The weather continued to grow colder. Daisy and I had avoided any of the small touches we'd advanced to in the weeks before hand. Christmas was two weeks away, and she hadn't brought up her consideration in going home for the holidays, so I'd accepted that she was staying.
Christmas for myself was always time for family, immediate and extended. I'd spent most of the days of the last fifteen years at Charlie's house, with Leah and my mom, Renesmee, and her parents, and Jacob tagging along with them, of course. I wondered if inviting Daisy to such a thing would freak her out, or whether she'd like the company. I still hadn't decided on whether to ask her or not, but I knew she would be happy to attend the beach party the wolves and their imprints took part in during the afternoon and night.
Jacob had started speaking to me again, and our relationship was back to what it had been before the bonfire on Thanksgiving. I'd visited the cottage a couple of times and saw Ness at La Push when she knew Daisy would be safely tucked away in her home in Forks. Nessie was still angry at herself over it all, and it had become a taboo subject in our conversations. She asked how she was, and what we'd been up to, but we never spoke of them meeting or made any plans. I didn't want to push two of my closest friends away from celebrating with the rest of the pack for the holidays, and Edward, Jake and Bella were all convinced Nessie would be able to control herself around Daisy, but I wasn't ready for them to meet just yet.
I'd told Daisy I'd meet her at my house around four for whatever plans we'd make up when we saw each other, so I was surprised to see her little yellow car waiting for me, just after three o'clock.
Leah was home as well, which wasn't unusual for a Saturday afternoon. She usually had plans later in the evening with a few of her friends from work, or Rachel or Kim if no one else had plans. I wondered how long my imprint had been here, and what they were doing in the house.
Leah was speaking loudly about Kim's expected due date, only a few week's from now, and I rolled my eyes as I walked to the front door. Her enthusiasm on the subject was purely for my benefit, trying to change the subject so I wouldn't hear what they'd been talking about, and I opened the door loudly and let myself in, kicking off my shoes and throwing my bag to the floor.
"Hey,"
"Hi, Seth," Daisy grinned over a mug of tea, seated at the heavy wooden dining table, her fuchsia-covered toes pointed and tapping against the floor excitedly. "How was work?"
"The usual," I frowned at them both accusingly, silently asking what was going on, and Leah smirked over their little secret, amused she knew something I didn't.
"I came around early, I wanted to ask Leah about a potential Christmas present for you," Daisy told me mysteriously.
"I'm guessing it's a surprise?" I smirked and pulled a chair out, sitting beside my imprint and staring my sister down. I hadn't expected a present from Daisy, and if any at all, I'd imagined a small, handmade something to hang on the wall, her usual style. She was getting something handmade as well, something that was custom to give to imprints from their wolves. She wouldn't understand the meaning behind it, but I was nervous to give it to her all the same.
Leah was still smiling at me, staring me right back in the eye, and she seemed more excited than I was used to seeing her. "You'll love it. You won't know what hit you."
"I love surprises," I sighed sarcastically. I hoped it wasn't anything huge. I knew my sister wouldn't let her go crazy for me, having only known each other for less than two entire months, but she seemed to be very happy with what Daisy had spoken to her about.
"Well, you won't have to wait too long," Daisy told me. "I'm giving it to you early, so you can use it at Christmas time."
"So, it's a thing?"
"Everything is a thing!" Daisy laughed happily. "No guesses! I don't want you to ruin it! I'll tell you when I have it all sorted."
I managed to leave it at that, wracking my brain over what it could have been the rest of the time we sat in our little dining room. Daisy asked Leah questions about Kim's impending delivery, whether she was aware of any names they'd picked out, whether they knew they were having a boy or girl. Leah was less than helpful, and I supplied what little answers I had. Kim and Jared had always waited to see what their babies were when they arrived. I hoped for Kim's sake, it was a girl. She already had two boys at home, and she'd told me on multiple occasions she felt as though she was just supplying the next generation of wolves to keep the pack going.
The weather was miserable, so we stayed inside. Daisy and I sat on opposite ends of the couch, watching episode after episode of a comedy she'd been really into lately. It was funny, but my attention was mostly focused on the way she'd throw her head back, laughing happily at the clever jokes on the screen. There had been no more tucking her feet under my thigh, no more leaning into one another as we rested on the couch. I missed it a little, but I knew she needed time to gather her thoughts. She hadn't told me anything about the conversation with her friend I'd eaves dropped on, and I felt guilty at having done so. Not guilty enough to want to change anything. It had given me piece of mind that she wasn't angry at me for making a move, more frustrated with herself for the rejection.
Leah had left shortly after I'd gotten home, and I made burgers for dinner. Daisy chatted happily over how her painting had been that morning, how the small café that had commissioned her had asked her to do another at their store in Port Angeles, and that she'd really liked the owners. I was happy business was going well for her. I knew she liked the painting and sewing more than teaching music, and it seemed that word of her was spreading quickly. Each job she took on earned her more and more customers, and she told me she was hoping to start the new year without the stress of working for someone else and sticking to a schedule to see the students.
It had been dark for hours by the time she finally stood, pulling her boots on and saying she needed to get home to feed Hugo. "I know I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, but can we organize dinner on Tuesday? At mine? I'll make something for you. I think your present will be ready by then."
"Sure," I agreed immediately. I was uncomfortable about the fact that she'd organized something for me, nervous with the way my sister had reacted, and I grimaced. "Can you just promise me it wasn't something expensive?"
She smiled. "You'll yell at me when I give it to you, and you can totally say no and throw it back in my face, but I'll tell you right now I got a really good deal. I have connections," she looked at me mysteriously, and I shook my head at her answer, which had told me absolutely nothing. "Let me know about tomorrow, your place or mine."
"I will," I yawned, keen for a relatively early night. "Drive home safe, okay?"
"Will do," she promised. "Night, Seth,"
"Night,"
She left without another word, not turning back to look at me as she made her way quickly through the rain to her car. I watched her leave the street, as usual, feeling empty and hollow with the loss of distance, but knowing I'd see her again soon.
I sighed and marched to my bedroom, pulling out my laptop and sitting it on my lap in bed. She and Leah had something planned that was going to top my present to her, and I needed some ideas on other things to get her, make it look like I'd made more of an effort. It wasn't hard to decide on what to look at. There was one thing above all else that made her light up, and I typed in what I was looking for, not knowing where to start to buy it from.
Hugo was watching me from the living room window, his massive body swaying from side to side when he saw my truck pull in behind her car, growing more and more excited as I ascended the three small steps and opened the door, letting myself in.
"Hey," I called through the house. I could hear her in her bedroom, playing a complex piece on her electric piano, and she called back out to me, switching off her instrument and meeting me in the hallway.
"Dinner first, or present?"
"Dinner," I decided. "I don't like accepting gifts."
"Well, you're going to have to, because I'm the queen of giving." No surprise there. She grinned excitedly and led me into the kitchen, where two large homemade pizzas were waiting to be put into the oven. She set the heat and pushed the first one in, making me one of her gin and lime drinks and handing it to me as she took a sip of hers.
"Nervous?" I asked, eyeing the drink. I'd only seen her drink the two times, the first being the night I'd come to her house after we'd met, and the second when she was meeting all of my friends.
She shrugged. "I'm worried you'll hate your present. It's a bit weird, but it's all I could think of, and I really want you to like it. But if you think it's ridiculous, please tell me. I don't want you going along with it because you're worried about hurting my feelings."
She wasn't giving anything away, and there was too much in her eyes to hint as to what it could have been. I assured her I would love anything she'd give to me, but she didn't look too sure.
"I'll be waiting til Christmas Day to give you yours, if you don't mind." I told her.
"Seth, you didn't have to get me anything," she sighed. "I don't like presents."
"You can give, but you can't take," I said disapprovingly, and she shrugged.
"I always get so awkward! I much prefer giving. It makes me feel good."
"Well, maybe I feel the same way."
She twisted her lips, annoyed, and drank a large amount from her glass all at once. "How about dinner and present at the same time? I don't think I can wait the whole night. I'm too anxious to see your reaction, whether you'll tell me I'm an idiot and you absolutely don't want it."
"Fine," I agreed unwillingly. "But just so you can get it over with."
When the first pizza was finished, she fished it out of the oven and set it on top to let it cool, slipping the second pizza in and resetting the timer. She hovered over it, cutting large slices and getting two plates out of the cupboard. Instead of dishing it up herself, she placed the large round pan on a thick wooden cutting board and sat it in front of me on the bench, leaving our plates stacked beside it.
"I'll be right back." She skipped into her bedroom, disappearing behind the wall so I couldn't see what she was up to. I heard her open one of the drawers to her dresser, fiddling around with something before she re-entered the kitchen, setting a large shoebox between the two of us on the countertop.
"Happy Early Christmas," she sang happily, her eyes nervous. She tucked her fingers under her thighs, her shoulders raised anxiously to her chin and waited for me to take the box.
It was relatively heavy. I shook it gently, hearing a bit of rattling, and she smirked. "Any guesses?"
"It kind of feels like rocks," I chuckled. I opened the box, raising an eyebrow. It was rocks. Three of them, cleaned and tucked into tissue paper with a long envelope in the middle. "Rocks and a card! Best early Christmas present ever!"
She giggled and motioned with her head for me to take the card. "I wanted it to look like it was something physical, but I went overboard for how anticlimactic that was. The present's in the envelope.
I was suddenly very nervous, and my fingers twitched as I set the box back down on the countertop and picked up the card. It was thin and lightweight, and I wondered if she'd written me a letter. I could feel her eyes staring into me intently as I opened the seal and fished out the paper inside.
"Daisy…" This was too much. Way too much. Too much money, and too much of a step forward in our relationship for me to be able to handle right at this point. I let out a heavy breath and she leaned toward me quickly.
"As I said, if you think it's ridiculous, I'm seriously not going to be offended. But my aunt and uncle have worked for them for decades, and I've always gotten crazy discounts, not to mention all the points I've racked up on top of it. It was basically free, which I shouldn't be telling you. Besides, you've done a lot more for me than what it would be worth since I met you."
She was speaking too quickly again. I stared down at the plane ticket in my hand silently, my eyes unable to look away from the printed letters as I thought through what exactly was going on. We were set to leave three days before Christmas Eve, stay for just over a week. We were landing in Sydney. She was going home for the holidays, and apparently she wanted me to go with her.
"This is…crazy."
"I'm sorry," her shoulders fell, and her voice was suddenly panicked. "I wasn't going to do it, but I didn't know what to get you, and I had a few ideas, but none of them were good enough to show you how much I appreciate you! And then I remembered you saying you'd never been anywhere outside of the U.S. but Canada, and I talked to Leah, and she said you would love it. But it's weird, isn't it? And you have your mum to see, and your friends…"
"Shut up," I said quietly. I looked up to her, taking in her wide eyes, frozen in anxiety and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her toward me and placing a small kiss to the top of her head before I could stop myself. "Of course I'll go with you. I'm just a little stuck on the fact that you actually want me to."
"I want to show you things," her eyes relaxed, and she smiled down at the ticket. "I want to show you all the places at home that I've talked to you about, and let you experience the beaches there. You gave me a tour of his place, and you always ask how it compares to home. And I want you to meet Juniper, and Peggie. You'll have to deal with the rest of my family, which won't exactly be fun, but that will only be on Christmas day. We can stay between houses, if you want. And you can meet my friends, like I met yours. A couple of them know about you, and they want to meet you, too."
It sounded very much like we were in a relationship, and my heart could have exploded out of me with all the excitement that was coursing through me in that moment. I suddenly thought about something, and my stomach dropped. "I won't be able to get out of work now…" I could quit. I would quit, for her.
"Leah took care of it," she told me immediately. "After I talked to her. She called me after and said that they'd told her you'd taken one day off the entire time you'd been there, and they were happy to do it for you. Apparently they hired more Christmas casuals than they needed, expecting people to want more time off."
Leah had kept the secret very well. "This is crazy," I murmured again, looking back toward the plane ticket.
"Look, I know you said you would come, but you can think about it for a couple of days. The ticket's there, if you want it. If not, I'll be back within a couple of weeks and you can tell me all about what you did with your days off."
I was definitely set on going, but I played along with her worries and didn't answer her again. I was definitely due for a holiday, and one with my imprint was going to be better than any I'd taken in the past. I had a ton of savings, so I didn't have to worry about my expenses there, or what I would be losing in the days I wasn't at work.
The second pizza finished cooking, and she leapt from her stool, busying herself with taking it out of the oven and preparing it the same way. I didn't know what to say to her, and she didn't seem to have any conversation to supply either, so we sat in silence and finished both pizzas, the two of us grinning at each other like children while we ate.
On Tuesday night, the day before our flight out of Seattle was scheduled, my mother organized dinner at Charlie's house. It was our Christmas dinner together, seeing as it would be the first year I wasn't spending the twenty-fifth with my family. Bella and Edward made an excuse about having plans that night, so Nessie and Jake would have a reason not to come. We told my mother it was due to them having plans, not expecting our dinner to be moved forward. She didn't need to know about the situation between my best friend and my imprint. At any rate, they would still be seeing them on Christmas day. I would just be celebrating thousands of miles away.
"Are you sure it's okay that I'm here?" Daisy asked nervously, grabbing the large dish of her potato bake she'd prepared for our tiny party. "I feel like I'm intruding."
"Don't be silly," I told her, holding the door open for her as she stepped out of her yellow car. "Mom invited you herself. She wants you here, and Charlie seemed to like you when he met you last month."
"He didn't really say much," she said unsurely.
"He doesn't usually say much," I agreed. "And Leah's here, so you'll have her to talk to if you get uncomfortable." Leah and Daisy were getting along really well. My sister hadn't scared her at all, and I was grateful for that. Something about me finding my soul mate had made her start thinking about what she said in certain situations, and just calm down a lot in general when Daisy was around. They were on the path of being really good friends.
"Hey," I called as I opened the door, stepping back to let Daisy pass me, into the warm air of the house. Everything was neat and tidy, as usual. We kicked off our shoes inside the door and wandered toward the kitchen, where my family was chatting casually about my sister's work, and the break she was about to have over Christmas and the new year.
"Hi," my mother walked to us, hugging me tightly and kissing me on the cheek. "Hello, Daisy," she took the tray out of my imprint's hands and gave her a warm smile. "I'm so happy you could make it tonight."
"Thank you for inviting me," Daisy said nervously. "Your house is lovely."
"I can't take the credit for much," mom walked back to the other side of the kitchen and set the potatoes down. "Charlie had taken care of it a long time before I was here."
"How are you, Charlie?" Daisy asked, peeking up nervously toward my step-father, who was seated at the small table looking over the newspaper. Charlie greeted her shortly in response, his lack of words a result of shyness over anything.
"What did you make?" Leah sniffed toward the tray and frowned at me.
"Daisy made it," I told them all proudly. "One of her famous dishes.. It's amazing, you'll love it."
"That's really nice of you, Daisy," mom grinned toward me, raising her eyebrows, and I looked away before she could start anything. "So, are you guys all ready to head out tomorrow?"
"I always leave packing til the last minute," Daisy admitted with a sheepish grin. "I have my bag out, though. I'm not taking too much. None of my clothes here would help me over there. I took over a wardrobe in my mum's house before I left, most of my clothes are there waiting for me to move back home."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, avoiding my sister's gaze when she looked up at my curiously. We hadn't ever talked about how long Daisy had planned on staying in Forks, but I'd known from our first meeting it wouldn't be forever. I wasn't letting myself dwell on it. If things were going to turn out the easy way for us, that would be great. If not, it was going to be something I'd have to deal with when the time came."
"What about you, Seth?" Leah piped up. "Packing done yet?"
"Just about," I lied. I planned to toss my most worn clothes into my suitcase in the morning. I wasn't one for planning outfits, and I figured I would only need a few shirts, some shorts and some clothes to go out for dinner in.
"You own board shorts, right?" Daisy suddenly asked, as if the thought had just occurred to her. "Wait…swim shorts? What do you guys call them?"
"I've got some," I reassured her quietly. "We're not all weak. Some of us can handle swimming at First Beach."
"Well, it's nice you won't have to buy anything to get around in during December in Australia," she grinned. "Everything I've seen you wear in this freezing town will suit you just fine for our summers."
Charlie barked a laugh at that, and my mother chuckled lightly in response to her husband's outburst. "If you can get any of those damn kids to put on a coat, I'll be the first to thank you." He muttered gruffly, turning the page of the news.
"You're just jealous that you can't show off those sweet guns, Charlie." My sister joked from her place beside the stove. She was watching over a large pot of gravy, stirring it every now and then, dipping her finger in to taste it while our mother's back was turned.
Charlie mumbled something under his breath that I didn't bother to pay attention to, and mom moved to us again to lean against the counter. "So, what are your plans while you're there? I'm guessing you'll be spending time with your family on Christmas Day?"
"Yeah, I guess we'll have to put ourselves through that," Daisy sighed. "But otherwise, I want to show Seth some of my favorite places. I'm going to take him to the beach. And we'll go out for dinner and drinks with a few of my friends. I don't really want to plan the days out, I think it's more fun when you're spontaneous on holiday."
"I think that sounds lovely," mom smiled excitedly. "I know Seth's looking forward to. It's all he's been able to talk about when I've seen him."
"Always wanted to travel," I supplied loudly, my eyes stern at her to not say anything too embarrassing.
Leah snickered from her place. "Mom wants you to take a million photos. I think she's going to scrap book them to show the rest of the family."
"I'm not going to scrap book them," mom scolded. "I just want to see what they get up to. I never made it to Australia. I always thought I would travel more, but time just gets away from you."
"Hear that, Charlie?" I called to the little table. "Think you could organize a trip overseas for your ten-year wedding anniversary?"
"He wouldn't even remember the date," my mother smiled at her husband lovingly.
Dinner was huge, and delicious. Mom and Leah had cooked up three types of meat, a pile of home-made bread and a huge dish of vegetables. Everyone took a generous helping of Daisy's potatoes, which made her smile, and the table was quiet while we ate.
We were gifting presents to each other tonight as well, which my mother had decided upon. She and Charlie were waiting to give Leah hers on Christmas day, but they handed myself and my imprint a card each and smiled as they watched us open it.
"Ah, thank you," Daisy said emotionally, after reading through her card for a short moment. "This really means a lot to me. I feel like I'm a part of your family, honestly."
"We're so glad to have you hear," my mother told her. "I know all three of us are so happy that you've been such good company to Seth. He's needed your friendship as much as you say you've needed his."
Daisy smiled at them, her eyes glassy as she held her card to her chest. I squeezed her knee comfortingly under the table before opening my own card. I chuckled awkwardly. "Did you guys rob a bank, or empty your savings for this?"
"It's not that much," my mother insisted. "We thought it would be appropriate to give you something to spend during your time away. But we want you to use it for something special. Go to a fancy restaurant, or something. Spend a night out doing something nice."
"Thanks, guys," I tucked it back into the card and folded it in the envelope. "The new bedding set seems pretty crappy in comparison."
"We asked for those, they're perfect, Seth."
My mother seemed in awe of the intricately painted botanical scene Daisy had painted and had framed. She told her they were all Native Australian plants, and pointed out each flower or leaf, naming them expertly, blushing when my mother told her she had serious talent. Leah and I had agreed on going halves in a new television for the house, so neither of us had anything to give each other for the night. I was surprised when my sister handed Daisy a card, with a gift voucher to a craft supply store in Port Angeles.
"I went looking myself, but I got overwhelmed by it all, and I thought it would be better for you to wander around and pick something out by yourself. I didn't want to risk getting you anything you wouldn't be able to use."
"This is perfect," Daisy thanked with bright eyes and a wide smile.
My imprint and I had already spoken about shopping for Leah while we were away, and had told Leah about that already. She was more than happy to wait and receive something that she could say had travelled halfway around the world to get to her.
It was later in the night than we'd expected when we finally finished and stood to leave. Daisy had helped my mother with the dishes, and carried the heavy tray we'd emptied to the front door, sliding her feet into her sneakers and not bothering to tie the laces.
"Please tell me you drove that thing here," Leah smirked, looking toward Daisy's car and then eyeing the keys in my hand.
"It's a good little car," I told her, not embarrassed.
Daisy scoffed. "He looks ridiculous in it. I don't think he has near enough leg room to actually drive it comfortably."
"Be safe," my mother pulled me into a tight hug. "Keep in touch while you're there, I want to hear everything! And take photos, and have fun. And take care of each other." She let go of me to hug Daisy, who looked surprised for a moment, then returned the gesture comfortably. My mother murmured something in her ear, and I forced myself to look away and concentrate on not listening.
Leah motioned for me to walk with her, and I said a quick goodbye to Charlie and followed her out to the car, leaving my imprint with my mother while they talked quietly.
"I thought I'd probably be asleep by the time you got home, and I wanted to wish you good luck."
"I don't think the plane will go down, Leah," I chuckled. She rolled her eyes at me.
"You know what I mean. Don't overthink anything, okay? A girl who didn't want a relationship with you wouldn't fly you home to meet her family."
"I know," I agreed softly, tapping my toes against one of the tires of the yellow car. "It's hard not to overthink things, though, with what happened last time I tried anything."
"She's scared, and she's on edge. That's who she is. But look at her trying with our family! She wants to be here, Seth. Do whatever you can to let her know you'll take care of her. From what she's told me, she hasn't had an easy life, and it's no surprise you're going to have to break through a few walls before you get her to feel comfortable with you."
I wondered what Daisy had spoken to Leah about. I tried not to push her when it came to her past, and I would never ask Leah to tell me anything she hadn't already told me herself, but I was a little jealous that she seemed to have confided with my sister about a few things before me.
"Just don't expect us to come home with any changes." I told her levelly.
She smirked. "Seth, the entire pack is expecting that. I think you need to wake up and come to terms with the fact that your relationship is changing, and you're going to have to man-up and do something to make it happen."
Daisy thanked my mother and Charlie loudly from the door as she stepped out into the cold air, smiling to herself as she made her way to us.
"Ready to go?" I asked her when she was close enough. She nodded and wrapped one arm around Leah, telling her to have a good Christmas, and that she would see her soon.
"Have fun," my sister waved as we both stepped into the car, closing the doors behind us in unison, and started our way back to her little house in Forks.
I parked her car in the driveway, and was silent as I hopped out and made my way to my truck, pulling out the large wrapped box and carrying it into the house after her.
"What are you doing?" she asked with a small smirk as I set it down on the coffee table in the living room.
"I wanted to give you your Christmas present now, so you didn't think I hadn't gotten you anything while we're away."
"You didn't have to get me anything, Seth," she said quietly, eyeing the box.
I nudged her forward. "Don't get too excited. I didn't expect a trip around the world, and it doesn't compare to that. I think you'll like it, though,"
I followed her to the box, and she unwrapped it slowly, her slender fingers prying up the tape and lifting it away so as not to wrap the brown paper I'd covered it with. She grinned as she revealed her gift, and my arm moved, too fast for her to notice, and I plucked the smaller gift from the top, slipping it into my pocket. Somewhere along the line, I'd gotten too nervous, and told myself tonight was not the night. The small drawstring bag's contents felt as though it weighed a hundred pounds in my pocket, and I swallowed thickly.
"This is the best present in the world," she said delightedly. She dug through the art supplies, studying each one and telling me the plans she already had in store for when we'd returned and could put them to good use.