A/N: This was a frustrating chapter, nothing seemed to work as I wanted it to and the chapter didn't want to flow right. Hope you enjoy and please review. :)
~Miss. E. Thompson
Chapter Twenty One: December
It's about family, and
sticking up for each other
and being there for each
other. That's what we
want it to represent.
~Andy Gugliemini
Moving in with Sam was an easy adjustment. I loved waking up and falling asleep in his arms. The only problems I had was the early morning wake ups when Sam had to patrol or when Paul or Jared forgot how late it was and came to the house after patrol. I went by dad's once a week to check in on him and Bella. He looked tired and she hadn't improved or declined any since I moved out. I was worried this was going to take a toll on dad and he would have no choice, but to send her to Renee. Sam had spent many nights comforting me over my sister, though I knew he must be tired of it.
Today is Christmas and like Thanksgiving everyone is coming here, even Kim, dad, and Bella. No one was exempt. It had been interesting setting up the tree. Sam had insisted that he didn't need any help and told me to sit back and watch. I sat on the couch and watched for an hour as the tree leaned one way, then the other, even threatening to fall over a time or two as Sam wrestled with it. Finally he allowed me to call Paul and Jared to help. They had both laughed and teased after the tree was finally standing straight in the window.
Sam and I didn't have many ornaments, but thought it the best in case the tree did fall over at any point. Jared was excited to have Kim with us to celebrate Christmas, her family was starting to warm up to Jared and allowing Kim to spend more time with him. I could tell that they really did love each other, though neither had said it yet. Paul seemed a little lonely sometimes being the only non-imprinted wolf now, but he tried not to show it.
"Hey kids!" Someone called as the front door shut behind them. I turned from the TV to see Allison walking into the kitchen with a box overflowing with Christmas decorations in her arms.
"Hey, mom!" Sam called as he came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Morning Allison. How are you?" I asked and stood to help her with the box.
"Oh I'm fine , dear. How are you?" She said.
"I'm doing great." I said with a smile.
"What's with the decorations?" Sam asked as he came into the dining room and saw the overflowing box on the table.
"Well, Sammy. Last year nobody came over for Christmas so you could get away without decorating, but this year, you and Sunny have people coming over and I know you didn't buy decorations." Allison said and I smiled. Sam was cringing and I couldn't tell if it was from being called Sammy or the idea of having to decorate the outside of the house.
"Oh come now, Samuel. It won't take that long to string up some lights and place a wreath on the front door." She said and lifted the box into his arms.
"Yes, mom." He sighed and gave us each a kiss on the cheek before walking outside. I giggled at his behavior while Allison smiled.
"He never was much for decorating." Allison said and I smiled.
"I got that feeling." I said and Allison nodded.
"You should have seen him try to put the tree up by himself." I said with a laugh and Allison raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?" She asked with a smile as she took a seat at the table with me.
"He refused to let me help him and the tree nearly ended up in a heap on the living room carpet more than once." I said and Allison laughed shaking her head.
"That stubborn boy. You think he would learn to accept help, but he never does." She said and I shook my head.
"He does, indirectly." I said and Allison looked at me curiously.
"How so?" She asked.
"When he's stressed he holds me closer and is reluctant to let go, asks that I stay with him for a while. When he's frustrated he always asks about things that need done that he can take the frustration out on. When he's mad he goes for a run and shuts down for a while. When something's bothering him he's always more interested in my day, and after I ask about his day and he can talk about it." I said and Allison smiled.
"I'm glad he's got you. You know his little quirks and it's good for him. Leah never seemed to care about how things effected Sam, the relationship was about her. But with you, the two of you balance each other out, your characteristics complete his and vise-a-verse." Allison said.
Allison and I sat at the table and drank hot chocolate while Sam was outside. It was pleasant to just talk and not worry about what else was going on outside the house. That was until there was a loud bang on the roof. Allison and I rushed outside to see Sam on the ground with the ladder laying by him and a string of lights dangling from the roof.
"Sam?" I called and run down to him.
"I'm alright." He grumbled as he sat up shaking his head as he glared up at the lights that twinkling light that dangled above our heads.
"Stepped on a part of the strand and it set me off balance." He said and stood up. I covered my mouth to stop the giggles as Sam turned to pick up the ladder. The back of his head all the way to his feet was cover in a layer of mud from the ground.
"What?" Sam asked as he turned to see Allison and I muffling our giggles.
"Your going to need another shower when your done, babe." I managed through my giggles.
"Why?" Sam asked and laid my hand on his back and brought it back around to show him my hand cover in mud.
"Damn it!" He said and glared at the lights again.
"We could just ask my dad to do it when he comes over tomorrow. He did it by himself for years." I suggested lightly and Sam shook his head.
"No, I'll get the damn lights up. You two go back inside." He said as he set the ladder back against the house.
"I think I'll head home. Try not to get yourself killed putting those lights up." Allison said and Sam leaned down for her to kiss his cheek before she left. We both waved as she left.
"You should go inside before you get sick." Sam insisted.
"I'm fine, Sam. I'll stand here and hand the lights to you so you don't have to keep going up and down the ladder. We don't want you falling and actually getting hurt." I said.
"I heal fast. I'll come get you when it's done." He said and I relented and walked inside.
When Sam was done the house looked great. Little white lights twinkled like icicles from the roof and the porch. Oddly enough Forks got very little snow and icicles are rare, even though we live right off the pacific ocean and in one of the rainiest places in the country. Sam seemed proud of his work, despite it being grudgingly and forced by his mother.
Today was Christmas and everyone was due to arrive any minute. The ham was already in the oven, Natalie was bring the mashed potatoes and corn, and Allison was bring the pie for dessert. I was excited for the gift exchange tonight, I had gotten dad a new rod for his fishing pole that I knew he would like. Sam and I had done our gift exchange this morning. I had gotten him an engraved pocket knife and he had made me a Quileute promise ring. It was similar to my anklet with the exception that it didn't have the pack symbol on it it, instead the brown cords were entwined with yellow and green shell fragments to symbolize the combining of Sam's and my life with our favorite colors.
"Jared!" I heard Natalie yell as the door came open and Jared walked inside.
"It's rude to walk into someone's home without knocking! Have I taught you nothing?" Natalie chastised as she followed him.
"Relax, mom. It's alright. That's why the door's never locked." I said and gave Jared, Greg and Natalie a hug.
"It might be fine with you and Sam, but it's not with me. I taught him better than this." Natalie said and glared at Jared who at least was trying to look sheepish.
"Sorry, mom." Jared said before going into the living room with Greg and Justin to watch the TV with Sam.
"How do you put up those boys?" Natalie asked as she still glared toward the living room and Kim stood back with a small giggle.
"I always wondered that when we were younger and were always at your house." I said with a laugh and she smiled.
"That was different." She said brushing it off.
"Well, if the door ever got locked we would have to replace it from them walking into it." I said and shared a look with Kim as Natalie laughed.
"I guess that's a good point." Natalie said before she and Kim set to work helping me finish the few things that were left to be done.
"When did the decorations go up? They weren't there the other day." Kim asked as we worked.
"Allison came by yesterday with them in a box and told Sam that people were coming and he had to decorate." I said with a giggle.
"Oh no." Natalie said with a grin.
"Yeah, he fell off the ladder putting them up." I said covering my mouth to stopped the laugh.
"No!" Natalie said trying to contain her own giggle.
"Yeah and refused to let me call someone to help him." I said and shook my head.
"Well, he did a good job." Natalie said with a smile and I nodded.
It wasn't much longer before Paul, Adam, dad, Bella and Allison came toting their presents through the door to put under the tree. Allison made sure to complement the decorations and even asked if he got all the mud off. Sam blushed much to everyone's amusement before telling her 'yes'. We all laughed as she retold how Sam had fallen off the roof and had gotten covered in mud.
"Already practicing your Santa routine, Sam?" Adam asked jokingly, but Sam, dad and I stiffened.
"He better not be." Dad said glaring at the two of us from across the table.
"Not for a while." I said and Sam nodded. Everything was a little tense on that subject. It was a no brainer that Sam and I were sleeping together. We lived in the same house, loved each other and slept in the same bed, but I wasn't ready to have kids or to be a mom any time in the near future. Sam knew that I wanted to wait till later when things had settled down with Bella and the leeches that came poking around every once in a while. With all the things going on in the pack and with Sam being alpha the timing just wasn't right for a child.
"So who wants to open present?" Allison asked diverting the attention from Sam and I to her. I smiled at her thankfully.
"Sure." Paul and Jared stood to help take all the dishes back into the kitchen before we all moved into the living room. Everyone had pretty much forgotten about Bella as she sat motionless, not talking in the corner of the couch away from everyone else. I saw the sad looks that dad gave her and I hated that she was ruining Christmas for him with her behavior. Jared passed out all the gifts to everyone before we started opening them.
I got a new sketch book from Jared and Kim, some pastels from Adam and Paul, a gift card to the craft store in Port Angeles from Natalie and Greg, Allison got Sam and I a new welcome mat for the front door, and dad got me a taser from him and Bella. I looked at dad in disbelief and saw that I wasn't the only one.
"What? You move out and think I'm going to stop worrying about your safety?" Dad asked and I shook my head.
"I'm sure the pepper spray will appreciate the company." I said and place the box back in the bag, setting it off to the side. I was suspicious seeing that Jared and Paul didn't seem surprised about this. They were probably in on it. Everyone's gifts were opened and thank you's were exchanged soon after and we all moved back into the dining room for dessert. When dad and Bella made to leave I followed dad out and hugged him before he got in the car.
"I just have one question." I said before he opened his door.
"And what would that be?" Dad asked raising an eyebrow.
"What inspired the taser?" I asked and a look I didn't recognize came into his eyes.
"The bear attack. That day it was painful knowing there was a chance that I could lose you. Now I know that those things are meant for humans, and I trust that you'll take that everywhere with you..." Dad said seriously before continuing.
"But that taser had enough voltage to stun even a bear. I want my girls safe, whether from humans or animals." Dad said and I hugged him again.
"Thank you, daddy." I said as he hugged me back tightly.
"Now I expect that will be used on Sam if he goes too far." Dad said and I laughed.
"That's not likely, but I'm sure Sam will appreciate that idea." I said sarcastically causing dad to smile.
"Love you, Sunny girl." Dad said one more time before climbing into the car and driving off. I couldn't have gotten any luckier than to get the people that surrounded me, whether it be my dad, Sam or Natalie, I knew I had people and that would get me through anything that life decided to throw at me.