Chapter Thirty-Five: Graduation Present

Bella was more than a little apprehensive about going to the Cullens' house the next day. After all, it had been so long, and the circumstances weren't exactly that of the everyday reunion kind. Unless you counted 'vegetarian' vampires arriving at the nick of time to save the day from crazy, blood-drinking vampires and helping their arch-enemy, werewolves the size of horses, and a teenage girl who happened to have a rare sort of blood that seemed to drive all vampires alive utterly crazed with hunger an everyday sort of thing.

Jake looked over at her from his spot behind the wheel and took her hand. "Relax, Bella." He kissed her knuckles, kept them against his lips so he could rub them back and forth in a way he had to know calmed her like nothing else.

She sighed. "I know, Jake, it's just… nothing is the same from the beginning of the year. I mean… so much has changed, I've changed, and I don't feel the same way I did when I first met them."

He nodded, eyes on the road in the literal sense, but it was obvious his inner eyes were playing something out in his head. "You've had a really tough year, Bella. You have every right to feel the way you do. They know this, though, sweetie, and I'm pretty sure they're just as nervous about this as you are."

Bella looked over at him, studying every detail. When she had first re-met him after moving to Forks, he had seemed… normal. Like any other teenage boy in a small town. Now, after everything that they had been through, she saw the quietly adept mind he had, the way he sorted through the bullshit of the matter and found just what she needed to feel better. She saw the amazing heart inside of him, how he loved so much. She saw how strong he was, that he was her rock and her protector. He was the big bad wolf that she loved to no end.

"You keep looking at me like that, and we're not going to make it to the Cullens' place."

Bella knew, she just knew, that she turned fifty shades of red at that one sentence, but she grinned anyway. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Jake growled low in his throat. "No, babe, I say it like it's a promise. And it is."

"Then maybe we should just—"

"No, Bells, we're going to do this. They need to do something to make what's happened okay, or they're going to go through the rest of their freakish half-lives feeling horrible. Leeches with a conscience. Whodathunk?"

Shaking her head, but smiling, Bella settled back into the seat. Jake kept her mind off what was to come by keep her off-balance, never exactly sure what he would say next. Sometimes it was sexual—the surest way to distract her—and sometimes it was sweet, and other times it was something that reminded her just exactly how brilliant he was.

And when they arrived at the house she had frequented so much mere months ago, it was Jacob who led the way towards the front door.

Alice was there before he could even knock, and the look in her eyes was enough to bring tears to Bella's own. "Alice," she said softly, and stepped into open arms. The two hugged as tightly as they could, given their structural differences, and Alice rambled into her friend's ear.

"I'm so, so sorry Bella. If I had ever seen this, I would never have let him convince us to leave. It was the wrong choice, and it screwed up so much—"

"Shh, Alice," Bella whispered, and stroked the pixie's back. "It's alright now. It was for the best, it really was. If you guys had never left, I would never have been free of him, would never have even dreamed that I would be as happy as I am with Jake."

"I suppose the mutt can come inside, then," came the voice of droll humor.

"Why thank you, your Supreme B—"

"I'm going to believe that was going to be Supreme Beauty." Rosalie's laughing voice came over Alice's shoulder. Quickly followed by Emmett's.

"So, I wanted to ask this yesterday, but wasn't able to. Seeing how you turn into a giant dog, which one of you is the bitch in the relationship?" The giant man grinned unrepentantly, while everyone else gaped in horror.

"Emmett!" Esme hissed, but Jake was just taking it in stride.

"Oh, well, you see, being a wolf's mate, Bella has her own curse. Because you know, once a month, she turns into this evil creature—

"Thaaaat's enough Jacob Black!" She rushed back to clamp a hand over his mouth, then turned to scowl at Emmett. "And just because Rose controls the handcuffs in the relationship doesn't mean you get to ask that about everyone else's, Emmett."

The family guffawed, including Emmett, but he soon laughed so hard he probably would have turned red, had he been able to. "Oh my god! She grew a pair while we were gone! I love this!"

Rose winked at Bella. "Notice that he doesn't deny it."

"Aw, babe, you know I love it when you—"

"Bella!" Carlisle spoke over his children, coming forth to draw the couple into the house further. "It's so wonderful to see you again. Given how much has happened, I must admit I am amazed at your acceptance of us again, after everything that has happened."

"It wasn't your fault, Carlisle. It wasn't anyone's fault but his, and I don't blame any of you at all. You're like another part of the family, to me." She smiled at them, and Esme looked like she was crying tearlessly.

The matriarch stepped forward and hugged Bella, rocking ever so gently back and forth. Bella felt tears flow into her eyes at the motherly action. To think, just a few years ago she had always been the one to take care of Renée, never had a mother who had acted like the ones in fairytales. And now, after moving to Forks and then to La Push, she had two, one in Emily and Esme. She was so incredibly lucky, and so incredibly moved when Emse kissed her forehead before moving back. "You have always been a part of our family, Bella. Which is why we have a present for you. Well, actually, two presents for you."

"Two? But—"

"Your birthday was kind of ruined." Jasper spoke up, the southern drawl heavy as he spoke. His eyes were tinged with guilt, and Alice leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"You didn't mean to, darling."

"Alice is right. Jasper, it was a complete accident. It really wasn't your fault. It just sort of sucked all around that week." Bella grinned and rolled her eyes, showing him that she didn't blame him a single bit.

"Alright, enough sentimentality. Your first gift is just behind you." Rosalie pointed to Bella's left, and the younger woman turned and saw car keys on the table.

"I'm confused. Is it a clue to go somewhere, or something?" Bella looked back to them.

"You need something other than that horrible truck. So while you and your…"

"Boyfriend? Hubby? Jacob? Boy toy?" Bella grinned at Rose's pause.

"We'll let you add that in, then. While you two go check out the car, Emmett is going to smash that monstrosity to pieces."

"Hey, now, it's not that—"

"The new one is worth it, trust me."

The moment they entered the garage, Jake's sound—it was a moan, Bella swore to god he actually moaned—gave way to just how good this gift was. In front of them, sparkling in the lights, was a black—as in midnight black, no color at all black—car. It was beautiful. All sleek and muscled and perfect. "What is that thing?" Bella asked, wanted to touch it, but not wanting to go anywhere near it at the same time.

"That thing, Bells, is the most expensive car in the world."

Bella looked back at the Cullens in horror. "This is a birthday present?" she screeched in horror.

Alice grinned unrepentantly. "It's the second fastest car in the world as well."

Bella turned back to Jake. "You're driving it home. I'd wreck it in three seconds."

Jake gave her a look that was so near sexual ecstasy it was wrong. Her mate was nearing orgasm from a car. A car.

"This, dearest Bella, is the Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir, able to go from 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, reaches up to 253 mph, and is one hell of a ride." Emmett walked up to Jacob and clapped him on the shoulder. Apparently the lust for an automobile transcended mere racial tension.

"It's $1,700,000 of pure beauty."

"And 8 miles a gallon," Rosalie whispered to Bella while the boys were busy lusting over the car. Bella looked back at Rosalie, and they sighed and rolled their eyes at the same moment.

Boys.

"That's why she's going to have this next present!" Alice came skipping forward and held something behind her back. "Close your eyes."

Bella looked suspiciously around the room, carefully scanning the faces around her. What were they up to now? Dutifully, though, she closed her eyes and allowed Alice to pull her hands forward. When an infinitesimally slight weight was placed in it, she opened her eyes.

And nearly dropped the check.

The check of ten million dollars. $10,000,000. Ten million dollars. Bella was pretty sure she made a choking sound, something that only a dying animal should make, because Jake was instantaneously at her side and examining her for life-threatening symptoms. "Bella? Bells, what's wrong?"

"They're nuts! They're absolutely fucking nuts! A car that's almost two millions bucks, and now this!" She showed him the piece of paper, and Jake completely stilled.

When he looked up, his eyes were serious. "I'd thought it might be something like this. When you said something last night," his gaze travelled to Emmett, then back to the rest of them, "I'd wondered if you planned to give her something like this."

"We're not trying to buy her affections," Esme said hurriedly, misinterpreting the look in his eyes. "We just wanted to make sure she never had to worry about college, or buying a house, or never having enough to buy something she might like! We didn't intend to—"

Jake smiled. "Calm down. She's just going to be panicking for the rest of the day, until she can deposit it to the bank."
"Jake, I can't just deposit ten million dollars in the bank!"

"Actually, it's technically already in the bank. This was just so she could see. So you don't even need to stress about that, Bella!"Alice beamed, which quickly turned into a grin. "And besides, since Jacob seems to like how fast the car goes so much, I'll finally be able to race somebody!"

"Oh… my god," Bella leaned against Jake for support, feeling lightheaded. She had absolutely no idea how she was going to explain this to Charlie, or to anyone at the reservation. She didn't want the car! A nice little Ford would have done it! A Mustang, if they had wanted to be really adventurous! But the most expensive car in the world? And especially a car that only got eight freaking miles to the gallon? Uh-uh. It would be a nice getaway car should they need a weekend out sometime. After this, she was getting a hybrid. A nice, stable little Honda hybrid car. That Insight car, that would be nice. Or an electic car. Something under a million dollars and more affordable on her wallet in the long run. And the money was going to a savings account, where it would sit nice and untouched for her grandchildren. And her great-grandchilden. And their kids, and their kids. Forever. She wasn't going anywhere near that money. Or better yet, the tribe could have it! That would be so much better! Then she wouldn't have to know that it was hers alone!

"Calm down, Bells."

Jake's voice snapped her out of her panic attack. He was rubbing her back, enfolding her into the warmth of his body and simply letting the feel of his strength seep into her. Slowly, oh so slowly, her breathing slowed down, the blood stopped rushing in her ears, and the spots faded from her eyes. She stayed there for a few more deep breaths, needing his solidity and warmth to stay calm.

"Bella?" Esme's voice was tentative, worried.

"I don't know how to thank you. It's just… a little overwhelming," she chuckled, and turned in Jake's arms. "I have… absolutely… no idea how to thank you, for all that you've done."

Esme came forward again and brushed a wayward lock of hair from her face. "Baby girl, you never have to thank us for something like money. We know that it's going to a savings account, where you will refuse to touch it and share as much as you can with someone else." Esme winked. "But the car, you will enjoy occasionally, as will Jacob."

"Oh, hell yeah. Baby, we need a test drive."

"I need you to promise me something, before I accept these," Bella said in a small voice.

The Cullens glanced each other for a moment. "Name it," Carlisle said gently.

"I know you'll probably have to leave, but promise me you'll try to make it back for a holiday every once in a while, or at least keep in touch and send me pictures." She smiled hopefully.

"I think we can manage that," Carlisle smiled back.

"You know what else we can manage?" Emmett clapped his hands and everyone started to express looks of anxiety at the eagerness on his face. "Along with the Bugatti, I wanted to get the SSC Ultimate Aero, so it's on, dog-breath."

"Hey, what am I, chopped liver?"

"Your little Ferrari will be left in the dust." Emmett scoffed with a sneer.

"Not with the adjustments I had made on it." The boys looked over at her with curiosity lighting their eyes, and the trio looked a hairsbreadth away from gunning it for their cars. Well, Bella's car, in Jake's case.

"Jake, tomorrow. For now, we need to get home, and I need to mourn for my truck, and we need to figure out what to do with all of that… that…"

"Money, sweetheart. And sure, we'll figure out what to do with it."

"I would suggest investing it, at this point. Apple looks like it's going to have a very good streak for a while."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "I could have told you that."

"That's only because you spend so much money after accidentally breaking them all the time, dearest. They'd never be able to afford their business, otherwise."

Rose smiled cheekily at him, to which Emmett shrugged and grinned some more.

Jake pulled Bella towards the car, opening her door and helping her to slide into the low seats before gently closing her door. Once she was inside the sound-proof container that served his purpose, Jake walked over to the vampires, the beings who—until only a short time ago—had been his mortal enemies by nature.

"Thank you. Once she gets over the shock of all of this, she's probably going to find a million and one things to do with the car, the money… everything. All of which will probably change life for the better around here, so… thank you." He reached out his hand and shook with Carlisle.

"If there is anything you or your tribe ever need, Jacob, Bella will know how to reach us. Please, never hesitate to call us."

"And don't forgot, fur-face, tomorrow it's on like Donkey Kong!"

Old-gold eyes met amber, and the two males grinned. "You have no idea, bat-breath. It is so. On."