Chapter 14: Christmas Eve

Chapter 14: Christmas Eve

After a warm reunion with the rest of the family, Edward and I decided to head upstairs and wake
Renesmee so that we could head back to the cottage. Hopefully her little nap wouldn't stop her from going back to sleep; it was getting quite late and she was sure to be up early tomorrow. According to Esme, Charlie and the Clearwaters, along with most of the pack, would be joining us for our Christmas celebrations. I was glad; I didn't know how much longer I could wait to be sure my father was alright.

As we reached the third floor, I realised there was something I needed to do before returning to our daughter, and pulled Edward into the bathroom. He looked a little confused as I jumped up onto the counter and gestured for him to stand in front of me. It was hard, when he was so close to me, to concentrate on the task at hand; it had been so long, and he was so utterly irresistible. But I pushed the lust I felt for him back. For now.

Just as I had before, I took his face gently in my hands, but this time I twisted his head to the side so I could reach the damage done by the bullets. Then I pulled him close and kissed the spot gently before my tongue snaked out to touch his skin.

“Bella? What...” He broke off with a hiss of pain as the venom stung him. I felt bad about hurting him; but the venom did its job. When I pulled back, the last of the cracks was sealing up, leaving the shimmering alabaster surface as smooth as a statue. After I repeated the process on the other side, Edward was as good as new.

He looked at me suspiciously. “Where did you learn that?”

I shrugged. “Just a little trick Felix taught me; I guess you could call it vampire first aid. It's nothing really. I just didn't want Renesmee to see all the cracks and things. She's scared enough as it is.”

His eyes dropped to his hands where they gripped the counter either side of my hips. “I don't know what I was thinking. How could I do that to her, to the others? What if-”

“Shh,” I placed my finger against his lips, silencing him. “It's ok. Heartbreak can make us do some crazy things. I know that, and so do you. What matters is that we face the facts, accept it and move on. We've done it once before and we can do it again.”

Edward’s eyes were agonised as they stared into mine. “Are you sure?”

“Are you doubting your feelings for me?”

“No.”
“ Are you doubting mine?”
“No! Never.”

“Then what's the problem? Edward, we've been through too much not to have our happy ending; I’m sure of that. The only thing I don't know is how much more is going to be thrown at us before we get there. Whatever it is, we can take it, as long as we're together.”

His smile returned tentatively. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

I laughed, hoping to alleviate the serious atmosphere; it was Christmas, after all. “How am I supposed to know? Whatever it was, you probably did it before I was born.”

That did it. He grinned my favourite lopsided grin, his eyes shining.

“Come on. Let's get Nessie and go home.” I said, and he nodded, kissing me once briefly before helping me down from the counter. I smiled at his unnecessary but very sweet gesture; once a gentleman, always a gentleman.

Our hands remained clasped as we walked from the bathroom to Edward’s room. He opened the door gently, so it didn't make a sound, and we both peered in to see our daughter curled up under the soft gold comforter, looking very small in the middle of the big bed. I could see the dried tear tracks running down her cheeks, the little damp spot on the pillow; yet her expression was peaceful, her whole face relaxed and her body no different to any other night, her stuffed wolf clutched to her chest. I gently pulled back my shield.

I almost don't want to wake her, I thought, she looks so happy.

“I know love,” Edward whispered. “We don't have to wake her.”

He walked silently across the thick carpet and picked her up, comforter and all. She curled into his chest and sighed. Her eyelashes fluttered and parted, but it was clear she was still half asleep.

“Hi Daddy,” she mumbled, her words slightly slurred.

“Hey there princess. Don't let me disturb you. You can sleep if you want.”

She hummed contentedly. “Are you home now?”

He smiled. “Yes baby, I’m home.”

“And Momma?”

“Of course darling.”

“Everybody's happy?”

“Yes honey,” I said, coming up beside her and kissing her forehead. “Everybody is very happy.”

She smiled.

“Sleep now sweetheart,” Edward whispered, his velvet voice extra smooth. “Sleep, and when you wake up, it will be Christmas. Sleep, my precious Renesmee, my darling child.”

And sleep she did. Her eyes closed and she nuzzled her face into Edward’s shoulder, one of her hands reaching out to me. I put my hand in hers and she held it tightly.

Still joined, we made our way downstairs, pausing briefly to wish the family goodnight, and receive loving kisses and stern warnings never to run off again from Esme. Then we ran, flying through the green maze of the forest together until we reached the cottage. Edward put Nessie in her own bed while I lit a fire and tidied the living room. My suitcase was still back at the house, and the absence of my books and the photo albums made the bookcase look especially bare. I shuddered delicately as I gathered up the spent bullets that littered the floor, and took my anger out on them, crushing them together into a twisted metal ball. I put the mangled sphere in the very back of the bottom drawer of my dresser in the closet, unable to throw it out but not wanting to see it either.

Edward was waiting when I returned to the bedroom. He had opened the doors onto our little garden, and he was staring out into the navy-blue night as a gentle breeze blew in. I watched it rustle his ruined clothes, dance through his dishevelled hair, and heard the whisper of it against his granite skin. His shoulders were tense, and he was as still as a statue.

I crossed the room as quietly as I could, then removed his tattered jacket; apparently today's meal had managed to get its claws into him this afternoon. He relaxed as I began to gently massage his shoulders, sighing in contentment.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “That feels wonderful love.”

“You're welcome,” I said, smiling. I continued to rub his back soothingly, working all the kinks and knots out of it. He hummed happily all the way through, and I think I even caught a quiet moan of pleasure. Once I was finished he turned and kissed me deeply, forcefully, almost roughly. He had never kissed me this way before, but I liked it. We were both panting when he moved down to my neck. My hands travelled down from his shoulders, over his chest; my fingers fisted the fabric of his shirt and tugged.

“Come to bed, my husband,” I whispered huskily; Edward moaned and captured my lips again. We staggered backwards, him pushing while I pulled, until my knees hit the mattress and we collapsed, never breaking our kiss, which was getting more frenzied by the second. Hands groped, fabric tore. I was a little annoyed – this was one of my favourite shirts – before I remembered I had another one in the closet. Thank goodness for Alice’s tendency to buy things in duplicate and even triplicate sometimes.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the white lace garments I was wearing underneath.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Edward tucked the covers around me, his gentle movements a stark contrast to his actions of the past hour. The moon shone through the trees, uninterrupted by clouds, and the pearly light reflected off the little pond outside. It was bright enough that our skin glittered slightly as we lay together, basking in the closeness after so long apart. Neither of us spoke; we had no need. Each gentle brush of fingertips on skin, each fluttering kiss, each subtle shift in position, said more than all the words in the world, to us at least. After all the time we had had together, we each knew the others habits, expressions and body language almost better than we knew our own. For example, when we were stressed, Edward became as stiff as a board and I got a tiny crease between my eyebrows, but neither of us was aware that we did these things; yet the other one could see it instantly. It took us only a second to assess each other's emotional climate; we didn't need to be mind-readers.

Our quiet moment was interrupted suddenly, by a sound in the other room. Human ears would not have heard it, even if there had not been several walls between us and the source of the noise.

It was a tiny, frightened whimper.

I stilled, listening, and he did the same. After a moment, it came again, the same scared whimper, only louder this time, and more desperate. Others followed, growing from each other and joining seamlessly so that it seemed like one continuous stream of sound. They got louder and louder, more and more fearful. In less than a minute, there were words too.

“No... no... leave him alone... Grandpa... Momma... no, don't go, please... stay... you promised.”

I got up quickly, moving as fast as I could into the closet and pulling on a little silk night gown and a warm robe. Edward followed, slipping into a pair of plaid pyjama pants; but I wasn't focused on him any more. I hurried down the hall to Nessie's room, tying the cord on the robe and trying to tame my hair.

I opened the door to find Renesmee tossing and turning, the golden comforter tangled around her legs, her little face scrunched up in fear and soaked with tears. Her whimpers and moans of pain and terror twisted my heart, and the words that spilled from her had risen to such a volume that they were more screams than speech, and impossible to understand.

I hurried to her side, grabbing hold of her shoulders and shaking as gently as I could.

“Nessie, Nessie, wake up. It's alright sweetheart, it's just a dream. Wake up darling.”

Her eyes flew open and she sat bolt upright. She stared at me for a second, then flung herself into my arms, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks as she hugged herself closer. I wrapped her in my arms and rocked back and forth, trying to sooth her.

“Shh darling, shh. It was just a dream. You're alright, you're alright. Don't cry baby, please don't cry.”

“Momma!” she wailed, clinging to me.

“I'm here, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, Nessie. Come on now, calm down. You'll make yourself sick if you carry on like this.”

I was getting desperate and I knew it. She was just so hysterical; it honestly scared me.

Nessie sniffed and wiped her eyes, the crying calming until it became a series of hiccuping sobs. I brushed away the tears she missed and stroked her tangled curls.

“There now. Better?”

She nodded. “It is now that you're here.” She looked up at me, her big brown eyes still brimming with moisture.

“I thought they came back for you,” she whispered, and I didn't have to ask who she meant by 'they'. “I dreamt that they were taking Grandpa away and you went with them. All Aro had to do was call out to you and you went and... and...” Sobs choked her voice and she began to cry again. I pulled her close, still caressing her hair.

“He could never make me do that. Nothing and nobody will ever take me away from you Renesmee, never again. I will never go anywhere without you ever again.”

She sniffed again, her face still buried in the fabric of my robe. Her hand found its way to my neck.

Do you promise?

“I swear.” I whispered fiercely.

She sighed happily. I went to tuck her back in to bed, but she shook her head.

“I don't want to sleep.”

“Nessie,” I sighed, “you have to sleep. It's late, and you're going to have a busy day tomorrow.”

Her face was fearful again. “If I go back to sleep, I’ll see them again. I’ll have more nightmares.” She looked down, then peered up at me through her lashes – a trick she had learnt from her father and often used on him when there was something she wanted. “Can I sleep in your bed? Please?”

Normally I wouldn't let that look sway me, but she was obviously still terrified of what she might see if she closed her eyes, so I nodded and picked her up, cradling her to my chest like a baby. In a lot of ways, she was still a baby. Though her body was that of a seven year old, and her mind was even more advanced, at the end of the day, she was still only two years old.

Edward was waiting for us when we reached the master bedroom, sitting up against the headboard with the covers draped over his thighs. He had the soft throw blanket from the back of the couch in his hands, and he held it out as I approached. Carefully, I passed Renesmee to him, and he wrapped her securely in the blanket while I climbed into the bed beside them. She sighed as the covers came over her and we both lay down; she curled into my chest with my arms around her and Edward’s around both of us.

I remembered a song my mom used to sing to me when I had nightmares, and, hoping it would help, I began to sing it, very softly.

“Come stop your crying, it will be alright.
Just take my hand, hold it tight.
I will protect you from all around you,
I will be here, don't you cry.
For one so small, you seem so strong.
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken.
I will be here, don't you cry.

Cause you'll be in my heart,
Yes you'll be in my heart.
From this day on, now and forever more.
You'll be in my heart,
No matter what they say.
You'll be here in my heart,
Always.

Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust what they can't explain.
I know we're different but, deep inside us,
We're not that different at all.

And you'll be in my heart,
Yes you'll be in my heart.
From this day on, now and forever more.

Don't listen to them, cause what do they know.
We need each other, to have to hold.
They'll see in time, I know.
When destiny calls you, you must be strong.
I may not be with you, but you've got to hold on.
They'll see in time, I know.
We'll show them together cause,

You'll be in my heart,
Believe me, you'll be in my heart.
I’ll be with you,
From this day on, now and forever more.
You'll be in my heart,
you'll be here in my heart.
No matter what they say.
I’ll be with you,
You'll be here in my heart,
I’ll be there,
Always,

Always,
I’ll be with you,
I’ll be there for you always.
Always and always.
Just look over your shoulder.
Just look over your shoulder.
Just look over your shoulder.
I'll be there,
Always.”

Renesmee sighed. “Pretty song Momma. You sing it good.”

“Thank you baby,” I said, smiling. “Go to sleep now. Everything's alright. We're together now, and nothing can tear us apart.”

She nodded, her eyes drifting closed. “Mommy's song please Daddy.” she said, her words running together slightly.

“Of course, my darling.” Edward replied.

He began to hum my lullaby softly, and she drifted to sleep in seconds, utterly exhausted. I wiped away the last of the tears and kissed both her cheeks.

Just for fun, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep too. Edward chuckled once and squeezed me gently, then went back to humming.

And that was how we spent our night. Edward hummed, changing song every now and then; Nessie slept, and I pretended to do the same. When the sun rose on Christmas morning, it found us still curled up together in the big white bed, wrapped up in a bubble of peace and contentment. There was no threat of invasion, no malicious forces waiting in the wings; it was as if Aro and the Volturi didn't even exist, and there was nothing in all the world but the three of us.

Just the way it should be.

Chapter 13: Edward

“Sweetheart, what's wrong?I asked. I heard the rest of the family enter the room, but remained focused on my daughter. She didn't seem able to answer me with words, so she held up the object in her hand.

It was a hand gun.

Chapter 13: Edward

There was a joint intake of breath from everyone present. Before I could react, Nessie pressed her hand to my arm, showing me what she and Jake had found at the cottage.

The living room was dark as Jacob pushed open the door. He kept me behind him, just in case. I couldn't see anything, but I could vaguely hear tiny whispers of sound; shifting weight making the furniture creak slightly; fabrics rubbing together; low, shallow breathing. Then, a voice spoke.

“Go away.”

I had to resist the urge to cower in fear, had to remind myself that this was Daddy, that he would never hurt me. But, young as I was, I could hear the undisguised pain and anguish in his words; like part of him was dead.

“Edward...” Jacob began to protest, but Daddy cut him off.

“I said, go away!”

I felt a stab of anger go through me. How dare he treat us this way? After everything Jacob had been through for him, how dare he speak to him like that, like he meant nothing?

I stepped forward. Jake put his hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off.

“Stop it Daddy. Don't be rude to Jacob.”

I heard him sigh. “Renesmee, this isn't your problem. Please, I don't want to upset you, so just go home.”

His words made me indignant. “You're upsetting me already, by staying away. Please Daddy, it's Christmas Eve. Come home, just for today and tomorrow. If you want, you can come straight back here after, just... please.” My voice broke, making my plea even more pitiful.

An odd choking sound came from the darkness, then a click and a dull thud. Jacob stiffened at my side.

“Edward, don't be stupid.”

There was no response from the shadows. After a second, Jake darted into the darkness. I whimpered. The sound of a brief scuffle reached my ears, followed by a low snarl that quickly built into a loud stream of growling and snapping.

Something black and oddly shaped skidded to a halt at my feet.

“Nessie!” Jake yelled. “Quick! Take that back to the house. Run, as fast as you can and don't look back!” He grunted suddenly before continuing. “Go, Ness! Now!”

I didn't think. I didn't pause to wonder what was happening. I scooped up the dark object and ran.

I hugged Nessie close as she began to cry, rocking her gently back and forth. Carlisle took the gun from her, passing it to Jasper and kneeling beside us, rubbing her back softly.

“Nessie, darling, why don't you go upstairs and lie down?” he murmured, his voice soothing and quiet. She nodded against my shoulder, and I stood to carry her to bed. Once she was safely under the covers and fast asleep, I hurried back downstairs.

Carlisle, Emmet and Jasper were talking in hushed voices, while Esme sobbed uncontrollably on the couch. Alice sat on one side of her with Rose on the other, both trying unsuccessfully to sooth her. If I hadn't been so terrified, I would have been furious. Edward was hurting all of us with his melodramatic idiocy. I understood how he had to be feeling – I’d felt it myself – but that didn't give him an excuse to be rude to my friend and our daughter. Behind the anger was a nagging guilt. This was my fault. If I hadn't left, this wouldn't have happened. I felt almost depressed when I considered it; I had driven my own husband to attempted suicide.

I went over to the men, standing calmly beside Emmet, who put his arm around my shoulder. I leaned into him slightly, grateful for the support.

“What I want to know,” Jasper was saying, “is what he was trying to achieve. It's not as if it could actually do him any harm.”

Carlisle nodded, frowning. “That may be true, but we have no idea how he's feeling right now. He may not be thinking straight.”

The gun sat, nondescript and deceptively safe-looking, on the coffee table in front of us. There was something familiar about it, something that didn't quite look right. The size and shape of it made me think of Charlie's police issue pistol, but there was something different about it that tugged at the edges of my memory. I bent down, picking it up to get a better look. I could feel everyone’s eyes watching me, but I ignored them as I gently turned the gun over and over in my hands, studying it.

Realisation hit me suddenly, and I gasped.

Carlisle put his hand on my arm. “Bella? What is it?”

“I know this gun.”

Rose, Alice and Esme were standing with us now, and Alice looked at me quizzically. “You do?”

I nodded. “In Volterra, my first training session was about recognising and dealing with human weapons that had the potential to be harmful to us. Mostly it was stuff like flame-throwers and incendiary bombs; things that could set us on fire. But this was on the list too.”
The others were all staring at me, mouths open in identical masks of horror.

“What is it?” Esme asked in a whisper. She looked set to break down again any second.

My voice was dead as I explained. “It's an SLR Long-range 50-cal. Basically the same as an ordinary hand gun, but with an additional air chamber that's pressurised and fitted behind the hammer. When the air is released, it is forced out in the only direction it can go; that is, down the barrel, behind the bullet. It packs a hell of a punch, and is designed to be used from a distance. It's basically a compact sniper rifle, and firing any less than 50 feet away from the target can have some messy results.”

“But it couldn't really hurt us, right?” Emmet asked nervously. He was gripping Rosalie’s hand tightly, and looked uncharacteristically nervous.

I shook my head. “I wish it didn't. When used properly, it would have the same effect as any normal gun; it still uses ordinary bullets, despite its modifications. But too close, and it can cause serious damage. It could crack our skin, leave a dent, even blow off a limb. If Edward was firing this at himself, it would be point blank range, maybe even closer...” I trailed off, horrified by the thought. Esme was crying again, and everyone, even Jasper, looked like they might do the same any second.

It was as we were all standing there, unable to speak, that we heard the sound of running feet again; the light step of a vampire, feet dragging slightly, along side the heavy thud of a wolf's paws and heartbeat.

Jacob and Edward had finished hunting.

The fury I had felt before flared up, stronger than before, overtaking my whole body. My vision turned red, and I felt my shield balloon out over the house, covering everyone. Gripping the gun tightly in my hand, I broke away from the huddle around the coffee table and marched towards the back door. I didn't go outside though. Instead, I peeped out of the window beside the door, watching the back yard.

Jacob emerged from the edge of the trees, pushing Edward in front of him. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him.

He looked absolutely horrendous. His clothes were rumpled and a little torn, and there was a large blood stain across the front of his shirt. His hair was sticking up even more than usual, and I could see several leaves poking out of it at odd angles. He had a look of resignation on his face, mixed with a little irritation and …

Utter hopelessness. Crippling pain. Everything I felt.

It was as I stared at his face that I saw the web of cracks and dents that decorated both his temples. He looked as if one tap would shatter his head completely. Anger spiked through me again. Seeing the evidence of what he had done to himself made me want to smack him for doing it. At the same time, I wanted to run to him, hold him, tell him everything would be ok, and kiss every inch of him that I could reach. Because, despite his dishevelled appearance and the cracks along his head, he was still more beautiful than anyone else in the world. And he was still my Edward.

“Alright, Jacob, I’m here.” he said, and his voice made my heart ache. “Now, can I have it back?”

Jacob shook his big head and huffed. Edward frowned and turned to face him.

“What do you mean you don't have it?”

Jake shrugged.

“So help me Jacob… ”

I decided this was the moment to intervene. I opened the door and marched out on to the lawn. Edward and Jacob both heard me approach and turned to face me. Jake's tongue lolled out the side of his mouth in his trademark wolfy grin, while Edward stiffened and just stared.

“Looking for this?” I asked him, my voice acidic, as I held up the gun. He had the decency to look suitably sheepish, although it was clear he was still in shock from seeing me here.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, his voice still flat and expressionless.

“Nessie brought it back with her. What I want to know is why you had it in the first place.” I was openly glaring at him now, the anger coming back yet again. I had a feeling Jasper was trying to subtly calm me down, but really, all I wanted to do right at that moment was let go; I wanted to release every pent up frustration and annoyance, and just get it all out of my system.

That is, until Edward’s next actions shocked every thought out of my head. He dropped to his knees with his head down, his arms out to his sides, palms up, the picture of defencelessness and surrender.

“Do it then. Punish me. End me. I don't care any more. Life without you isn't life at all.” When he looked at me, it was as if he were looking up from the deepest pit of Hell. “Just do what you came here to do, Isabella.”

I couldn't move. He thought I was here to kill him. He thought I was capable of killing him? Did he know me at all? Or was he going crazy. Determination gripped me as strongly as the anger had moments before.

I took the gun in both hands, my fists wrapping around the metal; one on the barrel, one on the handle. I began to twist them apart squeezing as I went. There was a loud bang as the air chamber burst, expelling the one remaining bullet in the magazine. It shot into a tree, leaving a dent and chipping off a piece of bark the size of a large jigsaw puzzle piece.

Edward stared at me incredulously as I crossed the lawn towards him. I knelt down in front of him, looking straight into his dark gold eyes.

“You know I hate that name.” I whispered.

Then, mindful of his fragile state, I took his face in my hands, pulled him down to my level, and kissed him with a passion only possible after six months of separation from the only reason you had to go on living.

For half a second, Edward was completely frozen. Then, his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me against him so tightly it would have broken my ribs when I was human. His lips responded to mine, and the world disappeared. There was no river, no forest, no house. No Jacob standing a few feet away, still in his wolf form. No family in the living room, most likely watching through the glass wall. No Renesmee sleeping in Edward’s old room on the third floor. Just him and me, without a breath of space between us, conveying more in one kiss than we ever could in words, even if we talked for a thousand years.

He pulled away gently, his eyes full of love, with only the barest hint of confusion. I smiled at him, and spoke again, still whispering.

“That's what I came here to do.”

His answering smile was glorious as he leaned in to kiss me once more.

Chapter 12: Shopping & a Shock

Chapter 12: Shopping & a Shock

The rest of that day passed in a blur of welcomes and hugs. All that I felt, all I could comprehend, was Nessie’s warm little body in my arms and her happy thoughts in my head. We refused to let go of each other, and I focused solely on her. After a few hours I quietly excused myself from the discussion the others were having and carried her up to Edward’s old room. I hadn’t actually been in here in a long time, as we spent most of our time downstairs or in the cottage.

The big black iron bed with the gold covers still dominated the space as it had when I was human. The stereo had been made slightly more accessible, and a clear jewel case sat on top of it. On the pillow of the bed was a red-brown toy wolf, which I recognised as one of her birthday presents from Jacob last year.

I sat down on the bed and slid into the middle, lying down and cradling Nessie to my chest. Her hand went straight to my cheek, and she started on one of her little report sessions. She seemed determined to tell me everything that had happened. She remembered being frightened by my disappearance, devastated when Alice came home sobbing, slightly hopeful after Emmet’s return, and worried for her father, still all alone in the cottage. She wondered when he would come back.

“It’s too late now,” I said softly, “but first thing tomorrow, I’ll go and get him back.”

Nessie nodded, her expression serious. Then she reached inside her dress and pulled out the locket from her first Christmas hanging around her neck. She opened it and held up the picture.

“Then we can be like this again?” she asked.

I looked at the picture. The three of us sat together on the front porch, smiling; happy. Could we be that again? Would Edward forgive me?

“I hope so.”

The words came out in a whisper. Nessie frowned and pressed her hand to my cheek again. She showed me my own face, creased with doubt, and wondered what was wrong. I forced a smile.

“Don’t worry honey. We’ll get him back.”

She studied my face for a moment more, then smiled and snuggled onto my chest. I held her tightly.

We lay there for a moment before she sat up again.

“What’s wrong Nessie?” I asked, confused.

“Can’t sleep without music,” she mumbled. By the sound of it, she was half asleep already.

She leaned over me, stretching her arm towards the stereo. She couldn’t quite reach, and huffed in irritation.

“Let me,” I murmured, reaching up to press the power switch and then the play button.

Nessie sighed and sank back into the mattress as the first notes of the piano sounded from the speakers. She curled into me, and I pulled the comforter over us so she wouldn’t freeze. Her eyes were closed, a small smile on her face. Suddenly, I realised that I recognised the song.

It was my lullaby.

My eyes prickled. I hadn’t heard it in so long. The sweet melody wafted through the room, and I closed my eyes as well, wishing it could put me to sleep as it used to. I made do with day dreaming, remembering one summer afternoon when Edward had tried to teach Nessie to play the piano. Her reward for trying was a private concert, and she curled up on my lap to listen. I remembered humming the familiar tunes in her ear, and listening with her to the ones I didn’t know. The music had filled the house all afternoon, making everybody smile.

The night seemed to stretch on forever, more blissful than any night I had had in months. Nessie’s warm weight pressed against me, her heartbeat fluttering like a hummingbird, comforted me and filled my stone cold heart with adoration and awe.

How could someone so precious and beautiful possibly be mine? What had I done to deserve such good fortune? I couldn’t think of a thing.

The morning sun slanted through the windows and sparkled on my skin. Odd, sun didn’t find Forks in summer, let alone December. Then again, it did snow in June the year I graduated. Who am I to say what’s impossible?

Nessie stirred in my arms, stretching and letting out a wide yawn.

“Good morning,” I said, and she jumped.

“You’re really here,” she whispered in amazement, stroking my face. “I was sure I dreamt it all.”

I smiled. “I’m here to stay. Forever.”

She smiled too. “Good. ‘Cause I’m never letting you go anywhere without me ever again.”

“Fine by me.” I laughed. “Bring on the shackles. I am your prisoner.” A dim memory of the words tugged at my mind, and I struggled to place where I had heard them before.

Momma? Nessie asked, her hand on my neck. Are you ok?

“Fine sweetie.” I forced a smile, trying not to let the workings of my mind show. I knew where I had heard those words before; in my bedroom at Charlie’s house, so long ago it seemed like a lifetime before this one... which it was. I remembered the same words I had said to Nessie coming from Edward’s lips as we sat on my bed the night after he showed me the meadow for the first time. I remembered his actions contradicting those words, as his hands wrapped around my wrists like steel chains.

“I had an idea last night.” Nessie said, capturing my attention again.

“What’s that honey?”

“Well, instead of going to get Daddy today, Jake and I can go get him on Christmas, and bring him back here. We can pretend we just want him to spend time with us, when we’re actually bringing him to see you. It’ll be an awesome surprise.”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “So, what? I’m Daddy’s Christmas present?”

She laughed and nodded. “You’ll be perfect. And it’s much more special than just fetching him. It will make him extra happy. I just want everyone to be happy.” Her voice wobbled a bit and I pulled her close.

“It’s ok baby,” I whispered, “everything’s going to be ok.”

Nessie sniffed, but she was smiling when she looked up at me.

“I love you Momma,” she breathed.

“I love you too Renesmee.” I smiled and cuddled her closer.

“Nessie!” a loud voice called from downstairs, and she sat bolt upright in response.

“Jake!” she squealed, and I laughed as she took off like a rocket out of the door and down the stairs. I carefully fixed the sheets before following her at a human pace. Seeing Jacob again was almost as nerve racking as reuniting with Edward. Had I finally stretched our friendship to the limit?

“Ness, Ness, slow down!” I heard Jacob laugh as I reached the top of the stairs. “I can’t keep up with you. Stop bouncing and tell me slowly and calmly what’s going on. Did I see something about your mom?”

Nessie huffed and I heard her little footsteps run towards me. “Momma, come on, hurry up!”

“Bella?” Jake whispered, obviously talking to himself; but I heard him. I smiled

“Coming honey,” I called down. “Stop hassling Jacob, it’s not fair.”

As I reached the bottom of the steps, I took a deep, unnecessary breathe and held it, waiting for his reaction. I couldn’t even look up from the floor.

“Bells? That really you?”

I looked up at him at last and smiled weakly. “Yep, it’s me.”

A grin split Jacob’s face from ear to ear, and I saw that somehow – impossibly – he was still getting taller. Was that even possible?

I only had a half second to take him in before his scorching arms encircled me and he whisked me off my feet. I shrieked and laughed all in the same second, revelling in the feeling of completeness; of being with a kindred spirit.

“Jesus, Bells, don’t scare us like that will ya? We thought you really couldn’t stand us any more.”

I smiled at him as he placed me back on my feet.

“I’m sorry Jake. I could never hate you, any of you. I didn’t have a choice.”

Nessie pulled on my arm and I looked down. She frowned at me.

“What do you mean Momma? Why did you go?”

I gave Emmet a pointed look. “How hard is it to relay a message Em? One simple little message, that’s all I gave you.”

He grinned sheepishly and shrugged. I sighed and scooped Nessie into my arms.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere baby, but if I hadn’t, Aro would have come after Grandpa. I had to protect him, and I couldn’t see any other way to do that.”

Nessie was still frowning. “Why doesn’t Aro like Grandpa? He doesn’t even know him.”

“I know sweetheart,” I soothed, “but he thinks Grandpa knows too much, and he doesn’t like it. He’s just trying to protect us.”

Her frown changed to a look of pure determination. “We won’t let him hurt Grandpa. He’s family, and Uncle Em says we protect our family.”

I smiled. “Yes we do.”

___________________________________________________________________________

Renesmee and I decided to go shopping, as I needed to get presents for everyone, and just to fill time. I was browsing through the stores in the mall in central Olympia, Nessie playing in the kids play park in the centre of the square, when I felt a hand tap my shoulder.

“Bella? Is that you?” a very familiar voice asked, and I spun around. I felt suddenly grateful to Alice for making me wear my contacts ‘just in case’.

Mike had changed, but only slightly. His face was less boyish, his body slightly longer and more muscled. His eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped as he took in my appearance. I smiled sheepishly. “Mike! It’s been so long! How are you?”

“Good,” he gulped, evidently struggling to form a coherent thought. I couldn’t help my silent exultation. And he thought I looked good in high school...

“What are you... uh,” he cleared his throat. “How are you? Doing some last minute Christmas shopping?”

I smiled properly, and heard his heart splutter. I was going to have fun with this. “I’m very well, thank you Mike. And yes, I am shopping. I somehow managed to procrastinate so much that I haven’t gotten anybody’s gifts yet. I can’t think how it slipped my mind. Anyway, enough about me. How’s Jess? Are you two still together?”

He gave a shaky nod. “She’s looking at dresses with Angela. Ben got roped into being their judge, but I escaped.” He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

I laughed with him. Watching him flounder was almost entertaining.

“Mommy!” a little voice called, drawing Mike’s attention. I turned and leaned down to catch Nessie as she raced towards me.

“What’s up princess?” I asked, bouncing her up onto my hip, trying to make it look like a struggle. She was big enough to be almost too heavy for me to carry now.

“Who’s he?” she asked, pointing at Mike. He stared at her like she had two heads.

“Darling, it’s rude to point,” I said, taking her hand. “This is Mike, and he is a very good friend of mine from school. Now say hello nicely.”

She flashed him her most radiant smile. “Hello Mike.”

“Uh...” Mike seemed lost for words. I decided to let him off the hook.

“Well, it’s been lovely talking to you, but we’ve really got to get going. See you around?”

He nodded mutely. I placed Nessie back on the ground, handing her the smaller shopping bags and taking one of her hands. She skipped along, happy to be helping me.

“Hey Bella!” Mike called. I turned to look at him. He eyed Nessie meaningfully, and I sighed. I should have seen this coming.

Renesmee saw my predicament. I’ll go wait in the car. She squeezed my hand once before dropping it and taking off. If the place hadn’t been so quiet I would have panicked.

Mike caught up to me, frowning. “Start talking.”

I sighed again. “What do you want to know Mike?”

“Try who the hell was that and why did she call you Mommy?”

I began to walk after Nessie, and he fell into step beside me. I took a deep breath before I started.

“Her name is Vanessa. She’s Edward’s niece, and her parents were killed in a car crash when she was little. Because of the complications with Edward and his brother being adopted by different people, it took the courts a while to find him. When they did, we met her and... We just couldn’t say no.” My voice broke in exactly the right spots as I spoke. Perhaps my acting skills were improving, despite what Alice thought.

“She thinks of you guys as her parents? I mean, how long has she been with you?”

“We’ve had her since just after our honeymoon. She barely remembers her birth parents, and she never had anyone to consider as a replacement until us. I think Edward looks like her dad, which helps.”

He was quiet for a moment. I could almost hear the gears clicking in his head as he thought through my words. Of course I had no idea exactly what he was thinking, which was why his next words shocked me more than they might have if they weren’t so far removed from our topic.

“Jess is pregnant.”

My jaw dropped, just as his had done when he saw Nessie. What?!

“Seriously?” was all I could manage to say, my voice coming out in a squeak.

Mike nodded. “Just confirmed it yesterday.”

“Mike, that’s fantastic!”

He grinned. “I guess so, but...”

“But...?” I pressed.

He sighed. “I don’t know if I’m ready, you know, to be a dad. It’s kinda scary. I don’t know what to do, or say, or...” he trailed off, biting his lip.

I smiled at him gently. “Mike, you are going to be fine. It’s natural to be nervous. I know I was, and Vanessa was already five by the time I met her. I’d be willing to bet a baby is ten times worse. But if you and Jess are anything like the way you were last time I saw you, you’re going to be great parents.”

“You really think so?” Mike was beginning to look cautiously optimistic.

“Absolutely.”

“Thanks Bella. I’ll let you get going now. Don’t want Vanessa getting worried.”

I gave him one last smile. “It really was great to see you Mike. Say hi to Jess for me.”

“Will do!” he called as I headed for the parking lot and he went back towards the dress shop.

I placed the carefully wrapped presents under the humongous Christmas tree in the living room. There was already a huge pile there, all neatly labelled and arranged. The whole thing looked like a postcard.

It was Christmas Eve. Nessie and Jacob had gone to fetch Edward an hour ago, and I was trying my best not to let the length of their absence worry me. If he’d really shut himself up so long, he would have to hunt. And he was so stubborn, who knew how long it would take them to get him outside in the first place.

The crunching of leaves and branches alerted me to the approaching footsteps. Only one set, small and light. Why was Jake letting Nessie run around on her own? Panic filled my throat as my mind flipped through all the possibilities.

I hurried to the back door, opening it just as Nessie reached it. She flung herself into my arms, tears streaming down her face and sobs racking her body. They were so strong, it was a wonder she was even able to run. Something heavy and metallic clunked against my arm. Alarmed, I quickly carried her inside, sitting on the couch and settling her on my lap. I smoothed her wild hair and brushed away her tears. Her breathing hitched so violently, I worried she would be sick.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked. I heard the rest of the family enter the room, but remained focused on my daughter. She didn’t seem able to answer me with words, so she held up the object in her hand.

It was a hand gun.

Chapter 11: Welcome

“Pack your bags Isabella. You’re going home.”
Chapter 11: Welcome

My jaw dropped, and I stared at him for a moment in total shock. Then my brain caught up with itself, and a huge smile stretched across my face. I jumped off the bed and wrapped my arms around Marcus’s neck, unable to find words to express my feelings. He chuckled quietly.

“Come now, my dear, we don’t have much time. Get your things together. I will wait for you at the bottom of the stairs. Be as quiet and as quick as you can. Hurry now.”

I stepped back and nodded, then turned to my wardrobe.

I packed in a hurry, barely aware of what I was doing. My mind was spinning in circles, trying to comprehend the astounding opportunity Marcus was giving me. Even if it was only a visit, I would be forever grateful to him.

Not sure what to expect, I packed up everything. Most of my clothes went into the big suitcase, while my duffel bag contained more personal items, including the photos; I had hurriedly gathered them up, and resolved to put them back in place on the plane.

It took me less than fifteen minutes to get everything sorted. I took one last look around the room that had been my home for the last four months. I knew I wouldn’t miss it.

True to his word, Marcus was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. He took my suitcase, though I could have handled it fine on my own. He smiled at my uplifted expression. Without saying a word, he led me through the corridors to the nearest exit. I was surprised by the lack of guards. Not just a short visit then.

Only when we were out of the city walls did he begin to explain.

“I told you I would do anything to make you happy. After hearing your stories, I understand that, whatever I do, you will never be truly happy with us. You don’t belong here; your place is with your family. I have arranged a private flight from here direct to Port Angeles. The guards have been dispatched on other matters, and Aro and Caius are... otherwise engaged.” He grinned at me, and I giggled. Then the gravity of his words sunk in.

“So you're, what... breaking me out?” I asked incredulously.

“You could call it that.”

“Wow.”

He chuckled.

I fell silent, too shocked for words. This wonderful, generous man, who had done so much for me, was risking everything to send me home. If I could cry, I would have been in tears.

We ran is companionable silence all the way to the airport in Florence. The check in didn’t take long: trust the Volturi to have acquired a private jet.

When it came time for me to board, I turned to Marcus and gave him a tight hug.

“Thank you,” I whispered in his ear. “So much. You have no idea how much this means to me. You have been far kinder than I deserve.”

He chuckled and hugged me back. “I beg to differ. Nothing is too much for you.”

I twisted my face and placed a soft kiss on his powdery cheek. “Goodbye Marcus. Thank you again, for everything.”

Marcus squeezed me once more, before stepping back and shaking my hand.

“It was my pleasure. I am glad to have known you.” He smiled.

“And I you. I hope we can remain good friends Marcus; there will always be room for you under my shield.” I grinned.

He laughed then became serious. “I fear I will have need of it. I will try to diffuse Aro, but I make no promises. If he does insist on pushing the issue, however, I would sooner stand with you than him. There is no justice in punishing a young girl for wanting to keep her father in her life.”

I nodded. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Yes.” Marcus stood up straighter and gave me one last smile. “Good luck... Bella.”

I returned his smile. “You too Marcus.”

With one more quick hug, I boarded the plane, and within minutes, I was watching Italy disappear below the clouds.

________________________________________________________________________

One of the pros of being a vampire: even after a ten hour flight, I was still alert and focused when the plane touched down in Port Angles. I had to force myself to move at human speed, so anxious was I to be home.

Of course, there was a welcome party for me when I walked through the gate.

I couldn’t stop the huge smile that split my face in two when I saw Alice, Rosalie and Esme waiting for me in the crowd.

Alice’s ear-splitting squeal caused several heads to turn as she barrelled into me. I laughed at her eagerness and wrapped my arms around her. Within moments, I was enveloped in warm arms and gentle murmurs as Rose and Esme joined us. I held all of them tightly, delighted at being reunited with my family, incomplete as it was.

When the hugs finally ended and Esme started sobbing, I suggested we make our way home, or at least somewhere more private. The others agreed, but we stayed connected, our arms around each others shoulders all the way to Alice’s car.

“I’m sorry,” Esme choked out when we were all in. “I’m just so happy you’re back Bella.”

I hugged her tightly, pulling her close on the wide back seat. “You have nothing to apologise for Esme. I understand. Besides, I’m the idiot that left.”

“You’re not an idiot, Bella,” Rose said disapprovingly. “You didn’t see any other way. None of us blame you for what you did.”

“Exactly,” Alice agreed. “I thought nothing was going to change your mind. But then I saw you coming home... I only just managed to keep it to myself.”

I gave her a questioning look and she winked at me in the rear-view mirror.

“I saw that you wanted to surprise Edward and Nessie. Actually, none of the boys know. We’re supposed to be having a girls-only shopping spree.” She giggled.

“Not so hard to keep things from Edward any more.” Rosalie muttered.

“Rose...” Esme warned.

Panic rose in my throat. Was he ok?

“What?” Rose sounded indignant. “He’s the one who holed himself up in the cottage.”

My brief moment of panic passed. “At least he’s out of his room.”

Alice laughed again, and we all joined in. It felt good to laugh; really laugh, not just pretend.

“I’ve missed you guys.” I sighed.

There were the inevitable questions about my time in Volterra; were they good to me, what did I have to do, how did I get out, etc. etc. I answered them as best I could, hedging and sidestepping the questions I wasn’t comfortable with. In true Cullen fashion, Alice drove far too fast and made the hours drive back to Forks in a little over twenty five minutes. We were all giggling like school girls by the time we got there, imagining the look on the boys’ faces when they saw me.

But it wasn’t the boys who were the first to greet us. I could barely contain my excitement when I saw the figure on the porch.

As I had predicted, Nessie had grown since the last time I saw her. She was at least a foot taller and her proportions had changed. But she was still the same, in some ways. Her bronze curls shone, even in the weak sun filtering through the clouds. Her cheeks were still flushed pink as roses, her skin still like backlit alabaster. The same brown eyes that stared out of the mirror at me for 18 years still watched the car come to a stop. The same shining smile broke across her face when Alice and Rose got out of the car... or almost the same. It was slightly smaller, not quite so bright. I felt a sudden stab of guilt; I was the one that made it smaller.

“Aunt Alice!” she squealed. “What did you get me, what did you get me?”

So some things stayed the same after all.

Alice laughed. “You assume I got you anything, missy.”

Nessie gave her a disparaging look, and she sighed.

I chuckled as I watched my little girl bouncing up and down in anticipation, clapping her hands. Somehow, she heard me over her own excited squeals. Her movements suddenly came to a halt. Her head snapped round to look towards the car, tilted slightly to the left. Despite Alice’s darkened windows, I felt sure she could see me; she stared right into my eyes like she knew I was there. I barely noticed Carlisle, Jasper and Emmet appearing on the porch.

Esme squeezed my hand.

“You ready?” she whispered.

I nodded and tried to smile.

“Close your eyes.” Rose said, putting her hands over Renesmee’s face. Esme and I stepped out of the car. I took a deep breath to steady myself then gave Rosalie a small nod.

“Merry Christmas, baby girl!” she cried, moving her hands with a flourish.

“Aunt Rose, it’s not...” Nessie started to say, then gasped as she opened her eyes and saw me. I smiled at her, but didn’t move. I didn’t know what my sudden disappearance might have done to her, or if she could still love and trust me after all this time.

We stared at one another for a minute, and I grew increasingly worried. Nessie broke the silence.

“I’m dreaming,” she whispered, and rubbed her eyes, blinking to be sure she wasn’t seeing things. She looked so funny; I couldn’t help the short laugh that escaped my lips. Then she smiled too, a proper smile, and flung herself at me. I knelt down, opening my arms for her to race into, then stood again, swinging her around and burying my face in her hair.

“Momma!” she squealed, giggling madly. Her arms were tight around my neck, one hand pressed to my skin. Her thoughts were joyful; she had no words or pictures for her feelings, just the sheer happiness of our reunion, colouring everything. The world seemed to her to have taken on a strange, pinkish glow of love and contentment.

“Nessie, Nessie, my baby!” I whispered in her ear. “Oh darling, I’ve missed you, so, so much.”

Me too Momma. Me too.

Chapter 10: Hunting & Histories

Chapter 10: Hunting & Histories

We ran quickly through the dark streets of Volterra, careful to avoid the few humans still hanging around; the night was very warm, and the hum of air conditioners filled the otherwise silent city.

Marcus held my hand, leading me through the maze like alleys and back ways until we reached a small wooden door set into the city wall. He grinned at me, and I had to smile back. Anticipation was building in me at the thought of leaving the city for the first time in over two months.

Without a word, he pushed open the door and pulled me through it. I took a deep breath as a soft breeze washed over us, full of promise and the warm aroma of the Italian countryside.

“Anything good?” Marcus teased, and I laughed.

“Not yet. We might have to go a little further from the city. Animals don’t tend to get too close to humans if they can help it.”

I sniffed at the breeze again. A whisper of something familiar drifted in from the east. Marcus released my hand.

“I haven’t got a clue what we’re looking for, so you had better lead.”

I nodded and began to run again, following the scent as it got stronger and stronger. Marcus drifted behind me, seeming to have no more substance than a ghost. He was so quiet, it was almost like hunting alone.

As I ran, I began to get myself back into the old way of doing things. It felt good just to run; to feel the wind in my hair and the ground flying under my feet. My instincts were taking over as the scent came closer. Deer; not quite the same as I was used to, but similar enough that it wasn’t totally repulsive. I was proud of myself; I had thought that I would find the old scents unsavoury after the rich smell of human blood, but my body seemed to recognize what was right, what I wanted.

Eventually I cornered the herd. They tried to run, but I was faster, leaping onto the back of the largest one and closing my teeth around its neck. The familiar flavour washed over my tongue, bringing with it a thousand memories of home. I sucked greedily until my kill ran dry, then sprang up and chased after the others.

I took down half the herd before I felt full. Letting the rest of them escape, I sat down, leaning against a tree, and let out a contented sigh.

“Good?”

I smiled up at Marcus, who was balanced on a tree branch above my head, watching me with interest.

“Very,” I said, licking my lips. He made a face.

“They smell disgusting. I honestly thought I was going to vomit.”

I laughed. “It does take some getting used to. Carnivores are much better; more like humans.”

“You have many predators near you?”

I nodded. “Mountain lion mostly, but the odd grizzly bear. Emmet likes to wrestle them.” I smiled as I thought of my carefree big brother.

Marcus tilted his head, curious. “What was your first kill?” he asked, just as casually as if he was asking what my name was.

“Mountain lion. It would have been elk, but I got, er... distracted.”

“Distracted?” Marcus dropped down next to me, leaning back against the tree as well.

“Hikers. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time. It could have been disastrous if I had been alone.”

He nodded, but didn’t push me. “Any particular reason why your brother feels the need to wrestle grizzlies?”

I smiled, grateful for the subject change.

“I guess it has something to do with his change. When Rosalie found him... he got caught by a grizzly out in the woods. It was just about to finish him off when she arrived.”

Marcus looked confused. “She fought a bear to get to a human she didn’t even know?”

I nodded. “She saved his life; carried him over a hundred miles back to Carlisle, knowing she wouldn’t be able to change him herself. She says it was selfish of her, to doom him to this life, but I know she never regretted it. He’s her soul mate.”

He seemed to contemplate that for a moment. I sat quietly, letting my hunt work all the stress out of my body. My stomach was full to bursting point.

Eventually, Marcus spoke.

“I knew Carlisle was compassionate, but... I never realised how truly good he is. To save that boy’s life, when he didn’t even know him...” He shook his head. “I just can’t imagine it.”

I smiled. “Carlisle saved all of them. Not just Emmet; Rose and Esme and Edward too. They’d all be dead if it weren’t for him. I suppose I would be too...” I trailed off, remembering.

“How so?” Marcus asked. “Did he change you too?”

I shook my head. “If he had never changed Edward, who knows what would have happened to me. Now that I think about it, I probably would have been crushed by a van not long after I moved to Forks.”

His eyes questioned me, and I struggled to recall the dim human sights and sounds. I closed my eyes to help my concentration.

“It was very cold that day. I remember... it snowed the day before, and then rained, and the rain froze overnight. My dad put snow chains on my truck so I would be safe, but I didn’t realise until I got to school.” I took a deep breathe, continuing in a whisper.

“I was stood by the back corner of the truck when I heard a screeching noise. Tyler, a boy in my class, hit a patch of ice too fast, and his van started skidding across the lot... heading straight for me. I remember that Edward was there... two cars down. I closed my eyes... and something hit me. Not the van, something else. I was knocked down; my head hit the side walk. I didn’t realise Edward was there until he swore in my ear.”

Marcus chuckled and I gave a weak smile in response.

“He put his hand out and stopped the van. It started to swing around the truck bed. My legs would have been crushed, but Edward held the van up and moved them out of the way. I didn’t know what he was at the time, and he spent the rest of the day trying to convince me that I hit my head too hard and imagined it. We didn’t talk for about a month afterwards...” I sighed.

Marcus seemed to be thinking about something.

“I’m curious to hear more of your history. Really I only know Carlisle’s, and I’ve always wondered where all of you came from.” He smiled at me. “Would you tell me? I’ve heard the stories of your life together, but never the things that came before. How did Carlisle save the others?”

I looked at him. His burgundy eyes were earnest, curious; he really wanted to hear all this.

“Well... he found Edward first. It was Chicago in 1918...”

Over the next half an hour, leaning against the tree in the middle of nowhere, I told Marcus our entire family history, from Edward’s transformation to Renesmee’s birth and my own change. He listened, silent the whole time, saving his questions for the end. I answered them as best I could while we ran back to the city.

Chelsea met us at the back door to the tower, holding the thick black robes we had left behind. She told us that Aro had asked for us to go to him as soon as we returned. When we entered the great hall, Aro came straight to me and took my hand. I peeled back my shield, careful to only let him see the hunt before I dropped it. He looked at me curiously; I said I still had trouble keeping it up for long periods of time. In fact, I had got much better at lifting my shield, holding it completely away from me for up to 10 minutes at a time with no difficulty.

For two months my life continued in the same pattern. Once a week I would go hunting with Marcus. Each time, I would show Aro everything that happened. I began missing things, important things; Nessie’s second birthday; my own 21^st;Halloween; thanksgiving. Christmas was fast approaching, only two days away, when a very excited Marcus arrived at my chamber door one evening.

“Pack your bags Isabella. You’re going home.”