Bright sunshine filled my vision immediately as I stepped off of the plane. A cool wind blew through my hair as I took a deep breath and smiled at the faint smell of fresh rain; April in Michigan was comforting. It was home.

Once we went through security and Mom made sure we had all of our luggage, she led us down the escalator to the main lobby. The smile on my face grew bigger as an older woman with curly dark brown hair and piercing black-brown eyes moved into my line of sight. Her smile mirrored mine the instant our eyes met and I ran to her.

"Grandma!"

"Auttie! Oh, I've missed you," Grandma wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. "How are you, girlie?"

"I'm doing good," I grinned. "As weird as it seems, I really like Forks."

"You're not just saying that because of a certain young man, are you?" Grandma winked at me before hugging Mom. "Julie, my baby. It's so good to see you."

"Hi, Mom. How are you feeling today?"

"A lot better now that my girls are here. And Chloe! Look at you!"

Mom and I laughed as Grandma nearly tackled Chloe into a bear hug.

"You look as beautiful as ever! How's your baby doing?" Grandma linked her arm through Chloe's as Mom grabbed the luggage and we left the airport lobby for the car.

"She's doing really well. My parents have her right now, and Mom sends me pictures every day. She just had a doctor's appointment a couple of days ago, and they said she's right where she needs to be."

"That's good. I have a rocking horse I'd like to give to her if that's okay."

"Of course, Mrs. Anderson."

"Now, Chloe. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Grandma Lilly?" Grandma pretended to scold her.

"Sorry, Grandma Lilly."

Within minutes, tall buildings and crowded main streets blurred into quiet suburban neighborhoods, blooming green trees, and white picket fences. My body visibly relaxed into the backseat as my brain recognized houses and street names. When the familiar white exterior with black shutters and a red door appeared outside the window, Chloe's attitude perked up and she let out a small squeal of delight.

Just as Grandma put the car in park, Chloe threw open her door and took off for the front door. Halfway up the sidewalk, the door opened and Margaret Marshall appeared, her eyes swelling with tears.

"My baby!" She cried out as she wrapped Chloe in a tight hug. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"I missed you too." Chloe managed to get out between the small sobs racking her body.

"Come on in, you guys! You must be tired." Margaret ushered Chloe inside the door before turning towards us coming up the path. "Dinner is almost ready; I figured you'd be hungry after your flight."

"Thanks, Maggie." Mom beamed at her best friend before pulling her into a warm hug. "You're the best."

"Says the one taking care of my daughter," Margaret teased playfully, bumping her hip into Mom's. "Oh, Casey is with your father, Chloe. He took her to the store because she was having a hard time falling asleep at naptime today."

"Is she teething again?" Chloe's voice floated down the staircase as we followed Margaret down the hallway to the living room.

"Doctor saw a new one coming in at her appointment."

Margaret turned her attention to Mom and Grandma, asking them if they wanted something to drink and catching up about life since we left for Forks after the divorce. I tuned them out as I wandered over by the fireplace, looking at the pictures on the mantle. Margaret still had a collage of our Halloween costumes in a frame; I smiled as I looked over our costume choices through the years, from Elphaba and Glinda to Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.

A feeling of nostalgia washed over me as I thought back to the last Halloween we spent together and how everything had changed since then. Sighing, I moved on to the next picture, which was Chloe and Casey last Christmas. They were in matching white shirts that said "Fa la la la" in silver glitter and red tutu skirts with green, red, and white striped leggings and black boots, and there was a genuine smile on Chloe's face.

A pang of guilt shot through my veins like ice as I stared at the photo, tears prickling the corner of my eyes. The grudge I had been holding against Chloe for sleeping with Reed had made me miss the greatest moment of joy in her life. Even though I knew the truth now, it didn't do much to ease the pain coursing through my heart; I abandoned my best friend in her time of need, over a guy who didn't care about either of us.

"I have a copy for you," Chloe said quietly as she stood next to me. "I wanted to mail it to you when Mom got the pictures taken, but I wasn't sure... I didn't know if you were still mad at me."

"I wish you had mailed it," I smiled sadly. "It probably would've hurt, but at least it would've been a start to get me to come to my senses."

"I'll probably apologize for this for the rest of my life, knowing I was the one who ruined our friendship." Chloe sighed, wrapping her arms around herself as she stared at our Halloween collage.

"You didn't ruin anything. Sure, you made a mistake. But Reed is the one at fault here. He drugged you, Peaches. He took advantage of you. That's beyond messed up, and we're going to make him pay for that." I reached for her hand and squeezed reassuringly. "And I know it doesn't really make the situation any better, but on the bright side, you got Casey out of it."

"And eventually it gave me you back. Your friendship means everything to me, Leaf. I don't want to lose you again." Chloe squeezed my hand back.

"Honey, I'm home!" A deep voice called out from the foyer, followed by a baby giggling. Chloe's eyes lit up.

"Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

Chloe tugged my hand, leading me away from the fireplace. Jameson Marshall was leaning over a car seat, his face breaking into a grin when he noticed his only child standing before him.

"There's my baby girl!"

"Hey, dad." Chloe threw her arms around her dad and buried herself into his chest.

"And my other daughter!" Jameson pulled me into the hug, his laughter rumbling through us. "How's Forks?"

"It's pretty good," I said, looking down at the car seat by our feet. "She's so cute, Peaches."

Chloe reached down and unbuckled Casey, carefully picking her up. Casey immediately started to make happy noises when she recognized Chloe, her feet kicking in the air.

"Do you want to hold her?" Chloe asked.

"I'd love to."

Chloe handed Casey over to me, making sure she was comfortable in my arms. Casey stared at me for a few seconds before resuming her cooing and kicking. Margaret called out that dinner was ready and we followed Jameson into the kitchen. He went over to Margaret and kissed her deeply, dipping her as if they were dancing.

Margaret laughed happily and swatted his arm playfully once he straightened her back up. I noticed Mom avert her eyes from the sight of them, pain flashing across her face before she forced a smile at her two friends. The divorce was still fresh enough to hurt her even though a year had already passed, and in that moment, I wished I could do anything to ease the loss she was still reeling from.

"I have a surprise for you," Grandma directed to me as the last of the lasagna disappeared from the pan on the table. Mom and Margaret had started to clean up as Chloe fed Casey, and they all shared a secretive smile when Grandma spoke. A red flag went off in my head and I looked at her suspiciously.

"Okay?"

"Come take a walk with me." Grandma gestured for me to follow her outside.

The wind had died down from earlier, but there was still an intense chill in the air, causing me to wrap my jacket around me tightly. Grandma linked her arm through mine and silently led me down the street, a sly grin on her face.

Three houses down from Chloe's stood my childhood home, the familiar brown paint and white shutters with crescent moon outlines soothing even from a few yards away. As we came to a stop in front of the yard, a "Sold" sign caught my attention.

"Someone bought our old house?"

"Yes."

"Oh," I said, not bothering to hide the sadness in my voice. "Well, I hope they enjoy it."

"Aren't you curious who bought it?"

"I guess. But I don't feel like meeting some stranger."

"Well, good thing you already know them. Surprise!" Grandma dangled the keys in her hand. "I bought the house!"

"No way!" I gasped. "What? When?"

"I finalized the paperwork last week. Did you really think I was going to let your father sell this house under your mom? Ha, no! That man gets nothing from this family! He's lucky I don't get out my frying pan."

"Grandma!"

"What? He hurt my baby and her baby. A frying pan is being nice." Grandma winked at me before walking up the pathway. "Come inside, child. It's getting a little cold."

Snickerdoodle lingered in the air as I closed the door behind us. My eyes rested on the living room off to the left and I let out a small "Oh."

Everything in the living room was exactly the same as it was when Mom and I moved out. As I took in the rest of the room, I recognized things that had been left behind at the insistence of my father. Grandma smirked at the shocked expression on my face.

"Your father ended up leaving everything behind when he left with his secretary. I made sure of that."

"Everything?"

"Go check out your room." Grandma nodded to the stairs.

Without a second thought, I took the steps two at a time and rushed into my old bedroom. The bed was perfectly made, covered in the pale pink comforter Mom had gotten me for my 13th birthday; the coordinating multi-colored polka dot sheets peeking out from beneath the pink pillows. A cherry oak bookcase and an accompanying desk filled the space off to the right, books spilling onto the floor.

It was as if I had stepped into a time machine and came back the morning of Christmas; my room looked like I had only been gone for a few hours, instead of months. I whirled around to find Grandma standing in the hallway watching me smugly, her eyes shining as if she pulled off the greatest accomplishment.

"How did you do this?" I asked her incredulously.

"Your mom took pictures of the house before you left. When she told me that she was divorcing your father, I knew I had to do everything I could to make sure this house stayed here exactly the way it was. This house has been in our family for generations... this was Giuliana's home in the early 1920s." Grandma explained as she sat on the edge of my bed. "At least, this is where her home stood. The house was eventually rebuilt after a fire in 1938 destroyed the neighborhood, almost two years after Giuliana had died in La Push."

"Whoa." I flopped down beside her, soaking in her words.

"Once the papers were finalized, Margaret and Jameson took turns helping me get your room set up. Margaret asked the women at her work for books, and the rest of the neighbors pitched in with getting anything else that was missing. They were happy to see your father leave but sad that you and your mom had to move first. This neighborhood loves you both dearly."

"I can tell." I turned to face Grandma before asking the question lingering between us. "Why this house? Why make sure it stays in the family, other than it belonged to Giuliana?"

"These are your roots, Auttie. This is your birthplace." Grandma stared me right in the eye. "Giuliana has visited you in your dreams, yes? She gave you a cryptic message and the only words you have are 'learn how to control'?"

"Yeah... how did you...?"

"How did I know?" She laughed. "Because I had the same dream. So did your mom. Autumn, you're a witch."

"Wait, as in the Salem witch trial witches?"

"Yes, and no. There is magic in your bloodline, that comes from the earth and the elements. Most of the accused during the Salem trials were not witches, but innocent men and women wrongfully executed. The real witches were in hiding, Giuliana among them. They were able to get out of Salem before the hangings started. Giuliana kept a journal during that time in her life, which I have somewhere along with the others. She wrote a lot, especially after turning into a vampire. I'll make sure they go home with you, so you can learn about her and discover your heritage. Okay, Auttie?"

"Okay. Thanks for telling me all that, Grandma. It clears up a lot of questions that I had... so, you can use magic? And so can Mom?"

"I can, yes. I discovered my powers at a very young age, and my mother nearly had a heart attack... I accidentally exploded a bowl of pudding she was trying to whisk up, and the noise startled us both. Very funny scenario, now that I think about it."

"That does sound kind of funny." I giggled with her.

"Your mom, on the other hand... she could use magic around the time she was started high school, oh she was so excited when her powers came in. But after she married your father, she hid her powers from him; she did small speels when needed, but she had quit practicing altogether for twenty years. Because she had limited herself so much, her powers grew dim; now, she's lucky if she can do small tasks around the house."

"Why did she give up her magic like that?"

"To protect you," Grandma said softly. "She knew that she would get pregnant with you by their second year of marriage, and she knew it would freak your father out... even though she loved him, he wasn't always a good man to be around. Your mom thought hiding her magic would keep you safe from him."

"He was never around for me, anyway," I said sadly, my heart breaking for Mom. "Thanks for telling me, Grams. I appreciate knowing all of this."

"Of course... I'm always here to help, my dear. Now, we probably should go back to our company. You can sleep in your old bed while you're in town."

*****

The smell of blueberry pancakes mixed with bacon and sausage filled the cool air, awakening me from sleep. As my body stretched against the soft sheets, my mind began to panic as it fleetingly became aware of its unknown surroundings. Then in a flash, it dawned on me that I was in my old room in Michigan and the breakfast scents meant one thing: Grandma Lily was in the kitchen. And that meant breakfast fit for a princess.

Slipping into my lace-trimmed pink robe and black fuzzy slippers, I threw my hair into a messy bun before bouncing down the stairs. Mom was perched at the table, coffee mug in hand as she stared out the window. Chloe sat across from her in a blue robe that matched mine, her blonde hair twisted in a fishtail braid. They both turned as I entered, smiles forming on their lips.

"Good morning, Leaf." Mom stifled a yawn before nodding toward the counter. "Your grandma made breakfast for us. She doesn't want you girls to go home hungry."

"We never do when it comes to Grandma," I giggled as I grabbed a plate and headed for the food. "Where is Grandma, by the way?"

"In the attic," Chloe answered for Mom. "She's bringing down those journals she told you about."

"I'm not going to be able to bring all of them on the plane." I glanced at the pile of boxes in the living room nervously. "There's no way."

"Don't worry, Leaf." Mom winked at me just Grandma brought in another box.

"That should be the last one. Julie, come help me organize these dang boxes before they fall over." Grandma said, setting the box next to Chloe on the table. Mom followed her into the living room and I collapsed into the chair next to Chloe, nodding at the box.

"Will you help me go through that while I eat?"

"Sure." Chloe stood up and angled herself at the empty end of the rectangle dining table. She pulled the flaps open and let out a small gasp of awe. "You're not just getting journals, Leaf."

"What else is in there?" Curiosity piqued, I raised an eyebrow in her direction. Chloe shifted through the items carefully as she spoke.

"There's a bunch of sage bundles, I think these are tarot cards... some crystals. And lots of candles."

"The basics and then some," I mumbled, setting my fork down to process the contents of the box. "I wonder why Giuliana had tarot cards."

"It was a pastime of hers," Grandma answered from the doorway. "She did readings for her friends at parties; they were all under the impression it was just for fun. Rarely did she get a bad reading though; it was almost always something good for the person and they brushed it up to luck. But if harnessed right, the tarots can reveal so much to a witch."

Chloe and I shared a look, one of bewilderment mixed with interest. From the way her eyes shifted, I could tell what Chloe was thinking: could the cards help us back home?

"Besides," Grandma interrupted my thoughts, "the decks make for a great witchy aesthetic in any room."

"Leaf, finish your food." Mom said, appearing behind Grandma. "You and Chloe need to finish packing before we have to get ready for the airport."

"We're leaving so soon?" I glanced from Mom to Grandma and back. "I thought we were leaving tomorrow?"

"We were, but Carlisle called me this morning while you were sleeping. We need to get back home, the sooner the better." Mom sighed, rubbing her forehead. "He said he'd explain later when we were back in Forks. I think they're worried about Victoria hearing them."

"Makes sense." Chloe nodded. "I'll go say goodbye to my parents and Casey."

Chloe left the kitchen and Mom tilted her head, listening for the front door. As son as the click of the door was heard, Mom's face broke into a smile.

"You can't say anything, Autumn Bernadette. I mean it. I will ground you if I find out you said something to Chloe."

"What are you talking about? Say what exactly?"

"The Marshalls are moving to Forks with Casey. They just signed on a house two streets away from us, and they wanted to wait to tell Chloe. They won't be moving for at least another two weeks, so you have to keep it a secret until then. Got it?"

"My lips are sealed." I made a zipping motion and pretended to throw away the key. "Did Carlisle really call you this morning?"

"No, Edward did. He and Bella are on their way back from Jacksonville, something did happen with Victoria back home. It involves the pack and the other Cullens."

"Oh no... okay, I'll be packed soon. Almost everything is still in my suitcase." I glanced at my phone, my heart swelling in panic as I realized Jacob hadn't texted or called. As quickly as I could, I wolfed down my breakfast and made a beeline for my bedroom to get my things taken care of.

As I folded my clothes back into the suitcase, I could hear Mom on the phone with the airport discussing how to change our flights. Her voice sounded strained even from upstairs and I paused, my breath caught in my chest.

With all the vampire and werewolf drama going on back home, it never occurred to me that Mom was having a hard time just like I was. I thought back to all the times I came home from being with Bella and Jacob, and Mom would physically relax the moment she saw me unharmed.