Disclaimer: No, I don't own Twilight; neither do any of us...

Chapter 6: Dreams

Throughout the second month in Forks, Alec and I had taken to running to a nearby meadow. It was there that we learned to really let go. We would run and mess around in the grasses, flowers, and forest. This particular day, it had been raining but we went anyway. Arriving back at the Cullens, we found our clothes sticking to our skin from the mist; my hair was damp and tangled as Alec pulled his fingers through it. Esme had just put the kettle on and I was anticipating the warmth of a steaming tea cup.

That's when I started sneezing. At first, it was sporadic and light but it soon dipped into uncontrollability. Alec stared at me, wide-eyed as it subsided, mouthing "are you alright?" to me. I nodded, giving him a small smile.

I leaned back into him, sighing as he played with my hair some more. Again, a perfect moment was ruined by my weird human aspects. This time it was coughing; dry, scraping gasps that were reminiscent of severe thirst. They didn't stop for a good bit too.

"Ren, are you sure you're alright?" Alec asked, worry lacing his steady tone.

"I-don't-know." I managed through coughs. I had my hands clasped over my mouth as my chest heaved and hurt. Pulling me close, Alec placed a cool hand against my forehead. He frowned, but I held his hand to my skin. It felt good, even uncharacteristically cold. I had become immune to his temperature long ago. I felt my eyelids get heavy as Alec picked up my body. Something clicked in my mind and I suddenly became little me; wrapping my legs around his torso and burying my nose in his thick hair.

"Alec, what's going on?" I heard Isabella's quivering voice, but didn't look up. I felt Alec wave Isabella off.

"Ren's just feeling a little under the weather." he replied calmly. "She'll live, but I'm sure she wants some rest."

"Would you like me to bring up the tea when it's finished, dear?" this was Esme.

"That would be lovely, Esme; thank you." after the small exchange, Alec carried me up to our room and laid me on the bed. I closed my eyes and let him do what he wanted. First came off my boots; then my jacket; last, my sweater. The sensation of Alec lifting my body from the sheets and lightly letting it go was relaxing beyond explanation.

When I opened my eyes, Alec was resting next to me, watching closely. It was rare we were ever in such close proximity. I couldn't help myself as I let my lips find his. The feeling of his hands in my hair and his lips on mine was more than enough. I grabbed his shoulders, trying to tell him that I wanted more, but Alec pulled away, retreating like normal.

"Not today, usignolo." He whispered. "You need sleep."

"I don't need sleep." I pouted, snuggling into his chest like I did as a child. Alec stroked my hair, guiding his hand along my head and back. It became too hard to keep my eyes open and I felt my body relax.

"Remember when you had the flu, usignolo?" Alec whispered. "You were only 8, but still full of life. I can hear you telling me about how you didn't need me to take care of you, how I wasn't making you better."

"of course." I muttered.

"You were adorable, usignolo, even though you were coughing, sneezing, and borderline hallucinating." He laughed. "You insisted that your rabbit and bear toys were talking to you. And I still can't remember loving anything more than the sick little girl I had tucked in my arms."

"I'm not little anymore." I replied, my voice dry.

Alec chuckled. "Indeed, you're much older and much more beautiful, usignolo. That doesn't mean that I'm not holding the same girl right now."

"You're too deep for me right now." I sniffed, feeling Alec's arms tighten around me.

"Then stop talking and sleep."

"Gladly," I commented, "But only if you keep your mouth shut as well."

"Decisions, decisions," Alec muttered, wrapping his arms around me. Rolling my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.

I was huddled underneath the blankets of my bed, clutching my stuffed elephant, Marmae, to my chest. Tears ran down my cheeks as another flash of light penetrated my curtains, like a thousand suns resided in my room. With the resounding boom moments later, I made up my mind and bolted into the hallway. My feet knew where they wanted me to go: Alec's room.

I stood, shifting on the balls of my bare feet, wondering whether or not I should knock. I was about to run and find Jane when the door slid open.

"Ren, what're you doing up?" Alec asked, crouching down to my height. "It's nearly midnight." I swallowed and stared at the floor. Letting out an amused breath, Alec scooped me up off the floor along with Marmae.

"Do you want to go back to your room?"He asked. I shook my head, still too scared to speak. "Then what do you propose we do then?" I chewed on the inside of my cheek and played with his neat, black tie. Slowly, I managed to look Alec in the eyes.

"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" I whispered.

"Of course," Alec smiled, "But on one condition; you really do have to sleep." I crossed my arms, Marmae trapped in the hug.

"Why? We aren't doing anything special tomorrow." I pouted. I never liked sleeping, but Alec made sure I did; whether he had to implore his gift or not.

"If you do, then maybe there will be a bit of interest tomorrow," Alec countered, walking back into his room and placing me like a doll on the bed. "But, you won't know unless you cooperate."

My answer was to curl up on the comforter. Alec laid down beside me and stared at the ceiling. I could feel the fog settling over me; he knew that I wouldn't sleep unless helped along.

"I don't like thunder storms." I muttered as my eyelids sagged under the weight of exhaustion.

"I know, Renesme." Alec replied, grasping my hand.

The scene changed in a swirl of colours and places.

Alec had dragged me down to the beach again today. This week had been particularly cold and cloudy, even for late fall. It was always convenient that the Volturi castle was situated on a private beach. I didn't like the cold, wet wind that was blowing sand and salt through my already tangled hair. I was dressed in skinny jeans, riding boots, and an overly-long grey sweater. I couldn't understand how Alec could just run around with his Polaroid in just jeans and a black tee.

"Why so shy, Ren?" Alec laughed, snapping a shot of me hugging my arms. I glared at him.

"Why the hell did you drag me down here today?" I huffed. He smirked and rolled his eyes. Grabbing my wrist, he ran down the beach with me stumbling behind. I ran into him when he stopped. Peering around his shoulders, I suddenly became even more confused.

"It's a row boat." I said, implying that "so". I looked only 13, but had the biting sarcasm of a 17 year old. I was right; it was just an old, upturned row boat. The only thing special about it was it's name painted in aquamarine paint on the white side: Usignolo; Nightingale.

"Yes, it is." Alec returned with a smug grin on his face. "Care to take a trip with me?" I shrugged and helped him flip it over. Alec gestured for me to climb in to the front. It was a weird mix of feeling perfectly stable and unstable with the small waves rolling underneath the hull. We cast off and suddenly Alec had his camera out again.

"What do you want me to do?" I sighed, standing up on the seat.

"Could you sit on the bow and stare off down the shoreline?" he asked thoughtfully. One picture, than another, and soon I was being photographed in any spontaneous pose I struck. While standing on the middle seat, a tiny waved rolled under our boat. Something so innocent made me topple onto Alec, knocking us both backwards. From the tangle of our arms and legs, Alec ended up propped against the stern with me sitting between his legs, leaning up against his chest.

"Give me the camera, Alec." I demanded, tilting my head back onto his shoulder. Reluctantly, he handed over his most prized possession. Swiftly, I kissed him lightly on the lips, snapping the shutter at the same time. I watched the picture develop in my hand. The picture was silly; a profile shot of me and Alec, his eyes wide with the shock of my boldness.

"Why'd you do that?" Alec managed to blurt out a few long moments later. I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Because I love you," I said, shrugging it off as something simple. I waited for Alec to tell me it was inappropriate for us to be like that, because he was my personal guard. None of that came; only his lips connecting again with mine.

When I woke up, Alec was stretched out next to me, my hand securely in his. I slid close to him, wrapping my arms around his torso. Draping his left arm over my waist, Alec turned and kissed me on the forehead.

"Your dreams are truly beautiful." He murmured, pulling my body closer.

"Even for a royally screwed up person, such as me?" I replied, running my finger through his hair. Alec only laughed; something that I enjoyed in its rarity. There was a light knock on the door, and Alec got up to answer it. It was Edward, looking slightly deflated compared to all the other times I'd been around him.

"Renesme, Alec, I'd like to apologize for my behavior," He began, a nervous edge to his voice. "I'd never realized how much you cared for one another, or how much you looked after her, Alec. I thank you for that much." Alec nodded, and Edward turned to leave.

"How come the change in heart, Edward?" I asked, sitting cross-legged on the bed. He turned back to me, his expression child-like guilt.

"I can't help what I see, Renesme. You know this." I'd forgotten about his gift. He had seen my memories; the ones of me as a little girl, and adjusting to immortality, and professing my love. I had subconsciously proved to my father just how deep our love was. We didn't flaunt and advertise it. Alec was always there, even when all I wanted was to tear him to pieces and vice versa. It was a bittersweet love, but it is what it is, I guess.

"Thank you, Edward. I appreciate the sentiment." I finished, lifting myself from the mattress and rushing to the bathroom. As I knelt next to the bathtub, I heard to door shut and found Alec next to me in milliseconds. "I'm not sick." I reassured, but it wasn't needed.

"You thinks it's strange that he would apologize after only seeing two memories." He stated, as though reading my word-fogged mind. "You wish you had known it was this easy from the beginning."

"Why are you so good at reading me?" I asked, burrowing my head in his hair. Alec moved his hand along my spine, sending shock waves up it. I kissed his cheek and pulled away.

"After one hundred years, one tends to get good at these sorts of things." Alec smiled tenderly, brushing a few tray hairs out of my eyes. I held his hand to my cheek and caught his gaze.

This is how it should always be… rang out in my thoughts. If Alec could've blushed, I swear he would've.

Author's Note:

Another chapter done! I hope you all liked it; pleases rate/review or whatever. I appreciate all your support in this venture. This wasn't a truly pointless chapter, but I want this story to be pretty episodic and scene-oriented. I hope you get what I'm saying because it's 10:30 at night and I'm pretty sure I sound raving mad now! Thanks again!

Carie Lea

p.s. Since nobody replied to the last comment contest-y thingy, you can have this one. Again, this chapter title is a song. What song and what artist? Have fun!

P.s.s. Oh, and the incident with the row boat; yea, that's how Ren got her nickname!