The Meeting

Bella had accepted everything I had shown her so well, and Alice was sure that she and Bella would be great friends. What could go wrong when Bella met the family? Rosie was still furious, with the fact that I has let our secret out and revealed to Bella that we were vampires, however the Austin Martin was thankfully still in one piece and undamaged. What could I do except tell her, I was in love, I admitted it freely, I was 120% in love. I wanted this meeting to go well. If Rosie could keep civil or out of the way, I didn't mind which, and Jasper keeps his thirst under control, which I am sure he would, then everything would be fine.

I had agreed to meet Bella early that morning at her dad's house. I wished she would tell him that I was her boyfriend; that still felt strange when I think about it, then I could pick her up and she wouldn't have to drive that terrible truck. I know she loves it but I would feel much happier if I could drive her. I did however enjoy the run to her house. Running made me feel free and I could be myself. This was a great way to start the day, considering I could be my self with Bella too and that just made me feel brilliant. I set off early and took the long route through the forest. When I arrived at her house, her dad was still home so I jumped up the tree near her bedroom window so I could watch Bella as she woke.

I wouldn't be too freaky, (well except for being a vampire), I just enjoyed seeing her in a morning. I would keep my self occupied while she changed, and then join her for breakfast. I could hear her dad was happy about his fishing trip. I hoped for his sake that he caught lots of fish. I can't see the point in fishing with a line, humans spent all day just to come back with 5-10 fish, it really didn't seem worth all the effort. At least he wasn't one of those that put all the fish back, which really didn't make sense. I suppose it was relaxing, I laughed to myself, catching a mountain lion was a much better way of relaxing for me, I guess that was how different we were.

I don't think I could ever get over how cute Bella looked in a morning; her hair fanned out over her pillow as she was asleep. When she sat up it fell down her back, sticking out at the ends. Her face looked pinker as she woke and she blinked faster and more often, her cheeks had slight crease marks where she had been lying on her side and the pillow caused marks on her face. How ever by the time she was up and looking in the mirror her face was back to normal, un-creased and pale. At this point she brushed her fingers thought her hair trying to flatten it before washing and showering. This was then my queue to busy myself before I met her for breakfast. How I wish I could be the one to flatten her hair in the morning. Since the kiss, I know I can control myself; I just have to be careful. But I don't think it would be right or correct if I stayed over, with her knowing, to watch her sleep until she told her dad about us. Until then I would have to be content with watching her through glass.

I jumped down from the tree and knocked on the front door. I could hear her hurrying down the stairs with her heart racing, just as she got to the bottom of the stairs I heard her falter, she must have got her legs tied up. I smiled to myself as she walked carefully and slowly to the door to greet me.

"Hey Edward." Would I ever get tired of that smile? The short answer was no, never. I wished I could pick her up, and swing her round; no, keep control. She held the door for me and I walked through into the kitchen.

"Sleep well?" I asked knowing full well from they way she tossed and turned during the night it wasn't as peaceful as usual.

"It was ok," she didn't fool me, I gave her one of those looks, "ok," she said "I am a bit nervous; about meeting the family," she continued. That was better, if I couldn't hear her thoughts I needed her to answer me honestly, otherwise how could I help?

She busied herself with getting her cereal for breakfast. So I sat at the table to wait. At least she wasn't cooking anything. I couldn't stand the smell, not that her cooking was bad, well I don't think it was. Her dad always seemed happy with it, or happy when he ate, but that could just be because he was happy to see Bella, I could never be sure.

Once she had tidied up we headed off to the truck. I jumped in the drivers' seat, I couldn't see there would be a problem with speed in this old truck, I don't think it could do past 60 mph, which would suit Bella. I know I scared her with my driving, but it wasn't like I was going to crash, my reactions are so quick, it is nearly impossible, but she didn't seem convinced when I told her that.

As we headed out of town I could feel her pulse quickening again. I think if I had a pulse mine would be quicker now too. I wasn't nervous, well I was… I knew she would like everyone and I knew everyone, except Rosie liked her, but it was nerve-racking waiting for the introductions.

The journey seemed to take forever in her old truck but eventually we got to the forest and the track that would lead to our house. It was great to leave the forest and enter the meadow, suddenly you could see the sky again and on a nice summers day – not that we had many of those in Forks, hence why we could stay there – I could come out into the meadow and enjoy the sun on my skin. I pulled up in front of the house, to a bombardment of thoughts.

"See I said it was an old truck," Rosie was saying to Esme. Esme just thought it was quaint and thought she would like Bella more because of it. Rosie however thought it was another floor in her character.

I could hear them all lining up just through the door way, I hoped they were looking natural, I know Bella was accepting everything brilliantly but I didn't want her scaring off now.

I wish I knew what she was thinking right now, but I didn't so I would have to ask.

"So what do you think?" waving my hand aimlessly in front of me, id seen people doing on the TV so I hoped it was having the right effect.

"Wow, it has a certain charm, it is not quite what I imagined" she said looking at the living room with the long glass side facing the meadow.

"Shall we continue, I think they are all waiting for us."

"Yes, quick before I change my mind," she said I knew the nerve were getting to her, so I hopped out and before she could blink I had her door open for her. I held out my hand, I am not sure if a cold hand is much reassurance but I hoped that she would understand the gesture. She did, well she accepted my hand, her palm was all clammy, never mind it would be over soon, I thought.

I opened the door and lead her through. How embarrassing they were all stood there with Carlisle at the head. They all stepped forward to introduce them selves, formally, well all except Alice, who floated forward as she always does.

Stage one went well, Rosalie was polite, strained but polite, which is strange considering Jasper was there spreading good will, that meant Rosalie's feelings were still very clear; I was in big bother.

I took Bella upstairs, it was easier to shut out my family's thoughts up here, and also it gave Bella the chance to look around and hopefully get more comfortable. I wanted Bella to feel welcome and happy; I knew that Alice was sure that with a bit of time that would happen. But I could also hear the strained thoughts of Rosalie, and I knew that Emmet would side with Rosalie, however I was sure he would try and make an effort to be nice and welcoming, it was the way we were brought up. Carlisle enforced on us good manners and with a role model like him and Esme how could you not follow.

Bella's voice broke through my thoughts.

"No bed?" She sounded surprise. Oups, I had forgotten to tell her that I didn't sleep.

"No," I looked sheepishly, "We don't sleep, never; I have forgotten what sleep feels like."

"So what do you do during the night then?" Bella asked. Was this the time to come clean about watching her or would that freak her out too much. Maybe I will just drop it in as an after thought and she won't think too much of it.

"I read, listen and play music, go hunting, or recently I have been better acquainting myself with human qualities." Maybe she will miss what I was really meaning.

"You've been watching me sleeping," She glared accusingly. There she goes again, much more intelligent than I give her credit.

"It fascinates me," I admitted, this was no lie. Watching Bella sleep was one of my favourite things to do, she looked so cute and vulnerable, well she looked like that most of the time anyway, but when she was asleep the qualities were more apparent. She didn't say much on the subject after that. I wish I knew what she was thinking, did she think of me as a creep or did she find that romantic. I liked to think of myself has her guardian angel, well apart from the halo or wings.

I guided her back through the house and out the back. I was going to take her to my favourite spot, which was a small clearing in the trees a few miles from the house, on a day like today the sun would be streaming in and this was the perfect place for Bella to see what I was really like.