A/N: First and foremost, we'd like to thank our AWESOME FANTASTIC SUPER DUPER THE BEST EVER, beta (yes we have one of those after how many fics?) whatsthefracas.She's awesome-oly, right belzo?

Durrrrr, she's the bestest!

If only the owner of these characters - SMeyer was as cool. Pshhhh

YEah, but that's a tall order. I don't think anyone can be as cool as her.

True, true. But you know what else is cooler than SMeyer?

This crossover?

And reviews!

OHHH RIGHT! Well, leave us some cause you know we love hearing from you :)

BPOV

There was something incredibly intriguing about Mr. Cullen; about the way I could feel his eyes on me as I left the dance floor and the way his green eyes burned into my mind to the point where I believed I was going mad from having dreams of him the following three nights.

I wanted to see him. There was an urge, one that I'd never experienced before that yearned to see him and truly know him.

Fortunately Mr. Cullen was a man of his word and the morning of the fifth day, after having the first evening of sleep without his piercing eyes in my dreams, he called upon Alice and me to visit him and Mr. Hale at the Hale's estate.

I had to be aloof. Mr. Cullen was a man of great pride and dignity. He was also a man known for having little emotion for those outside of the Hales and his sister. So, as we were primped and prodded for our outing to the Hale's summer home at Netherfield, I took care to mind the thoughts that swirled in my head and heart.

The thoughts that urged me to speak with Mr. Cullen. That encouraged me to ask about the mischievous things he and Mr. Hale did. That pushed me to beg him to let me in.

Because that was foolish. I was ordinary from head to toe; from status in life to educational accomplishments. There was nothing I possessed that Mr. Cullen couldn't find in ample supply (and better, if truth be told), elsewhere.

After a three hour journey, Alice and I arrived at the property. Mr. Hale happily and may I say a bit anxiously, was awaiting us at the footsteps of the path; beside him, a stoic Mr. Cullen stood, hands behind his back and jaw once again clenched.

Oh to soften his expression with a touch of my hand to his cheek.

No Bella, that is unrealistic and a complete act of impropriety. Mr. Hale graciously held out a hand for Alice, helping her out of the carriage. I smiled at his kind nature and just as I was to exit myself, a warm hand rested under mine, sending a bolt of heat through my entire being. My eyes flashed up to meet the pair of green eyes that had plagued my dreams in the nights prior.

"Mr. Cullen." I nodded, once I had landed safely on the ground. I bowed shallowly and took note as he nodded his head.

"Good Afternoon, Miss Swan." He greeted, extending his forearm towards me politely.

I tried to hide the blush that stained my cheeks as I took his arm and walked with him toward the main house. "Have you enjoyed your stay thus far?" I asked.

"Very much, thank you." He nodded curtly, his eyes trained straight ahead. "Have you enjoyed your...home?"

I smiled a bit, nodding my head slightly. "Apart from an at times frantic mother, my house is very enjoyable," I responded, laughing softly as I turned my head to look at him.

"Ah, yes. Mrs. Swan is most...energetic, isn't she?"

"There is no doubt that she could run miles around any of us, including our youngest sister," I confirmed.

We made our way up the steps and I felt the heat expand tenfold throughout my body as the flat of his hand rested on my lower back and he guided me up the staircase.

"How many of you are there?" he asked. His stride shortened and he began slowing down. "I thought only two?"

"I am afraid you have been misinformed." I replied, slowing my pace to match his own. "Alice and I are the eldest. There are three others - all girls."

"My, your father certainly has his work cut out." He chuckled, guiding me into a room nearly the size of our entire first floor. His hand rested on my lower back once again, and I felt the warmth I had come to crave, spread around the area. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

I furrowed my brows at his slightly snide comment, but remained silent as I sat down on the chair across from the sofa. My sister and Mr. Hale had already disappeared for a walk and it was only Mr. Cullen and I in the large piano room. "Thank you."

"Do you play?" he asked, gesturing to the piano forte that sat parallel to the wall of floor to ceiling windows.

I turned my head in his direction shaking my head. "Not very well. Yourself?"

He smirked arrogantly, nodding firmly. "Well."

Pompous. Utterly conceited. "As well as you get lost?" I replied curtly, but grinning sweetly.

"Better, actually," he mused, laughing a bit.

"Really?" I asked standing and walking over to him, sitting at the piano. "Teach me."

"Alright," he stated, moving to hover behind me. His arms wrapped over my shoulders and arms; his hands touching my own as he positioned them over the keys. "Like this; This is middle C." He said, pressing his finger against mine and mine against the ivory bar.

I laughed, trying to ignore the pulsating feel of his hand against mine as he continued to lean over me. "I play, just not well." I repeated. "I know the keys."

"Then play me something," he challenged, pulling away abruptly and moving to sit beside me on the bench.

The pressure was on. I took a deep breath and hovered my fingers over the keys, beginning to play. I was growing more confident as my fingers danced fluidly over the keys. I turned my gaze from my hands to Edward who was staring intently in my direction. My breathing sped up at the intensity of his gaze and my fingers tripped over one another and I missed a few notes.

"My apologies," I replied, feeling my cheeks flush. "I warned you I wasn't very good," I added, laughing a little at my own inferiority.

"You're wonderful," he murmured, his breathing heavy and palpable.

"You're a very good liar." I smiled, trying to steady my own breath as I saw his eyes dart down to my lips.

I was wanting things I never dreamed.

I was feeling things I had only ever read in books.

I was craving something I knew Mr. Cullen could never offer a girl of my standing.

His affection.

EPOV

She was, in a word...perfection.

She wasn't anything other than herself at any given moment, nor did she expect anything from me in return. Why should she; I owed her nothing. "You should play more often. You really are exquisite." In more ways than one.

"I would, if it were possible. When my youngest sister was born, my father sold our piano."

I furrowed my brow. "Would you like this one?"

She gasped slightly, withdrawing her hands. "I couldn't."

I shook my head, looking back down at the old and slightly out of tune contraption. "Why not? I'm offering it because you should play more often. Please accept."

"Mr. Cullen, I am very grateful for your generosity, but I cannot accept," she informed me, smiling politely. "You must understand that it is not because I do not want it, but there are things that would be said if I were to and I cannot tarnish my family's reputation simply because you are charitable and far too generous." She sounded oddly sad, her fingers running over the keys longingly.

I rolled my eyes at her, more because she was adorably absurd than that I was annoyed with her. "Fine. An anonymous donation of a piano forte will be given to your family," I replied, heading to the beverage cart stationed in the corner. "Tea?"

"Mr. Cullen, you don't understand." She stood, her hand reaching out hesitantly to touch my arm. "I... I cannot accept the gift." Her eyes slipped away from mine, and she flushed a bit. "Aside from the reasons I previously noted, the reason that my father gave away our old instrument is because... because we had to convert our piano room into another bedroom, for my younger sisters."

"You haven't the room?"

She paused momentarily, as though mulling her answer. "Our home is a comfortable one. It may not be as grand as a palace or the places you are used to, but it's where I grew up. It's the only home I've ever known."

I sighed. She had affection for the place, even though it was not the most ostentatious. "Then it's settled. You shall come here every day to play. I'll even send my carriage."

Her blush only seemed to grow, endearing her to me even more. "You are far too kind Mr. Cullen. I do not wish to be an imposition."

"It isn't," I replied, pouring a cup of tea for her. "Besides, I think you'll have to accompany your sister here more often, anyway."

"I am sure it would be much more agreeable for both you as well as Mr. Hale if my sister traveled alone to visit going forward."

"Oh," I replied. "I see." If she didn't want to come, she could have just said so. "Please, sit. I'll go see what's keeping Jasper and your sister." And with that, I left. I felt humiliated that I'd let myself get so carried away for no reason at all. I had no...hopes with this girl. She was a common girl from the middle of nowhere.

It meant nothing.

After having wandered about the house for a while, I returned to the music room where Miss Swan was still waiting. "I have come up with naught."

She stood, moving toward me in the salon. "Thank you for searching for my sister but I do not dare meddle in her happiness at this time. As you appear nothing short of aggravated with me, allow me to grant you some peace. I do no wish to bring you discomfort; I will bid my leave and walk in the garden until Mr. Hale and she have decided to part ways for the day."

"You don't have to leave," I told her. "I apologize for my behavior, but you do not have to leave just yet."

"But you just—" she started, her words coming out in a jumble. "all but ran out of here to get me out."

"I told you to sit," I said, because I have a knack for the obvious. "Asking a person to sit is hardly 'leave and never return'."

She shook her head, her cheeks lightly stained again. "You implied based on your rush out to see what was keeping them. Hinting that they had taken a long time and you wished to have your solitude."

"No...I said I was going to get them to go and get them." Honestly, the woman was dense. "I thought your sister came to socialize with all of us and maybe...maybe I like her too." I added, probably with more force than necessary. However, it wasn't true. To be honest, there was something about Alice that perplexed me, but I was assuredly not interested in...anything with her.

"Oh, so this a competition for her affections then?" she asked, clarifying. "You are incorrigible Mr. Cullen and I cannot believe that a man as well respected as you are would sink to such levels to humiliate someone. Women are not cards; you cannot bet that you will win the hand."

"Humiliate?" I asked, confused by the thought. "Who could be humiliated besides me? If I had any type of affection for your sister, they would obviously be wasted because of her clear desire for Mr. Hale. Would you not agree?" Dear lord, I was sounding like my aunt.

"What of your friend, your dear friend Mr. Hale. Would he not be distraught if my sister expressed even the most minimal affections towards you? You are correct that her affections lie with Mr. Hale, Mr. Cullen but you did not know that for certain."

I softened at her words, unsure how she could be so oblivious. "How could you not see it the moment everyone else did?"

"I saw what my sister felt. Do not think me as naive as that. I worry for her; she has never felt this for any man and Mr. Hale could break.." She drew a deep breath and I could sense the she was truly fearful for her sister's well being. "He could break her heart so easily."

I took a step closer to her, so I could speak softly. "So could any man. Better it be the one who loves her; at least he would soften the blow."

"A heartbreak is worst when it's done by the one who has it." She whispered, looking me directly in the eye.

I raised an eyebrow. "If you've given your heart, believe me it won't be broken. The one who takes it will cherish it about his own." That was true. My father loved my mother so much it killed him. It was common knowledge he'd died of a broken heart.

"Giving your heart to someone who could never do anything but hold it weakly, is a fool's game," she said, taking one step closer. "It makes the receiver all the more aware of his apathy, the giver all the more aware of her own insanity."

I pulled my arms behind my back, looking down at her. "You're assuming that the heart is in want of being broken. Why can't the heart remain whole?"

"Not at all. I assume that the heart wants what the heart wants regardless of standing, regardless of outside influence. The heart remains whole only in the hope that the receiver won't break it. But apathy, apathy is almost worse. It implies no emotion. No careful regard."

"Apathy isn't an option in taking someone's heart," I told her. "You may offer it, but it won't always be accepted."

"One could take it without realizing. If an apathetic person, for example, takes it hoping that the apathy will turn to more. That the heart beats enough for both of them to love, then he may accept it with an unfounded hope and leave the girl broken beyond repair."

I leaned down a little, searching her eyes. "Have you been heart broken, Miss Swan?"

"I've never met a man worth the risk. Have you?" she inquired, her tone oddly defiant.

"Never," I challenged.

"If you haven't, with all of the travels and your vast social circle, then how can you expect me to have had the luck when the margin is far more narrow?"

I sighed, pushing a hand through my hair. "Because I think you know what you want."

"Just because I know what I want, does not mean I've met the man that meets those standards."

"Yes, but you've narrowed the field," I replied, moving past her to sit on the pink sofa. Awful color.

"You are kind. My mother would say I've set my sights too high, considering." She laughed, the sound almost musical.

I looked up at her, returning the smile hesitantly. "Your sights could never be set too high. You should have what you dream of."

"Says the man that could have any woman in England."

Categorically not true, but not something I was particularly fond of discussing. "I think you should come tomorrow at two."

"Is that your way of attempting a clever subject change Mr. Cullen?" she teased, a knowing smiles gracing her lips.

I laughed a little. "Maybe." I sighed, pulling at my hair again and looked back up at her. "But nevertheless..."

"Nevertheless you think it's perfectly possible for me to find someone, but you have no hope?" she pushed.

"I didn't say I had no hope; just that I'm not as...free as some." Truth be told, I was feeling something for the girl in front of me. Something more than I'd felt for anyone prior.

"Edward, you are a man, with an abundant amount of money, and the entire civilized world at your fingertips. What is holding you back?" she spat, then her eyes went wide with shock and she covered her mouth. "I am, oh god... so sorry Mr. Cullen. I-I, please forgive me."

I grinned at her taking a deep breath, leaning in toward her. "Money doesn't buy happiness and it certainly doesn't buy love. What's holding me back?" I reiterated, leaning back again. "Better yet, what isn't?"

"There you two are!" I raised an eyebrow at Jasper's entrance with the older Miss Swan on his arm. He was acting as though we were the ones missing for hours. "We've been all over searching for you!"

I raised an eyebrow, smirking at Miss Isabella. "Really?"

"We were here the entire time," Miss Isabella informed, smiling at me. "He was trying to help me improve my piano forte repetoire."

Miss Swan, the elder, flicked her eyes from her younger sister to me, then back to her sister. "I see."

"Yes," I replied, standing and moving back toward the window. "Miss Swan has agreed to come back for lessons. I should think you'd like to accompany her?"

I turned back to them, just in time to see Miss Swan, the elder's face light up. "Of course. I doubt she would be allowed to attend alone."

Miss Swan's eyes returned to mine, and she looked up at me through her dark fringe of lashes. "Mr. Cullen suggested we return tomorrow at, two in the afternoon was it?"

I nodded, confirming the time as the ladies decided it was best they go.

"Piano lessons?" Jasper asked, raising in eyebrow in my direction.

"Don't ask," I replied, watching their carriage disappear.

It was better to give away the lessons than my heart.