A/N:Hey, so added a chapter to the end... so it'll be a grand total of 21 chapters including epilogue when it's finished.... Thank you my beta Missy... Read. Enjoy. Review.

Chapter Thirteen: Christmas

I looked forward to Christmas, just like every other person, but it was still a day, and a day that I had no reason to wake up early for. Every year I tried to convince Jimmy and Emmett of this, but they always seemed to find it necessary to run into my room at seven in the morning and jump on my bed to wake me up screaming their Merry Christmases. Even though Emmett was eighteen years older than Jimmy, they acted as if they were twins when it came to Christmas morning. Mom and Dad always told them not to wake them up until seven-thirty, but they never said anything about not waking me up. So it had always been tradition that they run in and wake me up a half hour earlier than necessary in the most obnoxious manner possible. This was all why I was very pleasantly surprised by my Carlisle coming into my room at almost eight. He sat on the edge of my bed and rubbed the side of my head gently until I woke up.

"Good morning, Beautiful," He said, kissing me briefly, "Time to wake up, I held them off as long as I could. Emmett and Jimmy are downstairs already. I thought they might have seizures soon just looking at the presents. Your parents won't let anyone open anything until you're with them."

"You made them let me sleep in?" I asked and he nodded.

"But I could only make them wait so long," He replied as I sat up and kissed him again.

"You show great strength trying to rule them to any extent on Christmas morning," I replied, he chuckled as he skimmed his knuckles over my cheek sweetly and kissed my forehead.

"Well isn't it my job to protect your interests now?" Carlisle asked and I smiled.

"You don't have to…"

"I want to. C'mon," He said, "Before-"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence before the inevitable occurred and Emmett and Jimmy barged into the room. Jimmy ran right in and went to jump on my bed but Carlisle caught him mid-air so that he wouldn't land on my leg, and then set him down between us. Emmett rolled his eyes as he jumped onto the foot of my bed, narrowly avoiding crushing my feet.

"Come on, Bella, get up!" Emmett said as he reached over and picked Jimmy up, he stood back up and dangled my little brother in my face, "See this face, Bella? This cute little face wants to go open his Christmas presents now."

Carlisle started laughing as I yelled at Emmett that the blood was rushing to Jimmy's head. Emmett set Jimmy back down on the ground as Carlisle offered me his hand and helped me up. As soon as my feet hit the ground Emmett and Jimmy were out my door yelling down the hall that I was up and they could open their presents now. Carlisle chuckled as he kissed me quickly and we walked out into the hall.

We appeared in the living room, where dad had set up the tree, hand in hand. As soon as we walked in it was as if Carlisle had shot off the starting shot at a race. Emmett and Jimmy lunged for the tree. Each of them were rifling through the presents making separate piles for themselves.

"Good morning, dear," said mother casually, as if her sons weren't completely tearing apart the very delicately decorated tree.

"Morning," I said with a little yawn as Carlisle stepped behind me and placed his hands on my hips, kissing my neck.

Dad gave him a look but Carlisle pretended he didn't see as he retracted his arms and led me over to the tree. We sat down on the couch and watched Emmett and Jimmy tear all the wrapping off of their presents in a total of five minutes. Carlisle and I silently figured it would be safer to wait until they were finished.

A few packages from Carlisle's mom had arrived a few days ago. There was a note to me on them asking me to wrap them up and put them under our tree for him. I had, but I hadn't told Carlisle yet, I figured he could be surprised to have just a little bit of his family with him today too.

Carlisle kissed my cheek as Emmett and Jimmy got up and started shooting each other with the twin Nerf guns that mom always got them. Carlisle and I dodged the foam bullets as we made our way over to the tree with my mom and dad. They calmly opened their presents in unison with us.

"Carlisle," I said, handing him a red package.

"From you?" He asked with an adorable crooked smile.

"No," I said and he looked at the tag.

"Mom sent you stuff to put under the tree for me?" He asked and I nodded, smiling as I kissed his cheek.

"Sweet, huh? I love your mom," I commented and Carlisle rolled his eyes.

"And here I was thinking that you love me," He said and I chuckled.

"I do," I said and suddenly an excellent shot from Emmett's gun hit Carlisle right in the temple, "Awe, poor baby."

I kissed his temple as the suction cupped foam bullet landed on the ground.

"Well that backfired," said Emmett, sinking down onto the couch, his gun apparently emptied and mom and I laughed as we continued with our presents.

"I love you too," said Carlisle as he kissed my head, then shot a look at Emmett, "Remind me to get you back for that."

"I will," said Emmett chuckling as Jimmy ran into the room wearing his new ninja action belt and jumping on top of Emmett.

I sat on the edge of Carlisle's lap as we opened presents. Dad and Emmett really were getting used to us, but they also liked to tease. I leaned back onto Carlisle when I was done and Carlisle was opening my present to him. He smiled as he pulled out the watch that Alice had helped me pick out, she was the shopper, not me.

"I love it, Bella," He said smiling wide as he put it right onto his wrist, discarding the old one he was always complaining about.

He leaned in and kissed me as Jimmy shrieked his disgust. Carlisle chuckled with his lips still very close to mine and went back for more. I chuckled as he pulled away and Jimmy was running from the room. Carlisle smiled with that perfect little sparkle in his eye as he reached down beside him and brought up a little box.

"Here," He said and I smiled as I took it and kissed Carlisle gently, "You haven't even opened it yet."

He looked so nervous and everyone laughed at how nervous he sounded. I kissed his cheek, silently vowing that I'd love it no matter what it was, and slid my finger under the wrapping. I opened it at a normal pace but it seemed everyone's eyes were on me, particularly Carlisle's.

I ripped the paper off to find a square necklace box. I carefully opened the little velvet box. Inside there was a tiny silver key lined with diamonds. It sparkled in the morning sun as it was streaming in through the window.

"Do you like it?" He asked and Emmett scoffed.

"Um, dude I think she likes it," said Emmett trying to read my face and I nodded.

Carlisle let out a sigh of relief as mom reached for the box. I handed it to her to look at while I turned to Carlisle. He was grinning and I could only imagine that it was merely a mirror to my own smile as I threw my arms around his neck. It took a few minutes after I started to realize that I was kissing him repeatedly up and down his neck, then over to his cheek.

When I did I pulled away slightly that, probably from the request of mom everyone had cleared out to give us a minute. He smiled down at me, pressing the tip of his nose to mine and gazing into my eyes in such heartbreakingly sweet way. I literally thought I was going to cry, which was all I think anyone could do when they realized such a perfect guy was so deeply in love with them. Though, I held myself together.

I pulled myself up a little so that I was closer to him and buried my face into his shoulder as he rested his face on mine.

"I love you," He said and I smiled, pulling away so that I could look into his eyes, "You know why it's a key?"

"Because something corny about the key to one of our hearts?" I asked and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Technically I think that's what it's called, but no, close, it's definitely corny though," He said and I smiled, "I was a miserable excuse for a person, before I met you. Before I met you, well you've heard it from Jasper, but I was so broken…still so angry… you're my every happiness. I'm not gonna lie, I'm still bitter, but somehow it's better now that I have you."

"No one can blame you for being bitter, Carlisle," I said and he nodded.

"But it's so easy to forget about it when I'm with you," He said, kissing my cheek, then nuzzled his nose into my neck, "You're the key to my happiness, Bella."

"Sorry to interrupt," Emmett said and I flew away from Carlisle.

"Better be," I mumbled and Carlisle chuckled as he kissed the side of my face.

"I just thought you'd want to know Gram and Gramps are almost here," said Emmett, "You two may want to get dressed, and stop – well making out."

"Might be a good idea," said Carlisle, kissing my temple before I got up.

I turned to help him to his feet. Once he was back on his feet he reached for the box and helped me put my new necklace on.

I led Carlisle off up the stairs, dropping him off with a kiss in his door way. I then walked into my room and dressed quickly in a sweater and khakis, making sure my new necklace was shining brightly around my neck. I smiled as I brushed my hair back into a quick ponytail.

I walked back out into the hall and Carlisle was waiting me, all groomed and in a dark blue collared shirt. He smiled, kissing my forehead as we heard Gram and Gramps arrive rather loudly downstairs. Then again, Gramps was always pretty loud, more outspoken then anyone I knew. Though it was hard to judge because Gram was so quiet all the time, not speaking unless it was something sweet and kind, she was definitely the nurturing type.

"Gram!" I called happily as Carlisle followed me down the stairs.

I threw myself across the room into Gram and Gramps' collective arms. I smiled as they let me go and I stood between them as Carlisle walked awkwardly over to us,

"You have to be Carlisle," said Gram as I smiled, I really talked to Gram too much, "Nice to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," said Carlisle nervously, shaking Gramps' hand and then Gram's.

"Why are you so nervous, boy?" Gramps asked and I chuckled as Carlisle turned red.

"He always gets nervous when meeting family members," I told him as I kissed Gramps' cheek and then crossed over to attach myself to Carlisle's arm.

"Well don't be, we don't bite," said Gramps, he was being more friendly than he usually would be, which meant that he liked Carlisle, and I smiled.

"C'mon, Bella, bring your beau there, I think your mother has brunch on the table," said Gram and she lead us into the kitchen, where mother actually did have it already on the table.

I sat down at the table between Jimmy and Carlisle, Gramps made a point of sitting across from Carlisle. He was such a joker sometimes, but couldn't he tell Carlisle was already scared of him anyways? I took Carlisle's hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't worry," I whispered into his ear, "They like you. How could they not?"

"I wouldn't," He whispered back and I rolled my eyes and kissed his cheek.

"I like you," I whispered and he laughed as Emmett cleared his throat and passed him the platter of ham.

"Good appetite," Gram commented as Carlisle piled his plate high with food, "You'll have to let me cook for you sometime."

"Sure," said Carlisle politely, and I knew I would be getting him out of that one, unnecessary stress on his part was not something I was ok with.

Once brunch was over we all migrated to the living room once more for presents. Gram always brought hers over to us in the morning. Jimmy was excitedly showing Gramps his new remote control airplane as Carlisle and I sat down on the couch, his arm around me.

"This is nice," Carlisle commented in a whisper to me, "Family."

"Well what do you normally do for Christmas?" I asked as Gram handed us our presents, she had thought to get one for Carlisle too, but I knew it would be a wallet, that's what she got for all my cousin's boyfriends.

"Steve's family usually comes and visits," said Carlisle shrugging, "Uncle Jack comes. I usually hide from Steve's family and hang around with Jack."

"Your dad's brother?" I said as I watched him carefully and he nodded.

"He used to take me fishing when I was younger," said Carlisle, "He shares my impression of Steve. We get along well."

"That's good," I said, "What about your grandparents on that side?"

"Too old to travel," Carlisle said, and I nodded, "I go and visit them once or twice a year."

"Carlisle! Carlisle! Carlisle!" said Jimmy as he ran over to us and Carlisle took his arm from around me to pick him up and put him on his knee, "Look!"

Jimmy held up the new silver coated Buzz Light Year he had just opened into Carlisle's face.

"Cool," said Carlisle as he took it and examined it, "Silver edition?"

"Yeah," said Jimmy excitedly and I laughed as his eyes expanded.

"Don't you have like eight of these?" I asked Jimmy as Carlisle passed the thing to me.

"No, not the silver one," said Jimmy, "Grandpa had to track it down."

Carlisle nodded affirmatively as I handed the toy back to Jimmy and he ran off.

"Don't forget to still play with Woody!" Gramps called after him playfully, making the room chuckle a little, but I was worried about Carlisle.