Alice smiled as she greeted Bella, but it seemed off. She seemed less animated than usual. The grin she wore had a sour feel. Bella hesitated before sitting down. She glanced around the small cafe and was slightly comforted by the fact that there were other people around. Edward tensed as she sat down, his eyes flickering towards her. They were dark and bruised. He looked absolutely miserable. He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly frowned and glanced away again.

Alice elbowed him hard in his ribs. She didn't say anything, but Edward whipped his head around to glare at her. Alice rolled her eyes before she turned back to Bella.

"I'm sorry. He's an idiot. Even after a century, he still isn't very good with his communication skills."

Bella felt her lips twitch, but she didn't say anything. She didn't know what to think.

When Edward didn't speak, Alice let out a loud, exasperated sigh. She placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned into his side. Edward stared at her. No words passed between them, but Bella knew they were speaking to one another. It was oddly fascinating to watch.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Edward said, turning to face her. His tone and expression serious. "As my sister pointed out, I'm not really good at this sort of thing."

Whatever Alice had said (or rather thought) had resonated with him. He didn't shy away from her gaze this time, and his voice was filled with a renewed sense of vigor.

"And?" Alice pressed with a smirk on her face.

Edward shook his head, although he seemed more amused than anything else. "I would be nowhere without Alice. My sister helped me set up this meeting because I'm an useless dunce who can't get my head out of my ass."

Bella let out a startled laugh. Alice shot her a wide grin before patting Edward's hand and saying,

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it? I'll be outside if you need me. You two need to talk. Remember, communication is the key to any successful relationship."

Bella watched as she skipped out of the cafe, unsure of how she felt about what Alice had said. "She is certainly a force to be reckoned with."

"Try living with her."

The two laughed together, and for a moment Bella didn't feel scared. However, this feeling didn't last long. She soon found herself riddled with anxiety. She wiped her palms nervously on her jeans, her leg bouncing up and down as she glanced around the cafe. She didn't have any idea on what to do or say. It was Edward who first broke the silence.

"I have no words to truly expression how sorry I am. I shouldn't have continued to speak to you. None of this should have happened, but I was selfish. I liked being around you. I liked talking to you. I liked how human you made me feel. I understand how scared you must be of me and my family, but believe me when I say I never wanted to hurt you."

He watched her closely, waiting for a response. Bella struggled to find the words. She didn't know how to respond. There was no handbook on any of this. It wasn't everyday that a guy you liked turned out to be a vampire.

"I don't know what to say," she finally said.

"Will you hear me out instead?"

Bella was hesitate. She was still heavily apprehensive, but still she found herself saying, "Okay. But I walk out if I don't like it."

Edward nodded and offered her a reassuring smile. "Of course. I won't force you do anything you don't want to."

Bella waited as Edward struggled with how to start.

"I...I was the first Carlisle turned. He was working at the hospital I was in. Well, dying in is more the right term. You see, the Spanish flu was spreading like wildfire. Everyone was dying. It was awful. I was alone when Carlisle found me. It had already spread throughout my house, taking my parents before me. I had maybe two days left at the most. He had sat by my side for hours, just watching. At first, I thought he was simply waiting for me to die."

He paused suddenly and glanced towards her. Bella felt breathless. If Edward had been dying of the Spanish flu that meant he had been alive during World War I. She honestly thought Alice had been joking when she said Edward had been a century old. Still she held her ground. When she didn't show any signs of leaving, Edward continued speaking.

"I once asked Carlisle why he chose me. He had told me it was loneliness. He'd been a vampire for nearly two centuries at that point. He wanted companions."

"There weren't any other vampires around?' She asked.

Edward cracked a grin, chuckling lightly. "Carlisle lived a very unique lifestyle compared to others of our kind. Not only was he a doctor who helped humans, he also didn't feed from them as well."

Bella eyes widened. "Then how do you guys...you know, eat?"

"We feed from animals. Deer mostly and other game like it. We usually don't go for any endangered species. Not too many bears or wild cats, must to Emmett's dismay."

He laughed then, it must have been a joke between him and his family. Bella let out an uncomfortable chuckle, not exactly at ease with him talking about killing animals so casually. Although she couldn't deny the relief she felt when he said they didn't drink human blood.

"Carlisle lived a long time thinking he was cursed. He didn't want to steal a life, so he chose to turn someone who's life was already at its end."

There was a bitter tone to his voice prompting Bella to state, "You don't sound too thrilled by that."

Edward shook his head, dark laughter bubbling in his throat. "He stole my death. He didn't ask to turn me. I should have died. I had wanted to die."

His eyes were unfocused as he stared past her, lost in his darker thoughts. Bella instinctively reached across the table and took Edward's cool hand into her own. Edward jerked lightly, as if surprised by the sudden contact. His dark eyes locked with hers, softening as he looked at her. Instead on pulling away, he clutched tightly onto her hand. His voice was small as he spoke.

"I hated him so much. I ran from him, from the life he was trying to teach me. I wanted nothing to do with him."

Bella tensed uncomfortably. They were broaching the subject she so desperately wanted to avoid. She couldn't hold her tongue as she asked, "So you have killed humans?"

Edward frowned, hesitating with his answer. "With my gift, I can see people. I see every thought and fantasy. Every once in a while, I come across a very genuine and loving person. But Bella, there are disgusting people out their. Absolutely horrid. I...I hunted them. I felt if I were forced to be a monster, it was only fitting to take out other monsters as well. In some way, I thought I could be saved."

Bella gaped at him. God, this was insane. How did you respond to something like that? Edward continued desperately, speaking faster as he watched her.

"I hated myself. I hated what I had become. After a few years, I realized Carlisle could give me a chance to live with what I had become. That I didn't have to abandon my morals. I don't kill humans anymore, but I still have my gift. Carlisle taught me the more...law abiding way of turning in undesirable individuals."

There were a few moment of silence. Bella saw how Edward seemed to become more and more relaxed in her presence the longer he spoke. It felt as if he was confessing to her. In a way, she supposed he was. He was looking for ways to make her understand his nature.

"Did Carlisle turn the others in your family?"

"Yes, all except Alice and Jasper. They joined us already turned."

"Do you know who turned them?"

"Jasper, yes. Alice, however, doesn't remember anything of her human life."

"Nothing?" She whispered, glancing back towards the doors of the cafe. "That's horrible."

Edward nodded solemnly. "Now you know everything."

Neither of them spoke for a while. Bella was glad. She needed time to process everything. At some point, Edward lifted Bella's hand and gently pressed his lips to her knuckles causing her to flush.

"I know I don't deserve it, but you make me happy Bella."

Her breath hitched. Warmth bubbled in her chest as she stared at him. Before she could stop herself she said, "Yeah, I feel the same."

Edward's face lit up, and she was left breathless by his beauty. Bella grinned in response and said,

"Don't get too excited. I'm steering clear of your house for awhile. I still need time with all of this you know?"

He nodded, a more serious look falling across his face. "Of course. It's your choice. Like you said, you can walk out at any time."

"Good," she said as her hand curled more tightly around his.

Edward's eyes flickered behind her. Bella turned to see a very triumphant looking Alice behind her.

"I told you it would all work out," she said in a teasing tone.

Edward's lip twitched, but Bella wasn't so amused. Did that mean Alice say no other future? Or did she do something to change it? Alice's dark eyes flickered over towards Bella. She was staring at her, but it felt off. She looked more dazed than anything. Edward frowned as he glanced between the two of them. Was this Alice having a vision?

"I'm sorry Bella, I should have explained it better."

"Explain what?"

"I didn't mean so much that you didn't have a choice, it was more to reassure Edward. My visions are more decision based though. I can see multiple futures based on people's decisions, so it's not set in stone."

"Did you see how this meeting would turn out?"

Alice sounded hesitate as she answered. "This was more complicated. It was always shifting because Edward couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to even approach you or not."

Bella couldn't help but smile as Alice glared at her brother. Edward ducked his head and looked away, pretending he couldn't see her. Alice sighed heavily in mock annoyance before winking at her.

"I took the initiative in contacting you because whatever you do decide to do, I wanted you to know the full truth about our family."

Bella nodded. "Thank you for that."

A brilliant smile spread across her face. "No problem."

They spent the next three more hours just talking to one another. Bella noticed how much happier Edward seemed, more carefree. Now that she knew the truth about them, he didn't seem to really hold back anymore. Bella smiled as she watched him laugh freely. His head was thrown back as Alice was telling a story about Jasper and Emmett breaking the living room from one of their wrestling matches. Bella felt herself relax as well as they continued to talk. There were no more secrets between them.

She found herself feeling much more joyful than she had all week.