This story is back with two future takes.

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

"It will be fine, Bella, I promise." I gripped her small hand tighter in mine and carried on racing up the stairs.

"Edward, your parents are expecting us with them when the ball drops in less than fifteen minutes!"

I paused so sharply Bella almost ran into my back. I turned around to face her and planted a lopsided grin on my face as I raised my eyebrows. "The way I feel we won't even need five minutes. We'll be back downstairs again before you know it!"

Bella laughed, and her eyes were shining bright with lust. "Well, I guess everyone will be distracted …"

"Exactly." I spun back around and carried on up the stairs, almost tripping in my haste to get to the bedroom.

Once inside I slowed down. I closed the door quietly, clicked on a bedside lamp and then drew the curtains. Bella watched me, making my stomach ache at the thought of what we were going to do next.

Bella and I slept here every night since Christmas Eve, getting closer and closer but not quite going there. Until now. It had been so long. Too long. Months since I'd felt her, like that.

We'd been together every day since Christmas, but we still couldn't get enough of each other. Bella had spent an afternoon with Charlie and done a few shifts at work but other than that, she'd only been away from me to collect some of her belongings and a change of clothes, which were now stashed in one of my draws. Here in his room. The room that had become our room.

Since I'd never taken much to Chicago, I didn't have much to bring back. Some of it I didn't even want. There was nothing but bad memories attached to it. The rest was now in this room or my parent's garage, waiting to be sorted.

Bella and I had spent lazy days watching festive films and eating the mountain of food my mom had prepared when she over-catered for Christmas.

We'd taken Sophie and Petey bowling, and I'd beaten Petey at Scaletrix, but only when Bella was out of the room baking cookies with Sophie. We'd build snowmen in the garden, which turned into a snowball fight, leaving Bella with rosy red cheeks, flakes of fine white powdery snow in her hair and a big grin on her face.

We'd only been out once to do some shopping and buy each other some belated Christmas gifts. The rest of the time had been spent in this warm, cozy house I'd missed so much.

I'd attempted to do some college work, wanting to hit the ground running when I started my new classes in January, but just having Bella in the same room was distracting, she was much more interesting than anything a medical textbook had to offer.

And now we were ready to see in the new year, together.

She stood across the room from me, her eyes lowering to my shirt as I assessed her dress. We were both dressed up for my parent's, annual New Year's party.

While Christmas was strictly a family affair in my household, they went all out for the New Year. Everyone from the neighbors to the mailman would be present tonight. I'd spent most of the night explaining to acquaintances that I'd moved back home, and while I'm sure some of them didn't understand, I was also sure I didn't care because I knew I'd made the right decision.

Various aunts, uncles, cousins, and unknown relatives were downstairs, drinking more than they could handle as they waited for midnight to strike. But in my room, Bella already looked striking; wearing a red dress Alice had given her for Christmas, with her hair curled into a soft wave, which framed her beautiful face. I just had to put on a shirt and slacks, but Bella sure seemed to think I looked good enough.

I knew Bella wanted this, we'd been getting physically closer all week, and I'd waited until I knew she was ready before taking the lead. I took a step closer to her, and she reached out, pulling me the rest of the way to close the gap between us. She started on my buttons, opening the shirt and sliding it down my shoulders before unbuttoning my pants. I slid them off, watching her watch me.

"Christ, Edward, you're all I've ever wanted." She kissed my sternum as I wrapped my arms around her and started to lower the zip of her dress.

Once it was open enough, it slid down her body. I stood watching her smooth legs as she stepped out of it and was left in just her underwear.

"Bella, I'm not sure I've ever wanted you as much as I do now," I told her, not very subtly admiring her body.

She smiled and unhooked her bra, lying on my bed as she pulled me on top of her.

Making up for lost time, we explored each other's bodies, becoming reacquainted with what we had longed for since our separation.

Before long I was hovering above her and watching the way her focus shifted from my arms to my chest, to my face, to my shoulders. She was almost frantic as I moved all my weight to one arm and raised my other hand, brushing her hair off her face and getting her attention.

"Bella, I'm here ... I'll always be here."

A small tear escaped her eye and rolled down into her hair before I could brush it away. "Baby …"

"Please, Edward. Please, I want you so much." She tugged me closer to her, not that I needed much encouragement. Once I knew she wanted me, right now, I wasn't going to hold back.

"I fucking love you so much, Bella." I entered her slowly, filling her as she moaned and bit her lip.

"I know," she groaned as her eyes closed and her head fell backward.

"I do," I told her. "So much." I rocked on top of her, making her eyes snap open to meet my heavy gaze.

"So much," I repeated again, getting breathy as I rocked harder and faster. Damn, she felt so good. I knew she felt it too. She was moaning louder now, and I was suddenly grateful for the loud music downstairs since I was having trouble controlling myself, too.

"Edward, faster. Faster and I'll come," She told me making my stomach flip, and my hips move quicker and harder. It certainly didn't take long for Bella to match my movements and between us we came crashing down together, our lips meeting as our bodies did, her breath in mine, my moans swallowed up my hers; her hands frantic, roaming, gripping, holding, and needing until I dropped down next to her, breathless and spent.

"Damn, Bella." I kissed her shoulder, and she chuckled and turned to face me.

"Do we have to be downstairs at midnight? I'd rather stay here with you."

"Me too," I agreed, kissing her forehead and pulling her closer. "But if we don't go downstairs we run the risk of someone coming up here to look for us…" I let my words trail off as I felt Bella nod against my chest.

"I know," she sighed, "but when we come back up you need to get topless pretty damn quickly, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed with a laugh. She was adorable when she was mock grumpy.

We rushed to get dressed and back downstairs and made it just in time to find a glass and a drink and be assured that no one had noticed our absence.

I approached Emmett, who was filling his glass and readying himself for midnight. Emmett was never one to turn down a party. He and Rosalie had wisely agreed they'd all stay here tonight so they could enjoy a drink or twelve.

"Eddie, happy new year, bro, try not to fuck this one up, yeah?" He joked, playfully slapping me on the back as I shook my head at his exuberance.

"Great advice."

"You want advice?" I didn't get a chance to object as Emmett carried on. "Don't hurt Bella again, I might well kick your ass if you do."

I nodded. "I know. And Emmett, thanks for looking after her, you know … when we were apart." I gave him a knowing look, and he nodded slowly.

"No problem, she's like a sister to me. And you're my brother so I'll choose you. I'll always choose you, but don't make me choose, yeah?"

"Don't worry, Bella and I are back on track," I assured him. His eyes widened, and so did his grin.

"Did you two …" he paused, waiting for me to talk.

"Emmett, I didn't mean that!" Christ, he had a one-track mind when he'd been drinking.

"Still, you have though, yeah? Then I guess she really does prefer you to Riley Biers." Emmett laughed at his own joke as I punched his shoulder lightly.

"You bastard, you knew nothing was going on with Riley, you just wanted to mess with my head."

Emmett grinned, and I knew he was agreeing. "I may have thought it wouldn't hurt you to think what it would be like if Bella was interested in someone else."

"Well, Riley Biers can fuck off. I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere."

"I'll drink to that." Emmett raised his glass to me, and I tapped it with my own glass of Coke.

"I know you're not twenty-one yet, but surely you've had a few drinks? Remember when Mom and Dad let me drink at New Year when I was nineteen? Man! I got hammered!"

"Yeah, maybe that's why I've not been offered anything more than a Bud Light tonight," I mused as Emmett laughed.

"Sorry," Emmett replied sheepishly as I felt Bella's soft hand slip into mine.

"Hi," I gazed down at her, pulling her closer to my side as she smiled up at me.

"Hi," she replied, all soft lips and wavy hair.

"Ugh, you two, you're sickening," Emmett told us good-naturedly, "although I won't complain too much, sickeningly in love Edward is way better than moody bastard Edward," Emmett mused as Rosalie approached him and threaded her arm around his waist.

"Emmett, I know you live to rile your brother but give him a rest for one night, yeah?" Dad must have been close enough to hear our conversation, or he just knew Emmett well enough to know whenever he was talking to me, he was probably ribbing me.

"Everyone, fill your glasses, only a few minutes to go." Dad raised his voice above the general noise in the room.

Alice and Jasper joined us just as my mom hugged my dad's side. We all stood together, watching the countdown on the TV.

"10"

I pulled Bella closer to me.

"9"

She rested her hands on my chest.

"8"

She raised up on her tiptoes.

"7"

I met her eyes.

"6"

I held her hip and pulled her closer to me.

"5"

Her hand rose to cup the back of my neck.

"4"

I bent down to her.

"3"

"I love you."

"2"

"I love you, too"

"1"

My lips met hers as the room erupted into noise. Glasses clanked, fireworks boomed outside, and family and friends cheered and toasted in the New Year.

Bella eagerly met my kiss, her body pressed firmly against mine.

"Always," she whispered as our kiss broke apart.

"Always," I echoed.

Thanks to Frannie Walsh for being beta for this chapter and M-Sparkle for the great banner. All mistakes are mine as I'm often adding to this story up to the last minute.