All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
"Edward?" I called out groggily. I had gone to bed early exhausted from my shopping trip with Alice. Edward had promised he would be there when I woke up, but when I had reached around my bed looking for him he was not there.
"Downstairs." I heard him call just loud enough for me to hear.
I smiled as I took in the smells around me. He was making me breakfast. As I got up and made my way down to the kitchen I wondered where he had learned to cook. It's not like he had a need to cook for himself or anyone in his family, and it was clear from the smell of things he could cook!
He was putting the finishing touches on an omelet he had created for me as I walked into the kitchen. I wasn't that hungry, and I didn't really like omelets but there was no way I was going to tell him that. With the right amount of ketchup almost anything was eatable. This was a skill I learned from living with my mother who could not cook to save her life. Ketchup was a staple at our house, a necessity.
"Smells good." I said as I sat down in a chair at the table.
He placed the food he had prepared in front of me with a glass full of milk and motioned for me to try it. He looked nervous as I cut a small piece off and placed it in my mouth. I was surprised at how wonderful it tasted. It was nothing like the omelets I remembered eating. This was actually good and I had no need of ketchup.
"Wow, Edward where did you learn to cook? This is amazing." I scooped in another mouthful as I awaited his answer.
He looked relieved as he sat down in the chair across from me. "I wasn't sure how it would turn out. It's not like I could try it first. There's not much to do at night and you'd be surprised what one can learn from watching T.V." He smirked.
I shook my head in awe. Only Edward could learn to be a great chef from watching a few cooking shows.
I ate nearly half before I was too full to eat anymore. I thanked Edward again for the great meal. It was by far the most I had eaten and enjoyed in a while.
"So what's on the agenda today?"
"Well, I thought we would hang out around the house and take things easy." I started to protest but he cut me off. "Not your house. I thought you might like to see where I live, and meet my family. But only if you want to and feel up to it." He clarified.
I bit my lip nervously. I wanted to meet his family and learn more about him but I was anxious to meet everyone. What if they didn't like me?
"Sure." I finally answered. "Let me get ready."
He grinned at me as I turned to go shower and change. I couldn't decide what to wear. I wanted to make a good impression, but most of my clothing didn't fit me right anymore. I silently cursed myself for not buying anything while out shopping with Alice when I heard a soft knock on my door.
"Yes?" I called confused.
"I have a box for you. It was left on your doorstep this morning. It has your name in it."
"Do you know who it's from?"
"There's no name on it."
I made sure my towel was securely wrapped around me as I cracked open my door and took the package from Edward.
"Thanks." I called out as I shut the door examining the package. I didn't recognize the handwriting. It was elegant in a way that you don't see everyday. I placed the package on the bed and gently lifted the lid. There was a small note on top that I instantly opened and read.
Dear Bella,
I sawthat you might need this today. It will fit perfectly don't worry! I look forwarding to seeing you again. Everyone is going to love you!
Alice
I pulled back the tissue paper and found a beautiful deep red v-neck top and dark colored jeans. I stared at the clothing in amazement. How did she know my size? I wasn't even sure what size I wore anymore. At least Alice had seen that everything was going to go ok today with her curious ability to see the future. I took comfort in that as I pulled the clothing on and sure enough it fit like a glove. The clothing was obviously expensive and showed in how it hung on my body. It had been so long since I had worn anything form fitting I had forgotten that I had one. I looked at myself in the mirror and was surprised at how good I looked. For the first time in a very long time I wasn't paying attention to how sick I looked, rather how good I looked. It felt nice.
With a huge smile on my face I made my way down stairs to Edward. He froze when he saw me and I looked away blushing with pleasure.
He was instantly at my side and with one hand he raised my chin up to look at him. "You look amazing." The fire in his eyes took me off guard and I could feel my face grow redder. He leaned down and placed a small kiss to my lips before released my face.
He looked me over one last time with a smile plastered across his face before he asked if I was ready to go.
"Yes." I answered and he towed me to the front door.
Of course I had been to Edward's house before but only when I was sick and unable to really take it all in. I knew he lived outside of town down a long road away from people in general. I was once again amazed by the sheer size of his house as we approached.
As he turned off the car I nervously began straightening my clothes and hair. He came to my side of the car and offered me his hand.
"Are you ready? You look beautiful."
I nodded my head as I took his hand and we climbed the front steps to his house. Before we could open the front door Alice appeared as if from nowhere with the door open and beamed at us.
"Bella." She sang as she took me into her arms. "I knew they would be just perfect." She said gesturing to my outfit.
"Yes, thank you."
She dismissed my comment immediately and grabbed my free hand pulling me inside. "Come on, come in." She chirped.
"Take it easy Alice." Edward warned in a low voice from beside me, my hand still firmly within his grasp.
She let go of my hand easily and, seemingly unperturbed, danced her way across the large room and to the stairs where a lean boy sat leaning against the stair case smiling. I recognized him as Jasper Hale from school. He made no move to approach me but I felt oddly at ease with him.
I was so caught up in watching Alice with Jasper that I hadn't even noticed two people who were standing in the entryway.
"Hello Bella. It's nice to see you again." I turned and saw Dr. Cullen standing to the side beside, I could only assume, was his wife.
I stepped forward to shake his hand and smiled. "It is Dr. Cullen, especially under better circumstances."
He chuckled. "Please call me Carlisle."
The women next to him stepped forward and grabbed my hand. "I'm Esme, Carlisle's wife. It's a pleasure to finally meet you dear."
"Thanks you too. You have a beautiful home."
"Thank you." She smiled.
"You probably recognize Jasper from school with Alice by the stair case." Edward said nodding their way.
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you Bella." He answered warmly.
Just then I heard a bellowing laugh come from upstairs. I looked up at Edward confused and saw that he was frowning. When I turned around again I noticed a very large man descending the staircase. He had curly black hair and again I recognized him from school as Emmett Cullen.
He came over to stand in front of me and eyed me shrewdly. "So this is what all the fuss has been about?"
He looked from me to Edward and I could see the mischief in his eyes. I looked to Edward not sure of what to say and saw that his eyes were narrowed and he did not look pleased.
Emmett turned his gaze back to me and I felt myself blush under his stare. He chuckled. "It's going to be fun having her around." He mused. He extended one rather large hand out to me. "Hello Bella, I'm Emmett." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
I slowly extended my hand out to him and smiled up at him. "Nice to meet…Ahhh." As soon as my hand was in his he pulled me up into a bear hug. I could hear Edward growling behind me but Emmett didn't seem to care. I was too shocked to say or do much of anything. I could feel him shake around me as he gently placed me on my feet again. I felt Edward instantly take me into his arms as he continued to growl.
I placed a calming hand to his chest. "Edward stop. It's ok." I whispered. Edward pursed his lips but stopped growling.
Emmett laughed again raising an eyebrow at Edward. "Now I know it's going to be more fun having her around."
I blushed and Emmett grinned widely. I glanced over at Carlisle and Esme and found them both giving Emmett disapproving looks but it didn't seem to bother him at all.
It was quiet for a few moments and I was unsure of what to say. I again took in the large room and marveled at the beauty around me. Everything was so open and white. Everything from the walls to the furniture was white. My eyes fell upon a grand piano I hadn't noticed before it was breathtakingly beautiful. I wasn't sure how I had missed it before. I remembered fondly how my mother used to play when I was a small child. She wasn't very good but she loved to play. She always looked so beautiful as her fingers glided across the keys. At times she would get so lost in her playing the world around her would simply disappear. The piano we had was a second hand upright nothing compared to the magnificent piece in front of me, but to my mother it might as well have been.
"Do you want to see the rest of the house?" I jumped at the feel of Edward's lips at my ear and blushed. I had been so lost in thought I had almost forgotten where I was. Quickly I brushed at my eyes dispelling all traces of the tears that had filled them moments before.
I refocused my eyes and noticed that we were alone in the room. He gave me a quizzical look and I could see a trace of concern in his eyes.
I smiled up at him warmly trying to dismiss his worries. "Where did everyone go?"
He shrugged. "Giving us some privacy I suppose."
He began to pull me towards the staircase and I couldn't help feeling a little anxious. The second floor of the house was just as beautiful as the first. The walls were adorned with great pieces of art I did not recognize. Edward pointed out everyone's rooms just before we came to yet another staircase. The third floor seemed almost identical to the second. He stopped in front of one door and turned to smile at me.
"My room." He announced as he opened the door up for me to enter. He held the door open allowing me to go in first. I was amazed at what I saw. The entire room was done in gold. The floor was covered in a thick gold carpet and the walls were draped in similar material. The South wall was one big window and just opposite was a wall filled with CD's. There was a very large comfortable looking black couch in the center, no bed.
I instantly made my way to his music collection baffled by the mere size and variety of it. "Music must be very important to you." I surmised as I turned to see where he was in the room. I found him standing in front of a very expensive looking stereo system fiddling with a few buttons.
He chuckled. "You could say that."
I looked once more around the room and suddenly the walls and flooring took on new meaning. "Good acoustics?"
He chuckled again as he approached me nodding his head and taking my hand in his. He brought me to the couch and pulled me down so that I was sitting in his lap. He had a small remote in his hand and pressed a few buttons and music instantly filled the room. It was a soft classical number. Nothing I recognized, but it was very beautiful.
"That piano downstairs is it yours? Do you play?"
He nodded. "A gift from Esme and Carlisle."
"Will you play for me sometime?" I asked eagerly. I was truly starting to understand how much about him I still did not know.
"Anytime you wish." He picked up a piece of my hair and began twirling it within his fingers. "What were you thinking about downstairs? You were so far away and you looked so sad."
I looked down before I answered. "I was remembering my mother, and how she loves to play the piano." I laughed once. "She's not very good, but that never discourages her. It's her refuge from the world I guess you could say."
"Hmm." He answered after short second. "For me as well."
I turned to him then. "Have you always played?"
"My entire life." There was something about the way he answered that made me wonder exactly how long that life had been.
I reached up and cradled his angelic face within my hands and studied his eyes for a short moment. "There's so much about you I still don't know. Will you tell me? Will you tell me your story? I want to know everything there is to know about you."
He studied me for a long time before he finally sighed and looked away. "I have done things in my life I am not proud of Bella. Things I never wanted you to know."
"Please. There's nothing you could have done to make me stop loving you. Start at the beginning, go from there."
He looked back at me and studied my face. I'm not sure what he saw there but soon he smiled slightly and looped his hands with mine.
"I was born in 1901 in Chicago. Carlisle found me in 1917. I was dying from the Spanish influenza." I tired to control my reactions as best I could, remaining calm as he continued on with his life story. He described to me how he had been the first to join Carlisle. Esme was soon to follow and then Rosalie. Rosalie found Emmett a few years later mauled by a bear and then was 'saved'. I chuckled briefly upon hearing how Alice and Jasper had joined the family. I could just imagine Alice greeting everyone as if they had been friends their entire lives. I remained stone quiet as he hesitantly admitted to his rebellious years in which he parted ways with Carlisle and his way of life. I knew this was hard for him to admit and I was thankful he was willing to share that with me.
"Because of my enhanced ability." He said lightly tapping his head. "I was able to go after only the most vile of miscreants. I was doing the world a favor after all. Ridding the streets of predators that sought to harm and kill the most innocent, at least that's what I told myself. But," He sighed releasing one of my hands to run his hand through his hair, "as time went on I couldn't justify my actions any longer. I couldn't rationalize all the human life I had taken acting as both judge and executioner. It wasn't right and I began to feel depressed. I had turned into a monster, something I never wanted to be. It only took me a few short years to realize the error of my ways and return to Carlisle and his way of life. He and Esme welcomed me back with open arms. It was more than I deserved."
It was quiet for a few minutes after he finished speaking. I was in a state of awe unable to speak. He had been much more honest with me that I could have hoped he would be. He looked at me anxiously as he awaited my response.
"Are you alright?" He asked hesitantly.
"I'm fine. Thank you for telling me." I whispered.
"You're not…disgusted with me then?"
A look of shock shot across my face at his question. "No, of course not. Why would I be?"
"Bella, I just admitted to being a mass murderer. That doesn't bother you?" He questioned skeptically.
I shrugged.
"Why not?"
"It sounds reasonable given your circumstances."
He looked at me for a brief second as if stunned by my response then laughed louder than I had ever heard him laugh before.
He reached up and tousled my hair. "You are one strange human Bella Swan."
I shrugged and smiled. "But you still love me."
He became serious and cupped my face in his hands. "Yes, yes I do. Very much."
He leaned down and captured my lips with his in a kiss that left me breathless.
