1. Renesmee.
I had never been one for theatrics, but my daughter sure had been. She, now at the tender age of 8, (about 9 months) years old had been suddenly and fully enamored with human life. She enjoyed playing house and acting out human activities for her family to watch. I suppose I owe Charlie and Jacob for the new found curiosity.
However, I had no reason to be upset with the furor. She was, in fact, half human. One day she would have to learn how to blend in with society anyways.
It was terribly adorable the way she would rewatch YouTube videos of kids going to Chuck E Cheese and would be positively floored when they took a slice of pizza into their mouths every time.
Perhaps we could coax her into eating human food eventually. So when she came up to me in a hurry with a "serious" request to have a mother-daughter day, I couldn't refuse! Surely her more extravagant spendthrift father or her high energy, blithesome aunt would be more fun, but I would try.
And of course I would have fun.
I took Nessie to Seattle. (After a very quick, but necessary hunting trip to ensure no accidental biting.)
"Got your jacket?" I questioned looking at her from my rearview mirror. She was buckling herself up nicely. I was suddenly thankful for owning a Mercedes (something I never thought I'd say) because my Ferrari wasn't exactly child friendly. She nods and grips her jacket in her tiny hands.
"Did you grab mommy's camera?" I pressed smiling as I backed up. On the front porch Edward was waving at us. Bidding us farewell until the afternoon.
"Yes! I'm going to take pulchritudinous pictures, mommy!"
I chuckle and shake my head. I suppose those vocabulary lessons Carlisle gave her is paying off. I was excited to see Charlie's face the next time she uses SAT words so casually.
We started on our adventure, but decided to really take our time getting there. We talked about human things along the way.
"Did you go to a human school mommy?" She inquires after a while of staring at me intently. She looked a little frustrated having to speak to from a distance. Between her talents and her father's, she was very spoiled when it came to actually talking. I had to get her out of that.
"Yes I did. Most of my life."
"Did you go a vampire school too?"
I grinned a bit. It was a little sad to explain this part. "There are no such thing, sweet girl. Most humans don't know we exist. It is better that way. We try to blend in though."
"Because of Aro?"
I look at her face and it reflected mostly a mix of confusion and curiosity. She didn't appear to be afraid currently so I answered as honest as I could.
"Partly. We don't want to cause a scene. We want our human friends to be comfortable. We want to be comfortable too, so we compromise."
"Grandfather taught me that word." She announced after a small moment. Nessie nods her head as though she digested what I said. I wonder how she comprehends all of this information?
"What is like playing with humans?"
"You play with Jake and Grandpa Charlie, and Sue."
"That's different. We don't compromise." She tested out the new word on her lips.
Hmm. She got me there.
She hardly had to pretend to be anything but the wonderfully unusual girl she was around them. After pondering on the subject, I decided to take a detour. I had made plans to visit the Space needle, but it was high time we start doing things differently in Nessie's life. We arrived at a very large and busy national park. It was newly remodeled with a spectacular playground complete with slides, swings, and monkey bars galore.
It was a grey overcast day, a typical thing here, but it didn't stop parents from bringing their children to work off some of their summer vacation energy off. Nessie presses her hands against the glass of the car. She had never seen so many human children approximately the same age as her. They screamed and giggled and somersaulted all around the area.
"What are we doing here, mommy?"
"We are here to play."
Her head whips back towards me. Her bouncy curls swung with the momentum. I sigh and get out the car and go around to her side of the car. I began to unbuckle her at a very human pace. Trying to led by example. Nessie fought very hard to move like humans do.
"Really mommy?" She inquires again. I smile as I pick her up.
"Yes. You are a very trustworthy girl. And I don't see why you can't do something you want to do if there's no harm."
And there was no harm. I had long decided this and the fact Alice didn't try to reach me made me comfortable with the decision.
"But. I have ground rules." I said putting her down. She puckers her lips and puts her hand on my cheek. The word compromise heavy in her mind. I nod.
"Go slow. Like we are doing now. Humans aren't fast like me and daddy. And they aren't strong like Uncle Emmett so be very gentle. Only tell the kids about mommy and daddy if that part isn't a secret. It's going to be like when you are with Grandpa Charlie, so no showing off how really high you can jump, ok?"
She is nodding along, but I giggle at the anticipation in her eyes. She was barely listening.
"Go play, Nessie. I'll be right over here. Watching you." I pointed to the park bench that was farther away from the rest of the parents who by now, took notice of me and my daughter.
We looked too much alike to deny relation, but I also looked young. A teen mother.
Which was true. I often wrestled with the idea of claiming her as my little sister in public, but I suppose there was no harm in being honest today. I doubted any prying eyes would be know me.
It was extremely useful having a clairvoyant as a sister in law! All danger would be noted quickly. Alice was doing exceedingly well with seeing half breeds as she called it. I suppose like I trained with Kate and used my shield she worked tirelessly to fine tune those predictions of hers. I was proud of Alice.
I reached down to kiss my daughter on the forehead. "Go make friends." I reassured her and she nods and then took of running towards a turtle shaped slide. I was glad she remembered to go slow.
I walked to the bench and sat with my legs crossed. The camera I got for my birthday all those years ago in my hands. I would put it to good use now. It sat forgotten for a while in my room at Charlie's until recently. I started snapping a few of Nessie playing. Jake and Esme would especially enjoy seeing these.
She wasn't timid it appears. She walked up to a couple of children (a girl with afro puffs and overalls and a boy with slick black hair) and introduced herself. The two kids exchanged looks and the little girl told her Nessie her name was Alexis. The boy was Nicholas.
"I'm 7." Alexis says.
"Me too?" Nessie adds, but it came out as a question. Alexis didn't notice her slip up.
"Do you like monkey bars?" She ask again.
Nessie looks at the formation and after studying it she nods. "I do like them. I bet we could get to the top."
"But only big kids do that!" Nicholas says sadly.
Nessie frowns. She attempted to reach for their face, but stops herself. "I can make it up."
Her bravery seems to win over the two as they follow over the steep tower.
I couldn't help but smiling as my daughter not only climbed the tower, but helped the other two too. She took particular care to ensure no footing was lost and if it was she was casually bump into the them until they got the hang of it. Soon all three were sitting on the top the bars. Tiny legs dangling over, and exuberance smiles and giggles were bursting from them. Alexis and Nessie took turns hanging from the bars upside down. Nicholas was more conservative.
Maybe scared was the right word.
I snapped a picture of my daughter and two new friends. She heard the click, and turned to me. She waved triumphantly. I blew her a kiss.
"That one yours?" Ask a dad moving in from the other bench. I had been so concerned with my daughter's conversation I had stopped paying attention to the attention I was getting. His heart was beating too fast for casual conversation. I could count every drop of perspiration on his face. There was a blush underneath his cheeks.
I noted he looked delicious.
But more importantly, I also noted he was probably going to try to flirt with me.
I often forgot my enhanced appearance.
I smiled happily. Although I was annoyed he was taking up so much time. I wanted to be watching my daughter. "Yes."
"The one over there is my little Eric. Being a single father is challenging so I like to bring him to his favorite spot once a week."
I didn't like how his heart thumped at the word single. Liar.
"I bet it is!" I said kindly. I faked a yawn after a bunch more dull conversation. Taking extra care to cover my mouth with my left hand. My wedding ring was in direct sight. He frowned, but then looks away trying to recover. He tries to tell me more about himself, but thankfully my gorgeous daughter runs up to me.
"Mommy mommy. Come look." She says taking my hands in hers. I allow her pull me away. Thankful that she saved me from a very boring conversation.
Nessie explained she needed my help. Her and her new friends had explored most of the playground and found a sandbox. They could not keep their sandcastle sturdy enough. And I was, in her opinion, the most capable one here. She thought highly of me.
I was extraordinary happy about that.
We played in the sand for an hour building sand castles and knocking them over.
Alexis especially took a liking to Nessie.
As we were getting ready to leave she tugged on my pants leg.
"Can Nessie come back? Please?"
Nessie jumps up and down. "Please Mommy?"
I laugh. An offer I can't refuse. "Of course, Alexis. I'll bring Nessie back soon. Promise."
The two girls hug and jump around excitedly.
I had flashbacks of my first friends. I wonder how Phoenix was now? What had become of them. Regardless, my happy memories were enough to keep me in a good mood as we drove past an ice cream shoppe.
"When I was your age, I couldn't get enough of ice cream." I said.
Nessie seemed more than enticed by the idea of ice and cream with different flavors. She wasn't much for human food, but she had a sweet tooth out this world. Of course! She was a child through and through. I enjoyed the idea she was my little girl for a bit longer.
We got out and I let her pick out any three scoops she wanted. After picking my brain, for my memories she picked vanilla, mint chocolate chip, and strawberry. She added fudge and color sprinkles too. After taking some pulchritudinous pictures of myself and the ice cream she dug in.
"Oh mommy. It's yummy!" She says happily. "I want to try more human food."
I silently rejoice at the admission. Edward would be pleased to know we finally passed this milestone. She had been so picky with blood, especially lately. We could give Jake's poor veins some rest!
We rounded off our day doing something more relaxing. Book shopping. It was my favorite pastime and thank the heavens my daughter gained my love of books. I let her pick out some which surprised me that she wanted some poetry books. I wondered if Shakespeare would scare her too much?
My worries were quickly put to rest when she saw a copy of Romeo and Juliet. She inquired about them and I gave her a quick summary.
"It's about two people who are in love so deeply nothing can tear them apart."
She urges me to bend over so she could talk to me. She gives me many different images of Edward and I. Romeo and Juliet. Edward and Bella. She was comparing us. I smiled. One day I'll tell her the story of how ironic this is.
"Yes. We will love each other forever. And I'll always love you, Nessie." I give her a kiss on her forehead.
The drive home was quiet. She was fighting sleep pretty hard, but soon it creep up in eyes and demanded she rest. She was stubborn. Much like me, I digress.
I had hoped her day had gone great. I was curious about her dreams.
We got home around 6pm. And she barely awaken as I carried in her into our cottage. Edward was holding the door open for us. Ready to have us back.
"Daddy? I want to see Daddy." She says. Slurring her words. I did that as a human too. She was like me in that too. I wonder how many more ways would pop up. Edward takes her from her arms as soon as we entered and he takes her to her room. Peeling off her clothes with the movement. Getting ready for bed was her "me and daddy" routine after all. That included bathtime and picking out pajamas. I'd show him the pictures once she was sound asleep again. Edward moves his head slightly to the right. Nessie must have mentally called to him. In between him running her bath water.
"Yes Sweetheart?"
"Me and mommy had the best day ever." She sighs happily. She sluggishly slaps a hand to his face and they converse for a while. I take my seat on the couch. Very much satisfied that I managed to get the title of Best day ever.
2. Esme
I made my way to Esme
I could hear the fall leaves crunching and snapping below me as crossed the field. It was now my second fall as a vampire, but first now that I wasn't a newborn. My Ruby irises changed colored fairly quickly. Replaced by a honey auburn color. I wasn't quite at the golden eyes I worked so hard to maintain, but I had been closer.
I was not sad about this, but I had to walk on eggshells. From across the clearing I hear Emmett grunt as he watched me unfold a picnic blanket and sat down next to our adoptive mother.
"Come on Bella! Don't tell me you are sitting out!"
I sighed. I wish I had the excuse of not hearing him. Esme giggled. Emmett had been more eager for my change more than anything. He was always silently looking behind me, or casually checking me out during hunts. He was waiting. Waiting for my newborn strength to fizzle out like a extinguished fire.
Waiting for revenge.
"Why don't you come and play with us, sister dear?" His kind words laced in venom. I gulped, and Edward smacked the back of his head. Silencing him for now.
"He had his pride wounded. He means well. Emmett is competitive by nature." Esme says tapping my hand. I push my head down on her shoulder. It was comfortable when our stone skin touched. Although, I suppose it would have been like laying on a rock for a human. Esme seemed highly please with our arrangement, because she instinctively starting running her fingers through my hair.
"I've noticed." I grunted.
We watched as our family all be prepare for another baseball game. It had been years since the last. Since James first appeared in our life
It felt like such a long time just because of how much had changed. I refused the urge to look at my crescent shaped scar on my wrist. Today would be a good day. No more unforeseen circumstances. Expect...the everlasting threat of Emmett Cullen trying exceedingly hard to embarrass me.
"They all look so happy." I note as Carlisle readys the first pitch of the game. Everyone was smiling. Even Rosalie who rarely smiled unless provoked.
"It's nice to cut loose. We hadn't lived a stress free life in sometime." Esme says.
I felt the rise of a blush, but it would never show.
"I suppose I'm responsible for that."
Esme nods, but laughs. "I'm just teasing my love. Whatever happens I'm glad of the outcomes. Despite the bad, look at the good. My Edward is radiant with joy now. Not just him, Rosalie is much more relaxed. Rosalie seemed to find some sort of inner peace lately. I mean look at my baby girl!" Esme points to Rosalie who was busy paying attention to jumping ten feet in the air to catch a fly ball. She didn't look any different to me than she normally does. But I could see the smug grin on her face. Was that what she was referring to?
Esme then points to Jasper and Alice, the latter was whirling around the bases at hyper speeds. "These two. Completely different too."
I raise my eyebrows.
"Jasper never cared much for humans. You could see that. He found them troublesome with their smells and their influx of emotions. But he willingly went to college. He tries hard. If any human has a capability to be half as amazing as you were, Bella, then he would give them a chance. He was far kinder now."
I nod. Jasper and I had time to grow closer and it was a night and day experience. He was unique in all manner and had a jovial spirit when he wasn't being suppressed by someone else's emotions. It was easy to see why Alice loved him.
"But Alice?" Inquire liking this game more than I had thought. Alice, instinctively turned her head towards the sound of her name, but never turned to look at us. I wonder if she was listening. If she could hear over the ear splitting cracks in time of the thunder claps.
"I think Alice changed more than she liked to admit. No one has persisted her visions more than you, Bella. Your mind and your choices were always changing and throwing everything off. You tested her. I can't say she wasn't at least a little frustrated with you. But she was steadfast. She told me she was learning how to see, Jake and Nessie! Alice hadn't actively worked at something in decades! She isn't perfect and it took you to show her that."
I was floored! I hadn't considered the possibility that I frustrated Alice. It was always in reverse, but she had every right to be. She probably has watched me more than anything else. I bet if Alice could sleep she would see me in her dreams. I smiled. I'd have to make it up to her. I suppose it was high time for a shopping trip. I tried very very hard not to frown at the idea.
"What about Emmett? He is so happy all the time." He was my favorite brother. Especially when I was a human! I was extra thankful of his kindness to offset Rosalie's... whatever the hell that was.
"Emmett was excited to have you. I'm afraid the after life gets boring for him from time to time. Certainly a human was good cause to be excited. You still provide entertainment though. Such as now." She again draws her finger to the man in question, who happened to look up and wink at us, before batting a ball twenty feet west of here. So they were listening. Or perhaps just half listening. I wonder how much they heard. I would have to ask Edward if he had a chance to pick their brains.
"I don't feel impactful." I admitted after watching a few innings in silence. Impactful in all the wrong reasons. Esme adjusted her shoulders slightly.
"I doubt you would. Your modesty becomes you Isabella. It's as though you took a page right out of my husband's handbook with that."
She leans in closer to my ear to whisper.
"I think Carlisle was even more impressed by you than even Edward himself."
I blinked incredulously. Surely she was mistaken. I was confident now Esme was messing with me. Carlisle was by far the most perfect of us. She started playing in my hair again after seeing my reaction.
"If you knew the Edward we knew." She starts, but then frowns at her choice of words. "If you knew how Edward was before you. And how he was when you weren't in his life you would say your presence was nothing less than a full blown miracle!"
She starts curling her fingers around my hair and I closed my eyes. I enjoyed the feeling. Renee used to spend hours brushing my hair and it was a fond memory. It pained me I couldn't see my mom to no end, but least Esme was a good enough mother to soften the blow.
"We knew our son had lucked out upon finding someone who made him so completely comfortable and happy. It's truly a rare find. But when that person also turned around and gave us a grandchild." Her voice quivered at the let go a long breath of air as though she was steading herself. Was she about to cry? I look up at her in alarm, but she smiles back me. Her dimples full as her smile. I noticed how fast she was blinking though. Vampire tears, as Edward once explained. She pushed me back to lay against her shoulder. She starts to smooth out my hair from the earlier twisting.
"All the wonders in the world could not foresee that. Standing up to James. Saving my son's life. Protecting people from a newborn evasion. Uniting natural born enemies!" She scoffs. She was referring to the wolves in La Push. That's where Nessie was right now. She and Claire had taken a liken to each other now that she caught up to her in age. The treaty was no more. There was nothing but a mutual trust between us now.
"But all the miracles in the world would not be as much of a blessing to have seen Nessie grow up and to hear someone call me Grandmother." She paused for a moment. "I had experienced motherhood. And experienced loss of that said motherhood. Then I gained 5 wonderful children. I thought I had as good as it was going to get. Carlisle and I were more than happy with what we had. And then you came into our lives and gave us more. Carlisle and I would most certainly say you changed our perspective as well."
Esme hugs me tighter to her. "Although Carlisle got more of a medical kick out of you. He was baffled that one human could handle all those concussions."
I laugh along with her. My balance was indeed a mystery that everyone expect Edward got a kick out of.
Esme certainly gave a bunch of think about, but I still felted very humbled by it all.
"You all changed my life too." I said invoking a large amount of ardor. I truly loved and admired each and every one of them. Especially the one with the bronze hair who was giving me his infamous crooked smile. I must have been very visible with my feeling because Jasper turns towards me with the biggest grin I ever saw on him. He momentarily calls a time out.
"Bella says she loves us." He pointed out in a southern accent before telling Rosalie to resume pitching the ball. Rosalie rolls her eyes, but she can't hide the visible smile on her face. Edward blows me a kiss and Alice and Emmett laugh together.
"Well, I'd love me too." she adds curtly before throwing the ball as hard as she could.
Alice suddenly drops the bat and looks up to the sky.
"Change in plans in 6 seconds." She announced. Out of instinct I was alarmed. I suppose so many bad things happened I was used to bad news. I was relieved when a sudden heavy downpour hit the ground.
"There was a 50 percent chance." She mused shrugging her pixie like shoulders. All eyes on her, some more upset than others. With no chance of any of us catching a cold, we stayed up in the rain. Looking dumbfounded as our clothes grow increasingly wet.
I laughed and yelled for them to continue. The mud would only make things interesting. Esme nods in agreement and the game resumes, but quickly ends up in a chaotic mud ball fight when Emmett slides and plows a ton of mud on Alice. They laughed and chased each hysterically. Zooming around and slinging mud at each other. Even Carlisle who was taking care to dodge out the way, couldn't help himself when a devilish grin crosses his face and throws a small bit of dirt towards us. Smacking me in the face and Esme on her shoulder. I was surprised! Carlisle gave an innocent look as he jerked his head for us to get involved with the fight.
"Carlisle, you cheeky…" she wipes my face off, but she is smiling. "Hundreds of years with this man and he still rattles me."
"Shall we show them who's boss, mother?" I asked helping her up off the ground.
"Let's Bella."
And we joined the coven of ravenous yet muddy vampires.
