A/N: Next chapter!!!

P.S. This chapter is dedicated to…Mr. Jasper-Hale and 'Jasper' for wanting more Bella and Jasper bonding time, and to kataang2 for being my No. 1 fan. That's just so cool that I actually have a no. 1 fan…LOL. Thank you for reviewing, all of you.

Disclaimer: SM owns it all.

POVs: Edward, Bella, Jasper

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Edward's POV

Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and Esme came back a few minutes before dawn. They'd hunted more enough to satisfy themselves for two weeks.

Hey, Edward, how's Bella doing?

I stopped playing my piano and turned to face them. They were already sitting on the couch. I heard Carlisle coming out of his study to join us, so I went to sit on the armchair. "Good," I replied Alice's unspoken question.

No one questioned this anymore-I'd been having silent conversations with them all for years. But for some strange reason, all five of them were acting strangely. I couldn't quite understand it. They were fidgeting in their seats, and looking anywhere but at me.

I couldn't sense anything wrong with their thoughts, though. Alice was thinking of the shopping spree she'd have to bring Bella on. Poor girl.

Emmett was thinking of Rose in…Certain ways. I winced, trying to block out his thoughts as much as I could. It was unnerving, even after all these years, to hear his thoughts go in that direction. This was my brother and sister we were talking about. I'd never get used to it.

Jasper was debating with himself on a new book he'd gotten about the Civil War. He'd thought most of the details were inaccurate. Well, if anyone were to know, Jasper would.

Rosalie was thinking whether she should get a new hairstyle. I rolled my eyes and moved on to Esme, who was just wondering if Bella had had enough to eat.

"It's fine, Esme," I reassured her. "I didn't forget to feed her."

Esme clicked her tongue, thinking. "But she's human, Edward. She's going to need a lot more food…Constantly."

I nodded my head. I'd done that. I gave her three solid meals, and whenever she was hungry for a snack, I fixed her a sandwich or gave her some juice. She was fine.

But something wasn't completely right. They still looked guilty or awkward…As if they had something to hide…I narrowed my eyes. What could they be hiding?

I felt a sense of calm and contentment and shot Jasper a dark look. He'd sensed my suspicion and confused me enough with a feeling of joy. Jasper smiled back at me innocently.

I scowled.

Just then, Carlisle came into the living room. He, too, sensed something strange about the others.

Edward, do you know what's going on?

I shook my head almost imperceptibly.

Carlisle took the hint and sat next to Esme. She smiled and kissed him tenderly. I smiled at that. Leave it to Carlisle and Esme to show us how loving two parents could be-towards each other and towards their children.

"Right, well, we have certain things to discuss," Carlisle said, looking at all of us. I had talked to Carlisle about telling Bella about us. It was something she certainly needed to know.

"Yes!" Alice said, without giving Carlisle a chance to say what was on his mind.

"Alice," Carlisle said reprovingly.

Alice settled back in her seat and took Jasper's hand, but she was still grinning. I knew she already saw Carlisle bringing up the subject and she was excited for Bella to know. "Sorry," she said to Carlisle.

He continued, "Bella would be joining our family soon. Being what we are…It's important for her to know. Edward has proposed that we tell her before the representative shows up later on this morning. I'd like to know your opinions on this matter."

The room was silent for a moment. This was a very vital decision. No one had ever just revealed our secret to a human being. It wasn't just revealing our secret, but revealing our world. Bella would know there are others like us.

"I think we should," Esme was the first to break the silence. "She has the right to know who we really are," she explained herself.

But it would scare her! And what if the adoption agency and Child Services refuse us the right to adopt Bella? What then? A human girl who happens to know about us out there? Rosalie was thinking.

I hissed at her. "What? Don't you trust Bella with our secret?" I snapped at her.

I expected Emmett to jump to Rosalie's defend, and was mildly surprised when he didn't. Of course, Rose didn't need to be defended. She could easily be the most vicious one among us when she was angry. What surprised me more was when Rosalie merely looked amused at my reaction.

Alice was right.

"Alice was right about what?" I asked, my eyes narrowing once more.

Rosalie backtracked, and Alice shot her a worried glance before relaxing. She was blocking my thoughts, which meant that she didn't want me seeing something. Probably a vision that had caused her to stop worrying in less than a second.

"I just meant that Bella would be in danger if she knew," Rosalie pointed out. "The Volturi-"

"Will mind their own business," I interrupted. "Bella's ours. It's got nothing to do with them."

"I think we should tell her," Jasper agreed. But then, I knew he was going to side with Alice.

"Yeah, me too," Emmett said, grinning.

Rosalie hesitated for a second. "Okay," she nodded. "We should. I'm only saying this because Alice said Bella was most definitely staying, and I didn't want to have to lie to her all the time," she said defensively before any of us could pull out an uncharacteristic 'I-told-you-so'.

The sun had already risen, and the place was lighter now. Carlisle nodded his head. "Then we'll tell her after breakfast. It'll give her some time to think before the agent gets here…" He sighed. I wish she could have more time to digest this. I don't want to scare her off.

I concurred whole heartedly. But there was no time left.

In Alice's head, I suddenly caught a vision of how today would plan out.

"Is that why your hands are so cold?" Bella asked, tracing invisible patterns on my palm while she sat on my lap. I nodded my head, waiting anxiously for her to speak. "Will you hurt me?" I shook my head. "Never, Bella. I only want you safe."

Then suddenly, Bella was older. Much older. She looked to be sixteen now, nearly my age, by way of appearances. She was wearing a midnight blue dress, with a black ribbon around the waist. Her long, mahogany hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her brown eyes were the most captivating ones I'd ever seen…They pulled me in deeper. I felt like being lost in her soul. She was glancing in front of her shyly, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Hi," she said, her eyes sparkling, the most wonderful blush painting her cheeks. The sound of her voice alone was enough to send my dead heart soaring. If I were alive, I'd have been wishing for death just to hear her speak again. She looked like an angel. But who was she talking to? Who was she smiling at? I couldn't see…

I think Jasper would look great in a fireman's uniform. Yes, I could just see it now…I wonder if I could persuade him to carry a hose…

I stared at Alice, stunned. What on earth…?

But she kept thinking of Jasper in several different outfits, and I blocked her out. I didn't want to hear that at all. But her visions…I couldn't understand it. I couldn't even understand the emotions surging through me at that vision.

Protective. Yes, that was it. I felt protective of Bella. If she were to grow up to become that magnificent, beautiful creature…I shook my head. She would put Rosalie to shame, and that was saying something. I winced, imagining the boys that would be after her. I would have to talk to Carlisle and Esme about that when she's older. I don't think dating would be a very good idea at all.

Suddenly, I heard Bella moving about in her bed upstairs. I heard her mumble something, and the rustle of sheets. She was about to wake up.

"Lemme wake her up!" Emmett jumped off the couch.

"No!" six vampires half yelled at him. He looked at us in shock.

Rosalie rolled her eyes at him. "You'd find some incredulous way to wake her up and she'd get scared out of her mind. Not a good start for today, Emmett," she chided him.

Emmett pouted. "Please, Rose? I promise I won't do anything bad…I just missed the little squirt!"

She sighed. Emmett could be a real teddy bear when he wanted to be. How could she say no to that?

So she gave in.

And not two second later, she was already yelling at him for scaring Bella off.

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I watched Bella leave with Jasper, hand in hand. She enjoyed reading to Jasper, ever since her first day here. She'd wandered into the library, found Jasper reading his new Civil War book, and had forced him to listen to her attempts at reading The Little Prince.

I couldn't believe it. She had looked me straight in the eyes, saw the truth in me, and hadn't been completely repulsed by what I was. No, she had touched my hand, my cheek, had cried when she thought she'd upset me…I really had to stop making her cry. It was getting ridiculous. Did all children cry this much?

Then I turned my attention back to my family. Jasper was trying hard not to laugh at Bella when she'd mispronounced the words in the Cat in the Hat.

But the rest of them…Were thinking of something other than Bella. Anything but her. Carlisle didn't know anything, I could tell. He was concerned about the agent coming today, wondering how it would all turn out.

The others were thinking of different things. Alice started singing the Star Spangled Banner in Chinese, Arabic and Hebrew. Rosalie started to picture Emmett doing an Egyptian dance-oh God, Emmett, what were you thinking!? Esme was thinking of how she'd get to cook human food now, and begun listing all the recipes she'd known-including listing the ingredients and methods. Emmett was thinking of how he'd beat me and Jasper in a wrestling match later on tonight.

None of them were thinking of Bella. Which was odd considering these past few days, she had been the only thing on their minds. And after such a big revelation and such a big challenge to come, they should be thinking of nothing but Bella!

They were hiding something.

I threw up my hands in the air.

"What are you hiding from me?" I accused, looking at the four I knew weren't innocent. Carlisle looked shocked. "Just tell me already. You know I'll find out!"

Alice smiled sweetly at me. "Nothing, dear brother. Why would you think something's up?"

"Maybe because you're singing the Star Spangled Banner in every language possible?" I shot back at her sarcastically. I gazed at them all until I found Emmett. He was practically waiting for the chance to tell me, bouncing very Alice-like in his seat.

"Emmett?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to intimidate him into telling me.

He didn't need intimidation. Excitement was enough.

"Well, see-"

Rosalie cut him off by jumping into his lap and kissing him long and hard. His words as well as his thoughts were cut short.

I rolled my eyes and jumped off my seat. I did not need to see this!

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Bella's POV

I woke up to Emmett's huge grin an inch above mine. I shrieked, momentarily frightened, before I remembered. Of course, Emmett found this incredibly funny, and pulled back to allow me to sit up in bed. He was chortling, his booming laughter bouncing off the walls.

"Emmett!" I heard Rosalie shout. "I told you not to scare her!"

Then a huge smile spread on my face. They were back! They were all back! As much as I loved spending time with Edward, and later with Carlisle, I wanted to spend the time with the rest of them, too. I missed them.

"Emmy!" I squealed, throwing up my arms so he knew I wanted him to pick me up. He chuckled, and lifted me into his arms.

"Aw, hey sweet angel," he greeted me, planting a wet and sloppy kiss on my cheek. I giggled and wipes off his slobber. "Did Edward bore you?"

"Me?" Edward asked, leaning against the door frame, a hand over his heart, looking hurt.

I shook my head furiously. "No!" I protested. "We went…" I didn't exactly know where we went, but it was really pretty there. "Out," I finished lamely.

Edward and Emmett both chuckled at this.

"Come on, go brush your teeth-Esme's making chocolate chip pancakes," Edward told me. I brightened up and squirmed in Emmett's arms, wanting to get down. He obliged and I ran-stumbling a few times-to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth as quickly as possible and splashed my face with water.

I glanced at the tub behind me in the mirror longingly. I wasn't allowed to go into the tub alone. Rose or Alice or Esme had to be there. But I really wanted to take a bath…Rosalie had gotten me strawberry bubble bath. I loved it.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I jumped. "It's me, kid," Alice's musical voice floated through the door. "I've got your clothes for today with me. Do you want to take a bath now or after breakfast?"

I started jumping. "Now! Now!" I ran to the door and unlocked it, letting Alice in. She laughed, a sound that reminded me of chiming bells, and closed the door behind her.

"Alright, get ready, angel," she smiled down at me. "I'll run the bath."

I nodded my head and waited patiently for Alice to turn on the tap and fill the bath with water and bath salt. The smell of strawberries was already filling up the room. "Okay, angel, in you go," she tilted her head in the direction of the bath. I wriggled out of my nightgown and held my arms out to Alice. She gently placed me in the bathtub.

Rosalie said I shouldn't go in alone in case I slipped and fell and hurt myself, or if an accident happened. It would probably happen if I did it on my own. I was very clumsy. But Alice would keep me safe, I know it.

I splashed around in the water, and Alice played with me, dropping my bath toys in the water-a ship, a duck, a frog…She'd gotten all these for me my first day here. When I woke up in the morning, Alice and Rosalie had taken me into the bathroom for a bath and everything was already there.

When I'd even finished cleaning behind the ears, Alice wrapped me in a towel and carried me out of the tub. We dried off, and I slipped into a pair of jeans with a flower on one leg, and a red t-shirt.

She carried me back to my room and sat me down in front of the vanity.

"Try not to get too much dirt on it later when you play with the boys, okay?" Alice smiled at me as she did my hair. I would have just wanted it to be untouched. Why bother? Like Alice said, I was going to play with the boys. Esme would want it to be outside because the last time we played, Emmett threw a football and it ended up breaking a vase. Esme was mad at him…

Alice pinned up my hair on both sides and let the rest cascade down my back. She scrutinized me for a moment, finger on her chin, arms crossed. She looked like she was trying to make a big decision. I tried not to roll my eyes. Obviously, Alice treated looks as a very important thing. I hoped she wouldn't be like this forever.

"Okay, you're all set!" she said finally, and I hopped off the chair.

"Come on, Alice, Esme's making chocolate chip pancakes," I tugged at her hand, trying to get her to go faster.

"Curse Edward for telling her that," she mumbled under her breath.

I stopped moving altogether and stared at her. "It's not nice to curse," I informed her.

Alice looked stunned for a moment, then she laughed. Shaking her head, she kissed my forehead. "Of course it isn't. I'm sorry, Bella, angel. Will you forgive me?"

I shrugged. "Okay. But you should really say sorry to Edward."

We made it down the stairs just as Esme was putting the pancakes on the dining table. I walked over to Edward and tugged at his sleeve. He looked down at me, and smiled. He pulled out the earpiece he was using and put his iPod away.

"Do you want to sit with me?" he asked.

I smiled widely and nodded my head, raising my arms over my head. He took the hint and lifted me off the ground. I settled on his lap and reached for the pancakes.

I wanted to ask for chocolate milk but Rosalie made me drink plain white milk instead. She said it would help my bones grow strong. I don't see how chocolate milk would be any different.

Then Carlisle cleared his throat. "Bella, someone's coming today," he begun. I stiffened, and Edward must have felt it because he rubbed his hands up and down my arms soothingly. I relaxed a little. Only a little.

"She just wants to talk to you, and to us. She wants to see if you're doing okay here or if you want to be with another family," he explained to me.

Despite myself, and his explanations and Edward's reassurances, I started to panic. What if this woman didn't think I should be with the Cullens? What if she took me away?

My bottom lip quivered in that annoying way it did every time I was upset. It was always the give away, and everyone would know I was beginning to cry. I hated it. "But I don't wanna be with 'nother fam'ly," my words weren't coming out complete now because I was starting to cry.

The others looked at each other in panic, and I realized that they might not want a girl who cried at every little thing. That, of course, just made me cried harder.

Edward wrapped his arms around my waist, and leaned forward so that I could feel his chest against my back. "Shh," he said. I felt his lips at my ear, blowing coolly. I couldn't help but giggle at the funny feeling it caused. "I told you, Bella. We won't let anyone take you away from us," he whispered.

"Promise?" I sniffed.

He smiled at me and kissed my hair. "Promise."

I leaned back into his cold arms and rested my head on his shoulder, smiling. "What will I have to say to her?" I asked, worried.

Carlisle shrugged. He was smiling widely for some reason, but I didn't mind. He looked very handsome when he smiled that big. "Don't worry, Bella," he said gently. "Just go through the morning like any other morning. Play with the boys-"

"-Just don't get too much dirt on her outfit," Alice interrupted. "It looks really good on her and I-"

"-Do some reading," Carlisle interrupted Alice, glaring at her a little. Alice fell back in her chair, shutting her mouth. I giggled at the sight. It was the first time I'd seen Alice stop ranting about clothes. "Watch a little bit of TV…Anything you want. If she asks you a question, answer as honestly as possible. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded my head and tilted my head to the side, scanning the room. I missed the Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Esme when they were gone yesterday. I knew it was only a day, and I was being irrational, but I still missed them.

Emmett caught my eye when I looked at him, and waved his fingers. I blushed, and waved back, burying my face in Edward's chest. I heard Emmett's booming laughter a second later.

"Bella?" Esme's soft voice drew me to her. I looked up to see her looking down at me tenderly. She looked so beautiful, and so motherly. She didn't look anything like my mother, but she reminded me of her. Her concern, her love, the looks she always gave me. Not to mention my mother always cooked for me, just like she did.

"We have to tell you something," Esme said. "Will that be okay? Can you keep a secret?"

I straightened up in Edward's grip. "I can! I can!" I yelped. I could keep a secret…I knew I could.

They all laughed a little at my enthusiasm, but they stopped after a while. I noticed that they all looked very serious. I bit my lip, worried. Was I in trouble?

"Bella, before you become a part of our family," Esme began. "I want you to know something about us. But it's a big secret, and no one can ever know, okay? Otherwise we'd all be in very big trouble. Can you promise that you will never tell anyone?" she asked, leaning forward in her seat to take both my hands in hers.

I begun chewing on my lip-a habit I picked up from my mother. I always did it whenever I'm upset or worried. I nodded my head. I didn't want any of them to be in any kind of trouble. If keeping their secret would help them, then I would. Besides, I was excited to know their secret and be a part of it.

"Do you know what vampires are?" Esme asked me, her beautiful eyes probing me for an answer.

I thought back. There was one time when daddy wanted to watch Dracula. It was when mommy was in Phoenix to visit her best friend…He'd said we should do everything mommy wouldn't allow us to do.

I was four years old at the time, so the movie made me scared. I couldn't sleep alone for weeks, thinking Dracula was going to show up out of nowhere and bite me. Mommy got real mad at daddy for a long time.

I nodded again. "Yes. Like Dracula," I said brightly. Esme cracked a smile at this. "I watched the movie with daddy. It scared me…Mommy told him to sleep on the couch for a week."

"With good reason," I heard Rosalie said.

"Rose!"

"Like you weren't thinking it!"

I didn't understand any of this. Thinking what? And why was Esme asking me about Dracula? Were they going to watch the movie again? If they were, I'd rather go play in my room. Maybe Edward could come with me…

"See, my family and I…" Esme hesitated and shot Alice a look. When Alice nodded, Esme turned back to me, took a deep breath and continued. "We're vampires, too."

I stared at her. This had to be a joke. Mommy told me every night that vampires weren't real. She told me that monsters weren't real, and that I was safe. So how could the Cullens be vampires when vampires don't exist?

But Dracula scared me. Why didn't I feel scared around the Cullens? I felt safe with them, happy even. And it was hard to believe that Edward would kill me. Or any of them, really.

"You are?" I asked bluntly. I didn't know what else to say.

Esme nodded and let go of my hands. She had a worried look on her face, as if she was afraid what I might do or say next. I myself didn't know how to react.

So I did the only thing that I could think of-I turned to the only person I knew who made sense to me. Edward. He was looking at me cautiously, too. I kept waiting for them to say "Just kidding!". But looking into Edward's eyes, seeing the honesty in their golden depth…I couldn't doubt it.

His arms weren't touching me now. They had fallen off my waist. I grabbed one of his hands and flipped it, tracing invisible lines on the pale skin. Was this why he always felt so cold to me? I looked up at him. "Is that why your hands are so cold?" I asked him in a whisper.

Edward looked pained, but he simply nodded his head.

Oh. So he was a vampire. They all were. But I'd been staying with them for days now. If they'd wanted to hurt me, wouldn't they have done it already? And they treated me like family. I had never had this much fun before, not even with mommy and daddy.

"Will you hurt me?" I asked him softly.

His golden eyes widened, and he shook his head. "Never, Bella. I only want you safe."

I looked at him in confusion. I'd seen the movie, and when I didn't understand it, daddy had explained. Vampires needed to drink people's blood, or they'll die. "But won't you need to drink my blood?" I asked him, tilting my head to one side as I studied his features. Was being a vampire the reason he looked as if he was carved out of stone?

Edward's eyes widened and he spluttered for a few good seconds before regaining himself. "No, Bella…We're not like that. See, bad vampires drink people's blood. They have red eyes and they're very mean," he told me. "But good vampires, like us, drink animal blood. We don't-we don't hurt people. We won't hurt you."

I chewed on my bottom lip. Huh. I never thought of that. There were good vampires and bad vampires. Well, mommy said there were good people and bad people, so why would vampires be any different?

Edward looked incredibly uncomfortable talking about this, though. I wanted nothing more than to reassure him, and see him smile again.

I smiled up at him, and touched his cheek with a hand. "Okay."

He raised an eyebrow at me, and frowned. I noticed Alice, Esme and Carlisle smiling, though. Jasper looked smug about something, and Emmett and Rosalie looked shocked. But Edward…He looked almost angry.

"Okay?" he choked out.

I nodded my head, frowning now, too.

"Bella, we just told you we're vampires!" he snapped. "Aren't you upset? Afraid? Angry?"

I wasn't. I wasn't feeling any of those things. I just felt happy. I had Edward with me, my best friend. I had Alice, and the entire Cullen family with me. They wanted me to be a part of their family. They trusted me enough with a secret so important, no one else could know.

So why was Edward so mad at me? Didn't he want me to know? Didn't he want me to stay? Did he want me to be so scared off that I would run away and never come back? Was that what he wanted?

I felt the tears starting again, and groaned inwardly. Why on earth did this have to happen to me.

Edward looked guilty, as if regretting his sudden outburst. His cold hands cupped my cheeks and his thumbs brushed away the tears as they fell. "I'm sorry, Bella," he whispered. He looked like he was in agony. Why? "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you. Will you forgive me?"

I refused to answer. "Why did you get mad at me?" I asked, sniffing, trying to stop my tears.

"I just…" He sighed. "I never expected you to be so calm. Any normal person would be scared of me," he smiled that crooked smile, and suddenly, I couldn't be upset with him anymore.

I gave him a watery smile. I was pretty sure my nose was red by now from all the crying. "You're not scary at all," I teased him.

Edward grinned at me, and started tickling me again. "Stop! STOP!" I laughed, squirming around. I was gasping from laughing so hard. My stomach actually hurt. Edward smiled and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you for not being afraid, then," he whispered. I giggled. That was probably the strangest thing someone has ever said to me. That and 'we're vampires'.

Carlisle reached over to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen from the hair clip Alice had pinned. "So do you still want to stay with us?" he asked me, smiling.

I nodded my head, blushing.

I nodded my head and Carlisle grinned, patting my hand. "Good. Because we want you to stay with us, too." I couldn't help feeling exceptionally happy when he said this. "The lady from the agency be here in a few hours so, why don't you read to Jasper in the meantime?"

I wriggled down from Edward's lap and ran to Jasper. He smiled, and stood up, taking my hand to lead me to the library. I'd read to Jasper a few times, to improve on reading and pronouncing words. I think I was getting better…At least Jasper didn't laugh at me every five seconds anymore.

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Jasper's POV

"Pilipinis."

That's it. I couldn't take it. That was the third word she'd messed up and we'd only started five minutes ago. I burst out into laughter. I felt her confusion and her frustration turn into embarrassment and anger.

I clutched at my sides and tried to control my laughter. It didn't help that the entire family had heard her and were also laughing-their emotions were making mine worsen.

"I'm. Sorry. Bella," I gasped, trying my hardest to stop chuckling.

Bella closed her book and chucked it aside. I stopped laughing and looked at her as seriously as I could while still smiling. "Come, now, Bella," I chided. "Just because you got some things wrong doesn't mean you can't still learn it. It takes time to get things right," I said, standing up to pick the book and walking over to her.

I handed it to her but Bella stared at it defiantly, crossing her arms across her chest. "Bella, come on," I used my most persuasive voice. "Let's try again."

"No."

I was baffled. I didn't know how exactly to get her to try. She had evidently had enough of my laughter at her failure. Let's all thank God it wasn't Emmett she'd read to or she would have given up that first day itself.

"Bella," I said, lifting her up into my arms and putting her down on my lap. She still refused to look at me, and her arms were still crossed. "Come on…" I sighed when she didn't oblige. Maybe it was time to tell her a story. Something about my failures and how I persisted over time until I could do it.

Well, the most obvious one would be to tell her about my bloodlust, but Edward had been awkward enough telling her about our diet. I don't think he'd appreciate it if I were to start talking about my struggle for control, and how I'd spent years drinking human blood and killing people.

I veered my thoughts away from Edward and Bella, not wanting to scare off Edward and incur the wrath of Alice.

Maybe we should go back to my human memories…I'd never really told anyone about my human memories. Alice knew some things but that was because she was Alice. She was my confidant. When things bother me, I tell them to her.

I distinctly remember trying to ride a bicycle. It wasn't as modern as it was now, not as developed. But I wanted to try anyway. It looked really amazing to me as a kid, so I kept pestering for my dad to teach me. He gave in, but it took me weeks to learn.

So I smiled down at Bella's hunched form in my arms and begun the story. "You know, when I was a child, I wanted to ride a bicycle," I told her.

Bella turned slightly to give me an incredulous look, as if to say 'we're not talking about bicycles!' I chuckled slightly, then breathed in deeply. Bella's scent was burning my throat, but only slightly. She was still much too young for her scent to be strong, and truth be told, I'd been around it for days at such close quarters. Everywhere I turned, I could smell her.

I hoped that by the time she was older and her scent was stronger, I would be desensitized enough not to be bothered. I could already tell that her freesia scent was going to be powerful.

"Just listen," I tapped her nose lightly. She wrinkled it, adorable thing, and waited patiently for me to continue.

"I kept asking my dad to teach me, and I was so annoying, he finally gave in," I went back to the story. "But the thing is, no matter how hard I wanted it, I just couldn't get it right. I kept falling all the time."

Bella grinned at me, turning around completely to wrap a tiny arm around my neck. She didn't reach all the way. "I know what that's like," she said solemnly.

I laughed. "Well, I was upset!" I continued dramatically. "But I still wanted to learn. My dad… See, he knew how to ride a bicycle, so he laughed whenever I fell. He wanted to teach me, but he found it funny that I didn't know how."

Bella frowned at this and leaned her head against my shoulder, her eyes wide as she listened to my story.

"But I still kept trying. And guess what?" I leaned forward.

"What?" she asked, completely engrossed in the story.

"BAM!" I yelled.

Bella screamed a little, jumping back slightly, her cheeks flushed. I laughed, and she joined me after a minute, though her heart still beat irregularly after the scare.

"I finally knew. I kept getting better and better until I could finally ride it on my own," I finished proudly.

Bella stared at her hand on her lap for a long moment, then she looked up at me. "So…" She said slowly. I waited for her to make the connection. Bella was intelligent for a six year old. We had to give her some credit.

"You think that I should keep trying?" she asked me, almost shyly.

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yes, I think that."

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. I'll try again," she said bracingly.

I chuckled. "Maybe we ought to try an easier book, though, huh?"

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I had made Bella promise to be on my team before Emmett or Edward could get to her. We were playing football with Bella again. Not seriously, of course. We were going to let her win, anyway.

Bella was standing in the front yard, a little football in her hands, waiting for us to join her. We still had an hour left before the agent came and Bella wanted to play.

Edward, of course, gave in without a fight. Poor guy. He had himself wrapped around tiny Bella's fingers. I wondered what it would be like once she was older…

Don't go there, I screamed at myself as I remembered that Edward was going to be out of the house in a few seconds. Don'tgotheredon'tgotheredon'tgothere

Edward came out and looked at me funny as he heard my thoughts. At least I didn't give anything away. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Emmett came out to join Edward, Bella and I, and we crouched down to her eye level around her. It must look incredibly funny to a third party.

"Won't you be on my team, Bella?" Edward asked sweetly. Bella shook her head, and he looked shocked. "Why not?"

Bella giggled. "I promised Jasper," was her simple reply.

Edward scowled at me. "You cheated," he said glumly.

"Did not," I teased.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Could we just get on with the game?" he asked impatiently.

He called the game to begin, and Bella was running. We could have caught her without batting an eye, but we let her move in her human speed. What made it all the more interesting was that she was much more clumsy, much slower due to her short legs and she was tiny. She squealed at every thing and she honestly screamed when Emmett came at her.

She'd managed to get dirt on her jeans and on her shirt-even in her hair, for God's sake-two minutes into the game. I could practically taste the annoyance emanating from Alice as she sat on the porch, watching us with Rose, Esme and Carlisle.

But she was so smart. Instead of going around Emmett, she went under his legs. She kept close to me to throw me the football so I could run faster and win. She used every trick she knew, and I didn't even teach her.

Honestly? I was proud.

Even though we let her win, and it was a mindless game of football three of the players weren't even seriously playing, I was proud.

She looked so happy and so free that I wanted nothing more than to give her all that she deserved.

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To mangakidd987, Bella's going to stay a little kid for some time because a) I'm having too much fun thinking of all the fluff chapters. Come on, adorable Bella, clumsy Bella, troublemaking Bella…All in the form of a little girl. And b) her growth needs to be progressive. I really want to show her relationship with the Cullens and how they progress. Especially ExB. So sorry that I have to make you, and anyone else dying for Bella to grow older, wait. I just have way too many ideas of tiny Bella with grown up Edward that I can't pass it up.

P.S. Thank you so much for everyone who's voted. I just have to say that at this point, most people want the Cullens to move to London, and for Edward to find out when she's 13-15. I think I forgot to mention that the Cullens will be going to both London and Denali. I just wanted to know which you preferred- child Bella at age 7 in Denali, wrecking havoc or almost teenage Bella at age 12 or 13 in Denali. Vice versa for London, since they'll meet other vamps there, too. If in London, I was going to have 7 year old Bella being blunt towards the vampires they meet which will create different reactions of course or a 13 year old Bella catching the eye of another young vampire, who tries to woo her (and gets on Edward's nerve, of course). Either way, this is all before Forks, and just what I plan on.

There's still time to tell me what you think if you haven't put your two cents in, or if you want to change your mind, or if you really, really, REALLY want the story to go your way. Feel free to flood the reviews with what you think. I'll announce a chapter or two before the pivotal one where the Cullens make their move. Remember, they have to stay for a while to let the adoption papers settle, and get Bella her passport and what not. So a few months left in Forks, and a few chapters for you to still give me your opinion. Truth be told, the votes are winning by a few only. I appreciate every single one of them.

Thank you so much and sorry for the long note here. Please review on this chapter. The next one will be on the agent observing Bella with the Cullens.