When I first posted this story the first time, I actually posted each chapter on the date that is on the top of the chapters. This chapter, for example, was posted on Christmas day, 2012. It's crazy to think that it's been so long!
Christmas Day
Edward Cullen
I woke up this morning with the best feeling in the world enveloping my body.
Isabella.
Her body was splayed out across my chest, her head resting into the crook of my neck, and her hair draping down my body.
It was heaven on earth.
I laid there for what must have been an age, just thinking about her and us, and my heart warmed at everything that came into my mind.
Just mere months ago, on the night of Michaelmas, there was never a thought that by now I could have been married to such a lady, but here I was, full of love for this woman who had captured my heart.
Not only had she filled me with joy, but she had become a much-loved mother to my children.
When Charlotte called her Mamma when we arrived home, nothing could have prepared me for how it would feel. I was sad, in a way, that the title had been passed from Sarah to Isabella so readily, but I knew my children needed a mother. They needed someone to love who would in turn love them, and Isabella was the only choice I would have settled for. I was also filled with more love for how my children had accepted Isabella.
I was very content.
A small knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts and once I raised the bedding for a peek to ensure that Isabella was covered, I summoned whoever it was.
"Good morning, Sir. I am sorry for the intrusion, but my Lady asks when you will be coming downstairs? The children are up, and she fears that your father will pull his hair out at their excitement," Betsy giggled as she curtsied, but kept her eyes away from the bed.
"Good morning, Betsy, and Merry Christmas. Could you tell Mother that we will be down soon? I would not like my father to lose his head of hair," I chuckled quietly, but Isabella showed signs of waking, nonetheless.
Once she was gone, and Isabella was roused enough to wake properly, we made our way to the bathroom to clean up from the night before. I wanted to kick myself that I had not done more to help Isabella clean from our intimacy, but we were both so tired.
"It is no matter, Edward, and I am more concerned about what the maids will think of the sheets than . . ." Her words dropped off as she blushed once we were finished, and we were back in our room.
Yes, there was evidence of her virginity on the sheets, but it only made me happier. To know that I would be the only man ever to be with Isabella made me feel things that I could not explain. Good things.
I helped Isabella dress for the day and before we knew it, the children were hunting us down and screaming happily that it was Christmas and that Father Christmas had been to visit.
"Calm yourselves, children. Why don't we see what Father Christmas has given you and then we can have breakfast? When that is over with and you are weighed down with food, then maybe you can open your other presents," Isabella laughed as she hugged each of them.
They readily agreed and we then found ourselves in the great sitting room to wish my parents good tidings.
Mother gave Isabella an appraising eye before she seemed to be satisfied with whatever she saw and then smiled at us before hugging Isabella tightly and whispering something to her.
I had no idea what it was that she said, but Isabella blushed profusely and nodded her head.
Women!
I sat down on the small couch and smiled as I saw the children get even more excited at the prospects of presents while my father teased them.
"Daddy, please tell Grandpapa that it is not nice to tease," Charlotte huffed, causing us to laugh, but Father gave in and started to hand out the small presents that Father Christmas had left them.
Isabella finally sat down next to me and we watched with smiles as the children squealed and laughed with joy.
"Is it what you dreamed of, Isabella? A life filled with happiness?" I asked quietly as I took up her hand and kissed the back of it.
"It is more than what I could have dreamed of, so much more. I have no way to express how this all makes me feel," she smiled tearfully.
"I feel the same, my love." I grinned, content.
...
Lady Cullen
Never in all of my dreams could I have seen this in our future. I wished and prayed for it, many nights, in fact, but to see it with my own two eyes.
Isabella was married to our son. My grandchildren had a mother that they adored, and Charles had a family beyond just Isabella. And let us not forget that Jasper had his own love now and would be married after Candlemas.
Yes, I was content.
As I sat in the great sitting room and watched my beloved husband hand out the presents, I was filled with a love that I could hardly comprehend.
The smiles on the children's faces and the love in Edward's and Isabella's eyes were enough to make me die a very happy woman.
"How do you think Isabella will react to our surprise for her later?" Carlisle asked with a chuckle when he sat down, and we continued to watch the children play with their new toys.
"I think she will be shocked, but happy nonetheless," I replied.
"As I thought." He chuckled further.
Once the children were done with their presents from Father Christmas, we all made our way to the dining room for breakfast, and I smiled once again as Isabella took over my role as the children's helper and got them situated at the table.
"So, Charles. How about you tell me and Edward about all that you have gotten up to since we have been in town?" Isabella asked once she was sat next to him, and he soon launched into tales of his learning and playing in the house with the other children.
Henry helped him fill in a few details, but it was Charlotte who made us laugh.
She had a habit of correcting him and finishing off his sentences and it was clear that she did not like the way he was telling his stories.
It was fun to observe though.
When breakfast was over with, the excitement level of the children rose again and we spent more time in the great sitting room around the Christmas tree and watched them open the rest of the presents.
"Merry Christmas, my dear family!" Jasper's boisterous voice came through the doorway and the children dropped what they were playing with to greet their favorite uncle and Alice, who slipped into the room with a laugh.
They both came in with their arms full of presents and the children were jumping and clapping while he joked with them about the presents being his and not theirs.
Jasper wrapped Isabella up in a huge hug and kissed her cheek, which made her blush sweetly before he hugged us all in turn.
Yes, I was very content and happy with my life.
We spent a considerable amount of time playing with the children and talking about the weather and the hunting party that had been invited here for the middle of January.
The men were most pleased with the idea of shedding their town clothes and donning their hunting gear, and I could see that Isabella was happy to see Edward so.
She teased him relentlessly about aging and his 'poor eyesight', but he held his own well enough.
By early afternoon, we all agreed to rest for a while before dinner and it was clear that the children needed to take nap.
"You know, dear, I think you made a very good choice in befriending Isabella the way you did." Carlisle laughed.
See you all in the morning!