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Chapter 33
EPOV
Man I can not believe Christmas is about here. I wonder if I shouldn't invite Bella over for Christmas, I know what I want to get her I saw it the other day while we where out. I think I will pick it up this weekend after we help Alice move into Jasper's place.
"Daddy, will Bella be up when we get there?" Amanda asks me as we turn on Bella's street.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
As usual Bella's door is unlocked. "Bella, love, are you up?"
"In here." Amanda takes off towards her voice.
We enjoy some coffee and then head to Alice's house. When we get there Jasper is holding Alice's hair while she vomits into the toilet. Bella rushes in and looks at Jasper and laughs, reliving him from his duties.
Jasper and I start packing up his truck when Emmett and Rosalie show up. Rosalie gets right to work grabbing boxes and we start to grab furniture. By the time Alice and Bella come out of the bathroom, almost everything is packed and we are all ready to leave. Between the three cars we have most of her stuff ready to go.
By the end of the day Alice is moved into Jasper's place, and already unpacking. Bella, Amanda and I all head back to Bella's house. Of course we just walk in, Bella never locks her door.
As she heads for the kitchen I start to razz her again about locking the door.
"Bella, love, you will be murdered in your sleep, or cleaned out, one of these days."
"Oh, Edward, you are so paranoid." She laughs me off.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you." I wrap my hands around her waist.
"Honestly, Edward I will more than likely hurt myself first."
"True" I nod dramatically.
We sit down and enjoy a nice supper and Amanda heads off to the playroom to watch her movie. Go figure. I use this opportunity to talk to Bella about what I my schooling and Christmas.
"Bella, love, I was wondering if I could talk to you."
She mutes the T.V. and faces me crossing her legs. "Okay, what's up?
"Well, one thing I wanted to know is would you and the boys like to come over for Christmas?"
She smiles politely and asks "Well, Edward would you, and your family, like to have us for Christmas?"
"Yes,"
"And…your mother? She seems to be offended by me as of late, Edward."
"I'm sure it will be fine. I will talk to her."
"Alright, but if it gets too tense I will leave. The boys don't need that. I want the holidays to be fun for them, they are only children." She has a firmness tone to her voice. "I think you should join my family as well. My mother was asking if you and Amanda would be there, they have gottin you two Christmas gifts too."
"Well then, why don't we start the day off at your parents and end at my parents."
"As long as you stay here on Christmas Eve" She smiles with twinkling eyes.
"I think that can be arranged."
"Okay what's next, you said that was one. What else is there?"
"Well, I want to going back to school to specialize in O.B." she get a big smile on her face and starts to say something but I hold up my hand to stop her, "but that will mean that I will need more of your help."
"Anything Edward, you know that."
"It may speed things up between us."
"Edward, what is it?" she rolls her eyes.
"I would like to have Amanda stay with you after school, and whenever I can't be with her."
"Oh," she takes a deep breath. "What does Amanda think about this? And…what about your mother? I don't want to push her, Edward."
"I want to be with you Bella." Amanda squeals from the doorway.
Bella and I laugh at her. "Does that answer your question? As for my mother, she needs to know that things will change. I think doing it this way; if we ever do live together she will be okay with it."
"If that is what you want then, yes, I will keep Amanda after school." She gives me a tight smile and a slow nod, closing her eyes. "Is there anything else?"
"Well…" I smirk playfully, "we would like to stay with you tonight."
She giggles "I thought that was a givin. You have been crashing here for what three weekends in a row now."
Amanda cheers and dashes to the toy room.
"Will you do me one more favor?" I ask smiling.
"Wow, you are going to owe me BIG TIME." She teases. "What do you need?" she nods.
"I have to step out in the morning, will you keep her?"
"Of course" She gives me the same 'duh' look Amanda gives me.
I hug her and tell her thank you before we go back to watching T.V.
BPOP
"Good morning, Beeellllaaa." Amanda sings.
I blink awake. "Morning, sweetheart, did you sleep well?"
She nods her head "I'm hungry now though."
"Oh okay, lets go." I head for the kitchen. "What do you feel like?"
"Do you have cookies?"
"I don't think your dad would want you to have cookies for breakfast." I smile but keep a stern voice.
"No it is a cereal, grandma gets it."
"Well I don't have that. I have toaster waffles." She shakes her head no. "Well, sweetheart the only cereal I have is Special K. I'm sorry."
"Can we go to grandma and grandpa's house?"
Uhhh…yeah-no, I want to keep my head thank you. How would you explain that? Esme-if I am still allowed to call her that- I don't have cookie cereal and she wants it could you feed her? How smug would that make her? Ugh well I will be getting that today without a doubt. That last thing I need is for her to think I am slacking in the care department she would really hate to leave Amanda with me then.
I think she sensed the hesitation because she holds her hands up like she is praying and starts to beg. "Please, please, pleeeease."
"Alright let's get your clothes changed first." Yes, I am a sucker.
She squeals and takes off running to change as I walk, or mope, to my room to dress for the day.
I open the back door and Amanda jets into the house like her ass is on fire.
This must be some good cereal.
I stop at the door Amanda left open and lean my head in.
"And Bella said we could come here."
"Is Bella here now?" Esme questions
"Yes, she was right behind me."
Esme comes into the entry way and sees me at the door. "Well come in child, no sense in standing there. It's far too cold to be outside today anyway."
I step in and look at the floor. The last time we where in the same room let alone the same house I had offended her severely. "Morning, Es…" I drop off.
She smiles politely "Yes, you can still call me Esme. You are dating my son, and apparently they are with you on the weekends now." If she is upset by this her voice doesn't say so.
Amanda comes bouncing in the room holding a box of cereal with a wolf thing on it. "See Bella, this is it." I nod looking at her in aww.
"What did you give her this morning?" Esme laughs
"Nothing really, she asked for that cereal and I didn't have any and she knew you did so she wanted to come here."
"Well come and get some coffee dear. Let her feast on that for a while." She walks away.
I walk in and she sets a cup on the counter for me.
"Esme, I mean no offence by all this."
"I know dear, it's just hard for a mother to let go, especially when her son has been burned once before." I open my mouth to defend myself against Tanya's actions when she continues. "I know you are not like her I can feel it. I can also feel that my son will be leaving me sooner than later. You seem like a good woman, you really do, and I think its more I will miss being needed." Her eyes shine with tears that threaten to spill over.
"Wow, now you sound like Carlisle." I laugh
"We have talked about this a lot."
"Esme, I don't want a problem with you. You are a nice woman and I see how much it is bothering Edward to have us at odds with each other."
"I know dear, I like you too. I just worry. I think you are good for him. I see why he loves you so much."
"I have been hearing that a lot lately." I look down feeling guilty for not being ready to say it just yet.
"He will continue to wait for you dear, don't worry." She is now standing next to me resting her hand on the arm that is bent to hold my coffee cup.
"Daddy does love Bella, grandma, he asked her to Christmas and to have me while he goes to school."
"Really, I didn't know such conversations took place." She looks hurt.
I rush to defend us. "He said he would speak to you about it soon. He just wanted to make sure I was okay with it first."
"I understand. I don't know why I am so surprised."
"Esme, even though Edward asked me to have Amanda, I will be happy to drop her off to you at anytime. I think this is just Edward's way if saying he trusts me. I am not unreasonable."
"That would be lovely dear, thank you." That seems to make her feel better.
"I think you should know I invited Edward to my parent's house for Christmas too."
"Of course you did," she turns away and mutters "might as well get used to this. It will be like this from now on." I don't say anything because I don't think I was meant to hear that.
Then I remember I have shopping to do yet. "Amanda, sweetheart, we have to get a move on. I have to go shopping, remember?"
"Oh yeah," she rushes to get her coat and comes back and hugs her grandmother, "Bye grandma, see you later."
"By angel,"
"Would you like to join us, its only grocery shopping and a few last minute Christmas things."
"No dear, you go on. Have you gottin anything for Edward yet?" I shake my head no. "Well I know for a fact he needs a new music journal, his is full with the new songs he has been writing." She smiles warmly.
"Thank you, I will look for that then." Amanda and I leave.
"So what have you gottin for your dad, sweetheart?" I ask Amanda as we walk into the music shop.
"Nothing, I don't have any money." She looks sad.
"I tell you what, you point it out, I will get it and you can pay me pack when you are older, what do ya say?" I know it will be forgotten in a week's time so it's an easy deal for me to make.
"Really, you would help me like that."
I nod enthusiastically "Yep, now go find something just stay where I can see you." She bounds off.
I found a leather bound, music journal. It is black leather and ties shut; if it didn't have music lines in it I would have thought it was a regular journal. I found a set of elegant pens to go with it. Now, to finish it off, I go find a person to help me.
"Excuse me, I have a question."
A man turns to look at me. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"I need this engraved, can you do that?" he nods. "Wonderful, how long will it take?"
"Honestly I'd say a couple of hours but then you would have to let settle overnight."
"I can do that," I nod.
"Okay and what would you like to have on it?"
"I would just like it to say.
-Edward Cullen-
But I want it to look like this." I pull out one of his letters so he can see a sample of the writing.
"Not a problem, I will start on it right now." He takes the journal and walks away.
I walk up to Amanda "Did you find anything, sweetheart?"
She nods and holds up a plaque with a saying on it. I take it and read the poem out loud,
"The music my dad plays, touches my heart.
The music my dad plays dries my tears.
The music my dad plays, calms my worried mind.
The music my dad plays will stay in my heart forever
Next to his love…
That is how I know…
My dad's music is his love…
For me."
I feel a tear roll down my cheek, how a child can find something so sweet is amazing.
"Do you think he will like it?"
"I think he will love it." I smile reassuringly at her.
"Can we get him that?"
"You bet sweetheart. I don't think there is anything better." We go and pay for both the gifts and head to the grocery store.
Amanda is a real treat to have at the grocery store. She helps me find what I need and tries to push the cart. She knows right where her cereal is, of course. This girl is almost as independent as Seth.
She prattles on about school and what she and the boys play at recess. She loves school and her teacher Ms. Sara, is nice I guess. She doesn't like a girl named Alivia, but there is a boy named Cole that she likes. I make a mental note to talk to Seth about him.
We get back in the car and a song comes on the radio making her squeal.
"Teenage Dream! Turn it up please, Bella." I oblige her and listen to the words and by the second chorus I know most of it and we sing together until we pull up in front of the music store to pick up the journal. We jam out more while we head home. We are singing at the top of our lungs as I park in the drive way. Neither one of us notice Edward's car on the street. We keep on singing as we grab bags and start into the house
"What you got boy is hard to find. I think about it all the time, I'm all strung out my heart is fried, I just can't get you off my mind your love your, love your, love is my drug." We are laughing and singing as we walk inside.
"Well I am glad to know your love, for each other, is your drug" we both scream and jump dropping the bags as Edward laughs at us.
"Dad, that was not funny!" Amanda pants as she helps me pick up the stuff off the floor.
"Edward, when did you get here?"
"A little while ago." He says. "What have the two of you been up to today?"
"We went shopping." Amanda tells him and as she opens her mouth to say more I interrupt her.
"Yeah the cupboards are looking a little empty." I look at her and shake my head; unfortunately she is as quick as Seth in that aspect.
"Don't forget Christmas presents" She tries to wink at me. I snort a laugh.
Kids…
"Really what did you get?"
Before he can weasel and answer out of her, I answer. "Nothing you need to know right now." I motion for Amanda to follow me to the kitchen. "There are more bags in the car though if you would like to help."
"Sure." He is more than willing to help.
"Amanda," I motion for her to come to me. "No telling daddy where we went today okay." She nods and giggles a little. "Here, take these and go put them in my room under my bed. Fast!"
"What do you guys have there?" Edward asks walking in.
I whisper excitedly "GO!" and stand to look at Edward "Nothing"
"Uh huh..." He starts heading towards the way Amanda went so I use my 'womanly ways' to distract him. I know it is mean but so is him being nosey around Christmas. We are in the middle of a tongue war when Amanda walks in. she makes a snorting noise and leaves. After I think Edward is sufficiently distracted, I turn back to put things away. Edward watches on with a strange look on his face.
"What?"
"Nothing, I think it just funny that you whorl around the kitchen with such grace but the second you step out of here you are guaranteed to fall." I stick my tongue out playfully and finish up.
Sure enough as I leave the kitchen I trip. Edward catches me with a smirk and a smart ass remark. "At least I know now you are officially falling for me."
I right myself and laugh at him.
We head to the couch and he starts looking over the collage paper work as I start reading. Not to much later Jake and Leah show up with the boys. The come barreling though the door calling for Edward and Amanda. Yeah, I know, forget mom. Amanda comes rushing out and after a minute they all three take off to the playroom.
After some teasing from Jake, about having my nose in a book, Leah looks at me and smiles. She mentions how domesticated we look. Edward just laughs, but I take a look around and see she has a point.
Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if they moved in. Maybe we could do this. Am I ready to share my space though? Am I ready to take that leap? I think I might be, it is Edward and Amanda after all and Amanda and I did have a wonderful time today. I think I might just love Edward enough to do this. In all honesty I think I might be falling in love with him.
Let's see what Christmas day brings. Review and let me know what you think, it will make my christmas.