Hello! Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're enjoying your holidays!

A big hug and thanks goes out to everyone reading this and extra big Emmett-hugs go to Twilightfan000001,prettibunn13, magically dorky, YankeeDiva, Fudgie-chan, twilighter611, Unofficial Culllen, sky of love, Paigeyx3Popcorn, x-X-x-Donna-x-X-x, Viper003, BSF16, dancingdiva0501 and AllisNelly. It's so good to see a few of these names popping up to review for every chapter! Thanks so much guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Here we go again...

Four Calling Birds

Monday the Twenty-Second of December

I woke up to the shrill sound of the telephone ringing. Five rings later and I'd stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen to pick it up.

"Hello," I said tiredly.

"Hi!" came Alice's energetic voice on the other line, "How are you this morning?"

"I just woke up actually," I answered, "How did you get my number?" I asked looking over at the clock to discover that it was eleven-thirty. I'd slept in.

"Charlie," she answered simply. "Was it a good night last night?" she then asked me suggestively.

"Yeah," I said sincerely, "I really enjoyed myself."

"So," she said, "What's with you and Edward?"

I laughed, "Straight to business, right Alice?"

I heard her giggle, "Well..." she said, "He seemed unusually happy after the show last night... I figured that you might have something to do with that..." I could practically hear her grin through the phone.

"Well, I don't know about that," I told Alice, "Perhaps he's just feeling joyful because it's Christmas and his brother just made the most romantic gesture possible."

Alice then spoke for several minutes about how excited she was about the engagement. Apparently Edward was the only one Emmett had told about the proposal. Alice had been surprised that Edward had managed to keep the secret from her, of all people. She tells me that she's usually quite intuitive.

"There was a certain romantic air to the evening, wasn't there?" Alice asked dreamily.

"I noticed," I said, "You and Jasper," that was all I needed to say before she launched into a discussion of the aftermath of her sudden display of affection. Apparently Jasper felt "strangely drawn" to her and that she was most certainly "the most stunning tightrope walker" he'd ever seen. It sounded incredibly cute and Alice's joy was infectious, I couldn't help but smile.

"So this romantic air – did it translate to you and Edward?" she asked.

"Umm... well..." I started to say before there was a knock at my door.

"Hold on a second Alice, there's someone at the door," I said, still holding the phone to my ear as I went to the door.

"Dare you to kiss whoever it is," Alice said mischievously just as I opened the door to reveal a smiling Edward.

"Good morning Bella," he said, stepping past me as I turned to let him inside. I blushed furiously, so glad that Alice couldn't see me.

"Is that Edward?" came Alice's voice as she laughed, "Why didn't he tell me he was going over, I would have tagged along!"

"Perhaps that's why he didn't tell you," I answered, watching as Edward sat on a couch in the lounge, I followed and sat beside him.

"Oh..." Alice said, "I get it. You want some alone time," if she had have been standing next to me, she would have been winking.

"Picture me rolling my eyes," I told her.

Alice laughed, "Ok, I'll leave you to it. I just have one more question."

"What is it?"

"Have you fallen for him?" she asked simply.

I paused for a moment, lost in thought.

"Because I think he's fallen for you. Actually, I know he has. No one could possibly miss the looks he gives you. Except maybe you."

"I've got to go, Alice," I said.

"Just promise me that you won't leave without telling Edward how you really feel."

"I promise," I said after a long pause in which Edward stared at me curiously.

"Bye Alice!" I said and walked back to the kitchen to hang up the phone. Edward followed.

"What were you promising?" he inquired.

"Oh, nothing really," I said, "Alice is just being Alice."

He smiled, "As always."

After a brief pause I asked, "So what brings you here this morning? Did you just come from the library?"

"Yeah," he answered as we sat down at the dining table and I read Charlie's brief note which told me he'd be back at five tonight. Edward continued, "Patrick and Cody said to say hi," he smiled. "I've got most of today off and I was wondering if you wanted to come Christmas shopping with me."

"Sure," I answered without hesitation.

He had Carlisle's car, so we drove to the shopping village where I'd brought Charlie's Christmas socks what felt like an eternity ago. He – surprisingly – found a car park close by and we exited the car into the crisp, cold air.

As I shrugged my coat on, my phone rang, "Hello," I answered.

"Hi, Bella?"

"Yeah," I answered, suddenly curious, "Who is this?"

"It's Rosalie," she said.

"Oh, hi Rosalie," I said her name so that Edward could hear who I was talking to. He turned to me, just as surprised as I was, and lead me into a small bookstore.

"Congratulations, by the way," I said into the phone, quieter now that I was indoors.

"Thanks," she responded. After a pause she added, "I know it's strange that I'm calling, but I just... wanted to give you some advice."

I nodded, and then, upon realising that Rosalie couldn't see my nod, "Sure," I said puzzled.

"The carnival leaves town on Christmas day," she said, "I just... think that if there issomething you need to tell somebody, than you should resolve it before we leave town."

I didn't answer, but stood still and breathed quietly into the phone.

"I just... I've seen it happen to countless Carnies before – because we travel so much it's hard to maintain relationships with new... friends. And... Edward doesn't often become attached to locals, because he just doesn't see the point." She was quiet for a few moments, "I just don't... want to see this bond you two seem to have... go to waste."

"It won't," I assured her. I was touched by how much Rosalie seemed to care for Edward; I didn't know what else to say.

"Good," Rosalie said in a concluding tone, "Well, that's all I called for, really. Oh, and let Charlie know that you two will be invited to the wedding."

"I will," I answered.

"Goodbye Bella."

"Bye Rosalie."

I ended the call.

"What was that about?" Edward asked.

"Oh, she was just inviting me to the wedding," I answered pathetically. Edward looked at me sceptically and walked further into the store. He picked up a copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Marriage for Emmett and Rosalie and we stepped back into the busy streets.

Few words were exchanged between us that day, but I found that it was far from awkward. I enjoyed his company completely, and the little that I did say came naturally.

"So when are you heading back to Phoenix?" Edward asked me as we walked into a department store, trying to find Alice a new umbrella that she could use as part of her act.

"Christmas day," I answered, "Same day you do," I highlighted.

"Hmm," came his only response.

We shopped for a few more hours and laughed at some of the more ridiculous present ideas we had come up with when my phone rang again.

"Hello?" I answered for the third time that day.

"Hi Bella, it's Jasper."

"Oh, hi Jasper," Edward gave me another surprised look.

"Is Edward with you?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah, sure, did you want to speak to him?" I asked.

"If that's alright. He seems to have left his phone behind," Jasper said politely. I handed the phone over to Edward.

He didn't speak to Jasper for long before he handed me back my phone.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Oh, he was just inviting me to the wedding," Edward teased. I laughed. We passed a stall packed with various Christmas decorations when something caught my eye. Edward was already further ahead, walking into the nearby jeweller.

"Edward!" I called, "I'll meet you in there, I'll just be a minute."

He nodded and walked into the store.

I turned to the lady running the stall and told her that I wanted to buy the 'partridge in a pear tree'. It was only about six inches high and about the same across – the pear tree was a gorgeous silver colour, the pears themselves a shiny gold. A tiny partridge sat in amongst the metallic branches and was made of a beautiful crystal. She gift wrapped it for me and wished me a Merry Christmas.

Now I just needed to make sure I saw Edward on Christmas day, somehow I didn't think that would be a problem.

I followed him back into the jewellery store where he was already carrying a bag too large to contain jewellery. "A jewellery box for Esme," he explained.

We continued on shopping and it wasn't long before my phone rang again.

"Hello?" I answered for the fourth time that day.

"Heya Bella!" Unmistakeably Emmett.

"Hi Emmett, congratulations!" I said.

"Thanks," he replied.

"What can I do ya for?" I asked, mimicking Emmett's tone.

"I saved you a calling bird," he informed me.

"Oh, are you and Edward still having this little competition?" I asked lightly.

Edward called out, "I already got one Emmett!" loud enough so that Emmett could hear his voice through the phone.

"How?" came Emmett's surprised tone, "I hid them so well!"

"You obviously didn't hide them well enough," I teased.

"In the mouth of the goblin in the Ghost Train?" Edward asked, "Oldest trick in the book," he added, laughing.

"Damnit!" I heard Emmett swear.

"Oh well," he said, after his little fit was over, "There's just one other thing I've been told by a little girl dressed as an elf to tell you."

I groaned.

"Apparently you should kiss him under the mistletoe. Soon. And if you're wondering where you can get mistletoe – don't worry, Alice has it covered. Every doorway and corridor in the place! I must admit, me and Rosalie have been enjoying the festivity..."

"Right, well, I think that's my cue to say goodbye," I quickly interrupted.

Emmett laughed, "I'll see ya soon Bells!"

I ended the call.

"You are sure popular today," Edward commented. I smiled. The four calling Carnies, I mused, laughing quietly to myself.

Edward dropped me home at quarter to five and bid me goodnight.

As we stood at the doorway awkwardly, I longed for some of Alice's mistletoe. He kissed me on the cheek instead and told me that he'd see me tomorrow.

"I'll come to you," I said.

He waved as he walked back to his car, "I'll meet you at the carousel!"

I wanted to tell him that I'd meet him under the mistletoe instead, but I quickly shook myself out of it. Alice was having more of an effect on me than I bargained for.

I dreamt that night that Edward and I were walking in a field filled with giant candy canes and mistletoe. Christmas had never been so good to me.

Haha, did you like my four calling birds? Lol. This was more of a filler chapter, but I had lots of fun writing it! The next chapter should be very amusing :D Thanks again for reading, don't forget to review!