Going to Dinner at the Cullen's House

Lying back with my eyes closed, Bella and Edward were chatting away in the front of the car while I was just going over languages in my head - I wanted to travel in the world in the future after all, so I needed a good grasp on the languages of multiple different countries.

It was going okay so far, and it was a nice mental exercise to pass the time.

Anyway, we were on our way to the Cullen house and Edward was nice enough to give me a lift there. I took him up on the offer purely because, well, I didn't feel like running there. Lazy, I guess.

Bella was coming to meet his family, or rather to spend time with Edward, while I was coming because today was when we, the Cullens and I, discussed what we're going to do regarding what I am and what to do to keep the information away from the Volturi.

Such a thing wouldn't be too hard a topic to discuss seeing as I'm sure the Cullens aren't going to give me up to the Volturi. The main thing I want to talk about is the possibility of more Vampire Covens moving to Forks. Mainly on how I don't think we should allow them access because most Vampires aren't Vegetarians like the Cullens.

Thinking about it, I'll probably need to visit the Packs at some point, and relay the information the Cullens give me - give them a heads-up that there are more Vampires are on their way.

Before I knew it we'd arrived and Bella looked through the car window at the house with a look of surprise on her face. I had to agree with her, it didn't really look like a house for Vampires. Massive open windows, modern-looking, and you could even see the open, bright rooms within the house.

Seeing Bella's surprise, I laughed a little before opening my door and getting out. Edward got out and rushed to open Bella's door for her, which Bella absentmindedly thanked him for.

"Not what you were expecting, huh?" I quirked at Bella before walking up the stairs before looking back at Edward and her impatiently, "Well? Come on then, don't you wanna see if they have coffins and dungeons inside? Maybe a dungeon full of coffins?" I jokingly said which caused Edward to grin, while Bella hurried up the stairs, Edward's arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Edward let us in before he took Bella's coat for her - I don't really wear coats anymore, constantly hot body temperature makes coats pretty redundant to me - before taking off his own and placing it next to hers.

"This is incredible," Bella started breathlessly, "It's so light and open, you know?" she finished in wonder.

Nodding, I had to agree with her, "Yep, I was pretty surprised the first time I saw it as well. Though I must admit I was let down when I found out they don't have even a single dungeon," smiling in a mock-disappointed manner, I looked around before sniffing the air, "Ah, seems they actually went and did it, Edward. You owe me ten dollars," I chuckled to which Edward sighed before smiling a little.

"I told them not to do this..." his smile looked a little embarrassed as he quickly went up the stairs ahead of us. This action caused Bella to look at me in confusion.

"What does he mean by that?"

Chuckling, I looked at her in slight disbelief of how dull her senses were, "Can you not smell that in the air?" I took a big sniff to emphasize my point, "Ahh~ Italian food," I said this before leading Bella up the stairs after Edward, with Bella sniffing the air and presumably wondering whether her sense of smell was broken or not. I was beginning to wonder the same, honestly.

I heard a snide comment about Bella and me, something about a dog and a human, but I honestly couldn't care less - being like this was pretty much ingrained in her at this point. She's had a pretty bad end to her life as a Human, so I wouldn't mind putting up with her for such little things.

Walking along, I saw Edward talking to Carlisle about how they didn't need to do this for Bella. But I had come to the rescue as unlike in the movie, I said we shouldn't eat before we came here. When Edward asked why, I said his family would most likely try and cook for Bella. I said this while Bella was getting ready and in her room, and it's where the two of us made our friendly bet.

Sensing me and Bella walking into the kitchen, everyone looked toward us and Esme walked over to the two of us.

"Bella, Alexander, we're making Italiano for you," she beamed an excited smile at us and Edward made his way over with a smile on his face.

Putting an arm around Esme, Edward introduced her to Bella, "Bella, this is Esme - my mother for all intents and purposes," Esme just smiled at Bella as Bella got a bit embarrassed and mumbled some Italian in response and Esme seemed weirdly ecstatic about it.

Walking into the kitchen I sniffed the air, "It smells lovely, so, Grazie in anticipo,*" I looked around and wondered what they were cooking but I couldn't quite tell yet.

(*A/N - It mean 'Thanks in advance' in Italian if you hadn't already google translated it.)

But as always, Rosalie had to ruin the mood.

"Oh, I'm sorry we couldn't get you your favorite brand of dog food, Alex," she looked mockingly at me, a condescending smirk on her face. I ignored her but Bella couldn't seem to.

"Alex, what's she on about? Is she insulting you or something?" she asked both confused and also primed to go ape shit at the bitchy Vampire next to us.

But I raised my hand before laughing, "Don't mind her - Rosalie's always like this," I put my hand next to my mouth like I was whispering something in Bella's direction, though I clearly wasn't, "A bit of a jerk to those who aren't Vampires~"

I could practically feel Rosalie staring daggers into me from behind.

But Bella continued to have an annoyed face on as she continued to look at Rosalie. Rosalie saw this and rolled her eyes, "What do you want? Staring at me like that..." she trailed off with a bitchy-tone.

"I just don't get why you're treating my brother like a literal dog? Does he treat you any less just because you're a Vampire?" she spat out in my defense and though it was heartwarming to see her stick up for me, I didn't want today starting worse than it did in the original.

Though I must say that my sister has unreal amounts of courage for a human. Especially when she's reprimanding a Vampire who's less than 2 meters away from her.

I stepped between them my hands raised to the both of them, "Okay, okay, just give it a rest, you two. I don't care what Rosalie thinks, okay, Bella? She's entitled to her opinions on me, no matter how stupid they are to you," before turning my head to Rosalie, "Think a little before insulting someone's brother in front of their sibling, okay? You could avoid more arguments that way."

Both of them gave one another one last glare before literally not looking at one another anymore.

Never thought my bookish, bordering on non-girly sister would react like this. Guess Rosalie has that effect on people.

Quickly pushing us into new topics, Carlisle came over, "You've finally given us a reason to use our kitchen," he laughed light-heartedly, "I hope you're both hungry?"

Bella quickly nodded, while I just gave a single nod to his question, while full well knowing just how hungry I actually am.

I'm starving by the way.

Worrying, I just put a question out there, "Uhh, Carlisle?" I asked, to which he looked over at me, "How much are you cooking? Because I have a pretty big appetite."

He went into thought before answering, "We could give you multiple portions if you want, Alexander?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you, Carlisle," I said before excusing myself so I could wander around the house until the food was ready.

I wondered where Edythe was but I guessed she didn't want to be here because of me. She was probably still thinking about what I said and I couldn't blame her - it was a lot to think about. Though I still went up to her room to mess about on her piano. I felt a bit weird being in her room on my own but her piano was near to her door, so it hopefully it wouldn't look like I was snooping around in her room.

"What you doing, Alex? Snooping around in Edy's bedroom or something~?" Alice's cheerful voice came from behind me and I spun around on the bench I was sitting on to look at her. Her face was split in a smile and next to her was Jasper who was just silent.

Rolling my eyes at Alice, I scoffed at her insinuation, "Yeah, sure, snooping around her bedroom when I'm sat at a piano bench about to play," I shook my head before spinning around to my original position before starting to play some simple melodies to warm up my fingers and ignore Alice.

But Alice just sat down next to me and spoke.

"I know how your relationship problems sort themselves out, do you--" I cut her off with a slight glare.

"Don't, Alice," my gaze softened a little, "I don't want to know the future because it might change my decisions and they'll change my future. Whatever happens, will happen. I don't need some precognitive Vampire to guide me," I dismissed her before moving onto more complex melodies to keep myself distracted from Alice's mischievous smile.

"But don't you want to know whether it works or not?" she asked me curiously, seeming genuinely surprised someone didn't want to know the future.

Shaking my head, I stopped playing and turned to Alice, "No, not really. Because whatever I find out could change my decisions. If I know it works out, I might slack off and cause it to fail and crumble, and if I know it fails, I might spiral and make things even worse in my attempts to fix things. Knowing your future is always a bad thing, Alice," I stopped, sighing out my frustrations before looking back over at Alice with slight disbelief, "And shouldn't you be having a go at me? I want to date your sister and another girl at the same time?"

Hearing my question, Alice just shrugged before answering me, "I've seen worse things in my visions of people. At least you were honest about it. You told them both your feelings and what you want, and you didn't act like a saint - you accepted your flaws and your blame in the cause of the situation. Plus, I saw some much more...well, let's just say, non-traditional relationships in the 60s and 70s than what you want, Alex," she beamed a smile at me, giggling at what she said.

I, on the other hand, was just surprised. I also felt kinda warm inside that someone in at least one of the families didn't look down on my choices and/or actions.

I knew whatever I had planned would be up against quite a bit of opposition but I didn't care - I'd put up with it to get to what I truly wanted.

Seeing that I wasn't going to talk or reply, Alice gave out a light laugh before standing up from the bench, "Just don't get too worried about it, Alex. I'm sure they'll both come around at some point and speak to you about it. Though a tiny, little bit of advice?" she practically pleaded with puppy-eyes.

Sighing, I nodded, "Shoot."

"Be there to mediate when the two of them first meet, okay? Even if they ask for privacy between the two of them," she looked uncharacteristically serious at this point, so I just nodded and her face went back to cheery Alice again and she skipped out with Jasper following behind her with a small smile on her face.

Goddammit, it's annoying to be in a Universe with someone who has more foreknowledge than you at times.