The next month flies by with work keeping me busy during the day, spending time with some of the girls in the afternoon and lots of time with Edward. The timing for us starting to take our relationship couldn't be better since he has less to do around the farm. Each conversation I can feel myself giving up more of my heart to him rather quickly. For every doubt that enters my mind about our relationship, he says or does something to remind me of how right this is. Physically we're taking things slow so far, not progressing further than some intense make-out sessions, but I don't think either of us are ones to rush into anything.

Before I know it, the end of November is upon us. The temperatures have dropped and we've already gotten dustings of snow. Thankfully Alice was more than happy to take me shopping for some winter apparel because my belongings from home weren't cutting it anymore. It's sad to spend my first Thanksgiving away from family and friends back home, especially in a country where Thanksgiving is not celebrated. I did my best at recreating the meal, inviting all of my new island family over for the feast. It was a tight fit to squeeze everyone in, especially with all of the food but it was one that I'll forever remember.

After missing Thanksgiving back home, I promise my dad that I will be flying home for Christmas. He told me to consider my flight home a Christmas gift to him and even offered to help with the cost. As much as I am looking forward to the trip back to see everyone, I know that I'll miss everyone here. Just the thought of leaving makes me miss them already, especially Edward.

In early December, the group of us decides to make a shopping trip into Charlottetown and have dinner at Jacob's restaurant afterward. Strolling along the shops in the bitter cold is ensuring that we go into as many of the stores as possible to warm up again. It's during dinner that conversation shifts to my trip back home, which is approaching sooner than I'm ready for.

"So Bella, will you be back in time for New Year's Eve?" Kate asks.

"I'm flying back the day before so unless there's problems with the flight, I'll be here," I reply, already looking forward to my return before I've even left.

"What are we doing for New Year's anyway?" Kate questions, looking towards the others.

"We're having a party at Edward's place," Alice pipes up.

"We are? When did we decide that?" Edward retorts sarcastically.

"You're the only one with a place big enough for everyone to crash afterwards," she responds as if he should have figured the reasoning out himself. "Besides, don't you want to make Bella's first New Year's Eve on the island the best?"

Edward grabs my hand, planting a kiss on the side of my head. I can't help but laugh at Alice's ability to use me as the excuse for her party planning.

"In that case, we're celebrating the New Year at my place," Edward concedes.

~AS~

The day before my flight is supposed to leave, Edward and I spend our time at my cottage enjoying the quiet together. We have a quiet dinner together and then I finish packing up what I need to bring home with me while he's flipping channels on the television.

"All finished," I declare as I enter back into the living room area.

"Time for gifts?" he questions with a twinkle in his eye. I've learned that the holidays bring out the boyish side of Edward.

Since I wouldn't be here for Christmas we decided to exchange gifts before I left. Trying to find a gift for him wasn't easy. I brainstormed like crazy, even asking Esme and Alice for ideas of what I could get him. The pressure felt intense, especially since Edward had been teasing me for weeks about the perfect gift he'd picked out for me. The lack of funds in my bank account didn't make it any easier to purchase a gift for the man who seemed to prefer the simple things.

"Fine, time for gifts. I get to give you mine first," I state as I retreat to grab his gift from the other room.

I hand Edward his gift and sit down nervously next to him on the futon. His eyes light up as he begins to unwrap the gift eagerly. As he opens the box in front of him and pauses, I feel the need to jump in to clarify.

"It's really stupid, but I wasn't sure what to get you. I just remember being at your place and it didn't really have many pictures around…and I know how important your family is to you…so I thought maybe…" I ramble.

"Where did you get all these pictures?" he interrupts.

"Your mom mostly. Alice sent me a few and when Kate found out what I was working on, she sent me some too."

"I love it," he smiles as his fingers glide over the pictures in the frame. "This is perfect."

Once I had given up on finding a gift for Edward in the store, I tried to think of what was most important to him. His family and his life on the farm were the two things that continued to pop into my head. I remembered the empty feeling that the farmhouse had when I had visited, with the lack of photographs surrounding him and I decided that would be the best gift I could create. I found a local shop that used materials from the island and chose a driftwood frame before collecting photographs of family and friends to place inside.

"Are you sure? You were the hardest person to shop for," I fidget nervously.

"I really love it. Thank you," he insists before pressing a kiss to my lips. "Now, time for your gift."

Edward hands me an envelope, making me more curious as to the perfect gift that he had chosen. Carefully lifting it open I take out the paper from inside and two tickets fall into my lap. I look up to Edward who is smiling and back to the paper in my lap. Reading the paper and looking at the tickets, I can't hold in the laugh as it escapes.

"Edward, you got me tickets to Green Gables?" I squeal, sounding like Alice.

"It's a season pass to the Green Gables site and then tickets to the play in Charlottetown this spring. I know you haven't made it to the site yet," he explains.

"You don't know how excited this makes me. Oh I can't wait! You're coming with me right? You said before you weren't getting stuck in that tourist trap!"

"Yes, I'm taking you. You'll have to wait until everything opens again in the spring, but I know it's the reason you even came to this island, so I suppose I owe it to Ms. Montgomery," he trails off with a smile to equal my own.

Before I can stop myself I'm across the futon and on his lap. The tickets are tossed to the side as I take in the man in front of me. It's not the most extravagant gift, but it's one of the most thoughtful. He knew what this place meant to me, how much it would mean to go with him, and also thought ahead that we would still be together this spring.

Our kiss deepens with Edward's hands pressing into my hips, holding me in place on his lap. I run my fingers through his hair and clasp them behind his neck. We've been here before, but this time I want more. I give a tug on his hair, running my other hand down his arm hoping his hands will move from their safe spot on my hips. His hands tighten for a second before he secures them behind my back just under the edge of my shirt. He pulls back from the kiss, resting his forehead against mine as we catch our breath. When I lean forward to continue, he breathes out and responds with only a quick peck.

"It's getting late," he sighs.

"Not that late," I argue.

"It is for someone who wants me back here in the morning for a ride to the airport before the sun is up," he replies.

"So stay," I offer.

"Stay?" he smiles against my lips.

"Mmhmm," is all I can reply before continuing the kiss.

"Okay," he murmurs.

I hope he knows I don't intend for him to sleep out here on the futon tonight.