EPOV
After the scare that was coming home to find Alice in the hospital, I had a very rough night's sleep. I tossed and turned all night, and the next morning I felt awful. But Bella didn't grumble or get annoyed with me; instead she was in our bedroom a few minutes after I woke up with breakfast in bed. "I thought that if you couldn't sleep, then you should at least have something good in your stomach." She smiled warmly at me and I noticed that left cheek was a little red, almost as if she'd banged into something.
"Did you trip love; it looks like you've got a little bruise forming?"
I gestured to her cheek and she blushed before cutting her eyes to the floor. "Yeah…I banged into something."
The way she said it made me think that there was more to it, as it was, Bella was a horrible liar. "What'd you bang it on?"
She looked up at me. "Promise not to freak out?" I nodded and she took a breath. "I'm pretty sure it was your hand, I don't think I was close enough for it to have been your elbow."
My jaw dropped. "I hit you! Oh god, baby I'm so sorry."
Bella put her hands on my chest and kept me from taking out the tray of food straddling my lap. "Edward you were tossing in you sleep and you clipped me, it's nothing, and it won't even bruise. Trust me, I should know." Bella got up to pick out some clothes so we could head over to see Alice this morning and I noticed her favoring her ankle.
"Will you let my dad look at that?"
"Edward, I just have to rest it, which means you can do all the heavy lifting tomorrow." She winked as she went into the bathroom to take her shower. I ate quickly and then threw on my clothing.
When we got to the hospital Jasper was standing around holding a thoroughly bundled up Danica in his arms. "Hey Jazz, what's up?"
The smile on his face was unmistakable. "I'm springing my girls! And thank God because our place was too quiet."
The door opened and the nurse began to push Alice before I insisted on taking over. We walked to the elevator and as soon as the doors closed Alice started. "So, which part of the clothes line was Edward's favorite?" I didn't know what clothes line Alice was talking about, but I knew better than to think any good could come from the conversation.
"Alice!" Bella turned crimson and my suspicions were confirmed.
"Bella I almost died. And as it is I'm going to be going without for a while, help a sister out."
Bella mumbled something that sounded like 'not cool' before she turned to Alice. "The hot pink set Rose got with the black bow on the back."
I was in hell! I was trapped in an elevator, while my wife talked about my honeymoon with my little sister. "Damn, I thought her would have preferred the navy one with the ruffles."
"Can we not have this conversation?" Alice looked up at me and took my hand.
"Sorry Ed, but mom, Rose and I put a lot of thought into what outfits to buy Bella for your honeymoon, you can't cheat us now."
I shook my head and then mercifully the doors opened and I pushed Alice to the car before helping her out and returning the wheelchair inside as Bella brought the car around. Following Alice and Jasper home we stayed a little while before leaving to let Alice get some rest. I was sad that she wouldn't be coming over for Christmas, but between her and the baby with all the other kids there, it was understandable.
When Bella and I got home it was around 1:45, so we sat on the couch and talked about our plans for the evening. Leah was coming over with Eli so we could do Christmas with them tonight before Leah and Eli made the trip to visit her family in California the day after Christmas. With Eli set to ship out sometime in late January, they were spending as much time together as possible. Around 2:30 Bella jumped up and started our dinner, using the recipe reader that she had gotten for her birthday yet again.
There was a knock on the door and Leah hugged me tight as she came inside before running to see Bella. "Merry Christmas Eve, man." Eli shook my hand as I welcomed him into the living room.
Soon Bella was bringing in one of her famous chicken dinners and everyone was devouring it. Bella crafted beautiful meals the way I wrote intricate plots; only in the end her creation was far more satisfying. After dinner we went back to the couch where Leah and Bella clapped as they busted out some gifts for each other and Eli and I sat back and watched. Bella handed Leah a small box and smiled brightly as Leah opened it and gasped. Inside was a bracelet made of two chains, one white gold and a yellow gold that started out separate and then twisted together and became one. Leah took it out of the box and clasped it in place as Bella looked on smiling. "The bracelet is meant to represent us, because as much as we are our own separate people, life has done things that has bound us together forever, and with everything you're planning on doing for us, I wanted to thank you with something special."
The two of them hugged again as I pulled out my present for Leah, a leather-bound copy of the complete works of William Shakespeare. She laughed and hugged me as well before we turned to Eli, giving him his present, a digital voice recorder, that way he could send Leah audio files when he couldn't call her from overseas and a thermal blanket for the cold desert nights. I honestly felt sorry to know he was going back over there, I knew I didn't have the courage it took for him to do his job and the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. Eli got us a case of our favorite wine, which we were just recently out of, even remembering Bella's story about it from Thanksgiving.
Leah reached into her purse and handed Bella an envelope. Bella and I looked at each other before she opened it and gasped. "Baby, what is it?"
Bella was already crying as she handed it to me. "Leah went to the Women's Health Center while we were away to have her preliminary check-ups and her doctors gave her the okay to be our surrogate."
I hugged Bella closely, kissing her before jumping off the couch and scooping Leah up and twirling her around. "Thank you Leah, that's the best Christmas gift you could have given us!"
Leah laughed as I put her back on the ground so she could rejoin Eli. "I wanted this to work so badly, I'm just glad that everything came back okay. In there is a bunch of information on procedure from the clinic so you can get everything started and we can do this around February." Eli wrapped his arms around Leah's waist as we settled in to watch Rudolph and Herbie visit the Island of Misfit Toys.
When it was time to go, Leah hung back to let me know that she'd drop off Bella's other present from me tomorrow, so that way I could surprise her in the morning. Bella and I cleaned up everything and got the gifts packed up for tomorrow before going to bed early.
~V~V~V~
I woke up at 6:30, anxious to see Bella's reaction to my gifts, so when I rolled over and found her side of the bed empty I was a little jarred, until I heard the water in the bathroom. Walking into the steamy room, I peeled off my clothes and climbed into the shower behind Bella. "Merry Christmas Love." I cooed in her ear and she sighed and pressed her back against my chest.
"Merry Christmas Edward." I tilted her chin up and claimed her lips under the warm spray of the shower. Kissing her as our hands explored each other, Bella pulled back and grabbed her shampoo. "We better get to showering if we're making it to your parents today."
Getting out of the shower about ten minutes later, Bella headed to make breakfast a moment before my phone chimed. I went to the front door after reading the text from Leah. Opening the door for her, she handed me the box and smiled. "You better have her open it quick or it'll ruin the surprise."
I laughed, thanking her again before closing the door and sitting the present under the tree. I walked into the kitchen and Bella was just plating her vanilla French toast, which were still my favorite since she first cooked them for me a year ago. "Bella, that smells delicious." I leaned in, kissing the crook of her neck as she exhaled loudly and leaned into my chest.
"Edward please, I have a present for you, but if you don't behave yourself then you won't get it." She winked and I stood up straight, taking our drinks into the living room where we ate our breakfast at the coffee table as we sat in front of the tree.
As we ate Bella eyed the tree, and I could see there was something more to the look so I leaned in and stroked her knee. "Penny for your thoughts love?"
Bella turned to me and smiled, her eyes glassy. "I was just thinking about how this is our first Christmas as a family, and with any luck, next year we could have a new addition to celebrate. My mom would be over the moon right now."
I moved forward and claimed her mouth before eyeing the packages under the tree. "Why don't you start with that little box right there?" I pointed to the package sitting above the gift Leah had just dropped off.
Bella opened it and smiled brightly as she took out the small frame with one of the pictures from our wedding tucked into it. The inscription read, "Our First Christmas."
"Edward, it's beautiful! I'm going to hang it on the tree right now." She stood up and placed the ornament right in the center of the tree. Sitting back down I gestured to the big surprise, unable to wait any longer. She pulled the box to her and her hand slid across a hole in the box. "Edward?"
Pulling off the top, a chocolate brown cocker spaniel puppy popped out, staring up with a set of brown eyes that could melt your heart just like Bella's. "Merry Christmas baby, I'd like you to meet Lady."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the tiny puppy to her chest. "You named her Lady? How'd you know I always wanted to get a cocker spaniel like her?"
"I didn't, but I knew you always wanted a dog and it's one of your favorite movies, so I thought it would be perfect."
She hugged me again and I handed her the next gift as she shifted the puppy to her lap so she could continue opening presents. She had three more gifts and I was anxious to see her reactions. She opened her white trench coat and smiled as she modeled it with only her pajamas underneath, putting all sorts of naughty thoughts in my head. Next she opened her Kindle, squealing about how she didn't have to worry about carrying heavy books around anymore. I laughed as she picked up the small box and tsked me for spending too much on her.
"Edward, you didn't have to go through all this money, all I needed was to spend the day with you." She smirked motioning to the box she assumed was jewelry.
"I kept my promise; I didn't spend more than $1000 on you. Although I think it's a ridiculous limit." I put the box into her hands and she opened it, dropping the box as soon as she saw the contents.
"Why are you giving me your super exclusive, because you have more money than God, just the sight of it will have a line of people willing to wipe your ass, Black Visa?"
I lost it at her characterization, but held the box up for her again. "It isn't my card, it's yours. Look at the name."
"Edward…"
"Bella, I want to know that you'll always be safe, that if something happens you'll be able to get out of it, and sometimes money is the only thing that will make people listen. I know you're not going to run out and blow $1,000,000 because you can, my money has never been important to you, but you're my wife now and I want you to have it."
Her eyes glassed over as she leaned forward kissing me passionately. "I love you," she whispered against my lips before Lady began to whimper and Bella laughed. "I'm sorry Lady, are we ignoring you?"
I smiled as Bella played with the puppy, watching her maternal instinct take over immediately. Looking up, Bella reached under the tree and pulled out two packages, handing me the smaller one first. Ripping off the paper, I gawked down as my inner nerd lost his shit. "Bella, this is a mini replica of Anduril, the reforged version of Narsil, the sword of the kings."
Bella chucked as she shook her head. "I know, I read the description. I only know it as the sword Viggo Mortensen used in the movie, but I know you love Tolkien so I thought I'd get you the letter opener instead of a full replica of the sword."
"You've never read The Lord of the Rings? That's it; I'm getting it for your Kindle. Thank you baby."
Bella kissed my cheek and then tapped the other package, which I unwrapped and then opened the lid of the box. Inside were four old books and as I lifted up the first one and opened the cover and saw the numbers of the run right under the copyright information on the title page, she spoke. "Do you like it?"
My eyes darted up to meet Bella's worried expression. "Bella, this is a first edition of The Hobbit."
Bella nodded, still unsure of my reaction. "They're all first editions, I tried to get the one that came after The Lord of the Rings, but I couldn't find it."
"Bella, I love it, but this must have cost a fortune?"
Tears finally escaped her eyes again as she stroked my face. "It's nice to get to spoil you for a change, and besides, you're worth it."
Helping Bella up, we gathered our gifts and brought them into the bedroom before Bella padded off into the bathroom.
BPOV
Christmas morning with Edward was amazing, and as I sat in the bathroom straight ironing my hair with a puddle of brown fur at my feet, I smiled at how wonderful Edward is and how well he knows me. Finishing my hair, I quickly did my makeup and then put on my green sweater dress and black leggings, finally slipping on my ankle boots.
Emerging from the bathroom, Edward had his back to me as he slipped on his brown blazer. As he turned I caught a glimpse of his cream shirt and couldn't help the smile that graced my face. "Wow baby, you look beautiful. That dress does wonderful things for your curves."
"Behave handsome; we have children to surprise and family to see."
Edward's face fell slightly and I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I wish Alice could be there…it won't be the same without her."
Squeezing his midsection, he kissed the top of my head and then pushed the hair out of my face and motioned towards Lady. "Are we taking her?"
"Unless you want a bunch of little presents to take care of when we get home I think we better."
I laughed as I scooped up Lady and then grabbed my coat as Edward helped me on with it and then passed me my purse before heading to the door.
We drove slowly towards the Cullen house as the lights from the neighborhood shone in the new snow that coated the streets. Edward was extra careful in his driving and soon enough we were pulling up to the house where seven children stood bundled up on the front porch. Edward opened my door and led me up to where the kids ambushed me, careful not to squish the dog. After my hug they all fawned over Lady, who they all knew about. "What am I, chopped liver?" Edward asked as his nieces and nephews laughed and practically tackled him where he stood.
Ushering them in, we brought in our gifts and Esme had a playpen lined with wee-wee pads set up in the living room all ready for my girl.
Merry Christmases were wished as everyone hugged and sat in the living room. As we were about to open gifts, there was a knock on the door. Carlisle went to answer it, and soon rejoined us with Jasper loaded up with presents and his computer. Opening it up, he signed into Skype and Alice's face soon filled the screen.
"Jasper, can you hear me?" Alice asked from her bed at their apartment.
"Yes Alice, how about you?" She nodded and then Jasper stepped away from the screen. "Alice didn't want to miss Christmas, so she made me come down here so you could open our gifts and you could see her open hers."
We all laughed at Alice's lack of patience, but understood as the pixie sized hole in the family was clearly felt with her home. So we set out to open our presents from Alice. Once again, Alice bought me a mountain of clothes, arguing that I had some nice base pieces, but I needed a little more flair in my wardrobe. The clothes were lovely; even if there were a few that I had no idea how to put on. Edward opened his gift and smiled brightly.
"Alice, Jasper, this is so cool!"
"We know that you've been thinking about expanding and maybe co-writing the screenplay for the next movie based on your book, so we thought getting you a few books on screenwriting and the newest edition of Final Draft would help out. It's been a long time since those screenwriting classes."
Edward shook his head and thanked Alice again. "You're thinking of writing the screenplay for your book?" Edward hadn't said anything about it to me, and I felt slightly out of the loop.
"The head of the studio mentioned it in passing, but I won't know anything until the movie comes out and they decide to green light another one. If this movie tanks then there won't be a need."
"Edward, if they were even remotely faithful to the book then it will be a huge success. That book was amazing." Edward kissed me as his hand ran over my knee.
Alice tore through the paper on her gifts and beamed at all the new mommy gifts that she had been given. Soon Jasper was packing up his laptop and wishing us all a Merry Christmas.
Now that the gifts had started to be opened, the kids followed Alice's example and shredded the paper. Running off to play with their toys, it was soon our turn. Emmett and Rosalie handed us our gifts first and as I opened the card I gasped, staring down at a set of tickets to the upcoming season of Ballet, continuing the gift from my birthday, which was coming up soon. Edward geeked out again over the GPS for his car and the mini-generator that would turn their campground into the only one that could not only pick up satellite TV but could also get internet access. I had never been camping, but I thought the point was to commune with nature, not watch the game in the woods.
Irina, Laurent and their kids were next, interrupting the toygasm to watch us open our gifts. Irina and Laurent gave me a Gift Certificate for two tickets to two Broadway shows for our trip to New York, telling me what she had heard about the current shows that were running, while the kids got me a carrier and dog toys and supplies for Lady. At least I knew how they had known the puppy was coming. Edward opened a ton of camping gear that replaced what was now well worn gear that the boys had thrown out after their last camping trip a little over a year ago. Now that they had everything they needed, Emmett vowed that camping would be on the agenda for the spring and summer.
Angela, Ben and Carmen stood holding two matching packages as they handed one to me and the other to Edward. As we opened it, Edward and I laughed because we were both holding the new Blackberry Tour along with a service contract. "We had the guy set up the plan with your old numbers, and everything is paid for, you just have to activate the phones and go to have the data transferred, but besides that, you two have a family plan now."
Edward shook his head, a smile adorning his face. "Only you could walk into a store and change someone's plan without them being present and not have a problem."
"Hey, the guy remembered me from when we looked into it, plus having Rosie with me always helps."
"So we're officially on each other's plan?" I asked and Emmett nodded.
"And those phones are great, I love mine." Rosalie added as I hugged the kids and thanked them for their present.
Finally, it was Carlisle and Esme's turn for the big reveal. Carlisle made Edward close his eyes, as his gift was too big to wrap, but when Edward saw the set of golf clubs he freaked. In the time Edward and I had been together, I knew that he liked golf, and used to camp a lot, but life had been so hectic this year that he hadn't got the chance to really enjoy it, so I was glad that he got these gifts this year. Esme sat next to me as she placed the large package on my lap. I ripped off the wrapping paper and as soon as I saw the brand name I stared at the box, and it wasn't even open yet. "You guys bought me a computer?"
Esme and Carlisle nodded and I opened the box and turned it on, as per their instructions. When the screen powered on I saw the computer was fully loaded with professional software that would make my job so much easier, not to mention I could work from home now that I had these programs on both my desktop at work and my personal computer. But more prominent than that was the desktop, a photo of Edward and I from our wedding, snapped most likely by Esme, as Edward and I danced. Tears welled up in my eyes as I mouthed 'thank you' before hugging my in-laws tightly.
Edward packed up our gifts so we could make a quicker getaway later without leaving anything, as Lady's presence was requested in the den. I sat on the floor with the kids as we watched A Garfield Christmas to pass the last bit of time before dinner. Edward eventually joined us, leaning in the doorway as Angela held Lady from her perch in my lap. Of all the nieces and nephews, Angela with her quiet way and shyness despite being Emmett's daughter, was my favorite. I saw a lot of me in her and I held that little one dear.
Dinner was delicious as always, but soon it was time to go home. Edward packed the car and then came to help me to the car, not trusting my ankle on the ice. Sitting in the driveway, Edward paused for a moment before looking over to meet my waiting eyes. "Last year I promised you that you would have these big family Christmases…that you deserved this type of happiness and I would make sure you got it. Seeing you in there today, it made me proud because I was able to keep that promise."
I reached over and ran my hand across his cheek. "Edward, you've given me the world, and for the first time I didn't feel sorry that I was missing Christmas with my parents, I felt like they were watching over us, joining your family's celebration."
Edward kissed me again and I leaned over the console to deepen the kiss. Driving back, we slowly made our way home and then began unloading our gifts. I was busy in my closet while Edward went to his storage space to put the camping gear and golf clubs away until the spring. When Edward returned, I was setting up the puppy's bed in Edward's office while he went to get ready for bed. Having just activated my phone, I ran to the guest bedroom and changed into my pajamas before texting Edward.
EPOV
I heard my phone ping from the bathroom. Walking out, I picked it up off my nightstand and saw the text was from Bella.
Come into the living room you still have a present under the tree.
Shaking my head, I walked out to see what she had gotten me. I wasn't prepared for the sight before me. Bella was laying out on her side in a tight red corset and thong. Her hair was fanned out behind her head as she rolled onto her back right next to the tree. "Santa told me that you were a very good boy this year." She purred her comment to me and I was instantly hard. My wife…the closeted sex kitten.
I got down on all fours and kissed my way up the fabric and then up her flesh to her mouth. Taking her bottom lip between mine, I lavished attention on her before she giggled at the sensations my fingers were causing as they danced across her skin. Moving south, I placed open-mouthed kisses down her neck and the center of her upper chest until I reached the corset. Pushing up the flesh from the bottom of the cups, her breasts spilled over the top and as soon as her nipple was revealed to me I attacked it, with Bella now writhing under me, pushing up into my cock and spurring me on even more. After I moved to the other nipple my hand replaced my mouth on the first as Bella wrapped her legs around my waist.
Grinding into her, I slowly unfastened the first of many tiny closures on the front of the corset, kissing each inch of skin I revealed. Finally freeing her from the constricting outfit, I slipped off of her and pulled down her panties and dropped my own pants, settling between her legs to enter her. Looking into her eyes, I kissed her reverently and then thrust forward as I felt the connection to her at every point of our body. Her limbs wrapped tightly around me, holding me close as I rocked into my Bella as we celebrated the most precious gift this year had brought us, each other.
~V~V~V~
The next week was hectic as Bella prepared for New Years at the bar. She let herself get too worked up and I found myself constantly trying to get her to simply breathe and enjoy a real meal. The morning of the 31st, Bella was up and out of bed before I even registered it. When she came home around lunch I already had the grilled cheese sandwiches ready to throw on the frying pan. She tried to tell me that I didn't have to make anything, but my reminder silenced her argument. "I'm not going to have another scare like that night in Portland. I know it seems silly to you, but that terrified me, and if a grilled cheese sandwich is all I have to do to keep that from happening again, then I'm going to make one for you."
"Sorry love, I know how you worry." She sat at the bar and watched as I made the sandwiches.
Bella and I spent the afternoon playing with Lady, trying to calm her down and for once it seemed to be working. For an eight week old puppy, she was very well behaved, except at night when her whining would reach its fever pitch.
Bella got in the shower around 7 and I waited for her to finish before I entered the bathroom myself. When I exited the bathroom Bella was sitting on the bed fussing with a curler that wouldn't stay put. Soon she was off to do her makeup before taking down her hair just to put it back up into an up do. Watching her work on her hair I was astounded by the lengths that women go through to go out, but Bella enjoyed getting to dress up and celebrate and I loved how breathtaking she always looked. Bella and I chatted about the bar and Emily's success in managing it while we were away and the hope that gave Bella that she could start to be less involved in the day to day and only take care of the scheduling and more advanced bookwork.
The numbers coming up from Portland were really pleasing Bella and Jake was really loving the responsibility of it all. Bella laughed as she saw my Adam's apple bob when she started lathering up her legs with lotion, but this was the first time I hadn't been banished from the inner sanctum while she was getting ready. "Babe, how come you're letting me hang out while you get ready tonight?" I asked from my spot leaning against the counter while Bella stayed seated at her vanity.
"Because, most of that involved Alice torturing me, or lecturing about the 'big reveal' but in all honesty you're my husband now, so if you want to sit there and watch me try to fight a losing battle with my frizzy hair, then I'd love to have here." Bella finally stood up and slipped on her sexy little black dress before motioning for me to help zip her up. After sliding on the blue flower ring I had given her along with the key pendant, Bella slipped on her shoes and grabbed her coat and purse.
We headed over to the bar, where everyone was decked out for the evening as they stocked the bar with extra booze and put a few extra money pouches by the register so Bella could run to the safe discreetly during the course of the night. It was Emily, Quil and Seth keeping the drunken masses happy with Bella there to work, not undermine Emily's role as manager as she took a back seat to Emily's instructions for the night and even Sam looked impressive at the door.
When the doors opened the place was filled up in record time and everyone went to work as I sat at the far end of the bar, right near the kitchen so I could watch my girl work.
It was around 11:15 when I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see a familiar face. "Jessica, hey, I haven't seen you in a while. Do you still work for Victoria?"
Jessica shook her head and smiled. "Yes, but I'm not her secretary anymore. I graduated in September and she promoted me to be a junior editor for the new romance division."
"Wow, congratulations!"
Bella was working her way back and I flagged her over. "Baby, get Jessica a Cosmo, she got promoted to the job she's wanted for years."
Bella mixed the drink and poured it, smiling at Jess. "Congrats!"
"You too, I remember putting the wedding on Victoria's calendar, but I can only recall that it was this month. You two are lucky, to find love like that."
A couple of Jessica's friends came over and dragged her out to dance while I shook my head and laughed. "She's a nice girl, always respected how I felt for you." I leaned in to kiss Bella and she laughed.
"Yeah, she's been coming here for a while and she's always smiling and asking how I am, even if it's only so I'll ask back and she can tell me about the latest idiot she's dating." Bella laughed again and went back to work.
The last 40 minutes went quickly and soon the TV's were turned up and the clamor of the crowd increased, if that was possible. Bella served a few more drinks and then made her way to me just as the countdown of the last minute of 2009 began. Spinning her in my arms so that we were standing nose to nose, I looked deeply into her eyes as the cheers became more crazed and they started the final countdown.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year!"
As soon as the words were spoken our lips met as I held Bella close and tightened my grip on her as she snaked her fingers into my hair and kept us intertwined even after we broke the kiss. "Happy New Year Edward."
"Happy New Year Bella."
