The Twilight Saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer, Summit Entertainment and anyone else who may legally claim ownership. No copyright infringement is intended.


Chapter 3: Decision

Bella walked into the kitchen and greeted her father with a broad smile. "Hey, Dad."

Charlie grunted an inarticulate reply before folding his newspaper and setting it aside. "Bells, you're not dressed, you're gonna be late for school."

"No, Dad, I'm not going to school today."

"Are you sick? Do you need to see the doctor?"

Bella thought that she did need to see one doctor in particular, but not because she was ill. She only wanted to be in Carlisle's soothing presence. She felt like she could face anything when she was with him. She wasn't really ill and she knew what to say to ease her father's mind. "No, it's just female stuff. It's nothing to worry about. I'm just not up to school today."

"Oh, uh, okay, Bells." Charlie was clearly uncomfortable. He rose quickly and dumped his breakfast dishes in the sink. "I've got a double today, so I'll be home around midnight. You call me if you need anything, okay."

"Yeah, Dad, but I'll be fine."

He quickly grabbed his jacket and headed out.

When Bella heard Charlie's cruiser pull onto the road, she hurried up the stairs to dress. She really wished she had someone she could talk to. Her mom wasn't an option; she was too jaded. The girls at school were too vapid. Alice was way too biased. Jasper, she could talk to Jasper. She rummaged in her desk and found the slip of paper with his number on it. She'd wait until she knew he and Alice had separate classes. Then, she'd send him a text and ask him to meet her after school. Alice would probably see it but she was sure Jasper could get away from Alice if he tried. Until Jasper was out of school for the day, she'd go to the meadow she loved to spend time with Edward in and think. She knew she'd probably come to a decision before Jasper could meet her, but she thought talking it over with him would help, anyway.

She packed a bag with everything she thought she might need for the day. It was heavier than she'd expected it to be. She sighed and picked up the book she was reading, An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, her most recent acquisition from Carlisle's library. She added it to her bag, just in case she needed a distraction.

She stopped in the kitchen and left a note for Charlie. He wasn't supposed to get home before she did, but she didn't want to take any chances. He had wanted to ground her after she had gone to Volterra but once he had calmed down, they had talked again. She'd apologized for worrying him and promised to never take off without a way for him to contact her again. When he still wanted to ground her, she had calmly explained that she was eighteen. She told him that he would need to take her word that she understood that her disappearance to Italy was terrible for him. She told him she wouldn't do it again. She made it clear that if he wanted her to continue to live in his house, he would need to accept that. It had been a long, serious discussion, but in the end, he had agreed that, as long as it never happened again, he'd let it go. She had been very careful to ensure Charlie's peace of mind since that discussion.


When Bella arrived at the meadow, she spread her blanket out and sank down onto it. It was unseasonably warm for the second day of April. It was usually chilly at this time of year, but not today. She turned her face skyward and closed her eyes. She thought over her time with Edward. She remembered when she had thought that she loved him unconditionally and irrevocably. That was before he left her in the forest. At first, he had seemed like such a miracle to her. A miracle that she didn't want to let go. Her love for him had been sudden and intense. She had believed she couldn't live without him. Then, she had lived without him. She had lived without him for months when he left her. Those months had been torturous. She now seriously wondered if that torture had been more from the loss of her connection with the entire Cullen family than with her loss of Edward himself. She contemplated that for hours. She needed to be absolutely sure of herself and her feelings. She remembered how intensely relieved and alive she felt when saw Alice again. She had wondered about Edward, but her all consuming-anguish had abated with the arrival of Alice. Just being with Alice made her feel like she could breathe again like she could live again. She had somehow known that when Alice came for her, it meant that the rest of the family would soon follow, even if Edward did not. She had missed them all acutely. It had been Edward's face and voice her mind had conjured when they were gone. At the time she had thought it was because she missed and needed Edward specifically. When Alice came to her, she knew it wasn't just Edward that she had missed and needed. His absence alone wasn't the cause of her distress. It was the absence of the entire family that had left her bereft. She thought that perhaps she hallucinated Edward giving her orders because she had simply become so used to his demanding presence. He had spoken like they were vampire mates. She was sure they couldn't be because he had been able to leave her. Even if he thought he was doing it for her safety, a true mate couldn't do that. She realized that if their love had been more than a puppy love they would have talked together and found a way to make it work. Together.

Edward was always deciding what he thought was right and acting on it without her consent. She thought about the things they did together and realized that when they were together she always deferred to Edward. They did what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. Sometimes it happened to be what she wanted to do too. However, more often than not, it wasn't. She thought of her time at the Cullens' house. When Edward was working on his music, she would usually feel obliged to sit beside him or at the piano with him and simply be his rapt audience. She didn't dislike his music. However, her happiest times were when he became so engrossed in his composing that she could escape to another part of the house and do something that she liked to do.

She smiled as she thought about the time she got to spend in Carlisle's study. She really thought about that. She sat up with a start, her eyes opening. She realized with alarming clarity that she and Edward really didn't enjoy the same things. She wondered why it was so glaringly obvious to her now. She wondered, too, why she never suggested that they do something she wanted to do. Then it hit her; she was afraid. She always did what Edward wanted because she was afraid. She was afraid that if she voiced a differing opinion he might not want her, and if he didn't want her she might lose all contact with the family she had come to love so dearly. She knew in her bones that Edward would never allow her to follow her own heart and mind. She had unknowingly tested it. She had pressed to further their physical relationship. He had simply rejected her. His no meant no and he would not be convinced otherwise, regardless of her feelings. She had accepted his decision. She had kept trying, but he always rejected her advances. There was no truth to the excuses he had given her. He'd lied. He wouldn't hurt her during sex any more than he would hurt her any other time. If he chose to hurt her he most definitely could, but it was not something that would just happen. So his refusal was just that, a refusal, not a way of keeping her safe. She had wanted to do something, and he didn't, and that was the end of it. They did what he wanted to do, as always.

She did love him, but she knew with an unshakable certitude that their love had not been the love of two people meant to spend eternity together. They weren't soul mates or vampire mates. They were simply two people who had tried to make a relationship work. She had been a curiosity to him, and if she told herself the truth, he had been nothing more than that to her as well. Her mind that he could not read, and her blood that was so hard for him to resist, had drawn him to her. His supernatural world had drawn her to him. Their love would never have stood the test of time. Their love was a passing thought. It was no more than the brief caress of a gentle breeze. She laughed at her romanticism. She was glad there was no one who could read her mind. She sobered. She still had to find a way to tell Edward. She didn't want to lose him as a friend. She had to make him accept that they were meant to be friends and that anything more was unrealistic.

She had gone to see Jacob right after she had returned from Italy. She had finally made him understand that there would never be anything more than friendship between them; now, she had to do the same with Edward.

She sent Jasper a text, got out her bottle of water and her book, and put the worry aside. She'd talk to Jasper later, for now, she needed a break from the headache that was Edward.

Bella was absorbed in her book when she felt a presence. She looked up and suppressed a startled squeak when she saw Alice and Jasper quietly watching her. She closed her book and sat up. "How long have you guys been here?" she asked.

"We just got here," Jasper said with a smile.

Alice bounded over and plopped down beside her. She looked at her earnestly and took her hands. "It's okay, Bella. I saw your decision earlier today. Since you decided to have this talk with Edward, a future that I've seen for you has solidified."

"What have you seen, Alice?"

Alice spoke deliberately and emphatically. "You will be a part of our family. There is no doubt of that. Even if the future I see for you now changes in another way-"

Jasper laughed. "Darlin', from what I feel comin' off those involved, there's little chance of that future changing."

Alice smiled. "If something should happen, however unlikely, I will master the strength and I will change you myself. Although, I don't think that will be necessary. I've been pushing you to marry Edward, and I'm sorry for that. I really wanted you to be my sister. Edward has been so lonely for so long, and I thought that if you married him everything would be perfect. But when Jazz got your text we left school early. We talked for a long time. I haven't been listening to Jazz for a while now or being honest with myself about my visions. I just had an idea of how I wanted things to turn out and I wouldn't think about any other way. Now I know how wrong I was. I realized that you don't have to marry Edward to be my sister. You're already my sister, and you always will be. Forever." She glanced sheepishly at her husband, and then looked Bella in the eyes. "You will be so very happy and you will be with us for eternity. Remember, I promised you that I will always tell you the truth. I am. You are going to be one of us, Bella."

"Alice, what do you see for me?"

"Oh, she's not tellin', are you?" Jasper drawled.

"No, I'm not. Seriously, Bella, I wouldn't want to tell you and have that make something go wrong. Just trust me. The fact that you will be one of us is a constant. That has never changed, no matter what decisions have been made and unmade. I did see you coming, Bella, and in every potential future that I've seen, you are always one of us."

Bella smiled at Alice. "Okay, one other thing then, Miss-Magic-Eight-Ball. What can I do so that Edward and I will still be friends after I tell him that I've realized that I don't want a romantic relationship with him, that I can't love him in the way he wants me to?"

"You don't love me, Bella?" Edward gasped, shock and emotion roughening his voice.

Bella's blood ran cold. "Edward! How... how long have you been there?"

"Just long enough to hear you say that you don't love me. Bella, this can't be true. You love me. You know you do!" Edward insisted, advancing upon her. Not taking his eyes off Bella he addressed his pseudo-siblings. "Jasper, Alice, would you leave us alone, please?"

"No, Edward, they can stay." Bella's voice betrayed her emotional state.

Edward struggled to make eye contact with Bella. "We need to talk."

"I know. But there is nothing we can hide from Alice and Jasper, anyway." She hoped he would accept her argument. Her heart rate and breathing increased in her distress. She kept her eyes averted. She really wanted to get through this without Edward trying to dazzle her.

"Fine, I'll talk to you tonight when I come to your room."

"No! Edward, I don't want you doing that anymore."

"Bella, you want me there. You don't sleep well without your mate by your side. I'll see you tonight and we'll talk then." His tone and mannerisms made it clear that he expected no further argument.

"No, Edward!" Bella was beginning to panic. She wondered how she could keep him from doing whatever he wanted to do. "Please listen. I don't want you coming to my room anymore. You are not my mate. I want my privacy. I want to be your friend, Edward, nothing more. Don't come to my room."

In less than an instant, Edward was in her personal space. He grabbed her chin and forced her face to his. It reminded her of when she had asked everyone to vote for or against her change. She squeezed her eyes shut. She would not look into his eyes. He held her jaw so securely that it was impossible for her to speak. She struggled in his grasp for only a moment when she heard Alice speak forcefully. "Edward, you're hurting her!"

Edward released her chin. "Please understand, Edward, I want to be your friend." She rubbed her aching jawline. "You're important to me. I just don't feel anything more than friendship for you."

"You do, Bella. You love me. We're soul mates. You're going to marry me. We'll be together until the day you die. You know we will. Then, I will go to the Volturi and follow you in death."

"No, Edward. I don't love you like that. I'm not your soul mate. If I were it would be as if we were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together. We aren't. We don't fit like that. You keep trying to shape me to make me fit, but I don't. You need to stop trying to make me something I'm not. Can't you see that?"

"You're confused, Bella. We are mates. You'll see in time. We'll have a long and happy life together, and then when you are taken from me by death, I'll simply follow."

"Edward, you have to stop talking as if your life would be over if I died. You can't just kill yourself. We aren't Romeo and Juliet. Their tale is a tragedy. I'm not going to marry you, and I'm not going to be part of your tragedy."

"No, Bella, we love each other."

"We tried to love each other, but it didn't work. You left. I'm not your mate and I will never be your wife or your life. You need to understand that, Edward. Trying to force that relationship between us, that would be a tragedy."

Edward's voice became quiet and cajoling. "It was a tragedy when we were apart, Bella, you remember that. We can avoid tragedy just by being together."

"Those months that you were gone were the darkest of my life. But the tragedy wasn't because you left, Edward. At first, I thought it was. Then I realized that it wasn't just because you left, it was because you took everyone with you when you did. The absence of all of you was a like huge hole in my chest, an emptiness that I couldn't fill. There was nothing left for me. Alice, my best friend, was gone. You were all gone. The human lifetime you have planned for us, it won't work. You can't follow me in death. I won't die. Carlisle promised to change me. You were there. He won't go back on his word. And if he can't change me, Alice will. The Volturi command it, and even more importantly, I want it. One day you will find your true mate, and you will have a long and happy eternity with her. I'm not your mate, Edward. I do love you, but only as a friend. We tried to make it more than that but we couldn't. If you believe in mates, then deep down, you must know we aren't each others."

"You jumped off a cliff, just to see me."

"Yes, doing crazy things made me see you, Edward. But my visions of you, they weren't of love. They were of you telling me what to do. At the time I was too upset to realize the difference. I didn't know anything for sure. I couldn't think straight. My despair wasn't just because you left me, it was because you took everyone with you. If only you had left Alice. If Alice and Jasper had stayed so I could talk to her, then it wouldn't have been… I don't know… like it was." Bella's face betrayed her inner turmoil. "The only things I'm absolutely sure of are that I love all of you and that I don't love you as a girlfriend, Edward. I'm not your mate.

Edward gazed at Bella with a pleading look in his yellow eyes. "Think of all that we had together, didn't that mean anything to you?"

"What we had? We had arguments. We never agreed on anything. You would dazzle me into forgetting what I wanted, and if you couldn't do that you just did whatever you wanted to do anyway."

"Everything I ever did was out of love for you, Bella. There are bound to be certain difficulties in any relationship."

"Difficulties? You lied to me, Edward. You lied to me all the time and you kept secrets from me. You dazzled me to get your way, and you left me. That's not love. I don't want to be in a relationship like that."

"I'll change, Bella. If I'm not what you want, I'll change."

A deep sadness was evident in Bella's expression. "Edward, that's just it. If we were right for each other you wouldn't try to make me into something I'm not, and you wouldn't have to try to change either. Don't you see? We aren't meant to be in a romantic relationship. But I do want us to be friends."

"How could I just be friends with you, Bella, when I love you so much?"

"We were never really more than friends, Edward. Sure, you kissed me a couple of times. All of our kisses were chaste kisses. They were not the kisses of two people in love. Please, Edward, be my friend and leave it at that."

Edward seemed unsure of how to proceed in the presence of Jasper and Alice. Jasper was clearly struggling with Bella's emotions, and Alice was beaming. "Alice, what?"

Alice's wind chime voice was full of conviction. "It will all be okay, Edward. You'll see. Just be Bella's friend, let her go."

Edward glared at Alice. "Could you let Jasper go?"

Alice's tone was placating. "Edward, Jasper is my mate. So no, I couldn't let him go. Don't you see? If Bella was your mate you couldn't have left her. I can see it. You will find your true mate, Edward, and so will Bella, just not in each other."

Edward growled. "You're wrong, Alice."

"I'm not," Alice returned with quiet assurance.

"Please, Edward," Bella pled. "I don't love you like that. I don't want that with you and I never will. I don't want to lose any of you, but I can't pretend that I want to be in a romantic relationship with you. If we can't be friends then we can't be anything."

"You really mean this." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, I really mean it. I've thought about nothing else for a long time now. Please, Edward, can't we just be friends."

Edward turned to Bella. "All right, Bella. I'd rather be friends with you than nothing."

Bella didn't quite believe him. "There are a couple of things I need you to promise me, Edward. Promise me that you won't come to my room."

"But, Bella- "

"No, I mean it, Edward. No coming to my room anymore, and no trying to dazzle me. We can't be friends if you try to push things further. Can you make those promises and keep them?"

"If you insist." He cast Alice a scathing glance. "Apparently, Alice will be watching to see that I keep my word." Edward laughed mirthlessly. "I guess she thinks I need a babysitter."


Everyone was gathered in the main area of the Cullen home. Edward sat at the piano playing what sounded like a funeral dirge. However, Emmett and Rosalie were successfully drowning him out with the video game they were playing. Esme and Alice were sitting on the floor with their heads together looking at interior design magazines, and Bella was seated happily on the sofa between Carlisle and Jasper, reading her novel. Jasper was apparently absorbed in a book on the Coke-Davis dispute, while Carlisle balanced an open copy of The New England Journal of Medicine on his knee. It began as a completely uneventful evening, and it carried on that way for a couple of peaceful hours.

The peace was disturbed when Edward suddenly stood before the sofa. His expression was one of barely controlled rage.

Jasper glanced up at him with an innocent look.

"What are you hiding?" Edward demanded.

"Hiding?"

Edward's voice had a hard edge to it. "You're reading at the same time you're thinking about the Voynich Manuscript in great detail."

Jasper gave him a slow smile, "Well now, that makes me wonder why you were trying to dig so deeply into my thoughts."

"Now you're conjugating Old Occitan verbs! What are you hiding?"

Jasper's slow southern drawl was the only sound in the room. "I'm not hiding anything, can I help it if my mind is wanderin' this evening?"

Edward gave him a disgusted look and turned to Bella. "Come on, Bella, I'm taking you home."

Bella's smile was forced. "No thanks, Alice already planned to drive me later."

Alice's voice was lacking some of its' chirpiness. "Of course I'm driving you home, we have to go through your closet. But I didn't think you were ready to go, it's still early."

"I'm not-" Bella began, only to be interrupted by Edward.

"She's ready. I'll take her."

"No, Edward, Alice is taking me."

"Fine. I'll see you out." Edward pulled Bella up by her arm, causing her book to tumble into Carlisle's lap. Edward marched her to the door before Carlisle could hand it to her.

"Edward, what-" Bella began.

Edward silenced her with a bruising kiss. Bella tried desperately to push him off her but his hold on her was too strong.

Bella wrenched her head to the side. "Edward! Get off me!"

"I love you." He whispered, even though he knew everyone would be able to hear him.

"I told you that I don't love you like that."

"I'll come to your room later." It was clear that he had tried to make this whisper low enough not to be heard this time, but in his angry state, it didn't work. "Just let me take you home now."

"I don't want you in my room. We talked about this, Edward."

"Are we going to do this… here?"

"There is nowhere else. What were you thinking? Did you think doing this now, in front of your family, would somehow make me change my mind? I want to be your friend, Edward, nothing more, you know that.

"Bella, you are my mate, we're meant to be together. You're just confused right now."

"No, Edward. You need to stop this. I want to be your friend. You know I don't want anything more than friendship with you. You agreed that we could just be friends. I can't do this anymore. If I have to stay away from here, from the family, I will."

It was clear that Alice didn't like the outcome of that decision. "No! Bella, you're my best friend. We all love you and want you here with us. You don't have to stay away from us."

Jasper appeared at Bella's side. "I know what you're feeling. I know what everyone in this room is feeling. Believe me, Bella, separating yourself from us would only bring a world of grief and misery to everyone."

Carlisle moved to stand in front of Bella. Bella turned her face up to Carlisle as he spoke. "If you want to keep this between you and Edward, we'll all respect your wishes. We'll give you privacy."

Alice answered Carlisle. "No, this involves all of us now. Edward made this a family issue tonight."

"This is between Bella and me!" Edward growled. "I'm taking Bella home, and she and I will talk alone. It's no one else's business."

Carlisle spoke with quiet authority. "Edward, that is Bella's decision."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Edward."

Alice rounded on Edward. "You made it our business. Jasper and I wouldn't have said anything, and I don't think Bella would have brought it up either. But, you did. Bella needs to know how we all feel about her. She needs to know that she's one of us, that we'll never abandon her again even if you tell us to." Alice looked around the room at her family. "At least Jazz and I never will. Bella deserves to know where she stands with all of us."

"Alice, if Bella wants a family meeting to discuss your concerns we'll have one. That's her decision." Carlisle turned to Bella and looked earnestly into her eyes. "I can only speak for myself, but like Alice and Jasper, I won't leave you again unless you ask me to. Understand?"

Bella smiled as she looked into Carlisle's eyes. "Thank you." Bella's gaze wandered around the room. She looked at each Cullen family member. "I think you guys all deserve to know what's going on. It's affecting you. So yeah, we should talk, if you don't mind."

When Alice spoke, her foreknowledge was apparent. "A family meeting will be really helpful."

Carlisle inclined his head toward Alice and addressed Bella again. "If you're sure it's what you want, we can have a family meeting in a little while. It seems to be the solution Alice thinks will be best."

"It is for the best." Alice assured them.

Carlisle pressed the novel Bella had been reading into her hands. "Jasper can help Edward sort out his feelings, and then we can all meet to discuss anything you feel comfortable sharing with us. It's still quite early. If you would like to finish your book you can read in my study with me, where there should be no interruptions. I'm heading up to finish the article I was reading. Will you come with me?" Carlisle asked.

A relieved smile graced Bella's features. "Yes, Carlisle."


Bella smiled as Carlisle stepped to the side to allow her to enter his study before him. She sank gratefully into the comforting embrace of his leather sofa. Instead of taking his usual seat behind his desk, Carlisle stood just inside the door. He looked at Bella and then at the empty sofa beside her. He approached her slowly, a request for permission in his every movement. When she smiled up at him in welcome, he sat beside her. He returned her smile, his gaze gentle, his posture open. She unconsciously leaned toward him. She didn't touch him, but they were close enough to feel each others' presence.

She held her novel without opening it. If Carlisle had not been a vampire, he would not have heard the words she spoke so quietly. "Edward was drawn to my blood. He was fascinated by my quiet mind. He was enthralled with my humanity. That was an intense combination. He let it take him over, he proved that in Volterra." She laughed bitterly. "I was drawn to the puzzle Edward presented. He was something new, something mysterious. It wasn't long after we met when without any real transition we were hardly ever apart. When I found out he'd been in my room at night watching me sleep, I allowed him to keep doing it. The rare times we had more than just a couple of hours apart, I'd begin to question the strong feelings I'd experienced. They seemed, I don't know, empty and a bit unreal. I didn't want to admit my doubts even to myself. If I had been willing to admit my doubts, there was never time for them to take hold before Edward would be back and the intensity would renew. Although I didn't admit it to myself at the time, I knew there was no foundation for our relationship. The connection between us was shallow. Edward and I, we don't even have anything in common, not really. We never agreed about anything. I would always just do whatever he wanted. That's not real love. I liked him, I still do. It's just not enough for what he wants. He keeps trying to make it work. I think he believes that I'll change and become what he needs. I can't. I don't know how to make myself into someone else to please him, and I know I don't want to learn."

"You've given this quite a lot of thought."

"Jasper encouraged me to think about it. He says he knows how I feel, how Edward feels, how everyone feels. He told me that sometimes he's aware of feelings before we even admit them to ourselves."

"Jasper made you question your relationship with Edward?"

"No, I was already questioning it. When Edward left me in the forest there was time for my doubts to take hold. Then when Alice finally showed up at Charlie's house after all that time, I was so happy. I missed you all terribly. I can't even put it into words. I was devastated when all of you left, but it was more than that. It was like my soul had gone too and I was left here empty. Everything was meaningless. I thought that it was the lack of Edward in my life that made me feel like that, but it wasn't. I did miss Edward, but I've come to realize that I didn't miss him more than I missed any of you. Jasper didn't make me question my relationship with Edward. He just asked me to take the time to think things through carefully. He asked me not to rush into anything with Edward. I think he didn't want me to make a promise to Edward that I would regret. Of course, he wouldn't make it easy for me. He never told me how any of you feel. He wouldn't even tell me what he felt coming from me that made him approach me."

"I should never… we should never have listened to Edward. He insisted that it would be best for you if we all left. If Alice could have foreseen the outcome we wouldn't have gone."

"Alice is pretty reliable, isn't she? After I made my decision to tell Edward that I want to be his friend and nothing more, Alice told me she had a vision. Of course, she's being more cryptic than Jasper. All she will tell me is to follow my heart and everything will turn out for the best."

"Are you following your heart?"

"I am. I'm following my heart and my mind. And you know what? It feels really good." Bella hesitated and studied her hands. "It still... I'm still... afraid. I'm afraid that if I don't give Edward what he wants I will lose all of you again." She glanced up at Carlisle. "Did you mean it?"

She didn't have to explain. Carlisle understood. His emotions were running so high that the British accent he usually reverted to when at home became even more pronounced. "I hope that it didn't sound trite to you. I've never said that to anyone before. I've never meant anything more in all my years on this Earth. I will not leave you, Isabella. Not ever, not unless you ask me to go."

"I won't be asking you to go, so I guess you're stuck with me then." Bella smiled.


Carlisle walked with Bella to the dining area where the family was gathering for the meeting. Carlisle moved the armchair from the foot of the table and placed it directly beside his armchair at the head of the table. He held it for Bella. When she was seated Jasper smiled at them. Alice took the side chair nearest Bella. When everyone settled in their places at the table, Carlisle began. "We don't usually bring interpersonal problems into such a public forum. However, in this case, it seems that we need to. Edward, Bella has set some boundaries that you seem to be having a difficult time accepting. Let's discuss this." Carlisle looked kindly at Bella. "Would you please tell us all what you have asked of Edward?"

Bella looked tentatively around the table, not daring to let her gaze fall on Edward. A deep blush stained her cheeks and shame became visible in her features. "I don't want to cause any problems. I never wanted to be a burden to this family."

Jasper's voice was firm as he responded. "Bella, you aren't a burden to our family you're part it. It's entirely your choice how you want to fit in with us. So let's, if you think it's a good idea, Carlisle, start slowly. Why don't I tell you how I really feel about you?" Jasper winked at Bella, making her smile. Alice took her husband's hand and beamed with pride. "And then, you can tell me how you really feel about me. After that, we can go around the table and all do the same."

Carlisle nodded in agreement. "That's a wonderful idea, Jasper." He turned his attention to Bella. "Will you be comfortable with this?"

"That's... I," she hesitated and in drew a calming breath, "… sure, that sounds good." She gave Carlisle a tremulous smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"So, Bella," Jasper said, his southern drawl, filling the room with warmth. "I think of you as a sister. One I have come to care for, deeply. I want to protect you from harm in any way I can. Still, I know I have to let you make your own decisions. If a decision you make turns out to be a mistake, I'll always be here to help you figure your way around and through it. I'd like to think that with the years I've spent makin' my own mistakes and learning' from them, along with my unique abilities, you'd feel comfortable comin' to talk to me. And you can, anytime."

"Thanks, Jasper." Bella was silent for a moment. "You know you're a friend and I love you like a brother, Jasper. I don't think I'll ever need to come to you if I want to talk because somehow you know before I do. It's not fair really, I don't have anything I can offer you in return."

"You never give yourself enough credit. You may not be an empath, but you offer us all so much just by being you. It's not that you're human, the world is full of humans. It's you. You're special." He paused at the murmur of agreement that rose around the table. "You're fun to be with. You make me happy. You make us all happy, and trust me I know how people are feelin'. You give something special to all of us, just by being with us. You may not be an old vampire, but you have a unique wisdom that you seem to have been born with. You teach us as much as we can teach you."

Alice, who seemed to be bursting at the seams, chimed in. "It's my turn!" She let go of Jasper's hand and hugged Bella. When she let go, she held Bella's hands. "Bella, Bella, I love you! It's really as simple as that. You're my sister. You are the best friend I could ever imagine. There's nothing to discuss. You're perfect for us."

"Thanks, Alice. I feel the same way about you, even though you try to replace all my clothes."

Carlisle cleared his throat and Bella turned to him. He smiled softly and gazed earnestly into her uncertain eyes. "Earlier, Alice said that you need to know that we won't abandon you again. I've already told you that I won't leave you, unless you ask me to." His smile broadened. "Even then, you'll have to ask more than once and really convince me that you want me to leave."

"I won't."

"Good. Now, let me see if I can tell you why Alice, Jasper, and I can be so sure that we won't leave you or allow you to leave us. Unless, of course, that should become what you truly want to do. Jasper already made a good start, as did Alice. So I'll just add that you have become necessary to my life as well. I value your unique insights and your thoughts. I enjoy your company and your presence. I can't imagine our lives without you, nor do I want to."

Bella didn't have a chance to answer. Emmett was the next in line around the table and he delivered his pronouncement with great enthusiasm. "I never wanted to leave you here the last time. Hell, little sister, we need to stick together no matter what. Nobody's gonna break us up again. Once you're like us, and vampire extreme sports won't break you, we're gonna have some good times! You, little one, will be the newborn I can take."

"I don't think so. Once I'm not tripping over my own feet, you're gonna be the one in trouble."

"No way. You're so going to be toast." Emmett laughed and turned to his wife. "Babe, tell Bella how you really feel."

Rosalie sighed and her beautiful brow furrowed. "Bella, you know I've never hated you. I do hate the thought of you throwing away your humanity. If it was me, that's something I would never willingly let go of, I would cherish it so much. But I realize I can't make your choice for you. It hurts me to see you do it, but my family wants you with us for eternity, no matter the cost to you. Apparently, you make my family happy."

Emmett gave Rosalie a loud kiss. "See, Bella, what makes the family happy, makes Rose happy by default. So, you make Rose happy."

Rosalie swatted Emmett on the back of the head. "Ow, babe. And when Rose is violent, it means she loves you."

Esme smiled sweetly. "I've told you that I already consider you a part of our family. No one can be certain of what the future holds, not even Alice. But I do know that not only are you already part of this family, you are permanently in my heart and I treasure you, dear. I will do everything I can to make sure no one hurts you, and that includes all of us at this table. I will never just disappear again, no matter who should ask it of me."

Before Edward could speak, Carlisle turned back to Bella. "Now that Alice's reassurances have been voiced would you like to get back to the original reason for this meeting?"

"Okay." Bella took a deep breath. "I've given this a lot of thought. I've realized that I love Edward as a friend and nothing more than that. I told him so repeatedly. He agreed and promised me that we could just be friends. But as you saw, he decided to go back on his word in front of all of you. We wouldn't be here now, but-"

"Bella," Edward interrupted. "You know I love you. If you can't love me in a romantic sense, then I'll honor your friendship. I promise I will stop trying to push you for more."

Alice broke the tense silence that followed Edward's promise. "Edward, you know I had hoped that you and Bella would be a couple. But, I've had visions. I won't be more specific, you all know how it works. Sometimes I can't give details because I've seen that giving the details would be destructive. But trust me, it will be best if you and Bella can become comfortable as nothing more than friends. And it won't just be best for Bella, Edward, it will be best for you too."

"You know I trust your visions, Alice. I know I don't have any right to argue for Bella's mortality, but-"

Carlisle cut across Edward and spoke with quiet authority. "That matter has already been decided, Edward."

Edward scowled but said no more on the subject. He focused on Bella. "Like you said, Bella, we never really progressed to being more than friends, anyway. There must be a reason for that. I like you, I enjoy talking to you. Your quiet mind is so peaceful for me. I do want to be your friend. Maybe that's what I really wanted all along and I just didn't realize it. I guess I thought that if I could tie you to me in some way deeper than friendship, that you'd always be there, I'd always have that peace. Then, I left you. The irony is not lost on me. I only wanted what I thought was best for you, Bella. I'm sorry. l think you may be right. I don't know why I couldn't see it. I do want to be your friend."

Bella's tone was serious. "I hope you mean that, Edward."