A/N: Late October 2008, the Kansas City Star had a post-Breaking Dawn "What Happens Next Twilight Fan Fiction Contest." The rules were 400 words per submission (which is more difficult to stay under than it is to reach) and between two characters only. I am posting all four submission, one of which cracked the top 10 in my age division.

Submission #1:

Edward and Renesmee

~*~*~

Every year on her birthday, Renesmee and I go for a walk in the woods. Not at vampire speed, at human speed. I use handholding as an excuse to slow her down and also to take an opportunity to see the world through her beautiful mind.

On her eighth birthday, we broached an inevitable subject.

"So Daddy," she started.

"Yes love?" already knowing where this conversation was heading.

"Jacob and I have been talking about the nature of our relationship and..."

A low growl escaped my throat at hearing the word relationship come out of her mouth. Even after eight years, I was still not keen on the idea that the man who had once coveted my wife was now irrevocably linked to our daughter. The fact that he was a werewolf was now an aside. He was kin in many ways but I was not yet ready for them to have this conversation, brother or not.

"And, what have you come up with?" I asked after clearing my throat, trying to maintain some level of decorum and not ruin our day.

"Well, Grandpa made Grandma Cullen and they fell in love right away, Aunt Alice was in love with Uncle Jasper before they even met, and Aunt Rosalie hasn't found a mirror that she's been able to put down yet…"

We both stopped in our tracks and laughed until tears shone in her beautifully chocolate eyes.

"Seriously Dad, do I have to be in love right now? I've stopped changing enough that I can start attending college with you and Mom without raising suspicion. There is just so much I want to do but I don't want to hurt Jacob's feelings."

Placing her warm hands on my face, I let her show me what she was hoping for: more time. Although she appeared to be a beautiful young woman, she was still only eight human years old. Still a child in many ways, our only child.

"Renesmee, time doesn't matter when it comes to true love. It took me over a hundred years to find your mother," I stated simply. "Jacob can wait, as long as it takes. But you should know that I'm not ready to let you go, even if we do have forever."

"Thank you Daddy… I'll always be your baby. Forever."

We continued to walk hand-in-hand.

"How does 100 years sound?" I prodded.

"Daddy!"