Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believe that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember

Whenever You Remember—Carrie Underwood

The next two days passed a little too quickly for my taste. Anthony served as a catalyst for every reaction that needed to finally happen in the house. Somehow, the boy had brought back some kind of joy that I hadn't even known was absent.

Edward and I were closer, Esme was more jubilant, hell, it even seemed as if Emmett was softer. However, I was sure that last one would probably fade after a bit, Emmett would be back to his usual violent self within a few days. But even so, it was a nice temporary change.

But the one thing that shocked us all was Laurent. After spending a little more time with Anthony and Emilie, it seemed as if someone had picked him up, and pushed him on the road towards recovery. He didn't seem as broken anymore. Sure, he was still moody, and he would brood occasionally, but Emilie seemed to be able to bring him back to reality.

I stepped onto the back patio, where Emilie and Laurent were playing around in the snow. Laurent and Emilie sat in the ice, talking and watching the boy about a foot away from them. Anthony was sprawled out in the ice, waving his arms back and forth, making a snow angel.

"What are you doing?" I heard Laurent ask.

Emilie sighed. "He's making a snow angel. What does it look like?"

"A snow angel?" he tilted his head to one side.

"You don't know what a snow angel is!?" Emilie gasped.

Anthony just lifted his head, and gaped at his clueless vampire friend for a moment, before returning to his angel.

"Should I?" Laurent asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Emile exclaimed, flicking snow at him. "Where have you been for the last three hundred years, a cave?"

Anthony jumped up, being careful not to wreck his imprint in the snow. He looked down at it, smiling proudly. He pointed to it exuberantly.

"Snow angel," he announced.

"Oh," Laurent said, smiling. "I see it."

"You make one," Anthony demanded.

"I'll pass," Laurent said, raising his eyebrows.

Emilie smacked his arm. "Come on, party pooper," she said, glaring. "Just make one."

"But—" Laurent tried to protest, but Emilie grabbed his hand, and pulled him up. She dragged him further out into the snow, and pointed to the ground.

"You heard the boy," she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "Make a snow angel."

Laurent scoffed, but complied. I had to admit, that it was adorable when a little child was doing it, but when a muscular vampire male was doing it, it looked utterly ridiculous.

I snickered when he stood up, and his angel looked completely deformed. Emilie bit her lip to hide her laughter.

"Um," she raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it worked."

He blinked. "My angel has two heads. . ."

"You must have moved," Emilie said, tilting her head to the side.

"Ugly angel," Anthony shook his head.

Laurent groaned. "Thanks so much,"

"Try again," Emilie suggested.

"No," Laurent shook his head. "I'd rather not,"

Anthony laughed. "Try," he pleaded.

Laurent sighed, and instead of getting back on the ground, he bent over and picked up a handful of snow. Emilie raised an eyebrow, and Laurent grinned as he dropped the lump of ice on top of her head.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, brushing the snow out of her hair.

He chuckled, and shrugged. "You're the one who suggested making a snow angel."

She stared at him in disbelief. "That was the worst pick up line I have ever heard in my entire life." She said, through a fit of laughter.

"Ah," he said. "But, it worked, didn't it?"

She snorted, "Definitely not."

I looked down at the watch on my wrist, and sighed. I was supposed to be taking Anthony back to his mother by now, she was ready to go home.

"Hey Anthony," I called. The boy turned his head, and smiled.

He trotted towards me, "Hewwo Bwella,"

I smiled. "It's time for you to go home," I told him. I expected him to grin, or cheer, but instead he frowned.

I frowned too. "Don't you miss your mommy, Anthony?"

"Yes," he replied. "But, I don't want to leave. I'll miss you guys."

"Oh Anthony," I sighed, "You'll get to visit us again. We'll miss you too, but you gotta go home. Your mommy misses you a lot. She'll be sad if you don't come home."

He nodded. "Okay," he said. "Can I say goodbye?"

"Of course," I smiled.

He stumbled over to Laurent and Emilie, giving them both a hug. Then he went inside, and hugged the others, who were watching TV in the living room.

"Kay," he announced. "I can go home now."

I grinned. "Let's go then,"

After I had given Anthony back to his mother, it was almost Twilight. But for some reason, I wasn't ready to go home yet. So, instead of driving home, I took the Volvo on another route. I started off towards the park that I had taken Anthony that first day.

After parking the car, I entered the park, and walked down the path that cut through the snowy grass, my mind elsewhere. I strayed off the path, and entered the surrounding woods, smiling to myself.

I remembered Anthony, Edward and I playing in the snow. I remembered how euphoric I felt. I remembered how adorable Edward looked, holding the boy, and Anthony yanking his hair.

But then, despite the happy memories that came to my mind, the only thing that I could concentrate on was the sad thought that followed. I remembered being human, and wishing to someday have a family. I remembered having a dream or two, of Edward and me as parents, even though I knew that it was impossible.

I saw a fallen tree, leaning against its neighbor. I sighed, and stepped over dirt and rocks, to use the bark as a seat. I sat cross-legged on the thick, snow-covered wood, not bothering to care about my jeans getting soaked.

"Well," I said to myself. "This sucks,"

I had sacrificed so much to be with Edward. Hell, I sacrificed my life to be with him for eternity. I gave up my parents, my non-Cullen friends, my home. I forfeited a normal life, and that included children. Of course, I didn't regret any of that. Edward and my new family were most definitely worth it. I would give up anything for Edward, or my family. But that didn't stop me from grieving what I lost. I just had to remind myself that although I lost a lot, I gained so much more.

"Bella!" A voice shouted, causing me to jump, and fall face down into the snow. I was about to yell at whoever scared me, when I heard someone collapse to the snow next to me.

"Bella, are you alright?" the angelic voice asked, sounding concerned. I moaned, and pushed myself out of the snow, and onto my knees. I looked up, and saw that Edward was sitting in the exact same position as me.

"I'm fine," I said, brushing the snow out of my hair. "You just startled me, and I fell off of the tree."

He sighed with relief, and pulled me close to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and laid my head on his stone chest. He sighed, and ran his hands through my auburn hair.

"Um," I said, "I love you, too?"

He chuckled, but there was no humor in the sound. "What did I tell you, Bella?"

I raised an eyebrow, and lifted my head to look at his face. It was solemn. "Edward, what's wrong?" I traced his frown with my fingertips.

"I told you to never go into the woods alone."

I blinked. "I thought that was only valid when I was human."

He shook his head.

Then I suddenly understood. Why Edward's voice was so frantic when he called me, why he was holding onto me so tightly, and why he was here in the first place.

"Alice had a vision," I said. It wasn't a question.

He only nodded.

"It wasn't good." Another non-question

He sighed, and gripped me tighter. "No,"

I gulped. "What happened?"

"We don't know," he replied. "She just saw. . ." he pursed his lips, ". . . something that we don't want to happen."

I didn't speak, I just returned to my previous position, the side of my face to his chest, listening to the sound of his breathing, and nothing else.

"Let's go home," he said, lifting me in his strong arms, and cradling me to his chest. I was still too scared to speak, so I allowed him to carry me to the car.

Once we were driving, he took my hand in his, and brought my knuckles to his lips. "You're fine Bella," he said, his lips brushing against my hand as he spoke. "No one is going to ever hurt you, I promise."

"What exactly did Alice see?"

He sighed, dropping our hands to the console. "It was nothing, Bella."

"You weren't acting like it was nothing," I pointed out.

"It's no one that is going to come back," he promised. "It was just a night crawler, someone who has nothing better to do then cause pain to other people."

I bit my lip. "You mean like the men in Port Angeles?" I asked. That was one of my human memories I was really looking forward to forgetting.

He let out a low growl. "Something like that. . ."

But something told me that wasn't all it was. I let the subject drop though, not wanting to push my husband any further.

hmm, a little sequel foreshadowing, perhaps? XD

you'll just have to seeeeee.

(no, it's most definitely not the Volturi)