Here is the rest of Chapter 25. Short conversation between Jake and Edward first. Then we get to see how our couples spend Christmas night together. There's a itsy bitsy lemon too.

Chapter 25...Part 2

Jake's POV

Edward and I walked into the hall and then down the stairs. He stepped into the room that must have been the one he was using.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"I just wanted to let you know that a few nights ago Bella told me…about what happened… after I left her. I know the whole story." His tone sounded sorrowful.

"She's one of the strongest people I know." I told him. "I doubt you can understand the full extent of it though."

"Thank you, Jacob. Thank you for taking care of her when I didn't. I can't tell you how grateful I am for what you did for her."

"I did it for her. I'd do anything for her."

"I know that. I hope you know that I would too."

"I hope you mean that. She doesn't deserve what you put her through last time."

"I know she doesn't and I will never hurt her again. I told your father this but I wanted you to hear it from me. I know how you feel about her. I want only to love and protect her too. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she's always safe."

"You'd better. As long as she's happy, that's all I want." I held my hand out for him. "I have to go, Marie and I have plans."

He returned my handshake and we walked back upstairs. "I'm back, Marie." I smiled and looked at her. She gave me a beautiful smile back.

"Ready to go?" She asked. We said goodnight to Alice, Bella and Edward and she took my hand. We went out the door and around to her apartment. I couldn't wait until we were alone. The minute we stepped into her apartment I pulled her into my arms and gave her a kiss.

"Wow, thanks. I've missed you." She told me

I ran my hands through her hair. "I've missed you too."

She had a small Christmas tree in her living room and the lights were sparkling as we sat on her couch to exchange our gifts.

I gave her a square box wrapped in red paper, with a purple ribbon…her two favorite colors. She slid the ribbon off and tore open the paper. Inside was a soft all white teddy bear, holding a box of white chocolate truffles and the box set of her favorite TV show 'One Tree Hill'. She squealed with delight and gave me a huge hug and kiss.

"Thanks. I knew you'd like them." I told her, enjoying the feeling of her kissing me all over my face.

"I love everything. Maybe we can watch the DVD later?"

I kissed her neck and whispered in her ear…"We can if you want to. I kind of had something else in mind," I winked, trying to be playful and subtle. I didn't want to put any pressure on her, but I wanted her to know I was ready…anytime she was. I continued kissing her and when she didn't say anything I stopped kissing her and looked at her face.

She had a concerned look and I was worried I had offended her. "Marie, I'm only joking. I just wanted you to know that…whenever you're ready for more, I'm ready too." I brushed her hair off her shoulders and looked into those clear blue eyes.

"I'm not ready, Jake." It sounded more like a confession or an apology. I must have either read her signals wrong or my suggestion was too soon for her. She looked down at her hands as she wrung them nervously.

"Hey," I hugged her close. "Forget I said anything. I'm sorry." I whispered to her.

"Jake, it's not that I'm not attracted to you, because I am." She began. "It's not you at all; it's just that I've never done anything like that before."

I looked at her, slightly confused. Did she mean what it sounded like? "Marie, do you mean you've never…had sex…before?" I asked her quietly.

She finally looked me in the eye and said, "Yes, Jake. That's what I mean."

I was so surprised at her revelation. I swallowed the lump in my throat and said "Hey, it's okay. I wouldn't ever put any pressure on you. I really was only trying to tell you that I'd really love the chance to make love to you…when you are ready. You're the most amazing girl I've ever met and I feel an incredible bond with you."

She flashed me a sincere smile and ran her hands through the length of my hair and down my back. "Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I feel the same way about you. I've never really dated much so this is pretty new to me. But I have to tell you the whole truth. The fact of the matter is that I made a commitment when I was a teenager. A commitment to stay a virgin until I got married. This ring I wear is a purity ring. My promise to be abstinent until marriage."

My surprise increased and I couldn't hide the shock on my face. Of course I had heard of people who practiced abstinence until marriage. I just had never met anyone who did.

"Jake, I'll completely understand if you don't want to date me, knowing my personal beliefs. It's my belief and not yours. I'm not trying to change you. I just had to tell you before you go any further into this. I am so attracted to you but I know I can control my desires. I can't expect you to do that. It's not a choice you made."

"Hey, I never said I don't want to date you!" I was disappointed that she'd think that of me. "I wouldn't do something like that. I've only known you for five days but I feel like I've known you my whole life. You're so special to me and I want to keep seeing you."

She smiled widely at me and her eyes seemed to sparkle. "Really? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I'm serious." She kissed all over my face some more. I pulled her face gently toward me and softly kissed her lips. "So enough trying to get out of it, where's my Christmas present?"

She giggled and handed me two boxes and I opened a flat one first. Inside was a pair of leather driving gloves. "I thought they'd be something you could use now but then could also use with your motorcycle too."

"They're great. You're right they'll be perfect when I get my bike out again in the spring." I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and made her smile again.

I opened the second box and found a bottle of 'Fierce' Cologne. The scent was different than any other cologne I had used. "You always smell terrific," she told me. "But I smelled every man's cologne in the mall before I decided on this one. It just reminded me of you."

I reached my hands over and pulled her closer to my face. "You are so thoughtful. Thank you for the gifts. I love them." I moved my face even closer to hers and kissed her softly. She kind of melted into me and gave me back the most amazing kiss she'd given me yet.

"Wow that was great." I told her after she pulled away.

"There's nothing in the world as good as kissing you." She told me.

"Hmm, maybe. But what if that's not true? Someday you might experience…something better…" I was teasing her and she knew it.

"Shut up! Don't pick on me." She pushed away from me. "Let's open that bottle of wine that Emmett and Alice gave me. I have some snacks and we can watch my new DVD."

"Okay." I walked into her galley kitchen with her and we sliced some cheddar cheese, and put it on a plate with some grapes and crackers. She opened the wine and poured us each a glass and we cuddled up on her couch together.

We watched two episodes before I started to yawn. "I wish I could stay longer but I'm too drowsy." I told her as she leaned back on me on the couch. She tilted her head back and gave me another amazing kiss. She turned herself toward me and I put my arms around her back, enjoying the feeling of cuddling closer with her. She slowly pulled away from me once again, breaking the trance I was in.

"Marie, I'd really love it if you'd be my girlfriend." I told her quietly.

She gasped out loud. "You don't really mean that, do you?" She asked me hesitantly.

"Yes. I do mean it. I only want to be with you."

"Of course I'll be your girlfriend. I'm crazy about you Jake."

She kissed me once again and I felt her body so soft against mine and my desire began increasing. I pushed her shoulders down gently. "We gotta stop. I can only handle so much." I told her. "I have to go home and get some sleep."

"Jake?" She spoke softly in my ear. "I'd really love it if you'd stay. You could sleep on my couch."

"Is that really a good idea, Marie? I don't know about how my resolve would be if I was sleeping so close to where you were…"

"If you don't want to, or don't think you can, I'll understand of course." She was so genuine. I'd never known anyone who was that sincere when saying something like that.

"I'll stay." I told her.

She gave me a tight hug. "Thanks, Jake."

She brought me a blanket and pillow and gave me a chaste kiss on the lips before heading into her own bed. "Good night," she spoke to me from her bedroom.

"Good night Marie." I rubbed my face into the pillow wondering what in the world was happening to me!

Edward's POV

We stayed so long at Alice and Emmett's that we were just finishing our fourth bottle of champagne and I was starting to feel it. It was getting late and I knew I wasn't sober enough to drive us back to Bella's.

"Baby," I whispered in her ear as Emmett was pouring us the last of the champagne. "If you don't mind, can we stay here tonight?"

She looked at me with raised eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders. "If you want to."

I nodded my head to her and told Emmett and Alice when I tipped up the bottom of my glass…"We're going to call it a night. I've had too much to drive so I asked Bella to stay here. I hope that's okay."

Alice looked at us with a cheery smirk. "Of course," she answered. We finished our last glasses and said goodnight to each other.

I held Bella's hand as we went downstairs to my room. I hadn't spent the night here in the past five nights and it seemed strange seeing Bella getting ready for bed in my room. I gave her one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers to sleep in and she headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed. She came out running my hairbrush through her long hair. "Thanks for the clothes."

"You're welcome, Baby." I walked into the bathroom as she came out and I and began brushing my teeth.

"So, are you going to tell me what you talked about with Jake tonight?"

"I just wanted to thank him for being there for you…after I left. Bella it still hurts me to know what you went through. You'll never know how much I regret leaving you but my regrets tripled after you told me about your miscarriage. I loved you then, but my love for you now is even stronger. I spent almost five years away from you, but I've loved you every single minute. I'm so sorry." I could feel the start of tears stinging my eyes and I turned my face away from her. I was so disappointed in myself.

"Edward, I've never blamed you. I blamed myself for the longest time until I realized that it just wasn't meant to be. I got sick, it wasn't anyone's fault. I was severely dehydrated, like I already told you. I couldn't keep food down, it wasn't out of choice. I wanted our baby but God knows there was another plan for us. A different plan and I don't know what it is, but I'm ready to take whatever comes our way." She put her hands on my shoulders and turned me around to face her.

"Bella, I'm still sorry. I hope you know that I never would have left you, if it had been my decision. I was so stupid to have let that happen. The more time I spend with you now makes me regret every single second I missed with you. I wish I had stayed. I need you to know that."

"I don't think I understood that at the time, but I do now. I know you were under a lot of pressure from your parents…and there might be some bumpy roads ahead of us with my parents, and yours still not knowing about us. But if you're committed to working through it…then I am too."

"I am, Baby. I never want to lose you again. I want you to be mine. Always."

"I'll be yours as long as you want me, Edward. Forever if that's what you want."

"That's exactly what I want!"

"Then that's exactly what you'll get." She smirked at me then gave me a soft kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck and running her hands into my hair.

I kissed her back with equal gentleness and stroked her long silky hair with my fingers, down the whole length of her back. Her kisses slowed and she pressed small kisses to my face.

"I love you, Bella."

She smiled sweetly up at me. "Oh and Edward -about earlier. If you ever tell Emmett…or anyone else, for that matter…personal details about what we do in the bedroom…so help me God, I will make sure you regret it." She had a convincing tone in her voice.

I blinked my eyes wondering exactly how I'd regret it. She seemed relatively harmless, but I wasn't ready to challenge her.

"Bella, you know that I was just bragging to my friends. I really didn't mean any harm by it. It was more than five years ago…"

"I don't care how long ago it was and what your reasoning was at the time. I trusted you and you broke that trust. Whatever happens in our sex life stays between us. Is that clear?"

"I hope you understand…it's just something guys do. Especially when they're in high school. I never meant it to embarrass you…and I'd never do that now."

She seemed relieved and turned her back to me and walked over to my bed to turn down the blankets. I walked over and grabbed her around the waist as she bent over the bed and pulled her into a seductive hug. She turned around in my arms and put her arms around me as well and leaned her mouth in to my ear.

"Just to set the record straight," she whispered. "That night in the tent…I wasn't afraid of those scary stories you were telling. I was only pretending so I could share your sleeping bag with you." I smiled at her widely as she continued. "And in case you don't remember…I was more than willing to have sex with you that night. Except you suggested something else instead." She licked her lips seductively.

I could see the desire in her eyes. She leaned closer to my body. Seeing her dressed only in my boxers and white t-shirt made me want her desperately. "That night was unforgettable, Bella. I never meant to diminish how special it was for me by telling Emmett." I kissed her neck softly.

"I'd really love it if we could try that again sometime." She blushed slightly.

"Tonight?" I asked her in a hopeful tone.

"If you aren't too tired." Her smile was hesitant.

I couldn't help the groan that escaped my throat. "Baby I'll never be too tired…for you." I eased her backwards onto my bed

Her arousal was obvious as I gazed down at the blush on her cheeks. Her erect nipples were poking through the material of the t-shirt I had given her to wear. She rubbed her hands up and down my chest, and then stroked her fingers along my stubble at my jaw.

"I love when you do that to me." I told her.

"Edward, I love everything you do to me." She began by kissing my neck and then ran her tongue seductively up and down my throat.

I pressed my lips into the warmth of her neck also and kissed from her ear to her shoulder. I felt her pulse quicken as I spoke to her. "I remember how hot you were that night in the tent. The way you blushed, like you are right now…but at the same time you weren't nervous at all… sliding your…" I swallowed hard at the arousal that memory gave me, "mouth up and down the length of me like that…" I took a ragged breath in. "I can still remember how it felt." She gasped into my throat but didn't speak. So I continued. "Afterwards… I couldn't wait to return the favor. I had to show you how wonderful you made me feel…"

She pulled her face away from my throat and looked into my eyes. "Return the favor? Oh my God, that is exactly what you told me that night too…I couldn't believe the way your mouth felt on me too. I've dreamed about that night so many times."

"I have too, Baby and I'd love it if you'd let me…do that…tonight." I groaned as she kissed and licked my neck as I felt her nod in agreement. "…and afterwards if you would return the favor?"

"Darn," she smiled mischievously at me. "I was hoping I could do it to you first."

I smirked back at her, "Either way, Baby…"

So...what do you think about Jake and Marie? I figured the whole celibacy thing belonged in here somewhere. ;-) Jake's finally found someone to be with and it's clear they're crazy about each other but what will happen when they can't sleep together? Let me know your thoughts.

What's coming up? Edward and Bella tell their parents and it's not pretty. Review and I'll send you a sneak peek of the next chapter, K?