Author's Note: Thank you so much for your positive response to this little series! It makes me so happy.

Edward's new story is based on The Shoemaker and the Elves, which isn't as well-known and beloved as the others. But I'm familiar with it, because a good friend always cites it as his favorite fairytale. I hope you like it.

"Renesmee, before I start the story, I want to explain something."

She gazed at Edward attentively.

"Well, you know Uncle Emmett is my brother, Aunt Alice is my sister, but we all came from different parents. We're siblings now because we choose to be together with Carlisle and Esme as our father and mother. But we were born into different families. That's different from Leah and Seth. They are brother and sister because they have the same parents, Sue and Harry."

I felt Renesmee's hand on my face and saw a picture of Sue with my father. I could sense her question.

"Leah and Seth's father died before you were born," I told her. I looked straight into my husband's eyes and spoke to him in my thoughts. Edward, I love you. Please don't be upset! "I knew him. He was a nice man and a very good friend of Grandpa Charlie. After a while, Sue and Grandpa Charlie decided they loved each other."

Renesmee turned back to Edward, ready to hear more, but she frowned at his expression. Of course, I didn't want him to be troubled, but it was kind of nice to know that despite decades of perfecting his poker face, so necessary for hiding his gift, he couldn't or wouldn't conceal his feelings from us. "Daddy, are you sad?"

"A little bit sad," he admitted, looking down at his lap. She waited for him to elaborate. He spoke slowly. "You see, the same day that Harry died, your mother did something dangerous. I wasn't there, and I didn't know what happened to her, and… I was really worried."

Renesmee laughed. "Daddy! How could you not be there? You are always with Mommy."

Listen to our daughter, I advised him silently. He smiled and seemed to relax. "You're right, sweetie. I am always with Mommy."

"Daddy wasn't with me in Forks that day," I said. "But I was thinking about him, and he was thinking about me. We were together in our hearts."

"I love you both so much," Edward said. "Did I ever tell you that I'm the luckiest man who ever lived?"

"Yes," I answered, while Renesmee giggled. "Now, don't you have something else to tell us?"

"What?" He looked puzzled.

"Daddy, the story!"

"The story," he repeated, a broad smile gracing his glorious face. "Right. Well, what I wanted to make sure you knew is that sometimes humans who are brother and sister can both be changed to vampires." Like Alec and Jane, I thought with a flash of hatred, and Edward nodded. "That's what happened before this story begins. Once upon a time, there were two vampires who were brother and sister. Their names were Thomas and Valerie. Like your Uncle Jasper, they had been changed in order to be part of an army. They became skilled fighters and spent many years in battle. But they did not really like to live that way. They plotted together in secret while their commander was occupied with other matters, and finally they were able to escape. They immediately returned to the town in which they had grown up. They wanted to see what had become of their parents and friends and their older brother.

"However, they had not kept very good track of time while they were at war. Many, many years had passed. Thomas and Valerie were still in their late teens, but their parents had grown old and died, and so had their friends, and so had their brother. From a distance, Thomas and Valerie listened carefully to the gossip in the town square. They learned that their family had fallen on hard times when they had been kidnapped and pressed into the vampire army. Their parents had neglected their business while they spent months and years searching for their missing children. Only one descendent remained, their brother's son Martin.

"Martin followed the family tradition of making shoes. Their parents had owned a large shop in the center of town, but that had been lost after their troubles began. Martin sold his shoes from the tiny cottage where he now lived on the outskirts of town. Thomas and Valerie decided they must do what they could for their nephew, as he was all that was left of the family, but they were not sure how to help him. Of course, they could not reveal themselves to him or anyone."

Renesmee nodded solemnly. She understood the rules of our existence.

"They decided to give him some money. They roamed about until they came across a band of thieves. When the thieves hid their gold in the forest, Thomas and Valerie took it and left it outside Martin's door. They watched the next morning to see the results of their good deed. Martin was extremely surprised when he saw the unfamiliar bag outside his door, and he was shocked when he opened it and saw the gold coins. He picked up the bag and went inside.

"'He doesn't look happy,' Valerie observed.

"'I don't understand,' said Thomas.

"In a few moments Martin emerged still carrying the bag. He went directly to the church. Thomas and Valerie followed, keeping well out of sight. They listened in amazement as Martin explained to the priest how he had found the bag and asked him for advice. The priest declared that it would be impossible to determine the rightful owner. He said that Martin could keep the gold. Martin thanked him for his time and announced that he wanted to donate the gold to the church to repair the roof and provide for some of the needy parishioners. The priest began to thank Martin profusely, and Thomas and Valerie retreated into the woods to discuss the matter.

"'Well, that didn't work,' Thomas stated ruefully.

"'What should we do?' Valerie asked. 'There's no point in finding more gold. He'll just do the same thing.'

"'Maybe we should give up. We tried. We gave him something, and he decided how he wanted to use it,' Thomas suggested.

"'No, let's not give up yet,' Valerie argued. 'Let's watch him and maybe we can figure something out.'

"So they monitored Martin. He was respected and well-liked, but he had so little to his name. He ate very humble meals. He had no inventory to sell. He only had just enough leather for one more pair of shoes. Thomas and Valerie watched one evening as he carefully cut out the leather and left it on the work bench before going to sleep.

"'Maybe we could put up posters encouraging people to buy Martin's shoes,' Thomas proposed.

"'What shoes?' Valerie asked. 'There is only enough leather to make one pair.' Suddenly she began running towards the cottage.

"'Where are you going? What are you doing?' her brother asked as he ran after her.

"'You'll see!' she told him. 'Warn me if anyone comes along. We can't let anyone see us.' While Thomas kept a lookout, Valerie crept into the cottage. She made no noise, and she needed no light. She picked up the tools and the leather on the work bench and began sewing swiftly. She knew how, because she had been watching and learning how to make shoes from the time she was a very little girl. In a few moments, she left the finished shoes on the table and danced out of the cottage. The two vampires spent the rest of the night hunting.

"They were back outside the cottage when Martin woke up. They could see through the window as he made his bed, ate a simple breakfast and prepared to begin work. He started with surprise when he saw the shoes on the table. He picked them up and looked at them with an expression of wonder. Thomas nudged Valerie in the ribs. A man and woman were approaching the cottage. They were customers! Martin still seemed confused, but he showed them the new pair of shoes. Valerie beamed with pride as the customers praised the small, neat stitches. The couple bought the shoes. Martin immediately went to the tannery where he was able to buy enough leather for two pairs of shoes. As he had the evening before, he cut out the pieces and left them on the work bench and went to bed.

"This time Thomas and Valerie both sneaked into the cottage. Since Martin was fast asleep, they lit a candle to enable them work better and faster. They noticed that although there was not much in the way of furniture, there was a portrait on the wall of the two of them with their older brother, which had been painted shortly before they were taken from their home.

"'Look, Thomas,' Valerie whispered. 'It's us. Do you remember?'

"Her brother smiled. 'Our brother said the artist made us too attractive! I guess he was right. We didn't look that good then. That's what we look like now. But let's get to work.' Thomas completed one pair of shoes and was ready to go in a few minutes, but Valerie shook her head. 'Come on,' he said, speaking very quietly so as not to disturb Martin. 'We're done.'

"'They're not quite right,' she said, frowning.

"'What do you mean?' he asked. 'Martin cut out the pieces, and we sewed them together. They look good.'

"Ignoring him, Valerie swept her eyes around the small room. 'Aha!' she said. She pulled out some of the small scrap pieces of leather from the bin. She carefully cut out star shapes and she sewed them onto the sides of the shoes she had made. 'Now they look good,' she said with satisfaction. She arranged the two pairs of shoes on the table."

Under her covers, Renesmee wriggled with excitement. "I bet they were very pretty!" she said. With Alice and Rosalie coaching her, Renesmee had developed a keen interest in clothing and accessories.

"Once again Martin was surprised to find the finished shoes waiting for him. He picked them up and examined them closely. Thomas and Valerie watched customers arrive. First the shoes Valerie had decorated and then the shoes Thomas had sewn were sold. The two vampires were delighted that they had found a way to help their nephew prosper. Again Martin used the proceeds from the sales to buy more leather, which he cut out before going to bed. Thomas and Valerie entered the cottage after he was asleep and assembled the shoes, and this time Valerie added a special flourish to each pair.

"The night after that, Martin left a note along with the leather he had cut to make more shoes. He thanked his mysterious helpers for completing his work and for doing such a good job that word was already spreading about the finely made and beautifully designed shoes. He asked if he could pay them or reward them in some way. Valerie and Thomas replied that they were extremely pleased to be able to help such an honest, hard-working and talented man. They instructed him never to try to spy on them. They warned him that if he laid eyes on them, they would have to leave for his own safety.

"Thomas, Valerie and Martin went on in this way for quite some time. Martin became more and more successful. People came from all around to purchase his distinctive, well-made shoes. Throughout the region he was praised for the tiny even stitching and special designs. The two vampires were happy to see that Martin was able to buy nicer things for himself. They also noticed that he did not sell all of the shoes that they made together. Some of them he gave to the priest at the church to distribute to people who could not afford to buy sturdy new shoes."

Renesmee's face lit up. "We do that!" she said happily. "When we give away clothes and when I pick out toys and books for the homeless shelter."

Edward beamed at her. "That's right. Because we have more than we need, we should help people who don't have as much."

"Is that the end of the story?" she asked.

Edward shook his head. "No, sweetie. It could have been the end, but after many months, Martin decided he had to know the identity of his benefactors. He went to bed as usual, but he stayed awake. When it was very late at night, he cautiously crept to the doorway of his bedroom. Thomas and Valerie were working and did not notice that his breathing was faster and his heartbeat was nearer. Then they heard a gasp. They jumped to their feet. For a long moment all three of them stared at each other in the light of the candle. 'You are so familiar!' Martin exclaimed. 'Do I know you?' His voice jolted them from their frozen positions, and Thomas and Valerie dashed away.

"'What are we going to do?' Valerie said in distress when they had run some distance from the cottage.

"'We should leave this area right now. We shouldn't have stayed so long where someone might recognize us,' her brother answered.

"'But I don't want to just leave Martin,' she protested. 'He is our nephew and the only relative we have left.'

"'Let's see what he is doing. If he went back to sleep maybe he'll think it was just a dream,' Thomas said.

"But as they silently approached the cottage, they saw the candle still burning. Martin had taken the portrait from the wall and was examining it closely.

"'He knows who we are,' moaned Valerie in dismay.

"They saw Martin briefly writing something. Then he stepped out of the cottage and closed the door. 'If there is anyone listening,' he announced loudly. 'I am going for a walk, and I won't be back until it is light out.'

"'He wants us to go inside,' Valerie whispered.

"They held hands as they slowly entered the cottage. Valerie gasped with wonder. On the table were two objects they recognized immediately: their mother's silver bracelet and their father's silver flask. Next to these familiar treasures, Martin had left a note.

"'To my wonderful helpers,' the note said, 'I am so sorry I did not follow your wishes and leave you alone. You said before that you would not be able to stay, but I hope you will remain long enough to get this note. I believe you are the ghosts of my aunt and uncle who disappeared from this village forty years ago. If you are, perhaps you would be interested in these family heirlooms. My grandparents never stopped hoping that you would return. Long ago I promised to give you these things when I saw you. I am so grateful for everything you have done for me, and I will never forget you. Again please accept my apologies and my best wishes for a happy future. Your loving nephew Martin.'

"'He could have sold these things,' Thomas said quietly. 'He had practically nothing, but he kept them for us.'

"Valerie dipped the pen in ink and prepared to write. Together they composed a reply.

"'Dear Martin, there is no need to apologize. We understand your curiosity. We are very glad we were able to be near you and help you for a while, but it is too dangerous for everyone for us to stay here where people might know us. Thank you for saving the bracelet and flask for us for all these years. We will take the bracelet as we both remember our mother wearing it, but we have no use for the flask, and we would like you to keep it and perhaps give it to your child someday. Love, Valerie and Thomas.'

"Thomas helped Valerie fasten the bracelet to her wrist, and the two of them sadly left the cottage. They decided to make a fresh start in a faraway country.

"Martin was very happy when he returned and read their note. He continued making shoes, and his shop continued to prosper even though he could not sew as quickly and neatly as his aunt and uncle had. Valerie could no longer add her special touch to each pair, but he copied the designs she had made. Eventually Martin married a young seamstress who learned how to help him in his business. They had twins, a boy and girl, whom they named Thomas and Valerie. The children loved to hear the story of how their father had been down to almost nothing and how his aunt and uncle, no older than the day they had been kidnapped, had come back to help him. While they listened to their father recount this turning point in his life, they drank ginger tea from their silver flask."

Renesmee sighed with contentment as she relaxed against her pillow. "Their father told them a story just like you do," she commented.

"Do you think they heard the story at bedtime?" I asked her.

She nodded. "Bedtime is the best time for stories because then you can have dreams."

"Pleasant dreams, sweetheart," Edward said, as we kissed her goodnight.

"Do you wish you could dream, Daddy?"

"No," he said, smiling at her fondly. "My life with you and Mommy is better than any dream I could ever have."

"That was a really nice story," I said as we gently closed Renesmee's door. "It was interesting how they helped their nephew and then moved on."

He laughed quietly. "Bella, that's how we always lived. Carlisle would treat the humans for their injuries and illnesses and my brothers and sisters and I would go to school with them, and then one day we'd leave and they'd never hear from us again. It's only in Forks that we got so mixed up with the locals."

"Mixed up?" I repeated indignantly. "Edward Cullen! Is that how you think of it?"

He smirked. "Maybe that wasn't the best choice of words," he allowed. "How about 'entangled'?"

I shook my head gravely.

"Enmeshed? Entwined? Am I just digging myself in deeper?"

"'Entwined' could be okay," I decided. "But things can be entwined in a good way or a bad way. A con man and his victims could be described as 'entwined.'"

"How about if you take your clothes off and I show you what I mean by 'entwined'? Then you can tell me if it's good or bad."

I put my arms around him and slid my hands into his hair. "Deal."

He kissed my temple and began dropping kisses along my face, moving towards my mouth. "I was hoping you'd say that." His voice fell to a velvet whisper. "Bella Cullen."

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the story. Please review-- it means so much to me!