This is the second half to the previous chapter. I cut it into two. Obviously, since there's now two.

Twenty-Three

Apparently walking with drunken women is harder than it sounds. Mum wants to stop every-fucking-where and take pictures, and Jessie seems to want to point out every rubbish bin and picnic table on the south coast. By the time we arrive, everyone is already there, milling around inside, the doors closed up, keeping it private from the outside world.

Ange is the first person I see; baby Lia in her arms. Mum and Jessie coo and swoon over the baby, and I roll my eyes when Mum gives me a sharp nudge, making some comment about being a grandma. I take that as my cue to duck away.

Rosie and Jasper are behind the bar pouring jugs of beer. Jasper has a Santa hat on perched atop his head, the white of the trim making his skin look the colour of golden syrup; his lip studs glinting the gold tone of his skin. Beside him, Rosie giggles girlishly, grinning at Emmett across the counter top, beer spilling out of the tap and over her hand. She is simply radiant, like she's lit from the inside, her entire being glowing through her eyes and her smile. I greet their parents as I pass, and Ben, and then Carlisle who's beside them. They're all full of Christmas cheer, nursing full stomachs and over-worked livers.

Across the bar, nestled into a quiet corner I spy Kate and Paul, the two of them completely oblivious to what's going on around them. Even Embry is there, a Corona in his hand, looking every bit like his older brothers.

Trying to wind my way through the bar, I stop to give each of the boys another Christmas hug, meeting family and relatives along the way.

"Hey, Bella!" Esme appears at my side, a little bronze-haired girl on her hip.

"Hey, Esme. Merry Christmas."

We hug awkwardly, trying not to squash the adorable little girl between us.

"This must be Emily."

"Sure is." She jiggles the girl up and down on her hip, trying to get her to smile rather than nuzzle into her neck. Esme rubs a soothing hand up Emily's back. "She's a little tired."

"Esme!" Carlisle's voice carries over the bar, and we both turn to see Eli, clad in nothing but a little white singlet top and a nappy, finishing the remnants of someone's beer.

"Carlisle," says Esme with a chuckle, "Stop him!" She turns to me, looking apologetic. "I better go before my husband lets our two year old take the car home."

She disappears into the crowd, and finally, I get to make my way to the place I've been dying to be all afternoon.

He's laughing when I find him, and not chuckling – cackling. His eyes are almost scrunched shut, his head thrown back, and his cheeks pink. His hair is a fucking mess; so long it flops over the front of his forehead, the back sticking up in a hundred directions. Beside him, Emmett and Riley are not much better, and Jacko has his head on the table, his shoulders shuddering as he laughs along.

Still laughing, Emmett stands up to offer me the seat beside Edward, conveniently taking the one right beside Rose, who's looking at the four of them like their idiots.

After they settle, Edward rests a hand on my knee beneath the table. It's not high enough to be considered inappropriate – even though having his hands on me anywhere makes me think inappropriate things - but it's just enough to remind me that I'm his. We may have begun this thing thinking we were free agents, just in it for a little fun, but there's no mistaking now that that's no longer the case. Instead of feeling burdened by this, as I have in the past, it's comforting, dizzying and exciting all at once.

The boys play drinking games, flipping coins and cards, playing word games and skolling entire pots of beer. Emmett tries to balance a full glass on his head for a minute, only to drop it and have the entire bar, parents and all, yell "TAXI!" very loudly. At ten-thirty someone fires up the jukebox, and there's Jimmy Barnes and AC/DC, and then my Mum is dancing to INXS and I think I might pass out from embarrassment. Edward and Emmett groan as we watch the parents all break out their dance moves. There's lots of side-step-clapping, and some twisting, and Paul's parents have obviously had lessons because they break out some jive moves, much to Paul's dismay.

"Hey," I whisper in Edward's ear, my hand tightening over his. "Want your present now?"

One of his eyebrows lifts, and he turns a little, his face close to mine. "Here?"

"It's in my locker, you deviant."

We slip quietly into the staff room, closing the door behind us. He waits patiently as I unlock my locker, taking my time just because I can, and he's all excited.

"What is it?" he asks, smoothing his hand over the shiny wrapping paper, shaking the gift lightly.

"Open it and find out."

Grinning at me, he kisses me quickly before tearing open the paper and tossing the ribbon aside.

"Cool," he says, turning the box over in his hand. "I need a camera."

"It's waterproof. So you can take it out into the surf with you."

His mouth pops open. "No way!?"

I can't help but laugh. "Yes way."

"That's the coolest thing ever!"

It's my turn to feel a little bashful. "Yeah well, you can take it with you on tour and send me back pictures of all the big waves." I smile, not wanting to sully the moment with sadness.

He looks down at the camera, nodding slowly. His blue eyes soften when he looks up, and he manages a little smile. "Thank you."

Tucking the camera back inside my locker for safe keeping, he closes the metal door and snaps the lock closed. He kisses me softly at first, pressing me into the lockers, his hand cupping my jaw. I feel like a teenager, making out in secret, with my Mum just next door. Edward is playful and talkative, telling me all about his day between kisses. He kisses my hand; its palm, each finger, my wrist, telling me how pretty my dress is, and how nice it makes my legs look. My fingers dance under the hem of his t-shirt, feeling the warm skin of his hips, my thumbs brushing over the muscle of his lower abdomen.

The door to the staff room opens with a bang, slamming against the wall. Emmett stops in the doorway, his eyes wide.

"Oops. I guess this one's taken."

I spy a blonde head peek out from behind him, blue eyes sparkling.

Emmett tips his baseball cap with a flourish. "Carry on."

As he closes the door, Edward takes a little step back, putting a little distance between us. "Come on. We better get back out there, otherwise the boys will get Embry drunk, and I'll have to hold his hair back while he spews."

Straightening my dress and hair, I look up to find his hand reaching for mine. I don't know why holding hands seems to be the thing that has my heart in my throat and my pulse racing. He wriggles his fingers, smiling at me, and slowly, I reach out and place my hand in his.

"Feel that?" he asks, looking down at our intertwined fingers.

My brow creases. "No."

He kisses me on the cheek. "Exactly. See? Nothing to worry about."

TAXI! - I just have to explain this. IDK if everyone does it. Basically, if you do anything whilst - under the influece - i.e. fall over, spill a drink, break a glass, the whole bar/group gets to yell TAXIII (probably sounds more like TAXXSAAAYYYY!) As in; get this man a taxi. Very embarrassing.

Oh, Edward.

Tiff, Thimbles and Ink all get kisses under the mistletoe for their efforts.

Thank you to everyone who shared their Christmas experiences with me! For some of you it's hard to imagine heat, for me, I can't imagine not being able to sit outside and play with all of my outside toys!

See you next week! xx