Hey guys! I am SOOO sorry for not updating sooner. Everything has been insane in my life. Not only did I have two school concerts in about two weeks, but I had to learn new music in orchestra. ALSO, I had a paper to write that was about 1200 words and it's about 30% of my grade so it was important I got it done. Also, going back and forth between houses is NOT that helpful. But, by February, I will hopefully be able to write while at my moms too. One can only hope.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight. BUT, I do own the Twilight movie, and soon I will own a ticket to New Moon. Have you guys seen it?

Bella's Point of View

After a short drive, we arrived at the palace. Though not like I imagined it to be (a palace from something like Cinderella), it was still gorgeous, not to mention large. Edward smiled at me, parking his Volvo in the garage and leading me inside. The inside was gorgeously decorated, not too extravagant but still beautiful. The walls were a deep violet and there was white trim at the bottom and top of the walls. Dark wood floors were covered by a long white rug. Portraits and photographs of the Cullen family adorned the walls, the only reminder that this was a Royal's home.

Taking my hand, Edward whispered to me, "Before we start the tour, I'd love for you to meet my parents." I became stiff, afraid of how to introduce myself. Edward chuckled at my stance.

Opening the doors to what looked like a living room, I saw a couple that I vaguely remembered as the Queen and King. They stood upon our entrance, walking over to greet us.

"Hello, Bella," Edward's father, King Carlisle, addressed me. "Before you say anything, please know that we don't feel like you need to address us as King and Queen." A small smile played on his lips as he shook my hand.

"Hello, Carlisle," I said. Then Edward's mother, Queen Esme, swept me up into a hug. Though shocked, I returned the gesture.

Holding me at an arms length away, she told me, "Edward has told us so many things about you."

I blushed. "All good, I hope." Esme laughed.

"Well," Edward piped up. "I wanted to introduce you all before we took our tour." Carlisle and Esme told us goodbye and that they would meet us at dinner.

"They're so kind," I commented while walking down the halls. "Already they feel like a second set of parents."

He smiled at me. "They're the best parents I could ask for." The silence that followed our short conversation was anything but awkward.

After several minutes, I heard a shrill voice call down the hall. Edward groaned, not attempting to hide his unhappiness for whoever was heading this way. The voice, though far away, sounded very familiar, though I couldn't place it.

But before I could think about it much, I saw a familiar stance and face. Lauren Mallory's long blonde hair and un-modest dress definitely reflected who she was inside. Her face twisted into the look of distaste held in her heart just for me.

"We meet again, Bella Swan," she said, sneering my name.

"Lauren," I addressed her, waiting for the onslaught of insults.

"Eddie, let's go to my room to hang out!" she screamed in Edward's face. The look of disgust would have been funny had it been any one else, but on him, it didn't look right.

"No thank you, Lauren. I already made plans with Bella." Lauren glared at me with piercing blue eyes.

"Oh. Well, if you'd rather waste your time with the ugly duckling, that's okay. But when you're ready for someone who actually is decent, I'll be in my room." Edward's glare/look of distaste became even more severe as he gently grabbed my hand, walking quickly out of the room.

Once we were a good distance down the hall, Edward finally spoke. "I apologize for her. She obviously doesn't know what manners—or beauty, for that matter—are." He waited a moment, realizing what he said, then blushed. My cheeks were already aflame.

"It's okay," I told him. "That's the kindest thing she's ever said about me. She was the girl that was bent on making sure my life was miserable in high school. If anything good ever happened to me, she made sure it was demolished." I looked back up at Edward who was shaking his head.

"Well, I'm sorry nonetheless. She's a horrid person." I nodded my head in agreement.

After a moment of standing there in the hallway, his kind smile had returned and we were on out way to start the tour.

&&&

The tour of the house was magnificent. His house was absolutely gorgeous. All the rooms had different color schemes, though it all seemed to go together in some way.

"Your home is gorgeous, Edward," I told him on our way to dinner. "It's so beautiful."

"It's all I've known. I've never lived anywhere else, never had a permanent residence anywhere but here." He smiled sadly, telling me with just his expression that, though he loved his home, he wanted a little change. I smiled back, hopefully something warm and comforting. Before long, we were at a large pair of double doors that appeared to go out into a gorgeous garden. Pulling open the doors, I was greeted by the smell of alfredo and floral scents. I looked down a short path and saw a table set with Carlisle, Esme, and Lauren already seated. Edward took my hand, glancing in my direction for approval before walking toward the table.

He pulled out my chair for me, waiting until I was up to the table to sit down himself. Then he took my hand again, casting a sideways glance at his father. Some sort of communication went on between the two, but I didn't ask.

Throughout dinner, Lauren flirted shamelessly, earning glares and looks of disgust from Edward. Lauren, however didn't notice. Too soon, though, she shifted her attention to me.

"So, Bella," she said, a cruel tone entering her voice softly. "Are you still friends with the dork squad?" I cringed as I heard her nickname for our group from High School, before she had been told she was Lady Lauren.

"Yes, I am," I whispered. Though it had been several months, I was still scared of her. Considering she had made high school horrible for me, she was incredibly intimidating—still.

She laughed cruelly, clearly not over her revulsion for me and my friends. "Well, I guess some people never change."

I looked away from her intense gaze. Edward rolled his eyes in exasperation, pulling me closer.

"So, Bella," Esme said, looking as though she were looking for a change in subject. "Where from the states are you from?"

"Forks, Washington," I told her. "It's a very small town that's near Seattle. It's really very gorgeous." Lauren sneered.

"You think that place was gorgeous? I was so happy to get out of the green jungle. I couldn't stand the rain." I frowned, deciding not to say anything again to Lauren so as not to ruin a gorgeous night.

&&&

Thankfully, the rest of the night went very smoothly. Lauren managed to remain a problem, be somehow we all managed to avoid her. It felt so natural, so easy to be sitting out in the royal gardens with the King and Queen, not to mention the Crown Prince of Italy. I forgot their titles, only thinking about Esme, Carlisle, and Edward.

Before I wanted it to end, dinner was over and I was walking back to the garage, Edward at my side. We still had our hands linked, a small smile set on both of our lips.

We got in Edward's Volvo, sitting in the relaxing quiet.

"I had an amazing time tonight," I told him as we neared the hotel. His smile got larger.

"I'm very glad. I did too. I'm sorry Lauren was such a bother." He scowled a moment before giving me another smile.

"I don't want to leave. I love it here. And your parents are amazing." He smiled again, giving my hand a slight squeeze.

"Thank you," he told me after a moment of silence. I looked at him with confusion.

"What for?"

"For coming to my home for dinner. I know we've only known each other for about a week but…" he paused, seeming to look for a phrase to describe something. "I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to state it. I feel a connection to you, Bella."

I blushed, looking down at my lap. "I feel a connection too," I told him. But that was an understatement. He looked up at me a small smile on his lips.

"Really?"

"Yes, really." My blush spread further and my smile widened, as did his.

Giving my hand another squeeze, he told me "We're here." My smile wavered as he let go of my hand to get out and come around to open my door.

"How about I call you in the morning to make some plans for tomorrow," he suggested. Replying yes nearly instantly, I said goodbye and started to walk away. But his voice halted me, turning me around.

"Bella?" he called out. "I have one more question."

"Of course, Edward."

He paused a moment taking my hand once again. "May I kiss you?" I smiled, not believing that he had to ask.

"Of course," I told him, taking two more steps closer to him. He brought his lips to mine, kissing me softly and sweetly, nothing like I'd ever felt before. It was the kind of kiss where you could swear you saw fireworks in the background, even though your eyes are closed.

He pulled away, a smile on his face. Mirroring his expression, I leaned in for a hug. We said our final goodbyes, and I walked into the hotel, ready to relax.

Edward Point of View

After this night with Bella, I had no doubt that I was falling for her faster than I could imagine. She was wonderful, inside and out, and I had no want in the world but to make her mine. I didn't care that I was in an arranged marriage with Lauren, I didn't care that parliament would take away any title of mine by canceling the engagement. I'd throw it all away for her. I knew it wasn't love at first sight for me and Bella, but one week was enough to know that she was the best person I'd even met.

I drove home at twice the speed as usual, another car trailing me. Security, no doubt. I sighed, slowing down as I reached the gates, pulling into the garage.

As I walked in, I found no trace of Lauren, making me smile just a little more. Deciding that I needed to talk to my father and mother about Bella tonight, I went straight into his office so I could finally be with the girl of my dreams.

So what did you think? What do you want to happen? Any characters you think should enter the story? Any twists? Send me a PM with any story ideas because I want them to kinda be a little top secret. ;) But for any character ideas, send them in a review. Also, constructive criticism is always welcome.

Also, tell me what you thought of New Moon! I'm going to see it tomorrow and I am SO EXCITEDD.

I LOVE YOU, I'm sorry.

-Erin