Chapter 36

(Edward's POV)

The car ride back to the house was silent, everyone felt guilty for causing Charlie the pain of losing Bella and that we would never have to feel that pain. When we got home the house was alive with the sound of laughter. But not just anyone's laughter, it was Bella's laughter. It seemed like forever since the last time I heard her laugh. I nearly ran into the house. She was sitting merrily next to Sonny and Jasper playing a game of poker. Bella's hair glinted in the pale lighting, her hair was wet and dark; it had been dye back to its natural color.

"Sonny you are only nine and you play poker better the Jasper and me that isn't fair" laughed Bella.

"Dr. Cullen taught me and I'm guess I kind of good at reading people" he murmured shyly.

"Yeah, Yeah, but I'm still going to win back my money" muttered Jasper sourly.

"Please, you're down almost two hundred bucks" giggled Bella.

"She laughing" I murmured to myself as I watched her.

Rosalie appeared at my side and smiled at me.

"All things take time. You of all people should know that" she whispered.

I raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"It took almost a hundred years for you to find true love. Now if that doesn't prove things take time I don't know what does" said Rosalie as she looked at Bella, a sad smile pulled at her lips.

I tried to read her thoughts to understand the why Rosalie was looking at Bella like that. It was strange for Rosalie to block her thoughts from me.

"Edward, please don't try to read my thoughts" she murmured as she walked away.

I sighed letting go of Rosalie's odd behavior and turned my mind back to Bella. She looked so happy that I was afraid that if I interrupted her she would go back to her shell of a person she had been these past days. I was too involved in watching Bella to notice that Emmet had snuck up behind me until it was too late and he pushed me into the room. Thankfully my reflects keep me from fall on my fall.

"Room for two more?" chuckled Emmet as sat down next to Bella leaving me standing like an idiot in the middle of the room.

"Sure" said Sonny who moved closer to Jasper.

Bella must have noticed this too because she smile at Sonny reassuring him of his safety.

"He may look scary but he is a totally push over" said Bella, and then with just hand she knock Emmet onto his back.

It made me smile to see that Bella had got use to her power so quickly.

"See what I mean" she laughed.

Sonny let out a soft chuckle. Jasper found the whole scene to be very comical and was rolling with laughter. Muttering about how Bella's power was unfair, Emmet sat back up looking slightly irritated. But that quickly faded when Bella gave him a bright smile. When Bella smiled it was like ray of sunshine. I sat down next on the other side of Bella but could take my eyes off her.

"Edward, would you please stop staring at Bella? We all know she is very pretty but I would like to earn some of my money back and you're dealing" said Jasper.

Before I could even take the deck of cards the game was interrupted by Alice. She practically skipped into the room but when she saw Bella she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Rosalie!" screamed Alice.

Suddenly, Carlisle and Esme were in the room but Rosalie was no where to be found.

"Rosalie!" yelled Alice again.

"Alice what on earth is wrong" demanded Esme.

Bella's calm happy smile disappeared and a look of fear took over her beautiful honey colored eyes. She grabbed my hand tightly as if I was the only thing keeping her together. I stared at her eyes for a moment, hadn't they in the meadow been a blackish burgundy?

"The monster in me took over I attacked a deer" she whispered not looking me in the eye.

If my heart could beat it would have stopped dead just hearing her say was a monster. My look must have worried her that she was intruding in my thoughts because she pulled her hand away from mine looking hurt. Truth be told I wasn't all that use to Bella's power, I don't think anyone was really. Quickly, I took her hand in both of mine. A faint smile played on her pink lips.

'I hunt animals to keep myself from being a monster and you done the same. You're not a monster' I thought knowing she would hear.

Bella smiled a little more and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you" she whispered as she leaned back, leaving my cheek tingling with heat.

I hadn't even noticed that Rosalie had entered the room or that Alice was still yelling. It was like me and Bella were the only ones there in that moment.

"How could you?" yelled Alice at Rosalie.

"Well someone needed to do it!" shouted Rosalie.

"You knew I wanted to dye her hair back to its normal color!" Alice growled.

"You had plenty of time and she just wanted someone just to do it" growled Rosalie.

Suddenly, Bella sprang to her feet, a movement that had she been human she would have fallen trying to do.

"Alice, please don't be mad at Rosalie. She only did it because I begged her" said Bella, who now stood between the two.

That's when it clicked. Something had happened between Bella and Rosalie while we all were at Charlie's. I was tempted to try and pry into Rosalie thoughts but didn't. Alice seemed somewhat shocked by Bella's behavior nodded silently. The room fell silent.

"Does anybody wanta play cards?" asked Sonny timidly, breaking the acquired silence.

Bella's smiled returned as soon as she looked at the small boy.

"Of course!" Bella said happily returning to her in-between me and Emmet.

Slowly, the whole family sat down and we all began to play poker. We played late into the afternoon and for the first time in a very long time we all felt like a real family.

(Bella's POV)

My funeral was to be week after Edward and his family's visit with Charlie. Alice went everyday to see Charlie because she knew I couldn't do it myself. Though I think she was really worrying about him herself. I missed him and my mom a lot. It hurt knowing that they could never know I wasn't really dead but that I was vampire. Ever since I told Rosalie everything that happened to me it was like an invisible weight had been taken off me. No longer did I hear that monster's voice, but at times I still did see his face when I closed my eyes. I told Edward that I had spoken to Rosalie about what happened but that I wasn't ready to tell him. I knew he was a little upset over it but I just didn't want to think of me anymore differently then he already did. My only hope was that was Rosalie would keep him from reading her mind until I was ready to tell him myself. Sonny had adjusted well to being a vampire.

"We got to leave for the funeral" called Esme from downstairs.

Edward and I were sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for the very late moment before Edward had to leave.

"I don't have to go" murmured Edward.

"Yes you do. Now go" I ordered though I would have rather have him stayed.

Groaning slightly, Edward stood.

"Edward, if we don't leave now not even your driving will get us there on time" called Alice from somewhere down stairs.

"I really don't have to go" said Edward.

"You really do have to go" I muttered as I stood to kiss him goodbye.

Edward sighed deeply and adjusted his tie. He was dress in a white dress shirt, black dress pants, and black tie. The last time I had seen him this dressed up was prom in my junior year.

"Did I ever tell you look very stunning in black?" I asked softly.

"I believe you have, yes" answered Edward with a smile.

Mirroring his smile, he pulled me into a tender kiss.

"Edward! We got to go!" yelled Alice.

Quickly, I pulled away from Edward and bit into my bottom lip. Taking my hand Edward led me down stairs where his whole family Everyone one was dress in black and looked almost as breath taking as Edward. Esme, Alice, and Rosalie all wore small black veils to cover that cover from the foreheads to bottom of their nose.

"Veils?" I asked confused.

"It a funeral for you, dear, and you are like family to us. The veils are to cover up the fact we have no tears as we cry" Esme answered simply.

"Oh" I whispered looking away.

I had been trying my best not to think about what was going to happen at the funeral, it was easier that way. The thought of my parents and friends mourning me broke my dead heart and filled me with an overwhelming feeling of guilt. Unfortunately for me, my power prevented Jasper from affecting my emotions unless he was touching me.

"Alice…. Would you give my mom a hug for me?" I whispered.

Placing one of her hands on my shoulder Alice answered me. When she did this I nearly began to cry. It was moments like this that I realize I really was apart of this family and that no matter what I always would be.

"Of course I will" she whispered pulling me into tight hug.

"Alright, it's best we leave now. Sonny is up in my study. We will be home as soon as we can" said Carlisle taking Esme's hand in his.

I walked them all to the garage. They were taking Carlisle's and Rosalie's car. As everyone got into a car, Edward turned to me.

"I love you" he murmured softly.

"I love you too" I whispered.

Then he kissed my cheek and got into a Carlisle's car. As they pulled out of the driveway, the sky opened up and it began to pour. I stood out in the rain and just felt it land on my skin, still it held no temperature. A smile formed on my lips, it was fitting that it rained today. Slowly, I walked back to the house.

"Sonny" I called as I entered.

Almost as soon as his name left my lips, he was standing in front of me. His dark blonde tousled hair fell into his light gold colored eyes. Smiling I pushed it out of his eyes. I hadn't even known him all that long but I already loved him with all my heart. He was the proof that I wasn't a monster.

"What do you want to do?" I asked Sonny.

"Watch a movie, but only if you want to" Sonny said shyly.

"I love too. Go pick out any movie and we'll watch it" I said smiling down at him.

(Edward's POV)

When we arrived at the church it was packed, but lucky for us Charlie save us seats by him. Sitting next to Charlie was Renee and Phil. Renee looked terrible; her eyes were sunken and held no light though they gleamed with fresh tears.

"Renee, you remember the Cullen family?" asked Charlie as he shook Carlisle gloved hand.

"Yes, of course Bella spoke so highly of you all" sniffed Renee as she dried her eyes with her handkerchief.

Renee sighed deeply then looked at me, and shook her head. Confused I read her thoughts.

Maybe Charlie was right. Maybe Bella had only been over reaction when she called about coming home. They probable only had a little tiff and made up. Poor boy.

Her thoughts hit me like a ton of bricks. Bella had called her mom to go home. If my family hadn't inferred in her life maybe she could have been safe in Florida with her mom right now rather then being a vampire. As if knowing what I was thinking as we all sat down Alice began to whisper to me.

"Nothing could have changed this Edward. I been seeing her funeral for months, but it was always different. Sometimes she was a vampire with us and others she was just dead. Also the time Her life with these people was meant to end" whispered Alice so low that no human could hear her.

I nodded slightly and turned my attention to the front of the church. A black coffin sat at the head of the church, it was cover with flowers. Charlie and Renee had agreed since there was no body to bury they would ask her friends for things that would have some value to Bella's memory. Everyone in my family found something to have buried even Bella. Bella had clip a little of her hair to have buried. She said if her parents were to bury her, that they should have a little of her to bury.

"Edward the Minister wanted to know if the church's piano would be alright to use" asked Charlie.

"Of course" I replied softly.

"I know Bella would be so happy that you are going to play something. Bella use to talk about wow amazing you are at playing piano" said Charlie as his eyes began to tear up.

The service began with a pray lead by the Minister. Then the minister informed everyone that the rest of service was would be hearing from Bella's friends and family. Bella's mother was first; she told a story about when Bella was little then she burst into tears and Phil had to help her way from the podium. Next was Charlie; he read a passage from a bible and returned to his seat. Then I was my turn. Nervously, I approached the ancient church piano. I had asked Bella if she wanted me to play her lullaby but she refused to discuss anything to do with her funeral. As I sat down before the piano I still wasn't sure what I was going to play. To stall for time I spoke.

"Words could never explain to feelings Bella has left on me, but…" I stopped and look at Alice.

She nodded and smiled gently for me to continue. That's when I decided to play her lullaby.

"but when I wrote this piece for Bella I realized that I never need words to explain it when I could express it though music. This piece is called Bella's Lullaby" I said, then I turned to the piano.

My fingers trembled nervously above the keys. Taking unnecessary deep breath I began to play Bella's lullaby. The church fell silent, not a single person spoke; the only sound was her lullaby. Half way through it I could hear the Bella's mother balling into Phil's chest. As I played I couldn't help but wonder what Bella was doing.

AN: I'm so sorry I haven't updated. I got into the huge fight with my best friend and nearly destroyed our friendship; because of this I couldn't bring myself to try and start writing a happy ending though this isn't the end I think maybe one or two more chapters until the end. Enjoy and PLEASE REVIEW. I'm dying to know what people are thinking when they read this story. Ok well winter break is coming up so I should have time to write.