***As always I own nothing. Love the reviews guys, hope you enjoy :)***

Chapter 3

The Cullens

Esme was on the second floor of the cabin, I could hear her making her way to the stairs. It felt like time was moving at an unbearably slow pace. I knew she was moving at her normal speed it shouldn't have taken her even a second to reach Carlisle and I, I think my nerves were causing my senses to slow.

Then I heard a gasp and her thoughts,

"BELLA, my god, how did this happen. Thank heavens you are safe. Our family is whole again".

She stood at the foot of the stairs, her hands folded together in front of her mouth. Had Esme been human, I am sure she would have been in tears, her thoughts were so chaotic, so fast I almost had to steady myself, I couldn't keep up with her.

"Can you beileve it darling, of all the people for me to run into while hunting. Our Bella." Carlisle's words were soft full of love, I could tell by his thoughts that Esme had missed me greatly, and he was sure that this had been the happiest he had seen her in years.

He was truly happy to see Esme so over joyed.

She had yet to say anything, with the pace her mind was racing, I figured it was because she didn't know what to say first. She just stood there looking at me, finally she took a step toward me, it wasn't out of caution but she honestly believed that my being here with them, safe and sound was to good to be true and she was in shock.

Esme's mind was still racing, I had considered saying something, but since Carlisle had yet to saying anything to her I assumed it was best to give her a moment. He knew her far better than I , even if I could see into her mind. Then as she lowered her hands to say something to me, I heard footsteps followed by thoughts, all of them.

Alice was talking to Rose about going on a shopping trip tomorrow and Alice's thoughts were of all the stores she wanted to go to, and Rose was thinking about Emmett. I never realized how deep her love for him was, I was moved by her thoughts of him.

Emmett and Jasper were talking about a family baseball game, their thoughts centered on that alone.

Then Edward, his thoughts were of his family and the strain he had put on them, he was considering leaving, he didn't know where he wanted to go, he just thought it would be best if his fowl moods were not there to bring them down.

Just then Carlisle and Esme both turned their attention to the back door, the rest of the family would be here in just a few more moments.

Esme's first thought was how happy everyone would be and she looked at me with appreciation and joy.

She thought that my just being here would be enough to put her family back together and Edward would find happiness again, she wanted her son back. Images of Edward over the years flashed through her mind, he looked broken and empty, I had to focus on something else I couldn't handle seeing Edward that way.

Carlisle was thinking of his family and was guessing their reaction to me, he was dead on about Esme's reaction, he was sure of the others as well. I prayed he was right, if so, no one would try to kill me.

They were just within range of Edward's abilities I guessed and were obviously within hearing range.

I looked at Carlisle and he gave me a reassuring nod, then he closed the space between Esme and himself. Esme then held her hand out to me, her eyes were so happy, her thoughts were the same, and with that I reached my hand out and grabbed hers.

She was soft and warm and as soon as she had a good grab on my hand she pulled me into her with the most loving hug I had felt in years, then she began to cry tearlessly.

Her thoughts changed slightly then she was only saying one thing now in her mind over and over. I wrapped my arms around her and then Jaspers thoughts screamed out to me.

"WHAT THE HELL", followed by Edward's, he had picked up Jaspers thoughts and with in half a second I heard them enter the cabin.

Esme was still crying tearlessly but she was speaking now.

"You can't leave, you have to stay promise you'll stay!"

That was all she said over and over.

I couldn't see the rest of the Cullens from where Esme and I were standing, I had my back to them. Carlisle had never looked up at them when they entered, he only looked at his wife and myself, he reached out and put a hand on both mine and Esme's shoulders giving us all the support he could.

"It's okay Esme, everything will be okay!" I said trying to calm her. I was so worried about Esme I wasn't paying attention to the rest of the Cullens.

Esme's thoughts were my only concern. She feared what would happen if I didn't want them. She wanted me to stay, she loved me and she didn't think she could take it if she lost her daughter again.

"Promise me Bella, promise me!" she stepped back just enough to look in my eyes, she looked sad and scared.

The thought of what this would do to Esme if I were to leave hurt, and for a moment I thought my being here was wrong, that I was only going to cause more harm that good. I looked over at Carlisle his eyes mimicked hers, his thoughts strangely enough where very much like hers as well. He was sure that if I left now the family would fall apart and he was terrified of the idea.

What was I going to do, what have I done.

"I promise Esme, please don't think that I wouldn't want you guys back in my life, I love you as well, you will not lose me, that I promise."

As I spoke those words to her I realized what I had done, and I knew not only would she realized my talent but Edward would as well.

"Oh well", I thought, "now that the cat is out of the bag."

"Carlisle I would never do anything to cause a problem within your family, when you asked me to come here, had I any idea that my presents could cause so much trouble I would have regretfully declined your invitation." I looked at him, and tried with all the emotion I could muster up to convey how truly sorry I was.

Esme was hugging me again, but she had stopped crying. Her thoughts had returned to the joyful state they were just a few moments ago.

Carlisle's thoughts were of Esme and of the others in the room. They had remained still and silent throughout this entire ordeal and through Carlisle I could see them all very clearly.

Alice was of course full of excitement and nearly jumping up and down.

Rose stood next to her with a very displeased look on her face, and Emmett was of course smiling, leave it to Emmett to find the humor in a moment like this.

Edward's, expression was unreadable, it shifted slightly, looking at him through Carlisle made him hard to read.

Looking at Edward for the first time in so long made me feel to much at once and I almost lost my footing, I had to look somewhere else, I wasn't ready to face him yet.

Jasper was standing next to Edward and was starring straight at me, his expression said to me that his was concerned about something and then I focused. I had been paying attention to only Esme this entire time, and had neglected to read the thoughts of the others, as soon as I focused on the group Jaspers thoughts where screaming at me.

"HOW YOUNG IS SHE, GET AWAY FROM THEM, WHAT IF SHE HURTS THEM" as soon as I heard that I stiffened and Esme was confused, she thought she had done something wrong, hurt me maybe.

"No Esme, I'm fine, it is just that your proximity to me, along with Carlisle's is making Jasper very uncomfortable. It is probably a good idea to put some distance between us, I assure you I will not be offended." I said this and gave my best effort at controlling my emotions, I was going to do all that I could to put Jasper at ease. Of all the Cullens, I wanted to have to fight Jasper least of all.

Esme looked at Carlisle and wanted to know what he thought, but said nothing. Carlisle looked at Jasper and then down at Esme.

"She is right Esme, we should do our best to make this as easy as we can for everyone." With that Carlisle took Esme's hand, squeezed my shoulder and went to join the rest of their family. I took a deep breath and slowly turned around to face the others.

Jasper was still uncomfortable, his thoughts were very frustrating. I couldn't decipher what would put him at ease, so I decided that just asking would be the best idea.

"Jasper, I'm sorry that my presents here is making you uncomfortable. If there is anything I can do to put you at ease, please let me know." I looked at him trying my best to keep my emotions under control.

Jasper's moods affected everyone around him, I really didn't want all the Cullens to feel what he was feeling because if his feelings were any reflection of his thoughts I was in trouble.

"Why don't we all take a moment and got to the table in the dinning room, I'm sure everyone has a lot of questions for Bella, I know I do." Carlisle looked at me and smiled.

Rose and Emmett were the first in the dinning room, followed by Esme and Carlisle. Jasper motioned for Alice to follow them, but she keep her eyes on me at all times.

Her thoughts made me laugh out loud and for the first time since Edward left. She was thinking of all the cloths we were going to get for me tomorrow, and how beautiful I had turned out. Had I been able to I would have blushed.

"Shopping Alice, I haven't been here 10 minutes. You haven't changed a bit, and compared to you, Rose and Esme, I am still very plain." I was truly glad to see that Alice still thought of me as her best friend and that time had not changed her mind of me.

Just then Jaspers thoughts came to the forefront of my mind

"I wish Alice would get in the other room". I looked at Jasper then and nodded showing him that I understood. Trying my best to put him at ease, I took a step back and looked at Alice.

"Alice, I'm sure you know better than I that Jasper isn't comfortable around me yet, you should probably go into the dinning room with the others." I smiled at her and she just rolled her eyes.

No, she had not changed a bit.

"Oh Jazz, Bella is not going to hurt anyone, she is very controlled. Now come on, I don't want you giving her a hard time. I promise everything is going to be fine." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along with Edward to the dinning room. Jasper walked backward toward the dinning room, never taking his eyes off me, he feared I was still to young to be trusted, and I understood completely.

I felt Edward's eyes on me, but I could not look, it was important that I keep my emotions in check especially for Jasper. I followed them into the dinning room and took the only remaining seat at the table.

Carlisle was at the head of the table on the opposite end from me. Esme was beside him their hands clasped together, Rose seat next to Esme with Emmett standing behind her. Alice was on Carlisle's other side, and Edward next to her. Jasper came and stood behind me, his thoughts then caught my attention.

"I should restrain her, just in case." He wasn't as concerned as before but I was willing to help him in any way that I could.

"I don't mind Jasper, if that will make you feel better. I wont be offended." Jasper then placed both of his hands on my shoulders firmly, I didn't flinch, I did my best to make him feel at ease and thankfully it was working.

Then he had another thought, he wanted to be sure that I could read his mind just like Edward could and as the thought passed through his mind I felt Edward's head snap up, he too was curious.

"Thank you, for understanding Bella, I do not wish to upset you." Jasper said through his thoughts, only Edward and I would have heard him. Not missing a beat I confirmed Jaspers suspicion, along with Edward's.

"You're very welcome Jasper, you have not upset me in the least, you would know!"

Him and Edward both gasped in unison.

"Great another Edward!" Emmett said, with that same smile on his face from earlier. I smiled back, and was truly thankful for Emmett, he knew how to make someone smile and I missed smiling. Plus we were right back into our old routine of "make fun of Bella", he made me feel at home.

"Well, Bella are you up for a few questions?" Alice said out loud.

"Because they all have a lot of them, especially Edward." As she spoke that time it was in her thoughts.

"Sure, what would you like to know?" I gave one long look around the table, and took a deep breath, I was nervous, but I would do my best to be as honest and forthcoming as I could be.

I had been alone for a very long time, I had lost a lot of my people skills, and nothing about the last four years would be anything they really wanted to hear.

Jasper sent me a wave of calm and reassurance and I prepared myself. The thoughts of everyone in that room were asking question after question, and I couldn't keep up with them, it was a lot to decipher. I wasn't good at dealing with my talent, I had very little experience with it, I had not been around many vampires since I was changed.

I grabbed the bridge of my nose trying to concentrate on tuning them out, but I couldn't, I didn't know how.

I thought to myself "God Edward how do you do it, their thoughts it's to much. I can't tell who is thinking what."

"I HEARD YOU" Edward said.

My head snapped up and I looked him straight in the eyes. Everyones thoughts stopped, they all look to Edward and then myself. No one was thinking anything, not even me.....

***** I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, I know it is kind of slow pace, but I thought for now that it was fitting. Things will speed up soon, and I will start switching POV's. Sorry about any punctation and grammar errors, I'm not a very good writer. Also thanks for all the reviews and tips, I hope the spacing is better! See you guys tomorrow with a new chapter and with a lot more Edward in it!****