Chapter 43:

Telling the Family

I very slowly placed my hand on the knob. I took a deep, unnecessary breath and turned it, opening the door wide. The stood my family, waiting patiently on the porch. Everyone had snow in their hair and on their shirts though it wasn't melting.

"Hey guys, glad you could come" I said with all the happiness I could muster.

"Why wouldn't we Bells" Alex said playfully as he walked up to me, smiling evilly.

I ducked just as a snowball flew at me, barely missing my head. Of course, I ended up falling on my butt as well. I didn't hear the ball land but felt it when it was catapulted at my back. At hearing the snickers behind me, Will growled.

"Down, doggie, down" I said with a laugh as he helped me up.

"I'm not a dog" he muttered.

"What's with him?" I asked Mel.

"His new cell phone fell out of his pocket and one of his hunt stepped on it" she said.

"Wait, you're kidding me right?" I said I laughed. "You're all cranky over your phone" I said as I laughed harder.

"I liked my phone" he said and I rolled my eyes.

Over a phone? Seriously?

"Tell you what, you can go today and get a new phone, I bet it'll be here from tomorrow if it had to be mailed" I said and he just looked at me. "Will, do we have to give you some shock therapy?" I asked and that got him laughing.

"Right" he said and I stepped aside, letting them come inside.

"I bet you guys probably know your way around the bottom floor at least." I said and they looked at me in shock. "I assume you have already spied or played a prank on them here" I said and they all smiled mischievously.

"Hello, I'm glad you could take the time to come here today" Edward said as he walked up to them.

Will growled at him softly and I sighed. Maybe this wouldn't go as well as I thought.

"What did you want us to come here for?" Will asked.

"Because there was something I wanted to tell you guys. Everyone knows how Nessie is our daughter" I said it out loud as I motioned to Edward and I.

Their eyes widened as they realized I had told Edward's family.

"But, there's something else you also don't know" I said.

They looked at me curiously bit wasn't able to get the words out so I did the next best thing. I showed them. I walked back into Edward's chest and his arms wrapped around my waist. I peeked up at my family. They were incredulous for a second before it clicked.

"NO!!!! YOU DIDN'T!!!" Will said menacingly, his eyes burning with fury. "YOU WOULDN'T . . . YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY FORGIVE THAT MONSTER . . . DID YOU?" he yelled at me as electricity cracked around him.

I flinched at his words.

"Are you kidding Bells, after everything he did to you, everything you went through . . ." Alex said incredulously.

"Bella, this is mistake . . . the same one you made so many years ago. Please, don't make it again" Mel begged.

"Bella, being the amazing person she is, found it in her to forgive all my terrible actions which I regret every day. I hope you can find it in you too to forgive me" Edward spoke up.

I watched as Will shook and finally ran out followed closely by Alex. Sophie and Mel looked at me for a minute, disapproving yet I thought I saw a bit of understanding before they ran off too. I stared at the open door for a minute before collapsing into Edward's arms. He cradled me softly as he picked me up and took me to his room.

He laid with me, keeping his arms around me and letting me sob, comforting me the whole time. No one came up except Nessie. She had gone home for a minute and then showed me what was going on. It was disastrous. Nothing was working out.

"It's okay Bella, we'll work this out together" he said for the millionth time. "Besides, you've my whole family, myself and Nessie on your side. Plus . . . Sophie" he added as he sat me up.

"Sophie?"

"Yeah, she was thinking everything. She thought events and everything that has happened and though she is worried for you, she has never seen you so happy and filled with life like you were around me" he admitted and that added more to my jar of hope.

"I'm sorry" I said as I stood up.

"What are you apologizing for?" he asked incredulously.

"For having a breakdown" I admitted.

He laughed, big and loud at my response.

"I'll always be here, my arms always open. You can have as many breakdowns as you want" he said and this time it was my turn to smile.

We spent the rest of the afternoon around each other. He played for me and at one point, we ended up in his bed, listening to music in each other's arms

"I should probably head home" I said sadly as I stared at the now dark windows.

"Okay, let's go" he said and I smiled sadly as I put my hand on his chest and shook my head.

"No, you can't come. It'll make things worse" I said. "Ness! We're leaving!" I called.

She came running down the stairs.

"But . . . just let me—"

"No, I'm sorry" I said as I kissed him softly.

"Come on Ness, Bye Edward, I'll see you soon" I said as I walked out.

"Goodbye Ed—dad" Nessie said as she walked out.

I was smiling hugely as we got in my car.

"Thank you" I said sincerely "For giving him a chance"

"It's no big deal" she said offhandedly.

"Ness, it is a big deal" I said.

"Well, as much as I think he's a jerk and I hate him . . . he makes you happy" she admitted. "You should see yourself mom. You're always laughing and smiling around him. Your eyes even have a different light to them, they aren't so dull. And the pain. The pain that I would see in your eyes, it's mostly gone" she explained. "So as much as I hate him, he makes you happy so he deserves a second chance" she said. "Though if he hurts you he will have to face me and it will not be pretty" she said and I laughed.

"What happened to my little angel?" I asked jokingly.

"She grew up with vampires" she answered and we both burst out laughing.

We spent the rest of the ride talking and laughing. When we arrived home though, we both quieted down. I stared at the house. Right now, it seemed really gloomy instead of inviting.

"Just relax mom, they were just surprised" she said as I headed around to the garage.

"Well, they sure made a dramatic exit" I said as I parked and she laughed.

I turned off the engine and grabbed the keys, slowly getting out.

"I'm so glad it's finally snowing. It's a bit cold but I can already see it, a massive snowball fight!" she said, trying to plan and distract me at the same time.

We walked into the house, laughing.

"Ness, you would probably be trapped in snow the whole time" I said as she pouted.

"No, I'll just call Mel over to melt the snow" she contradicted.

"Yes but in snowball fights, it's normally one for himself" I said.

"Oh come on! Fine, I'll dig my way out"

"Too packed and cold. Besides, you might break a nail" I teased as I laughed.

"You know what! Fine! I'll be trapped" she said as she stomped to the kitchen.

I laughed. She was just like Edward. They both get so worked up about the most insignificant little things. I had been so preoccupied with Ness I hadn't noticed I had an audience. I turned and saw my family staring at me.

Looking at them, all the events from this afternoon came back. All the sadness, the rejection . . . everything came back. Will running out after yelling, everything. I began slightly shaking and turned around, heading towards my room before I had another breakdown.

"Ness! I'll be in my room!" I called to her as I ran up and closed the door quickly.

I sat on my bed, staring at the bright moon, lighting up all the snow. I sat there, think of Forks, Nessie, Edward, my family, the Cullen's, James . . . everything. I don't know how long I sat there, reliving memories but eventually, the night begin to brighten as the sun began to come up. but eventually, there was a knock at my door. I heard a tiny bit of whispering and then another knock.

"Come in" I called, still staring at the window.

"Bella" Sophie called. "Can we talk?" she asked.

I could slightly see her reflection through the window pane. She was hesitating at the door which was only opened a bit.

"Sure" I answered as I tore my eyes from the window. "What's up?"

"Bella" she said as she walked in slowly. "I'm sorry for what happened today" she said and I swallowed hard. "Bella?" she said as she sat on the bed with me. "Why?"

"I just . . . Sophie, as much as I hated him for leaving me and Nessie, I finally understand his reasons. He did it to protect me. Every time he was around me, I was in danger and I almost got killed twice, bitten once. He just . . . he couldn't take it. So that day, when he left, he thought he was protecting me. Though he was always overprotective but . . . I might've done the same thing. If you thought that if Alex being around you could kill him, wouldn't you leave him, so he's safe?" I asked and she shook her head.

"It's not the same thing" she said and I laughed.


A/N

Hey Guys! Sorry for the late update. Like I said last week, I was at Disney all weekend. I left Friday morning and spent the afternoon and Typhoon Lagoon in Disney. On Saturday, I had a huge buffet breakfast, played at Downtown Disney and then spent 8 straight hours in Magic Kingdom!! IT was awesome!!! I stayed Sunday and I got back at 3, rushed to my Basketball game and I just finished getting dressed after my shower. Man, I'm exhausted! So, what did you think? You didn't really expect them to accept him so easily . . . did you? Shame on you if you did. =p. Will had a breakdown along with Bella but at elast NEssie's and Edward's relationship is a little better right?? I know it's cliffy but hey, it;s my specialty. I'll be on time next week, I promise!

Days until Eclipse Premire: 59 Days until The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner comes out: 33 Days until Eclipse Movie Companion come out: 58

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=^.^= JMFanficQueen =^.^=