Merry Christmas Eve to those who celebrate! We're so happy to share the day with you all. Thanks to you and our writing team for all your help along the way.

Chapter 25: The House on Sycamore Lane

December 24, Friday

Forks, Washington

Jasper

It's a true Christmas miracle.

Somehow, my mom came through, and in a whirlwind of inspections and paperwork, we signed and closed on the house on Sycamore, all without Alice finding out.

On my morning run, I ran to my mom's office to pick up the final paperwork and the keys to our new house.

Now, it's just a matter of surprising Alice.

She's awake when I get back, but I head straight to our bedroom, shoving the papers into my school bookbag. When I'm sure they are out of sight, I head to the shower.

I try to imagine all the different ways I might be able to surprise her with this, running each scenario through my mind and working myself up more and more. I'm nervous as hell, but also excited beyond words.

This is the first part of starting our family life together.

Just the thought of it is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

By the time I'm out of the shower, I'm almost shaking with nerves and excitement.

"Merry Christmas Eve," Alice says as soon as I step into the living room. I smile at her.

"Happy Christmas Eve," I tell her. She grins. Since we were kids, we'd argued about whether it should be 'Merry' or 'Happy.' I'd grown up with my Gran saying Happy, and it had always felt right.

It's just about the only thing Alice, and I can't agree on.

"How was your run?"

I freeze for half a second, wondering if there is any way she can possibly know what I've been up to. Then I realize she always asks, and I relax, settling into the sofa. "It was fine."

It snowed last night, though thankfully, most of the sidewalks around town had melted by morning. Alice thinks we'll get more snow soon, which means I probably won't be running for a while. Some years there is no snow, and some we get a touch of it. Rarely do we get anything substantial, but Alice is convinced that's what's coming our way this year.

"So, what's on the schedule for today?" I ask, glancing over at her. She hums.

"Well, we can finally make those gingerbread houses," she says, glancing over at the kits we picked up. We tried to make the gingerbread from scratch one year, and it had been a disaster. Excellent bakers we are not. We can get by with delicious lumpy cookies, but anything for aesthetic, and we have to outsource to a professional.

"Sounds good," I tell her. I get up to grab the gingerbread kits, handing them to her as I head to the kitchen. Tonight, when we go out to see the Christmas lights around town, I'm going to give her another house to decorate.

…

"I love this town," Alice sighs as we walk hand in hand around the neighborhoods. It's cold out—cold enough that the snow has stuck around all day—but the lights on all the houses are on and twinkling, and the feeling of Christmas magic is palpable in the air.

"I do too," I tell her honestly. It's small, but it's home, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Alice squeezes my hand gently, and I glance down at her, smiling.

We're one block away from Sycamore.

"One day, we're going to live in one of these houses. We'll get to decorate it every year, and our kids will grow up making snowmen in the front yard." She paints a beautiful picture as she daydreams, and I just can't take it anymore.

"We'll have a big front lawn with plenty of room for football and dancing and snowmen," I tell her, dropping her hand and putting my arm around her shoulders. "And the kitchen will be able to look at both the front and back yard so we can watch the kids play as we make dinner."

Alice's eyes fill with tears as she looks up at me. I continue. "We'll have a front porch where we'll be able to curl up together and watch the kids trick-or-treat in the fall and catch fireflies in the summer." I take a deep breath as we approach the corner house on Sycamore Lane—our house. "And there will be a bright red door to remind everyone of Christmas, even in the middle of July."

Alice pauses on the sidewalk, looking up at the house. Emmett, being the extraordinary brother he is, came by earlier to hang lights for me so that the house is absolutely glowing on the street. Alice is gazing up at the house, tears in her eyes.

"I can't wait," she whispers, and when I see the longing on her face, I know. She feels it too. This house is ours.

"Alice," I say, gently pulling her attention to me. She turns her gaze from the glowing house. "Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."

She frowns, glancing around us quickly before doing as I ask. I take a deep breath and get down on my knees in front of her. Somehow, this is more terrifying than when I proposed to her.

"Okay," I breathe. She opens her eyes, frowning when she sees I'm kneeling. "Alice. You've already agreed to marry me, and it's made me happier than I've ever been," I tell her honestly. "But now I have another question for you."

She looks absolutely puzzled, and I reach into my pocket, tucking the keys into my closed fist. "I promise to be by your side, no matter where we grow old," I tell her gently. "But will you do me the honors of growing old with me here?" I place the keys in her palm, and she gasps, her eyes flying to mine.

"W-what?" she croaks.

I get to my feet, my knees cold from the frozen concrete. "I know I didn't ask you about it, and I'm sorry if you hate it, but I just had this feeling," I pause, shaking my head. I'm rambling, and I need to get a hold of myself. "I bought this house for you, for us, for our family."

Alice looks from the house to me and back.

"Merry Christmas." I whisper.

She's shaking, and I've never seen her stunned into silence. She looks back at me and takes a deep breath.

"You're serious?"

I smile and nod. "Yeah, I'm serious."

Tears are streaming down her cheeks, and she launches into my arms, sobbing. I can't help laughing through my own tears as I bring her close to my heart.

"Welcome home."

So many chapters in this story have brought us great joy, and this chapter is one of them. Since this story is entirely pre written, we will still be posting on Christmas Day, and it will be there waiting for you in your inbox whenever you find that free minute to gather yourself.

For tomorrow's chapter, think of a reunion that has brought you happiness!