Ah, when to the heart of man

Was it ever less than a treason

To go with the drift of things,

To yield with a grace to reason,

And bow and accept the end

Of love or a season?

Robert Frost

Excerpt from Poem: Reluctance

It was his sock.

Gripping it firmly, I stood and gazed into the midnight sky from the balcony, the diamond-like stars ironically reminded me of that twinkling in his eyes when he had an idea or was being mischievous.

I couldn't believe I'd made such a mistake.

I felt Alice's presence behind me.

"I've screwed up big-time, haven't I?" I never knew the teenage analogy could have described my deeds so much. I could throttle myself, if it was possible. I had always feared my heart would become as cold and hard as my skin, I just never thought that I could have turned away someone with love so pure, so certain, and completely for me.

I was so stupid.

"We all did Edward."

I gripped the sock tighter, I was surprised it didn't tear, I wanted to scream. They didn't screw up. I did it all. As much as they wanted to, they would never completely oppose to my ideas, they supported me, even if they didn't want to. The truth was Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper drew back from me even more and more ever since that day I had stormed through the house, throwing out every possession which held his scent. Alice had tried to stand by Bella and myself, but even she at moments had anti-clockwise thoughts. Rosalie had never liked Bella and took the time to openly express her feelings, whether or not Bella was around, but had actually liked him. She hated me even more now. And she had gone away months before Bella and my self's wedding. Not wanted to be apart of this ludicrous arrangement.

If only I had listened to her.

"No Alice." I growl. "How much more foolish could I have been. I thought she loved me. Ha!" I scoffed. "What leather curtain was over my eyes? Fate handed me perfection on a silver platter." I choked; if I could I would actually be crying. "I tossed him away...and took the saucer." My eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't beat yourself up Edward, you couldn't have known."

Ah, good ol' Jasper, he was too silent for his own good, vampires couldn't hear him much less. Jasper loved him. He understood Jasper. One would just find them sitting and gazing unheedingly at each other, then he would burst out laughing, and Jasper would have this small smile on his face.

"I could have," I pointed out, "I was just too blinded to see it. The truth was right there in front of me. I thought age meant wisdom, God I'm stupid. He was perfect; funny, sweet, kind, explosive, bad for your health...a ticking time bomb." He sighed. "Perfect."

"Age doesn't mean wisdom Edward, experience does, and you'll never make a mistake like that again."

"You're right Alice." I said with determination. "Never..."

All three of us swept out of the room. We had a lot to do.

J&E&J&E&J&E&J&E

"Dad, like seriously, what is with the male gender." Natalia slammed the bags on the island counter.

"I couldn't agree more. I mean, they saw me with Daniel, yet they cease to stop moving their mouths." Desiree argued.

"And other bodily parts." Natalia added, putting away groceries at a faster than normal speed.

Desiree snickered.

Jacob semi-glared at his daughter, who looked wickedly back at him.

She swept her bronze bangs out of her eyes, bronze hair which did nothing to hide jade eyes, eyes that though he loved, pained him every day. Her curly-end, mid-back length bronze hair in her uniform ponytail, swung over her shoulder for a second, before she tossed it back annoyed. Placing Daniel on the floor, she proceeded to put away groceries, a small smile on her face. Porcelain skin was swatted at, when an ant felt to venture up her arm.

"Uncle E," Natalia called outside, "stop trying to sneak a peck with Aunt Rose and get those bags in here, please." Her tone was stern, but her wide smile said differently.

Shaking her head and turning from the kitchen doorway, she bent to put the canned foods in the bottom cupboards. When hair fell over her shoulder, she swept straight, ebony black hair, behind an ear each time she turned her head. A few loose strands fell beside chocolate brown eyes, the same as Jacobs. Passing a window, olive brown skin seemed to shimmer for a single second, before being disrupted by a passing force. Turning swiftly her hair rose with the unnatural wind.

Emmett.

His booming laugh sounded through the kitchen and house, while he went through the house at lightening speed, putting away items faster than they could even form a syllable of a word. He finally stopped at the island counter, striking a pose which would be envied by models everywhere.

Desiree scowled. "Show-off!" she made a show of blowing a strand out of her eyes.

They all stared at her for a single second, before bursting into a fit of hearty laughter, getting louder as Rosalie came through the door at human speed.

She glared at them, but even she had to suppress laughter by biting her lip.

It was times like this that made Jacob happy, made him forget, he never really could though. But it was hard to remember when you were so happy. He knew he could never love anyone else, but he'd be damned if he let himself get sad when he had three wonderful children, and Rose and Em there to always stand by him. He could face life's storms with them.

Natalia was a big softie; she could be my sister in appearance, but not in will. I was stubborn, she wasn't. Desiree could beat me in will though, she held the 'Like-me-or-not-I-don't-give-a-flying-fish,' award proudly, while Natalia was 'Uh-that-looks-wonderful,' or the 'Don't-worry-I-can-get-another-one,' kind of girl.

If I could take a guess Desiree would be the werewolf, and Natalie would be the vampire, contrarily and ironically to their appearance.

Saying Daniel was hard to understand was an understatement. Probably due to the fact he was barely one, and that he couldn't talk or that he was silent than most babies. He seemed to just look and calculate everything, observing with more reverence than the Pope.

Emmett looked at all of us, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation a while back." He glanced at Desiree, "Don't exploit human men Des...there's a shortage you know."

"Oh I know," she shot back, "My theory is, Aunt Rose is snacking on them."

Rosalie laughed, "Only the cute ones."

Emmett frowned at this.

They took one looked at him and found something to laugh at more.

Rosalie chuckled and pecked Emmett's childish pouting lips. "Only you honey." She whispered.

Desiree and Natalie awed, while Daniel crawled up and made a slight cooing sound at the sight. Even he could tell true love.

Jacob grinned then shouted, "Okay guys, who wants to pick what to do for the rest of the day."

Emmett seemed to shoot up and made a beeline for the den. Rosalie chuckled and followed. Desiree jumped on his back and shouted 'Charge' like a war leader in battle. Natalia laughed and scooped up Daniel as Jacob trotted through the door.

This was happiness for him, and nothing could spoil it.

Nothing.

Consider this my New Year gift to you...a new story! An original-ish sort of idea.

I was considering posting this the second the clock struck twelve, but I'm sure that once that happens, readers on this side of the planet-myself included- are going to be jumping like idiots and calling friends and families and texting and stuff. Computer forgotten I'm sure, so here you are. The updates for this will be random, and please review, just at least once. Not for me- directly- but for the New Year. Come on, review once for this year, let this story be it. Kisses! Lots of love! XOXO! D|E|U|C|E|S! And...HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have a wonderful, (and I can't emphasize that enough), 2011!