Commence typical griping about class and other things keeping me from writing and updating... BUT I have one month left of school! Hopefully then I'll be able to update more frequently, as opposed to now when I have a project in practically every class... :( Thanks for sticking with me though! Hope you like this chapter, and let me know what you think!
Chapter 7: Hide n' Seek
Upon leaving the nursery, Renesmee's nose was filled with a wonderful smell. One that comforted her, but made her throat tingle a bit at the same time. She recognized her grandfather's scent immediately. Charlie was the only male in the house who smelled purely human. All the other guys, including Billy, had a sort of musky smell mixed with their human scent. That quality was what smelled so awful to her family, but as Renesmee was around it more and more, it started just to smell like a cologne they all used. She had made herself learn to deal with Charlie's smell too. While it had been tempting at first, she loved him too much to even think about letting her vampire instincts take over. Instead, she had learned to associate the Chief's scent with the pleasant memories she had of him. That's why now, her heart's longing to see him was greater than the burn in her throat, which was hardly there at all.
Stepping out into the backyard, she saw the Chief working over the grill, while Billy sat near by, the two of them arguing over the way Charlie was cooking the hamburgers. Kiowa, who was five, chased Anna, who was two, around, completely oblivious to the world around them.
"Hey you two," Renesmee called as she skipped up to her grandfather, and soon to be father-in-law.
"There's the girl I've been waiting to see," Charlie grinned, leaning over to wrap an arm around his granddaughter's shoulders, giving her a squeeze.
Renesmee smiled back at him and kissed his cheek, glad she had finally broke down most of her grandfather's wall. She knew that she was much more apt to show her emotions than her mother was, but she had a feeling Charlie didn't mind so much. Turning to Billy, she kissed his cheek as well.
"You're just in time, Nessie," he chuckled, pulling her down onto his lap the same way he had done ever since she was a little girl. Even though he was getting ready to be her father-in-law, Renesmee had always kind of felt like Billy was her grandfather, as well as Carlisle and Charlie, of course. Jacob had been so relieved when his father and the girl he wanted to spend eternity with had bonded so quickly. "Your grandfather has no idea what he's doing," Billy continued with a grin.
"Like you could do better?" Charlie scoffed.
"At least you'd be able to tell the coals from the burgers," Billy said, winking at Renesmee.
"They're fine, Old Man," her grandfather said with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you have a son to go and annoy somewhere?"
Billy laughed, and Renesmee could not help but smile. Billy Black had a rich, throaty laugh that rumbled deep within his chest. It sounded exactly like Jacob's. "They actually smell really good, Chief," Renesmee encouraged. "I didn't know you could cook?"
"Not as well as you or your mother can, but I can work a grill. Weather permitting," he said, eyeing the clouds that loomed overhead.
"I'm surprised you two aren't inside watching the game," she said.
"Someone had to get these things going," Charlie shrugged. "And who would you rather have cooking for you? Me or those idiots in there?"
"Is there a third choice?" Billy laughed again. He was having way too much fun with this. Charlie ignored him.
Renesmee laughed at the two of them. "So where's your bride-to-be, Chief?"
"She'll be here soon. Had to run a few last minute errands," he said, and Renesmee swore she saw him blush.
"Not much of a bachelor party with all these girls here," she teased.
Charlie shrugged. "I'm too old for that stuff. I'll leave that to this kid," he said, nodding to Jacob who had just come out of the house.
"Smells good Charlie," he called as he approached them.
"Thanks," Charlie acknowledged with a small triumphant smile on his face.
"Doesn't count," Billy informed him. "The kid's a walking garbage disposal. He'll eat anything."
Jacob shrugged and looked down at Renesmee and his father. "How can I argue with that if it's true?" he chuckled. Then, he pulled out a ten dollar bill from his jean's pocket. "Quil has just generously donated $10 to our wedding fund!"
"Aw," Renesmee sighed sarcastically. "That was so sweet of him."
"Uncle Jake!" Kiowa and Anna squealed, running up to Jacob and wrapping their arms around his legs.
"Hey, it's the munchkins!" he laughed, picking up Anna and tossing her into the air. The little girl erupted in a fit of giggles.
"Uncle Jake, let's play hide and seek!" Kiowa begged, as Jacob put Anna back on the ground.
"Alright, but go easy on me this time," Jacob said, pointing a finger at them. "Last time you two hid so well I had to get Nessie to help me find you."
Kiowa grinned and grabbed his sister's hand. "Ok, we'll hide somewhere real easy."
Renesmee tried not to laugh out loud as she watched Jacob close his eyes and count to ten. He walked around for a few minutes, pretending he didn't hear their angelic laughter coming from behind a tree. Eventually he let himself find them, and Kiowa said, "Now you have to hide Uncle Jacob!"
"Alright," he smiled, "but no peeking."
Kiowa just shut his eyes and began to count, skipping the occasional number and repeating others. Then, he and Anna ran to find their uncle. After a few minutes of searching, Renesmee could see they were getting bored. She hopped off Billy's lap and went over to them. "Havin' trouble guys?"
"We can't find Uncle Jake," Kiowa pouted.
"I'll tell you what," she said, getting down on her knees so she could look them in the eyes. "I think it's almost time for dinner. So if you two will go wash up, I'll find Uncle Jacob and bring him inside, ok?"
"Ok," the little boy smiled, he and his sister running back into the house, just behind Charlie and Billy who were heading in with the burgers. When the door shut, Renesmee began to walk around to the side of the house where she knew Jacob was hiding.
Sneaking up behind her fiancé, who was crouching on the ground, she leaned down and whispered, "Ready or not, here I come."
Jacob chuckled and turned to face her. "I didn't know you were playing."
"You're too good at hiding," she explained. "Kiowa and Anna got bored and I told them I would come and find you."
"Excellent," he grinned, sitting against the side of the house and pulling her closer to him. She smiled sitting on his lap and straddling his waist so she could face him.
"Was this your plan all along, Jacob Black?" she giggled.
"Maybe," he smiled.
Renesmee placed her hands on either side of his face she crushed her lips against his as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "We should play hide and seek more often," she sighed, her breath cool against his face.
"Mmhmm," was as much of an answer as Jacob could manage before their lips locked together again.
"Nessie! Jacob!" a voice boomed from the backdoor. Renesmee and Jacob pulled apart and froze as they listened for Paul's voice. They didn't have to wait long. "Stop being gross and get in here!" Paul called. "It's time to eat."
They heard the door slam shut and Renesmee and Jacob both started to laugh. "We should probably go," she smiled, getting off his lap and standing up straight.
"Sure sure," Jacob smiled, standing up as well and taking her hand as they made their way back into the house.
