"Edward?"

I turned to look at her. We were parked outside her house late Monday night. The day had been peaceful and relaxing, but I had regrettably dragged Bella out of bed to take her home. As much as I wanted to keep her there as long as she was willing, I had to return her home for school.

She had fallen asleep during the movie she selected shortly after our somewhat heated conversation – or heated at least on my side. I had returned myself to the piano in the living room and strummed the keys as a song started forming in my mind.

The words came to my mind first and the melody followed, but I waited to sing the words aloud until the melody started falling into place.

"I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometime I get nervous
When I see an open door

Close your eyes
Clear your heart
Cut the cord
"Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human
Or are we dancers?

"Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
So long to devotions
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well
You've gotta let me go

"Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancers?

"Well you
When you dream of home tonight
There is no message we receive tonight
Let me know is my heart still beating

"Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer

"You've gotta let me know
Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancers?

"Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
Are we human?
Or are we dancers?"

As the completed song drifted to an end for the first time, a movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned to see Bella standing in the hallway entrance, her hair askew and a blanket clutched to her. She came into the room when my eyes met hers and sat next to me.

"That was beautiful."

I didn't answer. To me, it wasn't beautiful, it was simply my soul and mind.

"Is that how you feel?"

"More of how I felt when my heart stopped three days after I was bitten and the pain ebbed – when I was told what I was. The feelings get unearthed from time to time."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean – "

"It's fine. Its better you know."

I returned the cover to the piano and wrapped an arm around her, returning to the piano.

"Edward?"

Bella's voice brought me back to the present.

"Do you think I could meet your family? Formally, I mean?"

I frowned at the question, wondering what would cause her to want to meet them. Surely Alice would have planted the idea in her head. "Why do ask?"

She shrugged. "It's just that I see them at school all the time and I feel like we have more in common than we realize… especially since we all have to deal with you," she said with a smile. "I felt nervous asking Alice if she knew when you'd be back since I didn't know her very well, but she was really friendly."

"You confronted her?"

Bella blushed. "Yeah, she said she needed your permission to talk to me."

I didn't know Alice had it in her to listen to me.

"Is it true?"

"Yes, she wanted to take you shopping and I told her to let you have your space."

"Why?"

"Well, Alice is a tad bit of a shop-aholic – "

"No, why did you tell her to leave me alone?"

"Well, I thought one vampire was enough for you have to deal with at one time."

"I don't see you like that and you know it."

"You should."

"I told you I'm not afraid of you."

"And of course you wouldn't be afraid of a house full of them."

"So is that a yes?"

I sighed. "You really should concentrate on your schoolwork."

"Come on, Edward."

"Fine, but not until this weekend, and I have to meet with you at least a day beforehand in order to make a few warnings."

Bella rolled her eyes and put her hand on the door. "You're so overprotective."

"Friday? After school?"

She smiled.

"I'll pick you up there."

A high pitched scream pierced my ears and a familiar thought-voice filtered through the phone.

Bella's coming to visit! She loves me and you know it! I told you! I told you! I told you!

"If you don't stop, I'm not going to have an ear and will call the whole thing off."

The scream stopped.

"Bella's coming to see me this weekend." I could almost hear the smile in her voice.

"Yes, I know. I'm the one bringing her over."

"It's going to be great."

"Alice – "

"I'm going to invite her for a girl's night, and we'll stay up all night gossiping and painting our nails…. Oh! And I'll make sure to give her all the sloppy gossip about you."

"She'll never fall for it." I meant what I said. Well, though Bella would probably put up with the grooming in order to hear what Alice had to say about me in my youth.

Alice laughed, obviously knowing differently. "Just you wait, Edward."

Oh, the time was passing far too quickly. The weekend suddenly seemed too close. I had to start planning for an operation abort technique for when I would see Bella on Friday.

"Don't even think about it!"

I sighed. I could never get anything past Alice.

Damn right.

"On a less positive note, you have some other matters that you need to explain to me."

"What explaining is there to do, Alice? You knew my intentions and why. You didn't do anything to stop me, so don't give me the third degree."

"Edward, you're so naïve. You do realize that I was ready to barrel down your door until Bella made the tentative decision to come to you – "

"Tell me what brought her there."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "If she doesn't want you to know then you should know better than to ask me to tell you."

"I can't stand not knowing what brought her to be like that."

"Trust me, Edward. If you don't know already, then you'll never believe me if I told you."

What was that supposed to mean?

"Alice – "

"No! I want to know what strong emotions caused you to plan for your suicide and not a single thought occurred to you to come and seek solace in your family!"

I didn't answer.

Alice sighed loudly. "I know you would rather not associate with us because you feel more human alone, which I will never understand, but don't you think you should come to us before such drastic measures?"

"I was confused. I misinterpreted what I felt. It's all straightened out now."

Alice was quiet.

"Don't worry. It won't happy again."

Something was up. Alice was thinking of how to bake some disgusting human dish.

I was stupid and took the bait instead of prying into the subject of her silence. "Are you planning on cooking for Bella?"

"Well, we need to have some sort of… edible… matter… for her. We can't allow her to starve!"

"How long do you plan that she stays?"

Unfathomable time lengths filtered through Alice's mind. I groaned.

"No, Alice. No food. We'll be a few hours at most. And while we're there, do not broach the topic of Italy."

"Don't worry. No one else knows. Although, Jasper is suspicious with you and is going to focus all his energy on reading you. He believes you to be the reason behind all my recent stress."

"Well, he's right, so I won't discredit him."

"Almost right. I have been trying unnaturally hard on trying to follow Bella. She disappeared from my thoughts for awhile. A few weeks after you left until she made the decision to see you I couldn't see her at all."

This news caught me off-guard.

"So you didn't see what happened to her to that night before she showed up?"

"I don't need to have seen it to know. Think about it, Edward, and don't be too revealing to Bella when you speak to her. I can't wait until Saturday!"

With that, the line went dead.

My sister was up to something. I would find out sooner rather than later what it was.

I wasn't able to dwell on it long, however. Before I knew it, Friday arrived and I was parked at Forks High, a school I never attended and never wanted to. Being in the company of immature teenagers was more than my sophisticated brain could bear. I understood why Bella chose not to hang out with her peers very often.

Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, I spotted her exiting the gymnasium along with the flow of other students. There was a boy next to her who was speaking to her – trying to charm her more like – but I could tell by his frustrated thoughts that she wasn't taking his bate. Her eyes scanned the parking lot and a smile lit up her face as she spotted by Volvo. The boy's thoughts and gaze followed hers and he scowled, wishing her a good weekend and heading off to his own vehicle.

A sense of… happiness? Pride? Self-worth? I couldn't exactly put a word to the emotion ran through me at the realization that I was the one to bring the glistening smile to her face. She quickly made her way to me and unexpectedly threw her arms around me in a hug. I stiffened, taken aback by the gesture, but welcomed the embrace and returned it.

She released me and took a step back, craning her head to look at me. "Hi," she whispered.

"Hey, yourself." I opened the passenger-side door and waited for her to slide in before rounding the car to join her, careful to travel at normal human speed as to not attract attention from the watchful eyes.

"I thought the week was never going to end," Bella muttered, relaxing back into the leather seat as I started the car.

"You look exhausted," I observed.

"No, relieved," she corrected. Seeing my questioning glance, she elaborated. "Relieved to be out of that dump with only the weekend ahead of me."

I chuckled. "You make it sound like you have big plans this weekend."

She turned in her seat to face me. "Are you cancelling on me?"

"I think Alice would kill me if I tried."

Bella laughed. "She does seem eager. She never said a word to me, but she kept smiling and winking at me whenever we crossed paths."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. After I dropped you off last weekend she called and screamed into my ear for fifteen minutes in excitement."

"After you told her?"

"No. I don't have the luxury of choosing what Alice knows."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not the only one in my family who has… gifts."

"You mean, like you're mind-reading?"

"Why don't we carry on this conversation when we arrive at our destination?"

Bella's brows furrowed in frustration and she turned to face forward again. "Where are we going? The coffee shop?"

"I thought we might go some place a little more secluded. We don't need any stray ears falling on the conversation."

Within the minute, I pulled up to the beach I had previously decorated for an intended romantic evening with Bella over a month before. Who knew next time I would return I would have completely different intentions?

I escorted Bella to a picnic blanket where I had a light meal prepared for her. I gestured her to sit and reclined close by.

"This looks wonderful. Did you make it yourself?"

"Tried. I hope it's edible. I didn't exactly have anyone to test on."

"I'm sure it will be great."

"Eat, please," I urged.

She gave me a look.

"You eat. I'll talk."

She eagerly complied, shoving a grape in her mouth.

I sighed and turned to face the ocean. "As you know, after I was turned, I discovered I had certain abilities that are not typical of the vampire or human kind. It is not unusual, but it is unique for such an event to happen.

"It often stems from a part of human personality. For example, Jasper was very in-tuned with people's emotions. Now, he senses them as if they were potent – a smell or a sound – and he is also able to manipulate them by instilling fear or calm over a person depending on the situation."

"That must come in handy," Bella mused, popping another grape in her mouth as she caught my look.

"Alice, on the other hand," I continued, "is a bit of a clairvoyant, you could say. She is able to see what is to come by decisions. When one is torn between two decisions, she'll see the outcome of both, but they will be hazy. As the person chooses one decision over another, it becomes more clear in her mind until it is absolute – all details crisp in her mind."

"She sees everyone's future?"

"More like those who she knows or chooses to watch. If she focuses her energy on one person, she'll see more of them."

"So she's seen my future?"

"Since you came into my life, yes. But she doesn't catch everything. There are times when people drop off her 'radar' or she misses important events because she is distracted by focusing on others.

"Outside of abilities, you need to be aware of Jasper. He is the newest to our lifestyle and is still uneasy around the scent of human blood. He may come off as unfriendly, but it is simply because he is uncomfortable.

"Emmett is the strongest of our clan and will most likely make snide remarks. I will do my best to make sure he minds his manners because he can be quite rude.

"Rosalie… well, she is a bit self-absorbed. Don't be alarmed if you don't see much of her. She's the least happy about my decision to socialize with humans. She thinks you'll betray my trust.

"Esme is my mother. I'm sure you two will get along fine. She'll be very accommodating to everything you need.

"Lastly, my father, Carlisle. I believe you know him from being the head physician at the hospital that I hear you are a popular patient at," I turned to her with a sly smile, which widened when a blush crept across her cheeks.

I sighed and returned my gaze to the shore. "All in all, I guess you have met each of them, besides my mother, already. I suppose I'm more anxious about this meeting than you are."

"Why?"

"They just want what's best for me – want me to be happy. I'm afraid they're going to get a little too excited, like Alice for example."

"Well, I hope they like me."

I stared at her disbelievingly. "If I understand you right, you're more nervous about my family liking you than a house full of vampires finding you appetizing?"

Bella's face turned scarlet. I would never understand this girl.

"If that's your biggest fear, you have nothing to worry about."

We sat in silence, Bella picking at the food in front of her. Before long, she had consumed everything and reclined next to me, closing her eyes and enjoying the glow of the sun as it ventured between the cloud-line and the horizon.

"I should get you back. You probably have plans for this evening."

"I actually do have plans."

I sat up and began gathering the picnic supplies together. I went to get the blanket, but seeing as Bella hadn't moved…

"Bella? I don't want you to be late."

Her laugh rang through the secluded beach. She grabbed my arm and pulled on it. "Sit down, Edward!"

I looked at her, confused, and remained standing.

"My plans are with you, silly. I'm not going anywhere." She paused. "Unless you have somewhere you have to be…"

I sat down heavily with a huff, not enjoying her joke. "Very humorous, Bella."

She giggled and turned to me. "There's actually something I wanted to thank you for."

The quizzical stare returned to my face.

"The CD. I really enjoyed it. Thanks."

A thousand profanities ran through my mind in all the languages I knew. I completely forgot I had sent the CD out as my suicide note before my change of plans. I had never planned on facing her reaction.

"You're welcome," I choked out, trying to remain composed and aloof.

"It was definitely a change from your normal songs. I haven't stopped listening to it."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I would love to hear you play some of those songs."

There was absolutely no way I'd be able to perform any of those songs for her. Even since my small epiphany, I didn't think I could keep my composure. "You have the CD to listen anytime."

"It's not the same."

"We'll see."

"What about the new song you played just last weekend? Are you going to make another CD?"

"Probably not," I answered truthfully. "I never intended this one to be published, but it seems a spare copy was sent to my publisher."

"So I'll hear it on the radio?"

I studied her face closely before answering. Clearly by her line of questioning and the sincere intrigue on her face she didn't read into the songs any more than an ignorant listener. I wouldn't be forced to have an awkward conversation about a "change of heart." I don't think I could bear it.

"Probably not. They're not good enough to be heard publically. I would need to sell them for them to make the top one hundred list."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," she huffed, leaning back to face the sky instead of me.

"No, you just give me too much."

She ground her teeth together. I knew she wanted to convince me otherwise, but the point was futile and she knew it, so she wisely kept her mouth shut.

Luckily the mood lightened as the sky darkened and I was forced to return her home, promising to see her in a few short hours.

I didn't want to face the family before arriving with Bella, although part of me thought it would be a good idea to put them in order, but I doubted anyone would listen to me, and Emmett would just tease me for being overprotective and obsessive over the human. I didn't want to have to remind him that if Rosalie hadn't been overprotective and obsessed with him then he wouldn't be with us today. However, I wasn't sure if that would be the best of things to say since no one in the family really elected to be part of this lifestyle.

I spent the evening pacing in the woods and finally relented to entering Bella's bedroom window. The time passed slowly as I watched her toss and turn and murmur words like "Cullens," "Edward," and "Alice" in her sleep. There was no doubt that she had the same thing on her mind that I did.

I slipped out before she was awake and made myself scarce while she would wake and go about her normal morning ritual before I reappeared with my Volvo in her driveway. Part of me wanted to hurry and get this over with, while the other part wanted to push it back as far as possibly in order to prevent it from ever happening.

My sister would never let me hear the end of it. I was sure she would approach Bella at school and invite her over to meet the family, and there was no way I was going to not be there when it happened.

Bella soon appeared through the door and took my breath away.

I had never seen her in anything other than jeans and sweaters. Today was not a warm Forks day, or anywhere near it, but Bella chose to wear a skirt. She had mentioned to me once that she only owned one and I must be looking at it.

It was long – below the knee, but no less appealing on her. Her shapely calves were smooth and her feet slipped into ballet flats. As my eyes traveled upward, I took in her green fitted tee that clung to her like a second skin, showing off her curves and appealing bust.

I tore my eyes away and swallowed. I didn't think of Bella that way, I reminded myself. She was my friend… my only friend. I didn't want anything more than that.

"Good morning," she greeted me, her eyes doing their own quick inspection of me. I glanced down to remind myself of my light green mock shirt, khaki pants, and beige leather jacket. When I looked back up, Bella's face was scarlet. I hadn't meant to accuse her of staring.

"You look good," she amended, keeping her eyes carefully away from mine.

I wanted to laugh. It was funny she should say that since I had changed quickly into spare clothes from the trunk of my car ten minutes prior – spraying on some cologne for precaution.

You look ravishing.

No… You look very indecent, Bella. I can't think when you're dressed like that.

Ugh, why wasn't my mind working today?

"You look beautiful, Bella." I hoped she would take it purely platonic.

By her face I think I finally succeeded.

She smiled and looked up to finally meet my eyes. "You're always too good to me," she said as she slipped into the door I held open.

I paused longer than I should have, taken off-guard by her reply, before I moved faster than she could see to take my spot in the driver seat.

"Are you ready?" I asked, the keys poised mid-air by the ignition.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"You don't have to do this, you know."

"Yes, I do. How else will I get the scoop on you?"

I would have to confront Alice to make sure she hadn't said anything.

"On second thought…" I lowered my hand and leaned back in the seat.

"Don't you dare, Edward. Come on! Are you chickening out on me? By the way you are acting you'd think I was taking you to meet my father. You know, the one who owns a gun and is licensed to use it since he's chief of police?"

"Bella, I don't think you understand that the comparison really doesn't work in this case."

She made a face. "Don't change the subject. Drive or I'll walk."

I sighed, tempted to put her words to the test. At the very least I would get a view of the appealing curve of her ass as she walked away from me.

I put the key in the ignition without a second thought. It seemed I couldn't control them these days.

I drove as quickly as I dared with Bella in the car. I was afraid if I went any slower I wouldn't make it there at all.

The white house loomed ahead, unchanged from the years since our clan moved to Forks. I parked without taking care of where in the driveway I stopped, and opened the door for Bella. She looked at me, took a breath, and accepted my hand, allowing me to lead her to the doorway.

The door was thrown open before I could reach the knob. No doubt Alice had used more than just her keen vampire hearing to time it just right.

"Bella!" Alice squealed, throwing her arms out to grab Bella's hand and pull her carefully into the house. "I was beginning to think that Edward would never let you come and meet us all formally."

"He is a bit overprotective," Bella replied, letting her eyes wander around the expanse of the entrance room.

I sent a glare at my sister and stepped over the threshold, softly shutting the door behind me.

"Come. Everyone is waiting." Alice skipped ahead, still hand-in-hand with Bella, toward the dining room.

Bella looked over her shoulder at me and sent a nervous smile my way.

I wasn't sure if that was a 'here it goes' smile or a 'save me smile,' and I stood debating my course of action.

Don't worry, dear brother. We'll take good care of her.

I quickly found my feet and followed the pair as they disappeared into the other room.

The scene before me was… interesting to say the least. It seemed my family was trying to come off as human and were desperately failing at it. Carlisle sat at the dining room table, an empty plate before him and a newspaper in hand which was lowered as Bella's clumsy feet sounded in the room.

I turned to take in the rest of the scene around me as Carlisle went through the normal pleasantries and small talk, since they had met multiple times before. Esme wore an interesting apron around her waist and was attempting to make what looked like scrambled eggs and toast.

Jasper and Emmett were huddled around the television in the den, competitively fighting in a combat video game. No doubt they would be doing the fighting themselves instead of virtually. I was beginning to wonder where Rosalie was when there was a vibration in my pocket.

I was instantly curious. There were few who had the number to my cell outside of those in the room. I reached into my pocket and noticed Alice's head shoot up as a vision-filled her mind. She quickly shut off her thoughts to me and focused on Bella.

Mac's name showed on the display screen and immediately reminded me that he must have received and listened to my CD as well. I shoved the phone back in my pocket.

"Bella, it's so nice to have one of Edward's friends come visit. Would you like some breakfast?"

Bella shot me a glance. I knew she had already eaten breakfast this morning, but I had no idea how Esme would react if Bella rejected my mother's hard made creation. I nodded just slightly.

"I'd love some, thank you."

Edward, stop hovering and come play. It's been forever since you've been here.

I turned to glare at Emmett.

Nothing's going to happen to her with an extra ten feet of space between the two of you.

I sighed and excused myself from the dining room, explaining that I'd be in the next room.

"Edward!" Emmett cheered as I appeared, clasping me on the shoulder and pulling me down on the couch beside me, all the while, continuing to play one handed. "Long time, no see, man. Where've you been? Hitting that fine human ass, I assume?" He snickered. Jasper sent me a questioning glance, obviously as confused as I was by the emotions running through me.

"Shut it, Em."

"Are you going to play with us or what?" Jasper asked, concentrating harder on the game.

My phone vibrated again. I clenched my teeth and checked the caller ID. Mac. Again.

"Who is it?"

"Nobody," I replied, shoving the phone back into my pocket. I politely refused the additional game controller offered to me and headed back into the kitchen.

Bella's plate was empty and she was smiling, holding a conversation with Esme and Alice as my father continued to pretend to read the newspaper.

… all these years he's been off on his own path, secluding himself from almost all forms of life and suddenly he shows up with this ordinary girl. This isn't just any girl to him by the way he's hovering and has never mentioned her besides the meeting. There has to be more to this than he's letting on…

I tore my thoughts away from my father's mind. It wouldn't be long until he figured it out. Perhaps then I could get my own answers from his observations.

I turned my thoughts to my mother.

… she's everything he needs. I'm so happy he's finally found someone to confide in. I hope I can corner him and get some answers about where this is going…

Esme was very predictable. As long as I was happy, she was happy.

A voice in my head immediately drew my attention and I recognized Alice.

… got a slight tint of red to her hair, so blood red probably wouldn't be the color to go. Maybe more of a maroon color would work…

It was not unusual for Alice to be thinking about grooming Bella, but that would not be the main thought in her head in this situation. She had seen Bella countless times and would have already discerned what size she was and what colors would go well with her hair, eyes, and skin. Something else was on Alice's mind that she was trying to hide from me.

I had a feeling that the something had to do with the vision she was trying to hide from me.

Before I could do anything about my suspicion, my phone vibrated again. This time, I growled deep in my throat, knowing who was calling without even having to look.

My mother and sister turned to look at me, my father lowering his paper. Only then in Bella turn and see me in the room. She flashed me a smile which quickly turned to confusion by the obvious distaste on my face.

"Are you going to answer that?" Esme asked me.

"The call is not worth the effort."

"It's obviously important since he's been calling so frequently. At least tell him to give it a rest," Alice shot at me before turning and asking Bella a question.

I shot an apologetic look at Bella. "I'll be just outside if you need me."

"She'll be fine!" Alice said in an exasperated voice, waving me away.

I excused myself and turned away, fishing out the phone and flipping it open.

"Do you not get the point when I refuse to take your – "

"About time, Eddie! I was thinking I was going to be calling all day!"

"Mac – " First he interrupted me and then he calls me Eddie? This bastard was going to lose my business quick if he didn't have something worth listening to.

"That CD you sent was genius! I knew you said you were working on some new work, but I didn't imagine you'd have it completed so quickly."

"You're welcome, Mac. I'm a little busy – "

"I sent it to the big men upstairs and it's some of the best stuff that's been through this recording studio in years – no offense."

"None – " Taken.

"This is the big stuff, man! The stuff that's gonna shoot you up to the top tens! They're offering two million for the album and an additional thousand for a new song to be released as a pre-view single."

Every angry thought that went through my mind about I could torture and leave Mac with no memory left my mind. Big stuff?

No, no, no, no, no! I couldn't afford to be put in the spotlight. I had to play it cool as it was in order to pursue my passion. If I had fame thrown into the picture, there's no way I could keep out of the Volturi's watchful eyes. Surely they would think of this as excessive attention and frown on the behavior. It wouldn't take much to deduce suspicion of the public with the attention of a top charted musician.

Mac prattled on about tour dates and radio appearances, but I didn't hear a word.

"No, Mac."

Mac instantly went quiet. "What?"

"I'm not interested. I'd appreciate it if you shredded the recording."

"No – wait. You're not accepting the offer?"

"No, I'm not interested," I repeated.

Mac was speechless. "I – but – the money, Ed. That's three mil!"

"The money doesn't mean anything to me. I think you know by now that I do this for reasons other than the income."

"But – " Mac didn't continue.

"What did you do?"

"I accepted it on your behalf."

A/N: Sorry for the wait. It's been a busy week! Who's seen the new trailer? It's just a month away until the release (at least here in the States. Sorry to all you that have to wait longer).

Please review and let me know how you think Edward should decide! Also, take the poll about the POV in my profile. I've written part in Bella's, but like only being able to hear Edward's take on things. I want to hear your thoughts.