Here's the story I wrote for the Toys4tots Christmas Wishes comp. It's a little different than my usual style… I tried my hand at third person. Hmmnnn?
Thank you sweetheart harrytwifan for betaing this. Ofcourse, you did… cuz you're amazing like that!
Song inspirations – All I Want for Christmas is You, and Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift.
The Christmas Wish
Edward was a sensible child. Even at a tender age, he couldn't find it within himself to believe in Santa Claus. It didn't make sense to him that an elderly gentleman could deliver gifts to every child in the world in one night - pulled on a sled by flying reindeer, no less. Nor could he wrap his head around the idea of this Santa person descending one's chimney, or living with elves in the North Pole.
Edward's parents were Dr. Carlisle and Mrs. Esme Cullen. They were loving parents; the best a boy could wish for. He knew this to be true before he could talk or walk. Like other parents, Carlisle and Esme informed Edward of Santa Claus and all of his magical ways. They took their beloved auburn-haired boy to visit Santa at the mall in Port Angeles each Christmas season. A day trip was made of it, with lunch and Christmas shopping, too. On Christmas Eve, they left cookies out for the plump man, and carrots for his reindeer, year after year – and oooooooed and ahhhhed over the gifts that showed up under their tree every Christmas morning, supposedly left there by Santa Claus himself.
Edward adored his parents. Though he found them quite silly much of the time, he loved the sparkle in their eyes when they spoke of Santa. He couldn't bring himself to spoil their fun, so he went along with their charade, asking Santa for toys each December, and pretending to believe the gifts that showed up under the Christmas tree were from Santa, not from his parents.
On his annual visit to Santa, when Edward was eight years old, he once again stood in line trying to think of what he could ask for. He always made a point to tell his parents what he'd requested, knowing full well they would need to purchase it for him themselves.
The boy just in front of Edward in line caught his attention. He looked to be about the same age as Edward, his blond waves bouncing as he jumped up and down and hopped from one foot to the other in his attempts to get a peek at the Santa sitting on his red velvet throne at the front of the line. The boy's excitement and enthusiasm didn't annoy Edward, as it usually did when other children behaved in such a way. Quite the contrary... Edward was enthralled by it, by him – the blond boy. He was drawn to him in a way that had Edward sharing in the boy's excitement. He wanted the boy to be happy, for all of his wishes and dreams to come true.
When the blond was finally perched on Santa's lap, with a dimpled grin that lit up his face, rivalling the brightest of the many surrounding glowing Christmas trees, Edward leaned in as close as he dared. He listened intently, feeling guilty for eavesdropping. Yet, he couldn't help himself. He needed to hear what the boy's Christmas wish was.
Santa smiled at the boy on his lap, asking, "Jasper, what would you like for Christmas this year?"
Jasper…
What a beautiful name Jasper was, Edward thought to himself. It was the perfect name for the radiant boy who had him almost believing in Santa Claus, himself. The boy's eyes… Jasper's… sparkled an ocean blue. Edward's heart tingled in his chest as he watched the boy's face continue to alight with pure happiness as he licked his lips before sharing his wish with Santa.
"Santa… I would like for people to get along and be nice to one another. I wish for the world to be a better place."
The funny feeling in Edward's chest branched out to reach his fingers and his toes. In that moment, not only did Edward briefly believe in Santa Claus, but he most certainly believed in angels, too. One was right in front of him, sitting on Santa's lap. The blond was an angel in the flesh. He had to be.
Too quickly, the moment passed, the spell broken as Santa finally found words to reply to Jasper. Edward shook his head to dispel the last of the intoxicating fog surrounding him, so he might listen to Santa's reply.
Santa grinned a kind smile for Jasper alone.
"My dear boy, you are pure of heart...you will touch the lives of those you meet. You will make the world a better place just by being in it. Follow your heart, and happiness will come to those around you, yourself included."
Too quickly, the boy was off Santa's lap and skipping away.
Edward knew what Santa had said to be true, and he wanted to be one of those fortunate people in Jasper's life, to be touched by his presence, his spark.
Climbing up on Santa's lap, Edward watched blond waves disappear in the crowd.
"Ahem…" Santa cleared his throat, focusing Edward's attention back on him. He looked upon the jovial man, whom gazed back at him with compassionate eyes and a knowing grin. Edward took into account real white hair and a long beard, not fake like usual. Crystal blue eyes met his green, calming and soothing Edward to the depths of his soul.
"And what would you like for Christmas this year, Edward?" Santa asked. How the man knew Edward's name, just as he'd known Jasper's, he was unsure.
"Um…"
Trying to piece together the multitude of swirling thoughts and emotions roaring through his head into one cohesive wish was difficult, to say the least. When Edward finally continued, the words flowed freely from his lips as if they'd always been his to say.
"I wish for someone to share my dreams and wishes with. Someone who's good, and who makes me feel like that boy just did… Jasper?"
Edward thought about what he was saying, of what he was wishing for. He wasn't quite sure what it meant. In his eight year old mind, his desires were innocent. Did he want to be the boy's friend? Did he wish they were brothers? Edward wasn't sure… neither of those felt right. But he did know for sure Jasper had made him feel differently than he ever had before, and the feeling was fading now that the boy was gone.
"Ahhhhhhh… but are you ready for such things, my dear boy? First, you must open your mind and your heart. You must believe, Edward… you must truly believe. When you grow up and are ready for your heart's desire, your wish will be fulfilled."
Santa insisted Edward give him an idea he could receive that Christmas, before merrily sending him on his way. Edward returned to his parents. They'd been sitting on a bench near the winter wonderland display, waiting for him. They took in his dazed expression, asking if he was okay and what he'd asked Santa for. Edward was indeed dazed. He felt as if the last half hour couldn't have really happened.
…
Over the years, as Edward grew from boy to a young man, he chalked up the entire experience of that day with the curly blond boy and Santa as a figment of his imagination.
Two towns away, Jasper grew up, too… into a compassionate young man who always followed his heart. A heart that led him to do selfless things like volunteer at the local homeless shelter and hospital in his free time.
He spent many hours in the children's ward at the hospital in Port Angeles, the same hospital where Edward's father was chief of surgery. Edward was also thoughtful and kindhearted, generous and courteous to others. So much so, that he was consumed with the long term goal to follow in his father's footsteps, determined to become a doctor. His time was taken up with intensive studying and honors classes.
During their senior year of high school, on a cold day in January, Edward knew his father was battling the cold virus that had been going around. Carlisle had donned a face mask and gone into the hospital that morning, anyway. Edward took his father homemade chicken soup he and his mother had made.
Finally, after ten long years, he crossed paths with Jasper stepping off the elevator as he was stepping on. However, Edward didn't notice, caught up in his own little world, as he so often was. Though they didn't make eye contact, a wave of dejavu overtook Edward as the elevator doors closed behind him. He stopped in his tracks, looking back at the stainless steel doors. His body tingled and his heart ached, in a way it hadn't since that day when he was eight year's old standing in line for Santa.
The feeling quickly passed, but the newly uncovered memories of that day remained. Edward couldn't get them out of his head, remembering he'd felt that way before, and Santa's words replayed in his mind. He hoped he would come across the feeling again, but as time passed and he prepared to move to Seattle for college, his hopes slowly faded.
Edward and Jasper both attended colleges in Seattle, different but in the same vicinity of the city. They both frequented a popular deli, often on the same day, yet always missing the other by hours or even mere minutes. Jasper quite often dined there between classes during the lunch hour. Edward's course load only allowed him time to patronize the homey hangout on weekends or the occasional evening. He was drawn to the place, feeling at home there like nowhere else.
The years of college came and went, the boys often almost crossing paths. So close, yet so far.
By their senior year, they lived in the same neighborhood, blocks from one another, off campus from their respective colleges. Edward would often take pause when the feeling of familiarity washed over him, the feeling of rightness. Like in the summer when he walked through the park almost daily, while Jasper sat on a blanket, reading just over the hill… just out of sight. Edward could feel Jasper's presence, the tingling and the ache. He would stop and look around for what he might be missing. He knew he was missing something, but didn't know what that something was. That it was Jasper, the boy from years before.
During Edward's first year of medical school, he had an unforeseen break in his schedule one afternoon. Normally, he would have taken the opportunity to sneak in some extra studying in the library. On that particular cold December day, the gently falling snowflakes and festively decorated Christmas trees around campus had him craving peppermint cocoa he knew only the deli could provide.
As he approached the entrance, Edward reached into his pocket for change to put in the Salvation Army bucket. He felt someone's eyes on him… the man dressed as Santa ringing the bell was intently studying him – staring directly at him. The closer Edward drew, the more familiar the man looked… his crystal blue eyes and knowing grin.
Edward's rational mind didn't allow him to fully admit it, but deep down inside, he knew the man to be Santa from many years ago. As Edward dropped the coins in the bucket, Santa winked.
It couldn't be… could it?
Edward enjoyed his favorite Italian Panini and a cup of the house peppermint cocoa. For an hour, he sat, looking around the deli, searching for someone… he knew his someone was near. But no one stuck out of the crowd. He saw no blond waves…
He'd been looking for blond waves and sparkling eyes? What the hell? Edward chided himself for being ridiculous, as if the boy from years ago would magically appear. He must be losing his mind, he decided, and made his way toward the door.
Santa was still outside on the sidewalk, smiling in the direction of someone getting into a taxi in front of the pizzeria next door… a blond man about Edward's size, who looked to be about Edward's age, with chin length dark blond, wavy hair. The silky strands were tucked behind his ear on one side of his gorgeous face, and his blue-as-the sky-on-a-warm-summer's-day eyes were looking right at him. The familiar tingle was present and stronger than ever. The ache radiated through him, propelling him forward.
Without thought, Edward walked toward the blond, extending his hand once he was mere feet away.
"Hi. I'm Edward."
"Hello… I'm Jasper," the gorgeous creature replied, taking Edward's hand within his gentle grasp.
"Yes. I know," Edward breathlessly stated, not surprised in the least the boy from that day so many years ago was finally standing before him. Jasper's smile lit up his face, just as it had when he was a boy.
Each man was equally affected as a moment like no other, for them both, blossomed between them. Until it was tersely interrupted by the woman already seated in the cab. A beautiful blond whined loudly, "Jazzy, let's go! We're already late!"
Before Edward knew what hit him, Jasper was gone, driving away in the back of the cab.
Once he regained his bearings, Edward reeled around, looking for Santa. He was nowhere to found, an elderly woman all bundled up, in his place.
Somehow, Edward stumbled through the rest of his day, constantly questioning if he'd just found the answer to his childhood wish, only to lose him within seconds.
The woman Jasper was with... was she his girlfriend? His wife?
That's not the only thing Edward questioned throughout the night; he had much to think about. Like the logistics of feeling the way he did for another man. He'd never felt like this before. He'd never wanted someone like he wanted Jasper, especially not someone of the same sex.
Thoughts of Jasper's lips and how they might feel against his own, against his skin… everywhere – had Edward harder than he'd been in his entire life. He imagined the ways in which he and Jasper might lie with one another, the things they could do to each other. Edward's fist became Jasper's, then Jasper's mouth, his body. Soon, Edward was coming all over himself, with more intensity than he'd ever known possible.
When he awoke the next morning from a very restless night's sleep, he knew something was different; everything had changed. The tingling had barely subsided; he hoped he'd never lose it completely. He set out for the deli with hopes of finding Jasper - with hopes of discovering why the beautiful man had such a hold over him, and if the feeling could possibly be mutual. Edward was sure he'd witnessed fire in Jasper's eyes the day before... fire for him.
By late morning, he was camped out on the street corner by the deli. He made small talk with the nice older gentleman ringing the Salvation Army bell, while keeping a constant watchful eye out for any signs of blond waves or inviting blue eyes.
Eventually, the cold drove him inside for a quick cocoa and a cup of soup, yet he continued to look outside at every passerby. Edward knew it was a long shot, that it would be highly unlikely to see Jasper a second day in a row, if ever. He vowed to come back as often as possible; he would take to studying at a table by the window. If he was diligent, he might possibly see Jasper again.
Hopefully...
But what if Jasper was in an intimate relationship with the bitchy blond woman, or someone else, for that matter?
It was a risk Edward had to take. He had no choice in the matter. Edward had waited damn near two decades to barely meet Jasper, again. His Christmas wish from so long ago had almost come true. He was ready to do whatever it took to discover the potential his wish promised. He believed.
He was looking outside so intently, paying such close attention to every man, woman, and child whom walked by, he didn't notice a figure standing beside him - practically over him - when he went to stand.
Suddenly, he was in another's arms, feeling a warmth and electricity that resided in his heart, yet simultaneously curled his toes.
He took a step back and immediately wished he hadn't when he realized it was none other than his Jasper who'd been holding him.
That smile… those eyes… they penetrated him to the core, and all he could do was stare back, speechless and trembling.
"It's you," he finally blurted, raspy and needy-like.
Jasper chuckled, not in a chiding manner, but as if to agree with Edward. His expression turned contemplative as he replied, "It is… it's me."
He took both of Edward's hands within his own, before asking, "I feel as if I know you? Do I? Do I know you?"
Edward squeezed Jasper's hands. He smiled as he heard himself speak in a confident, reassuring voice.
"No. But I know you."
To be continued…
I almost have the continuation/final chapter done. I promise!