When we got there I was forcibly dragged from the car by Alice. I did not want to be here. I was so uncomfortable suddenly and I couldn't even place why. All of the Cullens seemed unaware of my predicament, even Jasper, and were focused on the house we had pulled up at. I heard movement from inside and literally backed away. Edward noticed that. He spun himself protectively in front of me and pulled me close, whispering quietly in my ear.

"What's wrong Bella?" he asked. I couldn't explain it. There was no reason for it. There was no way I was going into that house, suddenly I was just petrified of meeting these friends of theirs.

"I can't go in there." I whispered just as quietly. He frowned, trying to decipher the meaning behind my words.

"The house or the people?" he asked.

"Hello!" a voice called from the front door. It was the last straw for me. As Edward turned to look at the person welcoming them, I ran. I was a mile away before I stopped and flung myself up a tree. Edward blurred underneath me not a second later. I stayed in the tree, angry with myself for running.

What was I so scared of?

I was nothing but a mistake. That was the problem. I was the reason the Cullens had to move, I was the reason Edward had slipped in his control. I was the cause of so much of the family's problems and awkwardness. These people, whoever they were, would feel nothing but pity. Pity for Edward, because he lost control, and pity for me because I was now bound to the family. They wouldn't take the time to see past the mistake, past the pity and sympathy and look at me. See Bella, not the newborn. They wouldn't see me as a person, they may see my extraordinary control, or perhaps the fact that I am so childish, but they wouldn't see me.

As my brain continued down that path it became more and more derogatory. What exactly was there to see? I had no special talents, no incredible beauty, no fascinating history, even my human life was boring. I was nothing but a childish imposer. I sat, lowering my self esteem to the depths of hell before my inner torment was interrupted.

I would've expected Alice. She would know where I went. I would've expected Edward. He could've doubled back and seen me. I would've expected Jasper. He would feel my inner turmoil. I would've even expected Esme and Carlisle. As parents they had that 'eyes in the back of the head' thing. Never, in a million years, would I have pegged Rosalie to come and find me.

I stared at her dubiously and unbelieving for a moment. She looked back curiously, trying to figure out why I was, in all possible places, up a tree.

"Why did you run?" she asked simply, not bothering to comfort me, or soften the conservation. I looked down, ashamedly at my hands, before mumbling out what had been running through my head for the last minute.

After I had let it all out, Rosalie smirked at me, unpleasantly and swiftly punched me, hard. I fell from the tree, landing on all fours gently, not even breaking the heels I was wearing. She was on the ground before I could stand up, and she punched me again, throwing me backwards into the tree behind me.

"You." She said, before slapping me hard.

"Are." She enunciated, before kicking me in the stomach.

"The." Again in the stomach.

"Best." A swift kick to my side.

"Thing." A slap across the face again. Had I been human my head would've been spinning.

"That." I won't bother to continue with the beating description.

"Has." I was purely waiting for her to finish her sentence.

"Ever."

"Happened."

"To."

"Edward." She pulled my face up sharply to look at her. "And one of the more amusing additions to this messed up family we have. And you are stupid to think anything other than that." We were both breathing heavily at this point. We stared each other down for a while.

She truly meant it. Her eyes were blazing with anger, and had been since I started admitting what was wrong. She had known Edward all of his life, she had known this family for a lot longer than I had. Rosalie was also not the type to lie, about anything. She was far too tenacious to admit this without cause and meaning. She lowered her arms and stared at me expectantly. I was all tingly from her harsh beating. I lunged at her, wrapping my arms close around her neck, hugging her hard.

"Thank you Rosalie, it means so much. I'm so sorry, I've been so foolish!" I sighed. She briefly wrapped her arms around me before squirming out of my grip.

"If you ever tell anyone I just did that, you won't live to regret it." She snapped before turning away and walking off. I smiled weakly before running my hands over my hair to smooth it. I prayed that vampires didn't bruise, as I checked my miraculously unscathed clothing and began walking back to the house, timidly.

Edward appeared beside me a moment later, looking a little fazed. He was breathing a little heavily, perfectly normal considering the speed and distance he just covered trying to find me. He looked at me, for any sign of the fear or panic I had had before.

I simply smiled at him and hugged him hard.

"I'm sorry about that. I think I just needed some sense knocked into me." I whispered to him. He raised his eyebrow, contemplating the meaning to that, then took in the slight disarray of my hair.

"Did someone beat you?" he asked, looking over at Rose.

"Why would someone beat me? Is that what you'd expect of the people we're visiting?" I asked, as if completely clueless. Edward shook his head vehemently before kissing me gently.

"It seems it is my turn to apologize. I shouldn't jump to conclusions and it was unfair of me. I'm sorry." He said, kissing me again. "And the people we are meeting would never hurt you, of that I am sure."

So he led me into the house. I was first cornered by my mother. Esme smoothed down my hair, worry etched all over her perfect face. I assured her I was fine and she finally let me go. It was then that I noticed our audience. The three women were so commanding in presence that I edged ever so slightly behind Esme. Edward chuckled and pulled me instead behind him. Emmett was looking at me as if I had grown another head.

"Who are you and what did you do with Bella?" he shouted. He hadn't really seen me calm or shy or nervous before.

"It's Steve's fault." I said, motioning over my shoulder. The three women and a fourth, who was clutching onto a man all looked over my shoulder and I couldn't help but giggle. So we spent the next few minutes explaining Steve, and that was how I was introduced to the others.

Tanya was eyeing me speculatively, but not threateningly. Kate and Irina were simply gushing over 'Steve' and Emmett was laughing his butt off. Carmen stayed seemingly emotionless in the corner while Eleazar swept Carlisle off into another room. Edward stared after them, frowning thoughtfully. I nudged him, questioning him with my eyes. He simply smiled and said 'later'. Eventually we all sat down and began talking. I noticed that with every sentence Edward offered, the Denali coven all looked shocked he was speaking at all. Every time he touched me, a flicker of a smile shot across both Esme and Carmen's faces. Had Edward really changed that much? So much so that if he offered his opinion people were shocked? Tanya rarely spoke to me, but if she did it was polite. She didn't seem to love me as much as the others instantly did, but at least she wasn't hostile.

After a while, Carmen spoke. It was the first time since our arrival and her question was directed at me.

"Isabella? Are you happy?" She asked, folding her hands in her lap and waiting expectantly. If I could've blushed I would've been. I looked around to all of the faces of my family. My family. My family. No matter what way you put it, it sounded natural, wonderful, wholesome. I shook my head and everyone frowned.

"No... I'm wonderful." I said. I couldn't possibly be happier right now. This earned another sliver of PDA from Edward. He pulled me closer to him, nuzzling my neck gently. Lust shot through me and I bit my lip gently, trying to control myself. What was it with these strong emotions? Jasper chuckled and I stuck my tongue out at him.

I suddenly had a ridiculous idea.

"Chicken fight!" I squealed. Alice and Emmett were jumping up and down just as quickly as I was. Alice swung herself nimbly onto Jasper's shoulders, Emmett picked up Rosalie and put her on his shoulders. I looked at Edward, asking permission. He held out his hand, a smile playing around his lips. Carmen jumped onto Eleazar's shoulders without asking him. Carlisle picked up Esme and spun her onto his shoulders. Kate jumped onto Tanya's shoulders and Irina called being the 'referee'. We all exited the house and formed a kind of circle.

Edward squeezed my leg. Irina said 'go' and Edward started running beneath me. I deftly pushed at Esme, who nearly fell off, before I felt a squeeze on my right leg, from Edward. Suddenly on my right, Rosalie was pushing me. Ah, so we were going to cheat. Left leg squeeze and I braced myself for impact from the left side. Kate pushed me. Edward spun us around and I managed to push her back.

It wasn't long before the first contestant fell. Carmen had fallen to the ground and was laughing her head off, jabbering in Spanish. Eleazar picked her up and they sat off to the side where Irina was. The night was beautiful, and the only sounds were of us, attacking each other. It almost, at times, sounded like someone was setting off firecrackers. I could, distantly, see the glow of the city, miles away from our position now. The night was surprisingly clear, and the moon was beautifully large.

I was able to be distracted without being in danger, because Edward would squeeze my leg whenever someone planned to attack me. Soon it was just Alice/Jasper and Edward/I. Emmett was moaning about losing and Rosalie was rolling her eyes at his childishness. We soon 'upped the stakes' since it was only the two of us, and Alice and I were blindfolded.

I could hear her breathing, and barely hear Jasper moving. I tried to focus on where she was, until I felt a squeeze on my right leg. I could've sworn she was to my left, but I trusted Edward. I braced for impact from the right and sure enough, it came.

"CHEATER!" Emmett screamed, jumping at us. I got knocked backwards and off of Edward, as Emmett continued to pummel Edward, or try. I didn't realise my skirt had been ripped until Alice whimpered about it. I looked down only to see a fantastic rip darting from the hem all the way up to the waistband of it, you could see my leg, and my panties. I would've blushed were I human. But, vampire Bella simply shrugged. Nothing they hadn't all seen before. It wasn't even that revealing.

Edward however did respect my modesty. He – much to my approval – removed his shirt, and tied it around my waist, covering the bare part of my leg. I tried desperately not to ogle, but... Shirtless. Edward. Irresistible. I ran a finger playfully down his sculpted chest and his muscles flexed beneath me. He leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"That tickled. Please refrain from doing that." His words were serious, but his tone was light. I pulled his ear to my mouth.

"Fine, but I will tickle you later." I threatened, earning a smile from him.

"Cinnia will protect me." Edward laughed.

"Steve won't be happy with that. I hear they're together now." I started conversationally.

The night was over far too soon, but we all promised to return soon. On the way home I started singing softly to myself.

"Come on! come on!
And there'll be no turning back
You were only killing time and it'll kill you right back
Come on! come on!
It's time to burn up the fuse
You've got nothing to do and even less to lose
You've got nothing to do and even less to lose

So wander down the ancient hallway
Taking the stairs only one at a time
Follow the sound of my heartbeat now
I'm in the room at the top, you're at the end of the line
Open the door and lay down on the bed
The sun is just a ball of desire

And I wanna take you out of the frying pan."

"And into the fire." Edward finished for me. I smiled.

"Shoulda known you'd know Meatloaf."

"With my collection I know pretty much every song on the planet." Edward shrugged. Oh really?

"And I know the roads to riches,
And I know the ways to fame;
I know all the rules
And then I know how to break em
And I always know the name of the game." I started, midway through a song. The band was Air Supply.

"But I dont know how to leave you,
And I'll never let you fall;
And I dont know how you do it,
Making love out of nothing at all." He chorused back. His voice was beautiful.

"The world seems not the same,
Though I know nothing has changed.
It's all my state of mind,
I can't leave it all behind.
Have to stand up to be stronger." I tested. Surely Within Temptation he'd not know.

"Have to try to break free
From the thoughts in my mind.
Use the time that I have,
I can't say goodbye,
Have to make it right.
Have to fight, cause I know
In the end it's worthwhile,
That the pain that I feel slowly fades away.
It will be alright." Obviously I was wrong.

We continued like that the whole drive home. Occasionally I would throw in a song that he didn't know, but then most of them were from the sixties and seventies. He seemed to realise I knew his weakness though, because after the fourth 'I don't know'. He poked his tongue out at me. I had to laugh at that.

We spent a few minutes in silence before he looked at me.

"What is Alice hiding?" he asked. "It's something about you, and something you wanted to do."

I smiled, remembering exactly what I had planned. Alice must've been hiding it from everyone. I looked over to Edward and shrugged.

"Don't ask me. I've been planning a lot of things recently." I said. "I wanted to go clubbing, to the zoo, to see a concert..." I trailed off, pretending to think. When I 'apparently' came up blank, Edward sighed, frustrated.