"Rose, take Renesmee." I gritted through my teeth.
She held her hands out and Jacob handed her my daughter, as if I wanted him to touch her right now anyways. Rosalie and Jacob backed away at once.
"Edward, let go of me...Now." I knew I shouldn't have talked to Edward like that, considering he wouldn't like it much. But I was too furious at Jacob to really care right now.
He hesitated, as if not sure to listen to me… or to ignore me and try to hold me back from accidentally hurting my best friend, which I knew I would probably regret later.
"Go stand by Renesmee," I suggested, trying to get him to let me go. I really didn't want to get in an argument with him, considering I knew I would lose that battle and I didn't need Alice to tell me that.
After a bit of deliberating, he let go. Edward seemed like he didn't want to at first, so I guess my persuading skills must be improving, or maybe he didn't want to argue either.
"You didn't." I found myself walking towards Jacob, almost stalking him, as if I were the predator and he was my prey.
"It's not something I can control." He was backing away, his palms in the air, as if he had just been caught doing illegal drugs or murder. But this was ten times worse then any of that. He would get out of jail eventually. But this, this was something I'd make sure that would last a lifetime.
"You stupid mutt! How could you?!" I demanded.
Jacob was backed out the front door now, as I stalked him. "It wasn't my idea, Bella!"
"I've held her all of one time, and you already think you have some moronic wolfy claim to her? She's mine." I growled. Jacob, of all people! He was telling me that myRenesmee was 'destined' to be his? I didn't know what to think.
Jacob retreated across the lawn, as he tried to reason with me. "I can share."
"Pay up." Emmett said. If I hadn't been so furious, I would have laughed. Emmett always seemed to know how to lighten the mood, weather it would be with a bet, or some sort of smart remark.
"Have you lost your mind? How dare you imprint on my baby!"
"It was involuntary!" Jacob was now backing into the trees. Now he wasn't alone anymore, two huge wolves appeared, taking his flanks on both sides. Seth and Leah. I was sure I heard Leah growl at me.
"Bella, would you try to listen for just a second? Please?" Jacob was begging me. I didn't even know what I was going to do, now that I thought about it.
"Why should I listen?" I demanded.
"Because you're the one who told me to do this. Do you remember? You said we belongedin each others lives, right? That we were family. You said that was how you and I were supposed to be. So.... now we are. It's what you wanted."
I was furious. Not only was he using my words, but he was using them against me! "You think you'll be part of my family as my son-in-law?!"
"Edward, you should really stop her. She'll be unhappy if she hurts Jacob." Esme said, worry found deep in her voice.
"How can you even look at it that way? She's just a baby, for crying out loud!" Jacob said, as if I didn't know that.
"That's my point!" I yelled.
"I don't think of her that way! Do you think Edward would have let me live this long if I did? I only want her to be safe and happy. It's not so different than what you want." Jacob was now half shouting at me, and half reasoning with me.
"Stay away from her."
"I can't do that!"
"Try. Starting now."
"It's not possible. Do you remember how much you wanted me to be around while you were pregnant with her? How hard it was to be apart? That's her. From the beginning. We had to be together, even then."
I began to understand a little bit, I remembered. It seemed since I've had Renesmee, those feelings have changed, though. Was he expecting his explanation to be enough for me? A little clarification to make everything okay?
"Run while you still can."
"C'mon Bells! Nessie likes me, too!" He pointed out.
"What....did you call her?"
Jacob began to look sheepish, like he did something he shouldn't have and he knew it. "Well, her name is kind of a mouthful", he mumbled, "and-"
"You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?!"
"Bella, I…please forgive me?" Jacob begged. I was sure he looked almost as if he were going to break down in tears. I decided to soften up a bit. He didn't have any part of imprinting anyway, did he? And he was still my friend.
"Fine." I took a small step backwards, giving him his space. Seth and Leah seemed to understand as they both relaxed a bit.
Jacob smiled my favorite smile and pulled me in for a hug. "Jake, ow! You're crushing me!"
Jacob laughed and let go. "Sorry."
"It's okay." I said, and smiled up at him.
As we walked inside, something I've never thought of before, finally hit me like a brick. I stopped immediately in the doorway and Edward automatically turned to look at me. "Bella?"
'How…?' I thought I said it out loud. Maybe I didn't, because Edward just kept looking at me, without saying a word.
I cleared my throat and tried again. "How?"
"How what?" Edward seemed confused. I felt stupid. Like he was supposed to know what I was talking about.
"How did….I survive?"
Edward must have known what I was talking about as soon as I said that. I thought I saw a look flash across his face. I wasn't sure what it showed. Maybe I was just making things up. I did start to feel a bit weird. Maybe I should lie down. "Bella, let's take you to Carlisle."