Time To Move On

[Esme Cullen]

I look around my office, surrounded by boxes. We're about ready to go. I will miss this place, but we'll come back. We always do. How will it have changed when we come back in a few decades?

Feeling a little sad that we will not all be together, I remind myself that times have changed. We have all the benefits of modern technology now - cell phones, computers, Skype. A virtual hug isn't quite the same, but never the less, it beats not being able to see my children at all except for infrequent visits or what we call "snail mail" nowadays. I can fill my hours designing and remodeling our new home, and send photos to the family.

I guess it is just the mothering instinct in me taking over. It's time for all my darlings to spread their wings. Not to mention it will keep us all safe until such time as we can be together once again.

Besides, I have my dear heart, Carlisle. As long as I have my beloved, I can handle anything that comes our way. Our children are going to be safe and happy. That's what counts the most. Without love, there is nothing.

[Carlisle Cullen]

I'd called the children in for a family meeting tonight to let them know we've decided to leave and they should follow suit and soon. Walking into her office, I spot Esme looking around at all the boxes of books and walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "It's a bit disheartening, I know. I love it here too, but with everything happening it's best for us and for our family that we do this. Have you given any thought to where you'd like to go? This is our journey and you just name the destination." I held her to me and knew that she was taking the separation hard, she was the heart of this family.

[Emmett Cullen]

*Emmett and Rose carried Ryder towards the main house for the meeting Carlisle called. They knew why and what it would be about there was no doubt about that. It ws time to move on. The cabin he'd purchased in the woods could be their vacationing place to come back when they missed home. They'd never called anywhere home, constantly moving every 4-5 years and never returning except for Forks. It was the one exception, Forks had come to be their home. A place they could relax and be themselves but now word and talk were spreading like wildfire about the strangeness of the Cullens. The Volturi could never be informed of such talk or their hides would be hunted. The main law, keep the secret. When Bella smelled the blood at the reunion, it sealed their fate. How stupid were they, they should have never gone. Turning his head to give Rosalie a smile, they entered the home and he called out.*

"Carlisle? We're here."

*Rosalie took Ryder to sit on the couch in her lap and began to play and wait for the others.*

[Rosalie Hale]

~She smiled back and bounced Ryder on her hip as she made her way to the couch, placing him on her knees she bounced him like he was riding a horse and he squealed and giggled. Feeling a little excited about moving, she wouldn't miss this town much. It only held painful memories for her, her best friend Zoe dying in order to bring this wonderful little boy into her life. She was thankful, but ready to move on and live her life with her little family. Watch Ryder grow and thrive with no threats from Wolves or Volturi. She'd already mentally went through a list of places in her head and couldn't wait to see what England held. It would be a nice change of scenery. Europe was beautiful. She waited for Carlisle and the others, wondering where everyone else planned to go~

[Edward Cullen]

Edward had not long ago ended the call with Carlisle, he had called a family meeting. Knowing that the meeting was to discuss what they were all going to do. He still felt his own guilt weighing him down for his part in what happened at the reunion and knew that Rosalie had voiced her thoughts at him, letting her know what she thought about the whole situation. Putting Ryder's life in danger from the risk that the Volturi may make another appearance.

Edward had called Bella and asked her to bring Renesmee to the house, knowing that Renesmee would want to hear what would happen with them all. They had still not talked about what would happen with her and Jacob. But he knew that it would come soon enough. As he entered the sitting room, he saw Emmett and Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme all here waiting to begin the meeting.

"Bella is on here way, she is bring Renesmee" he spoke softly, as Carlisle nodded at him.

[Bella Cullen]

Bella drove the car from La Push to the main house as they sat in silence. Nessa knew what was happening and continued to voice her objections of leaving Jacob. She sat looking out the window in silence and refused to talk about moving because she claimed she wasn't going anywhere. This pained her to hear but knew her love for Jacob was strong. "Ness we're gonna have to talk about it sooner or later." She said nothing and Bella continued to drive.

Once they were at the main house, Renesmee stormed out of the car and into the house, plopping down on the couch and not looking at anyone. Bella came in a beat later and sighed heavily looking at Edward with a pained look before walking over to him and shaking her head to indicate that nothing had changed.

[Nessa]

I won't go.

-that's all she had said to her mother as she had been informed that they would soon, very soon, be leaving Forks. Jake was here, her La Push family was here. And now her parents expected her to just up and LEAVE?! How dare they!-

Not doing it.

-she sat on the couch, her legs curled under her and her eyes on the floor; she wouldn't look at anyone. They all knew what was going on in her head, knew what she was feeling. This family was weird. Shifting, she put her hand in her pocket and pulled out her phone, the picture on the screen of her with Jake's arms wrapped around her waist as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving him here, leaving him behind. Yes, there was part of her that wanted nothing more than to be free and discover everything that there was to know about the world, and the other men in it. But then there was also that part of her that wanted to spend the rest of her life with Jake, have his babies and watch Billy wheel around the house with them on his knee.-

-she sighed and opened up her pictures, looking through them and smiling softly at the memories. She stopped after a second, her heart skipping just a second and praying that no one noticed it. There it was; a picture of Nahuel perched on "their" tree near the waterfall where they had stayed together. She quickly scrolled past it then angrily shoved her phone back in her pocket.-

-stupid teenage hormones.-

[Jasper Hale]

*Ending the phone call with Carlisle, I looked over at Alice, who just finished her dinner, a huge elk. She still took my breathe away. I knew what the meeting was about, we were all going to be leaving. I knew we'd come back in a few decades, but it wouldn't be the same with us all separated until then. I took Alice's hand and we headed back towards the house. I knew everything would be okay because Alice would be with me, we would always be together. Bounding up the stairs of the main house and went through the open front door. Seeing everyone gathered together, I nodded at Carlisle and took a seat*

[Alice Cullen]

-It was no surprise, really. We'd all been expecting something of this nature. The course was set, we were leaving. But...we hadn't all been apart since...well...ever. Holding tight to Jazz's hand, I followed him into the house, licking the last of that elk's blood from my lips. My eyes took in our family as I sat next to Jasper and settled against him. I knew we'd never truly be apart no matter how far we went. But this followed fast on the heels of Henry's departure. It hurt..to think of being away from everyone. Glancing at my husband and giving him a soft smile. I had him. I'd be okay. And it wasn't forever.....-

[Carlisle Cullen]

As my family came into the room, I felt a moments worry and then was overcome by an overwhelming peace. This was the right decision, no matter how bad it hurt them. He cleared his throat and stepped away from Esme. Lacing his fingers together, he turned to look at them all, waiting for them all to quiet down.

"I know you all either wonder, or know, why I have called you here today." My eyes met each of them in turn before I spoke again. "It's time. Time that we say our goodbyes to our friends and family here and head into other directions. I would like us to all be informed of where the others will be, so we can stay in touch."

It pained him to know that the would be split, but it had to happen. They had to leave.

[Emmett Cullen]

*He looked at Rosalie and smiled then turned back to Carlisle.*

"I guess we'll go first. We hear the weather is off and on in England, especially this one part with a weird name, I don't remember."

*He chuckled loudly and finished*

"As soon as we know we'll be sure to contact you all. We're going look at houses next week, right Rose?"

*He turned to look at Rose*

[Rosalie Hale]

~Ryder cooed in her arms and she smiled at him happily before turning back to Emmett and Carlisle~

We are.

~she grinned at Emmett and his inability to remember anything then smiled at Carlisle~ We will be sure to let you know as soon as we get there. We will text you the address, and as many pictures of Ryder as possible.

~Ryder bounced on her hip and she pressed a kiss on his forehead. It was hard to believe that this was the last time they would all be together for a long time.~

[Edward Cullen]

He hated that he had been partly the cause for putting everyone in this situation where they had to split up, before Bella and Renesmee they had always been together in one way or another and to have them all split up now, it pained him more than he wanted to show. He tried to keep his emotions in check as he felt a wave of solace and comfort wash over him from Jasper. Nodding to his brother, silently thanking him for his help, he turned to face Carlisle, as could see that Renesmee did not want to hear this, but it had to happen. He would not have his family out in danger for his own stupid mistake of lashing out at the Newton boy for his remarks about his wife.

"Bella and I were talking...I wish to take her traveling, see the world a little bit more. But we did talk about settling somewhere in Europe. Possibly making a visit to Isle Esme" he finished as he glanced at Bella.

He knew that Renesmee was listening to the whole conversation, and he knew that it would hurt her to leave Jacob but there was no choice, he couldn't leave her behind. He needed to have his family together.

"All of are going traveling, me, Bella and Renesmee" he finished as he looked over to their daughter who remained oblivious to the whole meeting.

[Bella Cullen]

She smiled and rested her head against his arm keeping her fingers laced in his and added, "Or even see Swan Island again. It is ours after all." She turned and smiled to Renesmee. "Ness, you'd love it there. Swans are everywhere and the waters...they are so blue, so beautiful." Bella wanted to see the world, she wanted to experience other things and see what life had to offer. It saddened her that Renesmee was not happy and she tried to get her on the same page. Turning her eyes to everyone in the room she stepped forward and spoke freely, "I know I'm the cause of this and I'm sorry. We all knew we couldn't stay here forever and I just made that more evident. Renesmee, I'm sorry, I truly am. But we cannot leave you behind alone. You're our daughter. I want you all to know that I wish we didn't have to split up but maybe...maybe this is blessing in disguise, we just don't see it yet."

[Nessa]

Blessing in disguise. Right.

-she stood quickly from the couch and put her hands on her hips-

Just for the record, I hate this. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. I just got back, just got to feeling like myself and now you're making me LEAVE MY HOME! I HATE YOU!

-tears were streaming down her face as she turned on her heel and bolted out the door, sending a text to Jake as she did so and going to sit in her tree house so she could cry in peace, just for a little while.-