A/N - Thanks again, everyone. I love getting your reviews! Here's a little family time!

Chapter 9 - Girl Talk and Catch of the Day

We got back to Edward's house around five. Carlisle and Charlie would be back within the hour. I really needed to talk to Esme about my promise to Alice. I was really worried about it. Even though I was so comfortable around the Cullens, I had to remember that I had just met them yesterday.

Edward and Jasper went upstairs to fill Emmett in on the new 'Maria development.' Alice went up to her room to change before supper. She didn't want to get pizza on it.

I walked into the kitchen to find Esme pulling a batch of cookies out of the oven.

"Esme?" I asked tentatively.

She looked up at me with a warm smile, that was quickly replaced with a look of concern. "What is it, Bella? Is everything okay?" She asked worriedly.

"I hope so. Edward and I took Jasper and Alice to the drug store. We were getting Jasper some gel for his hair." I looked down. "Anyway, I promised Alice I would paint her fingernails for the dance recital, and then I bought her some nail polish. I know I should have asked you first. I shouldn't have just assumed that I could do it for her. If you don't want me to, I can explain it to her." I was rambling. I was nervous. This was the mother of the man I loved, and I didn't want to cause problems.

"Bella, sweetheart. Don't worry so much." She came over to me and wrapped her arm around me. "If this is something you want to do with Alice, then go right ahead. I'm not very strict with my kids and let them express themselves however they see fit. But, thank you so much for coming to me." She turned and gave me a tight hug. "I'm so glad that you and Edward found each other. You're perfect." She whispered, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I wasn't used to the affection that the Cullens were so comfortable with, but I was finding that it was something that I had definitely missed with my own mother.

I visibly relaxed. "Thanks so much, Esme. I cannot believe how welcoming you all have been, and how comfortable I feel around you all." I blushed. "It's the same way with Edward. I mean, we only met after spring break, and I feel like I've known him and loved him for so much longer."

"You know, Bella. I think Emmett hinted at it yesterday, but Edward did talk about you for weeks before he met you." She laughed. "He called home one day in February and said 'Mom, I think I've found the woman of my dreams.' It was so sweet. His brothers kept bugging him to talk to you, but he was so nervous." She turned and grabbed my hand. "You know, Emmett almost drove him crazy over spring break. He went back to school determined to make his move. He called home that night that you were paired up in class. He was so excited. We all couldn't believe that you were Charlie's daughter."

"I know. Really, what are the odds that he grew up about fifteen minutes from my dad's place?" I giggled. I loved hearing all this about Edward. I knew he loved me, but it's always nice to hear it from someone else. I had no idea that he was telling his family about me since that first day we made eye contact.

"It's funny, Charlie and Carlisle have been friends for years, and he would often talk about you, Bella."

"Why didn't I meet you all on Christmas break? I was home for two weeks." I asked curiously.

"Well, we all went to Chicago to visit my parents. Edward is named after his grandpa Edward Mason, my dad. They have always been really close, despite the distance."

"That is so great. I really love how large your family is, and how close you all are. I am so used to being alone. My mom was always at work, and I would see my dad sometimes when he came to visit, but not nearly enough." I decided that this summer, I was really going to get to know my dad. It almost seemed that Cullens knew Charlie better than I did. I was going to start tomorrow. It was time for a father/daughter day.

"Oh, Bella. I already see you as part of the family."

"Kids. We caught dinner." Carlisle called out as he and my dad walked in the kitchen door with four large pizza boxes.

I laughed, as Esme whispered to me, "He says the same thing every Saturday."

I have no idea how all four of the Cullen kids heard their dad from upstairs, but we heard the stampede of feet running down the stairs for dinner.

I turned to watch them all run into the kitchen, laughing and pushing each other out of the way, to make it in the room first.

Edward came straight over to me and kissed my forehead. "Hey, Bella. Is everything okay?" He whispered in my ear, before looking at my eyes to read my expression.

I smiled at him. He remembered my worried expression from the drug store and was still concerned about me. I loved this man. "Yes. Edward. I couldn't be better." I wrapped my arms around his waist and gave him a quick squeeze. "I love you." It didn't hurt to keep affirming my feelings for him.

He put his hands on my face, and lowered his face to mine. "I love you, too, Bella. So, so much." He leaned forward and kissed my lips so softly.

"Okay, lovebirds. Are you going to come and eat? Emmett's already eyeing his third slice." My dad called from the dining room.

I blushed, feeling my cheeks on fire. When I was with Edward, I could easily forget there were others around us. Edward smiled and me, took my hand, and led me into the dining room.

I sat between my dad and Edward, and grabbed a slice of Hawaiian. "So, dad. Catch anything besides pizza?" I asked him, trying desperately to take the attention off of me and Edward. This love stuff was new territory for me.

"Ha ha, Bells. As a matter of fact, we each brought home two nice sized trout." Charlie said proudly.

"That's great, chief." Edward added.

"Bella, you did an incredible job on the boys' hair." Esme added.

"Thanks, Esme. They were all good sports. I had fun." I answered proudly.

"So, we're playing baseball tomorrow, boys?" Carlisle asked, thankfully keeping the subject off of mine and Edward's earlier PDA.

"Yes. I can't wait to play again." Edward added. "We'll go over some of the plays for Jazz's practice on Tuesday." He turned to look at me. "Did you want to come out with us, tomorrow, honey?"

"Um, actually, I was thinking of spending the day with my dad, tomorrow." Edward nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. I looked up at Charlie to see a slow smile spreading on his face. I knew he had missed me, as much as I had missed him.

"That's great, Bella." Esme added with a smile. She knew that our talk about Edward's family earlier had really made me long for time with my own.

"Dad, maybe I can cook up some of that fish for supper, tomorrow." I added, not really knowing what to say. I really didn't want Edward to think I didn't want to spend time with him, especially after our declaration of love this afternoon. But, at the same time, I had to work out a healthy balance between getting to know my dad after years apart, and developing a new, but serious relationship with Edward.

"Sounds good, Bells." My dad looked over at Edward with a knowing smirk. "Edward, would you like to join us for supper?"

Edward's face lit up, and I'm sure mine did, too. It was so important to me that my dad, not only approved of this relationship, but was encouraging it as well. "I would love to. Thank you, sir." I felt Edward's hand grab and squeeze mine under the table.