Chapter 23: The Perfect Gift

During Emmett's Christmas vacation, he came back to Forks. Since his return, he and Bella were once again inseparable.

On the morning after Emmett's return to Forks, Bella walked down the stairs with a smile. "Hey Bells," Charlie greeted.

"Hey dad," she answered smiling.

"Hey kiddo, could you come here for a second?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied walking in.

Charlie had Bella sit across from him. "What's up?" she asked.

"Bella, have you and Emmett…done anything?"

Bella raised her eyebrow. "Done anything?" she asked.

"Well, you and Emmett hang out all the time and there was that weekend where you were in Stanford alone with him, which I'm still not thrilled about," Charlie replied.

She continued to stare at her father before the realization hit. "Dad are you trying to give me the sex talk?" she asked, her face turning a few shades of red.

"Well…" he started slowly.

Clearing her throat, she laughed a little. "Dad, Emmett and I haven't done anything like that," she answered.

"Well…even if you haven't and you guys think you are…you know about…" he started.

"Dad, Sue took me to the clinic and got me the pill when I was thirteen," she answered her face now burning with embarrassment.

Biting her lower lip, she rubbed her hands together nervously. "Is that it?" she asked.

"Actually, Bell, there's one more thing I'd like to talk to you about," he replied.

"Okay," she murmured slowly.

Charlie sighed, tapping his fingers on the table. "Bells, you and Emmett hang out too much I think," he told her.

"Why do you think that?" she asked curiously.

"When he's around, you do see your friends," he replied.

"I see my friends dad," she replied.

"Not as often when Emmett's around," he insisted.

Bella smiled a little. "We double date with Angela and Eric," she answered.

"All the time?" he asked.

"Yeah, actually, all four of us are heading up to Port Angeles tonight actually," she replied.

Getting up from the table, she walked over, wrapping her arms around her dad's torso in a hug. "Don't worry dad, I'm not abandoning anyone," she told him, kissing his cheek before leaving to meet up with Emmett. Charlie was still sitting at the table staring at the chair Bella was sitting in.

"I don't think this has anything to do with Bella not hanging out with her friends," Sue commented as she walked in with a cooing Gabriel.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked.

Sue walked over, placing her free hand on Charlie's shoulder. "I think this has to do with the fact you're seeing her grow up and you do not like it at all," she replied.

"I know she's growing up, Sue," he told his wife.

"Doesn't mean you like it," she answered.

He sat back in his chair with a sigh while taking Gabriel into his arms. "I feel like I just got her back," he murmured. Sue smiled a little. "Next thing I know that boy's going to come here and ask me if it's okay to marry her," he muttered.

"You know Emmett did mention something…" Sue started.

"Sue…" he groaned, making her laugh softly.

"Emmett's a good boy, Charlie. Don't start the 'he's not good enough for her' speech because you know what? No man is ever going to be good enough for your Bella," she told him.

She kissed the side of her husband's head. "But he makes her happy. You see the way her face lights up when his name is even mentioned," she pointed out.

"I know," Charlie, sighed.

Sue kissed him briefly with a small smile before taking Gabriel and leaving the kitchen. Charlie still sat in his chair as he started thinking everything over.

In Port Angeles, Bella was holding Emmett's hand as they went to meet up with Angela and Eric at the bookstore. "So what are we doing tonight?" he asked. Before she could answer, he pulled her onto his back.

"Well, maybe the usual, dinner, movie," she replied.

"We should do something else," he told her.

"Like what?" she asked.

"How about a motorcycle ride?" he suggested.

"Since when were you into motorcycles?" she asked laughing.

Emmett swayed back and forth. "I think they're cool, Jasper got one and let me try it out. It was awesome," he replied.

"Eric's not into motorcycles," she pointed out.

"Can we still go on a motorcycle?" he asked.

Bella laughed, hitting his arm. "Come on Emmett we said we'd hang out with them tonight," she told him.

"I know was just kidding Gorgeous," he answered.

Emmett moved his hands over her arms. Bella smiled, kissing the back of his neck. "Hey careful there babe, I'm close to taking you here and now," he quipped. Bella rolled her eyes.

"Easy there cowboy," she teased.

Emmett laughed as he swung her back and forth. Bella laughed softly, holding onto him.

After they hung out with Angela and Eric for awhile, Emmett and Bella were on their hill staring up at the stars. "How can this night get any better?" she asked. Emmett chuckled softly, holding her hand.

"It can't," he answered smiling, moving his thumb over her wrist.

Bella smiled as she moved on top of him, kissing him gently. Emmett kissed her back, moving his fingers through her hair. He kissed the corners of her mouth before moving his lips over her jaw. Sighing softly, she moved her hand over the side of his neck. He nuzzled her neck gently, closing his eyes. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she answered.

They sat up and Emmett smiled softly at her. "I have here a gift for you," he told her.

"Emmett, you don't need to get me a present," she answered.

"It's Christmas time," he told her.

Smiling a little, she took the box and opened it. Inside was a sterling silver chain with a sterling silver petal shaped pendant that had Sanskrit engraved on the front. "Look at the back baby," he told her quietly. Bella turned the pendant around and read the translation.

"Devotion," she murmured.

Emmett smiled as he kissed her knee. "I am totally 100% devoted to you Bella Swan," he told her.

"And I'm devoted to you Emmett Cullen," she answered.

She reached into her bag that she had brought up on the hill with her. "I have this for you," she told him, handing him the gift. Emmett sat up and looked at the flat box in front of him. "It's really special and I think you'd really, really appreciate this," she told him.

"Alright," he answered slowly.

Opening the box, he pulled back the tissue paper. When he saw the gift inside the box, his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and his eyes grew wide. Inside was a sterling silver picture frame with the words 'Precious Moment'.

The picture was of his mother, Alana. She was sitting in an old rocking chair, her long dark hair was over her right shoulder, her piercing blue eyes sparkling. She was looking adoringly at Emmett, who was a year-old when the photograph was taken. He had his tiny hand resting on her cheek, his matching blue eyes staring up into hers. "How…" he started, moving his fingers over the photograph.

"Anita said she found it in your stuff when social services brought you to her. The frame was broken and the glass was shattered, but she saved the picture. I had it sent in to get it put in this frame and everything," she explained.

Bella moved her fingers through her hair nervously. "I know how much your mother meant and still means to you. I thought this way, you won't have to think of that horrible night, but think of the better moments and remember how much she loved you," she added. Emmett looked over at her.

"This is the greatest present anyone could ever give me," he murmured.

He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. "Thank you," he whispered. She hugged him back, smiling softly.

"You are welcome," she answered.

He rested his forehead against her shoulder, letting out a shaky sigh, the picture clutched in his hand. Bella held onto him with a small smile. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too, so much," she replied.

Pulling back gently, he placed his hand on the side of her neck kissing her tenderly. Bella kissed him back, her hand resting on the side of his neck.