A/N: So, here is my second chapter. While I like it, I'm not overly fond of it, but I think it's only because I am so excited for the next chapter. Chapter three is going to be awesome, so if you don't like this one, I urge you to keep reading. It gets way better, believe me. In other news – I have decided there are going to be seven chapters, each dealing with a Christmas with the last one taking place when Renesmee reaches maturity. I hope you all enjoy them and I would love to hear from you! Chapter three will be up this Saturday or Sunday.

The First Real Christmas

At this moment in time, Edward Cullen knew that if a heart could swell with enough love to burst it, he was perilously close to approaching the limit. Was it possible to be this happy?

"Renesmee," Bella said once more, drawing Edward's attention. "Will you please put on the dress? Aunt Alice specifically bought it for you for today. It's your Christmas dress."

Edward watched as his five-year-old daughter looked mournfully at the beautiful, velvet, emerald green dress beside her. He could completely relate to being forced to wear whatever Alice subjected him to. Luckily for him, Alice rarely sought to attack him with clothes since he moved to the cottage.

Bella looked at Edward, widening her eyes in a 'help me' sort of way, but Edward only grinned and laughed. "I don't blame her in the least," he told Bella, earning a giggle from his daughter. "However, Renesmee, we're wearing our Christmas outfits Alice bought for us."

Renesmee sighed audibly and promptly held out her hand to Bella, who sighed lightly as well, sitting on the bed beside her daughter. "Yes, Renesmee?"

Renesmee reached over and placed her hand on Bella's face. Edward saw in his mind's eye that she was showing Bella the outfit she wanted to wear. Unable to resist giving Renesmee almost whatever she wanted, Bella conceded with a smile. As she stood to remove Renesmee's chosen outfit from her dresser, she whispered to Edward, "It will be worth it to see what Alice says."

"I don't think she'll be able to see this coming because of Renesmee," Edward agreed with a laugh.

When the three were dressed in their finest Christmas outfits, they wrapped themselves in their jackets – purely for show, of course – and headed out at a run towards the Cullen household. There were human guests attending, and no human would be crazy enough to go outside without a thick coat in this weather. They left them unbuttoned, however, as they headed out.

The moment their feet touched the Cullen yard, Alice was outside, a grin plastered on her face. "Merry Christmas!" she chanted, grinning eagerly. As Edward took in his sister's appearance, he decided there was no one on earth who could possibly outdo Alice as far as Christmas went. She was dressed to the nines in very coordinated red and green, looking as remarkably fashionable as she always did.

"Merry Christmas," they replied.

"Alice, you look like a Christmas tree," Edward pointed out teasingly.

Alice flitted happily towards them, sticking her tongue out at Edward as she did so. She hesitated as she reached to take her niece from Edward's arms. "Nessie," she said softly. "What has your mother dressed you in?"

Bella frowned at Alice. "She chose it, not me."

Renesmee placed her hand against Alice's cheek just as Jasper came outside, a smile on his face. "We were wondering if you were ever planning on coming inside," he joked.

Edward was busy watching Renesmee's thoughts and let Bella explain what the hold up was as Jasper joined the small group. Renesmee was hurriedly telling Alice about how she changed her mind, wanting to wear her favorite dark blue dress, instead. She was also worried that Alice was upset, and wanted to know how she could make it better.

Alice smiled at her niece and hugged her tightly, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Don't be silly, Nessie. I could never be mad at you. It's a lovely dress and you look beautiful in it!" Almost as an after-thought, she added, "Besides, you already have a fabulous fashion sense." Bella rolled her eyes.

Renesmee smiled at Alice, but then her expression grew sad and she placed her hand on Alice's cheek once more. Alice's face fell and from her change in emotions, Jasper suddenly looked as though he had to face an entire newborn army singlehandedly, though he did not yet know the reason why. Renesmee was asking Alice why she and Jasper were not here last year for Christmas, and telling her how sad she was about their absence.

"Oh, Nessie," Alice whispered.

"What's wrong?" Jasper asked, putting his hand on Alice's shoulder. Bella looked at Edward expectantly, but he shook his head once, preferring to hear how this played out.

Renesmee reached for Jasper and Alice quickly passed Renesmee to him. She put her hand to his neck and played for him the exact images she had just played for Alice. Jasper grimaced, feeling as though he had let his only niece down.

"I'm sorry we weren't here," he whispered.

Bella caught on then, too, and turned back to face Renesmee. "Renesmee, you remember what happened. They had to leave to help us."

Edward watched as his daughter nodded mournfully before displaying for Jasper evidence of just how much she had missed her aunt and uncle. Jasper hugged his niece tightly. "We missed you, too. Very much."

"We're here this year, Nessie." Alice cut in, trying to lighten the mood. Edward assumed she would soon have a meltdown if her Christmas did not go off perfectly. "I promise to make it up to you."

Renesmee smiled warmly at her aunt as everyone turned and made their way collectively inside the Cullen house, the moods lightened after the emotionally charged moments from before.

Renesmee was content to hold tight to her Uncle Jasper until she was inside and her eyes fell on Carlisle. She reached as eagerly for her grandfather as he was reaching for her, a welcoming smile warming his features.

Edward and Bella said hello to everyone at large, admiring Alice's Christmas decorations. Alice had wanted it to be as dramatic as possible, and as a result had quickly decorated on Christmas Eve after Edward, Bella, and Renesmee had left for the night. Edward scoffed, knowing that Alice had most likely discouraged Jasper from any sort of romantic meetings until after she had finished decorating.

"Where's the dog?" Rosalie asked with a slight grin. The grin was no doubt due to his absence.

"Jacob is with his father right now," Bella informed Rosalie.

"Finally. It's nice to not have him under foot for awhile."

"Be nice, Rosalie," Alice told her with a smile. "He is part of our company tonight."

Rosalie's grin was replaced by a frown.

"Should we prepare the food platters, now?" Esme asked, entering the room from the kitchen.

"Actually," Alice chirped happily. "I was hoping Edward and Bella wouldn't mind that chore, seeing as they are the best chefs in the house, and they both know how much it would mean to me."

Edward had already heard her thoughts and was headed into the kitchen, mumbling under his breath. Bella rolled her eyes after Alice finished her explanation and let out a loud, deliberate sigh, "Yes, Alice, we will cook."

"Good," she replied with a smile. "I knew you would."

Bella blew a kiss to her daughter as she left the room, following Edward into the kitchen. He was washing his hands in preparation for preparing a fruit platter. Bella couldn't help but smile over the fact. "What exactly are we making?"

"With Alice, one never knows," he replied with a chuckle.

Bella laughed as she, too, washed her hands, and then leaned against the counter, watching as Edward quickly chopped bananas at a fast pace, grinning lightly at Bella as he did so. "You aren't going to help?"

"Well, you were doing such a wonderful job," she teased, grabbing a nearby knife and the strawberries Esme had set out on the counter. Emmett entered the kitchen then, grinning wickedly.

"See, Edward, this is what happens when you spend your nights not having sex. Alice assigns you to kitchen duty."

"Emmett," Edward said coolly as he reached for the apples, having finished with the bananas, "I am holding a knife. Don't test me." Bella laughed, but no doubt had she still been a human she would have been blushing uncontrollably.

"You're no fun," Emmett said as he rolled his eyes. He winked at Bella and left the kitchen, making his way back into the living room. Alice was allowing Renesmee to help decorate more of the Christmas tree. Emmett wondered if she was going to rearrange the ornaments afterwards when Renesmee wasn't around. It wouldn't be the first time Alice had redone something someone else had decorated.

Esme was humming Christmas carols as she and Carlisle organized the presents. "When is present time, Alice?" Carlisle asked, pulling presents closer to the front.

Alice glanced briefly at the clock on the wall. "In approximately three minutes," she replied. Carlisle tried not to chuckle at Alice's precise, pin-pointed time frame. He would not dare vary from her very organized schedule.

"This feels like a real Christmas," Esme said softly, smiling at Renesmee. "It's perfect. Our family is finally complete and safe."

Carlisle walked closer to Esme, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, sharing a gentle look with her. "Yes, we are."

Edward and Bella entered the room then, just as Alice and Renesmee finished the tree. Alice passed Renesmee to Bella before turning excitedly to everyone in the room. "Present time, everyone!" Her eyes drifted over each of the Cullens, finally coming to rest on Jasper, as she said joyfully, "Okay, who is going to wear the Santa Hat?"

** **

The weather, while rainy and cold, unfortunately did not give way to snow, crushing both Renesmee's and Alice's visions of the perfect snowy day Christmas. Alice had quickly moved on from that fact, focusing on preparing the absolute best night for their guests.

Everyone was pitching in to help, though there really was not much left to do. Esme and Carlisle were cleaning up the mess left by the massive tornado of opening presents in the Cullen house with a young child and an eternally child-like grown man. Edward was assembling one of Renesmee's new toys for her to play with while Jasper set up the table for all the food to be laid out on. Bella was bringing the fruit platter and the meat and cheese platter out to the living room, setting them carefully on the table. Alice was flitting around to each area, supervising, and reprimanding where she felt she needed to. She was especially sure to rebuke Emmett and Rosalie for slipping upstairs to test one of their more private gifts to one another.

At precisely six-thirty, all ears caught the noise of car tires in the drive. Alice frowned. "Four of them?"

Rosalie's eyes narrowed, "How many people did you invite, Alice?"

"Well, Jacob, Seth, and Leah, of course, along with the rest of the pack who turned down the invitation. I also invited Charlie for Bella and Renesmee, and inviting him of course means inviting Sue and Billy."

"They're all here," Edward interjected. "Seth and Jacob ran here to leave room in the cruiser."

"They don't plan on showing up naked to dinner, do they?" Bella asked, seeming to think this was a possibility.

Edward shook his head, "No. Jacob and Seth left tuxes here last week. If you'll all excuse me for a moment." He disappeared upstairs as a knock sounded on the door.

Since Emmett was closest to the door, he pulled it open, grinning widely. "Merry Christmas!"

Sue and Leah stood on the step, both as close to smiling as they could be, "Merry Christmas." Emmett stepped back to let them in, then kept the door open for Edward as he passed quickly through the door carrying the tuxes. He nodded to Billy and Charlie as the latter wheeled the former in through the door.

Greetings were exchanged, and the tension was almost palpable in the room. Jasper sent a calming wave out over everyone and with a soft sigh of relief, people began to mingle. Though Billy and Sue had spent a large amount of time around Bella, Edward, and Renesmee at Charlie's, they both seemed nervous to be surrounded by so many vampires at once.

Their sons shared no such qualms. Jacob went immediately to Renesmee – currently cuddling up to her Grandpa Charlie – to say hello. Seth, also eager to see all of his favorite vampires again, was walking throughout the room saying personal hellos. Not even Rosalie could sour his cheery disposition.

"It's cold out," Charlie commented, glancing over Renesmee's shoulder to see outside. He turned back to Bella. "Is my granddaughter bundled warmly enough for winter?"

"Yes, Dad," Bella replied wearily. Charlie was almost obsessed with making sure his only granddaughter was taken care of properly. He smiled sheepishly at Bella.

"There are snacks on the table for everyone," Alice chimed in with a welcoming grin. "Feel free to help yourself."

"Maybe in awhile," Sue said with a smile at Alice. There were few people who didn't like Alice, and Sue was not one of them. "We just finished our dinner."

"So did we." Emmett joked. Seth laughed, but he was the only one. Carlisle gave Emmett a quick look of warning, and Emmett quieted down. The awkwardness returned, and again Jasper calmed the room down.

Renesmee squirmed in Charlie's arms, then, and reached for Jake. He took her with a loving smile and stood quietly as she leaned towards his ear. She still preferred her silent means of communication, and put her hand on Jacob's neck, though to the humans it looked as though she was whispering in his ear.

Edward began to laugh, trying his best to control it, as Jacob looked at Renesmee, flabbergasted. "You want me to do what?"

Renesmee smiled, keeping her hand on his neck, no doubt asking him again.

"What does she want you to do?" Bella asked.

Jacob looked at her with widened eyes. "She wants me to sing Christmas carols."

"Since we've no place to go," Edward said, happily taking his place at the piano.

"I wish it would snow," Alice pouted, already having taken her place beside the piano.

"Why would you want snow?" Leah asked, speaking up. "It's cold and wet and miserable." Though none of that truly bothered her because of her body temperature, she faked it for Charlie's sake.

"It makes everything lovely," Alice returned. She slipped her hand into Jasper's and smiled warmly at him. Everyone was suddenly overcome with a loving, united feeling.

"Watch it, Jasper," Rosalie hissed at vampire speed, though her tone was rather cheery. The feelings dissipated and Edward began to move his hands along the keys.

Emmett was the first to pick up the carol's lyrics, belting out, "Jingle bells! Jingle bells!" From there, others joined in until a full chorus of voices could be heard.

Renesmee frowned at Jacob until he sighed wearily and joined in the song. The carols helped to remove any remaining tension between the Cullens and their guests. Billy and Sue in particular looked more comfortable than ever around the vampires. Perhaps they realized they were not going to become an unwilling snack anytime soon.

One carol gave way to the next, until eventually an hour had passed and they were singing Silver Bells for the second time. Alice paused halfway through singing the word Christmas and let out a human-like gasp. "It's snowing!"

She scooped Renesmee from Jacob's arms and took her niece to the window. Edward scoffed, continuing to play, but glancing at Alice. "Alice, there are about three flakes of snow."

Bella elbowed him sharply in the back while the others were preoccupied with the snow. "Don't ruin it for them," she scolded lightly. Edward turned farther on his seat to smile at her.

"Sorry, love." He winked and Bella grinned, a feeling of overwhelming love filling her heart again. Jasper groaned.

"You don't like the snow?" Charlie asked.

Trying to cover his reaction, Jasper shook his head, "No. I was in a bad snowmobile accident one year and haven't recovered fully from it."

"Did you hit your head?" Rosalie asked politely.

Jasper ignored her as Charlie said, "Sorry to hear that."

"It's all right. I have a whole bunch of scars from it, but it was so long ago."

"Isn't this the perfect Christmas weather?" Alice announced, drawing attention away from her husband. The snow she was so happy about was melting almost before it touched the ground.

"Yes, Alice," they replied to placate her. Renesmee was staring at it in awe, though it was not the first snowfall she'd ever seen.

As they all stood together, no one wanting to leave to go out into the cold night, Carlisle looked at his wife and smiled. "You're right, Esme. This is the most perfect Christmas yet."