Just want to say that this is not through the final BETA and any mistakes you may find belong solely to us. As always the disclaimer we stated still applies, it also applies to the songs, lyrics and artists mentioned within this chapter.

Chapter 13

Sitting on a bench feeling dissuaded and discouraged, I let out a sigh pulling my hair. Having spent the past five hours searching around the mall, I'm still without a gift to give to Bella.

The mixed feelings on what I should get for her, are making me second guess every idea I've had. When I was in the jewelry shop, everything I picked out screamed girlfriend. When I went for less personal items it made me feel like it was not enough.

Getting up, I know there's only a few more hours left before the shops will close since it's Christmas Eve. I've ran out of time.

Walking into a clothing store, I look around and find some things I think she'd look amazing in. Picking up a sexy little dress, I run my fingers over the material and can't help but hum at the feel. She would look so amazing in this and the feel of this silky soft fabric on her skin would be fantastic. Picturing her in the soft silk makes me hard and I have to adjust myself. "That's a no," I say out loud, before putting it back.

Groaning again, I rub my face. My cell buzzes and I answer it without looking at the screen.

"Hi, Edward," comes Tia's voice.

"Hi," I say back in a friendly but reserved voice.

"You still shopping? I thought you were done?"

"Still shopping, I just need to find something for Bella," I say right away.

"What? I thought you got her a laptop?"

Rolling my eyes at her, though she can't see me. "Yeah, I did and that's something she needs to go off to college, but I wanted to get her something just because—"

Tia giggles a little cutting me off. "I'm only teasing you, Edward. What about getting her one of those bears she talked about wanting, but made for someone else instead of herself?"

Stopping immediately, I frown. "Why the fuck didn't I think of getting her a bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop?" I say feeling like a moron. Especially knowing how happy she was when she was there a few weeks ago. "Thanks, Tia," I say feeling a lot more relaxed as I walk to the store.

"No problem and when are you going to talk to Emmett about how you feel for Bella."

Frowning, I stop outside of the shop. "He knows that I approve and like the girl, Tia."

"Edward, you're in love with the girl."

The guilt is instant and I try to hold back my feelings.

"Don't," Tia says harshly.

"Don't what?"

"Feel guilty. You never hoodwinked me. As I told you, I was looking for friendship, and found that in you, Bella, Alice, Jasper, even Rose. It was so clear from when we had our first date."

"Then why did you say yes to a second?"

"To help show you what you couldn't seem to see on your own, that you had already found your one. Come on, we were a perfect match but yet your heart beats for her. I wanted to show you, maybe get through to you this was not wrong."

"She's dating my son, it is wrong."

"Edward, talk to him, be open with him."

"He loves her," I say shaking my head.

"There are many sides of love, Edward. Like I love and care for Bella—and would love to have a word with her oven and sperm donor—but I am not in love with the girl. You can't keep this guilt up much longer, Edward. Sometimes we have to face our fears."

Letting out a sigh at her words, she carries on.

"I need to go, I'll talk to you later and, Edward, make sure she has a good day, no matter what."

"I was planning on it, talk to you later, Tia."

Walking in the store, I pick out a soft brown bear and go through the process of making him up. Dressing him in a tux, I name him Mr. Cullen. Making sure he has a few other changes of clothes, including pajamas and a superhero outfit, I check out.

After spending almost three hundred dollars in Build-A-Bear Workshop, I arrive home to find it eerie quiet. Placing the last of the gifts I got under the tree, I walk into the kitchen.

"All I want for Christmas is you," Bella sings with her back to me. She seems to be dancing along with the song she's singing and I watch her wiggle her body. Holding back my groan and desire, as she bends down and looks in the oven. The t-shirt she's wearing moves up showing off her boy shorts, making my body react to the sight.

She moves back up and my eyes move up with her. The name Cullen in big white letters is across her back, with the number eighteen under it. Frowning, as I tilt my head, Emmett is twenty-three, I was eighteen. Moving to her, I touch the t-shirt lightly making her jump and spin around. Quickly I wrap my arm around her to stop her from falling. My eyes move to her chest seeing the Fork's High logo from back when I attended.

"You're wearing my t-shirt?" Keeping one hand around her as I talk the other strokes the logo.

"Yeah, um ..." she says sounding confused. "Em, said I could use it. This is what I normally sleep in when I'm here. Is there ... do you not what me to wear it?"

Looking down over her body and then moving back to her eyes. "No, wear it, Mina, it looks good on you."

The oven dings. "The cookies," she says and I take one step back from her as she turns. She bends again making her ass move to hit the top of my leg. If she was a few inches taller her ass would be rubbing my cock.

My hand shoots out to touch her side, but I pull it back as she stands up.

A soft moan comes out as thoughts of her naked crosses my mind.

"I sure hope these are as good as they smell," Bella says mistaking the reason I let out a moaning sound.

Leaning over her, I look at the cookies. "They look great, Mina," I say looking at her pointing.

"Sure, but they may be a little warm."

Smiling, I can't help but take one anyway.

"Where's Emmett?" I ask knowing this house is too quiet so he can't be here.

"Rose called, something about a bat ... and a light being out," Bella shrugs.

"Maybe I should call and make sure all is well," I say having no idea why Rose would call Emmett in the first place.

"What? No," Bella says in shock and covers my hand.

"I think she was embarrassed, about it. I'm also sure she asked Emmett not to say anything, especially since she was scared because the light went out and there was a bat. He'll be back soon."

"Okay," I say still thinking it's all a little strange, but put my cell away.

"I've made some cakes for tomorrow, and I have everything I need to make a nice Christmas dinner."

"You didn't need to do that?" I tell her, but deep down I'm excited to see what she has come up with.

"I wanted to, besides I love cooking. While I'm thinking about it, thank you for letting me stay."

Moving closer to her, I cup her face. I open my mouth to say no thanks is needed, but her cell rings.

Bella looks at it and smiles. "Hi, Mom," she says sounding happy.

"What? No ... I'm not home. I'm at Em's. Yes Cullen. Mr. Cullen said I could stay ... why?" Bella looks at me and gulps. I know her mom asked to speak to me. Holding out my hand, Bella gives me a sigh and hands me her cell.

"Hi—" is all I am able to get out before Bella's mom starts talking.

"It so nice for you to let Bella stay, and your daughter Emma sounds lovely."

Raising my brow, I wonder what she's talking about. "Daughter?" I say but Bella's mom didn't seem to hear. She seems distracted with whoever's talking to her in the background.

"Could you make sure she keeps our home clean ... you know how these young ones are, always wanting to party and have fun. The college life is so full of fun at first. I need her to mail me out those papers I asked for ASAP. She can be so forgetful, so please remind her. Well its been nice to talk to you, bye," she says quickly hanging up.

"Err ... she had to go?" I say giving Bella back her cell phone. "Did you tell her Emmett was a girl?" I ask feeling a little amused by it.

"No, she assumed Em was short for Emma. When I corrected her, she was distracted by one of her friends. After trying to tell her over the past two months I finally gave up."

Sighing, I pull at my hair. Her mom didn't seem interested in really talking. "She seemed ..." I stop trying to think of a word I could use that will not come off as an insult.

"She doesn't like talking on the phone, she has some sort of phobia about it."

Raising my brow questioningly at her, because she always seems to have an answer or a reason why they disregard her so frequently. "What papers is she wanting you to send to her?"

Bella bites her lip. "The ones for the house."

Frowning, I watch as Bela looks to the floor, a key sign she knows someone won't like what she has to say.

"Mom and Dad wanted to take a year out of college and go backpacking, but I arrived taking that away. I think ... I think that's what they're planing on doing. I think once I'm off to college they ..." Bella moves her hand up waving it around and I close my eyes.

"That's why you're applying?" I burst out loudly.

Bella just shrugs. "I could be wrong." The tone of her voice tells me she doesn't think she is.

"You have to tell them."

"I will, remember the letter?" I shake my head moving to get her cell, but she gets to it before I can.

"I want to speak to her," I demand.

"Not when you are angry," Bella replies.

"Mina," I say with a sigh. "I don't like this, what they do, how they make you feel. I had my son young and I am not out there trying to be twenty again."

Bella shake her head and drops her chin to her chest.

"I'll let this go, but I will be returning to it after the holidays."

Bella nods and wraps her arms around me and I hug her close to me. Placing a kiss on top of her head, before moving gently out of her arms.

"Come on, lets go watch a movie and eat some of these cookies and drink some milk."

Bella sits with her legs under her bottom, as I set the cookies and milk down. Flicking on the television and pulling up Netflix, as I take a seat next to her.

Tapping my lap, I smile at her. "Come on, Mina, legs up, you'll get cramps like that."

Bella shakes her head, but puts her legs on my lap. Smiling at her, I move them closer to my tummy while picking out our first movie. After settling on a movie, I place my hand on her ankle over the cute little socks she has on.

Bella and I laugh along with the movie. During it she moves closer to me, and has been running her fingers through my hair for the past thirty minutes.

"I wish I kept up with music lessons," Bella says with a pout.

"You took music lessons?"

"Yeah, my mom had this thing about me having a musical ability," Bella says chuckling lightly. "But it was costing an arm and leg. Plus the lady that taught me was an old hag, but now I kind of wish I just stuck with it."

"What did you learn?"

"The piano."

"Come on, then," I say picking her legs up so I can stand.

"What?"

"Your first lesson awaits you," I laugh pulling her up. Keeping hold of her hand, I lead her to my room. It's not until I walk in do I realize how this must look.

"Oh wow," Bella says letting my hand go and moving to my piano. "This is beautiful." She sits down and starts to play.

Tilting my head, I listen and find she's a lot better than what she indicated.

"Van Morrison's – Brown Eyed Girl," I say as I sit next to her.

"It's the only thing I can play and I love Van Morrison," she replies.

"Who else do you love?" I ask.

"There are loads of people."

Humming in response to her, I begin to play a couple of different pieces. After playing a couple songs from the eighties, I give her a smile.

"Those were great, you know I did have a thing for Mr. Big," she chuckles.

"Hold on little girl," I sing and Bella looks a little shocked.

"Show me what he's done to you. Stand up little girl, a broken heart can't be that bad. When it's through, it's through. Fate will twist the both of you. So come on baby, come on over. Let me be the one to show you," I sing softly while playing the melody on my piano.

Swallowing softly as I look right at her, to find she's looking at me too. With our eyes looked, I sing on. "I'm the one who wants to be with you. Deep inside I hope you feel it too, waited on a line of greens and blues. Just to be the next to be with you."

The buzzing feeling seems to come on so full that I need to turn from her. "Build up your confidence, so you can be on top for once. Wake up, who cares about little boys that talk too much. I seen it all go down. Your game of love was all rained out. So come on baby, come on over. Let me be the one to hold you."

Unable to stop myself, I look back at her.

"I'm the one who wants to be with you. Deep inside I hope you feel it too, waited on a line of greens and blues. Just to be the next to be with you. Why be alone when we can be together baby. You can make my life worthwhile. I can make you start to smile."

Unable to help myself, I grin as Bella smiles broadly at me. Leaning over, I kiss her forehead, but am able to keep playing.

"When it's through, it's through. Fate will twist the both of you. So come on baby, come on over. Let me be the one to show you. I'm the one who wants to be with you. Deep inside I hope you feel it too, waited on a line of greens and blues. Just to be the next to be with you. I'm the one who wants to be with you. Deep inside I hope you feel it too, waited on a line of greens and blues. Just to be the next to be with you. Just to be the next to be with you."

Letting out a soft sigh, as my fingers stop playing the silence seems to be deafening.

"Will you play a song with me?" she asks.

"Only if you will sing," I say with a sly grin.

"Edward, I'm really not that good."

Shaking my head at her in disagreement. "I heard you earlier, you did fine then.

"Not really," she says shyly.

Raising my brow at her because I know what I heard earlier. Besides I sang for her, and I'm not a great singer either. Sure I've won a couple Karaoke contest, but I'm no superstar and it's easy to entertain drunks in a bar.

"Fine, but I pick the song. Do you know James Duncan's I Believe my heart?"

"I do," I tell her.

"I'll sing it, if you sing with me. I'll sing second," she say pouting and I nod at her.

"Do you know how to play it?" I ask.

"No."

"Then place your hands over mine and I'll teach you the cords," I say getting closer to her.

"Whenever I see your face the world disappears. All in a single glance, so revealing. You smile and I feel as though I've know you for years. How do I know to trust what I'm feeling?" As I sing I know again I'm singing a song that is almost declaring my feelings for her. Shaking off the thought, I carry on singing and playing

"I believe my heart. What else can I do? When every part of every thought, leads me straight to you. I believe my heart. There's no other choice. For now whenever my heart speaks, I can only hear your voice."

My eyes go to Bella's hands that are still over mine and I smile looking back up at her knowing she has the next part.

"The life-time before we met has faded away. How did I live a moment without you? You don't have to speak at all, I know what you'd say. And I know every secret about you."

Feeling my heart expand as she looks at me singing the words.

"I believe my heart. It believes in you. It's telling me that what I see is completely true. I believe my heart. How can it be wrong? It says that what I feel for you I will feel my whole life long."

Giving her a small nod before joining her for the last part.

"I believe my heart. It believes in you. It's telling me that what I see is completely true. And with all my soul I believe my heart. The portrait that it paints of you is a perfect work of art," we sing together in perfect melody.

Our joined hands slow to a stop and we seem to just look at each other.

"Bella, Dad!" Emmett yells and I jump a little turning from Bella.

Frowning as he calls for us again and I look at my watch to see it's almost midnight, and I have been home for four hours now.

"I best get going," Bella says and I nod standing up with her. She gets to my bedroom door and pulls it, but I clasp a hold of her arm.

"Come on, Dad, Bella, where are you two?"

Looking to the door, I know it will only be a few moments before Emmett will be in here.

"Merry Christmas, Bella."

She smiles and nods. "Merry Christmas, Edward."

"Hey, I was calling for you two, couldn't you hear me?" Emmett says with a sigh.

"Yes, Emmett, I think the full town of Forks heard you. Where exactly in the hell have you been?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest.

"I was helping Rose out, she had a few jobs that needed to be done at her place. I told her I'll start on them more on the twenty-sixth," he says grinning at me.

"Why did she call you?" I ask still confused over this.

Emmett shrugs. "It's not like she has a family, Dad, besides if she called you would you have helped her?"

"Yes, you know I would have."

Emmett just looks at me.

"Well what took more than four hours, and why didn't you take Bella?"

"Bella was changed for bed and Rose was upset, about spending Christmas alone."

Swallowing, I feel a little guilty.

"I'll call her and tell her to come over," I say moving to get my cell.

"No need, I already told her, she's down stairs."

My son is certainly like me, in many ways and clearly his kindness is one of them.

"You get to bed," I say rubbing my face we only have one spare room.

"You get to the spare room, Bella. Rose can take my room," I say walking away.

"Hey, no sharing your room with a girl, Dad."

Turning to face Emmett, I'm more than a little shocked by the harshness of his voice.

"We only have one spare room, Em, and you and Bella are not sharing. Rose can't sleep on the couch, so she can take my bed and I will sleep on the sofa."

Emmett swallows and just looks at me.

"What's with you and Rose?" I ask feeling like this display is a little odd.

"Nothing, just you said Bella and I couldn't share, just ... it doesn't matter," Emmett says walking away and I look to Bella who's biting her lip.

"I could go home," she says.

Staying silent, I just give her a look.

"Okay then, at least let me sleep on the couch," she says.

Pointing to the direction of the room that has basically become hers, I say, "Goodnight, Bella."

"Goodnight," Bella says walking away.

Walking into the living room, I find Rose sitting there looking a little uncomfortable. Just standing and looking at her I tilt my head and see there seems to be sadness, and worry about her.

"Hi," I say moving to her.

She turns looking at me, and puts on her stone face. "Emmett made me come. He refused to leave my home without me. I had no choice but to come, now you can take me home."

Laughing lightly, I know there's no way Rose would ever ask me if she can spend Christmas here.

"No, it's late and time for bed."

"I am not sleeping with you!" Rose sneers out.

Rolling my eyes I shake my head. "No, but you are taking my bed. Now lets go so I can get covers and a pillow to catch a few hours sleep on the couch." As I speak Rose crosses her arms over her chest. "Just go with it, Rose," I say as I pull her towards my room.

"You Cullen men are so bossy."

Giving her a weak smile and a curt nod, I get my things and walk away. By the time I have cleaned up and made the couch, it's a little after two. It's going to be a long day I think to myself, as I lay down to get some sleep.

A/N: So Tia had his number from the beginning, and she only wants to help. How do you think that will work out? Anyone else curious as to why Rose called Emmett, or Emmett got so heated at the thought of Rose sleeping in his father's bed? What are your thoughts on Renee and Bella's never ending rationalization of the way her parents behave? See you all on Saturday with another update, and the corrected version of this will be replaced when I get it back from the last reader.