I have a thing for Christmas movies. Like, the Hallmark Channel is my life (outside of prime time) during this time of the year. I love them. They're cheesy and ridiculous, and I love every second of them. They recently came out with Love at the Christmas Table, and while I enjoyed it, I felt it needed a bit more.

I'm hoping I will post something every day until Christmas (and maybe a few days after) as we watch these two grow up together, one Christmas at a time. And if I'm really daring and get some help, maybe even some smexy times. WHO KNOWS?!

December 20, 1991

"Edward dear, I'd appreciate it if you would sit nicely with Bella over there."

"I'm not sitting with her. She's a girl. A baby. I'm a big kid, and big kids don't have to sit with babies."

Edward's mother let out an exasperated sigh. They had only just moved to town, and their neighbors, Charlie and Renee Swan, had been nice enough to invite them over for a Christmas dinner. If only she could get her stubborn little boy to sit down and join their daughter for dinner.

"If you are nice to her, I'll let you open grandma and grandpa's present tomorrow. You won't have to wait till Christmas."

Yep. She'd relented and bribed her child with toys. And since she knew what her parents had bought for him, this was a definite feat indeed.

Edward looked suspicious for a moment before sticking his hand out. They shook hands and the agreement was set. He would be nice to her, and tomorrow Edward could open his present from his grandparents.

I hope this doesn't make me a bad parent.

The subject of their disagreement was sitting quietly at the card table that had been set up for them. Hopefully she hadn't heard the terms of their agreement. Even better would be a guarantee that Edward wouldn't tell her.

*| : - { ) }

"I'm not as little as you think," little Bella stated after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"Oh really? How old are you, three?" Edward taunted.

"I'll have you know, I'm four and three quarters. I counted. My birthday's in three months. If you weren't so mean, I might invite you to my birthday party."

"Why would I want to go to a girly party? I'm six. Princess parties aren't cool for six year olds."

Bella giggled. "I'm not having a princess party. I had one of those last year. This year I'm having a Sesame Street party."

Edward was silent for a moment. "Well I'm too old for one of those too. I'm in the first grade, and first graders don't go to Sesame Street parties. "

And silence returned to the small table. Bella's friend Angela was supposed to be here with her, but she had to go to her aunt's Christmas party in Port Angeles instead. It would be so much more fun to have her here instead of Edward.

"Mom and I made sugar cookies for dessert. I did the pretty ones. Mom's look like a Pollock. She calls them abshrakt."

"What's a Pollock?"

"He's this artist. I don't get what all the fuss is about. I could probably do it. He threw paint at stuff."

Edward laughed and threw a bit of gravy on the table. "Like this?"

Bella laughed. "Yeah, but with more colors. Add some cranberry sauce."

Bella threw some of the cranberry sauce on top. "Like that."

They laughed again, each adding a little more gravy and cranberry sauce to the table.

"I'm out of gravy," Edward sighed after a few minutes.

"There's more in the kitchen."

"We should sneak in the kitchen and get more," Edward whispered conspiratorially.

"We should."

"You first."

"Why do I have to go first? It's your idea," Bella complained.

"But I don't know where it is."

"I could tell you."

"No. It's your idea, you go first."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Then go!"

"I will."

"Now."

"Okay. Fine. I'm going."

Edward slunk under the table, Bella following after him. They crawled into the kitchen, using the most indirect route possible. They needed to be secret. Instead of going straight to the kitchen they went through the living room. The parents were in the direct route.

"Which one is it?" Edward asked when they finally reached the kitchen. They had been really cautious and took their time so they wouldn't be seen.

"I don't know. Go look."

He slowly lifted his head up to see what was in each of the fancy dishes laid out, his head bobbing up and down so they wouldn't be seen. It took a while, but he eventually looked at all of the dishes trying to find the gravy.

"It's not here," Edward whispered.

"What? Than where is it?"

"I don't know. It's your house."

"Maybe it's at the parents' table," Bella thought with a sigh, slinking down in defeat.

They were silent for a moment. And then they heard it.

"BELLA! EDWARD! What did you do to the table?! Get your butts over here right now!"

"We're in trouble," Edward stated.

They slowly got up and walked to the table.

"Care to explain this mess you left on the table, Bella?" Charlie, Bella's dad, asked her.

"We were making art. Like mommy's cookies," Bella explained.

Renee moaned.

And that's how they met! Have you or a lovely (wink wink) child around you done something so ridiculous the adults (wink wink) couldn't help but laugh? Let me know what it was and the ages of the individuals involved, and it might feature in the story! Stay tuned tomorrow, and we will see what happens next year!