This chapter begins with some reflection from Edward's point of view. Most chapters in this story will be Jake and Nessie, but some Edward and Bella chapters are important for the development of the plot.

Many thanks to shepeppy, my beta and best friend. She beta's the crap out of my fic – literally!

SM owns Twilight. I own what's inside of the mysterious chess box.

Chapter 21 – Eyes Wide Open

EPOV

"Daddy!" She squealed with delight as I walked in the door to the small cottage. She was a tiny, fiery ball of energy, bounding towards me. Her long, copper curls were pulled back with a hair tie into a messy bun. That was definitely Bella's influence. Alice and Rosalie preferred more structured and less messy styles for both Nessie's hair and clothing. Bella was simply content to have her enjoy the freedom of being messy once in a while. I couldn't help but agree. Children should be messy. She wasn't going to have many chances to act like a child.

We should savor and take advantage of each opportunity.

"Guess what Daddy?" she said cocking her head to the side with a smirk. Her brown eyes twinkled with excitement. I chuckled under my breath. Bella always said she was up to something when she smirked like that. She claimed that she inherited it from me.

"

What is it, darling?"

"I lost my first tooth! I can already see the top of my adult tooth coming in too. Grandpa Carlisle said it should be out within a couple of days, but by then I may have lost one or two more. Mommy says that I can have my own Jane Austen collection. I know she thinks it's some kind of compensation, like the other children get from the tooth fairy. I don't believe in the tooth fairy. I told mommy that, but she just says that she's getting me a treat to celebrate this as an important milestone." She sighed and knit her eyebrows together as she pondered something. I waited, interested to see what was puzzling or distressing her about getting a treat.

"I know it's not fair for me to get gifts simply because I'm growing up. From what I understand other children get a small amount of money, or candy to celebrate the loss of a tooth. Why should I be any different?" My little girl, who was technically only one year old, but physically more like five, looked up to me with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Her face was pulled into a disapproving frown.

I sighed quietly and thought about how to properly answer her question. This wasn't the first time Nessie had questioned our actions based on what she knew was deemed "normal" for a growing child. But the fact of the matter was that Nessie wasn't a normal growing child. She grew and learned much faster than any human child would. She passed milestones and leaped from one stage of development to another at a startlingly rapid pace. From Bella's point of view, this made sense. Renesmee wasn't going to lose her teeth slowly, getting many small gifts from the "tooth fairy" one at a time. She would probably lose them all within the next couple of days and have her new, adult teeth in place within a couple of days after that. One larger gift made sense. Everything with our little girl was faster, larger and intensified.

Because that's what she was, in essence; a faster, larger and intensely unique child.

I thought of a compromise that might appease them both. I smiled a half smile and realized that I was indeed wearing the very same smirk our daughter had worn not five minutes ago. I chuckled softly, shaking my head. Our child wearing my smirk, with my copper hair, Charlie's curls and Bella's beautiful brown eyes. It still seemed like a miracle to me every time I realized that this dream I had never dared to dream had come true.

"Well, I know that your mother already has the collection to give to you. I believe there are eight books in total. What if we gave you one book for each set of three teeth that you lost? You have 20 teeth, so that will leave us with two extra. We can give those to you once your adult teeth have come in and set?"

She smiled and nodded while thinking ,"Thank you daddy! That's perfect! Can you put me down now? I want to go tell Jacob!"

I shook my head lightly from side to side, thoughts of Jacob bringing me back to present day. It was dark still. Renesmee had yet to wake up. Carlisle had done everything within his power to repair the damage she suffered. She had a fractured skull, swelling on the brain, four broken ribs, some internal bleeding and plenty of bruising caused by shards of her shattered ribs tearing into internal organs. It seemed as though she was healing quickly. It wasn't as fast as the wolves healed, but Carlisle was certain that she would wake up sometime within the next hour or so and be completely healed within a matter of days. Jacob was lying on the opposite side of the bed from where I sat, still holding one of Renesmee's hands. He had not left her side, refusing to let go of her hand until she woke up. He was fast asleep, dreaming of her and their time together in Alaska. I did my best to block it out, as I had seen quite enough of the details of their new, budding relationship over the last twenty-four hours. It's not as though the details themselves were disturbing. No, in fact they were mostly simple and somewhat sweet. Although mostly simple and somewhat sweet were not what I'd like to think of when it comes to my daughter and matters of romance.

I lowered my head as I pinched the bridge of my nose, and sighed quietly in frustration. I had been privy to countless thoughts of new romance over the years, many much more complicated and much less endearing than what was happening in my daughter's life, but none of them seemed to bother me as much as this. Well, maybe not none of them. Mike Newton and his little fantasies about Bella enraged me and had me vowing to commit murder on several occasions. And then, of course, there was Jacob... and Bella. I know Bella thought she was protecting me by not showing me her true feelings for Jacob in her thoughts until now, but now that I had seen them and heard for myself what she was thinking I wish she would have shown me sooner. It was such a relief to me, to know that although their connection was strong, she never thought of him romantically. Not until that day on the mountain, and only then, under tremendous emotional stress and the pressure of Jacob's idol threat to kill himself, had she allowed herself to give in and imagine it. The force his passion and their draw to one another won out over her own rational thoughts at the moment. Instinct had taken over. But it left, as quickly as it came. She was not meant for him... but he was meant for part of her.

I allowed my mind to wander over the events in the clearing from just over a day ago.

I raced through the woods, with Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett by my side to find her. Leah had been quick enough in coming with her warning that we were just minutes behind the wolves when we started out. Fear and anger over the possibility of Nessie being attacked pushed us to race at a fast enough pace to eventually catch up with them. When we were almost to the clearing I heard the most horrible sound I had heard since that day almost six years ago in the ballet studio with Bella. Renesmee was screaming... it was a gut-wrenching, guttural cry. I was close enough to read what was going through her mind. She was worried about the strange vampire returning and Jake leaving her to fight with it. And then there was the pain. One thing I had been glad to having been spared with Bella was the ability to read her pain in her thoughts. I had watched her endure pain that could and should have killed her, but never once had to endure listening to her feel it through her thoughts, and for that I was eternally grateful. This, listening to my daughter, her world a black, pulsing and searing world of pain... this was torturous.

We burst through the edge of the clearing to find Jacob hovering over Nessie, her palm pressed up against Jacob's neck, both of them crippled with the pain. When Carlisle tried to ask Jake questions he couldn't answer through the pain. I pulled him off of her in an attempt to clear his mind so he could answer Carlisle and tell him what he knew about her condition.

I wasn't prepared for Nessie's reaction. Her thoughts went from dark, to impossibly darker the second he was away from her. She became frantic, wanting and needing his presence back to hang onto the light that came with it. It was essential. The terror of the loss brought her back to the surface enough to cry out for him. Those were the only words that had escaped her lips since we had found her.

And then he was at her side, grabbing on to her hand, bringing the light back to her and sharing her pain. He was bearing it as if it were his own. He felt every pulse, every searing pang of pain and heat, and did it willingly to save her.

It had been years since I began respecting Jacob, and appreciating how he took care of Renesmee. Yesterday, however, that respect reached an entirely new level. His persistence and self sacrifice were endless. Any of us would have fought to defend her. Any of us would have done anything we could to protect her. He was determined to save her at any cost... and he did. His need to save her was intensified because it was also a form of self-preservation. If she didn't survive he couldn't either. I doubt that any one of us would have had the ability to bear the pain and anxiety that he endured while holding her still as Carlisle turned her over. And even if we had been able to somehow withstand and survive the pain of that move, none of us could have brought her back when she slipped away.

I had felt it all with them. She faded quickly, losing her battle with the pain. Her light had all but burned out. For the split second it took for her to leave us I was frozen in abject fear and horror – my little girl was leaving me! I was frustrated and rigid with fear and anxiety as I watched my only child sipping away from us and into the darkness.

Until he kissed her. Jacob felt her slipping away and refused to let her go. He was losing himself right along with her. He was fierce and passionate in his determination – she would not die.

As difficult as it has been for me to admit, I knew, after watching him breathe life back into her through a kiss, that their bond and love for one another was something truly unique and undeniably essential. He would move heaven and earth, sacrifice himself and become whatever she needed to save her. He pulled her back to us with the strength of their love and dedication to one another. It was remarkable to behold. I've never seen Carlisle as desperate to save any one as he had been with Renesmee – but when she slipped away from us I heard the desperation in his thoughts morph into anguish. He had done all he could do without getting her home and she wasn't going to make it there; until Jacob saved her. I heard the collective gasps and sobs of the people and wolves around us as most of them thought it was a kiss goodbye. I knew better what Jacob was trying to do, so I glared at them all, encouraging them all to keep quiet and still so as not to distract either of them. And then I waited... and I prayed. I wasn't sure if any deity would have time for the prayers of the damned, but these prayers weren't for me. They were for my little girl. I had to try. It was all I could do.

When she returned to us with a simple and weak, "I love you Jacob. I'm sorry. I won't let go." she confirmed what I already should have known; she felt the same way about Jacob. She needed him and fought tooth and nail to get back to him, just as he fought for her.

So we hadn't lost her, which should have had me feeling ecstatic. However, in the present moment I was anything but. Our relief at saving her was short lived. After we returned to the house Carlisle treated what he could of her injuries. When she was safe and resting we decided to look at the contents of the strange item that was left with her.

On the surface it would have appeared to be a normal boxed chess set. It's sleek, black and white surface was not ornate or unique in any way. It was the inscription, written in an ominous shade of red near the latch that sparked our curiosity.

So, with the entire Cullen family, Sam and Leah present we decided to open the box with hopes that it would reveal something about who the assailant had been and what they wanted with Billy and Renesmee. Leah was representing Jake's pack, as he was sleeping beside Renesmee, holding her hand. There was no way to separate them. Jacob had insisted on carrying her home. When we got here he took her hand, and she grasped on to it firmly. It was the only response she had to anything around her since she had been unconscious. Her reaction didn't even register as a thought in her head – it was almost, instinctual. They held onto each other, connected by one hand through the surgery Carlisle performed to repair the damage done to her internal organs. As soon as the procedure was finished and Carlisle was able to guarantee that her life was no longer in jeopardy, Jacob fell asleep. I knew there was no point trying to wake him. He would not leave her side until she was awake. He was exhausted from bearing the physical and emotional pain of the evening; he needed the rest almost as much as she did.

So, it was without either of them present that we opened the seemingly strange and insignificant box. It was anything but. What was contained in that box changed everything. It was the reason for Billy's death, the reason for the strange visitors... and the reason the Cullens and some of the wolves were packing to depart from Forks and La Push. It was the reason Bella and I had to say goodbye to our little girl, not knowing when, I refused to think if, we would see her again. It contained a folded letter, along with a single chess piece – a white queen. The letter itself was a letter addressed to Renesmee and filled with a barrage of Shakespearean quotes. The outside of the letter bore the words; The Terms.

Dearest Renesmee,

You have witchcraft in your lips...

For where thou art, is the world itself, and where thou art not, is desolation.

Come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy, that one short minute gives me in her sight.

I humbly do beseech your pardon, for too much loving you.

Love is too young to know what conscience is.

The web of life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

Love goes by haps; some Cupid kills with arrows, some by traps.

He is winding the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.

Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent.

She is beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is woman and therefore to be won.

The quest to win your hand has begun. No life is too precious an obstacle to stand in the way. All those you know are merely pawns.

~Your hopeful, future King~

She was being hunted, pursued and as the poem stated, sought out as Queen of an unknown and seemingly dangerous self-proclaimed King. Our quest was to protect her, find out who was pursuing her and why they wanted her. We planned to split up. Carlisle and Esme were heading to Europe. Rose and Emmett were going to cover Asia and Africa. Bella and I would be covering North and South America along with Alice and Jasper. We had friends and acquaintances all over the world. Someone, somewhere should know something of the vampire who wanted Renesmee. We decided to locate the vampires we know and investigate their circles of friends and acquaintances. We did not flaunt Renesmee. Her unique nature led some of our kind to think negatively of her. Rumors of her existence spread after our confrontation with the Volturi five years ago. But whoever wrote the letter seemed to know her, or at least have seen her before. He commented on being in her presence. No one but our own small family and our closest friends were aware that Jacob and Nessie had moved to Alaska. Whoever was responsible for this knew where she was. They found her and Jacob and very nearly crossed paths with them several times. So, as it was, we decided to find and question anyone our friends and acquaintances had been in contact with, that might have heard about her recent move.

Most of the wolves would be staying behind in La Push to protect their people. Sam decided to accompany Bella, Alice, Jasper and I, and bring his wife Emily along with him. I wasn't at all sure that Sam would even want his pack involved. A threat to Renesmee did not pose any direct threat to him or his tribe. He assured me that because the vampire had killed on their land his pack would most definitely be involved. They considered the reservation unsafe until the murderer was caught and dealt with. He was also very concerned about Jacob and how devastated he would be if something happened to Renesmee. So, Sam agreed to accompany us, serving as a liaison between the other wolves in La Push and most importantly Jacob and Renesmee.

My heart was heavy when I resigned myself to the fact that it was time to entrust our daughter to his protection.

We woke Jacob shortly after we had opened the box and showed him its contents. In the few years that I have known Jacob I have seen him both angry and upset. I've even seem him fierce and protective. His reaction to this threat was so much more than any of that. He was livid. His eyes narrowed to slits, their dark irises looking for the entire world like they were on fire, holding the black fury of hell. His breathing became rapid and shallow. A low growl rumbled in chest as his natural reaction to danger took over and his large form vibrated as he leapt off of the bed. It took all of his strength and willpower to hold his grip on Nessie's hand without hurting her. He stood there for a long time, glaring at the contents of the box with an expression that would have set them ablaze if it could. As he stood there Sam and I carefully explained our plan.

When he was finally able to speak it was through a tensed and hardened jaw.

"I'll hide her," he spat. As he spoke the box he held snapped and broke, crumpling to pieces under the pressure of his angered grip.

So, to keep Renesmee's whereabouts unknown, Jacob would be going with her into hiding, to protect her from being found and whoever may try to harm her, while we tracked down the vampire responsible. Jacob would be bringing Leah and Seth with him, along with Olivia. The rest of his pack would stay behind in La Push.

While Bella and I were both desperate to be with Renesmee, we both knew that my gift would be much better employed in tracking the monsters responsible for doing this to her than going with her into hiding. Oh, how I loathed the thought of leaving her when she was in danger. As her father my natural instinct was to protect her. Until I met and married Bella and we had our beautiful daughter I had been convinced that I didn't have a soul, that it had been somehow bargained off for immortality and bloodlust when I became what I am now. After the birth of my daughter I began to consider the possibility. Renesmee was, without a doubt, the very essence of all that was good about Bella and me. She was so much a part of both of us… how then could I deny having some semblance of a soul? There must be something. Today more than ever I was convinced, because as I realized the necessity of letting her go I felt like I lost a piece of it. Like some innately good part of me was being pulled away with her. But that is what made the separation worthwhile. She deserved to be happy. She deserved to be safe. Her family was going to see to it that she would be.

Everything was ready, we were set to depart any time, as soon as Renesmee awoke and was ready to travel. Bella, Alice, Jasper, Sam, Emily and I would be accompanying Jacob and Renesmee back to Alaska for a day. Jacob and Nessie would take care of what they had to in order to take time off of school. The rest of us were going to scour the area for any clues the vampire may have left behind. Then we would be saying goodbye and going our separate ways until this puzzle was solved and she was safe, once again.

RPOV

Oooooooohhhhhhh, ugh. I thought. This hurts. My head - why is it so heavy, and so sore? Ohhhh. My entire body feels like it's been pinned down or weighted with sandbags.

My mind was black and swimming... like I was surfacing from somewhere deep. I was surrounded by blackness.

I struggled to open my eyes. The blackness felt so familiar somehow. I struggled to make sense of it. I was beginning to panic. Why couldn't I open my eyes? Could I talk... move? I wasn't sure. I decided to try it out.

"Mmmmmmm..." I felt a very faint vibration as a soft moan made its way up through my throat and past my lips. Ugh, this is going to be harder than I thought. I was trying to ask for my mom. The last thing I remembered was talking to my mom after getting up this morning. I had to get ready to go to Billy's funeral.

So quickly I wasn't sure it happened, I saw a picture flash before my eyes. I couldn't be sure, but it looked like Jacob and I were I huddled together in front of Billy's grave as we held each other. Wow, it seemed so real.

I shook off the thought, knowing that I was probably just anxious to get going to the funeral. I decided to try and move my arms. Why is everything so hard to move? I feel like I'm being held down –

I gasped as the memories came flooding back to me. The funeral. The reception at Sam and Emily's. Paul – I ran away. I went to Billy's. The vampire! I ran again – I was being chased. The blow to my back. The pain… oh all that pain and blackness – and Jake. He was there. He was holding me. I was on the ground, and couldn't move. And then he held me still as we rolled…

I felt the tears begin to roll down my cheeks as the sobs shook my body. Jacob. Where is he? Is he safe? Did the vampire come back? Did they fight? What's wrong with me? He was there. He helped me find my way out of the dark. His light and warmth guided me back, but… it's dark again. Where is he? I need Jake!

I felt warmth in my hand and on my forehead again, followed by flashes of warmth on both of my cheeks, and then a light, but lingering burn on my lips. Jake.

I heard his voice, low and soft. At first it was just a quiet rumbling in my ears, like a train on distant track, but then it got closer and became clearer. I could make out words.

"…going to be ok. I'm right here baby. Ness, can you open your eyes?" His voice came out strongly and steadily. It sounded like he was ok. I breathed a small sigh of relief through my tears at knowing that. I hated thinking that Jake was hurt.

I felt a bit of warm breath wash over my ear as he leaned in to whisper to me, "Don't even give that a second thought right now baby. I'm fine, but I'll be better when you can open up those beautiful brown eyes of yours. Please baby, try again. Open up your eyes." His plea was low and soft and sweet. He punctuated it with a light kiss under my ear as he squeezed my hand.

I tried to feel the muscles in my face. They all felt tight and heavy. I decided that if I couldn't do anything about the weight on them I would try to loosen them up a bit by wiggling them if I could. I concentrated on my mouth first, because I had been able to make noise earlier. Within seconds I felt my lips part and I drew in a clean, crisp breath. Jacob was so close I could almost taste him in the air. Mmmmmm, so good.

That motivated me to try my nose. I worked to wiggle it the tiniest bit, then inhaled a large breath taking in his wonderful and comforting scent of cedar, cut grass and warm sunshine. It was like his warmth resided in every part of him, including his scent. And it woke me further.

Finally I moved on to my eyes. I wanted to see him, to make sure that he was alright.

I tried squeezing them a bit, hoping that when the lids snapped back they would be motivated to separate themselves. I saw a shimmer of light. I tried again. They opened about half way, but I couldn't focus on anything. I flinched a bit as my eyes were flooded from the harsh light. I felt Jacob pull away from me. I huffed, frustrated, and thought about trying to talk again to get him back, but then I heard a light click and felt him move his way back to me.

"I turned off the light. Ness, can you try again? Please. It won't be so bright anymore." He whispered.

The warmth returned to my hand and his scent filled my mind as he returned to sit with me. Inwardly I sighed lightly, feeling frustrated about having to work so hard just to open my eyes.

"You're doing so well Ness, please, just try again," he pleaded. And then he whispered, "I need to know that you're ok. Please. Open your eyes baby."

I couldn't deny him. He was pleading with me, sounding slightly tortured, so I could never refuse him. I would give him anything he wanted if it would take the ache and sadness in his voice away. He had been through so much with me... he suffered and stayed with me.

He saved me. I needed him to be ok too.

And with that, I pushed at the heavy lids again, willing them to open with every ounce of strength I had. And when they did, I was staring straight into the depths of his deep, dark eyes. We were in my grandfather's study, I was in a bed, Jake was with me, and most importantly, he alright.

"Nessie," he whispered and sighed contentedly as he slowly raised his other hand to cup my face. His thumb brushed back and forth over my cheekbone leaving the sweetest trail of warmth behind it wherever he touched.

I leaned in to him, ignoring the dull throb that accompanied the movement. My eyes fluttered shut as I relished the feeling of his warmth and affection.

"Hey," he whispered removing his hand to brush his fingertips lightly over my eyelids. "Don't. I just got you back." He smirked slightly as I reopened my eyes and sighed at him once again.

"Hey," I croaked. My throat was parched and sore. It hurt to speak, and I really could have used something to drink, but there was something I needed to say before I asked for a glass of water. I knew it would probably come out sounding strangled, but I needed to say it none-the-less.

"I love you Jake. Thank you. I couldn't have... I wouldn't have... I," my erratic emotions overrode then, as tears slipped out of my eyes. I was trying to explain that I knew that he had saved me. That there was no way I would have made it out of the darkness without him.

"Oh Ness," he sighed as he leaned in and placed a light kiss on each of my cheeks, kissing away my tears. "Don't cry. I'd do it again, a million times to keep you safe." He leaned back and sighed, closing his eyes. When he opened them again to stare into mine they were full of pain. "It was my fault anyway. I never should have left your side at Sam's. If I had just stayed with you, none of this would have happened."

What? What was he saying? This was all my fault, not his. If I had just stayed to talk with him, or if I had come back here instead of trying to running away... if I had not made him come to Alaska with me. Then none of this would have happened.

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him that he had it all wrong, but all I could manage was a weak squeak. I snapped it shut in frustration and glanced around to see if there was anything to drink nearby.

"Water, love?" I turned to see my father standing at the door holding a tall glass of water, and my mother was clinging to his side staring at me like she was about to burst with relief. They were at my side in no time, kissing my cheeks and hugging me ever so lightly. I took my water and began drinking fervently from the straw. The cold water was refreshing against my dry, hot throat.

My mother spoke first.

"I'm so glad you're ok. I was so afraid I was going to lose you. If it wasn't for Jake..." She stopped, unable to finish. Her face was contorted in what could only be described as pain. If she would have cried she would have been sobbing. My father turned her to face him gently and pulled her into an embrace while lightly kissing the top of her head. He was looking me straight in the eye, his own face full of pain and even a hint of anger. He didn't have to say anything. I knew how upset he was just by looking at him. My heart lurched a little as I acknowledged the pain I had caused my parents by making such a stupid decision.

But I was surprised at their reactions. They hadn't yelled at me, or questioned me endlessly which I had pretty much expected. They were simply showing me how upset they were, and then giving me time to accept it and respond. This wasn't typical of them. I nodded in acknowledgement of my own stupidity and then wondered why it had taken them so long to come up. Surely my father had heard me wake up earlier. They weren't usually so patient.

My father chuckled, low and soft, while shaking his head minutely. He looked at the floor as he spoke. "We thought you might like a minute or two alone," he said cautiously sending both Jake and I fleeting glances.

I blinked rapidly, in shock. I busied myself with my water while trying to sort this new, seemingly understanding and sympathetic side of my father out in my head. Where was all of this tolerance coming from?

I didn't get an answer to my question, however, because at that moment my aunts, uncles and grandparents walked in the door.

Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper hung back by the door, while Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme came to my bedside. Grandpa smiled down at me and began checking the dressings on my head wound while grandma leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before telling me she was going to go downstairs and make Jacob and I something to eat. I nodded and thanked her before turning to look over at Aunt Rosalie who was standing on the opposite side of my bed, frowning at mine and Jacob's hands as they lay together, fingers entwined.

"You will never do that to me again Nessie, do you understand?" she asked, her voice full of reproach. My eyes widened at her tone and I gulped thickly before nodding. Oh crap, she is not happy with me.

Uncle Emmett came up behind her and whispered something in her ear that made her face soften from the hard mask it had been in, at the same time as my father began with his own reproach.

"Rose." He said, his voice as hard as steel.

She glanced up at him and rolled her eyes before turning back to me. Her face was significantly more relaxed. She spoke again, but this time her voice was soft and gentle, especially for my aunt Rosalie. She was never particularly gentle.

"You have no idea what it would cost us to lose you. Don't ever put yourself in danger like that again."

I nodded again, and flushed a bit, ashamed by my own actions. My family would have been horrified if I had disappeared. They would probably have scoured the earth to find me and bring me back, even if I didn't deserve to be found. I had been so clouded with remorse and self-disgust that I hadn't thought my decision through. She was right.

"I'm sorry." I whispered as fresh tears flowed down from eyes. Jake rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb as he frowned, no doubt thinking about our unfinished conversation.

"Good to see you awake, squirt." Uncle Emmett said and smiled before tugging at Aunt Rosalie. They made their way out of the room muttering something about packing to Aunt Alice. She just nodded and then pranced her way over to me before half-sitting on the bed. Uncle Jasper walked slowly up behind her. I felt a subtle wave of calm wash over me that allowed me to control my tears and relax. I smiled lightly at him.

"Thanks." I whispered. He simply winked and smirked at me a little before turning his gaze down to Aunt Alice.

"You should have called." She said, raising an eyebrow at me and pouting slightly. I nodded knowing that Aunt Alice probably would have been a great person to talk to before making such a rash decision. She was the most unbiased when it came to my relationship with Jacob.

"I wasn't thinking clearly. I know, I'm sorry." I sighed and bit my lip as I noticed how supportive everyone was acting. I was truly a horrible person for not considering any of this ahead of time. What was I thinking?

Aunt Alice's tiny, tinkling laugh brought me out of my reverie. I stared up at her in confusion as she looked up at Uncle Jasper.

"We'd better go help Emmett and Rosalie. They're going to have yet another argument about what they're going to need in Africa. I think Emmett wants to wrestle with twenty different kinds of beasts while they're there. He'll have to bring down that number quite a bit. I simply don't have enough time to get him all the extra clothes he's going to need for that."

And with that I heard Aunt Rosalie growl from down the hall while shrieking "What on earth do you think you're going to need that for?"

"Awww, come on babe, it'll be fun," Uncle Emmett replied as Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper made their way out of the room.

I turned to face my father in confusion. "Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett are going to Africa?" I asked. That was odd. They hadn't said anything yesterday. Besides what would any vampire want to do in Africa of all places?

My father's eyes tightened and his face turned down in a grimace as he heard my question. My mother turned to me, her face still sad, but her eyes now full of anger and frustration as well.

"What's wrong?" I whispered, turning to glance at Jake who was looking at the floor with a sneer as a low growl resonated in his chest.

I felt a slight sense of dread staring at my parents and Jake while I waited for them to answer. After everything that happened within the last few days was it possible that the worst was not behind us?

Judging by their collective expressions, I guessed it was possible. I waited, feeling slightly ill, for someone to respond.