Surprise! After a long wait I finally managed to get this baby up here. Thanks to those who stuck with this story for the last two weeks. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: No. Not my characters. But I love them so much, I write things like this!!!
"Good riddance."
"Rosalie..." The scold came out emotionless on Bella's lips. "We don't need that right now."
She sighed and let her head fall back against the seat of the couch. We were sitting in the living room in the main house and discussing Jacob's disappearance with the rest of the family. It had been three painful days since the scene in our cottage, with no sign of Jacob anywhere nearby. I shifted anxiously, torn between heartily agreeing with Rosalie's statement, and wishing I could go back in time and fix everything that had happened.
"What? I don't see the issue." Rosalie continued in her rant. "The stupid werewolf will come back soon enough. Let's at least let the smell air out of the house before we call in the National Guard."
Bella's eyes flashed, and she stood up from her seat next to me on the couch. I didn't have the emotional strength or energy to stop her, so I focused my attention elsewhere, blocking out her and Rosalie's arguing, and listening to the conversation between Esme and Renesmee in the next room.
"They are talking about Jacob, aren't they, Grandma?" Renesmee said, more a statement than a question. I saw Esme pause slightly as she was brushing Renesmee's long bronze curls. She was wishing that she could find a way to spare her beautiful grandchild the huge responsibility and pain of the adult conversation in the next room, but hated the look she was going to get when she downplayed her response. God bless Esme. She was so loving that the very thought of hurting another, especially her grandchild, tore her heart into pieces.
"Well, sweetheart…" She started, turning Renesmeearound to look into her eyes. One look at her already betrayed face and Esme paused to kiss her forehead and pull her into an embrace. I was suddenly so thankful for the adopted mother that I had been blessed with. In all the decades I had known her as my mother, she had never once stopped loving us. It was continuous and never-ending, even when we did not deserve it. Seeing her love my child just reinforced the gracious feelings that I already had. Yes, God indeed bless Esme.
Nessie pulled out slightly and touched her grandmother's face. She loved Esme, but knew she was beating around the bush. I had to smile at that. So much like her mother. Persistent until she got her way. Too bad neither of them ever had to turn that charm very much on me. I would already give them the moon and the stars if I had the power to do so. Ironically, the two people that gave me the most strength were also the heart of my biggest weakness.
"Edward!" Bella's voice snapped through my musings. I turned to look at the room around me, suddenly aware that everyone was staring at me. Great.
"Deal with your sister." She growled, and flew out of the room.
Nice job, bro. I caught Emmett thinking, as he winked in my direction. His attitude was the last thing that I needed. I was on my feet in a flash, weight forward and ready to pounce. The last few days had been like hell for me, and anything became a green light for me to hit something. Fortunately, Carlisle stepped in before I could take out my frustrations on my overly-cocky big brother.
"Alright, I've sat here and listened to this long enough. Renesmee is a huge part of this family, but she is Edward and Bella's child first. We will back them in whatever they need to do to find Jacob."
"Of course we will." Alice said, releasing Jasper's hand and dancing a few steps forward. "Jacob makes Nessie happy, and I love her enough to deal with him being around. I think we all do." She looked around the room, eyes narrowed, daring Rosalie to contradict her. Rosalie hissed low under her breath, but did not move from her stance next to the window.
I was thankful for Alice, but her words made my chest burn with guilt. Yes, of course I loved my daughter. I loved her more than I love my own life, just as Bella did. For some reason though, Jacob's very name made my skin crawl and made rage roll within me. He could never love her as much as I did. He would never be good enough, never protect her well enough. And I simply could not stand him being around every day, stealing her away from me slowly. I realized suddenly that those feelings were what got us into this mess; here we all were standing around, glares in every direction, the air thick with emotion. Jasper was trying his best to refocus the conversation, but with everyone harboring their own moods and opinions, especially Bella in the kitchen, it was nearly impossible for him to accomplish anything at all.
I looked again to Renesmee and Esme in the next room. Renesmee's face was so forlorn, so hurt and betrayed, that I could not stand it. I found myself rushing and sweeping her into my arms, and coming back into the living room. Nessie was surprised, and I could sense her uncertainty in my embrace. Any affection from me over the past few days was not reciprocated, so she leaned back slightly, but did not try to jump down. She was hoping that she would now get some answers.
"I am going out to find Jacob." The words were out of my mouth before I could even think clearly enough to stop them. "I am sorry for any strife that my mistakes brought on in the conversation, and I thank you all for your willingness to help, but I need to do this." My eyes met Bella's as she came to the doorway of the kitchen. "For my family." I finished.
Bella came to my side, and Renesmee reached for her. Unabashed, or perhaps just used to this new behavior, I turned back to the rest of my other family. Carlisle looked proud at my forwardness, and Rosalie looked shocked. She always knew that I would gladly join in on any harsh feelings that she had toward Jacob, so me offering to voluntarily go to find him and bring him back forced her to recalculate. Alice looked pleased, just as Carlisle had, and Emmett and Jasper were unbiased, wishing only to keep their mates civil.
"Edward." Esme said my name softly, and I turned in her direction, already cringing at the worry I knew would be painted on her face. She walked over to Carlisle's side.
"Honey, Jacob is angry. Just please...be careful. Jacob has become close to all of us," A scoff from Rosalie interrupted her, and Bella's glare shot daggers in her direction.
Esme, of course, continued without even acknowledging the exchange. "But you are my son. Come home quickly, and know that we love you." Her arm wrapped around Carlisle's.
"He isn't going alone. I am going too." Bella said from my side. "Jacob isangry, and we're going to do this for Renesmee."
A small part of me wanted to disagree and tell her that no, I was going on my own. If Bella came that might take away from my selfless offer. Well, mostly selfless. I wanted my daughter to look up to me again, to love me again. If she saw me leave and bring back her Jacob with me, I just might earn some of that affection back. The other part of me was relieved. Bella would guarantee that Jacob would pause before lunging at me and causing me to murder him, and I was simply glad that she wanted to help me. She did say that we would go through this together. Fix this together. We had conquered so much with our realities and hearts interlaced, so what match was this situation?
"Bella…" I started, secretly praying that she would stand up to me.
"No, Edward. I'm going. This is my fault too."
Success.
What did you think? I apologise for how short it seems. I know you deserve much more! But this is all I could do before getting started on my homework tonight. I should have lots of time this week though. Click below here and leave me your opinion, if this is your first time reading this story or if you've been waiting for the update! If I know you all like it I will write faster!