Apparently I should have put a disclaimer on the last chapter saying I'm not responsible for exploding ovaries, which was a comment a lot of you left for me. I hope they weren't a mess to clean up. I'm not responsible for that either. LOL Beachcomberlc keeps me sane and fixes my messes. She's awesomesauce.

I don't own Twilight. I do need a nap. What about you?

Chapter 13

As he walks into his small cottage a little after four in the morning, Edward isn't overly surprised to see Bella sitting at his desk, in almost darkness, writing in the notebook he gave her. "I know your vision is brilliant these days, but even vampires can use a little light," he jokes.

"I got into a groove and just couldn't stop writing. Plus, it helps that I write much faster and neater than before," Bella smiles as Edward flicks on two lights in the living room and he notices the light in the spare bedroom is on. He's about to ask about it when Bella sees what he's looking at. "Alice was down here while you were gone."

"Oh, really?" Edward is somewhat surprised by this, but he can sense Bella is apprehensive about his sister's visit.

"She wanted to make sure I had some clothes, basic necessities and all that, until she can go shopping for me. Apparently, she and Jasper are going to head into Seattle tomorrow and pick up some things for Elizabeth and I. She won't go overboard will she?"

"Probably, but that's just Alice's way. She means well, really, but she can be a bit much sometimes."

"She kept listing off things she wanted to buy the baby, including a swing set which I think I talked her out of, and she just… it's too much," Bella answers nervously. "I can't afford to pay her back."

"Bella, let me ask you something…what good is it to have someone who can see the future, if you don't use it to your benefit?" Bella shrugs her shoulders as Edward smiles happily at her in return, easing her anxiety a little bit. "Alice does all our investing. She knows when to buy and when to sell. Let's just say, money won't be an issue for any member of the Cullens for hundreds of years to come. Hell, not even then."

"Seriously?" Bella asks incredulously as Edward nods his head. "Wow, that must be nice… to have money, that is."

"Yeah well, it's just money. So, if Alice goes a bit crazy with dresses or shoes for you or Elizabeth, don't worry about it, alright? She really just wants to be your friend."

"I'm already worried she will come back with a prom dress for Beth, and we have a few years to go until we need that."

"That sounds like my sister," Edward answers with a loud laugh as he sits on the couch and watches Bella intently. Her expression has changed from one of concern, over money, to one of curiosity.

"Is that how you see Alice and the rest of them? As your brothers and sisters?"

"Well, Carlisle is more like a dad to me, if I am being honest," Edward answers easily. "And Esme is like my mom, which I think I told you already. As for the rest of them, yeah… I suppose they are my brothers and sisters."

"Brothers from a different mother, huh?" Bella asks with a grin as Edward smiles right back at her.

"And sisters from another mister," Edward adds with a laugh.

"Do you think I will see them that way, eventually?"

"If you choose to stay, yeah, I do." Bella tenses as she drops the pen and approaches Edward quickly, still not used to her newfound speed. "Have you thought about what you want to do with the rest of your life? I mean…you are more than welcome to stay here, but I know you aren't happy with me and what I felt I had to do."

"I will admit that in the when I woke up this morning, I really harboured resentment towards you, and it will probably take me a while to get over everything, but your whole family has been great to Elizabeth and me. For the time being, we're not going anywhere." Edward can't help but breathe a sigh of relief as Bella nudges his shoulder a little harder than she expected. "You don't want me to leave, do you?"

"Nah, I think we're good for now," Edward laughs easily.

*~HOS~*

For the rest of the night, Edward and Bella spend their time listening to music and discussing his life growing up as a vampire. Not that he has ever really grown up, he explains to Bella. Edward happily tells her the whole story of how Alice and Jasper came to join their family, even though Jasper had told her briefly when she first woke up. He also tells her fun stories about camping in the wilderness with his brothers, or helping Esme renovate the house by simply knocking down walls. Edward even suggests that if she ever wants to humble Emmett, who assumes he is the strongest in the Cullen family, that she challenge him to arm wrestle since she is much stronger as a newborn than he is.

"So what's your story?" Bella questions as Edward turns on the couch to face her. "I mean, I know how you came to be a vampire, but what else is there to know?"

"What is this twenty questions?"

"No, just one," Bella answers with a smirk as Edward rolls his eyes.

"There's not much to tell. I like to read and listen to classical music. I can play piano and I even dabble in composing music a bit." Edward doesn't want to boast about his accomplishments, but Bella doesn't seem placated by his response.

"What were you doing over at the bar the night you found me? Obviously, you weren't there for a drink, right?"

"No… no, I wasn't."

"Unless it was a drink of a different kind?" Bella is clearly implying that Edward was there to drink human blood, and he scoffs at the notion. "What? It could happen, right?"

"I don't drink from humans that I kill," Edward responds, as Bella's eyes grow wide. Shit, he hadn't meant to mention that last part, but now that the words have fallen from his lips, he can't exactly take them back. "It's not like it sounds."

"Well, you have certainly piqued my interest. So come on… out with it."

"I hunt down criminals and bring them to justice." Bella looks at him incredulously and almost can't believe what she is hearing. In fact, had she not been saved by Edward killing the man who planned to harm her, she probably wouldn't believe him. "These men that I kill… they're not good men."

"I wouldn't imagine that they are," Bella counters. "However, from what little you've told me, isn't it against the treaty to kill anyone regardless of who they are or what they have done?"

Edward has no response for her, because Bella is right. The treaty that is in place with the Quileute strictly forbids him, or anyone in the family, from killing anyone. However, Edward considers his efforts to be for the good of the people. By removing the threat of these men, he is protecting the citizens of the Pacific Northwest, and their families. This includes the Quileute people and he feels no remorse for his actions.

"In theory, yes, but I'm not out there killing needlessly. These men need to be removed from society. Remember, I can read their minds, Bella. I know what horrors they have committed and what further atrocities they plan to commit. If one of my targets shows remorse, I have no hesitation in keeping him alive and dropping him off at the nearest police station, but those men are few and far between."

"And you haven't feared any backlash in relation to the treaty?" Bella wonders as she leans back against the couch and slowly closes her eyes. "I mean, if I were in their shoes and I knew someone was breaking the rules, I'd be pissed."

"Honestly, I have been flying under the radar and I have never felt that I had anything to fear. In news reports, most of the deaths I've been responsible for have come across as accidents or suicides. However, since you've come along…" Edward hesitates because though he never feared the repercussions before, he's not so confident now. "We need to keep you and Elizabeth hidden for the time being."

"So, if the Quileute find out that you've turned me into a vampire… they will be pretty angry huh?"

"That's probably an understatement, especially since one of their own is living with vampires, but let's hope they never find out, alright?"

"Who am I going to tell? The only Quileute I've talked to in the last six months probably wishes I were dead since I messed up his plans of a wonderful little life with his fiancée. I'm sure he looks over his shoulder all the time, wondering when I will show up and ruin his life," Bella mutters angrily as Edward squeezes her thigh gently, offering her support.

"Well, clearly, he's missing out on a wonderful woman and I am glad at how things have turned out," Edward replies as Bella offers him a small smile. She's never been one to handle compliments well, but Edward seems to have an innate ability to make Bella smile. Thankfully for Bella, Edward plans to make her smile as much as possible over the next few hundred years.