Ch 1
A Father's Bravery

POV: Bella

True to the legend unearthed by Edward nearly a decade ago, Leah does cease to have the ability to shift after seven years. Apparently, during that time, she was supposed to have learned the werewolf ways and then pass her knowledge down to her children. Well, no one told her that part and she was leaving that up to her sister-in-law, Felicia who was soon going to be an auntie.

Now married to Stefan, Leah heads the Community Center in Forks, which is also the town theater. Somehow, she uses her pregnancy to her advantage, roping everyone, my kids and me included, to participate in Fork's fifth annual town play.

How this all started, I don't really know, but it raises money for a scholarship in the memory of my father, Charlie, who had been working with Sue's charity to help children go to college before his fatal accident, four years ago.

That's how Jake and I found our way back to Washington. Charlie's place is now ours.

Though it's a small town, people don't seem to have a very long memory. It's a weird place, what can I say?

The Cullens, including Edward, are back in town. I didn't know the true reason for their reemergence, only that there has to be a good reason. Besides, I recall Edward once telling me that Esme has a special place in her heart for her Washington home. I don't ask why, I really don't care. I am just happy and content to share an easy, casual friendship that only the passage of so much time allows us.

Edward's fame as a world renowned concert pianist, precedes him. Jake and I avidly follow his progress and even own some of his CDs. I played his Lullaby for B. for our babies when they couldn't sleep, and just like for their mommy, it worked like a charm.

I am happy Edward's found a way to channel some of the darkness by bringing his talents to light.

The town welcomes the Cullens back with surprising ease. Edward and Alice make their return posing as the children of the teens they portrayed years ago. Their unnaturally pale looks doesn't seem to phase this generation's kids who are in awe of their flawless goth, or is it emo, style.

In fact, it is just because of this otherworldly beauty, Alice's sparkly attitude, and Edward's newly developed comfort on stage that both were hounded by Leah, no longer werewolf, therefore no longer bothered by their sweet smell, to participate in the play this year.

She besieges them, joking that their parents would be so proud of their charity work if they came to help. Frankly, I think it's Leah's morbid sense of humor and desire to see Jake's and my reaction that she presses the Cullens into participating.

Alice has taken to being called, Juliette. Edward, keeps his name, saying his father always wanted a junior. All is accepted as normal and they cause quite a stir since some realize Edward's a bit famous beyond the boundaries of our little town.

The play we're doing this year is Peter Pan. Edward's supposed to be the music director, but since it's not a musical, his primary role is to portray Peter. Yet another one of Leah's never-ending experiments, another one of her ironic jokes. And of course, the ever ephemeral Alice, a.k.a. Juliette, is to be Tinkerbell.

Jake's been staying far away from the rehearsals seeing as he's often harrassed by Leah to play the dumpy role of Mr. Darling. He grumbles that he'd much rather be Captain Hook, but the role's already been taken by our son, Wolfe, now 15.

Our effervescent 10-year-old, Eva, is cast as Wendy. Fittingly, Mike and Jessica's son, Michael Jr., 5, takes the role of Wendy's little brother, also aptly named, Michael. I have the unenviable understudy role of Mrs. Darling, whenever Angela is unable to make practice.

Of late, Wolfe has been trying Jake's and my patience, as any teenage boy, perhaps normally would. Gone is my lovable, always eager for a hug and kiss from mommy little boy. Wolfe's now taken to regularly belittling Jake for not moving much farther than down the road from his old homestead with Billy.

In my opinion, Wolfe needs a swift swat on the behind and a grounding. But Jake keeps me from moving in on him, saying that he wants to take care of our son's belligerence himself, in his own way.

Today is one of the few days Jacob is in the audience during rehearsal. He's there monitoring Wolfe's behavior in the theater under the guise of indulging Eva. She'd been begging him to come and watch all week, promising she'd stay with him to protect him from her aunt Leah and her never ending quest to have him fill the role of Mr. Darling.

I feel his gaze on me as I recite my lines, holding little Michael in my lap.

"There are many different kinds of bravery, darling," I say to Michael in my loud, stage whisper. "There's the bravery of thinking of others before one's self. Now, your father," I cast a loving glance out to Jake, his arm resting casually on the back of Eva's chair, "has never brandished a sword nor fired a pistol, thank heavens. But he has made many sacrifices for his family, and put away many dreams."

I see Wolfe from the corner of my eye, listening intently backstage.

Michael, all pretense aside, is enraptured by something he hears in my voice. He quite breathlessly asks, "But mother, where did he put them?"

I catch Wolfe's angry gaze from where he's standing in the wings and speak my memorized lines as though talking directly to him, "Your father put them in a drawer. And sometimes, late at night, we take them out and admire them. But it gets harder and harder to close the drawer... But he does. And that is why he is brave."

I hold my son's stare for a moment. He blinks, and I know he is digesting my words. He turns angrily away from my gaze.

Edward, at the piano, takes the cue. The music swells and the curtain draws. I sigh.

Edward casts me a knowing look. I watch him leave his seat at the instrument, moving toward Wolfe, who unconsciously keeps a wide berth.

* * *

Later, I sit in the auditorium, part of the audience this time to watch Wolfe rehearse his lines with Edward. The costume mom has them wear their outfits making sure there aren't any last minute adjustments. My son already towers over Edward, cutting quite a menacing Captain Hook. He doesn't seem to have to pretend his hatred toward Edward's Peter Pan.

"And now, Peter Pan," Wolfe's booming voice shoots like a canonball through the room. He's brandishing a plastic sword, it's tip grazing Edward's neck, "you shall die!"

Edward, looking absolutely ridiculous in his skimpy green costume, shoots an amused glance at me. I catch his wink before hearing him joyfully announce, "To die would be an awfully big adventure!"

Alice jumps up beside me, delighted at her brother's playacting, clapping enthusiastically. I join her, wondering at their mirth in the scripted words.

Later, I'm in the minivan with my morose male teenager and my bubbly 'tweener. The theater fades behind us. I smile, sighing contentedly.

I am happy.

I know this is exactly where I want to be.

Going home

To Jake.