Chapter 1 – Plans

"No, Dad, you're not canceling your plans. Go and have fun." Charlie was chagrined with his plans for the Christmas holiday. Before I moved in with him, he made plans with Billy, Jacob, Harry Clearwater and his son, Seth to go to Canada on an extended trip until after New Year's. He hoped that I would go visit my mother for the Christmas break, but Phil had a surprise for her, a trip to Palm Beach for her Christmas present.

I wasn't averse to spending Christmas alone; I just had to convince Charlie to go. I wouldn't be completely alone. I knew Edward would stay with me. "Bells, you shouldn't be alone. Case closed, I'm not going." I groaned loudly and threw myself on the couch. It was clear where I got my stubbornness from. No wonder it drove Edward crazy when I was like this, "Dad, you already paid for your part of the trip. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Charlie and I argued this fact for another hour, when a knock on the door ended the debate. I went to answer the door. It was my best friend, Alice Cullen. Maybe she could help. Dad was a sucker for Alice.

"Alice, please tell my father that he should go on his trip. He'll listen to you." She smiled, "What's going on?" Charlie explained our predicament, "I made these plans before Bella came to live with me and I think I should cancel them." I rolled my eyes, "And I've said that he's paid for his part of the trip. He should go." He looked at me, "But I don't want to leave you alone on Christmas."

I sighed deeply, "Dad, I'll be fine. I'm not upset about being alone, you are." Alice was silent for a long moment. She was supposed to be settling this debate. I looked at her, "Alice?" I whispered. Was she having a vision? Charlie got up from his seat to stand by our Christmas tree. It was the biggest tree Charlie admitted to having. Alice dragged him out of the house to buy it and she decorated the house for us. I came home from work and was very surprised. The living room rivaled Santa's workshop.

Charlie was rubbing the back of his neck, "Bella, you should be with your family. I'm staying." I was still focused on Alice. Charlie waited for me to respond, then Alice smiled brightly, "She won't be alone." The both of us looked at her. Her tone was different; very happy. She beamed and looked at Charlie, "Bella's right. You should go!" Her smile grew as did mine. Now that Alice said it, Charlie will go and enjoy his time. Charlie looked as though he felt betrayed, "But Alice, I don't want..." She held up her hand, "Charlie, she won't be alone."

She looked at me, "You can spend Christmas with us. Spend Christmas at our house!" My eyebrows rose and Charlie huffed. My eyes widened in shock. What was she thinking? "Alice, I don't know. Would your parents be ok with that?" Charlie asked. She squealed and bounced in her seat, "Of course!" Her voice shot through an octave, "Esme wouldn't have it any other way. Once she finds out that Bella would be alone, she'll insist to the point of demanding that Bella come to our house."

Charlie's lips made a hard line, "What about your brothers?" The thought of me staying in a house with three teenage boys wasn't a claming thought for Charlie. Especially when one of them was my boyfriend. Alice sighed undisturbed by Charlie's qualms, "The boys stay on the third floor, next to Carlisle and Esme. Besides, Bella would be staying with me. Oh, please say yes, Charlie? It would be so much fun."

Charlie looked at me, "What do you think, kid?" It felt like my head was detached from my body. Spending my Christmas with Edward was what I intended, but at his house. Maybe it would be better, rather than having my house all to ourselves. I wasn't ready for that. The idea had merit of being alone with him, like we were living together, but still, it made my heart race whenever I thought about it.

I shrugged woodenly, "It works. You can go on your trip and you won't have to worry about me burning down the house." Charlie smiled and I could tell he was happy that he didn't have to cancel his plans. Alice suggested that he and I have our own Christmas before he left. Charlie was leaving two days before Christmas Eve, so we would have our Christmas the night before. He even offered to help me make a small dinner for the two of us. I shook my head, "I'm not that much in the Christmas spirit to let you help me in the kitchen." Alice chirped a laugh and Charlie could fight his own.

Charlie left to visit Billy and Harry to finalize his plans and Alice was already planning my Christmas with her family. My heart was already pounding. I only had one request, that I would be the one to tell Edward. He and I were together for almost a year and this was our first Christmas together. He would be happy that I would be spending it with him and his family, rather than being alone at my house.

"When you tell Esme, ask her to not even think about it." Edward was away for the day, hunting with Jasper and Emmett. Emmett and Rosalie went away again after my birthday, visiting Asia and old friends. They just got back this morning.

"Deal. He won't believe this. He'll be so excited." I smiled. I was excited too. The only thing that concerned me was Rosalie. Was I ruining her Christmas by spending it with her family? She still didn't care much for me. But I couldn't let that deter me. I was spending Christmas with Edward. Alice stayed for the rest of the afternoon and the evening. Charlie was friendlier to Alice when she came over. He was warming up to Edward, though, but only a little.

Since my return to Forks after my sudden escape to get away from James, Chief Swan set a curfew for me; which I've never broken. Charlie was impressed with that. He said it was Alice being a good influence on me. He saw Edward as a bad influence, but that view was slowly changing.

Alice left after helping me clean the dishes from dinner. "I should get going. He's on his way," she whispered the last part. I smiled, "Don't think about it. Just focus on what you want to get me." She giggled, "That'll be easy." Alice's coy smile made me feel uneasy. Only Edward could know what she planned on getting me. "Bye Charlie," she chimed. Charlie waved and turned back to his game. I went to take my shower and went to my room. On my bed, I laid out some clothes I had gotten for Edward. Since it was winter, his clothes were freezing from running.

The first night he came here and his clothes were cold, he bundled me up in my quilt. The frozen rain became drops of ice that clung to him. Icy water matted his already tussled hair. His skin was colder than ice. When he laid down next to me, I almost jump out of my skin from the very icy touch. He grimaced, "I'm so sorry. I didn't think about my clothes being colder." He tucked the extra thick quilt around me and I didn't like it. I preferred being close to Edward as I slept.

So, I got him sweats and shirts and kept them hidden in the back of my closet. Now, there was no excuse to wrap me up like a burrito. I sat on my bed, as always and took out my copy of Jane Austen's collection. Edward got me a new copy of the book. It was one of the few gifts I would accept from him. Our agreement was he was limited on the number of gifts, but he could get me anything he wanted for Christmas. The thought of a new car with a huge bow on top came to mind. Edward didn't like my truck.

I had to admit, even to myself, I was happy that Alice suggested that I spend the holiday with her family. It could be part of my gift for him.

Edward was difficult to shop for. He truly was the 'man who had everything.' To him, he only believed that to be true as of lately. Edward believed he only had everything when he met me. How ridiculous that was. It was me who had everything, because I had him. While waiting, I put on the CD he made for my birthday. My birthday; the one I didn't want to come. I don't like being older than Edward, but there's nothing I can do about that now. He thought I was being silly about my age. "Bella, I'm over 80 years older than you." His eyes smoldered as they looked into mine.

I smiled at the memory. Our biggest argument still was me wanting to be changed. As Edward put it, we were at an impasse. Neither of us was willing to budge from what we wanted. He wanted me to stay human, but I wanted to be immortal with him. From time to time, I wondered if there was a compromise we could reach?

The cold wind blew into the room as Edward climbed through my window. He looked at me, his hair wind blown and smiled. His perfect face smiled as he quickly closed the window. I shivered a bit as I stood up, "Had fun?" I asked. "Yes," Edward's voice was like liquid velvet. Each word he spoke was like a soft caress, "Emmett is excited to be home." I had to admit, I missed Emmett when he was gone. I handed him his warm clothes, "I'll give you some privacy."

He chuckled lightly and smoothed back my hair, "You don't have to. Just turn around." Shaking my head, I faced the wall and began to count in my head. Before I could reach 20, Edward's hand was on my shoulder, "How was your day?"

He pulled me into his chest and pressed his lips to mine. They were a bit colder, but I liked it. My heart pounded in my chest and my cheeks burned. It was embarrassing having him hear my heart's reactions to his touch. My body may never get used to his touch. On rare occasions when I was used to his touch, Edward found a new way to send my heart flying. Nothing pleased his more than seeing my cheeks turn red from blushing. "It was fine. Work was boring. And, good news, Charlie and I finally settled our argument."

We moved to sit on the bed. He had me sit in his lap and held me to his chest, "Good. What are you doing?" Edward wouldn't admit it, but he didn't want me to go to Florida to spend Christmas with my mom. He hoped Charlie would cancel his plans, so that I would stay in Forks.

I tried not to smile, "Charlie's going to Canada and I'm staying in Forks." He sighed and his breath flowed through my hair, "Bella, you shouldn't spend Christmas alone." My smile was fighting to come out, "I never said I was going to be alone." He looked at me, "Then what…?" I smiled, "Did you pass Alice on the way here?" His brow furrowed, "Yes…" he dragged out the word in curiosity. My smiled widened, "What was she thinking about?" He blinked, "Your present," he was getting suspicious, "Bella, what's going on?" I sat up, squaring my shoulders, "I'm spending Christmas at your house!"

His eyes widened as he stared at m in silence. He was quiet for a moment, long enough for my smile to fade. I thought he would be happy. "Unless, you don't want me to, then I won't," I amended, "I really have no problem staying here." He broke into a heartbreakingly beautiful smile. His arms tightened around me, "Don't be silly, Bella. This is incredible news." He hugged me to his chest. The hug knocked the breath of me. His excitement surpassed Alice's. He pushed me away from him, almost too quickly, making my head spin, "When are you coming over?"

I looked at him, "The day before Christmas Eve. Charlie and I are having our own Christmas before he leaves." Edward smiled even wider, showing his razor-sharp teeth. I've never seen him this excited. He held me in his arms as he spun around the room, "That's perfect."

He pressed his lips to mine, then pulled away quickly, "I have to get things ready for you." He set me on my bed and pulled me into this embrace. I laid on his chest, "I think Esme and Alice have that covered." I could only imagine what they had in store for me. Edward scoffed, "I was referring to something else." I looked at him and he shook his head, "It's time for you to sleep."

He reached to turn off the lamp and pulled the quilt over our bodies. I drifted to sleep on Edward's chest, as he hummed my lullaby.