Noonday Sun: A Post-Breaking Dawn Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 2, Christmas

Chapter 2, Christmas

Christmas dawned early.

Nessie was already up and dressed when Edward and I came out of our bedroom. She was jumping up and down in excitement. "Can we go yet?"

Our plan had been to spend half the morning with the Cullens then head to Charlie's around ten. Another five am morning. No one at the Cullens ever slept, so I didn't suppose it mattered if we were there at five or nine.

I was surprised by Nessie's early rising. She usually didn't get up until eight, but excitement was in the air, and I knew she wanted to open her presents.

Edward was immaculate, as usual. I decided I'd better change out of my sweats. Alice would be hurt if I wasn't wearing something better suited for family pictures.

I've never seen such an obsession with scrap books.

I threw on an elegant dark blue pantsuit I thought might be acceptable. I could tell from Edward's expression when I entered the room that he liked my choice.

Then again, he always looks pleased to see me. I smiled at the thought.

We walked toward the Cullen home, Nessie between us. When we reached the river, Edward picked her up and lightly jumped over it. He released her as he landed. I joined them, hardly getting moisture from the damp earth on my shoes as I landed on the other side.

"Should we call Jacob?" I asked Edward. "This is Nessie's second Christmas. It won't be the same next year with her growing so fast... " I trailed off, waiting for Edward's answer.

"Good idea. We should give him the choice." Edward pulled out his cell phone and called Jacob. With Jacob watching Nessie so much, we'd bought him a cell phone so we could stay in contact.

"Hi." I could hear how groggy Jacob sounded. Edward might as well have his phone on speaker. It was amazing how well I could hear the conversation. I still marveled at my vampire abilities.

"Nessie wants to open her presents. Do you want us to wait for you?"

I could hear Jacob's brain waking up. "Umm. Sure. I'll be there in about ten minutes. Seth wants to join us this morning. I'll grab him on my way up."

When we walked into the Cullen home, we could hear Alice and Esme rustling in the kitchen.

They wanted everything perfect for Nessie's Christmas dinner. As Nessie aged, her human side was becoming more evident. She was eating less blood—we had been able to wean her from donated human blood before we moved to New Hampshire—and more human food, and actually liked some of the foods Esme had introduced to her. Having Jacob eat with such enthusiasm had sparked an interest in food for Nessie.

After giving Nessie a kiss and hugging Edward, Alice flitted back to the kitchen to help Esme.

"We're waiting for Jacob before we open gifts," Edward announced to no one in particular.

Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper came down the stairs shortly after we arrived. Rose, divinely beautiful, as always, descended the staircase a few seconds later. She hurried over to Nessie and picked her up, adoration showing on her perfect features.

If she'd been able to have children with Emmett, her happiness would be complete. I didn't begrudge her moments with Nessie.

We headed into the kitchen, Edward's and my noses wrinkling with distaste. The human food had no appeal to us. Nessie, on the other hand, was showing some interest in the variety of cookies, bite-sized cakes, and candies arranged neatly on saran-wrapped platters. It was obvious that the food was laid out for the wedding, but I knew that Nessie would be allowed to sample whatever she wanted. The Cullens indulged her every wish.