I woke up to the bright sunshine coming through my window. There was a note on my pillow addressed to me. I opened it. It was from Jacob.
Nessie, I had to leave before your parents came back and killed me. Ha ha, just kidding. Sort of. But I did have to go back and help keep watch.
I'll be back soon. I love you, Jacob.
A huge smile spread across my face. This love had come so fast, but it felt so natural, as if I had felt this way all along.
Suddenly, Momma opened my door. I stashed the note before the door was completely open. Momma looked at me as if she was about to speak, but stopped. She sniffed the air suspiciously, and then looked at me. Oh, crap, I thought, she must be able to smell his scent.
"Did we have a visitor last night, Renesmee?" she asked sternly.
Before I was able to answer, Daddy came in behind her, his face somewhat shocked. He obviously saw in my mind what I failed to hide from him.
I wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or defiant. Sure, I was blushing up a storm because I was caught, but what did I do wrong? The entire family had spontaneous make-out sessions all the time, why couldn't I?
Daddy sighed, "Nessie, now really isn't the time to be acting like this."
I was defiant now. "Like what?"
"All of his focus now needs to be on protecting his pack. He doesn't have time for any distractions."
When Daddy's words sunk in, I suddenly felt horribly guilty. I was distracting him? I didn't mean to keep him from protecting us. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. I guess I wasn't thinking at all. What if I distracted him while the vampires attacked? I hung my head. I shouldn't be so selfish.
Then Daddy did something I didn't expect. He sat beside me and gave me a hug.
"My little girl," he whispered softly, "I'm sorry. You aren't to blame. I'm the one who's being selfish."
I looked at him, confused.
"It's just painful, thinking that soon you'll be with him, and I've only had you for a few short years. Soon, he'll be the one that will make you happy, not me. Though he is the only one I could ever trust with you, and I know he'll give you the world, he's taking my princess away. I wish I could keep my little princess with me forever, but I can't. It makes me so sad."
Momma's face softened as she considered this. It made me feel a little sad too. In a way, I also wished that they could hold onto me forever. I held out my arms for Momma. She came and joined us on the bed so she could hug me. But then she made a face.
"Ugh," she whined, "You smell."
Daddy and I burst out laughing, but she just pouted and stomped out of the room.
"C'mon," Daddy said, "get dressed so we can to go back to the house and discuss a couple of things." I was dressed and out of the house within two minutes.
"What kinds of things do we need to discuss, Daddy?" I asked him when we ran out the door.
"Well, for one, we need to figure out what we're going to do with you should we be attacked."
I sighed. Of course no one was going to let me fight. I'll just sit around moping… and waiting. That was certainly not something I was looking forward to. I ran to the big house with a pout on my face. Daddy chuckled.
"You look like your mother when you're annoyed," he said. Despite myself, I smiled a little.
Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper and Alice were waiting in the living room when we arrived. I didn't see Carlisle or Esme anywhere. Before I could ask where they were, Emmett gave me a quizzical look.
"Nessie, why do you smell like dog sh*t?"
My face turned red. Momma shot him an evil look.
"Aw," Jasper jumped in, "why so embarrassed, Nessie? What did you do?"
"Jasper, stop that!" Daddy scolded. But that wasn't going to stop Emmett from whipping out his phone. He hit a number and had the phone to his ear in a fraction of a second.
"Hey, Smelly, quick question. Did you make out with Nessie last night?"
Jacob made a short response, to which Emmett burst out in guffaws.
"HA! You did, didn't you! Ok, go back to your business. Bye, Smelly." He turned to me. "Baby Nessie is really a big girl, now! She's having smooching sessions!" he picked me up and spun me around.
"Emmett, put me down!" I yelled. He obeyed, but wouldn't stop laughing. Jasper was laughing too. Rosalie and Alice, however, looked too surprised to say anything.
"Stop acting like a doofus," Momma snapped. "We have things we need to discuss."
"Ah, yes. We need to make sure Nessie doesn't try to run away with Smelly while we're fighting." He chortled. Momma rolled her eyes.
"Please be serious," Daddy pleaded. With some effort, Emmett stopped laughing.
"Nessie," Daddy asked me, "do you think you would be able to wait at home by yourself?"
I bit my lip. "Honestly, I don't think so."
"Well," Daddy sighed, "who should stay with you? I would suggest Jasper, but we'll need him with us."
"Maybe I should stay with her," Momma suggested. My spirit lifted a little. Momma would be a big comfort to me while I waited.
"Are you sure?" Daddy asked, though he looked a little relieved. "Maybe I could stay with her."
"Edward," Momma said, "you've been cheated out of the last two fights, you don't have to go for three."
I looked at Momma questioningly. "Two fights?"
"Well," Daddy explained, "there was the last one…" I nodded. I remembered that one.
"And then there was one we fought while your mother was still human."
"Why didn't you fight in that one, Daddy?" Momma looked embarrassed.
Daddy smiled, "Like mother, like daughter. Let's just leave it at that." The other four chuckled at Momma, whose face was in a full scowl.
"Fine, fine, I'll stay with her. Next item of business!" Momma snapped through incessant snickers.
"Right," Daddy said, trying to wipe away his smile, "Nessie, do you want to do something else while we practice fighting outside, or can you watch?"
I raised my eyebrow at him. "Daddy, seriously, I can watch."
"Just wondering," he defended himself. "Alright, let's go."
After practicing for a couple of hours, Jasper got a call from Carlisle saying it was his and Alice's turn to keep watch. Ah, so that's where they were; at La Push.
Other than that minor change, my entire family was busy fighting until well into the afternoon. Watching started to become dull nearly to the point of pain. Plus, everyone was preoccupied with being anxious and anticipating the worst for the upcoming battle. If boredom didn't kill me, the tension certainly would. The only person who wasn't totally subdued was Emmett. He took a break from fighting and came to sit next to me.
"Geez, Nessie, I haven't seen such a bored face since Seth tried watching an Austen film."
I giggled. "I can only watch this type of thing for so long."
"Is that a girl thing, or is it just because you aren't participating?"
"Both."
"Sorry, Nessie. I would let you practice with us, but your parents would murder me." Then Emmett chuckled. "I wonder what they'll do to Smelly if he comes over today. I bet your mom will give him a bruise or two."
My brow puckered. "Why? Because of last-"
"Exactly." He smiled, "twenty bucks?"
I smiled and shook his hand, "You're on."
Emmett chuckled darkly. He probably would have continued doing so for several minutes if his phone didn't buzz.
"Ah, crap, that'll be Jasper. I gotta go." He gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Bye, beautiful."
I sighed. The only person that was in a good mood was leaving.
In a weird way, Emmett reminded me a little of Jacob. For one thing, they were both huge and gave big bear hugs (although Emmett's was much colder). Even their deep voices were similar. But the main similarity was in their bright personalities. Their huge grins and dorky jokes always made my day.
I wished Jacob would come and cheer me up. I felt so empty without him. But he probably couldn't. Blah. I got up to get something to eat from the kitchen, even though I wasn't hungry enough for dinner yet. I came back outside and sat down with an apple, resolved to spend the rest of the day with nothing to think about except a fight I hoped would never come. I had only sat down for a few minutes, however, when Jasper and Alice came back. Alice went straight over to Momma and Daddy, but Jasper came to sit next to me. There was a sly smile on his face.
"Smelly was certainly cheerful today," he said.
"That's nice," I said, failing to come up with a more clever answer.
"I thought you'd like to know he's coming over soon," he smiled.
"Oh," I replied simply, although he must have felt the happiness and relief burst out of me like an explosion. He walked away laughing at my deep red blush. I sat embarrassed for a while until I could hear Jacob coming. I got up to run to him, but then stopped, afraid of the stares and snickers that may follow. Jacob came in the field slowly, as if he was thinking the same thing. Before either of us did anything, however, Momma stalked up to Jacob, a scowl on her face. Jacob's face was torn between worry and amusement. Momma stopped in front of him, muttering something unintelligible under her breath. Then she threw a couple of random punches at his shoulder and chest, and then stomped inside. (I hoped Emmett didn't find out about this). Jacob watched the bruises on his arm fade away, and then smiled at me.
"Well, I guess that wasn't so bad."
Even though I mad at Momma for hitting him, I smiled. Even thought I should have been worried about Jacob fighting soon and didn't want him to lose his focus, I jumped into his arms. I had time to be scared later. For now, I just wanted to savor the joy that flowed through me. I looked around at the faces of my other family members looking at me, wondering what their reactions would be if I kissed Jacob in front of them. I briefly put my lips on his, and then turned back to them. Daddy stiffened a little, Carlisle smiled, Esme glowed, Jasper's eyebrow raised, and Alice's jaw dropped. The result overall was rather entertaining.
After a couple of hours, I was able to let Jacob go back to La Push. I didn't want him getting too distracted with me. I wanted him to be well prepared. So, with a little sadness, I hugged and (because I decided it was my new favorite activity) kissed him goodbye.
Daddy got a call from Emmett not long after, telling him it was his and Momma's turn to help keep watch. Daddy turned to me after he hung up.
"Nessie, can you take yourself home?"
I bit my lip. It wasn't a question of whether or not I was able to take myself home, but rather if I could. I couldn't explain why, but if I went home by myself, I'd probably have a nervous breakdown and wouldn't get a wink of sleep. I needed my family to be with me to calm me down.
"Jasper, maybe you should go with her," Daddy suggested. That made me feel a little better. He would certainly help me get to sleep, if anything. Jasper smiled and nodded. Momma and Daddy came over to hug me before they left.
"We'll be home early in the morning, ok?" Momma said. I nodded, feeling a little better.
"We love you," they said together. I suddenly felt a little too choked up to answer out loud.
"I'll take you now," Jasper said, holding his hand out to me. Reluctantly, I let go of my parents and took it. Immediately, I felt much more peaceful than I had felt all day. The four of us ran out the door, Jasper and I turning left, and Momma and Daddy going straight. I barely saw home in the distance, however, when I saw a big dark figure speeding toward us.
"You owe me twenty bucks!" Emmett's booming voice shouted at me. Crap. I ran in the house and into my room to get it. When I turned to leave my room, he was already there.
"Pay up, little lady," he grinned, hovering over me. I slapped the bill into his hand, pouting.
"Pleasure doing business with you," he laughed.
"Brother," Jasper said, patting Emmett's large shoulder, "let's give Nessie a, uh, half-human minute, shall we?" they chuckled at my pouting lower lip and left.
Once Jasper left the room, however, worry started to creep back in again. I tried to hurry so he could come back and settle me down, but naturally that slowed me down. When I was finally done, he came in to sit on the edge of my bed. I climbed in and snuggled in the sheets. He ever so gently stroked my cheek.
"Still worried?" he asked softly.
"Mm-mmm," I replied. Geez, he was making me tired already. He laughed quietly.
"Just sleep, beautiful girl," he whispered, his voice a soft lull. "Just sleep." His cool fingers stroking my cheek was so soothing. A calm that only Jasper could bring washed over me, and I drifted off to sleep.