~A/N This was a totally impulsive idea after listening to some new Christmas music while decorating a few days ago. I'm in love with Seth MacFarlane's Christmas album, who knew? I'm attempting as many one shots as I can get over the next few weeks. This is completely off the cuff, nothing deep or fancy, just good holiday fun.

Off course, I felt compelled to make my first one about Seth Clearwater, as I'm still not over what happened to him in Revival.

All chapter titles are song titles on the album.

Everybody's waiting for the Man with the Bag
(Seth/Bella)

Charlie had caught her up on pretty much everything and everyone. She'd been away for a long time finishing up her marketing degree. She went ahead and got her master's since she was on a role. Bella Swan thought she had it all figured out at 18 when she walked down the aisle with vampire Edward Cullen, but she was living a completely different life currently.

Bella went through with it despite her resistance to young marriage. She broke her best friend's heart and disappointed his friends who had also become her friends. What a selfish brat, but she didn't see it at the time. It wasn't until Alice busted in on her and Edward right before their moment of intimacy; that her world took on a new direction. She remembers shrieking at her as she grasped at the sheets to cover her topless form. Jeesh, Alice was bold but why did she crash their honeymoon.

Alice's words shook both Edward and her to the core, "Don't Edward, if you and Bella make love, she'll get pregnant and it will not be a normal child. She will die! I swear it, I saw her dead and ripped apart. I don't know if you changed her in time, but see for yourself."

Of course, Alice replayed her vision for Edward and shock and horror covered his face. He assured Alice that would never happen, so she eventually retreated to let them discuss it.

"You're never going to touch me, are you?"

"No love, I can give you affection, but I will never risk you like that."

They talked it over all night instead of doing what most honeymoon couples did. Of course, he could go ahead with the change when they got back, but he'd reminded her she seemed pleased with waiting a little bit longer. They talked about starting college for a semester also. Eventually, the honeymoon ended and they did go to Dartmouth. She soon found out the only time she was enjoying herself was while she was in classes. He wouldn't let her work and living with the Cullen's was an entirely different experience than merely knowing them. She was bored out of her mind. Why did she ever believe it would work? She had absolutely nothing in common with them. Edward was the worst one, so annulment papers at the end of the semester were the best thing she'd ever wished for.

They made promises to keep in touch and always love and care for each other, but like so many young people, they grew apart. She rarely talked to him and she hadn't seen any of them in years. Bella had her work cut out for her getting back in Jacob's good graces, but the two of them renewed their friendship eventually. She started a new school in California the next year and he came to see her when he could. It seemed fitting that one of those visits ended with them fumbling through losing their virginities to one another. He was great and so caring with her. They tried a relationship but time and distance created problems. They were still very good friends and always would be, but friendship was the healthier choice for both of them.

Bella had snapped out of her daydream when Charlie made a request that she attend the community Christmas party for the underprivileged.

"You did some things like that in school didn't you, Bells?"

"Oh yeah, sure. I did volunteer work with one of my clubs. When is it? "

"It's tomorrow night. Would you feel up to it? Seth could use the help."

"Seth? Seth Clearwater?"

"Yeah, he heads up that project, does something similar on the reservation too. He majored in social work and works for the county."

"Little Seth is already out of college, same time as me...how is that possible?"?

Charlie chuckled. "No one calls him little anymore and he's a smart kid. He did one of those dual credit programs in high school. He had an associate's degree earned along with his high school diploma; so yeah, he recently graduated UW."

Bella's was stunned. She'd taken extra time since she changed colleges a few times and did the extra year for her master's. Seth was a sweet kid. She looked forward to helping him at the party and catching up.

The following afternoon, Charlie told her to find where she was needed when they arrived. He already knew his assignment for the entire day and night. She meandered around slightly peeved her dad left her to fend for herself. She ran into Sue, and was thankful to finally find a friendly face. She told Bella to go in the back room where Seth was because he needed help organizing the toys by age group for when the Santa arrived. People had been donating for the past month so everything was a mess back there.

She opened the door to the room that said PRIVATE. Gifts were strode out on the floor or in boxes in every direction. She saw a rather large man hunched over one box. He had dark brown hair that touched his shoulders. She couldn't help but stare a little, he was built and she enjoyed the way his muscles moved and flexed under his snug tee shirt. She didn't want to be a weirdo, so she soon cleared her throat.

The man turned around, "I was wondering when you were going to say hi, Bella. I smelled you when you came through the front door with Charlie. Sorry, old habits die hard."

"Seth," she said an octave higher than normal. "How can that be you?"

He stood up and laughed.

"I don't know, it just is. How are you? Man you look great...amazing." With that last word she found her feet had left the ground as he picked her up and spun her around.

She squealed and he put her down.

They quickly fell into a routine of sorting the toys. She found conversation with him easy just like the old days. His job sounded amazing, not glamorous but he was making a difference in people's lives. She'd feared getting pulled in to some monotonous job that she only did to collect a paycheck. Seth told her about some non-profits that she might find her niche with.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't ask, but Charlie said you were considering coming back to the area or was that his wishful thinking?"

"No actually, it's true. I griped about Washington to anyone that listened but I've been homesick. I've been gone almost six years. "

"I know. I missed you...I mean the pack missed you. We're glad that you, well, you know. We're glad that you're okay."

"Thanks Seth. It was a learning experience. I'm glad I got out in time."

They had just about finished when he told her she deserved a much needed break. He brought her into the kitchen and pulled out a giant submarine sandwich.

"I was saving this, but I'm willing to share. Are you interested?"

She checked her mouth for drool. God, yes, she was interested. She couldn't take her eyes off him the entire day. He was such a hot hunk of man now. She repeatedly tried to contain her staring. She kept reminding herself he was so much younger than her, but then her naughty side would remind her, 20 was perfectly legal. Too make matters worse, he didn't just have the body and face going for him; he was also smart and funny and spent all his time trying to help others. It wasn't just his career. All the stuff he was doing in the community center was completely volunteer work. How could she not be insanely attracted to him? She was. Bella sliced up the sandwich, giving him the largest piece, while he made them a couple of piping hot mugs of hot chocolate.

He surprised her by lifting her up on the counter. All the chairs were out in the main room. He hopped up and had a seat beside her. She started nibbling on her sandwich but her stomach was swirling with anxiety. He checked the clock on the wall and said Santa was going to be there in 15 minutes, so he needed to go over the final details with him. He told Bella she could be an elf and assist. "Hope you don't mind if I don't have an extra costume for you."

"No, I'll manage."

They were about to walk back out when she noticed he had a little something on his face. "Um...wait, Seth, you've got a chocolate milk mustache."

"Oh yeah," he grinned and she admired his dimples.

She'd just tossed her napkin, so she wiped it with her thumb. Having her skin even briefly run across his lip made her body heat up. There was a tiny dried bit left so without thinking much about it, she licked her finger and rubbed the rest off. Seth was staring into her eyes. He made a slight whimpering sound. Had she managed to turn him on? No way, her flirting game was nil. She felt herself headed in that direction, but she had been as soon as she saw his backside when she first walked through the door. Her hand tentatively retreated.

"There...perfectly clean."

Seth's gaze further darkened and he took a step towards her. His hand grabbed her shoulder and slid down her arm. She held her lip between her teeth, but then quickly let it go because everything with his demeanor told her he was going to kiss her. She didn't want to discourage his advances. His face lowered and she could feel his hot breath on her face. Her eyes slightly closed, and her butt got slammed with the door.

"Seth, Santa's here."

He jumped a mile away from her and met Charlie, "Sure thing, Charlie."

Damn. A ruined opportunity. Did fathers have a sixth sense or something? Bella shook her dizzy head and headed out to perform her elfly duties. She was busy for the next two hours, and barely got to even glance at Seth. He was serious about costumes, the two of them were the only helpers in street clothes. She highly doubted they made an elf costume that would fit his body. The whole evening was a success. She saw many happy children make their way through the line getting the toy of their dreams. She started to help pick up, but Seth stopped her.

"Hey, there's a night crew that'll do all that. You've worked hard enough."

"Oh good, cuz my feet are killing me." She looked around for Charlie but couldn't seem to find him. Seth informed her that he told him he could take her home.

"You did?"

"Yeah, is that okay?"

"Sure."

They walked to the parking lot to find a small flurry had started up. "Hey, would you like to have some dinner with me before I take you home?"

"I...I guess so."

"Oh, nevermind, you don't have to," his head fell slightly.

"No, I want to but I'm yucky, we've been working all afternoon. I don't look presentable for dinner."

"I think you look fine, Bella."

"Thanks Seth." She couldn't hide her blush. The snow started to fall a little harder around them. Soon Seth was in front of her again.

"Um, you and Jake?"

"Will always be friends..."

"Oh, okay...that's what he said, but I wanted to make sure." Seth put his hands up to her neck. She licked her lips in anticipation. "You don't think of me as a little kid anymore, do you?"

She shook her side to side, "No, not at all."

"Good, cuz I'm not and I really want to kiss you before you freeze to death in this sudden snow storm."

Bella wrapped her arms around him. That attempt was a complete and total success. He kissed her like she'd never been kissed before and she could care or less if a blizzard came through and buried them in the snow. He was enough to keep her warm and a realization came over her...she was definitely home for good.

~Thanks for reading.

More to come...