Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight but I do own Ella, Adrian and anything else you don't recognise.

AN: I'm so sorry it's been a while since I posted, ya'll must be mad at me. This has been because of a number of things. Work has been incredibly busy and stressful, the time I use for writing has been dominated by me sobbing in my home and trying not to fall to pieces. I've also had real writers block on this chapter and I know it isn't the best it could be, it's more of a filler. I've got some interesting chapters coming up so I suppose this non-interesting one was difficult to write. Please bear with me! I'll be on holiday for the later part of next week/beginning of the following week, so not sure when the next chapter will make an appearance ~ Hannah

Chapter Twenty-Four – Girls I'm…

Tonight I was wearing a black sweetheart dress that came down to my knees with black tights and purple heels. Bella stood next to me in similar attire though she didn't look nearly as comfortable. On my other side stood Angela, looking very lovely in a soft magenta dress. We were waiting at the restaurant for our parents who had called this 'meeting' together. As evening dinner's go, this one was definitely unusual and though Bella and Angela seemed somewhat confused about what was going on, I thought I had uncovered what was about to happen.

Dad arrived with Christine - Angela's Mum - in tow. I knew things were serious because Christine had managed to smarten Charlie up, he was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a forest green jumper. I knew that those clothes hadn't been in his wardrobe a couple of days ago.

Once we were seated at our dinner table and our orders had been placed, I sat between Bella and Angela looking like that cat that got the cream. From the way I could hear Angela's brain turning I thought she perhaps was working out what had happened as well whereas my poor sister still looked as confused as ever.

"So you're probably wondering why we asked you to come for dinner," said Dad.

"No," said Bella and Angela, while I replied, "yes."

"Should have known that you'd work things out Ella but let's inform the others before they feel left out."

I giggled at my Dad's words. I felt very light and happy within this moment.

"Bells, Angela, your Mum and I are dating and we're pretty darn serious about each other."

The people on either side of me squealed with joy. I should have known that this was the news Dad wanted to share. He'd been way too happy recently and trapped in that bubble that only new love can produce. I was so happy for dad. We never talked about it but I knew that Renee leaving him had really screwed him up and I was over the moon that he'd been given this second chance at love.

Dad and Christine had clearly been expecting bad fallout – if their facial expressions were anything to go about. How they had come to that negative conclusion was beyond me as both Bella and I were got on very well with Angela and her Mum.

Without the stereotypical jealousy and hurt that could come from two families uniting, this was just a joyous occasion. With food and drink shared between one whole and very new family.

My Dad's happiness sometimes meant more to me than my own but then I was a Daddy's girl while Bella was closer to Renee. I doubted now however, that, if Renee came calling to take us back that Bella would go. Adrian and her were pretty serious.

"Oh my gosh, do you know what this means?" I asked the girls while are respective parents were caught up in their own conversation.

"That we'll really be sisters now," said Angela.

"Well that too but I was actually thinking of something else."

"What?" Bella asked.

"This calls for a sleepover."

Angela squealed, her excitement matching mine while Bella merely rolled her eyes though her smile gave things away.

"I was thinking of inviting Alice and Rose as well, what do you think?"

Angela nodded, "I like that idea. I feel I should know them better than I do."

"Ok, I guess I'm in," said Bella.

"Chin up Bells, it's not like I'm asking you to go shopping or something. No boys though and that includes you texting Adrian! It's going to be a boy free evening."

"Ha! Tyler is so going to object about that!"

"Tyler can complain all he wants; he may be fabulous with fashion but he is still a male."

We were sitting at the lunch table at school when Angela jumped out of her chair, squealed and ran across the cafeteria. Most of the people in the room stopped to stare at her actions even I was gobsmacked that she could make that much noise. Things had been quiet since our parents announced they were seeing each other. At school on Monday I'd immediately cornered both Alice and Rose and told them about the sleepover plan for the coming weekend and they were both excited by what I'd planned. Angela was right that Tyler would complain, he had been moaning about it since first thing on Monday morning. It was now Wednesday and he still hadn't given up on moaning and pouting about things. Tyler was and always would be a total drama queen.

The source of Angela's excitement was currently hidden by her overexcited tackle and hug. It wasn't till she was dragging said person back towards them that I finally realised who it was. It prompted my own squeal as I raced off to hug the person that was trying to escape Angela's tight grip.

It seemed that Ben had returned from his mysterious disappearance. I for one, was relieved for I had been very close to starting my own search party to go look for him and his family. I hadn't realised – from my talks with Angela regarding Ben's disappearance – that they were this close. She'd never done or said anything that would suggest they were and yet I was seeing with my own two eyes how tightly Angela held Ben and how unwilling she was to let him go.

Once they had caused enough of a scene to set the gossip wheels in motion, Angela and Ben released each other and Angela hurriedly led Ben over to us. We all enjoyed our own moments of welcoming Ben back into our friendship groups, though none of us were quite so over the top like Angela was.

When everything was settled and our stomachs rumbled in anticipation of food, it became obvious that a silence had settled over our group and we each were taking turns at starring at Ben. It was probably quite nerve wracking for him to have so many eyes on him at once but I for one was really curious as to where he had been all this time and why we had only got radio silence from him.

We were such an odd group but I realised – from the silent conversation that Ben was having with Angela – that whatever the truth was wasn't going to be shared here. Yes we were a group of odd balls but to the Cullen's, Adrian and Tyler were mere humans and vice versus. I always forgot that particular secret was dominating our group. Adrian had his own reasons for wanting to him his fey heritage a secret from the Cullen's and I never once questioned that. The Cullen's didn't want to let what they assumed were mere humans into their family secret either. I could only hope that when the truth did come out it wasn't overly dramatic. I didn't want anything to tear out family apart.

I guess I would just have to be patient and hope that Ben would share what had happened to him at some point when there were fewer ears around. I was getting used to being in the mix of things and being left not knowing something was an odd experience for me now.

Edward held my hand under the table bringing me out of my thoughts and when I turned to look at him he smiled with such brilliance that it melted my soul.

"Awh great! Now I'm the only single one here. It was bad enough before but now I'm like the lone gooseberry to all of you lot," moaned Tyler.

"Tyler, not everyone at this table is dating," I said.

"Oh please! With the googly eyes Ben and Angela are making, we all know they'll be a couple within a week."

Both of the mentioned people blushed a bright red and all contact between them stopped. I felt sorry for them, it wasn't their fault that Tyler was grouchy but their new feelings shouldn't take the brunt of it. It was unfair to embarrass them like that.

"Tyler you're doing that thing again where you say something without thinking it through again," said Adrian. "Remember what I said I'd do last time you did that."

"No, not Mr. Pink Rabbit. You wouldn't do that to me Adrian, you promised."

"I didn't have to do it Tyler, you just did."

"So, who's this Mr. Pink Rabbit Tyler? Have you been hiding a secret boyfriend from us?" I asked.

There was laughter from the table as Tyler blushed deeply.

"Karmas a bitch right Tyler," said Angela.

"Go on then, are you going to tell us or not."

Tyler crossed his arms over his chest and sulked.

"Mr. Pink Rabbit was a toy Tyler had when he was little. He went everywhere with it and it didn't leave his arms. Not when it was covered in mud or when he accidently peed on it. He Mother was very relieved when he finally let go of it."

"You are not a very nice cousin Adrian."

"Yet I am a funny one."

I laughed a long with the rest of my friends but it wasn't a malicious laughter or anything. We were just giving Tyler a good-natured ribbing that was all. I did feel bad for Tyler though as it must be hard being the only single friend. There weren't a lot of openly gay guys in Forks so it was even harder for Tyler to find someone to be with. I had no doubt that his time would come however and probably when he least expected it as well.

Happiness radiated from the tight group of friends I'd made over the course of lunch and the remained of the week. I often caught myself thinking of how lucky I was to have such amazing friends and extended family to lean on. I could only imagine how my life would have turned out if I had stayed stuck under Renee's thumb. I probably would have become sad and bitter. Twisted like an old hag and adopted thousands of cats.

The dawn of a new weekend and the looming excitement of the sleepover should have been an excited happy event for all yet the silent looks being passed between Bella and Angela was enough to set my stomach on edge. There was weariness in the looks, a hidden fear that I couldn't put my finger on. What would Bella and Angela be worrying about that I couldn't know of?

I couldn't tell whether I was being paranoid, curious or selfish. Maybe I was putting so much hope on wanted this sleepover to be a success that I was now imagining things that weren't there.

"Guys what's going on?"

They shared another look between them and I felt anger burn its way up my throat. I was being silly; they didn't have to share anything with me just because we'd had no secrets before. I was behaving like a child, upset because I hadn't been told the secret. I knew this yet somehow I couldn't stop my irrational behaviour.

"Seriously I know you guys are hiding something. All the secret looks and silent conversations are starting to worry me. Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No, of course not," said Bella.

"Then what is it?"

"We're not sure we should say."

"Look, I'm really fighting myself at the moment. I don't want to be childish and sulk because you won't tell me the secret nor do I want to guilt trip you into telling me but we've never had secrets before and that leads me to believe that this is a big one. Are you scared of me telling someone because you know I'd never do that! Unless you've sworn not to tell me then I don't understand what the problem is."

Bella sighed, the worry etched on her face became more pronounced and unless my eyes were deceiving me then it appeared like she was about to cry. Suddenly all my anger and frustration at not being included flew out the window as my protective nature took over. Bella was more important to me than some silly secret. She was my twin sister and Angela was my best friend. If they were hiding something from me then hands down it was for a good reason. I'd just had to man up and prove that it didn't matter to me.

"Ben and his family are magical. Ben hit his maturity and became a wizard, that's why he was away from school. He was learning to control it," said Angela.

"That's wonderful though, isn't it? Shouldn't that be a happy thing? Why are you still looking sombre?"

"Adrian hired Ben's family to go undercover in the fey world. I've been hiding this from you for a long time," said Bella. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you or that Adrian asked me not to tell you but that I didn't want you to get involved with whatever is going to happen. You already have the vampire world to deal with and I didn't want to put the stress of the fey world on your shoulders as well."

"Bella you're my sister. I'll take all the stress in the world just so I can have your back and protect you. Stress and worry go hand in hand in my world but I'd rather suffer their effects that be ignorant at what is going on in your life."

"I'm sorry," chocked Bella as she began crying.

"Bella it's alright. You and me, we're two peas in a pod. We've had each other's backs for the longest time. This isn't the first time we've kept something from the other in an attempt to protect them and it won't be the last. Please dry your eyes, we have a sleepover in a couple of hours and we need to get ready for it. It's supposed to be a happy day."

"I'm worried about Adrian. He says there is discord running in the fey world. He hired Ben's family to find out what was happening but they didn't find anything conclusive. He said he could sense a storm coming but knew not which way the wind was blowing."

"Bella relax. It sounds scary but there is no use worrying about it. Just live your life in the present and forget about all the 'what ifs'. If I thought about all the bad things that could come from me knowing about the Cullen's I would be a hermit within my own room. Life's too short for that."

"She's right you know. We've been foolish in our own worries for a future that hasn't come to pass yet. Mother always tells me to forget about the future because the sands of time haven't decided what course they're going to run on yet."

For a moment, both Bella and Angela were covered by bright light before it faded into nothing. The bond with my sister was stronger than ever. The bond with Angela was new and wavering but it was solid. For others this moment would seem inconsequential and a melancholy moment in a happy day but I could see it for what it really was. It was a moment when three people became closer and the lines of family started to form.

In the end I sent Bella and Angela out to get food for us mere humans while I set up the living room to form a den. Hanging one big sheet from the ceiling I created a canopy for the piles of pillows, mattresses and duvets on the floor. Knowing who was going to be joining us, I'd set up a table covered with make-up, hair tools and nail accessories. There was no doubt in my mind that Alice would want to do makeovers so I thought I might as well get everything ready for her.

I'd turned the room into an indoor tent, girl style. I was glad that Dad was staying with Christine tonight for surely he would look at what I'd created and shake his head at me. I thought I'd done a good job. I was really excited to have this sleepover, as it would be my first proper one. I had had a couple when I was very small but they had always been at other people's houses. Renee had never let me have a sleepover of my own and when Bella had had people over I was always banished to my room.

I changed into my unicorn onesie – don't mock – that Bella had bought me one Christmas ago. I'd returned the favour by buying her an owl onesie and we both looked equally ridiculous in them.

Bella and Angela arrived back with food fifteen minutes before Alice and Rose arrived on the doorstep.

I was actually surprised that Alice and Rose had managed to arrive without their other halves moaning in the background. The boys had put up a lot of fight in knowing that they weren't invited to the sleepover and they definitely weren't used to not getting their own way.

As I suspected, Alice did head straight towards the make-up station I'd set up and with a squeal I was hauled up from where I'd been sitting and transformed into Alice's own Barbie doll. My sister, Angela and Rose laughed at my predicament while I just glared. I knew they'd get their comeuppance once Alice had finished with me. I was right of course and I grinned smugly from the floor and offered no help when the others faced similar fates.

Of course Alice and Rose didn't eat any of the food but that didn't stop Bella, Angela and I from stuffing our faces until we were groaning in pain from being so full.

"So Angela, you seemed pretty happy to see Ben...is there something we should know?" asked Alice.

Angela blushed.

"Yeah, I wondered about that. When I was worried about him being away but you didn't seem that bothered," I added.

"Erh well, nothing is going on there..."

"Oh really? Then why is your face all red?"

"It's not!"

"Someone has a crush," sang Bella.

Angela threw a pillow at her.

"Ooo I know, let's place truth or dare!" said Alice.

Judging by the smile on her face, we'd all be regretting things in the morning...