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Last time...
I put on a pair of black pumps, I had finally figured out how to walk in them and then transferred my cell phone and wallet into a black clutch. Will held up my Black cashmere trench for me to wear and then we were on our way.
BPOV
We took Will's Car and I knew immediately that the Cullen's would have a fit when they saw it, it being a 2008 Shelby gt500. I was never into cars but I had to admit I liked Will's. We followed the Directions Carlisle had given Will and in no time at all we were winding our way up a long wooded driveway on the outskirts of Seattle.
"Wow they really do live out here don't they" he said to me.
"Yea, they must like the privacy." I answered, I felt like I was going to throw up I was so nervous, I had no idea what to expect, Was it going to just be us with Esme and Carlisle, or was the whole family going to be there?
We pulled up in front of a massive brick Georgian style home, It was gorgeous; Red brick, with a white front door and window sills. Brick stairs led up to the front porch and Beautiful white pillars held up the upper balcony that also acted as the roof to the entry way.
Will made his way around the car opening my door for me as I just sat and stared out at the beautiful home. "It's something isn't it?" Will asked
"Yes, I believe that's an understatement." I said, this house was nicer then their Forks house had been.
He just chuckled and helped me out of the car, and then we walked up the stairs to the front door. Will knocked and I swear my heart was going a mile a minute, how embarrassing, I knew they could all hear it racing even inside.
The door opened and there stood Carlisle looking just as good as always, in a pair of grey slacks and a blue button up shirt. "I'm so glad you guys made it, I hope you didn't have any difficulty finding the place?" he asked while motioning us to come in. We entered and as soon as we stood in the foyer I could see the entire Cullen family lined up to greet us, and by the looks on their faces, they had not been expecting me.
"No not at all, your directions were great." Answered Will
"May I take your jacket for you Bella?" Carlisle asked and helped me out of my coat.
"Bella?" I heard Alice say, "Bella," she said again and took a step towards me.
"Alice." Carlisle said in a stern voice. Stopping her in her tracks, it was then that she looked at Will.
"Family, I would like to introduce you to William Campbell, and his fiancée Bella. Will, Bella, this is my family. My wife Esme and my adopted children Edward, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rose." He said pointing to everyone in the order they stood. They were all staring at me now with various expressions on their face but the one that surprised me most was Rose, She had a huge smile on her face and looked genuinely happy to see me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, Thank you for having us over, I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience for you?" I said
"No, not at all," Esme said, "I'm so happy you could make it." And she looked like she would be crying if it were possible.
"We didn't know what to bring you so we just grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir, hope that suits?" Will said handing Carlisle the bag with the Wine in it.
"It's perfect" he said. "Kids, who will be joining us for dinner and who has already eaten?" I knew he was just giving them the opportunity to not have to pretend eating and was surprised when they all said they would be having Dinner with us.
Carlisle led us into the beautiful living room and told us to make ourselves comfortable, while he went and opened the wine. He came back moments later with a glass for both Will and I as well as himself. Esme was in the kitchen putting the final touches on dinner. Carlisle sat down and pretended to take a sip. "Mmm fantastic" he said placing the glass on the side table next to him. All of the 'Kids' were seated around the living room as well just watching, it was getting a little creepy.
"So Bella, Will told me earlier that you challenged one of your exams this week so that you could get early credit, how did the exams go?" Carlisle asked
I had just taken a sip of wine so it took me a minute to answer. " Oh, well yes I took the Exams yesterday actually so I don't have the results back but I'm confident that I did well" I told him
"that's fantastic, you must be relieved to have one class over with." Carlisle answered.
"Dinner is ready" Esme called from the Dining room.
We all got up and made our way in there, Will and I keeping back so that everyone could take their seats first. We found our seats and Will held out my chair for me before sitting down himself.
"Your house is amazing Esme, You sure do have a talent for design." I said placing my serviette on my lap.
"Thank-you Bella, but I really didn't do much to this home actually, Perhaps now that we are all settled in I can try to design it some more." She replied and I saw Carlisle smile at her.
"Carlisle, however did you find this place, It's amazing close to the city yet you have all the privacy one could hope for." Will asked Carlisle.
"Oh, well it just took some time, the house wasn't in the best shape when we got it so we got it for a deal. We need lots of space what with so many people in one house." Carlisle said.
We started dishing out the supper and it smelled superb.
"perhaps I'll have to beg your help in a few months, Bella and I were hoping to find a bigger place, the apartment is okay for the two of us, but after we're married it would be nice to have a proper home. Perhaps you could help me find a place." Will said.
I swear I heard a growl but looked up from my plate and didn't think Will herd it so just took another sip of wine.
"Yes, I would be happy to help you two." Carlisle said.
"So Bella, how long have you been engaged?" Rose asked me
I was surprised, not only did Rose seem friendlier but she was making conversation too. "Not long Actually, just a week." I answered
"Really, have you two dated long then?" She asked, I felt like every eye at the table was on me.
"Yes, coming on three years now." I said taking yet another sip of wine, at this rate I was going to be drunk before dinner was over.
"Wow, three years, that's impressive." Rose said
"How did he propose?" Alice asked, talking like Will wasn't even in the room
"I took her to Vegas since it was the weekend of her 21st birthday and while we were there I arranged for a Private helicopter to fly us to the Grand Canyon. We landed at a lookout there, and had a champagne picnic. We stayed to watch the sunset together and I arranged to have the pilot light dozens of candles and place flowers around behind us and then I got on one knee behind her, waited for her to turn around and when she did, I asked her. Thankfully she said yes, otherwise I would of had to jump into the Grand Canyon and end my misery." He said picking my left hand up and kissing the back of my hand and then my diamond ring.
"Don't joke about stuff like that Will." I said and then laid my hand against his cheek.
"Sorry honey." He said looking into my eyes.
"That's so romantic" Rose, Alice, and Esme all said at the same time looking at both of us. I blushed and went back to my meal.
"So Will, You're a professor at WWU with Carlisle right?" Emmett asked
"Yes, That's right." Will answered.
"So how long have you been doing that for?" Emmett asked again
"Oh, it's about 5 years now." Will answered
"And what do you do for a living Bella?" Esme asked
Oh gosh, "Oh well I'm just a full time student right now, but I'm heading towards becoming a English teacher." I told her.
"Wait you're a student, where do you go to school?" Emmett asked
"WWU" I said taking a bite of m mashed potatoes and thinking the now was not a good time for Emmett to be paying attention.
"But, isn't there like rules against students and professors dating?" Emmett asked, "I thought you could lose your job if you did that?"
"Well..." Will started, what he thought he could say to that, I don't know, since at WWU that was exactly what Will was facing.
"Emmett that is none of your concern, besides their engaged it's hardly some fling" Carlisle said sternly then looked at all of his children, "I will expect that all of you will respect Will and Bella's privacy and not talk about their relationship around the university, do I make myself clear?"
"Umm, yea, I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by it sorry man." Emmett said "Actually it's kinda hot."
"EMMETT!" Esme, Carlisle, and rose yelled at him and Rose hit him in the head.
"What it is, they wouldn't make schoolgirl costumes if it wasn't hot."Emmett said trying to defend himself. And I blushed even redder at the mention of the costume.
"Its okay man, don't worry about it." Will said to Emmett smiling and then I felt his hand on my upper thigh and knew he was thinking about us being interrupted by Carlisle the other day. I heard a chair being loudly moved and then Edward said, "Excuse me but I have to go" in a pained voice and took off upstairs. Crap I'm sure that he heard Will's memories.
Carlisle excused himself to go check on Edward and we got back to dinner.
"Soo... what are you a professor of then?" Jasper asked
"Biology actually, same as Carlisle" Will answered
"So have you set a date for the wedding yet?" Alice asked,Stealing the conversation away from Jasper
"No not yet, Bella is waiting until next September to put together the wedding plans actually." Will answered
"What! why so long, you know if you need help planning Bella I could be of assistance." Alice said
I laughed, "No, I'm waiting until I'm out of school actually, I'll graduate early this summer and then I will be able to plan the wedding after that."
"Oh" Alice said sounding hurt, probably that I ignored her offer of help. "Well do you guys have any ideas about the wedding?" she asked.
"We actually decided to have it on the beach earlier today," Will answered her, happy that she was so into the idea of us getting married. "At sunset"
"That's so romantic" Esme said quietly
"Is there a reason why you chose that?" Rose asked sounding really interested
"It just reminds us of a very important time in our relationship'" will said looking into my eyes once again. I heard something break upstairs and knew that Will was thinking of that night at first beach and us making love afterwards. "Plus, Bella and I love the water, we go sailing a lot in the summers and love spending time at the beach. Perhaps this summer you all can join us on my boat."
I looked at Jasper and he looked like he was being tortured, probably from the love Will and I were releasing and the apparent anger from Edward upstairs. I didn't know what would make Edward act like this, I mean he left me not the other way around. Maybe he just didn't want anyone to have me, maybe he like to see me alone; but either way I no longer cared, I had Will and I was happy.
"So Jasper, What do you do?" I asked and smiled at him trying to relax him
"Oh well I just started at WWU actually, We all did, Rose, Emmett, Edward, Alice, and I" He said kindly.
"Are you all the same age then?" I asked not knowing their cover story.
"Well Rose and I are twins actually, and Emmett's the same age, Alice and Edward are younger but we decided to wait to attend University, so now we are all starting first year together."
"Oh, well that must be nice to have each other, what with the moving and all." I said.
"Yes, It is nice" Jasper said.
"What programs are you studying?" will asked
"Well, I'm studying history myself, Alice is studying Fashion Design, Rose was English I believe, Emmett is General studies right now, and Edward is in the sciences, but I don't think he has decided what to major in yet." Jasper answered Will.
"Wow, that's wonderful, I might be seeing Edward in some of my classes then." Will said as Carlisle walked back into the room.
"I'm sorry about that, it seems Edward was not feeling well." Carlisle said politely and sat back down.
"The meal was wonderful Esme, thank-you for putting it all together." I said trying to turn the subject away from Edward.
"Thank-you Bella, it was my pleasure, did you get enough?" she asked
"Yes, too much I think, I won't need to eat until Monday now" I laughed and she smiled.
"Will, would you mind joining me in my office for a few moments, there were some questions I wanted to ask you about one of my classes." Carlisle asked. I knew he was just trying to give the family time with me without having to guard ourselves because of Will.
"Do you mind babe?" Will asked looking at me,My sweet, loving fiance checking to make sure I was comfortable being left.
" No, of course not, go ahead." I said and he kissed me on the forehead before following Carlisle upstairs.
"Can I help with the dishes Esme?" I asked, standing to take my plate into the kitchen. There was blur around me and the dining room was instantly cleaned up, not a dish or piece of food in sight and almost all of the Cullen's stood in front of me, looking expectant.
"Very human of you" I grumble quietly and Emmett said "It's not like you don't know already, so why hide it when Will's gone?" I didn't have time to answer before I was in Esme's arms.
"Bella dear, I've missed you so much; Life hasn't been the same since you've been gone." Esme said while hugging me.
I hugged her back and then stepped away, " I haven't been gone Esme, I've was Exactly where you guys left me. and then I moved here." I turned and walked into the living room. I sat down on one of the couches and they did the same.
"We are so sorry Bella, we didn't want to leave you, I love you like my own daughter."Esme said.
"I have a hard time believing that you would just up and leave Alice or Rose without a word." I said calmly.
"Bella," she started. But I didn't let her finish
"Listen, I will tell you guys the same thing I told Carlisle, when he popped back into my life. We need to get along, Will doesn't know that I know any of you and I would prefer it stays that way. What with you guys not looking the age you would need to be for me of to known you like I did back then. So I'll see you when I see you, and I won't lie, it has been nice to see you all again, even if it was a bit awkward; but other than that, I'm not the same person you left in Forks, and honestly you all didn't end up being the kind of people I thought you were. So it's a clean slate as of now, ok." I said to them all.
"If that's how you want it Bella." Emmett said, he looked like he was the only one able to formulate a response.
"Yes I think it's for the best." I said
"Bella, First I have to apologise for..." Jasper started
"Jasper stop right there. I told everyone that night that it wasn't your fault and that I wasn't mad at you, that hasn't changed. You have an eternity to live and its going to be a long one if you can't forgive yourself for one little mistake that really ended in nothing. If anyone is to blame it's me for the paper cut and then Edward for throwing me into a stack of plates, and doing the real damage." I told him sincerely
"But" Jasper started.
"Oh for goodness sake Jasper shut the hell up, and get over it already. I cannot deal with your regret and I don't want to. You want to make it up to me then I don't know. Calm Edward down or something." I told him.
"thank you Bella," He said and I felt a wave of calm go through me.
"Jasper, I said calm Edward not me." I said in a reprimanding voice
"Right." he said smiling.
"So Bella, Your engaged, you look happy." Rose said
"Yes I am, and Yes I am very happy thank you. Do you mind me asking why your being so nice, it's kinda unnerving me, you can go back to hating me, might as well not pretend too much." I said to her.
"I'm not pretending Bella, I do like you and I am very happy for you. One of these day perhaps you will let me explain my reasons for being the way I was to you and perhaps now you will understand them better." She said softly.
"Umm yea, alright then." was all I could think to reply.
Just then Carlisle and Will came down the stairs talking and laughing together, and Will joined me on the couch kissing me on the cheek, while Carlisle did the same with Esme.
"You boy's get everything figured out then?" I asked Will
"Yup, everything is in order" Will said
"Sounds like you were having a little too much fun up there to be talking about work" I said smiling at him.
"Oh, I was just thanking Carlisle again for his assistance to you on Monday." Will said smirking back.
"Oh" was all I could say and my face burned red again and Will just laughed and put an arm around my waist.
"oh, dear what happened Monday?" asked Esme and I swear my whole body was on fire.
"It was nothing dear, Bella just felt a little faint" Carlisle saved me. And I smiled up at him.
"Then why is she blushing?" Emmett asked and Jasper smirked obviously feeling my humiliation. What was with Emmett tonight? he was being annoyingly observant.
"I don't know son, perhaps she just does not like being the centre of this particular conversation." Carlisle said throwing both his sons a look that said 'drop it'.
"Well, as much as I enjoyed the fantastic meal Esme, we should really get going I think." I said while starting to get up and pulling Will with me.
"Anytime dear, in fact you two must promise to come again." Esme said kindly.
"We would love to Esme, but next time I insist you and your family must come to our place for dinner, Bella is a fabulous cook." Will said walking us towards the foyer, " perhaps not this weekend but the next?, Bella and I are both free if you are, we could do it on that Friday, is that alright with you babe?" he asked me.
"Yes, that would be fine." I said while Carlisle got my coat and held it up for me to put on.
"It's all settled then, I will get your address off you later at school." Carlisle said
"Sounds like a plan," Will said, "I do hope your other son feels better soon."
"Oh, I think it will take him awhile to get over this one." Carlisle said seriously looking at me.
"I'm sure he can find a distraction from it." I said and Will gave me a look that said he thought I was being rude. "Anyways, Thank you all again, and it was a pleasure meeting you all, but we should be going." I finished and headed out towards Will's car while he said his goodbyes.
They all came out onto the balcony to wave goodbye. "Shit man I love your car! Rose babe we need one of those." Emmett said running at human speed to circle the car with Rose. I just rolled my eyes and got in while they talked about horsepower and other foreign concepts too me.
Finally after a few moments Will got into the car, and we started the drive home.
"Babe, are you okay, do you not like the Cullen's?" he asked, "You seem to get agitated around them?"
"No honey it's nothing really, I'm sorry about my behaviour, they just sometimes remind me of a family I used to know and with me being tired, I just let it take over, I'm sorry, I hope I didn't embarrass you. I'm happy you found such a good friend."
"That's okay babe and you could never Embarrass me; who knows maybe you'll get to know them better and love them. Esme seems like you two could get along nicely, and the 3 daughters aren't too much younger then you, perhaps you will be friends with them all in time."
"Perhaps," I said looking out the window. "But right now I want you to take me to bed; we have a long day tomorrow what with calling Renee to break the engagement news and then me creating my first ever lesson plans and doing homework."
"Yes of course, I'm sorry I kept us out so late." Will said, "by the way, if I forgot to mention it earlier, You were,No are Beautiful tonight."
"Honey you have nothing to be sorry for. I love you so much and thank-you for everything, for always understanding me, even when I'm being a bitch." I told him honestly.
"Bella babe, none of us are perfect, we all have our off days. I'll love you always, that's why you have that ring on your finger, for better or for worse remember?" he said.
"Forever" I said and leaned in to kiss his cheek. We held hands the whole way home, and I marvelled at how easily Will could calm me down and centre me. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
A/N: Wow who new it would take so long to get 10 reviews! Hope you all like this chapter, glad that you guys are liking the new Bella. Write and tell me what you think. I've got the next chapter pretty much finished and will post it when I get to my next goal for Reveiws! Special thanks as always to those who take the time to review the writing I work so hard on for you guys!
XOXO