Chapter 2: December 29

Rating/Note: T. Unrelated to previous chapter. Trying out present tense for a change.

Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Scenario - You look back on the year just passed. There were some failures, some achievements, and a few surprises. Tell us about one of the surprises.

It's late and cold when the loud popping of fireworks jolt me awake from my perch on the leather loveseat beside the front window. The bright blue glow from the television sparsely lights the room.

I glance at the clock on the stereo and see that it's just after midnight. The loud banging and pops from the fireworks will continue for at least the next twenty minutes. I reach down and pick up the soft cashmere blanket that had pooled to the ground in my sleep and wrap it around my body while I peer out through the window at the pyrotechnics display atop the Space Needle.

A hint of regret creeps into my mind as I think about my best friend Angela and her husband Ben, and their first New Years Eve party as newlyweds in the new house. Edward had insisted that I go without him when he'd been scheduled to work the night shift at the hospital, but I knew I wouldn't be much fun without him.

I had declined, promising we'd make it next year, and instead spent the day as a homebody – attempting to unpack the rest of my boxes, finding places for my random knickknacks amongst the things in Edward's already furnished townhouse.

I'd been living with him since my lease expired at the end of the summer. After I'd been graduated with my MBA in June and had been promptly passed over for a job that I'd been guaranteed was mine. I had been interning with the company the last two semesters and had been counting on the work, but mostly the paycheck. With the humiliating thought of moving back to Forks to live with my father hanging over us, Edward had promptly suggested I move in with him.

I can't help but smile as I looked down at my left hand and trace the small diamonds on my engagement ring.

When I had brushed off his invitation to move in with him as merely a joke, he had gotten flustered and began ranting about how things weren't going according to 'to the plan' until he stopped and knelt down beside me, reached into the bedside table and pulled out the small black velvet box.

"Does this look like I'm joking?"

"Is that...um...what I think it is?" I stammered, my eyes looking up to him in question before turning to the small box like if I just tried hard enough, I'd be able to see through it.

"Isabella, would you marry me?"

As a few silent tears fell from my eyes, I nodded my head vigorously before wrapping my arms around is neck and tackling him to the ground.

The sound of the front door opening brings me out of my memories and I tense for a moment, before hearing the comforting thump of Edward's shoes being kicked off and his bag being dumped on the hallway table.

"Bella?" he calls out softly.

I stand and walk to the hallway where I'm able to see him, still standing at the entry.

"You're home early," I say lamely, pulling the blanket I had been carrying tightly around my shoulders.

"I wanted to surprise you," he said with a small smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

I drop the blanket to the floor and run the short distance until I'm standing right in front of him. Standing on the tips of my toes, I throw my arms around his shoulders and lean in to kiss him.

But he pulls away and grins at what I'm sure is an extremely unattractive pout on my face.

He tilts his head down slowly, letting me think he's going to kiss me, before he detours and kisses the side of my cheek. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and blows his warm breath against my face before whispering, "Happy New Year, Bella."

I grip the back of his head and pull him to me and our lips finally meet.

Once.

Twice.

Soft and sweet. That is, until I moan and he takes the opportunity to slip his tongue inside my mouth.

As his hands—rough and still slightly cold from being outside—grip my hips and pull me flush against him, and the booming explosion sounds start to die down outside, I think about all the surprises the year has brought, and how I can't wait for more.