The next morning Bella awoke to complete darkness but in the arms of her precious lover. She groaned and looked at the clock. Damn, she was still feelings the effects of changing time zones. Generally it only took her a day to adjust to the new time zone because of how often she travelled.

"Bella love," Damon murmured and kissed her shoulder. He didn't fell any effect as he travelled almost as much as Bella did.

"Shall we go back to your families now?"

"No," Bella pouted. That was the last place that Bella wanted to go to. He was there.

"We must return eventually."

"Just not yet, let's go out to eat first! I know of a really good café just down the street."

"Whatever you wish for my Isabella."

"I hate when you call me that…but you sound so sexy," Bella giggled and pulled the sheets back over them.

Edward awoke in a sheet of sweat. He had the nightmare again. He had been reliving the day that he broke Bella for a couple weeks now, the memory haunting him forever. It was the darkest day of his life.

"Edward are you alright?" Derek mumbled half asleep.

Edward laid back down on his bed "I miss her Derek."

Derek sighed, sat up, and rubbed his eyes trying to wake up. "I'm sorry dude but you need to get over her. She's marrying Damon and I honestly don't think you have it in you to fight for her."

Edward growled, "I would go to the end of the world and back for her."

"I just think that maybe you need to try and move on. It's been what 7 years and you're still pining after my twin. Has she once reciprocated those feelings? No."

Edward sighed knowing that he was right. But he knew Bella was his soul mate and he would find a way to get her back. He had to. Everything he has accomplished he did for her, trying to prove that he was worth something and deserved a creature like Bella.

"And what do you know about love Derek? The last time you had a girlfriend was in High School."

"I may not know much about love but I know my twin. She was devastated when you changed for the worst."

"I will get her back. Somehow. I won't give up."

And with that Derek smiled, having given Edward the little extra push that he needed.

"Now shut up and go back to sleep."

Two hours later Bella knocked on her brother's apartment door. A shriek came from inside and Alice opened the door with a bright shining smile and hugged Bella. "I'm so glad you're back!"

"I wasn't going to leave."

"I've heard that before," someone grumbled from the living room.

Damon moved his arm to around his bride's waist and led her inside out of the cold. They found all of the house guests sitting around Emmett's plasma in their pajama pants and some without shirts.

"Please guys put clothes on!" Bella laughed and shielded her eyes in Damon's shoulder.

"Don't be a prude sister." Austin smirked and ran at her. He swept her away from Damon and gave her a bone crushing hug. Soon all the other guys pulled their shirts off and tackled Bella to the floor.

Damon chuckled and sat down on the couch, he wished he had siblings. Clothed siblings.

"Damon help!" Bella called from somewhere near the floor.

It was then that Rosalie and Alice emerged from the kitchen and shrieked. "Boys!" Rosalie stomped over to her husband and pinched his arm. "Get the hell off of Bella and put your shirt back on!"

Emmett was the first to get up fearing the wrath of his beloved wife. He slipped his shirt back on and muttered "you weren't saying that last night."

Rosalie blushed and pulled Emmett into the kitchen to help her serve breakfast. Alice tiptoed past everyone, not caring what they did, to get Edward for breakfast. He remained in his room as to not upset Bella.

"Breakfast," she knocked and went inside. Edward was sitting at the desk furiously working on something.

"Not hungry."

"Sure you are, come for breakfast please."

"Alice go."

Alice sighed and left the room. Rosalie met her in the hallway. "He's not coming?"

"No, says he's not hungry."

Rosalie huffed and crossed her arms. "He sucks at getting her back." With that she turned on her heels and went back into the dining room.

Bella looked at them funny while pouring herself some juice.

"Where's Edward?" Emmett asked with his mouth full of eggs. "Dude!" Jasper smacked him and looked away from the awful sight.

"He's not hungry." Rosalie sat down at the table.

Bella dropped her fiancés hand and stood up. Without a word she went down the hallway to where she figured Edward's room was.

"Knock knock," she cracked the door open. She found Edward pinching the bridge of his nose at the desk near the balcony doors.

"B-Bella?" He seemed surprised.

"The one and only," she smiled softly and shut the door behind her. She looked at the paintings around the room and sat down on the bed closest to Edward. He really was gorgeous still. She remembered every muscle, every hair on his head. The way he would hold her at night and kiss her nose to be silly. Damon never did that.

"What are you doing here? Where's Damon?" He seemed angry when he said that.

Bella sighed, "I thought I might be the reason you weren't eating breakfast."

"No of course not!" he answered quickly. Bella giggled.

"What are you working on?" Bella peeked over his shoulder, coming really close that she could smell him. Oh how she loved the way he smelled.

"A new proposal. I can't quite get it right."

"Proposal for what?"

"My company," he smiled. "After…well after I started a new shipping company off the pier and now we are the world's number one shipping business."

Bella was beaming, she was so happy for him that she hugged him. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him close. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her relishing in the first contact he'd had from her in years.

"Oh I'm so happy for you! You really turned everything around huh?" She pulled away to look at his face and found a bewildered expression.

"I guess I did," he returned the smile and continued hugging her, needed to feel her close. She still smelled of strawberries and freesia.

And that's how Damon found them. Hugging on Edward's bed. "Um…"

Bella jumped away from Edward. "Damon!" She smoothing out her pants and stood up going over to him. "Darling it's not…please."

Damon, although steaming with jealousy and anger, kept his composure and smiled down at her. "I know honey."

Edward stared at the couple wishing it was him in Damon's place.

"Everyone is making plans for later and wanted you guys there." Damon explained and pulled Bella out of the room not waiting to see if Edward was coming or not.

Bella took her seat next to Damon and watched Edward sit down across from her at the table. Rosalie gave Alice a coy smile. Bella gave them both a confused look but let it go.

"I was thinking we should go ice skating!" Alice grinned.

"And we need a Christmas tree!" Rosalie added in.

"Plus we need to go shopping!" Alice smiled over at Jasper who offered a puzzled smile back.

"We had better get started then," Emmett took a sip of his coffee and stood up to go get dressed in his winter wear. "Rosie baby you aren't ice skating."

"Like hell I am! I want to go ice skating!" Rosalie growled and stood up.

"No you aren't! You are 8 months pregnant with my son," Emmett headed up the stairs with a very pissed off Rosalie following him.

Alice got up as well with Jasper. "Isn't this so much fun? Having the whole family together for Christmas?" She smiled and flitted up the stairs to get dressed for ice skating.

"Baby I think I'll just stay at the hotel for the day." Damon followed suit and stood up. "What?"

Damon snaked his arm around her waist and escorted her into the living room leaving the remainder of her family, and Edward, to go get ready for their adventures for the day.

"No Damon n-no!" Bella actually teared up. She missed him with every bone in her body and now he suggested that they separate?

"Bella," he chuckled and pulled her in for a hug. "No need to cry my darling. I'm exhausted honey and I know you want to spend time with your family. I'll just be the fiancé tag along," he chuckled again and rubbed her back.

"Then I'm staying."

"No Bella, go with your family."

"I want to be with you."

"And we will, tonight I promise." He swooped down and kissed her neck. Bella giggled, "Promise?"

"I promise love." With that he kissed her hand and left for the hotel room.

Rosalie came down the stairs first "where is he going?"

"Back to the hotel." Bella muttered, pouted, and then sat down on the couch. Rosalie waddled over to her and sat down with her.

"Why?"

"He's still tired from the time change and travelling. So it's just me for the day." Bella smiled and Rosalie smiled in return.

Soon everyone was downstairs and trying to figure out how everyone was going to get to the ice rink since they were missing the car Bella and Damon borrowed.

"Ok the girls will just have to sit on people's laps."

"This girl gets her own damn seat," Rosalie raised her hand and pointed to her bulging belly.

"Oh yeah," Emmett grinned at her and placed his hands on her stomach. "My big boy needs his own seat." Rosalie rolled her eyes but giggled none the less.

"I'm sure Bella wouldn't mind sitting with someone." Alice smiled over at her and took Jasper's hand in her own.

"Not at all."

"It's settled then! Bella can ride on Edward!" Rosalie announced and quickly told everyone to head out to the truck.

Bella stood there completely flabbergasted at what just happened.

"Bella you don't have to…" Edward slowly walked over to where she was glued in place. He smiled sheepishly and ran his hand through his bronze hair.

"It's fine Edward," Bella assured him with a soft smile and walked down the stairs to Emmett's red jeep much like the one he had in high school.

Edward climbed into the jeep and got himself settled. Derek lifted Bella up onto Edward's lap and then walked around the jeep and got into it himself.

Bella buckled them in and was suddenly very aware of how close she was to Edward. She could feel his breath on her neck.

"Just like high school huh?" Edward whispered into her ear.

"Yes…just like high school." And with that Bella smiled and relaxed into Edward's still perfectly chiseled chest.