GIFTS
"Where's Jake?" Nessie asked looking around. His absence made her uneasy as Jake was usually by her side day and night to protect and love her without fail since the day she was born.
"I'm here." Came a voice from the house. Jake strolled around the corner at an unusually slow gait, he seemed to be trembling, which usually meant that he was going to transform. Jake had obviously borrowed a suit and was slightly uncomfortable in the formal wear that bound him. The Cullen's all tensed, instinctively moving to protect the youngest member of the family. Only Edward remained cool and collected, he was smiling as if he knew some sort of secret. Jake made his way down the front porch steps stopping just in front of Nessie and looked at her with what only could be described as longing in his eyes.
"OK you two, this is a family party, so let's cut out the lovey stuff for now." Bella quipped. Edward wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and pulled her tight to his body, he cupped his other hand to her chin and kissed her longingly on the lips.
"See?" Bella gasped when the kiss paused "I want none of that from you two."
Edward looked at his mate lovingly and said gently "We should let her celebrate any way she wants to, after all it is her birthday." Bella frowned slightly and sighed knowing that there was really nothing she could do about Jake and Nessie growing closer every day. Jake threw his head back and barked a laugh at Bella's pout.
"Go on!" He encouraged, nodding towards the overflowing table with a wicked grin, "Open your presents."
Nessie tore into her gifts with the same hunger she reserved for hunting. Each new gift warranted a round of 'oohs' and 'ahs' from her captive audience. Fancy jewelry, precious scents, delicate clothes, fabulous shoes, and a very (very) expensive car. A few gifts from out of town friends drew special attention. An intricately woven bracelet from Zafrina and the Amazons, a beautiful gold and jade necklace from Benjamin and Tia featuring Renesmee's name in Egyptian, a complicated Celtic knot ring from Charlotte and Peter to name a few. All of these vampires had bore witness to Nessie's special circumstances and ultimately helped saved the lives of the Cullen clan. While preparing to stand together, getting ready for a fight to the death if necessary, they had all managed to fall in love with Nessie. It was not hard to see why, her spirit, her gift, her smile, she radiated incorruptibility and had captivated her audience from the day she was born. These were gifts fit for the princess receiving them.
Each giver that was there got a hug and an enthusiastic 'Thank you!' from Nessie. She skipped from guest to guest making sure everyone saw in her mind just how appreciated their present was.
'Yes, I'll teach you to drive it!' Rose laughed when it was her turn for a hug. Rose was choking back what I assumed would be tears if vampires could cry. She had a strange love and commitment to Nessie from before she was born.
I myself had written her a poem and had it framed. I tried with every word to express how much her friendship and unconditional love meant to me. Though words could hardly express how much I loved my dear friend, I hope they gave a dim light into how much her existence saved my own. Nessie stopped in front of me and met my eyes. Without words, she took my hand and brought it to her cheek. Within seconds a powerful emotion swept through my body causing my knees to buckle. Carlisle's powerful hand touched my back to steady me and he immediately exhaled as the emotion overtook him as well. For a few moments our bodies stood suspended as the rest of the Cullen's surrounded us and placed a hand on each other. This was my family. Our family. Not bound by blood, but something stronger, something I could not comprehend until this moment. A hot substance pricked the back of my eyes and spilled out on to my cheeks leaving wet tracks that smelled of salt. I looked to Nessie and could see the same thing happening to her. We were crying.
Nessie threw her arms around me and at once the emotions that we all were connected to halted. Everyone turned and hugged their significant other, each with a renewed sense of gratitude for the other. Jake cleared his throat uncomfortably,
"Ahem, I hate to break up the family bonding…but you forgot one gift." Nessie released me and looked to the table, which was now empty. The family all began to look around wondering what Jake could be referring to.
"Jeez, for a bunch of immortal predators you sure are bad at hunting." He said, with a teasing smile. Jake walked over to the table where Nessie was now searching.
"Oh, Here it is!" Without another word Jacob Black dropped to one knee and pulled from his pocket a small velvet box.
