A/N: This is it. My first Christmas based story! Please be kind? Of course I own nothing but my ideas and plot.
Part 1 – Leaving home
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You are cordially invited to the annual Christmas Party
by Jeremy and Marie Gilbert
at their house in Palm Springs.
Please RSVP by Thursday 20th December
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Elena looked at the invitation with a frown, her fingers playing absently with the lace edges.
"Why did they invite only you?"
"Besides the fact that you're a vampire now and they've been raised to hate your kind, you and your father?"
Jeremy replied flippantly not really expecting an answer, while folding a pair of jeans to add to his bag. He had been forced to return to Mystic Falls though and he hated it.
He had been compelled by Damon, per Elena's orders, to leave and go to Denver. Of course the only family he had was not in Denver but in Phoenix. Arriving there he found his long lost paternal aunt, realized that his family had a thing for lovers without a beating heart, remembered what he was compelled to forget, learned how to deal with seeing ghosts, had a great weekend with his aunt and cousin in Las Vegas and was forced to return home later.
Of course returning to Mystic Falls wasn't exactly a good idea as the only parental figure he had around died and he himself had somehow got turned into a hunter with a need to rid the town of vampires including his sister. Oh yeah, Elena was now a vampire too.
When he received an invitation to join his paternal grandparents for Christmas, he jumped at the chance to put some distance between the circus he lived in and began packing immediately.
Elena pursed her lips offended but Jeremy paid her no mind. She was annoyed their grandparents were true to their anti-vampire beliefs; she was annoyed their newfound aunt had zero want of meeting her but she was even more annoyed that Jeremy was freezing her out as well.
Nothing was going as it was supposed to.
Damon had broken their sire bond a week ago and even though her feelings for him hadn't gone away he was apprehensive in taking her seriously. Instead he had focused all week on Jeremy and his 'hunter need' to end her. Jeremy had moved on from it but in the process he was also colder at her, keeping his distance. Bonnie was focusing on her magic while Caroline was glued to Stefan's side ignoring her calls.
If she didn't know any better she'd say Caroline was somehow sired to Stefan!
"Bye"
Jeremy called as he left the house closing the door behind him not stopping to properly say goodbye to his sister.
"Bye"
She called to his back and made another phone call to Damon. He didn't answer. As usual.
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Jeremy was leaning against the fence post with his eyes closed breathing deeply in an effort to unclench his hand and not drive the stake he held straight through his sister.
"You okay man?"
Jeremy opened his eyes to see Stefan looking at him worriedly. He nodded exhaling forcefully and dropped the stake to the ground.
"Yeah, just... needed some fresh air here"
"Are you going somewhere?"
Stefan asked with a frown pointing at the bag at the younger boy's hand. Jeremy nodded expressionless
"Our grandparents place in Cali for the week"
"Need a lift?"
Stefan asked slowly recognizing the vacant expression and Jeremy's shifty attitude as the 'need to kill' similar to the one his ripper self had. The younger boy nodded grabbing his fuzzy dolphin keychain and was clenching and unclenching the stuffed animal in his hand as he nodded.
"Know how to ride a bike?"
"Oh yes!"
Stefan grinned and mounted Jeremy's bright green bike.
"Hop on"
Jeremy did so, hoisting the large duffle over his shoulder. The moment the motorcycle passed the city limits Jeremy was able to breathe deeper and clean and release the fuzzy dolphin from his tight grip. Soon they were far away from the small town and Stefan killed the engine.
"Why don't I want to kill you? You caused me to kill someone; I should want to kill you"
Jeremy asked properly straddling his bike. Stefan had uncounted it and was going to go hunt and was now frowning having no idea.
"Maybe because I'm the good guy?"
"With a death toll equally long as your formerly evil brother's... I don't think so"
Stefan snorted and ran away straight to the forest.
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Meanwhile in Forks
Charlie returned to his home feeling more than a little apprehensive. He had no idea in what condition he'd find the house this time. Ever since Bella's surprise trip to Phoenix, when she returned newly single (not that he minded) she had gone through a specter of changes. She felt more childish, watching cartoons and whatnot before she spent the summer as a mini version of Renee. She filled her days with various charity and other activities changing her hobbies within a week or so.
When the final year of her schooling started she tackled it with passion getting straight A's, balancing a job at the animal shelter and girl's nights every now and then.
His daughter was finally a normal teenager!
Which is why he felt so apprehensive. The invitation to the annual Christmas party hosted by Bella's maternal grandparents had arrived that morning and he knew she'd say 'yes'. He had wanted to spend Christmas with her though.
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"Cut your sister some slack"
Stefan told the younger man gently as the latter had stopped for gas. Jeremy rolled his eyes at the concern Stefan showed even though he had been the first to get rid of her.
"She's been through a lot lately"
"She's not my sister"
Was all Jeremy had to say on the subject before hanging up his phone smiling to himself when his favorite radio came through the cell phone again. Pocketing his credit card his mounted his bike gunning it down the highway.
In his house standing across from Elena, Stefan shook his head sadly even though the brunette vampire girl had heard perfectly. If you asked Stefan, he agreed completely with Jeremy though only he could never bring himself to say so Elena.
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"Will you be alright kid?"
Charlie asked Bella as they waited for her flight to be announced. It was two days after receiving the invitation and Bella had naturally accepted it, so he was putting her on a plane like a good dad does
"I really wanted us to spend Christmas together"
Bella pouted completely sidestepping his question. She loved her grandparents and knew she'd have a good time. She was more worried about her father though. Charlie shook his head with a smile
"I'll be your butt crack Santa when you get back"
He said smartly and she shuddered. Waylon, the butt crack Santa, had been killed in the spring by James and his passing coven and was the only Santa she had ever met in forks. No need to add that the last Christmas she had spent in forks was when she was four!
"I'll be fine without you just don't do that again"
She complained laughing and hugged her father
"Love you kiddo"
"Love you too daddy"
The moment she stepped on the plane the smile died on her lips got wider. She'd see Jeremy soon too.
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Two days after nonstop driving Jeremy had reached his destination feeling tired, excited and nervous all rolled into one. Rubbing his sore butt he entered the Starbucks where he was supposed to meet his aunt. If he had taken a moment to look around him, he'd see the amount of girls he'd attracted.
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Six long hours later Bella's feet finally touched the ground again. with a private smile after claiming her one and only bag, she went to the public restrooms. She had to shake her head away from the memories of another airport public restroom in phoenix. Instead she focused on changing her clothes from her baggy jeans and sneakers to a pair of clean light grey pants and a shirt in aqua color with a pair of pumps adding a barrette in her hair in an effort to tame the curls.
Leaving the restroom she walked to the reception area and hugged her mother close. Renee had shot from Phil's lap like a teenager when caught by a parent making her husband roll his eyes but hug his step daughter as well with a bright smile that creased a little the corner of sea blue eyes.
"How are you baby?"
Renée cooed making her daughter hold in a snort.
"I missed you mom"
She whispered hugging the older woman again.
"I missed you too baby"
Renée had truly missed her daughter. The two had never been apart for this long and it had weighed on her. sure she was happy with her husband, going on their little adventures but she felt half. Not to mention she felt a prickle of danger. Finding her daughter broken six months ago had filled her with rage but meeting her nephew whose spirit was also broken had turned the harebrained woman into a true Gilbert successor and Phil had to calm her down. That's when she had told her new husband everything and he had agreed to help her make sure the kids were alright.
This was why she had informed her parents about Elena being a vampire the moment Jeremy told her. With a phone call to Charlie she had gotten her ex-husband to agree on them giving the children a Christmas present together. Speaking of Bella...
"What?"
Bella inquired after the green uniformed teenage girl left them.
"You only drink tea"
"Starbucks was invented in Seattle mom"
Bella laughed and proceeded to take a sip from her hazelnut scented mug of coffee. Renée smiled and suddenly understood why Charlie kept demanding for longer visitation period throughout the years. Their baby girl was growing up.
"You got an admirer"
Phil jabbed gently pointing to a guy across the vast room. Bella's eyes snapped to where he showed. it was true. a guy about her age was watching them. In his white Henley, dark blue jeans, boots and leather jacket he seemed like just any guy in the world.
She really hoped Renée wasn't hugging random guys though. The older woman had jumped up from her seat and was glomping the guy for all that was worth before pinching his cheeks. His less than excited look suddenly placed him in her mind.
"Wow jerry. Did someone come after you with a tire pump?"
The guy laughed before finally relaxing and hugging her as well.
"Went through a growth spurt"
He replied before looking to the man beside them.
"Uncle Phil"
He said with a smile that erased all the buffness from his body and face and suddenly he was the same Jeremy Gilbert, scrawny, nose stuck in his sketching pad with a pencil always in hand to sketch and imprint images on paper she had met in the spring. The two had made an effort in staying in contact when real life called and they each had to go back.
Wordlessly Phil grabbed all suitcases and led them outside to his black truck. His eyes widened seeing the bike parked next to his truck
"Can we ride it?"
He asked permission even as Renée fished the keys from Jeremy's pocket and was sited on said bike. Jeremy rolled his eyes before he laughed and nodded. Together the two cousins saw the bike speed away much too fast.
"Please tell me you know where we're going"
Bella laughed and nodded as well.
"Nice ink. Now cover it before grandma sees it"
Bella poked fun handing Jeremy her makeup kit as she got in the driver's seat.
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Neon green bike and black truck drove side by side, exiting the busy Los Angeles heading to the countryside and then to the more gated communities.
"You can see the tattoo?"
Jeremy asked interested patting the little sponge thing over the marks on his palm.
"Why wouldn't I?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"I thought only hunters can see it"
The raven haired teen replied confused. Bella frowned.
"I'm no hunter but you and I can both see ghosts too. Maybe we're just connected or maybe whoever gave you that tat was bullshitting you."
She said simply. Jeremy nodded agreeing silently. This whole 'Five hunters' story Klaus and the other hunter had fed everyone in town made little sense.
On the bike Renee was wrapped around her husband feeling apprehensive. She loved her parents but truth be told, she couldn't stand them for more than a day at a time and this would be the first year she'd attend with her husband. She smiled softly seeing the sun reflect on her wedding band and her family ring.
Phil drove the bike silently. He and Renee had been married for a bit more than a year but this was the first time he'd meet her parents. They had skipped on their wedding, apparently them not showing up on any wedding was some weird family custom. Finding out about vampires was strange but not stranger than watching his wife get killed by one and coming back to life thanks to a magic ring.
Jeremy was laying back on his seat with his head lolled to the side watching the palm trees go by. It was stupid but he felt serene. Okay there was a tingling inside him, a need to grab something sharp and drive it through someone but that need was lessening the more miles he put between him and mystic falls. Absently he reached for a discarded pad and pencil from the chaos in the backseat and began doodling.
Bella sighed as she slowed down the truck and took the turn for the gate. On the bike next to them Renee did the same.
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"Name?"
"Renee Dwyer"
"Reason for visit?"
Wordlessly she gave the cop at the gate her invitation. The stocky man went through a list quickly
"Sorry ma'am. No one is listed under that name"
The cop at the gate smirked handing the invitation back. Renee's eyes tightened annoyed.
"Could you try 'Gilbert'?"
Bella sent the cop a flirty smile, leaning a little out the window. The short-ish guy with the green eyes looked dazed for a second his eyes glued to the younger girl's cleavage.
"uhuh"
Phil was laughing quietly shaking his head muttering something about stupid men and teenage girls. the rent-a-cop opened the gate without a word, and without looking at the list again.
"That was shameless"
Jeremy scolded Bella smirking as they drove slowly to the large lot owned by their grandparents. Bella laughed and shrugged one shoulder before covering herself once again. The moment both vehicles pulled infant of the large house the double doors were opened and a woman jumped out of the house hugging Bella and Jeremy tightly.
"You two are so skinny"
She admonished stuffing two Santa cookies in their mouths. Jeremy's eyes were wide as saucers, Renée was busy hugging her mother, Phil looked freaked out and Bella stared at her cousin with half the cookie sticking out of her mouth.
"Welcome to the nut house"
