For the Last Time
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thanks for the awesome reviews.
Part Sixteen-A Tense Meeting
Bella sat in the crowded diner and glanced across the eating area to where Jacob, Paul and Seth were sitting. They were on the other side of the diner to where Bella and her daughter, Rennie, were, waiting for Edward to arrive. They had deliberately chosen this public arena for their first confrontation with Bella's husband in order that if tempers became frayed, none of them could kick off with such a big audience. It had taken Bella a while to persuade Jacob that this was the best course of action to take. She kept reminding him that Edward was Rennie's father and the last thing the young girl should have to witness was a fight between her idol, Jacob, and Edward. Jacob had conceded her point, although he was far from happy with the situation. At least this way he thought Edward couldn't try to kidnap Bella or Rennie and force them to leave. He and the others were just across the diner from them, so they would be alerted at once to any trouble, while giving Bella and Rennie a modicum of privacy.
Bella had her back to the entrance so didn't see Edward arrive. With her enhanced senses now gone she was the last to know that her husband had entered the diner. It was only Rennie gripping her hand tighter, and the low rumbling growls from Jacob and the others, that alerted her to Edward's presence. She shot Jacob a warning look as she saw him try and rise from his seat. Seth and Paul had to push hard on his shoulders to get him to sit back down. The other diners were looking at him curiously.
"Mommy, he's coming." Rennie whispered to her.
"I know. Stay strong, sweetheart." Bella put her arm across Rennie's thin shoulders and hugged her closer.
A shadow fell across them and there he was. Bella had to stop herself shuddering as she heard Edward inhale deeply; his amber eyes were glowing as they gazed upon her with such intense ferocity it took her breath away. His fists curled at his sides as he inhaled deeply again.
"No, daddy." Rennie quickly scrambled onto Bella's lap and put her arms around her to soften Bella's strong human scent with her own. It worked, Edward relaxed and his fists uncurled as he slid into the private booth opposite them.
"I forgot how my blood calls to you." Bella said quietly. Edward's intense stare was making her uncomfortable. She was glad that Rennie was close; it kept her from running from the diner in fear.
"How is this possible?" Edward finally spoke.
Rennie exchanged a glance with her mother. "The imprint, daddy. It was the imprint."
"Imprint?" Edward's eyes slid over toward Jacob and the others. His lips curled backwards over his teeth as he glared at his love rival. "So, the dog forced himself upon you after all. You were weak to succumb to him, Bella." He snapped as he returned his attention to his wife. "Without me and the others to protect you from him he has managed to infiltrate your shield. You were a fool to leave."
Bella's eyes narrowed. She heard a crash as Jacob stood up, pushing Seth and Paul away from him. The other customers stared at him in awe as he began to march toward Bella's table. He was so physically empowering that they all remained silent. They may not have understood what he was, but they could sense there was something feral and a little wild about the handsome man. Seth uttered an order quietly under his breath.
"Jacob, sit down now."
Jacob halted suddenly. His face became grim as he tried to fight Seth's Alpha command, but to no avail. He was forced to turn around and sit down. He flashed Seth a dark look but the other man just shook his head. "Remain calm. You are attracting attention."
"I want to kill him." Jacob seethed.
"In here? With a crowd to watch. Cool it." Seth commanded. He shoved a drink in Jacob's hand and nodded at Bella to indicate that he had the situation under control.
Edward was studying them all carefully as he read each of their minds. In a short period of time he had gathered a lot of useful information. He sneered as he watched Jacob succumb to Seth's Alpha command. Things had really changed. He became thoughtful as he turned back to face Bella and Rennie. "I won't allow it."
"Won't allow what?" Bella demanded.
"The divorce."
Bella grimaced. "I see you've been picking through everyone's minds again. Have you no concept of privacy?"
"The dogs cannot control themselves." Edward said as he leaned back nonchalantly.
Bella frowned. Edward had changed since she had left him. The darkness she knew was within him had risen to the surface. She could see it. His cultivated exterior had been stripped away to leave the bitter, spoilt boy beneath. She recalled when he had told her about his so-called dark years when he had left Carlisle and Esme to strike out on his own. He had killed then; killed people and drank human blood. He had justified it of course, telling himself that the men he killed were murderers or thieves. They deserved to die. In his twisted sense of justice, he had thought he was doing a good thing.
"You've been spending time with Tanya?" She questioned him.
"So, what if I have?" Edward retorted. "She at least appreciates my company unlike my own wife."
"Then grant me the divorce and go to her." Bella hissed.
Edward shook his head as he sat forward. So far, he had ignored his daughter completely as if she didn't exist. That told Bella everything she needed to know. He hadn't come back to see Rennie. He had come to collect her because she had the audacity to defy his control over her and walk out on him. Edward hated losing control. "You are my wife still. You took your vows to honour and be beholden unto me until the end of your existence. As did I. I will not let some old feelings you think you have toward that filthy animal come between what we have built together."
"Well then my vows are no longer in force because my existence did end. I died, Edward." Bella said triumphantly. "I died and I was reborn because of the imprint. I am no longer the naïve fool who gave you everything that was not yours to take."
Edward's fist slammed on the table, rattling the cutlery. More low growls came from the wolves direction. The whole diner was eerily quiet as the other customers watched the interaction between the separate parties closely. They could all feel the tension in the air. Bella was thankful she had chosen such a public place. This meeting was worse than even she had anticipated. She felt Rennie squirm around in her lap as she peered at her father as if he was a total stranger.
"Daddy, do you see me?" Rennie suddenly interjected.
Edward tore his eyes away from Bella as he stared irritably at his daughter. "What kind of inane question is that, Renesmee? Of course, I see you."
"Don't you dare speak to her like that!" Bella snapped at him as she cuddled her daughter to her chest.
"For goodness sake I am sick and tired of this farce." Edward clenched his fists again. Bella's intoxicating scent kept wafting toward him and it was driving him crazy. "Get up right now. We are leaving."
"Yes, we are leaving. When I say we, I mean Rennie and I. You are a sad excuse for a man, then again you are not really a man. Even when you did have a heart beating in that chest of yours you were nothing but a spoilt brat of a human being. Carlisle wasted his venom on you. The only thing that you ever got right in your whole miserable existence was Rennie. You don't deserve to be her father. You don't deserve anything at all." Bella hoisted Rennie up in her arms and began to walk away confidently.
Edward leapt up after her, but had to stop when she was suddenly surrounded by the three wolves. Jacob had his arm protectively around Bella's shoulders as he shielded her and Renee from Edward's view. They left the diner with Paul following closely behind. That left Seth and Edward alone together. The customers stared with interest at the tall, handsome Native American and the very white-faced boy he was glaring at. Seth leaned in close so only Edward could hear him.
"You know I am now Alpha. You step one toe out of line while you are here. I will kill you. You even attempt to contact Bella or Rennie again. I will kill you. You even say one more horrible word to Rennie or treat her like that again and I will kill you. Understand?"
Seth stepped back from Edward, the warning clear in his eyes before he turned away and left the diner after the others.
Charlie was waiting for them at the house. His face showed his worry as he jumped to his feet as soon as they walked through the door. Bella shook her head at him before he could ask questions. She wanted to soothe Rennie, who had been upset by Edward's treatment of her. She walked upstairs and left Jacob and the others to explain what had happened to Charlie.
Bella cuddled Rennie tightly as she sat on the bed with her. "That man could never be a father to anyone, Rennie. Don't take how he acted toward you to heart. He would have been the same with any child. He is a self-absorbed monster."
Rennie stared bleakly over her mother's shoulder. "You must have loved him once. You must have seen some good in him." She whispered.
Bella sighed. "Maybe. But he has changed, Rennie. Our marriage deteriorated when I was changed. I was finally a vampire and as strong as he was. He could no longer exert his control over me and he has been trying to regain that control back ever since. Now that I am human, I think that he feels he can be master again. With you he was never able to tell you what to do in the first place. Your connection with Jacob, the imprint, poisoned his relationship with you. Jacob was and has always been your true father and Edward knows he can never compete. Jealousy has made him a bitter person. I saw that today. So please put him out of your mind, Rennie. He doesn't deserve your tears."
"He needs to go, mommy." Rennie said softly.
"I know. I know." Bella kissed Rennie's head as she held her tightly.
A/N-thanks for reading!