"Mama, why can't I go to Jake's house?" Renesmee looked up from her copy of Moby Dick, closing the book but marking her place with her index finger. It was difficult to treat her as a five-year-old, though that was her chronological age. She was as tall as her mother, a pale, gorgeous brunette with the budding curves of a teenager.

"You know the rules, Honey," Bella said. She had been standing, still as an elegant statue, and watching Edward and his brothers through the window as they played touch football in the back yard. She shook her head and stifled a laugh as Emmett lifted Jasper and tossed him at Edward. "Daddy doesn't want you on the rez. Jacob comes here to see you just about every day." Bella's voice was soft and melodious, without a hint of reproach. She and Renesmee had one of those rare mother-daughter relationships that existed with almost no disagreements.

"Does he really think Jake would let anyone hurt me?" Renesmee's pretty face crinkled into a frown, and Bella turned from the window. "You know he'd literally die for me, Mom. He's proven that over and over."

"No, I'm sure none of the Quileutes would want to harm you. Daddy just doesn't like you out of our sight. It's your real age, Renesmee." Bella held up a finger to ward off the expected protest. "I know you look fifteen, but we both know you don't have the experience of all those years."

Renesmee sighed. "I'm not a baby, Mom. And Jake says there's a beach right by his house. You know how I love the ocean!"

Bella laughed briefly but stopped when she saw Renesmee's expression. She walked over and wrapped her arms gracefully around her daughter's shoulders, kissing her hair. "It's December, Ness! Not exactly beach weather!"

Renesmee blinked. "Oh no! When is Christmas?"

Smiling, Bella pointed to the calendar on the wall. "It's a week away. Didn't you say you've finished all your shopping?"

"All but Jake," Renesmee replied gloomily.

"I thought you were knitting him a scarf," Bella said. "Did you finish it?"

Shaking her head, Renesmee said, "It was a dumb gift for a - you know - wolfman. He's never cold. I did finish it, but I'm giving it to Grandpa Charlie. I really want something special for Jake, but I just don't know what."

"How about if you get a picture of the two of you on a coffee mug or a pillow? If you order it today you should have it in time."

Renesmee grinned. "I like that idea. Can I use that picture on your phone - you know, the one where he was wolfy and I was stretching up to hug him? I called him my gentle giant. Maybe I can get that on the mug." Bella handed her the phone and Renesmee scurried off to her room and her laptop computer.

Christmas morning dawned cold and unusually clear. Renesmee opened her eyes, yawned, and grabbed her chenille robe, belting it on her way downstairs. This was only her fifth Christmas, but she knew the drill. Esme was in the kitchen popping a cookie sheet in the oven. Her cinnamon rolls were heavenly, and soon their aroma filled the warm kitchen.

"Merry Christmas, Grandma!" Renesmee hugged her beautiful grandmother, frozen in time at the tender age of 26. "That's a lot of cinnamon rolls!" Renesmee knew she was the only person in the house with an appetite - as well as the only one with a heartbeat.

"I'm sure your bff will be here any minute, Sweetheart. We both know he can do some damage to a tray of my rolls." Right on cue, there was a tap at the back door and, not waiting for an answer, Jacob Black suddenly seemed to fill the spacious kitchen. He snaked an arm around Renesmee's waist and kissed her cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Nessie!" She flung her arms around his waist and hugged him as if she hadn't seen him in a week. He had been gone less than nine hours. "What did Santa bring you?"

Flinging her long tresses over her shoulder, Renesmee said, "You know I don't believe in Santa Claus, Jake!"

He shrugged. "Then I guess you don't get any presents."

Giggling, she pulled him to a kitchen chair. "You know we don't do presents until after breakfast. And I have to get dressed, like a young lady." She tried to imitate her father's voice, and he laughed.

"Breakfast first," Esme smiled as she pulled the perfectly browned cinnamon rolls out of the oven and set them on the burner. She quickly spread them with white frosting and placed two on Wedgewood china dessert plates. Setting them on the table, she untied her spotless white apron and hung it on a hook by the door. "I'll go see if everyone is ready. Take your time and enjoy your breakfast."

Jacob ate the big roll in two bites. He went to the fridge and took out a gallon of milk, pouring each of them a large glass and setting the cookie sheet on the table. Before stuffing another roll in his mouth, he said "I'll just clean this up while you get dressed."

Renesmee swatted him affectionately as she left the room. With Jacob in the house, her world was complete. They all met in the airy family room twenty minutes later. The enormous Douglas fir was ablaze with a thousand tiny white lights, and gaily wrapped packages were neatly stacked under it.

"Nice hat," Renesmee giggled when she saw the Santa hat perched atop Jacob's dark hair. He reached under the tree and withdrew a small package with his name on it.

Shaking it gently, he asked her "Is it a puppy? I really wanted a puppy." He unwrapped the gift slowly, guessing all the way. "Kitten?" He put the box to his ear and shook his head. "Tires for my Rabbit?" Finally, he opened the box and removed the oversized coffee mug, turning it in his big hands.

"It's beautiful, Ness. That was a special day, and now I'll never forget it." She beamed, and Carlisle took over the role of Santa as everyone opened their gifts and oohed and aahed over them.

"Time for my gift to you," Jacob said to Renesmee. "Come on."

She frowned. "Where are we going?" She looked at her parents, but they were both smiling at her.

"I got permission to take you to the rez for your present," Jacob grinned.

Renesmee jumped up and headed for the door. "Ummm...maybe you should grab your coat," Jacob said with a chuckle.

"Oh, right!" She pulled a bright red coat from the hall closet and flipped it over her head, fastening buttons as she flew down the stairs. Jacob shook his head and accepted a fluffy white scarf and matching gloves from Bella. He pecked her on the cheek and followed Renesmee out the front door to his Rabbit. She was already buckling herself in to the passenger seat.

As they got closer to the reservation, Renesmee opened her window wide. "I can smell the ocean," she said with her eyes closed.

"In that case, maybe we'll stop by First Beach before we go to my house. Okay with you?" She laughed, knowing the question was entirely rhetorical.

The car had barely stopped when Renesmee scrambled out and ran along the dunes toward the water, stopping several feet short of the surf line. "Did you do this?" A perfect little snowman made of sand, complete with Santa hat and twig arms, stood on the beach.

"You like Santa Jake?" Jacob grinned as Renesmee came barreling at him. He stooped to catch her in his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.

Renesmee had kissed Jacob a hundred times, maybe a thousand, before. His lips were warm and soft as always, but this time she felt a fluttering somewhere deep inside her - in a place she hadn't even known existed. It took her breath away, and she stared into his deep, dark eyes, lips slightly parted, heart hammering in her chest. He set her on the ground, a puzzled look on his face. "You okay, Ness?"

"Yeah, I'm...fine," she said, though her voice was a bit strained. "It's just...I love him," she said softly.