A/N: Alright, guys, a little bit of TRUST, okay?

Read through, and then meet me at the end. I insist.

All characters belong to S. Meyer. I'm just messing with their holidays.

Michelle Renker Rhodes is my Christmas pudding.

Chapter 10 - On the Tenth Day…

I woke up to the flight attendant's voice over the loudspeaker.

"Ladies and gentleman, we are now approaching Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Local temperature is thirty-seven degrees Fahrenheit. Local Time is eleven seventeen p.m., so we'll definitely be landing before New Year! On behalf of the pilot and the rest of the crew and airline, I'd like to apologize for tonight's delays, but the sky has finally cleared over Chicago, and you'll all be with your friends and family soon. Once again, we'd like to thank you for flying our airline, and we hope to see you next time your plans…"

I closed my eyes again, trying to drown out the attendant's nasal voice - as well as the images that had been bombarding me for almost twelve hours…

She'd walked over to me slowly, and as soon as she'd met my eyes, I'd known everything had changed.

I wrapped my hands around her face, holding her tight.

"Damn it, Bella, don't let them do this."

"They're not doing anything, Edward," she'd insisted shakily. "I just…this is my family…no matter what, Rose is my sister. Sisters don't do this to each other-"

"Are those your words, or your father's?"

She'd closed her eyes, lips trembling.

"Bella, they'll get over it. Rose will get over it. She'll realize that there was nothing real between her and me, and that you and I weren't trying to hurt her. Everything will be okay."

"You don't know that. Sisters are supposed to stand with each other through everything, to love each other-"

"When the hell has she stood by you?" I growled angrily, tightening my hold on her face. "When has she shown you any love or consideration? Damn it, Bella! Don't do this! Don't let them guilt you into giving up on what we have for something you never had with her! Think of yourself, for once! Think of us!"

She started crying.

"Look, I'll stay," I pleaded desperately. "I'll stay in a hotel in town as long as you need me, until Rose leaves, until your father understands that we're not-"

"No, Edward," she shook her head. "I need to think. I need some time and space. This has all happened so quickly; maybe we imagined it all."

I dipped my head and pressed my mouth to hers, pulling her lips between mine. She responded instantly, greedily, wrapping her hands around mine.

"Does this feel imagined?" I breathed.

She pulled away panting, her eyes on my chest. "Just give me some time to sort all this mess out, Edward. Please."

I reached for her hips and tried to pull her in again, but she resisted. "Bella, I don't want to leave you like this."

"Please, Edward." She moved in and kissed me quickly, chastely. "I'll call you, okay?"

"Bella!"

But she turned around and left.

OOOOOOOOOO

When the anxious row of weary travelers in front of me finally walked down the narrow aisle, I reached up for my duffel and followed them out of the plane.

"Thanks so much for flying with us. I really hope to see you again," the tall, blonde flight attendant grinned salaciously my way as I stepped off the plane, taking me in from head to toe none-too-discreetly.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

I made my way through the gate, eyes unfocused, staring straight ahead. While I grabbed my garment back from the carousel over by baggage claim, someone tapped me – hard - on the shoulder.

Emmett was grinning widely when I turned around, blue eyes sparkling with mirth.

"So you decided to grace us with your presence before the New Year, huh?"

"Em," I said surprised, shaking his hand. "I wasn't expecting you to be here. Both my connections had some fucked up delays. I was just going to take a cab."

Emmett smirked, frowning down at our shaking hands, and pulled me in for a one-shoulder hug.

"Like I'd let my little bro spend the new year in a cab alone. If you would've had your phone on, you would've known I'd be here waiting for you. I've been trying to get in touch with you all day!" he grinned.

"Oh. Oh, yeah," I mumbled, raking a hand through my hair. "I turned it off when I boarded the plane in Washington. But then they kept us on the tarmac for almost two hours, and I had about a four hour delay in Portland. I guess I forgot to turn it back on."

Emmett frowned. "Yeah, we had a storm here; hey, you look like shit."

I snorted. "Thanks. Good to see you too."

He chuckled, scrutinizing me carefully. "Eventful week?"

"You have no idea," I muttered, and then with a deep breath, "Emmett, I know this is kind of messed up, but I'm going to have to leave again tomorrow morning. I've got to go back to Washington."

Emmett raised both brows. "Really? How come?"

I sighed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's get going. I'll tell you on the way back to Mom and Dad's."

But Emmett didn't budge. Instead he held his ground and with an exaggerated sigh, pulled out his cell phone.

"Hold up, bro." He dropped his eyes to his cell. "Before we rush outta here, let me read you some interesting emails I've been getting all day." And then scrolling through his phone he read, "Doctor Emmett Masen, from Chicago, Illinois, I looked you up in the yellow pages. I think you're related to Edward Masen, also from Chicago. If so, I have an urgent message for you to give your brother."

He looked up at me and grinned, despite the pure anxiousness that must've been etched across my face.

"My name is Bella Swan, and I think," Emmett read on with emphasis, "I'm your brother's girlfriend." He snorted, eyes still on phone. "I gotta tell you, bro; that right there was enough to pique my attention. Anyway," he continued, "she goes on to say: I've been trying to get in touch with him for the past few hours, but he must be in the air and have his phone off. Either way, can you please tell Edward that I love him with all my heart, and that I'm so sorry for how stupid I acted this morning? Tell him that I'm NOT," Emmett looked up again, "and she wrote the word 'not' in capitals and bold type" – he looked down at the message again – "I'm NOT going to let Rose or anyone separate us, that is, if he still wants me. Tell him that I WON'T – capitals and bold again – sacrifice his love, not if he's still willing to give it to me."

Emmett's eyes flew up, sparkling with amusement once more. I stared at him - in bewildered shock - my duffel slowly sliding off my shoulder. He chuckled and kept going.

"And please tell him that I'm coming to him, that I'll be there as soon as that stupid storm let's up, and to please, please, please wait for me, because I have no idea where I'll be going. Thank you, Emmett. And if you're not Edward's brother, please disregard this entire message."

My heart hammered in his chest. I glared at Emmett, completely floored while my brain tried to process what he'd just read.

"What?" I heaved. "When?"

"A couple of hours after your flight was supposed to take off from Washington."

It took me a few moments to speak again. "What did you say?"

"Well," he began with dramatic flourish, and then scrolled through his phone again, "I said, 'Dear Bella, I am indeed Edward's brother, Emmett, and am extremely pleased to make your acquaintance, even if it is through cyberspace. You're probably right; Edward most likely has his phone off, otherwise I'm sure he would've responded to you, especially if your email to him was half as lovely as your email to me. I will definitely relay your message as soon as I can get through to him myself, and please don't worry. Just give me your flight information, and I'll make sure we're waiting for you when you arrive."

He looked up with a smirk.

"Then I asked her if she was comfortable relaying any of the particulars of the week with me, and she went on to give me a very interesting story. I asked her for some background information related to all the participants, for clinical reasons, of course, and she was sweet enough to provide some of those too. We've had some very productive hours, very informative, and basically, as I've told her, what it boils down to, Edward, is that Rosalie has to come to terms with this in her own time, and that there's nothing either of you can do to make that happen. And because of Rosalie's childhood fears and issues regarding her sister, which were allowed to fester due to her parents' fear of upsetting one child over the other, the situation has been aggravated. But that is entirely Rosalie's issue, not Bella's, or yours. Sounds like Rose would benefit from some one on one time with me," he mused. "Anyway, yes, it's a thorny situation, but life's full of thorny situations and-"

I cut him off with a wave of the hand. "Emmett, where is she?"

He grinned and looked at his watch. "Her flight was due to arrive at 11:40 p.m." - his eyes moved to the flight information menu on the wall - "and it's 11:45 p.m. now."

My own eyes snapped up to the flight menu, where I immediately focused on the latest direct flight from Sea-Tac to O'Hare, and the word that flashed green and white on the screen.

"Landed," I breathed, and then took off running.

"Edward!" Emmett roared while his laughter followed me all the way down.

She was just stepping out of the gate, duffel hanging from her shoulder, looking tired while her eyes scanned her surroundings warily, yet she was so damned beautiful that my heart clenched. When our eyes met, the most glorious grin lit up her face. She ran to me and I dropped my bags and lifted her off the ground, holding her up and against me tighter than ever before.

"I'm sorry," she breathed anxiously against my neck. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she repeated over and over until I captured her mouth with mine and stopped her needless apologies. With no concern for the show we were putting on, our lips crashed together over and over.

"It's okay," I reassured against her mouth. "It's okay. You're here. You're here. Everything's okay."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face, kissing softly over and over. "I love you, Edward. I had to tell you something in person." When she met my gaze, rich brown eyes sparkled. "I love you and I can deal with anything…except losing you."

I grinned widely, feeling as if my heart would burst. "You're not going to lose me. Ever." I held her tight against me again. "Ever."

For what felt like hours, we simply held each other.

"It's eleven fifty-two," someone murmured behind us.

I put Bella down and turned to Emmett, who watched us with a wry grin. Gripping her hand, I turned us to him.

"Bella, this is my brother, Emmett. Emmett, this is Bella."

Emmett chuckled and reached out to shake Bella's hand heartily. "Bella, it's really friggin' great to meet you – in person that is."

Bella chuckled sheepishly. "It's good to meet you in person too, and…thanks."

He glanced over at me. "My pleasure."

OOOOOOOOOO

"Eleven fifty-eight!" Emmett announced cheerily as we passed through the revolving doors leaving the airport. I glanced down at Bella, gripping her hand tightly in mine, determined to never let go again.

We held each other's gaze, vaguely aware of Emmett walking off to get the car. At some point in time, a loud bang rang out behind me and in the reflection of Bella's eyes, fireworks erupted.

"Happy New Year, Edward," she whispered, while the world celebrated around us.

I cupped her jaw and leaned in close to her lips. "Happy New Year, love," I whispered, before capturing her mouth slowly.

And the tenth day began…

OOOOOOOOOO

When we arrived at my parents' house, they were both still awake.

Bella held on to me nervously, sort of the way she had back in her family's dining room during that moment that felt like ages ago now. But I knew it hadn't been ages, and though we hadn't discussed what had happened in those hours that we'd been apart, I knew we'd have to talk about it soon. For now, Bella and I simply reveled in each other's company.

So when I introduced Bella to my parents' I thanked my lucky stars that we'd always had such a close relationship, that they trusted my judgment, that though I knew they'd been expecting a tall, beautiful blonde, they showed no surprise at the petite, enchanting brunette they were introduced to instead, otherwise it would've made for a pretty awkward moment.

"Bella, it's great to meet you," my dad said, shaking her hand.

"It's great to meet you, too, Mr. Masen," she responded, her voice shaking only slightly.

"Please, call me Emmett."

"Emmett, then," she smiled more bravely.

My mom didn't even bother with a handshake, pulling Bella into a full-out hug. "Bella, I'm so happy to have you with us. And you can call me Beth."

We walked through the house, making easy conversation while Bella and I held on to each other, and I relayed all my delays of the day.

"Edward, honey," my mom said when we'd settled in the kitchen table for a couple of New Year celebratory drinks, "your father and I were worried that you'd end up ringing in the New Year on an airplane among a bunch of strangers!"

We all laughed.

And I looked at Bella. "No," I grinned, "I actually rang in the New Year in the best way possible."

OOOOOOOOOO

We only stayed up until about one, because Bella and I were exhausted from the long day of travel, and Emmett said he was exhausted of waiting at the airport for half the day.

I led her through the house, and out through the kitchen door to the detached-garage-converted-bedroom Emmett and I had shared through our teenage years, until he'd gone off to college a couple of years before me.

Bella looked around. "This is an...interesting set-up," she said of the large bedroom, living room, kitchen set-up.

I snorted and put my hands lightly on her hips. "Emmett and I enjoyed it; that is, until we got old enough to want to bring girls over. Then it kind of sucked to have your brother here."

She laughed. "Yeah, I can imagine it would've."

We grinned at each other, and then I pulled her into my arms, groaning with delight.

"I still can't believe you're here."

"Believe it, especially since you might have to keep me for a while," she snickered quietly.

I pulled back to look at her. "Was it that bad?"

She shook her head and forced a smile. "No, it wasn't that bad. My mom actually took it a lot better than I thought she would."

"Thank God," I exhaled. "I was worried about her."

"So was I," Bella admitted, biting her lip. "She told me not to worry about her, that she never expected the world to stop spinning just because she has this thing now." She smiled. "She told me she loved me no matter what."

I ran my hands up and down her arms soothingly.

"My dad's having a…harder time understanding."

"I know he is, Bella."

She looked down at the floor. "Rose won't even speak to me. Despite what you and Jasper said, I tried, but…" she shrugged.

I cupped her cheek. "Hey." When she met my gaze, I kissed her gently. "So what made you decide to come meet me?"

"Because I realized, Edward, that no matter how upset at me my father is, and no matter the fact that Rose won't speak to me," – she took a deep breath and shuddered – "it was the thought of losing you that killed me."

I pulled her against me once more.

"And also, Alice may have yelled at me a bit and told me to grow up and think of me - and of you, first for once. Something about that at the end of the day you have to live for yourself."

I grinned, kissing the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. "I really love Alice."

She chuckled. "I really do, too. She and Jasper drove me to the airport."

"I love Jasper too."

She looked up at me and rolled her eyes.

I chuckled and then said more solemnly, "Your dad will come around, Bella. Despite everything, I've seen how much he loves you, how much he treasures you, and I do understand how this must look to him. But he will come around."

"I know he will," she agreed.

"And…Bella, I know it means a lot to you for Rose to understand, but-"

"I still think she'll understand someday, Edward." She inhaled deeply. "Emmett says she needs therapy. I don't think she'd be too happy to hear that," she mumbled. "Still...I remember that day...the day that I almost drowned. She didn't want me to drown, Edward." Her eyes trailed back up to mine. "That has to mean something, right?"

I nodded, smiling down at her softly, because there was so much hope in her beautiful, creamy face.

We gazed at each other silently for a while.

"Do you want to take a shower?"

She bit her lip.

"You know, while I wait for you out here - and then take my own shower."

"Okay," she nodded.

She picked up her duffel and pulled out a few odds and ends, and then quietly walked into the bathroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting, thinking…

Yes, it was just last night that we'd talked about making love the next time we were alone, but it had been a long fucking day - for both of us. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, and I understood her obvious hesitancy, her exhaustion, both physical and mental.

When she stepped out of the bathroom in a little tank top and sweats, I covered the erection that had been building for the past few minutes with my own towel.

"I'll be out in a few," I murmured.

She nodded. "I'll be waiting in…bed."

I kept a towel around my hips when I emerged, and then cursed myself for not bringing in my own pair of sweats into the bathroom. I didn't want her to think I was expecting sex - wanting it, yes - but not expecting it.

"You okay?" I asked her while I toweled off my hair and crossed to the dresser for those sweats.

She gazed up at me from under the covers, wide-eyed, taking me in from head to toe the way the flight attendant had done, the way women tended to do pretty often, but from her…

"Edward…"

I turned away from the dresser, sweats in hand in front of me.

"Come here."

I approached her slowly and sat on the edge of the bed, next to her.

Doe eyes bored into mine. She reached out and took the sweats from where I had them - clenched in my hands.

"Bella…I don't want you to think-"

"You promised me," she whispered, propping herself up on one elbow, cupping my jaw, kissing me. "You promised…"

"Bella…" I breathed into her mouth, my erection painful between my legs, "I understand if you're tired, or overwhelmed, or just not-"

She gazed up at me through heavy lids, breathing hard, resting her forehead against mine. "Please, Edward…" Long lashes fluttered softly. "Make me yours in every way - like you promised."

And then she fisted my hair and pulled me down over her.

Our mouths met and melded, soft kisses gave way to eager tongues. Under the covers her legs parted and my body fell between her, hard moving against soft, her breaths in my mouth, fingers digging into muscle, against my back, over my shoulders. Her touch spurred me on. I grinded against her harder; her back arched.

When she pushed me away with one hand I may have cried if she hadn't held my gaze and pulled her tank top off, revealing soft, round breasts. I pushed her down gently, mouth to mouth, my hands exploring the mounds she'd revealed, her cries bubbling and building.

"I love you, Edward," she whispered, arching her back against my mouth. "I want you."

I told her I loved her too. I whispered it in her ear while she nipped my chest, I murmured it against her jaw while she took my towel off and mumbled something about being on the pill, I breathed it into her mouth while I pulled her pants down, and when I slid inside her, I gazed into her eyes and repeated it once more.

She gripped my shoulders, legs wrapping around my back, head writhing from side to side.

"Oh, Edward…"

"Yes, Bella. Yes…"

Nothing else mattered; not the time before us, not how we'd met, not how we'd work things out. No part of the world outside our joined bodies mattered. I was all hers, and she was all mine.

"Edward…"

Her back arched, while her legs moved higher, tightness and heat engulfing me. No, she wasn't a virgin, but close, so close…

I thrust faster, her moans making me groan. She fisted my hair, kissing me soft then hard, raising her head and then dropping it. Opening her eyes and then shutting them.

I grabbed her hands and lifted them over her head, pushing in all the way. She cried softly, sweet sounds I'd never heard, never imagined, and laced her finger tight around mine, gripping my hips with her legs while she came.

I'd never seen anything as beautiful in my life.

And with her cries of pleasure still against my mouth, grazing my neck, I pushed in once more and followed her to heaven.

We lay in bed, panting and exhaustedly content, sharing promises and wishes, and when she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer, I spooned her against my chest and laced our fingers over her stomach.

"No jammies?" I asked.

She nestled herself into me. "No," she yawned. "No jammies."

OOOOOOOOOO

We spent the next day at home with my family, because we were too tired to go anywhere, and Bella got along so well with everyone that the hours just flew by. She called her mom, talking quietly, a bittersweet smile on her face when she hung up. But I held her, and she held me, and I knew we would be okay. The next steps were still unsure, but the most important thing was sure: we'd be taking them together.

And later that evening, while Bella was in the kitchen joking with Emmett and my dad - and I channel surfed while waiting for them to come back - my mom walked over to me and placed Grandmother's ring in my hand.

A/N: Thoughts?

See? A little Christmas faith, please. :)

Twitter: PattyRosa817