Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls

Author's Note: Thanks for your support Pienuniek I could never have done this without you!

Chapter 6

EPOV

"Bella if there is one rule we Cullen's have it's: don't bet against the Pixie! Because she always gets her way." Alice glared at me and she recalled a memory of her yelling at me not to leave Bella. "Well she gets her way most of the time." I cocked an eyebrow and looked at Alice but she was still giving me the death glare. "Or should I say she eventually gets her way. Besides it just takes too much energy to fight with her so we usually just give in." Alice stuck her tongue out at me. Emmett laughed, Rose and Jasper both nodded sadly and agreed.

Bella looked at all of us and then broke out in a radiant smile "I think that is the best idea I've ever heard Alice. I can't wait!"

I shuddered and then kissed Bella on the forehead, she returned to eating while I went back to my guitar "Alice why did you buy so much food?

"Bella told you what she wanted." "I saw that if I brought enough for the nursing staff too it would make them happy. And we would be able to talk, listen to you guys play and sing without them bugging us... well without them bugging us too much. They'll still be listening at the door and oh by the way Jessica Stanley is here tonight. She has to work off some community service hours for a parking lot accident she had last week." Bella opened her mouth to say something but Alice just ploughed on "Yeah she parked on an incline and didn't set the emergency brake so her car slipped a gear, it rolled backwards and smashed into Judge Skinners new BMW." Bella and Alice both just chuckled. Then Bella sighed and pushed her meal away. I patted the seat beside me and she came over and sat down then leaned her head on my shoulder.

Jasper, Emmett and I started to play softly a selection of tunes from Kings of Leon and Linkin Park all the songs that the girls would like. Then Jasper and I went at it with dueling guitars playing Classical Gas by Mason Williams that one drew a crowd to Bella's doorway. And Jasper had us finish up with some old folk rock ballads from the 60's. It's been ages since I'd have so much fun with my family and with Bella by my side it couldn't have been better. We finished up just as they announced visiting hours were over for the evening. The siblings packed up and left with promises to present something unique about each other at the Cullen Family Orientation.

I shuddered at the thought of what everyone would say about me so warned Bella."They will lie to you especially about me."

She laughed shaking her head "Not when I ask for proof, they either have to have a picture, video or something tangible to prove their story. And it must be corroborated by Esme."

"Why ask Esme and not me?"

"Because she's the only one of you I trust not to lie to me."

Sad but true I had to agree with Bella on that one. Esme wouldn't let us get away with anything. Bella yawned. So I picked her up and deposited her on her bed. "Okay time for the human to sleep". Bella glared at me then pouted wrapping her arms around my neck. She tried to pull me down but when I didn't yield she came up to her knees leaning into me running her nose up and down my jaw. This woman was going to be the death of me, but what a way to go! "Bella... what are you thinking? You're exhausted and tomorrow you have to prove to the therapist you can manage the crutches in order to go home."

She giggled and whispered into my neck: "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, crutches and I are old friends it will be a piece of cake! So let's go see Charlie before we turn in and then we can enjoy each other's naked company again."

Oh yeah! ...the sex kitten was alive and well and she really was going to be the death of me. But since I still had overnight privileges, why not take advantage of them. After all they do say that practice makes perfect. But I had a problem about going to see Charlie. I was already up for going to bed if you get my drift. So in order to get rid of my problem I needed to think fast. However Miss Swan is a very observant minx and when she saw my problem she decided to take things into her own hands.

Bella locked the door then I let her push me down on the bed and she climbed up despite the braces and straddled my thighs. My dick was so happy that I was afraid it would break out of its denim prison. Bella slowly unbuttoned my jeans and lowered the zipper, and then she moaned and licked her lips. Oh yeah I forgot to tell her I was going commando, just trying to be prepared. So I sprung free pretty quickly and twitching just a few inches from Bella's luscious mouth. When she licked her lips I thought I'd die and come at the same time.

Bella had wasted no time asking Carlisle if it would be safe to swallow the venom in cum. And he gave her the go ahead so long as she didn't have any open wounds. Without warning Bella palmed my balls licked the underside of my dick and nipped at my tip. It was heaven but I just about jumped off the bed because she caught me unawares. So I had to stop her and set some ground rules, "Bella you have to let me know when you're going to take me into your mouth and no biting."

This was all new to both of us but the experience couldn't have been better. And when Bella took my length into her warm moist mouth my mind was a in a fog of sensation and emotion. I heard nothing but her heart and our combined breathing. I only just resisted grabbing her head or pumping deeper into her mouth. I was on fire and had never felt so elated! I could barely hear the minds around me. She took me into the back of her throat and it was heaven! Her tiny hand was pumping and twisting what she couldn't take into her mouth. And every now and then she would squeeze or massage my balls while palming them with the other hand.

I have no idea how long Bella worked me but I felt the knot in my stomach build and my balls tighten painfully. I placed my hand lightly on Bella's head to warn her. "Bella love... I'm... going to... arghhhhhhh come!" And then I exploded in her mouth and Bella swallowed every drop. She sat up licking her lips and continued to pump me until I was soft again. I pulled her down onto my chest and licked her lower lip begging for entrance. This was another sensory explosion, tasting myself on her lips and tongue and all I could do was groan and deepen the kiss. God I had never in all my existence ever experienced anything remotely like that. Not even human blood came close to how this made me feel. "Bella that was phenomenal! I love you so much. And I'm so glad that Charlie is still sedated." She looked at me with a confused expression. "Because I'm not sure I could look him in the eye after what you just did to me."

Then Bella looked at me rather sheepishly. "Ah Edward... Carlisle told me before he left that Dr. Stanley had started backing off Charlie's sedation early this morning and he would be taking him of the respirator this afternoon. Apparently he's already awake and really doing very well."

I sucked in a deep breath and reached for her hand "Bella! That is not funny."

But I couldn't be upset with her so I pulled her close to me and settled tickling her unmercifully. I finally let Bella up and she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. My eyes rolled back into my head and I moaned. I had hoped that it would be a while before we had to face an awake Charlie. Even though we had already told him about our engagement he wasn't exactly aware at the time or able to respond. Even if he understood us. Now I had to face him after having had mind blowing sex last night with his daughter. And just now finding out first hand that she is a blow job artist! God you should just kill me now because Charlie is a smart man and he's going to put two and two together and then he'll try to kill me.

Bella came back into the room to get her robe and noticed my pensive look. "Edward, there is nothing to worry about, besides your bullet proof. Charlie's like me he'll just need a little time to process everything and then he'll come around." Bullet proof or not Charlie Swan scared the hell out of me. He couldn't stop us from getting married but he could make my life miserable by upsetting Bella. And we still don't know where he stands now on the whole Jacob Black issue. Hopefully it would be slow going getting down to the ICU. Bella would be on her crutches and she wanted to try the stairs this time. Thankfully this would give me enough time to get a sense of what Charlie was thinking...I hope. While his mind is not as silent as Bella's it is definitely not an open book, even to this mind reader.

Bella came out of the bathroom looking like a goddess, her face was slightly flushed, her nipples were pert and her lips were a luscious. Oh god her lips were plump, rosy and delectable. Damn I was working myself up for round two. Bella seemed to know what was going through my mind because when she bent over to pick up her crutches she tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned slightly to look at me.

And the minx had the nerve to say: "Down boy, we have to visit with my father; then we can take care of your recurring problem."

Yes! The sex kitten was still alive and well. I wonder if she would think a fist pump was out of line. "Bella your dad is going to take one look at you and know what we've been doing and then he's going to try to kill me." Bella laughed and opened the door and started crutch walking down the hall to stairs I enjoyed the view for a bit and then rushed out to follow her.

BPOV

When I peeked around the door Dad was lying with his eyes closed. He was almost as pale as Edward which was a stark contrast to his dark brown hair and moustache. Well half moustache it appears they shaved most of it off making him look like a bad Hitler imitation. Not a good look for the Forks Chief of Police but still kind of funny. I looked up at Edward to see if he noticed the humour here, but I swear he was almost green. The anxiety in his eyes was intense and his posture was stiff a far cry from my recently relaxed and laid back fiancée.

Charlie opened his eyes and without looking at us said "You two might as well come in, because I had the weirdest dream that I think only you two can explain." Then in his best interrogators voice he said "Bella, Edward have a seat." He gave Edward the one eye once over and either smirked or grimaced following up with the question. "Edward, why do you look like I just caught you sneaking out of my daughter's bedroom?"

Oh my god Edward was right he does know! Well it was too late to freak out now. So I put one of my crutches aside and took Edward's hand firmly in mine. We slowly walked over to sit down in the chairs at his bedside. "Way to go Dad. I'm pretty sure if I wasn't holding his hand right now he would be running for the next county."

"That wouldn't be far enough Bells. But we already know that he is good at running I'll give him that. Didn't he recently run away to another country? Oh wait that was eight months ago and now he's back and everything is just fine? Charlie was still glaring at Edward. "Since your here I'm going to say this and get it off my chest and you had better listen to me you creepy little punk! I had to pick up the pieces of my daughters heart when you shattered it, if it hadn't been for Jacob ..."

Okay my Dad had thrown down the gauntlet and he wasn't going to get away with it. "No Dad you don't get to say Jacobs name like he's a good guy, you know better! And I won't sit here and listen to you speak to Edward like that! Some things have changed Dad. And there are some things that never will. Like the way I feel about Edward. You would never listen to me when I told you that Edward and I were always meant to be together. Jacob tried to destroy that, he tired to destroy us! Dad you need to know that Edward only left because Jake convinced him it was what I wanted. He told him that I wasn't really in love with him but I wouldn't tell him because I didn't want to hurt him. Jake manipulated everyone for his own selfish reasons and his obsession over me. An obsession that you and Billy fed and supported. So Dad you don't get to wear the white hat, not today! You will lie there and listen to everything we have to say. Most of it we already told you but you were sedated, so that doesn't really count. But first what you need to understand and accept is that Edward is in my life. And there is nothing, and I do mean nothing that will come between us again. If you can't accept us as a couple then you cannot be a part of my life."

I had just unleashed a pretty heavy ultimatum on my seriously injured father. But now was the time to take the upper hand while he was down. Otherwise I'd never have the guts to talk to him like this. Charlie at first just laid there with his lips pressed in a firm line and he looked really, really pissed. "Isabella Marie Swan you have never talked to me like that and you had better remember young lady I'm still your father and can..."

Okay he had just crossed the line using my full name so I interrupted him "You can...can what Dad, ground me? I'm eighteen, I'm legally an adult. Look I love you Daddy but you are not my future. This man beside me is. You are my past and a part of my present. But if you want to be part of my future at all, then you have to accept that wherever I am he will be with me, we come as a set."

He looked at me and then Edward, then back at me. Charlie's face had gone through many shades of purple and was now registering close to puce when he barked. "What did you say young lady?" I sat with my arms folded across my chest and glared at the only man that had ever mattered to me until Edward. "Um well ...ah Bells can I have just a minute here..."

I interrupted him again before he could start in. I could see one of the famous but rare Charlie Swan rants building "No Dad, that's it, take it or leave it."

He closed his eyes, his face went pale again and it looked like all his fight had just evaporated when he said: "Edward, it sounds like you are going to have your hands full. So if you're smart and you must be to have secured Bella's love, you'll take my advice son and don't ever piss her off like I just did. But you'll need to learn to grovel as well because you will without a doubt eventually piss her off, intentionally or not. But I guess Carlisle and your brothers can teach you about that. I'm a little out of practice."

Edward and I must have both looked stunned. Charlie tried to point at us and started to chuckle but his pain made him cut it short. Once that was done he asked a few questions and admired my ring. He shook his head in amazement when Edward recapped the Cullen family wealth and his own personal net worth. Not because he was envious but because he was happy that I would never want for anything. Then out of left field he announces: "Well since I know now that Jake and the kids from La Push aren't completely human. Are you going to tell me how in hell a whole damn family of vampires have been living in my town and we don't have a single drained body within a 300 mile radius?"

I thought Edward would fall off his chair, his mouth was hanging open but then so was mine. Charlie smiled at us both and said. "Come on kids I am a trained investigator! I've known since the first time I saw the Cullen's that something was up. They're nice people and the doc is really good at what he does except trying to look older. When they first moved here I ran a background check on them and they were as clean as a whistle nothing nadda. Not even a parking ticket for one of the kids, now that just isn't normal. But what has happened in Forks since they came was even more suspicious and it got my attention. Like the community pool and recreation centre that were renovated and upgraded for free by some Chicago architect's firm as a part of their charitable work to keep inner city kids off the streets."

Edward cringed. "Yeah Forks is hardly a booming metropolis but it did help keep the kids get off the beach, smoking dope and drinking down by the river. And then there was the extra money that came from some foundation specifically to increase the number and variety of after school programs available. Oh yeah and there's the library that Bella complained about when she first moved here. I understand it's in line for a major face lift from a society that seeks to preserve buildings of historical significance. And through an anonymous donation they have been able to upgrade their computers and start an electronic lending library program with the Seattle Public Library and UDUB. But the one I really love is a private book collection was donated to them which include several first editions. Now who does that these days, come on."

I was just staring at Edward, but it was so like him and his family and I smiled. "Bella you should know by now that your Dad knows all and sees all in this town. Besides we've got some of the biggest gossips in the state and no one on the town council can keep their mouths shut. But no one seems to know where the money is coming from or who applied for it. It's not coming from the city or the state I checked. It all seems to be private money."

He stopped to catch his breath. I had never heard Charlie talk so much in one sitting. I looked at Edward and he still looked stunned then Charlie continued. "Eventually, if you care to look close enough the clues start to fall into place about what you are Edward. Oh don't worry. Your family are really good at covering your tracks. I only had the old legends, bad movies and Anne Rice novels to help me figure it out. There's not one shred of substantiating evidence out there. It was really just my gut instinct. I would never breath a word of it to anyone because I have no desire to be a guest of the state mental hospital. But Bella I have one question for you, how long have you known about them?"

I sighed and looked at Edward, but he just shrugged his shoulders so I decided to go with the truth: "I figured it out within the first few months of being in Forks. So I guess we're both pretty good investigators Dad. Look you need to get your rest. Carlisle will be discharging me tomorrow, so I'm going to stay with the Cullen's. Charlie glared at Edward again. "Dad please don't look like that, I'm engaged now. And besides Jacob is still out there and I know he won't stop trying to get to me. So it's safer being with the Cullen's then in my own home. We'll be back to see you before I leave and then as often as I can after that. I need physiotherapy here at the hospital anyway so I'll be here as often as I can."

Charlie nodded I could tell he wasn't exactly pleased about me staying at the Cullen's or should I say with Edward. He gave Edward a bit of the stink eye and Edward just smiled as if he didn't notice. Charlie reached for my hand and gave it squeeze. It was hard to tell if I should hug him he had bandages everywhere. "Bells, before you go, Billy came by to see me with Rachel and Paul today. I told him about Jacob and that I had finally realized what he'd been doing. He didn't like it but he listened. Rachel was very supportive of you and Edward. But that Paul needs to get his head out of his ass...and I think Rachel is just the one to help him with that. And Bells I'm sorry I didn't use my super sleuth skills to see what Jacob was doing sooner. I turned a blind eye for my own selfish reasons and I almost lost you. I can't lose you again. You're all I've got."

I leaned in and hugged my Dad. "Don't go there Dad we're both okay now. And it's not just you and me anymore we have the Cullen's, they're our family." Then I kissed him on the cheek. "I love you Dad."

Edward stood and shook his hand when Charlie offered it. Charlie held it for a moment and said. "Welcome to the family Edward. And I expect to take you up on the offer of that new fly reel." I looked at Edward and he was smiling. I wondered just how much Charlie had really heard and retained while he was sedated. Maybe that was why it was so easy to get him to accept us. He'd had his time to process it all. I looked down at him and he was still talking to Edward.

"And when I'm out of here you, me, your Dad and brothers are going fishing. We'll need to get in some male bonding time before the women start driving us crazy with wedding plans. Which reminds me Renee needs to eat her words after all these years of scaring the daylights out of you about marriage! After all Bells commitment has never been a problem for you. I see that as clear as day now." Charlie yawned as Edward retrieved my crutch to keep up the facade. I'm glad I still had my Dad in my life but he hadn't heard anything yet. There was still the whole Merged Soul Mate thing and that was definitely something I was happy to leave for another day.

APOV

Emmett and Jasper were groaning about all the trunks of clothes and the AV equipment I had them setting up in the great room. Rose and Esme were off grocery shopping for Bella and our other guests the friendly mutts.

We had found out through Leah Clearwater that Cody was an only child. His mom was a single parent and an alcoholic 24/7. But no one had been able to contact her. She was currently MIA. So Cody was probably better off with us than social services. Or instead of doing his usual thing of hiding out at home eating cereal and crackers, and pretending his Mom was sick. Once he had started eating better and sleeping regularly he turned out to be a nice kid. But Black had done a job on him about us. At least he wasn't trying to fight us anymore nor was he openly hostile. Esme seemed to have worked some magic on him, he was sullen but polite and he seemed to have gravitated towards my Jasper.

I thought that maybe he trusted Jasper but Jazz would just laugh, shake his head and say: "No darling. It's a case of Stockholm Syndrome." And maybe he was right Cody certainly didn't have any positive role models in his life but it turned out they were good for each other. Cody needed discipline and Jasper being former Army believed strongly in discipline. Yet it was something he had struggled with in his immortal life. So maybe it was a match made in heaven. Huh maybe we would end up like Esme and Carlisle adopting abandoned teens. Okay reality check Alice, when have you ever dreamed of being someone's Mom?

We had been ready to return Cody to the reservation before Bella was released. But Emily had called to tell us that his Mom had actually moved away before Cody had ever come into our custody. And she didn't leave a forwarding address so he had nowhere to go. Sam didn't want him going back to Jacob Black so he asked if he could stay with us in the mean time.

Leah and Seth would come over and spend time with him, trying to reverse the damage done by Jacob but he wasn't making it easy for them. There was a lot of hurt inside that kid. Emmett discovered Cody loved video games particularly baseball and wrestling. So he had an outlet for his aggression with an equally motivated competitor in Emmett. Jasper found out that he loved history in school and that he had taught himself to play the guitar by ear. Leah had brought over the things his mother had left behind that belonged to him including a beat up guitar with only 3 strings. Jasper helped him clean it up, restring and tune it. And then he started to give him lessons and to teach him how to actually read music. He shared his first hand knowledge of history with Cody heavy on the Civil War of course or as Jazz still insisted we call it the War Between the States. Some things just never change.

Carlisle had gone to the hospital early for his shift so he could bring Bella and Edward home this afternoon. Esme had found a beautiful king sized four poster iron bed for Edward's room. And of course I found the perfect bedding to match the room's décor and I piled dozens of fluffy pillows in contrasting shades of gold, green and brown on the bed. Edward's black leather couch remained at the foot of the bed and his state of the art stereo found a home in a new niche created by Esme. Edward's closet was stocked with new clothes for him and Bella. Esme had insisted that Bella have all her clothes and books brought over from Charlie's. But when I saw her pitiful wardrobe I knew I had to beef it up and trash most of it. So I told her that Bella just didn't have that much, Esme just gave me the eye but didn't say anything so I brought a few her old clothes to keep her happy, but hid them under the new ones I had purchased.

I couldn't wait for the Cullen Family Orientation. One weekend would never be enough for Bella to learn all about our lives, let alone just Edward's but it would be fun and a good start. I was planning on showcasing the fashions through the decades. Rose was going to do the cars. Emmett was doing the games, even though he desperately wanted to be in charge of the music from the 70's and 80's. But he knew that Edward would take charge of music and those were two decades Edward would really like to ignore. So Em was keeping a stash of the music from those years in reserve.

Jasper would cover the major historical events, to give everything context and a time line. Just then he came into the room with Cody following. Cody wasn't at the point of trusting all of us yet, but he seemed to have bonded with Jasper. Whether this was Jasper using his talent or genuine admiration, I didn't know all Jazz would still say when I asked was. "Stockholm Syndrome." It was obvious that Cody had been neglected and emotionally abused by his mother. He was bereft of a male role model so my Jazz was perfect. Jasper was a good listener and stern disciplinarian and because of his gift he knew when Cody was lying or trying to BS us. Once Edward was introduced back into the mix the kid wouldn't have a chance. Cody had house privileges now, as long as one of us was with him, so he mainly stuck with Jasper or Emmett. Except at meal times and then he would do anything for Esme. Emmett said it was kind of like rescuing an abused dog. He didn't mean it that way, but he felt that the analogy fit so why not use it. But he never said it in front of Cody or the rest of the pack. So since Cody was staying with us he was to be included in Cullen Orientation as another way to deprogram him from Jacob's influence.

Seth and Leah had been invited to attend along with Embry and Quil. They all felt that if they were to become, as Leah put it, part of the Cullen Security Force then they needed to know their employers better. Carlisle liked this idea so much that he actually put them on a payroll, set up pension plans , full medical and dental coverage and college funds. There were also two pack vehicles that could go off road and they had a budget for operating expenses. Or, as Emmett put it, for kibble and bits, once again the pet analogy.

Esme renovated the space above the garage so that there were three bedrooms and a fully functioning and stocked kitchen, each bedroom had its own bathroom. The two larger bathrooms had two showers as well as a tub and there was a small powder room off the kitchen. In the lounge there was a flat screen TV, full cable, game systems and a small library with two laptops and a state of the art wireless internet connection. The guys got the larger bedrooms and Leah had the smaller one to herself. House rules demanded that school work came first and would be checked either by Rose, Esme or Carlisle. Individual tutoring was available as needed. Since Leah had already graduated from high school with honours Carlisle had set her up with a full scholarship for the University of her choosing whenever she was ready. But until that time she was the pack bookkeeper and house mother. Assigning duties and patrols to the boys.

This was going to be such a fun weekend! I heard Carlisle's Mercedes turn off the highway. And of course Edward was irritated at Carlisle's speed. Out of all of us Carlisle was the most conservative driver, much to Bella's great pleasure and Edward's chagrin. Edward and Rosalie were the speed demons in the family followed by myself and Jasper. Esme and Emmett liked it rough and off road, Jeeps, ATV's, and motorcycles. Yeah Esme can handle any kind of bike, she 's championship rider on a dirt bike.

Just then I was almost knocked flat with a vision of Edward and Bella setting a wedding date...Fuck they have got to be kidding me! Thank god the dress was already being made as we speak. The young designer I had found shows lot of promise to those of us in the fashion world that treasure the classic looks. But now I'll have to put a rush on it. Damn it we need to get cracking on the details, there wasn't much time, but this was going to be so much fun. Esme had Skype set up for Bella to talk to Renee and once the planning started we could even include Renee even though she was in Florida. Phil was doing better, hmmm yep he should be okay I didn't see any cast maybe just a cane, I could work with that. Edward would gladly marry Bella tomorrow, but Bella was leaning towards an August wedding, when the weather might be better. Then it could be held outside taking the pressure off the vampires being in warm enclosed environment with the human guests. Now that was very considerate of her!

I came out of my revere. "Hey guys there here."

Rose looked at me like I had three heads and got all pissy, "Yes, Alice we know, what was your first clue." She wasn't mad at me it was Emmett that she was pissed at. He'd gone to go to Port Angeles to pick up a part for Bella's all but dead truck. But the thingamajig he bought was for a 1955 and not a 1953. It would still fit, but Rose was meticulous about authenticity when it came to restoring vintage vehicles. Not that she would call Bella's truck vintage. In fact she referred to it as the ancient beast that wasn't worth its weight in scrap metal. But Bella loved it, so she would fix it up to keep Bella happy and to irritate Edward. Because he wanted to replace it so badly with a nice safe and boring Volvo she felt the beast at least had character.

EPOV

Bella had removed her splints in the car. I could see Carlisle chuckling in the rear view mirror, then his expression became deadly serious as we pulled up to the house. "Bella, Edward, we will have to spend some time investigating your shared connection. I would like to contact Marcus for advice but I don't know if he'll talk to us about Didyme. I know he was meticulous in keeping a journal, about their shared experiences, before Didyme's death. Maybe he would be willing to loan it to us if it still exists. The problem would be about how to contact him without alerting Aro and Caius. I know Marcus suspects that his brothers had Didyme killed. And I think he might be willing to help us if we could give him any proof that they were involved in her death. But that's only a last resort. Let's see what we can find out on our own first okay."

I didn't want any contact with the Volturi. "Carlisle I don't think we should involve the Volturi, Aro always finds out everything and we don't need a visit from them. Anyway can we all talk about this later I believe Esme has some lunch ready for Bella. Then Alice will start the Cullen Orientation. Oh you should know that the pack will be here as well..." Bella stiffened in my arms and her heart rate accelerated, "Bella love, it's okay, this pack is comprised of the wolves that support Sam and want to help us protect you."

Bella looked at me incredulously and with tears in her eyes, "Bella it really is okay, Leah, Seth, Quil and Embry know what Jacob did to you. They're not members of his pack and they're not his friends. They actually have a place here over our garage and have formed, what Leah calls, the Cullen Security Force." I chuckled at the name having pulled it out of Carlisle's mind. "It would look like we now have a supernatural security business that we're funding."

Bella started to laugh, a genuine belly laugh, "Oh god Edward I just pictured them as wolves in uniforms. Hey Wiley Coyote could be their mascot!" Obviously she was really amused with her vision because she was now doubled over. Before I could warn her Alice practically ripped the door off of the car and scooped her up in a huge hug. Carlisle and I got out, joining the family, who were passing Bella around like a long lost child. She of course was blushing fifty different shades of red but was still smiling.

Alice informed me silently of the changes that had been made to my room. At first I frowned, how dare they move my sound system and my music, but then Alice reminded me of the advantages of a very large comfortable bed now that Bella and I were sexually active. Now all I wanted to do was run Bella up to my room lock the door and stay there for a few years. Alice giggled, Jasper asked me to turn it down a few notches, or the Cullen Orientation was going to be a bust. And we would be leaving some very confused wolves alone with the buffet and bar Esme had assembled. Underage drunk wolves would not be a pretty site.

I pulled Esme aside and asked her to hide the liquor, considering the only people that were legally old enough to drink were all vampires. She laughed and raced inside to set up sodas and juice instead. In fairness to her she had seen it as chance to get rid of the liquor left over from the hospital social she and Carlisle had hosted in the spring. But she had forgotten that there was now a legal age restriction for drinking.

Carlisle was still trying to think of ways of getting Marcus' journal without the other Volturi finding out. He thought maybe Eleazer might be able to help, since Marcus had been his mentor while he had been with the guard. But he was hesitant to bring anyone else into this. I placed my hand on his shoulder and told him: "Let's not worry about it now and enjoy the weekend, then we can start our research first thing Monday. There must be other sources we can consult without involving anyone outside the family."

Carlisle smiled and said: "You're right the journal may not even exist any longer. It was possbly written in Latin, Greek and three variations of Italian." And according to my sources it was consigned to a storage room in the castle and then it seems to have been lost or misplaced."

"Well it'll still be there come Monday, and I would like to discuss this with Bella first, but not now. She's been under enough stress to last a while, and I don't want to add to it." However, the pack was about to do just that by bringing Cody around the corner of the garage with them. Leah was smart though. Knowing what Cody had done to Bella she had him stand behind the other boys with Seth behind Cody. So when Leah came forward it was with a smile and warm greeting for Bella, who smiled in return.

Leah then decided it was a good time to explain to Bella and I how the original pack was now split. Or,as she called it, them and us, but she felt good and evil worked as well. The evil being Jacob's pack. Bella was surprised to see Quil and Embry, since they had been Jacob's best friends before the transformation had claimed them.

Quil took it upon himself to apologize to Bella for supporting Jacob. It was hard for them to see how deluded their friend had become. They had hoped by remaining faithful to him he would come around. But he just became more obsessed and paranoid. Finally they had no choice but to leave him for Sam's pack and to protect her and the Cullen's. Embry added that he really thought that Jacob was mentally unbalanced and needed help. He didn't want to see him destroyed but understood that we may not have a choice.

Once the heavy stuff was over, Bella leaned back against my chest, eyeing Cody and said: "Hi Cody, I don't know what your status is with Sam or Jacob's pack, but I want it to be clear that you and I are not friends. I know how hard life has been for you, so if you're smart you'll learn from your mistakes and take advantage of the opportunities offered to you. But you aren't to speak to me, unless I speak to you first. I will never be in a room alone with you. But I will give you time to prove that you are different from the person that attacked my sister and who tried to hurt me in the hospital. However if you ever try to hurt anyone of my family again, and my family includes everyone standing here other than you, then I will see to it that you die. Do you understand?"

Emmett smiled and roughed up Cody's hair saying: "Not to worry Bells, he's been a good mutt. But none of us trust him." Cody looked up at Emmett and kind of cringed at the grin covering Emmett's face. His only response to Bella was a slight nod that he understood.

Bella shivered slightly and I went to take off my jacket for her as I said: "Okay then, can we move this into the house so the recently hospitalized human doesn't end up dying of pneumonia."

Bella laughed and said. "Edward, its 75 degrees out I'm hardly going to catch a cold." Perhaps but I wanted nothing to come between us and that King size bed later, so I ushered her up the stairs and into the great room that had taken on the atmosphere of a gallery at the Smithsonian.

BPOV

"Wow, you guys really pulled out all the stops, I feel like I just walked into a combined museum, vintage clothing store and, hell, I don't know what else. I guess all I can say is let the lesson begin."

Edward frowned and shook his head. "Love, you haven't had anything to eat since last night. You rejected the hospital's idea of oatmeal and toast this morning. Let's get you something from the kitchen, before the wolves devour it all, and then we can start." Edward grabbed me a couple bottles of water and held my plate while I made my selections. The pack hung back, waiting to attack the buffet, armed with two plates each including Leah. Waiting to descend and annihilate. But I would bet that Esme had additional food and drinks hidden in reserve.

"Okay Alice how are we going to proceed?" Alice explained that they had decided to go in order of age. That being vampire age so personal human histories first and any vampire years spent outside of the family.

Everyone looked at Edward who would only look at his hands and he quietly but firmly said: "No Alice, not today. That is for Bella and me to discuss privately and the pack doesn't need to know."

With that settled Alice said they would tackle the time they've had together collectively by the decade. But she had a few opening remarks first. "Okay, who in the room has watched any or all episodes of Buffy and Angel, seen any vampire movie ever made, read vampire books written by Stephen King, Anne Rice, or P.C. Cast just to name a few? Can I see a show of hands please?"

All the wolves as well as myself raised our hands. I chuckled when I guessed where she was going with this. "Alright, now pay attention because I will not repeat myself. Almost everything you have learned from these sources is true." It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The wolves had even stopped eating and were staring open mouthed at Alice. "Ha-ha, gotcha! Really guys it's all a load of crap! And that includes most of what you might find on the internet. There are exceptions for example we do drink blood to survive, we do not have a heartbeat, our skin is cold and hard, and we are extremely strong and fast."

Carlisle went first so he suggested that we adjourn to his study and the picture gallery. He started by going over what a vampire truly is and debunked the myths and misconceptions. He handled every kind of question from the pack. I remained quiet, since I already knew about the true vampire nature. Since everyone in the family knew Carlisle's personal history they stayed back in the great room, with the exception of Edward. He had accompanied me upstairs with his arm wrapped around my waist followed by the pack and Cody.

I had heard some of Carlisle's story from Edward when we had first started dating. But the intent today was to hear it from Carlisle's own lips and in greater detail, including what he could remember from his human life. Edward sat on the couch that faced the wall of paintings and pictures that chronicled Carlisle's past. The pack sat on the floor and to either side of the couch. I found my eyes drifting to Cody, while Carlisle talked about his years as human. How he was raised by his strict Anglican father, after his mother had died in childbirth. It was expected that he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister of God. But he was also to hunt down the vampires and werewolfs whom his father believed were responsible for the misery of their time. Then to his horror he became the thing his father abhorred most in this world. A vampire. It wasn't until he talked about how he chose to take charge of his existence, and not allow his thirst to rule his choices in life, that Cody actually started to pay attention.

Carlisle talked about how he had never taken a human life for nourishment. And that the only times he had ever tasted human blood were when he changed the four original members of his family. Cody's eyes really lit up when Carlisle talked about his desire to be a doctor and how he worked so hard to be the best that he could be. How he used his heighten senses to help diagnose difficult cases. Carlisle almost glowed when he talked about how proud he was of what his vampire family had accomplished. He recounted how his family while extremely rich both collectively and as individuals were involved in numerous charities, non profit organizations, educational endowments and many other philanthropic endeavours. Always trying to make a difference in this crazy world. When he was done we adjourned back to the great room were Esme had replenished the buffet with rich and decadent desserts. I went for the double fudge chocolate cake, I ate two pieces and drank about a gallon of milk. My appetite lately was bizarre, starving one moment, not interested the next.

Jasper greeted us back in the great room in an authentic Confederate Major's uniform. And he had some old fashioned pictures of his human family and himself. Carlisle and Edward had helped him locate the descendants of his human family. Together they had manufactured an identity that made him a descendant of an illegitimate child of Major Jasper Whitlock, born shortly after he was lost at the battle of Galveston. Through this connection he was able to acquire a number of pictures and other memorabilia from his human family and he was able to set up a trust to assist that family anonymously.

The wolves hung on every word like Jasper was walking, talking history, not that Carlisle wasn't. It's just that Carlisle's early life took place in a time that is unreal and intangible to the youth of present day. The Civil War however was history that they had studied in school. Edward really didn't want me hearing about Jasper's time with Maria and the southern vampire wars. Silly vampire, he was afraid that I would run away because I would finally see the monster that he thinks resides within him. I decided then that, at the end of the Orientation, I would talk about what makes the Cullen's so different from other vampires. How very human they are and how deep their souls are. This may get me an argument from Edward, but I didn't want him wallowing in this negative image that Jasper's narrative would conjure. He had never seen himself the way others did. The way I did.

Since I knew Edwards history, I went to help Esme in the kitchen prepare the evening meal for the mutts and me. When dinner was ready Alice thought it would be a nice place to take a break before concluding the day with her, Rose's and Emmett's stories. Sad to say Alice's was a particularly short story, and she had no human memories. So she told us about the years she had waited for Jasper and worked in the fashion industry on two continents. And then, after meeting Jasper, how they went in search for the Cullen's. Rose's story was also short. Rose didn't talk about her human years much. She started with how she almost died a terrible death and then was changed. And that she killed those that had almost murdered her. But when she talked about finding Emmett she glowed. Emmett was hilarious talking about his life as oldest of twelve children living in Appalachia. He didn't down play his families poverty, but he didn't dwell on it either, as he talked about the good times the Sunday dinners, the church picnics, moonshine and hunting. Just like Jasper he was aware of his human descendants, and though he did not claim any relationship to them, he did look out for their welfare. He made it possible for his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and their kids to have the chance to go to college or set themselves up in a good business. But he was not part of their lives. He had set up a trust for them, managed by a legal firm in Nashville. But, as he said, wastrels need not apply, they had to be good hard working people, there were no free handouts.

Carlisle, Esme, Rose and Edward did not make any attempts to stay involved in their relations lives even distantly. Carlisle knew of descendants on his mother's side and was proud of the fact that the majority of them had been involved in the medical field in one way or another. Including a nephew, many times removed, that became a renowned grave robber for Kings College School of Medicine at Cambridge, thus advancing the study of human anatomy. His father's line had died out with him. Edward didn't really have anyone left. None of his mothers or fathers siblings survived, either the war or the epidemic that had claimed them, and any cousins had been dispersed amongst distant relations. After Roses death she felt it was better to leave her family to their own devices. She had never been close to her brothers and realized that her parents saw her only as a way to climb up the social ladder. Apparently the Kings had paid them a significant amount of hush money, when Rose's mother questioned Royce's public conduct after her death. Esme wanted no reminders of a being forced, by her parents, into her first marriage, and the subsequent death of her infant son. Let alone the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of her drunken husband. The mood was rather sombre at this point and it was late. Alice suggested we adjourn for the day and tomorrow would cover some of the vampire years they had shared as a family.

She was absolutely giddy about what the next day would bring. Like a kid at Christmas. According to her printed agenda we would be exploring the fashions, music and the Cullen family pranks through the decades. Because if there was one thing I knew about my vampires they rarely met a prank or bet that they didn't like.

I was more tired than I realized, letting out a huge yawn, just as Edward opened the door to his room and introduced me to the new furnishings. I was so tired I didn't think I had the energy to even kiss him good night. Being the man that he was, he helped me change into my Pyjamas, without copping a feel, and then he tucked me in. He looked so sad, when he moved to the door, that I'm pretty sure if I had said the word, I would have had company in bed. Just as I was about to ask him to stay, Alice began yelling at him. "Don't you dare even think about it Edward Anthony Masen Cullen!" That was followed by wolf whistles from the pack. And, not to be out done, Emmett started playing Barry Manilow songs on the sound system. Edward's eyes blazed and he gritted his teeth, blew a kiss to me, turned on his heels and ran downstairs at vampire speed. A loud crash and a bellow from Emmett as well as Alice followed, and then Barry was silenced in mid warble. It became very quiet so I fell in a deep sleep, feeling warm, safe and loved.

I awoke in the morning to the most glorious smell coming from downstairs, well actually from outside the bedroom door. Edward knocked and came in smiling with a tray of food, "I brought you breakfast in bed because no one should be subjected to the pack at meal time, it's disgusting."

Laughter echoed up the stairs. Breakfast was Scrambled eggs, French toast, strawberries, crisp bacon and fresh orange juice it was beyond delicious but I was still hungry when I finished it all. I asked Edward if there were any more eggs. Before he could turn around Esme was at the door with another plate of scrambled eggs. "Esme you're an amazing cook for someone that doesn't eat."

Edward passed me the eggs and cleared his throat looking shyly at the floor, Esme paused in the doorway, "Oh Bella honey I didn't make breakfast that was all Edward's doing."

He smiled and said: "Esme and I will be sharing the cooking duties."

"Edward, why? I'm perfectly capable of fending for myself as I'm sure the pack is as well."

"Bella, Esme loves the Food Network and wanted to practice what she had learned. And I just want to do something nice for you. Besides if we both share the cooking then at least we each get a break from working with human food. It really smells disgusting, particularly after it's cooked."

I reached out for his hand, "Okay my sexy chef let's make a deal. I'll make dinner. Esme can make lunch. And you can do breakfast."

"Why do I get breakfast?"

"Because I want to have breakfast served to me in bed by my naked chef...and then we can...oh you know... and maybe you should bring some honey." Edward looked confused. I spaced out for a moment imagining Edward in some low slung pyjama pants hanging off his hips seeing that bronze trail of hair dipping below the waist band. Or better yet naked serving me breakfast and oh what we could do with the honey. I came back from my day dream to find Edward with his head cocked to the side, a sexy half grin and hooded eyes that made my nether regions get all warm and tingly. "And what exactly, Miss Swan, is going through that head of yours?"

"Oh! Huh, ah never mind, we'll get to that tomorrow after you deliver breakfast." Edward leaned in for a panty dropping kiss. Which ended just before my tray slid from my lap, thankfully his vampire speed saved the bedding and my eggs.

Edward perched beside me on the bed but he kept making weird faces whenever I took a bite. So to distract him I asked how he thought the pack had reacted to the vampire history lessons so far. He smirked and said: "They seem to be fine." But he felt that the pack was divided on his days as a vampire vigilante. I had finally persuaded him to talk to the pack about his years away from the family. Cody especially seemed to struggle with the idea. He disagreed with Edward about the reasons for his choice to go traditional. He thought the idea to only hunt evil humans was flawed. I shook my head knowing how Edward felt about his dark period. "Well Edward Cody is very young. But even given that you weren't a bad guy the people you punished deserved it. I understand that you didn't have the right to be judge, jury and executioner. But love, you also saved so many lives as well. You don't deserve the guilt you still carry around."

Edward turned away and looked out at the bank of windows into the forest and sighed: "Bella you better get dressed, Alice wants us to gather downstairs. We're starting with the roaring twenties and she hopes to get to the fifties by dinner then she has a special treat planned."

"Oooh, what's the treat handsome?"

Edward chuckled and smiled widely, "Emmett has set up a whole 50's style soda fountain so I would assume ice cream sundaes, malts and milk shakes. Emmett will be your soda jerk, heavy on the jerk."

He let out a throaty laugh at this point, and I heard Emmett's booming voice "I've even got the whole costume Bella, and the attitude. And I'll have you know, brother, that I have mad skills behind the counter." With that the whole family started to laugh.

I got up and went into the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth. I invited Edward but he said shower sex was an advanced skill that he wasn't ready for just yet. And he knew he wouldn't be able to resist touching me if I was wet and naked. When I went to get dressed there were clothes laying on the bed courtesy of Alice. It seemed some of us were getting into the 50's theme early. I had a poodle skirt and cardigan in the deepest blue, along with saddle shoes and bobby socks, it all actually looked comfortable, except the underwear they look more like modern day Victoria Secret and not Woolworths. Edward came back after I was dressed to get me. He was already in skinny jeans, a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up above the elbow, over a plain navy tee shirt. But I had to laugh at the white socks and loafers. Apparently Jasper and Emmett would alternate modeling the fashions of the 20's, 30's and 40's, Edward would have the 50's, 60's and 90's he refused to wear anything from the 70's or 80's those decades would fall, as he said, to the guru of bad taste Emmett.

One half of the great room looked like a speakeasy from the 20's and the other half like the set from that old TV show 'Happy Days' it was amazing and hilarious. Esme, Alice and Rose were dressed as flapper's right down to the fringed dresses, knee length beads and feathers in their hair. We progressed with the fashion show through the decades. And when we got to the 50's the Cullen's really found their stride Esme and Carlisle were dressed like they were the prom queen and king, Emmett was dressed as a soda jerk, just like he said. Rosalie looked like a Hollywood starlet, big hair, red lips and sunglasses and a tight red skirt that came to just above the knee with a peasant top that fell off one shoulder and chunky black heels. And god, did she have the attitude down pat. Jasper was almost a carbon copy of Edward, but all in black, with cowboy boots and a James Dean cowboy hat. Alice was dressed as a 50's cheerleader right down to the pom poms how appropriate could that get.

The wolves had obviously never seen the reruns of Happy Days and the set for 'Arnold's.' Or maybe my life had just been that boring, because I was the only one, of the non-vampires, that understood the reference when I mentioned it. The wolves had rejected Alice's attempts to get them to dress up. They were looking at this like it was a play. To them audience participation was not necessary. They did however love the soda fountain and ate their weight in ice cream. Emmett made the best hot fudge sundae for me. "How do you guys do this when you don't eat? Yet you grocery shop and cook. Damn, Emmett this is great, so again how do you guys do it?" The family all answered at the same time."The Food Network!"

I looked at Edward for clarification, "Well vampires are very sensual creatures. We love colours and textures and changes in temperature. It's only the smell of the food that's disgusting. If it wasn't for that we'd be cooking all the time."

The night wound down with talking about what the family did in the 50's, where they lived. Which included Lake Louise British Columbia in Canada, Galway Ireland and Bangor Maine for four weeks. I had to ask, why only four weeks. Emmett had been caught sunbathing, on a rocky beach by a boat load of whale watchers that were skimming the coast. "I think I would have paid to see that." The wolves looked puzzled. "Oh you haven't seen them in the sun have you?" They all shook their heads no.

Alice giggled and said: "I can fix that, Emmett was bitten by the photography bug back then. And he went through this phase in the 60's were he thought pictures of us in the sun would look like how people described an LSD trip."

Emmett frowned and informed us that "For your information it was not a phase and I still love real film. Using digital and Photoshop is just way too easy. And those photos were ART people!"

We all laughed including Emmett, and the night changed to a relaxing evening of listening to funny Cullen family antics from the 50's. Leah asked why Edward often seemed to be the object of so many pranks or fights... He sighed and looked at me, so I spoke up: "Edward was alone Leah, he had the family but they were all mated couples. He had no one of his own, so to try and lighten things up for him, and make him feel involved, they tended to go for the bizarre rather than the more thoughtful ways of getting his attention." Edward pulled me off the arm of the oversized chair and onto his lap then nuzzled my neck. And true to form, to lighten the mood, Emmett promised they would discuss the most famous Cullen pranks in the morning after breakfast. On that note Carlisle called an end to the 50's night and bid all those that required sleep a goodnight and suggested that we retire.

Then, one moment I'm in the great room, and the next I'm on the bed in Edwards room, naked. "Ah Edward, I would like to have said goodnight."

Edward leaned out his bedroom door and yelled "Bella says goodnight, and we'll see you in the morning. But not before 9:00 am Alice!" Then he locked the door and stripped.

He came towards me slowly, like he was stalking his prey. Now my man was delicious fully clothed but naked, he's a god! His body was perfect with well defined lean muscles. His face would put the most renowned classical sculpture to shame and his eyes truly were the windows to his soul. But he was more than just his beautiful body. It's what I saw in the depths of those eyes, a limitless and never ending love for only me.

He stopped at the foot of our bed and ran his hand through his gorgeous bronze hair. Then he licked his lips and growled. At this point I found it hard to look anywhere but in his eyes. However that changed when a certain part of his anatomy came to life begging to be noticed. Like everything else about Edward his cock was magnificent, and this was the first time I'd seen Edward completely naked. It had been dark in the hospital room when he'd first made love to me. I saw only his penis when I gave him the blow job. We had not been intimate since. He was thick and long and so very rigid. It would twitch every now and then while I ogled him. I could feel my smile getting wider while my blush deepened. I couldn't resist it any longer. I had to reach out and touch him.