Aw, yay, time for Edward POV. I've gotten pretty sappy with the father/daughter, I hope you don't mind! I'm a sucker for a man that loves children. Daddy Edward is one of my favorites to write. I've gotten A TON of alerts, so I hope this next chapter does let you all down. If you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see as it continues, let me know. I plan to finish the rest before Christmass. Maybe three more chapters. PLEASE review if you get a chance...I love knowing exactly what it is that you think!

Joy to the World

EPOV

"…and so they are called Flores de Noche Buena." Renesmee said excitedly. "Which means flowers of the holy night." The huge grin on my face matched that of my child as she finished her story. She touched one of the blooms in the vase and her eyes glowed. I was briefly overcome with emotion that is only known by that of a proud, loving father.

My daughter, with every smile, spoken word, and laugh made my heart swell. I never knew that it was possible to be so filled with love and joy. It almost seemed unfair. The past year had been perfect in every way. I had a wife that was beautiful, the very essence of myself, and a daughter that grew more lovely by the day and never ceased to amaze me. I did not think that my heart could ever love another like it did Bella, but when Renesmee came into our lives it was as if another piece fell into place that was not there before. We did not know, but we were incomplete without her.

So this was elation. An addicting, wonderful high that I never wanted to leave.

"Where should we put the poinsettias, Grandma?" Renesmee asked Esme who had been watching our interaction with a knowing look. I returned the gaze, positive that my eyes would be watery with tears if that were possible for vampires.

"Well, sweetie, there are five vases here. Why don't you pick the perfect spot in the living room for the first one, and then the rest you can give to your aunts and uncles and mother and father." Esme answered, picking up the first vase.

"And you and Grandpa too!" Renesmee added, her voice ringing through the kitchen. I put my daughter down rather reluctantly. I felt I couldn't get enough of being near to her. Esme leaned down and kissed her forehead as she handed her the first pot.

"That would be lovely. How very thoughtful, Nessie." Esme murmured. We both watched as the girl scampered off into the other room. Esme reached up and touched my face. She smiled into my eyes.

"You are raising a wonderful daughter, Edward."

I basked in her praises. This was not the first time she, or another one of my family had told Bella and I that we were doing well with Renesmee, but it never failed to swell my pride. I often felt that it should mostly be accounted to Bella. She was a perfect mother. Always kind and gentle, but firm in the face of disobedience. I had a hard time ever chastising my only daughter.

"Bella deserves most of the credit." I said with a crooked grin.

"Bella is a fantastic mother, Edward. A natural even. But you," she said, pulling me into an embrace "are the best father that little girl could have been blessed with."

"Thanks, Mom." I said, hugging her tightly.

"So are you going to tell me what you and Jasper did to have Rose so frazzled?" She pulled back and searched my face with an inquisitive stare. I laughed and told her about the outfit she had gotten and how it seemed to be a huge hit.

"That's wonderful!" Esme said happily. "Oh, our little Nessie will be so excited."

As if on cue, we were summoned into the living room by Renesmee's clear voice. We found her poised next to a tall antique table under the windowsill. Her head barely reached the top of the table, but she had managed to position the first flower vase directly in the middle.

"That looks great, sweatheart." I said, sitting down on the white couch a few feet away. Esme gushed over how it "completed the room" and would "look perfect with the rest of the decorations," as my daughter beamed. It was at the moment that I heard Emmett's contented, satisfied thoughts as he and Rose began the descent down the staircase. I closed my eyes, restraining myself from contorting my face into a disgusted look. Must he always be so graphic? The Santa outfit was funny, not…

So sexy. That part came from Rose. I could not stop myself and finally glared at them as they came down the stairs. They saw my face immediately, and Rose stifled a laugh. Emmett noticed as well and smacked her backside as he bounded down behind her, two steps at a time, dressed normal, thank heavens.

Renesmee immediately ran over to them, reaching for Rosalie's hand to show them her decoration. Rose gave me a long-suffering look as they passed, but Emmett continued to grin like an idiot.

The outfit was a total hit, just in case you were wondering. He directed at me, with a quick wink.

"I'm aware." I said, groaning. "Can we keep that PG, though, Em? I don't want my thoughts to be completely tarnished when I see you in that thing on Christmas Eve!" I added in a low hiss, making sure that Nessie could not hear. Emmett laughed and it boomed throughout the room.

"Sure thing, little brother. Are you sure you don't want to borrow it when I'm finished?" He said, slipping out of my reach as I made a grab for his shirt. I stood with the intention of chasing him outside, but lucky for him, Renesmee asked what her Uncle Emmett thought of her flowers. He held out his arms and she ran into them, giggling as he swung her onto his shoulders. "They look amazing, angelface!" He said.

"Grandma and I made one for you and Aunt Rose too!" She said. "It's in the kitchen." She pointed toward the entryway.

"Well, let's go see it!" He boomed, dashing off through the living room, and somehow managing to go in numerous circles along the way. Renesmee's laughter became addictive and the aggravated mood that I had been harboring over the Santa "activities" drifted away.

"Where's Alice and Jasper?" Rose asked as Emmett came back into the room and handed her the poinsettias.

"Out buying extravagant decorations." Esme answered. "Alice saw a vision of the house decorated and has been a blur of activity ever since. I told her to buy a new tree and we would all decorate it together tonight as a family." Esme got a loving, motherly look in her eyes at the thought of a family filled evening.

I was thankful that we had taken the time to hunt yesterday, because the Christmas activities seemed to keep growing. I was beginning to enjoy the thought of a perfect Christmas with my family, but I could not wait to spend time over the holiday with my two favorite girls. I smiled up at Renesmee on Emmett's shoulders, and she returned the look. I knew we were both extremely excited to see Bella's face when she saw our little Christmas surprise. The two of us had been working on it in secret for almost two months. The only other person who might have a knowledge of the secret would be Alice, but I knew she wouldn't dream of giving it away to Bella.

"So what are we going to do until they all return? Bella won't be back for another two hours or so." I asked, looking over to Esme. "When does Carlisle get off?"

"About seven, he said." Esme sighed. "I could get an early start on some Christmas cookies for his work party on Sunday night."

"NO!" Emmett suddenly interjected. "We are going to watch one of my favorite Christmas movies until they get back. Guaranteed to put us all in the Christmas spirit!"

I was suddenly wary of what his favorite Christmas movie might be. Thinking of Renesmee, I said, "Christmas Vacation is out of the question." This was one of our favorites to all watch together, but not with Nessie around. I was very particular about what she could and could not watch. Emmett was not always a good judge of material that was appropriate for a little girl who was only one, but looked about five.

"No, no." He said with an exasperated laugh. "We can watch that later. My favorite Christmas movie is Elf!"

"Oh, boy." Rose said, falling back into the recliner. "I will only watch this with you if you promise not to quote every other word, Em."

"I promise!" He said, face as happy an actual Christmas elf. He swung Nessie off his shoulders and into my waiting arms and dashed up the stairs at vampire speed to retrieve the movie. I smiled in spite of myself, and sat down on the couch with Renesmee in my lap.

"What movie is this, Daddy?" She asked, turning her brown eyes up at my face. I took off her tiny black shoes to make her more comfortable as I answered.

"It's a movie about an elf from the North Pole who goes to New York City. Do you know where that is?"

She nodded fiercely. "Yes. It's on the east coast. Far away from here."

"That's right. How did you get so smart?" I asked, eyes dancing as I dropped the shoes on the floor and made her more comfortable in the crook of my arm.

"You taught me." She said, gazing at me with admiration. Esme smiled next to us on the couch, and I knew she was remembering our conversation in the kitchen.

See, Edward? She thought. That little girl thinks you hung the moon and stars.

"How did I get so blessed?" I looked at Esme in response to her thoughts. She did not answer, but simply continued to smile as we shared the personal moment.

That is what I ask myself all the time. She patted my arm, and then her eyes moved to Emmett bounding down the stairs with the DVD and jumping the last five steps. Esme sighed, but then laughed softly. I was reminded of how much she put up with to live with us and mother us, but she did it out of love. And she still felt blessed to have us all as her children.

"Still feeling blessed?" I smirked as Emmett put the DVD in and yanked Rose up and down into his lap in the recliner in one movement.

"More than ever." She said. And as I brushed my daughter's curls out of her eyes and held her tightly to my chest, I couldn't help feeling the exact same way.