"What the hell have they done to her?" Were the first words that left Emmett Cullen's lips as soon as the family arrived back home from their newborn battle and piled into the living room. "That's not Delilah."

Olivia Cullen nodded as she plonked herself down on the grey couch, "She's always been a bitch but that was different." In reality, Olivia had lost all respect for Delilah now. How could she act like that? "It isn't Delilah."

Edward unwrapped his arm from Bella as he moved to the middle of the room to speak, "But it is Delilah." The vampire had never really liked her, "She's always been that way, it's just the Volturi has brought it out of her more." If he could poison all of their thoughts, maybe then she'd be out of their lives for good, "You guys could never read her mind like I could. You should have seen it all.....I-I couldn't tell you because you all loved her, and I didn't want any of you to turn against her, but trust me when I say she's always been like this."

As Edward looked at Rosalie, he knew that his words hurt her. From a quick scan of her thoughts, he knew that she didn't believe him. She would never believe him. For a second he considered telling her of the memory that Delilah had briefly shown him on the field, however a part of Edward didn't even believe the memory himself, there was no way the Volturi would have let Delilah out of their sight, never mind let her do that in public. And anyway, he knew the words would hurt Rosalie even more than it was worth.

"You don't know her, Edward." Isabella Swan had been hurt by Delilah's words on the field, she'd been hurt just by the appearance of Delilah. But no matter what, that girl was her best friend- still is her best friend. Delilah George risked her life for Isabella, and there was no way she'd let Edward talk bad about her after she did things like that. "Whatever was in her mind, wasn't her. She was-"

"-you don't know her, Bella." Edward interrupted, he couldn't let her defend the vampire, "I used to think my soul was dammed, but god, my soul is a saint compared to hers." Edward looked at his fiancé with a fake type of sympathy in his eyes, "You think she did all of that stuff for you? It was all part of her little game."

Carlisle and Esme wanted to interrupt, they wanted to defend the girl that they had grown to love like a daughter. But they couldn't. She'd hurt them. They're sympathy for themselves was far greater than it was for Delilah. And besides, they believed every word that left Edward's mouth, why wouldn't they?

Bella Swan sank back in her stance, her back slumping and her head falling down. She loved Delilah. She was her first true friend. The only person who'd ever treated her like a sister. But how could she argue with Edward? He saw into her mind, he could read all of her thoughts. He must know her better than anyone.

As Edward went to speak again, Alice and Jasper left the room. They didn't want to hear him attack a girl who wasn't here to defend herself. As much as they trusted and loved Edward, they both knew he never liked Delilah. He had been rude to her from the start.

Delilah was an easy target for Edward. He could blame all of their problems on her. She wasn't here to stop him, or explain herself. Maybe it was her own fault. She had been a bitch when she was alive, so it didn't really help her case.

"I don't believe you." Bella crossed her arms, she wanted to be strong. She wanted to be like Delilah. But she couldn't do that. Bella was nothing like the girl she adored so much.

The vampire had never thought that his fiancé would go against him, at least not when it came to the topic of Delilah George. "Why wouldn't you believe me? When have I ever lied to you?"

Rosalie Hale, the blonde vampire who'd been silent for the whole exchange, could name a few times when Edward had lied to Bella. However, her usual fiery spirit had died down. She simply couldn't be bothered to go against her brother today. So instead, the blonde walked out of the room- she didn't storm, and she didn't scowl, she just walked.

She walked herself out to the balcony, where she could just be by herself for a little while. It was what she wanted, but not what she needed. She needed to be with Delilah, she craved to be with her, even just once more.

Rosalie knew the brunette wasn't dead when she went missing. Rosalie could feel her. It was as if their souls really were connected, and Rosalie could just tell that she wasn't dead. She tried to tell her family that, but none of them believed her. They were all just waiting for a body to show up.

It was weird, because it was neither of the couples fault that they weren't together. Were they entirely blameless? No, maybe Rosalie could have fought against her family more, and maybe Delilah could have been less of a bitch. But in reality, neither of those things were big enough to force them apart.

Rosalie wanted them to be together so bad. But it was almost impossible at the moment in time.

"Hey." Isabella Swan had been contemplating joining Rosalie outside for a few minutes. The pair had never seen eye to eye, and had more differences than similarities, but if there was something they shared, it was love for Delilah. "It's hard to hear him talk about her like that, isn't it?"

The vampire considered ignoring Isabella, there was no need for them to have conversations with each other since Delilah was no longer around to force it. But right in that moment, Rosalie needed someone who would understand, "He isn't talking about her, it's the version he's created."

While Isabella did agree with this, she knew that there must be some truth to Edward's words. There was never smoke without fire.

However, it was far easier to nod along than to disagree with Rosalie, "Yeah. He doesn't know her, not like I know her....or you know her."

Rosalie clenched her eyes shut, she couldn't believe she was having this conversation with the human. If there was one person she hated, it was Isabella, but right now Isabella was the one she loved the most in the house. "I miss her."

"I bet you do." The brunette was going to agree, she was going to say that she missed her too. But right now wasn't really about Bella, and for once she realised that. "I think she misses you too. The real her, not the one Edward's created."

"I hope so." This was the most vulnerable Rosalie had been in years. She felt pain like she had never felt before. It was indescribable to know that the woman she loved was walking around, choosing to live without her.

It would be easier if Delilah were truly dead.

"She'll come back." Now Isabella was speaking more to herself. She wanted nothing more than her sister back.

"Yeah." Rosalie nodded, "I'm sure she will."

But Rosalie wasn't really so sure at all.

And neither was Bella.

And if Edward Cullen had any say at all, she would never be back.

i started this chapter intending to write about delilah's thoughts now she's with the volturi, but then i thought it would be better to have a bit of a cullen catch up, so i intended to write rosalie and edward having a conversation on the balcony, however when i started writing it just seemed to fit more with bella?? idk