Hey guys here is Chapter 20 of Starlight!!!!! It's really long cause they were originally two short, separate chapters, but they were too short so I combined them to make one really long chapter.

Chapter 20: Meeting the Cullens

"Edward come on just get ready!"

Edward kept sulking, refusing to get ready to meet the Cullens, soon to be his adoptive parents.

"Why should I look nice for a family who is going to ruin my life?"

Bella rolled her eyes, but with much difficulty. Be strong she kept telling herself.

"You're acting like you're five Edward. Grow up and look nice."

Edward felt more pained then ever. He could see in Bella's eyes how hard she was trying to keep her cool. He could see how much her sarcastic façade cost her. Come on Edward he told himself, Be a man. Be strong for Bells. He got up and began pulling on dressier clothes.

"That's my boy." sighed Bella.

"I don't want to do this."

"I don't want you to do this either, but you have no choice."

Edward finished putting on his clothes. Bella kissed him on his lips. He was a little taller then her now, but she realized he'd be way taller then her in a couple years. She'd have to be able to stretch up higher.

If she ever saw him again…

"I love you Edward." She straightened his tie. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

"I love you too."

Edward leaned down and kissed Bella's lips again. He sighed as they broke apart.

"Wish me luck."

Then Edward walked out the door, closing it behind him. As he got into the hallway he got the sinking feeling of depression back. The walk to Freeman's office was long and to be perfectly honest frightening. It seemed like every step he took, took him farther away from Bella indefinitely. He kept reminding himself not to be mean to the Cullens. They were probably nice people. It was Freeman who was to blame. Edward lingered outside Freeman's office door for a couple moments. He could hear talking inside. He took a couple breaths to calm himself and turned the doorknob.

"Oh Edward! Here he is! Here he is! Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Freeman bustled over to Edward, taking his hand. With his back turned to the Cullens his happy expression turned threatening. His smile turned Edward's blood to ice. Behind Freeman were two of the most beautiful people he'd ever seen in his life. They looked like movie stars. Edward was pulled over to sit beside Freeman and across from the Cullens.

"Dr. and Mrs. Cullen, this is Edward Mason."

Mrs. Cullen's face lit up as she looked Edward up and down.

"Hello, Edward." She gave him a dazzling, warm smile nearly stopping Edward's heart for a moment.

"Hello Mrs. Cullen." He tried to smile back, but was sure it looked like a grimace.

"Please dear, call me Esme."

"Okay." muttered Edward, looking at his hands.

Dr. Cullen leaned across Esme, extended his hand. Edward shook it and almost flinched. Dr. Cullen's hand was as cold as ice.

"Pleasure to meet you Edward." Seeing the shock on Edward's face he quickly yet smoothly withdrew his hand and smiled reassuringly at Edward.

"Nice to meet you too, Dr. Cullen."

"Please, call me Carlisle, son."

Once again Edward repressed a flinch. Carlisle had called him son. He refused to go away with these people no matter how friendly they seemed.

"So, what do you think?" asked Freeman.

"He is absolutely perfect Mr. Freeman!" Esme squealed in delight. She turned to her husband. "I want him, Carlisle! He's my son already!" Then she smiled adoringly at Edward.

Unfortunately Edward couldn't return the adoration. He knew he had to turn them off quickly before…

"Terrific, shall we begin the process?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I don't want to wait!" Esme clasped her hands together in anticipation.

Freeman reached into his desk and began pulling out papers. Carlisle however, was looking anxiously at the pain in Edward's face.

"This is all right with you Edward, isn't it? We hardly know each other at all. Forgive us for being so straightforward, but our family wanted you the second Mr. Freeman here told us you were available." Carlisle's voice was worried.

Edward opened his mouth to speak, but Freeman answered for him.

"Of course Edward is fine with this…he's been hanging on to the hope of you fine people adopting him…as though his life depended on it."

Edward quickly shut his mouth thinking about Bella, about what he could do to her. By telling the Cullens he wouldn't go with them he would make Esme upset, get himself murdered, and worst of all bring Bella down with him.

"I'm fine with it." He whispered.

Esme was smiling at him again, but Carlisle still looked concerned. Edward wondered what his face gave away. Soon though the Cullens stopping staring at him and Carlisle, Esme, and Mr. Freeman were all signing the papers. Edward felt like he'd been sucked into his worst nightmare.

"Of course, we'd like for you to take our last name, Edward dear. You could be Edward Cullen, how do you like the sound of that?"

Edward wanted to tell her that he didn't like the sound of that, that he didn't want to go with her, and to stop calling him "dear", but Freeman was glaring at him murderously from behind Esme so he just nodded.

"Sounds good." Edward muttered miserably.

Carlisle clasped one of his icy hands on Edward's shoulder and smiled at him reassuringly.

Then they were signing more papers turning Edward Anthony Mason into Edward Anthony Mason Cullen.

After the papers were all signed Freeman offered the Cullens drinks that they politely refused. Edward found that odd, but Carlisle said they were late to some Broadway show they were going to. Then Esme wrapped Edward up in a loose hug.

The door closed behind the Cullens leaving Edward alone with Freeman. Edward made for the door quickly, but Freeman's hand appeared on his shoulder holding him back from his escape.

"Well, Edward you did very good today. I was so afraid I was going to have to slit you and your poor little girlfriend's throats, but perhaps that won't be necessary."

He paused for a second as though waiting for Edward to respond, but all Edward did was stare up at Freeman with undisguised hatred.

"Very well, you have exactly three days to get yourself together then you'll be on the next flight to Forks, Washington." He smiled menacingly again. "Poor little Bella, all alone without her knight in shining armor to save her. That will make her quite an…easy…target, don't you think Edward…Cullen?"

Edward spun away and stalked out the door.

"Three more days!" Freeman yelled after him.

Edward stomped up to the room and walked in slamming the door behind him. Then he realized that Bella was sound asleep on her bed with a drawing in her hands. Edward picked it up. There was a boy in the drawing with bronze hair, like his, skin that was so pale it was almost white and golden eyes. He stared as the golden eyes for a second. That was something bout the Cullens that should have stood out to him immediately. He supposed he'd been so upset about leaving Bella, he hadn't really noticed much about their looks except that they were good looking people. Both Carlisle and his wife Esme, had skin so pale it was almost white and identical golden eyes. Edward stared at the picture in his hands then looked at the top where there was a little heading. The heading read.

Edward as a vampire

He was really confused now. What had gotten Bella to draw this picture? The boy in the picture had the same colored hair and looked sort of like him, but what about the other features like the golden eyes and pale skin? Why had Bella drawn him looking like a mix between himself and a Cullen? Why had she called him a vampire? He set down the drawing and stared intently at her sleeping face, hoping to break her deep sleep so she could explain to him.

It worked.

Bella stirred in her sleep then bolted upright.

"Edward! You're back! It's been hours…I…I thought that…that…" Bella seemed to be having a hard time talking. He eyes were blotchy like she'd been crying.

"Bells, what's wrong?"

"I'm s-sorry Edward! It's just you were gone so long I-I thought…" Bella's voice trailed off in horror and embarrassment.

Then Edward understood. Bella had thought Freeman had done with him what he'd done to Lucinda. Bella had thought Freeman had killed him with the idea of telling everyone he'd been adopted.

Bella was blushing; she could read in Edward's expression that he knew what she meant. Edward held up the drawing.

"What's this?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Oh just a doodle. It's stupid…really." Bella looked down at her hands.

"Bella? Why did you draw this?"

"I don't know, I-I had like a thought of what you'd look like as a vampire and thought I'd just jot it down."

"Oh." Edward relaxed. The similarities to the Cullens must had just been his imagination. This was just Bella doodling. "Don't vampires normally have red eyes? You know from all the human blood they're drinking?"

Bella laughed. "No, you'd be a good vampire. You'd only drink animal's blood. That's why you're eyes are gold."

Edward frowned at the picture again. "Where'd you come up with that?"

Bella shrugged. "Just came to me, I guess." She sounded odd though, as though she wasn't sure whether or not it had just came to her. Edward shook it off though. It was probably just nothing.

Then Bella's expression darkened. "So…how'd it go today?"

Edward looked down. "They already filled out the paperwork. I have three days to pack and then I'm leaving with them to Forks, Washington. Oh, and my last name is now legally changed to Cullen."

Bella stifled a sob. "Edward Cullen?" she mumbled. "That's gonna take some getting used to."

Edward threw the drawing a side and wrapping his arms around Bella.

"It'll be okay." He whispered again as he gently rocked her in his arms. Bella didn't make a sound, but Edward felt her warm tears soaking his shirt. He didn't care though. This was one of their last nights together. Then he had to spend his time finding out how to get back to Bella before Freeman hurt her in any way shape or form.

"Bells, you're going to be really tired in the morning." Edward sighed softly.

"Stay Edward, stay with me tonight. Please." Bella's voice was nothing more then a pained whimper. Edward laid the two of them down on Bella's bed and pulled the covers over the two over them. He held Bella closer to his chest.

"I'll always stay with you Bella. I promise no matter where I go or what happens now, I will always be here with you."

"In spirit though. I want you here forever and always. Not just part of you. All of you."

"I can't Bella. It's too dangerous right now, but I promise when I go away with the Cullens I will spend every last second of my time trying to figure out what Freeman wants with you. Then I'll find a way to get back to you. I promise. Freeman will never hurt you while I'm still breathing."

There was a steady silence. The dark room was filled with nothing, but the honking and screeching of cars. The sounds of people calling to each other from the sidewalk below, an airplane roaring overhead, a police siren wailing closer and closer then fading softly into the distance. The cars' headlights flashed through the window, making strange shadows dance across the walls. Bella curled deeper into Edward's chest and Edward stroked her hair.

"I promise Bella. Nothing and no one can ever take me away from you forever."

Then Bella fell back into a deep, miserable sleep.

Edward lay in the bed still holding Bella. He looked away from her face and stared at the ceiling. As hard as he tried Edward couldn't sleep. He was haunted by one sentence that kept repeating itself over and over in Freeman's voice.

Three more days.