A/N: Sorry for the uber long wait, but I've been busy lately. The school year is winding down for me, and I have many projects to finish. I won't bore anyone with the dreary details, but let's just say Biology's being a pain. I've said this a million times, but I don't have an Edward to help me out in the subject, so yeah.

Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not Twilight, and definitely not Harry Potter. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and JKRowling, respectively.

24

"No," I pulled the now empty plate towards me and away from Esme, "I am perfectly capable of picking up after myself. I'll wash the dishes."

"But I insist," Esme pulled the plate to herself, and because of her strength, she managed to pull me as well. "You are the guest in this house, so it's only fair for you to not do any work."

I paused, thinking of something of import to reply. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything to say. Instead I sighed and trudged into Edward's open arms. He had been watching Esme and I bicker for the past minute by the doorway, that smug grin on his Veela-worthy face.

"I don't see why you're so happy," I grumbled lowly into his chest. I sighed as he wrapped his arms around me. I knew that our current position was compromising, particularly if the everyone else in the household thinks Edward and I were just friends, but who was I kidding? I didn't care.

"Hush you," Edward quipped. He took one of my hands from the back of his neck - they were playing idly with the hairs on the nape - and made a show of examining it. "Besides," Edward spoke, looking me in the eyes. "Your hands seem far too delicate to do household chores such as washing the dishes."

I blushed at his words. How did he know? Can he tell so much from my hands?

"That's because I have someone back home who does that for me," I said, thinking of Kooky back home in Italy, bustling after Donna. I also thought of magic, which was a great help back at the cottage. "Moreover, I spent six years of my life in boarding school - did I ever mention that? - and it's not like the students were required to do housework."

"Then why," Edward's eyebrows furrowed, "did you offer to wash the dishes?"

I smirked. "Aside from being polite, you mean? Well…" I let out a puff of air. "I really was raised to pick up after myself, and since I was the one who used the dishes, I figured it was my responsibility to wash them. I don't want Esme to have more things to do because of me."

"That's all right, dear," Esme said from behind me. I turned around and saw her smiling a wide smile; it reminded me of Fleur's smile on her wedding day, as in her lips were stretched from ear to ear. "I don't mind."

"Are you sure?" I leaned back onto Edward unconsciously. "I don't want to be a burden."

"Isabella," Edward chided. "You are anything but."

I quickly apologized, squeezing his hand, which still held mine. I was so caught up in Edward's gaze that I didn't notice Esme watching the both of us intently, her wide smile melting into a bemused yet pleased one.

"I see you and my son are getting along quite well," she commented, effectively breaking my and Edward's little moment. She was looking pointedly at Edward's arms around my waist. I flushed slightly in embarrassment.

"Yes," I agreed, nodding. "We seem to have bonded over our trip to Seattle yesterday."

"Isabella introduced me to some of her friends," Edward said, joining in the conversation. I giggled at the way he described Penny and Tony. Yes, they were my friends, but I think adopted niece and nephew would've been a better fit.

"Really?" Esme's eyebrows rose.

"Si," I assured her, reverting back to my native tongue. "We all had fun, and Penny apparently had taken a liking to Edward, but I digress. It's what happened last night's the most marvelous. Edward here," I nudged the man in question with my elbow, "surprised me by showing me this wonderful place deep in the forest."

Esme's small frown was visible, even to my not-so-human eyes. "In the forest, you say?" she asked me, but her eyes were on Edward.

"Yes," I said faintly. I stepped back, releasing myself from Edward's embrace. He looked at me with an expression a medley of warning, curiosity and question. "And after he showed me the meadow," I began softly, still looking at Edward, "he and I talked."

"Oh, what about?" asked Esme. My gaze snapped to her face.

I answered promptly: "Mythological creatures, for one, amongst other private topics."

Esme's face was the epitome of pure shock. Then, a second after my proclamation, a loud bang was heard from the vague direction of the living room. I think someone just tipped over something ceramic. I have a feeling that it was Emmett. I don't know why, but it seemed like something Emmett would do.

"I think," Edward spoke, breaking Esme and I from our thoughts, respectively. "I think we should adjourn to the living room and invite the rest of the family into this conversation."

I nodded wordlessly and, holding Edward's hand, followed him to the living room. My heart was beating faster than I was comfortable with, and as I stepped into the room where Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and Carlisle were seated, I found myself slightly nervous. I sat down on the sofa, next to Edward. Esme sat beside Carlisle. Belatedly, I noticed the smashed pieces of a ceramic jar by the feet of Rosalie. So it wasn't Emmett…

"Edward," said Carlisle, gaining my attention. "I see you didn't back down from your decision, no matter how much certain members of this family implored you to not heed -"

He was stopped short by no other than Rosalie. Rosalie, who I never heard speak in my presence, was actually screaming. In a way, she reminded me of an angered Veela, or maybe just a very angry tiger. She wasn't a Veela, for sure, because with every heated word she spoke, she reminded me that she was a vampire, not a Veela. Her eyes had a steely glint to them and her venom coated teeth were bared all out, ready to sink them into her prey.

"I can't believe you were brainless enough to out everything!" she screamed, advancing towards us. It seemed she didn't see me because she kept on speaking as if I weren't there. "Don't you understand how risky this is? How your decision could be dangerous for everyone?! What if the Volturi catches a whiff of this?"

Really, who are these 'Volturi' that the Cullens keep mentioning? I should ask about them, though, now clearly wasn't the right time.

"Well then," Edward stood up and met Rosalie's steely glare. "We'll just make sure that the Volturi stays out of this."

Rosalie started to speak, but she was stopped by Carlisle speaking. "Rosalie," Carlisle said in a cool, collected voice that spoke his years. "Calm yourself or I'm afraid I'll have to ask Jasper to do it for you."

I glanced at Jasper and saw his usual pained look, though it was much less extreme than at school, I noticed. How come I haven't noticed that before? I know why; it's because I've been too busy with Edward, that's why. I frowned and leaned back on the sofa, completely ignoring the familial argument happening before my very eyes. I did not hear or see Rosalie fight to get what she want, nor did I see Edward rise to my defense. It took Alice, who addressed me directly, to focus me back on the matter at hand.

"Your argument is pointless, Rose," Alice said. "Isabella already knows, don't you?" She looked at me and I sat up straight. "It's not like we can erase her mind of the whole weekend. It's bad enough that none of our powers work on her, so I doubt any other vampire's will - if, hypothetically speaking, a vampire in this world can erase minds."

I smiled wryly. I highly doubt vampires can erase minds, but I'm pretty sure that I can. A simple Obliviate can do the trick. A guttural growl grabbed me from my thoughts: "Grr! What are you smiling at, Isa-be-lla?" Rosalie prolonged the pronunciation of my name.

Scoffing, definitely showing my Veela-inherited anger streak, I stood up and replied testily, "Well, Ro-sa-lie, it's none of your business what I smile about."

"Oh, it'll be my business, all right, when this," she waved her hands to acknowledge Edward and I, "ends badly."

Edward growled and was instantly by my side. I placed a calming hand on his chest, immediately halting his growls.

"Badly as in…" I raised my eyebrows. "I become a meal."

"That," Rosalie seethed, "or just plain dead because you're so dainty and fragile."

I felt anger bubble inside me at her insults. Before I could control myself, I let out a sharp cry and was screeching: "Dainty I might be, but I am far from fragile, Rosalie Lillian Hale-McCarthy." I looked pointedly at Emmett and then back at Rosalie. Seeing the look of shock on her face, I let up and smiled smugly.

"I swear," I heard Edward whisper beside me, not realizing that I can hear him. "I didn't tell her your full name, Rosalie. Neither did I tell her about your marital status."

"I see." I saw more than heard Rosalie say those words.

"All right," Carlisle said, acquiring the room's attention. "Now that we've got our emotions off our chests," he sent Rosalie a warning look, "let us proceed to important matters. Isabella?"

Carlisle may have asked me to explain, but he was looking at Edward. I smartly snapped my mouth shut and watched Edward. He shifted slightly under everyone's scrutiny, but managed to speak eloquently of the situation.

"Last night, I confessed to Isabella what I am - what we all are," Edward said. He was speaking for his family's benefit, but all the while, he was watching me (like I him), gauging my reaction to his explanation. We never really had time to think it over, so my reactions will most likely be genuine.

I smiled, giving Edward silent confidence to keep going. So far so good and, he wasn't even lying… much.

"She took it pretty well. I, in turn, was surprised when she told me that she already knew that I was a vampire, apparently because of my... odd... actions."

"It was odd compared to the average human," I added. "For one thing, his eyes changes colors a lot, from dark obsidian to bright butterscotch. And it wasn't just him, I noticed, but Jasper and Alice as well, and Rosalie and Emmett, too."

"Yes," agreed Edward. "Unfortunately though, it was pretty late at night so Isabella had to go home before I could explain to her everything about vampires."

"Does she know our diet?" asked Alice.

At Edward's guilty expression, Esme shot up and didn't hesitate to reprimand her son. "Edward," she chastised. "You bring her to our home knowing what we truly are, and the thought of the fact that she didn't know of our specific diet didn't once cross your mind?"

"A-actually," stammered Edward. "I was a bit…" he sent me an apologetic look, "…preoccupied."

"Preoccupied or not, son," Esme said, "it was your responsibility. Isabella," she turned to me. "Do you know what we eat? Or drink, if you want to be specific."

Looking into Esme's soft eyes, I found myself melting. I couldn't think straight. I felt like she was belittling me, treating me like a child. Of course, she wasn't and I was just overreacting, but there's just something about the way she looked… She looked like a mother. It was impossible though, since vampires can't procreate.

"You drink blood," I answered, still unsure of where Esme was going. Vampires drink blood; even muggles knew that.

"Yes, but do you know what kind?" interjected Jasper. He looked the same as normal in the first look, but at second glance, I saw that glint in his eyes. It was foreign to me. What was it? Worry? Anxiousness?

I paused, considering his question. What does he mean by what kind of blood? Did he mean blood type, or did he mean species type. In the wizarding world, the vampires were known for their cravings of victims with sweet blood. Those cravings led to the invention of bloodpops, a sweet confectionery that was reminiscent of blood.

"Type A…? B?" I ventured. The disappointment that washed over Jasper tugged at my heartstrings.

"You don't know, then."

"Edward?" I asked, seeing as no one seemed to find it in themselves to explain to me. Alice was busy with Jasper, comforting him and whispering encouraging sweet nothings in his ear. Rosalie looked like she made a pact to not participate in the discussion anymore and had somehow roped her husband in as well. Carlisle and Esme didn't speak, not I think, because of lack of want, but maybe they just wanted Edward to explain to me.

"I do apologize for not clearing this up." His eyebrows knitted together, and my hand automatically reached up to smoothen them. I caught myself before my hand reached his face. "My family and I… As far as vampires go, we're considered unconventional by our kind."

"Why?" I asked.

"Instead of hunting humans, as what most vampires do, we instead chose to hunt animals."

"Animals?" I gasped. "Is that even possible? Well yes, of course it is. They have blood. On the other hand, the diet of animals isn't the proper diet for vampires, so how does this affect everything? Living with a diet that wasn't meant for you usually means you won't get all the nutrients your body needs, and thus leads to second-rate performances. It's like… oh, I don't know…"

"A human living on tofu?" suggested Alice, a smile in her voice.

I nodded my head enthusiastically. "Yes - wait," I let out a puff of air. "What's tofu?"

Laughter erupted around the room, even from the stoic Rosalie, though her laughter seemed a bit teasing to me.

"Oh, Isabella," Edward said, placing a well-muscled arm around me, "don't you ever change."

Confused, I just nodded my head and said nothing.

"Okay, so now our diet's been explained," said Carlisle. "Why don't you sit down, Isabella - you, too, Edward - and let us continue. Do you know of our advanced abilities?"

"I know of the speed for sure," I sent Edward a wink before leaning into his chest, his arm still around me. "I also know of the strength…" Emmett flexed his muscles teasingly. "I know that you can't consume anything apart from blood. And as part of being a vampire, your skins are as pale and hard as marble, as cold as ice, as hard as steel… and I guess, as an added bonus, you all are immortal."

There was a pregnant pause that followed my short speech. It was very tense in the living room, my only solace was the comfort Edward gave me by rubbing soothing circled on my shoulder. Thankfully, Emmett let out a long whistle and said, "Well, you don't see that every day."

Jasper laughed at first, and was soon followed by everyone else.

"Isabella, apart from one thing, your knowledge about vampires is flawless."

"Oh? What is it, Carlisle?"

Carlisle readied himself to speak, but was stopped by Jasper. In a blink of an eye, he had appeared behind his father and, if I hadn't known better and seen the grey blur he left in his wake, then I would've accused him of apparation.

"If you don't mind, Carlisle," Jasper said. "I would like to explain this to Isabella. This is about our powers, right?"

"Sure son, go ahead."

Powers? I asked myself. The only way vampires can have powers was that one, they were magical when they were human, something I doubt that applies to anyone in this room apart from me; or two, the powers appeared after the change, in which case was a totally different matter.

"Isabella, as you might know," Jasper began, "to become a vampire, one has to undergo a transformation. That transformation, however, requires vampire venom and to put it simply, it hurts a lot."

I nodded my head, understanding though I didn't quite believe him. Nothing in this world, not even vampire venom, can surpass the pain that the Curciatus Curse can cause. It was called the ultimate type of Pain Curse for a reason, even being dubbed the Torture Curse.

"As the transformation occurs, the venom spreads throughout the body, healing, strengthening and advancing everything in the body and mind. I said the mind as well because our memories are enhanced and we are capable of thinking about a lot of things at the same time.

"Also, the personality traits are enhanced. For Carlisle," Jasper pointed at Carlisle, who smiled at being mentioned, "his compassion was enhanced. For Esme," Esme copied her husband's actions and smiled at being mentioned as well, "her ability to love unconditionally was brought over to this life. For Rosalie it's her tenacity…" At this, Rosalie scowled. "And her beauty," Jasper allowed. "For Emmett, it's his strength."

"Hell yeah!" boomed Emmett. He punched the air and then his chest, doing a rendition of Tarzan. "I'm the strongest there is, baby." He grinned and winked at me. I appeared unaffected, which I was, and just looked at him blankly. He faltered at my lack of reaction.

"Everyone brought something else from their human life," Jasper continued.

"Really?" I said, awed. "Ooh," my eyes widened with delight. "Let me guess everyone else's… please?"

"C'mon, Isabella," Edward whispered into my ear. "Since you know my personality the best, why don't you do me first." The way he spoke told me that he was trying to hide something; I just don't know what it is… yet.

From the other side of the room, I heard Emmett say, "Oh, I'm sure Edward will absolutely love it if you'd do him."

I wasn't the only one to notice the double meaning in his words. I blushed and Edward glared over my head. Jasper chuckled and Alice giggled.

"Hmmm…" I hummed, pretending to think. Well, actually, I was thinking. "Is it perchance the ability to ask questions you know you'll never get the answer of?" I winked. "Because if it is, then I wouldn't be so surprised."

Edward chortled in amusement, finding something I said funny. "You know," he said, "in the end, I did get the answers to those questions." He must be referring to my confession about being Watcher and a part-Veela.

"Yeah, but only half," I pressed, forgetting that people were in the room, listening to me speak.

"You mean there's more to it?" he asked, surprised.

I rolled my eyes. "More that you could ever imagine." Magic? Hello?

"Is there a chance I'd ever know?"

"I hope not. I'd rather not go to jail, thank you very much," I said in a rushed manner. I shuddered, thinking of Azkaban. It really was a terrible place to be in. If by any way does Edward, or anyone else for that matter, find out about magic through me, then I'd be a shoo in for a cell in Azkaban, trial or no. The Italian Ministry's very strict in punishing the law-breakers.

"Jail?" Edward chocked on the word. "What on earth can make you eligible to go to jail?"

Suddenly hyper aware of the rest of the Cullens, I bit back my retort of 'the other half of my iceberg' and instead replied archly, "For being too gorgeous and sexy, it's illegal." I raised an eyebrow slowly, daring him to challenge me.

"Somehow," Edward said, running a hand through his bronze hair, "I find that quite easy to believe."

"Nice answer," I congratulated him. Alice's impatient cough brought me back to the task at hand. "Flying?" I suggested. I was met with heads shaking. "Teleportation?" Another round of shakes. "Okay," I raised my hands in resignation. "I give up! Edward?"

Smiling that crooked grin that I love, he said, "Try mind-reading."

I blinked at his pronouncement. Edward's a legilimens? I screamed in my head. If so, then how come he'd been asking incessant questions about me? Can't he control that power of his? Wait… is there something wrong with me that somehow disables his power?

"She's shocked," Jasper commented, a grin - though not as handsome as Edward's - on his face.

"What?" I spluttered. I shook my head. "How do you know that, Jasper?"

"Apart from your expression, which was a dead giveaway, you mean?" he joked. I looked at him blankly. "I'm an empath," was his explanation. My jaw dropped. First a legilimens, now an empath? What's next, a seer?

"And I can see the future!" exclaimed Alice. I chocked on air. She was on her feet, bouncing up and down. "Though," she frowned. "I can't see you, no matter how hard I try. It seems," her frown deepened, "none of our powers work on you - except for Jasper's, but you always feel confident all the time, the effort to read your emotions are moot. Other than now, of course. You're clearly shocked."

Laughing, Emmett quipped, "I think shocked is an understatement."

It took a couple of seconds until I was deemed ready to speak. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts - honestly, an legilimens, empath and seer? What kind of family is this? - I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled.

"Okay," I said calmly, "I'm not so shocked anymore."

"That's good to know," murmured Edward, who had been massaging my shoulders throughout my ordeal. "I was worried about you."

I smiled brightly at Edward.

A/N: I'd say sorry for the uber long chapter (it's even longer than the chapter I do for Two Worlds: Exposed), but then I want to make up for the long wait. That, and I also wanted the vampire discussion to be over with. It hurt my brain trying to recall all the information at once, and to not forget the other family members. I don't know if it's just me, but I find it hard to not forget and actually include the other Cullens when there are family meetings like this. XD

Please review?