimes thoughts would slip through but to be honest I had never been an Edward girl. It was all about the hot sexiness of Jacob Black for me. Still I wondered how Holly managed to control herself. It's not like she got a lot of attention off the guys her age anyway so I'm surprised she didn't self combust whenever Edward looked her way.

I listened to my parents talking to Holly, telling her everything would be ok. That they'll be there when she woke up. That they loved her. I merely told her "be brave and I'll see you when you wake up Holls" I didn't bother saying goodbye, she'd wake up in 3 days. I couldn't doubt it.

With our words said we left Carlisle and Edward in the room, Edward had refused to leave her side and I was glad someone would be there with her whilst she waited out the pain.

The family headed downstairs and we followed, sitting on the white sofas in silence. Everyone was too deep in their own thoughts to talk.

I chuckled.

"What's funny Ash?" Alice seemed happy to have a distraction, even if it was just for a short time.

"Holly would have hated this silence" With that the tension in the room cleared a little. They would do anything for Holly, even if she wasn't awake to know it.

* * * * *

Third person POV

It had been 2 hours since Carlisle injected Holly with his venom. He could have bitten her but the injection seemed less brutal and it allowed him to inject straight to her heart.

Edward watched as the plunger sent the venom coursing into Holly's veins, he hadn't wanted this for her. Ever since he met her he never once thought of changing her. Condemning her to this life. But now he couldn't see a future that didn't include her. He realised he had always wanted her forever, this accident had just been the catalyst to his decision.

By now the fire should be raging, she should be writhing in agony. She should be burning.

But she wasn't screaming or appearing to be in pain, it wasn't right. Something wasn't right.

The silence had Carlisle worried. Every change he had witnessed had been brutal to watch but it was those things that told you it was working. Holly merely lay there as if asleep. Her breathing was even and back to normal and her heart rate had picked back up to its usually pace. The neurotoxin had worn off but the venom should have been making her heart race. Not even her body temperature had changed. These things were all both comforting and distressing to discover for the Cullens and Ashleigh. Holly's parents remained oblivious, sitting together trying to forget about what was happening.

Sandra hoped she had made the right choice, the Cullens were lovely and she couldn't say she disliked any of them. She could understand why Holly liked them so much.

One thing that thrilled and worried Sandra, in equal measure, was that the Cullens were all gorgeous in an otherworldly way. Would her baby girl still look like herself when all this was over?

It hurt to think that Holly might now be unrecognisable to her. The baby girl she had loved for 18 years. Would Holly even remember her?

It would have to be another question to ask Carlisle. The man seemed so calm about the whole situation, Sandra doubted that anything could shock him.

Little did she know that Holly's change was that one thing that could shock Carlisle.

It had been 4 hours now and still no change, not a whimper or flutter of her heart.

Carlisle had resorted to just monitoring her vitals.

It was frustrating but the only option.

Her family had visited her room several times, it made them happy to see she wasn't any worst. It was only Ashleigh who noticed that she wasn't any better either. That she wasn't going through the change. Her parents remained unaware. It was probably the best state of mind for them, better than giving them the added worry. They had been through so much already.

Esme had offered them the option to stay with them but to Jason and Sandra it seemed unfair to take over one of the family's rooms when they had a house of their own back in their world.

There it was easy to leave the situation of Holly's change behind, to forget for a moment and act as if everything was normal and not turned on its axis.

Sandra and Jason focused on the agonising event of organising Holly's funeral. It would take place in 10 days at the local church. Holly had always loved that place. It sat in amongst pretty cherry blossom trees that sent petals spiralling into the air during spring. With any luck her funeral would take place on a day when the blossom danced through the fresh spring breeze.

They had also arranged for an apple tree to be planted on the cliff top next to her cove. Similar to the one that grew in their garden. The one she used to climb every autumn as they picked apples. Jason remembered it was only Holly who would have the courage to climb to the very top, all just so that she could get the very reddest apples. He knew she would risk everything for something if it was truly worth it.

The cove had seeemed the perfect place to plant the world's reminded of Holly Jules. She had loved that place ever since a child so it seemed only right that something was there to represent her, whether she could visit it on not was still unknown.

The Cullens had remained quiet on that particular question, what would Holly be like when she woke up?

Holly's parents didn't know that the reason they never answered the question was because Carlisle had no answer. Alice's ability was disrupted by the fact Holly was invisible in her visions. For once the Cullens had no idea what would happen. They were blind and it made them all nervous.

Edward although worried by this couldn't help but see the comparison. Holly had always been unpredictable to him so it made sense she would continue to be even in death.

* * * * *

For 2 more days Holly lay unmoving, silent and unchanged. Edward sat like a statue by her side. His eyes had started to darken from their bright gold as he watched her remain in her damaged state.

Hope was leaving him with every passing hour, dark thoughts entering his mind at the prospect of having to endure Holly's death. Constingency plans formed in a part of his mind.

Jasper had come and gone throughout the 2 and a half days. Every time he entered the room he begged for something to come from Holly. He hadn't alerted Edward but Holly was giving off nothing, she was numb. It was a nice change from the fluxing emotions of his family members but her static emotion was unnerving.

On the third day everyone stood expectantly. Hope was the only emotion that filled the room, but it was wasted. She hadn't changed. She still had bruises, a steady heartbeat, a faint flush in her cheeks. She was still human, alive.

Something had happened to prevent her from becoming the vampire she should have and no one could understand why. Her family left disheartened, they finally knew something was wrong. Something hadn't happened like it should have, their Holly was still lying in that luxurious bed in the same state she had been in 3 days ago.

Carlisle was pained by the family's distress and spent that third night going over and over her vital charts. He knew there had to be something to show the venom in her system. But so far the only thing he could find was that the clot that had threatened her life had dissolved, like sugar in water.

It was on this third night he noticed something. Her vitals, although on a day to day basis seemed to be no different, when you put them in a chart sequence it showed that her heart rate had increased steadily till it was just above what it was when she was human. This tiny piece of information gave some hope to the situation that a few days ago had been hopeless.

The next 3 days brought even better news but that news meant that the family had to suffer through Holly's pain.

Day 4 of the change (10.31 am)

"Carlisle, her skin is healing, the bruises are fading. The cuts on her face are almost gone and I haven't check properly but the gash in her head seemed to have gone completely" Edward had rushed into Carlisle's office his eyes lit up.

They were now a honey colour, he wouldn't last much longer maybe a few more days before they turned black. Edward knew Holly wouldn't want to see his black eyes when she woke up but he couldn't bring himself to leave her side to go hunt. He had waited almost 4 days for her to change just a little bit, he couldn't leave now.

"How long?" Hope lit Carlisle's face.

"I first noticed it around 7 am this morning. The cut on her hand had vanished and I started checking her over. The bruises had changed."

"I'll come check her heart rate in an hour, see if there's any substantial change"

There wasn't but her minor injuries were cleared and xrays showed her skull fracture and leg were healing quickly.

She looked like Holly again no longer the ruined rag doll.

Day 5 (6.50 am)

"Can you tell when she'll wake up?" Sandra was stroking her daughters forehead, they were all relieved to see her looking like herself.

"Unfortunately I can't. Holly's taken the venom very differently to all the others. I can't explain why but her change seems to be taking longer than usual" Carlisle felt bad for not having something concrete to tell them. He felt that is was his job as a doctor to help them understand, to have the answers, to be able to ease their worry with an explanation. But he couldn't find anything in the Vampire history books to explain what was happening. But then again something like this had never happened before, Holly after all was a human who had had no scent that ignited the thirst in their throat. She wasn't like the humans in their world, Carlisle's mind starting ticking over what this meant. He felt better that he might have a way to ease his puzzled mind. He took one last look at Holly.

She was completely healed now, it was hard to tell but it looked like a small smile lit her face.

An hour later that all changed. Everyone sat in the living room, Esme had made the Jules's dinner and now they all sat together like most nights since Holly lay upstairs. Ever since the third day it had become common place that the Jules family spent the majority of their days with the Cullens.

The moment it started each of the Cullens wished that the Jules weren't there.

That they didn't have to hear Holly's screams of agony.

Day 5 (3.35 pm)

"Why is she in so much pain?" Sandra's voice held almost the same amount of agony as her daughters that reverberated through the house sending chills down everyone's spine.

Every blood curdling scream caused Jason to fall apart a little bit more. Why had he done this to his little girl? How would she ever forgive him for putting her through something like this when she had been brave enough to accept her death the first time round? He didn't have enough answers that would clear his conscience because deep down he knew the only reason she was suffering now was because he hadn't been brave enough to let her go. Him and Sandra could only sob into each others arms as their daughter went through hell above them. There could be nothing worse than the pain of hearing your daughter scream in absolute agony.

Edward heard the tortured thoughts of her family downstairs and for a moment he felt anger. They knew nothing. They only heard her screams. He watched every scream roll through her body and when she was silent he saw her teeth clenched together to the point that he heard them crack under the pressure. Her lips bled as her teeth tore into the flesh that he used to find so tempting. Her blood dripped from her bleeding lips and he knew her throat must be red raw with the violence of her screams.

Her body writhed in a way that made it seem impossible. Her spine contorted and lifted from the bed as her muscles strained through her ivory skin.

Edward knew his blackening eyes were governing his emotions, he didn't really feel anger towards these people he felt anger towards himself. He was putting the one person he truly cared about through the burning flames of hell. It was his fault that she lay in agony and he thought that he almost felt her pain echoed through her hand that he held tightly in his own. If it was possible to take her pain away, to endure the burn for her he would. Anything to stop the horror in front of him.

Although Edward wouldn't wish this sight on anyone he couldn't help but think her family knew nothing of true torture.

Day 6 (1.30pm)

"She's ethereal" Alice was standing over Holly's form smiling. The screams had changed to whimpers and then low moans around ten o'clock last night. They finally stopped at lunchtime today.

The change may have been gradual but the difference between the old Holly and the woman in front of Alice was visible. Her hair was lustrous, full of volume and depth. The colour was more vibrant than it used to be. Her features were more defined.

Rosalie may have a rival

Alice thought with humour.

She knew Holly would never flaunt her beauty as Rosalie did but part of Alice thought that perhaps that would only enhance it. That the fact she didn't expect attention for her looks would make people more willing to give it to her.

There was still a noticeable difference between her and the rest of the vampire kind. She didn't look carved from marble like them. She wouldn't stand out like they do, but Alice could quarantee she would still stand out. Like when a beautiful girl enters a room. No one shrinks away from her in fear but they know she is something so much more than human.

"She looks different" Holly's father hadn't been as happy about the change in his daughter as her mother and sister. They had revelled in her enhanced beauty. He just saw that she wasn't his little girl anymore. He just hoped that underneath all the stunning physical changes she was still Holly. That there was still a small semblance and how she used to be. Whether it be her quiet confidence, dislike for silence, or just the way she would chew on her bottom lip out of nervous habit.

Whilst the humans marvelled at her change, the vampires in the house puzzled over her heart rate. It had started to race during her screams but slowed to it's usual rate in the early afternoon. It now had a steady beat that hadn't changed since.

Edward was in awe at the way her skin had started to harden a little.

It was hard to describe. Her skin wasn't marble like his but caught somewhere between the soft skin of a human and the granite cold texture of a marble statue that his kind possessed. It seemed durable but still soft to touch, gloriously warm like it always had been. He wondered for a moment what it would look like in the sunlight. He had never shown her his skin in the sunlight. He hated how obvious the difference was between his diamond encrusted skin and human flesh.

Day 6 (9.48 pm)

Life continued as it had for the past 6 days, there had been nothing more that had happened to Holly. Her condition hadn't changed since early afternoon. The 2 families had both been anxious, the air was full of anticipation as if somehow they all knew that the moment could come at any second. Ashleigh played constantly with her hair whilst she paced around the living room. Jasper was highly strung and ansty, his movements were mere flickers to the Jules family.

Carlisle still hadn't managed to find anything to explain why the venom had been prevented from changing at its usual rate. It still fascinated him that she lasted 3 days of peaceful healing before the fire started to burn. He couldn't wait for her to wake up and find out how the venom had affected her. Would she be the same as them? It seemed unlikely but if she wasn't a vampire or a human that meant everything about her was an unknown entity. Suddenly Carlisle was nervous about his decision to allow her human family to be in the room for her awakening.

* * * * *

"2 minutes people! 2 MINUTES!!!" Alice shouted as she sped up the stairs. It had been a week since her last vision. The relief of no longer being blind thrilled her.

Excitement buzzed through the house, they all rushed to her room and waited at the end of the bed. Her family were to be behind the Cullen's just in case. No one would let her kill her family out of lack of control; she wouldn't forgive herself if they did.

"Edward you have to step back, she'll be confused and you might scare her" Carlisle knew it was better to be overly careful than just assume because he was her best friend she would welcome his presence. After all he wasn't sure if they had properly cleared the air. He only knew that whatever was in Edwards letter had changed everything.

Her heart rate had quickened, soon it would be nothing but a thrum and then stop completely.

Edward tore himself away from her and went to Carlisle's right hand side. He hoped his eyes were light enough so he didn't scare Holly.

"any second now" Alice was hugging herself between Ashleigh and Jasper. Rosalie and Emmett stood side by side, it was probably due to Rosalie that Emmett was actually standing still rather than making the floor tremble with his bounces of excitement.

Esme went to Carlisle's other side, curling herself to the side of his body as he wrapped his arm around her.

Her parents stood silent in the corner, her mother's excitement shone from her eyes whilst her father seemed a little more reserved. But the nerves showed in the fast tapping of his foot.

Her heart rate was almost at human pace. Just a few beats per minute too fast to be considered regular.

The beats continued. Perhaps it would just stutter then stop rather than slowing till it could slow no more?

A gasp sounded.

Holly's eyes flew open.

They were her sapphire blue with a visible violet tint.

But this wasn't the only surprise.

The main one being that she still had a heart beat.

Author's note: do we like the first chapter?