Without further ado...

CHAPTER EIGHT

BELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

It took all the courage I had to go up to Mrs. Rose and ask her this, but I knew I could do it. I tried to hold onto what Jasper said, and replayed the conversation I just had with him, Edward and Alice. While talking to them, they each told me how much my new maybe mommy had come home talking about me all the time. They said she would do anything to make me happy. I hoped they were right.

I really liked Alice and Edward. Alice seemed like she would be a really good friend. Kind of like Mrs. Rose, but a lot more hyper. Edward reminded me a lot of my real Daddy... and that combined with my conversation with Jasper earlier is what made me want to talk to the two people who wanted to adopt me.

Even as I thought those words, it was still hard to believe this situation. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to adopt me, of all people. I knew the drill. People looking into adoptions always wanted the sweet little babies they could have from day one. If they did want a kid like me, it was always the girly girls or the ones with lots of friends. Not me, not the shy girl with her nose in a vampire book. I was simply undesirable.

I was pulled from these thoughts when Mrs. Rose led Emmett and I into a kitchen to talk. Emmett held my hand while we walked, and I was glad. I think he felt my nerves and wanted to show he was there for me. I looked up, as if to confirm these theories and he just smiled at me. I saw Mrs. Rose watching us and she smiled as well. "Alright Bella, what would you like to talk about?"

Though the door was closed, I felt the need to speak at a low volume. I knew the rest of the family couldn't hear us, but I was so nervous I couldn't help it. "I... I..." I hated myself for it, but my voice broke down and tears filled my eyes like a baby. Would they think I was asking for too much? Would they think I was crazy too? What if they didn't want me anymore? I would understand, but it would crush me to lose Mrs. Rose.

I immediately felt arms around me and felt her hands running through my hair soothingly. "Shh... Bella, it's okay. Whatever you need, we are here for you. No one will ever hurt you again." She said that last part with so much strength it almost scared me. Almost. I was taking comfort in her arms and Emmett's as well when I felt a gush of confidence come my way. It was kind of like an angel breathed it down on me. I didn't know how it got there, but I was thankful.

Both of their eyes, that beautiful golden color in all four, were filled with love and concern. It was more than I deserved. I wiped the tears from my now wet face and tried to talk again. "I want to stay with you guys... forever. I want you to be my Mommy and Daddy." When I was done talking, I wanted to close my eyes so I didn't have to see it if they were upset. If they had changed their minds, it would break my heart. I didn't think I could handle it. But I didn't close my eyes, and I was glad I didn't because it was like a dream.

Both of their faces lit up and smiled wider than I even thought was possible. I thought I saw tears in Mrs. Rose's eyes, but they didn't come down her face. Emmett lifted me up and twirled me around. "I promise you Bella, the rest of my life will revolve around being the best Daddy I can be for you." I giggled, feeling like a fairy princess who just got her happily ever after. Mrs. Rose quickly scooped me up when Emmett put me down and held me tight, telling me how much she loved me and how much I meant to her. I took in the moment before I said the other thing on my heart. Is this what it felt like to have a family? It was perfect.

I cleared my throat, and immediately started to get nervous again. Their faces dropped. "But before you adopt me, I want to ask for something." Then came those silly tears again. I hoped my crying wasn't scaring them off.

Mrs. Rose stopped down to look me square in the eye and said intently, "Anything, Bella." She wiped more tears from my eyes, and I felt more confidence rush into me.

"Before I came downstairs today, I talked to Jasper about how I was feeling. I told him I wanted to stay here, but I was confused about having a new family. Even though I love you guys, I still love my other daddy too. And he told me that was okay."

"Of course Bella sweetheart. We understand that." Emmett murmured.

He said that, but I couldn't help but wonder if he would really understand once I spit it out. "I feel like I never got to say goodbye to Daddy and it makes it hard to move on. I want him to know that I'm okay and that I found people who love me..." I trailed off, and they both looked at me like they knew where this was going. "I was sort of wondering if there was any way I we could go see him. I would really like it if you guys could meet him."

I was so nervous for their reaction I thought I could throw up, but thankfully I held it in. They looked at each other for a split second and then looked right back at me. "Bella, we will absolutely do that if we can. We would be honored to meet him. But it will be hard to find him." I started crying at her words. I should have known it was too much to ask. I didn't know where Daddy was and I would never see him again.

"I'm sorry for asking. I'm so stupid." I was sobbing into my hands and I didn't know how I could go from so happy to so lost in this short amount of time. Suddenly I felt two hands holding both of mine, one big and strong, and one smaller but still strong. They led me to a window and pointed at all the trees in the forest.

"Bella, how many trees do you see out there?" Mrs. Rose asked.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7..." I trailed off, twisting my face in confusion. "Mrs. Rose, there's too many to count."

"That's right honey. Too many to count. And that's how much we love you. And anytime you doubt that, I want you to come to a window and try to count the trees. We will do anything for you, Bella. And if you need to see your dad again before starting a new chapter, then we will find a way to make that happen."

I nodded tenderly, sniffling up the tears that had escaped my eyes the third time in this conversation. "I'm sorry I was such a baby. I love you guys too."

"As long as we have that, you will always be my baby, Bella."

I don't know how long we hung out in the kitchen. It could have been 5 minutes or an hour, but we soaked up this precious family time as long as we could before the rest of the Cullens came in.

"Bella, is it okay if I tell them the news?" Emmett asked me, and I nodded back at him.

"Bella has decided she would like Rosalie and I to adopt her. We are going to be a family." He could hardly get out the sentence he was smiling so big, and I could hardly get out my thought because so many people were all of a sudden hugging me.

"We are so excited Bella."

"You're going to love it here!"

"Bella, we are so proud of you. You'll never be hurt again."

"Yes!"

I was flooded with emotions and realized I hadn't been hugged by Jasper yet. I looked to the back of the crowd and he was standing there with an emotional look on his face, smiling at me. We made eye contact and he winked at me. I walked over to him while everyone else talked to Mrs. Rose and Emmett and tugged him down to my level. "Yes, Bella?"

"Thank you."

"For what Bella?"

"For helping me. I thought of what you told me and it helped me say my feelings. They are going to take me to see my real dad again if they can find him."

"I'm so glad that I helped you, darlin. And so excited that you're going to stay."

—

ROSALIE'S POINT OF VIEW

I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was going to explode with happiness. I would handle whatever I needed to if it helped Bella adjust to being my daughter. I didn't know what exactly it would take to find her dad, but what's what being a vampire was for. I knew the rest of the family would be willing to help us.

Bella was in the corner of the room talking to her new BFF Jasper, so I took advantage of the opportunity to discuss it with them. "Carlisle, I'm assuming you heard what she asked us. I can't let her down."

"Of course Rosalie. What do you know from her records at the orphanage?"

"Not much. I know that her dad was named Charlie and is in a mental institution somewhere in Washington. That's about it."

"We will do some research. Alice, what do you see?"

We all looked at her, waiting for her answer. Edward stroked her hair while she peered into the future. "We will find Bella's dad. I don't see what the name of the place is, but it's across the street from a ballet studio. He will be waiting to tell you her story."

Whew! Lots to process. What do you guys think will happen? Any guesses as to her story? PLEASE review. They motivate me so much to write it isn't even funny.