Equinox

By Midnight Sapphire Eyes and Elizabeth Watson
Betas: idancelikeacardboardbox, Aphrael-08

As was mentioned in the description, this is a sequel, therefore if you wish to understand what's going on in this story, we highly suggest that you start with our preceding story, Solstice (which was previously called Day Break).

Author's Note (applying to all chapters): We created our own ideas and characters. The rest belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

"Love involves a peculiar, unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding." - Diane Arbus

Chapter One

It was a morning befitting of a reunion. It was a typical autumn day for the West coast: drizzly, overcast and mild. But to me, it was breathtakingly beautiful. I had been counting down to this day for months.

"Here we are," Jacob, my husband and my lifelong best friend said as we turned off of the highway and drove up the familiar paved driveway that led home.

I looked out the window at the towering trees of birch and maple lining either side of the narrow lane, their yellow-and-auburn foliage juxtaposing the charcoal-grey sky magnificently. I'd forgotten how picturesque Vancouver could be in the year that Jacob and I had spent traveling the world on our honeymoon.

"Do you think they've heard us yet?" Jacob asked as we turned the last corner before the straight stretch that led to the massive garage that my father and uncle had built. As the words left his mouth, the front door slammed open. The sight of our entire family streaming down the stairs answered his question for me. "Ten bucks says that they swarm us before we even get to the door," he commented.

I snorted. "Thirty says they swarm us before we get out of the car," I replied.

Sure enough, all twelve of them had surrounded Jacob's silver Aston Martin within seconds.

"Three," Jacob said, unbuckling his seat belt.

"Two," I said, unbuckling mine as well and reaching for the door latch.

"One," he said, opening his door. We stepped out in unison, and were immediately engulfed by our welcoming party. I hugged and greeted each of my family members in turn, their smiles and laughter only adding to my bliss.

When at last I reached my parents, my father kissed my forehead. "Welcome home. We've missed you."

"Thanks, Daddy," I smiled. "We missed you too."

"Oh, no fair," Mom groaned as she stepped forward to hug me. I stood an inch or two taller than her now. "You're not supposed to be taller than me! Who gave you permission to grow?"

I laughed and hugged her. "Sorry, Momma."

"I'll get over it," she said. "We're just so happy to see you, baby."

"Did you have a good time?" Grandma Esme asked as my parents guided me back to the house.

"It was absolutely amazing," I said. "Thanks again, Aunt Alice," I said, turning my head to look at my little aunt.

She grinned back. "My pleasure. Did you take lots of pictures?"

Before I could reply, Ian blurted out, "Did you go to Ortona? What about Versailles?" The massive dark-haired vampire and his adoptive brother Rob had joined our family two years ago along with their telepathic half-breed mates, Tara and Emily.

"Ian," Tara said, cutting him off in her pleasant soprano voice. "At least let her get inside before you start grilling her."

"Sorry," Ian said sheepishly.

I chuckled at his enthusiasm. As a veteran of World War Two, he'd had a list of European destinations that he'd been eager for us to see. "It's okay, Ian."

"Motor-mouth," Emily smirked, hitting his arm.

"Shut up," Ian retorted.

"I see you two are still getting along well," I said mirthfully.

"What can I say, we just have a violent affection for each other," Emily said, punching her brother in the kidney.

"Please," Rob said, pulling her away from him. "Try to act your ages." Rob looked at me and sighed. "Glad to have you back."

"Thanks," I said, giving him a sympathetic look. I was herded inside before I could say more. I had barely managed to sit before Ian recommenced his interrogation. I tried to reply to each of his questions as I waited for Jacob. When he appeared at last, Tara silenced Ian once more and the gathering took on a strangely formal feeling as everyone took a seat except for Grandpa Carlisle, the patriarch of our family, and Rob, the leader of the Winter's coven.

"First, we really are thrilled to see you both," Grandpa Carlisle smiled at Jake and me. We smiled back. "I know I speak for everyone when I say that you have been very deeply missed."
I blushed slightly as everyone nodded. I slapped Jacob's arm as he snickered at the colour of my face.

"We missed you too," Jacob said.

"Darn right you did," Uncle Emmett grinned.

"Except for Emmett," Jacob added.

It was my turn to snicker at Uncle Emmett. Everyone chuckled with me.

"You kind of walked into that one, bud," Ian told him.

"Anyway," Rob said, still grinning. "Nessie, Jacob, there've been several developments since you left."

"Did the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup?" Jacob asked.

Everyone laughed again.

"Actually, this news is a bit more…plausible," Rob said. "Firstly, in four weeks, we will be relocating to Washington. Ocean Shores, to be exact."

"And we're bringing Jeff!" Emily announced. Jeff was Leah's imprint and had been romantically fixated on Tara for an entire year. Judging by the murderous look that Ian shot her, his feelings towards the mildly-pathetic human had not improved.

I saw Rob drop his gaze and purse his lips to keep from smiling in the corner of my eye.

"Sure, Rob," Ian muttered. "Encourage her psychosis."

"We've already bought a house and chosen what we intend to do when we move in, except, of course, for you two," Grandpa Carlisle continued.

I looked at Jacob, who shrugged slightly. "Uh…well, why Ocean Shores?"

"It's close enough to La Push to make Jacob's job easier but far enough away from Forks that people won't recognize us," he explained. "As it stands, Rob and Emily will be working with me at the hospital, Emmett is applying for a job at a play school, Jasper and your parents will be attending the University of Washington, Ian will be teaching history there and everyone else wants to stay home."

I blinked. "Just…what?" I looked at Uncle Emmett.

"I like kids," he smiled. "I was hoping there'd be a bouncer position open nearby, but childcare was the next best thing."

I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Aunt Rose. She shrugged. I turned on my parents next. "University? Really? Dad, you already have more degrees than a fever, and Mom, you said you didn't want to go to university for at least a century," I pointed out.

"What can I say, I promised your Dad that I would," she replied.

"Ian?"

"That's Professor McMaster to you," he grinned. "I'm also partial to Dr. McMaster."

"Explain?"

"I'm teaching American History," he said. "I figured I might as well. I've been around for half of it."

"Barely," Emily snorted.

"Please," Rob sighed, closing his eyes.

"Do you two have any idea of what you might like to do?" Grandma Esme asked. "If you want to go to school, we're going to have to enrol you right away."

I looked at Jacob again. "What about university, Jake? We can just have a high school diploma made up for you."

The Winters laughed. "Wait, she was kidding, right?" Tara said quietly.

"Nope," Aunt Rose replied smugly.

Jacob ignored her. "Why not? Might as well give it a spin."

"Are you sure?" Dad said quickly, ever the perpetually over-protective worrier. "There really is literally no time limit."

"Dad…"I began.

"I know, I know, I'm merely saying that there are other options," he said defensively.

"Edward, breathe," Mom said. "She's a big girl now. She can handle university."

I nodded my head in thanks.

Dad opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again and began to fidget.

"It's settled, then," Grandpa Carlisle said. "Esme, Alice, Em, how goes everything with the house?"

"The construction is going well. Esme and I spoke to them this morning," Emily reported.

"We're adding a few hundred square feet, plus a third floor," Aunt Alice said, answering my question before I even asked it.

"Of course, if you and Jacob would prefer your own home, we'd understand," Grandma Esme said softly.

"Don't," Aunt Alice said sharply to Uncle Emmett as he started to chortle.

I blushed again. "No, we can handle living with all of you."

Dad cringed. Jacob laughed.

"So," I said to Jacob as we walked our path behind the house that night, swinging our joined hands. "What're we going to study at university?"

"Hmm," he said. "I don't know. Whatever you choose."

I chuckled. "Helpful, Jacob."

"We should definitely take Ian's class, though. I'm dying to see him try to do a serious job."

I laughed. "True. Plus we can cheat on the exam."

"How?"

"Tara."

He smiled slowly. "That," he said, wrapping an arm around me. "That right there. That mischievous mind. I absolutely love that about you."

I laughed again and leaned into his side. We fell into a comfortable silence for a time.

"So how badly do you think having us living at home is going to damage Edward mentally?" he asked finally.

"Well, let's think about this logically," I said. "The man who pursued his wife for years is now his daughter's newly-wedded husband, and not only that, but he possesses virtually unlimited access to said man's mind. I give him two months before he snaps."

"Generous," Jacob nodded. "I was thinking along the lines of a week or two."

"Go easy on him," I pleaded. "You know how hard it was for him to be okay with this."

"I know, I know," he said. "And I do appreciate him coming around."

"He didn't have a whole lot of other options," I pointed out.

"Good point."

"How do you suppose my mom's handling this?" I wondered aloud.

"Better than I expected," he nodded. "But it's still weird for her. Trust me, Bells thinks she has us fooled, but she's not loving the transition."

I looked up at his handsome russet face. "It never ceases to amazes me how quickly you can read her."

He scoffed. "She's not hard to figure out. You two have that in common." He smiled teasingly. "Come on. Your dad's going to come looking for us soon."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. You shook him up pretty thoroughly this afternoon."

"As the son-in-law, that's my job," he grinned as we came to a stop. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me, instantly setting my blood on fire.

"Okay," Emily said, prancing into the living room where Jacob, my parents and I were watching a movie the following morning. "Sorry to hit you with business so soon, but we need you to choose a room colour today." Emily produced a plastic bag that appeared to be filled with décor magazines and paint chips. "Again, I do apologize. The contractors weren't going to work on your room until next week, but…well, Jasper and Emmett took a 'motivational' trip down a few weeks ago and they've sort of been working like their lives depend upon it ever since."

I shook my head and smiled. "How typical."

She chuckled. "Anyway, let me know if you need any help," she said.

"Thanks," I said. As soon as she was out of the room, I shoved the bag under the couch.

"You're not picking a colour?" Mom asked.

"She and Aunt Alice will have one picked for us anyway," I said.

"And then they'll argue with us until we agree with their choice," Jacob finished.

She conceded to our point. "So have you decided what you're going to take in university yet?"

I shook my head.

"What about something in literacy?" Dad suggested. "You love reading."

I considered that. My fondness of reading was a gift inherited from my mother. "Huh. That'd be fun." I looked at Jacob.

He grimaced. "Books? Really?"

I smiled endearingly. "Please? Please Jacob?"

"You know I hate reading."

"All right, all right, I'll choose something else," I said. I looked at my parents. "What're you two doing?"

"Well…literacy," Dad admitted.

I shook my head and smiled. "You're really desperate to keep an eye on us, aren't you?"

"No," he said quickly.

"Lie," Emily proclaimed from the level above. Aside from sharing telepathy with her sister, she was also our resident lie detector. She had a gift for discerning honesty in people's words and could even force them to tell the truth.

Dad sighed and glared in her general direction.

Jacob snickered. "Having someone in your head really bites, huh, Edward?"

"Technically, I'm not in his head," Emily said as she descended the stairs from the floor above us.

"Whatever," Jacob replied dismissively. "The point is that it's just got to suck to have someone else calling your bluffs for once, now doesn't it?"

Dad tactfully did not respond, but rolled his eyes.

I elbowed Jacob and mouthed "be nice". He snickered again but fell silent.

We spent a significant part of the day going through university pamphlets and course books to decide what we would take, but by the day's end, we were no closer to deciding on a direction of study than we had been that morning.

"You know," said Jacob as we walked back to my old room that night. "If you really want to do literacy, I'm okay with that. I can grin and bear it."

I shook my head. "No. I want us to do something that you really want to do, too. I know you have this tendency to want to do everything my way, but it's important that we do this our way. It's not all about me, as much as you seem to think that it is."

He chuckled. "Well, then thank you, because reading books for an entire year would probably kill me."

I smiled as we made our way down the hallway. I stopped when I got to the spot where my door should have been and frowned. Had I really managed to forget the layout of the house in just one year? "Um…I could've sworn that my door used to be right there," I said, pointing to where I had remembered the entrance to my room being. I looked up at Jake.

His brow was furrowed. "Yeah, me too." He touched the wall experimentally.

"Oh, we forgot to tell you," Aunt Rose said from the library at the end of the hallway. She appeared at the door with a mildly shamefaced expression. "We uh…remodelled your room into an office for Rob, and we filled the door in. The entrance is through the library now. Your new room is in the basement. I hope you don't mind."

I should have figured. Stick the newlyweds as far away as possible from the rest of the house's occupants. This was clearly my father's doing. "No, that's fine," I said. "Thanks, Aunt Rose."

She gave me a slightly awkward smile. "My pleasure."

Jacob and I made our way to the basement. "Edward," we muttered in unison.

"He's one crafty old bloodsucker," Jacob said admiringly.

I was surprised once again as we opened the door at the base of the stairs leading to the basement. The basement had been comprised of two rooms when we had left: Jacob's and a den. The space was now distinctly modern, and was divided into several rooms. There was a wide hallway with a set of doors on either side. At the end of the hall was what appeared to be a common area. In the common area, there was a sizeable TV situated against one wall, with a couch and coffee table positioned in front of it. One wall was entirely covered in books – my books, as I noticed upon closer inspection, as well as dozens of other new ones. I also noticed that Jacob's gaming system was already hooked up to the TV.

My jaw fell open.

Jacob whistled appreciatively. "Esme rocks."

"No kidding," I murmured, stunned. "Wow," I commented as we made our way through the rest of the suite. Grandma Esme had clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this.

"That's an understatement," Jacob said, smiling. "This is cool."

Curious, I walked back out of the bathroom and opened the doors to the second room. It was just as large, but slightly more simple. The first item to catch my attention was a large white bed with black accents centred on the western wall with a night table on either side.

I looked at Jacob, who was still looking around the room. He met my eyes. "Let's go check out that other set of doors," he suggested.

I shook my head. "Tomorrow," I said, shutting the door behind him.

"'Morning," Grandma Esme smiled brightly as we entered the living room the following morning.

I walked over and hugged her wordlessly.

She laughed. "I take it that you like your surprise?"

"It is phenomenal. Thank you so much."

"Ditto," Jacob seconded. "You have crazy skills, Esme."

"You're very welcome," she said. "But I can't take all of the credit. I had quite a bit of help from the others."

"Eh, newlyweds!" Uncle Emmett said as he joined us. "Just the sappy couple I was looking for. There's a thunderstorm coming in today, and we're just about to humble the Winters with some good old-fashioned baseball. Care to join us?"

"I'm in," Jacob said quickly. "It's going to feel so good to finally school them in something." He and Uncle Emmett exchanged high-fives.

All four of the Winters were exceptionally talented at hockey, which was a fact they had acquainted us with soon after moving in. They routinely destroyed us during family games, which they took immense pride in. It had been a particularly unpleasant experience for Uncle Emmett, who was not accustomed to being second best at a sport.

"Esme?" Uncle Emmett asked.

She hesitated.

"Please?" he begged. "We need an umpire."

"All right," she smiled. "I'll be along shortly."

"Excellent," Uncle Emmett said. "Everyone's already on their way to the field. Suit up and meet us there in five."

"Meet you there in four," Jacob said, narrowing his eyes. Like Uncle Emmett, he hadn't been particularly fond of being habitually creamed by the Winters.

Jacob and I changed into our baseball outfits (as created by Aunt Alice) and then ran hand-in-hand to our new baseball field. It was deep in the forest that shrouded our home so as not to draw suspicion. The sky was dark when we arrived. I could smell the imminent rain and lightning in the air.

"There they are," I heard Dad say as we neared the clearing.

"So," said Uncle Emmett, taking centerfield as we arrived. "Rose, Edward, Bells, Alice, Jake, you're with me, Nessie, Jazz, you're with Rob, Em, Ian and T."

Ian, Emily and Tara chuckled suddenly. Rob looked like he was trying not to smile.

"What's so funny?" Uncle Emmett demanded.

"Are you sure you want to do that, Cullen?" Ian chortled. "Are you sure you don't want to divide us up a little more?"

"More than sure, McMaster," Uncle Emmett shot back. "It's time we taught you four a lesson."

"All right," Emily said resignedly. "But don't say we didn't warn you."

Uncle Emmett hesitated and looked at Dad.

Dad shrugged. "Tara's blocking me."

"Your team bats first, Stanton," Uncle Emmett said as the rest of his team dispersed to their places.

"What's going on?" I asked Emily.

She chortled darkly. "Just you wait and see."

I looked at the field to see Aunt Alice move to stand on the pitcher's mound, toying with the ball, her gaze distant as she watched the future play out before her eyes. She frowned after a moment and glared at Tara. "Stop that!" she said. "That's cheating!"

"I am not," Tara said innocently. "I'm just making the game fairer."

I smiled. Tara had an extremely powerful shield, more powerful even than my mother's, although limited to a forty metre radius. She'd recently discovered that this power also had the ability to block Aunt Alice's visions of the future when she extended it over enough people, a fact which she'd been enjoying immensely.

"All right, who wants to go first?" Rob asked.

"I believe the better question would be, who wants Rob to bat last?" Ian said.

I frowned slightly and glanced at Uncle Jasper, wondering if perhaps he knew what was happening. He looked as mystified as I was.

"I vote yes," Emily said automatically.

"I vote heck yes," Ian replied.

"Motion carried," Tara said.

Rob chuckled. "If you insist. Now why don't we figure out who's going to go first?"

"I will!" Tara said enthusiastically.

He chuckled and tossed her the bat. "Knock yourself out, young'un. Who wants to go after her?"

"I will," I offered. All I wanted was to get my turn over with.

"Great," he said. "After her?"

"Me," Ian said, standing behind me.

Uncle Jasper and Emily followed him, with Rob taking the last place.

"Goody," Aunt Alice smiled menacingly. "Ready, T?"

She smiled back. "Do your worst."

I winced. Aunt Alice was an incredible pitcher, and now she was irritated with her. This would not be pretty for our team.

Aunt Alice squinted her eyes for a moment, and then gave up with an irritated sigh. Drawing her arm back, she threw a powerful screwball at Tara. She hit it back just as a clap of thunder rolled overhead. It began to rain presently.

"That's my girl!" Ian called as she ran to first base.

Picking up my bat, I made my way up to the plate and sighed.

"Ready?" Aunt Alice asked.

"Yes," I said unwillingly.

She threw me a very basic pitch. I could tell she was trying to be easy on me. My dislike for baseball had never been a secret. I hit it back with little effort, and was mildly proud of myself when I noticed how far it went. I ran to first base just as Grandma Esme caught the ball.

"Well done," Aunt Rose smiled encouragingly.

"Thanks," I replied.

"So do you like your suite?"

"It's amazing. You guys did an incredible job with it."

She beamed. "Good. Did you notice the new books?"

"Yes. They're great. Thanks."

"You're very welcome, but I can't take all the credit. That was largely Bella."

I was about to reply when Ian batted. I flashed over to second base, which was guarded by my mother.

"Hey," she said. "Nice batting, by the way."

"Thanks," I said.

"Especially considering that you hate this game."

I laughed. "And here I'd been trying so hard to hide it."

She chuckled. "It's not my favourite either, but your uncles and your dad really enjoy it."

"I know, I know, so we have to suck it up for them," I said, finishing her lecture for her.

Our conversation was cut short when Uncle Jasper took his turn. I made my way to third base, which was Uncle Emmett's post. He looked at me briefly. "Hi," he said, and then returned his full attention to the game. "Hey, Edward! Why don't you try catching a few of these?" he called over his shoulder. "I thought you were supposed to be the fast one!"

"Would you like to switch places, then, Emmett?" Dad said coolly.

"No, I want you to catch the ball." He sighed and faced forward once more. "Amateurs."

I laughed. "So you're the expert?"

He blinked. "I'm sorry? I don't understand the question."

I rolled my eyes.

Emily batted next. It was fairly average play, which made me wonder all the more as to what had made them so confident in themselves before as I ran to home plate.

"Tara!" Aunt Alice snapped. "Stop that now!"

"Stop what?" Tara asked innocently.

Aunt Alice gave her a withering look and then drew her arm back and hurled the ball at Rob. I instantly understood why Rob, Emily and Ian had been so insistent that he go last. He hit it back with catastrophic force, even by vampire standards, sending the ball whizzing far above the forest. He then casually met Emily at first base and the two waltzed around the remaining bases.

My mouth fell open. I looked accusingly at Tara, who was standing beside me.

She merely snickered in reply.

"Excellent, Rob!" Grandma Esme encouraged.

"Why thank you, Esme," he said.

I looked at Uncle Emmett next as Rob and Emily passed him on third base. Rob gave him a simpering smile and paused to pat his shoulder as they floated past. Uncle Emmett glowered at him wordlessly.

"You four just have to be freaking professionals at everything, don't you," Jacob said disgustedly.

"Come now," Ian laughed. "Don't be sore losers. Besides, we did warn you."

"Where did you learn to play like that?" I asked Rob incredulously as they rejoined us.

He smiled. "I had four brothers as a human, and sports were really the only way for us to amuse ourselves without getting into trouble."

"But that was like, two hundred years ago, wasn't it?" I asked.

He chuckled. "One hundred and fifty thank you very much."

"Old," Ian muttered.

Dad returned several moments later, shaking his head. "I really can't find the ball."

Ian laughed loudly and then began to sing "We are the Champions".

"So that's what you were so happy about before," I remarked to Emily.

"It's not my fault Rob's good at baseball," she said. "That's another one of those skills that he's been crafting since he was a human."

"And how many other little secret talents are you hiding from us?" I said, nudging her.

She smirked. "If I told you, they wouldn't be secrets, would they? No, you'll simply have to learn over time." She sighed contentedly and looked around. "Well, that's the game then, isn't it?" There was more than a hint of smugness in her tone.

"No," Uncle Emmett said fiercely, procuring a second baseball from his pocket. "I brought backup."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Oh Uncle Emmett."

"What?" he said defensively. "I came here to flatten some overly-cocky Winters, and that is what I'm going to do."

Emily looked in the direction which Rob had hit the ball. "Good job," she smiled tauntingly.

His eyes narrowed.

"No, no, Emily's right," Aunt Alice said. "We need to get back. We have much to do."

"No!" Uncle Emmett and Jacob protested in unison. "We're only halfway through the game, and Emmett Cullen does not leave a game half-finished!"

"Neither does Jacob Black!" Jacob added.

"Well then we'll just have to finish this later, because there's far too much to be done and hardly any time to do it," Aunt Alice said. "None of you are hardly anywhere with your packing."

"And we've still got a house to decorate," Emily added. "So we also need your choices – well, I suppose preferences would be more accurate – by the end of the day." She looked straight at me. "That means you, Renesmee."

"Yes, Emily," I sighed.

"But–" Uncle Emmett began to say.

"Nope," Aunt Alice interrupted. "We have work to do, Emmett."

He sighed and looked at his bat longingly.

"Race you back to the house," Jacob said to him.

Uncle Emmett guffawed. "Are you sure you really want to be embarrassed in front of your wife's whole family, wolf-boy? Again?"

Jacob took off for the trees, Uncle Emmett close behind him. Jacob maintained the lead until the edge of the clearing, at which point he turned around to look at Uncle Emmett and promptly slammed into a tree. I cringed.

Ian and Uncle Emmett burst out laughing. Dad and Uncle Jasper looked like they were trying very hard not to, and Aunt Rose looked very satisfied.