A/N: Snapshots of a life together. Short chapters. Don't own Twilight.

Paper (2000)

"Edward? Do you realize we still have twenty-eight packages of toilet paper in the attic?"

"I didn't know exactly how many, but I knew there was a lot. Why?"

"Isn't that a fire hazard or something?" Bella rounds the corner into the living room where Edward is watching the Yankees game. "What were we thinking?" she giggles. Y2K was a bust, but it didn't stop them from being prepared.

"I blame the media, the debate on the definition of 'millennium', and the fact that we 'partied like it was 1999' for two months before New Year's Eve," he smiles, completely satisfied with his logic. "Come watch with me. The Yankees are up by two."

"I love you, but I can't understand your acceptance of the designated hitter. American League sucks. Give me the Mets any day." It's an old argument.

"Fundamental differences like this are what destroy marriages, Bella," he jokes. "Don't you want to make it to our Golden Anniversary?"

"Even baseball can't tear us apart," she sighs, snuggling into his side, into that special niche created just for her. Kissing his neck, she successfully gains his attention in spite of an amazing double play on the television. He simply cannot resist her.

"Tomorrow's our anniversary, baby. Want to go put one more penny in the jar?"

Removing herself from his hold, she grabs his hand and leads him toward the stairs. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she asks, "Are you sure there's enough room in the jar for another cent?"

They run up to their bed to find out.

(2000)

"Happy anniversary, Bella," croons Esme. She really means it. This year has shown her just how wrong she had been. Though Bella's family was still not exactly country club material, her daughter-in-law had proven to be the missing piece of her son. Edward had never been so happy, content, or carefree. Esme and Carlisle had noticed a side of their youngest that they'd never even suspected could exist. All down to Bella. Esme felt duly chastised and made every effort to make up for a slight Bella didn't even know had occurred. Besides, Bella is a Cullen now. That fact alone changed things for Esme. Family is family.

Moving from Esme's embrace, Bella kisses Carlisle's cheek, then Emmett's, and takes her place next to Edward, giving Rose a just-this-side-of-polite smile. This dinner is a gift from her in-laws. Though Thirty7North is a bit pretentious for her tastes, it's not every day she gets to celebrate her first year of marriage to the love of her life. Even Rose won't cause her exceptionally good mood to falter; she has worked too hard to finally feel comfortable. This year has shown her that though she belongs at Edward's side, she is the round peg in this square hole family. She knows her family and Edward's are very different. It has taken a lot of adjusting to fit in with the Cullens yet still be a Swan, to become Edward's wife while maintaining her own distinct identity. Her happiness, however, cannot be affected. Her husband is everything that was ever missing in her life, and he doesn't want her to change. Besides, every family needs that hint of variety.

Edward throws his arm along the back of his wife's chair as she settles. He feels such contentment. His mother seems to be so much more at ease around Bella, his father has nothing but obvious admiration for her, and Emmett likes her more than he ever liked Edward. The only agitation at this celebration sits squarely on the shoulders of Emmett's ever present girlfriend. If Rose would just let it the hell go, get over herself, things would be perfect. Her apparent jealousy of all things Bella is tiring and confusing. Bella has never given Rose any reason to dislike her, yet she's hated her from the very beginning. It couldn't just be that Edward had broken up with her friend Tanya, could it? That had happened before he had walked up to a stumbling, drunk Bella. Having had this conversation with himself too many times before, Edward decides not to care anymore. Rose is Emmett's problem. This year has shown him that Bella is his first priority. Always.

Emmett smiles at his baby sissy Bellaboo. She is the best thing to ever happen to his little brother. Best. Thing. Ever. Edward was never really a depressed kind of dude, but Em is glad to see his happy, playful side more often than used to be the norm. Edward always had the potential to be an awesomely cool guy. This year has shown him that all Edward needed to get in touch with that inner awesomeness was Bella. The change in Edward would be enough for Em to love Bells; the fact that she was also a total rock star in her own right convinced him to claim her as his sister. Sister, not sister-in-law. If only his Rosie could see Bella the way he does. Sighing as he catches the scowl on Rose's beautiful face, Emmett again resolves to not choose between them. He knows some of this animosity is his fault.

Rose tries her best not to stare down that bitch. How is it fair that she has the ring? That she has the husband? That she has the Cullen name? That she somehow got Edward to marry her when Emmett has shown no signs of making that commitment? Will Esme ever step in and help? Rose thought she'd had an ally in Emmett's mother, but it seems she too has fallen prey to whatever power that bitch holds over this family. She catches herself scowling at Bella again and turns her attention back to the menu.

Carlisle shakes his head almost imperceptibly at Rose's attitude. Will his older son never come to his senses? He would never speak ill of the girl to his son, but Carlisle can't help but hope that one day soon Emmett would find someone more suited to his happy-go-lucky personality. That boy has to work too damn hard at ignoring the behavior of the woman he says he loves. Turning from the son he still worries about, he looks indulgently upon the son he had been afraid he would always worry about. This year has shown Carlisle that he had been far too concerned about the wrong child. Edward's happiness positively radiates from his entire being. The boy loves his Bella almost as much as he himself had loved his Esme. As he loves her still. He stands to toast his son and his daughter-in-law.

(2000)

"First penny out of the jar."

"It will be empty again before you know it," she breathes. Looking at her husband, she is filled with so much emotion. Happiness, joy, gratitude, disbelief, possessiveness, trust, and love. Always love. "Thank you, Edward."

He grins. "Was it that good?"

Smacking him playfully on his toned and tanned chest, she giggles, "Yes. It always is. But I meant something else."

"I should be thanking you," he whispers, looking into the eyes that see his secrets, the face he dreams of even as he holds her in his arms at night. He understands what she means. "You have given me more in one year than I could have ever asked for. More than I knew I wanted. I still can't believe that you are so willing to put up with all the hassle that is me. The long hours, the surfing, the poker nights, the dirty socks on the living room floor. I love you, Bella."

"And you put up with the paper grading, the girls' nights out, the frequent mother and sister visits, the nagging about the dirty socks. I love you, too. Happy anniversary."

They kiss. They hold each other. They reignite the lust born of love that never seems to be far from the service. They celebrate the most important year of their young lives. They remove another penny from the jar.