Four Christmases

This one was an entry for a Christmas contest which had to include mistletoe in some form.

Summary: A lot can change in four years. Bella reflects on Christmases past, and the effect of one green plant in particular. Pre Twilight - Post Breaking Dawn, Canon, BPOV

In my mind, the start of the Twilight Saga comes in the year that Twilight was published (i.e. 2005) so this story is written from that perspective.

2004

Phoenix, Arizona

“Honey, I'm home!”

I rolled my eyes as Phil strolled into the kitchen. In my opinion, he was taking the whole husband thing too far, but Renee liked it, so who was I to complain. Besides, my new step-dad had been away for four weeks job hunting. He was entitled to a grand entrance if he wanted it.

“Hey Bella!” he said enthusiastically, coming up behind me and placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. “What's for dinner?”

“Leftover turkey and mixed vegetables.” I replied with a smile.

“Awesome. Where's your mom?”

“Living room.”

“PHIL!!” Renee squealed the second she saw him, the pitch of her voice making me want to cover my ears. I would never understand couples.

“Hey babe. Look what I've got.”

I turned around just in time to see Phil pull a sprig of mistletoe out of his pocket at hold it over my mom's head, and tried not to gag as he leaned in to kiss her.

“Still in the room.” I reminded them. Renee just laughed and pulled Phil back into the living room.

I never thought I'd say it, but I couldn't wait to go to Charlie's.

2005

Swan Home, Forks, Washington

I stared morosely at the tiny Christmas tree in the corner, decked out with all Charlie's musty old decorations. I knew he'd gone a little overboard with the decorations in an attempt to cheer me up. He should really have known by now that that was utterly impossible. Nothing could make me happy, not now. Not even Christmas.

The front door banged open, letting a gust of cold wind whoosh into the house before Charlie could slam it shut. I looked up at him as he shook out his wet hair; it was raining outside, just like every other day. Nothing special.

“Hey there kiddo,” Charlie said, pulling off his boots and jacket before coming to sit to next to me. “Look what I got.”

He held out a little clump of mistletoe that I hadn't noticed before, then held it over his head.

“Give your old man a kiss?” he said, grinning. My answering smile was half hearted, and I knew it didn't reach my eyes. I leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

It was Christmas. It shouldn't matter that my heart was gone. It shouldn't matter that the hole in my chest was practically tearing me in half. It shouldn't matter that he was never coming back.

But all I could do was pretend, for Charlie's sake. Because all that did matter. And I couldn't have a merry Christmas while that was true.

2006

Cullen Home, Forks, Washington

Mommy, what's that? Renesmee asked, her hand pressed to my arm so she didn't have to speak. She was picturing the little sprig of green hanging in the doorway of the living room, wondering what it was for.

“That's mistletoe, sweetheart.” I replied.

Why is it there?

“It's a Christmas decoration. Everyone hangs it in their houses at this time of year, because it's traditional. People have been doing it for years.”

But what's it for? Why do they hang it where everyone can see? She was still confused. I smiled. Her natural inquisitiveness was one of the few things that seemed to be characteristic of her outward appearance; she asked just as many questions as an ordinary five year old - maybe even more - and most of them started with why.

“Well sweetheart, I don't know exactly why, but there's a Christmas tradition to do with mistletoe. If a man and a woman are standing together under the mistletoe, they're supposed to give each other a kiss.”

Renesmee made a face. Yuk.

I laughed lightly. “It's not so bad sweetheart. When the person is someone you love, you don't mind giving them a kiss.”

She smiled up at me. Her sweet little face made me think again of how much she meant to me, how much I loved her. I would do anything to make my Renesmee safe. The Volturi's impending arrival loomed so close that I couldn't even enjoy Christmas properly, but I knew that everything would be alright as long as I had my family.

2007

The Cottage, just outside Forks, Washington

I sighed happily as I placed the last of the wrapped gifts into Nessie's stocking. She'd never really gotten into the whole Santa thing, but I wanted to keep the traditions in place, just in case she ever decided to start them with her own children, if she had any.

I thought again how quickly life could change, and how much could change in such a short time.

Three years ago, I never would have imagined vampires existed. Now, I was one.

Three years ago, I wasn't even thinking about love. Now, I was married and a mother.

Three years ago, if someone had told me everything that I've been through since moving to Forks, I would have laughed in their face and called them crazy.

Warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and I turned to face Edward, a wide smile on my face. His smile was blinding. He still managed to dazzle me just as much, if not more, than he had when I was human.

“What are you thinking about, love?” he whispered, staring into my eyes as if all the answers to life's problems lay within their depths.

“Just remembering... the last few Christmases. It's incredible how fast things can change.”

He led me to the couch, sitting down and pulling me into his lap.

“Tell me about it.” he urged, brushing my hair back and pressing a kiss below my ear.

“Well... three years ago, I was in Phoenix with Renee and Phil.”

He smiled against my neck. “Three years ago I was enduring Alice's idea of a family Christmas, surrounded by couples.”

I giggled; he said couples like it was a dirty word. He carried on speaking, his tone more sedate.

“The next year, I was chasing Victoria, wondering why I wasn't here with you, and telling myself every five minutes that you were better off without me.” He pulled back, pleading with his eyes for me to respond. I sighed.

“Two years ago, I was... so out of touch with reality, I barely knew what was going on. It all just seemed like another day to me.”

Edward kissed my lips softly, reminding me that he was here and he loved me. Not that I needed reminding.

“And last year?” he murmured.

I sighed again. “Last year we were all so worried about the Volturi, we couldn't even enjoy ourselves. But now...” I trailed off.

He grinned. “Now we can finally have Christmas together, as a family, without being afraid. We have a beautiful daughter, and we have each other. What more could we want?”

I laughed. “You don't mind that I didn't get you a Christmas present then?” I joked.

He pretended to be shocked and hurt, which only made me laugh more, until he gave up and chuckled as well.

“You, Mrs. Cullen, are a rotten little tease.” he accused.

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But I'm your rotten little tease.”

Edward just laughed as he carried me to our room.

Life just doesn't get any better than this.

Following An Angel

I wrote this for fun one afternoon when I was bored.
Summary: The ghost of Royce King II, Rosalie's human fiancé, is cursed to follow her through her whole life, to see the happiness that he could never give her.
Enjoy! :)

She stood before me, a demon angel in a long white dress. She had just broken her way through a two foot metal door with a deadlock seal. It was impossible, but it was true. My eyes travelled up her body, following every curve. God she was gorgeous, even better than Rose. The dress didn’t fit her perfectly, like it wasn’t meant for her, but it still hugged her shape. I looked higher, to find her pearly white skin, shimmering slightly. And then...

Oh God, her face! I screamed; I couldn’t stop myself. She wasn’t just like Rosalie Hale, she was Rosalie. Her eyes blazed crimson as she smiled a wicked smile at me. I screamed again, hoping someone would hear, but at the same time knowing no body would.

“Hello Royce,” she hissed in a voice like honey, “I think you know why I’m here, don’t you?”

I couldn’t speak. I just sat there dumbfounded at she moved towards me, the cruel little smile on her lips stretching into a contortion of teeth.

________________________________________________________________________

I was floating. The pain didn’t go away, but I could think around it...barely. I knew what was happening. Somehow I knew everything. I was dead. Rosalie, the girl I thought I had killed, had killed me. I was doomed. I would follow her for the rest of her life, to watch what I had done. I hadn’t changed her, but I had made it necessary. And she would live forever.

An eternity of pain.

I learned about her new life. She was fairly happy, once she accepted that she could never go back, but she didn’t like what she had become. She hated it.

But this life was good for her. Carlisle and Esme loved her more than her parents ever had; she was a daughter to them, not a tool for furthering themselves. Edward did not worship her feet like every other man had, which irritated her a little, but he loved her like a sister, and he was her brother in every sense of the word.

Two years later, she found him. Out hunting, she came across a young man with curly brown hair about to be finished off by a bear. She saved him. I don’t know why. Her thoughts were usually pretty clear to me, but I couldn’t make sense of this particular impulse. And once Carlisle changed him, everything clicked into place so perfectly that she never thought of why she did it ever again.

Emmet was everything Rosalie needed. He loved her in a way that I never had. He was everything I had never been. He loved the feel of her hand in his, not the stares they were getting. He loved her face, not because it was beautiful, but because it was hers. He loved her, not her body.

For decades, nothing changed. Alice and Jasper arrived, but fit themselves in so seamlessly that it seemed as if nothing had changed. The family moved around a lot, and Rosalie was content.

Then they went to Forks. Edward found Bella. Rosalie’s jealousy was shocking, considering that she didn’t actually like the guy. But she made herself be happy, for his sake. And, in time, she truly loved Bella too.

When Renesmee came along, Rose was thrilled. She loved the strange little girl with her captivating powers, and Bella really became her sister. Jacob irritated her, but she let that go.

I have to watch them still, see the happiness, see the contentment there, in that family of ‘monsters’. Rosalie never thought of me even once. And though I know that without me none of this could have happened, every second is filled with agony for what I did to this perfect, precious girl. I hurt her. I stole her life. I will live without that until she dies and I can finally go to hell.

But she will never die.

Crap.

Meeting Momma

Renesmee’s POV of her first meeting with Bella.

Enjoy! ;-P

GB

________________________________________________________________________

Jakey raced through the door, positioning himself in front of me and Rosie. I could see the rest of my family take up similar poses between the door and us.

I wondered why they did it.

Then two more figures came through the door, and I wondered no more.

The first was Daddy, looking a little strange, because he wasn’t wearing a shirt, but smiling as serenely as always. I didn’t waste time staring at the face I already had memorised. I moved to the other figure, the one holding Daddy’s hand.

She was beautiful.

Living with my family, I’d had more than my fair share of beauty, despite my relatively short life; but I had never seen a face that enchanted me so much.

She was pale as Daddy- and Rosie, and everyone else- her cheeks a little flushed, the way I remembered the others’ sometimes were when they came home with light eyes.

Her hair fell past her shoulders, deep brown and a little tangled. It shone in the light filtering through the grey clouds. I couldn’t see much more of her; everyone was in the way. I leaned forward, willing Jacob to move out of the way.

Her eyes met mine. For half a second, I was frightened. Her eyes were blood red, staring at me with a look of shock and awe. Then she gasped.

“I was out just two days?” she said, a shocked whisper all she seemed able to manage. Her voice sparked something in me, and the eyes didn’t seem scary any more.

She seemed to be studying me, and I took advantage of my slightly improved viewpoint to try and see her better. I saw she was wearing Daddy’s shirt over a blue dress. The skirt hung below the bottom of the white fabric, and it was dirty and torn.

I put my hand on Rosie’s neck, showing her my only memory of my mother; the ravaged, blood streaked face with the warm brown eyes and soft, adoring smile. I compared it to the beauty by the door and wondered if they could possibly be the same person.

Rosie patted my hand. “Yes that’s her.”

I stared curiously into the shocked face of my... my mother. I looked for similarities, searching for a connection. I found it in the shape of her lips, the same lips that had given me such a sweet smile, even when I had caused her so much pain. I smiled widely at her.

She took a step forward, and I thought we would have our reunion.

But then everyone was in the way again. Rosie moved back towards the door, and I struggled. I didn’t know what I would do, even if it were possible for me to get out of her arms. They hadn’t put me down once; I went from person to person like the present in a game of pass-the-parcel. Despite that, I would happily have crawled across the room using only my arms, if it could get me to her.

I could faintly hear other voices, my family talking among themselves. I didn’t listen closely; I had the feeling I wouldn’t understand much anyway. All I could comprehend was her face; the changing expressions; the flawless perfection; the eyes, so different to any I had seen, continually flashing to me. She seemed to be irritated by something. Whatever it was, Daddy found it funny.

Eventually, they started to move again. Momma walked very slowly, Daddy holding tight to her arms and Uncle Jasper resting his hand on her shoulder. The others kept very close. The impatience inside of me grew and grew, getting more pronounced as she got closer. I needed her - waiting so long was killing me - and it seemed that I would have to wait even longer.

Without thinking, I opened my mouth and used my vocal chords for the first time. I wailed, as loud as I could, desperately trying to convey my message to Momma.

Come here, come here. I can’t wait any more. I want you now.

That was all I could think, even as I was surrounded by people. Cold hands gently tried to sooth me, velvet voices murmured calming words, but nothing was right. My hearing seemed to centre again, the words coming back into focus as Jacob’s voice rose above the others.

“What happened? Is she hurt? What’s wrong?”

His arms reached out for me, and I went into them. I pressed my hand against his skin for a second, flashing him the irritation and impatience, before I leaned away, stretching to my mother. She had been left alone when the others rushed to comfort me, and she looked very odd, standing there all by herself.

“See,” I heard Rosie say, reassuring Jakey. “She just wants Bella.”

Bella. Bella.

I liked it. Mommy’s name was beautiful, just like everything else about her.

“She wants me?” she whispered, almost in shock, and her perfect voice had me aching with the longing to be near her, to feel her arms curl around me, smiling at me like that first time.

Daddy was beside her then, gently pushing her towards me.

“She’s been waiting for you for almost three days,” he said quietly. Too right I had. Stop making me wait!

Something seemed to change in Mommy’s face as they closed the distance between us. It was as if she saw something in my face that she hadn’t seen before, and she liked it.

I felt like I would explode with joy when her hands finally touched me. My mother was holding me, albeit slightly hindered by the fact that Jacob wouldn’t let me go.

I smiled up at her, and then, very deliberately, put my hand against her pale cheek.

The same picture I had showed Rosie flashed through both of our heads, focusing on the smile, the adoration in her eyes. She gasped, shocked by what I was showing her.

I zoned out again, not listening to the others talking around me, not even listening to her. I just sat there, in her arms, taking her in. She smelled heavenly, like Daddy, but different. Sweeter and, if possible, more fragrant. A lock of her deep brown hair hung near me, and I began tugging on it lightly.

I smiled all the way trough their short conversation, until Mommy looked down at me again.

“I remember you too,” she said, very quiet.

Then she leaned in, inhaling my scent as she gently kissed my forehead.

I, Renesmee Cullen, am one very lucky baby.