Bella's Point of View
Here I sat in the Cullen's driveway staring out my windshield at the huge home in front of me. Just by the looks of it, it would seem as though a nice loving family lived on the inside. I guess the saying is true and that you can't judge a book by its cover. In my wildest dreams I never would have guessed that it was a family of vampires that lived behind those walls. I am still not used to that word yet; it just doesn't fit.
"Hey Pinky, are you alright? Are you going to get out of the car and come inside?" Emmett asked right outside my window that was still rolled up.
"Um, yeah. I will come in just give me a second." He lingered just a moment longer before he left and went inside the house.
"What am I doing here? Well I know why I am here but what am I going to do? Only me. Any other normal person would never find themselves in this predicament. Good job Bella, you have defiantly out done yourself this time." I was sitting in the cab of my truck talking to myself like any crazy person would. Maybe I have gone crazy. "That's it, I am crazy and this is all just my mind messing with me. Maybe I did run into a wall my first day back in Forks and I'm in a coma or something. I hope my baby is fine." That's was when I looked up to find Edward standing in the doorway to the house looking out with a concerned expression on his face.
If I was in some kind of coma, Edward would be my guardian angel to help lead me back to reality. "Well here goes nothing" I said as I exited the truck. Edward meet me halfway to the house.
"Hello beautiful." Edward said as he stroked the side of my face with the back of his hand which caused me to blush.
"Hello" was my simple reply.
"You don't have to go in there if you don't want to. If you feel more comfortable with just me I can ask everyone to leave. Or would you rather speak with Emmett, he would love that." Edward was starting to ramble.
"No, I am fine you don't have to ask anyone to leave. I actually will like to see them all." I told him.
He nodded his head and turned to lead me inside the house. I reached for his hand to lace my fingers though his. Edward paused for a fraction of a second and smiled down at our joined hands before we continued on inside. Everyone was gathered in the living room waiting on us. Once again Edward and I sat on the loveseat facing everyone else. It didn't escape my notice that the last time I was here I was sharing the secrets of my past and now it was time for the Cullen's to come clean about their own.
We all sat there for a few moments in uncomfortable silence. I wasn't sure exactly where to begin but that decision was soon taken out of my hands.
"So who's hungry" Emmett all but shouted while rubbing his hands together.
"I figured as much" I said as I tilted my head to the side and pulling my hair out of the way. Everyone in the room gasped including Emmett.
Edward was beside himself which was funnier than anything. "Bella, don't be ridiculous. We would never…."
"I was just kidding" I said through my laughter. "I know, I know"
"Well how do you know Bella, we are vampires and you are a human." Rose asked matter of fact. That was a reasonable question that I even had to ask myself last night.
"I can't say for sure. My heart is telling me that none of you will ever hurt me intentionally. But I am still trying to get my head to understand that. And that's what has bought me here tonight." I told them. Carlisle wanted to make me feel more at ease so he told me how they consider themselves to be vegetarian vampires and only feed off the blood of animals. I thought that was a little wired since a real vegetarian wouldn't harm animals and that was all they did; but they didn't harm humans which was the main point so I kept that thought to myself.
"Sweetie we will answer any question you may have." Esme stated.
"Well since you guys don't eat why did you have a kitchen full of food. And if it is still there I would love some because I am starving." No need to let all that food go to waste. And plus I was eating for two now.
"Of course I can put something together real quick. And Alice went a little overboard with the shopping anyway and I would hate to throw anything out." Esme went into the kitchen while the rest of the Cullens answered my questions and filled me in on a few myths about vampires.
Bella – Do you burn in the sunlight?
Edward – No but I will show you what happens one day.
Bella – Do you guys turn into bats?
Rosalie – Please give us more credit then that.
Bella – Do yall have any special power like Dracula?
Jasper – Who is Dracula?
Alice – Jasper, Edward and I do. As well as a few other vampires, but it is not common.
Bella – Cool, what kind of power do you have?
Edward – Jasper can manipulate emotions, Alice can see the future, and I can read minds.
Bella – WHAT, you can read my mind?
Emmett – No he wishes. He can read everyone but you.
Bella – So are there a bunch of coffins you guys sleep in upstairs?
Jasper – No we don't ever sleep, but we do have beds upstairs.
Emmett – Everyone but Edward, he never needed one if you know what I mean.
Edward – Emmet!
Bella – That's fine Emmett because I have a big one at home he can use whenever he wants.
Bella – Oh, one more question for tonight. What about witches; are the Charmed ones real?
Rosalie / Alice – No, but that would be real cool if they were.
I said my goodbyes to everyone and promised that I would come back with any other questions that I may have. Edward said that he could follow me home so we can have a more private talk. This was going to be the talk that will decide it all. On the way home I saw Edward's headlights in my rearview mirror. I begin to rub my stomach and ponder what he thought of my being pregnant. I haven't gotten the impression that he minded but I couldn't be for sure until we discussed it which we will tonight. I had so many questions and concerns running around in my head that I didn't notice that I was driving fifteen miles under the speed limit, and even so I still didn't care. I wanted a chance to get my thoughts together before we arrived at the house. Edward was being so patience with me also and he followed behind me the entire time-consuming drive. When we pulled into my drive way I was still conflicted about my feeling; how is it possible that I love Edward this much already but I still care for Brady at the same time.
Edward was standing next to my door ready to help me out by the time I took the key out of the ignition giving up all the previous human pretenses now that I knew he was anything but. He picked me up bridal style and carried me into the house stating that I have had a long day and didn't need to be on my feet; so I requested that he take me all the way upstairs so I could take a quick shower.
After showering I found Edward sitting in the nursery looking at a few books that were on the shelf. He placed the books back in their place and came over to me and wrapped me up in a hug while inhaling. "You smell simply divine when your skin is damp." he said as he started to smell my hair. I didn't notice before how often he did that but with the knowledge that I have now I came to realize that he did it every time expect the first.
I reached up on the tips of my toes and pressed my lips softly against his cheek and place a small kiss on the side of face. "Edward we should talk" I told him and grabbed him by the hand and led him into my bedroom and sat on the chaise lounge in the corner of the room.
I was playing with the hem of my night shirt trying to think of an easy starter question but I was coming up blank. Edward was roaming around my room looking at various items that I had hanging on the walls or knick knacks on the bookshelf probably thinking of a way to break the ice like I was. He picked up a picture frame from the shelf and from the angle I sat I couldn't see what it was.
"What is this? Did you write it?" Edward asked turning it around where I can see.
"OH" I said standing up knowing right away what he was referring to taking the frame from his hands. "It was a poem I had wrote for myself a few days after I was released from the Hospital back in Phoenix. I had so many emotions bottled up in me and this was the only way that I could get them out and it made me feel slightly better after reading it."
"Can you read it for me?" he asked as we sat back on the chaise. I began to read from the written words in my hand even though I knew them by heart.
Remember
I will remember the times we laughed, the times we cried
I will remember the times you stood by my side
I will remember how you taught me how to catch a ball
I will remember how impossible we all thought it would be with every fall
I will remember our annual summer road trips
I will remember how you would love these hips
I will remember all our hopes and dreams
I will remember how you would laugh when I would scream
I will remember the joy you found in life
I will remember your tears when he made you his wife
I will remember the way you loved me
I will remember when you got down on one knee
I will remember the baby that you made with me
I will not remember the things that we will never do
I will not remember this bad mood
I will not remember all my endless tears
I will not remember how we got cheated all of your years
I will not remember the dinner we will never make
I will not remember what was to be our wedding date
I will not remember the weak girl that I once was
Because through this tragedy I am still consumed with all three of your loves
I will remember every hug and every kiss
But you need to remember that you all will be forever missed
I can't remember one without the remembering other
You were my love, my stepfather, and my mother
I finished the poem by reciting the last few lines with my eyes closed and rubbing circles on my baby bump caught up in the emotion. I felt a cool and ice cold hand placed on top of mine. I opened my eyes and was meet by Edwards looking straight into my own.
"Bella that was beautiful…..Bella are you aware of my feelings for you?" Edward asked. I shook my head since I could only assume how he felt but I wanted to hear it from him.
"My kind, we don't change often. It has to take something very powerful for that to happen. You can find vampires that have many relations but once we fall in love, once we find the one it is forever. That is what we consider one's mate…." He explained.
"Like soul mates" I tried to clarify.
"Yes I guess you can call it that. If once one of us finds a mate we would move heaven and earth to be together and if one doesn't live its often heard that the other doesn't last long after that." Edward was stroking the back of my hands as he explained a little bit of vampire history with me.
"Bella, what I am trying to tell you is that you are my mate. You have been since I first saw you at the doctor's office. Jasper actually realized before I did. He felt it the moment I can home. Actually I think Alice knew all along and that is why she made the family pack up and move here." He finished with a smile on here face
"But I am not sure where that leaves us. Do vampires often have relationships or mates with humans?" I asked.
"None that I know of but we will be a first. I was worried about what effects the smell of you blood has on me but I never once had the urge to feed on you. I think it sets off different needs in me since you are my mate?" Edward replied with a smirk.
"Is that possible?" I asked. Oh please oh please let it be possible. I said to myself in my head. I really lucked out being the only person exempt from Edward's mind reading capabilities.
"That I have heard of but it is very dangerous and we but would have to be extremely careful if it every came to that. But absolutely not while you are still pregnant…..But I would like to know how you feel about all this. You have been through so much already and if you still need more time to heal before we move any further just let me know. I will wait an eternity and more if that is the time you will need before you are ready to move on." That was so sweet of Edward to say.
"I was asking myself the same thing one the way over here. And it's without a doubt that I feel the same way about you; but I still have lingering feeling for Brady. I just need some kind of closure that I was denied by having his ashes stolen from me. I can't picture my life anymore without you in it. And I just ask that you not go anywhere while I find the closure I am looking for."
"Where else would I go? I am here until you order me to leave." He said leaning his head against mine.
"I did want to ask what your feelings on my baby are. We are a package deal so its kind of a deal breaker." I was a little nervous when I asked.
"Bella, do you not understand my love for you. I love you and everything about you including this life that you are carrying. I may not be the father but I will be there every step of the way." He was now down kneeling in front of me trying to get me understand by getting eye level with me. I returned his smile and nodded my head.
"But how long can it last when you will live forever and my expiration date gets closer everyday." I was trying to wrap my head around all the aspects there was to being a vampire.
"Oh my sweet Bella, that is a conversation for another night. We both have to work tomorrow but you're the only one that needs her sleep." Edward replied to my question.
I was ok ending our talk here since I was feeling tired and needed to get up early. I asked Edward to stay and feel asleep in his arms within seconds. All of my questions were not answered yet and I was letf with more then I began with but for the first time in a very long I felt happy. Edward and I were mates and he loved not only me but also my unborn child. This was as close to perfection that I was going to get.