Semper Fi Santa

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer- You know the deal, I don't own it, I'm just playing with Stephanie Meyer's toys. A Midsummer Night's Dream belongs to Shakespeare, also, not mine.

It started with Rosalie not so subtly dropping her napkin. She'd barely ducked under the table when he felt something brush against his jeans. By the time he looked down, she'd popped back into her seat, an innocent smile on her face.

When Jasper threw a tantrum over his grandpa slapping a pat of butter on his mashed potatoes, it was Alice who made a dive under the table to pick up her fork.

And so it went...Christmas dinner seated between the McCarty girls, whose morbid curiosity could lead to nothing good. With each boldly orchestrated trip under the table cloth, Ed pulled his foot further and further under his chair.

Ed breathed a sigh of relief when their mother finally noticed something was up.

"I know you girls are feeding that dog under the table! You know Dr. Amy said he can't have people food anymore."

The two girls made an exaggerated attempt at sitting tall and attentively, answering their mother sweetly. "We won't do it again." "Sorry Mom!"

"I mean it."

Rosalie crossed herself and giggled. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

"I better never hear you say something like that again."

Thoroughly admonished, Rose's gaze dropped to her lap. "I know. I'm sorry Mom."

Charlie stood, his gaze passing from one grandchild to the next. "Come on kids, let's get the table cleared."

-0-

Bella watched her kids carry the plates to the kitchen, as soon as she stood and lifted the bowl of potatoes, Charlie stopped her. "We've got this, Bells. I know you two have some things to talk about; thought I'd help get things put away and then take the kids to the park for a bike ride before I have to drive home."

Bella's heart dropped. She'd never be ready for the conversation her father wanted to push her into. Don't you dare set me up and then leave me here to deal on my own. "I thought you'd stay till tomorrow."

"Sorry, Bells. I've got a date with Harry Clearwater and a brand new fishing boat at dawn."

Edward patted his stomach and stood. "This was a wonderful meal. The least I can do is to help you do dishes while your dad spends some time with the kids."

Smart enough to realize she was outnumbered, Bella acquiesced. She prided her children on their good manners and the last thing she was about to do was let her ill temper derail years of hard work. She closed her eyes and counted to ten, eventually nodding. "Thank you. Both of you."

Charlie reached under the kitchen sink and retrieved a tool box. "I'm going to adjust that trike for little man and then we'll get out of your hair."

You're really not in my hair.

Edward washed at lightening speed and Bella fought to keep up, drying the dishes and putting them where they belonged. In no time, she found herself being led to the living room for a conversation she wanted no part of. Who put you in charge of this conversation, Sergeant?! Her emotions were a jumbled mess; anger, fear, longing, gratitude.

When Bella watched her youngest pedal down the sidewalk, like a fish taking to water, Bella's anger over the whole bike fiasco dissipated. Charlie was right. There was just no way she could hold a grudge against someone who had done such an incredible thing for her baby. But pushing her anger aside, allowed all those other emotions room to grow and she was overwhelmed.

Edward stopped abruptly in the archway, and barked out a laugh. "What in the world is that?"

The object in question was a bright green toad with a cherubic face; clutched in its chubby fist was a bunch of plastic mistletoe. Bella groaned internally. Someone is out to get me.

She hung her head and mumbled. "It's a mistletoad."

"A what?!"

"A mistletoad…you know, you gotta kiss a lot of toads before you find a prince. Supposedly it's some sort of good luck charm. My boss is a motherly sort who feels four years is a sufficient period for grieving. It was just one of her not so subtle nudges that I need to get back into the world of the living. Apparently someone couldn't mind his own business and dragged it out of the trash."

He raised an eyebrow and looked up at the silly creature. "You think it works?"

"You're not getting lucky."

"You'd seriously lure a man under the mistletoe and then deny him his just deserts?"

Bella gasped. "Lure you?!"

When she grabbed his shirt to give him a shake, he wrapped his hands around her waist and lowered his face, their lips dancing a gentle tango, he, taking the lead and she, helplessly following.

Bella drew in a dreamy breath when he let her go. "I was going to serve desert when the kids got back."

"Why wait till they get back?" Edward swooped in for a second round. Startled, and realizing what was about to happen, Bella pushed him away and he stumbled backward, barely making purchase with the archway trim in an attempt to steady himself.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this with you."

"But, I can tell you want to."

"I don't want to want to."