Happy Tuesday. Sorry I still haven't replied to reviews…I'm way behind, but on the plus side I've written three chapters this week! I've read all of them though, and laughed quite a bit. I would have responded to the questions, but if I had, I would be giving away upcoming events.

You're getting Christmas a bit early, so send your thanks to Team Coffee Girl: Brie, Kitchmill, Jen, Kelly, and Kim. Any mistakes are mine since I tinkered with this right up until I posted.

Only a couple more for me to write then it's off to the betas. They won't be able to get to them until mid January, but I have enough to keep updating through their vacations, so no delay for you guys!

My next star encounter made my daughter jealous. I am a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars and when Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan was on, we watched together. I got to meet her when I drove down to LA from where we now live in Oregon to see Mark Ballas and Derek Hough's then band Almost Amy play a concert. She was so damn sweet and tiny! She autographed my daughter's copy of Cheetah Girls 2 that I happened to bring with me just in case. When she heard about how long of a drive I had she offered to let me crash at her house. Talk about a nice girl. If I hadn't had to get back home, I would have taken her up on the offer just so I could have spent more time getting to know her.

Chapter Fourteen

I loved Christmas...even in Southern California, when it was a comfortable seventy degrees and sunny out like it was right now. We'd had a couple wet Christmases in the past, and one where it hailed something fierce and the grass had been covered in ice. It was the closest I'd ever come to a white Christmas.

The house had been decorated to the nines. Victorian Santas covered every available table top and our Noble Fir tree was covered in little white sparkly lights and antique glass ornaments. Crystal icicles hung from the branches along with cherub angels in muted golds and creams. Burgundy bows were tied sporadically around the tips of a few limbs and one final angel sat atop the tree, holding a single twinkly light like a candle while her wings moved behind her.

There was garland above each window with matching burgundy bows on the top of each swag. Dad always said it looked like Christmas threw up and we called him Scrooge while he replied back with a, 'bah humbug' each time we said it. He never really got into the spirit, but somehow little gifts from him always found their way under the tree each year for Mom and me.

A huge ham was in the oven and all the fixings were on the stove. I'd been helping Mom since early this morning and had just left about thirty minutes ago to get cleaned up and dressed for our guests. I hadn't seen Edward in two days since I was helping my mom finish up all her usual holiday goodies such as cookies and homemade fudge. She had gotten the See's Candy recipe handed down to her from her grandmother, and it was a tradition I planned to uphold when I had children of my own.

I dressed in a thin, red wrap-style sweater and a pair of black leggings. It was all about being comfortable while we ate and listened to Christmas carols—which had been playing nonstop for the last few days. My favorite thing I put on was my red and white striped, knee high toe socks. They reminded me of candy canes and I loved them. I slid on my Santa hat just as the doorbell chimed.

"I got it!" I sang as I ran for the door, sliding to a halt in front of it and managing to stay up right. It was a Christmas miracle. I yanked it open and chimed, "Merry Christmas!"

Edward pushed past his parents and dipped me into a searing kiss. The passion he poured into it left me breathless when he pulled back and placed his forehead against mine.

"Wow. Merry Christmas to me!" The giggles around me reminded me we had an audience.

"Get a room!" boasted Emmett, and the blush on my face grew under his razzing.

"I'm nothing if not traditional," Edward teased as he pointed up to the mistletoe my mother hung every year.

"Some traditions should never be overlooked." No matter how red with embarrassment I was, I meant every word.

Our audience laughed and then made their way into our home, handing out kisses—albeit on the cheek—as they passed. Our parents greeted each other, though mine were a tad bit cooler in their greeting; the Thanksgiving fiasco still sat fresh in their minds, after all, though I had already let it go. Esme and Carlisle were gracious, though, and understood why my parents were behaving the way they were.

It was strange having them all in our little humble abode that would fit at least three times into their one house. Emmett joined my father in front of the flat screen where he was watching his third basketball game of the day. I think it was the Spurs and Rockets playing but I wasn't one hundred percent sure. I didn't follow basketball that closely. I did know there was still another game after this that he wanted to watch. Dad was a sports fanatic when he wasn't working.

Esme and Rose stuck close by Mom and me. Esme set the gifts they brought with them next to our tree and complimented my mother on the ornaments.

"Bella and Charlie have the most to do with them, but he'll never admit to it." I laughed because Mom was completely correct. Dad would deny it until he was blue in the face. "Every year they go to antique shops to find me 'new' decorations for the tree. This is what they got me this year." She pointed to a pale gold hand-blown glass heart I had found for her. I knew Dad had gotten her something else as well, but it was a surprise. She would be shocked for sure.

"They're beautiful. I love the entire house and the Victorian feel to everything. I'm completely obsessed with the winter wonderland feel this year. Sapphire blues, silvers, and whites are covering our whole house. Carlisle keeps asking me when I'll stick with a theme, and I told him it was too much fun to keep him guessing." We all laughed at her candor and the ice began to slowly melt.

The guys were loud, and their hollering could be heard clearly in the den where we were sitting. Granted, the rooms were attached, so there wasn't any actual privacy unless you counted the partial dividing wall, which I didn't. I rolled my eyes at their antics and then asked if anyone was thirsty. I was the coffee girl, after all; it was in my nature to take orders. The younger guys wanted beers, as did Dad, and so Carlisle opted for one as well, shocking the hell out of Esme. When he said something about only living once, we laughed. Emmett gaffed out 'YOLO' over and over until Rose told him to shut up, which made all of us cackle again as we watched the amusing giant get put in his place. The ice had officially thawed and everyone was getting along as it should have been at Thanksgiving.

With drinks handled, I checked on how everything was coming along in the kitchen. We wouldn't be eating for a couple of hours, but I still didn't want anything to burn. When I popped back out into the den, I heard Mom telling Dad to pause his game—thank goodness for TiVo or Dad would be fighting her tooth and nail to keep watching—so we could exchange gifts.

I stuck with a coffee theme for Edward's family, giving each couple an assorted gift basket with beans from different regions around the world along with matching pairs of cobalt blue crystal mugs I found at the antique shop. I included a selection of teas, as well as powders and flavorings that many, myself included, loved to add to their drinks. I added an assortment of prepackaged biscotti and cookies as well. If I would have had to pay retail, most of the items the baskets would have cost me hundreds of dollars, but thanks to my coffee and tea weekly mark-outs, I only ended up spending about forty dollars apiece, plus an additional forty for the mugs.

Esme and Rose were in heaven with the gift and Emmett was excited for the cookies. Carlisle was gracious and had a gleam of excitement over the box of English Breakfast tea I had included. I didn't think he was going to be sharing that item with the missus. I giggled at his reaction. Carlisle was a very interesting man.

Edward and I had decided to wait and open our gifts when we were alone, but I was dying to give him the gift that I had gotten him. Patience was not a virtue I pretended to possess because I was an in-the-moment kind of girl, and since presents were being exchanged, it was even harder to wait.

Esme and Carlisle had gotten me a beautiful chenille glove and scarf set in plum. It was so soft and I couldn't resist putting it on. As I wrapped the scarf around my neck, Esme said it was to keep my vocal cords warm and my fingers in writing and playing condition. I blushed the color of my sweater as she praised my talent.

"You should hear her sing 'O Holy Night.' Her father and I have requested that she sing it every year since she learned the words when she was eight." I was going to kill my mother. "I get chills every time. Teary eyed even." Kill her for sure.

"Oh you must. Please, Bella." Esme pleaded with eyes like her son's. Those eyes would get me every single time.

"Please, coffee girl?" His whispered words and lips upon my ear made me cave, and, with a slight bow of my head, my mother's girly glee rang out and she hopped up to set up my music.

My nerves were racing. I hadn't sang in front of so many people since last year's concert. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift into the music and pretend I was all alone.

The words poured from my lips as I worked my diaphragm, my hand resting on my stomach as I sang. I was in my own little world as I belted out the words, hitting the notes harder and stronger than ever before. I gave it everything I had until the final note dissipated into silence. No one made a sound as I slowly opened my eyes. It had been almost five of the most terrifying minutes of my life.

To try and justify the terror that rolled through me when I sang was hard. It took all the joy of music from me, just like it had when I basically sang for the internship earlier this month. When I said I had absolutely no desire to become the next big thing, I was not a lying: stardom held no appeal to me even if I may have been destined for it. I knew one day I would become a paycheck to the paparazzi because of Edward, but that felt completely different to me. That wouldn't truly be about me, or what I did; it would be about being Edward Cullen's girlfriend. People would hate me for that and not for my own actions or talent. I couldn't really explain it well, but it made sense to me in my head at the time.

Tears poured down my mother's face while Dad tried to stealthily swipe at his own. Esme was in no better shape than Mom. Rose had a smile on her face as she picked up Emmett's jaw. Carlisle was just as stunned as his son, and Edward—my Edward—was awestruck as he stood and made his way toward me.

"That was incredible, darling. Even better than the last time I heard you sing," Esme insisted.

"Holy crap, coffee girl. I had no idea." Edward growled in my ear at Emmett's use of his nickname.

"It was beautiful," added Rose.

"You sing like an angel, baby girl." Dad wasn't one for sappiness, but he always got a bit emotional when I sang. Being a star in his eyes was most important as I grew up.

Carlisle was quiet but equally impressed; at least, that was what I saw in his expression. I wouldn't know for sure until I asked Edward.

"Bella, my coffee girl." He shook his head. "You are magnificent. You sing with so much passion and it…it affects everyone who hears you. You're magic and I cannot imagine never getting to hear you again."

"Thank you," I croaked out. My eyes were watering under all of the praise and attention.

"Mark my words, coffee girl; I am going to marry you…Even if it's to just hear your voice again."

At that point I wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or me of what was to come. All I knew for sure was that I was starting to believe he knew what he was talking about. But I had already begun to realize those green eyes could get me to do anything he wanted a while ago.

If you want to see how I imagine Bella sounding when she sang look up Kerrie Roberts' version of 'O Holy Night' on YouTube...I listened to it on repeat as I wrote that part.

Also, Coffee Girl is up for favorite WIP on Rob Attack...go vote if it's one of your faves. Link is on my profile here!

See you all on Friday. xx Dee