Hello everyone! Wow, my inability to write a single transition scene thrust this fic into a year-long hiatus. Whoops. But we're back! And not only am I back, but the beautiful, incredible acewardcullen is now beta-ing this story. So, we can all thank them for fixing my heinous typos.

We're easing back into this story with a bit of Cullen family fun, then we will dive straight into the plot The rest of this fic is about 85% written, so it will not be abandoned again, I promise.

Road trips were both better and worse as a vampire. Better, because they went by faster. We didn't need to stop for food and pee breaks. Better, because my legs didn't cramp and my back didn't get sore. In fact, my body was more comfortable in the perfect stillness it maintained in the passenger seat of the car. Better because Edward's vast and eclectic music collection kept us entertained.

It was worse because there was no respite. The hum of the tires on pavement could no longer lull me to sleep. I wondered when Edward would be brave enough to admit that he missed my sleep talking. Worse than that, I picked a book that would last me just as long as the journey. But we were stuck in our second traffic jam of the trip, and I finished my book hours ago. Gone were the days when I could fall asleep in heavy traffic and wake up to find the sea of cars had magically disappeared. There was nothing to do but count the offending red taillights before us.

Two hours in, I turned down the music. It was some post-hardcore Ukrainian pop Edward was trying to get me to like. "I'm going to say something at this family meeting, and I need your full support."

Edward stopped the music. "Bella, you know I will support you in anything."

"It's a bit unconventional…"

"We've been over this, love. Nothing about us has been conventional." His sharp eyes flickered to my empty ring finger so quickly, I would have missed it as a human.

"It doesn't involve just us."

At the mention of our family, Edward did not have a snappy retort.

I kept my gaze fixed firmly on the bumper of the car in front of us. "I don't think we should pose as one family."

"Is that all?"

"Um… yes?"

"There's nothing unconventional about that. Forks was the first time we attempted that story and, clearly, we weren't discreet." He lifted our entwined hands as proof.

I laughed. The sound was breathless with relief. I thought I was going to have to fight Edward to estrange himself from his parents and siblings.

"In what other ways did you live together?"

"Let's see… when we first started, I pretended to be Esme's brother instead of her son."

"That makes a lot more sense…" I hinted.

"I know. As we grew, Rosalie became a sister. Usually Carlislie's, but sometimes mine. Emmett was an in-law from day one. When Alice and Jasper joined the picture, we started to split up. Alice and I attended high school as cousins of Carlisle's with whatever tragic backstory she came up with. Rosalie and Esme attended university, with no connection to us or to each other. Emmet stayed with Jasper off the grid. When Jasper became more comfortable, he joined the university gang; Emmett worked as a handyman. Whenever we could, Alice and I graduated from high school and began our college careers.

"When we returned to Forks, Rosalie recalled how perfectly cloudy it was and requested a longer stay. So, they decided to enroll in high school along with Alice and me. With so many of us in one place, we attempted this new story."

"What do you think will happen here? Will we start high school again?"

"Whatever you want, love. Alice enjoys trivial high school nonsense, so she'll probably start there again. I'll join her if she whines enough. You can join us, or go to college with Rosalie and Jasper. You can get a job like Emmett and Carlisle. You can even stay home with Esme."

I sat back, stunned by the array of choices before me.

"I'd want to stay with you,", I stated. "A second round of high school might be fun. Especially since there would be no stress."

"I must warn you: it's frightfully dull."

"Maybe you and I could stage a dramatic love story. Spice it up a little."

"Because if there's one thing our real love story sorely lacks, it's drama."

I laughed. "A high school Pride and Prejudice. Oh! You would be rich Mr. Darcy and Emmett would be Mr. Bingley. Or maybe Carlisle, because if there was ever a real-life Jane Bennett, it would be Esme… Maybe we should all be in college. Is it rude to ask Jasper to play Wickham? I guess no one has to. But then what heroic action would you do behind my back to prove your just and moral character?"

Edward squeezed my knee, an affectionate smile spread across his face. "We have four hours left of this drive to iron out the details, then you can pose your live-action vampire remake to the family."

I pulled my knees up against the dashboard and settled into my seat, pleased with the activity. I closed my eyes and daydreamed a story of Edward and me as Darcy and Lizzie. Occasionally muttering to myself as I rethought key plot points, it was the closest Edward would get to my sleep-talking.

Nearly six hours after we originally planned, Edward pulled up to the driveway of the Cullen's newest house, already overflowing with vehicles. Alice's yellow Porche, Rose's shiny red convertible, Emmett's Jeep, Jasper's motorcycle, Carlilse's Mercedes, and Esme's G3 truck. I took a deep breath. Simply listing them in my head felt like a mouthful.

"Are you sure it's going to be okay?"

"Yes, Bella," Edward said, answering the same way he did every time I posed the question. "It wasn't the first time Jasper and I fought, and it certainly won't be the last. When you have immortal siblings, you learn to forgive and forget."

I bit my lip. The last time Jasper and I spent any quality time together, he all but tore me in two. Before that, he attacked me at my own birthday party. It certainly wasn't the best track record.

As if he had the empathic powers, Edward put his hand on my knee. "He's not going to hurt you, Sweetheart. He's never wanted to."

"I know."

After another pat, Edward got out of the car. In a flash, he was at my door. Together, we walked up the grand, brick driveway that led to the Cullen's temporary residence. According to Edward, we were meant to stay in this house while Esme personalized a home for each couple. Though it wasn't designed by Esme personally, it still held up to her high standards. Clearly, she wouldn't live just anywhere. Through a large, ornate front door, we were met with marble floors, crisp, white walls, and tasteful, modernist décor. Already, I missed the warmth and color in my cottage. I leaned into Edward's side—the only thing that remained of our quiet, island life.

Edward, however, was right at home in the Cullen glamour. He didn't blink an eye at the massive crystal chandelier dominating the foyer or the row of modernist abstract art that filled the hallway on our way to the back of the house. We found the family lounging in personalized Adirondack chairs on the back deck. A fire pit crackled and popped in the middle of the semi-circle. The grand majesty of the Appalachian Mountains rolled out in all directions like ocean waves. My heart yearned for Charlie. He would have appreciated this view.

Esme was the first to greet us—specifically Edward. She blurred into her son's outstretched arms. While Esme and Edward hugged, Emmett lumbered up to me, Alice at his heels. After tight hugs and squeals of delight, we caught up on basic pleasantries: how we were, what route we took to get here. So on. We returned to our seats, ready to begin our discussion of how we would live in Western North Carolina. I sat proudly beside Edward. It was my first Cullen family meeting as a vampire and not a liability. I was under no duress, no one's life was at risk.

It was a good feeling.

Esme and Carlisle stood before us. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Edward was already smiling, as was Alice. Whatever the plan was, they seemed pleased. It eased my fears. If Edward and Alice were happy about something, I suspected I would be, too.

"Your father and I have decided that we're going to skip over school altogether," Esme smiled. "We have purchased several storefronts in the area, and anyone who would like to start a small business may do so."

Surprise rang from us all, a rare sound in the Cullen household, for there were rarely any secrets with Edward and Alice around. The two clandestine-challenged siblings shared a brief, congratulatory look for a successfully kept secret.

"It would also be an excellent chance to give back to our community."

No one mentioned a few years of customer service couldn't hurt, either.

Carlisle's hand slid across his wife's lower back. "There are five storefronts available, and we can always find more if we need to. Be creative! Try something new or invest in a beloved hobby. For example, Alice, you can open a consignment shop. Get rid of all the clothes you no longer need."

Alice blinked. "Why would I do that? I need all the clothes I have."

I stifled a laugh; Edward squeezed my knee.

"You're right," Carlisle stiffly bowed his head in her direction, "my apologies." He moved right along, "Emmett? What have you been interested in lately?"

"I don't know," he slid the phrase into one word. "Snakes?"

"Literally the first word that popped into his head," Edward informed the family.

"What do you imagine in a storefront involving snakes?" Esme prompted, trying her best to be supportive.

"A pet store? "Alice suggested.

Rosalie grimaced. "I'm not sure it's the best idea for us to be around animals."

"True, but it would be one darn good sales pitch," Jasper laughed. He put on his best impersonation of a used car salesman. "Ma'am, if you don't buy this dog now, I'll only eat it later."

Jasper and Emmett burst into laughter, while Alice and I cried out in horror. Esme reeled everyone back in with a single look.

"Here's what I'm really thinking," Emmett leaned forward in his chair, resting in elbows on his knees. The rest of the family unconsciously drew forward, already intrigued. "Driving in, we saw advertisements for adventuring crews. People who would lead groups through hiking trails. I think I'd want to do that to the extreme. Bring avid hikers and idiots with a death wish on the adventure of a lifetime." He counted off his fingers, "White water rafting, bouldering, hiking. We'd do it all!"

"Ah, yes," Edward interjected in a dull tone. "A vampire luring innocent humans into the middle of the woods. Nothing bad would ever come of that."

"Ah," Emmett clapped his hands once, "Always good to hear prissy-pants city-boy putting in his two cents."

"You can't go two seconds without Edward voicing his opinion," Rosalie added, "and it's always as unwarranted and it is unwanted."

"Well, I'm cursed to hear all of yours. It's only fair you hear all of mine."

"I don't see anything going wrong," Alice chirped, bringing us back to the subject. "In fact, I'd want to do it with you."

Emmett raised both fists in the air and roared triumphantly, "Yes! The Chaos Crew!"

"That's what we'll call our group!" Alice clapped.

"You sure you're going to be happy, Darling?" Jasper confirmed, cradling her tiny hand in his. "We're closer to a city than we have been in years. I'd thought you'd want to embrace city life."

"Thank you, Darling, but I am much more than just a chic fashionista," Alice argued, raising her chin in the air. "I'm plenty outdoorsy. After all, we spend days in the woods! I can wash my clothes in lakes. I can pin flowers in my hair. I can craft a tent out of just a few items."

Edward rubbed his temple. "Is one of those items a tent?"

I nudged his elbow out from under him. An admonishment for his constant negativity. "I think it's a great idea," I encouraged. "You guys will have so much fun!"

"You with us, Smelly Belly?" Emmett asked.

"Uh…" Years in Forks, the Alaskan wilderness, and on an island off the coast of Canada taught me one thing: I was made to be inside. "I'll think about that."

"Jasper, you can be an honorary member of the Chaos Crew if you'd like to join us," Alice offered.

"Yeah, as long as you promise not to be lame."

"You think a farm boy knows how to have a better time in the wild than a cowboy?" Jasper challenged.

Emmett giggled, already delighted by the prospects before him. He wrapped his arms around Rosalie's shoulders. "You're welcome to join too, Babydoll."

"Thank you, Baby," she adoringly stroked his jaw. "But I believe you all have, once again, forgotten about the sun."

The three visibly deflated. I, too, was ashamed that I had forgotten a fundamental aspect of our existence with the rest of them. Judging from the quirk of his lips, I suspected Edward remembered and already had a dramatic reveal planned. Carlisle's expression remained carefully blank, perfect and practiced. It made me wonder how many grand ideas were struck down by Rosalie's common sense.

"Besides that, I already have a plan." Rosalie continued, haughtily. "Esme and I are going to open an art studio,"

"Creating what?" Edward challenged. The tiniest bit of green tinted his tone. I rubbed his back to soothe the baby who wanted to open a store with his mommy.

"We don't know yet," Rose shrugged. Esme added, "We're going to let the mountains inspire us!"

"A wonderful idea," Carlisle beamed, palpably proud of his girls. "Edward and Bella? We assumed you would want to stick together."

I straightened, initially thinking we could get our cows back and recreate the life we had on our island in these mountains. However, a dreamy expression softened Edward's beautiful features. I was immediately transfixed.

"Edward?"

"We are going to open a beautiful bookstore, curated with rare texts and first editions. A quaint, quiet place where university students could study." Edward brushed the air in front of my face with his hand. "La Bella Libra."

A slow smile spread across my face as I stepped into his fantasy. A bookstore curated with books to suit my taste. We wouldn't need the heaven Edward desired if a place like this existed.

"I love it."

He took my hands in his. His golden eyes shone—my source of sunlight in my new life. "I love you."

Jasper cleared his throat. I sensed the eye rolls and shared grimaces from my new siblings, but I didn't care. Our family had no idea what they were getting into when they plucked us off our private island and plopped us into a full house. They were going to have to put up with worse things than this.

Only Carlisle and Esme were smiling when we turned back to the group—truly, blissfully happy to see us happy. Or—specifically—to see Edward so happy.

"There's no rush," Carlisle instructed, "feel free to take the time to reflect on what you'd like to do. Those with concrete ideas, come to me with business plans with projected expenses and profits. Deal?"

I trusted Edward would take care of all that, so I nodded with the rest of my siblings.

"Are you still going into medicine?" Edward asked.

"I challenge anyone to pull the scalpel out of my cold, dead hand," he grinned.

"One more thing," Rosalie said before the family got up. "Emmett and I do plan to be married while we're here."

My heart fell out of my chest and landed somewhere around my ankles. Edward's thumb traced my empty ring finger. I tugged my hand away and tucked it safely under my thigh.

Rosalie flipped her gold hair behind her shoulder. "We're going to begin preparation for something to take place a year from now. That won't interfere with anyone's plans, right?" Her fierce eyes slid to Edward.

My mouth fell open. Rosalie and I never had the best relationship, but I thought we were above passive-aggressive remarks and the condescending attitude. No one in the family knew why I wouldn't marry Edward, but they also knew it was a constant thorn in his side. I couldn't believe Rosalie would say something so purposefully callous.

"Nope," Edward said, tightly.

"Great. It's been so long since we've had something to celebrate. It's a pity no one was able to get married in Forks. Such beautiful scenery…"

I ducked my head, anticipating the blowout that was sure to follow. However, Edward did not scream or pounce or threaten to pull his sister's golden locks from her golden head. He merely sank back in his seat. His eyes glazed over, searching for something. I risked a quick glance at the family. Their expressions were varied, but none expressed any concern. Alice's petite porcelain face was serene—the way she looked while she searched the future for a specific vision, I realized.

"Ah," Edward touched the tips of all his fingers to one another. Alice found whatever she wanted to show him. "Country club. Rainbow flowers. Strapless sweetheart neckline. Good to see your wedding will be as generic and uninspired as ever."

Rosalie curled her lip. "Our weddings match the trends of each decade, you twat."

"No, no, I get it." Edward feigned boredom.

"I don't think you do."

My breath hitched, but the rest of the family watched their sparring like it was a dull tennis match.

"You see when two people love each other, they express that love with a celebration." Keeping her eyes glued on Edward, she wove her fingers between Emmett's. "They don't throw the other into a precarious stack of glass or force them into the arms of the closest werewolf."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Oh, now I see. And here I thought you got married because you enjoyed getting trussed up and marched around like a show pig."

"Watch yourself, or you won't touch a piano at the wedding. Whatever will you do if you can't force the spotlight on you for five minutes?"

"I'm not worried. I know you and the acoustic version of My Heart Will Go On will be very happy together."

"Kids…" Esme warned. Meanwhile, Emmett had his hand clamped over his mouth, desperately trying not to laugh.

At that, the meeting was officially adjourned. Everyone casually discussed their plans that evening, as if they didn't witness the verbal assault of two of their siblings. There was going to be a hunt at midnight, under the full moon, with the whole family. Rosalie even offered to show Edward where she crossed paths with a catamount when she first arrived in the area, to which he agreed.

I blinked, dumbfounded.

Kissing my brow, Edward excused himself early. I knew it was because he still had to baby me by enticing my reluctant feeding habits with fresh blood. Part of me worried that he would use this excuse to sulk. I knew it pained him to remain unwed, especially since he didn't understand the reasons behind it. Before he could slip away into the woods, I caught him.

The Appalachian woods were older than the ones in the Pacific Northwest. The trees didn't grow nearly as tall or wide. There was a humble majesty in the low canopy and weathered, softened stone. Like the old, wise miser great kings would visit in stories, respected and revered for their age. It was nearing the end of spring. The soft, summer breeze carried the scent of honeysuckle and sharp, wet greens. Fireflies blinked around us, a lovely replacement for the stars it was too cloudy to see.

"Edward…"

His hands gripped my upper arms as he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Don't worry about Rose. She and I will engage in petty arguments for the rest of time. If anything, I should apologize for dragging you into the crossfire."

"I want to marry you. it's just…" I was ready to be tied to him forever. I wasn't ready for him to be tied to me.

"We have all of eternity. Truly, I never believed I would get this far." His lips lowered to mine. The taste of him sent a thrill down my spine. "To have you…" his lips grazed mine. "…to hold you…" he nipped my bottom lip, "…to never have to let you go…"

I couldn't stand it. I grabbed his face in my hands and pulled his mouth to mine. He started to smile, but I immediately deepened the kiss, opening his teeth with my tongue. Bolder now that I was a vampire, Edward's hands slid down to my backside and lingered. His pinkies slipped under the little crevice between my backside and the back of my thigh. Our kisses lasted longer now that no one had to breathe. Still, when he did eventually break us apart, we both gasped for air.

"…means everything to me," he concluded, breathlessly.

"I love you," I said, as fiercely as I could without shouting in his face.

"I love you, too. Which is why I want you to eat." He removed my hands from where they cradled his cheeks and held them in his. "Go back to the house and distract the family for a bit. Tell them an embarrassing story about me and the cows. They'll all love it."

I beamed. I had plenty to choose from. "Okay!"

When the moon was high in the sky, eight vampires poured into the ancient forest to hunt. As planned, I went in the opposite direction of the rest of them. The hunt went by too quickly and dragged all at the same time. I followed a lackluster scent and drank from an animal with little to no enjoyment. I felt like Charlie, forcing down a spinach salad for his own good.

A rustle in the leaves informed me someone was approaching. I expected it to be Edward meeting up with me after he fed, but the footsteps were wrong. The gait was slightly too far apart to be Edward's. It was Jasper who found me sitting cross-legged on the forest floor, soaking wet. There were leaves in my hair, gashes down the front of my sweater, and half a carcass in my lap.

I said nothing. I didn't have any superpowers, so I wasn't going to give anything away by speaking first. I met the gaze of my best friend's husband, my mother's son, and my boyfriend's confidant. His gold eyes were open, expressive. For a moment, I hoped that all this drama with Jasper was in my head. That we would simply move on as brother and sister, without our tumultuous past forging chasms between us.

"That's a good catch."

It was a massive black bear. Edward cut a large gash down its back. It was about to wade in the water when I caught it. Both of us tumbled into the river. Emmett would have had a good time wrestling it out of the water, but I did not.

"Thank you."

"You still hate huntin', don't ya?" Returning to the south made Jasper's southern drawl more pronounced. "I haven't gotten used to it either."

I perked up, pleased to discover common ground with Jasper. "Really?"

"They can add all the fun and games they want, but it's still a dreadful and tedious affair."

"Edward doesn't trust me enough for games yet," I admitted.

"He has good reason."

"Yeah… I know."

Crickets chirped, filling the silence that fell between us.

"Can I help you with this?" he offered, gesturing to the dead animal. In the vampire world, it was the equivalent of asking to help clear the table.

"That would be great, thank you!"

I rose, brushing off the dirt and bracken, but it clung to my wet clothes. I gave up and the two of us set to work, destroying and burying our prey in the Cullen manner, where it couldn't be discovered by humans.

"Bella," The sound of my name didn't slip into a Southern accent easily. It sounded like he needed to take a break before forcing out the rest of it. "I'd like to apologize for how we parted last."

"It's alright. I know you won't do it again."

Jasper's brow furrowed. He stamped down on the hole he covered with too much force. "I would do it again, if I had to."

My hands fell to my sides, "Oh."

"Bella, you need to understand. You were a threat to this family, and you still are. I am very much aware that I am a liability as much as the next guy," his gaze slid to the spot on my arm that used to have a scar. "The only difference between me and you, is that you are stubborn enough to explain away your continuously reckless behavior."

"I'm not going to do anything reckless."

"Pardon me if I'm not able to believe you, given your track record."

I opened my mouth to spit out a retort but realized I didn't have one. I did have a past of ignoring most of what people said. But it was all within reason! I ran away from the safety of five super-powered vampires to the ballet studio to save my mom. I let the Volturi Guards see me to save Edward from their torture. There was no good explanation for the motorcycle and cliff-diving, but no one could really hold those against me. I wasn't myself when Edward was away. Then, of course, there was the most reckless decision of them all: willingly dating a vampire who thirsted for my blood.

"You aren't ready for this. Edward never has a clear mind when it comes to you, but I do. All I'm asking is for you to make smart, safe decisions. And if you can't do that, I'm asking you not to get upset when preventive measures have to take place."

I slipped my lower lip between my teeth to stop myself from saying anything else.

He sighed, tasting my doubt in the air. Why couldn't my silent mind keep out Jasper, as well?

"How's this: we both love Alice. We both want her safe. Think of her if I ever need to disarm you again. Maybe it'll soften the blow if you remember I'm doing it for her."

"Thanks," I said, curtly. "I'll keep that in mind."

Jasper's hand slipped into his blonde curls. "It's nice to have you in the family, Bella. Don't tell Edward about this."

I wouldn't risk separating Edward from Carlisle and Esme yet again. "I won't," I promised.

However, I wondered why I bothered to promise anything since Jasper didn't seem to trust me at all.