Chapter 1- Introductions
After the Volturi left, the happiness continued. Renesmee was now free to grow up in safety, free from any foreign dangers. Our family had grown used to Jacob being around our little Nessie. (I now called her that, too, despite my original aversion. Renesmee seemed to like the nickname, so I called her Nessie to make her happy.)
Rosalie still didn't like the smell, but she was becoming better with the whole Jacob imprinting.
Edward and I enjoyed our time together. It was so short ago that we had thought we would have lost each other forever. Ah forever. The word was so beautiful to me.
And as the time passed, my power only grew stronger. I had finally managed to learn to stretch back my shield without even really trying, allowing Edward to access my mind's thoughts. Just the same, I could stretch it farther to protect my loved ones. Not that I needed to.
Renesmee's power also grew stronger. She could now show her thoughts even without touch.
"Momma when am I going to get to see Grandpa Charlie again?" Renesmee asked. "I miss him. Are we ever going to go back and visit Forks again?"
She enjoyed Charlie's company just as much as I did. She acted her physical age around him now. It was too much of a hassle to hide the fact that Nessie was the size of a seventeen-year-old when technically she was only six-and-a-half. Edward and I were having a tough time learning to let go of our little baby. We did not have enough time with her. Soon enough, Jacob would be claiming her and taking her away from us. It was inevitable, since both of them could barely stay away from the other for a few minutes at the most.
We had moved from Forks to New Hampshire a few years back when Renesmee was still only three years old (physically nine). Our new home was exactly like the one in Forks, just bigger. Edward and I had our own little cottage in the forest, not too far off. It was different and not as magical as the one back in Forks, but it served its purpose. In the fall, Edward, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and I would go back to school. Edward still wanted me to go to college, even though I now had all the time in the world to study. Meanwhile, Nessie would be home-schooled by Esme and Carlisle. Although her growing had considerably slowed down, an outsider would be able to tell that she was changing a little too fast. Jacob would also stay with Nessie and learn from Esme and Carlisle.
Also, in the fall, Zafrina and the Amazonian coven and Nahuel would come to visit. Of course, Nessie didn't know it yet. It was planned to be a surprise for her seventh birthday. The birthday that Edward and I dreaded, since it would mean Nessie would be fully matured.
"Honey, you very well know that we can't go back to Forks for a while. In fact, we probably can't ever go back. Your father and I can no longer pretend to be in our twenties. It would raise suspicions. I'm sorry, sweetie. You know how much I wish to go back too," I replied.
"Can Grandpa Charlie visit us here then?" Nessie pleaded. She sounded desperate.
"We can ask, but I doubt it. He and Sue must still be redecorating their house." When Sue's husband, Harry Clearwater, died of a heart attack, Charlie and Sue became very close. The two wed during our last year in Forks. I was happy to see my father finally get over my mom. Renee and Phil still lived in Jacksonville, Florida, living happily under the sun. "Honey, what's wrong? Is there something bothering you? You can always talk to me, you know."
"No, nothing's wrong. I just miss him. A lot."
"Me too." I walked over to her and hugged my daughter. It was the only comfort I could give her now. Where was Jasper when you needed him? All of the boys went on a hunting trip to the state park, so they would not be home for a few more hours. Jacob was with them too, surprisingly. Alice, Rosalie, and Esme had decided to go on a spa day. I stayed home with Nessie, hoping to make the most of the time that we had left together.
We sat there for a few minutes in silence, until Edward, Jasper, and Jacob burst into the cottage, nearly breaking the door off its hinges.
"What's wrong?" Jacob asked apprehensively, as I felt waves of calmness drift towards me and my daughter.
"Nothing. Can't a mother and her daughter hug each other in their own home, without the door being knocked off its hinges?" I asked, pointing to the now crooked door.
"Ooh, sorry. Alice called and said she saw Nessie crying and you look like you were about to break down," Edward apologized, drifting towards me, pulling me into a hug.
I leaned closer to him and stretched my lips towards his. I pulled my shield back and thought about how much I loved the person now in my arms. I love you so much. I missed you. I wish I could have gone with you, I thought.
"I was just about to go crazy without you, love," Edward replied, in a dreamy voice. He loved it when he could hear my thoughts. He bent down and returned my kiss. Soon enough, we were wrapped in our own little world.
"Get a room," Jacob and Nessie said at the same time. Edward and I simply laughed, finally breaking away from each other. We kept our hands intertwined though. I needed him, just as much as Edward needed me.
"Ugh. Calm down, you two. By the way, where's Alice? She should have been back by now," Jasper added.
"Um. I didn't hear them come back, but if she did, she would probably be behind one of the computers at the main house," I said. I didn't think I had heard Alice and the others come back. Or was I losing my mind?
"No, you're not losing your mind, love. Alice, Rose, and Esme are just taking the longer way home. They're on the highway now," Edward answered my thoughts. I had not realized I still had my shield pulled away from me.
"In that case, I best be heading to the main house. You two are sending so much lust, it's driving me mad," Jasper laughed.
If I was still human, I would definitely be blushing right now.
"Sorry Jasper," Edward and I both grinned repentantly at the same time.
"Yuck. Jacob, let's go up to my room," Nessie grimaced. Nessie still had no idea about Jacob imprinting on her. She had no idea that Jacob felt the same way I felt about Edward. I wondered when exactly he would tell her. She had to find out some time.
"Before you do that, Jacob can I speak to you outside please? Bella, you better come too," Edward requested in a curious tone.
"Um, sure. But didn't we just get home? Maybe this can wait," Jacob replied, a little nervous now. I could tell that Jacob thought he was in trouble of some sort.
"Don't worry, Jacob. This won't take too long. Bella just had an interesting question that I wish to address."
"Edward! Stop it. Now I can see what everybody meant about you being annoying when reading their thoughts," I retorted. Yes, I would have to be more careful about the openness of my mind for Edward. Edward laughed and kissed the top of my head, as he pulled me along to outside our front door.
I felt the unusual cool April air rush into our toasty cottage. I stepped outside, following Edward. All three of us walked until we reached a small pond and sat on nearby rocks and tree stumps. Of course, I sat next to Edward, and Jacob sat across from us. He was now sweating. Was he hiding something?
Edward apparently noticed Jacob's nervousness too. "Jacob, don't worry. You're not in any trouble whatsoever. Bella had a question for you. Go ahead, Bella."
I hesitated. Maybe this wasn't the right time. "Um, you probably already realize this Jacob, but...Nessie will soon turn seven. And you know what that means..." I started.
"Right. Fully matured," Jacob interrupted.
"So, I was wondering earlier...when exactly did you plan on telling Nessie your...um...imprinting on her?"
"Oh. That."
"Yes. That," Edward snapped. I smacked him on his arm. It was hard enough for me to ask the question, without him being angry. I didn't even know why he was angry.
"I'm not really sure yet. I don't know how to tell her. I want to do it the right way. Without hurting her or anything like that. Nessie is so special and important to me. I don't want to scare her off or anything."
I watched Edward's face, knowing that he was reading Jacob's thoughts as he spoke his words. It remained the same expression, so I knew Jacob was telling the truth.
"Well, then, please decide soon. Nessie needs to know. And soon," I said.
We then walked back to the cottage, only to find something terribly wrong. The door was broken open and was lying on the grass. Seven cloaked figures were inside our home.