Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight nor the song Daybreak. I am only borrowing them from Meyer and Digby.

A line from Twilight was used in this chapter.

A/N: I know I'm months overdue with this update, and I'm so, so sorry. Work and my muse missing caused my writer's block. And there is absolutely no way I am going to produce a crappy chapter just to have a new one to post. So again, I am truly sorry for the delay. I do hope there are still some people reading this.

Thank you to Katmom, CoreenM and Savannah-Vee for beta'ing this chapter.

Chapter 25

Snap Decision

"What about the treaty?" Jacob asked as he and Bella sat in his garage.

"I know that it is very much solid, intact. But… in my dream some things happened that had forced the… transformation," Bella hesitantly revealed. She avoided looking at Jake, so she was playing with the hem of her shirt.

"What kind of things?" Jacob narrowed his eyes at Bella.

"I can't tell you much." Bella looked at her friend pleadingly.

"Why not?"

"Because you'll get pissed, then you'll end up phasing. And when you do, everything I tell you will be public information. And we can't have that," Bella said adamantly.

"Well, if it's about the treaty, everyone definitely needs to know." Jacob's tone rose.

Bella sighed. She was afraid this would happen. She knew she shouldn't have said anything. However, she thought maybe it wouldn't cause too much drama with the pack if she did. After all, they already tampered with so much, what's one more?

"I can't discuss this with you now. I have to talk to Edward and the Cullens about this. Give me a couple of days," Bella requested.

"Why do you need their permission?" Jake brusquely asked.

"I don't. It's just… they're a part of this too."

"Then talk to them after." It was evident that Jacob was getting pissed.

"Jacob, please."

Jake breathed in deeply to calm himself. "Fine. But even if they say you can't tell me anything, you know I'll still hound you for it. You can't just start a conversation where you mention the treaty and not give me all the information. I'm surprised you even know about it in the first place." Jacob huffed.

"I don't know a lot, just a few key points." Bella bit her lip.

"A few key points, right," Jacob echoed.

Silence enveloped them as Jacob went back to assessing the bikes. Bella didn't bring up the treaty again. She stuck to more neutral topics like school, music, the motorcycles' repair, until it was time for her to leave.

Jacob walked her out to her truck. And when Bella got in, he reminded her of the talk they would be having in a few days as he shut the driver door closed.

"I know." Bella nodded. "Oh, by the way, promise Billy will never find out who gave you those bikes."

"Why?"

"Because if he does, he'll tell Charlie. And if Charlie knows, he'll ground me," said Bella.

Jacob had to laugh. "You run around with vampires and wolves, yet you're scared of Charlie grounding you?"

"If I'm grounded, I won't be able to tell you things."

"Right." Jacob grimaced.

"Just promise me, Jake," Bella insisted.

"I promise," Jacob relented.

"No matter what."

"Sure, sure."

Bella nodded then, accepting Jacob's words. She waved to him after turning the ignition, and she began the drive back home.

As soon as she was back on the road, she saw a silver Volvo trailing behind her. She had to smile; she pulled over and got out.

Edward did the same.

"What is it?" Bella asked.

"Why do you want to talk to us about the treaty? What are you planning on doing, Bella?" Edward asked hurriedly.

"How do you even know—" Bella was surprised at the manic anxiety she was hearing from Edward.

"Alice told me, told all of us. She wanted us to be ready when you came over," Edward answered Bella's unfinished question.

"Can we talk about this later? I need to go home to make dinner for Charlie."

Edward sighed, relented. "All right, I'll follow you."

With that, the pair headed back to the Swan residence.

They parked their vehicles, and Bella walked straight toward the front door. Just as she had unlocked it, she noticed that Edward was still at the bottom of the porch steps.

Bella looked back at him. "What's wrong now?"

Edward gave her a smirk. "What will you tell your father if he finds me in the house with you? Alone."

"Oh." Bella bit her lip as she walked back to Edward.

Edward reached up and pulled on her chin, making her release her bottom lip.

"What do you want me to tell him? Or should I even tell him anything at all?" Bella was staring into Edward's golden eyes, trying to watch for any indication of his answer.

"I think you should tell him that you have a boyfriend." Edward flinched at the term.

"You don't look like you want to be called that." Bella was curious as to why he seemed to balk at the term. She started to doubt if he wanted the relationship that came along with the label.

"It is such a trivial title, don't you think?" Edward asked with a smirk.

"So you don't want to be my boyfriend," Bella concluded.

Edward moved closer to Bella, encircling his arms around her waist. "That's not what I meant. I just don't think it fits me. I believed we would be something more."

Bella relaxed with Edward's gesture. "We are. But 'boyfriend' has to be enough for now. Besides, I can't exactly tell Charlie that I dreamt of being married to you, now can I? He'd probably try to shoot you."

Edward chuckled at that. "It's a good thing I'm bulletproof."

Bella moved back slightly, a surprised look on her face.

"What?" Edward asked, his brows furrowed.

Bella began to smile, and she slowly shook her head.

"Something from a dream?" Edward smirked.

"Yes. I said the same thing when—" She cut herself off, not wanting to scare romantic Edward away.

"When…" Edward prodded.

"You don't want to know. Not now at least." Bella took a step back, making Edward release her from his hold. "I should go. I'll try to come by your house soon so I can have that talk with everyone."

"Still no chance I can convince you to tell me what that will be about?" Edward took a step closer, causing Bella to take a step back.

"Nope." Bella was smiling.

"All right, I can just ask Alice," he said as he started moving toward his car.

"No!" Bella rushed toward her boyfriend and tripped. Edward was there in a flash, catching her quickly before she hit the sidewalk.

Bella looked up at him as he carefully helped her back on her feet. "Thanks." Her cheeks were red from embarrassment.

Edward caressed her face. "I'll behave. I'll wait until you're ready."

"Thank you." Bella breathed a sigh.

Edward was once again moving back toward the Volvo. Bella was by his side this time around since he was still holding onto her. "I'll drive the car home and just run back here after your dinner."

"Okay." Bella nodded.

Edward kissed her forehead before he got in his car and drove off. Bella, on the other hand, went back in the house to start cooking.

Charlie came home just as Bella was placing a plate of pork chops on the table.

"Hey, Bella, that smells good," Charlie commented as he removed his gun holster.

"Just in time for dinner, Dad." Bella sat down after getting a pack of salad greens from the fridge.

After both had settled into the seats, they began to dig in.

"How was your day?" Charlie decided to make some small talk.

"It was okay. I spent some time with Angela Webber," Bella told her father.

"That's good. You're able to catch up at school?"

"Yup," Bella said, her head bobbing. "Um, Dad?"

Charlie only glanced at Bella.

"Is it okay if I go over to the Cullens' on Friday?" Bella asked. She figured it would be best to have that talk on the weekend. Then she wouldn't have to worry about having to get some homework done while discussing how best to tell the wolves about complications with the vampires. She had to hold her breath to stop herself from laughing out loud with the absurdity of it all. Only in Forks…

Charlie quickly put his fork down, worry etched on his face. "Is there something wrong? Do you need to talk to Dr. Cullen?"

"What?" Bella looked at her father and noticed the panicked expression on his face. She swiftly tried to reassure him. "Oh," she exhaled. "I'm fine. Alice invited me for a sleepover. She wanted to call you to ask for your permission, but I told her that wasn't necessary." Bella knew the petite vampire would see the fib she chose to go with. And if Charlie became suspicious, Alice would probably call to make sure that Bella wasn't caught in the lie.

"Alice? The doc's daughter?" Charlie questioned.

"Uh huh." Bella confirmed.

"I didn't know you were friends with her."

Bella started playing with the food on her plate. "Well, with everything that happened, I didn't know if people were trying to be friends with me for real, or just wanted to get the dirt about my stay at the hospital." She mumbled her whole speech, however, Charlie heard everything.

"I'm sorry, Bells." He was looking straight at her. After the scare he had of almost losing his only daughter, Charlie tried to overcome his fear of showing emotions. Bella deserved to know she was loved. And an accident like the one she had was ammo enough to make a person change.

Bella shook her head. "Alice approached me, and I knew she wasn't there for the gossip. She already knew what went on. She's become a really good friend."

Charlie smiled at that. "The Cullens are good people, and their kids are well behaved and polite. They would definitely not approach you just to gossip. They're more mature than that. We're lucky that Dr. Cullen, more importantly his wife, decided to live here. He's a great surgeon who could work at any hospital, and yet they chose Forks."

"I'm glad you think that way. So it's okay that I stay there Friday night?" Bella looked at her father hopefully.

"Yes, it's fine. That would probably be the safest house aside from here, because your doctor would be there." Charlie then started to resume eating.

Bella bit her lip to keep herself from grinning. Yes, the Cullen house was definitely one of the safest places to be.

oOoOo

"Why can't we have a real sleepover?" Alice asked as she sat at their usual lunch table the following day.

"Well, one, you don't sleep—" Emmett began to answer for Bella, but he stopped when he saw the glare Alice was throwing his way.

"No one sleeps at sleepovers, Emmett, at least they try not to," Alice explained irately.

She then returned her gaze to Bella. "Well?"

"We can, after. But no makeovers," replied Bella.

"What? But that's the whole point! Please, Bella, I've never had a real friend I could work on," Alice begged.

"Bella doesn't need a makeover, Alice. Stop making her feel guilty," Edward scolded.

"I didn't mean she's not pretty, Edward. Of course she is. I just wanted to enhance her beauty more. Something which I'm sure you'll be very appreciative of," Alice bit back.

"If she doesn't want it, stop trying to force her," Edward retorted.

"Um, guys, I'm right here." Bella looked at the two.

Edward smiled back at her, then reached out to hold her hand. For a minute, Bella was only staring back at him.

"Earth to Bella, hello." Alice waved her hand in front of her friend's face impatiently.

Bella shook her head to come out of the daze she was in. "Sorry, Alice."

Emmett's booming laugh sounded in the cafeteria. Jasper was trying his best to hold in his laughter when he began to feel the embarrassment making itself known through Bella's red cheeks.

"Wow, I've seen Edward dazzle people, but I thought you would've been immune to it by now, Bella," Rosalie said with a smile.

"Apparently not," Bella mumbled.

"I think it's completely enchanting," Edward answered.

Bella made a face akin to amusement and disgust. "Enchanting?" Then she smiled. "Be careful using old-fashioned words, Cullen. People might get suspicious."

Emmett and Jasper guffawed at that. "I can't believe you noticed that, Bella," Jasper said.

"Yeah, watch out for that one, old man." Emmett couldn't help teasing Edward.

oOoOo

Come Friday afternoon, Alice went to Bella's house to meet Charlie. The vampire wanted to make a good impression on the chief, for future "sleepovers".

She helped Bella pack for the weekend. After some psychic checking, Alice figured she might as well give her brother a few stress-free nights to spend with Bella.

"Seriously, Bella. Is this all there is?" Alice motioned to the meager pile of clothes atop the purple bed.

"Was in a coma, remember? These were the clothes I brought with me from Arizona. I thought I'd just buy more when I got here after I tested out the weather," Bella replied.

"After you tested out…" Alice was shaking her head, looking at Bella like another head was sprouting off her neck. "Bella, you don't buy clothes based on the weather. You might as well wear an insulated sack if that was the case." Alice quickly started dumping clothes into an overnight bag. "That settles it. We are going shopping this weekend. I should go tell Charlie." She then flitted out of the room, leaving Bella to look after her with trepidation.

What did I get myself into? Bella thought as she went down the stairs, holding her bag in one hand, her backpack in the other.

"I promise we'll be safe, Charlie. Rosalie will definitely want to join us, and where she goes, Emmett will too. And if she's bringing Emmett, he'll want reinforcements, so Jasper and Edward will be going too." Alice threw in a giggle for good measure. "The guys hate it when we go shopping and they have to trail behind us to carry our bags."

"Alice, no guy wants that." Charlie chuckled. "But it would be good if they go with you. Safety in numbers and all."

"I'm glad you agree, Charlie. Though if you had said no, we could just order stuff online. But I was thinking, Bella needs to go out more," Alice said.

Charlie nodded, before noticing Bella. "You ready to go, Bells?"

"Yeah, Dad, I've got my phone with me so if you need anything, just give me a call," Bella answered.

"Shouldn't that be the other way around?" Charlie asked, amused.

Bella rolled her eyes. Alice clapped her hands. "Okay. It was really nice meeting you, Charlie." She turned to give the police chief a quick hug.

Charlie, not being used to the physical attention exhaled loudly and returned the gesture albeit awkwardly. "It was nice meeting you too, Alice."

The two teens started going out the door. Charlie stayed at the porch to bid them goodbye. "Have fun this weekend, Bells."

Bella looked back at her dad. "I will. Stay safe, Dad."

"Always do."

oOoOo

"We're really not going shopping, are we?" Bella asked as they drove toward the Cullen house.

"Of course, we are," Alice assured her as she kept her eyes on the road.

Bella could only groan.

"Don't be such a killjoy, Bella. You'll enjoy it. Edward's coming with us," Alice said, then her voice quieted as she mumbled to herself. "Like I'll be able to pry him off you the entire weekend."

"What was that?" Bella looked at her friend.

"Nothing." Alice grinned as she parked the car in the driveway.

Before Bella could even unbuckle her seatbelt, Edward was already outside opening the door for her.

"A little too impatient, are we?" Alice ragged.

Edward only looked at Alice, as if asking silently, "so?"

Alice only shook her head as she went into the house.

That night, everyone was gathered at the Cullens' dining room. Carlisle was seated at the head of the table, Esme to his right. Edward was at his left, Bella right beside Edward. Across Bella was Rosalie, Emmett to his wife's left. At the other end of the table was Jasper, and Alice was on Bella's other side, completing the circle.

"All right, Bella. What did you want to talk to us about?" Carlisle began.

Bella breathed deeply. "I know this is all based on my dream, but… I was wondering if we should tell Jacob about Renesmee."

As soon as the name flew from Bella's lips, Edward was instantly standing. "No, absolutely not!"

Bella looked at him calmly, already expecting the reaction from her beloved. "Let me finish, please."

Edward took an unnecessary breath and sat back down. He was staring at Bella, trying to understand what was going through her head despite the silence he was enduring.

Rosalie was fuming and almost had the same response as Edward. It was only because Emmett noticed the hold she had on the chair, and he was preventing her from bolting from her seat.

Jasper knew he would be needed, thanks to Alice's vision. He was at the moment sending calming waves through his whole family.

Bella turned to Jasper, causing him to blink in surprise. It was apparent that Bella felt what he was doing.

She started to talk once more. "I didn't mean to tell him about what Renesmee would mean to him, if she would even be born."

Rosalie gasped.

Bella faced the blonde vampire. "We don't know for sure what will happen, Rosalie. We could have her, we could not, right Carlisle?" Bella turned to the coven's head, waiting for him to agree with her.

"Well, scientifically, Bella's right. It'll be a one in a million chance for us to have the same Renesmee."

"And if we're basing this on non-scientific possibilities?" Rosalie countered.

"We can't tell. If we would base it on the possibility that Bella does possess an ability to see the future through her dreams, then having Renesmee could come true," Carlisle stated.

Rosalie seemed smug after that.

But then, Carlisle continued. "However, if Renesmee being born would come true, then it would also mean that she will be Jacob's imprint."

"Damn it!" Rosalie yelled.

Edward didn't utter a word, but if the way he was grasping the table was any indication, he was livid.

"We can't have it both ways," Carlisle softly told everyone.

"No, we can't." Bella's lips were pressed in a thin line.

"Well, what are we here to discuss then? I say we don't tell Jacob about Renesmee at all," Rosalie declared.

"Whether it's Renesmee or not, there is something that I think we should inform the wolves about. Call this a preventive measure." Bella began to nibble on her lip.

Alice leaned back in her seat. "I'm with you on this, Bella." She obviously had a vision of what Bella wanted to do.

Everyone was waiting for Bella to continue. She looked at Edward before speaking. "If it does happen, me getting pregnant with a half–vampire baby," Bella was blushing from head to toe. "In my dream, that's what triggered everything; the fight with the wolves, the fight with the Volturi…. So, if it does happen again, don't you think we should let the Quileutes know ahead of time, to prevent the split and all that turmoil with Sam and the others? Because what if it doesn't get resolved the same way? What if they do engage you in a fight?

"Then we fight," Emmett voiced gleefully.

"No," Esme countered, scowling at Emmett's eagerness.

"I have to concur with Bella," Jasper said. "It is best that we are all informed of what to expect. If the Volturi do come here, and the wolves get themselves involved, it would be better if they have the knowledge that we do." He knew it was always an advantage to have more information than the enemy.

"If it means avoiding trouble with the tribe, then I think they should be told," Esme seconded.

"That's four yeses already." Alice counted. "What do you say, guys?"

Rosalie pursed her lips. "As long as no one mentions Renesmee and imprinting in the same sentence, then I'll go with whatever you decide."

Emmett shrugged. "A brawl would've been fun, but with the enormity of the risks, I vote for telling them."

"Edward?" Carlisle called his son.

Bella looked at him worriedly.

"I'm not happy with having to tell them about my and Bella's relationship since it's no business of theirs. But," Edward exhaled loudly. "I can also see how it would help to avoid any complications," he admitted though he hated having to do so.

"So it's settled then. We tell the wolves," Carlisle concluded.

"Only about what happened in Bella's dream regarding the division in the pack and what brought it on. But nothing, and I mean NOTHING about Renesmee," Edward adamantly insisted.

"Understood." Carlisle nodded.

"So, when do we talk to them?" Emmett questioned.

"Right now." Bella pulled out her mobile phone to dial Jacob's number.