Once I finished reminiscing about last night, I decided to take a quick shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. I made my way down the stairs, using the banister to spin myself around playfully as I descended. The house was beautifully decorated, with twinkling lights and festive ornaments adorning every corner, a testament to the fact that this was our favourite holiday.

"Merry Christmas, darling," my grandma's voice rang out as I stepped into the kitchen and found her busy plating up waffles.

"Merry Christmas, Grams," I responded with a bright smile. I walked over to the table and took my rightful seat, watching as she finished plating the last waffle with careful precision. The table was beautifully adorned with a vibrant array of fruits, including plump strawberries, ripe bananas, and juicy blueberries, alongside an assortment of chocolates—dark, milk, and white—ready to drizzle over the warm waffles.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked as she placed the empty plate in the sink and made her way to her seat.

"Fine," I replied briefly before diving into my breakfast. I could feel her gaze lingering on me as she took her seat, and I knew it wouldn't waver anytime soon. I braced myself to face the music, knowing the moment was coming.

I slowly lifted my gaze from my plate to meet her watchful eyes. One eyebrow arched, and her arms were crossed over her chest, giving me a look that suggested she knew everything.

"He better have used a condom," she said bluntly, causing my eyes to widen in shock and nearly making me choke on my waffle.

"Grams!" I exclaimed, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment at what she was saying. My grandma wasn't a prude by any means. When I entered my teenage years, she took the time to sit me down for the birds and the bees talk, explaining everything in a way that felt both straightforward and caring. We discussed periods in detail—what to expect and how to handle them—making sure I understood the changes my body was going through. She emphasised that if I ever had any questions about sex or relationships, I should feel comfortable asking her instead of turning to the internet. Her openness made it clear that I could trust her to provide honest and reliable guidance.

"Do you think I was born yesterday?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Can we please talk about something else?!" I quickly replied, desperate to change the subject. However, she shot me a stern look, making it clear she wouldn't relent until I gave her a satisfactory answer. I knew I had to keep it simple, no details, just reassurance that we were safe. "Yes!" I finally blurted out. "We used a condom... multiple ones," I added this in hopes of throwing her off track and preventing any further questions. She looked at me for a moment, then nodded softly, as if my answer was sufficient.

"Did he hurt you?" she asked, but her concern wasn't about the sex; she was referring to the fact that he was a vampire and much stronger than I was. Their heightened senses and emotions allowed them to experience everything tenfold compared to us.

"No," I replied firmly, determined not to mention the bruises on my thighs. "He was a perfect gentleman," I added, and he truly was. He made sure I was okay and that I was enjoying myself, always asking if I wanted him to stop. But I never told him to; it was completely consensual.

Suddenly, my grandma smiled brightly, catching me off guard for a moment. "I'm so glad you found love, sweetheart," she said, causing me to smile at her.

"So am I," I replied, feeling truly lucky. Never in a million years did I imagine that moving to Forks would bring not only friendships but also a relationship. That's why it broke my heart to think about the future and the possibility of not being there—with Emmett, with Bella and the Cullens, and with my Grams.

Did I even want to know? When you're aware of the future, can you truly change what's destined to happen?

After breakfast, we exchanged presents. There weren't many, but that didn't matter to me. What my Grams gave me was thoughtful and perfect, more than enough to make me smile. And the gift I gave her? She loved it—her eyes lit up as she unwrapped it, and I could see the joy spread across her face, which made my heart swell. It wasn't about the quantity, but the meaning behind each gift, and in that moment, everything felt just right.

After we finished exchanging presents, we dressed in warmer clothes and headed to Bella's. We carried a bag filled with gifts for everyone who would be there—after all, we couldn't show up empty-handed on Christmas.

We got there just in time, as they were opening presents. So, I handed out the presents, while my Grams helped Sue and him in the kitchen. Charlie had insisted she didn't need to pitch in, but my Grams was a whiz in the kitchen and loved lending a hand whenever she could. I gave Seth and Leah their gifts, just a little something they had mentioned in passing before. It was a joint present that my Grams and I had picked out together. Next, I handed Jacob his gift and then gave Renesmee hers—a talisman we had picked up a while ago. Even though it wasn't actually enchanted, she loved it just the same.

My Grams gave Bella and Edward their gift, a simple item meant to be placed in their home to ward off evil spirits. They found it quite fitting, considering who we were, but they loved it nonetheless. We coordinated with Bella about her gift for her father—a fishing trip to the Fraser River in Canada—so we decided to get him some Canadian money for the trip. Which he was thankful for.

I stood in the kitchen, gazing out the window as the snow continued to fall, layering the ground in a thick, white blanket. At the same time, I was also lost in thought. My thoughts were a tangled mess, everything blending into a fog that I couldn't seem to untangle.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Bella's voice broke through the haze, pulling me back to reality. I turned to face her, standing nearby, and gave her a soft smile.

"The snow's sticking," I said, noting the shift in her expression. She seemed just as worried about what was to come, but she gave me a quick nod in response.

"We still have today," she said, her voice carrying a touch of hope as if the normalcy of the moment could somehow balance out the uncertainty of what was ahead. "I have something for you," Bella said, holding up a festive Christmas bag, drawing my attention. My eyes widened in surprise. "But Emmett wanted me to give you this." She reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a small, oblong box—just the kind you'd expect for a necklace. I still had the one he gifted me just before Bella's wedding.

I tilted my head slightly as I took the black velvet box from her hand, inspecting it briefly. Curiosity was getting the better of me, so I lifted the lid. Resting on a soft white cushion inside was a beautiful gold necklace, the crest all the Cullens wore hanging delicately from its chain. I gasped, overwhelmed by the significance of it. This was more than just a gift—it felt like an official invitation into their family.

I stood there, my gaze shifting between the necklace and Bella, completely speechless. After a long pause, Bella broke the silence. "There are a few more things in the bag from the rest of us," she said, gently lifting the bag to show me.

"I... I don't know what to say," I stammered, completely flabbergasted.

"He loves you, Char, so much," Bella said, her voice soft but sincere. "When you're not around, he talks about you constantly—he can't stop." She laughed, and I couldn't help but join her, a small chuckle escaping my lips, though tears were dangerously close to spilling from my eyes.

I wiped my eyes quickly, trying to keep my emotions in check, but Bella's words hit me deeper than I expected. I felt this warmth spread through me—an overwhelming sense of being loved, truly loved, by someone who meant the world to me.

"You're really lucky, you know that?" Bella said, her tone soft, but the smile on her face was genuine. "Emmett's been waiting for someone like you for decades."

I couldn't help but smile back, a mixture of joy and disbelief swirling inside me. "I feel the same way about him," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, as though saying it too loudly would make it all too real. But then my thoughts drifted to the Salem Thirteen, to the tarot reading, and the haunting feeling that something was coming for me. I couldn't just push it aside, no matter how hard I tried. Something was going to happen, and it was unavoidable.

I gently lifted the necklace from the box, placing the box carefully on the counter. Using both hands, I draped the necklace around my neck, feeling the smooth chain settle perfectly in place. I clasped it at the back, the length just right—not too long, not too short. It fit perfectly like it was meant for me. I ran my fingers gently over the engraving of the crest, the cool metal under my touch reminding me of Emmett. My thoughts drifted to him, to the bond we shared, and how much this gesture meant.

Charlie called us to the dinner table signalling that Christmas dinner was ready. It was time for us to gather, to enjoy the meal, and to make the most of this moment—keeping things as normal and joyful as possible.

I could feel the end drawing near, and the Salem Thirteen were waiting for me...

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