SM owns Twilight. Cups Full of Wishes are mine. And theirs.
A/N: I know you've all waited a long time for this, so I'll let you get to it.
Chapter Three
Edward turns from the window as the sound of Bella's footsteps reach the bottom of the stairs.
He left her only moments ago, but still his eyes light up at the sight of her.
Her gaze matches his, and she smiles. "She really loves that... thank you for doing that for her."
"I'm glad she does," He smiles in return, thinking of Lily's fascinated upward gaze as he wished her sweet dreams and left her room. "Thank you for a wonderful Christmas Eve."
Bella's face falls at the realization that he may be saying good night. "Ummm... you're welcome."
Edward's brows crease at the sudden change in her expression. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No... " She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and shakes her head, her eyes flitting to the window behind him and the snow that has started to fall.
His words leave him with a sigh, "Bella... I haven't done this for... "
"I haven't either," she says softly.
"So, I don't really know... "
"You don't have to leave. I mean... unless you-"
"I don't want to."
"I'm glad you don't."
"I'm glad you're glad."
She nods, another smile touching her lips, while she tries to keep the butterflies from taking over every other part of her. "But... "
"I know it's different for you."
"I have to be careful. For Lily... "
"Of course. She's the most important thing."
"She is. But... I still... "
"Don't want me to leave."
"No, I don't. Not... "
"I won't, Bella."
"I want to be honest with you, Edward... "
"I hope so."
"And then let you decide if you still want to be here."
"Nothing you could say could-"
"Maybe it could."
"It won't, Bella."
"But-"
"But let's see. Let me prove it to you."
Her eyes are hopeful, but still unsure. "She's already very attached to you."
"I'm very attached to her, too."
"But not just her... "
"No, not just her."
"I meant-"
"I know what you meant, Bella. But it works both ways."
"I never expected... I didn't think... "
"Neither did I."
She closes the small space between them, standing beside him in front of the window, and gazes out at the dancing white flakes. "I feel like we had this puzzle... this beautiful, perfect puzzle...
"But we lost a piece... and without it... it was just... "
He inches closer, but watches her face instead of the Christmas gift from the sky that she looks at. "I understand."
"I'm not sure you do, Edward... "
He reaches out slowly, cupping her chin gently in his hand and turning her face to his. "Tell me about the piece, Bella. I want to hear it."
"You might not."
"I promise you I do. Tell me. Please."
She inhales a breath and lets it out with a nod of her head. "It's just... the empty space... it... it isn't there anymore. I know the piece that we lost is gone, but I can't find it now... the space it left... "
He's bursting with joy at her words, and where he thinks they're going, but he can see that they're not easy for her, and doesn't interrupt.
Her voice gets quieter as she continues, "Something has filled it in... another piece fit in its place. And I... I think the piece is you." She closes her eyes and begins to shake her head, "But-"
He gently stills her, and shakes his own. "No more buts."
"It's only been eight days, Edward. How could I think such a thing? It's... I shouldn't... "
"You're not alone, Bella. Not with your thoughts... and you're not the only one who had a puzzle. I had one, too, and it was beautiful, and perfect, just like yours. And then one day it wasn't anymore. There was this huge, gaping hole right in the center of it. Two pieces... lost. That I knew I'd never get back. They wouldn't be found. They were just gone...
"But that gaping hole isn't there anymore, Bella. Something else fit inside of it. Two pieces... that I know..." He strokes his thumb tenderly across her cheek. "...are right here. And up there... asleep under the stars."
"You know?"
"Yes. I know."
She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Edward's forehead creases with worry that he may have said too much. "Does that frighten you?"
"No... it... I know, too."
"I'm glad you do."
"I'm glad you're glad. But still... eight days-"
"Seemed like an eternity while I was waiting to kiss you."
"It was an eternity," she whispers as a slight blush colors her cheeks. "I was beginning to think you never would."
His thumb moves slowly over her flushed cheek and down to brush across her lips. "Would it be alright if-"
"Yes," she whispers in anticipation, not waiting for him to finish his question..
Anticipation that he sees in her eyes, hears in that one word, feels in the air. And that courses through him as he cradles her face in his hands.
He doesn't hesitate this time. He's not nervous. And he doesn't want to wait another second to feel her mouth against his again. Her sweet mouth that opens in welcome as his tongue teases her bottom lip.
Her mouth... that fits so perfectly with his, moves so naturally, tastes so much like home... that every second he feels its warmth heals yet another moment of the pain he's endured for so long.
The mouth of a woman who has endured the same pain, cried the same tears, suffered the same loss.
The woman that now wraps her arms around his waist so tight, like she never wants to let him go...
Who just moments ago told him he was the missing piece, even though she thought the words might be too much... be more than he wanted to hear... make him want to go...
She told him with this mouth... that he lets himself melt into.
This woman... whose arms he lets hold him, because she wants him to stay.
This kiss... that was worth waiting an eternity for.
Eight eternities.
Except this time he didn't have to.
…
CFoW
…
"Breakfast is ready!" Lily calls out the front door to Edward and her grandfather, who have been busy shovelling last night's heavy snowfall.
"Perfect timing!" Charlie calls back to his granddaughter, kicking the snow from his boots. "Because we're done and we're hungry!"
He growls like a bear and Lily runs squealing away from the door and back to the kitchen, where Bella is putting the last of the Christmas breakfast feast on the table.
"No bears in the kitchen, Dad," she scolds, as a giggling Lily runs to hide behind her.
"Yeah! No bears, Grandpa! The horses will be scared!"
His mouth forms an apologetic "Oh" as he eyes the spinning, musical carousel she points to in the center of the table.
The carousel was one of many gifts from Edward, who remembered her jewelry box from the day at the bookshop, and who smiles at her now, honored by the special place of prestige it was given at their breakfast.
"I like your centerpiece," he says with a wink. "And everything looks so good. Lily, did you make all of this food?"
"No, I'm not allowed to touch the stove. But I helped Mommy mix the pancake batter and scramble all of the eggs. I like to use the whisk. It's fun."
"Well, the whisking is a very important job. I can't wait to taste your scrambled eggs."
"What about the pancakes? Don't you want to try those? They're special ones."
"I see that. I've never had star pancakes before. I can't wait to taste those, either. And make more wishes."
"You don't have to wait, it's time to eat. You just have to sit down."
"Yes, ma'am. Where would you like me to sit?"
She pulls a chair away from the table. "Right here by me. That way Grandpa can't steal my bacon." Her eyes narrow as she asks "You don't steal bacon too, do you?"
"No, definitely not. Your bacon will be safe next to me, I promise."
She smiles as Edward pulls out her chair, waiting for her to sit, and slides it back in before he sits beside her where instructed. Charlie rushes quickly to the chair on the other side of her with a snicker.
"Over there, Grandpa," she says in a stern voice, as she points to the chair across from her.
"She's on to you, Dad." Bella laughs as he takes his seat with a pout.
He eyes his granddaughter, and then the man beside her, and his playful pout turns into a smile. "She's on to something."
…
CFoW
…
"We may have to eat Christmas dinner outside with the snow creatures," Rosalie laughs, entering the kitchen. "Because no one is coming in anytime soon, if Lily has anything to say about it, which she does."
"Uh oh," Bella looks up from her chopping, "Is she being bossy?"
"Bossy?" Rosalie's laugh is now a deep chuckle. "Your adorable little dictator is in full command. I've never seen grown men cower like that."
"Sounds like my cue." Bella wipes her hands and unties her apron, looking sorrowfully at Esme, because she's about to lose her only helper. "I should have known my dad wouldn't be able to keep her under control."
"Your dad knows his place, and it's wrapped around her little finger like it should be," Esme smiles, "And no, please leave them. It's adorable, and it's about time someone showed those boys who's boss."
"And they're all perfectly happy taking orders," Rosalie adds, "And I'm enjoying watching them, but I've been ordered to tell you that they are in need of cups full of wishes, and since I missed them the first time, I'd really love to get to make a wish."
"Well, then cups full of wishes it is... if Edward has-"
Esme opens a cupboard and pulls out a bag of marshmallow stars, smiling at the woman that has brought the light back into her son's eyes.
"Edward has more than I could have dreamed for, Bella. Given to him by you and that little angel outside who has stolen all of our hearts. And I will make sure that there are always wishes in this house for her."
…
Bella's mouth drops open as she steps out into the winter wonderland that is Edward Cullen's back yard with the tray of ordered wishes in her hands and his mother by her side.
They'd been out there for quite a while, but the sight before her is nothing short of extraordinary for any length of time they could have spent.
But, extraordinary or not, the sight of her daughter with her hands on her hips and the fearful, helpless expressions assembled before her distracts her from the masterpiece for a moment.
"Looks like I'm just in time. Lily? I see you've been given another wonderful gift, are we forgetting our manners?"
"No. I'll say thank you when it's done. It's not done."
Bella looks again to the extraordinary structure - a carousel of horses made entirely of snow - and then to Edward, as he takes the last two mugs from the tray.
"Do I want to know?" she asks, as he hands her hers.
He smiles and takes a sip of the steaming chocolate before answering with a shrug, "She wants it to move, that's all."
"Of course she does," she sighs, shaking her head, and turning her attention to her daughter, "Lily... you know they can't make it move. Things made of snow can't move. We've talked about this before. Remember the helicopter?"
"That's different. Helicopters have to fly. My carousel doesn't have to fly. It only has to go around. And I want it to go around. I want to ride on it."
"Me too!" Alice squeals. "Make it go around, Edward!"
Edward narrows his eyes at his sister with an exasperated sigh. "You're not helping, Alice."
"I know," she laughs. "But it's so much fun watching you squirm, I couldn't help myself."
Esme wraps an arm around her youngest daughter's shoulder. "Okay, troublemaker, since you can't help yourself, you can help me in the kitchen."
"But I'm having fun out here, and I'm assistant to the queen."
"You were. Now you're assistant to me." She smiles sweetly and turns to Lily, "That's a beautiful carousel, Lily. You're a very lucky little girl. And I hope you don't mind, but I need to borrow Alice for a while."
"Thank you. Is she in trouble? I didn't know grown ups could get in trouble, except the bad kind at Grandpa's jail."
"No, she's not in trouble, I just need a helper."
"Okay. Alice is the best assistant. She'll do a good job helping you."
Esme winks and Edward laughs at a pouting Alice being drug away and then looks at Lily, whose eyes are back glued hopefully on him. He gives her an apologetic smile and twirls the tassels on her hat as he crouches down in front of her.
"I promise I would if I could, but I can't make it move, sweetheart."
"But you can do anything," she replies confidently, not giving up.
"Oh, Lily... "
He beams with pride at her thoughts about him and would give anything not to disappoint her, but he knows it can't be helped this time. And that there's no way out of this but to try to make her understand.
"I'm very honored that you think that, and I try my best when things are possible, but some things just aren't. I'm afraid making your snow carousel move is one of those things that isn't."
A frown forms on her mouth instantly, but just as quickly disappears. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm sorry."
She looks at her carousel for a moment and purses her lips while she thinks. Then she smiles. "That's okay. If you can't do it, then it really must not be possible. But thank you for helping make it for me."
"You're very welcome, Lily."
"It's my second favorite one."
"Wow, that's very special."
"Want to know what my first favorite is?"
"I would love to know, if you want to tell me."
"It's the one just from you."
"Well, thank you. I'm glad you like it so much. Is it your first favorite because it moves?"
"No."
"Because it plays music?"
"No, that's not why either."
"Hmmm... "
"Do you want to guess again?"
He looks up at Bella, who's watching their exchange with glistening eyes. Eyes that melt his heart, just like the big blue ones that wait for his next guess. The guess that isn't, because he's sure he knows the answer this time.
"Is it because it's from me?"
"Yes. That's why. You're getting much better at guessing, Edward."
…
CFoW
...
"Are you okay?" Esme asks from beside a mesmerized Bella, who stands at the window listening to her little girl laugh.
A sound she hasn't heard in so long...
Not just laughter...
Laughter so pure... so raw... and so beautiful, that it takes her breath away and sends tears flooding over her cheeks.
Edward's father Carlisle appears on her other side, wrapping a jacket around her shoulders, and the scent she has come to know as purely Edward now enveloping her snaps her out of her trance.
"Oh... I'm sorry... it's freezing and I have the window open... "
Carlisle gently stills her as she reaches up to close it. "It's a beautiful sound, Bella... the sound of your child's laughter. When it rises up from deep in their belly... when it bursts from them unburdened and permeates everyone and everything around them...
"Don't ever be sorry for wanting to hear it. Listen. Listen as long as you can. Listen until it stops, and pray that it never does."
"Never again," Bella whispers, her prayer already sent.
And maybe not the only one, as Edward's laughter joins Lily's in a chorus of joyful noise, and it is now three pairs of eyes that overflow at the sound.
The sound that gets louder as Rosalie and her husband Emmett join the song, two people that have shared their unspeakable pain, and endured their own, with loss after loss of children unborn.
The sound that explodes, as the three overjoyed pairs of eyes at the window can no longer contain theirs.
Laughter fills the once-quiet house, the air outside of it, and reaches faraway ears, as Charlie and Alice come from their own quiet conversation somewhere in the house to be a part of this Christmas wish come true for all of them.
They join them at the open window, watch the precious scene beyond it, the four rosy-cheeked laughers that still play in the snow, and they are instantly infected with their joy.
Joy that fills these two families' broken and aching hearts, because one selfless and beautiful child made a wish.
…
CFoW
…
Edward Cullen's house is quiet again. The laughter has settled in for the night. It's not gone, just asleep, as Lily is in front of the fire, surrounded by a smitten Rosalie and Emmett, to whom she was reading a story before exhaustion overtook her and she drifted off.
Rosalie watches her sleeping face.
Emmett watches his wife.
Bella watches them all, with Edward's arms around her and his chin rested on the top of her head.
She hears his heart beat, the only sound in the room besides Carlisle, Esme, and Alice's low chatter a few feet away.
Charlie left an hour ago, and though his offer to take them home was declined, he left with a smile on his face.
Charles Swan was secure for the first time since his son-in-law's death that his angels would be looked after.
And loved, he thought, by this family that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and claimed a special place in their lives.
And by a man who he can find no fault with. No hidden agenda.
A man who understands his daughter's pain, because he has suffered the same.
A man whose pain is lifting, just like hers.
A man that would give her and Lily anything he could.
He can already see it.
He looks at them the same way that he does...
With adoration.
With awe, and wonder, and hope.
And he left that man's house with just that knowledge coursing through his mind and heart.
And as he drove, he spoke to his son-n-law...
Our girls are going to be okay, Colin. I know it's what you want. I hope you can see. And I hope you heard their beautiful laughter today. And that it made you smile. At least. Merry Christmas, my boy.
Bella doesn't know any of that, but she smiles as she thinks of her father. The knowing look she saw in his eyes when he said goodnight. The absence of worry. The trust as he left them here...
"I should have driven my own car," Bella whispers quietly against Edward's chest.
"Why is that?"
"Because we should go. I should get her home and in bed... and I feel bad that you have to go back out in the cold, where she kept you all day, to take us."
"Bella, I wouldn't trade today for anything. And I don't mind at all taking you home, but you don't have to go. You could stay here."
"Edward... I-"
"Don't misunderstand. This is a big house. There are many rooms, many beds... Alice is already staying... and she bought Lily those cute little pajamas... "
His voice trails off and they both laugh, because the cute little pajamas she gave her are identical to a pair she bought for herself, white with little yellow stars all over them, and now wears as she sits smiling at them from a chair across the room.
Bella looks again to Lily, who also wears hers, having changed when Alice did, so they could model the latest trend... Wish Wear...
"I don't know... "
"Okay. I don't want to push. I just didn't want to let you go yet."
Bella doesn't want that either. "I'm glad you don't."
"I'm glad you're glad. But... ?"
"No buts. Well, just one... but it's not for me. She won't sleep without a night light... if she woke up in the dark, and in a place she's not used to, even if I was there... "
"Alice has one here. I'm sure she'd give it up for Lily."
"It is not a night light," Alice insists, "It's an air freshener."
"With a night light," Edward chuckles.
Carlisle and Esme laugh, and Alice sticks her tongue out at all of them, before smiling at Bella. "And of course I would give it up for Lily. You should stay."
Bella extracts herself from Edward's arms, fidgeting anxiously. "Angela won't be back from Ben's family's for another day... I have to open up the shop in the morning... "
"And I have to be at the hospital," Edward says, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. "Which means that I won't see you all day... Which is all the more reason that you should stay, so I can see you now."
"If only I had gotten pajamas... " she jokes nervously.
"If only you would stop looking for excuses..." Edward sighs.
"I'm not."
"Okay. Then I'll take you home."
His words are simple, but she hears the disappointment in them. And she thinks a little bit of hurt.
"I really don't have pajamas. It wasn't-"
"You could wear something of mine. And you could stay. If you wanted to."
And now she's sure she does. And she wants to take it away.
"Okay," she says, squeezing his hand this time, "then we'll stay. Because I want to. See you."
"I'm glad you do," he smiles.
"I'm glad you're glad," she smiles back, a tinge of pink touching her cheeks.
His smile gets wider and a voice reminds him they aren't alone.
"Carlisle, go start the car. Emmett, you too."
"Like he can have any fun with Alice here... " Emmett snickers, getting up from the floor.
Everyone laughs as Alice smacks him in the back of the head as he leans down to kiss the top of hers.
"My brother is a gentleman, unlike you," she snarks, as he puts her in a headlock.
"Alright, you two cut it out. You're going to wake Lily."
They relent at Rosalie's motherly scold, and smile apologetically at Bella, who's still struggling to regain her natural shade of pale after their exchange.
Edward sees her struggle and wants to rescue her from it. "Let's get her upstairs so all of the in and out doesn't wake her. Or the children."
She laughs and lets him pull her from the couch and to her sleeping-peacefully-on-the-floor angel, who he scoops gently into his arms without waking her. Her heart constricts at the sight of him cradling her little girl with a father's tenderness, and again as Rosalie stands and plants a soft kiss on her cheek and whispers "Sweet dreams."
She smiles at Rosalie, who she knows has taken to her daughter in a special way, and at Alice who quietly giggles "I'll get the air freshener," and runs up the stairs.
A moment and a long trek up the massive staircase later, she follows Edward into a room a few doors down the hall, where Alice is already inside turning down the large bed, and where a soft glow and a delicate tropical scent welcomes them into the space.
"Is this okay?" Edward asks Bella, before he lays Lily in the waiting bed.
"It's more than okay," she answers with a smile and watches him settle her head against the soft pillow.
She smiles again as they both reach to pull the covers over her, and she gestures for him to do the honors. Her heart clenches once more at the sweet way he tucks her in and places a featherlight kiss on her forehead and whispers goodnight.
Alice leaves the room, with a smile on her own face, and Edward starts to follow her out. Bella grabs his hand to stop him, and holds it as she leans down to give her daughter her own goodnight kiss.
"Merry Christmas, beautiful girl," she whispers to the sleeping child, and stares at her for a long moment before turning and walking quietly from the room hand in hand with Edward.
She looks up at warm green eyes once the door is most of the way closed. "And Merry Christmas to you, beautiful man."
Eyes that grow warmer as he gazes down into her twinkling brown ones. "Merry Christmas, Bella," he whispers, tilting her chin up with the hand that isn't held in hers. "And while you are certainly beautiful, I have a guess that my telling you that isn't exactly what you want from me right now... "
His words fade away as his lips fall softly against hers. Disappear from his mind as her mouth tells him how right he was.
He's dreamed of kissing her all day. Waited for the opportunity. A moment when no one was looking. The moment when he thought she dreamed of the same thing.
This moment...
When all of the others of this incredible day, that he feared were too good to be true, too perfect to be real, too happy to be his life...
When they explode with vivid clarity... filling his empty home, his missing-pieces heart, his arms - that are no longer empty...
Because this beautiful woman lets herself melt into them...
One more gift in a day filled with them...
The glorious gift that keeps giving its sweet surprise to him...
And the promises her mouth gives of endless more...
Of her...
And the laughter that he can't keep inside as she pulls breathlessly away and says in a small, sweet voice...
"You're getting much, much better at guessing, Edward."
…
CFoW
…
Edward wakes happy. Bella and Lily are in his house. Sleeping just a few doors away.
Not sleeping...
He hears them. Their sweet, quiet voices. Their laughter.
They're in his house and they're happy too.
He jumps out of bed and rushes to the bathroom. He takes care of necessary business, washes his hands and face, and brushes his teeth, before rushing back out, not wasting a second on his hair - because it really wouldn't make much difference...
And because he's too anxious to see their smiling faces to care.
He knocks lightly on the wooden frame just outside of the door to the room where they slept.
It's Bella's voice that answers, "Come in."
And the sight that meets his eyes as he peeks his head in the door takes his breath away. And makes him laugh.
The breathlessness is caused by Bella, who sits up in the bed, wearing his clothes, and looking tousled and beyond beautiful, and the laugh is because a giggling Lily points to Alice, who lies on a makeshift bed on the floor beside them.
"Good morning," Bella says, smiling shyly.
"Best morning," he smiles back. "Want me to toss the intruder?"
"No. I think she just missed her air freshener," she laughs.
"I did not," Alice declares, sitting up. "I just wanted to be at a slumber party, where boys aren't supposed to be allowed."
"Edward is allowed," Lily says, "It's a rule."
"Since when?" Alice asks.
"Since now, when I made it."
Edward gives her a wink. "I sure am glad you're on my side, Lily. And I like your rules."
"I like your messy hair."
"I like yours, too."
"Mommy doesn't wake up with messy hair. Mommy wakes up pretty."
"I see that. Your mommy looks beautiful. And so do you, even with messy hair."
"Thank you." She smiles, and looks from Edward to her getting-pink mother and a more devious smile breaks out on her face. "Mommy, you should go brush your teeth. I think Edward wants to kiss you good morning."
Edward chuckles and winks at Lily a second time. "And I think that you're the best guesser ever, Lily."
"It's not a guess, Edward. You just forgot how observant I am. But don't worry... just like guessing... you'll get better."
And once again...
Laughter fills this once-quiet house.
xx
I'm going to go hold my breath now, but before I do, I'll tell you that there will be at least one more. I can't promise more than that.