Chapter Summary: It's time for Bella to meet the rest of the Cullens

Bella flashed her bedroom light twice. This had become their signal. Edward was waiting just out of sight in the woods behind her house. When she found out he had been sneaking into her room at night she had a wild mix of emotions. First, she was shocked, then she thought it was sweet, then it pissed her off. Now, some nights she couldn't fall asleep without him, but there were ground rules. She would ask him to stay on the nights she wanted him there and when she was ready for bed she would flash the light.

He sprinted across the yard and up into her window. The familiar sound of the window sliding open was such a comforting sound. The late October air was too cold for her to leave the window open for him. He turned to close it quietly to not wake Charlie.

"Hey," his tender voice washed over her.

"Hello," she said back. She was already under the covers when he laid down beside her. She immediately sunk into him, and he put his arm around her.

"Mmm," she said into his chest. This was her favorite person in the world.

"Did you and Alice have a nice evening?"

"Yeah, she is a history wizard. I am so glad she doesn't mind helping me, since all those dates and places run together." Bella sighed. Since Edward and Alice are so close, they both had made the effort to get to know each other better. When Alice offered to come over after dinner and help Bella study for the American History midterm she jumped at the offer.

"Speaking of Alice," Edward began, "She would like to plan a dinner party."

"Dinner party?" She questioned.

"Yes, a chance to meet the rest of the family. Esme and Carlisle have asked about meeting you for some time." Edward smiled his crooked little smile Bella loved. "I want you to meet them, and Alice thought a dinner party was a nice way to do that." He answered. Bella looked up at him. The first time they had dinner together was painfully awkward.

"Tell her I appreciate the offer, but the idea of sitting at the dining room table with your entire family watching me eat…" Bella trailed off.

Edward hadn't thought about that. He was just hoping she would be open to meeting the rest of the Cullens.

"That is an excellent point. I will talk to Alice, I'm sure she will come up with a less awkward plan." He said grinning.

"I would appreciate it." A smile in her voice.

"Now, on to more important things", he reached around her and took the book off of the bedside table. "Where did we leave off?" Edward asked, thumbing through Bella's copy of Mrs. Dalloway. She tucked herself a little deeper into him, he began reading softly and she drifted off to sleep.

Edward was waiting for Bella outside of her English Literature class on Friday afternoon.

"I am glad this week is over" she sighed. Edward reached for her hand. It had been a long week of midterms. The weather had been very nice for a change which meant several Edward free school days, but today was dark and stormy.

"Yes". He agreed. They navigated the overcrowded hallway stopping at Bella's locker before heading out to the parking lot.

"So, I talked to Alice about family dinner night." He said once they were Bella's truck.

"And?"

"How do you feel about board games?" Edward said, side-eyeing her.

"Board games?"

"Uh-huh."

"Sounds fun," Bella said, trying to be enthusiastic, and they both burst out laughing. Leave it to Alice to come up with family game night.

As corny as family game night sounded, Bella was nervous. Alice told her to be at the Cullens Sunday evening at seven. She knew Alice of course. She had met Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper at school; but hadn't spent much time with them. Meeting the people Edward looked to as parents, made her stomach turn. She knew how much value Edward put on their opinions. She could not blow this. She got dressed and headed out the door, she did not want to be late.

She knocked on the door and Edward answered it.

"Good evening," he said while smiling at her. He then stepped out on the porch, wrapped her in a hug and gave her a kiss. He could feel her heart racing and her hands shaking against his back.

"No need to be nervous, everyone is in the front room. They all promise to be on their best behavior," Edward said smirking. He then put his hand on the small of her back and led her through the front door and into the front room. As they walked in, conversation stopped and everyone turned their attention to Bella and Edward.

Bella waved awkwardly. She was grateful for Edward's arm around her waist; she was not used to being the center of attention.

Carlisle and Esme stood up before walking over to them. Carlisle reached out his hand to shake Bella's.

"I'm so glad you could join us tonight. We have heard so many good things about you and have been looking forward to meeting you." He said warmly.

"Yes," Esme said. Stepping around Carlisle, she put her arms carefully around Bella to give her a hug. "I am so glad to meet you."

"Ok, Ok, We've all met Bella. Can we please get on with this?" Rosalie hatefully groaned. Edward shot her a look.

"Let's go take a look at the game closet," Alice said, as she jumped up from the couch keeping her voice light.

Everyone got up and followed Alice to the game closet. Sleepless nights could get boring and the Cullens had amassed quite a collection.

"Here we go," Carlisle said, as he opened the door and pulled the string to turn on the light. "How about Monopoly?" He said as he pulled the box from the closet, then blew off a layer of dust.

"We can't play Monopoly anymore," Rosalie said, eyes narrowed at Edward.

Emmett let out a loud chuckle. "That's right the last time we played Edward upended the dining room table." He said, slapping Edward on the back. Bella could hardly believe what she was hearing. Edward losing his temper over a board game. The thought made her giggle.

"To my defense," Edward said, raising his voice as he pointed his finger at Jasper, "he was cheating!"

"Me! ME! I'm not the one that…"

"Children," Esme said in her very best we have company voice, "stop it!" Looking at Carlisle and shaking her head she mouthed,"no Monopoly."

Everyone agreed that keeping a few family secrets from Bella was a good idea. Edward had not told her that he could read everyone's thoughts but hers, nor had he mentioned the rest of the abilities of his adopted siblings.

Bella spoke up, "what about the Game of Life?" Everyone turned to look at her. Eyes wide and mouths open.

"Bella," Carlisle said, sternly staring her in the eyes, "that isn't funny." Then his resolve broke, he started laughing and everyone else joined in. Bella's cheeks burned with embarrassment, this was the very thing she was afraid would happen.

"I'm sorry Bella, just giving you a hard time". Carlisle said, as he winked at her. Edward put his arm around her waist as he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head smiling.

"Don't worry," he whispered into her hair, "it just means you're a part of the family."

Rosalie spoke up "seriously, can we just pick a game please?"

"What about Apples to Apples?" Esme said hopefully.

"Perfect" Alice said without hesitation and grabbed the box Carlisle held out.

They all gathered around the dining room table. Emmett doled out everyone's cards and declared himself the first judge. "Unless you want to go first, Bella," Emmett asked, feeling Esme's gaze on him.

"No, go right ahead."

The group played several rounds each dirtier than the last when finally Esme told all of them including Bella that she was done with their teenage behavior and excused herself from the table laughing. Carlisle stood as well and they went upstairs hand in hand, leaving the rest of the Cullens to play a few more rounds.

When it came time for Bella to go home, she was a little sad. She never thought of herself as missing out on not having siblings but seeing the five of them laughing and teasing each other made her glad she was accepted into the group. Sure she and Rosalie had their issues but the rest of them seem to have accepted her. She loved Esme and Carlisle after just one evening with them. Gratefully they had welcomed her with open arms.

Bella had asked for Edward to come over later, but he had some time before he needed to leave. Edward wandered upstairs and found Esme alone reading in the study. He knocked softly on the door frame. Esme looked up and laid her book down on the table beside her. She always worried about Edward, while he was probably the most sensible of the bunch, he was quiet, but didn't always share his thoughts and feelings.

"Hi there sweetheart, come in, " She said. She knew by the look on his face he needed to talk. Edward sat down on the loveseat across from her chair.

He was quiet for a long moment, finally he asked, "What did you think of Bella?" He asked anxiously. While he wanted her opinion but was afraid of the answer.

Esme smiled, "she is wonderful." Esme watched as Edward's face softened and he relaxed his grip he had on the cushions. "She seemed to have a nice time too. We want you to bring her over any time you like."

Edward sighed in relief. He wanted Bella in his life and his family was a huge part of that. If they had any reservations he didn't want to be forced to make a choice. His family meant everything to him. He knew it was asking a lot of them to spend time with her. Even though they had chosen to no longer hunt humans for sustenance, he knew what he was asking.

"I do have some concerns though," Esme said as she slowly got up from her chair and came over to sit beside him. She laid her hand on his forearm.

"Have you thought about the future? She is seventeen sweetheart." Esme pulled her brows together. "By the way you look at her, I know you love her. I want nothing but happiness for you, but she is human. She is going to,"

Edward interrupted, "outgrow me," he said with sadness.

"Yes. While that doesn't mean anything to us, it could be an issue, ten or fifteen years down the road." Esme did want him to be happy. Everyone else was paired up. Edward was always the one left out. She knew he felt alone, wanting to find his special someone too, and Bella fit him like a glove. There was just the issue of her humanity. Esme was grateful for this new life she had. Carlisle was wonderful and this house full of kids was what she always wanted but that was not the same for everyone. Rosalie had always struggled with her vampire life and had said numerous times she wished she would have died the day she was attacked. Emmett had helped, but she was still bitter and angry.

Edward interrupted her thoughts, "We haven't really talked about it, but I know we should. I wanted to give her some time to adjust to dating a vampire before talking about becoming one. I know what Rose has been through and how she feels, I would never want that for Bella. I want the decision to be hers. If she chooses to stay human, then I will be with her and love her every day of her human life. If she makes the choice to join our way of life, I will support that, even though it's not what I want for her. Either way, I want her to have all the facts, maybe someday Rose will be willing to talk to her about her experiences. I know Alice would be willing. I just don't want her to feel her human life was taken. I couldn't live with that."

Esme was reminded daily of Edward's wisdom and insight. In so many ways he was a typical seventeen-year-old boy, but underneath it all was a soul that understood people in a way she knew she never could. She hugged him tight in a way only a mother can. He was so glad he stopped by the study to talk with her tonight.

"I'm headed over to Bella's, she asked me to stay with her tonight. I will have the conversation with her soon, and would it be alright if I let her know she can come to you if she has any questions?" He asked as he stood to leave.

"Of course sweetheart, I would love that." Edward felt lighter than he had in a long time.