Chapter 13

"What do you mean you think it has something to do with Lauren?" Edward asked confused.

"Well I told Chloe that she was going to Mike's and she didn't want to. I asked her why and she said she didn't like Lauren. Chloe may be only three but I'm going to get to the bottom of this." I explained. He nodded.

"That's a good idea."

"I'm going to see if Mike can pick Chloe up from your parents' house. Then she will be able to see everyone."

"That's a good idea." Edward said smiling. I smiled, kissed him lightly, then proceeded to run around and get everything I needed together. He played her Chloe until I was done.

"Ok Chloe, ready to go see Papa?" She nodded and jumped up. I laughed. Edward did also.

"Thank you for doing what you did last night for Chloe." I whispered to Edward as we walked out of my apartment and to our cars.

"You're welcome Bella. I had a lot of fun." He smiled. I put Chloe in her car seat and shut the door.

"So I'll see you later on?" Edward asked wrapping his arms around me. I nodded.

"I'll be there. Chloe will be there for a little while also."

"Perfect." He whispered as he pressed his lips too mine. They lingered there for awhile until I reluctantly pulled back.

"Bye." I said smiling.

"Bye." He replied with a returned smile. We got in our cars and I drove to Charlie's and saw Edward's Volvo disappear in the opposite direction.

"Papa!" Chloe exclaimed as Charlie opened the door.

"Hey Chloe. Merry Christmas little girl." My dad said picking her up and hugging her. I escaped and made the call to Mike. Surprisingly, he was ok with picking her up at the Cullen's. When I went back to the living room Charlie and Chloe were already looking amongst the presents.

"Momma can we open the presents now?" She asked.

"Ask Papa." I said. She looked at him.

"Of course you can." He said. She squealed and began tearing the paper off. Charlie sat back and chuckled.

"For a three year old she is really intelligent." Charlie observed.

"She is." I agreed.

"Everything ok?"

"Yeah, Mike called me earlier and asked if he could take Chloe for the night. So he is picking her up when we go over to the Cullen's." Charlie nodded.

"How was your Christmas Eve?" I smiled at the memory.

"It was really good. Edward showed up dressed as Santa Clause for Chloe." I said, whispering the last part. Charlie chuckled.

"That was really nice of him." I nodded. Chloe had finished opening her presents and she was busy playing with them. I cooked breakfast and the three of us sat around the dining room table, and enjoyed our breakfast. After that Chloe took a small nap. My dad watched TV and I read a new book he got me. When she woke up it was about time to head over to the Cullen's, and for Mike to pick Chloe up.

"Ok Chloe, say bye to Papa." I told her.

"Bye Papa." She said, as he picked her up.

"Bye Chloe. Merry Christmas. Love you."

"Love you too." He kissed her cheek and set her back down.

"Bye dad." I said, also giving him a hug. "Love you. You are coming to the Cullen's later right?"

"Bye Bells. Love you too. Yeah, I'll be there" He smiled.

I smiled and took Chloe out to the car. My dad stood in the doorway waving. Chloe waved back until he disappeared. I chuckled at her. We pulled up to the Cullen's ten minutes later. Alice came running outside.

"Auntie Alice!" Chloe exclaimed. I laughed and unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Hey Bella! Merry Christmas." Alice said giving me a hug.

"Hi Ali. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Chloe." Alice said carefully scooping her up and giving her a hug. We walked inside and everyone was there already.

"Bellsy!" Emmett's voice boomed as he picked me up into a bone crushing hug.

"Hey Em. Merry…Christmas" I managed to breathe out.

"Emmett, don't kill my girlfriend" Edward yelled coming from the kitchen, followed by Esme and Carlisle.

"Sorry Bella. Merry Christmas."

"It's ok Em. Hey Rose. Merry Christmas." I said giving her a hug.

"Merry Christmas Bella." Jasper said giving me a hug.

"Merry Christmas Jasper." I said hi to Esme and Carlisle next.

"Thanks for inviting me over. My dad is coming a little later."

"You are always welcome here." Esme replied, giving a maternal smile. Mike called me and said he was ten minutes away. I got Chloe's stuff together.

"You know, I am kind of hurt. You haven't told me hi yet." I heard a voice behind me, none other than Edward's. I jumped and turned around. He laughed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't forget though. I promise." I responded. He smirked. "But they do say save the best for last." I added, giving him a kiss. His arms snaked around my waist, mine around his neck.

"Whoa guys, get a room." Emmett yelled. Edward groaned. "I'm just here to let Bella know that Mike is here."

"Thanks Emmett." Edward and I walked to the living room.

"Hey Bella. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Mike." I said. Lauren was here also.

"Hello Edward." Mike said holding out his hand. Edward took it.

"Hi Mike." There were no hostile look exchanged, they were actually rather nice to each other.

"Where's Chloe?" I asked Alice.

"I think she is with my parents. Let me go see." She replied then sped off.

"Hi Bella." Lauren said offering a smile.

"Hi Lauren." I smiled back. She didn't seem like a mean person, but I needed to figure out why Chloe said she didn't like her anymore. Chloe came running in a minute later laughing, with Alice following her. Mike knelt to her level.

"Daddy!" She exclaimed running to him.

"Hey baby." He said picking her up and giving her a hug.

"Mike, can you, Lauren, and I talk real quick?" I asked.

"Uh, sure Bella." I grabbed Chloe's stuff. She said bye to everyone, then the four of us walked outside.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked.

"Not anything major, but I am still confused as to why Chloe has been acting strange."
"Lauren, can you put this in the car please?" He asked.

"Sure." She said smiling softly and putting Chloe's bags in the car.

"Mike, Chloe told me earlier that Lauren wasn't her friend anymore. Lauren hasn't been mean to her has she?" I asked.

"No, she would never do anything to Chloe. Lauren always tucks her after me, and reads her stories. Never has she done anything to hurt her." Mike explained. Then I turned to Chloe.

"Chloe, why isn't Lauren your friend?" I asked softly.

"She's always with daddy." Chloe whispered. Suddenly everything came to realization.

"Mike, I think Chloe thinks that Lauren is going to take you away." I slightly chuckled.

"Chloe, I'm not going anywhere. You are always going to be my number one girl. I promise." He said kissing her cheek.

"Ready to go?" He asked. Chloe nodded.

"Ok, my little girl. Be good for daddy and Lauren. I love you. See you tomorrow morning." I gave Chloe a hug and kiss.

"Bye Mike." I said. HE gave me a quick hug.

"Bye Bella." He walked to the car and Lauren came running back.

"Bye Bella. Merry Christmas."

"Bye Lauren. Merry Christmas to you too." We both smiled, I walked back into the house, and she walked to the car.

"Everything ok?" Edward asked pulling me to him when I was inside.

"Yes. Everything is perfect now." He kissed my cheek.

"Party time!" Alice exclaimed. "Well, just dinner, presents and maybe some karaoke." She revised. We all laughed.

"I'll watch everyone else sing, while I sit back and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate." I said.

"No way! You are singing Bella!" Rose exclaimed.

"Miss. Swan you have an amazing voice and I think everyone needs to hear it." Edward whispered. I glared at him. Emmett and Jasper laughed.

'You two have to sing also." I said smiling.

"It won't be that bad." Alice said. "Stop making such a big deal about it. Bella I know you can sing. If it makes you feel better, I'll let you and Edward plan a little performance together." I was not getting out of this one. All well, it could be fun. The six of us settled into comfortable conversations while final preparations were made for dinner.

"Dinner's ready!" Esme called from the kitchen. We walked to the dining room and sat around the table. The food was delicious. After we ate, and cleaned up Alice announced that it was time to open presents. Edward told me I couldn't have his gift until later. All the presents everyone got were wonderful.

"Alice, come outside with me?" Jasper asked, standing up and taking her hand. She nodded and stood up as well. They both put on their coats and shoes and went outside. The rest of us crowded around the window. It had just begun to snow, that's when we saw Jasper on one knee. He said a few words, held out a ring and then was attacked by Alice. We left the window. A few minutes later they came back inside.

"I'm engaged!" Alice exclaimed.

"Congratulations." I said jumping up and giving her a hug. Everyone else followed.

"Perfect timing Jasper. Congrats." I said giving him a hug also.

"Ok, time for a celebratory toast." Esme announced racing into the kitchen. "Bella can you help me?" She called.

'Coming!" I said back. As I turned around to go into the kitchen Edward grabbed my wrist, kissed me lightly on the lips, then let me go back to help Esme.

"So we have sparkling cider, since Alice can't have champagne." Esme said getting some glasses out.

"Perfect." I replied smiling. We got eight glasses, filled them up and then took them out to everyone else.

"To Alice and Jasper, may you both have a long and happy marriage." Carlisle said.

"Cheers." The rest of us added clinking our glasses together.

"Karaoke time!" Alice exclaimed.