It was supposed to be a normal thing. A simple day after the celebrations of Christmas and new year. Bella and Jacob taking Nessie for a walk in the snow so she could play with the snowflakes. Ellis and Seth had volunteered to go with them.

Nessie now had the appearance of a seven year old. Her ageing had slowed down much the everyone's relief. She now seemed to age months within a few weeks, other than years. Bella and Alice had bundled her up in layers to help preserve her low body heat. She ran colder than most humans but still couldn't ignore temperatures like full vampires. Ellis and Bella on the other hand were in long sleeved T-shirt's and jeans. They did not bother trying to look human. They were on Cullen land and away from eyes. Jacob had jeans and a short sleeved tshirt. His body keeping him warm enough. Seth was in wolf form and easily protected by his coat.

Ellis and Seth were having a great time throwing the American football, that Ellis had given him for Christmas, around. They were playing a complicated game of fetch. Ellis would throw the ball in Seth's direction for the wolf to catch in his moth. Seth would then have to dodge past Ellis' attempts to tackle the ball back. Once he would get it back, then it would all start again. It was a wild flailing game and great fun.

Jacob laughed at the pile of of limbs. Occasionally clumps of snow would be thrown out as the two forms wrestled on the ground. "Come on Seth!" Jacob called. "Don't let him get the ball. Hold your defence!"

Ellis scrambled up and waved the ball around triumphantly. "Hah!" He crowed. He blurred across the clearing towards then, ducking behind Nessie. The little girl giggled as he placed the football at her feet. "And he scores!" Ellis yelled. He raised a victorious fist into the air. Seth whined behind him and Ellis pointed at him. "No pouting. I won fair and square". Seth slumped into a sitting position and gave him puppy dog eyes, tail flicking back and forwards. Ellis groaned and his behind Nessie's long bronze curls. "Save me Nessie. My boyfriend is trying to blackmail me".

Nessie giggled and pointed a glove covered finger at the golden wolf. "No", she declared with a grin. "No bullying Ellie".

Jacob and Bella both snorted at Ellis' new nickname. It was not the first time she had called him that. Nessie did not speak very much, preferring to use her gift. But when she did, she always got his name wrong. It was the first time she had called him Ellie though. Ellis frowned at the mispronunciation. He knew she was doing it on purpose to wined him up. "No. It's Ellis. Welsh name, meaning 'Benevolent'. Pronounced Ell-iss. Not Ellie. Did Edward teach you that? I feel like Edward taught you that, the petty bar-steward", he muttered sourly. Seth was making his little howling laughter noises. It never failed to make Ellis smile, especially when he was in wolf form. It was such a stupidly funny sound that Ellis always cracked up.

He picked the ball up from the snow and stood up. The snow clung to his brown curls and green tshirt and jeans. It had began falling lightly. One flake settled on his collar bones as he raised the ball and smirked challengingly at Seth. "Another round?" Seth nodded his massive furry head. Ellis grinned and threw the ball. The red object whizzed through the trees. Seth bounded after it, Ellis running behind him. Both of them disappeared into the forest.

Nessie ran over to her mother and held up her hand. "Look a snowflake". Bella crouched down to look at her palm where a tiny snowflake was slowly melting.

"That's beautiful", she smiled. "Let's try and find another". Excited, Nessie ran a few steps away into the clearing. There was the crunching of footsteps in the snow and Seth bounded out of the forest. He dropped the ball to the ground between Bella and Jacob, wagging his tail happily. Ellis ran after him.

"Aww you won", he groaned, coming to a halt. Seth snorted at him smugly. Ellis stuck his tongue out at him.

"Ellie look", Nessie called. Ellis watched as his niece turned and jumped up into the air. She rose a good twenty feet before landing and running back over. "I caught a snowflake", she stated proudly. Ellis beamed at her.

"It's a very pretty snowflake too", he replied. "Good job small". Nessie giggled as he ruffled her hair affectionately. She turned to scan the area for more snowflakes to catch.

"Who's that?" She pointed to a distant rocky hill a few miles away. Everyone followed her gaze. There was a blonde woman standing on the edge. From the way she stood and the Snow White paleness of her skin, it was obvious she was a vampire. Ellis had never seen her before but he could see that her eyes were gold like theirs.

"I think that's one of our Denali cousins", Bella replied hesitantly. He raised her voice, calling out to the blonde. "Irina!" As if startled by her name, the blonde vampire turned and fled back into the forest. Bella ran after her, disappearing into the trees. Ellis picked Nessie up and rested the girl on his hips as they watched. A moment later Bella appeared on the ridge that Irina had been standing on. She looked around but it appeared that the vampire was gone.

"Let's get back to the house", Bella said once she returned. Nessie made grabby hands at Jacob and Ellis handed her over. She relaxed against his body heat, probably tired from the snow. Ellis picked up Seth's ball and tucked it under his arm as they all headed inside.

"She could have come to make amends", Carslie said. They were all inside and in the living room. Carslie and Esme were seated together on on couch, Seth and Ellis on the other. Seth was back in human form and was seated with an arm around Ellis' shoulders. Emmet was leaning on the backrest on his right, with Rosalie draped over him. Edward and Nessie were at the piano, Bella and Jacob standing against the wall watching. Occasionally he would play a short tune that Nessie would copy. Outside the window, Leah was visible in wolf form on the porch. She was probably listening to the conversation.

"She might have been scared off by Jacob and Seth", Esme added. Seth seemed sad about that. Ellis patted his hand. It wasn't his fault.

Bella sighed. "I just wished I could have talked to her. I feel so bad".

"It wasn't your fault", Edward murmured. He began smoothly playing a tune. Ellis recognised it a Riopy's 'I love you'.

A click of heels echoed in the hall. Alice walked in carrying a vase of white carnations. Ellis glanced up as she gasped. The vase smashed against the white floor tiles. Jasper was instantly at her side, hand on her elbow.

"Alice?" Bella asked, stepping forwards. Ellis rose from his seat, dislodging Seth's arm. She' d had a vision, he could see the signs. It was the only reason she would react this way.

"The volturi", she breathed in shock and dread. "They're coming".