Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.

This is a story that came to me in the grocery store. Yes, my life it that frickin' dull.
*fluff warning*

Many thanks to jbeaucage for her wonderful beta work on this. Thanks so much my dear!

Merry Christmas a little early. **Enjoy

***********************************S*C************ ********************

*Christmas*

Mrs. Cope chuckled as she watched Bella Swan, yes she'd gone back to using her maiden name; make her way methodically down each aisle, while ticking off the items on her list as she went.

Shelly Cope and her husband Robert opened the small grocery store nearly forty years before, and they'd both known Bella's parents as children and later attended their wedding. They'd watched Bella grow from a sweet and loving child to a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, after Robert's death, Shelly alone was there to witness Bella's transition to young wife and mother.

Bella had made the mistake that many small town girls had made before her; she married the first boy who took an interest.

The marriage had been short and stormy, and Bella had barely escaped with her sanity. She said she didn't regret it though. It made her realize what she wanted out of life, and it gave her a beautiful daughter.

As Bella stopped to peruse the variety of canned cat food flavors, another shopping cart came careening around the corner and slammed directly into hers. Edward Cullen cursed loudly while detaching his cart from Bella's.

Edward was a newcomer to Winter Harbor, and rumor had it that he'd been through a nasty divorce and custody battle. He'd made the decision to move away from the big city in order to raise his son in a quiet, safe, and peaceful community.

"I am so sorry," Edward exclaimed. "I was in a hurry and wasn't watching where I was going.."

"That's alright, no harm done…" Bella replied, before freezing in place as she took in the sight of the man standing before her. Edward also grew silent as he stopped to stare at the beautiful creature blushing and stuttering behind her cart.

Edward shook his head slightly; which seemed to help clear his mind. "Please accept my apologies. I don't normally go around mowing down beautiful women with a grocery cart," he laughed nervously.

Bella smiled through her blush. "It's okay, please stop apologizing. See, not a single egg broken," she said as she gestured to the undamaged carton in the seat of her basket.

Edward smiled, but couldn't seem to stop staring at her.

Bella, feeling a little uncomfortable, turned and grabbed the first two cans of cat food from the shelf, and tossed them into the basket.

"You have a cat?" Edward asked.

"A-huh," Bella nodded and smiled, starting to push the cart as she reluctantly walked away from Edward.

Edward grabbed a large bag of dry food. "Dog," he said with a smile as he put the bag in his cart.

Bella smiled and continued to the end of the aisle, as did Edward in the opposite direction.

They met again an aisle over where Edward reached for the popcorn and Bella grabbed a bag of corn chips. When Edward chose a bottle of Coke and, predictably, Bella put a 2-liter Pepsi in her cart, they both shook their heads and chuckled in amusement.

They met up again in the baking goods aisle where Bella needed several items. Edward grabbed a pre-made sugar cookie mix. Noticing the sidelong glance Bella sent his way, he felt the need to explain himself. "I have to make something for the first grade Christmas party tomorrow."

"You have a child?"

Was Shelly Cope the only one who caught the disappointment in Bella's tone? Being an intuitive woman, Shelly could easily guess the unspoken part of Bella's question…. 'and a wife…'.

Edward nodded. "I have a son."

Bella gave him a small smile and gestured toward herself, "daughter, in kindergarten."

"Of course," Edward returned her smile and rolled his eyes, but then seemed to sober up as he thought about what she'd said. Was Shelly the only one who noticed his eyes linger on Bella's left hand and the small smile which crossed his face when he found no ring there?

Shelly continued to track the movements of the couple as she pretended to take inventory, wondering if, somehow, it was destiny that sent Edward Cullen crashing into Bella Swan's cart.

In the frozen food aisle, Bella watched as Edward loaded a couple Kid Cuisines and Hungry Man dinners into the basket. He looked at her and smiled sheepishly. "Divorced, two years now."

Bella smiled genuinely. "Me too, for three," she informed as she grabbed a bag of frozen peas.

For the next little while, Edward shopped alongside the beautiful brunette without ever asking her name. He grabbed a six pack of Heineken, and watched as Bella picked up a bottle of red wine but after noting the price posted on the shelf, hurriedly put it back.

By the time they were standing in the checkout line, he'd finally worked up the courage to ask her name. "I'm Edward, by the way," he said in a quiet voice as he helped her unload her cart.

She smiled gratefully for the help. "I'm Bella."

Edward smiled and nodded, but before he could work out exactly what to say next, Bella had paid, and was carrying her groceries toward the door. "Well, I'd better get going, gotta pick my daughter up at dance class."

Edward smiled. "Yeah, my son will be finished with his karate lesson soon."

"Maybe I'll see you around, Edward," She said, flashing him a bright smile.

"I hope so, Bella."

Shelly Cope sighed in exasperation, glad that she'd made the split second decision to take matters into her own hands. As soon as she was certain that Bella had driven away, Shelly spoke. "Oh no, I forgot to put this in Bella's bag." She faked a worried demeanor as she held up a bottle of vanilla extract. "Oh dear, and the store will be closed before she makes it back from dance class. I'm certain she needs this tonight in order to bake for the children's Christmas party."

Edward's head shot up. "Is there anything I can do to help? I mean, I'd gladly take it to her if you know where she lives."

Shelly quirked an eyebrow at him, deciding to make him work for it.

Edward held his hands up defensively. "Mrs. Cope, I realize that you haven't known me very long, but I swear I'm not some deranged stalker or anything."

Shelly smiled. "Edward, I'm pretty good at reading people, and I don't think you have a sinister plan. Besides, Bella and her little girl live with Bella's father; her Chief of Police father." Shelly smirked. "I'm not worried."

She watched as Edward's eyes widened and then he smiled broadly when Shelly handed him a slip of paper containing Bella's address. She began to ring up his purchases. Edward held up one finger, "I'll be right back; I'd like to add something to the order."

When he returned a minute later carrying the bottle of wine that Bella had considered purchasing, Shelly bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.

After Edward left, Shelly locked the door before tilting her head up and speaking to the ceiling. "Okay Bob, I'm leaving it up to you to put in a good word with the Man upstairs. I know I was a bit dishonest just now, but it was all for a good cause." Shelly chuckled as she headed for the back door and after that, home.

** One year later **

Bang, bang, bang

Shelly was in the back office, filing paperwork when she heard the incessant banging. She stuck her head out and looked toward the front of the store only to find Edward Cullen standing outside, in the snow, with a pleading expression on his face.

Shelly moved quickly to allow him in. "Edward, what in the world?"

"Thank you Mrs. Cope, you're a lifesaver. I only hope and pray that you have pistachio ice cream."

Shelly chuckled. "Bella?"

He nodded.

"I believe we may have some back there Edward, help yourself."

Shelly watched as Edward ran toward the frozen foods. After a moment, he pulled out a carton and carried it to the checkout. "No charge Edward," Shelly told him with a smile.

"Are you sure?" He asked, frowning.

Shelly nodded. "Get home safely and take care of your family."

Edward smiled gratefully. "Thanks Mrs. Cope, have a nice evening."

"You too, son." Shelly closed and locked the door, feeling quite proud of herself for her actions a year earlier.

She'd never seen a couple more perfectly suited for one another, and she hoped that Edward and Bella would have as many happy years together as she'd had with Bob.

***S***

By the time Edward arrived home, the snow was falling heavily. When he reached the front porch, he made sure to shake the snow from his coat and boots before entering the house.

He'd barely made it through the front door before he was tackled by a small warm body. For a fleeting second, he wondered if the kids had been lying in wait to pounce on him, but then he realized that the warm body belonged to his beautiful wife. Bella had hurled herself at him, wrapping her legs and arms around him, before peppering his face with kisses.

Edward stood still, a mass of confusion, with a half-gallon of pistachio ice cream thawing in his hand.

"Baby," he managed to get out when he peeled his lips from hers for a second, "the ice cream."

"Oh," Bella shrugged before kissing his cheek, "I don't care about the ice cream. I want you."

"But Bella, you told me you had a craving for pistachio. I had Mrs. Cope open the store after hours to get this," he said as his left hand began to go numb from the cold.

Bella's eyes filled with tears. "You did that… for me?"

Edward nodded. "I'd do anything for you, angel."

Bella threw her arms around his neck once more. "I am the luckiest woman in the world." Then she started to cry. "Stupid hormones," she muttered.

Edward smiled and kissed her nose. "Where are the kids?"

"In their rooms, sleeping. They had a busy day at school with the Christmas parties and all."

Edward nodded and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, "Baby, if it's okay with you, I'm going to put this in the freezer and then say goodnight to the kids. After that, you and I can spend a nice evening together."

Bella nodded and smiled happily as Edward retreated to the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, ice cream put away and children tucked in, he returned downstairs to the living room to find it empty and dark. He made his way down the hall toward the soft glow emanating from his and Bella's bedroom.

There he found his wife, propped against the headboard with a heaping bowl of pistachio ice cream in her hands. "This is delicious," she mumbled around a mouthful of green goo.

"I thought you didn't want the ice cream."

Bella shrugged. "I changed my mind."

Edward laughed and crawled in beside her, staring adoringly at her face. Green goo or not she was, hands down, the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on.

Bella swallowed and set her bowl down on the nightstand before turning to face her husband. She scooted closer until they were almost nose to nose.

"Did I ever tell you how glad I am that you ran into my shopping cart?"

Edward smiled. "Did I ever tell you how glad I am that you allowed me into your house instead of letting your Dad shoot me?"

Bella giggled and kissed Edward's lips. "Did I ever thank you for the wine?"

Edward let out a breath as his hand reached under her t-shirt. "Did I ever thank you for helping me bake sugar cookies that night?"

"Mmm." Bella giggled then. "Did I ever say thank you for liking my cat?"

Edward chuckled. "Did I ever thank you for not hating my dog?"

Bella grinned. "Did I ever tell you how much I love that you love my daughter?"

Edward frowned. "Our daughter." He watched as Bella's eyes filled with tears. "Did I ever tell you how much I love that you love our son?"

Bella smiled as the tears trickled down her cheeks. "Have I ever thanked you for proposing?"

Edward wiped away her tears and kissed her cheeks. "Have I ever thanked you for saying yes?"

Bella, a few stray tears still trailing down her cheeks, grabbed Edward's hand and placed it on her baby bump. "Have I ever thanked you for knocking me up?"

Edward laughed. "Have I ever thanked you for allowing me to? And told you how much I love this new son or daughter even now, before it's born, and especially how much I love its mother? Because I do."

Edward pulled her closer and kissed her sweetly.

Soft kisses and caresses quickly turned urgent and needy as clothing was removed and tossed to the bottom of the bed and lips and tongues explored. When Edward finally guided himself inside Bella's wet heat, all the while never taking his eyes from hers, the sensation alone was almost enough to send them both over the edge. Their connection was, as always, tender, passionate, and vital; two halves forming the perfect whole.

Edward had never been happier in his life than he had since the day he'd met Bella, and each day after had only added to his joy. He told her time and again that he'd never known true love or beauty until he looked into her eyes on their wedding day.

As for Bella, after she'd convinced herself once and for all that fairy tales were complete and utter nonsense, her own personal Prince Charming had waltzed into her life, or rather crashed, setting all her newfound beliefs on their ear. He was the epitome of everything she always wanted and never thought she could possibly have.

One would like to think that Bella and Edward would have discovered these things on their own, eventually. But one has to wonder how much time would have been wasted had it not been for the friendly nudge of a local grocer-turned-matchmaker.

I suppose we'll never know, but here's hoping that we all get to experience a little 'Christmas magic' this season.

***********A/N************

A/N And there you have it. The beginnings of a sweet little story that came about because I almost ran into some old dude in the soup aisle at my local Kroger. *snort* Somehow my personal experience doesn't sound quite as romantic as B and E's.

Find me on Facebook as 'Annie Author Vandv', and on the Virgins and Villains Facebook page or under the group 'Emmamama's Stories'.