Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

A/N: Hey just wanted to say thanks again. I've never let anyone read my writing before, so it is so amazing to me that people actually like it and want to read it. Thanks again.

Welcome Home

Recap

He just shook his head making his messy bronze hair sway with the motion. His face went from confusion to amusement as he continued to stare at me. Now it was my turn to be confused. Why was he just standing there staring at me? Did I have something on my face? After about five minutes, I'd had enough.

"What?" I said, slightly annoyed.

He just laughed. It sounded like bells. Then he said, "What? Don't tell me you honestly forgot about me Bells."

As soon as I heard his voice, I realized where I knew him from. He was older and had definitely grown up quite a bit, but I was him all right. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped.

"Edward?"

Welcome Home

"Well it took you long enough," he laughed. I jumped up and hugged him fiercely. He laughed again and hugged me back just as tight.

"Nice to see you too, Bells."

I laughed as I remembered what I said to my dad yesterday. I pulled back and looked up at him. How had he gotten so much taller then me?

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still looking into his emerald eyes. I had to admit, he was very good looking. He really had grown up.

"My dad got reassigned, so we moved here at the beginning of the summer two weeks ago," he said smiling broadly. I couldn't help but smile back. But then my smile faded as I thought of something. His, in return, disappeared.

"So when do you have to move again?" I asked quietly.

His smile returned as he said, "I'm not. I told my dad I was tired of moving, so next time he leaves, me and my mom are staying here. So what are you doing here?"

I froze, only for a second, but long enough for him to sense something was wrong. I couldn't tell him about the cancer. I just couldn't. He wouldn't treat me the same, and all I wanted was my best friend back. I quickly put a convincing smile on my face, the one I had used with all the doctors when I told them I was okay.

"Well Dad is the police chief here. I had lived with Mom long enough and decided it was time to give Dad a chance. And I was tired of burning up every time I walked outside." It was very believable. I had gotten very good at hiding my feelings over the years. Or so I thought.

"Right," he mumbled looking slightly suspicious. Then he just shrugged and said, "I haven't seen you in ages. Come on, let's go do something."

And with that he took my hand and pulled me through the numerous bookshelves. Once we were outside, we ran over to a silver, shiny Volvo. He opened the passenger door for me, and I quickly got in out of the rain. He ran around the front and was inside within seconds.

"What about my truck?" I asked him.

"We'll come get it later."

"What about my dad. He won't know where I am."

"Relax, Bella. Have a little fun," he said smiling a beautiful crooked smile my way. I felt a grin immediately spread across my face. How did he do that?

"Okay. Where are we going anyway?" I asked, curious now.

"To my house. My mom is just going to die when she sees you. She'll be so excited. And my dad…well you know my dad. He always thought of you as a daughter in Chicago. He'll be thrilled too, just in his own way. And Alice-"

"Who's Alice?" I said, cutting him off.

"Oh yeah, you never met her. She's my sister. My parents adopted her right after you moved. You'll love her. If she doesn't annoy you to death, that is."

He turned on the radio and my favorite song came on.

"I love this song," I said turning it up.

He looked over at me. His expression was unreadable for a moment, but then it quickly became amused. "Same old Bella," he said. "I should've known you would like it."

The car suddenly came to a stop. I hadn't even realized where we were going. Now we were pulled up in front of a huge, three story house. It was, hands down, the most beautiful house I had ever seen. He got out. I went to open my door, but found that he was already holding it open for me with his hand out waiting to help me. He always had been a gentleman.

"Why, thank you" I said, smiling as I took his hand.

"Well, you're so very welcome," he said, grinning in response.

We walked up the driveway and onto the porch. He opened the door and led the way in to the foyer.

"Mom, Dad. You'll never guess who's here," he yelled through the house.

I heard his mother coming around the corner. " If it's Emmett or Jasper, tell them no more footballs in the house. They almost broke-"

I never heard what they broke, for at that moment she walked into the foyer, saw me, and froze. "Is that little Bella Swan?"

I nodded. She ran up to me and threw her arms around me. I stifled a giggle that was rising in my throat. I looked over her shoulder at Edward, who had no interest in suppressing his laughter.

"Oh my goodness. We haven't seen you in three years. What are you doing here?" She rushed through her words, making them hard for me to catch. I gave her the same excuse I gave Edward.

"What's with all the screaming down there," I heard a high, soprano voice shout down the stairs. A short, pixie-like girl, who I can only assume would be Alice, came down the immaculate staircase quickly following the voice. She had black hair and was very pretty. She looked to be around my age.

"Oh I see. You must be Bella. It's so nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you," she said, running up and pulling me into yet another hug. 'This family sure likes to hug' I thought to myself. I looked over at Edward again to see him glaring at Alice and blushing a deep shade of crimson. I quickly looked away, wondering what that was all about.

A few hours and an insisted dinner later, I was walking out the door of the Cullen home, thanking them for everything. We got into Edward's car and he drove me back to the library to pick up my truck.

"Hey," he said as I reached for the door handle. I turned around and looked at him. Wow, he was gorgeous. No he's just your friend. I mean it's only Edward, for crying out loud.

"Do you want to come over tomorrow? I was thinking you, me, and Alice could do something," he said, smiling that crooked smile.

"Yeah, sure," I responded automatically.

His smile grew bigger. "Okay. See you tomorrow."

"Okay," I said smiling. Wow. I had smiled more today than I had in a long time. I got into my truck and drove home with a stupid, idiotic grin on my face. When I got home, Dad's cruiser was already in the driveway.

"Hey kiddo," he yelled from the living room as I walked through the door. I strolled into the living room, still smiling. "Well don't you look happy," he commented as he saw my face.

"You'll never guess who I ran into today," I sang.

"Who?" he asked, seeming truly curious to know who had made me so joyful.

"Edward Cullen," I replied, my smile growing bigger as I said his name.

My dad's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're kidding. What's he doing here?"

I quickly told him how his dad had got reassigned, about his family and his new sister Alice, and that I was going over tomorrow.

"Well, good. I have to work again tomorrow, and I didn't want you to be at home by yourself all day," he mumbled, yawning slightly.

We went upstairs after that. As I climbed into bed, I realized I was right yesterday. Something life-changing had occurred.