It was after dark when we reached the house. In spite of that, the meadow was bright in the light shining from every window.

As soon as I cut the engine he was at my door, opening it for me. He lifted me from the cab with one arm, slinging my bag out of the truck bed and over his shoulder with the other. His lips found mine as I heard him kick the truck's door shut behind me.

Edward looked tense about this, like he didn't think that was such a good idea. Seeing as he knew they were alone and with what Bella was thinking earlier - he could guess where this was going.

"I think you might be giving her ideas again," Emmett teased.

"I think the ideas might already be there," Alice laughed.

Without breaking the kiss, he swung me up so that I was cradled in his arms and carried me into the house.

Was the front door already open? I didn't know. We were inside, though, and I was dizzy. I had to remind myself to breathe.

This kissing did not frighten me. It wasn't like before when I could feel the fear and panic leaking through his control. His lips were not anxious, but enthusiastic now -

"Maybe you're having some ideas yourself," Emmett laughed.

"Of course, I don't," Edward said, glaring at him. "That's not going to happen."

"Well, if Bella puts her mind to it," Jasper teased and Edward snapped his glared to him. "You know she could do just about anything."

"Argh," Edward hissed.

he seemed as thrilled as I was that we had tonight to concentrate on being together. He continued to kiss me for several minutes, standing there in the entry; he seemed less guarded than usual, his mouth cold and urgent on mine.

I began to feel cautiously optimistic. Perhaps getting what I wanted would not be as difficult as I'd expected it to be.

"Damn," Edward said.

"Edward!" Esme reprimanded.

"Sorry, Mom," Edward apologized. He never did like to swear in front of Esme.

"I bet he's just mad because he knows what she wants now for sure," Emmett laughed. "I wonder if she gets some tonight..."

"No!" Edward hissed. "It's Never Going To Happen!"

"We'll see," Emmett laughed. "Do you want to make a bet on that?"

Edward just glared at him, real anger in his eyes. There was no way that Edward was going to be betting on anything…especially not this.

"How about you, Jazz?" Emmett asked. "Do think that Eddy can resist Bella's charms?"

Edward growled at him.

"Sure," Jasper said, looking at Edward. It was pretty convincing that he wasn't going to be changing his mind about this. "How about you... er... you can't make any jokes about Bella's clumsiness for a year if I win," he said and then looked over and knew that Emmett would never suggest it himself, "and I'll get that house that Rose wants if I lose."

Emmett thought about it for a second, he would really hate it if he lost, that was for sure, but in the end he said. "Okay."

Rosalie and Edward were smiling at Jasper when he set the terms, though it was for different reasons. However, Alice was frowning. What is he doing, she thought, this is by no means a sure bet and he's betting that big... Doesn't he realize that even Edward has his limits and this is something that would tempt him too...

Edward growled at her.

"Oh, be quiet," Alice hissed back at him.

Jasper put his hand on her back and whispered in his thickest Southern accent - the others had some trouble understanding that, especially when he was whispering. "You're going to win a Porsche love, if I lose I give them a house and if I win...well, we all know how much Emmett's going to whine..." he added the last, smirking as Emmett glared at him. He didn't need to know Jasper exact words to know that he didn't like them.

"Okay," Alice smiled at him.

No, of course it was going to be just exactly that difficult.

With a low chuckle, he pulled me away, holding me at arm's length.

"Welcome home," he said, his eyes liquid and warm.

"That sounds nice," I said, breathless.

He set me gently on my feet. I wrapped both my arms around him, refusing to allow any space between us.

"I have something for you," he said, his tone conversational.

"Oh?"

"Your hand-me-down, remember? You said that was allowable."

"Oh, that's right. I guess I did say that."

He chuckled at my reluctance.

"It's up in my room. Shall I go get it?"

His bedroom? "Sure," I agreed, feeling quite devious as I wound my fingers through his.

"Let's go."

"Well, you'll have to use all your wiles to get past Eddy," Emmett laughed.

He must have been eager to give me my non-present, because human velocity was not fast enough for him.

"I don't know, I think Eddy's mind might be on the same thing as yours," Emmett said.

"No," Edward hissed. "I'm never allowed to give her anything... I want to give her stuff."

"You know things are bad when Edward is acting younger than Emmett," Jasper laughed.

"Yeah, Edward, you're acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum," Alice laughed too.

"Hmph," was all Edward could say. It was clear that he wasn't going to like this chapter one bit.

He scooped me up again and nearly flew up the stairs to his room. He set me down at the door, and darted into his closet.

He was back before I'd taken a step, but I ignored him and went to the huge gold bed, plopping down on the edge and then sliding to the center. I curled up in a ball, my arms wrapped around my knees.

"Okay," I grumbled. Now that I was where I wanted to be, I could afford a little reluctance.

"Let me have it."

Edward laughed.

He climbed onto the bed to sit next to me, and my heart thumped unevenly. Hopefully he would write that off as some reaction to him giving me presents.

"Probably," Edward grumbled. "I wish I could read her mind."

"A hand-me-down," he reminded me sternly. He pulled my left wrist away from my leg, and touched the silver bracelet for just a moment. Then he gave me my arm back.

I examined it cautiously. On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf, there now hung a brilliant heart-shaped crystal.

Edward smiled at that. He had always liked that piece from his mother's collection.

It was cut in a million facets, so that even in the subdued light shining from the lamp, it sparkled. I inhaled in a low gasp.

"It was my mother's." He shrugged deprecatingly. "I inherited quite a few baubles like this. I've given some to Esme and Alice both. So, clearly, this is not a big deal in any way."

"Except for the fact that it's a diamond," Alice said.

"Hopefully she won't figure that out," Edward shrugged.

I smiled ruefully at his assurance.

"But I thought it was a good representation," he continued. "It's hard and cold." He laughed. "And it throws rainbows in the sunlight."

"You forgot the most important similarity," I murmured. "It's beautiful."

Edward made kind of a face at that, but he was smiling too.

"It seems like she likes it," Esme smiled.

"My heart is just as silent," he mused. "And it, too, is yours."

"Aw," Esme and Alice both said and Rosalie looked like she found it hard to resist smiling too.

I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer. "Thank you. For both."

"No, thank you. It's a relief to have you accept a gift so easily. Good practice for you, too."

He grinned, flashing his teeth.

I leaned into him, ducking my head under his arm and cuddling into his side. It probably felt similar to snuggling with Michelangelo's David, except that this perfect marble creature wrapped his arms around me to pull me closer.

It seemed like a good place to start.

"Can we discuss something? I'd appreciate it if you could begin by being open-minded."

"Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen," Emmett laughed, looking at the Edward in this room who seemed to be very closed-minded right now, "but, I'm sure you'll get through his thick skull somehow."

He hesitated for a moment. "I'll give it my best effort," he agreed, cautious now.

"I'm not breaking any rules here," I promised. "This is strictly about you and me." I cleared my throat. "So…I was impressed by how well we were able to compromise the other night. I was thinking I would like to apply the same principle to a different situation." I wondered why I was being so formal. Must be the nerves.

"What would you like to negotiate?" he asked, a smile in his voice.