Chapter 7 ~ Surprises
"I have no idea where I went wrong," huffed Alice in exasperation, flipping her hands in the air.
I watched her compassionately, pressing my lips together.
"I guess there's something wrong with my brain now. Jazz, please don't shake your head. This is serious." She folded her arms across her chest and jutted out her lower lip.
Rosalie studied Alice for a good measure and then nestled into Emmett's chest.
"It was serious, and now it's not," Jasper said a matter-of-factly. A smile pulled the corners of his mouth as he caught Alice's eyes.
Alice sighed, her lips pursed into a plump frown. I had to admit, her miserable poutiness was unbearably cute. "I'm pouting," she said in a helpless tone.
"I can relate to you. Completely," I reassured her. She gave me a bright smile, as if I were her only ray hope.
Edward's hand grazed up and down my arm, and he gave me a weak look, as if he would argue the point though neither of us felt up to another riot.
Tranquillity flooded the living room of the Denali homestead. All of the other clans had bid their farewells, leaving the Denali clan and the Cullen family. We would embark on our expedition back to Forks –our home sweet home—just as soon as little Renesmee had awoken.
I sat cuddled in Edward's embrace on the leather couch, with Renesmee sleeping soundly in the cradle of my arms, stretched out across me languorously. Her tiny socked feet were sprawled on Edward's legs comfortably. One of Edward's arms was draped around my shoulders, the other curved around my arm that held Renesmee.
Jacob sat on the other side of me on the sofa, sprawled into a relaxed position. One arm dangling over the edge of the arm of the sofa, the other propped behind his head. It was a good thing that I was squished so closely to my husband because Jacob took up most of the couch.
The rest of the wolf pack had headed back to Forks shortly after the scrimmage, leaving Jacob behind. They didn't particularly enjoy lingering around vampires longer than necessary.
Tanya, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar were seated in the dining area, allowing us family time to ourselves.
Carlisle and Esme stood in front of the window, facing Alice and Jasper who were perched on the Persian rug at Rosalie and Emmett's feet. Rosalie and Emmett occupied the loveseat this time, holding hands.
"I used to feel that way, like my mind was a death trap," I said to Alice.
"Why would you say such a thing?" Edward asked me, drawing his head back to shoot me a wounded look, as if I had just insulted him.
I shrugged, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I was absorbed by the way Renesmee spanned out her fingers to clutch onto my shirt, making sure I was still near her. She clicked her tongue quietly and then she was drifting back to dreaming.
I could tell by the way her dreams slipped back into visions from a kaleidoscope, and then it changed into falling snow. I situated Renesmee into a more snug arrangement, burying her in my chest.
"Your previous performance would attest otherwise," Edward whispered in my ear, his cool breath at my neck.
"True," I faced him, our eyes locking on one another. "Don't say I didn't tell you so," I added smugly.
"Touché," said Edward. He let out a chuckle and then scooted me closer, his arm tightening around me. We both watched Renesmee sleeping against me.
"And you weren't so bad either," I nudged him. That was an understatement. The way he slaughtered the Volturi was devastatingly breathtaking. He smiled crookedly at me. His fingertips ran through my hair as he planted a kiss on my forehead. "In fact, you were glorious," I murmured.
"And you were magnificent," he complimented me, his eyes smouldering.
As Edward held me, I enjoyed the warm sunrays that streamed through the windows and buttered our pearly skin in its radiant arrays of beauty. The vibrant pink, orange, purple, blue and another color that was in between neon purple and an electric blue—lit the sky luminously.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and Edward kissed it lusciously. I returned the kiss. "I should have listened to you," he murmured on my mouth, his sugary sweet breath feathering all over my face.
"Mmmm-hmmm," I kissed him back passionately in response. My fingers of my free hand ran through the locks of his hair that were frosted with the sunrise.
Emmett made a snoring sound, bluntly targeted towards myself and Edward's public display of affection.
Jacob blew out a long-suffering sigh, probably eager for Renesmee to finally wake up so that they could play together.
Alice sulked, her knees locked under her chin. She flippantly tossed her hand in the air as if to excuse any other topic of conversation. "Don't you understand what a tragedy this is?" she asked us dramatically, slapping her palms on her knees. It startled me and I jumped in my spot in alarm.
All eyes focused on her remorsefully.
I pursed my lips together, sympathetic to Alice's suffering. It was a rare occasion when Alice was not jovial. Edward's chin rested on my head, and his arms tightened around my shoulders. I melted into him.
Carlisle nodded once. "It does pose as an issue, though it may not have been a dysfunction on your part." He assured Alice.
Esme said congenially, "Please don't be so hard on yourself, Alice. It was not at all your fault. You were watching."
Alice gave Esme a brave smile, but it sunk downward and she went back to sulking.
"They fooled you. They fooled all of us," Carlisle supplemented, inspirationally.
"But don't worry, they won't be getting away with that anymore," Emmett stretched his hands behind his head, then letting one arm wind around Rosalie's waist. She gazed at him with pride, scooting next to him.
Jasper rested his palm on her small shoulder and said soothingly, "Sorry that we forgot to ask right before we slaughtered them." He stifled a laugh.
Emmett chuckled darkly. "Right. Like we were going to wait around any longer."
There was a restful stillness that fell over the room, like a hush. All of a sudden, Alice snapped her fingers, as if recalling something vital. "Oh! So that is why my vision of our fatal future with the Volturi changed when Jacob arrived to Denali," she exclaimed in her bubbly voice, speaking to herself.
"Changed?" Edward asked Alice sombrely.
She nodded gravely, sinking back, aversely declining to give a straightforward explanation. She enveloped her knees with her thin arms, hesitantly ticking her eyes from face to face.
"Now, don't take away my car when I say this, but I saw a glimpse of all of us in a not so bright future. A painful one. For some of us." She spoke slowly, as if uncertain of what to share aloud. Her usual lively eyes went dim for a moment. I could assume that in the way that she avoided eye contact with us, she didn't want her emphatic glances to give anything imperative away.
"Alice," said Jasper earnestly, asking her to elaborate.
Edward felt edgy in my arms, and I reacted to his essence.
"Please don't make me go into detail," she shook as if a chill had run through her. "I just didn't want to tell any of you the truth, because it would have discouraged you." Everyone gawked at her. She winced as if a couch would be thrown at her.
A shiver ran through Edward as if he were cold. I supposed it was from a memory of just how close Felix and Jane had come in proximity to myself and Renesmee. "And why had I not been able to see this?" Edward inquired, his tone wary.
Alice lifted one shoulder to her cheek and looked back at him. "The visions were so sporadic, that I ensured that they were scrambled when I thought of them. I did not want you to panic, Edward, it would have been rather grim for all of our sakes if you had known," she confessed apologetically.
I gawked down at my baby, as I could only imagine the unbearable possibilities. I bent down and kissed the top of Renesmee's head. My eyes flickered to my husband's face.
A lethal look manipulated Edward's perfectly chiselled features, his eyes crinkling with the thoughts of what might have been if Jacob wouldn't have arrived. I gazed up at him until I caught his intense eyes.
His boiling point simmered down, as a caress from me reminded him that we had all made it through alive. He interlaced his fingers with mine and brought his hand up to his lips, kissing the front of the skin there.
I decided to distract Edward from breaking his own jaw from the way he clamped his jaw.
Edward. All of our worries are all in the past now, and I'm your future. I told him telepathically, placating him. I coiled my fingers around his chin with my free hand. I was awarded by my favorite smile. He loved it when I let him read my mind. It gave him deep pleasure to know what I was thinking, and so I opened myself up to him as much as possible.
My plot to pacify him worked. He appraised me with a calm gaze. I continued to think at him. You know what I think?
He stared at me with anticipation. I could read the desperate curiosity in his eyes, like an insatiable hunger to hear more of my thoughts. I think that you've given me the greatest gift you could have ever given me.
I lifted my hand, swirled it tentatively on Renesmee's back, ever so tenderly patting my palm there. I slid my palm from Renesmee's leg and traced his lips. I didn't care if everyone was watching us. He needed this. And I'm more in love with you than the day I married you.
Edward's fingers massaged mine tenderly in a wordless response. I could easily say that he had forgotten about the Volturi, for he was thinking about me—not a care in the world.
Emmett cleared his throat and said, "Well, all I can say is that the Volturi had it coming to them for centuries. Besides, I was sick of hearing them talk." He mimicked their jabber with his hand opening and closing.
Alice shrugged weakly, still not pacified. Her gloomy eyes grazed the room. Knowing the old Alice, she would be throwing a mind-numbingly colossal party to commemorate the defeat of the Volturi. But this Alice was not thriving at all. I had never seen her so down before in all of the time I had known her, and we had been through a lot together. I didn't even think it was possible for her to frown.
Her face was careworn, and her lips drooped down into a little upside-down frown. I knew that she was peeved at herself, though I couldn't help it but think how absolutely cute she looked when she was mad.
Jasper placed his hand beneath her elbow, letting her know he sympathized with her. He was probably lulling her as well.
As curious as I was, I knew that whatever reason that the Volturi had found a hole in her window to the future, was all a lost cause on our deceased enemy's part.
I frowned in her behalf, empathetic. Edward questioned me with his eyes. I smiled warmly at him and then fixed my eyes on his sister. He too pitied Alice.
Exhaling, Alice propped her tiny chin in the cup of her hand and stared out the window pensively at the incandescent sky. Splashes of orange, pink and blue spilled in, splashing its rainbow effects in a gleaming pattern. I marvelled at the brilliant colors, still in awe.
"Sure would give even my new Porsche to know why I didn't see them coming," she said pitifully.
"Alice. We won," I reminded her, hoping to cheer her up. She flashed me half a smile. "Please don't make that face, you're killing me over here," I said encouragingly.
"Sweet Bella." Alice's lips spread into a full smile. "It'll pass. I'm ecstatic, truly I am," she said to me convincingly, grinning from ear to ear to prove her enthusiasm. "I foresee a huge social gathering at the Cullen residence this weekend, hosted by myself."
"With our most honored guest to attend of course," added Esme, tilting her head towards Jacob with a motherly smile. Jacob almost blushed underneath his mocha-colored skin. He looked as though he had already slipped into slumber a few times since we had been sitting here.
Jacob considered the invitation for a moment, and then swept his gaze back to Renesmee. He watched her sleep admiringly.
"I guess I could make an appearance," he accepted indifferently, pondering the thought of gracing his presence at a vampire social gathering. As if he would have better things to do, I thought to myself. He would go anywhere that Nessie would be.
I swept my eyes over the beloved family that I belonged to, and then I looked up at Edward. He searched my eyes, and we exchanged a look of pure devotion. "Let's not forget our other soldiers who fought for the sake of their loved ones," I said in high esteem, my gaze locked on Edward.
"You are worth fighting for," he murmured fervently. Shivers pulsated through me.
"Face it," Jacob's deep tone broke my reverie. "You guys would have been bonfire material if I hadn't stepped in and saved the day." Jacob nodded his head slowly in self-satisfactory. He raised his hands behind his head, feathers fully ruffled and everything.
"Well, don't you just feel special," Rosalie said to Jacob spitefully, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Jacob rolled his eyes in her direction, his lips puckered in repulsion. "Least I did something about it, instead of standing there, playing with my hair. Not even Edward does that," he said, inching his head towards my husband, and enjoying Rosalie's reaction. Her lips parted at the insult.
I shot Jacob an odd look, lifting my eyebrows. I almost laughed aloud but it would have been inappropriate. Jacob looked at me as if I were about to scold him, his eyebrows sinking down into his eyes.
He stared at me for a second. "What?" Jacob shrugged at the look I was giving him, feigning innocence.
Alice's eyes shifted emotionlessly back and forth from me to Jacob, and then back again as if bored stiff. Her chin was propped in her hands. She looked like a little girl who had been sent in exile to time-out and couldn't get up and play until she had learned her lesson. She was punishing herself.
"Hmmmph," said Rosalie, sounding more like a hiccup with her dainty voice. She raised her chin in royalty and looked away at Emmett, as if dismissing Jacob from her very presence.
"Here we go," Emmett rubbed his face and Rosalie tossed her hair around her shoulders.
Rosalie sank into Emmett and he embraced her closer to his side, her head elevated.
Jacob shot Rosalie another sickening look, drawing his head back when she glowered back at him. His lips curled outward in disgust, the word ew written all over his features, wrinkling his nose at her. He shook his head to clear it, as if suffering from nausea and looked at Renesmee. His gallant grin returned.
Alice groaned, rubbing her head with one fist as if she had a headache. She patted Jasper's shoulder reassuringly when he leaned towards her in apprehension.
Jacob noticed Alice's wistfulness, concern washing over his face.
"Hey don't even worry 'bout it Alice, we hunted them down for you," assured Jacob with a wave of his hand, still patting his own back and relishing with the truth that he was the hero.
"How do you mean?" Alice asked softly, her lips squished with the heels of her hands that her chin was set into.
Jacob deliberated for a moment before he arched his head up and spoke. "Oh, that's right, you can't see us coming either could you?" He straightened out his arms, flexing with self-satisfaction. "That's probably 'cuz me and the pack flanked 'em all the way here. We hunted them in Volterra, then stocked them on their way down here." Nodding with pride he turned towards me. Incredulous eyes watched him.
Alice's head tilted toward him inquisitively. She meditated on that for a moment, and then her eyes bugged wide.
Jacob fixed his eyes on me. I blinked my eyes and pursed my lips into a warning smirk. Edward simply stared at Jacob and then at me, blank expression, clearly not amused.
"You went to Italy?" Edward asked Jacob with evident surprise, ignoring Rosalie and Jacob's rivalry, coursing the conversation back on track.
Even I gave Jacob an uncanny look, now understanding. Jacob resumed, dropping his afflicted taunting on Rosalie, "Course." He inclined his head back, as it were common sense. "Hey, there's no way we'd just let 'em cross the line like that again." He shook his head at the absurd notion. He batted the air with one hand. "We had them all along. We just were waiting to strike when we had you guys—" he motioned one palm towards Emmett and Jasper, "—beside us."
Edward's brow wrinkled in as realization struck him and everyone else. "You followed them all the way here?" His expression was dubious and amazed all at once.
Oh, of course, I thought to myself and Edward looked at me, hearing my thoughts still. Alice can't see Jacob, or the other wolves.
Edward nodded vigorously as in response to me, as the facts hit him too.
Alice's mouth popped open and her bright eyes lids fluttered. "Now that would make sense," crooned Alice, anew with energy. Her grin returned to her face. She waved one little-bitty finger in the air at the notion. "What's why I couldn't see them! Phew." She exclaimed, heavily exhaling.
"See? I knew there was nothing wrong with you," Jasper said warmly. "I had faith in you, as always."
Poor little Alice was overwhelmed with elation. "I don't know what to say," she said flippantly, completely pleased with herself. She was emanating with her high-spirits once again. "Guess I'm normal after all," she chirped.
Jasper hugged her to him.
"Had to keep an eye on them somehow." Jacob leaned back, his focus steady on my baby in my arms. As I snuck a peek at him, Jacob's eyes turned to liquid brown. A crooked smile etched his face as he watched Renesmee sleep peacefully, comfortable in my arms.
"I knew you had something up your sleeve," I accused Jacob, half smirking. He shrugged with a dashing grin.
Victoriously, Jacob held up one hand, palm up. "What was I going to do? Let you all fend for yourselves? Nah. Couldn't do it without me."
I breathed out a quiet laugh. Jacob was right, we might have not have prevailed if it hadn't been for him and his influence on the werewolves. "Can't argue with you there," I said, holding his eyes a second longer to express my gratitude.
I felt Edward gently smoothing a lock of my hair through his fingers. I scooted closer, resting into the hallow underneath his arm that was draped around my shoulders.
"We do appreciate what you have done for our family," commended Esme. Radiating brighter than the sun rays that glistened on the snow outdoors, Jacob practically soaked in all of the glances of praise that Carlisle and Esme gave him.
"Please thank the pack for us," Added Carlisle favorably.
Jacob nodded, casually lifting his shoulders as if wiping out the Volturi was a treat, and not some sort of chore for him.
"Yes, well, don't let me forget to thank you for telling me," Alice said with a suggestion of sarcasm, charming his with one of her contagious grins.
He lifted his hulky shoulders. "Didn't think about it. Was too preoccupied with kicking their you-know-what's."
"Nice work," Emmett said. He rarely spoke to Jacob, though all of the Cullen men were gracious for the battle against the Volturi. They were even more ecstatic that we had actually won. "We owe you one, kid."
Jacob made a face as if his efforts were no price too high. "Naw." He flushed, and flicked his hand in the air and looked at Renesmee. "Anything for Nessie," he murmured to himself, but we all heard him. He was gazing at Renesmee, his eyes soft.
"Which reminds me." I said to Jacob from my place resting against Edward's shoulder. "What did Sam and the rest of the pack have to say about Nessie?"
Jacob's eyes remained on my daughter as he spoke evenly, still bothered. His eyes shadowed for a moment. "They said it's my choice, and so I told them that I'd already made it."
He paused pensively, admiring Renesmee as she stirred and then stretched across my lap, her feet on Edward's legs. "So they told me that this—" he held out his hand towards my child, "—is wrong for a member of the pack to be involved with on an imprinting level." He shrugged, indifferently. He was pleased with his decision.
I urged him on with a nod of my head. Everyone else listened placidly. Edward's caressing hand moved in circular motions around my shoulder. I glanced at him. His brow was furrowed thoughtfully.
I could tell something was bothering him beneath the surface of his worshiping eyes that were glued on mine. We were engrossed in one another's eyes, lost somehow.
"Nessie is going to wake up in a minute," Alice announced in a faint whisper, grinning brightly at me.
Jacob's eyes lit up, as if he'd realized something important. "So I'm not one of theirs anymore. At all. Before it was just up in the air. I 'd much rather choose her." His eyes squinted with his grin, his perfect white teeth sparkling in the new sunrise. It was evident that he didn't regret his choice
"How did you get them to fight beside us, if this is the case?" Edward prompted him, his tone complacent.
Jacob didn't meet his eyes, yet he answered sombrely. "I told them that if we didn't take them down now, I would go alone and that there was a chance, very small of course, that I wouldn't make it. Wouldn't want that." He rubbed his palms together. "So, we came, we saw, and we conquered." He made a fist and held it up in front of his face.
"I would say you've truly proven yourself," Carlisle commended Jacob and then swept his gaze over all of us.
Jacob gleamed like a beacon at the attention. "My pleasure," he said, eyes sparkling.
There was a moment of elated silence. "So. The question is now, is who shall rule in the Volturi's place?" Carlisle proposed, curious.
No one answered that dreaded proposal. I supposed that nobody wanted to even contemplate the concepts of Italy or Volterra, for that matter. It was a good question, and I hoped we would never have to solve that one.
"Hmmm, speaking of visions, I have another incoming," said Alice, leaning her head to one side, her voice tinkling with amusement that she was able to see into the future with no interference. "Nahuel is on his way for a visit, here in Denali."
"Better late than never," Emmett said indifferently.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise at her announcement of the new visitor that would soon arrive. Nahuel was a half-vampire, half-human being, much like Renesmee. His mother had suffered a horrible death during childbirth, and she had not been as lucky to live through it as I was.
Renesmee stirred slowly, moving her arms over her head. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her dimpled hands, and peered up at me. I traced my finger over her cheek.
"Good morning, my Nessie," I greeted her softly. A dancing smile touched the corners of her eyes. She blinked and squinted, focusing on Edward and then back at me. Edward moved his head so that our cheeks were touching. He smiled down at her.
"Hello there," he said warmly, touching the end of her nose lightly. Her grin was so wide that I could see all of her tiny teeth. She gently patted her hand to his chest, her little version of a "hello".
After a moment, Renesmee gasped audibly, as if recalling that Jacob was here.
She sat up groggily, and suddenly came to life. When she spotted Jacob sitting next to me, she gaped bigger.
I squeezed her to me in a hug. She glanced up at me pleadingly, as she touched her warm palm to my neck. A picture of Jacob, smiling radiantly flashed through my mind.
I glimpsed at Edward with pride. I pressed my lips over her curls.
Jacob readjusted his position. I nodded to Renesmee and unwound my hold on her. Not missing a beat, she scrambled into Jacob's waiting arms.
"Hey there, Nessie. Sleep good?" Jacob said in his husky voice. He scooped her up and hugged her to his chest, both of their grins matching.
"You came for me!" Renesmee exclaimed blissfully.
"I'd chase you all around the world if I have to." He expressed, enunciating his words with emphasis. Renesmee pressed her palms over her mouth, overjoyed.
Edward wrapped both arms around me until my chest was pressed against his. He kissed me affectionately, slowly moving his lips over mine and then he kissed my forehead as we took in this peaceful moment.
The sun's vibrant rays shone through the glass bay window and the French doors, brilliantly setting the room aglow. All eyes were fixed upon Renesmee, the unexpected creation of mine and Edward's love, who was now the center of our universe.
I nuzzled my cheek against his chin and then whispered silently to him, "You still owe me you know."
Edward chuckled softly. "An eternal debt, I hope."
My arms linked around his waist. I waited until his eyes lingered on mine before I said, "Maybe I'll side with you more often." I inched my mouth closer to his, my breaths pluming over his face.
He dazzled me with a heart-stopping smile. He seemed to speak with his eyes. I slowly reached my palm and touched it to his cheek, expressing another thought I had in mind. Maybe you can make it up to me tonight.
He smiled even bigger and nodded slightly at me in consent, his eyes full of desire.