Chapter 31

Deck the Halls

Just like every other year Willow spent in Forks, her Christmases with Richard were always quiet and serene. With just the two of them in the house, sometimes the Forresters or Kennedys would invite them over if they were staying in town for the holiday but most of the time, it meant a quiet lunch on Christmas Eve and opening one present under the tree as per tradition. Richard sometimes got a little too into the wine but all he ever turned into was an 'I'm so proud of you!' drunk which never failed to make Willow smile.

That year was no different.

Except what with the cast on her lower left leg and the fact that Willow could only really move as far as her bedroom currently without getting winded even with crutches. With the first season of Stargate on because what else could they both agree on, Richard sat picking at leftovers as Willow had the series of small canvases sitting by her on the floor, one by one being fine-lined. She had gotten everyone another present or two as well, but the idea had hit her when she had been sitting up one early morning dawn in hospital and, with all the spare time on her hands, she decided to go with it.

Hopefully, the Cullens liked them.

'You know what I find hilarious,' Willow commented as she watched the tv for a bit, 'the fact that they're called Colonel Makepeace.'

'That is ironic.'

'You know the more I watch this, the more I wish I just downloaded my humour from Jack, I'm not gonna lie. Or have Daniel's luck.'

'Not Sam's smarts?'

'God no,' Willow scrunched her nose up, 'like I love space, space is great, wonderful even but I do not like math, and I don't think adding a scientistic side to it, for example, space math would make me like it anymore.'

Richard laughed into his beer bottle. 'Astrophysics isn't space math.'

'It is the combo of chemistry – which I am not bad at – and physics that explain space. Put them together, and you get space math.'

'Okay.'

'You're placating me, aren't you?'

'A little bit.' He glanced at his watch, settling deeper into his chair. It had been getting late. 'One last episode and then I have to get ready for work.'

'What time you on at again?'

'Nine to nine. And then one to ten tomorrow. Then seven to seven-thirty on Boxing Day. Whoopee for me.'

'It's for a reason.'

His suit had been altered with ease by Elizabeth who also had gone with him to help pick out a tie. And he would not tell her who it was he was taking with him to the wedding, all she knew what that he had known her for a while. Alice and Edward would tell her nothing and Carlisle was as silent as the grave on the subject no matter how much she pleaded.

Her eyes drifted to the rosemary plant that sat on the windowsill and the poinsettia on the dining room table and there was a present from Genevieve under the tree as well – from Rachael and Jonny and then the Help respectfully – there was an abundance of 'get well soon' and Christmas cards and even little Finn had made her one, Sarah having sent a matching little elephant stuffy that sat upstairs beside Dragon. Mother hadn't said anything. All Willow knew was that she was happy that she wasn't dead. Or at least that is what she thought. Even damn time the phone went Willow felt her entire body lock up, stomach-dropping to her feet as if Mother was going to shout at her about trying to one-up Genevieve on her big day.

If Willow was being honest, it had been a few weeks since Thanksgiving and she hadn't heard a peep from her.

Now the other shoe just had to drop.

It was only a matter of time.

Shaking her head, ridding her mind of those macabre thoughts, Willow focused on the canvas in her lap, mocking along to the theme of the next episode, Richard's deep baritone matching as he finished his only beer of the holidays.

Now wasn't the time to dwell on the negatives.

'Merry Christmas.'

'Holy…that is one hell of a jumper, Emmett.' Willow laughed as she swung out of Jasper's mustang, one big bag of presents hanging off one crutch and Jasper grabbed the other box out of the back. Emmett was wearing what looked like just your regular red-and-white Christmas sweater if it wasn't for the green t-rex upper body that protruded from his chest. 'Wait, please tell me…'

'That there's a back to it. Bam.' And there was the tail. 'Gimme the bag, woman.'

With a huff, knowing that it would be far easier to get up the stairs without it, Willow handed it over, swinging up the steps more agilely than before. 'Let it be decreed that if the Wonder Twins let out even a peep of what is the box that Jasper is carrying, I will know and I will be telling Santa and you'll be getting coal next year.'

Alice pouted by the fireplace, a Tinkerbell sweater on with actual bells because why wouldn't she? 'Rude.'

'Not as rude as spoiling other people's presents.' Willow threw back as she shrugged off her many layers including the new oatmeal coloured hat that Genevieve gave her for Christmas that year that got jammed into the pocket.

Esme came over, smelling of gingerbread and cheer, hugging her softly. 'Besides, Alice Cullen, we have other guests that should be arriving within the next ten minutes so you will wait.'

Rosalie threw a thing of popcorn at her as she strung up fresh things of popcorn on the tree, 'It's not as if you and Edward don't already know what they are anyway.'

'But it drives me mad.' Came Edward's deadpan response, where he leant on the eaves of the living room, actually looking like a seventeen-year-old and not his actual age in what looked like a dark pair of chinos and a pale blue button-up. 'Thanks, Willow.'

She grinned at him as Jasper tucked her crutches away and she snagged the bowl of popcorn out from Rosalie's slacking grip. 'Be proud of your work.'

'Don't quote Jack O'Neill at me.' He huffed a laugh.

Jasper sat beside her, arm over the back of the sofa, 'But they're so alike.'

Her head snapped towards her boyfriend. 'Really? Wow, I also thought I was more like Hammond.' She pushed her glasses, 'Or Daniel.'

'The way you try and break the tension with words, your dry sense of humour—' Jasper began to list off on his fingers.

Alice picked up. 'The utter distaste you have for formal occasions—'

'That's because of my mother.'

'—you really like cake.' Emmett threw out, probably not wanting to be left out.

'I do.' Willow admitted. 'And I don't mind the Simpsons.'

'See?' Edward pointed out, 'More like him than you think. Also, you always want at least some form of plan in place or you may have a breakdown.'

There it is. Willow had wondered when someone was going to bring that up.

'And you tend to give people with long names a nickname.' Rosalie offered. 'Which, from what I've seen, Jack does too.'

'Because Georgiana is so long. And Lu is just easier to say.'

'Speaking of…' Alice grinned and Willow wondered how stupid did the Seer think the rest of them were? Anyone with a brain could see that the two of them were doing some weird mating dance. The question just was, when in the fuck were they going to get together?

Speaking of time, Willow leant over to Jasper. 'What about food? Like, what's the lie you're going to be feeding them?'

'That we spent the morning down in the homeless shelter in Port Angeles.' Jasper's words brushed her. Because of course, they did.

The humans traipsed in as Willow was giggling into Jasper; his blond hair shaking in amusement as she had to take her glasses off less, she smudged her eyeliner as she patted under her eyes. 'What's got you giggling, Moody?'

Wordlessly, she pointed over to Emmett as Georgie led the way into the living where Emmett had been moving over to Rosalie, the t-rex's ass moving with his rhythm which set her off yet again. Rosalie glistened as Sophie burst in what looked like a whirlwind of giggles and glitter, the blonde tugging the little girl happily into her lap as the brunette showed her the new Barbie that Santa had brought her.

Georgie flopped down beside her as Lucy grabbed the seat by Edward who had moved from the living room. 'Merry Christmas. Emmett, why the dancing T-re…oh, that makes sense.'

The lot of them all turned and blatantly stared at Alice and Scott who were 'talking' by the stairs. Wanting her friend to shift his ass, Willow grabbed a kernel of popcorn and flung a piece at him. Her vision went white as, in her illation of hitting him right on the back of the head, her fist came down on her cast. Right above her knee.

All of the ones who had watched her hand go down hissed, apart from Sophie whose Barbie was obviously more important. She was the only reason why Willow was able to swallow back the swear, mouthing it inside, tears of pain and shock burning the backs of her eyes. The pillow by her cramped her knuckles as she clung to it, her other hand in between her knuckles as Willow felt that thunderclap of pain right to her teeth.

'Dude,' Scott's voice came laughing from the doorway, 'all you had to do was call my name. You didn't have to injure yourself again.'

'Sorry,' she snarked, 'you just looked so enraptured I didn't want to distract you from the conversation you two were having.'

Carlisle came around the corner, eyebrow raised. 'What did you do?'

When in the fuck did someone call him? Or did he hear them? Had she actually blacked out?

The feel of an ice pack had her snapping back, biting back a hiss as it zinged down her nerves, fingers splaying a little. 'When did you last take your pain killers?'

'About eight this morning.' She grunted and he nodded to himself. Was he off to get her more pain killers, maybe someone should've just taken her leg off? It would probably have been less hassle.

Wait.

No.

She shouldn't think that. She liked both her legs and Willow knew how lucky she was to be able to have both. And that both would be working by the time the two months were up. The cast was just heavy and annoying and so goddamn itchy.

'What are you doing?'

Willow looked over to see Jasper giving her a bemused look as she gnashed her teeth on nothing. 'My foot is so itchy right now.'

'And what does doing…whatever you were doing do to help?'

She stared at her cast, to the art that was scattered across the blue and shrugged. 'Nothing. But it's the same idea as doing this,' Willow gnawed on the heel of her palm with her teeth, scratching it. 'I could have used my other hand to scratch it, but for some reason, my teeth just hit the itch just right.'

'What?' he laughed, confused as he came into the room.

Willow couldn't help the puff from her chest. 'I don't know. Humans are weird, okay? It's the purpose of the action that satisfies something in us.'

Jasper side-eyed her something major as he crawled over her, slipping his arms around her waist and just hugging her like she was a human-sized Dragon. Smiling down at the crown of his head, she began to run her fingers through his hair, feeling him just sag into her embrace. 'To be honest,' his chocolate gaze was amused as his chin rested on her sternum after a while, 'I've been watching you kick off your socks the second you fall asleep and then walk about the house without them for several months now. So, seeing you gnaw on the air because your cast itches don't surprise me.'

'Damn.' Willow muttered, pushing her glasses up, 'Now I have to think of something stranger.'

Jasper quirked a brow, a smile sneaking onto his face. 'Do you?'

Even with his weight on her, she managed to shrug. 'Dunno. We'll see. Now, what are we watching? I picked last time.'

Her head jerked back when Carlisle's hand floated into her peripheral but she took the painkillers with a thankful smile, downing them with the juice that was held out to her.

'You know, Willow,' Sophie piped up, 'you shouldn't throw things.'

Was she being told off by an eight-year-old?

'I shouldn't, no.' she agreed, 'but Scotty shouldn't be ignoring other people.'

'That's true.'

Georgie's voice drawled from her side, 'When did she turn into an eighty-year-old?'

'The fame has gone to her head.'

The three of them, Jasper on her other side, began to snicker as Emmett put on Elf. 'What time did she have you lot up?'

'Gremlin crawled into my room at five and I sent her right back to bed.'

'You're such a bitch.'

'She'll keel over, come like six so if Emmett wants to tire her out, he can go for it.'

As they watched the movie, Willow let her head rest against Jasper's shoulder. Rosalie seemed a little enraptured with Sophie, happily entertaining the little girl as everyone fell into separate conversations.

Apparently, Carlisle had given her strong as fuck pain killers as Willow, whilst she had seen the movie a few times that year, could not remember how Buddy had gotten from the North Pole to the apartment in New York, only that whatever monstrosity he was eating seemed vile. 'Why's he got to do that to perfectly good sweets? Why?'

'It's a movie, sweetie.' Lucy grinned and Willow stuck her tongue, finding Jasper's hand and the pattern of his grey pullover interesting. Also, that sparkly clip in Georgie's hair was really pretty. Her friend was glancing at her as she focused on the sparkles and Jasper absently caught her hand as she went to touch it.

'Are you high?' Georgie whispered.

'No,' Willow denied, she was on the sofa, not on the stairs. 'the clip is just really sparkly.'

She didn't notice Georgie flick her gaze up to Jasper who nodded quickly, mouthing, 'As a kite,' as she began to trace the outline to the stickman on her cast, tittering under her breathe at the feel of the cast on her finger. It felt funny so did the ice pack. It was squishy under her fingers. Like clay.

After a while, whilst her leg stopped hurting but her head was concrete on her neck. Nestling her head back against Jasper's shoulder, she watched the rest of the film through heavy lids before the adults came in and Sophie perked up as Esme clapped her hands, 'Presents!'

Precious…

Edward coughed into his elbow, more than a little amused by Willow's thoughts as Sophie helped Emmett hand the presents out from under the tree.

Oh, shit, Willow froze on the sofa, this meant showing Esme her painting. Oh fuck. Do it first? Nah, that would make it awkward. Last? No, again, that would make it hella awkward. Also, it might just blow everyone else's presents out of the water. Maybe Alice could help? She was the Seer after all. Eh, we'll see?

The 'Secret' Santa presents would be given out later so everything went pretty quickly. Willow was more grounded as she watched Carlisle open his present from her. 'Because they told me you didn't have a Certified Dad jumper!' she crowed as he laughed over the blue and red two-toned quarter zipper fleece. 'So now you, Dad, and Mr Forrester can match.'

'Thank you, Willow.' He grinned, mainly at the still slightly vacant expression.

'Welcome.' Jasper caught her attention from the other entryway where he had snuck off to hang Esme's present up and Willow smacked Georgie to hand her crutches over. 'Esme, if you could follow me into the hallway and shut your eyes. Rose if you could make sure she doesn't hit the wall.'

Her eyes brightened as of course, that meant the entire mob had to come with them. It actually seemed to work on the wall. That was a shock.

Willow cleared her throat. 'So, uh, we both know that this was supposed to be finished by the end of summer but then time got away from me, then you know, we fought a logger truck and lost so…ta da? Hope you like it.'

The canvas was 30" x 20" when it was vertical, which was one of the reasons it had taken her so long to get it done. Willow had underestimated how long that shit took, especially with it being acrylic instead of the wall paint she had used for the mural in the paediatric ward. But the amber and golden-toned forest looked aflame against the deep blue of the corridor walls and Willow had even put several sprigs of lavender and bluebells to make the colours truly pop. She hadn't realised how anxious she had been to see Esme's reaction when something relaxed in her chest as she cupped underneath her chin with both hands, a grin on her face.

'Oh Willow, it's perfect. More than worth the wait.'

Ignoring the blush on her cheeks, she smiled at the matriarch. 'You're welcome.'

Now if Edward, you could get the attention taken away that would be great?

'Me next!' cried Alice and bolted for the living room.

Jasper's hand rested on her back. 'And breathe.' Willow felt a little lightheaded as her forehead rested on his sternum, feeling him kiss her head. 'Told you she would like it.'

'I know, s'just nerve-wracking, that's all.'

'Hey,' Jasper murmured, his soft tone catching her attention, causing her to look up. Willow smiled into the gentle kiss he gave her before herding them both towards the living room away. Once presents were given out, mainly the adults and Sophie cooing over their new stuff.

As the day crawled on, and the humans got antsy for their presents, the Forresters and Kennedys had decided to call it early, what with Sophie drooling onto a happy Rosalie and Jolie Kennedy being a Boxing Day fiend. Scott, Georgie and Lucy had arranged to stay later and the adults left them to it, all of them moving to the den to hand out presents.

'Rosebud!' Willow called and the blonde clapped her hands for her, which she threw gently. As presents were passed out – Alice to Scott, Edward to her, Rosalie to Edward, Scott to Alice – did Alice rig that? – Jasper to Georgie, her to Rosalie and, Lucy to Jasper, Georgie to Emmett and Emmett to Lucy – everyone looked at each other before tearing into their own presents.

I hate you.

Edward grinned at her as she bit back a smile at the gorgeous chocolate leather art pouch with a sunflower and a W embossed in gold. 'Look into it.'

'I swear to God, Edward.' Willow growled and unzipped the little compartment and took out…colour swatches?

'They're watercolour paper pigments. All you do is run your water-filled brush over them.'

'That's so cool!' she grinned, bouncing on her seat. 'Thanks.'

She had been complaining that carrying a watercolour palette in her bag meant that she ran the risk of them cracking, even in the tin. The leather was butter smooth too and Willow found herself tracing the little flower and letter with her finger as she watched everyone else open their presents. Georgie appealed to Emmett's inner horror fiend with whatever that nightmare-inducing cackle that came from him. Alice must have got Scott something sports-related as the two of them were basically canoodling on the sofa with each other. Jasper was looking through what looked like playing cards and she peeked over to the box – Chronology – The Game Where You Make History – and then it clicked. Nice one, Lu. Emmett had gotten Lucy the sheet music to The Lion King where she and Edward sat flicking through it together. Rosalie had pulled on her present, the crewneck just this side of too big, STEMINIST proudly across her chest. Somehow it worked with the skinny jeans she had on. Because of course, it did. Georgie had laughed at the beaker terrariums but was currently engrossed over the periodic table element cards that Jasper had found when he had been in Port Angeles.

All in all, it was a good haul and everyone was more than happy with their presents.

After a few games of Chronology – where a fight was nearly committed between Emmett and Edward at least once – and as the snow began to fall a little more heavily, Emmett had happily agreed to drop the other humans home, his Jeep easily navigating the snow and ice back to town.

As he tumbled back into the house half an hour later, he crowed. 'Willow, what else is in the box?'

'Would you like to bring it in?' she asked, setting the hot chocolate down as he came bustling in, setting it down at her feet. 'Close your eyes! Well, apart from Edward and Alice because they already know what these are, and I need help handing them out.'

Five minutes later, the little square canvases were passed around to the right person and Willow cleared her throat. 'Go ahead.'

Rosalie gasped, a hand going to her mouth, as she took in the portrait in her hands. It was like she was looking back at her human self, even with the violet gaze that she thought she'd never see again but there they were. Immortalised on an emerald green background. Her eyes flicked to Emmett's and his bright, cheeky grin and beautiful curls stood against a burgundy. Completely different in terms of dress, what with him in steel grey Henley, suspenders and jeans but complementary on the burgundy background. Willow had their human selves and offered her artistic ability to bring them back.

Willow cupped the cup again. 'I don't know why I did these, but I guess it was because you all kind of…project, I guess, moments in time, or in history. And for those who have told me your stories, I guess I wanted to give you something back of it, even if that human life didn't end up so good. Edward and Alice helped with the references so hopefully, they're as correct as possible. For those that haven't told me, I didn't go snooping, I just went with what felt most like you.'

She looked over to Jasper as he kissed her temple and smiled at him. Whilst the idea of putting him in a uniform of the 1860s had set itself in her brain, the fact that that would've meant putting him into a Confederate Uniform made her brain go 'Nope' instead she chucked his profile in a waistcoat and slightly poofy shift and boy, did he look good in it. Especially on the deep sapphire. 'Why blue?'

'Sometimes,' she admitted, staring at his profile, 'to some, dark blue means transformation. And I know how much what you did and believed as a human, caused you pain and discomfort. So, I thought, I'd paint you and should you how far you'd come. You are not that man anymore. You've learnt and still are, from your past mistakes. Now, it's time to let it go.'

'Why green then?' Rosalie spoke quietly.

Willow wet her lips. 'This isn't me telling you to tell me your story, Rose, not until you're ready. But not only are those two,' she pointed between her and Emmett, 'complementary but emerald also means to renew something. Sometimes I get the feeling you'd probably wish you were human but, if it maybe hadn't been for your immortality, you'd've missed Emmett and vice versa. Maybe that's the way you should look at this life, at least a little. You two complement each other for a reason.'

'They're beautiful.' Rosalie cleared her throat and Willow pushed her glasses up for something to do with her hands. 'How'd you know I had violet eyes though?

'You did?'

'You guessed?' the blonde laughed.

Willow nodded and the thought on it. 'I don't know. The blues seemed a little too harsh with your hair but blue-violet complemented the shade so I went with it. Hm. Go me.'

She yawned into her arm and checked the time – 8.20 – Richard would be home soon. She'd best get going. In the minutes it took her to pull her shoe outside gear on, Esme had tucked some biscuits away into her bag and drew her into a hug. 'I love my paintings. Thank you so much.'

Willow could hear something in her tone that stopped her from saying her typical 'You're welcome' instead, hugging the woman back and murmuring, 'It was my pleasure.'

Rosalie gave her a hug too and all she did was hug back tight as well. Willow wouldn't push her. It wasn't her place to say anything.

Waving goodbye from the Jeep again, the two of them were quiet as the snow slowed to a gentle flurry. 'When did you come up with that idea?'

'The portraits?' he nodded. 'I had always wanted to, especially with you and Rosalie, it's the hair but I only started to paint them maybe Thanksgiving? I have the sketches in my watercolour book. I hope I didn't overstep with Rosalie.'

Jasper caught her hand before she could begin to gnaw on her fingers, instead, kissing the back, 'You didn't. You were right on the fact that she misses being human but what you said helped.'

Nodding, Willow let her head rest on his shoulder. 'I'm glad.'

As Willow came out of the bathroom with clean teeth, she stopped when she noticed Jasper had an A2 sized present beside him. 'What?' he grinned, 'You didn't think I didn't give you a present of your own, right?'

'You shouldn't have.'

'It's our first Christmas together. Of course, I had to.' He waited for her to sit down on the bed and handed it over. 'Open it.'

It was a print of something, going by the frame around it – perfectly matching the black with white border theme she had with her other ones – and Willow felt her breath catch as she read the bottom. 'Yellow Scrunchie, 12/01/04.'

'You're such a sap.' She grinned at him, immediately getting the meaning behind it. It was of the night sky the day they had met in school. As he took the paper, Willow took the print in more. It was of the constellations, she mused, recognising a few, the shades of blue in watercolour and the title on a little piece of black stock card, the font in a starburst of mustard typewriter font. Simple yet suited her style and room to a T.

She adored it.

Setting it against the bottom of her bed gently, Willow made grabby hands at him, causing Jasper to huff a laugh and step between her legs. 'I love it. Thank you. Where did you hide it?'

'On the top shelf in your wardrobe.'

'Wh—' she went to protest then it clicked as his eyebrow went up, 'wait, that makes sense.'

'You barely looked up there when you didn't have a cast on it anyway.' Jasper murmured and ducked for a kiss, scooting her back on the bed easily. She shivered pleasantly as his hand slid to the small of her back, encouraging her leg to slid around his waist, the denim rough against her soft cotton pyjamas that were hardly the sexiest of things considering they were covered in polar bears with candy cane scarves.

Oh well, she shrugged mentally as she pulled his sweater and button-up off and sat up to help him remove her own t-shirt of his, it wasn't like they were going to stay on anyway.

A quiet hour later, the two lay under the covers watching the snow gather on her window, even where it sat peering towards the front door, Jasper running his fingers up and down her spine, the window whistling through the trees.

'Hey Jasper,' Willow murmured, peering up at him.

'Hmm?'

'Merry Christmas.'

A beautiful private smile stretched across his face as he rolled on top of her again, bracketing her easily on his elbows, tucking a wayward curl away from her face. 'Merry Christmas.'

And he sealed his words with a kiss.

YOU THOUGHT THE LAST CHAPTER WAS BAD? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

No but seriously, thank you for the Birthday wishes. We had a quiet day with plans to reschedule our plans for some time that suits the others too. It sucked that it was another in lockdown, but if it stops/slows the spread of Miss Rona, then fair play.

So, in terms of timeline, I'm writing New Moon right now, still on the first chapter and things may be a little different to what you all will be used to. Not substantially, but just a little in terms of POVs so I hope you all stick with me.

I'm still fucking shocked I managed to finish the first book tbh, haven't really done that properly ever. Weird feeling.

Anyway,

Let me know what you all think,

Enjoy,

K x