Well here it is finally! Sorry it took so long I have had some sick kids this past week and I've been reading everybody elses great stories. I still don't own anything I just like to play around with Stephenie's fabulous creations.

Chapter 3: Family

"Bella, they will be here in just a few minutes. Are you going to be okay? You aren't going to pass out are you?"

I looked back at her annoyed. Of course I was not okay! What did she expect from me? His family was here to decide my fate. My whole future was hanging in the balance.

"No Alice, I am not going to pass out but I am really worried. I have no clue what everybody is going to want to do …or not do..."

"Don't worry so much. I can be very persuasive when I want to be and Jasper will help,or be punished later."

Suddenly the hotel room door burst open to reveal a very excited Emmett. He grabbed me into one of his big bear hugs.

Bella, this is so great! I can't believe you came after us this is so awesome! Edward is going to be so pissed that you messed up his 'perfect' crap plan! He is such a jack …"

Esme flew in glaring at him, "Emmett, language!" and he immediately look dejected, "Sorry, Esme."

"Really, thanks Emmett, I'm glad to see you too." and the smile was again plastered back on to his face.

Rosalie didn't even look at me as she gracefully slipped into a chair and sat down pretending as usual that I did not exist.

Esme embraced me in one of her motherly hugs. "Oh Bella, we have been so worried. I am so sorry we left the way we did but you know Edward. He really believes that he is doing what's best for you."

I tried to reassure her with a comforting smile but the only thing I could feel was desperation, "Esme, how could he do this to me? He's just lucky that I figured it all out. I don't know what would have happened if I had kept believing his lies it has been …"

"Bella, I know. Edward has never been in love before and he just doesn't understand how much you two need each other. I don't think that he is prepared for how painful this forced separation will become. I can't imagine he will be able to last very long."

Carlisle had walked in silently while I had been talking with Esme. I knew I had to convince him most of all. This was going to be difficult. He had known him the longest and by changing Edward I knew he felt a huge responsibility for his life and for his future.

"Hello, Carlisle."

"It's good to see you again Bella." I couldn't be for sure but it sounded sincere to me.

Well I just decided to jump right in and tell them how I felt about them, how I felt about Edward and how I felt about this whole horrible situation.

"I know some of you aren't happy about this. I know you probably feel like you are betraying Edward's wishes by even speaking to me but what he has done is killing me. I know he wants me to have a 'human life' but I don't want it and especially not without him. If it weren't for him I would be dead more times than I'd like to recount but I can not survive this. What he has done is wrong, it's wrong for both of us. I need him and he needs me. Why can't he understand that?"

The confidence I had at the beginning of my speech had faltered and my voice cracked and I took a deep breath but the tears began to flow unintentionally.

Emmett, God bless him was the first to respond. "Edward's an idiot, Bella. I will help you with whatever you need."

Rosalie shot him the glare of death but he persisted, "Rose I got to. Edward deserves to be happy and I can't let him ruin it for something as stupid as the state of her soul! I mean where does he get this stuff anyway?"

I couldn't help but smile. I looked around the rest of the room with apprehension. What would everyone else decide?

Esme smiled, "Bella I already consider you a part of our family I just hope that Edward will start to realize how happy he could be if he would just come back home and work things out."

Alice was the next to speak, "I'm going to help Bella because I can only see them both becoming more and more miserable and I can't bear to continue to watch it play out in my head anymore."

Jasper looked as brooding and tormented as usual but he spoke up next figuring he would get it over with. I'm sure too that he realized that he was doomed if he decided to voice anything but Alice's opinion. I felt his influence and the tension dissipated slightly as he began to speak.

"I agree with Alice but we have to make her a vampire. I know you all think I'm only saying this for my own peace of mind but it really is the only way he will agree to stay with her. He won't take her life himself though because he wouldn't be able to live with the guilt."

Carlisle finally spoke up, "Jasper, that may be true but whoever decides to do it … well Edward, will never forgive them."

I couldn't stay quiet when they were talking about me like it was his decision and not mine.

"Carlisle, this is not Edward's decision. I know he thinks he is 'Mr. All Knowing' but he doesn't make my decisions for me, this is what I want."

Emmett's boisterous laugh shattered the room at my comment and I think I even heard a stifled laugh coming from across the room where Rosalie seemed to be regaining her composure.

Carlisle smiled but I could tell he was still attempting to be diplomatic.

"Bella, I understand how you feel but you've seen Edward angry and this will make him furious."

"Let me worry about Edward. Tell me everything about being a vampire and I will make an informed decision, my decision and he won't be able to blame anyone but me."

Carlisle looked back at me tentatively, "What do you want to know?"

I proceeded to ask questions about the transformation, about the blood lust and about my future with the family.

"I love all of you like family already but I'm not going to force myself on you if you don't want me. However, no matter what you decide I am still going to keep on looking for Edward. I have to be with him to survive and as long as I know he still loves me and he is still out there somewhere I'm going to keep trying to find him. I have to. I'm going to go downstairs and when you have made your decision I will be in the lobby."

I walked out the door before anyone had a chance to speak again. The tears were flowing now uninhibited. I couldn't control it. I had just left my fate in their hands. All the tension of the last hour of talk and debate made me feel exhausted emotionally and physically. As soon as I could get a little control over my emotions, I headed to the lobby and found a comfy chair. The last thing I remember was laying my head down on the arm rest.

I felt someone shaking me softly and calling my name. I opened my eyes and it was Alice and she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Bella, wake up I have good news. Carlisle has agreed to change you but we have to try to get in touch with Edward and tell him first."

Groggily, I tried to comprehend everything she was saying, "Oh Alice really? Will we be able to get a hold of Edward?"

"You actually did most of the convincing, everyone was really impressed with your determination and all I did was remind them again that I have always seen you becoming one of us. Carlisle is hoping that if he calls him this time, Edward will figure that it's important and actually answer the phone. I haven't seen it yet so I'm not sure … but I can imagine that he won't take it well. I'm just hoping that it won't be bad enough to change Carlisle's mind."

"I need to get up there I can't let Edward talk Carlisle out of changing me."

Alice and I headed back up stairs and walked back into the room where Carlisle had just pulled his phone out of his pocket and was dialing Edward's number. My breath caught in my throat and I felt suddenly terrified, this was the moment of truth, what would Edward say?

Jasper eyed me suspiciously, "Bella he loves you. Tell me you didn't come all this way and are still unsure of his feelings for you?"

I laughed nervously, "Sorry to disappoint you Jasper but I don't think it's ever going to be easy for me to feel secure about his feelings for me.", but especially after this latest stunt.

Then I heard it, that lovely velvet voice that my dreams had never done justice. I felt like my heart had stopped as Carlisle started to talk quickly. I was having a hard time keeping up and then I heard the familiar growl, that made me feel both safe and scared at the same time. He was angry of that I was sure but I would have to wait till the conversation was over to be able to piece together exactly what was happening.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity of Edward's ferocious growling I heard the line go dead and Carlisle's face turn toward me with a pained expression.

I tried to make this scene similar to the vote scene in New Moon except of course we only get Edward's opinion by phone, tell me what you think. I've had Evanescence's song Taking Over Me on continuous replay while writing this, it just seems to really fit this story. I hope to have the next chapter up soon. Please review! I have lots of hits but not a lot of reviews!