Unexpected
The day before Renesmee left, my mind was a mess, I was utterly distracted. Today was family day, and we started by taking "Nessie" hunting and Edward taught her about mountain lions and more dangerous prey. I watched, tense of course, as my growing daughter took her first mountain lion. Edward and I stood as she indulged and gloated over her victory. Edward was glowing with pride, mountain lions were his favorite, now he passed along his thrill to Renesmee.
After hunting, we drove to see Charlie like we did normally. He was sad when we told him that Renesmee was going on vacation to Wisconsin to visit old friends of Alice's because we were going away to celebrate our anniversary. Of course he offered to take her, but we insisted that we didn't want to trouble him. Charlie was already busy with packing, he was moving in with Sue on the reservation, which I was glad for, he would definitely be more safe there than anywhere else. Edward and I bought my old house from Charlie, telling him that mom would stay there when she was in town to visit. Really, it was where me and Edward spent so much time together and I could not imagine anyone else living there.
Dinner finished and even thought Edward and I didn't eat, which Charlie was used to and avoided asking questions about, I packed leftovers that dad insisted on, and I started on the dishes. Charlie, Renesmee and Edward relaxed in the living room and chatted about the usual topics, mainly the weather. Even though Renesmee "ate" this morning, she still had an appetite and always loved eating dinner with "grandpa" in the human way, he loved it too. After I finishing the dishes and saying our goodbyes, we took Renesmee to the reservation to stay with Jacob for the night. He was surely going to miss her the three weeks she'd be gone. I didn't catch much of what was said, but I chuckled when I heard him say something about it feeling like and eternity while me and Edward looked at each other and smiled.
The pack completely trusted us, well Leah was still coming around and slowly as I might add, but we trusted them all the same.
"I'll miss you little one," Jacob said as Renesmee touched his cheek and gave him the run down of her trip to the Amazon.
I loved to watch them interact, her little giggles to his thoughts. It was like they had their own language, Renesmee only speaking to answer some of his questions. It was effortless for them, but tonight was a bit harder, they had never been away from each other for more than a day at a time and even Jacob was becoming more and more of a permanent fixture in the Cullen home. Then it happened!
"I love you my precious Jacob, my protector." Renesmee spoke softer than her earlier giggling conversations.
We were all stunned, especially Edward and Jacob. We hadn't realized how much she had mentally grown, a teenager really, even though she still preferred to call Edward and I, "momma and daddy." Jacob automatically embraced her and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too my little bloodsucker," he chuckled, everyone chuckled, except Edward.
Edward smiled, excused himself and got up, said he needed fresh air. I mouthed the words "I'll be right back," and followed Edward outside towards the beach where he was.
"Edward, darling, are you okay? I know that was unexpected but you should know….," I stopped as soon as I saw his face when he turned to me. I rushed to his arms, my hands holding his lost, pale face. "Edward, talk to me please!"
"I don't know what to say really," he managed to get out "I never really prepared for this, I never prepared to be a parent Bella, its hard. Unexpected really. I knew this day was coming but I was hoping years down the road, not tonight. I felt everything from joy to pure fury. I almost could not control myself, she is my little girl Bella. Jacob is a good friend of yours and like a brother to me, but Renesmee……love?" his voice shaky the whole time. " What do we do Bella? I'm…. I'm scared," sighing lightly.
"Edward, no one could have planned for this. I'm not sure there is a guide for two vampire parents with a half vampire, half human child, who happens to know who her love will be. But we must not worry too much, you always tell me not to worry love. Jacob knows the rules, you can hear his thoughts, and if there were an issue, some type of impure thought, you would be the first to know. You have to let these things run its course. It will be hard for me as well, that's why we have each other Edward."
Edward paused for a moment to think, "You're right Bella, things will work out the way fate has planned. Honestly, he respects you and me, especially when it comes to his… our Nessie. He loves her beyond reason, its hard for them as it was for us, I can understand more clearly now. Thank you for your love Bella. Well lets get back, they probably think I'm furious by now," he chuckled.
Edward was learning to control himself, his anger, especially with me to calm him and reason with him. We went back to Jacob and Billy's old red house and explained our worries, made sure Jacob had to bring Renesmee back at 8 in the morning and that he was welcome to stay and spend more time with her before she left. Even though he was welcome whenever he wanted anyways.
Edward and I were on our way home, taking our time, when Edward caught the scent of an unfamiliar vampire. He stopped in his tracks, letting out a small, deep growl from his throat.
"We need to get home now Bella!" he whispered. "I'm not sure yet, but someone have Carlisle and Esme on their mind. I don't recognize the scent so we need to find out whats going on."
Carlisle's guests were not supposed to arrive for another few days, so it was an unexpected treat to hear Carlisle's laughter as we got closer to the house. He was reminiscing when we came in.
"Edward and Bella! Glad you're home, just in time to meet our early guest," he chuckled. "This is Joshua, we met while I was in London, we go far back. He decided to come early, before everyone could take our time away from reminiscing. Beth, Ryan, Melody and Jackie will be here around mid-day tomorrow. Edward, you and Bella are leaving in 2 days so you will meet the rest before you go." he exclaimed.
Rosalie was with Emmett by the window staring at each other with great stress. Finally Emmett spoke, but not before Edward had shot him a painful glance, "and Tara?"
"Um…. Joshua said she may be a few days late, she has to stop elsewhere before she gets here," Carlisle said with an edge in his voice.
"Sorry we will miss her Joshua. Hey Bella, you ready to head home, its been a long day and tomorrow will be longer?" he said pulling me towards the back door already. "Goodnight everyone, it was nice to meet you, I'm sure we will see you in the morning," he was now rushing me faster.
"Goodnight," I weakly replied. I knew now more than ever that there was a reason Edward was rushing to get to our cottage.
"This has to come to an end Edward!" I demanded "Why the sudden glance at Emmett, the rush to get home, the painful look on your face now? I demand t know, at the very least!" I was worried and furious at the same time
Finally, after what seemed like forever, he murmered "Tara…." Edward painfully said. "She is the reason why I have been a little off lately. That's why I plan on taking you away for our anniversary, Carlisle thought it would probably be best if you were not around her," he sighed. He saw my puzzled look and continued to explain, "See there was a time when I left Carlisle, you know that, but I met up with another vampire while I was away, Tara. She knew the area and it was nice to have company. She showed me the ropes and we bonded rather quickly, more than we should have," he spoke softly and remorsefully. "Things were strictly physical between Tara and myself."
My eyes were blank and he could see. I was not sure what to say, but a growl eventually escaped and my blank stare turned fierce. "Did you love her?" I demanded!
"No Bella!! You're my only love I promise you that, you're the only one I have ever loved," truth ringing from his voice. "She has a special gift, a gift that is hard to deny…. seduction is her gift," he mumbled. "But I let her Bella, her attraction for me was one-sided, she fell in love and I was only under her charm," his voice cried. "That's why Carlisle thought it would be best if we went away, I don't want you to loose it on her," he spoke seriously now.
"Do you think I cant hold my own Edward? Do you think she is better than me, stronger?" I was furious by now.
"Bella please, I don't need a fight to happen, I know you're strong. It just pains me to think that you would fight with someone who doesn't matter to me! I don't want to put you into any position that will bot be comfortable for you," Edwards voice straining now.
My dearest Edward was in pain, I could see it clearly and I went to him, taking human speed so I could think of what to say, how to react.
"I'm sorry Edward, its hard to think of you with anyone else other than me. I just wish you would have been honest with me, this wouldn't have been such a big issue. I know you love me, but I cant handle things better than you give me credit hor," I said more relaxed .
" I should have been honest from the start. Alice had one of her visions, and I saw what she did, she saw Carlisle's old friends, and Tara with them. But Carlisle doesn't know Tara, she only joined them as of recent. I just got scared, she has a gift like Jane," he said a little agitated now, "its something that's hard to avoid, and Alice saw that Tara was still in love with me. Alice and Jasper's fight had something to do with that as well. She wanted to tell you, but Jasper said that it was a bad idea to mention it, I'm sorry Bella."
"When do we leave?" I asked.
"Not soon enough love," Edward sighed.
"I want to….meet her. I can handle it Edward, I promise," I said carefully.
"I hope she is delayed a few days, I don't like that idea much, but we will leave when we are supposed to, and if she isn't here yet, we wont wait to see her," he demanded.
"Fine…" I said anxiously.
He spent the rest of the night making it up to me, and I had no problem or complaints about it. Edwards touch was unusually rough, he has so much frustration the last few weeks, that the physical contact was his release. We managed to completely destroy the bed Esme have us from her beach island we honeymooned in. She probably fiured we could get more use of it since Edward had to buy her a new one, seeing Edward partially destroyed the frame anyways. I still had my "newborn" moments, and Edward ended up with a slight bite mark on his chest were his heart would have been, although it burned him a bit, he didn't seem to mind, and was quite smug about it. The best part about our night was that we seemed more bonded, if that were even possible.
The morning came all to soon, and Edward sent me to talk to Alice while he cleaned up our mess of a shredded bed.
Jasper was the first I saw and he just smiled and rubbed his chest like I had gave him the love bite I had managed on Edward. I chuckled as I made my way upstairs to find Alice in her closet, packing a small backpack with gifts for the Amazons, ans some of Renesmee's human things, her favorite blanket and some snacks just in case they missed a chance to hunt on their way down. She looked up and smiled, "Edward told you I take it?" she said smiling. She saw the whole thing in her mind, most likely blocking out the part of Edward making it up to me.
I chuckled, "yea, everything is fine. Renesmee will be home at 8, and of course with her Jacob. They confessed their love for each other last night Alice," I said a little too enthusiastically.
"That's great!" she exclaimed. "Nessie will tell me about it later I'm sure," she giggled like a school girl that has just been asked out.
Nessie was home a little bit before 8, Jacob didn't want to pust it after last night. They sat in the living room with Emmett, Rose, Carlisle, Esme and Joshua, while me and Alice were still upstairs. We went over everything for the last time and went downstairs to join the rest. Edward was just coming in and getting hassled by Emmett and Jasper about the "love bite". He had no problem letting them see the faint mark I left as he gloated. I payed no attention and sat next to Joshua and Renesmee on the couch. When she was done with Joshua, she climbed into my lap and rested her face in my hair wrapping her arms around my neck. After a moment she touched my face showing me what she knew about Tara from Joshua. Edward glanced slightly in my direction hearing Nessie's thoughts. He didn't seem to be bothered because I knew about everything already. Renesmee seemed to bounce around the room from one person to the next saying her goodbyes, finally settling on Jacob's lap, where they were curled up by the window, Jacob had phased, he wasn't too sure about Joshua yet, and didn't want to take any chances with his tiny love that now played with his thick fur as she kept touching his face and giggling.
After a while of napping with Jacob, Alice announced that they would have to leave shortly if they were going to stay on schedule. Edward and I were sitting by the piano while he played my lullaby, Nessie waled over and sat on his lap while he played. She always enjoyed watching his hands, she almost seemed mesmerized really. Everyone seemed to gather around to say their last goodbyes.
Before I knew it, my little Renesmee was heading off with Alice and Jasper, my mind so was lost. Edward saw the pain in my eyes and wrapeed his arms tightly around my waist and kissed my cheek, then whispering in my ear, "She will be fine love."