BPOV

After I ate I curled up in the bed and tried to fall asleep being exhausted from the night of crying. It took a while to fall asleep but when I did I instantly missed the feel of Edward's chest against my back.

The next morning I woke and the sun was already out and the tray that once held my empty dinner plate was replaced with a breakfast tray and a note. I grabbed the note and my orange juice and walked over to the window to enjoy the wonderful view of Edward's backyard. When I opened the note I found that it was from Edward:

Bella,

I am leaving the house and I won't be back until later this afternoon. My parents are going to spend some quality time together during the day and I have told the others that you still might need your space. They won't bother you. Please enjoy your day and I will see you when I get back.

Edward

P.S. Think of any Christmas movies you would like to watch tonight, it's a family tradition.

According to what Grace had told me Christmas Eve was a big deal with the Cullen's. Apparently they enjoy a casual dinner followed by their favorite Christmas movies with hot chocolate and s'mores made from the fire in the fireplace. I couldn't really remember anything about Christmas with my family and Lady Hannigan didn't celebrate because it was one of her busiest nights of the year.

I decided the wrap the gifts that I had bought for everyone while I was out with the girls but I never did find anything for Edward. I wasn't sure what to get him. I was supposed to go shopping with Alice again but that wouldn't be happening. Honestly I wasn't too upset about it because she wanted me to by lingerie for him and that wouldn't work.

After an hour I was finally finished and I went down to the library to see if Edward had my favorite book "Wuthering Heights". I didn't notice it before but after looking I noticed his library used the Dewey Decimal System. While searching I noticed that a few of his collection weren't complete and I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote down a few titles.

Once I had a small list of books that I thought he should have I went to find grace and let her know that I would be back that I just had a few last minute errands to do before tomorrow. She handed me the black credit card and insisted I take a car and I have learned you don't argue with her so Jeremy, the driver, took me to the nearest book store. He told me he would be waiting in the car for me and I assured him I wouldn't be too long.

I headed into the small store and was amazed by the books that were there. There were old leather bond books and then there were also newer paperback books. I was sure I would have sticker shock if I went to the antique section but I couldn't help myself from going over there and at least looking. Just being by these books reminded me of the movie "The Ninth Gate" where the main character Dean Corso is searching for old books and he has to check the authenticity.

I ran my fingers along the delicate binding smiling as I went by. "Can I help you?" I was startled by an old mole looking man. He had pop bottle glasses the magnified his eyes and he looked like a cartoon character. "Actually I am looking for these books." I handed him the list I had and he looked over and a smile spread across his face.

"I didn't know Mr. Cullen had a new secretary." I scrunched my eyes up in confusion, "How did you…" He turned the list around and point to the letter head where Edward's name was on it. "I'm actually just a friend." The man shrugged and turned with the list in his hands while talking, "Well any friend of Mr. Cullen's is a friend of mine and that means you can have his normal discount."

Before I was even able to protest he had the four books on my list already in his hands. I tried to protest and tell him that I couldn't afford them from the antique section but he assured me I was wrong. The first one he rang up he told me was a leather hardcover copy of several of Shakespeare's works from 1839. I was really shocked when I saw the only Shakespeare works Edward had was "Romeo and Juliet" so this was a must.

"Now this would run at $180.00 for a normal person but the Cullen price is $100.00." I cringed but thought that it was a hell of a deal. The next book he rang up was one that I would love to get my hands on and it would complete Edward's Jane Austen Collection. It was a leather bound copy of "Mansfield Park". "OK this one you are getting a really good deal on, your price is $125.00, normally $207.00. The cover is accented in 22kt gold which is what causes the price to be so high."

I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take. I had heard of this kind of stuff but to actually experience it was surreal. Since I noticed he didn't have a copy of "Wuthering Heights" I got him a first edition leather bound with 22kt gold accenting. It was originally $275.00 but only cost me $145.00.

The fourth and final book that he rang up was a rare first edition black leather bond copy of "The Great Gatsby" this one wouldn't finish any collections but I noticed he had three paperback copies of it and all three of the spines were falling apart. He told me that the book normally would go for $350.00 but he was giving it to me for $200.00. I would have put the rest of them back if I had needed to in order to get just that one. With a total of $615.60 with tax I slid the black card knowing I would pay him back as soon as he paid me when I would leave.

I felt very confident in my purchases and was sure he would love them, at least I hoped so. When I got back to the house Grace had a lunch tray ready for me and I quickly ate so I could wrap Edward's gifts before he got back. I ate the soup and grilled cheese she made quickly and then sprinted up the stairs.

Twenty minutes later I was done wrapping all the gifts but still had plenty of energy so I decided to go down to the gym and exercise a little. I turned on the radio to a local 90's station and began to sing along to the radio as I worked out. After an hour on the treadmill and fifteen minutes on the bike I decided I had enough and began cleaning the equipment. I was singing and dancing along to No Doubts "Spiderwebs". When the song ended I heard clapping and immediately blushed knowing I had been caught.

When I looked at the doorway there stood the God known as Edward Cullen applauding me. "That was very entertaining." I shrugged and continued to wipe down the equipment, "I aim to please. Did you need something?" He shook his head and pushed off the doorframe walking towards me. "No I just heard the music from the living room and then I heard your lovely voice; next thing I knew I was standing here watching you dance around my gym. I may have to take you out dancing before our time is up."

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head, "No, I don't dance in public. Had I known you were there I wouldn't have been dancing just now." He was no standing right in front of me and reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "We'll see about that." He was now so close to me that I could feel his body heat radiating off of him and his hand had yet to leave the side of my face.

I could feel an electric current course through my body starting where his hand was touching me and I had to really focus on keeping my breathing steady. "So Bella did you have a good day? I heard Jeremy took you somewhere." I took a deep breath that only clouded my mind more because if his intoxicating scent. I wonder if it is cologne or just the way he smells. "Um yeah, I uh… had some more Christmas shopping to do." I stuttered as his hand moved from my face to my locket which he opened to look at the pictures again.

"You look like your mom, but you have your dad's eyes." I closed my eyes trying not to let the tears fall. I had always been told I had Charlie's eyes but I always thought they paled in comparison. I took a deep breath before looking up at Edward and he looked slightly confused by my reaction. "I didn't mean to upset you, Bella." I shook my head and took the locket out of his hands.

"I'm not upset; I just haven't been compared to my parents since their funeral. It feels really good to hear that part of them stayed with me." We stood there is silence for a few moments and it felt like he wanted to say something to me but he couldn't quite find the words. When I began to feel awkward I turned and put the towel in the laundry basket across the room. "So did you really want when you came in here?" He shook his head as if clearing his mind, "I wanted to tell you we will be eating in an hour then we will hang out watching movies. Grace said for you to place all of your gifts by the door and she would be sure they make it down under the tree by tomorrow morning."

I went and turned the now forgotten radio off. When I got to the door Edward stood there just staring at me and I had to turn sideways to squeeze between him and the doorframe. Once in the hall I turned back to look at him, "I guess I'll see you at dinner." He nodded and I headed upstairs. I was almost up there when I heard Esme start talking from behind me, "You two don't need to cool anything down just because we are here."

"Excuse me?" When turned to look at her she was standing at the bottom of the stairs with her arms crossed over her chest. She sighed and started climbing the stairs, "I said you and Edward don't have to distance yourselves from each other just because we are here. We can all feel the sexual tension between you guys."

I immediately blushed and wanted to run away but I couldn't do that. "Esme I can assure you that Edward and I aren't acting any different than we normally do." She stood there staring at me trying to tell if I was lying and thankfully I wasn't because if I was she would have seen right through it. "Fine. Alice has picked out your outfit for the night and laid it on your bed. I'll see you at dinner."

Once I got to the room I closed the door and leaned against it sighing. This would be so much easier if his family wasn't trying to analyze our relationship. Lying on the bed was a simple black long sleeve turtleneck sweater dress and grey leggings to go with it. I let a smile cover my face when I saw the black UGG boots on the floor.

I took a quick shower washing away all of the sweat and grime from my workout before I did my hair and applied very little makeup. By the time I put on my clothes I had just enough time to put my gifts by the door and go see Edward like I had planned. I stuck my head out the door and made sure no one was in the hallway before I made my way to his room and knocked on his door.

"Come in." I slowly opened the door and looked around to find him standing in front of a mirror fighting with his hair. "Oh, I thought you were… Never mind, did you need something?" I closed the door and leaned against it. "Your mom approached me today. She thinks we're distancing ourselves from each other because they're here."

He continued to keep fussing over his hair as he spoke, "Yeah they all think we are avoiding each other because of their presence. Damn my hair!" I smirked at him before I left the safety of the door and headed over to him pulling a chair behind him. "Sit." He looked at me like I was crazy but he did as I said. "Now what are you trying to with your hair."

He looked over his shoulder at me, "I just want it to lay flat." I laughed and messed around with it for a minute, "Ok just wait here I will be right back." I quickly ran to my room and grabbed a bunch of the hair supplies from the bathroom. When I got back he was still sitting in the chair but he was pulling at his hair. "Ok for this to work you have to stop that." He smacked his hands down on his knees and waited for me to start working.

I brushed through his hair and then used a hair straighter on it, "I think you should leave it the way you always wear it, it looks good that way." He shrugged, "My mom always says it's too messy and I try to tame it but nothing I ever do works." After it was straightened I gelled it back then secured it with tons of hairspray. "Alright how does that look?"

His eyes shot up to the mirror and his jaw dropped, "You did it. No one has ever been able to get my hair to lay flat." I shrugged as I gathered all of my stuff to put back in the bathroom. "It's no biggy I used to help the girls do their hair. Yours was nothing compared to Sarah's. Now her hair is untamable." He stood up and kissed me on the cheek, "Thank you." I just smiled and ran to my room where I threw everything on my bed and placed my hand on my cheek. I swear I could still feel the electricity coursing through my body.

When I opened my door Edward was standing there waiting for me, "You ready?" I smoothed out my dress and nodded. He extended his hand which I instantly took and we walked down the hallway holding hands. I couldn't keep the smile from my face even if I tried and I'm sure I looked really stupid.

When we walked into the dinning room everyone was waiting for us and Esme smiled at me when she saw our hands. "God Eddie you guys took long enough." Edward growled, "Emmett if you call me Eddie one more time I'll tell Rose about our spring break in St. Thomas." Emmett's eyes popped out of his head and he immediately shut up.

"Edward you look so debonair with your hair like that." I tried not to roll my eyes at Esme. Sure Edward looks good no matter how he wears his hair but I prefer the sex hair he normally has. "How did you get it to do that because we've never been able to get it to lay flat?"

He pulled on my arm until I was standing in front of him with his arms wrapped around my shoulders with his chin on my head. "Bella did it. Now let's eat so we can watch our movies." We all sat around the table and the staff brought in a spiral ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, and sweet potato casserole.

Carlisle said grace and everyone started eating. "So Bella did you think of any movies you would like to watch tonight?" I shrugged looking at Alice, "My family doesn't really have any traditions for Christmas so I couldn't really thinking of anything." This time Esme spoke up, "Well then you can join our family tradition and pick out a movie tonight."

I smiled at her then looked around at everyone, "So what movies did you guys pick?" Edward cleared his throat, "Esme and Carlisle picked "It's a Wonderful Life" Alice and Jasper chose "Noel" Emmett wants to watch "Elf" which Rosalie agreed to and now we are waiting your choice." I wracked my mind and blurted out the first Christmas movie I could think of, "How about "Home Alone"?" Emmett busted out laughing and Edward groaned, "Ha dude you said I couldn't pick it but she picked it. I love you Bella!"

"Why wouldn't he let you pick that movie?" Everyone got really quiet except Emmett who kept laughing. I felt better when I saw a confused look on Rose's face as well. "Go ahead mom tell the story." I reached across the table and grabbed Edward hand and silently asked him if he was ok and nodded.

"Well Edward hasn't watched that movie since he was sixteen because he got left home alone. We were going to celebrate Christmas with Carlisle's aunt in London and he wanted to drive himself to the airport. He ended up getting a flat tire and didn't make it on time. We tried to get him on a flight later but they were all booked. He ended up spending all of Christmas and New Years alone. We even had all of his gifts so he couldn't even open them."

After dinner was over we all pilled into the living room and watched the movies, we started with "It's a Wonderful Life" then "Home Alone" because Emmett wanted to torture Edward. "I'm sorry Edward." He pulled me against his chest and we laid down on the couch being careful not to knock over our hot chocolate. "I forgive you, besides you didn't know."

It felt so good to be in his arms for the first time in a long time I felt like someone actually cared. I glanced up to look at him and he was looking down at me smiling. Then I was blinded by bright flash, "OW, look how cute they are." I was blinking trying to be able to see again, "Great Alice you blinded her."

I was finally able to see figures although they still had halos around them. "I want to see that picture when I can actually see again." Alice giggled and I laid back down against Edward who surprised me when he leaned in and kissed me. I closed my eyes and fell asleep on the couch with Edward holding me tightly.


Here you go. I hoped you liked Christmas Eve with the Cullens. I just saw "Remember Me" tonight and figured if I get a treat then my readers should too. Review and tell me what you thought about it.

~SAM~