Sorry! I was planning on updating on Christmas, but I was sick as a dog and slept on the couch for the entire day. Not fun. Anyway whilst I was sick, I was trying to think of ways to write this chapter, and I conveniently thought of a way I could end it the day after Christmas.

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! I wish I could give you all your very own Edward. Anyone who reviewed would have an Emmett and Jasper as well, if it were at all possible. Thanks endlessly to AllisNelly, Butch Flowers, YankeeDiva, Jembee, twilighter611, BSF16, OstentatiousQuerida, twistedtwilightride, Twilightfan000001, prettibunn13, stupidlamb9, lost-girl666, magically dorky, Fudgie-chan, bookluver94, Moge-, Unofficial Cullen and KatrinaPattinson (who, I owe a HUGE apology too. You seemed quite upset that I hadn't updated yesterday – I felt soo guilty!!)

A special thanks to twilighter611 who PMed me about the lack of an update – I hope you can forgive me!

And to onceuponattwilight1208 who sent me a lengthy PM explaining how much they loved this story – I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

Thank you so much to every single person who reviewed this story! There is an author I enjoy reading called Matthew Reilly who says, "Never underestimate the power of your encouragement." It is definitely true! Authors thrive on response. You guys fuelled this story. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

Last but not least I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you an awesome New Year!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Here it is, the last instalment...

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Friday the Twenty-Sixth of December

I woke up the day after Christmas to bright light and warmth. I opened the curtains to reveal familiar sunlight and brick homes. I was back in Phoenix. I'd arrived late yesterday afternoon.

Renee had been ecstatic as always to see me and she had smiled whilst talking to Charlie on the phone, letting him know that I'd gotten home safely.

After that, of course, Renee had demanded every detail of my trip. I did tell her about Edward – to which she clapped and cheered and frowned where appropriate. The last part of my Edward saga had confused her as much as it had confused me...

---

I woke extra early to meet Edward at the carnival. I crept out of the house, hoping I could make it back without Charlie waking to find me missing.

At the carnival I found that the Carnies were already wide awake, busy packing boxes into large multicoloured trucks. They seemed cheerful though, I walked past endless workers singing Christmas carols and wearing Christmas bonbon paper hats.

I eventually found Edward, who was busy dismantling the carousel. I pulled an Alice and wrapped my hands around his eyes.

"Guess who?" I whispered.

He turned around and kissed me.

"Merry Christmas," he said smiling.

I grinned back at him.

I looked around at the almost empty carnival and asked, "When are you leaving?"

"Very soon, actually," he said.

"Oh," was all I could manage.

"I brought you something," we both said at the same time.

I smiled as he said, "You go first."

I nodded and pulled the 'partridge in a pear tree' I'd brought from the stall a few days ago out of my bag. It was now wrapped in silver paper and had a card attached.

He smiled and – as I knew he would – opened the card first.

Edward, it said.

I'd hard to express what I really need to say in writing. It's even harder in spoken words. I don't know what this is between us, but I think I'm beginning to accept that it's not just a teenage fling. I don't know where to go from here, but I thought you should know that I undoubtedly love you. I have a feeling I will for the rest of eternity. It seems we've had both too long and too short a time together. Too long because it has made me fall for you so deeply and too short because I have fallen for you so deeply.

Bella.

He smiled sadly at me as he opened the present. Then, he grinned and flipped the statue over to reveal – engraved on the bottom – Forever yours, Bella.

I knew it was cheesy, but I also knew it was true.

He didn't say anything as he reached into his pocket for a small box wrapped in blue paper.

No card.

I opened the box. Inside was a silver bracelet with charms attached. When I looked closer I noticed that each charm was a replica of the twelve days I'd spent with him.

A drummer.

A piper.

A lord.

A dancer.

A maid.

A swan.

A goose.

A golden ring.

A calling bird.

A hen.

A pair of turtle doves.

And a partridge entwined with a pear.

All the charms were silver except for the golden ring and the partridge – which was a brilliant white crystal against the shiny gold pear.

I smiled at him – almost in tears – as he fastened it around my wrist. He leant down and whispered in my ear, "I'll never forget the past twelve days. I'll never forget you."

I turned to him.

"That isn't enough."

He looked at me, puzzled.

"You can't say 'It's been really great, but it's over now'!" I practically screamed at him.

"Bella, I-"

"No, Edward. It's so much more than that. I can't live with only seeing you once a year. I can't live with leaving you now. I can't live with you leaving me now."

Okay, I thought as I breathed, that might have been a bit harsh.

He just stared at me a while.

"Edward, we have to go!"

I heard Rosalie's voice but didn't look away from Edward. He, of course, had other ideas.

He reached into his pocket and handed me a card before kissing me on the cheek, "I have to go."

And that was it.

He left.

I ran back to Charlie's and jumped into bed, crying. I refused to read the card. I didn't want a goodbye.

Charlie came in about an hour later, arms laden with presents. I smiled for his benefit as we exchanged gifts on the bed. He noticed that I'd been crying, but I suppose he knew why. He didn't ask. Charlie was never good with emotional women.

As Charlie dropped me off at the airport, he gave me a worried glance and opened his mouth to say something. Then he closed it again, seemed to change his mind, and said, "It will be okay Bella, trust me."

He seemed to know something I didn't, but before I could ask, I was being pushed through to the departure lounge.

"Be sure to call me when you get back," he said.

"Yeah," I replied hugging him, "Bye Dad."

He kissed the top of my head and left.

The entire plane ride home went painfully slow. I spent the whole time staring at Edward's still sealed card.

---

"Oh Sweetie!" my mum had said as she wrapped her arms around me. I had been shamelessly crying at this point.

"And now I'm here, explaining it to you," I'd said.

We'd sat like that for a time before Renee had gotten up to make us both a cup of tea.

I heard Phil walk through the door and went downstairs to greet him.

"Hiya Bells!" he said, hugging me, "Merry Christmas!"

"Hey," I said.

He seemed to have noticed that I looked depressed.

"I have something that might cheer you up!" he said suddenly.

I looked up, "What?" I asked, almost suspiciously.

He pulled a flyer out of his back pocket.

"A carnival!" he said excitedly. He looked like a big kid.

Mum had rushed into the room at the mention of a carnival as I only just managed to not burst into tears.

"What? You scared of clowns or something?" Phil asked confused.

I didn't answer.

"It's not open til tomorrow," Phil told Mum, "I thought it'd be fun."

Mum went to explain to Phil but I shook my head at her.

Phil didn't seem to notice, he continued on with the carnival information...

"Weird name for a carnival if you ask me," he said, scratching his head, "The Sullen Cullen? I mean-"

I didn't hear another word as I was out the door. I realised, about two minutes down the block that I had no idea of the address so I walked back inside, took the flyer of Phil, and walked back out. I practically flew to fifty-seven Park Street.

I stood outside the sign. No rides were set up, but the sign and ticket booth were there. There were trucks parked at odd angles all around the deserted car park.

I looked around – suddenly hesitant – as I walked past the ticket booth and inside the fence. I saw that a few tents were set up. I walked around for a while, wondering where everyone was. Then I heard a roar of laugher from the bigger tent on the left. I didn't hesitate.

I walked into the last thing I expected, which was strange, really, seeing as it was Christmas day.

There, inside the tent, were almost a hundred Carnies, wearing the paper Christmas hats, eating turkey and clinking glasses.

I didn't even have to try to find Edward.

"Guess who?" I heard from behind me as my world turned black.

I turned and kissed him.

"Miss me?" he asked.

It was then that I slapped him.

"You tricked me?" I asked, in a quiet voice because I realised – with horror – that every single Carnie had their eyes focused on me.

He grinned, "For a time, yes. But I gave in."

"You did?" I asked, confused.

He looked at me with equal confusion.

"Didn't you read my note?" he asked.

I almost slapped myself then.

I pulled the – now almost destroyed – note out from my pocket.

I opened it.

I'll see you soon. I hope Phoenix is as nice as you say it is.

Love, Edward.

"Oops," I said out loud, "You have permission to slap me," I said sheepishly.

Edward grinned, "Can I have a kiss instead?"

I leaned forward and kissed him.

"So, was Charlie in on this too? How long have you known you'd be coming here? Did you change your plans just for me, because, you didn't have to do that..."

I realised too late that Edward was laughing at me. I slapped him playfully on the arm.

"Don't laugh at me," I pouted.

He waited a few seconds and then, "Would you like me to answer your questions now?"

I rolled my eyes.

He grinned as he led me to sit down.

"Well," he said as we both sat, "Charlie was in on it – as with Emmett, Rose, Alice, Jasper, Esme, Carlisle... basically everyone but you."

I frowned.

"We didn't change our plans for you. But know that I would have," he smiled charmingly, "We've known we were going to be in Phoenix from the twenty-fifth of December through to the tenth of January since June."

"And you weren't going to tell me?"

"No," he said, "But I couldn't stomach leaving you like that, hence the note. Remind me not to give you notes to read in the future."

I smiled.

---

The remainder of my holidays were spent with Edward. I'd yelled at Alice and Emmett for not telling me about the carnival coming to Phoenix but Alice knew that I was too ecstatic to actually be angry with them.

Mum and Phil love him. Charlie had called me that night and I had yelled at him for not telling me too, and then laughed and thanked him that he hadn't. After this Carnie stop, Edward had to go back to school. Him and I only had a year left of high school and were already planning for college. I'd laughed when he'd suggested Dartmouth.

Everything had turned out okay after all; these holidays had been a small but perfect piece of our forever.

.The End.

Thanks for reading! Half of the last line belongs to Stephenie Meyer and if anyone can tell me what page and what book it is from, I'll give you a sticker : ) Some of you have requested a sequel or for me to continue this story after Christmas (which, technically, I did. Lol.) I have a few ideas for some different AU All-Human fics and perhaps a little one-shot sequel to this story. But I'm not promising anything yet. We'll see where my mind takes me...

Once again, thank you! That's all folks...