The sun was still shining and it was around three o'clock. Angry clouds were starting to lurk at the edges of the vast cerulean sky. I stepped into the sun, closing my eyes and breathing in airs fresh scent. Through my closed lids, I could see how the sun glowed off my skin and their other side. I turned to Jacob who was standing tall beside me, grinning, breathing the air too. Little Conner was mirroring us. I was surprised to see how the sunlight seemed to ricochet of his skin in small beams. He did have some apparent vampire in him. That worried me a bit as I remembered what Carlisle had said before, about hoping he had no venom, and shivered.
"Mama, I wanna play!" I was still amazed he could speak. How was that possible? He was suddenly at the other side of the Cullen's big lawn, fast as a vampire. I chased after him with Jacob at my heels. We wrestled and played together for a while until the angry clouds covered the sun and moisture dripped from the sky onto our faces, washing away the glow of our skin.
Later, Jacob, Conner and I were sitting down to dinner, I'd cooked spaghetti and meatballs- Jake's favorite. Conner must've been hungry because he finished all of his on his own, despite the fact that he was not even two days old- he had the appetite of a wolf.
I was clearing off the table when the doorbell rang.
"Who's that?" I heard Esme mumble as I handed her our plates to put in the dishwasher. Carlisle came downstairs in a flash with a "I'm sorry" expression on his face.
"I forgot, I told Charlie that he could come over and watch the game!" We all put on smiles as he opened the door.
"Charlie!" he said. "Long time no see!" Always quiet Charlie's expression was embarrassed as he stepped over the threshold, into the house.
"Ya... I 'spose it's been a while."
"Ch- Dad!" my mother said as she headed down the stairs looking beautiful as ever.
"Bells!" Mother wrapped her cold stone arms around Charlie as he awkwardly place his right hand on her back.
"Hey Chief Swan." Jacob acknowledged him as he walked to the couch.
"Hey Nessie, Esme." Grandpa Charlie called to us from the doorway.
"Sit down, sit down." All the guys headed to the big white sofa to watch the Mariners play on the Cullen's big TV. Uncle Emmett, Uncle Jasper, and my father materialized at the edge of the stairs as well and followed them.
Hooting and hollering began as I finished loading the dishes and went to join Aunt Rosalie and Auntie Alice (she insisted I called her Auntie now. Aunt was too serious) in Carlisle's office who were sure to be with Conner.
Once the game was over, I went to say goodbye to Charlie.
"Good game." They were all saying to each other.
"Ya. Glad we got the TV again after Edward broke it." Emmett said. My father elbowed him in the stomach.
"Bye Grandpa." I called and was about to go back upstairs.
"Mama?" Conner was suddenly there at the top of the stairs. Shoot. How'd we explain that to Charlie... maybe he won't notice.
"Hey, who's that?" Of course he'd notice.
"Oh, Charlie we forgot to tell you." My quick-thinking father took my mom's hand. "We adopted a little boy too." Charlie raised his bushy eyebrows.
"Two kids now? But you guys are so young."
"There are just too many parent-less kids out there." my mom covered.
Conner, please understand, you've got to pretend Bella's your mommy now. Okay? I did my best to send Conner the quick thought and hoped my skill worked on him too.
"Can I see 'im?" Charlie asked. My father nodded towards me.
"Ness, can you go get him for Charlie?" I nodded and dashed up the stairs, almost too fast to be a human. I picked up Conner swiftly and trotted back down the stairs. I placed my palm on his cheek and showed him how Charlie didn't know what we were and who he was so to be careful. It didn't occur to me what was the most dangerous thing for Charlie to notice.
"Can I hold him?" Charlie asked. I handed Conner over with a smile. "Nice eyes." he said and patted his fine hair.
"No!" my father cried and Alice ran downstairs to fast for a human as she'd seen Charlie's fate. Conner leaned as he smelt Charlie better, the sweet, pure scent of a human. His teeth closed on Grandpa Charlie's neck in an instant.
"Ow." Charlie said. "Stop! Ow!" With a touch so gentle only Carlisle could manage, he ripped my son of Charlie, but it was too late.
Grandpa Charlie fell to the floor. His eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw locked. He groaned loudly and by now, all the Cullens- and Blacks- were crowding around him. A vampire soft murmur passed through the group.
"He bit him... he bit him... he bit him..." Conner had venom.