Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to katmom, and Angelinia who beta this story.

Chapter Six

Meeting the Cullens

Bella and Edward headed for her truck, where Edward walked to the passenger's side and Bella waited at the back of the truck. They both looked at each other for a second looking a little confused before Bella said, "I thought you like opening the door for a lady... I mean, you're a gentlemen..."

Edward looked at her confused for a second longer before he smiled. "Bella, I am opening the door for you, I'm driving."

"Oh," Bella smiled before she grimaced. "No way!"

"Bella," Edward rolled his eyes, he couldn't believe that she was afraid of his driving even before she got into a car with him. Didn't she hear how easy it was for them to drive? "You don't know where my house is and it's not that easy to find … it would be a lot easier and not to mention safer if I drive."

"Fine," Bella grumbled and walked to where Edward stood, "but you know my truck doesn't go over sixty …"

"Yes, I am aware of that," Edward grumbled this time, "I really wished that we could have gotten Charlie to get you a nice sensible car, but he got this truck before we could do anything about it."

"That's too bad, for you," Bella smirked, as she got into the truck. She continued talking, knowing despite the fact that he was outside and if he'd been human he wouldn't have been able to hear her, that wouldn't be a probably for him. "But I really like my truck and I'm much happier that you didn't get me a car."

"I suppose this means that you are going to be against me giving you presents," Edward sighed as he got into the truck and started it.

"You suppose right," Bella made a face, "I don't need anything from you. You're more than enough."

"Well see, there's a problem with your logic," Edward said.

"And what's that?" Bella questioned, sure of what his answer would be and prepared herself to counter his argument.

"I got you," Edward said and looked at Bella full in the eyes and all the arguments as well as all of her thoughts were wiped out of her mind as she looked back at him. He looked away first, though he would have loved to keep looking at her, it was safer for him not to at the moment. "This means we're even at best, though I'm still inclined to believe that I get even more out of this deal …"

"Don't say that," Bella said sadly. "I might not be a vampire … or feel the way that …"

"You don't have to say more," Edward sighed. "I know you're not a normal human, and I can't judge your feelings to their standards. So let's just call ourselves even in this respect and move on."

"You still believe you care about me more," it was a statement not a question.

"And I always will," Edward chuckled. "But I understand that you won't agree with that."

Bella smiled, "okay, as long as we have an understanding."

"So does this mean that I can get you things?" Edward asked, though there was no real hope in his voice.

"Of course not," Bella shook her head.

"And why not?" Edward sighed.

"Because it would just throw things out of balance, I couldn't possible get you anything …" Bella said. "I don't mind the small things though … the flowers last night was very thoughtful."

Edward smiled at that, "I'm glad you liked it."

"You're trying to think of other little things you can get me, aren't you?" Bella said looking over his face.

"I might be," Edward said trying not to smile. Edward then turned on the small road that led to his house. "We'll be there in a minute."

Bella looked out the windshield now, trying to see if she could find the house in the forest in front of her, but she couldn't. She realized that Edward had distracted her from worrying about meeting his family during their drive here, but she was starting to feel that all over again.

It was a minute later that Bella was actually able to see the house and she smiled; it really was a beautiful home, even more so than she thought it would be from the description in the book. She looked over at Edward with a smile, but felt apprehensive when she noticed that he was frowning. "What's the matter, Edward?"

"I was expecting you to make a comment about the house … this isn't exactly what most people think of when seeing a vampire house for the first time," Edward pouted.

Bella chuckled. "Sorry, but you described your house enough in the book for me to know not to expect a tomb or crypt or something like that."

"Shame," Edward sighed, "I was looking forward to seeing your surprised or awed expression. So, are you ready to do this?!"

"As ready as I'm going to be," Bella took a deep breath and even before she let it our Edward was opening the truck door for her. "I'm going to have to get used to that."

"Sorry," Edward sighed. "I forget that you're still new to all of this."

"It's okay," Bella shrugged. "I like that you can act normally around me."

Edward and Bella then walked towards the house, Bella seeming to get more nervous the closer she got. She had Edward's assurance that his family was going to like her, but that didn't make her feel any less anxious. She knew they all had an expectation of her and she wasn't sure if she could live up to it.

"Relax," Edward said softly, noticing the tension she was feeling.

"I don't know if I can," Bella admitted, when she looked at him she noticed that she was feeling better. It seemed like the rest of the walk to the house passed without her even noticing it; she didn't even remember moving her feet as she looked into his eyes. Edward opened the door for her and the first things she noticed was the two amazing, statuesque figure that were standing a few feet away from her.

Esme … or at least she thought it was Esme from the description in the book, smiled at her, barely concealing the glee she was feeling. Though Bella still felt nervous, she couldn't help but smiling back at the honest care that she saw in the older woman's face. Bella's eyes then traveled to Carlisle and she was struck by how beautiful he was, though not in the same way as Edward, there was still a presence about him that made him appealing. She found that looking at him and his genuine and gentle smile made her relax further. Clearly they were expecting a lot from her, but then somehow looking at them didn't make her feel pressured like she had before, but more at peace.

"Bella, I would like you to meet Carlisle and Esme," Edward said, his voice showed the smile he must have had, though she wasn't looking at him.

"Hello," Bella said shyly.

"It's nice to final meet you," Esme said, looking like she was trying to hold herself back from going over to hug Bella, but didn't want to scare her.

"I wanted to meet you, too," Bella admitted truthfully, and Esme seemed to beam at the sincerity that was in her voice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella," Carlisle said in a soothing voice that quickly put Bella at ease.

"You too," Bella said and looked around the place. "You have such a lovely home."

In a way it was how she imagined it, but merely reading about the place didn't seem to fill in the all inspiring atmosphere of the place.

"Actually, I'm very surprised that the house looks so normal," Edward said. "I was expecting Alice to bring out all of the decorations for Bella's first visit here."

"I wanted to," Alice said from behind them and Bella gasped and turned to see Alice standing there, obviously she had missed the approach of the two vampires that everyone else had heard. Alice looking down when she talked and her voice was very glum indeed when she added, "but no matter what I did Bella would start hyperventilating …"

Everyone else in the room laughed at that, but Bella was looking relieved that Alice hadn't made a big scene about this; she was feeling self-conscious enough without them making a noticeable fuss over her.

Alice made a face again, but seemed to shrug it off before she fluttered over to Bella with her dance like movements and then hugged her. Bella was caught off guard by this, just like she was yesterday, and yet at the same time it made her feel more comfortable. Alice was at least treating her normally and that somehow made her feel like she didn't have to do anything to prove herself.

Bella eyes then moved to Jasper, who had come in the room at the same time as Alice did, but was still standing by the door. He was smiling pleasantly at her, but she couldn't help but notice that it looked a little forced. Still, she smiled back at him, trying to quell the nerves that bordered on fear she was feeling towards the vampire. All of a sudden she felt more tranquil and generally happy. She knew exactly where this feeling was coming from, but still she took it in as much as she could.

"Hello Bella," Jasper said, his smiling seeming more genuine now, but she could see that there was more going on there.

"Jasper …" Bella started to say but just then Emmett made a very loud entrance.

"Ah, Bella you're here!" Emmett said excitedly, laughing with his booming laugh and running over to her just like Alice had … well, minus the dance movements. Emmett actually lifted her off the ground with the hug he gave her.

"Well, there goes the no making a scene," Edward grumbled bitterly.

"Ah, don't mind him, he's just jealous because he can't hug you yet," Emmett chuckled, putting Bella down and then laughed when Edward hissed … or was it at the fact that Bella face was rather red. "Sorry … did I scare you …" he then asked, though he was still laughing, she could hear that he was concerned, too.

"No … I'm fine," Bella said after she found her voice, she noticed that everyone in the room rolled their eyes, they obviously didn't believe her.

"Sorry about him, there's no controlling his enthusiasm with he's this excited," Rosalie said rolling her eyes at her mate's antics. She was smiling fondly at Bella and Bella was more than a little shocked about that. Obviously Edward's words about Rosalie liking her were true, more true than Bella thought they would be.

Rosalie sighed, noticing Bella's hesitation. "Edward told us about the book you read … I wish that wasn't your first impression of me, even if I know that is how I would feel at first. I'll try to show you that's not how I really am."

"Okay," Bella didn't know what to say to that, she didn't think that she was ever not going to feel intimated by Rosalie.

"I see I have a lot of work to do," Bella thought she heard Rosalie mutter, though she couldn't be sure, but she could definitely see the glare that was directed towards Alice. When she raised an eyebrow questioningly at that, Edward chuckled. She looked at him oddly.

"Sorry," Edward said. "It just … you really do notice everything, don't you?"

Bella just shrugged at that, not really sure what else she could say. She searched for something to talk about when her glance fell on the piano. Her eyes widen as she thought about the lullaby that Edward was supposed to make for her. Then she furrowed her eyebrows together, she wasn't sure if he actually made that lullaby or not and it made her sad to think that she might never be able to hear it.

"Do you want me to play something for you?" Edward questioned. She probably had only been looking at the piano for a few seconds, but it seemed to have been long enough to display her interest in it.

"Yes," Bella answered with a genuine smile. Even if the lullaby was never made she would still love to hear him play something. However, as soon as Edward fingers touched the keys she felt her bottom lip tremble as the incredible sweet melody washed over her.

"It's my lullaby," she whispered, astounded. It moved her to no ends knowing that this had to be the lullaby that he was going to make for her … somehow she knew that it had to be the one that he was always supposed to make for her.

Edward looked at her a little shocked; he hadn't realized that she would know about that. Still even though he wasn't looking at the keys, his fingers never seemed to miss a beat and the melody still filled the room. Edward, smiled at her then, when he noticed the look in her eyes, how moved she was by this. "Yes," he admitted in a soft tone, and he watched her closely as he continued to play.

When he had finished, Bella was in tears and Edward longed to reach out to her and wipe away the tear as he had done in the book, but he didn't.

"That was beautiful, Edward," Bella said, though she felt those words were inadequate to describe this.

"Yes, well you just have to blame the muse that inspired this piece from me, for that," Edward chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

"Holy crow," Bella said suddenly, shocking Edward so that he nearly startled at that.

"What?" Edward asked anxiously.

"Is that the time?" Bella said looking at the clock that was on the other side of the room.

"Yes," Edward said almost glaring at Bella for scaring him like that.

"Charlie will be home in half an hour," Bella said standing up, "argh, I told him I would make dinner and I haven't even started it yet …"

"Don't worry about that Bella," Edward rolled his eyes. "I'm sure that everything will be okay when you get home, though I suppose you really should be going. That's too bad, I didn't even get to show you the rest of the house … I suppose that just means you're going to have to come back tomorrow."

"Maybe," Bella said, she was curious about the rest of the house, and she didn't really get to talk to any of the other Cullens after all. She seemed to be both anxious and full of anticipation at that.

"Hm …" Edward said thoughtfully, looking at the front door. "Why don't you go to the truck while I get something …"

"What are you getting?" Bella questioned, confused.

"I thought you might want to read the books," Edward explained. "Right now we don't seem to be exactly on the same page."

"I've noticed," Bella agreed. Edward then turned to go, and she noticed rather slower than she should have, that he didn't move at his superhuman speed, but he seemed to be going at a human pace. After staring after him curiously for a second, wondering why he was doing that, Bella headed towards the front doors.

When Bella got to the door she noticed that Esme was standing there. The motherly vampire came up to her then and gave Bella a hug. "I hope to see you again soon."

"I'm sure I'll be back in no time," Bella mumbled, slightly pink at the embrace, but returned Esme's warm smile.

Bella wondered if that was the reason why Edward was talking so long, knowing that he could have gotten the books and come back to her about a hundred times by now if he had wanted to. However, when she got outside she thought she understood a little better, for she wasn't the only one outside. Jasper was standing near the house looking out to the clearing that the Cullens called their front yard and Alice was standing closely by him.

"Hello," Jasper said tentatively as she walked towards him.