A/N: Thank you to all of you who are still with me and to those of you who just came aboard! I hope you enjoy this chapter. We've settled in, fastened our seatbelts, and put our seats and trays in the upright position. Now we are ready to take off! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I am still just overwhelmed at the wonderful reviews I've received from each of you on this story. I wish I could answer each one of you individually! Just know that each review alert I receive brightens my day and puts a smile on my face!

I also want to thank my wonderful writing team: Jenny Cullen (aka Jenrar) is my fantabulous beta who catches the mistakes I miss and EternallyCullen, my beloved ficwife, collaborating author of several stories, and prereader. It helps me so much to have someone like you that I can hash out story lines and problems with. If you are looking for some great reads, check out their profiles both on Twilighted and Fanfiction . net. Also, check out the collab fics that EternallyCullen and I have written together. She is the frosting to my cake!

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And finally, the regular disclaimer applies to everything here. Stephenie Meyer owns it all, I only own Matthew. I am only borrowing her characters and will give them back when I'm done.

"Well, Edward," Carlisle said, interrupting his son's thoughts at the dinner table the next night, "how is your Ethics project coming along?"

Edward chewed thoughtfully and fought the grin that threatened to cross his face. "It's coming along." Shit… I gotta do some work tonight on that project! Edward suddenly realized that he had been spending quite a bit of time with Bella, putting more effort on their budding relationship than on his paper. He was going to have to burn some midnight oil tonight in order to get his schoolwork caught up.

"And how is Bella?" Carlisle asked, eyeing Edward with interest.

The grin that had threatened earlier erupted. He was powerless to stop it. "She's good." She's fucking fantastic!

Esme smiled gently at her son. "I can see that we're going to have to drag it out of you, Edward. Tell us about Bella."

Edward laughed. "I just don't know what to say… She's wonderful. More than wonderful. I've never met anyone like her."

She patted his hand. "Your father and I are so happy for you, Edward. And we couldn't be prouder of you. So, when do we get to meet the girl who's captured your heart?"

"Dad's already met her." He stabbed an asparagus spear with his fork, hoping that would delay the inevitable.

Carlisle shook his head. "Oh, no. Don't try that with your mother; you know that won't work," he teased. "I've only met her in a professional capacity. You're on your own with this." Carlisle smiled at him, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I mean, when do we get to meet her as part of the family?" Esme pressed.

Edward shrugged, slightly uncomfortable in the spotlight. But he was thankful Emmett wasn't there to tease him further. He was still trying to get Bella accustomed to the idea of dating. He really didn't want to spring his family – especially Emmett – on her this soon.

Esme's eyes lit up. "I know! Next weekend is your father's birthday, and the entire family will be here. You'll have to bring her and Matthew with you to the party," she said firmly, giving Edward a hard look.

Whoa… "Mom, I don't know if she's up for meeting everyone at one time," he hedged, thinking of his older brother again. "You know how Emmett can be, especially with company – and he's going to be even worse with a girl I like."

"Carlisle, you speak to Emmett beforehand so he doesn't do anything to embarrass Bella," Esme said to her husband. "Edward, I know Emmett can be loud and a bit overbearing, but he knows Bella is important to you, and I don't think he would do anything to make her uncomfortable intentionally."

Carlisle agreed, and Edward knew that he was just going to have to bite the bullet and bring Bella to meet his family. He just hoped they didn't scare her off.

xXx

Bella blanched, her brown eyes wide. "Wh-What do you mean? Meet your parents? And your family?" she asked disbelievingly. Oh. My. God.

Edward took her hand in his, lightly rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. "Yes, Bella. My family – and especially my mom – really wants to meet you."

She pulled her lower lip in between her teeth and chewed on it nervously. "I-I don't know, Edward. Don't you think that's rushing things a bit? I mean, we're still… We're… Hell, I don't know what we are," she finished, finally smiling slightly.

Edward stared deeply into her eyes. "We're trying to be together, and part of that is meeting each other's family. I know this seems sudden to you, but to my family, it's not. They've been waiting for me to bring a girl home for years. They're very excited and happy that I've found someone."

Bella was torn. Only a few days ago, once they had arrived back in Forks from Seattle, she and Edward had finally admitted to each other that they wanted more from their relationship than a grade on his Ethics project and a specialist for Matthew. They had since shared several phone conversations, the one from the last evening lasting several hours as they had talked about everything and nothing in particular. But on the other hand, she was still attempting to work through her issues and felt that being presented to the Cullen family was something she was not yet keen to do. She was awkward enough on her own; the thought of unleashing her clumsiness on the elegant and refined Cullens was enough to make her nauseated.

She suddenly snapped her eyes back to his. "What do you mean, they've been waiting for years?"

He sighed and leaned back into her couch. "What I mean is that I haven't dated much. At all. Sure, I took a girl to the senior prom and had a few dates in high school, but once I went to college, I didn't really get into the dating scene – just a few odd dates here and there but never someone I wanted to bring home. I was too consumed with my classes. Until you," he finished softly.

She swallowed hard. Wow. Meeting the folks. Was she up to this? And if she did go, would that mean she would have to introduce Edward to her father? Yes, they had met briefly at the hospital a few weeks prior, but at that time, he was just there for his assignment. Not for her. She rubbed her temples in an attempt to stifle the headache she felt coming on.

"I never met James'sparents," she blurted out. Shit. Why can't you just talk silently to yourself, like normal people?

Edward's jaw tightened. "No wonder. He was a bastard."

Bella nodded. "Yes, he was. Oh, Edward… I'm just worried."

"About what?" he asked, confused.

She sighed. "What if they don't like me? What if they take one look at Matthew and think that I'm only after you for their money or the prestige of dating a future doctor?"

Edward pulled her back into his chest and skimmed his nose through her hair. He loved how she smelled. "They know better than that. Besides, I'm the one chasing you, Isabella, for your many lovely and magnetic qualities."

His voice had dropped several notches, and the husky undertone sent shivers down her spine. This man must be a wizard…

"Please?" he begged softly, tightening his hold on her. She was still frightened, and he didn't want her to bolt.

Bella turned her head to look into Edward's green eyes. She could see some type of emotion but wasn't sure what it was. His gaze was magnetic and hypnotic, and she felt the butterflies in her stomach kick into overdrive. When he looked at her like that, she could deny him nothing. "And you're sure they want to meet me…andMatt?"

He nodded. "It's a big day; it's my father's birthday, and my mom always throws a big family party for it. Both of my brothers will be in from school, and they'll be bringing their girlfriends, so you won't be alone." He hoped that having some other girls there around her age would ease her anxiety a bit.

She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

"And then I'll go meet your dad – officially – whenever you say," he added, trying to sweeten the deal.

"You want to meet Charlie?" she asked, surprised.

He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her back so that she would rest her weight on him. "Of course, Bella," he said softly. "I told you that I want more with you – and that involves meeting your father. He won't shoot me, will he?" he asked, slight worry evident in his tone. Be on your best behavior, Cullen, he thought. The last man she was with knocked her up and took off… You don't want Chief Swan thinking you're going to do the same. He might shoot you on sight just on principle.

Bella laughed and snuggled into his embrace. "I don't think he will…"

"I love that sound," he murmured.

"What sound?"

He placed a light kiss on her temple. "The sound of your laugh. You should laugh more often."

"Well, there may be plenty of laughter when your family meets me." She dreaded walking into the midst of the Cullens in her Goodwill clothes while they were dressed in designer fashions possibly straight off of the runway in Paris. No telling what they'll think of you…

She stared up at him, unable to form any coherent words.

"I want to introduce you – and Matt – to my family, and they will love you." He pleaded with her with his eyes.

Bella nodded. "O-Okay," she whispered, and Edward placed a chaste kiss on her lips, unable to keep the smile off of his face.

xXx

"Well, you certainly look perky," Jacob Black teased Bella as she walked up to him in front of the movie theater in Port Angeles. "Much better than the last time I saw you which, of course, has been far too long. You even have some color in your cheeks."

Bella blushed at his comments. "Sorry. I've been working. And yeah, I am pretty good," she muttered, embarrassed, but she was glad to see her best friend.

He laughed and threw his arm around her shoulder, guiding her to the concession stand where he ordered an extra-large popcorn, large Coke, and a box of Milk Duds. "I know; your dad told my dad…"

She laughed lightly and shook her head to decline any snacks. "Of course he did."

"Hey, I'm happy for you. I think it's awesome that you've finally met a great guy. And he's gonna be a doctor… Nice! Bells, it really is good to see you smiling and happy," he said seriously. He had been worried about her ever since she had started dating James. After he had left her brokenhearted, Jake had been even more concerned about his oldest childhood friend. He was glad that some happiness was coming into her life; she deserved it.

She blushed even more. She was shy about discussing Edward with anyone – especially Jake.

"Yeah, he is a great guy."

He grinned at her and stared walking toward the cinema. He had been ecstatic when Bella had accepted his offer to go see a movie. They hadn'tspent much time together for a while, and he had really been missing her. Other than his father, she was the only one who accepted him for what he was. Some of the elders on the reservation thought he was wasting his life by becoming a grease monkey, but he was able to do what he loved for a living, and he was happy. He would much rather enjoy his job and not have as many expensive toys than to be a slave to big business, which would only make him miserable. His goal was to eventually open his own garage and restore old cars, which would be a boon to the reservation.

"I really am happy for you."

"Thanks," she said, grinning at him. "Matt really likes him, too."

Jacob led her into a row in the middle of the theater and flopped his large frame into a seat. "Well, that's a good sign. Matt's a perceptive little guy. Has Charlie met him yet?"

She nodded. "Yeah, they met briefly when Matt was in the hospital."

"If Charlie and Matt approve, he's off to a good start, but he still has to get by me," Jake said.

Bella groaned. "Oh, no. Jake…"

"Bells, you know you're like my little sister. It's my job to protect you."

"I'm a grown woman," she mumbled, trying to glare at him to make a point but unable to keep the smile from her face. She had forgotten how much fun she had just being with Jake. He was like the sun, making her feel warm and relaxed.

"I know, but I'm still gonna look out for you. I'm not gonna let you get hurt again."

She just nodded in acquiescence, knowing it was futile to argue, and settled in to watch the movie.

When they filed out of the movie theater, Bella pulled her phone out of her pocket. Twelve missed calls? Bella felt her stomach drop. She opened the call log and saw where her dad had tried to call her repeatedly over the last hour. Shit…

Bella quickly called his number back, and he answered on the first ring.

"Bella?" Charlie asked, his voice tense.

"Yeah. Dad, what's going on?" She held her finger up at Jake's questioning gaze.

"Where have you been? You didn't answer your phone."

Her hands started to shake. "I've been at the movies with Jake and had my phone on silent. What's wrong?"

Charlie let out a shuddering breath. "Bells, I just got the paperwork in the office. James is suing you for full custody of Matt. He's back."

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