thought you guys may want the prologue a little early. Kinda like a sneak preview in a way.
Prologue
A cry rang out in the bedchamber, signifying the beginning of a new, young life.
Mary Alice Brandon, or simply known as Alice, watched as the midwife took the crying infant.
"There, Bella," she said to her friend. "Look at that. A beautiful, baby girl. Just as I said."
Isabella Swan, simply known as Bella, smiled weakly. "May I hold her?"
The midwife hurriedly wiped the baby girl dry and handed her to the glowing mother in a fluffy blanket.
Then she left with her two assistants, leaving them to privacy.
"Oh, she's perfect," Bella whispered almost to herself. The baby had ceased to cry, but her slumber required silence.
"How precious," Alice agreed.
"She has his face," Bella said adoringly.
At that moment, the door opened and a tall, lean man came into the room, his green eyes twinkling with excitement at the sight of the bundle in Bella's arms.
"Is that her?" he asked as he approached the bed.
"Oh, Edward," Alice squealed, giving him a hug. "You have a little girl."
"A girl?" Edward sat next to his wife, an overjoyed grin on his face. "I have a daughter?"
Bella held the infant up to give her husband a better look. "She looks just like you."
"But as every bit as beautiful as her mother," Edward managed to say. He suddenly leaned in to kiss his little girl on the forehead. She stirred slightly and her eyes opened.
"Oh, look, Bella," Alice pointed out. "She has your eyes."
Indeed the girl's eyes were chocolate brown, just as the pair gazing down at her in a motherly way.
"They're beautiful," Edward uttered with pride.
"I must go and tell the others," Alice said, heading towards the door.
But just as she reached the door, she spun around again to face Bella. "I almost forgot! They'll want a name, Bella. What should I tell them?"
Bella smiled. She had been planning this for a long time.
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen," she answered promptly. "Her name is Renesmee Carlie Cullen."
Alice raised her eyebrows at this unusual name but she asked no questions as she practically danced out of the room.
"Renesmee?" Edward repeated.
Bella nodded. "It's a combination of your mother's name with mine. I know its a little strange, but..."
"No," Edward said. "It's absolutely perfect. It's one of a kind." He smiled down at his daughter. "Just like her."
The rest of the week was filled with guests filing in one by one to welcome a newcomer into the Cullen family. Women cooed over her weensy fingers and toes, gushing over her precious, brown eyes. The men hung back, congratulating Edward and wishing him luck on his new road to fatherhood.
Gifts were common for the new parents, blankets and dolls and rattles to entertain the infant. Bella and Edward appreciated them all the same but one gift stood out above all the rest.
It was gift sent by the new Grandfather Charles, who was practically beaming with pride as he opened the box.
Inside was a little heart-shaped pendant, gold and spectacular against the white velvet casing. But the most splendid was what was on the pendant.
Inscribed onto it was a single name.
Renesmee.
*.*.*.*.*
A maid came running in and curtsied when she entered the nursery.
Jacob Black looked up at the anxious maid and eyed his young master, Nathan Hawkins, wondering when the boy would acknowledge the girl. He knew she couldn't speak unless spoken to but Jake had a feeling she was in a hurry.
Unfortunately, at the moment, Nathan was busy focusing on his chessboard. Jacob wanted to roll his eyes. He had made it so easy for the young master to win but he was too daft to realize it.
Suddenly Nathan's eyes lit up as he picked up a piece and slammed it into place.
"Checkmate!" he shouted with glee.
Jacob decided not to point out that he could've called it five moves ago. He eyed the maid pointedly until Nathan turned his head.
"What?" he said, annoyed.
The maid curtsied again. "Your father requests your presence, Young Master. He said you are to come right away."
Nathan groaned, glancing at the chessboard longingly.
"We can play again when you come back," Jacob promised. He really didn't want to "lose" another game but he knew that was what exactly what Nathan wanted. And Jacob, as Nathan's companion, did exactly that.
Nathan's eyes brightened and he obediently made his way to his father's private study.
Jacob was still sitting on the floor and rearranging the chess pieces when Nathan flew in just a few minutes later. Jacob was quick to note the wary expression on the young master's face.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Knowing Nathan, it was probably trivial but Jacob made himself seemed concerned.
Nathan's reply was to thrust something at Jacob. "That."
Jacob held it in his hands gently and found that it was a small picture frame. Inside was a little portrait of a baby.
"Who is that?" Jacob asked, handing it back.
Nathan grumbled. "My betrothed." He threw it onto the floor. "You can have it. I don't want it."
Jacob picked it up. Although he was in a class far inferior to the young master's, he and his family had worked for the Hawkins long enough to know the customs, including betrothals.
But from the looks of the portrait...hmmm...Jacob couldn't be sure. He knew all babies look adorable and pretty but he had a feeling this particular one would grow up to be quite an attractive one.
Especially those eyes. They were brown just like Jacob's, but hers were lighter, warmer, and more innocent. That was to be expected. She was only a baby after all.
Jacob turned the ornate frame in his hand, wondering how he could open it. His young master may not want the portrait but he had a feeling the pure gold frame would be sorely missed.
Then on the bottom right corner on the back of the frame, he saw a scribbling in gold. On closer inspection, he found that it wasn't gibberish.
It was a name.
Renesmee Carlie Cullen
