"Bella. This is Vanessa."

Sweaty palms, croaky voice and bitten lips. The couple stood in front of me were practically a gigantic ball of nerves. So this was why Jake had dragged me out of bed at 2:30 in the morning.

"You must be brave, putting up with this one Vanessa." and with that they relaxed so much they shrunk a few inches.

I smiled widely as Gibbs answered the door.

"You know it was open." he said letting me in and grabbing my suitcase.

"Yep. But I didn't want to be rude so. Plus I had no hands and had to kick the door." I shrugged my shoulders passing him the dishes I had in my hands.

"Home-made cheesecake and macaroni cheese. Grandma Swan's secret recipe."

"You always bring Gibbs food. Why don't I ever get any."

"Because Dinozzo," I said turning to face the pouting man in the doorway "I have yet to be invited to your apartment with out running into a Pizza or Chinese delivery man. Some times its both."

"Good to have you back Swan." he said pulling me into a massive hug.

"Only gone 3 days." I laughed pushing him away.

"Get off me you idiots." I cried trying to push the group of boys off of me. "You guys weigh a ton."

"What's wrong vampire girl. Can't handle a pile up." a deep voice laughed.

"Should of known you were behind this Paulie. Sorry I blamed you Jake."

"Now, now you lot. Let the girl up." Emily called out. One by one the boys jumped up.

"Here Bells." Jared said, holding out his hand to pull me up. Only for me to be attacked by giggling children.

Walking into the living room I found that I was the last one to arrive. I smiled at Ziva, who smiled back. Even if it was hesitantly. Abby jumped up and attacked me. I mean hugged me. Over her shoulder I made eye contact with Tim.

"Abby at sometime I'm going to need to breathe." I complained. Abby jumped away grinning at me.

"How was your trip?" she asked, jumping up and down.

"Fine. Not the best Christmas but not the worst." I shrugged, sitting on the floor by Tim's feet. "Happy Christmas by the way." I said looking around the room making sure my eyes didn't linger too long on Tim. There was a jumbled mess of replies.

"Wake up! It's Christmas!" now don't get me wrong. If a little kid had been jumping on my bed at 5:30 in the morning, I wouldn't complain, I would get up. But when it's your 20-something brother. The fan gets dirty.

"I swear Seth, if you don't get off of me..."

"Aww. Belly."

"Just get up." I heard Leah moan. "He does this every year. It's better you just get up."

"Fine" I growled throwing the covers, and a shocked Seth, off me.

"Can we do presents now?" Abby asked still jumping up and down.

"Fine." Gibbs said, claiming a dining chair to drag in and sit on.

As Abby ran for the tree intent on handing out the presents I spoke up.

"Ohh. Hang on!" I rummaged through my suitcase until I found my present and gave it to Abby who took it and added it to the pile. We had all used silver bags of the same size so, when I brought mine in later then the others, there was no way to tell who brought who what. Well, apart from me who would be able to read the expressions of my friends.

After a quick shuffle of the bags Abby started handing them out.

Mine was heavy, but not strenuous. After we looked at each other quickly we opened the bags.

Inside was a blue box, the one you get jewellery in. I quickly looked around the room, to find everyone looking in their own bags. I pulled out the box and slowly opened the box. It was a coiled bracelet, the one you put charms on. Attached was four charms. An Angel, a Shooting Star, An Apple and a Four Leave Clover. The star had something engraved. 18/11. The date I joined the team. I gently picked it up, feeling something on the other side. Turning it over I found 13/9.

I looked up again but everyone was still looking at their presents. At the bottom of the bag was a piece of paper.

An Angel for our Angel, a pretty young women who guides our way,

A Four Leave Clover for our good luck charm, with a smile that makes sure we all have a great day.

A Shooting Star to represent the way you flew into lives, unexpected to happen but welcome

And an Apple for the teacher who never fails to teach us a lesson.

This time when I looked around the room, so was everyone else.

Gibbs was a bottle of, what looked to be, expensive Whiskey.

Ziva had pot of some sort and a feather, staring at it in confusion.

Tony had a collection of DVD's

Abby had one of those ceramic dolls, however it was dressed to look like a Goth, make-up and all.

Tim had a CD of Jazz hits.

Ducky was holding an 18th century published collection of Shakespeare's works. Which I will have you know us hard to find.

Then the noise started the usual, 'What is this?', 'Okay own up.' and 'Who had me?'

"Here you go Bells." my dad said reaching over and passing me a parcel. I smiled and took it and unravelled it. right at the top was a photo frame. In the photo frame was a picture of me and the pack, Sue and dad included, after my graduation. I was laughing, slightly bent over with a giggling Claire on my back. You could just see Quil's hands hovering behind her ready to catch her if she fell. Underneath was a jumper and when holding it up I found Quilete Pack Princess on the back. The absurdity of it just made me laugh. Pack Princess. Yeah Right.

"All right Bella, we know your dying to tell us. Who got your gift?" Tony asked when he noticed I hadn't said anything.

"I... have no idea." I admitted.

"No idea? At all?" Ducky asked.

"Who ever it was, knows my birthday and is amazing with words. I would of said you Ducky but I had to pick up your gift up for you so I know who your Secret Santa is." I shrugged, passing the bracelet and letter into Tim's outstretched hand.

After he read it he passed it on to Tony and Ziva. "You have the same birthday as me." he said, surprised.

"Well would you look at that. Bella, McGoo and I share a birthday."

Abby came and collected them. taking them back to where she was perched on the arm of Ducky's Armchair.

"Aww. That's so cute. 'An Angel for our Angel, a pretty young women who guides our way'. Who wrote this?" she asked. Everyone did that thing where they looked around the room scrutinising the others.

"No takers. Okay then." I shrugged, "I'll just pretend it was Ducky then. Thank you Ducky." I said with a large smile. Ducky chuckled and tipped his head, but I felt Tim shift slightly. And not in a natural way but a 'I'm hiding something' way.

"Auntie Bella. Auntie Bella." Claire cried repeatedly as she saw me approaching Sam and Emily's house. She ran and jumped at me, almost knocking me off of my feet if it hadn't of been for Seth's hands on my back.

"Claire, Claire, Claire" I answered, carrying her up the front porch stairs. "Did Santa you visit last night?" I asked, getting a giggle and a nod back before I put her down. She ran inside while Seth and Leah started laughing. No sooner had I stepped in the door that I got tackled to the floor.

"For flip sake Jake. I know you were behind this." I lied. But Jake made a good escape goat.

I was stood on Gibbs' drive, just looking at the sky.

"Ready?" I heard Tim asked and turned around to see him finally leaving the house.

"Yep. Thanks for the lift again." I said as he took my case out of my hand and to the car. "Thanks for the great night Gibbs." I said nodding at him.

The whole gang had decided to 'turn in' so we were all crowding around the cars parked on the drive and street outside of Gibbs' house. As Tim started the engine I got in the car and our Procession started down the street. We all split up heading in different directions and only the did I find it safe to turn and kiss Tim on the cheek.

"Thank you." Tim didn't say anything but his cheeks got pinker. "I missed you Timmy."

A/N: Okay 3 months. But this is more then twice the size of the last chapter. All the italics are out of order (as you might of guessed).

So I've been ill again, but this time I had nothing better to do but write. However the medication I'm on makes my brain fuzzy so I'm pretty sure this doesn't make much sense. However, Reading just the normal texts should, if the italics confuse you.

I tried to highlight how this Christmas is a transition from her past life to her current. Like her Christmas at Forks is just a distant memory. I probably didn't achieve that but *shrugs shoulders* I tried.