EPOV

I waited until Bella was asleep before leaving her side. I went downstairs. Most of them had dispersed by now and Mike was still asking questions. I tapped Emmet on the shoulder.

"Come on, Bella said you needed to hunt to." He stood and placed a hand on his large chest.

"Aww, she loves me. I knew it." Rosalie smacked him across the back of the head.

"It could also be that your eyes are black, dumbass, because you haven't eaten in a week." She rolled her eyes at him. I smiled, knowing he only ever saw her as the little sister she is. He's never once felt even an ounce of attraction to my Bella and that's why I let him get away with his shameless flirting. Deep down, Rosalie knew it too, which is why she let him get away with it. Bella was loved by everyone in my family.

"Hunting?" Mike asked warily. Emmet smiled broadly at him and I merely tapped my teeth.

"Yes, they're going out to chase, capture and drink from some local animals around here." Charlie said, cool as a cucumber. I liked him a lot more and he sure as hell respected me. I smiled at him and invited Kate to come along. Her eyes were turning dark as well. She kissed Charlie and waited by the door for us.

"How far are you going?" Esme asked.

"Not far, I don't think, I don't like to leave Bella alone for too long."

"Wuss" Emmet coughed into his fist.

"I'll keep an eye on her. Go on and have fun; she'll be asleep for the rest of the night anyway." Alice assured me.

"Mike, would you like a tour of the house now or tomorrow?"

"Uh, I'll wait until tomorrow when Bella is awake. I don't want to disturb her."

"We wouldn't. Edward closed the door and that's one of the few ways we try to ensure privacy around here. We don't go in anyone else's room without permission. I can show you the rest on the way up to the guest room." Esme offered.

"Kate, as soon as you get back, I'd like to go home." Charlie said with a husky voice. She winked at him and I realized Bella was right. It was gross. Charlie was my soon to be father-in-law. I hid my shudder, glad that when he was changed, he was going to be living in Alaska and we wouldn't have to see him too much. Mike nodded and stood up. Tanya volunteered to go with us too and said she would see Mike in the morning. He nodded and waited for us to disappear. We were off like a shot. Tanya wanted to know how he was dealing with all of the new information. I said we should wait and talk to Alice and Jasper. I could tell he was overwhelmed. Alice would be able to see if he was going to do anything rash and Jasper could tell us his true emotions. I told her that he had more questions and he was definitely curious to see everything. Right now, he is debating whether or not he could cut all ties to his life just for Tanya, but he also can't imagine living the rest of his life without her. After that, we all split and went our own ways. I found myself in Idaho with a mountain lion; my favorite. I was the second one back and it was just after two in the morning. Charlie was gone, so I assumed that Kate had come to claim him. I took my place by Alice's side and thanked her. I loved this time with her. I couldn't hear her thoughts so it was nice to lie next to her and close my eyes. It was the closest I would ever get to true sleep. I loved that she always knew when I was near her, no matter what time I came back because she always rolled over and curled up next to me.

MPOV

Ok, I'm in serious information overload. My girlfriend, the first girl I have ever loved, is a vampire that has been around for one thousand years? I tried to remember Bella's advice, that if I truly loved Tanya, then it wouldn't matter what they told me. I never in a million years expected this. How did Bella cope; because it's a lot to take in? I was torn between my decision. Do I love Tanya more than my family? Is she worth it? I blindly followed Esme around as she showed me her home. The entire house was huge. There was the kitchen that nobody needed except for Bella, a large backyard that I'm sure looked spectacular in the daytime, a garage bigger than my parents store. Wait a minute.

"Mrs. Cullen?"

"Esme."

"Ok, Esme, does your family actually need all of the gear you buy at my parents store?"

"No dear, but we try very hard to keep up with human appearances. We've used some of it recently for Bella, but the rest of us it don't need it." She led me up some stairs. She pointed out the master bedroom and Carlisle's office. We continued up and came across Alice and Jaspers room, a guest bathroom and Jasper's study. She explained that Alice had primary control over the bedroom so Jasper kept his hobbies in a different room. She told me that Emmet and Rosalie had the basement to themselves. She led me up to the final floor. On the right, was Bella and Edward's room, with the door shut as I was told it would be. In front of me was another bathroom, and to the left was the guest room. This is where I would be sleeping. She loaned me some of Edward's clothes to sleep in. Kate and Chief Swan stayed over at Bella's house and the other three vampires had a place to put their things away up in the attic. I was impressed and surprised that it felt so homey. I had a lot to think about.

"Do you want Tanya to join you when she gets back or should she wait for you in the family room?"

"Uh,"

"She knows how much information she has just sprung on you; she won' be offended if you need some time to think about it." She assured me with a cool hand to my arm. She was so motherly.

"Some time would be great. Thank you, Esme." She smiled warmly at me.

"If it helps, welcome to the family. Whether you choose it or not, you are Tanya's mate and therefore a member of this family. You understand the need to protect our secret, right?" I nodded, the thought of disappointing this woman bothered me. I wouldn't tell a soul. I went into the room and laid on the bed. I thought back to particular things that had stuck out since Bella had moved here. It was no wonder she smiled when I told her that Edward looks at her like she's something to eat; because she is. She was right, I finally understood her attraction to Edward. She was bound to him, she was meant to be with him. I felt bad for all of my fantasies involving her. I knew there was more that I still didn't know, but I wasn't sure how much more my brain could take. I drifted off to sleep on the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on. The last thought that consciously went through my mind was that I needed to talk to Bella, alone.

BPOV

I inhaled the scent of Edward; sweet and spicy. I let my hand wander up and down his chest, moving buttons out of the way as I did so. I felt his lips in my hair and I looked up so that he could kiss me properly. I pushed the shirt out of the way and he took it off for me as he always did. I rolled on top of him, never able to get enough. I startled him enough that he didn't notice when someone approached. I had just shed my shirt when someone knocked on the door. Edward put his shirt on me and buttoned all of the buttons as he consented for entrance of Mike. Damn it, Alice! That little vampire is really grating on my last nerve.

"Good morning, Mike." Edward said calmly, but I knew he wanted to keep going just as much as I did. I wondered what was going through Mike's mind right now as he's looking at us. It has to be obvious to him what we were doing since Edward's shirt was on my body and I was on top of him.

"Uh, good morning. Bella, can I talk to you alone for a little bit?"

"Um sure, but you know that everything we say will be heard in this house, right? There are no secrets here."

"Umm, can you come to my house then? I'd really like for it to be private."

"Sure. Can I eat breakfast first?"

"Yeah, there's some pancakes downstairs." I walked to the closet and threw Edward a new shirt, keeping the one he had covered me with. I climbed on the bed and crawled on his back for him to carry me down the stairs.

"You only love me because I can carry you everywhere and not get tired." He was being sarcastic.

"No, I love you for your money too; let's not be silly." He laughed out loud at that, knowing that his money was at the bottom of the reasons why I loved him. I kissed his neck and he motioned for Mike to lead the way. Mike seemed uneasy and I figured I wouldn't change my behavior for Mike, so that he could see that nothing changed just because he now knows what they are.

"Too lazy to walk today, Bella?" Emmet teased me.

"No, I wanted food; now move." He didn't.

"I will sit on you if you don't and then pour syrup on your head." I pushed him to no avail.

"You can try. Bring it on little girl."

"Ok, Rose do you love me enough to take away sex from Emmet if he doesn't move?"

"Yes, Bella." She said as she walked through the kitchen to go out to the garage. Edward's car needed an oil change. I looked up at Emmet completely smug.

"Don't pick on the hungry pregnant human, now move." This time, my efforts at shoving him were successful. He stared open mouthed at Rosalie's retreating form. I sat down and starting eating my pancakes as fast as I could.

"Thank you, these are really good."

"You're welcome." Jasper said from the stove. He then set a plate of bacon in front of me. I looked around and noticed that they were all watching me.

"This isn't the circus, join me or go find something else to watch." I've never seen a room empty that fast except for Edward and Mike. Mike had already eaten, so I let him off the hook, but Edward knew the rules.

"Bella, come on, you haven't thrown up in six weeks. Don't make me, please?"

"Then leave the room. I don't like to be watched while I eat." Mike grabbed a piece of bacon to start chewing on.

"Alright, call me when you're finished. I'll take you both over to Mike's house. Afterwards, you're coming back here because your dad has the day off."

"Don't say things like that when I'm eating, please." He smirked.

"Sorry." He was gone in the next instant.

"How do you get used to that…the speed thing?" Mike asked.

"It's a total adrenaline rush. Ask Tanya to take you for a run sometime." I took a drink of my milk.

"I was scared as hell the first few times, but now it's fun. You should see how he drives; it's terrifying."

"I heard that!" Edward yelled from the other room. I smiled. Mike's eyes widened. He stole one other piece of bacon and I finished my meal a few minutes later. I stood up from my chair when my dishes were whisked away from my hands, washed, and put away in the next five seconds.

"Show off." I said and Edward grinned. He led us down to Emmet's jeep since his car was being worked on. He helped me up into the seat and then Mike as well before driving us to Mike's place.

"Edward, can you find out when my dad won't be using the house? I want to go through some things in my room without having to hear them."

"Sure. I'll go ask after I drop you off."

"Don't be long Edward. Emmet's jeep needs some adjustments to the shocks." Rosalie said.

"Ok, see you later." Five minutes later, we pulled up in front of Mike's house and Edward helped me down. Mike and I said goodbye and I followed Mike inside.

"Hey mom, I'm back."

"Hello Mike, did you have fun?"

"Yeah. Bella's here for a little while. We're going to go to my room and talk for a bit."

"Keep the door open." She warned us.

"Mom, she's engaged to Edward and I'm dating Tanya. We're just friends." He rolled his eyes and I smiled.

"Hi Mrs. Newton." I called.

"Hello Bella. Did you spend the night at the Cullen's too?"

"Yes ma'am I did. My dad is ok with it. I actually spend most of my nights there these days because he's busy with his new girlfriend." I let the insinuation hang in the air.

"Your father lets you sleep with your boyfriend?"

"Fiancée, and yes he does. I have a close relationship with my dad. He trusts me." She muttered something under her breath, but I didn't have my vampire with me to tell me what she said. Mike took my elbow and then guided me up the stairs to his room. I sat down on his desk chair and he sat on his bed.

"How do you deal with it?"

"Easy. I love him. I accept him for who he is. They are all really great. You've spent the last month with Tanya. Now that you know the truth, does it really change how you feel?"

"I don't think so, but I also don't know if I could give up my family for her."

"I was prepared to do it until it became necessary for my dad to find out. Now, I don't have to worry. My mom will be ok because she has Phil. I don't have that many friends and we're graduating anyway. How many people do you know that keep in touch with their friends from high school? Everyone always says 'let's always keep in touch', but really, it almost never happens. Edward has been through high school and college like ten times. They all have except Esme and Carlisle."

"That's gotta suck."

"Yes, but I'm signing up for the same fate too. It's worth it to be with him forever."

"Why did you have to tell your dad?" I sighed.

"I won't tell you the whole story, but basically just before prom last year, we met a vampire that decided I smelled 'good enough to eat' and Edward defended me. Well, this guy James, is all about the hunt. I ran to Phoenix and he baited me by making me think that he had my mom and was going to hurt her. I went to him, willing to sacrifice my life and Edward got there just in time. He and his family killed James. That's how I really broke my leg by the way. James snapped it like a twig.

"Anyway, his mate, Victoria, was angry that James was killed and she was under the belief of a mate for a mate deal so that Edward would feel the same agony as her. She set out to kill me; and almost succeeded too. She had her hands around my throat, but Edward again saved the day and killed her too, with the rest of the Cullen's help as well. My dad loved him in that instant, once he saw that Edward would do anything, even kill, to keep me safe. That is the devotion of a mate. He was even protecting me before he acknowledged that I was his mate; he was still overcoming his blood lust for me." I explained.

"Wow."

"Tanya will do the same thing for you, whether you like it or not. I've done the same thing for Edward, though I didn't realize it at the time."

"What do you mean?"

"Well before you met Tanya, she was an unmated vampire and had been trying for decades to get into Edward's pants, despite his refusals. The day that they showed up, I was insistent on making out with him and I rubbed my scent all over him to mark my territory, so to speak. Do you remember at the beginning of the school year when they all left and I was a zombie?"

"Yes."

"That's a small taste of what it felt like to lose a mate. Imagine that for eternity."

"Oh."

"Yeah, you really need to consider your options. No one will hold it against you if you choose not to go through with it, but I assure you, you will never find someone like her. Mating happens instantly and for good reason. You are compatible with her."

"Why did they come back?"

"Well, Edward was as miserable as I was. I'm not going to tell you why they left, because it's not a happy memory. I'll tell you someday, but not now." He nodded.

"Alice had seen a vision of me jumping from a cliff and she thought I was committing suicide. It was really just recreation. Well, anyway, she never saw me get pulled out. Edward found out and thought I was dead so he went to Italy to plead with Aro to kill him. He'd always promised that he wouldn't out live me for long because he knows he doesn't have the strength to keep living if I'm dead. Anyway, Alice came to me and whisked me away to Italy. I got to him just as he was about to expose himself, causing immediate death. Unfortunately, some of the guard found us and summoned us back to the meeting room. That's when Aro learned I was immune to any mental attack and intrigued by me. He was disappointed to know that Edward had no intention of changing me even though I wanted him to. He was about to kill me and Alice saved the day by showing him a vision of me being a vampire. Aro allowed us to leave, but that they would be checking on us to make sure that I was changed. We told them our plans and they have allowed me to remain human." He was confused.

"Aro's gift is similar to Edward's. Edward can only read current thoughts, but if Aro touches you, he will hear every thought you've ever had. Edward can hear every one at the same time, but Aro had to be touching you for his gift to work."

"Edward said that the baby isn't his and I know you aren't the type to cheat, so who is the father?" I looked away, trying to reign in the tears. He was going to find out anyway. Did I want him to find out now? No.

"I don't want to talk about it. I didn't cheat on Edward and he knows that. I'm not ready to tell you that story right now." He nodded.

"So, tell me more about hanging with…them." He couldn't say the word, and I understood. I couldn't say it at first either.

"I think it's awesome. They are regular people. They all have their own hobbies and interests. They tell me that other than the whole never aging and living forever thing, you are still essentially…you. Likes and dislikes are the same, hobbies and interests are the same, there's just more time to appreciate them. Rosalie loves cars and Edward loves his music. No one is disrespected in the family. I love it; they make me feel like I belong there."

"Will I have a gift?"

"Eleazar wasn't able to see anything from you, but it may still happen. It's rare for gifts to manifest themselves in human form. Carlisle believes that because Edward was so intuitive in his human life, that is why he can read minds and Jasper was always able to control a situation, so therefore he can feel everything and manipulate the emotions around him. I've seen him do it; I've felt the effects first hand."

"It certainly is a lot to take in."

"Yes, and you have to get used to the fact that there are no secrets in that house. Even without the mind reading and vision seeing, they all have super hearing. Edward says that he can hear my heartbeat from a mile away and every thought for a two mile radius."

"Whoa."

"Yeah and I had no one to talk to in order to process this, except for Edward." I looked outside and saw the sun shining.

"Come outside, I want to show you something." He followed me outside and I kept going until we reached the back of the yard and even then, I kept my back to the house. I pulled the sleeve of my arm up to expose my scar.

"I was bit by that guy James and Edward sucked the venom out. He said that the only thing stopping him from draining me was the urge to protect me. This is why they don't go to school on sunny days." My scar sparkled in the sunlight, not a lot, but I was also still human.

"It's even more impressive on them." He touched it and noted that that patch of skin was cooler than the rest of me.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not now, but it did when he bit me. The worst pain imaginable; I felt like my arm was on fire." I chose to leave out some of the details until he had decided. I wasn't going to lie to him either. We talked for another hour and I continued to answer questions. The sun had disappeared and Edward came back to pick me up. Mike noted that he came through the trees.

A/N: Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day! Kelly