"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them." – Kahlil Gibran

I was left there in the study for some long and torturous minutes, each second made the hollow feeling in my stomach grow like a black hole that sucked everything in, leaving nothing but a shambled and indecipherable mess. My knees felt like they were going to give away but I miraculously was able to stand my ground and even as I was inwardly panicking I knew what I had to do. I knew that I had to go and find Dad. I needed to talk to him and straighten things out. I couldn't let things be left like this.

It was only a half-moon that night and yet I could make out several constellations in the sky as I made my way to the gardens' gazebo. Cassiopeia, Draco, the Big Dipper…

As I expected, I found him there and his back was turned, facing away from me.

Grandpa Carlisle told me he bought this house specifically for the gardens, it provided the perfect atmosphere for watching the stars that shined the brightest in this part of town. The gazebo was my favorite place when I was younger. It was our secret place, my Dad and I. It was there that he read to me, sung to me, thought me how to waltz and did whatever it was we wanted to our hearts' content.

I took a deep breath, trying to force the words I needed to say out. "Look Dad, I know you're angry…" I winced as my voice faltered. "And I'm sorry I kept it from you all but-"

He interrupted. "I'm not angry at you for that," And my mouth clamped shut, the silence that followed was deafening. And when he finally turned to me, his face showed some kind of deep resignation I couldn't understand. "I've read your mind, Renesmee. I know what's happening."

"What do you mean?"

"You're falling in love with him," He declared it like the most well-known fact in the world.

I shook my head in denial. "No, I'm not," The idea of me falling for Alec was ludicrous considering who he was and who I was, we were not meant for such things. I knew my place in this world and it was here with my family and in the future, Jacob's mate.

"Subconsciously, you are. I've seen it." He smiled ironically, as if laughing at something not really that funny. "And it looks like he's falling for you too."

I felt lightheaded, my brain was buzzing with this brand of new information. Alec loves me. It sounded foreign, unacceptable and surreal. Because Alec would never – could never – no, just no. I was Jacob's imprint, I was meant to be his as part of destiny's design. It was what was meant to be and no one could change that.

"I haven't told anyone yet," Dad continued. "I'll leave that for you to do on your own terms."

I could only stare at him, nodding dumbly as I tried to sort out my thoughts.

"You want to be an adult now, Renesmee, don't you?" Dad asked, his eyes boring seriously into mine. "Here's an adult situation. You have to make up your mind what you really want because you're not the only one affected in this matter. Jacob loves you and not just as a younger sister or niece. Alec on the other had? He's not who you think he is."

I tried to digest his words, but they were only making my head hurt even more. I didn't who know Alec was? Who was Alec really, anyway? Did I even understand him to begin with? "What am I supposed to do?"

He shook his head. "Only you can answer that. That's the thing about being an adult, Renesmee. Sometimes, you have to fix things for yourself. You have to figure this out, you have a choice to make and you can't ask me or any of our family to help you on this. It's all on you."

My breath was suddenly laborious, my chest was constricting and the pressure was crashing down on me with the weight of his words. What choice? Since when did I have to choose?

It was confusing and nerve-wracking; I've never been faced with such a dilemma before, I didn't what to do, I wasn't ready for this and I wanted to cry, even if it wouldn't make it all go away or solve anything. I never asked for any of this, it was unfair.

I didn't understand anything and the thought of having to choose between Jacob and Alec and why I had to in the first place, filled me with dread. The thought of losing any of the two was making me hyperventilate in dismay. Jacob was my best friend; I couldn't bear to lose him, he's always been such a big part of my life, it felt wrong not to have him there. And Alec?

Alec was…

He was…

What… what was he to me? What made the thought of not having Alec in my life sound so terrible?

I was so baffled about everything that I didn't know what to think anymore.

"Oh, Nessie," I looked up in surprise at Dad's close proximity as his cold fingers caressed my cheek tenderly, his face a mix of affection and bemusement. "You naïve little girl, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"Papa…" I haven't called him that in years and I felt like I was a small child again when he was always there to comfort me and make everything better. He made everything bad go away.

I wanted his comfort more than anything else at the moment and I buried my face in his chest as he hugged me, rubbing my back as I cried. He sighed, his breath cool and blew on my neck as he told me that things would be alright. And in the comfort of his embrace, I believed the lie.

And the drama begins...

After the last chap, everyone just hated Edward. Do you still hate him now? Sorry for no Alec in this chap but he'll be in this next one, promise. ^_^

And oh yeah, remember to vote in my pole on my profile!