A/N: So I finished chapter 29 before this one. It just came pouring out, but that one is 10 years later.
This one is about 5 years later.
"Renesme, what are you working on?" I asked after I finished up the email I'd been writing and hit send. The phone rang in the exterior office and I heard my assistant answer it.
"I'm finishing up the reading suggestions Poppy gave me for this weekend. We're going to the art museum and I'm reading artist biographies," she answered. She'd been swiping on the screen more than usual.
"Mrs. Black," Diana, my assistant said from the doorway. I held my finger up, begging her to wait a moment.
"Is it a difficult read?" I asked Ness.
"A little, I have to look up a lot of words, that's why it's taking so long. Poppy said it'd be hard, but that I could do it. So I am." She never looked up at me, just kept swiping away at her tablet.
"Okay. Let me know if you need some help," I said. She nodded and I looked over at Diana.
"How old is she again?" Diana asked. She'd replaced Jessica about three years ago, but I didn't start bringing Ness to the office until the past few months.
"Five," I answered.
"Wow," Diana whispered, her eyes flicking to my beautiful daughter. Her bronze locks were long and wavy and she refused to let me tie them back. It was a bronze, fizzy mess, but it was her and I loved it. She also insisted on choosing her own clothes and her tastes were eccentric to say the least. Today she was sporting her favorite purple legging and a hoodie that had the phrase "Don't judge me by my size. I'm extraordinary" and had a baby unicorn on it. Her Wonder Woman converse were brand new since she outgrew her Captain Marvel pair.
"I'm gifted," Nessie stated from the couch without looking. "So that means Poppy and mom make me do more school stuff than other kids. But I don't mind because other kids are silly and the assignments are interesting."
"Most adults are silly, too, sweetie," Diana replied. That got Ness to look up at her. They smiled at each other.
"Did you need something, Diana?" I asked. She shook her head in surprise.
"Yes! Your four o'clock is here. I'm sorry," she spluttered. "And Dr. Cullen called to apologize for being late and he's almost here."
"It's fine. Show Kate in and when Dr. Cullen gets here, just send him in to pick up Ness," I said.
"Sure thing, Bella." She turned and waved Kate in.
Tall and blonde, Kate floated into my office with a wide smile on her face. Ness look up at her and her mouth dropped open. Her royal blue suit was tailored perfectly to accentuate her curves enough to tastefully hint at what was hidden.
"You're beautiful!" Ness gasped. She was always effusive with her praise and often too honest.
"Well thank you, Sweet pea, so are you!" Kate said with obvious sincerity. "And what's your name?" I just took a seat and watched the interaction. I only brought Ness to the office when absolutely necessary and everyone simply loved her so it was never a problem. And, she was never a behavior issue. The only problems she ever caused was her intense stare when she was trying to figure something out.
"Renesme Carli Black. And you are?" she said, quite formally. Kate floated in her direction. There was something ethereal about her.
"I'm Kate Vasko. It is a pleasure to meet you. You must be Bella's daughter," she assessed, looking over at me and then back at Ness.
"Both her progeny and prodigy. Or so I'm told about the latter," Ness stated. Her kindergarten teacher was concerned about the way she stared and had her tested. That was how she learned the word prodigy.
"A prodigy in what?" Kate asked with a smirk and her eyes flicked to me. I just shook my head with a smile. She'd learned to read about age three since she always saw me doing it. Jake taught her the alphabet and since then she was never without a book.
"That has yet to be determined. But they think I show and ap…apt," she stuttered. "Mom, what's that word again?"
"Aptitude," I answered.
"Yes, I don't know why I can't remember that word of all words. Thank you. An aptitude," she said it carefully, "towards math and science." Kate looked at me over her glasses. I just shrugged.
"She's smarter than me," I admitted. "My job is to find her people who can teach her stuff she hasn't already read." Kate nodded with an approving smile.
"Looks like you have a good momma," she said.
"The best. That I know of. I'm only five so I don't have much experience. But I can't imagine many being better. What do you do, Kate? I mean you're here, so you must be a writer. What do you write?" Ness asked. That seemed to amuse Kate, too. She sat on the couch next to Ness, settling her bag on the floor.
"I write children's books. It's not the typical book this company publishes, but your mom took a chance on me," she answered. Ness looked up at her, interested.
"For what ages? Young adult fiction? How-to books? Primers?" she asked. Kate chuckled.
"I wrote and illustrated an alphabet book that celebrates different cultures and another on celebrating diverse ethnicities. They are typically for four to six year-olds," she explained.
"That's really nice," Ness placated. And there was the look. The intense gaze that made most people wither, but Kate just gazed back at her.
"That sounded very patronizing, Renesme. Tell me what you're thinking," Kate said. Ness bit her lip and looked over at me.
"Be honest, she asked," I said. Ness nodded and tilted her head to the side.
"Well, aren't children's book overly repetitive?" she mused. Kate laughed and it was a light, lilting sound. I looked up and noticed Carlisle standing in the doorway. He was absolutely transfixed, so I didn't say anything. I wondered how long he'd been standing there.
"Yes, they are, but they are meant to be," she answered.
"But why? I get bored with overt repetition," Ness explained.
"Well, you are an overtly precocious child and most children need the repetition," Kate said.
"Is that a fact?" Ness said. She rested her chin on her hand waiting for Kate's answer.
"It is. I've done quite a bit of research about it," Kate replied. Ness looked, skeptical.
"She does have a doctorate in linguistic studies and in early child education, Renesme," I added. Renesme took in that information and mulled it over, still staring.
"Okay, but I want to read them. If you illustrated it, I want to see the pictures. Poppy likes showing me art and I like interpreting it," she said. I looked back over at Carlisle who was still staring at Kate.
"Absolutely, sweet pea," Kate said and pulled her ABC book from her bag. The illustrations were rich and detailed. Each letter featured different cultures and ethnicities. Ness gingerly ran her fingers over the rich illustrations with reverence. She tuned each page with care and spent long moments on each letter.
"They're beautiful," she finally whispered. "This book isn't repetitive at all! I could look at this a thousand times and see something new every time!"
"Thank you, pea pod. I'll take that as the highest compliment," Kate said.
"Can I have a look?" Carlisle said from the door. I smiled at finally seeing him animated.
"Poppy! You have to see this!" Ness exclaimed and scooted over she he could sit next to her.
"Carlisle!" I greeted.
"Hello, Bella. I'm am so sorry I'm late. I hope I'm not keeping you from your meeting." He moved to Renesme and sat in the spot she'd made for him which was in between Kate and Ness.
"Not at all," I said. I don't think Kate minds showing Ness her book."
"I'm quite enjoying it," she said. Her eyes were fixed on Carlisle with a hint of excitement, but she wasn't obvious like so many other women.
"Kate, this is Renesme's Poppy, Carlisle Cullen." I gave her a meaningful look hoping she would question how Carlisle was her grandfather. "Carlisle, this is Kate Vasko."
Carlisle was gazing at the book in Ness's hand as raptly as she was. Kate stared at Carlisle.
"It's very nice to meet you," Kate said softly, looking amused. Carlisle's finger was tracing the illustration that Ness had just touched and looked up, distracted. When his gaze caught hers he stopped.
"I am so sorry," he apologized. "You drew these?" he said, awestruck.
"Yes," she affirmed. She smiled coyly at him and looked to me.
"They are just lovely," he said. "I'm Carlisle. It's very nice to meet you." I smirked. Out of all the women who threw themselves at him over all the years I'd known him, he'd never reacted to one until today.
"Yes, Bella told me your name," she reached to shake his hand. He took it and clasped her hand in both of his.
"And you're a writer?" he asked. I leaned back on my desk to watch this play out.
"Yes, and an illustrator," she answered. If it was weird that Carlisle still clasped both her hands, she didn't notice.
"What kind of doctor are you?" she asked, placing her other hand on top of his.
"I'm a surgeon. A cardiac surgeon to be specific," he said, still bobbing their hands slowly up and down. Renesme noticed by this point and was staring again.
"Carlisle saved both my father and me at different times," I added.
"Oh, Bella, I didn't save your father. I performed a procedure as a training exercise and it was textbook," he said, briefly glancing at me with a blush. The man actually blushed.
"He saved you?" Renesme asked me.
"Yes, sweetie, you remember. When you were born, there were some complications and he saved me while daddy took care of you," I reminded her.
"I remember, but I didn't know Poppy was the doctor who saved you," she said, looking at him with new eyes. Kate's eyes bounced between all three of us. "And you saved Pappy. You really are a hero," she surmised. "Why are you still holding her hands? Are you checking her pulse?"
Carlisle cleared his throat and released Kate's hands. I stifled my snicker and Kate looked disappointed as he stood up.
"I do feel an accelerated heart rate," Kate muttered and shifted closer to Ness.
"Well, he can fix your heart, Kate. And, apparently your vagina as well," she added.
"Ness!" I squawked, Carlisle coughed, and Kate burst out laughing.
"What do you mean, child. Please explain," Kate asked through her chuckles. I loved the way Kate treated Ness. Most adults didn't know how to speak to precocious children and address their curiosity, but Kate handled it in stride.
"Well, babies come out of vaginas; I hurt mommy when I was a baby; and Poppy fixed her. So he had to fix her vagina, right?" she explained.
"Ness, we need to have a talk later," I said, but Kate smiled and shook her head, telling me it was okay.
"I assure you, dear child, there is nothing wrong with my vagina," Kate said and cupped Ness's chin, lovingly.
"That's good to hear," Ness said. "But if you did, Poppy could fix it. And your heart." I wondered if Kate could fix his heart.
"Renesme, it is time for us to be leaving," Carlisle said, "and let these ladies get on with their business." He looked a little embarrassed.
"Where's your bag, baby?" I asked, grateful for the distraction. Kate and Ness both stood.
"By Diana's desk," she answered and ran through the open office door.
"This has been a most enjoyable afternoon I must say," Kate said, extending her hand to Carlisle again. He took it. "I just met the most delightful child on the planet and her Poppy." She gave him a meaningful look that I'm pretty sure was reciprocated.
"She is pretty wonderful," Carlisle said. His eyes sparkled with pride and it appeared he was happy to be touching Kate again. "And I steal her away once a month from her mother. But I feel the pleasure has been all mine. It was very nice to meet you, Kate and see your beautiful illustrations."
"Poppy!" Renesme called from outside my office. "Let's go!" Carlisle's eyes flicked to the door, but he didn't let go of Kate's hand.
"Renesme, come back in here and tell your mother you love her and goodbye," Carlisle chided. She appeared at the door looking grumpy.
"She already knows that," Ness replied matter-of-factly.
"You should tell her anyway. Never hold back the love you feel or you'll regret it later," he reminded her.
"Yes, sir," she said and ran to give me a hug. She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed. "I love you so much, mommy!"
"Love you, too, my little lake monster," I said and squeezed her back. "You be good for Poppy and I'll see you Sunday evening." Carlisle gave me a hug and looked back at Kate.
"It was very nice to meet you. Perhaps it will happen again," he said.
"Perhaps," Kate grinned. And they were gone.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked Jake as he guided the helicopter up the Pacific coast.
"It's a surprise," he said, his voice crackling through my padded headphones. He'd finally earned his pilot's license and our weekend trips to La Push increased in frequency, much to my father's great joy. When Embry moved to Lake Charles permanently and Quil and Claire were set up in Tunica they sold the Jet and Jake bought a helicopter. We traveled to different places for quarterly meetings were everyone met together to catch up and get the kids together.
"It's beautiful. You've never taken this route before," I said. He looked over at me and smiled. He called out our coordinates to whoever it was he talked to and his knee started bobbing like it always did when he was anxious or excited.
"That's because we're always headed home. Do you know what day it is today?" he asked. His smile was wide and his eyes happy. I had to think for a moment. "You don't, do you?" His voice cracked, but I couldn't decide if it was the crackle of the microphone or his voice.
"Every day is special with you," I tried with a grin. He wasn't offended. Jake was always better with remembering special dates than I was and he was never disappointed when I didn't. But as I looked out the window and down at the beach we were approaching, I remembered.
"We're going to third beach?" I asked, my heart full of happy emotion.
"Do you remember now?" he said and waggled his eyebrows. I nodded.
"Can you land? Is there enough room?" I asked, worried.
"When the tide is out. We have about three hours," he answered. We were quiet while he landed and powered down the propeller.
"What do we have back here?" I asked as he began taking things out of the helicopter. I hadn't noticed all things Jake had packed in the back seat of the helicopter when I got in. We never packed much since we maintained residences in both La Push and Seattle.
"Don't you remember how the day started?" he asked. I did.
"But we didn't hike here," I said and his smile dropped. "I'm not complaining!" I laughed. "I like that I didn't have to fall forty times to get here."
"Good," he sighed. "But after we got here?" He took out a back pack and strapped it on, and picked up the picnic basket and a blanket.
"We ate lunch and made love for the first time," I answered. He smiled as his eyes traced the blush that spread up my neck.
"And the second and the third," he added with a wink. He walked a ways from the helicopter and I followed him. I grabbed two corners of the blanket and helped him spread it. I watched as he took off his shoes and sat in the middle of the blanket. "Come here," he said. I followed suit, taking off my shoes and sitting on his lap.
"You put a lot of planning into this" I said. He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I kissed him on the nose.
"You know that I'm a sucker for dates." He kissed my lips softly, and nipped at my chin.
"I haven't been back here since that day," I sighed out contentedly. "Have you?"
"I used to run out here and remember." His lips moved down the column of my neck and he leaned me onto my back and pressed me onto the blanket in the soft sand. "I haven't been back in about five years." His hand slid up under my shirt.
"Since we got back together," my breath hitched when he bucked his hips into me.
"I haven't needed to remember since then. I have you," and he quit talking. I tugged at his shirt and he obliged me, letting me yank it off him. He followed suit, divesting me of my bra as well.
"I was going to suggest eating first, but all I'll be thinking about is fucking you, so let's get that out of the way before we eat." He attacked the peaks of my breasts before he slid my yoga pants down my legs. "Well, I'm gonna eat." He worked his way up my legs by planting soft, wet kisses on the insides of my calves, knees, and thighs. He spread my legs wide and I dug my fingers into his hair as he devoured me. I groaned at his laving tongue.
"You didn't do this last time," I panted. But he didn't answer me. He slid two fingers inside of me, curling one, as his tongue and teeth worked on my clit. "Jacob! I'm cumming!" My back arched off the blanket, but Jake's free palm kept me right where he wanted me. "Oh, god!" I screamed. Spasms rocked my body while he continued to pump, suck, and lick until I was spent. He pulled his fingers out and slid them in his mouth, enjoyed a last taste.
I lay like a star fish on the blanket while he shed the rest of his clothes. I didn't think I'd ever get over how beautifully chiseled he was.
"Roll over," he urged, "get on your hands and knees. We didn't do that last time, either." I smirked as I did as he asked. Looking over my shoulder at him I wiggled my ass as he dropped to his knees.
"Damn woman!" he growled the gripped my hips and thrust deep. It was a punishing pace, one that I enjoyed. The slapping our skin was drown out by the crashing of the waves. He leaned down against my back, planting his hands on either side of mine. I reveled in being surround by his bulk, his mass, his heat. I pushed back to meet his thrusts with his hot breath in my ear. "You want me to make you cum again?" he grunted out. "Tell me. Tell me you wanna cum."
"I wanna cum. God! Make me cum!" I cried out. He reached around me, his fingers finding my clit, and circled roughly.
"Cum on my dick, Bells. That always sends me over the edge. I need your cunt to milk my dick," he panted. He knew the dirty talk always got me. I loved his filthy mouth. The tremble started deep in my core behind my navel and spread out. Both his hand moved to my breasts and he sat back on his heels, pulling me with him, while he continued to pump into to me. When the tremble reached my pussy, I heard his groan of pleasure and we both finished our orgasms praising each other and our higher powers.
We collapsed on our sides, panting and sweating. Jake wrapped me up in his powerful arms and kissed my neck as he spooned me from behind.
"I love you," he whispered in my ear.
"I love you, too," I said back. I ran my hands over his arms that caged me in. I needed to tell him and this couldn't be a better setting. "Jake?" He was nuzzling my neck.
"Yeah?" I loved it when his thick hand rubbed my belly below my navel.
"I have some good news for you," I started.
"What's that? You're ready for round two?" he asked. He moved my leg on top of his, opening me up. I laughed.
"You can't be ready already?" and I shifted so I was facing him. His face dropped in disappointment. He compensated by running his hand down to my ass.
"I have ten years to make up for," he said, sliding his leg between mine in our new position.
"We've been back together for five years," I said, but he stopped my mouth with a kiss. It was long and sensuous, his tongue gliding along mine, flicking the tip of mine and inviting me to return the favor. So I did.
"So, I think I've made up for one year. Maybe one and a half," he said in between kisses.
"Jake," I tried, but he rolled me over on my back and kissed me again. "JAKE!" But he wasn't having it. I realized I just needed to spit it out.
"I'm pregnant."
That stopped him. He pulled back and looked in my eyes. I could see the joy there. He reflexively moved his hand back to my stomach, His thumb running along my C-section scar.
"Really?" he whispered.
"Really," I nodded with a grin. "Are you happy?" I asked, though I could see that he was.
"Bella! There isn't a word for how happy I am!" He leaned in and peppered my face with kisses. I giggled at he moved down my neck. This time when he slid into me it was slow and rhythmic. Loving. He looked deeply into my eyes as he drove into me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and hugged him in every way I could.
"Jake," I cooed, "I love you so much."
"Thank you for my life," he whispered back. His words were so earnest but I didn't quite know what he meant. I wasn't responsible for his life, was I? His hands held my shoulder blades as he held his weight on his forearms. Each slow, loving thrust brought me closer to ecstasy. Again.
"Jake, I'm almost there. A little harder, please, Jake?" I begged. He complied picking up his speed and intensity but never breaking his gaze unless it was to kiss me.
We both crested at the same time then we lay panting and kissing to the soundtrack of waves crashing onto the beach. He rolled us onto our sides and he just gazed at me. I watched as his brow furrowed with worry. I ran my fingers along the creases of his forehead.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Your last pregnancy was so hard on you. I'm just worried," he finally said.
"I talked to my doctor and Carlisle. They said the complications from Nessie was because of her blood type. Yours blood type is universally compatible. And even if it is difficult, it'll be worth it. Ness sure is." He smiled at me, but it didn't erase the worry.
"She sure is," he agreed. "I promise I won't treat the new baby any differently than I do Ness," he promised.
"Yes you will. They'll be different children. And Ness isn't normal, anyway. She needs to be treated differently," I said. He nodded, thinking that over. I recognized the look—it was similar to the one Ness had, but not as intense.
"She is wonderfully abnormal. You know, she's going to figure out that I'm not her biological father soon. She's too smart to not see it. How are we going to handle that?" he asked. I snuggled into his heat, wrapping my arm around his waist.
"We'll have to be honest. She's already asked me where Carlisle fits in." I nuzzled my nose across his chest and placed a small kiss there. He flinched a little, but I don't know if it was from my words or my kiss. I ran my hand up his spine to soothe him.
"What did she say?" he asked.
"That he was the doctor who saved her Pappy and he is very important to our family. She seemed content with that. She even conjectured about why they're called Poppy and Pappy from that information," I chuckled.
"My babies are going to look more like me." He stopped abruptly. "I mean," he sat up, "our next baby. Fuck! Ness is my baby. How am I not going to fuck this up?" I sat up and cupped his cheek.
"I'm not worried you'll love the new baby any more than you love Ness, Jake. I know you better than that. We'll get this right. We have eight months to prepare for this. And even when we fuck up, we'll apologize. There's power in apologies. Besides," I leaned up to kiss him, "we have a bigger issue to deal with, first."
"What's that?" he asked, pulling me into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him softly.
"How to tell Charlie. He is not going to be as easy to convince that this pregnancy will not be as dangerous as the last." He leaned his forehead on mine.
"Let's wait a few weeks. Maybe after the first ultra-sound. Let's let this be ours for a while," he suggested.
"I like that idea. Thank you for making this easier than the last time I had to tell someone I was pregnant," I whispered with a shudder.
"Isabella Marie Black," he said and my head shot up so I could look in his eyes. "I love you. I hope you know you will never have to feel that way ever again."
"I know. That's why I am so grateful," I smiled. His returning smile was brilliant.
"Come on," he urged, "let's eat."
So two, maybe three chapters left. (To make it an even 30)
Thoughts?
