" Malachi. Can you relax, please. I can hear your heart beat, going at different speeds every second."

My fingers twist the loosen thread, which is attach to the cotton shirt i had on. I never knew I could feel this abounding amount of nerves, meeting the parents and family I had heard imbecilic rumours about. You would think I had zero cares of how they would perceive me. I like to not judge those off idle talk.

Only, it was the opposite, having to check my pulse to see if I am still alive every minute. Edward was right, I had to calm my racing heart. I wouldn't put it past the Cullens if they heard it from miles away. they probably could, now.

" I cannot help it, Edward. I want to make this impression good, on your family. which reminds me, I brought a gift for your mom, and Carlisle. as a gesture for their hospitality."

The gifts were simplistic, a gilded lily floral necklace for Esme. Edward told of her love for gardening, everything flowers and fauna. having a flower bed of roses, sunflowers, and daisies. For Carlisle, aged textbook of different variations of poetry that I purchased and in antique condition.

Edward turns the car steering wheel, beginning on a secluded serpentine pavement of gravel, I become aware of the looming trees that move in a rushed motion as the car drives.

" you know, Kai, that those gift purchases were not a necessity. they wouldn't think of you as less if you came hand empty, and just yourself." He spoke, shifting the gear to park, bringing the car into a stop.

" I wanted to gift these to your parents, Cullen. and, besides the point, this." I wiggle the necklace case, the clanking sound of metal heard, unclasping my seatbelt.

" immediately reminded me, to your words, about how your mom likes flowers. It was going to be purchased. None the less, if I didn't choose this specific one."

Edward got out, using his speed in coming to my side, opening the passenger side. " I have to say this house, is stunning."

Open rectangular floor to ceiling windows, with reflective plastic to keep the sun from penetrating the inside. the exterior walls were an aloe-wood coloured brown, and I counted three levels and a fourth that could only be the attic.

" it definitely exceeds my fathers penthouse. you would never hear me say this exact remark to my dad in person, he is far too defensive when it comes to his place." that earns a chuckle from Edward, finding how I spoke about my own father amusing. " finds strange joy, in living and staying in a place where his bed room is ten feet away from the elevator. yes, he has an actual elevator, where literally anyone can stagger in drunk."

Edward pulls down on the latch to the front entrance of the house, allowing me to enter first. He had spoken a word only, only being attentive in hearing what I was talking about.

" have you voiced your concerns, to your father. it sounds to me that could potentially be dangerous, and a safety issues." he states, removing the greatcoat from my arms.

the temperature in the house was surprisingly levelled, Not so cold. Perfect.

" these were his exact words of notion, I wish I kid when I said this. Son, no Mortal would have the stupidity to trespass. unless they wish to be met with an impending, and promised, demise of becoming a soul trapped in hell. You don't have to be worrisome about my safety." I imitate my fathers British accent, shoving a hand in my dress pants.

a grin crosses my mouth, watching Edward laugh.

I take in the infrastructure of the house, noting there was portrait paintings of eighteenth century men dressed in periodic accurate clothing. art work, that could belong in a museum, hanging on display. modern, Open and exposed. " I have to give my respect to who design this house, it's impeccable. So light in colour!" I exclaim, admirably.

" what were you expecting? Coffins, moats and dungeons. The stereotypical items you would find in Dracula's castle." he snorts, taking off his own coat. " you know, I was bracing myself to see at least one coffin." is my reply, matching his grin. " but yes, not the moats. I certainly would have shown my surprise, if in fact your house did possess it's own water stream."

I wouldn't have held it to him, if the house was in the centre of an island.

My head leans to an angle, pointing my ear to the stair case, where clamouring of kitchen pans and chopping of knives is heard. Melodic  Opera music plays. " this is the one place, where we don't have to hide our selves. Thanks to the tint of the windows." Edward explains, " I told them not to do all of this. they made food, for your arrival. and I fear they might have made enough for a banquet."

he continues to say, the sound becoming much clearer, stepping into the walkway.

" I do have to warn you, before we go further." He starts, in which I turn to him. " Ignore Rosalie, if she starts talking. she can be... sceptical. Of new people." that was easy to accept and understand. " there is nothing or a word she can possibly say, that would have me offended. Edward."

one minute later we come to the kitchen, steam fills the air above and strong smells of pasta is prominent. I meet the eyes of a woman, young and youthful in age of her middle twenties, who face share the shape of a heart. her hair was a nice caramel brown. she gave a maternal smile of warmth, upon seeing me standing there. I gave a reticent smile in return.

" Malachi, hello! I have heard many positive things about you. I am esme! Edwards mother." she gushes, coming from around her place at the island. " let me have a look at you." her hands delicately touch my jaw, the smile never left. " you are quite the handsome young man. Oh! It is nice to meet you, darling." she chimes, bringing my upper body down to her height, encasing her arms around me.

" honey, don't scare Malachi away now. Esme means no harm, she is just showing her excitement that Edward finally found his other half. Finally, after all these decades." Doctor Cullen chortles, " we are making Italiano. we're told it is your favourite food."

Esme releases me, still having a firm hold. Emmett waves, a knife in his left hand, to me. I give a two finger hand wave. " Esme is my mother, for all intents and purposes." 'Time to show my Italian. I suppose.' I clear my throat, " Ciao, il mio nome è Malachi. Bon giorno?" In translation, asking esme how her day is coming by. She replies " Molto bene!" smiling, 'very good'.

" you have given us an excuse to use the kitchen, for the first time. I hope you can forgive the mess, we wanted to perfect this but given this is our first real meal we have made in centuries. We are a little rusty." Doctor Cullen places the diced carrots in the frying pan, with the sautéed onions, pasta and scallions. " absolutely. I actually am rather hungry. That smells Devine."

I compliment, Edward makes a snort noise.

" He already ate."

Glass shatters and I could only give Edward a look, silently scolding him on speaking for my behalf. The volume of the television, playing a recipe process making and step by step on how to make the perfect Italian meal, dials down and Rosalie's heels press in the broken glass. " perfect." she snaps, placing her glare on Edward.

" I apologize. I just know that you don't eat, or consume, normal food that humans do. But I do want to have some of the pasta, I can't say no to a nice meal that involves it." I could only mutter, at the end of my sentence, a little flustered.

" of course, that is considerate of you. Malachi." Esme states, I touch the bare and bolding place under my hair on my neck. " just ignore Rosalie, Kai. I do. It becomes easy to." I could only give Edward a sharp stare, which silences him. " Edward. Stop."

" because let's keep pretending, that this is not dangerous for all of us." Rosalie now casts her stare to me, observing my reaction. I didn't flinch, speaking impassively. " you will never have to doubt me, or worry, when it comes to your secret. I would never tell anything about this; i harbour my own. that I wish I could tell. I fear it is a little extensive, then the existence as vampires." a hesitancy clouds her face, including the rest of the Cullens and Edward, disconcertion visible.

" she is aware, and knows, you would never tell." Carlisle gives a pointed expression, to Rosalie. " Well, yeah. now the problem is you two have gone public, now, so..." Emmett follows with, looking expectantly to Edward and I. " Emmett." Esme, warningly, says.

Rosalie, by the surprise of each member of her family, changes her tone when speaking.

" I am sorry, for how I first started talking. I just wanted and wish for you to know, how I feel. If this relationship ends and goes, badly, my family and me, will be implicated. there will be serious repercussions."

Emmett stares, jaw slacking. Edward does deliberate slow blinks, shocked.

" Rosalie, that is where I can understand what you are implementing. So please, don't feel the need to explain. Because I am aware and know, the understanding of keeping a secret." I could see her posture reduce in tensity, relaxing her arms and she gives a terse nod.

" Hi, Kai!"

I see Alice, joined with Jasper, balancing on a branch from the Balcony. she steps down, holding a bouquet of wild flowers, and with skips in her steps approaches me.

Handing over the assortment, I feel Alice gift a small welcoming kiss on my cheek then a swift hug. " it's nice to finally meet you, in the flesh. I am Alice. but you already know my name." She giggles, wistfully. " you smell amazing. like the salt water from the ocean, and nice summer rain." I could only give a smile, not positive on how to reply.

" Alice. What do you-" Edward gave a 'really' look.

" it's okay. Malachi and I, we are going to be great friends. Even including Rosalie, I have seen it." She taps the top of her forehead, wilfully and a glint of knowing. I notice Jasper, staring and boring his own eyes into mine. He appears to be hypnotised, only to become aware, and shies back to looking at Alice.

" sorry, Jasper is our newest vegetarian. He is still adjusting to our dietary habits, and it's a little difficult for him."

I extend and give out my hand, to offer a shake. " i can say, it's nice to meet you, Jasper." He takes the gesture, giving my hand a sturdy shake.

" All right, I am going to take you on a tour and show the rest of our house." I am guided away, by Edward, to a second stair case. I caught the stare he gave Alice. then he laughs only it's faint. " was that as weird as it was for you, then for me?" I gave my own snort.

" they mean well."

Art pieces, tribal masks, and ancient historic Chinese scrolls line the display glass. then I become aware to over multitudes of different tassels and graduation caps. Artistically assorted. 'Now that is certainly something you certainly don't see in a house.'

" graduation caps?" I question. Wanting to be sure I was seeing right.

" right, yeah. It's a private joke. We matriculate, a lot." He does a shrug of his right shoulder. " that's horrible. Miserable. I cannot begin to imagine, repeating high school, the nightmare." Just imaging what it would be like having to re-start, a school semester. over again, the repeating cycle.

" true, but the younger we begin and start in a new place. The longer we can stay there." That sends a shiver, of repulsion, down my body.

" Come on."

Behind the wall, I peer into an open room. Books scattering each corner, and I take in the sight. Edward puts out his hand, " and this is my room." a bird chirps in the brush of a tree, outside, as I glance over the stereo and record sets on the cabinets. " I am liking the collection of different music. but No bed? What, you don't sleep?" I ask, observantly. I needed sleep, I loved sleeping, so hearing the words " No sleep. We don't sleep." I release a scoff.

" goodness, no sleep. that is horrendous. I need my sleep. I love sleeping. Not even for an hour? Or ever?" He smirks. " no sleep. No drool. No nightmares, or insomnia. not at all."

I change the subject, now anointing my attention to the rows of CDs. " let's see what you are listening to. i got to give you credit, Cullen, you have good taste in music." I glide a finger on the spines of each album cover, seeing different decades from sixties to the two thousands. " do you have any favourites? of genre? Artist? a song you like."

I thought for a minute before giving a answer. " John legend. his album Love in the future. Especially all of me. The way he conveys his emotions, those feelings and how he sings."

Edward taps a finger to his mouth, pursing his lips. " I think, I have that exact album. Pressed away in the mix, give me a second. Ah, yes, I found it. not one single grain of dust." He takes it out from the place, on the hundreds of choices. conveniently it had the protective plastic on, which Edward removes. He places the cd in the player, and is gentle to press play.

The introduction melody begins playing, of 'All of me'. 'Did Edward purposefully choose this song. He did' I gave a raise of a brow, when Edward takes my hand, moving to me. He is slow to put a hand on my hip, then glides it to the lower part of my back. My face must be flushed red, and I interlock our hand.

What would I do without your smart mouth

I begin resting my chin on Edward's shoulder, as he leisurely sways to the beat and rhythm. I feel his lips smiling in my cheek, but we don't say a word.

Drawing me in and kicking me out. You got my head spinnin' no kiddin I can't pin you down.

My senses are filled with musk and nice smell of vanilla, in Edward's shirt. I inhale, softly, relishing the odour.

What's going on in that beautiful mind. I'm on your magical mystery ride. And I am so dizzy. Don't know what hit me but I will be alright.

THIRD POV

There was no more perfect moment, then being in Edward's arms. He felt bliss, that is the only word he could muster. Just pure bliss, love. A tender time of serenity, in the form of slow dancing in the room, being held by Edward. Malachi had never experience what he did feel, heart palpitating in missing beats. The nervous flutters, as he stares adoringly.

My head is under water, but I am breathing fine. You're crazy and I am out of my mind.

Malachi is spun, with Edward watching with a gaze he couldn't read. Then back to the place, continuing their slow dancing.

Cause all of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all of your edges. All your perfect imperfections.

Edward halts their movements, savouring the proximity. The distance, he is just inches from Malachi, Lips centimetres away.

Give your all to me and I will give my all to you.

Deciding to take control, he without a hurry, seals his lips on Edward's. Guiding a hand to Malachi's cheek, moulding and moving his own lips with his Edward. caressing the light coloured hairs on his chin.

You are my end and my beginning even, when I lose, I'm winning.

In those five seconds they shared the kiss, their first kiss, it felt right. A euphoric and bliss of ecstasy fills his veins, when Edward re-attaches their lips. Then touches his neck, leaning his head forward into Malachi's. Their noses form a heart.

" I love you, Malachi."

Malachi breath crosses Edwards features, taking in the words he heard. An enamoured of love fills his eyes " and I am falling in love with you, Cullen. I love you."

Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you.

Your my end and my beginning.

-

Small author note;

I loved writing this chapter. I actually do love that specific John legend song and I just thought this fit perfectly to do. It just felt right.

Jasmine.®️