Sorry its taken so long, but I think you all have become immune to the wait.
And one more thing...a little collection of one-shots will start it be dished out ASAP. Enjoy. ;) I know what all you pervs like.
Now playing: Flyleaf – I'm so Sick ;P
The Cullens lived way out on the outskirts of Forks, and when Edward turned down a dirt road lined with trees, I wondered if he was just leading us to destruction.
"Where do you live?" I asked carefully.
"Just back here," he replied, pointing ahead. Why so deep in the forest, though? "Its this really old house from the nineteen-hundreds. Absolutely huge." As he said the last word, I realized he wasn't exaggerating. Even Caitlyn sat forward, eyes wide. I tried to suppress my surprise.
It was so beautiful. Huge and stunning. The greenery and vegetation surrounding the house, invading the paneling was amazing in contrast. If I'd seen it while on hike – with the impossibility of that – I wouldn't have even been able to fathom who would live here. Was this the personality of the Cullens? It was one thing to have to make an impression on his parents, but Edward had a load of siblings too; it put so much more pressure.
As I released Caitlyn and Melly from the confines of the car, they both lingered hand-in-hand by the car while I got the twins. I was starting at a turtle pace, unable to make myself go faster. The pressure hurt. This felt like too much...to meet Edward's family...all of them. I actually felt like crying, I was so nervous.
As I picked up Emma and put her on my hip, she leaned toward Edward – who was actually holding Melly's other hand – and he held his arm open. I watched somewhat envious. The fact that I wasn't the only person Emma loved and cuddled with, but also that all of Edward's attention wasn't on me. Maybe I was being selfish, but for once in my life someone has paid more attention to me in almost two weeks than I've had in seventeen years, and now he's putting his attention to Emma.
After unloading a giant diaper bag, I grabbed Sophie, who looked about ready to doze off any second, and slammed the door. "I'm nervous," I admitted quietly.
Edward made no movement toward the house. "Don't be. You've met my dad, and no one is much different. The only hard-ass is Rosalie, but this face"—he tapped Emma's nose, forcing her to burst out into giggles—"will soften her up."
"But what about your mom?" I was still so unsure of this. "It's the fact that I'm totting in four little girls..."
"Ahhh," he drawled, like he was finally getting it. "Your worried what they'll think of you?" I nodded. "They're not judgemental, Bella, I promise. Emmett, Alice and my mom love kids."
"But what about what they think of me?"
"They'll love you. I swear I won't say anything about your...situation, too, if that helps," he added uncertainly.
I bit my lip, thinking. "Yeah, I guess it does kind of help. Thanks."
"Anything to help you, Bella." He smirked.
Heat rose in my cheeks. I looked down to try hiding it but I think he saw. "Okay, let's do this," I mumbled, starting toward the front door at a snail's pace.
"This is your house?" Caitlyn asked quietly, voice mixed in awe. I smiled to myself, cradling Sophie tightly.
"Yes it is," Edward said.
"Preeeettttttttyyyyyyyy!" Melly shouted, and at the sound of her shrill, I turned. She was smiling hugely up at Edward, so huge and so innocent that it stung my eyes and tugged my heart. Emma wasn't the only one that was adoring Edward.
Even Melly had never smiled at me this wide.
Half of me wanted to feel insulted that I wasn't even getting all of the attention of one of the girls, but I was too happy to see them interacting with someone new. It wouldn't have just effected me if Edward decided we couldn't be friends anymore – Emma and Melly would not be too impressed.
I kisses Sophie's cheek quickly, hoping for this not to be a huge disaster.
Edward walked in front of me, opening the door and gesturing me through. "I'm home!" he shouted, the sound echoing back. My heart almost started echoing in my ears, it was hammering so hard. The girls trailed behind and I could tell they were even more unsettled then me. However, Emma was going crazy. Her legs were kicking Edward's thigh with the fabric of his shirt clung in her hands, but he didn't really seem to notice. I reached over and pinched her fingers in mine lightly, enough to make her squeal with delight.
"Hey, Eddie!" The voice visibly made the the girls jump, and Emma's smile disappeared. Melly wrapped her arms around Edward's leg, hiding behind him like this would protect her from the scary voice. Even I flinched slightly and took a step back – which made the side of Edward's mouth tug slightly – as Emmett Cullen rounded the corner.
I'd heard many things of him from Edward, and the description he'd given wasn't exaggerated. From across the cafeteria I had seen Emmett before – as well as all the Cullen clan – but he didn't look nearly as big as he did up close. My earlier worries started to fire up again.
The big guy, standing one and half, maybe two, feet above me, jumped back with wide eyes. A beat of silence flared as Emmett looked at every face, looking genuinely frightened. Had he never seen children before? "What's with this fucking munchkin invasion?" he shouted, appalled. "Should I start packing my things or what?" He craned his neck around and inspecting each little face. Caitlyn stood by the door like she was ready to book-it out of here any moment.
"Emmett, shut up and don't swear," Edward snapped. "Virgin ears."
"Correction," Emmett said, raising his hand to touch Emma. She cowered away and he dropped the hand. "Virgins."
"God fuck, Emmett, that's disgusting."
"Ah, Edward, don't swear. Virgin ears."
I watched the exchange with amusement and overlooking the swearing. Emma and Sophie were just entering that time where they repeated what you say, but it could be driven out of their mind easily. The whole "virgin" comment was a little harder to overlook.
Finally Edward stepped to the side with a grunt in Emmett's direction, and gestured to me. "Bella, this is my obnoxious brother Emmett. Emmett, Bella," Edward said.
"Hi."
"'Sup, short stuff?" Emmett winked and I noticed his eyes were exactly like Edward's. I smiled sarcastically and rolled my eyes slightly, and quite bravely. This guy could crush me at the first sight of my ignorance. "Mmm, 'kay," he announced, turning back to Edward. "And when did you have a baby?" Emmett's eyes flickered to Sophie. "Or two?"
"These are Bella's sisters, douche," Edward said sweetly. "The twins, Emma and Sophie, and Melly and Caitlyn."
"I see," Emmett drawled in that evil scientist voice that made me burst out laughing. But the voice dropped as he asked: "Wait, they're her sister's kids or they're literally her little sisters?"
I don't think I've ever seen someone so innocently confused. "They are my little sisters, Emmett," I informed him.
He quirked a dark eyebrow as he took a step forward. I felt like I probably should have been scared of him, but the smirk on his face just wasn't frightening. "Already you have taken on that sarcastic note with me, Bella..." Emmett was going with that perfect deep voice but broke off with a scowl.
I shifted Sophie on my hip and adjusted the strap of the diaper bag, suppressing a smile. "Swan."
"Bella Swan," he continued deeply. "You will get along great with my Rosalie." He waved a hand dramatically, like he didn't approve of this. "And everyone else will get along with Alice."
He left us in the hallway in a weird silence. I wondered if it was an Emmett thing, where he was like a hurricane going through a small village and leaving nothing behind, not even words. I couldn't see what he and Edward had in common.
"How are you guys related again?" I asked dubiously.
"I am the oldest," Edward said, attempting to set Emma down. But she wouldn't have it, letting out a wail and clinging her legs around his hips as far as she could. "Emmett and Alice are twins, one year younger than us. My parents adopted a set of twins when we lived in Chicago. Rosalie and Jasper."
"All right," I said, storing this away.
Edward looked at me for a moment, synchronizing my face. I tried to look away but something about his eyes just coaxed me to keep looking at him.
"Are we gonna go yet, Edward?" Melly asked timidly, tugging on his sleeve. I blushed, looking down at the ground in embarrassment.
"I hate to interrupt," Caitlyn said quietly, "but that guy was swearing."
I looked pointedly at Edward. "Your right, Caitlyn, he was swearing and it was a horrible thing to do."
Edward guiltily looked down at the little girl. "He won't do it again, I promise." She nodded quietly and turned her head away.
Without further delay, Edward led us out of the hallway and into what I assumed to be the living room. A large, spacious room with a plasma TV and leather furniture. Beside the Cullen mansion, the Swan shack would look shabby. A complete waste of space on a small road in Forks. This house was like a diamond in a pile of gritty stones.
Sitting on the black leather couch was a small girl, another I had seen from a distance – Alice, I guessed. Her hair was so black and when she glanced over her shoulder, I saw her bright blue eyes. There was a subtle similarity between her and Emmett, and an even less similarity with Edward. Beside her sat another girl that I had never laid eyes on – and I would have remembered if I had. She was beautiful, absolutely stunning, and I couldn't fathom the lack of blood between her and Edward. The girl gave me a brief look before her eyes wondering around a bit. I pulled Sophie closer, unsure. She turning back to the TV without a single word.
The girl with black hair gave a little gasp and broke out into a smile. But before she could say anything, Edward cut in: "Bella, this is my sister Alice. Alice, this is Bella. My friend."
"Hi, Alice."
"Hello, Bella." Her smile was so wide and contagious. "And who is this?" she asked, turning on that baby-voice.
Edward again took care of the introductions again, and I started to feel more and more exposed. I felt more pressure that I was sure no one else felt themselves. Something felt wrong here, and I didn't know how to fix it.
"I'm just going to go up to my room," the blond girl said unsurely, rising from the couch and disappearing upstairs.
A guilty feeling washed over me, though the comment wasn't directed toward me; but it felt like it was intended to be because of me. I glanced at Edward to see he was looking at me, like he secretly wondered how that comment would affect me. But before I could read into that expression, my eyes fell away from his on their own.
"Don't mind her," he murmured. "She was born and raised bitter."
I cracked a half-smile. "Right," I muttered, setting Sophie down on the floor.
Edward didn't press the issue further but I could tell he wanted to. "Alice, where are mom and dad?" he asked his sister.
She looked up in a daze from her knees, right in front of Melly. "Last minute plans. They're out, won't be back until, like, midnight."
At the same time of feeling immense relief at this, I felt disappointment. I badly wanted to get this part over with and out of the way. Just so any embarrassment over this occurrence of bringing my sisters along could be shaken out, and I could breath naturally.
Maybe when I finally got to meet Edward's mother, I wouldn't be bringing a child parade with me.
"That's just great," Edward said sarcastically, setting down the child in his arms. He glanced at me with a smirk. "So sorry to disappoint you now, Bella..."
I mimicked the sarcasm. "Heartbroken."
Edward laughed and I saw Alice crack a smile. "Hey Alice, are you fit to babysit for a few? I want to give Bella the grand tour."
"Always, Bella," she said reassuringly, directing the statement at me though I didn't ask. The look in her eyes was something between evil and suggestive. But there was so much kindness that my disappointment subsided, and I felt myself smile. "Emmett loves kids and I bet Jasper'll love all these!"
"Thanks Alice," I told her gratefully, laughing a little nervously though. "Just watch all the swearing please."
"Of course, Bella," she called as Edward led me away. I got a few sad looks from from the girls and some whimpers from the twins. But then I heard the mentioning of a trampoline and they positively came to life like I've never seen before.
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