Chapter Fifty Two

Bella

Life was good these days, Jamie was still growing rapidly and a delight to everyone who met him. He was clever without being a know it all, and eager to learn, soaking up information like a sponge. He kept us all busy running to keep up with him. He saw each of us as an individual source of knowledge or play. Emmett and Peter were always up for a play fight or making a camp and I'm sure they taught him outdoor skills without him even knowing, carving, recognising plants and animal tracks. Rose was available for story time, having taken over from Carlisle or for science experiments, Jazz taught him to ride, what there was to be learned from the study of history, I offered comfort and quiet times, reading, writing and Charlotte intrigued him with tales of foreign countries, some she had visited with Peter but others she only knew from research. He picked things so quickly often he was teaching us!

Some of his favourite times were when we took him to Volterra to visit his Grandpa's

"Are you packed for the flight tomorrow Jamie?"

I grabbed him as he flew through the door with Emmett hot on his heels,

"Not yet Mum, I told Uncle Em I had to do it but he wants to play tag"

I looked at Emmett who skidded to a halt with his usual smile,

"Sorry Bella, I forgot"

"Well now you can help him and try to make sure he packs clothes as well as all the junk he insists on taking with him"

"My I pod and microscope aren't junk"

He sounded shocked at the term,

"OK Cowboy but it might be a good idea to take some clothes unless you want to wander round Volterra naked."

He blushed and ran upstairs with Em

"Ugh, gross. You better put some clothes in Jamie. Don't want you being the only one without any."

Jasper

I was looking forward to visiting Carlisle, I wanted to know what he'd discovered about Jamie's genetic make up. He was still growing quickly both mentally and physically and I worried it wouldn't stop. He wasn't like us exactly, but was he enough alike that he would be immortal? Or would we be forced to watch as he grew, aged, and died, while we continued. I knew this was bothering Bella too but until all the results were in no one could tell us. I couldn't bear the thought of losing my son now I finally had him. Carlisle had sounded excited when he rang to invite us to Italy and I hoped it was because he had good news for us. He'd wanted to send the Volturi jet for us but Jamie begged him to let Jeff fly him to Italy, and as usual Jamie got his way so we flew with Jeff, Jamie in the Co Pilot's seat but this time he had an idea what all the instruments were for and the conversation lost me pretty quickly. Bella and I were alone in the cabin, the others taking advantage of our absence to do some extended hunting and get the Christmas shopping done. I'd left a list with Rose for Jamie and hoped he'd be happy with what we had chosen for him.

Bella

It was nice to have a little time to ourselves alone, Jamie had shut the door into the cockpit citing FAA regulations!

"Do you think Carlisle's got the results he was waiting for?"

"I hope so darlin' but don't worry, Jamie's fit and healthy"

"For now but what about the future Jazz?"

"None of us knows the answer to that one. We live from day to day but there's no reason why Jamie shouldn't live as long as we do"

"But he isn't a vampire like us and Carlisle says our venom wouldn't work on him in any case because he has some in his blood already."

He pulled me close and kissed me, stroking my hair

"Bella, lets wait and see what Carlisle says before we start worrying. Anyway, what do you want for Christmas?"

"You know, I'd forgotten its December. We should sort out some presents for the others. I'd be happy with a few days alone with you, away from everyone, just time for each other"

As his kisses became more passionate I groaned,

"You know the minute you start something he'll come flying through that door"

He nodded but smiled mischievously,

"Wanna try it out?"

His lips were now on my neck and his hand inside my shirt, caressing my breast. As I moaned and moved closer, running a hand up his thigh we heard it,

"Dad, I'm flying the plane. Really flying come see"

With a regretful smile he pulled his hand away and got up

"Let's see about that holiday, shall we?"

Then rearranging his jeans to hide the hard on he went to the cockpit door and knocked using the special code Jamie had made us memorize, more FAA regulations apparently!

Jasper

Jamie had indeed flown the plane for a few minutes and couldn't wait to boast to Carlisle about it. When we landed Felix was waiting leaning on a black Mercedes, Carlisle had his favourite car shipped over to Italy. When Jamie saw him he ran over shouting about his flying experience. Felix grinned and held his arms open for Jamie to jump up which was what he normally did when he met Felix but he stumbled and almost hit the floor but I was faster and caught him.

"You OK Jamie?"

He shook his head,

"The floor went all wobbly Daddy."

Felix opened the car door looking at Jamie with concern as I slipped in, Jamie holding me around the neck and Bella joined us while Felix got in and drove us towards Volterra. After a few minutes Jamie sat up again and started to talk as if nothing had happened.

"I tried that Program you sent me Felix, its cool."

"Yeah I thought you might like it"

Felix had got in the habit of sending Jamie small Computer Programs or website links and Jamie loved these, he was learning fast. Sometimes Felix would alter a Program and ask Jamie to sort out the problem, as he got more apt the glitches got a little harder to solve and Jamie was learning so much as a result. I saw Bella watching Jamie carefully but he seemed fine after his trip, perhaps we worried too much.

Carlisle

Caius and I were both looking forward to seeing Jamie, he brightened up the place when he visited and we had good news for Jazz and Bella, most of the test results were back, Jamie was slightly more human than vampire but his metabolism was slowly, not as speedily as I would have liked but his growth spurt was easing up. When he saw us he came running over to hug both of us,

"I flew the plane, really I did, you can ask Jeff, he let me take the stick, it was great."

Seeing the chess game laid out on the side table he went over to study it, hands clasped behind his back as the others came over with Felix.

"Bella, Jasper, its good to see you again and Jamie. Especially as Carlisle has good news for you."

Bella looked relieved but Jasper was watching Jamie.

"Yes. It seems our young man's metabolism is finally slowing so I don't think we need worry about him burning out too quickly. He seems full of it as usual."

"Always Carlisle, will he slow down too? He wears us out sometimes."

"Yes, now his brain is fully developed he will take information more slowly because it will be followed by thoughts about what he learns. Up to now he has been like a sponge just absorbing everything but not really putting it all together. He is slightly more human than vampire too, I thought you'd like to know."

"Will that have an affect on him?"

"Well it doesn't seem to have done so thus far. His body tolerates blood and venom running mixed through his veins which is astounding and luckily not a problem."

We all turned as we heard the crash to see Jamie laying across the table amid the scattered Chess pieces.