BPOV
"Merry," Kiss. "Christmas… nom, nom, nom," Edward mumbled against my neck.
He tickled me while I squirmed under his fingers and I loved his silly nature.
"Best Christmas ever," I giggled, finally wrapping my arms around his neck.
"Best Christmas eva," he confirmed and left a chaste kiss on my lips.
Last night was good. It was really good. Not only did we miss the end of the recital, we also missed midnight mass. I should care, but the delicious ache in my thighs was telling me, you go girl.
"Ya sore?"
"Maybe just a little," I laughed, nuzzling my nose against his jaw as he dropped down more on me.
"Then I guess, I should get a showa," he sighed, raising an eyebrow.
That's when I physically attached myself to him, wrapping my arms and legs around him. I was literally off the bed; it was like my weight didn't affect him at all. He snorted, crawling backward on our bed with his palms and knees until he hit the edge of the bed and his feet were on the floor.
"I'm not weighing you down," I scoffed in disbelief.
"Nah."
Hiding my face in his neck, his hands finally pushed off the bed and we were headed to the shower.
"Are you going to put me down?"
"Nah."
"Is that all you're going to say? Nah?"
"Yeah," he grinned brightly.
"Well, what's the point of a shower if I won't be getting clean?"
"You'll be gettin' wet," he smirked wickedly, moving so my back hit the tile. His erection ground into my now wet center. "See," he chuckled against my skin.
After fifteen more minutes of our shower time fun, we hurried and cleaned up before getting ready for our day, as ready as we could for now. Once Edward plopped me down on the bed, he grabbed a clean pair of basketball shorts, slipping them on. After he was done with that, he got a t-shirt and clean panties out for me before dressing me in them.
I could only imagine the smile I had on my face when he took my hand in his. It probably made me look like a lunatic. Last Christmas I was alone in Forks. I hadn't started dating Em until mid January and it was the same as every year. Dad, Billy, Jacob and me, that was it. Though there were others there, I was still alone…lonely.. This year , I was all warm, toasty and loved.
"I love that face," Edward said, kissing me quick. "Sit here and I'll get our coffee."
"Okay," I sighed, kissing him again. "I love you."
"I love ya too, gorgeous."
I watched the lights on the tree, feeling so happy that this was our first Christmas together. We picked the tree out last week at this lot near the bar. Edward informed me this was his first tree since moving out of Carlisle and Esme's house. We ended up having to get lights, tinsel and decorations. Once Esme caught wind of what we were doing she's came over with a box of priceless bulbs and ceramic ornaments. She even got us a very special one with two ceramic Christmas angels on it and Edward and Bella's First Christmas 2011 engraved on a gold plate. It was beautiful and we placed it right in the middle of the tree for anyone and everyone to see.
"Here Bell," Edward said softly, handing me my coffee before sliding behind me on the couch.
"There seem to be a lot more presents under the tree than I remember," I stated and sipped my coffee. Hazelnut. I loved him.
"That Santa fucker must have stopped by," he shrugged.
"Don't call Santa that," I gaped.
"Were ya on the naughty or nice list, Bell?" he asked as he kissed my shoulder.
"Nice, of course."
"Not even a lil' naughty?" he questioned, dragging his teeth against my neck.
"Maybe a little," I moaned.
I settled against Edward's chest as we remained quiet and just laid there. His hand rubbed my thighs as I finished the rest of my coffee. I felt a little more awake now.
"Ready ta open gifts?"
"I don't want to move, babe," I whined.
"Gifts," he nudged my neck with his nose.
"Fine," I pouted, getting up to pick up a few boxes before bringing them back to the couch. "Bella," I said placing the little box by his feet. "Edward, Edward," I handed him his two bigger boxes from me. "Bella." Another small box for me.
"Sit closer ta me while we do this," he said softly as he patted the space by his thigh. "Ya grabbed the good ones first, gorgeous."
"What did you do?"
"Santa likes naughty girls," he winked, placing my boxes in my hands. "Now open."
I carefully unwrapped the beautiful paper surrounding my gift. Who would have thought he was a skilled gift wrapper?
"Did you wrap this?"
"I worked a Santa Village at the mall all through high school," he shrugged like it was nothing.
I grabbed his forearm and my eyes widened. "Don't tell me you were an elf."
"Head elf my senior year," he stated proudly and I couldn't hold in my burst of hysterics. "Laugh all you want, but elves get a lot of action."
"Action? You're lying," I snorted.
"Hay, all I'm sayin' a lot of lonely ma's, fellow girl elves, and maybe Mrs. Claus liked to be pressed up the wall of Santa's house."
"Ew," I smacked him.
"I was a teenager, Bella. I never kept it in my pants," he sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.
"I love you even though you're a reformed man whore," I kissed him softly.
"Ya know when I went to college I changed my ways. Then Liv happened and this punk kid tried to maul Rosie so I learned to respect women more, ya know?" he said quietly.
"You respect me," I smiled, cupping his cheek.
"I worship the ground those pretty feet walk on," Edward informed me, leaning in and capturing my lips with his. "Now open."
I opened the lid of the first box where a small ornate sterling silver case sat. I turned the box upside down, letting the case fall into my palm. "Open it," he murmured, nipping at my jaw.
Slowly I turned the clasp on the lock. The case was polished, but still looked like it was from the early 1900's. Carefully I flipped the lid, gasping at the pearl earrings nestled in the case.
"Edward," I rasped, squeezing his forearm again.
"They were Nana Platt's," he whispered and covered my hand as my welled up with tears. "Before she passed she asked Ma to give me them and this," he said handing me the other box. Same intricate case, but longer, opening it made my tears fall even more. A matching necklace.
"My god, these are beautiful," I sniffled.
"My directions from Esme were that I had ta give these ta my wife, but now that I have you I didn't want ta wait. I wanted you ta have them."
"But what if…" I started.
"No what ifs, Bella. One day ya will be my wife, I am sure of it. It's either you or no one else. Do ya understand me?"
"Why not just propose?"
"And have ya freak out? No thank ya," he laughed, shaking his head.
"You shouldn't assume anything," I huffed.
"Okay, I'll promise ya this, graduate and get a job first, then we'll talk and I'll come up with the most romantic proposal ya've eva seen."
"I'm holding you to that," I choked out around my happy tears.
It was Edward's turn to tear into his gifts. He ewed and awed over the Red Sox hoodie and flannel button down I got him before going to get more gifts from the tree.
"I think we went a little over board," I sighed, tugging at the Lilly Pulitzer dress he gave me.
We were on our way to the hotel to pick Charlie up and I suddenly felt super squirmy. Our families were having Christmas together.
"Hay, I took Ma shoppin' with me. I let her tell me what was up and I picked colors and styles," he defended.
"Edward, all the things you gave me cost way too much," I frowned.
Way too much. I felt like I was Jackie Freaking O. Great Edward was turning me into a Kennedy… Boston royalty.
"Gorgeous, stop. It's Christmas and for this day ya get nothing but the best."
"Thank you, Daddy Warbucks," I grumbled.
"Wasn't he that bald dude that took in that kid with the red fro?"
"Yes."
"Man, he was ballin'," Edward snorted.
"Ugh, to you," I groaned, looking out the window.
After a few minutes of silence, I felt him pick up my hand and kiss it.
"Guess what?" he asked.
My lips started to twitch up, "What?"
"I love ya," he announced in this silly shocked voice.
Was there anything more important than love? Because I didn't think so.
"Ma, it's like two days in a row yar making me suffa," Rosalie shouted down from the top of the stairs.
"Just put on the dress, lass," Esme sighed, shaking her head as she greeted us. "She's been moody all mornin', that one."
"Ya should ground her or sumptin'," Edward laughed, pulling her into a tight hug before placing a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
"She's too old to ground," she giggled.
"Still livin' at home means she can be grounded," he insisted, raising an eyebrow.
"I feel like were in The Departed," Charlie teased, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Tell me about it," I retorted in my terrible Boston accent.
"Ahhhh, she did the voice," Edward groaned playfully, tugging at my hand.
"Hay, I have a wicked accent," I grinned.
"Stawp," he said thickly.
"Everyone stop, I can only take so much," Carlisle complained while he carried Olivia.
"Aunt Bella," she squealed, reaching for me.
"I get it, we love Aunt Bella more then Uncle Eddie," he said, tugging at Liv's curls.
"I love her," Olivia declared against my neck.
"And I love you," I smiled, kissing her head.
"This room is filled with love, now lets open more presents," Carlisle declared, wrapping his arm around Charlie's shoulder. "Chief, I have a Coke with your name on it."
"Sounds good to me," Dad nodded.
"Total bromance," I laughed, snuggling closer to Edward's side.
"Maybe, but I kinda love how our families mesh, ya know?"
"Hmm," I agreed.
Honestly, to say this was one of my best Christmases would be an understatement. Olivia opened each of her gifts so daintily and let out a squeal-giggle once she saw what it was. It was precious and I almost wanted to squeal-giggle with her.
Edward kept me close under his arm as we cuddled on the couch watching everyone. Well almost everyone. Jasper had yet to show up. Esme kept calling his cell, but all she could get was his voicemail. Carlisle ended up taking her out into the hallway and dad shot me a curious look.
"Where is he?" I whispered close to Edward's ear.
"I don't know, but he does this every Christmas," he replied.
"But Olivia," I frowned.
"I know, gorgeous… I know, but he does this. I'm surprised that he showed up ta the recital."
"That's sad," I mumbled.
I slowly moved away from Edward, sitting on the floor until I crawled a bit down to where Olivia played.
"Hi," she chirped.
"Hey cutie," I smiled, kissing her head.
"Wanna play with me?"
"Of course."
"Of course," she repeated with a giggle.
I noticed Rosalie was watching me carefully. She was very territorial with her niece when I was around.
"Olivia lil' darling, why don't you give Aunt Bella her gift from all of us," Esme said from the love seat by the tree.
"Oh yeah," she exclaimed in remembrance.
She ran across the room, politely asking for the envelope in Esme's hands. Then she walked cautiously with it as if it would break. So adorable.
"This is your present," she whispered, climbing up my lap.
"Thank you."
I opened my present to find five tickets to the ballet Romeo and Juliet in New York. I skimmed the tickets looking for her name and found that this production was done by one of the smaller companies. Dad leaned over and I saw him wince.
"Not her," I murmured.
He nodded, but still didn't look okay. Renee did a number on him and even though he was over her, he just wanted nothing to do with her for my sake. When I was applying to college, we had this silent agreement that I would go nowhere near New York.
"Do you like it?" Esme asked eagerly.
"This is the best gift. Thank you," I tried a genuine smile.
"I figured me, Carlisle, Olivia, Edward and you could go, maybe make a weekend out of it?" she asked hopefully. "We have until April though to plan. I made sure to get tickets for after your last final."
"I love that idea," I nodded.
Though a weekend away with family sounded amazing, what scared me was that I hadn't been to New York in almost eight years and I had this gut feeling it wouldn't be good.
A/N: I have an idea what you're thinking and it's not that… Oh, these two are so mushy mush and I love it! Tell me what you're thinking because I'm interested to know! By the way saw the Cosmopolis trailer and thought it was insane, but totally hearted it! Dolphin62598 and rainydays23 beta'd this of course, they're the greatest and I appreciate all of their help!
