Chapter 12: Journey
~Edward~
With our trip to Forks quickly approaching, Bella and I started packing a few weeks before we were to leave. We were mindful of our daughter careful not to do to much to fast in front of her. In the past four months since Renesmee's birth, we had learned that too much excitement and emotion was an overload to her senses. Jasper had observed this first hand telling us that she would get confused followed by overwhelmed when several things were going on at once. Her senses were very alert for her age, so we kept things calm for her as much as we could. During the warm summer days, we took her on walks in the woods while she road in the harness either Bella or I would wear, and she was slowly beginning to adjust to the outside world around her. We also took her on long drives, and I played a CD of soothing songs that she liked.
This trip was going to be a major step for her, and we were hoping that since we were leaving at night she would sleep most of the way. The day of the trip was upon us, and as Bella continued to sleep, I carried our daughter to her room. "Did you have a good night's sleep?" I asked her as she sucked on her index and middle finger while I got out something my wife referred to as a onesie. It was nothing more than a T shirt that snapped together between Renesmee's legs, but the material was soft and her being comfortable mattered more than dressing her up, something Alice liked to do when Renesmee would put up with that. After I got a pair of long cotton pants that went with the onesie, and a diaper, I carried her over to the rocking chair and sat down draping her clothes over the arm rest before laying her down on my lap.
Renesmee had her head turned to the left and continued sucking her fingers as I unsnapped her sleeper. I freed one arm from the sleeper, but her other arm and fingers were in use. I slid the sleeve down her arm and gently popped her fingers free from her mouth, something she didn't like as she began to cry. "Shh, you're alright," I whispered lifting her to my shoulder and easing the sleeper the rest of the way off of her. Once she had her fingers back in her mouth she was content and I got up going into her closet to see if I could find an outfit she could wear that wouldn't require getting her upset.
I found a jumper that would do the trick and sat back down getting her legs in the pants part before working the rest of it up her small body. It did have a shirt that went with it, but we could put that on her when she was in a better mood. Once she was more or less dressed we went downstairs and I put her in her bouncy seat. She looked around briefly at me before one of the clocks went off.
After getting her bottle heated I took her into the den and sat in the recliner. She pulled her fingers out of her mouth and reached for the bottle helping me hold it with her hands and her feet as she pulled those up while resting cradled in my arms. My mother would be here later on to take her to their house freeing up my time and Bella's to pack, though right now I wasn't focused on that as I smiled down at my daughter.
Renesmee watched me, reaching her hand up to touch her small fingers to my lips. As I kissed them, she smiled again before focusing on draining the contents of her bottle. When she was done, I put the bottle down and let her stand up on my lap. Since she was happy, I decided to get the shirt that went with her jumper and put that on her. Once she was fully dressed I looked at her, "Should we go wake Momma?"
Renesmee's brief smile was all I needed and I carried her down the hall to my room.
The TV was on and Bella was awake but still in bed, "Someone misses you," I said carrying our daughter to Bella's side of the bed. My wife sat up and reached for her just as Renesmee leaned away from my arms.
"How long have you two been up," Bella asked as she leaned back against her pillows letting our daughter have the second part of her breakfast.
"An hour and a half."
Renesmee was reaching for Bella's mouth and for a moment my wife focused on our baby as they smiled at one another.
While Bella took care of our daughter I got dressed and went downstairs fixing a quick breakfast for Bella as well as preparing a few bottles of blood and Bella's milk for Esme to have at her house. She and Carlisle had already gotten their packing done and wanting to avoid upsetting our daughter, we were letting them keep her until we were ready to leave tonight. That plan would work because Renesmee stayed with them for a few hours a day so Bella and I could have time alone.
I finished making breakfast and put it on a tray taking it up to my wife who was still feeding our daughter. Renesmee was on her way back to sleep and while Bella fed her and ate, I sat with them.
"When is Esme going to get here?" Bella asked as she swallowed her last bite of toast.
I looked at my watch, "In half an hour, do you want me to take her?"
Bella looked down at our sleeping daughter, before she nodded her response. While settling Renesmee against my shoulder and she took in a deep breath and let it out, but didn't wake up.
As Bella left the bed to get a shower, I carried her food and our daughter downstairs, putting the tray on the counter before going to the front door having heard the Mercedes pull up. It was a warm breezy day and the wind ruffled through Renesmee's bronze curls. Esme came inside with me and I led her to the kitchen showing her where the diaper bag was. While Esme got the bottles packed inside the bag, I swayed my daughter gently from side to side.
Once Esme had all they would need I walked out to the car opening the back door before leaning in and carefully putting Renesmee in the infant seat. She had her fingers back in her mouth and remained asleep as I got her buckled in. "Be good," I told her kissing her forehead taking in a deep breath of her sweet baby scent.
I watched them go before turning to go back inside and finish getting ready.
By evening we had everything we needed. Charlie phoned and told us not to worry about bringing the portable crib, but wouldn't give any more detail. He was more or less living with Sue Clearwater on the Reservation, and we would have his house to our selves at night. My wife was making one last sweep through the house, even though I knew we had everything. I'd learned to let Bella do what she needed to do when we were getting ready to go out, finding it easier to let her figure things out than to argue.
"So you were right," she said as I reached out and snagged her before she could pass by me. Before she could think my lips were on hers and I grasped her bottom with my left hand pulling her against my very hard arousal. It had been four weeks since we had been able to resume this kind of activity and Carlisle had found a form of contraception that worked well and didn't hurt our daughter who still nursed as well as took the supplemental bottles of blood. I moved us against one of the walls in the kitchen aware that we had twenty minutes before we needed to leave. As I pushed the skirt Bella had on up her thighs, my wife was fumbling with my belt and then the button of my dress pants. While we continued to kiss. I moved her skirt up past her waist and rubbed my hands down her thighs sliding them under her panties before cupping them at her bottom lifting her up as she freed me from the confines of my pants and underpants. Bella panted as I pushed her panties down rubbing myself at her entrance, I grazed my teeth down her neck as I penetrated her, moving into her softness.
Her hands were instantly in my hair tugging me back to her mouth, but I had other ideas as I nipped her lobe while pushing myself fully inside of her. I felt her tighten around me and eased out of her just a little before pushing back inside.
"We need to..." Bella panted.
I trailed my lips down to the base of her throat as she dug her fingers into my back, "Need to what?" I asked before nipping at her neck carefully, breathing in her scent before I moved my lips further down her neck nuzzling her blouse with my nose.
"Have to," she tried again but we were both too aroused for words. Bella wrapped her legs around my hips and matched my thrusting movements as I pressed my lips back against hers cupping her bottom and pulling her to me while I pushed inside of her. She screamed into my neck at her climax and it didn't take much more for me to follow.
Her body was shaking and she was sweating as I settled her back on her feet holding on to her until she was able to stand on her own. We shared a kiss before she went upstairs to get another shower, and I knew we would be a little late but didn't think she minded.
As we pulled up to Carlisle and Esme's, we found Emmett sitting on their porch swing playing peek-a-boo with Renesmee who was on his lap facing him. My brother was the only one who had ever gotten a laugh out of her. Bella and I listened for a couple of seconds as she laughed at his antics before heading inside to see what we needed to do before going to the airport.
"We have everything ready," Esme was saying to my wife as she pulled on a light weight jacket.
We were going in two separate cars and once my parents were ready we followed them outside. Emmett was getting Renesmee in her seat in our car nibbling at her fingers which she was trying to push further into his mouth. "Emmett why don't you sit in the back with her, she's in a good mood right now and I want to try and keep it that way," I told him as Bella got in on the other side. Rosalie was driving and I got in on the passenger side. Ahead of us Carlisle and Esme got in the back of their Mercedes while Alice and Jasper got in the front.
I listened to Emmett as he played peek a boo with Renesmee again. She laughed at him for a while longer before I heard the sucking sounds she made as she put her fingers in her mouth.
By the time we arrived in Boston, she was asleep, and didn't notice as Emmett lifted her seat out of the car. "Thanks for sitting with her," I said giving Emmett a slap on the shoulder before taking the handle of her carrier.
"Take care," he said as Rose leaned in and gave Renesmee a kiss. Alice followed suit before I gave my sister a kiss. I held my daughter's carrier in my left hand and got the largest suitcase we had packed with the other as we followed Carlisle and Esme into the terminal. Even at this time of night it was packed but we were able to bypass most of it and went to private check in. An alarm went off close by and the sound startled our daughter awake. I had her in my arms as she began to cry and I put the soft blanket over her that Bella handed to me. After we made it through the check point and were heading down to our plane, I felt Renesmee's steady breath against my neck, but kept her in my arms as Bella carried the empty infant seat.
Our plane was ready for us and once we were inside I moved toward the back, sitting down in the seat facing Carlisle while Bella sat next to me letting the attendant take care of the car seat. Bella eased the blanket back and we found our baby awake with her fingers in her mouth, a habit she had picked up over the past few weeks.
Renesmee was very attentive as she looked around the plane. When she found Bella, she leaned to the left and my wife reached out and took her. Our plane began to move and the sound of the engine could barely be heard through the hull, which was something Carlisle had made sure of when he was looking for private jets. Bella leaned against me as Renesmee stood on her lap reaching her hand toward my chin. We took off without our daughter having any problems with the pressure change because she was sucking on her fingers. When our baby reached for me I let her stand on my lap holding her steady as she continued to look around. When Renesmee grew tired of standing she sat down on my lap and played with the buttons on my shirt with her free hand.
"I wonder if she'll sleep," Bella said leaning her head against my left arm.
"I'm sure she will," I answered as our baby rocked forward trying to pull a button into her mouth.
In order to distract our daughter from the buttons of my shirt, my wife pulled a small baby doll out of the diaper bag. The doll was made out of the same terrycloth material that some of Renesmee's hooded towels used, and our daughter loved her. Once she had her baby, I cradled Renesmee in my arm turning her so she could look at Bella if she wanted.
"Charlie won't recognize her," Bella said, as our baby rubbed the doll over her face before she began to suck on the dolls foot.
"She has changed a lot since he was last with us," I agreed. Renesmee was still in the lower percentile of babies her age when it came to her weight and height, but Carlisle said she would eventually catch up.
One of the stewardess asked if we wanted something to eat, and Bella ordered a ham sandwich and a Sprite. The rest of us declined with good reason.
At the same time Bella's food arrived, our daughter got tired of her baby and began to fuss a little. Since it was good weather for the duration of our trip I got up and carried her to the front end of the plane, gently bouncing her in my arms as I began to pace. My little girl sighed as she pressed her cheek to my shoulder and it didn't take me long to get her to go to sleep. By then Bella had eaten and was reclined in her seat ready to get a few hours of sleep for herself.
"Wake me up if you need me," she reminded as I kissed her.
Carlisle was on the phone with another doctor speaking french as he moved to the front end of the plane. I sat next to Esme and she turned her laptop so I could see the plans she had for our old house in Forks. "Do you really think it will sell faster if you put the original walls back in place?" I asked rubbing my hand over my daughter's back.
"I think all the space when you first walk in is what is keeping people from buying it. I don't know Edward, I always thought it needed that space, but maybe that's just me," she said as she shut it down. Esme smiled at me and I turned putting Renesmee in her arms before joining Bella for some rest, just playing the part.
~Bella~
My daughter's loud cries woke me and for a second I forgot where we were. I sat up rubbing my eyes finding Edward in the seat across from me snapping her sleeper, or trying to while Renesmee attempted to roll off of his lap.
When I sat next to them Renesmee actually screamed before he lifted her against his chest. "What happened?"
"She's just tired, and didn't want to get a clean diaper on," he said as she began to settle down glancing at me as he rocked her. I'd stopped asking myself if the things she did were normal. She was special and what ever happened was going to happen. As her gaze fell on me gain Renesmee lifted her head and I reached for her.
I cradled her in my arms and after getting her to nurse, I pulled a blanket around her. "How long do we have?"
"Another hour and a half."
That was going to be a long time. I was still tired, and I know my baby was too. I was glad we had a whole day without anything going on other than visiting with my dad.
At some point I fell asleep with my baby still in my arms. When I woke up the next time we were already on the ground. Renesmee was in her seat sound asleep wearing the new sweater we had gotten her over the blue floral sleeper she had on.
Edward helped me with my jacket and after putting my gloves on I took his free hand. Seattle's airport was smaller and not as noisy as Boston had been. Renesmee didn't notice anything as we made our way to baggage claim. While I sat with her the rest of my family waited for our luggage.
"Bella?" I heard a familiar voice asking.
I looked around and saw Angela coming toward me.
I stood up and hugged her before she noticed the seat and the baby inside. "OH my gosh, she's yours? Why didn't you tell me?" Angela asked. From the tone of her voice I could tell she was happy for us and in no way upset.
"It's really complicated. I had a hard pregnancy with her and it's been pretty hectic."
"I'll bet so, she's so beautiful."
Edward and his parents arrived and Angela remembered them.
They waited for me to say goodbye and when I asked Angela not to say anything about our baby she didn't question why, just agreed to do what we needed.
As she went back to her family, another voice caught our attention and Charlie came over to us giving me a hug.
"Dad, you didn't have to come all this way," I said.
"I know but I couldn't wait."
He knelt down and looked at the baby before he reached out and took the seat ready to be Grandpa Charlie.
Charlie had use of Sue's SUV and Renesmee and I road with him while Edward drove our rental car ahead of Charlie and me.
"How was the trip?"
"Long. She's way off her normal sleep schedule. I'm hoping she'll just stay asleep until morning."
"How is she handing the trip so far."
"Really good. We only had one problem with a security gate in Boston but other than that she's been good," I told him. After that I shut my eyes and drifted in and out of sleep waking any time I heard my baby moving.
When we got to Charlie's, Edward came out of the house and I was grateful for his heavy foot hoping he had everything ready for us to lay the baby down.
Eager to help, Charlie tried taking Renesmee out of the seat which woke her. She was having a fit before my dad could get her into my arms. Inside, I took my baby up to my old room and found my bed replaced with a crib. It wasn't as fancy as the one we had at home but it was new and fresh sheets were already in place.
"Shh, Grandpa didn't mean to wake you up," I told her as I walked over to the old rocking chair from my own infancy.
Rocking her and trying to get her to nurse didn't help to calm her down, and as Renesmee looked around the room she became more upset. This was a strange place and she seemed perfectly aware of that. Edward came in as I was starting to worry and after wrapping her in a blanket he carried her outside in back of the house. My father was in the kitchen and apologized again for being to excited.
"It's okay, Dad, she's just really tired, and too keyed up right now."
"Well I should head back to Sue's. Jacob said to call him if you wanted in the morning."
We hugged and after he left I walked outside glad that our daughter was calm once more. It was damp and cold outside and this time when we took her to my old room she was calm, and very tired.
"Do you want to try laying her down in the crib?" Edward whispered as our daughter started to go to sleep in my arms.
"I'm not sure it will be worth it in the end. I think I just want to lay down with her in Charlie's bed and see if we can both get a little more sleep."
Edward helped me do that and rested beside us. It felt strange being in my dad's old room and even stranger yet that he was living with Sue. I'd have to ask Jake how all that was going.
When I woke up, it was gloomy but daylight none the less. I was the only one in the room and after using the bathroom and brushing my teeth I went downstairs hearing my dad's voice, but wasn't sure what he was saying.
In the family room he was sitting on a huge quilt supporting Renesmee as she stood in front of him.
"Good morning," he greeted.
"Hey, Dad; hello, baby," I said going over to the floor to sit down. Renesmee reached for me and I lifted her against my shoulder glad to see that she was happy. "Where is Edward?"
"He went with the rest of the family to hunt I guess."
Already Renesmee was leaning toward Charlie and once he had her she wiggled until he put her back on her feet. "She's really strong," he pointed out.
"Yes she is. She tried rolling off of Edward's lap while he was trying to change her diaper last night."
When she was tired of standing I reached out and turned her on her stomach, "Watch," I whispered putting her baby doll in front of her.
Renesmee lifted onto her hands rocking forward before she got up on her knees. She kept rocking then settled back on her tummy and wiggled her way to what she wanted.
"Wow," was all her grandpa could say.
"We think she'll be crawling in another month, maybe sooner."
"Which is why I can't say anything."
"Yes," I replied.
While Renesmee was happy to be with her Grandpa I made breakfast and called down at Billy's. Jacob answered asking how the flight went and said he would like to see me, but I told him I wanted to discuss it with Edward first. He sounded down after that but I'd learned to deal with that part of life too. I loved Jacob as my friend but my husband and my daughter had to come first.
After I put Renesmee down for her first nap of the day in the new crib Charlie had set up, I got a call from Edward telling me that he was on his way home. I told him about Jake's call and he agreed that he could visit. Before I could call Jacob, Angela called the house and we talked for a little bit about the Wedding.
"I feel like I have thousands of butterflies in my stomach." Angela said.
"Just focus on Ben. That's what I did when I was going down the Isle at my wedding. I just kept my eye on Edward."
She had to go and I wished her luck, grabbing another piece of bacon as I dialed Jake's. Billy answered and got Jake on the phone. "You can come by if you want," I said after he told me about the new modifications he was making on the rabbit.
He said he would be by later and once I hung up I checked on my baby finding her asleep clutching her doll while sucking her fingers.
Edward made it back a few minutes after I'd started watching a movie, and joined me on the sofa. "I talked to Angela again. She's feeling the same thing I felt the day we got married."
He had his arm draped over me as I nestled against his left side, "What did you feel that day?"
"Really worried that I would fall over or trip. When I found you waiting for me everything else kind of disappeared."
As we gazed into one each others we heard Renesmee cry, and at the same time the door bell rang. Knowing it was Jake, or likely him I let Edward go get our baby.
Jacob was waiting and he gave me a brief hug before I let him in. I remembered his bear hugs and was glad he was being adult about this.
"So how are things on the rez? How are Harry's kids with Charlie around?"
"Leah moved out actually, and Seth likes going fishing with him when Billy can't."
We both looked over as Edward came in with Renesmee. She looked at Jacob before pressing her face into her father's neck.
"She looks pretty normal to me," he said once she was playing on the floor.
It felt odd having him with us and when he left I almost felt relieved. We had grown apart and that's as it should be.
"Do you want to do anything today?"
"No," I answered just satisfied to be here with my husband and baby.
~*~
After a good night sleep and a big breakfast, I left my daughter with her Grandpa Charlie and Daddy while I went in to my old room and got ready for the wedding. It was a gloomy day which meant Edward could come with me. Alice phoned saying it was safe for that and Charlie was keeping our baby for us.
When I was finally ready, Edward took his turn using the room and I left before we got ourselves in trouble. Renesmee was laying under the new baby gym Charlie had gotten and was watching a ladybug as it lit up and played music each time she touched it.
"Hey, Bells, do you mind if I take her to First Beach?"
"I think leaving her here while were gone is better for her. I don't want you to have to deal with what we went through our first night," I answered, but also was weary of people like Leah who might hurt my daughter. I doubted she would but wasn't about to take that chance.
When we were ready, we kissed our baby good-bye, both glad that she was more interested in her toy than she was us.
The church was filling up fast when we arrived and Edward humored me by making sure he had the cell on vibrate in case Charlie ran in to any problems. My father also had Esme's cell number and she said she would stop by and check on them for us since this was going to be a long affair.
We sat toward the back for the same reason we had the phone on vibrate and saw Jessica and Mike a few rows down. She waved at us but the wedding was about to start and I counted my blessings.
~Charlie~
Not long after my daughter and son-in-law left, Renesmee started getting fussy. Bella told me she wouldn't need to go down for a nap until three, and that was almost three hours away. I carried her over the hobby horse I'd gotten for her and held her as I rocked him. She settled down for a little bit and started back up so I took her to the kitchen and got out a bottle of milk putting it in the bottle warmer before I took her over to the window. "Do you see all the trees?"
It didn't take long for her bottle to warm, but she pushed it out with her tongue so I tried the other kind of bottle and got the same result. I remembered with Bella how it had been trial and error, so my next step was to try and check her diaper.
She had stopped fussing while we walked upstairs and I found what I needed on my old bed. "Your mommy is one smart lady," I said as I laid my granddaughter on the bed. She had her fingers in her mouth, but began to cry again and struggle. My phone rang and I laid her in the middle of the bed and ran down to grab it. "Swan residence,"
The caller hung up and I slammed the phone down and started up the steps hearing a loud thump followed by really loud cries. My bed was empty and I ran to the other side finding my granddaughter on the floor red faced and angry. All of the things I learned when I took those CPR medical classes flew out of my head and I didn't know if I should move her or not. Finally I did as she screamed and cried. "I'm so sorry, baby," I told her grabbing the phone as it began to ring again.
"Esme, thank God. I left her on the bed not knowing she could roll off of it."
She told me not to take her to the hospital, that she and Carlisle were on their way.
I started to pace remembering what Bella told me about Renesmee being able to pick up on emotions. "Shh." I sat in my recliner after getting her baby and started rocking her, but she kept crying.
"Charlie?" Esme called out as they came inside.
She came over and knelt by my chair rubbing her hand over Renesmee's while Carlisle got a few things out of his medical bag.
"Just lay her down on your lap, Charlie," he said calmly.
I did and Renesmee's cries escalated. Something was hurting her.
"I know baby," Esme crooned as her husband began to run his hands over Renesmee's body asking me how I had found her laying on the floor.
"On her left side."
He felt the left side of her head and moved down that side as my granddaughter kept up her angry tirade. When he felt her left arm she screamed.
"We need to take her to the hospital."
I nodded, ready to let Esme take her but Renesmee cried harder when she tried so I got a blanket for her and headed out the door not caring to lock it.
We didn't put her in her seat and I held her as Carlisle drove us down the road. Esme was on her phone and I wasn't sure how I would face Bella.
The ride seemed to be working to calm Renesmee down and I really hoped there was nothing wrong. "Grandpa's real sorry for being such a stupid man," I told her as she gazed up at me.
When we pulled around to the emergency entrance, Esme opened my door and I got out putting the blanket over Renesmee so she would stay warm.
"I called Edward, they are on their way. Charlie, this isn't your fault," she tried but I knew better. You never leave a baby alone for even a second and I had.
We didn't have to wait long to be admitted to a room in the ER. Carlisle left to get things set up for my granddaughter's first xray, her first one at just four months old.
"Dad?" Bella and Edward came in and I let my daughter take the baby ready to leave, but Bella reached out and took my hand. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Charlie," Bella said softly as Renesmee shut her eyes.
"I shouldn't have assumed she was safe."
"I should have warned you about that. Look we're here now so let's go on and get through this. Finding blame won't help her or any one else."
Seeing my daughter being so responsible gave me strength.
Carlisle came back and I waited with Esme while Bella and Edward took her to have her arm x-rayed.
"Sit down, Charlie," Esme said and I did what she told me knowing that I couldn't stress myself or my heart.
We didn't have to wait long and I found that I was glad my granddaughter was part vampire. Her bones were all fine, but there was a bruise forming on the side of her head and on her left side.
Back at the house Bella took Renesmee upstairs to feed her and put her down for a nap. They were going to the wedding reception trusting me with their daughter when I still felt like an ass for this whole ordeal.
Edward brought me a tray of food and sat by me on the sofa. He didn't say anything to me and I wasn't so sure he wasn't blaming me for this. "I'm really sorry."
"I know. She's not like other babies, Charlie." he said and I let him remind me not one bit annoyed. If I have to I'll pad all the walls to keep her safe.
"You don't have to go that far," he told me grinning, and I had forgotten that he could read thoughts.
Bella came back downstairs and I hugged her. "I'm real sorry, Bells."
"Just keep your eyes on her all the time." My daughter answered.
"I promise."
~Edward~
Leaving Charlie's for the second time was hard for Bella and me. I knew he hadn't meant to leave Renesmee on the bed by herself, and we should have done a better job of preparing him for how quick our baby could be when she rolled around. My wife and I were quiet as we arrived at the reception in Port Angeles. Everyone was just starting to arrive so we waited in the car. "What are you thinking?"
"How lucky we were that she didn't break anything and how glad I am that she is strong."
Bella took my hand and I turned her's over and brought them to my lips. Once the other guest started arriving we went inside and were one of the first to greet the bride and groom. I remembered how Emmett and I got Ben to ask Angela to the prom, and reminded myself to tell Bella later.
After we greeted the bride and groom, we found a table with just two seats left and Bella smiled gratefully at me. I knew how she felt about Jessica after everything that happened in high school and could already hear Jessica's thoughts, mostly about how she looked in her dress. It was a buffet style meal and I got food for Bella and a little for me. Newton's thoughts were on his future wife to be and about last night. I didn't let them intrude on me any further and kept my eyes on my own wife.
Much later found us on the dance floor and I had her back on my feet as we waltzed around the other dancers during a slow dance. We were both more at ease, and Bella was telling me that Renesmee was having fun playing on the exercise blanket. "Do you know how beautiful you are?"
"How beautiful am I?"
I kissed her once before the dance came to an end and the tempo changed to a fast paced song.
Angela came to our table and drug my wife back out to the floor and as I watched her dance Jessica and Mike found me. "Edward, it's great to see you," Jessica said clinging to her fiance.
"It's nice to see the two of you. Congratulations on your engagement."
They went to the dance floor and joined Angela and my wife. Bella glanced over at me an signaled me to join in but I just smiled at her until she came over and grabbed my hand, "I don't want to be alone with them," she whispered loudly.
I let her lead me back to the floor and got her away from the main dance group. We stayed for one more slow song before finding the bride and groom to say goodnight. Angela walked with us part of the way, "I'm really glad you could come. Take care of that beautiful baby," she said softly.
When we got to our car, Bella leaned back against the seat and shut her eyes. "I can't believe Mike and Jessica would get hammered at a Wedding Party. I'm so glad we moved."
I took my time driving us home enjoying the day I'd had with the exception of Renesmee's hospital visit. "Do you want to go anywhere before we go back to Charlie's?"
"I'd love to go to First Beach, but the treaty."
I pulled out my cell and gave it to her. "Ask Jacob, tell him we just want to take a walk on the beach."
Bella dialed his number and Jacob said it wouldn't be a problem. What impressed me was that he was being pretty mature about everything, though I hadn't read his mind when he visited today.
AS we pulled in the parking lot Jacob and Seth greeted us. "We won't bother you, but Sam wants to make sure no one else from the pack tries anything," Seth explained.
Bella and I walked down to the beach and I could hear the others thoughts. They were not happy we were here, but Sam was keeping them in check for us.
~Bella~
It was nearly midnight when we walked inside Charlie's house. My father was asleep on the recliner and Renesmee was settled against his chest asleep as well. I walked over to them and patted Charlie's arm.
He woke instantly, but remained calm as he realized that my baby was still in his arms.
"I'm sorry we were so late." I whispered.
"Don't be. She did fine. She wouldn't go to sleep up stairs so we came down here."
I nodded, "When was her last bottle?"
"Maybe nine?" He whispered as I brought my daughter into my arms without waking her up.
"Are you going back to Sue's place?"
"Maybe not. I think I'll just sleep here."
I kissed him goodnight and went with Edward upstairs for our last night in Forks realizing it would likely be a long time before we got to come back.
We were leaving on another evening flight which would put us in Boston early in the morning, and home at sunrise, but that was the safest way for us to go.
"Do you want to keep her with us?" Edward asked as we reached the top of the stairs.
"Let's try the crib," I answered wanting more time with the man I loved.
Since her diaper was dry and clean, and she was dead to the world, I decided to just let Renesmee sleep. After I laid her down in the crib Edward put a warm blanket over her. After she was settled he took my hand and we went across the hall to Charlie's old room. Again it felt strange sleeping in his bed and I was glad Edward didn't seem to want to rouse any desires in me, not here in my dad's house.
Once I was in his arms, sleep found me pretty fast.
It didn't seem like much later when I heard Renesmee's shrill cry and roused myself enough to feed her when Edward laid her down next to me. I tried not to think about the mountain of things we needed to do when we got home. We had already registered for our classes, and I was taking a full load. We were taking night courses but there was a lot to do, like getting all of our stuff. I knew Edward had done this a few times before but it made me nervous.
When my baby started to fuss I calmed myself down and relaxed further when Edward settled in bed behind me. "I was thinking about school," whispered feeling more awake than I wanted.
"You don't need to worry, we will get everything we need on time."
There was also the little fact that our first Wedding anniversary was five days from now but I shut those thoughts out of my mind focusing on keeping calm so Renesmee could go back to sleep.
~*~
While Edward and I got everything packed, Charlie had taken Renesmee outside to enjoy the sunny day. She had picked up on my melancholy mood and I was having a hard time not feeling sad about getting to come back. Hadn't I just thought of how much my home was with my husband and daughter?
When Alice called to tell us that our travel plans looked good to her, I asked her what I was getting Edward for our first anniversary hardly able to believe that it would be a year on Monday. "You are getting him that first Edition leather bound copy of King Arthur that you saw at that used book store in town," she said, and I was glad for her visions.
After talking to Alice I started to look forward to getting back home, maybe not so much the flying part but it would be nice to be back in my own bed.
It was right at seven when we arrived at the airport. Charlie had borrowed Sue's SUV again and Renesmee and I road with him. Since she was still awake I sat in the back with her, glad she was in a good mood. Charlie pulled in front of the terminal I needed to be at and all I had to worry about was Renesmee and her seat.
Dad helped me get the base out of his car and held hugged me close. "I'll try and get out there again for Thanksgiving. Esme invited me."
"Good."
Once Charlie had kissed Renesmee goodbye I headed inside hoping Edward would be there soon.
He arrived not long after I did and by that time Renesmee was pretty fussy, not happy with all the noise and commotion.
We got through security with more ease than we had in Boston, but unlike last time Renesmee was not calming down.
By the time we got on the plane I was ready to be back in Hanover. Renesmee hadn't stopped crying and nothing any of us tried was helping. Carlisle checked on the places she had bruises which only served to tick her off more thoroughly. When all else failed, I leaned my seat back moved on my side and tried getting her to nurse, most of the time that worked. The cabin lights dimmed and I felt a little relief as my baby continued to have a fit. "I know your tired," I told her amazed that I wasn't ready to cry with her. Edward draped a blanket over us and I waited it out. She finally settled down enough to be fed and I shut my eyes trying to figure out when I'd get away in the next few days to get that book which Alice already had on hold for me.
It was nice that the seats reclined back so far and I never thought I'd like flying, but this wasn't too bad.
At some point I fell asleep and woke up when we were back on the ground like I had when we got to Seattle.
Renesmee was still nestled beside me and I smiled as Edward walked over to us. "I'm so ready to get home."
"I think we all are," he said as he took our baby so I could sit the seat up.
My husband walked over to one of the other seats and got a diaper out of the bag, "If she's just wet leave it," I said not wanting to have to wake her up.
"She's not just wet," he answered as I put her down on his lap.
This time Renesmee stayed asleep for the most part. She opened her eyes a couple of times before he finished. As he finished, I got her seat and put it on the chair next to Edward.
Once Renesmee was strapped inside and I had her diaper bag and base we got of the plane and headed for Baggage claim.
The rest of our family was there waiting and Edward let Emmett take the seat with Renesmee still asleep inside.
"How was the old home place?" Emmett asked me as we headed out to the parking garage.
"Okay, not like being here."I told him.
He nodded and once we were all in the car, me on one side of the baby, and Emmett on the other with Rose and Edward in front I leaned my head against the side of the car door and shut my eyes.
"Bella, love, we're home now," I heard Edward telling me.
I felt like I was floating and heard him telling someone to put something down, but didn't feel the need to worry. I figured we were home and would deal with the rest later as I drifted back to sleep.
AN: I hope you all enjoyed this edition of the story. It was time for Renesmee to be a little older, though I'm not planning on having her grow up to fast. I'm also adding more and more lemons, because I see Edward and Bella being very into one another in that way. I also wanted to show some differences with her, like the fact that she likes to stand up and that she responds to her environment the way she does. Thanks again for all the great reviews and for adding me to your lists. More on the way.
~Ella~