Author's Note: Hey everybody, guess what? I finally have a new chapter! Whoo! I'm trying to make these chapters longer, but, like I said before, they're a lot longer on Word and I'm kind of a "short chapter" person, so please forgive me. Well, I guess that's pretty much it. Enjoy the chapter, review, tell your friends, etc. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer.
"So I'm a…a…vampire?" Bella asked quietly when we had finished. It took nearly an hour to explain everything to her: our history, what we are, how we eat, etc. The entire time she just stared at a point directly over my left shoulder, a look of blank shock on her face. Every so often her vivid red eyes would open a little wider, or her jaw would drop a little lower. I wondered what was going through her mind. Was she frightened? It certainly seemed so. What if she wanted to leave me?
"For all intents and purposes, yes. Although, as we told you, you do not need to drink human blood. You can survive on animal blood, as we do," Carlisle replied.
"Oh," Bella said. It seemed to be all she could manage.
"I know it's a lot to take in, Bella," I reached over to rub my hand soothingly over hers, but stopped when she flinched away from me. I felt my silent heart breaking as I took in her frightened expression. I knew she was probably remembering her final human moments with me, and I flinched mentally from the memory with her.
"Its okay, Bella, we'll help you with your new life. Once you get used to it, it can be really fun!" Alice chimed in.
Bella turned towards Alice and gave her a wary smile, returned with a huge grin from Alice.
"So…what happens now?" my love asked tentatively.
"Well, it's really up to you," Carlisle answered slowly. "You can decide to go your own way and live your new life as you choose, or, if you wish, you may live with us until you decide what you would like to do with yourself. It would be fine with us either way."
Although, I'm sure you would disagree, son, he added mentally to me. I nodded minutely to him, a pained expression on my face.
Bella gazed curiously at my expression for a moment, no doubt pondering why I looked as if I were enduring some sort of extreme physical pain.
"If you don't mind, I think I'd like to stay here a while until…Until I decide what else to do. And I think I'd prefer to…drink…animal blood," Bella said quietly. My heart instantly repaired itself and I felt a large weight lift from my shoulders at her words.
Carlisle smiled warmly at her, "It'd be our pleasure." I just wonder how Rosalie will take it…You know how she is. Emmett and Jasper probably won't have any problems, Carlisle thought.
Esme? I mouthed to him.
Oh, Esme's fine. I called her while Bella was transforming. She said she would be delighted to have Bella live here. She's already looking forward to redoing the guest room to suit Bella better. He chuckled internally and continued, she's planning on sending Alice to Bella's former house to pick up some of her belongings…That reminds me, we must deal with Bella's parents. We'll have to come up with some reason why they can never see her again…
Alice beamed brightly, oblivious to the silent conversation that just took place before her, and jumped to her feet. Bella jerked back, startled, as Alice said, "Okay, Bella, now its time to go hunting! You must be absolutely parched!" She laughed her tinkling laugh and pulled Bella to her feet. "Edward, you stay here with Carlisle. We'll be back before long!" With that, she pulled Bella from the room and they ran quickly towards the river.
I glanced out the window longingly after Bella, and Carlisle murmured, "It'd be better if Alice take her, rather than you. She's probably still frightened of you." I nodded mutely and stared out at the trees.
***
Alice and Bella returned 27 minutes later. I was still in precisely the same position, so I saw them the moment they emerged from the woods. Alice's clothes were still perfect and pristine, while Bella's were ravished and torn. It seemed like Bella had warmed up to Alice, as they were both smiling and talking. I picked up from Alice's mind that Bella had adapted to hunting with amazing finesse, easily taking down three deer. At the precise moment they cleared the river, I heard it.
"Carlisle?"
"Yes, Edward?"
"It seems we may have a…problem," I responded.
And what would that be?
"Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper are pulling onto the drive right now."
Carlisle was silent for a split second. "Go bring Bella inside and inform her of the situation," he said.
I nodded briefly and raced downstairs and out the back door to Bella, grabbing her gently yet firmly by the arm and pulling her into the living room. "Bella, do you remember how I told you that I have three other siblings, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper, and a 'mother', Esme?"
Bella nodded yes, her eyes a bit wider than they would normally be.
"Well, Esme is currently on her island doing some refurbishing, but my brothers and sisters are returning from their extended hunting trip. They will be here in about-" I paused, listening to the thoughts outside the house "-32 seconds. I want you to stay silent while I explain things. Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you and even if they tried, you are still much stronger than all of them. Unfortunately, you do not have time to change your clothes, but that will not matter."
"Oh relax, Edward, nothing's going to happen. Besides, Jazz is with them, isn't he?" Alice said, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, he is, but you know how Rosalie can-" Alice cut me off by holding up her hand.
"Jasper won't let anything happen." She took a moment to search the future, but came up with nothing too threatening.
"Alice…that's not all I'm worried about. She's only a newborn, and what if Rosalie says something that…upsets her? What if she can't handle it?"
"She'll be fine. She's quite tame for a newborn, actually," she chuckled quietly and a flame of jealousy burst inside me, due to the fact that I didn't know this amazing creature as she did. "And even if she gets out of control, Jasper can calm her down and we'll be able to control her." This entire conversation was carried on in tones so fast and low it surprised me slightly when she added "And only 7 seconds left, Edward," she added.
"Go sit, Bella," Carlisle murmured as he suddenly appeared by my side. Bella jolted slightly and flitted over to the couch, sitting fluidly Alice went to stand next to her, and I next to Alice. Carlisle went to stand in the entry way.
Three, two, one…Alice's thoughts told me. At the precise moment she finished thinking "one" the door opened and in walked my siblings. The first words out of Rosalie's mouth were "What was that voice we heard?" Is someone visiting? It didn't sound like anyone we know…
I ran silently to them. "Guys, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Her name is Bella." Alice and I positioned ourselves so they could not yet see Bella.
"Who's Bella?" Emmett asked curiously.
"She's…a friend of mine," I replied.
"Where does she live? Have we met her before?" Rosalie questioned.
"Well, she lives here in Forks. And no, you have never met before." I braced myself silently, knowing we were getting dangerously close to discussing Bella's age and creator.
"What? Another vampire lives in Forks? How could we not know about her?" Emmett said.
I cleared my throat nervously. "Actually, she wasn't a vampire until very recently-today, in fact."
"What?" Rosalie asked sharply. "What are you talking about Edward?"
I took a deep, unnecessary breath. "I made Bella into a vampire while you were gone, and I've fallen in love with her-" I heard a gasp of shock from Bella, and I remembered that she didn't yet know I loved her "-and now she's going to join our family."
