I'm only starting Chapter 6 now, and I have a lot of other stories, so updates might be a little...shakey. Enjoy!
I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS
Chapter 3
The first to arrive was Emily, who was riding on Sam's back. She jumped down, grinning at me, the scarred half of her face still frozen in a grimace. "Hey, Bella! Sorry I'm late. My ride didn't get there on time." Sam disappeared into the garage and came back a few minutes later in human form, clothed in a plain t-shirt and sweat pants.
He immediately pulled Emily into his arms and gave her quick peck on the lips before turning to face me. "Need help with the drinks?"
"Always." I said, grinning. Alice and Emmett followed me, Emily, and Sam to a shed beside the house, which I opened with a flourish. I smiled at Alice's reaction. This was the food shed, which no one was allowed to touch but me and people I gave permission to.
Right inside the double doors, the walls were lined with tons of snacks and soda. "I think we'll need about eight." Even though I was a vampire, I didn't grow more than two hands. I threw them over my shoulders to Emmett, Alice, and Sam, but handed them to Emily.
"Jeez, these people sure eat a lot." Muttered Emmett, grinning. I smiled back.
"Today is Friday. All the Pack comes for dinner at my place on Friday, then we go to the beach. It's kind of a tradition." I shrugged and led them back to the house, arriving at the same time Jacob pulled in outside.
Renesmee must have been really excited, because she was in the kitchen within seconds. "What's for dinner?" She asked, strolling into the kitchen, pretending to be calm, but her eyes were lit with curiosity and excitement as she took in all the Cullens.
"The usual." I answered, smiling at her. She grinned and pulled me into a hug as Jake came in, glaring openly at Edward, but smiling a bit at the rest of the Cullens. I wondered why.
"So, we have company." She strolled up to Carlisle first, grinning at him. She held out her hand. "I'm Renesmee, but you can call me Ren or Nessie, whichever you prefer."
Carlisle took her hand and shook it for a moment, watching her curiously. He noticed Ren's high temperature, but didn't seem to be surprised. "I'm Carlisle and this is my wife Esmé." At this Ren lost her composure and threw her arms around Esmé in a bear hug.
"I've heard about you! Mom absolutely adores you." She turned to Alice while I shook my head back and forth in mock embarrassment. "And Alice, the shop-o-holic!" She immediately threw her arms around her and whirled her around, making Sam and Emily laugh a bit. Alice was grinning from ear to ear, thrilled with her new friend.
"Jasper!" Ren moved on to hug Jasper as well, much to his surprise. "Emmett!" She cried, releasing Jasper and hurling into Emmett's arms, practically tackling him. "Mom's told me a lot about you. I have a feeling we're gonna get along." Emmett laughed, hugging her back, obviously liking his niece.
"And Rose!" She grinned widely at Rose, offering a hug as well. To our surprise, Rose accepted, hugging her with enthusiasm. Then she turned to Edward. She was a bit cautious, but still marched right up to him and looked him in the eye. "You're Edward, aren't you." Edward smiled, seeming to like Renesmee. "Yes." He replied.
She grinned hugely at him and pulled him into a hug. He seemed shocked for a minute, but returned it almost immediately. I began to feel a bit hopeful that he would like Renesmee. She was so endearing though.
She pulled back and looked at him for a minute, then deliberately reached for his face. I quickly said "Ren, you should ask permission. Manners."
She turned to me, annoyed, but sighed and turned back to Edward. "Can I show you something?" He looked a bit confused, but nodded. She pressed her hot hand to his face and he stiffened immediately. Jasper grabbed his arm, ready to pull him away, but Ren was already done.
Edward shook his head as if trying to clear it, then looked at Renesmee. "What was that?"
She smiled. "My power. I'm kind of like your opposite. Instead of reading minds and memories, I can transmit my own through my hand. It's a lot faster than describing something, no?" She turned to walk back over to the table, her eyes sparkling when she saw all the food. "When do we eat?"
"Yeah." Seemed to be the only thing Edward could say. He was staring at Renesmee. The silence that followed was interrupted by Embry, who came in through the garage door, saying "Hey, Bella."
Renesmee squealed and threw herself at him, making him laugh as she hugged him. "Careful, Nessie. You're gonna brake me."
After that, the atmosphere diffused more and more as different members of the Pack came in and greeted me and Nessie. She would always be Nessie to them, they had watched her grow up.
All of the Pack seemed fine with the Cullens being there, but they all seemed to give Edward a meaningful look, which confused me. They knew he could read minds, I had told them that, but I wondered what they were saying.
I was too distracted to notice anything else, as I was trying to keep the Pack from attacking the food before everybody got there. Finally, Quil walked in and we could start. I quickly pulled the Cullens away from the table, giving them a little grin. All the wolves and Nessie crowded around the table, plates at the ready, but didn't touch anything.
I put the serving spoons in each pot, then stood back. "On your mark." The crouched a bit, hands hovering above the spoons. "Get set." They all tensed, big goofy grins plastering their faces. "Go." Instantly they were upon the food, grabbing the handles of spoons and throwing a big glob on their plate.
I went to stand beside Emmett as he watched the show with a mixture of humor and disgust on his face. He didn't like human food, but could appreciate the spectacle.
"Sis, you have one huge family." Said Emmett, grinning. I looked up at him in surprise; he had called me sis. He smiled at my expression. "It may reek of dog here, but your still my little sis."
I smiled at him and hugged him round the waist. Alice saw and immediately latched onto my waist, grinning. I hugged her and Emmett, happy that I at least saw them again. I didn't think Rose would stay and Emmett would follow Rose. Jasper I was a little shaky on, but he usually followed Alice and she seemed like she was adamant on staying.
I looked at Carlisle and Esmé, who hand their arms around each other in a half hug, watching the Pack. Carlisle looked interested and was smiling slightly, and I could see that Esmé already thought of my wolf pack as family.
I looked at Edward last, wondering what his reaction was to his daughter. He was watching Renesmee, his face unreadable, but his eyes swam with something I hadn't seen before. Sensing my gaze, his eyes turned to me.
I smiled a bit, quickly turning back to the table. Even though I loved Edward with all my heart, I couldn't forgive him for leaving that easily. He still hadn't spoken to me directly.
It took more than an hour for them to quiet down enough to start fighting over the scraps. Renesmee always backed out of this part, preferring to watch with me. She walked up to me and hooked an arm around my waist as I hooked mine over her shoulders.
"Hey, Mom. Wanna get ready?" I smiled and nodded, motioning for Carlisle and the rest of the vampires to follow me. We walked through the living room and up the stairs, me and Renesmee pulled apart and walked separate ways. The Cullens followed me.
"Do you guys want to swim, or watch?" I asked over my shoulder. "I have tons of extra swim stuff."
"I'll swim." Said Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice. "I'd just like to watch if you don't mind." Was Carlisle and Esmé's answers. I listened for Edward's but he didn't answer.
I shrugged and headed into the spare bedroom, darting into the closet. I came out with a hug box f swimwear. "The wolves haven't touched these yet, so they shouldn't stink." I said, grinning and dumping it out on the bed. It was filled with everything from swim trunks to one-piece swimsuits to bikinis.
They sorted through it quickly, Alice found a cute one piece and Rose found a bikini while the boy found swim trunks. I turned and opened the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out my own bathing suite. I had taken to wearing bikinis, simply because they were easy. I usually wore a t-shirt over it.
"The bathroom is down the hall, third to the left. Don't mind the mess." I grinned; Renesmee always left her stuff out.
"Thanks, Bella!" said Alice, giving me a quick hug before darting out with Rose. I walked back into the closet and came out with all the blankets for tonight.
The remaining Cullens looked confused. I laughed. "They're for after swimming. It gets a bit chilly for the humans, namely Emily. Plus everyone likes to sleep on the beach. We light a bonfire and roast marshmallows."
They smiled at this. Esmé came forward and offered help. I grinned, handing her a stack and going back for another. Alice and Rose reappeared and the boys disappeared, switching out. I marched down the stairs with a basket of swim trunks, throwing it at Jake, who was waiting in the living room.
"Did you soak the pots and pans?" I asked, grinning at him. He grinned back and nodded. I continued with the stack of blankets tucked under my arm, walking out to the huge jeep and throwing them in the back. Esmé copied me.
I returned to the house to find the rest of them waiting with the Cullens. They all looked at me for instruction. "I have to change, so I'll meet you there in a few minutes. I'll run, so you can take the Jeep and set up."
The wolves nodded, whooping and running around like they hadn't just ate a whole buffet. I turned to the Cullens. "You won't all fit in one Jeep and Rose will complain about the smell, so," I threw them a key chain. "You can take the other Jeep."
I looked at Edward, who hadn't said much at all. "Edward, you never answered me. Do you want to swim?"
He smiled a bit and said and a confident "Yes." I nodded.
"Me and Edward will catch up to you in a few minutes." Jake frowned and looked at me, then Edward, but didn't say anything. Renesmee came down, dressed in a bikini with a towel-robe thing over it and her hair in a pony tail. "Renesmee, do you want to ride with the Cullens?" I asked her.
"Yay!" She said, grinning and running to spring lightly onto Emmett's shoulders like she was four. She didn't weigh much to a vampire, so Emmett didn't mind and Rose was just smiling at Renesmee.
Within seconds, me and Edward were alone.