He didn't let me reciprocate the favor he'd so flawlessly executed, but assured me that once we would be alone, many favors would be exchanged in the privacy of our home.

"But first, let's have you meet Renesmee."

My heart leaped at the mention of her, "Do you think it's safe?"

"I do."

"How much is she like you? How much like me? Or like I was, anyway."

"It seems a fairly even divide. She's warm blooded. She has a heartbeat, though it runs a little bit faster than a human's. Her temperature is a little bit hotter than usual, too. She sleeps."

"Really?"

"Quite well for a newborn. The only parents in the world who don't need sleep, and our child already sleeps through the night." He chuckled.

I liked the way he said your child. The words made her more real.

"She has exactly your color eyes – so that didn't get lost, after all." He smiled at me. "They're so beautiful."

"Mine are very red right now?"

His exuberant smile turned into something more gentle,"yes. But it will pass."

"How long will they be like this?"

"A few months."

I was dejected by the news. I'd hoped that the next feeding after they went dark would make them golden and it would be as if I had always been a Cullen.

"And the vampire parts?"

"Her skin seems about as impenetrable as ours. Not that anyone would dream of testing that."

I blinked at him, a little shocked.

"Of course no one would," he assured me again. "Her diet... well, she prefers to drink blood. We tried giving her some baby formula, too, but she doesn't have much patience with it. Can't say that I blame her – nasty-smelling stuff, even for human food."

"Hey, it wasn't that bad! Better tasting than the blood."

"Really?" His eyebrow rose in amusement.

"Well, I don't know, but I don't think it's a fair comparison. Hunger never made me want to make a snack out of a human."

"Not even the annoying ones?" He teased.

"Surprisingly, Edward, no. Though," I added, "it did make me consider acts of violence against them."

"Such as?"

"Giving a shiny Volvo a nice little orange mark."

"When?"

"Oh, when you blocked me in so Tyler could ask me to prom."

"I had to know if you liked any other boys."

"And asking me was somehow far more complicated."

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Maybe too well," I teased him back.

"I can't say that for you, but it did for me. It worked very well."

"You should really start believing when I tell you that I am very happy with my life," I said before giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

"She has a gift," Edward added.

It was something I hadn't given any thought of happening; truly, lack of imagination might be one of my worst flaws. "What kind?"

"I think it will be easier for you to... see for yourself. I've spoiled enough of the surprise."

"Speaking of which," he added in a much more cautious voice. "Charlie knows about us."

"What?!"

Edward launched into the story of how Charlie came to suspect there might be more to my 'death' than met the eye. His investigation and the unfortunate, yet fortunate time of his arrival, "without him, I don't know if you would have survived. He helped your heart beat long enough for me to make sure that Renesmee was well."

I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

On the one hand I'd always been terrified that Charlie might find out about the Cullens and now that fear had been fulfilled, but on the other I could have my dad in my life. Saying goodbye to him had been harder than it had been with my mother; somehow I knew she would survive my death – I was not so sure about my father.

"Bella?"

I remained silent for a long time after Edward had finished his tale, lost in my thoughts.

"I'm just surprised… and happy. It all feels a little bit unreal."

"It will be easier once you see Renesmee and talk with Charlie."

I considered that. I knew there was a lot that I needed to see for myself before it would be real. I wasn't sure how much more I was ready for, so I changed the subject.

"I need clothes."

"So do I," Edward smiled. "Let's go to the cottage."

I wanted to see Renesme's room, but Edward stopped me. "It's a birthday gift from Esme. I think she would like to be around when you see it for the first time."

I quickly found a pair of dark jeans and a white T-shirt, but Edward was slightly more fashion conscious than I was. It must have been the fifty years with Alice that he had on me.

That became advantageous for me as I stared at him, while he undressed from his ruined shirt and muddied pants. It was impossible not to find that distracting.

"Don't get any ideas, Bella," he said while searching for a pair of pants.

"I didn't do anything."

"I know you."

I stuck out my tongue at him.

"Very mature."

"It's what happens when you marry a much younger woman."

"One of the wiser things I've done in life."

I managed to abstain myself from any further forest shenanigans of the intimate variety. Though, other shenanigans were fair game. "Race you," I said, and then cautioned, "no throwing the game this time!"

He grinned. "On your mark ..."

Finding my way to the house was simpler than walking down Charlie's street to my old one. Our scent left a clear and easy trail to follow, even running as fast as I could.

Edward had me beat till we hit the river. I took a chance and made my leap early, trying to use my extra strength to win.

"Ha!" I exulted when I heard my feet touch the grass first. It proved futile in the end, as Edward arrived just a sliver of a second before me.

"Finally!" Alice was angry. "I wait all this time; I suffer through all the drab jeans and… you've changed. Both of you," she said accusingly.

I saw Emmett wink at Edward. My husband shrugged nonchalantly. "Bella, had an encounter with a rather determined mountain lion."

"And the mountain lion won?"

"You know, Emmett, the pain of the transformation might have been terrible, but two days without your wit was, in retrospect, a small price to pay."

"You've gotten meaner."

I shrugged. Emmet came and gave me a big bear hug, "I'm glad you're okay, sis."

"Thank you."

"So, how was it?"

I shot Edward a look, not quite able to reply myself.

"What? What happened?"

I squeezed Edward's hand, letting him know that he could tell the story, "on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time…"

I heard Carlisle suck in a shocked breath. Jasper's eyes widened, but he nodded just a tiny bit, as if Edward's words answered some question in his head. And Emmett shrugged.

Alice's expression told me that she was not fooled. Her narrowed eyes, focused with burning intensity on my simple top and pants. I wondered what kind of hellish outfit she was preparing for me.

"Edward!" Carlisle chastened. "How could you be so irresponsible?"

"I know, Carlisle, I know. I was just plain stupid. I should have taken the time to make sure we were in a safe zone before I set her loose."

I was embarrassed by the way they stared at me. It was like they were trying to see a brighter red in my eyes.

"You are absolutely right to rebuke me," Edward said with a grin. "I made a huge mistake. But Bella surprised me."

"Wait," Jasper gasped. "She didn't hunt the humans?"

"She started to," Edward said, clearly enjoying himself. I was less amused. "She was entirely focused on the hunt."

"What happened?" Carlisle interjected. His eyes were suddenly bright, an amazed smile beginning to form on his face. It reminded me of before, when he'd wanted the details on my transformation experience. The thrill of new information.

Edward leaned toward him, animated. "She heard me behind her and reacted defensively. As soon as my pursuit broke into her concentration, she snapped right out of it. I've never seen anything to equal her. She realized at once what was happening, and then...she held her breath and ran away."

"Whoa," Emmett murmured. "Seriously?"

"He's not telling it right," I muttered, more embarrassed than before. "He left out the part where I growled and attacked him."

"Did ya get in a couple of good swipes?" Emmett asked eagerly.

"She did. So you better not mess with her, Em."

"Pay up," Jasper said to Emmett, his eyes focused intently on me.

Emmet mumbled, took out his wallet and placed a dollar bill in Jasper's outstretched hand.

"What's going on?"

"Jasper bet Emmett that without the ability to read your mind, I wouldn't be able to win a fight against you while you are still a newborn. Emmett had more faith in your calm and peaceful demeanor, than my inability to fight you."

"Lotta good it did me."

"Next time, why don't I take you on?" I teased him with a large smile on my face.

"Deal, sis."

Jasper's frown caught my attention. Despite the ease he'd shown before he seemed to be disturbed. "It's not natural," Jasper muttered.

Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder, "You did very well, Bella." He turned to Jasper, "There is nothing to be upset about, son. We knew that there was the possibility that with enough foresight Bella's newborn experience would be different, without taking her character into consideration. She is far more mature than any of you."

"Hey!"

"And has had years of preparations."

Jasper was still eyeing me up and down. It made me feel uneasy.

"Jazz, this isn't anything you've seen before," Alice said quietly. "Trust me."

"I am okay," I said to him, "as far as someone can be in these types of situations. I can tell when my emotions start to get out of hand."

"That's what unsettles me."

"What do you mean?"

"It changes all I thought I knew about vampires. The way we are; the way we can be. I'm worrying about… a self-fulfilling prophecy, you could say. If the newborn madness is really as difficult as we've always thought, or if, with the right focus and attitude, anyone could do as well as you."

"My situation is different."

"Indeed. Still, I've always believed that it's natural and unavoidable. Maybe if I'd expected more of myself I would've risen to those expectations. I'm questioning a lot of deep rooted assumptions."

"But that's unfair," Carlisle said. "Everyone is different; everyone has their own challenges. Perhaps what Bella is doing goes beyond the natural. Maybe this is her gift, so to speak."

"That's an interesting theory though I don't think it quite plausible," Edward said, "I still can hear her thoughts and I don't think Aro will be able to."

For a tiny space, I was disappointed. What? No magic visions, no formidable offensive abilities like, oh, shooting lightning bolts from my eyes or something? Nothing helpful or cool at all?

Just the quirk I've always had. I could have been worse. It could have gone away and Aro could have access to my thoughts and by extension, to Renesmee. And Charlie. He was now in danger. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"What is happening?" Jasper asked as soon as he felt my mood darken.

"I was thinking about Aro and the visit I would have to pay to the Volturi soon enough."

"You'll have to go alone," Edward said, anguish on his face.

"Yes. I'm the only one that will be able to keep her existence safe."

"We'll get to that bridge when we have to," Carlisle said. "Right now we have to help you adapt to your new reality."

My new reality. Newborn life. In more ways than one.

But what if I didn't have to be a newborn? Not in the crazed killing-machine sense, anyway. What if I could fit right in with the Cullens from my first day? What if we didn't have to hide out somewhere remote for a year or more while I "grew up"? What if, like Carlisle, I never killed a single person?

I could control myself and I could see Charlie.

I sighed as soon as reality filtered through hope.

I couldn't see Charlie right away. I wasn't as immune to human blood as I wished to be and beyond that there were the changes. I was a completely different person than the one Charlie knew. The eyes, the voice, the perfected face. What could I possibly say to him; how could I even begin? Knowing that he would be frightened by me, even with his knowledge of the vampire world.

"Have you ever seen an equivalent to self-control as a talent?" Edward asked Carlisle.

Carlisle shrugged, 'it's slightly similar to what Siobhan has always been able to do, though she wouldn't call it a gift."

"Siobhan, your friend in that Irish coven?" Emmet asked. "I didn't know that she did anything special. Thought the talented one in that bunch was Maggie."

"Yes, Siobhan thinks the same. But she has this way of deciding her goals and then almost...willing them into reality. She considers it good planning, but I've always wondered if it was something more. When she included Maggie, for instance. Liam was very territorial, but Siobhan wanted it to work out, and so it did."

"What power does Maggie have?"

"She knows when people are lying or not. Siobhan never doubts her."

"I wonder if her power would work on me," I absentmindedly pondered.

'It would be interesting to see if her gift is more like Jasper's or more like mine. I never did wonder about that," Edward pondered.

Deciding that there was no time like the present I said: "I want to see Renesmee. I know she's with Charlie."

Everyone in the room exchanged a glance.

"I know that I can't see him; this afternoon proved as much, but I think I could see her."

"What do you think, Jazz?" Edward asked. It was more of a formality than anything else, meant to bring Jasper into the fold of the conversation and away from what I gathered from his face were dark thoughts.

"I don't think that will be a problem. You're not trying to hunt and she doesn't smell too much like a human."

"I'm not tempted by it," he added at the end, embarrassed by the statement.

"Thank you, Jasper," I said. "And thank you for trying to keep her safe."

"She really is something else," he said, half a smile on his face. It did not reach his eyes.

While we were busy with our discussion Alice quietly slipped out of the room and returned with two expensive looking boxes atop each other. She handed them to me without any ceremony. "I don't think you want your infant daughter to be better dressed than you. Go. And don't you dare look into any mirrors. I want to get your honest reaction."

I wanted to object but thought better of it. Edward promised to call Rosalie and Esme while I changed in our bedroom.

The large box contained a tightly fitted ice-blue silk dress and another smaller box, where a diamond necklace rested in a bed of dark blue velvet. What did she think I would need it for? Was there a cocktail party later?

The second box contained a pair of silver satin stiletto shoes. She knew that I could barely wa…

Well, that wasn't true anymore. I could walk and I could jump with grace. Gone was the clumsiness. For a brief moment I regretted its departure. Something that had been an integral part of myself for all my life disappeared overnight.

As I returned to the living room I saw that a large mirror covered by a sheet had been brought in.

My husband's eyes widened as soon as I came into his sight. His reaction pleased me and put a smile on my face.

"Edward gave me grief for not getting you to a mirror before the wedding," Alice said, pulling my attention away from my gorgeous husband. "I'm not going to be chewed out again."

"Chewed out?" Edward asked skeptically, one eyebrow curving upward.

"Maybe I'm overstating things," she murmured absently as she turned the mirror to face me.

"And maybe this has solely to do with your own voyeuristic gratification," he countered.

Alice winked at him.

I was only aware of this exchange with the lesser part of my concentration. The greater part was riveted on the person in the mirror.

My first reaction was an unthinking pleasure. The alien creature in the glass was indisputably beautiful, every bit as beautiful as Alice or Esme. She was fluid even in stillness, and her flawless face was pale as the moon against the frame of her dark, heavy hair. Her limbs were smooth and strong, skin glistening subtly, luminous as a pearl.

My second reaction was horror.

In all the excitement of the day, it had slipped my mind that the changes that had happened to me were not just regarding my strength, but also regarding my appearance.

Who was I? At first glance, I couldn't find my face anywhere in the smooth, perfect planes of the shocked features that stared at me.

And the eyes!

Though I'd known to expect them, her eyes still sent a thrill of terror through me. Several months, Edward had said before.

In the mirror, the perfect eyebrows lifted incredulously above the glowing crimson eyes – brighter than any I'd ever seen before.

Jasper took a step forward, alarmed by the intensity of my sudden anxiety and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Everything is alright, Bella. Remember that we discussed this? Take a deep breath."

I followed his instructions, while also feeling the effects of his powers on my mood. Just a tiny bit to nudge me in the right direction.

"You're doing excellent. I've never seen a newborn do this – stop an emotion in its tracks that way. You were upset, but when you saw our concern, you reined it in, regained power over yourself. You barely needed my help."

"Thank you for giving it, though."

"Can't have my star pupil not be excellent," he joked, still some unsease in his eyes., though it was not directed at me, but at my ability to keep my cool.

"But what do you think?" Alice asked, a little impatient now, pointing to the mirror.

"I'm not sure," I hedged, not wanting to admit how frightened I really was.

I stared at the beautiful woman with the terrifying eyes, looking for pieces of me. There was something there in the shape of her lips – if you looked past the dizzying beauty, it was true that her upper lip was slightly out of balance, a bit too full to match the lower. Finding this familiar little flaw made me feel a tiny bit better. Maybe the rest of me was in there, too.

I raised my hand experimentally, and the woman in the mirror copied the movement, touching her face, too. Her crimson eyes watched me warily.

Edward sighed, "I wish I could know what you're thinking." He came and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, pressing his lips against my cheek.

"That I'm very pretty."

Edward growled in my ear. "Bella, you have never been merely pretty."

I saw Emmet roll his eyes, like we all had not seen him be far worse with mushy compliments when Rosalie was around. His eyes were barely able to abstain themselves from turning into hearts

"Alice, I have to know, was this the outfit you originally had in mind?"

"Yes. I knew it would suit you very well. It's simple, meant only to highlight your already existing beauty."

I turned away from the mirror and gave her a hug, "thank you!"

"You should listen to me more."

"Will try," I said, lacking any conviction.

"I spoke with Esme, they'll arrive in about four hours," Edward informed me.

I spent those hours staring out the window waiting. I had no reason to sit down. Or need. I was perfectly comfortable standing. It was just as restful as stretching out on a bed would be. I knew I would be able to stand like this for a week without moving and I would feel just as relaxed at the end of the seven days as I did at the beginning.

The Cullens must sit out of habit. Humans would notice someone standing for hours without ever shifting her weight to a different foot. Even now, I saw Alice brush her fingers against her hair and Carlisle cross his legs. Little motions to keep from being too still, too much a vampire. I would have to pay attention to what they did and start practicing.

I rolled my weight back to my left leg. It felt kind of silly.

After dark had truly fallen I heard a car starting to make its way up to the house.

"They are coming," Edward said before they came into sight. "Charlie is with them."

"He hopes he can see you from afar. He understands it's not safe," he added when he saw the fear in my eyes. "Will that work for you?"

I nodded.

My hunger was satiated and all the strong emotions I had regarding my transformation had been safely tucked away in a little box in a corner of my mind to be dealt with at a later date. And Edward was by my side.

As the car pulled into our driveway, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what was to come.