Christmas time
A week later it was Christmas. I was in the kitchen attempting to make a nice Christmas dinner for Quil, Embry, and myself. After dinner we were going to go over to the Cullens and hang out. Quil had become quick friends with Emmett and Embry enjoyed hearing Jasper's war stories. Alice had mentioned dessert so Quil and Embry were excited for that as well. Esme had tried talking me into allowing her family to do all of the work including a meal and I would just have to show up with Quil and Embry, but I hadn't wanted to. Mom and dad would be disappointed if we didn't have dinner at home and follow the same traditions as always. These traditions included a terrible recipe for turkey that mom had concocted one year before I was born as well as a ham that actually tasted good and was the only thing eaten between the ham and the turkey. I also made mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cherry pie, gravy, dinner rolls, corn casserole, and peanut butter fudge. (yum…now I'm hungry)
Just as I'm pulling the turkey out of the oven Quil and Embry come running into the kitchen with grins on their faces.
"Bells, we got you a present," says Quil proudly.
"I thought we were taking the gifts over to the Cullens' to open," I say.
"We are, but you should open this one now," says Quil happily. He holds out a poorly wrapped present that I was positive he had wrapped himself. Embry was a much better gift wrapper. I take the gift and pull the paper off of it. Inside the paper was a plain white box. I open the box to a set of hair pins with sapphire stones placed in an intricate pattern on the ends of the pins. I recognized them immediately.
"These are mom's," I whisper still in awe at what my brothers had gotten me.
"When she found out she was having a girl she was so excited, Bells. She used to wear those Pins all the time and she's look down at you in her arms and tell you that when you got all grown up she was going to give them to you. You aren't 18 yet, but I-ow!" Embry had elbowed Quil in the ribs. " I mean we thought you were already grown up, Mom would have wanted you to have them now."
"You was forced to grow up when mom and dad died and Quil and I have taken advantage of you. You aren't our mother and we should have continued to treat you like the 13 year old you were instead of the adult we forced you to become," says Embry. Without saying a word I lay the box down and walk over to them and hug them both.
"You two are the best big brothers in the whole world. I don't care what anyone else says," I say. They hug me back so tightly that it was getting hard to breathe. "Okay, can't…breathe…" They immediately let me go and grin guiltily.
"Sorry sis," says Quil. I hand him the electric knife.
"Cut the turkey and ham while I get ready," I say grabbing my hair pins and going to my room. After getting dressed I loosely curl my hair and use the hair pins to pin back my hair before putting on a dark blue shirt with a black skirt that Alice had picked out for me to wear today. She had tried to get me into some Christmassy outfit, but then she had a vision and was suddenly pulling me towards a blue shirt in a different rack. I was just thankful that she wasn't making me dress like an elf.
I smile at the memory before going out to the kitchen where Quil and Embry were arguing over the correct way to carve a turkey. "Knock it off you two. We all know we aren't going to eat the turkey anyway," I say as I grab three plates out of the cupboard.
"Then why do we bother making it?" asks Quil.
"Because it's tradition. Mom makes a bad turkey so we eat a good ham," I say.
"That's dumb," says Quil.
"I never said I agreed with it," I say. After dinner I quickly do the dishes with Embry's help while Quil grumbles about doing all the work because I had told him to take the gifts to the truck in black garbage bags. There were two bags. Once the dishes are done we all get our coats on and go to the truck. I drive us to the Cullens' house. When we get there Edward was waiting on the porch with a crooked smile on his face that quickly turned to a grin as I got out and walked over to him.
"I've missed you, Love," says Edward taking my hands in his and leaning in for a sweet kiss. Quil clears his throat loudly causing us to break away and for me to blush. "Good evening Quil and Embry. It's nice that you could join us." Edward was chuckling as he spoke and I had to hold back my giggles. Then Emmett comes out and takes the bags and we all go inside.
"Bella, you're late!" chastises Alice.
"I'm sorry Alice. The roads aren't all that great and it was hard to see in the blizzard that's brewing out there," I explain.
"Your hair pins look even better in person," squeals Alice as she notices them. I was also wearing Esme's necklace that matched with the pins perfectly.
"You look stunning, Love," says Edward with a smile. Esme walks over and hugs me before turning to Quil and Embry. They both accepted her hugs and even hugger her back, but Quil was a little tense about it. It would take some getting used to for them and Esme understood that. I was glad because I didn't want them to hurt her feelings.
"Let's open gifts now!" crows Alice excitedly. I smile at Alice's enthusiasm as she pushes me towards the living room with Quil and Embry not far behind. When we get to the living room we all take our seats. The Cullens had put up the biggest Christmas tree I had ever seen. Alice had decorated it in silver and navy blue. Everything seemed to match my outfit today and I wondered if it was on purpose.
"Since Bella is our guest we'll allow her to choose how we should do this," says Carlisle.
"Umm…I say let Alice choose," I say as I watch Alice practically begging me with her eyes to let her pass out the gifts. As soon as I was done speaking Alice jumps up and almost does a victory dance. As it was she was swaying her hips a little as she walked gracefully towards the tree. Suddenly everyone held a shiny blue gift in their hands.
"These are from Jasper and I," says Alice happily. We all open our gifts. I was given a small blue collar with small crystals of some form, I hoped they were just zirconium, and there was a heart on the collar.
"Umm…thanks…I think…" I say hesitantly. Alice giggles and passes around a set of pearl white gifts.
"These are from Carlisle and Esme," says Alice happily. I open my gift to a digital camera. It was one of those expensive ones too.
"It's great, thank you," I say.
"You're very welcome dear," says Esme happily. I glance at Edward who had opened his gift to a video camera. Quil and Embry had been given IPOD touches. Then we were given shiny light blue gifts.
"Emmett and Rosalie picked these ones out," says Alice. I open mine and this time I find a leash that matched the collar.
"We thought since you turn into a wolf Edward might want to give you a walk," says Emmett cheerfully causing me to scowl at him. I was surprised when Edward didn't say anything. Then Alice passes out silver gifts. Mine was rather large and I could feel something warm inside of it. I also heard a small whine coming from inside the box. The box informed me that it was from Edward. I open the box and reach inside only to feel…fur?
"She's not going to hurt you, Bella," says Edward calmly. I put the box on the floor and look into the box. Inside was a small white puppy with blue eyes. I pick up the puppy and she licks my cheek. I giggle and pet her soft fur.
"What kind of puppy is she?" I ask.
"A wolf," says Edward causing my eyes to widen.
"Wolf? How…?"
"I adopted her from a wolf reservation. Her mother didn't want her so the owners sold her to me," explains Edward.
"She's adorable," I say as I put the collar on her.
"What are you going to name her?" asks Edward. I look down at the wolf puppy in my arms. What was I going to name her? She needed a good name. What would my father have named a wolf? We were descended from them after all…and then I had the perfect name.
"Spirit," I say. Spirit yips and wags her tail.
End Chapter
A/N: Okay…so I guess Bella got a puppy….a wolf puppy no less….yeah…writer's block will do that to ya. I honestly can't even tell you what I was thinking…=/ I added onto my profile and my fun little avatar picture thingy is the necklace I was talking about…the one that Esme gave her. Like I said I was having a moment of writer's block and that's the only thing I could think of for the necklace. I guess the next chapter will be more Christmas stuff. Oh, and I posted a contest thingy…I don't want the stories for me, I just want to see what other people come up with. I'm already getting lectured for it. It's my first contest thingy so I wasn't sure what I was doing per say…tell me your thoughts, I know I didn't give a lot of time…I might just delete it and say nevermind…I'll let you know. Sayonara. =]