When I woke up the next morning, the house smelled like eggs and bacon. Ever since Jake had moved in, Esme had started cooking meals every time she heard his stomach grumble slightly. She also enjoyed bombarding me with human food, but I was partial to the taste of blood.

"Eggs, Ness?" she asked warily, slightly resigned. I fell into a seat at the kitchen table, shaking my head and looking up at the ceiling.

"No, I'm going hunting with Emmett and Rose tomorrow," I replied. Esme put down her spatula and turned around to face me, a disconcerted look on her face. I ignored her, casually bending the tongs of the fork back so that they formed an intricate pattern.

"Renesme," Esme muttered, forcing me to look up at her through my eyelashes, "You know that I don't like it when you go hunting with them. Especially now in your... current state." Her warm gold eyes fell onto my slightly protruding stomach. I placed my hand on the bump, sighing.

"Carlisle said that nothing could hurt the baby," I objected, "My skin is just as protective as yours, or Emmett's, even. The fetus is protected like any vampire would be." Esme was too kind to argue straight-out with me, so she took a seat across from me and patted my cold hand with her even colder one.

"You're just like your mother, Nessie," she murmured gently, "Stubborn as a mule. Unfortunately, your father is just as obstinate. This pregnancy is proving to be just as difficult as your mother's was. Renesme, if only you knew how remarkable you are." I blushed, pulling my hand away and looking down at my lap. Esme threw compliments out there to everybody, and they were always heartfelt, but unfortunately I was the only one in the family who was vulnerable to blushing.

"Maybe I should eat human food," I decided, not capable of disappointing Esme, "For the baby." Esme smiled and patted my cheek.

"That's my girl," she said, appeased, and rose to grab my eggs. I ate them ravenously, though normally I despised the taste of that type of food. But this was different... I could actually appreciate the crisp, salty taste of the egg. This thought overjoyed me.

"Esme, I don't think Irina likes blood!" I blurted out, covering my mouth as I scoffed down a whole scrambled egg. Esme turned towards me, her face jubilant.

"Oh, Nessie, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, as Jasper and Alice came running into the room. Alice perched herself onto the edge of the table, studying my outfit. Today I was wearing a long turquoise tunic and black leggings with black gladiator sandals; I was almost as into fashion as Alice was.

My tiny aunt, who was really closer to a sister, gave me an approving look before scrunching her nose at my breakfast.

"I hear Irina Hayden Whitney Black likes eggs," she mentioned, not bothering to hide the disgust in her voice. Jasper wound his arm around his wife's waist, leaning over and kissing her cheek.

"That will make everything a lot easier," he consoled her, rational as always. I stood up, handing Esme my empty plate.

"Where did you get 'Hayden Whitney', Alice?" I demanded, trying to remember if the names had ever crossed my mind. Whenever I had thought of middle names, I had imagined Edward or Isabella, after my parents. Alice winked at me.

"That's the only name that I've ever seen you naming her," she explained light-heartedly, "But I think I know where you got it. Or at least where you will get it." I furrowed my brow in confusion; I was pretty sure that I didn't know anybody named Scarlet.

"Alice, tell me!" I insisted. Though I always thought that I was more like my father, I was very similar to my mother when it came to surprises. Alice grinned, glancing up at Jasper. She seemed to be contemplating whether or not she should tell me.

"Well..." she began, biting her lower lip, "I suppose you won't think of it if I don't tell you." I nodded, prodding her on. She sighed in defeat, though she didn't seem that hesitant to tell me. On the contrary, she seemed to be bursting with excitement.

"Well, it's a darling idea, actually," she thought out loud, before turning to me and patting my hand, "I wouldn't have thought that you were capable of something like that." When she saw my hurt look, she laughed and added, "Just because you're so like your father. He'd be thinking of middle names like 'Rose' and 'Anne'. Nice and simple. I would have thought that you would go for the same type of thing." I blinked, completely bemused.

"Well?" I demanded, "Where did I get 'Hayden Whitney'?" Alice giggled, pointing at herself and Jasper.

"You got it from Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and I," she said simply. I shook my head, thoroughly frustrated with her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I snapped, "For somebody so small you are extremely irritating." Alice let out a high laugh.

"I've heard that before," she replied, still her cheery self, "I always thought you were so smart, Ness. 'Hayden' comes from Hale and Brandon, the human last names of Rosalie and I before we were bitten. And 'Whitney' comes from Whitlock and McCarty, the last names of Jasper and Emmett." I ran this through in my head, suddenly warmed up to the idea. I had always thought that somebody should pay some sort of tribute to the human lives of my family.

"That's beautiful," I sighed, and Alice seemed overjoyed with my reaction, though she had clearly seen it coming.

"I'm glad that you like it," she said, "I tried to put 'Platt' and 'Swan' together but all that I got was 'Plan' and 'Swat', which I didn't think would fit little Irina nicely. But I don't think that a tribute to your mother is really necessary." I shook my head, massaging my temples.

"Jesus, Alice," I groaned, "Stop with the mind games." I stood up and walked out the door, listening to Alice's wind-chime giggle and Jasper's deep chuckle.