Hey readers! As always thank you for the reviews, please keep them coming. After reading them I noticed that there was quite a divide in emotions: Some felt sorry for Renesmee while others felt more drawn to the pain felt by the Cullens. I'm glad that everyone isn't on the same page, a difference of opinions is a good thing, it keeps people reading and commenting. Now, let's get this ball rolling…
Renesmee POV
I reached the door, looking at Sam over my shoulder, who motioned for me to continue. I smiled a weak one and knocked gently on the door. I could hear gentle movement behind the door before it opened.
"Hi… papa," His eyes beamed with happiness. He waved to Sam and embraced me, and regardless of what had gone on in the last few days, I couldn't do anything but hug him back.
"Come in sweetheart," I followed him through the door and watched as he closed it behind me. In the ride from Sam's to my home I was having the biggest inner battle of my life. The time to be angry was over, the time to think of only my hurt, no longer and the only way that was going to happen would be to start over; this time, however, with my eyes wide open with all of the cards on the table.
"Are you hungry Renesmee, I know it's quite early but still,"
"No thank-you, I wouldn't mind a hot drink though. Is anyone else awake?"
"I get the feeling that everyone will be down shortly, let's just say that everyone has been quite restless."
"I know I have a lot of explaining and apologizing to do because of my actions,"
"You are not alone in that Renesmee, but for right now let us not talk about this okay?" I nodded, relieved at that moment but knowing full well that I couldn't avoid the inevitable, simply prolong it.
"Renesmee, the kettle is boiling, why don't you make your drink while I go upstairs and get changed?"
"If Edward and Bella are awake, would you mind asking them to come downstairs? I want to see and talk to everyone but I- well," he put his hand up, silencing me,
"I understand, I'm sure they'll be down very shortly,"
I finished making my tea and brought it over to the couch, I placed it on the table and walked over to the bookshelf, retrieving the photo album that Rosalie was looking at the night that she and I talked, and waited anxiously for my parents. I heard footsteps along the stairs, though barely audible, and called out to them.
"I'm in here," My stomach lurched, my heartbeat increased, thumping roughly in my chest. They came into view, Bella first, with Edward but a half a step behind her. I rose when they entered and for a painful minute none of us did anything but stand there, looking at each other, wondering what to do next. I approached them cautiously, gently pulling them both into embraces.
"I know we have a lot to talk about, but I didn't mean to cause you the pain that I did, I am sorry… so very sorry," The fear that I felt from being this vulnerable, the ordeal that was still fresh in my memory, the overwhelming love that I felt for them even amidst the anger, it overwhelmed me and the tears lightly streamed down my face.
"Oh Renesmee," Bella wiped the tears away gently, kissing my cheeks where they had just trailed, burning my skin, "There is so much that we should have told you, the minute I found you at the home. I wasn't thinking about the past, only that I found you, that you were mine-" she glanced over at Edward, "ours,"
The both joined me on the couch, and together they told me of my life from beginning to the present: The "miracle" conception that no one thought was possible, the pregnancy that nearly divided the family and cost my mother her life, the Volturi believing that I needed to be destroyed which never came to pass because of the witnesses that came to my aid and finally the reality of who I was completely: Not human, not vampire but the perfect balance between them both, one of only five that are known to our universe. I remained quiet taking this all in, as best I could. It was all a bit… out there at best but strangely I did not question nor doubt any of it. The truth growing up is that I never really felt like I belonged to anyone or fit in with those around me, it went past the awkwardness of a child, the mark of someone who had not yet found where she truly belonged.
"Did Alice or Rosalie have children as well, or Esme?" Edward's eyes lowered,
"No. You were conceived because your mother at the time was still human and able to physically conceive. The three of them are frozen in the state in which they are currently in, meaning they will never bare children age, never moving forward, only being able to look at the past and what they would have dreamed to be the future." Bella spoke next,
"That is why your Aunt Rose fought so hard alongside me to keep you. Do not get me wrong she loved you I believe from the moment I told her that I needed her help, but it was always her dearest wish to have a family. She saw the chance to share in that dream with you, and would stand for no one to take that away from her, or myself. Here we stand, so many years later."
"You said that we were frozen in this state, does that mean that none of us will age?"
"That is correct. You did grow, though it was very rapidly, you reached where you are in about seven years, and you will be frozen in that body until the end of time."
"Does it scare you?" They both looked at me confused, I continued, "Does it ever frighten you that this is your life, for as long as the universe turns? That everyday will be the same, unchanging for us all?" To this Edward said gently,
"The day that I met your mother I knew that forever wouldn't even be long enough as long as I got to live my life out with her, and the moment you came along, you only made it that much more certain that this is how I wanted to spend the rest of my entirety."
"Renesmee, have we answered all of your questions, you are taking this very well," I nodded,
"I never quite fit in and now I know why, my only regret is that we were robbed of the years prior to this, but I have to ask one question… Where does Jacob Black fit into all of this, Sam and all of those guys," Bella gave a smile that lit up her face,
"To that all I can tell you is talk to him. Which I suspect you will do, but for right now maybe you'd like to sleep or perhaps clean up?"
"Sleeping for a little while sounds wonderful; I can't believe you can't sleep." I stifled a yawn as I spoke, "You have no idea what you're missing out on,"
"We've missed out on quite a lot Renesmee but of all things, to have you back, sleep is a very small price to pay. Rest well, the family will be happy to see you when you wake up."
They rose with me, each giving me a gentle kiss and as I headed up the stairs I realized that, while I couldn't understand the magnitude of their sacrifice, I was one of the luckiest people, knowing that unlike those that I left behind me, I did indeed have parents that loved me all along!
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon, but go ahead and click that button and give me your thoughts.
