Chapter 1: Looking back

Bella's POV

The sun was shining brightly today. Unusually bright for Forks even in the month of May. My skin glistens in an array of blinding, diamond-like rays as I rock in a chair on the back porch. It is a quiet day, if you can ignore the screams and laughter of my family that is.

I watch as my only daughter is being chased around the yard by her uncles, Jacob, and Seth. She loves play time with them and it is a good way to get her energy out. Today they added a water fight to the fun to celebrate the rare case of sunshine. Renesmee loves the sun and the privacy of our own backyard is the only place we can enjoy it with her comfortably.

Looking at my maricle child, it's hard to believe it has been over one year since the Vultori encounter. She has grown so much since then. She is about a year and a half technically, but appears to be the age of about eight. Carlisle still assures us that she will stop aging when she turns seven and then she will join us in a lifetime of immortality and beauty with the rest of her family... I hope.

A hand placed on my shoulder brings me back from my thoughts. Knowing who it belonged to brought a smile to my face.

"What's on your mind Love?" My husband Edward asks. Taking a deep breath, I focus on pushing back my mental sheild to show him my thoughts. What if they come back? What if other vampires out there become interested in her now that word is out?

"Bella please, I know you're worried but you have to have faith." he states for the millionth time this year. "I will not let anyone ruin our happily ever after. I just won't. You have to trust me."

"I know, I know... I'm just..-"

"An overprotective mother who loves her child fiercely?"

I nod once while looking deeply into his eyes. He smirks.

"I know love, I feel the same... just the father version of it." he said that last part with a wink.

"Then you understand why I worry."

"Of course, but we need to be brave for her. Seeing us worried will not do her any good".

Sighing, I reply "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. Let's just enjoy today." Edward then pulls me out of the rocking chair to bring me into his embrace. He kisses me deeply as we share concern for our baby girl.

"Yeah! let's enjoy the day without you two getting all mushy!" My annoying big brother Emmett calls out to us. I rolled my eyes as I pulled away from the kiss.

Even though we've been married for almost two years, we're still in the honeymoon stage. I cannot get enough of him and the same goes for him with me. Life truly has been amazing since threats of impending doom are behind us. For now anyway...

Edward's POV

While I assure my wife there's nothing to fear when it comes to Renesmee's future, I cannot deny that I too have had some uneasy feelings. How could we not? We are her parents! It is our job to give her the best life she could have. To love her. To make sure she is safe at all times.

I take my own advice and clear my head of such thoughts. Her childhood will be short so I need to stay in these moments. I look over to my left where Esme, my mother for all intense and purposes, was standing. She was looking back at me with a hopeful smile. Always warm and loving.

"Don't worry so much, she will be perfectly fine darling" my mother thought to me. "Not a single person in this family would think twice about giving their life for hers. She is our mericle too."

I smiled at her to her know I heard her, then looked over at the rest of my family that was gathered on the porch. Carlisle was standing just behind Esme while Alice and Rosalie watched as their husbands acted like children. They were currently re-filling up the water guns; preparing for round two of their "battle". I guess having Renesmee around has really brought out the fun in us.

What used to be long, uneventful days repeated year after year, has turned into days that never seem to last long enough. Days filled with new excitement and fun. Not only with Renesmee, but oddly, with the wolves as well.

It was strange at first, but over time us Cullens and the wolves of LaPush have grown to actually like eachother. We no longer only tolerate eachother because we have to. The wolves are our friends... family even. I suppose we all have Renesmee to thank for that. We still are not allowed on their land due to the treaty, but Billy and Sam have made some exceptions for special occasions. Naturally, with Renesmee being Jacob's imprint, she is allowed to come and go as she pleases.

Seth especially has become close with us. Somehow he became everyones little brother. Being that he is always with Jacob and Jacob is always with my daughter, he has really become our family. He even sleeps here from time to time. Emmett seems to be enjoying his company the most. He finally has someone he can goof around with and be carefree. Of course it took Rose awhile longer than the rest of us to accept him, but after seeing how happy her husband is to have a friend, she started to love him too.

Esme absolutely adores Seth. Often I hear her thinking the word 'son' while thinking of Seth. Of course she knows he has a loving mother, Sue Clearwater, but that doesn't stop the maternal feelings she has for him. Sue is currently living with Charlie Swan, my father-in-law, so in a way Seth is Bella's brother now. Just another way to tie us together as family.

Leah Clearwater, on the other hand, did not take the news of becoming family with vampires lightly. Once she was told by her mother that they would be moving into the Swan household, she phased and ran away. She was gone in wolf form for about three months before she calmed down and ran back. Currently, she's doing better, but that doesn't stop her thoughts from being slighy rude. I can understand why. We are natural enemies after all. I just hope in the future she and Bella can become good friends. They will be step-sisters after all.

Yes that is correct, Charlie proposed to Sue just months after the Vultori left. She said yes and they moved in together shortly after. They are planning their wedding for this July witch is coming up in a couple of months. Naturally, my sweet yet pushy sister Alice took it upon herself to plan the whole thing. Everything is paid and prepared for, we are just waiting for the day to arrive. Sue didn't mind, she actually preferred not to be too involved. She's already been married once and doesnt care for the extra things; she just wants Charlie and a happy day with her family.

You could say things have been perfect for the past year and few months. Bella and I spend each day watching our baby girl grow and learn while our nights are spent cherishing eachother. Esme has people to cook for and dote on, which she loves to do. Being a vampire can be boring with nothing to fill your day with. Carlisle continues to work at the hospital and is proud of the family he has created. Alice has been watching the decisions of the Vultori closely to make sure they don't try anything in the future. Jasper keeps us sharp with fight training, just to keep us ready for anything that may come our way. Emmett is happy throwing around Seth and Renesmee (not too roughly) while Jacob makes sure the wolves are on a tight patrol schedual. True to his word, he would do anything to protect my daughter. A father cannot be mad about that.

That just leaves Rose. She loves Renesmee like her own and is thrilled she has a chance to love a child and watch her grow, but there are some days her thoughts trail down a gloomy road. She longs to be a mother with a child of her own. I do not know how that would be possible, but that doesn't stop me from asking whatever god exists that she too could experience a maricle.

"Are you guys just going to stand there like statues or are you going to have some fun!?" Emmett teased.

"Yea daddy! Come have some fun!" Renesmee shouted just before getting blasted in the face by a water gun.

"Emmett really? Her face? Take it easy man." Jacob scowled at Emmett as he went over to make sure she was ok.

"Jake I'm not a baby! Give me your gun I have to get him back!" My daughter snapped at him. Such a stong willed girl my child is. Definitely takes after her mother.

I let out a loud laugh as I approach them. "How about we all get him back. The three of us." I ask wiggling my eyebrows mastiviously.

"How about the four of us!" Seth came jogging up to our small group.

"Well you can count me in too. He needs to learn a little lesson." Japser is added as he joined our team.

Emmett begins cracking his knuckles "Well well, look at this. Five agaisnt one? Peice of cake!"

"Enough talk! Let's charge!" screams out my baby girl.

Like I said, life was perfect.