A/N: This chapter is a little shorter than usual. I'm having writer's block -_-

Make sure you read Chapter 22 though. I took down the annoucement that was chapter 22 and posted the actual chapter 22 ;)

Anyways, Review and Enjoy :)

A Few Weeks Later

Nessie POV

"Are you ready?" Jacob asked me. We were about to go wake up Arabell. Today was her first birthday.

I let out a sigh, letting Jake see the stunned and at the same time, ecstatic expressions on my face, which were telling him. "She's already a year old?"

He laughed at my dazed expression. "Before you know it, they will be a year old." He said to me softly, caressing my face with one hand and my stomach with the other.

"Well let's see if the birthday girl thinks birthdays are too much of a disaster like me or if she's a wild child like Alice." I joked. He chuckled at the comment. I heard Bray laugh from the garage.

We walked into the room and found her sprawled out in the crib with her thumb in her mouth, her curls a tangled mess from sleeping. For a minute we both just stood there, watching her sleep as if it were the most entertaining thing we had seen in a long time.

"Hey sleepyhead." Jake said, leaning on the crib. I playfully nudged him.

"Heelllooo? Earth to Arabell?" He said again.

She lifted her head to look at us, her expression the one that says, "You seriously had to wake me?" I giggled, pushing the guardrail down and getting on my knees to her height.

"Guess what today is, bells?"

Her head was already on the pillow again, her eyes closed.

"Hey you listening?" I poked her, giggling.

"Mmmmm! Ywes…" She mumbled, pushing my hand away. She certainly didn't act or even look like she was a year old for that matter. She looked like she was almost two. Her growth rate was starting to pick up, which was scaring the crap out of me.

Then she started mumbling.

"Are pigs fwlying yet?"

"No." I reply.

"Are there monkies outswide my window?"

"Uhhh…no." I reply again, trying to see where she was going with this.

"Then there's no reason fowr me to wake up." She mumbled sleepily, pulling the blanket over her head.

Jacob started laughing hysterically. She had so much of him in her. I glared at him from the corner of my eye. He was laughing so hard, he had to hold on to the crib for support.

"Ha Ha." I laughed sarcastically.

"Today is your birthday." I told her.

She lifted the blanket off of her head, looking into my eyes.

"I know." She said. Her lips turning into a sly smile. "I had a vwision wast night that you guys got me a Scwooby-Dwoo bwirthday cake." She said, giggling.

Jacob rolled his eyes, chuckling. "So much for surprises." I muttered.

"I'm not letting you sleep bells." He told her, getting closer and closer to her face. She started giggling again, knowing that at any second, Jacob was going to tickle her until she cried mercy, resulting in her playing tricks on him the rest of the day as revenge. She pulled the blanket over her head, her giggles sounding more like screams as Jacob tickled her. He finally threw her over his back, her hands playfully hitting him in the back and telling me to help her as I followed them into the kitchen.

On the table was an overflow of presents. Jacob and I didn't get her more than a few, but there was plenty more wrapped up in pretty paper and bows than I remembered putting on the table.

"Sara…" I said dubiously.

"Woooaaah!" Arabell looked in awe. "Are those for me?"

"Ahh, nope their for me." Jacob said sarcastically as he sat down and jokingly started pulling at a bow of one the presents. Arabell put her hands on his and tried to pry his hands off the presents, which resulted in another tickle attack.

"What are you twrying to do daddy? Make me pee my pants?" She finally let out when she could catch her breath. Jake practically barked out a really loud laugh, making me jump out of my skin.

"Ohh, hahaha! Sorry love." Giving me his signature smile, his hand pulling me towards him.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Arabell mimicked him in an animated voice.

"Do you want me to tickle you again?" Jacob said with a glint of humor in his eyes.

Arabell frowned. "You tickle me again and I will put Mister Potatohead in yowr arms again when yowr sweeping."

"And how did you get out of your crib again?"

Arabell's famous sly smile spread across her face, batting her eyelashes at Jacob.

"Sheer will and the determination to see daddy sweep with a potato."

I remembered that morning. I woke Jacob up from laughing so hard, and the look on his face was priceless.

I loved watching their cute little petty fights. The things Arabell did to Jacob were just way too funny. I gave up trying to hide the laughter long ago.

Arabell had gotten a frost blue Nintendo DS, (her present from Jacob and I) a few games for it, a bubble blower from Sara, (Arabell had a weird fasination for bubbles) A sketch pad along with a set of colored pencils and crayons from Bray, along with a countless amount of other presents.

We decided to wait on the cake until dinner, so in the meantime Jake and I decided to go for a walk around the block.

We strolled down the pavement hand in hand in the shade of the palm trees and a ton of other tropical plants that seemed to be overflowing here and there. Sara and Bray's house was on their own land, so no one lived nearby for over 20 miles. To my right was the beach, about a mile away. I didn't know where we were headed, but now was the perfect time to get some quality time with Jacob.

I felt my heart skip a beat when Jacob stopped our slow pace and brushed his lips over my cheek, my jaw-line, my neck…

I let out a sigh. Jacob seemed to take that as encouragement. I felt my heart skip a beat, and a million thoughts ran through my head. Growing up with him, to the first time we kissed, to when Arabell was born. So much more raced through my mind, I forgot that Jake could hear my thoughts. I forgot everything at that moment.

I could hear a stifled chuckle come from him as he heard my thoughts. I didn't take my lips away though.

I then remembered that we were standing in the middle of the road making out. Jacob heard that thought and I could hear the humor in his voice.

"Ness…" Was all he said. Hearing him say my name made me feel warm inside. Empowering.

I had to stop though. We had to get home soon.

I fell into his chest, my hands wrapped around his back.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too."

And with that he kissed my head and walked hand in hand, my skin glowing from the sun.