A/N: Hi readers! Thanks for the reviews, Guest! You'll be getting your answers right now ;)

There will be one more chapter after this one, then it'll be the end. Hope you like this story!

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

I couldn't very well exit in the street and run in my wolf form in downtown Seattle without causing panic, so Edward drove Joham's van with me squeezed in the back. My bulky form fitted tightly, with not an inch to spare.

"You look like a wolf sandwich, Nessie," Emmett laughed, his spirits high as my family piled up in the cars.

I growled playfully at him, and he winked before shutting the doors closed. Jake, who had phased back and put his shorts on, rode shotgun, so the three of us followed Emmett's Jeep out of the parking lot. In the street, I noticed Edward's Volvo, driven by Bella who waved at me with a heartbreaking smile, Alice's Porsche and Carlisle's Mercedes following us. My whole family was there. My heart warmed, but I was preoccupied.

Dad? I asked Edward, who eyed me in the rearview mirror. What about Alice's gift? Mele stole it, but...

"She lost it," he shrugged, relaxed for the first time in many days. "She can steal talents from others, but she can't keep them. She has to give them right away. And since she couldn't do it, the talent is lost."

Good, I thought, thoroughly relieved. I didn't want the Volturi acquiring this particular talent.

"Me neither. But Alice saw what would happen, and that it would be safe. Otherwise we wouldn't have called the Volturi. Much too risky."

"What will happen to them?" Jake asked, oddly tense.

"Mele will be burned in a few minutes, according to Alice," Edward said matter-of-factly, as if giving us the weather forecast. "The Volturi cannot stand traitors, and that's what she is in their eyes. And also, she isn't considered useful. Aro's big mistake," he chuckled darkly.

But Joham will tell them about her! I said, a little scared.

"No", he shook his head adamantly. "First, because I frightened him into silence. My little speech was a calculated move. He'll be executed in Volterra, but it'll be less gruesome if he keeps things to himself until he meets Aro. By then, Mele will be dead. Too bad for our dear Aro."

He smirked, and Jake snickered. I smiled too. Revenge was kind of sweet.

"And second, Joham is proud. He can't admit, even to himself, that he needed Mele. His overconfidence killed him, literally."

"He's mad," Jake snorted in disgust.

"Being lonely for a couple millennia after losing one's mate does tend to do strange things to a vampire's mind," Edward mused softly.

I recognized the faraway look in his eyes, and so did Jake. Edward never could have been in Joham's shoes, he was too good a person, but he could've lost it if Bella had died, very easily. He almost did. Even though I shouldn't know it, I knew. Aunt Alice had told me. And right now, I saw it in his mind. Scary.

You're not like him, Dad, I told him firmly. And you have Mom.

Lucky me, he sighed, glancing at me, relief in his head and on his face. And I have you.

I smiled my wolfish smile, and he beamed at me. "Even if you're a wolf now."

We lost our smiles, and Jake turned in his seat to look at me.

"Nessie..." he started uncomfortably.

I shook my head. I couldn't concentrate, too much thoughts were swirling in my mind. And I couldn't risk the van's integrity by trying to phase back in a tight space. He nodded in understanding, and we fell silent, leaving the big city behind us. I lowered my head on my front paws and closed my eyes, trying to catch some sleep, but it eluded me. I felt tired but widely awake, and I wondered if the vampire in me was keeping me from going into a slumber. That would suck. I was quite fond of my pillow and comforter.

Time flew by, surprisingly, and I was a little taken aback when Edward pulled over in front of the Cullen house. Almost instantly he opened the back doors, and I cautiously extracted myself from the tiny box, happy to stretch my legs. Jake was next to me in an instant, and both appraised me while the rest of the cars stopped behind us.

"What will you do?" Jake asked me as he and Edward patted me, the rest of my family gathering around us.

I didn't have time to think about my answer before Bella surged right in front of me and tackled me to the ground into a strong and wonderful embrace.

"Nessie!" she blubbered, her breathing hitched by sobs and eyes troubled by absent tears. "Oh God, Nessie! I love you so much! I was so scared!"

I let her hug my giant furry body, caressing her back with my head and purring softly. I loved her.

"She's okay, love," Edward told her, squatting next to her and putting a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder. "She's fine. And she loves you too. She loves all of us."

I exchanged a look with my family, and they all smiled at me, quite tightly but lovingly. The worst was over, but the future wasn't clear yet. I locked eyes with Jacob, and his eyes and thoughts told me what he couldn't say out loud. He loved me, he was scared out of his mind, he wanted me to be all right, I was beautiful and huge and freaking him out.

"What now?" Rosalie asked me hesitantly, concern on her face. "Can you... Do you... ?"

"We don't know, Rose," Edward said, standing and making Bella stand with him, his arm around her waist. "She doesn't know."

"Doesn't know what?" she insisted.

"She was changing after she phased," he explained, worry in his voice and his mind. "She was about to become one of us. And then she phased again. But the vampire venom still lingers in her body. And we don't know if...".

He shuddered, eyes saddened by ancient grief, and went on. "...if she'll be a wolf for ever now, or if she can phase back and be human again, or if she'll be a full vampire when she phases back."

Bella hugged me again, and I wished I could hear her thoughts, but her shield was up. I stole a glance at Edward, and he answered me as best he could.

She's distressed, I can tell. But I don't think she's lost hope.

I nodded, and closed my eyes, exhaling a huge breath. I was exhausted, and wanted a little peace.

"Let's get some sleep," Jake said protectively, coming to me and putting a hand on my neck. "We can talk about it in the morning."

"That's probably best," Carlisle agreed, coming next to me too. "Nessie? Can I have a look at you? Just checking if you're all right."

I yelped faintly. Have you been to a veterinarian school, then, Grampa? He chuckled when Edward repeated it aloud.

"Actually, I took a few courses on canine anatomy," he winked while examining me quickly. "With a wolf pack nearby, I wanted to be ready."

"Right you are, Doc," Jake smiled, and my family grinned before heading to the house. The Amazons and Huilen followed them, but Nahuel lingered behind, hesitating. Edward turned towards him.

"You can ask her, Nahuel, it's okay."

He nodded, a little relieved, and stood beside Bella and Jake, who had an arm wrapped on my mother's shoulder. He smiled apologetically at me and I focused on his thoughts. He was at peace with his father's fate, but he was concerned about...

Oh, Dad, I cringed internally. What can I possibly tell him?

You're on better grounds than I am, Edward smiled faintly, shaking his head. I don't have a clue.

"Nessie?" Nahuel asked, looking quite embarrassed. "I know the timing's awful, but I wondered if... you... "

Tell him I'll help him, Dad. But it'll be better if we wait a few more days, I think. Leah is kind of stubborn, and I'll have to go to La Push to see how things are.

Edward repeated my answer aloud, and Nahuel nodded, eyes dulling. I could hear his heartbreak and uncertainties, but nothing would help him getting to know Leah except time. And only Jake and I could help him with her, since she hated vampires. Well, she hated me too, but I was half-human. At least, I used to be, I thought grimly.

"Nessie, go get some rest with Jake," Edward urged me gently. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."

I quirked an eyebrow at him, as best I could in wolf form, and couldn't help my sarcasm.

Really? Now I can sleep with Jake without you blowing up a fuse? What happened to you, Daddy?

I'm not worried about you and Jake getting intimate tonight, sweetheart, he smirked, trying to remain impassive but laughing internally, making me wince. You're dead on your feet, and so is he. And in wolf form, it can't be the better way of... knowing each other.

I yowled loudly in shock as he guffawed, startling the people still around us. I was too baffled to be angry, but I never would've imagined my father's mind could go down the gutter like this.

"What's the punchline?" Bella asked in confusion.

"Trust me, love," Edward said, nearly choking, "you don't want to know."

"Fine," she shrugged, eyeing him warily before turning towards me. "Will you be okay, Nessie?"

I nodded and smiled, making her beam.

"Where do you want to sleep?"

Not in the cottage, I sighed, Edward once again voicing my thoughts. I can't even dream about squeezing through the front door. And I don't want to risk Dad's room here either. So the woods it is.

"I'll stay with you," Jake said with a small smile, worry etched on his face and marring his thoughts. "Gimme a sec."

He ran towards the nearest trees to strip bare, then to phase. Bella sighed too and hugged me once more, Edward on her heels.

"It'll be all right, sweetheart," she told me with a soothing voice. "You'll phase back and still be the most amazing young woman on Earth. You'll figure it out, I know it."

I nodded, not wanting to rise my hopes up too much, but still hoping a little bit. I wanted to believe that I still had a life ahead of me that was worth living.

We'll be here for you, no matter what happens, Edward told me with a peck on my fur. Rest, Nessie.

Jake came back in wolf form, and my parents and Nahuel took their cue to leave, heading back to the house. I turned and followed Jake to a patch of dried needles under a large yew tree, and we sank to the ground, flank against flank, minds silent, only reveling in each other's presence. No words needed to be said, no grand gestures or loud sounds. He was next to me, I was next to him, we were alive, I was okay. That was all that mattered for now. After only a few minutes, closing my eyes on the setting sun, exhaustion took advantage of me and I passed out.

I waited for three days to be safe. Carlisle was convinced that the venom lingering in my body had already dissolved, but I wasn't taking any chances. So I roamed the woods in wolf form for three very long days, eating large prey and trying to suck their blood as much as I could. That was gross and frustrating and left me cranky. Jake didn't leave my side, of course, but even he couldn't ease my mind. I was so worried. My family took turns on keeping us company, not bothering to hide their good intentions, but I wasn't at ease.

Only when Uncle Emmett came to play with me did I find myself pleasantly distracted. He was unbelievably strong for a vampire and hadn't met his match yet – in regular vampires, that is, I knew my mother had repeatedly kicked his butt when she was a newborn – but I was taller and stronger than any wolf. So we had at it, and it was good. I let my strength course through my huge body, my speed outstanding his, and pinned him in a few seconds. We wrestled, thrashed and growled, but I won again and again. Jake was concerned, Edward was amused, Bella was frightened, Rosalie was smirking, Carlisle and Esme were watching meekly, Alice was bouncing up and down, and Jasper was eager to have a round with me. I humored him, and literally buried him in the dirt. I felt much better after that.

And then the three days were over. I asked all of them to give me space, since I didn't want to attack them should I phase back into a newborn vampire, and retreated into the woods. I knew they weren't far away, only a hundred yards, but I needed the time alone. I had to face what I was and come to terms with it without interference, however loving said interference was. I sank to the ground, and focused. My shield was up. I wanted to do it on my own.

I am Renesmee Cullen, I thought calmly, focusing on my feelings and sensations, knowing that this could go one way or another. I'm nearly seven, I look like eighteen. I'm the daughter of Bella and Edward Cullen, both vampires. I am half-vampire and half-human. I'm Jacob Black's girlfriend, he's a werewolf. I am part werewolf too. I have a large family, with vampires, werewolves and humans. I want to be human. I am part vampire and part werewolf, but I'm human first. I love them all in a human way. I want to be human. I want blood in my veins and a heart beating with my love.

My little pep talk seemed to do the trick. I felt the air ripple around me, I felt myself shrinking, and when I opened my eyes, I knew. I was human. Different than before, but human. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, slowly but strongly. I let out a large breath of relief, smiling. I rose, taking in my appearance. The sun made my naked skin glow, not sparkling like a vampire but more like a light was oozing from me. I sighed, resigning myself. No outdoor activities on shiny days. My skin too had changed, paler and thicker.

I then walked to the stream, where Aunt Alice had left me clothes. I dressed, took a look into the waters, and groaned. My eyes were no longer brown, but gold, like my family. My bronze-colored hair had now some golden streaks in it, thanks to my inner wolf. And I was taller, maybe the same height as Edward now. Bloody wolf growth spurt. I took a deep breath, listening to the minds eagerly awaiting for the go, and uttered the words that knew would bring them to me.

"I don't think I've changed too much, but it'll take some time to get used to it."

Half a second later, I was in the midst of my family, stunned by their silence. I focused on Edward's thoughts.

Still human, what a relief! Yes, she's more vampire with the eyes and skin and the slow heartbeat, but she's human. Even have some wolf now, damn it. Oh, who cares? She's human and safe, that's all that matters. Bella is so relieved! And so am I. But what now? Will she leave us? Will she still want to go to college? And will she... with Jacob?

I cringed a little, but smiled at him. First things first. I ran into my parents' arms and hugged them tightly, knowing that I was definitely stronger than before. I had to be careful now.

"I love you Mom," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Dad."

"We love you, Nessie," Bella said, smiling at me in her delight. "Forever and forever."

I exchanged a few silent words with Edward, secretely pleased that I could do it. Now there were two mind readers in the Cullen family, and that was good, I knew it. It would relieve some of his pressure.

What now, Dad?

Now? he mused, a smirk on his face. Well, now that you're okay and all that, and heading to college with Jake, maybe we can go back to high school too, in a small town near Seattle. Change names and all that, temporarily. What do you think?

I burst out laughing, making my family smile uncomprehendingly.

"High school, Dad?" I repeated aloud, incredulous. "You'd go to high school while your daughter attended college?"

"Sure," he shrugged, his eyes glinting. "Unless you'd better your mother and I went to college with Jake and you?"

"Absolutely not!" I spat, making my family laugh again.

"It could be good," Bella said, clearly pondering the idea. "We would change our identity, of course. Be your cousins, something like that. And I could attend college at last, even if it's not Dartmouth."

"We'll go to Dartmouth, love," Edward told her softly, embracing her gently. "In a decade or two."

"We've never been to school in Seattle," Alice said lightly, rejoicing. "That could be interesting."

I groaned, and heard that Jake wasn't too fond of the idea either. I went to him, and he hugged me comfortingly.

"It could backfire," Jasper intervened calmly. "Seattle's not far away from here. What if someone recognizes us?"

"College is dangerous," Esme agreed, "but high school should be safe, if Edward and Alice are on the lookout. And it would give Nessie and Jake some breathing space," she added, shooting me a loving look. Bless my wonderful grandmother!

"I hate high school," Emmett grumbled, not really thrilled but ready to do it for my sake. "How many times have we graduated again?"

"Well, Em, maybe you can try to play football this time?" Carlisle suggested with a knowing smile.

"And feel like I'm stuck in maple syrup every time I have to run? Or be careful not to crash any ribcages when I actually do some moves?" he snorted with disgust. "No thanks. I'd better start a sophomore again than endure this."

"You can start as a junior, as usual," Jasper told him mildly. "Better than nothing. And after that, we can all move to Dartmouth. Even Nessie and Jake."

"I don't think I can – or want – to go to Dartmouth," Jake said with a wince. "I only want to go to college because of Nessie. I want to open a garage."

"And you need to study for that," Edward nodded knowingly. "Be acquainted with numbers. Running a garage requires more than mechanical skills."

"Nessie can do the brainiac part," Jake shrugged, and I beamed at him.

We had talked about it again and again, and it was a good solution for us. Him under cars, and me running the place, as long as we would be together.

"Sounds good," Bella finally admitted through gritted teeth, making my family laugh. I knew it would take her time to accept that my life was with Jacob now.

"Come on, people!" Alice trilled excitedly, motioning us forward. "We've got to plan all this!"

I trudged along towards the house, still in Jake's arms, kissing him now and then. Life seemed better now, and I hoped it would remain so, hopefully for a few centuries.