Author's Note
This is chapter one of Project Team Beta's 2013 writing challenge. Each week is going to have a different prompt. I'm not going to try for a uniting theme, each story will be stand-alone based on whatever that week's prompt is.
All original characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I don't own Twilight, I just appreciate the loan.
Challenge #1 – Rocky Horizon
Date Posted: 1/?/2013
Fandom: Twilight
Rating: K+
Genre: Canon
Content Descriptors: Mostly Fluff
Character Pairing: Bella/ Edward/ Nessie/ Jake
Bella's POV
Until I was almost eighteen, my world was a tiny place. There were few places I'd been, and many experiences I'd never had. I didn't want the same thing to happen to my daughter.
As she grew, I taught her everything I knew about the world and found teachers for what I didn't. So far, her education had been irregular to say the least. When my daughter reached the physical equivalent of ten, her growth finally slowed enough that Edward and I were thinking about enrolling her in school.
Before that happened, I decided it was long overdue for us to have a family trip. While fuzzy, some of my better human memories were of Renee and I in the back of a car just taking off for nowhere.
Alice saw what I'd decided, and came bouncing at me with information about five-star resorts and fine dining. I nearly sat on her. I wanted this trip to be just Renesmee, Edward, and me. I didn't want it to become some epic journey.
Not too happy, but understanding what I wanted, Alice backed off. Instead, she helped me pick places without too much sun, and within driving distance. I had developed remarkable control in the past three years, but didn't really want to put it to the test in an enclosed airplane with my daughter just yet.
With Edward and me driving through the night, we'd be able to cut the normal driving time in half. However, I worried about Renesmee being comfortable sleeping through the night in the car, especially if we brought "her" Jacob as she'd started insisting as soon as she heard me talking about this trip. He'd take up most of the back of the car by himself.
So, I started looking for places we'd get to in a day. Alice huffed over my shoulder, "You're being difficult, a real humbug. Why don't you just search for something on that?"
Laughing, I typed 'humbug park' into a search engine, only to be surprised when it turned up Humbug Mountain State Park. It was just outside Port Orford Oregon, and was only ten hours away from here. A few more keystrokes turned up a place that had Alice gagging.
I was suddenly excited. This would be perfect. A rocky shoreline begged to be explored. The mountain offered hiking and wonderful views. There would even be plenty of hunting. If we went in the beginning of October, we'd even still be at a fairly warm point but not at their busiest season.
Alice started muttering and rocking. "Are you serious? Castaway by the Sea Motel?"
I chuckled. "It's perfect. I know it's not where you'd pick, but I think it will be fun."
The morning of the trip dawned bright and clear. Renesmee woke up in the middle of our packing. She bounced into the kitchen of our cottage, wondering what all the noise was. We had explained the trip, but wanted most of the details to be a surprise. I slid her a plate of scrambled eggs that I'd started as soon as Edward heard her beginning to wake.
Mouth full of eggs, she asked, "So where are we going?"
I shook my head. "You'll see. It's going to be an adventure. Finish up and then get dressed in something warm. It might be a bit chilly, you'll want a jacket."
A knock sounded at the cottage door. Jake had been with his father last night, but he'd run over as soon as he'd gotten Billy breakfast. I slid another plate of eggs to him, figuring he'd eaten with his father but was probably hungry again. Heaven only knew we were going to be driving eleven hours, but these two would starve before we got there if I didn't fill them to bursting first.
The drive went smoothly, with us arriving at our destination in Oregon in the early evening. Our hosts at the motel were waiting to show us around the lodge we'd rented for the week. They pointed out where we could get groceries, and the best places to explore.
After they withdrew, we explored. The place was a quaint roadside stop, looking as if time had paused in the early nineties. The furnishings were nice, but not ornate. Everything was comfortable, without being overly fancy.
A few steps outside the door took us to a beach. A bench stood inviting you to pause and reflect. I took in the sight before me. A rocky shoreline ran as far as I could see, and across the water was a mountain surrounded by forest.
Jake and Nessie found a loft where they could sleep. I smiled as I heard Jake bite back some choice words as he bumped his head on the sloping roof. He was really working hard not to expand Renesmee's vocabulary in the wrong direction.
A few moments later, they spilled out the front door and engaged in a game of tag while Edward and I stood hand in hand admiring the view. I could hear my daughter's squeals and giggles as she played happily.
Edward wound his arm around me as we stood, watching the tide roll out. I leaned into him, and cradled my head on his shoulder.
After a few minutes, we lost track of time and let the world drift away. I picked up my head, and turned, pulling Edward into a melting kiss.
Jake and Nessie came bounding back, eager to go exploring.
We broke apart, reluctantly. Jake and Nessie had stuffed themselves this morning, and we'd stopped for food on the road, but they were going to need dinner soon.
I suggested, "We've got some options tonight. We could head into town and try and find someplace to eat. Or Edward and I can go into town for some groceries. You and Renesmee can come along, or stay here and hike along the beach. The tide just went out, so there may be some interesting things to be found."
Jake and my daughter decided to stay and go wandering. They figured we could add any shellfish they found to dinner.
Edward suggested, "If you two think you can last that long, we can stop long enough to grab a couple deer."
Jake nodded. "We'll be fine that long."
Edward dropped a kiss to the top of my head. "Let's go catch our dinner, darling."
I looked back at him. Dinner sounded good, but I had other things in mind.
A while later, we made it back to the lodge. Jake and Nessie were in the kitchen, looking for a pot big enough to boil the crabs they'd found.
Renesmee wrinkled her nose. "These things smell funny. I don't know if I'm going to like them."
Jake answered, "I've eaten crab a couple times. It's a bit of work, but I think you'll enjoy it."
Since Renesmee needed to keep her diet balanced between blood and food, I suggested, "How about we all go hunting while dinner boils? Let me just add a couple things to the pot so you carnivores get some vegetables with your meat, then we can get going."
"I thought you just ate, Momma," Renesmee said.
If I could have blushed, I would have; caught by my ten year old. "Well, I mean dessert for us and an appetizer for you, sweetie."
Renesmee tilted her head to the side, trying to make sense of my rapid backpedaling. "That sounds good."
We quickly found and drained two deer just as the smells wafting on the breeze announced that Renesmee's and Jake's supper was done.
We raced back to the lodge, and my daughter and best friend made quick work of their meal. We chose a movie and settled around the TV in the living room. Gradually, my Renesmee became sleepy and drifted off in her Jacob's arms.
While they slept soundly in the loft, Edward and I spent the night watching the waves roll in. We sat, arms around each other, on the shore.