A/N: This is mid-Eclipse through the end of Breaking Dawn from Edward's perspective. Thanks for reading!

These characters are not mine and all belong to Stephenie Meyer.


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Chapter 3 of Volume 1 covers Edward's discussion with Jasper after he nearly attacks Bella and goes through Edward's thought process as he weighs leaving her. Please check it out if you haven't already! See my profile for the link.


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Moronic Wolfy Claim (Breaking Dawn)

"Tell me about her," Bella insisted.

We moved through the forest, hand in hand.

"She's like nothing else in the world," I said.

Nessie held a permanent spot in my head. A bright light I was always conscious of. Being away from her thoughts, I could feel that profoundly now. She'd gone from being an extension of Bella to being a distinct and awe-inspiring individual all on her own. She was mine. Of me. Somehow, combined with Bella's humanity, the parts of myself she inherited only made her all the more special.

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

There was a slight edge to Bella's otherwise enthusiastic inquiry that I didn't understand.

"It seems a fairly even divide."

"She was warm-blooded," Bella recalled.

"Yes." Contact with our skin didn't seem to chill her as it had Bella. It wasn't even uncomfortable to her as it was to Jacob, but I imagined that was because she had experienced it since birth whereas for the wolves, it was a sign of threat. "She has a heartbeat, though it runs a bit faster than a human's. Her temperature is a little bit hotter than usual, too. She sleeps."

Bella's eyebrows shot up. "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." I chuckled, then thought of our entanglement a few moments prior. It was very, very good she slept.

"She has exactly your color eyes - so that didn't get lost, after all." I smiled at her. "They're so beautiful."

I'd been prepared to grieve those small human traits of Bella's. It was an irrational thing, superficial, but I'd grown attached. Now, with our daughter carrying on Bella's lovely eyes, her rosy blush, I'd lost absolutely nothing.

"And the vampire parts?" Bella pressed.

Even with his anxieties over her growth, Carlisle was in heaven documenting Renesmee's every feature, characteristic, and behavior. Bella had no idea the gift she had given him.

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

Bella blinked and when her eyes opened again I could see violence in them.

"Of course no one would," I assured her soothingly. "Her diet... well, she prefers to drink blood. Carlisle continues to try to persuade her to drink 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."

She gaped at me for a moment. "Persuade her?" she asked incredulously.

"She's intelligent," I explained. "Shockingly so, and progressing at an immense pace. Though she doesn't speak - yet - she communicates quite effectively."

"Doesn't. Speak. Yet."

Did this upset her? Did she guess that her physical maturation was startling as well? I slowed our pace, letting her absorb the onslaught while I monitored her reaction.

"What do you mean she communicates effectively?" Bella demanded.

"I think it will be easier for you to... see for yourself. It's rather difficult to describe." In all likelihood she probably wouldn't see for herself, though she could see it illustrated through others. I imagined Nessie's frustrated little expression as her mom stared blankly back at her.

It frustrated me, at least. I wanted Bella to know this very essential part of her daughter. The others, particularly Jacob and Rosalie, always demanded to know what Nessie shared when she wasn't in their arms. I imagined Bella would be the same, only she'd never know the joy herself.

Bella's expression, wistful as she considered my cryptic remarks, suddenly returned to confusion. "Why is Jacob still here? How can he stand it? Why should he? Why should he have to suffer more?" There was a slight quiver to her voice as she fired off her questions.

Jacob was convinced that just as he was no longer drawn to Bella, she would no longer be drawn to him. Certainly, she'd shown nothing of the need she'd had for him just two days ago. But she was a newborn. Thirsty, distracted and pulled in so many directions. Perhaps that was simmering somewhere in her head or just hadn't had the chance to fully assert itself yet. Even if the need was gone, did her love for him linger? She had asked about him several times within her first few minutes of this life.

And how would she react when she realized he claimed the daughter she was so possessive of?

"Jacob isn't suffering." Bitterness leaked into my reassurance. "Though I might be willing to change his condition," I said through my teeth.

"Edward!" she hissed.

I almost fell as she yanked me to an abrupt stop. I looked down at her hand around mine, amused and pleased with her new strength. There was comfort in our sameness.

"How can you say that?" she demanded. "Jacob has given up everything to protect us! What I've put him through - !"

She cringed and I was sure she was thinking of Leah Clearwater's disgusting tirade.

"You'll see exactly how I can say that," I muttered unapologetically. "I promised him that I would let him explain, but I doubt you'll see it much differently than I do." Devastating, yet unalterable given our daughter's obvious attachment. "Of course, I'm often wrong about your thoughts, aren't I?" I pursed my lips and eyed her.

Would it click for her as it had for Jacob? Family. She'd always said they were family. That something had gone off the rails. And here was the magic solution that tidied everything up. Or, would she respond as Emmett predicted and go for his throat?

"Explain what?"

I shook my head. "I promised. Though I don't know if I really owe him anything anymore." I'd owed him my life and Nessie was exponentially more than that.

"Edward, I don't understand." Her eyes were sharp on my face, the 'v' present between her eyes.

I stroked her cheek and immediately the unpleasant emotions slipped away. Like magic. I smiled sympathetically knowing it was surely not so simple for her. "It's harder than you make it look, I know. I remember."

"I don't like feeling confused." She frowned slightly.

"I know. And so let's get you home, so that you can see it all for yourself." Ah. But there was a small complication. My eyes dropped from her face to the loveliness of her body once again. "Hmm."

I unbuttoned my white shirt again and held it out to her to put her arms through.

The corner of her mouth turned up. "That bad?"

I grinned.

Alice wasn't going to be pleased.

I watched Bella button the shirt, savoring for one more moment the perfect rise and fall of her chest, the smoothness of her abdomen. The image would surely haunt me until I got her alone again.

Or maybe not...? Her eyes studied my half-naked body with unveiled lust, her breathing uneven.

The electric current pulsing beneath my skin accelerated with a jolt. I wasn't strong enough to redirect her attention to our responsibilities a second time...

"I'll race you!" she declared suddenly.

Had she just been sizing up the competition then?

"No throwing the game this time!" She meant the warning playfully, but her eyes flashed in such a way that I wouldn't have dared to disobey her.

I dropped her hand and smiled. "On your mark..."

She was quieter than she had been during our first race - focusing on the impossible task of catching me, I imagined - but she giggled from time to time at thoughts I didn't know.

We were closing in on the river when I searched for Nessie. She was safe in Rosalie's arms but not content. She wanted to see her mother and she wanted to know why Jacob had gone outside without her.

I didn't have to search for Jacob. His loud, anxious thoughts cut through all the others. He was waiting to meet us - the dog was offering himself up as a test of Bella's control.

That was unfortunate - or fortunate, depending on your perspective - because Bella changed up her strategy at the last minute. I watched her fly over my head when we were still more than twenty-five yards from the river bank. Leveraging her strength in this way, she had me beat.

"Ha!" she shouted victoriously.

As I flew over the river I watched her freeze. My feet hit the ground and not a second later my hands were clamped down hard on the tops of her arms.

"Don't breathe," I cautioned her urgently, glaring at Jacob where he stood at the forest's edge.

She stopped mid-breath.

Despite the very real enjoyment I would have gotten from watching her try out her new strength on him, I knew she wouldn't want to hurt him.

Jacob's arms were folded across his body and his jaw clenched tight as he held himself in rigid control. He didn't want to phase and risk hurting Nessie's mother.

Had Bella's identity vanished along with his love for her?

"Carefully, Jacob," I warned him.

Ugh. It's got blood on it's dress.

She, Leah, she's got blood on her dress, Seth corrected. Not so different when we hunt. We have to clean off our paws and stuff... He tried not to think about the shudder he repressed.

Leah snarled. Yeah? Well, you want to see her clean Jacob off her paws?

I met her eyes and she bared her teeth at me.

"Maybe this isn't the best way - " I started to tell Jacob.

"You think it would be better to let her near the baby first?" he interrupted. "It's safer to see how Bella does with me. I heal fast."

It was true. He did heal fast. Unless she got her teeth into him. And wouldn't that be a sight to see... A test wasn't such a bad idea when the price of failure was so negligible, so tempting...

Through Jacob's eyes I watched Bella glance suspiciously from him to me.

My expression turned hostile as I shrugged. "It's your neck, I guess." I loosened my grip on her arms.

Is this such a good idea? Esme asked, watching with everyone else in the house through the window wall.

At the same moment Leah started up another profanity laced tirade, this one peppered with threats. I rolled my eyes at the scrawny wolf. She could try to have a go at Bella. I'd been waiting for an excuse to rip her tongue out.

Bella frowned at me for a long moment before looking back at Jacob again, her face smoothing into a blank mask.

He grinned at her still form. She's in there, he told himself. He remembered her earlier stunt with the dress and shoes. Very Bella. And the excessive enthusiasm with the jumping nonsense. Just like she was on the bikes at first. Minus all the blood... The breeze caught a lock of her hair tangled with dried blood. Well, minus her own blood. His smile widened and he shuddered slightly.

Flashing through his head were the many versions of Bella he'd known. Bella at prom, Bella with a large gash on her forehead, Bella mutilated on the operating table. And now this, he thought.

"I gotta say it, Bells. You're a freak show."

To my surprise, that seemed to thaw her.

I growled, not having it. "Watch yourself, mongrel."

What, you want me to be attracted to her? Sure, she's hot... in a Carrie sort of way, he thought snidely.

My lip curled back from my teeth.

"No, he's right," Bella said calmly. "The eyes are really something, aren't they?"

"Super creepy." Almost as creepy as all the blood. "But it's not as bad as I thought it would be." The smell, too. Burns, but its not so different from her human scent.

"Gee - thanks for the amazing compliment."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. You still look like you - sort of. Maybe it's not the look so much as you are Bella." Zombie mannequin Bella. "I didn't think it would feel like you were still here." He smiled again and chuckled awkwardly when she continued to stare at him unblinking. "Anyway, I guess I'll get used to the eyes soon enough."

"You will?" she asked, confused.

Yeah, knew she couldn't have known acting like this...

He glanced at me. "Thanks. I didn't think you'd be able to keep it from her, promise or not. Usually, you just give her everything she wants."

"Maybe I'm hoping she'll get irritated and rip your head off," I retorted.

Jacob snorted. Like you'd let her.

"What's going on? Are you two keeping secrets from me?" Bella demanded, incredulous.

"I'll explain later," Jacob said self-consciously. Just have to make sure Nessie's safe from her before she tries to kick me out. "First, let's get this show on the road."

He took a few tentative steps forward, his grin almost taunting.

He's such a fucking idiot, Leah whined, sliding out of the trees to trail behind him.

Seth followed behind her. He was anxious for Jacob, too, but he worried Leah's temper would only make things worse.

"Cool it, guys," Jacob ordered. "Stay out of this."

Neither heeded his request, continuing to shadow his steps.

Jacob stopped when he was about two feet from us. "C'mon, Bells. Do your worst."

Leah hissed.

Bella just stared at him warily, not breathing.

"I'm getting older here, Bella," Jacob complained. "Okay, not technically, but you get the idea. Go on, take a whiff."

"Hold on to me," Bella said, cringing back into my chest.

I tightened my grip on her arms and felt her form lock into stillness as she braced herself. My eyes were intent on the side of her face while I simultaneously monitored Jacob. He had no intention of phasing, but I was prepared for his instincts to decide otherwise.

Tension occupied everyone's thoughts as Bella's chest rose the slightest degree with her small experimental breath.

Her nose wrinkled. "Huh," she said calmly. "I can see what everyone's been going on about. You stink, Jacob."

I burst out into laughter and released her, wrapping my arms affectionately around her waist instead. The tight embrace was one of adoration, not restraint.

And... I was feeling hopeful that maybe Jacob was right. Maybe Bella really had let go of him.

Emmett and Seth joined in, laughing, too.

Jacob grinned. "Look who's talking." He plugged his nose theatrically.

"I love you," I whispered into her ear.

Jacob took in the strange scene through his new lens. Me wrapped around Bella, smitten, and her, obviously content in my arms. It made him... happy. For me, for Bella, but mostly for Nessie. It made sense that she would come from such a loving place, he decided. And he wanted this for her. Two loving, devoted parents...

"Okay, so I passed, right?" Bella asked. "Now are you going to tell me what this big secret is?"

Jacob tensed remembering one of those loving, devoted parents might not be as thrilled with his love and devotion as he was with hers.

"It's nothing you need to worry about this second..." he said nervously.

Emmett chuckled, eager for bloodshed as always.

Bella cocked her head slightly toward the sound. "Renesmee," she whispered, freezing.

My face lit up with excitement. "Come and see. I know you can handle this," I murmured.

It's day one, Edward, Jacob entreated. Shouldn't we give it like a week, at least? Or a month... or six months?

"You'll help me?" Bella whispered quietly.

"Of course I will," I answered. Though it seemed unlikely she would need it.

"And Emmett and Jasper - just in case?"

"We'll take care of you, Bella. Don't worry, we'll be ready," I assured her. "None of us would risk Renesmee. I think you'll be surprised at how entirely she's already wrapped us all around her little fingers. She'll be perfectly safe, no matter what."

Bella took a step forward and suddenly Jacob was right in front of us not six inches away.

"Are you sure, bloodsucker?" he whined. "I don't like this. Maybe she should wait - "

I cut him off, glaring. "You had your test, Jacob." His test, because apparently, as Nessie's father I couldn't be trusted to keep her safe.

"But - "

"But nothing," I snapped, exasperated. "Bella needs to see our daughter. Get out of her way."

Jacob looked over Bella once warily before sprinting for the house.

I growled. Could he not appreciate that we would not have Nessie if not for Bella's bravery and sacrifice? He was there! He'd watched Bella die to bring Nessie into this world.

"Shall we?" I asked Bella gently.

I took her hand when she nodded, leading her into the house through the backdoor.

Rosalie held Nessie furthest away near the front door. Jacob stood right in front of her and the others had arranged themselves in a defensive formation closest to us. Aside from Jasper, whose thinking was not so different from Jacob's, all were cautiously optimistic. They smiled at her in welcome, confident they could manage any errant behavior.

Nessie leaned forward out of Rosalie's arms to see around Jacob and locked eyes with her mother.

Though Bella looked quite different to her now, Nessie recognized the skirt of Bella's dress, tattered and stained as it was, and her long flowing hair. Momma, she remembered me saying.

Bella's total absorption with Nessie increased Jacob's uneasiness.

"I was out just two days?" Bella gasped in disbelief.

It was true, Nessie had changed drastically since her birth. She looked nearly three months old, had hair past her shoulders, and she supported her own torso.

Nessie stretched towards Bella, who continued to gape at her, and then reached back touch Rosalie's neck.

Images of Bella at Nessie's birth and afterwards lying still through her transformation flashed through Rosalie's head. "Yes, that's her," Rosalie murmured, patting Nessie's hand.

Nessie wondered at her mother's red eyes and was pleased she had her full attention. She smiled, knowing it had the effect of drawing people closer to her.

Bella took a hesitant step forward.

I locked my hands around her arms as Jasper and Emmett formed a wall in front of her. The others tensed behind them. Except for Alice, of course. She threw a disapproving look at me - she'd been paying attention earlier and thought this was all overblown.

"Oh, give her some credit," she chided. "She wasn't going to do anything. You'd want a closer look, too."

"I'm okay," Bella promised, patting my hand. "Keep close, though, just in case."

Jasper read her calm. He still didn't trust her strange control, even doubting for the first time the accuracy of his extra sense.

At the sound of Bella's voice Nessie struggled in Rosalie's arms, reaching for her mother again. She felt frustrated with us for slowing Bella's progress.

"Jazz, Em, let us through. Bella's got this," I assured them.

Emmett looked to Jasper for direction who hissed, "Edward, the risk - "

"Minimal," I said confidently. "Listen, Jasper - on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time..." I trailed off allowing them to draw the obvious conclusion. Part of me was having a little fun with them for making their disgusting bet, but that wasn't my only objective. I hoped that Bella could start to understand how incredible her earlier feat was through their false assumptions.

Carlisle gasped at my failure. Esme gazed at Bella compassionately - her slips as a newborn had devastated her, kept her from venturing out into the world as much as the rest of us even though she was well capable. Jasper and Jacob felt validated while Emmett and Rosalie were more dismissive. Nessie and Alice frowned, one annoyed at our obvious distraction and the other mourning what was left of Bella's custom Versace gown.

Her first time out... two lives, Carlisle grieved. And we already have the added complication of Charlie. We'll have to leave soon and now our abrupt departure will look that much more suspicious with hikers missing not far from our land. And Bella. Kind and innocent Bella, could he have not done his due diligence for her sake? His anger, such a rare thing for Carlisle, swelled until he finally exclaimed, "Edward! How could you be so irresponsible?"

I dipped my head slightly in shame - the shame was real, but my movements were exaggerated, playing into everyone's assumptions.

"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 fought a smile at the image my words conjured. Bella, a wild thing, wrestling with lions, swinging monkey-like from trees, tackling me to the forest floor... Nothing like I'd feared.

Set her loose? Emmett mocked. Looks more like she set you loose. Care to explain what happened to her dress?

"Edward," Bella mumbled, clearly uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny.

"He's absolutely right to rebuke me, Bella," I told her with a grin that irritated Carlisle. "I made a huge mistake. The fact that you are stronger than anyone I've ever known doesn't change that."

Alice rolled her eyes as the others worked out my meaning. "Tasteful joke, Edward," she commented.

"I wasn't making a joke. I was explaining to Jasper why I know Bella can handle this. It's not my fault everyone jumped to conclusions."

"Wait. She didn't hunt the humans?" Jasper was floored.

My smile grew. "She started to," I said, smug. "She was entirely focused on the hunt."

"What happened?" Carlisle demanded, smiling now, too.

"She heard me behind her and reacted defensively," I told my riveted audience. "As soon as my pursuit broke into her concentration, she snapped right out of it."

Absolutely amazing, Carlisle thought.

Maybe something did go wrong... Jasper mused, thinking of her silent transformation

"I've never seen anything to equal her," I said proudly. "She realized at once what was happening, and then... " Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett leaned closer, "she held her breath and ran away."

Changes nothing, Jacob thought flatly, studying Jasper's wary expression. Still too soon.

Jacob had interrogated Jasper thoroughly while Bella underwent her transformation and what he learned terrified him more than his own legends.

"Whoa," Emmett said. "Seriously?"

"He's not telling it right," Bella interjected, chagrined. "He left out the part where I growled at him."

I rolled my eyes at her silliness.

"Did ya get in a couple of good swipes?" Emmett asked eagerly, imagining the scene with humor.

"No!" Bella's eyes flashed at him. "Of course not."

Emmett's face fell. "No, not really? You really didn't attack him?"

"Emmett!" she objected.

He shook his head and groaned. "Aw, what a waste. And you're probably the one person who could take him - since he can't get in your head to cheat - and you had a perfect excuse, too." He sighed. "I've been dying to see how he'd do without that advantage."

Bella's eyes narrowed frostily. "I would never."

I smirked at him tauntingly.

What the hell is she? Jasper wondered. Her reactions - they're all wrong.

I nearly laughed. I'd been saying that from the very beginning, only I thought it was limited to her humanity. Clearly that was just Bella. Unpredictable and incomprehensible.

I punched Jasper's shoulder lightly. "You see what I mean?"

"It's not natural," he muttered.

Or it's perfectly natural, Carlisle silently argued. She knew exactly what she was walking into - as much as she could have. She knew there would be temptations. She knew there would be a price.

"She could have turned on you - she's only hours old!" Esme said in horror. "Oh, we should have gone with you."

I patted Esme's shoulder reassuringly. What good was there in worrying about what might have been? Look at where we were. What an incredible reality we'd found ourselves in...

"Edward," Bella murmured. She wore a slight pout on her lovely face as she leaned around Jasper to see Nessie reaching for her. "Please?"

Jasper was frozen in front of her glaring at me, his jaw set. There's no reason to rush this. There is no cost to waiting. Perhaps she has some gift of deception. Maybe we're not seeing everything.

I narrowed my eyes doubtfully.

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

She couldn't see what would happen next, not with Nessie, but she could see threads past that. Bella mingling with the human world in the not-so-distant future.

Alice and Jasper's eyes locked for a moment and then he nodded.

Jasper placed his hand on Bella's shoulder and moved with her as she took slow steps forward. Emmett stayed just in front of her and to the side, backing towards Rosalie and Nessie while the rest of us stayed with them.

We were making very slow progress forward and Nessie had no patience for it. Suddenly she let out a high, ringing wail. It was the first time any of us had heard her voice.

I was there first, cradling her face in one hand as the others crowded in around me.

"It's okay, little one," I cooed.

She was not satisfied by the sudden onslaught of reassurances and pats.

Jacob, stuck behind me and Carlisle, leaned over us anxiously. "What's the matter? Is she hurt? What happened?" he asked loudly. He stretched his arms out for Renesmee, not seeming to notice that he knocked the side of Carlisle's head as he did.

Though all of us were indulgent with her, Nessie knew no one would get her what she wanted faster than Jacob - at least that had been her experience so far - so she touched Rosalie's cheek and showed her Jacob.

"No, she's fine," Rosalie reassured Jacob. She held Nessie up to him and the child all but climbed up his arms.

Nessie pushed her hand firmly to his face, squishing his cheek forward comically.

Momma. The word said in every one of our voices rang in his head as she showed him Bella. He regretted reaching for her because now he was distressed over the desperation with which she wanted to see her mother. What made her happy and what he considered safe in this moment were two very different things.

I hated that I understood his struggle.

"See?" Rosalie said. "She just wants Bella."

"She wants me?" Bella whispered, her tone wondering.

Nessie's impatient little expression looked so much like her mother's in that moment that it compelled me to intervene.

I darted back to Bella's side and put my hands lightly on her arms, urging her forward. "She's been waiting for you for almost three days."

Jacob's arms trembled as we approached him and Nessie but I could hear his rigid control. I trusted he wouldn't phase with her in his arms.

Bella was not as sure. She eyed his shaking hands with concern. "Jake - I'm fine," she told him.

If she hurts her... so help me, bloodsucker...

Nessie whimpered, her little hands grasping into little fists in front of her.

Bella's face smoothed into perfect serenity as she took Nessie into her arms.

Though Nessie remained in Jacob's grip, I found my mind editing him and everyone else out until it was just Bella and Nessie.

And this was everything. This was why I had lived a hundred lonely years.

A sense of faith overwhelmed me, understanding now that there was order and purpose and timing to the universe. I understood now the faith my mother must have had in pleading on my behalf. Carlisle's faith as he chose to change me. Bella's, always, in us and what we could be together. Nessie - the pinnacle of that faith.

Leaving one hand on Bella's shoulder, I rested the other on Renesmee's bronze curls.

Without hesitation, though more gently than she'd done to Jacob, Renesmee touched her palm to Bella's cheek.

They both gasped.

I hardly registered that Renesmee was surprised by Bella's skin - no longer warm and soft - because I was so taken aback by the fact that Bella was reacting as if she could see the disturbing images Nessie showed her.

Bella gasped several times and Jasper registered her confusion, but nothing else that especially troubled him - her response was not so different from anyone else's.

I should have felt only happy that Bella was not immune to Nessie's gift, but in that moment, I was actually quite envious of my daughter. Envious and unsettled. The memories from her birth were so at odds with the beauty of the last several hours.

Nessie's hand dropped and she smiled widely, anticipating Bella's response.

It was silent for several seconds. Nessie's smile faded slightly and her eyes widened. For the first time I sensed something akin to self-consciousness in her thoughts. She'd always been unwaveringly confident. Of course she was - every person she'd ever known had fawned over her.

Just when a faint blush was creeping into Nessie's cheeks, Bella choked out, "What... was... that?"

Nessie's grin widened again.

"What did you see?" Rosalie asked curiously, barely repulsed as she squeezed in next to Jacob to get a better look. "What did she show you?"

"She showed me that?" Bella whispered, her eyes round.

"I told you it was hard to explain," I murmured in her ear, my voice rough from reliving that night. "But effective as means of communications go."

"What was it?" Jacob demanded.

Bella blinked four times before she answered. "Um. Me. I think. But I looked terrible."

"It was the only memory she had of you. She's letting you know that she's made the connection, that she knows who you are."

Nessie played with a lock of Bella's hair, smiling to herself. She thought it was pretty.

"But how did she do that?"

"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future?" I shrugged. "She's gifted."

"It's an interesting twist," Carlisle commented. "Like she's doing the exact opposite of what you can."

"Interesting," I agreed. "I wonder how she's able to share her thoughts with Bella, though. Aro can't get through and yet this little one has no trouble at all." I chuckled.

"Perhaps that's the answer," Carlisle said. The opposite of Bella's ability combined with the opposite of yours.

Something quite obvious came to me then. I remembered eavesdropping on Bella and Renée's conversation back at the hospital in Phoenix. I remembered being sure Bella was just as affected by Renée's strange ability to project her thoughts - the tenor or basic essence of them - into the minds of those around her. Renée had been unconscious of her ability as had those around her...

So, I was wrong. It was not only Nessie, but Renée, too, who could get into Bella's head. Was it because Bella had flipped what her mother could do, and Nessie had flipped it back? Or was it just genetic relation that made Nessie and Renée immune?

"I remember you, too," Bella assured Nessie sweetly. Slowly she inclined her neck to kiss Nessie's forehead.

While Nessie basked in her mother's affection, the rest of us appreciated the moment with slight wariness. The rest of us aside from Jasper, intently monitoring Bella, and Jacob, sweating profusely in his anxiety.

"She's fine," Alice told them both.

"Haven't we experimented enough for one day?" Jacob asked, his voice too high. "Okay, Bella's doing great, but let's not push it."

Bella and I both glared at him.

Jasper shifted his weight uneasily. Jacob has a point, Edward.

"What is your problem, Jacob?" Bella demanded, pulling lightly against his hold on Nessie.

He stepped forward so now one of Nessie's shoulders touched each of their chests.

Didn't he realize he was the problem? I hadn't been worried until he did that. Now her tension was obvious.

I hissed at him. "Just because I understand, it doesn't mean I won't throw you out, Jacob. Bella's doing extraordinarily well. Don't ruin the moment for her."

Rosalie, who knew just how much Bella had sacrificed for this and who would have been on board with any reason to kick Jacob out, agreed. "I'll help him toss you," she snarled. "I owe you a good kick in the gut."

Jacob stared at Nessie torn. He didn't want to compromise my begrudged acceptance and he didn't want to upset Nessie, but he couldn't get over his misconceptions about Bella's control. He thought nothing of Bella or the significance of this time for her.

Bella studied Jacob's face with narrowed eyes. Jasper could feel her confusion and I was sure it was over Jacob's unfathomable attachment to the creature he'd hated so viscously only days ago.

Jasper felt her mood flip like a switch.

"No!" Bella gasped just as I got my arms wrapped firmly around her chest. Jacob had Nessie out of her arms in the next second. She fought neither of us though her expression was murderous.

"Rose," she said through her teeth. "Take Renesmee."

Rosalie was smug as she held her hands out to Jacob.

As soon as she was in Rosalie's arms Nessie whipped her head around to look between Bella and Jacob. She couldn't understand why her mother would look at him like that. It was just Jacob - lovable as a teddy bear.

Jacob backed away from Bella, taking careful steps towards the front door.

"Edward," Bella said, "I don't want to hurt you, so please let go of me."

I hesitated. She was upset, yet strangely rational as she assigned safe places for Nessie and I. Clearly this was something she wanted. It was certainly something I wanted... No, that wasn't right. She was still Bella. She would regret hurting Jacob. And, I absolutely hated that I had to take it into consideration, but Nessie would suffer if something happened to Jacob, too.

I expected Carlisle would be silently trying to persuade me to keep a hold on her but I was wrong. He was confident Bella wouldn't hurt Jacob and eager to win his bet with Emmett.

"Go stand in front of Renesmee," Bella suggested impatiently.

I deliberated a second longer.

Come on, Emmett pressed, you know you want to see this.

I let go and Bella immediately leaned into a hunting crouch. She took two slow steps forward.

Jacob swallowed loudly. He knew this side of Bella, only in the past she had been a one-hundred-and-ten-pound human girl.

I smirked.

"You didn't," Bella snarled at him.

Jacob took a few more steps back holding up his hands. "You know it's not something I can control."

She wasn't interested in excuses. "You stupid mutt! How could you?" Her nostrils flared. "My baby!"

He backed out the front door and down the stairs as she stalked him. "It wasn't my idea, Bella!" he shouted, as exasperated as he was uneasy. Yes, I think I'll join the Cullen family. Edward and Bella's kid - perfect, he thought sarcastically.

We filed out onto the porch as she continued to pursue him, pushing him closer and closer to the woods.

"I've held her all of one time, and already you think you have some moronic wolfy claim to her?" I could hear the hurt behind her anger. "She's mine."

"I can share," Jacob whined, more humility in his tone now.

Jasper watched stunned at their back and forth. Any other newborn - and probably a good handful of mature vampires as well - feeling the degree of rage she did would have already gone in for the kill.

Emmett turned to Carlisle, his expression cocky. "Pay up."

Carlisle raised an eyebrow at him, more aligned with my and Jasper's way of thinking.

Jacob thought Bella would burn a hole through him with her piercing red gaze.

"How dare you imprint on my baby? Have you lost your mind?"

"It was involuntary!" Jacob insisted, backing into the trees now.

Nessie pressed her palm to Rosalie's face, demanding an explanation. Her mom was fierce. Dangerous. Not to herself she knew, but clearly to Jacob. Her Jacob. She wanted to put herself between them.

Rosalie just kissed her forehead and tried, with little success, to keep the satisfied smirk off of her face.

Leah and Seth arrived, having heard the confrontation. While I knew Seth was on a peacekeeping mission, Leah was not. She snapped at Bella in warning.

I took a step forward, preparing to put myself in between them when Bella snarled menacingly back at Leah. She didn't need any help.

"Bella, would you try to listen for just a second? Please?" Jacob asked. "Leah, back off," he ordered when Bella's eyes stayed trained on her.

Bella refocused on Jacob. "Why should I listen?" she hissed.

"Because you're the one who told me this. Do you remember? You said we belonged in each other's lives right? That we were family. You said that was how you and I were supposed to be. So... now we are. It's what you wanted."

Bella's expression made clear that this was not at all what she had wanted. "You think you'll be part of my family as my son-in-law!" she screeched, her voice jumping several octaves.

I grinned. He was such an idiot. I would have delivered the news so much better.

Emmett laughed at my smug expression while Esme frowned in disapproval.

"Stop her, Edward," she murmured. "She'll be unhappy if she hurts him."

I ignored the suggestion. Bella was happy and safe - I could take out Leah if she got any ideas - so it really wasn't my right to interfere. It would have been criminal to interfere.

"No!" Jacob protested. "How can you even look at it that way? She's just a baby, for crying out loud!"

"That's my point!" Bella yelled.

"You know I don't think of her that way!" Jacob shouted. "Do you think Edward would have let me live this long if I did? All I want is for her to be safe and happy - is that so bad? So different from what you want?"

Bella growled viscously at him. Her graceful body was poised to attack, frozen except for her chest, heaving with emotion.

Jacob could see Bella very clearly now. His fit-throwing friend who wasn't afraid to take him to task. But that didn't help his anxiety. He'd counted on a little more participation from the ogling vampires, namely me, to keep the peace.

But I would never violate Bella's will that way.

"Amazing, isn't she?" I murmured.

"She hasn't even gone for his throat once," Carlisle said, stunned.

"Fine, you win this one," Emmett conceded.

Rosalie watched her sister with glowing approval, her new respect for Bella only growing deeper.

"You're going to stay away from her," Bella hissed at Jacob.

"I can't do that!"

"Try," she said through her teeth. "Starting now."

"It's not possible. Do you remember how much you wanted me around three days ago? That's gone for you now, isn't it?"

She glared at him warily.

"That was her," he said quickly, encouraged by the fact that she was listening. "From the very beginning. We had to be together, even then."

Even in her utter fury, there was a note of exasperation in her features. She was clearly dissatisfied with his attempt to reason with her.

"Run away while you still can."

I sighed, disappointed she was giving him an easy out.

Rosalie sighed, too.

"C'mon, Bells!" Jacob pressed, ignoring Bella's threat. "Nessie likes me, too."

Jasper felt the hurricane force of Bella's anger as she froze. She wasn't breathing and neither were we.

And she's still just standing there, Jasper thought. Not even controlling it... it's just swelling. As if the emotional aspect has no baring on her impulses.

I wonder what she'll do if he says it again, Carlisle wondered. Maybe he will. I'd like to see that. Really test her limits... Incredible. Absolutely incredible. His typical caution was thrown to the wind as his curiosity got the better of him. He had great faith in her that she couldn't be cracked.

I wasn't so sure.

"What... did you call her?"

"Well," Jacob mumbled sheepishly, "that name you came up with is kind of a mouthful and - "

"You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?" she shrieked.

Everything happened very quickly then.

Bella pushed off from the balls of her feet and I launched myself off the porch a fraction of a second later.

Bella was already airborne, though, and I wasn't going to catch her.

Oh, fuck, Jacob thought, putting his hands up in front of him in weak defense. He wasn't going to phase and risk hurting her. He couldn't do that to Nessie. Plus, she was Bella. He couldn't hurt Bella.

Seth intervened, sacrificially throwing his body in front of Jacob.

There was a series of cracks as Bella dove into Seth's shoulder.

Ow, ow, ow...

The collision sent Bella tumbling through the air. She somersaulted backwards and landed neatly on her feet. Seth was thrown the opposite direction, clipping Jacob as he did and carrying them both to the ground.

"Oh no, Seth," Bella cried in horror as I locked my arms around her.

Leah bounded toward us, snarling madly.

I pushed Bella towards Jasper and spun to face Leah. I was crouched, prepared to meet Leah's attack when Jacob, a wolf now, bounded into the small space between us, growling.

Back off, he ordered us both.

Emmett had Bella now, leaving Jasper free of distractions to calm tensions, primarily mine and Leah's. Alice stood at my side, arms crossed, glaring at Leah.

"I'm awful," Bella moaned.

"You'll get him next time," Emmett reassured her, willfully misinterpreting the source of her regret.

"Guys," Seth called. He was sitting on the ground in his human form now, only Carlisle's jacket across his lap offering him any modesty as Carlisle examined him. Esme hovered anxiously.

"I'm fine," Seth insisted. "Let's just all relax, okay?"

Leah leaned around Jacob to snap at my hand, believing me distracted. Jacob rammed his head against her chest, pushing her back.

I said back off, Leah! Bella wasn't trying to hurt him.

She was trying to hurt you!

Yeah, and I knew what I was walking into. Go cool off -

Make me, she retorted, trying to goad him into using the Alpha command.

No. I'm not your babysitter. Take responsibility. In this pack we manage ourselves. Our actions and our words. Can you handle that? Because that's what it comes down to if you want to stay with me. Make your choice now.

Leah bared her teeth once more at me, then, mustering all her willpower she took a step back. She glared at Bella longingly for a long moment before setting off into the woods with a huff, dropping her vendetta.

Jacob glared at me. Thanks for the help.

"Any time," I replied coldly.

He rolled his eyes and disappeared into the trees.


A/N: Up next... The cottage!

Please favorite and follow Volume 1 if you haven't already as I'll probably update that one next since I have quite a bit written. As always, I'm busy as ever but still committed to this project (your awesome reviews keep me at it). Not going anywhere, just being a snail. :)