MoonLight Chapter 7, a twilight fanfic

Chapter 7 Return to the Meadow

The party was more exciting than I imagined it would be. Now that Charlie and Jacob were friends again, they were pretty enjoyable to be around. Nessie must have noticed the difference as well, because she made sure that she entertained both my father and best friend at the same time.

I was happy enough to accept the gifts that were given to me, if only to distract the continued thoughts about werewolves. Edward gave me a new lap-top, and I shouldn t have been surprised. I still made a mental note to keep my old antique computer, though there was a spare second I thought of giving it to Lyle Grayson for his museum , before I remembered that he was a werewolf. Billy gave me a wooden carving of a wolf and I noticed that it resembled Jacob in wolf-form. Billy later told me that he carved the figure out himself while Jacob stood there as his subject. I was impressed. Jacob and his pack gave me one gift. It was a fur coat, and I had a feeling it was made from some of the animals that lurked around Forks and La Push. Charlie gave me a new fully-paid cell-phone.

Alice and Jasper gave me a gift card to one of Alice s favorite clothing stores. Typical, I thought, but I thanked them anyway. Emmett and Rosalie s gift turned out to be a stereo system for my car. Edward told me he would install it when we got home. Carlisle and Esme s gift was a coupon. I thought it was strange at first, but then I read it. It was a six-day. seven-night trip to Isle Esme. I wasn t too sure about this one, given my last experience on the island. No matter how the first half of that experience was extremely beautiful and memorable, there were a few bits of the trip that I wanted to forget.

Nessie s gifts were much better than mine. Charlie s gift, and mine and Edward s gift, were similar. Both were heart-shaped lockets. Charlie s gift had a picture of him inside it. Edward and my gift to her had a picture of each of us in it. Jacob, Billy and the pack gave Nessie a stuffed wolf. I would later find out that if you opened up the flip on the wolf s heart, Jacob s picture was in it much to Edward s displeasure, of course. Alice and Jasper gave Nessie a gift card to the child-age specified version of Alice s favorite store. Emmett and Rosalie gave Nessie one of those drive-able toy cars and Emmett promised me that, even if he did give it a few kinks of his own, it didn t go as fast as any of his real cars.

Carlisle later told me and Edward that he and Esme had set up Nessie with her own bank account. He assured us that Nessie would have enough money to support her for as long as she lived. I was pretty grateful about this, given the fact that Nessie was basically as immortal as I was.

The party went on until around five-o-clock. Before Jacob and his pack left, he told me that he would explain to his pack what had been discussed earlier in the day. He also assured me that he would find Leah and try to cautiously explain what her boyfriend really was. He added that he would try to make sure his story to Charlie continued to be convincing as possible, without trying to interfere with our work. I thanked him.

Charlie promised me that he would try to come up with a convincing story to his fellow officers about the current events. He also said he might not be able to keep up with the story very long and hoped that Jacob and his pack knew what they were doing. I nodded and assured him that they did. I smiled, because to me it was giving him the same promise, without telling him what I was. The conversation then went to more personal matters

Are you returning to New Hampshire before too long? Charlie asked me, as we stood in the entrance hall.

I think we ll stay for a little while longer, I said.

Wonderful, Charlie said.

There was one more thing I needed to know from my father.

Er Dad, I said, Have you -- um -- talked to Renee lately?

Charlie sighed and nodded.

And? I asked.

Bella, I ve been a police officer for a long time now, Charlie said, I ve talked to families of victims who ve died in car accidents and everything else you can imagine. But my last conversation with Renee was the most depressing conversation I ve ever had in my life. Including the day I told Sue Clearwater that Harry had died.

I frowned. Harry was one of Charlie s best friends who had died of a heart attack.

First of all, Charlie said, I need to know something. This -- condition -- you have. Does it mean that your appearance won t change for a long time? What I m trying to say is basically you ll look like your eighteen years old for a long time?

Yeah, I said, That s basically it.

It was the best I could come up with, without telling my father the truth. Charlie nodded.

You know, in a way, Charlie said, a small laugh coming from him, That doesn t sound so bad. I bet there are people in the entertainment business who wish they could still look like they did when they were eighteen years old.

Well, I said, laughing, When you put it that way, it doesn t sound so bad.

I immediately sobered up.

So what did you tell Renee? I asked him.

Well, he said, I told Renee that I didn t even know where you are. The only thing I knew was that you were going to live, but that you went through some pretty serious changes. What I basically told your mother is that neither I nor her would probably ever get to see you again.

My jaw dropped. Charlie had done this for me?

When you moved to New Hampshire, Bella, he said, Renee came to Forks to find you. I told her that there was a chance you might return. But that was months ago. Renee called me a couple of weeks ago and that is the last time I ve heard from her. Bella, what I m trying to say is I think Renee is out of your life now. Maybe forever.

Suddenly, Charlie broke into tears.

And I feel as if this is my fault, he said, half-sobbing, If you never would have moved to Forks, then --

Then I wouldn t have met Edward, Dad, I said, interrupting him, And we wouldn t have Nessie in our lives. I can t imagine life like that. I was meant to come to Forks, Dad. And I haven t been this happy in a long time. None of this is your fault. It s my choice. I could go to Phoenix, Arizona right now and see Renee if I wanted to. But I don t want to hurt her anymore than I have. I m okay with this decision, Dad. I want you to be okay with it too.

Charlie nodded. I hugged him, and I felt him calm down.

I love you, Bella, Charlie said, So much.

I love you too, Daddy, I said.

Take care of yourself, he said, And Nessie as well. You re a lucky woman to have someone like her in your life. Don t forget that. One day, there may come a time when you will never see her again. Keep that in mind.

I nodded.

I know that, Daddy, I said.

Charlie backed away and smiled.

I need to get going, he said, I need to check in with the station. Seattle police are supposed to come in a couple of days. These next few days are going to be very interesting.

If you need help with that, I said, You can call us or Billy. Don t be too brave, Charlie. Remember, these are not your normal criminals.

I know, Bella, Charlie said, I will try to keep a safe distance.

That is all I m asking for, I said.

Charlie hugged me again and left the house. I watched him get into his car and drive away.

You know, a voice said, behind me, There have been many moments in my existence in which I wish I could just cry again. This might have been one of those moments.

I turned around. Esme was standing there.

You heard all of that? I asked her.

I m sorry, Esme said, If vampires have any faults, eavesdropping is mine.

Don t apologize, Esme, I said, shaking my head, It s okay.

I didn t know until now, Esme said, how much you miss your mother. I couldn t imagine never seeing one of my children again. I know now how your mother must feel.

Esme, I said, walking over to her and hugging her, You re my mother now, okay? Or at least, you re the best thing I got when it comes to a mother now.

I could never replace your mother, Bella, Esme said, But I could at least attempt to do so, if that is all right with you.

I couldn t ask for more, I said.

Anyway, Esme said, Edward tells me that you and him are going to take Nessie hunting tomorrow?

Yeah, I said, Even if we re not going back to New Hampshire for a while, we still need to hunt soon.

Bring the baseball stuff, I heard Alice say, as she walked down the stairs, I foresee a thunderstorm tomorrow.

Great, I said, I ve been wanting to try that out. I m sure Nessie will have fun too. If you guys want to, you could come with us, you know.

Oh, no, Esme said, Nessie needs a day alone with her parents.

Yes, I agree with Esme, Alice said, As much as I d like to see Nessie tackle her first big bear, I wouldn t want to interfere.

Maybe next time, then, I said.

-
The thunderstorm Alice predicted wouldn t come into Forks until late in the afternoon the next day, so Edward and I decided to delay our hunt until about three p.m. Our destination would be my favorite place in Forks, Washington: the small open meadow where one of my most unforgettable human moments took place. I wanted to finally take Nessie there, hoping that it would soon be one of her favorite places too.

So a few minutes before three-o-clock, Edward, Nessie and I piled into the car. The steel bat and baseball were packed away in the trunk.

I keep trying to pinpoint that thunderstorm for you, Alice said, leaning into the front passenger door window, But I keep getting interference. Must be because of that little runt in the back seat.

I m not a runt, Auntie Alice! Nessie said, laughing.

You re going to have to prove that to me, Nessie, Alice said, grinning, Catch your first large bear, and I promise I won t call you a runt anymore.

All right, Edward said, scolding his sister, Don t put too many thoughts into her head.

You would know, wouldn t you? Alice said, rolling her eyes.

I laughed.

Have fun, you guys! Alice said.

We waved goodbye to Alice, and Edward started the car. We took off down the road. A little after three-o-clock, we arrived at the opening of the pathless route to the meadow.

Remember, Nessie, I said, You ve never been here, so you need to stick close to us. Okay?

I promise, Mommy, Nessie said.

Keep that in mind, I said, And you can have as much fun as you want.

As long as you don t get too confident, Edward said, If you don t think you can tackle a large bear, don t try it. If we have to, we ll just tell Auntie Alice you did. Okay?

Wouldn t that be lying, Daddy? Nessie asked.

Sometimes a little lie is okay, Edward said, smiling.

Now who s putting bad thoughts into her head, I scolded Edward.

Edward grinned. He then sniffed the air.

Looks like we might not have to wait too long! he said, grinning.

You found something? I asked.

A small herd of deer, Edward said, about a fourth of the way into our route to the meadow. Want me to carry the baseball stuff?

If you want, I said, feeling my mouth watering, Let s just get going. I smell that herd now and it s making me a little hungry.

Edward grinned and opened the trunk. He grabbed the bat and baseball, closed the trunk, and we started into the forest. Nessie was just as fast as Edward and I when we ran, so we didn t have to slow down at all. I was impressed by her strides. After about five large strides into the forest, Edward stopped, and Nessie and I went to a halt that left a bit of dust behind us.

Shh, Edward whispered, Lunchtime.

I sniffed the air and immediately found the small herd. I heard water running, and I knew they were by a stream. Edward, Nessie and I crept up to a line of trees and hid behind a couple of them. I then saw the herd of deer. There was five of them there, drinking their fill from the stream. One was a buck with an impressive rack of antlers. There were also three doe and a small fawn.

Dibs on the buck, Edward whispered, I might have to bring home those antlers as well.

Nessie can have the fawn, I whispered, I ll take a doe.

We ll have to be quick, Edward whispered, We ll have to attack at the same time, or they ll run.

The chase is part of the fun, though, I whispered, frowning.

We don t want to get split up, Edward said, nodding to Nessie.

Right, I said, turning to Nessie, Are you ready?

Nessie nodded.

On three, I said, I mean it this time, Nessie.

Nessie nodded again.

One, I said, Two. Three.

We jumped across the stream and in the middle of the herd, all in one pounce. Fangs out, I lunged at the nearest doe, tackling it before it could even react. Beside me, I heard a growl and a small squeal, as Nessie lunged at the fawn, pinning it to the ground. I felt so proud of her. I searched for my husband, and it seemed he was having the worst bit of luck. The buck must have sensed Edward in mid-jump, because he ran off down the stream.

Daddy knows what he s doing, I assured Nessie, who was watching Edward.

I could feel my prey twitching beneath me, and I sank my fangs into its neck. I felt its life leaving it as the blood was replaced with my deadly venom. Feet from me, Nessie was already dining on her lunch. The fawn was completely still.

I heard another growl and looked up. Edward had cornered the large buck, which meant that the buck was going to have to defend itself. This was going to be interesting. Suddenly, the buck charged my husband, and Edward just stood there. I almost yelled for him to move. The buck got close, but Edward lunged and grabbed the buck by his impressive antlers and flipped his head back. I heard a CRACK which told me Edward had won: the buck s neck was definitely broken. Edward grinned at me when he realized I was watching, and sank his teeth into the large carcass. Relieved that Edward s battle was over, I dined on my meal.

A few minutes later, I heard another SNAP. Edward had ripped the antlers off of the deer s skull. He then walked back over to Nessie and me.

I forgot how feisty the deer around here are, he said, grinning.

Nice prize, I said, nodding to the antlers.

Told you I would get them, Edward said, How are you, Nessie?

Still hungry, Nessie said, sulking at the carcass of the fawn, Can we get those other two deer?

No, no, no, Edward said, shaking his head, What is our third rule to hunting, Nessie?

Keep the surprise on our side, Nessie recited.

Exactly, Edward said, Those deer know we re here.

I heard a small boom of thunder.

Eye of the storm s still a few miles away, I said, Maybe we can find something closer to the meadow.

Let s get going, then, Edward said, You re going to have to take the baseball gear though.

He grinned proudly at the antlers in his right hand.

Right, I said, picking up the steel bat and baseball.

We continued toward the meadow. When we were about ten minutes away, I heard a booming sound.

That storm is getting closer, I said.

That isn t the storm, Edward said, Our next hunt is near.

What is it? I asked.

Do you know, Nessie? Edward said, turning to his daughter.

Nessie sniffed the air, and I saw her eyes sparkle.

A bear? she asked.

Very good, Edward said, nodding, A mother bear, I presume. I think she s hunting food for her young.

I d feel bad leaving the cubs without their mother, I said.

We ll have to do something about that, then, Edward said, grinning.

We hid the antlers, and the baseball gear in a small bush. We would need our hands free for our upcoming prey. We resorted to walking because we didn t want to scare the bear.

The mother is going to be very protective, Edward said, as we walked a few yards, Nessie, I think you re going to finally get your chance.

You think she can tackle it? I asked Edward.

With a bit of help, Edward said. It looks like we re going to have to distract it.

I was a little scared, but Nessie looked eager.

I can do this, Mommy, she said, I m not a little runt anymore.

I grinned, and nodded. My mouth watered as the scent of blood found my nostrils.

Looks like Mother bear found her prey, Edward said, A rabbit by the smell of it. It means she is distracted. We have to hurry.

Nessie and I followed Edward across the forest clearing. Suddenly, I saw a bush moving, and I could see a bit of black fur.

There she is, I whispered.

ROAR! The bear growled and looked up. Damn it. She had heard me. Without a second thought, Edward sped to the other side of the bear. I realized his plan.

Wait for my signal, I told Nessie.

I walked up to the bear, and let her see me. It growled again. I thought she was going to charge me, but Edward growled too. The bear turned around.

Now! I ordered Nessie.

Nessie lunged forward in one stride and jumped onto the bear s back. She immediately sank her fangs into the bear s neck, and it collapsed to the ground. I was quite impressed. I noticed, though, that it was still moving. Edward noticed too, and lunged toward it. Nessie moved away for a moment, and before the bear could get back to its feet, Edward snapped the bear s large neck.

I did it! Nessie said.

Great job, I congratulated her, She s all yours.

I m going to find that cub, Edward said, as Nessie started on her next course, There is only one. It is hiding in a nearby hollow log.

Edward, no, I said, If it s old enough, let it live. We can hunt it when it s older.

Edward sighed.

All right, he said.

I could tell Edward was annoyed with me, but I didn t care. When I pictured that bear, I kept seeing my daughter. Killing a defenseless bear cub was cruel, like killing a parentless child.

A few minutes later, I heard another clap of thunder. The storm was very close now.

Are you done, Nessie? Edward asked, Want to have some real fun?

Nessie nodded, wiping the blood from her lips.

Game time! Edward said.

We retrieved the antlers and gear and headed for the meadow. When we arrived, it was much darker than before. I hadn t noticed this before, because of the incoming storm.

It s almost night, I said to Edward.

We won t stay for long, Edward said.

This place is pretty! Nessie said.

You like it? I asked her.

I love it! Nessie squealed.

I smiled. She was so happy here, and so was I. Everything was now perfect.

All right, Edward said, We don t want you going very far, Nessie. So I will hit the ball across the meadow, but you need to make sure you stay in our sight. All right?

Yes, Daddy, Nessie said.

Edward threw the ball up into the air and struck it with the steel bat. It sounded just like a thunder clap.

Go! I told Nessie.

Nessie sped off across the meadow and I made sure I could see her every step. A few moments later, she caught the ball almost a football field s length down the meadow. A moment later, she raced back toward us. She had a large grin across her face.

Great catch! I said.

Now it s my turn, Edward said.

I ll hit it, I said.

Don t underestimate it, Edward instructed me, It s a powerful feeling. Keep the bat in your grip or it could go flying.

Back up a bit, Nessie, I said, cautiously.

I made sure Nessie was a safe distance away before I started. I threw the ball into the air, then smacked it with the steel bat. The ball sped into the trees and Edward followed it.

Did he get it? Nessie asked me.

I waited a few moments and heard a small slapping sound.

He got it, I said.

Edward appeared again a moment later.

Edward, Nessie and I took turns for the next thirty minutes. The storm was moving quickly, which surprised me.

Storm s almost over, I said, This will be the last turn. I want to get the ball.

Edward nodded and threw the ball into the air, then hit it with the baseball bat. I raced into the forest, knowing that is where the ball would end up. Time seemed to slow down and I heard a whooshing sound as the ball came closer to me. I saw the ball as it fell toward me and I then caught it with one hand. I grinned and was just about to go back to Edward and Nessie when I realized something was different.

I panicked slightly. Something was definitely wrong. The trees around me seemed much lighter in the dark night. A pale white light lit up the trees around me. I then realized what was going on, and I looked up in the sky. The moon was completely visible.

Suddenly, my nostrils flared, and I bared my fangs instinctively. A scent rushed toward me and it was nothing like I had ever smelled before. It was worse than what Jacob and his pack smelled like. Much worse.

Oh, no, I whispered, It can t be.

I sniffed the air again. My whole body shook. I knew what that scent had to be because it was the only thing I wasn t used to:

Werewolves.

I sped off back to the meadow and reached Edward and Nessie.

What took you so long? Edward asked, Couldn t find the ball?

We have a problem, Edward, I said, my voice shaking.

Edward s eyes widened and he sniffed the air. He growled, baring his fangs.

We have to get back to the car, he said, They ll outnumber us.

How many are there? I asked, picking up the steel bat.

I don t know, Edward said, grabbing the deer antlers.

What s going on, Mommy? Nessie said.

I could feel the fear in her voice.

We have to go, sweetheart, I said, Now.

Edward, Nessie and I sped off through the forest. Suddenly, the scent got stronger. Could the werewolves already be close to us? What seemed like forever, took only a few minutes to reach the edge of the forest, but every second was terrifying. Would they find us? Would we be too late? Finally we reached the car and Edward quickly put the antlers, steel bat and baseball into the trunk.

I can t believe you brought those antlers with you, I said, as Edward got into the driver s seat beside me.

I wasn t going to let them take my prize, Edward said.

They could have seen us! I exclaimed.

That s the problem, Edward said, starting the car, They already did see us.

My eyes widened.

What? I asked, You mean --

I don t think they know who we are, Edward said, But they definitely know there are Vampires in Forks, Washington.

But how do you know? I asked, You can t read their minds.

I didn t, Edward said, staring at me.

Then how can you be sure, I asked.

Call it my sixth sense, Edward muttered.

-
Chapter 7 Return to the Meadow