The Gift

Disclaimer: Stephenie Mayers owns all Twilight and the Characters

Chapter 18 Worth the fight

EPOV:

"Bella," I said wrapping my arms around her waist. "What are you doing out here in the cold?"

She shrugged her shoulders and pushed me away from herself. The blanket fell to the snow and I let her put the unwanted space between us. If she only knew that I wanted her back for forever this time. There would be no more running away because I have so much more to lose if I ran again.

"Sweetheart," I pleaded to her. "Please say something to me anything."

BPOV:

"What do you want me to say Edward," I said as angry as I could. I didn't want to cry anymore I was so sick of crying lately.

"I don't," he started to say before I cut him off.

"You were my best friend," I said turning around to face him. When I saw his face I just let it all out. "You were my everything, and I wanted nothing more than to spend forever with you. You broke my heart once and I let you back in. When I told you something that you needed to know, something that you had the right to know you stormed out and broke my heart again."

"You're my best friend," he said cutting me off this time walking towards me, but I kept backing up. "I want nothing more than for us to be together forever as a family. I don't care how long it takes, but I won't stop fighting for my family, our family."

"Why are you doing this," I said as the tears started to fall down my face. Once they started to fall I turned away from him and faced the backyard again.

"I was stupid to let you go the first time and an asshole a couple of days ago," he said as I felt his arms snake around my waist. "I'll be damned if I let that ever happen again. You and Carly are worth the fight to fight everyday just to have you both in my life."

"What if things get hard," I told him still looking out into the backyard. Everyday was a new day, and I never knew how they would go until the morning. "You can't run away or storm out when things get tough. We have to be able to talk to each other."

"I'll do whatever it takes," he said tightening his arms around my waist. "I meant it when I told you that I want our family forever. I love you Isabella."

"Things can't go back to the way they used to be," I said leaning back into arms. It felt so good to back in his arms, but I wasn't ready to tell him that I still loved him. "I'm not the same girl I used to be. I have Carly to think about."

"I understand fully," he whispered as he kissed me just below my ear. When he did that I felt goosebumps pop up all over my body to the point that I shivered. "Merry Christmas love."

"Merry Christmas," I replied to him.

"Come on let's get you inside before you get sick," he said after we had stood there for a few minutes in silence.

"Okay," I told him as he let me go. He bent down and picked up the blanket that he had brought out. Taking my hand inside of his we back inside through the study.

He laid the blanket down on the chair in front of Carlisle's desk and we headed up the stairs to his room. Not once did he ever let go of my hand. When we made it to his room I saw Carly sleeping in his bed with a smile on her face. She looked so happy, and I couldn't blame her. She had a whole family that loved her no matter what. I sat down on the bed beside her and moved a stray piece of hair off her face. This little girl was my world and I would protect her to make sure that she was happy.

"Thank you," I heard him say handing me a shirt and a pair of sweat pants.

"For what," I answered him looking up to meet his eyes.

"Giving me the best gift ever," he said looking down at Carly.

"She's both our best gift," I said watching her sleep. I bent down and kissed her forehead before getting up off the bed. I walked towards the door before saying anything else. "Goodnight Edward."

"Wait," he said coming towards me. "Stay with us tonight."

"I can't," I said shaking my head. "I told you outside that I was not the same girl. For us to work as a family this is how it has to be until I'm ready."

"At least let me be the one to stay elsewhere," he said.

"No," I answered him. "You stay with her. This is where you belong tonight."

"Bells," he said pulling me into his embrace. "I love you more than you will ever know."

I didn't say anything. I just nodded my head in agreement. I loved him with every ounce of my being. I couldn't fall back into my old ways. He had to earn my trust back, and prove to me that he wouldn't run anymore. He placed his forehead against mine and took a deep breath. I knew what he was going to next, he was going to bend down and kiss me. Just like clock work he bent his face down to kiss me, but just before his lips touched mine I turned my face to side and his lips hit my cheek.

"I'll see you in the morning," I said leaving the room with him still standing in the same spot.

I walked down the stairs to the living room and noticed that everyone else must have gone to bed already. I changed into the clothes that Edward had let me borrow and laid down on the coach. As I laid there I looked at the tree thinking about how I got to where I am now. Could I possibly be happy again? Yes, but it's not going to be easy.

EPOV:

She had just walked out of my room leaving me standing there. I stood there for a few more minutes before changing into a pair of sweats and a shirt. How I wished that she would have stayed with me tonight. Deep down I knew that she had her reasons about why she couldn't. Could I blame her? No, I couldn't because it was my fault that she acted this way. I had hurt her so many times that I knew I had a lot to make up for. I had to prove to her that I could be trusted. I had to prove to not only her but also to Carly that I wouldn't run away again. I leaned over and kissed her temple before laying down on the couch in my room, and went to sleep.

A few hours later…..

I woke up in a cold sweat sitting up on the couch. I had no idea what got me, but all I could hear was someone calling my name. Running my hand through my hair I stood up and went to check on Carly. She was still sleeping peacefully so I knew that she was okay. That only left one other person and with that I bolted out of my room and down the stairs. I found her on the couch sleeping like the angel that she is.

"Love," I whispered as I sat down beside her on the couch. "You are my everything. Hell you were still my everything even when I was married to Tanya. I couldn't make it through the day without thinking about you. I love you with all my heart."

"Edward," she said in her sleep. "Please don't leave."

"Never again," I whispered as I kissed her forehead.

I got up and headed back to my room. I needed to get some sleep because tomorrow would be a new day.