A/N: I am trying to do daily updates, and if I slack off feel free to kick my ass. In fact, please do. Take right now, for example. I should be writing my essay that's due tomorrow, but the little 'Review Added' emails I've been getting totally trump my professor's deadline.

.

Chapter 6: Welcome Home

Bella:

I didn't want to do this. Everything felt so surreal. I felt like I was moving in slow motion, but I'd never descended a staircase more quickly in my life. Just as I was marveling over my new coordination, I tripped and rode down the last four steps on my butt.

The group of strangers in the living room gawked at me, and then one who looked like he could be a professional wrestler started cracking up.

"That was hilarious! Oh, she's gonna be a riot!" He walked over, placed his hands on my shoulders, and lifted me up. He held me in the air and the way he looked at me with his head cocked to one side made me feel like a dress he was considering buying, although the thought of this hulking guy in a dress brought a smile to my face.

When he set me down, I straightened my tattered and bloody shirt, trying to maintain some semblance of decorum.

"I'm sorry." I began. "I've always been really clumsy. My feet just can't seem to get out of each other's way."

"Yeah, when you were a human!" The big guy scoffed. "But a clumsy vampire? Now I've seen everything."

Jasper turned and took my hand in his. I felt suddenly calm, and I knew it was his 'talent' at work. The problem with his artificial emotions was their purity. Real emotions were always so complicated—never as straightforward as the ones Jasper provided. I looked at Jasper gratefully though, happy to have a moment to regain my composure.

Jasper looked at the bulked up vampire. "You know that different people bring different traits from their mortal lives to their immortal ones. Emmett, have you ever seen another vampire beside yourself built like Sloth?" This was Emmett, then. I looked at the other blond vampire in the room. Carlisle, if I remembered correctly. Jasper's 'father'.

I didn't know how vampire heritage worked. Would Carlisle also be considered my father? Or would that be—his name felt sour in my mind—Edward?

Emmett shrugged off the Goonies reference and continued, "But clumsiness? Yeah, sure, my awesome strength and hot bod were my most predominant human characteristics." He flexed a little and I had the urge to giggle. He continued, "But the most overwhelming and dominant trait of her human life was clumsiness?"

Oh god, I hoped not. I had had enough troubles with my non-existent coordination for the past 17 years; I didn't want to spend an eternity tripping in front of what—from what I could —appeared to be extremely graceful people.

Jasper turned to me apologetically. "If you have an ability, it shouldn't manifest for a few months. Some vampires don't get abilities at all. They just retain some trait from their human life. In fact," Jasper smirked at the group, "I'm the only one here with any type of super power."

The curvy blond wiggled her fingers and raised her eyebrows. "And we are all so so impressed." She stood up and walked over to me. "I'm Roaslie," she said, "and this Neanderthal," she smacked Emmett across the chest, "is my husband, Emmett."

My mouth was open before I could stop myself, "Husband? But aren't you are both Jasper's siblings?"

Emmett laughed again. "I like her. I really, really do." He turned to me. "You can stay."

I was a little shell-shocked. I didn't even know there was a chance I wouldn't be able to stay.

The two more mature looking vampires came over. They didn't look any older than Jasper, Emmett or Rosalie, but they seemed wiser and more reserved.

The woman spoke first. "I'm Esme," she said as she grasped both of my hands in hers. "We are all so pleased to meet you."

If she hadn't been so honestly genuine, I would have tried to find sarcasm in her words; the way she spoke sounded like I had come for dinner instead of forever. As it was, her earnestness was charming; I couldn't help the smile on my face.

"It's nice to meet you, too." I said, and instinct compelled me to kiss her cheek. When I pulled back, she smilde and it made her face light up.

The man reached for my hand next. "I'm Carlisle. Welcome to our home. We hope you will remain with us for a long time." Carlisle's face conveyed pleasure at our meeting, but his eyes seemed troubled and weary. Whether these concerns pertained to me, or whether they were the result of many lifetimes of experience, I didn't know.

A beeper went off. Carlisle released my hand and reached into his pocket.

"That's the hospital." He said. "I have to go. It truly was lovely to meet you."

He was a doctor? A vampire doctor? A gorgeous vampire doctor?

I'd woken up in a bad soap opera.

"Are you thirsty? Let's go hunting. Let's race!" Emmett was practically bouncing with excitement.

"I don't know. Am I thirsty?" I asked Jasper.

"How does your throat feel? Does it burn?" he replied.

I thought about it. "A little?" I said. "It burns a little. Kind of like, I dunno, like I took a shot of something. Straight."

Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett all looked a little taken aback.

Emmett spoke first. "Really? Like… that's it?"

I was quick to reply, 'Wait, is that weird, too?" I sighed. Great. Even as I vampire I was a freak.

Jasper said to me, "No, it's impressive. Newborns, um… the newly turned… usually have an overwhelming thirst for blood. Your restraint is… puzzling, yes. But mostly it's just impressive."

Emmett pounced forward and grabbed my hand, dragging me out the door.

"Epic control or not, we're going hunting." Rosalie came with us, but Jasper stayed inside. As I was dragged down the steps of the porch, I stumbled and Emmett had to pull hard on my hand to keep me upright.

"It's never gonna get old." He chuckled.

Jasper:

Emmett dragged Bella and Rosalie hunting. I wanted to go, but I had to speak to Esme first.

"Are they still searching for her?" I asked.

"Yes." She said. "Emmett knows that. He knows to keep Bella away from the river. The search crews haven't been going too deep into the forest, so if he listens we should be fine."

I was quiet for a few minutes. "What are we going to do with her?"

Esme smiled sympathetically. "I know this is your first time with a newborn in our household, but we've handled this before. Carlisle and I, even Edward—we were there for Emmett and Rosalie. We had to explain everything to them, teach them everything they needed to know. Your experience with newborns has been difficult, I appreciate that, but that's not the way it has to be. Jasper," she looked at me, "you've been fantastic with Bella so far, you really have. But feeling what she's feeling, being immersed in the newborn psyche might be overwhelming, and it might trigger old and painful memories for you. Are you sure you can handle this?"

If I was being honest with myself, I wasn't sure. Would being around a newborn remind me of my old life, of the near-constant pain that that lifestyle brought? I didn't know, but I did know that there was no way in hell I was abandoning Bella.

"I can handle it," I said. "And if I can't… I'll handle that, too." Esme seemed less than satisfied, but she accepted my answer without question.

"Do you think it would help Bella to have reminders of her human life? I could stop by her house and pick some things up." Esme said.

"Let's wait to ask Bella." I said. "I don't think she's thought about the fact that she can no longer be around her family. I think she's so caught up on the fact that she isn't actually dead that she hasn't figured out that everyone she knows has to think that she's dead.."

Esme nodded. "Either way, I need to get her some new clothes. Did you see the state of her? The poor thing…"

Esme walked off mumbling to herself. I almost grinned. Somehow, I had just known that Esme would love Bella. Not that it was difficult for Esme; she was made to mother, and no matter how many vampires we added to her brood, she would nurture each and every one.

I sprinted out the door and picked up Bella, Em and Rose's trail. As I neared, I heard the quick, faint beat of a rabbit's heart before I was slammed by an emotional wall of stubborn. I reached the three of them and stopped.

For once, hot-headed Rosalie was the calmest of the group. "Please, Bella?" she asked, "Just think about it."

Bella was shaking her head before Rose even finished her question. "No. No. Uh-uh. It's too gross to even consider. No."

Emmett shook the terrified bunny he was holding. "Bella. Just eat it. Bite it. You know you want to." He held the bunny by its paws and bounced it back and forth while he spoke in a high voice. "Hi there, Bella! I'm Mr. Rabbit. I am nutritious AND delicious. So yummy! Num-num-num." He made the bunny rub its stomach.

Bella was unimpressed. "I am not eating a rabbit. It's gross."

I had hoped to put off this conversation for as long as possible.

"Here's the deal:" I said, "yes, vampires were made to prey on humans. Yes, our bodies run most efficiently on human blood. Yes, human blood is what our tastes are suited toward. But our coven has made a conscious decision to abstain from human blood. And if you ever hope to be a part of our coven, you have to drink animal blood as well, no matter how disgusting it smells or tastes. No matter how much you crave human blood, you must master your urges." I had kind of slipped into Major Whitlock at the end, my human army discipline peeking through. Maybe Esme was right and being around Bella would stir up unpleasant memories of the past.

Bella was looking at me with hurt in her eyes. "I. Don't. Want. Human. Blood." She spoke very slowly, but firmly, like she was speaking to a puppy that had just peed inside. "I don't want to eat anyone. Okay?"

She waited for me to nod before continuing, "That said, I refuse to kill a poor, defenseless, little bunny rabbit. "

I turned to Emmett. "She hasn't had any blood yet?" I asked in astonishment.

"I know, right?" Emmett looked back at the bunny. "Looks like you're off the hook, Mr. Rabbit." He turned to Rose with wide eyes. "Can we take him back to the house?" The bunny's eyes were all bugged out and its heart was still pounding at ridiculous speeds.

Bella cut off Rosalie's response. "Are you taking him home as a pet or as a snack?"

Emmett wrinkled his nose, "Pet, duh. Rabbits taste like sludge." He sprinted off towards the house, and Rose followed behind him.

"Then why were you trying to make…" Bella sighed in frustration.

"Don't try and use reason with Emmett. You'll end up talking yourself in circles and he'll just decide he's won the argument any way."

Bella burst out laughing, and in that moment I fully appreciated how miraculous the transformation we'd all made was. Bella had been an attractive girl, from what I'd seen before the transformation started and she was writhing in pain 24/7. Now, though… Her hair was a deep brown red and when the sun hit it, it simmered like it held heat. The sunlight streaked her hair with copper, brass, and gold. Her pale skin sparkled and her laugh—full throated and rich—was a song. That laugh hit me right in the gut and my muscles tightened. I smiled bitterly to myself.

We were made to be seductive, and Bella was no exception.

I snapped out of my reverie when Bella's laughter tapered off and her red eyes met mine.

"Come on. Let's get you fed." I said.

I walked over to her and lightly bumped my shoulder against hers. She smiled up at me.

"I think," she said, "I could deal with something not as cute? Maybe something that kills cute animals? I could be a cute animal defender?"

I shook my head in exasperation.

"Fine." I consented, "Let's bag you a bunny-killer."

As we ran deeper into the forest, our path was marked by the echoes of Bella's laughter.