A/N: Okay, this is the first chapter of Finding Peace. Before I get started I have a few things to say. First of all, if you haven't read the Finding Peace Backstory that I have posted, I advise doing that first because you might be a little lost. Also, I appreciate reviews. I do ask though that nobody tell me Edward wouldn't do this or Alice wouldn't say that. I know. All of the Cullens will be extremely out of character. It's going to be the only way for this plot to work. So please don't tell me what I already know. Finally, I ask that you bear in mind that the Cullens led an army in a war. A war that started because the lost one of their one for no reason. In this war they lost friends and family. They also had to do things they've spent a century trying to avoid. All this would change a normal person so just think about what it would do to the Cullens, who are anything but normal. Okay, I think that's everything.

KARI

This week started off like any normal one. Or rather what's been normal since the day my mom disappeared three months ago. She went to see my younger brother's band director one morning and just never came back. There was no investigation into what actually happened but I'm pretty sure she was a meal for one of the monsters (vampires) that had taken over the world.

Being the oldest child, my mother's disappearance, I began working as a third shift cashier at Wal-Mart. I would work from eleven at night to seven in the morning every night. Then I'd come home and get my siblings ready for school while my dad worked days.

Skyler was the easiest. She was sixteen and a sophmore in high school. She begged me and our father to let her quit school and get a job. She wanted to help with the bills since we no longer had my mom's income. I refused to allow her to do that. She needed to graduate. I refused to let those monsters take that away from any of my siblings. My brother Matthew who was fifteen and a freshman was a different story. He fought me everyday because he didn't want to leave me alone.

"What if they attack and no one's here to protect you?" he would say.

"Then I'll be happy you're not hear to get hurt as well." I would answer.

Meggie was thirteen and in the eighth grade. She would clinge to me everyday. She was so scared that the same thing that happened to mom would happen to her. She'd go to school and just not come back. I would reassure her the best I could every morning. The problem was, she might not come back and there would be nothing I could do to stop it.

Then there were the twins, Micheal and Amelia, they were only six and in the first grade. We thought that it was best just to tell them, that mommy went on a vacation and we weren't sure when she was coming back. I mean how do you tell six year olds that there mother had been eaten by vampires.

I didn't let them walk or ride the bus. I'd do my best to protect them whenever and wherever possible. I drove all of them to there different schools in our mom's mini van that our dad decided to keep. We sold my Jeep Tracker for a little extra money a month after my mom disappeared.

After dropping them off, I would go home and sleep till about two in the afternoon. When I got up, I would clean the house, do laundry, and fix dinner. Dad would go pick up the kids from their different schools and bring them home. I'd then help them with their homework while dad took a shower. After dinner, I would catch a couple more hours of sleep before I had to go back to work.

It was a difficult life for a recently graduated eighteen year old but I don't have a choice. I have to do the best I can to hokd this family together or who knows what would happen to us.

Like I said, the week started out like a normal week. That was until, I came home from work and found a notice on our door.

It looked official and beared the Cullen crest. I almost passed out right there on the porch. I didn't need to read it to know what it was. The Cullens were the vampire coven or "family" ,as they preferred to be called, that took over America. They were wealthy and greedy.

To improve their wealth, they would collect humans to sell as slaves and meals to vampires in other countries. They'd choose a town every month and spend a week inspecting the humans they wished to collect. The families who lived in the town were given three days notice to prepare for the collection. They took who they wanted. It didn't matter how old they were or what kind of family they came from. All they cared about was what humans would make them the most money.

I stood on the porch, staring at the notice in my hand. They were coming in a week to destroy my family some more. Well, they'd have a surprise when they got here. I wouldn't let them take any of us. Not without a fight at least. I hide my family if I had to. We had a bomb shelter.

That's it. I'd make my dad spend all of next week down there with them. When the Cullens came, I let them do what they wanted with me but I would refuse to tell them were the family was. I wouldn't let them take any more of us. Wasn't our mother enough?

I tried my best to make my face a blank mask as I crumbled the notice and threw it on the ground. I stepped inside to hear the bustle of my siblings getting ready for school.

"Kari," Meggie yelled. "Matthew won't giving my social studies book!"

"Matthew, give it back to her and get ready for school." I yelled and continued into the house.

Skyler was sitting on the couch watching music videos, all ready to go, like usual.

"Are you okay, Kari?" Skyler asked as I walked to the dining room. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"I'm fine, Sky." I replied. I didn't want to say anything to them until I talked to dad. Then we could tell them together. "Just a rough night. Where's Mike and Mia?"

"Getting ready for school." Skyler answered. "By the way, I know how much you have to do,so I did a load of towels."

"Thanks sweetheart." I looked at the clock on my cell phone. "It's seven thirty, guys." I yelled. "We need to get going."

One by one, the kids came out of their rooms and I drove them to school. I held in the tears until Skyler and Matthew got out then I just let them flow. What was she going to do. She needed to protect her family but how could she protect them from a coven of vampires.

LATER THAT NIGHT...

I skipped my pre-work nap so I could talk to my dad after I put the kids to bed. He was sitting on the couch, watching reruns of Cold Case. I sat down in the rocking chair across from the couch.

"Dad, can you turn the T.V. off for a minute?" I asked. "I need to talk to you about something important."

He picked up the remote and clicked the television off.

"What's the problem Kar-bear?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know if you heard anything at work today but the Cullens are doing their monthly human collection." I can't believe that rolled off my tongue like it was a normal montly tradition. Sadly, people did use it as a topice of small talk.

"I heard it was getting to be about that time." he replied.

I looked up at him, not wanting to say the words I had to say. He must have known what I was trying to tell him because the color drained from his face.

"No. No." he said shaking his head. "They can't. My kids are just babies."

"You know that doesn't matter to those monsters. All they care about is making money. Not who they hurt along the way." I said bitterly.

"I know but I can't let them take any of you." he said.

"You can let them take me." I said. My heart was thudding in my chest. I had to protect my family even if it meant my freedom or life.

"No, I can't let you do that." he said.

"You can and you must. The kids already lost their mother. The can't lose their father too. I'v been thinking about it today and I think you cguys should hide down in the bomb shelter when they come. Then I can convinced them to take me and go. Or," and I took a deep breath. "Kill me and go. Just as long as they leave you guys alone."

"But Kari..."

"Look, Dad, for the past three months, I've been mom to these kids. I've helped you pay the bills and take care of the house. I've given up the time I should be spending with friends to help this family. You owe me this!"

I hated playing the guilt card on him but I had to make him hear me. I had to make him let me save the family.

"I owe you the chance to risk your life. I don't think so." he said shaking his head.

"No, you owe me the chance to protect this family. I might be able to save them if youlet me do this!"

"But even if we hid. You know how keen their senses are. They'll still find us."

"Not if I can distract them with my scent. Dad, please, you have to live. These kids need you more than they need me. We both know that."

He stared at me hard for a minute. I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't want to agree but knew he had no choice. After a long minute, he nodded his consent.

"Just be careful. Don't piss them off too much." he said. "Especially Edward. I heard he gets really nasty when he's angry."

I knew how nasty Edward got all too well. He killed my penpal's mother when the Cullens were in California. It was all because he didn't like they way she was looking at him.

"Dad, it'll be okay. I promise." I said and left for work.

I cried all the way to work because I just lied to my father for the first time. I was pretty sure things were going to be anything but okay in three days.

A/N: I know this chapter is kind of weak. Don't hate the story because of it. I've already set up for the Cullens' part of it but needed to set up for Kari's family's side. It does get better, I promise. Also, this is the first time I've tried to write a story in first person. I hope it turned out okay. Hug for my reviewers.