Bella The Babysitter: Chapter 22

Bella the Babysitter

Chapter twenty two

Edward Cullen POV

In an effort to create traditions that we would have every year, Bella and I realized that trying to start those with a one year old isn't very smart.

Wrapping gifts for the family together proved to be absolutely tiresome and frustrating seeing as Lucas had learned the joys of unwrapping presents. Every time Bella or I finished wrapping a present, Lucas would snatch it up and try to unwrap it like a small little ninja. He would squeal in surprise as he unearthed whatever it was and then toss it away before reaching for another.

Baking gingerbread cookies and decorating them to look like a member of our family was a mistake on our part. Trying to get a one and a half year old with a sweet tooth around candies, icing and cookies that he couldn't eat wasn't the greatest idea in the world. The ninja baby skills came back and I was still trying to figure out how in the hell he managed to get gumdrops down his diaper without our knowledge. Alice's, Emmett's and Bella's cookies all had a bite taken out but my dad's cookie was the only one with a fatal bite.

Needless to say we weren't planning on unveiling the cookies Christmas morning.

Attempting to create homemade Christmas cards with a teething toddler and jumbo animal shaped crayons was another mistake on our part. Let's just say the diapers I changed afterwards were every color of the rainbow.

"Edward will you zip me up?" Bella asked as I buttoned up Lucas's dress shirt.

A tradition that couldn't be fucked up was one that my mother started before I was born. Everyone was to report to my parent's house promptly at three o'clock for Christmas Eve brunch. That way we could spend time together before going back to our respective houses to do our own things before Christmas afternoon where we would meet up once again for an early Christmas dinner and to exchange gifts.

My mother and father would then go visit the children's wing of the hospital to hand out their gifts for the kids that had to spend their holiday inside the hospital instead of out with their families. It was something that I myself couldn't stomach, seeing those children's sick and pale faces and knowing that some of them wouldn't live to see their next birthday's let alone their next Christmas. Jasper and Alice would go with them so I usually just went and hung out with Vicky and James.

This year I would be going home with my small family. I hoped that we'd be returning to the house a little closer than we were before we left.

The preparations were made. Another tradition that my mother started was one that I'm sure a lot of people had. Every year she would go shopping for special ornaments that we would all open on Christmas before lunch and place them on the giant tree they went out and chose every year from the tree farm. My father and she started the tradition when they first married so the trees were starting to get a little crowded. I insisted on buying Bella's first ornament and was more than a little nervous about presenting it to her.

"Edward? Please?" Bella said once again bringing me out of my thoughts. "Where are you this morning?"

"Just excited for my mother's cranberry sauce." I lied. "She only makes it once a year."

"Hmm, are you sure?" she asked as I zipped the back of her silky red dress and closed the button on the top. "I like this dress."

"Me too. Alice helped me pick it out."

"Yeah she likes to dress everyone in the family. We just go with it to make her happy." I kissed her shoulder. "Lucas is ready when we are so let me go put my contacts in and I'll be ready."

"Why do you put contacts in? I like your nerd glasses." Bella said turning around in my arms.

"Fine I'll forgo the contacts today." I shrugged. "If it makes you happy."

"You make me happy."

"Happppeeeee." Lucas clapped.

He had recently taken up copying words that we would say but only knew a few for their true meaning. Cookie was his new favorite word after hearing us tell him 'no cookie' over and over again he finally took notice and put two and two together.

We piled into the car deciding to take our presents that we would exchange the following day to make sure that Lucas didn't get too excited tomorrow morning and unwrap everything in sight.

Alice was down the stairs of the porch and trotting through the snow in her glittery white dress and elf boots.

"Merry Christmas Eve." she squealed pulling Lucas out of his car seat.

"Eeeeve." Lucas cried smooshing her cheeks together and giving her an open mouthed kiss.

"Thanks baby boy. Let's go see what goodies nana Esme has for you." Alice then turned and walked back in the house without so much as a hello to Bella and I.

Jasper came out with an apologetic smile on his face and helped us carry our goods inside. Bella brought over her tofurkey seeing as she, Lucas and I were only the only vegetarians in the family. Yep, she had completely converted me to the veg-head side and we decided to raise Lucas under the same diet.

I could hear the familiar Christmas music playing before we even made it to the porch. The smell of freshly baked pie wafted through the door and I was reminded that I hadn't eaten anything all day. A tradition of my own, not eating until Christmas eve lunch where I would stuff myself to the point of almost vomiting. Naps were always in order after lunch.

"There you two are." My mother said walking over to help us with our load. "Alice ran off with Lucas so we won't be seeing much of them until lunch."

Bella offered to help my mom with the cooking seeing as Alice was absolutely no use in a kitchen. I was banned from the food and directed towards the media room with the other men of the family. On my way down the hall I could hear Alice playing with Lucas in his play room my mother had created for him. Alice is and has always been a kid at heart and now that Lucas was getting older, she was able to play with him in earnest.

"Hey brother." Jasper greeted as if he didn't just see me ten minutes ago when his wife came and stole my son. He circled the pool table with a look of sheer constipation. "Merry Unchristmas."

"Merry Christmas eve." I said grabbing a beer from the mini-fridge. "Where's dad?"

"Looking for mom's hiding spot. He's bound and determined to beat her this year with best gift so he wants to find out what she got him. I got Alice a brand new sewing machine and this thing called a grasshopper or some shit."

"It's a cricut and the only reason you got her that is because I bought your mother one when we went out a few weeks ago." My dad said entering the room.

"She hid those presents well, damn it. I looked everywhere. Thirty plus years and she still outsmarts me. Where else could they be?"

"Top shelf of the linen closet in the laundry room." Jasper and I said simultaneously and laughed as he practically fell over himself trying to get to the laundry room.

We played a quick round of eight ball before deciding to go set the table for the women. I had just folded the last clothe napkin when I heard a shrill yell before a loud crash coming from down the hall. Everyone in the house ran towards the commotion to find my father flat on his back in the middle of the laundry room floor holding his back.

"My back gave out." He wheezed.

"Carlisle Cullen what in heaven's name were you doing?" my mom demanded helping him stand up.

"Nothing." he managed to give an innocent smile despite the fact that he was in an extreme amount of pain.

"I'll go get your back brace and a pain reliever." she said turning to leave but stopping short in front of Jasper and I. "And just so you know, the wrapped gifts I've hid up there for the past twenty or so years are for the toys for tots program. I've always hidden the Christmas presents at Charlotte and Peter's house. Peter just never knew."

Jasper and I looked at each other in surprise before Alice skipped over to my dad. "Hope it was worth it old man. Let's get you situated in the dining room."

Bella was rocking a groggy Lucas in her arms while he murmured into her neck.

"I don't think he's going to make it to dinner. I've been feeding him little bites since we got here and its taking affect." she whispered leaning up and giving me a soft kiss. "I'm going to lay him down in your room."

"I'll help you." I offered.

"No, I've got it. Just make sure I get some of that cranberry sauce you've been going on about all day."

"Will do baby." I kissed Lucas's head and watched her walk up the stairs towards my childhood bedroom.

"So you're planning on doing it today then?" Jasper asked, suddenly appearing at my side.

"Doing what exactly?" I asked as Bella disappeared down the hall.

"Joining the fucking army dude." Jasper scoffed. "Popping the question you dumbass."

"Oh. Not until tomorrow but how did you know?"

"Because you've been staring at her or making comments about her all day. Now I'm not saying that you never do that, it's just the look on your face. It's all starry and goofy." He clapped a hand on my shoulder and shook me. "I acted the same way before I asked Alice. I only stopped when someone pointed it out to me that I looked like a fucking lunatic. I'm passing it on to you now."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was nervous as hell. We were going through extremely hard times and I knew that I wanted to be by her side no matter what. She could have said no, not knowing the outcome of everything." he spoke seriously, a trait I didn't too often see in my brother. "So I set it up and the second she said yes I knew I made the right decision."

"Is it crazy that it's only been a couple of months?"

"Love doesn't have a time frame." Jasper chuckled. "Before we get all sentimental and shit we should get in there. Mom's going to want to say grace and I'm sure dad's pain pill will kick in a few, so we'll be sure to get some laughs."

"I'll wait for Bella."

"She's not going to make you wait." he said cryptically before walking into the dining room.

I checked the Christmas tree to make sure everything would be perfect, smiling at the empty spots. My mother insisted that we put the new ornaments on the Christmas tree on Christmas for some reason. I didn't see the point seeing as she took the tree down before New Year's Eve. She just stated that it made it all the more special the next year so we just went with it.

"Hey what are you doing?" Bella asked wrapping her arms around my middle. "I thought you were going to go guard the cranberries for me?"

"I wanted to wait for you." I turned around. "Merry Christmas Eve."

"Merry Christmas Eve." she whispered leaning up and pecking my lips. "I love you Edward."

"I love you too."

"You'd tell me if something was wrong right?" she asked out of nowhere pulling away a little. "If something was bothering you?"

"Of course. What makes you ask that?"

"Nothing, I just feel like you're keeping something from me and it's making me a little nervous." she fiddled with the lacy fabric of her dress.

"Well its Christmas, I do believe I'm entitled to be a little private and sneaky." I pulled her back to me and pulling up the side of her frown until she smiled nervously. "Don't worry about it. Let me have this right now. I promise you won't regret it."

"Fine." she pulled away and walked into the dining room.

As the door swung shut I was bombarded with doubt. Would she think this was too soon? Would she laugh in my face? Would she be angry that I kept this from her?

Or worse.

Would she say no and leave forever?

"Edward, come on supper is getting cold." my mother called.

I sighed and collected my bearings before entering the dining room. I couldn't eat, I was so wracked with nerves I didn't even get to enjoy the sweet potato casserole that I loved so much.