Chapter twenty two
Still 25th December
We made our way back to the house after thirty minutes of just cuddling in the field. Jasper was wearing the biggest smile i had ever seen, i swear his face was going to tear in two. The happiness that flowed out of him would make you think we'd just gotten engaged. I can't wait to see him when we do get engaged; the world might explode in rainbows and sunshine! I giggled at the thought and wrapped my arms tighter around his neck as he ran, my hair blowing over his shoulder. Esme was standing on the porch waiting for us, we were probably late for lunch, but i'm guessing that the smile on Jasper's face made her change her mind.
"Where have you two been," She said slowly with a soft smile.
"I gave Lizzie her Christmas present," He said gently putting me on my feet, wrapping an arm around my waist, "An eternity ring," She had a sparkle in her eyes then and gently took my hand to inspect it.
"Oh sweetie it's beautiful!" She said beaming at us, "We should go in before Jacob covers the table in drool,"
"Ew dog slobber," Jasper muttered earning him a warning look from Esme. I just laughed softly as we walked into the dining room.
Ok i was going to have to interrogate Charlotte on the importance of an Eternity ring, i knew it meant i had promised to spend eternity with Jasper and i knew it WASN'T an engagement ring yet everyone seemed excited and Rosalie once again had bridesmaid dresses flashing before her eyes. They all sat around and watched me, Jacob and Renesmee eat. We all talked and laughed. The crackers where amusing, Carlisle in the silly paper hat playing with the puzzle toy was a brilliant picture. Emmett and Jacob were arguing about who could put on the most hats which was funny because their heads where too big for the hats anyway.
"You're very happy," Jasper said to me quietly as i grinned at Emmett who was currently balancing his, Rosalie's, Edward's and Esme's hats on his head.
"Christmas dinner has never been a big thing for me before, usually it's just me and Dad...but i like this. I've always wanted to be in a big family...i never had any siblings...being here with you and your family just seems so...right," I muttered back and rested my head on his arm, completely stuffed with food knowing Esme had pudding planned too. Jasper chuckled happily.
"I'm glad you're happy with us..." He whispered softly in my ear. Edward burst into hysterical laughter and Jasper shifted uncomfortably, obviously Jasper has very amusing thoughts. I just smiled up at him and kissed the end of his nose softly.
The rest of the day was once again spent singing some Christmas carols to the musical styling of Jasper and Edward. Then i played with Renesmee with some of her new toys, Jacob was jealous of course. Eventually she had to go to bed so she hugged us all good night and headed up after clearing away her toys to the room Jasper had given her, she really was an amazing kid.
Jasper wrapped his arms around my waist as we sat on the sofa, me on his lap. Edward had quietly explained to me that the Eternity ring meant the engagement would happen within the next year, which had made my head spin slightly. But i reminded myself that getting engaged to Jasper does not mean that as soon as the ring goes on my finger the wedding will happen and then i will be a Vampire. No, i could make sure we have PLENTY of time to plan the wedding, so i'll be eighteen when we get engaged, perhaps nineteen when we get married and twenty or twenty one when i have kids. That seemed reasonable. I looked up to Jasper and then rested my head on his shoulder; i would quite happily become a vampire for him. He was truly worth dying for.
"It's two am Lizzie... you tired yet?" He said gently stroking my arm as he cradled me to his chest. I smiled lazily and shrugged.
"Not really but it's probably a good idea to go to bed...it's been a long day," I said sliding off his lap and turned around to him.
"You coming or not?" I said with a smile.
"I'll come up," He said standing up. We bid everyone good night and went up.
Jasper said i could sleep in his room again so i grinned and darted into my room. I washed and then slipped on a egg shell blue silk night gown which went a third of the way down my thighs and had a slit up one side to my hips and had a white lace trim. I wore that along with the matching lace underwear underneath and a matching silk dressing gown which went to my knees. I brushed my hair through one last time and made the trip across the landing to Jasper's room. He was sitting on the bed in a loose pair of black linen trousers and an unbuttoned white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I eyed hip up approvingly and smiled slightly. I turned and slid off my dressing gown and innocently hung it on the back of the door.
"I see what you mean by the purple one being the longest," I heard him say with a slightly husky growl. I laughed slightly and slid onto the bed next to him as i watched his eyes trail my body.
"Pervert," I sang and laughed, "My face is up here Mr Whitlock," He grinned at what i called him.
"Thats Major Whitlock," He whispered with a chuckle. I smirked and slid under the covers. We talked for another half an hour and then i went to sleep.
I awoke to find Bella and Rosalie hanging over me.
"Not the people i expected to see when i woke up," I said with a slight yawn.
"The boys went out to help the locals with a spot of bother...why didn't anyone tell us Maria had turned up," Rosalie said with a frown. I sat up sharply.
"Ah...slipped my mind...and anyway Maria is VERY dead," I said climbing out of bed, made the bed and then grabbed my dressing gown from the back of the door.
"Giving Jasper a show where you?" Rosalie said with a smirk. I scoffed.
"This was the longest one that was clean...someone only packed skimpy nightgowns in my suit case!" I said slipping the dressing gown on. Rosalie chuckled evilly.
"But anyway...Maria may be dead but now her newborn army is running riot...so the boys and Jacob went to sort it out," Bella said following me into my bedroom where i opened my wardrobe and pulled out my baby blue dress with pink butterflies on and clean underwear and laid it on my bed.
"How long have they been gone?" I asked brushing out my hair.
"Jasper left an hour after you fell asleep and it's now nine am so five hours?" Rosalie said thinking it through as she studied her nails.
"They'll be back soon then," I said with a smile. Rosalie nodded slowly.
"I'd have thought so, there was three locals who came to ask help...one of them seemed scared shitless of Jazz though...what was her name again," Bella said frowning slightly.
"Margret," I stated with an evil smile. Rosalie nodded.
"Yeah...that was it," She said and laughed. I went and hopped in the shower and washed my hair. I got dressed afterwards and went down stairs to wait with the others.
Esme was almost frantic with worry.
"Esme calm down," I said watching her pace the living room, "I think you're starting to make a trench in the floor with your pacing, and anyway they'll be fine..." She looked at me and smiled weakly.
"I know but i can't help but worry," She said and looked out the window. I glanced up towards the kitchen.
"They're back," I muttered and stood up walking to the kitchen. The girls looked at me confused and followed. And sure enough as soon as i stepped into the kitchen and looked out the window then all hopped over the back fence and made their way down towards the kitchen door.
"How did you know?" Esme said slowly, i shrugged slightly.
"Lucky guess," I said smiling at they walked into the kitchen. Jasper instantly locked his eyes onto me.
"I wanted to be back before you woke up...one of them was really fast...took us a while to catch him," He explained kissing my forehead. He was filthy, covered in light brown dust from head to toe.
"It's ok but you...shower...now," I said pointing in the direction of the stairs.
"Yes ma'am," He said saluting me. I laughed and watched as he marched briskly off, looking back over his shoulder at me and stuck out his tongue.
Esme and Carlisle had been giving me funny looks all morning and i hadn't the faintest idea why. They weren't mean looks, just curious glance. I was sprawled out on the floor as Renesmee put her game into the XBOX, it was a singing game and she had given me the puppy dog eyes so i had agreed to play with her. Smart child was using my own weapon against me. The game was a few years old now but she loved it. She handed me a mic and selected Eliza Doolittle Pack up. I laughed slightly and slowly sat up, Jasper was sat on the couch observing, he hadn't given in to the puppy dog eyes but he would join in at some point, he didn't have a choice in the matter. The music started to play and Renesmee in the angelic voice sang the first verse and then me the second, we alternated thought out and then sang the ending together. She jumped up and down at the end as we had gotten a high score.
"Auntie Lizzie that was great!" She squealed hugging me around the waist. I wasn't sure exactly when i had become Auntie, i'm suspecting Ed or Bells told her to call me that but i didn't mind being Auntie.
Five songs later i turned to Jasper and grinned, he started to quickly shake his head so i turned on my puppy dog eyes and cutely pouted.
"Please Jazzy? Sing a song with me!" I said tilting my head to one side. He stared at me for a minute and then bit his lip.
"Fine...one song though," He said with a sigh, i grinned and Renesmee handed him her mic as he stood up. She jumped on the sofa to watch. I switched on Morning After Dark by Timbaland feat SoShy and Nelly Furtado. Jasper had a mixture of horror and amusement plastered on his face as he watched the beginning of the video start, i chuckled evilly as Bella came in a sat down next to Renesmee. We each sung the parts of our gender and i was dancing around to the music. We had gathered an audience by the middle of the song and Emmett was dancing to my sheer amusement. The song finished and people clapped, Rosalie and Bella grabbed the two mics and i smiled up to Jasper and wrapped my arms around his neck. He rested his forehead against mine and kissed me softly.
"You've got a weird taste in music," He muttered as we headed into the kitchen. I chuckled as we walked up to Charlotte and Peter.
My stomach churned slightly as i hugged Charlotte quickly, i didn't want to say goodbye to them. I gotten so used to having them around i was sad to see them leave.
"Don't worry Lizzie...at this rate we'll see you again soon!" Charlotte said with a bright smile. I raised my eye brows in surprise.
"When?" I replied with a smile.
"At your's and Jasper's wedding!" She said hugging me again. My face fell and my lips turned into a lop sided smile, Peter laughed and opened his arms to me. I slotted in and gave him a quick hug.
"It was very nice meeting you Lizzie," Peter said with a bright smile.
"It was very nice meeting you two too," I said with a light laugh, Jasper said his goodbyes to Peter and Charlotte and they left waving to us as they went before disappearing in a cloud of dust.
Jasper and I were sitting by the pool. I had my light blue bikini on which really didn't cover a lot.
"It's going to be really quiet tomorrow...once the family have gone," He said leaning back, letting the sun make his skin sparkle. I nodded slightly simply admiring him.
"Yeah it is...but it'll only be just over a week and we'll be heading back..."I said skimming my toes along the surface of the water. He grunted in a reply and looked to me, i tilted my head to one side and saw him twitch. Next thing I knew I was in the water gasping. It was FREEZING!
"JASPER WHITLOCK HALE YOU'RE SO GONNA GET IT!" I shrieked shivering, pouting up at him. He was laughing hysterically from the edge of the pool with a look on his face which said, try it.
"EMMETT!" I screamed. Emmett appeared almost instantly.
"Yeah?" He said grinning at me.
"PUSH HIM IN!" I said pointing at Jasper who had a bit of an, Oh shit...this might back fired, face on.
"Gladly!" He said and before i knew it Emmett was in the pool too...fully clothed.
"ARGH! USELESS! EDWARD ROSALIE BELLA!" I shouted pouting at him.
Soon enough Bella had also joined me and Emmett in the pool. I saw Edward fly over head and land with a small splash next to a chuckling Bella. Rosalie gave Jasper a single glare and he took a step back. To my sheer pleasure he was standing on the edge of the pool, so i grabbed his leg and yanked hard sending his tumbling into the water. They all cheered. Jasper surfaced with his hair dangling over his eyes. I chuckled nervously and gave him the puppy dog pout. He flicked his hair from his eyes. I saw a flash as Rosalie snapped a photo of us all.
"You coming in Babe?" Emmett said swimming back stroke. Rosalie gave him a blank stare.
"Not fully dressed i'm not," She said flatly.
"Take the clothes off then! I'll help!" Emmett said grinning, i mentally gagged to which i heard Edward chuckle.
"No Emmett...down boy," Rosalie said waggling a finger at him and winked.
"You two are foul," I said sighing hopping up onto Jasper's back. Bella and Edward laughed as Emmett turned around and sent a tidal wave of water towards us.