My Renesmee/The Choice

Chapter 3: Compromise (Edward's POV)

I never liked Jacob Black. He was of course a werewolf and by definition my loathed enemy. In order to escape exposure, our family had made a treaty with his tribe ages ago to stay out of La Push. However, I had to tolerate him--he had been there for your mother. He had dearly loved her and cared for her during the darkest time in her life—those few months I let my stupidity rule my every action, those dire days when I left her. He, with the help of the other wolves, had saved her from being ravaged by Laurent and had aided in the efficacious pursuit of Victoria. Jacob had become sort of a brother to me or a "comrade in arms" so to speak. In fact, he was her Jacob, her best friend, someone who, like myself, would have readily traded his very life for hers.

"Okay," I calmly began as Jacob and I now sat opposite around the grand, oval table in the dining room. "Explain."

"I don't know how to begin, Edward." Jacob cleared his throat, staring almost anxiously at his oversized hands.

Ick! I'm wearing that oaf's reeking clothes again, I heard Jacob's mind remark. I had provided him with some of Emmett's cast-offs. Those that Alice had put aside to donate to charity several months ago—the largest T-shirt I could find and stretchy, athletic shorts. They were still too small for his massive, overgrown form. He shuddered slightly.

"Love at first sight?" I questioned, ignoring his thoughts on donning vampire fashion. "Am I right?"

Not exactly. Jacob looked up, his brawny biceps angrily protruding from the sleeves of Emmett's Save the Olympic Wolf shirt. The irony made me snort back a light chuckle.

"Then, what exactly is it then?" I demanded, tightening my stone hands into fists. I successfully fought back my urge to lunge at him once more. He was giving me nothing.

"Listen, leech. I don't love your daughter like your twisted mind may think." Jacob's face scowled at me. "I just know that Nessie is more important to me now than anyone else."

"What did you just call her?" I stood up, so that I could tower over him for once. My suppressed agitation was starting to return. "How dare you nickname my daughter after a monster!"

"Geez, take it easy, Edward." He tried to calm me down, gesturing his gigantic palms downward. "I didn't mean any offense."

Or maybe I did. Jacob then smirked at me. I slammed my right fist down on the table, branding it with a slight crack.

"Sorry." Jacob snickered. "Sit back down please." Then, he added, "For her?"

Remembering your sweet, angelic voice, I unclenched my fists and sat back down in my chair. I swallowed my anger along with my pride and pondered his earlier statement.

"And the love you felt for Bella, is it still there?" I finally managed to ask.

"Yes, but--," Jacob paused as if searching for the right words. "It's different now. Of course, I will always love Bella. She's my best friend—and now she's, well, the mother of my future wife." His mouth formed a wide grin, almost tauntingly.

"But I thought you loathed Renesmee—that you wanted her dead. Where did those feelings go all of a sudden?"

I did, his thoughts confirmed. After a few moments, he spoke again, "But the first moment I looked into her eyes, I knew I would never love anyone as much as I love her."

"What if she doesn't want you—when she's old enough to return your feelings?"

I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Jacob's shoulders shrugged. "For now, I plan to be here for her, just like Quil is for Claire. I don't ever want to be away from her."

"What if I don't let you—or better yet, what if Bella doesn't let you?" I knew your mother; she was not going to like this revelation either.

"I think she'll understand," Jacob responded, and I knew he whole-heartedly believed it.

I flashed him a brief look of doubt, and he continued, "You know how Bella wants me around, how she wants me in her life? Like family?"

"I never understood it, but yes?"

"Well, now, she can—just not how I always intended."

Jacob had a valid point there. Your mother would want him in her life when she awoke to her new immortal existence. Of course, she would want her best friend, but I knew my Bella better than anyone. She would be furious with him for imprinting on you, our daughter. Being a newborn vampire would only intensify her indignation.

But then, again, your mother had always surprised me in the past.

"Okay, Jacob," I began to bargain with him. "I'm going to let you tell Bella when the time is right."

Agreed. He nodded.

"And we don't exactly know the length of Renesmee's mortality yet, but if she matures to eighteen, you may tell her also, but not a second before. That way she can decide for herself." I cringed at the thought of losing you some day. You were half-human; it had not even crossed my mind until that instant.

"Scout's honor." Jacob jokingly held up his right palm. Then, he was serious, "So, are you going to let me be involved in her life?"

"If it makes her happy."

"Who? Bella or Ness—I mean, Renesmee?"

I stared straight into his Quileute eyes and with decisive clarification answered, "Both."