This chapter is for devilish-innocence…for being my most faithful reviewer & giving me this idea that you're about to read!
Chapter 14: A Very Peculiar Christmas
~It feels so right, Hold me tight. Tell me I'm the only one and then I might never be the lonely one. So, Hold me tight tonight…It's you…~
My eyes kept glancing back at the clock and I frowned when only five minutes had passed every time I looked at it. I was pacing around the living room because there was nothing left for me to do. I had helped Esme with all the decorating and I had changed into the purple dress she had bought me. Now, all I had to was wait around. It was seven forty five now and the next fifteen minutes were going to kill me.
"Natalia will you please calm down, they'll be here soon enough." Edward sighed as he sat on the bench, his fingers gliding over the piano keys. He wasn't playing anything particular but it still sounded beautiful. I had heard him play numerous times but, this was nothing I had ever heard him play.
"What are you playing?" I sat beside him and watched him. I wasn't really knowledgeable in the area of this type of music so I was curious.
"It's Bella's Christmas present…do you think she'll like it?" he looked at me, and was that nervousness I saw in his eyes??
"Edward, she'll love it!" I beamed. I wish someone would write me a song like that. I heard Edward laugh softly. Oh, shoot…he had totally heard that hadn't he?
"I've waited a very long time for someone like her to come along." He whispered. Really? Someone like Bella??
"I didn't know you two were becoming so serious?"
"We weren't. At first, it was just a relationship based on lust and need…sort of a no commitment thing…" that may have been a little bit more information than I needed but oh well.
"But then, the more time I spent with her…I realized that she is truly an amazing person. So kind and sweet to me…"
"Are we talking about the same Bella?" I laughed. My experiences with her were anything but kind or sweet.
"It's just a front she has on Natalia…and she is just very protective of her brother, even if he is older than she is…she loves him very much and she didn't want to see him get hurt."
"But, I would never hurt Jasper…" I frowned.
"Well, she knows that now…but, before, there was the issue of you being terrified of him and running away and never wanting to see him again…that would've caused him pain." He clarified.
"Oh, well good thing I didn't chose that road then. Well, if she makes you happy...then be happy Edward. I just can't believe that you and Jasper have waited for so long to fall in love…that must have been torture."
"No, not really…because the right person never came along." I couldn't help but laugh.
"You know, you and Jasper have more things in common than you think. But still, you both have been around for a very long time…I can't even imagine waiting that long."
"You are very fortunate Natalia." He looked over at me "even though I'm still not comfortable with the fact that Jasper imprinted on you, and then fell in love with you in such a short time…he seems to truly make you happy. And I highly doubt he's been using his power to make you feel this way. You seem to be in such good spirits all the time now…and if your happiness includes him, then I guess I'm going to have to learn to accept it. I can't promise it'll be over night though…but, you are still very lucky to find the love that most people in this world only dream of having."
"Oh Edward I knew that you would come around!" I cried, wrapping my arms around him.
"I just didn't want you getting hurt…but, I see now that trying to keep you away from him was hurting you…" he explained and we spent the next ten minutes just talking with one another when we heard the doorbell ring. We heard Esme open the door, saying hello to Jasper, Bella and Rosalie. But then, we heard her say "oh my.." and "I didn't know you were brining guests." Guests? Who else was with them? Edward and I looked at one another as the group walked into the living room. Jasper looked a little moody (which, that wasn't anything new but still) and Bella looked a little irritated with something. Not the looks we were expecting from the people we loved. And, then there was Rosalie. The girl looked like she was going to burst with excitement. And then, behind them were the 'guests' Esme had said something about.
"Hi Natalia!" a very chipper voice called my name and next thing I knew, I was being embraced by someone. "I'm so glad to finally get to meet you face to face. I'm Alice!" she beamed, kissing my cheek and looking at me as if I had known her for years.
"Um, Hi Alice…do I know you?" I frowned. I don't think I had never met her before. But, I could tell right away that she was one of them. Same pale skin, beautiful features…
"No, but I know a lot about you…" she smiled, rambling off a list of random facts about my life. Then, her attention turned towards Edward and she did the same thing with him. But, unlike me, he was able to figure it out. Whatever it was she was thinking, he picked up on.
"That's a very interesting gift to have." He said and I saw Bella eye him and he quickly made his way over to her. Then, I felt a pair of eyes on me and I turned around to see the other person, leaning against the couch and staring at me. He winked at me and I heard Jasper letting out a low hiss. Oh, that was my Jasper…always in protective mode.
"Natalia, come with me!" Rosalie whispered, taking my hand and taking me into the kitchen.
"Who are those people?" I looked at her. She couldn't stop the smile that was plastered on her face.
"I met them while I was out shopping…but, you'll never believe it Natalia. They were waiting for me! Like, just waiting there in front one of the shops. The girl Alice, she can see the future and she saw me…and they had been waiting for me a few days now. This is amazing." She sighed. I was still a little confused. It was a little weird that she was waiting for them. Why would that make her so happy?
"What about the guy?" I asked and her smile got brighter. Aw, there was the reason she was so happy.
"His name is Emmett…he and Alice are brother and sister, not technically but that's what they tell everyone. That's what her vision was about…about him and I…together!" I looked around her and saw the guy still staring at us. Well, I'm pretty sure he was looking at Rosalie. He was huge. He looked like one of those bodyguards with his arms folded across his chest. But, his face was very calm, very…happy?
"Ohh…I get it now. So, they waited for you…so that the two of your could meet? And…be together?"
"Yes, yes…oh Natalia…I think Emmett is the one for me!" she cried, no longer containing all her excitement. Everyone looked back at us and our conversation ended. We walked back into the living room, that Emmett guy still staring at Rosalie…he did look like he was in love with her. But, that was impossible right? Well, in this world I lived in now, anything was possible I suppose.
"Can you believe this?" Jasper mumbled to me as I went and sat with him on the couch.
"Shh, Jasper calm down…" I took his hand in mine "it's the holidays…there's no complaining on Christmas."
We all sat around for awhile, Alice leading most of the conversations...she seemed to be very interested with my life and how I was living and loving a bunch of vampires. When Carlisle finally came home, it was time to start giving each other the gifts we had bought.
Bella's grumpy mood melted away when Edward played her gift for her. Everyone loved it actually. He also have her some insanely expensive necklace that was stunning. Rosalie bought each and every one us something (minus Alice and Emmett because they were sort of unexpected guests). She gave me one of those designer bags and a gorgeous coat. I gave them all my gifts next. I gave Edward a new journal…he was always writing down things so I figured he'd need a new one. I gave Bella a picture frame with a photo of the two of them from a couple weeks ago and a pair of earrings that she had been wanting. Rosalie got a pair of shoes, Carlisle and Esme got random little things from me. And then there was my gift to Jasper. His moodiness seemed to turn into happiness as he pulled out the deep plum colored blanket that had to be softer than the one he already had. I explained to him how purple was my favorite color. I also gave him a bottle of the perfume I always wore.
"For when you have withdrawals." I giggled, playing on the whole "addicted to one another" thing.
"This is perfect…here." He handed me two boxes "open mine. But open this one first." He pointed to one box first. When I opened the first one, I was stunned to see deep blue sapphire and diamond ring looking at me. Clearly, this was an engagement ring.
"Jasper…" I whispered his name, staring at the ring. I had never seen anything like it before.
"Natalia, it's okay Darlin'. I know that it's way too soon at the moment but, I just had to give it to you right now…just promise me that one day you will marry me?" he stared into my eyes, with the look that always sent my emotions haywire. It scared me when he looked at me like that…but it also was a look of pure love.
"One day…" I breathed out "One day, I promise to marry you." I smiled.
"Not anytime soon Natalia." Edward said, his arm around Bella.
"No, not anytime soon." I repeated.
"Good, now you can open this one.." he laughed, giving me the other box. Inside, there was another ring. It wasn't as visually stunning or as big as the other one but it was still breathtaking. It was just a small diamond ring.
"This one is a promise ring…that one day we'll get married." He explained. I nodded quickly as he slipped it on one of my fingers.
"And so everyone knows to keep their hands off of you…you pretty much belong to Jasper now." Bella laughed.
"that too." He admitted.
"They're gorgeous Jasper. Thank you so much." I placed a hand on his face and kissed him quickly. Wow, did I really just promise Jasper that I would marry him someday?
"My turn!" my head turned towards the voice and saw Emmett get up off the couch and walk over to Rosalie, a slight smile on his face.
"I was getting a little worried when I saw Jasper pulling out boxes just right now…I didn't want to seem like a copycat." He laughed, walking closer and closer to her. I knew what he was going to do before he did it. Silence fell in the room when he stooped down to one knee in front of Rosalie who was sitting on the couch, a shocked expression on her face.
"I know I haven't known you for very long." He laughed "But, as soon as Alice had that vision, I knew that you were the one. All those days we waited for you were not in vain. I already love you so much…and, I don't want you to be afraid of me because I am the gentlest creature out there." He looked up her and I covered up the giggles that escaped my lips. I felt Jasper's grip around my waist tighten. His face was emotionless.
"So what do you say Rosalie Hale…will you do me the greatest honor and be my wife…and be with me forever? I promise to make you happier than you've even been." He opened the box and showed her the engagement ring. Her eyes widened and she stared at it, Emmett, and all of us for a moment before she spoke.
"I don't even know you…" she smiled "but, there's something about you…like you and I were destined to be together." Oh, more people destined to be together? How ironic! "yes, yes Emmett I will marry you! Today if I could…if meant spending the rest of my existence with you!" she beamed as he slid the ring on her finger and gently lifted her up in his arms, kissing her deeply.
"Wait…wait hold on!" Jasper spoke, standing up and walking up to his now engaged sister.
"Rose, are you sure this is what you want?" he eyed her. "This could just be the heat of the moment…you don't even know him."
"But Jasper…I love him." She assured him. But, I don't think Jasper was convinced. I mean yes, Emmett had suddenly popped into her life with no warning and now they were engaged without knowing much about one another. But, really…nothing was surprising me anymore. I could tell that they loved one another, in some weird, strange way. Rosalie deserved happiness too right? She had been so supportive of me and Jasper…I think he owed her the same courtesy and acceptance.
"She's right." Bella said to Edward and the two of them looked at me. Oh, crap…mind readers.
"Tell him Natalia." Edward urged.
"Jasper…look at her, she is extremely happy. Something is going on here that is beyond us…he loves her so much already. I don't think he would ever hurt her. Besides, she deserves to be happy…she's always wanted you to be happy and she supported you and I from the very start. You loved me just as much when you first met me…you told me so yourself. So the situation is a little different but…just look at them." I nodded towards them and Emmett had his arms securely around her waist, staring into her eyes with such love and compassion. He was never going to let anything bad happen to her. I felt tears sort of sting my eyes as I stared at the two of them.
"What is it?" Jasper looked at me. I just shook my head and took his hand in mine.
"The way he looks at her…it's the way you look at me. It's just amazing to see it in front of me…to know that's what we look like." I whispered. I knew I had him there! With that statement, he accepted Rosalie's engagement.
"This worked out perfectly! Just how I saw it Emmett!!" Alice jumped from her seat, a big smile on her face.
"Thank you Natalia." Emmett looked over at me and I shrugged. What had I done?
"You see Natalia…when I first had my vision, Emmett proposed to Rosalie in another location and Jasper and Bella wouldn't allow her to marry him. And, the two of them would've been heartbroken. But then, you popped in my visions and I saw the power you have over Jasper…you know, because you're his imprint and he can't ever really say no to you. I knew then that we would have to come on the right day, when both Jasper and Rosalie would be here in your presence…and you'd be able to talk to him and show him how the love between the two of them was like the love between the two of you. While unconventional and a little impossible, it still exists."
"Oh, I see…well, everyone deserves to be happy.." I smiled.
"Yes! Oh, I am so happy that my little brother has found someone…finally." She sighed, feeling as if her job was done.
The nine of us stayed in the house the rest of the night until Christmas rolled around. We stayed up and talked to one another. Unfortunately, I fell asleep in Jasper's arms around four in the morning. What can I say? The human needs to sleep sometimes. But, this was by far one of the best Christmas' I've ever had. I finally felt as though life was coming into place. Alice and Emmett say they're going to stay around here for awhile…Esme invited Alice to stay with us while Emmett will stay with Rosalie.
I'm glad to have met two more amazing people….and I'm so happy that Rosalie has found someone. She would be lonely no more…and, as I caught glimpse of my promise ring before I fell asleep, I knew that I would never be lonely again. Although, I don't know exactly how things would work out later on in life….but, at the moment…things were falling into place.
This chapter was a lot of fun for me to write! I hope you enjoyed it! REVIEW please…Thanks
~Chel
