A warm, cold welcome

Alice was waiting outside of the house together with Jasper.

'Finally!' She yelled excited.

What the hell?

Apparently Alice hadn't told Jasper about her visions.

Oh my, she is even cuter than in my visions. Can I hold her, Edward?

Alice was so excited, she could barely hold herself together.

Please, Edward.

He hesitated. He would rather hold on to her, but he corrected himself, knowing that was ridiculous.

'You can open your eyes now, Bella.'

She did what she was told and he pointed to Alice.

'This is Alice, my sister.'

'Hello.' Bella said shyly.

How sweet!

Alice held out her arms and Edward placed the child inside them, missing her immediately. What was wrong with him? He hardly knew her.

'Hello sweetie, we are going to be great friends.'

He saw a vision of the future, where Bella was older and was running around with Emmett, laughing and another one where she was walking next to Alice, shopping. It was a wonderful sight. What did it mean? Was she going to stay with them or was she going to live somewhere else? Either way, the visions showed they kept in touch with Bella. He watched her and knew he couldn't have it any other way. He would watch and protect her, wherever she was. He wasn't paying attention to Jasper's thoughts until they shouted out to him.

Wow, this girl isn't human!

He growled, suddenly protective of Alice. Edward immediately ripped Bella from Alice's arms and jumped away from Jasper.

'What?' Alice and Carlisle asked at the same time.

Edward sat her down on the ground behind him and took a defensive position in front of her. He watched Jasper intently.

Sorry Edward, calm down. I am not going to hurt the child. It was just the shock.

Jasper had already recovered from it.

Why is he protecting the child from Jasper?

Alice watched the future and saw everybody relax again. Edward's actions followed the vision by a few seconds. He relaxed his position and picked Bella up. She was shocked, her eyes open with fear.

'Don't be afraid, Bella. Nobody is going to hurt you. Everything is fine.'

He was sorry for overreacting and scaring the girl. He could hear her heartbeat slowing, while he held her in his arms and he felt better. Alice came closer and took Bella from his arms again.

'I don't know what Jazz was thinking, but I am sure nobody will hurt Bella. You should not overreact, Edward.'

He knew she was right.

'I am sorry, Jazz. I don't know what came over me.'

The truth was that he indeed didn't know. The over-protectiveness came without warning and it was strong, undeniable strong. Carlisle put his hand on his shoulder and Jasper nodded to him.

Don't worry about it Edward. I understand. I feel like protecting her too, mostly from your feelings, but also from my own. I swear, I will not hurt her.

Alice walked into the house with Bella and Edward, Carlisle and Jasper followed.

'Let's meet the others, Bella. They will be delighted.'

Alice called the others while walking into the living room and they came running towards them immediately. Everybody was now surrounding Bella.

Edward felt uneasy, knowing that this precious girl was now in a room filled with seven lethal vampires and he tensed his muscles. Carlisle took his shoulder again.

Relax, son. She will be fine.

Esme was the first one who picked Bella from Alice and held her close, kissing her cheek.

'Aren't you a beautiful child.' She cooed.

Rosalie and Emmett just stared. He searched for their thoughts.

Only Edward could go hunting in an unpopulated forest and bring home a lost child. Tough luck, bro.

Look at that child, she is so pretty and cute. What if Carlisle adopts her? I could be like a big sister for her.

'Are you hungry?' Esme asked her adoringly.

She nodded. Esme rushed to the kitchen quickly, taking Bella with her. They all followed.

'What do you want? I can make you pancakes or toast.'

'Anything, I am so hungry.' Her voice was strained and Edward felt a pinch of pain. Who knows how long her parents had left her and how long they hadn't fed her. His family agreed with him.

I can't believe her parents left her without food and water in an empty forest to die. Carlisle

She is so thin. I am going to make her a lot of food until she is fully healed. Oh, how wonderful to take care of a child again. Esme

I am going to kill the irresponsible humans who did this to an innocent child. Rosalie

From now on, we are going to take good care of her. Alice

Edward saw some vision of them with Bella in the future again and wondered how that was going to work. They were vampires and Bella was something else. Maybe not human, but vulnerable enough to be called that. They could easily kill her. She was not safe with them, but what else could they do? Her parents had obviously abandoned her and she couldn't remember anything about her family or house. They would do research, of course, to find her family, but what would come next. Would they just give her up and let her live her life? They had collided with her life now and things would never be the same. The thought of leaving her, hurt him more than he could imagine. Alice was eyeing him cautiously.

You are not thinking about giving her up, are you? She was meant to live with us. You found her for a reason, I am sure of it.

He wished he could share her certainty, but he couldn't. Maybe he was meant to find her, but was he also meant to stay beside her?

Carlisle was considering the same things.

I am going to the hospital, to see if any casualties have come in that could be related to the girl. After that, I am going to do research in the towns. We need to know for sure that she has no one else.

It wouldn't be too hard. This was a small town in the middle of nowhere. The nearest city was seven hours, riding top speed in a car, away and the nearest town was two hours away. If there was any family it was unlikely that they did not live in this town or the neighbouring town. This was Alaska. Both towns only held a few thousand people. It would not take Carlisle long to investigate. He would ask around in town, a beautiful child like Bella should have attracted attention, so someone should know her. It was not strange that they didn't, because they kept to themselves. This time they had also decided to skip high school, since it was more accepted for children to be homeschooled in the unpopulated areas of Alaska. School usually was the way to know everything about a town, so this time they didn't know much. Carlisle knew the people of this town and the next best, because of his job in the hospital, so he was the best candidate to investigate.

He left after explaining to the others. Esme was making pancakes and Rosalie was holding Bella.

'You are very beautiful.' Bella said.

This was the way into Rosalie's heart and Edward couldn't help to smile. Rosalie glowed out of pleasure.

'So are you.'

'What is your name?' She asked.

'I am very sorry, Bella. For not introducing you properly.' Edward cut in. 'This is my sister Rosalie, my brothers Emmett and Jasper and my mother Esme.'

'It is nice to meet you.'

Rosalie hugged her close.

She really is too cute.

'We are very happy to meet you, Bella.' Esme said softly.

Edward opened their refrigerator to find some juice. He was glad that they stocked the refrigerator just in case. It was the first time he was happy about their need to keep up appearances. He gave Bella a glass of juice, which she gulped down eagerly.

Poor child, she must be starved.

Esme was very worried. Edward understood those worries and he filled her glass again. She drank eagerly.

For the second time Edward couldn't understand, how her parents could have done this. He caressed her cheek and she beamed up at him. He was momentarily awed by the sight.

Edward is already attached to her. What if she can't stay?

His mother's concerns, shook him out of his awe and he looked at Esme.

'She can't stay. We are vampires, I know that.'

It was for her assurances as much as for his own.

Like hell she can't stay. If she has nobody else, we are not going to abandon her.

Rosalie gave him a glare.

No way.

Edward sighed. Rosalie could be headstrong if she wanted something bad enough. Jasper was keeping his distance from Bella.

Her scent is so strange, but strong, especially for a little girl.

Without thinking Edward growled, his protectiveness kicking in again.

Jeez Edward, didn't I already tell you I was not going to hurt the girl.

Edward gave him an apologetic nod. He was getting frustrated with himself. His instincts were so strong. He needed to learn to control them.

They watched Bella eat and drink. She was strangely silent for a little girl, she was drawn back. It worried Edward. Rosalie was combing her hair and Esme was making sure she got everything she needed and more. Alice was also silent, wondering how she could convince everybody that the best place for Bella was here. When she was done eating, she stared in everybody's faces one by one. She chose Edward's face first and he gasped. Her eyes drifted further to Alice's and Edward saw her pose go rigid. Then the strangest thing happened. Her look went on to Jasper's and Edward saw his eyes flow open in shock. She held his gaze and slowly he walked closer. His eyes were directly on her and it was as if nothing could break the line. Jasper was completely enthralled, like a pray being lured in by a predator. When he was standing right in front of her, she touched his hand.

'You are afraid of me. I don't understand.'

Jasper was still too shocked to talk.

'Did I do something wrong?' Her voice was soft and filled with pain.

One moment she seemed different, not like a small child, but the next moment she was just the little girl, alone and afraid. Edward couldn't help to touch her again, but this time someone beat him to it. Jasper had put one of his hands on her cheek.

'You didn't do anything wrong. I just didn't understand. I am always careful, don't worry.'

Wow, Jasper has never turned around this fast before, except with me. Her eyes are enough to wrap everybody around her little finger.

Edward agreed with Alice on this point. Jasper was always overly cautious and never warmed up quickly to anybody. How did this girl get him close so fast? She stared at Jasper for a little while and then her eyes darted further to Emmett and Esme.

This girl is tense. You can't look away from that stare.

She reminds me so much of my own child. I wish I could take care of her forever.

She ended back up with him and Edward had his reaction again to her stare. This time he muffled it. Her eyes filled with tears.

'What's wrong?' His voice was anxious.

'You don't want me to stay, but I don't know where I belong.'

How did she know that? He gathered her up in his arms and she held on to him tight. Her soft, warm arms were around his neck. He wished he could hold her forever.

'I want you to stay, but I don't know if you can.'

He told her the truth. There was no way to lie to the girl.

Emmett suddenly decided to break the sad mood.

'Enough whining, let's play. You do know how to play, don't you, Bella?'

She stared up to him quickly, but her face was confused.

'I think so. What are we going to play?'

Emmett thought for a moment.

'How about hide and seek?' He smiled while proposing it. There was no way Bella could effectively hide from any vampire in this house. 'You hide, we seek.'