Warning! This has been written by me, a bloke sorry apologies if it sucks! :)

Thanks in advance for reading this! I haven't written anything like this for years, I've only ever written short stories so this is my first long story.

Comments, suggestions and support would be greatly and warmly welcomed.

Chapter 1

The darkness swelled around them, the sounds of the forest guiding their movements as they leap and bounded through thick trees. The wind pushing their hair back from their faces as the couple silently stalked their pray together, thoughts as one.

The heat of their meal grew stronger and they slowed, following, through animal instinct, the paths and trenches used by others for many years.

A branch snapped stopping them in their tracks, the two pairs of golden eyes met for the briefest of moments catching and reading the other's thoughts.

"Ladies first" the glowing whisper came, she smiled knowing that, he, out of all people meant it to the core of his being, ever the gentleman.

She turned and gave back to her instincts, letting them flood her mind and carry her to the pray they had been tracking for nearly an hour. She stalked silently forward, showing the predatory movements she had now become accustomed to.

The prize was within her grasp, she could feel the beat of the lion's heart, smell it's fur and feel the warmth of it's body. She leaped forward like lightening striking swiftly but mercifully so not to prolong any suffering for the majestic animal.

It was over in seconds, drinking the still warm life from the lion she felt the all too familiar pang of guilt in ending a life so strong and beautiful.

She felt, rather than heard the soft sigh behind her, knowing her love was there. Willingly stopping to allow him to feed also. He bent down smoothly and drank his fill.

Both sated they sat quietly, eyes locked. He knew what would come, it always did.

"Edward, we must bury this body"

"Bella, it's just a cat"

"It's a life, we took it, I took it and I must see it to the end"

"For you my love, anything, you know that but it is not healthy, this obsession you have. Of all who have turned, you have taken to this lifestyle the most quickly, but the feeding is needed, you know that. We don't kill humans because of our respect for life, but, Bella, my love, this is a cat"

"Human or cat, it's a life we must take to live. I choose this life, I love this life, you, me and Renesme forever, but please give me this small act of respect for the lives we take, i won't be like them, ever".

"Very well... For you".

They worked quickly and in silence within a few minutes there was no trace of the swapping of a death for two lives, nothing remained to show the act.

"Let's go Bella" said Edward, not unkindly.

"Yes, let's go home" replied Bella with more happiness in her voice.

The journey back was more casual than the stalk which turned into the hunt. Full of new life, the couple jumped through the tree canopy, watching the moon racing across the sky full of the love, happiness and joy of being together and free.

The final run to their new home wove around the base of a remote hillside before reaching a small river which babbled slowly through the glen where they built their home. They stopped to clean up before heading back along the narrow footpath that lead to the small cottage they and their family had built back up from the ruin they originally bought.

Six months had passed since they found the perfect spot to settle down, a chance encounter with Kate and Garrett had lead them to find this idyllic and more importantly secluded spot to raise their unique family.

The cottage was a modest yet roomy stone building, with large gardens Bella had planted from scratch, she saw her garden as an extension of their family, grown from a difficult start but with care and love, blooming into the perfect mix of colour and beauty.

The front door of the cottage was surrounded by a large rose bush which accented the period of the building making it a breath taking sight.

They walked quietly through the front door and down the hall, past Renesme's room and slid into bed. Looking each other in the eye they moved closer, caressing each other's faces and kissing lovingly.

Bella growled softly, pulling Edward closer. He smiled gently "I think we'll need to put this on hold."

"WHAT! You can't claim you have a headache, I won't let you!"

Edward chuckled, although he looked more annoyed than playful "It's not my choice love, someone else has plans at the moment"

"MUMMY! DADDY!" yelled Renesme, bounding into the room like an over excited puppy "When did you get home! I didn't hear you, you're getting better!"

"Hey my baby" Edward said lovingly. Bella smiled warmly "It's late baby, you should be sleeping"

"I just wanted to say hi mummy" Renesme said looking disappointed

"Ok, back to your room, daddy and me will be in in a moment to read you a story, but then sleep, promise?"

Renesme's face lit up "promise, promise!" she said happily. The noise of her bounding back to her room was swiftly followed by the thumping of books and anguished sighs of indecision.

"The Buffalo story again?" asked Bella

"I think she's going to pick the lion one actually" replied Edward.

They kissed briefly and went through to Renesmee's room, she sat quietly on her bed with both a buffalo and a lion story book and a huge smile on her face.

"I couldn't choose" she said hopefully.

Edward slipped out of the room quietly with the sun, knowing that Bella was troubled once again seeing it in her eyes and in the way she moved, he strode down the hall to the kitchen.

In the two years since the standoff with the Volturi he had become a very good cook considering he himself did not eat but his Bella loved to be reminded of the old life she had, this morning he thought she could do with some cheering up, and then, of course Renesme, being of both worlds was able to eat like a human, and she did.

Renesmee's favourite food to eat and Bella's favourite food to smell were the same, pancakes, Edward's pancakes were so good they could bring both Bella and Renesme out of a bad mood in one fell swoop so he went to work carefully and quickly.

Renesmee followed her nose and ears as soon as she realised her father was at work in the kitchen, she stole silently out of her room and out the back door, she crept through the garden, picking her favourite pancake toppings. She pulled the fabric of her gown out to make a reasonable sized bowl to hold her pickings.

Once finished her make shift bowl was full of Raspberries, Blueberries, mint leave and Blackberries, her nightgown was a mess and her face was covered in fruit juice as she had played her favourite food game, one for the bowl, two for her mouth. Grinning in satisfaction with both her eaten and collected hauls she silently approached the back door which opened into the kitchen hoping to surprise her father mid-cooking. The fact that she'd never managed to do it didn't detract from her joy of trying over and over again.

"Hey little one" a deep gruff voice, so very different from her father's musical tone, said from behind her making her jump and spill half her captured fruit. "Still sneaking up on people without watching your own back I see".

Renesme dropped her gown spilling the last of the fruit on the ground, turned and pounced at the large muscular man behind her was amazing speed, completely surprising him. Her teeth caught in his long hair missing his throat by less than a centimetre.

A long low growl stopped Renesme in her tracks. "Still trying to sneak up on people I see" Edward intoned, " You should be more careful, she'll bite you one day, she's getting better by the day".

The man, still looking astonished after the speed and surprise of the attack said "One day, huh? We'll see"

"Come on in, I've made pancakes for my ladies" Edward said, looking down he added "and it looks like Renesme was getting some extra toppings" Renesme beamed and jumped down picking up her lost fruit and stuffing more into her mouth.

"I don't want to intrude, I wasn't expecting you to be around yet"

"That's never stopped you before, come on in. Bella will be pleased to see you, Jake".

"Just a moment, I need to ring the breakfast bell. If that's OK with you" Jake said as if inviting a negative response.

"Jake, as always, I have made enough food to choke a pack of rabid dogs, should they come sniffing around" Edward said smiling innocently

Renesmee glared at her father "Don't listen to him Jake, he's just upset because he knows I'd have sneaked up on him this morning if you hadn't gotten here."

"I was only joking of course, Jake, the pack is always welcome here as you well know. Forgive my poor attempt at humour"

Renesmee ran to Jake and hugged him tightly "Again, don't listen, you guys are always welcome here! Go get 'em"

Jake smiled warmly at Renesmee "No need my little princess, they will come to me!"

Renesmee squealed loudly "OOOoooo... phase Jakey, phase!"

"Renesmee, don't tease, and come back here, now" Edward ordered.

Renesmee sighed and tutted in one breath, rolled her eyes and sloped back and stood beside her father.

"Reeeeeady? Steeeeeeady? GOOOOOO!" Renesmee shouted.

Jake laughed and jumped into the air, he shuddered and landed on all fours, the head of the giant wolf reared up and looked straight at the pair and winked. He trotted off to the trees and after a moment, returned on two feet again, pulling on a fresh t-shirt. "All done, they're on their way"

"That's soooooo coooooool!" Renesmee exclaimed running at Jake and leaping into his arms. "Jakey, why do you always run into the trees when you turn back into my Jake?"

Jake blushed madly "I needed to get dressed honey, it's cold without my fur".

Renesmee looked confused but then shrugged, accepting the answer.

The two men walked into the house and heard the soft padding of feet, Bella came into the kitchen and her face lit up at the sight of Jake.

"I thought I heard her playing ready, steady, go. Jake, you spoil her so much. You shouldn't let her play with you like that"

"Bella, I can't help it" he looked serious for a fraction of a second then followed up quickly saying, "she looks so sweet with all that fruit juice on her face!"