This chapter is new, so please review! :-) But seriously... Please review and let me know what you think. It keeps me motivated to post things often instead of once a month like other stories.
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all Twilight Saga and characters.
Renesmee
My anxiety for Leah had increased by the time we got to the house. She wasn't waking, daddy couldn't read her and I was going mad with worry. The moment we arrived in the property I was in my grandmother's arms. I saw my grandfather opening the door for Daddy who took Leah strait upstairs before the rest of us even entered the house. My grandfather came towards us and hugged me tightly kissing the top of my head several times. Grandpa had grown up in a different era so it was rare for him to show affection so openly and publicly.
"I'll come to check on you later. Go in and get some rest."
"I want to help with Leah." I told him quickly.
"I know but I need you to trust us. The best way to help her is to let us do what we are trained to do." Grandpa told me sternly but kindly.
"Ok."
"Then take a shower, get some rest and leave the rest to us." He turned to the others who were standing by us and gave them a look that said 'make sure she does as I say'.
"There is some donor blood in the kitchen. Make sure the little ones some get some rest after they drink." He told grandma. Chris was still in aunt Rose's arms and Eve was standing between my mother and aunt Alice. Grandma approached her slowly and crouched before her. Eve looked at her feet which were bare. Grandma gently moved some of the hair that was covering her face so that Eve would look at her. Momma was already standing by me watching the exchange. We both saw Eve smile shyly as my grandmother.
"You are safe here." She told her. Eve finally looked at her and then she did something that surprised me. Eve hugged her. She had been distrustful from the beginning so I was shocked by how quickly she took to my grandmother, but I shouldn't have been. My grandmother has a way of making everyone love her and I couldn't help my own love for her spill over when I showed her my visions. Grandma quickly gathered her in her arms and stroked her hair.
"Let's get the all of you fed and cleaned." She said.
The house was full by the time we got there and I never felt so uncomfortable around the people who loved me. Grandpa Charlie walked over to me with his emotions clear on his face. He too was a man of few public displays of emotion but he took me into his arms, allowing his tears to spill. Jacob left my side for a moment to hug Sue. Grandpa let me go and grandma Sue took me into her arms.
"You saved her. You saved her." Was all she said. It was like a wrecking ball against a damn to hear her praise me. My self-loathing and guilt flooded out of me, through my skin, and she stiffened.
"I'm sorry." I said quickly. "They were after me, not her."
"Renesmee, you listen to me and you listen well. My daughter is up there because some maniac, monster hurt her, not because of you."
"He wanted me. Why did she tell them to take her?"
"Because she loves you. Because she is strong enough to survive this. Don't you dare feel guilty for something as brave and heroic as what my daughter did. Be proud and glad that you were able to save her when you did. None of this was your fault." I wanted to feel comforted by her words but the comfort never came. I needed Leah to be ok. I needed to hear those words from her. I nodded and she hugged me once more before she let me go to get changed.
I saw momma mouth a thank you to Grandma Sue as we went upstairs with Aunt Alice and Jacob. I went up to Aunt Alice's bathroom to bathe and change. Jacob waited for me in the room. My mother and Aunt Alice helped wash my hair. I let them do it, not because I couldn't but because they needed it to take care of me and I needed to feel taken care of. They let me dry myself while Aunt Alice brought some clothes for me. For once she didn't choose designer fashions. Instead, she brought a pair of jeggins, flats and a long knit sweater. They were comfort clothes. Once I was dressed I went into her room and saw Jacob and Anna waiting for me on the bed. Anna's eyes were rimmed with tears. I could hear aunt Rose bathing Chris across the hall. Jacob reached out his hand for mine and I conceded.
"Come on. Let's get some rest." He told me as he guided me to the bed. Anna was already pulling the sheets.
"I'm not going to sleep. I'm waiting downstairs for them to finish." I said. My voice was monotone. I knew I was exhausted but I also knew there was no way I would get any sleep.
"Renesmee, please rest." Momma pleaded with me. "I'll come and wake you when they're done with Leah."
"No." I told them but it held no force behind it. Momma and Jacob looked at each other. I looked at Anna who gave me a sad but sympathetic smile. Jacob sighed and he picked me up bridal style and headed downstairs. He took me to the only spare couch and sat us. I hadn't looked at anyone in the room, not sure if I would be able to handle their looks but I did see Anna come back down and sit next to Brady. They were holding hands which made me snuggle up to Jake even more.
I was curled on Jacob's lap when momma came over with some blood. I shook my head. She sighed and placed the cup on the coffee table. Momma sat next to Jacob and picked up my legs so that they could rest on her lap. She rested her head on Jacobs shoulder and snuggled closer to both of us. He put his arm around her to bring her closer to us and then he rested his cheek on my head which had been tucked into his neck. There, in that nook amidst the stark hot and cold, I unwillingly fell asleep.
Jacob
I could feel her anxiety get worst and worst throughout the entire damn helicopter ride. Edward keep eyeing her but he didn't say anything. I was so worried about them both. Edward took Leah inside so quickly that I didn't get a chance to ask him about Leah. He kept giving Nessie vague answers but I could tell he was hiding something. I knew that leech long enough to tell when he was lying. I wanted to go check on Leah while Ness was in the shower but I wanted to be there when she got out. It was physically painful to be that far from her even when she was only a room away.
I was disappointed that she refused to rest but I knew that it was a stupid attempt to begin with so I grabbed my girl and I took her downstairs to wait for the doc. Nessie had hidden her face in my neck and it worried me. She wasn't one to shy away from people when there was trouble. I had her sit on my lap and I held her protectively. I could see my pack and some members from Sam's pack are doing different things around the house. Some were playing cards. Others were reading magazines, some of the younger ones were watching tv. Everyone was doing something but I could tell none of them were into what they were doing. I was the most surprised that Emily was here without Sam. In fact, where the hell was he? I know for a fact that he would want to be here for Leah and he would never leave Emily in this house without him.
I was wondering what happened to him when Bella returned with some blood for Nessie. She refused, of course. Bella sat next to us and snuggled so that she could get close to her daughter. I knew she was worried and wanted to comfort her but I also knew that she needed comfort too. I wrapped my arm around her and brought her closer to us. My pack didn't even blink, they were used to stuff like this, but I could see some of Sam's pups fidget uncomfortably when they saw us. It almost made me want to kick them out. They only saw the bloodsucker. They couldn't see the worried mother, or broken best friend that I saw when I looked at Bella. Nessie was asleep, finally. I kissed Nessie's head bringer her closer to me and then I kissed Bella's too.
"I'm so worried about her Jake. And Leah… Gosh, this is such a mess." Bella whispered.
"It's going to be ok Bells. They're both alive and safe. That's all that matters." I kissed Nessie again. Having her in my arms was such a comfort. My brain was still trying to process everything the happened. Those images of Leah being rapped were going to haunt me for the rest of my existence. I couldn't even imagine something like that happening to my Nessie. Almost on cue, Nessie's body stiffened and I saw my worst nightmare come alive only much worst because it was real. All I had time to process was that Bella gasped before I saw the memory.
He approached me slowly before he stopped in front of me smiling in such a way that it made me shiver in fear.
"You might be too young but you are a beautiful girl. No reason why I can't have a little taste of what's to come." He said cynically. The combination of anger and fear that surged inside me was overwhelming. I prayed with every fiber of my being that Jacob or someone would magically appear to rescue us but I knew that it wouldn't happen. No one would come for us, at least not in time to stop this.
It was only a second before he had me pinned to the wall. I remembered how only a few weeks ago I had thought the man I feared most was Jacob. I was wrong. He held both of my arms with one hand above me while his pelvis pinned my lower body. I was trembling, still shocked by the sudden movement and terrified by the evil in his eyes. I felt his hardness against me and I screamed. He silenced me by smashing his cold hard lips against mine. My first kiss I thought miserably. I could feel the bile rise in my throat but he released me and I choked on my own vomit.
"Hush beautiful. Like we said, this can all be very civilized." He smiled sadistically.
"It doesn't mean I'll be gentle but it doesn't have to be savage." He informed me as he touch my breast through my clothes. His lips grazed my neck and he kissed it. Hard enough to cause me pain.
"Your skin tastes amazing. I wonder what other parts of you taste good." He said as he unbuttoned my pants and I felt his hand touch the skin of my lower belly. As his hand lowered, I felt his teeth pierce my skin and his venom entered my bloodstream. That's when everything changed. A rush of adrenaline as well as a pure unadultered panic and hatred spread throughout my body. My vision had turned red as I felt the familiar surge I felt when my power was about to kick in but this time it was more powerful than ever before. He held my hands captive above my head but I didn't need them. The power somehow exploded out of me and poured itself directly onto him. I felt all the fear, horror, and pain radiate out of me in one swift instant.
Renesmee
I was awakened by the shaking and screaming. I was sure some screams were my own but some belonged to the people around me. I looked around and everyone was staring at me and some were crying, others were shocked, others were shaking their heads as if trying to shake away some awful image. Daddy was crouching next to me.
"Go outside Jacob."
"I'm fine!" He snapped at him. I got out of his lap and looked at him. He looked as if he was about to phase.
"What happened?" I asked. I knew I was having a nightmare but I didn't know what happened to make everyone panic.
"You had a nightmare and you projected it. It got powerful towards the end of it. You projected your pain too." I watched in horror at all the angry and concerned faces around me.
"I'm so sorry." I whispered and I ran up the stairs to my bedroom on the top floor. I couldn't breathe. It was bad enough that I had to live through that, but to have the other's see it too was unbearable. Daddy walked in through the door and hugged me.
"I'm fine daddy. You should be with Leah. She needs you."
"Leah is in good hands." He told me as he stoked my hair. I don't know why but the action made my traitorous tears spill from my eyes.
"I didn't mean for anyone to see that."
"They know love. They know."
"Why did this happen to us? How did they know to come after me? Why do they always come after me?"
"Renesmee, enough! This isn't your fault. From what I can gather those two had been planning this for a long time. They were looking for someone like you."
"But how did they find me? Do I have such bad luck that any vampire that can harm me just happens to stumble my way? Its like I'm destined to bring danger to everyone around me." I asked him. I was thinking about Irina and how the same thing happened with her. She came to visit us and happen to stumble upon me hunting with my mother and Jake.
"What happened with Irina was different. She was coming here to see us so and saw you. She would have seen you whether you were at the house or out playing and she would have still reported it to the Volturi regardless. She wanted vengeance. She didn't care that she would be hurting us in the process." He scolded. The he took a breath to calm himself. "Your uncles called earlier to tell me that the police found two dead women only a few states form where you were. Their deaths coincide with the time we were at the airport. Those two were looking for you, Renesmee. If Ramon could only sense gifts, my guess is that your gift was hidden within all of ours. The moment we left, Ramon had a clear way to track you without any interference. He already had experience tracking a hybrid when he went after Eve and her father so he knew what to look for. If need to blame someone, blame me."
"You? No, daddy this isn't your fault. You didn't know they were looking for me."
"Exactly. This isn't anyone's fault except for those who think they can take whatever they want. They are the ones at fault here, Renesmee. "I nodded. In my head, his words made sense but it didn't make the guilt lessen.
We heard a knock on the door. "Come in ladies." Daddy said. Aunt Rose and momma came in and sat quietly at the foot of the bed. Aunt Rose patted the bed, signaling for me to sit next to her. Daddy led me to the bed to let me sit and then he took her hand. They both shared a look that I rarely ever saw. I had never really seen them like this. Like brother and sister. Aunt Rose smiled at him and he nodded at her and walked out the door. Momma stayed with us. The three of us sat on the bed and after a moment aunt Rose told me her story.
"Do you remember how I became a vampire?" She asked me.
"Some men killed you on your way home from your friend's house. Grandpa found you and turned you." She nodded. Momma came closer to me and aunt Rose. Aunt Rose wasn't close to any of her adopted siblings but her and mom shared a bond that different from anyone else's. Aunt Alice was my mom's best friend but aunt Rose was something different.
"Your dad and I asked her to leave some things out. You were so young when you asked her to tell you her story. But I think you need to hear what really happened, baby." Momma told me. I looked at her confused but I nodded anyway.
"The men in that ally. I knew them. One of them was my fiancé, Royce. Do you remember what I told you about him?" I nodded unsure as to where this was headed.
"He had been out drinking with his friends. He asked me to come meet them so I did. I was sure that he wanted to show me off to them. I was right. He started undressing me in front of them. I screamed, cried, fought, but they didn't stop. All of them came for me at the same time. They beat me, rapped me and then they left me there to die. When Carlisle turned me, all I could think about was returning the favor. I killed all of them, one by on. I left Royce for last. I made sure I killed him slowly. Afterwards I thought it would make me feel better, but it didn't.
"I was angry for a long time. There was no reason for what happened to me. They just saw something they wanted and they took it. Because of them I was gone. I might be immortal but Rosalie Hale and all of her hopes and dreams were dead. I hated immortality, it feel like a curse. It wasn't until I found Emmett that I began to feel better. There's nothing like love to help you heal. Emmett made the pain go away but it still didn't make immortality easier. I needed a different kind of love for that. I needed you. You were everything I always wanted for me and Emmett. You were that dream that I thought I had lost once. I know you're not really my daughter but I still love you like one anyway. The thing that I realized now is that I had that love around me the whole time. Esme, Carlisle, your dad, they were there from the beginning ready to love me but I was too angry to let them in. I mourned for a family but I had one all along. Nessie, all of us want to help you but you need to let us. You have all the love in the world around you but you need to let it heal you. If you don't then you will let those bastards take more than they ever intended to." I let her words sink it but I didn't know how to do what she wanted me to do. I was telling them how I felt, trying to share my pain but I couldn't make the guilt stop. Daddy came into the room then and interrupted us.
"Chris is asking for you Rose. He threw the formula bottle at Emmett's head." He smiled at her.
"This one is going to be a handful." She said as she rolled her eyes. She sounded annoyed but there was no hiding the absolute look of love and happiness when she took Chris into her arms. She kissed my forehead.
"Come find me a little later, ok?" I nodded and she headed out the door. I could tell daddy wanted to tell me something but he seemed uncertain. He looked into my eyes for what seemed like a long time. I wasn't sure what he saw in them but whatever it was he seemed satisfied enough to continue. "Leah is pregnant." He said. I kept staring into his onyx eyes, lost in them. Momma didn't seem surprised by it at all. He already told her. I nodded and stood slowly. I felt very tiered all of a sudden.
"I have to see her." I told him and I got out of the bed.
"No. You have to wait until Carlisle is done examining her. Even Sue isn't allowed in until then."
"Fine." I said softly then I walked out the door. Both my parents followed me as I walked out the door and went downstairs.
I was numb but I welcomed the numbness. Leah needed me and I simply didn't have the luxury to wallow in self-pity. Jacob was sitting on the floor talking to Rachel. He immediately got up and came to me.
"It's gonna be ok." He told me as he took my hand. I could feel the rest of them staring at me. I hated that their looked were so full of concern but this no longer was about me.
"Leah needs us. That's all that matters." I told him. Even I felt the abruptness of my emotions. It was as if I had gone through the seven stages of grief (give or take a few) in a matter of hours. I felt like I was having an out of body experience, it was almost as if I was disconnecting a part of my brain so that I could do what I needed to do. I recognized that it was the same feeling I got after I had saved Leah. It was like an instinct to protect. Daddy looked at me worried but he didn't have to be. I was ready and I would help Leah get through this. Grandpa Carlisle and Seth finally came out of the medical room. Everyone began to gather in the living room again.
"As all of you know, Leah is pregnant. The child was growing at a much faster rate but its starting to slow down. We don't know why. We ran some test and she seems to have normal brain activity but her body is not responding It is my understanding that the child's father had the ability to paralyze his victims so we think that somehow this is all related to that."
"So basically we don't know anything." I tried to keep the annoyance from my voice by staying monotone.
"I'm sorry Nessie. We are going to let the baby gestate until she's at a safe weight to get her out. We will do it by c-section using one of Seth's claw or maybe even his canine. His tooth will be more painful but it will grow back. He's already volunteered."
"She?" Grandma Sue asked.
"We believe that its a girl because males carry the gene for venom. Considering what venom does to wolf blood I doubt that the child will be male." He told her.
"I don't understand. I could still feel, hear, smell, and think when he paralyzed us. It was definitely a mental power but it was limited. Shouldn't daddy be able to hear her?"
"Every gift is different. The child could have the ability to completely block the senses like Alec. Or the baby could be a shield like you mother."
"My gift is able to penetrate mom's shield. Maybe I can communicate with the baby."
"It will be a few weeks before the baby develops the cognitive skills needed to understand what you want her to do."
"You said the baby is developing faster than I did. Please grandpa. Let me try." He looked at grandma Sue and she nodded.
"Ok."
We entered the room. Leah's belly was already swollen with life. Her body was covered by a blanket but I could see that she had a medical gown on. I took a deep breath. I wasn't sure of what to show the baby.
"Try to show her images of Leah. You loved your mom's voice above everything else when you were inside of her." Daddy suggested.
I took his advice and I placed my hand on Leah's belly. I showed her the memory of the first time I went to the beach with Leah, Seth, and Jacob. It had been a great day. We went cliff diving and we had swimming competitions until we saw whales across the distance. I was so excited to see whales. I remembered watching them play in the water. Leah suggested that we get closer so we went to the top of the cliff and watched whales for the rest of the afternoon. It was magical.
I took my hand away praying that it worked but the only thing I saw was the baby move in Leah's belly. I was getting frustrated. I thought of a different memory and I showed it to her. I was my warmest memory of Leah. The only one I had of her in that sense. I remembered the time right after Duilio had left us. I had climbed up the tree to the very top to hide from everyone and their constant worrying. I was so lost in the view that I didn't hear Leah climbing up the tree. It took her several minutes but she finally made it.
"It's pretty nice up here." She told me as she sat next to me on the branch.
"This is his favorite spot." I told her.
"Its hard when you have to say goodbye to your best friend." She told me. I nodded.
"I lost my best friend once too." She told me. I looked at her and she had a tear in her eye. I was shocked. I had never seen Leah cry.
"I thought Jakey was your best friend?" I asked confused.
"Before you were born. Before I was a wolf, my best friend in the whole world was Emily. We were like sisters. You and Duli remind me of us a lot." She said. She was smiling but another tear appeared in her eye.
"What happened? Emily is still here. Why aren't you friends?"
"Before Sam imprinted on Emily, Sam and I were in love. But when he imprinted, everything changed. I loved them both but their love for each other hurt me too much. I went from loving them to hating them, especially Sam. I wanted to rip him apart for what happened. Because of hi damn imprint, I lost two of the most important people in my life. Fate has a way of benefiting some and completely screwing over others. I don't know why fate brought Duilio here and I don't know why he had to leave but at least you two still have a chance of being friends, even if it is from a distance." I nodded, trying to see the upside as she suggested.
"I'm sorry you lost your friend Leah. Can't you try to be friends with Emily again?"
"I wish. But I can't. It's never going to be how it was before anyways." She said sadly.
"Maybe fate took our best friends, but it doesn't mean we can't have room for another one. Maybe we can be each other's best friend. If you want." I added shyly. She smiled at me and put her arm around my shoulder.
"I think I'd like that a lot, plus it will drive your parents crazy!" I giggled and I hugged her. She hugged me back and I realized that was the first time she had done so.
"Please, let your mom wake up. Please." I begged her. I tried to think back to my gestation period. I could remember most of it but like much of my childhood though my brain was developed it still took me some time to understand what certain things meant, like when I told Eve that I had a family and she automatically assume that I just had a dad. Though my father is my family, if he were my only family I would have said that I also had a father. She didn't know that family mean a mom and a dad and other relatives because she had been locked up in a room and never had an opportunity to lean there terms. I didn't need to show the baby images of people she's never met. I needed to show her something that was more basic, more universal. I needed to show her emotions.
"That's a good idea love. Jasper!" Dad called and uncle Jasper was inside the room within a second.
"Renesmee is going to show the baby some emotions and we need you to keep both her and Leah calm. Make sure they feel our love. Maybe we can make the baby relaxed enough to take down her shield."
Uncle Jasper got closer to the baby and we both got to work. I showed her images of love. The love I felt for Leah and the rest of my family. I showed her huggs, kisses, playing, every loving things that I could think of and I concentrated on the emotions behind it. I could feel uncle Jasper's wave of calm as I showed her the images.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I felt something strange." He told us and he got closer. "Its like a mix of anxiety and relief coming from this room."
"Do you think you are sensing the baby?"
"No. Its more complex than what a baby would be able to formulate. I think I'm sensing Leah."
"Maybe Leah can see what you are showing her. Nessie, tell her where she is. Try to calm her. You too Jasper." Daddy told us.
I felt a stronger wave of calm permeate the room. I projected my thoughts this time. 'Leah. You are safe. We are at the Forks house. We are trying to get you to wake up.' I told her. The wave of calm was almost making me sleepy.
"She's relieved again. I think she heard you Nessie. She's calming down. She feels safe." We waited for several minutes as I explained to Leah what happned and as uncle Jasper concentrated on calming her. Leah's heartbeat and the baby's heartbeat finally started to calm. I saw Leah's eyes flutter and she took a deep breath.
"Leah!" I hugged so quickly that she almost seemed shocked.
"Nessie! Oh my God. What the hell happened? Are you ok? I had been trying to move for days but I couldn't and... Wow what the fuck is that?!"
She looked down at her swollen stomach and gasped. I felt uncle Jasper's wave of calm hit us again.
"I'm sorry Leah. I wasn't able to get to you on time and he... he..." I stuttered. She looked at me. Her face was horrified and there were tears in her eyes.
"No Leah. Nessie is fine. You saved her and then Eve and Nessie saved you." Daddy explained quickly and got closer to the bed. He took her hand and kissed it. "What you did Leah... words do not exist that can express my gratitude, but thank you for protecting my daughter." Daddy told her. I hugged Leah again and projected my own 'Thank you' along with all the love and appreciating I felt for her.
"I love you too, kid. I would never let anything happen to you. You should know that by now." She told me as I hugged her.
"Who's Eve?" She asked me when I let go.
"She was the little girl that was in the room with you. They made her heal their victim as they..." I stopped, unable to continue.
"Eve? The little girl. Fuck! There was a little girl there. Damn it!" She held the sheets with tight fists and tears were flowing down her cheeks. She was trembling as if she were about to phase.
"Leah I know this is a lot to take in but you need to stay calm for both you and the baby." Grandpa told her alarmed. She looked down at her belly again. Uncle Seth finally approached her bed. He sat next to her and took her hand.
"You're both stable and strong. We've been giving you my blood intravenously to keep you both strong and healthy. I hope you don't mind." He said. Leah took her hand out of his and punched his arm.
"Of course I don't mind." She touched her belly. This time her face had changed. She was sad but there was some emotion in her eyes that I couldn't pinpoint.
"I thought I was gonna die for sure. I never thought this would be possible."
"So you're ok with keeping the baby then?" Uncle Seth asked her.
"Of course I am! I mean, I hate how it happened but somehow it makes it all ok. I guess after screwing me over so many times, fate is finally decided to make something good out of the crap its been shoveling at me." Seth hugged his sister. Daddy went to get grandma Sue. Jacob snuck into the room when he left. He walked over to Leah and gave her a warm hug.
"Don't ever do that to me again." He told her as he stepped back.
"You two look like shit." She told us. Jake laughed as he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my head.
"Well you look gorgeous." Jake told her.
"A compliment? Now I know shit's bad". She said sarcastically. I looked at my best friend in amazement. For the past two days it seemed like the entire world had fallen out if its axis. Nothing made sense. Seeing Leah so easily look at the bottom line helped me see things into perspective. We survived, Leah was having a baby and I helped save two innocent babies from the horrific life that was ahead of them. We had a lot to be grateful for. Now I just needed to believe it.