DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Cullens spend Christmas at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia
Christmas 3
"We're almost there, guys," Rose commented.
"I'm so excited," Alice chirped.
"I know," Jasper laughed. "Do you think you could tone it down just a little, sweetheart?"
"Sorry, Jazzy," Alice said.
"It's fine. I just don't want to get the entire car giddy," Jasper explained.
"There it is!" Bella squealed.
"There what is?" Emmett asked, sounding just as excited.
"Nice try," Rose laughed. "But you're going to have to wait to find out."
The car came to a stop and we heard doors opening and closing. Then the doors on either side of us opened up.
"Come on, handsome," Bella said, taking my hands into hers. "Let's get you out of this car and into the building."
"Is there a curb or anything?" I asked, swinging my legs out of the vehicle.
"Nope. Just plain old ground," Bella chuckled.
I stood up, but lowered my head. Bella giggled, but granted my silent request, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"Come on, Edward. Alice needs to get Jasper out," Bella said, leading me away from the car door.
After a few minutes had passed, Rose spoke up. "Everything is ready, ladies. Let's lead our men inside."
"Edward, there's a curb to your left that you need to step up on," Bella instructed.
I did as she said and then she was leading me forward again. I heard another door open and then felt the temperature change, letting me know I was now inside. Being blindfolded was certainly an interesting experience, especially with Rose and Alice blocking me so that I was completely in the dark regarding my surroundings.
"Boys, there will be a slight decline. Just walk slow and keep your hands on our shoulders," Rose commanded, as Bella placed my hands onto her shoulders.
"Are we going to be able to look soon?" Emmett asked.
"Very," Alice chirped from behind me.
"This is a good spot," Rose announced. "Ladies, remove the blindfolds."
I felt Bella's soft hands on the sides of my head and then the silky material falling away from my face. We were in a large Imax theater, but it was completely empty.
"Should we be in here?" Emmett asked, wary of getting into trouble so soon after getting punished by Esme.
"Yes," Rose laughed, hugging him. "We rented it out for the night. We thought you guys would enjoy a night of testosterone fueled movies."
"For Edward, we picked Days of Thunder," Bella announced, smiling sweetly at me.
"For Emmett, we picked Mission Impossible," Rose said. "We know being a spy is your second career choice behind being a pirate."
"Hell, yes," Emmett yelled, hugging Rose tightly.
"And for Jasper, because we know how you enjoy poking fun at vampire myths, we have Interview with a Vampire," Alice explained.
"Thank you," I said to Bella and our sisters. "This is truly perfect."
"Yeah, ladies," Emmett agreed. "We know it can't be easy to pick something all three of us will like, but like Edward said, this is perfect."
"We know it's not as flashy as what you guys have done for us—" Alice started.
"It doesn't need to be in order for us to see that the three of you appreciate us and love us," Jasper interrupted. "Like Emmett and Edward said, this is perfect. A quiet night with the women we love is more than we have a right to ask for."
"No, it's not, Jasper," Alice argued. "You guys are as deserving of our love as we are of yours. We are all equals."
"I believe I speak for our brothers and myself when I say that we can never do enough to truly deserve the love you ladies lavish upon us. We are lucky that you three are so willing to forgive our mistakes," I told them.
"Edward's right," Emmett and Jasper said in unison before laughing.
"Do you guys really want to argue about who deserves what, or do you want to watch some movies?" Rose asked, smiling at everyone.
"Movies!" we all yelled.
"It's nice to have this place to ourselves," Emmett said, looking around. "Rose and I get the top row."
"Alice and I call dibs on the middle," Jasper quickly announced.
"Guess that means we're down front," Bella chuckled, wrapping her arms around me.
"I don't mind where I sit so long as you are near me, my love," I told her before kissing her forehead.
"What movie is first?" Emmett questioned, as he led Rose up to the top row.
"Days of Thunder," Rose replied.
As soon as she said it, the lights dimmed further and the screen flickered.
I sat down and Bella sat next to me. I leaned over and whispered to her. "I would hate to wrinkle your dress, but I would really prefer to have you in my arms."
"This night is for you, Edward. If you want to hold me, then that's what you'll get to do," she replied, smiling as she stood up.
I opened my arms and she sat down on my lap, snuggling against me. I kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "I love you, Bella."
"I love you, too, Edward."
We watched the movie, laughing and clapping at different racing scenes. After awhile, Emmett started making engine noises, getting Rose to laugh freely.
There was a scene where Nicole Kidman's character was yelling at Tom Cruise's character. "Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac. Nobody knows what's gonna happen next: not on a freeway, not in an airplane, not inside our own bodies, and certainly not on a racetrack with 40 other infantile egomaniacs."
Bella giggled and looked up at me. "Hear that, Edward? Control is an illusion."
"Bella, my love, control is only an illusion for those under a hundred," I joked, winking at her. "Besides, I do know what will happen next."
"And what's that?" Bella asked, lifting an eyebrow at me.
"I'm going to kiss you," I said, before leaning down and kissing her passionately.
She pulled away, giggling. "You cheat."
"Nope. I'm merely in control," I chuckled.
She smiled and shook her head at me. "Will I ever gain the upper hand in this relationship?"
"I'm sure you will eventually. I've just had a bit little longer to perfect my arguments."
"I love it when you're carefree and joking with me," she sighed, resting her face in the crook of my neck.
I tightened my hold on her. "I enjoy it, too. It's nice to get to just be a young married couple, without any worries."
"Definitely."
We were quiet for a bit, until the two main race car drivers started racing their rental cars and beating them up.
"That's so going to be us on our race track," Emmett bellowed happily.
Bella and I turned to look at him, and I noticed Alice and Jasper doing the same.
"Hey, I'm not going to be a body repair slave," Rose fussed.
"Can you just be my body slave, then?" Emmett asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
Rose laughed and planted a kiss on his cheek. "We'll talk about it later."
"You're lucky this night is for you guys," Alice told Emmett. "Otherwise, Rose would have smacked you upside the head by now."
"I was wondering why I was getting away with that stuff," Emmett chuckled. "Thank you, Rosie. I love you."
"I love you, too, Emmett," Rose laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I like getting to see them being loving toward each other," Bella whispered. "Although, part of me does like getting to see her smack him around just as much," she giggled quietly.
I chuckled and kissed her softly. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
After the racing movie came to an end, the vampire one started up.
"I love making fun of this movie," Jasper remarked. "The eyes are the worst, I think."
"No, the worst is the way Tom Cruise is crushing on Brad Pitt throughout the entire movie," Emmett stated.
"I'm sorry, but if I were a human, I would totally be crushing on Brad," Rose announced.
"He is yummy," Alice giggled.
I had never really cared for this movie, identifying a little too much with Brad Pitt's character, Louis. Even though the special effects were horrid, and most of the old myths were portrayed in the movie, the emotions of Louis and his desire to not be a monster had always hit a chord with me. He did what he had to, to survive, but he never let that excuse his actions.
"That's not you, you know," Bella whispered suddenly.
I looked down at her and she ran her hands across my forehead.
"That was never you, not even when you rebelled. You were only curious, trying to find your place in your new world. And you returned to Carlisle, knowing that you were never meant to be a monster, because you aren't. You are a wonderful man, a loving husband, and a strong vampire."
"Bella, how can you say that? How can you just excuse away the lives I took?"
"Because I would expect the same understanding if there ever came a time when I took a life. And also because I believe that the only thing you were ever meant to be is mine."
The sincerity in her voice and the love shining in her golden eyes stole my breath away. There were so many things I thought of saying to her, but none of them seemed right…None of them seemed to be enough. I settled for kissing every inch of her beautiful face.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around me, hiding her face against my neck. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you more, my sweet Bella."
I don't think either of us finished watching the movie, too lost in our love for each other and our own thoughts. I rubbed circles against her back and placed the occasional kiss against the side of her head. She held fast to me, and if I hadn't known better, I would have sworn she had fallen asleep in my arms.
The simplicity of the night made it all the more special to me. I didn't have to share her attention with anyone else, and even though we were with our siblings, sitting down in front like this gave us some privacy. I never wanted Bella to feel like she owed me anything in return for the small kindnesses I did for her, but I was glad she had planned this night with our sisters.
The last movie of the night finally started, and Emmett was extremely excited about it. He loved watching any movie where people repelled down a wall or building, and I knew one day we would have to find a way to let him do that. Emmett and Jasper started humming the theme song, getting a little louder every time they started over. Alice, Rose, and Bella laughed and clapped for them.
"I love all the computer hacks in this one," Jasper said.
"I love the bad ass scene were Tom Cruise's character is falling, but ends up stopping just inches from the floor," Emmett announced.
"Let's everyone calm down and be quiet so we can all enjoy the movie," Rose said, trying to get Emmett to sit still.
We were all quiet for the most part, but Emmett couldn't help but to yell out a few expletives during his favorite parts of the movie.
When the screen went blank and the lights turned on, Emmett, Jasper, and I stood up and clapped for our wives. The three of them smiled happily as they exchanged glances and then stood up, taking a small bow each.
"This was the best," Emmett said, kissing Rose's cheek and hugging her. "Thank you."
"Alice, I couldn't have had a more perfect night with you if Edward had planned it," Jasper told her, hugging her small frame tightly.
"Now that's a compliment," the girls laughed.
"What about you, Edward?" Bella asked, smiling up at me.
"Absolute perfection, love," I told her, kissing her forehead.
"Now, let's all go home and allow our husbands to thank us in a more intimate way," Rose chuckled.
Emmett picked her up bridal style and ran her out of the theater as she laughed along the way.
"Shall we?" Jasper laughed, holding his arms open for Alice.
"When in Rome," Alice chuckled.
Jasper lifted her up and ran her outside.
"Honey, aren't you glad Rose and Emmett are so subtle?" Bella chuckled, as I took her into my arms.
"Yes. I would truly hate to see them if they had no modesty at all," I laughed.
"So did you really have fun?"
"Bella, I don't have enough words to express how wonderful this night has been."
"Well, maybe you can show me later, instead," she chuckled, looking up at me from under her lashes.
"You are absolutely the most dangerous creature," I whispered, brushing my lips against hers.
"Save it for your room," Emmett called, as he patted out the Mission Impossible theme song on the roof of the car.
"Don't dent the roof," Rose warned.
"I'm being careful," Emmett assured her.
Bella and I climbed into the back with Alice and Jasper, as Rose and Emmett sat up front with Rose driving, once again.
When we returned to the townhouse, Esme was standing in the doorway, smiling at all of us. "Boys, how did you like your surprise?"
"It was great, mom," Emmett replied, kissing her cheek. "We have the best wives."
"You certainly do," Esme chuckled, pulling Rose into a hug and kissing her cheek.
Esme made sure to hug and kiss each of her "children" as we entered the house.
Carlisle was sitting on the sofa, watching the scene and beaming proudly. 'My family. We are lucky to have this life.'
I nodded my head, acknowledging his thoughts.
'Edward, I would like to have a word with you, if you can spare a moment from Bella.'
I nodded again, letting my father know I would make time for him.
"What is Carlisle telling you?" Bella asked, leaning into my side.
I looked down at her and smiled. "You never miss a thing. You are still much too observant."
She shrugged, smiling at me.
"He just wants to speak with me for a moment. He probably has another suggestion for our summer trip. Why don't you go up to our room? I will be there shortly."
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you, too, Bella." I kissed her forehead and she hugged me tightly before letting go and walking up the stairs.
I walked over and sat next to my father. I noticed then that Esme had left the room. "Is something wrong, Carlisle?"
"Not wrong, exactly. Just strange," he answered.
"What is it?" I asked, doing my best to remain calm and to not jump to conclusions.
"I haven't been able to get in touch with Sam lately."
I relaxed, smiling at my father. "I guess Bella forgot to tell you."
"What does Bella have to do with this?"
"She got another letter from Jacob. He's marrying Amber and in order to accommodate her family, the entire pack is traveling to California, where she used to live. They'll be back at the end of next week."
"That's a relief. I was worried they might have been discovered."
"As far as I know, that's all that has happened recently. Oh, and Sam and Emily are going to have a baby."
"That's wonderful for them. I understand their reasons for wanting us to leave and I hold no ill will against any of them."
"Jacob was misguided, but he did care greatly for Bella," I chuckled softly. "When I was fighting for her, trying to keep her away from him, I only wished she would forget about him. Now that she is my wife and she has forgotten about him, I only wish to return to her the memories of her best friend."
"Jealousy can be a very blinding emotion."
"It wasn't just jealousy, though, Carlisle. I was fighting with myself, as well. Part of me truly believed Bella would have had a better life with Jacob."
"That's not true, Edward."
"I know that, now. Bella explained it to me. She said that they never would have been happy for long because as much as she cared for Jacob, her heart would still have been with me."
"Edward, I truly believe that Bella was meant for you, just as you were meant for her."
"Carlisle, have you heard any word from Italy?"
He sighed and nodded his head. "Yes. Aro sent me a postcard, reminding me of our promise. But Edward, I still believe there isn't anything to worry about. Why don't you go up and enjoy the rest of your night with Bella. I'm sure she's waiting for you."
"Goodnight, Carlisle."
"Goodnight, Edward. And please try not to worry. Nothing is going to happen to anyone. This family will protect each other and see to that."
