A/N: Hi and happy Hump Day! I know you all are dying to know what's in the gift bag. I don't want to make you wait for it any longer than necessary, but there's one guest review I feel the need to address. The reader thought that it was wrong of me to not react to the reviewers complaining about Bella's way of not seeing Edward's pain and her own mistakes by changing the plot. There are two reasons why I won't do that. Firstly, this story is mostly pre-written and I'm not going to re-write it because some people don't like the turns the plot takes. Secondly, this is not interactive writing. I love and appreciate all your comments, good or bad, but in the end this is still my story, and I have to write it the way I see it. And I've been seeing it for a very long time.

Thanks for all your reviews and PM's. I love them and like to answer them but some of you are either guests or have disabled PM's. Sorry.

I can't say enough how grateful I am for the help of my betas EdwardsMate4ever and evelyn-shaye and my pre-readers Vampgirl79 and LaPumuckl. They help me in more ways than they even know. Every mistakes you might find are only mine because I change things and change them again right until I post.

Without further ado, I'll let you find out what Edward got Bella for Christmas. See you at the bottom.

Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meier, not me. I bow to her for giving it to us.

******POMH******

Chapter 31 – Mail Delivery

For the next several days, I did whatever I could to keep busy and distract myself from hurting over Edward. I'd been lying to my father and Sue when I told them I had to work. There were no shoots scheduled for the time between Christmas and New Year's. Most companies weren't even doing business during that time.

There was no one to pass time with, either. Alice and Jasper were in Chicago with his family. Even my assistant had taken some time off to visit her family in Portland.

On the first day, I cleaned my whole studio. The next day, I reorganized my files on my computer. When all that was done, I started to think about a project I'd always wanted to take on. Since I'd become a photographer, I'd always wanted to do a photo book illustrating the wonderful landscapes of Washington. I thought about it for a long time, and even started planning some of the landmarks I wanted to shoot.

I decided that my New Year's resolution would be to turn my idea into something concrete.

The days went by, and although everything was slow, I suddenly found myself wondering what to do for New Year's Eve, which was only one day away.

None of my close friends were in the city, but I didn't feel like celebrating, anyway. I was anxious to leave this screwed-up year behind me and get a fresh start in 2013. Out of options and unwilling to go out all by myself, I decided to nurse my broken heart with Mexican take-out and some movies. Add a bottle of tequila and I had the best way to make the transition from 2012 to 2013.

Maybe I'll get lucky and pass out on the couch before midnight.

Smiling at that idea, I was startled when there was a sudden knock on my door. It was very rare that people were at my door unannounced. I frowned slightly when I opened to find a delivery guy, holding an overnight express envelope in his hand. Without a lot of words, I signed for it and returned to my spot on the couch.

There was no return address, which was odd. But I was curious, so I opened it immediately.

Inside the standard envelope was a smaller, square one, made of thick, smooth paper. On the front was my name, written in black ink in narrow, uneven, scribbled letters — a typical man's script. There was no indication as to who had sent me that letter.

Intrigued by the mystery envelope, I opened it carefully, afraid to rip the expensive paper.

Inside was a professionally printed card that appeared to be an invitation. I didn't understand at once what it meant, but scanning the card, my eyes caught the names Emmett and Rosalie Cullen. A little further down in bold print were the words New Year's Eve.

After studying the whole thing, I was surprised to have received an invite to Emmett and Rosalie's New Year's Eve party at their house. I'd heard Alice talk about it, saying they would celebrate with Jasper's sister, her husband and their friends. The handwriting on the envelope was unmistakably a man's. Why would Emmett Cullen invite me to this party? Hadn't Edward told his brother that we weren't on speaking terms anymore? And how did Emmett get my address?

When I turned the envelope over, a folded piece of paper fell out. Confused but definitely curious, I unfolded it, finding a handwritten letter.

Dear Bella,

I can imagine that a letter from me was the last thing you were expecting when you opened the mail. Since I know that you don't take any other calls than Alice's these days, I figured this would be the only way to get in touch with you.

I heard what happened between you and Edward, and I can assure you that I chewed him out thoroughly for what he did to you. I understand your reaction, and normally, I wouldn't interfere in other people's business like this. But I have to tell you that I've never seen my brother looking the way he does right now. He looks defeated and broken. He's never suffered like this before, not even after finding Tanya in his bed fucking that douche. When he returned from the airport today, saying that you didn't come, I couldn't take it anymore. He's nothing but an empty shell, sitting around and staring at the wall or drinking himself numb. He never even leaves the house.

Bella, my brother loves you like he's never loved anyone else in his life. I'm asking you, please do some serious soul-searching and try to find it in you to forgive Edward. He cannot live without you. If you love him like he loves you — and from what I saw in Seattle, you do — I hope you'll take me up on my invitation and celebrate New Year's with us.

I really hope to see you soon and to see the brother that I know again.

Emmett

I gaped at the paper in my hands, my eyes scanning the page furiously to be sure that I hadn't made up what I was seeing. All I could think was, wow.

I hadn't imagined that Edward would be suffering like that. But then again, he'd spent a whole night in the hall in front of my door, waiting for me to let him in. And he'd driven six hours only to deliver a Christmas present for me.

What did Emmett mean by saying that Edward told him I didn't come? Why should I have come to Chicago? And why would Edward have known which flight I'd be on?

I realized that I wouldn't find the answers in Emmett's letter. But maybe there was a way to clear up a bit of this whole mystery.

I went to my bedroom, kneeling down in front of my dresser to open the bottom drawer. I had to rummage through my pajamas to get to the red gift bag I'd hidden underneath. Then I stared at it for a good while, my emotions battling to find the resolve to touch it. When I'd finally made up my mind, I carefully took the bag out of the drawer, not bothering to put the clothes back in, and walked over to sit on my bed.

For the first time since I'd brought it home, I dared to look inside the bag. I found a gift wrapped in green and gold paper and an envelope. I took both items out and put them on the covers in front of me.

My hands were feeling clammy, and I struggled to keep my breathing even. I didn't feel ready for this, but something told me I had to find out what it was that Edward considered important enough to take a six-hour drive to make sure I'd keep it.

With trembling hands, I opened the present first. When the wrap was gone, I held a little black box in my hands. It was square, about two by two inches wide. There was no name or anything else on the outside.

Holding my breath, I slowly opened the lid and gasped when I saw what Edward had gotten for me. In the middle of the black velvet cushion sat an elliptical gold amulet, decorated with emeralds and pearls. I hadn't noticed my eyes filling with tears before the first drop ran down my cheek at the sight of my grandmother's locket.

I was aware that it most likely wasn't the exact charm my grandma had worn, but it was certainly the same model. With unsure fingers, I took the precious piece of jewelry out of the box, grazing the tip of my index finger over the inlaid pearls before touching the emeralds, whose color painfully reminded me of Edward's beautiful eyes. Suddenly, I saw those eyes before me — eyes that belonged to the man who'd taken it upon himself to search for the heirloom that meant so much to me but had gotten lost before I could receive it. My heart was almost bursting with love for him, fighting with the feeling of loss that I'd experienced over the last few weeks.

My tears were falling freely now as I carefully turned the locket over to look at it from every angle. I was stunned to find an engraving on the back.

You're the puzzle of my heart

The words sounded wonderful, but I didn't quite get their meaning. With fingers that didn't seem to be mine, I fumbled to open the locket to see if there was anything inside. Another gasp escaped my throat when my eyes locked on the picture Edward had placed in one of the two frames. It was a photograph of him and me, looking at each other in the kitchen in Forks. The background let me guess that it was taken while we were doing the dishes on Thanksgiving. Sue must have taken it. But all that didn't matter. What struck me was the look on both our faces. We clearly weren't aware of being photographed. Our eyes were locked in a loving, tender way. Nobody had ever looked at me like that.

I couldn't figure out what I was feeling at that moment. Too many emotions were running through me. After a few minutes of silent tears, my gaze fell on the envelope that had been in the bag with the gift.

Slowly, I put the locket back in the box and picket up the envelope, opening it carefully. As soon as it was open, I caught a glimpse of Edward's wide, elegant script. I took three deep breaths before I pulled the folded sheet out and another piece of paper fell onto the bed. Holding what seemed to be a letter in one hand, I took the fallen paper in my other, scanning the print. It appeared to be a plane ticket to Chicago, dated for December 29th — last night.

I put the ticket down again and started to unfold the letter.

My dearest Bella,

I'm not sure if you'll ever read this, and if you do, when it will be. I promise that, after this letter, I will respect your wish to be left alone. But I had to try to get through to you one last time.

Words are not enough to tell you how sorry I am for screwing up. I should have had more faith in you than to think that you would go back to him and disregard everything that happened between us in the blink of an eye. I regret what I said to you more than anything in my entire life. The worst thing is, I didn't mean what I said for even one second. I only said it to hurt you, just like I thought you had hurt me.

You can't imagine what it felt like to see you two kiss. It was like my heart was being ripped from my chest. I was sure I had lost you before I even had the chance to show you how much you mean to me.

I understand if you never want to see my face again because I so cruelly betrayed your trust in me. But whatever may happen between us in the future, I want you to have the locket that took me weeks to find. It's probably not the exact one that was stolen from your grandmother, but it's as close as it gets. I know how much it means to you, and it should be yours. If you never want anything to do with me again, just throw away the picture, but please, keep the locket. It belongs to you.

If, against all odds, you find it in your heart to forgive me, then come and spend New Year's Eve with me. I took a chance and bought you a ticket to fly out to Chicago on December 29th.

Since the first time I laid eyes on you, I knew that you're the missing piece in the puzzle of my heart. When I'm with you, I'm whole. Without you, I will forever be incomplete.

No matter what your decision may be, I'll always love you.

Yours,

Edward

I wiped away the tears that were streaming down my face before the drops could hit the letter in my hands. So many thoughts were racing through my mind. There was no doubt that he'd betrayed the trust I'd had in him; that he'd hurt me on purpose. He even admitted it in his letter. But he'd also written that he loved me. Oh my God, he really loved me! And no matter how hard I'd been fighting it over the past few weeks, I loved him, too.

My heart went out to him when I imagined what it must have been like for him to see me in Jacob's arms. It wasn't at all what it must have looked like, but he couldn't have known that. The assumptions he'd made were based on what I'd told him about myself so many weeks ago. Could I blame him for being insecure because I was too much of a coward to tell him how I felt about him? I shouldn't have waited so long to talk to him about my feelings.

If I hadn't been sure before, the fact that he took it upon himself to search for my grandmother's locket was the last proof I needed to know that his love for me was real. He'd been patient with me, understanding why I wasn't ready to make a commitment. He'd never pushed me, but was by my side, waiting without complaining for me to see what everyone else had seen all along — that I was madly and passionately in love with him, probably from the moment we'd met, and that the feeling was mutual.

I started to sob uncontrollably, picturing Edward at the airport in Chicago, waiting for me to come through the doors. With every person emerging, his heart must have sunk a little deeper, realizing that I wouldn't come. How long did he wait before he gave up hope?

Again, I put the letter down on the bed and took the locket in my hand, looking at the gemstones that so strikingly resembled the color of Edward's unique eyes. I pressed it against my chest, just above my heart that was suddenly aching for the man I loved, feeling his pain as well as mine. It didn't matter what he'd said to me that night. I couldn't live without him. I needed him like I needed air to breathe.

All of a sudden, I knew exactly what I had to do.

********POMH********

A/N: I hope you're all happy with the way this chapter went. Some of you had guessed that Edward had found the locket. But what about the engraving and the letter? And Emmett's letter? Wasn't that sweet?

I know, it's a little strange that this is 2012 changing into 2013, but I wrote this story althrough last year and therefore it was about the New Year's Eve before that.

What do you think Bella's going to do now? I'll give you a little teaser:

… Somewhere down there was Edward, at his brother's house, waiting for the new year to begin and thinking I didn't want anything to do with him. It hurt to be so close to him but still so far away. …

I have to tell you that we're close to the end now. There are only two more regular chapters left. But I'm still working on the epilogue which is currently already three chapters long. It might turn out to be four even. So, there's a little bit more to come.

The next chapter will probably be up on Sunday. Until then, leave me your thoughts here or on FB in the group Payton79's Fanfiction. For all of you who haven't seen it yet, there's a picture of the locket on FB, too. See you Sunday!