Bella was only half surprised to find Midnight waiting in the entryway. No cage, locked door, or gate could keep her contained when there were guests to be inspected.

"You might want to cover your shins, new guy," Rose said with a smirk from the base of the stairs. Emmett appeared behind her with his shirt on inside out. He turned white as a ghost when he saw Edward standing with his back pressed against the front door.

"Cover my shins?" Edward asked. "Why?"

Rose chucked. "You'll see."

Midnight, or the devil in fur, as Emmett liked to call her was quick to wage war against any bothersome creatures that dared enter the house. Delivery drivers, repairmen, and Bella's foster siblings had all found themselves on the receiving end of nine pounds of furry fury. Not even Carlise, who'd rescued the fearsome feline death on the highway, was safe from her razor-sharp claws.

Bella sighed and bent down to pick Midnight up. Edward was already blind, the last thing he needed was to have his skin reduced to confetti. She hadn't even touched Midnight when she bared her teeth and nipped Bella on the hand. It didn't break the skin but it was enough for Bella to reconsider coming between Midnight and her target.

Bella watched in horror as Midnight crept over to Edward with her back arched. Just when it seemed like Edward was doomed, a miracle happened. Midnight licked Edward's ankle and rubbed against his legs.

"Hello Midnight," Edward said as he scratched the top of her head, an action that would have earned most people a nasty bite. "It's nice to meet you." He paused to listen to her deep, rumbling purr. "I like your collar, purple is my favorite color too."

Midnight did one last figure eight around Edward's legs, bowed, and ran away.

Bella's jaw dropped. Who was this cat and what had she done with Midnight?

"So what am I supposed to guard my legs against?" Edward asked

"What the hell was that?" Rose shouted."That stupid cat almost took my leg off last month and I've lived with her for a year!" She stomped over to Edward and pointed a neon pink nail in his face. "On what planet does it make sense that this guy, a stranger, gets cat love!"

Alice and Jasper stirred in the living room.

"What's all the yelling about?" Alice said with a yawn.

"Midnight just gave Edward the royal welcome!" Rose shouted.

Alice rubbed her eyes and sat up. "I'll get the first aid kit."

Jasper whimpered and tightened his grip around Alice's waist. "Please don't leave me."

Bella's heart bled for Jasper. Despite all he'd been through, Jasper was a kind and loving person. He deserved so much better than a mother who couldn't find the time to drop by on his birthday.

"It's alright," Bella said to Alice, "Stay where you are. We don't need any bandaids." "Eddy doesn't have a single scratch on him," Rose said with a roll of her eyes.

"Don't call me Eddy," Edward said firmly. "My name is Edward, Prince of-

"Edward Prince," Bella interjected, angry that Edward had already forgotten her warning. "His name is Edward Prince."

Emmett, who was shaking like a leaf, crept down the stairs to get a closer look at the guy who'd gone toe to toe with the devil in fur and lived to tell the tale. He looked at Edward and cocked his head from side to the side. He bit his lip and nodded.

"Bella," he asked without an ounce of emotion in his voice. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Bella hadn't even replied when Emmett grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs and into his bedroom. He locked the door and glared at Bella.

"What happened?" He hissed. "I thought you said you could handle this!"

Bella shrugged. "I panicked."

Was he really surprised? She couldn't even speak up in class without stuttering. Anyone with half a brain could see she was the wrong one to send into battle with a potential monster.

Emmett ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Has he told you who he is?"

Bella bit her lip. "He says he's Edward Anthony Masen, Prince of Forks."

Saying it out loud made the situation feel much more real than it had at the hospital. Edward was no longer locked away in room zero. He was in her house, unrestrained, with full access to knives and her unsuspecting siblings. This could be the first page of a dark chapter in the Cullen family history.

"Or," something deep inside her said. "This could be exactly what you've been waiting for."

Emmett cursed under his breath and started pacing back and forth. "Great. That's just great. We are so screwed."

Bella started wringing her hands. "Everything is going to be fine."

Maybe if she repeated it enough times, she'd start believing it. There had to be a rational explanation for Edward's arrival in their lives. One that didn't involve princes, curses, or true love's kisses.

Emmett stopped pacing and stared at her with an incredulous look on his face. "How are things going to be fine? He's either delusional or a zombie. Either way, we're screwed!"

For some unknown reason, Bella felt the need to defend Edward. "He's not a zombie and he won't hurt us!"

Bella was insulted on Edward's behalf. He wasn't a monster craving human flesh. He was a human, a very beautiful human who needed their help.

"Why are you defending him?" Emmett asked. "He's probably going to slit our throats while we sleep!"

Bella huffed. "No, he won't."

Edward had stopped her from face planting on the front porch. If he wanted her dead, he would have just let her fall. If anyone was going to slit their throats it was Rose. Bella had a feeling her impromptu sleepover with Emmett had not yet been forgiven.

Emmett sat down in his desk chair and leaned back. "So you're telling me we should just forget the whole coffin thing and treat Edward like any other person?"

Bella nodded. While it sounded crazy, she knew in her heart Edward wasn't going to hurt them. Everything would be fine. In a year, they'd look back and laugh over how afraid they'd been of a perfectly normal, not scary guy.

Emmett crossed his arms. "Alright, I'll give Edward a chance. But you have to answer one question, how did he know what color Midnight's collar is?"

Bella's head started spinning. She hadn't told Edward she had a cat let alone the color of her collar.

Bella was doing mental gymnastics, hoping to arrive at some sort of rational explanation, when she heard a crash followed by a bloodcurdling scream. She didn't know if it was Rose or Alice but she did know whoever it was was in horrific pain. How could she have been so stupid? She'd allowed herself to be blinded by Edward's beauty and now one of her beautiful, perfect sisters was paying the price. Emmett and Bella jumped to their feet and ran downstairs hoping they wouldn't be too late.