Fade Into You Chapter 22

When I woke up, I had my arms around something soft and warm. Thinking it was my pillow, I hugged it closer to me because, lets face it, I was really fucking comfortable, and I was pretty sure I'd just had the best night's sleep of my life. When I tugged it closer however, the soft sigh it let out made my eyes open wide and I was on full alert. Looking down and realizing that it was none other than my beautiful girl, I smiled because it was real.

I kissed the top of her head then just leaned back to watch her sleep. She looked so peaceful at rest, no tension in her body or her facial features. She looked completely relaxed and at ease, as if nothing had ever gone wrong in her life.

While she continued to sleep and I watched, I did a scan of the room we were in. Last evening, we had timidly retreated to Bella's bedroom, more conducive than the sofa to a good nights sleep, she'd said. She couldn't have been more right. I noticed that the room had a little more of her in it. The sitting room was so sparse. I'd asked her about it and she told me that people didn't need to see. It wasn't their business. I nodded in understanding and then kissed the scar behind her ear for good measure. Her bedroom however, had pictures and a little bit of color in it.

Her long bureau had a mirror atop with newspaper clippings stuck in the edges and pictures of a young girl smiling, with whom I presumed were her parents. There was a rocking chair in one corner, and a desk with a laptop on it at the foot of the bed. Folded across the rocking chair was an old quilt. Though I couldn't tell from where I sat, by the way it was folded I would have bet money that it had a fair bit of sentimental value to it.

She stirred slightly in my arms and I moved my hand up and down her arm in a soothing motion. I wanted her to get as much sleep as possible since she admitted to me in her fitful slumber that she hadn't gotten much lately.

I had questions, so many questions. But I wanted things to be on her own terms. There we were, in her house, in her bed even, and she allowed me into it. Just like that. We had this strange connection, almost like a pull. I wasn't sure if she could feel it, but I sure could. It was as though I was the north end of a magnet and she the south. We connected in a way that was nearly impossible to pull apart.

We had touched briefly on the subject of her needing help with her disorders. I found that, not only were they not as bad in real life, but she knew she needed help. She was aware that she couldn't do it alone. As I had already told her of everything that happened while I was in a coma, she was aware of what had transpired, and we both agreed that it wasn't much of a threat to her now. I told her I wouldn't let it become a problem, and she believed me.

She put so much faith in me that it scared me. What if I fucked it up? I don't think I could live without her a second time. She was so trusting of me, of us even. I would do anything in my power to make sure that I did right by her, always.

She stirred and looked up at me with sleepy eyes and I smiled and moved some hair out of her face.

"Hey you," I whispered. "Have a good sleep?"

"Mmmmmhmmm," she sighed as she sat up. I moved to kiss her, just on the cheek, and she moved away quickly which surprised me. I furrowed my brows at her and she smiled shyly. "I need to um, use the bathroom," she said and I understood. She was up and out of the bed in no time. I stayed where I was, allowing her to do her thing and waited for her to return. Once she did, I opened my arms to her again, and she settled in eagerly.

"When do I get to meet Jasper and Rosalie?" I asked her causing her to laugh. Such a gorgeous sound. I vowed to make her laugh at least once a day for as long as she would let me.

"When they come back from vacation, I guess. They would want to meet my umm…you, as soon as possible." She blushed and I couldn't figure out why. I ran my hand down her arm and went in for the kiss she denied me before, this time a small one on the lips. It was a short soft kiss, but it was enough.

"Your what, Bella?" I questioned her quietly as I placed one hand her neck and another on her jaw.

She lay there, contemplating for what felt like forever before it finally dawned on me what she meant before. She was probably confused. She wasn't sure what to label me as.

"What are we?" she asked and my suspicions were confirmed.

"What do you want us to be?" I asked her.

"Ummmm…" she blushed and looked away, finding her fingers that were playing with the comforter quite interesting. I pulled her chin up for her eyes to meet mine.

"I know what I want, Bella, but I need to know how you feel about it. I know we're a little backwards," I said and we both smiled. "I'd say I want you to be my girlfriend, but I don't think that's enough," I murmured. I kissed the corner of her mouth and she smiled. "But there aren't words for what I think of you as, so I would like to go with girlfriend, if you'd be okay with it. Would you like to be my girlfriend, Isabella Swan?" I whispered to her, staring intently into her eyes and she nodded, slightly dazed.

"I think I'd like that very much, Edward Cullen," she said and kissed me back for a moment. We pulled away and I couldn't stop the shit-eating grin on my face. She nestled back into her spot and I wound both arms around her.

"You want to meet the family tomorrow?" she paled as I kissed her again. "They'll love you, I promise." She relaxed a little bit and settled back down.

"I feel like I already know them," she said quietly.

"Did you dream about them too?" I asked her.

"Not really. There were other people sometimes, but I couldn't see their faces. I could see yours though. All the time."

"Well, I want you to know everything about me. As much as I want to know about you, so this is a good place to start."

"Okay," she said. "Edward, I like waking up with you." She whispered and I knew exactly how she felt.

"I like waking up with you too."





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"Do I look okay?"

"Bella, It's just my family. You could wear a potato sack and they'd be happy…well, maybe not Alice, but you get the point." I told her before kissing her on the cheek.

We walked up the steps slowly and she squeezed my hand tight. I was surprised that it actually hurt a little bit, but I couldn't bring myself to care. We stopped in front of the door and she turned to me with apprehension. I took her hand in mine and brought the other up to her cheek, reminding her to breathe. I already knew that this would go well. They were there. They had known longer than she did that I loved her.

"Sweetheart, honestly. Just breathe. Everything is going to be perfect, okay?" I looked deep into her eyes so she could see the truth in them and she nodded. She shook her head as she looked away and muttered something about being stupid. "You're not stupid. Please don't say that. Look at me Bella." I actually had to wait a minute before I turned her face to mine. "It's totally normal. This is so weird, but trust me. They know you too. Remember how I told you they loved you? Well…they've been waiting to meet you. Just relax." She took a deep breath and nodded.

"I can do this,"She told me and I smiled at her.

"I know you can. I'll be right here."

I opened the door and called out once we were inside. Esme came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Her eyes lit up like Christmas when she saw the girl at my side.

"Are you our Bella?" she asked.

My heart swelled with pride. My aunt had called her 'our Bella'. She was already accepted and I hoped that she heard the same thing I did in those two words.

Bella looked up at me with hesitation in her eyes and I encouraged her with a light brush of my fingertips across her cheek.

"Yep, the one and only," I told my aunt as she came towards us, enveloping us both in a hug that rivaled wrestling moves. Leaning back, she took Bella's face between her palms and said, "Let me look at you."

That made my pretty girl self conscious, but I held her hand tightly in mine, letting her know I was there.

"You really are as beautiful as he said you were. We've been waiting to meet you, you know?"

"Thank you," Bella squeaked out as I pulled her into my side. God, finally feeling her in that 'Bella Spot' was unimaginable. It was just so right.

"So, where is everyone else?"

"Your uncle is up in his office, tying up some loose ends and the kids are down in the Rec Room. Want something to drink? Hungry maybe? Dinner won't be ready for another couple of hours."

I looked down at Bella, not wanting to answer for her. She simply shook her head no, and stared in awe at the woman who stood before her. I got it in that moment. Meeting my family was going to be huge for her. She had never had people just accept her for who she was. Not once had she ever just been a part of the group, or the family, so to speak. She was about to have her mind blown.

"No, I think we'll just go see the 'kids'" I joked with my aunt. She laughed with us and I couldn't help the surge of happiness at the sound of giggling from my side. Perhaps it wouldn't be so hard to loosen her up here.

On our way down to the Rec Room, I pointed out various others along the way. She nodded in all the right places and quietly asked me questions about artwork or knick knacks, eagerly soaking up any information about us that she could.

"So, I've told you about my siblings," I said as she nodded. "Emmett's a big guy, but trust me, he's really just a great big version of Elmo, without the squeaky voice…and he isn't red. I guess he doesn't really like being tickled either," I said thoughtfully. "Well, you get my drift. He's a big softie. Maybe too soft. If he picks you up and swings you around, just kick him if he squeezes too hard. Oh and say 'Uncle'. It's the only thing that makes him stop." I looked at Bella and her eyes were wide…with fear I think. Backtrack, Cullen. "Okay. Maybe like a teddy bear?" I suggested and she laughed.

"You're really weird sometimes," she told me after a moment looking to me thoughtfully.

"That's because pretty girls make me nervous," I said before kissing her on the nose.

"Oh, is Alice pretty?" she asked causing me to roll my eyes.

"She is, but not as pretty as this other girl I know. More annoying too."

As if on cue, the door to the rec room opened, and my own personal tiny teletubby stood before us with a megawatt grin ear to ear, looking simple as all hell. Jesus did I ever love my sister.

"Bella! So I know that I only get to be your second best friend, but I'm okay with that. Has Edward been good to you? What am I saying? Of course he's been good to you! He loves you. Did he show you around? Oh my God there's so much to do and learn! Where do we-"

"Jesus, Alice! Give her a chance to think for a second, would ya?" She managed to get all of that out in a single breath, and while I was impressed, Bella looked as though her head would explode at any moment and I laughed.

"Sorry, this is just so exciting! We've heard so much about you," Alice said, engulfing Bella in yet another vice grip hug. Perhaps I should have mentioned to her that my family was full of huggy people.

"I've heard a lot about you too," she told my sister. "I'm excited but umm, geez Alice. You're pretty strong!" she squeaked out.

Alice let go immediately and answered the glare I gave her with a sheepish look.

"Let's go to the family room. We can all get to know each other there," I told them both. I noticed that Emmett was holding back and staying out of the conversations and it confused the shit out of me. I raised an eyebrow at him and he just shook his head. Alice joyfully took Bella by the hand towards the family room, and I hung back to find out what the deal was. He watched them go, and I watched him.

"What the fuck, Emmett?" I asked once we were in the clear. "This isn't you at all."

"Dude, I saw it. I saw the way you looked at her. I didn't want to fuck that up by being me," he said mournfully as he put his fist up to pound which I refused to acknowledge. No way was I about to allow people to go changing their personalities for us.

"Emmett," I said as he dropped his arm in defeat. "Did you see what Alice just did? Don't change who you are, man. The Bella I knew before, she loved you and you loved her. You would gladly kick an ass or two for her while making an ass of yourself along the way."

"That was the Bella you knew before, Bro."

"Yes, well the Bella I know now, the one that counts? She is even stronger than that Bella. She smiles more, she laughs more, and she sees a little more beauty in the world. Don't ever think for a second that you have to lose yourself because of me."

"Well, you know. I just didn't want to scare her and I know I can be a pretty over-bearing guy," I laughed because it was true and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Seriously, Em. Go meet her. I think you could be just what she needs," I told him.

He nodded and then took off for the family room while I took a moment just to breathe. I figured I would give them a couple minutes to adjust, for her to learn what she needed to before invading whatever was going on. I knew they would all love her to pieces. I wasn't worried about that. I was mostly worried about how she would take the attention she would be receiving.

As I made my way to the kitchen using the back set of stairs, I thought about how this visit would make things almost complete. It was like she was the thing that had always been missing from our family. The one thing that could finish the puzzle. It was important to me that she fit with them as much as she fit with me.

I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and took a good swig, then chuckled at the absurdity of my siblings. Alice was her usual self, and Em, well ,he was trying to be good for her. I shook my head and chuckled at his idiocy. Why the man thought he had to change to meet this girl I would never know. I guess they really did have quite the long lead-in to this moment. They'd been waiting since the day I woke up to meet her.

I went towards the family room when I heard laughter and stopped to lean in the doorway with a smile on my face. There sat Bella, nestled in between Alice and Esme, Emmett leaning on the back of the couch they were sitting on and looking through a photo album. I assumed they were embarrassing pictures of me as a child but I couldn't have cared less. If she was happy, I was. And good Lord was she ever happy. She was giggling and pointing and even blushing. Emmett's big voice was interjecting the usual dumb remarks and then he put his hand on her shoulder. I held my breath as he laid it there, wondering what her reaction would be. She slowly turned her head towards him and then lifted her own hand to rest upon his. Their smiles were infectious, and I could see it.

I could finally see life with this girl as a reality. Part of my family, part of our family. I locked eyes suddenly with Carlisle, who was sitting in an armchair across from the rest of them and he nodded towards them and winked at me. Approval all around and happiness to boot.

"It's nice to see you all having fun with Bella, but I'd like to steal her away for a bit if I could," I piped in, and four sets of eyes looked my way. "Just for a bit. Or has she been stolen from me already?" I smirked at them and Bella laughed.

"Come on, Edward, you get all the time with her," Alice whined, and yes I mean whined.

"Oh he'll bring her back in one piece I'm sure, little sis. You still have time to get your hands on her," Emmett said. I nodded to him in thanks and also acknowledging that I'd seen him interacting and felt much better about it.

"No funny business now, you two," Esme joked and Bella's face went beet fucking red.

"Alright," I said as I took Bella's hand and helped her off the couch. "That's enough from the peanut gallery."

"It was nice to start to get to know you all," she said turning towards the couch. "Thank you for letting me into your lives, even if it's only because he's making you," she said pointing at me, looking serious as hell.

The entire family started refuting her comments, as I knew they would and I just let out a heavy sigh beside her and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"That was all them, love. Take it graciously or they'll make you," I chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to say that I wasn't grateful or anything," she said quietly.

"Oh we didn't take offense at that!" Alice chimed in, "We took offense to the fact that you don't seem to think much of yourself."

"Okay guys, I'm taking Bella on a tour. That should give you time to find another embarrassing photo album or two, maybe come up with a few more stories to tell about me."

Bella sunk her head into my shoulder as I brought my arm around her shoulder and led her out of the room.

"They like you," I told her and she looked up at me and grinned.

"I like them too."

"Good. I think we're all going to be spending lots of time together," I told her.

We walked up the stairs to the second floor and I showed her all of the rooms along the way. Though none of us kids lived in the house anymore, all of our rooms were still intact should the need arise for them. They were used often as well if we ever chose to stay the night when we came to visit. When we got to the end of the hallway and came to the set of stairs that led to the third floor, where my bedroom was located, I looked down at my pretty girl with a devilish grin.

"What?" she asked.

"Jump on my back," I told her and her eyes got wide. "What? It could be fun. Do you trust me?"

"You know I do," She scoffed.

"Then hop on," I said and turned so she could. "If you don't, I might just have to do it myself." She looked at me dubiously for a beat too long so I turned back around and easily threw her over my shoulder as she let out a squeal.

"Edward no! Put me down!" She yelled through her laughter as her tiny ineffectual fists beat on my back.

"I told you, Miss Swan, I just couldn't wait any longer," I said as I ran up the stairs and she held on for dear life. Once I reached the top of the stairs I sat her down and she started righting her clothes. I took a step closer and put one hand to her cheek. "You looked beautiful down there, Bella, when you were laughing with my family," I told her quietly. She put her hand on my own and looked up at me through her lashes.

"I really want them to like me," she giggled. I loved that sound. It was so fucking precious. "I saw you naked, you know."

I looked at her in shock and then realized it was probably a picture of me in the bathtub as a child or something. I shook my head at her and then opened the door to my room.

"Come on, Swan. Let's visit the last stop on the tour."

My bedroom was the only room on the third floor, along with a rarely used guest room across the way. I rested my hand on her lower back and led her in ahead of me and I stopped just inside the doorway. She continued her way in and then turned around to question with her eyes why I hadn't followed her in.

"This is my room," I told her quietly. She made to come back to me like she was invading my space and I put a hand up to stop her. "No. Go ahead. Take a look around. Everything in here is me and I want you to know all of it."

She nodded and smiled brightly at me before turning towards the dresser to see what I had on top of there. Leaning against yet another doorway, just watching her in my environment, it felt like home. She looked so natural walking around my room, to the side of my bed, picking things up and shyly asking me questions. I answered every one of them truthfully and finally went to lie on my bed with my arms behind my head. When Bella decided that she had thoroughly seen enough of my things, she came towards the bed and eyed me questioningly. I quietly laughed and pulled my left arm out from behind my head, opening up to her and she crawled into the available spot, laying her head on my chest above my heart. Closing my arm back around her, I knew it. I was home.

I was awakened by a flash sometime later and I looked up to see my aunt standing in the doorway with a camera in hand.

"You two were sleeping. It was so adorable."

I laughed and tightened my grip on the still-sleeping girl in my arms, yes arms, as in both arms had come around her in our impromptu nap.

"You be good to her. I love her like she's my own already," My aunt said and I nodded my head in understanding.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Esme. I don't exactly plan on letting this one go," I said as Bella woke up for the second time in my arms.