As Time Goes On

3

We had been in Forks for three days before I got the strangest phone call. It had been from Alice, and she was rambling about the strangest things before she finally got to her point.

"Piper... they're gone... we can all finally stop running... we can all go home..."

I froze in my spot. My phone dropped to the ground. The Volturi was done hunting us. They had given up. We didn't have to run anymore. I felt tears of joy escaped my eyes as I hung up on Alice and ran to tell the others.

It was very convenient for me to find them all in the living room. I stood there for a minute before I started rambling things that no one could understand.

"Piper, slow down. What is going on?" Kol asked.

I smiled at him, tears soaking my face.

"The Volturi stopped hunting us. We don't have to run anymore. The Cullens are coming home!"

Ness looked at me with excited eyes. Being on the run for a year had really taken a toll on my niece. She hadn't been able to make friends, or get a proper education or live a normal life, but now she was going to be able to do all of those things.

Jake had tears in his eyes as he whipped out his phone and started to call his dad to give him the good news.

Kol did not have tears in his eyes, but he had the biggest smile on his face. He could finally go back to his family. I knew that's what he wanted.

"Kol, you don't have to stay anymore. You can go back to them." I told him softly.

Kol smirked at me and shook his head. "Don't be stupid love. I'm not going back there. They're not even in Mystic Falls. Nik is in New Orleans as is Elijah and Rebekah. Finn's off in Europe with Lucianna. And I quite like it here."

I shook my head at Kol. He was always finding an excuse to stay with Ness. He really did love her, no matter how much he didn't want to admit it.

The three of us waited a week for the Cullens to come home. Jake swore that as soon as they were back, that he was going to see his family. I tried to talk him into going back sooner, but he refused. Ness was just bouncing up and down in excitement at the thought of seeing her family again. I just wanted my best friends back.

We stood on the porch, waiting for the first people to arrive. I didn't know what to expect. I knew they would all look the same, but it wouldn't feel the same. Not without Carlisle, or Bella or Edward.

I was brought out of my thoughts as Ness squealed. I looked up from my hands to see Rose and Emmett were the first to arrive. The blonde hair of one half of my best friend was a sight for sore eyes.

"ROSE!" I shouted, running to hug her.

The girl brought me into a tight embrace and didn't let me go. I had never felt so relieved to have the life squeezed out of me.

The two of us pulled back and I just smiled brightly at her. Little hands pushed me away from Rose as Ness went in for her hug.

I was then swept off my feet and brought into the biggest bear hug ever. I laughed as Emmett spun me around in circles.

"Let me down, you big oaf." I giggled.

The bear of a man listened to my request and set me down.

"Now, where is the little munchkin?"

I laughed as Ness ran, trying to avoid her uncle but failed in the end.

It was so nice to see her laughing again. It brought tears to my eyes.

"Now don't tell me that P has forgotten about me?" The southern drawl of my best friend spoke from behind me.

I whipped around quickly and brought him into a hug. "Never."

Tears fell out of my eyes as I breathed in Jasper's scent. It had been too long since I last hugged him or even saw him.

He released me from the hug but didn't move his arms from around my waist. I placed my head on his chest and closed my eyes, enjoying the moment.

Emse was the last to arrive. I had to admit, I did miss having Esme around. She would always be more of a mother to me than Rene ever was. The first thing I did when she set her bags down, was hug her.

"I missed you."

Esme wrapped her arms tightly around my body and hugged me back.

"I missed you too Piper."

We were all finally reunited again. It would take some time for us all to adjust to being back together, and get used to not having Edward, Bella, and Carlisle around, but I knew we could do it. We are a family, and family sticks together. Always and Forever.