-1The house was in view, and several thoughts shouted inside my head.
Edward and Bella are home!
They're back!
I hope Alice didn't over do it. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Bella put her hand on my shoulder.
"What's wrong?" She looked worried. I smiled back at her to show I was fine.
"I overheard something; that's all."
"I thought you tuned everyone out."
"Sometimes a voice will slip through."
I pulled into the driveway, and Bella climbed out. My family's voices still sounded inside my mind as Bella unlocked the front door.
We locked the door after the guys got here, Alice mentally explained.
Inside everything seemed normal, and Bella wasn't suspicious of anything as she hung up her jacket. I did the same and started toward the living room, but Alice raced by and beat both Bella and me there.
"Happy birthday!" exclaimed the little vampire hugging Bella. Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Carlisle, and Esme walked downstairs. At last Alice let go.
"What are you doing here?" cried Bella; it was hard to tell if she was mad or shocked. I looked over to Jasper to find out: happy.
"We're here to celebrate you birthday of course!" Esme, with open arms, walked over to Bella. She was so happy Bella was officially part of the family.
"I promise to behave," joked Jasper standing near Carlisle and the staircase. "as long as you don't destroy our gift." He and Emmett laughed. Bella turned red.
"Sorry about that," she barely whispered.
Carlisle and Esme sat us down to visit. The had moved back to the house they bought when we "made a clean break." Esme was till working on restoring it. She hinted that she'd like some new pictures of all of us for Christmas.
Alice and Jasper then remembered about their gift for Bella. The quickly told the other to go get it and then ran to go get it themselves. I laughed at their bickering minds and raced upstairs to the guest room to get it myself.
It was too big fro Bella's liking, and I knew she'd never accept it. Still, I took it down to her. I placed the box next to the others.
"Oh, no, Alice!" moaned Bella. Please be nice, I thought.
I tried to stop her, Edward, but you know how Alice is, thought Jasper. It surprised me because he normal didn't use my ability to talk to me.
I sat back down next to Bella as she picked up the card from my parents' gift. She managed to open it herself-a relief to everyone-and red it aloud.
"'Happy birthday, daughter. Hope your birthday is as special as you. Love, Carlisle and Esme.' Thanks guys." She put he card down and opened the bag that went with it. The two vampires smiled at each other and looked back at Bella. She pulled out several of her favorite books.
"Drive Edward nuts with some different classics," said Carlisle, smiling at me. I snorted and rolled my eyes.
"No more Wuthering Heights?" I asked her playfully. She tried to scowl back, but ended up smiling and laughing.
Emmett's gift was next-no card, just a "That's from me!" It was a computer game about conquering the world.
"You're in college! You have to goof off!" He laughed. Rosalie's gift was more realistic- a gift card.
"I'm sorry we didn't get you more, but what do you get a girl who won't let you spend money on her?" she apologized.
"That's more than I'm allowed," I commented. Bella looked over at me and held up her bracelet and wedding ring.
"Diamonds!" she screamed. "That heart is a huge diamond!"
"Hand-me-downs," I reminded her. "You still have Alice and Jasper's gift." I handed her the heavy box. She cautiously tore the wrapping paper off and gasped. A brand new laptop sat on her lap.
"You shouldn't have!"
"Yes we should have. Now you can email your friends from Forks and Renee," replied Alice.
"I'd bet you could get Charlie to set up an email address for himself, too," added Jasper. I saw a previous vision of Alice: Charlie sitting in Bella's old room typing at her computer. Emmett thought about Bella playing her new game on it. Bella caught his look.
"That's why you bought that game!" she accused. She let it go after that. She'd become less grouchy about receiving gifts after she saw our bank statement. She even allowed me to buy her a faster car as a late graduation/ wedding present.
My-our- family stayed for the rest of the day to avoid the sun's light. That night they traveled to Delhi to see Tanya and her family.
After another "human moment" Bella was back in my arms in our room.
"Can I please give you my real gift now?" I asked her.
"Edward. You showed my where you hunt-the closest I'll ever get to seeing that as a human-, and we spent the day in the sun-on a waterfall! What more could you give me?" She locked her arms around me and kissed my lips. She tried for a deeper one, but I moved my head away.
"Patience. When you're not so fragile. We push our luck as it is with your…demands." She then pushed me back onto the bed. I let her unbutton my shirt as I kissed her neck.
"Tell me what it is," she whispered in my ear.
"You're birthstone earrings will have to wait now," I answered in my darkest tone.
"Why?" I rolled over & held myself slightly about her.
"You're trapped under a highly dangerous vampire for the next few minutes. Your fate rests with me." I laughed.