Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
Christmas Eve morning, Angela and I are in my kitchen baking and talking…well, I'm baking and she's talking. Edward and the kids are out doing some last-minute shopping and then they're picking up Heidi and Aro at the airport.
The month since Thanksgiving has flown by. Edward is mostly settled in his apartment and has been busy getting his office space set up. He eats dinner and hangs out with us most nights, only begging off when work gets in the way. I don't think he realized how much work it would be to staff and furnish the new office, woo new clients and still try to have a personal life. Throw in the fact that it's the holiday season, full of parties and shopping, and it's understandable why Edward's been so tired – and grouchy – the last couple of weeks.
In fact, it's been so bad that I've sent him home to his own bed the last five nights before ten o'clock. Sleep-deprived Edward was grumpy. Now, sex-deprived Edward is mopey. And since Aro and Heidi are spending the next three nights in my bedroom, I'll be sleeping upstairs in the guest room…alone. Please. The informer sleeps next door to the guest room. All I need is for Sophie to tell everyone what she overhears Christmas Eve. It wouldn't be Santa coming…
It was funny when I kicked Edward out into the cold last night, though. He looked so sad and mumbled "happy fucking holidays, Edward" as I helped him bundle up and pushed him out to the porch. He pouted so perfectly that I briefly considered relenting, but then he said he was thinking about getting a dog to keep him warm at night. I shut the door in his face and turned off the porch light after that remark. He called to apologize on his way home – I really wasn't mad; I knew it was the mopey grouch talking. But I let him grovel a bit anyway before I told him all was forgiven.
I'm taking the next two and a half weeks off work, though, and MK and I are going to help get the interior of Edward's new office finished up so he can concentrate on hiring lawyers and office staff. When we suggested our interior design plan to him yesterday, he was so grateful that he kissed both of us on the lips, shocking MK and making me laugh.
"Bella? Bella? Are you even listening to me? Oh, sweet baby Jesus, you're not thinking about sex on this holy day before the holiest night, are you?" Angela asks, smirking at me.
"No," I say adamantly. "I'm thinking about how I'm not having any sex lately."
"And I thought Edward was grouchy about it," she mutters. Ah, the grouch is also apparently vocal about his lack of Lily. We'll be discussing that later.
"I'm not grouchy…I just miss him. We've been so busy lately and when we're not busy, we're both completely wiped out. We've hardly been alone, hardly talked, and when we had sex six nights ago….it was like we both just couldn't wait to be done with it," I admit. I sigh. I guess I am cranky about it.
"Oh, Bells, that's normal. Especially this time of year. And you've both been swamped since he moved here. Things will settle down after New Year's," she opines. Even though I know she's pulling answers out of her ass, I feel unreasonably encouraged by her words.
I lean around the corner of the kitchen island and kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Ang," I say, smiling. I reward her bullshit by finally letting her help cut out the sugar cookie shapes.
She continues talking, rambling about people at the office and cutting out bells and stars. I flatly refuse to let her roll out the dough, though. When I tell her what I got Edward for Christmas, she agrees that he will love it. Then she can't help making her own prediction.
"You're totally getting a ring for Christmas," Ang states. "I mean, you two are perfect for each other. What could he possibly be waiting for?"
"Ang, we have only been back together a little over five months. Two months ago, we almost completely broke up. It's too soon," I say adamantly. "Besides, giving me a ring as a gift isn't his style."
"Oh, yeah. You might be right about that," she concedes, lining up her cut out shapes on the cookie sheet. "Plus, you guys are like surrounded by family this week. When do the Cullens descend?" she asks.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Everyone wanted Christmas morning at their own houses. But Aro and Heidi and my parents will be here with us in the morning. And Edward, of course," I say, smiling and looking down at the dough on the pastry board. I truly am excited for our first Christmas together in so long.
"And Edward, of course," she mocks in a high-pitched voice. Then she pretends to throw up in her mouth.
I laugh and elbow her in the arm. "Shut up. You and Ben are worse. What did you get him for Christmas anyway? We got distracted the other day and never finished that conversation."
"I brought it with me. I haven't wrapped it yet. It's in that bag over on the table," she says, still cutting her shapes intently and placing them on the cookie sheet.
I wash and dry my hands and go to peek in the bag. It's a tiny pillow with a ribbon to hang it up. When I turn the pillow over, the words 'shhh…baby sleeping' are cross-stitched on the front. I gasp and turn my eyes immediately to Angela. She's nodding at me through her tears and I start to cry, too. Then I start to laugh and yell, "I'm going to be an aunt! I'm going to be an aunt!" which makes her start laughing.
I practically bounce over to her and hug her, begging for details. She tells me that she just found out and confirmed with her doctor earlier this week.
"And you had time to cross-stitch a whole damn pillow?" I ask incredulously. She laughs.
"No. My mom made that when Ben and I first got married. I knew she had it and went and got it from her yesterday. Besides her and Dad, you're the only one I've told. I'm dying!" she says. I'm sure that's true. She loves to be the bearer of really good or really bad news.
"Oh, Ang! He's going to be so excited, too. Congratulations!" I say, anxious for everyone to know so we can talk about it.
"I know. I haven't been this excited for Christmas since I was nine," she laughs as we hug again.
We continue baking for the next three hours, our conversation consumed with talk of babies and future Christmases. I'm still giddy when Edward calls to say they're on the way from the airport and will be here in ten minutes.
When he pulls up in front, I go racing outside without a coat to greet Aro and Heidi. I am particularly relieved to see Aro looking so much like his regular, spry self. I hope we don't give him a heart attack on Christmas morning. My kids are loouud.
I squeeze him tightly, barely letting him get out of the car first. "Gramps," I sigh, feeling the tears gather behind my closed eyes and slowly leak out. I'm a total sap for Gramps…and Gram….and Christmas.
"Told ya," I hear Edward tell Michael. "You owe me two bucks."
"Edward Cullen," I say threateningly, "what did you bet my kid about this time?" I try to glare at him over Gramps' shoulder, but I'm having trouble losing the big-ass smile, so I'm guessing I don't look too frightening.
"That you would cry," he answers, not scared of me at all. He smirks at me a bit and starts to pull luggage and shopping bags out of the back of his new SUV…the one he traded his little sporty car in for so he could help haul my children and their friends around from place to place.
"I can't help it. I'm an emotional girl," I defend, letting go of Gramps and moving to Gram.
"I know, baby. That's the way I like you," he says, winking at me as he sends my little pack mules into the house with full hands. "I'm just trying to teach Michael about women. Come on, let's get you inside. You have to be freezing." Putting his arm around my shoulders, he holds his other arm out to steady Heidi as she climbs the porch stairs. I see Heidi gaze at him adoringly and roll my eyes at his seemingly effortless charm.
But I'm still smiling, thinking about the last time I walked up these steps with Aro and Edward. That night last July when I felt the earthquake that MK so accurately predicted. I knew then, that night, that my life would never be the same again. I just didn't know it was going to be this much better. Before I can stop myself, I gaze at him adoringly, too.
Christmas Eve night, my parents have all of us over for dinner. My mom has been watching Food Network again. She serves pork tenderloin and two pastas – one with a spicy vodka sauce and the other with homemade alfredo. She's come a long way from the tater tot casserole of my youth, thank goodness. I would like to send Ina a huge bouquet of flowers in appreciation, but have no idea - short of driving around the Hamptons - how to find her. And that just seems a little too stalkerish.
On the way home, I lean forward from the backseat where I'm sitting with Gram and tell Edward to pull his car into my garage since he's sleeping on the couch tonight. He didn't want to miss seeing the kids get up in the morning. And even though they're getting older, they'll still be up with the roosters when it involves presents.
"No, I'll park out front in the circle drive," he insists.
"Edward, just pull in the garage. It's cold and dark outside," I argue.
"Bella, it's easier for everyone to get out in the front. It will be difficult to get my car in next to yours and let everyone out," he says, rather testily by my estimation. That's a complete crock of shit, too. My garage has three car stalls and is easily big enough for both our cars.
"Why are you being so difficult?" I ask through gritted teeth, trying to say it quietly so the kids don't hear in the back. Gramps, who's sitting up front with Edward, is already laughing.
"Why are you being so difficult? Why can't I park where I want to freaking park?" he asks quietly, raising his eyes to the rearview mirror to look at me. I arch one eyebrow at him.
"Fine," I reply in the tone that every man on the planet should recognize as meaning it is definitely not fine.
"Fine," he reciprocates, moving his eyes back to the road in front of us and exhaling loudly. I lean back and exhale loudly, too, hoping he heard the implied expletive that I didn't utter.
By the time I get the kids settled and tucked in, Heidi and Aro have gone to bed. I wash my face and put my holiday pajamas on before going back downstairs to get everything ready for the morning. As I pass by the living room, I see that Edward is sitting in the room alone, slumped down in the big leather chair, holding a glass of red wine. The only lights in the room are from the Christmas tree lights and from the flames flickering in the fireplace, which Edward is staring into.
I stop and lean against the wide doorway, content to look at him, study him for a moment. I still can't believe that all of this has happened. And even though the last couple of weeks have been bumpy, I know it's just because we're adjusting to the changes. I love him more than ever and I know he feels the same.
Unashamed, I let my eyes rove over his body, admiring his long, lean legs, his flat torso, his broad shoulders. As usual when I let myself look at Edward for more than ten seconds, I quickly become aroused. My eyes are still moving back and forth from his waist to his ankles when I hear him softly clear his throat.
"See something you like, beautiful?" he asks so quietly it's almost a whisper. My eyes flash to his, expecting to see the playful smirk. I'm surprised when I see his eyes are dark, his face serious. He reaches a hand out toward me and I walk across the room without hesitation to take it, letting him pull me onto him to straddle his lap. He keeps our hands intertwined, resting them on his chest, and raises his other hand to offer me the wineglass. I take it and drink slowly, letting him watch as I sip and swallow three times before handing the glass back.
"God, Bella, even in your reindeer pajamas you're the sexiest fucking woman I've ever seen," he says lowly. "Come here." He lets go of my hand and slides his around the back of my neck, pulling me to his mouth. I moan quietly as my lips meet his, feeling the familiar magnetic pull – the force that keeps me invisibly tethered to him. He holds my mouth to his as he works his lips against mine then finally slides his tongue into my mouth. We kiss passionately, but not hurriedly, both of us reveling in the first real kiss we've shared in days. After a few moments, I get restless, raising up slightly onto my knees and burying both hands in his hair, trying to increase the pace of the kiss.
"Baby," he murmurs against my lips, sliding his hand down from my neck to cup my breast, rubbing my hardened nipple with his thumb as I whimper. I know I should stop him – we have nowhere to go tonight and we definitely can't have sex right here with my kids upstairs and Aro and Heidi literally in the next room.
"Edward, I wish we could…," I say, pulling my lips away from his and looking down at him. I exhale loudly and sit back down on his thighs, making sure to move my tingly parts away from his noticeably erect part.
"I have a surprise for you. I want to give you your Christmas present now," he says, smiling up at me. He takes another drink of the wine and hands me the glass to finish.
"You don't want to wait for the kids?" I ask, secretly thrilled that I'm getting a present early. I kept telling him not to get me anything, but I knew he wouldn't abide by that. Normally I don't like getting gifts, but he's great at getting me things I didn't even know I wanted.
He chuckles darkly. "Definitely not," he answers. "Come on, Vixen, hop up and let me show you."
"My pajamas are Rudolph, not Vixen," I argue, pushing myself backwards off his legs to stand in front of him. He shakes his head and looks at me incredulously.
"Even on Christmas? You're picky with the nicknames even on Christmas?" he asks, sounding irritated, but looking amused…sort of.
"Not picky, just accurate," I retort as he stands and pulls the front of my pajama top, forcing me to stumble into his chest.
"Okay, but Rudolph was a boy and for what I want to do with you, I need Lily," he says, leaning down to whisper in my ear. Damn it. He knows what that does to me.
I put a hand on his chest and step backwards, out of sneaky, sexy whisper range. "Okay, SG, enough with the distractions. Bring on the present!"
"Greedy little Vixen," he laughs.
"Don't call me Vixen," I say threateningly.
"All right, all right. Close your eyes and let me take you to your present," he says. I take his hand and wrap my other arm around his while I close my eyes tightly. I quickly realize we're heading to the garage.
"Oh! This is why you wouldn't park in here tonight," I deduce.
"Wow, you catch on quick," he deadpans. "You almost ruined the surprise by being so fucking stubborn." I feel his lips against my temple and the warm burst of air when he chuckles into my hair.
"Hey!" I say laughingly as I pinch his arm. "I was trying to be nice."
We reach the door into the garage and he opens it and lifts me down the two steps to the garage floor.
"Okay, open your eyes. Merry Christmas, Bella," he says softly.
Slowly, I let my eyes creep open and look up. Several strands of little white Christmas lights are hung from the ceiling, bathing the grungy garage in a dim, romantic glow. I keep my eyes trained on the ceiling and gasp quietly. "It's so pretty," I say.
"Baby, the lights aren't your present," he says. "Look down."
I gasp loudly this time and cannot stop the sobs that immediately overtake me. There, bathed in the glow of the twinkle lights is my old truck. The truck my dad bought for me when I moved to Forks. The truck that Edward hated, but I loved. And since I loved it so much, he eventually came to love it, too. The truck he pressed me up against the first time he kissed me all those years ago. The truck that died a slow and painful death my third year of college. My dad had it towed back to Forks and I never saw it again.
"Where? How? You – you – when?" I stammer.
"I found out from Jake that it's been sitting for thirteen years in his dad's shed. Your dad and Billy helped me find someone to restore it – well, not really restore it. I didn't think you'd want it perfect – I thought you'd want it the way it was. So, the engine's fixed and it has fresh paint, but it's not shiny and new-looking. It looks pretty fucking similar to the way it did when I last saw it."
I throw my arms around his neck, still crying, and hug him tightly. "Edward, I love it. I love it. I love you," I say, kissing all along his neck.
"I love you, too. I'm so glad you like it," he says, breathing in my hair, his arms holding me close. "It's not…I'm not trying to relive the past. But I thought a nod to where we came from was appropriate, especially now as we move forward."
I nod against his shoulder, then pull away. "Come on! I want to see it up close!" I grab his hand and drag him across the garage floor so I can look in the windows. "It's the same. It's exactly the same." The interior is clean, and still original except for the radio that Emmett installed for me for my 18th birthday. The external rust spots are gone and I can tell the paint is fresh, but it's the same dusty, dull red it was before. It couldn't be more perfect.
Edward moves to stand behind me, wrapping both arms around my waist. He nuzzles my neck, pushing my hair aside with his nose before kissing and sucking lightly on the spot right below my ear. He knows exactly what he's doing…and when I see what's in the bed of the truck, I thank my lucky stars once again for this man.
"Edward Cullen, did you bring me to the garage to seduce me?" I ask, pretending to be offended.
"Absolutely," he answers, chuckling. "I love you. I want you. I want to celebrate this holiday with you."
"Do you think it will be any more comfortable than when we used to lie in the bed of this truck?" I ask, sliding my hands along his arms.
He laughs against my neck before he answers. "I doubt it. But beggars can't be choosers and, baby, I'm begging."
I turn in his arms to kiss him and he slowly starts backing toward the tailgate of the truck. When we get back there, he lifts me up and then crawls in right after me and we scoot up to get comfy on the pillows and blankets spread in the bed of the truck. He lies back and pulls me to him, kissing me sweetly, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.
"Hang on," he says, leaning up slightly to grab an extra comforter and throw it over us. "I don't want you to get cold. I didn't think about the garage being so chilly."
"SG, I think you'll be able to warm me up," I sigh, snuggling down under the comforter and pulling him underneath with me so that we're cocooned inside.
Eagerly, we kiss and pull at each other's clothes. It's just like it was last summer when we couldn't wait to be together after spending several days apart. As soon as I get his pants pushed down, he's inside of me, both of us groaning.
"I missed you," I whisper, wrapping my legs around him and framing his face with my hands.
"God, Bella. I love you," he whispers back as he slowly begins to thrust.
"I love you, too, but if you don't go faster, I'm going to go insane," I say, smiling at him and pulling his face down to bite gently at his lips. He chuckles lightly as he speeds up, but soon both of us are panting.
"Edward…..oh God….please," I gasp, sighing when he moves one hand in between us to help me. He rubs in tight circles until I come, arching against him, my fingernails digging into his shoulders.
"Fuck….sweetheart…..yes," he rasps, thrusting even faster until I feel him release inside me and then collapse on top of me. I fold the comforter back from around our heads to breathe some cooler air - then scratch my nails lightly up and down his back as we catch our breath, delighting in the grunts of approval he exhales into my neck. After a couple of minutes, he moves to my side, pulling me up tightly against him.
"Well, that part was very teenage-like," he comments wryly. "All hormones, not much foreplay, very little actual play."
I giggle against his shoulder. "No complaints here, SG." I snuggle a little closer and tangle our legs together. He reaches a hand down and intertwines it with the hand I have resting on his chest. He holds our hands up, studying them, extending our fingers and then sliding them back together over and over.
"What?" I ask, amused by the gesture.
"Nothing. I just like the way our hands fit together," he replies, smiling down at me. I 'hmm' to let him know I heard him and turn my attention to our hands, trying to see what he sees. Nope, I don't see it. I mean, his hands are really nice looking, but mine are just average. I try not to place too much importance on the fact that he's stroking my left ring finger with his right pinky – I think he's doing it absentmindedly. Diversion time.
"I really do love my present, Edward," I say, placing small kisses against his shoulder. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, baby. I guess we should go back inside, huh?" he asks, pulling our joined hands to his mouth to kiss my knuckles.
"Yeah…but I think we should leave the pillows and blankets out here. We may need somewhere to escape to tomorrow night, too," I say, laughing with him when he chuckles against my hair.
We get redressed, stopping to help each other…kiss each other. Then we stow all the blankets and pillows in the back of my Land Rover, grinning at each other like idiots.
"Can we take it for a drive tomorrow?" I ask, looking longingly at my old truck again.
"Absolutely, Bella," he says, kissing me once more before taking my hand and leading me back inside.
Once inside, we stuff stockings for the kids, my parents, and Aro and Heidi. Edward is so cute, so excited to play Santa, smiling widely the whole time. We take turns looking away while we fill each other's stockings, but I feel his eyes on me and know he's peeking. I whip around several times trying to catch him, but he's faster than me, even though I can tell by his grin that I almost catch him each time. It's such a magical way to end the night that I can't bear the thought of going up to the guest room to sleep alone. I end up snuggling up on the couch with Edward, knowing that neither of us will sleep very well in the cramped space, but for once, not caring if we're sleep deprived.
"Mom! Edward! Time to get up," Chase calls as he barrels into the room.
"We're up," Edward says, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looks down and smiles at me. "Merry Christmas, baby."
I sit up and wrap my arms around his neck then kiss him gently. "Merry Christmas."
The next thrity minutes are a flurry of activity as the other kids and Gramps and Gram get up. Then my parents arrive – finally, according to Chase, so the caffeine consumption and present-opening can commence. Months of preparation, hours of wrapping are gone in two minutes. The kids eagerly show Edward what they've opened and extract promises from him to help try out the new video games.
When most of the presents are opened, everyone goes out to look at my truck. My dad is misty-eyed as he stands looking at it. I walk toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist and reaching up to kiss his cheek.
"It's as perfect a gift the second time as it was the first," I say, quietly enough that only he can hear me. "I'm so lucky to have it given to me twice – by the two men I love and admire most in the world." A tear escapes down his cheek, followed by one down mine.
"Thanks, Bells. Brings back a lot of memories – for both of us, I'm sure. I have to say, as a father, it makes me so happy to see Edward being so good to you. Not that you need it, but you have my blessing - and your mom's - when it's time," he replies, wrapping me in his arms and kissing the top of my head as I rest it contentedly against his chest. Unable to speak around the lump in my throat, I squeeze him extra tightly.
"Hey, you two, no crying on Christmas," my mom chirps, coming to us and putting an arm around each of us. "Come on, let's start breakfast. And, Bella, I don't think Edward's opened your gift yet."
She's right. Charlie and I pull ourselves together and go back inside.
"You get the last present of the morning," I tell Edward, handing him the box. He blushes at being the center of attention and I step backwards and turn the video camera toward him. He opens the box carefully, then his eyes light up when he realizes what he's opened.
"Baby? No you didn't!" he exclaims.
"Yes, I did," I answer, sniffling right in the microphone of the camera.
"No, you didn't," he says, still disbelievingly.
"Yes, I did." Most of us are laughing now - Edward's is the best reaction of the entire morning.
He comes over to where I'm standing, with the video camera. "No, you didn't – you didn't get me the Dodgers dream day."
"Yes, I did."
"How'd you get this?" he asks, his face lit up with excitement. "We left the auction early, before the bidding closed."
"We did, but Emma didn't. I asked her to make sure she got it," I answer, pulling the camera away from us and reaching up to kiss his lips quickly. "Merry Christmas, Cullen."
"I love you, Swan. Merry Christmas," he replies quietly. "Would you like me to remind you why you wanted to leave that auction early?"
"No, still recording here," I chuckle, hooking an arm around his neck when he leans down to me.
"I know, but you're already going to edit the last ten seconds out. I might as well remind you that we went to the beach to have s-," he starts, but I yank him to me and stop him from saying anymore by kissing him. Thank goodness everyone else has lost interest in us and has migrated into the kitchen to start eating breakfast.
Pulling away from him after a minute, I reply, "I remember, SG. I remember."
As spring break nears, Edward and I decide to take the kids to LA for a few days. We both have meetings there during spring break week, and figure we can spend the rest of the time exploring the things we didn't get to see last summer. I'm hoping to get a little relaxation in, too. Between school and sports, it seems like all we've done is run kids around for the last three months. Edward has adapted pretty well to being here full-time and we have learned to navigate this new phase of our relationship pretty well. Angela, who reminded me that she is a mother fucking genius, was right: Things calmed down quite a bit after New Year's. I reminded her that now that she's with child, she's got to tone down the fucking curse words.
Once Edward's office was completely set up, his stress level decreased dramatically and we fell into a routine that makes me pretty happy. He's at my house almost every night, usually sneaking out in the wee hours before dawn. We make time to talk by riding into the city together two days a week and eating lunch together at least once a week. We also go out alone one night a week. Not too shabby for Bella.
Before we can take off for our LA vacay, though, we have to go to Forks for the weekend. It's Carlisle's 60th birthday and Esme plans a party which she repeatedly refers to as a "command performance"…meaning we all have to get our asses to Forks by 5 o'clock on the Friday when spring break begins or else. She keeps saying she's joking, but she's totally not joking. We all know it and plan accordingly.
Edward and I decide to leave early and stay for the whole birthday weekend, wanting to show the kids around our old stomping grounds a little. I can't describe how thrilled the kids were to hear that. We leave Friday morning, letting the kids skip school the last day before the break. That is the only part of this plan they like. We get to Forks in time to eat lunch at the diner, then show them Charlie's old house, the police station, the high school, and some of our old hangouts. Chase is the only one remotely interested. Consequently, Edward and I take extra care to point out every little uninteresting thing to Sophie and Michael, yukking it up in the front seat at the repeated lengthy sighs and unhappy mutterings coming from the back.
When we finally get to Carlisle and Esme's at four o'clock, Esme gives us a printed card with a list of the weekend's events. Friday night, all of us – kids included – are hosting the big party at the house for Carlisle's friends and colleagues.
Saturday morning is free time, which Alice has already informed me means girl time in Port Angeles. Saturday afternoon is a family bowling party – all of us are expected there, too. Saturday night is Carlisle's actual birthday and will be celebrated with an adults' night out while all the kids stay with a couple of sitters at Alice and Jasper's house.
Sunday morning is a family brunch at Esme and Carlisle's before we all head back home. Esme has complained before about not getting a big, fun wedding weekend since she and Carlisle got married while he was in medical school and he barely had enough spare time to show up for the vows. I think she's making up for it now.
As Edward and I carry all the bags inside, he starts whining about the sleeping arrangements. It's going to be crowded tonight since all of us are staying here, so Sophie is sharing a room with me, meaning Edward can't sneak to my room after bedtime.
"Why won't you come to my room?" he asks petulantly.
"If Sophie wakes up, she'll be scared. We've never stayed here before. Baby, I think you can make it one night. You didn't even leave my house until four o'clock this morning. You should be tired," I say, smiling at him as he drops my bag and Sophie's in the guest room where we're sleeping. I lay the hanging bag on the bed and crook my finger at him.
"I'm not tired," he complains, walking into my arms and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Sweetie, you'll make it one night. And, you know, I wouldn't be opposed to sneaking off with you during the party for a little make out time. The last time I came to a party in this house, we snuck out back – remember?" I ask.
"It was Alice's and my 18th birthday party. Of course I remember," he smiles, leaning down to kiss me. "I remember that we snuck off to the bathroom once, then to the laundry room once, then outside where I finally got my hands down your pants."
"You mean up my skirt, hotshot," I say, smiling against his lips.
"Up your skirt and then down your pants," he retorts. "I'm starting to think tonight might be a good night after all. What are you wearing?" He bends down to kiss me again, sliding his hands down to cup my ass.
"Oh, God, Mom…Edward. Gross. Enough already," Sophie says disgustedly, walking into the room. Luckily, Edward's back was to her so she could tell we were kissing, but not that he was palming my behind. We pull apart reluctantly, exchanging two more quick pecks before he picks up the rest of the luggage and heads down the hall to his room.
I leave Sophie unpacking and go to find Esme to see what I can help with. Within just a few minutes, she has Alice and me helping Emmett string lights across the patio. She sends Jasper and Edward to buy a truckload of ice - okay, maybe not an actual truckload, but it's a lot of freaking ice. She's even got the kids working, setting up chairs before asking them to make sure that the video game system she bought for them to play in the basement is hooked up correctly.
Once the caterers arrive to start cooking and finish setting up, we are all excused to get ready for the party. I shower and get dressed, putting on the MK approved long-sleeved black dress and knee-high black riding boots. Edward knocks lightly on the doorjamb before stepping through the open door.
"Holy shit, baby. You look incredible," he says.
"Well, thank you, SG. We aim to please," I laugh.
"You never disappoint, Bella. Let's lock the door and stay here all night," he says, smiling crookedly at me as he crosses the room to kiss me.
"No can do, big shot. You're hosting this shindig with your mother and siblings. They'd come looking for us. And you know Alice always did seem to have a sixth sense where we were concerned. She always knew what we were up to," I laugh.
"All right, then let's go," he grumbles with a smirk, taking my hand. My kids are already in the basement with the Cullen and Whitlock kids.
We get downstairs a few minutes before the guests are due to start arriving. Carlisle and Esme both look ecstatic to have us all here. They both pull at me several times to introduce me to guests. I spend quite a bit of time talking to people who knew my dad when he was police chief, too. I have quite a mental list going of people who want me to be sure and tell Charlie hello.
During the party, Edward really does manage to get me outside once and in the upstairs bathroom once to make out. We don't have time to do anything more, though. Esme has the boys on bartending duty and Emmett will come looking for us if we're gone more than a couple of minutes. That doesn't stop Edward from trying, though. He repeatedly attempts to push my skirt up to my waist, but I repeatedly bat his hands away.
"There's not time and you are not going to get me all hot and bothered and then go out there to pour more drinks for your mother's cougar friends," I say against his lips. He tries once more with the skirt and finally succeeds.
"Baby, I can be quick," he murmurs against my lips, rubbing his fingers against the outside of my panties.
"God, Edward, stop please," I beg, hanging onto his neck.
"Honey bunny, let me touch you," he breathes into my ear. I push against his chest and he backs up to look at me. "No honey bunny?" I shake my head. "Sweet pea? Snookems?" he asks, laughing.
I'm laughing, too, but I push my skirt back down, the mood broken. "No, I don't like any of those. Come on, we've got to get back. You know Emmett will tell everyone we're sneaking off together if he figures it out."
"Bella, why don't you just tell me a nickname I can call you?" Edward asks tiredly.
"I don't know one. I think I'll just know the right one when I hear it," I say, reaching up to kiss him one more time before I open the bathroom door and check the hallway. It's clear, so we exit and head back down to the party. I'm not kidding about Esme's friends. She has three friends who are divorced and tipsy and doing everything except rubbing their chests against Edward. Oh, hell. I take it back. One of them actually is rubbing her chest against Edward.
Before I can get over there, though, Alice comes to his rescue, expertly steering the leech away. The party breaks up about midnight and I get my kids put to bed before heading to the kitchen to help with clean up. The caterers have cleaned the kitchen pretty well, but Edward asks me to come to the garage to put the leftover beer into the extra refrigerator.
As expected, I end up pinned against the refrigerator door with one of my legs wrapped around Edward's hip as he plunges two fingers in and out of me, quickly making me come, capturing my cries with his mouth. As he kisses me lazily afterward, I murmur that it's not fair to him - he didn't get anything.
"It's enough, baby. Just watching you is enough…for tonight," he smirks.
"Ugh, I knew you two would be out here making out," Alice calls from the doorway, turning on the lights in the garage. Edward and I spring apart like guilty teenagers. I know I'm blushing, grateful she wasn't a couple of minutes earlier. "Wait until I tell Emmett," she trills as she shuts the door, laughing.
"Go on to bed, Bella. I'll finish this and then go to bed…alone," he says, finishing with the same lengthy sigh he heard so many times from my kids earlier today. I give him a quick kiss, moaning as he rubs his hands across my ass, and then go up to bed with a smile.
After spending Saturday morning with all the girls in Port Angeles, we return to Forks just in time to go bowling. According to Esme, this was the only thing Carlisle asked for during this whole weekend. I am a little surprised - I never took Carlisle for a bowler, but it's his birthday, so what he wants, he gets. As we all start piling into cars to head into town, Carlisle asks my kids if they want to ride with him and Esme. I look quizzically at Edward, but he purses his lips to the side and shrugs. He pats his front pockets, clearly looking for something.
"I'll be right back. I think I left my phone inside," Edward says to me, then calls to the others to go ahead, we'll be right behind them. I see Alice look from him to me with a strange look on her face, but she gets in her car and waves to me as they drive away. I wait impatiently for Edward, leaning against the side of his car for almost five minutes before he reappears. As we finally drive toward Forks, toward the bowling alley, I realize we're close to the meadow.
"Edward," I begin, reaching across the console for his hand. I lace our fingers together as I look out my window at the trees that guard our meadow. I look over at him, wondering if we have time for a quick look.
"You want to stop for a minute?" he asks, glancing at me.
"Can we?" I ask, smiling over at him. It's been relatively dry here this week, so it shouldn't be too muddy and the day is unseasonably warm for the end of March. Since we're both wearing sweatshirts, I know we won't be too cold.
"Sure, baby. We're already late enough that they'll all assume we were shagging somewhere anyway," he laughs. He turns onto the side road and drives all the way up the deadend lane, parking at the end. Silently, we get out of the car and start walking down the wider part of the path holding hands.
"Do you remember the very first time we came here?" he asks, looking down at me.
"Yeah. I can't remember why we were out here, though. Can you?"
"We were looking for somewhere to be alone. Remember how Alice would follow us almost everywhere we went before she and Jasper started dating?" he laughs.
"Right. I had forgotten that. Somewhere to be alone, hmm? What were you hoping to do with me out here all alone in the woods, Cullen?" I laugh.
"Exactly what we eventually did out here in the woods, Swan," he answers, laughing, too.
"The first time you said you loved me was on this path. Remember?" I ask.
"Yep. You were pissed at me about something, right?"
"Uh huh. We were fighting about that little skanky freshman girl that used to follow you around….what the hell was her name? I can't remember. But I remember you were way too nice to her. She used to bring you cookies all the time, too," I laugh.
"Her name was Emily. And she was a nice girl," he says defensively.
"Whatever. I don't want to fight about her again. You have your opinion, which is clearly wrong, and I have mine," I say, stopping in the path and wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him down for a kiss.
He laughs against my lips as he kisses me, then moves his mouth down my neck. "Better watch it, Miss Know-it-all. I'll give you a big hickey right where everyone can see it."
"God, if you keep kissing me like that, I won't even care," I half groan, pulling on his hair until he moves his lips back to mine. "But I don't like that nickname, for sure."
"You're too picky. I'll never come up with one that passes your elusive nickname test," he says, moving one hand down to my ass before turning me back toward the path. It narrows here so I'll have to walk in front of him for a few feet.
"I have faith in you, SG. You'll come up with the right one someday. And I know you're only making me go first so you can stare at my ass," I call back to him, laughing and raising my sweatshirt to shake it a little for him. I hear him laugh behind me.
"Wait….I think I've come up with the perfect nickname for you," he says from behind me.
"Okay, try it out, hotshot," I call back to him, not turning around.
"Bella Cullen."
A/N: So...long time, no chapter, eh? Writing time has been completely consumed by R/L lately, but things seem to be settling back down now.
As always, thanks for reading and please take a sec to review!
