The spring sun was warm on my skin. Rocking slowly on the porch swing I smiled watching Renesmee chase a butterfly across the front yard. Looking at my surroundings the normal onlooker would think we were a regular average family. Although I looked fairly young to have a 4 year old daughter. Thinking of Renesmee's age, I couldn't help but notice how slow her growing has become. It's been 4 months since the Volturi came to destroy the core of my existence. I don't think she's grown more than a few inches from then till now. Carlisle has been busy with more research because Renesmee stopped growing at her rapid pace. We knew she was slowing down because Carlisle insisted on measuring her every day since she was born.
I pondered over the words of Nahuel, the gracious half vampire half human that helped save my daughter's life. He had told Aro that he was full grown just seven short years after his birth. I looked over at Renesmee once again laughing to myself as she had moved onto a chipmunk that she chased up a tree. She let out a high pitch laugh as she ran around the base of the tree.
"Where's Clair?" Renesmee asked me skipping over to sit on the porch swing with me. The past few months Jacob has brought Renesmee into La Push to help keep Clair busy for Quil. Clair is now 4, so both girls hit it off becoming close friends. Although the grammar between them was extensively different. When they were together neither one ever noticed the difference. I knew they would be life long friends considering who they were going to end up marrying when they got older.
"Jacob and Quil will be here in about an hour." I answered breathing in the sweet smell of spring. The scents around me were new. I had become a vampire in the fall. The smell of the forest was much different in the spring. The whole forest smelt like one huge flower shop, with a strong hint of fresh pine. I could hear many tiny little heartbeats of the newborn animals around my little cottage.
"That's too long." Renesmee's grunting pulled me from my thoughts.
"Hi ladies." Edward chimed walking through the opening in the trees.
"How's Carlisle?" I asked as he lifted Renesmee off the swing so he could sit down. He cradled her to his chest rocking us slowly, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.
"Confused. He wants to do more experimenting."
"Why? What's wrong?" My voice sounding worried, but I didn't have the strength to try and cover it up. Renesmee's face mirrored mine as we waited for him to answer.
"He thinks she stopped growing. She hasn't grown since before…" He let his voice trail off not wanting to finish the sentence.
"Like for good?" I asked not understanding, "But Nahuel reached…"
Edward cut me off, "Yes, but Renesmee has slowed to a human's growth pace." He said the last three words slowly.
"So… she's going to continue growing at a regular pace now?" I asked trying to put together what I was being told.
"That's what Carlisle thinks."
"But how?" I started but didn't know exactly what is was I wanted to ask.
"She's special." Edward simply shrugged kissing the top of Renesmee's head.
I pondered over this new information for what seemed like forever. Would I really be able to see my daughter grow at a normal rate? I loved the idea of having her stay little longer, but it worried me at the same time. Nahuel had said his sisters grew at the same pace he did. I didn't see a difference in Renesmee. They both have a vampire father, and at the time, human mother. I made a mental note to talk to Carlisle myself. Realizing I was now alone on the swing I looked around trying to see where everyone went. I heard Edward inside he was talking to someone on the phone. Quil and Jacob were ducking in and out of the trees playing hide and seek with Clair and Renesmee. I looked at the sun beginning to set behind the mountains as I stood up. "You guys hungry?" I called to the four of them.
"Starved!" Both Quil and Jacob said at the same time.
I rolled my eyed at them, "Figures."
"Hey Bella?" I turned towards the house following Edwards voice. He handed me the phone smiling. I raised my eyebrows at him hesitating. "Your dad." I relaxed taking the phone from his hand.
"Hey dad." I didn't have to worry about disguising my voice around him anymore. He's handled my changes very well with his 'need to know' attitude.
"Hi Bells, er… you got a minute?" He asked hesitating.
"Yeah sure. I'm just starting dinner." I left out the part where dinner was only for a select few.
"I kinda… um… need to talk to you… in person. I'd rather not do it over the phone." His tone was the same as when he tried having the sex talk with me about a year ago. I laughed inside thinking that it's a little to late for any talks like that.
"Why don't you come over then. I'm just making some burgers and hotdogs. I'll throw a few more on. Bring Sue." I suggested.
"That sounds great! We'll be right over. Oh we have Seth and Leah with us." He hesitated on Leah's name knowing her and I have never gotten along.
"That's fine dad." I assured him taking another package of meat out of the freezer. "I'll see ya soon." I said before hanging up the phone. "What's the news?" I asked turning to Edward. He just shrugged pretending to lock his lips shut and throw away the key. I rolled my eyes, "Real childish Edward." He let out a loud laugh before walking out of the kitchen. "Your really not going to tell me?" I wined after him. He continued walking towards the front door stopping to turn and wink at me. "Ugh!" I turned my back on him stomping towards the stove trying to make as much noise as I could. I heard the door shut and Edwards footsteps walking down the gravel walkway. "Coward." I called over my shoulder loud enough for him to hear. I heard laughing coming from outside knowing it came from him.
As I molded the hamburger meat into patties I pondered over what my father wanted to tell me. Did Sue tell him my family's secret? Does he know Seth and Leah are werewolves like Jacob? I tried to shake the millions of thoughts that were running through my head, but I couldn't. I decided to hum my lullaby Edward wrote for me, what seems like a decades ago.
"Something smells awfully good." I heard Seth's voice coming closer. I turned away from the stove just as the front door shut behind him.
"Hey Seth." I said as he kissed my cheek. Seth has always been my favorite out of the wolf bunch. I know he was Edwards also. Seth was one of the first wolves to really respect us as vampires. I owed him my life for saving it when the newborns attacked last winter. I was glad when his mom began dating my dad. Although his older sister Leah who has never liked anyone of us. Despises the fact that her mother is dating the vampire's father.
"Need any help?" Seth asked leaning over the stove to get a closer whiff of the food cooking.
"Nope almost done here. Can you tell the others?" I asked pulling paper plated and sitting them in a pile on the table.
"Sure thing!" He said already on his way outside. "Food!" I heard him yell out the door.
"Finally!" I knew that had to come from Jacob.
"You could always hunt for your food." I said sarcastically as he walked through the front door with Renesmee clung to his back. He growled at me before flashing me my Jacob smile I always loved.
I stood in the door watching the parade of people walk into my house. "Hey dad." I smiled as my dad walked through the door. I hugged him lightly kissing his cheek.
"How are ya kid?" He asked placing both his hands on my shoulders holding me at arms length away. He looked me over quickly, a flash of confusion in his eyes. "Haven't changed a bit."
I laughed it of nervously, "Nice to see you too dad." I looked behind him smiling at Sue.
"Hello Bella." She smiled politely squeezing the top of my arm before walking past me to the others. I scanned the room realizing Leah wasn't there. I peeked my head outside, and sure enough she was sitting on the porch swing glaring into the trees.
"Coming in?" I said flatly, but trying to sound polite. I was grateful for Leah because she stood in line to protect my daughter, but I knew she strictly did it following her alpha's orders. But I will never forgive her for hurting me the way she did when I was pregnant.
"I'd rather not." She didn't even try to hide the anger in her voice.
"Whatever." I sighed closing the door, just a little too hard. The walls shook, and everyone turned to look at me. Edward matched the wide-eyed look on my fathers face. "Sorry." I mumbled walking to sit next to Edward. I couldn't even plop down on the couch slumping over. My new graceful body wouldn't let me. So I pushed out my bottom lip in a pout and crossed my arms.
"What's wrong?" Edward whispered low enough where only I could here. Not wanting to talk out loud I nonchalantly placed my arm around Edward's shoulders resting my hand on his cheek. I pushed back my shield easily. It's not hard to handle my shield when I'm angry. That mongrel outside is getting on my last nerve. I felt Edward tense as he felt my anger through my thoughts. He placed a reassuring hand on my knee. He leaned back against the back of the couch holding me in place with his arm, his elbow crushing into my ribs. Which probably would have broke them if I was human. He looked at me from the corner of his eye, and I knew he was waiting for me to spring. Even though I would love to, I glanced around the room realizing I was outnumbered by wolves, and then there was my dad. I'm fine. I thought letting out a loud sigh as I let Edward continue to hold me where I was. To everyone else it just seemed like he was resting his hand on my leg, so he knew we wouldn't catch anyone's attention.
Charlie cleared his throat as he stood up sitting his plate down on the chair he was just sitting on.