Wonder ~ Paul Lahote

eighteen

The weather was gradually getting colder and wetter and drearier.
October melted into November and before we knew it. It was December.
Christmas was approaching rather quickly and I hadn't even started my Christmas shopping.
So that's what me and Leah were doing today.

"Come on Leah it'll be fun. I promise!" I begged. You know when I said me and Leah were going shopping. Well I hadn't exactly asked her at that point.
That was me begging her to come out. I didn't want to go alone and I couldn't exactly ask Paul to come when I was potentially buy his gift.

"You said this last time we went shopping" she groaned but got up regardless.
"Yes but this time it will actually be fun"

Thanks to Leah's brilliant mind and idea for what to get everyone I had more of less completed my C1hristmas shopping.
"Told you it would be fun"
"Eh, wouldn't say fun is the appropriate word for it but whatever floats your boat" she waved me off.

"Okay I'm going to wrap these and I'll be ready later to relieve you from your patrol duty" I stated, and she simply nodded.
Sam had so loving put me on the late patrol shift with Jared. Something about me not doing the shift that often so I suppose it was only fair.

It was Christmas in a couple of days so I knew I wouldn't particularly enjoy working into the early hours of Christmas morning but never mind can't get everything we want.

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Christmas morning was finally here. Paul and I spent then entire day together as we travelled round to each household to basically playing Santa, giving out presents to everyone. I'm a giver not a taker. Picking and giving presents was my favourite part.

Whilst Paul went to Sam and Emily's I was permitted to go across the treaty line to the Cullens to give Ness her gifts. They had just gotten back from the visit to Bella's fathers house. I would have liked to get something for everyone but they insisted just for Ness s technically it was her first Christmas.

"Hey! Have you got a sec?" Bella spoke softly to me. We were just watching Renesmee open her gifts.
"Yeah course" I nodded and she led me into a different room.

"We've got a slight problem. One of our cousins from the Denali Coven caught wind of Ness and thinks she's an immortal child"
"What's an immortal child?" I questioned.
"They're children who were bitten. The moment they are turned they can no longer but taught discipline and restraint, basically becoming extremely unpredictable and dangerous"
"But she was born" I said incredulously.

"I know, we know. But she's gone to the Volturi before we could talk to her and accused us of something she thinks we did. We need whitenesses of our own to prove she's not what they think she is.
Alice and Jasper left and no one knows where they went. We're hoping with enough people knowing the truth it can work in our favour.
Jacob agreed on the wolves behalf, do you reckon they'd be okay"
"Jacob never mentioned it, not to me at least, not sure about Sam. It'll take a bit of persuasion but I'm sure they will. They know the truth" truthfully I wasn't sure if they'd accept but I knew I needed to speak to Sam, if Jacob already hadn't, before he found out from someone else.

"I'll speak to Sam, he deserves to know whats going on"
Bella nodded and we went to join the rest of the Cullen family.

"Thank you for my gifts Tierney!" Renesmee said coming over to where I stood. She gave me a huge hug.
"That's okay Ness. I'm glad you liked them" I said cupping her cheek with my hand in affection.

"Hey I've got to go but thanks for having me" I spoke to Bella and Edward.
"Thanks for coming and Ness' presents. And thank you for the support you give my family" Edward spoke putting an arm around Bella's waist.
"She's a sweet girl, I'm going to do what I can to keep her safe" I said and then left to head back to the Res.

I walked into the house where thankfully everyone was present. Well everyone barring Jacob, he was still at the Cullens house with his imprint.

"Oh I'm glad you're all here. We need to talk" I stated taking a seat next to Paul, who greeted me with a soft kiss to my temple.
"What's up?" Sam being the first to break the silence.

"So Jacob. Our wonderful friend. Has so kindly agreed on our behalf that we will be whitenesses against the vampire kings. One of the cousins from Alaska dobbed them in accusing them of the unthinkable by saying they created an immortal child. That child being Ness. Now we all know she's some sort of half and half but they've asked us to whiteness for them. Now I told Bella that I'd speak to you guys first as you all deserve to know about the situation"

"That idiot always dragging us into his shit" Paul mumbled angrily beside me.

"We'll I appreciate someone having the decency to actually come and tell us. The Cullens don't pose a threat to us so based solely on that reasoning I believe we can do this for the Cullens.
Did they say when?"
"Just when the snow sticks. Which by my calculation is within the next week quite possibly December 31st" I said.
"We have time to prepare what are the Cullens doing in the mean time?"
"I believe they're gathering vampire whiteness, some of their close friends from all over the world"

"There's going to be a few most phases over that time. We need to be prepared"

There we're a few grumbled and groans about the entire situation which is completely understandable as Jacob once again has more of less signed our death certificates.

I turned to Paul, who was already gazing in my direction. I smiled at him as he gave me a soft kiss.
"I have something else for you" I whispered to him. He looked at me confused and I just gestured him to follow me as I took his hand in mine.
"Where are we going?" He said following me closely.
"Just out here. I wanted to give you your last gift when it was just us two" I spoke handing him an envelope.
"You didn't have to get me anything else"
"Just shut up and open it" to which he quickly obliged.

"Two return flights to the Maldives" he read out loud.
"I thought once all this was over and done with and the new year had been and gone we could get away for a little while. Just you and me" I smiled.
"How did I get so lucky?" He said gathering me up in his arms, placing me on his lap and kissing me with so much passion.
"I'm pretty great" I said smugly.
"Now that's an understatement" he said planting kisses all over my face, whilst I laugh squirming my seat.

Honestly this Christmas had topped all my previous ones, purely because of one man.