Maybe it's much too early in the game, but I thought I'd ask you just the same. What are you doing New Years... New Year's Eve?

Sorry I'm listening to my Harry Connick Jr. Christmas CD. It puts me in the mood. I'm shocked so many of you thought it was mean of Charlie to joke about offering them the house. I'm trying to keep this realistic, and let me tell you... I don't know any father of an 18 year old girl who would offer his daughter his house to live in with her boyfriend, and definately not my Charlie. Don't worry, Bella won't be homeless.

I don't own Twilight. I do own two Harry Connick Jr. Christmas CD's though.

~*36*~

New Years in Forks has been a low-key event for Bella in the past, but this year is different. She has a loving boyfriend, his wonderful son, and her father and soon-to-be stepmother to celebrate with. Leah went back to Oregon the day before, but promised to make it back in late January to help Sue look for wedding dresses. Seth, on the other hand, hasn't been seen since the 26th when Edward and Bella hooked him up with Chelsea.

Well, he's been seen technically. Sue saw him twice and she's called him to make sure he's fine, but otherwise he's been enjoying getting to know Chelsea.

Though Edward and Bella had agreed to basically double-date with Seth & Chelsea, Seth insisted it wasn't necessary. As it turns out, he actually remembered Chelsea from his past playing against her high school's baseball team and they really hit it off. Of course, they weren't talking about the fact that he had to go back to Florida on the 2nd. They were living in the moment, and apparently enjoying it thoroughly.

The Town of Forks hosts fireworks in a park near the center of town, but the weather is far too chilly tonight to consider going. Instead, Bella has Edward and Jack over for dinner with Charlie and Sue, and Charlie has agreed to let Bella sleep over at the Cullen's again, because Sue and Bella have both convinced him that she is responsible and smart. Charlie may have also informed Edward that if Bella comes home at any point during her college career expecting a child, he will shoot him. Edward believes him.

While Charlie and Edward school Jack on the finer points of college football, Sue and Bella work diligently in the kitchen to prepare dinner. It's just a roast and all the fixings, but Charlie continues to insist on family time together because when school starts up again in January, he knows everyone will be busy once again, so here they all are.

Dinner goes smoothly, with the exception of Jack throwing his mashed potatoes onto the floor. Charlie grumbles about getting a dog to clean up the mess, but we can see by the smirk on his face that he doesn't really mind the mess. In fact, Charlie has never looked happier than when Jack falls asleep in his arms two hours later while they are watching a bowl game together.

~*TLA*~

The roads are slick, so when they finally get to the Cullen's, Bella calls Charlie to let him know they arrived safely. Bella drops a bag in the Cullen's guest room, though she and Edward both know it's just for show. She respects Esme & Carlisle enough not to be obvious about her physical relationship with Edward. However, she also feels a bit of remorse for decieving them. Bella has moved a few small things into Edward's room, like a change of clothes and a toothbrush, for nights just like tonight. Sue has convinced Charlie to trust Bella implicitly because he has had no cause in the past to worry about her, and Edward and Bella are doing the best they can to maintain that trust, for the most part.

Charlie would probably chase Edward with his shotgun if he knew half of the thoughts rolling through Edward's mind about Bella.

With Jack tucked into his crib, Bella and Edward don't even bother to pretend that they don't want time alone. They head straight for his bedroom, lock the door and make sure the baby monitor is turned on. It takes about one minute before they are both naked and tumbling onto his bed.

"As much as I love the holidays and spending hours on end with our families," Edward states as he kisses Bella's neck and grabs her waist, rolling her onto her back. "I much prefer being alone with you." Without an ounce of hesitation from either of them, Edward spreads her legs wide and begins to kiss his way along her inner thighs, while two fingers from one hand dance between her already wet lips.

"I missed this," Bella groans as she feels Edward kiss just above her pubic bone as he slips a finger inside her with ease. When they began making love at the beginning of the month, Edward never expected Bella to be so… eager. He anticipated some hesitance and to want to wait a lot longer for their first time, but it's like now that she has had a taste, she can't get enough.

Bella's fingers thread through his hair as Edward begins to lap at her, his tongue discovering every tempting inch of her pussy as she struggles not to buck off the bed at the sensations he's causing within her. Bella tries to silence her groans, but she can't help herself when she finally comes undone and she is completely mortified when they hear Jack's cries through the baby monitor.

"Don't move," Edward advises as Bella watches while Edward slips some track pants on and slips out of the room. Bella feels horrible and climbs under the covers of the bed, worried that their evening might be ruined.

Thankfully, Edward returns less than five minutes later, a smile huge on his face. "He's back to bed, finally."

"I feel so bad," Bella admits as Edward pulls down the comforter and excitedly climbs in beside his girlfriend. Clearly, the little interruption has done nothing to diminish his arousal, and Edward immediately begins kissing along Bella's chest while she does a horrible job of pushing him away.

"Don't worry about it," Edward admonishes as he silences Bella with a kiss and reaches into the bedside drawer for a condom. "Jack is sound asleep. Please don't worry about it, alright? There will be interruptions for the rest of our life, it's just how it goes."

"I love how you said 'our life'," Bella chimes in as she grabs Edward's face and kisses him, just as he lines himself up with her. Edward presses his forehead against hers and pushes forward, surrounding himself in her warmth and connecting himself to her in the most intimate of ways.

"I love you with my entire soul, don't ever think otherwise," Edward urges as they continue to make love, both of them under no misconception about where they are headed. They are both in this for the long haul. Bella reiterates her love for Edward and shares her body with him until they both fall over the edge, satiated and loved.

At midnight, Edward and Bella make love once more, kissing as the ball drops on TV, and neither has ever felt so loved or complete. "Happy 2013," Edward whispers as Bella curls into his side and he pulls her body tightly against his. "I love you."