AN… I know that this is a really short, and fluffy chapter.

It wasn't intended to be, but as I was trying to write my way

to the next big bombshell..(Dun-dun-dunn) this kind of

spilled out. It's all sweet and sappy and silly, but I could

not stop it. I think it wanted to be written! LOL

So, I hope you enjoy this little bit of sugary-sweetness.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, that joy belongs to Stephenie.

I just like to make her characters into my playmates!

~UUaAP~

Chapter 15

New Family Ties

Leah POV

Edward drove me back to his house, holding my hand, and humming some strange tune. It rather reminded me of an operatic aria. (Don't roll your eyes, I loved Phantom of the Opera) I was so relaxed, and completely blissed out that I had nearly fallen to sleep by the time we reached his garage. Edward got out of the car, and opened my door before I could fully rouse. He lifted me out of the car, and carried me inside, with one arm slung over his shoulder, and my head resting against his chest.

Jasper greeted us with a large smile, and a slap to Edward's back. Edward shook his head, and his frame was vibrating with silent laughter. I lifted my head, and shot him a curious, but wary glance. He didn't need to read my mind to know what it was for.

He just figured I had given into the lust he felt coming from the room last night, and that you were all worn out from it.

I blushed from my forehead to my toes, and buried my head into his chest. I didn't even know what to say.

"Dude." Jasper said laughing. "Another easily embarrassed human! I have to let Em know, he's gonna have a field day!"

"Stop right there, cowboy!" I gathered the courage to yell. And he did stop, and he cringed as he turned slowly, looking over his shoulder at me. Edward let me down to stand on my own, but kept his arm around my waist. I straightened myself to my full 5'11", and stiffened my posture as I placed my hands on my hips, and shot him a bary pointed, haughty glare.

"Am I in trouble?" Jasper looked between me and Edward with a concerned expression. Emmett came bursting into the room at that moment, and started laughing uproariously at the standoff.

"Who-ee!" he exclaimed. "Looks like Edward got himself a spitfire, huh Jazz?"

As the noise level in the room increased, the rest of the family trickled in to see what all of the merriment was about. I picked up a pillow off of a sofa, and hurled it across the room, hitting Emmett in the head. The whole family laughed, and the tension seemed to break. I decided to let Jasper off the hook, and I didn't tell anyone what started it all. I figured I had shattered his and Em's egos enough for an evening. Carlisle and Esme walked over towards me, smiling broadly.

"I just got off of the phone with your mother." Esme practically glowed. "She has invited the whole family over tonight. Apparently she is hosting an impromptu gathering, and the council has decided that they want us to sit in on an official telling of the histories afterwards."

"Holy Shit! I didn't expect this much acceptance yet." I blurted out. Esme's eyes widened slightly before falling to the floor. I felt really sheepish.

Your mom kind of disapproved of my language, didn't she?

Well, you could say that. She tends to slap us upside the head over using vulgar language. Edward admitted, looking down into my eyes.. She is from a time when it was simply unacceptable for people to say such things in mixed company, but she would never say anything to make you feel badly.

I blushed for the second time within five minutes and I looked at my feet. Edward wrapped his arm a little more tightly around my waist, and pressed his lips against my neck.

"I am so sorry, Esme. I have a bad habit of cursing. Often. I think it comes from hanging out with the guys in the pack so much. Please, forgive me for offending you."

"There is no need to apologize, Leah. I was a little bit... surprised by your words, but it is okay. We have a lot to learn about each other yet, and if the price I have to pay to see my Eddie's eyes glow is a few expletives thrown around from time to time, then I can adjust!"

"You guys wouldn't have had to adjust for Bella." I mumbled.

The whole family gathered closely around us at that, everyone talking at once, and offering words of assurance. Alice waited until everyone else had quieted somewhat before speaking words that resonated profoundly in my heart.

"Bella is a part of this family. She was meant to be. If Bella had not come to Forks, and if her blood had not sung to Edward, there would never have been a link between our kind and yours. We would have continued to keep to the treaty, and there would never have been a reason for us to have coordinated. Without this need to work together, to protect Bella, you would never have met Edward, and we would all have missed out on two wonderful new family members. I know that I resented this at first, but I spent two days cooped up in my room, trying to make sense of it all, and this is what I came up with. I think that this was meant to happen from the beginning. All the way back in nineteen thirty-six, when Carlisle first made the treaty with Ephriam the ball was set in motion. My visions have always been subjective, and prone to change according to the decisions that people make. I know that the visions I saw of Bella and Edward together were only there to cause this eventuality. If I had not believed with my whole heart that Bella would become one of us, I would not have stood by Edward's side. I really believe now that everything happens for a reason, Leah! You are not second best to Bella Swan. She was just the opening act!"

I wiped at the tears that had begun to trickle down my face. I wondered if I was becoming a softie. It seemed like I had cried so much in these last few days. I batted my hand playfully in Alice's direction.

"See, aren't you glad now that I wouldn't let you put any make up on me?" I laughed. Alice walked right up to me, and wrapped her arms around me in a quick hug.

"Hey Leah, do you like sports?" Emmett piped up.

"Yeah, I play baseball and football with the guys all the time. Why?"

Emmett started to fake like he was crying, wiping at imaginary tears, and quivering his chin. "Sis, you had me at baseball!" he wrapped me up in a huge bear-hug, and twirled me around. The whole family laughed, and joked around as we moved towards the door. It was time to get going for the big werewolf/vampire council meeting.

~UUaAP~

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