A/N: I own nothing, Stephanie Meyer owns everything. Also, part of this chapter dips into movie-verse for a bit (AU at that), so all credit is due to the writers and producers of Eclipse. Kudos to readers who spot the movie bit!
What gift could possibly make Edward so angry? I glanced down to see a pile of tangled cloth, mostly hot pink. I looked closer. Was that… leopard print?
"Oh." I could feel my face growing hot already.
Edward could only speak through is teeth. "That disgusting boy got you lingerie for our wedding. Of all the despicable, inappropriate-" He stopped talking and an eerie light came into his eyes, the one that always accompanied his murder-Mike fantasies.
"I'm sure Mike wouldn't do that," I said hastily, but then I considered. Would Mike really do that? I mean, maybe Tyler, but Mike? "There has to be some… look, this is from Mike," I was relieved to find a gift certificate to Newton Outfitters under the mess of fabric. "See? You can forgive him now. I'm sure he and Jess just bundled their gifts together. I doubt Mike even owns wrapping paper."
Edward's shoulders relaxed, but he wasn't satisfied. "I might forgive him if I didn't overhear his thoughts at the wedding, Bella." He held up a particularly embarrassing piece of underwear. "This is what he was thinking about. And you in it." He tossed it down in disgust.
"Okay, moving on," I mumbled. The next gift was a big, soft package from Renee, so we both cheered up a bit. I pulled off the paper to reveal a handmade quilt, made of T-shirt scraps sewn together. I felt tears run down my cheeks as I fingered the worn material.
I felt a cold arm slip around me. "What is it, sweetheart?" Edward asked quietly, and I burst into tears. He just rubbed circles on my back until I had composed myself. Still sniffling, I muttered, "I can't wait until I'm incapable of crying." I dried my eyes on the corner of his shirt, which he had offered me.
"No, love. Being able to weep is a gift, not a curse. Now tell me about the quilt." He kissed the last tearstains off my face and I shook the quilt so we could see the whole top surface.
"A few years ago, Renee was just getting over a guy and then she lost her job. She had another one before the year was out, but at the beginning of that summer she traded in her new car for an old RV, and we spent a couple months just seeing the sights. We made a tradition of collecting cheesy T-shirts along the way." I smiled as I ran my hands over the Texas shirts. "She said several times that summer that memories come in all shapes and sizes. I think that may have been my favorite summer growing up," I mused. "After all, hanging around my dad's house wasn't every thirteen-year-old's dream." I smoothed the fabric and then folded it back into the suitcase. "I think that's the biggest project Renee has ever actually finished… I love it," I whispered.
"Then I love it too," Edward decided. Then he frowned. "But why do I smell latex?" he fished around in the crumpled paper until he found a small square package. He gave me a look and cleared his throat to read the attached note. "'Just in case you forgot to plan ahead, sweetie. I'd love to be a grandmother someday, but not yet! Love, Mom'" he read aloud in a bemused tone.
Now I was really blushing. "Um, sorry about that. You know she doesn't think things through sometimes," I said.
"I think it was very thoughtful – she has no way of knowing we don't need it." He tossed it aside and picked up the last gift in the suitcase – a tiny gift bag from Charlie. Inside was a gift card to the local hardware store in Forks.
"Very practical, and thankfully not embarrassing!" I laughed. "Oh! We should be writing down what came from which people, shouldn't we?" Edward smirked and tapped his head with one finger. "Right… who needs lists when you've got a vampire?" I joked.
The second suitcase held another pile of wrapped gifts. Angela and Ben had given us a beautiful plaque with a poem about true love, and the Denalis had put together a his-and-hers bath basket, complete with towels, candles and scented soaps. I noticed that strawberry and freesia were the scents they had chosen. I was touched that Billy and all of Sam's pack had chipped in for another gift card, and it looked like everyone at the police station had done the same thing.
At the bottom of the suitcase was a small rectangular package with familiar pink-and-purple wrapping paper. I smiled as I picked it up. Charlie had been using the same beat-up roll to wrap my birthday presents my whole life. Inside was a framed picture of a six-year-old me standing next to Charlie, who was sporting a huge mustache. I was proudly holding my first fishing pole and had a snaggle-tooth smile.
Edward leaned over my shoulder to inspect the picture. "Isn't this the picture that always hangs in Charlie's upstairs hallway?" he asked. I nodded, fighting tears again. On the back Charlie had stuck a note (he hadn't gotten us a card) which read:
Although you're starting a new life, you'll always be my little girl. Come by anytime, and Edward too. Love, Dad
I knew how hard it had been for Charlie to write the note, much less the part about welcoming Edward. I made a mental note to be sure to thank him in person. After all, we would have time for a couple visits before things… changed.
A/N: Up next, the chapter I've been waiting to write... the Cullen gifts!
