Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight


Chapter Seven

*Jennifer's POV*

I looked at the plotted plant in front of me. It's green leaves seemed to be withering away in an instant. God, did I feel like a freak. A freak of nature. Ever since Serena died, weird things have been happening to me. My power development was one of them. Carlisle, Elaine, and Ava think it's because I'm distraught. I guess I always had it, but it wasn't until my sister died and my family left me that I felt like this.

I'm happy. Don't get me wrong. Joining the Cullen family made up for having such a dysfunctional family. It's just...This time has been so confusing for me. Really confusing. The past two years have been absolutely nuts. I haven't really digested it all completely. I went from a life under my father, to trouble living with my siblings, and now to being completely separated from them.

I did have a family now, the Cullen's. I'm so grateful for everything they have done. They have been so kind to me and it's everything I've ever wanted...But at the same time it hurts. Serena was my sister. A bitch or not, she helped raise me. When I was little, she used to sing me to sleep or would teach me about the world around. Even Maysun who would take me to the forest to play and Nahuel, who I always loved visiting...I loved them. I still love them very much. That's why I stayed. With them and my father. I knew my father, Joham, wasn't a good man. He never was for doing what he did to my mother and my siblings' mothers...But he was still my father. He's dead and even though there wasn't much of a relationship there, I felt a weight in my stomach thinking about him. Then there's my mother, a woman I never got to know. A young woman who died out of foolishness.

A few years ago I went back to Ohio to try to understand who she was. Jennifer Bernson. She was a small town girl with big dreams and the third child of five. Moved to Cincinnati, kind of lost her way, and that's how she met my father. He promised her the world, only to end with her demise.

I have grandparents. A huge family back in Ohio with a ton of cousins. I watched them one night gather around for Hanukkah and the holidays. I wasn't very religious myself. I never celebrated any holiday, but the only thing I had to hold on to from my mother was a picture in her police report and a necklace she owned with the Star of David. Her faith is something that lives with me. She also had a green thumb, hence this abnormal trait I've developed so late in life. When she met my father she was working as a florist in Cincinnati.

There's a famous theory in psychology by Sigmund Freud called the iceberg analogy. It's involved with our unconscious mind that an iceberg could be split up representing three levels of our mind. The point of it all is, our conscious mind is the tiny tip of the iceberg we can all see. We only concentrate on the good in a way. Then the bigger half of the iceberg below is filled with all the things festering within our unconscious mind. The part of us that festers until it develops into something else. Some people might develop disorders because of a situation like this. The mind is a complex thing, but maybe this is what's happening. All the shit in my life is finally breaking my positive demeanor to the point I control plant life.

I should form some club with Lily and Abby. Neither of us have any idea as to what power we hold. I mean, I get what mine is, but it's odd. I don't understand it. I think that's also why Lizzy also got into plants.

"Aw, watch my little guy," Esme said, snapping me out of my train of thought. I looked up at her, blinking a few times. I noticed the plant seemed to be withered even more. "Sorry dear, did I spook you?"

"A bit," I confessed, shrugging. Esme nodded, placing a tea cup in front of me to drink from.

"Sorry about that," She replied softly.

"It's okay," I told her.

"Alright...Talk to me dear. There's been way too much going on in your life right now and you're clearly not feeling it," Esme said, getting straight to the point.

I bit my lip, "Esme-"

"Dear, please. I'm worried about you," She pleaded with me, reaching out to grab my hand.

I sighed. Her big topaz eyes looked so concerned. "It's too much. I guess it's with my family, but it's something else..." I trailed off, running a hand anxiously through my hair.

"What sweetheart?"

"Aidan!" I blurted his name out. "He's...I don't know...He's confusing me."

"How so?"

"He just...He may have a date to the prom with Carly, but...I don't know. It's stupid," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head. "It's really stupid."

It was late May. Really close to junior prom and a lot of people think Aidan's going to ask Carly to be his date.

"It's not stupid," Esme insisted, giving me a classic warm smile of hers. "Calm down, darling. Do you have feelings for him? Is that it?"

"I..." I bit my lip, looking at her with uncertainty. "I don't know. I might..."

"I think you do," Esme announced, giving my hand a squeeze. "He's your best friend."

"Yeah. He is...But at the same time, I just feel so connected to him," I told her, tears welding up in my eyes. "When everything was falling apart, he was always there to make me laugh...And now, I don't...I don't know if he even wants me in his life."

"Of course he does. You don't think that boy spent all summer worrying about you, making sure there was a smile on your face for nothing," She mentioned, raising an eyebrow. "He cares a lot about you, Jenny."

I nodded, sighing as I rubbed the palm of my hand. "I just...I'm in a weird place. Everyone who used to care about me is gone, and now I have a bunch of new people on my side. I don't want to loose any of you guys. I spent all year trying to ignore this, but I can't anymore. I'm not okay and I keep telling myself I'm okay, but I'm not."

The tears couldn't help themselves and that's when Esme engulfed me in a hug. I held on tightly to this woman who smelled like cinnamon and apples. "I know, dear. You've kept a lot of this in and I just want you to let it all out."

"Thank you," I muttered against her shoulder, her hands running through my hair.

"I'm very happy you're apart of this family, Jennifer. Just know we're all glad to have you here," Esme told me as we pulled apart. A bright smiled graced her face right after. "And if you need to talk, I'm here."

I smiled back at her, wiping my tears.

"Hello darling!" Carlisle greeted, coming over right away to kiss Esme's cheek. He immediately noticed I looked upset and looked concerned. "Jennifer, are you okay dear?"

"Yeah. I'm fine," I said, giving him a bright smile. Best that I could. "How was the hospital today?"

"Oh. It was fine. Nothing major," He said, telling me about it all. "I forgot how crazy though it all is in a city. Sometimes I miss the small towns."

"Nothing will ever compare to Forks," Esme reminisced, causing Carlisle to smile bittersweetly.

"So, how are your powers going? Everything with that fine?" He asked like any concerned parent would.

"Yeah...Everything still feels normal," I told him as he sat down next to Esme at the kitchen table.

"That's good." He smiled. I smiled back at the two of them. The warmth in their eyes really made me feel at home.

I had no clue what was going to happen, especially with Aidan, but I am happy to have at least Esme and Carlisle with me because for the first time in years, I finally felt like I had parents.

*Renesmee's POV*

"So, it's decided?" My mom asked, looking at the paper forms in front of her. "You really want to move out to L.A?"

It had been between a couple of colleges, but I guess as of recently I was thinking maybe UCLA could be the place to go.

"We won't be visiting you that much," My dad pointed out. "Not that you'd want us there, but you know...Sun."

"Understandable," I said, chuckling. "But I think that's the point."

"Not wanting us to come?"

"No! Going somewhere different. There's so many places in this world I want to live. I have a forever to live in these places, but as of the present I think moving to California could be fun. It's different. Not too far from Forks so visiting could be easier," I explained to them. "It's sunny and also, the academics are good..."

"I mean, Renesmee, if that's where you want to go then go. Your father and I won't stop you," My mom said, looking through everything on the form. "The vampire threat isn't probably that drastic. If you want to go, we won't be the ones stopping your dreams."

"Really?" I asked excitedly.

"Of course, Angel," My dad chimed in. "You make us so proud, Renesmee. You're going to do great there."

I smiled happily as I hugged both of my parents tightly, "I can't wait! I'll be a great surgeon. Get my doctorate...God, I can't wait."

My mother shared a smile with my father. I think this is something my mom always wanted for us kids. Since she had me, then Masen, and finally Lizzy- She never really had the chance to go to college until two years ago. She's halfway through and it won't be long until she's a college graduate with a teaching degree in English. Knowing my mother, she'll probably go back and learn more things once she becomes an empty nester. But at the same time, I know if she ever gets bored of the whole high school thing there's always teaching and anything she could ever possibly want. That's a plus to being immortal, the world is at your fingertips.

"I assume Jacob is going with you as well?" My father asked curiously. I nodded, fiddling with my hands.

"Yeah. While I'm in school, he's going to try to find work at a shop. We both always wanted to live somewhere sunny like the islands," I confessed to my parents.

"Well, I'm glad you know what you're going to do," My dad said as we looked over the forms together again.

"Whatcha guys up to?" Masen asked, seeing the three of us clumped together.

"Discussing future plans," I explained to him. "What about you? You're moving to Boston, but are you going to be attending college? You didn't even apply?"

"No...I don't think so," Masen said, scratching the back of his head. "I just...Look, I mean there's always the second semester if I wanted to sign up. I just want Grace to enjoy herself right now and I want to be right there with her in case...I just want to enjoy these moments I have with her."

"Son, you aren't going to loose her," My father spoke up, sensing fear within my brother. He then reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. My father was well to acquainted with this feeling. "I thought the same about your mother, but look where we are now."

"He's right," My mom chimed in, wrapping an arm around my father's waist. "Happily married. Three kids. To think we thought we would only be lucky enough to have Renesmee. To be honest, I didn't think children would ever be an option for us."

I chuckled, smiling towards my brother, "Anyway you two will figure it out. Trust me. Grace will become immortal somehow and everything will be alright."

Masen nodded, biting his lip, "I just...I can't help feel like something bad is going to happen. Just gut instinct."

"What do you mean by bad? Like Grace won't be immortal?" I asked curiously.

"We don't know if she can be, yet!" Masen cried out, running a hand through his hair. "What if...What if I tried to become mortal?"

That's when the room became silence and all attention turned to my little brother. "What do you mean? Is that even possible?" My mother asked, looking at my father for maybe an answer since he has more experience than her with supernaturals.

"No...I don't think so because trust me, I would've done the same to be with you if I had known. Not to mention, Rosalie would've found something years ago if it meant ditching her immortality for the sake of having a child," My dad said, looking at my brother in bewilderment. "How did you plan on doing this, son?"

"I don't know," Masen replied, shrugging. "Grace didn't seem to keen about it either, but I just...I don't want to live without her. I can't live without her."

"We know," My mother spoke up. She held on tightly to both of Masen's arms so his eyes were locked with hers. "We'll find a way."

"To think, you're all leaving me next year," Lizzy announced, causing the topic of discussion to seize. We all just smiled instead at my young sister, who was currently making her way over.

My mother chuckled as she wrapped an arm around my sister's shoulder, hugging her close to her side. "Oh, Lizzy. Think of yourself as being an only child the next couple of years."

"Kind of like that idea. Not gonna lie," she admitted teasingly with a smirk. She then turned to Masen and I with sad eyes. "But I will miss you two."

"We'll miss you too, Liz," I said, giving my sister a smile.

"Yeah, who else is gonna annoy the crap out of me next year?" Masen teased, rushing over to throw Lizzy over his shoulder. She squealed in surprise as he swirled her around. "You better visit me in Boston next year!"

"Of course!"

"And we'll go to every museum we can find up there, damn it!" Masen joked with her.

"You better!" Lizzy exclaimed, laughing instead of being thrown over her shoulder she was still picked up in his arms. "And the same goes to you, Renesmee!"

"Of course." I chuckled, coming over to plant a kiss on her nose. I then turned to my parents who both watched us with pure love in their eyes. I smiled back at them and then my siblings.

"What was graduation like for you guys?" I asked curiously. "And for dad, I mean your first graduation."

"I never graduated high school as a human," My father answered right away, shoving his hands in his pockets. "It wasn't until I went to high school the second time around when I was living with Carlisle and Esme. At the time this was before anyone else was around and Esme was just starting to control her blood lust. She was determined to go to my graduation though to support me. Sure enough, her and Carlisle were able to do it and she looked so proud. I think that's around the time Esme really started viewing me as a son."

"Aww, that's actually really sweet," I mused, smiling at the thought of my doting grandmother. "What about you Mom?"

"Oh, my graduation was another story," My mother chimed in, shaking her head in a chuckle. "That was around the time Victoria decided to show up."

"The evil newborn maker?" Lizzy questioned as we gathered around the table to hear more.

"You graduated around that time?" Masen asked curiously, causing my mom to nod.

"Yeah. It was a little bit before I married your father. You know how we were both rushing to get it over as fast as we could. Mostly, for the Volturi, and also because I wanted forever to start with him right away. So anyway, we still had Victoria on the loose so the whole graduation was hectic. The night of our graduation party, that your Aunt Alice hosted at the Forks house, was the night she got a vision about the newborn army. That entire time span was just heated. A lot of fights going on," My mother recalled.

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked, coming into the room. "Victoria?"

"Yeah. We were initially talking about graduations," My mother replied. The two immediately seemed to tense upon seeing each other. My mother has known Jake for as long as I could remmeber. Long before I was born. They were best friends, I think there is still a friendship between them but it isn't the same. Not because they're from different worlds, I really think it's because Jacob imprinted on me so once me and the others became of age, he just tended to be around us more. When I was little, besides me, Jake and my mom would hang out a bunch.

"That was not a fun time," Jacob mumbled. "That's back when you hated me, Bloodsucker."

"Don't push it, mutt," My father retorted, rolling his eyes.

"To think, after almost eight years." My mom sighed.

"This will be a happy one," Jacob chimed in, turning to me now, reverting the topic of discussion. "You'll have a good graduation. Promise."

"I know I will, because two months after we'll be heading to sunny California!" I exclaimed, causing Jacob to chuckle.

"I can't wait," He replied, kissing me on the lips. "I'm proud of you, babe."

"Thanks. Oh! I can't wait!" I chirped, kissing my boyfriend once again. All this did though was cause my father to groan at our PDA while my mother rolled her eyes, giving him a playful push.

Masen then cleared his throat, averting all attention back to him, "Well, if you don't mind me interrupting the love fest I'd like to point out the mere fact we're going to be late to Lisa's hang out."

"Oh shit! Right! I forgot about that," I said, looking at the time. "Alrighty then, let's move people. We still gotta head over to Grace's and make our way down there."

"Don't stay out too late!" My mother called out to us before we scurried away.

From there we quickly picked Grace up along the way before heading to where all our friends were. It was a normal buzz of everyone hanging out. Normal fun stuff.

"So, UCLA huh?" Lily asked me curiously walking over. "You're moving to California?"

"Yeah...I know, kind of soon but it's what I want," I confessed to my cousin. She nodded her head in understanding.

"It sounds fun. I'll definitely visit often," She teased, causing me to smile. Her head then turned to Masen who was currently swaying with Grace back and forth in his arms. "I'm worried about him. Did he tell you about the whole mortal thing?"

"Yeah," I muttered, scratching the back of my head. "And I don't even know how Grace feels about it, the mortal thing."

"She doesn't seem too keen about the idea. That's what I've gathered," Lily mentioned. "That's what it sounded like on Mase's point of view."

"I mean, there is a high chance Grace is immortal. There are half-witches who do become immortal, problem is if Grace's magic is powerful enough," I said. "I just...He's so worried about loosing her. I think it's killing him to know if this doesn't work out, he's gotta watch her grow old and die."

"I know," Lily mumbled, biting her lip. "He cares so much about that girl."

"I would too. If I was in that position with Jake, I'd be freaking out," I mentioned. "But at the same time, he shouldn't worry. It's gonna work out, I mean it has too."

"If it doesn't, we'll find a way. Him becoming mortal though seems more unlikely than Grace becoming immortal," Lily added quietly.

"Yeah," I agreed, taking a sip of my drink. My eyes not leaving Masen and Grace swaying back and forth. "But for him to loose Grace, he'll loose his entire world."

"But we could loose him as well. Our family," Lily reminded me. I nodded stiffly before my cousin disappeared to go find Ethan.

My eyes then adverted themselves towards where Aidan and Carly where currently with each other. I raised my eyebrows watching them interact. She was laughing hysterically as she placed her hand on his arm.

"I think he likes her," Jen mentioned to me, walking over now. I glanced at her to see a sad glint in her eyes. "Do you think he does?"

"I don't know," I replied, "I think he's just clueless."

"Yeah. Clueless. Sounds about right," Jen muttered under her breath. "Did you have a problem like this with Jake?"

I shook my head, "No. I think ours was more about growing up and figuring things out. Jen, I think he's just trying to figure out what he's going to do."

"I don't know..." She mentioned, looking back at him.

And then, bam. That's when Carly fully locked lips with Aidan, and everyone's eyes at Lisa's house turned their attention to the two currently kissing in the doorway. I could tell it caught Aidan by surprise, his eyes were wide open for the whole kiss.

"Crap," I whispered under my breath.

"Guess he's figured it out," Jen replied coldly before stomping out of the house.

"Oh god no," Lily muttered, walking right next to me. She looked concerned, glancing back at Jen's form before it left the premise. "This is bad."

"This is," I agreed, sharing a nervous look with each other.

*Bella's POV*

"I'm nervous," I admitted to Edward while fiddling anxiously with my hands. We were currently seated on the couch watching some old movie. I wasn't paying much attention to it because my thoughts were a million miles away.

"What are you talking about, love?" he asked me, rubbing my arms. I sighed, shrugging.

"I...Does Renesmee even know about Jacob and I?" I asked cautiously. "That he was in love with me? That I kissed him and-"

Edward stiffened, but cupped my cheek gently, "No. She doesn't know, but...I don't know when the right time would be to explain that to her. Her and Jacob have been in a good state. I don't know..."

"I don't want to keep lying to her," I shot back at him in frustration. "She deserves to know the truth."

"She does, but let's not ruin her graduation. We don't even know how she'll react to this. Yes, Jacob was in love with you but only because of Renesmee and well, you two weren't ever really an item," Edward pointed out. "You should talk to Jacob about this first before even mentioning it to her. She has the right to know, but not without thinking about it. It's something that needs to be approached delicately."

"Alright," I replied as he rubbed my shoulders some more. "It's just...What is going on? I thought things would be normal perhaps, but now...For God's sake, Masen is worrying the hell out of me!"

"You know, we were in the same situation as him. Try to put yourself in his shoes. I mean, theirs has it's differences, but remember when you and I used to fight about this," Edward reminded me gently. "He just wants to be with Grace."

"True, but what if something were to happen to Grace? I am putting myself in my son's shoes and...If I lost you...God, I don't think I would want to live, Edward. You and I both know how that could've almost ended when I jumped off the cliff and you went to Italy to kill yourself," I pointed out fiercely. "I just...I know how it feels. It's just a hypocritical thing to say- I just don't want to see our son dead. I don't want to watch Masen die or Renesmee loose her chance of having something normal and good for once in her life!"

"Bella, shhh," Edward soothed, bringing me back to his lap. He wrapped his arms tightly around me, "He'll be fine. We aren't going to loose our son or any of our daughters."

"How are you so calm right now?" I asked him.

"I feel the same way as you do, Bella. I'm worried about our kids," Edward told me, hugging on tight. "The only reason I'm keeping my cool right now is because of you."

"Me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"You keep me grounded. You always have. If this was anybody else, I'd be all over the place. Trust me, I'm trying to deal with Masen especially in a civil calm way...Someone's got to talk to him. It's not even the fact he's worried, I'm just nervous all of this anxiety to make sure Grace stays with him forever will backlash on him," Edward said to me.

"I think it should be you," I said, brushing my thumb against his wedding band. "Your his father and you went through this with me, in a way. You were trying to keep my soul in tact, but you were doing everything you could to do it. I think it's best if you did."

"Alright," He said, nodding his head gently. "And you can talk to Jake."

"Yeah," I agreed, leaning my head against his shoulder. "Either it's got to be him or me telling her. We'll decide who she wants to hear it from."

"Sounds like a plan," My husband agreed, leaning his cheek against the top of my head.

"I just hope it all works out," I mumbled into his shirt.

"It will, love," Edward said, wrapped in his embrace.

"You know, the kids aren't home," I mentioned mischievously. Edward's topaz eyes seemed to light up at the comment. "It's been awhile, Mr. Cullen."

"Oh, well it definitely has been, Mrs. Cullen," He replied, sweeping me off my feet. We both grinned at each other as we scurried to our bedroom upstairs.


A/N: hope you guys enjoyed! So Jen, Aidan, and Carly...Whatcha think's gonna happen there. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading and be on the look out for the next update ;)