Disclaimer: None of this mine, nor do I claim to be Stephenie Meyer. I just like to dabble in the playground that she created with Bella, Edward and her Twilight characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

Things are moving forward with our two favorite characters. Bella just couldn't wait to kiss him and now that the bridge has been crossed, they will be doing so a great deal more. We will finishing the date and the rest of the weekend in Bella's POV. We'll also get some Katie and Edward time.

Chapter Thirteen

Bella

I'd forgotten how awesome it was just to make out. Edward and I spent most of the early evening kissing on my couch. Our kisses were deep and tender, filled with so much emotion and care. My fingers were tangled in his soft hair while were lost in each other's embrace.

I was also turned on like crazy. My panties were ruined from kissing. His mouth was strong, soft, commanding and gentle. He held me like I was the most important thing in his universe.

I knew that we'd have to take things slowly. I was okay with that. Edward was obviously an amazing man, but he had been hurt like no person should ever be hurt. He had walls built so far up because of his history. Understandably so … I had my own walls because of the death of my parents. I tried to see things in a positive light, but there were moments where I struggled.

Edward pulled back, hovering over me. His lips were so swollen, but his eyes were content. "I feel like I'm in high school," he quipped, brushing back an errant curl. He sat up, subtly adjusting his erection. I'd felt it against my thigh.

"I didn't date much in high school," I giggled. He helped me to sit up and I curled my legs as I faced him. "I was a bit of a nerd. But, I was thinking about how amazing it is just to kiss someone. No precursor to something else."

He blushed and smiled at me. "I agree, angel. Your lips are quite addictive."

"I hate to be a buzzkill," I said, grimacing. "But, I do need to put the peas back into the freezer."

"I think it's safe to say that those peas are going in the garbage," he chuckled. "We sat down at like five and it's almost nine."

"Four hours making out," I breathed. "That explains why my lips are tingling." I took Edward's hand and traced his veins. He shuddered. "Ticklish?"

"For obvious reasons, I never really allowed myself to be touched," he said. "I could hug my adoptive mother and shake hands, but casual touch like this? I would shy away from it. Feeling your fingers caress my skin? It's beyond anything I'd imagined. Even having sex was a bit of a struggle."

I blinked up at him. He insinuated that he'd been touched inappropriately. I never even thought of the ramifications of having sex. "Not everyone will hurt you, Edward. I don't want to. I just want to see you smile. I want you to feel good, feel loved." His lips quirked up into a crooked grin.

"When I started therapy, my doctor said that usually victims of sexual abuse either become promiscuous, using sex as currency or shy away from physical intimacy," he said quietly. "I leaned toward the latter. The only person I willingly shared myself with was my ex-wife."

I moved closer to him, sliding my arms around his neck. He pulled me into his lap, holding me to his body. "I wish I could take the pain that you've felt away, Edward," I whispered against his temple.

"You do, angel. With your tender smile, your gentle nature and your unending patience, I feel more … at peace. It will take time for me to not have a cynical outlook of the world. But, I want to share so much with you," he said, his green eyes shimmering. "For now, I just want this."

"I want that, too," I said. "We'll take things as they come. There is no rush. I don't want to lose your friendship as we explore this relationship."

"Me, neither, angel," he smiled, kissing my lips. "I should go."

"You could stay," I suggested. He looked at me, his eyes conflicted. "Just to sleep. I like cuddling with you."

"As tempting as the offer is, I am going to go," he said. "I would love to snuggle with you, hold you as you slept, but I need to calm down. You, my angel, are quite the temptress. I could get lost in your kisses, your body. Plus, I have to pick up Sam from the doggy daycare."

"Right," I pouted. "I forgot about Sam."

He moved me off his lap, standing up. His back cracked and he groaned. "Making out … perfection. Doing so on a couch? Not so much. Do you need help to go upstairs?" he asked.

I unfolded my legs and stood up. My ankle was stiff, but okay. "I'm fine, Edward," I replied. He weaved his fingers with mine and we walked to the door. "Again, I had an amazing time today."

He grinned crookedly, looking at me affectionately. "Beyond amazing, Bella. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. What time do you want me to come over? Should I bring Sam?"

"I don't know when Alice and Cynthia are dropping off Katie. I'll get in touch with them when you leave. But, if you want to come over around ten with Sam, I'll make us brunch. I have fixings for monkey bread and breakfast casserole. Plus, I can have you use your bulging muscles to bring up the Christmas decorations," I said, squeezing his bicep. "Call me when you get home?"

"Of course, angel," he breathed, kissing me again. "I'll see you tomorrow." He hugged me tightly, not making a move to leave.

"Edward?" I said, my ear pressed to his chest and listening to the steady thrum of his heart.

"Yeah?"

"I thought you wanted to go," I giggled.

"I don't want to go, but I need to go," he replied, tightening his hold on me. "But, it all seems so right with you, Bella. With you in my arms."

"I completely understand, baby," I murmured, scratching his back.

He took my face and kissed me deeply. I moaned at his soft lips moving against mine. He pulled back, pressing his forehead to mine. "I'll be back tomorrow, angel." He took a step back and put on his coat. "Sleep well, Bella and have sweet dreams."

"You, too," I grinned. He caressed my cheek once more before opening the door and stepping out into the blustery night. I closed the door, locking it. I leaned against the cold wood, pressing my fingers to my kiss-swollen lips. I smiled, pushing away from the door and walking to the living room. Picking up my phone, I pulled up Alice's contact and dialed her.

"It's awfully early, Swan," she quipped. "Shouldn't you be getting some with Edward?"

"He picked me up at noon, Alice," I snickered. "How was Katie?"

"She's zonked out with my nieces in the basement," Alice replied. "She had so much fun."

"Did you use my credit card for anything she bought?" I asked.

"You'll just have to see when you get your statement," Alice answered.

"So, that's a no," I deadpanned. "Alice! You promised!"

"It's not right for you to buy your own Christmas presents," Alice snorted. "Anyway, tell me about your date. What did you do? Him?"

I pursed my lips. "You have a one-track mind. Don't you have Jasper to have sex with?"

"Yes, I do, but I want to hear about you," Alice argued. "Get some new ideas for my sex life with Jasper. I love him, but he's very safe when it comes to lovemaking."

I told her about my date and she was so excited about my date with Edward. She was also shocked that I actually took the bull by the horns by kissing him first. "I just had to, Alice. He said that he wanted to help me build new traditions. It just made my heart take off. I had to kiss him," I breathed.

"I won't push it, but is he a good kisser?" Alice asked.

"We spent nearly four hours kissing on the couch once we got back from our date," I moaned, swiping the defrosted peas and tossing them into the garbage can.

"Just kissing?"

"Just kissing. Alice, it was probably the most amazing time," I whispered. "Kissing each other was so much more intimate than having sex. There was no pressure to do anything else, just kissing, soft caresses and snuggling. Edward is a snuggler. It's like he's two different people. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you know?"

"With as prickly as he was, I'm kind of surprised," Alice murmured.

"I'm not," I shrugged. If anything, he yearned for affection, especially with his history. He never had it as a kid and now? He was starved for hugs, kisses, and love. "Anyhow, what time are you dropping off Katie?"

"Cynthia is going to drop her off on her way back to her home in the burbs. She's got a date with her hubby and the kids to put up Christmas decorations," Alice said.

"Funny! Me, too," I snickered. "Edward's going to help Katie and me put up our decorations. My mom and dad were a little Christmas crazy."

"You are creating some new traditions," Alice giggled. "Anyway, Cynthia and the girls are probably leaving around eight. The girls have piano lessons at nine and then they are going to put up their décor."

"That's perfect," I said. "Sounds good." My phone vibrated and I pulled my phone away from my cheek, seeing another call. It was Edward. "I've got to go, Alice. Thank you for taking Katie out today. It was the one thing she would have missed more than anything."

"I'll happily take her shopping and I will convert you," Alice said. "Talk to you on Monday."

I said my goodbye to her and flipped over to Edward's call. "Are you home safe?"

"I am," he chuckled. "I had to take Sam out for a walk after I picked him up from the dog daycare." He sighed. "I'm an idiot."

"Says the Wharton Business School graduate," I snorted. "You're not an idiot, Edward."

"I should have stayed. I can still smell your perfume on my clothes and feel your lips on mine," he breathed. "I want to know if you would fit in my arms while we slept."

"You can always come back," I cooed, trying to entice him back to me. I was just as curious if our bodies would fit perfectly, like a pair of puzzle pieces.

"You are a temptress, Isabella Swan," he growled. "I'll be over tomorrow morning with Sam. Sleep well, angel."

"You, too, Edward," I purred, hanging up the phone. I sighed happily, turning off the lights in the living room and going upstairs. I needed to find some release. Four hours of making out left me wanting more and I had to take things into my own hands.

The star of my fantasies would be a certain green-eyed CEO with soft lips and a broken soul. A man who'd wriggled into under my skin and into my heart.

xx FFADS xx

After the best night's sleep I'd had since my parents' death, I woke up early, doing some yoga to center my mind. All I could think of were those incredible kisses we'd shared the night previous and how much they impacted my underused libido. When I was done with my workout, I showered and dressed in some comfy clothes. After applying a light layer of makeup, I tossed my hair back into a low ponytail and walked down to the kitchen. Katie would be home in a little bit and Edward would be over in an hour.

I started working on the breakfast casserole, mixing eggs, and cooking breakfast sausage that was left over from Edward's stuffing he made for Friendsgiving, cheese, and peppers. I was pouring the mixture into a casserole dish when the doorbell rang. Wiping my hands, I walked to open the door. Cynthia was on the doorstep, holding Katie's hand and with her bag looped over her shoulder. "Thanks for dropping her off, Cynthia," I said, hugging my sister. "Did you have fun, Kit Kat?"

"I shopped so much, Bella," Katie squealed, squeezing my legs and running inside.

"She's got a nose for a deal," Cynthia smirked, pushing her sunglasses into her hair. "But, she was awesome. The girls really enjoyed hanging out with her."

"Where did you all go?" I asked.

"We went to an outdoor mall in the suburbs. We thought about going to Water Tower Place, but Oak Brook Mall seemed like a better choice," Cynthia answered, handing Katie's bag to me. "Anyway, I'm parked illegally and the girls were slow to get up this morning. We're so fucking late. We need to get back home, pick up our piano lesson shit and then … not enough hours in the day, I tell you."

"Agreed," I chuckled. "Thank you again." We hugged and Cynthia darted back into her Toyota Highlander. I went inside. "Katie, come get your bag."

"I love your flowers, Bella," Katie crooned, looking at the bouquet that Edward gave me.

"They were from Mr. Edward. He also picked up something for you," I said. "He said that it was something to make you smile." I handed her the stuffed animal with a bright green bow.

"Oh, he's so cute!" Katie said, hugging the stuffed animal to her chest.

"Make sure you thank Mr. Edward when you see him, Kit Kat," I chuckled. "Now, bring your bag upstairs. Mr. Edward and I are going to set up our Christmas decorations."

"Just like home?" she asked, cocking her head adorably.

"Not exactly like home, but close, Katie," I answered, grinning sadly. "We even picked up some new ornaments at this cool market in the city. Mr. Edward said we could go back, if you'd like. For now, though, I need you to bring you bag upstairs."

"Kay, Bella," Katie nodded. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Kit Kat," I said, hugging her. "I'm going to finish making breakfast." She took her bag and her new friend upstairs while I went to put the casserole into the oven. While it cooked, I loaded up the monkey bread. Katie came down a few moments later, sitting down at the counter. She chattered about her time with Alice, Cynthia and Cynthia's girls. She loved shopping at the mall and she needed to go back.

Before I could respond to her plea, the doorbell rang and she bounced to the door. I followed her, just in case it wasn't Edward. The bark on the other side of the door told me otherwise. "Sammy!" Katie squealed.

"Relax, Katie," I chuckled, opening the door.

Edward was on the other side, wearing a pair of jeans, a button-down and a leather jacket. His attire was completely casual, but incredibly sexy. "Mr. Edward! Thank you so much for the stuffed bear." She hugged his waist. "It's so cute!"

"You're welcome, Little One," he said, crouching down and giving her a proper hug. He was so gentle and kind with her, giving my little sister all of his attention.

Be still my beating ovaries.

Even more than that, my heart is exploding. He was made to be a dad.

The oven dinged and I cleared my throat. "I'm going to get the casserole out and put the monkey bread in. Edward, do you want some coffee?"

He stood up, ruffling Katie's hair and smiling crookedly at me. "Coffee sounds really good, angel," he said. He removed his coat and took off Sam's leash. I walked into the kitchen, pulling out the casserole. I tossed in the monkey bread. I poured us both a cup of coffee. I also poured Katie some juice. He sat down, helping Katie onto the stool. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"Christmas!" Katie chirped.

"It's not Christmas yet, Kit Kat," I chuckled, sprinkling some more cheese on top of the casserole.

"Well, set up for Christmas," Katie amended. Looking up at Edward with innocent blue eyes, she asked, "Are you afraid of heights?"

"Katherine Marie," I chided. "Don't even think about it."

"What are you talking about?" Edward asked.

"She wants you to put the lights up on the roof," I said. "We'll decorate the windows and the railings outside, but not the roof. It's too high."

She harrumphed; her nose wrinkled. "Dad put up the lights on the roof, Bella," she argued.

"The house in Forks was only one and half stories," I sighed. "Plus, he hired someone to put up the lights. This place? It ain't going to happen, sister. We have to make do with what we have. It will still be beautiful and just as magical."

"Will Santa still come?" Katie asked. "He won't know where I am."

"That's the magic of Santa. He knows were every child is," Edward explained. "He will find you and give you your Christmas wish."

"My wish is for Mommy and Daddy to come back," Katie whispered, two tears falling down her pink cheeks. "Can Santa do that? Can he bring back Mommy and Daddy?"

Edward and I shared a look. My own eyes were brimming with tears. His gaze was so impossibly sad, but filled with understanding. He squeezed my fingers, nodding to Katie. I walked over to her, picking her up and holding her as she cried. I walked us upstairs, into my bedroom. "Katie," I murmured, brushing my fingers through her hair.

"I miss Mommy and Daddy, Bella," she cried. "Maybe if we both ask Santa …"

"Kit Kat," I sniffled. "I miss Mommy and Daddy, too. Unfortunately, Santa's magic doesn't work that way. I wish there was a way to get Mommy and Daddy back. The only way we can do that is by loving them and remembering them, even while they're gone."

"I don't remember what Mommy sounds like," Katie whispered.

"I can help with that," I said, shifting her on my lap. I pulled out my cell phone and found a video from Katie's last birthday. "Watch this."

"This is my birthday," she said.

"I took a lot of videos from that day, Kit Kat," I answered, kissing her temple. "This video is about you. Mommy and Daddy shared their wishes and hopes for you, sweetheart."

"Can I stay up here for a little bit? I want to …" she trailed off. Sam woofed quietly at the entrance to my room. "Sammy!" He ambled inside, putting his head on the edge of the bed. Katie gently pet him. He licked her fingers, making her giggle.

"Sammy must have known you were sad, Katie," I chuckled, scrubbing behind his ears. "You okay with the phone?"

"Yeah, Bella," she nodded.

I leaned down, kissing her forehead and leaving her in my room. Sam hopped up onto my bed, curling around my sister. She talked quietly to him as she showed him pictures on my phone. I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen. Edward pulled me into his arms. I sobbed for my sister. I sobbed for me. The weight of the world made me stumble. "I've got you, angel," Edward said as he held me.

"It's not fair," I cried. "Hearing her ask Santa to bring back her m-m-m-mom and d-d-d-dad …"

"I think I asked the same thing when I was a kid," Edward whispered against my hair. "Her whole world was upended."

"I'm terrified that I'm not doing enough," I said, pulling back and wiping my cheeks.

"You adore her. I can see how much you love Katie," he breathed, brushing my hair away from my face. "You've given her a safe place, continuity and structure when you could have walked away." He stared at me, his eyes so full of understanding and compassion. "By giving her Christmas, she's healing, little by little. Have you thought about what you want to do for Christmas?"

"Not really," I shrugged. The oven timer went off. I tried to scramble to my feet, but Edward gracefully got up and easily helped me to stand. I took out the monkey bread, turning it onto the platter. I drizzled on the glaze. "Sue offered up her family again, but I didn't want to impose. I said I'd think about it. Part of me wants to spend Christmas here. I just don't know."

"Can I make a suggestion?" he asked, smiling at me gently. I nodded. "You know that we had Friendsgiving, but perhaps we can have our Christmas celebration. Invite our family. Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rose, Quil, Embry, Alice's sister … I'm blanking on her name … and celebrate Christmas Eve together. On Christmas Day, you can come with me to spend time with my adoptive parents." I looked up at him, staring at his handsome face. "Blood doesn't make family." He gave me his signature crooked grin.

"You're such a good man, Edward Cullen," I whispered. I caressed his cheek and kissed his lips. "I think I'd like that. I want to give Katie a good Christmas. We both need it, to be honest." He hugged me again and I let out a deep breath, relaxing in his arms.

I heard the nail clicks of Sam and we took a step apart. Katie ambled in. Her face was puffy from crying, but she looked better. "You okay, Little One?" Edward asked.

She nodded, handing me my phone. "Sammy cuddled with me."

"He's good at making me feel better," he chuckled. "Are you hungry? Your sister made a delicious breakfast for us."

"Yeah," she answered. Katie slid her arms around my waist. I picked her up, kissing her temple.

"Bella, you and Katie sit down. I'll take care of this," he said. With an appreciative look, I carried Katie to the table. We sat together. I showed her some more pictures on my phone from when she was a baby and talked about how happy Mom and Phil were after they had my little sister. Edward put a plate, loaded up with two slices of the casserole and a healthy serving of monkey bread. "I figured you wanted her close."

"Thank you," I said, holding my sister tightly against my chest. Breakfast was quiet. Katie was mulling over everything. She was a lot like me in that way. She picked at her breakfast, only eating a few nibbles of the casserole and two pieces of monkey bread. I kissed her forehead, brushing her hair back. "Love you, Kit Kat. So much. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, Bella," she whispered, playing with my hair.

"Do you still want to put up Christmas? Or, do you want to veg out?" I asked.

"Christmas," she said, giving me a sweet smile. "Can I watch a movie? While you get the stuff out?"

"Go ahead, Kit Kat," I said, putting her down. She padded into the living room, turning on the television. Edward looked at me. "You want the rest of Katie's casserole? I'm full."

"It's delicious. I'm not going to say no," he chuckled. He happily dug into the breakfast. When he finished, he took my hand. "Bella, I know that you think that you're not doing enough. But, looking at how you comforted her and loved her? You are doing enough. More than enough."

I blew out a breath and looking at him. "I needed to hear that, Edward. It's days like these that are so difficult."

"You're not alone. Not anymore," he breathed. "Now, let's get your Christmas décor set up."

"It's a lot of stuff," I groaned. I got up and led him to the basement. The previous owners had some amazing shelving for storage containers. The basement was also home to our laundry room. "So, the Christmas decorations are in these sixteen containers."

"Holy fuck," Edward laughed anxiously. "You weren't kidding."

"No flat surface was left unadorned by Christmas décor," I sighed, pulling out a tub. "Living room, family room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, outside. Obviously, there will be some things left over. We'll put up what we can."

"Bedrooms?" Edward asked, arching a brow. He tugged out several bins and the box that held the largest Christmas tree.

"Each bedroom had its own tree, specific to the decorations. I think I may have to change Katie's tree," I shrugged. "Her previous room was a pink wonderland. When we moved in here, she said she wanted purple."

"What was her tree last year?" he questioned.

"Barbie pink," I giggled. "It was the ugliest thing, but Katie loved it. Maybe, I'll give her a choice."

Working together, we brought up the containers. Katie began poking through them with her spirits perking up. I put on some holiday music and we began by putting up the Christmas tree. Edward, who apparently had the patience to handle it, decided to tackle the twinkle lights for the tree. Katie and I put up the other decorations in the living room, bedazzling the fireplace mantle, the front windows and small sitting area across from the living room.

We took a break around two to take Sam out for a walk. Edward and I held hands as Katie handled Sam. He was well-trained and he didn't pull her.

After a half hour walk, we were invigorated to finish putting the decorations. Edward had finished the lights prior to the walk and we decided to put up the ornaments. Katie asked questions about the older ornaments, curious about their meanings. She was very gentle with the fragile, breakable ornaments that had belonged to my father and our grandparents.

"Bella, Mommy usually put on the angel on top," Katie said, holding the golden angel in her hands. "Can you do it?"

"Mommy was taller than me," I chuckled.

"I can pick you up," Edward said. "Even I would struggle getting the angel on top and I'm six foot three." He crouched down. "On my shoulders."

"I don't know," I said.

"Do I need to remind you that I carried you upstairs when you crashed?" he quipped, giving me a cheeky smirk. "You were dead to the world and you weigh next to nothing. I won't drop you, angel."

"I'm trusting you," I grumbled. He easily lifted me onto his shoulders. I anchored my hands on his head until I got my bearings and then took the angel from his hands. Katie handed it to him as I got settled.

"A picture," Katie said.

"In my back pocket, Little One. Grab my phone. I don't want to drop your sister. She's kind of important, to both of us," he laughed. Katie reached into his pocket and he unlocked it, handing it back to her. Katie could barely contain her excitement as she took a few pictures with me trying to put the angel on top of the tree. Once I got her on the tree, Edward helped me down. "You okay, angel?"

"I like the ground," I snorted. "You're really tall."

"And you're just perfect," he teased, pecking me quickly on the lips.

"Another picture with all of us," Katie said, handing Edward his phone. He flipped it to selfie mode and held it out, getting the three of us in frame. He snapped a few pictures. "Can you send those to Bella, Mr. Edward?"

He pressed a few buttons and my cell phone chimed in the kitchen. "Done, Little One," he grinned. "Now, I'll work on the outside while you all finish in here."

"Edward," I frowned. "I can …"

"Nope. It's my job to make sure my girls have a Merry Christmas," he said, finding the outdoor garland. "Do you have a ladder?"

"In the garage," I said.

"That's all I need to know. You finish in here, my little elves," he quipped, ducking out the door.

"Bella, is he your boyfriend?" she asked, her voice singsong. She was blushing, petting Sam, who had found his way on the couch. His tail was thumping against the pillows.

"If you must know, he is," I answered, tugging on her ponytail. "We had a date yesterday while you were out with Miss Alice, Miss Cynthia, Addy and Kamryn. That's when he brought over the flowers and the stuffed bear for you."

"Yay," Katie squealed, hugging me tightly. "Mr. Edward is sooooo cute!"

"You're too young to be boy crazy, Katherine Marie. Come on. While Mr. Edward is working on the outside, we need to work on the inside, plus make dinner," I said. "Enough slacking. Let's go."

After two hours, the downstairs was completely decorated. It was all very traditional and it made the house look amazing. I put the turkey tetrazzini in the oven and we checked on Edward. He was putting finishing touches on smaller lighted trees on the front stoop when we walked outside. "Wow," Katie said. "It's so pretty, Mr. Edward."

"The fact that you got this all done is incredible," I smiled.

"I've always been good with my hands," he shrugged. His nose and cheeks were red from being outside. His hair was covered by a beanie and he looked much younger than thirty-five. "I was thinking that we could put those lighted decorations in each window in the front. There are six of them and you have six windows."

"Can I have the snowman and Santa?" Katie asked. "I can use them like nightlights!"

"How about we go inside, first?" I suggested. "Mr. Edward looks frozen."

Katie nodded, skipping up the steps and inside. Edward caught my hand. "Question, angel. I hope I'm going to be around for a while. I was wondering, can we lose the mister part in front of my name?" he asked. "I know you want Katie to be respectful and she's awesome …"

"I think she'd like that," I said, kissing his frigid lips. "Holy crap, you're an icicle! Inside, Frosty."

"I know what could warm me up," he growled suggestively.

"Not until your nose defrosts, bub," I giggled, pushing him up the stairs. He barked out a laugh, tugging me along with him.

While I worked on dinner, Katie and Edward decided to work on the interior lighting. Katie was determined to get the decorations in her windows. Sam was hovering near me, probably hoping for some scraps. His large brown eyes just got to me and I ended up giving him some white meat from our leftovers. He was suctioned to my side after that.

Edward snuck up behind me as I was making the salad, his arms sliding around my waist. He was much warmer and very affectionate. "Katie is admiring our handiwork," he said, pressing a kiss just below my ear.

"She never got a chance to have those in her windows in Forks. Her room was in the back of the house. She only got her mini tree," I said, turning my head to kiss his jaw. "Thank you for doing this with us. Despite the first part of the day, it's been pretty incredible. You helped make that happen."

He turned me around and lifted me onto the counter. He stepped forward, in between my legs. "Traditions, angel. I wanted them when I was a kid. Now? I get to help create them as an adult," he said, taking my face in his hands.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you are like the Grinch," I said. He arched a brow. "Hear me out. You were all grumpy and mean when I first met you. Then, we have it out and you realize that you are capable of compassion. The key was, however, my sister. She helped your heart grow. You have a doggy sidekick with Sam."

"At least, I'm not green and furry," he chuckled. "I've got better teeth than the Grinch, too. But, you're mistaken, angel."

"About what?" I asked.

"Katie did break through my walls, but it was you helped my heart grow," he murmured, kissing me with everything he had.

How could I resist that?

A/N: I know that Thanksgiving is taking forever, but I promise to move it forward. Pictures of the decorations for Bella and Katie's brownstone are on my blog, along with their old home in Forks. You can access my blog from a link in my profile. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation.

Anyhow, up next will be Edward and we'll get some Edward and Katie time. We'll also move forward in time, going to the launch party for New Moon cosmetics. While at the launch party, a blast from the past will make an appearance. Leave me some loving and thank you for reading!

Also, thank you to those of you who gave me suggestions for Edward's 'affectionate' nickname. I was torn between three … Dr. Jekyll, which came from a website that Tara suggested, Frosty, from Kathleen and Grinch from Jennifer … I think I like Grinch the best. So, we have Angelella and Grinchward.