Chapter 9: One More?

Chapter 9: One More?

BPOV

One month later

Six weeks.

That's how long it had been. Six weeks since Renesmee was born, six weeks of her growing and learning, six weeks of the three of us becoming a family.

Also six weeks ago was the last time Edward and I were intimate with each other. After our honeymoon and my raging pregnancy hormones, that was quite the dry spell. Unfortunately, it was a necessary step to make sure I was fully healed and recovered, which had quickly silenced Edward’s grumbles. He was surprisingly grumpy, considering he was always the one putting restrictions on our love making before.

“It was easy to deny myself,” he explained when I asked. “Before I knew what intimacy with you felt like. Now I’ve experienced it, and experienced it frequently, it is harder to simply stop dead and give it up.”

His eyes had smouldered at me so intensely as he said this that I had to restrain myself from trying to jump him. That would be the opposite of helpful.

Thankfully, the end of our separation was in sight. Edward had taken Renesmee hunting while Carlisle gave me my check-up; she had started walking two weeks previously, calmly standing and crossing the living room as if she had been doing it for years. I was partially glad that he was gone, not sure that I could handle his nerves on top of my own, but also a little apprehensive about not having him there. I loved and trusted Carlisle, of course, more than any other doctor I had ever had, but at the end of the day, he was my father-in-law, and his examination was incredibly intimate. But I knew it had to be done, so I sucked it up, closed my eyes, and tried to zone out of what he was doing to me.

After a while, Carlisle stopped his poking and prodding and stood back.

“Alright Bella, looks like you're all set,” he said with a smile. “The incisions have all healed nicely, and your uterus has fully relaxed.”

I smiled happily, already visualising the fun I was going to have tonight, and went to get down from the table.

“Hold on,” Carlisle said, stopping me with a hand on my shoulder. “One more thing before you go.”
“What is it?” I asked, fidgeting impatiently.

“I just wanted to ask if you and Edward had discussed contraception at all. You don't have to tell me if you think it's none of my business, but I can help you get hold of anything you need if you want me to.”

I blushed furiously. Edward and I had indeed had that conversation, one evening just after Nessie started walking. (Jacob's nickname had been openly accepted, and had spread rapidly, to the point where even I was using it. It did suit her, and she liked it, which was the only reason why I allowed it.)

“Um... yes, we did talk about... that.” I cringed; this was incredibly awkward. I took a deep breath and averted my eyes. “We, um... we decided to do what feels right, and let what happens happen.” I shrugged. “Renesmee is such a gift to us, one we never thought we would have. We think that if we're meant to have more children, we will. If not, then so be it.”

Carlisle nodded sagely. “Have you thought any more about your transformation?”

I nodded. “We talked about that too, and kind of came to the same conclusion. If it becomes necessary for any reason, we'll go ahead and do it, but I’d like to stay human for a little while longer yet. Still, it will be within a year, two at the most.”

Carlisle smiled. “Alright then. Thank you for letting me know.”

He helped me down from the table and kissed me on the cheek before I left his office and bounced back up to our bedroom.

I started looking for things to pass the time while I waited for Nessie and Edward, something that would keep me busy. I was far too keyed up to sit and read or listen to music, so I tidied up the few bits of clothing scattered across the floor, throwing them in the hamper in the bathroom, then made the bed and straightened the CD shelves. Esme stuck her head round the door with a stack of clean washing, and I took my time organising it and putting it all back where it belonged, revelling in the task that was the closest I got to being a housewife. Then I went and sifted through Nessie's clothes, checking that she had enough to last a little while longer; her clothes went out of the wash and into a bag for Goodwill, since she grew too fast to wear anything twice. She had left a few toys out as well, so I put the away and straightened the blankets in the crib, which she was also rapidly outgrowing.

Alice came up the stairs as I was going back to mine and Edward’s room, several shopping bags in her hands. She grinned and held them out to me.

“Voilà! I got exactly what you wanted, plus a few extra things I thought would look good on you.”

I rolled my eyes, but didn't complain. “Thanks Alice. Does Edward –?”

She shook her head, cutting me off. “I didn't think of it when he was around, I promise.”

I smiled as I glanced into the bags, then gave her a hug. “You're the best Alice. Thank you so much.”

“You're more than welcome.” she chirped, then turned to head back downstairs, throwing a quick “Have fun!” over her shoulder, with a very Emmet-esque waggle of her eyebrows that made me giggle.

I spent the next half an hour sifting through her purchases – which were of the Victoria’s Secret and La Perla variety – finding the things I had asked her to get and the things she had chosen herself. There were several things that made me shake my head in disbelief, but nothing cringe worthy, and I had to admit that she had made good choices. There was also a small bag of make-up, which I hadn't even thought of.

Once I had looked everything over, I took my time putting it away, taking one set of lingerie and the make-up into the bathroom to hide until later. I had just barely finished when a loud cry of “Momma!” from outside had me rushing to the window.

Nessie and Edward stood in the middle of the lawn, both smiling widely and looking up at me. I waved to them and turned to hurry downstairs. They met me in the living room; Nessie leapt into my arms and hugged me tightly.

“Hey baby,” I cooed. “Did you guys have fun?”

She nodded, pressing her hand to my neck to show me how Edward let her track and catch a mid sized doe all on her own; it was her biggest kill yet, and the first one she had attempted entirely on her own.

“Well done sweetheart!” I smiled. “You're getting so good.”

“Yes,” Edward chimed in. “Pretty soon you won't even need me to go with you.”

Nessie shook her head. “I'll always need you Daddy.”

He smiled softly and kissed her on the forehead. She turned to me.

“Momma, when can you come hunting with us?”

The question was innocent enough, but it made both Edward and I stiffen as we contemplated how to answer her.

“We don't really know when yet Nessie,” Edward hedged. “It depends on when Momma is ready to become like us.”

Renesmee nodded, looking a little despondent. I chewed on my lip, thinking hard for a second or two. It was almost physically painful to see my little girl even the slightest bit upset; it was even worse to know that I was the cause, however indirectly, of her sadness.

“I tell you what Ness,” I said to her after a moment, brushing my hand over her cheek and holding her gaze with my own. “I'll make you a promise. I promise that on your birthday next year, we'll go hunting together. Just you, me and Daddy, no one else. How does that sound?”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

I looked at Edward; after all, he would be the one actually putting whatever plan we eventually made into action. It was his decision as much as it was mine.

He, to my surprise, simply nodded and said, “I think we can manage that. Perhaps we'll actually keep to this deadline.”

I laughed. “A first.”

Edward chuckled, wrapping his arms around the two of us and giving me a kiss.

“I can't wait.” he whispered, and the love shining in his eyes made me dizzy.

~ADP~

That night, I waited until after Renesmee had fallen asleep to take my shower, slipping into the bathroom while Edward was putting her to bed. I took my time showering, washing my hair with my favourite strawberry shampoo twice and letting my conditioner sit while I shaved my legs meticulously. I tried to avoid anything else heavily scented, knowing that Edward preferred my natural smell 'untainted' by chemicals.

I could hear music playing when I shut off the water and smiled; he had unintentionally set just the right atmosphere for what I had planned.

I carefully blow dried my hair, brushing it as I went so that it fell in soft waves around my shoulders. Then I started on my make-up; blue eye shadow with some black on the outer corner, smudged for a smoky look just like Alice had taught me, with thin black eye-liner, a little mascara, a dab of blush and a quick slick of clear lip balm to make my lips soft and shiny. No colour there; if all went well, it would get rubbed off pretty quickly.

I was just sliding off my towel and starting to get dressed into the royal blue lace trimmed silk boy shorts and matching bra I had stashed in the bathroom earlier, when I heard Edward call my name.

“Bella?”

“Yes?” I asked, not bothering to raise my voice since he could hear me anyway.

“Will you be much longer love? I was hoping we could talk about your appointment before you go to sleep.”

I smiled at my reflection, trying to keep my voice nonchalant as I spoke – I had no intention of sleeping any time soon.

“Didn't Carlisle already tell you about it?”

“No,” he said, sounding a little bit sulky. “In fact, he deliberately hasn't thought about it all afternoon. He said it was your news to tell.” He paused for a moment before speaking again. “Are you alright Bella? Does he not want to tell me because it's bad news?”

I grinned even wider. Typical Edward, always assuming the worst. Time to put him out of his misery.

“Edward, stop worrying. Nothing is wrong. Now, go sit on the bed and close your eyes.

I didn't hear him move, but he didn't question my request either, so, after one final check in the mirror, I went to the bathroom door and opened it a tiny bit. I peeked through the crack, and saw that he was sitting where I wanted him, stone still, with his eyes closed. I grinned, unexpected confidence rushing through me. Rose was right; a sexy underwear set did wonders for a girl's self esteem. A gorgeous husband who couldn't get enough of you helped too.

I crossed the carpet slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible, glad that I’d opted to skip the heels Alice had suggested. My new found bravado didn't make me that graceful, and tripping over would have really ruined the moment.

Edward heard me of course, and began to turn his head towards me.

“Don't open your eyes yet!” I scolded, and his lips curled up in a smile.

“Sorry love. I just really want to know if Carlisle gave you the all clear.”

I just smiled and went to stand directly in front of him. His head followed me, though his eyes stayed obediently shut. He had turned out the lights, leaving only the small lamp on the bed side table switched on, and the low light reflecting back off the window wall, combined with the music floating around us, created exactly the mood I was hoping for.

“Please Bella,” Edward begged. “The suspense is killing me.”

I giggled; it felt kind of exhilarating, having all the power for once. I decided not to abuse it any longer.

“Alright,” I murmured, trying to sound sultry and sexy. “You can open you eyes now.”

His eyes popped open eagerly, then widened as he took in my appearance. I giggled again when he started to open and close his mouth like a fish. It wasn't often that Edward was left speechless, and I couldn't help but feel a thrill whenever I accomplished it.

“You like?” I asked, twirling around so he could see every angle.

He nodded dumbly. “Very much. Come here.”

His arms opened for me and I went to him willingly. His hands stroked across my skin, pulling me down to straddle his lap.

“I take it this means everything's okay?” he murmured softly, his eyes smouldering as they burned into mine.

I nodded. “All set.”

Edward smiled widely, his smile matching mine. Then he abruptly grew serious, cradling my face in his hands.

“Are you sure you want to do this? You know this will probably turn out the same way as last time. We can wait until after your change. It's all up to you.”

I put my hands over his and closed my eyes, leaning into his touch with a sigh. When I opened my eyes again, his expression was anxious and apprehensive, as if I were about to push him away.

“Yes, I’m sure.” I told him softly. “I know the risks, and I don't care. I’m not saying I want to have as many kids as possible between now and next year, but...” I bit my lip and looked at him through my eyelashes, my voice hopeful. “Maybe just one more?”

Edward smiled widely, pulling me close.

“We can have as many as you like, my love.” he whispered, his lips brushing mine with each word. It was tantalizing, teasing, and I couldn't take it any more. I planted my lips full on his, pushing on his shoulders until he tipped backwards onto the bed, our lips staying connected the whole time.

They didn't part for a very long time after that either.

~ADP~

Life settled into a comfortable pattern of days and nights, rest and play, peace and activity.

Jacob took to bringing the members of the pack round in twos and threes when he came to visit, which was everyday now. Carlisle used the opportunity to renegotiate a few terms of the treaty with Sam, as there were issues, mostly surrounding Renesmee and me, that conflicted with the original agreement. In the end, a mutual decision decision was made to dissolve the whole thing completely, with the stipulation that the Cullens still could not come onto Quileute lands unless absolutely necessary, and both parties would do their best to keep the other's secret. This was more of a general agreement than the treaty had been; they wouldn't be going to war if someone slipped.

“Why on Earth would we need a peace treaty,” Sam had reasoned, “when we have peace and trust between us?”

Renesmee charmed each and every one of them just as quickly as she had with the rest of us. Jacob's imprinting not only protected her from any action against her by the pack, but also made her practically part of the family, accepted, rather than just tolerated. So, by extension, they put up with the rest of us too.

She had managed to pick up the moniker 'princess' when Jared had commented that we treated her like royalty,and Edward had latched onto it immediately. Not that it wasn't appropriate. As I had predicted, she was an appalling Daddy's girl, going straight to him whenever there was anything she wanted, and of course he always gave it to her. Perhaps it was because I never accepted gifts and he was enjoying having someone who let him spoil them that he was so indulgent of her wishes. Of course, I wasn't much better; she was my whole world, and we both knew it.

Almost immediately after Edward and I's first night together, I began to feel the fatigue and increased appetite that had affected me on the island. I was cautiously optimistic, but it wasn't until the second day of being sick first thing in the morning that Edward took me to see Carlisle. He smiled knowingly when we told him our suspicions.

“Tell you what,” he suggested. “I have to go into the hospital today. I can take a small blood sample with me and test it when I get a spare minute, just so we're absolutely sure.”

We both agreed this was a good idea, and Edward held my hand while Carlisle took the blood from my arm.

Our day continued as normal, though we were both in a state of perpetual anticipation all day. I was fairly sure Renesmee noticed, but she didn't say anything; I had a feeling Edward was distracting her every time she thought about asking.

It was later that evening that Carlisle finally came home, having been held up at the hospital by a car crash on the I10, and we had already gone upstairs by the time he got in. Nessie and I were in our pyjamas, and I was trying to teach her an old clapping game that I vaguely remembered playing in elementary school. Edward slipped quietly out of the room, an expectant look on his face. I tried to ignore his departure, but I couldn't help the way my eyes followed his movements.

Where did Daddy go? Nessie asked curiously, her hand pressed to mine as we paused in our game.

I smiled at her, trying to to let my nervous excitement show. “He's just going to talk to Grandpa, sweetie. He'll be right back.”

She eyed me suspiciously, but shrugged it off and insisted, “Again.”

We continued with our game until Edward came back and slid onto the be behind me.

“Positive,” he whispered in my ear, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

“Really?” I asked, turning around to look at him. He was smiling too, a shining, exultant smile.

“With 99.9 percent certainty.” he confirmed, then leaned down to kiss me.

“Momma?” Nessie's little voice piped up, drawing our focus away from each other. “What is it?”

“Do you want to tell her?” Edward asked me.

I shook my head; I was too happy to speak.

“Daddy,” Nessie turned to him, indignant now. “Tell me what's wrong.”

“Nothing's wrong,” Edward assured her. “Nothing at all.”

She gave him a look that clearly said, 'Explain. Now.'

I chuckled. “Just tell her Edward.”

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned back into him comfortably, and felt him take a deep breath before he leaned his head on my shoulder and just said it, simply and matter-of-factly.

“Momma's going to have another baby.”

Nessie's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. We laughed softly together, and Edward kissed my hair. She put her hand on mine, thinking rather than speaking.

Another baby? Her mental voice was soft and wondering.

I nodded. “That's right. You're going to be a big sister.”

A wide smile spread across her face before she stood up and began bouncing around on the bed excitedly. I couldn't help laughing at her, so hard that I didn't realise she was about to jump off the edge until Edward disappeared from behind me and caught her.

“Careful little monkey,” he chuckled, sitting her up by the pillows next to me. “Don't want you to hurt yourself. Grandpa's taken everybody hunting, so he's not here to patch you up if you get a scrape.”

She ignored him, grinning up at me and giving me a hug. Her little arms barely reached halfway around me. Her hand came to rest on my stomach, and she looked down curiously. Sure enough, I already had a bump between my hips.

“That's the baby.” Edward said, answering her unspoken question.

“It's very small right now,” I chimed in. “But it'll get bigger and bigger until it's big enough to come out. Then you'll have a new little brother or sister to play with.” I smiled and brushed her hair back.

Her face lit up again. “I want a little brother!”

Edward chuckled. “Well, you'll just have to wait and see what you get, won't you?”

~ADP~

Things progressed rapidly after that, even faster than they had with Renesmee. Back to eggs and blood, I didn't get morning sickness again, although I did manage to pick up a cold and a fever that left me all but incapacitated for a day or two. The medicine Carlisle gave me left me feeling drowsy and a little crabby, and I ended up napping for large chunks of the day and sleeping all night as well. Once I even fell asleep on the couch with Nessie while Edward was out hunting with jasper and Emmet.

I was woken by Emmet's big booming laugh. I didn't open my eyes, trying futilely to stay asleep, and felt Nessie shift beside me. She sat up, still cradled protectively in my arms.

“Uncle Em, you woke me up!” she complained sleepily, and I could imagine her rubbing her eyes with her little fists and blinking against the light, as she did most mornings when she first woke up.

“Sorry little princess,” Emmet chuckled, still loud and obnoxious as usual.

“Shh!” Renesmee said crossly, and I felt her put her hands on her hips. “You'll wake Momma!”

“Too late,” I mumbled, shifting to head to bury my face in her hair. The ringlets hung almost half way down her back now, and I often found myself absent-mindedly stroking them or wrapping them around my fingers when she was sat on my lap.

I heard Edward and Jasper laugh as Nessie sighed theatrically.

“See what you did?” she scolded, and I smiled; she had certainly inherited her father's flair for dramatics. Combined with Alice’s influence, she definitely had the makings of a little diva.

“Don't you worry little darlin',” Jasper drawled. “I'll take him away for you.”

I stayed where I was until I felt Edward’s hand on my hair. Then I sat up slowly, stretching out my stiff muscles as I let out a huge yawn and blinked my eyes open. Someone, probably Esme, had covered the two of us with a blanket while I was asleep, and Nessie was squirming her way out from under it. Edward grabbed her before she could topple.

“Why do I always seem to be catching you these days?” he asked her with faux exasperation. She giggled and he rolled his eyes. “Just like your mother; no sense of self preservation. God help me the day you start driving.”

I shoved his shoulder playfully and he leaned in to kiss me. As usual, butterflies erupted in my stomach at our reunion; no matter how short the separation, the sense of emptiness when we were apart was palpable.

“Feeling better?” he murmured, placing his hand on my forehead as he tried to hold on to the still squirming Renesmee.

“Much I replied, smiling. “Especially now that you're back.

“And how are you feeling, my little one?” he said, and I laughed as he leaned down to nuzzle his face against my bulging stomach.

“Can you hear it yet Daddy?” Renesmee asked, wiggling her way into his lap as he sat down next to me on the couch.

He tilted his head to the side, looking thoughtful. “I haven't tried yet. Would you like me to?”

She nodded vigorously, bouncing with excitement.

I laughed at her enthusiasm, and nodded when Edward raised a questioning eyebrow at me, letting him know that I wanted him to try as well.

Edward’s face filled with concentration and his eyes glazed over as he listened. Nessie and I sat very still, making as little noise as possible to help him hear clearly. I watched his face, and saw the moment when his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in shock.

“What is it?” I asked in a whisper, slightly worried. His answer had me half awed and half terrified, frozen to my seat in the same utter astonishment that gripped him.

“There's two of them.”

Chapter 8: Perfection

Chapter 8: Perfection

EPOV

“Let me hold her!” Rose grouched, holding her arms out towards Alice.

“Girls,” Carlisle cautioned, “Be nice.”

I chuckled at their antics, and Renesmee giggled along with me, then yawned widely, her tiny pink lips stretching into a sleepy 'O' as her eyes slid closed. There was a chorus of 'aww's from all the girls.

“Give her to Edward,” Esme suggested softly. “Let's give our sleeping beauties some privacy.”

The others nodded and murmured in agreement, and filed out one by one, dropping soft kisses on Bella’s forehead as they went. She might have been embarrassed by all the attention, but she had already fallen asleep.

Alice was the last to go, gently handing me the sleeping Renesmee before she gave Bella a kiss.

She's perfect, Alice thought, smiling at me. You did a good job, brother.

I shook my head, speaking in a whisper. “Not me. It was all Bella.”

Alice rolled her eyes at me, winked and flitted out of the room, closing the door almost silently behind her.

I sat down on the bed beside Bella, careful not to jostle her or the baby in my arms. My baby. The thought was mind boggling.

I have a child. I’m a father.

Daddy.

I looked down at Renesmee. She was looking at me sleepily, her beautiful brown eyes half open and a soft smile on her lips.

My Daddy, she thought, her mental voice infused with love and wonder.

I smiled. “That's right. I’m your daddy. You're my little baby girl, and I love you so much.”

I stroked her cheek with my finger, marvelling at the warmth beneath her skin. So warm, so soft, so tiny. The overwhelming urge to protect her surged through me, as strong as the need to keep Bella safe, maybe even stronger. I wanted to hold them both close to me, keep them away from all the dangers of the big wide world.

Renesmee was still smiling at me.

I love you Daddy, she thought, the words slightly slurred as she drifted off. Momma?

“Yes,” I whispered. “Momma loves you too. She loves you even more than I do. Everybody loves you, baby girl, and we barely know you. You are so special, so loved.”

I rocked her softly, murmuring and humming to her until she fell asleep in my arms. Her dreams played through my head, bright and colourful and full of love.

I sat there, watching Bella’s sleeping face and Renesmee's dreams, knowing that all was right with the world.

~ADP~

Soft sunlight, filtered by layers of cloud, shone through the window. A glance at the clock showed that it was almost eight, and I had heard the others begin to emerge and go about their daily business already. I refrained from waking the sleeping angels beside me, knowing they would both be tired after yesterday's events; it helped that they were both absolutely enchanting to watch.

Renesmee stirred first, yawning and stretching her little body. Her tiny nose wrinkled, and her delicate eyelashes fluttered like butterflies. Then her eyes opened and she smiled at me, a shining smile that made my heart melt. It was impossible not to return it.

“Good morning,” I whispered, and she lifted a tiny hand to wave at me. Her deep brown eyes, the exact same shade as Bella’s, stared up into mine with an awareness and intelligence that seemed almost out of place in her young face. Her hands reached up, fingers clenching and unclenching as she kicked her little legs excitedly. I laughed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. She hummed contentedly, and pulled at my chin until I moved back a little. Then she leaned up as much as she could and delivered her own hot little kiss to the tip of my nose. I laughed again, and Renesmee gurgled with delight.

Beside me, Bella began to stir. Renesmee noticed, and began to fidget and wriggle, trying to reach her mother, growing frustrated when I didn't let her go.

“Shh,” I soothed. She just huffed indignantly. It was incredible, listening to her thoughts; not even a day old, and the range of emotions she was able to express rivalled that of most adults. Everything seemed to come to her instinctively, without the need for teaching or practise.

Very carefully, I laid her down beside Bella. She immediately rolled over onto her stomach and began pulling herself up onto her mother's chest, holing her head up all on her own as she crawled upwards.

Bella shifted, her eyes blinking open slowly. I hovered, ready to catch Renesmee if she slipped off, but not wanting to make her feel like I was stunting her independence; she obviously wanted to learn things on her own, and I had a feeling she was just as stubborn as Bella.

Bella was almost awake now, blinking a little sleepily against the light, and clearly wondering where she was. Renesmee managed to pull herself up, raising her head to smile at Bella. I saw Bella’s eyes light up, and a matching smile spread across her face. The love in those eyes as they stared at our daughter reaffirmed my conviction that this had been a good thing after all.

I didn't know for sure what tomorrow would bring, but I did know that whatever it was, we would face it together, as a family. As long as I had Bella and Renesmee, the future was brighter than it had ever been.

~ADP~

Those early days passed by quickly, but happily. After two days in bed, Bella had healed enough to get up and move around with minimal discomfort. I did my best to help her, but, Bella being Bella, she rejected anything that made her feel weak or like a burden (a ridiculous notion, of course); I often found myself toeing the line between helping and coddling, trying not to provoke her still unpredictable mood swings.

The timing had worked out perfectly; that third day was her birthday, and she grudgingly allowed a celebration, though I was fairly sure it was more for Renesmee's enjoyment than hers. It was much more subdued than the disaster that was last year's party; just a small cake that Esme baked herself, a few small gifts, and a quiet evening for the two of us after Renesmee went to sleep.

Renesmee, of course, had become the primary focus for both of us – and the rest of the family for that matter. Every morning, as soon as she was awake, Bella went straight to the nursery to fetch her. Renesmee slept right through the night, right from the beginning, and was never grouchy at being got up if she was still half asleep. On the contrary, she was delighted to see her mother first thing everyday.

Carlisle took Renesmee's measurements four times everyday, tracking the changes in her size, and mentally calculating the speed of her growth. I was keeping track in my own head as well, and she was definitely growing slower each day than she had the day before, although still fast enough that Bella noticed each morning and the copious photographs that Alice and Rosalie could easily pass for a baby album spanning months rather than days. We probably would have been frightened by the speed of it, but we knew from Nahuel that it was perfectly normal, and would taper off eventually.

It was amazing how quickly we developed a routine. One of the girls, usually Alice, would pick out Renesmee's clothes for the day before she woke up, and then left them out for Bella, who dressed her before bringing her into our room, where I kept her occupied while Bella showered and got herself dressed. Then we would go downstairs and Bella would feed her the bottle that Esme always had ready, and eat her own breakfast. We then spent the rest of the day playing together, only interrupted for Carlisle’s measurements and another bottle at lunch time.

Around eight o'clock was the beginning of bedtime. The family would crowd round to wish us goodnight, then we would retreat to the third floor; our safe haven, almost like a little home of our own. Bella dressed Renesmee for bed while I got myself changed, then I gave her her evening feed while Bella got herself ready. She went back downstairs, ate a quick dinner, then came back up and showered before putting on her pyjamas and joining Renesmee and I on the bed. We stayed there until one or other of my brown-eyed girls fell asleep, then I put Renesmee to bed, and settled in for another night of holding Bella close and watching her sleep.

While the routine remained the same, the days were always different. Something would happen that made the day exciting, and it usually related to Renesmee. She advanced at an astonishing rate, crawling on her second day of life, sitting up by herself a day later. She was very curious, constantly asking questions or making observations in her head, most of which she shared with Bella through her talent. She was very observant, spotting things that some adults would never have noticed in the world around her.

Her brain was developing even faster than her body.

About a week after Renesmee was born, I was playing with her on our bed while Bella took her evening shower. She wasn't amused by repetitive, childish games like Peek-a-boo, so we were actually playing Tic-Tac-Toe; I did all the drawing, while she slapped her little hand down on the space where she wanted to place her symbol, laughing and shaking her head when I went for the wrong square.

Bella emerged from the bathroom, already dressed for bed in a tank top and sweats. I had to remind myself that it would take her five weeks for her to fully recover from our daughter's birth, and that said daughter was still in the room; I was sorely tempted to jump across the room and ravage her.

She stood in front of the window wall, using it as a mirror, drying her hair with a towel. She studied the reflection of her face critically, frowning slightly and making me wonder what imperfection she was imagining on her beautiful face.

Renesmee turned towards her, momentarily forgetting our game, and tilted her head to the side as if her mother was the most engrossing thing in the world. Then, calmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, she opened her mouth and spoke.

“Momma, you look pretty.”

Bella turned around, and we both stared at her in shock. She looked between us, frowning slightly when we didn't speak. She tried again.

“Isn't she Daddy?” she asked me, her eyes worried. I quickly composed myself and focused on giving my daughter what she obviously wanted.

“Of course darling,” I smiled and looked up into Bella’s eyes. “She's beautiful.”

Bella shook her head and smiled weakly, bending down to pick up the towel she had dropped and going to put it back in the bathroom. She came out looking much calmer, her smile much more genuine and shining brightly.

“Such a clever girl,” she cooed, giving Renesmee a kiss on the head as she sat down. Renesmee beamed with pride and pointed to another space on the grid. I drew an X in the space, then put a line through the row she had made.

“You win again,” I observed, and she giggled. Bella laughed along with her, and our evening continued as normal.

A few days later, Jacob came to visit for the first time since Renesmee was born. He apologised profusely to Bella for staying away so long. His sister Rachel had finally come back from college, only to be imprinted on by Paul, and he had felt the need to stay home and keep an eye on them. Also, some members of the pack had grown uncomfortable with him spending so much time with us, so he had stayed away to reassure them that he wasn't going to leave permanently. Now though, he said he couldn't bear to stay away any more, and asked if he could see the source of all the trouble.

He took one look at Renesmee and forgot what he was doing, his mouth dropping open and his breath blowing out in a whoosh. Bella realised what had happened before I did, and her response was amazingly calm.

“Please tell me you didn't just imprint on my daughter Jacob.” she said, giving him a weary look.

He gave her a weak, sheepish smile and shrugged, never taking his eyes off the child in her arms. I snarled angrily at him, but he barely flinched. Surprisingly, Bella was the one to calm me down. She passed Renesmee to Rosalie and pulled me round the corner into the dining room, out of sight of the others.

“How can you be so calm?” I grumbled at her, wondering why she wasn't as angry as me.

She sighed. “There isn't really anything we can do about it Edward. Imprinting is involuntary and all consuming; that's what Jacob's told me at least. He didn't do it on purpose, and this both explains and negates his feelings for me, which I for one am relieved about.”

I looked at her, confused, and she rolled her eyes and gave me a scathing look, as if it was glaringly obvious.

“It was never me he was attracted to. It was always her, from the very beginning.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I asked, still disgruntled. I was aware that I was acting like a sulky child, but I couldn't quite find it in me to care.

Bella just smiled. “Think about it this way. You know what imprinting is like – you've heard it in the pack mind – and I’ve seen it in action, with Sam and Emily and Jared and Kim. At least we know that there is someone to take care of her, someone we know and trust, and that he will love her almost as much as we do.”

I sighed; I couldn't argue with her logic, as much as I wanted to.

Jacob was thinking of his friend Quil, who had imprinted on Emily's little niece Claire. He remembered seeing them on the beach, how Quil was little more than a glorified babysitter, how Claire laughed and smiled as they played, even as Quil kept her away from the roaring waves. His thoughts flickered back to Renesmee, comparing his own desires to the pictures.

He just wants her to be safe and happy, he thought directly to me. And that's all I want for Nessie. I’m not trying to claim her or take her away from you.

He had come around the corner to find us. I glared at him.

“Perhaps that's what you want now. But I don't particularly like thinking of my daughter dating a mutt while she's still feeding from a bottle.” I really did sound sulky now, but I still didn't care.

Bella stroked my arm, pursing her lips like she was trying not to smile. Or maybe she was holding in a laugh. I couldn't quite understand either reaction to this situation; perhaps she was laughing at me. That would be perfectly understandable.

Jacob shook his head, speaking aloud for Bella’s benefit.

“I don't think of her like that; it's not even on my radar. I just want her to be happy, to see with my own eyes that she is alright. I can't promise to stay away, but I can respect that she is yours first, and I won't interfere.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Bella beat me to it.

“Well, I can live with that, and you,” she poked me in the ribs, “can learn to live with it. All I ask, Jacob, is that you respect Renesmee's choices as well. If she doesn't want you around, you leave her alone as much as you can, even if it just means leaving the room or the house. Understand?”

He nodded, face serious. Bella raised her eyebrow at me, challenging me to disagree with her. I couldn't; her condition was fair, and could apply throughout Renesmee's life. I had just one more thing to add. I looked Jacob in the eye, trying to look as menacing as possible.

“I'm going to tell you the same thing I told you on the day you kissed Bella, Jacob. If she chooses you, so be it, but you wait for her to tell you that she does. You wait for her to say the words.”

Again, Jacob nodded, and I relaxed. Bella leaned up to kiss my cheek, and the three of us headed back into the living room.

Renesmee was on the floor playing with one of her many dolls, and she looked up at as with a smile. She was curious about Jacob, and felt a pull towards him. I cringed as she thought of him as hers.

Bella went to pick her up, but she shook her head and reached for me.

“Daddy,” she said in her sweet little voice, stretching towards me and imagining herself in my arms. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I lifted her off the floor and held her close.

“I love you Daddy,” she cooed, the same way I always said it to her last thing at night. Bella laughed and smoothed her hair. I just smiled and kissed her forehead, secure in the knowledge that she would be my little girl for a while yet. I had at least seven years before I would have to give her up; plenty of time to get myself ready. For now, I decided to enjoy the time I had with her, and make enough memories to last for eternity.

Chapter 7: Renesmee

Chapter 7: Renesmee
“Finished?

“Yes, I think so. Thank you.”

“You're welcome. Here, let me help you up.”

“Ugh! I don't know how you're still attracted to me. I look like a whale!”

Edward smiled. “No you don't. You look beautiful.”

I huffed, taking his offered hand and turning my back on the large elk I had just drained.

Emmet found my appetite absolutely hilarious, joking that I drank more in a day than he did in a month. He had promptly received several hefty whacks to the back of the head, which he had used as an excuse to start a wrestling match with Jasper.

I had gotten to that stage that almost every pregnant woman invariably gets to: the 'I’ve had enough' phase, as Esme called it. It was that time when being pregnant lost any and all lingering novelty, and you just wanted to get the baby out and be done with it. Luckily for me, Carlisle was happy with Renesmee's growth, and plans were in place to deliver her tomorrow. Somehow, having the date set just made me more impatient. I had butterflies in my stomach, fluttering frantically in anticipation and trepidation.

Jacob had continued to visit several times over the week that had passed after our reunion, coming to the house almost every day. Rosalie would frown in consternation whenever 'the dog' appeared, wrinkling her nose and sneering at him. He didn't seem to mind, and their brief squabbles were always entertaining. Esme, ever the gracious hostess, insisted on making lunch for him, even going so far as to give him some to take back to Billy. Seth came with him a few times, which improved Edward’s mood about the whole thing immensely, particularly as Jacob's visits seemed to get longer and more frequent as the week passed.

The others had gotten used to having Jake around, and I think they were even starting to like him a little bit; Emmet was happy to have someone to watch football games with who was actually interested, and Alice was relieved rather than irritated when his presence blocked her visions, because it saved her from the headache being brought on by the 'fuzzy reception' she was getting from the baby. Of course, Jasper would put up with anything as long as Alice was happy.

Charlie had called the house just after Jacob left the first time, concerned at having heard nothing from me for weeks. I had cited a serious illness picked up in South America as the reason for my lack of contact, glad that it was easier to lie convincingly over the phone; my acting skills still weren't quite up to par. He seemed to believe me though, so I must have made some improvement during my relationship with Edward.

I groaned, putting my hands on my lower spine and leaning backwards. My enormous belly was extremely heavy by that point, more like a beach ball than a bulge; my back was killing me and my ankles would swell if I stood up for more than a minute. This wasn't as much of a problem, since Edward had taken to carrying me everywhere, but that just made me feel even more helpless than usual. Overall, I was not in a good mood.

Edward swept me off my feet and carried me inside, chuckling slightly when I grumbled. The dewy glow of sunset glinted off his skin as he gently laid me out on the bed in our room.

“Just one more day darling. Think, this time tomorrow you'll be a mother.”

I cringed. “Now I’m scared.”

He laughed. “Don't be. You can do this. I know you can.”

He kissed my forehead and rubbed my stomach gently until he felt Renesmee kick his hand. He smiled softly. “Now, I’m going to run you a nice hot bubble bath to relieve all those aches and pains. Then, you are going to get a good nights sleep before your big day tomorrow.”

I smiled back at him. “You know you're perfect right?”

Edward just laughed and disappeared into the bathroom. He was back a minute later, scooping me up off the comforter and carrying me to the huge bathtub. He undressed me slowly, reverently, placing little kisses on each new bit of exposed skin. I giggled when his lips tickled, and moaned when they brushed one of my sweet spots; he knew just where to touch to make me feel good. He never wavered from his soft, loving caresses, occasionally inserting a quiet whisper of my name, the sound laced with an almost religious devotion.

When I was fully clothing free, he carefully picked me up and lowered me into the warm, soapy water. I sighed in contentment and relaxed as his capable hands ran a wash cloth over my skin and worked shampoo and conditioner into my hair. I was half asleep when he finally lifted me out of the water, laying me on a towel and drying me like a baby, then dressing me in a silk pyjama set, presumably one of the many Alice had ordered from the maternity sections of her favourite designers' websites. The fabric glided across my skin smoothly, making me smile as it tickled me.

Edward cradled me against his chest as he carried me back to bed, my head resting on his shoulder. He laid me down carefully, as if I were made of the most fragile glass. Then he moved to the foot of the bed and started to massage my swollen ankles and aching feet. His cool hands worked deliciously, soothing all my cares away.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“Love you too,” I mumbled sleepily.

I fell asleep with his hands still rubbing my feet; the last thing I felt was his gentle kiss on my rounded stomach.

~ADP~

Everything was in place. The nursery was decorated in clean, crisp white with yellow accents. I had vetoed Alice’s attempt to cover the whole room in pink – just the mental image of it had made me cringe – although I had let her have her fun when it came to buying baby clothes.

Carlisle kept some donated blood in the house in case there was an emergency (i.e. I had an accident), and Esme had prepared a little metal bottle full for the baby's first feed. As adverse as Edward and I were to feeding her human blood, we both accepted that there was no other way, and had resolved to teach her the family philosophy once she was able to hunt for herself.

Rosalie and Edward had both fed profusely overnight so that they could be present without my blood distracting them. I was slightly jealous, since I hadn't been allowed to eat anything all day to prevent a bad reaction to the anaesthetic. I felt very odd; the lack of blood made me feel ill, but the lack of food meant I couldn't actually be ill. I had spent the morning sitting quietly on the sofa, watching Emmet watch a football game – which is much more interesting than it sounds, believe it or not – and absent-mindedly rubbing my stomach.

Now I was sitting on the hospital bed in Carlisle’s office in a crackling paper gown, waiting for Carlisle, Edward and Rosalie to come back in. They had gone outside to discuss something away from my hearing, and I was left worrying my lip, alone and confused.

The door opened before I could get too panicked, and I knew that it was time. No one spoke as they moved into position; it was as if they had it choreographed. That was entirely possible; we had discussed the process several times over the last week or so.

Rose went to stand against the wall by the door, near enough to help if needed but within easy access of an exit, just in case. She had already laid out some towels and blankets along with a weighing scale and tape measure – she would take Renesmee from Carlisle, clean her up and take her measurements, then bring her back to me.

Carlisle was scrubbing his hands and putting on rubber gloves. He turned to an array of syringes, which I was trying desperately not to think about: one for the anaesthetic, one containing a larger than average dose of morphine, and another, larger one full of Edward’s venom. If things took a turn for the worst, Carlisle would inject me with the morphine first to try and dull the pain, then put the venom directly into my heart. Edward would then bite me at all my major pulse points, getting as much as possible into me as fast as he could.

Edward stood beside me. It was he who broke the silence.

“Are you ready?” he asked me, staring into my eyes intensely.

I smiled, trying to lighten the tension. “Yes. I feel like I’m going to pop.”

He smiled back tightly, then leaned down and kissed me. He helped me lie down flat, and gripped my hand in his. Carlisle approached, syringe in hand.

“Alright Bella,” he said, smiling reassuringly. “I'm going to give you something called a twilight anaesthetic. You will remain conscious, though you may feel a little sleepy, but you won't feel any pain. Okay?”

I nodded, my throat swollen at the sight of the needle. Edward saw my fear and gently turned my face towards him, holding it so that my eyes looked into his. His touch and gaze soothed my ragged nerves, the dazzling glimmer of his eyes distracting me from what Carlisle was doing. I didn't even realise he had put the needle in me until the drowsiness of the medicine began to flow through me. My eyes drifted closed, but I forced them open, unwilling to miss even a moment.

Edward smiled at me, sitting down in a chair by my head, still holding my hand. He seemed much more calm now, his eyes no longer tense, as he rubbed his thumb across my knuckles soothingly.

After a minute or so, Carlisle asked, “How are you feeling Bella?”

“Sort of floaty,” I replied quietly, “and sleepy.” I added, trying to stifle a yawn.

“That's good. We're ready to start.”

I squeezed Edward’s hand and smiled up at him. He squeezed back and turned to watch what Carlisle was doing. He began to murmur softly, too quiet and quick for me to hear. I didn't mind; just his voice calmed me immensely, and I felt wonderful.

I couldn't tell you exactly what happened in the next few minutes. I know Edward never left my side, never let go of my hand, and kept talking quietly to me, though I didn't hear the words. My body felt like it had no weight; I might have thought it wasn't there at all, but I could still dimly feel the cool hands on me, the gentle pressure on my stomach.

After a while, I felt Edward move. I had sort of been drifting off, but I perked up as he leaned forward to get a better look at something. I watched his face intently, waiting for some sign to tell me what was going on. A slow smile spread across his face. When he looked back at me, his eyes sparkled with undisguised joy, and his smile was so glorious I had to remind myself to breathe. His voice, though only a whisper, was filled with reverent adoration, his words simple, yet saying so much, changing my whole life in an instant.

“She's here.”

My smile matched his as we stared into each other's eyes, waiting expectantly for the moment we had been anticipating for over two weeks. I felt Rose move closer, saw her move away with something in her arms, but I couldn't lift my head enough to see it.

“Edward,” I mumbled, squeezing his hand.

He squeezed back. “I know my love. Just a minute more, I promise.”

I started mentally counting to sixty, ignoring the fact that Carlisle hadn't finished yet and trying not to think about what he was doing.

I had only gotten as far as 45 when Rosalie came back, smiling and cradling a bundle of blankets. The fog of anaesthetic was beginning to clear from my brain, though my body was still numb, and I managed to move a little, detaching my hand from Edward’s and reaching out.

Carlisle finally moved away from me, and Edward gently tilted the top part of the bed so that I was almost upright before smoothing my hair and sitting back down beside me.

“Say hello to your momma,” Rosalie cooed to the bundle in her arms, holding it out towards me. I had never held a baby before in my life, but my arms curled instinctively around the blankets just as hers did, holding the warm mass securely against my chest as I stared down at... my baby. The concept itself was dizzying; the reality blew my mind.

Renesmee – I could see at once that the name suited her exactly – was small but perfectly formed. Her hands peeked out of the blanket, clenched into little fists, the tiny fingers tipped with miniature coral-coloured nails. She was dressed in a pale pink onesie that perfectly matched her rosy cheeks, accentuating the ivory colour of her skin. She had a little button nose and two rounded ears, and her head was topped with a handful of shiny bronze curls. Her eyes sparkled, their deep brown colour matching my own exactly. She stared at me for a moment, still looking a little startled after her sudden entrance into this big new world, then her pink lips parted in a huge smile, revealing two rows of perfect pearl-white teeth and two tiny dimples. I couldn't help but smile back, and her hands reached for me as I did so, her little legs kicking in the blanket.

“She's perfect,” I whispered, absolutely in awe of this tiny life that Edward and I had created.

“I know,” Edward whispered back, reaching out and running his finger down her cheek. She grabbed it and tugged, trying to find where it came from, and he stood up and leaned over so she could see him. She gurgled happily when she saw his face, pulling his finger into her mouth and chewing on it. He winced and I laughed.

“Not funny,” he grumbled. “That actually hurt.”

I just laughed again. Renesmee cooed happily, still chewing. Looking up briefly, I saw the door click shut behind Rosalie and Carlisle; we were alone.

“Come on Renesmee,” I coaxed, “Give Daddy his finger back.”

She did, reluctantly, putting on the most adorably pout I had ever seen. I couldn't resist leaning in and kissing her forehead. One of her tiny dimpled hands reached up to press against my cheek, her palm flat against my skin.

I gasped as an image assaulted my mind; Edward, his brilliant face lit up in a smile, leaning towards me over...me. But not the me I was used to. This me looked back to front; like a mirror image of my reflection.

“Bella?” Edward said worriedly, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright?”

Renesmee moved her hand and the image vanished, leaving my staring down at her smiling face.

“Did you do that?” I whispered to her, utter astonishment clear in my voice. She cooed again and clapped her hands together.

“What is it?” Edward asked.

“It was... us. I think she was showing me what we look like to her; putting her thoughts into my head, I guess. That's the best way I can think to describe it. Did you see anything?”

He nodded. “I thought she was just remembering. She's so happy...” He trailed off, then smiled, leaning over to brush a hand across her hair.

“You did do that, didn't you? You showed Mommy what you were thinking. Such a clever girl.” he cooed. Renesmee just smiled at him, looking almost smug as she took his praise.

“You're inflating her ego,” I muttered, and he laughed. Then he went over to the table that Rosalie had set up on the other side of the room. Renesmee watching him curiously, leaning up a little to follow him with her eyes. He came back a moment later, the little metal bottle in his hand. He shook it, and she began to wriggle excitedly in my arms.

“About time the little diva got something to eat.” he said, smiling widely and holding the bottle out to me. I took it carefully, unsure of what I was supposed to be doing. Renesmee, on the other hand, knew exactly what to do, reaching out for the bottle with her little hands. I held it near her, and she pulled the teat into her mouth, sucking happily.

“You okay?” I murmured to Edward, worried that the blood might be bothering him. He just shook his head and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

“Esme mixed in a little powdered formula milk. The scent is barely noticeable.”

I nodded, staring down at my baby as she drank greedily. I still found it hard to believe that she was really here, in my arms; it seemed incredible that such an impossible creature could exist at all.

Renesmee quickly finished her first meal, releasing the bottle with a pop and letting out a little belch that made Edward and I laugh yet again. It felt like we were doing that a lot today; perhaps we were just riding a high from the release of all the underlying stress we had been under.

“At least we don't have to worry about burping her.” I commented. She made another happy noise and wiggled again.

“The others want to come in.” Edward said softly, just before there was an equally soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said, knowing they would hear me. The door opened a crack, and Rose stuck her head in, smiling. I smiled back and Edward waved them in. She opened the door wider, and came into the room, trailing Esme and Alice behind her. Carlisle followed after them, then Emmet, with Jasper bringing up the rear, looking a little bit nervous. I gave him what I hoped was an encouraging smile, and he relaxed slightly.

Esme was holding a little digital camera, and she insisted on taking a picture of us, before Rose asked if she could hold the baby. I handed her over carefully, eager for her to meet her family but reluctant to let go of her. They all took turns cradling her, passing her from one person to the next.

Everyone laughed when Edward held her for the first time, a goofy grin on his face, and again when Emmet wiggled his fingers in front of her face and got himself bitten. There were a few quiet titters at the look on Jasper's face when Alice held her out to him, but no one was cruel enough to hurt his pride by laughing outright.

Renesmee greeted each new face with a curious look, followed by a sparkling smile. I watched as each of them met her, seeing the same soft smile and sparkling eyes take over their faces. In mere minutes, my daughter had every one of them wrapped securely around her tiny fingers.

I sat back and watched them pass her around, talking to her and each other, feeling more content than I had in months.

Chapter 6: Friend

Chapter 6: Friend

Days passed. My stomach continued to expand at an alarming rate; it was quickly becoming its own continent. Every day, Carlisle would measure me carefully, taking no notes but recalling perfectly each measurement. According to him, I was gaining two centimetres every day; the equivalent of two weeks growth in a human pregnancy. The pace was almost frightening. Every morning brought on a new phase, a new set of emotions, and – to me at least – a new annoyance or upset.

On one day, my usual insecurities seemed to be intensified; I took one look at Rose, in all her glorious beauty, and felt my own insignificance so keenly that I burst into tears.

On another day, Alice’s perpetual enthusiasm was met with pessimism and irritation on my part, and only Edward’s restraining hand and Jasper's calming influence prevented me from attempting to claw her eyes out. Later, when my mood had swung round in a circle as it was prone to doing these days, I felt very guilty for even having considered it, and had to apologise to her before I could relax enough to go to sleep.

I felt sorry for Jasper; it couldn't be easy to be around me right now. I was surprised he hadn't run off.

I was immensely grateful to Edward through all of this. He put up with every high and every low.

He kept me entertained when I couldn't sleep and let me use him as a pillow when I couldn't keep my eyes open.

He was calm and reassuring when I was angry, and, though it irritated me at the time, I was grateful later on for his reasonable attitude as I screeched and screamed at him.

He held me and comforted me when I cried, holding me up when crippling depression threatened to drown me.

He shared my smiles and laughter when I was in a good mood and indulged my every fanciful desire (within reason) determined to spoil me as much as possible while he could get away with it.

He was more than happy to satisfy my raging hormones; the monstrous and unexplainable sex drive that reared its head every evening once we retired to our room.

He hunted for me, at first once every evening, then first thing in the morning as well, and then three times a day, after each meal. Along with Esme, he constantly experimented with new ways of making eggs interesting, trying to find exactly how much other food I could put up with if egg was the staple. He had mostly been successful, and I had only a little sickness after we returned home, and never anything as horrible and disabling as the morning sickness on the island.

All in all, things were going well. Until about a week after we returned home.

I was having a good day, for once. The sun had come out unexpectedly around noon, and Edward had set up two lounge chairs in the back yard. We sunbathed contentedly – well, I sunbathed, he sparkled – until my stomach grumbled and he headed inside to make my lunch. The forest was very peaceful, with only a slight breeze relieving the heat of the sun. I closed my eyes and felt myself drifting off to sleep. The sound of the wind and the rustling leaves was soothing, as was the smell of cooking egg, melting cheese and grilling ham wafting out of the kitchen window.

All of a sudden, I heard another noise, very different to the others. It was a low, sinister growl that morphed without warning into a whine which sounded almost like a whimper.

My eyes popped open and I sat up, scanning the edge of the trees. Edward appeared next to me, eyes warily following the same course mine had taken. He had a plate with an omelet and cutlery on it in his hands; he'd brought my lunch out, bless him. I gently pried it from his fingers before his tense fists shattered the plate.

“Who is it?” I whispered.

“Jacob.” he huffed, slumping down onto the ground beside me and taking my hand. “Apparently the wolves have noticed my odd hunting habits, and he came to investigate.”

“On Sam’s orders?” I asked coolly. I still wasn't happy about the control Sam had over Jacob.

“No, he's here of his own accord. He feels it's his duty to the pack to find out what's going on. He's seen you now, and it's just made him more confused.”

“Get out of my head!” a disgruntled voice called from the tree line, and my heart thumped erratically as Jacob emerged in human form, wearing his usual denim shorts and nothing else. His face was angry and hurt, the same as it had been the last time I had seen him. I cringed at the memory.

The river and most of the lawn separated us; Edward and Jacob glared at each other while I fidgeted nervously with the thin t-shirt I wore.

“We need to talk.” Jacob said, his voice carrying across the space, though he didn't shout.

“We don't have to tell you anything dog. This is private family business. You need to leave. Now.” Edward’s voice was low and menacing, and I knew Jacob would hear the barely disguised threat his words held.

“We have a right to know what's going on, if it will threaten our people or the people of Forks.”

“The Hell you-”

“Edward,” I interrupted his angry exclamation. “He's right. They deserve to know; they have to know that it's safe.”

Edward growled. I sighed.

“Tell you what, I’ll go talk to him. You stay here. I’ll be in your sight, and you'll be able to hear us the whole time. You can intervene if something happens. Please Edward,” I curled my free hand around his cheek, making him look at me. “I need to do this.”

He looked torn for a moment, then nodded stiffly. I stood up, expecting him to let go of my hand, but he tugged me down into his lap and kissed me softly.

“Take your lunch with you.” he murmured, and I nodded. I picked up my plate and crossed the grass to the river's edge, then sat down with my feet in the water, like I had last night. The cool water felt good; I hadn't realised quite how hot I was getting. My lunch balanced precariously on my lap – my belly really was starting to get huge now – and I began to cut pieces off the omelet, placing them in my mouth and chewing thoroughly. Neither Jacob or I spoke, both waiting for the other to begin. In the end, his impatience got the best of him.

“Are you going to explain how this happened?” he snapped tersely. I looked up, and saw his face matched his tone. He had mirrored my position, sitting on the river bank with his feet in the water, and he was gesturing towards my baby bump with one hand.

I gave him a scathing look. “Surely I don't need to explain the facts of life to you Jake. Hasn't Billy done that already?”

Jacob grimaced and shook his head violently. “You know that's not what I mean Bella.”

I looked down at my food again, cutting another piece of omelet as I spoke. “What do you want me to say? It turns out male vampires can have children with human women.” I shrugged flippantly, tossing the food into my mouth and chewing. “It's as simple as that.”

I continued eating as he processed this new revelation. When he spoke, his voice was calm and composed. He seemed determined not to get angry.

“I’m not even going to ask if you'll get rid of it; if you haven't by now you're not going to. But you understand, we have to be sure it won't be a danger to others.”

I nodded, ignoring his use of the word 'it' – my baby was not an 'it' – since he didn't know any better. “I know. But there's nothing to worry about. Edward and I happened to meet a person like our child in South America, and he told us all we need to know.”

Jacob's eyes widened. “What the hell were you doing in South America?”

I smiled, trying not to laugh at his startled expression. “What, you thought we were going to spend our honeymoon here?” I gave him a sarcastic look. “Carlisle gave Esme an island off the coast of Brazil. She let us borrow it for a few weeks.”

Jake shook his head in amazement, muttering something that sounded like “Leeches own an island. Go figure.”

He started to ask questions then, and I patiently answered them as best I could, explaining everything we had been told by Huilen and Nahuel. My lunch was gone long before he was finished, and Edward came over briefly to take the plate away before disappearing again.

Jacob took everything I told him in stride, accepting it more easily than I ever could have hoped. He seemed determined not to show any weakness, listening to all of it and not even cringing at the more gruesome parts, which made me shiver as I said them. But I hesitated when he asked about Edward’s extra hunting trips, unsure if even he could take the truth.

“What?” he asked, spotting my reluctance and seeing right through me, as usual. “Too much for me? Whatever it is Bells, it can't be worse than some of the other stuff I’ve seen in the last year.”

“Oh, I think it is.” I mumbled, looking away. There was silence as I avoided his gaze, pulling at the grass beside me.

“Try me.” he challenged after a moment.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. “Okay, here goes. See, in order for me to get the nutrition I need from my food, the baby has to get what it needs as well. That just happens to be more vampiric than human.”

“So,” Jake said, frowning as he tried to figure out what I was telling him, “All the extra hunting is for... that?” He gestured in my direction, obviously talking about the bump; it seemed like he didn't want to refer to the baby directly. Whatever. He didn't have to like my decision, just accept it.

I nodded in answer to his question. “Edward hunts, brings back and animal and cuts into a blood vessel, then I have to drink it so it can reach the baby.”

Jacob grimaced. “Doesn't that gross you out?”

I shrugged. “At first I didn't know if I could do it, but it's actually not that bad. It smells good to me, and tastes even better, and I can't eat without drinking before or after. The food just comes straight back up and I don't get any of the benefits of it. I can only eat meals based on eggs as it is.”

He made another face. “Eggs and blood. Doesn't sound very appetising.”

I smirked. “I'm pregnant, remember? Crazy cravings are kind of a given.”

Jacob shook his head, looking away. “This is so surreal. I never imagined, when we first met, that anything like this could ever happen. I didn't even believe in half of it. Now look at us; a teenage werewolf and a vampire's wife.”

I laughed. “I know what you mean. It's kind of incredible, how far we've come in such a short time.”

He smiled, just a little. Then his face grew serious, his eyes locked on mine.

“Are you happy Bells? If you are, I’ll let all of this go and you never have to deal with me again, I swear. I’ll tell the pack everything you told me, and I’ll make sure they leave you alone. Just tell me he truth, please.”

His eyes begged for me to understand. I sighed. “Yes Jake, I’m happy. Very happy. But I’d be even happier if we could still be friends. At the risk of sounding cliché, what we have is special Jacob, and I don't want to lose it.”

Jacob seemed to think for a moment before nodding slowly. “I don't want to lose it either. It will be kinda hard, being around smelly leeches all the time...”

“Be nice,” I chided.

“...but I’ll try. For you.”

I smiled widely. “That's all I’m asking for.”

He sprang to his feet and backed up a few yards, then ran full tilt to the river's edge, launching himself off a flat stone embedded in the bank and soaring clear over the water, landing with a thump and a roll a few feet from me. I laughed as he continued to roll towards me, a crazy smile on his face. He jumped up when he was beside me, pulling me up into a tight, warm bear hug.

Renesmee began wriggling inside my belly, enough that Jacob felt it and leant back to stare.

“What was that?” he asked, sounding a little worried.

I gave him a reassuring smile. “That means she likes you. She has an uncanny sense of who's who from their touch, and she always moves more when someone excites her.”

He seemed to contemplate that for a moment. “You can feel it?”

I nodded, my smile turning dreamy. “Every time.”

Jacob mused for one second more, then grinned. “She?”

I shrugged. “There's no way to know for sure – the ultrasound wouldn't work – but I got more reaction when I was playing with girls' names.”

His smile widened. “Settle on anything?”

I nodded. “Renesmee Carlie. She likes it, and so does Edward.”

“Renesmee, huh?” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That's kind of a mouthful. How about calling her... Nessie, for short?”

I snorted. “Nessie? What, like the Loch Ness Monster?”

He laughed. “Well, they are both mythical creatures.”

“This coming from the wolf man.” I shot back.

“Touché.” he said, and we both fell about laughing. This was how Jacob and I were supposed to be; carefree, without any drama or madness. Just two friends having fun.

When we calmed down, I put my hand on my stomach.

“Do you like that baby? Nessie for short?” I asked. There was a decided thump against my hand, but whether it was negative or positive was anyone's guess.

“Does she like it?” Jake asked.

I frowned. “Not sure. We can always try it out later though. Hey, that can be your special name for her. That way, if she hates it, you'll irritate her as much as you irritate me.”

“Ha ha.” he said sarcastically. “I'm not that bad.”

I just shrugged, and we laughed again.

A howl cut off our laughter and Jake sighed.

“That'll be Sam. They must have realised I’m missing.” He looked at me apologetically. “I have to go.”

I nodded. “I understand. I don't like it, but I understand.”

“Back atcha.” he grinned, and I smacked his arm half-heartedly. “I'll make sure they leave you alone.” he promised, then kissed my forehead and ran into the trees, not bothering to cross the river. He stuck his head through the shrubs a second later, already in wolf form, and barked, giving me his signature toothy grin; the one where his tongue hung out of the side of his mouth. I waved in response, then another howl sent him running off through the forest.

I sighed and turned back to the house. Edward stood from where he had sat down on one of the lounge chairs, vanished, and reappeared at my side.

“Thirsty?” he asked, his face still tense.

“A little.” I replied. He nodded and turned to go, but I caught his hand and tugged. He turned back around, frowning slightly, and gave me a questioning look. I just smiled and pulled him down for a kiss.

“I love you.” I whispered fervently when we broke apart. “I don't feel like I say it enough, so I’m going to say it every day from now on, just so that you'll never doubt how I feel for you.”

Edward smiled. “How do you know me so well?”
I shrugged. “Practise.”

He laughed, a happy, relaxed sound. All the tension had left his shoulders, now that Jacob was far away. “And I will say 'I love you' as well, so much it will make you sick of me.”

“Never.” I vowed, kissing him again, a deep, slow, long kiss that gave true meaning to the phrase 'Actions speak louder than words'. There were no words to describe what he meant to me, so kisses would have to do.

I could think of worse ways to spend eternity.