We continued staring at each other, trying to rip the secrets from each other's eyes for the longest time. Eventually I was smiling completely, and Edward's frown had nearly completely dissipated. He looked much more handsome when he wasn't brooding and guilt-ridden.

"Um, good evening?" Carlisle's voice came from the door. Edward and I looked at him and Esme. I realised exactly what position we had been caught in. Our bodies were pressed against each other, his hands on my waist, from the dance. One of my hands was on his arm, the other was pressed over his mouth. Our faces were inches apart. We shot away from each other faster than light traveled.

"Good evening." Edward replied, recovering faster than I had, walking slowly towards his parents. "How was your day?"

"Dare I ask?" Esme probed, smiling. She was looking at me, and I was trying to keep an indifferent face on.

"Edward saved me from being molested." I replied, keeping a straight face. Edward's eyes flashed with humour before he nodded seriously.

"Steve was getting out of line, even with Emmett's warning I didn't like his thoughts. Any gentleman should know to keep his hands to himself." His tone was deadly serious, even slightly angry, making him incredibly believable. I would never play poker with this man. I smiled and looked at Edward gratefully.

"Thankfully Edward stepped in before Steve could come back, so I was saved from future harassment." I bounded up the stairs, Edward beside me, as our bodies began to erupt in laughter.

"If he comes back, warn me." He said seriously, though his face was one huge smirk. Obviously we had confused Esme and Carlisle.

"Steve? Who the hell is Steve and what was he doing here?" Esme called instantly. Edward and I split off into our rooms as we heard the others laughing along with us in the various locations of the house. I could've sworn even Rosalie let a giggle loose. Esme was still confused, far into the night, as none of us would crack. Eventually she just gave up.

The next few days, Edward seemed less gloomy, even if he was still quiet. I tried to put into effect a few of the suggestions I had given Edward. It started with the snow mobile racing. Alice had bought them as soon as she heard the words come out of my mouth. Seven beautiful snowmobiles lay outside and I looked at the path she had marked out for us to race on. After a quick lesson in how to run the thing, Emmett and I were ready.

We sat on them, wearing only jeans, t-shirts and light jackets. It was all we needed, we couldn't exactly catch hypothermia. Alice had chosen a trail for us to race on. The path was only big enough for two snowmobiles at a time, the others would judge. The races were all close, though I was more daring with my machine and beat Emmett and Alice and Jasper in the three races I had with them. Edward and Rose managed to beat me. I couldn't be sure, but I almost saw a smile on Edward's face, as Rosalie was yelling at him for cheating.

"He never smiles. Good work Bella." Jasper whispered to me. Edward must've heard it through his thoughts, because soon enough a huge snowball fight was taking place.

Emmett threw the largest snowball I had ever seen. It buried me completely when it hit me. I sat in the snow, marvelling at the coolness of it. I was completely surrounded by the substance. I was surrounded by white and cold, and could hear Emmett's laughter, muffled by the thick layer of snow. I decided to tunnel down, into the layers of snow beneath me, feeling like bugs bunny, I made my way away from the snow ball. I dug upwards and found myself behind them all. Alice turned and winked at me, before crouching before the snowball.

"Bella, we're sorry. Emmett didn't know you'd get offended." The pile of snow was massive, and everyone, except Alice, was assuming that I was concealed inside, having a temper tantrum or something similar.

"Apologize you idiot. I don't want her sulking again." Rosalie said to her husband. He kneeled down before the snowball.

"Bella?" he asked timidly.

Jasper must've felt my mirth because he looked back and smiled. Edward saw it through his head because he turned to watch me. Alice had backed off too. Now it was just Rosalie and Emmett. Rosalie rolled her eyes as Emmett fumbled with words. She turned and saw me, her jaw dropping in shock. We all held fingers up to our mouths, begging her silence. She seemed to think it was amusing too, because she turned to watch Emmett as he apologized to the pile of snow.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, you just looked like you needed a good bashing. Don't be angry with me. I'll let you beat me next time." His voice was so smooth, pleading and gentle. He honestly looked lost as he crouched there, running his hands through his hair.

Carlisle and Esme appeared... what impeccable timing these two had.

"Why are you apologizing to a pile of snow Emmett?" Carlisle asked. Emmett must've looked insane.

"I offended it. I mean Bella."

Carlisle turned to me. "Oh dear. We appear to have inherited another practical joker."

Emmett turned around and saw me. And then the game began again, Emmett taking special interest in trying to defeat me. He threw the snow at such a fast rate it looked like a mini avalanche was occurring. Alice was deadly too, never getting hit by anyone, except some very close calls thrown by Edward. Rosalie was the one person no one wanted to throw at, because they were all afraid of what she would do.

The first snowball that hit her was from me and she turned, glaring at me. I bit my lip and jumped behind Edward, hiding myself. I crouched behind him, holding onto his legs to keep him where he was. He smirked and began protecting me from her wrath.

Carlisle was the one to watch out for though. He would start throwing in one direction, then turn and whip the snow at someone else. He made no exceptions; everyone was the enemy. Edward and I were the only ones really not hitting each other. Esme noticed this and started throwing more snowballs at me.

Edward in turn, became more protective. He told me that he was on my 'team' which had so far consisted of myself and Steve really. He was really good at both aiming and dodging. He even managed to catch a few thrown at us and return them. I got in a few good throws too. By the time the sun had set we were all covered in snow and laughing, except Edward, who was gently chuckling. At least it was something.

He and the other guys roughhoused for a bit and us girls cheered them on. I watched as Edward played along, noting that he never really let go, he never truly laughed or smiled completely. Had his life been so depressing to him that he found no positive aspects in the world. I could name three now.

The sunset – the beautiful reds and greens, combined with the black, bare branches of the trees and the dark greens of the evergreens, and the sparkling white of the snow.

The family – we were all covered in snow, smiling from ear to ear (all except Edward and I) and enjoying the moment.

Love – there was so much of it evident in our surroundings now. Alice and Jasper were so connected. A simple touch between them was so intimate that I felt intrusive if I saw it. Esme and Carlisle were standing together, not touching, but obviously together. Rose was watching Emmett wrestle with Edward, and although her expression was haughty, her eyes were full of adoration.

Edward obviously saw none of this, saw no reason to laugh, to enjoy what had happened and what was happening around him. I would make him laugh. I wanted to see him laugh, especially after all the pain I'd put him through. I'd make him laugh if it took eternity.

We spent the next little while having nothing but pure fun.

During the days I would read and do homework from a few textbooks I had found. In this time, Esme was working somewhere – renovating a mansion or something. The Cullen 'kids' were mostly out, shopping, partying, hunting etc, except Edward, who seemed to think it was his duty to stay with me. We were rarely in the same room as each other, but he was there. It was both comforting and annoying.

At night we would find fun things to do, movies, games etc. The dart games were funny. The dartboard was set up a football-field away and we were trying to hit the bull's-eye, surprisingly, we actually did well. Only one of mine even missed the small board, and not by much. As a human I stayed away from such games, fearing the lives of those around me if I were to throw such a sharp object.

Edward and Carlisle were the best at it though, so much so that eventually they were the only two competing. Carlisle and Edward were both completely engaged in the game. It was incredibly beautiful, watching the two of them concentrate. Carlisle would raise an eyebrow as he focused, always throwing his arm back in quick precise motions and the dart would bury itself into the board.

Edward was... well, hot. His face remained impassive and his throws were almost lazy, his arm following through perfectly each time. The dart would land in the board perfectly, never too deep, never too shallow. For someone who claimed he didn't do this, he was extremely fantastic at doing this.

Suddenly something small with multiple legs crawled across my hand and I whimpered. Edward's shot, the one that would've been the tie-breaker, didn't even reach the dart board. He looked over to me, concerned, and I was frozen, holding my breath and trying not to scream. The insect or whatever it was still crawling around on my hand.

Irrational fear.

Irrational fear.

I tried to keep convincing myself of this fact and was failing miserably.

Edward realised what was wrong and knelt down beside me. His eyes met mine and suddenly I felt very safe again.

"What are you afraid of Bella?" he asked. I took a deep shaky breath before opening my lips to whisper the words.

"The bug."

"What bug?" he asked, smiling. I looked down to my hand and the bug was gone, completely. I hadn't even felt him remove it, although I knew that he did. I heard a slight crunch, followed by him wiping his palm on his jeans as he walked away, muttering about missing the shot.

He must have thought me ever so childish. Emmett was laughing at Edward whilst Jasper was looking curiously at me and Edward. Esme was congratulating her husband and Alice and Rosalie were whispering quietly to each other. I stared at my hands. It was my fault Edward had lost the game. He was probably going to win, but thanks to my stupid and irrational phobia, I was now to blame for his current bad mood.