Chapter Four: Well, That Was Unexpected
When I reached the house, I could hear Nessie's squeals of joy from inside. I let myself in, nose burning a little because of the three different covens of vampires assembled in the living room. Of course. I expected this but the smell still made my nose wrinkle in disgust. I was used to smelling Bella and Edward but I couldn't ignore the too sweet scent of all of them. Every one of the Cullens were there, not surprising. All five of the Denalies were there too. The Denalies were sort of like cousins to the Cullens because of their diets. The Cullens and Denalies are the only vampires, as far as we know, in the world that drinks animal blood instead of human blood. They joke and call themselves vegetarians. They stay away from normal vampire diets. It makes them able to be around humans, to be 'safe' vampires. The animal blood also gives their eyes a gold color instead of the traditional red.
The third coven in the room was definitely not vegetarians. I stared at the ruby eyes of the three females that made up the Amazonian clan. Nessie was hugging the biggest one, Zafrina, and it made me nervous to have her that close to such a wild looking vampire. I couldn't do anything about it. Those two had really bonded during the month we had nearly thirty vampires here waiting to make a stand against the Volturi. They thought that Nessie was a human child who had been turned into a vampire. It's against vampire law to create such a thing and they were coming to destroy her and all of the Cullens. They didn't know that Nessie was half human and half vampire and the Volturi were just dying to have an excuse to destroy the Cullens. They couldn't find a reason to destroy us so they left us alone and Nessie became very close friends with Zafrina. Just because she was a friend didn't ease my nervousness though.
Carlisle came over and shook my hand as the others greeted each other. When Nessie saw me standing at the edge of the room, she pulled me in to stand next to her at the center of the group. She kept my hand as she talked to the rest of her friends and family. I could feel her happiness at seeing them all; the huge grin was a dead giveaway. I sort of felt like I was intruding on her family time but she didn't drop my hand.
Then Edward gave me the way out, "Nessie, you wont mind if Jacob, Mom, and I leave you here for a minute, will you? We need to get settled in the cottage and retrieve your birthday present."
Nessie stuck out her lower lip but said, "If you must. Don't be too long, ok?" she squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek.
I grabbed the bags and followed Bella and Edward to their little cottage. No one spoke until we were all inside. Bella started moving toward hers and Edward's bedroom but he stopped her and pulled her to the couch in the living room. They sat down on it, Edward waiting and Bella looking confused. I took the armchair and angled it to face them, keeping the coffee table between us.
"Ok, Jacob. I know you have something you need to discuss with us. Let's be quick about it so we can be back before anyone notices how long we are taking. Get on with it." Edward said in a sharp voice. Bella looked from me to Edward in confusion, clearly not understanding what was going on.
"Alright, I was going to do this with a little more class but I've been forced into the direct approach. I want your permission to marry your daughter." I used a polite voice and kept eye contact with them. Bella looked mildly shocked and I could hear a low growl coming from Edward's chest. I knew he wasn't happy with the idea of me as his son-in-law.
Bella was now frozen in thought on the couch but Edward didn't hesitate. He was up and pacing fast with his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Edward's nostrils were flared in anger and it was obvious that his face would be bright red if that were possible.
"I knew this would happen! I knew that someday you would try to take my daughter away just like you tried to take her mother away from me. What else do you want that is mine? You married to my daughter!" Edward shouted, still pacing. He started speaking a language I had never heard before. I tried to figure out what he was saying; it sounded like he was cussing me out.
"I think it's great," Bella's voice came quietly but confidently. She had startled Edward and me both. I smiled at her. At his wife's words, Edward stopped dead. He turned on her very quickly. Not only was he furious at me, but at Bella now, too.
"What?!" Edward thundered at her. " You want him to take our little girl away from us? Are you that willing to give her up?" This surprised me. I had never heard Edward shout at Bella ever.
Bella got to her feet very gracefully and grabbed Edward's face in her hands. They stared into each other's eyes. Bella had a look of deep concentration on her face. She was clearly sharing her thoughts with him.
It was time for me to give the speech I spent all yesterday morning preparing to give.
"Bella, Edward, I don't want to take Nessie away from you. I love her so much and I know that it would kill her to be away from you for too long. I want to make her happy. I've been really good about waiting for her. I've waited twenty years for her. I'm thirty-six and still a bachelor and a virgin.. I've never wavered in my devotion to your daughter and I never will. I need her like I need to breathe. Please let me marry your daughter. No one will ever love her more than me, I promise you that." As I talked, Bella continued to smile warmly at me. Her expression was the exact opposite of her husband's, though. Edward was glaring angrily at me. He looked like he wanted to punch me. Before he could yell at me again, Bella spoke.
" Jacob, obviously Edward and I don't like the idea of our little girl growing up and getting married. I couldn't think of anyone good enough for our precious daughter-" Bella said before Edward interrupted.
"That's right. I hate that idea. There isn't anyone good enough because she is far too precious-" Edward said fiercely before Bella cut across him.
" Edward please." Bella said to him. She turned back to me after Edward folded his arms over his chest and pressed his lips into an angry line. "Jacob, if I were ever going to give my daughter to anyone else, ever trust anyone else to take care of her, it would be you. You were the one I chose when the Volturi threatened us and I still stand by that decision. My best friend is going to marry my daughter. You are the best guy I could imagine for my daughter, Jake."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing and neither could Edward. I thought I would have to argue this out with them before I heard that. Edward and I stood there, gawking at Bella.
"Jacob you have my blessing to marry Renesmee." Bella said, still beaming at me. I was really happy to hear that. I pulled her to my side of the coffee table and hugged her. She returned my hug.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Bella. I will take excellent care of her." I promised.
" I know you will." Bella said as she let go of me. We smiled at each other before looking at Edward. His posture was rigid and he was scowling. Bella gave him a meaningful look and placed her hands on the sides of Edward's face again. She was sharing her thoughts again and I couldn't help wondering what they were. Edward took her hands in his and nodded before looking at me. He had softened under her touch.
"Ok. Bella is right. Jacob you are not perfect but you are the one Renesmee wants. You are perfect for her. I guess she would kill me if I stood in between the two of you. I suppose you have my blessing." Edward said as he held out his hand to me. I took it and shook vigorously.
"Thanks. Now do what you two need to do so we can get back to the house." I said as I continued to beam at them. I decided that I was going to propose at the exact same moment I imprinted on Nessie. It was 8:35am now and I had imprinted at 3:08pm. I didn't even have the ring yet. I had left it with my sister, Rachel, along with most of my things when I left. I needed to go to La Push to get it. How was I going to get Nessie to let me go to La Push without her on her birthday?
Edward answered my thoughts. "That is a good question. You could tell her that you need to get something from your sister and to let them know that you are in the area. Technically, it wouldn't be lying to her." I thought about that for a second.
"That's not a bad idea. I should probably wait for a few hours, though. Nessie would have a fit if I told her I had to leave as soon as we got back to the house." I replied. He grinned.
"You got that right. She would be furious. Be careful how you tell her." Edward warned me.
I hadn't noticed Bella had left the room until she came back. She was holding a large, white envelope. I guessed that it was Nessie's birthday present.
"Come on, boys. Let's get back to the party before they send someone to look for us." She joked. We left the cottage and headed back to the big house.