46
"Bella, love, wake up," whispered Edward as he shook my shoulders gently. I groaned and pushed his hand off me.
"Too tired," I whispered. "Need more sleep."
"I know, Baby, but we have to get ready to go," he chuckled. I rolled over onto my back and looked up at him.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"It's a surprise," he chuckled with a big smile. I raised my hand to his check.
"You know I don't like surprises but I'll go because I love you," I chuckled softly.
"Good," he chuckled. "And I love you too. Now, let's go take a shower."
"Ok," I sighed dramatically.
Edward chuckled again as he lifted me out of the bed. He carried me into the bathroom and turned on the water. We stepped in and took our time washing each other. Once we were sure each other was thoroughly clean, we turned off the water and dried off. We went back into our room and got dressed. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a white tank top. I pulled on a blue sweeter over it and added my black leather boots. I pulled on a blue beanie on my bald head and followed Edward out into the living room. We pulled on our coats and went out and climbed into his car.
He pulled the car out of the garage and headed over to Carlisle and Esme's house. He pulled up in front of the house. Sometime between when we left last night for the prom and this morning, they had put Christmas lights up on the house. Edward and I climbed out of the car and headed up the front porch. Edward chuckled as he opened the door for me. I stepped in and felt my mouth fall open for the second time in two days.
Standing in the corner was a nine foot Christmas tree that had been fully decorated. There were presents spilling out from underneath it and all around the beautiful tree. Carlisle and Esme were standing next to the tree. Esme had the camera in her hand and Carlisle had his arms wrapped around her. They were both smiling in their Christmas sweaters. Emmett and Rose were standing next to them. Emmett had the biggest smile on his face. He had always loved Christmas the most of the two of us. Almost as much as Charlie. Rose wiped the tear away off her face as she smiled at me. Alice was bouncing on her toes in front of Jasper. I swear, I could feel her vibrating from the door. Jasper had his hands on her shoulder in a vain attempt to calm her down but their smiles were so big, I didn't mind her energy.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" They all yelled together.
"Um, Christmas is more than a month away," I chuckled as Edward shut the door behind us.
"Not here it's not," said Edward, wrapping his arms around me. "We want to be able to celebrate our first Christmas together with you here."
"Oh," I whispered as my eyes filled up with tears.
"See, it wouldn't be Christmas without you here," whispered Edward.
I turned in his arms and buried my face in his chest and let my tears fall. Edward tightened his arms around me and held me as my body shook with my sobs. They were giving me Christmas. How could I have ever doubted what they would do for me? They had shown my over and over that no matter how many time I pushed them away, they would always be here for me. I didn't deserve to have such an amazing family.
"It's ok, love," whispered Edward as he rubbed my back. "It's ok."
"They're giving me Christmas," I sobbed.
"We are giving each other Christmas," whispered Edward. I turned and faced my family.
"Thank…you," I sobbed softly. Esme came over and wrapped her arms around me.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," she whispered. She pulled away and wiped the tears off my face. "Now, are you ready to open presents? Emmett's been quite impatient."
"Have not," he muttered while I chuckled.
"You know you have, Em," I chuckled. "But I don't have any presents for all of you."
"Yes, we do," chuckled Edward. I turned and cocked an eyebrow at him. "I know how much you hate shopping so I got them some stuff."
"When?" I asked.
"After I got done with the test yesterday," said Edward.
"Oh," I said. "You're kind of sneaky."
"I know," he smirked. I rolled my eyes and turned back to the others, who were just chuckling.
"I guess we are ready," I said.
Emmett and Jasper went and helped Edward bring in our gifts while I went over and sat on the couch next to Rose and Alice. We quickly passed out presents to everyone. Edward had insisted that we hand them our presents last. Emmett begged us to let him open his gifts first. We all chuckled and agreed.
He smiled like a kid, well on Christmas morning as he started opening his gifts. Carlisle and Esme had gotten several new video games that he had wanted. Jasper and Alice got him some new floor boards for his jeep. Rose gave him some gift cards for iTunes, an new Seahawks jersey, and tickets for a monster truck rally.
Rose went next. Carlisle and Esme had gotten her a very nice set of pans. I had to bit my lip when I caught Jasper's eye. Rose doesn't cook as all. He tried to stifle his chuckled but was less successful than I was. Rose just ignored us. Jasper and Alice got her a gift card to the spa. I thought that was really nice. Emmett got her a diamond bracelet. My brother did good.
Alice went after Rose. Carlisle and Esme chuckled when they gave her a handful of gift cards to her favorite stores. I swear she stopped breathing for a moment as her eyes glazed over. Emmett and Rose gave her some scented lotions and perfume. Alice squealed as she hugged them both. Jasper got her some jade and diamond earrings. Alice melted into her arms as she hugged and kissed him.
Jasper went next. Carlisle and Esme had gotten him several books on the civil war. Jasper was a huge history nerd, I mean buff. Emmett and Rose got him two tickets to the new gallery in Seattle that was showing an exhibit on civil war memorabilia. I swear he started squealing like Alice for a moment. Alice gave him some movies he had been wanting and a ton of new clothes.
Esme went next after Jasper. Emmett and Rose had gotten her a brooch with all of our birth stones on it. She cried and thanked them. Jasper and Alice bought her a new digital camera. Apparently, Esme was quite the freelance photographer. Carlisle bought her a diamond and emerald necklace with matching bracelet. I will admit the man is smooth.
Carlisle opened his gifts next. Emmett and Rose gave him some medical journals. I swear Carlisle's eyes glazed over and the resemblance to Alice was spooky. Jasper caught my eye and I knew he was thinking the same thing. Alice and Jasper bought him a new doctors coat with his name stitched on the pocket, along with some new clothes. I suspect Alice was responsible for those. Esme gave him a new picture for his desk of all of together. He blinked back his tears as he kissed her. I knew he and Esme considered us all theirs.
Edward went next. Carlisle and Esme gave him a guitar. I had been teaching him how to play before we went to New York. Emmett and Rose gave him several CD's he had been waiting to get. Jasper and Alice gave him a gift card to get his car detailed by Jake. It was a sweet thought. I, of course, didn't have anything for him.
"I'm sorry I don't a gift for you," I whispered as I laid my head on his shoulder.
"You are the greatest gift I've gotten this year," he whispered before he kissed me.
"Gross," chuckled everyone. Edward and I just chuckled as we pulled away.
"Now that you've grossed us all out," snickered Emmett, causing me to flip him off. Which just made everyone laugh. "It's time for Bella to open her presents. Open mine first."
"You're so bossy," I chuckled as I picked up his gift. I tore the paper off and opened the box. I gasped when I saw the diamond pendent laying on the long gold chain. I looked up at Emmett.
"I was cleaning out some of Charlie's things and I found this in his box of keepsakes. I think it was Renee's," he said softly. He wiped the tear from his eye. "They would want you to have it. This way they will be there holding you when I can't be."
"Thank you, Em," I whispered through my tears. He just nodded and looked down at his feet.
"Open mine next," squealed Alice. I picked up her box and ripped off the paper. I pulled off the top and pulled out several pairs of shorts, tanks, t-shirts, and pajama pants. "So you won't have to wear those ugly hospital gowns."
"Ugly?" asked Carlisle.
"Um, yeah," we all said together. He chuckled with us.
"Suppose you're right," he chuckled.
"Thanks, Alice," I said. "They are very nice."
"You're welcome, Bella," she squealed. I just chuckled as I put them back into the box and picked up the box from Rose next. I quickly opened it and pulled out a new iPod touch with 64GB. I looked up at Rose.
"I've already transferred all your music from your old iPod and added some music I know you will love," she said with a big smile. "This way you will still have your music while you are in the hospital."
"Thanks, Rose," I said. "You know not to touch my iPod but I will forgive you this one time."
"Thanks, B," she chuckled as she rolled her eyes.
"Open mine next," said Jasper. I picked up his gift and opened it and smiled as I pulled out the handful of music composition notebooks. "I expect several new songs when you come home."
"I'll do what I can," I said. "Thanks, Jas."
"You're welcome," he said. Esme and Carlisle came over and knelt in front of me as they handed me their gift. I tore the paper off and opened the box. Inside was a large photo album. I looked up at them.
"This is something for you to have with you so that you know your family is always with you," said Esme. "I have pictures of all of you, Garrett, Kate, Ben, Angela, and just about everyone else."
"Thank you," I whispered through my tears. "I love it."
"We love you," whispered Carlisle as he and Esme hugged me.
"Now, it's time for you to open my gift," said Edward. I frowned but took the box from him. He just chuckled and kissed my cheek. I pulled off the paper and opened the box and found a new laptop. I looked up at him. "This is the best laptop in the market. You can do just about anything on this baby, including using IM or chat rooms. I've created a blog for you in case you wanted to write out how you feel during the process."
"Oh," I said softly. "Thank you. I love it."
"I'm glad," whispered Edward. He kissed me and turned to the others. "Open your gifts from us."
I turned and watched as Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, and Esme all opened their gifts. They pulled out webcams and looked up at Edward.
"Her laptop had a built in webcam," explained Edward. "This way you can see each other and we don't have to risk her getting sick."
"This rocks, Edward," exclaimed Emmett. We all chuckled with him.
"What a great idea," chuckled Esme. "Who knew you were so smart?"
"Gee, thanks, Mom," chuckled Edward, rolling his eyes. He looked down at me. "I have webcams for Garrett, Kate, Ben, and Angela too."
"You really are smart," I whispered as I laid my head back on his shoulder.
"I try," he whispered.
Edward leaned down and kissed me again, causing the others to groan. We just ignored them all. We cleaned up our mess and spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon enjoying our new stuff. Edward showed me the blog site that he had started for me. He called it 'Bella's Crazy Corner.' The others didn't find it nearly as funny as I did but I thought it fit. My life was crazy right now. No point in hiding it.
Rose had added some killer music to my new iPod including all of my mother's music. I helped Esme cook dinner while the others watched movies in the living room. I loved spending this time with Esme. She was my mother in everyway.
We settled around the table when it was time to eat and enjoyed a nice Christmas dinner. Right now, I wasn't sick. Right now, we were just a family, celebrating a holiday together. Right now was perfect.