Yep, it's me with another chapter! I finally got around to typing it up!

I would like to take a moment of your time to shamelessly beg you to read my other story, Forgotten Myths. It has not had many readers, and the notebook in which I have it written is now gathering dust. Pretty Please?

Remember to review!

Disclaimer: I... I don't... NO! I can't say it! *sobs*

Edward: What can't you say?

Me: OMG! EDWARD CULLEN!

Edward: Well done, you know my name. Now what can't you say?

Me: *Thinks it*

Edward: Ah. Could you say it if I gave you a signed photo of myself?

Me: YES!

Eward: *Hands over photo*

Me: *Swoons*

Edward. Oh dear. I guess I'll have to say it for her. SHE DOESN'T OWN ME OR TWILIGHT PEOPLE! WE BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER! And I belong to Bella...

First Day Of My Life

Alice

And a-one, and a-two, and a-

Ring-ring! Ring-ring!

Right on time. The phone rang four times, the shrill noise irritating my ears. We let it ring for a little while – humans did not usually pick up the phone before the first ring had ended. I think.

"Hello, Cullen residence, who's calling please?" Esme asked politely, though she knew full well whom it was. I had told everyone that child services would be phoning today. I knew exactly what they would say, and I was euphoric, but I had not yet told anyone. I wanted it to be a surprise, in an existence where surprises were few and far between.

"This is child services, we were recently contacted by the police. We were told that you had found a child by the name of Isabella Swan, correct?" We heard every word: everyone had gathered around anxiously. Bella was resting on Rosalie's hip, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Yes, that's right, what have you found out about her?"

"It seems that both of her parents were killed in the crash, and she has no immediate family who can take her in. She will be put into care, but the soonest a representative can come is a week tomorrow. Is that agreeable with you?" Agreeable? It was a dream come true!

"Yes!" "Excellent!" "Fantastic!" Everyone shouted down the phone at once, and poor Bella whimpered, putting her tiny hands over her ears, and screwing up her face in the most adorable way.

"Perfect. Just perfect," Edward muttered from upstairs. Spoilsport. His family was happy, and all he could do was be sarcastic.

"Was that why you have been so cheerful lately?" Jasper asked.

"Uh-huh!" I cried, kissing his cheek.

"Okay then, we will make a note of your appointment," said the very bored sounding woman on the phone. I had almost forgotten about her.

"Hear that, squirt? You're staying with us for a while!" Emmett looked very excited, and Rose handed her to him. He held her gingerly, a slightly nervous expression on his face.

"What is this? Emmett McCarty Cullen, afraid of a six-month old girl?" I teased.

"Just don't throw up on me again," he warned her, before pulling her into a tight hug. Bella squealed delightedly, grabbing two fistfuls of his hair, and yanking them, hard.

"Hey! What do you have against me?! First you're sick on me, and now this?!" Emmett cried indignantly, acting like her weak attack could actually hurt him.

"Emmett, what is the problem? It's not like she can hurt you."

"It hurts me inside," he sniffled. We all laughed. What a goof ball.

Bella yawned, her plump pink lips stretching into a perfect 'o' shape. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she began to gurgle softly.

"Does she always do that when she's asleep?" Emmett asked, sounding slightly worried.

"How are we supposed to know?"

"Well, she did do that when I was carrying her here, so it is probably safe to say yes," Esme said. Do babies always sleep this much, then? And Bella went from being energetic to being exhausted so quickly! I hoped that she wouldn't always be like that.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, I had been having several visions about Bella lately. I knew that we could convince child services to let us adopt her – if the whole family agreed. And that meant getting Edward to warm up to her. Still that would be easy enough: all it needed was a good plan and some perfect timing.

And I knew just how to make it work.

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Edward

I was listening to Debussy, trying to ignore the disgustingly adoring thoughts of my family. What was so special about Bella that she had so completely captivated everyone? To me, she looked like any other human of her age.

Perhaps it was just the novelty of the thing - having a human child in a house full of vampires, a small spark of life among so many of the living dead. Everyone's thoughts had softened considerably. Even Rosalie, the Ice-Queen Extraordinaire, was not thinking daggers at everyone and everything.

"Esme, Rosalie, I think we are going to need more baby things if Bella is going to be here for a week. And, you know that means…" Alice started.

"Shopping!" They all chorused. What did girls see in shopping? What was it that made it so exciting? And how on earth did they not find it monotonous after almost a century?

"Em, Jazz, you can come help. You know, hold the bags for us and stuff," Alice said, her chirping voice even higher and faster with excitement.

"What?! Why don't Carlisle and Edward have to come?!" Emmett sounded infuriated.

"Edward because he is a total grouch, and Carlisle because Bella is staying here, and someone needs to look after her." I thought that I probably should have been offended by her remark, but I was too relieved not to be taken shopping to mention it.

"Hmph."

At least they weren't dragging me along again. I had had enough of shopping in the first decade with Alice to last me for all of eternity.

I stared at the ceiling, watching as the dust motes swirled in the almost unnoticeable air currents. I sighed, sending them into a whirling and graceful dance, swimming through the air around one another, the light touching each one in a distinct and unique way. I had never watched dust with such fascination, and in truth it saddened me slightly – partly because there were so many beautiful things to see and do, and humans never looked for something close at hand like dust-motes.

And partly because I had nothing better to do with my time than stare at dust.

Through my trance, I was dimly aware of Carlisle's phone ringing.

"Hello? Oh? Okay. Uh-huh. Yes, alright, I'll be right there."

Such a riveting conversation.

"Edward?" Carlisle stuck his head around my door. That was Dr. Crabtree. I'm needed at the hospital. It's an emergency. You'll have to look after Bella until I get back.

"What?!" I exploded. "You must be joking!"

No, Edward, I am perfectly serious, now could you please act more mature about this?

"But… I don't know the first thing about looking after a child!"

Call Alice if you need help.

"Fine," I muttered childishly. "But only because it's an emergency."

Thank you, Edward.

Carlisle handed me Bella, who stared up at me solemnly. He ran downstairs and leapt into his Mercedes, speeding away down the drive. Only when he was almost out of earshot did I hear what he had been hiding from me.

"HOW COULD SHE?!" I screamed to no one in particular. Why that… I would… that pixie was DEAD!

Bella whimpered and started to cry softly. I realised that my outburst had frightened her, and I hurried to soothe her, not really sure of what do. I bounced her on my knee, praying it would work. I would be burned alive if I made Bella cry.

Thankfully, she stopped, and then she just looked at me. I knew that she couldn't possibly feel such emotions, but to me it seemed as though her gaze was reproachful.

"What? Don't look at me like that! I didn't ask for this! I probably dislike this even more than you do! And now I'm talking to a six-month old human who can't understand a word I say." I sighed. I really was losing it.

Bella lost interest in me, and started to watch the snowflakes that fluttered against my windowpane. She couldn't see it, but each snowflake formed a perfect, yet individual, crystalline star. To Bella, it would have looked like a mass of white falling from the sky.

She reached one of her podgy hands towards the window, like she was desperate to capture one of those little stars for herself. She looked back at me, wrapping her other hand around my hair and tugging in an impatient manner. It in no way hurt, but it was irritating.

"Let go!" I ordered her. She continued tugging. Impatiently, I reached up with one hand, holding her with the other to brush her hand out of my hair. I wasn't entirely sure how it happened, but somehow Bella's hand ended up wrapped around my little finger.

That was all it took. Her tiny fist closed around half of my finger, and I was captivated. She smiled up at me, and shook my finger gently, and suddenly my world was turned on its head.

Of course we should look after her. Who wouldn't? I saw her now in an entirely different light; how her features were so small, yet perfectly formed; how her chocolate eyes seemed endless and far more intelligent than her age suggested; how her skin had a flawless, creamy radiance.

She looked back of the window, and wailed. I gathered her tighter in my arms – more securely.

"No, Bella, you can't go outside now, you might catch a chill," I murmured. She looked between the window and me. The window. Me. The Window. Me. Finally she came to a decision, and burrowed into my chest, yawning.

She was so warm. I finally understood why the others were so willing to give up their lives, risk exposing our secret. For in our place, anyone would do the same, human or vampire.

Bloodlust meant nothing now. How could anyone even imagine hurting Bella? It was inconceivable to me, to the whole family.

*****

My momentary peace was interrupted by Bella's cries.

I panicked. I couldn't help it. Had I hurt her by mistake? What did she want? I whipped out my phone and called the one person who might know.

"ALICE! What doe…"

"Edward. Calm down. Remember to breathe. We need to practise for when we are around people. She's hungry."

"What do I do?!?"

"Go downstairs." I ran as swiftly as I could.

"Yes?!"

"Put Bella in her high-chair." I didn't want to let go of her, and I told Alice this.

"Well, someone's changed his tune!" She laughed. I growled back. "Edward, relax. It's only while you make the formula." I complied.

"Now, fetch her bottle and the tub of powdered formula. Second cupboard down, extreme right." I did so.

"Is the bottle sterilised?" I asked anxiously.

Alice sighed. "Yes, Edward, it is. And finally, follow the instructions," she finished brightly.

I paced anxiously while I waited for the foul-smelling potion to heat up. Bella stared around her in utter fascination, seemingly unperturbed by my agitation.

The instant the timer dinged, I was taking it out of the microwave, hoping it was the right temperature. It felt right, but what did I know of Bella's eating habits?

My fears were groundless. Bella chugged the revolting-looking drink, and fell asleep almost immediately. That wasn't right, was it? Didn't most babies cry and wail, and refuse o sleep for hours? Bella really was extraordinary.

I picked the phone back up.

"Thank you, Alice."

"Don't mention it. She really is adorable isn't she?"

I laughed out loud. "Yes, she really is. Oh, and Alice?"

"Yes, dearest brother of mine?"

"Thank you for calling Carlisle."

I smiled and hung up the phone.