2. Renesmee Cullen: Young At Heart…Only

"So how does it feel to be all grown up?" my favorite aunt asked. But Alice didn't wait for a verbal response; she was almost as good at reading me as dad, " You know, it's not like you have be an a adult right away, Nessie? The rest of us," she nodded acknowledging Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie, "spent decades being teenagers. There's no reason you shouldn't have the same option."

Although she couldn't read my mind as clearly as my father, Alice along with the rest of my family could see the anxiety in my action.

I'd had a long day. Mom had waken me early, so early that I couldn't decide if it was night or day by looking out my window. She and Dad had planned for me to spend the whole day away from the house with my aunts and uncles and Jake of course.

I think they hoped today would put me in a lighter mood to prepare me for what was coming tomorrow, my birthday. Not only would there be a party (at Alice's request) and awkward conversation with people I didn't know very, I could handle the party, I even sorta liked the attention. But tomorrow was my 7th birthday. 7th. The one I had dreaded for so long. Tomorrow I would finally join my family as immortals It's surprisingly easy to be to only partial human in a family of vampires. The next day, when my body would be frozen forever, when time will lose its effect on my features, when I become like them… that was the eminent fate I was dreading all day.

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We were at my Grandpa Charlie's before Sue had set breakfast on the table. We ran. It wasn't necessary, of course we were in no rush. It would have been just as easy to take one of the family's many cars. But running at super human speeds was one of the many vampire powers I found truly enjoyable. So, in a constant effort to keep me amused, my strongest uncle Emmett slung me over his shoulder in one swift movement and we were off. Jacob could have just as easily have carried me. We wouldn't go quite as fast in his non-wolf form, but as I said speed was not an issue today. So instead, Jacob followed unnecessarily close behind Emmett, all the while his eyes rich brown eyes locked on mine. Rosalie pretended not to notice and Jasper followed her example, focusing his gaze on some storm clouds forming on the horizon. It was obvious that my family was not yet comfortable with the relationship between me and Jacob Black, but they would come to accept it, even if it took a few decades. Alice on the contrary, made no attempt at discretion, staring at me and Jacob as she ran. If I didn't know better, I would think she would have run straight into a tree. Sometimes it scared me when I thought about Alice's unique gift. Alice could see the future for any given life if she willed it. But her starring derived from the fact that the only exceptions to her talent were the wolves (including Jake) and myself. But I didn't need a fortune teller to know what I and the rest of my family were certain of since my birth 6 years and 364 days ago, I would spend eternity with Jacob Black.

Charlie was at the top of my list of favorite people. As soon as we entered the house he threw his arms around me in embrace. My growth spurts were no longer a surprise to him. He knew I wasn't like them rest of the Cullens; I wasn't a vampire. And I wasn't like my Jacob a werewolf. Although he never used the words, he knew. Not a vampire, not a werewolf, and at the same time not quite human. He understood and loved me anyway.

Charlie was the best smelling human I knew. His scent was an alluring combination of coffee, pastries, and microwave residue. Despite his delicious and inviting aroma, I found it easy to not bite Charlie. I had not bitten anyone since I was a small child and even then, it was always in a playful manner, and even if I had the urge to bite someone, it wouldn't be Charlie; he meant too much to me. Charlie was the only other human involved in my family's situation, for lack of better word. He was also the only biological relative I knew apart from my parents. And for these two reasons I felt a special bond with Charlie, the bond a girl should have with her Grandpa.

The visit with Charlie and Sue was only too short, but it was clear that Alice had a schedule that she intended on keeping. So at 10 o'clock on the dot, Alice pulled me from my seat at the kitchen table where I was still nibbling on a piece of toast. The toast fell back onto my plate as I was rushed out of the house.

"See you tomorrow, Charlie," Emmett said in his ever-cheerful manner as he patted him gently on the back.

"Bye Grandpa!" I called over my shoulder as our party power walked our way down the driveway. Charlie blew me a kiss and I opened my hand, even as my pace quickened to keep up with the others, to catch it. This exchange had become routine between Charlie and me, as our goodbyes were often rush and from far away as this one was today. I'll give him a proper goodbye tomorrow. I promised myself as we turned to begin our hike, still at a brisk human pace down the road. Jacob had replaced Alice at my side and he wrapped his long arm around me.

"You looked happy in there, Ness," he whispered so quietly that if we had not been surrounded by four vampires no one else would have heard. My aunts and uncles walked about twenty yards ahead of us trying to give us more privacy. But their super hearing didn't bother me. They're my family; I had no secrets from them. It's impossible when you have a mind reader for a dad. If the company bothered Jacob, he didn't show it. He bent down and kissed the top of my head without missing a beat in his step. In that second he pulled me closer to him.

"I'm glad we went to see Charlie," I interjected suddenly, killing the amorous mood Jacob was setting. "He's my grandfather and I don't spend nearly enough time with him. I'm a horrible granddaughter." My voice trailed off in a whine.

"Don't think that, Ness," Jacob comforted. "You're wonderful, but if it makes you feel better, from now on we'll go see Charlie whenever you want for as long as you want."

And I knew Jake would stand true to his promise.

We must have been walking for about five minutes when Charlie's small house vanished in the weak sight of my human eyes. When this time Jasper gathered me up with one hand and propped me gracefully onto his back.

Jasper was the youngest vegetarian vampire in our family; not that he ever slipped up, but it affected our relationship. Jasper was always the one to remind me that my body was very human, and therefore breakable. He always treated me with extreme caution the way a person cares for a porcelain doll. But even if Jasper didn't trust himself, I trusted him. Completely.

And so as we ran through the woods toward the Cullen house, I sat in perfect contentment where I was perched on my uncle's back. Jacob, who was less intimidated by Jasper than he had been by Emmett, ran next to Jazz, the entire time, his eyes locked in mine. Rosalie, Emmett, and to my surprise Alice were all about 20 meters ahead of us. I couldn't recall the last time Alice was that far from Jasper, but then, I probably hadn't been paying attention to such a detail.

Alice didn't seem thrilled with the arrangement either but the leading party was scouting ahead for danger. And with her gift of foresight she was a huge asset in that field. For a silent second, a smile broke across my face, it was the same smile that lingered so often on Jasper's face and I finally knew what he had known all along. That we are so lucky to have Alice in our lives…

Just as I had come to this conclusion, our party slowed and came to a halt at the Cullen's now very crowded garage. No matter which way we split it, we wouldn't fit in one car. Emmett not realizing this had already hopped into his jeep with Rosalie and was pulling the car into the driveway.

When nobody made to join them Emmett finally comprehended, "Ohhh. My bad. I should have realized. Five seats. 6 nonhumans. Huh."

His face was all screwed up trying to come up with a solution, but I got to the obvious one before he could say more, "No biggie I'll ride with Jacob."

Jacob's Rabbit was sitting a Volvo away from Emmett's huge jeep Before I could say more, Jacob had pulled up next to me and I got in instinctively.

Alice and Jasper still hadn't gotten into the Jeep .

"I don't know if this is the best idea, Ness. I can't see a thing with Jacob around," Alice complained glancing playfully at Jake, although she knew I was a blind spot even without Jacob.

Jacob was not offended. He had grown used to Alice's complaints about him. Instead he barked his deep growl of a laugh and started his engine. But Alice's face turned seriously to me.

"I will be fine Alice. I promise" I reassured her in the most comforting voice I could come up with.

"Oh let her go, Alice. They'll ride right behind us. You can watch them out the back window if you want," Rosalie added convincingly, "Besides if we don't leave now we'll be late."

Rosalie hit the mark. At the mention of her beloved schedule, Alice jumped in the back seat of Em's jeep pulling Jasper with her. "Alright" I heard her groan in a low defeated voice before the car door slammed shut and Emmett floored the jeep.