*Bella's POV*

I got off the couch and walked over to stand beside Edward. I looked over Renesmee's head, down at Jacob. He was still threatening Eli, but I wasn't opposed to it. It didn't bother me to see him so protective, the way Edward felt.

"He's very mad." Renesmee whispered. Hearing her voice so close made me smile. I couldn't be upset when I had her so close to me.

I knelt down behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. She leaned back against me. "Jacob's just protecting you, but I can go down and stop him if you want."

"No, when he's this mad you have to stay away from him. He can calm down by himself."

"He wont hurt me." I reminded her.

"I know, but that's the rules."

Again, I couldn't be mad at that. She knew to stay away from him when he seemed out of control.

"Impressive," Edward whispered behind me.

"Why don't we step away from the window." I told her and she let me lead her back to the couch.

She curled up on my lap, though she didn't fit like she used to. I still welcomed the weight of her and her scent so close to me.

Edward stayed by the window, watching Jacob closely. I wasn't sure what he was looking for, but Renesmee had my attention, so I couldn't wonder about it for long.

Her hand was on my cheek and she smiled as she showed me her new friend and her brother-the boy she had told me about on the phone. She continued on to a more recent event. Leah was at their house, watching her while Jacob was out running patrol. She remembered getting out of bed when Leah was distracted, read the note that Jacob left for her and ignored it.

I laughed at that, and so did Edward from across the room. He turned slightly to look back at us and smiled. "Just as stubborn as your mother."

"Really?" Renesmee asked excitedly. And since her hand was still on my cheek, her excited thoughts flashed bright colors in front of my eyes.

"Exactly like her." He nodded.

She looked up at me with the widest, brightest smile I have ever seen on her face.

"So, let me guess, you snuck out to find Jacob because you didn't want him out on his own."

"Yes," she spoke with finality. She was set on making sure he was protected. Without another word, she continued on her silent story.

Edward and I both sucked in a sharp breath when we heard the approach though her memory and Jacob shoving her behind him.

"Eli and Maria." I whispered at the same time Edward growled out the window.

She turned towards Edward and focused her thoughts on him. She still had her hand on my cheek, but she was talking to Edward, reassuring him that no harm was done to her.

He smiled softly at her and crossed the room towards us. He knelt in front of us and touched her cheek.

"Thank you for the reassurance, Renesmee. I know Jacob wouldn't let anything bad happen to you, but I'm your father, and it's my job to worry."

Her smile gleamed, matching Edward's perfectly. She reached out in front of her and locked her arms around his neck.

"Beautiful," Esme whispered from the entryway to the living room. She was smiling as she watched my small family reunion.

Edward looked up at Renesmee and I, and touched both our cheeks. "Yes," he sighed.

"Jasper took Eli for a walk to talk." Esme informed us.

"I should go see if Jacob is okay." I said and got to my feet, and placed Renesmee in Edward's arms.

"I'll come, too." She offered, trying to get Edward to put her down.

"Your mother and Jacob have a lot to talk about. How about I play the piano for you while they talk."

"Oh, okay!" She said excitedly and slipped from Edward's arms. She tugged at his arm impatiently. "Give Jacob a hug for me." She grunted as she fought with all her strength to try and pull her father to the piano.

Alice walked around the corner and snapped pictures. I was happy that I would be going back to Italy with a recent picture of Edward and Renesmee together.

"I'll be back," I said to everyone and walked quickly out the door. Music from the piano started up immediately and Edward started off with my lullaby. I stopped, feeling my eyes go dry as tears should have fallen from them. It's been years since I heard him play anything on a piano.

"I'm not sorry I reacted that way." Jacob said, sitting on a boulder with his back towards me. His chin was in his hands as he slumped over.

"I'm not asking for an apology. Renesmee knows to stay away from you when you're uncontrollable. Thank you for teaching her so much and keeping her so sane. She's perfect, Jacob. Because of you."

"Not because of me. She's independent. She's a miniature you." He looked up at me and my favorite smile flashed across his face, but it didn't last long. He scooted over and patted the rock beside him. I slid next to him silently and reached across his lap to lay my hand over both of his, folded together in a tight ball.

His hands relaxed under mine and he flipped one of his hands over to take mine in his. "Miss you, Bells."

"Miss you, too." I choked out.

"Why can't you just leave? They should know by now that Nessie isn't a threat. She needs you."

"She needs you, too."

Jacob shook his head slowly, starring off into the trees in front of us.

"You're her mother, Bella. She's going through changes, and it scares the hell out of me. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to raise a teenager when I'm only a teen myself."

"So am I."

"But you took on the role as a mother perfectly. I don't know what I'm doing. I can't watch her go out on dates when…" He trailed off, shrugging.

"When she's supposed to be with you?" I finished his sentence.

He shook his head quickly. "I don't care if she never looks at me as anything more than a father figure. I just want her to be happy, but it's really hard for me to have to let her go like that. She may need me, but I need you."

The tears filled his eyes and he turned his head away before they spilled over.

"You're doing great. I can't tell you what to do because I have no idea. You think Edward would stand there and let her go out on dates without having something to say about it?"

Jacob snorted and shook his head. "No, I guess not."

"We handed her over to you for a reason. Don't ever doubt yourself when it comes to Renesmee. She adores you more than you could imagine. Edward and I may be her parents, and she holds a special place in her heart for us, but you're her entire world, Jacob. You could make the biggest mistake in the world, and she'd forgive you. The way she thinks about you is the way I feel whenever I think of Edward. She's devoted to you."

"She's a child."

I nodded. "Yes, but her devotion is different than mine and Edward's, Alice to Jasper, or Carlisle to Esme. I see that. Hers goes deeper than love, Jacob."

He leaned away from me, a smile playing on the corner of his lips. "And you're not going to pummel me into the ground for that?"

I giggled. "No, Jake. There's no romantic feelings anywhere in her thoughts. You're letting her grow up exactly like I asked. Let her choose her destiny, though, I'm positive she already has. She'll realize it when she's older. Thank you for giving her the freedom to choose."

"Of course. I would never-"

"I know, Jake. I know."

We were silent for a few minutes. Then Jacob sighed. "I miss the old days. I miss our bikes. I thought of buying one, but realized that if I had one, Ness would not stop bugging me until she rode on it." He looked at me quickly. "Which I would never let her anywhere near one of those things."

"But you let me?" I asked, laughing at him.

"I liked you, a lot. I would have done anything to impress you." He winked at me and my favorite smile flashed across his face again. This time he kept it there.

"Glad you did that. We did have some good times. I'm sorry I took all of that away from you. At sixteen I forced a child on you."

"I'm not sorry, so you shouldn't be either."

I shrugged. I really was sorry, though.