A/N: O.K, this is kind of a filler chapter, but I am SO CLOSE to 100 reviews, I can smell it! Please please please, can I have 100 reviews for ten chapters? It would rule beyond ruley-ness. We're on 95 now. It's not that hard, is it?

His lips on mine was something I had been dying for since I could remember. In fact, if I thought back, I couldn't find a single memory that didn't involve him. It was ridiculous – I knew I had over twenty years' worth of them – but they didn't matter. Not now. Nothing mattered anymore without him.

Chapter Ten

Edward's hand was in mine, and I was trying to concentrate on how his skin felt against mine more than anything else – like, for example, the imminent introduction to a vampire family. I trusted Edward more than anyone else in the world, and I knew he wouldn't be leading me somewhere dangerous… yet I couldn't control my violently trembling hands. I was nervous – no, more than that. I was terrified.

"Darling Bella," Edward whispered in my ear as we walked down the landing hand-in-hand, his voice soothing. "Try and relax. They won't hurt you, I promise." He chuckled softly. "They're far better behaved than I am."

I made a non-committal noise, my eyes fixed on the grand stairway that was getting closer and closer. Edward's large fingers rubbed mine roughly in an attempt to comfort me.

"What could there possibly be to worry about?" I met his eyes with a sarcastic expression. "Just a house full of vampires – including one that sunk his teeth into the neck of the man I love. Nothing to worry about whatsoever." Edward stopped walking suddenly, pulling me backwards.

"Is that what this is about?" he asked, placing both his hands on my shoulders. "Bella, when Carlisle bit me, he saved my…" He hesitated, searching for an appropriate word choice. "…my existence! It wasn't a choice he made out of evil – Carlisle is the 'good guy'. I trust him with everything I have." He kissed the top of my head. "Even you." I smiled, my anxiety ebbing away slowly. "Are you O.K now?"

I sighed, considering. "I guess. Let's go."

We descended the staircase in silence, reaching the bottom as five vampires entered the room from different angles. They were all devastatingly beautiful, and I at once felt depressingly mediocre.

"Bella," Edward began, slowly. "This is my family."

Family. I remembered now what Carlisle had said – that Edward was family. So were the really related, or had it just been his way of trying to ward me off? I posed this question to Edward, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"I can't go back to my human family, Bella," he answered me, as Carlisle watched us patiently. "Everybody but you and the Cullens think I'm dead. Therefore, I live with Carlisle and his family – the good vampires. I'm in good hands."

I frowned, confusedly. "But you ventured out in public the day you followed me to the diner," I pointed out, and Carlisle stepped forward, his face mockingly stern.

"Yes," he agreed, and Edward took a step backwards, grinning. "That was foolish – he could have killed people in that crowd, and then our entire existence would have been blown." He turned to me and smiled. "Hello, Bella," he said. "It's nice to see you again." I nodded, unable to speak with his perfect face so close. "This is my wife, Esme." A woman, smaller than him yet just as attractive, appeared at his side. Her face was round and soft-featured, an obvious maternal nature oozing from her. She offered her hand.

"I've heard so much in such a short space of time, Bella," she said, her voice as gentle as her appearance. "It seems you've become an infatuation." Edward looked bashful. "It's lovely to meet you, dear." I shook her hand, shyly.

"You're beautiful," I blurted out, and blushed simultaneously whilst the Cullens laughed. "I'm sorry." I bowed my head. "But it's true!"

Next to approach me was Emmett, Edward's brawny yet handsome adoptive brother, who greeted me with a wide smile. His short curly hair bristled as he moved animatedly, introducing himself in detail, much to Edward's evident relief. He remained silently behind me; the only way I knew he was there was by the touch of his hand in mine.

Fourthly was Alice, the smallest of them all. If I had found Emmett lively, Alice had redefined the word altogether. Dainty and pixie-like, Alice welcomed me with a kiss on the cheek – cue me stiffening in fear just for a mini-second before she had pulled away again – and danced on the spot as she spoke in a musical tone, similar to Edward's.

And last was Jasper, the strong and silent type. He let his honey-blond hair fall across his eyes as Alice introduced him to me as her partner. There was an obvious bond between the two of them – they were like an old married couple, despite only looking seventeen, perhaps younger. I didn't like to ask their real age.

Once all the proceedings were over, Edward scanned the room in mild confusion. "Emmett?" he asked, already cautious of the answer. "Where is Rosalie? Please don't tell me she's sulking…" There came a low hiss from behind us, and I spun around wildly, only to find nothing there. As I turned around again, Emmett was shrugging.

"You know how she gets, Ed," he said, apologetically. "Just give her time." I felt a chill run up my back. Edward's grip on my fingers got tighter. "It was great to finally see you in the flesh, Bella," Emmett added, baring his teeth jokingly, and Alice nudged him in the ribs. I moved closer to Edward automatically.

"Don't say things like that, Emmett," Edward scolded, as his brother burst into raucous laughter. Alice and Jasper took an arm each and began leading him out of the room, Carlisle and Esme following them, ready to reprimand. Edward turned to me, a remorseful expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Bella." I chewed my lip.

"Its fine," I replied, though I wasn't too sure. "What's wrong with Rosalie?" Edward pulled a face.

"Nothing," he answered, though I knew this wasn't quite true. "She just doesn't get along too well with humans – girls in particular. I think she's…" He paused. "Jealous? She misses her human life. It's O.K, she'll come around eventually." I wondered, after every other one of the Cullens' appearances, if she was just as stunning.

"Perhaps, to a human eye," Edward answered, after I had asked him. "Maybe more so. But never to mine, no matter how short a time ago it was since I was human. Though I will say this – it's disappointing to see her in the sun, Alice sparkles so much more…" My eyes widened in astonishment.

"Sparkles?" I echoed in amazement. Edward grinned. "You can sparkle in the sun? Are you kidding me?"

He kissed the top of my head again, and stroking the strands of hair that fell across my face. "Bella, Bella," he said, trying to soothe me once more. "Just calm down. There's so much to tell you." I placed my hands on my hips and – I'm ashamed to say – stamped my foot.

"Well?" I demanded. "Can you then please tell me?" Edward shook his head in disbelief, looking mildly amused.

"I will," he promised. "But first, let's get you home."