"Grandpa!" Nessie shouted as Charlie came through the door. His arms cradled numerous amounts of presents, all wrapped in pink wrapping paper with princess's on.
Renesmee ran over to him at human speed and clutched her arms around his leg. He smiled down at Renesmee and juggled the presents into one arm so he could stroke her hair. She smiled back up at him, not letting go of his leg until he finally managed to pry her off.
"Happy birthday Nessie," Charlie said whilst walking towards the sofa to sit down. Once sat down he handed the arm full of presents to Renesmee. She dropped most of them, her arms and hands not big enough to carry them all, "I hope you like them"
As she opened them it became clear that Charlie knew she was very advanced for her age, he had gotten her a 100 piece jigsaw, paints and brushes, clothes and a few other bits. All of them together creating a mound of presents for Renesmee to admire. Her face gleamed as she looked at her new presents.
"Thanks you grandpa!" she almost squealed with delight.
We sat down for a bit whilst Renesmee played with her toys. I made all the right movements, crossing and uncrossing my legs, blinking and stretching. Charlie had gotten use to things being slightly different around here. Our human façade always slipped slightly around him, Alice moved a bit faster, Esme moved less, the others tended to do their own thing.
Edward was playing softly on his piano, his fingers gliding over the keys effortlessly. The melody of the tune he was playing filling the room. Suddenly his fingers stopped, I looked up to see him nod his head at Alice in the direction of the kitchen. Almost unnoticeably they got up and walked into the kitchen. I waited only a minute before I excused myself to go to the toilet and joined them in the kitchen.
"What's going on?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"Benjamin and Tia will be here soon. I can hear their thoughts. Charlie should go." Edward said.
"No, that's not fair on Charlie. Alice could you go and meet them and take them to our place. I will ring you when its okay to come."
"Of course I will Bella, Jasper and I will go."
With that said we all filed back into the living room. Alice and Jasper excusing themselves politely. I sat on the sofa and looked at Renesmee and Charlie. They were both sat on the floor doing the jigsaw together. The picture was of three golden Labradors, with pink bows on their heads. Renesmee was putting the pieces in faster then Charlie could see. I gave her a look which she understood as me telling her, stop showing of and act human.
It was about twenty minutes later when Charlie finally stood up, he looked down at Renesmee and smiled before walking towards me. I stood up too and reached my arms out to give him a hug.
"I swear Bella," he began, "if I didn't know any better I would say she was yours. I can see it, in her eyes, her hair even her face shape. She has a bit of you, a bit of Edward and even a bit of me in her. How Bella?" his face looked solemn, confused too.
"Charlie, all you need to know is that things may not be normal all the time, but she is mine and Edwards. She is your granddaughter. It doesn't matter if she is biologically mine or someone else, she is my daughter." I replied.
"I get it, need to know basis."
"Exactly."
With one last hug Charlie shivered then turned to leave, giving Renesmee a hug and saying goodbye to everyone as he left.
The door opened and I saw a shadow standing three hundred feet away. I waved to Charlie as he got into the drivers seat of his cruiser and then I turned to Carlisle.
"Can you see it," I asked.
"See what Bella?" Carlisle replied.
"The shadow," I said, turning to point where it was. This time it was closer, standing only two hundred feet away. It looked daunting and out of place. There was nothing around to cause the shadow but it was there.
"Bella, I don't see it." he said looking confused.
I looked back to it again, but there was nothing there.
"oh, ignore me, my imaginations playing tricks on me."
I knew I had seen something but couldn't understand why Carlisle couldn't. It was so clear. But doubt still raised in my mind as to whether or not I had seen it, maybe it was just my imagination. I dismissed it and dialled Alice's number into my cell phone.
"Bella?" Alice said.
"Yes, Charlie just left."
"Okay, we will be there in a minute,"
"See you soon," I replied, then hung up.
I was slightly nervous about seeing everyone again. This time it was going to be different though, under better circumstances. These vampires I had met back then were now my friends, they had helped save my family and my daughter. I just hoped this time I could get to know them more.