Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight related.

Thank you for all of the well wishes, I feel slightly better than I did yesterday, and I'm here so my head didn't actually explode like I thought it might.

The couple I have in this chapter I have NEVER seen together, but they were both without a partner so I threw them together. I hope you enjoy.

December 12, 2011

Eric's POV

At the sound of my alarm going off I rolled over and sat up, planting my feet on the floor, rubbing my eyes before I smacked the alarm clock a few times. I don't know what would be more annoying, that alarm clock or a live rooster crowing in my bedroom. I'm not a morning person, or an any time of day person really.

I sat up and headed for the shower that was in the bathroom in my bedroom. After showering and dressing I walked through the halls and into the living room, turning on the television, then into the kitchen where I turned on the radio and started a pot of coffee.

I always turn everything on, I hate the silence. Living alone can be quite lonely and quiet. I have a nice three bedroom house, big by Fork's standards. But I hate how empty it is.

After I finish my coffee I rinse out the cup and then go back through the house turning everything off. I locked the front door as I walk out onto the porch and headed for the car to go to work.

When my parents died a few years ago they left me a pretty big inheritance, along with the house. I don't actually have to work, but I want to. Staying in my silent house alone everyday sounds awful to me.

I work at the local drug store as the head pharmacist. I love my job. It's the only thing I actually look forward to everyday.

After work I head over to the diner for dinner. It has become a ritual. I can cook, but cooking for one is depressing.

"Hi, Eric. How are you today?" Jane asks as she hands me a menu after I sit in my usual booth.

"I'm doing pretty well." I smile. "How are you?"

"Same as every other day." She laughs.

After I order I sit and play a game on my phone. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jane walking around the diner doing her job. This also has become a ritual; I can't stop myself from watching her.

Jane is my age, long blonde hair that she keeps pulled up high on her head, piercing blue eyes that are prettier than any sparkling blue ocean, she's short, just the right height to tuck under your arm while she snuggles in close to you.

"Hey, Eric." I was interrupted in my thoughts of Jane. "Mind if I sit with you?"

I looked up to see Emmett. He smiled as he sat down across from me. He's so huge he takes almost the whole booth seat himself. His huge stature is deceiving though, you can't help be in a good mood around him.

Jane walked over and took Emmett's order, he ordered about half the menu. The whole time he was ordering I couldn't keep my eyes off of Jane. I noticed Emmett kept looking strangely between me and Jane. I guess he noticed my staring.

"Hungry?" I laughed.

"Since we don't have to save money anymore, I am making up for lost meals." He smiled.

"Where's Rose tonight?" I asked.

"Since she's got her new garage up and running she has taken in a few more cars, so she's been super busy." He explained. "So, I'm on my own for dinner tonight. And it's lonely eating alone."

"Tell me about it." I mumbled.

Emmett gave me a weird look but didn't comment on it. After Jane brought our meals out we ate and continued talking, about nothing of importance, but it was nice just to talk. As we ate and talked my eyes kept drifting over to Jane.

"Alright." Emmett said putting his fork down. "What's going on with you and Jane?"

"What?" I blanched. "Nothing."

"Uh huh." He said skeptically. "You can't keep your eyes off of her. And I don't know if you realize it or not, but she can't keep her eye's off of you either."

"I think you're seeing things." I waved him off.

Emmett gave me look that told me he did not believe me one bit, but he let the topic drop.

After Jane brought our bill over after we were done eating I picked the bill up that Jane had added all together and told Emmett I got it.

"Is this hush money?" He laughed.

"You're so not funny." I said, but I couldn't hide the smile that wanted to appear.

"I can't wait to tell Rose you have the hots for Jane." Emmett beamed.

"Alright, yes it's hush money." I said frantically.

Emmett laughed, "Don't worry; I'm not going to tell anybody. Why don't you just ask her out? You're single, she's single."

I grimaced and said, "I can't. I have never been able to ask girls out."

"Well you need to get over that." Emmett said. "Jane is a beautiful girl; she's not going to stay single forever. If you don't man up, you're going to miss your chance and be alone."

"That's what I'm afraid of." I said.

"Then get on it." Emmett said slapping me on the back as we stood to leave.

"Bye, Emmett." Jane called. "Goodnight, Eric."

"Oh, I get bye and he gets a goodnight?" Emmett huffed playfully. "I see how it is."

"Goodnight, Emmett." Jane laughed.

"I don't want your pity goodnight now." He joked.

We walked outside, Emmett laughing, me smiling; you just couldn't help it around Emmett.

"Do you know why she told you goodnight?" Emmett asked.

"Because she always does?"

"No, because she wants you to think about her before you fall asleep." Emmett said.

"You're crazy." I scoffed.

"I may be crazy, but I manned up and have a hot wife." Emmett said as he walked backwards towards his car. "What are you waiting for?"

"That's a good question." I mumbled.

"It is. Goodnight, Eric." Emmett said blowing me a kiss. I rolled my eyes at him and got into my own car.

After walking into my house and turned the lights and TV on. I stood in the living room looking at the big picture window. That was where my parents used to put the Christmas tree every year. I didn't bother getting one this year. Actually I haven't gotten one since my parents passed away. It's just me, putting up a tree for myself is pointless, and a tad depressing.

After lying down I rolled on to my back and stared at the ceiling. As I let the silence envelope me I felt a tear fall down my face. This happened most nights. I hate the silence. I have friends, but at the end of the night my friends go home to their families, I would love someone to come home to.

As I played Emmett's words over in my mind, I knew I should just man up as he said and ask her out. But I chicken out every time.

Finally the silence won out and I fell fast asleep.

Waking up in the morning wasn't to my alarm clock like usual, but to a pounding on my door. I ran down the stairs and opened the door to find nobody there.

I looked around and then turned to go back in the house. There taped to the door was a candy cane and a note. I pulled the note down and read it.

Eric,

If you are free tonight I would love to have dinner with you.

Please meet me at La Bella Italia at 8.

Bring this candy cane with you. I also will have one.

Hope to see you there.

Your Secret Admirer.

"Secret admirer?" I scoffed as I walked back into the house.

All day long I kept thinking about the note. At first I thought it was from Emmett. I called him and asked about his joke. He swore up and down it wasn't from him. I didn't know if I believed him or not.

The rest of the day was spent flip flopping on my decision to go. At first I thought it was a joke and I set my mind on I wasn't going. Then I thought, maybe somebody does like me and I would go find out whom. Then went back to no one would like a guy who's basically a hermit, who's pining after one girl and cries himself to sleep. Yeah, I'm a damn catch.

I got dressed and ready to go still not convinced I should go.

I paced the living room trying to make a decision.

"I feel like the Grinch when he's trying to talk himself into going and accept his award." I said out loud to no one.

"You know what? He went, I'll go." I said as I stared walking to the door.

I stopped as I reached for the door handle and said, "It didn't turn out so good for him though. I'm not going."

I walked back to the living room. "And now I'm talking to myself. I am such a loser."

I through my jacket on and said, "That's it I'm going. If it's a joke then I will get a big laugh out of it and then come home and cry my eye's out because I'm a big, God. Damn. Baby." I slammed the front door as I ran towards the car trying desperately not to turn back around.

I parked in the parking lot of the restaurant. I took a deep breath, grabbed my candy cane off the passenger seat, and headed into the restaurant.

I walked into the restaurant and smiled at the first thing my eyes landed on. Standing there looking nervous was Jane, looking more beautiful than I have ever seen her, clutching a candy cane to her chest.

"Jane." I smiled. "You're my secret admirer?"

"Eric." Jane sighed with a smile, and then she looked confused. "No, you're my secret admirer."

She handed me the note she found taped to her door, which was the same note I got.

"It looks like someone is playing cupid for Christmas." I said.

"I'm glad." She smiled.

"Me too." I said.

"I have a confession to make." Jane said as we ate. "I have had a crush on you for years."

I looked at her in amazement; I thought she never noticed me unless she was bringing me my food at the diner.

"I have wanted to ask you out so many times." I confessed.

"You should have." She smiled.

"Yes, I should have." I slid my hand across the table and onto Jane's small hand. Her hand was so small and delicate in mine, I loved it, and I could get used to this.

We continued to hold hands and flirt while we finished our meal. After we were done the waiter walked over to us and said, "Your bill has already been taken care of and I have been instructed to give this to the both of you." He placed an envelope on the table and walked away after telling us to have a goodnight.

I opened the envelope and we read it together.

Eric and Jane,

No one deserves to be alone for Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Santa

"I agree." Jane smiled.

And I couldn't agree more.

I helped Jane on with her coat and then walked her to her car. I stood in front of her unsure of myself. Emmett's words rung in my ears man up.

I straightened up and said, "Can I kiss you goodbye?"

"Please." Jane smiled.

I bent down and let my lips meet Jane's. The kiss was perfect and it was like Jane's lips were made to fit with mine. I pulled away before I could get too carried away.

"That was nice." Jane smiled. "I have had a very good time tonight."

"Me too." I said. "Could we do this again sometime?"

"I would love to."

"I will call you." I smiled and then I started to walk away. A thought struck me and ran back to Jane. "How about tomorrow?" I asked. "I was thinking maybe you would like to help me pick out a Christmas tree and then decorate it."

"That sounds great." She answered. "Since it's just me I don't usually get one."

"Me neither." I said. "But I think I want one this year."

"Me too." She smiled.

I kissed her again and then we both headed home. As I lay in bed that night, for the first time in a long time I fell asleep with a smile instead of a tear.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. The holidays is a hard time be a single person (trust me, I know), so I wanted to fix that for them.

Did I through you off the Santa trail again with this one?

Leave a review and I will see you tomorrow!