The Family Experience:

Edward POV

She was right about her self. We hadn't gone 5 minutes in the car before her head began to lull to one side. I chuckled silently to my self thinking about the reasons as to why she was here. Her earlier comment about saving me from Alice came back to haunt me, I tried to control my reaction but her heart beat gave her away – she had seen me. But it wasn't fear that I could feel, her adrenaline wasn't pumping like it should have been, so what had she been feeling. I hit the steering wheel lightly in my frustration; how is it that I couldn't hear her thoughts? It made me suspicious at first that maybe she was hiding something but so far she appeared to be completely unaware of her significance to me.

I do not pretend that her presence soothes me, the quiet is peaceful and unfortunately it draws me to her. I don't want this to be the case, we had all pieced together enough information to believe that I a) wasn't going insane and b) Bella wasn't lying. Why her? This insignificant human had been thrown into the world of weird and wonderful.

She gave out a small sigh and nestled her head next to the window. It was cold out side; she would also get cold, ill maybe? Before I could think I had pulled her away from the window and had her head placed on my shoulder. Yes it may not be warm but it wasn't as cold as the window I was sure of that.

"Mmmm Edward" My eyes bulged as I realised she was still sleeping; what was the mmmm about? Damn it! It would be very useful to see what she was dreaming about right now. "Not Jasper" another mumble escaped her plump rose lips. What the? What was she dreaming about? "Emmett I don't want to" Ok now I was getting worried.

"Erm Bella?" I asked quietly half hoping that she wouldn't hear me. She stirred and sat up with a jolt.

"Oh sorry" her face flushed with crimson, it was spectacular. I shook my head clearing the last thought. Life has taught me not to think like that so stop it, I chided my self.

"No no its ok I put you there; it was better than the window" I gave her a genuine smile which she appraised for some time before nodding ever so slightly.

I sat inwardly struggling what to do about this dream. Eventually curiosity won out, patience was never really a strong point for me. "What were you dreaming about" I all but blurted at her.

She looked at her hands before answering, not once did she raise her head to make eye contact "Well Jasper told me Emmett likes to play jokes, and in my dream he was trying to get me to help him. I debated about you for a moment but decided no, and then he wanted me to get Jasper. Which I wouldn't he's a very good friend to me now" her voice had gone quiet towards the end, the embarrassment apparent. "Why do you ask?" my question only just registering as odd I suppose.

I shifted in my seat before I answered, she made me nervous for some reason "You were talking in your sleep" I could sense the blush creeping back up to her face.

We were silent for the rest of the journey, until we reached my home that is.

"You nervous?"

She just shrugged unable to speak; her breathing had sped up as we neared the front door. Before I could even land a hand on the door handle it had been wretched open by a bouncing Alice; closely followed by a scowling Rosalie. She was not happy she had to put up with Alice's moaning about how I stole Bella earlier but was pleased all the same that she would meet her finally.

Esme and Carlisle came drifting in from the back garden and soon the family had gathered in the living room. I cleared my throat before turning to Bella, a small reassuring smile on my face.

"Bella, this is my family. You have already met Alice and Jasper" I said his name harshly which earned me a narrow look from Alice. I couldn't explain it but I hadn't liked how close Bella and Jasper were getting. Which is ridiculous to say the least who am I to care about who she is friends with?

Jasper however flashed me an understanding look; my feelings made perfectly clear to him the moment I had uttered his name. I continued around the small semi circle that had now formed "this is my sister Rosalie…"

"It's nice to meet you Rosalie, I've heard a lot about you from Jasper and Edward" she had a bemused look on her face as she shot a quick glance at Jasper who was now staring at the wall trying not to laugh, to the shock of both my self and my family I let out a very low growl. Bella arched her eyebrow at me in return; I had really hoped she hadn't heard that.

"It's nice to finally meet you! I carnt tell you how long we argued about him coming to see you before I just beamed him there my self! He's so stubborn – you'll learn" a huge smirk crossed Rosalie's face as she took in my gob smacked reaction; Bella just laughed.

A rumble sounded from within at my displeasure "This is Emmett" I couldn't get much out before he bounded up to her and encircling her in his large arms "Aww this is Bella! Its nice to meet the human that has Edward all scrunchy faced all the time" His dopey grin was hard to be mad at I planned to bide my time before paying him back – I glanced over at Alice who was nodding her face grinning from ear to ear, which only meant that my plan would be good.

"Hi Emmett" Bella breathed out from under the mass of arms "glad to be of service" I couldn't be sure but she sounded pissed, I liked it.

"And this here would be my parents Esme and Carlisle" the pride I felt for my parents was indescribable, their love for us and each other had not waned in the many years together, something that I knew the rest of my family secretly desired for their lives also.

Esme rushed to Bella and embraced her as only a mother could, whilst Carlisle stood just behind Esme smiling kindly at Bella also. "It's nice to meet you both, your house is amazing by the way" she had become suddenly shy around my parents, they could sense it as their thoughts immediately turned to me

Edward have we done something wrong? - Carlisle was momentarily panicked before he glanced down to Esme who whispered into his ear that all was well.

Ohh the poor girl, I remember the first time I met Carlisle's parents; the most frightening day of my life. Edward be nice to her wont you - Her motherly tone was still detectable even in her thoughts.

"I'll show you the rest of this house Bella" I began tugging her away towards the stairs when her words interrupted me

"I've already seen your house Edward, you do know that don't you" laughter had filtered into her words. I stopped in my tracks; I had forgotten that small piece of information, luckily my vampire brain was in full working order

"Yes but have you seen it since we moved back in? I think not Miss I'm so smart" she slapped me on the arm lightly whilst giggling. I relished in the sound.

I had shown her all the rooms; she especially liked Alice's. The moment I heard her vocalise this I heard Alice thinking about redecorating Bella's room. I stopped as we neared my room. I knew she had been in my room the most; even so I was still very nervous about showing her. I felt a wave of confidence and calm surge at me from downstairs.

"Thank you" I spoke at a low level knowing Jasper would hear me but Bella wouldn't.

"Wow" she walked to the middle of my room and spun in small circle "you have so many books" her face was filled with awe as she took in the vast collection that lined 3 of the walls in my room.

"I've been collecting for many years" was my only answer I hadn't realised she would be impressed

"I thought I had a lot but I think you win" she chuckled as she strolled along the book cases running her fingers across some books now and again. She stopped mid way down the wall just gazing at this shelf, I tried to remember what they were but failed, the memory of Alice helping filtered through my mind; she must have put those ones out. I walked silently towards Bella and stood as close to her back as I dared. She knew I was there though; her body reacted instantly to my presence. Again it was not a rational response; she relaxed so much so that her back was pressed up against me. My breathe hitched slightly at the contact but I remained still, her body felt exquisite, like I had been uncomfortable for so long and finally I found a place in which I could feel right in.

"You like Sherlock Holmes?" my voice was horse from emotions that were coming so quick and fast I couldn't understand what they were.

"I love those books; I was reading them when I was 7. Probably shouldn't have, my excuse is I was an advanced reader that and my mum left them out" she grinned sheepishly over her shoulder at me. I bent my neck so that our faces were but an inch apart, this time she reacted – well her body did; her pulse quickened, as well as her breathing. I could take this only as a good sign, I sensed no fear but I could tell she was as startled as I was at how close we had become.

My mind was going a million miles an hour; how had this happened in such short a time? Was it even possible to develop feelings at this stage? All I knew was that i didn't care about the how or why I just knew who; and there she stood, the light from the window making her beauty glow even in the shadows formed by the oversized shelves. My life had made sense once before and the reason had been taken from me, ripped away from my arms. My mind growled as the scenes of Sofia's death were played as if it was a film, not this time I swore to my self I had found my reason again, she was stood by my side and I would not let us be forced apart.

Our faces were dangerously close, I could smell her sweet breath on my face, I cupped my hands around her face and pulled her to face me fully. I gulped ever so slightly as I prepared my self

"Hey Guys whatcha doing?" I unleashed the fury that now consumed me with my eyes upon my sister. All the time I was trying not to snarl at her for ruining this perfect moment for me.

Oh please Edward, trust me even though you both would have loved that kiss it would have been awkward afterwards. Trust me this is the best way.Her eyes were smug as she showed me her vision; I hate it when she's right. No actually I hate it when she knows she's right.

With the moment spoiled and a very red Bella in tow I reluctantly drove her home. As we pulled up I could hear her parents in the living room, wondering where she had been all day. We sat in a heated silence, the tension was palpable. I longed to reach over and caress her hair and kiss those delicate lips but Alice's voice rang in my mind - that I should wait that I would know when the time was right.

We parted with promises to see each other again soon. She sighed; the sound alone almost broke my resolve.

"What's wrong love?" I saw her eyes sparkle as I called her love, I must admit the animal in me was almost purring with contentment.

She sighed again my undead heart broke at the sound "It just seems so far away" she pouted ever so slightly, that I instinctively reached out and took her bottom lip softly in my fingers to tilt her head so she was looking me in the eyes.

"It does doesn't it" I admitted out loud "I think it would be prudent of us to meet tomorrow, stop any more sighs" I prayed she wouldn't say no.

"Yes sighing is very bad" a false frown covered her face "perhaps…we should see each other as often as we can? To you know save the world from over signing?" her voice was so soft so unsure it was painful.

I had to laugh at what she had said though, I knew we were using the very lame excuse of sighing in order to justify our need for one another but I for one was not going to point it out. "yes perhaps every day?" it was my turn to be unsure, surely every day was a bit too much but I could stand to keep away, she infatuated me, the need to learn everything about her overtook every other impulse and need that existed.

She looked at me now a huge smile on her face "yes" she almost shouted at me, the red in her cheeks becoming prominent once again. "I mean, that would be very nice"

We sat in silence again, neither knowing what to do; finally she leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. "See you tomorrow Edward" and then she was gone.

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