Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I have only turned Edward into a deliciously devious monster, and I guess that part remains with me. No copyright infringement is intended.

First of all, this chapter is dedicated to our beloved Katy Perry, for obvious reasons. :P

A/N: Thanks for the glorious reviews. Keep em' coming! I was so overcome by the appreciation my little first timer's kiss received. Gah, I love you guys!

Of course, they won't retract now, the kissing threshold has been broken. So, it will only get more and more lemony from now on (cause our poor Edward cannot bear it anymore).

Everyone was asking, "Where the hale are the Cullens!" Well, here they are…….

Edward Masen was a happy man. He was extremely satisfied with himself. Perhaps, more than satisfied. He had accomplished something that he hadn't even thought of attempting, not until Isabella came into his life. And now, the whole possibility to have her the way he wanted seemed within reach.

But he felt even more glad for the fact that Isabella had initiated their first kiss. Of course, he never expected her to, but it came as a pleasant surprise. He wanted to know the reason behind her sudden boldness but decided to wait. I might ask her later, he mused, when there is less resistance from her. Right now, I can just revel in the memories of that kiss.

He sighed, remembering the pillow-like softness of her lips. The want to kiss them again was already growing inside him. Her warmth still called to him, like a siren song. He was ready to dive into the depths of the pleasure that Isabella offered. Suddenly, the wedding looked too far away in the future. And the urge to have her to himself was growing like a tidal wave.

Upon reaching his manor, Edward exited his carriage thinking of nothing but Isabella. He was so lost into her that he almost failed to notice the familiar smell that now marked his abode. And then, as the miasma of his desire dissipated, the thoughts from the other side started pouring in.

It was another vampire, a vampire he knew too well.

He hurried inside, feeling ill at ease. Every corner of his house was coated with that known scent. But there was only so much a person could do to hide from Edward. The thoughts came from the backyard, and he went straight ahead.

There, in the backyard, stood his sprite-like vampire sibling.

"Edward! You took longer than I thought. Usually, you take much less time to find people."

"Alice..." he grumbled under his breath. "What brought you here?" The sudden appearance of his former coven's member didn't go down well with him.

Alice smiled back brightly and answered in her typical nonchalance, "You know why I'm here, of course you do."

She proceeded to hug him, but he backtracked. The hurt from his actions was evident on her face.

"Edward, why do you treat us like this? We are your family," she said softly.

"If you remember correctly, Alice, I left your coven." He shifted away from her. Her arrival came as a blow to him. From her thoughts, it was clear why she was here. And that didn't make him one bit happy.

"We still treat you as our own, Edward. You're still a brother to me, a son to Carlisle and Esme," Alice tried to move him with words. Edward knew that she was not the person to give up so easily.

"Ha! As if," he ridiculed her. "If anything, Esme should be my younger sister."

"Still, she would love you the same." She flitted towards him. "Do you have any notion how much Esme missed you? You sure don't acknowledge it, but we all love you immensely."

Edward looked away. He wasn't ready to welcome his so called vampire family. His association with Isabella had just found its fair bit of footing. He didn't know how they would take this union. Besides, he didn't want a whole coven of vampires hovering around her.

Alice shook her head and smiled softly. She decided to communicate with him telepathically. Edward, we all know about her. Of course, I know that you don't want us to intervene. But we aren't here to intervene. We're here to partake in your wedding.

His head snapped up in surprise. He certainly hadn't expected that. "What? You mean… you aren't here to stop me?"

She shook her head again and continued verbally, "No, Edward. My brother has finally found a mate. Why would I ruin that? And how could you even think that I'd miss your wedding? You really thought that you could get away with it?" She flashed him a knowing smile.

"You had a vision of the wedding," he grumbled.

"But obviously." Alice sounded immensely glad. She could see the future, and Edward's decision to marry Isabella certainly didn't slip her visions.

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling anxious and relieved at the same time. "Others are here as well, aren't they?"

"Yes, my dear brother. No one wanted to miss your wedding." She wrapped her arms around him from behind. "We are all so thrilled, Edward. We are so happy for you."

He nodded and turned around, out of her arms. "Where are they?"

"Hunting." She patted his shoulders to reassure him. "They don't want to take chances with the human bride."

"Especially Jasper," he muttered, thinking about her husband's flimsy control around humans.

She nodded, but her enthusiasm didn't slip one bit. Her gleeful smile never faltered.

He smiled in return, unable fight her charm. "Why didn't you go with them? You should have hunted as well."

"Yes, I know. But I came here first just to tease you. I'll go at night."

"All right. Now tell me, you don't have any devious plans about the wedding, right?" He could hear her thoughts already. She wasn't going to let this wedding slip by so easily.

"I think you have an idea about my plans, Edward. I'm not even asking you. I am going to organise this wedding, so just give in."

He laughed at her child-like enthusiasm about the whole wedding affair. For once, he was relieved. His vampire family wasn't going to interrupt him. Isabella was very much within his reach.

"As I already know, Alice, you won't listen to me anyway. So, yes, you're allowed to plan and organise the wedding."

"Great!" She clapped her hands in anticipation. "Now you'll get to see my organisational prowess."

"I have no doubts about it," he replied, taking her inside the house.

"Would you tell me more about it?"

"No."

"How did it feel?"

Sinful… but it was heavenly… Isabella straightened her thoughts immediately, feeling guilty. "No."

"How long did it last?"

"I don't know."

"How deep—"

"Angela!" Isabella's face was hot with embarrassment. Angela's questions regarding her first kiss were making her cringe.

"Sorry, Issy, for the last bit. That was just to tease you." Angela squeezed her hand and gave her a playful smile. "You're just too shy. I wonder how he'll deal with you." She burst out laughing, while Isabella slapped her hand away.

"You're just so evil, Angela. I feel for poor Mr. Cheney." Isabella imitated her friend's tone just to get back at her. Angela just kept laughing at her.

"But tell me this much," Angela said between her bouts of mirth. "Did you like it or not?"

Isabella forestalled her question and looked away. But Angela kept insisting. Finally, realising that she didn't have any way out, she answered, "Yes, Angela, I did like it. And that's the irony of our situation. I don't like him per se, but… this kiss, I don't know how to define it. It just made me feel so different."

"At least, that is not a problem between you two. You're responding to him, Issy… you might just like his company in the end."

"I don't know, Angela. I'm not sure if I even want to think about it. Let's just go downstairs and talk about something else. Don't make me nervous."

Angela did listen to her at last and changed the topic to herself and Ben. She shared her childhood memories with Isabella, while they both had their lunch. After cleaning up the dining table, they sat in the back garden. Isabella was busy sewing, while Angela prattled away about Ben.

Noticing her struggles with the needle, Angela couldn't help but ask her, "Issy, why are you troubling yourself with all this sewing? You're going to marry a sickeningly wealthy man. Why bother? There will be plenty of servants to do the job."

Isabella made a face at her. "Doesn't make any difference to me. I'm bad at this. I must improve."

Angela smacked her forehead, feigning frustration. "Issy, you're such a strange creature. Anyway," she waved at her sewing kit, "this won't impress him. It's your cooking, darling. That will bring him down on his knees."

"You know, Angela..." Isabella dropped her sewing apparatus and thought aloud. "I was wondering… should I learn other recipes, or will he be satisfied with my current culinary skills?"

She did want to keep Edward satisfied as a proper wife. It would please him. He would be easy on Uncle, she thought, I can strive to be a good wife, at least in the ways I can.

Angela was about to answer back but stopped midway. A messenger was at the door, and she could see him from where she was sitting. "Someone's at the door, Issy."

Isabella went to check on it. The messenger gave her a written note and then left. It was a note from Edward. She opened it and read it aloud for Angela's sake.

"Dearest Bella, I'm sending this note to inform you that you are invited to your future home, the coming Saturday. My kin want to see you, and I couldn't deny. They are eagerly awaiting your visit. I will be escorting you. See you on Saturday morning. Yours truly…" She couldn't continue. The prospect of meeting his family left her voice weak with apprehension.

Angela quirked her brow, keen to know Isabella's reaction. "Well?" she prodded.

Isabella huffed and grimaced. "I thought that he didn't have any family to begin with. Now suddenly, they crop up from somewhere. I swear, Angela, he does this to unnerve me."

"Could be his extended family. Be reasonable, Issy. He's getting married. It's understandable that his family came here to see the lucky bride," Angela tried to reason.

"Lucky, Angela?" Isabella spat back unthinkingly.

Angela rolled her eyes at her. "I was just trying to explain, Issy. You're ready to bite my head off."

Isabella covered her face with her hands and apologised for her caustic tone. "I'm really sorry, Angela. I'm so confused and scared."

Angela hugged her and rubbed her back in soothing circles. "It's all right, honey, I understand. But you cannot avoid this visit. Meeting the family is a ritual most important. Don't be scared. Everything will be fine."

"I can only hope so, Angela. I wonder how they will treat me, what they might expect of me." Isabella mused about Edward's background. He's a wealthy man, certainly belonging to the highest social order. I have only read about the high-class noblemen and their families.

"What are you thinking about, Issy?" asked Angela, noticing her distant look.

"I was just thinking… am I 'lady' enough for them? Would they scrutinize my manners? I never thought about it before, but Mr. Masen is certainly from a very sophisticated background. How am I supposed to behave around them?" The worry in her voice was evidence enough of her doubts about herself.

"I think you're a perfect lady, Issy. I'm a self-professed brat, but you're the opposite of me. You're everything a man desires in a woman, Issy. Don't you dare look at yourself in a demeaning way." Angela grabbed Isabella's shoulders and gave them a little shake. "They will be enchanted by your very presence… in no time at all."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now stop doubting yourself and think about your ensemble for the grand meeting," Angela chirped. "Which reminds me, have you thought about the trousseau? You will need to buy a lot of things, Issy. New clothes, accessories, shoes…"

Isabella looked at her in panic. "Oh my God, Angela! I hadn't even given it a thought. Now that you've reminded me, I don't have much with me to begin with. A few laces, jewellery, a dress or two, perhaps… but nothing else."

Her brow creased as she thought about her new problem. They weren't very big on money as it was, and the impending wedding was going to incur a lot of expenses.

Angela rubbed her chin, lost in thought. "Dear Mr. Masen should have thought about it," she muttered.

"I'm not going to beg him, Angela. These are the expenses a bride must make on her own, through her parents." Asking for money was the last thing Isabella wanted to do, especially from Edward Masen.

"All right, honey, don't fret. Right now, your prime concern is this weekend's meeting with his family. Take care of that first, then we'll plan about the rest of the things." Angela tried to usher in some calm.

Isabella nodded, but her thoughts still remained unsettled.

Isabella was combing her hair in the morning, hurrying to get ready quickly. It was the day of the dreaded meeting with Edward's family.

Charles came up behind her and held her shoulders. The anxiety in the room grew to palpable proportions.

"Where's Angela?" she asked, an attempt to ease the claustrophobic atmosphere around them.

"Outside, taking a walk." He stepped away and shuffled around the window, struggling with his next words. "Are you sure that you don't want me to escort you?" He sounded sceptical, as he never expected Edward to be the courteous kind.

"Yes, Uncle. We both know how jovial you both are around each other," she answered, exasperated at his repetitive question. "How many times are you going to ask me?"

"Sorry, Issy." He exhaled uncomfortably. "But as your uncle, it is my duty to escort you. I don't like the notion of letting you go alone." Charles had never heard of Edward's family. All he knew was that his parents had died long ago. The sudden appearance of a family made him suspicious.

"I'm not going alone. Mr. Masen will be escorting me. I went alone with him the last time as well."

Charles stiffened at the mention of Edward's name. Isabella was watching him all along, and the change in his posture did register with her.

"I never said that I approved of it back then as well."

She wiggled her head and set the comb on her dressing table. "I know that it's difficult for you, Uncle. You don't like him, and that is why I don't want to force you. I'm getting married to that man, Uncle. I need to adjust to the new life."

Charles opened his mouth then closed it, undecided as to how he should approach her. "I know, Issy, and I have mended my ways," he whispered, rather to himself.

Isabella stood up and turned around to face him. "Mended your ways?"

He nodded. "And I have decided upon the date."

"Oh…" Suddenly, Charles's words made her knees weak. She sat down again, letting the shock settle in. His decision brought her closer to the wedding day. Her heart thumped in her chest, ready to burst out.

Not even a month away… This should please Mr. Masen… she thought torpidly.

Charles could see her panic, but there was little he could do to palliate it.

"Issy!" Angela burst into the room and rushed towards her. "The carriage is arriving soon." She noticed her blank expression. "And you look… like you've seen a ghost."

She turned to Charles, her eyes demanding a reply. Charles shrugged reluctantly and told her about the wedding date. She nodded and returned her attention Isabella, who still looked lost. She decided not to discuss wedding date with Isabella at this moment.

"All right, Issy." Angela pretended to be unaffected by the news of her wedding date. "Let me see you through." She clasped Isabella's hair in a few hair-combs but kept it open and flowing in waves around her shoulders. Checking her face for any blemishes of powder, she turned her towards the mirror. "My little princess, you look perfect. He won't be able to take his eyes off you."

Or hands, thought Isabella, as she remembered the soft caresses of Edward's hands. There was a part of her that was looking forward to those caresses.

Downstairs, Edward was already waiting for Isabella, filled with anticipation. The decision to let his vampire family meet her was a tough one for him. He was apprehensive at first, for he didn't know if her blood would attract them in the same way as it pulled him. But Alice was keen on meeting her, and she assured him that all of them would be on their best behaviour. Nevertheless, after her badgering and constant threats of meeting Isabella on her own, Edward had given in. He knew Alice very well, therefore, he knew that there was no other option than to let her meet Isabella.

At last, he saw Isabella appear at the top of the stairs. The urge to dash upstairs and claim her lips again was strong, but he kept himself within limits. He knew that Charles was around, and he didn't want him to burst into hysterics. Along with that, he remembered the promise he had made to Isabella, of not being harsh on her uncle. Therefore, he waited for her, ever so patiently.

Gingerly, Isabella descended the stairs, consciously avoiding Edward's eyes. They always made her nervous, and she didn't want to fall flat on her face. But as soon as she stepped down the last stair, he took her hands in his and kissed them reverently. The same old feelings of desire erupted inside her, and she found herself trembling at his touch.

"Bella… as beautiful as ever," Edward breathed into her hands, skimming his nose upon her wrists briefly to inhale her enchanting scent again. Not that his throat didn't burn as a result or that the venom didn't pool in his mouth, but it was much better than before. As the days passed, he felt more and more in control of his thirst. He had grown unprecedentedly more confident of himself around her.

She gave him a sheepish nod as he raised his head back. "H-How have you been? How's your family?" she asked.

He drew himself closer to her, his face level with hers. "I've been… restless," he answered with a heavy sigh. "And my family is eager to meet you. But don't let that bother you. They'll be on their best behaviour."

Behind them, Charles and Angela looked on, both filled with contrasting emotions.

Charles wasn't expecting such close proximity between them, and he wished nothing but to yank Edward away from Isabella. But his hands were tied in the wraps of an engagement between the two. Therefore, like a reluctant father, he looked on as Edward clasped Isabella's hand and turned towards him.

"Charles," Edward greeted him with a curt nod. "I'm taking Bella to meet my family. It might take longer than usual, but I promise to bring her back by the end of the day." There was hint of disdain in his voice as he said that.

Isabella glared at Edward and tugged at his arm. That caught him by surprise; it was the first time Isabella had shown a sense of control over him. A part of him liked it, and a part of him didn't. Nevertheless, it aroused him in a strange way.

"That's fine, Mr. Masen," Charles said after a pause. "I'll be waiting…"

Charles's thoughts assaulted Edward's mind, giving him a peek into his perspective. At least she's not the one to bow down to him, Charles thought proudly of Isabella. She will hold her own.

Angela remained quiet, but her eyebrows had a mind of their own, quirking and scrunching as she tried to assess the situation. All in all, she was happy for Isabella. She could see the desire in Edward's eyes and assumed that Isabella would hold his attention all the time.

Edward caught her thoughts readily and smiled at her in return, acknowledging her positive point of view. One less person to convince, he thought triumphantly.

It was then that he caught the fleeting thought of the wedding date in Angela's mind. Although he couldn't make out the date clearly, he could gauge that the date had been set. But Angela was suppressing the thought, as though trying to keep it at bay. That piqued his interest.

He searched inside Charles's head, to get a drift of the same thought. But Charles's mind was a very quiet one. Like his niece, he sometimes went mute on Edward. This was one of those moments. And it frustrated Edward no less.

Isabella looked at Edward questioningly. She wanted to get out of the house as soon as possible, to avoid seeing the pained look on Charles's face. With another soft tug on Edward's arm, she made her intentions known.

Edward gave her a slight nod and wished farewell to Charles and Angela.

Once inside the carriage, Isabella felt her nerves betraying her again. Edward's presence was the culprit, as always. He brought his arm around her and held her close.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hmm?" she barely got that out of her throat. His hand was on her arm again, and just like that, she was losing herself to an eerie haze.

"Bella, I think you heard me…"

"Nothing actually… or perhaps, how did you know the size of my ring finger…? The ring fits perfectly," she mumbled away. Her internal censor never worked when Edward was so close to her.

Beside her, Edward tensed. He hadn't assumed her to think on those lines, but as always, she took him by surprise.

"Well," he began with his flimsy answer. "I didn't. It's just a heavy coincidence that your size is the same as my late mother's. I had given one of her rings for the size, assuming that it might fit you. And it did."

Isabella considered his answer for a while, but in the end, she wasn't completely convinced with it. But she knew better than to argue. Thus, she remained quiet afterwards.

Edward promptly returned to his exploration of her arm. That disarmed her again, and she forgot about the bothersome questions that usually occupied her mind.

"Bella, we have arrived," he informed her as the carriage came to a halt.

The chauffeur opened the door for them and waited outside. Isabella became tense again. She had thought of informing Edward about the wedding date on the way to his house but had forgotten about it completely.

Edward perceived her hesitation and thus, sent the chauffeur away, to attain more privacy. Turning back to her, he looked on imploringly, waiting for her to respond.

"I forgot to tell you…" she spoke up finally. "The date has been fixed."

Edward's hold on her tightened at the mention of the date. "Really?" He nudged her chin with his index finger and turned her face towards his own. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

She stuttered in response, "I—uhh—Uncle just told me this morning."

He pleaded for her to continue and tell him the date, his eyes eager.

"August… the thirteenth," she told him, her stomach filled with fluttering butterflies.

Edward smiled, and it was a smile of redemption. His long wait was over, finally.

"Oh, Bella…" He pulled her closer and glided his thumb over her soft, inviting lips.

She stammered as he drew nearer, "Ar-Are you satisfied with th-the date?"

"More than..." He closed the sentence on her lips, brushing them with his own.

Isabella stared at him in shock, she wasn't expecting him to be this quick. But then, his lips slowly started sucking on hers, and the miasma of desire enveloped her totally. Her eyes fluttered closed as her body responded eagerly. The voice of logic in the back of her mind issued a warning, but the cause of the warning didn't register with her in that moment. Her lips moved of their own volition, melding with his.

Edward's eyes soon began to lose their golden tint, therefore, he had to retract. He let go of her lips with a parting glide of his tongue, savouring their warmth and sweetness, which he craved like an addict.

Isabella rested her head back into the seat and licked her lips in an involuntary move. The intoxicating sweetness of Edward's mouth lingered over her lips, and she couldn't help but lick them again.

Edward watched her with utter fascination as her tongue darted around her lips. The action aroused him.

But suddenly, he realized what she was doing. It was his deadly venom that she was licking so readily. Of course, as a lure, it tasted as sweet as his scent. For a brief moment, his brow creased, and he felt a sickening drop in his stomach. She's licking my venom… would it be…safe?

But then he remembered Tanya and her coven of female vampires, who sought human males, not as meals but as lovers. He knew that the venom wasn't poisonous if ingested or touched. It only became active when injected into the bloodstream. Therefore, Isabella was safe, and he felt a strange sense of relief at the realization, which surprised him. But he quickly concluded that it was because of his own frustration that he got worried. His carnal repression had reached such gargantuan levels, that now, even the thought of losing that warm, luscious body was like a malady.

His time with Tanya had only added to his woes. It was akin to rubbing salt into his wounds, with her head filled with numerous thoughts of her other lovers and scenarios before him.

He brushed aside the thought of Tanya, for it brought bitter memories, and concentrated on Isabella alone.

Isabella was still swimming in the sensations invoked by Edward's kiss. How… why… how does he do that? Why do I desire him in this way? She asked herself, feeling helpless against her own emotions.

He held her hand again and whispered in her ear, "Others are waiting, Bella. Shall we?"

That jolted her back to reality, and she got all flustered again. She cursed herself internally for being so easily overcome.

Inside the manor, Carlisle and his whole family waited with palpable anticipation. Although they weren't sure as to how they should welcome Edward's fiancée, they felt curious nonetheless. And as Isabella entered the grand hall with Edward, their curiosity only grew.

With his arm curled around her waist, Edward held Isabella close while he introduced her to his family. "Isabella," he addressed her by her full name, which surprised her, "this is my extended family."

Even though they all looked inviting and friendly—except Rosalie—Isabella couldn't shake off the odd feeling of discomfort as they came closer. She cited it as nervousness, and tried to act normal.

Edward introduced each and every one of his coven individually, along with their supposed relation to him. Carlisle and Esme were his uncle and aunt, and Alice and Emmett were their adopted children. Jasper Whitlock was Alice's husband, while Rosalie was introduced as Emmett Cullen's wife, which was true to their vampire existence as well.

At first, Isabella just stared at them, awed by the beauty they all possessed. But then, she alluded it to being a family trait, for she thought of Edward as being exceptionally handsome. She was especially struck by Rosalie, all regal in her perfection. Don't think I have seen a woman so beautiful before… but she looks unhappy. I wonder why, she mused.

All of Edward's family kept their distance from Isabella, as Edward had warned them not to come too close. But Alice wasn't one to listen. She went straight ahead and enveloped Isabella into a hug, while the others looked on, horrified.

"Bella, I'm so pleased to meet you finally," she exclaimed enthusiastically, ignoring the low growl that erupted from Edward's chest.

Isabella heard the strange sound but didn't get a chance to ponder upon it, as Alice grabbed her hand and pulled her to a sofa.

"We were living in England all this while, therefore, I assume that you haven't heard much about us," Alice continued, further telling her about their life in England.

"And now, we have come here to settle down in this country. The good ol' England had us thoroughly bored."

Isabella nodded and listened as Alice chirped away. But she noticed the others' silence; it felt strange to her, that only one person of the family would talk to her.

As if reading Isabella's confused expression, Alice quickly involved others in the conversation. Carlisle and Esme were more forthcoming, while the blonde ones, Jasper and Rosalie, remained silent for the most part. And even when Jasper did speak, Isabella could hardly understand him beyond a few words, owing to his typical Yorkshire twang, which she was unfamiliar with.

Emmett looked to be the most cheerful of the lot, apart from Alice. He would constantly quirk his brows at Alice's ramblings, then smile brilliantly at Isabella. But that was about the most that he did. Isabella had a feeling that he was keeping quiet as a conscious attempt.

In all of this, Edward was the most uncomfortable. He wasn't very keen on the idea to begin with; Isabella's close proximity to other vampires was bothering him. Along with that, he didn't like the way Alice had taken hold of her. He wanted to keep Isabella to himself. Sharing wasn't one of his virtues, nor was patience.

"Alice," he interrupted her. "I think Isabella has had enough of your chatter for the day." He smiled at her, but the threat beneath that smile was clear.

Alice smirked in return, but her eyes held a clear challenge. Oh, Edward, already taken by the green eyed monster? See, Bella likes me, and we are going to be very good friends. So just shut up, and let her be.

Behind them, Jasper shifted uncomfortably, feeling all the bizarre emotions that filled the hall. The discord between Alice and Edward was making it even more difficult for him. I 'ate my power. Bloody emotions! And they know I 'ave to deal with my thirst as well.

Edward let out a frustrated sigh. As it was, Alice's antics were irritating him; Jasper's thoughts only added to it, especially his Yorkshire accent. And wait till Emmett starts off,' he told himself mentally. It will be all brilliant, like a damned circus.

"For the love of all that is holy, don't open your damn mouth, Emmett," he hissed in an extremely low voice, audible only to vampire ears. "And you too, Jasper. Enough with thy mental tirade." He spoke in Jasper's Yorkshire style, just to mock him.

The tension between the occupants of the room wasn't missed by Isabella. She could gauge that something was amiss but couldn't put a finger on it. There were many things that she had already noted: they all looked similar, yet, their features were far removed from each other; Emmett and Jasper didn't speak much; Alice appeared to be falsely cheerful; and Edward looked worried…

And then abruptly, all the tension evaporated, as though it wasn't even there to begin with. Isabella was sure of the discomfort a while back, but now, a feeling of calm was all she could sense. How bizarre… she thought, confused by her changed emotions.

"Oh, Bella, it just slipped my mind." Alice got up suddenly and gestured for her to do the same. "Come with me to my room. I have to show you something." And don't you dare follow us, Edward, she warned him mentally.

She took Isabella upstairs to her room, while Edward just stared at her in disbelief. This is why I left them… he thought resentfully, bloody want to control me. I'll have to do something about it, and do it soon enough.

Feeling Edward's distress, Jasper sent another wave of calm and happiness in his direction. It was Jasper's power only, that had maintained the peace so far.

Edward growled at him, not at all grateful for his help. "Do not attempt to control me, Jasper. Not a bright idea."

Jasper shrugged and smirked at him languorously. "I was just trying to 'elp."

Emmett chose that moment to give his two cents. "Don't be so 'ard on Jasper. And, Edward, she is juicy. Oi approve." His booming laughter echoed inside the hall, making Edward flinch.

Isabella was lying on her bed, with Angela beside her, a day after she had met Edward's family.

"So, how did it all go? How was his family?" Angela wiggled her eyebrows at Isabella, prodding her to divulge all the details of her meeting with Edward's family.

"Well..." Isabella deliberated for a moment. "What shall I say? Strange? Uncomfortable? Or perhaps, bizarre?"

"Why?" Angela propped her head up on the pillows, looking surprised by Isabella's answer.

"I don't know, Angela. It was so uncanny. They are all so perfect, unbelievably handsome…"

"And that's the problem?"

"No, not that. They look the same, but they are very different from each other."

"Yes, Issy." Angela made a face. "I understood that completely."

Isabella shook her head, not knowing where to begin with. "I—eh, well, they are all pale, like Mr. Masen. Even their eyes appeared to be the same, though I'm not sure. Some of them never came close enough for me to see. And then, some of them just didn't speak up. There was Mr. Whitlock, Alice's husband. He had a funny accent."

Angela giggled. "How do you define funny?"

"You will have to converse with him to know that. I couldn't understand half the things he said, when he only spoke—I believe—one or two sentences. It's like… he eats up the words from between."

That sent Angela into another fit of laughter.

"And in all of this, Mr. Masen was not happy. I don't know why or how, but he looked very uncomfortable." Isabella thought about Edward's reactions, which left her bemused.

"Must have been the nerves of introducing you to his family. After all, he's a young man, not used to such attentions." Angela was forthright with her logic again.

Isabella huffed and decided to let the matter rest. "Let's pretend that it was so. But Angela, you have got to meet his cousin, Alice. She is a maelstrom! I tell you, Angela, I haven't seen anyone so full of life," she confessed. "She is enthusiastic about everything. I believe you two can make a really scary pair."

Angela hit her with a pillow, but Isabella went on, "Oh, and I forgot to mention. She has actually brought things for me… for my trousseau. There are laces, velvets, and silks of all kinds."

"Whaa…" Angela's mouth hung open in shock.

"Yes… of course, I refused at first. But I've learnt my lesson with this family. They don't take no for an answer. I was told that I can't refuse, and that the responsibility of my bridal trousseau rests with her." Isabella scowled a little at the thought. It only reminded her of her own financial strains, the very reason behind her coming wedding.

"But I thought that I'd help you with it," Angela protested petulantly.

"I told her about you, and she said she'd like you to help as well, as you're my dearest friend. She was talking as though she already knows about you. Another reason why I say that you'd make a notorious pair."

That earned Isabella another pillow blow.

"Let us see who this Alice Cullen is."

"Now she's Mrs. Whitlock I suppose," Isabella pointed out.

"Ah yes, as you say, Issy… Mrs. Whitlock it is." Angela smiled, and feigned a scowl at Isabella. "But, Issy, I swear to God, if you start any of your antics while we get your trousseau together, I'll team up with her and tie you up."

"Why, Angela, I'm already tied…" Isabella sighed wistfully. To Mr. Masen…

Hoshit! I have turned the Twi-universe upside down. Jasper is from Yorkshire, and Emmett from Ireland… yes, people, that's right! (Please don't throw rotten tomatoes at me for that. lol)

NOTE- here is what our Yorksy Jasper was thinking, in plain Queen's English:

-I 'ate my power. Bloody emotions! And they know I 'ave to deal with my thirst as well. - I hate my power. Bloody emotions! And they know that I have to deal with my thirst as well.

-I was just trying to 'elp. - I was just trying to help.

And here's what our dear Irish Emmett meant-

-Don't be so 'ard on Jasper. And, Edward, she is juicy. Oi approve – don't be so hard on Jasper. And, Edward, she is pretty. I approve.

Basically, just keep this in mind, Yorkshire accent deletes the letter 'H'. So, if someone says something that has 'H' in it, then he removes 'H' from it all together. EXAMPLE: help= 'elp; hell= 'ell; have= 'ave ...and so on. Just remember one thing, 'H' is always replaced by an apostrophe. Then you can read the accent without any problem.

I'm making a rec here - Forget Her by fatallyobsessed (post NM fic. I liked this one especially for the way the author depicted Charlie's emotions, when Bella was falling apart right before his eyes.)