(A/n: this chapter is unedited, please let me know if you notice a typo or anything like that. Thanks).

Death Is Eternal

Chapter Twenty

Acceptance

Bella's POV

"Ouch! That hurts!" I yelped, jerking my arm away from Carlisle.

"I have to check your hand, Bella."

"We both know it's broken. Why put me through more pain? Can't you just put me in a cast, so we can go?" I complained. I knew I was acting like a child, but I couldn't help it. I was impatient to get back to Edward.

Carlisle sighed. "Fine. But I want to check it regularly as it heals. Alright?"

"Okay."

As Carlisle started to put the cast on, I fidgeted nervously. My eyes swept through Carlisle's hospital office. My gaze fell on a framed picture on his desk. It was a family photo of all the Cullens. Emmett had a goofy grin on his face and Rosalie was glaring at him. Edward was regarding Rosalie with my favorite crooked smile. Carlisle was laughing almost hysterically, while Esme was trying to gain control of her adoptive children. Alice seemed to be jumping up and down her hair pointing in every direction. Jasper was smirking and slightly rolling his eyes at his insanely happy family.

"We need to update those," Carlisle said suddenly.

"Why? It's not like you're getting any older," I joked.

Carlisle chuckled.

"But we need to add you, Bella. You are part of the family now."

My throat closed up, as realized that I had a family now. I had two wonderful parents who loved each other dearly. I had fun/annoying brothers and sisters….and I had Edward. My one and only love…I would be with them for eternity, though we would never grow tired of one another. And better yet for once I was to be in a family photo, something that I had missed out on as a child.

"Thank you," I whispered, knowing very well that my vampire father would hear.



Carlisle led me to his car in the hospital parking lot. Being the English gentleman that he is, he opened the car door for me. I slid into the passenger seat carefully. Before I even had a chance to buckle my seatbelt, Carlisle was already driving through the parking lot.

We sat in comfortable silence on the way home, occupied by our thoughts. Mine of course were on Edward. I was so grateful for his acceptance when I explained everything. He had taken it all very calmly. In fact he went home before me, to tell the story to the rest of the Cullens.

"So you're not mad?" I had asked him fearfully.

"No. Why would I be?"

"Edward, I had a child with another vampire. That doesn't bother you?"

"You're still my Bella…nothing will ever change that."

"You're stalling, Edward."

"It doesn't bother me that you had Jasmine, Bella. In fact, I'm looking forward to meeting her," Edward explained, "what does bother me is that monster hurt you. I'm not mad at you, Bella. I'm mad at him."

"Well that makes me feel better," I sighed. "And she's wonderful, Edward. You're going to love her."

"I will love her like if she were my own daughter."

Edward was also relieved when he found out that I had not been bitten by James. The mark he had seen was nothing but a scar. Yes, it was a bite mark, but when James had bit me years before there had not been enough venom to change me into a vampire. Just enough though for James to thoroughly taste my blood.

In no time at all, Carlisle's black Mercedes pulled into the driveway of the Cullen mansion. I saw Edward sitting on the porch, and his face lit up when he laid eyes on me. I was out of the car in a flash, running towards him. I of course tripped on the bottom step and went flying into his open arms.

"Oops, sorry," I giggled sheepishly. Edward just smiled. He kissed me chastely on the lips.

"Are you ready, my angel?" he asked quietly.

"Ready for what?"

"Silly Bella, the family meeting. We need to make a plan to find Jasmine."

End of Chapter Twenty



Very Important Author's Note!

Hey! I'm sooo sorry about not updating in the past few weeks! Please forgive me! School was ending and I was on vacation and I've just been really busy. So yeah. Anyway, before anyone asks Bella's leg was not broken like it was in the book. There's a reason for that. The same goes for the little Carlisle and Bella scene involving the family photo. Everything thing that happens in my story has a purpose! I promise all of you that the next update will be in a few days!

Thanks so much for all the reviews! Keep it up!

Lots of love,

Carlisle's Girl