OMG you guys, the response to the last chapter was amazing:) You guys totally just made my crappy week so much better! I got so many reviews and adds it's insane, a GREAT insane of course;) It totally inspired me to write more!! So, here you go. I think some of you have been waiting for a certain couple to enter the picture and I hope I do them justice!
BPOV
I never knew how tense my muscles had gotten over the last twelve hours but let me tell you, that shower was exactly what I needed. After I finished up in there, I quickly made my way to my room and shut the door. I threw my suitcase up on the bed and unzipped the lid. I was kind-of excited to see which of my clothes Alice deemed worthy of packing. I looked inside the bag and my jaw hit the floor. I had to close the lid and locate my name tag on the handle just to make sure I didn't get the wrong bag at the airport. NOPE, this was the right bag!
Alice is in SO much trouble. I grabbed the first thing my hand landed on, which happened to be a pair of black skinny jeans and a baby blue bunched neck sweater. It really did look amazing on me but that didn't take away my anger that I had for a certain little pixie I know. Ok, maybe it diminished it a little more then I was going to admit to her, but whatever.
After throwing a little gel in my hair to keep it from frizzing, I clipped up my bangs in a little poof and made my way downstairs.
Edward, Alice, Carlisle and Jasper were sitting at the dining room table chatting. I walked in and stood by the door.
"Bella, how was your shower? Come sit down and join us" Edward told me while motioning to the empty seat next to him.
"It was great, thank you. I'll come join you all in a minute but I was wondering if I could chat with Alice for a minute?" I was trying to maintain the smile on my face, but Alice's eyes immediately widened and she grabbed Jasper's hand.
"Alice!" Talking through clinched teeth is kind-of difficult when you're smiling but I managed to do it.
As if she were trying to defuse the situation, she looked at me with the most innocent smile and said "Oh, Bella, you look so pretty! That color really looks great on you. Don't you guys think she looks great?" she asked, turning to look at all of their faces.
"Yeah Bella, that color really suites you" Jasper told me, giving me a look as if to say Please don't hurt my wife.
Carlisle just sat there smirking, taking in everyone faces.
Edward just sat there staring at me. When I looked over at his face, that stinking blush came back.
"Edward, a little help here!" Alice snapped through her teeth at him, her eyes were wide.
"Uh…yeah…"he muttered. His eyes met mine. "You look beautiful" he all but whispered.
I blushed again. I walked over and grabbed Alice's hand. She 'eeked' as I all but dragged her out of her chair. She reluctantly followed because really she had no other choice with me dragging her out of the room.
"Uh, Alice? Would you like to tell me exactly where MY clothes are? There is not one item of clothing in that suitcase that actually belongs to me!" I told her.
"Uh…Merry Christmas?" her brows were up in her hair line and her eyes were wide. If I haven't been mad at her, I would have laughed at her deer caught in the headlights look.
"Alice! I trusted you to pack my suitcase and what do you do? Where did all those clothes come from anyway?" I asked. My anger was waning because honestly, who could be mad at her when she looked at you like that.
"Listen Bella, I'm really sorry that I didn't ask you before I went and bought all those clothes for you. I knew you wouldn't let me if I asked and I wanted to do something nice for you. I knew how nervous you were about meeting my parents and I just wanted to do something nice for you" She rattled off to me. Ok, so I really wasn't mad at her anymore but I wanted to make her sweat.
"Alice…" I whined. I was getting ready to tell her that I really didn't feel comfortable with her buying me a new wardrobe when the front door flew open.
"WE'RE HERE!" the sound filled the entire house. I saw Alice take off towards the man who had walked in the door, shaking snow off his head. Alice threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, Emmett! I'm so glad you're here!" she glanced at me over her shoulder and looked relieved. I knew she was happy to see her brother after not seeing him for so long but I couldn't help but read the double meaning to her words. She was not only happy to see her brother, she was ecstatic that he decided to show up exactly when he did.
Everyone walked out from what they were doing to greet them. Edward was standing next to me as everyone exchanged hugs and greetings. I took in the whole scene.
Emmett was a tall man with a LOT of muscles. He had his mother's bright blue eyes and his father's blond hair. Unlike his father though, his hair had curls. He had a smile that could make the room light up and a voice that a deaf person could hear.
His wife looked like she had just stepped off a runway. She was tall and blond, with brown eyes. She had a beautiful smile, one that could make any man drop to his knees and worship her.
Standing somewhat behind them were two small kids. One was a boy, who looked to be about seven and a little girl who looked to be about four. They were both the most adorable kids I had ever seen, but considering their genes, what's to be expected. The boy had reddish hair just like Edward's but it was kept a lot shorter than his, he had it spiked in the front. His eyes were the same brown as his mom's. The little girl had blonde hair like her father, which curled at the bottom. Her eyes were blue just like his.
When everyone had made their rounds and it was Edward's turn to greet them, he walked up and gave his brother a handshake/hug. He turned to give his sister-in-law a kiss on the cheek. He got down eye level with his nephew and gave him hug. He then stood up. He starting looking around.
"What you guys didn't bring my Emmy bear?" he asked with a sparkle in his eye, continuing to mock look around the room. The little girl started to giggle and ran in front of Edward. She started tugging on the hem of his shirt. Edward looked down and threw his hands on his hips. "Yes, may I help you young lady?" I could tell he was trying to hold in his laughter and be as serious as he could.
"Unkle Edword, it's me! Emawe!" she giggled.
"No! I'm sorry, you are not my little Emily. You're too big to be her!" he told her. She started to giggle again; Edward reached down, grabbed her and threw her in the air. She couldn't stop giggling and he didn't try to hold back his laughter anymore. Edward leaned down to her and nuzzled noses with her in an Eskimo kiss. My heart swelled with the sight of Edward's loving exchange with his niece.
After having a good laugh with his niece, he turned his attention to me.
"Guys, this is Bella. Bella this is my brother Emmett, his wife Rosalie, my nephew Emmett junior but we all call him EJ, and my niece Emily!" he shifted Emily to his other hip and walked over the Rosalie. He reached down with his free hand to rub her belly. "And this is my Elizabeth." Rosalie smacked his hand. "Or Ethan, we don't know which yet" she informed me. Edward just stood there shaking his head, mouthing Elizabeth. Rosalie just rolled her eyes at me and made her way to me.
"Hi, Bella. It's so nice to finally meet you!" she smiled brightly at me and stuck out her hand for me to shake.
"That's what everyone around here keeps telling me, and it's very nice to meet you too" I reached out and shook her hand. Before I had time to turn back around, I was being spun around and lifted off the ground. It took me a second to realize what was going on and the fact that I couldn't breathe. Emmett had me locked in a bear hug and was laughing.
"Emmett, you put her down right now! The poor thing is turning purple from lack of oxygen!" I heard a smack and I was gently set on my feet again. I looked at Emmett, who was rubbing the back of his head. I had to smile at his enthusiasm.
"Ouch, Rose! DAMN!" he yelled.
"Language young man" Esme scolded.
"Sorry mom" Emmett said, pouting.
We all laughed at this over size man, pouting like a three year old.
Esme turned around to walk back to the kitchen. "Would you like some help?" I asked her.
"Oh, heavens no! You're company" she patted my arm. "Edward, however, would you mind going down and picking a wine for dinner? Grab a couple of bottles of red preferably. Thanks" she gave me a motherly smile, turned on her heel and went back into the kitchen.
"Come on Bella, you can help me pick the wine" Edward grabbed my wrist and led me towards what I assumed was the basement door.
We went and got three bottles of what I could only imagine was a very expensive red wine and made our way back upstairs. When we reached the dining room, the rest of the gang minus Carlisle and Esme, had just finished setting the table. Everything looked like it was plucked right out of a Martha Stewart magazine. If this is what a normal meal in this house looked like, I could only imagine what Christmas dinner would look like.
We sat around the table eating, chatting and just plain having a wonderful evening. After dessert and coffee was done, we all helped clear the table and sat around enjoying more wine.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, you really have a beautiful home" I told them.
"Oh, dear please call me Esme and thank you very much" she smiled. "We bought it right after Emmett was born and began renovating it. It use to be a very old farm house"
"Well, you guys did a wonderful job. I wouldn't have ever believed this use to be an old farmhouse. It must have taken a lot of time and patience."
We talked about Emmett's work, I found out that he had single handily started a garage that turned into a booming business. They now have a chain of them. Rosalie grew up with Edward, Emmett, Alice and Jasper. I learned that Emmett and Rosalie were elementary school sweethearts. That shocked me, I've heard of high school sweethearts but never elementary school sweethearts. They said it was love at first recess.
After Carlisle and Esme excused themselves for the evening, the rest of us took our wine, and in Rose's case her sparkling cider, into the living room to get more comfortable. Emmett and Rose kept questioning me about my life, how I met the rest of the Cullen clan, things like that. Emmett was laughing so hard at the story about what I did on the airplane with the "giggle twins' that he fell on the floor. I don't think the wine helped any in that case, because he was clearly getting a little tipsy.
After another two hours of getting to know each other, Rose announced that she needed to get her overly tired, pregnant butt to bed. We all cleared up our glasses and bottles and bid Emmett and Rose goodnight.
Edward helped them out to the car, carrying Emily who was sound asleep, while Emmett carried EJ. Rose, who was carrying a very loaded plate of left overs, gave everyone a one armed hug and bid us goodnight.
After Edward came back in, we all made our way upstairs together. Alice and Jasper's room was the first one at the top of the stairs, so they bid us goodnight and went into their room. That left Edward and I to walk together.
There was no mistaking the electricity that flowed between us and I wondered to myself if he felt it too. Edward walked me to my door and stopped. I turned towards him to bid him goodnight.
"They all love you, you know. I don't think I have ever seen my mom so happy to have a guest in the house" he said looking at the floor, chuckling.
"I really love them all too. I'm so happy that you guys invited me here. This beats just sitting at home by myself" I told him. Stinking blush, it never failed to make its appearance. "Thank you for sharing your family with me" I giggled.
"No problem" there was that damn crooked smile again. "I don't think they will let you get away now. They might try to adopt you now!" he chuckled.
"That's fine with me. I could deal with that" I chuckled with him.
We stood there for a few silent minutes feeling the electricity flow between us.
"Well…Good night Bella. Sleep well" he said and then he slowly leaned down and kissed my cheek. He lingered there a little longer then a kiss on the cheek usual lasts. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from complaining. I just stood there drinking in his scent. He slowly pulled back and smiled.
"Good night Edward" I whispered. I opened my door and slowly walked through. We maintained eye contact until I slowly shut the door.
My heart about flew out of my chest. I finally let out the breath that I didn't know I was holding. I turned around and leaned up against the closed door. My hand slowly made its way up to the cheek that Edward had kissed. It was still tingling. I don't know how long I stood there holding my cheek but by the time I snapped out of it, the house was quite. I grabbed my toiletry bag and quietly made my way to the bathroom, which was empty. I was instantly disappointed. What were you thinking was going to happen Bella? He'd come confess his undying love for you in the middle of the bathroom! Ha… I scolded myself.
Like Edward would ever want me after I have seen what was waiting for him back home. Get over yourself Bella.
Edward could never return my feelings.
Could he?
Ok, so before you hit the roof because they didn't get their first kiss, let me reassure you that I have a plan for this story. I will tell you that it will come!! So please stick with me, I know where I want this story to go. You know the drill, please let me know if you liked this story or not. Preferably the like but if not please tell me, I'm a big girl, I can take it:)
