"Have the rest of you done your shopping already?" I asked.
Alice nodded. "Emmett and Rosalie got theirs done here, Jasper got his done last week, so did Esme and Carlisle. I got mine done when Jasper went. But I have no idea if Edward got his done or when."
I remembered Alice saying something about going shopping with Jasper, but it didn't even occur to me that it might be for Christmas. And it wasn't like I kept tabs on what Esme and Carlisle did. But like Alice said, I have no idea when Edward would have got his done, unless he had it done already.
It just occurred to me that I would be receiving yet more gifts from the Cullen's.
Wonderful.
Edward's POV
Alice dragged Bella off to go Christmas shopping. I went Christmas shopping as well. I hadn't had any time to do it before.
Carlisle was easy, just a new medical book for him either to learn from or laugh at the new-absurd ideas.
Esme was easy as well. She had mentioned that she was running out of ideas for interior designing for future houses. So, I got her an interior design book.
Emmett's gift was all too easy. He has yet to figure out the running joke I have on him. Every time he and Rosalie get married, I get him a hunting book. So, I got him one, as for his Christmas gift, why not confuse him a little. I picked up another hunting book.
Rosalie was simple, makeup for Christmas, golden earrings for her wedding gift.
I got Alice some 3D design software that enabled her to draw out her visions in 3D. It would go perfect with the computer that Jasper got her.
I stumbled across a vampire mythology book and got it for Jasper. Every year, at least one of us bought another one of us a vampire mythology book. It was a running joke. This Christmas, it was Jasper's turn.
Now, for Bella. I wandered throughout the mall looking for the place to find the perfect gift, that's when I passed the store.
At first, I thought it was just your typical flower shop, but a closer look told me that this one specialized in roses. I went in.
I found out that these were not regular roses. These roses were hand-dipped in glass so they would be preserved forever, unchanging. Kind of reminds you of something, doesn't it?
I saw a crimson one and immediately thought of Bella. Next to the crimson one, was a topaz one. Fate was toying with me.
I picked up both of them and went to the cashier to pay.
"Do you want to have these engraved?" The man asked.
"What can you do?"
"Just about anything." He handed me a piece of paper. "Write down what you want to have said then take them to the back desk and they'll engrave them for you."
"Thank you."
I wrote down what I wanted to have said, then went to the back desk.
Bella's POV
Alice and I were sitting in the food court. We weren't eating anything, just going over my stock of presents.
Alice had told me of the long-time-vampire-mythology-running joke. I got Carlisle a book full of them.
I got Esme a porcelain apple, it was a caramel-honey colored one and reminded me so much of her.
I got Rosalie a pink-stoned necklace that would go beautifully with the wedding dress. For her wedding gift, the earrings to match.
I got Emmett a pair of hunting knives, not that he needed them, but it was kind of funny. One was his Christmas present, one was his wedding gift.
I found a book of Shakespeare's works for Jasper. That left me with two gifts to get, one for Alice and one for Edward.
Alice suddenly gasped. "I know what Edward's getting you for Christmas! Now, stay out of my head! It's a surprise!"
I stopped prying, "I hate surprises." I muttered.
"Be thankful you can be surprised." Alice said.
This caught me off guard, "What do you mean?"
She tapped her head, "No one can surprise me. Thanks for the pad and pencils by the way."
That was exactly what I had planned to get her. "Oh, I see."
"So, enjoy your surprise, you'll know in a few hours anyway. Now, can I leave you alone to get mine and Edward's gift?"
I nodded.
"I'll wait here."
I went off into the mall, searching for an art supplies store and something for Edward. I had no idea what I was going to get him.
I found the pad and pencils for Alice, but I still had no idea what to get for Edward.
I passed a flower shop, but it wasn't your ordinary one, this one sold only roses. But there was something special about these roses, they were hand-dipped in glass so they would be preserved forever in their present state. Very interesting. I went in out of curiosity.
I browsed amongst them just looking when I stumbled across a very particular one. All the ones around it were solid colors, this one was marble white with red tips. It was calling to me. The stem was painted a topaz-y color. I had to get it for him, it was perfect.
I went up to the counter to pay.
"Do you want to have these engraved?" The lady asked.
"You can engrave these?" I asked, already thinking of something to say. "How much more?"
"We're doing a Christmas special, $15 extra to engrave."
I counted my money, I had enough.
The lady handed me a piece of paper. "Write down what you want to have said then take them to the back desk and they'll engrave them for you."
"Thank you."
I wrote down what I wanted to have said, then went to the back desk
It was early Christmas morning. We had already opened most of the presents. Everyone took turns passing their own presents out then watched the others open them one at a time.
So far, I had a carved wooden cross from Carlisle, a miniature coffin from Esme, a wooden stake from Emmett, and a book of vampire mythology from Jasper; all four of them thought it would be funny to immerse me in vampire myths. Plus, I got a mix CD of all my favorite songs from Alice, a really beautiful pair of blue earrings from Rosalie.
That left Edward and I to pass out our gifts.
Edward motioned me to go first, I passed them out. Everyone was pleased with their gifts. Carlisle and Emmett both laughed when they opened theirs. Esme loved the apple just as much as Rosalie loved the necklace. Jasper beamed when he saw the book. Alice feigned surprise when she opened my gift just like she probably had with all the other gifts.
Edward however didn't open his. "I'd prefer to wait to open this, we can open our gifts together."
I nodded. Edward passed out his gifts and everyone loved them. I waited for everyone to finish.
Go ahead open it.
You too.
One…
Two…
At the thought of three, we opened our gifts together.
Inside, I found two roses like the one I had got Edward. One was crimson, one was topaz. They were both engraved. Engraved on the crimson one was the words: Forever frozen in time. Forever unchanging. Forever beautiful. Engraved on the topaz one was the words: Frozen in time forever, and now has found pure beauty.
The crimson one represented me, the topaz one represented Edward. If I could have cried, I would have. These were so beautiful and thoughtful…
I looked at Edward, his face matched my feelings. Engraved on the rose I gave him were the words: Frozen in time forever, just like you and me.
"Thank you, Bella, this is the greatest gift anyone has ever given to me." He whispered.
"Edward, these are so sweet, thank you." I whispered back, I could not find my voice.
A/N: Well, tell me what you think... chapter 5 to come soon!
