10 years later...

BELLA POV

I wrapped the new scarf Esme had knitted me for Christmas around my neck, and headed out the door, burying my head inside my jacket. The wind whistled, and blew my brown hair around my face, making my eyes water. January in Forks. I walked briskly down the street to Edward and Alice's house, hoping Esme had made some of her signature hot cocoa. I really needed some. The heat in my house had burst, and I was home alone. Em was out with Jasper somewhere, and Dad was at work, being the police chief was no easy job. Shivering in my silent house, the closest place I could think of to go was the Masens.

I rapped on the dark mahogany door, and was welcomed by Edward, who ushered me in. He closed the door behind me, and shivered.

"Hey Bells! Jesus! It must be at least negative ten out there!" he said, locking the door.

"Hey Masen, and it's more like negative fifteen!" I smiled at my best friend. He had been my best friend since I was born, Esme and Emma told us that he used to pretend I was his dog, and that I would go barking around the neighborhood on my knees while Edward pretended to walk me, while singing songs he had made up. I laughed at the memories. He was very close to me, we shared everything, and knew everything about the other.

"Oh yeah?" he challenged,

"Wanna bet?" he asked me.

"You bet your butt I wanna bet!" I said, laughing at my funny sentence.

We raced upstairs to his room, to check the thermometer that he kept by his window.

His room was as messy as always, clothing thrown everywhere, guitar picks on the ground, an unmade bed, and crumpled sheets of music that hadn't worked overflowing in the garbage. The only part of the room that wasn't messy was the corner where he kept his guitar. His prized vintage Les Paul, gleaming and shiny, from being polished so often. Edward loved his music like it was his own child, and there were severe punishments to anyone who touched his guitar without asking. Even me.

We checked the temperature, and I won, as always. He sighed and we went downstairs, where Esme stirred a pot of soup on the stove, and Alice painted her nails at the table.

"Hey Alice!" I called to her.

"Bella!" she called back, running over to embrace me, her dark pixie like hair bouncing with her every movement. She hugged me tightly, smelling like her favorite Pina Colada scented shampoo. We had been babies together, and she was like my sister.

"How are Emmett and Charlie, Bella?" asked Esme as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.

"They're all great, thanks." I told her, and went over to embrace the woman who had been a second mother to me after my own mother left us. She meant so much to me.

"Want some soup?" she asked me, and a delicious smell wafted over in my direction.

"Mmm sounds great, Esme." I told her, and she filled me a bowl.

It was amazing, hot and creamy, as it rolled down my throat, almost burning, but not quite.

"So why are you here anyways?" asked Alice, "You said yesterday you had a ton of homework."

I groaned, remembering my pile of homework, waiting for me at home.

"My heat shut off, so I decided to come here, I completely forgot about my homework." I told them, ashamed.

"I can help you, I've already finished all mine." said Edward, beaming at me.

I scowled at him, the smarty-pants, musical genius, child prodigy.

"Of course you have."

Sure, I huffed and puffed about all his talents, but I still loved him. He was my best friend, and always would be, no matter what.

"Fine, you can help...a little." I told him, smiling a small smile.

He laughed. "Yay!"

I rolled my eyes at him as he rushed upstairs to get his jacket. I brought my empty bowl over to the sink, and thanked Esme once more. Edward slid down the banister, wearing his favorite ACDC sweatshirt, and carrying his jacket on his arm. He slid it on and we headed out the door to get some work done before the weekend was over.

ESME POV

I watched as Bella came down the stairs with Edward, debating about who had won their latest bet. I wondered what it was about this time. She greeted myself and Alice with warmth, smiling her beautiful smile.

I thought of her as my own daughter, and in a way she was. Renee had asked me to take care of her Isabella, and I had promised myself I wouldn't let her down. Emma and I had thrown ourselves into making Emmett and Bella's life alright, after what they had gone through. Charlie had done an amazing job of pulling himself through his wife's absence, and had taken on the responsibility of being a single father. We helped him along the way of course, and our three families hardly went a day without seeing each other. We shared something special, it was as though we were all related, all one.

Emmett had turned out massive and strong, with muscles on top of his muscles, but inside he was a big teddy bear, who hoped to travel. Edward had an amazing gift for music, was obsessed with being gentlemanly, and was off to Juliard next year. Alice had a knack for fashion, and had already thrown herself into her future career, filling sketchbook after sketchbook with drawings of her visions. Jasper was a master at soccer, but didn't intend to take his talent and need for speed any further than that. He had aspirations of joining the military. Rosalie didn't know where she was going in her life yet, but we all thought she should become a hairdresser and open up a salon in New York, the creations she fashioned on top of our heads... And then there was Bella, clumsy and uncoordinated, beautiful and funny, and oh so modest. What she did with machines was amazing. She could fix the smokiest engine, and find the quirks in them no one else saw. She wasn't confident with her talent, unconvinced it could take her anywhere. She was set on becoming a journalist. Carlisle was perfect, the blood that kept my heart pumping. And Emma, soft and beautiful, was my best friend, my one source of light. This was my family, all unique and different in their own ways. I smiled to myself, content in every way.

EDWARD POV

It was Monday morning, and Bella and I were waiting outside the school, almost frozen. I had helped her with all her homework yesterday, easy peasy. I had watched her struggle for a while, than had taken over, doing it for her. Bella huddled up against me, her arms wrapped around my waist, and mine around hers as we kept each other warm. She shivered. I looked down at my best friend, into those bright puppy dog eyes, and smiled.

"Hey Bella? You're making me shiver."

"To bad Edward, I'm cold, and you're warmer than me, so I get to hug you." she said playfully.

Everyone at school thought we were dating, the way we interacted, but we had told them countless times we were best friends. No one believed us.

Mike Newton, the school jack ass, wanted Bella to himself, but every time he asked her out, she said no. Emmett and I had sworn that if he ever hurt her, we would be the ones to deal with.

Bella was like my own sister, connected to me in a way I couldn't explain. From the moment she was born, I knew I had to be with her, have her beside me, forever.

The bell finally rang and we walked inside, shivering our heads off.

I hated school, and I was 19, I shouldn't even have to go through with it anymore, but Forks High School offered one more grade, to prepare you for college, and my mother had made me take it, along with Emmett and Jazz.

I sighed, as we reached Bella's locker, waited for her to unload everything, and take out what she needed, then we made our way over to my own locker. Alice was already at the locker beside mine, putting on her makeup in the tiny square locker mirror.

"Boo!" I scared her, and she jumped, scowling at me.

"Ed! You messed up my face!" she squealed.

"Oh Ali, your face was already messed up!" I told her in a joking tone.

She scowled at me again, and stalked off in the opposite direction, probably to find Rose.

Bella laughed at the scene we had just made, and shook her head at Alice.

"That was mean you know." she told me, smiling.

"Oh trust me, I know...Bellie." I responded, using her most unliked nickname.

"Edward Masen do not call me Bellie!" she yelled, and people walking in the hallways stopped to look.

I snickered, and grabbed her hand to lead her to biology. She wasn't going to get there by herself huffing and puffing like that.

I dropped her off at her class and ran to mine, hurrying to get my favorite spot at the back.