Chapter 32
Days started to pass way too fast after Peter and Charlotte arrived. I got on with them so well that time seemed to just fly by and the next thing I knew we were putting up decorations and a tree and listening to Jasper, Peter and Emmett belt out cheesy songs; it was Christmas time.
For the first time ever I was really grateful for Jasper unlimited bank account because I suddenly had loads of people to buy Christmas presents for, I'm slightly ashamed to say that the only person I used my own money for was Jasper, not that he minded either way.
We went to see all the wolves on Christmas eve, Emily made a big meal and somehow her and Sam fit all the wolves and me and Jasper in their house. We all exchanged gifts and had a great time, although I noticed that Leah stuck mostly by my side and I found liked it, having Jasper on one side of me and Leah on the other felt good, right even.
My Christmas day ended up being pretty hectic. We spent the morning with my Dad, Billy and Jake and I made a massive Christmas dinner which we would be enjoying at about midday, I even made sure there was enough so Billy and Jake could take some home with them and Dad could have some left over.
Half way through cooking the meal everyone called me into the living room to open presents.
Jacob gave me a handmade bracelet with a carved wooden wolf charm on it, Billy had got me and Jasper a joint gift, a handmade Quileute blanket for the baby, he said it was so Baby would always know it was a part of a huge family, a part of the Tribe just like me and Jasper, I almost cried at that, Dad gave me Grandma Swans family cookbook, something I'd been begging for for as long as I could cook, he said it was time it was given to someone who would actually use it, I did cry at that. Me and Jasper had decided to save our presents for each other until we were alone later on.
Me and Jasper got my dad and Billy some new fishing gear, a five day fishing trip to some lake or something that dad and Billy really like but I had no idea about, with an extra ticket for Harry Clearwater, and some tickets to some sporting event in Seattle that, again, I had no idea about. They both said it was too much but looked so excited and happy that I knew it really wasn't. When it came to giving Jacob his gift I got really excited, because I really couldn't wait to see his reaction.
"Here you go Jacob, it's from both of us." Jasper said as he handed over the little box.
"You didn't have to get me anything." He said, but the smile on his face told us that he really appreciated the fact that we'd thought of him. I knew the Black's hadn't had much all of Jake's life so I was extra excited to see his reaction because I knew how much it would mean to him.
"Technically we didn't." I said, he looked a little confused as he took the bow off the wrapping paper.
"With the baby coming I can't use it anymore, it's definitely not practical and Bella mentioned how you would love it and that you would look after it so, there ya go." Jasper explained, although if you don't know what is in the box you'd have no idea what he was talking about, which is why my dad and Jake both looked equally confused, Billy didn't because we had to get his permission to give Jake this particular gift.
"Okay." Jake ripped off the shiny red wrapping paper and opened the little shallow box. Inside the box was a key. He looked up at us even more confused.
"Go look outside." I told him. He got up quickly and walked outside. He was out there for a few seconds before he came barreling back in, a look of utter shock and wonder on his face.
"Are you serious?" He asked, his voice shaking a little with excitement.
"Completely, she's all yours." Jacob grinned, hugged us both - even Jasper, I know I was shocked too - and then went back outside to play with his new favourite toy. It was Jasper's old Ducati motorcycle, he decided to give it up when we found out I was pregnant and wanted to give it to someone who would truly appreciate it.
I went back to making dinner and soon it was time to leave to go see the Cullens.
We spent from two to eight at night with the Cullens, and Peter and Charlotte of course. We swapped gifts, jewelry, clothes and gadgets mostly - Emmett got me my own Xbox and a load of his favourite games - and spent a lot of time playing games like monopoly and cluedo, singing Christmas songs and then we watched Home Alone before I decided I was too tired and wanted to relax at home.
Peter and Charlotte decided to stay with the Cullens and let us have our house to ourselves for Christmas night, which I was extremely grateful for.
When we got back we went straight to our bedroom and got in bed. I curled up against Jasper's chest and we lay like that in silence for a while, listening to Baby's heartbeat and feeling Baby nudge me whenever Jasper would rub his hands over my stomach.
"I have something I want to give you." Jasper told me after a long, long silence.
"Same." I got up to grab his presents out of my underwear drawer, somewhere I know he never goes.
"Sneaky." He spoke, eyeing my hiding place and I smirked at him.
"Here, you first." I say as I nervously hand over his present, something I spent long hours searching on my laptop to find. He smiled as he opened it and grinned as he looked down at the old book.
"A civil war History book." He says and I nod even though I know it isn't a question.
"Open it." I say, motioning to the page I bookmarked for him. He looks at me curiously for a moment but opens it to the page. His eyes scan over the page, his mouth falls open, and a look of wonder comes over him. "I had to look on loads of sites and do a lot of research and consult Peter and Charlotte every five minutes but I finally found one I knew you didn't have." I move to his side to look over his shoulder at the picture that looks back at me from the page, a picture of a gorgeous Southern Major, the Youngest in the Texas Calvary, standing proudly in his uniform next to his Mother, Father and little sister who beam proudly at the camera.
"That's me." He says and he stares down at the page in wonder.
"I know, this whole section is dedicated to you, it's only a few pages, but it talks about your family, your youth, your time in the Army, the great things you did, I thought you'd like it." There's a slight nervous tremor in my voice and I can't shake it, I don't know what to think about Jasper's reaction, I can't tell if he likes it or hates it, but when he looks up at me with tears in his eyes and smiles I know he loves it, more than words can describe.
"I thought I'd lost this part of my life, thank you, thank you so much Bella, it's perfect, you're perfect." He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly to him, never letting go of the book. I hug him back, just as enthusiastically and smile.
"You deserve it Jasper." I can feel him shaking slightly and a little sob escapes him. I hold him to me for a long time while he lets out everything he's feeling. I concentrate on everything I feel for him, the safety, the pride, the contentedness, the love and let it soak out of me and into him, hoping it helps. After a while he pulls away and gives me a long, lingering, loving kiss. I practically melt into him during the kiss and am extremely reluctant to pull away.
"You still have to open my present." He reminds me, so I let go of him for the moment, wanting to open this present as fast as possible so we can get back to kissing.
He hands me a wrapped box and I unwrap it quickly, completely destroying the lovely silver wrapping paper to get to the gift inside. When I rip the lid off the box I gasp. Inside is a gorgeous white gold necklace with a black diamond hanging from a pendant. It matches my engagement ring.
"I don't think I told you this before but your engagement ring was the ring my father gave to my mother when they first got engaged, the necklace was a gift he had made to match the ring to give to her on their wedding day, I found them both after I left the Wars in the South and kept them safe as I waited for you." I looked up at him, blinking back tears. I didn't know what to do or say so instead I just kissed him, I put everything I felt into that kiss, bared my soul completely.
We stayed home with Peter and Charlotte on New Years Eve. We didn't do much, just talked, put on some music, danced. They told me so many stories about they're many, many years together that my head was swimming by the time midnight came.
"Happy New Year, Bella." Jasper leaned down as the clock hit midnight and kissed me passionately.
"Happy New Year, Jazz." I grinned once we'd pulled back. Peter and Charlotte were kissing intensely and I couldn't keep in the giggle I felt watching Peter practically eat Charlotte's face, apparently neither could Jasper because we both started laughing at the same time which pulled Peter and Char out of their haze.
"What?" Charlotte asked as Peter nuzzled her neck.
"It looked like Peter was trying to eat your face." I told her which made Peter pull back and stick his tongue out at us, causing us to laugh more.
"I don't care," he told us. "I do it the way she likes it." We laughed some more and said happy new year to both of them.
They left the house not long after. I learned almost as soon as they got here that they preferred to have sex outside, Peter actually told me it made them both feel freer, more alive, which worked out really well for me and Jasper because I was uncomfortable having sex while they were in the house and it meant we got alone time while they were out. It was exactly how we spent the first few hours of the new year.
First update in FOREVER! I know and I'm sorry for not being here and being a terrible author but here I am now and I am sticking to updating this time because I've worked out the rest of this story and although it's not actually written down yet I know how many chapters I have left until the end. At least 5 at the most 10 it may change but I am determined to finish this story and then I'm going to go back to Always and get all that (which there is much more of than this) finished.
Just like to officially say that I am terribly, terribly sorry for the wait but I've had stuff happening and I won't bore you with the details but I have the heart, spirit and time to write this now so if you are still with me and still with Change then thank you so, so much for your time and support and I appreciate and love you all.
Also the next few chapters may be a lot like this one, just Bella and Jasper enjoying their happy life together and Bella's pregnancy progressing but it isn't the end and there is more action to come.
I am also thinking about going over every chapter, editing and even changing parts of the story, not enough so you will have to read back over it but hopefully improving it.
Thank you again for continuing to read, I am sorry again and I hope this chapter wasn't a huge disappointment. I will update within a week.
Thanks for reading. Leave your thoughts.
KV =D