DECEMBER 24, 2018
Jessa sat on the sofa in the library cradling newborn Isla Amelia. The baby had just eaten, and she was watching her in awe. She chuckled as she heard Damon growling in the hallway.
Turning to the library entrance, she watched as her husband chased Rosie into the room. Growling like a bear, her little girl was giggling as she ran from the fearful beast. Wondering where Dante was, she did a quick scan of the room and saw him under a table concentrating hard on his daddy's feet. Before she could call out a warning, Damon fell like a tree.
"Dante!" She admonished with a twinkle in her eye. "What has Mommy said about using our powers against the powerless?"
Her little dark haired, blue eyed boy came out from under his hiding place with a pout. "But Daddy was chasing Rosie, and you said that our powers are for protecting ourselves and our family." He looked so much like his Daddy had in youth that it made her heart stutter.
"Daddy's family, buddy." Damon said, pulling his son into his embrace. Rosie clamored into the hug. "Luckily, he's also not powerless. Checking his feet, he noticed that Dante had managed to make the shoelaces tie together. "Besides you did a really good job on that spell."
Jessa rolled her eyes as the doorbell rang. "You're incorrigible. Boundaries, Damon." She stood up with Isla still cradled in her arms. "Now, untie Daddy's shoes while I go greet our guests."
It was still tradition to come to the Salvatore house for Christmas Eve. Over the years the core group remained, sometimes with plus ones for the singles. Only one couple was never included, and Jessa still wondered if that was for the best. Perhaps Elena and Stefan deserved to have a chance to play a part in their family?
Opening the door, she found Ric. He was early, but he usually was. Smiling she stepped back so he could come inside. He looked down at the baby in her arms and she could tell what he wanted. Handing over Isla, she watched as he cuddled her to him. A natural, once she'd convinced him to hold the twins.
"Hello, Issie. Uncle Ric is here with presents." He kissed her sweet smelling head and smiled at Jessa. "Where are my demons?"
On cue the twins came tumbling into the entryway. "Hiya Uncle Ric!" They said in unison. He gave a light chuckle as they hugged his legs. "Merry Christmas!" They'd been high on excitement all day. They're extended family was coming all at once and PRESENTS!
"Do you need any help with anything, Ric?" Damon asked, having finally untied his shoe laces and joining his family in the entryway.
Ric nodded as he rocked the baby gently when she began to make disgruntled noises. "There are some bags in the car. Let me give this little angel back to Mommy and I'll go out with you." He carefully handed the baby back to Jessa before going back outside.
Jessa could see the beam of more headlights as they opened the door, and knew that the others were coming. This was the first Christmas in 6 years that her parents were going to be away. The rest of their family was hellbent on keeping the twins occupied so they wouldn't feel the loss of their Grampa and Grandmother as deeply. And her Papa had promised to call before they kids were ready for bed.
As their family came, by ones and groups, Jessa reflected on how wonderful this tradition was for their whole group. Every year they tried to get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, but even when they couldn't manage to make Thanksgiving work, Christmas Eve was ALWAYS together. She watched through a front window, rocking from side to side so Issie stayed calm, as Damon and Ric gathered not only the presents from his car, but also helping the others with theirs.
She had left the door slightly ajar so they could all tramp in and the twins greeted each guest as happily and excitedly as they had Ric. Finally everyone was inside, coats taken and put up on the rack then they all made their way to the library. Jessa sat down and smiled as Carol and Liz tried to decide who would get to hold Issie first. The others were arranging the presents under the tree as the twins, being less mischievous than earlier, tried to help.
"Something smells amazing," Caroline said, standing up and brushing her hands on her jeans. "Did you make that roast recipe that I love, Jessa?"
Damon answered, moving to his wife's side. "Of course she did, along with at least one favorite dish for each of you." He smiled as he dropped a kiss on her head. Then sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap.
"And you get a favorite dish, too. Don't pretend I forgot you." She said kissing him lightly.
They sat and talked for a bit, catching up on news and Jessa couldn't help but notice that Ric looked more uptight now that they were getting comfortable. She didn't try to listen to his thoughts, having learned to control that power over the years. It helped with her sanity if she could turn it down or off, especially with toddlers. She did, however, send a message to Damon and felt him shift under her.
"Damon, what's wrong with Ric?" Was her next question for her loving husband.
Leaning into her so it would seem he was planting a kiss on her ear, he told her. "Stefan and Elena want to make peace. He got to play messenger boy."
"How do you feel about it? Do you want to try?" She asked, thinking that leaving the decision to him was appropriate. She felt him shrug, and realized he was thinking about it. "If you want to, then I'm willing to support it."
He nodded and finally did plant the kiss on her earlobe. "I love you."
She smiled in return. "Everyone ready for dinner?" She asked aloud. The adults nodded and her twins pouted. "Buck up, kiddos, after dinner we'll start presents." That got smiles back on their tiny faces. By now, Isla was asleep and they put her in a bassinet near the dining room table.
Jessa commandeered the adults to bring everything to the table and then they took their usual places. The twins each picked a godparent to sit by, and the adults fell into the chairs they'd claimed during their first family meal. Jessa sat by Damon, watching as he cut the roast and everyone passed the sides around. She smiled at the normalness of their new reality. So very different from what each of them had thought possible before they'd returned to each other's lives.
Dinner passed in a rush of conversation and joking. Compliments on the food were plenty, but clearly the twins were jumping at the bait to get into those presents under the tree. Finally, after an eternity to her small ones, they were finished and cleaned the table before returning to the library.
The adults settled into the sofas and chairs and watched as Caroline and Tyler pulled the presents from under the tree to hand them out. The twins got handed two each to start with, simply to help contain their energy for a bit. Jessa had brought Isla's cradle into the room and sat next to it, watching her smallest angel sleep through the noise.
Presents were exchanged between her family members and Jessa was smiling as everyone seemed to get at least one thing they absolutely wanted. Of course, she'd helped with that, not buying each thing, but letting someone on the list know what each person REALLY wanted. At least her mind reading came in handy for some things.
Rosie and Dante were ecstatic with their presents, and wanted to know if they could "help" Issie with hers. Jessa assured them that they could, when their baby sister was awake. Which meant in the morning. Groans from their mouths didn't help their cause. Uncle Ric and Auntie Bonnie took over, distracting their godchildren with their new bounty. The rest of the group sat chatting, waiting for Jessa's parents to call in.
"It feels a bit weird that they aren't here, doesn't it?" Liz said, taking a glass of mulled wine from Damon.
Jessa nodded. "Yes, it does. Mother wanted a vacation though. They were just here for Isla's birth, and Papa thought she deserved a break."
"From her grandbabies?" Carol asked, askance. "These darling babies adore their Grandmother and Grampa."
Damon smiled at the two women who had become surrogate grandmothers to his children. "Yeah, well my mother-in-law isn't as maternal as the three of you." He gestured to the sheriff, mayor, and his wife. "She tends to get a little overwhelmed by the twins, and Issie is a bit much. I think she assumed we'd leave it with the twins."
Jessa chuckled. "She didn't want more than one, she cannot fathom Damon and I wanting more than two." She squinted into the fire. "My Papa was the one who was more fascinated with me as a child. She spent most of my childhood being my teacher of how to be a 'proper young lady'." She rolled her eyes. "My Papa, on the other hand, showed me how to be a child."
Liz and Carol looked uncomfortable. Damon smiled. "Don't worry, Jessa's made peace with the reality of her parents."
Right on cue, Jessa's cell rang. "It's Grampa!" She announced and Rosie and Dante ran to take the phone from her. As the chattered to her papa, she smiled. He was their favorite, just as he'd been hers.
"K, Grampa, we'll let Mommy put the phone on speaker." Dante said, handing it back to her. Pressing the speaker button, she waited to hear her papa's voice.
"Hello, lovelies!" Her papa said, and she could hear his smile. "We're so sorry we're missing family time, but I have it under good authority that you'll all be getting some presents from Santa in the next day or so. Sorry he's a bit late, but he got the list I sent a bit late."
Jessa smiled, the twins weren't really believers in Santa, but her papa was sure that they still needed to pretend. "Papa, how's your trip? And is Mother having fun?"
His chuckle came as he pressed the speaker button on his side. "It's been wonderful, and she seems to be having a reasonably good time."
Madeline came on after a small smacking sound. "He's being modest again. I've had a luxurious time and I'm fighting him about relocating to this island. Blue skies and blue water, it's amazing."
Damon shot Jessa a look that clearly read, "we could finally take a honeymoon it sounds like paradise." She chuckled at him and shot a look at their three children. "Babysitters, we have half a dozen." She shook her head, promising to talk about it later.
"We're glad you're having fun! Merry Christmas!" Jessa said instead, and the rest of their family echoed the wishes. "We'll let you get back to it! Love you!"
The party broke up after the twins were ushered to bed and read stories by their godparents. Jessa sat in the library, gently rocking Issie's cradle with her foot while she watched the lights glow in the darkness of the room. Damon had seen everyone out, and after Ric and Bonnie said their final goodbyes, he joined her.
Lifting her up and putting her back on his lap. She lay back against his chest and waited for the two discussions they were due. She was curious about both what he wanted to do about Stefan and Elena's wish to be reintroduced to their family, and this honeymoon he wanted.
She felt him sigh as he kissed her hair. "I'm trying to decide whether we start with the fun idea or the one that may have Shakespearean overtones." She gave him her left and and watched as his wrapped around hers, their wedding rings flashing in the twinkling of the lights. He kissed her knuckles and smiled.
"My brother and his girlfriend," a deeper sigh. "I don't know if I trust them. And we have Rosie, Dante, and that little angel right there." She could tell he was looking into Isla's cradle. "Should I invite them back?"
It was Jessa's turn to sigh. "You know we can protect the children, Damon. And as for inviting them, I can undo that as well. It's why they had to use Ric as messenger. Do you want to see Stefan again?"
"I do." She could tell that the answer surprised him. "It's probably stupid, but I do want to. I want him to meet his nieces and nephew. I want to share my happiness with him."
She nodded and then to break his seriousness she offered, "Big softie, like I said." Turning to face him, she kissed him deeply.
"After the new year, when your parents are in town, we'll invite them over." He said, pulling back and staring into her eyes. "Then once I'm convinced that my brother and his girl are being honest, we'll plan the honeymoon my beautiful wife deserves."
Shaking her head she rolled her eyes. "I don't need a honeymoon. I live one. And I'm not sure I'll feel comfortable leaving Issie so soon."
Damon kissed her into silence. She felt the same burning pull, the want and need of him building. As they felt certain the library was burning around them, he pulled back. "We do, Jessa." His eyes were locked on hers and their heartbeats were so loud she felt certain that Issie could hear. "I want to take you somewhere, alone, and remind you of how it was before the babies came. I want to be able to hear those noises that we can't make anymore while enjoying our bodies touching and taking each other to highs unseen by mortal eyes."
She cupped his face, understanding that he needed this as much as he felt she did. "OK. We'll do it." She smiled. "I couldn't deny you anything, Damon."