Chapter Five: Sorry Honey. I Got To Go to La Push To Get Your Present

When we got back to the house, there was a pile of presents on the table in the center of the room. Everyone was waiting for us so that Nessie could open them. She was sitting in one of the armchairs, looking really excited. I went and sat on the arm of her chair. She smiled and grabbed the front of my shirt. She pulled me down to her and kissed me.

"That is number one. You owe me nineteen more kissed today because it is my twentieth birthday." Nessie told me with a giggle.

"Fine by me. Here's number two." I said and pressed my lips back to hers.

I heard several people huff in annoyance. Some people did find it sweet, though because there were one or two awes.

Then Emmett yelled, "I didn't fly all the way from Greece to watch my niece make out with her werewolf mate. I came to celebrate her birthday. Come on Nessie, start opening your presents."

I looked up to glare at him. He was smiling wickedly at me. Rosalie elbowed him in the ribs.

"I second on that!" Garrett shouted from across the room. He was standing with the other Denali's, looking uncomfortable.

I pushed back Nessie's hair to whisper in her ear. "Later." Then I kissed her ear. She giggled and nodded.

"Ok bring on the presents." Nessie shouted. Unlike her mom, Nessie likes receiving gifts and attention but knows when it's enough.

"Here baby. This is from your mother and me." Edward said and handed her the envelope they had taken from the cabin. Nessie took it from him and opened it. Inside were plane ticket vouchers, two of them. Nessie and I both stared at them.

"We are paying for you and Jacob to spend a week in the Amazon with Zafrina, Senna, and Kachiri." Edward explained. Nessie squealed and jumped into Edward's arms gracefully. He kissed her forehead before passing her from his arms into Bella's.

Nessie sat back down after thanking them and grabbed the closest present to her. It took her half an hour to open all the presents because there were a lot of them and she had to get up to hug everyone.

"Hey Jacob. I didn't see Nessie open something from you. Didn't you get her anything?" Emmett asked loudly.

"Yeah. Don't I get a present from you?" Nessie asked, her lower lip stuck out. I traced her lip with my finger. She stared into my eyes.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You are going to have to wait for my present. I have to go to La Push and get it from my sister." I told her. Her face fell in disappointment. I hate that look.

"You're leaving me? She asked sadly. She let out a moan of sadness.

"I won't be gone long. Maybe an hour tops. I won't miss anything important, sweetheart. Hey, what time is it?" I asked her. She made a face at me before glancing at the watch I gave her for her eighteenth birthday.

"Its 9:28. When are you leaving?" she asked me. Nessie didn't want me to leave but I had to.

I took her face in my hands and, "I won't leave until 10:45. I promise I will be back no later than noon. Maybe if Rachel is in a good mood, she might make me lunch." I kissed her lips, sealing my promise.

"I guess it's ok if you are going to be getting my birthday present." Nessie said, rubbing her nose to mine. That is one of the many things I love about her. She is logical and teasing at the same time.

"Ok let's play some games." Alice announced. We played vampire tag in the woods for a while. Next, the Amazonians taught us a game they like to play. It was something between hide and seek and capture the flag. I really liked that game but I had to leave after the first round.

"Meet us in the clearing at noon. We can teach the Amazonians to play baseball." Edward said before he went to hide the flag again.

"Sure, sure." I called after him, and then turned to Nessie. "Have fun, ok? It's your birthday, smile honey." I told her as I tried to push the corner of her mouth up. She held my hand to her face.

"Ok, I'll try. You better go so you can come back to me sooner. The next round is starting anyways." She said, smiling at me.

" That's my girl. Go have fun with your friends and family. I'll be back soon." I promised her. We smiled at each other. She nodded and I leaned down to kiss her before going into the woods, leaving her there.