Chapter 9

Christmas

EPOV

Bella and I have been dating for a few months now and it was almost Christmas time, I was with Alice trying to decide on a gift for Bella.

"What about this?" Alice called me over to her.

"Oh! I think that's perfect." I replied.

We were in my dad's friends jewelry store, he sold everything to our family at his cost and if it was something he personally made, he only charged for the materials, nothing else. This would be perfect, this will let her know how I truly feel, because I think she feel's like I'm not loving her enough sometimes.

We talked to Aro and of course, he gave us a wonderful deal on something that should have cost around $600 or so and we got it for half of that. I hope she's not mad that I spent that much on her, although I would have spent more, Alice sure did, she bought Bella an entire wardrobe.

Esme and Carlisle had bought her a pair of beautiful diamond stud earrings.

I couldn't wait for Christmas day.

BPOV

I was out shopping with Alice, trying to find the right gift for Edward, which was impossible, because he had everything already…And I had limited funds, Charlie offered me his credit card, because he knew what Edward had gotten me and I refused, thinking if Edward really loves me, he'll like whatever I buy him.

I went into a piano store and Alice groaned, "Please Bella, he's got everything for his stupid piano!"

"Wait, I'll be just a second." I waved Alice on.

"Fine, I'm going to The Gap, Jasper is hinting for new jeans." Alice shouted at me.

I walked in and saw different types of sheet music, I asked if I could get it personalized and the lady said yes, it took 24 hours to do so. I bought the paper and had her personalize it with "Written by Edward Cullen", it was beautiful, it will be written in calligraphy and it looked like parchment paper that was slightly burnt at the edges, perfect for Edward's moodier music.

I thanked the lady and she told me it'd be ready at 4 tomorrow.

I walked out and went into a jewelry shop, maybe a nice ID bracelet, seeing as though the personalized paper was on $20.00, I still had money left.

I walked in and asked where the silver men's bracelets were at and the lady pointed me in the right direction, as I was about to pick something out, I heard a loud sigh to the left of me and saw a tapping foot.

"What Alice? I think he'd like something like this." I was protesting as she drug me out of the store.

"If you want to buy him something like that, I'll take you to the best place in town." Alice stated.

"Alice, I don't have money for the 'best' in town." I whined.

"Bella, he's a family friend and we're in here all the time, so I know we'll get something in your price range." Alice stated.

I told Alice what I was looking for and she told me she'd be right back, so I just looked around for a while.

About 10 minutes later, Alice walked out with this thin, grey haired man and introduced us.

"Aro, this is Bella, Edward's girlfriend." Alice smiled.

"Ahhh, nice to meet you Bella." Him and Alice exchanged a sly smile.

"What are you looking for Bella?" Aro asked.

"I'm not sure, maybe a cuff bracelet of some type." I stated.

"Ah, I have the perfect thing for Edward." Aro smiled.

He pulled out this thick piece of leather and told me that he had the Cullen family crest stamp and could stamp it into the leather, simple and practical, especially since Edward already had the family crest ring, like the rest of the family had.

I looked at Alice and she smiled. "I think he'll love it!"

"O.K., that's it, that's perfect!" I was grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright Bella, that will only cost $30.00." Aro stated.

I looked at him like he was crazy, the leather alone was worth more than that and then to add the snap and stamp, it was closer to $80 or $100, I knew…

"Um, are you sure? It's real leather right?" I questioned.

Alice giggled. "Bells, he's a family friend, we get a special discount." she whispered.

I smiled and was a little relieved.

He told me it would be ready tomorrow afternoon, after 4. That worked out perfectly for me.

I was so excited that I'd gotten such good deals today and still had money left over.

Alice and I headed back to her place and when we walked in the door, Emmett and Rose were arguing as usual and Edward was in a mood, because he was playing something violent on the piano, Esme was cooking, so I walked into the kitchen to see if she needed help, she nodded to the salad items and we proceeded to work in silence for a few moments.

"Esme, what's the matter with Edward? He's been distant this week." I asked.

" I noticed to dear, I'm not sure. Maybe you should talk to him." she smiled.

I excused myself from the kitchen and walked over to the brooding piano player.

I sat down next to him 'hey sexy, what's up?', he just smiled and kept playing until the song ended.

"Can we talk?" I asked.

"Um, yeah." he said hesitantly and his eyes were nervous.

We walked to the back yard and sat on a bench in front of the stream.

"What's the matter Edward? You've been so distracted this week, I'm beginning to worry about us." I sighed and put my head down.

He sighed as well, putting his hand under my chin, he lifted my face to meet his. "I've just been thinking, there is nothing wrong between us, everything is right, more than right, at least on my end." he stated.

I looked up at him "What do you mean Edward? Is there something wrong with me, that I don't know about?" I spat, not meaning to, but that hurt.

"Can we not do this?" he asked.

"Fine, we don't have to talk ever again!" I ran off crying.

I ran up to Alice's room and saw her and Jasper in full make out mode.

"Shit! I need to go." I ran out of her room and out the front door, where Edward was waiting for me.

"You can't go anywhere, you rode with Alice, remember?" he chuckled.

"What the hell Edward? You have the nerve to laugh after we brake up? Glad to see I meant so much to you!" I screamed.

The look in his eyes was pure sadness.

"You really just broke up with me?" he asked, still stunned. "What did I do? All I've done is love you Bella, that's all." he was crying, I'd really hurt him.

"Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry." I ran to him, hugging him and he hugging me.

"You've just been so off lately, it has had me worried. I want us to be us. I don't want to break up with you. I just want to know what's going on with you." I said.

"I can't tell you, it'll ruin a surprise, a good surprise I have for you." he stated and smiled. " I didn't want to say anything, because I might give it away." he stated.

I smiled at him and jumped into his arms, kissing him and slamming him against his car. He groaned and pulled away.

"Damn Bells, we've gotta stop doing that." he said as he adjusted himself. I blushed.

"Come on, lets go to my room before dinner is ready." Edward said.

I smiled and followed him upstairs.

EPOV

It was Christmas eve and my parents were having their annual party, Bella would be here tonight. I smiled at that thought.

Esme yelled at me to get into the shower and right before I did, Alice bounded in my room.

"Hey Bro, when are you giving Bella her presents?" Alice asked.

"Well, her and Charlie are going to be here tomorrow, for a few before Charlie has to go to work. Then Bella will be spending the night with us. I would like Charlie to be here for it, since I asked his permission first, so probably when everyone is around." I replied. "Now go, my shower awaits!"

With that, I got into the shower and washed quickly.

20 minutes before guests arrived, Bella was usually early for these , I hoped everything was fine.

I picked up my cell and looked, 3 new messages, all Bella. 'hey, we're going to be a few minutes late, thee were problems at work, so Charlie had to stay late. Be there about 6:15, sorry'.

I snapped my phone shut, got dressed and ran downstairs to tell my mom, that Bella and Charlie would be late. She smiled and already knew, Charlie had called her.

I sat out by the stream with a beer and waited for what seemed like hours, in reality, only about 20 minutes.

I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned around. There was a vision in red.

Bella had on a short red dress, spaghetti straps, with a bow across the chest, the bow having a few sequins and these red heels, OMG! I wanted to jump her right then, even though we hadn't done anything yet, I was hoping that the day was coming soon, Bella was becoming more and more irresistible.

The party went without a hitch, I led Bella outside and we sat on the porch swing, just enjoying the quiet.

I turned to her and gave her a passionate kiss, so I could the point across about how much I wanted her.

Charlie came outside and cleared his throat, I sat up and smiled, slightly dazed still from the amount of passion that just came from Bella, in that kiss.

I went to sleep with visions of Bella in my head!

BPOV

I was so excited about today, Christmas!!!

I had never got to spend Christmas as party of a big family before.

I got up showered and was cooking breakfast for Charlie.

He came down and kissed me on the cheek, asking if I was excited about today and I was just beaming, all my questions I'd had about Edward and I were fading.

I ran up stairs and got dressed, ready to spend the day with Edward and his family and Charlie, of course.

As I was finishing up, my phone rang.

I picked it up "hello?" I answered.

"Morning sunshine, wanted to make sure you were awake and to see what you were wearing today." Alice asked.

"I'm wearing a red v-neck sweater, black dress pants, black peep toe heels and the black jewelry set you bought me last week." I was smiling.

"It is the Stella McCartny sweater we bought a few weeks back?" Alice asked.

"Yep!" I said popping the 'p'

"OMG!!! Edward is going to die when he sees you in this outfit!" Alice was screaming.

"Oh, by the way, make sure your dad is dressed kinda nice, nothing to fancy, but please, no flannel! We've got a big surprise for him!" Alice squealed.

"Already taken care of. I bought him a nice red polo and he's got on a pair of faded Levi's and black boots, he looks pretty good. What's the surprise, you gotta tell me!" I begged.

"Well, my aunt came into town this morning and my parents think her and Charlie would hit it off nicely, so they're going to introduce them, then the four of them are going to some Italian restaurant for dinner, my mom made ours already, it'll be ready by dinner time, she left the instructions for you, since you're the only one who can truly cook! Oh and pack a bag, you're staying here tonight! Love ya!, gotta go!!!" Alice then hung up.

EPOV

I was getting anxious, Bella and her dad were just coming down the drive way, Alice kept rubbing my back, telling me it would be o.k.

I was hoping she was right, things had been a little tense between Bella and I and I had to set it right.

There was a knock at the door and I opened it to find a smiling Bella, looking stunning, I couldn't take my eyes of her. The bright red against her creamy skin, it was making my body do bad things.

They sat their gifts under the table and Esme came in followed by her sister Irina.

Irina was mom's older sister by 3 years and they were total opposites.

My mom was an old soul, I think that's why her and Bella got along so well.

As for my aunt Irina, she was a free spirit, but looking to settle, she married young, too young, like Bella's dad and it didn't end well, he was an abuser and she was looking for someone to be protector and lover now. She wanted to move back to Forks, to be close to her sister and family. She was ready to settle down again, after 13 years. About the same amount of time Bella's dad been single.

She introduced Irina to everyone and Charlie couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was very pretty.

Her hair was long and flowing to mid back, a blondish-copper, where as my moms was a brownish-copper, kinda like mine. She was about 5'8, slender, big crystal blue eyes and a radiant smile, she also had fair skin like my mother, growing up in Alaska, there's not much sun.

Carlisle came home from his hospital rounds and asked if everyone was ready for gifts.

Alice was bouncing up and down as always, Emmett put stacks of presents in front of everyone.

When all the gifts were distributed, Esme went first.

Carlisle had bought her a new pair of diamond hoop earrings.

Alice followed, Emmett had bought her a case of Red Bull, we all groaned, especially Jasper.

Irina was next, Carlisle and Esme had given her a beautiful tennis bracelet with diamonds and sapphires (her birthstone).

Bella was next, she opened my gift from Alice, it was a coupon book and a bunch of gift cards, the book was handmade and they were shopping passes, some for full days, others for a few hours and then the last one she about choked on, it was a shopping pass, but for Fashion Week in Paris! She started crying. "Bella, don't worry about it, we'll have a blast when we go this summer" Alice smiled.

I reached over and wiped her tears.

Everyone else went around opening their gifts as well.

Charlie had gotten Jasper and Emmett a membership to the Forks gym, they were so excited and he got me and Alice a Spa day, with the works. He bought Edward a fishing set, saying he wanted to take him out with him, that was a very good sign, I smiled and kissed my dad on the cheek, he'd basically just told Edward I was his forever and he had permission to marry me, that's how significant that gift was.

He bought Esme and Carlisle tickets to the ballet in Seattle in a few weeks.

He apologized to Irina, saying none of us knew she'd be here, but offered to take her to dinner next week.

She accepted.

I opened Bella's gifts and was very pleased, I loved the note paper and the cuff, they were so personal, that's why I loved Bella.

She was crying again, because she'd just opened the gift from Esme and Carlisle, the diamond earrings and then the next gift was to both of us, from Jasper and Emmett. We both looked at each other, worried.

We took the bow off the box and opened it, pulled out the contents without looking closely. Then I saw the condoms, flavored, glow in the dark, Bella blushed, Charlie turned a murderous red and Jasper and Emmett were rolling on the floor.

Carlisle the always calm one spoke and they stopped "Well, at least you made sure that your sister and Edward would be protected and not have any unnecessary little ones running around. Esme jabbed him in the side and Charlie shot them a 'we'll talk later look.'.

Finally, it was time for my gift, Alice was bouncing up and down.

I moved the sea of paper away from us and sat next to Bella, taking her hand.

"Bella, I love you more than anything in this world and I know we're to young for marriage, which is why I got you the next best thing." I stopped to open the box.

"Bella you are my soul mate and this ring clearly states that, It is my promise to you that'll I'll keep you happy and safe and when the time is right I promise to ask you to marry me and spend forever with you." I smiled at her and she was sobbing. I put my arms around her and kissed her head.

"Edward this is the best gift ever and I promise I will always be here for you and try not to jump to crazy conclusions about our relationship any more. I love you!" Bella said.

After that, our parents cleaned up and then left for their dinner, we all went off to our separate rooms.

A/N:

I hoped you all like this chapter, if you did, please review…

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