The sun had just begun to set as Edward and I shimmering in the fading light sped back to the main house after our hunting trip. It hurt to leave my daughter for any amount of time, but I knew it would hurt Jacob even more to be away from Renesmee if she had come with us. Twinkling laughter echoed from our home as we approached, and Edward and I could hear Jacob's throaty laugh. I smiled to myself, despite him being a shape shifter who was supposed to destroy vampires, he seemed to fit in perfectly with my family, and my new life. There had not been much I could keep from my old life, my human life, but at least Jacob would always be my best friend, that would never change. Edward chuckled beside me, probably at a thought of Jacobs. As we came to the porch we slowed down, and Edward squeezed my hand, welcoming me home. The first eyes that greeted mine, were naturally Renesmee's, she waved excitedly from the other side of the large glass wall that surrounded the entire house. She was sitting in Jacob's arms while he and Emmet watched a baseball game. I sympathized with her; neither of us had ever been interested in sports. Noticing her preoccupation, Jacob looked up from the game, and flashed Edward and me and quick grin, not bothering to take his arm from Renesmee's waist. When they first started becoming closer than friends, I thought Edward would go insane due to his protectiveness over Renesmee, but seeing as Jacob would be with her forever he had learned to accept Jacob and Renesmee's bond. "Mommy, daddy," Renesmee squealed, rushing towards us and embracing us in the same second; she was only a few inches shorter than me now, almost five feet tall. We entered the cozy room, and Emmet teased Renesmee, "they have only been gone two days, get a grip Neisse." Renesmee stuck her tongue out at her favorite uncle and bounded back to sit with Jacob. The room seemed empty, as it always did when Carlisle was working late at the hospital, but where was the rest of my family?
"Where are the others?" I wondered idly.
"The girls went shopping this morning, and with a credit card you should not expect them back for a few days" Emmitt jested, "and Jasper went out for a short hunting trip because he plans to start trying to find our new home soon."
Leaving forks had been a discussion everybody had been debating for the past few months, after all, we barely ever left the house except to go hunting, for fear of people realizing we had not been aging; we had to find a new town before anybody started questioning Carlisle's young appearance. I nodded and walked over to the shiny black grand piano. Edward was on my heals, ready to give me another lesson; I had wanted to learn so that we could compose music together. When I was a little kid I took a few lessons but I cannot remember much from my human life. We sat down and Edward began to guide my fingers, until we heard a soft knock at the door. Leah timidly entered the room, her hair a mess, and her expression desperately sad and apologetic. Jacob took in her appearance and rushed out the door. Edward stopped playing; listening to them, and Renesmee began to pout.
Edwards face became hard and he calmly spoke "take Renesmee back to the cottage, Emmet"
Emmet rolled his eyes and slung Renesmee over his shoulder "common sortie" he laughed and the left, leaving behind a swift breeze.
Jacob came back into the room, towing a resistant Leah behind him. I was expecting him to state some unthinkably horrible news, but his words took me by surprise.
"Emily is sick" he stated flatly
Edward was concentrating hard on his thoughts and let out a wary sigh. Nobody spoke for a minute. Not knowing the reason they did not state the obvious, I whispered, "Carlisle will be home soon, and we can run right over"
Three sets of eyes watched me, and Edward was the first one to speak. He held my shoulders, and met my gaze.
"There is nothing we can do, this happens to Quileute woman sometimes when they are hurt by the shape shifters, remember her scars?"
I flinched at the memory of her half beautiful face but he continued
"The werewolves have some sort of slowly working poison, and she's dying."
I felt horrible for Emily, and for Leah because she was loosing her second cousin who was like a sister to her; no wonder she looked so upset. I could tell Edward was not finished, but he seemed unable to go on, so for the first time, Leah spoke.
"Sam imprinted on Emily, he cannot live without her."
That's when everything clicked in my head. Sam would die to, though it was not easy to kill a werewolf, he really could not live without Emily. Leah looked like she was about to cry; she was in agony because she was loosing two people she loved desperately.
"This is terrible" I stated sympathizing with her, I could remember how if felt when I thought I was about to loose Edward. My silent heart throbbed.
Jacob tired to speak "Er Bells, without Sam… the pack. You know?"
He was unable to continue so Edward resumed "the pack needs a leader, Jacob is Ephraim Black's decedent, he is the new alpha. He and Renesmee cannot be together, he has his pack to think about, and he has to have heirs with another Quileute, not a vampire.
I turned furious, Jacob was looking at the group and Leah was edging her way behind him when Renesmee burst through the doors to the house with a grin on her face.
"I beat you uncle Em!" she yelled while Emmet ran in.
She smiled like the eleven year old she looked like, but then saw our disheartened expressions.