A/N Thank you for all the kind comments, adds and favorites! We truly appreciate everything. We hope you enjoy this next little chapter with Bella and her Edward. ~ QoH & MW

"You are my sweetest downfall

I loved you first, I loved you first

Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth

I have to go, I have to go

Your hair was long when we first met."

The days flew by, filled with my favorite Christmas movies and music. Edward serenaded me every night before we became a tangle mass beneath sheets and pillows. The nights were always my favorite. We couldn't sleep, but we could lay together in the dark and allow ourselves the luxury of shutting out the world for a few hours.

"What are you going to pack?" I was standing in the closet staring at hangers full of shirts. "Do we need to bring anything formal? I mean, maybe for New Years? Should I bring a dress?" I bent and started looking through a pile of shoes in the back corner of the closet. I picked up a box with a pair of black heels nestled in paper.
"If Ang is there, she might just want to go shopping for a dress." I smiled as I dropped the box back to the carpeted floor. A new dress. I wasn't much for shopping, but thinking about wearing something new for Edward made me excited.

~xOx~

I sat down on the bed near the closet, watching Bella rummage through it. "Pack?" I ran fingers through my hair. "Do you mean to say, you haven't packed for me?" I grinned as she shot me a look over her shoulder.

"Truthfully, I haven't given it any thought. I was kind of focused on just surviving the commute. Though, I suppose it isn't my survival I should be concerned with." My eyes ran down the length of the closet rod, distracted by Bella bending over in the tiny room.

"You're not helping me think out here," I teased. "Have you talked to anyone? I mean, do we have... plans?"

Christmas was creeping up quickly and it was my first holiday with Charlie and Bella. On top of that, there was this whole... bloodlust... aspect of returning to town. I had barely even considered gifts. "Did you get Charlie something? I mean, from us?" I flicked my lighter open and rolled my finger along the wheel, watching small sparks fly up.

"Do we need to get gifts for anyone else?"

Snap out of it. It's Christmas and you've been living in your own little self absorbed world of sex and murder. Your life is like a freaking Tarantino movie.

~xOx~

"Oh shit!" When I heard Edward snicker behind me, I realized that I had blurted that out loud. I turned and walked out of the closet. "Hush, you." I pointed my finger at him and smiled.

"Okay, so, I got Charlie season tickets to the Mariners from us. I know he'll love that." I dropped down on the bed next to him.
"I got Ang a new sweater and bottle of perfume that she likes to wear. I didn't get anything for Casanova. Um, Mike, I mean." I pulled at my hair, yanking it up into a sloppy ponytail and twisted a black rubber band into place.

"Oh! Edward, what about Ben?" His forehead creased in thought. "Ben is Ang's boyfriend. Maybe we should get something for him too? He was at the wedding." I exhaled a loud breath and fell back on the bed. "So much to do, so little time to do it."

With my eyes closed I started making note of the things we needed to get done before we left in the morning.

"We need to hunt tonight. Maybe in the morning before we leave too?" I cracked one eye open and smiled as turned to look at me.

"I know I know.. I need to chill out. It's all good. I know. Are you sure you can do this? It's completely okay if we stay here. I understand if maybe it's too soon and too much." He leaned back next to me with a smile. His eyes sparkled a warm golden hue with small specks of green peaking through. My breath caught and I rested my hand on his cheek.

"Your eyes." I tiled my head. "They've been lightening, but wow. They look, bright. I can see green in there." A little bit of what once was, peeking out.

~xOx~

"Brighter? Yeah?" I looked into her eyes, enamored by the subtle changes in color throughout. They were darkening slightly from thirst and she was right, we would need to hunt soon.

Taking advantage of her position on the bed, I quickly moved over. Hovering above her face, straddling her hips, I nuzzled her nose the way she often did to mine. "Absolutely." I punctuated the words with kisses against her cheeks, her nose, her lips. "Way too much for me." I worked my way along her jaw. "Let's stay right here. All day. Every day."

Her delicate fingers locked behind my neck, pulling me closer. "Mariners. Mhm. Good." When my lips parted against the divot beneath her ear, a quiet moan escaped her lips as she wrapped her legs around mine. "Shop later," I spoke only when necessary, focusing on the breathtaking creature beneath me. "On... Island."

"Pack... later." My fingertips found the hem of her shirt and lifted it slowly. I felt her back arch, willing me closer.

I was more than happy to oblige.

~xOx~

Play now. Pack later. Were all newlyweds this way? Is this just some fleeting thing? God I hope not. The things he does to me.

I tightened my legs around his waist and rolled us, sitting up, I ran my hands up under the thin soft cotton of his shirt and was rewarded with a low groan. I pushed the shirt up and traced a zig zag pattern of kisses over his stomach, up his ribs. His hands were warm on my hips.

"Yes." I kissed his chin. "Pack later." My lips dragged along his jaw to his ear.

"Play now."

My lips covered his and I knew that I would never ever tire of this.

"You are my sweetest downfall

I loved you first, I loved you first

Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads

But they're just old light, they're just old light

Your hair was long when we first met"*

*Regina Spektor - Samson