They had tried, lord knows they had tried, to save both vampires. Yet, little Alice's body was so torn beyond compare, and Edward's charred figure was almost unrecognizable. Now, the ashes of the pixie-like girl sit atop the mantel of the fireplace in the living room, every family member seems to find themselves wandering up to the beautiful vase unconsciously at some point in the day. Their gaze rests upon it for a moment, then they have to turn away, because her twinkling voice seems to play in the back of their mind, and it is absolutely unbearable.

However, no one can really get close to Edward's ashes. If the black velvet bow is not being cradled in the arms of his lover, it is sitting not too far away from her trembling form. Of course, Carlisle has his moments as well. One can often find him sitting with his adopted daughter, both staring at the box, topaz eyes clouded with utter grief. He lost his first son, and she understood his pain completely, as he could feel a piece of hers. Sometimes it was better, grieving with someone.

It killed Esme inside, seeing the family so broken. It tore her apart, the loss did, as well. Sometimes, when she is alone, she breaks down, sobbing and moaning both of their names. Almost like, if she could, denying that they are gone will bring them back, and all could be well again.

The normally jubilant Emmet was now the sole sunshine of the family. His tiny accomplice was missing in action, and the normal target of his jokes and pranks was gone. He tried desperately to bring smiles to the dismal faces of his family, and maybe, just maybe, a small laugh. Yet, it wasn't long before the blackness overcame him as well, and he too fell into that depression.

Rosalie was so hounded by guilt that she became timid and paranoid. She had been beside Alice as her sister fell, she should have protected her, she should have saved her. But she was too scared and much too slow, and now that would haunt her for all eternity. She also knew that Jasper blamed her, if not outright, in his tortured mind. She saw the look in his eyes when he first saw her after the battle, he knew it was her fault and blamed her as well as himself. Wasn't that guilt enough? Did she also need the terrible pang of sadness when Bella looked her and Emmet's way when they'd show affection in front of them? Maybe that was her fault as well, the haunted emotion in her newer sister's eyes as she saw Rosalie grab for Emmet's hand. All the gorgeous vampire knew, was that she and Emmet were part of the only two couples intact in the family, and no matter how they may try to deny it, Jasper and Bella would always look at her, Emmet, Carlisle, and Esme with jealousy.