Chapter 20 - Gifts

Carlisle reached into his tweed jacket pocket and pulled out a large brown bottle that rattled as he handed it to Edward. Edward took it slowly and frowned at Mari before shaking it.

Tablets?

"What are those?" Mari chuckled looking as confused as Edward was.

"You're giving us E's for Christmas!?" Edward joked laughing aloud.

"They are indeed connected with ecstasy Edward, but not the kind you are referring to." Esme blushed slightly.

"I'm sorry, I don't follow you Esme." Edward shook the bottle again.

"They are the best present any parent can give a child of sexual maturity." Carlisle hinted. It finally dawned on them both at the same time, making them both blush too.

Contraceptives?

Carlisle explained. "You both need to take one tablet at the same time each day at exactly the same time as each other."

"What? Are you serious?" Edward's mouth fell open, as did Mari's.

"You have to be kidding!" Mari was astounded.

"You did it? You made it work?" Edward curled a loving arm around Mari and squeezed her gently before releasing her.

"Listen to me! Both of you!" Carlisle's tone turned deadly serious, which Mari had only heard once before. "This is vitally important. You must both take these for it to be effective. One missed pill could mean disaster. It has immediate effect, but I can only make it last for 25 hours. So there is only an hour's overlap. Please do not go over 24 hours or, well I don't think I need to tell you why. Do I?" He searched both their eyes for their acknowledgement. Both nodded their heads before looking back to the bottle. "I've tested it for up to six additions of sperm, that should be enough for any vampire a day?" He winked. "So Seven is your limit!"

Edward laughed aloud. "This is crazy?!" Edward ran his fingers through his hair wildly and his eyes stretched wide.

"Edward you need to take this seriously. You know the ramifications if this goes wrong don't you!?" Esme took a pace closer.

"Of course we do!" Mari spoke for him. "Carlisle, I really don't know how to thank you." She stepped forward and hugged Carlisle tight.

"Like I've said to you in the past Mari. Anything for you and Edward." Carlisle didn't fail on his promise. This was a gift like no other, ever before.

"Are you sure these, you know. Work?" Did Edward trust Carlisle enough?

Of course he did!

"I've tested it a thousand times Edward. They are 100% effective. If and only if you both take them." Carlisle gently reminded them.

"I, I really don't know what to say?" Edward shook the bottle again and then he looked to Mari. She looked scared like a small child. Exhaling a quick breath that made a 'hhhh' sound, he wrapped his free arm around his Father. Carlisle patted his back in a gentleman kind of way.

"No need to say anything. I'm glad I could help you both."

Edward then hugged his mother. "Happy Christmas Edward!" Esme smiled towards Mari while in Edwards hold.

"Thank you Mum." He said into her ear as he released her.

"You're very welcome." she replied beaming. As Edward stood back, Mari hugged Esme. "Happy Christmas Mari!"

"Merry Christmas Esme." She returned.

"We trust you Edward." Carlisle said nodding with a smile.

"Well, that makes our present to you both seem extremely insignificant now?!" Edward gaffawed making them all laugh. "It's out on the veranda!" He pointed out the back. "Go take a look!"

"Oh? Well, thanks!" Esme nodded her head once in acknowledgement and took Carlisle's outstretched hand to go and see their gift. Edward and Mari had replaced the lounger they had broken for a new swing seat.

Mari covered her eyes with a hand in embarrassment. "Well that was awkward!"

"I feel like a teenager!" He giggled. "Contraceptive advice when you are over 100 is so wrong."
"...but needed." Mari reminded him. "We must be sure to do this right."

Edward shook the bottle in front of Mari. "You know what this means? Don't you?" A flicker of lust sparkled in his glazed eyes.

"What? Edward Cullen? You'd break your virtue?" She chuckled.

"Nope, something far more important than sex!" He pulled her body against his inhaling her aroma, suddenly feeling every pore on her skin had opened and let out her powerful scent.

Mari felt confused and frowned. "There is something more important than hot, lust filled vampire sex?"

"Well I did have something else in mind yes, but when you say the words hot, lust and sex in the same sentence, then it tends to let my mind wander from its original path." His arousal was fast becoming apparent to them both while hers wasn't far behind his.

"What? Words like Bite, lick, suck, thrust..." She squinted her eyes teasing him beyond his self control, linked her arms around his neck and continued. "...touch, kiss, moan, growl."

He acted out the last word she'd uttered, growling into her ear. "If you carry on I swear I will make you take a tablet."

"Pant, sweat, hard, rub, blow..." She spoke each word through clenched teeth as his mouth pressed firmly against her neck. She pushed him further still. "...tease, taste, swallow, lap, grind and fuck?"

"Fuck!" He exhaled a breath he'd held for far too long. "I love you!" He nuzzled her scraping his fangs across and under her chin to the other side.

"You really want me to crumble don't you?" He spoke against her smooth leather skin.

"Yep!" Mari's eyes rolled back as she allowed the long awaited passion seep into her soul.

"I swear, if you don't stop, I will take you right here, right against this counter." He could feel her body melt beneath his grasp, mold to his every curve. She ran her fingers loosely through his wiry hair and tugged at fistfuls of it letting a soft moan escape he open mouth.

"Pleeease?" She begged now riding on a passing floating cloud.

"I think..." He said pulling back to let them both catch their breath. She ran a stone finger down the abrupt angle of his sharp jaw line, leaving a tingle in its path.

"Hmm?" She smiled wickedly, knowing she was distracting him again.

"I think..." He tried again, but her hand began to wander down over his chest making its way south. His breath hitched as she cupped her hand over his trapped rock hard bulge. "..Fuck woman you are insatiable." He growled again, glancing down at what she had done to him. She grinned and pulled his face towards hers, covering his mouth with her own to prevent him from talking.

"Ahem! Guys? There's a reason why we have our own rooms!" Emmett coughed entering the kitchen for a drink. "That's disgusting!" Mari and Edward didn't care anymore. They were happy, in love and now had no reason to abstain. They broke apart not for Emmett's benefit but to laugh at his comment.

"Oh Please! Emmett, you and Rose were relentless for a whole decade." Edward playfully scowled at his brother.

"Hey! I still keep my woman happy every night, thanks very much!" As soon as he said it, he looked sorry. "Oh! I'm Sorry Bro I didn't mean to.."

Edward removed a hand from Mari's behind and held it aloft to stop him. "It's fine. Honest." Edward returned his hand to where it had came from and said to Emmett. "..and If you don't mind I was busy." Mari looked from Emmett back to Edward grinning.

"OK. OK! You just carry on what you were doing. I'll just sit here and watch?" He mockingly lent against the sink and folded his arms.

Calling Emmett's bluff, they locked together again. Mari let out a loud false moan. "Oh, Edward!"

"OK. I'm going!" Emmett covered his ears and marched from the room. Both Mari and Edward laughed aloud. "Perv!" Mari called out after Emmett.

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Mari loved all her presents from Edward. She'd been thoroughly spoiled. She wore her earrings and they sparkled in every light.

They had all had a wonderful day. Renesmee had loved the dress they had bought her to wear out on the meal for two they had arranged for her and Jacob.

"Thank you Dad." She squeezed him round the waist. "Thank you Mari." She wrapped her arms around Mari's neck and gave her a squeeze. "You're welcome Sweetheart." Mari said into her ear.

"Thanks Bloodsucker!" Jacob shook Edward's hand on their gift.

"Isn't it about time you started using my name Jacob?" Edward smiled and stood up straighter to make himself taller than physically possible.

"Really?" Jacob scowled.

"If you plan to marry my daughter any time this century then, yes I strongly suggest you don't piss me off. Or it won't be happening. Got it?"

Jacob laughed and eyed Renesmee admiring Mari's expensive earrings. "I'd marry her anyway. With or without your permission."

"I think not Jacob Black. Remember I don't need a gun like some father's do. I'd rip all four of your legs off one by one and when I was done feasting on your blood, I'd cook your torso and feed it to Renesmee for Sunday Lunch. Making sure of course that she left just enough room for 'plum' pudding. Do we understand each other Jacob?" Edward smirked pleased with his analogy.

Jacob swallowed hard, desperate to hide the wave of fear he suddenly felt rush through him. "Yes Edward."

"Good!" Edward gloated.
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They danced and sang way into the night. They played Charades, Guess Who? and even a few hands of poker. It was just as Edward fell over, therefor losing to Jacob at 'Twister' that Mari suggested some fresh air to him. "Let's go for a walk?!"

"Man! I hate losing!" Edward sulked as she dragged him out the front door.

"It's just a game. You have won at everything else today." She was right, he had. He'd cleared Emmett out of $1000 at poker.

"Yeah! That pissed Emmett off huh!" Edward gaffawed.

"I didn't only mean the games Edward." He knew what she meant.
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Walking along the pebbled shore they held hands in the cold clear moonlit evening. "Mmm, I love this cold air; it was getting far too warm in there!" Mari said smiling across at him.

"Hmm, Renesmee was starting to look a little tired too, they'll probably be in bed when we get back. In our bed!" He hissed.

"Chill out Daddy'o! She knows the risks; they live together for heaven's sake!"

"Nah! I didn't mean that, I meant I'm Jealous!"

"Jealous? Of what?"

"Because I can't take you there myself this evening!" He swung their hands back and forward making them look about 17 and horny teenagers again.

"What about your virtue Mr Masen-Cullen?"

Edward smiled at her use of his double barreled name. "Oh my virtue is fine. I just mean spooning, I don't know what you thought I meant?!"

Mari threw her head back and laughed hard. "Well, that would mean you'd have to catch me first!" She zipped off before he could answer into the seemingly pitch black night, which to vampires wasn't a problem as they had great night vision.

He was about to chase her when his watch beeped midnight, his 24th and final gift was due. Plunging his hand into his pocket, he smiled knowing exactly what he wanted to do instead. Rather than pursuing her, he picked up a stick and another and quickly went to work arranging them onto the stones. It took roughly seven seconds and he was already finished and walking when she returned to seek out why he hadn't followed. He held out his hand to her and notioned with his head to the rocky cliff face. "Let's climb!" He said and she smiled taking his hand.

They reached the top easily and quickly and standing side by side they looked out at the amazing view. It was breathtaking. It looked like the sky met the edge of the cliff face seamlessly.

Stepping forward to the edge she sniffed in the biting cold wind that blew against her face. "This is amazingly serene."

He had to agree, it was perfect. He stepped forward behind her and slipped his arms through hers and pulled her closely to him resting his chin on her shoulder. "I will never tire of views like this." He spoke soft and she tilted her head to rest against his. "Neither will I."

"Thank you." He said out of the blue in a soft voice.

"For what?"

"For my present, for not biting my daughter..." This caused her to snigger "...for coming back...for trusting me...for loving me..." He moved his hands back through slightly to hold her waist and turned her back to face him "..for giving me something to live for again."

"That's OK. It's all my pleasure." She quickly pecked his frozen lips, then she remembered something.

"Hey that reminds me. I didn't get my last gift?" She slowly wagged her finger at him.
Chuckling aloud Edward turned her back around facing out into the stars. "That's because you are about to get it now." He withdrew both hands and moved them up covering her eyes.

"Edward?" She felt a sudden rise in panic.

"Do you trust me?" He murmmered gently into her ear.

"Yes, as long as you don't push me off." Her hearing sense naturally took over from her more dominant sight now she couldn't see. The waves crashed harder and louder, each and every pebble crashed against each other harder and louder.

"Look down." He said into her right ear, still covering her eyes.

"What?" She held out her hands either side confused.

"Look down!" And he took away his hands and stepped back. Now to you and me, the beach would only be covered completely in a black veil of darkness, but what her vampire eyes saw as she peered below in amongst the stones were sticks which spelled out 'MARRY ME?' Turning to Edward open mouthed in shock she saw by his face he was deadly serious.

Dropping down onto one knee on that squalid cliff edge, he opened a small red velvet box. "Marry me Mari?"

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Simultaneously, back at the house the party was still in full swing. Until Alice took a sharp intake of breath and staggered backwards against Jasper, who caught her arm before she fell.

"Alice!" Rosalie called out. Jacob thumped the stereo, turning it off.

"Alice? What is it? What do you see?" Esme asked coming close to her concerned. The room fell silent...

Only one voice spoke out, and it wasn't Alice's. It was Renesmee's. She'd seen it too.

"She said yes! Mari said yes!"

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A/N: Well there we have it. I hope you enjoyed my story. I thank you all for sticking by me for so long. Id love to hear your comments on the story as a whole. Many Thanks go to my pre reader CaptainClaire3 and My Beta DodgerMcClure, for having faith in me to carry on till the end.

To my readers. My heartfelt thanks xx

To my inspiration Edward Cullen, Love you Edward xx

Keep Dreaming ...

DeathToBeReborn xx