Chapter 15: The Cullens starts on page 312. Sorry I have not written in a while; craziness has struck again. I hope that all of my wonderful readers and fans will like this chapter as many else have like the last twenty-something chapters. And I sped through this chapter (Just a little) so there may be a few more errors than usual.

Bella looked peaceful as I sat beside her, running a hand through her hair. She hardly spoke tonight; something I was not expecting.

But I stopped myself when she started to whisper my name. I smiled and sat back down on her bed; I did not want to miss a thing as her face relaxed once she felt my cold fingertips running down her hair.

"Edward, stay… please."

How silly of her, even in her dreams she wishes me to stay near her. How could I even fathom to leave her now?

Now that she knows all of my secrets and I know how she feels about me, how could I ever willingly leave this gorgeous, caring person?

I know it is incredibly dangerous, but I want her to meet my family. Not just meet them as 'The Cullens', but see them for who they are.

Will she scream? Will she be frightened?

My gaze softened as she spoke my name.

Or will she be unafraid of who we are just like she was earlier?

"Edward, stay. I love you, please stay."

My breathing stopped.

"I love you."

Was I positive with what I had just heard? She said she loved me as she asked me to stay.

Were there even words to describe what I was feeling right now? It was like a balloon that rose and continued to fly. No matter what turbulence it went through, no matter how high it went, it still kept floating until it reached the heavens.

Someone could tell me that I have only a few seconds to live, or that the world would explode in just a matter of days, and yet…

Nothing would make me come out of this feeling of floating. Right now I just wanted to enjoy the moment while I could before I returned home.

How long had she felt this feeling for me? How could I have not seen it?

My dead body felt very warm right now; it was as if her words had given my body the will to live again. All I wanted to do right now was to stay beside her as she slept and when she woke up.

But I had to prepare my family for Bella's arrival. They ought to know that I wanted to bring Bella even further into our world. Though some might not be happy, I could not think of anyone as amazing who would treat my family as her own.

After all this time, I still wondered where the screams were. Where was the terror? The angst? The promising to never see a monster like me again?

Shouldn't there be something rather than nothing?

So far Bella has wandered down the road least expected by me. Most humans would have been frightened; they have been frightened just by the mere inhumane sight of us.

Bella has not flinched, has not back away, has not pushed me away.

No, she only wants more of what I want to give her: A piece of myself, a piece of my life, my hopes, my family… and my fears.

I am always afraid that she will wake up one day and see a monster standing before her. Maybe one day she will and she will fall in love with someone like Mike Newton.

But right now, I'd just like to sit down and watch this sleeping beauty sleep.

Bella was in deep sleep by the time that I left so I know that the best had been saved for the last. I ran back to my home where Carlisle was undoubtedly waiting for me in his office: Alice had told him.

She sat waiting for me on the steps, "Sorry, I figured I'd let you tell him the details."

I nodded to her and called Carlisle and everyone downstairs into the dining room. Once again, we all took our seats in our appropriate seats; Carlisle at the head, Esme next to him on his right, I on his left, Alice to my right, Jasper to hers, and Emmett and Rosalie on the opposite side.

I wasted no time getting to business; they needed to know. "I am sorry for calling you here, but I wanted to get your… opinion on something that I would like to have happen tomorrow."

Jasper furrowed his brow, "What's happening tomorrow?"

"I would like to ask Bella to meet my family."

A hiss escaped from Rosalie's mouth, "You want to bring a human over here? To what, have tea with us?"

Rosalie's thoughts were solely placed on one thing.

"I'd rather bite her head off then have her come here."

"You know that I will stop you if you try to harm her." I reminded her. "And I was not asking for your permission, though your acceptance will help. I think it is about time Bella sees us for what we really are. If she is going to be a constant part of my life, she should at least meet my family."

Like any other family meeting, the family was divided into two. Carlisle thought that this opportunity would help Bella get to know us better, not to mention make her feel more comfortable around us; Esme felt nothing but joy by the mere mention that Bella would come over here. All she has ever wanted was for me to find someone like Bella to light up the dark tunnel. Alice was pleased with how the events were turning out, she could see that Bella was going to come over here tomorrow. Emmett felt relaxed; he wanted to scare her and tease her a bit; he found it hilarious that she was not scared by the mere fact that I could rip her head off any moment. Rosalie was raging on the inside; though she wanted nothing to do with Bella, she would not harm her as long as she was far away. And Jasper…

A snarl escaped from my lips. Jasper would be a different situation.

"You will not touch Bella. If you have to stay away from her, then fine. But you will not lay a hand on her, understood?"