Chapter 4: Delays

All of the rainy weather, which was going to allow us to travel to Hanover during the day time hours, had pushed through during the night. By the time morning arrived, I had once again changed my family's flight plans.

I was on the phone with the airlines again, when my daughter came out of our room rubbing her eyes. She climbed on the ottoman next to me. Gently, I pulled her against my left side, kissing her head before the airline attendant took me off hold. I listened as she told me the final details of my family's flight plans.

"Thank you for helping me take care of this," I told the woman, when the details were finally ironed out.

I could tell by her breathing that I was, as Bella put it, dazzling her.

It took the young woman a moment to answer me. "I was happy to assist you Mister Cullen, please feel free to call me… us, the next time you need anything."

I managed to keep composed, though when the call ended, I chuckled.

Renesmee looked up at me.

"Good Morning," I said, as I kissed her nose.

"Daddy, why did you laugh?"

"I rendered our airline attendant speechless."

Renesmee puckered her lips and drew in her eye brows, as she considered what I was saying. "Why did you scare her?" She finally asked, not realizing what my words meant.

As hard as I was trying, I couldn't help but laugh, not because I wasn't taking Renesmee's question seriously, but it was the look she had given me right then. I cradled her in my arms, playfully nibbling at her neck as she began to laugh too.

"I gotta breathe Daddy," she gasped.

Once she had caught her breath, Renesmee reached up and hugged around my neck. "Daddy, it's light outside, and you said we were going to be on the plane early in the morning."

"I did say that, but the rainy weather we were supposed to have during our flight today moved out into the Atlantic Ocean."

"Are we staying here?" Renesmee glanced up at me, a hopeful expression on her face.

"No, we are going to leave this evening, and travel while you sleep."

"But I won't see anything if it's dark," she sadly whined.

I hugged her. "It will be dusk, which means you will be able to see some of our journey."

A pout formed on her lips a moment before she looked away from me. "I want to stay awake all night long."

Letting her stay awake was not an option. We had already seen the result of that, thanks to Jacob. One of the few nights she stayed with him, she talked him into letting her stay awake, and when we came to get her, that next day, she was very uncooperative and grumpy.

I didn't want to start the day arguing with her, and was about to change the subject, when Bella arrived from her hunt with Rose and Alice.

The moment our daughter saw Bella, she was off of the sofa and into my wife's arms in a second.

"Momma, I want to go see Grandpa Charlie."

The two of them hugged and snuggled, as I sat watching them with great fondness.

It has amazed me how quickly Bella and I have transitioned into becoming parents, though admittedly Renesmee makes it easy, at least most of the time.

"Well, if we are going to see him, then you need to go find something else to wear. It's too wet for you to go out in your night gown."

Once she was on her feet, Renesmee hurried to her room, leaving Bella and I a little time together before they left.

My wife came and sat next to me. My wife, I thought. I really liked saying thinking that word. "How was your hunt?"

She leaned against my right side. "It was alright, but not the same without you there by my side," she whispered. I knew she still felt sad and guilty about leaving Charlie here.

"Sue will watch over him, and he has Billy, and most of the pack as well," I said, in effort to make her feel better.

There was just a breath of silence, and then, "I know he will be safe, I just really wish he could watch Renesmee grow up with us."

I wrapped my arms around Bella and turned, kissing her briefly before our daughter walked in wearing a red velvet dress, turned the wrong way. Bella walked over to her and knelt down ready to help, but Renesmee seemed determined to fix it on her own.

One of the other lessons I've learned since becoming a father, is to be patient. Renesmee, for the most part doesn't argue with us, though she has started to develop a stronger will, and as a result we have been learning to try and give her more choices.

"Momma, I want to do it by myself," Renesmee whined, as Bella tried to help her turn the dress around.

My wife has a more difficult time being patient with her, and I was ready to assist, but Renesmee agreed to find something she could dress in, on her own.

"She's getting so independent," Bella whispered, in a low voice that only I could hear.

I stood up and kissed my wife, finding us falling against the ottoman across from the fire place, as we both got carried away.

"Momma, Daddy, that's icky," Renesmee called out to us, before we could get too carried away.

We quickly composed ourselves, as our little whirlwind came, and pulled at Bella's hand, obviously ready to go see her Grandpa.

"Come on Momma, I need to go see him," she was saying, as Bella kissed me again.

Before I could hug her, Renesmee was in between us, doing her best to push us apart. Quickly I reached down and lifted my little girl up, tossing her a little above my head before I caught and hugged her. "You need to be patient."

"I need to see Grandpa," she answered, in a very matter of fact tone.

After she crawled onto my back, and Bella was ready, we ran to the big house. I put Renesmee in her safety seat, and kissed her, along with my wife before they left. From inside, I could hear Emmett cursing at the TV, and decided to see who was losing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The moment I pulled Edward's Volvo up against the curve at Charlie's house, my father was out the door ready to help me with Renesmee. I focused on moving at human speed to get out of the car, and smiled as Charlie lifted my baby from her seat.

"Nessie, you get more beautiful every time I see you."

She smiled at Charlie and rested her head against his shoulder, as I moved beside them.

Charlie put his arm around me, and we headed inside. Once we were settled in his living room, he sat down and put Renesmee on her feet, expertly taking her coat off, before he dumped out her favorite puzzle. For a few minutes he helped her, and I took that time to sit down and watch them, trying not to think about what I was going to tell my dad.

"You're awfully quiet," Charlie observed, as he sat down at my side, while Renesmee worked on her puzzle. He usually left me alone, knowing how I liked my quiet, reflective moments, because he also liked that time for himself.

I had learned, since becoming a vampire, how not to delay things. I had a purpose here, and we really didn't have long to stay. I hoped if I got this out in the open, that we could work through it, and could have a nice visit before my daughter and I had to leave. "Dad, I want to go on and attend Dartmouth. We are heading there this evening to get things set up." As hard as I tried I couldn't go on, nor could I look at my daughter, or Charlie.

His arm moving around me caught me off guard, but I was grateful as I leaned into him, careful not to cause him injury. Charlie had never asked why I didn't feel the same when he hugged me, and it didn't seem to bother him now, which made it harder.

"So, what you are trying to tell me is that you are moving?"

I nodded, unable to look or talk to him.

"Does this have anything to do with Nessie?"

That was when I looked at him. Charlie didn't look angry, but a little sad.

How could I lie to him, when all I wanted to do was shout out the truth, that I was a vampire and that his granddaughter was half that, as well as human.

Thoughts of my family flooded my mind, along with the Volturi, and I took in a breath, even though I really didn't need it.

I looked at Renesmee, who was still putting her puzzle together. She was already aware that she wasn't the same as one of us, human, vampire or werewolf, and had already heard his question. I had to protect her fragile emotions. "No, I really do want to go to school. You already know that she is special," I whispered, hoping that my little girl was no longer listening.

He looked away from me at Renesmee, and then back, seeming to understand that he really couldn't keep that part of the conversation going. "Will you be coming back?"

"We're only going to be gone for the week. We need to get the new house ready, and make arrangements to get the furniture moved in."

Just as Charlie was about to say more, Renesmee appeared in front of him a little too fast, but he didn't seem to notice. She took his hand and he followed her back to the puzzle.

Watching the two of them caused me realize how much my father really enjoyed being with her. When I was that age, his time spent with me was very limited. I was really too young to stay with him for an entire summer.

Charlie had been coming to visit us for six months since Jacob gone to him that one day, and I could see how attached Charlie was to my daughter, how both of them were to one another.

"Dad, do you mind watching her? I need to go into town and get a few things for the trip."

"Sure thing," he answered, not looking away. "Hey Nessie, where does this one go?" he asked, handing her a puzzle piece.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Once I was out the door, I quickly went to the car and got in. I drove down the street and around the corner before I had to stop. As a vampire, I found that my senses prepared me for almost any situation. I was better able to understand, how during my human years, Edward was able to drive at what I then considered insanely fast speeds when we were together in his car. I could have continued driving, but I needed to stop.

Even though there were no tears, I cried without them. My door opened and Edward was there to hold me. "Please," I said, as he stood me up, and wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face into his chest, breathing in his scent.

"Bella," was his whispered reply, as he held on to me.

I knew why we couldn't tell Charlie, but it didn't make it any easier. "He's so attached to her. He even got her out of her seat without any trouble today," I mumbled against Edward's chest.

"I know how you feel," he whispered.

That caught me a little off guard, and I pulled away and looked up at my husband's face. I suppose he did know. For so long, when I was a human, he struggled with keeping me safe. Edward even left me, thinking that it for the best. That of coarse had turned out to be a horrible mistake and nearly cost him his life and me as well, but with Charlie it was different. While I knew my father would be sad to see us go, he would go on. He had for seventeen years before I moved in with him, but I still felt bad.

Once I was more composed, I went around the other side and got in the passenger seat, more than happy to let Edward drive. I really didn't have anything I needed for the trip, and was glad to have this time with Edward, time enough to compose myself before I got back to my father and little girl.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With very little help from me, my granddaughter finished the puzzle we were working, practically on her own. Now, as she stood at her little oven pretending to make me a burger, I thought about what Bella had said.

My life, and the way I viewed everything changed the day Jacob, my best friend's son, arrived at my house asking me to take a walk with him. I thought he had lost his mind as he stripped in front of me, and started to turn away from him, when in less than a second, a giant wolf was standing in front of me. I stood in shock as I watched the wolf change back into the boy I thought I had known.

That was the same day I got to see my daughter, learning that she was alive and very different. I'm perfectly aware that somehow Renesmee is her child with her husband Edward, but I've never really been able to figure that out, and I really don't want to know.

A small, plastic, pink plate set on my lap drew me back to the present. I took the hamburger in my hands and pretended to munch at it as Nessie smiled, looking very pleased, before she went back to her little oven.

Sometimes she says and does things that are beyond her age. I try not to think about that too much either. She isn't even a year old yet, and she looks like Bella did when she was two. Sometimes Nessie talks, and I've realized that she is probably more capable of speech than she lets on. I want to tell her she can be herself around me, but I'm a little afraid to. If she acts normal, will I ever get to see her again, and for that matter my daughter?

The door opening caught our attention, and a moment later Bella stepped in. I smiled as Nessie toddled to her for a hug. "How did the shopping go?"

"Good. It always helps to know just what you need," Bella said, as she sat next to me. Her voice, since coming back from South America, is different, as is the color of her eyes. Bella said she got contacts, but I don't believe her. I try not to think about it too much, like with Nessie, the more I let on that I know, the more I worry that they won't come back from Hanover.

When Nessie reached for me, I lifted her up and sat back against the sofa, letting her rest against me. We were all quiet and I relaxed a little more when Bella took the remote, and turned on the TV to ESPN.

An hour later they were ready to go. Nessie had fallen asleep, and I carried her to the car, handing her to Bella who was more capable of getting her into her safety seat, without waking her.

Once the door was shut my little girl turned, and I pulled her in for a hug. "Don't you be a stranger, and don't worry about me. I know something is different, but I can handle it. So if that is why you are leaving me, then I want you to know that there isn't a need." I finally said it, and Bella held on to me a little longer, as I did her.

"I really do want to go to college," she finally said, as she looked at me. Bella looked like she meant it, and I leaned in, kissing her cheek, which was stone cold. I had learned not to really notice it. Jacob said that Bella was more like Esme, and the fact that my daughter was safe was more important to me than the changes I saw and felt.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alice had alerted me that Bella would be home soon, and what Charlie had told her. We didn't have long before we needed to get our things and head to the airport. Through Alice's vision I knew Bella needed more time with just me. Rose and Emmett agreed to keep Renesmee with them, and when Bella pulled my car into the garage I opened the door, lifted her into my arms, and left at a fast paced run.

Minutes later we were sitting in the top of one of the great trees lining the forest in back of my parents' house. Bella was nestled with her back against my chest, as we sat on a thick branch.

"He said the changes don't matter, but I know we have to leave," she finally admitted.

"Perhaps someday we can come back, or he can come visit us. Charlie is a strong man, much more so than before you started your new life with me." I didn't want Charlie to miss watching Renesmee grow up. Bella was correct about Charlie and our daughter having a strong bond, and for that reason I knew that Renesmee would have a difficult time adjusting to her new life without seeing him, and for that matter Jacob.

"I suppose it's time for us to get back," Bella whispered, noticing as I did that the light of the day was beginning to dim.

I wrapped my arms around her, leaning with my back against the trunk of the tree. "We have a little time," I told her.

Today I realized that without my family to help, Bella and I wouldn't get much time for just the two of us. We would be handling all of the responsibilities that come with taking care of our daughter, on our own. During the day, we likely wouldn't get as much time alone, and at night we wouldn't be able to be as noisy as we are here, when Renesmee stays at the big house with the rest of our family.

"If we have time, I know how I want to spend it," Bella whispered seductively, as she tilted her head up.

I kissed her briefly before she moved away, and we jumped down the branches until we were on the ground, running for our cottage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the time we were seated on the plane, Renesmee had calmed down a little, and was on my lap eating Doritos while we waited for the attendants to prepare the plane for take off. We already had her dressed in a pair of long pajamas, which were light weight, but comfortable.

Renesmee reached up and put her hand on my neck, showing me an image she had seen of a plane flying on TV. "They have to get all of the luggage put underneath where we are sitting," I whispered, as I reached out and held Edwards hand.

We had chosen first class, hoping that with a larger seating area, and fewer people, Renesmee would fall asleep eventually. At the moment, she seemed too keyed up to even consider resting.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to flight 223, with non stop flight to Manchester, New Hampshire. At this time we ask that all seats be returned to their upright positions and all tray tables be securely latched in front of you."

While the attendant talked, Renesmee paid close attention, leaning back against me in anticipation of our plane ride. I couldn't tell if she was afraid or not, but when Edward reached for her I got my answer. This was all new to her, and I watched as she clung to him, hiding her face against his neck.

I let go of Edward's hand, and pressed it against Renesmee's back as the plane began to move. His whispered voice seemed to comfort her, but our daughter didn't move away from him.

When the plane sped up to take off, Renesmee cried softly. Suddenly I wished we would have thought to prepare her more for this, but really there were no words to help her understand what it was like to fly on a plane.

It didn't take long for us to begin to level out, and it was still light enough to look out the window. "Renesmee, do you want to look outside?"

Hesitantly, she lifted her head away from Edward's shoulder. A big tear was moving down her cheek, and I reached out and wiped it away as she leaned toward me. Once she was on my lap, she peered out the window relaxing further, touching my cheek, as she showed me what she was seeing.

"Is your daughter alright, I noticed that she was crying," a young woman said. I turned to look at her, keeping my breath held as Edward explained that this was our little girl's first time on a plane. I had remarkable control being around other humans, and being very new to this life, but on a plane it was different, and I quickly learned that the thirst was harder to ignore in a small space.

Once the attendant was gone, Renesmee was ready for more Doritos. She ate a few, yawning and when Edward handed me Hansel and Gretel, our baby seemed to forget where she was, as we got into the story.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the time I pulled our rental up to the new house, the sun was beginning to rise. I wasn't tired, but I was certainly happy that our long night of travel was finally coming to an end. I looked in the rearview mirror finding that Renesmee was still awake, looking out the window as Bella reached out to unbuckle her. She had slept most of the time on the plane, but had been awake for the two hour drive here.

As I got out of the car, Bella was already standing beside it with Renesmee. I grinned as I hurried to the house, getting the door open just before she walked past me. Bella smirked, and I smiled, as I followed from behind.

"I want to stay awake," Renesmee whispered.

"Not right now. You had a long night, and you are going back to bed," Bella said sternly, as we walked through the foyer and up the stairs to the second story floor.

"Daddy, I'm a lady," Renesmee informed me, letting me know that my presence was not welcome, while she was doing her business in the bathroom.

I stood against the wall not sure what to think about that. She was constantly amazing all of us with her maturity at times, and this wasn't any different.

"But I want to stay awake," I heard Renesmee shriek, realizing why she wanted me to stay away.

"Do you need a hand?"

"Yes," Bella answered, sounding flustered.

Inside, I found that Renesmee had attached herself around the piping, going from the floor to the ornate porcelain sink across from me.

I took two steps and knelt behind her. "I'll count to three, and I expect you to let go in that time, or you will spend the morning in your room. One…" I didn't have to count any further, as my baby turned, and came into my arms.

"Tell Momma you are sorry for yelling at her."

I felt her head shake. She was most likely embarrassed that I had come in to get her, but that didn't sway me. "Right now," I said firmly.

She sniffed and lifted her head. "Sorry Momma."

By then Bella was next to us, and they hugged before I got our little monkey to use the toilet.

Renesmee was able to do that on her own, because there was a stool she could stand on to reach her goal.

I did turn away as she did her business, but once she was finished and back in my arms, I carried her to her room. The walls were painted light purple and the western wall had a bay window for her to see out of. Her bed was against the back wall, and I leaned down, laying her on the soft mattress. "Is it nice to yell?"

"No Daddy, I'm sorry."

I kissed her, and moved away letting Bella have her turn. Once Renesmee had her hugs and kisses, we tucked her in, and on the way out I pulled the blinds down on her window.

Down the hall, across from our baby's room, was our own. It was much bigger than the one at the cottage. On the far wall, a few feet from the bed, was a fireplace. I made quick work of lighting it, liking the glow of the fire or a candle much more than natural light during our romantic moments. Once the fire was going, I moved back and sat on the red velvet love seat that Alice had helped pick out, next to the woman who was my love, my life.

"I'm so glad we are finally here. I was getting thirsty," Bella admitted.

"Do you want to go hunt, we can keep close to the house."

Her head shook, and I put my arm around her. "What do you want to do now?"

When she quickly turned, and was on my lap straddling me, I got my answer.

I reached up and cupped the back of her head, pulling her down with me as I leaned to the side. It was at that moment that I wished for a bigger sofa, and was barely aware of our sleeping child, just down the hall.

None of that mattered as I felt my shirt rip, and I knew by the end of the week Bella and I would have to go shopping for more clothes, if we were not careful.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Authors Notes: I realize that Renesmee has more moments than what we saw in the books. I'm honestly trying not to make her into a brat, but I do feel that she would try out her wings, meaning that she isn't always going to do what they want. So basically I'm trying to round out her good side with her not so good side. I hope you all like what I've written so far. I'm trying really hard to stay in character as much as I can. Another thing Is the evolution of their relationships..okay I'm not going to get into reason's here. I just hope you all enjoy what I have planned. Please feel free to review, and thanks for reading.