great chapter.  i loved seeing bella interact with the family like this.  her comment about jasper in the 60's was great.  i also thought the dialogue in this chapter felt a lot more natural and less stiff and formal than the last one.  jasper's advice was full of insightful stuff about the nature of the vampires that stephanie meyer imagined.  it made a lot of things in cannon and in this story make sense.  great job, great story.  keep up the good work!

Author's Response:

Thank you. Things are lightening up a bit in the Cullen house, and so the formality is slipping out the door. E/B got their formal declarations out last chapter, and as we saw in "Ties" there's a comfort level being established. It'll make the more hurtful conversation that are coming soon be easier on both of them.

 

I'm glad you liked Bella hanging with the Cullen kids. I adore them as a family, and I really wanted to see Bella actually belonging with them.

I am enjoying this story very much.  I must admit that, yes, I would have liked more E/B in this chapter, however, the dialogue between the other characters did emphasize that Bella is becoming a member of the Cullen family in her own right.  The casual, comfortable banter between her and Jasper was wonderful.  Clearly, her relationship with Rose has reached a new high as well.  Great update.  I can't wait for Edward to get back!  Will the marriage conversation come up?   Will Bella tell Edward that she told Charlie?  Will Bella have to face Jacob again and "let him down"?  How will Edward react to her seeing him again?  I love the idea that Edward feels like he must reclaim her.  I love jealous, possessive Edward so very much.  After reading MS, I know how intrinsic that part of him is to his personality.  He not only wants her to belong to him, but he needs it.  I love it!!!

Author's Response:

I knew the lack of Edward would be a bit of a disappointment, but there was quite a need for some levity. There's also the fact that when you marry into a family, you get more than just a spouse. A whole new family comes with it. In regards to the Cullens, you're stuck with them for eternity. Bella needed to assert herself into that family as her own person, and to an extent, make up to them for actions with their brother. It requires a different kind of plan, that pretty much just revolves around being with them and accepting them. In the long run it'll make her relationship with Edward stronger, because he won't be stressing out and protecting her from them constantly.

 

I wish I could answer all your questions, but then you'd know everything that was going to happen in the story!

 

Thanks for reviewing :)

I loved your hippie Jasper. Every Cullen must have had a decade that they really enjoyed. 

Bella interacting with all the siblings, especially Jasper and Rosalie, was such a good thing, especially when she felt more like an equal to them than an outsider.

The dialogue flowed much better this chapter, and even with the lack of dialogue tagging, it wasn't difficult to tell who was talking.

Author's Response:

I wanted a more natural and comfortable feel after the crazy intensity of the last two chapters. While it's important to reestablish a relationship with Edward, I can't help but think it's equally important for her to establish one with the rest of the family.

     That was pretty much what I was aiming for in this chapter.

 

     Thanks for reviewing hon!

I really enjoyed reading your story.  The point of view was unbelieveable.  It opened my mind to an entirely new thought.  Thank you for writing it.  I truly enjoyed it!

Author's Response:

I love the thought of changing people's perspective on tried and true Twilight canon. A slight game of 'what if' changes everything. I'm glad that you're enjoying it!

    Thanks for reviewing!

ABSOLUTELY Loved it! His back story and Bella's unconditional love and acceptance. Can't wait to read more.

Just letting you know I believe you are a terrific writer (Is that your major?  Seroiously.)  and I truely love your story.  I look forward to your updates; keep writing!  

 

 

Author's Response:

 Actually I was an International Relations major with a minor in political philosophy. I've never written a piece of fiction in my entire life before this story. So thank you very much for the compliment!

      I'm working on chapter 5 now, so hopefully you won't have long to wait for the next :)

The emotions in this chapter are just...wow...pain is the one outstanding and vulnerability. Edward is completely broken, as much or more than Bella was when he left her. I am so glad he was honest with her in the fact that he truly can not live with out her in his life in some capacity. I love that Bella is the mature person that she always professed to be in the original saga. This story is proving that she is actually that strong person that I felt she could be/was and she is truly being an equal to Edward. She was his equal without becoming a vampire, she can be his mate even before she is immortal. Great Job! 

I was so afraid I wouldn't like this story as I posted before I was afraid it was one of those that Edward and Bella would not be together but I love this that they are actually working on  their  relationship like they should be doing after an event like the one which has occured and all the things that happened leading up to that blow up.

Author's Response:

Thank you. And don't worry, I kinda hate Jake, so this will never be a B/J story. I originally included in the summary that it was decidedly not an "Edward leaves Bella," or a "Bella/Jacob" story, but decided it gave away too much of the plot. But by this point, I think it's readily apparent who I'm focusing on. :)

I'm glad you pointed out that she can be his equal without being a vampire. Bella ALWAYS needed to know that, because Edward never believed otherwise. It would just take some compromise. We'll have to wait and see how E/B resolve that issue in the future. :)

 

And I'm officially going :) face crazy ;)....

    Thanks for giving this a shot even if you thought it might have been a dreaded Jake fic. haha

     - Katie

That last scene was so freaking romantic. Edward really breaking down and them being on the same level. It was lovely.

Author's Response:

Thank you :)

Great chapter. Rosalie was awesome. Proud of Bella's talk with Charlie. This is great!!

Wow. Really, wow. This was amazing. You really nailed this thing about Edward that is so true but I never saw. He really did shoulder SO much for her. You wrote that so well.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much. I thought Edward's back needed a bit of a break, and therefore I wrote this little piece.

  Thanks for reading!

I am really enjoying this story - I think it was a much needed side to tell to the legacy that is Eward and Bella - especially for Bella as it shows her really "getting it".  I can't wait to see what happens next, keep up the great writing!

i love it truly! i always thought that bella never truly saw how much edward had to suffer (or maybe it was stephanie who nevr realy saw, cause he's so mature...?) but i really adore how she realizes their similarities in their feelings about themselves...and it's good how everything comes together and i love how she takes care of him and he of here...and lets be honest: i absolutely love the claiming!!! :)

Author's Response:

It took a lot of thought, and admittedly persusals of Pride and Prejudice, in order to see their similiarites. For the longest time I couldn't understand what Edward saw in her and that they had nothing in common. But at the root of it, they're just two insecure people who go in two different routes with how they handle it. In the end though, their core foundation is their love for one another, and that's really the point Bella was trying to make. It doesn't matter how they feel about themselves (since it's fantasy) what matters is that the person they love most finds them worthy of being loved. That speaks louder than their own feelings of unworthiness.

I too love the claiming, it's just hot.;)

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

*Whew.*  I was just about to ask if this was going to be the end, but then I read your A/N and now I'm all relieved because it's not.  So yay!

Author's Response:

yeah, I realized it could have been construed as an ending, but we still have a bit more to come :)

 

  - Thanks for reading!