Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to the lovely TwiDi for cleaning up my mess :) !

If you've wondered where I've been my blog and facebook have updates about it. Thanks to those who have stuck with me. There are visuals on the blog.

Just a heads up I am thinking of deleting all my fics off fanfictionnet and moving it to a site that doesn't allow guest/anon reviews, if you have a fav site that does this let me know.

Bella's POV

A couple of cars lined the Cullen driveway as we made it through the gates. I was just glad to see, from the number of cars, that it looked like Esme kept to her word and the guest list only included Carlisle, Esme and the kids along with Emmett and his family. From my understanding, the rest of the Cullen family hasn't been let in on the secret about Rose yet.

"You ready?" I ask her.

"No," she tells me, looking back behind us at the gate.

"Just remember not to threaten him with Dad's badge because he golfs with the Governor; and I guess that has more pull," I joke, trying to take her mind off things. "Of course, Dad's gun trumps just about everything, that man could have been a sharp shooter."

"Bella, so not helping."

"Well, I'm sorry. You know me when I'm nervous."

"You lack filter and say crazy ass-shit. Yes, I know this." She takes a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this before I take a runner."

"As Dad would say, I'm down." She rolls her eyes and smacks my arm before opening the car door.

We head towards the house slowly, and I can't help but wonder if Rose's hot brother is going to live up to my memory of him. I wonder if in the heat of the moment I was seeing this hot piece of man meat, when in reality he was just a regular level of nice looking. A girl can hope, but I'm not sure which way to hope, because that was one fine piece of man, but then again, he's my cousin's bio daddy's kid, so that's just plain weird. Does that make we're related? No, but it's awfully close to it. Damn, I hope he's not as hot as I remember him being. Then again it would be a shame against woman kind if that man isn't as fine as I remember.

Before we can knock on the door, it swings open. A bright yellow shirt comes at us, grabbing Rose in a hug. The woman looks about my parents' age, and is probably a size 12 or 14. So, I'm guessing it's not Esme, unless she has taken to eating 24/7 since we last saw her.

"How are you holding up, sweetie?" The woman asks Rose.

"I'm good. Bella, this is Jane, Emmett's Mom. Jane, this is my cousin Bella." Jane who is a very attractive woman, with warm features and Emmett's dimples grabs me up in a hug, that about breaks my back.

"Oh, honey, I've heard so many good things about you from my Emmett." Umm… Emmett and I have only shared a couple of words in between the humpfests, so I guess he picked up a few good things about me. Or, he's making shit up so his Mommy doesn't find out that he is a closet nymphomaniac.

"Hi, Mrs. McCarty, it's a pleasure to meet you." I groan out from under the bone crushing hug.

"Call me Jane. It makes me feel less old. I would say Mrs. McCarty is my Mother-in-Law, but the woman is a sweetheart, and I can't put her down. Plus, she is on her second husband and is now Mrs. Harper." Oh my God! This is so going to be me minus the whole hugging thing in a few years, unless my Mother in law sucks, a rambling over sharer with a heart of gold.

"Janey, you are crushing the girl." Esme Cullen steps out, in a gorgeous seafoam green top and white linen pants, to save me. Jane lets me go and gives me a sheepish grin before turning to look at Esme.

"Just making the girls feel welcome."

"And making them need chiropractors," Esme snarks and I have to hold back a giggle.

"Damn, Es, that kiss-kiss-cheek thing you blue-bloods do, does not make the majority of us feel welcome. Your lucky I've been around to dirty up that old school snobby money vibe that comes off of you or these chicas would have run a mile from you."

"Jane McCarty, I was never snobby. My Mother was a freaking Vegas showgirl when my Father married her. While my Father's family traces back in the registry so far that I'd fall asleep trying to find it, Kitty Platt Masen was anything but a snobby, old, blue-blood. Much to my late grandparents chagrin."

"Gosh, I love that Kitty. I've never seen a woman of any age let alone in her 70s shake her ass that hard while downing whiskey like it was water. When are she and your Dad getting back into town? We need to have a get together."

"Next month, they are busy having a millionth honeymoon in New York City. Mom loves the Broadway Shows and Dad loves Mom, so they are having a blast. A get-together sounds good. If the weather stays nice we can have a huge BBQ, you know how Carlisle and Liam love to man the grill; and Daddy loves to tell them how they are doing it wrong."

"We should invite Tanya and Aro. Those two always keep things interesting." Jane giggles as she says this.

"You mean in between trying to kill each other and making up inappropriately. I didn't have to give my boys the sex-talk. Aunt Tanya and Uncle Aro making up after throwing each other in the pool one year gave them all they needed to know." Esme sighs like it was the worst thing ever, but the genuine affection in her eyes lets you know she really didn't mind.

"Oh, I remember that time in Hawaii when they were having a fight over whom to sponser for the presidential campaign. That one ended up with my very horny 14 year old son screaming BOOBS at the top of his lungs when they started going at it in the elevator behind us on the way up to the rooms."

While these two, who are clearly old friends, are going back and forth, Rose and I are giving each other looks that are asking basically what should we do; and have they forgotten that we are standing here. Then again, I think Rose is actually signaling towards the car with her eyes, looking like she is about to bolt for it. Oy Vey.

"Ladies, if I'm not mistaken these two young women would like to come in." A tall dark haired man—who was so going to be Emmett in twenty years, minus the dimples he clearly got from his Mom—interrupts the gab-fest in front of us. "Ladies, I'm Liam McCarty." He reaches out and shakes my hand, then Rose's.

"I'm Rosalie Hale, and this is my cousin Isabella Swan," Rose introduces us, a little smile is playing across her face and I have this feeling it's because she knows that genetically Emmett is probably still going to be hot in his old age.

"Ahh! The fair Rosie whom my son can't stop talking about." He winks at her and says this with a very phony yet cute Scottish accent. Even I have to hold back a giggle. He's pretty hot for an old man, kind of like Rose's bio pop.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. McCarty." She blushes.

"Call me Liam, dear, you too Ms. Isabella." He gives me a wink this time, and I'm thinking this guy might be a lot like my own Pops, meaning he's funny and I like him so far.

"Just Bella," I tell him with a wink of my own.

"Alright then, Just Bella." He gives a hearty laugh that reminds me of his son's laugh. "Now, I have a very anxious best friend who is trying to play it cool in there so how about we get this show on the road." He pushes back and waves his arm towards the door. "Ladies first."

We walk back into the house, which really is more like an estate of mini castle or something like that, and I grab Rose's hand and squeeze it in support. She gives me a timid smile and we follow the still gabbing back and forth Esme and Jane into the living room, where Rose's bio Dad is sitting beside his son with the puffy hair watching his—oh, hell I was right, HOT DAMN, IS HE FINE—other son and an adorable Hispanic looking tween play video games. While Emmett and a slightly shorter version of Emmett, who I'm so mentally dubbing his mini-me, were sitting on either side of the short girl from the party we crashed. The three seemed deep in conversation.

"Gentlemen, and Ali-cat, our guests are here," Liam calls, getting everyone's attention.

Carlisle jumps up staring at Rose. Puffy hair brother has a smirk on his face and is checking us both out. I'm thinking he figures whoever he isn't blood-related to, he might have a shot with. Hot piece of man meat brother looks like he's gonna hurl, the cute tween has his eyes fastened on Rose's breast. Guess he's the one going to be screaming BOOBS tonight. Emmett too is looking at Rose's breast like he wants to do the same, and is about to scream BOOBS. His mini-me and whom I'm assuming is Ali-cat are both smiling politely. All the while Rose is crushing my hand and I'm terrified that she is going to break something.

"Rosie, Bella, did you find the place alright?" Emmett asks, then shakes his head. "Shoot. Umm… yeah, forget I asked that." Clearly remembering that we've been here before.

"The traffic was backed up a bit, sorry if we are late." Rose gets out between clenched teeth, doing her patented fridged bitch look she gives out when nervous.

"I'm… we're just glad you are here. Both of you." This from Rose's hot Papa.

"How about we all go into the dining room and get to eating. I know I can eat half a cow myself right now." Jane says and her husband laughs.

"Janie, my love." Is all he says, kissing the side of her head.

"Yes, let's go on in to the dining room. Gina cooked, and you are in luck, Jane. It's roast beef, I believe. There are several side dishes for those who don't eat meat as well."

"Who doesn't love meat?" Emmett asks, rhetorically.

"I'm not really big on pork," Puffy Haired Cullen tells him. "Unless it's..." Before he could finish, Esme stops and turns to glare at him.

"Jasper, if you finish that sentence..." And that is all she has to say, because head down he mumbles out an apology.

"Please, excuse Jasper he's been nervous about meeting you, and he tends to crack bad jokes when he's nervous." Carlisle apologizes and Rose snorts.

"Sounds like you, Bells." I hit her gently on her shoulder and her other brother takes off, his face even more pale than before.

"Dude, I wonder what his problem is?" Emmett asks.

Edward POV

She was here. And even prettier than I remember. Her blonde cousin looked like an ice queen, while she looked like warmth and home. And I just wanted to grab her and whisk her away. Then it hit me she's my sister and that was just sick. Though a part of me wanted to beg her to run off with me and live in the ways of a V.C. Andrews' books. Then my stomach flipped at that gross idea.

Incest is not the best of ideas.

Or at least, I keep trying to tell myself that, but damn, she is beautiful.

As they talk back and forth the words not really making it into my brain until the ice queen points out how Bella is so much like Jasper. I wonder what else she has in common with us, and I just hope it doesn't make her seem more attractive to me. With that thought my stomach flips and I rush past everyone to the powder room to empty the contents of my stomach.

After a few minutes and a ton of cold water on my face, and a Listerine strip dissolved in my mouth I work my way into the dining room where Jane is telling everyone about the time Jasper and Emmett got ahold of some fire works and caught her pool house on fire by accident. The blonde, Rose I think her name is, is laughing and smiling at Emmett, while Bella is looking like she'd rather be somewhere else, though politely smiling.

"You okay, son?" Dad asks softly as I pass by him.

"I'm fine," I assure him. He gives me that look like he doesn't believe me but nods anyway. Dad is able to tell when something is bothering his children. And Mom can always tell when we are lying. Together they are like some kind of super parenting team.

"Dinner is served," Gina announces as she brings out the rest of the food.

"Thank you so much, Gina, would you like to stay and join us?" Mom offers.

"No thanks, Esme, I have some plans with a certain stud muffin, tonight." Gina can be firm, but she and my Mom are almost as bad as my Mom and Jane.

"Gina, can you do me a favor since you are going to be seeing Caius tonight?" Dad asks, standing up.

"Sure, Mr. C. What's up?" He rolls his eyes at her calling him Mr. C. Our family doesn't really stand on ceremony, kinda hard with Grandma Masen around to become sticks in the mud.

"I have some paperwork for him. It's on my desk, if you all wouldn't mind, I'll be just a moment."

"Go ahead, dear, dinner can wait." Mom smiles and Emmett pouts.

"Or we can start without you?" My oldest friend, and imitation human garbage disposal offers.

"Emmett..." Jane trails off, and Emmett just pouts. It startles me a little when Emmett's girlfriend reaches over and fist bumps Jane, but the pair shares a wicked smile before leaning back in their seats.

Dad is back before we even really notice he was gone. For an older man he is pretty dang fast.

"Alright, Emmett, we can begin." He winks at Em, who gives a thumbs-up before reaching for the bowl of red potatoes in front of him.

The food was passed around and conversation stayed light, guided by Mom and Jane. Most of it is talk of Emmett and Jasper's craziness while we were growing up. Thankfully, I wasn't involved with some of the more unsavory of their adventures. While we were all close in age, I skipped ahead in school so while they were hitting their stride of mischief in tenth and eleventh grade, I was already in college working on my degree in computer programming.

My cell phone dings as a text arrives. It took all I had not to check it. The back of my mind filling with a million and one things that could be wrong at work, or at the house, or with Maggie.

"Edward, son if you need to check it, go ahead," Dad says with a small smile, before turning to the new comers. "Edward, much like his Grandfather Masen can not stand a phone that is ringing or texting, they have to know who, what, when, where and why as quickly as possible."

"When he doesn't check it, he starts going nuts and a vein in his forehead starts popping as he keeps trying, and boom! e'll bust and it's never pretty," Jasper tells them, and I discreetly flip him off with the old rubbing the nose trick.

"Edward Anthony," Mom warns and I sigh taking out my phone. The message is simple, 'Maggie needs food, please, pick some up on the way home'. I can tell it is from my housekeeper/drill Sargent Peggy. The woman in her mid-forties who runs my house with an iron fist, but she has a warm heart that keeps her from being Stalinesque.

"Gonna share with the class, Eddie boy?" Emmett asks with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "Lady-issues?"

"No, Emmett, it isn't. You are generally the one with lady issues. Peggy just needs me to pick up some food for my Maggie on the way home. She probably forgot it earlier today when she was shopping, and Peggy has night blindness so it's safer for all of us if I just pick it up."

"Oh, that reminds me. Gina cooked up some of those organic cookies that Maggie loved so much last time for you to take home tonight." Mom tells me, grinning.

"I see how she is baking Maggie cookies, but none for me." Jasper pouts.

"Please, how many times have I seen you sneaking Maggie in some treat or another that her doctor tells her she shouldn't have, but we all know she loves." I glare. My baby girl needs to loose a few pounds, but her happy sounds, when she gets her treats, is so hard to resist.

"Who's Maggie?" Rose asks out loud.

I share a look with Mom and before I can even begin to explain who my sweet Maggie is, she gives me a look and opens her mouth to fill in our guest about my sweet Maggie.

Reviews are nice, when they aren't threatening the author or telling them why they suck.

Next chapter we get movement on the Bella/Edward front. But these 2 aren't just going to hop into bed together and be I love you right away. While this isn't a sloooooooow burn, it is a little slower than usual.

I do have 2 recs for ya this week, 1 is complete the other a WIP.

Overtime which is complete www fanfiction net /s / 9353641 / 1

The Painter which is a WIP www fanfiction net/ s / 10412446 / 1