So, here we go again.

Disclaimer: Since the last chapter, I have in fact not managed to buy the Twilight franchise, it all belongs to Stephanie Meyer the great. I just find amusement in pulling the characters' strings.

We walked in silence back to the house, the last flecks of sunlight making our skin gleam, the flowers catching the light and practically glowing, in multitudes of colours, all in perfect harmony, something most professional gardeners could only dream of. From Bella's expression of perfect contentedness, anyone could tell that she was thinking the same thing, and how lucky she was to have a husband that she belonged to, that she could see on a daily basis, no stress about money, work, love, anything...

A perfect world.

When we entered the house, Bella separated herself from me, walking to the kitchen where Renesme was holding another new garment up to her small, delicate frame, her happiness infectious. Given how fast she was growing, the dress would be too small for her in a matter of weeks, if that, but that was no doubt part of the appeal. If she needed new clothes, Alice and Rosalie would immediately pounce on the opportunity to get her anything her heart desired.

I sat down near Carlisle, who gave me a smile of acknowledgement before continuing his conversation with the wolf boy.

'...So what exactly is a wenus?' Jacob was saying.

'Oh, it's...' Carlisle began, but trailed off as Renesme entered the room, in her pink-and-gold glory, hair falling perfectly about her shoulders. His face split into a smile.

I could hear Jacob's heart beating faster, the mesmerised look making it plain what he thought, I shuddered a bit as his thoughts came unbidden to my head, idiot teen wolf-boy.

I scowled.

Bella was delighted, her smile getting wider as Jacob stood up, coming over to twirl Renesme around. Bella left the pair, taking the opportunity to sit next to me now that Jacob was occupied with other things. Her arm snaked around my back, clinging tightly as she looked up with adoration in her eyes. My arm moved around her shoulder, the stiffness of the motion something that didn't register to Bella. Carlisle looked about ready to leave, but watching the scene of childhood romance with my wife's arm around me wasn't something I'd be able to stand without company.

'How has the hospital been doing?' Bella asked with a smile, saving me the effort

'It's been difficult, but we'll manage,' Carlisle responded, his smile fading a little. 'A tycoon has been around, threatening to buy up the hospital, or some such nonsense, but it looks like the hospital's board has managed to scare him away for now. How has life in the cottage been?' He laughed before either of us could reply, and stood up. 'Well, I remember what it was like to be young, so you don't have to give me an answer. Now let's see my granddaughter's new dress,' he said, addressing the last comment to the group around Renesme, getting Jacob to put her down and shooing the others away.

'Isn't this wonderful?' Bella whispered, nuzzling me gently.

I twitched.

'Yes, it's perfect.'

'Oh, Edward...' She frowned, picking up on the terse tone of voice I had used. 'It's Jacob, isn't it?' she inquired, her voice speeding up so that he wouldn't understand. Clearly the surprise had registered on my face, because she went back to her docile state, a small grin on her face. 'He won't do anything to her. And you should have said that he was bothering you. Wait... Were you keeping quiet because of me?' She kissed me, body half-draped over mine even after her lips stopped touching mine. 'You're so sweet.'

'I do not like the Backstreet Boys!' Renesme exclaimed, her perfectly formed face set in a pout. 'I just saw them in Emmett's CD collection, and I was curious.'

'You didn't tell me Emmett likes the Backstreet Boys,' Bella murmured, smirking.

'It's a well-kept Cullen family secret,' I assured her, willing the dead weight on me to move, but grateful nevertheless that Renesme had provided Bella with some form of distraction that didn't involve kissing.

'It's a well-kept Cullen family secret, huh?' she responded verbatim. 'Now that we're married, am I going to find out any other well-kept Cullen family secrets, or will I have to extract them from you by force?' Her arms, wrapped around my neck, tightened their hold, pulling Bella a little closer. Our noses were practically touching.

'All in good time,' I said noncommitally. We sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of Renesme's happiness and an occasional input from one of the others the only other sound. Bella kissed me passionately, and went back to relying on just her own chair for support, though she still leaned her body against me, head on my shoulder.

'Isn't the sky beautiful tonight? You can't see the moon, but that just makes all the stars look brighter...'

'It's a new moon,' I muttered absentmindedly, watching the wolf boy go back to swinging Renesme around like a sack of flour, holding her with his strong, muscular arms that strained the seams of his t-shirt.

'A new moon,' she repeated. 'That's so romantic.' Since I had looked at the window, preferring that sight to the one of my daughter and Jacob, the family encouraging every second of it, Bella had taken my silence as an agreement, snuggling closer. 'What a perfect night.'

'Yes. It's perfect.'

So ends another chapter. If you liked (or if you didn't) share your opinion by reviewing.