a/n Ok so since I have very little time and this chapter was getting a-lot long, I decided to split it up. Sooo... answer to the poll in part two (or if you can riddle it out in this one)

a/n last chance to vote -which one is it?

a/n Betaed as usual by lanacullen21

Chapter 20- Round table

They drove in gentle silence, but the anticipation was devouring Edward.

Tonight would be monumental, there would need to be a family meeting, and Bella and Chase would tell them how they knew so much, and in turn they would reveal how they knew so little.

Despite his anticipation he drove slowly, he wanted to give his family the appropriate time to get ready, assuming that Alice had seen them coming. There was also the issue of Isabella's brother Chase, she had just gotten off of the phone with him and after explaining what had happened he had agreed to meet her at the Cullen estate.

Bella looked over at Edward and sighed, the tension between them was thick and she wasn't sure how to break it. Small talk was never her thing.

"Soo..." she began, "bag any good animals lately?"

The car swerved dangerously and nearly hydroplaned, but Edward managed to regain control quickly. He guided the car back into the proper lane and slid it to a crawl by the side of the road, cautious of the wet weather.

Turning to look at Bella with a combination of shock, incredulity and amazement in his eyes, Bella realised that Edward was more than a little confused.

"What did you just say?"

Bella shrugged her shoulders looking around nervously. She knew by his reaction that that had been a terrible way to break the ice; however she had known no other way. She had a hard time with subtlety and it showed. To avoid a ten car pileup, Bella was quick to explain her reasoning while the car was not in motion.

"I was ust trying to make conversation."

Edward almost laughed, "And shocking me so much that I swerve the car and endanger your life is the best way to do it?"

Bella smiled to herself, relieved. The tension was gone. "Well it was one way. I don't think I heard you making suggestions."

Edward shook his head at her brazen attitude, but smiled. He had no idea how she could be so calm about this. He started the car up again, slowly making it back onto the road before he responded, "Next time ease me into the conversation."

Bella smirked, checked that her seatbelt was attached and began again, "Alright. So is it true that you and your family feed on animals?"

Edward looked up at the ceiling for a brief second as if to ask 'why?' but continued driving, trying in vain to figure out a way to not break Vampiric law. There was a pregnant pause before he answered.

"Yes."

He said nothing more and when Bella looked over she saw absolute confusion on Edward's face. It was mildly hilarious, for he looked like he was trying to solve a really difficult equation, but knowing Edward he had created his own proof to solve.

"Edward relax, Chase and I know quite a bit about vampires, and quite a bit about you and your family. I know it's shocking, but like I said we'll explain everything later."

Edward was silent for a moment. So she knew everything. He kept his eyes on the road while he let his mind wander. How could it be that two humans knew of their existence and still lived? He had always believed the Volturi to be the most orderly form of law in vampire society, yet they hadn't heard of Bella and Chase? He was glad of this fact, but couldn't quite believe it. There had to be another explanation. He looked over at Bella and saw she was looking out the windows at the dark night. It was colder now, and the rain had descended on them again making frozen pellets crash into the windows. Bella didn't seem disturbed by this, but he couldn't help but wonder for the thousandth time what she was thinking.

He tuned up the heat in the car, letting his mind again consider how it could be that Bella and Chase have evaded or escaped the Volturi's attention. It seemed (from what Bella had told him) that his and Alice's suspicions were somewhat true: you couldn't hide from the Volturi, but you could run. And if it was easy for them to be blocking him, perhaps it was reason enough to be blocking others too.

Looking briefly at Bella, Edward decided that if Bella was making an effort then he could too. Peeking shyly out of the corner of his eye, he inquired about his most invasive question, "Everything? Even...who and what you are?"

Bella tensed before she relaxed, it was time. "Yes, you show me yours and I'll show you mine."

Edward considered her offer but couldn't help his curiosity, "Why are you here, in Forks I mean? If you know what we are then it can't be a terrible coincidence that you'd move to a town where vampires live."

Bella's face paled and she looked away. Now that things were revealing themselves she was afraid that Edward and his family wouldn't like what they saw.

"No, it wasn't a coincidence."

She didn't elaborate and Edward wondered why. He was slightly on edge about her response because nothing good ever came from other's seeking them out. It was either they wanted something from them or they wanted something to do with them. It was silent for a moment before Edward decided to ask.

"Are we the reason you and Chase came here?"

Bella looked down at her lap, she didn't like where the conversation was going.

Edward saw her reaction and took it in affirmative; he turned back towards the road. Whatever Bella and Chase wanted to had to do with them.

They had arrived in Forks and were getting closer and closer to the bend that led towards the Cullen's house. As they approached it Edward tensed, though he trusted Bella he couldn't help but be on edge because of her earlier response. Bella had been around his family before and nothing had happened, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't being cautious enough.

When they finally did reach the end of the Cullen's driveway Edward stopped and parked the car. Bella looked at Edward before the automatic locks clicked on.

Edward turned to Bella. "Just tell me one thing. What do you want with me and my family?"

Bella took in the defensive pose Edward had and tensed as well, there was no way that she would win in a fight with him, not at this range, but more importantly she needed to show him that. Maybe then he would let his guard down.

"We need your help."

Edward stared at Bella for a while, measuring something, what Bella wasn't sure, but she didn't look away. Instead she stared back until he started the car again and drove forwards, making their way towards the house.

There was an awkward air about them; the Cullen's were all clustered in the foyer, even Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, whom Bella hadn't seen since the auction. They still had a tense disposition and Bella wasn't sure if she should break it. She looked around, unsure. Alice was bouncing slightly at her arrival which made her laugh. She was the most enthusiastic about her arrival by far, and while Mr. And Mrs. Cullen looked happy to see her they also looked a little worried too. The other Cullen's which Bella didn't know very well were pleasant but cautious. Jasper stood behind Alice but Bella didn't think it was in fear. It seemed that he was almost distancing Bella from himself, which Bella found odd. Emmett on the other hand looked enthusiastic about her presence, he still had a cautious air about him, but he seemed generally happy that she was there. The only person who didn't seem happy about her arrival was Edward's other sister, Rosalie. She looked as though she had eaten a sour apple. Posed defensively in front of Emmett, she looked on the defensive, and Bella took note to never threaten Emmett in her presence.

Bella greeted them all as they did her. There was a stall in conversation and Bella looked to Edward as if for instruction.

"Bella you remember my parents, Carlisle and Esme." Edward introduced.

"Welcome Bella." Startled she looked to Carlisle Cullen who had broken the silence to welcome her.

"So glad to see you again. "Esme said.

Edward and Carlisle seemed to share a moment with the intense look they both had on their faces. There was a moment of silence before Edward spoke.

"Bella has something she would like to share with us. It is important which is why we came without calling."

The way he spoke seemed oddly formal, and it seemed that he spoke as a formality which Bella didn't understand at all.

Alice stepped forward. "Why don't we all go to the living room and sit down? Bella, would you like some...water."

Alice had forgotten that human food expired, so everything they had had the last time Bella had visited was stale, and they had gotten rid of it. Now, with the short amount of preparation time they had had, food was completely forgotten on the list of things to do.

Bella smiled, warmed slightly by Alice's attempt, "No thanks we already had dinner."

Everyone but Bella and Alice turned to look at Edward, who shifted uncomfortably before muttering something too fast for her to catch.

Alice, looking around muttered the word 'living room' before turning, pulling a fixated Jasper behind her.

They all walked to the living room and sat down. Again a slightly awkward silence descended on them. It was a moment before Carlisle, who sat behind Esme's seat, spoke up.

"Welcome to our home Bella. We are happy to see you again. Edward here has mentioned you have something you wish to discuss?"

He was leaving it up to her, and Bella didn't know if she loved or hated him for it.

"Yes." She looked at Edward for any indication of reluctance but he looked secure and gave her a small, but definitive nod. She leaned forward and took a moment to look at all of the Cullen's before she began.

"Well, I see that I've taken many of you by surprise. I think you all know by now that Chase and I aren't what we seem."

Many of the Cullen's looked uncomfortable, while others looked mildly confused.

"Before I say anything about us I think it's important to say that Edward and I think it's best if we lay everything out in the open. We have both been hiding things and while this wasn't intentional I think it's best if we open up to one another."

Rosalie, sitting in the corner of the room huffed and looked over to the large man-child sitting next to her before muttering something extremely fast. He frowned back at her and nudged her slightly muttering a low 'be nice'.

Bella had stopped but decided to keep going; if she was going to get this out she needed to focus.

"Now, since my brother Chase and I have moved here we've noticed several... abnormalities that your family share. At first I thought nothing of it; I thought you were all pale kids from Alaska, just like the town thought, until I saw Esme." She looked over at the woman in question, who looked a bit taken aback. Bella offered a short smile before continuing on.

"When I saw Esme it all came together. You all look nothing alike, but your eye colour, your skin, your beauty and the way you carry yourselves. It's all foreign, different. It didn't take long for me to put together that you were all related in another way. And it took even less time for Chase to fess up to why we came here."

She paused and snuck a look at Edward. She was relieved to find that he didn't show any signs of anger, but then again she wasn't even close to finished.

"Edward was right when he guessed why we came to Forks. We came here for you."

She didn't wait for things to sink in and continued, "The things that separate you are odd, but put together it's clear that you are different for a reason. You couldn't fool us for very long, you're not human."

The whole room was silent. Bella mused that the old saying 'you could have heard a pin drop' was exceptionally true at that moment. The Cullen's simply stared at her for a moment before shifting their gaze toward Edward.

Bella seeing the direction of their gaze spoke, "Edward hasn't told me anything about this."

Several eyes shifted to hers in disbelief, but she stared back in defiance. This was true of course, but it wouldn't have mattered if he had said anything, she and Chase had known that the Cullen's were vampires the minute Jessica Stanley revealed their little slip ups. And after Chase had locked himself in his room for the third straight night following that, Bella had cornered him, and he had confessed.

"I don't know how we found you exactly, Chase hasn't explained that part to me yet, but once Chase realised what was going on, we knew what you were."

She trudged on, "We had to get closer to you, and since you are all paired off it was decided that I would get closer to Edward." She didn't look at him as she said this. "I know that it must have been odd to have a human be so close to you but it wasn't to just become a part of your group. Once I got to know you I really liked all of you; truly, I want you to know that that isn't what this is about."

"Then what is it about?" Carlisle gently asked.

Bella looked at him then let her eyes gradually trail from one golden pair of eyes to the next. This was the hard part. Bella sighed, she wished that there was an easy way to go about gaining their trust, but as she looked into Edward's eyes for the first time since they had sat down she knew that if she was going to be honest she had to hurt him, she had to tell the truth.

"We've kept secrets from each other. I know Edward and Alice have checked up on me, but I too have been checking up on you."

Several Cullen's looked confused. Edward and Alice looked shamefully abashed, while Rosalie looked downright pissed.

"Why have you been so curious about us, huh?"

Bella tuned to look at Rosalie.

"I think I could ask you the same question."

Rosalie seemed to inflate slightly as if building in some way but Alice quickly cut her off. "How could you know that we checked up on you?"

Bella looked at her, "You, Edward and Jasper aren't the only ones that are gifted."

There was a collective gasp and everyone save Rosalie looked shocked that such information was common knowledge.

"I know that this may come as a shock to you but I know a lot more about your world than you think I do. Chase and I have grown up in it and learning that the monsters under the bed are real wasn't a fun treat."

Esme gasped, and then sighed while putting one hand on Carlisle's and the other to her mouth in shock.

"Bella," Carlisle spoke up, "In our world, such information can be dangerous. Can I ask you how you seem to know all of this?"

Bella looked at him, "Like I said, Chase and I have grown up around all of the abnormal. You're not the first monsters I've met."

She had accidentally looked in Edward's direction, and the look on his face had made her stop talking. He looked pained, and squirmed like someone had his hand pinned under a hot fire, leaving it there to burn while challenging him to stay put. Bella didn't know what to say so she continued speaking, shooting worried glances at Edward every couple of seconds.

"I was born on July 14th. Chase was born six minutes before me. And together we made the prophecy come true."

"What prophecy?" Jasper asked at once. Bella had almost forgotten he was there. She looked at him but he had an all business air about him, so she looked away as she answered.

"The curse of the Pope sons of The Covenant."

There was only a split second of silence before questions flew at her from all sides.

"What is The Covenant?"

"Why are you cursed?"

"What does this have to do with us?"

The last question came from Rosalie and Bella cut her a dirty look before putting her head in her hands. "I, I need Chase." Bella drove her fingers through her hair; this was not going at all the way it was supposed to.

The room quieted for a second and she herd Edward suggest that she call Chase. She peeked out at him and smiled in gratitude.

Finding her cell phone in her purse she quickly texted chase and SOS in hopes he would respond quickly.

"Bella?" She heard. She looked up towards Esme's face, "I'm sorry for our rude behaviour, but we are incredibly curious. We haven't yet me someone who's had more of a... colourful history than ours."

Bella sat up, "It's alright. It's just, a little overwhelming."

Esme smiled, "We understand this can't be easy, just take your time."

Bella sighed, "I'll take that water now."

There was a lull in conversation as Esme had risen to get Bella her glass of water. The remaining Cullen's were left staring at Bella or Edward in an uncomfortable stand-off. Bella felt her phone vibrate in her hand and looked down, relieved. She was glad for the distraction, because the tension in the room was too much to handle at the moment.

Bella looked at the screen and pressed a few buttons so that she could read the text that she had just received.

Bella are you alright?

-Chase

Bella looked up into the dumbfounded, confused, angry and downright upset faces before her and knew that she could use some support.

Not really. I could use some help. Are you close?

-Bella

She waited a few seconds before getting her reply.

Almost there. 5mins.

-Chase

She put her phone away and hoped that this would get easier.

Carlisle stepped forward after Bella had put her phone down, they needed to take control of the situation before things got out of control, and if the level of Rosalie's anger was any indication then talking things out would need to be done in a calm and orderly manner.

He looked at each one of his family members and, in speech too fast for human ears to comprehend, tried to persuade them to keep a level head so that they could talk this out nicely.

Carlisle turned towards her "Bella, I think we all are just a little confused on how you seem to know so much about us, but considering your relationship with Edward and the delicate nature of things, I think we should tread lightly." He looked pointedly at Rosalie as he said the last part.

Bella sighed, she wished that there was an easy way to go about gaining their trust, but as she looked into Edward's eyes before answering.

"I think we should wait for Chase to get here before I continue."

Several of them nodded in understanding, but Rosalie huffed again, louder this time. "Why is it that you are here in our home telling us what to do?"

"Rosalie!" Esme interrupted. Rosalie continued on as though she had said nothing.

"We've been patient with you, allowed you to get closer to us more than anyone has before. Don't you understand the risk we've taken with you?"

Bella scowled at Rosalie. Didn't she hear herself? "Well I'm sorry if everything isn't a convenience for you. But the world doesn't revolve around you princess. Since you've been snooping through my past I thought I'd share it with you. It does concern you after all."

Rosalie's face darkened in anger, and she stood up, knocking her chair back. Her angry state more important than the warning Alice was about to shoot out. "I don't think you understand. We've put ourselves on the line for just acknowledging you, so you better start seeing things from our perspective and stop acting like a spoiled little brat!"

Bella rounded on Rosalie, her blood boiling, "See this from your perspective? And what exactly is there to see? As far as I know we have the same problem and the sooner you start helping us the easier life is going to be for all of us."

There was a confused silence that didn't seem to reach Rosalie, as her anger seemed to escalate, rising from her face and freezing her disposition. Bella took in Rosalie's widened eyes and her clenched jaw. Her posture was one of absolute rage and appeared to be about to move forward, but Emmett immediately stood up and put a light hold on his mate's shoulder. For the first time since she could remember Bella was a little afraid.

"Is that a threat?" Rosalie growled.

Jasper shifted uncomfortably at the amount of anger both women were pumping into the room, and attempted to send waves of calm and lethargy to the both of them, hoping to dissolve the situation.

Bella sighed, suddenly tired. She attempted to fight off the urge to sit down and give in to her lethargy, "No, it's not a threat. But you sit there all high and mighty and expect me to spew my whole life story at you, while you offer nothing."

The room was deathly silent, and for once, Rosalie had nothing to say.

The doorbell rang then and Bella almost collapsed in relief. She wondered if it would be rude if she answered the Cullen's door. She was relieved of the duty when Esme got up and breezed towards the door. Soon Chase stepped in looking a little uncomfortable but also highly concerned. When he saw Bella he rushed over to her and picked her up, squeezing her slightly before asking her in a whisper if she was okay.

"I'm fine." She said. She looked past him into the curious faces of the Cullen's. Chase was here now.

It was show time.

She pulled Chase down into the loveseat she had been sitting in.

Chase looked around and could tell he had walked in on something big. Every one of the Cullen's looked curious and even though they looked patient he could tell that that patience was wearing thin.

He caught (who he knew to be) Rosalie's eyes and raised his brows. She looked exceptionally displeased and Chase could only guess why. One hour with each other and Rosalie and Bella both had sour moods.

As Chase sat down Carlisle stepped forward, "Welcome to our home Chase. I'm not sure how much Bella has told you, but we were discussing certain...histories of your family and how they affect ours."

Since Carlisle did not yet know what linked them both Bella thought he did a good job of summarizing what he did know.

Chase nodded and looked at Bella silently asking her 'do you want to start or should I?'

Bella rolled her eyes and nodded her head towards him, she had had enough of the Q & A time, and it was his turn to take the lead.

He smirked at Bella's expression but turned towards the Cullen's, ready to start.

"So what you've been told isn't everything. There is more, and while we know that you won't be very receptive to the news, you need to understand that we did what we thought had to."

Several Cullen's looked confused once more and Edward asked, "Bella already warned us about something like that. What do you think you 'had to do'?"

Chase looked and Bella and she nodded but became very interested at a piece of fluff on the sweater she was wearing.

"Well," Chase began, "we had to get close to you, all of you, so that we could use you as leverage for later."

That was honestly as he could put it, and Chase could tell from the moment the words left his mouth that he had been right. Edward looked quite troubled and pushed his hands through is hair before holding it in anguish. Rosalie stood up in outrage and was only restrained by her mate, Emmett. Jasper looked quite angry too, but didn't get up; he and Alice remained seated but looked quite upset. Carlisle and Esme had a horrible mix of betrayal and devastation on their faces, and Chase couldn't help but detect a fierce bout of protectiveness coming from the both of them.

He looked over at Bella and saw the dirty look she was giving him. She was shaking her head as if to say 'you couldn't have done that any other way?'

He hurried to fix his mistake, "It may seem horrible now, but once we explain, once you understand, I'm sure you'll be grateful."

"Grateful!"

It was the wrong thing to say. Rosalie once more fought to be freed from Emmett and tugged with what seemed all her might. Emmett too, seemed to be using what was or was close to his full strength to prevent Rosalie from doing her worst and Chase sat back concerned that Emmett would lose his grip on her.

Carlisle moved toward the centre of the room, and raised his hands in what was to be a calming gesture.

"We are all on edge. Everyone please relax. Now, I'm sure that given the fact that Chase and Bella are both here to explain what is going on that they have honourable intentions. Though if they do not," and with this Carlisle turned to the pair, "they will become enemies of this family and will no longer be welcome here."

Both Bella and Chase looked nervous, if their plan failed, then they would both be dead.

"However," Carlisle continued, "that will be determined though discussion, where we will listen to what they have to say."

He looked at Rosalie as he said the last part.

When he felt that the silence had allowed his message sink in Carlisle turned back around to Bella and Chase. "To the both of you, I am sorry for the way my family has been acting, you must understand that while we try our best to give others their privacy, it can be difficult since we have no secrets in this family. I must admit that information is easily passed around and when there is something we are curious about we are used to easy answers."

Bella nodded to herself and momentarily forgot that she was not the one explaining things. "We realise that. It must be hard with so many invasive abilities in the house."

Without meaning to, Bella had once again shocked the Cullen's into silence.

Carlisle raised his eyebrows after a while and conquered, "Yes, it is. Bella tell us, now that Chase is present how is it that you are so familiar with our family?"

Bella choked a little on the air in her throat. If there was a question that she didn't want to answer it had to be that one.

"Well...I, uh. Chase and I have, uh-"

"Bella and I have been watching you." Chase answered easily for her. "We added what we know to what we've noticed and have created a firm base of who 'the Cullen's' are." He continued.

Maybe it was the air quotes or maybe it was a culmination of the entire night, but as Chase finished his sentence Rosalie broke free of Emmett's hold. It seemed that he had let his guard down as he listened and didn't expect Rosalie to suddenly burst free.

Everyone seemed to freeze for a moment before there was a spring of action.

a/n leave a review and tell me what you think :D