Mother

Renesmee was my…daughter.

Edward and I had gotten to Moscow over fourteen hours ago and were now in the vast forests of Russia where I was hoping to find Renesmee. Edward had met Natasha a couple of hours ago when we found her near Kirov. She was very surprised to see me so soon again after I had only parted with her two years ago. Just like every other vampire, she was trapped in her twenty two year old form and didn't change. Long black hair about the same size as mine and a heart shaped face with glowing ruby eyes; I figured she had just hunted. Like all the other friends we had sent back, I and Edward told her nothing but to go to Forks and wait for us there. She agreed.

Alice called just one hour ago as well and informed us that Carlisle and Esme were on their way back with Benjamin and Tia. I was overjoyed to find out that all that Carlisle had to say was "Bella needs help" and they were on their way. I couldn't wait to reunite with Benjamin; I hadn't seen him in about eight or so years. Rosalie and Emmett tracked down the Amazon's and together with them were now looking for Amara. They had also found two more American nomads called Mary and Randall. The more the merrier I thought happily as Edward and I moved like wind over the snow covered fields of the forest.

I was starting to get worried. I had picked up her scent a couple of hundred miles away when we started our pursuit. Renesmee smelt wonderful. It was actually a mix of lilac and lavender with a hint of what actually seemed to be human blood. To vampires of course she wouldn't smell delicious in the food way but rather mesmerizing. How was I going to tell Edward? I lied to him the very first time I met him again although back then he was lucky I told him anything at all. I wondered if he would hold it against me. He really had no reason to. I didn't like thinking about him that way but once he killed innocent humans that he believed to be monsters. Humans that preyed on others to satisfy their dark needs of theft, and sex; he cast judgment over them and thought he was doing good deeds. I was glad he realized long ago that it was the opposite.

We were still passing through the snow covered trees as my daughters scent grew stronger. We passed a heard of wolves on the way that quickly retreated into what seemed to be an undercover cave. That alone proved that these animals were much more advanced than humans. When they see us they run and hide but humans come to us like fish to a pole. I allowed my hearing to reach out into the distance using the wind that was howling furiously in our path and heard her footsteps. She wasn't running but rather just walking. I was excited to see her more than any other of my friends. I was mad at myself for leaving her here but Russia she said was her home, and so didn't want to leave with me.

As we were closing in on her I started to yell her name. My call was loud and it startled Edward but didn't interrupt his speed, and he continued to keep up. I heard her walk come to an end as she spun around fast while small snow crystals flew up in the air, and landed gently back on the ground. Even Edward should be able to hear her now. I called out again, and just as I did I heard her advancing into our direction fast. She must have recognized my voice and was eager to see me again I hoped as I came to a stop. Edward stopped next to me and fixed his gaze on the trees, waiting for the inbound vampire. A smile cracked the corners of my face and I was a bit nervous but also anxious to see her. As if I had given a command, Renesmee popped out from between the trees that she jerked back violently and took in my sight. She was so beautiful. She had bronze colored hair just like Edward that fell down almost all the way to her rear. It started out a bit straight at the top but slowly turned into an ocean of curls until it touched her tips. Her hair circled her beautiful heart shaped face with full lips and big glowing citrine colored eyes. She was a vegetarian, and I was glad to know that she kept up our strange diet. Her excited and marble face turned bright and a big wide open mouth smile appeared. She flung at me.

"BELLA" she sang happily as she took me to the snow covered ground. She buried her face in my chest and moved her cheek up and down while taking in my scent. I laughed and patted her head, and drew circles on her back.

"Renesmee, it is so good to see you again sweetie" I said with an almost sobbing voice. The last time I saw her was when I saw Natasha as well. I always felt so bad that she would stay out here all alone but that's what she wanted, and I couldn't deny her.

"I have missed you so much Bella" she sang while I dragged us off the ground to stand. She wouldn't release me and continued to hold me tight against her. Renesmee was about sixteen or seventeen in human years and was half a head shorter than me but still taller than Alice.

"I've missed you too. Can I introduce you to somebody honey?" I asked adoring my daughter. Renesmee looked up and at Edward who was smiling brilliantly and chucked at the happy reunion he was watching. He closed in on us and stuck out his hand to greet Renesmee.

"Hello Renesmee, I'm Edward Cullen. I'm very pleased to meet you. Any friend of Bella's is also a friend of mine" he said in his seductive voice. Renesmee furred her ever so delicate eyebrows at the word "friend" but eventually smiled and took his hand to shake. "Oh God" I groaned mentally. This was going to get very interesting.

"It's nice to meet you Edward but I'm not just Bella friend, I'm also her da…" I interrupted her.

"…DA..DA…DANCER! "WHAT? I groaned mentally again. YOU ARE PATHETIC" Yeah…there was a time…when…I was like really…you know…really, trying to learn how to…waltz…a..a...and t..TANGO, you know. Yeah…and Renesmee, here, was great. So yeah, friend and…Dancer..err…dancing partner" I blabbed. YOU IDIOT! Dancing partner? What the hell is wrong with you? Seventy years of lies and deception and you couldn't come up with anything better than that? I smiled weakly.

Renesmee and Edward both looked at me as if I had gone mad. I just smiled and repeated "Dancing partner…ha…yeah…" and looked at Renesmee. Oh for the love of everything that's holy, I was pitiful. I continued to embrace Renesmee sideways as she did me while we stood in front of a confused Edward.

"Dancing partner?" he murmured suspiciously. Why was I such a horrendous liar every time I got nervous? I mean I could have said best friend, or…I don't know….partner in crime..something! Oh God. My mind won't even work right at this point.

I sighed and looked at Renesmee. I really didn't want to know what he would say but eventually would have to tell him. I stroked Renesmee's soft diamond like cheek and placed a kiss to her forehead. If Edward was confused before I wondered how he would feel now. What I wouldn't give to have Jasper's power right now or better yet, Edward's.

"Renesmee do you mind giving me and Edward a moment?" I asked trembling. She looked at me surprised and pressed herself closer to me. She was most likely afraid that I was going to disappear again. I always felt bad for leaving her here along but it's what she wanted and I couldn't stay in Russia. Snow! That is all I'm saying.

"I'm not going anywhere okay sweetheart? Just run about…oh…thirty or so miles north; where we came from and we'll catch up with you in a minute okay?" I tried to persuade her. She sighed and slowly released me. It was truly a heartbreaking notion. I could have stayed with her but there was just something within in me that wouldn't allow it. I loved Renesmee. I loved her almost as much as I did Edward. I didn't know if I could leave her after all of this again. Every time it became harder, and harder.

"You'll be there?" she asked in small voice. I just wanted to slam her back into my arms and never let go of her again. I nodded with a huge smile which I hoped reassured her. She smiled back in a sad gesture and made her way to where Edward and I had come from. She didn't let go off my hand until she was too far away to reach, and she disappeared into the trees. I turned to Edward who was scrutinizing my face with an impatient furrowing of his brows. I looked back into the direction Renesmee just disappeared in and smiled before I started the upcoming horror.

"Beautiful; isn't she?" I asked in a voice full of adornment and longing to hug her again. Edward took a second before he answered.

"Y..Yes, she is. Is there something wrong?" he asked curious. No. This wasn't the way to start this conversation. I had to begin elsewhere.

"Would you mind to hear her story without interruptions?" I asked turning my violets back onto Edward. I was hoping he would go for it otherwise he might not understand. He was taken off guard by the sudden change of mood in the atmosphere but nodded his head.

"Sure. Anything you want love" he smiled hesitantly. Here goes…

"Renesmee was born about sixty six years ago, here in Russia. During her birth there were certain complications and unfortunately her mother didn't make it. She had had gotten into a fatal car accident the night before Renesmee was born and broke her spine. The doctors in the hospital performed a C-Section to save Renesmee and it was a very close call. Her father told her later that her mother held her only once before she died; smiling, and whispering the name she wanted her daughter to have. Her life didn't get any better after that "I breathed heavily". Her father was absolutely disgusted by her. He saw her as a monster because she was the one that took his beloved wife away from him. I can't even begin to describe the hatred and resentment that Renesmee felt every time he would look at her. When she was about eight years old her father couldn't take not having his wife anymore, and eventually hung himself. He wanted to join his beloved wife, Renea, in the afterlife, and left Renesmee alone in this world. There was no place she could go and she had no other known relatives, so naturally she was put in an orphanage" I finished. I had to take another big gulp of air before I went on.

"That didn't go so well either. She was beaten, stolen from, and dare I say that the only thing that didn't happen to her was sexual abuse. I swear if that would have occurred I would hunt that monster down and torture him just like I did the children of the moon the day I lost Riley" I hissed the last sentence. Edward swallowed noticeably but remained silent. I went on.

"When she was seventeen years old the school decided to take all the children including Renesmee on a road trip. It was cold that day, and snowing uncontrollably. The weather report didn't even mention this but it was too late to turn back for them and they were close to their final destination and decided to make it there; or at least try. Predictably the bus slid on the ice that was covered up by the snow and the bus spun out of control and crashed. A piece of glass punctured Renesmee's stomach as the bus rolled down the hill but eventually came to a stop. She was dying; fast" I almost sobbed. This next part was the most horrible one, and something I lied to Edward about the very first day I had met him again.

"Renesmee told me that she remembered somebody entering the bus. After that, pain, and then she also remembers being carried! I think you know what happened after that" I finished my daughter's tale editing the last part. I was on the verge of breaking down and crying. If only I had hunted that day… Edward strode over to me and hugged me close to his chest.

"That's a sad story Bella but then again, so are all of ours. It's natural to feel sorry for her" he whispered. I didn't hug him back but just let him hold me. He didn't know but I would illuminate him.

"You're not the monstrosity that turned her Edward" I confessed. Edward who was rubbing my back suddenly froze. Yes! I was the one that turned her and just like Edward was a son to Carlisle, Renesmee was a daughter to me; her maker. Edward leaned out of the hug and grabbed my shoulders to look at me horrified. I looked at him trembling.

"I was…in the nearby woods hunting when I heard the crash. I ran to investigate and found the bus. I took of the door and looked inside and saw her lying at the very front of the bus, whimpering. Renesmee doesn't remember this but she pleaded me with teary eyes to save her. And then…" I stopped and started to cry my dry tears. I couldn't look at Edward anymore. The shame was far too great so I hung my head.

"…I smelled her blood and couldn't help myself. I just…I….bit down and for the first time in my vampire life tasted human blood. It was so sweet. The drops and flows of the blood as it washed down my throat…oh, I remember every micro second of it. It was the first time I ever saw myself for the demon that I was" I spoke with a broken and hysteric voice. Edward crushed me back against his chest.

I was hysteric. Loud sobs escaped my throat as I dug my fingernails into Edward's sides. I was a monster and had taken Renesmee's future away from her. I trapped her in an immortal seventeen year old form. I had only been a vampire for twenty years and was still practicing my control but as soon as I took in her intoxicating aphrodisiac which was her blood; I had already bitten her.

"I'm sorry Edward. I know I lied when I told you all I had never tasted human blood but…but it was...just too…" I attempted to explain. Edward hushed me and pressed the side of my face closer to his chest. I continued to sob loudly, and sunk to the ground in Edward's arms again.

"It's okay Bella. Please, I was happy you told me anything at all that day. Please love…stop. I…I can't bear this. Everybody falls of the wagon now and again. Take comfort in the fact that you didn't kill her altogether. I know you might think this is worse than death but…at least…well, you're like a mother to her Bella. Sort of like Esme but different in the sense that you and Renesmee are technically related by the venom you unintentionally used to turn her. Like Laurent did with you" he said pained. I knew that if I was in pain he would be too, and vice versa. I turned my face and buried it in Edward's neck while I continued to cry. His words did comfort me somewhat but not enough. I would never be the mother that Esme was. Instead of staying with her I left her behind to follow my own selfish vendettas. I would never leave her again! Even if it meant moving to Russia and living in the wilderness that was her home; I wouldn't go anywhere, not without her. I loved her far too much to leave again. I wondered if Edward felt like this before he left me.

"Bella" a small voice ringed from behind me. I jerked around and out of Edwards arms and saw my lovely daughter with an equally despaired expression that I must have had. Did she just hear everything I said?

"Renesmee…what? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to run and wait for us" I managed to croak. She shook her head and approached me while I was still sitting on the ground crying small tears. I couldn't let her see me like this. I always came off as strong and as a role model to her. But now, I seemed to be just as emotionally scarred as she was. Her past had hurt her so much, kind of like mine had nearly annihilated me when Edward left.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't help myself. Bella please…please don't. I have never had anybody until you came into my life. I really don't oppose to the life that you have given me unwillingly but rather embrace it. I love you Bella. You have been a friend, sister, and more importantly a mother to me. You have nurtured me, and you are my everything. I always hated staying out here on my own and not going with you but this place has always called out to me. My home, I guess, here were my origin lies. BUT NO MORE!! I want to go with you Bella. I want to see what you have seen. I want to spend every day with you…mo…momma" she smiled and began to cry herself. Renesmee's words stunned me. She actually wanted to go with me and wanted me around. She knelt down unto the ground and threw herself into my chest and began to sob hysterically. Like Edward was my everything, Renesmee told me that I was hers. Today was a day to remember.

I encircled her in my embrace and made sure there was no air passing between us. I kissed the top of her head vigorously and stroked the side of her face with my finger tips as our embrace continued. Between the cries I suddenly wondered if Carlisle would have room for one more in his house. If he didn't I would leave with Renesmee and I was sure that Edward would follow. I loved the Cullen's, more than anything. Every single one of them but Renesmee was special to me. I loved her as much as I did Edward. I always thought of her lovingly as my little baby girl.

The instant I thought of Edward's name he closed his arms around me and Renesmee and forced us into his chest. He rested his head on top of mine while he rubbed our shoulders gently and slow.

We could pass for one I thought amused between sobs. My heart shaped face and Edward's hair and nose. Renesmee could pass for our biological child easily. We sure could pass for a real family. Renesmee then spoke up for the first time after what seemed like a life age.

"My answer is yes by the way, of course I'll help you" she said in a broken tone. What was she talking about? Did she know about the confrontation? But how? Without moving out of our position I was about to ask how when Edward chuckled and answered her question.

"She seemed to have tested her reflection capabilities and bounced my telepathy of her shield back to me. She couldn't get through your mind but instead saw in mine why we came in the first place" he answered. I smiled. I felt a sudden surge of pride within me. She continued to practice with her shield and seemed to have made progress with the reflection portion of it. A shield I might have passed down to her, I hugged her closer.

"Thank you darling" I whispered and kissed her head again.

"No. Thank you" she whispered back. What was she talking about now I speculated?

"For what?" I asked confused.

"For fulfilling one of my dream or better to say yearnings Bella. I've always wanted to stand by your side ready to defend and protect you like you have always done with me. Together, you and I; a team" she cried.

"Oh baby" I returned the cry and rubbed her back. Just like Edward, I didn't seem to deserve Renesmee. But I wasn't going to go into a state of self pity now. No! Even with impending doom on our hands; although I began to think more and more that we were going to win I was going to enjoy this long awaited moment. I seemed to have everything I've ever wanted, even things I didn't know I wanted until I had them. My family, my Edward, and my beautiful and lovely daughter, they were all mine, and I was all theirs.

I didn't know who I was saying this to since I was unsure of my own believes but I couldn't help myself as I looked up to the sky in gratitude.

"Thank you…" I whispered.

I chuckled between cries. It started to rain again….

~*~

(Authors Note) – Hey guys, so I hope you enjoyed yet another chapter of Lunar Eclipse. I hope you're not disappointed that Renesmee didn't turn out to be Edward and Bella's biological child but that wouldn't have made sense though as some of you might have noticed. I hope you guys still like it though. By the way, the chapter after the next will be the revealing of Bella's talent. I hope (that seems to be my word of the day ;)) you guy won't be disappointed but should know that her power was planned even before the prologue was written :). So have a good week and please as always, review.