Ben and Claire stood outside of Emily's house with two bottles of wine and one gift for the White Elephant exchange. They had ended up agreeing on one of Bens painting of the La Push coast line. It was beautiful and one of a kind. They figured homemade was better then some common gift they grab from the store like they did with their sister and mother for tomorrow. Ben raised his hand to knock but Claire just turned the knob and walked in. She knew they were welcome and Emily would probably be offended if they did knock.
"Claire!" Embry shouted from his spot on the couch where he had a glass of milk in one hand and three cookies in the other. She saw Seth and Leah both in the room along with the young boy from the morning they had breakfast. She couldn't remember his name. Ben entered with cheers and made his rounds hugging everyone. Claire waved and headed towards the kitchen to put the wine in the fridge. She was greeted with Quil all alone by the stove digging through a container.
"Is this one of those 'if Emily catches me she'll kill me' things?" Claire asked as she placed one bottle in the fridge and sat the other on the counter. She grabbed a red solo cup before putting some ice in it and cracking open the bottle of wine. She would need a few drinks to get through tonight.
"Hush, it's in your benefit too," Quil rolled his eyes as he continued to dig through the dessert containers until he arrived at what he was looking for. The brownies.
"Take these and meet me on the back porch. I have something for you," Quil handed her two chocolate brownies wrapped up in a paper towel before leaving her in the room alone. She grabbed her wine and begun sneaking down the hallway to the back door. She still knew this house like the back of her hand. She could hear Quil in the living room grab something and she heard protests but no one followed the footsteps that were headed her way.
"It's cold out tonight Quil so if we could hurry this up," Claire pulled her black jacket around her more wishing she had chosen her puffy winter coat instead. He shut the back door and held out a tiny brown bag with a smile on his face.
"Then open this," Quil took the brownies from her hand in exchange for her to take the bag. She gave him a confused look before reaching in and pulling out a small wooden box.
"I didn't get you anything though. I was only told the one gift," Claire felt bad all of a sudden. Guilty. Quil had gotten her something and she had nothing in return. He drove her home in the snow and saw all three shows in a row before she quit. He's given her daisies in honor of her dad and helped rearrange the whole house. She's never felt this way before, it was all new to her when it came to men around her.
"Your presense is enough, trust me. Open it," Quil had excitement all over his face as he grabbed one brownie and shoved the whole thing in his mouth when Claire looked away. He knew the adult Claire didn't find that funny like the kid Claire did. Claire opened the wooden box to see two sets of jewelry. One was a set of silver daisy earrings. The other was a silver bracelet with a wolf charm.
"They're beautiful Quil," Claire whispered as she took the earrings out and began to exchange them for the ones in her ears. The black studs she always wore were nothing compared to these.
"The earrings are from your dad. He wanted to give them to you that Christmas but...anyways, the bracelet is from me," Quil suddenly felt silly. He knew she loved the gifts, it was obvious because she was putting them on as he spoke but he should have had a better speech prepared.
"I love them both Quil. Thank you," Claire put a hand on his chest lightly and smiled before reaching for her brownie and stuffing it into her mouth like he did.
"Ew," Quil mocked her reaction from the day before which made her roll her eyes and flick him off. God, he loved her. She grabbed her wine and the bag and headed back inside with him following. His heart was full of joy and it was still early in the night.
"There you two are! I was wondering where you went," Emily hugged Claire while shaking his head at Quil. He just couldn't wait. She couldn't blame him though, seventeen away from his imprint took a toll of him.
"Merry Christmas Eve," Claire waved at everyone before taking a sip of her wine washing down the rest of the brownie that lingered in her mouth. Everyone answered back and gave smiles, they were all happy to see her again. Claire shrugged off her coat and tossed it over to Ben where he sat it next to him. She was in a pale yellow sweater with black jeans and black booties. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun but her makeup was perfectly matching her outfit.
"Emily says your doing great at the bakery," Sam scooted over on the couch to make room for the girl. Ben got up to go to the kitchen and grab the bottle of wine for them to spilt. Everyone else had beer bottles in their hands or hot chocolate.
"I'm really enjoying it. It's been keeping me extremely busy," Claire sounded genuine. She was grateful for the opportunity to do something other then dance and even if it was just being a cashier and learning to bake on the side.
"She's doing great. All the customers love her, even the regulars!" Emily bragged while she rearranged all the gifts around the tree now that everyone was here. Leah got up off the floor and ruffled Claire's bun as she walked by. Leah missed the kid but couldn't admit it, she didn't want to get attached again and get hurt. The boys were stupid enough to but not her.
"Are we ready for the game now?" Seth sounded like an impatient kid as he drummed his fingers on his knees. Ben poured Claire another cup of wine before setting it down on the floor.
"What about Brady and Collin?" Leah asked from the doorframe. She was wondering why they weren't here for Christmas Eve.
"Work," Sam simply said like it was nothing big. He didn't want to trigger anymore memories right now for Claire. Leah just nodded. She assumed since everyone else was here it only made sense that two wolves were still on patrol just in case.
"Okay, everyone knows how this works? I'm going to walk around with a hat full of numbers, everyone grabs one. Then we go in order and grab one gift to open but, other people are allowed to steal from you," Emily wriggled her eyebrows at the last part.
"Ben and I only brought one gift so we'll just draw one number," Claire announced knowing it wasn't fair for someone to be left without a gift especially when Quil just gave her two in private. Everyone nodded in understandment while they picked their numbers. Ben pulled for them and showed her, they have 6.
"You want to pick?" Ben whispered in her ear. His breath smelled like peppermint, like the toothpaste he's been using since he was a child. Ben was always the same reliable person, most stable one around for Claire growing up.
"No, no you go ahead," Claire gave a smile as she took another drink out of her cup. She was craving another brownie but told herself no. She had already gained five pounds since starting at the bakery and despite all the running it wasn't doing anything to help.
"New jewelry?" Ben whispered again while tugging at the bracelet she now had on. She nodded quietly as the game began with Leah walking over to the tree and grabbing a gift wrapped in red paper. Seth was two and grabbed a blue bag. Then Sam who grabbed the gift from Claire and Ben. Embry was next and grabbed a tiny black box with a sneaky look on his face. Quil was next and grabbed a brown paper bag. Ben grabbed a sparkly pink box with a smile on his face. Paul grabbed a white envelope that was sticking out of the tree. Finally Jacob was last and pulled the lonely white bag out.
"Whoever wants to switch now is the time but remember you only get one switch," Emily held out her bag to Leah while Leah groaned and handed over her gift. Seth hugged his but Jacob shook his head and made them trade. Seth quickly handed his to Embry who was forced to give up his black box. Once everyone was done they all counted before opening. Seth ended up getting a shiny watch in the black box. Jacob had gotten a few new pairs of sweatpants. Embry has opened the bag to see two self help books about how to get a girl which he faked laughed at and chucked them at Paul who couldn't help but snicker. Paul had opened the envelope to see coupons for 'will shut up for a whole day' and 'won't bug you for a weekend'.
"I'm taking you up on these kid, don't think I won't," Paul shoved Seth who just laughed at his gift. Leah opened her gift to find winter gear like a hat and gloves and a scarf, all unisex. Sam opened his to see the painting Ben did and was silent in awe. He got up and went to go hang it up right then and there while Ben unwrapped the pink box. He saw a small Tupperware box full of sweet baked goods and smiled broadly at Emily.
"Just what I needed Aunt Emily," Ben winked before opening it and handing Claire a brownie that was placed on top. Claire declined but when she saw Quils worries look she took the brownie anyways.
"Now, mingle and party!" Emily shouted as she turned up the Christmas music and walked out to find her husband. Embry and the other boys rushed to the kitchen to get the treats that they could now eat while Ben excused himself to take a phone call that was coming in. Work.
"You shouldn't worry about your weight," Quil said once they were alone. He reached into the pink box and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie that was on the side.
"I have always worried about my weight," Claire shrugged and drank more wine. Being alone with Quil made her heart race and head spin. Something about her just made her feel weak.
"Now you don't have to," Quil knew it wasn't as simple as he was making it out to be.
"Well, maybe one day I'll feel like that but until then I'll keep running myself down and eating like I use to," Claire kept telling herself that she had to stay skinny. She had to stay small. That was who she was. She had never seen herself as anything else.
"Then I'll keep worrying and trying to convince you otherwise," Quil stated as he shoved the cookie in his mouth and smiled so his cheeks puffed out. Claire couldn't help but laugh. He made things easy.