Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italicized means Bella's thoughts and those she can hear

Italicized bold means Edward can hear it also (wont be bolded unless Edward hears it!)

Chapter eight

Finding home

The rest of the day was a blur. I finally came back to my senses as I was sitting on my bed staring at Edward as he leaned against the wall reading one of my books. It was a stray thought about Joe that had grounded me. How could I do this to her, I mean she loved him for most of her life?

Joe? I questioned for a moment forgetting that Edward could hear me too. His eyes looked up from 'A Tale of Two Cities' wondering what I meant most likely. I shrugged at him and turned to see her entered the room.

Yes? Her tone was light but became harsher as her eyes rested on Edward. Ah. She said looking at me; I have no problem with you and him Bella. I do love him but it's not the same as it was. I pity him now for what he's lost but if you don't mind that please be happy with him. Joe had chosen to not believe in his soul, I thought it was ridiculous but I didn't argue with her anymore. I nodded and she left without another word. It was far more awkward around Joe now but nothing could be done about that.

"Sorry I just realised that she might not want us together." I said to his still curious stare. I moved to rest my head in his lap. I was blissfully happy that he felt the same as I did. He smiled down at me and brushed away a stray strand of hair.

"Ah, yes must get the families approval." He said, "Though I think they already love you here so I'm not going to bother." He finished as I laughed at him, downstairs I could tell Emmet thought Edward was hilarious. I raised an eyebrow and shook my head at him, silly vampire.

"I must say that I am kinda wondering when the bottom's going to fall out." I said contemplating my life. "I always get something and then suddenly everything shifts and I can no longer have or desire what I have." I said thinking about many of the events in my life. In the back of my mind I knew that my aging was going to be an issue. I didn't want to be separated from Edward not by age or death. I shivered at that thought, great way to kill the mood.

"What are you thinking?" he asked burning curiosity in his eyes. I laughed at this and shrugged just to make him squirm. He didn't seem to like my non-answer and began to tickle me. I shrieked and pushed away from him trying to escape his fingers which seemed to be everywhere at once. Finally at some point he decided to stop and let me breathe. I flicked him and pouted as the tip of my finger stung. Edward kissed it and I began laughing again I was too happy to think about anything but how perfect this moment was.

"Seriously can this moment never end?!" I said lying back on the bed. Edward chuckled and tickled my toes until I kicked him and nearly hurt myself.

"Okay, I'll remember not to do that again." He laughed having moved just before my foot hit him. I laughed back and moved so he could lie down on the bed too. I curled up next to him and he began to hum my lullaby and my eyes drifted shut.

****8 days later****

"Surprise!" Everyone screamed as I walked into the house I jumped and nearly screamed. Edward chuckled as he came up behind me. Well I was definitely not expecting that!

"You definitely got me." I said putting my hand over my heart, they chuckled and then Alice pulled me into the room obviously impatient to begin. The room had been transformed with streamers and balloons. There was a huge cake sitting on the table even though I was the only one that was going to be eating it. I liked it; it was shaped like a grand piano with a little bride and groom on the bench.

"Open mine first Bella," Alice said putting hers in my hands. I laughed at Alice's enthusiasm; I wasn't one for surprises or gifts and attention. I simply wasn't used to being the center of attention. But I knew better then to say anything; Alastor had reminded me this morning that vampire birthdays aren't as important as human ones. I tried to let go and just enjoy the party. I began to open the gift in my hands, it was a first addition copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula. I laughed as I pulled it out of the box she had wrapped it in. I tried not to think about how much it had cost as I flipped through the pages it smell ancient and wonderful. They all thought it was hilarious that I loved this book. "I am also taking you shopping." She said as if the book wasn't more than enough. I just rolled my eyes and hugged her.

"Thanks Alice I love the book." I said pointedly ignoring her comment about shopping.

"Me next!" Said Emmet as he pulled an envelope, I gave him a questioning look before taking it. I opened it and began to laugh, it was tickets to go bungee jumping and sky diving. I shook my head and hugged him. "I am going with you, at Eddies request of course." He said chuckling and picking me up in one of his bear hugs. Yeah sure more likely Edward had said no and Emmet had told him he would do it with me, to keep me safe of course. Again the price tag weighed down my mind as I was placed on my feet, but I pushed it away thinking about how much they seemed to be enjoying giving me lavish things.

"I love it, Edward may die from fright but it kinda sounds fun." I commented as Edward wrapped his hands around my waist protectively. I laughed at that and everyone joined me.

"My turn." Said Rose as she handed me a small box smiling I opened it and found a beautiful set of deep purple pearls. My mouth fell open as she picked them up and put them on me and fastening the clasp behind my head. "There from one of my stays in Spain, my parents gave me pearls on my sixteenth birthday I thought better late then never." She said smiling; I hugged her touched by her thoughts. My hand touched the pearls around my neck and no thought of price could make me not love this gift.

"Thank you." I said simply still stroking the pearls.

"If I may?" Jasper said as he held out a box much larger then the others had been, well longer. I took it looking at Jasper wondering what would be inside the box. Taking the top off I looked into the box and squealed and dropping the box hugged Jasper while bouncing! He had gotten me a rapier! Well two actually! I carefully pulled one out my eyes huge! I tossed it to Jasper and took the other one in my hand.

"Sweet! I said carefully swishing it. I bounced and hugged Jasper again. He smiled at me as he gently plunged at me and I easily blocked it and countered. Edward clearing his throat brought me back to focus and I blushed. "Thanks Jasper!" I said carefully rest the rapier on top of the table.

"Our turn I believe" Esme said smiling at me and handing me a small box. Opening it I was stunned.

"Your giving me a car?" I asked stunned. Wow. There's a price tag.

"Now, now." Said Carlisle smiling, "if you argue we'll take it back without you even seeing it." He said Esme slapping his arm laughing. I was curious now what type of car had they gotten me? I eyed Rose and she shook her head no, she didn't know.

I was dying to know now with everything Rose had told me about cars in the last few days I was really interested. I took the keys and wondered where they had parked it. "It's in the garage Bella." he replied laughing at my expression probably. I quickly ran off to the garage, I had spent so much time here with Rose I was wondering how I hadn't seen my present already. There right inside the door it stood. It was dark blue and beautiful! It was a Ferrari F430! I was drooling, Rose had told me only a few things but this was a sweet car! I started to bounce and pounced on Carlisle and Esme.

"Thank you!" I said, "I love it!" I exclaimed reminding me that money doesn't matter when you have all the time in the world to accumulate it, and spoiling me made them happy. "Since Rose hasn't seen it this means I get to help right?" I asked and everyone laughed, Rose nodded and I was even more excited. "Cool" I said wanting to get started right now.

"Hey!" Edward said pulling my attention away from the ridiculously expensive car that sat in front of me. I eyed him then remembered he hadn't giving me a present yet. He had promised me that he wouldn't spend a dime so I was being to wonder what he had gotten me.

"So...?" I asked walking towards him pouting slightly, "what did you get me?" I asked knowing he was going to tell me, but having fun teasing him.

"Well you made the silly demand that I spend no money, so I had Alice buy you something." He said smirking, I arched an eyebrow and snubbed him and walked towards the rapiers we had left on the table. His arms were around my waist in seconds. "I know I cheated but can I still give it to you?" he asked begging knowing I would cave. Drat. I nodded reluctantly. Wondering what it was. He really didn't need to buy me anything I had him and that was more than enough anything else and we were out of balance. I mean really.

Edward held a box much like the one Rose had handed me earlier. I wasn't sure I was going to like this. As I opened the box I knew that I had been right I definitely didn't like the beautiful bracelet that lay gently in this box. It was a charm bracelet. A crystal heart, a tiny grand piano, a stiletto, two crossed rapiers, a engine, a whisk, a teddy bear, text book and an easel. Edward had gotten me a small representation of my family.

"Oh Edward!" I said, I didn't like his gift I loved it! It was absolutely perfect. He put it on me and I kissed him passionately, getting a few chuckles for my enthusiasm. We parted and he knew he was forgiven for getting me a perfect gift. The rest of the night was spent with me eating cake and all of us dancing and talking about past birthdays. As I spun around the room in Edward's arms I watched my family and felt like I had finally come home.

****6 ½ months later****

"Bella?" Edward questioned lightly, I looked up from my notes and waited for his question. "Why are you studying?" he asked completely serious. I laughed at him before handing the notebook to him, once he looked at it he smiled, "Ah!" he exclaimed, "And why are you studying advanced geometry?" he asked clearly amused.

"For math class obviously." I said taking my notebook back; I started laughing at my own statement. Like senior math would ever actually require studying! "It's for my new game in class. Emmet and I well mostly Emmet will be bouncing rubber balls around the room and I need to know the angles I want him to bounce them at." I explained Edward shook his head at me. "What it's the only way that I can survive that class? I mean note passing was okay, and asking bad questions wasn't terrible, trying to basically teach the class was marvellous, and paper airplanes, sneezing, crying, and laughing all got us removed from class. I'm trying to come up with something he can't prove we were actually responsible for."

Emmet and I had been taking turns but we were running out of ideas, well good ideas. Emmet had had a few that weren't the best ideas to do in front of unsuspecting humans. If this failed I promised Emmet that he could change Whick's notes, which he relied heavily on for random math gibberish. It sounded amusing and he wouldn't be able to prove it, I was mostly worried that he wouldn't realise.

"Bella." Edward sighed shaking his head at me, he didn't approve of the games in math class. But then again he didn't like my games with Alice in English, what Bella might do at school today. Well the game was basically to freak out Edward in a way he might actually believe but it was still funny. Jasper and I had yet to get a reaction out of the other and I was beginning to think I might have to cheat.

Edward wanted me to play games like the one with Rose; it was purely educational, well after the first week. The first week it had been insults that would confuse the Dimbos' as I called them, but we changed to car part and function in Spanish once it got too complicated, the last day on insults had been hard as most of the insults were long by then because I didn't want to repeat. On the up side I now had an impressive vocabulary in Spanish!

Edward's class was the only one I didn't play a game in. We just ended up talking, me mentally and him writing notes. Even gym had a game; it was how bad we could be at sports. It was fun except when I hit Mike Newton in the face with my badminton racket. Though Edward thought it was hilarious especially when Mike apologised for getting in my way. Poor kid. In order to make it up to him I agreed to go to First Beach with him and a bunch of his friends. When I later found out I had to go by myself I wasn't pleased.

Which reminded me that was this weekend, just three days away. I wanted to cancel on Mike but he looked so happy when I talked to him the next day I chickened out. Oh well Mike, Jessica and Angela were going and I had talked to them before, other then that I pretty much stuck with my family and well mostly Edward. Why did I have to forget the treaty!?

"Bella?" Edward asked pulling me from my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I asked looking up at him from my position on the floor of the front room. He sat next to me and looked rather uncomfortable. I looked up at him trying to be patient and let him ask me whatever was on his mind.

"There's a dance coming up and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?" Edward looked sheepish at me; I tilted my head and thought about dancing with Edward at a high school dance. It was an amusing idea, I'm sure that he had gone to many dances but never with a date, not that he hadn't been asked. Looking up I knew he was beginning to get impatient. Finally I laughed and let him out of his own personal hell.

"If you want to go sure." I said not really caring for the idea then again I was only in high school because I wanted to spend time with him and my other siblings... okay that just sounded wrong.

"I would be honoured if you would go with me." He said smiling his crooked smile. I nodded and looked back to my notebook. Edward could be really weird sometimes.

It's like every little human experience was so important to him, well important that I didn't miss. He wanted me to graduate with him and Alice; I cringe at the thought of another year in high school especially since three of my siblings would have graduated then. It was like my humanity was really important to him; it was disturbing to me that my frailty was important to him. I pushed the thought aside as I played with my charm bracelet, the little diamond heart more accurately.