Chapter 6: A Welcome Fit for a Cullen

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Bella

Was I dreaming? I had to pinch myself to make sure that I was awake. Edward Cullen the love of my life had just asked me to marry him and then on top of that agreed to change me into a vampire so we could be together forever.

"Bella?" His velvety voice snapped me back to reality.

"Mmmm," I murmured.

"Is that a yes?" He questioned.

In all of my excitement I'd forgotten to answer him.

"Of course it's a yes. Edward. I'd love nothing more than to be your wife." Did he even think there was another response to that question?

He exhaled like he'd been afraid I'd say no and to anyone else I would have. My views on marriage were skeptical at best, but with Edward everything was different.

I threw my arms around his neck and he held me tightly. We were engaged! My heart was soaring at the moment as I reveled in his embrace as he held me tightly. Less than a minute later, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" I asked confused. Who else knew we were here? I began to freak out a little thinking Jim had followed us up here.

"That would be our eavesdropping family." He smiled with mild amusement.

Oh my God! Of course Alice had seen this and had blabbed it to the rest of the family. Duh Bella, way to be stupid and human.

Edward loosened his grip on me instead pulling me into his side before opening the door. Just as he'd said, there they were all six of them smiling at us as they stood in the doorway. Alice was the first to greet us throwing her arms around us excitedly.

"I knew you'd be part of our family one day Bella. You're going to make the best sister ever. I can't wait to start planning the wedding. Do you like Calla Lilies or Roses better?"

"Slow down Alice and let the rest of us have our turn at welcoming Bella to the family," said Carlisle.

As the rest of the family entered the room I could see the joy on their faces. Even Rosalie seemed okay with the idea of me joining the family.

Carlisle greeted me with enthusiasm. "You sure have grown into a lovely young woman Bella. We are delighted to have you as our daughter."

Esme was next, she looked as if she had been able to, she would cry. She hugged me warmly.

"I am so happy that you and Edward have reunited. The two of you were meant to be. He's so happy when he's with you. I thought he would never find someone to love and share his life with. He was so lonely until you came into his life."

"Esme you're embarrassing me," Edward groaned as he moved over to join me slipping his arms protectively around my waist.

"Don't be silly Edward, that is what mother's are for," she sniffed.

Jasper approached me with caution. "Bella I'm so truly sorry that my lack of control caused you so much pain. I promise you that I will never let my appetite get in the way of your happiness again."

"Jasper, it wasn't your fault. I was very clumsy. It could have happened to anyone." I moved toward him to show him that I was not afraid. I hugged him tightly. He seemed to relax and accept that I was not mad at him. He could sense my happy feelings I'm sure.

"Break it up you two it's my turn to smother the newest member of the Cullen family," Emmett chimed in gathering me into a giant bear hug and lifting me several feet off the ground.

"Put her down you imbecile," Rosalie commanded." You'll kill her and then we'll have to listen to an eternity of Edwards self loathing." She rolled her eyes as she spoke. Now that was the Rosalie I knew.

He put me down and Rosalie did something strange. She closed the short distance between us, leaned over and hugged me ever so slightly as she placed a light kiss on my cheek.

"Glad to have you around again," she said.

I was stunned. This was the highest complement to be paid from Rosalie. I stood gaping at her in shock.

"Don't go fainting or anything. I'm just sick of Edward's pathetic existence when you're not around. You have no idea how annoying he's been."

I couldn't help myself from giggling a little.
"How bad was it without me?" I asked looking at the family.

They all groaned loudly.
"That bad huh?" I looked at Edward and smiled, glad he missed me as much as I missed him.

Edward

My existence was complete. My Bella had agreed to marry me. My dead heart was bursting with joy. I would let myself bask in the glow of our happy moment for now. I would think later about the promise I'd just made to her. One that I would have to honor. I would have to kill my wife. I pushed it to the back of my mind. I could hear my family outside the door waiting for me to acknowledge their presence. Alice of course couldn't wait and banged on the door to speed up the process.

She had seen the proposal and Bella's response and informed the rest of the family who were just as nosy. They were all crowded outside the door waiting to congratulate us.

As the rest of the family was greeting Bella, Alice pulled me aside.

"I only saw what was going to happen a few minutes ago, but I ran as fast as I could and retrieved this from your room." She handed me one of the only things I had left from my human life, my mother's engagement ring. Alice knew I had thought of Bella wearing it someday. I hugged my sister close. "Thanks Alice, you're the best sister a guy could ask for."

"You can thank me later with something by Louis Vuitton," she joked.

"Did you take care of that other matter?" I asked referring to Bella's friends and boyfriend.

"Yea I told him she was sick and that she was with some girl Veronica. One of her friends I'd seen her with in my visions. He seemed upset, but he bought it."

Poor guy he was going to propose to her on Valentine's day, so romantic, thought Alice.

Her thoughts made me sick. Even the thought of that man buying a ring for my Bella made me want to murder him.

"Don't even think that, " she hissed. "Bella would be devastated. She might not love him, but she cares about him."

Esme was getting all emotional over our engagement. Her thoughts were far sappier than what she was saying to Bella, but I thought it best to get over there before she really embarrassed me.

"Esme you're embarrassing me," I said putting my arm around Bella's waist and pulling her closer to me. She relaxed content in my cold arms. I could feel the thumping of her heart. It was slow and regular.

After my family had made their congratulations they excused themselves and left us alone.

"You hardly ate anything at dinner," I commented remembering the two glasses of champagne she'd had on a nearly empty stomach.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"Let me take you somewhere or would you prefer to order in room service?"

"Let's order in I don't want to leave just yet," she said worry in her eyes.

"What is it love?" I hated the thought of anything upsetting her.

"Well I'm just thinking of how I'm supposed to act around my friends and what I'm supposed to say to Jim,"she said quietly looking down at her shoes.

"What do you want to say to him?" I asked I put my finger lightly under her chin and lifted her face so that her eyes met mine.

"I don't know. He's been so wonderful to me. I don't want to hurt him on purpose. I know I will hurt him, but I don't want to be mean about it."

"Of course you don't love. You don't have a mean bone in that beautiful body of yours. You don't have to tell him of our engagement. You can simply give an excuse to end your relationship and eventually when he finds out it won't be such a blow." I tried not to show how eager I was for her to remove him from her life.

"One question Edward. Doesn't he think you are in high school and if so how do I explain robbing the cradle?"

I almost died laughing. Her, twenty-three year old Bella robbing the cradle of a 108 year old vampire. "Don't worry. I have a variety of ID's all with different ages. I even have an ID that says I attend Portland U as a grad student."

"How did you manage that one?" she asked eying me suspiciously.

"Well when I knew you went there I enrolled in a few online courses and had one made. I thought it might come in handy if I had to sneak onto campus to…"

Oops I'd almost all but admitted that I'd been stalking her. I waited for her reaction.

"To what, sneak in and spy on me?" she gasped.

"Well not spy, just ogle a little," I said cheekily.

She looked shocked at my response and for a second I thought she was angry, but then her lips parted into a smile.

"You really can't stay away from me can you?" She shook her head smiling.

I was relieved that she wasn't angry.

"No of course not love. You have that effect on people. That poor guy you're going to break up with. He's probably under your spell."

"Spell?" she questioned.

"Yes, you bewitch men. They all want you. Remember back in Forks. I almost snapped that Mike Newton in half and that Tyler kid too and don't foget about Eric Yorkie and that dog Jacob Black."

"A hundred and eight year old vampire jealous of high school boys. I never will get over that one," she laughed. "Of course you never had any reason to be jealous. None of them ever held a candle to you." She said stroking my ego.

"What would you like to order from room service?" I asked not having forgotten that she needed to be fed.

"Uh actually now that you mention it I am pretty hungry. I hope you brought your big wallet," she joked.
It always made Bella a little uncomfortable knowing that we had limitless supplies of money lying around.

"What would you like, pasta?" I suggested.

"And some coffee," she added

I lifted my eyebrow. "Coffee at this hour?"

"I want to stay up with you for a while. I don't want to sleep yet. What if this is a dream and I wake up tomorrow and you're gone." It pained me that I had done everything to earn the look of worry that crossed her face.

"I promise you love. I will be here when you wake up. Today and everyday for the rest of our lives." I only hoped that she would come to believe in me like she once had.

Bella

Tonight had by far been the best night of my life. I had eaten only a few bites of the room service Edward had kindly ordered for me. I was too nervous to focus on food. Alice had placated Jim with some story about how I had gotten ill and then went home with Veronica. I had to get to her before he did. If he called her she of course would have no idea what he was talking about and I would be caught in my web of deception.

As if he could hear my thoughts Edward handed me his little silver phone. I dialed quickly not quite sure what I was going to say. Veronica picked up on the third ring.

"Someone better be dead," she griped. I realize I had woken her.

"Ver, sorry to wake you. It's Bella. I mean Izzy," I corrected myself.

"Iz weren't you at that benefit tonight?" She sounded more awake now.

"Yea I was, but something happened you haven't talked to Jim yet have you?" I winced hoping she hadn't.

"No, why?" She was now wide awake and peaked with curiosity. "Did he propose?" She questioned

"No no nothing like that," I responded quickly.

"Then what happened?" she asked. I could just imagine her sitting up in bed with her eye mask off and her arms crossed.

I looked at Edward searching for something to say.

"I got cold feet!" I blurted out. "I could feel that he was hoping our relationship was going somewhere and after you fed me all of that stuff about him buying a ring I just got so nervous that I freaked out and left him there in the middle of the benefit." It wasn't a total lie. I did leave him there and I was freaked out about him proposing.

"Iz did anyone ever tell you you've got mental problems?" she sighed.

"I know I know I do, but you're my best friend and I need you to do something for me. Please if Jim calls tell him I got sick and that I called you to pick me up from the benefit and I spent the night with you at your place." Wait for it, wait for it.

"What!" she gasped. "You want me to lie to the man after everything you've put him through? No way! He's such a nice guy I'm not lying to him for you." I knew she would be mad. Jim was her friend too and I was hurting him. She had every right to turn me down. I guess I'd just have to resort to blackmail.

"Ver come on you owe me and you know it. How many times have I covered for you?" She didn't answer because she knew I had her on that one and she couldn't argue.

"Fine, but where are you really?" she questioned.

"I can say right now, but I promise I will explain everything to you and to Haley tomorrow. Meet me at Verona tomorrow at six. We'll have drinks and I'll talk. I promise. Just don't tell Jim anything. If he asks tell him I'm still sick and laying low at your place. Whatever you do. Don't let him in if he comes over," I warned.

"Fine but you now owe me big time," she said.

"Sure sure whatever you want," I agreed quickly. "Just do what I said."

I hung up relieved that she was helping me, but knowing that tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Edward was staring at me after I'd hung up.

"You'll tell them everything?" he asked eyebrows raised

"No not everything, just about running into you and how it drudged up old feelings making me realize that Jim and I aren't meant to be and that I'm going to end it with him."

"Let's not talk about such things right now. I want you all to myself tonight," he whispered bringing himself closer so he could caress my cheek with his cold fingers.

I scooted closer to him on the bed and that's all we needed. It was like we were on fire and suddenly I was on his lap straddling him. His fingers were in my hair pulling me as close to him as humanly possible. His lips possessed mine with a vigor and passion that he'd never let loose before. Suddenly I felt him under me.

He was aroused. It was the first time he'd ever held me close enough for me to feel his desire for me.

I pushed myself closer to him letting myself press against his desire. He groaned as his hands disentangled themselves from my hair and began a mad search of my body. He gently caressed my face, my neck, my shoulders and his hands made their way down my back to my waist. He held me tighter than he ever had before. I didn't want him to stop. If he continued I would let him have me tonight all of me. It was no secret that I'd been willing to let him have me since the day we met.

Edward

She hung up the phone and in an instant I was at her side. I couldn't help myself. I needed to be near her to be touching her to be as close to her as possible. I threw caution to the wind and scooped her up and placed her on my lap so she was straddling me. I kissed her passionately using my hands to explore every curve of her body. When I got to her waist I stopped. I didn't want to rush her into anything. I also had deep concerns over being entirely intimate with her while she was human. But I couldn't stop myself from wanting her to be closer. Her breathing was erratic I moved my lips from hers and began to graze them gently down her neck. She moaned with pleasure and arched her neck even closer to me.

Was she mad? It was like she was inviting the monster within me to bite her. I knew I should stop this. That I might hurt her if I didn't, but I couldn't think straight. She was intoxicating. Before I knew what was happening I had unhooked the back of her dress and was allowing my hands to explore her flat stomach and I was moving upwards toward her breasts. I had never seen her without a shirt before and I didn't know if I could handle it. Surely she would stop me soon. If she didn't it would be too late. I would take her and I didn't know if I could bring her back.

The hotel phone rang suddenly snapping me out of my intoxicated state. I released her from my iron grip and set her down gently on the other side of the bed she was flushed and gasping for breath. I picked up the phone.

You know you should stop now right? Alice's voice came from the other end.

I sighed angrily. "Yes I know. I just couldn't," I said.

"Well distance yourself. I know it's difficult, and you know she's not going to stop you. She's already made up her mind to give herself to you completely," she said.

I glanced over at my love she was sitting up now butting up the back of her dress a scowl on her beautiful face. She sure hadn't changed in that department. She knew I was dangerous and that I could kill her in an instant, but she didn't care. She would push me to the edge if she had to. I used to chalk it up to raging teenage hormones, but I was beginning to think my sweet little Bella was indeed some sort of sexy vixen.

I hung up with Alice.

"So where are you going to take me to distract me this time?" she asked in a disappointing tone. She was used to me pulling away and playing distract the human.

"We aren't going anywhere," I said. "You my love are going to get some sleep and I am going to hunt."

"Stay with me," she pleaded. I hated to leave her, but after what I almost did a few minutes ago, I knew I needed to hunt and badly if I wanted to stay in control.

"You know that I need to hunt," I reminded her gently. She pouted and it was all I could do not to give in her wishes.

"I'll be back soon love. Don't go anywhere and be safe." I brushed my lips across hers possessively and leapt deftly from the window.

I'd gone a short distance and found a few stray deer in a clearing. It was after 2 and no one was around. I drained them quickly, but I knew that deer would not satiate my thirst for long, but I was not eager to stray far from the hotel at the moment.

I had only been gone a few minutes when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket.

"Alice what is it?" I asked annoyed she couldn't leave me alone for ten minutes.

"You have to come back Edward. It's Bella she's freaking out. She's hysterical. Jasper can't get her to calm down."

I ran quicker than I ever thought possible all the way back to the hotel.

So there it is Chapter 6=) I hope it was worth the wait. If anyone is still reading this and wants me to continue I will, but probably only one update every ten days or so. Like I said majority is written, but needs major editing.