Edward spent the next month hunting as many animals as possible and working his way toward Carlisle's home in Alaska. Finally he is there and immediately struck by yet another mind, a male vampire and a rather loud, slightly crude one at that. Edward pauses a moment to collect his nerve and approaches the door. Before he can knock, he finds himself catching Esme in his arms as she hugs him exuberantly.

"Edward, you've come to visit." To stay I hope, I miss my oldest son.

"Yes Esme I have come to stay, if Carlisle will forgive me and allow me to remain with this family." Edward is relived and honestly apologetic.

"Carlisle will welcome you, he's hunting now but, he frequently hopes you will return." Does Edward know how much Carlisle really missed him? "Edward, meet Emmett, Rosalie's mate. He's been with us just two months."

"Good thing he's a vampire, I might kill a human that came up like that." Emmett's voice boomed, mirroring his thoughts exactly.

"A pleasure I'm sure." Edward answered as he offered a polite handshake.

As Esme had known, Carlisle welcomed Edward home all too easily. Over the next decades, Edward settled quietly into his life as a Cullen. Alice and Jasper joined them during their first stay in Forks, Washington during which time they brokered a treaty with the Quileute werewolves.

Carlisle and Esme noticed the difference in Edward more than the others. Over the decades, he had become increasingly solitary and sullen.

Esme in particular speculated that Edward needed a mate but that he may have been changed too young or be homosexual or asexual. Edward thought that perhaps asexual was the answer; he certainly was not attracted to males in that way, nor females for that matter though he did admire a fine physique in either gender.

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September 2005

And so high school starts again. I understand pretending to be a teenager but, honestly, if they didn't need me for a lookout, I'd feign some dreadful condition and require home school. Again, we are the new, incredibly beautiful and slightly unusual students. No one comes too close, humans never realize why but they instinctively fear us and, rightfully so.

The first three weeks of the school year were the normal drudgery, and then the third week there was a new student. Rumor had it that she was an orphan and had just been shipped here, to a new foster home.

All morning Edward watched and tried the hear the new girl's mind to no avail. During lunch, she sat alone and didn't eat. Her clothes were obvious hand me downs and she had no book bag at all. Edward walked close to her and discovered just how enticing she was to him.

"Alice, the new girl is my singer. Do you see anything?" Edward whispered to his sister.

"No, one of you needs to decide to interact before I can see anything about that." Alice replied in a musical whisper.

When the bell rang, signaling it was time to return to class; Edward was relived to be away from the new girl and safely seated at his table in Biology. Much to his chagrin and slight panic, the new girl ended up sharing his table because the seat next to him was the only available seat in the class.

Twenty-three students and one teacher, I can take them all in less that ten seconds, of course then SHE will be screaming and that much adrenaline ruins a sweet meal. No, I need to find out who she is and where she lives; nobody will miss an orphan terribly. I can do this; I can talk to her, invite her out for pizza after school tomorrow. She may get her pizza but I'll get the best meal of my existence.

"It seems we have to share a lab table. I'm Edward Cullen and, you are?" Edward spoke quietly and hoped he wasn't too threatening to the girl.

"Isabella Swan but I prefer Bella." she replies shyly.

When it came time to take notes, Bella took a small nub of a pencil from her pocket and a sheet of grayish scratch pad paper and tried to cram as much information as possible onto the undersized piece of paper.

Edward handed her one of his pens and a proper piece of notebook paper. His hand grazed hers causing them both to retract their hands immediately.

"Sorry," Edward meekly apologized, "You seemed to need the pen and paper and I have extra of both."

"Thank you, you just startled me is all." Bella replied and blushed with a shy smile.

Okay, she really is struggling and why in the world do I want to help her at all? She seems very shy, if I just knew what she was thinking. Did she feel the energy between us? Why did that happen? NO! Impossible, she's human and my singer. Okay, so with the exception of Alice and Jasper did in fact choose human mates. Actually, every vampire I know except those two have changed their mate.

What am I thinking? I do not… yes I do want, no actually need a mate and Bella would be perfect. I could never deny being drawn to her, and now that's primarily to her blood but if I could let her live, we could be more and, I may eventually be able to hear her thoughts.

"Bella, can we talk after school?" Edward asked gently.

"Okay, if you want."

Edward was anxious for the day to end and to actually have a conversation with Bella. Bella was nervous and wasn't sure she wanted to talk to the hottest guy in the entire school but, she had agreed and so would do her best. When the closing bell sounded, Bella met Edward outside the main entrance.