All Characters and stuff belongs to the Awesome Stephenie Meyer.

Thank you again to all you readers, I'm having a blast writing this and I'm glad you like it. Thank you for the reviews, you ROCK!

Chapter 13 - Meeting Bella

We ran for most of the night, we had decided to check out the mountains, but as soon as I was aware of Edward heading home we turned around. I hadn't checked in on him all night and I wanted to see how the rest of the date had gone.

We arrived home just before he did, Jasper's grip on my waist tightened, it was a romantic gesture I knew came from Edward's heightened emotions. It was sensual, but knowing what had caused it made it a little more uncomfortable than it should have been.

"So?" I asked as the rest of the family joined us.

Edward just smiled and I knew there was no need for an answer. I grinned happily, I could definitely handle Edward in such a good mood. Emmett laughed and pulled a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and slapped it into Jasper's hand. My mouth fell open in shock.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!" he looked at me sheepishly.

"Oh no you don't Jasper Hale, the puppy dog eyes won't work this time!" I stepped out of his hold and glared at him. I wasn't as angry as I was making out to be, but I liked to watch him squirm. Edward let out a laugh behind me, I spun on the spot to look at him.

"It's okay Alice, I'm glad Jasper has enough sense to listen to you!"

"What?" Emmett shouted, this was followed by a couple of his favorite profanities. Rosalie slapped his shoulder and nodded at Esme. "Sorry!" Emmett mumbled.

Esme nodded and turned her attention back to Edward.

"So, what happened?" Esme asked quietly. "Was is difficult being alone with her?"

"No it got easier the longer I spent with her, she has very little fear of me it was easy to be myself."

"Yourself?" Rosalie chipped in, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means he didn't have to hide anything from her!" I commented.

Rosalie laughed spitefully, "You were showing off weren't you?"

Emmett massaged Rose's shoulders and whispered into her ear, I missed what he was saying because Edward had just made a new decision. I squealed and jumped at him enthusiastically. I saw him bring Bella to the house to meet everyone, I knew it was to show everyone how genuine Bella was, but I was excited at the aspect of a new friend.

"Really?"

The entire family glared at me, they hated when I referred to what I saw without explaining what it had been first. Edward just smiled again and nodded.

"I want you all to meet Bella, so I wanted to know if it would be okay to bring her here later."

"Yes, absolutely yes!" I was now hopping on the spot, I knew I must look ridiculous.

"I would love to meet her Edward!" Esme offered kindly.

Edward turned to Jasper, he knew that Jasper had the hardest time around humans. Jasper nodded and smiled.

"You know I have to ask you to keep your distance a little though!" Edward said apologetically.

Jasper nodded and smiled reassuringly to let him know that there was no miscommunication. Edward turned to Emmett and Rosalie. Rose had her hands on her hips and her beautiful face was contorted into a scowl. Emmett was smiling apologetically from behind her, I knew he was telling Edward it was fine in his head, I just hated to think what Rose was shouting in hers.

"Do what you want Edward, but don't expect me to stick around and act like everything is normal," She dropped her arms from her waist and her face smoothed slightly when she looked at Edwards face again, she sighed deeply. "Look, you can bring her here, but don't be upset if I'm not!"

Edward nodded and smiled in understanding, he knew it would be a push for Rosalie to be here and deal with it. He looked at Carlisle, he always asked Carlisle last because he respected his opinion.

"I think it'll be nice to meet her again, these are a lot better circumstances!" he grinned happily. I knew he was reveling in Edwards happiness, like the rest of us Carlisle had never seem him so happy and he'd been with him the longest.

"Well I'm going to go change, them I'm going to head back there and ask her!" He dashed off up the stairs before he had finished his sentence. I shot a look at Jasper again and shook my head, I also let a slight grin sneak in there.

"So you had spoken to Alice!" Emmett raised his eyebrows.

Jasper shrugged and pulled the money out of his pocket, "You want it back?"

Emmett's roar of a laugh filled the room, "No, I should have known better!"

Jasper smiled and pushed the money back into his pocket. He stepped towards me sheepishly and wrapped his arms around me, except I was gone before he had closed the circle of his arms. He laughed and stepped closer again, except this time without the gesture of a hug. He leaned in close, "I know your not really angry!" He grinned raising his eyebrows.

I shook my head and laughed, I couldn't believe him. Edward came down the stairs quickly and stopped at the door.

"Alice can you keep an eye out for when we head back, I don't want to surprise anybody!" he added looking at Jasper quickly and back.

I nodded, "I will, but Edward..." I stopped and carried on in my head 'You need to have a little more faith in Jasper, he's been doing so well!'

Edward nodded and smiled. He headed out the door without another word.

The news of a guest put Esme into a cleaning frenzy, she was whipping around the house like a tornado, Carlisle watched her his face frozen with a bemused expression. Rosalie and Emmett were in their room, Emmett was trying to convince her to stay here and meet Bella. I was amazed how persistent he was, but there was no surprise at Rosalie's resistence. I couldn't be angry at her because I knew that it was hard for her having a human know almost everything. I think Jasper was more relaxed than I was, he laughed at me as I dug in my closet trying to find something decent to wear.

"What?" I asked impatiently.

"You would think the Queen of England was coming for a visit the way your emotions are peaking!" he laughed.

I stopped and tried to calm myself. I knew he didn't need a rush of excitement when a human would be so close. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on something else, I tried translating my favorite song into Greek, translating always calmed me and it fogged my brain a little. It was also a handy little tool to keep Edward out of my head.

"It's not working!" Jasper laughed. I was surprised by how calm he was considering the way I felt.

"How are you so calm then?" I asked.

"I'm putting all my concentration into finding Carlisle's emotions, he's in his study."

"I'm impressed!" I headed towards him and hopped into his lap, I kissed him passionately and my lips made their way down to his throat.

"That's definitely not helping!" he added laughing.

I raised my eyebrows and jumped out of his lap, dodging his arms as he tried to catch me.

"I didn't say stop!"

I grinned spun on my heels and headed back into my closet. "I know, but Edward and Bella are about to head in this direction, I figured you'd need a minute!"

Jasper shook his head in amazement. I grinned and continued to dig through my closet... There was a sudden sway in y stance, it was then that I saw the nomads, there was a small coven headed through the area, I could see the path they were taking, it was close, but until they picked up our smell I wasn't sure whether or not they would detour to visit. I was also unsure of when this would be. I was sure they had mapped out their route beforehand so getting the time frame right would be difficult.

"Aw Crap!"

"What?" Jasper was at the closest door in a second.

"Visitors!" I sighed, "They'll pass through sometime this week, I'm not sure when!"

Jasper nodded, "I'll go tell Carlisle, you find something to wear!"

I laughed and danced towards him kissing him on the cheek. I needed to find something that complemented my complexion, or lack of! I also wanted it to scream friendly. I hated the thought of Bella being afraid of me. I was already resolved that we were going to become close friends.

When I saw Edward and Bella pull into the driveway in my head I had to laugh, Bella was nervous. "They're almost here!" I was practically singing.

"Well I think we should stay up here and wait for her to get acquainted with Carlisle and Esme," I looked at Jasper my eyebrows felt like they were hitting my hairline, I tried to smooth my face out but he had noticed, "I don't want to overwhelm her!"

I nodded and sat down on the couch. I was waiting, the anticipation was entirely too much, I felt like I was about to explode.

"Alice, please relax, just a little!" Jasper was almost begging. I nodded and waited. I heard the door open and the smell hit me seconds later. There was a human in the house. I looked at Jasper, he looked very relaxed.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," he smiled, "Honestly Alice!"

I nodded and listened, I knew Edward would be asking where everyone was soon enough and I was waiting for it.

I heard his voice as clear as a bell, "Where are Alice and Jasper?"

I was out of my room like a rocket, I slowed only when I got to the top of the stairs, I didn't want to scare Bella.

"Hey, Edward!" I tried to sound as casual as I could but I couldn't contain myself, I headed down the stairs quickly and stopped in front of Bella. I could feel Carlisle and Esme tense up, I was laughing at them in my head and I knew Edward could hear me.

"Hi, Bella!" I leant forward and kissed her gently on the cheek, I wanted her to feel welcome and it was the first thing that crossed my mind. Edward, Carlise and Esme froze on the spot. I was only concerned about one of them. 'Please Edward I would hope you knew me better than that!'

"You do smell nice," I directed my comment at Bella, "I never noticed before,"

I think I went a little bit too far with that comment, you could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Jasper was there in an instant, I could feel him behind me, I could also feel the wave of calm settling down on the room like a blanket. Edward lifted his eyebrow.

"Hello, Bella!" Jasper said calmly staying close to the stairs.

"Hello, Jasper!" Bella added shyly, a small smile spreading on her lips, "It's nice to meet you all - you have a very beautiful home,"

"Thank you," Esme said, there was an unusual tone to her voice, it was one I hadn't heard before, the look on her face however suggested that she admired Bella. "We're so glad that you came."

I knew that this was a new situation to Esme, out of all of us she had the least interaction with humans. She spent more of her time here than venturing out into Forks.

I caught Carlisle's look he was telling Edward about the coven, that would soon be passing through our little town. Edward nodded almost invisibly, but the look on Bella's face suggested she'd caught the gesture. I watched as she politely tried to ignore the situation, she gazed wide eyed at Edward's piano. Esme was watching her with the same curiosity I felt.

"Do you play?" Esme asked nodding towards the piano.

Bella shook her head, "Not at all. But it's beautiful. Is it yours?"

Esme let out a gentle laugh and the confusion on Bella's face was evident, Edward hadn't told her he played. What a silly thing to leave out.

"No," Esme answered Bella's quizzical look. "Edward didn't tell you he was musical?"

Bella turned an intent glare to Edward's seemingly innocent but bemused expression, "No, I should have known, I guess."

I laughed under my breath and turned my head, I knew Edward had been showing off a little, I had seen that yesterday! Esme raised her eyebrows, I hadn't told her that.

"Edward can do everything, right?" Bella explained, the look on her face was priceless, if I hadn't of known better I would have thought she was being sarcastic. I really had to keep my laugh from escaping at that! Jasper, didn't hide his. Esme looked at Edward, her maternal nature was taking over.

"I hope you haven't been showing off - it's rude." This time I had to turn my back and stop my breathing altogether, Esme was practically cracking up herself trying to be so parental was so easy though she suppressed it well.

"Just a bit," Edward laughed with the rest of us, he could hear us inside our heads as well as out loud. Esme's humor turned into a look of surprise and then understanding, she finally settled on satisfaction. I knew exactly what she was thinking because I saw Edward's response, it was quick as lightning but I saw it. She had just realized how much Edward really did love Bella, and how excepting Bella actually was about us being vampires. I think it shocked her a little and caught her off guard.

"He's been too modest, actually," Bella added, the look she shot at Edward answered every question Carlisle and Esme had been asking. She loved him without any inhibitions.

"Well play for her," Esme nodded at the piano and widened her eyes, I knew Bella hadn't noticed this and once again I was subliminally picking up what Esme was telling Edward in her head, I knew it would be something along the lines of 'Play her song for her!'

"You just said showing off was rude," Edward answered playfully.

"There's an exception to every rule,"

"I'd like to hear you play," Bella added sweetly, I was definitely going to get along with her, I knew what Edward meant when he said he could be himself around her. Knowing that she was truly aware of what we were was liberating and the lack of fear made it easy to be around her.

"It's settled then." Esme pushed Edward toward the piano, he in turn pulled Bella with him. He sat her on the piano bench next to him. The look he gave her was incredulous, Jasper and I took that as a sign to vacate the room. We headed towards the kitchen and waited for Esme and Carlisle.

Esme arrived first, her favorite song was dancing through the house, she was almost dancing with it. I could tell by the look on her face that she was excited, maybe even more so than I. Carlisle followed close behind her.

"Well?" I whispered.

"She's wonderful, I've never seen a human so at ease with being so close to us, I can't believe how happy he is either. It's amazing, they are perfect together."

The music from the other room changed, he was playing Bella's lullaby. I danced a little and smiled. "She is perfect for him, and she's so nice, do you feel that strange relaxation around her too?" I asked without thinking.

"Yes, I know what you mean, I felt very at ease with her, she didn't flinch once, not even when Edward grabbed her hand." Carlisle added.

"I wish Rose would've stayed!" I added.

"She'll come around, just give her some time!" Esme reasoned.

"Well we're going to go stay out of the way!" I took Jasper's hand we headed up the stairs quietly, successfully not drawing attention to ourselves.