AN: Bella spends Christmas with the Whitlocks. She learns that it's Jasper's birthday and has a sad moment at breakfast.

Chapter Eleven: Christmas with the Whitlocks

Bella, December, 2010...

I wish there could be more mornings like this. I wish it was Christmas all year round.

I loved everything about Christmas. It was a great time for families to come together and celebrate, and from what I've learned, no one knew that better than the Whitlock's and Cortez's.

Sue was right when she wanted us to take care of the rooms upstairs as well as over at Jasper's, because the rest of the family was flying in or driving down to spend Christmas and New Years on the ranch. Some would be over here and others would be staying with Jasper, like Peter and a cousin, Tanya.

It baffled me that everyone actually wanted to stay together for the holidays. I had never experienced anything like it before. And I was so excited to.

The first to arrive were Carlisle and Esme because they lived close. After them, it was Maria and Esme's big sister, Carmen. She was accompanied by her husband, Eleazar, and their daughter, Tanya; who was married to Paul, an attorney who worked on the Whitlock legal team.

They were so powerful that they had an entire legal team at their disposal. Holy Shit!

Sue filled me in about everyone as they made their entrance. She warned me that Tanya was Jasper's favorite cousin and she treated him like a brother so I should watch out for the pranks they might pull on each other. Tanya was very nice to me when we met. She was very sweet, but had a little snarkiness to her that I actually liked.

After Tanya and her parents, which concluded the Cortez's, seeing as the both families' heads – the Cortez's parents and the Whitlock's parents – have already passed on, then came, the Whitlocks.

There was Uncle Liam and his wife, Diane along with their son, Benjamin and his wife, Angela and their six month old baby boy, Brandon. Brandon was the sweetest little thing and I even got a chance to hold him while Benjamin and Angela got settled.

After that, there were Peter's parents, Joshua and Lizzy, along with Peter's little sisters, Jane and Heidi, who were twins, and both models. Sue took care of them, quickly showing them to their rooms after they greeted us.

I couldn't be happier to be a part of this celebration. I always wanted a big family, and this was a great glimpse of what that could look like.

By Christmas morning, things had gotten pretty hectic, but with Sue's guidance, I handle it well. There were no more incidents like with Alice, and I was happy about that. But I suppose it wouldn't happen because no one here was as mean as she had been.

The family welcomed me with open arms. I even overheard Maria explaining to her big sister and Peter's parents about how we met and they congratulated her for helping me.

It brought me to tears to hear the care in their voices.

Christmas day now held an even more important significance to me after Sue told me it was Jasper's birthday.

"His birthday is on Christmas?" I whispered to her as we set up the dining room, buffet style.

"Yep, he's a special boy," Sue said, while putting the finishing touches on the dishes we had prepared.

Sue gave me free reign over breakfast, stating that she had created so many and it was great to get a break, especially since her daughter, Char, had arrived this morning.

Char was one of the nicest persons I had ever met. She was so kind to me when we met, I felt like I had known her for years. She was extremely beautiful with glowing blond hair, that Sue said, came from her daddy, God rest his soul.

"Wow," I said as I took a step back to look at our work.

Sue didn't answer and when I looked at her, she was smirking at me. "What?"

"Nothing," she said in a teasing tone. "Have you given any thought to letting a friendship build between you and Jasper?"

I smiled and ducked my head, blushing. "I'll take that as a yes," Sue laughed. "He can be a great friend, Bella."

"He has been." I did see Jasper the next morning like he had promised the night after we fell asleep over at his house. And in the day while working over at his house, he called me and we spent most of his lunch hour on the phone, chatting. It was strangely familiar to me how much Jasper and Garrett had in common. They both knew how to make me smile; to forget my problems and just be happy, even if it was just for a short time.

Jasper and I had dinner that day too, when he got home. Everyone had oddly disappeared leaving only me and Jasper to eat dinner, but we didn't mind and had a great chat. He wanted to know about college and I found out that he was a bit of a wild child in college, while he was a geek in high school.

I teased him about it, and he teased me about ballet.

Jasper walked into the dining room, distracting me with his striking eyes. I was lost in his gaze and Sue's chuckle brought me back. "You've got it bad."

I didn't get a chance to answer her when everybody filed into the dining room and shouted 'Happy Birthday!' to Jasper.

They helped themselves to breakfast and Jasper pulled me to sit down beside him after sharing a plate for me. Again, the similarities between him and Garrett were on the forefront of my mind.

I don't know why Garrett was invading my thoughts today, but I missed him so much. I have been thinking about him a lot, recently, and I couldn't get over how his death was my fault.

"This is great, Bella," Jasper said, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Oh," I said, and Jasper knitted his brows.

"What's wrong?" He was so concerned.

"Nothing," I tried to sound happy and even faked a smile, but I knew I had failed miserably when I looked into his worried eyes. However, I went on, "Sue gave me full reign and I thought that Warm Chocolate Eggnog with the usual coffee and Sweet Potato Pancakes with sausage and bacon would be great."

Jasper smiled, "And for the omelets lovers, French Omelets along with enough waffles to hold Peter over until lunchtime."

I genuinely laughed this time, because Peter did have a big appetite. "Exactly." Peter was currently packing his plate with food while Char laughed at him.

"But it doesn't explain what's wrong and why you looked so sad a while ago." Jasper could be very persistent. He always wanted to get to the bottom of something.

"No," I said sadly, remembering Garrett's smiling face. "It doesn't, but I should be happy." I was desperately trying to switch the subject.

Jasper wasn't buying it yet. I was learning to read him. And his eyes were saying he wasn't through with questioning me. "Why?" he smiled, hoping to ease me into talking.

"Because not only is it Christmas and I love this season, but it's also your birthday, so Happy Birthday."

"Thanks so lot, darlin'," Jasper drawled, almost making me swoon amidst my sadness. "But I'm not going to be completely happy until you tell me what's wrong."

"What are you, Scooby-doo?" Jasper laughed. He had told me that he loved that fiery, sarcastic side of me, and I loved it too; because of him.

"Maybe, but…" He started.

His persistent was killing me, because again, it was another trait that he and Garrett shared. My eyes watered, and the tears spilled over as I looked into Jasper's understanding ones. "The friend I told you about, Garrett," Jasper nodded, "he used to love Christmas too, and I don't know how much you know about James but I blame myself for Garrett's death because…"

"It wasn't your fault, Bella," Jasper said, thoughtfully, rubbing my back as I started to cry.

A barge of concern began to hit me from the family as everyone wanted to know what was wrong with me. 'What's wrong?' What happened?' could be heard and Jasper was doing his best to explain that I had lost someone I really cared about. Then their condolences made me cry even harder. I was pulled up out of my chair and into someone's arms and I held on and cried hard. It was only when I let go, I realized that it was Jasper.

"Thank you," I whispered hoarsely.

"I'm here for you, Bella." The care in his voice touched my heart.

After I calmed down, the conversation slowly drifted to my talent in the kitchen and I was complimented for my creations. Rosalie and Maria thought that having my own catering business would be a great thing for me, and Sue joked that she would spend her time ordering their dinners from me.

We all laughed.

When breakfast ended, Jasper and Peter helped us clear the tables and then helped us with the dishes. Peter and Jasper hardly left my side, and I wasn't the least bit nervous or scared of their presence.

I was slowly healing and learning that when it came to Jasper and his family, I had nothing to fear.

Sue and I got the turkeys in the ovens while she told me about the many charities the Whitlocks give to, including the one they will be sending food to tomorrow.

They were so generous. So different from James. He hated charity. He thought that it was unnecessary. That selfish prick!

After preparing some of the sides for dinner, I retired over to Jasper's home to finish up the two loads of laundry I had left to do. There would be no dirty clothes on Christmas.

Sue and I spent our time talking through the intercom as I taught her a new way to do one of her favorite dishes. She thanked me and said she was making lunch, because Peter was hungry. I had to laugh. I don't know where Peter stored the food he ate. He ate like he had three stomachs, and yet, he was as well built as Jasper. It was shocking!

Peter has been a bit of a surprise for me. He was growing on me almost as much as Jasper was, but in a different way.

Peter reminded me of my stepbrother, Micah, but with a far more crude humor. Peter was so friendly and kindhearted, but that came with a very dirty mouth. He was also sarcastic, and everything he said had a double innuendo.

Emmett has been another wonderful person. He was always checking up on me, and making sure that Jasper was being nice, he would say. He was coming over for Christmas dinner later on. He has been spending the day with his family, the McCarty's.

Edward was the only friend I hadn't met yet. He was Carlisle's little brother and a lawyer. He would be moving down to Texas according to Sue next year, but she didn't know why because Edward loved his hometown of Chicago. But Sue chucked it off as them watching Jasper and loving that he was through with Alice. Sue said his friends hated how Alice had treated Jasper.

Jasper.

With every piece of his clothing that I threw in the wash, I couldn't stop thinking about him. His scent permeated the air and my body tingled just from taking it in. We had parted ways after we walked over to his house together this morning, and something in me missed him. I had to learn to control myself about this. Or talk to Esme about it.

Our sessions have been going good. She was taking her time with me.

I started the washing machine and turned up the radio a bit, rocking to the carols playing on it.

My mind drifted to Jasper again. I don't think Jasper knew the effect he had on women. How we melted when he smiled or gave us that sly smirk that made our stomachs twist in delicious knots. He saw himself as the same geeky kid from high school, that Sue actually claimed he really was, and didn't understand why women found him appealing.

But he was. And I shouldn't be thinking about him like that.

The washing machine stopped and I unloaded it, filling the dryer. I moved to the next load, but before starting it, I wanted to go in search of more dirty things. Jasper had to have a dirty towel or something lying around.

I started with his bedroom first and found some dirty socks and scrubs. I threw them in my basket and then headed downstairs. The gym was next.

In there, there were dirty towels, hanging off the bar of the treadmill. Jasper worked out a lot. He said hitting his punching bag or running on his treadmill helped him think.

The sauna was next, and it looked like it had been in use. There was steam coming from under the door.

"Jasper?" I called out.

"Jasper?" I tried again. But with no answer, I opened the door and walked in.

There was so much steam; I couldn't see a damn thing. I felt my way to a bench and successfully found two more towels. But when I turned to leave, I ran smack into something hard. I felt it up and heard a chuckle.

A chuckle I knew. I have been hearing it enough.

"Bella?" he said, and I froze before yanking my hand away as if it burned.

"Oh shit, I'm so fucking sorry."

Fuck! I cursed at him.

Jasper chuckled. "Bella?"

I had to get out of here. I tried to run out, but his panicked voice sounded, "Bella, watch out!"

It was too late. I tripped and I was falling until he caught me and somehow spun around so that his back hit the floor when we fell outside of the sauna.

"Thank you," I breathed, using his chest to sit up. Until I realized that I was sitting on top of a very naked Jasper.

Holy fuck! He was naked under this towel, and I was sitting on top of him. I sprang up, grabbed my basket and ran from the gym with Jasper on my tail.

"Bella!" he called out and I walked briskly, heading for the laundry room to lock myself in there. "Bella!" he tried again, but to hell with looking back.

Just as I passed the front door, it swung open to reveal a suspicious Rosalie who was looking at me and then her brother, who was probably standing close behind me with a towel swung low on his hips. And then I looked at a smirking Tanya who was doing her best not to laugh.

I ran off with the basket.

I burst into the laundry room in time, throwing the clothes and towels and just about everything to be washed. I tried to catch my breath but I couldn't breathe for the life of me.

Oh my God! Jasper was hotter than I could have imagined. He really was sculpted.

"What did you do?" Tanya teased.

The laundry room door was ajar and the machines were those energy efficient quiet ones so I could hear everything.

"I didn't do anything," Jasper said defensively.

"Oh really?" Rosalie teased next. "Why was Bella running away like a scared kitten? Did she see you naked?"

Tanya laughed out. "Oh, she must have. It scarred me for life when I saw him naked once, but it might have a different effect on Bella."

Oh God! I feel faint.

"She probably feels faint right now," Rosalie said.

Could she read my mind?

Tanya chirpily added in a playful tone, "Please, dear sweet cousin of mine whom I love so much, tell me that you've got a plan to date the new girl."

"Tanya, quit bugging him," Rosalie sighed and I wanted to thank Rosalie. What was Tanya thinking? "He's already head over heels for her." What?!

Jasper felt something for me. Oh my God. This was serious. Even though, a side of me was jumping for joy that I wasn't the only one who felt something, but it couldn't be. I was bad news.

"Would you two stop?" Jasper said with an exasperated sigh.

There was a long pause and then Rosalie and Tanya both said, "No."

He chuckled. "Listen, we're helping Bella out. She's an extraordinary girl and yes, I love talking to her, Rosalie, who told Tanya."

"Who, me?" Rosalie sounded like she was feigning innocence.

"Yes, you," Jasper said. "Bella is a great person and she's over here trying to help me with my…"

"Nasty ass," Tanya provided, making me laugh.

"Yes," Jasper admitted and I laughed again.

"So…Bella, huh?" Tanya mused. She reminded me of Peter so I could tell something was coming. "She's a great cook. I mean, I was licking my fingers after breakfast. Sue was right when she told me that the girl should have her own business. Auntie told me how she met her. Do you care to elaborate?" She said to Jasper

"Not yet," Rosalie jumped in and said. "It's Bella's story."

Thank you, Rosalie.

"I can accept that," Tanya said. "Jasper, did you know about her friend? The poor thing, I felt so bad for her this morning when she broke down."

"Yeah, she's told me about him," Jasper replied. "I think the holidays and seeing all of us together, hit her really hard."

"It really did," Rosalie said, solemnly.

It was nice of them to be concerned, but Tanya almost made me laugh out loud when she said, "Oh you two, let the poor guy rest in peace. Now I've got an important thing to say…"

"What?" Jasper asked.

"I need reassurance that after little Rosie's here wedding, Alice, who you, and I still don't know why, liked to get freaky with can have her ass kicked."

"There is no need to kick her ass," Jasper chuckled. "I've already broke up with her. It's just getting her to accept it, is the problem."

"Oh, I can get her to accept it," Tanya offered, making me smile at her defensiveness.

"How is that?" Jasper chuckled.

"By sticking my foot up her ass, what do you think?" Tanya said, like it was the most obvious thing. And again, I almost laughed loudly when Tanya added, "Oh no, but then again, I don't know what's been up there."

"Could you stop?" Jasper asked. His voice sounded stressed, but his cousin wasn't finished while Rosalie couldn't stop laughing.

"Why?" Tanya argued. "Jasper, I know you liked the twerp but I always thought she was too prissy for you. That little bitch was doing nothing, but fucking around with other men behind your back and taking you for a fool! And thank God, Peter found out about her and that guy or else, you would have probably married to that thing."

"I know," he sighed in a defeated tone.

"Alright, alright, enough of this sad shit, I want to go out and I'm taking you and Rosalie with me," Tanya said. "Now, please, go and get some clothes on and then go and apologize to the poor girl for shocking her with that…thing." Jasper let out a scream, but I didn't know for what.

"I saw that girl running away like a bat out of hell when I opened the door so I can only assume you scarred her for life when she saw that…thing."

"Shut up, Tanya," Jasper said, and it sounded like he was walking away.

I moved from the door. The dryer stopped and I unloaded it, and then went back to the door, intent on going to the kitchen for some iced tea.

But Tanya and Rosalie stopped me. "Hi."

"Oh, hi," Tanya drawled, waltzing into the laundry room. I moved around her. "Where are you headed?"

"I was going to get some iced tea then fold those." I pointed at the clothes behind her.

"By all means," she waved her hand toward the kitchen and Rosalie smiled.

I got my tea, shaking a little that I was about to be interrogated by those two, but I had nothing to say, because there was nothing to say. There was nothing going on between me and Jasper. We were becoming friends and that would be it.

"Hello," I said, walking into the laundry room.

"Hello, again," Tanya smiled. "Can we help you fold?"

"Okay," I said hesitantly and they moved to the clothes.

I walked over to help but Tanya told me to take a break. Yep, definitely an interrogation.

"So why were you running away from Jasper like that?" Tanya didn't beat around the bushes, did she?

"I sort of bumped into him and I remembered that he was naked under his towel." Why lie?

"Most girls would consider that a good thing," Tanya reasoned.

"Jasper is one of my bosses, I should respect him." Rosalie smiled brightly while she folded.

"I don't know why you're here, or where you came from, but I haven't seen my cousin look so happy with anyone other than his family and his close friends before, so I had to meet you officially."

"Well, it's nice to meet you too," Tanya smiled at my response.

"Oh, I'm gonna like you a lot," she laughed.

"She's very nice," Rosalie said. "Not only is she a wizard in the kitchen, she's also a great person. A bit of fresh air around here after the stuffiness of Alice."

I had to nip this in the bud. "Listen, I don't know what you guys are hoping for, but I don't think it's me when it comes to Jasper and his happiness."

"Give it time, Bella," Tanya said. "Don't deny something until you've given it time. You might be in for a treat."

"I'd be a danger to him," Tanya grew serious and Rosalie sighed sadly as she knew part of my story.

"You may not know it yet, Bella," Tanya added. "But you ran to the right place."

"How did you?"

"You just told me," she smiled. "If you think you'd be a danger to Jasper, then it's following you. But they don't what they're in for. Then don't know my cousin and what he's capable of. Around here, we don't give up family without a fight and we have never lost."

Her words both strengthened and comforted me.

Before we could say anything else, Jasper knocked and walked in as Rosalie and Tanya finished folding and the washer machine had stopped and I moved to it. I couldn't face him. The minute he walked in, I was bombarded with images of his bare chest flooding my mind.

"I'm sorry about what happened," Jasper said while I unloaded the washer.

"It's okay, I shouldn't have just barged in like that," I said. "I was wrong to do that."

"No, no, Bella. It's okay. It's my fault," he said. "I was finished but…hell I don't know why I turned back now, but anyway, I am so sorry for scaring you like that."

"Okay then," I said bringing us to a compromise. "We were both wrong."

He smiled. "So you're heading back over to the main house after this?" he asked, gesturing to his laundry.

"Yes."

"I'll be back then, and I'll see you at dinner." Jasper moved in close and I held my breath, fearful of what his freshly showered scent would cause me to want to do to him. "I'm gonna take Tanya to town and let her grill me some more." He was silent for a bit. "Bella, I…"

"I'm your friend," I jumped and said, "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but it's great to have a friend like you, Jasper."

"I'm glad you're here, Bella, and it's great to be your friend."

He left me alone with my thoughts after that.

~~abt~~

The day passed, morphing into late evening. After leaving Jasper's house, I spent the rest of my time over at the main house in the kitchen with Sue and the other ladies' putting the finishing touches on our massive dinner.

The men dragged Jasper away after him and his sister, along with Tanya, got back. The moment he walked into the kitchen, my breath stopped. His smile warmed me and the intensity of his stare rendered me motionless.

What was Jasper doing to me?

Around him, I felt things that I hardly had time to fathom. Around him, I was starting to want things.

I shouldn't. I was too dangerous for him.

His aunt Diane had pulled me out of my troubling thoughts and I dragged my eyes away from Jasper's laughing, retreating form as Emmett and Peter pulled him from the room, long enough to see Tanya eyeing me and Jasper before she mouthed, "Try," and smiled.

A part of me wanted to try. She wanted me to forget my fear that James was only a step away and live…with whatever I could be with Jasper. She wanted me to be with him if he would accept me.

But the other side, all she wanted me to do was run; run as far as I go and don't look back. She reminded me that I had seen someone this charming before and look how that turned out.

James.

Though, he wasn't as ruggedly beautiful and immaculately charming as Jasper, James had some quality to him that drew women in. That drew his prey in. Although, I had been unwilling and had expressed my disinterest in him, I still watched other women fall for James. He had a certain suave repute about him. It didn't take much for James to lure them in.

I helped Sue set the table and then went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. Dinner was going to be a semi-formal affair.

In the bath, I left thoughts of my…husband, behind. I was already saddened by the thoughts of Garrett I had today, I didn't need to shut down completely by thinking about James and his cruelty. So I focused on getting ready.

I surveyed the closet and decided to go for a light Roberto Cavali dress that Rosalie had told me was from Maria. It had a summery feel to it; white and flirty with grape looking designs running throughout it. The weather was chilly today, but the heaters were blasting so I had nothing to worry about. I paired my dress with low heeled scandals and let my wavy hair down.

Jasper met me at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes taking me and making me melt under his open gaze.

"Good evening, Ma'am," he drawled. "May I have the honor of escorting you to dinner?"

"Only if you promise to keep talking like that all night," I teased and he laughed.

"I'll do my best," Jasper said and I took his offered arm, letting him walk me to the dining room where he seated me beside him.

Everyone was in high spirits as I glanced down the table at all we had created. It was packed! There was turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, biscuits, gravy, stuffing and even a Green Chili Pork Stew made by Carmen that looked so delicious.

When dinner was served, everyone helping themselves, I couldn't stop eating. I wanted to taste everything. I was so happy. Listening to the family's laughter and banter as they talked and enjoyed their time together, made me feel so blessed to be a part of this.

At dessert, I was the tester. Maria, Esme, and Carmen had all been in charge of dessert and from that, came a Blueberry Pie from Carmen, a Cherry Cheesecake from Esme, and a Special Almond Chocolate Cake from Maria, made for Jasper, but one which he insisted I taste first; saying that he had pleasure of tasting his mom's creations before but this was my first time.

I whimpered at the taste of every one of their desserts, much to everyone else's laughter.

When dinner ended, it was time for presents. Jasper received twice as much as everyone else because it was his birthday and I felt a little bad because I didn't get him anything, until a huge box materialized and Maria told him it was from me.

She winked at me over Jasper's head as he thanked me.

"You're welcome," I whispered while wondering what my 'gift' was.

I enjoyed watching the family accept gifts from each other, until Jasper had me one.

"This is for you," he said with a kind smile.

"Thank you." By the time, I said it, I got other gift from Peter and done from Sue, and another from Rosalie.

The gifts just kept on coming. I couldn't stop the laughter that left me as I said 'thank you' until those two little words were dissolved into nothing but mirth.

The Whitlocks and Cortezs were truly wonderful. And this Christmas was the best I had ever had.

When the night was over, Peter and Jasper helped me carry my presents upstairs where Peter threw himself down on my bed, after the last trip, declaring that he was tired.

Jasper drove Peter off the bed, much to his laughter, and Peter got a mischievous look on his face as he approached Jasper and me as we stood by the door.

"What are you doing?" Jasper asked him, but Peter didn't answer. He just walked up and stood between us, producing a mistletoe and held it over our heads. If the ground could open up and swallow me whole, I would have wanted it to happen now.

Jasper looked shocked but murderous as he glared at Peter who actually had the decency to look frightened of his cousin. Jasper must have thought that this would make me feel uncomfortable and while it did, I wanted him to see that I was healing. What he and his family –Peter's stunt included – were doing for me was working.

I felt like a whole new Bella.

So I took the initiative, and I kissed Jasper's cheek, loving the warmth that spread through my body from the contact. "Merry Christmas, Jasper," I said while beating down the urge to kiss his pouty red lips. I shouldn't be thinking about him like that.

Jasper looked stunned and Peter was frozen on the spot. But I loved that Jasper followed my lead and leaned down, whispering, "Merry Christmas, Bella," as he kissed my cheek and the heat within me intensified.

I turned to Peter, kissing his cheek. "Merry Christmas, Peter. I'm looking forward to getting to know you."

"I look forward to it too, Little Bit," he smiled brightly.

He accepted defeat well. But I felt that Peter will have more in store for me.

"Good night, Bella," Jasper drawled, dragging a laughing Peter from the room as I returned the sentiment.

After the two of them left, I laughed at myself and their reaction. What was I getting myself into? Why would I allow myself to develop these feelings for Jasper? But how could I stop something so strong? I have never felt this way before.

I could hear Jasper and Peter arguing outside my door before Peter announced, rather loudly, that I kissed Jasper's cheek and I blushed as Peter yelled and ran off.

Jasper must be chasing him.

If this was what my Christmas was like, then I was definitely looking forward to the New Year.