Ok, it was time to tell Bella what it means to be mated. I can do this, I have to do this; she's my mate and she needs to know why I'm not being more affectionate with her right now.

"You've asked me why I won't kiss you and why we need a bed when we don't sleep. I also believe that based on my answers, you've formulated your own theories. Am I correct?" She nodded.

"We both of those questions fall under what it means to be mated. You've already exhibited some of the characteristics like when you growled at Esme or heard about Tanya." Bella released a low growl again and bared her teeth upon hearing Tanya's name. I immediately pulled her into my arms all while hoping Tanya survives their first meeting; I know it will happen though I'm going to delay it as much as possible.

"Relax baby, I'm yours and she can't come between us. I'm you mate and I won't ever leave you." I kept a constant stream of kisses to her forehead while I spoke and rubbed her back to calm her down. Finally it worked.

"Ok, I'll try to control myself a little better." She said.

"Believe me; I know how you're feeling. I felt much the same when it came to the male population of Fork's High School. You had several admirers." I tapped my temple to remind her of my gift.

"So, protection is a factor, what else is there?" She asked.

"Well, there are a few steps to mating. Mating starts with a single look. I knew you were my mate in the same second I first saw you in the lunchroom. As much as I yearn to kiss you again, I can't yet. That's the second part which leads into the third and final part, the physical claiming. Our scents will blend together and create a new scent that we will each have and it will also tell other vampires that we are mated. I'll bear a physical mark from you and you'll have a new one from me. These marks are different from the mark you already have from your change. These marks are instinctive, private, and for mates only. We will bite each other, but inject no venom, and it will happen the first time we come together like that. The catch with the third part of mating is it takes years to satisfy the initial craving. Once we start, we won't be able to be apart from each other for very long; our instincts, love, lust, and need to mate will drive us together. I was able to kiss you as a human, and I'm so glad that I did, but it's because you were human. We wouldn't have been able to progress to stage three. You were far too fragile and thus my instinct to keep you safe allowed me to kiss you and nothing more. Vampires care about nothing when they are mating and it gets quite rough with them too; just ask any of the couples in the house. All of them at some point have had to, and sometimes still need to, repair or replace walls and furniture."

"Oh, I see." Bella looked at her lap and I was willing to bet that if she could still blush, she would be. I took her hand and placed it on my chest.

"Yes, but there is some good news, we are now immune to the charms of others. I can only be aroused by you and vice versa. Succubi and incubi are possible exceptions since seduction and sex are all they know and they need sex to survive as much as blood."

"Like Tanya?" Bella growled her name. I pulled her into my lap to calm her down

"Yes, but she's never had any effect on me, nor have her two sisters. Luckily, the only thing that can truly break a bond between mates is death and even then, the surviving mate is miserable and usually suicidal."

"How does a vampire die?" She asked.

"We need to be ripped apart and burned. We only have one rule; humans can't know the secret about our existence. Our diet of animals allows us to blend in a bit more and stay in one place for a few years at a time. Plus, we have our gifts to tell us if any humans become suspicious of us."

"Ok."

"Since we're talking about laws, I should tell you about those who enforce our laws. They're called the Volturi. They have formidable gifts among them as well. Carlisle used to live with them for a few decades before he met and sired me."

"Why did he choose you?" She asked.

"I was dying and he wanted a companion. Are you ready to hear everyone's story? She nodded.

"Let's go to the house and we'll each tell you our story. We started walking back to the house hand in hand.

"When were you born?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"June 20, 1901 and Carlisle changed me in September of 1918."

"Maybe you woke up on my birthday." I detected some hope in her voice. It would be a cool little tidbit if it were true, that we were both 'born' on the same day although there were two different connotations.

"We can ask him." I said.

"Were you angry when you woke?" She almost whispered this question. I felt bad for her because even if she was angry there wasn't much she could do about it because she had such a short time to adjust before preparing for her funeral.

"A little; it was hard for me because of my gift and it took a long time for not only Carlisle to learn to block his thoughts, but also for me to be able to be around a group of people hearing all of their thoughts at the same time. Though, it was easier for me to hear thoughts when I went through my rebellious phase."

"What happened?"

"It was during the Great Depression that I decided I didn't want to follow Carlisle's diet and I left. I used my gift to feed on humans. I listened for the most vile thoughts; thoughts of murderers and rapists. I ended them. I played God, judge, jury and executioner. I quit when I realized that I was enjoying the kill; when I was becoming a monster just like the human ones I was killing. I went back to Carlisle, draining animals along the way. I haven't killed a human since then." She put her hand on my face.

"At least they were only bad people you killed and you probably saved more lives than you took. Besides, who knows, even if you had let them live, who's to say they wouldn't have died an hour later without your interference? Perhaps it was their fate for you to end their lives. If we hadn't been in Port Angeles that night, that man might have killed someone else. I might have slipped on ice the next morning and broken my neck. We can't change what is done or what is supposed to happen, we can only impact right now. Praise yourself for returning to Carlisle's way of life and not continuing to hurt people. You aren't a monster." She spoke with so much confidence and she forced me to keep eye contact during her little speech. She instinctively knew how I felt about myself and knew the exact right thing to make me feel better. She helped me to absolve the self-loathing I've been feeling for all of those people I killed. I smiled and nodded, wanting nothing more than to kiss her, but knowing I can't.

"Thank you, Bella. I've waited so long for you."

"Now you have me and I have you."

"I'm so glad for that." I pulled her into my arms and we stood for a while just hugging. She felt so good in my arms.

"Come on, it's time for your history lesson." I said reluctantly after a few minutes.

"I'm ready." I took her hand and we ran back to the house. I'm so glad to have her and I don't have to be alone anymore.

Everyone was waiting for us when we got back.

"Ok, I'll first; I have no memory of my human life. I woke alone in a dark room. The first two visions I had were of meeting Jasper and then being with the Cullens. It's what helped me to stay on a diet of animals as well as helping Jasper start. We joined up with the family in the fifties." Alice said.

"The family started with me." Carlisle began and I gave him all of my attention.

"I was born in the mid sixteen hundreds; I think around 1640. Records weren't kept as well as they are today. When my father decided I was old enough to help him, he sent me out to start chasing vampires. He was a priest and back then, the myths and legends of today were very much believed. Much to his dismay, I was more cautious than him with my accusations, though the fact that I am sitting here today attests, that I was much more successful. On my last night as a human, I was either lucky enough or unlucky enough to discover a real vampire hiding out in a sewer. Once he was cornered, he fought back, grabbed me, and started to drink, but was chased off before he could finish me. The burning in my veins told me what was happening. I knew I couldn't go home and managed to stay silent while finding a place to hide until the change finished.

"I never knew what happened to the one who bit me. I didn't want to hurt people so after weeks of starving, I was lucky enough to come across some deer. Now that I've found a way to quench my thirst without hurting anyone, I was able to start learning to overcome the bloodlust. I stayed near my father's home until he died and then I broke in to secure some of my belongings as well as some of his.

"After I had a good grasp on my bloodlust, I started to study medicine. I've always enjoyed helping people and I figured with my enhanced senses, I could help heal even more people. It took a long time for me to master my craft. The scent of blood has no effect on me at all. I was in Chicago when I came across Edward and his family. I had been a lonely for a long time and was thinking of finding a friend to travel with me. Edward and his mother were close to death and his father had already passed from the Spanish influenza.

"It was his mother that convinced me to change Edward's fate. She took my hand and stared into my eyes during her final moments of strength and begged me to do what others could not and save her son. I will always wonder if she knew what I was, but sadly she slipped away after I agreed to her pleas. I took Edward and snuck him out of the hospital. It was difficult at first because of his gift and his speed. When we went hunting, I made sure to lead him as far from humans as possible. If he went after one, I knew I'd never be able to catch him. Thankfully, he never did." Carlisle ended with a chuckle.

"You know about my history so I guess Esme is next as she was the next one to join our family." I told her. Bella looked to Esme for the next story. I kept my eyes focused my mate, my love, my reason for everything.

"I actually met Carlisle when I was sixteen. He fixed my broken leg." She started.

"I knew the moment I saw you, that you were my mate, my love. I felt instantly bound to you, and though I didn't want to, I knew I had to leave you to finish growing up; now I wish I just taken you." Carlisle told her with obvious affection, but there was something else in his tone; anger maybe? I loved that she smiled back at him and rubbed his cheek lovingly.

"It wasn't for another ten years that we met again. Did you know that biologically, I am the oldest one here?" Bella's eyes widened and she shook her head. I just smiled softly. I loved watching her every reaction.

"It's true. Anyway, after Carlisle fixed my leg, he was never far from my mind. I never thought I would see him again. I had grown up and married by the time I was twenty. It wasn't until after the wedding that my husband showed his true colors. He was abusive and at the time, there was nothing that I could do. There were not laws against spousal abuse and divorce was unheard of. I had no one. I suffered in silence for years and one day I discovered I was pregnant. Wanting to protect my baby, I started making plans to escape the monster I married. I was six months along when I left while he was at work. It took him two months to find me and it was not a happy reunion. I went into labor and my son was still born. In a way, I'm glad he died, that way he'll never know the pain I suffered for him and he wouldn't have had to grow up with that man. After I lost my reason to survive, I lost the will to live and jumped from a cliff." She said. Though I was there when it happened and heard the story before, my heart still breaks for her and her little boy. I'm positive that Bella feels the same. I could see the sadness in her eyes.

"I was working when I heard about the woman jumping from a cliff. I couldn't believe it so I raced to the morgue and there she was; my angel. She had so many broken bones and was barely breathing, that no one even tried to save her. My senses could still detect her very slow beat and I knew that there wasn't much time. I bit her and took her home to Edward. He sat with her while I worked and put in my two weeks notice. It was time to move again." Carlisle added.

"It's a good think I was past my newborn phase and able to leave the house while you two were together." I said with a small shiver. Bella looked at me and covered my hand. I smiled at her. She turned away when the next person spoke.

"I guess that makes me next. My fiancée and his friends raped me and left me for dead on the streets of New York in 1933. I'd had the perfect life up until that night. To this day, they remain the only eight humans I have ever killed and I've never once drank a drop of human blood." Rosalie kept her story short and I understood why. I know that there is more to her story, but will not pressure her to share it with Bella. Rosalie will tell Bella when she's ready.

"I was walking home from work that night and the scent of her blood caught my attention. By the time I found her, there was nothing I could do to save her. I thought she could be a companion or even a mate for Edward, so I changed her." Carlisle said. Bella started to growl at the thought of Rosalie being my mate. I squeezed her hand to halt her growl and remind her that I was hers.

"Cool, it's my turn. I was out hunting and attacked by a bear. All I remember is pain and flying. When I woke, I saw the eyes of my angel, my Rosie." Emmett said and refocused her attention; and mine as well if I'm going to be honest. In my mind I saw him look at Rosalie with absolute devotion and I saw her eyes soften as she silently returned is affection. I watched Bella as she caught the look. Her eyes were soft and happy. Bella being happy makes me happy.

"I was hunting as well that night when I smelled the bear. I killed the bear and drank a little before picking up Emmett's bleeding body and carrying him a hundred miles back to Carlisle. I begged for Emmett to be changed because I knew this big oaf was mine." Emmett took her hand in his. I liked it and I could tell Bella did too.

"You know it baby." He said and leaned toward her. She gave him the kiss he was seeking and that spiked my jealousy. I wanted to kiss her, but I knew I wouldn't until we moved. Jasper mentally told me that Bella and I were both feeling envious. I subtly nodded and was internally thrilled to know that Bella felt the same way as I did. She wanted me to kiss her as much as I wanted to kiss her.

"Having seen Rosalie's reaction to her new life that I brought her into, I decided to grant her request. I only want my children to be happy."

"I guess I'm last. I was the youngest major in the confederate army on the night I met Maria." Jasper started and Alice growled at the other woman's name. Jasper was quick to soothe her before continuing his story. They proved to Bella what I told her; mates really do come first.

"I'm the second oldest vampire in the house and my introduction into my new life wasn't pleasant. When I met her, I thought I was dreaming. She was so beautiful, but then the pain and anguish began. Maria built an army to control the largest area in the southwest and parts of Mexico as her feeding territory. My military training and my gift proved my usefulness and I was allowed to live past my first year. Maria was smart, but not always practical. Vampires are at their strongest in the first year of life because their own human blood lingers in their systems, but the first year is also when they are the most volatile and uncontrollable. It was my job to train the newborns she created to serve in her army and then dispose of them when their year was up. I'm sure you can understand the toll that took on my gift, always being surrounded by the darker side of emotions.

"One night, I met Peter. He, like me, proved himself useful enough to be kept around. It was when it came time to destroy newborns that he lost it. I learned it was because his mate, Charlotte, was among the ones to be killed. They'd kept their mating a secret from everyone, knowing that if Maria had found out, she would have killed them both immediately. I sent them away. After a few years, they came back for me. I left without ever looking back.

"I wandered around testing my gift until one rainy afternoon I walked into a little diner in Philadelphia. Naturally, with her gift, she saw me coming and was waiting for me. I was confused because though she was sitting alone, she was radiating anticipation, excitement and love. I wasn't used to feeling those kinds of emotions and especially not having them directed at me. It was uncomfortable at first, but my Alice put me at ease almost immediately. 'You've kept me waiting long enough' were the first words out her mouth, triggering my manners. I apologized; she took my arm and we've been together ever since." Jasper said and Alice smiled before kissing him chastely.

"I'm glad that you've all found each other, despite some of the unpleasant or abrupt ending to your human lives. I admire that you don't hurt humans. Thank you for helping me and welcoming me into your family as well as helping me to secure my human memories." She told them sincerely. All of them came over to hug her. I purposely went last because it meant I didn't have to let her go.

"Bella, you are Edward's mate, that automatically makes you a part of this family; but even if you weren't his mate, we'd still love you. You are a sweet, genuine, and selfless girl. You've proven that more than once to us. Esme told me and I saw everyone else nod in agreement. If she could still cry, I'm sure she would be.

"Thank you." She said simply.

"Alright, enough with the sappy; let's have some fun!" Emmett said and lightened the mood.

BPOV

We never made it to the end of the school year. Edward's depressed state was so convincing that no one questioned it when the Cullens announced that they were leaving. That was part of it; I was going stir crazy. During the day, I helped Esme clean and pack the house. At night, I either hunted or spent time packing our room. I'm not quite sure which part about the move has me more excited, being able to have more freedom or finally being able to kiss my mate. Either way, I'm eager to find out!