Edward

Chapter 1: IMPATIENCE

I was flying down the road, the car smoothly going over the bumps in the road. The pattern of the bumps continued, growing faster as my speed increased. Hearing the rhythm made me think of Renesmee, as she continued to grow more rapidly than ever before. It made me furious to think that soon enough her and Jacob, my enemy by nature, would be….but I couldn't even think the word. Couldn't fathom the idea of her in his arms. It made me sick, of course not in the literal sense, but in a way that made me want to set permanent damage to the pups face.

And even I knew that this apprehension was completely ridiculous. In some ways Jacob was so right for Renesmee. She would never fear rejection, she would never have to face the decisions I did. Jacob could grow with her, could never age with her, so long as there were enough vampires around to keep him exploding into a giant wolf. And there would certainly be enough vampires around if it was Renesmee he wanted. And he so clearly would. She would never fall in love with a human, and have to decide whether to let him continue with his human life, or change him to be someone she could spend the rest of her existence with.

I suppose I was just being a father. I hated the fact that I would have to see her grow more quickly than any other human child. She was not an ordinary child, this was evident in her glorious face and brilliant mind, but still I wished for my time with her while she was young.

And I had gotten used to Jacob in my own way, and loved him. He had a connection not only with my daughter, bur with my wife as well. And I knew, when the time came for Renesmee to settle down, she could do far worse than the werewolf.

Life has a funny way of putting things in perspective I suppose. Here I was, a vampire, with a biological daughter. Not only had I gotten my Bella for an eternity, but somehow I was able to get the little nudger out safely. I would have an endless future with them. It seemed only fit she be destined for imprintation from a dog.

I smiled to myself and sighed contently, so much of this happiness was due to the striking immortal beside me. I knew her face well enough to know that something was on her mind. But I knew she would let her shield down when she wanted me to hear her thoughts.

We were edging the borders of La Push. It's funny how not a year and a half ago I was forbidden to cross these lines. In doing so would have led to a battle much more intense than the last one my family faced with the Volturi. I found myself laughing at the cowardice of the supposedly strongest group of our kind.

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"What's so funny." She pondered, genuinely curious for my answer.

"Well, I was just thinking how four years ago I couldn't cross this border, if I would have you know there would have been a fight. And I was thinking how these angry dogs have bounds more confidence and courage then even the Volturi."

She smiled.

"They do protect what they love." She said, and I could tell that she was talking not only about the wolves as a whole, but about Jacob and our daughter.

I starting pushing the car over 100, eager to have my daughter back.

When we reached Jacob Blacks house, I could hear Renesmee inside, giggling. I heard her sudden intake of breathe.

"Mommy! Daddy! There here Jacob!" she squealed.

The door to the small house opened quickly and there she was, her vivid smile strong on her face. At only one and a half, she looked about six, but it didn't matter the age, she was always going to beautiful. Neck and neck with her mother.

I opened my arms wide, ready for her embrace as she sprinted towards us. She hopped up easily into my waiting arms. I pressed her hair against my face and kissed the top of her head. She simply wreaked of werewolf, but I still didn't move from where I was.

"Come on Edward, she just now stopped smelling like a vampire." Jake groaned, humor in his tone.

Bella glared. "Jake, she is a vampire." She stated.

"Hybrid." he clarified.

"Thanks for keeping her safe, Jacob." Gratitude seeped in my tone. Bella and I always worried for her safety. Of course it was irrational, but we had gained so much happiness, it just didn't seem like we were going to be able to keep it.

Renesmee had constant supervision. And as much as I hated to admit it, she was safe here. Especially with Jacob. Jacob would stop at nothing to keep our daughter safe. Bella and I knew this, and took comfort that someone else could love her as much as we did.

Well, I suppose our entire coven would do anything to protect her. There was something about her that made anyone who knew her, love her. Our family was no exception to this rule.

"Always do pops." Jake said, his teeth gleaming. "Always will."

He ruffled Nessie's hair and kissed her cheek.

"We better get going, Jake." Bella murmured, her eyes glued to her daughter.

"Sure, sure. But be back soon Nessie. I'll miss you." He kissed her forehead and she placed her hand on his cheek.

In her mind she was saying goodbye, promising another visit soon. She would miss him, but she wanted him to run with his friends. She showed him how much she loved him.

He kissed her hand as she moved it back so it set on my chest.

"Bye, Jacob." She sang, her voice sweet.

He smiled and waved as he ran to the forest, already trembling.

I placed Renesmee in her booster seat, and she pouted the most adorable pout. In her mind I saw that this unhappy face was due not only because Jacob was gone, but because she hated the restraint of the booster seat. It made her feel weak and human. She wasn't human and didn't need it.

Bella came around to Renesmee and opened the door.

"Show me what's wrong." She encouraged, lifting her hand delicately.

Images whirled in her head, and I knew Bella was seeing them now. In her mind she threw the seat deep into the forest and sat next to her mother in the back seat, side by side with no interference. There was pleading in her thoughts.

"I know baby, but Charlie may see and he will try to kill me for not keeping you in there. You know how your grandpa feels about following the law. As soon as I know we are clear from anyone's eyes you can get out." She tried compromise and our daughter thought for a moment.

"I suppose you are right." She admitted, though not happily. "For Charlie's sake."

And with that she buckled herself in and patted the space next to her for her mother to sit.

"You Miss. Cullen are sleepy." I said, and I could tell she was.

"Yes, but can I tell you about my day first?" she asked. Her already eagerly waiting to touch Bella's cheek. She knew I would hear her thoughts just as well as her mother.

As soon as her warm cheek touched Bella, images flooded to my head. The first one was when she was coloring in color books. She stayed neatly between the lines and blended colors in to one another. The second was at the beach, she was looking for sea shells and found all the ones she like, and kept them in a bucket. She went up to the edge of the beach, and pushed Jacob in the water. He fell in and she found this incredibly funny. Bella and I laughed along with her. When they went back to Jake's house they played hide and seek in the woods. She remembered him always letting her win, and there was a hint of anger to this memory. Unlike other small children, our Renesmee knew when people let her win, something she disapproved of. She quickly switched to another image. This time Jacob made dinner, his favorite, spaghetti. He urged her to try some, which she obliged and promptly spit the mush back out. She had a strong dislike of human food. She fell asleep in Jake's arms and remembered waking up to her smile. They played Jacks together until we came to pick her up.

She actually beat Jacob at Jacks, she was much quicker then him when he was in her human form. With Jake as her last thought, her big brown eyes fluttered shut and she drifted into slumber.

Bella grabbed a blanket we had under the seat and wrapped it around her. She didn't need it, but we were going through all the human steps to ensure that Charlie stay as close to a need to know basis as possible. We didn't want him coming to any conclusions, because who knew how close those conclusions might actually be?

I looked at my wife, I had not forgotten the fact that something was on her mind. She seemed to sense my curiosity and I immediately heard her shield breaking down. We almost had this synchronized, she always seemed to know when I was wondering.

I wasn't sure if Renesmee is completely asleep. I don't want to talk about this out loud. Edward, at some point we have to move. What are we going to do about Nessie and Jacob? We can't take them away from one another. I can't see her hurt like that.

I could tell she was deep asleep. It was rare that I was the star of her dreams. We were hunting and she beat me to the mountain lion, her favorite as well.

I answered my wife, having already thought about it.

"Bella, I know Jacob understands, I've heard his thoughts about it many times. He would follow her anywhere, follow us anywhere." I quelled her worries for a moment, before she created new ones. With all the extra room, worrying became a much more constant thing with my Bella. Not that it hadn't been constant when she was human.

"What about his dad, what about his family and brothers? He can't just leave them." Her anxious voice returned.

"He would visit La Push whenever he wanted, it isn't like he won't be able to come back. He knows what he wants and it will all be his decision. Though I know Renesmee is the most important. Please don't stress over this, love. It will all work out." I reassured her.

She nodded in agreement, seeming to calm herself.

Nessie was still snoring ever so quietly behind me. I could see her dream just as clearly as she could. I was taking her back home from the hunting trio when we came across Jacob, in his wolf form, dead on the forest floor.

I stopped breathing and swerved the car to the side of the road, anticipating my daughter's reaction.

"What? What's wrong?" Bella growled, deep in her chest, looking around for any immediate danger. She sensed none. "Edward…." She begged.

As if to answer her question, Renesmee opened her eyes wide, tears began streaming down her face. "Jacob." Her voice was shaken.

Bella huffed impatiently at the contraption Renesmee was stuck in. But after a short millisecond, she was out and sitting on Bella's lap.

"Shhh." She said as she rocked her back and forth, rubbing her face quickly. She wiped the tears from her face, but Nessie was producing them just as quickly as she was disposing of them.

"Show me baby." She encouraged. And Renesmee replayed her nightmare. Bella smiled at Nessie. "It was only a dream sweet girl. Jacob is fine." Bella's face was relieved, but she rubbed Nessie's back soothingly to calm her.

"It was just a dream wasn't it?" she asked, shoving her head into her Bella's hair, embarrassed.

"Yes, he is just fine." I promised her, but Nessie's brown eyes were still unsure. I pulled out my phone to call him. I had the mutt on speed dial, so I pressed the 7 and it began to ring.

He answered almost immediately. The first ring didn't even have a chance to finish.

"What? What's wrong with Nessie?" he was just as panicky as Bella. I heard the door to his car open.

"She's fine, calm down. She just needs to know that you are?" I told him.

"What?" he questioned, I heard the door squeak in protest as he grabbed it. "What did you do to her?" venom seethed in his tone.

It was ludicrous that he would think I would do anything to her. I was furious at the thought. I had to make sure I didn't break the phone in my hands. I was about to hang up on him, but I saw the anxious look on my daughters face, still wet from the tears she had shed. I was able to compose myself immediately.

"She had a nightmare that you were dead." I explained. "It worried her. I did nothing, nor would I ever do anything that would hurt her in any way Jacob. Ever." I slipped at the end, my words sounded very threatening. Nessie's eyes grew wider and her bottom lip pouted out. She didn't appreciate anyone, including me, being rude to Jacob.

I suppose I could see why, he did get a lot of rudeness from particular family member back at our house. Renesmee was very observant.

"Oh, give her the phone." He ordered. Politeness was not something Jacob seemed to care about when it came to something Renesmee wanted or needed. This should have pleased me that he would do anything for her, but the dog needed to learn some manners.

I handed the phone gently to her.

"Ness, I swear I am fine. One hundred percent alive and well. You got that munchkin?" His words were fast, but she understood every word.

She smiled and answered him in her high soprano voice.

"I believe you." She answered.

"Go back to sleep silly girl, and try not to have any more crazy nightmares. You know I could never leave you." He told her, and he calmed her easily then I ever could. I because incredibly envious, it wasn't fair.

"I'll try, bye Jake." she sighed and after he said goodbye she snapped the phone shut.

Her eyes were wide awake now, I wasn't sure we would be able to get her back to sleep now with her all hyped up.

"You aren't going back to sleep, are you?" I asked, knowing the answer before I asked her.

"Nope!" she exclaimed, opening her arms wide and smiling. She kicked her feet quickly, giggling. And I started to drive again.

Her moods were crazy, from one extreme to the next. I wonder who she got that from.

We passed her old house.

"Want to visit Charlie?" I asked.

We had been over there yesterday, but I wanted Bella to see him as much as possible, if that is what she wanted.

Bella thought about it, and Renesmee looked hopeful. Rarely did she get to see everyone she loved in one day. But the car in the driveway made Bella hesitant.

"Sue's there." she glanced at me, speaking with her eyes.

I smiled. "Probably best we leave him alone tonight." I showed Bella all my teeth, knowing that she would understand. Renesmee may have been mature, but she didn't need to know about all of that yet.

Renesmee frowned, disappointed.

"Soon baby, Charlie needs some time just with Sue." I told her, and she agreed with a quick nod.

I races past and as soon as we hit the familiar road deep within the woods, Renesmee flung herself out of the car seat and jumped gracefully into the front seat next to me.

"Hello, daddy!" she giggled.

"Wow you get faster every day." I teased. "Pretty soon I won't see it coming at all."

"I'll be fast, like you daddy. Even faster!" And in her mind she was zooming past me.

Oh. She was competitive too, Emmett made sure of that.

And speaking of Emmett, he came hurling towards the car. He jumped on to the hood, careful not to dent it and smiled widely at Renesmee. She smiled back.

I sighed in disapproval, cold he have not waited until we had parked the thing in the garage to grab Nessie.

He had been teaching her how to fight, much to mine and Bella's disapproval. But she had wanted to learn from him. To her it would all be play, like when Emmett and Jasper went at it. But seeing her fight made me very uneasy. It felt wrong, horrible.

But of course, Nessie encouraged it, wanted it, so she got it. Besides it gave Alice a whole new excuse for a new wardrobe. Heaven forbid she practice play fighting in a dress.

Renesmee growled playfully at her uncle. He smiled and growled back. I slowed as Emmet hopped off the car, opened the door, and pulled Renesmee out in one swift movement. He guarded her as they rolled into the woods, making sure nothing hit her. The trees however were demolished.

She giggled as the roll came to a stop.

"Nessie, always stand guard, you never want someone to catch you when you are unprepared." He was telling her as they stood facing one another now.

Bella shook her head as we parked the car and walked to our daughter and idiotic brother.

"No fights tonight, Ness." Bella called.

And Emmett actually seemed more disappointed than Renesmee, and that was hard to do.

I laughed.

Had Emmett really been so fight deprived that he was upset about not getting a fight with a half breed two year old. And I knew he was. Alice had Jasper all over the world with her. She had decided it was time she learn more about high fashion, and where she went, he followed. He was having withdrawals and missed Jasper.

"Bella, just once." he begged.

She shook her head.

"Not tonight, she didn't get in a full nap, shell need to go to bed earlier. And Carlisle and Esme wanted some time with her."

He huffed in frustration, picked her up and carried her inside.

"Gross Ness, you smell like dog." He teased as her carried her inside.

She rolled those big, beautiful brown eyes.

Carlisle and Esme were both reading in the two chairs by the main window. Books in hand, they looked up as we made our way through the door.

My daughter always seemed to being happiness to everyone surrounding her, her grandparents were no exception to that rule. Their faces turned up into grins as she smiled up at them. She leaped into Carlisle's lap. As she made herself comfortable, he set the book on the table. Esme laid hers in her lap.

"Modern Medical Marvels," she read the title. Carlisle nodded. "Will you teach me medicine?" she asked.

"Of course." And I knew he would. She was so bright I knew she would pick it up quickly. Who knew what she was capable of, the possibilities were endless. And she always seemed to surprise us.

"How are you Renesmee?" he asked.

"Wonderful! Jake and I had a lot of fun." She reached out her hand and placed it on his cheek, her memories flooded his mind. Her eyes were wide as she thought about Mr. Black.

"How fun, how is Jacob. He hasn't come to visit?" he questioned, more for me then for Renesmee. And it had been awhile since Jacob had come to the Cullen house. He had been busy, and Rosalie didn't help matters. The only thing the two of them had in common was my daughter.

I shrugged, indifferently, and Carlisle knew there was nothing much to worry about.

"He's great grandpa!" she encouraged, oblivious to mine and Carlisle's silent discussion.

Esme reached for her next. She had always wanted children, to raise and nurture. Full grown vampires never quite did the trick, though she never complained. And then Renesmee came into the picture, and rocked everyone's world. Renesmee wasn't hers, but she was enough.

Esme ran her fingers through Renesmee's curls, pulling her close as she rested her chin on the reddish brown hair.

"It's good to see you sweetie, I missed you." She murmured as Renesmee yawned. "Edward, Bella, look how tired she is. She must get some sleep."

I went to grab her. "She's been sleeping so much lately, Carlisle." I asked, concerned.

"She's growing too Edward. Her body needs the sleep to accommodate such a pace. I feel this is the time when she will grow the most rapidly. Her sleep patterns will be abnormal, but should even out. Its best we give her body what it needs." He assured, both Bella and myself. "Nothing to worry about. She has a long future ahead of her."

Her cheek, warmed than any other part of her body was against my neck. I inhaled her sweet scent.

So many things I thought I would lose when Bella changed. And I didn't miss any, though maybe the clumsiness, but that was better left with Bella when she was human.

The warmth, those deep and incredibly mesmerizing brown eyes, the heartbeat, the flushing, even the talking in her sleep. All of these traits were based down to her daughter.

Though she had all these human traits, she was much more durable. That was good.

"Let's take her back to the cottage," Bella suggested. "She should sleep in her own bed tonight."

I agreed and we said our goodbyes to Carlisle and Esme.

"See you in the morning," Renesmee said as she waves them off, her eyes already beginning to shut.

The walk back to the cottage was so familiar, but I never grew tired of it.

Renesmee was safe in my arms, Bella, glorious as ever, by my side. Utter happiness surrounded me.

And as we walked, I heard a familiar mind, one I would hear for the rest of eternity as it ran towards the cottage.

A mind that couldn't stand to be away from Renesmee when she had been so upset. A mind that would do anything to protect her, to shield her from danger. The minds only thoughts revolved around what would make her happy. It did not matter if he slept outside, or inside, or wherever, so long as that mind knew the object of his everything was safe and happy.

"I think we may have a stray dog outside the house tonight." I whispered to Bella.

She smiled. "I'm feeling generous, maybe we could let it inside tonight." She looked at me and I nodded.

No hybrid in the history of the world was loved as much as the sleeping beauty in my arms. And I knew then that she would grow to be happy, her life would contain endless amounts of joy, and I knew that Jacob was meant for her. The two of them would live in complete bliss.

And I knew then too, that anyone, or anything that tried to take that away from my daughter, would not live long enough to attempt it. She had a large amount of people that would defend her to the end.

Yes, she would get endless happiness. I would make sure of it.