A/N: Hi all! Sorry for being gone so long, life got really busy for me. I struggled a bit with this chapter, so let me know what you think! Should the next chapter be partial Jacob POV or full?


Chapter Twenty-Four – The Vision


I've tasted blood and it is sweet
I've had the rug pulled beneath my feet
I've trusted lies and trusted men
broke down and put myself back together again

-halsey, nightmare

oOoOo

"The Volturi are coming, Renesmee. They want you."

"W-what?" I stuttered, and glanced back to Jacob. His eyes were cast down at the ground. My gaze trailed to his balled hands, that were clasped so tight against his thighs his copper knuckles were turning as white as the bone beneath.

When he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, I found myself angering.

"Did you know?" My voice coming barely above a heated whisper.

He sharply inhaled but kept his eyes on the ground. "Not everything."

With scrutiny, I looked to daddy while standing aggressively. I narrowed my eyes at my family stiffly placed around the room. "What does everything entail?"

Their solemn, amber eyes spoke for the silence that encompassed the room.

"WHAT IS EVERYTHING?!"

They all winced at the pitch of my voice, but remained silent.

I began to pace as low growls came from deep within my chest, finding myself thinking back to the day they came and assaulted my mind.

"I don't understand!" I shouted to myself, knowing very well I was the only one out of the loop.

While waiting for a reply, the only sound in the room was Jacob and I's beating hearts along with my ragged, distressed breathing.

"We didn't want to frighten you, love." Daddy announced cautiously.

Stopping mid pace, I flashed a heated glare at him. "Then tell me what's going on!"

My parent's looked distressed, a rare emotion for either of them. Just as I was about to shout another demand, I heard a third heartbeat just beyond the door and knew instantly who it was.

"Maybe I could." Nahuel announced as he pushed open the door.

"Nahuel?" My voice raised a pitch as I flew into his arms. I hadn't known the fate of my hybrid friend, and had a lot of fears he would be captured after he left just like his sisters.

I heard Jacob growl lowly, but chose to ignore it seeing as he nor my family were willing to enlighten me on what was going on. I pulled away and stared into my friends dark brown eyes.

"Tell me, please."

He nodded, squeezing my shoulders with a deep breath as if it would give him the confidence he needed. "After you left, I went in search of my father and sisters. I had found my father, Joham, in grief and shock deep within the Chilean forests. The Volturi had taken every one of my half-siblings, including a new, infant sister. He had remained in a profound sedated and catatonic state until I brought him out of it. I had always sought vengeance for my father's inability to love us; but seeing him in that . . . mindset . . . made me realize he does love us. In his own nefando way."

My hand reached out to grasp his in sympathy.

"He took his life before my eyes shortly after that; throwing himself into a fire. Alice had seen this and your family found me in the midst of it all. They were trailing after me to warn me of my father's predicted demise." Nahuel finished, looking away from my face with regret. I watched closely as my pixie aunt flitted towards us, and gave me a pursed grimace.

"When I touched Nahuel's arm that day, I had another vision. It was as if suddenly my visions of hybrids cleared and I could see perfectly. I don't know why; no one does. What I saw was something that blindsided us all. I saw your potential; your gift in way's we never imagined possible. Right after, we knew that in time Aro would make up his mind. It became crystal clear that he would have you despite his promise to leave you alone." Alice reached towards me, but I jumped back. I still feel betrayed.

Carlisle stepped close to me, grabbing my attention. "That was when we decided we had to try and gather every friend and witness we could find. So many are willing to fight on your behalf, Renesmee. We arrived a few hours ago, right before the trackers from Volturi had located you and the pack." He spoke calmly, his comforting gaze boring into my own.

"Are the Volturi . . . here?" I whimpered, and found myself falling back against Jacob who wrapped protective arms around me. Even if I was irate with him for withholding information, I still needed his comfort. I craved it.

"No, Nessie." Jacob whispered into my ear and held me tightly.

"Neither are the witness'. They are all coming here when the time has come for us to band together." Carlisle told me gently with a warm smile. "They are very excited to meet you, Renesmee."

"What happened to the vampires that attacked you and Seth?" I blurted out behind my shoulder to Jacob, even though I assumed they had been killed.

"Seth and I handled them." Jacob confirmed into my shoulder before placing a chaste kiss there.

I furrowed my brows and turned my head to look at him. His eyes glanced up but the rest of his face remained nuzzled into my shoulder. "The one following me, too?"

"We caught up to him as soon as we lost your scent; Seth handled him while I tracked you down. You swim faster than I run." He whispered with a small smile against my skin, the feeling of his teeth grazing me sent goose bumps across my flesh.

I inhaled deeply and shook my head as if it would help clear my rambling thoughts. "I have so many questions."

I sensed daddy walk up to Jacob and I, kneeling down in front of us to look me in the eyes. "I will answer every single one."

We had talked well into the night, and dad did answer every question I had. It had been revealed that no one lied to me; but that everything changed when Alice had the vision of Aro's greed and my . . . budding talents. Alice's vision was unlike any other. A vision of me in the midst of a battle; my palms pressed to vampires in passing. Each vampire, falling to the ground in crippling pain. She described it as if my voice was echoing in her mind; with every passing echo, indescribable pain and suffering followed. It was as if my hands were now shone in a horrible, vilified light.

The most important question was answered last; the Volturi would come at the first sign of spring; when the leaves begin their budding.

Which meant, we had time. Time I had not expected to have when I first learned they were coming. Time could be dangerous, however. This meant the Volturi also had time to gather their own witness' and prepare a strategy to take me. Alice's vision showed nothing besides my enhanced abilities, but she continued to look. She sat on the floor, with her head in her hands and her eyes squeezed shut as she spoke to herself. As if she was willing her gift to let her see more.

I was irate over the fact that they had withheld this from us for months, out of fear that I would be scared. I was the opposite, in fact. The news made me feel strong and determined. I wasn't some little girl who would run and hide over this, not this time. I would face them. It was as if a switch within me flipped, and viewed myself in a new light. A powerful, resilient light. I knew it was mostly out of seeking my own vengeance on the attack I faced that fateful day, but I didn't care.

As I laid next to Jacob in my father's old bedroom; I focused on his deep, even breathing while he slept. My mind was still racing and I was unable to find any solace. As soon as I knew a war was coming, there was only one thing I wanted more than anything. More than my own life.

I wanted to be Jacob's wife.

Jacob had the same thoughts, discussing it with me the moment we were alone. He had silently asked for daddy's blessing, only to be returned with a sharp 'no'.

Sighing, I slipped out from under his strong arm that was draped over my stomach and flitted out of the room. I wandered around and took in more of the home I always wanted to see as a little girl. Exotic paintings hung on the hallway walls, appearing even more divine from the moonlights deep glow casting in from the huge windows.

"Can't sleep?" Daddy's calm voice spoke from behind me, causing me to jump and slap my hand over my mouth to cover my gasp.

I spun on my heel and gave him a sheepish glance. "Sorry – I got used to the sound of steps."

Daddy flashed his crooked grin and touched my cheek tenderly. "What's troubling you?"

I rolled my eyes, he was very good at trying to pretend he didn't already know every thought I had. As if you don't already know.

He chuckled, pulling me into his side to lead me towards a closed door. He opened it and motioned me in, silently following.

I looked around at the walls lined with books before spotting a couch and plopping onto it dramatically. I knew a lecture was brimming.

"Hearing it out loud it is different than within."

I shook my head and watched him as he seemingly glided across the room to pick up a book off one of the many shelves. My eyes focused in on the title; Romeo and Juliet.

"Really?" I said callously.

I saw his smirk as he set the book back. "Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall."

"You and momma rushed." I protested snidely.

Daddy chuckled and shook his head. "I had waited for your mother for 106 years."

"Well, I've been –"

He shot me a pointed look. "You have been alive for seven years, Renesmee. Why are you wanting to rush this?"

"Because I might only be alive for less than eight."

His eyebrows drew together in distress. "We would never allow that to happen."

"All we know is what Alice saw; my gift enhancing. You could die. Momma could. Jacob could. I could. If I'm going to die; I want to die married to him. I want to be his wife." I demanded and shot up out of my seat.

"You're too young to consider this."

I scoffed, "Really, dad? You of all people should understand. Momma was eighteen when you got married. Momma was nineteen when she burned. You want to talk about age?"

"You're seven years' old, for mercy's sake!"

I pulled on the hair at my scalp in frustration and stared him down with a heated glare. His amber eyes burned with equal amounts of fury.

"Do I look seven?!" I snarled as I picked up the couch. "Can seven year olds do this?!"

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen!" I heard my mother chide and I found myself dropping the couch back down with a quiet thump.

"If you didn't want us to get married then why did you give us marriage licenses; why did you give us the same last names on our identification cards?" I shouted this time, directing my rage at my mother.

Her wide amber eyes seemed to triple in size from my outburst. Then they narrowed at my father.

"Edward?"

He threw his hands in the air. "I can't believe you don't feel the same way as I do, Bella. She's our little girl!"

She ran her hands through her mahogany locks and blurred over to him. "Our little girl who's grown now. I accepted it the moment she told me how she felt about him, Edward. She had that same look in her eyes that I did. She still does. It's time you accept it, too."

My fathers resolve melted with every word my mother spoke, his expression softened as he looked back at me.

"You really want this?"

I bit my lip and nodded, "More than anything."

He pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh before letting his head fall into the crook of my mother's neck. She smiled, and pushed him off her gently. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments, and I knew they were having a silent conversation as he subtly nodded.

Without looking away from her eyes, he sighed. "I will give Jacob my blessing in the morning."

I squealed and ran over to my parents, throwing myself into their arms willingly. "Thank you."

I rushed out of the room and back to Jacob, who was still soundly asleep. I slipped under the covers and snuggled back into his chest, falling into a deep and peaceful sleep.


I hummed to myself as I cooked breakfast for Jacob and I, something I had grown to love doing. Being surrounded by humans everyday helped me develop a really enjoyment for human food. Most of my family was out patrolling Forks while the pack searched through La Push for any sign of more vampires. I knew Jacob had to get to them and would be gone most of the day, so the least I could do was send him off with a full stomach.

I could hear Jacob's heartbeat upstairs as he woke up, speeding up for a moment when he realized I wasn't right next to him.

"In here." I announced a bit loudly, helping him locate me with his hearing like I knew he would be trying to do.

A minute passed, as well as the sound of his large frame thumping down the stairs and into the kitchen.

I turned and place a hand on my hip and tossed him a flirtatious smile. "Hey there, hot stuff." I greeted. "Hungry?"

He snorted and sauntered over to me, his bare torso's rippling muscles teasing me with every step. "If you're on the menu." He teased as he picked me up by my waist, placing me gently on the island counter.

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips as I instinctively wrapped my arms and legs around him. "Would that satisfy you?"

"Ahem." My father's silky voice announced, forcing both of us to snap our necks around to look at him.

"Morning, daddy." I whispered with heated cheeks.

Jacob shifted awkwardly and slid away from me with wide eyes, causing daddy to smirk.

"Jacob, a word?"

I felt butterflies flutter throughout my belly with anticipation, knowing exactly what kind of conversation they were about to have.