Today is Yesterday's Memory
Summary: Edward is an ancient vampire searching for the love of his life that was ripped from him over 3 thousand years ago. Reincarnation. Canon pairing.
Stephanie Meyers owns all things Twilight. This story line is mine.
Warning: Very adult material. "M" for supernatural subject matter, may not be appropriate for those under 18 years of age.
My undying thanks for editing and their endless patience: John-Mark and Susan
To Issy: Thanks so much for your patience.
A/N: Original poem Love is You is used with permission of it's originator Carol W. Steele from 1980
~o0o~
Chapter 11
Meeting the Cullens
Love can be a wondrous Light
That penetrates the night.
Love can be a searing glare
That will blind those who dare.
Love can be a consuming fire
Whose consequences can be quite dire
Love can be calm and purring
As a new born babes gentle slurring.
Love can be words unthinkingly spoken
That can make a fragile heart broken
Love can be a gentle unsought touch,
That will mean, oh so much!
Love is sharing those innermost places
Then allowing each their own outer spaces.
Love is excepting each as we are,
Knowing the truth can never mar.
Love is being silly running thru a park
Just being together on a lark.
Love is all caring, child baring,
For that is the real sharing.
Love is you.
Love is you,
Oh yes, My Love is You
Previously:
'"Edward could hear the small gasp that escaped Bella after she'd said it, "As much as I'd love to take you up on that, I don't think it'd be a very good idea. Edward smiled into his phone, "I forgot to ask you Bella, would you like to meet my family tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure." Bella worried her lower lip with her teeth, "Boy, you sure know how to not help a girl go to sleep, Edward." she smiled and frowned into her phone, "Now I'm going to be worried about what they'll think of me." Bella was biting her lower lip again."'
Saturday morning after their first date:
BPOV
Saturday morning dawned with the Sun shining merrily with only a few clouds on the horizon and they did not seem threatening. It was going to be the first Sunny day in weeks it seemed to Bella and that was a good omen of what the day might bring.
Then Bella remembered that Edward was coming to pick her up at 11:00 to take her to his house to meet his parents. Oh My. There goes my confidence in the coming day. She had no idea why she was so concerned about meeting the Cullens. That is other than the fact that they were Edward's family.
Then she remembered that he had siblings to meet too.
What if they didn't like me?
What would that do to Bella's burgeoning relationship with Edward?
Why do I feel so close to him?
Why am I dreaming about being someone else, somewhere else?
It excited her, and it frightened her at the same time.
'"You bring death Swan...Amber colored eyes...you bring death..."' Bella cringed at that memory of what Emily Young had told her. She immediately pushed it away and down from her consciousness.
Hurriedly, took her shower, brushed her teeth and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail to keep it from her eyes so she could get dressed, and make her some thing small to eat. She had no idea what time they would be having lunch, or was it dinner. All she really could remember, at this point, was she was going to see Edward again, soon, and she could hardly wait for that.
Why did he have such an effect on her?
Then, she remembered, he'd said he already loved her. That scared her, but the thought that he did love her already was wonderful. How was that possible?, because she too felt that she was already in love with Edward. She remembered his smiles and the way he carried himself...from somewhere, some-when.
That was impossible! She'd never met Edward Cullen until his first day at school. But, she felt she already knew him.
She was starting to drive herself crazy with these questions. Maybe today she'd find out something that would help her.
Two hours later, Bella was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a white long sleeved blouse with her prettiest lacy underwear and full slip to match. She felt so feminine when she wore these...so lady like. She couldn't bring herself, however, to put on heels. That was just too much! So she opted for her black flats, and black thigh highs for hose. Oh My. She thought, I'm treating this like a real date. She was pulling the ponytail out to brush her hair when she heard the knock.
She rushed down to the stairs to open the door.
He was there in all his beauty.
Just looking at Edward was almost painful because he was so beautiful!
EPOV:
Edward got out of his car, and just stood in front of Bella's father's small house.
Why am I so nervous?
She's just meeting Carlisle and Esme, Alice and Jasper, and Emmett and Rosalie, his...family.
Oh! Now I know why I'm nervous!
He was remembering and running through all the thoughts he'd heard from the students about how unusual the Cullen eyes were, and that it must be genetic. '"It certainly showed that they were related to each other, didn't it? That weird eye coloring."'
Edward knocked 3 times on the door. He waited and was poised to knock a fourth when the door opened.
There she was.
She was so beautiful.
She looked almost as she had all those years ago. She was the same height, had the same eyes and hair, and was the same exact age. He wouldn't have been surprised if it wasn't still the same day.
As he took in her beauty and appearance he was enamored once again. No one could, or would take her place in his heart. He'd loved her the moment he'd first seen her on the bank of the River filling the clay water jugs for her family.
They both just stood their looking at each other. Finally, Edward broke the silence.
"Good morning Isabella." His smile would have melted the polar ice cap.
She slowly opened the screen door, allowing him access to her home.
"Where's your father? I see his patrol car is not in the drive."
"He's working. He usually works on the weekends so his deputies can have the weekends off with their families. He's only got 5 other men, and they keep only one or two officers on duty all the time unless they have some emergency come up, then it's all hands on deck. Week ends are usually pretty quite. It's Forks after all." She smiled, and stood aside.
She motioned to the couch, "Have a seat Edward, I'll only be a couple minutes more. I have to try and do something with this hair of mine." Grinning, "It has a mind of it's own."
"You look beautiful, as always, Isabelle." Edward spoke as he seated himself to wait. He wasn't sure she heard him say this last however.
BPOV:
They pulled into the Cullen's driveway by 11:30 a.m.
Standing in the open door, was a beautiful beautiful woman. She had a heart shaped face, shinning caramel colored hair, and those honey colored eyes that Edward and his siblings...that must be where the unusual coloring came from, her genetic coding.
As they climbed the six steps and approached the door, the woman was joined by a blond headed man, who was as beautiful as Edward – in a different way – who's eyes were that same honey color.
The man extended his right hand to Bella, "You must be Bella. I'm Carlisle. This is my wife, Esme. It's so good to meet you." His eyes raised from her's and sought Edward's.
When Carlisle released her hand, Bella found herself being pulled into a strong hug by Esme. "It's so wonderful to finally meet the girl that Edward has told us so much about. My but you are a beauty!" Esme seemed to have such a wonderful, motherly feel about her. Bella was immediately won over and all fear and nervousness instantly evaporated.
Bella felt Edward's familiar tingle in the middle of her back then, and Esme released Bella back to Edward. "Let's go into the living room and I'll introduce you to the rest of the family.
Yeah, sure. Let's do that. All her fear and insecurities returned like a cat pouncing on a mouse.
The four of them, walked into a large room who's back wall was entirely glass. It was breathtaking. The only thing that could have diverted her from the view, was the sound of people standing.
"Bella, this is Alice and Jasper"
Another blond man stood and nodded his head in greeting. "Hello Bella, it's good to meet you. I'm Jasper."
Bella felt herself being pulled into another embrace. This time it was a very petite girl with very short hair. "I'm Alice, and you can't imagine how wonderful it is to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you at school."
Bella felt Edward's touch on her shoulder and Alice released her.
Turning to Edward, he gently pulled her to another couple, and they were Rosalie and Emmett. Rosalie was beautiful beyond words, but Bella was not given time to really look at Rosalie, as she felt herself being pulled into the arms of an enormous man with short dark hair, and a very toothy grin. "Hello Bella! I'm Emmett" he was spinning her around like she was a small child.
"Emmett, please put Bella down!" The command came from Esme. "You'll scare her off before we get to know her better."
Bella felt her waist being circled, protectively, by Edward.
"Well, Bella. This is my family."
~o0o~
