Author's Note: Hey guys! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I loved reading y'alls reviews. Here is chapter 8. I hope you guys like it! Tell me what you think!

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Sure, Alice, come on in." I said awkwardly in what I hoped was a sweet tone. She quickly shut the door and we both sat on the edge of my bed. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Bella… It's just that… Well, I know we've only known you for a day. However, you are obviously really important to Jasper. He loves being your dad… He really has never stopped loving you." She paused, and I wondered where she was going with this. I nodded, and she continued.

"Well I know you had a mother in your human life. I'm not looking to replace her. But, you're very important to your father. And if you ever want a mother figure in your life, I'm here. I'll love you like my own daughter. I can be your sister and your friend, but I'm here for you if you want more."

I took a moment to process what she said. She wanted to be my mom? No, no, that wasn't what she said… She wanted to be a motherly figure in my life. Although I couldn't really picture calling the tiny pixie in front of me Mom, it would be nice to have that relationship. "That would be very nice, Alice… Thank you. It's good to know you're there. As much as I love Daddy, there are some places where a mom could come in handy." I thought about Dad… Surely this would make him happy. I smiled.

Her entire face lit up. "Really? Well I'm glad you feel that way. Don't worry, I'm not going to start acting weird around you or anything." I rolled my eyes mentally. As if her normal behavior was… well, normal.

I smiled at her and gave her a casual but meaningful hug. She thanked me again and left the room.

I thought about the conversation after she left. The Cullens really were embracing me as their own. Technically, I was Dad's own. But I never would have expected the rest of the family to be so welcoming. I hoped I wouldn't let them down.

I stood and went to Dad's study, across the hall. I needed a book. I was in the mood for a classic romance, maybe Pride and Prejudice. It was one of my all time favorites. I slowly opened the door, and stepped into the room with a full heart. I kept getting flashbacks of when I used to go out into the fields with Daddy while he worked. I wasn't much help, of course, but I always enjoyed seeing him so focused on his work. I got the same feeling now, even though he wasn't in the room.

I observed the scene around me. There were books everywhere. I mean everywhere. I felt like I was in heaven, especially when I looked around at all the cozy chairs and the fireplace in the room. I immediately began my search for the perfect book. I went through shelves and shelves, and I found about a million of my favorites, and a million more that I wanted to read but had not yet done so. I spotted an old copy of Pride and Prejudice though across the room, and I started to make my way to the book I came here for.

When crossing the room, I walked past his desk. There was nothing significant about the piece of furniture, until a framed photo sitting on it caught my eye. I reached out to pick up the picture, and I nearly dropped it in shock when I saw two pairs of my old brown eyes staring back at me. Daddy and I, when I must have been maybe 3 or 4. He was holding me in his arms and planting a sweet kiss on my cheek. We both looked so happy and carefree. I was in complete adoration of my father, and he looked just as taken with me. They say human memories fade, but I remember Daddy like it was all just yesterday. I was so touched that he had kept this picture, and kept it in a place that he saw it every day. I realized this was how he must have felt when he saw my box of old memories.

"Bella?" My head snapped up to see Daddy closing the door of the room.

"Oh I'm sorry. I was just getting a book, and then I…" I trailed off, and simply held up the old photograph.

He walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Bella, never apologize for being in here. What's mine is yours, you're my daughter." He saw what I was looking at. "Oh, I see you spotted my old favorite picture." He smiled at me. "You were such a sweet baby girl."

"I can't believe you kept this." I looked down at the picture and then back to my father's golden eyes. I smiled and my eyes were filled with tears I would never shed.

He smiled warmly at me. "Of course I kept it. Now open the top drawer of my desk." I furrowed my brow in confusion, but followed his directions.

My jaw dropped. Inside the drawer were pictures of me. As a baby, on each birthday, on Christmases, and other random occasions. Some he was with me in, and some he wasn't. "Daddy… Wow."

I felt his arms wrap around me. "And now you're all grown up and beautiful. But you'll always be my little baby girl, Bella. When I left for war, I took all of these with me. After I was changed, I always made sure I had them with me. No one else in the family has ever seen them, not even Alice. It was always so painful to think about how I lost you."

I nodded. I understood, it was the same reason I had stopped going by the name Bella. "Dad… How were you changed?" I had figured it was in his time in the war, but I didn't know the story.

He sighed and then took my hand. "Well baby, there was a lot that happened between me leaving and me meeting Alice. I did some things I'm not very proud of. Let's make that a story for another day. After all, we've got forever." He ended with a peaceful look on his face. I let it go. I would make him tell me eventually, and he knew it. But I didn't know what Daddy could have done so wrong. He was the best person I knew.

"So what book were you looking for?" He changed the subject and put his arms on his hips.

"I was actually making my way over to Pride and Prejudice. It's one of my favorites."

Daddy rolled his eyes. "Of course. Well, it is a classic." He said as he retrieved the book for me. "Well I was just going to do some reading myself. Feel free to take a seat and read in here."

I accepted his invitation and plopped myself down in a seat by the fireplace, which was lit and gave the room a relaxing ambiance. We stayed like that for a good half hour, just reading to ourselves and enjoying each other's company. Every now and then I would look up at him to find him looking at me in pure bliss. Like he was just so overjoyed to have me back. I was sure my face held the same expression.

I had just reached my favorite part of the book when I let out a little Alice-like squeal. Dad looked up at me and raised an eyebrow.

"Feeling romantic?"

"This book is one of the most romantic ones around. Of course I'm feeling romantic."

His eyes grew fierce. "Well let's just get one thing clear." He walked over to me, kissed my forehead, and his eyes gentled. "No man or vampire alive is good enough for my baby girl. Certainly none in this house."

This was one of those times that I was thankful to be a vampire. I knew if I were human, I would have been doing some hardcore blushing. "Daddy, I don't-"

"Bella, you do know I'm an empath, right? I feel attractions." He chuckled. "It's normal to be attracted to people, sweetheart. But I just got you back, and I'm certainly not ready to give you up to anyone. Especially him. Besides, as I previously mentioned, he isn't good enough for you." He smiled and kissed my forehead again.

I was disappointed that Daddy was so against me dating. Wait… what? I didn't want to date. I didn't even freaking want to date! Daddy was right. Attractions are normal. Healthy, even. But I did not want to date Edward Cullen. I absolutely did NOT want to date Edward Cullen.

Maybe eventually I'd convince myself.

Wow! Looks like Jasper might make it difficult for his little girl to not be a little girl anymore! What do you guys think? And what did you think of her conversation with Alice? Tell me what you think! I'll post chapter 9 when I get ten reviews! Y'all can do it!