Author Note: An interesting debate from the last chapter – should Bella be more willing to let Edward experiment with her back door? Should she try it before dissing it?
Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.
Chapter 9 — A Christmas Story
When I open my eyes on the morning of Christmas Eve, I'm alone in bed. I guess Edward decided not to wake me before sneaking out this time. He was just being considerate… right?
I dig my clothes out of my suitcase, then make my way to the hall bathroom. After a quick shower, I'm heading downstairs, my nose following the smell of bacon cooking.
I find Edward and his father seated at the kitchen island while Esme stands over a frying pan. "Good morning," I greet everyone, kissing my boyfriend on the cheek. "Do you need any help, Esme?"
"Oh no, I've got it," she replies. I take a stool next to Edward, watching as Esme sets the bacon on a paper towel to soak up the grease, then sets the plate in front of us.
"How would you like your eggs, Bella?" she asks. "The boys want fried eggs."
"Scrambled for me, if you don't mind."
"After breakfast, Carlisle and I were wondering if you two would like to come with us to Gurnee Mills," Esme says as she cracks two eggs into a pan.
"What's Gurnee Mills?"
"Hell," Edward answers. I look up at him. "The largest outlet mall in Illinois," he clarifies.
"Sounds like fun," I reply with a smile. I know he's just posturing a bit for his parents. Edward actually likes shopping with me, though like any man, he does reach his maximum time limit before a woman would. Full-day marathons are more than he can take.
After we finish breakfast, Edward and I get into our rental car, following his parents to Gurnee Mills. Once we've parked, we enter near the Macy's store. Along with his parents, Edward and I walk hand in hand through the huge mall as Esme points out her favorite stores to me. I think my taste runs a bit… younger though. We make short stops in a couple of stores, but mostly I compile a mental list of all of the places I'd like to come back to.
Around noon, we reach one of the food courts, where as a girl who grew up in Arizona, I'm pleased to see a place selling Tex-Mex food.
"What are you two planning to do this afternoon?" Dr. Cullen asks as we sit down to eat. "Esme and I were planning to go visit some friends who live up here."
"I thought we'd go up to Rink Side," Edward replies. "Maybe take on Bella in a game of lazer tag."
Game on, buddy. "Don't forget there are more stores I wanted to go into," I remind him.
"Would you two like to join us for dinner tonight before church?" Esme asks, sounding hopeful.
"No, we'll meet you there. I want to take Bella for some real Chicago pizza."
When we've finished eating, we do indeed check out Rink Side, acting like kids again in the arcade before Edward challenges me to a game of lazer tag. We join a larger group, and neither of us is a winner, though I do score higher than my boyfriend.
"Why don't you go in there and buy me a Christmas present?" Edward says, nodding to his right as we walk back in the direction we started. I follow where his eyes are trained and spot Victoria's Secret.
"Buy you a present in there? You like to wear women's lingerie now?"
"I like it on you," he scowls, slapping my arm. "I'll meet you out here."
"What have you got up your sleeve, Cullen?" I ask, eyebrow raised, when I realize he's trying to get rid of me. Smiling, he kisses my lips before walking away.
A half hour later, I'm armed with two new bras and several pairs of lacy panties. I find Edward standing outside the store, holding a bag from Bed, Bath & Beyond.
"What's in the bag?"
"Later," he smiles. "What's in yours?" he asks eagerly.
"Later."
As we work our way back through the mall, Edward is helpful for about two hours before I can tell he's reached his limit.
"If you buy much more, it's not going to fit in our suitcases," he grumbles as I walk into Off 5th, the Saks outlet store.
"Good thing there are several stores here that sell suitcases then."
He perks up again briefly, watching me try on designer jeans in Buckle, then acts like I'm subjecting him to torture as I look at purses in Fossil. My boyfriend is not into accessories.
After I do indeed stop in Kohl's for a new suitcase, we're finally back to the entrance where we'd parked hours ago. Despite his whining, Edward is actually a sweetheart, carrying most of my purchases and loading the trunk for me.
"So which Chicago pizza place are we going to?" I ask as he pulls out of the parking lot.
"Giordano's. There's one right down the street."
Even on Christmas Eve, we have to wait a few minutes to be seated. "We are not ordering your pussy Hawaiian pizza in Chicago now," Edward says as I pick up the menu.
"Oh please," I scoff, "You like pineapple on your pizza, too. I've seen you order it all on your own." He sticks his tongue out at me in response.
"A-ha!" I exclaim a minute later. "They have a Tropic delight pizza with Canadian bacon and pineapple."
"Yes, but if you order that, they'll know you're not a native Chicagoan. How about the Chicago classic?"
I find the Chicago classic on the menu: pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers and onions. "Fine," I agree, just to appease him — though I don't really like green peppers.
Once we've placed our order, we have a bit of a wait for the deep dish pizza, so I decide to ask Edward about tonight.
"Are you ok with going to church with your parents tonight?" I ask tentatively.
He shrugs. "In public, the church members will say all the right things, like being charitable and welcoming to your neighbor."
"It must have been so hard for you growing up listening to their hate." I shake my head; I can't even imagine what he went through as a teenager.
"I used to have nightmares," he confesses quietly. "Even though I never acted on my attraction to guys when I lived at home, what if they could see it? What if they could somehow look at me and see it? What if they kicked me out on the streets?"
"Do you really think they'd disown you or something if you told them?"
"You heard them last night, Bella."
"I know, but you're their son. They love you."
"And despite their beliefs, I love them, too. Which is why I can't chance telling them and ripping the family apart. It's irrelevant now, anyway, given that I'm with you," he points out.
"Maybe," I allow, "But obviously it's still hard for you to hear their bigoted opinions."
"I wish I could just tune them out the way Emmett and Rose do." I reach across the table, squeezing his hand, just as the server comes by with our pizza.
I have to admit: it's good. I don't even mind the green peppers.
Once we're both stuffed, it's time to leave for church. Fifteen minutes later I'm holding tightly to Edward's hand as I let him lead me down the aisle, until we find his parents, Emmett and Rose already seated. We slide into the pew next to Dr. Cullen and Edward wraps his arm around my shoulder, kissing just beneath my ear.
"Thank you," he whispers. "I know it means a lot to them for us to be here."
Listening to the sermon, it appears that Edward was absolutely right. They do say all the right things about helping our fellow man, especially during this holiday season. Unfortunately, I know that their charity doesn't extend to all men.
At some point, Edward begins drawing small circles on my shoulder with his right hand, while his left hand plays with mine on his lap. He leans over periodically as if to whisper in my ear, but instead sucks gently on my earlobe. I begin squirming in my seat as I get more and more turned on from his gentle touches.
"Sit still," he whispers. I elbow him in the ribs, glaring at his childishness. He totally knows what he's doing to me.
After the final "Amen," we all stand, trying to make our way to the aisle. Several of his parents' friends stop Edward to welcome him home, tell him he looks great… and ask if he's married. He just shakes his head with a smile, introducing me to them as his girlfriend.
Finally we're back in the car, where I try to warm my hands in front of the vents. The temperature has dropped since this afternoon, and even just the short walk to the car is too much for my Florida "winter" coat and gloves.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," I observe.
"No," he agrees. "Except for getting my cheeks pinched by so many old ladies." I can't help laughing at his distress.
"Keep your phone on tonight," he suggests, "And I'll text you when it's safe to sneak into my room."
"Edward Cullen, did you learn nothing in church tonight?" I tease him.
"I'm already going to hell; might as well do it thoroughly."
I'm nearly asleep when my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
The coast is clear.
Rolling my eyes, I climb out of bed, tiptoeing across the floor. I slowly open the bedroom door, making sure the hallway really is empty before stepping out of the guest room. I close the door behind me, then walk over to Edward's room and carefully open his door.
When I step inside, the room is mostly dark, illuminated only by a bedside lamp. As I turn to close the door, strong arms wrap around me from behind.
"Have I told you lately how much I love you?" Edward asks quietly, nipping at my neck.
"Hmmm… not in a few hours, maybe."
He places my hands on the bedroom door, then moves my hair over one shoulder to give him more access as his hands brush up and down my sides and around to cup my breasts in his hands.
"God, I wish I could just take you against the door."
"I think your parents would definitely hear us then," I reply, though I really, really like the sound of that.
As he holds me tightly, I can feel his erection against my backside and I can't help grinding back into him.
"Shit," he groans, letting go of me. "Go lie on the bed before I decide I don't give a fuck if they overhear or not."
Well, he doesn't have to tell me twice! Shedding my pajamas along the way, I am undressed and lying on Edward's childhood bed in no time. It's only as he stalks toward me that I realize he's been buck naked the entire time.
And God, his beauty still stuns me.
"Am I the first woman who's been in this bed, Edward?" I ask cheekily.
"Yes and no," he answers, pouncing on me.
"What does that mean?"
"I brought my first girlfriend, Tanya, up here, but she was more girl than woman," he shrugs.
"You snuck your girlfriend into this house? Really?" I can't believe he would risk that.
"My parents were out of town and left me and Emmett alone. Now do you really want to talk about her?" he asks, skimming his hand along my hip.
In answer to that, I pull his mouth down to mine. With wandering hands, we kiss until we're both desperate for air, and then Edward begins licking and sucking his way down my torso, stopping off for a long while at my breasts. When he starts kissing down my stomach, I tug at his hair until he looks up at me questioningly.
"You're making me crazy," I groan. "I need you now."
"As you wish." Kneeling, he spreads my legs, lifting my right leg onto his shoulder. And then staring into my eyes, he gently pushes inside. He makes love to me slowly for a while before picking up the pace until I'm panting and moaning.
"Shhh… you're gonna wake my parents," he chastises me, pulling out and lowering my leg to the bed. He crawls up next to me and rolls me to my side, lifting my leg so he can slide inside from behind.
"I love you," Edward whispers, turning my head so that he can kiss me, swallowing my moans. As he begins thrusting harder, his hand moves down to stroke just where I need him. When my orgasm ripples through me, he kisses me harder until I feel him coming.
"Shit," he moans. "I meant to pull out first so you didn't have to get up. Sorry."
I lie there letting my breathing slow, then kiss him chastely as I get up. "At least you have an en suite bath."
Once I've cleaned up, I turn out the lamp and join Edward in bed, snuggling into his warm body. "I love you."
"I love you too. Merry Christmas, Bella."
The beeping of an alarm wakes me at the ass-crack of dawn. "What the hell…?" I mumble.
"Tradition," Edward replies with a yawn. "Emmett and Rose should be here in about a half hour to open gifts."
Groaning, I climb out of bed, finding my pajamas on the floor. Once I'm decent, I peek out into the hallway and tiptoe to my own room to grab some clothes.
"Ready?" Edward asks, peeking his head into the bathroom just as I'm brushing my teeth. Nodding when I've finished, I take his hand and let him lead me downstairs.
"What's that I smell?"
"Mom's homemade cinnamon rolls — they're fucking awesome," he replies.
The doorbell rings just as we reach the kitchen, and Edward goes to answer it. "Can I help, Esme?" I ask, watching as she peers into the oven.
"Oh, could you set the table, dear?"
"Sure," I nod, glad to be of help.
Esme pulls the cinnamon rolls out of the oven, just as the rest of the family enters the kitchen. "Man, it's a good thing we've got four-wheel drive," Emmett says as he pulls out a chair. "The snow's really starting to come down out there."
I go to look out the window, mesmerized by the huge, white flakes falling from the sky. I've seen a little bit of snow before when I lived in Washington with my dad, but nothing like this. Finally the amazing aromas coming from the table convince me to sit down and eat.
"You've got to give me the recipe for these, Esme," I gush as I lift a second roll onto my plate. Edward was definitely right about them — far better than even Cinnabon.
"Of course," she smiles.
Once we're all done eating, Rose and I offer to clean up, putting all of the dishes in the dishwasher and turning it on. When we join the others in the family room, the three men all look like young children, eagerly awaiting word that they can start opening their gifts.
Dr. Cullen dons a Santa hat, then kneels under the tree and begins passing out the colorful wrapped packages, calling out our names one by one. When the last gift is in Emmett's hands, we begin tearing in to the boxes.
I pick up a flat, rectangular shaped package to open first, but Edward reaches out, touching my arm. "Save that one for last," he says.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I set it aside and pick up a small package that says it's from Edward's parents. Inside is a bottle of what is sure to be expensive French perfume, with a fancy name — Belle Cherie. "Thank you so much, Esme," I smile.
I pick up a large gift bag from Edward, pulling out a huge straw hat, and look at him questioningly.
"Look at the bottom of the bag," he suggests. I lift out all of the tissue paper and find an envelope underneath it, trying to make sense of the papers inside.
"Cancun?"
"Yep," he smiles. "We're going on vacation to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun next month. I already cleared it with your boss, so you have no excuses."
I launch myself at him, wrapping him tightly in my arms. "Thank you," I whisper, kissing him chastely. Take that, Angela!
I see Edward pick up my package next, groaning as he opens the box to find another box inside — three times — until he finally reaches the envelope with his real gift. "Oh wow," he exclaims, holding up the pair of tickets to a touring production of the musical Wicked for March of next year.
"Let me see, Edward," his mom says, holding her hand out for the tickets. "Oh, that is such a great show," she adds. "Your father and I saw it on Broadway last year when we visited New York."
"How did you manage to get these, Bella?" he asks. "I thought the entire run sold out in a few hours."
"Connections," I reply with a smirk. Angela's boss's wife is a huge supporter of the local theater.
Finally I'm down to that last rectangular box from Edward. I carefully peel back the gift wrap to find a picture frame with a document inside. As I scan the words on the page, I can hardly believe what I'm reading.
The letter is from one of the publishers that I'd sent my manuscript to last month, saying that they're very interested in publishing it and asking me to give them a call after the holidays. "They want to publish my book," I breathe. I look up at Edward's grinning face, so many questions on the tip of my tongue.
"That came in the mail last Friday," he says before I can ask any of them. I try to re-read the letter, but tears are beginning to blur my vision. Not wanting to read rejection letter after rejection letter, I asked Edward to intercept any mail from agents or publishers and open them for me. He hadn't told me that I'd received anything at all — good or bad.
Suddenly, he's sitting right beside me and I'm in his arms. "Merry Christmas, baby," he whispers in my ear. "I knew you could do it."
Someone takes the framed letter from my hands, and the next thing I know, the rest of the Cullen family is congratulating me. Edward gently brushes my tears away, beaming with pride.
"Whoa," Emmett yells after all of the gifts have been opened. "Look outside!" We all crowd around the large bay window, noting that the snow from earlier must've been falling steadily for a couple of hours now. "Dude, let's go make snowmen," he suggests, slapping Edward on the back.
"I don't think I have the right clothes for that," Edward chuckles.
Emmett moves to the foyer, coming back with a pair of boots and a long, dark wool coat. "Dad's should fit you," he says, handing them to his brother before reaching for his own coat. Rosalie gets up to join them, and I shake my head, laughing at the overgrown children.
"Come on, Bella," Rose encourages.
"Oh, I don't—" There's no way in hell my coat from Florida is warm enough to go play in the snow.
"You could wear mine, dear," Esme says, heading into the hallway.
Moments later, I slide my feet into Esme's boots and my arms into her long, down-filled coat, then let Edward pull me toward the door to the back deck. Rose and I stop on the edge of the deck where we're somewhat protected from the wind and snow as the two brothers start chasing each other around the backyard.
"I thought you were supposed to be building snowmen!" I yell down to them, shaking my head.
"Better to let them run off some energy," Rose replies with a smile. "Emmett really misses his brother; I wish the two of you would come back to Chicago more often."
I smile at her effort to include me. "Edward is just so busy with his medical practice. I'm surprised he'll be able to get the time off to go to Cancun."
I laugh at Edward's yelp when Emmett catches him, shoving a fistful of snow down the back of his coat. The two do finally settle down a bit and start rolling a large ball of snow for the bottom of the snowman.
I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing my arms. "Still cold?" Rose asks.
I nod, my teeth chattering. "I grew up mostly in Phoenix, so I'm just not used to this."
She eventually decides to join the guys, trying to find sticks for the arms and other items with which to accessorize the snowman. I watch with a smile, glad to see Edward so happy. I'm sure if not for his parents' beliefs, he would come back to Chicago and visit his brother more often.
When the snowman is finished, Rose heads back inside to help Esme with Christmas dinner, while I stay to watch the guys and their snowball fight. Emmett must've been a high school athlete, because he's got a great throwing arm and most definitely seems to be winning the fight.
"Look out, Edward," I yell just as Emmett clobbers him with a huge snowball, then begins stuffing snow down his back again. Finally I decide to go help my boyfriend by pulling Emmett off of him. I have to laugh at all of the snow in his hair.
"You so need another shower," I tell him, kneeling down to help brush the snow off.
"You gonna come with me?" he suggests, waggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah, like that would go over well with your parents," I reply, rolling my eyes. I stand up, holding out my hand for Edward to take, then brush all of the snow off of his back and his very fine ass. He kisses me before making his way back to the deck.
"He's so different."
Startled, I turn around to where Emmett is looking intently at me. I'd totally forgotten that he was even there.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
Emmett motions for me to follow him back up to the deck and out of the steadily falling snow. "I just don't remember the last time I saw my brother this happy, this… carefree," he shrugs. I stare up at him, not knowing how to respond to that.
"It started maybe about the time I started middle school," he continues. "Edward was in eighth grade, should've been one of the kids ruling the school, but he'd just become so… quiet and withdrawn. He was always kind of quiet — well, compared to me," he laughs, "But not like that. I never could figure out what was wrong with him.
"For the next couple of years, we weren't attending the same school, but once I got to high school, he seemed outwardly fine. Like, he had this gorgeous girlfriend — sorry," he adds quickly, nodding at me. "He was top of his class in terms of grades, but I just got the sense that there was a lot going on in his head that no one knew about.
"I'm not going to ask you if you know what it was. I don't know if it matters now. What does matter is that you seem to make him happy. He looks at you like you're the light in his day. Thank you, Bella," he says emphatically. "Thank you for whatever you've done for him."
"I've just loved him," I reply, tears pricking at my eyes. "Your brother is an amazingly strong person, Emmett."
"So you do know." I nod carefully. "I'm glad he has you," he reiterates, hugging me briefly before opening the door.
Inside the warm house, I strip out of Esme's coat and boots, then trudge upstairs. I don't hear Edward's shower running, so I open his bedroom door and am startled as he steps out of the bathroom clad only in a towel slung low around his hips. I lick my lips at the sight in front of me.
He groans, staring intently at me. "Don't tempt me, baby."
Smirking, I step closer, drawing one finger along his damp chest. He swallows thickly, staring down at me. "Do you really want me to go back downstairs with a hard-on?" he asks huskily.
"No, we can't have that." Pulling the towel from around his hips, I kneel down in front of him and plunge his length into my mouth.
Ten minutes later, a very satisfied Edward and I walk downstairs, hand in hand. I reluctantly let him go so that he can join Carlisle and Emmett in watching sports on TV while I head to the kitchen to help Esme and Rose make sides for our turkey dinner.
As I walk into the kitchen, Rose catches my eye and winks. She totally knows what we were up to.
The turkey is ready by late afternoon, and I discover that I really should be taking pointers from Esme on how to cook a turkey — instead of my own mother — for when Edward and I host the holidays with a family of our own.
Shit.
"Bella?" Edward gives me a concerned look.
"I-I was just thinking how delicious our dinner is," I reply… not quite lying.
And as I'm in Edward's arms, watching all of the classic Christmas movies with the rest of his family after dinner, I know for sure that I want that image I had in my head earlier. I want to spend the rest of my life with Edward — to grow old with him, to have a family of our own. Maybe some would say it's too fast since we've only been together as a couple for less than four months, but he's it for me. I know it.
With last night's church visit still in my head, I pray that he feels the same way… that I can be everything he needs.
A/N: They survived Christmas in Chicago!
There were a couple of questions last chapter… Emmett is more astute than the usual fic Emmett, but no, he's not aware that Edward has dated men. (And neither is Carlisle.) Do you think Edward should 'fess up to his family? Or he is correct that it's irrelevant now?
Bonus questions! What is your favorite Chicago pizza place? I don't live in Chicago, but I love pizza, so I've tried four different ones now: Giordano's, Gino's East, Lou Malnati's, and Pizano's. Who is right in the great toppings battle, Bella or Edward?
