Sorry about the second link all! I realized after I posted initially that I forgot to run the spell check! ARGH!

*****

Previously…

"I love you, Mary Alice."

She knew that when I used her human name I meant what I said. She smiled and whispered her response.

"I love you more, Jasper."

"What do see for the rest of the night my love?"

She smiled at me and gave me a little head tilt. I love when she does that. It's adorable.

"Why don't you come with me and I'll show you?"

You don't have to ask me twice. She stood up and we walked up to our room, passing Carlisle's office along the way. She nodded towards the room.

"I told you I saw laughter."

I smiled as we shut the door to our room behind us.

********

We walked quickly to our house, as it was a little cool outside. Nessie had just had a bath, and even though she was half vampire, she was still susceptible to a sniffle. If there was anything in this world that I hated more, it was my daughter not being well. We arrived at home and I walked up the stairs towards Nessie's room. She had fallen asleep on Bella's shoulder so I got the room all ready for her. I turned on her stereo so the sounds of my piano would play while she slept. Bella laid her down in bed and pulled the covers up over her so she would be warm. She leaned over her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Good night, my love. Sleep well."

I stood there for a moment, my heart swelling with pride in my two ladies. Bella never ceased to amaze me with her unending compassion, the way she would so easily give of herself to others. She was a natural born mother, and she reminded me of Esme. She stood upright and turned to look at me. I walked over to her and placed a kiss on Nessie's forehead.

"Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

I ran my fingers along her cheek and she squirmed a little in her sleep. She reminded me so much of her mother. Though she had Charlie's curly hair, she had her mothers beautiful eyes. So full of life, of expression, even when they were closed. I felt a pair of arms around my waist, and I took hold of the small hands that I felt.

"She's beautiful."

"I was just thinking that. She's exactly like her mother."

"She looks like you, Edward. Don't be silly."

"Not really. She's got my hair color, but that's about it. She's got Charlie's curls, your gorgeous eyes, and she definitely has your personality."

I felt Bella's lips touch my shoulder.

"Come on, let's go downstairs and let her sleep"

She released her hold of me and took my hand as we walked quietly downstairs to the Living Room. Once we got there, she sat on the couch and patted the seat beside her.

"Come sit with me, Edward."

I came and sat beside her, my right arm made its way around her and I pulled her close to me. I loved sitting with her in the darkness like this. There was something so very simple about it, but it was such an 'us' thing to do. She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed.

"What are you thinking, Bella?"

"Nothing really, Edward. I'm just very content."

"You don't usually sigh unless you're upset or frustrated. Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm completely ok, Edward. I promise you."

We sat there in silence in the darkness for about thirty minutes, just enjoying the quiet, and the beauty of the alone time we had together.

"Edward?"

"Yes, my love."

"I know about tonight."

"I'm sorry?"

"I know about tonight. I mean, about the conversation. Alice had a vision and she stopped me when we got to the front door and told me about it."

Alice Cullen. You evil little pixie. Well done.

"You had me going for a while there, Bella. I was concerned that you thought…"

She sat up from where she was and stretched her legs over my lap, cuddling beside me as she looked into my eyes.

"Edward Cullen."

She didn't use my full name. She's not mad at me. This is a good thing.

"You know that I know that you had just arrived when this discussion was already going on. You also know that I know that you would never even think of saying that women weren't as deserving as men or that they couldn't do the things that men do."

I held her close to me as I spoke to her directly from my heart.

"My precious Isabella. Before I met you I didn't have that much of an opinion on the subject to be quite honest. I knew that women were the same as men, and thought it quite odd that people would think that women weren't on equal footing. However, I have to tell you, Bella…"

She sat up from me and got a defiant look on her face.

"You have to tell me what, Edward?"

I smiled at her and brought her head back down to my shoulder where it should always be. I rubbed my hand along her back to soothe her, something that I know she loves.

"Let me finish, love. I was about to say that seeing how well you have adapted to this life we live, if you'll pardon the irony, amazes me. Aside from you, Jasper is our newest to this particular lifestyle of vegetarianism, and you have adapted in more ways than one, better than he has. Your self control is amazing, your restraint, your compassion and if you'll allow me, humanity is unheard of."

She nuzzled against my neck, placing her lips against my skin. It sent shivers through me. I kissed the top of her head as she continued.

"But more than that, Bella, on our honeymoon. When we did the unheard of and conceived Renesmee, not only was that an incredible experience…"

She giggled against me, and I couldn't help but do the same.

"It wasn't such an incredible experience for the pillows or the furniture, Edward."

I laughed right out loud at her amazing grasp of the obvious.

"True enough, Bella. It was amazing for so many other reasons. Finally, I had been as close to you as I had wanted to be for so very long. You were my first, Bella, and thankfully my only. You gave me a gift that I never thought would be possible for me to have. How you endured her growth inside you amazes me to this day. Bella, you gave me a gift that I could never possibly equal."

I spoke in a voice that was barely above a whisper, not being to express my emotion in any other way.

"Bella, when I saw how much pain you went through to give me the most precious gift that a woman could give a man, I…"

I couldn't say any words. For once in my existence, the words didn't come. I couldn't look at Bella, I couldn't stand that I had caused her that much pain, and that it had almost killed her. Worst of all, I couldn't stand that if it weren't for what I couldn't stand, I wouldn't have my beautiful daughter. I stood up from the couch and walked out of the room, heading towards the front door. I knew that Bella would eventually follow me; it's what she did when I got like this. After a moment or two of me standing outside watching the snow gently fall, I felt a hand slip in mine.

"Edward, you have nothing to be ashamed of or to feel badly about. Don't you remember that this is what I wanted? I wanted nothing more than to be with you forever, and I didn't care how it happened. You made me into who and what I am today, Edward, and I'll quite literally love you forever for that."

"Bella, you amaze me."

"Hardly, Edward. You amaze me."

I rested my chin on her head and sighed.

"There are times, love, that I miss being able to express human emotions."

"Such as?"

"Tears. I remember being so confused when you would cry when you're happy, and I came to realize it was because your emotions were so full that you couldn't find another way to express your happiness. If I were human, Bella, then for me this would be one of those times."

Without warning I felt two arms around me, and a pair of legs wrapped around my waist.

I stumbled a little, but was able to catch her securely.

"Edward, everything that I am is yours, and everything that I ever will be too. We'll be together forever, and in all of that time I will never be able to tell or show you how much I love you."

Her lips met mine ever so gently, and staying the way she was I walked her into the house. I climbed the stairs and laid her on the bed, never letting my lips leave hers.

"I love you, my sweet Bella."

"And I love you, Edward. Always and forever."