"What is this?" I whispered full of surprise as I watched Lukas putting lights in a Christmas tree that wasn't there this morning. He smirked at me, his hand instantly going through his hair to calm his nerves as he glimpsed at Ben holding another set of lights.

"He certainly has never done this before..." Mia leaned in to whisper as her shoulder lightly brushed mine. The infinite smirk on her face instantly made me roll my eyes at her. "Uuuhm Ben... It's time to grab lunch don't you think?" She suggested but more like urged him to grab his keys and go out of our way.

"Yep, I'm freaking hungry! See you later man!" He laughed without hesitation as he squeezed Lukas's shoulder and shoved the set of lights into his hands. "Bella... Be naughty or nice. Your pick." Ben said silently as he passed me on his way to the door. Before I knew it, I found myself alone in the living room with Lukas who looked nervous, in a good and adorable way.

"Sooo." I wobbled from one leg to the other as I slowly approached him. "A Christmas tree huh?" I put my lips in a straight line to sheepishly hide the smirk on my face, which was for sure a failed attempt.

He left the lights on the tree for what they were and put the ones in his hand on the floor. He came over to me, my feet glued to the floor when he did. "Well, when I woke up, I thought you had left... had left me... again..." He looked at me through his eyelashes as he slowly came closer. I wouldn't Lukas, not again... Never again. "I was worried sick and then I read the note..." He whispered, now standing in front of me, his hand slowly reaching for the pocket of the hoodie I was wearing. His fingers laced around the fabric while I felt my knees go weak, his soft touch, his slow approach, everything was making me swoon for him. "I would lie if I said I wasn't disappointed you didn't want me there with you at the police station." He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as I felt his fingers in the pocket of the hoodie caress my stomach.

I instantly shook my head. "I wanted you with me, but I didn't want you to hear me spill the details like that to a random police officer, not giving us the chance to talk about it. If we want to work this out, then talking is the most important part of getting through this." I joined his hand in the pocket and intertwined my fingers with his. The softness of them against mine, filled my heart with all the love I needed right now. I squeezed his hand, grabbing his attention. He released his bottom lip the moment his gaze met mine, his mouth slightly parted. "Lukas, trust me when I say you don't have to be disappointed... I need you." I smiled at him and as I did, his face relaxed, like a weight fell off his shoulders. I looked away to the tree in the center of the living room and pulled my brows up.

"I didn't know what to with myself... I was worried, thinking about you at that police station, the officers not taking it seriously...You crying... I didn't know what to think... So instead of sitting here, sulking about it I decided to spend my time... for something good..." He lightly shrugged his shoulders as if what he did was nothing.

With my hands, which were still intertwined with his in the pocket of my hoodie, I pulled him closer until the distance between us was almost gone. "So, you went out and bought a tree?" I pulled my eyebrows up with curiosity once more.

He playfully rolled his eyes at me with an obvious smirk on his face. "Yup..." He shrugged his shoulders before taking a step back. "And decorations." He wiggled his brows at me, and it instantly made me let out a loud laugh. "Come..." He said, turning around to walk over to the tree... His hand left the pocket only to pull mine with it and drag me along, our fingers never untangling. "I know you never had many happy Christmases, so I thought, why don't we change that from now on." He smirked at me as he looked down, his eyes boring holes through me with anticipation.

"You're an idiot." I shook my head at him, playfully laughing before sliding my arms around his waist, crashing myself into his chest with joy. "I love it!" I snuggled my face into his t-shirt, his sweet cologne filling my nostrils as a nostalgic feeling washed over me. I hated not being close. I hated not being able to run into his arms after classes. I hated not being annoyed by him. I hated everything when I thought my life was going to fly by without him as my co-pilot.

He hugged me back, his arms engulfing me, and sparks flew around when his hand settled into the back of my neck, his lips resting against my forehead. I wanted him infinitely close and so I did, pulling myself into this hug even tighter. I looked up to instantly find his gaze, looking down at me, his eyes light and loving. The corners of my mouth instantly tugged up into a smile. I thought I was going to explode when he smiled back, making me smile even more in return. "Come, we have a tree to decorate and memories to make." He pushed me back slightly to grab my hand, pulling me closer to the tree once more. "Here." He winked at me as he handed me the lights but all I could do was stare at him with a grin on my face. He looks... he looks... I was speechless as I gaze down at him wearing light grey sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt, the look on him that I always found absolutely sexy. "Bells, the lights?" He said as I wasn't moving.

"Oh..." I said looking down, now taking the Christmas lights from him. My mouth parted when his fingers brushed against mine, and I was certain we didn't need a plug to get these lights going because that was straight on electricity that I was feeling. I was nervous, as if I had never touched him before, but I can't deny how amazing it felt at once, like we were getting to start over. "Sorry." I shook my head trying to shake some sense into it.

I suddenly chuckled when he turned around and bend over to put them into the plug. "What's so funny?" He got back up with his eyes widened at me. Getting me a Christmas tree was something I never expected but was most grateful for. I had always been the one decorating him at home to mostly seeing it end up getting destroyed. No more, this tree was going to be awesome, and stay awesome.

I chuckled again, closing my eyes as I didn't know why that chuckle left me, I guess it was just the happiness flowing out of me. "Nothing, you just surprised me." I bit my lip and for a moment I caught him staring at it, his eyes cautiously gazing up and down my frame.

"That was the goal, Snowflake." He laughed while flicking his finger on the tip of my nose before turning back to the tree to put the lights in it, but it looked as if he didn't know what to do.

"Have you ever put up a tree before?" I giggled, watching him fidget with the lights as he hung them on the tip of the branches instead of pushing them in deeper to it's easier to add ornaments.

He playfully squeezed his eyes at me. "Is it really that obvious?" He let out a laugh before putting a hand through his messy hair and that alone made me swoon, drool, melt...All of it. Can he get sexier and more adorable at the same time...?

I shook my head with a smile on my lips. "Kind of, let me show you." I whispered as I moved to stand next to him, putting the light properly in the tree. "It's not that hard mister the engineer." I smirked at him knowing it would playfully annoy him.

"Ha...Ha.." He mocked, ruthlessly rolling his eyes at me as his hand ruffled my hair. Even this made my heart jump. The little touched were making me feel so loved in a different way, not lustfully admired but lovingly appreciated. The feeling of being appreciated and cherished had also caused me to make my biggest mistake yet, which was to let Zach get too close to me. He appreciated me, he showed his affection and that was something I had lacked my entire life. I had mistaken the gratitude for being loved for love itself, which wasn't the case... I didn't love Zach, I didn't have feelings at all, I just took all the love I could get, trying to make up for what I missed all those years as a child... and I will always regret it. But it was by making a mistake that I realized that the love I held for Lukas and he hopefully still had for me was more than enough to make up for it.

"No Ho...Ho...Ho..." I made the most Christmassy sound I could make, and he burst out in laughter. I was so happy that after everything, we could make things light and fun. I didn't want to dwell on the mistakes we made, or on all the suffering and abuse I went through in the past... From now on I'm going to work towards getting that happy ending, with him. "Okay, so next are decorations. What do you have?" I smirked at him after putting the lights in, unplugging them so we wouldn't be blinded while adding the decorations.

"You mean balls?" He said holding up two fluffy snowball shaped ornaments in his hands, of course a grin on his face too.

"Do you want me to hang you in the tree too?" I laughed at him and he instantly shook his head. "Thought so." I smirked before biting my lip and winking at him. Winking? Seriously Bella?

"I didn't know what colors you wanted so I took a bunch. That's okay right?" He pulled up his shoulders as he looked at me with a pout.

"I love a colorful tree." I smirked at him again and it sure seemed like I was all smirks decorating this tree. It was just something little that made me grandly happy.

We had been decorate the tree for over an hour when I took the last ornament form his hand. It was a little cute blue see-through snow globe and I turned around facing the tree. I stretched out trying to reach a top branch when I felt a little drowsy, I light high-pitched tone ringing in my ears. Shit, I don't feel so good. "Uhm, Lukas..." I swallowed reaching up again as I felt my eyes get heavy, nausea taking over. Oh no, no, no. I'm going to faint. "I don't..." I tried to say I didn't feel well but before I could end the sentence everything went black for a second. Shit. I thought when the snow globe fell from my hands and shattered into the hardwood floor.

I wobbled on my legs but before they could give out, Lukas caught me, completely surprised by my sudden weakness. "Bella!" He raised his voice, discomfort and panic throughout his tone as my eyes fluttered open already. "Fuck! You cared me." He said holding on to me, out of breath.

I pushed myself to stand up straight, grabbing my head as it was pounding. "I- I'm s-sorry...for the snow globe." I stuttered, feeling light on my feet.

"Bells are you kidding me you're worrying about an ornament... I'm worried about you! Sit down!" He shook his head as I leaned my back and head against his chest, completely relying on him while his arms went around me from behind.

I shook my head, feeling fine... It was just a second I feel alright now. "I'm fine." I said, protesting as he tried to guide me towards the couch.

He shook his head as he distanced himself from me, only to turn me around so I would face him. "I'm serious Bella, sit down." He slightly raised his voice as he squeezed his eyes at me.

"It's nothing! I feel fine now!" I raised my voice to level with his, instantly feeling like a burden that needed to be taken care off. I'm fine.

He scoffed looking away into the other side of the room and then back to me. "So almost fainting is fine? Jesus Bells, for whatever we know your dad could have don't some serious damage to you... Don't you think you should get that checked out at a hospital maybe?" He snarled at me and I knew he was right, but I genuinely felt fine and I didn't want to turn this into an argument... all I wanted was some peace and a finished Christmas tree. "Bells... Sit. Down. I'm not going to say it again." He looked mad as he gently pulled me by my sleeve towards the couch and that only wanted me to fight it even more.

"Stop it!" I pulled my hoodie away from his hand. "Stop fussing okay! You don't have the right to tell me what to do!" I snapped at him, letting out some of the anger that was still inside from yesterday's events, taking it out on the wrong person and I instantly felt sorry, putting my lips into a straight line so nothing else would dare to leave my mouth.

Lukas instantly let go of the hoodie, holding his hands up in front of him. "Yeah, Yeah...I screwed up everything, I know! I fucking know! I'm trying to make thinks right!" He raised his voice, offended and hurt. I could tell he was upset, by the way he was afraid to look at me, and it killed me knowing I pushed it to far. Both of us stood there in silence, looking away and I closed my eyes finding a moment to myself. "I'm sorry for caring about you." He suddenly whispered and I knew he wanted to run away into another room, but he didn't. This is ridiculous... I'm pushing him away... And for what? Nothing... Exactly, for nothing. While all I want is for him to care... So stop being stubborn and let him care! You made mistakes to, even bigger mistake maybe don't have him think it was all him.

I looked at him, really looked at him before grabbing his hand. "Don't be, I overreacted. I want you to care." I whispered while walking both of us to the couch and I was relieved when I sat down, my legs thanking me for not being stubborn. He sat down next to me and I instantly leaned on him, laying my head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry... I... I just haven't eaten much the past week; I haven't slept much... I'm just exhausted." I sighed and he instantly pulled his arm around me, sighing with me.

"I'm sorry for pushing it." He looked down while I looked up and my nose accidently brushed against his chin... Both of us were caught off guard by that but I longed for more, so I did it again, intentionally this time. "I'm sorry..." He whispered softly; his voice filled with regret. You shouldn't apologize.

I lightly shook my head, still feeling guilty for making an argument out of nothing and upsetting him. "You didn't crew up everything... I promise." I smiled at him making him pull his bottom lip between his teeth until his eyes fell on the tree and his mouth fell open with a sigh. "Oh well shit." He let out and that made me look at the tree too while I snuggled up next to him.

I tiled my head to the side and then shifting it back to the other side before looking up at him. "It's just a little crooked..." I carefully whispered before both of us started laughing.

"You think? It's the ugliest tree I have ever seen." He laughed loudly, nearly scoffing at it. "I bet it's going to go bald in a week tops." He let his head fall back against the couch and all of it was so adorable.

I scooted back a little to sit sideways so I could face him. "You still get an A for effort though." I grinned at him.

"Oh, do I?" He smirked as he wiggled his brows at me, sinking lower into the couch to get comfortable.

I couldn't contain my smile as I stared at him, the happiness beaming from his face. "Yes! Thank you for doing this for me..." I chuckled, nervously waiting as he parted his mouth to say something, but not before playfully grinning at me.

"Don't be self-centered now. Baby, I love myself a good Christmas tree too." He chuckled but remained quiet after realizing he just called me baby. He broke eye contact, slightly seeming upset about it. "Sorry..." He looked back at me through his eyelashes. "It slipped."

He looked down as if he had said something wrong, but it wasn't wrong... On the contrary, the moment he said it I felt my entire body tingle. "No...No it's fine... Don't worry about it." I whispered, giving him a smile and he cautiously looked up again meeting my gaze, which only aggravated the tingly feeling from my toes all the way to my fingertips.

"Are you feeling any better?" He whispered, the concern still laced trough his voice. Better? I'm feeling dizzy with tingles and butterflies... I haven't felt this good all week.

"Still a little bit dizzy." I smirked, not sure if he would get that he was the reason I was in fact still dizzy with want and keenness.

He chuckled a little, his grey eyes meeting mine and the way they looked at me gave me chills. "I used to have that effect on you." He smiled, pushing his hand through his messy hair again.

"You still do..." I said, not wanting to hold it back, his eyes instantly lighting up as the words hit him accompanied with the frisky look on my face. I couldn't hide the fact that it was because of him I was feeling giddy and dazed. My feelings for him were heating me up from the inside and the anticipation of finally kissing him was making me feel lightheaded.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He lightly shook his head with concern. "I'm worried about you." He sighed faintly under his breath as if his voice was going to break with excitement and emotion at once. "Bells, for real how are y-"

I reached out for his hand, resting on his thigh. As I looked down at my thumb caressing the back of his hand, I noticed the bracelet, my bracelet, on his wrist. Flashes of me pushing it in his hands at the bar that night tormented me, and I had regretted it ever since. He kept it? He's wearing it? "Lukas..." I whispered, looking up to meet the overwhelmed yet wanting look in his eyes. "You..." I was speechless looking at the way he gazed at me. I looked back down to find words, trailing over the bracelet on his wrist, my fingertips slowly going over the rose gold plate in the middle of it. It meant the world to me that he kept it... It meant so much more that he wore it, as if he wanted to hold me and the thought of us close. "You kept it." I whispered as I looked up, his eyes tearing up and that was when I realized mine were too.

He took a deep breath before briefly closing his eyes, a small tear finding its way down his cheek. "I always hoped..." He lightly shook his head as he lost his words for a second, stopped by the lump in his throat, his voice breaking. "That one day you might want it back." He declared carefully, his eyes never leaving mine as my fingers kept playing with it on his wrist. Oh Lukas... When I do it's going to be a promise for forever. Because once I put it back on, I'll never take it off, never.

"Will you keep it safe for me until then?" I whispered, letting him know that that day was going to come but that now was too soon. It was too special, meaning too much for both of us, to just loose it's meaning by just putting it back on like nothing happened. He nodded as another tear rolled down his cheek while I tried to fight back tears of my own. No, don't cry... My heart fluttered and shattered at the same time as I watch the tear painfully glide down his face, my fingers instantly stopping it from falling into his lap. He looked surprised, his lips separating as soon as my fingers collided with his hot skin.

He instantaneously leaned into my touch, his hand sliding over mine as my thumb soothingly rubbed away his tears. "I promise." He whispered under his breath while his face heated up my hand, our fingers intertwining against his skin. His eyes held mine captive as nothing in this room but us mattered, my desire for a kiss building. I didn't have to glare at them to know how kissable his lips were looking right now and acting upon what I longed for most I leaned in, his hand on his thigh settling in the crook of my neck to guide me to his lips. I let out a sudden and surprised breath when his nose brushed over mine, not realizing we were so close already, but his touch drew me in even closer.