Chapter 25
"Come on, Nessie. Time to go Christmas shopping!" Aunt Alice said excitedly.
"Okay. Let me go give Keira to Jacob and then I'll be ready to go." I replied, heading over to Jake, passing him Keira, and telling him where I'll be. I headed back to Aunt Alice and together we headed out to her car where Aunt Rosalie and mom waited.
The Christmas holidays were fast approaching and everybody was in full holiday spirit. My family, Jake, Keira, and me were going to spend the day together and invite Grandpa Charlie, Sue, and Billy around.
"Whose presents are you buying, darling?" My mom asked.
"Jake's and there are a couple more things I need to get for Keira." I replied. "We've already bought all the presents for the pack and imprints, but I haven't been out by myself to get Jake's yet."
"Just like me. I only need to get your father's and then I'm done." She said, as we pulled into the shopping mall's car park.
"Okay, so we'll meet back here in a couple of hours?" Aunt Alice asked. We all agreed and headed off in different directions.
A few hours later, I was snuggled up in Jake's arms with a cup of hot coco, while Emmett was chasing Keira. We were watching a rubbish holiday special with the rest of the family.
Keira started walking a couple of months ago and hasn't stopped since; and recently, she has started talking.
"Momma, Dada, help me." She said, breathlessly as she ran up to us. I picked her up and held her close to me while Emmett tried to grab her.
"Don't even think about it." I warned him. He went and sat by Rose then, not even bothering to try and grab Keira again.
"Do you want a snack?" I asked my daughter. She nodded, and I put her on the floor, taking her hand and walking to the kitchen.
"What are you going to ask Grandma for?" I asked.
"Grandma?" Keira asked, "Can I have a snack?"
"Sure, sweetheart." Mom said, passing Keira an angel-shaped cookie.
"Thank you." She replied, hugging her Grandma's legs. I picked her up and sat her on the counter.
"Tell Grandma whose been chasing you." I encouraged.
"Uncle Emmett's been chasing me." She said, through her giggles.
"And did he get you?" Mom asked.
"Nope." Keira replied, finishing her cookie. I put Keira back on the floor and watched as she walked back into the living room.
"Are you and Jake staying for dinner?" Mom asked me.
"Yeah; he has to patrol tonight, so I'll probably leave when he does." I replied.
"Okay, well it'll probably be ready in an hour then." My mom said, as she started to prepare dinner for Jake, Keira and me.
A few hours later, Jake and me had just put Keira to bed. Jake had to go on patrol for a few hours and I was also going to bed.
"I'll see you later." Jake said, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"I'll miss you." I replied, wrapping my arms around him.
"So will I. I wish I didn't have to do it, but it's my turn." He murmured, wrapping his arms around me. We stayed wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes before I pulled back.
"You better go. They'll be wondering where you are." I said.
"I love you and I'll miss so much." He replied.
"I love you, too. I'll be dreaming about you while your gone." I said, as he kissed me before he left. I watched him turn into the russet wolf that I loved so much before I headed to bed.
An hour later, I was woken up by Keira's cries. I got out of bed and headed to her room.
"What's up, my little one?" I wondered as I picked her.
"I-I had a s-scary dream." She stuttered.
"Aw, baby, it wasn't real." I replied, reassuringly. "You can come and sleep with me."
I carried her into Jake's and mine room, and laid her down next to me.
At around 3am, I felt someone place soft kiss to my temple. I opened my eyes briefly and saw the Jacob's outline as he moved around to his side of the bed.
He wrapped his arms around me and I snuggled into his chest.
I woke up when I felt Keira playing with my hair. I wiped my eyes, opened them and smiled at Keira. I looked over and saw that Jake was deep asleep.
"Come on, sweetheart, let's go get dressed and have breakfast." I said, picking her up and carrying her into the walk-in-wardrobe. I put Keira on the floor and got dressed quickly: black leggings, a white boat-neck jumper and a scarf. I headed into the nursery with Keira and dressed her in leggings as well, and a jumper.
I walked down to the kitchen with Keira, put her in her chair and then gave her strawberry yoghurt to eat whilst I made breakfast for Jake and me.
Just as I was placing the bacon, eggs and sausages on the plates, I felt warm arms wrap around my waist.
"Good morning." I greeted.
"Morning, babe. Sleep okay?" Jake wondered.
I shrugged. "It wasn't that bad but it was better when you came back. How was patrol?"
"Boring. We didn't pick anything up which was good but I think I drove the other guys made by thinking about you."
I blushed, a habit I got from my mother. "Hopefully it wasn't anything bad." I mumbled. We began to eat then, cutting off all conversation. I gave Keira a cut up banana once she had eaten her yoghurt.
Once Jake and me cleared up, I got out all the presents for the pack and family and we spent the morning and most of the afternoon wrapping. Keira was content to play with the discarded wrapping paper and cello-tape.