A/N: You guys are so spoiled! Two updates in the same day! SM has the copyright, but I have the free time at work to build on her masterpiece. Again, I am sorry about if I don't get the facts exactly right. Just bear with me :)

CHAPTER SEVEN: OPEN

Her eyes didn't leave Edward's, but all of a sudden she felt as if they were alone instead of in a room full of people. The forceful pulling she felt when Aro searched her mind was was incomparable to opening her mind to Edward. It was as if they were sharing an intimate secret instead of him taking something against her will.

She brought to the surface the memories of last night, when she'd had her last victim. Every single feeling, every thought she had, she bared them all to this man she barely knew. The confrontation with Aro followed, and she winced as she remembered his threats and use of fear to get his way. Next came her much needed shower, the epiphany that she had to leave Volterra, her loneliness and desperation. And, then the best part so far – meeting his family. She could see her relief mirrored in his face as he felt what she had when she realized they could be trusted. Finally, he saw her accepting them completely, wanting to help them even if it meant leaving everything she had ever known.

When he was finished, he still didn't look away, instead bringing his hand to her cheek. Any frustration or anger he had felt for her left his expression. All she saw there was – hope? But hope for what, exactly? There was no time to answer that question, because when his skin found her skin, it was like a shock to her system. Her breath hitched sharply as he touched her and she resisted the urge to read his mind. Not yet - later, she promised herself.

"I'm so sorry - I honestly had no idea." He was searching her face, watching her reaction.

She gently wrapped her fingers around his wrist and removed his hand. The close contact was making her head spin. His face was so close to hers now she could smell the sweetness of his breath in her nostrils. "No apology needed. How could you have known?" she said as she took a step back.

"Um, excuse me, but not all of us can read minds here?!" Rosalie's frustrated voice brought the both back to reality.

Edward glared at Rosalie, then addressed the whole room. "Bella is trustworthy. Although she does find our choice of diet – interesting." A smile played on his lips as he turned to look at her again. She was still trying clear her head. As he caught her eye, she took him in completely for the first time since they'd met, his bronze hair and his topaz eyes, the way the firelight sent diamonds dancing along his skin under the rolled-up sleeves of his button-down shirt. She remembered noticing Carlisle's handsomeness, Emmett's size and Jasper's calm, but war-torn appearance. But now, all she could think about was Edward's beauty. It was intoxicating. She had been attracted to male vampires before, but Aro had always stepped in before things went to far.

Then she understood the electricity that had been felt between them, the attraction that was pounding in her head. Her soul was shouting at her "This is the ONE." Oh, was she glad Edward couldn't read her mind now. Vampires mated for life, but to know like this, with every fiber of her being, out of nowhere - was this really what it was like when you found him? No one had ever told her what to expect or how it worked. She had never been close enough to anyone else with a mate - other then Aro and Caius, whose wives were never around. And Aro despised talking about relationships of any sort.

If anything had been left unsettled in her mind about leaving, this settled it immediately. But because I feel this way, does that mean he does? She wanted the privacy of her shower again. Or the library. Anything. She needed a few minutes to process all this new information without distractions.

"Well, perhaps it would help if we showed her exactly how it works?" Carlisle suggested, getting up and walking over to her. "Would you like to join us for some extracurricular activities tomorrow night? I was hoping to show my family parts of Volterra I fondly remember, and then we were going to head to the forest west of here and hunt."

Despite everything, Bella still managed to grimace at the thought of animal blood instead of humans. "Is it that easy? Do you just make the switch?"

Jasper made a noise that was something between a laugh and a snarl. "Not hardly," he said.

"Oh." Was all she replied.

"It's definitely a process," Edward seemed to be talking more to himself for a moment, but then he met her gaze - could he see her desire for him in her eyes? She certainly hoped not. She wanted to be sure that he at least returned a portion of what she felt before she exposed herself any more to him. "We've all had our slip-ups - except Rosalie, but that's another story altogether. It's important to us, though. It allows us to be together and stay settled in one area for an extended period of time. It's a sacrifice, but one we don't mind making. When we can help ourselves." He added, sliding a glance at Jasper, but Jasper didn't look at him.

"So, wait, you used to feed off humans then?" If this was a change she was going to even consider, she wanted to know exactly how hard it was going to be.

"As I said, we've had our slip-ups," Edward motioned for her to sit next to him in the spot Carlisle had vacated. Carlisle sat next to Esme and took her hand in his. The gesture wasn't lost on Bella. "Carlisle created me, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett. We all did our best, but I had a rebellious period. Rosalie has killed, but not to feed, and Esme - it was easier for her to give up humans because she's so nurturing - but even she had her moments. Emmett's had two of his own, but he says he couldn't help himself. Supposedly they were so irresistible, tries to claim they don't count."

"They don't!" Emmett interjected.

"Alice and Jasper found each other and then found us." Edward continued. "Before they met us, they had the usual diet of humans. Jasper has had the hardest time converting, but we have complete faith in his ability to keep trying."

"Bullshit," Jasper muttered. "I'm a lost cause and you know it."

"Aw Jazz, you know that's not true," Alice purred at him. "It's been months since your last... episode. You're doing so well. Besides, I keep telling you everything is going to be fine."

"Until the next time," but his voice was lighter. "Thanks, babe."

"I'm not going to lie, I'm very curious, albeit somewhat put off, by this whole animal diet," Bella spoke again.

"We call ourselves vegetarians," Carlisle said with a smile, and the whole room broke into laughter. Bella couldn't help but join in. "So we have a date, then? Tomorrow night at dusk - you are welcome to join us on our little tour as well."

She couldn't think of anything else she'd rather do. "I'd be delighted," she answered, standing up to grab her cloak. Edward was there, holding it for her before she got to it.

"What happened to you?" she teased. "Just a few minutes ago you couldn't think of a nice word for me and now you're helping me with my things? Or maybe you're ready for me to leave."

He walked her to the door of their suites and before they parted he whispered against her ear: "Never."

The door shut behind her and she was alone. As she headed for her rooms and some solace and time to think, she formed the image of Edward in her mind, the beginnings of passion stirring in her heart.

She may be alone, but she had a feeling she would never be lonely again.