I don't own anything!
I am very mean and I deserve to be punished. I know. :( I haven't updated in over a month!
I hope it was worth the waiting.
BPOV
"I'm leaving!" I yelled upstairs to Emmett and Rose.
"Go already!" he boomed back and I slipped out the front door.
I had come home to wash and change clothes at their insistences, now I had to go back to Edward. He was feeling better, only his ribs hurt a little. The lung was healing better than the doctor expected.
Esme hadn't left his side since she came; I was determined to send her to our house to at least sleep on a normal bed.
"Oh I remember! And I told her it looked stupid." I heard Edward laugh when I got in front of his door.
"Actually, your words were 'It makes me look stupid' and Edward, bless him, mumbled that you were already stupid earning a slap from Elizabeth." I heard Esme laugh. I slipped in the room.
Edward's face lit up and he stretched his arms to me. "You're back! How do you feel?" he grinned.
"Clean." I whispered and kissed his cheek. He chuckled and interlaced our fingers.
"Or Christmas in Forks when-" Esme started, her eyes glinting.
"NO!" Edward shouted. "I didn't do anything. It was all that little devil that you call daughter, but no one believed me." He moaned.
"Why would we have believed you? You were the one with the pranks, always!" Esme continued to laugh and turned to me to explain something; she looked eager. Edward covered my ears.
"Don't tell Bella." He hissed.
"I can hear you." I mumbled.
"We were just remembering good old times." Esme explained. "As I was saying, Christmas '96." She started and Edward groaned and slumped defeated on his pillows.
"They were visiting. And he was the perfect seven year old when he was behaving, of course. Carlisle and Edward Sr. had introduced the kids to the world of gag gifts; horrible idea if you ask me. So there we were, around the tree on Christmas morning, opening presents. Poor Elizabeth. A frog jumped from her present which she dropped and started screaming." Esme explained.
"Really Edward? That's what you call gag gift?" I turned to him amused.
"Not me. For the last time! If any of you were smart enough you would have realized it wasn't my handwriting there. I write far better than Alice. I read the stupid note; it said 'For Ma, Edwid.' She hadn't even written my name correctly." Edward snapped.
"You may be right, Edward, but we couldn't think Alice would have done such a thing!" Esme giggled.
"Of course, because your daughter is such an angel!" Edward muttered.
"She is. Now, I'll leave you in charge. I'm going to the hotel we're staying to take a bath and sleep." She announced, kissed Edward's cheek who protested and blushed and then finally, she left.
When the door closed I couldn't hold my laughter in me.
"You're so cute. Let me wipe you cheek." I murmured and took Esme's lipstick off his red cheek.
"Bella." He whispered and kissed my lips. "I missed you. Don't ever leave me alone with Esme; she has a tendency to bring back bad memories." He shuddered.
"Of course. You can come home soon. I can't wait to have you back. Ruby misses you." I said.
"I miss her, too." He said softly. "How's your brother?"
"He was happy to have me out of the house to spend some alone time with Rose." I told him.
"Bella…"
"He is sorry. You know that." I said. Emmett was planning a 'Welcome home' party and Alice was on his side.
"So everything's over, right? I mean he won't do anything?" Edward asked uncertainly. I stroked his hair.
"No, Edward. Emmett won't hurt you again. You know what tomorrow is?" I asked him.
Edward frowned concentrating on remembering the day, then he gave up and shook his head.
"It's December 20th. Esme is making dinner and you are coming home. Do you want me to ask your doctor if he'd let you leave now?" I knew he was eager to get out.
"How long have I been in here?" he asked frowning again.
"Almost three weeks." I whispered.
"Get me out of here." Edward said horrified.
Within the hour we were ready to go. "You drove my car?" he hissed when he saw his car outside. I blushed and nodded.
"Well at least it was in good hands." He sighed and climbed in the passenger seat.
"Call whoever you want and tell them we're going home now." I said as I gave him my phone.
He busied himself with the phone and talked with Alice from what I heard, then turned to me and watched me drive. I felt self-conscious all the time, but I didn't tell him to stop watching me.
When we got home, I parked and leaned to kiss his cheek. "It will be fine."
"Stay close to me." Edward mumbled and got up.
I got up, too, but somehow I slipped on the ice and ended up on my ass.
"…and where is my sister?" I heard Emmett boom.
"Here, wh- Bella?" I heard Edward asked uncertainly.
I managed to help myself up holding on the car, but when I got in front of it I slid again ending up at their feet.
"Why, nice to see you sis!"
"Shut up! Help me up!" Emmett cupped my elbows and raised me in a fluent movement.
"There. Don't fall again." He advised.
"Like I wanted to fall in the first place!" I grumbled and took Edward's arm dragging him inside.
"Edward!" Alice jumped on him, hugging him tightly.
"Oww Al…oww" Edward groaned and pushed her away.
"Alice!" I yelled at her and turned to Edward who was holding his ribs. "Does it hurt badly?" I asked biting my lip.
"Tolerable. Let's go upstairs. It's nice to see you all." Edward grinned and led the way upstairs.
When we got in our room, Ruby simply jumped on him, clinging to his jacket with her claws and mewling loudly.
"Hey, baby." Edward cooed and squeezed her to his chest. "Did you miss me?"
"You have no idea." I sighed. He didn't seem to hear me being too busy acting like a kid. The image was quite funny, badass Edward cooing and petting a little cat.
"She's bigger." He stated as he put her on the bed.
"I guess. I haven't noticed. Come here." I patted the spot next to me and Edward crawled to me.
Now, that I didn't have to worry about Edward; Alice dragged me shopping for Christmas presents. Esme and Carlisle had flown back to Forks after we pleaded them to stay, but they couldn't.
After three days spent in the mall, Alice was on the couch instructing the boys where to put the tree. She had changed her mind for the fifth time.
"Do you think she'll decide in the next five hours? We need to decorate it. It's Christmas Eve." Edward whispered in my ear. I was on his lap on the couch watching the amusing scene before us, how Emmett and Jasper carried the tree from a side of the room to another.
"Let's hope. If it gets too late I'm going to bed." I whispered back.
"I'd join you." He murmured in my neck, his hands trailing on my legs and squeezing my thighs.
"Do you feel better?" I asked turning my attention to him.
"Yes. We'll go after Christmas to my appointment."
I put my lips to his just when Alice screamed, "Just put it near the window!" I started laughing and Edward joined me soon when the boys started cursing.
"That's where it was in the beginning, baby!" groaned Jasper.
"Really? I should have realized." Alice mused and went to kiss his cheek.
"Are we ready to decorate it?" asked Rose from the doorway.
"Yep." Alice bounced on her heels.
After another few hours our tree looked so red one could say it had been murdered.
"I want to put the star!" Emmett jumped up and down.
"NO! You always put it! Why don't you let someone else put it?" I asked angrily.
That was it, Jasper, Alice and Rose made a bee line to the star I had in my hand. I looked at Edward who stayed quietly on the couch watching them amused, but I knew him better. There was longing in his eyes.
"Edward?" I asked and went to him. "Will you put it?"
He looked nervous and bit his lip. "It's family tradition. Why don't you or Alice put it?"
"You're as much family as anyone else in this room. Come on." I tugged on his hand and he got up reluctantly.
"Sure. Just because he's your boyfriend he gets to put the star." Emmett huffed. Edward's steps flattered and I tugged his hand harder to make him follow me.
"Up. I'll keep the chair so you won't fall." I pointed to the chair.
"Really, Bella…I shouldn't." Edward said again eyeing Emmett.
I took his face in my hands and whispered lowly so only he could hear. "I know that look in your eyes. Put the star up. I love you." I kissed his cheek and when I backed away, I saw tears in his eyes. He climbed on the chair and grinned down at me.
"Kodak moment." He chuckled. Alice snapped a picture, shrugging when we turned to her amazed. When had she got the camera?
Later that night, after Emmett shooed us all to bed because otherwise Santa wouldn't come, I laid in bed with Edward, just holding each other.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I whispered in the dark room.
"It was the first time I did it…" he whispered and squeezed me to his chest.
"What? You can't be serious!"
"I am. Mom loved to do that shit so we never got in her way. Not even last year… not that I had any great Christmas or anything."
"You never talked about that time. While you were still in Chicago…after you know…" I trailed off afraid of his reaction.
"There's not much to talk about. What do you want to know?" It was a rare event; he was actually talking about Chicago. Willingly.
"You decide what to tell me." I whispered.
"Last Christmas…it was interesting. I had a big fight with them just on Christmas Eve and didn't go home until later the next evening. I had spent the day with some friends…getting drunk, again. There was…on the living room floor-" He cut the sentence and sucked in a deep breath. "It was a smashed guitar. They had gotten me one and I had been my usual ass self and didn't even showed up for Christmas! I regret so much that we fought, it was the last Christmas I had with them." Edward sighed.
I hugged him close to me and soothed him. "You asked about the days after the accident…I told Alice I didn't, but I did. Before Esme got there, I had inhaled an unhealthy amount of coke. I was dazed and out of it all the time she had been there. I hadn't slept at all. Every time I tried, I saw their white, serene faces glaring at me or I'd wake up in cold sweat. Esme was worried about me, because I was acting strange. She had eyed me carefully the whole funeral, afraid I might break down, but I didn't. I thanked her for her generosity of taking me under her wing. I tried to convince her that I could live alone, but she had none of it. And then, before I realized, I was in Seattle. I took a cab to Forks and I told him to stop at the entrance on the dirt road, knowing he would refuse to damage his car; I paid him and walked through rain toward the house. The splashing sounds my feet were making and how my hair had flattened on my forehead were annoying me. I got in front of the house and looked at it, which looked dark and quiet. I wondered if Alice was sleeping…Then I wondered who were her friends, remembering Carlisle telling me her friends were staying over. You know the rest of the story." He smiled and pressed his lips to my neck.
"Why did you walked the dirt road, I'm sure the cab's driver would have done it." I said.
"Yes, maybe. But, I wanted to walk. I missed that place. The rain, especially. The forest…"
"You're odd." I laughed despise myself.
"You think so highly of me, Bella." Edward chuckled along with me.
He was okay, despite that he talked about his parents, I was really happy we could do this without hurting him.
Next morning we were the first ones awake. After I fed him and gave him his medicine, Edward wanted to give me my present.
"Shouldn't we wait for everyone?" I asked again.
"Stop fretting, love." He murmured and took his guitar. My eyes widened and he sat next to me, leaning on the wall.
He leaned and kissed my lips and started strumming, never breaking the kiss. I was melting under his lips and then he licked my lips and pulled away. I opened my mouth to protest when I heard him singing. A strangled sob escaped my lips as I watched different emotions playing on his face; his voice was as amazing as I remembered it, although the last thing he sang was 'Popeye the sailor man'.
I should never think
What's in your heart
What's in our home
So I won't "It's called Never Think." He said at the end.
You'll learn to hate me
But still call me baby
Oh love
So call me by my name
And save your soul
Save your soul
Before your to far gone
Before nothing can be done
I'll try to decide when
She'll lie in the end
I ain't got no fight in me
In this whole damn world
So hold off
She should hold off
It's the one thing that I've known
Once I put my coat on
I coming out in this all wrong
She standing outside holding me
Saying oh please
I'm in love
I'm in love
Girl save your soul
Go on save your soul
Before it's to far gone
And before nothing can be done
Cause without me
You got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
Without me you got it all
So hold on
The song was impossibly sad and this combined with the idea of Edward singing to me made me dissolve on the floor in tears.
"Bella? I know…it was horrible, I didn't have time to-" I jumped on him forgetting about his bruises and tackled him to the ground, kissing every available piece of skin.
"I love you!" I wailed and clung to his neck. "My present for you is nothing compared to this." I whispered and pressed my lips to his.
"What did you get me, baby?"
I crawled under the tree, scrambled back without getting the tree with me by some miracle, and handed Edward his gift.
He unwrapped it curiously and to my horror burst in tears. Was it that horrible? I should have listened to Alice and buy the stupid sweater.
"Oh…Lord…how…Bella!" he stuttered. He never stutters. Edward looked up at me with teary eyes and cradled the leather-bounded book that contained empty files with staves to his chest. "I love you so fucking much! This is the best gift I got, ever!"
"Just for you. I am glad you like it." I whispered and hugged his head close to me as he put it on my chest.
"I love it, Bella! I love you! Oh God, I'm acting like a pussy, but I can't stop crying." He moaned and buried his head further in my chest.
We stayed just like that, Edward caressing my gift and crying and me running my fingers through his wild hair, until Emmett bounded down the stairs screaming like a banshee.
"Presents! WAKE UP!!" he knocked on the doors and yelled. He stopped when he saw us near the wall.
"What have you done to him, Bella?" Emmett asked scared as he watched Edward's shoulders shake.
"Nothing! I just gave him my present." I grinned and kissed the top of Edward's head.
"I'm fine, don't mind me." Edward muttered from my chest.
They all came down, took in our embrace and started opening presents.
"Oh Bella! When did you get this? How?" Alice looked at me surprised. I smirked.
"That's from all of us! Including your parents, of course, the put most of the money…" I explained. She stared in awe at the key and jumped up then outside the house squealing and screeching loudly. Jasper went after her to bring her back before she got sick.
"I have something else for you." Edward said and rubbed his eyes, watching me.
"What else? The song was enough." I said truthfully.
"Em, toss it here!"
Edward caught the box and offered it to me. I eyed it carefully, it was quite large and it seemed empty, it was too light. I opened it to find another box in it. I glanced at Edward who sent me a crooked smile and nodded for me to open it. Another box and another smaller box until I got the last one hopefully and opened it. There was a bracelet that had a small band on it.
"Look under." I did as told and stopped breathing. My strawberry heroin
I looked at Edward and hugged him tightly. "I am indefinitely grateful that you helped me." He murmured in my ear.
"I'd do it again if I had the change to go back in time. I won't change anything. I am so happy for you! I am proud of you, Edward." I told him and kissed him.
"Happy Christmas, my love!"
"Happy Christmas, Edward!"
It was true, I wouldn't change anything. I am so glad we are here and that I made him forget all about the drugs. As he fastened the bracelet to my wrist and then kissed it softly I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.
Review! I'll try to update sooner.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter. I apologize again for the long waiting...