AN- Edited and improved but the story remains the same.

Bella sat in her car leaning her head against the steering wheel, why had she bothered even getting out of bed this morning. She took a deep breath before slowly getting out of the car and heading towards the Cullen family home. Ringing the bell, she waited patiently for someone to answer.

Her boyfriend Edward had asked her over for dinner with his family, they were great the majority of the time. Edward's sisters' Alice and Rosalie were great, but proper girly girls. Whereas Bella most defiantly wasn't! And she wasn't in the mood to be prodded and poked by either of them, or Alice's incessant chatter about her and Jasper's relationship. Jasper was Alice's partner and Emmett Rosalie's, both men loved the girls to bits just as Edward did with Bella. They were both comfortable with being spoilt rotten by them, but somehow it never felt right to Bella when Edward spoilt her. Which was one of the main reasons why Bella had decided not to spend the day shopping with them. She knew that Edward was disappointed but Bella persuaded him to go along and spend time with his sisters and best friends insisting that she had no choice but to work.

"Bella, your early everything ok?" She asked always the intuitive one.

"I'm fine Esme thanks, if I'm too early I can come back later, I just didn't really want to head home after work." Bella replied to Esme honestly.

"Don't be daft I could do with some help in the kitchen preparing dinner before everyone else gets home, it feels like we haven't had a chat in ages" Esme told Bella, before taking hold of her hand and leading her towards the kitchen.

Whenever Bella entered this house she immediately felt at home, much more so than in her actual home! Everyone here was so friendly, most of the time, if you didn't mind Alice wanting to play dress up or Emmett making you jump as often as possible. The most important thing was that they treated Bella like one of their own, which she appreciated more than anything in the world.

Bella's own family didn't pay her half as much attention. Her father, Charlie, was the Police Chief of Forks he spent all day taking care of the town, but could never make time for his daughter. All Bella wanted to tell him was that she had just landed her dream job in Seattle one which she had worked so hard for, but all Charlie could say was that if she wanted the job then she would have to leave home, she should just be happy working at the diner. Charlie was only bothered with appearance's what would others say about Bella getting a job in the city? That the people of their town were not good enough for her. In reality Bella loved the people of this small town, it just wasn't what she wanted for the rest of her life, and her father couldn't understand that.

Bella's mother Renee was no better, Bella had not heard from her mother in over two months she was off travelling the world with her new toy boy, and couldn't even be bothered to keep in touch and make sure Bella was ok.

As much as Bella loved her parents there was time she wished that they were more like Carlisle and Esme, parents who wanted to hear about their children's day no matter how old their children became or how independent they wanted to appear, Bella knew that all of the Cullen kids loved to be babied at one point or another.

"Bella are you listening? Are you sure you're ok?" Esme asked gently shaking Bella's arm.

"Hu, sorry Esme I must have zooned out for a sec what were you saying?" Bella asked with a slight flush to her cheeks.

"I asked if you wanted to make the salad to go with the lasagne, but if you're not feeling up to it, I don't mind doing it myself" Esme replied pushing a stray strand of hair behind Bella's ear.

"That's fine Esme, of course I don't mind making the salad" Bella told her with a small smile.

There was a calm atmosphere in the kitchen as both women silently prepared dinner. Esme kept glancing sideways towards Bella she always worried about her. Although fiercely independent, and did everything for herself Esme knew that everyone needed a mother at times someone to talk to confide in or just share girlie gossip. Something which Esme knew Bella did not share with her own mother. More often than not it seemed that Bella was the adult in that relationship instead of the other way around.

Esme had realised straight away that Bella was perfect for her eldest son Edward she gave him a quiet confidence about himself something which he had never had before. Edward was becoming more open not only with Esme but with the rest of the family as well. He was now more likely to sit and join in with family discussions, something which he had not done previously. Bella encouraged him to be who he wanted to be and not pretend to be anybody else, which was something that Esme would be eternally grateful to Bella for.

As the two women finished preparing dinner Esme realised just how lucky she was with her family, three wonderful children who still took time to see how their own mum was doing, she didn't know about Renee but she would be incredibly proud to have Bella as a daughter.

"Bella do you want to tell me what is bugging you so much?" Esme enquired hoping that Bella would open up to her just a little.

"I'm fine Esme honestly you don't need to worry about me" Bella replied selflessly.

"Oh sweetheart, of course I worry, you may not be my daughter but I love you as such and you need to know that no matter what is bothering you I'm here to listen and help" Esme told Bella sincerely.

Bella could only stared at Esme in shock. With the lasagne cooking in the oven and the salad sat in the fridge, Esme led Bella into the living room, pulling her onto the couch placing an arm around Bella shoulders making sure she was tucked securely into her side. With her other free hand Esme covered Bella with a throw. Even without saying anything Esme knew that this is what Bella needed the most, and as Bella let the worries of the day melt into Esme's loving embrace she knew that she had the Cullen's to rely and depend on.

One hour later, was how Carlisle Cullen found the two women, asleep on the couch. He smiled down at the both of them wondering what had made Esme curl up with Bella this way? He hoped everything was ok with Bella. Carlisle knew that Esme only curled up like this in the middle of the evening was when one of the children or herself were feeling poorly or they needed some mother daughter time. He himself had been known to curl up with both his daughters on occasion especially when they needed a good cry it is nice to still be wanted.

Without disturbing either woman he slid into the kitchen making himself a coffee and looking in the oven were the lasagne was cooking nicely, after turning the temperature down so it did not burn her headed upstairs to change out of his hospital clothes into something much more comfortable. Heading back down stairs and into the living room Edward found that Esme was awake, staring at Bella gently stroking her hair he couldn't believe how much he loved his wife in this instant.

"Hey, everything ok?" Carlisle whispered so as not to disturb Bella.

"Help me get up and settle her back on the couch." Esme replied just as quietly.

Between them they had managed to lift Bella off Esme so she was able to slide out from underneath her then gently lay her back on the cushions wrapping the throw more securely. Esme kissed Bella forehead before motioning for Carlisle to follow her into the kitchen. Without a word between them Carlisle wrapped his arms around his wife securing her to him, placing gentle kisses to the top of her head.

"How I've missed you my dear Husband" Esme told Carlisle

"Not half as much as I did" He argued with a growing smile to his lips.

This is how they had greeted each other every day for the last twenty years, and neither wanted to change it. Carlisle didn't want to break the silence between them but desperately needed to know that everything is ok.

"So, what's going on with Bella anything I can do to help?" Concern layered Carlisle voice.

"To be honest I'm not sure. Bella came over a good couple of hours before we were expecting her, she just seemed so distant but wouldn't tell me what was wrong, so what was I supposed to do but curl up with her on the couch and hope that would be enough." Esme told me shakily.

Carlisle proceeded to wrap Esme in his arms once again, knowing that when one of the children were hurting then she was hurting just as much, and although Bella was not biologically theirs, in all other aspects they treated her as such. This also meant that Esme felt Bella's pain as well.

"Sweetheart try not to worry Bella is sleeping peacefully on our couch, which will do her the world of good, and if she wants to talk then she will in her own time, you know it's pointless to try and rush our stubborn daughter!" Carlisle told Esme hoping that his words would calm him down some.

Although Carlisle and Esme never called Bella their daughter in front of anybody else between the two they had an unspoken rule that it would be acceptable as this was how they both truly felt.

At that point the front door opened which told them that their children were arriving home, which put an end to the conversation. Carlisle rushed to tell the others to be quiet so that they did not disturbed Bella sleeping on the couch, while Esme took the salad out of the fridge, adding in dressing. Her girls Alice and Rosalie came in each giving Esme a hug before helping her set the table for dinner, while she took the lasagne out of the oven, sliding in the garlic bread which should only take a few minutes.

"So girls how was your day?" Esme asked always wanting to be a part of their lives.

"We had so much fun shopping and spending lots of money" Alice told Esme smiling like a child at Christmas.

"Yeah and even better that we had Emmett and Jasper to spoil us rotten" Laughed Rosalie.

"Those poor boys, I hope you both say thank you." Esme warned making sure that her girls didn't take those boys for granted.

"Of course. Anyway I defiantly plan on thanking Emmett properly later!" Rosalie told Esme so seriously that it made the older women double over in laughter.

Esme had always ensured that her daughters were able to be completely honest and unafraid to talk about anything and everything, which was why their relationship were so close.

As the family sat down to their meal the conversation light, mainly talking about the purchases the girls had brought today, Esme kept one eye and ear towards the living room looking out for any sign that Bella was about to wake up, and she was not the only one, both Carlisle and Edward kept glancing worriedly in the same direction checking for signs of the girl they both loved so dearly. As everyone was just tucking into ice cream for dessert, Bella slowly walked around into the dining room. And if anything, she looked worse than when she turned up at the Cullen house. Both Esme and Edward were immediately out of their seats, Edward going over to embrace his love while Esme went to fetch Bella's dinner keeping warm in the oven. As the meal was brought to the table Edward guided Bella into a seat between himself and his mother.

"Thank you, Esme, and I'm sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep like that, I guess I didn't realise just how tired I was." Bella told Esme, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Don't apologise, it was obviously what you needed, now eat up before it gets cold." Esme gently reprimanded Bella before pushing a fork in her direction.

Thankfully without further argument Bella began to eat watched carefully by Esme, Edward and Carlisle although in the end she only managed to eat about half of what's on her plate.

Once Bella had finished eating, the family moved into the lounge and set up for their Friday night movie marathon, it was the boys turn to pick the movies which undoubtedly meant some sort of thriller or horror, Bella was most defiantly not in the mood but knew it was useless to argue as last week the girls made the boys watch soppy romance films which they hated just as much. Emmett and Rosalie were curled up on one of the loveseats while Alice and Jasper occupied the other, which left, Edward, Bella and his parents on the big couch. Edward had grabbed a bowl of popcorn and wedged it between himself and Bella before grabbing a blanket and tucking it around Bella securely, with a wicked grin and a wink he turned back to the movie.

That was what Bella loved the most about Edward, no matter what was bothering her, he knew just what to do to make her feel better and forget even for a short time what had been bugging her so much. In the end the boys made the girls sit through two action films with lots of guns, cars, fighting and girls barely dressed.

"I swear the only reason you guys like these films is because you want to watch half naked girls" Rosalie teased Emmett gently slapping him on the arm.

"Aww you know me too well" He laughed before tickling Rosalie causing her to squeal and everybody else laugh at both of them.

While everyone was distracted watching Rosalie and Emmett Bella tried to sneak out of the room and headed towards the kitchen as much as she loved her Friday nights at the Cullen's, and deep down she knew that she was more than welcome, she never really felt like she belonged. As she slipped out the back door and heading to sit on the porch so that she couldn't hear everyone in the other room, she let a single tear escape. It was times like this that Bella really hated her parents, she didn't know why they couldn't just be happy for her, she had just landed her dream job and it was close enough that she didn't have to move, which should have pleased them. Although Bella was beginning to wonder if that was her mistake, perhaps she should have been applying for jobs across the country and get away from them, that way she wouldn't have had to deal with them.

Deep down her reason for staying was that Edward would be staying in the area and there was no way he would leave his family they loved each other too much, which was great but at the same time it made Bella extremely jealous because she didn't have that. Although Carlisle and Esme showed her just as much affection as their own children it was never the same as if it came from her own parents after all they were only doing it to be nice.

As Bella sat, tears streaming down her face, Esme was waiting patiently in the other room giving Bella time to sort out her own thoughts and emotions. After about ten minutes she gave Carlisle a quick kiss on the forehead and Edward a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and smiles before grabbing a blanket and went in search of Bella. When Esme finally found Bella on the porch curled up on a chair sobbing her heart broke she hated to see people cry especially her own children, she rushed over to Bella before securely wrapping the blanket around her. Esme just held Bella while she sobbed into her shoulder gently rubbing her back and hair, whispering to her that everything would be ok and she would help Bella sort whatever it is out that was bothering her so much. After what felt like a lifetime to Esme Bella slowly began to calm down he breathing even out and she wasn't shaking so much. Bella tried to sit up and although Esme allowed her to, she still made sure that an arm was firmly around Bella's shoulders and that her other was gently stoking the hair out of Bella's face.

"I'm sorry Esme I didn't mean…" Bella began to tell Esme before she stopped her.

"Hush don't worry darling, everyone needs a good cry every once in a while, and what helps even more is when someone is there to comfort as well" Esme told Bella sincerely.

Bella raised her head giving Esme a watery smile before dropping it back down staring at her feet.

"Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?" Esme asked hoping that whatever it is they can sort it out.

Bella didn't reply at first just taking calming breaths so that she could at least try to speak calmly, it took quite a while before Bella finally felt ready to tell Esme what was upsetting her so much.

"I heard that I got a new job today, its everything I wanted" Bella told Esme glancing up at her to gauge her reaction.

"Oh sweetheart that's wonderful congratulations" Esme beamed at Bella before pulling her into another hug. Esme's reaction just sent Bella into another round of tears, why couldn't her parents have reacted that way.

Esme felt completely confused by Bella's reaction surely this was a good thing.

"Huni, listen if it's not the job for you then reject the offer and keep looking it's not the end of the world" She tried to reassure her.

Sniffling Bella replied "It's not the job, when I told my parents they were less than supportive, my Dad didn't understand why I needed a job in the city, he said why couldn't I have been happy working at the diner."

"Oh sweetheart, I had no idea. Now you listen to me, I know you want their love and respect but you need to do what is right for you and only you. If this is the job that you want then you take it, and know that we are here to support you in whatever way you need" Esme told Bella in her mothering tone that left Bella realising that Esme meant every word she meant.

"I can't take the job, my Dad said if I did that he would kick me out, I can't afford to live off an apprenticeship's wage the paper pays so little, I just don't know what to do." Bella almost yelled at Esme before feeling guilty for taking out her frustrations on Esme.

"Esme I'm sorry I shouldn't have shouted it's not your problem please forgive me" Bella hurried to tell Esme before she could answer.

"Can you answer me one question, I want you to forget about what your Father said, Bella is this your dream job?" Esme asked.

"But…" Bella tried to argue.

"Hey just answer the question for me please, for once think about you" Esme commanded.

Bella tried to stammer out a response but was unable to speak, she was so conflicted and didn't know what to do Esme was asking her a question yet how could she only think about herself if she took this job she would be homeless.

"Just answer the question Bella" Esme repeated before pressing a finger under Bella's chin so she could look Bella in her eyes.

"Yes, I want this job it means everything to me, but I just don't see how I can take it" Bella told Esme honestly.

"I promise you my darling that me and Carlisle will help you in any way possible, if that's the job you want then we will help you make it happen" Esme responded before pulling Bella into a motherly hug.

The two sat this way for the next half hour, Esme pouring all her love and care toward Bella knowing just how desperately the young girl needed it. The temperature outside had dropped rapidly as the first snowflakes fell, at which point everyone else came outside looking for where Bella and Esme had run off to.

"Hey, there you two are everything ok?" Carlisle asked as he pulled his wife into a hug

"I'll tell you later" Esme whispered so that only Carlisle could hear.

At the same time, Edward had managed to pull Bella to her feet wrapping her in his arms. Esme glanced at Bella and saw a small smile play against her lips, it was good to see that the chat they had, at least gave Bella time to think through her thoughts and what had happened. Esme and Carlisle left their children and partners watching the snow fall she had to discuss the possibility of Bella moving in with them on a more permanent basis with Carlisle.

Bella stood wrapped in Edward's arms and felt like she had landed her dream guy, he wasn't bugging her asking to tell him what had gotten her so upset. He was content in knowing that she had spoken to his mother and looked better for it, although still exhausted with red eyes from crying.

"Come on Miss Swan let's get you to bed, you look exhausted" Edward whispered

Unfortunately, Emmett heard and began wolf whistling as we left everyone else on the porch. Once Edward and Bella were ready for bed Edward wrapped his arms around Bella securing her perfect body in front of him, making sure that all his love was being poured into this one hug.

"I got that job I applied for in Seattle" Bella whispered.

"That's amazing congratulations, when do you start?" Edward congratulated me so sure that I was taking the job.

"My Dad doesn't want me to take the job he said that if I do I couldn't live there anymore I'd be homeless" Bella finally told Edward what was bugging her so much.

"Silly Bella you won't be homeless you can live with me and my family, I'm kind of surprised that my Mum hasn't already asked you" Edward replied full of love.

In that moment Bella's bad day turned into one of the best, she had a new job and a boyfriend and his wonderful family who loved her unconditionally. What more could a person possibly want.