Outtake 1—If I'm going to pop in and give you chapters here and there, I couldn't bring myself to skip this occasion, though I also feel a little guilty for giving you another small taste so close to the end. You guys showed up like you wouldn't believe for that last chapter, and here I am. Maybe I can call this a "thank you" chapter. Anyway, I'd expect to see a couple to a handful more around V-Day if I were you :)

"Happy New Year, Edward," I whisper as his lips close over mine.

He pushes me to my back, hovering over me as his tongue tangles with mine. We're naked and in front of the fire, the clock just stuck midnight, and we're sharing our last night together in the cabin. Tomorrow, we return to the real world, so I intend to take all he has to give tonight.

"Promise we'll make this work," he murmurs as his lips ghost across my skin. "Swear to me."

"I swear," I whisper-moan as his mouth descends.

My fists tighten in his hair as he covers my center. His teeth and tongue and lips are a magical, unrelenting combination of ecstasy-inducing pleasure. On New Year's Eve, our last night together, fireworks erupt.

They aren't outside.

Or on the TV.

They're exploding between us, sparking to life behind my lids as he pushes me into the clouds many times. Early the next morning, our bodies say one final goodbye before the day sends us back to clean up the messes we left behind.

"That's the last thing," Edward says as he comes from outside after tossing the contents of the fridge in the trashcan. "I'll let Marcus know to come up and collect it."

I look around the room, every personal touch we've added over the last couple weeks gone. "I'm going to miss this place."

Edward's arms close around me from behind and he places a soft kiss to my neck. "There's nothing to miss. We can come here any time we want."

"It's a lovely idea." I laugh, turning in his arms. "But it's a long way from home."

"For now," he concedes, tilting his head. "Will Seattle always be home?"

"Will Los Angeles?" I lift a brow, throwing his question back at him.

"Hell to the no," he says, smirking. "I'm not sure of a lot of things but getting the hell away from there is top priority." He shrugs, smiling softly as he sways us side to side. "Washington sounds amazing."

"It'd be amazing to have you there," I say, kissing the corner of his mouth. "But I want you to get your life on target without considering me. I'll support whatever future you decide. I graduate in May, and then we maybe can start to plan together."

"You're so reasonable, and smart, and pretty." He pecks me between each declaration before sighing heavily, stepping back, and taking my hand. "Are we ready for this?"

"Nope," I say, shaking my head. "Not in the least, but it's time."

The car ride to the airport is long and mostly silent, each lost to our own thoughts. Our hands are clasped on the center console, and if he feels anything like me, sadness has him tight in its grasp. I mean, I'm happy like you wouldn't believe to be leaving with so much more than I arrived with, but separating after such a long period of solitude is melancholy to say the least.

We've been back to the valley twice and took or phones on one of those occasions. We both made sure to call our loved ones—I did get an earful from my friends—and book our flights home. It wasn't as hard to sync them as we first feared.

Since Edward's flight is an hour after mine, he's able to sit with me until boarding is called. "Do I have to let you go?"

I giggle, but I don't truly feel the humor. "As much as I hate it, you do." I lift my head from his shoulder and meet his eyes. "We both left a mess behind, and I don't want it lingering. I want our future free and clear. It's time to take out the trash.

He tosses his beautiful head back in a boisterous laugh. "It absolutely is." He brushes his hand down my hair and leans close, his green eyes twinkling. "I love you, Bella. Please don't forget that."

I brush his cheek. "It's not like we won't be speaking. I expect you to FaceTime me as soon as you land."

He brushes his lips across mine. "Done."

The overhead voice calls my flight for the second time, and I sigh. "I better go."

"I won't say goodbye," he says, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. "So I'll settle with see you soon."

"Soon can't come fast enough." I grab him in a tight hug before wrenching myself away and hurrying toward the gate.

I don't look back because I don't need to. I'll see him on my phone later today and probably every day after until I can hold him again. He's not going back to porn or loveless Tanya. Like me, he's going to pick up the pieces he left scattered behind.

So our life can be free from the clutter.

I want to take a second to alert you to a new contest put on by me, Sunshine1220, 2brown-eyes, ceceprincess1217, HoneymoonEdward, and shouldbecleaning. It's a little different than your usual contest so that ANYONE can enter. You can find a link to the FF page on my profile "A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words" and you can search FB for a group of the same name and request entry. This is the "Valentine Edition" and we'd love to see you there as a spectator or entrant.

This story is a series and has two sequels. Locked In and Snowed Out. You can find the PDF fic versions in The Twilight Fanfiction Finders group on FB. This series is also published as the "Well Hung Holidays" series by Faye Byrd on Amazon (and other retailers for books 1 and 2), and includes Let It Snow, Locked In and Snowed Out.

Thank you for reading :)