A/N: And here we are, back again, with CH 12.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters I'm just taking them for a spin.


As she trailed along behind Alice towards the Cullen residence Bella did her best to calm the panic she felt rumbling in her gut. "What the hell am I thinking? It was hard enough making sure the hike this morning wasnt painfully awkward and that was just with Alice. How am I gonna get through an entire lunch with her whole family?"

You won't. The moment you walk through those doors her family will see you for the filth you are. They'll turn you away, Alice will realize this friendship is a mistake and…

"Izzy are you alright?" Alice asked, interrupting the voice slithering along Bella's mind. "All you could talk about for the last hour is your empty stomach and now you want to stop 4 feet from the door to lunch?" Alice joked trying to pull Bella back from whatever thought had put the broken look into her eyes.

Bella had been so engrossed in her panic she didn't even notice she'd stopped walking. "Oh yeah, well...I was just admiring your beautiful home." She said hoping her tone was more convincing to Alice than it sounded to her own ears. "Also...Izzy?"

"Well as your best friend I have the right to call you something special. I figured most people probably call you Bella am I right?"

"Actually my dad was the only one wh ever really called me that. Other than him no one ever really gave me a traditional nickname" Bella replied sadly.

Unless you count worthless, tramp, loner, runt, waste of sp-

"Well I'm an original so I've come up with Izzy. I tried it out at lunch yesterday and I think it suits you." Alice pushed forward making a mental note to ask later what sort of 'non-traditional' nicknames Bella was used to.

"We didn't have lunch together yesterday though?" Bella's question was laced with confusion.

"I know." Alice replied simply.

"...guess that's the end of you talking about that then?"

"Yeah, basically."

"well I guess I could get used to being called Izzy." Bella shrugged.

"Yeah you better! You really don't have a choice." Alice teased.

Bella couldn't help but laugh at the easy and ridiculous back and forth that they naturally fell into. "I was stalling before but you really do have a beautiful home." Bella said honestly as her laughter died away.

"You'll have to let Esme know you like it! She designed most of our homes, this one included." Alice replied as she opened the large wooden doors.

"Let Esme know what, dear?" The older vampire asked as she seemingly appeared from nowhere taking Alice into her arms in greeting. "How was your hike, girls?" She added as she released Alice looking between the pair of teens before here.

"Oh Izzy was just saying how much she likes your design skills. She momentarily lost the ability to walk when she saw our beautiful house!." Alice laughed as a blush spread across Bella's face. "Our hike was cool! Izzy had the best ideas for our project. Regardless of what we choose I'm sure we will get an A." Alice paused and glanced around curiously. "Izzy is very creative and in tune with nature." She whispered as though sharing some deeply hidden secret.

Esme smiled warmly as Alice went into further detail of their hike and potential project ideas.

For her part Bella marvelled at how open and carefree Alice was with her mother. She noted the genuine affection in Esme's eyes as she listened intently to what Alice had to say. Bella took in the uninhibited, immediate manner in which Alice divulged every miniscule detail of her day and she felt a familiar churning of longing, confusion and disappointment swirling on the edge of her mind.

Before Bella could be pulled into the memories of what passed for mothering in her childhood Esme's voice broke her train of thought. "Well that sounds lovely Alice. I agree that any one of those ideas should garner you an A. But a good idea is no substitute for hard work. You two remember that and don't rest on your laurels procrastinating until the last minute. Esme's tone was serious but her eyes remained light and joyful as she advised the two young women.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know MOM." Alice rolled her eyes with a smile as she played up her role as petulant teenager. "I liked you better as an architect; Life Coach Esme is too responsible." Alice teased.

"I'm glad you like the house design Isabella." Esme said, ignoring Alice's antics with decades of practiced ease. "It's one of the first ones I worked on after officially getting my Masters in Architecture." Bella could clearly hear the pride in Esme's voice. "I'm sure I have the plans somewhere in my study. If you're interested I'd be happy to show you?" Esme's tone was gentle as she offered. Bella imagined one might use the same tone to speak to a frightened animal; affording it all the freedom and choice to decide it's own fate.

Bella was fully unaccustomed to such maternal kindness. She'd never given any thought to architecture before but she couldn't help wanting to spend more time soaking in the motherly warmth Esme so readily exuded.

"Yeah that sounds real boring *cough* I mean fun!" Alice spoke before Bella could. "But not today! Today Bella is starving and eager to taste your pro cooking! I told her all about the years you spent as a professional chef and she's dying to taste some of your food, she told me so herself! So hop to it" Alice all but demanded as she ushered Esme towards the kitchen.

"Where is everyone?" Alice asked as they crossed into the spacious modern kitchen.

"Well Edward and Jasper went out hunting shortly before you two arrived and-"

"What!?" Alice yelled. "But we're having Izzy over for lunch! That's super uncharacteristically rude of Jasper." Alice pouted at her their absence.

"Well maybe they were caught off guard by the news that we were having Isabella over on such short notice? You did only mention it this morning dear, remember?" Esme quipped back and Alice had the decency to look embarrassed. "Rosalie is in the garage most likely and last I heard Carlisle and Emmett are working in the study." Esme finished the answer Alice had originally interrupted.

"I had no idea Alice didn't tell you until this morning! I don't want to put anybody out. I'll just go and-" Bella felt a tug on the back of her shirt as she turned to leave.

"No, no, no Izzy We're having lunch. It's totally fine!" Alice insisted as she kept a light grip on the other girl's shirt.

"Honestly Isabella it's no trouble at all. Alice often forgets the smaller details our coven has come to accept and expect it from time to time. Besides, I'm always happy to share my cooking and have so few opportunities to do it!" Esme reassured the worried teen as she gathered various ingredients and utensils around the kitchen.

Bella stopped pulling away from Alice's grip at Esme's reassuring tone and felt the other girl let go. Once again she found herself struck by an unfamiliar sense of calm and comfort. She allowed the feeling the rest over her as she sat on a stool across from where Esme was slicing some meats.

The room stayed in a comforting silence as Alice and Bella observed Esme at work. With every move she made the air seemed to fill just that much more with the delicious scent of culinary art. The three women were so wrapped up in the atmosphere they'd fallen into no one noticed a new arrival in the kitchen.

As Esme continued her work Bella scented at the air for the millionth time eager as ever for the delicious meal being prepared. Her body stiffened involuntarily as she took in an additional scent amongst the heady fragrance of blood and seasoned meat. Whipping around on her stool Bella found her eyes locked with the heated golden gaze of the blonde vampire who'd been on her mind all week.

Bella took in the nonchalant way Rosalie leaned against the doorframe, her body relaxed and confident in contrast to the raging emotion in her eyes. She took in the blonde's vintage black and white mickey mouse tee that cut off just high enough for her toned belly to peek through allowing the curve of her waist to be on display momentarily before dipping under the stylish pink sweatpants that whispered hints of the muscular legs they hid. The outfit was your typical cozy at home wear but Bella couldn't help but to imagine this woman strutting down a catwalk in the same attire. She was convinced anything would look good on the goddess before her.

Bella felt like the once calm air around her was crackling with life. Her mouth had gone dry at the other woman's appearance and she felt the need to say something, anything, but as she opened her mouth no words came. Though she did manage to open and close her mouth silently a few times.

Well hopefully she thinks fish are attractive because that was a great impression.

Rosalie quirked a perfectly manicured eyebrow and scowled as Bella finished checking her out and their eyes met once again. Bella felt a blush rise to her cheeks and she swiftly turned back to the safety of watching Esme prepare their meal.

"Damn somebodies fuckin RIPE in here. Jesus!" Emmett bellowed, effectively breaking the quiet as he entered the kitchen. "Are you about to go into a rut Belly Bark? " He questioned as he rounded the counter, making eye contact with Bella.

It wasn't very hard for everyone to avoid looking at Bella as all 3 Cullen women glared at the grinning muscular man.

For her part Bella was struck with an intense embarrassment and blush creeping up her neck.

Disgusting. The word sliced through Bella's thoughts, malicious and biting, at Emmett's teasing and her Alpha responded in kind As if! Our musk is amazing. I brew it myself.

Bella did her best to ignore her insulting mind and instead focused on the confusing thoughts of her Alpha. "Musk?" she thought as she took advantage of the group admonishing Emmett, ducking her head, to quickly sniff at her armpit. Her embarrassment turned to confusion when she could only smell her deodorant and Esme's cooking. She coughed slightly into her hand uncomfortable with the, once again, changed atmosphere in the kitchen.

Emmett's amused eyes caught her own and Bella took a moment to pause and study his face.

She had often been on the receiving end of challenging looks; from Alphas who projected a clear air of "try me, I dare you." to the menacing looks from her childhood that told her "don't ask for anything more, you deserve far less," but she'd never seen the kind of challenge gleefully pouring out of Emmett's gentle giant smiling face. Maybe that's why she chose to respond where usually she would cower; the novelty of a challenge that didn't make her feel like her life was on the line. "Belly bark?" she asked looking up at the man.

"Psht don't think I couldn't hear that thing gurgling from across the yard! Your bellies got a big bark, get it?" he teased as he poked Bella's stomach. "Besides if Alice gets to nickname you so do I!"

"What's wrong with just calling me Isab-"

"Woof seriously somebody needs to crack a window if you're not gonna control that. No offense but I seriously can't breath." Emmett interrupted as he waved a hand around his nose.

"You don't HAVE to breath dumbass." Rosalie said as she walked fully into the room rolling her eyes at her man-child of a brother. Neither do you whispered across Rosalie's mind causing her to pause mid unnecessary inhale. "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up." She thought forcefully.

"Yeah but mom cooks so infrequently I'm not gonna miss even a second of the experience. Breathing may not be essential to our survival but it's still part of taste." Emmett replied oblivious to the argument within his blonde sister. He snapped his fingers suddenly. "I know let's have lunch out on the back patio! A meal with a view and ventilation you can't beat that!" He grinned casting his eyes at the various women in the room awaiting praise for his brilliant idea.

"That sounds wonderful Emmett. Lunch outside is just the thing on such a beautiful day. I think the sun might even peek through the trees for us." Esme replied "The food is all set so everyone grab a tray or the plates or utensils and let's head outside! She gestured at the counter laden with various dishes. "And we'll have a chat later about appropriate ways to express sensitive matters." She directed lowley at Emmett who shrugged sheepishly in reply as he moved to gather a dish and head outside followed closely by Bella eager to help.


A/N: Whew this is the 3rd longest chapter to date after CH10 and CH5. Hope y'all liked it I know I was excited to post it. Please leave a review if you feel compelled I love to hear from y'all!