AN: Here we go with the second chapter of this Christmas story. I think everyone agrees that Alec is a bit of an ass, but Bella is a loyal girl

Many thanks to MeteroOnAMoonlessNight and Midnight Cougar for their stellar help with making my words make sense, Without them, I wouldn't have commas!

Disclaimer: SM owns it all, which is a shame since I really, really want Edward Cullen for Christmas


Boyfriends of Christmas Past Chapter 2

Summary

A trip back home for the holidays shows Bella everything she didn't know had been missing from her life.


Chapter 2

The rain that'd been falling when we left Seattle gradually turned to sleet, then snow the closer we got to Forks. Twilight seemed to come early on the Olympic Peninsula, especially in the winter months, and as we approached the small town in the half-light, the green of the trees flashing past began to look familiar.

"Fuck, Bella. Where the hell is this? We're in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere."

Alec's loud voice broke through my thoughts. I sighed but continued to look out the window of the car.

"I told you it was a small town, Alec, and yes, it's in the middle of nowhere, but I told you multiple times you didn't have to come."

I knew my voice had a touch of sarcasm, and suddenly, I didn't care if he heard it. Now I was here, I found I was looking forward to seeing Charlie and catching up with my school friends, those who were still in town, and I didn't give a damn what he thought.

"I wasn't about to let you come on your own, Bella. You'll be much safer with me here."

What he was really saying was that he would be able to show everyone who I belonged to. But I was determined to take this break on my terms, and there was no way I would allow him to spoil it. Who knew when I'd be able to return.

As we crossed the town limits, the sign welcoming us to Forks flashed past.

"Slow down, Alec. It wouldn't look good if my father gave you a speeding ticket before you even met."

The car slowed to the speed limit accompanied by a scowl from Alec.

He should be grateful for the heads-up, I thought, but the only thing that was up was his head up his ass.

I was already tired of his attitude and wished I'd insisted on coming on my own.

How the hell was I supposed to get through the next ten days?

I said nothing further, and directed him along Main Street, not bothering to point out any of the few landmarks that had made up my school years. However, that didn't stop my gaze from following the line of stores along the street. The bookshop where I'd worked after school seemed to have expanded into a coffee shop. Next came the pharmacy, the supermarket, and Newton's sporting goods store.

As the car sped out of Main Street past the town diner, my breath hitched in my throat as I caught a glimpse of a head of messy bronze hair. We flashed past too quickly for me to be sure of what I'd seen, and by the time I turned around and looked back, whoever it was I thought I'd seen had disappeared. I berated myself for allowing my heart to beat faster at the memory of the boy who'd moved away all those years ago.

I wondered who'd stayed in Forks and who'd run away as I'd done, and I found myself hoping I'd have the opportunity to find out while I was here. Ten minutes later, my father's house came into view. The cruiser was absent, so I guessed Charlie was still working. Pulling into the driveway, Alec brought the car to a standstill and switched off the engine, which ticked over as the engine cooled.

Nostalgia crept over me as I opened the car door and stepped outside into the wintry air. I breathed in the cold air, redolent with the familiar smell of the forest that surrounded the yard. The house looked much the same as it always had except the paintwork appeared brighter and newer. I closed the door quietly behind me and made my way up the path toward the front door, noticing the porch looked newer too, and climbed the steps, which no longer creaked as they'd done for more years than I could remember.

"Don't worry, Bella, I'll bring in all the bags."

Alec's sarcasm broke the still air, and a flash of annoyance stabbed through me at his constant harping and moaning. I shook it off and ignored him, reaching over the door to the ledge above, looking for and finding the house key. I did have one on my keyring, but something had compelled me to see if the original was where it had been every day of my life.

Leaving Alec standing outside, I stepped over the threshold. The familiar smell of Dad's cologne and the faint scent of pipe tobacco permeated the air, and I stopped inside the door to inhale.

Home. That's what it smelled of, and until that moment, I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed its familiarity. Embarrassingly enough, my eyes watered and I quickly brushed my fingers under them before Alec could see how affected I was; I knew he'd only make me feel uncomfortable.

"Where should I put these, Bella? Can you show me to your room?"

I turned to see my boyfriend, almost a stranger in these surroundings, standing just inside the door.

"Just leave them at the bottom of the stairs, Alec. I'll take mine up shortly, but Dad is pretty old-fashioned, so you'll have to sleep on the sofa."

"What the fuck, Bella? We've been living together for a while, so why the hell aren't we sharing a room?"

Before I could answer, Charlie's familiar voice rang out.

"Bella?"

"Hey, Dad." I stepped around Alec, ignoring his questions for the moment.

"Hi, sweetheart. When did you get in? I wasn't expecting you for another hour."

Charlie pulled me into a hug, surprising me with his unusual behavior. He'd never been particularly demonstrative, and I could feel the emotion emanating from him, a testament to how much he'd missed me as he stepped outside his comfort zone to greet me.

"About ten minutes ago. It's so good to see you."

Those traitorous tears threatened again, and I hugged him back, hiding my face in the collar of his work shirt. We stood still for a minute, then with a final squeeze, he let me go, looking over my shoulder at the man behind me. I stepped to one side.

"Dad, this is my boyfriend, Alec Reynolds."

"How do you do, Chief Swan?"

Alec held out his hand, and for a second, it looked as if Charlie wouldn't take it. However, his innate good manners took over as he shook Alec's hand.

After an awkward moment, I led the way to the kitchen and set about making coffee. Looking through the cupboards, I found they were pretty empty, but managed to find a packet of cookies. Seated around the old table—the same one that'd been in use for as long as I could remember—Dad and I caught up on some of what had been happening in our lives, while a silent, sullen Alec cast an uncomfortable shadow in the room.

"I assume you're working tomorrow, Dad, so I can pop out and fill the cupboards if you like? What are your plans for Christmas Day? Are we eating here or down at the rez?"

"Well, I was waiting for your input, Bells. Billy's easy; he and Jake have a standing invite to Sue Clearwater's place, so we can spend the morning at home, then drop by for dinner, or we can stop at home. Your call."

"Umm, we can go to the rez if you want, Dad. I'll have to look around and pick up a few presents for Christmas Day, though. I don't want to turn up empty-handed."

"You know that's never an issue, Bells; you're always welcome, but whatever you need to do is fine."

"Okay, that's settled then. I'll still do a grocery run, though, if that's okay. The cupboards look as if they could use it."

I grinned at my dad, looking forward to seeing the Blacks and the Clearwaters. They'd been part of my life for as long as I could remember.

In deference to Alec's distaste for fast food, Dad agreed to have dinner at the Lodge. Although, from the look on Alec's face, it didn't seem as if he was in any way grateful. We spent an uncomfortable couple of hours where Dad tried his best to get to know him, and I tried to coax Alec out of whatever bad mood he was in.

Dad tried sports, then fishing, and finally his work as the Chief of Police, but Alec wasn't interested. Most of the time, his answers to Dad's questions came in the form of single words, and it wasn't until I started to talk about the world we inhabited back in L.A. that Alec's mood lightened and he participated in the conversation.

He's always happiest when talking about himself, I thought, and then berated myself for being unkind. He's out of his element, that's all.

Nothing improved when we arrived back at the house. Dad retired to bed since he was on the early shift tomorrow.

"This is ridiculous, Bella," Alec complained bitterly as I collected the bedding Charlie had brought down from the linen closet on the landing. "You expect me to sleep on a couch for ten fucking days!"

I let out a sigh. "Alec, you're sounding like a broken record. This is my dad's house, and I'd appreciate it if you accepted his rules out of respect, so please give it a rest."

Alec scowled, but chose not to say anything further, and watched while I made up the bed on the couch.

"Why don't you get washed up while I finish this up?" I suggested.

He answered with a disgruntled huff and grabbed his wash bag, heading upstairs for the bathroom. I watched him climb the old creaking stairs and hoped he wouldn't be stupid enough to try to sneak into my room. Not only because I wanted him to respect my dad, but I wasn't in the mood to fend off unwanted advances—and I was beginning to realize that yes, his advances weren't wanted.

When Alec returned, I stretched up onto my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before leaving him to his own devices and quickly climbed the stairs, getting ready for bed behind a locked bathroom door. I listened for any sounds from downstairs, and, hearing nothing, slipped into my room and my childhood bed.

The room hadn't changed since I'd left. The closet door still didn't quite close, the bed was still swathed in the purple comforter Dad had bought for my fourteenth birthday, and the fairy lights I'd hung around the mirror one Christmas were still in place.

Three-quarters asleep, my mind replayed the sighting of bronze hair from earlier today, reminding me of times long-forgotten. Eventually, the sound of the familiar rain on the roof accompanied me into the first restful sleep I'd had in a while.

That wasn't by any means the first night I dreamed of Edward Cullen, but it was the first time he'd invaded them in a long time.

~ oOo ~