*Bella's POV*
I thought I was dreaming at first. I was still in my room at the ski resort and Edward snuck into my room to lie down next to me. It was until I rolled over onto my stomach and found him lying next to me that I believed it, and even after that it took me a few moments to come to completely. "Hey there," he said quietly as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"Hey," I said as I sat up. He was silent as he pulled me against his chest and pulled the blankets over us.
It wasn't a tense silence, but it lasted longer than I could handle, so I finally gave in and broke it. "I didn't sleep with him Edward," I said finally. "I didn't I swear I didn't, I don't want you to think any less of me, because I love you. And I'm sorry I'm not ready to be with you right…." I started.
But Edward silenced me with a finger to my lips. "Isabella," he said softly. "I love you, and I told you that I was willing to wait for you. I will wait until tomorrow, or I will wait until Emmett and Rosalie's wedding. I will wait until we finish our undergrad, or I will wait until we graduate Medical School. I love you, with everything that I am. There are only two things that I want out of life, and I believe we both have the same desires as far as that is concerned. First and foremost I want to make you my wife and build a happy life with you and our family. And second I want to become a Doctor, but only if it means that I will have you at my side."
"But you, why didn't you wait for me," I asked. "When I got to the bottom of the mountain you were gone."
"I couldn't face you like that Bella. I let him win; I let him get the best of me. I could take everything he was dishing out, until he started insulting you. That is something I will never stand for again, it's something that I never should have allowed to happen to begin with," said Edward. "I know you better than you think I do Bella. I know that you would never do something like that. You aren't spiteful or revengeful and you certainly don't sleep around. You care too much about yourself to stoop to that level. Especially after what you have been through in the past few weeks, it's just not you. I don't want you to ever think that I doubt you. I know that you would never lie to me, and I trust you. I was angry at David, and I didn't want you to see me that way. I didn't want you to see me with that look on my face. I knew that Emmett and Jasper would take care of anything else David had to say or do, and I knew that Rosalie and Alice would be there for you while I calmed down. I never want to disappoint you again, that is why I left, love. I never once believed what David said. I was just too angry with him and with myself to face you."
"I didn't know what to think when you left," I said looking at my hands.
"Never doubt that I love you, and that I trust you and that I only want the best for you and that means your happiness. And if there is ever a time where your happiness doesn't include me as either your boyfriend or your best friend, then I will be forced to accept that. But I can only hope that day never comes," he said softly. "I love you, and I am willing to do whatever needs to be done to make you mine."
*~*~*
I was hesitant to go to dinner tonight. I knew that I would have to face Victoria and David and that dinner was more than likely going to be a very tense affair. I was nervous to the point where I thought I was going to be sick. But the feeling went away when Edward walked into our suite. I was suddenly calm and confident and I had never felt more loved than I did when his green eyes were looking at me longingly from across the room. Dinner tonight was a Black tie affair, and Edward was perfect in his tuxedo. I've never appreciated my best friend more than I did tonight when I looked in the mirror for the last time before the boys arrived. Alice had dressed me in a strapless navy blue gown, it was simple and it was perfect.
"You look amazing," said Edward kissing my forehead, before offering me his arm.
"Thank you. You look pretty good yourself," I said wrapping my arm around his.
When we got down to the ball room our parents were already there. Everything was decorated in green and red and there were Christmas trees and Poinsettias everywhere. "We had better stay away from that," said Edward as we made our way over to our table. "What?" I asked. "That," he said pointing to the mistletoe that hung over the main entrance of the ball room, and in nearly every door way of the main floor. "I don't know, you might just get lucky Mr. Cullen," I said with a smirk.
"Oh Bella, you look so beautiful," said Esme. I broke away from Edward only to be wrapped into a hug by his mother. "Are you feeling better?" she asked. I nodded and hugged her again, "Thank you Esme." "Of course Bella," she said as her husband appeared at her side. "Bella, it's so wonderful to see you in better spirits this evening," said Carlisle. "Thank you Carlisle," I said hugging my second father. "I hope you will save me a dance?" he asked. I could only laugh, "You should know better than that Carlisle," I said shaking my head.
The Andersons appeared at dinner as a united front. There was a silent tension between Dr. and Mrs. Anderson and their children, as well as our parents. Dinner was very quiet, and I wasn't disappointed when dessert was served. "Chocolate cake Bella," asked Edward. I didn't answer I simply looked at him, "Okay, sorry I shouldn't have asked," he said laughing and placing our order for two pieces of chocolate cake. The waiters came around and refilled the wine glasses and as soon as he left Dr. Anderson stood and raised his glass.
"We came here to spend a wonderful holiday with old friends. And I am afraid that our children have caused quiet a stir, which has horribly embarrassed both me and my wife. My children have acted out in a way that would make anyone think they have been raised with no class. For that I apologize. I must apologize to you specifically Bella for all of the pain that my daughter and son have caused you since you have been here. After speaking to your parents and the Cullen's I am even more ashamed than I was to begin with, now that I have heard what you have been through recently. I know that you have the strength that you need to pull through and move past such a horrible pain, and I know that Edward is a good man and that he will help you. I wish you both the very best of luck with the rest of your undergraduate degrees and in Medical school. You will both make fine Doctors. The rest of you should be very proud of yourselves as well, I thank you for being there for Bella and Edward when my children were being so awful to them both, and I fully expect you to help Bella through the next couple of months, so that she and Edward can be happy together again. I have no doubts that you will," he said. "So I make a toast, to the Cullen's and the Swan's and their families for sharing with us, the kindness in their hearts," said Dr. Anderson raising his glass once more before taking a sip.
To say I was shocked by Dr. Andersons little speech was an understatement. Half way through I felt Edward take my hand under the table and lace my fingers with his. I snuck a look at David and he had his head hung, and was concentrating on something in his lap. At least he was pretending to be embarrassed; Victoria was holding her head high like her father wasn't talking about how badly she had acted over the past few days.
After dessert Edward and I started making our way around the ball room looking at the decorations and steering clear of the dance floor. We were standing in front of the largest Christmas tree which had been decorated with ornaments from all over the world. "You know this isn't over right?" asked a voice from behind where I was standing with Edward. Both Edward and I turned to look and found Victoria and Janie standing behind us.
I opened my mouth to respond but I was cut off by Janie, and what she said left me shocked. "Victoria, what is it going to take for you to realize that he doesn't want you?" she spat.
"Excuse me?" asked Victoria turning towards her friend.
"Look at him; he is so obviously taken with her. Nothing you have done has changed that, and I can pretty much guarantee that nothing that you can do will change that," said Janie. "They are so in love, and rather than just be happy for them and look for someone to love yourself you are so set on breaking them up. It's not going to work."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" asked Victoria.
"I used to be your best friend, but after the way you've acted this weekend, I'm beginning to think I should rethink our friendship. I don't want to be friends with someone who would destroy the happiness of someone as nice as Bella and Edward just to get what she wants. What in the world makes you think that even if you had been successful in breaking up Edward and Bella, someone as nice as him would want to be with someone as vindictive as you?" asked Janie. "I'm so sorry Bella, Edward. Please forgive me for not speaking up sooner," she said before leaving the ball room.
Victoria looked at us for a few seconds with her jaw hung open before turning on her heel and following Janie out of the ball room.
I turned to Edward to comment but Dr. and Mrs. Anderson were standing behind Edward. "You really didn't have to do that Dr. Anderson," I said softly.
"Of course I did, my children have treated you horribly and someone needed to apologize. I hope that my children have taken my advice and done the same," he said.
"Well I certainly appreciate it, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas," I said before they walked away.
The night passed quickly from then on. Dancing with Edward, and Carlisle and Emmett and Jasper, passing partners all night long was a lot of fun. Rosalie took pictures and my mother and father watched from the table. It was nearly midnight when I found myself leaning against Edward, dead on my feet. "Are you ready to go up?" asked Edward. "Yes please," I answered through my yawn. We made our way over to the table where our parents still sat and said goodnight, before making our way towards the elevator.
I stopped Edward before making it to the main doorway and looked up at him. "You don't have to you know," he said softly. "I know I don't have too, but I want to," I said as we took the final steps placing us under the mistletoe. "I love you," he whispered softly before kissing me.
