A/N: This one is pretty short for necessary reasons. The rest of the scene will be up shortly. Please don't hate me for what I've done here. I promise there is a point to it.
Chapter 12 - We Change, We Wait
It was dusk when Renesmee shot out of the tree line in front of the house. Her hair had been tousled by the run and she reached up to straighten it some. It wasn't long before Jacob came out behind her dressed in dark denim cutoffs and a white tank top. It was an outfit Renesmee could only assume he thought of as "dressed up". She smiled at him and twined her fingers with his when his hand reached for hers. They stood together in the driveway both with their own separate thoughts and fears about how this next few hours could affect them. Renesmee wondered if Carlisle had managed to reach out to the other families while Jacob was busy trying to think of a way to keep his thoughts in check. They both glanced behind them at the sound of crackling brush. Leah, Embry and Seth emerged together from the trees looking a little wary.
"Well, here we go again Jake" Leah said gesturing towards the house. Jacob nodded and started forward keeping Renesmee's tiny hand enveloped in his. They would do this as a unit. Most everyone was already assembled in the dining room awaiting their arrival. Someone had laid out a huge platter of sandwiches, fruit, crackers and cheese. Jacob's bet was on Esme and saw that he was right when she slipped silently from the kitchen carrying a pitcher of freshly made lemonade.
"Jacob, Its so nice to see you again. Leah, Seth, Embry I hope you'll all make yourselves at home and please dig in. I wouldn't want to see all this food go to waste" she said with a genuine smile on her face. She always seemed to be able to make him feel at home there even when things were strained.
"Thanks Mrs. Cullen" Embry said as he and Seth fisted in to the platters with gusto. Leah nibbled delicately on a sandwich.
"Delicious" Leah exclaimed and smiled up at Esme "Am I tasting rosemary in this chicken and is that a touch of lemon in the sauce, Esme?" she asked using a less formal tone. Jacob rolled his eyes. Ever since Leah had started culinary school she was forever asking people questions about food. It was food for godssakes. Why couldn't she just eat it? Esme looked pleased.
"Yes, spot on. You have a very good pallet Leah"
Jacob tuned them out as they started talking recipes and took an assessment of the gathering. Jasper sat on the little settee in the corner with Alice wound listlessly around him. Rose stood at the bar beside a tall young man with hair that was nearly white it was so blond. Jacob surmised he must be Phoenix; the child Rosalie and Emmett had adopted. Jacob scanned the room wondering where the ever affable Emmett was and noticing that Bella and Edward were also on the missing list. Carlisle was pacing the floor. A young girl sat on the giant pillow that was perched next to the settee with a laptop perched on her lap, her hands flying over the keys at an alarming speed. Jacob figured it was one of Rose and Emmett's twin daughters but hadn't the faintest idea of what her name might be. Also on the missing list was the giant bafoon of a vampire he had faced off against earlier that day. Maybe Talan was off combing his hair Jacob thought maliciously. Renesmee had opted to stay beside him her hand just brushing his sort of shyly.
"Samara, where's Kalika?" Renesmee asked the spiky haired girl and had her looking up from the screen she'd been so focused on. Her hands slowed on the keys but didn't stop.
"I think she's upstairs. Dad just went off to look for her and Talan" Samara replied in a soft voice that reminded Jacob of waterfalls. One of Esme's ornately carved silver platters crashed to the floor and Embry stumbled before reaching down to pick it up. He was fumbling like a teenager and looking over at Samara with astonishment.
"I'm so sorry Esme. I'll get this cleaned up right away" he stammered picking up wayward broccoli florets and celery sticks. Esme, gracious as ever came over and leaned down to help.
"It's fine Embry, really. No problem at all" she said noting the look on his face and the direction of his gaze. Samara had gone back to her computer completely unaware of what was going on around her. Phoenix snorted behind her his bluish gold eyes swimming with laughter. Oh crap was all Jacob could think.
"Embry, can I have a moment please; outside" Jacob said using his Alpha tone and gesturing toward the patio doors. The second the door was closed behind them Jacob grabbed Embry's arm and led him to what he figured was an acceptable distance away from vampire hearing.
"Tell me that wasn't what I thought it was" Jacob hissed. He had thought that it was nearly impossible for Renesmee to be his imprint and figured the odds of it happening again were nil. Clearly, he had been wrong. Embry looked like a zombie. His eyes were glazed over and it seemed he was fighting a battle with himself not to simply run back to the house and jump the poor girl. Emmett was going to be enraged and now really wasn't the best time for them to be on bad terms.
"I don't know Jake. One minute I was just sitting there and then she spoke and the world caved in. Her voice, that beautiful voice…" he trailed off and snapped back to attention when Jacob poked him hard in the arm. Embry's eyes finally seemed to refocus. "Her voice was all I could hear. I felt like I was being pulled apart inside but in a good way. Oh fuck, did I just imprint on a vampire Jake?" he questioned with his mouth hanging open his eyes wide. It took every ounce of control Jacob had not to burst out laughing but it simply wasn't proper for an Alpha to do so at a time like this. "What am I going to do?" Embry whispered.
"You my man are going to keep it in your pants and were going to deal with the trouble ahead. If we're all still standing after that you have my blessing to pursue Emmett's daughter" Jacob said emphasizing Emmet's name and slapping him on the back heartily. Embry choked violently and thought about the giant vampire standing between him and his imprint. "Nobody said this imprinting thing was going to be easy, bro" Jacob added finally allowing himself a chuckle.
"Shit" Embry gulped from the glass of lemonade he'd taken with him as they started back toward the house "I don't even know her name. Jake, what's her name?" Jacob's chuckle turned to an all out laugh. He put his hand on Embry's shoulder and wordlessly led them both back to the house. Could things get any weirder?
Jacob stepped back into the dining room closing the door behind him and noted that they had all moved to the family room now. Emmett was there now along with Talan and a girl who looked eerily like Samara except for the hair. Hers was a reddish blond that swung in layers down to her chest and the same gold-green eyes her sister had. Renesmee stood with her talking in hushed tones. He could only hope none of the other members of his pack decided to imprint on a vampire. Nearly everyone else was seated in various positions about the huge white room. Jacob noted that Bella and Edward still hadn't returned. Probably took a little side trip back to their cottage Jacob thought with a grimace. Renesmee peered over at Jacob as Talan put his arm around her shoulders and led her over to sit next to him on a sofa designed for two only. Sneaky son of a bitch Jacob thought darkly his body beginning to shake with the fury of it. The fury only increased when he watched Embry take a seat next to the little pixie with the computer.
Renesmee stared over at Jacob assessing the madness that seemed to be swirling around him and sent him an inviting look. She patted the arm of the sofa beside her and watched a slighter calm come into his black eyes. She hadn't planned on sitting with Talan, he had just surprised her and sort of forced her over to the sofa. Renesmee hated the fact that she was obviously causing so much strife for the both of them but simply didn't know what to do about it. No matter what she did she would end up hurting one of them. It was inevitable. The tension increased when Talan glared sharply up at Jacob as if he was an intruder. Renesmee sighed and settled in to wait for it all to begin. Hearing the door open everyone turned to see Bella sweep into the room. Her clothes were torn, her hair a tangle of leaves and her eyes mad and wheeling. Everyone stood and started with a chorus of what happened and are you okays. Carlisle simply held up one hand and the room went dead silent.
"Bella, darling where is Edward" Bella's eyes fixed on Carlisle's with a look of anguish so acute Renesmee felt dread begin to snake through her. What was going on, where the hell was her father.
Clinging onto that cliff tight guys? I hope so. Please review the story so far. Your reviews will affect the outcome of this situation. What has happened to Edward and will he be coming back at all? Review and tell me what you think should happen.