Year One, Chapter Four

Rose and Valentines

Renesmee's Point of View

Valentine's Day was tomorrow and I had Jacobs dinner all planned. I will be cooking him all of his favorite foods that I had noticed him eat over the past nine days (and the months before that), over at the main house, while my mother "supervised." My mother, father, and I were in the kitchen there, putting the final touches on the menu.

"Dad, do you think you will be able to distract Jacob for an hour or two before dinner tomorrow so I will be able to cook everything without his knowledge?"

My mother had been giving me cooking lessons all week. We did a practice run of all the different components of tonight's meal, mixed in with a variety of others, so he wouldn't be expecting everything together. That way I was also able to gauge whether or not I had deciphered his favorite foods or not, based on his physical and emotional reactions and sums of each food eaten. I tried to be very scientific about it.

"Of course sweetheart. After that though, I am going to have to steal your mother for the remainder of the night" he smiled over at my mother.

I understood. It was their first Valentine's Day together since they got married. He had already talked to me in private about my staying in his old room tomorrow night instead of at the cottage. I didn't mind, and I would rather not hear anything. They deserved some time to themselves. It was a little funny though to see the embarrassment on this face. He tried to hide it as best he could, but I have always been able to see though his façade.

"Sure dad, thank you for both of your help. I hope he likes everything."

"Renesmee he will love it, if not for any other reason than because it came from you."

"Yeah, you could serve him road kill and the dog wouldn't know the difference."

"Rosalie, that's not very nice. Nessie worked hard on this and she wants to do something special for Jake," My mother said. "It's going to be great sweetie."

"Nessie, you know that's not what I meant. I know you will do an amazing job cooking. Everything you do is remarkable. I just wish you would not waste your time on that mongrel."

"Aunt Rose what is your problem with my Jacob? Why do you say things like that and treat him so badly? What has he ever done to you?"

I have never asked her directly. I had seen her animosity towards him but never have seen a reason why. I knew my family, being vampires, and Jacob and his pack, being werewolves, didn't get along naturally. But from all of the stories I had heard, that should all be over. Between the battle with Victoria and the newborns and the encounter with the Volturi I though the hostility was gone now. Rosalie attitude toward Jacob seemed to be the last remaining holdout. I have not spent that much time with Sam's pack to be completely certain of them, but I have never heard anything negative on their part.

When she didn't answer right away I went on.

"Don't you see, that when you hurt Jacob, you hurt me? Why would you do that to me?"

Rosalie looked at me like I had slapped her in the face. Then her face relaxed and it was replaced with something else, shame maybe?

She didn't say anything for a long time, then finally she started to apologize. "I'm so sorry Nessie, I didn't mean to hurt you…." Aunt Rosalie started to say when Jacob walked through the front door and ran up the stairs to the kitchen.

"You HURT her?" He screamed and ran over to me, kneeled down, and began running his hands over my arms and legs, I guess checking for open wounds, or broken bones, or something. When he didn't find anything physically wrong with me he turned to Aunt Rose.

"What did you do to Nessie?" He was right in front of her now, his face inches from hers. Jacob looked so angry. Was he shaking?

"Get out of my face, dog!" She screeched back at him.

I guess he didn't hear the entire conversation; including the earlier part about me cooking him dinner. A quick look over to my father and he gently shook his head "no". That's good, my surprise wasn't ruined, but I really don't want Jacob and Aunt Rose to fight.

"Easy Jake, it's just a misunderstanding. No one hurt Nessie. Calm down." My mother tried defusing the situation.

"Jacob," I started, reaching up to gently place my hand in his, "mom's right, I'm fine." He stopped shaking as soon as I touched him.

"Then why did I hear you say she hurt you?"

"You missed the beginning of the conversation. She just said something stupid that hurt my feelings. Aunt Rose loves me." I turned to look directly at her now. "She would never do anything to Intentionally hurt me. Right Aunt Rose?"

"Of course not Nessie. I am really sorry. Forgive me?" She asked.

"I think that is really up to you, and your behavior in the future." I didn't want to say anything more with Jacob standing right there, but I know she knew I meant that she needed to start treating Jacob better.

Then I squeezed in between the small space between her and Jacob and gave Aunt Rose a hug, well I gave her legs a hug since I was only two and a half feet tall.

"I'm sorry, Rose, I guess I over reacted. I know you would never harm her," Jacob apologized now.

"Let's get out of here for awhile. Can we go hunting?" I asked, turning to Jacob. I think we need a break.

Jacob lets out a sigh. "Sure Nessie. Whatever you want."

….

Jacob's Point of View

It was Valentine's Day and there was only one person I wanted to spend the day with. Well she was the person I spent every day with.

I had been sneaking away while Nessie was having her daily school lessons to work on a gift for her. Each member of her family would teach her some knew subject each day. This week they seemed to be focused on math. Monday it was Algebra, Tuesday was Geometry, and then today was Calculus, I think. Crazy! What was tomorrow going to be -Theoretical Physics? Her amazing mind remembered and seemed to understand everything. I really need to step up my game if I'm going to be worthy of her.

I wonder sometimes if my mind had improved from when I first became a wolf. It would be nice to be more on Nessie's intellectual level. In addition to phasing into a giant wolf, with freaky wolf mind telepathy, I had gotten taller and stronger in my human form too. I think my memory was better than before also. None of the other wolves mentioned noticing anything but there was a lot that happened over the last year to distract us. Our brains had to have changed with all of the rest of the physical changes. The wolf telepathy proved that, right? I could now recall precise smells and forest terrains with exacting detail, which I don't think I had ever been able to do before. Not that I had spent much time focusing on that sort of thing in the past.

I had done okay in school before I had to drop out, mostly getting B's. But I hadn't been back to the local school on the res, in over a year, none of us had. It should be interesting to see how I do when I go back next year with the Cullens?

Shaking myself out of my own thoughts I needed to concentrate on this last part so I wouldn't wreck it. I did not have time to start over. I wanted to give it to Nessie tonight during dinner.

I knew she was planning a special meal for me. It was cute how she wanted to surprise me and I didn't want to ruin that for her so I never let on what I suspected. I was assuming she asked Bella to cook us something. She had been asking a lot of food related questions for the past couple of weeks and she barely eats so my curiosity was peeked and I started paying more attention to all of her questions.

I think the carving was just about done. It was a bookmark. My girl was always reading. The carving was so thin and delicate I had accidently already broken three in my previous attempts. I was using a thin piece of wood that I had engraved so deeply it looked like one of those cheep laser cuttings you can buy at any mall, but this was a lot nicer. If you glanced at it quickly it might just look like lace but it was actually an old Quileute script.

Just as I finished Edward walked up to me. I was in the woods behind the cottage, not wanting to go too far from Nessie. School must be over for the day. He knew that I knew about Nessie's surprise dinner, but I wasn't sure why he was here now.

"She asked me to keep you away from the house while she cooks." He responded to my unspoken question.

"She's cooking, herself?" A huge smile broke out on my face. And a sense of pride filled me just to know that my little Nessie would go through so much effort just for me.

"I believe she is MY little Nessie, at least for the next few years anyway, Jacob," Edward smirked at me. He was always smirking these days. I guess that was a good sign. Better than an angry, hostile Eddie.

"Yes it is," he responded back. "and don't call me Eddie," he added with a chuckle.

"Fine, Ed….ward…," I said, dragging out his full name, " what would you like to do until dinner is ready?"

"I thought we could talk about tonight. I have something planned for Bella and I could use your help."

Um gross, I may have gotten over my feelings for Bella, since I imprinted on her daughter, but I had no desire to hear the details of what Edward had planned for the two of them tonight. I know it was Valentine's Day but - really?

"That's not what I meant, Jacob," He scowled. "I have already talk to Renesmee about this and I just wanted to let you know also. I realize you are already aware that Carlisle and Esme departed for Isle Esme three days ago. But I believe you may have missed the fact that Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rose are also away for the next few days."

Really, when did that happen?

"They left last night. Bella and I will be occupied at the cottage tonight, and I would appreciate it if you would keep Renesmee entertained at the main house for the next few days… and nights. Please watch over her, the house will be empty, except for the two of you."

Like he would even have to ask. I would be there for her, forever.

"I know you would, I just wanted to do you the courtesy of asking. And just call my cell phone if you need anything."

"Yeah, no problem." There is no way I was going anywhere near that cabin in the immediate future, I had already heard more that I had wanted to, trying to keep Nessie's nightmares away.

"I'm sorry Jacob, I didn't realize. We will try to be more considerate in the future and make other arrangements. It seems I have been too preoccupied to notice your… awareness."

"Yeah, well it was not something I really wanted to dwell on. You know?" I SO do not want to be having this conversation. Couldn't we all just keep pretending to not acknowledge the giant elephant in the room. We all knew what everyone was doing at night, everyone knew I knew. Even Nessie knew. We're not stupid.

"Nevertheless, Bella and I will find an alternative location in the future."

"Sure, Sure." Can we never talk about this again, please.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure, Jacob," Edward smiled, embarrassingly.

Huh! These one way conversations with Edward were getting less and less creepy (well, maybe except this one) and turning into real time savers.

We had been walking in the woods away from the main house for awhile now and I noticed it was starting to get dark.

"If we start back now we should get there just in time for your dinner, Jacob." Edward said just before we both took off running towards the main house.

Nessie had finished cooking dinner just as we arrived.

I pretended to act surprised, since I knew she really wanted it to be that way. It made her so happy and the food smelled amazing.

"Well you two enjoy your dinner and we will see you in a few says." Edward and Bella turned and left us after hugging Nessie, and unnecessarily reminding me, again, to look after her.

After we finished eating Nessie's amazing dinner, well, I ate, Nessie just nibbled on a bite or two, I gave her my gift. She loved it just as I hoped she would.

"What does it say?" She asked me shortly after unwrapping in and inspecting all of the delicate work closely. I knew she wouldn't just think it was some abstract design. Nessie was too thoughtful and considerate, not to mention unbelievable smart.

"It's Quileute. It roughly translates to 'Health and happiness in all of your days'."

"That's beautiful my Jacob. Thank you. Would you teach me Quileute sometime?"

"Really Nessie, of course." Quileute wasn't that hard to learn but it was not like any other language. I knew she had already started learning Spanish just by flipping through the channels on the TV. She'd probably pick it up in under a month, I chuckled to myself.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing Nessie. I was just thinking of how nice it is going to be to actually get to teach you something for a change."

"What are you talking about, Jacob? You teach me things all the time. You were the one to teach me how to hunt, and just last week you taught me how to swim at First Beach."

"Nessie, I never taught you how to swim." What was she talking about?

"Yes you did. I had never swam before that day. I learned by watching what you were doing and coping it. You have been with me every single day of my life. Have you ever seen me learn to swim?"

Dame, I messed up. "You're right. I'm sorry I should have been looking out for you better. I completely missed that you didn't know how to swim." I felt horrible. I should have known better.

"It's ok, Jacob."

"No, it's not Nessie, you could have drowned."

"How could I have drowned, silly? You never left me side, the entire day," She chuckled. You would never have let that happen. And I am half-vampire, who knows if it is even possible for me to drown."

"Well let's not try and find out, ok?"

"Ok, Jacob."

"What would you like to do next? I asked.

I smile spread across her face, and we spent the rest of the night watching movies in the living room, and feel asleep on the couch.