Ice and snow crunched under tires as a blue rental car came to a stop. Santiago once more checked in the rearview to make sure the venom coating his eyes hadn't dissolved his dark brown contacts.

"We don't have to do this," Ashlynn whispered as she saw her mates face full with disdain. She knew how much he hated wearing contacts to red his normal red hue.

"I want to," Santiago reassured, "I want to meet your family."

Ashlynn nodded and looked at the house that raised her. It was a two story white house with an attached garage and dark green shutters. A police car sat in the small u-turn and an old beat up truck sat in front of the garage doors. Santiago watched as his mate smoothed down her skirt, a nervous habit.

"How different will Bella look?" She asked softly.

Santiago felt his mood sour more. He didn't like his mate's sister, her obvious want of immortality gave Santiago a quick hatred of her. Yet, he could stomach a weekend around her if it meant his mate was happy.

"She'll be paler, cold as ice, hair darker and features more symmetrical and alluring," Santiago answered automatically, "Her voice will be different as well, higher in pitch since she's a woman, but I doubt we'll see her."

"Why?"

"She's still a newborn." Santiago removed his seatbelt. "The Cullens would want to keep her away from humans."

Ashlynn nodded and climbed out of the car as her father came outside the house. "Daddy!" Ashlynn cheered as she ran up the driveway and hugged her father, the Chief of Police, Charlie Swan.

Santiago noticed Ashlynn took more after her father than she did her mother. Same dark hair and brown eyes, even her smile was the same. He gave them a moment, giving them time to catch up as he removed their bags and gifts from the trunk. Arms full and mind on making a good impression, Santiago turned to the driveway ready to meet the man who raised the love of his life only to stop. There in the doorway of the house, eyes barely even fully gold, was Bella Swan.

Ashlynn had stopped talking, attention solely on the doorway. She stepped back to Santiago as Bella descended the steps.

"Lynn," Bella greeted, holding out her arms in a hug.

Ashlynn regained composure just as Charlie turned to her. "Bella!" She exclaimed, hugging her sister and his her shiver at the chill that was emitting from her sister. "You look great, dad told me you were sick..."

Bella waved a dismissive hand. "I was for a while, but I'm better now."

Bella flashed a smile and Ashlynn gave a nervous laugh. "That's-"

"-Mom!" Santiago tensed at the sound of a child's voice. A small child ran to Bella's side and hugged her. "Is it present time yet?"

Bella's eyes jumped from Ashlynn to Santiago. Ashlynn felt Santiago at her side, no doubt ready to pounce if the child made a move against her. "Not yet, your aunt and uncle just arrived."

The girl, a strange mix of Edward, with her bronze hair and gleam in her eyes, and Bella's delicate features and brown eyes, walked forward. Her eyes passed over Ashlynn and Santiago.

"Hello Aunt Ashlynn," she greeted reaching out a hand.

"Hello..." Ashlynn stopped.

"Renesmee."

"Renesmee?"

"Mom combined Esme and Renee's names."

"I see..."

"Go back inside, Nessie," Bella ordered, "We'll be in soon to open presents."

Renesmee gave a final look and went back inside the house. Bella saw the questions on Bella's  "Are you going to introduce us to your friend?" Bella asked, motioning to Santiago.

Ashlynn blinked a few times. "Right...Bella, Daddy, this is Santiago, my boyfriend."

Santiago stuck out a hand and shook Charlie's and Bella's. "Pleasure to meet you both."

Charlie offered to take the gifts and said there was more inside to meet as he eyed Santiago suspiciously. No doubt plotting how to get rid of him if he ever broke Ashlynn's heart.

Ashlynn turned to Santiago to see him already motioning to the car. "We're leaving."

"Santi-"

"A newborn and an immortal child are in that house, I'm taking you somewhere safe and will come back to deal with the problem."

"Santiago, no. You promised you'd meet my family."

"I met your father, re-met your sister, and met that walking time bomb-"

"Ness isn't an immortal child."

Both turned to see Edward at the door. "If you took the chance to meet her and get to know her you'd see she's a normal child."

Ashlynn fiddled with her necklace. "Just come inside and I'll explain. Charlie has been looking forward to you coming home for Christmas Lynn, please don't disappoint him."

"We'll stay for thirty minutes."

"An hour."

"Forty-five minutes."

Edward sighed. "Fine."

Ashlynn made her way up the stairs, the smell of deliciously cooked food greeting her like an old friend. She heard Leah's laughter and the end of one of Seth's jokes. She looked back at Santiago and took his hand into hers.

"Let's meet the family."

Santiago looked at his watch and at his mate. "Forty-five minutes start now."

Ashlynn sent a silent prayer to the heavens above that this Christmas would not end in ruin as she walked deeper into the house.