"Nessie!" Mommy sighed, gracefully flying out of her chair and darting over to where Renesmee sat, "Leave the ribbons in your hair!" She carefully straightened out the pink bows that nestled in Nessie's ringlets.
"But they're silly!" Nessie pouted, sulking. "Grandpa won't mind if I don't wear them!"
"No, but Sue wants her bridesmaids to all be in pink - and don't worry, Leah has to wear them too!" Mommy grinned at Leah from across the room, who scowled in reply. Nessie noticed this.
"See! Leah doesn't want to wear them either!"
"You're damn right I don't." Leah muttered, before slamming her book shut and skulking out of the room. Mommy watched her with raised eyebrows, before turning back to Nessie.
"Look, Nessie, it's Sue's wedding."
"It's Grandpa's too! Doesn't he get a say in any of this?"
"God, no!" Mommy and Nessie spun around. Emmett was standing in the doorway, his permanent smile etched on his face. "Us men get very little - if any! - say in our weddings, Nessie. We just have to turn up, and try and look halfway decent. Actually," he paused, grinning even wider, "The looking halfway decent part is optional…" Nessie wasn't sure if she got the joke, but giggled with her mother nonetheless.
"I can't argue with that, Emmett - it took us a few weeks to convince Charlie to wear a suit! But the bridesmaids, however ... They have to look beautiful!" Mommy smiled at her daughter.
"Mommy, I really don't want to wear them!
"You have to!"
"I don't want t-" Nessie was cut off as a handsome, long haired man with deep, russet coloured skin and piercing black eyes strolled into the room.
"Do my ears deceive me? Is the ever stubborn Nessie refusing to wear a bunch of stupid ribbons in her gorgeous hair?" He teased, his eyes twinkling. Nessie squealed, scrambled to her feet and ran into Jacob's legs. He, laughing, swung her effortlessly into a hug - his muscular arms lifting the 'five year old' with no difficulty. "How are you, Nessie-Girl?"
"I'm really really really sad 'cause I've got to wear a pink dress and ribbons to Grandpa and Sue's wedding and they're horrible and babyish and I want to wear bright pink like Alice's shoes but I've got to wear the nasty ones and I hate them and I've got to carry flowers down the aisle and have photo's taken of me and no one's on my side - well, 'cept for Leah, but that's only 'cause she doesn't want me to go 'cause she hates me - and I want to do more colouring but Mommy won't let me and… and… it's not fair!" Nessie gasped for breath as Jacob bit his lip hard , obviously trying to stop himself from laughing.
"Hey, Nessie-Girl! No need to get so worked up!" He smiled at her, "For starters, Leah doesn't hate you!"
"She does!" Nessie burst out indignantly, " 'Specially when I'm with you!" Mommy started at this, but busied herself with putting away all of Nessie's pencils.
"She doesn't!" Jacob sounded honest, but he moved away from the subject quickly. "And look, I'm on your side in the dress thing!"
"Y-you are?"
"I always am Nessie. Always will be. Forever." he said softly.
"Forever!" Nessie beamed, forgetting the horrible dress and ribbons at the mention of this lovely word. "Forever is when you and me get married and live in a big house and love each other very much! I'll be all yours and we will always be happy!" Nessie was too happy to notice her mommy stiffening. She flashed her eyes at Jacob.
"I thought we agreed that she could choose her own future?" Mommy hissed, her eyes narrowed. "I thought you weren't going to tell her about the imprinting, and make her feel like she has to choose you?" Jacob took a step back, his eyes flickering to the door and back.
"I-I-" he stuttered. Nessie was held even tighter as he moved her away from her mommy, and cleared his throat. "I wanted her to know the future she can have, no, will have, with me."
Mommy growled, but was cut off by daddy as he swept into the room. "I'll take Nessie to the wedding - she has to be there a bit early anyway." He said swiftly. Before she knew it, she was being taken out of the room in Daddy's cold arms. Nessie looked over his shoulder, only to see Jacob mouthing two words to her.
Together forever.