Disclaimer: None of this is mine, nor will it ever be (sigh). I like to play with the characters that Stephenie Meyers created and make them do pervy things or become angels with a bad attitude.

Up next will be the continuation of their Christmas celebration. Will Bella ever be able to say those three words to him?

Chapter Fourteen

BPOV

"Wait, you can play the piano?" I asked, snickering as we sat curled up in on the couch in the living room. We had snuggled all day, never moving further apart than a few feet. We were always touching. I should have been afraid, terrified of being so close to a man, but Edward made me feel so at ease, and so safe. "Do you have any other hidden talents?"

"I can play a mean guitar and I'm awesome at jazz flute," he chuckled, his fingers gliding along my arm.

"Jazz flute?" I giggled.

"Okay, no jazz flute," he said, shooting me a deadly gorgeous crooked grin. "But, I can play the guitar."

"I want to hear you play," I said, smiling widely. "Either one. Hell, even some bad jazz flute."

"I don't have a piano here, but I do have a guitar," he said, getting up. He caressed my cheek, darted away. He came back with a gorgeous black guitar with angel's wings on either side of the sound hole. He sat down, tuning the instrument. "It's been awhile since I've played and sung."

"You sing, too?" I breathed. "Is there anything you don't do?"

"Knit," he smirked, his fingers working along the fretboard. "I tried. My fingers are just too big. I also struggle with sewing, too. Again, fat fingers." I stopped him, grabbing his strong, but slender hand. I arched a brow, twining our fingers together. He blushed, taking my hand, kissing my palm. I shuddered, staring into his eyes. He kissed my wrist before taking a deep breath. "Don't laugh at how awful I am, pretty Bella."

"Never," I said. He gave me another beautifully crooked grin before his fingers moved gracefully along the neck of the guitar. After a brief introduction, he began playing one of my favorite holiday songs: I'll Be Home for Christmas. I never had a home and hearing that song, every year, made me yearn for a home during the holidays. But, this was the first time I had a Christmas, a home. Edward's voice was a beautiful tenor, with rich depth and a sexy growl. I didn't realize I was crying until Edward finished his song, wiping my tears away. "That was beautiful … my favorite Christmas song."

"I know," he said. He tapped his head, his eyes softening. "You have a home now, Bella. You have to know that."

"I'm trying," I whispered. He moved the guitar and held me in his arms. "But, this has been the best Christmas I've ever had."

"Well, we're not done yet," Edward said. "We have Christmas dinner and then presents!"

"Presents?" I squeaked. "I didn't …" He gave me a tender grin, brushing his lips against mine and I melted. Like, my brain melted and I couldn't remember what he had said. "No fair."

"What's not fair?" he asked, helping me to my feet and guiding to the kitchen. He moved confidently, pulling out containers from the refrigerator. "I can handle the dinner, but can you make the salad?"

"Yeah," I nodded. He put a small beef tenderloin into the oven and then worked on making some risotto and sautéed vegetables. I chopped the lettuce, onions, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes. I also made some bacon to crumble on top with blue cheese and some croutons. Edward pilfered some bacon, laughing adorably as I gently smacked his hands away. Mixing the salad with olive oil and some fancy vinegar, I put it on the table and lit some candles. Edward finished making our meal, putting it onto the table and pouring some red wine. "I still think it's humorous that an angel drinks."

"I do, but it doesn't impact me at all," he said, taking a sip. "The human vices, smoking, drinking, and drugs? They don't react with my enhanced physiology. I've never been drunk, really. I mean, I'd have to drink about forty bottles of Jack Daniels for me to be buzzed."

"Um, wow," I snorted. "And you know this how?"

"Because during my bitter days, just prior to meeting you, I would go drinking. A lot," he deadpanned. "Yeah, very bitter. I felt cursed about being on this world, watching people annihilate each other, belittle, demean and make their lives awful for almost seventy years. Part of it is due to the lingering evil with what happened during World War II. It's only escalated with Lucifer's reappearance."

"Why would he come back?" I asked.

"Because he wants you. I don't know why. Alice doesn't know why," Edward growled. "You're apparently powerful. Very, very powerful."

"I'm not. I'm weak," I frowned. Edward growled, moving and placing me in his lap, his large hands cupping my face. "I am, Edward."

"You are not even remotely weak. You are the strongest person I know," he said, his thumbs caressing my cheeks. "Don't put yourself down. Please?" He moved forward, kissing me so sweetly that my heart jumped out of my chest. I responded to his kiss, threading my hands into his hair and reveling in the softness of his thick tresses. We broke apart, breathing heavily. His forehead was pressed against mine. "You are strong, beautiful, and powerful, pretty Bella." He stared into my eyes, his brow arched. "I know what you're thinking and don't."

"I'm trying," I whispered.

"Now, let's enjoy some dinner," he said, keeping me in his lap. We shared our meals and Edward was very sweet and sensual as he fed me.

"I can feed myself. I've been doing it for years," I giggled.

"I want to take care of you, Bella," he murmured, holding up an asparagus spear. He took a bite, his eyes darkening. He offered it to me, and I finished the asparagus, nipping at his fingers. I felt a low rumbling growl emanating from his belly and his arousal growing against my thigh. It should have terrified me, but it made me quiver with need, which was something I never experienced. I was used to being abused and hurt, not feeling sexually aroused. My fear ran through me and I shot up off Edward's lap. He furrowed his brows as I scurried away, locking myself in the bathroom.

A few moments later and some deep breathing exercises, I went back to the dining room. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I …"

"I know, Bella," Edward said, taking my hand. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

"It wasn't you, Edward," I sighed. "It was me. I felt something I never experienced …" Arousal. I blushed, looking up at him. His face softened and he kissed my forehead. "You have to understand why I freaked out."

"I get it, Bella," he said. "You never?"

"No," I blushed. "My sexual history was violent and I had no desire to be touched that way. I think that when I was being … um, attacked … I may have …"

"Bella," he choked out. "I wish I could take those memories away and show you how a man should touch a woman. It should be out of reverence, love, desire. Not anger, control or malice." He stood up, hugging me tightly and wrapping me in his arms and wings. I pressed my cheek against his soft shirt, hearing the steady thrum of his heart. There was a warmth against the back of my head. Edward sighed angrily, removing his hand.

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I tried to take those memories away," he pouted, leaning his cheek against the crown of my head. "It didn't work."

"Thank you for trying," I said, pulling back and caressing his strong jaw. "That's got to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"But, it didn't work," he said, staring into my eyes.

"Regardless, you tried," I said, standing on my tiptoes, kissing his soft pink lips. He sighed, enfolding me into his arms and tenderly deepening our kiss. He stopped, pressing his forehead to mine. He guided me back to the table and held me on his lap. We finished our meal and I did the dishes since Edward cooked. He made coffee and turned on some holiday music, lighting the fire in the fireplace. Once the dishes were done, I noticed a pile of presents on the cocktail table. They were beautifully wrapped, glittering under the romantic light of the Christmas tree and dimmed recessed lights. "When did you go shopping?"

"Magic," he beamed, waggling his brows. I gave him a look. "Alice and my credit card."

"You didn't have to do this," I frowned. "Just being here was enough."

"Bella, I wanted to give you a real Christmas," he said. "I have cookies and egg nog. And you need presents to have it be a real Christmas."

"I didn't get you anything," I said, feeling guilty.

"I don't want anything. I don't need anything," he said, pulling me onto the couch. He handed me the largest box, giving me an expectant grin. I opened it up, seeing a beautiful new coat in a deep forest green. Edward helped me put it on and it fit perfectly. The next gift was a matching scarf, hat and glove set that went with the coat. It was incredibly soft and beautiful. "Alice got these for you since your coat is threadbare. The rest, she read my mind, and purchased for me based off my thoughts. Even though I didn't personally purchase them, I had input on what I wanted."

Handing me small flat box, I tore into it. Inside was a personalized journal. It was leather-bound and beautiful. "Wow," I breathed. I traced my embossed name. "This is gorgeous."

"I use the same journals. However, not as girly," he quipped. "When you're alive as long as I am, you need to process your thoughts and writing it down does wonders. It might help you with your dark thoughts." He sighed, his hands rubbing my wrists. "I can't lose you, Bella."

I understood what he was saying. He didn't want me to do something rash, like end my life, because of my past. Talking about it, writing about it, and trying to heal from it. I opened the book and saw some writing inside, appearing like calligraphy. "Did you write in here?"

"While you showered," he blushed. "Read it later. Please?"

"Okay," I said, placing it on the table and picking up a large box. I tore into it and pulled out a teddy bear, a new replica of the teddy bear that had been my constant companion until one of my foster brothers burnt the original. "Oh, God." I sobbed, hugging it to my body, feeling the familiarity of my fuzzy friend. "How did you know?"

"I saw your memories and he was your own only friend until you were fifteen," Edward said. "I know that you loved that bear and he was your last tie to being a child. It seems silly, but I wanted you to have that memory." I blinked, tears streaming down my cheeks and throwing myself into his arms. I held both the bear and Edward so tightly. "I love you, Bella. I don't want you to cry."

"You're just so sweet," I said, my voice cracking. "Thank you."

"There's one more present, though," he said, cradling me against his chest. He pulled something from the bear's neck and I saw something glittering against his palm. "Your dreams, good dreams, are focused on my eyes." He unclasped something and dangled an emerald pendant. It was clear and beautiful, the same color of his eyes. "You see how much I care about you, how I'd protect you from Riley and the love I have for you. I wanted to give you something to represent how much I do love you."

"It's gorgeous. I've never had anything so nice," I whispered. Edward put it around my neck, gently tracing the swirl of gold above the pear-shaped emerald. "Thank you, Edward. I promise to make it up to you."

"That's the beautiful thing about the holiday season is that you give presents without having to 'make it up to me.' I wanted to give you these gifts, pretty Bella," he chided. "I'm glad you liked them, though."

"I more than liked them," I said, tucking the bear against my body. "This has been the best day I've had, ever."

"I hope that the days get better, Bella," he smiled, holding me to his muscular form. "I'm glad, though, that this was the best day. I want you to smile more. You deserve happiness, joy, love."

"When I'm with you, I feel like that's a distinct possibility," I whispered, looking up at him. He gave me a beautiful grin, pressing his lips to mine. I melted against him, snuggling close to him. He broke away, sighing contentedly. "Edward, I think I can give you something for Christmas."

"What's that?" he asked, leaning his cheek against my head.

"I'll stay here. Riley or Lucifer or whatever his name is, he scares me," I muttered. "I don't think that I can stay there with Rose being an epic bitch. She was talking about raising my rent and I can't afford that …"

"Then, you stay with me," Edward said. "We'll move you in during our break. And I'll handle Rose."

"You won't hurt her, will you?" I squeaked.

"No, but I will tell her that her business practices are highly illegal and I'll call on my legal background. You may get paid after I'm done with her," he snickered, grinning evilly. "And I can't hurt humans. Humans that have been taken over by evil? Like Riley? We can bring them to heaven to be judged. Only He can dispense with judgment, punishment."

"Will he punish Riley?" I asked.

"When we catch him? Yes," Edward said, his eyes darkening with anger. His face softened and he looked down at me. "But, having you say that you're staying with me is the best present. Ever."

"I do want to help, though. Pay something," I said.

"We'll see," he said cryptically. "Just enjoy tonight and our time together. We'll discuss logistics about you moving in later. Cookies?"

"Edward …" I chided as I watched him get up. He grinned goofily, looking so handsome and sweet. "Edward! We're not done!"

"But, the cookies are delicious," he sang. He looked at me, arching a brow. You're not paying a damn thing while you live with me, Ms. Swan. Deal with it.

We'll see, I challenged back, smirking.

A/N: So, Bella agreed to move in, but she still hasn't said that she loved Edward. Will she ever be able to do so? Will they ever cross that physical bridge? Make love?

Pictures of Edward's home at Christmas are on my blog, along with Edward's presents to Bella. The link to that is on my profile. You can also find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation and twitter, too: tufano79. Up next will be moving Bella in, Edward's discussion with Rosalie and return to school. Leave me some loving!