Chapter 9

Alice's POV

I looked at Bella perplexed. I had never seen someone looking so much cute even when they were adorning a look that screamed that they were up-to no good. But then, I realized something, Bella was beautiful, breathtaking beautiful and I concluded slowly, just like the rest of my family.

She was taller than me of course and she had the same pale skin like the rest of them. It glowed. I noticed slowly, she also had the same eyes – amber brown, molten honey. It was perplexing and somewhere I felt a pang of jealousy. Bella seemed to fit into my family more than I could ever dream of. She was like one of the pieces of my beautiful family.

She smiled at me and led me into the living room. She sat down on the sofa as if she belonged there as I struggled to be comfortable at the plush armchair. I wondered if the silence would continue when Bella said, "Do you know who I am?"

"Bella, Edward's girlfriend," I said nervously. Somehow the word girlfriend did not settle at all for what I had witnessed between Bella and Edward. I added hurriedly, "Captain Swan's daughter."

Bella smiled a bit shyly and said, "I cannot believe that they didn't tell you yet." She was smiling amused as if she had some personal joke.

"Tell me what?" I asked bracing myself.

"Edward is not my boyfriend," she said. I looked at her confused. But Rosalie said … my train of thoughts were stopped as Bella said, "Edward is my husband."

"What?" Alice exclaimed out loudly.

"Bella, what are you saying to her?" Edward said. I looked around hastily. When did Edward enter the room?

"I cannot believe it that you didn't tell her about us!" Bella said. She was trying to sound angry but she was smiling. Alice watched in shock. Edward married? When did he marry? That's why Rosalie said that people did not speculate about her and Emmett. Alice looked back at Edward. He seemed like a nineteen year old maybe twenty but if she was correct then he should have been twenty five or something. Yeah he had married a little early but it had not been too early.

Alice watched as Edward looked at her as if he had sensed her thoughts and he said, "We were married…"

"…a few years back. We passed high school and got married," Bella completed the sentence again, cutting off Edward. Edward looked at her in exasperation as Bella said, "I really wanted you to come."

But she couldn't… The sentence hung in mid air, unspoken. Alice nodded and said, "Congratulations. I had no idea."

"You would have made a lovely bridesmaid, Alice." Bella said as she moved towards her. She smiled and said, "Don't worry. You can be the bridesmaid for Rosalie. You would look lovely."

Alice smiled. Bella was the easiest person to talk to after Rosalie. She smiled and said, "My father was so reluctant to give me to Edward. He didn't actually trust him."

Alice looked at Edward in amazement at this piece of news. Edward had always been so serious. She had always thought that he was the most responsible and reliable person in the family after Carlisle. How could Chief Swan not trust him? There was so much to learn about her family.

"Charlie, my dad, he is very protective about me. He doesn't show it but he is." Bella said. She smiled mischievously and looked at Edward. Edward stared at her shaking his head as if unable to do anything.

"He has become very lonely after I married Edward. You see, I had come to live in Forks just for my high school. I lived with my mother and Phil before. Phil is my stepdad and my mother's husband. He is into baseball." Bella said.

Alice nodded. She watched as slowly Carlisle and Esme entered the room along with Rosalie and Emmett. Bella seemed to ignore them all and continued, "Charlie has been lonely for a long time. He would like you Alice."

Alice nodded again. Bella looked around and caught Rosalie's eyes. "Where is Nessie?" Rosalie said.

Nessie? Alice wondered. "She is with the Jacob and their wolf clan. Really, I think Leah and she is going to become good friends."

"Leah?" Rosalie said in amusement, arching one of her perfect eyebrows.

"She is a good girl. I like her." Emmett said and then he hurriedly added as Rosalie turned to him, "She would be a great friend to Nessie."

Rosalie punched him and he made a face as if he was hurt. Bella smiled and Edward shook his head at them again. Alice wondered who Nessie is, she had never heard of her. Maybe she was Bella's sister, Alice concluded.

Carlisle finally said, "Bella, you asked for a family meeting."

"Yes, Carlisle." Bella said.

"Let's go to the dining room. I guess Emmett has brought some salad and I am sure you are hungry Alice," Esme said.

Everyone piled down out of the room. Rosalie appeared on Alice's one side while Bella took her hand on the other side. They entered into a large room with a glass dining table and tall wooden chairs. One side of the wall like the rest of the house was made of glass and on the opposite side it leads into the kitchen.

Alice sat down at the end side of the table while Carlisle took the head. Esme sat beside him on the right while Edward took the left side. Bella sat down beside Alice instead of taking the place beside Edward. Rosalie did the same and Emmett sat beside Rosalie. It was like the whole table divided.

Alice's head was reeling. She had not been in the house for an hour and already it seemed like it was getting into some division. She really had to leave. This thought both hurt her and made her strong. She bowed her head as Esme; put a plate before her and everyone else. She put out food before everyone and Carlisle said, "Let's eat please. This is the first meal we are having with Alice. Let's enjoy it."

First and last. Alice thought. But she realized she was really hungry. She had not eaten when she had been leaving with all the excitement of meeting her family and she hated the food that was served in airlines. So now, that she had been served her favorite she couldn't help but eat it.

"Do you think Nessie would be okay there?"Edward said. He had wanted to whisper it but as bella was not sitting beside him. He had spoken it a little louder.

"Really, Edward she is 16 years old, I am sure she can handle herself." Bella said.

"I didn't mean like that. I am sure Nessie is alright there, I was actually not sure about Jacob," Edward said.

Bella really smiled then and said, "Edward stop being over protective like Charlie. Nessie is with Jacob. She will be safe there and please don't mistrust Jacob. They are adolescents and they know how to handle it."

"I am sure they are better than you two," Emmett said. Rosalie smirked and dig on her food.

"What do you mean by that, Emmett?" Bella said. Her demeanor changed. She was ready to take on Emmett's challenging gaze.

"Don't think we don't know how Edward used to sneak into your room when he thought we all were here. We knew it. Poor Charlie, he thought his daughter was safe at her bedroom sleeping." Emmett said, emphasizing on sleeping.

"I thought you will be too pre occupied to notice Emmett," Edward said. They all laughed. Even Alice couldn't help but smile.

Rosalie laughed, while Emmett wolf whistled. Everyone was laughing now. This was how a family was supposed to be like. This was what she had been missing and now she wont be able to live this either. She struggled with her feelings and concluded, 'She will enjoy it as long as it lasts. At least if she was getting to live it now, she will live it.' She turned her attention to Emmett. "Carlisle and Charlie are completely different. They both love us, but where Carlisle gives us space Charlie keeps the reins tight."

"No, he is just a little over protective, that's it." Bella said. She turned to Alice said, "Don't listen to Emmett. He is an idiot. Charlie is a very good father, Alice. You will love him."

Alice smiled. She was sure if Bella liked Charlie and loved him, she was sure she would go along him well. She sighed as she added, 'Only if I stayed here in Forks.'

It was a good dinner but among all the laughter and teasing there was an underlying current, it would have to end soon. Alice watched as Rosalie and Bella collected the plates. Even when they were laughing, they had not exactly been able to eat. Their plates were still full or they seemed full. Alice sighed.

Emmett and Edward tried to talk and tease her while Rosalie, Bella and Esme worked in the kitchen. They returned soon and took their places. Alice felt her throat tighten again. There it was, the impending fact staring at them again.

Finally Carlisle spoke, "Bella, you asked for a family meeting?"

"Yes. We all know that Alice cannot stay here, but we also know that we don't want to lose her. We all love her. We also want to know her and live with her just like she wants to live with us." Bella said.

"Bella," Esme cautioned her.

"I know that it is problematic if I stay here. I don't want to be a problem to you and I certainly don't want that I should be the cause for any danger for my family. I will leave." Alice said slowly.

Everyone looked at her. Esme was tearful, but Bella held her hand and squeezed it. Bella said, "No Alice, you don't need to leave Forks."

"Bella?" Carlisle asked her.

Bella smiled widely and said, "I came with a perfect solution for Alice when I was visiting Jacob."

"You don't want Alice to go and live with them, do you?" Edward said.

"No, I want Alice to go and live with Charlie." Bella said stunning them all beyond words.