Chapter 1: If I Never Knew You

The light from the bonfire glinted in Bella Cullen's golden eyes. She turned back to the locket in her hand and clicked it open to show her daughter, Renesmee, the picture inside. On the other side was an inscription.

"Plus ma que propre vie. That means 'More than my own life' in French, and that's how much I love you," Bella explained. "Tomorrow, I'm going to need you to stay with Jacob. No matter what. Even if I have to tell him…." Her voice broke. "That he has to take you somewhere." The thought of being separated until further notice made Bella's heart break. Renesmee's eyes filled with tears and she began to cry.

"Hey. Baby, it's all right. You're going to be safe," Bella soothed her.

"It would have been better if I was never born! None of this would have happened!" Renesmee sobbed.

"Renesmee. Look at me." Once she had the little girl's attention, Bella continued. "I'd rather die tomorrow, then live forever without knowing you." She began to sing one of her daughter's favorite lullabies:

If I never knew you/

If I never felt this love/

I would have no inkling of/

How precious life can be

If I never held you/

I would never have a clue/

How at last I'd find in you/

the missing part of me.

In this world so full of fear/

Full of rage and lies/

I can see the truth so clear/

In your eyes. So dry your eyes

And I'm so grateful to you/

I'd have lived my whole life through/

Lost forever, if I never knew you.

Renesmee soon joined in.

I thought our love would be so beautiful/

Somehow we'd make the whole world bright./

I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong,/

All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night/

But still my heart is saying we were right/

Finally, mother and daughter sang together:

For if I never knew you (there's no moment I regret)/

If I never knew this love (since the moment that we met)/

I would have no inkling of (if our time has gone too fast)/

How precious life can be (I've lived at last)

The beauty of the song only made Renesmee more despondent. She clung to Bella fiercely. "I can't leave you!"

"Ssshhh. You never will. No matter what happens to me or Daddy, I'll always be with you. Forever. Now, lie down. Go to sleep."

Renesmee settled into her sleeping bag, Bella stroking her hair long after the child fell asleep. Holding her daughter's hand to her cheek so they could communicate, Bella sang the last refrain:

And I'm so grateful to you/

I'd have lived my whole life through/

Empty as the sky/

Never knowing why/

Lost forever, if I never knew you