A/N - Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all it's characters.

What's this, another update! I know, I can hardly believe it myself, but it got written, so it gets posted.

I can't thank you enough for the reviews. I appreciate them all, and they spur me on. Especially when I am feeling insecure and worrying that my story isn't good enough. You were all so kind last chapter.

This chapter borders on the ridiculous, the first half at least is just nonsense. It's dinner at the Cullen's and I had a lot of fun writing it. And ultimately, fun is why I do this, so here you have it.

I hope you enjoy. x

Chapter 6

By the time Edward returned from the bathroom, I had managed to calm myself down. I had decided not to dwell on what had just happened or, more accurately, what had not quite happened. I added it to the growing pile of things I would deal with later. At this rate I was going to have to start writing it all down.

I fixed my hair and splashed some cold water on my face, in Edward's bathroom, making myself presentable for dinner and we went downstairs.

"Edward, Bella." Esme smiled, when we got to the kitchen. "Go on through. We're almost done here."

"What took you guy's so long?" Emmett smirked, he was helping Esme with the plates.

"Motherfucking cockblocker." Edward grumbled, making me blush, I would have anyway, but it was so much worse, because his mom was right there!

Emmett laughed and returned to helping Esme, who was ignoring them both. Edward led me into the dining room where Carlisle and Rose were already seated.

"Bella, it's good to see you again." Carlisle got up from his seat as I entered.

"You too Mr Cullen."

"Please, call me Carlisle." He smiled warmly.

Edward helped me into the seat next to Rose, and I gave her a smile as I sat down. Edward went to the sideboard and pulled a gun from somewhere about his person. Considering I'd just had his body pressed against mine, you'd think I'd have felt it, but I swear to God I have no idea where he keeps that thing. He checked it and placed it into a drawer.

"Esme has a no guns at the dinner table policy." Rose explained when I looked at her questioningly.

"Oh right." I said nodding, as if I thought that was totally normal, but honestly, what kind of family needed rules like that? What happened to 'don't talk with your mouth full' and 'elbows off the table'?

"Emmett accidentally shot one of her favourite antique vases, when a debate about American Idol got a bit heated."

I giggled, thinking she was joking.

"A bit heated! The fucker tried to shoot me." Edward exclaimed from across the room, halting my laughter.

"He was aiming for E when he broke the vase." Rose confirmed when I stared wide-eyed at her.

"Shit taste in TV and a shit shot." Edward grumbled.

Carlisle sighed. "Can we please not get into this again. We have a guest, and it would be nice to get through dinner without having to re-live the great American Idol debacle."

Edward snickered as he sat down beside me, and I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Don't worry Princess, I got him back." He winked and grinned at me happily, like his cousin trying to shoot him at the dinner table was all just a harmless prank.

"You shot him?" Nothing would surprise me.

"If I'd shot him he'd be dead. Unlike some, I can aim" He said quite seriously, still smiling.

"That would have been too easy. E couldn't just shoot him and get over it." Rose scowled at Edward. "No, he had to make the whole family suffer."

Edward laughed, and I think I even caught Carlisle supressing a chuckle.

"What did you do?" I asked, intrigued now.

"I waited until the final. Everyone was in the living room watching. Emmett made us, fucking idiot was so excited." He managed to get out between laughs. "And just as that guy was about to reveal who'd won….," He had to stop talking he was laughing so much.

"You changed the channel!" I guessed, quite pleased with myself.

Edward almost doubled over in his seat, spluttered "changed the channel!" and laughed even harder.

"Don't be ridiculous Bella." Rose scoffed angrily. "This is E we're talking about, the over-dramatic jackass, shot the fucking TV! Got Ryan Seacrest right between the eyes." She shouted, as Edward howled with laughter.

Yeah, like I'm the ridiculous one here! I laughed, because really, what else could I do but embrace the crazy. The Cullen's were like nothing I had ever experienced, but I was here, so I might as well enjoy the ride.

"Three days we had to wait for it to be replaced!" Rose was clearly still quite angry about it.

"Hmmn, let's see." Jasper entered the dining room carrying a big bowl of mashed potatoes. "E's hysterical, Rosalie's pissed, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Bella just heard the American Idol story."

Carlisle nodded amused.

"Well, it was either that or the beach incident." Jasper shrugged, causing Edward, who had been on the verge of calming down, to burst into another round of loud laughter.

"I don't think that's appropriate for the dinner table." Carlisle told him. Leaving me wondering what on earth the beach incident was.

Jasper agreed and pulled out a gun, putting it in the same drawer as Edward had used earlier.

Esme, Emmett and Alice came in carrying the rest of dinner and Edward straightened up and composed himself. Alice also went to the drawer and then turned back to the table, where Esme arched an eyebrow at her.

Alice sighed and took out a second gun and handed it to her mother, who looked in the drawer, seeming to be checking its contents before she shut and locked it.

There was general madness as we all filled our plates. It was loud, boisterous, fun, so unlike the dinners my dad and I shared at home.

"Hey Marcy, did you search Little B?" Emmett asked once everyone was settled.

"Why on earth would I do that?" Esme asked, as we all stopped eating to stare at him.

"E's a sneaky fucker. He's probably got her hiding a gun just in case we say anything to embarrass him."

"Fuck me, he actually has a brain. I didn't even think of doing that." Edward said surprised.

"That's because you were too busy thinking about her concealing a different kind of weapon." Jasper smirked suggestively.

"What?" Emmett said confused.

"It's a euphemism." Rose explained.

"A what now?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Never mind."

"So Bella." Esme turned to me, obviously as keen to move on from the last topic of conversation as I was. "Emmett tells me you're fairly new to Forks, how are you liking it?"

"How the fuck do you know she's new in Forks?" Edward asked him.

"Cat told me?" Emmett shrugged.

"Cat?" I asked Edward.

"He means Alice." He said and I frowned trying to work out where Cat came from. "Alice, Ali, Alley, Alley Cat, Cat." Edward quickly explained Emmett's strange nicknaming logic. "How did you know?" He then asked Alice.

"Bella told us at the diner." Jasper answered. "Right before Newt told us Chief Swan was her father." He added smugly.

"You fuckers knew that and didn't tell me?"

"Well we didn't know you were going to see her again." He said. "We didn't even think to mention it at the time, and I'm so glad we didn't. Otherwise we'd have missed out on seeing Emmett re-enact your freak out when you found out for yourself. That shit was fucking priceless!" Jasper laughed.

"Fuck, yeah!" Alice agreed giggling. It was the first thing I'd heard her say.

"Fuck!" Emmett said wide-eyed as he pretended to run his hands through his hair as he did his impression of Edward.

"That is fucking spot on." Rose laughed.

"Motherfucking assholes." Edward muttered.

"The next person to say fuck, in any form, at this dinner table will not be going to Seattle next weekend." Esme scolded, and all five of them muttered an apology. "I'm so sorry about my children. I don't know where they get their manners from." She shook her head and glared at them. "So are you enjoying Forks?"

"Um yeah, it's ok, it's quiet, the weather is terrible and to be honest I always thought it was a bit dull, well, up until yesterday anyway." I answered honestly.

"Oh yes your date." She smiled. "Emmett told me Edward took you out and showed you a good time in Port Angeles. Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Uh, yeah?" I said unsure. Was that a date? I didn't have much experience of dating, and I suppose we did have dinner and go for ice-cream, but I was fairly sure strip clubs and gunfights didn't factor in most first dates.

I felt Edward kick Emmett under the table.

"Motherffffffffff…, mother of god these potatoes are good." Emmett shouted.

"Nice save." Jasper told him.

"Esme, I think Emmett was winding you up. Edward was in Port Angeles on family business yesterday and Bella was with him, but I don't think it was a date." Carlisle told her. "At least I hope it wasn't a date. You've never dated before have you Edward, but I'm sure I raised you better than that." Carlisle smirked.

"For fuu…., For goodness sake. It wasn't a date!" Edward said frustrated.

"Another nice save." Jasper laughed.

"Em you're such a dick." Edward scowled.

"He said dick!" Emmett said excitedly.

"She didn't say I couldn't say dick, did she you dick."

Esme sighed. "Are you coming to Seattle with us?" she asked me.

"Um, no." I have no idea what's happening in Seattle.

"It's Edward's eighteenth birthday, I thought you'd want to come."

"Oh…, um…, well…." I didn't want to tell her that I hadn't been invited.

"You think your dad would let you come with us Princess?" Edward asked and I took that as an invitation.

"No!" I scoffed, before I remembered where I was. "Uh, probably not, no."

"I could talk to him." Esme offered. "Let him know that Carlisle and I would be with you. I'm sure Edward would like to have you there?"

"I'm sure E would like to have her anywhere." Jasper said.

"Shut the fu…., Shut the hell up." Edward said as Jasper laughed.

"I'll call your father. See if we can't arrange that." Esme nodded, and that was that.

"Fucking Excellent! Little B on a Cullen family vacation." Emmett laughed.

"He said fuck!" A chorus of voices shouted, there was even some pointing. Good God they were like children.

"Oh, fucking hell. It was an accident Marcy." Emmett grumbled.

"It's like trying to raise a pack of wolves." Esme rolled her eyes.

We managed to finish dinner amicably and without cursing. Edward, Carlisle and Rose got up to clear the table, there was obviously some kind of order to how things worked around here and I made to get up but Edward stopped me.

"Sit down Princess. We'll bring dessert." Edward assured me, so I sat back down.

We were halfway through a delicious apple pie when Edward's phone rang. Carlisle's rang seconds later and both of them left the room.

I ate and chatted with Rose until they came back in a few minutes later. Edward looked distraught and Carlisle was looking sombre, but no one commented and they didn't offer any kind of explanation, so we finished our dessert in a somewhat awkward silence. No joking or laughing, or any of the carefree atmosphere of moments ago. Everyone seemed to know that something was up and acted accordingly. When we had finished our desserts Carlisle announced a family meeting and we all got up, Edward and the others retrieved their belongings from the drawer and we all followed him through to the living room.

Carlisle and Esme sat side by side on the smaller sofa. Alice sat on Jaspers lap in the armchair. So Emmett, Rose, Edward and me sat together on the large sofa. Edward put his arm around me and pulled me towards him. He kissed my temple and whispered. "I'm so sorry."

I didn't understand, and was waiting for someone to say something. I looked to Edward hoping he'd explain what was going on.

"Alec called." Carlisle said solemnly. "He's had word that as of today, Aro no longer intends to honour the code of conduct."

"Motherfucker!" Emmett exclaimed.

"He plans to take down the Cullen's. He is specifically after Edward and he is prepared to use any means necessary." Carlisle glanced sideways at me and I got a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was made worse when Edward tightened his hold on me.

"What does that mean?" Esme gasped.

"He's coming after Bella." Rose stated, voicing my own fear aloud.

"Not gonna happen." Emmett growled.

"There's a contract already?" Jasper was clearly surprised.

Carlisle nodded. "The good news is he wants her alive."

If that's the good news, then I don't want to hear the bad news.

"Plan?" Alice asked.

"Alec will be here soon, Marcus is flying in now, he was due here next weekend for Edward's birthday anyway, but he's bringing his trip forward, he should arrive later tonight. We'll discuss a long term plan then." Carlisle explained. "In the interim, Jazz you need to set up over at Bella's house. I'll put Sam and Embry on duty outside. Alice you need to liaise with Demetri, find out what he knows. Rose you're in the best position to be with Bella. Chief Swan is aware of you, so he won't find your presence unsettling. Esme you need to speak with him, as soon as possible, we need him on side. Ideally we need to have Bella in the house as often as possible. She's safer here than anywhere else." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, reminding me of Edward.

Edward, who was still as a statue at my side, holding me tightly to him and saying nothing.

"Emmett you stick to Edward like glue. Stop him doing something stupid."

"On it." Emmett agreed.

"I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'm going to kill him." Edward said, emotionless, cold, distant. It wasn't Edward it was E.

"Edward. No!" Esme cried.

"Until he acts, we have no justification for going after him directly." Carlisle said calmly.

"No justification!" Edward jumped up, jostling me from his chest. "He came after us last night, that should be justification enough and now he's put a fucking price on my girlfriends head. That fucker's had it coming for years and all this code of conduct nonsense is bullshit. If he doesn't have to honour it, then why should I? One day, one fucking day, and he's already put a hit out on the Princess. Fuck that shit! You think I'm gonna wait for him to take a pop at her before I act. Not fucking likely. Em and me can go and finish this right now. J's in no fit state to kick off, Caius might, but I'll take that fucker down as well."

Alice stood and I watched as she put her hands on his chest staring up into his eyes. "Think." She said simply and he seemed to calm a bit.

"You won't get near him now he's made the order, he'll know you're coming for him, you'll get yourself killed. This could all be a ploy to ensure you do just that." Jasper told him. "We need to plan, we can protect Bella and do this properly. He won't get near her."

"Edward, we will keep her safe." Carlisle promised. "It's your call."

Edward stood still for a few long minutes, and everyone seemed to be waiting for him to make a decision. Finally he ran a hand through his hair and took a couple of deep breaths before turning to me.

"Jazz is gonna need your phone Princess." He stated and the room burst back into activity. Carlisle took out his phone and made a call, Alice left the room, Jasper grabbed a laptop from somewhere, and Edward and Emmett went outside to talk to Sam and Embry.

Rose and Esme stayed with me, while I freaked out on the sofa. I didn't know what to think. Some mob boss had apparently put a hit out on me. Me! Bella Swan, shy, quiet, seventeen year old high school student. Surely that stuff only happens in movies.

I had met Edward for the first time less than a week ago and actually got to know him just yesterday. I'd only officially been his girlfriend for about two hours. It didn't make any sense for him and his family to go to all this trouble for me. I wasn't worth it. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased that they were, but what if Edward decided I was too much trouble, would this Aro guy still come after me or would he leave me alone if I wasn't with Edward.

I never considered for a moment that I should walk away from Edward. I knew he was worth it. Maybe my life wouldn't be in danger if I left him, but it wouldn't be much of a life. I couldn't go back to the dull monotony of just last week, not knowing what I knew now.

Of course, we might break up one day, and I'd have no choice but to go back to a life without him, it's not like we knew each other well, or we were guaranteed to work out. But something was telling me that this wasn't a fleeting teenage infatuation, it was more than that, and dangerous or not, I felt compelled to see it through. I fit with him, I fit with all of them, and I didn't want to let any of the Cullen's go. I didn't think I could let Edward go.

Once I was clear on what I was thinking, that left me worrying about Edward. He had been so angry, frightening almost in his intensity when he said he was going after Aro. The thought that Edward might do something rash and get hurt or worse, killed, sent shivers down my spine.

"Em won't let him do anything stupid." Rose said as if she had read my mind. "E's a hot headed motherfucker, but he's smart. Once he's gotten over his initial anger, he'll calm down. Alec will be here any minute. E listens to him more than anyone. Well, except maybe you."

"I'm going to call your father." Esme pulled out her mobile. "See if I can arrange with him for you to stay here tonight."

"It's a school night, he won't let me. I have to be home by ten." I told her.

She just smiled and Rose whispered. "Let Esme work her charms on him." I gave her his work number and she dialled.

"Hello, can I speak to Chief Swan please…., Oh yes, hello…., no, no emergency…, I'm Esme Platt, Rosalie's mother….,Bella is here with Rose, we've just had dinner and she's feeling unwell…., no nothing serious, my husband is a doctor and he's checked her over, she just needs to rest…., yes she told us you were working until quite late, so I was wondering if she could stay over with us, I don't like the thought of her going home to an empty house when she's ill….., no it wouldn't be any bother…., of course….," she handed the phone to me.

"Hello."

"Bells you ok?" my dad said worried.

"Yeah dad, just got a….,um, stomach ache." I raised my eyes at Esme and she nodded.

"I can send Jake to get you, he could sit with you until I'm home."

"Er, no, that's ok, I can stay here…..," I was a crappy liar and I needed my dad to agree and get off the phone as soon as possible. Luckily I was hit with a flash of inspiration. "I think its cramps, I might just be getting a heavy period." I blushed, but I knew the P word would put my dad off continuing this conversation. Rose giggled silently beside me.

"Oh…, well…., right….,well, hmmn,…., I suppose Mrs Platt could help you out with, er….,that, better than, um, Jake, so…., are you sure….,"

"Yeah dad I'll be fine." I smiled at his typical dad reaction.

"Ok, call me if you need me, can you put Mrs Platt back on."

"Sure, bye dad."

"Love you Bells."

I handed the phone back to Esme and she reassured him that it was no problem for me to stay and that Rose would bring me home in the morning before school to get my stuff. She hung up with my dad and turned to me beaming.

"The period excuse, works every time." Rose laughed.

"Mrs Platt?" I questioned.

"Oh, yes, the name Cullen tends to set off alarm bells with some people, especially those in law enforcement." Esme said sheepishly. "I'll get you some pyjamas." She patted my knee and stood up, leaving me and Rose on the sofa.

"How are you holding up?" she asked.

"I don't know, it's a lot to take in."

"It'll be alright Bella. We've got this."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, let E do what he does best, the rest of us aren't too shabby either. By the time we're all finished, it'll be easier to get to the President than it will be to get to you."

I nodded and took comfort in her words. They did all seem to know what they were doing and I'd just have to trust that they'd keep me safe. It's not like I had a choice anyway.

Jasper bought my backpack over and asked for my mobile. He explained that he was going to fit it with a tracking device and some other technology that I didn't understand.

I shrugged and handed it over to him.

"What the fuck is this?" he asked staring at my phone.

"Er, it's my mobile phone."

"Hah! Em said you were funny. Where's your real phone." He laughed.

"That is my real phone."

"Holy shit!..., E!" he yelled causing Edward to rush into the room looking worried.

"What, what is it?" He said panicked.

"Have you seen your girlfriends mobile?" Jasper said incredulously.

"What the fuck Jazz, you nearly gave me a heart attack, I thought something was wrong."

"Shit you've got it bad." Jasper shook his head. "I'm going to get her a new one from upstairs, this is too old for me to use with the computer programme, I swear to God, I thought they stopped making these back in the nineties." He looked at my phone and chuckled again before disappearing upstairs.

"You ok Princess?" Edward asked me.

"I think so." I nodded

"You hate me yet?" His eyes scanned my face for an answer.

"Never." I assured him, looking him directly in the eye so he'd see the truth in my words.

There was a small commotion outside and Emmett came in followed by a man who looked just like Carlisle and Edward, but he had the jet black hair that Alice had. This had to be Alec.

He stood straight and strong, his mere presence demanded attention.

"Edward." He nodded. "Is this the girl?" He looked me over, as if trying to work out what the big deal was about me. I shrunk back in my seat under his intense scrutiny.

"Jesus motherfucking Christ! Don't scare her, she didn't do anything." Edward yelled.

"Shit, Emmett you weren't kidding." Alec broke out in a grin that was so similar to Edwards it was disarming.

Emmett laughed. "I know right."

"Fuckers." Edward smiled.

I was struggling to get a hold on what was going on, the changes in mood and personalities was difficult to keep up with.

"Bella, it's nice to meet you. I'm Alec." He held out his hand and I shook it. "I hope you'll excuse Emmett and me, we were just fucking with Edward."

"Oh, uh, yeah. Nice to meet you too." I said nervously.

"Hey Rose." He bent and kissed her cheek. "Guess we're taking Aro off the guest list now."

"I can't believe you made Emmett invite the fucker in the first place." She replied.

"It's common courtesy, we're associates. We still might be able to resolve all this without starting a war."

Edward and Emmett snorted.

"Alec, the pacifist mob boss." Rose laughed.

"There's power in words Rose. Never forget that." He said seriously.

"And when words fail?" Edward asked.

"Then we take the fuckers down!" He laughed, rubbing his hands together. "What time is Marcus due to arrive?"

"Around midnight." Edward answered.

"Ok, we'll use the basement. Have Jasper set up in there." He nodded and left the room, I heard him greeting Esme affectionately in the kitchen.

Edward came and sat next to me. He pulled me straight onto his lap. Emmett sat with Rose and we actually just hung out, watching a movie. Edward held me, playing with my ponytail, or kissing my temple, and believe it or not, I was able to forget about the situation for a while.

I was yawning before half nine and by ten I could hardly keep my eyes open, after my late night last night I was ready to sleep.

"Come on, let's get you into bed." Edward said as I snuggled up against him.

I said goodnight to Emmett and Rose, and followed Edward up to his room. Esme had left some pyjama pants and a tank top on his bed for me. The realisation that they expected me to sleep in Edward's bed caused a wave of panic to come over me. Did Edward think that we would pick up where we'd left off earlier? Was he assuming that we'd have sex? I didn't think I could, not after everything else that had happened tonight. I wasn't sure I was ready anyway and I was certainly in no fit state to find out.

I must have looked terrified because Edward was at my side instantly.

"What's the matter Princess?"

"We're sleeping together." I blurted, too strung-out to censor my behaviour.

"Um yeah, is that gonna be a problem?"

"No, just, well, um, I've never done this before." I admitted embarrassed.

"Uh, me neither." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Don't lie to me Edward."

"I'm not! I told you earlier I'd never had a girl in here before."

"That's not what I meant." I said in a rush, feeling my cheeks heat up. I was hoping not to have to spell it out to him. I figured we would have had to have this conversation at some stage. Why not now? When nothing could get any worse and I was feeling uninhibited, due to emotional and physical exhaustion.

"What is it Princess." He frowned, not understanding me at all.

"I just…, well earlier we were…., you know…., and I don't think I can….,um, not tonight..., but I thought that maybe you wanted to…., and I haven't done that before…., uh, ever."

His eyes widened with the realisation. "Never?" I shook my head no. Edward took my hand and led me to the bed, where we both sat down.

"I didn't bring you up to my room so we could, uh, you know. I just wanted you here so I could protect you. We can take the other stuff as slow as you want. We don't have to, um, do that, anytime soon. It doesn't matter to me if we don't, I don't care. I mean, I do care, I don't want you to think that I don't want to, er, do that, with you, because I do, uh, want to, like, a lot, but not if you're not ready. Shit, this is coming out all wrong." He groaned and pulled at his hair. I stifled a smile, at my lovely, normal, unsure Edward.

He sighed. "I just need you here, so I know that you're safe, not for anything else. I'm gonna be downstairs most of the night. As soon as Marcus gets here, we'll be meeting in the basement. We have to work out what we're gonna do about Aro, and that could take hours."

"Ok. You won't do anything silly will you?" I asked.

"No." He said like the very idea was preposterous.

"I mean it Edward, it's not worth it, don't go off all gung-ho and get killed because of me. I couldn't take it."

"I won't." He assured me. "And Princess." He put his palm on my cheek and raised my head so I had to look at him. "You are absolutely worth it." So softly, so sweetly, he kissed me. "I will keep you safe. I promise." He whispered against my lips with his eyes closed.

"I know." I whispered back.

Edward left me to change, and go to bed, telling me he'd check on me later. Esme had left me a new toothbrush and some toiletries, so I went into his bathroom and took a rather luxurious shower. After I was washed and dressed I got into Edward's bed, which, for the record, is ridiculously comfortable. I spent approximately three minutes trying to sort through things in my head, before I succumbed to the numbness that was sleep.

At some stage in the night I was aware of Edward climbing into bed beside me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled my back against his chest. I felt him kiss my shoulder and whisper "Night Princess." before I fell back into a contented sleep, safe and secure in Edward's arms.

A/N - Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

Two quick things - Firstly, I know Rose told Bella that only his parents and grandfather called him Edward, but I felt that Alec would call him that too.

Secondly, do you know how hard it is to write a fairly silent, non-bubbly Alice? Oh my God, I want that girl to talk!

Let me know what you thought. x