Disclaimer: Twilight is the creation and property of Stephenie Meyer. This fanfiction is nothing more than an homage to her series of books, which most of us wish never had to end. Any references to plot devices/characters/etc. used in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, or the draft of Midnight Sun belong exclusively to Stephenie Meyer.
Author's Note: A big thank-you to Two-Hours' Traffic, sarcasticasalways, Tiffany, EsmeSL.X, Inlovesince1901, aPPle-FrrEAk, kcat1971, AntiRebel, XOXOJordan, Bunch-o-Nuts, polyphany, Maddy, T.C. Meade, twilightmom, erm34, Deja Moo, Mamy210, and Lizzie Alice Cullen for the awesome reviews! I hope this chapter is worth your time. I worked hard to make it entertaining. If a reviewer asked a specific question, I answered it at the end of the chapter. Thank you again!
"You're not serious!" Renesmee's voice was shrill and carried through the entire mansion.
Alice was holding up a plaid skirt and blazer to her thin frame, "But you would look so cute in this, Nessie!"
"No way am I wearing that, Aunt Alice!"
"But look how the color brings out your eyes! Please," she begged.
"Astoria is not a uniform school. I'll look like a bigger loser than I already am!"
Alice sniffed, "Loser? Who's a loser?"
"I am! If you make me wear that, I will be!"
Bella walked in, "Ren, we're going to be late if you don't hurry."
"Mom, tell her I am not wearing that!"
"Alice, you're not serious. We're already going to stand out."
"Thank you," Renesmee sighed in relief, digging through her dresser for a pair of jeans. "We already look like freaks we don't need to…" she broke off, something occurring to her suddenly. "Wait a minute…what do you mean…we?"
"What?" Bella was checking her watch impatiently.
"You said 'we'."
"She just means that the family doesn't exactly appeal to a human's sense of normal, if you know what I mean," Alice supplied helpfully.
"Why would that matter? Unless…" Renesmee's eyes grew wide in horror, "Unless…"
Her father appeared in the doorway in a tan sweater and jeans, twirling Volvo keys on his finger.
"No, no, no…you…you can't!" Renesmee sank back onto her bed, her eyes wide with fear.
"Renesmee, what's wrong?" Bella's eyes filled with concern.
"I'm…you're…you…are…my parents," she managed to choke out.
"Of course we're your parents!" Bella moved towards her, reaching out a hand to stroke her face.
"Then why?" Renesmee whispered. "Why would you do this to me?"
There was a moment of silence. Then Bella felt the doorframe tremble and turned to see Edward leaning against it, his face buried in the crook of his elbow as he shook with laughter.
"Edward?"
Edward raised his finger, signaling for a moment and continued to stand in the doorway, his entire body racked with hysterical laughter.
"Edward, what is wrong with you?" Alice asked, holding a shirt up to Renesmee's stiff torso.
"Renesmee is…is…" Edward struggled to get the words out between chokes of laughter. "Our daughter is…" The chuckles continued, "Embarrassed of us! She doesn't want to be seen with us!" Another silent gale of laughter threatened him and the entire room shook slightly. The notion seemed to amuse him greatly.
"Renesmee…" Bella began carefully.
"No!" she interrupted loudly. "This isn't happening! Your parents don't go to high school with you! I'm already going to stand out! What are you thinking?"
The room was silent.
"How is that even remotely fair?" Renesmee looked ready to cry.
"Nessie, this situation isn't exactly normal," Alice offered.
"That doesn't mean you have to come with me! I mean…why?"
"Renesmee, your father is going to look like he's seventeen for the rest of…well, the rest of his existence. I'm only eighteen physically. What do you expect us to do?" Bella looked worried.
"Your mother's right," Alice jumped in, quickly. "Ness, the last time Edward tried not to go to high school, which was…1987…Carlisle and Esme got in trouble with the local law enforcement because they said teenagers should be in school. Unfortunately, you and your parents are physically about the same age."
"Besides," Edward said, finally serious again, "You've never been to school like this before. We can't afford to not be near you. Especially since Alice's visions of you are clouded."
"And what about regular kids who don't have crazy aunts that can see their future? How do they make it in high school?"
"You're not a regular kid, Renesmee. And you never will be." Edward's voice was stern but there was a sadness beneath it. "I'm sorry. That's the way it is."
"It won't be so bad," Alice said, trying to sound comforting.
"There's no way I'm going to change your minds, is there?"
Her father shook his head, "Afraid not."
Sigh. "Are you all coming with me?"
Alice grinned, "All of us."
Renesmee grimaced, "Great."
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"So repeat the story back to me one more time," Jasper ordered as the Volvo entered the school parking lot. "Who are we?"
"We are the Hales. You and Aunt Rosalie are the oldest, then Mom, then me."
"And?"
"And Dad, Aunt Alice, and Uncle Emmett are the Cullens."
"And why do we all live together?"
"We were adopted. That's why Grandma and Grandpa are so young."
"Esme and Carlisle," her uncle corrected.
"Right."
"What happens at lunch?"
"We fill our plates in the cafeteria even though we don't eat."
"And what is the most important thing of all?"
"Not to tell anyone that my relatives are all vampires."
"Or that you yourself are half-vampire."
"Yeah, or that."
"Alright, then," Edward smiled, interrupting, as he shut off the ignition. "First day of school, here we come."
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Renesmee followed her family towards the school building. She heard the doors of Rosalie's BMW slam shut and Emmett's laughter as the two caught up quickly with the group.
Edward reached the doors first and led the way through the hall to a small office at the far end. The sign above the door said: SCHOOL OFFICE PLEASE ENTER.
And enter they did, all seven of them standing white porcelain before a tall desk where a middle-aged woman with large reading glasses sat poring through a novel. The cover depicted a large-bosomed noblewoman wrapped in the embrace of a questionable-looking pale man with large fangs. To Renesmee's delight, the title read, The Noble Vampire. She glanced at her father with curiosity. Edward cleared his throat in greeting. The woman nearly dropped her book in surprise and as her eyes flew up to meet Edward's, a small wavering glimmer of recognition registered there. Renesmee watched her glance wander to the cover and back up to the young man standing before her. Edward smiled politely and gave a lightning-fast look to the nameplate on her desk. "Pamela?" the name rolled off his tongue like music. "Is this where we pick up our class schedules?"
Renesmee had always known her father was handsome, even by vampire-standards. But to see him through a human's eyes was so different. She felt suddenly proud and a little possessive. He was her father. She looked back at her mother wondering if she felt jealous of the nearly-salivating woman staring at Edward. Of course not. Her mother was the most beautiful thing alive. No one could compete. Renesmee felt a twinge and an ache.
Pamela snapped back to reality, then, and reached for a file. "Oh, yes, you're the new students. I – we've been expecting you."
"Of course," Edward's eyes burned under dark eyelashes and Pamela looked as though she might melt through the floor, at any moment. Wordlessly, she handed over several sheets.
"Thank you so much." He ushered the group into the hallway again and passed out papers to each of them. "Your schedules."
Alice clapped her hands in delight, "Oh, good! My first class is with you, Nessie! This is going to be so much fun!"
Renesmee smiled weakly at her aunt. "Goodie."
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Answers to Reviewers' Questions:
SilverStorm06- I apologize for not finishing my two older stories. I wrote them a long, long time ago and I've tried several times to go back and finish them. However, they just don't flow for me the way they used to. I'm very proud of them and I always appreciate readers who continue to comment on them. I would be open, if anyone's interested, to another writer finishing either of them (after communicating with me, of course).
XOXOJordan- I discussed Renesmee's age more in the last chapter. I have heard different calculations of her aging process but my own theory is that after 5 years or so, she will stop aging altogether. This story takes place 4 years after Breaking Dawn ends and I imagine Renesmee to look about 16 or 17.
Inlovesince1901- I very much appreciate your comment about the character of Renesmee. I have struggled with her because I feel like she would be very sweet-natured based on what we know about her during Breaking Dawn. However, conflict has to arise from somewhere and while Edward and Bella are very loving parents, I cannot imagine that a half-vampire/half-mortal is the perfect child. Anyway, she's really interesting to write about.
T.C. Meade- In Meyer's books, she writes "thought conversations" between Alice and Edward so I don't feel that it's necessary to explain that element. I don't personally believe that it will take 7 years for Renesmee to reach physical maturity. I've heard an argument that supports 4 years and one that supports 7. I see legitimacy in both theories. However, we can defend the 7-year theory here, as well, since, a woman's body changes and develops into her 20's. And you're right about the diaper issue. However, it is not specified in the books so I think I'll leave it alone since it isn't an essential plot detail. I'm flattered that this story was good enough to nit-pick. You'd make a great editor!