Author's Note: I am terribly sorry it has taken me so long to write this second chapter! Please bear with me…I am such a perfectionist that I believe it hinders my creativity at times. Your input will be well appreciated!

**All characters are the sole possession of Stephenie Meyer!

Chapter 2

"Paparazzi and Deadly Devotion"

Bella had put it off as long as she could. She had to face the music. Renesmee was sound asleep in her room, and Bella was sitting on the floor propped up against the oversized black leather ottoman in front of the fireplace while Edward lounged on the floor beside her, his head in her lap and a worn out copy of War and Peace in his hands.

As Bella slowly ran her fingers through his wavy bronze locks, she wondered how best to approach the subject of her going back to school to become a crime scene investigator.

"Might as well just bite the bullet, you coward," she muttered under her breath.

Without ever looking up from his book, Edward chided, "What was that, Love?"

Bella took a deep breath and plunged right in. "I start classes at Kaplan University tomorrow."

Still not looking up from his reading, Edward replied lazily, "That's wonderful, honey."

Bella held her breath for a split second before slowly exhaling nervously. "I enrolled in on-line classes for the criminal justice program. I plan on working as a crime scene investigator." She squeezed her eyes shut and bit down hard on her bottom lip waiting for the explosion that was sure to follow.

Edward sat up slowly, and turned to look at her with a somewhat confused expression. His liquid gold eyes narrowed slightly with comprehension. "By work AS, do you mean in a public… police station… with numerous people,… HUMAN people, around?

Bella rolled her eyes, exasperated, and mumbled, "Here we go…"

"Stop that!" Edward admonished.

"What?" Bella feigned total innocence, but it didn't go over so well.

"Muttering under your breath, because you know I can hear every word perfectly." Edward was on his feet now, towering above her, and standing as still as a stone cold, immoveable, statue.

Fine, she thought. If this is the way it's going to be…She stood to her feet and dug in her heels. "Yes, Edward. There are generally numerous HUMAN people milling around in a police station."

Edward pursed his lips tightly and sighed in resignation before taking Bella gently by the shoulders. "I'm sorry, Love, but it's just absolutely out of the question."

Bella shrugged out from under his grip and crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. "What makes it so…" sarcastically now, "ABSOLUTELY, out of the question?"

"Hmmm, for starters, there's the fact that human blood is what you crave…especially as a newborn vam…" Edward began.

"You said yourself, I'm a natural. And I haven't killed one human yet," Bella countered, pulling herself up a little taller.

"Then there's the eyes…gold on a good day, black on a…" Edward shot back, pointing to his own distractingly golden hued eyes.

"Contacts will solve that problem nicely," Bella volleyed.

"Uhh, you're supposed to be attending college in Alas…" Edward offered.

"So, we decided to come back home. Lot's of people do that," Bella counter-offered.

A faint grin began to form in the corner of Edward's mouth.

Bella began to feel a tiny glimmer of hope.

"Charlie will be…" Edward stalled to search for just the right word.

"Charlie will be thrilled…just beside himself with pride," Bella chimed in quickly with a determined purse to her lips.

Edward chuckled and closed the distance between them with one quick step. He pried Bella's locked arms away from around her chest, and wrapped them around his waist.

"Bella, you have obviously…" Edward began slowly.

"Given this a lot of thought and weighed out all the pros and cons," Bella spoke into his chest softly.

Edward placed his finger under Bella's chin and lifted her face up to meet his smoldering amber gaze.

"I cannot think of one more legitimate reason to squelch your career plans." Edward actually sounded genuinely happy at this conclusion, but then took Bella's upturned face in both of his strong chiseled hands. "But, you will have to be extremely careful to keep your true identity a secret, and you will never be able to stay in one place for very long. Are you going to be okay with that, Bella?"

Bella sighed deeply and took both of his hands in hers, clasping them together tightly before replying. "The question is, are you going to be okay with moving our little family around so often? Being separated from your family so much?" She wrinkled her nose and bit down on her bottom lip…a residual human habit that Edward sure was glad had remained such a part of his Bella. He could live without her chocolate brown eyes and rosy red blushing cheeks because Renesmee had inherited those two traits from her mother, and thankfully, he was reminded of them quite often.

Edward kissed the tip of Bella's nose. "We …" Then he kissed her forehead. "Will be…" He moved slowly down to her left cheek and kissed her there. "Perfectly happy…" Bella's breath was now coming in short gasps. Edward moved around to her right cheek and kissed her there. "As long as…" He stopped, hovering just above Bella's lips.

"We are together…" Bella moaned with urgency as Edward moved his lips just a fraction closer. "Forever." As his lips finally took hers, a wildfire of desire ignited inside of Bella. She molded her body tightly to his and entangled his unruly hair in her fingers, pulling him in for her own crushing kiss. Edward groaned in lustful agony, gruffly twisting Bella's long silky hair around his right hand and fiercely cupping the curve of her behind in his left. "Edward!" Bella gasped in ecstasy. With one last tortured guttural growl, Edward swept Bella into his arms and carried her into their bedroom.

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"Nessie, stop fidgeting! I'm going to accidentally prick you with this straight pin." Alice was having very little success measuring the hemline of Renesmee's new dress because she kept twisting around, watching anxiously for the front door to swing open. Rosalie, who was busy setting up the back drop and all her camera equipment for the weekly fashion show, laughed.

"Please, Nessie, stand still. We wouldn't want you to break anymore of Aunt Alice's pins." Carlisle had discovered months ago that nothing penetrated Renesmee's skin. He had tried, in vain, to administer her immunizations for measles, chicken pox, and mumps by way of an injection. Finally, he had given up and concocted an oral version instead.

Suddenly, Renesmee leaped off of the pedestal from which she was standing, and ran for the front door. At that moment, Jacob ran in and swung Renesmee up into his arms.

"Jacob! I missed you! Did you like school?" Renesmee planted her tiny lukewarm hand on Jacob's scorching cheek and allowed him to see every moment of her day. She had hunted with Edward because Bella had been busy with her first class on-line. Then, after her and Jasper's yoga session, Emmett had given her a lesson in Taekwondo.

Jacob grinned as he watched her twist impatiently to gaze at the door as she awaited his entrance. He laughed out right when he saw her jump from the pedestal, leaving Alice to hold a broken straight pin between her fingers.

"School was okay, Nessie. But I sure missed you a lot. Looks like you had a fun day." Jacob hugged Renesmee tightly and toted her back over to the pedestal, setting her down gently. Alice shot him a grateful glance and continued working on the hem of Nessie's new dress.

Rosalie breezed into the room carrying a tripod. "I thought I smelled an offensive odor. Hey, dog…" She rapped Jacob on the bicep with her fist and snarled, "Did you learn anything today?"

Jacob grinned mischievously and retorted, "Why did the blonde stare at the can of frozen orange juice for two hours?" Rosalie delivered her most devastating "Go to hell" expression without speaking such language in front of the child. Jacob snorted and said with a smile, "Because the can said CONCENTRATE on it!"

Alice, Jacob, and Renesmee all cackled. So did Emmett, who had walked through the kitchen entryway just in time to hear the latest blonde joke. Rosalie threw the lens cap of her camera at him and he caught it effortlessly between his teeth. He spat it back at her and shrugged apologetically.

"Sorry, beautiful, but it was funny." Emmett wrapped his arm around Rosalie's waist and lifted her into his arms with a deep kiss on the lips. As he sat her back down on the floor, Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head.

"You are absolutely impossible, Emmett Cullen!" Rosalie tried to hide the tiny smile that had crept across her face.

Later that evening, every member of the Cullen family and every wolf in Jacob's pack was in attendance as Renesmee twirled and prissed playfully atop the runway and posed for Rosalie's paparazzi photos during her latest fashion show.

Not all parties, however, were exactly thrilled to be there. Leah Clearwater was belligerent at best. She detested this family of bloodsuckers and resented being summonsed to their lair each week for a silly little half-breed's Hannah Montana fantasies. Leah endured the weekly torture sessions for one reason and one reason only. Jacob Black.

She had not intended to let it happen…falling in love with him. In fact, she had fought it tooth and nail – literally living in wolf form for months last winter after the Volturi left Forks – trying to exorcise her mind and body…to free her self of the unrelenting bonds of unrequited love.

Why must I always fall for the guys who don't want me? First Sam, and now… No. She would not allow herself to go there. Leah was glad her thoughts were her own while she was in human form. She had decided to wait… to bide her time. Eventually, Jake would see how absolutely perfect they were for each other. Who cared about that stupid imprinting phenomenon? Although wrought with complications, there were ways around that…if the object of one's imprinting were no longer in the picture, the imprinter would be free to love again…

Leah's heart stopped the instant she caught a glimpse of Edward as he moved calmly, but deliberately, from his seat beside Bella on the sofa to the doorway leading out to the garage.

Damn! Stupid mind-reading vulture! Leah had forgotten that Edward was the one exception to her private thoughts and had let her guard down. He turned and looked at Leah with a cold, emotionless expression. Leah shuttered unwillingly as Edward bared his teeth in a frighteningly radiant smile.

"Leah, would you mind assisting me with something in the garage?" Edward asked politely. Jacob, who had been lounging lazily against the wall beside the kitchen doorway, jumped up and stretched his mammoth frame, yawning.

"I'll help, Edward. I'd hate for Leah to miss the rest of the show." Jacob winked at Edward with a hopeful expression. Edward smiled wryly and patted Jacob on the back.

"Sorry, Jake. But I'm actually working on a little surprise for you and Nessie. So,…" Edward held his outstretched hand towards Leah. "Leah, do you mind?"

Leah stood up slowly and followed Edward into the garage.

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"No, Alice. Absolutely not." Bella held up one finger and shook it ominously as if to finalize the discussion. Alice, however, wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Bella, it's her first birthday! Every normal child has a party on their first birthday!"

Bella scowled and rolled her eyes with an exasperated huff. "That's just it, Alice. Renesmee is not a normal child. She is the size of a three year old with the intellect of a twelve year old. So, pray tell, which birthday do we celebrate? One, three, or twelve?"

Alice smirked proudly and chimed, "All three!"

Bella hissed and turned to walk away, but Alice bobbed nimbly in front of her. Bella raised her eyebrows in surprise. Alice may have been the older sister, but she was definitely not the bigger sister. Yet, there she stood looking up at Bella with an "I dare you" expression on her face.

Bella had never fought with Alice. They were as close as two sisters could be…even finishing each other's sentences most of the time. Usually, Bella gave in, however reluctantly, to Alice's over-the-top reactions to social events. But, not this time. This wasn't a graduation party or a wedding reception…this was too risky. Besides, Renesmee was her daughter, and Bella would decide what was best for her.

"What are you doing, Alice?" Bella grasped Alice gently by the shoulders and looked down into her determined face, warning sternly, "Do not fight me on this. You won't win."

Alice grimaced and placed her hands on Bella's shoulders.

"Bella, give me a break. Do you think I'm that clueless? I know we can't have a blow-it-out birthday party for Nessie with all the bells and whistles and the whole town of Forks on the guest list. But, we can't let her first birthday pass and not celebrate the occasion. Us, your dad, and the pack. That's all. I promise." She looked up into Bella's face and pouted. "Please? Just a teensy celebration?" Alice folded her hands in prayer and squinted her eyes. "Please?"

Bella couldn't say no. She actually did want to celebrate Renesmee's birthday, and it would make her daughter and all who loved her very happy.

"It better be teensy, Alice. Do not go overboard. I mean it!" Bella covered her ears as Alice squealed and clapped her hands in jubilation. Alice hugged her tightly and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks, Bella! You'll see. It will be great!" Alice turned on her heels and skipped a few steps toward the staircase before turning back around. "You know, yours is only three days later. We could…" She stopped in mid-sentence. The look on Bella's face left no room for negotiation. So, Alice took what she could get and pranced up the stairs humming "Happy Birthday" joyfully.

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Edward stared into the unwavering eyes of Leah Clearwater. She had not flinched since walking into the Cullen garage and squaring off defiantly against him. He had been hoping he had misread her thoughts from before. Did she really want Renesmee dead? Did she really intend to do the deed herself someday? What sense did that make? The pack would never allow the object of a brother's imprint to be harmed…not even by another pack member…especially not by one of their own. No matter how painful, they would take the brother, or sister, out first.

"I am curious to hear how you thought you could ever get away with something as sinister as killing my daughter, Leah. How exactly were you planning to keep it from your pack brothers? The minute you phased, your secret would be revealed." Edward waited eerily patient for Leah's answer.

Leah shrugged nonchalantly before explaining, "I never intended to phase again. After disposing of Renesmee, I fully expected to remain in human form. How else would it be possible for me to have Jacob's child? Besides, as long as I never phased, no one would ever know what really happened. Jacob would, understandably, grieve for awhile…I, of course, would be there for him through it all. Holding his hand…sympathizing as a sister would. Eventually, he would discover his love for me and forget the whole imprinting thing ever happened."

Edward's stomach lurched as he forced his brain to focus on not killing Leah. She was Seth's sister…Sue's daughter… Eventually, she would probably be Bella's step-sister if and when Charlie ever got around to asking Sue to marry him.

"And, how have you kept the wolves from knowing of your plan all this time? I assume you have been phasing all along." Edward again waited with deceptive calm for Leah's response.

Leah laughed a flat, humorless laugh and retorted, "It has never been a secret how much I loathe you people. And, I use the term people loosely. Everybody, including Jacob, knows that I believe we should have destroyed that half-breed freak of nature and its weak mealy-mouthed little mother the minute you brought them back to Forks. We would have all been a lot better off with them dead and forgotten."

Edward's body won the battle against his brain and pure instinct took control. It happened so fast, Leah had no chance to even consider phasing. With a primal growl, he flung Leah over the Mercedes Guardian Bella had never liked to drive because it was too pretentious, and catapulted her into the adjacent wall. He pinned her there with his hand around her throat, her legs dangling like a ragdoll. Leah slapped furiously at Edward's granite arms and face trying to break free of the death grip as she desperately gasped for air.

Edward moved in toward her throat and bared his teeth with a deep snarl. It took every ounce of his dwindling self-control to leave Leah's head attached to her body.

"It is only out of respect for Seth and Sue that you remain alive. I don't care what excuse you use…whatever is believable and bearable for your mother to hear…but I expect you to be far away from Forks before the next sunset. And make no mistake. If you return to Forks, or come anywhere near my family again, I will have no choice but to kill you."

Edward dropped Leah onto the concrete floor and walked briskly back into the Cullen house leaving her panting and gulping for air.