AN!:Hey guys. I'm sorry. It's been forever since the last post. I'm terrible. I know. I had finals two weeks ago and summer school started last week, so i've been busy, but i really should've had this out sooner, but i've been having trouble finding time to write. Anyway, i know it's short, but cosider it part 1 of 2. i couldn't fit the whole thing in one chapter, and i haven't actually written part 2 yet, so i wanted to get this up now. so enjoy!

Chapter 36

Carlisle heard Bella's truck turn into the long driveway and smiled, stepping out of the kitchen and walking at a human's speed out the front door just as she stopped the car and hopped out.

"Hey," He said with a smile as she leaned up to peck him softly on the lips. "How was the beach?"

She sighed and rested her head on his chest.

"Could've gone better."

He raised an eyebrow.

"How so?"

"Jacob knows about us, and he didn't find out in the way that I'd hoped. Ben let it slip. He didn't know that I hadn't told him, and Jake wasn't happy. His friends had to drag him into the woods so he didn't transform in front of everyone on the beach."

Carlisle put his arms around her reassuringly.

"It'll be okay, love. Perhaps it is better than he found out now rather than later."

"I know, but I'd planned on putting it off a little longer."

He chuckled.

"How much longer?"

"Forever?" She mumbled into his chest.

"Bella…" He said with a sigh.

She looked up at the blonde, her eyes widening slightly as she took in his diminished expression.

"Carlisle, it's not because of you. You know I love you. If there was a way to shout to the world that you're all mine I would do it." She said, grinning at the smile that was creeping back onto his lips.

"But," She continued. "Jacob is a different case. He's liked me for a while, since I first came to Forks. He's even said that he loves me. I don't want to hurt him. He's one of my best friends."

Carlisle nodded.

"I understand."

He moved an arm to the small of her back.

"Come. Better get Alice's lecture out of the way."

Bella laughed.

"Easy for you to say. You won't be the one receiving the lecture."

He simply chuckled and led her through the front door and into the living room where the family was sitting, all immersed in their separate activities.

Emmett grinned as the couple walked in.

"Better run Bella! Psychic on the warpath."

Bella ducked behind Carlisle, prompting a collective laugh from everyone but Alice, who was still definitely peeved.

"Bella, you're in so much trouble! And so is your furry friend when I catch up with him!"

Bella poked her head out to the side and raised her hand hesitantly.

"Before you start planning my demise, do I get to find out why exactly I'm in trouble?"

Carlisle nodded.

"Indeed. I'm curious as well. And Alice, stop planning Bella's demise. I'd have to step in, and you know how much I hate violence."

She rolled her eyes.

"That wouldn't be a fair fight for you, you know."

He smirked.

"I know."

Alice raised an eyebrow and made a snap decision just to see the division changes. Seconds later her eyes refocused and her jaw dropped.

She grinned at her pseudo-father.

"You've been holding out on us!"

He just shot her an innocent look and turned his attention back to Bella, who was eyeing him curiously.

"I'll tell you later." He promised.

She rolled her eyes, but turned again to face Alice.

"So, back to me being in trouble…"

Alice furrowed her eyebrows for a moment before she remembered what Bella was talking about.

"Oh, right. You are in big trouble missy! Do you really have to attract trouble and danger like the plague?"

Bella nodded.

"Yep."

Alice groaned.

"Why?"

The brunette grinned.

"I have to be better at you guys than something."

Carlisle chuckled, shaking his head fondly.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"I can still draw you that map, pops." Emmett offered with a smirk.

"Anyway," Alice continued. "In the future it'd be great if you could avoid becoming best friends withy any other dangerous non-humans that block my visions."

Bella laughed.

"I'll try."

Carlisle dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"You'd better."

Bella's phone rang seconds later.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bella!"

"Hey Ang, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you and Dr. Cullen wanted to go on that shopping trip tomorrow. To Port Angeles?"

"You actually managed to talk Ben into it?"

Angela laughed.

"Not yet, but I will. So do you want to go?"

"Sure," Bella said enthusiastically. "What time should I meet you guys, and where?"

"I was thinking 10-ish at my house. Is Dr. Cullen coming?"

"I'll ask him. I'll be there for sure though."

"Awesome. I'll see you tomorrow Bella."

"Okay. Bye Ang."

"Bye."

I flipped my phone shut and looked apologetically at my adopted family for having that conversation in the middle of their living room.

Alice just smiled happily.

"So…can I come?"

Bella's POV

I grinned at Carlisle, who was wringing his hands nervously in a manner most unlike a vampire.

"Calm down," I said with a laugh. "It's only Angela and Ben."

He smiled sheepishly.

"I'm being ridiculous aren't I?"

"A little." I said amusedly.

"Especially since you're almost 400." Alice chimed in from the backseat.

Carlisle groaned.

"Thanks Alice."

I shook my head, sneaking a hand away from the steering wheel of my truck to hold one of his.

"You'll be fine. Angela and Ben like you. It's Jessica and Mike you should worry about. Luckily we managed to keep them out of the loop on this one."

He shot me a grateful look, which made me laugh again as I pulled the truck into Angela's driveway where she and Ben were waiting.

"What's so funny?" Angela asked curiously as we filed out of the car.

"Apparently Carlisle is afraid of Mike and Jessica." I said wryly.

Ben grinned.

"Don't worry, Dr. Cullen. I'm with you on that one."

"It's Carlisle." He corrected him gently. "Dr. Cullen makes me sound old."

I snorted at his unintentional joke.

He rolled his eyes at that before turning back to my two friends.

"Well, shall we?"

Ben nodded.

"I brought my car. It should have enough room for all of us, though the backseat might be a little tight." He said apologetically as he looked over at Alice. "I would have borrowed my mom's van if I'd known you were coming along."

I snorted again.

"She doesn't get to complain. She wasn't invited."

Alice just shrugged innocently and danced over to Ben's car before turning to look back at all of us.

"Are you guys coming?" She asked impatiently.

Carlisle just shook his head, to which I replied. "She's your daughter."

"Not technically." He said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes but tugged on his hand.

"Come on. The sooner we leave the faster we get there, and hopefully I won't have enough time to completely regret bringing her along." I said, throwing a smirk towards the pixie-like vampire still waiting by the car, knowing that she'd heard me.

Alice stuck her tongue out childishly and I laughed as Carlisle and I walked over to stand next to her.

"Don't worry." I smirked. "Ben drives fast."

She snorted.

"Not likely."

A couple minutes and a few snarky comments from Alice later and we were finally in the car and on the road to Port Angeles. And, thankfully, I was right about Ben's driving. He was no Cullen, but he was pretty close. Even Alice grudgingly admitted that.

Carlisle was fairly quiet on the drive down though. He sat behind Ben with an arm around my shoulders, and he seemed calm and content just as he was. Keyword being seemed.

If you know Carlisle, you know exactly what I mean. When he's nervous or worried, he gets tense. He glances around in a seemingly harmless and innocent way that most people wouldn't notice. And if the first two indicators don't tip you off, the third definitely should, because when he's nervous he tries to smile and reassure you that he is completely 100% okay not a care in the world, and he fails miserably. It's kind of cute actually, his lips stuck together in that silly half smile of his. But then again, I'm a little biased.

When we hopped out of the car in downtown Port Angeles I pulled him to my side.

"How are you doing?" I asked with a small smile.

"I'm fine, love." He replied, giving me that ridiculous smile.

I shook my head.

"Liar. You're still nervous. I can tell."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh you can, can you?"

I nodded.

"Mm hmm. The 360-something year old vampire is nervous about going shopping with a couple of humans."

"You forgot about Alice." He corrected me.

I laughed.

"She is rather frightening."

"Terrifying." He agreed. "Especially when set loose in a shopping mall."

"And here I thought you were anxious about spending the afternoon with Angela and Ben. How silly of me."

He chuckled.

"Indeed." He said, dropping a peck on my lips. "Very silly."

He leaned in to claim another kiss, and he would have succeeded if Alice hadn't danced over and stolen me away seconds earlier.

"Come on guys!" She exclaimed. "Time to shop!"

I glared at her in annoyance, but that annoyance quickly gave way to resignation.

I sighed.

"Why me?"

AN! (part 2): Alrighty. it was short. i know. i fail in very epic proportions.

Oh, before i forget. This story has been nominated! For the Best Non-Canon Pairing at http : // the-cullen-clan-awards . synthasite . com / (You know the drill. Just take out the spaces. Leave the dashes though.)
So the voting goes until June 1st, so please please PLEASE go vote for this fic. I will love you forever. in a creepy stalkerish way. :D

On that note, i have no idea who nominated me/this fic, but it's freakin awesome. i was completely blown away when i got the notification. i never expected this story to be so well liked. ugh,. you guys are the best readers an author could ask for.

Guess what guys! I finally have another philosophical question!
Philosophical question #? (What number are we on again?):
Okay, so there's a person. this person doesn't cry easily. this person maybe sheds a few tears when reading a sad story or watching something sad on tv. so what happens is this person reads a very sad story on this site. and the story involves character death. ut's not the best written story this person has ever read, yet when they finally finish the last chapter, said person breaks down into uncontrollable sobs. it takes 15-20 minutes to calm down again. they haven't cried to such a degree in many many years, and they don't even know why they were crying so hard that night. So, the question is, why were they crying, and why was it so intense?
Have fun with that one!

Anywho, I love you guys! Please Review! Please Vote! I'll start writing 37! Hasta!
-Kristi