Summary-Bella and Edward have liked each other for years. Will Alice, with the help of some hospitalized children, be able to get them to admit it? A Christmas Short Story/AU/AH

Author's Note-I'm writing this purely for fun, because I had the inspiration and I love Christmas and I love fluff. This is a very fluffy story. :) It should only be four chapters, unless I get other ideas

Disclaimer-I don't own Twilight

Under the Mistletoe

Chapter One

"Exactly two weeks till Christmas!" Alice declared enthusiastically as she plopped down beside me at our lunch table. The cafeteria was just beginning to fill up with students, and to drone out the noise I had taken out my book and tried slip in a few pages, knowing all too soon I would be interrupted. I groaned at Alice's words and buried my face into my hands. Two weeks until Christmas translated easily enough into 'two weeks of dragging Bella around the mall' in Alice's world.

Alice rolled her eyes. Every year I put up the same fight, and every year I lost. "You're no fun, Bella."

"Take Jasper," I muttered, ignoring her comment. She would know what I meant.

"Silly Bella." She sighed. "You know you're the only one I would ever go Christmas shopping with." She patted my hand and I looked up. She was grinning. "Besides," she added with a wink. "Jasper gets bored."

"I get bored!"

She giggled, and her laugh sounded like tinkling bells. "Yeah, but I can ignore you. Jasper distracts me way too easily." I rolled my eyes. Jasper was Alice's boyfriend. He was also the only person who could divert Alice's attention for any length of time.

"So how about I pick you up after school today?" Alice asked, before I could protest further.

I shook my head even before she finished speaking, a slight smile on my face. Today I actually had a valid excuse to refuse her. "Nope," I told her, my little smirk evolving into a full-blown grin. I was more than relieved to get out of the shopping extravaganza with Alice.

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yep," I said, and took a swig of my lemonade. I felt a twinge of satisfaction when I caught her impatient expression. It wasn't every day that I could get the better of Alice.

"…So…?" Alice urged. Then she froze, her eyes wide. Her hand came up as if to stop me. "Wait. Are you going on a date?"

I turned bright red. Of course, she would think that. Alice had been trying to get me to date since middle school. She was sorely disappointed that her best friend still lacked a date, while she had been going out with Jasper for two years. It didn't help that I was a year older than her, in my senior year. In Alice's eyes, there was something wrong about an eighteen year old who had never been kissed.

"Alice!" I hissed. "No way!"

She chuckled again, and sighed. "You know I'm only kidding Bella. The only boy you'd ever say yes to is Edward, and there's not much chance of him asking you out."

I blushed furiously again. "Will you please stop it?!" I heard something crackle, and realized that my hand was clenched tightly around my plastic lemonade bottle. But my anger mingled with disappointment. Alice was right. Edward would never ask me out, because I would never be more than a best friend to him.

"No, I won't. Not until you listen." Alice's face was deadly serious, for once. "Bella, I wish you'd just tell him already. He's too shy to ever admit that he likes you to your face."

"How do you know he likes me?" I mumbled, my eyes on the table. My fingers had moved on from the lemonade bottle to an apple now, and I twisted the stem between my index finger and thumb anxiously.

"I'm his sister," Alice snorted. "I know everything about him…even the things he doesn't tell me."

"In other words," I sighed dejectedly. "He's never said to your face that he likes me. You're just making this up so that I'll be confident enough to tell him that I like him." Although I wasn't sure that 'like' was the right word anymore. I think that, sometime in the fifteen years that I'd known him, I'd fallen hopelessly in love with Edward Cullen.

"You know me way to well, Bella," Alice complained. "I can't get anything past you anymore."

I smiled gratefully, knowing that she had changed the subject on purpose. "Yeah, fifteen years with the inability to shut you up had something to do with it, I think." She swatted my arm playfully. Then another arm wrapped around her waist and she looked away from me, to where Jasper was settling himself next to her.

"Hey, Bella. Has Alice annoyed you to death yet?" The voice that I loved to hear forced my gaze away from the couple.

"Almost." I glanced up as Edward took a seat across from me. He grinned, his green eyes twinkling. He wasn't even looking at Alice. The way he stared at me like that, sometimes I wondered if Alice was right, and Edward really did like me. His eyes burned into mine, and I could do nothing but smile.

Alice cleared her throat. "So, Bella, you never told me what you were doing after school today." She glared pointedly at me.

"Relax, Alice," Edward chuckled. "Bella and I are going to the hospital. We're decorating for Christmas today." I nodded happily. Edward and I volunteered at Fork's Hospital and helped out with the sick children. Christmas was a special time there, because it gave us a chance to really brighten them up, with lights and decorations and, of course, presents.

Alice nodded grudgingly. She knew how badly Edward and I were attached to those kids. "Oh, ok. That's alright then." Then she smirked at me. "But Bella, you got so lucky."

I grimaced. "I know." There would be plenty of days in the next two weeks for Alice to drag me shopping. I was getting out of it once, but there was no way I was getting out of it again.

"So, it looks like I'm free today." Alice sighed. Jasper brightened up. He probably hadn't been looking forward to too much of a Friday afternoon. But Alice's next words brought him down again.

"Hey, Bella? Mind if I come with you two? I haven't been with you guys in awhile. I want to see Mandy." Mandy was a shy little nine-year old at the hospital who had recently been in a car accident. Both her parents were killed, and she had no known relatives. She was staying at the hospital until a home was found for her. I was particularly attached to her, and I knew Alice adored her too.

But visiting the hospital was something special that Edward and I did together. It was something we both understood and appreciated. If Alice came, the harmonic bubble that we existed in would be cracked, and I hated missing that time with him.

But Alice's pleading face was hard to resist. I shrugged, smiling half-heartedly. "If you want to," I said reluctantly.

Alice seemed to sense that something was wrong. "Or, if today is bad, I don't have to-"

"No," I interrupted her hurriedly. Get over yourself Bella, I told myself firmly. Wasn't Christmas the season of giving? "Of course you can come. Mandy'll love to see you. She keeps asking how you are."

"What'll I do then?" Jasper whined. The hospital didn't approve of too many people – teenagers, no less – being around the sick children all the time. Edward and I were ok, because it was sort of our job. And Alice and Edward's father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, allowed Alice to tag along when she wanted, but Jasper had to stay behind.

Alice giggled and pecked him lightly on the lips. "Don't worry, I wouldn't forget you. I'll bring my car and leave early. We can go to a movie or something." Jasper grinned and kissed her again. I rolled my eyes at Edward, who just laughed.

"So," Edward said when he was done chuckling. "Do you have the list?" I nodded and grabbed my schoolbag. I rummaged through a number of books and binders before finding the one I was looking for. The word 'Christmas' was scrawled across the top of it in my messy handwriting. From it, I pulled out a sheet of paper and placed it on the table between the two of us.

The list included the names of all the kids at the hospital, and across from each name, an item – usually a toy of some kind. It was their Christmas list. Every year we got Edward's older brother, Emmett, to dress up as Santa and give out the gifts we bought for the children. It was my job to pick out the gifts and write up the list, and then Edward and I would go out and buy them.

Edward read through the list, smiling and nodding. When he was done, he looked up at me with a grin. "Perfect, as usual." He told me. I blushed, although I knew that he hadn't meant the praise in the way I wanted.

"Some of the stuff is a little pricey," I said quickly, to cover up my embarrassment. "I'm sorry about that. It's just-"

Edward reached across the table to cover my mouth with his hand. "Oh no," he laughed. "Don't start that. You know I don't mind. I like buying the stuff for them. You know that," he repeated. I shrugged, trying not to breathe on his hand. Edward suddenly seemed to realize that it was there, and pulled away quickly. I wondered if I was the only one to feel the electricity when our skin came in contact. If he felt anything, he didn't show it.

I sighed, trying to ignore the tingling in stomach and the heat on my face. "Yeah, I know." We had had this argument many times in the past. Edward's family had…a lot of money. I couldn't exactly say the same thing when my dad, Charlie, was police chief of our tiny little town of Forks. Edward didn't seem to mind spending money on the children, while I didn't have to pay at all. I minded, though. I just couldn't make him understand that.

We spent the remainder of lunch chatting aimlessly about Christmas, but when lunch was over, the rest of the day passed slowly. I sat in agony through Spanish and stumbled my way through gym, until at last, the final bell rang. I rushed to change out of my gym clothes, praying that I wouldn't trip over my jeans as I tugged them on. When I was able to get past the crowd of girls that poured out of the locker room, I immediately started searching for Edward.

It was always a relief for me, after a long day in school, to be able to see Edward's face. Even as only best friends, he was my other half, the person who understood me without words. He completed me. Not even Alice lived on the same planet as I did. Of course, not many people did anyway, so I didn't blame her. But Edward – Edward was different. He knew why I loved books so much, and shared my appreciation for music. We could lounge around for hours at a time, talking about nothing and everything. He was my soul mate.

When I finally caught sight of Edward standing next to his silver Volvo in the parking lot, my face unconsciously relaxed into a smile. There was a little hop in my step as I reached his side. Today was Friday, Christmas was coming, and I was about to spend all afternoon at one of my favorite places with my favorite person. I was floating, and there wasn't much that could bring me down.

"How was gym?" Edward asked with a teasing grin. He was probably imagining one of the many times I'd tripped over myself or smacked someone in the face with a ball.

I rolled my eyes. "We've already established my status as 'klutz', thank you very much. You don't have to rub it in."

"I wasn't rubbing anything in," he said innocently. I tried to smack him on the arm, but he dodged and my hand came in contact with hood of his car. The metal was slippery from the rain that was drizzling down around us, and my hand slipped. My whole upper body was thrown forward with the impact, and I was certain that my face was about to hit the car when Edward caught me. He was always the one to catch me.

"Ow!"

Edward winced. "Sorry, Bella! That was stupid of me. Here, let me look at it." He was genuinely concerned as he inspected my hand. His eyes were bright with regret.

"It's not your fault. You know that would only happen to me." I sighed. He worried too much. "So, what's the verdict, Doc?" I asked him, trying to lighten the mood. "Will I live?"

He smiled. "I think you may have a chance." He squeezed my hand gently and his gaze softened. "I really am sorry, Bella."

"I told you, it's not your fault. That stuff really only does happen to me."

"Yeah, I know." He chuckled and sighed. "My little danger magnet." He watched me affectionately, and I turned away before he could see my blush.

"Yeah, whatever," I muttered, remembering a second too late that I wasn't supposed to like it when he teased me about my clumsiness. I forgot to think when he looked at me like that.

"So where's Alice?" I asked as I slid into the passenger seat of his car.

"She's driving herself, remember?" Edward responded. He turned the car on and slid easily out of the parking space. There was a line to leave the lot, so he started flicking through his cd collection while we waited. "Something Christmas?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said with a smile. "Here, let me look." I grabbed the pile of cases from him and scrutinized each of them slowly and carefully. It always annoyed him when I took forever to pick out music. That would get him back for my little incident from earlier.

"Bella," he groaned when he realized what I was doing. I just kept looking, a tight grin on my face.

Finally, I decided to take pity on him. I picked one out and slid it in. A second later we were both singing along loudly and out of key to 'Feliz Navidad'. The singing quickly became giggling on my part, and then outright laughing. I didn't stop until Edward threatened to gag me because he was driving and couldn't concentrate. I blamed it on his speeding, which brought on a whole new round of giggles.

"Are you done?" Edward asked as we reached the hospital. He was shaking his head in mock despair. "I don't think the nurses would appreciate it if I brought you in there like this."

I shrugged. "Yeah, but I bet the kids would love it!" I said with a grin.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Come on, you." He got out of the car and came around to my side. He pulled me out and started leading me towards the entrance.

"Alright, alright, I can walk!" I protested and yanked away from him. I hadn't realized that he was going to let me go so easily, so I fell backwards, almost hitting the pavement. What stopped me was, of course, Edward. He grabbed my hand and helped me upright.

"Are you sure?" he murmured. I looked up, intending to make a sarcastic remark, but his face was much closer than I'd thought it was, and I completely forgot what I'd been going to say.

"Maybe not," I managed to croak, staring into his green eyes.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Alice's voice broke through the spell as she shouted to us. Edward jumped back guiltily and I disentangled myself from him. I could feel the heat on my cheeks as Alice arrived at our sides.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she asked curiously, her gaze flickering between the two of us.

"Nope," Edward muttered tightly, his hands finding the pockets of his jacket. Alice seemed to debate whether to tease us about it or not, before finally shrugging.

"Alrighty, what are we waiting for then? Time to spread some Christmas spirit!" Grinning, she grabbed me by the hand and Edward by the sleeve of his jacket, and tugged us to the main entrance of the hospital. She walked in like she owned the place, flashing smiles at the receptionist and a group of nurses who looked like they were on a coffee break.

I took a quick glance around the familiar lobby as we entered, and noticed with delight the green and red ribbon that lined the front desk, and the little Christmas tree that had been erected in the waiting room. It was sprinkled in golden tinsel, a few ornaments, and that fake white fluff that was supposed to look like snow. Silver snowflakes danced from the ceiling, and garland encircled the stairwell's banister.

"Beautiful," I proclaimed softly.

"I'll tell them you approve." Edward smirked. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"When you two decide to act mature again…" Alice hinted, shoving past us.

"Look who's talking," Edward spoke to her back.

I giggled, but quieted when I saw Carlisle approaching. "Hello, you three." He smiled warmly at us, and I couldn't help smiling back. Carlisle was too much like his son. He could get that response out of anyone.

"Hi, Carlisle," I said. I had given up trying to use his surname a long time ago, and now I was quite comfortable just calling him Carlisle. My greeting mingled with Edward's nod and 'Dad', while Alice danced right up to him and hugged him. With an affectionate smile, he returned the embrace and winked at us over her head.

"Everyone's waiting for you," Carlisle told us as he let Alice go. "You're all they've been talking about all day." He chuckled. "You have certainly proved a useful bribe." I laughed, picturing the nurses' poker faces as they forced medicine and other treatments into the kids, promising them all some quality time with Edward and Bella if they behaved.

"All the boxes are upstairs," Carlisle continued, referring to the boxes containing the Christmas decorations. "And a few of the nurses and I put the tree up. It's all ready for you."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, realizing I had forgotten something. "Edward, I left those bags with all the new decorations in your car." Last year I had noticed how poorly up to date the hospital was with Christmas stuff, and so this year I had made a special trip to Seattle to buy some fun, new decorations that I knew the kids would love.

"I'll go get them," Edward offered. "You and Alice head on up, I'll be right there." He headed back out into the rain, pulling his hood up before leaving the building. Looking out, I saw that the drizzle had begun to pick up in the last five minutes or so.

"I hope it snows in time for Christmas." I heard Alice sigh.

I turned to smile at her. "This is Forks in December that you're talking about. I have no doubt we'll be getting snow soon. Now let's go." Linking arms, we said goodbye to Carlisle and headed up the staircase, climbing two floors to arrive at the Children's Level. We passed through the halls quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. I watched my feet carefully. I really didn't need to trip over any of the machinery in the hallways. It had happened before, and the irony of getting hurt in a hospital did not escape me.

We reached the room that served as a playroom, of sorts, for the kids. Long-term patients were allowed to come here, as long as their illnesses didn't prove a threat to other children. Most of them would be home for Christmas, but they would all be here for Christmas Eve, which was the night we were throwing our little party.

"Brace yourself," Alice teased and opened the door. Our arms were still connected, and Alice swept us into the room dramatically.

The space was about the size of a large classroom, but was made to look much smaller with kids running haphazardly all over the place. Carlisle had been right – they were all really excited for this. No one was even watching the television in the corner, and that was usually the main attraction. There was also a neglected bin of toys and a bookshelf beside the cable box. Besides these, the rest of the space was free – and boring. The walls were painted a drab off white, and there were no variations in color throughout the entire room.

Alice groaned at the sight, the way she always did when she entered this room. "I don't know how anyone stands this horrid room! What color is that wall! It's infuriating! Quick, Bella, pull out those decorations before I'm sick."

I laughed. "Get over yourself, Alice."

As promised, a Christmas tree had been put up over by the window and this was where most of the kids were. They looked up as we approached.

"Alice!" someone cried, and a little boy leapt up and scrambled over to wrap his arms around my friend. He was wearing a baseball cap that concealed his bald scalp, but he was all smiles as he beamed up at Alice, who knelt down beside him to return the hug.

"Hiya, Tyler. Ready for Christmas?"

"You bet!" The seven-year old cried. "I have my list for Santa and everything. And Daddy's gonna help my send it! Are you gonna help put the ornaments on the tree Alice? Oh, hi Bella! Where's Edward?"

Alice laughed. "Slow down there, monster."

I smiled and let Alice handle that one, glancing around for Mandy. I found her a little ways away from the others, leaning against the wall with a book in her hands. She had her finger on her page, and was watching Alice and Tyler with an unfathomable expression in her eyes. It was the expression that I could never completely figure out. One minute she would be smiling, and the next she would be staring into space, deep in thought. Edward said that I was the same way. Except that I hadn't been through what Mandy had suffered.

I winced as my eyes landed on the cast on her leg. She also had gauze and a bandage on her forehead from a deep gash, and I knew that her chest was wrapped up from where she had two cracked ribs. After two weeks here, she had recently graduated from the wheelchair to crutches, which were leaning against the wall beside her.

After smiling, hugging and greeting a few other children, I reached Mandy and sat beside her cautiously, unsure of what mood she would be in today. "So, do you want to help us decorate?" I asked.

Mandy turned to look at me and smiled slowly. "I'd like that," she said softly, and pushed a strand of chestnut hair back behind her ears.

I smiled back. "Me too. You can be the one to put the star on the top of the tree, ok?"

Wrong thing to say. Mandy froze, her hand clutching her book.

I winced. "Never mind. Edward can do it."

"Where is he?" Mandy asked, looking grateful to find a change of topic.

"He'll be here in few minutes. He's getting some stuff. Lights and ornaments and-"

"Mistletoe?" Mandy interrupted.

I shrugged. "No, no mistletoe. Why? Do you want there to be some? I'm sure I can go and buy some somewhere," I said quickly, eager to please her.

Mandy frowned. "No. Well, maybe. Alice said that there was supposed to be mistletoe, because-" She broke off abruptly, and blushed, turning back to her book.

I raised an eyebrow. "Because why? What did Alice say?"

Mandy contemplated, and then seemed to make up her mind. "Alice said that there was supposed to be mistletoe, so that you and Edward would kiss on Christmas Eve," she said in a rush. She studied my face for my reaction as she finished.

And of course, I blushed, red as a tomato. "Alice said this?" I choked.

Mandy looked sheepish, and she rocked back and forth. "Well, I said that I wanted you to kiss, and Alice said that you might on Christmas Eve, if there was mistletoe."

I closed my eyes, swallowing my embarrassment and anger. I wasn't mad at Mandy, I was mad at Alice, I told myself firmly. One pixie-sized, supposed friend of mine had better watch her neck.

Sighing, I smiled gently at Mandy. "Sweetie, I don't think that Edward and I are-"

"Are what?"

I froze. Turning slowly, I forced myself to meet his eyes. "Hey, Edward," I gulped.

He inspected my expression, probably trying to figure out what was wrong. "Um…hey. So, what don't you think we're going to do?"

I scrambled for an excuse, although I hated lying in front of Mandy. Darn that Alice. "I don't think we'll finish decorating today, that's all. There's so much stuff…" I trailed off.

He frowned playfully. "Oh, really? Well, I guess we'll just have to prove her wrong then, won't we Mandy?"

Mandy's face broke into a genuinely happy grin, so contrary to her typical lost little gaze, the one that broke my heart. So far, Edward was the only one who could really get her to open up. I could sympathize completely.

"Do you have the stuff?" I asked Edward as I hopped to my feet and helped Mandy up. I took the crutches and helped her get them under her scrawny arms. The poor girl looked like a skeleton.

Edward nodded. "Over there, with the other boxes."

"Ok," I said, excited now. This was always my favorite part about Christmas. "Let's get started. Edward, get the kids organized, give them all jobs. I'll get the decorations out. Alice can help…" And so it went.

……….

Thirty minutes later, Edward and I found ourselves wrapped inside a mass of multi-colored light bulbs, staring at each other, perplexed. Some of the kids waited patiently for us to be ready to hang the lights across the windows.

"Remind me never to let Emmett put light bulbs away again," Edward growled. Apparently, his older brother had been in charge of Christmas clean up duty the year before and…well, here was the result.

"Will do," I sighed, gazing hopelessly at the bunches of wire and bulbs in my hand. Alice flitted by, laughing. I glared.

"Care to lend a hand?" I asked in frustration.

Alice shrugged. "Sorry, Bella, I already have a job. Besides, you two could use some quality bonding time." She winked and giggled. With a shove, she sent me tripping over the wire and into Edward's arms.

That girl couldn't be serious.

And in the corner, I could see Mandy smiling knowingly at us. For once her thoughts were written, plain as day, across her face. Mistletoe…

……….

One hour later, the lights were finally up and running, and I was working on my next project – untangling ribbon. Personally, I was ready to take anything after the light bulbs.

Tyler, Alice, and another girl named Emily came up to me, covered in glue, glitter and paper. In their hands were dozens of sparkly paper snowflakes. I laughed above the Christmas music Edward had put on. "Perfect! Come here, we'll hang 'em up." I stood on a folding chair in the center of the room and reached for one of the snowflakes, taping it to the ceiling. "Alice," I said, a mischievous twinkle in my eye, "I would have you do this, but you're just too short."

She glared. "And I would pretend to hit you, but chances are the air rushing by you would make you trip and fall. Then where would Edward get his Christmas kiss?" That almost did make me trip and fall.

The next five minutes were occupied with a showdown between me and Alice as I chased her around the room with a glue bottle in my hands. Tyler, Emily and everyone else cheered us on, laughing.

When things quieted down and the snowflakes were finally on the ceiling (courtesy of Edward), we moved on to the Christmas tree. Things were relatively calm for awhile (as calm as they ever could be when you put Alice and a bunch of little kids together in a room at Christmas time), until I realized Mandy was missing. I exchanged a worried glance with Edward and we searched the room frantically before finding her in tears just outside in the hall.

"What's the matter sweetheart?" I asked gently, placing a comforting hand on her arm. She sniffled and wiped her face, trying to compose herself for us.

Then she surprised us by asking, "Can I put the star on the tree, Bella?" She directed the question at me but she was looking at Edward, her expression as unreadable as ever.

"Of course you can," he assured her, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her ever so gently back into the room, his expression tender. I think by that point I was very close to tears.

So Mandy, riding Edward's shoulders, managed to touch the star to the top of the tree, biting her lip in concentration as she nudged it as far as she could get it. But her little arms just couldn't reach, and my heart broke all over again for her. Edward offered to help her twice, but she shook her head stubbornly each time. "I got this," she murmured. She was right, and finally the star rested proudly on the tip of the tree – almost as proudly as Mandy's face shone as Edward set her down. Later, when we drove home, he just shook his head and swore that she was a miniature replica of me.

It was three hours before the room was finally ready for Christmas. All the scraps were cleaned up and Edward, me, and all the children inspected our finished product.

The tree looked wonderful, wrapped in silver tinsel and bright red ribbon. Ornaments featuring various versions of Santa Claus, Rudolph, candy canes, and other Christmas oriented treasures hung from every available branch. Alice had left to be with Jasper, but her handiwork shone through in the arrangements of Christmas music boxes and trinkets that cluttered shelves and tables. And then, on the windows and ceiling were the snowflakes and other paper creations made by the kids. Also draping from the windows were the multi-colored lights that Edward and I had spent an interesting thirty minutes untangling.

It was all truly, utterly magical, and Edward and I just looked at each other and grinned.