Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
{ BELLA'S POV }
It has been three short years since Edward and I married, gave birth to our daughter Renesmee, and conversed with the Volturi in what we thought would be the last day of our immortal lives. Now, Renesmee is maturing, and Alice has been receptive to visions and warnings regarding her protector - and my best friend - the werewolf Jacob Black.
It's only a matter of time before the Volturi come back for us. And no matter how much the Cullens prepare, Alice is certain that blood will be shed.
I thought forever would last a little longer. Now it's time for the battle to begin again...
Jasper's golden eyes flicker in the light of the fireplace. I always thought it ironic that vampires played with something so lethal; but of course, humans did that, too. He wraps a scarred hand around Alice's as we all stare into the flames. It's been hours since her last vision, but this time it was a bad one. Renesmee was outside, watching the sunset with Jacob. We were all so worried, it seemed that each sunset might be our last.
"Bella," Edward's cool voice rippled through the silence. "Let's get back to the cottage." I nod and give Rosalie a hug on my way out the door. "We'll make it through this, Bells." She half-smiles as the door closes.
I was welcomed home to pink streamers and a half-eaten cake in the fridge. It had just been three years since Renesmee's birth, but she appeared at least fifteen and could speak five languages fluently.
"Twilight." Edward whispered. "The sun is about to set."
I then grabbed him swiftly and plunged my tongue into his cold mouth. He quickly caught on and we stood stone-still, deepening the kiss with each artificial breath. He finally broke our connection with a sigh. "Tell me about the vision again," I urged him.
"Alice says she saw a necklace, and a vial filled with precious blood." He locks his golden eyes on mine for a moment before continuing.
"And there's a deep sadness in Aro's eyes. That's all she's seen, but Jasper has sensed a terrible mourning whenever Alice phases out."
I bite my lip and run my hand down his arm, taking in every feeling of his marble skin. His hands begin to roam my body as he pulls me closer. Furrowing his brow and, grasping my face in both hands, kissing me again - but with more passion and urgency. If my heart was still beating, it might have stopped. His kisses still do crazy things to my brain. Like thousands of live wires lighting up like New York City on New Years.
Just before I thought things could go farther, I heard a knock on the door. The sun had set and Renesmee had come home. Edward appeared at the door with vampire speed and ushered our daughter inside. "Hi, mom." She smiles without her teeth in a way that reminds me of the mysterious Mona Lisa. Jacob follows her inside and waves goodbye. We go our separate ways, Renesmee to her room, Edward and I to ours.
I sweep a curtain of long brown hair from my eyes and roll onto the bed, where Edward and I lie together for hours; kissing, whispering, and pretending to sleep in eachothers arms.
Edward rolls off the bed at half-past four in the morning and carries me to the window, where he places me on my docile feet. We look deeply into the honeyglow of our eyes, and leap out the window into the sparkling Olympic night.