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I don't own Twilight or its characters; they belong to Stephanie Meyer. This is just what they got up to in my mind.

As we made our way to the stairs, we passed the front door, and I peeked outside into the darkness. The snow was still falling, slower now, but there was no way I was going to drive home in that weather. Besides, I wanted to spend more time with Edward, to know this was real. We needed to spend time together to reacquaint, and Christmas seemed the perfect time to do that.

I text my dad to tell him I was staying here and wouldn't be at home when he got back. He was on night shifts at work and his usual pattern was to finish nights and sleep until after lunchtime, grab some food and head to work again. I'd message him tomorrow and hopefully see him in the afternoon, but for now, all I wanted to do was stay with Edward and not answer my dad's questions about why I was staying with Edward.

I brushed away Edward's sympathy when he realized I'd have spent Christmas day alone. I knew Edward, and his parents, had strong opinions about my flaky parents but they tried to keep their opinions to themselves, except every once in a while, when Edward got overly annoyed at them, like now. I pointed out if I was spending Christmas with my parents, I wouldn't be free to spend it here with him. He suddenly didn't mind my flaky parents so much after that.

We said goodnight to everyone and settled in Edward's room as we had done plenty of times in the past, but this time it felt different. It was different.

For the next three hours, we sat on his bed, chatting and reconnecting. He filled me in on his tough classes and college life, and I got him up to speed with the school gossip. Then we talked about deeper issues, how we would move forward together as a couple and the specifics of his move and relocation back home.

I had no idea he'd had such a tough time in Chicago. Sure, I thought he was a dick for his recent behavior, but knowing how miserable he'd been made me realize it wasn't just me who had been hurting this whole time.

I'll admit, I wanted Edward to feel the hurt I was experiencing when we'd been apart, but when he described how the last few months had been for him, I realized he had felt it. What he was describing was a broken heart, just like mine.

I watched him talking, I'd missed his angular jaw and rather liked the stubbled look he had going on. I watched his hands, gesticulating as he spoke, and watched his long legs as he shifted position and got more comfortable on the bed.

After I yawned several times in a row, Edward smiled softly at me. Neither of us had much in the way of nightclothes. The clothes I'd arrived in had already been washed and dried by Esme, but I wanted to keep them clean for the morning. And Edward hadn't unpacked yet, insisting he wanted to sit with me instead.

"Come here." He relaxed back on his bed, sat up against his headboard and stretched an arm out, welcoming me.

I wasn't sure I was ready to be so close to him, but my body took over from my mind, wanting to rekindle our physical connection.

The sigh that escaped my mouth as I settled next to him was entirely involuntary, but I felt at peace. At home. And calmer than I had in weeks.

Edward kissed the top of my head, and I felt him relax next to me.

"Fuck, I've missed you." His lips stayed in my hair as he kissed me again, soft kisses on my forehead as his hand curled around my side and rested on my hip.

I turned on my side, closer to him, tucking my head under his chin, tentatively resting my fingertips on his chest. Christ, he smelled so good. So familiar. So ... Edward.

I hooked a leg over his, intertwining our legs as I reached forward, barely daring to believe this was more than a daydream or fantasy. Edward was here. He was serious about our relationship and was changing his life to prove it.

I stroked the soft cotton of his shirt, my fingertips finding the gap between two buttons and peeking through to feel his soft skin and the hardness of his chest underneath.

I didn't realize I'd groaned out loud until Edward chuckled. "Still going for the chest, huh?"

"Always," I whispered, my fingers almost shaking with anticipation as I slipped my hand back out and undid one of his shirt buttons before placing my whole palm through the gap onto this bare chest.

My fingers grazed over his warm skin and stroked at his chest, tentatively at first and then stronger.

Edward sighed contentedly as he looked down at me. I met his warm gaze and was amazed by the love shining back at me.

"Is this okay?" I whispered as he chuckled.

"Always." He echoed my word.

"I don't want the last person to have touched you to be 'another chick.'" I quoted as Edward looked simultaneously embarrassed and amused. "Besides, I've missed your chest, your body. You." I whispered, already setting to work on the next shirt button and anticipating the sight of his chest, any second now.

"Bella, I promise you, it didn't go anywhere with her. I couldn't. I just wanted you."

"Good. because I couldn't stomach it if you had..."

"I didn't. I only took her back to my room because the guys were goading me. Saying there was no point in me being single if I didn't meet new girls. I listened to those idiots instead of my own morals, my heart. I've learned my lesson, trust me. On my brother's life, Bella, I'm telling the truth."

I nodded. I knew him, and I believed him.

"So, you didn't do anything with Riley Biers?" Edward's voice was tentative but edged with concern.

I paused, my fingers still on his shirt button, and looked up at him. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"It's okay, Bella. I'd understand." His fingers found my elbow and brushed it lightly, making soft, cautious contact with me.

"No really, what on earth are you talking about?" I sat up to look at him properly.

"Emmett said he saw you out with Riley," Edward stated as my jaw dropped open.

"What!"

"Bella, I get it …" Edward ran his hands up my arms as I leaned back from him.

"Edward, I don't know what he was talking about."

"When he visited me in Chicago, he implied he'd seen you two in the diner …"

"Oh." It dawned on me what must have happened. "We had a final project that I was working on with Riley, Angela, and Jessica. Emmett must have seen Riley and me together before the others arrived."

"It sounds that way," Edward agreed with a shrug. "Either way Bella, I can't be mad at you." Edward sounded more relieved than angry, but I was still concerned.

"I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time a family came to blows over on Christmas Day, but please don't confront Emmett and make a scene," I asked Edward anxiously, not wanting to cause any issues between Edward and Emmett, any more than I perhaps already had.

"I won't." Edward was solemn. "Emmett was really good to me when he visited me in Chicago, I haven't properly said thank you. I mean … he knows … but I should talk to him properly."

"You should, but don't bring up me, I don't want to be the reason your family Christmas is ruined."

"Ruined?" He smiled adorably at me. "Ruined? Bella, you've made me the happiest man in the world this Christmas. You agreeing to take back my sorry ass is the best present I've ever had. Nothing will ruin this Christmas."

"Good, I may have agreed to take you back and be kind of over the moon that you want us back together, but this is going to take time. We can't just pick up where we left off, Edward, we need to build fresh."

"I understand," he agreed. "All that we had will come back in time, I'm sure of it. But for now, just knowing that will come is enough for me. And spending Christmas with you is more than I deserve."

"Well, all my best Christmases have been with you and your family, but this one is particularly special. In fact, I think there's only one way to improve it..." I set to work on the rest of his shirt buttons as he chuckled at me, knowing how much I loved his chest.

Once all the buttons were undone, I pulled apart the two sides of his shirt and rested my head on his warm skin as he ran his hands through my hair. I didn't know how much physical contact I was ready for, but I couldn't resist him. I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his sternum, his body warm and strong under my lips.

I groaned before forcing myself to stop, move back slightly, and relax. I rested my head on his bicep, drawing patterns on his chest with my fingertips as his hand gently stroked through my hair, over and over again.

"You know that will send me to sleep," I told him sighing contentedly.

"Sleep, baby, I'm just going to hold you a little longer."

Thanks to Frannie Walsh for being beta for this chapter, RebAdams for being my pre-reader and M-Sparkle for the great banner. All mistakes are mine as I'm often adding to this story up to the last minute. Please let me know your thoughts x