A/N: so i have been having writers block to the extreme! this chapter took almost a week to write when usually they take a few hours. im sorry if this is not some of my best writing, it gets a little better towards the end, but i will try SUPER hard for the next few chapters to be extraordinay. so review like i know you guys can and ill try to get the next chapter up sooner. the more reviews, the more chapters :]

Chapter 21

Edward has to be the luckiest person I know. Carlisle and Esme are two of the sweetest people in the world and they are letting me stay at their house after only knowing me for barely a minute. The family I have known, consisting of Charlie, would never allow something like this. "It's a charity-case, Bells." That was his excuse anytime I asked if someone could stay over, even if it was only a sleepover. So was I now a charity-case?

"I really don't have to stay if it's too much. I can find a hotel or...or…stay at someone else's house. I would hate to put a burden on you guys and it wouldn't be too difficult to…"

Edward quickly cut me off with a gentle kiss. My cheeks instantly turned tomato red and I dropped my gaze to the floor as I heard Carlisle and Esme chuckling in the background.

"Bella, dear." Esme started. "We would love to have you stay here and we wouldn't let you stay if you were a burden in the first place."

I looked up at her and gave her an appreciative smile, knowing not to push my luck for too long.

"Carlisle, would you mind getting some blankets for Bella while I start up dinner?" She asked her husband who gladly accepted. They quickly went their separate ways, leaving Edward and I alone in the foyer.

"I told you they wouldn't mind letting you stay. Everyone in this world isn't out to get you Bella." I nodded my head while Edward gently lifted my chin. "Come on; let's go help Esme with dinner."

After about 30 minutes, dinner was almost ready and everyone was around the table waiting. Everyone was sitting next to their loved one and the table was full. I had Edward on one side and Emmett on the other, with Alice right across from me. We were all waiting for Esme to finish up a few last minute preparations so to pass the time, Emmett and Edward started picking a fight.

"So Eddie, when are you finally gonna move on from that pathetic Volvo you call a car?"

I instantly knew where this was going. Edward loves his car, almost as much as me and it pisses him off when anyone makes fun of it.

"Emmett! My car is so much better then your plastic jeep out there." He replied back with a smug grin on his face.

"Eddie, Eddie, when will you ever learn? The ladies love the jeep while you drive a ladies car." There was a quick slap heard and Emmett started rubbing his head.

"I don't know what ladies you are trying to impress but it sure as hell isn't me." Rosalie crossed her arms while the rest of us tried to hold back our laughter.

"Awwww Rose. You know I'm only making fun of Eddie. You're the only lady I have eyes for." He was trying to serenade her but it definitely wasn't working. Rosalie let out a 'humph' while rolling her eyes and it set all of us into a fit of laughter.

"Okay boys and girls, stop nit-picking. Dinner is served."

Once dinner was down, it seemed to be gone in 5 minutes tops. Emmett was at least on his third plate while I had barely finished half of one. Esme looked over at her son, with spaghetti hanging out of his mouth, and glared at him.

"Emmett! We have a guest and you're over there eating like you've never eaten food before."

He let out a loud gulp, wiped his mouth off and mumbled, "Sorry mom."

I silently started laughing, which sent a few glares my way, so I stopped and continued eating while looking intensely at my food.

After dinner, everyone left poor Esme to do all of the dishes. Emmett and Rosalie had gone up to their room, Jasper and Alice drove to the mall, Carlisle was in his office working and Edward ran up to his room to grab a sweater. It was only me sitting at the table looking helpless, like always. I quickly stood up and started collecting some of the dishes. Esme quickly turned around and noticed what I was doing.

"Oh dear, you don't have to do that. My own children barely ever do that."

"It's okay, I'm used to it. I used to always do the dishes at my old house so I don't mind helping. And if you're going to let me stay at your house, it's the least I could do."

She sent me a welcoming grin and continued scrubbing the dishes while I dried them.

"You know you don't have to do that." I heard a voice come from behind me and two arms slip around my waist. I instantly tensed up and let out a shaking breath. I knew who it was, but my instincts refused to believe me. His arms quickly released from my waist and he appeared next to me.

Esme noticed Edward and said, "Perfect Edward. Now that you are here, you can do the dishes with Bella." And walked away.

Once she was gone, Edward took up her spot but didn't start the dishes. He simply stared at me.

"Are you okay, Bella?"

I nodded, unsure of what else to say.

"Bella, why are you so worried?" I was about to shrug my shoulders but he wrapped his arms around me and pinned me to his chest. I didn't tense up this time, I actually relaxed into his embrace and he let out a sigh while gently running his fingers up and down my spine. It sent shivers coursing throughout my body which caused him to hold on to me tighter. He lowered his head so his nose was resting on mine and mumbled into me hair, "Tell me the truth Bella, you said you always would."

I looked up at him and quietly replied, "I'm just afraid of how long this is going to last."

"How long what is going to last? You and me or you staying here?"

"Me staying here…"

Why did I always have to second-guess everything? It seems like there is not one point in my life where I can just go for it and trust someone. It's that little five letter word that slowly kills me inside; trust. It seems like a foreign word to me, like someone could be speaking to me from outer space and I'm just supposed to assume I know how to speak their language. That five letter word is what's stopping me from being spontaneous or doing something irrational. Trust and fear, god how I hate those two words.

"Bella, as long as I'm living in this house, you will be here also. And if you ever can't stay here, then I won't be here either. I can't live without you Bella so its do or die at this point."

I looked up at him and kissed him. He quickly responded, kissing me back before pulling away. I sighed and said, "Let's finish these dishes so I can go to bed, I'm so tired." I turned back towards the sink as he replied with, "You can go to bed, I don't mind finishing these." I shook my head and dried what seemed to be the last dish.

"Look's like we're already done lover-boy. I'm going to bed."

His famous crooked grin graced his lips as he grabbed my hand and started heading towards his bed room.

"You mean we're going to bed."

I got my own goofy grin on my face as we entered his room and I started heading towards the couch, only to be stopped by two strong arms.

"And where do you think you're going, ma'am?"

I turned around and said in my best British accent, "I was heading to bed, young sir."

He simply laughed while rolling his eyes and pulled me towards his bed. And began laughing and I could see his smile grow.

Oh, how nice it felt to be happy. It seemed at this very moment I was care-free, for once taking the world off my shoulders to take a break from this life. Just kidding around, doing what teens were supposed to be doing felt great so that only made me laugh harder.

"Okay, crazy one, let's not get too crazy in here as to not wake up Esme."

I slapped my hand over my mouth but my body gave me away, with it shaking with laughter.

"You are quite the odd one Bella Swan."

"I know, but that's why you love me."

"Indeed it is."

He quickly reached over, turned the light off and kissed me. I kissed him back and rolled over and let the laughter slowly drain away. When I was sure it was all gone, I turned back around and placed my head on his chest. He grabbed my hand across his chest and slowly started rubbing circles. It was quite peaceful and before I knew it, our breathing was matched, inhale for inhale, exhale for exhale, and for once, I slept in darkness with no dreams to haunt me. For once, I felt completely and utterly safe.