Chapter 12

Renesmee woke up in a different position than she fell asleep in. Jacob was on his back with Renesmee right on top of him, her face against his chest and his arms around her. It was much warmer in the tent this morning than it had been the night before. Just closing up the hole atop the tent seemed to have done the trick. Being on top of Jacob and still being covered by a blanket had her plenty warm. She felt like she was in a very compromising position and like she needed to get off him. She could do it later though. She was comfortable.

Jacob didn't draw attention to their sleeping arrangement from the night before which left Renesmee feeling much more relieved about the whole thing. All Jacob did was make her promise they'd continue their reading lesson later that day. If all children were as eager to learn as Jacob was, every child in the United States would be a genius. They developed a daily routine: she spent her mornings learning from Sokajili and spent her afternoons helping Jacob learn how to read. When she was sure he was familiar with the alphabet and knew how to spell a few miscellaneous words as well as his name and her name (Jacob really wanted to learn how to spell her name), she decided he'd get more out of learning to spell if he started reading. So she started him off with Shakespeare's Sonnets, though she quickly regretted that decision when each and every sonnet was creatively proclaiming one's love. Well obviously, it's a sonnet! She felt silly that had never crossed her mind. Her only solace was that Jacob didn't fully understand Shakespeare's language so he wasn't quite as aware of the poems as Renesmee was.

Jacob quickly got bored with the sonnets, though. They spent a total of four days just reading those sonnets over and over again. By the end of those four days, Jacob nearly had them memorized. Renesmee feared that might mean he was memorizing rather than actually learning how to read, so she decided to test him.

"I know you're getting bored with these sonnets, so I think we should move on to a different kind of poem. Let's start with Poe's The Raven. That poem is longer but the language it rather simple. I want you to try reading it all by yourself okay?"

"Okay," Jacob answered. Renesmee opened the collection of Poe's short stories until she found The Raven and placed it before Jacob.

"Once you've read through it, we can discuss it a little. And remember, there's no rush so take your time. If you want my help, say so, but try to sound it out first." Jacob nodded and begun.

"Once upon a mid….night dreary we-hile,"

"While," Renesmee corrected.

"While I ponderéd,"

"Just pondered. The emphasis on the ending ED is usually a Shakespearian method to create the necessary sound for the Iambic Pentameter. You remember what that is right?"

"Something to do with how many…sal-"

"Syllables," Renesmee corrected.

"Syllables are in a line of poetry?"

"Yes," Renesmee smiled. "Specifically, Iambic Pentameter refers to a rhythm in which each line has ten syllables in five rhyming pairs until it ends in the final couplet. At least, that's an English Sonnet."

"There's more to this nonsense?" Jacob asked. Renesmee actually giggled a little.

"Well, there are Italian Sonnets which are a little different, but don't worry about it. I don't know any Italian sonnets, so I wouldn't know where to begin. Let's just continue with The Raven."

Jacob was desperately relieved Renesmee wasn't going to teach him about Italian sonnets. First of all, he didn't even know what 'Italian' meant. His first thought was it was a type of people but he wasn't sure and at the moment he just didn't care. He instead concerned himself with continuing to read The Raven on his own or as much on his own as he could manage. As Renesmee suspected would be the case, Jacob was far more interested in The Raven. He was fascinated by the air of unknown that surrounded the poem. Was the man crazy? Was he being haunted by his dead loved one? Was it both? What did the Raven mean by "Nevermore"? Nevermore to what? What did this man do? Did he do anything at all? Jacob was actively asking her questions and that's exactly what she wanted.

"You might find this interesting actually," Renesmee began when Jacob finished reading the poem for a second time. It was getting late and she wanted to end their lesson on an interesting note. "Edgar Alan Poe had a rather tragic life. Both his mother and young wife died of illness and I think they were within a short time of each other if I recall correctly. But anyway, this poem is said to be inspired by the death of his young wife."

"So this is based on truth?" Jacob asked. "I didn't realize your culture had dealings with….Tricksters," Jacob said the last part in Quileute. He didn't know the English word for it.

"Tricksters," Renesmee repeated to herself. She took a moment to remember what that was. She knew Sokajili had discussed this with her. "Oh! Well, I guess it could be referred to as a Trickster. I've never thought of it like that, but I guess that makes a lot of sense. It's not really evil or good, it's just a Trickster."

"Have you ever encountered a Trickster?" Jacob asked. Renesmee realized that Jacob was of the mind that Poe had literally been visited by a Raven and had written this poem as an expression of what happened to him.

"No, no, Poe was never actually visited by a Raven himself. Until coming here, I'd never even heard of a Trickster. So we don't really have those in our culture. Not in that context anyway."

"Oh," Jacob said. "So none of this actually happened to Poe?"

"No, it didn't. He was just expressing his grief in a creative way, that's all. But then, who knows? Maybe he thought he had seen a Raven for real. The man wasn't exactly in his right mind, or so it's said. Considering the dark nature of his work, I'd say it's very likely he wasn't entirely within his right mind."

"What do you mean by 'within his right mind'?"

"I mean….." Renesmee wasn't sure how to explain. "It's another way to say that someone is irrational or they're crazy or insane or something. For example, 'No one in their right mind would…..go into the woods alone'. To be in one's right mind means that person is acting normally. So when someone is out of their right mind, they aren't acting normally. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, that makes sense. I wouldn't consider this character crazy, though, if we're assuming this bird was a Trickster. Tricksters always have a purpose when they show themselves whether it be for good, evil, or are neutral. In our culture Bayak is the Raven that will sometimes help our people, but he was also lazy and arrogant. He gets in trouble far more often than he's helpful." Jacob chuckled.

"Then what was the Raven's purpose?"

"To us or to the character?"

"To both I suppose."

"To us, he is helpful and he does help us defend against monsters through his courage and cleverness despite his negative traits. As far as the character in this story," Jacob thought a moment, "to remind him of what he'd done maybe?"

"What did he do?"

"I don't know. The poem doesn't say."

"And that's the point. That's why this poem is so popular and why it's reread so many times. There's a lot of room for debate."

"Debate?"

"Constructive argument over a topic, in this case the mental state of the character and what he did or didn't do."

"There's plenty to argue about," Jacob answered.

After that they ended the lesson for the night and Jacob went on patrol while Renesmee got some much needed sleep. The next morning, Renesmee went to Sokajili's tent as she always did, but he turned her away saying that she needed to take some time to herself. Sokajili was planning to do the same thing barring incident. With no training today, Renesmee turned her attention to finding chores to help out with. Some women had already begun making breakfast, so Renesmee joined in that. Jacob wasn't back from patrol yet, but she knew he would be soon so she decided she may as well make him some breakfast. In truth, he probably ate while he was in the woods, but if that were the case, she could always give the potato cakes to some other people. She'd never made anything like this without egg, so she was eager to see how the process worked. Sara was out working on some potatoes she'd foraged the day before, so Renesmee took a seat right next to her.

"Are you hungry? There's plenty of potato here to go around." Renesmee shook her head, understanding most of what she said.

"I wanted to make Jacob food," she managed.

"I'll show you, then. We'll give him two."

"Is that enough?"

"For that boy, no, but he'll be going right to sleep after he gets back. He doesn't sleep as well if he goes to bed right after eating."

"I can't imagine him not sleeping well." Sara laughed and patted Renesmee on the back.

"You are learning the man. Pay attention, dear. This is a favorite of his so it'll serve you to know how to make these cakes." Renesmee said nothing in response. She only watched silently as Sara prepared the potatoes. Renesmee began to peel the potatoes, but Sara stopped her. "Jacob likes it when the skin of the potato is left on." Renesmee stopped peeling the potatoes as Sara had instructed and continued to watch her put all eight potatoes into the pot of boiling water so they could cook. "We have some time while those cook."

"Was there anything else you wanted me to help you with?"

"No, we stay here. This is where the fire is." The snow wasn't quite sticking to the ground yet, but it certainly felt cold. It wasn't December yet, though. If Renesmee's memory served right and if her math was right, it was early to mid-November by now. "I'm more interested in finally getting a chance to sit down and talk with you. When you came here, you were forced to sit there and listen to me and Caevia talk. I'd very much like to speak with just you for a change, get to know you better."

"That sounds nice."

"First of all, tell me about yourself. You were not born in these parts correct?"

"No. I was born inYpsilanti, Michigan." Renesmee took a moment to draw another map of North America into the ground. She pointed where they were now and then she pointed at a small section of land surrounded by lakes. "I was born here."

"So far away,"Sara said in awe.

"That's where my mother's family is. I imagine they would still be there if they're still alive." Sara looked at Renesmee as another question popped into her head.

"How many summers has it been since you were born?"

"Forty," Renesmee answered rather frankly.

"You're older than me," Sara said, a little bit flabbergasted. "You still look so young."

"I stopped aging when I was about five."

"Is that because you're a cold one?"

"Half one, yes."

"How were you even born? How can a dead thing create life?"

"My family doesn't know. When my parents married, my mother was human, but it never occurred to them that it would be possible for my father to get her…." Renesmee forgot the word for a moment.

"Pregnant?"

"Yes, pregnant. I'm not the only one of my kind though, so it is possible. We just don't know how or why."

"However it happened, I am grateful for it. You make my son happy." Renesmee said nothing. Sara looked at her for a moment trying to decide what it was Renesmee must be thinking. She didn't want to consider the possibility that Renesmee, against all odds, might not love Jacob in return, but she was forced to face that as a possibility. "Does my son make you happy?" It took a while for Renesmee to answer Sara. She was trying to think of the best answer.

"The more I know him, the happier he makes me. It makes me feel guilty."

"There is no guilt in being happy with someone."

"There is when I'm married."

"Ah," Sara said and took a deep breath. "I admit I forgot about that."

"I know Jacob hasn't. He doesn't seem to care, though."

"It's not that he doesn't care. Believe me, he cares. He just feels that he has more to offer you." Renesmee didn't answer. Instead she glanced into the pot to look at the potatoes. Sara gently pushed down on her shoulder until she was sitting again. "The potatoes aren't ready yet."

"I'm sorry. This topic is making me uncomfortable."

"I understand. I'm not saying that being married isn't a big responsibility and commitment on your part. I will, however, say that no one would ever fault you for choosing Jacob. Love between a wolf and his imprint is the truest love I know of. There are only three I love more than my husband: my son, and my two daughters."

"I didn't realize Jacob had sisters."

"Twin sisters, Rachael and Rebecca. They're both married now. Their husbands are of the Makka tribe, so they live with them. We come across them when we travel and sometimes for weddings. It'll be nice when you meet them." Renesmee said nothing again. "Is Jacob not the reason you chose to stay with us?"

"I'm not sure. I think he's only part of it."

"What was the other reason?"

"I was just tired of running. Every time I had the opportunity to leave, my feet just wouldn't move. That night when Jacob found me, the further away I got, the heavier my feet would feel. When I was just outsideForks, I couldn't go forward. I started crying. The harder I tried to move, the more I cried. When he brought me back that time, I was so tired of running that I decided I was better off just accepting I was stuck here."

"My son would never force you to stay."

"I know and he hasn't. I think he knew I was planning to run that night."

"He did seem depressed that night. It was the night of Caevia's wedding right?"

"Yes, it was that night. Yet despite deciding it was best for me to stay, I still wasn't happy. I felt like I was an outcast."

"That isn't true anymore."

"That's why I'm happy now. I've been accepted as a healer like I've always wanted to be and everyone here knows who I really am and what I really am. It's the first time in my life I've ever been truly accepted."

"Does your husband know about your cold lineage?"

"No, of course not. Even if he believed me, the town would either execute me or have me sent to a…Sanitarium."

"What is that?"

"It's a place devoted to treating sick people."

"Oh. No such thing will happen here."

"I know. That's why I'm happy to stay here now."

"Then put your old life completely from your mind. You are starting new here. And don't be afraid to love my son. I know he will make you happy if you let him." Suddenly, a woman who'd been sitting across from them for a while tapped the pot with a stick to get Sara's attention.

"Check your potatoes, Sara."

"Oh!" Sara exclaimed before she grabbed a knife and poked each potato to make sure they were done. "Thank you Tetitzi. I nearly forgot about these."

"Don't dare waste good potatoes. Not in my presence anyway." Sara took the potatoes out of the boiling water and put them in a basket of cold water so they could cool while she got the other pan hot. She showed Renesmee how to mash and form the potatoes into cakes with chopped up onions, also a vegetable she would see people forage for. She knew it was onion by the smell alone. Only when the iron pan was very hot did Sara put each individual cake in, using a knife and some water to keep them from sticking. Once they were cooked, Sara put the cakes in a little basket ready to eat. She gave Renesmee another basket and put three in there. "Take those to him."

With the cakes, Renesmee stood from the fire pit and walked to Jacob's tent. She heard his gentle snoring before she even entered. When she was inside, she hurried to close the door so no cold air would seep in. When she closed the door, she saw Jacob twitch and start to groan.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Renesmee?" Jacob rubbed his eyes and smelled the cakes. "What are you doing here?"

"Sokajili told me to take the day off, so I sat with your mother and made potato cakes."

"I smell them," Jacob smiled.

"You don't have to eat them now. You can eat them after you've gotten some sleep."

"No, I'll eat them now. They'll go cold by the time I wake up. I'm not that tired anyway."

"How can you not be? You've been up since yesterday afternoon."

"I've stayed up longer."

"That's not healthy."

"Healthy?"

"Good for you." Jacob shrugged. "Don't shrug at me." Jacob laughed as he stood from his blanket to grab the basket holding the potato cakes.

"Why'd you only bring me three?"

"That's all your mother put in the basket. Don't complain. She almost only gave you two."

"Do you think she'd give me more?"

"I don't know. She made enough for her, you and your dad so I don't know if she has anymore to spare. She also said that she doesn't like for you to eat right before you go to bed. Evidently you don't sleep as well."

"It gives me weird dreams is all. They never make sense either. I've had dreams where I'm sitting on a hill eating potato after potato until I turn round, I've had a dream where I was growing out of the sand, I've had a dream that I was eaten by a giant fish, just weird dreams."

"Could be worse," Renesmee said. "You could get night terrors."

"Getting eaten by a giant fish is pretty terrifying."

"No one would argue with you. Night terrors are a little different though. No one knows what causes it, but it's when someone experiences terror or intense fear in the first few hours of sleep. My mother used to get those for a while when she was still human."

"Did you ever get those?"

"No. I've had dreams where I'm falling and it wakes me up, but that's it."

"I hate those dreams!" Jacob said. "It'll startle me so much that it forces me awake."

"That actually might be classified as a type of night terror, but it's a really common one. So just save those for-" Renesmee stopped after Jacob took a bite of the first cake.

"Mom put too much onion in these," Jacob commented mostly to himself.

"I'll make sure we put in less next time," she said after she sighed.

"Let's read at the beach this time," Jacob said rather suddenly. "It'll be nice."

"In warmer weather it would be nice. Right now, it's too cold for that."

"It's not that cold. I thought you and I were the same temperature. Why does the cold bother you so much?"

"I don't know. It just does. It would be so windy outside too. Are you sure you want to try reading with the wind blowing the pages?"

"I didn't think of that," Jacob smiled. Jacob finished his first potato cake and made quick work of the other two. "Thanks for the potato cakes." Jacob placed the basket on the floor next to him before he fell back down onto his blanket and fell right asleep. Renesmee couldn't help but smile. He's not that tired anyway, huh?

Renesmee took the basket back outside so someone else could use it. When Renesmee spotted Caevia, she looked like she was in the middle of something more time consuming so she decided to leave her be and take a walk down the beach. She hadn't done that since she'd first arrived and she'd hardly been able to enjoy it. Now she could walk and relax. As she walked down the beach, she saw Seth and Leah digging around in the shallow water tossing things in a basket here and there. They looked like small clams. When Seth saw Renesmee, he waved joyfully. Leah's wave was far more dismissive and she went right back to looking for clams after she waved.

"No geoduck today?" Renesmee asked when she was close enough.

"It's starting to get too cold for them. We can still grab the smaller clams, though. Those are good too and they're easier to cook. You just simmer them until they open."

"Oh I know. I used to live in Boston, so I've seen my share of clam bakes."

"You used to live in Boston?" Leah, of all people, asked.

"Yeah. We lived there for about five years. I really liked it there."

"Wasn't dad from Boston?" Seth asked.

"Not Boston specifically I don't think. I know his family were East when they first came to America."

"So your dad's a first generation German? I didn't know that," Renesmee said.

"Of course you wouldn't," Leah said.

"Don't be so mean," Seth stepped in. "She's not trying to be rude."

"I wasn't trying to be rude either. I was just stating the obvious."

"If you don't mind my asking, what is your last name?"

"Our dad's name was Hugo Jagger," Leah said.

"Did he ever say what part of Germany he was from?"

"What town was dad from?" Seth asked when Leah didn't immediately answer. "I know it started with a D."

"Daddy was from Dusseldorf," Leah finally answered. Then she thought a moment and shook her head. "No, daddy wasn't from Dusseldorf. They took a train to England from Dusseldorf when they made the move to America. I think daddy was from Nuremburg."

"Leah," Renesmee said.

"What?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"I guess so."

"You keep referring to him as 'daddy'. I guess I would assume you'd call him father or dad considering you think so low of him."

"What does it matter what I call him?" Leah said defensively.

"Leah was really close with dad," Seth started, but then Leah hit his arm. "Ow!"

"We aren't talking about this anymore."

"You don't have to hit me! She asked a question, I'm answering it."

"It's an inappropriate question!" Leah snapped rather suddenly. Renesmee took a step back and noticed Leah looked like she was about to cry.

"What's wrong?" Renesmee asked.

"Nothing," Leah answered curtly. Leah went back to gathering clams, crawling around in the ocean. She wandered further away, but Renesmee could still see her crying.

"Really, Seth. What's wrong?"

"She was close with dad. I was too young, so I don't remember. But I do remember dad was a heavy drinker." Renesmee looked at Leah again and then something clicked in her mind.

"Is it safe to assume he was only violent when he drank?"

"I think that's how it was. Leah would know more about it. I just know Leah was never the same after that night when dad killed mom and nearly killed us. She cried the whole way here."

"Didn't you or Leah say your grandma taught you to read?"

"More or less. Grandma could read and write in German but her English reading and writing wasn't as good. She could speak English fine, she just wasn't the best reader."

"Do either you or Leah know German?"

"Leah knows a little. I don't remember any of my German."

"What did I say?!" Leah yelled when she came back with more clams in her hands.

"Relax, Leah," Seth said. "I'm just telling her about Grandma. Or am I not allowed to talk about her either?"

"You barely remember Grandma," Leah said more calmly. "Grandma passed away when you were four."

"I know that," Seth said. The three of them all stared at each other in silence for a while. Eventually, Leah tossed the clams she'd caught into the basket with the others.

"Daddy was nice when he didn't drink. When he did, he got violent. He was drunk when he killed mom and attacked us, I killed him in self-defense and now I have to live with both truths for the rest of my life. There. Happy?" Renesmee didn't answer. Leah looked like she was about to cry again. Seth walked over to her and hugged her tight. Leah accepted the hug and cried some more.

"I'm sorry for upsetting you," Renesmee finally said.

"Daddy would never tell me why he drank," Leah continued. "He only said life in Germany was hard, but he would never tell us. He never told mom either."

"Life in Europe is hard for many. That's why they come to America: to obtain the American Dream. It's much easier said than done. I suppose it's easy for one to feel depressed when the 'American Dream' comes up shorter than imagined." Leah rubbed away a tear and Seth hugged her tighter.

"You remember what he used to say, Leah? One night, when he came home from work?"

"'You three are the only part of my American Dream that ever came true,'" Leah quoted. "He didn't drink that night either."

"I really am sorry you two went through what you did. But it sounds like your father always loved you and your mother."

"I know he did," Leah brushed away another tear. "It just wasn't enough, though." Renesmee didn't know what to say to that. She stared at her hands and then stared at the basket of clams. "We'll get these back home to cook. You should go back too. Someone might see you."

"Would anyone from town be out this far?"

"You never know. It's best not to risk it."

Renesmee Followed Seth and Leah back to the village and stayed with them while they prepared the clams for their lunch. Renesmee didn't see Jacob leave the tent all day and he was still sound asleep when she got back. She made sure to catch Quil before he left telling him that Jacob was still asleep and that she thought it was best they let him stay asleep for tonight. Quil grumbled but agreed to let Jacob sleep. Renesmee had a feeling they'd give Jacob a hard time about it, but it was better that he get a hard time after a long night sleep instead of go out when he was still tired. When Renesmee returned back to the tent, she made sure to close the door tightly and grabbed the other blanket so she could get comfortable and sleep.

Jacob woke up early that morning to the smell of Renesmee's hair. Her back was to him, but she was still close. She was sleeping so soundly. As gently as possible, Jacob pulled her to his chest to warm her up. He would only do it for a little while. But before he knew it, a little while became an hour and he ended up falling asleep again still holding Renesmee. This time Renesmee woke up to the feel of Jacob's arms. It took her by surprise and it made her jump. That jump woke up Jacob with the same sudden gasp.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Renesmee said. Jacob looked towards his door and realized it was day time.

"No, it's a good thing you woke me. I feel much better already."

"Good. I'm glad I made you sleep in."

"Sleep in?"

"I told Quil and Embry not to worry about you and to let you sleep in last night."

"They went on patrol without me?"

"Don't be upset. I told them to. You might not think so, but you needed sleep. If they needed to, they could've come and gotten you." Jacob sighed.

"Just don't do that again. I need to make those decisions."

"Alright," Renesmee said. "Do you feel well rested at least?"

"I do," Jacob admitted. "You go to Sokajili for the day. I'll talk to Quil and Embry about letting me sleep in."

The remainder of the morning, Renesmee stayed with Sokajili and learned a few new incantations and mixtures used for various things. She also told him about making Jacob sleep and not letting him go out on patrol the night before. Renesmee couldn't decide if he was angry at her or not. He didn't seem to be.

"The boy is stubborn," Sokajili said. "I fear he gets that from his father. Neither of them seem to understand their limits or that they even have limits. Sara manages to keepKayechiwetchweout of trouble. An imprint has a way of taming a dumb beast." Sokajili laughed at his joke.

"Kayechiwetchwe? That's William's real name right?"

"Yes, that's his real name. The Pale faces started calling him William when he was a young man before he and Sara got married."

"If you don't mind my asking, why did they give their children pale face names?"

"Sara thought they were pretty names. And she didn't want people to change their names later in life. The girls never complained, but Jacob hates his name."

"Just because it's a pale face name?"

"Yes," Sokajili nodded. "We've encountered many people from Forks and sometimes elsewhere. There've been a small number of men with that name and Jacob hated all of them."

"He shouldn't hate it. Jacob's a handsome name. It's aBiblicalname too."

"Biblical?"Sokajili asked.

"I mean the name is a name used in a story we use in our religious practices called aBible. Jacob is the name of….."Renesmee stopped when she realized there were several words she was about to say that she either didn't know the Quileute word for or there just wasn't a word for it in their language. "I'd have to have Caevia translate this for me."

"No need, I'll believe you. You can tell Jacob the story. I think he needs someone to help him learn to appreciate his name. Even given our past experiences, pale faced names can be just as quality as Quileute names. If there's a story attached to his name, he might appreciate that."

"There's a small story attached to the names Rachael and Rebecca too. They're alsoBiblicalnames. Rebekah was the name of Jacob's mother in theBible. His father was Isaac. Rachel was the name of one of Jacob's two wives. One of his wives was named Leah actually. Rachel was the wife Jacob loved and had wanted to marry hile Leah was the wife he was tricked into marrying after their father went back on his promise to let Jacob marry Rachel claiming it was unheard of for the younger sister to marry before the elder." Renesmee giggled a little. "He might not appreciate the story of Jacob after all."

"Still tell him. That boy likes a good story."

"It is a good story. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, became a…..Viceroy of Egypt," she finally finished, assuming for sure the Quileute language had no word for Viceroy.

"Viceroy of Egypt?"

"There's no way to say that in Quileute. What's important is that his son Joseph rose to a very high position in a country calledEgyptafter he'd been sold into slavery by his angry brothers."

"How, what is it you pale faces say? Christianly?" Renesmee laughed and nodded.

"The brothers were wrong, yes but Joseph did eventually forgive them. There was a…what's the word for when no food is growing?"

"Famine?"

"Okay. There was a famine and the brothers came to Egyptfor food. Joseph recognized them and when he discovered that his father Jacob had another son with Rachel named Benjamin he became very jealous. He demanded that Benjamin be brought toEgyptto prove the existence of this brother. Keep in mind, he is deceiving his brothers at this point and has not revealed his true identity. ThePharaoh or the Chief I suppose you might think of him of Egypt gave him the nameZaphenath-paneah and that was the name the brothers were calling him. When the brothers came back toEgypt with Benjamin as Joseph had instructed of them. Joseph invited all of them to enjoy a large feast with him and gave them all the food they could carry, but Joseph had a cruel plan. He secreted a cup into Benjamin's bag of food so that, before the brothers could leave, Joseph could claim his cup was taken. He cut each bag of food until he found his cup in Benjamin's bag right where he'd put it. Joseph was prepared to make a slave of Benjamin, but the brothers begged he not. The loss of Benjamin would break their parents' hearts, something they couldn't handle having lost their son Joseph already. Joseph was impressed with his brothers and how much they'd changed, so he revealed himself to be their brother and apologized for deceiving them. After that, Jacob came toEgyptwith his sons until he died many summers later and was buried with his family inCanaan. That's only a small part of the story really."

"And an interesting story it is. I fear I may have misjudged your people's religion as being boring and misguided, but there's clearly intrigue there."

"You don't know the half of it," Renesmee said with a smile. "There's so much to Jacob's story that I can't translate a lot of it."

"What you've told me so far was plenty interesting." Sokajili thought a moment. "Actually, you don't know our stories do you?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Have Jacob tell you those. He might enjoy telling you those stories."

"I'll make sure to ask him about them." Renesmee left Sokajili's tent that day around the same time when the sun was high in the sky.

It was hard to see through the clouds, though. It had begun to snow and everyone in the village was doing their usual chores, only covered in their blankets desperately trying to keep warm. It had been a while, but she did know how to knit scarves and gloves. She'd have to tell Jacob that they needed to make a trip into town and get some somehow. They'd have to go to Seattle again, especially since she'd want to steal yarn. That large a quantity of yarn would be missed once it was taken. Renesmee looked around for Jacob until she found him at the shore fishing with Quil and Embry.

"Jacob," Renesmee yelled when she was close to the beach. Jacob looked at her, said something to Quil and Embry, and walked over to her.

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if we could sneak into the city and get some yarn and knitting needles."

"Yarn and knitting needles? What are those?" Renesmee brought her hand to his cheek and showed him. "What are those for?"

"They're for making blankets and garments. Since it's getting so cold, I wanted to make some for everyone. If I start tomorrow and keep working non-stop and teach the other women how to do it, we can all have gloves, blankets, and scarves in no time."

"Sounds time consuming," Jacob said. "Alright, we'll get them tonight."

"Are you still upset about this morning?"

"No," Jacob smiled reassuringly.

As before, Jacob went out on patrol for half the night and came back to get Renesmee when the moon was high in the sky so they could run to the city. They went into the city as they'd done before, stealing pants from another drunk homeless man asleep on the ground. They also happened upon a very familiar face. It was the painted woman from before, but she was speaking with someone: a soldier. Renesmee told Jacob to hide with her out of sight. Her first thought was that maybe the woman really was telling a soldier that she'd seen Renesmee and that she'd seen her with an Indian. Even if she didn't know what tribe Jacob was from, it was still problematic. But then, she saw the soldier give the woman a lewd kiss and then hand her a ten dollar bill. Renesmee sighed a breath of relief when she realized the man was just a customer. Renesmee kept her and Jacob hidden until she was sure the soldier was gone before walking out and going to the painted woman. She looked at Renesmee and smiled.

"Well, look who it is," she laughed. "Don't you worry, honey, the military still doesn't know a thing."

"Is that what the man that just left told you?"

"Yes ma'am. Men's tongues loosen up quite a bit when wind is being blown in their sails." She winked and laughed when Renesmee blushed. "Oh, you're adorable. But worry not, they still don't know where you are. According to my last client a man called Sgt. Lovejoy is searching all over for you. He's not too well liked thus far either from what I'm told. Evidently the man's going so far as to demand permission to dig into tribal graves to look for your dead body. He's pissing off the locals something awful I tell ya'."

"Would you happen to know where he is now?"

The woman shrugged. "He didn't tell me that. All I know is his last message came from Hoquiam, Washington. That's quite a ways from here so I think you're safe. And don't worry your pretty little head. I didn't say a thing about seeing you."

"I appreciate that."

"So what can I do for you and your handsome Squaw today?"

"I was actually wondering if you knew where a yarn shop was."

"You mean a sewing goods store? I know there's a place called Procter Wares down the road that sells sewing and knitting equipment but I don't think they specialize in it. How much yarn did you need?"

"Enough to blanket and clothe about 112 people."

The woman whistled. "That's a lot of people. You won't get enough from just that shop. I want to say you can get some from the General store south of here as well as another general store near the University where I sent you last time. You'll want to look around the city to get everything you'll need."

"I appreciate it…."

"Janette," the woman said. "My name's Janette."

"Thank you so much Janette. I really appreciate you helping us."

"Think nothing of it. Just don't let any other street walkers see you. Sure, keeping a man satisfied is easy money but turning in a lost woman is easier money."

"There's a ransom on my head?" Renesmee yelped a little. Janette smiled and patted Renesmee's head.

"It's a very recent ransom. Anyone who finds you and turns you over will be entitled to a $1,000 reward. That's a nice heap I must admit. I was a little tempted to turn you in myself, but business is good for me, so I'll let you be." Renesmee became really nervous. "Oh, honey, I'm just kidding, I won't turn you in. You seem like a really sweet girl. Anything they say you did, I'm sure, is a boldfaced lie."

"She didn't do anything," Jacob stepped in rather unexpectedly. "I took her from the house she was sharing with her husband and took her with me to my tribe." Renesmee noticed the harsh way he said 'husband'.

"Oh," Janette said, raising an eyebrow and also noticing Jacob's harsh tone when mentioning Renesmee's husband. "You appear to have taken being kidnapped rather well."

"I like it there," Renesmee said awkwardly. "I don't really want to go back."

"Well then, all the more reason not to turn you in." Janette laughed a little again. "Young love. It really is a beautiful thing." Renesmee just blushed while Jacob smiled at her. "Like I said," Janette continued, "just keep an eye out for general stores and craft suppliers and you'll find the things you need."

"Thank you," Renesmee answered as she hurried to walk away, still blushing heavily. Jacob began to follow, but Janette stopped him.

"So you kidnapped that girl, eh," Janette said.

"I didn't know what else to do, so I did what I knew I could do."

"You better watch out then. I said that girl has a thousand dollars riding on her safe return, but I didn't mention this: my clients have told me that her husband invited himself along for the search for her."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Sgt. Lovejoy has that girl's husband along with him in the search. I don't know where you hail, but I imagine it's west of here." Jacob said nothing. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me anything. All I'm saying is be cautious. I've heard my fair share of this Sgt. Lovejoy and he's a viper. She's not the first wife he's been sent to rescue from Indians and every tribe has suffered a lot by his orders once those lost wives are found, dead or alive."

"We'll be ready for him, then. He's never dealt with my tribe or our powers."

"Whatever. Do you love her?"

"More than anything."

"Then you take care of her and keep her out of harm's way. That Sgt. Lovejoy won't let her stay once he's found her and your people will suffer a cruel punishment when they find her."

"They won't find her," Jacob said confidently and defiantly.

"I hope you're right."

"Peter had his chance," Jacob said suddenly.

"Peter? You mean her husband?"

"He's not her husband. Not anymore. She loves me, I know she does. She might still feel guilty for loving me more than him, but I know she loves me. Peter doesn't deserve her. He couldn't even sleep with her."

Janette, rather suddenly, started laughing. "Are you serious? A pretty thing like that and he couldn't fuck her? I'm not even a lesbian and I'd ride that pussy 'til the cows came home. I was willing to give her a discount and everything."

"Ride her pussy 'til the cows came home? What the hell does that mean?"

"It's a crass way to say I'd have sex with her for a very long time." Jacob looked at her meanly and she waved her hand dismissively. "Oh don't get your knickers in a knot you old brute, it's just a figure of speech. So have you told this girl you love her?"

"She knows I do."

"Women don't care if they know it, they want to hear it. We're needy creatures, us women. We like hearing our man tell us he loves us."

"I don't know if she'd accept it if I told her while she was listening to me. As it is, she slapped me when I kissed her. I admit it was out of nowhere, but I just couldn't help but kiss her."

"Well aren't you just a romantic sod," Janette said with a laugh. "Women usually prefer to be told they're loved before they're fucked. Just a tip."

"Aren't you a…." Jacob began with intense frustration but realized he couldn't remember the word Renesmee had first used to say the woman's profession. "What are they called?"

"A prostitute you mean? Yes, I am, but that's different. I've chosen to offer my body for sex in exchange for money, but what I do is a far cry from love. Me, just show me the money and I'll do whatever you want within reason. I charge extra for anything weird. That girl isn't a whore, so the rules apply to her. You tell her you love her before you kiss her. Now," Janette patted Jacob's arm and pointed in the direction Renesmee went. "I don't think she noticed you aren't following her, so you better get running after her."

Jacob looked in the direction she'd walked and realized he couldn't see her. Jacob ran in that direction without another word to Janette. Eventually he caught up with Renesmee and it was only then that she, in her embarrassed cloud, realized Jacob hadn't been behind her the whole time. She didn't say anything about it, though. Renesmee was too embarrassed to look at Jacob. As the two ran around the city looking for yarn and other sewing materials, Sara's words kept ringing in her head over and over again: 'Don't be afraid to love my son'. How could she not be, though? This was the man that forced her from her home and into a completely different world that didn't accept her for months until she saved two young children from death. Were it not for that, they would've never welcomed her into the tribe. How could she love this man when she was married to another? What would that say of her? She wasn't lying when she told Janette that she had no intention of going back. Perhaps that should be enough for Renesmee to just let go and be with Jacob, but she couldn't. That single kiss they'd shared weeks ago, while unwarranted, had been everything Renesmee always thought it should be. She couldn't help but compare the way Jacob kissed her to Peter. When Peter had kissed her, it was timid and impassionate. When Jacob did, he ravaged her, made her feel beautiful and wanted. He'd seemed desperate for her. And that made her feel guilty, like she was betraying the promise she'd made, even if that promise was made to a man she hardly knew.

The two barely spoke to each other as they gathered all the yarn and knitting needles that several bags could carry. When Renesmee was confident they had enough yarn and needles, she and Jacob made their way back, avoiding getting their supplies wet and going through the mountains as they had before. Jacob dropped Renesmee off at his tent so she could get some sleep and went back out on patrol for what little remained of the night. Renesmee, however, couldn't sleep. Janette's comments, Sara's plea, all of it was weighing heavily on her mind. Rather than waste time trying to sleep, she began work on making the first of many scarves and blankets. Once she remembered how to do it, she worked almost as fast as her mother and aunts could and the scarf was done in no time. By the time the sun was up, she managed to finish four scarves, a blanket, and started a pair of fingered gloves for Caevia. She knew the size of her hands already. Jacob came back to the tent nearly sleep walking and fell to his blanket, asleep in seconds without a word to her. Renesmee decided to give him the first blanket, but when she sprawled it on him she realized it wasn't nearly big enough. She added another two feet to the blanket in a matter of a half hour and replaced it on him, making sure he was completely covered. Renesmee eventually went outside, wearing one scarf and holding the other scarves and Caevia's finished gloves. The ladies that were working saw Renesmee's scarf and were intrigued. They gathered around her asking what it was and what it was for. From there, she gave Caevia her gloves and proceeded to show all the women in the village how to knit a scarf, a blanket, and a pair of gloves. For the women that had young children, Renesmee offered to make all their gloves so they would have them quickly and in their size. By the end of the day, all the children had their own pair of gloves thanks to Renesmee and some had a new scarf thanks to their mothers.

"First it was the butter and jam, then you threatened to open a cinnamon bun shop and now we're seamstresses for the village. You love to keep me working don't you, Renesmee?" Caevia joked, earning Renesmee's weak smile.

"I know winters are probably hard in these parts. What kind of person would I be if I didn't put my knitting skills to good use and make sure everyone's warm?"

"I guess I got pregnant at a good time. It'll be summer again by the time the baby's born."

"I looked at a calendar while we were in the city. It's mid November, so the baby should spring along by June."

"You can't beat good timing." Renesmee smiled and finished up another small pair of fingered gloves. "Is something bothering you?"

"A few things if I'm being honest."

"What did he do now?"

"Nothing," Renesmee said suddenly. "He hasn't done anything. I'm just thinking about a few things that have been said to be in the past few days."

"And what's been said to you in the past few days?" Renesmee brought her hand to Caevia's and showed her what was bothering her: her memory of what Sara said and the comment made by Janette the painted woman. "No wonder you look so distracted."

"She also mentioned that law enforcement is looking for me so they can take me back."

"You don't want to go back though, right?"

"Not particularly," Renesmee answered honestly. "I feel so guilty for it, but I don't want to go back."

"Of course not. You never loved Peter. As I told you before: fondness makes a fine friendship but it doesn't make a marriage. Only love makes a marriage Renesmee."

"You would know," she answered with a smile before finishing another pair of gloves and getting ready to start another pair.

"Indeed I would. So why does not wanting to go back make you feel guilty? Other than Jacob I mean." Renesmee stopped momentarily before continuing to work on the gloves.

"I feel like I'm being treated like an equal here. Back in Olympia or in Chicago, if I'd even alluded to requesting to be a doctor rather than a nurse, I would be laughed at and called a silly girl. Here, I was offered to apprentice such a position. I was told no woman has ever held this position before."

"That's what Embry told me."

"This is also the first place I've been where everyone in the community knows what I am. I don't have to hide from them. Yes, they were scared of me when they initially found out, but now that I've proven myself, they've embraced me. I've never really been embraced into a community before outside of my family. I feel like I'm finally an independent."

"And there's nothing wrong with that," Caevia said. "I told you from the beginning that if you had a doubt in your mind about Peter and leaving home at all that we would run and never look back. It might not have happened quite as I'd expected, but I still think you shouldn't look back. I nag on the man, but he is a good man nonetheless. If you love Jacob, I want you to move forward and really embrace this life. Don't worry about Peter, don't worry about the promise you made, don't worry about any of that. Just look to the here and now."

"But-"

"Are you planning to go back?"

"No."

"Then why cling to it? Why worry about upsetting a man that couldn't be a husband to you? You're a good girl Renesmee and I know you mean well. But you need to stop feeling guilty or feeling like you're betraying Peter. He has no claim over you."

"He's my husband."

"Legally, yes, but here that doesn't matter. If you don't love him, then don't worry about betraying him. You're only harming yourself by clinging to a man you married just to prove you were a grown-up." Renesmee kept her eyes on her work as she finished up the next pair of gloves. "I'm only saying what I think is best."

"I know."

Jacob's reading lesson was neglected that day as was Renesmee's training session with Sokajili. He gladly forgave her, though, when she presented him with a scarf, a pair of gloves, and a fluffy blanket. One couple came in with their daughter saying she wasn't herself. Sokajili told Renesmee to do this, so she started with her temperature. She had a fever but she said she felt cold all over. Renesmee had a feeling it was the flu so she gave the girl the bitter herbs meant to kill disease and told the parents to keep her warm and inside. She also told the parents that, once she was better, they needed to burn the blankets so it wouldn't spread. Renesmee offered to make them more blankets when able. After her morning with Sokajili, Jacob went to Renesmee and brought her back to his tent so they could continue their reading lesson.

"Thanks for the blanket," Jacob said once they were seated. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to thank you yet."

"It's alright. I'm glad you liked it. So anyway, what would you like to read next?"

"We haven't read The Pit and the Pendulum yet. I'm curious about that one."

"It's a good one," Renesmee said as she grabbed the collection of Poe's works and opened the book to The Pit and the Pendulum.

Jacob's reading skills were continuing to improve. He was getting much better at sounding out words and was beginning to learn what words had the silent letters like what, which, and so on. He ended up really liking Pit and the Pendulum. He thought it was exciting reading through this man's story of evading trap after trap and eventually being rescued by soldiers. Renesmee helped him imagine the story by touching his hand and showing him how she pictured the story's occurrences. She also made sure to have the Atlas open so she could show him where Spain is. It also led to a lengthy discussion about The Spanish Inquisition and what it was regarding. That led to discussing what Muslims are and Catholicism and Christianity in general. It also gave Renesmee the opportunity to really explain Christianity to Jacob. She even told him the story of Jacob. All this took them well into the afternoon hours, interrupted only when Embry came to the tent with food, saying dinner was offered and that they were missing out. Jacob accepted the food and ate in his tent with Renesmee, wanting to hear more. As Renesmee told her story, she kept the Atlas open, showing him Egypt and the Middle Eastern countries of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan where Canaan was roughly situated.

"So Jacob was the name of a man that founded a nation?"

"One of the nations of Israel, yes. You shouldn't hate your name so. Jacob was an interesting man with a life of trickery, hard work in the name of winning the love of his life, a latter to heaven, wrestling with an Angel and living in Egypt as the father of a Viceroy. He led a rather eventful life before he died and was buried with his family in a cave in Canaan."

"I guess now I can say I know of a Jacob that I like. Besides myself I mean," Jacob joked and Renesmee laughed.

"Tell me a story now. Sokajili hasn't told me any stories about the tribe. I'm sure you must have them."

"Of course we do. What story do you want to hear?"

"How about your story of creation? I'll tell you ours if you tell me yours."

"You go first."

"Well, according to the Bible, God created the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. He created animals to inhabit the Garden of Eden, but then realized he wanted to create a creature in his likeness. So he formed a man from dust and named him Adam. God instructed Adam to name the animals and upon doing so, Adam noticed that all the animals had mates and he wanted one too. So he asked God to give him a mate. God instructed Adam to lay down and sleep. While Adam was sleeping, God took a rib from him and made a woman from dust and named her Eve. Before I continue, I should explain Heaven itself. As I said, there is God who rules over Heaven, but he created beings called Angels to help him. The first Angel he created was Jesus, who he proclaimed his son. Jesus eventually came to Earth to cleanse man of their sins through his death, but that's a story for much later. Among those Angels was Lucifer, whose name means Bringer of Light, who became envious of God's power and Jesus' superiority. He believed he could be a better Ruler or that he deserved greater recognition than what he was getting. So he came to earth and disguised himself as a snake so that he could speak with Eve and deceive her. Now in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were allowed to eat the fruit from all the trees except one: The Tree of Life. 'For if you eat from it,' God told them, 'You will surely die.' So when Lucifer came to earth to deceive Eve, he told her that she would not die but that her eyes would be opened, figuratively speaking, and that she would become like God. Eve took a bite of the fruit and had Adam do the same. By doing so, they both sinned and were cast from the Garden of Eden condemned to mortality and pain. That's the Christian story of creation and why humans are imperfect. Lucifer was cast from Heaven after that and was renamed Satan, which means Deceiver. And Satan is the source of all evil, swaying humanity towards the wrong path."

"Our story isn't quite so complicated or depressing," Jacob said when she was done. "In our story, a wandering Trickster named Q'waeti' was righting the wrongs of humanity and teaching us how to live properly. For instance, the Hoh Tribe north of us used to walk on their hands, so Q'waeti' taught them to walk on their feet. There were many animals Q'waeti' happened upon as well that wished to kill him. First he came upon Beaver, who was sharpening his knife in order to kill Q'waeti'. As punishment, Q'waeti' took the knife from Beaver, stuck it to Beaver's tail and told him that he shall slap the water and dive into the water in fear of humans. Then he came upon Deer, who was sharpening a shell into a knife also with the goal to kill Q'waeti'. As punishment, Q'waeti' took the knife, slapped Deer's ear and told him he would now fear all things and constantly look over his shoulder.

"Then he came upon a river and saw there were no people, so he spit in his hands, rubbed them and expelled dead human skin into the water of the river. From it, many people appeared and he told them that they would be known as Q'wayi't'sox and they would reside there. That tribe is one of our allies. In his travels, he came across two wolves that wanted to become human. Q'waeti' granted the wolves their wish and made them human. Q'waeti' foretold that they would create a great people with the blood of the wolf in their veins with great powers unlike any that man possesses. We would be brave because we are wolves and that would make us great. That power Q'waeti' said we would possess used to be our ability to separate our souls from our bodies and influence the elements and animals. But then, Taha Aki's soul entered the body of a wolf to save his tribe from Utlapa, who wanted control of the tribe. The story is much better when told by Sokajili. He and my father will perform it from time to time."

"What's the full story of that?"

"Well, what happened was Taha Aki was the chief and at the time we were spirit warriors capable of influencing nature as I said before. Utlapa wanted power over the tribe, so he led Taha Aki into the woods to talk. He said he wished to speak as spirits, so they separated from their bodies. By the time Taha Aki realized Utlapa's true intentions, it was too late. Utlapa took over Taha Aki's body and sliced the throat of his own, forcing Taha Aki to wander without a body. When Utlapa returned as Taha Aki, he explained that Utlapa had attacked him and he was forced to kill him. He then remarried his own wife, kept Taha Aki's first wife, and married one more woman. The tribe was amazed but said nothing for fear of their lives. This chief was a tyrant. In sorrow, Taha Aki came across a wolf and begged the wolf to share his body so that he could warn the people of what had happened. The wolf agreed and in the wolf's body, Taha Aki ran to the village to warn the people. An elder man left his body to speak with Taha Aki, but Utlapa killed the old man before he could speak forcing his own soul to wander aimlessly as well. In rage, Taha Aki became too much for the wolf and the wolf became a man. Everyone knew it was their real chief and sided with him to kill Utlapa for his treachery. Utlapa's family was exiled for the incident." Renesmee was silent a moment. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just….I remembered something Caevia told me."

"What's that?"

"She told us when we met her that she hailed from a people that had the power to turn into birds that call themselves the Tistihlal."

"That is the name we give the giant bird that comes down from the mountain." Renesmee looked at Jacob strangely.

"So that's a creature that your people know about?"

"Yes. You're saying Utlapa's family took on the name of such a creature?" Jacob seemed mildly offended by the notion. Renesmee shrugged and just told Jacob what she knew.

"I suppose they did. I asked her how they'd acquired such a power as to become birds and she told me that her people had come from the North, exiled from their home. They enslaved many tribes as they traveled south further and further into the desert until they were near death and their salvation was a bird that perched on a cactus. I can't remember the man's name, but he prayed to the bird begging it to save them and when the bird flew away from the cactus, a flower bloomed and an oasis formed around the cactus. She says that Cactus has been in the oasis ever since and the flower atop it never died. According to her, the man that prayed to the bird heard a voice in his head that said to him, 'So long as this flower blooms, your people will prosper and be strong.' Her people also were able to leave their bodies and that's how they'd been able to fuse with a desert hawk and obtain the gift of flight."

"So that's why she speaks our language," Jacob said. "We never knew what happened to Utlapa's exiled family. I guess now we know."

"She also said fusing with the desert hawk led to their curse."

"How so?"

"She told me the story of two brothers, twins, who feuded over who should take over as chief after the passing of their father. Their father never indicated who was in line, so they were forced to argue amongst themselves. As she put it, there was a 'good' brother and a 'bad' brother. The 'good' brother was the oldest and the 'bad' brother was the youngest I think is what she said. After their father died, the good brother asked his younger brother to come with him into the desert and when they were alone, the good brother killed his bad brother, but the bad brother left his body allowing his soul to remain alive. The good brother returned to his people and told them that his brother was dead and that he was their chief. The bad brother was angry and took the body of the desert hawk their people worshipped. The bird was unable to contain his rage and he became a man. The bad brother returned and confronted his older brother and the two fought. The bad brother was victorious, but the good brother put a curse on him. He said that when his blood touched the ground, their souls would be locked and they would all be stuck in time, never aging, never dying, never changing and they would be disconnected from one another, never to be of one mind again. The good brother died and years passed. The bad brother became chief, married had children and they became birds like their father. But they realized they couldn't let go of their birds. They couldn't change, they stayed the same and continued to live on, yet they weren't truly immortal. If they were injured, they healed slowly and if they died and they could no longer communicate in their soul forms. That's what Caevia said she meant when she said her people were cursed with immortality. Once their bird took over, they were stuck in time, never changing and forever alive unless brought a horrible death due to injury."

"That's quite a story."

"I remember asking her if she ever missed her home and she told me the desert wasn't her home and that she'd rather be dead than go back because going back would condemn her to death anyway." Jacob didn't say anything initially. He looked at the book a moment and huffed a laugh.

"All that from The Pit and the Pendulum," he finally commented.

"That's what a discussion is supposed to do. What did you want to read tomorrow?"

"I think I'm ready for one of these," Jacob grabbed a book and held up Persuasion.

"I'd like to keep it a little simpler for now. Since you're used to Shakespeare's writing style, why don't we finally read Othello?"

"Is that the one that you started to tell me about then told me I'd have to wait and see?"

"One in the same," Renesmee smiled.

"Alright, we'll read that then."

"We'll read a book after this one, I promise."

Jacob agreed that they would start in the morning and finally left to go on patrol. Quil and Embry made sure to point out he was late again and he told them to shut up and keep sharp. Embry took interest in the story Renesmee had told Jacob, though. He'd always thought it was strange that a people so far from them spoke their language, shared their powers and named themselves after the great bird that resided in the mountains. Now that both stories were told together, they fit together and made sense.

Jacob slept in until it was the afternoon when Renesmee came back for their reading lesson. She told him that they would be doing this a little differently. Othello is a play, which means it is best when performed. So she told Jacob that they would assign characters to each other and read the play out loud and perform it as best they could. Most notably, Renesmee took the role of Iago, Desdemona, and Michael Cassio while Jacob would take the roles, most notably, of Roderigo, Othello, and Emilia. First, Renesmee helped Jacob imagine their setting. She took out the Atlas and showed Jacob Italy and pointed to where Venice was. She'd never been to Venice, so all she could do was show him what she'd seen in pictures and what she imagined it looked like. She explained that Othello and Desdemona just married in the night in secrecy behind her father's back and now Rodrigo and Iago were going to tell her father. Renesmee didn't even need to explain the 'beast with two backs' comment she'd made and he laughed.

"That's one way to say they're having sex," Jacob joked.

"I'm really impressed you got that."

"It's the only thing I can think of that might have two backs," Jacob laughed a little. "And here I thought pale faces had no sense of humor with regards to sex."

"In truth, Shakespeare's brand of humor was considered crass and for peasants when they were first presented. With time, it became seen as the height of sophisticated entertainment."

"No sense of humor," Jacob said to himself as he went on to say Rodrigo's line. When they got to the third scene of act 1, Renesmee was very impressed with how well Jacob was reading Othello's lines. His voice fit Othello very well. It came to the part where Othello spoke of how he won Desdemona's heart and somehow, she felt herself being won as well.

"'Her father loved me; oft invited me;
Still question'd me the story of my life,
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have passed.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
To the very moment that he bade me tell it;
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents by flood and field
Of hair-breadth scapes I' the imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
And portance in my travels' history:
Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven
It was my hint to speak,-such was the process;
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
Would Desdemona seriously incline:
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: which I observing,
Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
But not intentively: I did consent,
And often did beguile her of her tears,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:
She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story.
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,
And I loved her that she did pity them.
This only is the witchcraft I have used:
Here comes the lady; let her witness it.'" (Othello130-172)

Renesmee didn't immediately continue with her own lines, but she eventually continued with the Duke and Brabantio's lines. Then she got to Desdemona's answer.

"'My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty:
To you I am bound for life and education;
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;
I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,
And so much duty as my mother show'd
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.'" (Othello 182-191)

The line left her very uncomfortable and it seemed strangely and unpleasantly relevant. Her thoughts were racing as she essentially talked to herself as Brabantio and the Duke of Venice until Jacob finally had a line as Othello again. Then came another piercing line by Desdemona.

"'That I did love the Moor to live with him,
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued
Even to the very quality of my lord:
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honour and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.'" (Othello 251-262)

She felt uncomfortable until they reached Iago and Rodrigo's conversation, ending with Iago clarifying his plans. "So what do you think so far?" Renesmee asked after she took a moment to help Jacob understand everything that was said. He got what was going on for the most part. All he needed clarification on what was meant at some parts.

"If Brabantio likes Othello, why wouldn't Othello go to Desdemona's father and ask for her hand? He's better than Rodrigo right?"

"He's black," Renesmee said frankly. "They may all respect him as a military genius, but he's still a black man. Chances are if he'd gone to Brabantio and asked for Desdemona's hand in marriage, he would've turned him away too, fond of him or not."

"That so stupid to deny a worthy man his daughter because he's black," Jacob said.

"Are you really one to talk, Jacob?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You dislike white people."

"For damn good reason," Jacob said defensively. "Indians to the East extend a hand of friendship to these pale faces as we've heard it and they're repaid with disease, rape, and robbery. I have no respect for those that slap the hand that feeds them. The price one pays for feeding a beast I suppose." Jacob's tone was rather acidic. "Our lands were reduced for the pale man's greed and ridiculous notion that the earth is something to be owned and concurred. They're vipers, all of them."

"Even me?" Jacob finally looked at her and took a deep breath. His first instinct was to tell her she was wrong, that he thought nothing of the sort of her, but then, had she not been his imprint, he would've thought no better of her than he did other pale faces. Her beautiful face would've meant nothing, her sweet nature would've meant nothing, even her kind heart would mean nothing. A viper births more vipers.

"I think differently of you," Jacob finally said honestly. He scooted closer to her, not really caring that she was blushing and clearly uncomfortable. What he had to say needed to be said. "You're my imprint, so I'll admit to being biased. Had it not been for my imprinting on you, I would've hated you just as I hate all the others. But had I not imprinted on you, I would've never realized the kind of woman you really are: a pale face that all should be like. Sweet, compassionate, patient, a good teacher, everything any good person should be, not just pale faces. If all pale faces treated me and my kin the way you do and worked as hard as you do to learn about us rather than assume us to be savages, I would have no reason to hate pale faces."

"That's still no better than Brabantio not wanting his daughter to marry a Moor."

"What have blacks done to earn their treatment? Were they evil people that were concurred in battle?"

"What about the slaves your people had? I do know about that."

"They invaded our lands. We did what the Indians to the east should have done: make slaves of those that forced themselves onto our lands. We saw them as they were, conquerors. And we wouldn't be conquered. The pale faces took them from us too. I promise you had our slaves been Indians or black, we would've never lost our slaves because pale faces are fucking hypocrites."

"This conversation is over," Renesmee said rather suddenly, closing the book. "You should get to patrol. I need to go to sleep."

"Renesmee," Jacob stopped her. "I'm sorry to upset you, but it wouldn't be right of me to lie to you. Just know that regardless of any ill-feelings I have towards the pale faces that stole our lands and think so little of us, it doesn't change how I feel about you." Renesmee didn't say anything, so Jacob told her goodnight and left the tent. He couldn't understand why she was being so distant, more so than usual. That night, Jacob asked Embry if Caevia had said anything. Evidently, she'd only said that Renesmee 'had a lot of thinking to do'. Jacob was in no mood for any less than a straight answer, so that morning, Jacob followed Embry home rather than go to his own tent to sleep. It was dawn, so most were waking up. Renesmee left the tent to go to Sokajili. Neither of them looked at each other.

"I'll get Caevia," Embry said before going in his tent. Several minutes or so passed before Caevia came out of the tent looking rather tired and rubbing her bump with both hands. It was beginning to be noticeable.

"What is so important that you're waking me up this early?"

"Please, Caevia, don't be so mean. I'm not in the mood."

"And I'm not in the mood to be woken up so early, yet here I am."

"Just tell me what's bothering Renesmee. Embry said you told him she had 'a lot of thinking to do'. Well what does that mean?"

Caevia sighed heavily. "For Christ's sake," she mumbled. "Okay, here's what happened. The other day, your mother requested Renesmee to not be afraid to love you. If that wasn't enough, that hooker you both spoke to called your relationship young love and assumed you two were a couple. She told me she doesn't want to go back, that she wants to stay here. I told her that if that's the case, she has no reason to cling to a marriage that a blind man could tell was doomed from the get go whether you'd kidnapped us or not. She's been thinking about it since. Embry also told me about the little chat you two had last night," Caevia said her last bit rather harshly. "I've known that girl a long time and I know how she acts when she feels like she's been mistreated or had the worst assumed of her."

"I told her I thought differently of her."

"Not before essentially calling her a hypocritical, self-centered, manipulator from what I'm told. You listen very carefully, Jacob. That girl's had her fill of being judged and wrongly accused. It nearly cost her and her family their lives. So don't you ever clump her into a category of people that have wronged you."

"I didn't."

"Yes you did," Caevia bit back, then sighed heavily again. "Here's how the world works, Jacob. There are vampires and there are humans. As humans have rulers, so do vampires and the rulers of the vampiric world are called the Volturi. They have very simple rules, but the most important is to not reveal themselves to humans or some nonsense like that. Anyway, the Volturi feared that Renesmee's existence would pose a threat to that of the vampires. They firstly accused her parents of turning a child into a vampire, which is also deeply frowned upon. Apparently, when a child is changed, they stay a two year old or whatever their death age was emotionally forever so when they have a tantrum they destroy a whole city, blah, blah, blah, you get the idea. Renesmee isn't an 'immortal child' as I'm told they're called. She's half vampire half human. Anyway, long story short, she was judged a monster because she was an unknown entity. Had her Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper not been able to find Nahuel, a man half vampire and human like herself, she'd be dead now and so would her family. So I suggest you watch your tongue when you boast your 'rightful dislike' of pale faces. No matter what your people went through, Renesmee has had no involvement and never would. Let me tell you about persecution, Jacob," Caevia continued, getting angry now. "I've been defiled by my own people. Raped and had my children taken from me. I've had the same done to me by my white masters. I've been burned, I've been beaten, I've been whipped, I've been passed around like a whore and a toy, and I've felt the truest most cruel form of the white man's persecution, but I don't blame Renesmee for it nor would I ever compare her to my other masters and if I can be so rational after everything I've been through, you can get over having your lands reduced and your slaves reprimanded without putting any blame on Renesmee. Now here's what you're going to do. When Renesmee comes back to continue your reading lesson, you're going to go on your knees, bow your head and beg her to forgive you for being so close minded and stupid."

"I never compared her to the pale faces that we've experienced in the past. Before I left, I told her that no matter what, it doesn't change how I feel."

"Well how about what she feels? She's trying to come to terms with guilt over loving a man other than her husband and wanting to remain anywhere other than with her husband. Your little rant hasn't helped her come any closer to making a decision in your favor I'll have you know."

"She shouldn't feel guilty. Peter doesn't deserve a woman like her anyway."

"Neither do you quite frankly." Jacob looked at Caevia, rather shocked and angered by her statement. "You forced her here. You took her from her home."

"I gave her a better home!" Jacob yelled.

"Then prove it!" Caevia and Jacob stared at each other intently and intensely for a moment before Caevia continued. "At least Renesmee came to Washington and married Peter of her own accord. Albeit ill advised accord, but she still came willingly. I'll tell you right now that girl does love you, whether she'll allow herself to think it or not, but that doesn't change the cold hard facts: she's a married woman that's falling in love with the man that kidnapped her and forced her into a world she knew nothing about and until recently wanted nothing to do with her. She was scared, isolated save for my company, and quite frankly she was scared of you. You need to start keeping that in mind and be a little more sensitive. Are we clear?"

"Yes," Jacob mumbled eventually.

"Good. Now I'm going back to bed. You get some sleep too. You'll need it."

Caevia got back into the tent with Embry leaving Jacob alone outside with his head held down. Eventually he walked back to his own tent and tried to sleep, but now he couldn't. So instead, he just picked up Othello and started reading it on his own. That, he knew, would please Renesmee to see him reading on his own without her there to hold his hand. He picked up where they left off the night before and read the play as slowly as he needed, ensuring that he understood or mostly understood what was happening. He managed to read up to the part where Othello confronted Desdemona about the missing handkerchief Othello had given her. Renesmee had been right about the quality of the play and how enjoyable it was. He found himself desperately wishing he could leap into the story and tell Othello and Desdemona that they were being deceived by Iago and that Othello was wrong about Desdemona's infidelity with Cassio, that no such thing was happening under his nose. Renesmee came in while he was reading that scene and as he hoped, she seemed surprised he was reading on his own.

"You started without me?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I started reading again."

"How far are you?"

"I'm at the part where Othello is confronting Desdemona about the missing handkerchief."

"Wow," Renesmee said. "You got pretty far on your own." Renesmee sat down to his left. "Did you have any questions so far?"

"Not that come to mind."

"Then let's keep going from where you are now. We'll see if we can finish it tonight." He noticed she still looked upset but he held his tongue for now and they continued on with the play. By mid-afternoon, they reached the part of the play where Othello was telling Desdemona he was going to kill her. It was a very intense, emotional scene. Renesmee explained all the references as they went along and by the end of the play, he found himself deeply moved.

"So how did you like it?" Renesmee asked after the final line.

"I can't believe he killed her just on the word of a friend."

"He thought Iago was a good friend that would never lie to him. Iago kept pushing him towards his ruin only to have it have the opposite outcome of what he wanted. It's assumed that after all this, he would be tried and executed."

"I see why you like this play so much. I wish I could see it performed." Renesmee was quiet. She'd been rather quiet and meek sounding since she'd come back to his tent. Caevia's words rang in his head and it upset him just how much his words hurt her, even when they'd not been intended towards her. Now was as good a time as any to talk about last night. "I'm sorry about last night," Jacob said. "I got overzealous. I didn't mean to upset you or make you think I was clumping you in the same category as the pale faces in Forks."

"It's alright. I understand."

"No, it's not alright." Jacob took a deep breath. "I noticed you've been more distant. Last night didn't help either. I asked Caevia what was bothering you. She told me about what my mother said to you and how much Janette's comment was bothering you. She also told me about the Volturi and what happened with them." Renesmee gawked.

"She told you about that?"

"Yeah, she did. It was never my intent to make you feel like a criminal especially when you've got so much weighing on your mind already."

"You didn't make me feel like a criminal."

"I made you feel unwanted," Jacob rephrased and Renesmee didn't say anything. "That's worse than calling you a criminal and for that I'm sorry. You're far from unwanted, especially in this village. They're grateful for you and so am I."

"Really, Jacob, I understand," Renesmee hurried as she closed the book. The two of them were silent a moment. Jacob kept his eyes on her while Renesmee averted her own. Caevia had told him that it was guilt that caused her hesitation, but he couldn't understand it. He understood that she'd been scared of him, that he fully understood. However, he couldn't wrap his mind around her clinging to Peter.

She looked so unhappy and that made him all the more unhappy. He couldn't think what else to do. What could he say to make her see he loved her? He'd never been subtle of his feelings. He'd made it clear from the beginning his feelings for her. No words came to mind. He'd said so much already. Since he couldn't think of anything to say, he just did what his gut told him. Jacob scooted to her side and moved a finger along her chin until she was looking at him. With her facing him, Jacob kissed her. Perhaps any other time Renesmee would be shocked or upset and would try to push Jacob away. This time, though, she just needed a comforting touch. When Renesmee seemed not to disapprove of what he was doing, Jacob became bolder and held her close, wrapping his arms around her with her arms at her side, coming up to touch his elbows. The hug pulled Renesmee into Jacob's lap and she wrapped her arms around him when she was close enough. The kiss stayed rather tender, but there was no shyness. Renesmee holding him was all the encouragement Jacob needed to deepen their kiss. His tongue gently licked her lip and delved in when her mouth opened. His mind went blurry and everything seemed to melt away. For a moment, Renesmee felt just as dizzy and blank of thought. Then Jacob placed one hand on the ground to catch himself before gently lowering her to the ground. For some reason, it was then that her mind flooded. Everything Jacob was doing and making her feel, how happy she really was, all of it made Renesmee begin to cry. Jacob pulled away the moment he realized she was crying.

"Renesmee, what's wrong?" She didn't answer him, rather she kept crying. Jacob returned to hugging her and buried his face in her neck. "What can I do?" Jacob finally said. Renesmee looked at the ceiling of the tent until Jacob lifted his head and she was shocked at his pleading eyes. She'd never seen him look at her or anyone like that before. It was the same as seeing defeat in his eyes. Both looks simply had no business blemishing his strong, confident features. "What can I do to prove how much I love you?" Renesmee just stared at him. She wasn't sure how to answer or if she even really had an answer.

"I know you love me," she finally said through her tears. "You've made it clear all along that you love me."

"Then why do you still cling to him?"

"To my husband?"

"Yes," Jacob said only after breathing sharply through his nose. "Why do you cling to him when you don't love him?" Renesmee couldn't answer. She wasn't sure how. "I know you don't love him. You showed me as much."

"It's guilt," Renesmee finally said. She knew Caevia had told him as much anyway, so there was no point in saying otherwise, especially when his gentle kiss brought tears to her eyes. Jacob sat up, releasing Renesmee. She sat up as well and began to rub her eyes, trying to force the tears to go away.

"I know you must have hated me at first for what I did. I know that. But I've done all I could to apologize for it. I understand hesitating because of that. But I can't understand hesitating because of him."

"It's not just him, it's everything." As she rubbed her eyes, more tears came as everything just came pouring out at once. "I should hate you, be scared of you. I should want to go home desperately. I should miss my husband, I should want to go back to him, but I don't. I shouldn't love you after what you did, but I do." Renesmee hiccupped before going on. "That night of Caevia's wedding when I ran away, the further I got the more my feet began to slow. When Forks was in sight, my feet wouldn't take me any further and I felt this overwhelming sadness. I couldn't go forward." Renesmee tried taking a deep breath, but it seemed only to make her cry more. "And then when you kissed me, both now and before, all I could think was how I preferred your touch and that made me feel guilty and like a failure."

"Why?"

"Because," Renesmee said before she hiccupped again. "I'd been so adamant about coming here, about leaving my family so I could be on my own and be independent but I was beginning to realize that all I'd done was put myself in a cage of my own making. When you brought me here, slowly everyone learned what I was. First they shunned me but when I proved myself, you all embraced me like I've always wanted. That's all I've ever wanted was to be embraced despite what I am, to be seen as an equal after earning it. I knew that, if I were still with Peter, none of that would've happened. Admitting that was like admitting to defeat."

"You aren't," Jacob said before embracing Renesmee again. She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her own arms around his neck. "You left because you wanted independence and acceptance. You have all that here with me." Renesmee was quite, keeping her head in Jacob's chest. When she remained silent, Jacob pulled her up onto his lap again so they were at what would be eye level once Renesmee actually looked at him. "I don't know what more I can do except say I love you." Renesmee stayed quiet and didn't lift her head until Jacob nudged her face with his nose so she would look at him. When she finally looked at him, her eyes sported a red tint from crying. "I love you," he said to her and kissed her again.

Initially her eyes remained open, still unsure what to do. But his kiss was so tender and loving. She just didn't care to fight anymore, so rather than cry, she tightened her hold on him and joined him in their kiss with passion. She didn't care anymore. There was no point in her caring when everything she'd left home for was right here. With Renesmee finally amiable to his kisses, Jacob fell back pulling her on top of him. Then he rolled around until she was on her back as they continued to kiss. When he was on top of her, he gently licked her lip and delved in again. Their heads titled she they could kiss and breath through their noses. Renesmee brought her hands to Jacob's face and rubbed her fingers against his cheek. Jacob brought his hands down to Renesmee's legs so he could lift them up around his hips. His hands continued to her hips where he grabbed her dress, pinching the fabric so that it would lift up. The bottom of her dress finally bunched up to her hips so Jacob could lay his hands on her bare skin. Renesmee laced her fingers through his short hair now. She felt that it made Jacob tremble and Jacob thrust his hips against hers so she could feel his erection, making the both of them moan.

Jacob took his lips away to kiss her jaw all the way to her ear where he licked and nipped at her sensitive skin. His hands wandered further up her body pulling her dress with him while he molested the small spot behind her ear. Her eyes stayed closed until Jacob pulled away from her. She looked at him when he started to pull her dress over her head. She released her fingers from his hair to lift her arms above her head to allow Jacob to pull her dress over her head. He gently tossed it aside before placing his hands on her legs. His hands trailed up and down her thighs to feel the soft skin. Renesmee brought her own hands up to her chest and she closed her eyes again as the feel of his hands began to tickle. Jacob bent down to kiss her knee and the skin just below her knee on her inner thigh while his right hand began to trail down further. When his hand came between her legs, he rubbed his thumb over the small nub and Renesmee breathed sharply and licked her lips. Jacob went back down to kiss her lips before pushing two fingers inside her. Jacob used his free hand to gently pushed her hands away from her chest so he could feel her breasts.

Unsure what to do with her hands, Renesmee rested her arms on the ground with her hands above her head. It made Jacob stop what his left hand was doing to her breasts so he could grab a hold of one of her hands. With her right hand in his own, he brought her hand between them so that she was touching his erection with his pants the only barrier. A blush burned Renesmee's cheeks but she kept her hand where Jacob had placed it. Jacob returned his hand to Renesmee's breast and pinched her nipple while his other fingers continued to gently thrust and rub her inner walls. Jacob's thumb kept pressing against her clitoris and eventually she began to whimper. When she did, Jacob moved his lips to her neck and stayed there, licking her skin and sucking until a small red spot appeared, though it healed itself by the time Jacob kissed his way to her right breast. In the mean time, Renesmee continued to hold Jacob's erection in her hand, doing little more than gently rubbing it. Finally, Jacob pulled away from her so he could discard his pants.

When Jacob came back to her, he took a hold of her hips and started kissing her belly. Renesmee brought her hands to his hair again and moved them to his shoulders once he started kissing his way up her body. When Jacob was back up to her level, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His left hand stayed on her hip while his free hand guided his erection to her entrance. He hesitated only a moment, prepared to ask if she was ready but she brought her hand to his cheek and pushed her thoughts into his mind, telling him she was ready. So he entered her with a gentle trust and gripped her hips when he was inside. They both took a sharp breath and Renesmee whimpered just a little when she felt the pinch and slight discomfort from breaking her hymen. Jacob used that moment of stillness to enjoy her warmth and how slick she felt. He made a gentle thrust to test her readiness. She moaned when he moved, so he took a firm hold of her hips with both his hands and continued to thrust in and out.

It started slow, but before long Jacob sped up. They both began to breath heavily as Jacob moved. A few minutes of that later, Jacob lifted himself up on his hands and continued to thrust. Then Jacob took a moment to maneuver his arms around Renesmee's legs until they rested on his shoulders and his hands were back on her hips for more control. Renesmee moaned and whimpered with each movement of Jacob's hips and she held onto Jacob's forearms. At points, he would put more of his weight against her legs so he would hit a different angle. There was no way to know how long they were like that, but eventually Jacob decided it was time for a change of position so he released his tight grip on her hips and pulled away from her. Renesmee seemed confused a moment until Jacob moved around her to his blanket and then pulled Renesmee on top of him once he was on his back. Jacob tried to reenter her, but Renesmee thought of a way to tease him. She patted his hand away from his erection and just rubbed her opening against him in a tantalizing and maddening manner. Though before long, Jacob grew tired of Renesmee's teasing and reentered her with a well timed upward push of his hips. It surprised her and made her fall forward onto his chest.

With his hands guiding her, Renesmee moved her hips back and forth. Renesmee began to speed up on her own after she pushed herself upright with her hands on Jacob's chest. With each movement, Renesmee's heart raced and her mind went blank. She began to feel heavy as tension built in her core. She fell forward when she couldn't keep herself up anymore and Jacob took over once again, thrusting deep and harder than he'd done before. For more control, Jacob turned so Renesmee was on her back again. She returned her arms around his neck and held onto him with a tight and impenetrable grip. Jacob did the same to her thighs as he moved faster and faster. Jacob brought his right hand between them and pushed her clitoris again, taking advantage of her heightened sensitivity and her brought her closer and closer to her release. Renesmee bit her lip but it did little to quiet the high pitched utterances escaping her throat. It all felt so wonderful she feared she might begin to cry again.

The more Renesmee cried in pleasure, the faster Jacob moved until he felt her crumble beneath him with an audible squeak and rapid shaking. Jacob didn't lose any momentum and he continued moving well after Renesmee's orgasm, prolonging her high while he brought himself to his own. When Jacob was really close, he went down and grabbed Renesmee into a tight hug. She hugged him back and locked her ankles behind his back, tightening her thighs around his waist forcing him to move even faster and with greater force. When Jacob finally reached his own climax, he let out a harsh and low guttural sound and his hands gripped Renesmee tightly, squeezing her tighter than he'd done all night. As Jacob came down from his own high, his hold loosened and more of his weight rested atop her as they both breathed heavily trying to recollect themselves. Renesmee kissed Jacob's cheek when she finally had the strength to and hugged him with her arms and legs.

"I love you," Renesmee finally whispered in his ear. Jacob hugged Renesmee back with the same tightness and kissed her neck over and over.

"Say it again," Jacob said.

"I love you," Renesmee repeated. "I'm tired of trying so hard not to let myself love you." Jacob lifted his face so they could look into each other's eyes.

"I love you too," Jacob finally said before he kissed her again with all the passion he'd done while they'd made love. She was finally his, completely and unashamedly. She would finally let him hold her, kiss her, make love to her. As Renesmee had just said, she was tired of pretending she didn't love him. It was the only thing that was keeping her from embracing her new life and being truly happy. She finally had everything she'd left home for and she would enjoy it in the arms of the man that spirited her away.