I'd always wondered if Bella was curious about all the things Edward has seen and what they talked about when neither of them was in life threatening situations or declaring everlasting love to each other (which we mostly see them doing all the time in the books). This would be my take on one such conversation. Edward recounts his view on some of the key moments of the 20th century he'd witnessed.

Twilight and all the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I can only dream, don't own anything.

Prologue

It was raining as usual, as I drove down the muddy driveway leading to the Cullens' house. I scowled at the sight in my rear mirror – my truck was leaving a ridge of mud behind each wheel, and sighed, thinking of Rosalie's face when her convertible sloshed through the mess I've made. She already found ways to torture me as it was, without actually needing a reason to get back at me.

When I finally got the truck safely parked by the entrance, Edward was waiting for me at the stairs. He frowned and I smiled, knowing his objections to my truck were as loud as ever, but he didn't dare voice them. I'd been adamant on that point.

The truck – great; new car, new, unnecessarily crazy expensive sports car – bad.

I barely blinked and he was by the door, opening it gracefully for me and pulling me close under his coat so I wouldn't get wet.

"Mmmm," he sighed, "You smell wonderful in the rain." I blushed, naturally and fumbled with my bag. He took it from me and slung it casually over his shoulder.

"Ready?" he asked. I didn't dare look up, knowing he would see how anxious I was. He may not be able to read my thoughts directly, but he'd become quite an expert on reading my face. Not that it was all that difficult anyways.

Spending a weekend with Edward and his family was, generally, a dream come true, but I was afraid – I wanted to leave a good impression. Sure, they liked me, but would they mind I was human? It was the first time they had a human sleeping under their roof, first time they'd have to deal with such a temptation. I was confident Carlisle would have no problem, and Edward proved his incessant self-control, he already spent almost every night in my room, but I didn't want to cause Esme or anyone else any discomfort by smelling too deliciously under their roof. I'd caused them enough trouble with the whole James incident. I shuddered at the memory and quickly shook my head, trying to clear it of the dread that threatened to overcome me.

I tried feigning enthusiasm instead. "I'm…great." I finished lamely.

I risked a glance at his face. His expression was frustrated, a frown on his marble brow. "Tell me what you're thinking, please, Bella."

"I'm just afraid I'll mess up."

He looked at me, puzzled. "What would you mess up?"

"Well," I began, and the rest came out in a rush. "It's just the first time I'd sleep over at your house and it's kind of awkward. I don't want anyone to feel… inconvenienced because of me being there."

"Anyone being… Rosalie?" He raised an eyebrow.

"She… and everyone else. I'm food, remember? Bella banquet, very handy for a midnight snack."

His expression hardened, clearly not appreciating my attempt at humor. "Is that what you are finally afraid of, sleeping in a house full of vampires?" I could see it in his eyes he was considering leaving again, just like he mentioned he would if I ever came to be in danger from him. He was often distant ever since we came home from Phoenix, as if he always held the thought in the back of his mind that it was forever his fault if I came to harm. I felt a twinge of panic abruptly clutch at my chest, the whole talk of leaving was leaving me breathless. I couldn't imagine being without him. Not now, not anymore. It was too late for going back.

"No! It's not that!" I quickly assured him. I looked up to measure his expression. I could see he still didn't buy it. Stupid, stubborn vampire. "I'm not afraid someone will snack on me." He frowned and I put my finger to his lips to stop him from protesting. "Shh… Listen. I don't what them to have to go through all the extra effort with me being there, so close to them all."

"Wait, let me see if I understood correctly. You're afraid not that a houseful of vampires will… eat" – cringe – "you, but that they would mind having to undergo the effort to control themselves to not eat you?"

"You make it sound more complicated than it really is, Edward."

He sighed. "You're absurd." He stared into my eyes and I stared back, waiting for him to resolve his own issues so life could go on. He was making more of a big deal than it really was. I just didn't want to bother them with my presence. He clearly read too much into it.

"Alright, I suppose I see your point. You're worrying unnecessarily, though. Everyone's gone except Carlisle and Esme. Alice didn't want to put Jasper too much in temptation's way. No need to push our luck."

He smiled then, and kissed the top of my head. I exhaled in a loud puff, relieved only Edward's parents were home. I could do with just the two of them. No Emmett to laugh at me every time I trip, which, klutz that I am, was often enough. No Alice to practice her Barbie-doll Bella obsession on me. No Jasper to mope around awkwardly in an attempt not to kill me. No… Rosalie… to throw hateful glares in my direction. Just me and Edward and a quiet weekend with his parents. I grinned, my prospects suddenly looking much better than five minutes ago.

Edward laughed at the change in my mood. "Ready?"

"Yup. Let's go."

He led me up the stairs and held the door for me, never letting go of my hand.

Inside, we settled on the couch as we waited for Carlisle to return from work. Apparently we had some family bonding activities scheduled for later that evening, whatever that meant. I decided I'd rather not know, though it was relatively safe now, knowing only Carlisle and Esme were involved.

Edward played with my hair absentmindedly, his eyes distant. I panicked he might be thinking of our earlier discussion and the whole prospect of leaving. I struggled to read his expression but it was blank, controlled. He would hum occasionally and sometimes the tune seemed familiar, though I could never quite pinpoint the song before he moved on to something else. "Edward," I whispered. "What's on your mind?"

His eyes turned to me, still unfocused, and he smiled lightly. "I'm just reminiscing."

"About what?"

"How different the world was without you in it." He looked at me then and his lips stretched into my favorite crooked smile. I traced the shape of his lips with my index finger. "Tell me about it," I pleaded. He took my hand and placed my palm against his cheek, leaning into it. His eyes closed and he was silent for a long moment.

"What would you like to know?"

I thought about it for a second. I could barely fathom the years Edward had seen. He was there to witness all the key events of the 20th century. He lived through the World Wars. He watched the launching of the first man in space, the first man on the Moon. He was there in the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties…he saw the world change and become what it was today. Sadness gripped me. What could such a marvelous creature possibly see in me? He was so much above me, in everything. Beautiful, brilliant, experienced. I was a true child compared to him, and so average in every aspect. I felt my eyes tear up and I blinked rapidly. I hoped he wouldn't notice but he still did. "Bella?" he whispered anxiously. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I mumbled. I hid my face into his chest. "Tell me your favorite moment ever."

I was surprised to feel him chuckle underneath me. "Bella, my favorite moments all happened since I met you."

"That can't be right."

"Oh yes it can. You would not believe how empty my life before you seems now that I have met you and loved you. Now that I know what I didn't have all this time."

I shook my head. "You're crazy, you know that?"

He chuckled again. "Perhaps. Crazy about you, obviously."

"Yup. Definitely dangerously delusional."

His lips gently touched my forehead. "Silly Bella," he sighed. "You'll never listen to me, will you?"

I nodded. "That's right." I decided to change the topic, there was no point discussing the matter. He was too stubborn. "Tell me one event from every decade you've lived in." I looked at him expectantly and smiled to see him sigh in surrender. "I'll start with the twenties then. The gangster era." He grinned wickedly and I grinned in response. This was way better than the history channel – my own kissable encyclopedia. I kissed his jaw and snuggled closer to him, ready to hear the story.