I hear Esme singing softly in the kitchen as she cooks dinner and to our surprise, Edward joins in and their voices blend together harmoniously to create a beautiful sound.

Normally, I would have enjoyed their song as Edward rarely sings but I'm too busy sulking over my dismissal from the kitchen.

Lord knows, I've tried cooking for myself but Edward and Esme look at me with such heartbroken expressions that I'm forced to relent and now they have all the fun while I sit here and brood, which is horribly unattractive but I don't care a fig!

Carlisle grins at the sour look on my face. 'I have something for you', he says, pulling a gold colored envelope from his pant pocket.

'No', I groan. 'I thought that they had gotten bored of us. They haven't sent an invitation for ages.'

'It was because they were entertaining someone else' Edward calls out from the kitchen and I look at Carlisle quizzically.

'Royce King is getting married', he explains, smiling. 'It is his engagement ball.'

'You jest!' I exclaim but Carlisle shakes his head as his grin widens.

Relief spreads through me for I no longer have to worry about Royce King again. I am not so naive as to think that his inappropriate behavior will cease but already there will be no possibility of him asking for my hand in marriage: a thing he was dangerously close to doing (Edward told me) before I confounded him.

It was a dangerous move as I risked discovery by the MACUSA (I am here illegally in the USA according to both Muggle and Magical authorities as they are both unaware of my presence-I needed to disappear so no Black or Malfoy could ever find me) but I did it anyway for had he proposed, I would have rejected him and there would have been nasty repercussions as Royce King is a horrible, depraved man. He has implied that Edward and I indulge in incest on several occasions and he could spread this rumour very easily if he wished to.

Edward's voice shakes me from my reverie. 'Should we warn the Hale girl?' he asks Carlisle as he lays the table-another foolish thing to do if you ask me, since none of them used cutlery he painstakingly arranged on the table.

'I am not eating at the table', I interrupt crossly. 'It is embarrassing to be the only one stuffing my face while all of you sit there with your pristine plates.'

'I'll eat with you', Edward volunteers immediately, trying his level best to hide his expression of extreme dictate at the thought of eating human food.

'Edward, I don't want company', I say slowly. 'I just prefer to eat in an informal setting. Will you allow me that or shall I be dismissed as I was in the kitchen?'

Carlisle gets up and leave the room quietly.

'Lisa', Edward says gently as he gathers the extra crockery, 'You only had to ask.'

'You don't understand', I shriek, surprised by my own flash of temper. 'Sitting at the table and being the only one eating makes me feel horribly uncomfortable and rude and it is unsettling to have all of you looking intently at me as I eat. I feel like a freak!'

'And you don't even let me do anything to help, Edward', I continue angrily. 'I'm not a bloody baby, Edward, I can look after myself! I appreciate Esme and you cooking for me but you don't need to do it everyday-'

'Alright', he surprises me with his abrupt acquiescence and I stutter to a stop. He hands me my plate and fork. 'The food's in the kitchen, I'll be practicing on the piano in the corner, you can come listen to me if you want.'

He turns away from me and I realize that I've hurt him.

'Edward', I begin hesitantly but he interrupts 'The food's getting cold, Lisa' and I leave.

Neither of us makes a move to initiate conversation as I eat. Edward plays the moonlight sonata repeatedly and I stare into the fire, my stomach churning with guilt.

'Edward', Carlisle calls out from the foyer, I guess as I am not quite adept at locating the sources of sounds. 'Let's go for a walk.'

Edward turns to look at me and then as if he cannot bear to look at me for a second longer, he rushes our of the room and I (for some stupid reason) burst into tears.

'Lizzie', Esme is next to me in a jiffy and she takes me into her arms. 'Let it out darling.'

And so I sob to my heart's content, dampening my mother's dress with my hot, salty tears.

'I feel better now', I say conversationally, after a few minutes. 'You didn't shush me to tell me everything was going to be fine.'

'It is better to cry and release your pent up feelings rather than bottling them up out of some foolish notion of bravery or delicacy', Esme smiles humourlessly. 'It comes out anyway, often in the form of anger or violence.'

'I hurt Edward', I say quietly.

'Yes, you did child', Esme agrees. 'Your concerns were valid and I apologize for my part in your aggravation but you could have talked to Edward in a cool, composed manner. He is as new to this as you are and sometimes his love for you overrides his rationality.'

'You have to understand that Edward is going to be in the first throes of love forever (while the human part in you may change your feelings into something more mature, deeper) and it makes him want to do everything for you.'

'He loves me more', I say sadly and Esme laughs.

'Silly girl', she says amused. 'Love may be many things but it is not a competition. And the next time he does something you do not like, talk to him nicely and softly or if you have to shout, do it privately.'

'Duly noted, Professor Cullen', I say seriously and both of us collapse into helpless giggles.

'What a beautiful girl', Malfoy croons, running a smooth finger down my cheek. 'You look just like your mother.'

'Cepheus', a woman calls out. 'Darling, where are you?'

'I'll come for you, my sweet', Malfoy says as he leaves to join his wife. 'Don't you forget it.'

I wake up trembling, my skin slick with sweat. It's been months since I've dreamed of my life in London and I feel a deep sense of foreboding. Something is coming, I feel it.

It may be Cepheus, my mother's jilted Betrothed who wants to defile me and murder me in revenge or Aunt Sicily who wants to kill me, an aberration, the black sheep of the Black family to supposedly restore the family name.

I need to talk to Carlisle and that thought propels me out from the bed and into the dark corridor.

I search the house for him but he is nowhere to be found and as a last resort I burst into Edward's room to find it empty as well. Thankfully, I hear the shower running and I call out before banging open the bathroom door, a hand over my eyes to protect Edward's modesty.

'Lisa', Edward says and I peek through my fingers to see him standing in front of me, his hair wet and dressed in dirty bloodstained trousers.

'My clothes are outside', he points out but I ignore his disheveled state and rush to embrace him. My nightmare has made me appreciate him all the more and I cling to him like a child, my legs around his waist and my head buried in his shoulder.

'I'm sorry Edward', I say, my voice muffled by his skin. 'I'll air my complaints in a more dignified manner next time.'

'I like you as you are, Liz', he says, his shoulders shaking with laughter. 'My little fierce kitten.'

'Oh really', I say indignantly as I rake my nails over his bare back like an angry kitten. 'Did you like-'

Before I can complete my question, I find myself on my back with Edward above me, caging me with his arms, a feral gleam in his eyes.

'You really shouldn't have done that', he says ominously, punctuating each word with a kiss.

'Edward', I say breathlessly into his ear before leaning up to bite his earlobe hard. 'What now?'

'Now', he says mischievously, 'I show you what happens to bad little kittens.'

The sun is shining when I wake up I can tell but the blinds are drawn.

I'm lying on my side with Edward's torso pressed against my back. He presses his cool lips to my exposed shoulder, trails them up my throat as I shiver in pleasure.

'Shall I kiss you, Liz?' he asks huskily and I sigh wantonly before pushing my head back to meet his lips.

He kisses me softly, gently so different from last night as he skims his fingers over my hip lazily.

'Liz', he says when we stop to catch our breath. ' Will you marry me?'

I turn to face him and see the amusement shining in his eyes.

'Ask me when you have a ring, love', I say pertly, secretly trying to gauge if he is serious.

'Well, then it's fortunate that I'm prepared', he comments casually as he takes a ring box out from the bedside table.

He hands it to me and I open it with shaking fingers. It contains a simple gold band inlaid with emeralds.

'My father gave it to my mother on their wedding day', he says, his eyes on the ring.

'He said that the emeralds reminded him of my mother's eyes. My eyes were the same shade of green.'

'Ned', I smile through my tears as I press the box into his hands and hold out my left hand. 'It's a yes.'

He smiles at me, that crooked smile of his that makes my heart stutter and slides the ring onto my third finger.

And just like that, we are engaged.

Hiii guys

Long time, no see.

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