Chapter 21

Renesmee's eyes were bright and tired as she looked at her child. Downstairs, she had heard nothing apart from a muted 'Yes!' and 'She's alive'. Besides, all of her attention was rooted to the tiny child in her arms. Very quietly the door to the office opened.

"Renesmee?" Carlisle asked.

Renesmee didn't look up.

"Someone wants to see you. Shall I let them in?" he said quietly.

Renesmee nodded, not taking her eyes from the baby, her baby.

The doctor held the door wide, and Jacob walked in.

"Renesmee," he acknowledged, nodding his head politely.

For the first time since she had seen her daughter, Renesmee looked up.

"Jacob! Oh, Jake, I'm so sorry, I-"

"Stop," he said, holding up one hand, fingers spread. Renesmee's mouth froze halfway through forming a word as she saw Jacob's gesture.

"I'm sorry, Ness. I've been selfish and stupid. I understand how much you loved this Albus, and that you did not intend to hurt me."

Renesmee narrowed her eyes, inspecting Jacob's expression, trying to find a hidden meaning in his words. There was none, so her face softened as she said, "I'm glad, Jake. I would never hurt you on purpose – at least, not emotionally, anyway... – I wish there would be some way I could make it up to you. Seven years of pain don't just disappear in a moment, Jake."

"They do in this case, Ness; that is how much I love you – I forgive you."

Tears began to stream from Renesmee's eyes as the enormity of what Jacob had just done dawned on her. Remembering back to her and her mother's conversation, she said, quietly, "You are the best man I have ever met, Jacob Black. Plus que ma propre vie." More than my own life.

Jacob took several steps closer, until he stood behind Renesmee's shoulder. "She's beautiful," he whispered, his gaze settling on the pale child.

Her hair was nearly black, with strange, glimmering highlights. It stuck up in a similar fashion to Alice's, but much more like a boy's messy hair. That was definitely one of Albus' traits. Carlisle had told Renesmee that he suspected the child's skin was not hard like a vampire's, that the child was more human than immortal. However, its heartbeat was still unnaturally fast. Not quite the 192 bpm of Renesmee's vital organ, but more of a 136. Her skin was soft and pale, cheeks flushed ruby red with the fresh blood flowing through her veins. Whenever she opened her eyes, they were a bright, brown-green, bordering on a hazel.

"I know," Renesmee replied, brushing back a strand of hair from the babe's forehead.

"What will you call her?" Jacob asked softly, but Renesmee's response was interrupted by Alice dancing into the room.

"I cannot believe you, Renesmee Carlie Cullen! You're making me a great aunt! Eugh!"

She made a face.

Renesmee grinned, finally feeling her spirits rise. The birth of the newest member of the Cullen family was like an enormous black cloud had been lifted from her head, and she could finally see the beautiful land she stood in, and the sunlight shining down upon her. Everybody else suddenly entered the room, cramming themselves in. Everyone crowded around Renesmee's bed, forming a tight circle of family and friends. Rosalie barged to the front and held her arms open wide.

"Please?" she whispered very quietly.

Renesmee smiled, and handed the girl to her aunt.

"Alice?" she asked. "I need to talk to you."

The pixie-faced vampire stepped out from the crowd and helped Renesmee out of bed. Renesmee led her a long way out into the forest, where she used to sit and talk with Jake before she ran away, to two moss-covered logs. Together they sat and Renesmee said, "Explain everything, please. And don't leave anything out."