Hey y'all! I hope this update was quick enough for you :) We tried to bust this chapter out pretty quick! Check out the A/N at the end of the chapter for a nice surprise!

Thanks to Admittedly Obsessed for being an amazing validation beta :)

There is a little bit of skipping around in POVs, but bear with us. It's worth it :)

BPOV

After I made sure that Edward made it to the truck safely, I softly closed the door behind me and leaned against it. I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer for Esme, hoping that it was not an emergency that caused Edward to leave so quickly; only the fact that he is an overprotective and very loving son.

I sighed, still worried despite my optimistic thoughts, and went into the living room to sit with Lilly. She had fallen asleep on the small pallet I made and I smiled at her peaceful form. Glitter from her costume covered her entire body, and I could only imagine how many baths it would take to completely remove it all. It amazed me that clean, prissy Alice would allow so much glitter in one outfit, but I figured she had her reasons.

The child could not be comfortable, so I shook her lightly to wake her up. "Lilly? Wake up, dear."

Her eyes opened slowly and she looked slightly confused before recognition dawned on her face. "Hey, Ms. Swan. Where is Uncle Eddie? Did I fall asleep?"

"Uncle Eddie had to go somewhere really quickly. How would you like to stay the night here with me? We can make a fort to sleep in and finish watching the movie."

Lilly's eyes widened and she smiled, "That sounds like fun!"

"First thing's first...let's give you a bath, and then I'll find some pajamas for you. How does that sound?"

"Okay!" She clapped her hands excitedly and jumped up from the floor, sending glitter flying in all directions. I sighed to myself and lead her down the hallway to my bathroom. While her bath water was running she told me all about the different placed Edward had taken her to trick or treat. Her favorite house gave her two real bags of peanut M&Ms and her least favorite gave her an apple and dental floss. Seriously, who does that?

With a few inches of water in the tub, I left Lilly to quickly find an old t-shirt she could use for pajamas. As soon as I found one small enough that it wouldn't swallow her whole, I decided to call Alice and let her know that Lilly was staying with me for the night.

Just as I finished my short conversation with Alice's voicemail, Lilly called to me from the bathroom.

"Ms. Swan! I'm finished!"

I handed her a towel as she hopped out of the tub and dried her off quickly before throwing the t-shirt on over her head.

"Alright, Lilly, how about we make that fort?"

She squealed with delight and ran down the hallway towards the living room once again.

Apparently this six-year-old was a master at creating forts--I guessed that Uncle Eddie had a hand in that--so the fort building actually consisted of me moving furniture around while Lilly stood on the couch and directed me before throwing blankets over everything.

By the time the fort was completed, my entire living room was rearranged, and we had managed to not only get the coffee table, but also the TV covered in our mini-world as well. Lilly had her bag of candy and a glass of water, so as far as she was concerned, she did not have to move for the rest of the night.

The mountain of blankets on the floor served as an excellent mattress as Lilly and I settled down to finish The Wizard of Oz. She was asleep in no time, but I left the TV on to provide some light in the small space.

I finally allowed my mind to slow down enough to think about Edward and all he had told me earlier in the night. He opened up to me about Tanya, a name I had not heard before tonight, and I had to fight back the small flash of jealousy that someone had actually experienced what it was like to be in love with Edward Masen.

Who was I to be jealous of a woman I did not know? Especially for that ridiculous reason. Part of me was glad to admit that I was feeling something toward Edward. The other part was not as enthusiastic. I couldn't even talk to him about Jacob, and I made up my mind in that second that until I could talk to him about Jacob without crying, closing up, or getting angry, it wouldn't be fair to feel the things I was feeling.

Edward had easily become my best friend since I had moved, and even though his actions threw me for a loop and left me utterly confused most of the time, I truly enjoyed spending time with him. I was terrified to mess things up.

I rolled my eyes, already hearing what Angela would say to me if she could read my mind right now.

"How many more excuses are you going to make, Bella? First, he's related to one of your students. Next, he is too good for you. Now, he's too good of a friend. Make up your mind and do something about it before it is too late!"

I adored my best friend, but sometimes she could be a major pain when it came to my love life.

Or lack thereof…

And what exactly did he mean when he said he would "always need me"? It was flattering, yes. And I'm not ashamed to admit that my heart skipped a beat or two. But what did that mean? My heart stalled once again as I remembered the look in his eyes when he said those words and how I'd thrown my arms around his neck, overcome with worry for his mother I had never met, and a strange new feeling for the man in front of me.

The way his arms fit around me made me want to hug him for hours on end. My body almost hungered for contact with his, and I couldn't remember the last time I had been held so close and felt so complete.

What was I getting myself into? I couldn't decide whether to hold my head in my hands and give up completely, or slap myself to jump into action. I could make all of the excuses I wanted, but the truth of the matter was that I was on my way to falling for Edward Masen. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to put myself back out there or not, and I wasn't sure how much more my poor heart could handle.

I was pulled from my thoughts as I felt Lilly stirring beside me. The end credits of The Wizard of Oz were playing and the music must have woken her up.

"Ms. Swan?" she asked tiredly.

"Hey there, sleepyhead. Are you ready to go to bed?"

She shook her head quickly, fighting a yawn. "No, I'm not tired. Let's watch another movie."

I had to smile at her as she tried to convince me she was not exhausted. She picked The Princess Diaries from my small movie collection and I quickly put it in. It was one of my favorites, though there weren't many people that I would actually admit that to.

Only fifteen minutes into the movie, Lilly was asleep again. I was fighting a few yawns myself and decided to get up and clean the kitchen before I headed to bed. The two stacks of Dots and Licorice were still on the table and I couldn't hide my smile as I pulled out two Ziploc bags and stored the candy. I quickly cleaned up the rest of the candy around the house and stacked it all neatly on the counter for Edward to take with him the next time I saw him. I knew Alice would not let Lilly take home two giant bags of candy.

Once I was satisfied with the state of my kitchen I crawled back into the fort and pulled a few pillows down to make a bed. Lilly was fast asleep but I left the movie on just incase she woke up in the middle of the night and didn't know where she was.

My mind started to race again as soon as my head hit the pillow and I found myself only able to relax when I imagined my "future" with Edward, fifteen years down the road.

I imagined a beautiful house with a large back yard, maybe somewhere in the mountains or on a lake, the scenery changing behind my eyelids with every second as I changed my mind.

Both of the kids had my hair—the boy's was as unruly as his father's—and they shared Edward's eyes and smile. Edward would love the backyard, playing with our kids and our new puppy as I prepared steaks for him to put on the grill.

I wouldn't mind staying inside because I could watch my family enjoying themselves and each other. Of course the dinner would be perfect; Edward would know just how I liked my steak grilled, the kids would tell jokes and talk about what they learned in school that day, and we would sit and laugh until night fell and it was time for baths and bed time stories.

And then Edward and I would have time to ourselves, sitting together on the couch with a glass of wine and enjoying our stolen moment with whispers and soft kisses.

The image seemed so perfect in my mind that I found myself sighing as I finally drifted off to sleep.

* * *

I felt like I had been asleep only 15 minutes when I heard my cell phone chirping across the room. I groaned and crawled out from the wall of blankets Lilly and I had constructed. I was surprised to see a little bit of sun peeking through the windows and I rubbed my eyes to get the sleep out before making my way over to my purse, which was singing to me again as my cell phone continued to ring once more.

"H'lo?" I asked groggily.

"Hey, Bella! It's Alice. I just wanted to call and let you know that I'm on my way to pick Lilly up. Edward called and left me a message last night, but I didn't get it until this morning. I assumed Lilly was staying with him, so I was halfway to his house when I finally got the message. Anyway, I'm on my way so I will see you in a few!"

She spoke so quickly I barely understood her, and couldn't get a quick "Okay, bye!" in before she hung up.

Glancing around at my living room, I sighed as I thought about how much work it would take to get everything back in order. No time like the present, I thought, crawling inside once again to wake Lilly up before I tore the fort down.

"Lilly," I said softly, rubbing her shoulder gently, "Mommy's on her way over. Let's get you up and dressed."

She sighed and rolled over, looking up at me through tired eyes. I had to smile at how precious she looked and motherly instincts I didn't know I had kicked in.

"Come on, I'll let you sleep in my bed until Mommy gets here, how's that?" I asked, picking her up and cradling her sleepy head on my shoulder. I grabbed a blanket from the top of the fort on the way to my room and laid her on my bed. She was back asleep before her head even hit the pillow and I smoothed her dark hair away from her face, watching as she slept so peacefully. There were no signs of the overexcited fairy from the night before aside from a few specs of glitter still stuck to her hair.

I had just completed my mountain of folded blankets when a quick knock at my door lead me to Alice. She looked the most relaxed I had seen her in a while, and certainly well loved.

Her cheeks and chin were tinted red, looking as if they had received a lot of attention from Jasper's scruff the previous night after all of the trick-or-treaters had gone to bed.

"Well hello, Alice. Have a good night last night?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

She only allowed herself to blush for a second before rolling her eyes and stepping inside. "Hey, Bella. Yes, I did have a great night. Thanks for asking…"

Her voice trailed off as she took in the state of my living room.

"What happened in here?" She asked, motioning to the furniture that was all currently placed in the middle of the room in no particular order.

"Um…we built a fort?" I said cautiously, wondering if it would get Lilly in trouble or not.

"Oh fun!" Alice said breezily, still surveying the damage. Leaving out the candy intake and movie watching had probably been a good idea on my part. "Where is Lilly?"

"She's asleep on my bed. I put her there so I could start cleaning up."

"Well let's give her a few more minutes and have ourselves some girl talk. How did you like your costume?"

The mention of the costume reminded me of Alice's scheming the day before and I narrowed my eyes at her, "Just what are you trying to pull, Alice Whitlock? Wendy and Peter Pan? Honestly."

She had the nerve to look innocent. "What about it?"

"You know good and well what I'm talking about. Lilly made him give me a kiss because we matched." Why not play with her a little bit? She was asking for it.

"He kissed you?" Her face lit up with a strange combination of excitement and shock and she started bouncing in her seat.

"No, Alice," I sighed, picking the thimble up off of my counter as I walked into the kitchen, "He gave me a kiss. Just what did you think was going to happen when he shows up here like Peter Pan? Are you trying to make me feel awkward? Or are you really just that insistent on setting us up?"

I felt bad for a moment as her face fell, but that feeling quickly flew out the window as soon as she started speaking again.

"I'm just trying to help the two of you along, Bella. Everyone can see it!"

"Well stop, Alice…please. I know you are just trying to help, but I just can't take it right now. I'm not ready." I put my head in my hands and leaned against the counter.

Her voice softened as she placed a hand on my shoulder, "What's holding you back, Bella? Don't you want to be happy again?"

"Yes! I do!" I almost screeched in desperation and frustration, quieting my voice quickly as I remembered Lilly in the other room. "I do want to be happy again, and I'm trying, but there is a lot I need to work out before I can take that step, Alice. Just trust me here. I can't tell you now, but I will soon, I promise."

That seemed to appease her for the time being and she took off in search of Lilly, leaving me to hide from the thoughts swirling around in my head. Their presence distracted me for a little while longer, but as soon as they were out the door and I had no more distractions, I was assaulted with memories of the night before.

I couldn't figure out whether I should be upset with Alice or not. She was pushing me, yes, but her pushing lead me to a great conversation with Edward. I got to know him a lot better than I had before, finally talking about the rest of his family and even learning a little about his past relationships. I automatically felt a flash of guilt as I remembered the slight amount I had let slip about Jacob. I owed it to Edward to give him some information, but I couldn't bring myself to open up just yet. I'd already fallen apart in front of Edward once before because of Jake, and I wasn't looking to do it again any time soon.

After looking around my disaster of a living room once more, I decided to sleep for another hour or so before cleaning everything up. Alice woke me up way too early for a weekend, and I was looking forward to a few more precious hours of sleep before starting my day.

I left my cell phone by my bed, checking to make sure I hadn't heard from Edward yet, and curled up under the covers.

I slept so soundly that my mind didn't have time to float back towards my alternate reality of life with Edward before the sun was shining through my window and waking me up once again. Sighing, I lifted myself off of the bed. I felt much more rested and willing to start the day, so I shuffled into the shower, my mind wandering to which piece of furniture I should try and move first once I decided to tackle the mess downstairs.

I was wasting time under the stream of hot water when I heard a loud knock from the front door. Rushing to make myself presentable, and thinking it might be Alice to come pick up Lilly's wings which I had noticed still sitting on the floor in my living room, I threw on a bathrobe and ran a comb through my hair.

The knock sounded again and startled me as I was jogging to the front door, making me jump and slip on the wood floor where my soaking wet hair had dripped. I caught myself on the side table near the front door and winced when it slammed against the wall.

"Coming!" I called, gripping the top of my robe closed as a deep masculine laugh reached my ears through the door.

I pulled the door open and froze in place, gripping my robe even tighter as I saw who stood on the other side of the door.

That was definitely not Alice.

EPOV

My mother was a strong, stubborn woman that didn't understand the concept of exhaustion. During my childhood, she ran around with us kids, always playing with us at the park instead of being the mother sitting on the bench watching. She was hands-on, and very involved. When I lost my first tooth, she dressed up as the tooth fairy and woke me up to prove that she really did exist. I made five dollars that night, and from then on, every tooth I lost brought me closer to being rich.

Alice was sixteen when my parents decided to let her go on her first date. I started dating when I was too young to even know the context of the word, but I was the oldest, and I got away with more than Alice. For instance, on my first real date, my mother did not take pictures and run around trying to make sure the house was presentable for the guest.

When Alice walked down the stairs of our home wearing a designer outfit, our mother began snapping millions of pictures and fluffing her then shoulder length hair. My father and I stood with our arms crossed as Alec walked inside, looking intimidated. Mom stayed up late that night waiting for Alice to get home, and then she listened to her only daughter's details of the short date. Alec, Alice decided, was not The One.

When Alice told our parents she was pregnant, our mother put her business on hold and began putting together the nursery. She spent months making sure it was perfect. Esme researched the most soothing colors, opting for the calming color schemes of light green and dark brown with hints of pink. She made sure to buy classical CDs, such as Beethoven and Debussy. When Lilly was born, our mother hadn't slept in two days.

Now, my mother was lying in a hospital bed with an IV hooked to her arm, looking as if she wanted to get out of the bed and start decorating the room. She was still radiant as ever, her eyes full of compassion. Her caramel colored hair was splayed around her like a halo. My own hair was just a shade darker and redder than my mother's. Carlisle was by her side, holding her hand in his. He looked tired, still dressed in charcoal slacks and a silver shirt with a sweater vest. When I stepped into the room, he looked up at me and smiled.

"Edward." My mother's voice was, as always, full of life and happiness. "How lovely to see you." She turned to Carlisle and frowned. "You scared our son, didn't you?"

He smiled. "Of course not, dear. Edward was simply in the neighborhood and had one of his feelings."

"I was never the one with the feelings," I pointed out, sitting on the side of the bed. Thankfully, I had stopped by my house to change into a pair of jeans and an old concert tee, so the tights were no longer assaulting my legs. "That was Alice."

"Did you tell Alice, too?" Esme asked Carlisle accusingly. "Are all of my children going to flock to the hospital?"

Again, Carlisle smiled. "No, darling. Alice's cell phone is off. So is Jasper's, for that matter."

I shivered at the possibilities of why my sister had gone incognito. "Lilly is staying at a friend's house."

"Her teacher," my mother guessed correctly. "Miss Swan? Edward, I've heard so much about this young woman. Why haven't you brought her to a family dinner? I would simply love to meet her."

"Wait," I said, shaking my head. "Why have you heard about her? What has Alice been saying?"

Esme smiled. "Just that she's your soul mate. Your destiny. Your first and true love. The woman of your dreams."

"Esme," Carlisle scolded softly. Even he couldn't hide the large grin. "Enough."

I dropped my head into my hands. Images of Bella blushing when I left her house flooded my mind. I'd grabbed her hand and promised her that I'd always need her, and the familiar red color had invaded her cheeks. She followed me to Jasper's truck and hugged me tighter than ever.

"You will call me the second you find out what happened," Bella had said. She was still clutching me, her face buried in my neck.

"Are you kidding?" I asked, slowly snaking my arms around her waist. It was the closet contact I'd ever had with Bella, and I was a bit cautious. However, she kept her arms tight around my neck, so I hoped she wouldn't slap me for my actions. "I'd take you with me if it weren't for Lilly."

I couldn't get through to Alice or Jasper after I left Bella's house, but I wasn't worried; it was the first night they'd had to themselves in a while, and I didn't want to think about why the phones were being ignored.

"What happened, Mom?" I asked, dissolving my previous thoughts.

She waved a perfectly manicured hand in front of her face, as if to brush off my question. "It was nothing. Your father overreacted."

Carlisle rolled his eyes. "Esme, my love, you fainted in the produce aisle. I didn't overreact."

"You fainted in produce?" I asked, my voice jumping an octave.

My mother shot me a pointed look. "Like I said, it was nothing. I had been busy running around town. I went into the city for a few things, and I was on my way home when I remembered it was Halloween. I needed candy for the kids. I was in produce looking for some peppers so I could make dinner tonight. It was awfully hot in that store," she concluded.

I looked down at her pale arms, one of which had a needle and a tube sticking out from it. Dad saw where I was looking and said, "She's dehydrated too, apparently."

There was a moment of silence between the three of us, until my mom said, "Darling, why are you wearing tights?"

I scoffed. "You should know. She's your daughter."

We spent the next hour talking about Lilly's Halloween and her progress in the first grade. My mom couldn't wait for Grandparents Day at her school, which took place right before Thanksgiving. The topic of conversation turned to my relationship with Bella. My father looked at me sympathetically before getting up to check my mother's chart. He stifled a chuckle the entire time.

"Why haven't we met her? You know there's a family dinner at least every other week. Even Emmett and Rosalie show up, Edward."

I ran a hand through my hair and shrugged. "It's a delicate matter, Mom."

"How so?"

"Bella…" I trailed off, wondering how to finish my thought. "She moved here from Washington. She's nowhere near home, and I'm pretty sure she just got out of a serious relationship. I don't think she's ready to move on."

Carlisle decided to interrupt, thankfully. "Esme, darling, you should get some rest. Son, do you plan on staying here or going home?"

"I'd like to stay and make sure Mom is okay," I said, grabbing my mom's pale hand.

She sighed. "I'm fine."

"Sleep," my father said, stepping over to her and touching her face lovingly. The passion that flowed between my parents was incredible. I dreamed of having a relationship like theirs eventually.

"Yes, dear," she said, smiling up at him. She closed her eyes, a smirk still on her face.

* * *

After waking up extremely stiff and sore from sleeping in the hospital chair, I ran home to change (finally, I was without tights. Oh, jeans, I missed you) and then drove to Bella's house. It was just after eleven in the morning, and I was thankful that Halloween had been a Friday night this year. It was slightly cool outside, so I wore jeans and a dark gray hoodie. My hair was, as usual, a mess. I could barely move.

I jogged up to her door and knocked a few times. Her car was in the driveway, but no one answered the door. After a minute, I knocked again. Then, I heard a banging noise on the other end of the door, followed by, "Coming!"

Laughing, I backed away from the door and waited. Twenty seconds later, the door swung open revealing Bella in a cotton bathrobe with wet hair dangling around her shoulders. I felt the blood rush out of my head as I processed her appearance. Her cheeks were flushed from the hot water of her shower, and her legs were still glistening with water. Her bathrobe was a mint green color that made her skin look even creamier. It was all I could do not to take her into my arms and kiss her.

When she saw me, her blush intensified. "Oh my God," she mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest protectively. "I didn't know you were coming by."

Instantly, I felt horrible. "I'm so sorry, I should have called."

She shook her head quickly. "No, it's fine. Please, come right in. Just…give me a minute." She held the door open for me with one arm, keeping the other placed securely in front of her chest.

Her house smelled like steam. Her living room was arranged oddly, blankets strewn across every surface as if she'd built a fort.

A minute later, Bella emerged from her bedroom wearing a pair of jeans and a blue flannel button down shirt with a white tank top underneath. Her hair was still dripping wet. She took a look at me, then at the living room floor. She shrugged sheepishly. "Lilly wanted a fort, so we built a fort."

I laughed, and so did she. Then, we looked at each other. She was beautiful like this—natural. I wouldn't have minded to see her like this all the time.

"How's your mother?" She asked, interrupting my thoughts.

Instinctively, I rubbed my neck. It was tight from the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. "She passed out from exhaustion and dehydration. They released her this morning. She's under strict orders not to overexert herself this weekend. My dad's pumping water down her throat every five minutes." I smiled at the memory of helping my mom into the house earlier in the morning with my dad behind me, carrying a twenty pack of bottled water.

Bella leaned towards me, touching my chest with her hand. "That's great, Edward. I was really worried."

I could feel her warmth through my hoodie. I inhaled deeply, smelling her strawberry shampoo in the air. "So, did Alice pick up Lilly?"

"At about seven," Bella commented. "But, I was so tired, I went back to sleep after she left. I only woke up an hour ago," she finished sheepishly. "How long have you been awake?"

"Six or seven. It's hard to sleep in hospitals. My dad woke me up early. He negotiated for my mom's early release."

"That's great." Bella put her hands in her pockets and looked down at the floor. I stared at the ceiling for a moment.

I cleared my throat. "Thank you for watching Lilly last night. I didn't want her to panic."

"Oh, it was a joy," she said quickly. "We made a fort in my living room and watched The Princess Diaries after The Wizard of Oz was over. We had ourselves a great girls night in."

"Did you talk to my sister this morning about where she was last night?" I asked curiously. Not even my parents could get a hold of Alice, and I was a bit frustrated. How could they both ignore their phones? What if something had gone incredibly wrong with their own daughter?

Bella blushed. "She didn't really say much. Just that she and Jasper had a romantic evening, but…" She trailed off, biting her lip in the most adorable way. "Her chin and lips were sort of red."

"Meaning…?" I furrowed my brows.

She sighed. "I think it was beard burn. I'm trying not to guess why they were unreachable last night."

I shivered. Unwanted images of my sister and brother in-law threatened to break through my guarded brain. "Point taken. Hey, I actually have a question for you."

"Okay," she said curiously. She sat down on her couch and began combing her hair.

I sat on the other end of the sofa. "My mom's been asking about you. She told me I should invite you to a family dinner. Would you like to go?"

Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened. I panicked. The invitation was too forward. I had pushed things too far, finally. She was preparing to run away like a startled fawn. I closed my eyes and sighed in defeat.

"Won't that be awkward?" She said, breaking the awkward silence. "I mean...it's already weird that I'm such good friends with my student's uncle and mother and father."

I shrugged. "Don't think of us as your student's family. Think of us as your really good friends."

She laughed. "I suppose I could swing by. When is this family dinner?"

"Well, permitting that my dad is alright with cooking and my mother is feeling better, tomorrow."

Her eyebrows shot up. "That's not much time to prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

She chuckled loudly. "Prepare for meeting my future in-laws, Edward! Now, make yourself useful and help me put all of this furniture back!"

BPOV

The second Edward's car pulled out of my driveway, I had Alice on the phone.

"Hey, Bella! What's up?"

"Alice," I said warningly, "Were you aware that Edward was coming over here earlier?"

"Why? Did he stop by?"

I sighed, "Yes, Alice. He did. Did you know he was coming when you came by this morning?"

"No, I haven't talked to him all day. What's wrong?"

"Aside from the fact that I answered the door in nothing more than my bathrobe?"

Alice tried to hold back a giggle, but she was unsuccessful. "Oh, Bella. I'm sorry. If I had known he was going to stop by I would have said something about it this morning. Honest."

"Yeah, just like you would tell me if we had coordinated costumes?"

She was silent for a moment, probably stunned by my sarcasm, but I didn't allow myself to feel bad. She had been far from innocent every other time an awkward situation with Edward occurred, so it was only natural to question her about this one too.

"What's really bothering you, Bella?"

"Edward invited me to family dinner tomorrow night."

"Is that it?" I could hear a slight .laugh in Alice's voice again.

"Yes. No… I don't know," I answered quickly. Truthfully, I didn't know what this meant. Was this my friend wanting to introduce me to the rest of his family? Or a man inviting me to meet his parents? Two very different possibilities and after my realization the night before, I wasn't sure which one I wanted to be true.

"Well which is it?" Alice asked patiently.

"Can you come over later? Please? You can bring Lilly if you want. I just need some help picking out an outfit and some advice on meeting the rest of your family."

"Sure! Jasper is going to hang out with Edward tonight anyway. They haven't had one of their dates in a while, so they are heading out around 5. Want me to come over then?"

I sighed in relief, "That would be great, Alice. Thank you so much."

"No problem. I'll pick up some dinner on the way over. See you in a little while!"

The time waiting for Alice to come over was spent standing in front of my closet, going through all of my nicer shirts and pants. Everything I pulled out screamed "old teacher" and I frowned at my professional wardrobe.

I didn't want to look like a stuffy first grade teacher with my hair pulled back in a bun the first time I met his parents. The image circling my mind was one of Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone, extremely uptight and professional. Definitely not a great first impression.

But I didn't want to appear too relaxed either. Low-cut shirts, not that I had very many, were definitely a no go. And any skirt I had was either pencil cut or something I had left over from high school that I was pretty sure I would never wear again.

By the time Alice showed up, I had picked through my entire wardrobe and found absolutely nothing I found suitable. I was thankful for the distraction as I heard the doorbell ring.

"Thank goodness! I was going crazy!" I said as I opened the door.

There stood Alice, Lilly on one arm and a bag full of take-out on the other. I grabbed the food from her and held the door open further so she could come inside.

"Hi, Ms. Swan!" Lilly said as her mother carried her into the kitchen.

"Lilly! It's been so long since I've seen you! How are you?" I asked, feeling silly and lighthearted now that I had company.

"I just saw you this morning!" Lilly said, laughing at my apparent forgetfulness.

I gasped in mock surprise, "You're right! I did. How silly of me."

Lilly continued to laugh as Alice sat her down at the table.

"What did you two do today?" I asked, pulling plates out of the cabinet.

"After we left here we went to see Nana, and then we went home."

I assumed "Nana" was Esme and I smiled. "That's great. How is she doing?"

"PopPop won't let her do anything," Lilly continued, "She keeps fussing at him to leave her alone."

"Nana just doesn't know when to rest," Alice said to her daughter.

"We made cookies. And PopPop took me outside on the swing."

"That sounds like a lot of fun."

"Carlisle spoils her," Alice provided as we started spooning food onto our plates, each of us making sure Lilly had some of everything on her plate as well.

Lilly finished eating first and I set up a movie for her in the living room while Alice and I finished our dinner.

"So, mind telling me why you are so worked up about coming to dinner tomorrow?"

I sighed, pushing my food around my plate. "I'm having a hard time figuring everything out right now, Alice. I'm still trying to get over everything I left at home, and now I'm trying to understand everything that is happening with Edward, and I just don't know how to take it."

"How to take what?"

"The fact that he invited me at all. What does it mean? Did your mother just pressure him into inviting me? Or does he really want me there?"

"I think it is safe to say that Edward wants you there, though I'm pretty sure mom could force him into almost anything."

"What makes you think he wants me there?"

Alice rolled her eyes, "Oh, just that he talks about you all the time…that might have something to do with it."

"He talks about me?" My heart jumped at the thought and my hands started shaking.

"Every time he comes over he asks about you; when you and I last talked, if there is anything coming up at the school, if he needs to go pick up Lilly.

"He's just being curious," I decided, "Friends ask about each other. That's what he's doing. Just like I ask you about him and vice versa."

"But you aren't asking about him as a friend and you and I both know it," Alice said, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I told you this morning…I'm not ready for anything. I will tell you the moment I am, but I just can't right now, okay?"

"Yet you're still freaking out over meeting my parents?"

I emptied my lungs in a huff and stood up from the table, realizing that the conversation was slowly going nowhere.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, Bella. Let's go find you something to wear tomorrow, okay? I promise I won't say anything else about you and Edward."

Alice was a miracle worker in my closet, and she managed to find clothes I didn't even know I had. We decided on a pair of black skinny jeans, a white flowing blouse, and a pair of black heels. I don't know how she did it, but she made me feel young, presentable, and professional all at the same time.

"Alice, this looks great! Are you sure it's okay to wear to a family dinner?"

She rolled her eyes at me, "Relax. We're not sending you to the hounds, Bella. They are just my parents…forget Edward even exists for a minute."

I cocked an eyebrow at her. We both knew I wouldn't be able to forget Edward existed, even if it were to make me feel better about meeting the parents.

"Oh please. Quit being a worry wart. Everyone you know will be there. Even Emmett and Rosalie, okay? Nobody new."

"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath and then letting it out again. "Okay."

"Good girl, now let's get you back into your normal clothes before you mess this outfit up. I don't know if I can play miracle worker with your wardrobe again."

I sucked my teeth at her before pushing her out of my room and towards the living room. "Go sit with Lilly, and get out of my hair," I laughed.

"Oh, your hair! Bella, you have to let me come over and help you with it tomorrow! Please? I promise I won't do too much. And won't you feel better if I'm here to help you get ready? I can keep you distracted!"

She made a good argument, so I agreed. "Okay, just come over about an hour before we have to leave, alright?"

Alice smiled and nearly skipped down the hallway back to Lilly.

After I got dressed I sent a quick text to Edward, letting him know I was still on for the dinner. He had seemed nervous asking me, and I wanted to ease his mind a little bit.

Looking forward to meeting everyone tomorrow!

Alice has decided to play Bella Barbie with me.

See you tomorrow night :-)

I had just finished pulling my hair up into a ponytail when my phone tinged with Edward's response.

My parents are going to love you.

Sorry about Alice, you know she means well.

Can't wait.

I bit my lip and grinned, suddenly looking forward to this family dinner after all.

My alarm was going off bright and early the next day and I hopped out of bed before it could ring a second time. My body had the jitters the moment my feet hit the hardwood floors of my bedroom and I was running at full blast to make sure everything would be done by the time Alice came over.

I didn't want to arrive empty handed, so I texted Edward as soon as I had assumed he was awake and asked what his father's favorite dessert was. It wouldn't hurt to tap into his father's sweet tooth, and would definitely make me feel more comfortable. I was an excellent cook.

Just a few seconds after I sent Edward's message, my phone rang. Assuming it was my favorite bronze haired friend, I answered on the first ring.

"Hello?" I sounded excited and out of breath, but I didn't care.

"Hey, Bells. You alright? You sound a little winded."

I tried not to sound too disappointed when I replied, "Oh, hey, Dad. How are you doing?"

"Oh I'm doing alright… What have you got going on?"

I could tell he wanted to ask me something, but I hadn't talked to him in a while so giving him an update on my life in Oklahoma didn't bother me too much.

"I'm actually getting ready to go to Edward's parent's house for dinner. I'm going to take over dessert so I wanted to get started early."

"You're meeting his parents? Already?"

I realized how my comment sounded and rushed to correct myself, "He and his sister Alice talk about me a lot. I teach his niece, Lilly. Remember me telling you about her? Anyway, their parents wanted me to come for Sunday dinner so they could meet me themselves."

"Uh huh," Charlie sounded skeptical. I sighed.

"So, what's up, Dad?"

"I was just wondering if you were planning to come home for Thanksgiving."

Is that all that was bothering him? "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?"

"Well you seem to be making yourself right at home out there… I didn't want to make you come back."

"Dad, I haven't seen you in months. Of course I want to come back. There's nothing else I want to do than have an old fashioned Swan Thanksgiving…just the two of us, like we used to."

"The two of us?" Charlie hesitated around this question, and it worried me a bit, but I decided to just let it go. He would come out with it eventually. I wondered if he had a lady friend he wanted to invite along for the day.

"Yeah, Dad. Same as always…You'll watch the game while I cook everything up. Just like old times, okay? I've got to go get ready, but I'll call you soon to figure out all of the details, okay?"

"Okay, Bells. That sounds great. Talk to you soon."

"Bye, Dad!"

I hung up the phone quickly and began looking through my cabinets, taking stock of everything I had so I would know what to get if I needed to go to the store.

My phone chirped and I opened it quickly to read Edward's response.

Apple pie is the surefire way to any

Cullen man's heart. ;-)

Apple pie it was then.

A quick trip to the store, an explosion of flour, a pie in the oven, and a freshly cleaned kitchen later, I finally allowed myself to hop in the shower. Alice would be over in a little over an hour and that gave me plenty of time to take care of everything I needed to.

I had just gotten dressed, minus the heels, and wrapped my hair up in a towel when my doorbell rang. I prayed it was Alice and not some other surprise.

I didn't have the door all of the way opened before Alice barreled in, her hands full with bags.

"What is all this?"

"Supplies, of course. You're naturally beautiful, Bella, but tonight you are going to be stunning."

Stunning seemed to be a little overkill, but I wasn't going to argue. The more confident I was the better. And looking stunning would definitely make me confident.

I pulled the pie from the oven as Alice set up shop in the bathroom. I heard her moving around, bottles clanging as they were jammed onto the small counter.

"Bella, what is that smell? Did you make apple pie?"

"Yeah, I made it from scratch this morning. Is that okay?" I was immediately worried that I had done something wrong.

"Of course it's okay. Edward will love it. Apple pie is his favorite."

"He told me it was Carlisle's favorite…" I trailed off, becoming distracted by the pie as I made sure everything looked okay.

Alice laughed, "Carlisle loves anything sweet. You could have brought ice cream sandwiches. But apple pie is something Edward has loved since he was little."

"That little sneak!" I squealed.

This only made Alice laugh harder as she pushed me out of the kitchen and down the hall. "Come on, we don't have that much time. Let's get you ready."

She decided to go light on the makeup and left my hair in long curls down my back. I didn't feel like she had done too much, and I was ready start the evening.

Before I knew it we were on the way to Esme and Carlisle's. Jasper and Lilly were already there, as well as Edward. Emmett and Rosalie would be a little late because of the drive into town, but dinner was scheduled to start on time.

My nerves got the best of me as we pulled up to the large house, but a little blessing known as Lilly Whitlock brought saved me from myself quickly. The moment the car cut off, Lilly was bounding down the front steps, her arms stretched out wide in front of her.

"Mommy! Ms. Swan! I've been waiting for you forever!"

We both laughed as Alice swept her up into her arms. I was holding the pie carefully in my hands and had been eying Lilly warily as she bounded towards us. Jasper's laugh distracted me from Lilly and I looked back up at the porch to see him smiling down on us.

"She has been watching the window for about thirty minutes now. Thank goodness y'all are here."

Edward was just behind him and he gave me a sideways hug as I walked into the house.

"Bella, that pie smells amazing," he said, taking it from me and walking towards what I assumed was the kitchen. The house was amazing and I was blown away by its beauty. Not so blown away, however, that I didn't remember I had a bone to pick with Edward Masen.

"I hope it is okay. I think I did everything right. I don't want to mess it up…since it's your favorite and all."

Edward stopped in the middle of the kitchen and turned towards me, "H-how did you find that out?"

"I'm not naming any names…but the first initial is Alice," I laughed. "So what is your father's favorite dessert? Really."

"He loves pretty much anything. And he will love this pie. I promise."

Edward was still blushing.

"Why didn't you just tell me to bring ice cream or something?"

"Well, I had to test my future wife's apple pie making skills," he said with a sideways grin that took my breath away, "But I didn't exactly tell you that apple pie was my father's favorite. I just said it was a surefire way to a Cullen's heart."

"Yes, but you're not a Cullen," I said, feeling as if I had caught him, and then all of a sudden realizing that there had to be something huge I didn't know about Edward Masen. He must have heard my breath catch because he looked at me and grinned, letting me know that this was a conversation meant for another time.

"Might as well be. I was adopted when I was very little. Apple pie and Cullens go together like peas and carrots."

"And whose heart am I trying to win over today?" I asked, "Are you trying to tell me something, Edward Masen?"

I tried to sound coy but my heart was beating out of my chest. What was I doing?

Alice chose that exact second to walk into the kitchen, banging through the freezer for a cup of ice.

"Hey, Edward. Did you have a nice day?" she called, clearly oblivious to the conversation she had just interrupted.

"Yes, it was very relaxing."

"Good, good. I'm just going to step into the living room. You should probably put that pie in the oven to keep it warm, Bella."

"Oh! Right…"

I took the pie from Edward's hands and placed it on the middle rack in the oven, turning the heat on very low so it would only warm the pie, not cook it any more.

Edward left the kitchen quickly but Alice stayed behind, fixing Lilly a plate of food so she could play while the adults sat together and ate.

"Mom and Dad are in the living room, if you want to go in there and meet them really quick. I'm surprised they weren't at the door to greet you! They were both outside at the grill."

I left the kitchen quickly, finding Edward standing in the hallway just outside of the living room waiting for me.

"You ready?" he asked, smiling at me.

"As I'll ever be," I smiled back and took his hand that he offered me. He gave it a light squeeze before leading me into the room.

"Mom, Dad, this is Lilly's first grade teacher, Bella Swan."

The two people that stood to welcome me were not at all what I pictured when I heard Lilly referring to them as "Nana" and "PopPop". They looked barely old enough to be parents of grown children, let alone grandparents.

Esme was classically beautiful and I felt right at home when she hugged me in welcome.

"It is so good to finally meet you, Bella. I have heard so much about you from my children."

I smiled as she pulled back and held my hands in hers.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Cullen. How are you feeling?"

"Oh, dear, call me Esme. And I am feeling just fine. My men just like to overreact sometimes."

I laughed as she rolled her eyes at Edward and Carlisle.

"I'm glad you are feeling better. I was worried."

"Thank you, dear. I appreciate it." She smiled tenderly at me. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Please, make yourself at home. Would you like some tea?"

"Oh, sure. That would be great," I answered, trying not to be too enthusiastic, but I was clearly relieved that Esme was so welcoming.

She rushed out of the room to get me glass of tea and Carlisle stepped forward.

I automatically blushed as he held his hand out to me. Was it bad to find my student's grandfather extremely good looking? He took my hand warmly between his and welcomed me to his home before excusing himself to head out to the grill once more.

Emmett came up and wrapped me in a huge hug, letting me know it was great to see me again. I couldn't help but squeeze back just as hard as he gave and he placed me back on my feet with a huge smile across his face. "Thatta girl!"

Rosalie welcomed me back with a smile and a warm hug as well and we quickly stepped off to the side with Alice while the guys all went outside to stand with Carlisle.

Esme came and joined us, handing me my glass of tea as she smiled at the three of us.

"I'm so glad we could all be here today." She was beaming and I couldn't help but smile back at her. "And, Bella, that pie smells amazing! I can't wait to try it later. I know Edward has got to be excited."

I blushed, even more irritated than before with Edward since his mother had noticed his favorite dessert as well. "I hope everyone enjoys it."

"So tell me about yourself, dear. What brought you to Oklahoma?"

I had the perfect speech planned to answer this question, and almost went straight into it without even thinking until I looked into Esme's friendly eyes. Something in them made me want to tell the truth, and after a quick survey of the room assured me that only the ladies around me would hear, I decided to spill a very condensed version of the truth.

"Well, I actually was just ready to leave home. I had just ended a five year relationship, and it was time for me to move on from a lot of things. The best way, in my book, was to go somewhere new. I've loved every second of it and haven't looked back once."

I could tell that Esme was touched by my short story and she reached to put her hand on my shoulder, "I am so glad that Alice and Edward found you. You seem to be such a nice girl."

From anyone else, the idea of children "finding me" and making my life easier because of it would have sounded stuck up and mighty, but I found myself smiling genuinely at Esme.

"Alice and Edward have definitely played a huge part in making this place home for me. I'm very thankful for them."

Alice smiled at me and put her arm around my waist, giving me a slight hug. I knew she wouldn't ask me any questions today about my confession to Esme, but I knew they would be coming in the near future. And after noticing all of the amazing people around me, I was pretty sure I was almost ready for it.

"Ms. Swan! I finished eating, now come play dominos with me!"

Lilly came bouncing into the room, a box full of dominos in her hands, and collided with my legs.

"Lilly, what do you say?" Alice prodded gently.

"Please?" the little girl asked, poking her bottom lip out at me. I understood why Edward never argued with her.

"Okay, as long as you finished all of your food. Let mommy check your plate first."

Alice smiled at me in thanks and checked Lilly's plate; assuring her she had done a good job and could play with the dominos before the adults began to eat.

We began to make silly shapes along the floor and knock them down, trying to use all of the dominos in the box before they fell. We rarely made it that far, with either Lilly's excitement or my left foot knocking them all down before we met our goal.

Lilly had just knocked over an extremely long pile when I heard Edward's cell phone ring from across the room. I hadn't even realized he had come inside, so I turned to smile at him across the room. My smile faded slightly as I saw the look of frustration on his face as he held the phone away from his ear.

EPOV

"Professor Masen?" The voice coming through my phone was a female's, and it sounded whiny. She was also talking too loud for normal conversation, so I held my phone about six inches away from my ear.

"Yes?" I answered. I tried not to let the irritation show in my voice. I always hated when students called me on weekends. My cell number was on my syllabus, right next to my statement on preferring emails to phone calls.

"Oh, hey! Professor, this is Lauren Mallory. I'm in your class?"

I leaned my head back in agony. Of all people, she was the one to call me on a Sunday, while I was at my family dinner. With Bella. Who was, at the moment, playing dominoes with Lilly. They weren't playing the actual game, just setting them up and making them fall. Bella looked up at me and smiled. I tried to return it, but my face contorted in pain from the call I had been forced to take. "Yes, Miss Mallory?"

"Okay, well, like," she began. I grinded my teeth. "I'm, like, trying to do this project you assigned but I'm at a total loss. Can we, like, meet for coffee later and discuss my direction?"

Bella saw my expression, and she mouthed, 'Are you okay?' I could only blink at her. "No, Miss Mallory. My office hours are on the syllabus."

She sighed loudly, like my niece would after being denied her toys. "But Professor, I need to speak with you today!"

"Today is Sunday, Lauren," I reminded her, my formality slipping. I was this close to hanging up. "I do not see students on the weekends. My office hours begin on Monday. You are welcome to see me then. Goodbye, Miss Mallory."

I hung up the phone before she could say anything else. Bella had stood up and was walking toward me, her clothing choice accentuating her hips. She'd dressed up for the family dinner, wearing dark jeans, a flowing shirt, and heels; looking more like a beautiful young woman than the school teacher I had become accustomed to seeing. Her dark brown hair was curled, hanging in ringlets around her shoulders. When she approached me, she cocked her head to the side and laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Everything okay?" She asked. Lilly had gotten up and was running towards us with alarming speed.

"Remember Lauren Mallory? The girl in my class." I watched as recognition clicked on Bella's face. "She called. She wants help on her project."

Bella laughed quietly. Lilly had just slammed into my leg and was saying, "Uncle Eddie! Dominos!"

"The poor girl. She won't give up, will she?" Bella said, referring to Lauren.

I shook my head. "Sometimes they never learn." I bent down, becoming eye level with my niece. "Did you eat all of your vegetables that Nana Esme gave you before you started playing with Miss Bella?"

She nodded vigorously. "Mommy saw me! Ask her!"

I smiled and ruffled her hair. "I believe you, kiddo."

My mother floated into the room, carrying a large casserole pan. I stood up and ran to grab the dish from her hands and gave her a stern look. "Overexertion," I whispered urgently.

"Edward," she said warningly. Then she looked down at Lilly, who was now standing next to Bella. "Bella, are you having fun?"

Bella blushed. "Oh, I'm having a fantastic time. It makes me eager to go home and see my dad," she admitted.

Esme tilted her head. "Will you be returning to Washington for Thanksgiving, then?"

"That's the plan," Bella said.

I felt my stomach clench, but I couldn't understand why. Of course she'd go home for the major holiday. How selfish of me to hope she'd stay here. Her father was in Forks. Her…ex-lover was in Forks. Was that what I was worried about? I was fairly confident that Bella wouldn't rekindle her romance with the boy, but it seemed that lately, Bella was full of surprises.

For example, she fit in with my family better than I'd predicted. I expected her to feel awkward and out of place, but instead, she danced over to Jasper and Lilly the moment we walked in the door. Alice hugged her tightly, Jasper smiled at her, and Lilly held up the box of dominos for Bella to see.

When Bella met my father, she blushed like most women did. She shook his hand and agreed to call him Carlisle. Esme hugged her, and Bella's face softened. She asked if Esme was alright, and told her that she was worried about her despite never meeting her. I could already see the gears in my mother's head, planning our future wedding.

The whole dinner felt oddly…normal. I made Bella's dinner plate while she played with Lilly. I'd been worried that I'd put something on her plate that she wouldn't like, but to my surprise, she loved every selection I'd made. The roasted garlic broccoli that Rosalie had contributed was Bella's favorite. While we ate, I'd look up across the table to Bella to see if she was enjoying herself. She always met my stare with a reassuring smile. This didn't go unnoticed by my mom and my sister, who interrogated me in private.

Emmett and Jasper pulled me aside at one point.

"Are you going to marry her?" Emmett asked, nudging me with his elbow. We were standing outside in the crisp air, all three of us holding sodas. "Because, seriously, if you don't, I will."

I chuckled. "And what about Rosalie?"

Emmett scoffed. "Rosalie is totally open-minded. I'm sure she wouldn't mind having someone as awesome as Bella around."

"She is pretty great," Jasper agreed. "We've had her over at the house a bunch these past few months. Alice loves her."

"Everyone loves her." Emmett rubbed a groove in the ground with his shoe. "Mom, Dad, Alice, Rosalie…"

"Lilly," I added. "I think Lilly's attachment is what got us all in the first place."

Emmett gave me a hard stare. "You don't love her, do you?"

I ran a hand through my hair and stared off into the distance. The leaves on the trees were bright orange and red, painting the fall sky in the most beautiful way. I could hear Bella's laugh coming through the sliding glass door. The sound made my stomach flutter.

"It doesn't matter," I said quietly, crushing my empty can in my hand. "For one, she's Lilly's teacher. There has to be an unwritten rule that the student's uncle can't date the teacher."

"Fuck that rule," Emmett said bluntly.

Jasper laughed softly and shook his head. "What's the other setback?"

"She's still recovering from something. Exactly what, I don't know. She won't tell me."

"Give her time, Edward," Jasper urged. Out of Emmett and Jasper, I valued Jasper's advice the most. "Bella is a trusting soul. Whoever let her down broke her."

The can protested in my hands as it became flat. "I know that. I'd love to know just who broke her."

"You better not break her, Edward," Emmett warned, putting a large hand on my shoulder. "Bella is the first girl you've brought home since Tanya. She's also the first girl the whole family has approved of. Ever."

I brushed his hand off and turned to look at him directly. He was taller than me by about six inches, and he was bigger than me by a whole other person. However, I had never been scared of Emmett McCarty. "Everyone wants me to be careful and not hurt her. I haven't even done anything!"

"I know," Jasper said quietly. "That's the problem."

Okay, so we are LOVING your reviews. Seriously!

And, if y'all can top the reviews on the other chapters with this one, coldasice and I will write an outtake of something we all know you want to see... could it be a certain even that didn't happen in the last chapter, but we were all begging for?... Trust me, everyone review and you'll get it!

To those of you who have mentioned nominating for awards--thanks so much! Even if we don't make it to the voting round, it means so much to us for you to even send one in :)

Be sure to come play with us on the forums as well!

And, while you're waiting for our next update, check out You Belong With Me by emeraldgrl. I'm betaing for it, and it is worth the read!

Love you all!