DC: I don't own it

Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm so excited to start writing Carlisle's over protective side :)

Chapter 3,

The entire Cullen family was in the living room waiting for an introduction. Jasper was sitting in the easy chair, still reading only this time Alice was occupying his lap, reading with him while she waited. Emmett was lounging on one of the sofa's and Rosalie was sitting on the floor beside him, fidgeting with his hand. Bella wondered how someone so huge didn't crush someone so petite.

Esme was standing with Carlisle and Edward...Bella didn't want to look at Edward because she knew that if she did he would know everything she was thinking. And she definitely didn't want him knowing that.

"I have something to tell everyone," Carlisle said. "Edward please don't spoil it."

"As you wish," Edward said with a shrug.

"This is my daughter, Bella," he said, "back in my human life I was married with a family and fate has seemed fit to bring her back into my life. So she'll be staying with us as long as she likes."

"I love getting new sisters!" Emmett said happily.

"How about we all introduce ourselves," Esme suggested, "and Emmett please remember to not leave your bag in the living room and who tracked on my carpet!"

"My bad," Emmett mumbled.

Bella giggled and they all took seats.

"I'll go first!" Alice said happily. "My name is Alice, I don't know anything about my human life so I can't say much about that. But I'm so very happy to meet you! I'm physically eighteen or nineteen. We haven't decided yet. I'm married to Jazz here and I'm a psychic."

"I'm Jasper, I use the surname Hale and Rosalie and I act as twins," Jasper said, "I was born in Texas and I lied about my age to get into the military to fight in the civil war. I was bitten in the late 1800s and I spent the majority of my early life fighting with other vampires for feeding territories. When I grew tired of that life I left and met Alice in a diner in Philadelphia where she had a vision about meeting me. Anyway she had a vision of us meeting Carlisle and Esme."

"That would be a weird explanation," Bella said.

Jasper nodded with a fond smile. "It was funny to say the least."

"They showed up knowing everything about us and asking when they could move in," Carlisle said with a smile, "poor Edward came home to find everything he owned in the garage because Alice wanted his room."

"It had the best view," Alice said with a shrug.

"I know! That's why I chose it!" Edward reminded her. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Believe it or not they are actually very close," Emmett said. Bella looked over at him. "I'm Emmett by the way, I'm from a speck of a town in Tennessee and I was found by this beauty here after being mauled by a bear. I'm twenty, physically."

"I'm Rosalie," the blonde said from the floor, "I was born in Rochford, New York and I am physically eighteen. Carlisle saved me after my fiance and his friends drunkenly raped and tried to kill me..."

"What in the world did you do after that?!" Bella demanded.

"Killed them all," Rosalie said with a twisted smile. Bella smiled too.

"Nice."

"I found Emmett while I was hunting and brought him back and we've been married since."

"How lovely."

Edward was last. Bella looked towards him. She caught his smoldering topaz gaze and was sure that, if she still had blood, it would be pooling in her cheeks and her heart would be racing. That gaze alone made her feel weak in the knees.

"My name is Edward," he said, "I was born in Chicago and my family died in the flu epidemic of 1918. Carlisle was working as a doctor there and my mother begged him to save me. Anyway he was alone and had been for a few centuries so he needed someone to talk to."

Bella giggled and Carlisle mumbled something under his breath.

"So what about you?" Jasper asked.

"She won't tell," Carlisle sighed, "something about it being too long of a story."

"That nobody wants to hear! It is seriously very long!"

"Give us the short version then," Alice said.

"I was born in the 1600s, married at fifteen and vampirized when I was seventeen."

"Oh come on give us more than that!" Alice whined. "Details! Where were you born! Who changed you and why! Interesting things!"

"But it's long and boring!"

"Just get on with it!" Alice whined.

"It isn't important," Bella insisted. "But I will tell you that being bitten was the best thing that could have ever happened. It gave me an escape from my old life and I didn't have to suffer through death. Not to mention the wonderful people I've met."

"But that doesn't answer my question!" Alice pressed.

"I don't want to talk about it!" Bella cried. "I'll tell you sometime, but right now I don't want to think about it."

"But..."

"Alice, enough," Esme said gently, "if she doesn't want to talk about it then she doesn't have to."

Alice pouted, but obeyed and sank back into Jasper's lap.

"You were married?" Carlisle asked, turning back to Bella. She nodded. "To who!"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Saw that coming," Alice pouted.

"This is something we'll talk about young lady!"

"Why," Bella asked with a shrug, "it's over and he's long dead."

"Bell..."

"Drop it!" Bella said loudly.

Edward tell me later

Edward mouthed can't to him behind Bella's back.

Why not?!

Edward shrugged one shoulder, as if fidgeting. Why not indeed? There didn't seem to be anything terribly spectacular about her, and he could read Carlisle's mind as if it was as clear as crystal. But Bella was different. He watched her talk with Alice and it was as if the sound was gone. He saw her lips moving and the way she held herself, but beyond that he was completely unaware of what was going on. He felt time slow around him. Ever slight movement she made, every gesture, breath and word. They all lingered around him. Not being able to see what she had to hide was irritating enough, especially when he knew that she did have something she was hiding, and something big. Something she wouldn't even tell Carlisle who seemed to be the closest to her.

Edward inwardly sighed. He had his work cut out for him.

--

Carlisle sat by the window in his room and looked out at the stars. It was a clear night. A rarity in Forks. He closed his eyes. He could remember when he was human, watching the stars on a lazy summers night. Bella was never able to sit still very long. She clambered over him and chased fireflies. He remembered smiling at her as she rolled in the grass and laughed up at the heavens.

He remembered her kneeling beside her bed to pray. Praying with her. Wishing for the strength to keep her safe and well. He could only imagine what it must have been like for her after he left. She must have felt abandoned. Unwanted.

"You're distracted," Esme observed as she sat across from him.

"She didn't stop crying," Carlisle whispered, "I heard it while I changed. I heard her crying for me. Her mother never loved her like I did. Her mother was determined to give me a son because she thought it was what I wanted."

"Didn't you?"

"I didn't care either way," Carlisle admitted, "when she was pregnant I was overjoyed! When Bella didn't cry or move when she was born I was so scared. I wondered if god would have taken her back so soon. Esme when she started to cry...I couldn't believe it. I knew then she was my miracle. So how did I repay god for his generosity? I chased vampires and in the end I had to leave her. Now, I'm afraid, I've dampened things with you."

Esme sighed and leaned against the glass. "Carlisle, I'll always love you. I just can't help but wonder what else you've kept from me."

"Nothing really," he said with a shrug, moving so he was sitting next to her, "I never talked about Bella because the memories were painful. I never dreamed that I would have seen her again. I wasn't lying when I said I was miserable until I met you."

"It's silly to be jealous, but I can't help it. I would have given anything for my son to be alive again. Give me time to adjust, okay."

"Promise," Carlisle said, sealing his promise with a gentle kiss. "If I could have chosen, I would have wanted her mother to be someone like you."

"Nope," Esme said, shaking her head with a smile, "because then you wouldn't have gotten over her."

"I suppose you're right."

Esme snuggled into his arms and sighed. "Our family just keeps growing doesn't it?"

"I'm happy though."

"I'll bet you are," Esme laughed, "you've always wanted a big family who loves you."

"I never realized how much she meant to me until I was forced to leave," he said, "funny how life works huh?"

"Mmhm," Esme agreed, closing her eyes and snuggling into his arms. "Carlisle I love you even if you are a silly butthead sometimes."

"Well silly buttheads need love too I suppose." Esme laughed and smiled when he kissed the back of her head. "I have always loved you more than any woman in the world. You're my one true wife."

"Flattery will get you far Doctor Cullen."

Carlisle laughed and playfully tickled her sides before they ended up rolling around on the floor, attacking each other with their fingers at first and then their lips. He smiled as he laid on top of her with her hands in his hair, holding him tight against her and her knee up near his waist. He brushed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes and smiled. "Let me make love to you," he requested in a quiet whisper. "My love."

"I'm yours," she whispered back before kissing his neck.

--

Edward sat in his room playing cards with Alice. They both glanced over when they heard their parents and rolled their eyes.

"They're worse than teenagers," Edward muttered as he laid down a jack, barely slapping it before Alice could.

You're just jealous! Carlisle thought to him.

"Shut up Carlisle!" Edward called.

Ignore your father, Edward he's just being an ass.

"You know I really hate it when they think to me while they're having sex."

Hot hot sex!

"DAMN IT CARLISLE!"

"So what do you think about Bella?" Alice asked in a voice so low she knew only he could hear it.

"She seems nice enough," Edward said in the same tone, putting down a card. "I can't read her thoughts."

"Ooh that must be so annoying for you!"

"You have no idea!"

"But she seems very sweet," Alice said, "something is different about her thought. I can't put my finger on it but she seems so eager to change the subject when it comes to her past."

"That's normal I suppose," Edward said with a shrug, "I mean it is a long one and she probably didn't want to bore us."

"I don't think that's it," Alice grumbled, "no, I think she's hiding something."

"And you think it's your job to find out?" Edward asked.

"Yes! Exactly!"

"Look," Edward said, wincing as Alice slapped the jack he put down first, "it's not like she's here for a week. I'm pretty sure that she's here to stay so there will be plenty of time to find out about her history. Don't worry about it! She'll tell us if and when she's ready."

"But I want to know now! Are you sure you can't read her mind?!"

"Positive," Edward sighed, "I've tried over and over again. It's getting really annoying! I don't know how she's doing it but I can't see her thoughts, hear them or anything."

Alice shrugged and put down a jack and Edward slapped it. "Nice one. Maybe that's her ability. You know how like you can read minds and I can see the future. Ask Carlisle what she was like as a child."

"Maybe..."

They trailed off when there was a knock on the door. Edward couldn't hear the thoughts of whoever it was and therefore knew instantly who it was. "Come in," he said.

"Hey are you guys busy?" Bella asked.

"Not really," Alice said, jumping up, "just playing some cards. Wanna join?"

"Actually I was thinking about going for a walk before dawn and I wanted to know if either of you wanted to go."

"That actually sounds nice," Edward said as he stood. "Did you ask anyone else?"

"Well, the blonde boy...Jasper? He was reading his book and complaining about how stuff in it didn't actually happen and the blonde girl...um...Rachel?"

"Rosalie," Alice corrected.

"Oh, sorry, I'm horrible with names. Rosalie said she didn't want to because it was too windy and Emmett..."

"What?"

"Kinda intimidates me," Bella mumbled sheepishly. Both Alice and Edward laughed and if she still could, Bella was sure she would be blushing up a storm.

"Aw I intimidate you?" Emmett asked from behind her making her jump. "I am pretty scary."

"He's a teddy bear!" Alice cried.

"It's just the size," Edward assured her. "He's just a big goof at heart."

"You guys know I'm right here don't you?" Emmett asked. "Anyway there's a town social tonight and I'm going. Anyone with me?"

"That sounds like fun," Esme said from behind him.

"Yeah it will be," Emmett said, "after you two shower from doing the nasty!"

Bella shuddered and everyone laughed. "You'll get used to it," Alice promised.

"They go at it like rabbits!" Emmett laughed.

"Do not!" Esme said, flustered. Bella noticed that Carlisle did absolutely nothing to suggest otherwise. "And yes, we're going to the social tonight. You kids need to mingle if you want to seem normal."

--

The Cullens were doing their usual things. Edward was up in his room listening to music, Jasper was devouring yet another novel, complaining about the inaccuracies with Alice reminding him it was only fiction while she worked on the computer with Rosalie. Emmett was building a massive house of cards with Esme and Carlisle was left with his daughter to catch up over a game of rock paper scissors.

"I'll bet that I can out do you in surgery," Bella said as she covered his rock fist. "Paper beats rock."

"Cheater," Carlisle muttered, "and no, you can't."

"Oh I'm sure I could," she said, getting her scissors crushed by his rock.

"How do you get away with practicing in the same place?" Carlisle asked as his paper was shredded by her scissors.

"Well there is more than one hospital in Italy and with my speed the commute is no problem. That's if I drive. I usually wear wigs or something like that. I start as an intern and dazzle everyone with my brilliance."

"I've been practicing longer than you," Carlisle reminded her.

"And what makes you say that?" Bella asked, wincing as her rock was covered by paper.

"Because for a long time women weren't allowed to be doctors."

"Note that I'm about as chestally developed as a thirteen-year-old boy and my voice isn't exactly the most feminine."

"You dressed as a boy!"

"Mmhm, and before you object Pastor Cullen, there is nothing in the bible that says thou shalt not crossdress to be a doctor."

Carlisle fell back with a groan. "I can't believe my baby girl dressed like a man to be a doctor!"

"Would you rather I have dressed like a man to be a soldier? Because I thought about that too."

"Oh my heavens you'll be the death of me."

"Probably," Bella said with a shrug. "They say that's what happens when you have children. Not that I would know."

"Good! I don't like the idea of you being married!"

"Well good news on that front then," Bella said, rolling back to look up at the ceiling. "Men are pigs and I have no intention of ever marrying again. I hated it enough the first time to last forever."

"It isn't as bad as that if you find the right person."

"Pop you'll have to make up your mind about this or we're going to have problems."

"The idea of you giving yourself to a man makes me a little uneasy," Carlisle admitted, "I don't see you as a young woman yet."

Bella shrugged and jumped up. "I'm bored, entertain me."

"You haven't changed a bit!"

They ended up getting the chess board out and playing casually.

"So did your mother end up getting pregnant again?" Carlisle asked, moving his pawn.

"Why do you ask?" Bella asked.

"She seemed so set on having another, that's all and we...before I was bitten."

"As much as a love hearing about your sexcapades, can we please just treat it like France and pretend it doesn't exist?"

Carlisle laughed and Jasper snickered. "You are an Englishwoman aren't you!"

"It's not my fault! You decided to make me!"

"I don't know if I regret it or not," Carlisle teased earning a pout.

"But to answer your question, no, she didn't get pregnant with you again. She popped out a few with her new husband but they died from a sickness in their early years. I forget how old. Last thing I knew she was pregnant but I was in Italy when she was due to give birth."

"So how long have you been in Italy?" Carlisle asked, capturing her knight.

"I've been all over Europe actually. You know, having fun and seeing history."

"Like what?" Jasper asked.

"Met Napoleon a few times, I told him it would be a good idea to go into Russia."

"What?! Why?!"

"Are you looking for an answer more sophisticated then for fun?"

"Why in the world would he listen?!"

"Because men only think with their southern heads that's why," Bella said with a shrug. "Oh and I got to see the French Revolution."

"I was still in Europe around then," Carlisle said, "actually I was living in the German confederation."

"I stayed there for a little while, mostly because there wasn't much going on in Volterra. The Italian unification was great! Nationalism at it's finest!"

"I thought German unification was more interesting," Jasper admitted, "I would have liked to have seen it."

"Nah, Bismarck was an asshole."

"What about American history?" Alice asked. "Did you see any of that."

"Not really," Bella sighed, "I didn't really jump the pond. I just stayed around Europe and Asia. Aro and I had a good laugh about the civil war and the revolutionary war."

"Hey!"

"Oh look at it from the outside," Bella said, "one half of the country is fighting the other half because they didn't get the president they wanted among other things."

"Just because the damn yankees cheated that doesn't make us any less right!"

Bella giggled and Emmett gave Jasper a high five. "Whatever you say."

"Everyone get ready! We're leaving soon!" Esme called. Emmett whooped and disappeared to his room. He reappeared dressed in blue jeans, a white plaid shirt a cowboy hat and boots. Jasper took a calmer approach to getting ready. He wore a similar outfit and tied his hair back in a small pony tail.

"Yehaw!" Emmett cheered.

"Um, what kind of social is this?" Bella asked Edward.

"Country," he groaned, "fliers have been up around town all month."

Bella had never been to a country dance before. But if so many members of her new family liked it, how hard could it be?

TBC

And yes, I plan on making Bella line dance and country swing. I haven't decided if I'll make her good at it. XP Review! I should be updating Hand of Sorrow shortly. If you haven't read it I suggest you do! It's a dark fic but I love it.