A freaky family

Two weeks had passed since Bella joined their family and they had adjusted as if she had always been there. Edward couldn't picture his family without her anymore. Esme and Alice had furnished a room in the house for her. Their house had always been light and open, but with Bella there, sunlight filled their home more often. His family fell in love with her easily. She had a connection with everyone on different planes. His days were filled with her and she never ceased to amaze him, even when she slept. Every night after Jasper or Rosalie read her a story, they were both gifted story tellers, she sang herself to sleep. It wasn't long before he sang along with her, humming her lullaby long after she had fallen asleep.

Bella was sitting in Carlisle's lap before bedtime. They were studying his basic medical equipment. Edward was watching them interact.

'So with this you can hear my heartbeat?' She asked interested.

Carlisle put the tubes of the stethoscope in her ears and pressed it against her heart.

'Do you hear?' He asked softly.

A smile lit up her face.

'Yes, I can hear very well.'

She pressed it against Carlisle's chest and her smile disappeared.

'You do not have a heartbeat.' She stated. 'It is because you are a vampire?'

'Yes, does that bother you, Bella?'

Edward listened intently, anxious for her answer.

'No,' she hesitated and Carlisle encouraged her to speak her mind, 'I wish I wasn't different. Why can't we be the same?'

'It is okay to be different, Bella. To be special.'

She was not convinced.

'What if I don't want to be special?'

Carlisle sighed.

'Do you know why I work as a doctor in the hospital, Bella?'

She was silent for a moment.

'You make sick people better.'

'Yes, I am special and because of that gift I can help people. I can cure them better than normal doctors. Maybe you can help people as well in your own way.'

She bit her lip in thinking.

'You really think I can help people?'

'You have helped us.'

She smiled.

'How? I didn't do anything.'

'You let us into your heart and we are better for it.'

She threw her arms around his neck.

'As am I.' She whispered, but Edward could hear and he smiled.

'Will you measure my blood pressure now?' She asked.

Carlisle went on with his medical examination and his explanation of his equipment. Esme and Alice walked in and stood beside Edward.

'I think we should send her to school tomorrow.' Esme said softly.

Edward tensed immediately. It was bad enough that she had to sleep the whole night, there was no way he could stand missing her part of the day as well.

'No way.' He answered.

'I think it is a good idea. There is no high school nearby, but there is a primary school in town.' Alice said.

Edward shook his head again.

'Listen Edward,' Alice countered, 'it is not fair for Bella to be around vampires all of her time. She should be around humans. Around boys and girls her own age, so she can interact socially and make friends, like any other little girl.'

'She is not a normal little girl.'

'Maybe not, but still she should not miss experiences. It is selfish to keep her here with us all the time.'

I think it is a good idea, Edward. Carlisle thought. She is smart and can learn a lot in school.

'What if something happens to her?'

Alice shook her head smiling.

'We can drop her off and pick her up from school each day. What could possibly happen to her?'

He was losing the battle and he knew it. Esme gave the final statement.

'It is Monday tomorrow so it is perfect. I have already called the school to ask if they could place Bella and they said it was no problem. I will prepare her for it.'

She walked towards Bella and sat beside her and Carlisle. Together they talked her into going to school. Edward knew they were right. He wanted her to have everything, miss nothing. He was not going to hold her back, but it was hard letting her go. Every second he was not spending with her was a lost one. He knew one thing, he was going to drop her off and pick her up every day.

The next day Bella was at school and Edward was at home. He had dropped her off, together with Alice and Emmett and watched her while she walked into her classroom. He had waited for an hour, checking if she was alright and then he had left, knowing it was best. He was feeling restless, counting the minutes until he could pick her up again. He had to distract himself, to do something. He walked towards his piano and sat down. His hands caressed the keys, it had been awhile since he had played, but lately a new composition was forming in his head. Carefully he filled the room with notes, pushing his fingers lightly along the keys. He kept playing, his thoughts drifting to a small girl with her sweet smile and loving heart. Suddenly he noticed both Esme and Alice standing at his side. They were both filled with awe about his performance.

'Is this a new composition, Edward? It is beautiful.'

Edward stopped to think for a moment.

'It is not mine.' He said softly and began to play again.

The song grew incredible sweet and adoring. He filled it with the notes he heard a few times before.

'It is Bella's lullaby.' Alice whispered.

He had composed the tune of her lullaby in different parts and it was only now that he fully began to understand the story behind his composition.

'This piece is about how she plays with Emmett, careless and laughing.' He filled the room with a playful high tune and both Alice and Esme smiled. The tune suddenly changed to a more serious one with lower notes. 'This piece is about her serious talks with Jasper and Carlisle, about her never-ending thirst for knowledge and learning and how they teach each other.' He played on and they listened engrossed, when his tune changed again to a slow tune, high and sweet. 'This is about three sisters, always there for each other and always friends.' Alice gave a smile while she listened intently. The tune suddenly went to a more adoring pace, his fingers caressing the keys. He looked up at Esme.

'It is about the love a mother can feel for a child and a child for her mother. About taking care of a little girl, the way a mother does.' Her face became emotional and he knew how much this meant to her. The composition went on, but suddenly he didn't know how to finish. It was about their relationship, but he couldn't define that. It was too much. How could he play something, he didn't understand himself? He looked forward confused, at a loss what to do. Esme placed her hand on his shoulder.

You will figure it out, Edward. You will see, the ending will be the most beautiful part. Esme

This is your best piece ever, Edward. Alice

He nodded, unable to speak.

'Will you play it again?' Esme asked.

He fulfilled her request and played on for a few hours.

It was finally time to pick Bella up and Edward was waiting outside beside his car. Alice wanted to join him, but he had pleaded with her to let him go alone this time. He was a little bit early and waited impatiently for her to get out. The moment she did, she saw him waiting and her face lit up. She rushed towards him and he embraced her eagerly.

'How was your first day, Bella?'

She was silent and Edward studied her expression. He had become very good in reading her face. She was pouting.

'What is wrong?' He asked worried. 'Weren't they nice to you?'

She shrugged, but he didn't let it go. It drove him crazy, not knowing exactly what was going on in her head.

'Tell me what happened, Bella.'

'They all stare at me and a girl said...' She stopped talking, her voice hurt.

Edward bit back a snarl.

'What did the girl say to you?'

He knew it wasn't a good idea to let her go to school.

'She said I was freaky looking and that my family was freaky looking too.'

Her eyes filled with tears and he caressed her hair.

'Do you know why she said that to you, Bella?'

She shook her head.

'It is because you are very beautiful and she is jealous. Jealousy always brings out the worst in somebody.'

Bella dried away her tears.

'She can't call you that.'

What?!? Edward was astonished. Her face had gone from sadness to determination.

'I told her you were all great and made her promise she will never say that about you again.'

How he wished he could see the world through her eyes. She had defended them, but she hadn't defended herself. How selfless was this girl? The irony was that they were freaks and that Bella was truly beautiful, inside and out. Tomorrow he was going to stay behind to check up on her the whole time. He couldn't let her get hurt.

'They stare at you, because you are new. Give them some time and it will be alright.'

He knew that wasn't the only reason they stared, but he was truthful about giving them some time. He didn't think it was possible for anyone to know Bella and not like her. She was just so lovable.

'Come on, let's go home. Everybody is waiting for you, especially Emmett, who wants to play baseball with you.'

That did the trick. A gleeful giggle escaped her lips and she climbed into the car eagerly. He smiled and drove home quickly.