One year later

THE TWO MADE their way through the hallways, stopping at the front desk.

"We need to see Mayla," the blonde said.

"Name?" The human secretary said, without looking up.

"Carlisle and Edward Cullen."

The receptionist nodded. "Follow me."

She stood up and started walking down a hallway.

They followed the receptionist through hallway after hallway.

The woman finally stopped in front of a set of wooden doors.

"She's in there." The receptionist walked away.

Carlisle took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Mayla called. Edward opened the door and the two walked inside.

"How may I help you?"

"We need to talk," Carlisle said. Mayla nodded. "I do believe we do. But let's go somewhere more..." Mayla looked at Edward then back at Carlisle. "private."

Carlisle nodded. Mayla stood up to reveal a hoop skirt dress. The dress was so green, it almost looked black. The body had a design in gold, as did the bottom of the skirt. (Dress in the picture at the beginning of the chapter) Her hair was in a messy bun, some of her curled hair framing her face.

She walked through a few hallways before they reached a set of double doors.

She walked out of them to reveal a beautiful garden. There was a path in between two of the rows of flowers.

Mayla walked toward the path.

"Speak." Mayla glanced at Carlisle, who stood next to her.

"I would like for you to come home," Carlisle said softly.

"I am home." Mayla continued walking, her dress swaying with every step she took.

"Home with me. In Forks."

"I thought I'm not even a friend anymore," Mayla said softly. Carlisle sighed. "I didn't mean what I said."

"Well, I haven't gone out of my way to 'prove a friend to you' so why do you want me back?" Mayla asked. Carlisle seemed to debate inwardly.

"Because I love you," Carlisle admitted.

Mayla thought for a moment as the two walked around a slight bend to the right.

"Lying isn't a good look on you." Carlisle's face fell. "I'm not lying, Mayla," his voice was soft. "I do love you."

"But, what about Esme?" Mayla asked knowingly.

"I love her too."

"You love her more," Mayla said. "And you always will. She's your mate, Carlisle. And I'm not. It'll always be her over me. So, don't tell me you love me and get my hopes up when you don't mean it."

Carlisle sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"I would've known anyway."

Carlisle looked at her in confusion.

"How?"

"Telepathy."

Carlisle nodded.

Mayla sighed and sat down on a bench. "Carlisle, I do love you. But, I also love Esme. And I don't want to hurt her. I'm sorry, but you're just a friend to me."

Carlisle sighed. "Okay. I'm sorry." He started to walk away before turning around. "Will you promise to at least think about coming back? If not for me, for Esme." With that said he turned around and left.

༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

MAYLA TOOK a deep breath before knocking on the door of the home in front of her.

She stood in a yellow corset dress. It was a deep v-neck with nothing over her arms. The skirt fluffed out without the help of a hoop skirt hiding underneath. It dragged the ground softly, but Mayla didn't mind. (Dress in the picture at the beginning of the chapter)

It had been two days since Carlisle and Edward visited her in Volterra.

Esme opened the door and an inaudible gasp escaped her lips. She leaned her hand outward- as if to touch Mayla- trying to figure out if Mayla was standing there or not.

"Hello, Esme," Mayla said. Esme smiled from ear to ear. She leaned forward and embraced the dirty blonde. Mayla stood there awkwardly, patting the back of the woman that was physically older than her.

Esme pulled back, her hands still on the dirty blonde's shoulders.

"It's been so long."

Mayla smiled. "It's only been a year, Esme."

"That's still quite a while." Esme let go of the girl's shoulders and backed up onto the house, widening the door for the girl.

Mayla entered the house cautiously.

She slowly walked into the living room, Esme right behind her.

"What's she doing here?" Rosalie asked.

"I was wondering if I could stay here for a while?" Mayla asked, looking at the floor. Esme smiled largely. "Of course you can, dear."

"Thank you."

Rosalie scowled and walked out of the room.

"Why does she dislike me so much?" Mayla looked toward where the blonde had stormed out of the room.

"I'm not sure."

"May?" Emmett asked as he and the rest of the Cullen males walked into the room.

Mayla glanced at Carlisle, then back at Emmett. "Hey, Emmett."

Emmett ran forward and hugged the girl, Edward following. Mayla and Jasper nodded. Mayla glanced at Carlisle before she was distracted by Alice.

"Hi, Mayla!" Alice ran forward and hugged the dirty blonde.

"Hello, Alice." Alice pulled back excitedly.

Mayla glanced at Carlisle once again before Bella and Renesmee walked into the room.

"Hello, Bella." Mayla looked at Renesmee. "Hi, Renesmee."

Renesmee smiled and nodded.

Mayla turned toward Carlisle. "Carlisle."

Carlisle smiled. "Hello, Mayla."

"Why are you here?" Rosalie snapped after walking back into the room.

"Rose-"

"No, it's okay," Mayla interrupted Esme. She took a deep breath. "I found out something that startled me very much and I left Volterra for a while."

Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry if I'm a bother. I can find somewhere else to stay..." Mayla glanced at Carlisle.

"You're not a bother, Mayla," Carlisle said. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need."

Mayla nodded. "Thank you."

"Come with me," Alice said. "Let's get you into something more...  normal. We're going shopping!"

༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

"ALICE, WHAT IS THIS?" Mayla asked, holding up the short blue dress by the strap.

"It's a dress! Now go try it on," Alice ordered. Mayla sighed in defeat and walked into the dressing room. Rosalie stood to the side of Alice, rolling her eyes every time Mayla talked.

"Alice, what is this?" Mayla yelled, gaining the attention of some of the other customers.

"A dress." Alice smiled.

Mayla sighed as she walked out of the changing room wearing the blue dress Alice handed her. "I don't see how this is a dress. If anything, it's an oversized top."

Alice gasped. "You take that back right now!"

Mayla shook her head. "I'm changing out of this."

"We're buying it."

Mayla groaned. "Why?"

"Because we're going out tonight."

"Why can't I wear one of my dresses?" Mayla asked as she changed back into the hoodie Edward let her borrow.

"And, what did Edward give me to wear?" Mayla asked as she stepped out of the changing room.

"It's called a hoodie." Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Oh." Mayla smiled at the blonde. "Thank you."

Rosalie crossed her arms across her chest.

Mayla sighed.