Nice family time chapter here. Getting close to the end of this story, just three more chapters and an epilogue to go. Not much else to say so I'll just let you get on with it.

We spent the whole night in bed, as did the rest of the family. It was going to take some getting used to being in a house with other people. I'd spent the last 50 years alone and since meeting Bella, we had lived far away from other people and I had very much enjoyed the silence I could get in Bella's company. I managed, however, to block out the three other couples in the house, though it was not without difficulty.

After the sun rose the next day, we rose from the bed and showered before making our way downstairs where everyone else was milling around. Emmett and Jasper were playing a video game on the TV, shouting and swearing loudly at each other. Alice was on her computer looking at clothes in some online shops. Rosalie was in the attached garage, tinkering with a car. I know that there are many girls that like working with cars, but it really surprised me that Rosalie was one of those girls. I had thought that she was the kind of girl who didn't like getting dirty or would worry about breaking a nail, but there she was under the hood of a large jeep, her face smeared with oil and dirt. Carlisle was getting ready to leave for a shift at the hospital and Esme was fussing over him, straightening his tie and fixing his hair.

"I hate to leave when you've just gotten back," Carlisle said to me, "But I have a shift at the hospital. I'll be back tonight. I'd love to catch up more then."

"Of course," I replied, "I'd love that too. We aren't going anywhere."

"No, you aren't," Esme scolded, "You will not leave us again. I couldn't take it." She reached over ruffling my hair, before pulling Bella into a hug. "That goes for you too, Bella. You are part of the family now."

Bella sighed, putting her arms round Esme and leaning into the hug. She seemed to be enjoying the motherly love that Esme was so good at delivering. I wondered if having a mother fuss over her was making her miss her own mother, though Renee didn't seem to be that kind of mother.

Carlisle left for his shift then, jumping into a black Mercedes and speeding away. I found that I missed him already, having spent so much time away from him, I really would have liked to spend the day with him, but I understood his need to go to work. I would just have to wait for him to come home.

Jasper and Emmett finished playing their game. Emmett was clearly not a good loser, calling Jasper all the names under the sun, until Esme told him off and threatened to wash his mouth out with soap. Bella giggled at their behaviour and the fact that Esme's wrath scared a vampire as big as Emmett.

"Sorry, Esme," Emmett muttered, his head hanging, but his jovial spirit wasn't to be kept down for long as he bounded over to me, "Well, Eddie, fancy a boys day in the woods?"

"Don't call me Eddie," I growled at him, "But, yeah, it would be nice to get to know you guys. Is that okay with you?" I looked down at Bella. I didn't want to leave her, especially as she really didn't know the girls at all, but it felt important to get to know the boys that were essentially my brothers.

"Of course, baby," Bella said with a smile, "I'll miss you, but I want some girl time too." She looked over at Esme and Alice, who had jumped up at the mention of girl time. "I think there will be a lot of wedding talk, so I'm sure you boys will be happier elsewhere."

Alice jumped up and down, running to her room to grab a stack of bridal magazines that her mind told me she had run out and bought early this morning. Jasper's mind was desperate to get away from his mate when she was in event planning mode. He looked up at me, suddenly remembering about my talent.

Shit, don't tell her I thought that. I love her deeply, but she can be a bit hyper when there's an event to be planned.

I nodded, letting him know that I had heard him and that he could trust me. We all kissed our mates goodbye, before heading out the door and into the woods.

Emmett and I had hunted just the day before, but Jasper needed to hunt so he took off in search of some prey, telling us that he'd find us when he'd finished. Emmett challenged me to a race and we took off running. It wasn't quite as good as running with Bella, but it was nice to let loose and run, particularly after the stress of the previous days when I'd been worrying about my reunion with my parents.

I'd always been a fast runner, even as a human, and that translated into a very fast vampire so I beat Emmett without really trying too hard. Again, Emmett didn't take well to losing, deciding to tackle me when he caught up with me. However, hearing his thoughts I was able to swiftly move out of the way, causing him to go barrelling into a tree, knocking it over.

When Jasper found us, I was bent over laughing so hard I could hardly breathe. Emmett had been put out for a moment, before he soon saw the funny side and began laughing with me. Jasper, having missed it all, was confused but came walking over to us smiling at the light, fun emotional climate surrounding us.

We spent some time wrestling, something Emmett and Jasper seemed to do a lot. I beat Emmett easily. He had a very straight forward fighting style and with my mind reading, I never had any trouble pinning him. Jasper was a little trickier, coming from a military background and having spent a lot of time training newborns, his fighting style was much more complicated, but his thoughts always gave him away a split second before he pounced. In the end, they teamed up against me, managing to best me but only just. Their thoughts still gave them away but two against one was much harder.

I had a lot of fun, not realising how much I had missed company though all the years I was alone before finding Bella. After a while, we settled down sitting on some rocks around the clearing we had been wrestling in.

Jasper told me more about his time in the southern wars, telling me about his creator, Maria, and how they had fought many other armies of newborns for control over certain territories. It sounded like a horrible way to begin vampire life, especially for an empath. Emmett told me more about his human death at the hands of a grizzly bear and the angel who had saved him. Jasper jumped in to tell me how Emmett still held a grudge against all bears, preferring them to all other animals.

Eventually the conversation got round to me and Bella, both of them wanting to know how I managed to keep it together when she was still human. Jasper was too polite, just thinking the questions in his mind, but Emmett didn't seem to have a filter, just blurting out the first thing that came to his mind.

"How did you do it?" he asked, "Have sex with her as a human?"

I ran my fingers through my hair, looking down at the ground, embarrassed to be having this conversation with anyone, let alone someone I'd just met. I could tell from his mind, though, that he wasn't asking to be nosey or inappropriate, he was genuinely just curious. He thought about how fragile humans are, wondering how I didn't hurt or kill her. Jasper was just as curious but would never have asked the question.

Brothers talk about this kind of thing, I thought to myself. There's no harm as long as I wasn't betraying Bella's privacy. I took a deep breath before answering.

"Well, the first time it happened, there wasn't much thinking going on. As soon as I touched her, I had to claim her. No rational thought was involved," I said, "I think that if I had time to think about it, I wouldn't have been able to go through with it for fear of hurting her."

"Our mating connection seems to be particularly strong," I continued, "even now I can feel a dull, hollow pain in my chest at being away from her. I think our connection stopped me from being able to harm her in any way. I never felt any bloodlust towards her either. She smelt amazing, but not in that way."

"Wow," Jasper whispered, "I've been around a long time and never heard of pain at being away from a mate, but I can feel it from you. There are a lot of other emotions too, but there's a feeling of underlying pain throughout it all."

"And you said you knew when she was hurt?" Emmett asked, just as intrigued about our strange connection as Jasper was.

"Yeah, I was out hunting when I felt like something had pierced through my heart. When we are together, there's this kind of electricity that surrounds us, I felt that same electricity pulling me back towards the cabin. I knew instantly that something was wrong," I explained.

"When I reached the cabin and found her lying at the bottom of the stairs, not moving, I thought I was going to lose her," I said, my breath hitching at just the thought of it all. I felt a wave of calm wash over me. I nodded my thanks at Jasper, before continuing, "I agonised over whether to change her or not, whether she would hate this life. We hadn't talked about her becoming a vampire or even how it happened, so I had no idea about her views on it. Before I could spiral too far, my body just took over. Before I knew it, I'd bitten her. Again, no bloodlust. I'd stopped before I even knew what was going on. I can only assume that it was our connection, making sure that I didn't lose her."

"During her change, she seemed to feel a lot less pain when I was there with her, touching her. I worried so much throughout her transformation, that she would wake up and hate me for what I had done, but she didn't. She had a comeback for everything I told her she would lose or miss out on. She's incredible."

"I felt nothing but happiness from her, when she lifted her shield," Jasper assured me. "She seems content as a vampire and I've never seen a more controlled newborn. I wonder if that's part of her shield."

"That's what I thought," I said, "but there's no way of knowing for sure."

We chatted for a little longer, telling them about the time Bella and I had spent in our cabin in New Hampshire. They told me about some of the different places they had lived over the years. I scoffed when they told me that they attended high school over and over again so they could stay in the same place for longer. It seemed crazy to me, but I could understand the need to settle down in one place.

We had been gone for a few hours and the pain in my chest was increasing, I needed to get back to Bella soon. As soon as I rubbed my chest, Jasper, feeling the pain getting worse, jumped up and we all headed back to the house.

When we arrived back at the house, Bella and the girls were all sitting around the dining table, bridal magazines spread everywhere. I ran straight to Bella, her face lighting up when she saw me, and I wrapped my arms around her, not waiting for her to get up from her chair. The pain disappeared instantly, the electricity of our connection crackling and fizzling around us.

"I missed you, baby," I whispered in her ear.

"Me too," she sighed, "I'm glad you're back, but we've had fun too."

Esme and Alice were watching us with soppy looks on their faces. Rosalie, however, just rolled her eyes, her mind thinking that we were just being dramatic about our so called connection. I was already beginning to feel close to my brothers, and even Alice, though I hadn't spent much time with her, but Rosalie was going to take a while. Her mind was very self centred and she hated when anyone else was the centre of attention.

"Tell me all about it," I said to Bella, attempting to ignore Rosalie's mind, and sitting down in the chair beside her, looking at all the magazines and lists they had made, "Looks like the whole wedding is already planned."

"Not quite," she chuckled, "But Alice is a planning machine!"

They showed me pictures of flowers, dresses, tuxedos, even wedding cakes, though I didn't see the point in that when none of us could eat it. Bella looked so happy, which in turn made me happy. I couldn't wait to marry her.

"I am happy with what ever you choose, love," I told her, "As long as I get to have you as my wife at the end of it, then I will do what ever you tell me, wear whatever you tell me, I'll even eat some wedding cake, if it makes you happy." She giggled, leaning over to put her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her.

"Well, one thing we need to decide together is the date," she said, "Any thoughts?"

"The sooner the better in my eyes, love," I said, kissing her lightly on the lips, "I can't wait to be your husband."

"Oh, a Christmas wedding would be so beautiful," Alice exclaimed. In her mind, I could see a vision of Bella and I standing in the snow, exchanging our vows, a colour scheme of red and gold surrounding us. It looked magical.

"That sounds perfect," Bella said, "That gives us a few months. Is that enough time, Alice?"

"Anyone who knows me, knows I can pull any event together in a few days. A few months will be a piece of cake!" Alice exclaimed, as everyone around us chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"That's it settled then," I said, "A Christmas wedding it is." I couldn't get the smile off my face. In just a few short months, Bella would become my wife.

Weeks passed and we settled into an easy life with the family, and they really felt like family to both of us. I loved to watch Bella interact with every one of them.

She took an interest in Esme's painting, asking her to teach her to paint and they spent many hours in her studio painting landscapes. She spoke to Carlisle about his history, completely fascinated at everything he had lived through. She played video games with Jasper and Emmett, and kicked their butts, despite not playing a lot of video games as a human. She went shopping with Alice, spending hours at the mall trying on clothes, and with the rate we seemed to go through clothes, that was very handy. She even managed to thaw Rosalie, talking to her about the cars she was fixing up. Apparently, her ex, Jacob, fixed up cars and she had learnt some things about the inner workings of the combustion engine from him.

She also spent a lot of time helping Alice plan the wedding, along with Esme and even Rosalie, who was now happily joining in with the plans. She just seemed to assimilate herself into each of their lives without even trying. It was just a part of who she was, drawing them all in, and they all loved her dearly, within just a few weeks of meeting her.

When I wasn't simply watching Bella interact with the family, I spent time with each of them too. I fell back into my previous relationship with my father, discussing current events, debating controversial topics and catching up with medical advances. I spent time playing the piano for Esme. She had truly missed hearing me play, telling me that the grand piano was there in case I returned, no one else in the family played. Alice and I played chess together. No one else in the family would play with Alice or myself, as they said she used her 'sight' and I used my mind reading to cheat. Jasper, Emmett and I spent a lot of time out in the woods, hunting, racing, wrestling. It was a great way to bond as brothers. Rosalie was a harder nut to crack for me, as hearing her self centred mind was hard to get past, so we spent time together as a family but rarely just the two of us.

I was sitting at the piano one day, thinking about some new compositions, while listening to Bella talk to Rosalie in the garage about my Volvo. Rosalie was fine tuning it and Bella had joined her, helping her out, lifting the car – who needs a jack in a house full of vampires – and handing her tools. Carlisle was at work and Esme was making cookies for some event at the hospital. Jasper was doing something on the computer and Emmett was watching a football game on TV.

Alice came bounding down the stairs, bouncing up and down in her usual excitable way.

"There's gonna be a thunderstorm tonight," she announced.

My brow furrowed in confusion until I heard the thoughts of the family, particularly Emmett's whose were the loudest.

Baseball. Awesome! It's been ages since we played and now we have an extra few players.

"What's so special about a thunderstorm?" I heard Bella ask Rosalie.

"It means we can play baseball," Rosalie explained, "It's too loud when we play so we have to wait for a thunderstorm to help cover the noises. We haven't played in ages. You up for it?"

"I suppose," Bella said, a little hesitantly, "I've never played before, even as a human. I wasn't the most co-ordinated."

"Don't worry, love," I assured her as I walked into the garage, "It's an easy game to pick up, especially with your vampire mind and your co-ordination is vastly improved."

"Yeah, don't worry, baby sis," Emmett boomed from the house, "We'll teach you. You'll be playing like a pro in no time!"

Emmett took it upon himself to spend the afternoon explaining the rules of baseball to Bella and even found a game on TV so she had more of an idea what he was talking about.

Later that evening, after Carlisle had finished work, we all headed out into the woods following Emmett towards the clearing I could see in his mind that they had found for playing baseball and other sports in.

We were all dressed in matching baseball outfits, courtesy of Alice, as we watched Carlisle mark out the bases – a lot further from each other than regular baseball – throughout the large clearing. I'd never played baseball as a vampire, but I remembered going to watch matches with my father and playing it as a human.

Once the field was set up, we split into teams – Emmett, Esme, Bella and myself on one team, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie and Carlisle on the other. We were batting first so we took our positions as Jasper approached the pitchers mound with the ball.

"I'm the one with the wicked curve ball," Alice laughed, as she swiftly grabbed the ball from Jasper's hand.

"Of course, darlin'," he drawled, walking back to take the catcher's position instead.

Just as we heard the first roll of thunder, Alice stepped up to the mound, announcing "It's time!" Emmett was ready at home plate, watching Alice with excitement in his eyes, as she lifted her leg into a high kick before throwing the ball towards him.

Emmett struck the ball perfectly, the loud crack sounding eerily like the thunder that was rolling around us, leaving no doubt as to why they needed a storm to play. The ball was sent flying through the trees at the other side of the clearing, Carlisle and Rosalie heading towards it at top speed.

Emmett sped round the bases so fast he was just a blur and was just heading towards home as Carlisle emerged from the trees with the ball in hand. He threw it deftly to Jasper, who caught it just a second too late as Emmett slid home.

Next to bat was Bella, who was looking very nervous.

I don't know about this, Edward. I'm going to suck!

I bit back a chuckle, not wanting to make her more nervous, but she didn't seem to realised that as a vampire, she really would be better at this than she thought.

"You'll be great," I told her, "Just give it a go." I looked meaningfully towards Jasper who quickly took the hint, sending a wave of confidence towards her, taking advantage of her shield being lifted.

With her confidence boosted, she stood up straight and lifted the bat, ready for the pitch. Alice wound up, before launching the ball towards her. Bella hit the ball perfectly, sending it soaring through the air straight over Rosalie's head.

"Run, Bella!" I shouted, as she stood flabbergasted watching the ball flying fast through the air. Shaking her head slightly, she ran making it safely to second base before Rosalie got back with the ball.

We continued playing well into the night, our team managing to beat the other by just a few runs when we were forced to end the game as the thunderstorm finished. It was a very enjoyable evening and even Bella seemed to enjoy herself, her confidence – even without Jasper's influence – increasing as the game progressed.

I pulled her into my arms, swinging her around before setting her down on her feet in front of me.

"So, how'd you enjoy your first ever baseball game?" I asked, kissing the top of her head.

"It was good," she replied, "I never thought I'd be good at any sport. Charlie will be speechless, as he watches down on me. He was always trying to get me to play a sport or even take an interest in watching sport on TV." A hint of sadness shone in her eyes, but she smiled slightly at the thought of her father watching over her.

"Come on, baby," I whispered, pulling her into a hug, "Let's go home."

Recommendation:

By Way of Sorrow by Jaxington

Bella Cullen has spent the last ninety-five years giving everything to protect her family and mourning the loss of her long dead human husband. A trip to Alaska to meet Tanya's latest romantic interest changes everything. The vampire she meets there has his face, his hair, and his body, but not his memories. It's a strange new world.

Interesting fic with a plot I haven't seen done before. OOC but really good.