Longer chapters, you say? Well, your wish is my command! Enjoy, loves :) Oh, and thanks for sticking with this story, y'all are the best!

Chapter 24: Immortal Love

After they had arrived back at the Cullen mansion, and everyone had said hello to and expressed their gratitude towards Nahuel, Renesmee dragged him out to the cottage and up to her room. She shut the door behind them, ready to give him a firm talking to. Where had he been for the past four years? Why hadn't he contacted them? How could he just leave after being such a big part of their family for three years?

When she turned around though, and saw him standing there, looking at her with his soft amber eyes, her anger cooled. Suddenly nothing else really mattered. The one person in this world who had felt more like a brother to her than anyone (other than Seth) was standing right in front of her. And all she could think about was how much she had missed him. She went over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her back and she said into his chest, "I missed you."

He kissed the top of her head. "And I you, little Renesmee."

"Then why'd you stay away so long?" she asked, her voice full of pain. "Why didn't you call us, or write us, or something?"

"I wanted to," he sighed. "I must've began thousands of letters, and thought about calling you hundreds of times, but other things kept getting in the way."

"Other things?" she asked, walking away from him to sit on her bed. "What could be more important than letting your family know where you were?"

"Finding my real family. My sisters, and my father if I happened to come across him," Nahuel said slowly as he sat down across from Renesmee. "I saw how you and your parents, your aunts, your uncles, and your grandparents all live a normal life as one family. This right here is the way it should be. I felt I owed it to my sisters to at least try and convince them to live with me together as a family, and to survive off animal blood the way you do. So I went back to Chile. I left to find them, Renesmee."

"And did you?" she asked, looking up at her friend.

"No," he said sadly shaking his head. "I did not find them or my father."

"So why did you stay away?"

"I met a woman named Francesca."

"Is she a vampire, or a hybrid like us?"

"No, she was neither of those things," Nahuel said, a smile on his lips as he remembered. "She was completely human, and so very beautiful. I fell in love with her."

Renesmee's face lit up at the thought that perhaps her friend had finally found the happiness that the rest of her family enjoyed. "Well where is she? Why didn't she come with you?"

Nahuel stared down at the comforter on Renesmee's bed and remained quiet for a long time until he finally said, "She died, Renesmee."

"Oh Nahuel," she sighed, putting her hand on his knee. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."

"It's alright," he said, clearing his throat and blinking back the tears that had filled his eyes. He took her hand that was on his knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. "How could you know? I never told you or anyone about her. But I have a feeling you and she would have been good friends."

"I'm sure we would've been," she smiled, her heart breaking for him. She couldn't imagine living life without Jacob. "Did she know about you? About us?"

"Yes," he said, smiling a little again as an image of Francesca flashed in his mind. Her soft dark skin against the simple white gown she had worn at their beach wedding in Chile. Her brown eyes shining and her hair swept up into a loose bun with shorter pieces falling out and tickling her neck. There had never been a woman comparable to her, and he knew there never would be. "She knew the monster I was, but didn't mind. She loved me anyway though I could never understand why. We married. But I did not want this life for her, so I refused to change her, though she put up a good fight against me."

"Just like my mom and dad," Renesmee laughed lightly.

Nahuel nodded and suddenly became somber again. "And just like your parents, Francesca became pregnant. But after having seen you and Bella, I wasn't worried. That and the child was only a quarter vampire. I didn't think it would be as strong. I promised Francesca that I would change her as soon as the baby was born, as your father had once told me he did with your mother. The child grew quickly and it was stronger than a human baby. But Francesca was a determined woman. She loved that baby more than anything. When it came time for the child to be born, the labor was incredibly difficult. I did everything I could..." he said, his voice breaking as he remembered that horrible day. As difficult as it was to relate his tragic tale, it was as if he could not stop the flow of words from his mouth. This was the first time he had spoken to anyone about his late wife and child, and it all came rushing out. "No amount of my venom could save her, though. She told me she loved me, and she asked me to save the baby. My beautiful wife died in my arms."

Tear after tear slid down Renesmee's face. Her parent's life had been a story straight from a book of fairytales. A dream simply too good to be true. Nahuel's life since she'd seen him last had been one long nightmare. She wished she could comfort him, but there were no words to convey how deeply sorry she felt for her dearest friend.

"I could hear the baby's heart beat at a frighteningly slow pace from within Francesca. I delivered it as your father delivered you. But the cord was wrapped around my son's neck, and by the time I had him in my arms it was too late. I fear... I fear perhaps the venom I injected into Francesca worked it's way to him, and poisoned him. Perhaps it was too much for his body to handle when he was already venomous, but who is to know now?" he sighed heavily. "Needless to say, sweet Renesmee, I have not been one for conversation or visits these past few years. Truthfully, this is the first time I've been able to speak of it to anyone. I have missed you and your family terribly, but it was too difficult..."

"That's alright," she said, her heart aching for him. "It's perfectly understandable. I know I would not be as strong as you are right now if something were to ever happen to Jacob."

"Which is why I must go in your place to the Volturi," Nahuel said as he rose from her bed. "You have a family and a fiance who love you, Renesmee. I have no one. There's nothing to keep me here."

"You have a family here too," she whispered, looking up at him as he neared the door.

"I know," he smiled faintly. "And I will always think of you as a sister, but your reason for existing is waiting right downstairs, while mine is unreachable. So live your life here, and I will go with the Volturi. I may even change one or two of them into vegetarians," he smiled again, winking at her as he closed the door and left her alone, contemplating things while she sat on her bed. Staring at the door after him, Renesmee shook her head, again realizing something she'd known all her life. Things would be so much easier if she were human.

~J/N~

"Bella?" Edward asked as he entered their bedroom, his eyes going straight to his wife who lay curled up on her side on top of their bed. "Don't tell me you're sleeping?"

"No," she sighed. "I'm worrying."

"Mind if I join you?" he asked with a small smile as he lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Depends," she said, turning to face him, "what are you worrying about?"

"Probably the same thing you are," he said softly, pressing his lips against her forehead.

Bella sighed. "Renesmee." She felt her husband nod. "I thought once Olivia was gone, she'd be safe," Bella said, burying her head against Edward's chest. "But now the Volturi are back. Aro wanted her specifically. What if he won't accept Nahuel? Will she ever be out of danger?"

"No. I think she inherited her mother's talent for attracting it," Edward teased, though his voice held no humor. For truly, he had been thinking the same things as his wife. He had been ever since Olivia had told him about the plan that had been set in motion with the reappearance of Alexander's pack. The Volturi wanted his daughter, and he knew they would be willing to do whatever it took to get her. However, he was forever indebted to Nahuel for offering himself in Renesmee's place. Edward had heard his thoughts once they had arrived back home, and he had relived his nightmare when Nahuel had watched he, Bella, and Renesmee embrace. He clutched Bella tighter to him just thinking about what Nahuel had been through. Edward knew he would never have been as strong as Nahuel was if something like that had happened to Bella and Renesmee. Which is why the Volturi would only get his daughter over Edward's dead body.

"We've escaped the wrath of the Volturi before, we can do it again," Edward said, trying to sound confident. He ran his fingers through Bella's hair. "I won't let anything happen to her. Or you. I promise."

~J/N~

Renesmee lay on her bed, once again mindlessly playing with the beads and feathers that adorned her hand-made dream catcher as she tried to sort out the past 24 hours in her head. When she heard someone come up the stairs as they approached her room, she sat up and waited for them to enter. Jacob was the one to appear in the doorway, and Renesmee immediately felt a huge grin spread across her face. Only he could make her forget everything bad in her life and make her smile without even trying. She loved him so much that it never ceased to amaze her.

"Hey," he smiled wearily.

"Hey," she sighed, reaching her arms out to him as he approached her. When he took her hands she gently urged him down onto her bed. Jacob felt exhausted and did not need much encouragement. He lay down on top of the covers with an arm around Renesmee who lay beside him. "How was your run?" she asked. "Are you feeling better?"

"Now that you're out of danger? Yeah, I'm feeling much better," he chuckled softly, kissing her forehead.

"I might be out of danger, but Nahuel's not," she sighed sadly. "I'm afraid for him."

"Don't be," Jacob said, trailing his fingers up and down her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "Nahuel is a good guy. He'll be able to handle himself. But I owe him big time for saving you when I couldn't."

She put her hand against his cheek to make him look at her. You save me every day. Just seeing your face is enough to keep me going.

A smile tugged on one side of Jacob's mouth giving him a lopsided smile that she adored. "Thanks Nessie," he said. "I know he's like a brother to you, but I still can't believe that he volunteered to take your place. I may still be learning about your world, but if memory serves, aren't those guys in Italy like the epitome of evil?"

"Sometimes it seems like it," she murmured. "Aro's not so bad though, and he's the one who's really in charge. But Jane doesn't like me or my parents, which makes things difficult."

"So I noticed."

"Nahuel told me why he offered to go though," she said and Jacob gave her a curious look. Once again, Renesmee placed her hand against his cheek as she showed him her previous conversation with Nahuel. Jacob closed his eyes as he watched the scene unfold before him and heard Nahuel's tragic tale.

"Oh my God," he breathed as Renesmee took her hand away. He suddenly had a whole new respect for Nahuel. How he was still going through life day after day was incredible. Jacob was strong, but without Renesmee, he knew he would not be able to carry on.

"I know," she sighed. "I wish there was something I could do. I feel so bad for him."

"I know you do, but I think the only thing you can do is just be there for him like you always have been," Jacob said, wrapping his arm tighter around her as she snuggled in closer to him. Her head lay on his chest and he began to absentmindedly run his fingers through her bronze curls. Sometimes, how much he loved her downright scared him. "Ness?"

"Hmm?" she said, her eyes threatening to close and give into the tiredness that weighed down her body. Jacob's warm body and calming, familiar scent wasn't helping either.

"Can you... I mean is it possible for you to..." he fought to get the words out of his mouth, but it was harder than he'd thought it would be. Not because it was awkward or anything, but because he was afraid of what her answer might be.

"To what, Jake?" she said, fully awakened by the worried tone of his voice.

"To get pregnant?" he said softly.

"I guess so. I mean, everything... all that stuff... works like normal," she said. Renesmee then propped herself up on one elbow and looked down at him. "That's not exactly pre-honeymoon talk though, Jake. Don't people usually wait until they've been married at least a year before they talk about having kids?"

"I know, you're right," he said, trying to smile but Renesmee could see the fear shining in his eyes as he gazed at her.

"Would it be so terrible to have a child with me?" she asked, trying not to get her hopes up. Carrying and giving birth to the child of Jacob Black would be a dream come true. One she'd hardly dared to even let herself consider previously, but ever since all the girls in La Push began to have babies, she couldn't help but think about having her own little bundle of joy. It's not like it was impossible either. Unfortunately, she had never considered the possibility that Jacob would not want children.

"If it put your life at risk, like it did with your mom, or took you away from me, like it did with Francesca and Nahuel, then yes," he said as serious as she had ever seen him. "I can't, and I won't lose you, Renesmee."

"Jake, I'm stronger than my mother and Francesca were. They were humans trying to give birth to babies who most certainly were not. I'm immortal Jake," she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood, "by definition, I won't ever die."

"Yeah," he sighed, reaching up to brush his fingers against her soft cheek. "I just don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'll tell you exactly what you'd do," she said confidently, sitting up on her knees to look him in the eye. "You'd stay in La Push, and be the best Alpha the world has ever seen. And if I died in child birth, then you would raise our baby with the help of our families."

"You make it sound so easy," he groaned, pulling her down so she was laying on top of his chest. "But haven't you heard? An Quileute spirit warrior does not live long after his imprint dies."

She kissed his lips quickly and smirked, "Then thank God we're both immortal, because I guarantee you I would not live long without my Jacob either."

"Thank God," he murmured as his lips met hers once again.