Bella
Edward called Alice as soon as we were in the car. He talked quickly to her but his voice was louder than usual. I could hear a strange commotion on the other end of the line. I tuned out their conversation and stared out at the trees whipping past us. It's such a nice day, perfect for riding my bike. Edward snapped the phone shut and took my hand. I looked at him expectantly.
"Alice saw them coming and called Carlisle. She didn't see any trouble. Everything will go smoothly as far as she knows." I nodded, I didn't expect trouble. I was excited to talk to the Wells, they could really help Renesmee.
"Where was Alice?" I asked remembering the noise. Edward shrugged.
"She didn't say. Jasper is with her." He shrugged again. We were at the house but I was too excited to go in. I looked longingly at my bike. It was overcast but still clear. "Go ride Bells, I'll go help them cook dinner and fill them in." I smiled at him. I leaned over and kissed him and then quickly opened the door. It was different riding alone, it was more exhilarating and it was nice to get away from everything sometimes. I was out of the garage with my Harley before Edward was able to get out of the car.
I took roads that were less travelled. I was going so fast my sharp eyes could barely pick up the landscape around me. It smelled clean, like rain, and I found myself wishing to be caught in a thunderstorm. Every time I rode I got fuzzy flashbacks of me and Jake riding down the cliffs on our bikes. A drop of rain fell on my hand and I smiled. Perfect, it would come. I heard the thunder in the distance. Too bad we won't have time to play baseball during the storm. There was an incline ahead and I sped up. I took the incline and raised myself up to do a back flip with my bike. I landed perfectly and kept going at the same speed.
My phone buzzed in my pocket but I didn't answer. I drove quickly towards the storm. Edward hated when I chased lightening but it was a favorite game of mine. It was pouring now I could feel the electricity in the air. A beautiful streak of lightening came up from the ground a few feet away. I wish I had my camera. It was things like this that made me happy I was immortal.
The storm moved out too quickly. I looked at the time on my phone and cursed. It was later than I thought. The Wells would be arriving in half an hour. I turned back and sped toward home. I went a little slower this time, savoring the trees that crowded around me. A few blocks from home I noticed something in the trees to the right of the road. It was large and it was keeping pace with me and it smelled. I smiled in disbelief and slammed on my breaks.
The shaggy russet wolf came right over and licked my face.
"Ugh, Jacob, gross!" I wiped the saliva from my face with my arm. He mouth opened and his tongue lolled out. He was smiling. Jake went back into the woods, probably to change. I could still see him clearly so I turned away. He reemerged in human form with pants on. I jumped off my bike to hug my best friend. I missed him. "What are you doing here? I thought you two were coming next week." He shrugged.
"Ness and I missed you guys, Bells." I looked at him, still not sure if Ness knew she was pregnant. I stared intently at his face and he groaned like he was in pain. That was not what I was expecting.
"What's wrong?" I asked alarmed.
"Don't look at me like that Bells. I know it's dangerous for her. Believe me I'd pick her over the child any time." He was leaning against a tree, massaging his temples with his thumb and middle finger.
"Jake, it's fine. Didn't you stop in the house and talk to Carlisle, didn't Edward tell you?" He looked confused.
"I didn't really talk to anyone actually. I had to find you first, Edward said you went riding." He shrugged, "How's the bike?"
"It's good. I have a lot to tell you Jake, hop on?" He looked at the bike warily but hopped on anyway.
"I don't have a helmet so don't crash, okay?" He laughed then knowing it would hardly matter. I went a back way while I explained, giving us more time. I could feel Jake's body tense and relax behind me with each new revelation. By the time we pulled into the garage he seemed to be much more relaxed and at ease.
"So, these people can help us. They know what it's like for a hybrid to carry a child. Wouldn't it be cool if our daughter turned out to be a werewolf too?" I didn't see the cool in this so I kept quiet and let him have his moment. I was so excited to see my daughter I ran into the house leaving Jake behind. I almost wrenched the door off the hinges in my haste.
She was sitting on the couch next to Edward, the two most beautiful people in the world. Esme and Carlisle were setting the previously unused dining room table. Rose, Emmett, Jasper and Alice were also settled around the couch in various positions. Alice looked at my destroyed clothes with pursed lips and disapproving expression. Renesmee jumped up and ran over to me.
"Momma!" She gave me a hug and I didn't want to let her go. I could feel the tears from her eyes drip onto my arm. "Momma, dad told me about the hybrid." She whispered into my arm a little breathless. I let her go realizing she probably couldn't breathe. "I can't wait to meet them, Jacob was so scared. He wouldn't admit it but I could tell." She was still whispering, so quietly I could barely hear her, a habit picked up by living with people who had super hearing. It dawned on me that the others didn't know she was pregnant, that's why they were all waiting in the sitting room. Jacob burst into the room then and Ness ran over to him and grabbed his hand.
"Did mom tell you?" She asked barely containing her enthusiasm. Carlisle and Esme came in and sat down as well. Emmett and Rosalie looked annoyed that they still didn't know what was going on. Jacob nodded, not as enthusiastically but with a warm smile. She pulled him into room with the others. Rosalie's nose flared at the smell and I gave her a look before she said anything. She pouted. Renesmee was oblivious, or maybe she just pretended to be.
"Okay everyone, Jake and I have an announcement." Everyone looked at her expectantly, even Alice and Jasper who already knew. "I'm going to have a baby!" Her face glowed. Her happiness was infectious and the reaction was instantaneous. Rosalie squealed in delight. Emmett laughed and clapped Jacob hard on the back, he barely winced. Esme embraced both Jake and Renesmee and told them how happy she was for them. Carlisle did the same and then told Ness he wanted to do an examination. She was pleased. I couldn't help but wonder how different the reactions would have been if we didn't know about the hybrids. I shared this thought with Edward and he confirmed my suspicions by nodding gravely.
"Are you happy momma? Are you ready to be a grandmother?" Crap. I forgot about that, grandmothers are old. She laughed at my expression. Edward came to my side and wrapped his arms around me.
"The most beautiful grandmother I've ever seen." He murmured in my ear. Renesmee shocked me by turning to Edward and saying, "Of course dad. You will both be the most beautiful grandparents in existence. Besides, Carlisle and Esme will be great grandparents." She turned back to Jake then and kissed him and then allowed Rosalie to touch her belly. Just a few months ago she would have pretended she hadn't heard Edward's comment or would have rolled her eyes. I considered my daughter again. She was more mature, more grounded, happier than I've ever seen her. She knew who she was. I thought about the absurdity of Esme and Carlisle being great grandparents and laughed. Renesmee turned towards me and laughed too.
"They're coming!" Alice trilled suddenly. She danced to the door. "Positions please! Jacob, Bella please go change quickly!" Alice handed Jake a long pair of pants and button up shirt that she had made for him.
"Alice did you know they were coming early?" I asked my sister in law.
"I told Aunt Alice that if she told anyone I'd burn all her clothes." Renesmee answered me smugly. Alice scowled playfully and then handed me a deep blue sweater and jeans that I knew were supposed to be on my bed right now. I didn't ask for an explanation, I could hear the car pulling onto the long dirt road to our house. I changed quickly and was beside Edward at the door in a moment. Alice had positioned Ness on the couch with herself and Jasper, Carlisle and Esme stood a little further back from the door, and Emmett and Rose were upstairs. They would join us later. Jacob was to sit beside Ness when he was done changing.
The car was parked in front of the house and Jacob came down the stairs complaining about the smell. He sat beside Ness with a smile though and we all waited for the hybrids to close the last few steps to the door.
The doorbell rang.
I waited a few seconds before opening the door. It had to seem natural. I smiled broadly at the tense figures of Anne and Timothy Wells. "Hello," Edward greeted them, "please come in. Let me take your coats." They nodded, walked in and handed over their coats but stopped at the threshold. Carlisle came forward then and introduced himself. They looked ready to bolt.
"Hello, it's so nice to meet you. Please come in, I'm Carlisle and this is my family. Bella and Edward you know." He gestured to the sitting room and they followed him in though they looked a little reluctant to leave the door. "This is Alice and Jasper. My other two, Emmett and Rosalie, will join us in a little bit." Edward nudged me forward. I could feel Jasper calming the atmosphere and was grateful. I looked at Jasper and he looked back though he looked slightly confused. Edward's eyebrow lifted slightly as well. I ignored them for now, my soul focus the small woman on my left.
"This is mine and Edward's daughter, Renesmee." They smiled warmly at her and she smiled back. They were comfortable with her and needed no explanation. "This is her husband Jacob. He is a shape shifter." They nodded gravely.
"It seems, like Lacey, the Wells feel oddly protective of you." Edward whispered in my ear at the same time Anne spoke.
"We did not know you were here with the Cullen's but we are very pleased that you are." She nodded at Jacob who had stopped smiling and nodded gravely back. He recognized the weight of this meeting just as we did. Renesmee stood then and walked swiftly over to Anne. She took her hand quickly and Anne gasped but didn't let go. Renesmee was showing her something. Timothy was rigid, not knowing what was going on but Jasper's calming waves were persistent and he relaxed.
"Oh my." Anne whispered and Ness released her. Edward looked a little disapproving at Renesmee and she shrugged. She was never one to beat around the bush. "Oh child, I am so pleased that you will enjoy this happiness. We will certainly answer any question you may have. I have a feeling this will not be our last meeting." Again, the weight of the words was incredible and Alice nodded at the statement. This would not be the last time. Ness looked at Timothy and took his hand as well. He was too relaxed to react to the flow of visions but he caught his breath when it was over and he nodded, understanding his wife's statement.
"Yes we will help, but we need your help first." Timothy said.
"We will help in any way possible. Are you hungry?" Esme gestured to the food waiting in the kitchen. They looked surprised knowing we didn't eat but they shook their heads.
"I don't mean to be rude but we really don't have time. Lacey is missing, she ran off and hasn't come back. We're afraid that she has shifted and doesn't realize it and she can't shift back." Anne began to cry, "We don't want her to hurt herself."
Jacob was on his feet in a second. "Wait Jacob!" Edward called just before Jake ran out to phase. "I don't mean to frighten you," he spoke to the Wells, "but Alice and I have further…abilities." They nodded and admitted they were informed of this. Probably by Garrett I thought. "We can all help, we will find her but please tell the others what her shape is."
"We woke one morning to find an American cheetah in our backyard. I went out ready to pounce, I thought those were extinct, and then right before my eyes, the cat turned into Lacey. She was sleepwalking. She transformed three times after that, each time outdoors and always she was sleeping. She doesn't know what she is." Jacob looked at Timothy Wells with a slightly disgusted look on his face.
"How could you not tell her? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? She could have killed you, other innocent people or even herself!" They just nodded at Jake's outrage.
"It doesn't matter now. We have to find Lacey." Carlisle was all business. Emmett and Rose came down the stairs and the Wells stared at them in surprise. Anne flinched away as Emmett passed her. They heard everything. "Ness, stay here with Esme, Alice and the Wells. Alice, call us immediately if you see anything. Jasper go with Rosalie south, Bella and Emmett go north. Edward and I will go with Jake. Don't worry, we will find her and help her." He said the last part to the frightened Wells. I wondered why they didn't tell us she was gone right when they got here. Maybe they weren't sure they could trust us.
"We want to help." Anne said softly, knowing there was nothing else they could possibly do. Maybe they had already been looking. Why didn't they think of coming to us earlier? Esme came up and took her hand and talked to her in a soothing tone as Jasper's waves were gone with him
"It will be easier for the others to find her. It is still raining outside, they can go faster and see better. Besides we can answer some of your questions while we wait." Esme led the Wells to the couch and I saw Ness make a visible effort to pull herself together. She was feeling the horror of a lost child in danger, just as much as I was.
"Ready to go Bella?" I nodded and followed Emmett out into the dark, cold woods.