Chapter 4: Respect Is Key

I was surprised to see Bella's number on my phone, as it was Sunday early afternoon. Carlisle and I had watched her cross onto Quileute land, and she was scheduled to be there until the early evening. After answering, she softly and with reluctance asked if I would be willing to arrive at Charlie's in an hour, rather than late evening, as we had agreed, to drive her back to college.

"Do you need a doctor?" was the first question that came to mind.

"A mom," she answered in between tight breaths like she was trying to hold in tears.

"Sure, honey," I answered.

Immediately after she disconnected the phone, leaving me confused.

"Should I come anyway?" Carlisle asked rubbing my arm his tone, conveying his care and concern.

After some consideration, I replied, "We have to trust that she spoke the truth of what she needed."

"With every day that passes there is a chance that she will not survive to the agreed upon date of her transformation," he mused.

"Yes, her life does seem particularly fraught with danger," I agreed. "What are the daily odds?" I wondered, knowing that my husband would not have made such a statement without having done the math.

"Approximately 65,487 to one," he answered bemused at my question.

"So, not terrible," I retorted with a smile.

"Worse than most," he rejoined.

Chuckling I admonished him, "You're almost as bad as Edward. Have faith that she knows how to keep herself alive."

"She seems like such a delicate flower in a hurricane," he mused.

"But she's not," I argued. "She must be stronger than most to live in our world. Her delicacy is only external. Internally, she is formidable."

Smiling at me he stated, "I will trust your wisdom."

"As you should," I teased before kissing him and getting dressed, "but I do think that following her from the border to her home is prudent."

His face turned down as if disappointed that we weren't going to resume enjoying each other's company, and then he winked before quickly getting dressed himself.

Charlie and Bella had already crossed over the border by the time we arrived, so we ghosted among the trees following them.

As we stood guard Charlie's treeline, I let him know "Alice wants to start a new venture, and has requested a family meeting."

"Shall I join you over the phone or do I need to be there in person?" he wondered.

"In person is always best," I decided after some thought. "We could probably find a way to code the conversation, but I suspect it would be preferred for us all to speak freely."

"Let us work on arranging that," he informed me.

"Wonderful," I agreed. "Alice will be very pleased."

The Swans had given nothing away in what had happened, neither speaking. As soon as they had arrived home sounds of her packing had been heard from her room, while Charlie was in front of the television with a basketball game on. So when it was near the time to collect Bella, Carlisle ran back to the house and collected the car. I slipped into it in between some of the houses where the woods met the road.

When we arrived Carlisle accompanied me. It was shortly after we knocked that Charlie answered, which surprised me, as usually it had been Bella who opened up the door.

"Come in," he said gruffly.

Bella's heartbeat rang out clearly, as did the shower she was in and her ragged breathing like she was crying while trying to be quiet about it.

After Carlisle and I exchanged a brief glance, we entered their home and followed Charlie into the living room taking his invitation to sit on the sofa.

"Can I get your guys anything?" he asked after a few minutes almost absentmindedly.

"No thanks Charlie," Carlisle answered politely. After another continued stretch of silence he asked, "Is everything alright?"

Charlie rubbed his hand against his face and mumbled, "I swear girls really are from another planet."

Exchanging another quick glance with Carlisle I stated, "Perhaps I should use the facilities before we head out."

"You know where it's at?" Charlie asked rotely.

"Absolutely," I answered getting up and kissing my husband on the cheek before leaving the room.

The sounds of the shower should have been clear to human ears, leading me to believe that Charlie's response was a manifestation of a distressed emotional state. This only confirmed my choice to leave Charlie to Carlisle's wisdom, especially as Charlie and Carlisle already had a decent relationship based on their professional roles. So, I went to the bottom on the stairwell and listened to Bella finishing up her shower.

"Want to talk about it?" Carlisle asked Charlie.

Charlie moved his head and then coughed. After a few more minutes he asked sounding reluctant, "You have two daughters?"

Chuckling like they were sharing a secret Carlisle answered, "Yes, and they couldn't be less alike."

"Are they quiet like Bella?" Charlie finally replied with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Carlisle chuckled goodnaturedly. "Rosalie is mostly. The exception is when she wants her way. Then, she can be a force of nature that has been a struggle for Esme and I to contain. Alice is nearly the opposite. When she's quiet is usually when she's up to something." His tone of voice made his love and appreciation for them clear.

"Yes, I can't imagine Alice being quiet," Charlie offered with a chuckle.

Carlisle moved on the sofa in such a way that it sounded like he was relaxing and probably attempting to appear even more approachable.

Charlie cleared his throat a few times before he finally uttered, "I just don't know what to do with Bella. She's as stubborn and clear minded as me and as emotional as Renee. Apart from Alice, she has surrounded herself with males as friends. And as much as I'm glad that she and Edward aren't back together, she seems unable to move on. It's like she's already a 80-year-old spinster widow." Then, it sounded like he raked his hand over his face once more. Many minutes passed before he added, "I just want her happy."

By the time Carlisle had spoken Bella was out of the shower, drying off by the sound of it.

"You say that Bella is like you in many ways?" Carlisle offered.

"Yeah," Charlie said gruffly back.

Then, Carlisle gave some silence and sounded like he was moving slightly. "It seems to me from the little we know each other that it has taken you a long time to get over Renee."

Charlie sounded like he stiffened.

"Why would your daughter be any different? She loves fiercely and deeply, which from her descriptions doesn't sound like Renee's top qualities."

Bella stepped out of the bathroom and moved into her room.

"What are you saying, Carlisle?" Charlie asked his voice tight.

Carlisle took in a deep breath. "That your daughter is still deeply in love with Edward, whether you want her to be or not. And that you're afraid she will follow in your footsteps, and you want better for her."

"She deserves better," Charlie stated firmly.

With a smile in his tone, Carlisle said, "I suspected your Mother tried many times to get you to move past Renee."

Charlie humphed.

Bella sounded like she was finishing getting ready, so I walked up the stairs quietly to not alert Charlie of my position, and then gently knocked on Bella's bedroom door. She came and opened it up looking surprised.

"I told Charlie I needed the facilities in order to leave the men alone, but didn't want to enter your room without permission," I explained, "so I've been sitting on the last tread of the stairs."

"Listening in," she teased while she indicated that I should enter the room.

"Well, is it listening in if I literally cannot block it out?" I asked.

She looked at me chuckling.

"Ready?" I wondered.

"Almost," she answered.

Carlisle finally spoke again. "Edward handled us moving terribly, and if it was my daughter, I would want her to find someone who treats her better. Bella deserves only the best. As Edward's father, my hope has been that he will mature into someone who deserves her."

Charlie humphed again this time with more a tone of disbelief.

"My only request is that you consider that Edward for all his good manners and gentlemanly ways was still a 17 year old boy who as a result of Bella was awoken for the first time to feelings he had never experienced prior," Carlisle requested. "He handled things and her extremely poorly, there's no dispute about that. I also remember being fairly poor at matters of the heart at 17."

Bella looked at me fiercely. "You're spilling on the drive."

"No problem," I agreed easily.

She grabbed her bags, her body indicating a mixture of anger and defeat.

"Want any help?" I offered.

Downstairs Charlie grunted once more.

"Edward might never become someone worthy of her," Carlisle stated. "She might find someone else to give her heart to quicker than you did. My experience as a father is to support and guide simultaneously, which is challenging, while also being tentative about my daughters' emotions. It's a tricky maneavour, but you'll get there, Charlie."

"Yeah," Bella replied, which pleased me, since it showed her willingness to admit her needs, "could you grab that bag?"

"Of course," I agreed, smiling at her.

"No need to look so pleased," she grumbled.

Chuckling and patting her shoulder with a feather's touch, I took a step towards her. She stepped out of her room and started down the stairs. I took one quick look through her room before closing her door behind me.

By the time Bella was at the bottom step Charlie and Carlisle were there.

"Let me take your bag," Charlie offered.

"I got it," Bella refuted with a terse tone.

She put her bag down while she put on her shoes and jacket and then picked it back up and walked outside without another word.

"It was good to see you Charlie," I told him while putting on my own coat and then following Bella out.

Carlisle offered Charlie his hand. "Whatever it is, she still loves you," Carlisle offered. "Daughters being mad at their fathers is par for the course, unfortunately."

Charlie grunted. "Good to see you also, Esme."

Then, Carlisle put on his own belongings and placed an umbrella above my head.

"You know that I love you," I whispered at a human level.

"Yes," he replied with a smile, matching my volume.

"Thank you for speaking with Charlie," I offered as we stepped down the stairs into the drive.

"I am not sure it helped," Carlisle replied.

"Nevertheless, I appreciate your effort," I told him.

"She is growing up, and he is struggling to see her as an independent adult," Carlisle mused.

"Aren't we all?" I offered.

We were at Bella's truck when he agreed, "Yes. Additionally, I probably have contributed to Edward's immaturity."

"As have I," I admitted.

He kissed me gently and then told me, "Return to me as I see you."

"I will," I vowed.

He backed up some. "See you soon Bella," he told her, and then closed the passenger door.

She pulled out of the drive without a word nor a glance toward the house, but the tension in her body was clear.

Knowing she would need time to order her thoughts, I looked out the window, enjoying the view, and said nothing.

Finally like a kettle unable to contain the steam anymore she burst out with "He wanted to know why I'm not as cosy with Jacob."

After many minutes of her saying nothing more I verified, "Charlie?"

With a long exhale she verified, "Yeah."

It was over an hour later when she added, her tone slight softer, "I was meant to spend most of the day with Jake and the guys, but when I went over there Jake was being childish. Instead of putting up with it, I left, spent some time with Emily, and then asked Charlie to bring me home. As soon as we were in the car Charlie wanted to know how come I wanted to leave early. I told him that I got sick of Jake's attitude. Then, he accused me of being hung up on Edward and being unable to move on." She looked sad and then added, "I know he's just worried." She took a deep breath. "I don't know how to tell him that I've given my heart away. Jake might have helped, for a while, but I'm not his imprint, and my love for him is the moon in comparison to the sun." By the end she sounded completely defeated.

Pondering how to approach the situation, I asked, "How much of Charlie's words do you think were meant for you and how much was expressions of his anger at himself for not moving past Renee and wanting more for you?"

She looked at me sideways like it was a trick, "Like he was hung up on Renee and is afraid that I'm going to live a life without love like he did?"

"Exactly like that," I agreed.

She appeared contemplative for a while before she stated, "Probably most of what he said was his fear of me becoming like him."

"You're a lot like him?" I checked.

She smiled indulgently, "Yeah."

"So, his worry is reasonable?" I prodded.

"Yeah, except that he could have moved on anytime before now. It's like since he started spending time with Sue that he's forgotten how stuck on Renee he has been. Not to mention that Renee is human," she exclaimed her tone rising with each syllable and then yelled, "I can't! Whatever it is that binds me to Edward is beyond any story that I've read regarding human love, even my father, despite our similarities. He doesn't get it and I have no way to explain it to him!"

When she had calmed down and appeared more collected I asked, "Do you want to tell Edward how bound to him you still are?"

She blushed significantly and then stuttered out, "No. Absolutely not."

"Too scary?" I checked after a minute.

"Way too scary," she agreed.

After humming and hawing for a while I asked, "If you were to die tomorrow, would you regret not telling him your truth?"

She was very quiet for a long time only biting at her lower lip occasionally. Finally she breathed out, "Yes."

"But you're afraid of his rejection?" I checked.

With tremors in her voice like she was about to start crying she agreed, "Not exactly, more like he made it clear that he doesn't want me. It's more than a fear. Simply put, I don't want to endure the cost of him being honest again. It broke me into pieces the first time. I don't want to endure a second time."

Ignoring the untruths in her statement, I instead choose to focus on her problem with Charlie. "You could explain things to Charlie in human terms. It might be inadequate in describing it completely, but it would be something," I pointed out. When she responded with only hemming and hawing I verified, "You don't think Charlie will take your feelings for Edward well?" I verified changing the topic to give her a reprieve from the emotions swimming on her face.

She paused a minute before replying, "Charlie would prefer anyone other than Edward, but more than that he wants me happy. If Edward made me happy, it would take him a while, but I think that he'd come round."

"Then what's stopping you from being honest with Charlie?" I wondered.

Many miles later she finally confessed her voice soft, "How can I explain to Charlie that my heart is set on living with unrequited love?"

Nodding in understanding of how that might be challenging for her, I allowed significant silence before I pointed out, "You just said that he did something similar for over a decade until Sue. Maybe it's not that he wouldn't understand, but that he would understand too well and you're afraid of him trying to push you into moving on?"

She looked at me out of the side of her eyes, and then thoughtfully agreed, "That's exactly what it seemed like. It was horrible. And I'm angry that he would try and force me into something that he was not able to do himself."

Giving time for her risen anger to dissipate, I then offered, "He loves you Bella, and I suspect that he wishes he had moved on, and is simply wishing that for you, so that you don't endure the years alone like he has."

Her eyes watered and after taking some purposeful breaths she admitted, "You're probably right, but he can't force my heart to stop being bound to Edward any more than I can."

Saddened by her factual tone, but unwilling to add my opinion, I instead queried, "Have you thought more about my offer?"

She blushed slightly as she answered, "Yes."

Allowing silence seemed to give her a chance to gather herself.

Eventually she spoke softly, "I have given it a lot of thought. It would be good to find a way for us to relate better. We're going to be living together in a house and as family for a long time." She took a deep breath. "At the same time, anytime I think about trying to improve things between us it seems weird and awkward. You helping us be able to relate as friends seems like a good plan."

"I appreciate your confidence in me, Bella," I told her. "Assuming Edward is agreeable, would you prefer to have everyone else around, there too, or out of the house?"

She seemed to deeply consider the impact of each of these choices and eventually said, "Just the three of us, at least at first."

Nodding my head, I agreed easily, "That makes sense. Particularly, I think it will help Edward feel more comfortable, given his gift and his preference of privacy."

She nodded like she was in agreement and that she had already considered his preferences.

"When is the next window of time that would suit you?" I wondered thinking through possibilities.

"Friday nights are usually open," she admitted.

"Friday is good for me. I was going to run home after we get back, as the part Rosalie ordered won't be in for a few days. I plan on returning on Friday early afternoon, then drive home."

"You're running back, because it's faster than flying?" she checked.

"Yes, running is faster for shorter distances when you calculate all the time for security, boarding, etc," I confirmed. "Actually, the family would prefer for me to fly, as the run has many spaces without cell service and I'm alone. In concession, I've agreed to carry with me a satellite phone and for Alice to be focused on me the whole time."

She smiled nervously and then confessed, "I'm also with you flying when put that way."

Chuckling, I smiled and gushed, "Thank you for your concern. I'll have to tell everyone that you sided with them."

Bella smiled in her pleased indulgent way.

After a few more minutes I enquired, "What would you like a friendship with Edward to look like?"

Initially her body language implied that she was taken aback by the question, but after a minute she relaxed again. Then, she paused clearly considering her answer. When she spoke her tone was sad, "I don't know, Esme. We never really were friends. We kind of skipped that part."

Knowing that to be the case, and equally disappointed for their sakes about it, I asked her, "Well, what would any friendship look like to you?"

Many miles went by before she responded, "Mutual respect, shared activities that both people enjoy, conversations about opinions and life in a kind and open manner, and mutual respect."

"You said mutual respect twice," I pointed out.

She frowned. "I've been thinking a lot about when Edward and I were a couple along with your words about having boundaries with Alice. And I think that one of the basis of friendship should be mutual respect. It's actually why I left Jake's when I did."

"Oh, yeah?" I probed.

"I get how some of his jibes are just playful, but they're also rude. Maybe it's being in college and away from high school, but it's just not as easy to let those things slide. There are people on campus with whom I can disagree and yet still be friendly with and engage with each other respectfully. When I look back at my relationship with Edward, especially after you compared Jake and him, it's easy to see how they both kind of worshiped me, while minimizing my thoughts and ideas. I can see why I let their dismissal of my beliefs and ideas slide, for different reasons, but still. I made a political comment and Jake just dismissed it like I was an idiot, so I left. And Edward used to do that. In fairness, so did Alice, but she's way better about it."

"What about your relationships with Jasper or Rosalie or Emmett?" I wondered.

She thought for a moment before telling me, "They each kind of shrug their shoulders in a way that conveys 'that's youth for you', but it's not really dismissive of me, more like they don't agree and don't want to get into it with me. Other than that they treat me like I'm intelligent and know my own mind. Rose challenges me a lot, but that's her personality. It took me a bit to realise that it was her way of showing respect. She has these high standards and wants me to reach my best. When I get past the abrasiveness of it, it's actually shows that she cares tons. Odd way of showing it, but it's still there.

"Jasper likes teaching me stuff and he's like an older brother, respectful while full of knowledge and experience I don't have. He challenges my thinking, but is way more subtle about it than Rose. Emmett is mostly a clown, but fiercely protective of me and the most vocal about women's rights than anyone I know. If he disagrees, he says so, but it's light-hearted, so easy to take." She chuckled. "I can actually see Emmett being an abolitionist and suffragist."

I chuckled with her remembering some of Emmett's outspoken beliefs.

Then after some silence, I added, "So, with the three of them you feel respected and that's important to you?"

She blushed slightly. "I guess you taught me that friendship without respect isn't truly friendship."

Smiling slightly, I very lightly and gently squeezed her hand. Then, teasingly I said, "Glad to have brought you to my way of seeing things." Circling back, I confirmed, "So, when you were with Jake you perceived that he wasn't respecting your thoughts and ideas, so you left?"

She sighed and her chin came down a little. Eventually she spoke, "It's more than that. He acts like because I live with vampires that I'm an idiot. Instead of having a conversation, he listens only to refute what I say and then makes it out like he's the answer and my saviour. I'm tired of being treated like I couldn't possibly be making good choices for myself, or that even if they're poor that they're mine to make." She took in a contemplative breath. "I told you that I raised my mom. And I think when I got to Forks it was nice to have others be in charge, at least a little. Now I've created these patterns where that's the expectation. Emily says it's just guys being young and the change into shapeshifters, and she might be right. But it also seems like an excuse. Seth isn't like that. He might not agree, and he kind of asks me to be safe and reminds me that you guys can be dangerous, but it's not heavy-handed. You know?"

"There's a big difference in those styles," I confirmed.

"There is," she agreed with my conviction. "I can't be friends with Jake if he treats me like he did, no matter how much he saved me. I left because it dawned on me that his behaviour wasn't that of a friend. He'll probably call and apologise, and I don't want to lose him from my life yet. At the same time, I'm coming to understand that people will treat me how I allow them to. That includes Edward. He might not be romantically interested in me, but even without that, upon reflection on how he treated me, I don't like what I see."

"So, you want to create a new pattern of Edward relating with you, and one important aspect of that for you is him demonstrating that he respects you. You also want to be able to talk with him freely, and do things together?" I confirmed.

The last lingering signs of the emotional impact of Edward leaving her were there in how the tendons of her neck tightened and her eye furrowed just a little bit. It was barely noticeable, even to me. And I didn't think they would leave her, maybe even after the change. His actions had left a permanent mark on her and there was no way of getting around that.

"Yeah, pretty much," she said quickly and in a volume slightly softer than prior.

"Anything else?" I checked.

She blushed very slightly, "No."

After some silence I told her, "I'm proud of you for expecting respect from Jake. I know you have a special connection with him, and he matters a great deal to you."

She chewed on her lip and thought. More than thirty miles later she asked me, "Is it natural to grow apart?"

Considering what she was trying to ask, I told her, "In my classes I learned that the transition from high school to adult life, including college, is big for humans of this era. In my era things didn't change that much until you got married, but now children leave their home for college or other things. Moving from a state of dependence to independence generates lots of changes. Jake, for all of being a shapeshifter, is still a dependent. It would make sense that things between you both might feel different due to this."

Many more miles passed while she considered my words. Eventually she asked, "Has Edward ever moved out, apart from his rebellious period?"

"No," I answered with a sad thoughtful contemplation. Then, I expounded, "Edward has been the odd man out in the couples. Through the years the couples have left and lived alone, but Edward never has. I suspect that some of that might be my fault."

Bella took in a quick breath of shock. "Why would you say that?"

Thinking of how to word it, I told her, "When Edward left shortly after my newborn period had ended, I knew that he was drinking human blood and I believed that eventually his conscious and good heart would be worn down. Each time he talks about getting his own space I think about how heart-broken and downtrodden he was when he returned. I suspect that he sees that image and it changes his mind. Both Carlisle and I have done Edward wrong. Because in our era young people became adults when they got married, we have tended to treat him like a youth. After all that has passed since my first letter to you, I believe that treating him in this way has limited him. Your relationship with him and how he handled things showed Carlisle and I how wrong we were as well as things we should have done differently. Unfortunately, our realisations arrived too late for your sake."

With tears in her eyes Bella asked, "So, you came back?"

Unwilling to hide the truth from her, I explained, "We came back because we saw how wrong we were and wanted to right our wrongs, if it would be what was best for you. You said it was, so here we are. We're not perfect, but we're trying to make amends for our errors." Pausing a moment, I added, "Our errors against Edward are different than against you, but it is our missteps with Edward that contributed to your heartbreak. Edward is ultimately responsible for his choices, but our poor choices were contributing factors."

A few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I am so sorry, Bella," I offered her, knowing it wasn't enough.

Taking in a deep breath, it was clear that she was gathering her courage before she spoke, "When you first asked about returning, I said yes because my pain was so great. At the same time, it's been hard to heal."

"Forgiveness is a process, Bella," I told her gently. "It's okay to still be upset at us at times. It's okay to struggle with trusting us. It's easy to see our external perfections and internalise that our choices are also flawless. Just know that we love you, we want the best for you, and we are grateful for your grace."

More tears rolled down her cheeks, but she didn't seem upset like she had in the past. I put my hand on hers in support. We had wronged her. There was no doubt, but after many conversations Carlisle and I had agreed that we had wronged Edward first. Times had changed while we hadn't, and we had stayed stuck in the past allowing a model of growing up that didn't match what the world looked like anymore. Long before we had let Bella down, we had let Edward down, and thus our family. The other family members in their own ways had tried to tell us, but we hadn't been able to hear them. And Rosalie was right: it would take us all to repair the damage Carlisle and I had enacted by our inaction.

After her tears had stopped I told Bella, "We're family now. I know we made a major mistake when we left, but we learned our lesson and we might make other errors, but not that one."

It was more than an hour later when she whispered, "I'm not sure Jake is family anymore."

Her words shocked me, but I worked at keeping myself composed, and saying nothing, even though curiosity was building inside of me.

Many long minutes later she added, "Things are so polarised. More and more I see Carlisle's warnings. Maybe except Seth, they see themselves as heroes from some comic book and all vampires as villains. A couple of visits ago Billy cornered me about my housing choice for college. I asked him point blank if you guys were so terrible why did his grandfather make a treaty with you?" She took a deep breath and her words were filled with a saddened anger, "He's so filled with hate, filling the minds of the wolves with the same hate. I get that there's bad guys. I met James and Victoria for goodness sake. I'm not trying to whitewash things. And I can't imagine the struggle to resist your natural source of sustenance. I've listened to your stories, to your struggles, to your failings, and your triumphs. Yes, you're imperfect. Yes, you make mistakes. I might not have seen that when I first met your family, but I see that now. Nevertheless, I still think that choosing self-control over indulgence is a lesson most people could learn."

My eyes filled with venom in awareness that once more I had underestimated her. She did see us. She had forgiven us. She had chosen the higher path. In that moment she seemed to be more the daughter of Carlisle than any of our other children.

When I finally found words I told her, "You are wise beyond your years and generous with your heart more than is reasonable. It is an honour to know you and for you to love us."

She smiled embarrassed.

"Thank you for your graciousness," I told her with a tone of sincerity. "I cannot speak for the family as a whole, but I can say with absolute truth that Carlisle and I are dedicated to being worthy of your abundance of heart and spirit. You make us proud, and, even though we dread the pain you becoming a vampire will cause to your parents, we are both looking forward to the day you become a Cullen in every way."

She smiled with some discomfort, but mostly it seemed like my words had pleased her. A little while later she asked me about my projects and we talked about less emotional topics until we pulled into the driveway.

"See you soon," I told her once the truck was parked.

She smiled at me. "Thanks for keeping me company."

"Anytime," I responded before exiting and beginning my run home.

"Be safe," she yelled in my direction.

Even though she couldn't hear me, I promised her that I would be.

While I ran and even while taking a brief detour to hunt I mused over our conversations and considered the best approach to getting Edward and Bella to create a foundation of friendship. Even if running was less safe, it helped me tremendously, and I was grateful the family had understood my need. At the same time, as I came near the house and texted them all, I reconsidered my wish to do so regularly. This especially hit home when I took the last steps to the house only to hear Carlisle's car coming up the drive, no doubt thanks to some assistance from Alice.

We spent time becoming reacquainted with one another and the tightness of his grips told me more than words could have how much a strain my run had been on him.

When we were more or less satiated, at least for a moment, we lay in bed and I told him of Bella's comments regarding us.

"She is remarkable," Carlisle mused. "Not just to accept us and not fear us, but to forgive in such a way." After a moment he checked, "Do you think that she has fully processed everything?"

Considering that, I answered, "I doubt it, but she has as much as she is able at the moment. She is an incredible person and a rare creature."

"Agreed," he uttered softly.

"As she spoke I had the thought that of all our family she is the most like you," I confessed.

He looked at me startled and then sputtered, "She and I rarely agree."

"She has your heart for others, your ability to see the best in others, and your quickness to forgive," I refuted.

He kissed me soundly and then in reverence asked, "Do you really see me like that?"

Surprised he would even ask I queried, "Do you not see that in yourself? Your care for others caused you to reject consuming human blood even as a newborn and then becoming a doctor to them. You see the best in others human and vampire alike, even the likes of James and his coven. And ills done against you are not held against the other. She might not be your child in mind like Edward, but she seems to be in heart."

He smiled broadly like I had made his day by my words, and then stated, "Thank you for seeing such good in me."

It was a little while later after more rekindling and chatting that I told him, "Bella accepted my offer to assist her and Edward."

"Mmm," he mumbled and then added, "that is a good thing. How long will you be gone?"

"You could come with me," I pointed out.

After a few seconds I could already see that he would say no. "I have two surgeries scheduled that if pushed back could be detrimental to the patients. I wish I could, love."

Kissing him, I assured him, "Well, if you feel up to a run, you could come for a visit in between. You trusted me to be alone for those miles, I could easily extend the same to you."

He smiled teasingly, as if trying to hide how unsettled my running had been to him, and playfully uttered, "Perhaps I enjoy being a bachelor while you're away."

"Throwing parties?" I questioned him with a grin, rather than talking about his discomfort.

"Most assuredly," he answered with utmost seriousness.

"Who catered?" I asked.

For the briefest of seconds he looked apprehensive and then he named one I had used recently.

"And the DJ?" I pressed.

He smiled widely and started laughing. When he calmed himself between chuckling he admonished himself, "This is what I get for not knowing the details of all that you do."

Smiling at him, I agreed.

"What would I do without you?" he asked with lust covering his tone once more.

"Get lost in your books and become despondent," I answered seriously.

"Never again," he growled in a low tone before beginning to kiss me all over. You have to love vampire speed. It felt as if he was everywhere at once.

Out of love this is what we had wanted for Edward. Wrongly, though, we had imagined that marriage would smooth out his edges and assist him in growing up. Instead, we should have been pushing him into growth. We were so afraid he'd run away again, and we allowed our fear to stop us from doing what he needed and our family needed. Not anymore.

As soon as Carlisle left for the shower, I texted Alice needing to check in with her regarding her request for a family meeting.

Next off shift? she asked.

Her reply confirmed for me what I had mentioned to Carlisle in it being best for us to all be present in person.

"Alice would like to discuss her ideas and business plan sooner than later," I told Carlisle through the doors. "When can you next go up to Bellingham?"

"Monday," he answered.

Assuming she would have seen the decision, I then texted everyone else informing them of when Carlisle and I would be joining them, and of Alice's request for a family meeting. Separately, I then texted Edward and Bella letting them know that our first session would be the following Friday.

Once Carlisle was out of the shower, I spoke to him about him hiding his dislike of me running back.

"I did," he agreed with a frown, "but in my defence, I could tell that it was important to you. I wanted you to not limit yourself due to my irrational concerns."

Contemplating this, I told him as he finished getting ready, "My dear Dr. Cullen, I appreciate your intent. At the same time, hiding your feelings won't serve us. Please don't do that."

He stopped and came over to me. "You're right. I apologise. I don't trust in your ability to defend yourself against a nomad who might attack you. And even though the chances of that happening is extremely slim, I still worry."

"Slimmer than Bella dying before she's turned?" I teased.

"Yes, my dear Miss Platt," he replied with a smile and returned to his preparations.

"Thank you for trusting me," I told him. "I promise to only do so again when I need the run. It did me good this time, but I'll keep your worries in mind."

He dashed over, kissed me, and then picked up the last of his things. "Couldn't ask for more, darling," he agreed.

"Be safe," I told him as he left.

"You as well," he replied right before driving away.

While Carlisle was at work, I reread textbook I had on the subject of couple's counselling, drove to Seattle and listened into lectures about family and marriage therapy, making sure to stay near humans keeping Carlisle's worries in mind, got new books, and did everything I could think of to prepare myself to assist Edward and Bella.

Carlisle arrived home Monday in the wee hours, but we spent time together before driving up. Thus, when we arrived not everyone was home. Nonetheless, Alice assured us that Bella, along with Emmett and Rosalie who were on watch duty, would be home in two hours. The rest of us chatted in the sitting room, with everyone sharing how things were going, albeit Edward who sat in silence.

Just as Alice said, Bella's vehicle could be heard coming up the drive with Emmett and Rosalie's footfalls close behind before the two hours were up.

In response to my enquiries regarding her need for substances, Bella had texted that she wasn't hungry. So, we all went to the dinning room, as soon as she walked though the door and greeted Carlisle and myself with hugs, staying in my arms for longer. Carlisle sat at the end of the table with me on his left, Bella to mine, then Alice and Jasper at the other end, then Rosalie, Emmett, and lastly Edward to Carlisle's right.

"Floor is yours, Alice," Carlisle offered.

Alice looked around nervously. Jasper took her hand and smiled assuredly at her, as did I.

"So, I've been playing around with some of my own styles of clothing. Esme suggested that given the global economy and technology, now might just be the time to create a label without anyone ever having to meet me in person, and thus allowing me to hide my identity," she stated. "But it's a family decision, since it contains some risk."

"Rose," Carlisle requested to start, without doubt because she tended to be the most risk cautious.

She looked at Alice. "I know how many years you've wanted this, and I don't want to say no, but it makes me nervous. How are you going to set up those contacts and make the first steps?" Rosalie asked with a tone of genuine interest.

Alice frowned and answered, "I don't know yet. I haven't pursued it at all, except for creating some designs. Instead, I've been waiting to see what the family thought."

Softly and her voice full of nerves, Bella stated, "I'll do it."

Rosalie's mouth opened a little, Emmett beamed, Alice looked exuberant, Jasper looked pleased and mouthed, thank you, and Edward appeared impressed and surprised.

Then, Bella went on her voice gaining strength, "I could say that I'm your assistant or manager, or promoter." By the end it almost sounded interrogative.

"That means speaking to strangers, and making presentations, and being sociable," Emmett teased.

Bella looked a little more pale, but rebutted, "I'd do it for Alice."

"That's very kind of you," I told Bella proud of her courage.

"Thank you," Alice offered and squeezed her hand lightly.

There were a few minutes of silence and then Rosalie spoke once more. "It's one thing to sell your designs, Alice." She sounded almost hesitant to bring up her reservations, "but you're talking about creating a line, right? You want to make a company and insource production and put it in stores and have control of the whole thing?"

Looking around at all our faces, in a pleading tone, she admitted, "Yes, ideally I'd like to have a say in all those things. I'd like to open the factory in a town we've lived in before that is now smaller and struggling with work. I'd like to hire people and generate jobs. I want my designs to also be able to make a difference. If possible, I would even like to have a say in the materials, how things are harvested, every aspect from seed to store."

Everyone looked surprised at Alice's passion, while I beamed at her risking this part of herself, instead of pouring her love of fashion only into purchasing.

Mostly, I was proud of her. This request showed how she had grown as a person. She had always had an interest in human's lives, but she treated them a little like a reality television show – something interesting and entertaining, but not much more. Without doubt Bella standing up for herself, Alice relying less on her visions, and probably Bella getting taken by Victoria had shifted things in Alice. She cared more about the things going on around her, rather than just the future, but with caring more there was more risk. This benefit/risk ratio was a constant in our family with Carlisle's passion for medicine.

Sure, as a family we donated huge sums to our causes, but this was something different. This wasn't Carlisle with his centuries of practice. This wasn't even Rosalie and her shop for the Quileutes. This was something else entirely. And for me it demonstrated how much our family was changing.

"What about the profits?" Carlisle asked.

Alice smiled excitedly, "I was thinking that we could do something like Newman's Own, and donate all the proceeds."

That gave everyone pause, and then they nodded and smiled.

"Single mothers to go to college?" I offered.

"Domestic violence victims?" Rosalie suggested.

"Poor families?" Emmett chimed in.

"War veterans?" Jasper added.

"Victims of crimes?" Edward put in.

"Families of children with illness?" Carlisle suggested.

Then, after a few more minutes and Bella still hadn't spoken, everyone looked at her. Her cheeks pinkened and then softly added looking at the table, "Families of officers killed in the line of duty."

"Objections to Alice taking these first steps?" Carlisle asked everyone looking around.

Everyone shook his or her head no.

"You may proceed, Alice," Carlisle stated, but as soon as she started to squeal he put up his hand. "As this is a new venture for our family, and thus contains risks we cannot even imagine at the moment. You have permission to research the process only. First, you need to thoroughly discover the steps of how most clothing designers go about these things. We could always use one of the trading fronts to do the initial investment, but a business means different laws, different tax codes, and other pieces that are outside of our awareness at the moment. When you're ready, ask for a family meeting, and come with a solid plan."

"Thanks, everyone," Alice gushed, "I really appreciate it."

"This will get too big and have too many humans to watch with your visions, Alice," Rosalie reminded her with a hint of a warning. "Don't get ahead of yourself," she insisted, moving her gaze between Alice and Jasper.

Jasper nodded getting the message that he would be expected to be the level-headed one.

"Oh, I will," Alice vowed, but we all knew how easy it was for her to get ahead of herself.

"Thank you once more for your offer, Bella," I added, "it was kind and brave."

She smiled bashfully and then stated, "It's nice to contribute to the family in some way." Then, she muttered, "Now, just for the acting classes."

We collectively attempted to hide our chuckles.

"It won't be tomorrow," Edward said, sounding like he was trying to assure her.

"Small blessings," Bella retorted and then looked embarrassed.

"Anything else?" Carlisle asked.

No one spoke, so we started to stand.

"Let's do something as a family," I requested.

Everyone gave his or her agreement about the same time.

We enjoyed each other's company until Bella was almost asleep.

"'Night everyone," she offered while heading upstairs.

After her door was closed we talked a little about how she was adjusting. Oddly enough Edward seemed to stay out of it.

Tuesday evening Carlisle and I needed to head home, so he could start his shift on Wednesday. We agreed that I would be back up on the following Friday and that the house would be left to Edward, Bella, and I for a few hours.

Using the time wisely, I focused on studying as much as possible, reading a variety of authors and approaches. When I arrived Bella wasn't home. Over the week I had spoken to Edward and he was agreeable to following my recommendations. I suspected that he didn't know what he was getting himself into, but that part didn't matter. What mattered was his commitment and determination.

A/N: I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Till next time.