Disclaimer: Twilight is the creation and property of Stephenie Meyer. This fanfiction is nothing more than an homage to her series of books, which most of us wish never had to end. Any references to plot devices/characters/etc. used in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, or the draft of Midnight Sun belong exclusively to Stephenie Meyer. This is a fan-created story. I do not own the poem by Edgar Allan Poe at the beginning of this chapter.
Author: Thanks to littleclarestar, Fancyeyes, PheeCullen, Hollibell, Mrs. Jacob Black, kalieye, Maddy, jae, aPPle-FrrEAk, Sabs7, Wintermoth, polyphany, Katchelle87, LizzieAliceCullen, NessieandJake4ver, PrincessxofxthexAsylum, settingsunrisingmoon, sasunaru-lover1029, You-Dazzle-Me-1901, Karen, hannirose, xxxVAMPIREKNIGHTxxx, daggergirl135, and Bunch-o-Nuts. I hope this chapter was worth waiting for. I would love to hear reactions and specific comments about any part you liked, didn't understand, etc. Thanks for reading and reviewing! You guys are great!
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Romance, who loves to nod and sing,
With drowsy head and folded wing,
Among the green leaves as they shake…
Taught me my alphabet to say,
To lisp my very earliest word,
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child—with a most knowing eye…
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by…
To while away—forbidden things…
-Edgar Allan Poe
The sun was falling behind the pine trees when Jacob and Renesmee finally arrived back at the house.
As they walked across the wooden floorboards of the ante room, Renesmee thought their steps sounded a million decibels louder than was possible.
As they entered the living room, she caught sight of her father. His chiseled ivory face was set in hard lines. Beside him, her mother sat, her beautiful frame a silhouette in the large bay window.
Bella and Jacob's eyes met across the room. There was something sad, and then something accepting.
"Mom, Dad…" Renesmee began.
Edward's eyes flickered down to focus on Renesmee and Jacob's hands, now entwined. Renesmee flushed self-consciously.
"I see," Edward said.
"Edward…" Jacob opened his mouth.
"I know." The vampire smiled thinly, the muscles around his mouth tight with pain.
"Bella…"
Bella gave Jacob a long look, "You've always been in my heart, Jacob. There's a reason we've always been tied together. I…can't say this is easy to…" She drifted off, at a loss for words. "It was meant to be."
Jacob smiled, his teeth flashing a blinding white. He looked down at Renesmee who blushed a deep scarlet.
"Renesmee," Edward said.
She looked up quickly.
"Is this what you want?" Her father looked a little sick.
Renesmee's heart began to pound. She wasn't sure she even knew what he was asking. "I…I love Jacob," she said, at last, with realization. Her eyes widened and turned to Jacob, "I love Jacob."
Jacob felt as though his heart might explode from happiness. It seemed to have suddenly outgrown his chest. "Edward?" he asked, his eyes never leaving Renesmee's.
"You have our consent, Jacob," Edward said, his tone formal. "You may court our daughter."
Jacob forgot where he was for a moment. He bent down and kissed Renesmee, making her gasp in surprise.
"Of course, there are some conditions," Bella said quickly.
Renesmee and Jacob turned to look at Edward and Bella.
"Renesmee must continue to go to school. She will continue to live under our roof and follow the rules set by her mother and I."
"Absolutely!" Jacob burst, unable to wipe the smile of pride from his face. "I mean…I want Nessie to go to school and be a normal kid." His expression was earnest, "I can wait for her."
Edward pursed his lips, a hint of humor crossing his face, "Can you?"
Jacob's chin tilted up, "Yes, Edward. And I will."
Renesmee was tugging on Jacob's hand, pulling him towards the door. He turned to follow her.
"Jacob."
He looked back.
"Can you wait for everything?" Edward asked, meaningfully, his eyes a little dangerous.
Comprehension lit up Jacob's features. He nodded once.
"I'll hold you to that." And there was no trace of humor now.
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"What if he won't talk to me?"
"I don't think that's likely, Renesmee."
"Are you kidding? Jacob almost took his head off! If I were him, I'd never speak to me again!"
Edward smiled a small, knowing smile, his hands gripping the Volvo's steering wheel.
"You'd be surprised what boys will put up with…for a pretty girl."
"Yeah? Like you?"
"Like me what?"
"Did you do anything crazy? For Mom?"
He grinned, "You'd have to ask your mother about that."
"Aww, c'mon…tell me! Did she like you right away?"
"I…don't know…" Edward frowned, considering.
"What was she like? When she was human?"
"Beautiful, clumsy…and fragile."
"Mom was clumsy?"
Edward chuckled, "Just a little. That certainly didn't stop all the boys from liking her, though."
"All the boys?"
"All of them."
"But you won," Renesmee seemed to be thinking about something very hard.
Edward's teeth gleamed, "I won."
"How?"
"Hmmm?"
"How did you win?"
"I honestly don't know," Edward shook his head. "If she'd been smart, she would have stayed away from me. I was…bad news for a human. Especially your mother."
"Why?"
Edward chose his words carefully, "Just because we don't eat humans doesn't mean we don't want to. Your mother…your mother was almost irresistible. I could have killed her."
"But you resisted," Renesmee looked admiring. "Because you loved her."
"Yes."
Renesmee seemed satisfied for a moment, then asked, "Did Grandpa like you?"
"Not really, no. I can't blame him, though. No father truly likes the man who takes his little girl away."
"Dad…"
"Your grandfather didn't always trust me."
"But you can trust Jacob. You know that."
"Jacob is still only human. And there are some things, Renesmee, that not even you are quite ready to handle alone."
Renesmee thought about that for a moment, "But you were in love. So it didn't matter how dangerous it was or how young Mom was…because it was meant to be."
Memories flooded Edward's mind – flashes, images…that first kiss, so dangerous, so perfect, the aching burn in his throat as he touched his lips to hers…the feel of Bella's head on his chest as she slept in his arms…Bella, broken and bleeding on the ballet studio floor…then the pure and simple joy of dancing at the prom…the warmth of the Italian sun as he was about to step into it and end his life…the feeling of Victoria's cold, stony flesh as he ripped into her with his teeth…Bella's smile on their wedding day…the shyness, the fear, and the passion of their wedding night…the sheer terror of Bella's pregnancy…his feverish begging of Jacob to give Bella a normal life…and a normal child…Renesmee's birth…Bella's painful transformation…and her new immortal self –lithe, glowing, and complete…
He sighed, "If only everything was so simple, Renesmee."
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"Did he say he would be here?" Edward asked, slamming the car door.
"Yeah, Ed told me he helps his mom out in the store on the weekends."
The sign in the window read, "Mystics and Magicks Bookstore – For All Your Other-Worldly Needs."
As they opened the door, the bell above them shook once.
"Hello?" Renesmee called into the dusty gloom of the store. Books lined every wall and wound around the room. Dream-catchers and charms hung from the low ceiling.
Edward had to duck his head slightly to avoid hitting the rafters.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Renesmee asked again, squinting towards the dark backroom.
"May I help you?"
Edward and Renesmee turned to face a small woman in her late forties. Her hair was dark and short. Oversized glasses framed her face and large dangling earrings hung from either ear.
"Yeah, we're looking for Ed?"
"Oh? I'm his mother, Darlene."
"Hi, I'm Renesmee. It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, Renesmee! Ed talks about you all the time!"
"Oh, yeah?"
"And who's this?" Darlene turned expectantly.
Edward stepped out of the shadows and into the light, looking somehow paler and more menacing in the tiny bookstore.
Renesmee heard Darlene's breath catch in her throat, "Uh, this is my…brother…Edward."
"Edward…" Darlene repeated, uncertainly.
Edward smiled a charming smile that didn't quite meet his eyes, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Do I know you?" she asked tersely.
"I'm afraid not," Edward said. "Perhaps, you've met our father, Carlisle Cullen. He's the new doctor at the hospital."
Darlene didn't answer, but stood staring. Renesmee couldn't be sure but she thought she saw something like fear in the woman's eyes.
"My brothers and sisters and I have really enjoyed getting to know your son," Edward smiled again, an edge entering his voice.
"You-you stay away from my son," the woman rasped suddenly.
"I'm…I'm sorry?"
Darlene's eyes grew wide with horror, "I know you. I know what you are…"
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Notes:
Littleclarestar: Glad you're enjoying Jacob and Nessie's developing relationship. Hope you continue to read! Thanks for reviewing!
Fancyeyes: Renesmee certainly has a lot on her plate. Hope this chapter was worth the wait! Thanks!
PheeCullen: I know…this story is making me fall in love with Jacob and I'm an Edward girl all the way! Thanks for another sweet review!
Hollibell: Tell me what you thought of this chapter and Renesmee's choice. : ) Did you like it? Thanks for reviewing, as always!
Mrs. Jacob Black: Does this chapter help to relieve your worries? Much more to come! Tell me what you think! Thank you!
Kalieye: Christina, thanks for the detailed review! I've really enjoyed establishing the characters and their place in this story. And now that we've met Ed's mother, albeit briefly, what do you think?
Maddy: More Edward/Renesmee time in this chapter. What did you think? Thanks for the great review!
Jae: How did you feel about this chapter? Was it authentic in terms of the way you think Jacob and Renesmee would really act? Thanks for reviewing!
aPPle-FrEAk: Although, I didn't go back and write Nessie's complete reaction to Jacob's confession, I hope this chapter begins to explain what's going on in her head. Not completely, I know. I'll work that in. Thanks for reviewing so faithfully!
Sabs7: Thank you! What did you think of this chapter?
Wintermoth: Ed may get scared off, yet. We'll see…let me know how you felt about this chapter! Thanks!
Polyphany: I totally love you! Thanks for another review! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
Katchelle87: Thanks so much for reading and leaving a review! How do you think this chapter went?
LizzieAliceCullen: Yeah, just wanted to make sure Renesmee's feelings were becoming more clear for you. Keep sending the reviews and ideas! Thanks!
NessieandJake4ver: This chapter should have made you happy…;D Let me know what you thought! Thanks for sticking with the story. You're awesome!
PrincessxofxthexAsylum: Have a good bit with Emmett and Jasper coming soon. It was supposed to be in this chapter but it didn't fit right. Thanks! Hope you liked it!
Settingsunrisingmoon: Thanks for the review! I'm trying to work more in with the other Cullens. It definitely doesn't happen enough in this story. Maybe when I'm done, I'll branch out and do an Emmett/Rosalie fic or something. The other characters don't get enough attention sometimes. Hope you liked this new chapter.
Sasunaru-lover1029: Thank you so much for reviewing again! And I finally got to see my fan art! It's WONDERFUL! Can I make it my profile picture on this site?
You-Dazzle-Me-1901: Thanks, especially for all of your attention to details! I had fun writing this chapter – hope you like it!
Karen: I'm really happy that people liked the explanation of the imprint. I've always tried to imagine how Renesmee would react when she found out and I tried very hard to put an honest reaction into that chapter. Let me know what you thought of this! Thanks so much!
xxxVAMPIREKNIGHTxxx: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this new bit…tell me what worked for you.
Daggergirl135: What a wonderful compliment! That's very, very kind of you to say! I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Let me know. Thank you!
Bunch-o-Nuts: I'm all about the teen angst. ;) Glad this was a good study break for you. Good luck on any finals you might have left! I loved the movie. It was different from the book but I felt it remained true to the book's spirit and that made it worth watching. I've actually seen it four times in the theatre now. It's a nice escape. Thanks for the review!