With a wedding done and out of the way, Jacob and I had another major decision to make. Were we going to stay with my family, or go to live with his? Each had advantages, but the real disadvantage for me was having to be separated from those I'd lived with all my life. I would especially miss my mother and father. Although they insisted they'd be happy with any decision I made, I knew they wanted me to stay. The stress of this had taken a toll on Jacob and I during the two weeks since we married. He really wanted to get to La Push, as Emily and Sam were welcoming their new bouncing baby boy into the world. Sam had named Jacob as the godfather to the baby, and upon our arrival, a celebration was planned to honor Jacob in his new role. Because of the treaty, my family would not even be able to visit me in La Push. The pack had welcomed new members and with young warewolves especially, it was important to follow the rules. I was the exception by marriage and marriage only. Although most of the pack was friendly towards me, the new ones were a bit hesitant to even make my acquaintance.
"Quit thinking so much, you're giving me a headache" my father complained from the chair next to mine. I had forgotten he was there.
"Sorry father, there's just a lot to think on" I replied, the strain of my decision weighing in every word.
"I know, Ness. But whatever you choose, you'll always have a home here"
"You say it like I've already decided.."
"Haven't you?"
My father was right. All my thoughts were how to survive in a wolf's world. How to live in Jacobs world. I had been selfish long enough, I owed him this. I would miss my family more than anything in the world, but it was time to embrace my new family.
"I'll tell Jacob" I said. I walked gracefully up the stairs and into the bedroom Jacob and I shared. There were clothes scattered about the floor and Jacob was sleeping on the bed. I smiled, it was 4 in the afternoon. I would have to make a note to myself, as a vampire in the honeymoon state to remember Jacob gets tired quickly. Something I would never experience. If I could blush I would have, especially when I heard my father groan downstairs.
"Well, find someone else's thoughts to pry into!" I thought in retort.
I began to pick up the laundry from the floor and put it into a clothes hamper. I then quickly and quietly packed up our belongings into the suitcases we'd received as a wedding gift from Rosalie and Emmett. I think Rosalie was anxious to get Jacob out of the house, personally. Jacob didn't have much, I'd have to go shopping once we got back to Washington. Jacob slept until I was nearly finished.
"What are you doing?" he said, yawning.
"Packing. We're leaving soon" I replied without facing him, still folding clothes neatly to fit in the luggage.
"For what?"
"La Push. You should call Sam and tell him we're coming. We're going to need to stay with your dad too, ya know, until we find a house" I said, finally turning to see his expression.
"What? You mean… like, we're leaving here for good?"
"Well, yes….although I thought you'd be happier than you look"
"No, I am.. it's just.. I didn't expect you to be so …. Willing"
"Jacob, we're married. Marriage is about compromise. I've taken years from you and your family. I owe you this. Anyway, I've never been around a baby before.. so it will be interesting to see Sam and Emily's little one grow" I said honestly. The idea fascinated me.
"I love you…" he said, kissing every inch of my face before reaching my lips. It was nice, making out with my husband. The word still got caught on my tongue sometimes, although Jaocb had no problem calling me his wife. I loved him with every fiber of my being. I knew I had made the right choice, for the both of us.
We were set to leave in exactly a week. It would be early Sunday morning when we left, and we'd arrive to Washington three days later. We could only travel at night, so we had to be meticulous when making travel arrangements regarding arrival times and such. I was determined to spend time with everyone this week, individually and together, since I wasn't sure how long it would be before we arrived. Today was a day for Rosalie and I to spend some time together. She wanted to go hunting, as it'd been a few days since she'd gone, so that's what we did. We crouched in a patch of bushes, waiting for our prey.
"So, you're really leaving.." Rosalie said awkwardly.
"Yep. I'm really leaving. I bet you'll be glad to have Jacob gone.." I said, trying not to come off as bitter.
"To be honest, I think I'll miss the dog a little bit. Not that I'd ever tell that filth that"
I laughed. Rosalies honesty never quite came off as polite and gracious, but that's what we all loved about her.
"What? He's supposed to be my sworn enemy.. "
"I think I'm ready to hunt.. " I said, pouncing out from behind the bush I was in and snagging a moose a second later. We hunted quietly for the next few hours. By the time we made our way back to the house, I felt full and sloshy. Alice and my mother were sitting on the porch, deep in conversation. I walked quietly past them and into the house. Carlisle and Esme were cuddle up on the couch, and my father was sitting on the other couch, his mind far away from the room. He had turned back into the brooding vampire he'd been before he met my mother lately. I felt a pain of guilt rush through me as I looked at him. He noticed that, and turned at me and smiled reassuringly. I took a seat next to him and rested my head on his shoulder.
"You have nothing to be guilty for. I'm just a father coming to terms with the fact my daughter has grown up. It's a very human emotion. So I'm told.."
I touched the back of his hand to show him what I was thinking. I showed him my first memory, seeing him, and how happy I have been. I showed him every happy moment I've had with him, and then I showed him Jacob.
"I know, I know, there's room for both of us.." he said quietly. He kissed the side of my head, and I smiled. My father was a remarkable man, and I enjoyed our moments together like this.
Over the next week, I spent a day with everyone. Esme and I spent an afternoon walking through the woods, talking about anything we could think of. The following day, I spent with Jasper. He told me stories about his past, meeting Alice, and his struggle to maintain our vegetarian diet. The day after, Emmett and I went into town and hit the batting cages. After that, I challenged him to an arm wrestling match, which I of course, won. One of the advantages of being a newborn was the strength to beat Emmett at anything. Carlisle and I spent an entire day going through books and legends. He told me stories of how he came to be, and what to expect living with the pack regarding behaviors. He also taught me how to suture minor wounds in case someone was injured and needed minor urgent care. Alice took me shopping and to get our nails done. My final day I spent with my parents. My mother had been very quiet. I could tell she wasn't ready for this separation. Part of it was jealousy. Not of what I had with Jacob, but of being excluded from the pack. She used to be a welcome member of the La Push family, and now, she was exiled. Even she couldn't escape the treaty that kept our families apart. Although it seemed unnecessary to even have a treaty since the Cullens didn't live in Forks anymore, it had been Sam and Carlisle who agreed to keep it in tact. Despite the common ground between our families, it was best they remained as separated as possible. My father was overly talkative and took a million pictures of that last day together. He acted as if we'd never see one another again, which of course, was silly. I'd see them again sooner rather than later, at least I hoped so. They could still go to Forks to visit Charlie and I could meet them there. Things would work out. There was no way they couldn't.