Thanks to lislar and shoefreak37 for making sure my chapters don't suck. Sorry for not being on schedule this week; it annoys me too.

Chapter 24: The Only Gift

Bella sat nervously in the living room, on the smaller sofa with Edward next to her, Ben nestled in her lap. He was sitting quietly in his little Santa suit, watching the Christmas tree with rapt attention. Esme was in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner. Bella offered her assistance, but had been quickly shooed away. The sound of the television could be heard coming from the den and Bella assumed that was where Carlisle and Jasper were. Bella had told Edward he was free to go and sit with them, but he was insistent upon staying glued to her side. She was thankful for that, on edge with Jasper looming around somewhere in the house.

Though everyone had assured her there would be no more outbursts from him, she was still anxious and worried. She had momentarily considered feigning illness—a stomach bug or a headache—but when Edward had arrived to pick her up, she just couldn't follow through. He looked so happy, excitedly grabbing the gifts and Ben, hauling everything out to her car.

She'd exchanged gifts with Charlie and Sue the previous day, the entire blended family meeting up for a laid back morning. They'd worn pajamas and eaten a late breakfast. Ben wasn't old enough to open his own presents, but he liked the shiny paper and bows, the brightly-colored Christmas lights.

Leah had driven in for the day with her boyfriend, only spending a few hours in Forks before they turned and headed back to Seattle. She had hoped to come sooner, but with other commitments, the day was all she could spare. Seth was around for the entire afternoon, wrapping Ben in paper and sticking bows on top of his head. Bella took lots of pictures. Even if her son wasn't old enough to remember his first Christmas, she didn't want to forget it.

Charlie and Sue were spending much of Christmas day on the reservation, having lunch with some of Sue's extended family and friends, but would be having dinner at the Cullen house with Bella. She hoped that if there were any insults directed at her, they would be over and dealt with by the time Charlie arrived. He was generally very level-headed, but in her time living with him, she'd learned that there was one sure-fire way to get him riled up: say or do something to upset her.

"Where's Alice?" Bella whispered to Edward, her eyes scanning the space around her, trying to locate her eccentric friend. She'd hoped the day would give her the opportunity to set things straight with Alice. She hated feeling like there was tension between them, that she couldn't just pop over to Alice's shop whenever she wanted to talk. Though Rosalie had warmed up to her and had some insight about Edward, Alice was still much easier to talk to.

"She's not here. I meant to tell you on the way over. She's spending the holidays with her cousin in California."

"I didn't think she was close with her family." Bella knew Alice had told her that she rarely visited her family, much less for the holidays. It seemed increasingly odd that Jasper was here and Alice was just…gone.

"She's not. Alice and Jasper have decided they need some time apart. She went to her cousin's for a few weeks to give him time to get out of their house. He's moving into an apartment in Port Angeles, closer to work, and she's going to stay here in Forks."

"Are they getting a divorce?" Bella felt the guilt churn in her stomach. Though logically she knew this development had little to do with her, she still felt guilty.

"No, I don't think so. This is supposed to be temporary, just until they can work some things out. She needs time. I'm sure it'll be fine." Edward reached over and took her hand, hoping to give her a bit of reassurance.

Moments later, Esme came breezing into the room with Carlisle and Jasper entering behind her. As gifts began to be passed about, the tension seemed to ease. Jasper had chosen a seat on the far side of the room, a single chair in the corner. Bella almost felt sorry for him, as he'd seemingly exiled himself from the festivities, celebrating for the first time in many years without Alice by his side.

Bella was shocked by the number of gifts that were passed her way, for both herself and Ben. Living with Renee, there was no extended family to visit and she'd always counted herself lucky if Renee remembered to buy her even one gift, much less the whole pile she had beside of her. Charlie and Sue had overspent as well, even though she'd asked them not to buy her anything because of college expenses that would be coming in less than a month.

She hugged both Esme and Carlisle, thanking them profusely for the things they had given her. It was really sweet, especially given that she hadn't been dating Edward long and they didn't really know her all that well. As Carlisle carried the trash out to the garage and Esme went to check on dinner, Jasper finally stood and made his way over towards Edward and Bella.

Edward's arm went around Bella's waist, as if he were showing Jasper that they were a united front. Jasper croaked out Bella's name and nodded before handing her a sealed envelope. The envelope had dancing fairies around the edges, her name written across the center in a hasty scrawl. Alice. Sensing that she needed a moment alone, Edward pulled Ben from her lap and kissed her on the temple, heading into the kitchen with the rest of the family.

Gently breaking the seal and pulling out the piece of paper inside, Bella felt her emotions begin to overwhelm her. When she unfolded the letter, a small silver chain with a pendant attached slid out into her hand. It was small and heart-shaped, the stone a dark and rosy pink with veins of black running through it. Bella had feared this note was a goodbye, but she smiled in relief when she read the words Alice has messily scribbled down.

Rhodonite – The Singer's Stone

This stone is for love and healing. It promotes relaxation and helps ward off negativity. I hope it helps you make it through the day. Hope to see you soon.

-Alice

Bella unlatched the tiny clasp and put the chain around her neck. Though there was no apology in the note, Bella knew this was Alice's way of saying she was sorry. This wouldn't completely absolve the problems between them, but it was the first step in the right direction.

~ O ~

Standing near the large window in the front room, Bella watched the flakes of snow fall and gather on the cold, frozen ground. She could see the ice shining on the pavement, glinting under the haze of the streetlights. The sky was cloudy and dark, giving the impression that the worst of the winter storm was yet to come.

After putting Ben down for the evening, she'd lost track of time, totally immersed in Edward and oblivious to the snow that was pouring down outside. After dinner with their combined families, she and Edward had gathered their things and headed to his house to exchange gifts with one another and just spend a quiet evening together.

Edward had spent nearly an hour on the floor with Ben, playing with some toy he'd bought for her son. It had lights and played music; Ben loved anything that was bright and loud, so it quickly became his new favorite. He would laugh loudly and throw his hands in the air as Edward pushed the buttons, doing his best to repeat the actions.

Eventually the excitement of the day had given way to exhaustion and Ben was practically falling asleep sitting up. Bella scooped him up and put him in bed, thankful for an easy night with him. It didn't happen every night, but sometimes he fought to stay awake, fussing and crying when she tried to rock him to sleep.

Once Ben's little snores could be heard sounding through the monitor, she exchanged gifts with Edward before snuggling on the couch to drink cocoa and talk about the day. Edward revealed that he was relieved, that even though Jasper had promised to behave, he hadn't truly trusted his brother to keep himself under control, especially in Alice's absence. He was also happy that their families meshed so well together. Dinner had been easy, even though it was obvious there was something wrong with Jasper; no one said anything about it, not wanting to make him any more uncomfortable than he already was.

As she stood there continuing to watch the snow, Bella felt Edward's presence behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I can't believe it's still snowing. The streets are covered."

"Do you think I'll be able to get home? The chains Charlie bought for my tires are still in the garage." As soon as winter had rolled in, Charlie had gone straight to the only auto parts store in town and purchased snow chains for Bella's car, but having grown up in warm climates, she'd failed to see the need. Charlie had put them in the garage and told her to stick them in the trunk with her emergency kit, but she had forgotten until that moment.

"You could always just stay here until things melt off in the morning."

Bella bit her lip as she mulled the idea over in her head. It definitely seemed to be a much safer option—she didn't feel comfortable driving on the icy streets, especially with Ben in the car—but she wasn't sure if she was ready for that step in her relationship with Edward.

"Stay," Edward whispered against the skin of her neck, placing soft kisses there. "You can stay in the guest room if that'll make you more comfortable."

Bella turned in Edward's arms, placing her hands against his chest. As she looked into his eyes, she realized that her worries were unfounded. Edward was nothing like James…and he would never expect things from her. As she considered his offer, she knew she wanted to stay, but she wanted to spend the night in his bed, wrapped in his arms.

"Thank you," she said, standing on her tip-toes to place a quick kiss on his lips. "I just need to call and let Charlie and Sue know I won't be home."

Edward kissed her one more time before retreating towards the bedroom, stopping to check on Ben before he went in search of something Bella could wear for the night. Bella pulled her cell from her purse and punched the speed dial to her house.

Please don't let Charlie pick up. Please don't let Charlie pick up, she chanted to herself, holding her breath as she heard someone answer on the other end. Her shoulders sagged and she let out a sigh of relief as she heard Sue's warm voice filter through the staticky line.

"Sue, it's Bella. I just, umm…I was just calling to let you and Charlie know I won't be home tonight. The roads are covered in snow and I think it would be safer if Ben and I just stayed at Edward's for the night."

"Did you want to talk to Charlie?"

"No! No, I just wanted to let you know, so you wouldn't worry."

"Okay, well, I'll tell him. And I'll hide his car keys, just in case he gets any bright ideas," Sue said with a laugh. Charlie was already in bed, watching tv, but Sue knew he wouldn't hesitate to get up and head over to Edward's house to get Bella, no matter how late the hour or how treacherous the roads were.

"Thanks. I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye, sweetie."

Walking into Edward's bedroom, Bella could hear water running in the bathroom. The door was open and Edward was standing in front of the sink, brushing his teeth. She leaned against the doorframe shyly, unsure what the proper etiquette was for a first-time sleepover with a boyfriend.

When he'd finished brushing, he reached for her hand, pulling her into the bathroom with him. Edward could tell that she was nervous by the pink tint of her cheeks and her rigid posture. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable; she belonged there with him, in his home.

"I don't have an extra," he said, motioning towards the toothbrush, "but you're welcome to use mine. And these were the smallest clothes I could find. I think I might have had this t-shirt in high school." He cupped her cheek and kissed her on the forehead before exiting into the bedroom, pulling the door shut behind him.

As soon as the door closed, Bella unfolded the pile of clothes Edward has placed on the vanity for her. It was just a pair of boxers and an old t-shirt, but it made Bella feel closer to him. The cotton was soft, worn, and she could smell subtle hints of Edward underneath the overpowering floral of his laundry detergent.

She brushed her teeth quickly and twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head. Bella took her time washing away all traces of the light make-up she'd worn for the day, enjoying the feeling of cold water against her overheated skin. The t-shirt Edward had loaned her fell halfway to her knees, the short-sleeves falling well past her elbows. Bella pulled on the boxers and rolled the elastic waist, but they were much too big and she wasn't sure she would even be able to keep them up.

Pulling them off, she folded them and placed them back on top of the counter, deciding that the shirt was modest enough, longer than some of the sundresses she wore in summer. With one final look in the mirror, Bella opened the door and switched off the bathroom light. Edward was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a pair of plaid flannel pajama pants and a white t-shirt.

"I wasn't sure which side you wanted. I usually tend to gravitate towards the middle, so I thought I'd let you choose."

Bella hesitated momentarily before moving to the right side of the bed. She pulled the covers back and climbed underneath. Edward mimicked her motions on the other side, and then pulled her close once he was settled. She fit perfectly into his side, placing her head on his chest, her arm low across his waist.

"Edward?" she whispered in the dark.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." She smiled as she felt him kiss the top of her head.

~ O ~

Hours later, Bella rubbed her eyes and squinted, trying to make out the numbers on the alarm clock. Ben was awake, whimpering and sniffling. As she moved to throw off the blanket and check on him, Edward pulled her back into the bed.

"Go back to sleep. I'll get him."

As she sank back down in the blankets, staring at the ceiling and trying to fall back asleep, she heard Edward's voice filtering through the monitor. He whispered quietly to her son before he started singing, his voice low and husky. Bella imagined him pacing back and forth in the other room with Ben in his arms. There was something about the sweet way he had with her son that drew her to him, making her want him more than ever.

When Edward returned to bed sometime later, Bella pulled him to her and kissed him. She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him towards her, rolling onto her back. Edward hovered over her, kissing down her neck and across her collarbones. What started as slow and sweet soon turned into heated and frantic.

Bella felt like she was on fire, her body vibrating from his touch. She wrapped her fingers around the hem of Edward's t-shirt, pulling as she tried to remove it. He pulled back for a moment and allowed her to take it off. She's never seen him without a shirt and she took a moment to admire him in the moonlight, wondering how she'd gotten so lucky to find someone like him.

Edward leaned back down to kiss her again, his hand lingering on her thigh, near the hemline of the shirt she wore—his shirt. It was obvious from his body's reaction that he wanted her, but he didn't want to push. He knew she'd been in that situation before and he didn't want her to feel like she couldn't tell him if she was uncomfortable. But when he felt her leg move to wrap around him, pulling him closer, he realized that maybe this was what she wanted too.

Wanting to feel her skin against his, Edward pulled back again, sliding Bella's shirt up her body. She sat up momentarily, allowing him to pull it over her head. Her arms immediately went around her torso, moving to cover herself. Edward kissed her again as he moved her hands away, whispering that she was beautiful and had nothing to hide from him.

Bella could feel her blush moving down her cheeks and staining her chest as she lay there in Edward's bed, wearing nothing more than her black cotton bra and panties. She had never imagined their night would end up here, but she didn't feel rushed or pressured. It just felt right.

She loved feeling Edward's weight on her, his skin against her skin. The feelings she had only seemed to magnify the huge mistake that had been her relationship with James. Bella had never felt this way about him, never felt the butterflies in her stomach and the prickling across her skin. Everything was different. And as she felt Edward's hand toying with the edge of her panties, his fingers dipping inside, she arched her back and pulled him closer, wanting him to touch her in ways James never had.

A/N: This chapter is a little on the short side, but I've had a lot going on this past week. I wanted to get this posted before Fandom Gives Back is over. At the last moment, I decided to offer up an outtake of this story. Two of my very sweet readers, Kalimando and Swino, decided that instead of bidding against one another, they'd form a team. The auction ends in around 24 hours, but if you are interested in joining, you can message one of them here or on twitter as Kalimando and swino16. To view the auction: http:/www(dot)thefandomgivesback(dot)?id=894 All proceeds go to Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Reviewers get a teaser, as always. The next update will post on July 14th. :)