Merry Christmas

Edward's POV

Bella and I stood at the door as we saw Eliza get out of the car and pick Olly up. I held Bella in my arms as she bounced up and down nervously.

"Calm down baby. They're here."

"What if they don't want to stay?"

"I'm certain they will. They're family whether they live here or not. If they choose not to stay then we know that we've done what we can to help them. Calm down."

Pecking her lips, I pulled her closer to me, my hands on her hips.

"Thanks Edward. Let's do this."

She turned around in my arms and I placed my hands on her stomach. We watched Eliza turn around before opening the door and stepping onto the porch. Eliza held Olly in her arms and froze on the spot when she saw us. All of a sudden she started running at us. When she reached us, we pulled them both into our arms.

"Merry Christmas Olly, Eliza. It's good to see you again."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tears fell down her cheeks as I held her and Olly to me and Bella.

"We told you Eliza, we're here for you. We love you both."

"I love you too momma, daddy. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Olly. Merry Christmas Eliza."

"Thank you Dad, mom."

I felt Bella start to shiver slightly and realised that we were still outside in the cold.

"Let's go inside guys. It's getting cold."

"I'll talk to Julia quickly."

"Okay baby."

Shrugging off my jacket, I wrapped it around her shoulders and kissed her forehead.

"Come and see your new home."

I opened the door for them and waited for them to go inside. After Bella came back with a bag of Olly and Eliza's things we showed them round the house saving their rooms for last.

"This is your room Olly."

I opened the door as I held Bella to my side. Olly jumped up and down excitedly as he ran round his room before hurdling into us.

"Thank you daddy. Thank you momma. I love it."

"Good because it's all yours."

"Really?"

"Really Olly."

He ran round his room again and jumped up and down on his bed.

"Olly do you want to stay here or come and see Eliza's room?"

Without saying anything he jumped from the bed and ran into Eliza's arms. We led them downstairs to Eliza's door.

"Now Eliza, I felt that the basement would be the best space for you. I think you're gonna love it."

I opened the door and let Eliza carry Olly down the stairs before lifting Bella into my arms and carrying her down the stairs.

"Thank you Edward, Bella. I love it."

"You need a space for yourself and this is it. There's a bathroom through there with a shower. No one will come down here unless you let them. This is your space."

"Thank you."

"My room's better than yours Eliza."

"I think my rooms better Olly."

"No, my room."

"My room."

"My room. Momma tell Eliza my room's better."

"Dad, tell Olly my room's better."

I looked at Bella to see her smirking up at me and I returned the smirk.

"I think you need to sort this out yourself. We'll just see what happens."

"Come on dad. That's what a coward would say."

"If you're gonna call me a coward you're gonna call me Major Edward coward."

"Sorry Major Edward coward."

"That's better."

Bella and I watched Olly and Eliza argue for a while longer before Eliza finished it.

"How about both our rooms are the best? That way your room is the best and my room is the best."

"Okay, Eliza."

They hugged each other and I could hear Olly whispering.

"My room's the best of the best."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is."

"Let's not start this again Olly. It's Christmas."

I smiled down at Bella at seeing Olly and Eliza's interaction. Sweeping her into my arms, I kissed her lips, pulling her closer to me.

"Merry Christmas baby."

"Merry Christmas honey."

My fingers massaged small circles on her stomach and brought her lips to mine again. A cough came from behind us separating us. We looked up to see Olly and Eliza looking at us.

"Sorry guys. I guess we have to get used to other people in the house."

"Just be yourselves and we'll be happy. This was your home first."

"But it's our home now."

"Thank you."

"Stop thanking us Eliza. You're family."

She wrapped her arms around Bella and I, after setting Olly on her bed. I held her to me before she pulled back. We went back upstairs and sat on the couch together watching TV as a family. Esme came over and got started in the kitchen with Eliza and Bella, whilst Olly watched them. I brought all the presents in, placing them under the tree. When I was finished I sat next to Olly at the kitchen island.

"How are they doing Olly?"

"It smells amazing but they are a bit slow."

"Why don't you tell them that?"

"I have been but they are still slow."

"Why don't we help them? I'm sure we can do something."

"Okay."

Bella came over and set a bowl in front of Olly and I, with a spoon in it.

"You can make the gingerbread cookies then."

"Will do baby."

Pecking her lips, I stood up from the stool and got the ingredients out.

"So Olly, have you ever made gingerbread cookies?"

"No."

"Then I'll teach you."

I went through each stage, helping him weigh the ingredients and mixing them all together. We then rolled the dough out and cut lots of shapes, including: men, woman, Christmas trees, father Christmas' and snowmen.

"Which oven are you using Mom?"

"The one by the fridge. I think the other one's free, but I'm not sure."

"Okay, thanks mom."

"The potatoes, carrots and parsnips are in the other oven Edward. They should be done in ten to fifteen minutes though."

"Thanks Eliza. We'll leave these here for now then."

I put the two trays of cookies to the side of the island and turned around to see Olly covered in flour.

"What happened Olly?"

"I was trying to put the bag away and dropped. It went everywhere. It looks like snow."

"That it does Olly, but let's get you cleaned up."

"Okay daddy."

After clearing him up, I sat him on the couch and left him to watch some TV. I walked up behind Bella and wrapped my arms around her.

"You need to go do your stretches soon baby and take a rest."

"I'll do it in a minute. I'm just going to finish this up then I'll go."

"Alright baby."

I held her as she finished washing up the dishes. When she was done she turned her head to the side and pecked my lips before resting her forehead to mine.

"Go and have a rest baby. It's been a long day so far and it's not even twelve."

"I'm going, I'm going. Don't worry so much."

"I'll always worry about you baby. You're my life."

I pecked her lips again, rubbing circles on her stomach.

"Mmmmm. I love you Edward."

"I love you too Bella."

She pressed her lips to mine, before moving from my arms.

"I'll be back in a bit. Come get me if you need any help."

"We'll be fine Bella. Go have a rest. You'll need it for later."

"Thanks Esme."

I watched her start to climb the stairs before starting on the next thing for the big Christmas lunch. A loud thump came from upstairs and I dropped the knife I was holding and ran upstairs.

I saw Bella lying on the floor holding her knee, grimacing in pain.

"Are you okay baby?"

"Yeah."

I scooped her into my arms and carried her to the bed, lying down with her.

"What happened baby?"

"My knee gave out under me and I couldn't get up. It doesn't hurt any more. It was more to do with the shock."

"Okay baby. I'm just glad you're alright. Can I just say, I'm not going to let you walk anywhere the rest of the day? I am not chancing our baby over this."

"I agree with you whole heartedly Edward. I'd do anything to protect our baby. We worked too hard to give him up."

"You mean her."

"I'm still going for a boy. I just have this feeling. It's in my genes. My mom and her mom and my dad's mom had the feeling. They were all right."

"I think I have the feeling as well baby, because I'm sure this is a girl. She'll look just like her momma."

"No he'll look just like his father."

"If you say so baby."

Lowering my lips to hers, she tried to stretch her legs out on the bed but grimaced.

"What's wrong baby?"

"My legs are just a little sore."

"Do you want me to help with your stretching?"

"Can you honey?"

"Always baby."

Connecting my lips to hers, I pulled her closer to me. Eventually, we pulled away, smiling at each other.

"I love you."

I brushed the hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, kissing her forehead.

"I love you too."

Rolling off her, I knelt at the end of the bed, massaging her ankles.

"You need to take your pants off baby."

"No touching me Edward. I'm too tired for anything right now."

"I promise baby. I don't want to make you upset."

"Thank you honey."

She undid her pants and pushed them down her legs to her knees and pulled them off her feet.

"Time to stretch baby. We'll do this slowly; one leg at a time."

"Thank you honey."

Lifting her left leg onto my knee, I moved my hands to the back of her calf.

"You need to straighten your knee baby; I'm not going to do it for you."

As I held her leg, I felt her stretch slowly her leg out.

"There you go baby. Can you lift it?"

I watched her lift her leg upwards carefully. She quickly lowered it, bending it.

"You okay baby?"

"Yeah. It just hurts a bit."

"I'm sorry baby. This does help though. Just give it some time."

"I know. It's just frustrating."

I pressed my lips to the side of her knee as I massaged the back of her knee.

"It's okay baby. There's no reason you can't do this. You are the most determined, most stubborn person I know and I know you aren't going to let this stop you. I know it hurts but I'm here for you. When it gets too much stop and we'll leave it there."

"Thank you."

Her eyes teared up as she wound her fingers in my hair. Crawling up her body, she pulled her lips to mine, her hand undoing the buttons to my shirt. My hands wrapped her knees around my waist as she pulled herself closer to me. We moved together, as her tears disappeared.

"Thank you honey. You always know what to say."

"I'm glad. I only want you to be happy baby."

"When I'm with you I'm always happy. Ever since we first met, whenever you were in the room I felt safe."

"I'll never leave you again then baby."

Holding her to me, I rubbed soothing circles on the backs of her knees.

"Are you ready to do some more stretches baby?"

"Yeah."

"I won't let you harm yourself baby. Don't worry."

"I trust you."

"Good."

I pecked her lips and sat us up.

"Slowly baby."

I moved back on the bed so I was sitting by her feet and took her right one into my hands. She leaned back onto her elbows as she pointed her toes upwards and stretched her leg out, bit by bit. Supporting her leg, I held her thigh and below her knee as she turned her knee round slightly.

"It's okay baby. Take your time. There's no rush."

"Can you help me straighten it? It feels really heavy."

"Okay baby. I'll do it slowly. Tell me when it hurts and I'll stop."

"I will. Thank you."

"Just relax baby; it won't hurt so badly."

I waited until, she had taken a couple deep breathes and relaxed her body. Holding her thigh still, I gently raised her lower leg, straightening her knee.

"Stop."

"What's wrong baby?"

"It hurts."

"I'm sorry baby."

"No, it's okay; just hold it there a minute. I'll tell you when to move it."

"You sure baby?"

"Yeah. Just give me a minute."

I placed a kiss to her knee as my thumbs ran circles over her skin.

"Okay, I'm alright now."

"Okay baby. You're nearly there, just stretch it a bit further then lift it in the air and you can have a rest."

"Thank you honey."

Placing another kiss to her knee, I cautiously straighten her leg further until it was completely straight.

"There you go baby; nearly done."

Turning around to face her, I lifted her leg smoothly as she lay her back on the bed. Kissing the back of her knee, I bent it slightly before straightening it again. Lowering it to the bed, I let her bend it, little by little.

"There we go baby. Just relax and we'll do them again. It won't be as difficult."

I massaged heavy circles on her thighs, trying to loosen them up.

"Come here honey."

Keeping my hands still circling, I moved up her body and joined our lips together.

"I love you baby."

"I love you too honey. Thank you for helping."

"That's what I'm here for baby; to care for you. You're everything to me. When you're not happy, I'm not happy and if anything were to happen to you, I wouldn't know what to do. You've owned my heart since the first time I laid eyes upon you."

As I said this, I leaned closer and closer to her until my lips were hovering over hers.

"Never leave me."

"Never."

I pressed my lips to hers, putting all my love for her into the kiss. One of Bella's hands went to my chest whilst the other wound into my hair, pulling it gently. My arm wrapped around her back, bringing her to me, whilst the other went to her hair, calmly massaging her head. She gripped my shirt, attempting to pull me closer to her. When we needed to breathe I kissed along her jaw and down her neck. I continued to kiss and suck her neck until I was just breathing in her scent.

"I can't get enough of you baby. I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop."

"Then don't. I won't ever stop needing you."

We lay in each other's arms, sharing a couple of kisses before I helped her stretch again and finally get dressed again.

"As much as I'd like to stay up here with you all day, we need to go back downstairs. There's still a lot to do for lunch but you need to rest."

"But I want to help. I always help."

"And you have helped. It's been a long past few weeks and I want you to take a break from having to stress about getting it done. Do this for me baby?"

"Only for you, but can I please help with something?"

"Fine, you can help Olly decorate the cookies when they are done."

"Thanks honey."

Her words turned into a yawn, as her head started to droop.

"Why don't you take a nap baby? Get some rest because when the others get here, they'll be here until late at night and then we're getting up early to go to Rio."

"Okay. Only because I do feel tired."

"I'll come and get you in a bit."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too baby."

I pecked her lips before rolling out of the bed. Once I got downstairs, the other's looked up, slightly worried.

"Everything's alright. Bella just fell; she's fine now; just asleep. She's been quite tired this week."

"That's alright then. I hope she feels better soon enough."

"I'm sure she'll be fine soon enough. They'll be plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow."

I noticed from the corner of my eye that Eliza stopped what she was doing for a second before starting again, only without the feeling she had before. Without her looking, I walked up behind her and pulled her into a hug, turning her round.

"You didn't think we were going without you and Olly did you?"

"I don't see why you would take us."

"You're family Eliza. We aren't going anywhere without you."

"Thank you dad."

I pulled away as she turned back to the cooking, the happy feeling back in her.

"Where are we going?"

"He won't tell us Eliza. We've been trying to get them to tell us for weeks. I wouldn't waste your times."

"She's right, everyone will find out at the same time tomorrow. No exceptions."

"Fine. I can wait."

"Your gonna have to. Now come on, there's still a lot to do."

"Can you check the turkey Edward? Then put the cookies in the other oven. The others will be here in 45 minutes."

"Sure mom."