Part 15: What's Done Cannot Be Undone
"Renesmee, may I introduce you to my sister, Jennifer."
"It is a delight to meet another sister of our kind, Renesmee." Jennifer spoke kindly.
"As am I." I greeted her with a smile, yet my eyes couldn't help but glance from her straight ruby hair to the expanding stomach that revealed itself underneath her white t-shirt. She was much to my surprise pregnant.
"Quite a sight I must be to you." She laughed, the sound was whimsical, a musical melody that filled the living room.
I blinked as I glanced up at Jacob. He too seemed to have the same reaction, his eyes staring like mine at her growing belly. I knew what he was thinking for it was the same thing I was. If she was with child, then it was biologically possible for me to be too. Yet, to what end it would mean for Jennifer or me, no one in the room seemed to know.
"I am sorry, I just never—"
"I didn't either, trust me. It was quite the surprise to me too." Jennifer shifted in her chair as she placed a hand upon her belly. "My father however was thrilled." At the mention of him, Nahuel's body flinched, a sudden reaction that we all took notice off.
"Why journey here sister?" Nahuel placed a gentle hand upon her ivory skin. "You could have put yourself in danger."
"Nahuel is right, Jennifer. If we hadn't come across your scent in the jungle—"
"Just because I am with child doesn't mean that I am incapable of traveling. I am half-vampire, not an invalid. Besides, I haven't visited in a decade.
"You had to get away from him." Nahuel seemed to speak the truth for Jennifer's bright disposition fell.
"Did he hurt you?" I asked afraid though of what the answer might be.
"Our father has offered me protection my entire existence, yet as I grew older I sought out human connections outside the family. I wanted a life, an existence with my own purposes. Our father only knows his own purposes, Renesmee. When he found out I was pregnant, he was overjoyed. Too thrilled in fact. He soon began to consider my baby another one of his projects. My brother was plotting against me, I found out, afraid that his role would be lessened." Jennifer's body began to quiver and her words became more rapid.
"Breathe." Huilen spoke over her. Jennifer complied and did as she was told before continuing.
"I began to see him, Nahuel." She glanced up at her older brother. "To see him the way you have always seen him. He cares nothing for me or for my child. He just wants to use me, to use us for his own plans."
"You are safe here, you both are." Nahuel bent down and kissed the top of her head, placing his hands on her shoulders. His touch she could tell had been a calming affect on her.
"I am grateful."
"And the father?" Jacob asked his body leaning in further.
"It's the oldest story in the book, really. Found out and vanished."
"Was he a vampire?" Jacob pressed.
"No, human. He never knew what I was, that is one benefit of being a hybrid. We transfer better into human society. An asset my father believes is the new generation of vampires."
"So the child will simply genetically contain a fourth of vampire." Nahuel spoke.
"Yes, a diluted breed that may render him or her more normal, or altogether much like us brother." She placed her hands on her stomach once more. "Only time will tell."
"Time in which you will be here with us." Nahuel spoke with authority and compassion.
"Have you given any thoughts to the birth?" Huilen asked.
"I hope that is where you come in." Jennifer moved one of her hands to Huilen's.
"But this has never been done before." I said what I knew we all were thinking. "Our mothers were human, their bodies were broken from the inside because of us."
"Ours were killed." Nahuel's eyes darkened, as did Jennifer's.
"A vampire body has never held life nor given life." Jacob's jaw tightened.
"Yet it seems a half-vampire can." Jennifer smiled. "I do not begin to proclaim that I have the slightest idea what will happen. I assume that with the child's father being human that the baby will not have as much strength as we did to pry its way out, and with my body being stronger than any human, who knows. It is growing faster, not as fast as we did but still it is cutting down at least a fourth of the time."
"How far along are you?" Huilen questioned as she placed a hand on her stomach.
"3 months."
"The baby is moving and it's heart beat is faster than most, a definite sign of immortal qualities. Given your health at this far stage is a good sign. However, the birth still may be difficult, Jennifer."
"I can call Carlisle." I offered. "He helped make preparations and took care of my mom during her pregnancy with me. He might be able to help. Jake and I can travel into the nearest town first thing tomorrow to make the call."
"That is very kind." Jennifer smiled.
"We might need his assistance." Huilen nodded.
"If you all will excuse me, I think I am going to go lie down. It was a pleasure to meet you Renesmee, and you Jacob." Jennifer nodded in our direction as her petite body rose and supported by Huilen, they quickly disappeared on the other side of the hut.
"I hope everything turns out okay." Jacob spoke. Nahuel's gaze glanced back towards them both from where his aunt and sister had disappeared.
"Nature it seems has made a new way for our kind."
"How…how is it even possible?" I asked still trying to wrap my head around the idea.
"How are we possible?" He asked with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Our mothers were human when we were conceived, Nahuel, Jennifer is in every essence immortal."
"Our bodies can still function as humans, Renesmee. We can eat a human diet, be exposed to sunlight, we can even bleed."
"You proved that one true only weeks ago." Jacob glanced at the visible scar on my leg and winced as if the memory brought him pain.
"But conceive and carry a child? Jake is right, no vampire has ever been able to do that."
"We are not just vampire, why should you or my sisters not be able to carry a child?"
"I just assumed—
"You assumed it would never be possible?"
"I just always assumed I would never be able to."
Jake took my hand in his and brought it to his warm lips gently kissing it. Nahuel's eyes watched us and I saw a steady smile creep over his face.
"How about a swim?" Jacob whispered as he turned to meet my gaze.
"Sounds perfect." I grinned. "Why don't you go ahead?" I suggested.
I watched Jacob's eyes glance from Nahuel to me seeming to understand my intentions. He rose from where we had been sitting and made his way out of the long house into the night.
"I think I can jump to the end myself." He smiled recalling the words I had spoken to him on the cliff.
"I just didn't want you to—"
"You don't have to say anything." Nahuel spoke as he raised his hands toward her. "I am happy for you."
"You gave me the courage, Nahuel." I leaned towards him, placing my hand on his. "Your honesty helped me to see through my mind and begin to listen to my heart."
"Then I am honored." He placed his hand on top of mine. "Go." He lifted his gaze to the door as if releasing me.
I smiled and nodded as I stood letting go of his hands. I just reached the doorway before turning back to him.
"Don't think I didn't catch the timing of your hunting trip, because I did." I winked.
His hearty laugh filled the long house and a crimson blush filled his cheeks, as I once again turned and exited the house, my gaze turning towards the lagoon where Jacob was waiting for me. Slipping off my shorts and tank top to reveal a blue bikini, I entered the water feeling the cool waves slowly rising over my body.
I swam scanning the water for Jake, yet soon I felt his arms wrap around my torso, the warmth of his skin leaving a trail of goose bumps along my entire body. I curved into him, his chin resting on my shoulder, his arms wrapping around me.
"How are you feeling?" His hot breath spoke against my ear as his hands twisted me around and I instinctively wrapped my legs and arms around him.
"In love." I spoke knowing that it would only make him laugh out loud, which it did, the sound of it deepening over the water and into the caves behind the waterfalls.
I silenced him by placing a deep kiss on his lips. His hands moved over my back and I only tightened my grip on the back of his neck.
"I don't think I am quite used to that." Jacob spoke as he smiled that boyish way as our lips broke apart. "It, you, us, this, still doesn't seem real yet." His eyes gazed over the land around us then back to me.
"Get used to it." I spoke playfully as I kissed him briefly again, gently this time.
Jacob moved in the water taking us further and further into the deep until I knew he could no longer touch. We swam the rest of the way, splashing each other before we dove under the waterfalls heading towards the rock caverns behind them. Pulling myself up onto the rocky terrain, I sat with my legs dangling in the water, Jacob's arms resting on them.
"What were you thinking about tonight?" I asked as I brushed a piece of his dripping hair out his eyes.
"When I saw Jennifer?" He clarified. I nodded and watched on as he took a moment to think about what he wanted to say. "Honestly?"
"No lie to me." I stated sarcastically.
"I was wondering if knowing, I mean realizing it was possible, if it would have changed—"
"Us being together." I finished his sentence.
"You too?" His voice deepened, a sure sign that he was nervous about where this conversation was going. "I mean we didn't know to take any—"
"I know." I bit my lip, before smiling.
He pulled away from my body, his arms bracing the rocks beside me. Within moments his body lifted from the water and he turned to sit beside me.
"You regret it then." He sighed as he ran a hand through his wet hair. Within a split second his mood had changed and his body seemed weakened.
My heart pricked with pain as I saw his jaw clinch from trying to control how that thought affected him. I turned my body to him, reaching across to rest my hand on his cheek pulling his face towards me.
"I love you, Jake." I spoke with as much conviction as I could and sensed the power those words held over him as his body straightened and a new disposition came over him. "I would not trade the last few days we have spent together for anything."
"Really?" He spoke with a steady smile.
"Really." I nodded.
He confidently placed his hand behind my neck and pulled me to him, kissing me long and hard, causing my stomach to turn and my heart to race. Jacob didn't break the kiss until he needed to stop for air.
"What's so funny?" He asked upon seeing my facial expression.
"Life just has a way of surprising us." I wrapped my arm through his and rested my head against his broad shoulder.
"How so?" He grasped my hand firmly in his, intertwining our fingers.
"I used to believe that one of the reasons why I thought, I felt, we were never right for each other was because I always envisioned a future for you where you could be a father. I know you really desire that but you've never spoken about it. I think a part of me left home, left you, because I hoped that by being with someone else, who could provide all those things, you might be happier."
"You, and you alone, make me happy Ness." Jacob squeezed my hand tighter as if to affirm what he had spoken.
"I have seen the way you are with Em and Sam's kids, Jake, the way you are with your cousins, the way you were that morning after the festival with the children from the tribe. There is a deep part of you that desires to have a family of your own."
"You are my family, Nessie. You and your blood-sucking family are all the family I need." He laughed as his eyes glanced from our hands to the waterfalls in front of us. "I never saw a family the way you did because I guess I always just wanted to be a part of yours."
"You have always been a part of our family, Jake. You always will be." I whispered into his ear, placing a kiss on his dark cheek, before I nestled my head back on his shoulder.
"So what to we do now?" Jacob's voice deepened once more.
"I don't know." I spoke honestly. "I think we be careful. Who knows, Jennifer could be an anomaly."
"And what if you already are," his dark eyes tearing away from the water to glance at my stomach.
"Then we will face it together." I traced a continuous design on the back of his hand lost in my own thoughts. "I never thought I would have the chance…the notion that it might even be possible is…it's—"
I unexpectedly felt the tears come swiftly and my breathing suddenly became harder. It wasn't until that moment that I realized how much desire, how much hope had now been given to me. Jacob lifted me effortlessly into his arms and held me to him, my body cradled against his safe and protective arms. I rested my head against his warm bare chest listening to the deep hallowed sound of his heartbeat. There was life within him, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought that one day I could have that within me.