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"So Bella, how do you know me?"

"Aro, one of Carlisle's 'sort of royalty' friends from Italy, Carlisle said he stayed with you for some time" I told him what I could. Need to know, if he didn't need to know it I wouldn't mention it.

"You must be special for him to tell you his history" he prodded with a smile I wanted to smack right off.

"With all due respect, I think we have covered this when I said the feeling was mutual" I told him not wanting to put any ideas into his head.

"So how did you meet the Cullens?" he asked conversationally

"We go to school together" I said back "surely they've told you that. You're not here to make small talk either"

"You're close to them?" he asked again

"Well I don't hate them, well I don't hate most of them" I said. It was partly true. I loved the Cullens; even Rosalie glare had a place in my heart. I laughed at my thought. "well, I don't hate anyone of them"

"Okay. Describe your relationship with the Cullens" he stated

"Really, are you for real?" I mumbled frowning to myself knowing he could hear me; he did a good job pretending otherwise

"Carlisle" I stated starting with him "as you know, the head and very soul of this household, one of the two father figures in my life, very wise for one so young; I value his knowledge and take what he says seriously, he is also my doctor for now"

I smiled as I remembered Esme fondly "Esme, dearest and sweetest Esme, she's warm and comforting. She's being more of a mother to me than mine ever had. Don't get me wrong, my mom is great but Esme there isn't a word for her, she's just inviting. If Carlisle is the soul of this family, Esme's the heart. To hurt some like Esme intentionally or not is truly inexcusable."

"Emmett, He is like an annoying older brother you can't help but love, yeah that's him. He's so much fun to be around, as crude as some of his jokes may be; I find his honesty very refreshing. . Emmett makes me laugh when he doesn't manhandle me. He's a bit of an acquired taste. "

"Jasper, very calm, and very polite and oddly sympathetic, We really don't spend a lot of time together, but from my time with him, he's quite challenging, I mean he challenges almost my whole world view, why I like what I like or don't like for that matter" I chuckled remembering the time we argued why I like pop tarts "sometimes I just pick a side and watch him try to convince me otherwise. It's actually quite interesting, besides Alice loves him, he loves her and that's good enough for me to love him."

"Rosalie, she's um…interesting? My least favorite Cullen for the record, if I had to save either her or a perfect stranger, I'd chose her of course, I don't know her enough to hate or like her much but I do admire her protectiveness. I can relate with that" I said the last part pointedly, I wanted him to know I was protective of my family.

"Edward" I stated then took a deep breath. "Edward is special" I concluded. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my lips as I thought of him. I couldn't let anyone know I was in love with him, I knew they could hear me from the first floor.

"Care to elaborate?" he prodded again with that smile

I crossed my arms in front of me acting my age for once "I'd rather not Aro. Can I go now?"

"Not quite young Bella" he said and I looked at him to continue

"You said Edward was special?" he asked and I gave a short nod not sure where he was headed "you know he has a special talent, mind reading?"

I nodded again sticking to the truth

"That doesn't bother you" he asked

"Not particularly" I said to him.

"How do you feel about it?"

"He's different" I shrugged "big deal. I like him that way; normalcy is way overrated in my opinion"

"what exactly do you know about the Cullens?" Aro asked, his red gaze studying me intensely. I gave a small smile as I arranged my face to show slight curiosity

"Not much really, I guess I know enough" I shrugged Everything

"Enough to what?"

"Enough to know that I'm choosing to love them" I said with a sardonic smile "secrets or not"

Aro looked at me curiously before speaking, voice lacing with incredulity "you cant possibly be that trusting"

I shrugged "The way I see it they have to have a good reason for keeping their secrets. I can respect that"

"You may go" he told me. I stood up and turned rolling my eyes as I got to the door. Edward wasn't kidding about his invasiveness.

I paused before locking the door "you should know, I don't take kindly to people hurting my family. When I came in Alice was bawling her eyes out, and Jasper looked like he had just been through hell and back. And because it's our first encounter I'm gonna let the fact go. If Alice cries again because of you, I'd perform the miracle of making you cry. Don't doubt that. It was nice meeting you"

Carlisle and the blond leader, Caius, walked into the office after me. When I came down Rosalie was still glaring at the other short blond girl who oddly enough was glaring at me. Okay maybe most blondes were plain grumpy.

"well isn't she just charming? I wonder what died up her ass" I wondered to myself realizing I had said it out loud when I heard Edward snort then disguised it as a cough and Jasper chuckling. I flushed red at being caught but pretended to be indifferent ignoring them. I looked around and saw Marcus sitting on one of the sofa's staring at the television which was off. I walked over to him and asked sweetly.

"May I seat?"

He gestured with his hand to the empty spot and I took it as an invitation. I sat down and looked at him while he looked at his reflection in the television

"What's her name?" I asked softly and respectfully

He looked at me, his eyes registering surprise, it was the only emotion I had seen gracing his dead face, since I came. He didn't speak for a while, just looking at me as I stared into his eyes which had turned black. I let him think and finally, I heard him answer me ever so silently

"Didimye"

"Beautiful name, Tell me about her" I commented

"She was my whole world. She smiled, you smiled, she always made people happy, even perfect strangers" he recollected

"That's why you don't smile anymore?" I asked

He looked at me with surprise again and I smiled back with a shrug

"Since I saw you haven't so much as smiled, it's like you're bored with the world and it doesn't take a genius to figure you've been like this a while"

"When you lose the part of you that makes you whole, your reason for existing, the one you truly love, nothing holds much interest anymore" he said solemnly

My eyes flashed to Edward and back as soon as the words left his mouth. I couldn't imagine losing Edward, I shook the thoughts away.

"You know you should smile once in a while, you face would freeze in a frown if you don't" I said to him half joking

He actually cracked a smile at that I would have missed it if I had blinked. He hesitated before touching my face. I leaned into his hand, I've never had a grandfather, but that was exactly how he felt right this moment. I closed my eyes treasuring it.

"You're a lot like her, so pure for someone so young, don't lose that" he said to me and I blushed at the praise. He laughed this time as if my blush confirmed his statement. He took something it was a chain. It looked like a woman's necklace, a golden chain with an amber stone hanging from it. Though the amber looked like it was added later, as it had a platinum setting in contrast to the gold chain, but It was beautiful.

"It was hers" Marcus said "it's from my family, to be given to the first girl as tradition. It's been around for a while. About twenty generations at least" I gaped at him trying to wrap such time around my head

"I want you to have it"

I looked at the necklace back to him "I can't possibly…" I tried to refuse

"I can't have children anymore young one, and neither can Didiyme but if we could, you'd be what we would have wanted" he said seriously.

I pulled my hair from my neck and turned my back to him. He put it on me and when I turned around he smiled warmly at me

"Suits you"

"Thank you" I said meekly.

His hand went to my hair and stroked it he inhaled deeply as if memorizing my smell before letting his hand fall to his side. I removed my eyes from his profile and into that of twelve incredulous faces. I blushed at the attention and turned my gaze back to Marcus, he had that dead look again as he stared at the television.

"Pleasure meeting you Marcus" I said as I took Edward's extended hand. He took me to his room as he always did when I came here. Not that I ever minded but now it was like a blessing to be here.

"Are you going to impress me with your artistic skills now?" I teased him as I noticed his piano was now in his room. He looked at me and grinned, a true, Bella only grin.

"You don't know the last of my artistic skills" he joked right back without hesitation

"Impress me then. Mr. Cullen" I told him as we walked over to the piano. I took my seat beside him as I watched him play. He closed his eyes and just let the music flow. I closed my eyes too and smiled as he played the tune I loved so much.

I refused to open my eyes even when I heard the last of the notes.

"You know, you never really told me the name of this song Edward" I opened my eyes finally and saw him shrug at me.

"A song as beautiful as that should have a name Edward." I said softly

"It does, but I won't tell you" he teased me. I considered pulling an Alice on him but decided against it

"Pretty please?" I added "with cherry on top?"

He shook his head smiling at me devilishly with a smirk; I felt my heart flutter just a bit as I smiled back

"Stop that" I said shaking my head at him "you'll tell me soon enough"

"Hmmn true" he allowed

"Now dazzle me with some more music" I said with a laugh.

Then he started playing chopsticks then followed with a piece he informed me was for Esme, speaking of the devil, she appeared that time with a batch of cupcakes. I took two from her and thanked her with a smile

"You shouldn't have gotten me one" Edward said as I walked over to him eating my cupcake

"You?" I said scoffing "Honey, they are both for me"

He laughed at me as I bit into the second cupcake for emphasis. He tried to snatch it out my hand.

"Uh huh" I said sassing him "if you want one, you're gonna have to go after Esme" I said flopping on his bed while eating the cupcake.

"You're getting cake crumbs all over my bed Isabella Swan"

"Don't be a baby Teddy. It's just food" I said knowing he would hate that. No one calls me Isabella. He grinned at me unexpectedly and walked out the door. I ate my cupcake in peace. He came back with two more cupcakes.

"Can I have one?" I asked politely walking toward him

"Nope" he replied grinning like a loon. "Go after Esme"

"Edward?" I knew he wasn't going to eat it and the cupcakes were delicious. It would be a shame to waste it.

"Yes?"

"Hand over the cakes" I said to him seriously rocking on my heels as I contemplated tackling him for it. "I take my snacks very seriously Edward. Give it"

"You mean my snack" he said holding it closer to his mouth then heaved a sigh "Well, I suppose you can have it"

"If?" I asked

"What makes you think theirs is an if?" he asked his blinking innocently, his smile admiringly beautiful it made my heart ache with love.

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing

"Okay. Dance with me?"

"Of all the things you could possibly ask for?" I said rolling my eyes

"I won't let you fall" he promised offering his arm up for me.

"a little too late" I mumbled to myself but took his extended hand all the same.

The sound of piano compositions filled the room. Edward put his arm around my waist pulling me up and placing me on his foot. He then started moving, doing the work on his own. He smiled at me after a few seconds

"See you are dancing" he smiled

"sort of" I allowed. I looked into his eyes which were mow a warm pool of liquid gold. His eyes were so full of an emotion I couldn't place. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me, but he didn't. I gave him a small smile before placing my head on his shoulder. I took a deep breath.

"Though I have to admit, this does feel nice"

We didn't say anything until the song finished

"That wasn't so hard was it?" he said after kissing my hair. I smiled before he released me

We played chess after, while I ate my newly acquired cupcakes. he kept me occupied I knew he was trying to keep me from the royalties downstairs and it worked splendidly until it was time for me to head home.

I was changing out of my outfit to something more comfortable. My pajamas were gone. I remembered Alice hadn't done laundry yet.

"Alice?" I called out. "My nightwear?"

I heard a shushing sound but ignored it. I knew Jasper stayed the night over with her, so who was she kidding.

"I'll do them tomorrow, pick something else" she called back.

"Tell Jasper goodnight" I thought to her in a sing song voice

"Goodnight Bella" she called out this time knowing she was busted. I laughed but replied her "Night Alice"

I went to my closet and looked around I didn't have anything to wear except something Renee had gotten for Alice and I a while back. I put my own on and climbed my bed. I fiddled with the necklace Marcus had given me. I never wanted to take it off, so I don't lose it. I held it tightly in hopes I would see Didiyme in my dreams and I did.

I was shown how happy they were together. It hurt my heart a little, the way they danced, the way they kissed. It was remarkable watching them be them. I cursed Aro to hell a thousand times over for making Marcus hurt in the name of power. After that I drifted into a dreamless sleep, in the midst of my turning. I could have sworn I saw Edward in my rocking chair watching me sleep. I quickly ignored it not wanting him to go. It was getting harder to hold on to sleep as the rain poured heavily. You'd think I was used to it by now.

"Stupid Forks and its constant rain" I muttered as I raised my head grudgingly. I grabbed my ear muffs from my drawer. I put them on and sighed at the softness

Edward was gone of course but the electricity let me know he was close by. I walked into Alice's room. I shut the windows and looked in Alice's closet; I covered her ear with ear muffs, so the rain wouldn't bother her much. And took out an extra blanket covering her like I always did since we were kids, though then I used to lay in the bed with her because Alice was terrified of thunderstorms but now she had Jasper. I knew though she understood why we had to go she didn't want to leave Phoenix for the constant rain and thunderstorms of Forks, so I would lay with her until she slept.

"Sleep tight my little sprite" I said raising the blanket and tucking her chin in. I loved Alice, honestly sometimes like this I think of how much she means to me.

Her sleepy eyes met mine for a second and she gave me the smallest and laziest of smiles "love you Tinkerbella"

"Me too pixie" I kissed her hair and stroked it twice before leaving and locking her door behind me. I grabbed an extra blanket from the cabinet in the hall I wrapped it around myself I got to my room and collapsed on the bed curling myself. I pulled the blanket way over my head. I didn't take long to drift back into sleep.

okay. Thanks for reading, Please take the time to review and let me know what you think.