Hello, darlings. I've wanted to write this piece for a long time, ut never really got the right inspiration to just sit and type, until today. My prompt here was just the phrase 'What is it with you Swans and breaking poor Jacob Black's heart?' in my original idea, this was said by Esme to Bella after she had a conversation with Renesmee about her feelings for Jacob.

I hope you like this one-shot. I may or may not follow it with a future intake on Nahuel and Renesmee's relationship. But for now, I wanted to make it about Renesmee and her first grown-up decision. Granted, it's a hard one.

If you like it, you know what to do. Alert, review, and share it!

I'll see you when I update Red Moon and Pack Souls.

In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy! :)


Growing Pains


It's been seventeen years since she was born. Seventeen years more or less since the Vulturis went back to Italy with their tail between their legs. They have checked once or twice over that time but never again tried to question any of Carlisle's motives for anything he did. It was proven, beyond the thought of doubt, that Carlisle didn't harbor any interest in power.

Seventeen years since the day Jacob Black imprinted on her. And approximately seventeen years since she met him. He was like her, a hybrid, and lived with his aunts in the Amazonian Forest. She always considered him a friend, someone she could talk to and ask questions about her nature. Not that she had many, her grandparents and her family, in general, had researched exhaustingly on the topic and had helped as much as they could. Her mom was the one who understood her better, being the one who was most recently changed.

But that's where the good news ended. Well, not that what happened when she was fourteen is considered bad news. It just complicated her life a little. She's always known that Jacob had imprinted on her, and at some point, she suspected he had developed feelings. But those were feelings she couldn't reciprocate because she had feelings for someone else, had had them since she started noticing boys at the physical age of fourteen. Even if she reached 'adulthood' at seven years old, she was never interested in boys or anything until she turned fourteen. That was a hell of a day for all the males in the house.

Her aunt Alice asked her if she wanted to do something special for her birthday (Alice had learned to ask instead of imposing her wishes, having learned that lesson on Bella's eighteenth birthday). She asked if it was ok to invite a couple of her closest friends from school. Everyone was fine with that. They were living in Holland at that moment, she liked it, but she liked it most because her family was together. She had enrolled in high school for the first time, while the rest had enrolled in any university in the city. It was a taunting experience, not having her parents there to guide her or her uncles and aunts, but she learned to navigate school and managed to make two close friends. It didn't help that her family thought that Taylor was a girl. She didn't have any romantic interest in any male from her school. She was as shy as her mother in that department.

Jasper had reassured Emmett (under the amused gaze of Edward) that Renesmee had no interest in the boy and vice versa. That didn't deter him from acting the part of the jealous big brother. He kept messing with the boy in subtle ways, like flashing a none-too-pleasant smirk occasionally, but Jasper and Edward had to give points to the boy; he just didn't care. He really cared (in a friendly matter) for her.

But the troubles came a few days later when Nahuel called her directly to her phone to wish her a happy belated birthday. It wasn't the first time they've video called, but it was the first time she saw something different in him. Physically neither of them was going to change anymore. Aside from growing hair, certain human urges, and sleep; they were functional just like any vampire.

But his smile, his easiness, his jokes, his teasing, it was different for some reason. She was glad she hadn't inherited the blush from her mom. Her dad always said he used to know what she was thinking by her blush.

And every few weeks after her fourteenth birthday, she would go to a café and video chat with him. It became a tradition to do so twice a month. Those were her favorite part of the week. But things started getting more complicated when Jacob visited. Nahuel teased her about her wolf boyfriend, and every time he said that, some part of her cringed at the thought. She wasn't even sure she liked Jacob. Although, in his defense, it wasn't because of lack of trying. It was something else.

She didn't resent him for the imprint, but she didn't like it either. She's never liked it, to be honest. It felt like her choice was taken away from her and tied her to a person that would never understand that part of her that was most important to her, and she could never understand how she could live with someone who a part of her despised. She didn't like wolves, not really. She liked the guys of the Quileute reservation, they were nice, but she didn't like wolves. She didn't care for their smell. And a part of her wondered how could Jacob like her, all of her. If it weren't for some sort of voodoo magic, he wouldn't like her either. Although she guesses she should be grateful. Papa Carlisle told her that Jacob's imprint had saved Bella's and her life. She couldn't imagine a life without her mom; she was a constant presence in her life. She was her ally when aunt Alice was too much or when being around people was too much.

By the time she turned seventeen, Jacob had saved enough money to visit her in London, where she had decided to pursue her first college degree. She had enrolled in psychology and was excited to start. Her mom and dad had also enrolled, pursuing their many extra degrees. Her mom always went for the humanities, this time criminal law. Her dad went for history with her uncle Jasper. Her aunt Alice went for technology while her aunt Rose and uncle Emmett went for engineering, still indecisive about which one. As if they couldn't just randomly choose one and succeed either way. But aunt Rose said that it would be boring to pursue a career that held no interest for her, regardless of how successful she could be without trying.

Back to Jacob, he had saved enough money to come for a visit. Renesmee had lately taken up the hobby of photography and opened a separate Instagram account for her pictures. Nahuel had sent her a professional camera for her seventeenth birthday, with a note that said, 'So you keep enchanting us with the way you see the world. Love, Nahuel.' Nana Esme had teased her a little about that note. And uncle Jazz had given her a knowing smile, understanding her excitement. Jacob liked her pictures, but he didn't really understand how her mind worked.

She knew that Jacob had once loved her mom and that she had also felt the same; like despite how good he was and how he was her best friend, he didn't quite understand how her mind worked. It was ironic that her dad, being unable to read her mind, knew how it worked.

She considered Jacob to be her friend (truthfully more like an acquaintance) but not her best friend because she could tell everything to Nahuel, and he could tell her everything. They joked, teased, and annoyed the hell out of each other, but in the end, they were there for the other when needed. And that's something she's seen in the relationships that surround her. She wanted a love that could endure hurt, time, and hardships like her parents' had. They had gotten over every imaginable obstacle to be together. She almost died a few times but came out stronger. She knew that if she caved to Jacob, she would never be happy. But at the same time, she didn't want to hurt him. She needed someone to talk to about this. Her mom and dad were her definitely first options, but something told her that her dad would be very pleased and not be precisely impartial, despite having her best interest at heart. She laughed softly to herself, imagining her dad's face and words. Her mom was just too kind and would get a bit tongue-tied because she had gone through the same thing with the same guy. Aunt Alice and Rose despised Jacob, so they were out. Nana Esme seemed like the best option.

Her family was out hunting, but as she didn't need to go as often, she had stayed home with Nana Esme. She gathered her courage and knocked on her and her Papa's study. She was sitting on one of the love seats with a book on her lap.

"Come in, sweetheart." Renesmee sat on the ottoman where her grandma had had her feet up. "Is everything ok?"

Renesmee nodded and smiled. "I need your advice."

"Of course." She sat the book on the small table next to the loveseat and gave her granddaughter her undivided attention.

"It's about Jacob."

The way she pronounced the name like it was an effort gave Esme a lot of information as to the nature of this conversation. She nodded for her to continue.

"He's a nice guy, but I don't share his feelings. I like him as you would like your neighbor, you know, one that you barely talk to, but is there if you need to borrow some sugar or an egg." Esme was not sure she was following her thoughts but waited patiently. "I don't like the imprint." It wasn't news for her. "You don't seem surprised."

Esme reached forward and grabbed her granddaughter's hands in hers. "Sweety, I may not be gifted, but I'm not blind either. I know you've never liked it. But since we moved from the US, you seem so much better that I never brought it up." Was she that obvious? "No, you're not that obvious, baby. But I know you." Renesmee was confused for a second. Did she say that out loud? Esme laughed. "You're projecting your thoughts."

"Oh!" She laughed but didn't remove her hands.

"Do you want to keep talking or show me what's on your mind?"

Renesmee sighed. "I prefer to say it; that way, I can try to make sense of what I think." Esme nodded and withdrew her hands, giving her the privacy she needed to get her thoughts in order.

"Jacob called me to tell me he had saved enough to come to visit for a few days. And it's going to sound very mean because he's never done anything wrong, but I just don't want him to come." And finally admitting that felt so good.

Esme smiled sadly. "Baby, you know you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. The imprint is supposed to be based on whatever you need him to be. If you need him to be your friend, your lover, that's what he'll be."

Renesmee knew that, but she still didn't like it. She didn't like wolves. She didn't like Jacob. She had thought she did. But she really didn't.

"I think you must tell him before he comes here or buys his ticket." She nodded, grabbed her phone, and dialed Jacob's number. Esme's eyes widened. Well, if anything, she was Bella's and Edward's daughter; she certainly was direct.

"Hey, Ness." She rolled her eyes; she hated that nickname just as much as her mother did.

"Hey, Jacob." She forced a smile and waved at the screen. Esme motioned for the door, asking her to give her some privacy, but Renesmee shook her head, and Esme sat back down silently as not to give away her present. "Did you buy your ticket yet?"

Jacob's smile fell. "Not yet; why?"

"Don't buy it, please." No way she was going to be rude if she was potentially breaking his heart.

"Why?" Renesmee bit her lip and pinched the bridge of her nose. And Esme smiled amusedly. She was so much like Edward and Bella when she was stressed. "Why Nessie?"

"Because I don't want you to come." Esme nodded encouragingly. Get it out of your system.

Jacob's heart broke again. He had heard his dad say that an imprint could be broken, it wasn't common, but if the imprintee didn't want anything to do with the wolf, the imprinting could be broken. He just thought that for the first time, he'd gotten something right.

"May I ask why?" She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and resisted the urge to apologize. Her aunt Rose was always telling her to never apologize for wanting something, for disliking something, or for not thinking like someone. Especially if her own self-esteem was in the middle. 'Never do something to please others that you forget to put yourself first.' She'd say.

"I don't like the imprint, and I don't want it." Could she apologize for hurting him? "Please, understand it's not my intention to hurt you. But I wanted to be honest before you spend your money to come here." When there's nothing for you to come to.

Jacob clenched his jaw, and she could see him shaking. "So, you were just playing with my feelings? Stringing me on?"

"Of course not!" She was offended by the implications. "I never said I reciprocated your feelings." She growled.

"You lied by omission. You're just like your father. Conniving and deceitful. I'll break the imprint, and you can be free to live your damned life." His words hurt as much as angered her. Her dad was anything but conniving and deceitful.

Renesmee looked at her phone with her feelings hurt at having been insulted in such a way, and her lip trembled slowly. Esme stood up in an instant. "Oh, sweety." Renesmee let the tears out and cried silently for a few minutes.

"Am I a horrible person? Am I what he said?" She mumbled against Esme's shoulder.

"No!" She said forcefully and tightened her hug. "You are the kindest spirit, beautiful soul I've seen. You are all the good that there's in this family. You were truthful about your feelings, and you were truthful to yourself. Never take that for granted."

After a few minutes of silence and of comforting hugs, Esme let go of her granddaughter and grabbed her face between her hands. She passed her thumbs across her cheeks, clearing the tears that were still there and looking at her beautiful brown eyes, that if you saw close enough, had some green specks here and there. Renesmee sniffed and smiled.

"Thank you, Nana."

"No thanks necessary, baby. I'm here any time you need to talk. Anything you need." She kissed her forehead and smiled. "I think I smell the family coming. You better take a shower and calm down if you don't want your uncles and dad going on a murder sprint around town for whatever hurt you." She winked. Renesmee laughed and went to her bedroom to do just that. Jacob's words had hurt, not because they came from him; she couldn't care less what he thought, but because they played on her insecurity. She wanted to do the right thing, by both of them. And instead, she got called conniving, manipulative, deceitful, and had her father insulted in the same conversation.

Her father was the kindest man out there; he was the sweetest as well. He held her when she was scared, without judging her for whatever had scared her. He loved her unconditionally, even when she was insufferable. He was her hero, the one she looked up to. He was her role model. She failed to see how any of what her daddy ever did was deceitful.

As she heard the family coming into the house, she decided to bury Jacob's stupid words, not pay them any mind, and not let them get to her. As her Nana said, she was kind and good.

Edward caught some of what had transpired from both his daughter's mind and his mother's. He sighed angrily and sadly. Angry because how dared that mongrel insult his daughter. The sweetest thing to ever grace the earth. And sadly because she had cried, she had been hurt by those words.

Bella dropped her shield and asked Edward in their secret way what happened to suddenly change his mood.

He grabbed a piece of paper and quickly scribbled what he got from Renesmee's and Esme's minds. Bella frowned angrily.

"Oh, I should have killed him when I got the chance." She thought angrily.

Edward smirked, amused by that thought. Oh, if he only had let her do it then.

His following words caused Bella to hit him playfully in the arm and laugh. What is it with you Swans breaking poor Jacob Black's heart?

Of course, the sarcasm wasn't lost to her.

"Should we talk to her?"

Edward shrugged. What if we let her come to us? Let her process what she did and what Esme said? I'm sure she'll come to us at some point.

Bella's frown deepened. "What are you not telling me?"

Edward rolled his eyes. Of course, she'd noticed. He called her conniving and deceitful. He said she was like me in that aspect.

Bella gasped. She stood up, ready to book tickets to Washington and kick some werewolf ass. Edward laughed and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back. "Where are you going?"

"To kick some ass."

Edward laughed and tightened his hold. "She's coming." He told her low enough that their daughter couldn't pick it up.

Bella stood up like a flash and opened the door. Renesmee took one look at both her parents and ran into their arms, not caring that she had promised she wouldn't listen to Jacob's hurtful words; they still stung.

Edward hugged her tightly, and Bella kept caressing her hair, that hair that was like her father's.

Edward's arms were all Renesmee needed to feel at home. How could her daddy, the one that killed spiders because they scared her, the one that raced her through the woods, the one that taught her to read, to jump from branches, could be considered anything but good?

Edward smiled at his daughter's adoration. She was definitely what Esme had said. She was everything that was good in the world.

"I love you very much." He whispered in her ear, depositing a kiss on top of her head. He raised his head to meet his wife's loving eyes. "I love you both so much." Bella embraced them both with her tiny arms. "Never believe anyone that tells you you're not good enough or that you're anything but good." Renesmee nodded in his chest.

"You are anything but a bad person, Lie." She smiled at Bella's nickname. Since Renesmee was kind of hard to shorten, and she hated that awful nickname Jacob had given her, she'd decided to call her Lie, the ending part of her middle name Carlie.

"Thanks, mom, dad." She used her gift to show them how much their words meant to her.

Bella kissed her cheek, and Edward kissed her forehead.

Just like that, everything didn't seem so doom.