Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Going to start off by apologising if my dates are a little screwed up. Secondly, for not updating this. Though I have no real excuse, I started writing another story called, "Good Bye My Friend." If you have not read it, please go check it out. This is my first story based on a true story.
Also, go read all stories written by LilMsSugarRush. Please.

Chapter 10

Bella woke up one morning a few weeks later to someone jumping on her bed and screaming at her. She opened her eyes, now completely used to the way Alice was, and just looked at her.

"Alice!!! Why are you screaming and jumping on my bed? AGAIN! Didn't we already have this talk about not doing that to me this early in the morning?"
"Yes. We did. But, today is a special day and I decided that the rule does not apply to today."
"What time is it anyway?" Bella asked her, rubbing her eyes, and then running a hand through her tangled mess of hair.

"It's 5:30am!" Alice exclaimed happily.
"And why the HELL are you waking me up at 5:30 in the morning?"
"It's your birthday silly, don't you remember?!"

"Oh! Oh my god!" It hit Bella. She was eighteen today. Suddenly a whole new worry came about. She hadn't had to worry about anything in the last few weeks. She let Alice drag her out of bed and throw her into the shower while she worried about what today meant for her.

She was eighteen. She was no longer a part of the foster care system. She was legally an adult. She no longer had to live under the care of a foster family. She no longer needed to stay with the Cullens. But, she wanted to. Did they want her to stay with them, just as much as she wanted to stay there?

She got out of the shower and dressed in whatever clothes Alice had given her to wear for the day. She looked at it after she had put it on. A midnight blue knee length dress. Figures. Bella was amazed that Alice had allowed the dress to be that long!

She went downstairs into the kitchen to Esme slaving away over the stove making mounds and mounds of food.
"Good morning, Bella. Happy Birthday! What would you like for breakfast?"
"Just toast is fine, Esme. You don't have to do anything special for me."
"Oh, but, I want to, Bella. Here. I made you some bacon and eggs and toast and hashbrowns."
"Wow. Esme. Thank you so much. I hope you didn't go through too much trouble!"

"No, of course not dear. It was well worth it. After all, it's not everyday that a girl turns eighteen now is it?"

"Esme?" Bella asked, her voice lower.
"Yes, dear?"
"You still want me to stay with you, right? Now that I'm eighteen?"
"Of course, dear! I wouldn't have it any other way! You are very much a part of this family, and just because you are no longer part of the foster care system, does not mean you aren't a Cullen."

"I love you, Mom."
"Oh! Bella! I love you too, sweety! I hope you don't feel the need to call me that, though!"
"No, I wanted to. You are my mother. The only one I've known anyway. You've been so nice to me for the most part. You've shown so much care and concern and love. You are my mother. Whether blood related or not."

"Bella!" Esme pulled Bella into a hug and held her there for a moment. "Hurry up and eat, Bella. Everyone else will be up soon. Then you all need to be ready to leave for school."
"Oh, Alice is up. She's probably just getting ready or something. She's the reason I'm up so early."
"Jump on your bed and scream at you again?"
"As only Alice knows how."
"I'm sorry, dear. What was her excuse?" Bella laughed loudly at that.
"That is was my birthday and that the rule doesn't apply 'on a special day' or something like that." It was Esme's turn to laugh softly.

"Well, I apologise, Bella. But, here's a secret. Why don't you start locking your door at night so she can't get in?"
"She might pick the lock with a hair pin."
"Well, it's worth a shot, isn't it?"
"Better than nothing, I guess. Thanks, Mom. I'll try that tonight." Bella finished eating her breakfast and then went up to pack her stuff in her backpack.

She brushed her teeth, and then went downstairs. Alice had already done her hair and make up to go with the outfit she'd put Bella in.

After ten more minutes of waiting, Edward, Emmett and Alice came downstairs. Not two minutes later, Jasper and Rosalie walked through the front door. Bella got hugs all around and many birthday wishes.

Finally, they were heading out the door and on their way to school.

All throughout the day, people were saying Happy Birthday to Bella as they passed her in the halls, or when she walked into a classroom. She would mutter a "thank you" under her breath, and blush as she made her way to her desk, or to wherever she was going.

She sat down at lunch with Rose, Alice, Edward, Jasper and Emmett, and kept her head down.
"Bella, is that blush going to be permanently on your face?" Emmett asked.
"I don't like attention."
"Well, then I guess you're really out of luck on that end today, aren't you?"
"Don't remind me." she said, sounding slightly annoyed.

Bella ate her lunch in silence, and then walked to Biology with Edward after the bell rang.

They took their seats in the classroom and waited for the teacher to begin the class. Unfortunately this was going to be another boring class, with another boring movie for them to watch.

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Edward pulled into the driveway and waited for Bella to get out of the car. He let her walk ahead of him as they went through the garage door and into the house. When Bella opened the door, she was greeted with a semi-loud chorus of "SURPRISE!!" She looked up in shock and saw Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Esme and Carlisle standing in front of her with big grins on their faces.

Her mouth fell open. They had planned a surprise party for her. Wow. She hadn't had one of those in the longest time. She felt a big grin come across her face as everyone started to encircle her and give her hugs and pats on the shoulder.

"Well, come on then, lets eat dinner so we can get on with the festivities." Esme said, joyfully. They ate a quick dinner, and watched as Bella opened up her gifts from them. They ate cake, played family friendly games, and had a great time.

Finally, it was nearing midnight and the festivities, loud music and fun quieted down, and then ended. Bella gave one last round of hugs before excusing herself and going to bed.

Before she could fall into a peaceful sleep, however, her thoughts had drifted off to the last time she'd had a surprise party this great thrown for her.

*Flashback to age eight* BPOV

It was my birthday today. Daddy woke me up early that morning with a plate of pancakes and some orange juice. He told me that I needed to get ready for school and then I could open ONE present before I left. I picked one of the smallest ones and opened it. It was a jewelry box. I opened it up, and inside was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen. It was a 10 karat gold chain, with an amethest heart pendent. I smiled.
"Thank you so much, Daddy! I love it!" Charlie smiled.
"Do you want me to help you put it on?"
"Please?" I turned around and lifted my hair so that he could hook the piece of jewelry around my neck. He hooked it and I turned back around so that he could see how it looked.
"Beautiful." he told me.
"Thank you, Daddy. I'll wear it every day!" Charlie smiled.
"Alright, Bella. Now, hurry up and eat, baby, so we can get you to school on time." (1401)

I ate a quick breakfast and then hopped into the cruiser with my father. I buckled my seat belt and waited for Charlie to get into the car.

He finally got it. I smiled at him.
"Uh-oh. What's going on in that diabolical mind of yours?"
"Can we listen to Debussy? Please, Daddy?"
"Well, since it's your birthday, honey, I think we can listen to Debussy if you really want to."
"I do, Daddy! I really do!"
"Okay, then, honey, put the CD in the player." Bella reached up and took a CD out of the carrier and popped it into the CD player in the cruiser. Clair de Lune started pouring out of the speakers.

When we arrived at the school, Charlie parked the cruiser and got out of the car with me.
"Daddy, why are you coming into the school with me?" I asked him.
"I need to talk to your teacher about something, honey. Then I'm gonna go to work."
"Oh! Okay, Daddy! Yay! Can I introduce you to my friends?"
"Of course, Bells. But, I can only stay for a few minutes, okay?"

We walked into the classroom together and I introduced him to my friend, Amanda. Then he went and talked to the teacher about something. After that, he came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll see you at home, Bells. Have a good day, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy. I love you."
"Love you too, baby. Happy Birthday."
"Thank you."

As it turned out, the teacher had made cupcakes for the whole class to celebrate my birthday. We ate the cupcakes that we were given as the teacher began teaching us about multiplying. It was hard. But, I learned it quickly.

I think I only had a hard time with it because I was in a hurry to get home so that I could see Daddy again and open the rest of my presents.

"Bella, are you listening?"
"I'm sorry?"
"I asked you if you could tell us what two times two was?" I counted it out quickly in my head. Let's see... two plus two equals four, so two times two must also equal four, right?
"Yes ma'am. Is it four?"
"Very good, Bella. Please try to pay attention."
"Sorry."

Finally, it was the end of the day, and I got to go home and be with Daddy. When I went outside into the parking lot, I didn't see Daddy's cruiser there, so I just hopped onto the bus. He always told me that that was what I was supposed to do.

When I got on the bus, the driver knew who I was, and told me I was one of the first stops on his route. I smiled and nodded.

The bus stopped outside of my house and the driver opened the doors.
"Here you go, Bella. Have a nice night."
"Thank you." I said and I got off the bus.

I walked up my driveway and to the front door of the house. Charlie's car was in the driveway. Maybe he just didn't get out of work in time to come pick me up. But, that was okay with me. I opened the front door and nearly peed my pants when I was met with a huge shout of "surprise!" and about fifty people jumped out at me.

Charlie stood up from his hiding place and came over to pick me up and set me down over at the table. He set out plates, spoons, knives, forks, and napkins in nice little piles. He went back into the kitchen to get something and came back out and put one of those funny party hats on my head. I laughed.

Ten minutes later, he brought out hotdogs and hamburgers and chicken for everyone to eat. Alone, I ate 3 whole hotdogs. I had never eaten that many before. But, who can really blame me? You should have seen the size of that pile of them! They were just sitting there, calling my name, asking to be eaten.

After dinner, Daddy said I could start opening my cards and gift, but we had to wait until I was done with that before we could eat any cake.

I opened up all the cards to each gift before I opened the gift, so that I could thank the person who gave me the gift, and not get any gifts mixed up with the person that gave them to me.

When I was done opening my amazing gifts, and reading all my cards, Daddy took all the money that I had recieved and put it in a safe place for me. Then he announced that it was time for cake. FINALLY!!!!

I ran to the table and sat down to wait for Daddy or someone to turn down the lights and for them to start singing 'Happy Birthday' to me.

I almost squealed in excitement as the lights flickered off. Everyone started singing and Daddy came out with the biggest cake I had ever seen. It was HUGE!!! And, there were two layers on it. Both had a different flavor of frosting. I started bouncing in my chair as Daddy sat the cake down in front of me and the song drew to an end. I made a quick wish and then blew the candles out. Everyone clapped and 'yay-ed' as the lights went back on.

Daddy picked up a big knife.
"Do you want to cut the cake, Bella?" I nodded my head very quickly.
"Will you help me, Daddy?" I looked at him with a big grin and the cutest look I could make.
"Of course, pumpkin." I smiled as he put the knife in my hand, and held my hand in his and we both guided the knife through the cake.

Normal POV


Bella was snapped back into reality when her door opened and someone walked into the room.
"Bella?" asked Carlisle's soft, calming voice through the darkness. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"
"You've been sobbing for the past ten minutes."
"I have?" she reached up to touch her hand to her cheek, and sure enough, it was soaked with tears.

"Yes. What were you thinking about?"
"I was just thinking about the last time I was thrown a surprise party as good as this one."
"Do you want to talk about it, Bella?"
"Just, the last surprise party I remember having that was that great was when I was eight. My father threw it for me. That was one of the greatest days of my life."

"So, are those happy tears, or sad tears?"
"I'm not sure. A little bit of both. Happy and sad."
"Care to elaborate? It'll make you feel better."

"Well, happy because I'm so glad that I've finally found a family that loves me for the person that I am. To have a family that finally over looks the things that I've done, and the horrors that are in my past. To have a family that didn't give up on me, and wants me around all the time. They were also sad tears because, well, I miss my father. I've never gotten to grieve over him properly, so it's harder for me to get over him. He was the best thing in my life, and to be taken away to terribly and right in front of me just left scars on my soul."

"I can understand that, Bella. Are you gonna be okay for the night, or would you like me to send Alice in here to spend the night?"
"I think I'll be okay. Thank you so much, Carlisle."
"Of course, Bella. That's what family does for each other. They help each other. And, you are family. We will always help you." (2703)

"Thanks."
"There's just one more thing I'd like to discuss with you, Bella. While I'm here."
"What is it?"
"Edward." Bella's face turned pink.
"Oh."
"Don't be embarrassed, Bella. My son seems quite taken with you."
"Yeah. I- um... I like him too." Bella admitted, her face becoming even more red.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. It's quite alright. I've told my son this, and I will tell you the same thing. As long as you are happy, I don't care what happens. You are not related in any way, shape or form. There would be nothing strange about anything you two did. Esme and I have talked it over, and we decided that if you two were to date, as seems inevitable, then it would be fine by us. As long as you are both happy."
"Really?" Carlisle nodded. Bella smiled at him.
"Just keep in mind, that, should something happen to cause you two separate, you still have to live in the same house, and that could get a little awkward. You agree?"

Bella nodded at him again as he watched her carefully.
"So, just be careful, Bella, okay?"
"Okay."

"Good night, Bella." Carlisle said standing up and moving toward the door.
"Good night, Carlisle." She whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. "I love you."
"Love you too, Bella. You turned out to be an amazing daughter." he smiled. Then he shut the door quietly behind him and Bella rolled over and made herself more comfortable.

She smiled to herself and let her mind wander to the conversation that had just taken place here. She almost laughed out loud. It was unbelieveable! But, it had really happened. She let that sink in. She finally found peace as she let sleep over-take her.

A/N: Hope you liked it. Review please.