A/N: Hi all, been a few days since the last update. Sorry! I've begun to work on my own book, and have been a bit preoccupied with that. Wanted to begin to tie in a bit of my old plot, including nicknames and conversations. Review and let me know what you think!
Chapter Twenty-Two – Blood Dries Brown
your eyes are fragile and timeless
you're beautiful
there's power in the words you whisper
-halsey, dominic's interlude
oOoOo
The weeks flew by faster than they ever had before and I knew it was all because of Jacob. We had grown closer than I thought possible and I was more in love with him every minute. Life began to settle in a comfortable routine; my vampire side was thankful for that. Jacob was proving to be quite the hopeless romantic, always surprising me with flowers or handwritten letters whenever I wasn't paying attention. He'd taken me on countless dates to Seattle and Port Angeles, and even once to Portland once. We'd hiked, ran, explored all over the state of Washington, laughing and kissing the whole way. The numbness of my family's absence was beginning to settle, until December rolled around and the realization it'd be our first Christmas apart.
It was the only holiday we really celebrated, and it was only days away.
"Hey, mama. What's that frown for?" Jacob mused as he flipped a pancake on the griddle. I flashed my eyes to meet his toffee brown ones from the spot on the floor I was focused on.
Jacob began to sport a new nickname for me that I absolutely adored, more than Nessie.
Once Seth declared me 'pack mom' a few weeks ago after I had taken over Emily's role of nurturer to the overgrown men, Jacob began to charm me by calling me 'his little minxy mama'.
A good chunk of my time these days were spent whipping up an overabundance of food for the pack. I loved taking over the weekly breakfasts and dinners, and I always was showing up at the younger wolves' houses with bags of food and goodies. It felt oddly maternal, and I actually quite liked it.
"Just thinking about my family, that's all," I replied softly, and gave him a half smile. "Gonna miss them at Christmas."
His tanned lips frowned for a moment as he lifted a pancake from the griddle to the stack on the plate.
We were still living with Billy as the construction for our home began, something I didn't mind at all. I had grown to love Billy like he was my own father, and in a way he was – or would be. We had really great conversations, and always were sharing knowledge with each other. I would teach Billy about war history I'd learned from Uncle Jasper, and he would teach me all about Native American traditions and antiquity of different tribes, even divulging on legends of the Mayan's.
"I'm sorry, honey. I really wish I could bring them here for you. I promise though, we'll make it as good as we can without them. Now; eat." He told me with his usual bright smile, sliding a plate of pancakes across the table in front of me.
"Dad, breakfast!" Jacob announced as he set the table and set down a mug of coffee for Billy and I.
"Cream and three sugars for you." He said with a wink and a kiss on my forehead.
Blushing, I picked up the mug and inhaled the tangy aroma. Mmm.
"Thanks, Jake."
He nodded and settled down at the table next to me, wasting no time in digging into his plate. "The weast I can mmph do is make ghou breakfast sometimes, after all you feed meph all day longuh." He teased with a mouthful of food.
Wrinkling my nose, I tossed him a eye roll, "Swallow first, then speak."
He grinned widely, pancake sticking out between his teeth. "Sure, sure."
Billy rolled into the kitchen and took his usual spot at the end of the table, smiling tenderly at me. "Good morning, Renesmee."
I touched his hand and beamed back, "Morning, Billy. How did you sleep?"
I was truly curious, after Jacob and I did our best to be quiet at night but it was . . . difficult.
Jacob choked on his food and kicked my foot under the table. I bit my lip and stifled a giggle. Billy raised his eyebrows and diverted his attention to his plate.
"Soundly."
Jacob coughed once, and gulped down half his glass of milk to quench his discomfort.
I snuck my handle under the table to lay my palm on his thigh, opening my connection to him.
I was awfully noisy last night; don't you remember?
I smirked at Jacob's reaction; my eyes focusing on the sudden twitch in his pants.
He cleared his throat and adjusted in his seat, scratching his neck as if he was just fidgeting.
This didn't go unnoticed by Billy.
"You okay there, son? Look like you're struggling."
Jacob's eyes shot across the table and for a brief moment, his tanned cheeks donned a blush.
"Fine. I'm fine." He quickly recovered. He gave me a glare before returning to his massive pile of pancakes.
We chatted politely throughout the rest of breakfast, commenting on our plans for the day. Billy was going on one last fishing trip with Grandpa Charlie before the fish dove deeper under water before the final frost of winter settled over. It was nice having Charlie around, he came over frequently to see Billy with Sue so I'd been spending more time with my human grandfather than I ever thought I would.
I sat in front of a vanity Jacob squeezed in his small room for me, brushing my long hair out after a hot shower.
I was alone with my thoughts while Jacob cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast, but didn't feel nearly as tormented today as I did when we first arrived in La Push. The trauma of the Volturi's mind games was now just a conquered demon who rarely showed it's head these days. It took time, and a lot of deep talks with Jacob; but I finally was coming around to understanding I was safe and could move on.
I'd never have to go through that again; or at least for a few years. Alice was rarely wrong.
I barely registered Jacob's presence as he leaned against the door frame with his massive arms crossing over his naked chest. He was looking at me with a side smile, and I caught his gaze through the mirror.
Blushing, I set down the brush and faced him.
"How long were you standing there?"
He chuckled and pushed himself off the frame, striding towards me. He kneelt down in front of me, and turned my body on the stool to place his hands on my exposed thighs. "Long enough to need a kiss from my beautiful girl."
I licked my lips and buried my face into his neck, feathering his skin with light pecks. Lifting my head, I turned my face and angled it towards his, hovering my mouth near his.
"Then what are you waiting for?" I asked breathlessly, as if being this close to him suddenly closed my airways.
Which, in a way . . . it did.
Jacob crashed his mouth against mine tenderly, and I wasted no time parting my lips to dart my tongue out to taste him. We both groaned at the contact of our tongues, and my hands automatically snaked through his shaggy hair.
Stars, I loved him.
Jacob smirked and pulled away after a few minutes of hasty kissing. "I love you, too."
I smiled and gave him one more kiss before resuming my grooming of my mane. I used to be embarrassed when Jacob heard my thoughts if my palms exposed them, but now I enjoyed it. It made us closer.
"You're still going over to Rachel's, right?" He asked as he walked across the room to his dresser to pull out a fresh t-shirt and jeans.
"Mhm." I acknowledged as I begun the intricate braid in my hair.
I tried not to stare at Jacob through the mirror as he dressed himself, but found myself blushing when he pulled his basketball shorts off regardless. Jacob was not shy.
"See something you like?" He teased with a waggle of his eyebrows.
I bit my lip and looked back at my own reflection, trying to focus on the task at hand. My cheeks were flushed and my eyes hazy just thinking about him, but seeing him did a lot more to my body than just that.
He pulled on his jeans over a fresh pair of boxers before walking back up to me, just as I was tying the ends of my braid with an elastic.
He ghosted his fingertips up my arms and behind my neck, toying with the braid I just completed. My skin rippled with goose bumps at the slight touch of his hot fingers. I watched him in the mirror, his eyes were fixated on my neck as he leaned down to place a soft, open mouthed kiss where my artery was pulsing.
"This one's pretty." He murmured against my skin, lifting his gaze to meet mine in the oval mirror.
I licked my lips and turned my head to look at him, my eyes cast down under my lashes. His mouth twitched into a smirk and he kissed up my neck, below my ear, along my jaw and finally he came crashing against my lips.
"Mm." He moaned slightly, biting the top of my lip playfully. I smirked at his reaction and pulled one of his hands on my shoulder down to cup my breast.
He chuckled lowly and complied, massaging the tissue tenderly. "I like this angle. I can see all of you."
I blushed and moved my head away from his mouth to watch our reflections. Jacob still leaning down with his hand massaging my exposed breast, but only now he was moving tantalizingly slow as I watched.
"You're going to be – ah." I whispered breathlessly, my chest arching against his hand as he flicked his thumb over my nipple.
His laughed huskily at my reaction, "What was that?"
I groaned and pushed his hand off my breast, turning in one swift motion while kicking the stool away and pulling him against me as I sat myself on the top of the vanity. I snaked my hands behind his neck and brought his mouth against mine.
Touch me. I thought to him, forcing him to groan this time.
"Baby, I'm gonna be late."
"You're the boss." I challenged, pulling away to give him a determined look.
His eyes darkened and a small smirk twitched on his lips for a moment. He kissed down my neck and pushed my robe the rest of the way off, exposing my naked breasts and underwear clad bottom. He wasted no time bringing my breast into his mouth, sucking and nibbling which caused me to writhe and moan under him.
We had yet to have sex; something I think we were both very much ready for. We had agreed to wait but never divulged into for how long. I was growing tired of waiting, though.
Jacob's mouth between my thighs snapped me out of my thoughts, and sent me flying high. He ripped my panties away and went to work. Jacob tasting me . . . down there . . . had become a fan favorite for both of us.
He knew exactly what to do with his mouth and fingers at the same time, and he's become quite the Nessie expert on what I liked and really liked.
"Oh, oh." I whimpered as I grew close to my released, his hot tongue lapping against me furiously. My hips grinded against him, needing more friction. Jacob took notice and slipped his thumb under his tongue, working the two together perfectly.
"Come on, mama." He murmured huskily against my folds, sending me right over the edge. I moaned loudly as I began to ride the wave of pleasure and ecstasy.
"Jacob – oh, yes." I mumbled between pants, my hips twitching frantically against him.
He kissed my sensitive skin tenderly and lifted himself away, wiping his mouth with his fingers and giving me a devilish grin. "Now that's a good reason to be late."
I let out a breathy sigh, and shakily pulled my robe closed. I smiled shyly and stood with weak legs, grasping the vanity for support.
He watched me with amusement and grasped my waist. His calloused hands burning through the silky fabric. "I'll wait in the living room so I'm not tempted to touch you even more." He told me with a classic Jacob smile.
I nodded and kissed him once before sending him away. Exhaling, I shook out my body. Trying to come down back to Earth from the high he made me feel. I walked over to the dresser, pulling out a bra and underwear and slipping into them quickly. I was only hanging out with the girls today, and figured casual was the way to go. After stepping into high wasited black leggings, and a cropped white tank top, I dug around for an oversized cardigan. Settling on a tan knit one with puffy sleeves that synched at the wrists.
I picked up the necklace Jacob gifted me earlier in the week and put it on, fingering the dainty jewelry that laid next to the locket my parents had given me as a baby before flitting out of the room.
"We can go." I announced as I came down the narrow hall and around the corner.
Jacob was fiddling on his cell phone, and his eyes flickered up to meet mine. He smiled brightly and trailed down my body.
"You look pretty." He complimented, standing up and striding over to pull me into a tight embrace. I snorted and pushed away from him to give him an incredulous glance.
"It's leggings and a tank top, Jacob." I tell him as I slip into some tennis shoes.
He shrugged and kissed me softly, "Still look pretty."
I bit my lip and blushed, "Thanks, Jake."
He nodded and pulled away, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. "Come on, then. I have to get to the shop and you have babies to corral."
The car ride to Rachel's is short, and I already found myself missing Jacob before he even dropped me off.
"When will you be done?" I questioned, glancing at him with a pout.
He smirked and kept his eyes on the road, "I'm not sure, maybe four or five."
I nodded and focused back on the tree line as we approached Rachel's house. "Will you text me?"
"Of course, Nessie. I'll miss you."
I look back at him, smiling big. "I already do miss you."
As he pulled to a stop in front of their house, he leaned over to me across the center console. "I love you, Nessie."
I gasped his face with my much smaller hands, and kissed him once. "I love you, my Jacob. Text me, okay?"
He nodded and watched as I slid away and bound out of the car, hopping into a pile of snow. I waved as he drove off to the shop while walking through the front door.
I was met with light chatter between Kim, Rachel and Emily, as well as coos of babies and little Cheveyo squealing as he played.
"We're in here, Nessie!" Rachel called from the living room as I slid out of my shoes. I hurried down the hall and came around the corner with a smiling face.
"Hi!" I chimed to all of them, and immediately bee-lined for my twin nephews who were rolling around gleefully together on the floor.
Leo and Owen were nearing the three month mark in their human lives, and I absolutely adored them. I was scared that being around such small humans would make me resent them for their inability to communicate, but found out quickly just how wrong I was.
Owen spotted me and squealed in delight, followed by Leo mimicking him.
"Hi sweet boys!" I cooed in a voice unnaturally high. I laid on the floor in front of them and smothered them in kisses, which resulted in more squeals and innocent laughter.
I looked up at the girls who were all spread out on the couches with a grin. "Seriously, I could do this all day."
Rachel laughed and waved me off, "Sometimes I do!"
Kim scoffed and shot her a teasing glare, "Only when they sleep through the night."
I giggled and turned my attention back to the twins, and soon felt a little body tumble on top me me.
"Aunt Nessie!" Cheveyo squealed. I glanced over my shoulder at him with a grin and noticed little Dakota, who was only seven months, began to crawl towards me with a gummy grin.
I rolled over onto my back and lifted Chev easily above me, causing him to ripple into a fit of giggles.
"Plane! Plane!"
I moved him around effortlessly, letting him imitate plane sounds before bringing him down in a hug and sitting up so I could pick up Dakota next.
He practically crawled into my lip with tiny giggles and lifted his arms for me to pick him up.
"Okay, okay guys – I love you all but Aunt Nessie needs to be an adult." I said with a laugh as I set Dakota down in front of the twins and retreated to the couch, lading between Rachel and Kim with an exaggerated sigh.
I looked between the three tanned women with raised eyebrows and they all began to laugh.
"So, when are you popping one out so our babies stop loving you more than us?" Kim teased with a giggle.
I sighed with a small smile as I leaned further back into the plush couch. Jacob and I hadn't mentioned kids since my meltdown the first night we got to La Push, let alone marriage. Both things I recognized lately, I desperately wanted.
"I don't know, honestly." I shrugged. "I feel like I've been with Jacob my entire life…but is it weird to start thinking about marriage and kids even though it's only been three months?"
Emily laughed and shook her head like she recognized the feeling. "Sam and I dated for six months before we got married, probably would have gotten married sooner but you all know the reason . . ." She said softly with a distant look before offering a tight smile.
I reached over and touched her knee for support, before leaning back and crossing my arms casually. I looked to Rachel with a playful grin. "Jacob said you were anti-Paul for the longest time, Rach."
Rachel snorted and her tanned cheeks turned pink. "Paul tried desperately every time I came home from school on breaks to get me to go out with him, until one day he just showed up at my class and practically forced me on a date when he announced his love for me in front of the whole lecture hall!"
Kim giggled, "Imprinting is strange and magical. Jared and I were love at first sight! Rachel wanted nothing to do with poor Paul."
"I came around, clearly!" Rachel said with laughter as she gestured to the babies all playing on the floor.
"Well, we have talked about it . . . once. But, I kind of . . . freaked out." I offered lightly with a grimace.
Kim's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"
I nodded my head side to side and readjusted my position, pulling my knees against my chest. "Promise you all won't . . . panic. Okay?"
They nodded in unison.
"So, if I asked how old you thought I was – um – what would you answer be?"
I looked between the girls who all furrowed their brows.
"Twenty-two, which is young for babies to a lot of people. I understand why you might have freaked." Kim said with a shrug. "I'm twenty-five."
"I would say the same." Emily told me, with Rachel nodding in agreement.
I groaned and let my head fall back, before lifting it back to stare at them all. "So, everyone is aware that I'm . . ." I trailed off, and gestured my hands in a rolling motion.
Kim winced, but relaxed her face and nodded. "It doesn't . . . bother us anymore."
I smiled softly and cast my gaze down briefly, "I appreciate the acceptance, more than you all know. But, there is one thing Jacob and I have . . . withheld. Well, two things."
Rachel surprised me when she spoke up a little loudly. "You're scaring me, Nessie."
"I'm only seven years old and I'm immortal." I blurted out quickly, and gaged their faces for reaction or judgment.
Kim stood up with wide, panicked eyes. She glanced between the three of us, then down to the little boy who was only two years younger than I was before glancing back up at me.
"What?" Rachel asked in disbelief.
"You're how old?" Kim spoke softly to me, concern coating her voice.
Emily sat silent and still.
I swallowed the thick lump in my throat, wringing my wrists nervously. "I . . . I'm technically seven years old, but . . . I aged quickly. I'm frozen now, like this. Forever." I stated softly, keeping my eyes on the ground. "I'm physically and mentally an adult and will never grow old or change. My hair, my skin, my body . . . nothing will change how I am. And, I might not ever be able to have children because of that. My skin is resistant to change, and it's very strong. No kind of weapon will break it. And, truthfully? I think I hate it. I want to grow old. I want to have children. I don't want to be some sort of . . . freak. I didn't mind before Jacob, but now it's all I can think about as I watch the boys grow."
My eyes trailed over to the babies on the floor before glancing over at Emily. She had been silent this whole time, and still looked at me with the same kind; forgiving eyes.
"You're not a freak, Renesmee." She said softly. "I think . . . well . . . I think that you get the opportunity to live forever with your imprint."
I blinked a few times, and cocked my head to the side. "What will we do when you're all . . . gone? Where will we go?"
"La Push is your home; you won't go anywhere. Our children will be here, our children's children . . ."
I stood up quickly; much too quickly for their human eyes to perceive. I was across the room in a flash, and turned back to stare at the three of them intently. "That's impossible, and you know it. There would be too many questions . . . how could we even explain to those not in on the secret?"
Rachel's thin eyebrows furrow together, "We grew up with the stories . . ."
"But you never thought they were real." I corrected her with a snap. I was beginning to grow agitated.
"Then we teach our tribe that the legends are true. We protect the truth and value our spirit-warriors, as we used to." Emily said with determination.
I was touched, my eyes began to well at their lack of judgement. They were really my friends. They were trying to help me work through this.
"I just – ugh. To never grow with you all . . . hurts me. Hurts me more to know Jacob will have to watch you grow and die; his family and friends . . . what will that do to him? What will that do to us?" I asked with a broken sob, collapsing onto my knees with my face buried in my hands.
I felt all three of them rush over to me, and begin hugging me as a group.
"Nessie – that's not going to happen for a very long time!" Kim told me with a tight smile. "Don't worry yourself into a pit over the inevitable. We just have to enjoy the present, and we'll worry about the rest later."
I offered them a weak chuckle, wiping my eyes with the sleeves of my cardigan. "I'm sorry for breaking down, really – I just can't talk to Jacob about this. He'd get all understanding and apologetic over me crying like always."
Emily pulled back and laughed, "I know the feeling."
The other two girls nodded in agreement.
"It is a bit weird to think you're only two years older than Chev, but . . . I guess it makes sense." Kim suggested with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, you're half."
I nodded and offered a lame shrug. "It takes a bit to get used to the idea. But, I guess . . . I forget most of the time."
I heard the distinct sound of paw's thumping against the ground, and then we all froze when we heard a piercing howl in the distance.
The front door swung open, and storming inside was a cut off clad Jacob with blood trailing down his chest. I watched as time slowed, and his blood hit the carpeted floor beneath his muddy feet. That would leave a stain.
His face was nearly cast white and suddenly I understood exactly what was going on.
"They're here." He choked out, rushing towards me. "We have to go - now!"
