Thanks so much for the reviews on the last chapter!

I hope you like this one! I had some fun writing it.

Please R&R!

Chapter 22

"It's sixteen fifty Alice. Just give me the money so I can leave," Mike sounded annoyed.

Alice must have given him the money.

"What no tip?"

"Nope," she snapped, before slamming the door.

Rose finally broke out into the laughter she had been holding in.

"What's so funny? And where's Bella?"

I poked my head out from behind the couch and Alice soon joined Rose, laughing.

"It's not funny," I mumbled. "That kid really creeps me out."

They only laughed harder. Annoyed I grabbed the pizza from her hands and made my way into the kitchen. I pulled out two slices and headed towards the basement.

"You two can stay up here and laugh, but I am going to watch Romeo and Juliet."

At that they both ran to get ahead of me to the basement.

"Emmett don't you dare throw that snowball at me," I yelled to him from across the Cullen's driveway. He dropped his arm mid throw. I then turned back to the car to finish saying my goodbyes to Renee and Charlie.

"Remember to be careful dad," I warned. "They said the roads are going to get icy tonight."

My parents were heading to the airport in Seattle to pick up Mel and Rachel. It was the day before Christmas Eve. My sisters were coming in for Christmas and would be here for two weeks following it. Charlie insisted that Renee stay back, but she had not seen two of her 'babies' since before the summer started.

They decided to drop us off here instead of being home along. I also think that Charlie was afraid I would attempt to drive in this weather later.

"I will Bells. Thanks and have fun," he waved to me as he pulled out of the drive.

"Be good Joseph," Renee called from the passenger seat. "See you soon Bella."

I waved goodbye and then waited for their car to disappear from view. Too bad I didn't get a chance to see it disappear. I felt a snowball hit the back of my uncovered head. It was cold as it seeped down the back of my coat.

"Emmett," I shouted. "That was freezing."

I turned around to see a smiling Emmett. He had another snowball in his hand. I was not in the clothes to withstand being attacked by snow. I was in jeans and they were not the most comfortable things to wear when they got wet.

"Em- Ow," I complained as something hit the back of my head again. This time it was from the opposite direction. Joe. He threw with the speed and force of a pitcher so it hurt.

I turned to yell at him only to see him covered in snow.

"Bella," Alice's voice called from behind a man-made snow fort. I looked to see her waving me over. I made my way over, apparently too slowly though. I was hit from both directions. One hit my legs. Great, so much for keeping my jeans dry.

Another hit my shoulder.

Then there was a fifth snowball coming towards my head. Since my pants were already wet, I just decided to go for it and dove behind the fort.

"Nice move," Alice said from next to me. I looked to see a bundled up pixie. She had a white beanie hat with one of those pom pom things on top. She was in a pair of cute, black snow pants. Her jacket matched it perfectly. Then a pair of white mittens.

Alice then poked her head above the snow and used her hands as binoculars. She then reached a hand down, "I have spotted the enemy. Snowball!"

I made her a snowball as fast as I could and handed it to her. She then threw it with as much force as her little body could, towards and unsuspecting Emmett. She nailed him in the face.

"Hey no face shots," he whined, spitting out clumps of snow.

"All is fair in war," Jasper called to Emmett from the porch. "Great throw darling," he then said to Alice.

"Thanks babe," she yelled back.

I giggled at their little exchange. They were such a cute couple.

"If Jasper's here, is Rose?"

"Yeah she's been inside warming up. She was out here for the first fifteen minutes of the war, but gave up."

"How long have you and Emmett been at this," I asked while making the 'ammo'.

"Since five," she said before standing up to launch a snowball at Joe. It was now six-thirty and getting dark. "We do this every year. We wait for the big snow fall and then plan to spend a couple of hours out here. Edward used to do it with us, but for some reason he stopped when we reached fifteen. Something about immaturity."

I smiled. "You and Emmett immature? No way!"

"I know. Right?!"

I shook my head and laughed. I then took the risk and poked my head up from behind the snow. I saw Emmett bent down collecting snow for a snowball. I decided to try my hand at throwing one at him. I can't really throw to save my life, but he seemed to be close enough to hit.

Apparently I had left my head up too long, because Joe had hit me in the head again. I stooped back down out of the line of fire and picked up one of the snowballs we had already made. Not wanting to risk being hit again, I decided to throw the snowball from behind the wall.

I knew what general direction to throw it in, but that's about it. I launched it over the wall. I heard it hit something and then an "Ouch". Wow did I actually hit him! A smile broke across my face until I heard Emmett start laughing. If I had hit him, than why would he be laughing?

"Emmett," Edward voice spoke annoyed. "I thought I said I did not want to be apart of the snowball fight?"

"That was not me bro," he laughed. "Who ever did it, was trying to hit me, but has very bad aim and missed."

"Oh that we would be Bella," Joe stated.

Crap. I had hit Edward with the snowball.

I looked over to see Alice rolling around in the snow laughing.

I poked my head up over the wall to see Joe, Emmett, and Edward staring at me. Joe and Emmett were laughing while Edward had an amused expression on his face. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. "Oops."

"Oops is right," he smiled his crooked grin at me. For once I did not love it. I feared it. I dove back down.

"Three against two now," I told Alice.

She smiled, "Excellent."

Alice poked her head up again with two snowballs in hand. She ducked back down fast as one came soaring past. It tipped the pom pom on top of her hat.

"Edward," she growled. Her face grew determined. She popped up again and threw the snowball at someone.

"Ha ha missed him," Emmett teased. "Heck yea we have Edward on our team!"

Alice threw the other one.

"Ow."

I laughed. Just then another figure dove down next to me. Jasper.

"Hey. I had to make this a fair battle," he smiled kissing Alice on the cheek.

"Thanks," she smiled. Then her face became serious. "Okay. Now here's the strategy."

Alice had devised a devious plan to get back at the other guys. Since it was starting to snow again, she wanted to make it back into the house and lock them out. The whole time she talked, Jasper looked at her with pride and admiration.

Her plan had us divide and leave the safety of our little fort. I did not like that too much. Jasper was to leave first as the distraction, since he was the fastest. He was to lure them around back and then head in the basement door.

As soon as he left I heard Emmett yell, "Enemy in plain sight. I will go this way, Edward you go that way. Joe stand guard."

Alice peeked to see who was still there. "They fell for it. It's just Joe standing there. Get ready Bella." Then she jumped out and sprinted for the side door.

"Hey," Joe called.

I jumped up as planned and ran for the front door. Joe was chasing after Alice toward the side of the house.

I was almost at the door when I heard him, "And where do you think you're going?"

I did not dare look back. I could hear him running after me. Almost there I thought as I reached the steps.

Unfortunately that's as far as a I got. Edward grabbed me around the middle and pulled me back onto the snow with him. He was on the bottom to absorb the impact of hitting the ground.

At first he also acted as a barrier between me and the snow, but then he flipped me over. I was now lying in the snow out of breath with him hovering over me. I could feel the cold wetness on the back of my jeans. And as if I was not wet enough, Edward took a handful of snow and squished it into my hair.

"The snow looks good on you," he smiled.

"You know this is not fair. I only hit you with one snowball on accident. You on the other hand have me laying in it and covered with it. Now I am cold and wet," I said annoyed.

"Hm. That does seem unfair," he said bending his head down to kiss my nose. My mood instantly softening.

"Yes very," I stuttered still trying to sound upset.

Then Edward turned the force of his eyes on me and I was goner.

"Now what can I do to help you warm up," he said playing with the scarf around my neck. I watched the snow fall in his hair. "I know. I can start with your lips."

Yep goner. Edward kissed me sweetly on the lips. I forgot all about how cold my butt was feeling right now. Or how my hair was drenched from the snow. Just the warmness of Edward kissing me.

"Ah fraternizing with the enemy," Alice and Joe yelled at the same time from behind us. Edward jumped back and pulled me with him.

Alice ran forward and pushed Edward out of the way with her hip. She grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the house.

"My Bella," she yelled. "You can have her back when I am done."

I looked back at Edward desperately. He looked shocked that I was being separated from him now.

Alice did not let go of my arm until we were in her room. She then went to her closet to find something for me to wear. Rose was already there. "Have fun at the Cullen's annual snowball war?"

"Oh my gosh they don't kid around," I said feeling exhausted.

Rose laughed. "When I first became friends with Alice I participated in the whole two hour event. It was hell. I looked far worse than you do right now. Not that you look bad, but rather you look miserable. Once I started dating Emmett, I had to stop. I will play for like ten minutes, but that's it."

I smiled at her. "I do not think I will be participating in them anymore. I will just sit and watch." I then wondered if what I said was the same as making a commitment..

"Here Bella," Alice said throwing some clothes at me. "I will be right back. I need to find you a pair of bottoms since I am like five inches shorter than you. Hm.. I can check Esme's closet."

With that Alice walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

I pulled on a black, long sleeve t-shirt and sat on the bed waiting for dry pants. I talked a little more with Rose while I pulled off my wet boots and socks. I then slid off the wet jeans and pulled on a mid-thigh high bathrobe to wait.

Just as I was tying the robe shut, there was a knock on the door. I went to open it and Edward walked in with a pair of sweatpants in his hand. Then he just stopped in his tracks. He sort of just stared at me. After he stood there for a minute without saying anything I grabbed the sweatpants.

"Thanks," I said. "Are you okay?"

"Yep," he said shaking his head. Then turned to walk out, running into the door frame first. I closed the door behind him.

"That was weird," I said turning to face a laughing Rosalie. "What?"

"Bella do you see what you are wearing?"

I looked down at the robe and then nothing else. The robe was not that long. It showed more leg than any skirt or dress that Alice has put me in.

Before I could say anything about it, there was another knock at the door. I went up to it cautiously, "Who is it?"

"Uh- Edw-ward," he was cute when he stuttered.

"What is it Edward," I asked moving my hand to open the door.

"No," he practically shouted. "I just wanted to let you know that those pants are going to be big, but they have drawstrings."

"Okay Edward. Thank you for telling me that. I appreciate it," I said through the door.

"No prob-blem."

I heard him walk away before I turned to Rose smiling. "Did I just make Edward Cullen nervous?"

Rose nodded her head yes.

"Wow," I laughed.

I pulled Edward's pants on. He was right they were huge on me. I pulled the strings tight. They were still baggy on me, but I liked the feeling of being in his clothes. I smiled even bigger at this.

Rose seemed to misread my expression or maybe she didn't. She raised her eyebrows at me. "Dirty thoughts Bella?"

I blushed a deep red. "I was not thinking of that Rose!"

She laughed at me, "It's only normal Bells. I bet you that was close to what Edward was thinking when you answered the door in that robe."

"What ever," I grumbled. I then hurried out the door to avoid furthering this conversation.

I was only stopped by Alice, who pushed me back into the room. In her hands she had a tray with three hot chocolates on it.

"I said you were my Bella for awhile. Now sit," she commanded while pointing to a chair.

"Ugh," I groaned. I really hope I would not becoming a life-size doll for Alice again.

She shot me a warning glare that read 'Don't start'.

Rose got up and grabbed a mug off the tray and then handed me one. I took a sip, instantly grateful for the warmth it sent through my body.

I took a look around to see that Alice had pulled out her make-up kit and supplies to do nails. I sighed and tried to prepare myself for a very "girlie" couple of hours.

Rose ended up painting my toenails a soft pink and Alice put a matching coat on my hands. At least they did not go overboard with it. I tried to help with painting Rose's nails this deep red color she wanted, but after getting it on her skin my first couple of tries, I was allowed to sit out.

We did our nails while watching a movie. This may not have been the best idea. The movie was Ps. I Love You, which had us all crying. We went through two boxes of tissues.

After the first box, Rose had called for Emmett to bring up the second. When he did, he saw us crying. He started panicking and asking questions.

"Herhusbanddiedandheleftthesweetestnotesbehindforher," she mumbled all in one breath. (Her husband died and he left the sweetest notes behind for her)

"Huh?"

Rose just waved him off and closed the door.

When the movie ended Alice sighed. "That movie is so sad but romantic."

"I know," Rose agreed. "I wonder if Em would ever do something like that for me."

I just nodded my head. It was weird to think about the person you love dying.

Once I was finally released, I wandered my way downstairs, looking for Joe. I walked into the kitchen and did not see him. I was about to leave when I heard someone talking from behind the counter. I made my way across the room quietly and peeked over it.

There sitting on the floor, talking on the phone was Joe. He had a goofy grin on his face.

"Yeah I am looking forward to next Friday night too," he said into the phone.

I could not help but smile. He had to be talking to a girl. I turned around to sneak back out of the room. When I opened the kitchen door I hit something hard.

Oh great who did I hit now?

I opened the door, this time cautiously and gasped at what I saw. Edward was standing there rubbing his head. He looked rather out of it.

"Oh my gosh Edward! Are you okay," I ran over to him. He was steadying himself on the table.

By this time Joe had come out of the kitchen. He saw Edward and helped him over to the couch in the living room.

"Hey guys," Emmett called coming down the stairs. "Carlisle and Esme said the power went out at the Christmas charity event they are at. The weather is pretty bad there, but should clear up within the next few hours. So they think they're just going to wait it out."

"Yeah and Renee just called the house phone and said the girls' flight has been delayed, and that they were going to wait out the storm at the airport," Alice said walking down behind Emmett.

When they reached the bottom, they saw Edward holding his head on the couch. "What happened," they both asked at the same time.

I looked down at my feet. "Well you see I was coming out of the kitchen and Edward was on the other side and-"

"You nailed him in the head with the door," Emmett finished for me.

"Yeah pretty much."

"Here lets get him upstairs to his room," Emmett said looping his arm under Edward's shoulder."Eddie do you think you can walk up the steps if I help you?"

"Ugh what did I say about calling me Eddie," he grumbled. "And yeah I think I can make it."

Emmett helped Edward up the steps. Joe walked behind them in case he started falling backwards. I followed Joe at a much slower pace. I felt terrible for hitting him with the door and had not gotten a chance to apologize.

When we reached his room, Emmett helped Edward to his bed. Edward sat on the edge and turned on a bedside light before he took a bottle of aspirin from his night stand. I went down the hall to the bathroom and got him a glass of water.

I arrived back at the room to find just Edward in there. I stopped at the doorway and knocked on the frame. He looked up at me and I held up the glass of water. He smiled and gestured for me to come in.

I stopped a foot away from him and handed over the water.

"Thank you," he nodded. Then he took two of the pills and a sip of the water. I was still standing away from him.

"I am so sorry," the words poured out of my mouth. "You are completely off the hook for the whole dumping me in the snow thing earlier."

Edward laughed and stood up. He then pulled me back down onto the bed in his lap.

"It's okay Bella," he said kissing my cheek, "But it's good to know I am off the 'hook'."

I smiled at him. "Yep. I thought you would like that."

Then the movie I had watched earlier with the girls came back to me. "You don't feel like you have a brain tumor do you?"

He laughed at me, "What?"

"Nothing," I mumbled.

"You look great in my clothes by the way," he said pulling me with him to the head of the bed. He then leaned back onto the headboard.

"Thanks for letting me borrow them. They are very comfy."

He laughed in my ear.

I started to laugh, only for it to be cut off by a yawn. Why did I always become tired around him. Well not always but, why did he never fall asleep when I am with him. I always tend to fall asleep on him.

"Are you tired," Edward asked softly.

I knew I could not lie. He would see right through it. "A little."

"Here," he said pulling down part of his comforter. He then stuck me underneath it. Being a gentlemen, he left himself on top of it.

I curled up into his side and he rested his arm over me.

"Why don't you get some sleep," he whispered in my ear.

I already found myself drifting into a peaceful slumber.

**********

I woke up after a dreamless sleep. I looked around and noticed the room was pitch black. Didn't Edward leave the lamp on?

Speaking of Edward, I smiled when I heard the sound of his even breathing coming from beside me. His arm was still around me. I gently removed his arm and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He still had not awaken. I crept to the door and opened it.

I found that there were no lights on in the hall either. As I made my way to the stairs, I noticed the shadows cast by candles. I walked down and saw that everybody was in the living room.

Alice was sleeping, curled up into Jasper's side. He was up and reading a book by candle light. Joe was passed out on the floor under their coffee table. Emmett had his head in Rose's lap, fast asleep. She was up and looked to be playing a game on her phone.

"Hey," I whispered, not wanting to wake anyone.

Rose looked up and smiled at me. "Hey."

"When did the power go out?"

Jasper answered this time, "It's about 12 a.m. now and it's been out for a few hours. Probably nine."

"We came upstairs to check on you guys when it did, but you both were fast asleep," Rose added.

"I see the war veterans have crashed," I said nodding to the Joe, Alice, and Emmett.

Jasper chuckled. "Yeah. When the power went out they were running around the house looking for places to hide. They were trying to scare each other. I guess now they are exhausted."

I laughed. Then remembered that it was midnight and neither sets of parents were here yet.

"Did Renee or Esme ever call back again?"

"Yeah. Renee talked to Joe and said Mel and Rachel's plane will be landing at four thirty."

I nodded. "Are they picking us up later in the morning than?"

"They said that they should be here by six-thirty. Esme and Carlisle also called and said they would be home around eight."

"Are they staying at the event until then," a voice asked from behind me making me jump.

Edward had managed to come downstairs without making a sound.

He put his hand on my shoulder to steady me from falling.

"No. They rented a room in the hotel next door to the party hall," Jasper answered Edward's previous question.

He then bent his head back down to continue reading his book. I looked over to see Rosalie slip her earphones in her ears.

Edward removed his hand from my shoulder and tugged on my hand. I turned to face him and he nodded his head down the hall. I agreed, by letting him pull me out of the living room. He grabbed a candle off the table at the foot of the steps.

He led me into one of the rooms at the front of the house. I always walk by it when I come over, but never really went in there. I knew there was a couch and a piano in there.

Edward walked us over to the piano and set the candle on top of it. He then sat down onto bench and brought me down with him. Edward released my hand and opened the cover over the keys.

I knew Edward played the piano, but he had never really played it for me. Even though we have been together for over three months, I still have never sat down in the same room with him and listened to him. I could not help but feel a little hurt by this. I know he meant no harm, it's just that we did not really have the time to slow down and do it.

"I know it is way overdue, but would you like to hear me play?"

I sighed, tilting my head to the side as if I had to think about it, "Well.."

Edward narrowed his eyes at me. The light from the flame danced across his face.

A smile broke across my face, "Of course. I would love to hear you play."

Edward leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Then turned to the piano and placed his hands on the keys. With one more glance over at me, Edward began to play. It was one of the most amazing sounds that I had ever heard. The way his fingers moved across the keys so naturally.

The song was unfamiliar, but it was beautiful none the less.

As the two minute ballad came to a close, I looked at Edward. "That was amazing. Did you compose that yourself?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's nothing really."

"What do you mean nothing? It was just wow!"

This time Edward laughed at my excitement. "Would you like to hear my favorite one that I composed?"

I shook my head at his modesty for the last song. Then responded, "Okay."

This time Edward looked nervous before he started to play. He sort of just stared at the keys and then back at me.

"Go on. I am sure I will love it," I said nudging his arm. Then flashing him a reassuring smile.

Edward took a deep breath and began to play the second song. This song took me off guard. It took me off guard because I have heard this song. It was the one that Edward always seemed to hum to me. The one that relaxed me and in some cases soothed me to sleep.

I closed my eyes as the perfectly played notes surrounded me. They did not have the same affect on me as before. This time it was a lot stronger. I felt myself lean into Edward's side just enough to be close, but not enough to disrupt his playing.

I felt my eyes begin to water. I knew that this song was important to Edward. He had said that it was his favorite song to play. I was happy that he cared enough to share that song with me.

In the background of my thoughts, the music stopped playing. It took me a minute to remember to open my eyes.

When I did, Edward was staring at me with a mix of concern and some other emotion....love. He reached a hand toward my face and wiped away a tear. I did not realize that I had let one escape.

"I am okay," I promised. I did not like seeing him upset. I scooted closer to him and leaned my face into his chest. "Thank you for sharing such a special songs with me. It was beautiful."

Edward pulled my face up so I could stare into his green eyes. "Bella do you know why it was one of my favorites?"

I shook my head, never dropping my gaze.

"It was the first composition that I had written in a long time." Edward paused for a minute to pick up my hand. "It was inspired by you."

After the words left his mouth and my mind registered them, I found myself fighting back tears. I tried to move my hand to my eye to wipe back any from falling, but Edward beat me to it.

He gently grabbed my wrists and pulled them into his lap. Then he leaned in and kissed me at the corner of my eyes. (this made me think of when he tasted her tear in Twilight : )

"Thank you," I choked out.

"Anytime," he whispered against my skin.

"I love you," I said as he moved onto kiss my cheeks.

"As I love you," he muttered against my jaw line, that he was now brushing his lips across.

"Edward I am tired."

This seemed to get this attention. He pulled back and looked at me.

"Can I go back upstairs and lay down."

"Yeah. Of course," he said sounding dejected.

I got up and made my way over to the hall. I turned to see Edward sitting on the bench watching me.

"You're coming right? I will never be able to sleep without you now."

Edward grabbed the candle, shot up, and walked over to me. "Are you sure?"

"Of course."

We tip-toed past the living room to see that Rose and Jasper were fast asleep. I walked in quietly, and blew out the candles that were still lit. I then started to walk up the stairs in front of Edward.

I was glad he was behind me in case I fell. I may have seemed confident, but I was freaking out on the inside. My knees were starting to go weak.

I entered Edward's room ahead of him and went over to his bed. I pulled back the covers and crawled under. Edward went to his closet and came back with a second blanket. Then he grabbed his phone out of his pocket.

"I am going to set an alarm for five-thirty. Okay?"

"Good idea," I nodded in approval. I could not imagine the awkwardness if our parents found us in bed together. It's not like we were going to do anything, it was just much more comfortable this way. I really did not want to leave his side.

He then came over and joined me on the bed. I snuggled into his side as I felt him lean down and kiss my hair. I turned my head up to meet his lips. They soon left mine as he continued to make a trail of kisses down my jaw line and to my neck.

I gasped when his lips ran over my collarbone.

I could feel his warm breath as he laughed at me reaction.

"Not funny," I mumbled. I could not hide the smile in my voice though.

"Night Bella."

"Night Edward."

Edward began humming, what I now know as, my lullaby.

I was soon out of it.

**********

The next morning when I woke up, it was still dark out. Edward was still sleeping. I decided to get my revenge for last night. I began trailing kisses up his neck and behind his ear. I stopped to run my nose along it.

Edward let out a small groan. "You are going to be the death of me."

"Someone is not a morning person," I joked.

Big mistake to tease Edward in the morning.

One second I was lying next to Edward, the next he had flipped us so I was under him. He held himself so I felt none of his weight. He then nuzzled his own nose into the crook of my neck.

Edward looked up into my eyes. "You were saying," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. I could not think of a good comeback. My hair was laying spread out on the pillow above my head and he was playing with it. Thus leaving the chance of having a coherent thought impossible.

"I wonder what time it is," I asked, once thinking returned.

"No idea. The alarm has not gone off yet," he said reaching over to his night stand to grab his phone calmly and then not so calmly, "Oh God it's seven in the morning. The stupid alarm never went off!"

I was going through a moment of shock. I was broken out of it by the sound of my sisters' voices.

"Bella it's time to go," I heard Mel's voice call from outside the door.

Crap. I shoved Edward away from me, but I was still in bed with him. -Man that sounds so bad.

"Where is our baby sister. We miss her," Rachel said as she knocked once, before throwing open Edward's door. I looked up and met their eyes.

There my sisters stood with their eyebrows raised, surprise written across their face.

We all stood looking at each other in an awkward silence for a couple of minutes. After what felt like forever, I finally spoke. "This is not what it looks like."

Mel's mouth opened to say something but stopped when she heard someone walking up the steps.

"Girls did you find her?"

My eyes widen in fear. Renee was on her way up the steps and I was in my boyfriend's bed, with said boyfriend! I looked over at him. I do not think that Edward has moved since I shoved him off of me.

Fortunately Rachel and Mel could think on their feet. They then sprung into action.

I hope for my sake and Edward's that it works.

Sort of a cliff hanger?

Did you like it? Did I disappoint?

Let me know by reviewing!

Love,

Jane

Ps. Quick question. I was thinking about writing a little exert about Alice, Joe, and Emmett's game of "hide and scare" when the power went out. If anyone is interested in reading it, I will write it. I think it would be fun to write.