Thank you so much for your review! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my story! I update every Friday and post teasers on Mondays. In fact, there is delicious little teaser, along with a Pic Tease, up on the Parachute Blog as we speak.

I have taken to calling you, my readers, "Verucas". A good number of you are so demanding and impatient, even though I update every week! It makes me feel so damned loved and I give you this moniker in adoration! You truly give me chills and warm my heart at the same time with every review you leave me! As you can tell from this message, I respond to every single review that is left for me because you guys rock my socks!

Parachute's 1000th reviewer On FFnet was given the option to choose the subject of one of the outtakes and she deferred the choice to my judgement, so I will continue to listen to ideas and then maybe post a poll to see what you guys as a whole would like to see. The 500th reviewers on Twilighted and here will also be extended the same deal, since I want no one to feel left out!

Oh, and one more thing! An awesome Veruca named Phoebe started Parachute a thread on the Twilighted Forum! The link is up on the blog if you need it! In addition, thanks to many of you, Parachute was named as FanFic Addicts Fic of the Month! Super-freaking-yay!

I love you guys something fierce and I hope this next chapter lives up to your expectations of the first Cullen meeting!

XoXo

Shel

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Esme's gaze went back and forth between Bella and Jack. She could clearly see the love that wound between the two of them and a million questions started to swirl around her.

"How?" she asked, as tears started to trickle from her verdant eyes. "What happened? How did you find him? How long have you known we were his family?"  Both she and Carlisle looked at Bella expectantly.

"It's very long story," Bella chuckled, humorlessly. "Let me start at the beginning."

Bella started to tell the Cullen her tale, starting with finding Jack in the alley and taking him to the police station. She didn't get very far. They were interrupted with the sound of the front door opening and a loud voice calling out of the foyer.

"Mom! We're here!"

Bella felt something tighten in her stomach as she prepared to come face to face with Jack's father. Her nerves were at an all-time high and she briefly wondered if Dr. Cullen could prescribe her something to help prevent an ulcer from forming.

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Thank you so much for your review! The Monday teases are up on the Blog (kitsushel.blogspot.com) as we speak! PLease come join us for the Twitter #readalong on Friday at 8:00 pm, CST! Directions are up on the Blog! Don't hesitate because you've never done one before, neither have I, but I'm going to be there! I'll be happy to answer any questions or if anyone needs anything clarified! 

Love you guys! See you all on Friday with Chapter 15!

XoXo

Shel

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Bella sat down next to Edward on one of the front porch swings. She turned and leaned her back against the side, pulling her right leg up and underneath of her. He turned his head slightly and smirked at her.

"How does it feel to be an old man?" she asked, trying to hide her smile.

He smiled widely and shook his head. "I'm not old."

Bella laughed and shook her head. She noticed that his smile fell as he stared off into the sunset. She nudged him with her foot and he turned to give her a small, sad smile.

"In my mind, I feel like I'm still 22," he sighed. "I haven't really celebrated a birthday in almost five years."    

next up will be a chapter for V&V...then proabably two for LRM.  Thanks for reading and reviewing, glad you liked it!