Disclaimer: And as usual, I can't claim Twilight… all praise goes to Stephenie Meyer!

Authors Note: Some amazing people took me by surprise on my first chapter, and I already have 245 hits, 9 reviews, have been added to 12 alert lists, and 6 favorites! Thanks a lot to all of you! I really appreciate the encouragement!
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And to any new readers, please do the same! Reviews are what got me to update so soon, and even though I have college move-in to consider in the next week or so, I might be able to pull another quickie!
-Ali Kat


Moonlit Eternity
Chapter 2: The Light in Your Eyes

Bella:

"Love, what's wrong?" A velvet voice whispered against my ear.

A took a deep breath, hoping to mask my anxiety. "Nothing's wrong, just thinking. That's all." But there it was, that hint of worry, like a dropped note in a symphony.

"Bella…" He muttered against my hair shaking his head.

"Edward." I groaned back mockingly as I rolled onto my side to look at him. No, I reasoned with myself, still perfect. I still hadn't discovered any major faults my human eyes had missed. "Can you blame me for worrying? She's nearly seven… and Carlisle won't be able to stay here much longer… and if-" I was cut off abruptly by the soft tap of his finger across my lips. Softly, he replaced his finger with his lips.

"Hush love." He breathed against my mouth. "Don't worry so much, it hasn't come up yet. We still have time. She's not going to leave the moment she realizes her feelings for him. You of all people should understand the complexity of those sorts of relationships…"There was a hint of disgust at the end of his sentence, I could tell Edward was being careful to cover his own feelings on the issue.

We had decided to avoid talking about the situation for as long as we could, to enjoy Renesmee and watching our little miracle grow. Now though, it was becoming unavoidable. It wasn't like two years ago, when I expected her to begin to see Jake in a different light. That was just a maternal scare. Edward, though he tried to give her as much privacy as he possibly could, had seen her thoughts about Jacob. She still saw him as a brother, loved him as a friend. It hadn't crossed her mind to imagine him as anything more, and for this I was glad. I wasn't ready to give my daughter to my best friend.

But now, it was different. She seemed to be hiding her thoughts as carefully as possible from her father. She was much more selective with me when an image of Jacob came up, and I could see the developing tension when they were together. I could see the way her eyes shone with wonder rather than adoration when she smiled at him. Jasper had told me she seemed nervous when they were alone together in the house, unsure of herself.

It wouldn't be long before she realized her feelings for him.

Most of all, however, I was worried she wouldn't come to me about it. It was something I wanted more than anything at this point in my life. I wanted my daughter to be comfortable enough to talk to me about anything.

"I know…" I whispered looking down at the sheets. "I have to let it be, let them be happy… It's just, so hard to think I'll have to let her go."

"Well, our dearest friend Jacob Black could always mysteriously disappear." He mumbled with an impish grin that left a devilish tint in his eyes.

"Edward…" I snarled up at him with a fierce matching glare.

He kissed the top of my forehead laughing. "I was mostly joking love. I wouldn't want anyone too upset with me, especially you and Nessie."

I sighed in resignation. My beautiful daughter would permanently be referred to as a slimy water monster, despite my best efforts, and my best friend would have the love he deserved. Unfortunately, it would come from my seven-year-old-eighteen-years-looking daughter.

I sat up and pulled my knees cautiously underneath me. It was all just, a lot to handle. I needed to think about it a little more clearly, to let go of my feelings and consider theirs. But it was so much harder than that. I could feel Edward running smooth circles along my spine with the tips of his fingers, and comforting as it was, it was a bit distracting to say the least.

"Edward." I said quietly turning towards him "I think I'm going to take a walk, I need to think, to work it out for myself…"

He nodded with understanding and fell back across the bed with a soft thud. "I'll be here when you get back, but try not to keep me waiting for too, terribly, long." I could feel the smile in his voice as I slid off the edge of the bed.

"I'll try." I answered with a sultry tone as left the room.

I reached the front door and opened it slowly, hoping not to wake Renesmee. A cool breeze met me on the other side, rolling through my hair and pressing the thin silk of my nightgown against my otherwise bare skin. The moon peeked through the trees above me adding a beautiful touch to the lighting of the night. I walked slowly around the edge of the house, taking in the scent of the greenery, feeling the soft grass beneath my feet, listening to the creatures that wandered freely at night. It was so peaceful. I let myself relax into a steady pace and drifted along with my thoughts, wandering away from our little cottage to nowhere in particular.

My thoughts were interrupted by the soft padding of footsteps. A distinctly familiar scent wafted along with the breeze. "I'm sorry darling, did I wake you?" I said softly as a warm petite hand softly grasped mine.

Everything glistened softly in the dim light of the moon. A pale figure lingered among the trees, pale blue silk ruffling in the night air, clinging to her soft features. She tucked a piece of long brown hair away from her eyes and behind her ear. This woman had an almost angelic presence, gazing quietly upwards as her hand grazed the bark of a tree. Her expression held a certain sadness that was unmatched by her reflective beauty.

I smiled softly at Renesmee, the way she saw me in her minds eye still made me feel like I was looking at someone other than myself. "But why are you awake so late?" I said turning to caress her warm cheek.

She hesitated for a moment, but soon I was flooded with images.

Renesmee and Jacob running through the woods earlier in the day. The two of them sitting contentedly on the couch. Jacob kissing her cheek before he said goodnight. Renesmee pulling her nightgown from her closet and slipping it on before climbing into bed.

And then, a vibrant dream. In the clearing by the river, lying in each others arms. I could feel the electric current running through their fingertips. I felt the heat of his hand on her cheek, I saw the blaze of passion in his eyes. I could feel the current that pulled them closer. Then suddenly I was back in the forest, looking into my daughter's wondering eyes.

All I could do was pull her into my arms and hold her gently. She gave me her thoughts, her confusion, her emotions, and I felt it was all I could do to listen.

We stood together in silence for a few moments longer until her tinkling voice reached my ears. "Momma," she said hesitantly, "I think I love Jacob." And I could feel her confusion, it dripped from her words like the tears I couldn't to cry.

My heart wanted to break, but I held it all in kissing her forehead softly. "It's alright. We'll figure this all out love." I whispered into her hair, carefully stretching a shield around her, as if to keep her safe from her own feelings.

We sat down on the ground together, leaning against the trunk of a large tree. We talked there for hours, Renesmee stretched out on the ground with her head in my lap. I drifted as we spoke, running my fingers through her silky curls. She had me in a trance, her soft words, her need for consolation, and the radiating glow of beauty that surrounded her angelic face. I could feel the sadness melting like ice, but it seemed to be melting a small hole in my heart, realizing the truth of her words. She loved him, it ran into the depths of her soul.

"What if he doesn't love me the same way though… What if he'll always only see me as a friend? " She mumbled sadly as her eyelids began to droop.

"Don't get so far ahead of yourself." I whispered as I stood scooping her petite frame up into my arms. "How could he resist such an angel?" I whispered feeling the smile that crept up to my lips.

Renesmee yawned a sleepy smile and nuzzled her head into my shoulder, letting herself drift comfortably to sleep. I cradled her close to me as if she were still a small child and carried her back to the cottage. I laid her safely in her bed as noiselessly as possibly, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. "Sweet dreams my little angel…"

I forced myself to keep calm as I returned Edward and mine's bedroom, but somehow it seemed unnecessary. Our conversation had felt so natural, and I wondered why I had been so torn by the concept. I'd known all along she'd fall for my Jacob, and I'd always known he would love her with every ounce of his being. It was only a matter of time, and now I could see the innocence of their relationship. She would grow into this love just like any other young woman. She would have questions, make discoveries, the same way all of us had to. And in the end, she would be happy. Not just happy, but complete. Somehow, her happiness made the thought of losing her disappear to the back of my mind.

Edward watched me with a confused expression. I wasn't sure how much of our conversation he had heard .

"I heard Nessie leave, something about needing to talk to you…" He said cautiously, as if waiting for me to explode.

"She did." I replied calmly, testing out just how much he had heard.

"Well, what did she want to say. Or is that mother-daughter confidential?"

"I should say mother-daughter confidential, but I think you know perfectly well what she wanted to talk about." I said softly

"And…" I could hear the impatience growing in his voice.

"And, I think we need to let her grow up for herself. No interference beyond what she asks for." I said with a little more confidence. "This is something she has to figure out for herself, and I think she deserves enough space to take on the challenge."

"And what exactly does that mean?" I could feel his cautious edge tearing through, like my new found understanding left room for him to be the worry-wart.

"That means…" I said pressing him strategically back down onto the bed. "You have to behave, and let them figure it out on their own. No lecturing Jake about how to treat your daughter, we both know he'd literally rather die than hurt her. No prying into her thoughts. We have to let them grow into this on their own. No help, or the opposite either." I said sitting straddled across his waist, pressing my palms against his chest.

"And what if I don't cooperate?" He asked slyly, seeing where I was trying to divert the conversation.

"If you don't cooperate," I trailed my lips softly along his jawbone stopping just at the edge of his lips. "Then you may have to spend at least another few years studying at night." I caught his bottom lip between mine, tugging just enough to retrieve a small moan from his throat.

I felt a sudden shift in weight and found us reversed on the bed. "You drive a hard bargain." He breathed against my ear. "But weren't you the one dreading this? The one who wanted to make it as easy as possible, to avoid it at all costs."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him back towards me. "Let's just say, I've found piece of mind, and I know my place a bit better after talking to her about it." Somehow I felt assured that things would work out despite any doubts I had had.

"Then I suppose I'll have to follow your rules on this one." He said with a slight sigh. "But be sure to let me know if you change your mind…"

And then the whole thing drifted to the back of my mind as I was whisked away by my Edward, into a place where it was only us two, everything was all right.


Authors Note: One last thing! I have a link on my profile to a play list I'm making to go along with the story! Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls was what inspired me to write this, so I've kind of matched up songs to go along with chapters. Check it out!

And don't forget that pretty little purple button. ; )

-Ali Kat