Where words fail, music speaks.
Hans Christian Andersen
EDWARD'S POVWeeks have gone by and Bella was still living with us; I couldn't be happier. The rest of my family—meaning my siblings—were growing tired of hiding who they truly are at home, but I know deep down they're happy to have her there, too, if only because it made me happy.
The bad news was: Jacob hadn't turned up. Star Command issued a warrant for him and was working with several law enforcement departments around the world to find him. Bella was afraid Jacob would come after Charlie and all of us just for knowing her. All I could do was reassure her that the Cullens were fighters and we could take care of ourselves; she wasn't convinced.
"Are you coming, Bella?" Alice shouted up the stairs.
"I'll be there in a minute," Bella yelled back.
Alice huffed, about-faced and stalked to the couch.
Rubbing my chin with my hand, I hid the amusement. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"She's asked me to go shopping with her an hour ago and is taking her sweet time getting ready."
"Port Angeles is not the far," Jasper said, coming down the stairs.
Alice turned to glare at her husband. "It doesn't matter how far of a drive it is, Jazz. We only have today to finish her Christmas shopping. She and Edward leave early tomorrow morning."
The thought of Christmas had me thinking about the conversation I had with Bella a week ago.
"Bella," I said, sitting down next to her on the couch. "What do you want from Christmas?" She somehow recognized where I was going with the question.
"You don't have to get me anything, Edward. You escorting me in Scotland is enough of a gift."
"Come on," I said, bumping her shoulder as we watched TV. "There must be something you want."
She turned to look at me, "Honestly, Edward, there is nothing."
I didn't believe her but let the matter drop. That night I had sat watching her sleep, like I did most night, hoping she would talk in her sleep again. I hadn't been disappointed.
"Edward, I don't want you spending any money on me," she had said.
"Finally," Alice said, breaking into my reverie.
Four hours later, Bella, Rosalie, and Alice returned. They had an armful of bags each.
Jumping to my feet, I went over to Bella, taking her bags as Jasper and Emmett did the same.
"I'll take these upstairs for you," I said.
Alice headed upstairs with me, Jasper, and Emmett.
"I know you want to talk about Bella, Edward," she thought when I glared over my shoulder at her.
Damn her. With her future seeing ability, I could never ask her anything.
I waited until I placed the bags on the bed. "Bella doesn't want me to spend money on her, and I really want to get her something. What do I do?" I asked.
"Have you given any thought to giving her something of your mother's?" Alice countered. "It's evident from the way you sneak into this room once she's asleep that you like her as more than a friend."
Lifted my hand to my neck, I rubbed the back of it. Silence enveloped us a while I pictured my mother's jewelry. The heart anklet and a matching necklace would look lovely on Bella. "Thanks, Alice, I know exactly what to give her."
BELLA'S POVWith Esme, Rosalie, and Alice's help, the gifts I bought were wrapped and secured in my suitcase. There was only one person I couldn't find a gift for—Edward. Alice and Rosalie both suggested several things they thought he would like, but nothing scream "that's the gift." Still, I wanted to give him something as a token of thanks.
Wandering down to the music room, I sat at Edward's piano with my music notebook. After a minute, I took out the sheets I scribbled musical notes on and spread them out.
The melody I'd laid out on the sheets was simple, but I wasn't sure if it was what I hearing in my mind. Playing it was the only way to be sure. With longing, I stared on the keys and wished I knew how to play. Retrieving the pen from the pocket of my notebook, I continued composing as best I could.
An hour later, I was stuck. The third page was blank and only part of the song was down. How hard can it be? Edward and Rosalie can play, I thought. A discordant sound arose from the keys when I pressed the wrong one. Where was G-minor? I avoided the urge to key mash in frustration.
"There you are, Bella," Rosalie said, drawing my attention to where she stood in the doorway. "Do you want to join Alice and me in watching a movie while the guys are out?"
I sighed. "Sure, I am obviously not accomplishing anything in here."
"What's wrong?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"I came in here hoping to finish a song that has been running through my mind." I motioned to the pages. "Some of the melody is written, but it doesn't look right."
"Look right?" she questioned, coming over. "Haven't you played it?"
"I wish I could but there's no acoustic guitar, and I don't play the piano."
"Here," she said, sitting next to me on the piano bench.
I gave her the two sheets I had filled out, and she started playing. It was off.
"What's taking so long?" Alice yelled.
I ignored her, and so did Rosalie.
"Play it through again, please?" I asked. Once Rosalie was done, I sighed.
"Why don't you close your eyes and hum what you are hearing," Alice suggested, making me jump. I turned and saw her standing right behind us.
"When did you come in?" I asked.
"Two minutes ago," she responded. "Hum it out."
I closed my eyes and started humming. When I finished, I opened my and saw Rosalie busy adjusting the notes. When she had fixed the final note, she played it through. It was exactly how I was hearing it.
"Thanks," I said when she finished. "Does it sound finished to you?"
"No," Alice said. "What exactly are you trying to convey in the song?"
I bit my lip, should I tell them. "Can you keep a secret?"
"You can trust us," Rosalie said.
"It's Edward's gift."
They both gave me a knowing smile.
"I want to convey… I'm not really sure what I want to convey. I just want it to be a special gift. I try to give a different person a song I wrote for Christmas. I chose Edward this year," I said.
They didn't look convinced.
Alice looked thought about what I said, and then requested, "Rose, play the first few bars through twice."
Rosalie did as Alice suggested.
"No, that's not it," I said. "Here let me add what I was thinking as lyrics." I took a deep breath. Here it goes, I thought, hopeful it will not be to revealing.
I sang a few bars. As I did so, I knew exactly what was missing. Taking out blank sheets, I started filling them out. By the time that I was done, it was five sheets. "Would you please play this?" I asked, holding them out.
Rosalie gazed at me for a long moment before taking the sheets. Spreading them out, she played. "Wow, Bella," she said when she was finished, "Edward is going to love this."
I looked over at Alice. She was shaking her head in agreement. "I would love to see his face when you give it to him."
"Thanks. Are we still on for that movie?" I asked, getting up and stretching my arms above my head.
"Are you sure?" Alice asked. "You and Edward leave in five hours. Don't you want to sleep?"
I looked at the clock, seeing it was four o'clock in the morning. "Whoa, I didn't know it was so late," I replied, not feeling tired. "Yep, I'm sure. A movie sounded great hours ago and it still does. I can always sleep on the shuttle. Let me just go and pack this."
I met them downstairs five minutes later. We decided to watch a sappy love story that had me crying. Wiping my eyes, I saw Edward walking up the stairs from the foyer. He took one look at me and rushed to my side.
EDWARD'S POVThe moment I walked in the house, I heard the television. Rosalie and Alice must be pretending to watch something. I wanted to check on Bella before she woke and we had to leave.
As soon as I got to the top of the stairs, I saw Bella sitting on the couch crying. I rushed to her side. "What's wrong, Bella?" I asked. She pointed to the screen. My face relaxed when I saw what they were watching.
"Really, Edward," Alice said, shaking her head. "I would have called you if you were needed."
I glared at Alice for a moment longer before getting up and going to my room, letting them finish the movie. When I was out of earshot of Bella, I asked in a whisper, "Why isn't she in bed?"
Rosalie answered. "A last minute gift for her grandfather. Alice and I helped her put the finishing touches on it. We finished almost two hours ago, and she wanted to watch a movie. What were we to do, put her to bed?"
I growled before answering. "No."
"That's what Alice and I thought, too. She said she would sleep on the shuttle during the flight."
I would make sure it happened. Once my room, I retrieved my mother's jewelry box from the hidden compartment in my bookcase and took out the piece I was giving Bella. While I fed last night, I decided to give her the anklet on Christmas Eve and the necklace on Christmas morning. I hoped she would accept both.
By the time I was back in the rumpus room, Bella was getting up. "We better get going. I want to talk with Charlie before we leave."
She gave everyone a hug and thanked them for everything. "I'm not sure if I will be staying here when we return, and I wanted to express my appreciation. There is a gift for each of you to open Christmas day from Charlie and me."
Alice was actually surprised. "How did I not see that?"