The Gift

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all Twilight and the Characters

Chapter 7 Something There

EPOV

It's been a little over a week and a half since that day at Bella's. Since then I have been trying to spend as much time as I can with both Bella and Carly. I feel like I am on cloud nine with I'm around her. I always have a smile on my face when I'm with her as well, or thinking about her.

"Mom," I heard Alice say laughing as I walked into the kitchen. "Lover boy is drooling again."

"Alice," mom said trying not to laugh as well. I couldn't help it that I thought about her all the time anymore. "Leave your brother alone."

"Thank you," I said walking over and kissing her on the cheek.

"What are your plans for today," she asked putting some potatoes in the soup pot. Before I said anything I watched Alice walk out the kitchen sticking her tongue out at me.

"I'm getting ready to head over to Bella's," I said smiling some more.

"When are you going to bring them over here," she asked interrupting me.

"If you would've let me finished," I said teasing her. "I would've also mentioned that I was going to bring them here. Bella and I want to take Carly out back and go sleigh riding."

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "I'm really proud of you son."

"Why," I asked leaning up against the counter.

"The two of you have put your differences aside" she told me turning back around to the stove. "Because of putting them aside you two are back together."

"We're not together," I interjected.

"What do you mean you two are not together," she said shocked dropping the spoon on the floor.

"Right now we are best friends," I told her as she picked up the spoon and washed it off.

"Do you love Bella," she said to me.

"Yes," I answered without even thinking for a second.

"Do you love Carly," she asked me more seriously.

"Yes," I said thinking about something.

" What are you thinking about," she said going back to the stove to add some more seasonings to the soup. "I know that look. The scrunched up eyebrows and staring out into space. You my son are thinking about something."

"Would it be wrong," I said taking a breath before finishing my thought. "To wish that Carly was mine and not Mike's."

"No," she answered me honesty. "I think that it is wonderful that you love Carly like that."

"I had better go and pick them up," I said leaving the kitchen.

I ran to my Volvo and drove over to Bella's house. I couldn't help but think about what mom said. I admit that we have put our differences behind us, but I wanted more. I know that things won't be like they used to be, but it will be better. Carly was wonderful, bright, smart, and I fell in love with her the minute I saw her at the mall. Pulling up to the house I could see my sweet girl sitting in the window waiting.

"Hey," Bella said opening the door. "Carly saw you pull up in the driveway."

"I could see her in the window," I told her walking into the house.

"Dward," Carly said running and jumping into my arms.

"Hey sweet girl," I said hugging her. "Are you ready to go to Grammy and poppy's?"

"No," she said wiggling out of my arms.

"Why is that," I asked looking over at Bella.

"Tell him why," Bella said to Carly.

"Emmie cookies," she said laughing.

"Cookies," I said grinning as Carly skipped off to the living room.

"In the kitchen," Bella said as I followed taking my jacket off. Walking into the kitchen I saw a few racks sitting on the counters with different shapes of cookies on them. "She wanted to take them so that Emmett wont' tickle her so much."

"Great minds think alike," I informed her.

"It only happened once," she said laughing. "Then I learned to double the batch when I went over to your house."

"Can I help," I asked her staring at the cookies.

"Sure," she said getting the powder sugar out of the cabinet. "Could you sprinkle powder sugar on the snowflakes."

"I think I can handle that," I replied taking the powder sugar from her.

We worked in silence for a few minutes once we started. I shifted powder sugar on cookies, while she frosted some other ones. She acted as if she was thinking so hard while frosting the cookies I couldn't help but laugh.

"What," she said looking up at me.

"Nothing," I answered her pouring some more sugar into the shifter.

"Edward," she said. When I turned around I felt powder sugar hit my face. I wiped my face off to see her laughing.

"You're in for it now Swan," I told her.

I reached into the bag grabbing a handful and throwing it at her. We acted like a bunch of teenagers having a food fight. At one point I had her by the arm throwing the powder sugar on her. She got me back. She got me back good. She managed to get a hold of the bag and dump it on my head. This probably went on for about five minutes with us laughing nonstop.

"Mommy," Carly said walking into the kitchen and seeing us covered with powder sugar. "What happened?"

"The bag fell out of the cabinet and fell everywhere," I answered before Bella could say anything.

"Give us a few more minutes," Bella said looking at me.

"Then can we go to Grammy and poppy's." Carly asked turning to me.

"Of course sweet girl," I answered. As she skipped out of the kitchen, Bella walked over to the pantry to get the broom out.

"I can't believe we did this," she said sweeping the sugar up.

"It was fun," I said admitting it to her. I took a towel and wiped the sugar off the counter into my hands. We were almost finished cleaning when she looked over at me and started laughing. "What?"

"Come here," she tried to say still laughing. I walked over to where she was standing beside the trash can. "You have powder sugar all in your hair. Hold your head over the trash can, and I'll get it out."

As I held my head over the trash can she ran her fingers through my hair. It felt so good to know that feeling again of her hands running in my hair. When she stopped I raised my head back up an looked at her. I noticed that she too had powder sugar still on her. I moved my hands and cupped her face using my thumbs to wipe the sugar off. As I did this I looked into her eyes I had the sudden urge to lean down and kiss her. She started to bite her lower lip, and I lowered my head ready to make my move when.

"Mommy," Carly yelled causing her to jerk away.

"We're coming," she told Carly placing the cookies in a container. "You coming."

"Right behind you," I answered her.

The three of us loaded into the Volvo and started off to mom and dad's. I couldn't believe what happened in the kitchen. I was so close to finally making my move and my sweet girl had to interrupt us.

BPOV

The ride over to his parents house was filled with laughter listening to Carly talk. She was excited to be going back to Carlisle and Esme's house. She already loved them as I always hoped that she would. I looked over at Edward smiling and saw him laughing along with Carly. How I wanted to tell him the truth, but personally I wasn't ready to tell him. What I did know was that I wanted to kiss him and we had come so close at the house. We had grown closer together over the past week and a half and I wanted more than us being friends.

"Bella," he said nudging my shoulder. "We're here."

"Sorry," I said shaking my head. "I must have spaced out for a minute."

"It's okay," he said getting out of the car. "You go on into the house, and I'll get Carly."

"Okay," I answered him and walked up to the hose. Before I could open the door Esme, surprised me by throwing the door open.

"Bella," she said grabbing me into a hug. "It's about time he brought you back over here."

"Thanks," I said answering her and trying not to laugh about her comment about Edward. "Don't blame him, just yet."

"If you say so," she replied laughing.

"Grammy," Carly yelled running and jumping up into Esme's arms when Edward put her down.

"Carlybug," Esme said hugging her. Once we made our way into the hallway Esme took Carly's jacket off before speaking again. "I bet you, your Poppy would like to see you."

"Okay," Carly answered taking Esme's hand.

"Edward," Esme said turning around before heading towards Carlisle's study. "Could you go and turn the soup on low heat?"

"Yes," he answered shutting the front door.

"Emmett will be here in less than two minutes," I told him taking my jacket off.

"No way," he replied taking my jacket and hanging it in the closet with his. "I give him five minutes."

When he shut the closet door we heard the familiar stomping of running down the stairs. I saw Edwards face fall and knew that when I turned around Emmett would be there. So sure enough when I turned around there was Emmett standing at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes were wide and he had the biggest grin on his face. IT was almost as if he was a kid in a candy store.

"Damn it Emmett," Edward said in disbelief.

"What," Emmett said shrugging his shoulders.

"You couldn't wait a whole five damn minutes," Edward said throwing his hands up in the air and walking off.

"What's wrong with him," Emmett asked pointing in Edwards direction.

"We sort of made a bet," I answered him. "I said it would take you less than two minutes to come down here. Edward said that it you five minutes to come down."

"Oh," was all Emmett could say.

"Here you go," I said handing him the container with the cookies. "Try not to put yourself in a sugar coma this time."

"Thanks," he said taking the container and running back up the stairs.

I walked back to the closet and took a bag out of my inner jacket pocket. I couldn't believe that he got upset over something stupid. Couldn't he tell that I was joking? I walked into the kitchen to see that he was over by the window looking outside. I guess that he didn't hear me come in because he didn't turn around. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"What's wrong," I asked him.

"Nothing," he answered pulling me around to face the window. He wrapped his arms around me and laid his head on my shoulder.

"You know that he didn't mean it," I told him.

"I know," he said taking a breath. "It just brought back old memories."

"I know," I said breaking away from his hold picking up the bag on the table. "That's why I brought you this."

"What," he asked turning around. When he turned around he saw me holding up a bag of cookies that I was able to sneak into my jacket without him seeing. "What is this?"

"I remember that you always liked it when I saved you some," I said looking down at the floor biting my lip.

"Thank you," he said lifting my chin up with his hand. He bent over and laid a kiss on my cheek. When his lips met my cheek I closed my eyes wishing that it was more and that he wasn't acting more like a friend.

"Mommy," Carly said walking into the kitchen causing us to separate.

"Yes," I said turning around to see her and Carlisle staring at us.

"Can we go play now," she said.

"Sure thing sweet girl," Edward said walking over to her and kneeling down. "Why don't you and mommy go get your coats?"

"Okay," she said hugging him. "Come on mommy."

"I'll bring you your jacket," I told him as Carly took my hand and started to drag me out of the kitchen. When we made it to the closet I got our three jackets out and bent down to Carly. She was quiet as I zipped and buttoned up his jacket.

"You okay," I asked her when I finished with her jacket.

"Yes mommy," she answered. "I like Dward."

"You do," I asked her smiling.

"He is funny," she said giggling.

"Yes," I told her picking up mine and Edwards jackets. "He certainly is funny."

"He makes you happy," she said and it shocked me. It shocked me to know that my own daughter had seen that. I had to admit that I was happier when he was around.

"Son," I heard Carlisle say as we walked towards the kitchen. "I just want you to be happy."

"I am dad," Edward replied. "Bella, and Carly, they make me happy. I love her still. I just haven't told her yet."

He loved me still. I know that I heard him that night the power went out. I never imagined that he meant it. Maybe just maybe he wanted to be more than friends as well. There was a little piece of me that was overjoyed with that feeling.

"Here you go," I said when we walked into the kitchen holding his jacket out.

"Thanks," he said taking the jacket.

"Carlybug," Carlisle said kneeling down in front of her. "Make sure these two don't stay out long. We don't need them sick in time for Santa."

"You got it Poppy," she answered him and we all laughed.

Once we were all outside I let him walk her up a hill in the back yard. She couldn't walk through the snow so he had to carry her and drag the sleigh behind him. It was a sight to see and I couldn't help but smile. If he only knew that she was his daughter. Would he act any different towards her? I put that thought out of my head and wanted to enjoy the moment that we were having. She laughed and squealed when she came down the hill with him. We learned that one trip was enough for her, because she didn't like the fact that you had to walk back up to the top of the hill. Edward decided that since she didn't want to make the track back up the hill that we would make a snowman. He was getting ready to put the body on the snowman when Emmett came crashing through.

"Cannonball," Emmett said knocking it over.

"Emmie," Carly said trying hard not to laugh. "Dward and mommy were working hard on my snowman."

"I'm sorry Carlybug," he told walking over to her. "I have an idea for something even better."

"I'm listening," she answered him with a smirk. There right at that very second I knew that she had hung around Emmett far too long.

"I know that Grammy has made hot chocolate just for you," he said to her and her eyes lite up. "Why don't you go inside and get it?"

Before I knew it Carly darted past Edward and myself towards the house. We watched her run up to the porch to meet Esme standing there with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. I started to laugh when I felt something hit the back of my head.

"You jerk," I yelled at Emmett because he hit me a snowball.

"Language Miss Swan," he said when I turned around and started to gather snow up. "Are you going to let her speak to me like that?"

"Yes," was all Edward said before throwing a snowball at Emmett.

We basically had a two on one snowball fight. I enjoyed the fun the three of us had and it sucked that Alice couldn't join us. The four of us always had a blast when it came to the epic snowball fight. I've just met Jasper once, but I could tell that he was very protective of her. He hardly ever let her out of his site, and I was happy that she had someone to love her. Emmett bowed out of the snowball fight quickly and ran inside to retreat knowing that he would never win.

"Are you having fun," Edward said coming up behind me and wrapping himself around me.

"Yes," I answered him as we tried to walk but fell backwards.

"I'm so sorry," he said as I turned around to face him.

"Are you alright," I asked him. He took his hand and moved a stray hair out of my face.

"I am now," was all he said before his lips met mine. It was a gentle and innocent kiss. His lips felt soft and warm as they moved along with mine. It was a slow kiss as we were welcoming ourselves back to one another. I finally felt whole again at that very moment.

"Way to go," we heard yell from the house causing us to break the kiss. "It's about damn time Edward."

"Emmett leave them alone," we heard Rose fuss at him.

"I guess that's our cue to head out," Edward said as we got up.

"I agree with you," I told him laughing.

After making it back inside and telling everyone to goodbye we headed to the Volvo. During the ride home I couldn't stop from smiling. I couldn't believe that we finally kissed after all this time. Carly feel asleep again in the car. I didn't know what went on when I wasn't around her, but she was falling asleep in the car when we left their place. Once in the driveway I didn't make a fuss when he got her out and put her to bed. While he did that I went to the kitchen and made us some hot chocolate. I knew that we still needed to talk about what happened.

"She is still sleeping," he said when he walked into the kitchen.

"Thank you for everything," I said handing him the cup.

"You don't need to thank me," he told me placing the cup on the counter. He walked over to me placing his hands on my arms. "I want to do it. I want to be here for you and for Carly."

"Why," I asked looking down at the floor.

"I," he started to say before he took his right hand and lifted my chin up so that I could met his eyes. "I love you Bella. I want to be with you, and with Carly if you'll let me."

"Yes," I whispered.

"Yes," he said echoing my words leaning down and gently kissing me again.

"I love you too," I told him smiling. We took our cups and headed into the living room. He made a fire and we curled up onto the couch into each other's arms. I was happy that I had him back in my life. All that remained was telling him the truth about Carly.

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