Chapter 25: Skiing

BPOV

I awoke to the coldness of not having Edward next to me. I frowned before stretching and looking at the clock. I couldn't believe that it was almost noon, I had really overslept. "Good morning, Love." Edward said as he slowly opened the door already dressed in jeans and a green sweater.

"Good morning." I said smiling at him as he walked towards the foot of bed and crawled towards me. He gently kissed me keeping his weight mostly off me. "You should've woke me up." I said hugging him.

"You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to bother you." He answered lieing next to me as I snuggled close to him.

"Do you have anything planned?" I asked feeling the warmth of his body.

"Would you like to learn how to ski or snowboard?" He asked me as my eyes widen in terror.

"Edward, you know I don't have much coordination or balance." I responded already imagining myself falling on my behind.

"But I can teach you." He said nuzzling my neck. "It'll be fun."

"Edward, I have never put on a pair of skis in my life." I complained feeling my resolve falling as he placed gentle kisses along my cheek and neck.

"Lucky for you I've been on skis since I was born. I'm practically a pro." He whispered.

"Then I will definitely only hold you back." I added with a laugh.

"You'll never hold me back, love. Can you please try it for me?" He said with a puppy face that made my heart melt.

"Fine." I conceded watching as his face immediately lit up with happiness.

"Let's get you some breakfast and then we'll head to the slopes." He said practically carrying me downstairs.

"Edward, please put me down." I cried in a laugh as we made it out of his room.

"Why?" He asked with a wicked grin as he raced down the two flights of steps my eyes closing.

"Good morning." Esme said merrily as we walked into the kitchen, Edward sitting me down on the breakfast table next to Esme as Carlisle and Edward worked in the kitchen.

"What are they up to?" I asked Esme.

"They're making us breakfast." Esme replied with a smile. "Carlisle and Edward always make breakfast and I always make dinner it's a sort of tradition around here."

"Can I help?" I asked not wanting to impose if it was something she liked to do herself.

"I didn't know you cooked." Esme commented.

"She can give you a run for your money." Edward added with a wink patting his stomach.

"I don't know about that. I've heard wonders about you're cooking, but I say I can hold my own." I responded.

"I'd be happy to have you help me." Esme said giving me a hug. "It's nice to have another woman around to keep those two in line." She added pointing at Edward and Carlisle who were both wearing aprons. Carlisle wore a red apron that read "She married me for my cooking" while Edward wore one that read "Kiss the Cook!"

"I didn't know Carlisle could cook." I mentioned to Esme who almost choked on her orange juice.

"My husband has the same capacity in the kitchen as my son. They can make an incredible breakfast, but that's about it. He can barely use the microwave." She answered as we both laughed. Edward and Carlisle were very much alike.

"Are you two ready for some of my delicious pancakes?" Edward asked bringing two plates and setting them down in front of us.

As he was setting mine down I leaned over and kissed him. "What's that for?" He asked with a grin.

"I was juts following directions!" I said pointing at his apron.

"Well, in that case." He began before leaning to kiss me again.

"Edward, your bacon is going to burn!" Carlisle called with a laugh as I immediately blushed.

Breakfast turned out to be delicious, and I was able to eat through my nervousness. Skiing had never been anything I would ever picture myself doing. "You'll be fine." Esme reassured me as she handed me her skis. "Edward is a great teacher. He's even taught some of the kids in the town."

Edward shook his head with a smile as his mom complimented him. "It was nothing. I just helped some of the kids who were having some trouble." Edward explained.

"You should've seen him, Bella. He had them all skiing perfectly down the Bunny Slope in an hour." Esme said proudly.

"Alright, mom. I don't think Bella wants to hear anymore boring stories." Edward interrupted taking the skis from my hand.

"But I do." I said with a smile causing Edward to roll his eyes.

"I'll tell you them when we go into town tonight." Esme replied. "No you kids have fun."

We arrived at the ski lodge in ten minutes. "Are you ready?" Edward asked me with a smile on his face.

"Honestly, no." I answered as he snake his arm around my waist leading me towards the beginning slope.

Edward laughed. "I won't let you fall I promise."

"You can't promise me that." I complained.

"Just trust me." He said kissing me lightly.

As I looked around the area I was embarrassed to see that the majority of the skiers were all children. I was probably the oldest one there. Edward began by teaching me the basic steps of how to ski. I was practically mesmerized by how passionate he was about the sport.

I had been fairly successful falling only a handful of times, in which Edward quickly caught me. "Do you want to try the hill?" He asked me.

The hill was very small, and did not look like such a huge challenge. "Do you think I'm ready?" I questioned.

"I think you are. I'll be waiting at the bottom." He said kissing my cold cheeks. "Then we'll go get some hot chocolate."

After taking a deep breath I let myself go down the hill. I was trying to remember everything he had told me, but my mind went blank as soon as I saw an all too familiar person approached him. I felt myself loose balance when she touched his arm playfully, and before I knew it my but had hit the floor.

EPOV

I watched as Bella positioned herself at the top of the hill. She had done surprisingly well, and I was very happy that she had trusted me enough to teach her. She was never going to be a pro, but she could learn.

"Edward!" A sickening sweet voice called. At first I pretended not ti hear her, but it became impossible to ignore once she was standing right next to me.

"Hi, Alexia." I said not taking my eyes off Bella as she let herself go down the hill.

"Isn't she precious skiing down the baby hill." She commented with an air of superiority.

"She's never skied before, Alexia." I corrected her as she giggled placing her hand on my arm.

"She's a virgin!" She cried in laughter.

I simply shot a glare at her before noticing that Bella had fallen on the floor. I quickly tore myself from Alexia's grasp running towards Bella.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I asked trying to see if she was in any pain.

"I'm fine. My behind is just a bit sore." She answered as I helped her up.

"Are you alright?" Alexia inquired faking concern as she walked towards us.

"I'm perfectly fine." Bella answered wrapping her arm around my waist.

"Thank God. We would hate to have to make a stop at the emergency room during Christmas." She added with a smirk. "Edward, are you going to go up the lift?" She asked me.

"Not today." I answered.

"Come with me, please. I hate going up there all by myself it's scary." She pouted causing Bella to giggle.

"You're a big girl. I'm sure you can hold your own." I answered as Bella removed her skis.

"You're no fun anymore." Alexia stated with a frown. I simply rolled my eyes as Bella and I continued back to the lodge Alexia trailing behind us.

"Edward, Bella what a coincidence to see you here!" Anne stated as we walked into the lodge. "I see Alexia already found you."

I smiled politely at my ex-girlfriend's mother squeezing Bella's hand in reassurance. "Have you all gone skiing yet?" She inquired.

"Bella here doesn't ski. Edward was just showing her in the bunny slopes." Alexia said sounding condescending.

"Isn't that sweet of you, Edward. I would think you would be out in about especially with the pristine conditions we have today." She answered.

"It's alright. I actually just want to spend time with Bella." I answered as I noticed Bella holding back a giggle.

"I already asked him to join me on the lift, but he refuses. He doesn't want to leave Bella alone." Alexia added with a calculating smile.

"Actually we were just leaving." I stated starting to move.

"I'm suppose to go into town with Esme." Bella interjected following me closely.

"I have an idea." Anne said with a smile. "Why don't Edward and Alexia go up the mountain and I wait here with you. They should be back within an hour."

"I'm really not in the mood." I replied. I didn't want to be anywhere alone with Alexia.

"Come on, Edward. You love to ski." Alexia urged. "I mean the last time we were here together we barely spent time off the mountain."

Bella immediately glared at her. "If you really want to go, honey, it's alright by me." She said to me. I had to stop from laughing when she referred to me as "honey." She never used any nicknames, and I knew it was all for effect.

"Come on." Alexia said practically pulling me.

"I'll be back in a flash." I told Bella conceding that this was a fight I was not going to win.

Bella smiled weakly winking at me before wrapping her arms around me and kissing me with full force. "Hurry back!" She whispered loud enough for Anne and Alexia to hear.

"I love you." I said kissing her once more before following Alexia to the slopes.

"Isn't this great. Just like old time." Alexia said slyly linking her arm with mine.

"Alexia, I'm not trying to be rude, but I have a girlfriend." I told her escaping from her grasp.

"I know." She answered with a shrug. "But I don't really think she's your type."

I scowled at her handing her skis. "You don't know what my type is."

"I was obviously your type at one point." She answered flipping her blonde hair.

"You're right you were, and that was in the past." I stated as we boarded the lift.

"But there has to be some sort of feelings for me still left in you." She told me resting her arm on my chest.

"I can assure you there isn't." I replied removing her hands.

"You know you're no fun anymore." She said with a frown.

"It's called growing up and finding the love of your life. You should try it sometime." I responded.

"So those two years with me meant nothing to you." She stated placing her hands on her hips.

"I thought they did, but I realized that I was young and stupid." I told her. "And you seemed to have totally changed. I mean you were a lot nicer when I knew you."

"I can't believe you, Edward!" She cried with tears starting to form in her eyes.

"Alexia, don't try that crying thing with me. I know perfectly well that you can cry on cue. So those tears mean absolutely nothing to me." I warned her.

She stayed quiet for the rest of the ride up. "This is not over." She said as we stepped off the lift.

"It's been over for six years." I answered before she let herself go down the mountain.

I placed my goggles over my eyes before letting myself follow her. Somehow her warning scared me. Alexia was very revengeful, and tended to get everything she wanted no matter the price. But I was not going to let her get between Bella and I, because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Bella.

A/N: So I was able to write most of the chapter last night, and finish it off this morning! I hope you guys enjoyed it, and are starting to see who Alexia really is. More about her relationship with Edward will be revealed. She has not given up.

I want to thank all my reviewers you guys are the best! You even have me writing when I should be studying! But I was so inspired to write that I had to, in fear I would forget.

I hope to have another chapter on tonight. So stay tuned!

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