A/N: Well, here you go chickens and roosters. Ch4 of lexiecullen17 and my fic exchange piece-it was gifted for MrsAC. I hope you really enjoy it, we're working on doing an epi for this story...so hopefully I'll have that to post somewhere near the end of this fic.

As always, SM own Twi...I just play barbie and ken with her toys

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-x-x-X

-BPOV-

I woke early on Christmas morning. Between the flight, Edward's family (especially his mother's gimlets), the kitchen frosting adventure, and our shopping excursion...I was beat. I had some residual muscle aches from all the fun we'd had in and out of Edward's room, and since I could hear someone up and about downstairs, I figured I'd get up and stretch out my sore muscles.

The soft rise and fall of Edward's chest told me that he was still in a deep sleep. Edging from under his arm, he grumbled and buried his face in his pillow-still asleep.

I threw on my fuzzy slipper boots that Rose had gotten me as an early gift and a Cardinal's hoodie over my leggings and tank. Looking down at the tremendously comfy slippers on my feet, I laughed; they were red with little yellow birds on them. As I tiptoed down the stairwell I noted that I did not hear any talking just...noises.

Pausing on the last step I turned my head, listening to make sure I hadn't misinterpreted the sounds. Nope. There was a drip of a coffee machine and the rustling of a paper...someone was up. Even if they were quiet as hell. Rounding the corner, complete understanding dawned on me.

Jasper and Alice took up residence in the kitchen, one sitting at the table and the other leaning against the counter in complete silence.

Edward's brother had on a button down shirt with a sweater vest and a fucking red and green striped bow tie. Seriously, man, maybe Edward was right. And then Alice looked like she was perched along the edge of her seat, the toe of her gaudy gold and black ballet flats poking out from under her. That was all I could see right now because she had the Wallstreet Journal held high, spread out in front of her face.

"Merr-" I started but was rudely cut off by bow tie boy.

"So, looks like the golden boy's flavor of the week wore him out," Jasper snipped towards Alice, pretending like I wasn't standing two feet from him. Mentally, I calculated how efficient it was that I was flexible and could high kick his snooty nose to the ceiling.

"Jasper W. Cullen, what in the world is wrong with you? We talked about this, and I repeat, I will not listen to anymore snarky, hateful comments." I thought my ears were mistaken, that Esme had walked in, but no, Alice had just stood up for me...me. "It makes you sound low-class and unintelligent," she added, just for good measure before pulling the paper back in front of her face.

From the angle where I stood, I saw both their faces now. He looked embarrassed-as he should-and she smiled and winked at me, while trying not to laugh at the obvious power she held over Jasper. 'Trying' being the operative word. If he hadn't been so mortified, he would have heard the slight snickers from behind the paper.

I mouthed a quick "Thank you," and then made my way over to the coffee pot. As I closed in on the fresh coffee aroma that was calling me, I noticed the window. The drapes were pulled back and the sun was reflecting off the ground like a mirror. Snow! The flurries that Edward and I had played in on the street last night had increased and layered the ground.

With my cup firmly placed back on the counter I headed for the door. Alice dropped her paper to the table and Jasper eyed me like a crazy person. As soon as I swung the door open the frigid air hit me, but my elation over finally having a white Christmas overrode the temperature.

I closed the door softly behind me and flung myself into the cold, wet snow covered ground. I rolled and played as the tiny bits of snow gathered in my hair and on my clothes. Snow angels. I wanna make snow angels. Truthfully I had been making sand/desert angels since I was a little girl in Phoenix.

It took awhile but soon my hoodie and tights were soaked with the dampness of winter. And even though shivers were running violently through my body I couldn't help but to stand and laugh with my face tilted to the sky-as new snowflakes landed on my nose and tongue.

Spinning in circles and freezing my ass off, I heard laughter. Oh shit! A mid spin stop left me unbalanced and my focus hazy. Finally, I drew my eyes to the offending chuckles and my eyes went wide at the sight. Edward, Esme and Carlisle were standing in the kitchen at the window watching me like I was a holiday Hallmark special.

Completely and irrevocably humiliated, I made my way to the house. Edward met me at the door with a big warm towel and a huge shit-eating grin on his face. Yeah, yeah laugh it up. I glanced down and noticed that I was covered in slush. My tights had turned dark from the moisture, and my hoodie hung heavy on me.

I was sure that I looked a mess, but Edward-being Edward-laughed and wrapped me in the towel and his arms. As he drew me into him, he laughed. "Wow, Bella, if I knew that all it took was snow for you to get all 'Cheerleaders gone wild' on me..." He trailed off suggestively and waggled his eyebrows at me.

"Hey, hey you two," Carlisle spoke up from behind my warm snuggly boyfriend. "Your mother is making breakfast, and it's almost done." His words sounded stern but when I looked his face was all smiles.

"Don't worry," Edward smirked. "I'm just going to help Bella change into some dry clothes."

Oh my God. Did he just say that in front of his parents? To his parents? I smacked at his hands playfully and laughed. His parents didn't look upset or insulted at all.

I made my way out of the kitchen with the towel wrapped tightly around me. As I traveled up the stairs, I heard faint footsteps behind me. Edward. As I reached out to grasp the door knob to his room, he wrapped his large warm hand over mine. Stepping into his room, encased by him was nice...familiar.

He placed soft kisses along my neck as he helped me pull off the clingy, wet sweatshirt. His kisses never grew hasty or rushed as I pulled off my tights and soggy slipper boots. Edward took the throw blanket off the end of his bed and wrapped it around my bare, shivering body. Then, very gently, he pushed me back to sit on the bed.

"I wanted to give you a early present," Edward spoke softly as he ran his hands up and down the outside of my arms. When I opened my mouth to object, he cut me off. "Please don't argue, Bella, it's nothing big." Well then...it's definitely not what I thought he was trying to give me...because Edward is certainly big.

He knelt down and pulled something from under his bed. It was a medium-sized rectangular box wrapped in an elegant silver foil paper. I pulled away the large red silk bow and opened the box. Nestled inside of the box and under a few sheets of tissue paper was the most exquisite cream-colored cashmere sweater dress.

It had a graceful cowl neck and cuffed sleeves and hem. As I pulled it from the box in awe I noticed the glimmer of the dress. A pale gold shimmery thread ran through the fabric, making the dress appear luminescent.

"Oh, Edward, it's beautiful," I gushed as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I hugged him tightly, barely noticing his stiffness at first. "Edward what's wrong?" I asked when he still sat, arms at his sides, hands gripping the edge of the bed. As I pulled away to better look at him, I felt it-the chill of the air.

In my excitement, I had failed to notice that the blanket had dropped and left me exposed to Edward's hungry gaze. He looked straight ahead, refusing to look at me, and quietly said, "Um...yeah...my mom will come looking for us if we're not down there soon, so I'm going to stare at this spot on the wall until after you're dressed."

He sounded so flustered that I would have laughed at his unease if he hadn't looked like he was ready to lose it. I tugged the blanket around me, and while clutching the gorgeous dress, I hid in his bathroom. How mature of us...we're a couple of hormone-stricken teenagers.

I showered and dressed quickly, pulling the soft warmth of the dress over my head. I waited as the steam dripped down the mirror and actually did a double take at my reflection. The dress fit perfectly, hugging my curves and falling at the ideal length. The glimmering strands set off the cream in the dress and my skin.

Applying some light make up and pulling my hair off my neck finished the look. I felt beautiful. Edward made me feel beautiful and comfortable in his parent's home.

When I walked back in Edward's room, he was seated in the same place, his eyes fixed on the same spot. "What do you think?" I asked as I stepped in front of him.

"Wow. Bella you look..." Instead of finishing, he stood and crashed his lips into mine. His kiss reflected his earlier hunger, and I returned it with a feverish passion. Our tongues collided and wrapped around one another. We broke apart, both of us breathless.

"Mom...breakfast...crap." Edward staggered his words between breaths. I took his hand and circled my thumb in his palm. Once I felt him relax and our breathing had returned to normal, I gave his a tug toward the door.

We made our way, hand-in hand, to the dining room. Everyone was already seated and even though Jasper looked irritated at having to wait for us he didn't say anything rude.

Once we sat down breakfast flew by; everyone was anxious to get to their gifts. Jasper held his tongue and was painfully polite while passing around platters of eggs, toast, bacon, and muffins. Then Alice and I helped Edward's mom clear the table and get cups of coffee-and tea, Jasper-to take into the living room.

-EPOV-

Ever since I was a little boy, I believed that nothing bad could ever happen on Christmas. It was the perfect holiday. Everyone put aside petty arguments to come together and enjoy time with family and people you loved. With Bella here, though, I was anticipating it being the best Christmas ever. I finally had someone I loved outside my family to share the holiday with, and I had never been more excited.

Yeah, and that doesn't have anything to do with the small box waiting for Bella under the tree...

Last night, after Bella had gone to sleep, I'd placed her last-and by far most important-present underneath the tree. I was dying with anticipation to give it to her. I couldn't wait to see her reaction to it...my palms were getting sweaty and my heart was racing just thinking about it. After finishing a delicious breakfast, with Jasper being civil to everyone (see, Christmas really just is the best holiday), it was time to exchange presents.

My family did "rounds" of presents, where everyone would open one person's gifts to them at the same time. I was sure this tradition developed so Jasper and I wouldn't notice what the other got from our parents when we were little, but it had never changed, and I was kind of partial to it now. We were too old for the amounts of presents sitting under the tree, but my parents didn't really care-and neither did I. This was how we had always done Christmas in my family, and it was probably how it would always be-and how my kids would do it, too.

Kids? Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?

Jasper decided that he wanted to hand out his presents first, breaking me away from my fantasy land where small brown-haired, green-eyed children sat on Bella's lap and tore open wrapping paper happily. Alice squealed as she opened her present, showing us that she'd received a CD and two tickets to a show by some band called Mount Eerie. I'd never heard of them, but Alice was definitely pleased. He'd gotten my mother an ornament, as he had every year since first grade, and my dad a stack of books that would probably end up on a shelf somewhere in his study. As I opened my present, I saw that Jasper had gotten me a subscription to Netflix, which was actually a pretty fucking awesome present.

I lifted my eyes to meet his, and he released a tentative smile. "I figured just in case your knee blows out, you might need something to do while recovering."

I laughed, seeing the insult through the gift. Thoughtful, yet still condescending. Thanks, Jas. You're always such a sweetheart. "Thanks, Jasper. I was actually thinking about signing up for it myself during off-season anyway. So, this is great."

Jasper looked shocked that I hadn't retaliated with some equally disdainful comment. But today was Christmas. I wasn't going to be callous on Christmas.

"You're welcome." Bella saw our friendly interaction and leaned her head onto my shoulder and snuggled closer into my side. I wrapped my arm around her waist, enjoying the soft cashmere beneath my fingertips.

My parents handed out their presents next, showering us with clothing, their trademark gift. My mom also included a scarf in my package, which I raised my eyebrow at. I lived in Phoenix where it was never cold enough to wear a scarf.

"Don't give me that look, Edward Anthony. I'm not an idiot. I was just thinking of the power of suggestion."

I rolled my eyes, but smiled anyway. My mother was too much. "Yes, mother. Because now that I have a scarf, I will most definitely move back to Connecticut."

"You know you're not going to play for the Cardinals forever," my mother added, fingering her thick strand of pearls.

"I know, and it's great." I reached out and kissed her cheek in a rare moment of open affection before sitting back by Bella. "If anything, it'll give me incentive to visit more."

"That's all I ask."

After all of the clothing had been opened and discussed, Bella handed out her presents, giving the gifts we'd gotten for my parents on the avenue to them-which they absolutely adored-and apologized for not having a present for Jasper or Alice. Jasper shrugged, saying that he hadn't gotten her anything either, and it was perfectly fine. To which Bella responded that she was probably going to use the Netflix account more than me, so, in reality, he had. And then, Jasper smiled. He smiled...at Bella. Like a civil human being, Jasper was making an effort to be a nice person to my girlfriend on my favorite holiday.

Like I said, nothing bad ever happens on Christmas.

"I guess it's my turn." My stomach was turning in knots, knowing that after everyone had received their presents from me...I'd be giving Bella her final one.

Jasper opened his gift and looked bewildered at the present in his hand. I wasn't sure what the reaction was for, so I explained. "I remembered that you said your iPod broke, so I figured you could use a new one...and there's an itunes gift card, too..."

"You remembered that my iPod broke? That happened in like August, Edward."

I shrugged, not sure how to handle his inquisitve response. "Yeah, I know. I bought it then so I wouldn't forget. Plus, I know you like to write to music, so I figured that must be a creative writing thing. Alice, I hope that's okay?"

She smiled as she opened her itunes gift card. I knew it was rather impersonal, but I figured that I didn't actually know her, so it wouldn't matter. "It's perfect, Edward! I've been dying to buy the new Imogen Heap album but have been budgeting. Wasn't that nice, Jasper?" Alice poked Jasper in the side, but he was looking contemplative. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me.

Oh, well. Moving on.

"So, what now?" Bella asked, eyes sparkling.

"Uh, mom?" I asked, causing my mother to snap her head around to meet mine. "There should be one more present under there from me." My mother leaned down, her eyes bulging slightly at the size of the box in her hand before looking at me with tears in her eyes.

"I'm assuming this one is for Bella?"

I nodded my head, and Bella tried to turn and see what she was being handed before looking back at me with an angry expression on her beautiful face. "Edward! You already got me too much. I really don't need anything else. Being here with you and your family is more than enough, baby."

Unable to resist, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her forehead before taking the small box from my mother's hand. "You may not need anything else, but I want you to have this, Bella."

Without another word, I moved the box into her hand and leaned back to watch her open it. Her face scrunched up as she unwrapped the box slowly, the green wrapping paper falling to the floor, crinkling loudly as it went. Then there was a sharp inhalation of air, and...silence. I lifted my eyes to hers. The box was still closed in her hand, and she was looking at it with trepidation. As I looked closer, I could see her hands shaking slightly. Her frightened eyes looked back at me as she breathed out a breathy, "Edward?"

I heard my mother's soft gasp, reminding me that we still had an audience.

I placed my hands over hers, steadying them, as we both opened the small box together, revealing the princess-cut platinum ring I had painstakingly picked out for her. "Bella, I love you, and I want this to be the first of many Christmases together. Will you marry me?"

"I...uh..." Bella's eyes darted around the room like a cornered animal, fearful for her life. The seconds grew longer as her breathing picked up, growing shallow and choppy. She looked back at me, our eyes locking, seemingly freezing time as I sat, hands still on the velvet box, waiting for her answer. Suddenly, her eyes closed, allowing two gentle tears to fall over her cheeks. "No." She said it so quietly, I was sure I had misheard her. Then, she shook her head from side to side and closed the box, causing my stomach to drop to the depths of the floor, instantly making me feel nauseous.

"What?" My voice sounded strained, even to my own ears, disbelieving that Bella would turn down my proposal. It was Christmas-nothing bad happened on Christmas. How could this happen?

"No," she said more firmly, pushing the box back into my lap, as more tears ran down her cheeks. The box fell from my limp hands. I tried to swallow, but I found that I couldn't. "I...why would you do this Edward? You...you ruined...everything. We can't...I can't...I-I'm sorry." With none of her usual grace, Bella stumbled over the carpet as she turned and ran up the stairs, leaving me dumbfounded and feeling ill.

I gripped the velvet box in my hand so tightly that my knuckles turned white and wondered what the fuck had just happened. It was then that I heard her muffled sobs coming from behind my closed door. As my mother's trademark Christmas cocktail was placed under my noise, the rest of the room finally came into focus. Everyone had just seen that. I had been publicly rejected and humiliated...and turned down by Bella.

Upon that thought, I couldn't control my limbs as they darted across the room to the closest powder room, where I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I heaved and retched until I could taste the bitterness of my own bile in my mouth, signaling that I had nothing more to give. Breathing hard, I wiped my mouth and leaned my forehead against the cool porcelain of the toilet as the rest of my body slumped down to the floor.

I couldn't move; I could barely even breathe. I was sure that the walls were closing in on me, giving me tunnel vision in which I had to replay Bella's rejection on repeat forever. I tuned out the garbled voices from the other room, hoping that I would soon wake up and this would all have been a terrible nightmare, but somehow I knew it wasn't.

After waiting God knows how long, there was a soft succession of knocks on the door. I tried to lift my head and respond, but I couldn't find the energy. Soon, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, circling over my back, pulling me to my wobbling legs.

"Come on, Edward," I heard the soft voice call as it led me past the table where the closed box now resided, taunting me with its very presence. I wanted to stand still and just stare at it, but the voice propelled me forwards, up the stairs, and into a closed room. My body was lowered onto a bed, and I laid on my side, wondering why the bed felt too soft beneath my exhausted body. I heard a chair being dragged across a wooden floor and realized that my room was carpeted. Where the fuck was I? Looking up, I saw the cold blue eyes that I had least expected to see.

"Edward, can you hear me?" he asked, pulling the chair up right next to the bed. He handed me a tissue, and when I looked at it, confused, he rolled his eyes and wiped the tears away from my eyes. I hadn't even realized that I was crying. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried, even. Annoyed that Jasper was essentially taking care of me, and I probably looked like a pathetic mother fucker, I pushed myself back up into a sitting position. Taking in my surroundings, I realized that he'd brought me into his room-a place that I hadn't been allowed to visit in nearly twenty years. "I know this is a really stupid question right now, but...are you okay?" I laughed, a short bark of a laugh. "Like I said," Jasper continued, "stupid."

"No, I'm not okay. I don't even know why she said 'no.' Why the fuck would she do that? We've been going out for three years, Jas. Three years. And she turns me down without a second thought?"

"I'm not going to lie, Edward, I really liked her, too, until she pulled that stunt. Turning you down on Christmas morning in front of your family is all kinds of fucked up. She could at least have asked for time to respond."

"Or given me a reason," I barked angrily. I knew my anger was displaced and wouldn't get me anywhere, but I couldn't help it. She'd embarrassed me and ruined my favorite holiday. It wasn't fair. She owed me more than that.

"You need to calm down, though," he continued. Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and saw that it was a text message from Emmett, wishing me a Merry Christmas and wishing that Bella and I were around to hang out with. And then I realized that I didn't even know if Bella and I would be hanging out together once we got back from Connecticut. Suddenly, everything I'd planned for the rest of my life was up in the air, and I had no idea what to do about it. "Do you want me to get you anything?" Jasper asked tentatively.

"You're being nice," I commented brusquely. I didn't understand it, but I definitely appreciated it. He could have been gloating like hell right now, yet here he was trying to help me out. "Thanks."

He shook his head, looking sad, before placing a hand on my shoulder. "My entire life, all I've wanted was to see 'The Golden Boy' fall...fail at something." I cringed, realizing that he had just gotten his Christmas wish. "But seeing it happen, Edward, didn't make me happy at all. It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. No one deserves to be treated like that. Not even my asshole of a younger brother."

"I'm four minutes younger than you."

"Still. I'm going to go make you some tea." I gave him a look. "Coffee?" he asked, giving me more options.

"Only if there's going to be a bottle full of Baileys in it." I tried to laugh, but I wasn't ready.

"One Irish coffee, coming right up." He gave me a weak smile, and I managed to return it. "I really am sorry, Edward."

"I know." The door closed, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. After a few minutes of stewing in my own misery, the door creaked open, revealing a splotchy-looking Bella. I took in a shaky breath, knowing that even stained with tears, she was still the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen.

"Can I come in?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. I nodded and waited for her to come towards me, solidifying our fate.

-BPOV-

I saw Jasper walk out of his room, and the glare he shot me did not go unnoticed. Inhaling deeply, I cracked the door open and peeked in. Edward looked like an awful, emotional mess. God, I'm a horrible girlfriend and a bitch.

My voice barely audible, I asked permission to enter. Stepping in and slowly closing the door behind me, I was hit with an overwhelming need to wrap my arms around his shoulders and comfort him. Edward's tear streaked face was staring straight ahead at the wall, refusing to look at me. And I understood completely-I had ruined Christmas.

His parents had welcomed me into their home, Edward had made me feel welcome, and I had ruined it. I needed to fix this...or at least make him understand.

"Edward, I'm so sorry," I started to apologize, but knew that I needed to tell him everything behind my earlier refusal. Edward's shoulders tensed as he waited for me to continue.

"Edward?" I spoke, wanting him to look at me. He wouldn't look up; he just nodded for me to continue. "I need to take back the 'no,' I gave you earlier. I'm not saying 'no.' I was trying for...not right now." The tears were streaming down my face, and my words were becoming choked and short.

His beautiful eyes finally glanced up at me, and I saw the pain-but I also saw relief there. And that tiny flicker drove me to go on...well, ramble on.

"We can't get engaged yet, Edward. I'm so close to finishing school, and I need to be able to pay for it. If we get engaged, I'll get fired and won't be able to pay for school. And I need to pay for school, Edward, because becoming a sport's physician means so much to me. I want you to understand that I'm so sorry, and I didn't mean to ruin everything." The words streamed out of me in an incoherent mess of sobs and words.

But still, the words came in torrents now, unwilling to stop out of fear of the uncontrollable cries I felt creeping up in my stomach. "If we got caught in a relationship, I'd be jobless and kicked out of school, sitting at home while you're on the road. I mean picture it, Edward. A depressed fiance sitting all day at the computer in her robe and living on chunky monkey while you're away. Is that what you want? It can't be...because the mental makes me want to vomit. And the alternative, hiding our engagement...I can't do that either. I refuse to start out our lives together in some twisted up lie. It's not who I am. I won't."

I backed up to the door, feeling mortified and unbelievably sad while Edward just sat there and stared at me. I turned and grabbed the doorknob, needing to escape. Looking at my hand, I pictured what the ring would have looked like on my finger-causing grief and heartache to shudder through my body. "Edward, I understand if you don't want to wait and if you don't want me anymore. I ruined everything...I don't want me anymore."

As I went to pull the door open, I realized that it wouldn't budge. I tugged and yanked, but it wouldn't open. And then I heard it...soft cries from outside the door.

"Well, I still want you, Bella." It was Esme...or at least, I thought it was. Her voice was rough from crying, and my guilt increased exponentially. "I've never seen Edward so happy or in love. And as badly as you both feel right now, it can be fixed. So, being the mother I am, I've locked you two in there until you sort this out." And with that, the hall was quiet.

We both were silent. Neither of us really wanted to get any further in this. The two of us were extremely stubborn and wouldn't leave until the other fully agreed to what we wanted. Emotions were too high for a understanding from either side at this current time.

"Edward?" I called to him, and he finally looked me in my eyes. "I do love you and I do want to be your wife. But I have to be able to stand on my own, too. We're only here for a few more hours, so why don't we put on our game faces and discuss this when we get home?"

I pleaded with him to understand that I wanted him, but I needed to do this for myself. He looked like he wanted to say something but then reconsidered, gave a head nod, and stood. I walked timidly over to him and tried to give him a hug, but my hug was met with the same stiff posture he'd had this morning when I'd been nude. Only now I was fully clothed, and he still wouldn't embrace me. I felt his hand travel over the sleeve of my cashmere dress and then watched as he yanked away from me.

"Yes, game faces...something we're both good at," he spoke under his breath. I wasn't exactly sure of what he'd said, but I decided to let it go for a few more hours.

A/N: Okay, please don't hate us. All couples have disagreements. LOL Man, don't family gatherings bring out the best in us all.

So who do you think is more at fault here? And what was your worst Holiday fight?