I watched as unique crystals filled the air.. First, there were five, then ten, then a hundred and now a thousand. I watched each solitary configuration of crystals drift to the ground and melt just before reaching it. The light was becoming more muted as day turned into evening, but it really didn't matter. Snow was so much more fascinating as a vampire; no longer cold and so miraculously beautiful. I used it to distract me. Despite what Edward had said before, it was very difficult to distract a vampire mind. Vampires can just think of too many things at once.

Seven years and three months ago today I woke from the intense burning. Seven years and three months ago I hunted with Edward for the first time. Seven years and three months ago I held Renesmee for the first time and felt a love I never knew was possible. The last seven years and three months had been amazing. I had Edward and Renesmee, the two people I loved more than anything. I was so happy all the time. Now, she was gone. I knew she would be back, but it didn't seem to stop the empty feeling inside me.

Yesterday, I watched as Edward gave Renesmee to Jacob. The wedding was perfect because Alice wouldn't have had it any other way. The flowers were so fragrant, so similar to Edward's and my wedding. I couldn't help but smile a little. Ness was stunning in a Quileute wedding dress. Bride and Groom both wore traditional clothing with an Alice touch. I'm sure no other Quileute couple's attire had ever been so elaborately beaded. Alice went to great lengths to make sure all proper Quileute ceremonies were observed. She wove the tribe's tradition perfectly with customary wedding practices. I'm sure there has never been a wedding like it before and, surely, it could never be duplicated.

Renesmee would have taken my breath away, had it been possible. She glowed with love and happiness, and everyone could feel it. Jake looked at her in the same way Edward looked at me during our wedding; so much love, desire, happiness and triumph.

Part of me longed for the release tears would have brought. As I watched Edward march our princess down the aisle, memories came flooding to my mind. A beautiful little head of bronze curls cradled in my arms "telling" me about her day. Setting her on the back of her enormous wolf and saying goodbye as we prepared to fight the Volturi. Giggling, bouncing curls next to that same wolf as they hunted together.

I had watched Jake take such good care of her at every turn, I had no reason to worry for her. Eighteen months ago Ness stopped talking to Jake. It was so sudden I had no idea what to think. She didn't even want to be in the same room with him, of all the silly things. She hid in her room with the door locked and blocked Edward. Jake had been her best friend all her life. She always wanted to be with him. Now, she wanted nothing to do with him? It was like she was embarrassed to be near him. I never would have guessed that she liked him. The thought reminded me of middle school in ways I was glad to be forgetting.

Jake just smiled and he took her for a walk.. It took him an hour to talk her into going, but he was never impatient. He just talked kindly at her bedroom door, until he had convinced her. When they came back, they were holding hands. It was the sweetest thing, Jake knew exactly what she needed just like always. He crushed on her just as much.. Imprinting stuff never ceased to amaze me. It continued to be that way.

Her crush developed and kindled at a slow but even pace. Jake became exactly what she needed when she needed it. First a best friend then, confidant then, crush, boy friend, fiancée and, now, husband and lover.

He never took advantage, when she thought she needed too much, too fast; he slowed her down. He was sweet and loving at every turn and always completely honest. Edward and I watched them carefully. Jake never pushed her, he simply followed the desire of her heart. Many times, he understood those desires better than she did. Then, about six weeks ago, they announced their engagement..

The last six weeks had been a whirlwind of excitement and wedding plans and now, they were gone. I knew they would come back. They were going on a long honeymoon, two months at least. I didn't blame them, I was happy for them. I knew they were perfect together, just like us. They had waited to consummate their relationship, just like we had. I was so proud. Now, they needed time alone, together.

Esme sent them to her island as a wedding gift. When they came back, she would no longer be my baby, she would be Mrs. Jacob Black. They would be arriving there shortly. The fuzzy human memory of our time on the island came back to me. Would she be feeling the stage fright now?

If I had been human, my tears would have started their silent streams anew. So, here I stood in the middle of the softly floating white crystals trying to concentrate on them. It wasn't working very well. Watching each slow descent to the ground. I noticed a flake here and there actually touch the ground before melting. I felt the whisper of each flake that fell on my arms and face.. I was supposed to be hunting, I found what I needed blood wise but, my emotions were not ready to return to our cottage, to the empty bedroom waiting there.

I felt two hands gently grasp my shoulders and, at once, I knew it was Edward. I had been so lost in my memories I didn't even hear him coming behind me. He wound his arms around me and brought his lips down to whisper into my ear.

"Bella, are you OK?"

I turned into him and let the dry sobs take me. He held me and let me "cry" it out.

"Bella, she will be home before you know it."

I shook my head. I knew I couldn't speak the feelings aloud, there was just too much. So, I moved my shield and let him in. I was glad this had gotten so much easier. He held me more tightly and I felt a sob work its way through him, too. I knew it would take me a little while to be back to normal, but it would come. Of that, I was sure.

"Oh, Bella," he whispered. "Come home with me."

I felt my shield snap back into place. Then, we walked hand in hand back to our beloved cottage at a near human pace. We enjoyed the solitude of our beautiful room and held each other until the late dawn made itself known through the falling snow. Six inches had piled up over night and it didn't look to be stopping anytime soon.

Edward held me and touched me with the adoration he always had. He loved me so gently, I couldn't help but feel better.

During the night I had an epiphany, Renesmee was just as happy as I was at this minute. We were having parallel experiences; this night we both felt the love of our husbands in every way. I knew way she felt about Jacob was nearly equal to the love I had for Edward. At that moment, everything clicked and I was overjoyed. My daughter had the best thing possible in life, the thing I wanted for her more than anything. I wondered briefly why I didn't see it before. I didn't want to break our perfect silence. Instead, I moved my shield to share my joy with Edward. The ecstasy of the night was accented with my joy for Ness.

As the sky brightened, Edward pulled me closer and broke our night of silence. "Alice and Jasper are coming," he whispered so quietly I could barely hear it over the sound of falling snowflakes. "Everyone is worried about us, they were all going to come but Alice insisted she come with Jasper only."

"Thank goodness for that," I whispered back. Alice was still my best girl friend and she always knew the best way to handle any situation. Although, I was sure I would be better at it if I could see the future. Alice had a special way to go about it. Everyone knew not to mess with what Alice thought best.

"She will be here in two minutes." Edward whispered. "We should probably get dressed."

We sat up and I stretched. Even though I didn't need to, I still liked to sometimes stretch in the morning. I was glad my closet wasn't such a mystery anymore and Alice was glad I had started to dress more fashionably. I kept it simple, like Edward. Each different texture of fabric was more discernible to my vampiric skin. It didn't take long to realize that quality really did feel better against my keen skin.

I slipped my hands though the sleeves of my off-white cashmere sweater and pulled my beige slacks on. As I was putting on my shoes, I heard Alice skipping and whistling up to the house. Edward was already getting the door. I saw Edward nod to Jasper and I gave him a look.

"Jasper says you're in a much better state of mind," Edward smiled, "and I was agreeing with him."

"Oh good, then you'll be part of the war," Alice grinned.

"What war?"

Alice turned to Edward, "Didn't you tell her?"

"No, we've been a little busy. You were right, I did need to go find Bella at that moment. You came quite a bit earlier this morning than I'd expected."

"Well," Alice sped, " Everybody has been worried about Bella. Especially after my vision last night and all the crazy feelings Jasper sensed in her yesterday. Jasper and Garrett and Emmett have been trying to sort out teams and they want to know if they could separate you two for the war, I told them you wouldn't want them to do that but, they are convinced the teams would be more equal that way because Bella could shield her team so you couldn't read their thoughts."

"Huh? What's going on?" I looked at Alice.

"Jazz, Em and Garrett want to have a snow war! This storm is huge. We will have a foot of snow by noon. So, they want to build snow forts out in the clearing and have a war. " She grinned, "It'll be sooo fun."

I giggled, her enthusiasm was catching and Jasper amplified it. "OK, Alice," I rolled my eyes.

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