Un-beta'd so any and all mistakes are mine. In order to update quickly I didn't have time to do my usual run through.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHT

Bella

"Do you think they'll like me?" I bit my lip nervously, my fingers tightly gripping the bottom of my shirt as I tried not to think about what I was about to do. What if they hated me? What would that mean for me and Edward?

I looked at him as he shook his head, his low chuckle causing my heart to literally skip a beat. If his sudden smirk was anything to go by he had heard it perfectly.

"You are going to a house full of vampires, and you are worried about them not liking you?" he quirked a brow.

I pouted. "When you put it like that…" I trailed off at his laugh.

"You have nothing to worry about, Bella" he reassured me. I didn't question the fact he wasn't even looking at the road anymore, putting it down to his special abilities. "You are my guest, they will respect that, and if they don't then I will make sure they do."

Was it me or did he sound hot when he was protective? I was never one to desire to be dependent on anyone, growing up without a solid mother or father figure, but with Edward it was different. It way as if every part of me was screaming at me that I needed to trust him, to reply on him and let him protect me.

It was sudden, strange…

"Thank you," I replied softly before moving to turn on the radio.

"Wait-"he blurted out, reaching out as if to stop me but I had already turned on the music.

All of a sudden the car was filled with the classical sound of Debussy. I smiled, leaning back against the head rest as I closed my eyes briefly before turning to face Edward. He looked embarrassed.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly. This sort of music always seemed to put me in a mellower mood. It was nice.

"I know Debussy probably isn't to your tastes, but-"was he really worried that I didn't like his kind of music, or that there was anything wrong with classical?

I decided to put him out of his misery, "Claire De Lune" I smiled.

He pulled his head back, stunned. "You like Clair De Lune?"

I nodded, smirking. "Shocked?"

I could tell by his stunned look that he was indeed shocked. He muttered something under his breath and I swore I caught the word "perfect" in his mutterings.

"I didn't have you pegged for classical tastes," he shrugged.

"I don't just like classical, but I do enjoy Debussy, especially Rȇverie. I think it's the fact that with his songs you can't really stick a story or image to it. It's more of an emotion, surreal and dreamlike, a concept rather than a solidified fact. I think that's its beauty."

Edward stared at me shocked.

"What?" I blushed.

He shook his head in wonder. "I wasn't exaggerating when I said you were fascinating it seems," he winked. "You knowing about Debussy's music tells me as much."

I smiled, extremely flattered.

"Wow," I breathed when a large mansion came into view. It looked incredible; I knew the Cullen's were wealthy, but this was just… "Wow," I repeated.

I wasn't surprised when Edward flashed over to my side of the car the moment the car pulled into the large driveway. Now I knew his secret, it seemed he no longer felt the need to hide what his true nature was. It meant a lot that he felt confident and open enough to do so.

Wrapping an arm around my waist he led me towards the glass doors, my eyes flashing wildly around the expensively decorated house – no mansion, definitely mansion – as Edward opened and closed the door behind us.

"I told them not to do this,"

I jumped at his embarrassed tone, making me curious to what he was referring to. It soon became clear when I walked into the kitchen which seemed to be on the second floor what he was talking about.

They were cooking, for me?

"Is she even Italian?" I heard an equally musical voice ask. I knew it was most likely Rosaline since her question as filled with disapproving undertones. I shifted closer to Edward who frowned, clearly having heard as well.

"Her name is Bella."

"I'm sure she'll love it." Ah, now that voice I recognised. Had Carlisle taken the day off work?

"Get a whiff of that. Here comes the human."

I fought back the urge to cringe away at both her tone and comment. Clearly we were not going to be getting along. Good to know.

Walking around the corner, Edward loosely gripping my hand while I was holding onto his with a death grip, I soon came face to face with the stereotypical housewife.

She looked gorgeous, easily passable as Edward's mother due to the similar hair colour…and the whole vampire thing of course.

"Bella, were making Italiano for you" and right there and then she had done more for me than my own mother had. How said was that?

Edward thankfully took me away from those types of thoughts by introducing me to Esme. "Bella, this is Esme, my mother for all intents and purposes."

"Buon giorno,"

"Molto Bene!" she smiled, pleased.

"You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time," Carlisle smiled lovingly at his wife. It was sweet, and I was relieved that Esme actually seemed please to cook human food, as if she had never had that excuse before.

"I hope you're hungry," she smiled.

"Yea, absolutely!" I bit my bottom lip.

"She already ate," Edward commented causing me to wince. The last thing I wanted to do was upset Esme.

I jumped when Rosaline shuttered the bowl, snapping out a "perfect" which made me frown. If she didn't like me, why would it even bother her?

Feeling myself being gently pushed behind Edward I frowned in confusion, watching as Carlisle's eyes widened while Emmett seemed to sigh at his girlfriend's behaviour.

"Yeah-it's just that I know…I now you guys don't eat," I stuttered before turning to face Esme. "But it means a lot, so thank you" I told her honestly.

Hearing Rosaline snort I ignored her, pursing my lips as I simply stared at the ground in front of me. So much for fitting in with his family.

"You don't belong here, Bella" she spoke my name with distaste. I felt Edward tug me even more behind him, his movements confusing me but his soft touch causing me to soften in his hold. I saw Carlisle take a step forward, his hands resting on his wife shoulders as he stared at Edward in amazement.

"Not yet, Carlisle" Edward spoke, looking towards his adoptive 'father.'

He nodded, backing off but I could feel his eyes on me, assessing me with interest almost. It was far from romantic, but more as if I was a scientific experiment. It made me feel both confused uncomfortable.

Had Edward simply read his body language, or his mind?

The whole atmosphere seemed to lighten when Alice and Jasper entered the room, Edward chucking in front of me as Alice introduced herself. Her hug was unexpected but welcome.

"Oh, you do smell good" she smiled.

I stared at her, "uh, thanks?"

Edward shook his head, "Alice, why did you-"

"Oh it's ok," she waved him off. "Bella and I are going to be great friends."

"You look familiar," Jasper suddenly spoke.

Alice looked at him with a soft smile, leaning close as she pressed her lips to his cheek. "I know sweetie, I'll help you find out why."

"Uh," Edward made a move to turn. "I'm going to show Bella around the rest of the house, so…"

Following him I heard Alice tell me what she would see me soon causing me to smile briefly before sticking close to Edward's back. His previous behaviour was strange, strange enough to have me wondering whether it was a vampire thing, or an Edward thing.

Heading up yet another set of stairs, making me question just how big his house was, I caught sight of what looked to be numerous graduation caps professionally arranged in a display on the wall. I stopped and stared at it, and stared some more.

"It's kind of a family joke," Edward chuckled.

Lightly gripping my hand once again I followed him up the rest of the stairs before he started to point out what each room contained, but it wasn't until we got to the end of the hall that he seemed to hesitate.

I looked up at him, confused by his sudden lack of confidence.

"Uh…yea, this is my room" he muttered.

Oh. Oh!

It was big was the first thing I noticed, instead of walls it being surrounded by panels and panels of glass windows. It made it look as if it belonged on the front page of a designer magazine.

Cautiously walking to the centre of his room I took in his impressive books display, his rows of CD's and what were clearly expensive gadgets. But I did notice once thing.

"No bed?" I turned around only to pause when I caught sight of just how hungry he seemed, though whether it was for my blood or my body I had no idea.

"Ah, no, I don't- I don't sleep" his tone had dropped lower, his previously musical voice sounding deep and husky.

I flushed, the sound of it feeling like a caress on my skin.

"Ever?"

"No, not at all" he clearly found my response amusing.

"Ok," I shook my head before turning to look at the rest of his room, taking a particular interest in his large collection of music. It made me wonder if he had anymore classical tastes that I was familiar with. "Wow, you have so much music."

Hearing him chuckle behind me I smiled, glancing towards his stereo before curiosity caught me and I wondered what he had been listening to the last time he was in his room. Turning it on I looked at him amused.

"It's more Debussy," he shrugged.

"You really like Claire De Lune," I took in the familiar sounding piano as it filled the room. "It's great."

I figured he must have found it somewhat soothing to have it in his car as well as in his stereo, though I wasn't complaining as I closed my eyes and allowed myself to become distracted with the perfectly composed and played music.

I shivered when I felt the brush of cool fingers against my wrist, his touch light enough that I grasped onto his restraint not to overuse his strength on me. His gentle touches always felt as if he was carefully controlling every touch he made around me, treating me as if I was a china doll who could so easily break if he was too rough.

I knew that was the exact case.

Opening my eyes when I felt the familiar light touch of his hand gently resting on my waist felt myself break out in goose bumps as flush took over my face when I realised his intention. He wanted to dance, with me? At least I knew I wouldn't risk hurting him if my two left feet got in the way.

I knew my lack of skill must have been all over my face when I slowly, awkwardly turned in a circle as he held up his arm and I took the hint. But while it was awkward, it also felt right.

While I couldn't dance to save my life, being in his arms listening to the music we both clearly adored had never felt more right then at that moment. It made my heart clench at the realisation that I could so easily fall in love with the vampire in front of me without even trying.

"What?" he smiled faded into concern.

I blushed further, shifting when I felt his still intense gaze burn into my coloured cheeks. Now I knew how much he seemed to adore me being flustered in his presence I seemed to be unable to not blush every time I was around him.

"I can't dance," I admitted sheepishly.

He took a deep breath, humming in mock thought while his lips curved around the edges.

"Well," he looked me directly in the eye. "I could always make you."

I stared at him, stepping forward so we barely touched. I saw his nostrils flare as he took in my scent.

"What do I smell like to you?" I asked before I knew what had come out of my mouth. He laughed at my random change of topic, it literally being music to my ears.

"Floral," he didn't hesitate to admit. "To me you smell like lavender, or freesia's."

"My blood smells like flowers?" I quirked a brow, not quite knowing how to take that.

Edward chuckled lowly. "Not your blood, Bella. You're scent."

"Oh," I nodded.

That made sense I guessed. Just because my blood smelt of copper, well to me, didn't mean that my aroma had the exact same scent. Though to be honest I would have thought it would have been something more interesting than flowers, but I guess it couldn't be helped and it wasn't like it bothered me.

"And, uh, you like lavender and freesia's?" I blushed.

Cool fingers lightly touched my heated cheeks, his tongue coming out to lick his bottom lip as his eyes darkened until they were no longer the amber cold they had been before. It again made me question just what was running through his head, and relieved that he couldn't read mine.

He pulled his hand away. "You remind me of home."

"Home?"

He nodded.

When he didn't made a move to elaborate I sighed, pulling away from him slightly before making a move to look around the rest of his room. While I couldn't deny it was big, it wasn't until that moment that I realised other than his books and music there was nothing else personal in the space.

For some reason that upset me.

"Is that a chaise lounge?" my brows raised as I took in the only seating area in the entire room.

It was a bright white and screamed expensive, and while I knew Edward to be old-fashioned, for some reason I hadn't expected him to have that sort of thing in his room. It was strange.

"Esme," I looked at him. "Esme decorated the house, she thought it suited my personality."

I guess I could see where she was coming from, it did look nice in the room.

I hesitated before I took a seat, jumping with an embarrassing "epp" when all of a sudden Edward was by my side. "Jesus," I held my hand on my chest where my heart was beating rapidly.

"I apologise."

Shrugging, I replied "I'll get used to it," which if anything seemed to make his eyes glaze over with an emotion I couldn't identify. "Do I get my answers now?"

He silently looked at me for a few minutes, minutes which seemed to drag on for I don't know how long, before he slowly nodded.

"I promised you I would answer your questions, I do not intent to break that promise."

I sighed in relief, pleased that I was finally going to get some answers to my many questions. Not knowing where to start off I leaned back on the white lounge, once again smiling at how random it seemed. I had never actually seen on in person before, but I guess there was a first time for everything.

With that thought I knew instantly what my first question would be.

I turned to look at him only to be greeted with his curious and questioning gaze. "You said you couldn't hear me?"

He nodded, "I can't. Your mind is completely silent to me. I can read everybody's mind, both human and vampire, and yet I come to you and…nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No static, no stray thoughts, you are just…blank."

I frowned. "Is that the reason you're interested in me?" I prayed that it wasn't.

Thankfully, he shook his head with an amused expression. "Me not being able to read you, Bella, does not change the fact that I feel protective over you. It just, it makes you more of a mystery to me."

A mystery, I liked the sound of that.

"How old are you?"

He smiled. "Again I wasn't lying to you Bella; I was changed at the age of seventeen."

I swallowed. "And how long have you been seventeen?" I asked the same question I had asked in the forest, though this time I was hoping I would get a more accurate answer than 'a while.'

He seemed to have the same train of thought. "I was born with the name of Edward Anthony Manson, Jr, on June 20th, 1901. I was dying from the Spanish influenza in 1918 in Chicago, but Carlisle changed me. I was his first child for all intents and purposes."

"1918? Wow, that makes you-"

"Around the age of 111 years old,"

"Wow," I found myself speechless. "You must have seen a lot."

"I've seen my fair share," he winked. "Any more questions?"

Was he serious? I had a hell of a lot more questions that was for sure.

"When we were in the forest," I looked away, my fingers playing awkwardly with the bottom of my shirt. "I told you what I was feeling, and you looked at me as if," I looked at him, "as if you were shocked. Why?"

I watched as his whole demeanour changed. No longer did he appear relaxed and confident answering my questions, clearly I had hit a sensitive issue but for the life of me I didn't know why. But if there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I had asked the right question and if I had anything to do with it, I was getting some answers.

Edward was up and pacing in the blink of an eye, my head spinning slightly at the sight before it cleared after a second or two had passed. That really was going to get some getting used to.

"That is a very complicated question, Bella."

"Un-complicate it,"

Before I knew what was happening he was kneeing in front of me, his hands resting gently on my knees as he looked me in the eyes with an almost pleading expression. What had him so torn up?

"I am an animal, Bella" he began. I was about to cut him off, saying he was no such thing until I saw the look he was giving me. He wasn't joking, it seeming as if he was stating a fact. "Vampires are, umm, vampires…" he seemed to struggle with his words. "We tend to act more on instinct than human's so. We are predatory, protective and at times extremely volatile."

"Protective?" I squeaked.

He nodded slowly, eyes penetrating. "I told you I belonged to you, Bella. And I do," he closed his eyes briefly. "Vampires, have certain urges, I have certain urges…"

"Urges?" my cheeks darkened in their red.

I watched as he seemed have a mental argument with himself, the confliction and pain in his eyes caused my heart to clench tightly at the discomfort he seemed to be in. It was heart-breaking.

"Hey," I leaned forward. Placing my hands on his I slowly trailed the tips of my fingers up and down the backs of his hands. He visibly relaxed. "I want answers, but-but if you can't give them to me yet, I can wait" I told him softly.

Sure I wanted to know, but not if it was at the expense of giving him emotional pain. I would be impatient, but I wasn't about to risk what we had, whatever it was, by being too pushy. I could back off, hopefully.

He shook his head. "You need to know, Bella. I am just…concerned about your reaction to what I am about to say."

Oh.

Now he had me worried.

"Tell me," I braced myself for the worse.

I heard him exhale. Turning his hands over he encouraged me to continue my gentle caresses on the palms of his hands. If anything it seemed to have a relaxing effect on him.

"What do you see when you see Esme and Carlisle together?"

Ok, I was not expecting that.

"Urm…they seem happy." But then the more I thought about it, the more I thought back to seeing how they really acted around each other. "They always seem in tune to each other, it seems like if she's happy than he is and the other way round."

He nodded, smiling. "There mates," he started in a matter of fact tone.

I stared. "Mates?" I asked hesitantly. "Like wolves?"

He chuckled. "Technically, wolves are not monogamous and do not mate for life. It is actually a myth that in the event that one of the couple dies, the other wolf will not seek out another mate, due to their main instinct telling them to breed multiple times."

"Umm…ok? So not like a wolf then" I stared wide eyed.

He seemed to try and find an easier way to explain it to me which I was incredibly thankful for.

"We cannot form attachments to human's as it increases the risk of them discovering what we are, and they cannot know-"

"But I know what you are," I cut in confused.

He nodded. "You are an exception," he said simply.

"Why?"

"You told me you feel whole around me, safe" he waited for me to nod. "I feel protective over you because my instincts are telling me that you are mine."

My eyes widened. Wow, this was some intense stuff.

"Yours?" I squeaked.

While I liked the idea of belonging to him, however unlike me that sounded, it was making my emotions fly all over the place.

"I am not some possessive arsehole, Bella" he winced at his curse, another reminder of his old-fashioned upbringing. He took a deep breath. "But I believe us to be soul-mates, it being the reason why you do not feel complete when we are not together, and the reason why I feel the exact same."

"You do?" I hadn't realised how worried I had been that it was one sided until he mentioned it.

He nodded, fingers carefully clasping around my own.

As the gentle tunes of Claire De Lune continued to play in the background I soon found myself lost in his now amber gaze. If he was my soul-mate, did that mean forever was actually an option?

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