**A/N: All characters are © Stephenie Meyer. Please forgive the length of time between updates these days. My nephew plays varsity football on Fridays and my niece cheers for peewee football on

Saturdays…life is BUSY! I try very hard to write something every day, but…life is BUSY! :-)

Chapter 7

"Gift Wrapping and Cookies by the Dozen"

As a general rule, Bella HATED shopping! She wasn't into fashion like Alice or home décor like Esme, in fact, she was perfectly happy to fulfill all of her needs in the retail arena on line. But today she was actually having a good time. Christmas was less than a week away and there were lots of items to check off of her shopping list. Renesmee…Edward…Jacob….Charlie…Renee…

Bella smiled as she happily anticipated Christmas dinner with her entire family this year. Never in her wildest imagination had she ever allowed herself to so much as hope it would ever be possible.

Bella felt a slight twinge of disappointment knowing that Phil would not be accompanying her mother to Forks for Christmas. His mother was ill and he would be spending what would very likely be his last Christmas with her. But when Bella had asked Renee if maybe she should stay home and support Phil, Renee had simply replied, "No. I am coming to see my granddaughter."

Bella didn't know who was more excited…Renee or Renesmee.

A UPS truck had delivered a huge box last Saturday with DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS WHEN GRAMMY ARRIVES printed on the outside. Renee had called at least ten times since then to make sure Renesmee had followed her instructions although Bella suspected it was actually because the time was simply passing too slowly until her arrival date. Meanwhile, Renesmee awoke every morning running into the kitchen screaming, "Is it Christmas yet? Is Grammy coming today?"

Watching this Christmas season through Renesmee's eyes had brought Bella and Edward nothing but pure joy. Last year, they had all been facing possible annihilation at the hand of the Volturi and had just gone through the motions for Renesmee's sake. This year, life was virtually perfect and Bella had enjoyed every minute of it…Renesmee's first visit with Santa Claus, decorating the humungous Christmas tree in the Cullen's great room, Edward and Renesmee playing Christmas tunes on the piano…all was as it should be for any typical American family. Did it matter that the family just happened to be a family of vegetarian vampires?

As Bella walked the length of the mall to reach the Toys R Us store, she had the strangest feeling that someone was watching her. She turned slowly - remembering to appear as human as possible - to scan the courtyard with her eyes, but didn't see anyone she knew. A hundred or so people were milling about, frantically taking advantage of the last somewhat quiet weekday before the mad rush of the last weekend before Christmas hit. She shrugged it off, and entered the busy store to search for the Hannah Montana doll that Renesmee had seen on TV and squealed, "Oooh, I hope Santa Claus remembers that I want her!"

About a half hour later, Bella emerged from the store loaded down with Renesmee's requested doll and several other items to donate to the Forks Toys for Tots program. She and Renesmee would go there together on Saturday and deliver the toys. Bella desperately wanted her daughter to realize just how very fortunate she was to have the luxurious life she had become accustomed to as a Cullen.

Again, Bella had the distinct feeling that she was being watched as she made her way to the music store on the opposite end of the mall from where she was now. Again, she stopped and turned slowly, allowing her powerful vision to case every inch of the bustling mall…nothing.

Get a grip, Bella. What's the matter with you? She admonished herself as she continued to saunter toward her next list target.

Bella had purposefully chosen Seattle over Port Angeles to lesson the chance she would run into anyone she knew. She grimaced as her left contact dissolved into oblivion. Sighing in resignation, Bella headed toward the ladies' room just off to her right. The new recording equipment she was purchasing to go in Edward's brand new state of the art recording studio would have to wait.

A little over an hour and a half later, Bella was making her way to her last stop of the season…everyone on her list crossed off except Esme.

Kohl's was running a sale on their line of Food Network stars' products and it was obvious that Esme wasn't the only person in the Washington state area that wanted Rachel Ray's full line of cookware for Christmas. Bella made haste as she grabbed the cookware and a complete set of kitchen gadgets for good measure. No sooner had she staked out her place in the check-out line than the too familiar feeling of being watched returned…with a vengeance.

Okay. I know I'm not crazy. Someone IS watching me!

If Bella had learned anything over the past year as a newborn vampire, it was to trust her instincts. Once again, she twisted her body slowly around to gaze across the length of the store. Two older silver headed women – obviously sisters on a shopping day out – looked straight at her and smiled. One muscular dark-haired guy about Bella's age winked at her with a flirty grin. Bella returned his grin with a sarcastic smile, holding up her left hand to display the explicit evidence that she wasn't interested in anything he had to offer. She quickly assessed the remainder of the people in line…most were either talking into their cell phones or texting. Perplexed, Bella took her turn with the cashier – once again putting the nagging feeling that she was being watched out of her mind – and began to exit the store, walking past the two elderly ladies and the now embarrassed flirtatious young man. Bella was concentrating on getting out to her car without looking too superhuman while effortlessly juggling the multitude of packages she had spent the day collecting. Just as she reached the double glass doors leading out to the mall's west parking lot, someone placed their hand firmly on Bella's right shoulder.


Renesmee giggled as Carlisle dabbed a tiny bit of chocolate peanut butter cookie dough on her nose. A day off for the most popular doctor in Forks, Washington was a rarity and he had chosen to spend it baking cookies with his granddaughter and Esme. The look of pure contentment and joy on his wife's face was all the reward Carlisle needed.

Esme's bell laughter rang out as Renesmee reached up and scooped the dollop of cookie dough off of her nose and into her mouth with a mischievous gurgling giggle.

"Hmm. Good cookies, Granddad!" Renesmee spoke with a full mouth.

Carlisle and Esme both chuckled as they looked around the elaborate state of the art chef's kitchen. At the moment, it was a complete disaster. Dirty mixing bowls and spatulas caked with dried cookie batter were piled haphazardly in the sink while at least a dozen silver baking pans laden with ten different cookies lined the counter. Every inch of the kitchen and all three of its occupants was covered in flour.

Esme wiped her hands on her apron and took Carlisle by the hand.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Granddad?"

Carlisle's golden bronze eyes sparkled as a wide grin spread across his face. "Clean-up time, Grandmom?"

Renesmee clapped her hands together and squealed with glee as Carlisle and Esme whirled around the kitchen in a blur scrubbing every surface spic and span. Within two minutes flat, they had cleaned the entire kitchen, transferred every single cookie – in batches of a dozen – into decorative Christmas tins, and managed to de-flour their clothes and hair.

"Something about that just 'aint right."

Esme and Carlisle turned to look at Jacob's mammoth bulk filling the archway into the kitchen, a warm smile spreading all the way to his eyes. Renesmee scrambled to the door, taking a flying leap up into his outstretched arms. Esme laughed and hugged Carlisle, pretending to console him.

"Sorry, Granddad. We are now officially chopped liver. Jacob, would you like a cookie?"

Esme held up the huge platter of cookies as Jacob plucked two off the top and stuffed them both in his mouth at the same time.

Carlisle clapped his hand around Jacob's bulging bicep and said, "Nessie tells us you two have a fun-filled afternoon ahead of you."

Jacob smiled as he placed Renesmee on his shoulders and locked her feet in place under his arms. "Yep, we're meeting Quil and Claire on the rez for a Christmas party at the La Push Daycare Center. Claire wanted to invite Nessie because Santa's going to be there."

Renesmee placed her little hands on her hips defiantly and growled, "I told you, Jake…Santa is in the North Pole. I'm not a baby, so I know he sent his helper to the party because he has lots of work to finish before Christmas."

Esme reached up and plucked Renesmee from Jacob's shoulders, chuckling quietly. "Okay, Little Miss I'm not a baby, let's go get you cleaned up and changed for the party. Have a couple more cookies, Jake. We'll be back down in a minute."

Jake grinned sheepishly as he nabbed two more cookies from the platter, realizing as Esme left the room carrying Renesmee, that he had eaten a whole dozen!


"Bella? Bella, is that you?"

Bella shifted the packages in her arms to look over the top of her load into the face of Jessica Stanley. Realizing there was no escape, she carefully placed her cargo on the floor and accepted the hug that Jessica was offering.

"I had no idea you were back in the area! I thought you and Edward were in Alaska going to school! Oh, you're probably back visiting your dad for Christmas."

As usual, Jessica chattered away quickly, her long brown curls bobbing up and down as she spoke excitedly. Bella didn't have a chance to respond before she continued.

"You look…AMAZING! Not that you didn't always look great, but something is different…" Jessica looked Bella up and down, scrutinizing her appearance. As was her custom, Bella had dressed for comfort…an old pair of jeans, a button up shirt of Edward's with a turtleneck underneath, and a pair of hiking boots. Her raven hair was down but tucked neatly behind her ears.

"I guess married life really agrees with you! I hope it does me! Mike and I are getting married in June!"

Jessica held up her left hand to reveal a modest solitaire glimmering in the fluorescent light of the mall.

"It's small, I know. But, Mike's parents refused to help him buy my ring because they wanted us to wait until he graduated from Washington State. But, when you know…you know! Right?"

Jessica finally took a breath just long enough for Bella to reply, "The ring is perfect, Jessica. Congratulations."

Jessica's face lit up as she bounced up and down happily.

"I can't wait to tell Mike that you are back in town! You and Edward will just simply have to come to the wedding! It's going to be awesome! We're getting married on the boardwalk in Port Angeles overlooking the bay at dusk. Oh, please say…"

Jessica's phone chirped and she rolled her eyes, looking expectantly at the cover to see whose number popped up on caller I.D.

"It's Mike. We are meeting Angela and Ben for dinner and a movie in Port Angeles, and he is chomping at the bit. Hey! Why don't you and Edward join us! I know everybody would be thrilled to see you guys!"

Bella heaved her bundle of packages back up into her arms to hurry the goodbyes along before stating, "Charlie is expecting us for dinner tonight. But, thanks for the invite. Tell everyone we said hello and Merry Christmas. It was great to see you, Jessica."

Jessica had given Bella one last quick squeeze before bolting out the door, flipping open her phone and putting it to her ear as it chirped impatiently in her hand.

Strangely, the idea of dinner and a movie with the old gang from Forks High School had appealed to Bella. She would have enjoyed seeing Angela and Ben for the first time since her wedding, and it would have been nice to catch up with everyone. But, she knew Edward would never have gone for it…he would have said it was too risky. It was bad enough that the one person Bella had run into today was the daughter of the Forks town gossip…now everyone in Forks would know that Bella was back in town.


Jacob loved to watch Renesmee having a good time. She was all smiles, beaming from ear to ear as Santa's helper – it couldn't be the real Santa Claus because he was in the North Pole and there was no way of convincing her otherwise – made all the kids balloon animals.

Renesmee had racked up in that department. She was holding an elephant and a rhino in one hand and a peanut butter cookie in the other. They had been at the La Push Reservation Day Care Center all afternoon with Quil and Claire for a Christmas party. Claire and Renesmee had played games, eaten cookies, ridden the reindeer, and eaten more cookies. Jacob chuckled as he realized that Renesmee had probably eaten as many cookies as he had today. How in the world a vampire-human hybrid could end up with such a sweet tooth was beyond his comprehension. Renesmee loved the animal blood she fed on from time to time when hunting with the family, but she could live off of macaroni and cheese and peanut butter cookies just as well. Renesmee grinned as she reached for yet another peanut butter cookie from the goody table. Jake touched her gently on top of the head.

"Go easy, Nessie. Don't you think you've had enough of those for one day?"

Nessie stuck out her bottom lip in an adorable pout and Quil laughed.

"Awe, come on, Jake. Let her have as much as she wants. It's not like she gets anything like this at the Cullen's…since they don't eat and all."

Jacob rolled his eyes and gave Renesmee the cookie, holding up his index finger to say "one more".

"Are you kidding? Esme cooks all the time. She caters to Nessie's every whim where food is concerned. She baked dozens of cookies today and I bet Nessie had six or seven of them. I've never seen anything like it. To be such a little thing, she sure can put away some food."

As Jacob and Quil shared a laugh, Renesmee wrapped her arms around the tree trunk that was Jacob's right leg and patted him on the thigh.

Jacob bent down to pick her up and his breath caught in his throat.

Renesmee's face, neck, and hands were covered in angry red splotches and she was wheezing loudly.

"Jake…I…can't…breathe!"

As Renesmee lost consciousness, Jacob's body took over where his mind wanted nothing more than to shut down. He scooped Renesmee up in his arms and shot out the door barely waiting until he hit the edge of the forest to set her down gently and phase. Knowing the wolf could run much faster than the man could drive Jacob grasped Renesmee's lifeless so-called indestructible body in his powerful jaws and ran for her life towards the Cullen's mansion and Dr. Carlisle Cullen.