The first thing I've written in almost a year, so I had to post it...longer A/N at the bottom. Obviously I don't own the characters, but it is my plot.

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"This is so dumb," she tells herself, speaking the words into the dark, silent kitchen. She can't remember why it seemed like a good idea, being around people for Christmas. "You didn't want to be alone for the holiday," she answers herself, wincing at the hollowness of her tone. She realizes now that being alone every day had prepared her for being alone on this day, and that surrounding herself with people had actually made her loneliness worse.

Rose and Emmett had invited her months ago, but she had waited until last week to agree. And then she had given in only because one of them had called her almost every day trying to convince her that she would not be intruding on their family gathering.

Bella had caved when she heard the stress, the emotion in Rosalie's voice during that final phone call. She knew it was their first Christmas without him as well, and with Rosalie's pregnancy already so fraught with trouble, she had decided it might help things if she just went. Not sitting alone in her empty, undecorated living room might also have been a consideration.

She knew she would have to get over it eventually, that it had already taken too long according to some people. But her father had never really liked him anyway. And Jessica had simply been jealous that he had chosen Bella instead of her.

Somewhere in the house a clock ticked over another hour, echoing loudly in the utter silence. Her eyes found the digital read out on the microwave and she sighed heavily. Two hours had already passed with her seated at the small island counter, while everyone else slept peacefully. She rose slowly, stretching the stiffness in the small of her back, and shuffled to the coffee pot. Bella figured she might as well make herself useful and give the others some caffeine to wake up to. She knew Alice's son would be up and begging to open presents shortly.

She focused on her task, willing her trembling hands to stop shaking. Two tablespoons of coffee for four cups of water, she told herself, filters are in the cupboard above the sink. She talked herself through the steps, until the sound of water gurgling through the coffee maker filled the room. The room filled with the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, and she decided that caffeine might not be a bad thing for her, having been awake since four in the morning.

The mug was hot against her hands as she turned around, intending to go back to her cute little guest room and put on actual clothing. The tall figure in the doorway to the entry hall startled her, causing a drop of brown liquid to slosh onto her hand as she set the mug down with a bang.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice high-pitched and quivering as thoughts of a mental breakdown ran through her mind.

"I brought you a gift," he answered, his voice soft as he stepped more fully into the room, a small box with a red bow sitting on the palm of his hand.

Her heart was pounding, she was sure he could hear the thud, thud, thud of it hammering against her ribcage.

"Wha? How?" she huffed, so many words tumbling through her brain that none of them could fight their way out.

He just smiled at her gently, extending his hand farther. She bit her lip, barely believing this could be happening, and reached out slowly. Excitement hummed through her body when her hand brushed his, as she confirmed that he was really standing before her and not some sick delusion cause by her lack of sleep.

The present slid across the island as she flung it aside and leapt into his waiting arms.

"You're the only gift I need," she breathed into his mouth.

They consumed each other, lips, and tongues and teeth clashing. Every time they paused to breathe she interjected a question or comment, then melded her lips back to his before he could answer.

"How did you get here?"

"I thought you were gone for two years…"

"Do Rose and Emmett know?"

"Do you have to go back?"

"I love you, Edward."

His pressed uniform was crisp beneath her body, his tousled hair soft against her fingers. She inhaled his scent, so unbearably absent from her life for the last nine months.

He could feel the damp of her tears on his cheek, not ashamed to admit that a few of his own were mingled in with hers. He had missed her warmth against him, the firm curve of her waist where his hand fit perfectly.

"I flew, it's just a week of leave, yes, they got you here, I really wish you would open the present. I love you too, Bella." The words tumbled out of his lips in a rush the next time they broke apart. They were both breathing heavily, faces flushed, eyes devouring faces and figures so familiar yet somehow changed.

Emmett leaned against the door jamb, Rosalie tucked underneath his arm. He inhaled the scent of coffee and with it the pure joy that filled the little kitchen. He looked down at his beautiful wife, smirking slightly at the tears in her eyes.

He grinned and nudged his wife's pregnant belly gently, "How long before Bella gets over the shock of seeing him and realizes that present is the exact size of a ring box?"

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A/N: So this was inspired by that Folger's commercial about the sister waiting up for her brother to get home from Africa or wherever, but it evolved into this. I didn't mark it as complete, because I could eventually go back and write a couple lead in chapters, and maybe a few what happened next chapters. If I did, they would all be short little snapshots like this was. And I'm not making any promises, who knows, maybe no one will even be interested in something like that. Also, this was deliberately vague, but for those who need confirmation: Edward is in the military, serving a tour overseas, Emmett is his big brother, Rosalie is his sister-in-law, Alice is his little sister and Jasper is his brother-in-law, and in case you didn't catch it, Bella is about to be his fiancee.

Thanks for reading! - J