Bella headed straight to the old fashioned police station after leaving the hospital. She could practically feel Carlisle's business card burning a hole in her pocket as she parked her black hatchback at an unacceptable angle and used her security card to swipe her way through the gates.

The station was an old stone building, with underground cells that could be opened on the rare occasion that somebody was actually arrested in Forks. A receptionist sat behind the glass entrance and Bella waved cheerfully at her as she breezed past, heading straight into her father's office.

The Chief's room was a small space lined with bookshelves that were stacked haphazardly with files upon files. His desk, which filled up most of the available space, was littered with paperwork that applied to all of the open cases that Charlie had to manage. There weren't that many, but the Chief's lack of organisation made things look far worse than they actually were. True to his role, Charlie was sat in his recliner, reading the notes he had made on his most recent case, a theft from the local supermarket, eating an iced doughnut hungrily and occasionally sipping a cold cup of coffee.

'Living up to the Fork's generalisation of the police, eh dad?' Bella observed casually, helping herself to an iced ring from the open box, 'what's the case?' He finished his mouthful before replying.

'It's a straight through and through,' he explained, 'guys walked in, took what they wanted and walked back out. We'll get 'em. Not that it's any of your business at the moment Bells, you're supposed to be resting.' He put particular emphasis on the last word and scanned the piece of paper she was holding. Passing him the freshly signed doctor's certificate, she flashed him a cheeky grin.

'Not anymore, dad. Carlisle said I'm fine to work. You can call him if you don't believe me.' Charlie lifted his feet from the desk and scanned his daughter for any sign of dishonesty. It wasn't that he thought she would lie to him maliciously; she was just very keen to get back to work. It was an exceptional trait, her love of helping people, but he knew it would be to her own detriment if he allowed her to burn out. A quick call to the doctor confirmed that she was in fact, allowed to return to work straight away. 'Fine,' he stated grumpily, given no choice but to agree, 'but I don't want you leaving the office for the next two days, just so I can make sure you're really alright. Personally, I don't think four days is enough but if Carlisle says so, I've got no other option but to let you back.'

Her face fell as she realised what this meant,

'But dad, that's so unfair!' She tossed the remainder of her doughnut in the overflowing trash can, far too annoyed to eat the rest of it, 'I am not spending the next two days tidying up your office, we've got a cleaner for that!'

'It's for your own good,' he stated cautiously, 'don't push me on this Bells, or I'll make it a week. You know your mom will go crazy if she thinks I'm not taking good enough care of you. She worries enough as it is. We both do.'

She couldn't argue with his concern, but that didn't stop her from wanting to. Grumbling, she left his office and made her way outside so she go home and change out of her heavy coat, and into something more comfortable. Charlie called out to her as she swung the door shut behind her.

'Oh, by the way, Carlisle said to go over at seven. Want to tell me what that's about?' Instead of answering, she continued to walk back to her car at a much faster pace, this time wearing a small smile as she left the station in much better spirits.

The Cullen household was like something out of a fairytale. Huge, glass windows surrounded delicate brickwork and various plants and flowers filled the front garden with bright colour. Bella made her way up the small path, smiling at the tiny picket fence that lined the freshly mown lawn, and knocked nervously on the huge, crimson door.

She was expecting Carlisle and was surprised when Alice answered, looking elegant in a flowing skirt and strappy yellow t-shirt. Trying, and failing to mask the tremor in her voice, she asked cheerfully,

'Is your dad at home?' The girl motioned for Bella to come inside and she did without question, pausing to remove her damp boots in the hallway. She peered around the room with interest, acknowledging that her own flat would probably fit into their house five times over. The entrance had high, beige walls and light wooden flooring. The rugs that were strewn over the floor and the pictures that decorated the walls indicated a female influence at some point, Bella questioned mentally whether or not this had been Alice's design.

As she decided to make her way into the living room to wait for Carlisle, Alice's eyes glazed over and she rocked back and forth dangerously. Fearing for her safety, Bella held her upright, certain that she was going to collapse. She heard a low growl come from one of the rooms towards the back of the house and the sound appeared to animate Alice, who hurried Bella up the stairs without stopping to provide an explanation. It wasn't until she closed the door behind them once they had entered Carlisle's personal study that she took a deep intake of air.

'Is something wrong, Alice?' Carlisle questioned knowingly, and Bella was glad the attention was not on her as she saw the doctor in casual attire for the first time. He wore a plain white t-shirt, the cotton collar folded neatly, with short sleeves that showed off his muscular arms. His black slacks hung loosely from his hips and revealed the brown socks that he had on underneath. They made small sounds on the floor as he walked, and it was in this state that Bella found him most endearing.

'Edward doesn't feel too good,' Alice whispered ambiguously, and turned to leave without saying another word. Unconcerned, Carlisle gestured that Bella should sit down, which she did obligingly. After exchanging pleasantries, he withdrew a silver packet from the drawer at his desk and put it on the table between them.

'It might be better if you are distracted while I do this,' he offered kindly, 'most people say they prefer not to look.' In total agreement, Bella turned her chair away from him so she was facing the bookshelves behind the door. Taking the opportunity to check out the titles of the many volumes, she was surprised to find that most of the books were British novels, rather than the medical journals she had anticipated.

'You don't come in here to work?' She questioned, wincing as he poked her proffered arm with the needle. It was more the expectation of pain that upset her than the incident itself, she quickly found that Doctor Cullen was particularly skilled at his job, and in reality she hardly felt any pain under his firm but gentle movements.

'No,' he answered finally, 'I mostly try to leave all of that at the hospital, except in cases such as yours, of course. Nothing depicts hope and love clearer than a British story, I find. It is incredibly relaxing. Do you read?'

They spent the next few minutes comparing titles until Carlisle had taken what he needed. Having extracted plenty of blood, he then insisted that Bella stay to eat something before he allowed her to get back behind the wheel of her car. Gratefully accepting the offer that meant she would not have to cook herself, she followed him amicably towards the kitchen.

The room was ridiculously large, and so immaculate it made Bella ashamed of her own living space. The granite countertops looked newly cleaned and the fridge alone contained enough space to maintain a small army. A vase of fresh flowers, Lilies she thought, decorated the ten-seater dining table and the blinds were wide open so the room was illuminated with the evening glow.

Carlisle quickly prepared an omelette for her and poured her a coke, setting both the cup and plate down before her on the dining table. Just as she picked up her fork and started to thank him, she heard another growl behind her.

A spiky-haired, lithe young man wearing a dark pair of jogging bottoms and a football shirt crouched in the kitchen doorway, his expression one of horrifying pain. He was crouched low, hands curled into tight fists and bearing unnaturally pointy canines.

'Edward,' Carlisle cautioned tentatively, 'why don't you go back to your room and lie down.' He scanned Bella for her reaction and smiled when she didn't move an inch. Apparently she hadn't noticed the freakish behaviour of Carlisle's youngest son.

Bella lifted her fork to her mouth as Edward turned his back on them. Assuming they were alone, Carlisle returned to the sink to wash up the pan he had used to cook Bella's meal. Quicker than either of them could have anticipated, Edward returned at full speed, reaching out in attempt to overturn Bella's chair whilst it was still occupied.

As though she had somehow sensed it, Bella jumped up before her attacker had an opportunity to even get near her. Crouching identically to him, she sidestepped as he lunged towards her, fangs bared in a petrifying picture of impending doom.

Edward didn't stumble, instead he turned around when he realised what had happened and reached out to grab Bella with his arms outstretched. Carlisle, noticing what was about to happen, turned to intervene but Bella hissed at him with such force that he took a step back, out of her way.

Edward's arms had almost closed around Bella's pale throat when she picked up her now-empty chair and smashed it into his shoulder. With a roar, he moved closer at a breath-taking speed and lunged for a second time. Pieces of wood littered the floor around them, but Bella danced around them with newly-acquired grace. Shoving Edward's groping limbs aside; she reached out and pushed him backwards into the wall, pushing her outstretched hand into his neck to hold him there. He hissed and fought but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape her impenetrable grip.

Realising the cause of his physical pain, Bella wiped a small crimson trail from her left forearm where Carlisle had drawn her blood just minutes before. When the tiny gash continued to weep, she used her free hand to tear the bottom of her chequered fabric shirt. Using her teeth to hold one end in place, she tied the strip of cloth into a secure knot over the wound so Edward would be less burdened by the smell of her blood.

Slowly, softly, she released the pressure on his jugular so he could control his own movement, and the instant he regained control of his limbs he ran from the scene, locking himself in an upstairs bedroom where he could distract himself. Awestruck, Carlisle was immediately by Bella's side, wondering whether or not he should be reassuring her or demanding answers.

'What are you?' He questioned in wonder, bewilderment evident in his wide eyes.

'An officer of the law,' Bella replied, happily and honestly, as she picked up the remnants of the destroyed chair and disposed of them neatly. 'I am sorry about that,' she added as an afterthought, but the doctor would not have any of it.

'No, Bella, you will not hold yourself accountable for this. Please accept my sincerest of apologies for the unacceptable behaviour of my son. Rest assured that I will be dealing with him shortly.' He was shell-shocked as she chuckled and sat down opposite him.

'Please, Carlisle,' she patted him on the hand as though he were a small child, 'I know you're a vampire. The cool touch, the pale skin and a kitchen that is clearly never used for cooking any real food? I knew from the instant I met you, but I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable by letting on that I did. Edward has needs, and they must be satisfied.'

Carlisle spluttered as he considered the words Bella had just spoken.

'You knew!?'

They were interrupted by an almighty roar and a crash as Edward attempted to smash his way back through the barricade he had created, unable to control his overwhelming thirst any longer.

'Carlisle!' He screamed, his voice laced with longing and fury.

'Let me help him,' Bella whispered, suspecting that Carlisle would be revolted at her suggestion. Pulling his hands away, he almost spat his answer, so shocked he was that she would risk her own life for their unwelcome traits.

'No, Bella! You don't understand, you're his singer. Your blood screams out to him unlike anything else in this world. If you go near him, surely he will kill you. The safest thing for you to do would be to stay as far away as physically possible.' He tried to lead her out of the kitchen, but she resisted firmly. Even with his vampire strength he couldn't move her.

'No.' Her answer was blunt, decision made. 'I can fix this. I replenish blood extremely quickly; I can give him as much as he needs. I hope that if we do this, his need for me will vanish and I'll smell just like every other human. Please let me try.'

Were Carlisle able to cry, he would have allowed the venom that filled his eyes to spill. Her generosity and self-sacrifice broke his heart, but he knew he couldn't let her near his son, his need was too great.

'We don't drink human blood, Bella. Edward would hate himself for it.' Not only was he frustrated at her lack of self-preservation, he also resented that she clearly though him a monster, a killer.

Forcing herself out of his grip, Bella ran for the stairs and knocked at Edward's door before the vampire could catch her. The boy groaned in response and she took the opportunity to force his door open, pushing the wardrobe behind it aside as her strength buckled the frame. Carlisle was forced to watch in horror as Bella unbuttoned the top few buttons of her blouse and stood directly in front of his son, who he knew would tear her limb from limb without hesitation.

'Take her away,' Edward pleaded, desire flooding his eyes as they turned from gold to midnight. Bella, willing her own death sentence, whispered in his ear seductively, her hands on his narrow shoulders.

'Come on Edward, I know you can feel it. All that warm, sweet blood, pumping through my thick veins. Taunting you. Go on, take it, we both know you want to.'

At her words he caved, sinking his fangs into her soft flesh and inhaling the substance that his body had craved since he had been turned. He moaned into her neck as his desire was sated, but found he couldn't stop as he continued to drain her.

'Stop before you get sick,' Bella advised quietly, but he ignored her and continued to drink as though his life depended on it.

If a vampire could look ashen, Carlisle certainly did in that instant. Just as he was about to jump in and pull Edward off her, certain Bella's death was imminent, Alice was by his side, holding his hand and nodding her reassurance.

After what felt like an eternity of gluttony, Edward finally released his iron grip and turned his head from Bella in shame. Sluggishly, he ran into the bathroom where he forced his head into the sink and with a retch emptied the crimson contents of his stomach into the bowl.

'I did warn you,' Bella scolded as she re-buttoned her blouse as though she had done something as normal as changed her shirt.

'It's gone,' Edward whispered, shocked. 'I don't want to kill you anymore. Bella,' he pulled her into a tight hug, 'welcome to the family.'