Alice and I had spent the last several hours talking about how we felt, and how we had not even realized how we had been falling in love the whole time we knew each other. Of course we were both in love with other people so these feelings were dormant, and we would have just been friends had the tragedy of Edward's suicide not claimed Jasper as well.

However with us both single, there was nothing stopping how we felt from growing from a platonic love to our romantic feelings for each other. I was not sure about the physical part of the relationship because this was all new to me, but when I kissed Alice it set off fireworks like Edward never did. Of course now I am a vampire, maybe it's that, maybe it's that I just have been more into girls this whole time, and did not either want to admit it, or was oblivious about that part of my personality. But as I confessed to Alice, I really was interested in being with her. She assured me that she knew how she felt was a mate response, and not just a passing fancy, and mating in vampires was not a one way thing. One Vampire could not fall in love with another if the feelings on the other side were not as strong. For some reason it was only mutual attraction that set off the mating response.

I was re assured by that, then we discussed how we were going to tell the others. Alice told me that in this family open and honest is the rule. We always support each other, so she was confident they would adjust to the newness of Alice's and my status as mates even if the timing was lousy, and it could be argued by anyone other than Alice that these feelings are just a passing fancy we have just run into each others arms to escape the pain. But as long as I was sure, and Alice was sure, we decided to just go sit everyone down and tell them straight out that Alice and I were now mates, and take it from there.

So after the sun set we hunted on the way back to the house, and walked into the living room and everyone came in and sat down. "We have something we would like to tell you all." Alice started

"What is it dear heart?" Esme replied

Alice looked at me and smiled. I gazed back into her golden eyes and smiled. "We are now mated" we said in unison. Then we kissed. Faster than we could follow Esme ran to us and embraced us. "Oh, my dears, I am so happy you have both found love so soon after a horrible tragedy. This is wonderful news! We are all so happy for you."

Carlisle and Rosalie came over next and hugged us individually offering their congratulations, then Emmett came over and swept us both into a huge hug and said loudly "You two make such a hot couple, please feel free to make out anywhere any time!"

Alice's eyes went wide and when Rosalie distracted Emmett by smacking him in the head I pounced. Dropping him to the stone floor. "Now Em, because I love you I am going to warn you. Alice had a vision about your teasing, you had better be careful, one of these times you are going to mouth off at the wrong time, better get your tool belt ready because you are going to have to replace a window after I send you flying through it. He laughed "HA! You are not much bigger than your little pipsqueek mate! I am not worried!"

I saw red, I knew in part of my mind he was kidding, but that part of my mind was not in control of my muscles. It was the I am going to kill you for calling my mate names part that was calling the shots. I jumped up and with all of my strength started to pick him up and throw him at the fireplace in the middle of the wall when Alice shouted "WINDOW BABY!" and I turned enough at the last second to send him through the window instead. We could hear Emmett after he hit a tree outside and landed on his Jeep "Stupid newborn strength, how could I forget that?" Then he called out "Sorry Esme, I'll get my tools and fix that., Oh and sorry Bella, Alice. I was just playing. Very happy for you both!"

Esme was chuckling, and Carlisle after asking me if I was alright told me we would need to work on my temper because every time I did something like that it would be harder to resist next time. Rosalie seconded that and told me thank you for that, sometimes Emmett forgets that size and having breasts does not make someone weak.

I Alice and I laughed at that. I turned to Carlisle. Two things. Number one. I am not going to high school, I will be home schooled, if anyone asks. Second item, Alice tells me you have a kilt? I thought the men in braveheart looked so rugged, can you put it on for me?

Carlisle Laughed. "Yes of course Bella, I also have some of our family tartan, if you would like I am sure Esme would make you one of your own? Alice has one in storage here too."

I looked at Alice with and evil grin. "OK Allie, you are so going to wear that for me!" I was thinking all sorts of dirty thoughts. You know the age old question?

Q: What does a Scotsman wear under his kilt?

A: What he was born wearing

Alice got a vision and covered her mouth. "Oh-my-goodness-Bella!" I didn't even bother to ask her what she saw, and neither did Carlisle and Esme who witnessed our exchange. I guess it was pretty obvious.

We giggled. And Alice said. "Carlisle before we get lost in our plans for wearing kilts, can you give Bella the tour? I am sure she would like to know about your family history."

I nodded. "Yes, please. Since I am a part of your family now that makes it my history too I think."

Esme and Alice took one of my hands each and we walked following after Carlisle while he took us through the home, and explaining what had changed from when he would visit here as a boy. While he didn't live here as a boy his father was an Anglican minister because the lands and title fell to his uncle Angus, who was the oldest of 3 brothers. His father's parish was only a couple of days journey by coach, and they would visit every couple of years for special family gatherings, weddings and the like. When the feudal system collapsed, his family ran out of money to support such a large estate and after a hard winter wiped out their heard of sheep the family soon went bankrupt and Carlisle was able to buy the estate lock stock and Barrel from the Bank. He tried to give it back to his relatives, to tend, but their pride would not let them take charity and Carlisle could not tell them who he really was, so he ended up with the estate, filled with his family treasures and portraits. He showed me one of his father, and brothers painted when they were young men, and it was like Carlisle was staring back out at me from the painting. Carlisle favored his father very much.

Carlisle then took us on a tour of the grounds and it was very interesting listening to how he would play with his cousins, and the passages through the house, that the servants would use so they could come and go without disrupting the family. It was a very different time.

It was fascinating how this house was older than the country I was from. To realize something so historic existed, and the scope of time. I wondered what treasures I would collect over time, and realized that I already had all I needed as I pulled her hand and drew her closer to me Wrapping my arms around her and kissing her.

Next chapter: A distressing Visit.