A/N: This was one of my favorite chapters to write. I hope you enjoy.

I own nothing Twilight, that's all the genius known as Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 10 - The Best Christmas Ever

{2nd Christmas - Little over year since Renesmee' Birth}

One of the billion things Renesmee loved about her Jacob was his love for the Holidays. Everything from Easter, Halloween which was also one of her family's favorites, and for Jacob, Christmas was his absolute favorite which just by default, was Renesmee's also.

Renesmee paused for a moment realizing that Christmas wasn't actually Jake's absolute favorite, it was her birthday. But she wasn't quite sure her birthday qualified as a Holiday. According to her Jake, it should be a holiday.

Renesmee remembered how proud she was on her last birthday when she had grown yet another two inches. For some reason, she got so excited seeing the marks continue to climb on Grandpa Carlisle's wall measurement chart. It probably had a lot to do with her Jake's enthusiasm too. He always acted like she won a War Race every time she grew. Mommy and Daddy weren't as happy as Jake and her, but the marks on the chart had definitely slowed down since she could remember the first time Grandpa recorded her height.

She was already to the 57 inch mark according to the chart and the clothes she wore last Christmas, her first, were now to small. The growth spurts, as Grandpa called them, didn't hurt as much as the first three months since her birth, which she figured had to do with the 'spurts' slowing down.

Renesmee could still feel the changes though, and for some reason, she wanted them to continue as fast as they could. She didn't know exactly why she felt the need to continue growing, it was just something inside her, almost pulling her forward. It was the strangest feeling, like her body was in some kind of tug of war.

Either way, she was really happy with everything that had happened over the past year and was super excited about this Christmas.

Renesmee was thinking back to her first Christmas together where Jake gave her the promise bracelet he made. There were multiple woven threads in the bracelet and he promised her that each Christmas, he would reveal a promise that a colored thread represented.

Of course the first Christmas, it was a promise to always protect her. She remembered vividly when Jacob took her to play in the backyard of Grandpa Charlie's house and was pushing her on the swing. She was having so much fun when Jacob told her…

. . .

"Nessie, there's something special about that bracelet that I wanted to tell you about."

Renesmee erupted in a warm smile as she held the bracelet to her heart. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and the fact that Jacob made it for her just meant the world. "Tell me Jacob."

She was a little frustrated she couldn't see him, but considering their bond was so strong, she wasn't as upset knowing he was right there behind her, pushing her in the swing.

"Each color represents a promise from me to you."

Renesmee quickly looked at the bracelet, praying that she remembered exactly how many colors there were, her heart sank a little realizing there were only seven. Seven promises didn't seem quite enough but one thing she learned about Jacob, everything he did had a purpose, and usually that purpose was for her.

"The first color represents—" He stopped as Nessie turned to him.

"Please stop the swing so I can see you." Renesmee pleaded for Jacob to help her.

He smiled, sensing the conviction in her voice. "Sure thing little one." On her up swing, Jacob easily grabbed her from behind, pulling her out of the swing and tossing her carefully in the air.

Renesmee couldn't help but laugh as she twisted in the air and slowly floated down into Jacob's outstretched arms. She was home once again as she hugged him tightly.

After a moment of just relishing in the safety and comfort that just being together brought both of them, Renesmee urged him. "Tell me your promise for this year Jacob".

"I promise to always protect you."

Renesmee heard the reverence in his voice, as if he was saying a prayer. It was much different than his voice when talking to the other wolves. She leaned back to look him in the eyes. "Promise Jacob?"

"I Promise."

{* * *}

She smiled brightly thinking of that day and how it made her feel. Now was their second Christmas and if she really had to be honest, of all the presents under the tree, all the cookies, all the decorations, everything about Christmas, the one thing she couldn't wait for this year was the second promise. Well that and something her and Aunt Alice had been working on for a while that would be his gift.

Renesmee remembered her first Christmas when all she gave her Jacob was some pictures she had drawn. Of course if his reaction to her present was an indication of how much he loved it, you would think she had given him a new motorcycle. She was so new to the whole Christmas thing back then so she didn't know all the ins and out. Even though she put a lot of work into the pictures, her Jacob deserved more from her.

She smiled as her heart did that thing it usually does when she thinks of her Jake. She remembered how proud she was when she went to Jacob's house and saw her pictures on Jake's fridge. She knew how much her wolf loved to eat, and that meant that the fridge was the most visited place for her Jacob at his house.

Renesmee brought her bracelet up to her heart, holding it tightly against her with her other hand as she remembered how embarrassed Jacob was when she went into his bedroom. She usually was not allowed in there for some silly reason no one ever truly explained to her, but she needed to get an extra pair of shorts and a shirt for him to put in her backpack. She walked into his room and was amazed at all the pictures posted all around his room. Jacob had made copies of her originals and along with other pictures she had drawn for him, they were posted all over his room as if they were wallpaper.

Her heart did that funny thing again thinking of how she felt standing in the middle of her protectors room. No, he deserved something much more special than a drawn picture. She instinctively squeezed the velvet bag in her pocket where his special gift was. She would wait to give it to him after they visited Grandpa Charlies and Papa Billy's. They would go to their spot and then he could tell her his promise and she would give him hers.

She felt a strange feeling as she thought about giving the gift to Jacob. Was that shyness she wondered? She never felt that way around Jacob, usually only others. It was odd and she made a mental note to ask Jacob about her feelings later. For now though, she couldn't wait to give him her present.

{* * *}
{Jacob and Renesmee's Spot}

Renesmee was still coming down from her high as she thought about the gift Jacob got her for Christmas this year. Renesmee thought it would be just the promise which was really all she wanted; but when he gave her the small toolbox and explained to her what it was for, she nearly jumped through the roof.

Jacob had given Renesmee her own set of tools, albeit just a wrench and phillips screwdriver to start, as he said they would add to it as she learned more and more about fixing things. It wasn't the gifts that excited her, it was what they meant. She was giddy with excitement as now she could help Jacob fix cars and bikes and as Jacob said, she was officially hired as his apprentice.

She really didn't mean to unleash her power as she hugged him but she couldn't control herself as she leapt into his arms. She knew Jacob's second true love was fixing things and now his first true love, was going to be able to help him with that. She was ecstatic beyond belief and was so happy that she almost forgot about the promise. Of course she was a little saddened at the giant bruise left on his shoulder where she hugged him, but within minutes it was gone. Jacob even said is was a badge of honor to show the world how much his Nessie loved him.

She thought it odd that something painful would show love. She remembered as a baby when she would bite Jacob to feed, not realizing that was not the right thing to do. It was one of those weird rules that she was given not to bite people. She never understood why they set the rule for her not to bite other people—she never once remembered wanting to bite anyone but Jacob. It was his blood that smelled and tasted so much better than anything especially those animals. Even so, mommy and daddy were very adamant that she shouldn't do that and so after a few more times, she had stopped because it made them sad. Especially Auntie Rose who said something about eating garbage.

Either way, she filed the badge of honor comment away for later, when she didn't have so many rules. But for now, they were at their place and it was time for the second promise and her gift.

"So do you like your present?" Jacob was in human form, Nessie insisting for some reason. He was fine with it though as he held Nessie in his lap as they looked out over the ocean, doing the best he could to keep his bundle of joy warm from the winter weather even though she really didn't need it.

He smiled as Nessie projected to him how much the tool box meant to her.

"You deserve it my little Apprentice. You're so awesome at helping me fix things."

Renesmee snuggled into him, wrapping his warm arms around the front of her. She projected how much she loved working with him in his shop.

"So you ready for the second promise?" Jacob laughed as she jumped off his lap, pulling him to his knees in front of her as they looked at each other.

"See that orange thread right there." Jacob gently lifted her wrist to show her. "That represents my promise to you that I'll always love you."

Orange was now her new favorite color as she looked down from Jake's eyes to the most beautiful color in the world… orange. She traced the thread all the way around the bracelet.

"Promise?" She asked as was their routine, looking shyly down at the bracelet.

Jacob gently lifted her chin so she could look at him. "I promise."

"I love you Jacob."

"Oh man I love you too Nessie, so much." He hugged her close.

Okay now was the time, as she felt the velvet pouch burning a hole in her pocket. Renesmee linked, I have a present for you Jake.

"For me?" Jacob smiled as he overdramatically brought both hands up to his heart.

Renesmee playfully punched him in the arm, quickly following it with a kiss to his cheek. She then backed up a little bit to give Jacob some room.

The playfulness quickly dissolved as she pulled out the velvet pouch. Aunt Alice helped me make this for you but it was my idea. She had to link because she was too nervous to speak out loud.

Jacob could see the sincerity in her eyes as he gently reached out for the pouch. "What is this?" He looked at the pouch examining it with intrigue.

"Its my promise to you." Okay, maybe this moment deserves the strength to speak out loud.

Renesmee stood silently now in front of Jake, both hands clasped in front of her, her head lowered.

Jacob slowly opened the pouch letting the contents poor out into his hands. The first thing he noticed was the beautifully braided thin rope that must be a necklace of some kind. He could see it was made with what looked like dark leather, but he could tell it was pliable, nice to have for wolf form considering due to obvious reasons, men in the Quileute tribe do not wear jewelry.

For as beautifully crafted as the necklace band was, what was attached to it made him catch his breath, something that had never before happened in his existence.

He had to blink quickly as words left him, trying to hold back the emotions that he felt starting to pour out of him looking at the symbol attached to the rope.

Jacob took deep breaths, looking up to the sky, as if he could find the only other woman in his life that had loved him as much as this little girl did. He was going to be strong as he looked back down, bringing the symbol up to get a better look.

It was an intricately woven tribal symbol of eternal love, two circles joined as one. It was a smaller replica similar to the one his mom had given him for a dream catcher when he was a kid. She had told him the symbol represented that her love for him was eternal and that she would always be looking over him. It was the one thing he still had from his mom, his closest connection to her.

Renesmee was getting worried, Jacob hadn't said anything. She didn't want to look up, knowing he probably hated it. She knew she should have let someone else help her come up with an idea. She was too young to know what Jacob needed and she should have just let the adults help her. She failed at being Jake's girl, especially since he had given her so much.

Jacob still was trying to process his emotions as he couldn't take his eyes off the symbol. It wasn't enough what that symbol represented, it was what it was made of. He could tell after closely inspecting it that the russet and bronze patterns of the tightly woven threads were not threads at all. They were his wolf hairs and Nessie's hairs tightly woven together in a way that made them look stronger than even the leather they were attached to.

Renesmee wanted to cry thinking that her Jacob probably thought it was the grossest thing that she had been saving strands of his fur when he was in wolf form. She knew he loved her hair so she thought weaving it together with his would be special for him. It was her promise to him that she would always love him, always be there right by his side. But he hated it, she knew it.

A lone tear fell from her eye as she slowly looked up to see the disgust in Jacob's eyes. What she saw there instead was something she didn't know how to process. All she knew is whatever it was in her Jacob's eyes must have crawled into her heart and caused it to explode everywhere because the way she felt now was nothing she felt before, at least at this level.

She thought she had felt loved before, well she knew she did. It was something she felt from the very beginning. She saw in others, the way mommy looked at daddy, the way Grandma and Grandpa looked at each other, the way they looked at her. But this was something more, she felt now like her life could end and she would know she had lived a complete life. She had never felt so… so complete. She tilted her head, wondering why she almost felt like she was floating. She felt weightless as if the only thing tethering her to the ground was her Jacob. She felt like no matter what she did, she would never feel unloved again. She felt safe but not in the physical way. She felt like it was her heart Jacob was now protecting. That's when she saw it. The thing she had never seen before from Jacob, a small crystallized tear sliding down his cheek, almost vaporizing from the heat as it slowly slid down into his giant smile.

"Perfect." Was all Jacob could say as he reached down picking his life—his Nessie up in his arms. "Perfect."

Renesmee breathed the biggest sigh of relief ever as she melted into his arms. "I promise to always love you Jacob, and never leave you." She needed to make sure he knew that it was the truth, her promise.

Jacob breathed in her scent as he felt his life was complete. He hadn't felt this happy, this safe, this loved since the last Christmas his mom spent with him.

This truly was the best Christmas ever, and it was all because of the girl he held in his arms.