December 21st 2027

"Um...Jingle Bells," Jacob says with a decisive nod of his head, "gotta go with a classic. It's one of the best."

"Frosty the Snowman," Lauren replies absently, "always been my favourite." She looks down at her lap, then for what has to be the hundredth time, hazards a glance at the door. "My mom used to sing it to Emmett and I when we were kids."

There is a slight pause, a lull in the conversation, before Alice clears her throat. "Hmm, there are so many good ones," she continues, struggling to keep this tiny gathering somewhat lively, "but I think I'd have to say either Jingle Bell Rock or Silent Night."

My eyes drift away from the candle on the table, and automatically find the door – again – burning a hole into the wood with how badly I wish it would open. Edward, Emmett, Jasper, and Carlisle left two days ago to go on a raid, despite the attempts of Lauren, Esme, and I to convince them not to go. Our argument had been solid, that there were plenty of other men and women in the compound to go on the raid, but they had insisted.

And since they left, I've been a wreck, a mess of nerves, and Alice's endeavour to lighten the mood with talk of Christmas has only made me more anxious. I can't keep my eyes off the door, and every time I look, my desperation for them to return heightens.

It's almost unbearable.

"Bella?" Alice prompts, gently nudging me with her elbow. "What about you?"

I blink, and tear my eyes away from the door. "Uh, what? Oh...right, Let it Snow," I answer, "it has to be one of my favourites." I cast a sideways glance at Alice, and she offers me a sad smile. "Sorry," I mutter, "just a bit distracted."

She leans closer to me and whispers, "Edward's fine, Bella. We do this all the time. We go out, grab some stuff, kill some walkers, and we're back." I'm flustered by her assertion, and when I try to defend myself, nothing comes out of my mouth. Not one, single word helps me explain my feelings for Edward. Alice smirks at my lack of coherent thought, and chuckles, "I know you're worried about my brother, but you don't need to be. He'll be back soon."

I'm too disconcerted by her observation to do anything but stare at the burning candle.

.

.

Later that night, I'm startled awake by a crash of noise, followed by a hushed, "Shit, Emmett, walk much?"

I open my heavy eyelids, and watch drowsily as Emmett turns and protests, "Well I didn't see it, Edward. Go cry about it."

They banter and bicker back and forth for a few minutes while they set down bags and boxes of stuff against the wall. Jasper and Carlisle are with them, stacking more boxes and unloading more bags they will eventually take down to the public buildings for sorting and distributing.

I sit up when they're finished, and yawn, glancing at Alice, Esme, Lauren, and Rose, all of whom are sleeping on the couches and chairs in our living room. After I stretch out my back and arms, I head to the kitchen, following the trail of quiet voices; though all I can seem to hear is Emmett.

It makes me smile.

Emmett wouldn't know quiet if it slapped him in the face.

I stand in the doorway of the kitchen, feeling a massive flutter of nerves in the pit of my stomach when my gaze falls on Edward, as if he has been gone for weeks, not days. It's like my insides have all twisted together, coiling, giving me the most euphoric and frightening sensation imaginable.

Euphoric because he's here, he's here and he's safe and I don't have to worry anymore.

Frightening because I'm pretty sure I now know what those feelings mean.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts once Edward realizes I'm hovering in the doorway. The smile he flashes me is completely disarming, and his tired eyes are almost black in the dim light. He takes a few strides to get to me, and gathers me in a hug, lifting my feet right off the floor. I laugh in his ear, and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Hi," I whisper.

"Hey," he says softly, "did Emmett wake you up?" I nod, and turn my face into the curve of his throat, feeling more than content with where I am, snuggled against him. Like Edward's arms were made just for holding me. "He's so clumsy," Edward murmurs, tightening his grip around me, "you should go back to sleep."

"It's kind of hard to do that standing up, Edward," I point out, "although...I am quite comfortable right here."

He chuckles, "So am I." Unfortunately, a minute later he chooses to set me back down on the floor. "Come on," he says, lacing his fingers with mine, "I'll take you up to bed."

My insides tangle further at the mention of bed, even if his intonation and actions are suggesting nothing more than simply taking me to my room and putting me in my bed. Before he leads me upstairs, he grabs one of the larger candles from the side table in the living room. The dull glow lights the way to my bedroom, flickering faintly and just barely reflecting off the white walls. Edward opens the first door on the left, and ushers me inside, following to set the candle down on my dresser.

"Thanks," I tell him, planting myself on the edge of my bed, "I appreciate it."

He tucks his hands in his pockets, giving me a brief smile. "You're welcome. Get some sleep, okay? I'll see you in the morning."

My heart jumps into my throat when he turns to leave, and the words spill out of my mouth so fast I don't even have time to process the completely impulsive question, "Will you stay with me?" Edward pauses near the door, and I only dig the hole deeper when I fail to explain, "I-I...I just..."

Closing my eyes, I flop down on the bed, covering my face with my hands. I take a deep breath, finding the nerve to mumble, "I missed you," through my fingers.

I keep my eyes shut tight, and press the palms of my hands to my forehead, regretting my decision to say something so forward and honest when Edward doesn't respond. However, not more than five seconds pass before those feelings are quashed, replaced by a wave of warmth when the bed dips down beside me with his weight.

Edward gently pulls my hands away from my face, but I refuse to open my eyes.

"You're not even going to look at me?" he asks with a hint of amusement.

I shake my head, moving it back and forth across the bunched up comforter. "Nope."

He chuckles, "Bella...come on." I feel him shift his weight again before his hand is on my face, soft and affectionate. His palm cups my jaw, and he tilts my chin toward the sound of his voice. "Please look at me?" he asks, "I don't know why you're so embarrassed."

I sigh, and bite my lip, slowly opening my eyes, finding Edward's almost immediately in spite of the muted light the single candle provides. I'm overcome by how close he is, the way his body is bowed over mine.

How incredibly soft and supple his lips look from this distance.

The way my toes tingle with how badly I want to kiss him.

I stare at his lips, and Edward clears his throat, murmuring, "Bella?"

"Hmm?" I mumble, lost in thought.

"I missed you, too," he admits in a whisper, "every second I was gone." He brushes his thumb across my cheek, and slips his fingers around my neck, curling them into my hair. "I couldn't stop thinking about you...what you were doing," he smirks, "whether or not you missed me, too."

I sit up slightly, and rest on my elbows, caging myself between Edward's arms. "Yeah?" I ask, gazing up at him.

"Yeah," he says with wistful grin, "leaving put some perspective on things for me. Being out there...killing those-those things," he shakes his head, "it made me realize how lucky I am to have survived everything." He dips his head down, causing the light of the candle to glint off his stunning eyes, making them appear on fire. "It made me realize how much I wanted to come back here and see you," he says, tenderly grazing my nose with his, "because I couldn't stand being away from you."

He lightly makes another pass with his nose, lingering this time, and my breaths hitch when he cautiously presses his lips against mine. It's the softest kiss, and so brief it's almost cruel. "I want to be where you are," he whispers, "always."

With that, he pulls back, perhaps to avoid being too brazen, or perhaps to give me time to contemplate what he said, I'm not sure. Instinctively, I follow, matching his movements, suddenly not in the least concerned with my actions, or how bold it may be.

What he said...it's exactly what I want – what I've wanted.

I accost him with my lips and hands, allowing nearly two weeks' worth of desire and attraction to pour out of me...kissing, touching, exploring; knowing my feelings are reciprocated in the way his hands grip my waist, with how eager he is to return my hungry kisses. I straddle him on the bed, listening to the contented groan that comes from the back of his throat when I slip my tongue into his mouth. He tastes amazing...minty and spicy – almost like spearmint gum or icy cool toothpaste – and the toe-curling way he kisses me, with such fervour, makes my head spin.

He grasps my hips firmly, tightening his fingers before he deftly slides them beneath my sweater, tracing the dips and curves of my back, up to the clasp of my bra. When he snaps it open, my shaking hands find the zipper of his jacket. I quickly tear through it, push it from his shoulders, and cast it aside, sitting back just enough to pull his shirt over his head.

Seconds later, my sweater and bra join them.

Edward's warm lips and soft tongue focus on the exposed flesh, tracing the lines of my collarbone, causing a series of goose bumps to follow, prickling my heated skin. I tilt my head back, enjoying the stimulation, the way he makes me feel, and gasp at the sudden knock on the door that's accompanied by, "Bella, are you in here? I was looking for Edwa – oh! Oh God!"

I scramble off Edward's lap at the sound of her voice, seizing a pillow to cover my chest as I turn and exclaim, "Esme!"

"Mom!" Edward says at the same time.

"Oh...my," she says, staring intently at the wall rather than us, "I, um – sorry," she stumbles through an apology, "I-I'm just going to, ah..."

She turns abruptly, and leaves, closing the door behind her.

"Well," Edward sighs after a long stretch of silence, "that should be a fun conversation."

I nod in agreement, and cover my face with the pillow, unable to control my laughter. "Yeah."