Renesmee

I was soaked to the skin and so was everyone else. I was surprised by the way we all stood in the rain; no one seemed able to move. Each person needed the group, in that very unusual moment. Vampires and werewolves stood together supporting each other. Grandpa Charlie had become a connecting link between the Quileute pack and the Cullen's. I wondered how he could be surrounded by this much mythology and never have any desire to know what was really going on.

I was glad Sue offered Jake and me a ride back to La Push. All of us were equally dripping and I was sure the cars would take days to dry out. All the same, I was glad to get away from my family – I was supposed to be on my honeymoon. With the funereal and everything it was easy to keep my thoughts in check but I knew Dad would be hearing things he didn't want to know all too soon.

Sue dropped us off at our house. Esme had insisted on a new house as our wedding present. We insisted that she keep it simple but, even still, it was the nicest house in the reservation, by far. Jake and I changed into dry clothes and I put the wet ones in the washer. I caught Jake watching me bend over the washer. I turned and smiled at him. He pulled me close and kissed me fiercely. His warm hand trailed up and down my arms and the feeling made me tremble.

"Will you go for a run with me?" He whispered huskily.

I nodded, not able to speak. As we left the house, I wondered what he had up his sleeve. We ran together a lot, but he never used his sexy voice to ask.

We walked hand in hand out into the forest. Jake let go of my hand and started into some trees. I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. He turned towards me with a questioning look. I took a deep breath to steady myself but I was nervous to make my request, surly he would not deny me. I could hardly get out the words.

"I want to watch," I whispered.

Jakes smile lit up the entire forest. "Of course, my love," He whispered in return. I watched Jake undress, the muscles under his russet skin rippled with each movement. Part of me wanted to tackle him right there, but I had wanted to watch him phase for a long time so I kept my distance. I had asked Mom about it once. She told me about watching Jake phase the first time and how it freaked her out. She had avoided watching since then. Jake had been in better control around me so, I had never witnessed it.

He stood several feet away to give himself plenty of room, wearing nothing but a big grin. He looked like he was concentrating really hard, but nothing was happening. I could tell he was getting flustered. Frustrated, he turned around. I waited until he turned before I smiled. I realized he had never had an audience before; it was just a little performance anxiety.

I watched his form shimmer and slowly explode into the wolf I loved. It took my breath away. He turned toward me with a wolfy grin and dipped his head in a bow. I stood there is disbelief replaying the transformation over and over in my mind. I had never expected the pure beauty of it, so different from the way Mom described it. I stood there stuck in my mind.

Jake whined in concern. I smiled, "I loved it, Jake"

He smiled and his dark eyes sparkled with delight.

I took off running touching his shoulder as I passed him. This was an old game we had played since I was very little. He gave me a few seconds head start before he came after me. He nudged my shoulder with his wet nose and took off I giggled and followed after him. Back and forth we played tag. It felt so good to run through the forest. The worries and pain of the last few days were left behind. I focused all of my energy on my husband.

It seemed as if we were the only ones in the forest until I heard vampires in the forest far ahead of us. I figured Rosalie and Emmett were out "playing" – I had heard them before. We were headed in that direction but I could tell they were very far away. I was sure they would be long gone by the time we got there.

Jake and I continued on our way, playing tag. We kept an easy pace, although, it would have been difficult for a human to keep up with us. I kept all of my focus on Jake, blocking out everything else. I let his presence take the pain of the last few days away.

Eventually, we made it to a lovely clearing out in the middle of the woods. I went to tackle Jake and nearly had him but he flipped me over and had me pinned before I could react. I could see the fire in his dark eyes as his form began to shimmer. Electricity tingled through my veins, adrenalin rushed in anticipation. I knew exactly what was on his mind and my body responded as fast as his phase. I moved my hand to his cheek and encouraged his thought with my own excitement.

It was only after we had exhausted ourselves that I noticed the smell in the clearing. It was fairly new and it was my parents. It dawned on me that it had not been Rose and Em that I had heard earlier. Ugh, I cringed. I was glad Jake didn't notice. After what could have been hours, Jake mentioned that we should be moving on. I reluctantly agreed.

I had to look around for my clothes; I didn't really remember taking them off. I dressed quickly and Jake and I made our way back to the reservation.

We both decided we needed to go over to the Cullen's . Jake and I headed for the Mustang. I was so glad Dad helped me give it to him a year ago. Thinking about Jake's reaction that day always made me smile. I loved to watch him drive it. He let me have a turn once but it was much more fun to watch him. His eyes twinkled and he smiled to whole time. As long as it wasn't raining he would leave the window open and I would watch the wind muss his hair. He was the picture of ease and joy.

We pulled up to Carlisle and Esme's home much too soon. Dad bound out of the house; he and Jake started goofing around. I would never understand their relationship. I, honestly, doubt anyone would understand it except, maybe, Mom. I had heard all the crazy stories about Mom and Jake. It was just too weird to me. I couldn't imagine Jake wanting anyone other than me. Dad ran hot and cold. Sometimes he acted like Jake was his best friend and other times, he could do nothing right.

He had been my everything for my whole life. I could even remember seeing his eyes for the first time. I don't have a lot of memories from those first few weeks but I remember Jake. I do remember searching for those eyes. In my heart I knew, I needed him right away and for always. He was mine, he always had been, and he always would be. It was a great feeling to know that I never had to wonder about it.

I could hear Mom and Esme working in the dining room, so I went to find them. They were talking about Charlie's house. They were making plans to give it to one of Mom's old friends. For a moment, it looked like mom was afraid I might want it. But I had news for her, I wanted to live on the reservation and I really didn't care about Charlie's house. I was relieved they had another purpose for it.

The house my grandmother had fixed up for me and my sweet husband was exactly perfect and it would take a major disaster to keep me away from my home on the reservation any time soon. I wasn't really listening as they went over house plans. I thought about going to Charlie's house and a flash of my earlier nightmare came back. He was gone. The house would be so empty without him. I wasn't sure if I could handle it.

I heard Alice murmur, "We should go over to the house and start going through things."

I took a deep breath and said, "Alright," at the exact moment as my mother and in the same tone. Alice shook her head and we all laughed lightly. We went to the other room to interrupt the game and let the guys know we were heading out.

Alice was immediately in takeover and organize mode. I was glad for it. I was so worried about entering Charlie's house I could only concentrate on that. My hands shook as we made our way to the front door. Mom grabbed the key from under the eve and opened the door. My dream flashed through my mind but Charlie's house didn't feel like the dream at all. The dust had not even settled. It looked like he could walk out of the kitchen at any moment and greet us. I reminded myself he would not be joining us again.

Mom and I started going through things. I picked up some of Grandpa's fishing gear. I went through it, picking out my favorites and some of his to take home with me. I put the gear by the front door and helped Mom go through some other stuff. We had gotten a good start on the house, when I heard the unmistakable hum of Jake's Mustang.

I ran out front to great him with a kiss. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stay here much longer. I needed a break from the gloom. I worked at keeping my thoughts in check. Dad was with him and Dad was always listening. I put my hand on Jake's cheek and let him know that I wanted to be on our way. I showed him the fishing equipment and he knew I would be right back with it.

Jake and Dad had moved away from the car after Jake had opened the trunk for me. They were discussing the car. I bent over to arrange the fishing stuff in the trunk so it would make it back to the reservation in good shape. I was just about done, when I heard Dad growl, a loud whack and then another.

I turned to see Jake and Dad gone. I could smell that they were in the woods. Mom and Alice streaked passed and I could hear Jake. He was in pain. My legs led me faster than my mind could put it all together. Without thinking, I was at Jake's side uselessly trying to help him; I couldn't understand what had happened. Then, in a moment of intuition I knew exactly what had happened. I looked at my Dad and fed him a piece of my mind. I, briefly, wondered if Mom was shielding him. I could tell from the look on his face she was not. Alice spoke and Dad spoke but I heard no one, only the agony of my loving husband and the rage I felt toward my father could fill my ears at this moment. Tears stung my eyes and burned trails down my face as I tried to comfort my husband.

Two cold hands and a soft voice broke the haze of rage. Carlisle had put both hands on my shoulders and nearly whispered, "It's OK Ness. Let me help him."

I sat off to the side with my arms wrapped around my knees. Carlisle's well practiced hands examined my husband. Alice spoke to the doctor but I didn't hear through my pulse pounding in my ears. I could hear Carlisle, "Four broken ribs and your jaw is broken in two places. I need to set it."

Pain enveloped my body. Tears flooded. I knew what was coming next. I couldn't watch, hearing Jake's pain was hard enough. I clutched my knees harder, gritted my teeth and tried not to listen while Carlisle set the bones. Jake cried out then, the forest was quiet again. Carlisle held Jake's jaw in place while it healed. I knew he would heal quickly; the pain in my chest did not heal as quickly.

Jake was his normal self before I could move, making jokes as he got up from the ground but I was stuck to the spot where I was. The tears had dried but, I was angry in ways I had never fathomed. It was debilitating.

Before, I could realize what was happening I was in Jake's arms and he was placing me in the Mustang. I stared unseeing as the trees flew past us. The car stopped; Jake carried me into our home and sat on the bed with me. He held me without speaking. I could feel the anger had lessened. It was like I was a large bucket with a very small hole. The anger trickled out so slowly that I could not feel it as it happened but if I looked back and hour or even ten minutes I could see the difference.

I listened to his breathing and felt his arms around me. I stared at nothing for what felt like hours. The room darkened as the sun went down. Eventually, I fell asleep in his arms and woke in the same position; the sun was just beginning to rise. My dear husband had held me all night while the anger trickled ever so slowly from my heart and mind. The knowledge almost made me smile. A warm feeling began to fill the emptiness the anger had left behind. I felt hope, hope that I could forgive my father, hope that I could return to the happiness I once knew.

I felt Jake's warm breath and then his lips as he kissed my temple. "Are you going to be all right?" his voice was low and rough with sleep.

"Maybe," I whispered back. "I just can't believe he did that to you. It was so wrong." The anger flared a little but did not grow, I noticed with relief.

"I wasn't watching my thoughts. I forgot. It's O.K. No permanent damage," he shrugged with a smile.

He continued to hold me while I tried to see Jake's perspective. It was still wrong. It sun had risen higher in the morning sky when I heard a car pull up outside. I listened to the footsteps walk up to our door and a knock.

"I'll go see who it is." Jake whispered to me. He kissed the side of my head and squeezed me gently before laying me the rest of the way onto the bed. I listened to his footsteps leave the room. I blinked my eyes. Maybe I could move again, maybe.

I wiggled my fingers and toes. Then I pushed my arms and legs so I could stretch. Moving on my own seemed to widen the hole in the anger bucket. I breathed a sigh of relief, enjoying the release of the stretch and the dwindling of my enmity.

I heard Jake talking to Rosalie at the front door. They were funny, the blonde and dog jokes never ceased. Then next thing I knew, Rosalie was next to me. "Hey, I need your help," she said. I really doubted that, but Rose knew just how to get me to do what she wanted. Before I knew it, I was showered, dressed, fed and on my way out the door. Rose and I talked as we drove to Port Angeles. She was one of the few people who could really get me to open up and by the time we had picked up the noisy U haul truck I was venting. Rose understood. She had watched my dad over react to her husband's thoughts many times.

We sat on the back of the truck talking for a long time. When we were done, the anger was all but gone and I even thought I would be OK talking to my mother again. I thought it would be a year before I could even look at her again. We worked together with Alice and Rosalie to finish filling the U haul. I worried as they drove away. Did I really want to talk to my mom alone?

We ended up sitting on the front porch for a moment and we had a quiet conversation. I was stunned – Mom and Dad were leaving, and soon. I couldn't help but feel a little responsible – even though Mom assured me I wasn't. Tears fell again. I would miss my parents dearly. Mom held me while I sobbed. I cried that my parents were leaving; I cried for my stupid anger fit, I cried for my husband. And then it all clicked. We would get a year to think freely – it would be very nice- the best wedding present my parents could give us.

Mom dried the remaining tears on my face and we agreed to finish up the house, the only thing left was Charlie's room. I had never been in Grandpa's room; this would be a new adventure for me.

Mom and I worked together. It was nice to work side by side; it dissolved all of the hard feelings. I started laundry – I had no idea grandpa was such a slob. We moved furniture. Mom found a police envelope in one of the dresser drawers and put it aside. I looked at it for a moment. It had a hint of a very familiar smell but it was so light I couldn't place it. I thought about it as we cleared the rest of the room.

All that was left, in the whole house, was his closet. Nervously, Mom opened the door and looked inside. The smell was there too. It was strong enough now. I knew exactly what it was, I smiled to myself wondering. Mom quickly closed the door and called Dad. I giggled as her phone snapped shut. She gave me "the look."

I couldn't believe she didn't recognize the smell. I continued to laugh- it felt so good, and held a hand up to her face to let her know it was the smell of Ephraim Black. We had a bunch of old stuff that smelled like that. I handed her the envelope and she smelled it there too. It was very faint, even for vampire senses. She opened the envelope to find a large number of old handwritten papers all written in old Quileute.

I borrowed her phone and called Jake.

Mom had a perplexed expression, "So, why did Charlie have old Quileute papers and what's in that closet?"

I smiled and raised an eyebrow. We giggled like school girls for a moment and dove into the closet to find the source of the smell, while we waited for our husbands to arrive.

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