Chapter 4: Show up already

We rented a small apartment in the city that is thought of as the folkloric capital Puno. Settling in a small apartment down by the water. After the cab ride to the city Nessie was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to take a bath. I could not blame her, both our smells where mixed with the taint of air travel.

Opening the front door to the top floor apartment it was less than extraordinary. The room opened out into a small kitchen directly in front of the entrance. A little hallway connected it to the rest of the apartment which was just a bathroom and bedroom. It was clean enough at least. The bed was a king with a ancient tv fastened to the wall at the foot of the bed. The room was narrow enough for the top and bottom of the bed to be squeezed by the walls. The far wall was lined with windows near the top, looking like slits had been made in the concrete.

Nessie jumped down from my arms, walking purposely to the only door other than the one we had just walked through. Opening to reveal the bathroom. This was a surprise. It held a deep tub. No shower. A toilet and small sink. There was a large warped mirror, like the kind you might find at a carnival. Nessie giggled as she looked at our reflection in the mirror. According to it she was taller than I was.

The woman we were renting from was an older lady. Out of kindness she had provided us with soap including bubble bath. It smelled of lemons and vanilla. Not my first choice of smell but anything is better than smelling of plane.

I drew Nessie a bath. Distracted by putting the plug in the bottom of the bath. She took this as an opportunity to grab the bubble liquid and pour as much as she could into the deep tub. I turned to look at her and saw half the bottle of bubbles already escaping the container. Laughing I turned the container upright in her hands.

"If half the container is not enough bubbles we can always add more" I tried to say this without laughing and failed.

She reached her hand out to me palm up. Gently I placed it on my face closing my eyes I waited for the images. Non showed. Opening my eyes Nessie had her eyes closed. Tears rushed down her cheeks. I pulled her into my arms.

"Nessie baby don't cry. Tell me what's troubling that head of yours. Please baby girl" I crooned. I knew she had every reason to be upset right now. I mean our families might be gone and we might be alone forever. I still wanted to shelter her from it though. I did not want to see her upset and crying like this.

"I was just thinking of the time Auntie Rose made a bath up for me. All I wanted was to add a little bit more bubbles to the bath, but she did not let me. Now I would give up every bubble bath for the rest of time if I could just have Auntie Rose again" Nessie voice was clear and beautiful even in the almost whisper tones she was using.

"We do not know that they are gone. They could just be waiting until they come and join up with us again" I stated in the sincerest tone I could muster. I felt her lips turn into a smile against my chest.

"Your right Jaky. They could be just waiting for Aro to be looking at something else. Then they will come!" energy shot out of her as her new belief shot through her.

I stopped the tub from filling to the top. I refused to put her in a tub that she could not touch the bottom. I kissed her head one last time and left her to enjoy her bath. Leaving the door slightly open so I could hear if she needed my help. Immortal or not she still could drown.

I picked up the small bag from where we dropped it on the floor. Dumping out its contents on the bed. Wow Bells this is a lot of money I thought. More money than I think I would know what to do with. It should be enough for years of us on the run. Our ventures and multiple flights and three months' rent had not even made a dent in the amount here. I pulled out our identifications. Bells how can you trust me to take care of this amazing baby girl. Reading over the documents I could not help but smile that our last name was Wolf.

I knew I always planned on having the same last name as Nessie, but I was not expecting that to happen until we were much older than we are now. I'm worried that with me filling the role of parent in her life, we will never be able to become something more than that. Gosh this is sick. I'm not her parent I remind myself. There is nothing sick about what is going on here. I'm not attracted to her in that way. I just want what is best for her.

Rummaging in the bottom of the bag I find envelopes. Bella had written envelopes for every occasion of our lives on the run. I grabbed the one that said open when you find a safe spot (read this one first). When Nessie is ready, we will read this one first together.

Nessie walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. "Jaky I do not have a pajama" Nessie commented with a tone of concern in her voice.

"do you want to wear my shirt for the night? It will be like a dress on you but then you won't have to get dressed back in the same outfit" I offered.

She nodded "what will you wear to bed then?" she asked as if just realizing I also did not have a change of clothing.

"I think I can live without a shirt for one night" I casually said as I striped the shirt off my back and helped her get it on over her towel.

"Thank you Jaky" she touched my face to tell me. slowly she walked back into the bathroom emerging in just my shirt and her leggings.

I quickly packed the bag once more and placed it in one of the kitchen cabinets. Helping her up on the bed she picked up the remote and began flipping through the channels. All the shows where in Spanish, this was going to be a learning curve.

When she was settled, I quickly had a bath. Not filling up the water as much as making it into a very short shower. After drying and getting my pants on. I went to see what Nessie was up to.

"Jaky this show is so funny, that man is married to that lady, but he does not know that it's his wife's sister" she said laughing.

I climbed into bed next to her. Pulling the letter out from under a pillow. "Your mom wrote us letters; would you like to read this one tonight?" I asked trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. Nessie swallowed and nodded.

My fingers started to shake. I looked into Nessie eyes and pulled strength from her. opening the letter, I unfolded the page. The letter read:

Dear Renessme and Jacob,

I hope you never have to read these letters or know of their existence, in the chance that we were separated I hope that you find yourselves together. Renessme your father and I love you more than we love each other. Sorry that we are separated baby girl, please know that nothing can keep us away forever. We will find you. I am very thankful that this letter has found you in a safe spot. I cannot wait to hear of your adventures when we are together again. For now, I need you to know that your family loves you. We are searching for you as you are reading this. As I am writing this before the fight this might be a tad optimistic, but I have no fear that at least some portion of our family remains. We will find you and be a family again. Jacob this does not mean to stop running, I want you to be safe. If you're in a safe location now, then stay. If that location ever becomes unsafe, run. We will find you when it is fated for us to find you. Renessme remember that you are special. You are one of a kind. Your father and I love you more than anything else in this world. That is why when the world forced us to hand you over to another person, we decided Jacob. Jacob do not worry, we trust you to make sure she is safe and loved. Please remain safe.

I love you both Bella.

P.S. Jacob if Alice came to the fight do not to Rio De Janeiro. If Aro touched her then she will know that was our back up location for you to flee too. Stay away from that location all together.