I don't own Twilight, S.M. does, I do own I love Vamps Necklace

Chapter 55

Holidays are hard sometimes

I thought the Cullen's went overboard with Halloween, that was just a minor decorating job compared to what they do for Christmas.

First, I think every twinkle light in the greater Port Angeles area was brought by Esme and Alice. They were strung on every tree both coming up the almost mile long drive, but every tree in the backyard also. They talked about setting up with the computer securitized with holiday music. They shot that idea down since they frankly get sick of the music usually by the third day. But I told them who doesn't?

They put a temporary pond in the backyard and froze it over to make a ice skating rink. I told them good luck in getting me on that with skates because there is no way in hell I want my Christmas present be a visit to the ER with two broken ankles.

Jasper brought in two snow making machines to cover the lawn in snow even though it usually doesn't snow here except for a few times a year, but the Cullen's house get it more often since they live higher up on in the mountains compared to the town. The reason he brought in two machines is because Jasper is building a sledding hill of sorts. He's already made it tall enough almost as tall as the house. He just finished laying out the track around the main hill. Now he is hollowing out the middle so we could get to the starting point on the top. The track wraps around the main hill a three times before it shoots you away from the hill to a banking turn that whips you back to the hill again before shooting towards the woods with a two camel backs. Jasper claims its going to be pretty fast but I'm going to have to take his word for it till I get a chance to ride that baby.

The inside of the house looks like the North Pole except without those annoying elves running around, we don't need them. We already have one big annoying elf and that's Emmett. Each room on the first floor had a tree. Each couple had a tree that was all theirs and the one in the great room was a tree that was at least fifteen feet tall.

Esme and Carlisle's tree was in his office. It had different ornaments they have collected over the years. The oldest being the glass gold star for on top of their tree. Carlisle told me that its over two hundred and thirty years old. I watched as Esme carefully set down a silver case. The kind you see people carry guns or high tech machinery.

"What's that Esme." I watched curiously as she opened the metal case. Inside was the most beautiful gold glass star. I've never seen anything like it. It was eight starred. From point to point it was eight inches across too.

"It was given to Carlisle while he was in Italy. The glassmaker was rumored to be a gypsy." Esme carefully picks up the star and carries it over for me to inspect while she continues the story. "He told Carlisle to not put this out until the last point of light joins him. At first Carlisle humored the old glassmaker and tried to purchase it from him. The glassmaker refused saying bad luck would follow him if he accepted money for a gift god gave him to pass on. That was two hundred and thirty three years ago."

"Your telling me that," I'm pointing at the star afraid to touch it, lets face it I'm a one woman wreaking crew sometimes, " Survived move after move without breaking for over two hundred years?" I couldn't keep glass from breaking from just one of my moves let alone hundreds.

"For the two hundred or so years he kept it in the vaults at the Volturi. They have a museum full of items from many centuries. Carlisle figured it was the safest place because he was basically nomadic during that time. It wasn't until Jasper and Alice joined us in the fifties that he called Aro as asked for it to be sent. It wasn't until Alice and Jasper showed up he had hope it wouldn't be long until the last point joined us." Esme smiles at me gets up and gives it to Carlisle.

I hadn't notice everyone now joined us in the study. We all watched while Carlisle gently placed the star on top of the tree. He turns and looks at me, "It took you long enough."

Everyone started laughing.

"Sorry!" I playfully mocked, "I got here as soon as I could!"

=S.F.=

Christmas with the Cullen's is something. Charlie and I spent Christmas Eve at the main house. Charlie had commented to Tanya he always wished he had a bigger family when Christmas came. So the Cullen's opened the door and gave both of us a Hallmark Christmas. We sang carols, drank hot cider while watching the vamps ice skate on the pond. Edward begged for me to give it a try, but I refused preferring to spend the holidays on both of my feet and not crutches. We took many runs down the snow hill. It was fast, I was to scared to go by myself so Edward and I would go down together.

Emmett and Rose are due home any minute. I can't wait to see them. They made their trip into a mini-honeymoon. Which to most of us is funny because when aren't they on a mini-honeymoon? I must of gone through so many boxes of ear plugs since staying here. But at least I'm not listen to Tanya and Charlie, that's just too weird for me.

On Christmas Eve Edward and I gave everyone our present. We worked together and composed a song. The song is mostly about Edward's struggle with what he is and how lonely he was until I showed up. In a way it was a lot about me also. So Edward spent weeks just teaching me the three cords that I needed to play to go with this song. At least all I had to do is strum, I have a problem with plucking mixing up the strings.

We were all gathered in the great room. A roaring fire going keep those among us needing warmth nice and toasty.

Edward ran and got both of our guitars and we stood before the family that was home at the moment.

I looked over at Alice and she nodded her head saying "It's time."

"This is Edward's and mine Christmas present to all of you. It's a song we both wrote together and we hope you enjoy it. It's called

Christmas TV."

We both brought our guitars up before leaning in for a kiss and then began to play.

It's okay to have scars, they will make you who you are

It's okay to have fear, as long as you're not scared of coming here

And in the middle of the night, just call if you wanna talk

'Cause you know that I wanna talk too

It's not bad of you to think of what might go wrong

But you can't blame me for secretly hoping that I'll prove you wrong

It's okay that I pray that you will miss your flight

And have to stay with me another night

And it is brutal, it's brutal, why can't you see

It's brutal, it's brutal, where have you been

'Cause we're far apart and my lonely heart

Finds it hard to get through the night

You pull me out of the dark and now it's light

You pull me out of the dark and now it's light

When we're out in the market and out on the streets

I've got a pocket full of problems and a pocket full of seeds

Hoping something good might grow out of this mistletoe

And I won't have to erase your memory

I like the way that our arguments stop when we fall asleep

And the way that your body feels when it's wrapped around me

And I'd like it if you made it to mine by Christmas Eve

So you can hold me

And we'll watch Christmas TV

And it is brutal, it's brutal, why can't you see

It's brutal, it's brutal, where have you been

'Cause we're far apart and my lonely heart

Finds it hard to get through the night

You pull me out of the dark and now it's light

You pull me out of the dark and now it's light

So come on home, just come on home

Just come on home, just come on home... (repeat 24 x)

Just as we finished the front door swung open reveling a very happy Emmett and Rose.

"Honey I'm home!" Emmett boomed while walking through the door. Everyone rushed forward except for Charlie to greet our family who been go so long.

After the mutual hug fest was over we all returned to the great room. Kimba came out of hiding to say hello to Rose and hiss at Emmett.

"Damn it!" I heard Emmett rumble "I thought for sure Kimba would forgive me by now."

We all sat down while Rose filled us in on their visit to South America. They found the Amazon coven fairly quickly. After convincing them they were only after knowledge, they helped Rose and Emmett track down the elusive duo. Once they got to talking with them and earned their trust by telling them that Alice has visions of the future and she saw Carlisle having to deal with a hybrid pregnancy. They just wanted to leave the satellite phone with them incase Carlisle had questions to help him if Alice's visions came true. They seemed eager to help as long as they can stay where they are. I figured as much. Those two didn't seem to get out of the jungle much from the book.

Emmett then went on about all the wildlife Rose and him encountered while down there. I start to zone out while the others listen in rap attention.

I just sat there next to Edward staring at the Christmas tree. My mood for the last few weeks has been getting worse and worse. I keep pushing the feeling of sadness away, not knowing why I'm sad. I've been trying to keep myself busy, between extra shopping with Alice and Rose, to finishing up Esme's Christmas present. It help keep my mind busy while Edward wasn't around. I couldn't show him I'm sad because he would ask why. I couldn't tell him. Because until now I didn't know exactly why I'm feeling so blue and down. I'm surprised Jasper hasn't ratted me out. I know he has gotten brief flashes by the looks he has given me.

I stare at the blinking white lights on the tree I start thinking about my kids. I remember my oldest son's first Christmas. We were in a new home and barely getting by. We couldn't afford Christmas presents for him or us. It didn't bother us we couldn't get something for each other, but we felt so bad we couldn't even give him a stuffed animal. We had no family near us, and we didn't tell anyone of our struggles. We just hope and prayed that Christmas Eve that we would be able to afford something next year. The next morning Chuck went out to get the paper off the front stoop and came back with a box full of presents. Inside the box was a letter from Santa. All it said was Merry Christmas, love Santa. The box had some children books, puzzles, and a few toys for a baby Charles's age. Also hand made hats and mittens for all of us. We never found out who left that on our porch, but every year when we could afford we donated to toys for tots and the food bank always got donations from us. That was the year I realized Santa was real and not a made up childhood character. Santa can be in anyone.

I smile as I remember each Christmas I spent with my kids and Chuck. Some years the tree was overflowing with presents others just enough presents for the kids eyes light up with joy. They never complained about what they didn't get, they understood how things worked when it came to money. But they knew we did our best giving what we could. I now know why I'm so sad and blue. This is my first Christmas without my kids. It hurts, a lot, I can't even go over to Sultan for a visit. Chuck took the kids to Disneyworld this Christmas. It was a trip I helped them plan last year before I died. My wish for my remains, since I was cremated, was for them to be scattered at Disneyworld. I was there on opening day, my dad did the sound for the hall of presidents and space mountain. I went once every two years after that thanks to my grandparents. I went there on my honeymoon even. So I felt it was a perfect place to put me to rest.

I feel a cool arm come over my shoulders, "Love, what's wrong?" Edward whispers in my ear.

I look up at Edward, "Nothing why?" I really don't want to bring anyone else down with my blues.

Edward takes his hand and runs it across my cheek. "Your crying Bella. Why?"

I quickly wipe away tears I didn't realize I was crying. I look at the others. Charlie appears to be wrapped up in Emmett's stories of big game he brought down, while most of the others, mainly Jasper, are looking at me. I snuggle into Edward arms and whisper lowly knowing Charlie won't be able to hear me but the others will. "I just realized why I've been sad these past few weeks." I can feel the tears threaten to fall once again, "This is the first Christmas I haven't spent with my kids and it just hit me really hard just now."

Edward pulls me on to his lap and just hugs and kisses me. Whispers sweet nothings in my ear while I cry. Charlie finally takes notice and I just tell him I'm just missing Renee. Charlie still doesn't know who I really am on the inside, he just recently accepted there are vampires and werewolves in town.

Tanya and Charlie finally admitted their love for each other. But Charlie hasn't decided if he wants to become a vampire. He feels he is too old and wouldn't be able to keep up with a vampire as young as Tanya. I don't think Tanya has told Charlie her true age yet since she is the oldest one in the room we are in right now when it comes down to it. I would love to be a fly on the wall when the age thing hit's the fan.

=S.F.=

Christmas came and went. The Cullen's generosity overwhelmed me. I got a load of new clothes from Alice and Rose, Emmett and Jasper gave Charlie and I a new X-box with the Kinect plus all the games available on it. I personally love Dance Central, I don't feel like a total moron playing it. Carlisle and Esme gave me plane tickets so I could visit Renee again.

Edward's gift was one I couldn't take my eyes off of.

I sit here in front of the fire while everyone is outside playing. I watch as the rainbow of colors dance around me. Edward gave me the heart diamond. Its bigger than I thought and heavier. He placed in on a platinum bracelet. When he placed in on my wrist he said word for word just like in the book. If I wasn't moved to tears by his speech I would have been giggling like a fan girl.

I ended up giving the whole family one gift. I made an exact replica of their house here in Forks. It took me eight months and almost five grand to build it. Esme helped with the design issues since I couldn't buy a dollhouse kit I could rape and mold like I do normally. I had to cut each piece myself. The boys were most impressed that I was able to use power tools without loosing a finger. I decided against telling them that I once cut my leg open to the muscle once with an Exacto knife in my past life while working on a house. That was a gross injury and very bloody.

I gave Alice, Rose, Tanya and Esme necklaces with their mates initial and I got one in return from them. Alice's 'J' was amethyst jewel since purple is his favorite color on Alice. Rose' 'E' was ruby for the same reason. Esme's 'C' was opal since Carlisle thinks Esme looks good in everything, which we all thought was sweet. Tanya's 'C' was emerald because of Charlie's love of Forks natural color. Mine was sapphires of course. The guys seemed to love the necklaces also. When I figured out why exactly they were thrilled with them I felt stupid for taking so long to figure it out. It comes back to the age old thing of being 'claimed' by one's mate. So when it comes down to it, all men especially vampire men are cavemen.

The boys each got an I-pad, more clothes and a trip to Steven's pass for skiing. The Cullen's gave Charlie a deep freeze filled with venison and bear steaks. I could tell Charlie loved his gift, me not so much. I hate venison and bear just too gamey for me. Wonderful I'll go into the next life with the distaste of those animals cutting my supply down to big cats or cows.

I hear the back door open and Edward walks in covered in snow. I start laughing.

"What happened to you?"

"Damn Emmett! He threw a snow covered boulder at me."

I blink once….twice….thrice. Then loose it.

"Oh my kittens! How in the hell did he sneak up on you?"

Edward brushes the snow off of himself, takes off his jacket. Why he is wearing a jacket god only knows, I choose not to question shit like that. He joins me in front of the fire lying above me, then shakes his head while droplets of water fall on me.

I squeal and try to move away but he holds me firm.

"You don't want to know."

"Yes I do."

"No, you really don't."

"Aww, come on!" I plead

Edward sighs, "Alright you asked for it. He was thinking about taking Rose snowboarding."

"So?"

Edward looks at me.

"What? So he wanted to take Rose snowboarding. Big deal they got that thing for Steven's pass they should have fun."

"No, you don't understand. He wants to take Rose snowboarding without using a snowboard."

I look at him confused. Take her snowboarding without the snowboard. How in the fuck can they do that?

"I don't get it."

Edward looks frustrated. He closes his eyes. "He wants to fuck Rose in the snow."

"OHHHHHHHHH." I start giggling. Damn I'm slow today. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

"I was trying to be polite." Edward leans down and kisses me ever so gently on my lips.

"Ahh, the forever gentlemen, god I love you." I return his kiss.

"I have to thank you again for what you did for Chuck and the kids. You have no idea how much worry for their future I had."

The Cullen's have given Chuck a check for six million dollars for him and the kids. Two million for each of them. They set it up like it was from an insurance policy from their dummy corporation they have for things like this.

"I knew you were worried about them."

I look up at him, "How? I don't remember talking to you about my worries of them."

He soft golden eyes soften even more. "You talked about it in your sleep."

"What did I say?"

"Mostly about house payments, your kids not having enough to go to collage. A few times you would say 'Now remember Chuck if millions of dollars appear out of the blue in your checking account, take the money and run.'"

I'm shocked, I said that right before I died, "Really? I said that?"

Edward nods his head and brings his hand up and pushes a lock of my hair behind my ear.

"I told him that right before I died, I was joking with him."

We lay quietly before the fire for a bit before Edward breaks the silence.

"What are you thinking?" Edward questions

"I was thinking about the book. During this time of the book is when your book self were gone for months. After the break up." I roll over and look at him. "In the book it was just the months name for four months, nothing was written. Book Bella became a zombie, and from what I understand you didn't fair any better. It hurt both of them being apart."

"What was I doing during that time?"

"Trying your skills at tracking down Victoria, and gave up after while with no success. You ended up in some rat infested attic in Brazil, curled up in a ball." I can see the pain come across Edwards face, I pull myself up and grasp his face in my hands. "That is why it was so important we avoided it this time. You books self was so concerned about physically hurting Book Bella that he never took into account the emotional scars would be the most painful thing. Physical scars heal quickly compared to emotional scars. I know this from first person experience. My mother would hit me that type of pain I could accept but her hurtful words caused me the most pain growing up, not the beatings."

"How long before our book selves get back together?"

"Ten months. It wasn't until Book Edward decided to kill himself because he thought Book Bella was dead. She stopped him from stepping into the sun on Saint Marcus day in Voultia. I'm so happy I don't have to do that in this lifetime. I can't run for shit."

"Well I think we have had enough of this deep talk, so lets go out and play with the others." Edward springs up on his feet offering a hand out to me.

I take his hand, "Okay, I think I've warmed up enough anyway. Let me just grab my sunglasses first. You all are blinding with the sun alone, add in snow it almost burns my corneas."

=S.F.=

It's 12:20 in the morning New Years day. We just got finished watching 'Rocking at the Needle' on television. I would love to go down one year and attended the festivities but I enjoy being warm and not squished into a place where a bunch of strangers could touch me. God I hate crowds.

Alice pops up from her seat holding a DVD. "It's time to watch the video!" she announces to the room. Luckily Charlie is working the eleven to seven shift and isn't here for this.

I groan and try to bury myself into Edward's chest. "Please Alice, no!"

"It's going to be fine Bella, I did an edit on all the video from that weekend and put to the music of your favorite song, Last Friday Night."

I groan once again. "I can't believe your doing this to me Alice."

"Come on I want to see this!" Emmett perks up.

Alice goes over to the DVD player and inserts the disk. After a few seconds of static the video opens.

There's a stranger in my bed,

It opens with me passed out on the hotel bed, my feet where my head should be and my head hanging over the edge.

There's a pounding my head

Now it's showing Kitty and I looking like death warmed over on the couch together. God I look horrible, makeup all runny.

Glitter all over the room

Pink flamingos in the pool

I smell like a minibar

Now a shot of the EMPTY mini-bar.

"We cleaned out the Mini-Bar?" I was shocked, and surprised I didn't die of alcohol poisoning.

"Sure did Bella, we tried to stop you even trying to hide it. But you have some freaky six-sense when it comes to finding Vodka." Alice smirks at me.

"I'm just full of surprises, comes from years of thinking like my kids."

DJ's passed out in the yard

Barbie's on the barbeque

This a hickey or a bruise

"Wow, Bella is that a hickey or a bruise." Rose asks

I see the three inch bruise on my outer thigh. "Got me. I don't even remember being hurt. Of course the next morning my whole body hurt."

"I remember that, you ran into a bar stool arm."

"Why doesn't that surprise me." Edward chuckles behind me.

( pre chorus )

Pictures of last night

Ended up online

I'm screwed

Sure enough Alice posted pictures of Kitty, Tanya, Kate and I dancing on top of the bar on Facebook. I'm going to fucking kill me some Bubbles.

Oh well

It's a blacktop blur

But I'm pretty sure

it ruled

Damn

( Chorus )

Last Friday night

Yeah we danced on tabletops

Oh god, there is Kitty and I dancing on top of our table with each other. "What bar is this?"

"Oh this is the third bar we went to."

Again looks like I was having fun and feeling no pain.

And we took too many shots

Now I'm doing a body shot off of Tanya. Damn now I wish I remembered that! At least it wasn't Kitty, that would have been weird. I can feel Edward grumbling behind me. I pat his chest trying to calm him down. But the next shot got him grumbling all over again.

Think we kissed but I forgot

"HOLY CRAP I KISSED KATE?" Shit, I did forget that.

Last Friday night

Yeah we maxed our credit cards

Then got kicked out of the bar

Now we are dancing in a circle at yet another bar and some guy puts his hands on my hips. Edward is in full growl now until he see's me turn around knee the guy then punch him in the nose, turn around and continue dancing until the bouncer came up and kicked us out for fighting.

"Wow Bella, you decked him good." Jasper says all proud.

"I'm amazed I didn't end up on my ass while doing it." I'm a bit proud myself.

So we hit the boulevard

Last Friday night

We went streaking in the park

Sure enough the part I've been dreading, I'm naked running through Centennial park with just my thong and some pasties on.

"Isabella your in some deep trouble little girl." Edward growls in my ear.

"Well at least I kept most of my bits covered." I look up at him trying to be contrite.

Skinny dipping in the dark

Well there goes the pasties and the panties. We broke into the hotel pool after hours and we all went skinny dippin'. Good lord this keeps up I'm not going to sit for a week!

Then had a menage a trois

Just a naked group hug with Alice and Tanya. I'm relived that was all.

Last Friday night

Yeah I think we broke the law

Always say we're gonna stop

But this Friday night

Do it all again

This Friday night

Do it all again

The video is over and most of the men in the room are looking a bit pissed. Mainly Jasper and Edward. Carlisle and the rest of the girls look amused. I just want to crawl into a hole and hide.

Tanya breaks the silence, "I think we should do that again!"

"NO!" screams all the males even Emmett.

"Try and stop us boys." Rose speaks up, "Cause we girls are so going to do that again since I missed the last time."

Yeah, it might be worth the red ass to do that again now I see the video, but next time not as many shots. I want to remember more.

=S.F.=

Sorry this has taken a month to do, but my beta aka daughter moved out this last month and between that and then waiting for her to visit to beta my story cause the delay. Hopefully this will be the longest it takes for me to post a chapter again. I've already started the next one so look for it next week.