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 short excerpt by Bram Stoker at the beginning of this chapter, either.
Author's Note: Sorry this update took longer than usual. Thank you to ALL of my wonderful reviewers! There's a note for every one of you at the end of this chapter. You guys rock, per usual. I like to see this story receiving new traffic, as well, so here's a bribe – I'll update again when there are, at least, 25 more reviews. Again, thank you! I hope this story continues to live up to your expectations. All comments, suggestions, questions, and thoughts welcome. But please, no flames. They're not worth the trouble it takes to write them since I certainly won't be taking them to heart. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season thus far! ………………………………………………………………………………………………
"What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of man?... I am in fear—in awful fear—and there is no escape for me; I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of…There seemed now a strange stillness over everything; but as I listened I heard as if from down below in the valley the howling of many wolves; The Count's eyes gleamed, and he said:-- 'Listen to them—the children of the night. What music they make…'"
-From Bram Stoker's Dracula
As they entered the darkened store, Edward began to hear the stirrings of an unfamiliar mind somewhere towards the back of the room.
"Hello, is anyone here?" Renesmee called.
Darlene's face came into view, "May I help you?"
"Yeah, we're looking for Ed."
"Oh? I'm his mother, Darlene." Edward noted the pride that occupied her mind.
"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?"
Edward stepped forward and the sudden noise of thoughts made him wince inwardly.
"Uh, this is my…brother…Edward."
"Edward…" Darlene repeated.
Edward felt a dark, seizing alarm wash over Darlene's mind. He cursed silently and frowned as he dug deeper into her thoughts for the root of her distress. What he found there filled him with dread. In half the time it took for a human to blink once, Edward had discovered all she knew, let the fear sweep over him momentarily, and mentally calculated every possible means of escape.
He smiled, carefully reapplying the mask he wore for the humans he came into contact with, "It's a pleasure to meet you." Darlene was not reassured, her thoughts becoming more and more terrified as the half-seconds ticked by.
"Do I know you?" she asked. Edward could hear the real question. Are you what I think you are? And then…Lie to me, her mind begged. I don't want to know.
Howhuman, he thought. Only their subconscious shielded them from the thinly veiled truth, the dangerous truth.
"I'm afraid not," he said quickly. "Perhaps, you've met our father, Carlisle Cullen. He's the new doctor at the hospital." Nothing like a little truth to make the lie go down easier.
Edward watched as Darlene pondered, saw the mass of information the woman had, much of it informed by second-rate films and overwrought novels, and mentally berated himself for allowing his cover to slip, even for a moment. He should have known this woman, surrounded as she was by things of the occult and the mythical, would be less immune to his true nature. In his pocket, his phone vibrated. That would be Alice, calling to tell him not to go see Ed.
He tried again, working to keep his voice smooth, his eyes warm and golden as he stared at her, "My brothers and sisters and I have enjoyed getting to know your son."
Fear flooded Darlene's mind and Edward's. "You—you stay away from my son," she said, brokenly.
"I'm…I'm sorry?"
"I know you. I know what you are…"
……………………………………………………………………………………………....
"Jacob, my man," Emmett slapped him on the shoulder, a grin spread across his face.
Jasper appeared on the other side, his face less pleasant.
"Emmett, Jasper…" Jacob looked unruffled.
"We need to have a conversation," Emmett steered him towards the garage.
"A conversation?" Jacob raised his brow quizzically.
"Man to man," Jasper drawled, a half-smile tugging at his lips.
"So to speak," Emmett added.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Renesmee felt the oxygen leave her body. Everything seemed to slow down. The ticking of the clock on the far wall. The syllables in Darlene's sentence. Her father's tight smile and rigid frame, the muscles under his shirt flexing. Darlene's breath moving through her lungs, her chest moving up and down. Even the dust mites floating through the air.
Edward smiled gently, blinking several times, breathing more than necessary even for a human, "I'm afraid you have me mistaken for someone else. I'm Edward Cullen, Renesmee's brother."
Darlene glanced furtively back and forth, her hand clutched at a charm around her neck, "You…"
"I hope we haven't come at a bad time. Perhaps we should come back later."
Darlene shook her head, "I…"
"Mom?" Ed entered from a back room, his voice slightly higher-pitched than normal. "Mom!"
Darlene held up a hand to stop him, "Stay back, Eddie! He's one of them!"
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
His mother pressed her lips firmly together, lowering her head as if preparing for battle, "He's a vampire. A dead thing walking in the flesh."
Renesmee stifled a gasp but Ed rolled his eyes, "Mom, did you forget to take your pills?"
Darlene remained facing forward, muttering.
" Mom," he tugged at her arm, "Please, you're embarrassing me." He turned to look at Edward and Nessie, apologetically, "I'm…she's just…"
"Don't look it in the eyes! Some have the power of hypnosis."
"Mom, be quiet," Ed looked angry now. "You're being really rude! Edward and Renesmee are my friends from school. Please go lie down and rest. You don't know what you're saying."
Darlene backed her way out of the room, her whole body shaking.
Ed looked sick. "I'm…I'm so sorry about that. She…my mother is…confused. The doctor she's been seeing says it might be a form of schizophrenia. She thinks…she thinks she can see things, like the true nature of people and that she can talk to animals and…" he broke off. "Most of the time people pass it off as eccentricity. She does own an occult bookstore. They think it's charming or something that she believes in all this crap," he said scornfully. "But now and then she'll accuse people that come in of being 'something else'…witches, werewolves, what was it today?"
"Vampires," Renesmee murmured.
Ed laughed uncomfortably, "Yeah, right…like I said, she's not…well, not…I should have warned you. Normally, someone's here with her in the afternoon. I just left for a minute. The store's really quiet on Sundays so I thought…" He shook his head. "I am so, so sorry."
Edward pursed his lips, listening carefully to Ed's thoughts. If the boy knew more than he was saying, he wasn't thinking about it.
"We understand," Renesmee forced a smile. "I hope it's okay that we dropped by like this."
Ed nodded, his voice warm, "You're always welcome here, Nessie. I hope you know that." His eyes were deep, blue pools of sincerity.
"Ed…we need to talk," Renesmee frowned, suddenly unsure.
"Sure, do you…I mean…" he looked questioningly at Edward.
Edward studied him for a moment longer and nodded, "Renesmee, I'll be in the car. Let me know if you need anything."
He turned and strode back through the room. Renesmee noted that his movements were deliberately awkward, slow, choppy.
The tiny bell rang again as Edward closed the door carefully behind him.
"Your brother's pretty protective," Ed observed.
"You have no idea," Renesmee muttered.
Silence.
"So I have to ask…" Ed began, chewing the side of his lip. "How does a guy like…like that Jacob guy the other night…get away with hurting you? With someone like Edward around? I mean, I'm not saying that guy wasn't huge and all but…I have a feeling your brothers could take him. And, uh, no offense, but I'd love to help."
She sighed, "Listen…Ed…". She swallowed. "Jacob is…complicated. And, he's known me for…well, since I was born. He knows more about me than anyone in the world, I think. And…" She hesitated. "And what I have to tell you is not going to make sense. And it's probably going to hurt you and…well, I'm sorry already. I didn't tell the whole truth and that was wrong."
"He's your boyfriend, isn't he?" Ed didn't sound surprised.
"Well, yeah…yeah, I guess he is." Renesmee couldn't bring herself to look up at him.
Ed's expression grew stony.
Renesmee jumped to defend herself, "But he wasn't that night! I just…I guess I just didn't realize how I felt…about him until…now."
Ed looked skeptical, "You're in love with a jealous meat-head who can't imagine you happy with anyone else."
"What? Ed, you're not being fair!"
Ed's voice rose several decibels, "I'm not being fair? I kissed you, Renesmee!
And no matter what you say today, that night…" he stepped closer to her, his face very near to hers, "That night you kissed me back."
"I know," she said, feeling suddenly like a broken record. "And that was wrong."
Ed looked at her for a few seconds, as if weighing his options. "Okay," he said, at last.
She looked confused, "Okay?"
"Okay."
"What does that mean exactly?"
"It means 'okay.' I don't get it. I don't like it. But 'okay.'"
"So…friends?"
Ed nodded, "For now."
Renesmee look startled, "What?"
He grinned, "We'll be friends. Until you wake up and realize that this loser is not the guy for you. And I'll be waiting."
"Um…"
"No pressure, Nessie," he said simply. "But someday…it'll happen."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Okay, guys, what's this all about?"
"You're, uh, obviously…with Renesmee now," Emmett began, flexing his forearm.
"Yeah," Jacob flashed a wide smile. "Yeah, I am."
"And we understand why," Jasper said, standing formally next to the long work table, his skin looking even paler under the harsh light of the fluorescent bulbs.
"And we like you, Jacob. Please don't misunderstand," Emmett said, completing a casual chin-up on one of the garage rafters, one arm swinging freely.
Jacob laughed, still at ease, "Guys…I'm really not sure what's going on."
Emmett dropped easily to the ground and was suddenly inches from Jacob's face, though he had to look up slightly to meet his eyes, "Nessie cares about you. And that makes you one of us."
Jacob thought about that for a moment and then laughed, "Well, thanks, Emmett. I'll admit, a few years ago, I wouldn't have taken that as a compliment but…I appreciate--…"
"I'm not finished."
Jacob broke off.
"If you hurt her, if you make her cry again, if you so much as breathe on her wrong, I will bite you faster than you can say 'dead doggie.'"
"What about you, Jasper?" Jacob asked, his eyes not leaving Emmett's face. "Anything you want to add to this?"
"I will be very, very angry," Jasper said, his tone even.
"And you don't want to make Jasper angry," Emmett smiled thinly. "He's not completely house-broken."
The side door opened and Carlisle's head appeared, "Hello, boys. What are you all up to?"
"Oh, not much. Just showing Jacob the Maserati Mom got you for Christmas," Emmett patted the hood of the car closest to them.
"Oh? Well, it is a beautiful car," Carlisle admitted, his eyes still suspicious. He looked at Jasper who stared back innocently. "Your mother was wondering if you all wouldn't mind helping to rearrange some of the boulders near the patio. She's trying to plant some flowers and she said they're blocking the view."
"Of course," Jasper nodded.
"We'll be right there," Emmett agreed.
"Wonderful. Nice to see you, Jacob," Carlisle looked furtively between the three before exiting.
Emmett turned back to Jacob, "So like I was saying, no hard feelings…but uh, just so you know."
Jacob laughed ruefully and shook his head, "Yeah, yeah, if I hurt Nessie, you have full permission to try and kill me."
The two vampires glowered darkly at him.
Jacob raised his hands in defense, "Kidding, kidding!"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Edward sat, unblinking, in the driver's seat of the Volvo, his eyes on the storefront. He'd run the events of the last hour through his head again and again, wondering where he had made the mistake, how Alice could have missed this, how Darlene could have known...He worked diligently to keep from listening to Renesmee and Ed's conversation. Then sighed. Sometimes his own sense of morality confused him. A sudden flash of movement in the second story window caused his eyes to flick upwards just in time to see Ed's mother frantically hanging something from the window. He recognized the stacks of rounded shape and white color…garlic. The utter absurdity of it struck him suddenly. Alone in the car, Edward laughed.
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Notes:
Eviefan: Thank you so much for the review! I liked all your specific comments – those are my favorite to read! So nice to hear you're enjoying this story! I hope you liked this new chapter!
Ms. Sarah: Thank you for reviewing! The imprinting issue is so complicated and I can definitely see a lot of different perspectives working. This was just the one I decided to go with this time. Let me know how you like this new chapter.
Mrs. Jacob Black: I'm happy about that, too! I like the Nessie/Jacob action. Much more of THAT to come! Thanks for another awesome review!
PheeCullen: I know…darn that Edward, being all dazzling and vampiric. Tell me how you think this new chapter went. Thanks, as always!
Wit beyond measure: Yeah, I love Jake and Nessie, too. Hope this chapter is worth reading! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Leslie1984: I'm relieved to hear someone agree with me about Renesmee! I dislike the Mary Sue genre, in general. But it's particularly annoying to see a character as potentially complex as Nessie get turned into the perfect, angelic offspring of a vampire and a human. I'm sorry but no one is without fault and if they are, I sure as hell don't want to read about them! Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter.
Sabs7: Yeah, I thought it was about time Renesmee heard her parents' own love story, even abridged. I think it's a good reminder for reviewers about why they fell in love with the series to begin with. Tell me what you think of Darlene and Ed in this chapter…Thanks a million, billion, gazillion!
aPPle-FrrEAk: Yeah, I was a little worried about the plot development myself but Ed and Darlene have been part of the plan for awhile and I'm glad to see them coming to fruition now. I hope the story stays interesting. Thanks always and always for the reviews! And you enjoy the holidays, as well!
AntiRebel: I definitely feel that Renesmee is a paradox. She's physically mature and emotionally deep, but is she really ready to face the world on her own? I can't imagine that. And I just love writing Edward and Renesmee. I think it's really sweet to see Edward being a dad.
Littleclarestar: So how was this chapter? Any surprises, comments? Thanks for sticking with this story!
Wintermoth: Omigosh… *cringes in corner* Don't kill me! I know it's been more than three days! Believe it or not, it was your threat that made me update now. I'm sorry it took a week! Hope this chapter was worth holding on for! Thanks so much.
xxxVAMPIREKNIGHTxxx: I sure hope I didn't mess up, lol. Let me know! Thanks!
Hplexmark: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this new chapter. :)
Redneckguitarlover91: Golly, gee, thanks! What a nice review! I really hope you enjoy this new chapter. Let me know!
Settingsunrisingmoon: bwhahahahaa…how DID she? So let me know…did I pull this chapter off? Thanks for reviewing, again!
LizzieAliceCullen: Heh, I don't think he can, either. So…how do you think this part went? Thanks for another helpful review!
Sasunaru-lover1029: Let me know if you liked the interpretation of Darlene's realization in this chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews!
CullenLove002: Thanks for the very detailed review. It's helpful to hear different points of view and I enjoy fresh perspectives! I guess that's what makes fanfiction such a unique kind of writing – since none of us on this site are Stephenie Meyer, most of what we do is speculation about what she would do. In fact, Meyer herself said it was impossible to please all of her fans and that not everyone liked every book. If she couldn't do it, I certainly won't pretend I can! I will, however, briefly explain my reasoning based upon your thoughtful critique.
-My decision to write Renesmee slightly angsty was two-fold: While she is only four years old chronologically, she is adolescent in physical size, leading me to believe her physical development is accompanied by the new presence of chemical hormones which lead to mood swings, etc. (something common in teenagers). Secondly, it's difficult for me to read/write a story where the protagonist begins out perfect. Flawed characters are so much more interesting. It was Aristotle who said that "it's not about being but becoming." I think she is happy and does love her family, but like everyone else, change is frightening, especially the kinds of change she is experiencing while the family around her stays the same forever.
-I understand what you're saying about Edward as a father. While I agree that he may not be completely strict, etc., I felt it was important to see the more human side of Edward. He was born in a time where women were much more protected, sheltered and while I would not characterize him as a chauvinist, at ALL, I do think he's a little old-fashioned. Think about how many decades he's lived to consider things like marriage and parenting. I think he has very firm ideas about what he believes is right and wrong.
-I don't feel that way about imprinting, at all. Of course, Jacob will be whatever it is Renesmee needs him to be. However, I personally don't believe imprinting keeps Jacob from being human. And human beings can be selfish and cruel and overreact. I think it's his human side fighting with his shapeshifter side. Everything we know about Jacob Black from the books shows him to be rash, impulsive, and passionate. He even threatens Bella when he feels like Renesmee is in danger. I've heard a lot of different opinions on imprinting and this is simply my take. Again, I dislike stories where things are too cut and dry. It's much more interesting to me to imagine what would happen if Renesmee rejected Jacob, if he lashed out at Ed, if he was experiencing inner turmoil. If it comes too easy, it's not worth it.
-I agree that Rosalie is important. I wanted to focus more on Nessie, Jacob, Bella and Edward. The more characters you involve at a time, the more easily confused a reader can become. Rosalie is still part of this story. But honestly, she's my least favorite of the Cullens and I'm sure that's reflected here.
Shaybay55: So I went and listened to "Permanent" and you're totally right. I've never heard that song before and it's perfect! Glad you're enjoying this story. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. Thanks so much!
NessieandJake4ver: YAY for happy you! I love Jake even more when I write this story. :) Thanks for reviewing so consistently!
Hollibell: Your instincts were right on about Ed and Darlene. Yeah, and I think there's an interesting combination in Edward – part of him loves Jacob and thinks of him as family and part of him can't stand him because he's taking Renesmee away. It's a nice inner conflict. Glad you thought Renesmee's reaction to Jacob was good – I was worried about it. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like the new twist!
Maddy: I know…I mostly wrote the stuff about Edward and Bella because I love to tell the story again. So romantic. Thank you!
Karen: I know! Nessie and Jacob forever! Yeah, Edward knows…hope the beginning of this chapter cleared that bit up. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Polyphany: meheheheheh…yeah…thanks!
Hanner Nanners: I love your pen name. Oh, and yeah, don't worry…Ed's not going to disappear. Let's just say there are some future complications in store. Thanks for reviewing! Tell me if you liked this chapter.
Hayate156: I hope you made it through the rest of the chapters. Glad some of your questions were resolved. I feel like Edward's reaction is conflicted because he feels conflicted – he loves Jacob but he doesn't want to lose his little girl, yet. It's a difficult thing.
PrincessxofxthexAsylum: Yes, she does! How did this chapter go? Thanks always!
TheBlackestOfRoses: Yeah, I think Renesmee and Jacob together is something to takes getting used to. I hope you like this new chapter. Let me know if you have any thoughts or comments! Thanks so much!
Jess9450: Lol, I do love Emmett. He's def the comic relief in the Cullen family. Hope you get to read this new chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Rhyadawn: Nice to know that people are liking this Renesmee. I like to write her with flaws and it's fun to share my version of her with people. Thanks so much! I hope you like this new chapter!