AN – Sorry for the delay once again but FF would not let me upload this yesterday at all. But here is the next chapter where Bella meets the family for the first time as a vampire. I will update again later on today!

Thank you again for all the kind reviews and support of this story.

I do not own these characters.

EPOV

I could tell she was nervous. But I couldn't understand why. She had lived with them for over 10 years now and had always fit in seamlessly. Bella was the glue that held us together these days. It had become more difficult to move from place to place. We saw what Bella missed, the family that tied her down to a certain location and we yearned for those days. We were never jealous of her family just saddened by the reminder of what it represented.

I squeezed her hand as we walked to the door. I could hear everyone talking, I imagine she could too. She took a deep breath and walked through the door. Emmett almost immediately was on her. Hugging her and spinning her around.

"Bella, no more breakable Bella, just plain Bella," he was so excited it was contagious.

"Down boy," I tried to get Bella back from Emmett's grasp but she was the only one strong enough to actually manage to pry her way free.

"Nice to see you too Emmett," she was laughing as she tried to smooth her clothes back down again. She looked shyly up at everyone else while she did this. I could tell she was trying to gauge their reaction to her. Everyone was smiling at her. They were trying to determine whether or not she was ready to be hugged again after Emmett's rather boisterous welcome.

Alice was next on the attack. "Bella," how someone so small could be so loud was still a mystery to me. But she loved Bella fiercely and she still hadn't forgiven me for the way in which I had turned her. No one really had. Surprisingly Rosalie had been the most supportive these past few days. She had just stayed with me and reassured me that everything would be okay and that Bella would come to forgive me. I could tell that everyone had been disappointed when Bella had forgiven me so easily. They had all hoped for more of a fight from her. I had expected it myself and had tried to prepare myself for the hate she would feel for me. If she had wanted me to leave I would have done it, nothing could ever be enough to repair the wrong that I had done to her.

I would never apologize again though. She made it clear what would happen to me if I even dared to utter those words. Instead I would spend the rest of our eternity showing her my love and proving to her that I was worthy of her, despite the fact that I didn't quite believe it myself. I watched her as she moved among my brothers and sisters. Which each hug she received she continued to be surprised at the force that they had. Poor Bella it seems like her entire life with us we had always been holding something back. I hope she didn't run now that we didn't have to anymore.

We all sat and talked for what seemed like hours. Everyone was amazed by her self control and acceptance of her new situation. She just held my hand, squeezing it every now and then as if to reassure me that she was okay or to make sure that I was okay.

Since none of us actually had to sleep it was hard to drop the subtle hints that I wanted to be alone with my wife. I wanted to talk to her. No I needed to talk to her. As if she knew that I was thinking of her she looked up at me and smiled. How it was possible for her to become more beautiful was beyond me. She radiated happiness and I was eternally grateful to have some part in that.

Eventually I stood up, giving up any attempt at discretion.

"Bella, would you mind coming upstairs with me?" I held out my hand, hoping she wouldn't mind me pulling her away from the family.

She looked up at me, a shy smile touching her mouth. "Of course not Edward," without a moment's hesitation she stood up and held her hand out to me and we said our goodbyes to the family.

The closer we got to our room the more nervous I became. She had been my wife for almost ten years and for the first time I was afraid to be alone with her. Afraid of what she might say to me now that she had more time to process everything.

Stealing a glance at her while we walked slowly upstairs she didn't appear to be upset though. She actually appeared to be quite happy, glowing almost. This was what she had always wanted, Rosalie was right. Over time the others would forgive me too. They would see that Bella was happy with what had happened to her. I hadn't ruined her life. I had given her something that she had always thought would be denied to her.

We reached the room and I opened the door for her. She walked in and hesitated as if trying to decide between the bed and the couch. I held my breath anxiously awaiting her decision. What had merely been seconds seemed like hours as she stood there unmoving in the middle of our room. Her decision made she didn't hesitate as she walked over the bed and sat down and waited for me to join her.

BPOV

We got to the room and I stopped suddenly. I wasn't sure what was expected of me here. I could tell that he still felt guilty about the whole situation and I wasn't sure if he would be receptive to my desire to lie in his arms. The comfort he gave me when he wrapped his arms around me was something I craved at this moment. The events of the day were going through my head in an endless loop. I needed him next to me, holding me and letting me know that regardless of his utter opposition to this over the past decade he still wanted me. That he wasn't disappointed that I would be by his side forever.

My decision made I sat down on the bed and looked down awaiting his decision. He was sitting next to me in an instant, his hands reaching for me. I was still amazed at his warmth and softness. The way I could see his skin indent when I touched him.

He just sat and held my hands watching me but not saying a word. I wondered what he was thinking, why he wasn't doing anything at all. We sat there for a while just looking at each other. The silence was comfortable as we sat there in awe of each other. Suddenly the silence became too much and I had to try to convey my feelings at this day.

"Edward," I rubbed my hand along the side of his face. My fingers tracing every contour, amazed at how much I hadn't even been able to realize before. He was so much more than beautiful, he was the epitome of perfection. Why had he ever picked me to stand next to him? "Why me?" It tumbled out before I had a chance to stop the words.

I knew that he hated when I doubted myself but it was hard not to in this situation. Especially now when he was frozen in the perfection of 17 years and I was almost 30 and would forever be. It would be impossible to not notice the age difference. We couldn't very well go to high school together, we couldn't go out together without drawing stares, would he eventually want someone younger, someone better? My mind flew through these thoughts and I felt my chest get tighter as I convinced myself that we could never get past these issues. That it was one thing when we only had to deal with them for my lifetime but now it was eternity that stretched before us and the odds seemed insurmountable.

"Bella," his voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up and noticed he was trying to pull his hand from mine. He had realized it too I thought. I reluctantly let his hand go and looked away. He proceeded to put a hand on each side of my face. "I'm sorry, but what were you just thinking? You were hurting my hand you were squeezing it so hard."

Oh that, I had forgotten my strength yet again. I mumbled a sorry and looked down.

"Bella, oh Bella, I'm fine. It would take far more than that to hurt me. I was just worried about you. What could you possibly be thinking that would put that look on your face?" He put his finger under my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "Bella, please don't shut me out, not now when there has to be so much going through your mind." He suddenly pulled me closer to him, hugging me fiercely.

"Bella, I've been such a fool for waiting for so long," I couldn't believe how tight he could hold me, how good it felt. It took a second for his words to sink in.

"What?" I couldn't understand what he meant by that.

"I've been denying you for so long and where has it gotten us?" He hung his head down again.

"No more, please no more." I pulled away from him and lay on the bed. "Please just hold me, I know I don't need to sleep anymore but old habits are hard to break."

He was next to me before the words had even finished leaving my mouth. Holding me gently he rubbed my back rhythmically, soothing me. With each circuit his hands made he unconsciously pulled me tighter to him. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent now that I could fully appreciate it.

"Your mouth, please don't hide it," he whispered into my hair and I lifted my lips to his. He started gently, brushing his tongue against mine. His warm lips were caressing mine. His hand stopped rubbing and pulled me into him. Almost as if he were trying to absorb me into him, make us one.

I pushed my hands through his hair and then pulled, trying to bring his mouth closer to mine. Which wasn't even possible but necessary at this time. Our legs tangled with each other's and our chests pressed against one another's. It was electric like it had always been and yet so much more. He wasn't holding back, this was a new Edward. Someone I had to get to know. The same man I loved but not quite.

Suddenly I was on my back and he was over me, hovering above me like he was still afraid that he could hurt me. I whispered one word, just one….please. Then his body was on mine, pushing me into the bed and I lost myself to him. Sleep no longer ruled my nights so I turned myself over to the only thing that could replace it…him.

Okay, hope you enjoyed that chapter. We are getting very close to the end. I will be updating again tomorrow!