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Chapter 28

BPV

I awoke the next morning to find a neatly wrapped small box sitting at the end of my bed. Edward had just walked in with a tray holding two stack of pancakes and two glasses of orange juice. He really was cute sometimes. After digging in I held the small gift in my hand.

"That one's from me…its not much but it's a little something…you have one from Alice and Jasper and one from Emmett and Rose sitting in the living room." Edward whispered smiling my favorite crooked smile. At first I couldn't get past the paper. It was a gold incrusted deep red that looked like it was of a fine material. I slowly detached the paper trying to keep it in good condition. Inside was an ornate box that could of belonged to my late great grandmother. Its aged mahogany wood shined in the light. It and of itself would have been a great gift.

"Oh its beautiful!" I murmured rubbing the box.

"That's not the gift…well not the only gift…open it up." Edward softly said as the smile on his face grew into a full on beam. Doing as told, I opened the ancient box to reveal a new necklace with an ancient diamond heart. I felt my jaw hit the floor. Only a little something?

"its perfect." I gasped.

"The heart used to be a bracelet charm and can still double as that. Its from my mother's family. Mom gave it to me a couple of years ago because I don't have any sisters, though he respected the family history Jasper held a preference on creating new memories, and we all knew better then to trust Emmett with something so valuable…especially something that Emmett in particular didn't see the value in. his exact words were ' I don't get why your making such a big deal out of this…I could pull that out of a gumball machine' for a diamond that a jeweler acquaintance of my parents valued at over $10,000 easy when he visited a few days before." Edward said putting it on me. I then went and grabbed what I got for him…bypassing Alice who was talking to Emmett about spandex aerobics clothes. Rosalie was passed out on the couch. I then went back to the room.

"its not a diamond…but I hope that you like it." I said handing him the gift bag. I had gotten him his favorite ( and my favorite) cologne and my high school year book. I knew the latter was extremely odd but it held a special quote that I didn't even realize was there until I had revisited it a few years ago.

"Life is exciting and unpredictable at points. The only way to enjoy it is to let it take you along for the ride. May we meet again some time" anonymous. I always knew deep down inside that Edward was the one the wrote that. The other guys in the school would try to link their names to the quote so that they could get the recognition. Also almost none of the guys that went to the school had clear handwriting except for Edward, as evidenced by Emmett's barely discernable "congrats…hope you keep in shape…remember a mile a day keeps the doctor away!"…I would of taken offence to that comment if he hadn't scribbled it in everyone's year book. Edward loved the cologne but looked slightly confused at the year book.

"I was looking though it a while ago…I thought there was something in the back that you might like to see." I said as a look of recognition crossed his face and he flipped to the back page.

"Life is exciting and unpredictable at points…The only way to enjoy it is to let it take you along for the ride…may we meet again…Wow that's eerily prophetic." Edward said with light laughter in his voice. I knew it was him!

"did you remember writing that?" I asked though I knew that he did.

"Of course…that was the only time I ever used a full quote. Thank you…that was the best gift ever." Edward said pulling my face closer to his.

"Merry Christmas love." he whispered before the distance between our lips closed. The year book cluttered to the floor.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVEBIRDS!" Emmett chirped slamming the door open with Alice in toe, causing Edward and I to break apart. Rosalie followed panting.

"I'm so sorry…I tried to stop them!" Rosalie said throwing both of them a dirty look.

"Ooh me love…diamonds are a girls best friend!" Alice sang gawking at my new necklace. I knew that sooner or later she would ask to borrow it.

"Alright guys…everyone's awake…come out…I want to see your faces when you see what I got you…although I know I cant top the look on your face when you saw the diamond Bella I think I'll come close. Hark the herald Angels sing…Glory to the newborn king!" Alice belched out skipping down the hallway. We all congregated to the table, where the gifts were now laid out. Alice was psychotically twitching …the girl definitely needs to switch to de-calf.

"Alright Alice….this is from me." Jasper said handing over a small bag.

"ooh…Envy Me by Gucci!" Alice squealed the minute the bag touched her hand. From the expression on Jasper's face I knew that that's what he had really gotten her.

"How did you know?" Jasper asked astonished as she pulled it out of the bag.

"all you need to know is I have my ways Jazzy." Alice smiled sniffing the perfume happily.

"Alright Jazzy this is what I got you!" Alice said handing Jasper over a professionally wrapped gift. Inside was a new shirt and the movie "Me, myself and Irene"

"I love that movie!" Jasper smiled.

"alright…Bells this is from Jazz and I" Alice said pointing to her gift for me. Alice had chosen to wrap her gifts in bubble gum pink wrapping paper . I shook my head…typical Alice.

"Now this is something that every girl has in the bedroom Bella…you have to admit that you need this…considering that your starting to get nice things now!" Alice said. I internally groaned and walked over. Unwrapping it, I found that they had gotten me a Jewelry case. I looked at her.

" I didn't know I swear…but I had a feeling that he was going to get you something nice. I wanted to coordinate!" Alice said with a knowing smile. I could feel the shock on my face.

"Alice…sometimes you scare me." Edward said slightly weirded out.

"sometimes I scare myself Edward." Alice laughed.

"So Rose…this is from me." Emmett said handing over an oddly shaped box.

"This is going to get interesting!" Alice muttered as Rosalie unraveled it to find an official NFL football signed by the Seahawks. Rose's face dropped in disappointment.

"of course I have to date the idiotic brother!" Rosalie mumbled almost inaudibly.

"I hope you like it…I mean I know I would." Emmett said.

"Shut up Em!" Alice graveled.

"Emmett I would give you something…but what I got you is at my parents house. Do you want to know what it is or would you like to wait and find out later?" Rosalie asked.

"tell me now!" Emmett pleaded.

"Oh alright…I got you a boflex and a couple of more weights." Rosalie said. Emmett looked like he wanted to squeal like a girl. Just then we heard this beeping sound.

"OH MY GOD IT'S A MIRACLE…A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE…WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE!" Alice cheered as a plow backed down the driveway before clearing the rest of the road.

"HELL YEAH!" Emmett belched at the same time. Rosalie turned towards us.

"I just want to thank you and Alice for your hospitality. I really appreciate it and I know Emmett does as well. Thank you." Rosalie said shaking my hand. Alice's phone went off.

"oh damn…dinner's still on…we have to be out of here by two!" Alice shrieked pushing Jasper towards my bathroom and jumping in her own. Jasper was going to experience the horrors of a Brandon Family Christmas. I still had nightmares from the last one I went to.

A few hours later Edward and I arrived on Charlie's doorstep. He too decided to continue with the dinner plans since the roads were reopened. Charlie immediately threw the door open and we went inside.

"So guys…come in…take a load off…relax!" Charlie said speaking fast and gesturing to the living room where the twins were playing the new Donkey Kong on their Wii. Looks like they had decided to switch up their gaming systems.

"Donkey Kong…oh how we missed you!" the twins sighed getting really into the game.

"So when's dinner going to be ready?" I asked.

"Soon…we're…um…waiting for some more people to arrive." Charlie said looking at his feet. Something that he did when he knew he did something very very bad.

"dad?" I growled.

"Oh all right you were going to find out anyways ….Billy and Jake stopped by to pick up bait this morning…I may of invited the Blacks for dinner…and they might of accepted. I felt bad…it sucks being stuck in your house with only one family member on the holidays!" Charlie flinched.

"You…WHAT? You actually invited my ex over for dinner…have you lost your mind Charlie…what the hell were you thinking…the whole reason their alone is because the both of them are two timeing creeps!" I gasped shocked. Edward rubbed my shoulder.

"I told you not to do that…didn't I…but no…you didn't listen to me now did you!" Celeste called from the kitchen

"Charlie…we understand that Billy's your friend…its okay…we'll deal with it…but you should really think next time before you go inviting the Blacks over for a family dinner." Edward said as the shock wore off. I was pissed to say the least but I didn't want to ruin the dinner for everyone else. Looked like I was going to have to put up with Jacob tonight.

"So I'm going to go get a beer…anyone want anything?" Charlie asked.

"No thanks!" all of us said as Charlie left the room. Edward and I looked at each other. I knew that he'd try not to leave my side…but we'd have to have a back up plan just in case.

"are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Edward whispered as we both glared at Marcus.

"well its better then nothing." I said. Frankly Marcus was the last person I would ask for help in this situation but we had to use whatever resources were at our disposal at this point. Charlie would be too busy ingrained in conversations with Billy and Celeste to be of any help.

"Oh Marcus…we need your help with something!" Edward said.

"Ooh how the tables have turned…so what is it you need…maybe we could strike a deal!" Marcus said sinking into a chair and acting like a pimply version of "the god father."

"well you know who is coming over tonight…Charlie probably filled you in on the basic background of the situation…" I started up.

"he may of mentioned it in brief conversation…ex partner…ended badly…go on!" Marcus said.

"Well incase I'm not able to help her…we were wondering if you two could help keep an eye on Bella?" Edward asked.

"dump him and I'll do it!" Marcus said pointing to Edward.

"No deal." I responded looking sternly at Marcus.

"how about a new Nintendo 3DS game…your choice." Edward asked.

"Deal!" the twins chirped shaking Edward's hand happily. Just then the doorbell rang and Charlie scampered to answer it. Billy's wheelchair shot through the door as Jacob sauntered in behind it. Edward rapped his arms around me.

"Hey Charlie how's it going!" Jacob said nonchalantly as if Charlie hadn't tried to beat his ass the last time they saw each other.

"its going well." Charlie said with a forced smile. I could tell that he would of preferred just Billy over the house but that didn't make me feel much better.

"So guys…everyone's congregated in the living room right now…head in there…sit tight…dinner should be out in five minutes." Charlie said as the two Native Americans entered the room. Jacob and Edward throwing each other disgusted looks. Edward looked like he wanted to say something but didn't want to disrupt anything.

"So pup…I mean Jake…how've ya been since we last saw you?" Edward asked keeping all animosity out of his voice. I couldn't say the same thing for Jake.

"life's been grand…doing my own thing you know." Jacob growled rudely. The twins were watching intently.

"oh that's cool." Edward said glaring.

"yeah I've been fixing my bike up…finally got the rabbit fixed enough to be back on the road…all by myself!" Jacob said acting all macho. So that was his game. Frankly I wasn't that impressed. I knew that Jacob's "Bike" was an old Honda z50r which he couldn't even ride anymore…and Billy wouldn't let him get another one…though that's not how Billy himself became paralyzed he was afraid that Jacob would wind up in a wheelchair too. From the look on his face I could tell that Edward saw through the façade as well.

"I'm confused…Charlie said that Billy said that your Honda 50 blew up last week?" Marcus asked blowing his nose and Jacobs spot.

"Shut up Marcus!" Jacob growled. Edward bit his lip.

"Dinner's ready!" Charlie called herding us all into the kitchen. Laid out was a turkey, and every type of side that you could imagine. I never thought I'd ever see something that grand sitting on Charlie's table. The twins special dinners were set off to the side. During the dinner Jacob tried to force himself in between Edward and I but had to move since Charlie had enough common sense to say that Jacob should sit next to Billy incase Billy needed to be changed. Edward immediately moved over the minute Jacob got up. Just a few more hours…just a few more hours!

"So and then I said that the fishing rod wasn't worth shit…and that Newton character backed me up. The jackass finally relented and showed me the better model that 'magically' reappeared. Jake and I went out on the boat where I smoked a fatty and caught a ten pounder!" Billy bragged a few minutes later while Celeste was handing him his plate.

"I didn't just hear that about the weed Billy." Charlie growled.

"oh relax Mr. Uptight…I know you have a skeleton or two in your closet somewhere!" Billy said.

"Shut up Billy!" Charlie said narrowing his eyes. Billy immediately zipped his lips. Alright there was something definitely weird there.

When everyone was done eating we went back into the living room to watch some television before desert. Waiting for his chance to pounce, Jacob struck when Edward went to use the bathroom.

"finally we're alone" Jacob whispered in my ear. I groaned. Was he that stupid to think that we would get back together after he ran around with like half the town? After he cheated on me with Seth's mother?

"you don't have to pretend anymore Bella…if this is some desperate attempt to get my attention you got it. You don't have to fake a relationship for me any more." Jacob said. What a fucking conceded ass wipe…he actually thought that this was some ploy to get him back? I wanted to laugh.

"Bella honestly-" Jacob was cut off by Marcus rampaging over demanding that Jacob see Marcus's pokey mon card collection. Jacob's face contorted in rage…the serene smile disappearing completely.

"Does this have to happen right now…I'm in the middle of something here?" Jacob moaned

"I don't have any other time…I'm leaving tomorrow for a five day Lord of the Rings convention…I'll forget!" Marcus said pleadingly. Oddly enough it sounded like Marcus had been rehearsing this scene for a while now. I could see the 3DS game sparkle in his eyes.

"UGH FINE!" Jacob threw his hands up in the air and followed Marcus out of the room. Aro was laughing from the couch.

"Remember sis…we want a new 3DS game…you owe us." Aro said

EPV

I was just about to leave the bathroom when I could hear a conversation between Marcus and Jacob from down the hallway. I kept the door open a crack and listened.

"I thought that you were going to help me break them apart tonight you little shit…your pushing them together…stop doing that!" Jacob roared. That fucking son of a bitch…I'll break him apart!

"Listen Jake…I didn't say anything about helping you. I told you that it was a stupid idea in the first place. You screwed up…she moved on. End of story. And while 'dI be just as happy as you to see them over…the thing is she wouldn't be. She's happy…and I haven't heard Charlie speak ill of him…in fact Charlie seems okay with it. Besides I don't think I could live with myself if I ended someone's relationship for my own selfish needs. If they don't work out…Bella knows that Marcus has a shoulder to cry on should she choose. you'll look better if you just shut the hell up and see how things turn out." Marcus said. Wow was Marcus actually defending me? My respect for him rose.

" you little shit…I paid you $300 to do this one favor for me and you choose their side!" Jacob growled.

"you never paid me anything…granted you tried to bribe me when Charlie and your dad went off planning their big fishing expedition next weekend but it didn't work. I told you no again." Marcus said. I then decided that it was time to reveal myself. Jacob's face dropped in shock.

"Yeah…I'm…um…going to see if they need any help in the kitchen." Marcus taking a hit of his inhaler and screwing out of there. I turned my attention towards Jacob.

"Jacob…I'm going to tell you this again…it is up to Bella who she wants to be with…not you. Now if she does want to be with you then I wont stop her…but you cant just break people up for your own personal pleasure. It doesn't work that way." I said.

"you just cant handle that she might be remotely interested in me…she hit on me downstairs you know!" Jacob said. I really had trouble believing that one. Aro then came up the stairs looking for his nasal spray.

"What are you talking about Jake…I was there…you were putting the moves on her…and she definitely wasn't interested. Now excuse me I need to get my Afrin." Aro snorted grabbing a bottle out of his room and walking away.

"Look I respect Charlie too much to deck you right here right now…but if I hear that you even look at Bella with out her permission and the minute I see you I'll make sure the message gets across loud and clear." I growled and Jacob gulped. I then turned and made my way downstairs.

BPV

Billy and Jacob didn't even stay for desert. The minute Edward found me Jacob grabbed Billy and practically ran out the door shouting about how they would of loved to have stayed but absolutely could not. Right after desert Charlie grabbed a gift that was from the entire family to me.

"Now I know that you needed one after yours was stolen…and the twins said that this was a good model." Charlie said as I opened a combo VHS/ DVD player. I looked at my dad and gave him a huge thanks. We left about a half hour later.