Biting and Scratching

And she met the family

My birthday was amazing too, much more relaxed than the Cullen's, but I missed them a great deal, they were my family too after all.
But Billy and Jake came over and we spent the day watching movies I chose, eating way too much cake, and mucking around like only Jake knew how to do.
"So..." Bella started when we were alone in my room.
Jake and Billy had long gone home and dad was fast asleep.
"You have powers."

"God damn it, Ed." I hissed, glaring down at our crossed legs.
"I'm not mad that you didn't tell me or anything, I mean a little jealous but..."
"I wouldn't be too jealous Bells," I raised a brow, "it's what's frying my brain."
"It's what?!" I hushed her and Bella repeated herself in a much lower tone.
"Besides, I'm sure Ed told you he can't read your mind, I think it's a family thing." I told her with a small shrug.
"So... can you read my mind?"
"Yeah."
"Wait... what am I thinking now??" She looked so excited, like a kid on Christmas.
"Can't tell you," I shrugged, "I've stopped using my powers... might give me a little while longer." I explained softly, and Bella's shoulders slouched.
"Oh..."
I grasped her hand tightly, "I'm here for whatever you need Bells, I love you so much."
Bella's shoulders started shaking, her face down and blocked by her hair.
"I'm the one that should be saying that..." She laughed, but her eyes were dripping with tears.
I didn't know what to say.

I moved to sit on the same side of my sister, groaning a little... my body was starting to hurt and I knew it was time for bed.
"I'll answer any questions you have Bells," I smiled, curling into my pillows and watched as Bella did the same.

We talked for the rest of the night, talking about vampires, life, my bucket list, and everything else.

The next morning was weird. Just weird.
When I woke up Ed was on my bed talking to Bella. Talking very closely to Bella.
I cleared my throat and almost laughed at how quickly the two jumped away from each other.
"Not in my room please," I teased with a grin.
Ed sent me a 'really' look while Bella just flushed darker than a tomato.
"Breakfast time," Ed eventually stood casually.
Gasping and grasping her throat, Bella stared up at him with wide laptops and shock crossed Ed's face.
"Kidding!" Bella snickered, and I bellowed out in Emmett-level laughs.
"And you said I couldn't act!"
Ed frowned angrily. "That wasn't funny."
"You're right!" I huffed, still dying of laughter, "it was hilarious!"
Ed sighed, but I could see the little smile. "Alright then, shall I rephrase? Breakfast time for the humans."
"Sweet." I grinned, hopping out of bed and skipped down the stairs.

Realising they stayed up a while longer than necessary, I loudly started chanting like a kid. "Breakfast! Breakfast! Breakfast!"
I stopped the second Ed came down the stairs with Bella in his arms. I just raised a brow.
"What's for breakfast?" Bella asked when Ed placed her down in the chair next to me.
"Er," Ed stumbled, clearly thrown off by the question, "I'm not sure, what would you like?"
Oh, this was fun.
"That's alright, I fend for myself pretty well, watch me hunt."
"Toast please," I hum when Bella started making herself cereal.
She nodded and made my food before making some for herself.
"Can we get you anything?" I ask teasingly before Ed poked the center of my head with a small laugh.
"Just eat Julie."
"What's on the agenda today?" Bella asks while finishing up her cereal.
Ed pondered for a moment until his eyes lit up excitedly, "what would you say to meeting my family?"
"Oh, that would be so cool, my two families coming together!" I grinned.
"Are you afraid now?" Was that... hope in his voice?
"Yes." Well, at least Bella was being honest.
"Don't worry," he smirked, "I'll protect you."
"Oh please," I snorted, "Rose could sooo take you down."
"I-I'm not afraid of them," Bella cut in, "I'm afraid they won't... like me. Won't they be well, surprised that you would bring someone... like me... home to meet them? Do they know I know about them?"
I snorted, "yesterday they were betting about Ed bringing you there, but Alice had a vision so it was kinda a dumb bet."
"At any rate," Ed continued, "we don't have any secrets in the family. It's not really feasible with my mind reading and Alice seeing the future and all that."
"And Jasper making you feel all warm and fuzzy about spilling your guts. Don't forget about that."
"You pay attention." The fondness in Ed's voice was so sweet.
I stopped paying attention when they started getting gushy, the second they started talking about introducing Ed to dad as Bella's girlfriend I went upstairs to get dressed, giving them a moment of privacy.

Coming back downstairs I snorted when I saw Bella in her only skirt—a long khaki casual skirt and a dark blue blouse.
I was a lot more casual in ripped jeans and a crème fluffy sweater.
"Alright, love birds! Break it up!" I clapped noticing the deep flush on Bella's cheeks and the... well, lust in Ed's eyes.

I hoped easily out of the car and went in while Bella and Ed continued talking.
"I'm home!" I called loudly through the glasshouse.
"Julie!" Alice giggled, coming down the stairs. "I'm going to go get Jasper from upstairs to meet Bella, but Rose is in the kitchen ok?"
"Ok," I smiled back, giving her a small kiss to the cheek before skipping to the kitchen, where Rose and Emmett were talking pleasantly.
"Hello," I hummed.
"Hi, Julie" Rose smiled and pat the seat next to her.
"Soooo, Ed's here with Bella." I said blatantly.
"I know," Rose scowled. "I could smell her when Edward got over the bridge."
"Be nice," I plead, bumping her shoulder with mine, "she's my sister."
Rose just scowled.
"Or we could just chill in here and let the family get to know Bella," I offered.
Rose huffed a laugh but I could see the small bit of relief as Emmett threw his arm over his mate's shoulder.
"That sounds amazing Juliet."

"We should tell you." It freaked me out to be honest, I think it was the first time I have ever seen Emmett without a smile.
"Yeah?" I asked nervously.
"We have visitors." Rose was chewing her lip nervously, a habit I realised that she was doing feverishly when I was first introduced to her after seeing Emmett's memories.
"Visitors?" I asked, "like the Denali's?"
They told me about the Denali Coven when Ed ran off, they were another vegetarian coven and were like family to the Olympic Coven.
"No..." Emmett frowned. "They probably won't bother us but we're going to be coming by at night again to make sure you're ok until Alice sees them leave."
"Ok." I nodded with wide eyes, "thanks for looking after me."
This. This is why I consider these people family.

"And..."
"Oh my God there's more than vampires that eat people?" I laughed, but the couple beside me stayed silent. "Oh... that bad huh?"
Emmett flashed over to the seat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"The vampires are being a little reckless." He said. "They're messing up the bodies a bit but the locals are starting to get suspicious, especially since there are not many animals in the Forks forest that can do what they're doing to people."
"What does that mean?" I frowned, were they going to have to hunt them or something?
"It means the Volturi might be coming." Rose was blunt. "They might come and see you and Aro might not give you a choice in being a vampire."
My pulse raised, and my breathing shortened. "Aro? The big bad guy that's apparently a king or something?"
Solemnly, Rose nodded. "If his guard comes, they will ask us of unusual activity in the area, and if we don't tell them. It will be considered treason."
"And since Carlisle lived with them, they would come to check-in. I understand." I breathed. I may only have a little bit to live, but I wouldn't get them in trouble in that time. "Let's just hope the Volturi don't come, yeah?"
Rose chuckled at my hopeful smile. "Yeah."

Breaking our seriously moment completely, Alice swung into the room with a gleeful smile. "Storm! There's going to be a storm tonight!"
And just as quick as she came, she left.
"Storm?" I looked at the couple curiously.
Rose just laughed.
"Whenever there's a storm we get to let loose," Emmett grinned with excitement, "and what are we supposed to do as an American pass time other than baseball?"