(A/N: Well, thanks for all the alerts! It was a good motivation to get this chapter out. Like I said in the last chapter, I think this story is finally on the right track.)

After dinner, we cleaned the kitchen and moved into the living room. Thoughts were racing through my head but the main one was that I was sure I wanted Edward in my life. Everything felt right when it was with him; laughing, talking, kissing, cuddling. I don't know how I managed my life without him. As Edward sat on the couch, he pulled me down into his lap and wrapped his arms around me; and I could feel his face in my hair and even hear as he inhaled my scent. Oh yes, I thought, this is what love feels like.

"I sure have enjoyed this Christmas, Bella," Edward spoke softly behind me.

"Me too. I have something for you. I'll be right back," I replied as I stood on my feet. If I didn't get his gift now, I would forget because he was the ultimate distraction.

I rushed to my room, taking the steps carefully so I wouldn't need to see Carlisle at the ER. As I picked up the wrapped journal I saw the old battered one beneath it. I had no use for it so it came along also, just not wrapped.

Edward stood at the entertainment center studying the DVDs on the shelf as I came back down the stairs. He heard me and turned around with a smile. It took my breath away when I saw his face. Surly this man was an angel from Heaven. His eyes were a brighter green than normal, his smile shown in his eyes. The perfectly smooth porcelain skin on his face was glowing; and those lips! I could spend an eternity kissing those lips and it wouldn't be long enough. As soon as I realized that I was gawking at him, I crossed the room to him, the old music journal behind my back, the wrapped one held out in my other hand.

"Merry Christmas, Edward," I said, feeling slightly guilty that he caught me ogling at him.

His grin never left his face as he took the gift and started ripping the paper off. Once it was unwrapped, his smile wavered into a curious smirk. He opened it, as I hoped he would, to the first page and read the note I had left him. He looked up at me through his lashes and then continued flipping through the book finding empty music sheets.

"It's perfect," he said as he finally shut the book. "You wouldn't believe how much I've wanted a music journal here lately. I can finally write down some things I've been working on. Thank you; and I love you too, so much."

"Well, it's not the only one you get. I found this one in a local store and it's what gave me the idea to find a new one for you. It's old, but it has a lot of character I think," I brought the other old journal out from behind my back.

His smile left his face. Great! Did I just offend him? I thought. He looked at the old journal, back at me, then back at the journal.

"Impossible," Edward whispered.

He placed the new journal down on the coffee table and grabbed the old one from my hand. Gently, he opened the cover and started studying it. A few seconds passed, and his eyes widened and his mouth dropped slightly.

"What store did you find this at?" Edward started questioning me.

"Um, the old thrift store on the way to Port Angeles. Gladys's. I'm sorry if you don't like it," I started getting a little defensive and somewhat hurt. If he didn't like it, he didn't have to accept it.

"Look," He said with a little excitement tinting his voice. He moved to where he was beside me instead of in front of me. He pointed down at the lower left hand corner of the book's cover. There were initials there.

"TDC?" I asked; my curiosity peaked. Maybe he wasn't upset with it; he actually reminded me of a kid in that moment.

"Tanya Denali Cullen. Bella, this is my grandmother's old music journal," And just like that, I felt my eyebrows raise and my mouth form an "O".

"I looked what felt like ages for this after she passed. She's the one that got me into playing piano. I can't believe you found it; and you didn't even know what you had," Edward exclaimed. "This is the most perfect thing anyone could've ever gotten me. Thank you, again, Bella," he brought me into a tight hug, then loosened it and looked down to meet my gaze.

"All my life, I never thought I'd meet anyone like you. To me, you're perfect; and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life being yours. I love you with everything inside me, Bella; body, mind, and soul," Edward said.

The world stopped in that moment. I couldn't think of anything other than the man who was wrapped in my arms; the man whose arms I was wrapped in. This declaration of his love was my undoing. But, instead of reaching down to kiss me, like I was expecting, he dropped to one knee and pulled a box out of his pocket. I couldn't do anything but take in a sharp breath and pull my hands to my face.

"Isabella Marie Swan, I want you to know that I love you unconditionally. You are in my every thought; even in my dreams. I am giving you this ring as a promise to you that I will never leave you, betray you, or hurt you. Will you accept this promise ring?"

As he opened the small, black, velvet box, I saw a ring. It was gold in color, and it had a slim width to it. The top of the ring sparkled with three small diamonds connected to each other by the swirling metal of the band. It didn't have that BAM! factor to it, it was a simple style; it sparkled just enough to grab someone's attention. It was perfect; and it was mine.

My mind was screaming YES! I WILL!, but I couldn't find my voice to say anything. Thankfully, the muscles in my neck decided to work. I nodded my head quickly for my answer. Edward smiled that crooked smile and stood up. He took my left hand away from my face and held it in his own. The ring was out of its box and was sliding its way up my ring finger. It fit. I stared at it, wiggled my fingers to watch it gleam and shine in the light it caught. I couldn't remember a time in my life that I was happier than what I was in that moment. I knew it was because of Edward. He was my soul mate; he completed me in ways I never realized I was incomplete.

I had to do something to show him how much I loved him. When I looked up at him, I found that he was still grinning at me. This was it. If there was ever a perfect time for what I was about to attempt, this was it. My hand with the ring lifted to his face, cupping his cheek while the other went to his shoulder. I lifted myself up and connected my lips to his in a bold kiss. My lips were molded to his moving and massaging the other and I ran my tongue out to trace his lips. They tasted of stroganoff and Edward; there were no other words of describing the taste of him. Bravely, my tongue traveled further into his mouth, past his teeth and finally caressed his own. I moaned at the sensations I was feeling.

There was tightness in the pit of my stomach, along with a tingle that led farther south. It felt as though every nerve ending was sensitized.

Edward's hands were on my back, holding me to him in a tight embrace. His fingers were tightening into a grip on my sweater, then releasing it, then tightening once more. Then, those same hands were on my hips and grabbing all they could. His mouth broke away from mine and went to trail soft, wet kisses across my cheek and down to my neck.

I was panting for air and my eyes wouldn't open because of the immense pleasure. I laid my head down on his shoulder while he continued to work on my neck. The tingling sensation became stronger with each passing second. Suddenly, I felt his touch on my skin. His fingers had found the hem of my sweater and were working their way up my waist leaving what felt like a trail of fire. My hands which were both in his hair, holding his head at my neck, and on his back, trying to pull him closer, found their way to his.

Edward stopped kissing my neck and looked up to meet my gaze. His eyes were hooded and his face was flushed, but his expression was both apologetic and lustful. I started moving my hands up my stomach, dragging his along. My breath was still heavy and my chest was heaving up and down with every lungful of air. Once my hands reached the bottom of my bra, I went to grab his wrists and pushed his hands underneath it. The apologetic look he had left his face, replaced by excitement. I merely nodded my head in approval and he started squeezing my breasts softly. The pleasure I got from watching him as he did this brought about another moan. His lips parted and he pulled in a large breath of air.

My breasts felt like they fit perfectly in his palms and I could feel my nipples harden as his thumbs rolled across them over and over. I was gasping every time he did that; my eye lids got heavier and the tingle was almost unbearable. I needed more; I needed Edward to know that I needed more. The only coherent thought running through my head was more, more!.

"Please, Edward. More," I heard myself whisper.

He obliged, pulling his hands away from my chest and pulling my sweater over my head. My bra was the next item to leave my body. He took a step back and looked at me in an awe-like manner. I felt exposed at that moment and put my head down. I knew if my face hadn't already been flushed, I'd be blushing.

"Don't look down, Bella," Edward breathed out. "You're the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid eyes on. Don't ever doubt your beauty around me."

I looked up in enough time to see him take a step towards me and capture my lips in another breath-taking kiss. This time I put my fingers to work on the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one at a time. Once the last button was finished, I moved my hands inside his shirt. I felt over his sculpted abs, his chiseled chest, and up to his muscular shoulders. I pushed his button-up off as I moved my hands down his toned arms.

I broke the kiss this time and took a step back to admire his body. It was beautiful; unmarked, snowy white skin stretched across all the defined muscles in his body. I stepped back to him and placed a chaste kiss first on his left side, then another on the right side of his chest.

"Maybe we should go up to my room," I spoke. I'd be terrified if Rose or Jasper caught us like this.

Edward nodded and bent over to pick up my shirt and bra, and his shirt also. I grabbed his free hand and led him up the stairs and into my room.

I got to the side of the bed and turned around to face Edward. His hands rubbed up and down my sides catching the swells of my breasts. On the way back down though, his fingers found the button of my jeans. Quickly undoing it and pulling the zipper down, he kept his eyes on mine. I matched his actions after he tugged my jeans over my hips, pulling my underwear down with them.

I placed my hands on his chest, and could tell that he was just as nervous about this as I was. His arousal was very apparent, standing at attention for me. Then I realized I did that to him. I was so embarrassed about showing him my body, and that was part of what caused the butterflies in my stomach. But when he told me what he did downstairs, he made me feel like I was the only woman on earth. That thought gave me the confidence to make the first move between us as we both stood there naked.

"Lay down, Edward. I want to try something first," I spoke.

As he walked by me I got to catch a glimpse of his backside. His back rippled with every move he made and his butt, well it was shaped perfectly, rounded and still toned. He lay on his back in the middle of the bed, his erection stood straight. I gathered every bit of courage I could find in myself and kneeled between his legs. I gently grabbed him and stroked up and down, slowly.

Edward hissed at my actions. His green eyes shut and his head dug back into the pillow. His hands were fisted in the sheets as his hips jerked to help me.

"Oh God, Bella," he gasped.

I did this only for a little while and he finally opened his eyes and fixated himself on me. I had remembered Rose telling me before about what she would do to guys as foreplay and I was taking this page from her book. I never would have known how to do any of what I was doing if it weren't for her and our girl time. Since I saw that Edward seemed to like what I was doing, I decided to take things up a notch. I bent over and lapped my tongue over his head. His eyes widened in reaction but he never left my gaze. I took him into my mouth and started to suck. It felt so natural having him in my mouth. I thought I would be disgusted by it, but it only made the unbearable tingle turn into a full-fledged throb. It wasn't very long before I felt him move and pull me up to his face.

"You are amazing; but now it's my turn," Edward whispered.

He moved to where he laid on top of my body. I could feel my nipples brushing against his chest and the sensations it brought made me squirm. His erection was poking my pelvic area and when I squirmed I could feel it twitch. He lowered his body onto mine, placing his weight on his forearms. Edward kissed my mouth and down my neck once more; only this time his lips didn't linger. Those lips kept traveling down on my chest until they were on my breast. He drew a nipple into his mouth and teased it with his tongue, flicking it back and forth making it harder. His teeth would gently squeeze it as he sucked on it. The reactions in my body were quick to respond. My hands flew into his hair, tangling into the bronze locks. My legs wrapped around his waist and locked themselves in place, pulling him closer to me. My mouth dropped and moans started flowing freely.

He gave the other breast attention as well. Then, I felt his hand moving down below my belly-button and further down until his fingers were at the apex of my thighs. They moved in between the folds of my sex spreading the wetness that had gathered there. I could do nothing but gasp and moan at his touch. My hand squeezed on his arm and my eyes scrunched together tightly. His index finger found my clit and when he pressed down on the throbbing bundle of nerves my body jerked. This man is going to be the death of me! I thought. His fingers continued their delicious torture on my body.

Somehow he had one of my hands and took it down to his member. Instinctively, I started stroking it as I had done earlier only this time I knew it was harder and faster. Edward moved his hand down slightly and I felt a finger press into me. It was a phenomenal feeling. My eyes were wide and breath hitched. We established our own rhythm; with each time he moved his finger moved my hand moved to stroke him.

Both of us were breathing hard panting and staring into each other's soul. There was a feeling inside me, urging Edward to keep going, harder and faster; and that's what he did. Our tempo increased with the mounting feelings and I felt Edward insert another finger.

"Aahh," I half-yelled in a moan. My voice was huskier than normal with lust emanating from it. And with that extra little push, my body exploded. I was throbbing, pulling Edward's fingers in further, my back arched off the bed; my eyes scrunched shut once more. But, then I heard Edward.

His moan was softer than mine, but with more passion behind it. My hand had ceased its rhythm on him in the wake of my orgasm, but still had a grip on him. As I opened my eyes to watch as he rode out his orgasm, his chest moved up and down quickly, his green eyes shut, as mine did. He was still over top of me and his juices squirted out of him and onto my stomach in pulses. As he came down from his orgasm, he crashed to the bed beside me, smiling, and looking at me.

"What?" I questioned, careful to be still because of the mess on my belly.

"Like I said before, you are amazing. That was the second best moment in my life," Edward replied. He was glowing, his eyes an impossibly bright green, cheeks flushed, smile from ear to ear.

"Second best?" I pushed my eyebrows together.

"The first is when you accepted this ring, my love" he came back, pulling my left hand towards him as he kissed the ring on my finger.

"I love you. I never thought my life would be as good as it has been since that blind date. It's changed me so much, for the better," I expressed.

"I love you too. Now, let's get you cleaned up," he said, kissing my lips chastely.

Edward got up from the bed and pulled on his underwear before going to the bathroom for some tissue. He came back and cleaned up his mess on my stomach.

"Will you stay tonight?" I asked.

"It would be my pleasure to spend the night with you, Bella," Edward answered before pulling the sheets over top of us.

We stayed awake a few more hours talking about anything that came to our minds. He expressed his concern that if we were going to continue our physical relationship we needed to be safe about it; I agreed. We never knew if Rose and Jasper came home or not that night, but it didn't matter. I drifted off, safe in the arms of my love, my soul mate. This was the best Christmas that ever was.

(A/N: So, a little hot? A little not? Do you think it was the right time? I know it isn't a complete lemon, but I don't think they were ready for that much just yet. They're still new to everything sex-related. I mean, other than hearing things from Rose and Emmett! Now there's a one-shot I'd like to read! I really want to know if it was good; so with that PLEASE REVIEW!)