This one is from Chapter 10; actually it's all of chapter 10, the one where Edward meets Elizabeth. Thisis from Edward's POV. This chapter was basically demanded(lol) but I loved writing it, so here you go. I hope you like it as much as I do!

They wouldn't tell me. It took all my strength not to growl at the beautiful women in front of me.

"Can somebody please tell me what's going on?"

Alice was the master of shielding her thoughts. I pushed further into the crevices of her mind, but she was focusing solely on translating Webster's Dictionary into Arab. I had to hand it to her, it was clever.

Bella giggled, and my frozen heart expanded from the sound. Alice sighed, annoyed.

I sat up, not out of view of Charlie. I knew I shouldn't have to hide in the back seat of my own car, but anything for Bella.

"For the last time," Alice said, "you have to wait."

I sighed, and Bella grinned back at me. I couldn't help the smile that crept across my face. She was so beautiful. Bella laughed, as if anticipating my thoughts and not believing them, as she usually didn't.

"This is for all the times you insisted on surprising me. Not so fun, now is it, Cullen?" She paused, and I was about to remind her of all the good surprises she'd gotten –prom hadn't turned out so bad –when my Bella continued. "Except this you'll love, so it doesn't really count. But don't worry. I'll find my payback somehow."

I loved Bella. She wasn't afraid. She had fire.

That's when Alice turned into out driveway and decided to mentally replace Bella's entire wardrobe. It was actually impressive.

As usual, I heard the thoughts of my family, but there was another voice. It was then that I noticed that all but one of the voices – the new one –were 'blocked.' They were all in on it.

I took a closer look at the stranger's mind, but I didn't get much. Carlisle distracted her with the tale of how our family had come to be.

She was excited about our pursuit, that much I was sure of.

As soon as the car stopped, I was opening Bella's door. She would explain. She smiled up at me, kissing me lightly.

"Welcome home, Edward." She whispered.

I felt an overwhelming wave of love for this amazing woman standing in front of me. With her, I was truly home.

"That sounds so perfect coming from you." I whispered back. I wanted to kiss her again; actually, it was more of a need. But I didn't get the chance because my previously angelic sister had found her place, once again, on the dark side. She pulled y love out of my arms and up the porch steps. The degrading part was that Bella seemed willing to go. Like she had just remembered there was something she needed to do, and she was grateful to Alice for pulling her out of her distractions.

So there they stood, blocking the quickest way into the house. Bella actually had her arms spread wide like a bird. I could've just run to the back door and in that way, but where's the fun in that?

I easily picked up the tiny beauty that was keeping me out of my house and set her down, out of the way of the door. I opened the front door and immediately froze.

They were staring at me, waiting for me to recognize the figure in my foyer. I guess, under the surface, I did recognize her. I knew exactly who she was; it just didn't make any sense.

Emmett chuckled, giving it all up. Not that it mattered. I was too shocked to understand the perfectly coherent thoughts cascading my own mind. Finally Carlisle stepped up and spoke first.

"Son, we have a guest," there's an understatement. "She has a very fascinating story if you would like to hear it." Fascinating, indeed.

And then i remembered Bella standing beside me.

"You knew?" That was all I could get out.

She nodded slowly. "We all wanted it to be a surprise. She came here before any of you had gotten back. She said she was looking for Carlisle, but I knew who she was. And then Alice showed, and then you went to Volterra, and everything went haywire. We wanted you to know, but we didn't want to overwhelm you."

This was my mother. The woman that had raised me and taught me manners and to play the piano. The woman that had prayed endlessly over the way my life would turn out, that the war would end before I could join it. She was here, and she was real.

"How . . ." How was she here? How was she alive? How did she find us? How did Bella know her?

Carlisle chuckled, though I couldn't really find the humor in our situation. Still, we all looked at him, hoping he would know how to ease the tension. Of course, did just that.

"Why don't we all sit down? Elizabeth has a fascinating story for us all."

Again with the 'fascinating.' I suppose there really wasn't another word for it, and it should be interesting.

Although, I had the feeling that I was the only one that didn't already know the 'story.' We all sat down, nonetheless.

I grabbed Bella's hand, always keeping her near me, and pulled her onto my lap. I realized later that it probably wasn't appropriate, with my mother there, but neither complained, and I wasn't in a hurry to let her go.

Elizabeth looked at me, really looked at me, for the first time, and I looked right back. She took a shaky breath and began.

"Well, I guess it starts in the hospital in Chicago. My husband had already passed, and knew it wasn't long before I would be taken, too. The last thing I remember is asking Carlisle to help my son. In any way he could. I'm wondering now if I had made the right decision. I now truly understand the toll this life takes on anyone, and, if I had known it was like this, I would not have wished it one you."

She took a breath, never taking her off of me. She doubted her decision to have me changed? That was unacceptable. I gripped Bella a little tighter, before I reached over with and took one of my mother's hands n one of my own.

"I could not imagine never having lived this life. I'm proud that you were brave enough to make that decision for me, and I know that you knew I would be okay. You knew I would be happy. I could not be more grateful to you for giving me this." I was ashamed that it came out as a whisper.

She squeezed my hand and cleared her throat.

"Thank you. But anyway, the next thing I remember is waking up in Michigan, a new vampire. A man, vampire that is, explained to me what had happened to me, and then left. And so I set out to find you. Of course, I understood that Carlisle didn't hurt people, but the only alternative I could find was animals, so I tried it. I understand now that that's what you eat. I searched all over the world for you, first back in Chicago, then all over Europe and Asia, and, finally over to Alaska, where I met a nice clan, just like us, who told me to try Forks. SO I went there and found Bella. And here we are, though I don't really understand what Bella has to do with anything."

My arm tightened her waist automatically, and a low hiss escaped my lips before I could stop it. My mother looked shocked and then ashamed at having obviously offended me.

Now I've done it. I finally get him back and he doesn't even like me. Her thoughts were followed my anguish. Jasper winced.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to–" she started, just as Esme shouted, "Edward!" and Emmett just chuckled.

"No! No. I didn't . . . I mean, that's not what I . . . I'm sorry about that. I just–"

"He's just a little defensive of the human. He goes a little crazy if he can't protect her." Emmett interjected. Carlisle chuckled. Traitor.

"Thank you, Emmett, for that lovely explanation." I muttered

"I was only telling the truth. You do go nuts when you're away from her, or she's in danger, or you're with her and she's too quiet. It's actually really funny to watch you fuss over her. Bella can hold her own."

Bella giggled. Of course. I just snorted and looked back at my mother in apology. She smiled and glanced at my arm wrapped around my love' waist, and then to Bella sitting on my lap. Bella flushed tomato red and looked away.

I got up, pulling her with me, and stood in front of my mother still sitting on the couch. Alice squealed with delight.

"Mom, this is Bella, my mate for all eternity, if she'll keep for that long. Bella, this is my . . . other mother, though you already know her."

I smiled proudly. No, I beamed.

Bella blushed even darker and Elizabeth smiled kindly. Although, I could tell she was happy I had actually decided to settle down. She and Esme were going to get along just fine.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella. Make sure you keep him in his place. I'm glad someone has finally captured his heart." She remembered girls, lots of girls, all in colorful dresses, batting their eyelashes at me. All trying to flirt, although, in those times, it was much different.

I groaned.

And esme chimed in. "I know! He's always been content with himself, but you could tell he was lonely. It was killing me. He was missing something. But not anymore. Bella's part of the family. I think of her as a daughter, and I just know you'll love her."

I looked at Carlisle for help, but he only shrugged. I was alone here.

Bella was examining her shoes, her whole face radiating the heat of her blush. At least they approved.

Thanks for reading(: Tell me what you think!