A small fic about the day Renesme was actually born. From Edward's point of view.
I knew the moment Bella's pain began. She didn't scream, but her body stiffened, and retreated like a coil. I fought the dry sobs emerging from my throat and stroked her bloody hair. My Bella, my beautiful Bella lost her soul.
After a few moments of Bella withering in agony, I watched in amazement as she suddenly stopped all movement, save the twitching of her hand.
When she didn't change for several minutes, I sighed and covered her naked body with a sheet. Then, my mind finally registered all that was going on around me.
"Reneesme." Rosalie cooed from downstairs. I heard the baby drinking what I assumed to be blood. My mind wondered if it was her own mother's, or some from Carlisle's stash.
I kissed Bella's forehead, inhaled her sweet blood for the last time and slowly made my way downstairs. The first thing I saw was Jacob, standing in front of Rosalie with a stunned expression on his face. I quickly scanned his thoughts. They were overflowing with surprise, love, fear, confusion, and most of all, worry.
Shit! Shit! Shit! What the fuck is going on? Is she…No, she cant be! That's not possibe, is it? Crap, they're definitely gonna kill me now! Jeez, she's so beautiful, even all messed up like that. Snap out of it, Jake! She's not your imprint! She's a monster! A beautiful monster. Fuck, dammit! I need to get out of here!
I growled and coiled, preparing to spring. That pathetic pup just imprinted on my daughter. He wouldn't live until tomorrow.
Jake whipped around, staring at me with pleading eyes.
"Outside." I managed to say. He nodded and followed me to the backyard. I heard the rest of the family's minds reel in anxiety, but I ignored them.
"Jacob." I growled, my eyes coal black. I was every bit vampire at the moment.
The mongrel hung his head in apology, "I cant control it…it's not…I just…she's…" he mumbled.
My resolve to kill him weakened as he struggled for words, fumbling around to explain the situation. I remembered when I had read the mind of Sam one day. His every thought was somehow connected of Emily. It was like his mere existance depended on her happiness.
Jake stood there limply, his defensive stance stripped away. His thoughts were filled with anguish, with suffering...with love.
"Jacob..." I began, "I dont quite know what to say."
"Please, Edward. Dont take her away from me. Remember how Bells always wanted me around when she was pregnant? That was because of Reneesme. We were meant for eachother...even then." he pleaded.
I ran a had through my hair in frustration. Could I really deny him? Despite all the history between us, I had learned to not hate him, like him even. He had slowly wormed his way into the rest of my family's...well most of my family's hearts. And he was important to Bella. No, I couldn't hurt him like that. Not after all he had done, all he had prevented, all he had allowed.
I groaned in defeat, "You have to deal with Bella yourself." I sighed. I was still mad at him, but my anger was irrational. None of this was his fault.
But I still didn't like it.
Jacob nodded, "Thank you." he said softly.
We both stood there, pondering our own thoughts. Mine were focused on the rest of the family's. Carlisle and Esme had returned, and they both worried about Bella. Carlisle was checking on her now. Alice's thoughts was brighter, already musing on the topic of buying some clothes for Reneesme and putting some dress on Bella. Jasper's was more distant, as he was high up in a tree somewhere, trying to rid his mind of bloodlust. Emmett's drifted to Bella's newborn strength to Reneesme.
I was about to conclude that no one really registered my discussion with Jacob, until I heard Rosalie's.
To say she was angry was the biggest understatement of the century. She was on warpath, plotting on ways to kill Jacob. I felt bad for the dog.
She heard my acceptance of the situation and her mind was screaming at me. If she hadn't been holding Reneesme, I was sure that Jacob and I would both be running for our lives.
Edward! You pathetic asshole! How could you! She's your fucking daughter, and you're going to let that dog have her? Do you know what this means? He's going to be in the house ALL THE TIME! You expect me to walk out smelling like HIM? What's wrong with you? she internally seethed towards me, before her attention was diverted by Reneesme's squirming.
Ahh...Rosalie. Her issue was mainly about her own comfort, rather than Reneesme's future. Typical.
I decided to head inside and warn the family of the situation. I doubted anyone but perhaps Esme would be happy.
"Jacob, maybe you should, umm, take off for a while. Talk to the rest of the pack, let them know what happened. And, stay away from Rose." I warned. He looked scared and nodded before dashing off into the woods. A few seconds later, there was the unmistakable sound of clothes being ripped apart.
I walked inside and immediately went to go check on Bella. Esme had finished cleaning and the smell of bleach was strong in the study. Bella was still lying still, her lips pursed together and her brow furrowed. I wondered what she was going through.
"Son, she's going to be fine. Her injury's are healing beautifully and I'm going to ask Jasper to try and ease some of her pain. I dont know if it will work, but it's worth a try." he said.
Esme smiled and hugged me. "She's going to be okay." she murmured comfortingly. I nodded and patted her back, before pulling away and heading downstairs. I noticed that Rose and Reneesme weren't there, but Emmett was removing the bloody couch and Alice was cleaning up the blood on the wooden floor.
"Everything will work out." Alice chriped. She said it cryptically, but I knew she was talking about Jacob. Her mind flashed to blurry, holey visions of the Bella, a very happy, smiling Bella.
"Thanks." I muttered, helping her with the cleaning.
Withing 10 minutes, the living room was spotless and blood-free. Emmett had dug a deep hole in the woods somewhere, and shoved the whole couch down there. He now stood, smiling and dirty.
"Esme's going to kill you, you're getting the place filthy." Alice snapped to him. He laughed and bounded upstairs to go change. As he was changing, Jasper came back in, looking far more in control.
Alice skipped over to him and kissed his cheek, "We'll go hunt later." she whispered. I winced when I saw a vision of what would happen then. A naked Jasper and Alice wasn't something I pleasured in seeing.
I hissed and she looked at me apologetically.
"Sorry."
I waved her off and Emmett came downstairs.
"Hey, Edward, what's wrong with Rose?" he asked.
I groaned, "I'll explain in a minute. Can everyone please come downstairs." I requested. In a flash, the entire family, save Bella, was in the living room. I noticed that Reneesme had been cleaned up and wrapped in a blanket. A part of me twinged to go see her, but this was more important.
"We have a small problem. Jacob has imprinted on Reneesme." I said quickly, waiting for the protest. Silence rang though the room.
Rose growled and gave me a hateful look, her black eyes on fire.
Carlisle was the first to speak. "Well, we'll just have to include him in the family. He's practically part of it anyways." he said slowly and carefully.
Esme nodded, "He's good for her." she agreed softly.
Rose was surprised, she expected our parents to take her side.
"You cant be serious?" she spat, "He's a wolf, she's a vampire. It'll never work!"
Jasper shook his head, "Imprinting is never wrong, Rose. If he imprinted on her, then they were meant to be. Regardless of their conditions."
"But she's a baby!" Rose protested.
"She'll grow, wont she? And he can wait for her until then."
She scoffed, "How the fuck did this happen? One minute, he hates her, and now he's in love with her? This isn't some Disney movie!"
Emmett looked conflicted. A part of him wanted to dutifully side with his wife, but he, himself was alright with Jacob and Reneesme.
"Rose, I dont think it'll be a problem." he mumbled, hanging his head.
Because of her immense love towards him, Rosalie actually trusted him.
"Fine!" she huffed angrily, giving up. "But no one expect me to welcome that dog in our house. He's going to wish he never stepped foot in it!"
"Rose," Esme gently chided, "treat him nicely. He's helped us so much."
From Rosalie's mind, I knew that the problem ran deeper than Jacob's smell. Her dislike for him before multipled ten times, changing it into murderous hostility. She was jealous. She wanted to be the one who, outside myself and Bella, Reneesme would love the most. It would provide her with a chance at motherhood. With Jacob in the picture, she would be pushed aside, treated just like a typical aunt...loved but not cherished.
Alice gave me a sympathetic look. "I think Bella should have her say in this." she suggested. "We can ask her after she hunts for the first time."
With the mention of Bella, everyone, even Rose, wondered of my love's future. It just reminded me how much my family cared for Bella.
"Edward, have you held your daughter yet?" Esme asked, breaking the silence.
I shook my head and held out my arms. Rose sighed and gently handed me the small bundle. Slowly, everyone left, giving me some time with my daughter. Rose and Emmett went to hunt, Alice to change Bella's clothes, Jasper and Carlisle to work on calming Bella, and Esme to work on Bella's birthday present.
I peeked at the small white face, marveling at how much it had developed in just a few hours. No longer did she look like a one-day old child, but more like a 6 month old.
Her curious eyes were chocolate brown, the same as my Bella's. They darted around the room, settling on nothing for longer than a few seconds. Her thoughts were a jumble of had a lovely blush, again, like Bella's, that graced her cheeks. Her skin was pale, almost transculent, but I could tell that it was impenetrable. And her hair was as curly as Charlie's, except my color. She made a beautiful baby.
All of a sudden, her little hand slapped my cheek and I gasped, feeling an electric current glide through me. I saw Bella's face in my mind, the human Bella laying on the makeshift bed in the study.
It took me a moment to realize that Reneesme had a gift. She used physical contact to share her thoughts.
"That's your mother." I told her quietly. She seemed to understand but the picture staying in my mind, as if to ask where Bella was.
"She'll be awake soon." I said.
I watched her for a while longer, her hot hand still on my cheek. Her thoughts drifted to Rosalie, Esme, Carlisle, Alice, me, and finally Jacob. I held back a sneer as I saw his awestruck face in her mind.
Finally, Reneesme drifted off to sleep, her pale lavender eyelids fluttering softly. Her rapid heartbeats slowed down to match a humans, and her pink lips formed a little 'O'. I layed her down on the loveseat, taking extra care to not disturb her. Then, I went back upstairs.
The changes in Bella were more apparent now, even though she still had 2 days left. Her skin was pearly, the last rays of the filtered sun landing on her sparkling face. Her body became more defined, firmer, and developed. Her hair was thicker, shinier with more luster. If she was beautiful before, she was drop dead, make-a-man-fall-on-his-knees gorgeous now. It was hard to stop the smile that spread on my face.
"She's doing better." Carlisle's vioce rang through the silence. I whirled around, seeing him standing in the doorway.
"Jasper just went out to hunt with Rosalie. He's worn out and she's still murderous." he continued, chuckling. "But his power did work on Bella, her pain seemed to be numbing slightly. We're going to try and feed her the emotion of patience next, it might help the process go faster."
"Okay. I'll just...sit with her for now." I said. He nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. I lifted myself onto Bella's bed and cradled her upper body in my arms. She let out a small sigh of what I hoped was content. I kissed her head and stroked her hair softly. I then noticed that she was changed into one of Alice's concoctions. I felt my pants stir at the sight of her. She looked undeniably sexy in her fitted ice blue silk dress and I couldn't bring myself to hate her stilletos (which I knew she would), for they did wonder's to her legs. I decided I'd have to take a cold shower later. For now, I just sat still, reliving my history with Bella in my mind, until Jasper came and shooed me out.
The next day was uneventful. Rose was doting on Reneesme, but giving me the cold shoulder. Emmett and Esme spent hours and hours on the cottage. Alice shopped online for Bella and Reneesme's new wardrobe. Carlisle and Jasper worked with on easing Bella. And I paced anxiously in the backyard for something exciting.
My wish was granted as near midnight, Jacob approached. He seemed more at ease, happier, and optomistic.
"Jacob." I greeted curtly.
"Hey Edward. " he said cheerfully, for once no hostility in his voice.
"The verdict?"
"Oh, everyone in La Push is okay with it. It took a while for them to come to terms, but they're all willing to make amends and get along. Well, except maybe Leah, but just ignore her." he told me.
Leah. That idiot who came storming into our house to hurt my Bella. The one who had the nerve to brush of Esme's kindness. She was against two of the most important women in my live, and for that, it made her my enemy.
I must have snarled, for Jacob put his hands up in surrender and stepped back. "Woah, chill dude. I dont like her much either. But Seth's her brother, and she stays with him. And since he's with me, I guess, now, then I cant say no to her." he explained.
I pinched the bridge of my nose tightly and then released it. We both stood akwardly for a minute or so, having nothing more to say to eachother.
"How is she?" Jacob asked softly.
"Who, Bella, or Reneesme?"
"Well, both."
"They're both doing fine." I answered, "Bella's going to wake up hopefully tomorrow evening, if not earlier. She doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain right now. Reneesme has been with Rosalie the whole day."
"Can I see Nessie?" he asked hopefully. Nessie? What kind of a nickname was that?
"Nessie?"
"Oh, sorry, I mean Reneesme. The name's kind of a mouthful, ya know?" Jacob mumbled.
"Uh...Jacob, I dont know if that's the best idea. Maybe when Rose goes hunting in a few hours, but not right now. She's very...angry with you." I told him apologetically. I did feel bad for him, Rose's wrath was something hardly anyone deserved.
"Oh...Blondie? Eh, she'll come around. But alright, I'll just go find Seth and then crash somewhere." he yawned, "I'm pretty sleepy."
"Jacob, by all means, there's a guest bedroom downstairs that you are free to use." I offered, feeling guilty that he couldn't go back home because of us.
"Nah, s'alright." he said, stepping back into the woods. "I might even go to Dad's. No one on the rez is happy with me, but hey, they cant really push me away completely, right? 'Sides, Sam is alot more controlled and accepting now. I'll see ya later, Edward."
"Suit yourself. Goodnight, Jacob." I replied, watching him dash of into the woods and hearing him phase.
I sighed and walked inside, awaiting the new day. Around dawn, Rosalie handed Reneesme off to me and joined Emmett to go hunt again. I spent a few hours watching my daughter sleep, just like I did with her mother.
Bella was almost a vampire now. Her blood had been drained from her system, only traces of the tantililzing scent remained. Her heartbeats were changing too, more rapid, almost like Reneesme's.
At that point, there was a knock on the backdoor. I cradled the baby in one arm and slid the glass door open. Jacob stood there, freshly dressed and a beaming smile on his face.
"Hey Edward. Is Blondie gone?" he asked eagerly. I found him annoying until I remembered that this was exactly how I was with Bella. The happiness couldn't be helped when one's mate was only a few feet away.
"Yeah, Jake, you can have her." I said, letting him come inside and handing Reneesme to him. He held her akwardly, obviously not quite sure of the proper way to hold a baby. But his face was pure devotion to the beauty lying on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Edward. How's Bells?"
I shrugged, "She'll probably wake up soon. The transformation is almost complete." I sighed, my mind reeling at how she would act first. But knowing Bella, she's surprise us all.
Jacob nodded, "Alright. Well, I'm just gonna hold Nessie for a while." he said.
I smiled lightly and walked upstairs, leaving a boy alone with my daughter. I groaned, thinking that if he was this attached to her now, it would be a nightmare when she grew up.
Bella was sighing softly, almost like she was asleep. Jasper sat, tired and mentally drained, in the chair next to her.
"It's harder now, Edward." he said wearily, "Half the time, she rejects the emotion."
Alice, who sat on the bed, rolled her eyes. "It's because she's a shield, Jazz. It isn't supposed to be easy. Anyways, she can hear us now and her pain should be subsiding, so you can stop. Go hunt." she ordered. Jasper got up and jumped out the window, eager for energy.
I chuckled at her chipper voice and sat in the now empty chair.
"She can hear us?" I asked uncertainly, stroking Bella's cheek softly.
"Mmmhmm. See, she just smiled when you touched her. Her senses are coming back."
I stroked her face again, and another soft smile flitted across her stunning face. Alice snickered when a rather lovesick smile spread across my face.
"Enough with the gooey, loveyish expressions. Please." she smirked.
I rolled my eyes at her and kept watching my Bella. Eventually, Alice got bored and left the room, going to the cottage.
Time passed slowly. Rose eventually came back, growling angrily when she saw Jacob tickling Reneesme. She spent a good 3 hours making his visit as misrible as possible by watching him with steely black eyes and throwing in snide comments every 10 minutes. Fortunately, Esme came alone around 4 and pulled her away, casting a sympathetic look towards Jacob and ruffling his hair as she walked outside. Jacob muttered a thanks and went back to feeding "the bloodthirsty baby". Everyone cracked a smile at his name for his mate.
I kept talking to Bella, whispering our history together in her ear. I told her how much I loved her, how beautiful she was, how excited everyone was, and when the rest of the family was out of the house momentarily, I told her just what I was planning on doing to her when we were alone. I wasn't really one for taking about sex, but Bella brought out the anamalistic reactions in me...especially towards her ravishing body.
Around 6, Carlisle and Alice announced that Bella would be waking up in a few minutes. Everyone, besides Jacob and Reneesme, crowded around Bella's bed, waiting for her eyes to snap open.
She arched her back, and writhed on the bed, then curled into a ball. A few seconds later, she shot off the bed onto the back wall, her eyes wide open. I sighed sadly when I noticed that her beautiful chocolate brown orbs had been changed into bloody red.
We gave her a moment to absorb everything, I knew that waking up for the first time was quite overwhelming. Bella didn't seem to fazed by it, but then again, her body language always opposite to what I expected. I couldn't help but smile when she instinctively bit her lip, like she did when she was confused as a human. The smile disappeared when I realized that I still couldn't read her mind. Oh, what would I give to probe into that mysterious abyss of secrets.
I realized how close I was to her when I was tackled by her. Her strong arms constricted around me and her soft lips molded with mine. I fought desperately to not loose control, reminding myself that the family was right there...but she tasted so good. So delectable that I could hardly feel her tightening grip on my hair, which for the first time, brought me a twinge of pain. However, it evaporated when she subtly rubbed against me, hitting me right there. I stifled a groan and pulled back, staring into Bella's eyes, blabbering out some lame excuse about her strength so that I didn't have my way with her right them.
After a few seconds, Bella spoke an apology. It was a beautiful sound, like tinkling bells. It wasn't sultry and harsh like Rose's, or bright and perky like Alice's, it was almost like Esme's, except softer and far more pretty.
Jasper's mind was ridiculously confused. Bella should have been ravenous right now, her body craving blood. She should have sniffed out Jacob or one of Reneesme's bottles and been snarling in agony trying to reach it. But here she stood, gracefully, for once, with no indication that she was thristy at all. And this made Jasper wary.
Carlisle asked her a few questions and she hesistated before answering them. Her replies were short, and controlled, like she was trying to hide an unpleasent detail from them. I made a note to ask her of it later.
When Bella mentioned that she felt a bit thirsty, Carlisle apologized and I took that as my cue to take her hunting. The family was suprised when she mentioned Reneesme, for she should have been anamalistically eager for blood by now. But that was just Bella...
I took a deep breath, still taking away by my wife's stunning beauty.
My wife.
Eternally.
For me.
My heart swelled at the realization, and if I could cry, I'd be sobbing hysterically by now. Bella's face puckered slightly in worry, and I imagined my face looked quite surprised. I decided that I needed her alone with me immediately, and with another shaky breath and a crooked smile,
"Bella, let's hunt."