Edward

We pulled up in front of Tanya's house a few hours later. Alice was outside and down the stairs before we were able to get out of the car. She flitted up to me first and practically jumped into my arms to hug me fiercely.

"Edward!" she trilled. "I'm so glad to see you! It has been too long since I saw you last. You look so much better, happier." Of course you do, you have your Bella back!

There was no way I could stay mad at Alice. She had given me back everything I had ever wanted. I hugged her back just as tightly.

"I'm glad to see you again too, you little pixie." I grinned at her. She grinned back then released me.

She turned to Bella and hugged her too, though not nearly as hard as she had hugged me. It would have crushed Bella's bones if she had.

"Bella! I am so glad you did this. And you are wearing the clothes I bought you too!" She sounded almost as happy about that as seeing me again. The pink dress Bella wore was something she never would have picked herself but it suited her perfectly. She was stunning. Of course I always thought that.

Bella scowled at her. "You really didn't give me much choice, did you Alice? Since you stole all my clothes? It was wear these or nothing at all."

I tried to push that image out of my mind. Thinking about Bella with no clothes on-well it didn't exactly help my concentration any.

"I had to Bella," Alice said. "Everything you packed was so boring. I knew you would want to look dazzling when you saw Edward again." Bella looked at her, exasperated.

"Let's go inside," I said. I could hear the anxious thoughts of my family.

Alice led the way up the porch stairs and into the house. My family was waiting for us in the living room. Carlisle and Esme were standing together next to a large couch, Jasper was leaning up against the wall and Rosalie and Emmett were standing near the staircase. I was surprised to see them; I had thought they were still in Africa. I heard everyone's thoughts as we walked in.

He looks so happy again-Esme

I knew she would be good for him. He looks more at peace than I have seen in a long time-Carlisle

About time he stopped looking like he wants to leap off a bridge or murder everything in sight-Emmett

I still don't know what he sees in her but at least he is happy again-Rosalie

Jasper's thoughts surprised me the most. I saw in his mind what he wanted to do and when he caught my eye I nodded slightly in his direction. He relaxed immediately.

Tanya and her family were standing off to the side. I felt them looking at Bella with curiosity.

"Edward! It is so good to see you again, son." You look so happy! I've missed you so much! We can never thank Bella enough for bringing you back to us. She came forward and hugged me very tightly. She looked like she would be crying if such a thing would have been possible. I felt horrible for having put her through so much worry about me.

"I'm glad to see you again too, Mom." I grinned at her and she gasped in delight. She turned to Bella, who was standing next me.

"Bella, thank you so, so much for what you have done. It means so much to all of us to have Edward back with us and it is all because of you." She gently kissed her on the forehead before hugging her tightly. Bella blushed bright red.

"I'm glad to see you again too, Esme. I've missed you." She doesn't even realize what a wonderful thing she has done! Esme hugged Bella tighter.

Carlisle approached me and gave me a firm hug. Glad that you are back with us, son. He thought. You have made all us very happy again.

He too turned to Bella and hugged her as well. "Thank you for giving us back our family, daughter." She's part of this family now, Edward. Don't let her get away again. I saw Bella's eyes fill with tears but she blinked them back.

"Thanks, Carlisle. It's good to see you again.

I squeezed her hand encouragingly and she smiled up at me. Esme's thoughts were joyous when I smiled back. She had thought I would never smile again. Neither had I for that matter.

"About time you showed up again Edward," Emmett's voice boomed across the room. Good to see you so happy, bro.

"You too, Bella." She's a lot stronger than you thought she was isn't she? Going to get you like that took a lot of guts. He winked at her and she giggled.

Rosalie didn't say anything but she smiled at me and Bella. She had never been demonstrative to either Bella or me but I could hear in her thoughts that she was glad I was home too.

Alice had gone to stand next to Jasper and was now gently pushing him forward. He approached us carefully and I could feel everyone tense with reaction. I held out my arms to him and took him in a bear hug.

Thanks brother. Everyone relaxed and Emmett laughed his booming laugh. I let go of him and he looked at me speculatively. Is it alright? He thought. I nodded to him and he turned to face Bella. I felt everyone tense again.

He looked down at Bella apprehensively. She did not look nervous or scared. In fact she smiled shyly up at him. He reached down and took one of her hands in his.

"Bella, I am so very sorry for what happened on your birthday. I swear to you that I will never ever hurt you. Can you ever forgive me for what happened?" I saw him shift his feet nervously, awaiting her answer. Please? He thought. Her forgiveness meant a lot to him, even though he didn't really think he would get it.

Bella took his hand in both of hers. "I forgave you the moment it happened, Jasper. I know that you would never harm me. Please don't give it another thought." Then she reached out and hugged him. I felt the shock of it go through everyone in the room. This was not the reaction they had expected. But they didn't know Bella.

Jasper was more shocked than anyone else. He had thought that Bella would hate him for everything that had happened on her birthday and afterwards. For her to forgive him so freely astounded him.

"Welcome back to the family, little sister." Jasper said. I could feel the waves of relief and elation pouring out of him and into the room. Bella looked up at him and grinned, tears in her eyes.

I could feel the speculation in Tanya's family and turned to make the introductions.

"Bella, this is Tanya, Irina, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar. They are our other family."

Bella nodded shyly at them and they came forward individually to introduce themselves.

"I'm Irina and this is Kate," she said, motioning to her sister. She is very pretty, Irina thought. But she looks scared. It can't be because we are vampires. She must be shy. "It is very nice to meet you at last." Bella nodded slightly. Poor girl, Kate thought, she seems so shy. But sweet. Edward, it is wonderful to see you smile again. I thought you forgot how. I smiled at her.

"And I am Carmen and this is Eleazar. It is a pleasure to meet you. We have heard much about you from Carlisle and the rest of the family." Bella blushed crimson at her words and they stared at her, bemused. What a strange reaction, Carmen thought. She doesn't look like she likes to be the center of attention, Eleazar thought. I guess no one had told them how averse to attention Bella was.

Tanya approached last. She looked at Bella inquisitively. I suppose she is pretty, she thought. But I can't believe that she is what all the fuss was about. I stiffened and Tanya looked at me sheepishly. Sorry, she thought. Tanya had made it clear to me a long time ago that she wished that we could be more than friends. I had gently refused but I knew she still thought about it. She could not understand the attraction that Bella had for me, despite the same kind of attraction that human men had for her.

"I am Tanya," she said to Bella now. "We are glad that you are here, you have made Edward very happy again." Of course, I could have made Edward happy to…her thoughts turned to all the ways she wanted to make me happy and I blocked them from my mind and then turned my attention to Bella.

"It is very nice to meet all of you as well." Bella said. She was staring in wonder at the group. She looked up at me and I could read the uncertainty in her eyes. She was uncomfortable around all these new people and the attention she had received from my family had embarrassed and bewildered her.

"Let's all sit down and talk," I suggested.