Chapter 18 – Family

I ran down the stairs in complete shock. Edward held my shoulders, "What's wrong?" I couldn't speak. "Bella, Bella, what happened?" Jasper asked. "She's in complete shock." Edward took me up in his arms and sat with me in the living room. I shook my head, "Edward, if you love me, you'll blind me." His eyebrows furrowed, "Bella, what happened?" "Ignore her, she's being melodramatic," Tanya stood at the bottom of the stairs. I stood, "Melodramatic. Please, I just saw my dad making out with my sister." Everyone in the room became statues, all of them staring at Tanya. "Bells," Charlie came down the stairs. As a vampire, his hair was fuller, the slight creases in his face were gone and his eyes were crimson. He was like the man in my parents' wedding pictures, "Please do not be mad at Tanya." I held my head, "I don't think I can take this." I ran my fingers through my hair, "This truly has been the most emotional month of my life." Kate sat down with me, "Ok, let's calm down." I sighed, "Calm down, right." My dad stood my Tanya, holding her hand and I closed my eyes. I loved my sister and my dad. I would not deny them anything, but this was too much. I got up and went for the French doors, "Isabella?" I looked back, "Leave me alone, Tanya. Please, just leave me alone."

"This really is….." I looked at him, "Emmett now is so not the time," my voice broke on the last word. I stepped outside and leaned against the glass. "Just give her some time. That's all she needs," Charlie explained. Someone dashed out of the room and came to stand beside me, "Come on," it was Rosalie. I looked her. "Just come on. You need to get out of here for a while." Rosalie and I walked silently in the field behind the house. "How are you doing?" I smiled, "Let's recap. I was attacked by Victoria, causing my amnesia. Then I was tortured and changed into a vampire. I was taken in by my sisters, making all of you my cousins. So, now, I'm dating my cousin and I just saw my sister kissing my father." Rosalie laughed, "Ok, stupid question. Next one, do think you can live this?" "Of course I can. I love them both and maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. You and I know how Tanya is, which doesn't make things better." I groaned and Rosalie sighed, "Look, being in this family is not easy, as you well know. But, you get more out of it, again as you know. It's up to you on how you handle it. Also, I owe you an apology as well." I looked at her. "I treated you pretty badly. Believe me, when I found out what happened to you; that was something I never wanted to happen to you." "I know, Rosalie. But let's be honest, I got under your skin pretty good."

She smiled, "Yes you did, Ms. It Takes Real Intelligence to Fix Motorcycles." I laughed, "Sorry about that." "Fine, you two made up, now what about Tanya," Irina asked from behind us. I looked back at Irina and she folded her arms, "Don't you have anything to say to Tanya." I smiled, "Yea, where's Buffy when you need her?" Irina scoffed and Rosalie laughed, "Isabella, come on." "No." Irina rolled her eyes, "Fine. Just to give you a heads up, Carlisle and Edward are talking to your dad about what happened." I groaned, "Fine, give me a few minutes. And keep Tanya away from me." Irina held her hands up, "Fair enough," and she ran off to the house. Rosalie tapped her foot, "Do you really want to go back?" "No, but I should. Let's go." Rosalie went back to the house. I walked back into the living room and my dad had his arm over Tanya's shoulder. I felt like I was going to gag, but I faked a half-smile. Edward took my hands, "Are you alright?" I gritted my teeth, "Do I look alright?" I leaned my head against his chest; Edward was the one person who truly calmed me, even after all this time. My dad was eyeing Edward suspiciously and Edward sighed, "Yes Charlie, Bella and I resumed our relationship." My dad's eyes widened, "How did you know……?" Tanya smiled, "Edward's a mind-reader. He could hear everyone's thoughts around him."

I smiled, "Everyone's except mine's." Charlie looked at me, "Why is that?" I shrugged, "No idea, but that's one of the things that got him to notice me." Edward leaned his face into my hair, "That and the way her blood appealed to me." I giggled, "My blood was so potent to him, but he didn't want to kill me, because of his family's lifestyle." He nodded, "Yes, Dr. Cullen explained it to me. None of you hunt people." Charlie's eyes fell on me, "Have you……?" "I've never tasted human blood." I sat down with my dad, "I think now is the time to tell you the complete truth, Dad. Everything, from when Edward and I first met." Everyone, but Tanya, Carlisle, Esme and Edward departed as I began the story of mine and Edward's relationship. My dad listened intently on how Edward really saved me from being killed by Tyler's truck, why I ran away to Arizona to my birthday party. My dad listened to Edward's explanation on why he left. "That's why? You wanted to keep her from this?" Edward nodded, "And it was the worst mistake of my life." Tanya sighed, "It was awful, Charlie. Edward was…. well, he wasn't the same." Tanya explained about the Cullens stay after they left Forks and Edward talked about what he did for the years he was gone.

Charlie looked at me, "Isabella, what have you done for the years you were gone?" My eyes widened; I would need to edit out some of the things I did, because not even Edward knew it all. I explained about the Volturi, which lead into the decisions about our laws and Irina's and my return to Denali. My dad asked to speak to Irina. He thanked her for helping me and helping me find a family. While Charlie spoke with my family, I wanted to speak with Tanya. We sat on the roof and I asked what happened while we were still in Washington. "I can't explain it, Is. The way he looked at me when he first woke up. I mean, think about, the first time you saw Edward, didn't something just click for you?" "Yeah, I noticed him right away, but I was more focused on the horrifying look he was giving me." She smiled, "Oh yea, he told me about that. He wanted to kill you right then and there." I rolled my eyes, "Yep, he's a total romantic." I sighed, "Ok, I'm going to ask about this once, then never ever ever ever ever ever again, but explain what I saw when I walked in the room?" She smiled, "Literally, he and I got carried away. I was telling him about how much you have become like a sister to me. He was thanking me and one thing led to another….." I held up my hand, "Ok, thank you. Really, don't need another visual." She giggled, "Isabella, please believe me. I never thought something like this would happen. I know it seems like our family is completely dysfunctional, but I do care about your father and not like another conquest." I looked at her, "If I ever thought you did, well, you'd lose all that pretty hair."

She smiled, "I know. But if you don't want me with him, then I won't be. I love you and I would never do anything to hurt you." I hugged her, "No, I would never deny you this, especially not this. You deserve it, Tanya. But if you ever hurt him……" She pushed me away and we laughed. Tanya leapt from the roof and I laid down on hit, with my hands covering my face. Things were falling into place and becoming complicated at the same time. I sprang to my feet to see I wasn't alone. Edward was leaning against the chimney, smiling at me. I closed my eyes and shook my head, "Please, no jokes." He held up his hands and shook his head. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. I looked up at him, "But I do owe you an apology." "For what?" I bit my lip, "For when I threw you on the floor. But then again, you kissed me and I didn't know who you were." He smiled, "No, you were right to do that. Even after what Tanya told us, I shouldn't have done that. But I have to admit, it was worth it just to have you in my arms again." I smiled, "That and I'm sure you have never had a woman man-handle you like that." He chuckled, "Not at all." I smiled coyly, "If you want, I can do it again." Edward pressed his lips to mine, lifting my feet from the roof. "Bella!" I opened my eyes and groaned, "Living with my dad again, with my boyfriend in the house. This is going to be hell."