Hello again! Merry Christmas Eve!

I must say, when I woke up this morning to 35 new emails in my inbox, I was astounded. I checked them and was so excited to see that most of them were in relation to this story – thanks so much to everyone who favourited this story or put it on alert and an extra special thanks to Viper003, YankeeDiva, twistedtwilightride, Unofficial Cullen, OstentatiousQuerida, almost perfect007, BSF16, not-me-ima-rebel-101, Moge-, stupidlamb9, Twilightfan000001, Fudgie-chan, prettibunn13, AllisNelly, Paigeyx3Popcorn and twilighter611. You guys are amazing!

I wish you all a Merry Merry Christmas Eve and I'll be sure to wish you a Merry Christmas tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Two Turtle Doves

Wednesday the Twenty-Fourth of December

(Christmas Eve!!)

I woke up and turned to the alarm clock on the bedside table. It read 9:53am. But that was not what had caught my attention – just next to the clock was a piece of paper, shaped much like a paper reservation sign at a restaurant. Except, instead of seeing the word 'Reserved' I saw...

Bella

It was definitely not Charlie's handwriting and my heart skipped three beats as I pulled it off the table.

Merry Christmas Eve, it said.

I was going to wake you early this morning to help me find a turtle dove, but you looked so peaceful that I decided to let you sleep. Meet me in the kitchen.

Your Secret Santa...

I laughed out loud as I dressed and hurried down the stairs. I turned the corner into the kitchen and was met with the wonderful smell of a breakfast that's usually cooked on a Sunday morning.

Edward was there, busy flipping pancakes on the frypan.

"Morning," he said brightly.

I nodded at him, temporarily speechless. When I eventually got my voice back I asked, "What's all this for?"

I indicated towards the bacon and eggs on the table and the pancakes he was working on.

Edward smiled, "This isn't 'couple-y' enough for you?"

He grabbed the stack of pancakes and brought them to the dining table. I grabbed some cutlery and glasses with juice and joined him.

"Merry Christmas Eve," I laughed, clinking my glass of orange juice with his.

We tucked into breakfast and afterwards, Edward helped me clean up.

"Thanks for this," I said, taking a plate off of him and beginning to dry it.

"My pleasure," he bowed. I whacked him over the head with the tea towel.

He feigned shock, "My lady!" he said.

I just poked my tongue out.

He turned back to the dishes and, the next thing I knew, his hands – soap buds and all – were ruffling my hair.

"Hey!" I shouted through the laughter, ducking under his returning hand and dipping my own into the sink. I splashed his cheek.

He bent down and lifted me over his shoulder, my front half was now right next to the sink – my hands in perfect reaching distance. I cupped them underneath the soapy water and covered Edward's back as best I could. He laughed and set me down.

"Truce?" he asked, holding out his hand, head cocked to the side.

I shook his hand, "Truce."

He moved his hand around to his back to feel the damage I had inflicted on his shirt.

"I'm soaked," he said simply. I laughed.

He pulled his shirt off over his head and asked me politely whether he could use the dryer.

I stared for a few seconds longer than necessary before I turned quickly to show him to the laundry. There, I gave him one of Charlie's shirts to put on in the meantime. I didn't turn around until I was certain he had the shirt on, and when I did turn I found him standing much closer than necessary. He pulled me over his shoulder again and carried me into the lounge room where he placed me on the couch.

We watched the last half of Love Actually on televisionas his shirt dried. You can't get much more Christmas-y or couple-y, really. But it meant I was going to have The Beach Boys in my head for the rest of the day.

God only knows what I'd be without you...

As the credits were rolling, we heard the dryer beeping. Edward got up and when he returned – his own shirt back on his back, he suggested we head to the carnival. We still had a turtle dove to find, after all.

He'd brought the car, so we drove. As we walked in the front gates, Emmett approached us, "No chance," he told Edward, grinning.

I rolled my eyes at the two and walked away, Edward soon caught up, taking my hand. I overheard Emmett say to two kids passing by; "Don't be fooled kids! You may find more than just one pair of turtle doves around today."

I spun around and he winked at me suggestively. I turned back to Edward and we continued walking.

I spent all day at the carnival, trying not the think about the fact that it was my last full day with Edward. There was so much I wanted to tell him, only I didn't know how to say it. Was there any point in saying it now? We were heading our separate ways tomorrow, everything would change.

Trying not the think about it wasn't really working out that well. Especially since everyone kept bringing it up.

Esme at the hotdog stand, "So you've said your goodbyes?"

Carlisle at the rollercoaster, "Perhaps we'll see you again next year, Bella."

Emmett by the giant slide just winked at us and said, "You better hurry," he pretended to check the time on his non-existent watch, "Time is a-ticking!"

Even Jasper had said at the fortune teller's booth, "Who knows how long it will be before we see you again."

And Alice, of course, except she was much less subtle, "You know if you want to kiss him, I put some mistletoe on the underside of the roof of the carousel..." she'd whispered into my ear, "You don't have time to dawdle Bella!"

She'd skipped off before Edward could ask what was going on. He turned to me questioningly. I just blushed and said it was nothing.

And at dinner it was worse. Charlie was there, watching mine and Edward's every move. We ate on a set of table and chairs underneath the stars.

"I really hope you do visit again next year Bella, it's been such a pleasure having you around," Esme had said.

I smiled, "You can count on it," I said. I saw Charlie smile out of the corner of my eye.

It was silent for a moment and then Carlisle began to talk to Charlie, though I felt more like it was directed at Edward and me.

"It's tough being a Carnie sometimes. It's so hard to say goodbye to the friends you meet along the way," he suddenly turned and smiled at Esme, "Of course, sometimes, it's just far too difficult and you have to steal them away with you."

Esme smiled and took her husband's hand whilst Emmett made retching noises. He stopped as Rosalie slapped him. He grinned childishly at her.

Edward grabbed my hand and excused us from dinner. I thanked Esme for the meal and followed him. It didn't take me long to realise where he was taking me.

We stood by the carousel (which was still spinning) and looked at each other.

I began to feel nervous before Edward spoke.

"I think," he started, "That there's a few things that I need to say."

"Oh?" I asked, tilting my head to one side.

"I wasn't going to say anything – but, I guess this is one of those things that can't wait."

I continued to look up at him. He seemed to notice something behind me and his expression changed. It was no longer nervous, but looked almost –mischievous? He took my hands gently, and walked slowly backwards, following the shape of the carousel. The carousel was spinning clockwise and we were travelling anti-clockwise until both the carousel and Edward and I suddenly stopped. I noticed Edward's hand on the control panel.

I looked up at him questioningly and then remembered something Alice had told me earlier that day...

"I put some mistletoe on the underside of the roof of the carousel..."

It couldn't possibly... But as I looked up, I gasped. Typically enough, the mistletoe was hanging innocently on the 'ceiling' of the carousel.

I looked back at Edward who was grinning.

"Merry Christmas Bella," he whispered, leaning down to kiss my lips. I was so stunned that for a brief moment; I failed to kiss him back. He leant back from me, puzzled and I felt surprisingly cold without his touch. I laughed at myself and pulled him back into the kiss. I could feel him smiling.

I felt his hand entwine with mine, and when he let go of my hand to touch my cheek, I noticed that I was holding something that I hadn't been before. We broke apart and he rested his forehead on mine as I looked curiously down at my hand.

It was a miniature statue of two plastic turtle doves snuggling into each other.

We could have talked about the way neither of us wanted to say goodbye, or about the complications of entering into a relationship, but instead we talked about the stars and planets and swapped stories about what we'd wished for on shooting stars when we were kids.

It was well after midnight when Edward reluctantly took me back to Charlie. Charlie announced that we were going home and wished them all a Merry Christmas.

Edward turned me to me and kissed me lightly on the lips. I could see Alice's gleeful expression in my mind.

He rested his hands on either side of my neck, "I'll see you tomorrow," he promised, kissing me on the cheek one last time as I walked back to Charlie.

On the drive back home I got a text message from Alice.

Was it my mistletoe?? Xo

I laughed and replied.

I think I owe you one.

I went to sleep that night wondering how it was possible for one person to feel so happy, yet so despondent at the same time. Was this really just a Christmas romance?

Thank you so much for reading! Only one chapter to go... Everything is going to be wrapped up on Christmas day (Ha! It's a pun, get it? I am indeed a sad, sad individual :P ) Don't forget to review and make one author's Christmas!