x-x-x-x-x

Christmas Eve, part of me expected (and hoped I suppose) it would pass unnoticed. I hadn't even brought up the word 'church' assuming everyone really had other more important things on their minds.

Around four in the afternoon I headed down to the family room. One of my Christmas specials was starting. I may be laughed at for it, but I absolutely love a Muppet Christmas Carol. Aside from a Christmas Story and Scrooged it's one of the best. The original story is something I memorized at an early age, much to the delight of my parents and family friends who loved to hear me recite it for Christmas parties. You would think that I would be very wary of any adaptations, but for some reason the Muppets not only pull it off, but in some ways contribute highly to the original.

So surrounded by a literal Christmas village in the family room, I settled into the couch and reached for the controller to turn the TV on, before I could even do that, I heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Suddenly the main lights went out, leaving only the glow from the decorations.

Slowly I got to my knees and peered over the back of the couch. I could smell the wax of melting candles and couldn't help the groan that escaped me.

Standing at the doorway holding a small chocolate cake with Bella's help was Nessie. Two number candles an eight and a zero sat on the cake flickering. Nessie had the biggest smile on her face and behind her stood Esme, Carlisle, Rose and Emmett. Fi and Maggie entered through the other doorway with Benjamin and Tia. From another part of the house came Seth and Jacob and from the stairs came Garrett, and the rest of the Denali clan.

"Happy Birthday Uncle Chris!" Nessie called, she carefully walked over to the couch and looked at Bella for what to do next as Edward's piano filled the room to the tune of 'Happy Birthday' which Nessie led in singing, followed quickly by the others. When the song finished, Bella helped Nessie hold the cake up to me.

"Mommy said you have to blow the candles out," Nessie explained "Uncle Emmett wanted to put hundreds and hundreds of candles on the cake, but Auntie Rose and Grammy wouldn't let him,"

I glanced at Emmett, anyone else I would've assumed Nessie was exaggerating, but honestly I wouldn't put hundreds and hundreds of candles past my brother. This was confirmed when he grinned and shrugged sheepishly at me.

I looked around at all the expectant faces around me. My family, friends…it was a humbling sight. I took a deep breath and looked down at my niece holding the cake as high as her little arms could manage.

"Don't forget to make a wish," Bella reminded me with a knowing smile. I closed my eyes and blew the candles out. It felt silly, both the act of blowing out the candles as well as wishing. Everyone clapped and I swear if my body still could I would be turning red with embarrassment.

"What did you wish for Uncle Chris!?" Nessie exclaimed, dancing around so much I thought the cake would hit the floor. Luckily Bella lifted it away before that could happen.

"He can't tell anyone or it won't come true Nessie," Fi explained coming up behind Nessie.

"Oh," Nessie said softly, she looked at me "sorry Uncle Chris,"

I looked down at her and smiled before picking her up over the couch and hugging her tight.

What do I wish for Ness? I thought I want you to grow up without sadness, without fear. I want our whole family to be safe, but mainly you. I want you to be safe and have the chance to live the life you deserve to have.

I allowed my thoughts to wander a bit, I glanced at Edward wondering if he had actually heard my thoughts that time and judging by his face he had. He gave me a sympathetic smile and nodded.

"I haven't had a birthday wish in a long, long time, so thank you Nessie girl." I whispered to my niece,

"Welcome Uncle Chris," she replied, kissing my cheek, she lowered her voice and looked around "can we have the cake now? I think Jacob and Seth are hungry."

I grinned at the two wolves congregating, Seth seriously looked like he was drooling as Bella walked by with the cake to go cut it.

"So what else is new?" I asked Nessie and everyone including Seth and Jacob burst out laughing.

After the cake had been consumed by those able to enjoy it, Bella pulled me aside and explained how Nessie insisted that I get a birthday cake, that everyone should have cake on their birthday, something about a book Bella had read to her had explained that. However judging by the amount of cake and frosting on Nessie's face, it was easy to tell where the real motive had come from.

Once the birthday wishes were complete, everyone wandered off to do whatever they had been doing before hand, even Fi had wandered off in the direction of the library, until only Esme and Carlisle were left. Esme hugged me tight

"I can't believe you're eighty," she whispered

"You say that like it's normal," I replied with a grin

"Oh stop," she cooed hugging me tighter before her voice turned somewhat serious "with everything going on, dad and I weren't sure if you wanted to go to church tonight, but if you do we would love to take you."

I nodded

"I wasn't going to ask, mainly for the same reason, but yes I think a Christmas Eve service is a good idea."

"Good to hear," Carlisle said, he exchanged a look with Esme and I raised an eyebrow suspiciously

"Something you guys want to tell me?" I asked

"We wanted to do much more for your birthday Christian," Carlisle explained "time just got away from all of us it would seem."

"We've all been pretty much out straight," I reminded my parents "all of us had a lot on our minds, especially you guys." I paused "besides my bike last year covered my next dozen birthdays," I added with a smile, hoping to make them laugh, diverting the fact that this could possibly be my last birthday or that my parents were feeling guilty for no reason.

"Well, that covered last year's birthday," Esme admitted "even though it really was for your 79th." She paused and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, guiding me towards Carlisle's office "we did have something else for you sweetie, it's not much, but it's special."

Now my curiosity was irked and in spite of myself, I wanted to know what they had gotten me. Not since I was a little, little kid have I ever been a 'it's all about me, it's my day, give me presents' kind of person. And when I say little kid we're talking maybe four years old the last time I could remember being that way.

In Carlisle's office the lights were dimmed and I half expected some kind of large item sitting in the middle of the room, so needless to say I was glad when Carlisle turned the lights on and it was just his office. Esme walked over to Carlisle's desk and lifted up something in the shape of a book, neatly wrapped in a style that was all my mother's. Carlisle gestured for me to take a seat which I did, as Esme gently placed the heavy object in my lap.

I knew it was a book of some sort, the shape, weight, and overall size was a pretty good clue, but it was what kind of book that irked my curiosity. I looked at my parents who stood nearby, Esme nodding for me to open the gift.

Pulling the wrapping paper off, I discovered I was right about it being a book, a large leather bound book. The book however had no markings to tell me what it was, nothing on the binding and nothing on the cover.

I looked up at my parents, with a look of curiosity, Carlisle smiled and gestured for me to keep going.

When I opened the cover of the book, the very first page told me what this was, it was a photo album. Staring back at me in a very colorful photo was my parents, standing side by side with me as a two year old in my father's arms. I have a few photos from my human life, I was able to save a number of them from my house when Carlisle and I were there in 1948, but I only took the more important ones. Apparently Carlisle had rescued the rest of them. But it wasn't the photo's presence that really surprised me, it was the fact that it was in color.

I was stunned as my mum's beautiful and caring face smiled back at me, in color, full on lifelike color. It's sad to think about, but my memory of my parents is limited at best. I can remember my father's laugh, the Gaelic words my mother spoke, the smell of dad's pipe tobacco, and mum's favorite perfume. The physical stuff is rapidly fading to the point where a black and white photo taken seventy some odd years ago is my only way of remembering what my parents actually looked like.

But now, seeing them in color, my memories came flooding back to me in full force. Details I had been losing were back, like how my dad's hair was so similar to mine except for the blonde streaks I had or how my mother's deep brown eyes were identical to my own once. I couldn't stop staring at my parents, until I felt Esme sit down next to me, I looked up at her and hugged her tight.

"Thank you," I managed to mumble, though how intelligible it really was is debatable. I was still in a little bit of a shock, and trust me it takes a lot to shock a profiler.

Esme understood my words though, as she hugged me just as tight, Carlisle reached over and patted my shoulder.

"I found all of these except for that first one in a box in my office," Esme explained

"They were photos I found when I went back to London for the last time to finish with the closing." Carlisle added "I meant to have them put into an album long before this Christian, but we were not sure at the time if it would be best."

"You were finally coming out of your shell and the sadness was fading away. We did not want you to continue to dwell on the past like that. Then when we moved they were put in storage for safekeeping, I wouldn't say we forgot about them, but we just rediscovered them." Esme paused "I hope you are not mad. We did not do it to be cruel or deceitful."

I looked up at both of my parents in shock

"Cruel, deceitful?" I repeated "you both are the least cruel and deceitful people I know. I would never think of you like that. And I can certainly agree with waiting, I wouldn't have been ready back then, not at all."

Esme smiled at that

"Can I show you my favorite?" she asked and I nodded, just judging by the size of the album there was a lot of photos in it and I was sure a lot of them I had never seen before. My father loved photography and fancied himself an amateur photographer from his early teens through to adulthood.

Esme took the album and carefully flipped through it until she found what she was looking for. I didn't recognize the photo and looking at it a little closer I could see why, it was taken when I was a toddler, maybe two or three years old. I recognized the landscape, it was the village center not far from my aunt and uncle's farm and it was clearly the harvest festival, I could see the games occurring in the background of the photo, in fact when I looked closely enough I spotted my uncle handling a caber for the toss. He didn't look it, but my uncle was a champion at the highland games.

My mother was holding my hand and my father had his hand on my shoulder, but it was my outfit that caught my attention, I was wearing a full on kilt, complete with sash and tunic. A wave of memories hit me and I could remember wearing that exact outfit on special occasions like my grandparents' anniversary party or my other grandmother's eightieth birthday.

I think I outgrew the kilt when I was five and there was never a replacement given to me. I may not remember this photo being taken, but I remember other times similar to it. We all looked so happy, so peaceful. Who could've guessed ten, maybe eleven years later the happiness would be shot down with a war. Still, even with that sad thought in mind I couldn't help, but remember how happy we had once been.

"It's such a wonderful family photo," Esme explained "it's just one of the reasons it is one of my favorites," she paused "and of course how adorable you look in a kilt just added to it,"

I grinned and shrugged

"That jumper was warm, I remember that," I replied "warm and soft, I never wanted to take it off. I remember I cried when I outgrew it and mum took it away." I paused "she tried to turn it into a blanket but I had literally worn it into the ground. Nothing could've saved it by then."

I gave a quick chuckle as I scanned the photo.

"What is it Chris?" Carlisle asked

"You guys have no idea but this picture means a lot more to me than you think,"

My parents exchanged a confused look

"Sweetie I'm afraid we don't understand," Esme admitted I pointed to the pictures

"The guy at the caber toss?" I explained "that's my uncle James" I scanned the photo again and grinned even wider "and the lady sitting on that blanket behind my parents and I? That's my aunt Wendy." I took a deep breath "I had forgotten what they looked like," I said softly "Uncle James, he wasn't as laid back as my father, he was the serious one in the family, but he knew when to have fun as well, my cousins and I always knew how to make him laugh and he loved the highland games, he held the record for the longest caber toss six years running, always badgered my dad for not having the nerve to participate in the games, though he'd never admit my dad was pretty good at the stone put, made my dad a great bowler on his club cricket team." I paused, my aunt, next to my mother she had the kindest heart of anyone I knew, up until I was changed and introduced to Esme that is of course, my aunt Wendy was a sweet woman, and in many ways Esme reminds me of both my mother and my aunt. "My aunt Wendy," I continued regaining my train of thought "she always went out of her way to make sure people had enough to eat, clothes to wear, things like that. The farm was their only source of income, but sometimes my aunt would give away some of the goods to neighbors who needed it, a bottle of milk here or there, some fresh veggies, that sort of thing. She never expected to be repaid and though my uncle sympathized with their neighbors' plight, especially as the war loomed over head, he wasn't all that thrilled with her giving away what could keep them healthy."

"They sound like wonderful people," Esme said softly

"They were, so this picture really is special, I don't think I've seen photographs of them, Uncle James wasn't one for sitting back and having his photo taken, he always said there was too much to get done in life and not enough time to do it without having to sit down and get your snapshot taken by that" I grinned "confounded contraption, and aunt Wendy shared my father's interest in photography so she was usually the one taking the picture. Which is why I wonder who took this one because she would've been on the other side of the lens."

Esme hugged me tight and I returned the gesture

"We are sorry this took so long to get to you Chris," she said "and we know it is not much."

I shook my head

"Mum, dad, seriously, I truly love this gift," I paused "love you guys," I added quietly

"we love you too," Esme replied kissing the top of my head "happy birthday sweetie."

x-x-x

Unlike years ago, getting fully dressed up for Christmas Eve midnight service wasn't really a must. First few years of this, plus my human years were all about looking respectable and dressed up for church. Over the years I've watched how others dress for the Christmas Eve service and it's gone from formal attire to just looking nice, which I don't get but who am I to set fashion statements, especially since according to my sisters I have none.

So I buttoned up one of my nicer polo's and tucked it into one of the few pairs of kakis I have left, I'm more of a jean kind of guy so I really don't have a lot of the kind of khaki style pants. I was just tying the laces to my shoes when I heard the stairs creak. Judging by the light footsteps I knew it to be Fi. Most of our house guests had taken Christmas Eve as a good time to do some hunting or celebrating the holiday in their own way if that was their thing. I did notice the Irish clan had stuck around.

"Come in," I called when Fi knocked on my door and she carefully opened it, peeking around the doorframe, when I straightened up and she saw how I was dressed a wave of confusion washed over her face.

"Chris?" she asked

"Church," I explained with a shrug and her confusion was only more so

"Church?" she repeated as if that was a word she hadn't heard in a long, long time.

"Aye," I replied "it's kind of a tradition, my parents and I go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Sometimes my brothers and sisters go, but usually it's just my parents and I."

Fi seemed to smile at that, like it sounded promising to her

"Really?"

"It's my way of staying connected with my human parents," I said "they both loved Christmas a lot. Being born on Christmas Eve is only one of the reasons I was named Christian." I paused "when I first joined the Cullens, I was extremely homesick and depressed, especially when Christmas Eve came around, not only was I only a month into this life, but it was my first birthday and Christmas away from my family. Carlisle and Esme saw my sadness and took a big risk to counter it. They brought me into town and took me to mass, even though I was a newborn only a month into this life."

Fi looked a little crestfallen and I could see that she missed Christmas Eve mass as much as I would've. But there was no way we could get around taking her, Esme and Carlisle had taken a risk when they had brought me, only a month into this life. Though I had not tasted human blood, I'd come ridiculously close way too many times for comfort.

Fi had been surviving on human blood for forty years give or take, it would be a greater risk. Trust me I felt bloody awful, but at the same time I knew the risks, Fi was as peaceful as they come so I knew it was not her desire to kill, but it was a matter of survival that she had accepted. I could profile the entire Irish clan, though they did not follow Carlisle's example they were also cautious and respectful with their kills. Again it wasn't something any of us would be willing to risk and Fi knew it.

Part of me wanted to promise her next year but two things stopped me, first and more importantly would any of us be alive next year? And secondly if we did survive this, Fi and her family would go back to Ireland and back to their lives. There was a chance we wouldn't see the Irish clan for decades, I mean Carlisle hadn't seen them in almost sixty seventy years. I gave a sigh, I've really got to stop getting close to people outside of my family, it doesn't end well and I'm tired of the hurt it brings.

As if she could read my mind Fi took my hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Are you guys hanging around here tomorrow?" I asked

"Siobhan wants to go a little further north and hunt, she's insisting that Maggie and I go too," Fi explained and I nodded "why?"

"Can I give you your gift now then?"

Fi looked absolutely confused as she raised an eyebrow

"My gift?" She repeated

"Aye," I replied grinning, gotta love Amazon's two day shipping, even with the holiday approaching they still delivered a few of my last minute gifts quickly including Fi's. I walked over to my desk and pulled out the small package "they're not much," I admitted handing the wrapped box to her. "And please forgive the wrapping, it's not my thing."

She looked at me suspiciously before carefully tearing off the wrapping, when she got to the box she pried it open and glanced inside. It was literally a split second before she squealed and I am not exaggerating on that literally squealed with delight as she realized what I had gotten her. Three books, The Secret Garden, From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. The first two Fi had mentioned being her favorites as a kid, but the mouse one hit me too and I thought she might like it.

Fi was speechless and tried to stutter a reply, but it wasn't coming, at least not right away. The Secret Garden was an original copy, I'd found it in hardcover and it was a first edition dated 1911 so this book was older than both of us and it was in great condition. I had spent hours hunting eBay for the perfect one, I'd tried finding a signed edition, but after the first two hours searching I came to the conclusion this author wasn't one to sign copies of her book. I don't think Fi cared about any of that though, she hugged the three books tight to her body, before she jumped forward and hugged me just as tight

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed "why…how…" she stuttered "you didn't have to do this at all, it's too much,"

"It's Christmas," I replied "everyone should have something special for Christmas," I paused and grinned "whether it comes from Father Christmas or from a friend."

Fi gently put the books on my desk and slowly leaned forward, hesitant about what she was about to do, we both closed our eyes and leaned closer, but before we could kiss I heard footsteps coming up the stairs…not just any footsteps, little footsteps…Nessie size footsteps. Quickly we pulled back, just as Nessie came around the corner and poked her head through the door frame.

"Uncle Chris?" she called

"Here Nessie," I glanced at my watch, 8'oclock, it was getting late, close to her bedtime easily, she walked into my room wearing a Christmas nightgown, something told me that Alice had arranged that particular outfit, it was just too bad that she wasn't here to see it, I hoped Edward or Bella had the good sense to take a picture of Nessie. Esme had mentioned something about Nessie spending the night in Edward's old room, since it's the only one with a bed, that way she could be up and opening presents with everyone in the morning.

"Uncle Chris," she called again "mommy said I have to go to bed soon, she said Santa is coming and won't stop here if I'm not in bed when he comes." She kind of pouted "I really don't want to go to bed, will Santa really skip me if I'm not in bed?"

I glanced at Fi and we both grinned

"I've never known your mum to lie Nessie, and I know for a fact that Father Christmas is very particular about kids being up when he comes." I explained "remember how Aunt Rosalie showed you that movie all about Father Christmas knowing when you're awake?"

Nessie nodded, but she looked confused for a second

"Uncle Chris," she started "why do you keep saying Father Christmas? Who is that?"

I grinned and chuckled and Fi did the same

"Father Christmas is just another name for Santa Nessie," Fi explained before I could speak up "in Ireland we called him Santee, but when I was little, we also called him Daidi Na Nollaig, he has many different names all over the world, because kids all over the world believe in him."

Nessie tilted her head a bit as she tried to sound out the words Fi had just spoken, they sounded similar to the Scottish I'd been teaching her, but she also could tell there was a difference in the sound.

"Daidi Na…No…" she started to say, struggling a bit with the words, Fi smiled and knelt down so she was eyelevel with Nessie

"Daidi Na Nollaig," Fi pronounced carefully, making sure Nessie was following along closely and though it took a few attempts, Nessie mastered it.

"Daidi Na Nollaig!" Nessie sang "I like that," she paused "what does it mean though?"

"It just means Daddy of Christmas," Fi explained and Nessie grinned wider dancing around my room trying to put the Irish term into the same song I'm assuming Bella had taught her 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town,"

"He knows if you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake, oh you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why, Daidi Na Nollaig, is coming to town!"

I grinned and looked at Fi

"Because that just flows so well in the song," I whispered and Fi gently elbowed me in the ribs.

"Be nice, it's adorable,"

Once she had gone through several verses of the song, Nessie stopped and looked up at me

"Do I really have to go to bed?" I nodded and picked her up as best I could, I swear she'd had a massive growth spurt in the last few days and was now the size of a five or six year old, as I carried her down the hall towards Edward's room, she laid her head on my shoulder, snuggling close "will you at least tell me a story Uncle Chris?" she whispered

"Of course, I've got a good one for this occasion," I replied Bella was just coming up the stairs with Edward, apparently searching for their daughter, both smiled when they realized where she was

"I should've known," Edward said with a smile

"Uncle Chris is not going to save you from going to bed Renesmee," Bella added

"Uncle Chris said he'd tell me a bedtime story," Nessie explained "a special Christmas one?" she added looking at me with a question

"A special Christmas one," I promised I held out my hand and Nessie took it.

"One bedtime story," Bella spoke up "Santa has a lot of work to do and he's going to want you to be asleep."

Nessie made a face that didn't suit her and I tapped her nose gently

"Oh it's one night Nessie girl, your mum is right."

"All right,"

"We'll be in after the story to kiss you goodnight and tuck you," Edward explained and I picked Nessie up

"Night night Fi," she called waving at Fi who smiled and waved back

"Night Nessie, Happy Christmas,"

Inside Edward's room I lifted her into the huge bed and tucked her in tight, I had all of Nessie's gifts wrapped and hidden in my closet to be put under the tree in the morning, but I had one special present I wanted her to have when she went to sleep.

"Wait here for a second Nessie girl, and close your eyes,"

"Why Uncle Chris?" she asked sleepily

"Because I have a present for you and it's a surprise," I explained and Nessie nodded

"k,"

I darted back down the hall to my room and reached into my closet. Waiting on the top shelf was Bedlington Bear, my teddy bear from when I was a kid. I had brought him back to the States with me when I was in my house for the last time, I couldn't leave my oldest friend behind and even though Emmett teased me about it, it was worth it just having him, he was a piece of my childhood I could physically hold, something that reminded me of my parents. Nessie had seen him a few times and cuddled with him every now and then, but I wanted her to have him and now seemed to be the right time. I hid him behind my back as I walked back into Edward's room, Nessie was waiting, eyes closed tight and her little hands over them.

"Okay Nessie hold on just a second kiddo," I put Bedlington on the bed, despite his age he's in really good shape and has held up well, his fur is even still soft, sort of.

"Uncle Chris can I open my eyes yet?" she asked "please?"

"You can open them," I replied and she slowly opened her eyes, allowing them to readjust, when they finally did and she spotted what was sitting in front of her she squealed with delight

"Bedlington!" she exclaimed diving forward and hugging the teddy bear close, snuggling into his soft brown fur. "Uncle Chris, are you letting me sleep with him tonight?" she asked and I shook my head

"He's you reasonability now Nessie," I explained "Happy Christmas,"

Nessie looked from Bedlington to me, back to the bear

"He's mine?" she asked and I nodded "forever and ever?"

"Forever and ever, I know you're going to take good care of him. He doesn't deserve to live in a closet, he deserves to be hugged and cuddled with." Nessie jumped forward wrapping her arms around my neck hugging me tight "I take it you approve?" I asked with a grin and she nodded

"Thank you Uncle Chris, thank you!"

"You're welcome Nessie girl, now come on back under the covers before your mum and dad come in and I get in trouble with them and with Father Christmas for keeping you up."

Nessie did as I asked Bedlington wrapped tight in the crook of her arm, she crawled back under the comforter and snuggled down deep taking the bear with her.

"What's the story Uncle Chris?"

"I thought we'd go traditional, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's more like a poem than a story, but it's so long and so detailed I think calling it a story could be appropriate here."

Nessie smiled

"Grandpa Charlie bought me that book!" She exclaimed, "but we didn't get a chance to read it, Aunt Rose did read me the story of Christmas with the angels and the animals and baby Jesus," she paused "do you need me to go get the book?" I could see the mischievous smile she had picked up from Emmett, talk about stalling before bed.

"No need Nessie," I tapped my temple "I've got the whole poem memorized,"

"Really?"

"Really," I replied, I heard the floor creak outside the room and knew it was Bella, Edward, Fi, and Esme listening in "okay, 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse!"

"Or a rat like Chaplin," Nessie added, snuggling deeper into her pillow

"Or rat," I chuckled "the stockings were hung by the chimney with care,"

"We did that!" Nessie exclaimed "we hung up all the stockings,"

"Yes we did," I paused "close your eyes, see if you can picture everything I'm saying okay, paint the poem in your mind." I said lowering my voice and Nessie did as I asked, if she kept pointing out similarities between the poem and our own Christmas experience, it be Christmas morning before we got through the whole thing. Nessie has a habit of asking questions and pointing out facts during stories, it's adorable, but when you're on a time crunch, things need to be sped up. "Anyways, in the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there," Nessie opened one eye,

"Who is Saint Nicholas?" she asked

"Remember what Fi and I told you? How Santa is known by different names by different people around the world?" she nodded "that's another name for Santa Clause, Saint Nick or Saint Nicholas,"

"Oh,"

"No more interrupting you,"

She grinned and nodded

"Okay," she promised, not that I believed her for a second.

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plus danced in their heads." I paused, waiting for her to point something out or ask a question, but her eyes were closed, she wasn't asleep, not yet, but she was reaching that point quickly. "and mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash." I paused, waiting and still nothing.

Edward and Bella had moved into the room by this point, and Fi took a cautious step forward joining them, Esme was leaning against the doorframe smiling, she was dressed for church and I knew as soon as I finished this, I'd have to finish getting ready too.

"That has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen," Esme pointed out whispering to Fi, Edward, and Bella

"Where'd the bear come from?" Bella asked her

"That's Chris' bear, his name is Bedlington, he's had him since he was a toddler." Esme explained

"So that's who Bedlington is," Bella replied "she's been going on non-stop about him, but I had no idea who he was."

"Chris gave him to Nessie for Christmas," Edward spoke up hugging Bella's shoulders

I rolled my eyes at my brother and continued as if no one was there except for Nessie and I.

"The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below, when, what to wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called out their names. Now Dasher! Now Dancer, Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!"

Now Nessie opened her eyes, confused

"Wait Uncle Chris, you forgot Rudolph!" she exclaimed

"Rudolph comes later Nessie, he's not in the story…poem,"

"Oh,"

"Close your eyes again okay, this is a part you really want to see in your mind kiddo," I explained and Nessie nodded, doing as I asked "To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly."

Nessie laughed at that description, then remembered she was supposed to be falling asleep so she quickly closed her eyes again, pretending she hadn't laughed

"Didn't laugh," she assured me and I chuckled

"Right, anyways. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

"Happy Christmas to all," Nessie repeated sleepily, I leaned over and kissed her forehead,

"Happy Christmas Nessie girl," I whispered before backing up, Edward hugged my shoulder and Bella gave me a tight hug before passing me to my mother and heading towards the bed to tuck Nessie in and kiss her goodnight with Edward.

"You are such a good uncle to her," Esme whispered kissing the top of my head "and it was very thoughtful to give her your bear."

I shrugged

"It's funny, I fought my mother so hard on giving Bedlington to one of my younger cousins when I outgrew him, and yet." I paused and looked back to the bed where Nessie was showing off Bedlington as her parents tucked her in "It's just strange," I said, leaving my thoughts where they were.

"It's not strange," Esme replied, she hugged my shoulders as we walked out of Edward's room and towards the stairs "it's special. Maybe back then you were not ready to give up that part of your childhood, but now that you're" she smiled "eighty years old, giving Bedlington away in this case means a little bit more to you." I nodded she kissed the top of my head again "go finish getting ready sweetie, I'd like to be on the road in exactly one hour."

I nodded

"Got it mum,"

She brushed her hand against my cheek before continuing downstairs. When I turned to go back into my room, Fi was standing there, looking a little lost, she seemed relieved when she saw me and slowly walked over.

"I remember my mum reading that to me when I was little, brought back some wonderful memories hearing it tonight." She explained "did your mum read it to you?" I thought that question over, to be honest I couldn't remember if it was her or my father that read it to me, I remember the story and I know someone read it to me a few times, but I couldn't remember who.

"It was either her or my dad," I explained "to be honest I don't really remember, it could've been either one."

Fi nodded, she glanced around as if looking for any witnesses, before giving me a quick peck on the lips

"Happy Christmas," she said smiling "and thank you for my books,"

Before I could reply she skipped off down the stairs, where I presume the rest of the Irish clan was waiting to go hunting, we all knew the time was drawing short. Alice had predicted the Volturi would arrive with the heavy snow, Christmas was shaping up to be non-snowy, but the weather channel (believe me I limit my trust on their predictions) assured everyone that a snowstorm was on it's way for our region and would hit a few days after Christmas. I had a feeling they were correct this time around, I could feel it, my ability zoomed in on the environment around me and I could almost sense a snow storm coming our way.

No white Christmas this year, but possibly a white New Years Eve…great. But it explained why a number of our guests were temporarily leaving, to feed and regain their strength and the Irish clan were certainly in that mix, as were Peter and Charlotte, and Mary and Randall.

The Denali Clan had already hunted with Esme and Carlisle, Emmett, Rose and I were planning on going after Christmas morning was over and done with and Samuel and Julianna were planning on joining us. Kate had not hunted with the rest of the Denali's so she was also going with us and dragging Garrett along. I had no idea what the Romanians were up too, (not that I wanted to know anyways, they still gave me the creeps) nor had Alastair made any movements. The Egyptian and Amazons were also staying put and I didn't know if that made me glad or suspicious of Amun at least.

As I headed back to my room I could hear Nessie's voice, I knew Edward and Bella were still in there with her, but I could hear her reciting the names of the reindeer, adding Rudolph into the group as she basically recited herself to sleep and I couldn't help but chuckle.

Inside my room there were two wrapped boxes waiting on my desk, I knew the wrapping on either present was not Esme's, but there was no card or note with either. Carefully I tore the wrapping off the smaller gift and lifted the lid to the white box, sitting on top of the tissue paper that obscured the gift itself was a card, with my name written in Edward's handwriting on the envelope.

I opened the envelope and read one side of the card, 'Chris,' it said 'I consider myself to be very lucky for several reasons, but one of those reasons is to have someone like you I can call brother, Happy Birthday'. On the other side of the card it simply said 'Happy Birthday Chris, we love you' and it was signed in Bella's handwriting from Bella, Edward, and Nessie. I smiled and put the card down on my desk, pulling the tissue paper off to uncover what lay below. The first thing that caught my attention was a hat, not just any hat a Surrey cricket cap similar to the one I had left on my father's grave the previous year under that was a Surrey Cricket club starter jacket like the pros wear as well as a replica jersey from the Surrey club with our last name on the back as well as the number 26.

I couldn't help the grin on my face as I opened the second box, wondering what was inside that one, I could feel myself getting excited for my birthday something I hadn't really felt in a long time. This note was simpler than Edward's consisting of 'Happy Birthday, we love you' from Emmett and Rose, but Emmett did add his own note to the card saying 'it's still not a real sport, but when summer comes we'll play a couple innings.' I rolled my eyes at that part, but still couldn't keep the grin away as I ripped off the tissue paper and stared in shock at my gift, going along with the theme, my brother and sister had gotten me a new set of wickets, some new balls, and the grandest of all, a brand new professional bat from Adidas. Downstairs I could hear Emmett, Rose, and some of our friends talking and down the hall, amongst Nessie's reciting of the reindeer I could hear Bella and Edward moving to the door to let her get to sleep and put her presents out under the tree.

Turning eighty had terrified me to some degree and with the added threat of the Volturi that terror was even more present, but I still had to look at the positive, I had my family and I was not going to waste any moment of being with them, starting with midnight mass with my parents.

x-x-x-x

A/N: I have to really apologize that this chapter took so long to complete, after updating this fic in January, I actually came down with a really bad cold that knocked me out pretty early every night when I usually get my writing done, it actually started right after Christmas and just got progressively worse in January into February. In addition to that I started my first semester of graduate classes in February which took up a lot of my time and energy with two fifteen page minimum papers and discussion posts every week. I had a majority of this chapter written back in the beginning of February, but couldn't seem to get past where I needed to be and the delay just kept getting longer and longer. I'm only taking one class this semester so the last few chapters will be up in a much more reasonable timeframe, and I think everyone will enjoy the next chapter because it's going to have some really funny lighthearted moments before we get into the more serious stuff, but I do appreciate everyone's patience with me. Till next time.