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 don't own the lyrics to "It's a Southern Thing" by Better than Ezra referenced in this chapter.
Author's Note: Thank you, again and again, to my reviewers! You make me feel like writing all day long. So I will. Notes at the end of the chapter, as always. 25 more reviews and I'll post the next chapter. At least 100 people have this story on their alerts so that should be cake. Thanks, guys! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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"Gulf breeze on the porch, me and my honey rocking back and forth, light it up again with my kin and friends…"
The sound of a honeyed and familiar twang came floating across the grass to Renesmee's ears. She followed it, listening. Just past the garage, Jasper Hale came into view, his hand around the neck of a guitar, a cowboy hat slightly askew on his head. Beside him, the radio was blasting at full volume. Her uncle was swaying as he played, his eyes closed, blond curls blowing in his face, "Underneath a yellow moon. Sweet dream, New Orleans…" He fell to his knees, squeezing the guitar close to his chest, pointing his finger out into an invisible audience. Perched on a nearby rock, Alice clapped her hands and whistled with glee. Her husband continued to croon along with the song, in complete and total abandon, "Mississippi River running over me. Pretty Momma, come and take me by the hand. Don't mock what you don't understand. It's a southern thing…"
Renesmee managed to stifle a giggle but her lone heartbeat gave her away.
Jasper froze, but the radio continued to play.
Alice covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh, Jasper! It looks like you finally have an audience!"
Jasper straightened stiffly and said through gritted teeth, "You could have warned me, Alice. You know…being psychic and all."
"I must not have been paying attention," she said, her dark eyes were innocent but she couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice.
Fighting to remain polite, Jasper turned to Renesmee. "How are you this morning, Nessie?" he asked formally.
"I'm fine, Uncle Jasper," she said, trying to keep a straight face. "How are you?" She let out a strangled snort. She and Alice lost it, then. Alice was laughing so hard she fell off her rock. The ground around them shook slightly.
Jasper sighed and watched his wife's sweet, happy face as her peals of laughter rang through the air. Involuntarily, the muscles in his face spread into a small, resigned smile.
When Renesmee finally stopped laughing, mostly in order to breathe, she remembered why she had gone looking for Alice, in the first place."
"Aunt Alice?"
"Yes?"
"How would you feel about helping me find a dress?"
Alice gasped, "Shopping? Yes, yes, please!"
"You already knew I was going to ask you, right?"
"Of course," she hopped up from the grass. "Let's grab your Aunt Rosalie. And your mother. And…?" She looked at Jasper.
"I think I'll pass. Emmett wanted to hunt today, anyway."
"Yeah, dude," Emmett said, appearing around the corner. "You guys want to come?" he motioned towards Alice and Renesmee.
"No, thank you," Alice said. "We have to shop for Renesmee's date with Jacob."
Emmett looked confused. "Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'?" Alice repeated, horrified.
"I mean, it's not like Jacob has never seen her in nice clothes before. Hell, he's seen her with nothing on!"
"Emmett!" Alice exclaimed.
"Uncle Emmett!" Renesmee cried, her face burning.
"What? When you were like…you know, born and stuff…"
"You are so embarrassing!"
"Why is that embarrassing? It's true!"
Renesmee felt her humiliated feelings begin to soothe and fall away. She looked at Jasper, who seemed to concentrating very hard. She smacked him and even though nothing broke, she felt the sting of her bone hitting his cold, stony arm, "Uncle Jasper!"
"Come on, Emmett. I think it's best if we let the girls go shopping now. You've done enough ditch-digging for one day," he pushed Emmett towards the house.
"What did I say?" Emmett protested as Jasper dragged him away.
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"Renesmee, try these on," Alice ordered, handing a mountain of clothing to her niece.
Nessie ducked into a changing room.
She leaned against the wall next to the small couch in the dressing area where Rosalie and Bella sat.
"You know, I just can't believe it," Bella muttered, her golden eyes full of wonder. "She's so...it's…it's all so fast."
Rosalie nodded, her thoughts somewhere far away. She remembered for the smallest moment the many dresses she had worn in her youth…the joy she had felt in being so beautiful, so desired, so young. Now she would never be anything else. The irony was not lost on her.
"Sometimes I feel like I hate Jacob," Bella admitted. "I mean, it's unfair. I…" she stopped, lost in thought. "But then, I know…I know it's supposed to happen. Just not the normal way, I guess."
"I guess most people wouldn't call us normal," Alice said softly.
Bella laughed, a musical sound that made people turn and look, "No. No, I guess not."
A saleswoman hurried towards them, her eyes taking in their beautiful faces and impeccable designer clothing, "We received a call that Ms. Cullen would be visiting us this afternoon. Our store manager wanted to make sure you were entirely comfortable. Is there anything else we can provide for you? Another chair, perhaps?"
"That's very nice of you," Alice smiled. "But we're fine."
"Oh, okay," the woman looked startled, as if she had thought Alice might be a mirage and not really a customer in her store.
A fat, balding man in an ill-fitting suit pushed past her, sweat dripping near his hairline. He had obviously been running. "Ms. Cullen," he panted, "I am Mr. Donson, the store manager here. I just wanted to make sure that all of your needs were being met." He eyed the small couch where Bella and Rosalie sat." Donson whirled around to face the timid sales associate, "Carolyn, why is Ms. Cullen standing? Go and get another loveseat from the break room!"
"But she…"
"Now!" he barked.
Carolyn jumped a good foot off the ground before scurrying off to procure additional seating.
He turned back, smoothing the breast pockets of his suit coat, "I apologize, Ms. Cullen. Of course, ordinarily, our staff is better prepared for our VIP customers. Is there anything else I can offer you ladies? Some tea? Or coffee? A glass of wine, perhaps?"
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Donson," Alice said. "Thank you."
"I trust you will let someone know immediately if you need absolutely anything."
"Of course."
"Ah…well, then," the nervous manager staggered off between the racks of clothing.
"Come here often, do you, Alice?" Rosalie smirked, twirling a blond curl around her finger.
"This is one of my more frequent stops," Alice agreed.
"Um, guys?" Renesmee's voice came from behind the dressing room door.
"What is it? Do you have it on? Can I see?" Alice called eagerly.
"There is no way I am wearing this."
"Why not?" Alice whined.
"It's tight and see-through and…sequiny."
"Can we at least see?" her aunt begged.
"I don't think so."
Alice looked pleadingly at Bella.
"What do you want me to do?" Bella asked, amused.
Alice sighed, "Fine. I suppose it's going to be as hard to dress you as it is to dress your mother. Try the next one."
"Maybe I should just wear jeans?"
"Jeans?" Alice sounded personally affronted. "I don't think so! You asked for my help
because subconsciously, you know you need it," she hissed into the crack in the door.
A woman and her daughter, passing by them, turned to look curiously. The daughter, a tall blond girl, went into the next dressing room. The mother settled herself in a chair and watched the Cullen girls as they waited anxiously around Renesmee's door.
"You all have such lovely skin," she commented from across the room. "You look like you should be in one of those foundation commercials."
Rosalie, Bella, and Alice all turned to stare at her.
"Thanks," Bella smiled shyly, ducking her head.
"So what's your secret?" the woman asked curiously.
"We…" Bella bit her lip.
"We stay out of the sun," Rosalie finished.
"Oh? Really? Well, I've heard that certainly ages you."
"Yeah, sure don't want to age," Rosalie said dryly.
"Oh, well, you three look pretty young. You've got a long way to go but you know, you'll be surprised how the time flies. One day you'll look in the mirror and wonder where it all went."
There was an uncomfortable silence. The woman's daughter came out, wearing a pink halter top. "You see?" the woman laughed. "They grow up so fast."
"They really do," Bella whispered as Renesmee emerged from her own dressing room in a soft lavender dress. Under the high empire waist, the fabric fell in gentle, flattering folds around her curves. The sleeves billowed in at the elbow and tied off in curling satin ribbons.
"What do you think?" Renesmee asked. Her happy, blushing face already said everything.
"It's perfect!" Alice squealed. "Oh, see? I do have good taste! You look so absolutely delicious!" She stopped dead and put a hand over her mouth, "I mean…I didn't mean…I meant…"
Behind her, Rosalie rolled her eyes, "You look really beautiful, Nessie."
Renesmee turned to look at her mother. Something in her expression, the edge of her smile, the lightness in her eyes, the tousled hair around her shoulders, the ivory complexion, the look of inquisitiveness and intelligence and confidence radiating from her.
Bella opened her mouth to say something and shut it again. She stared in pride and bewilderment at her daughter, "You look…you…" She swallowed, hard, "You look just like your dad. So completely…dazzling."
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"I can't believe I agreed to this," Jacob moaned, fidgeting with the tie around his neck for the thousandth time.
"Actually, I can't, either," Edward admitted, frowning as he examined a long scratch across the perfectly smooth surface of his Billie Holiday record.
"I mean, a double-date with Ed? I'm pretty sure stuff like this makes the evening news."
"Then why did you say you'd go?" Edward asked.
Jacob sighed, "Because Nessie looked so excited when she asked me about it. I just couldn't say no."
"Emmett?" Edward called.
Emmett appeared in the doorway, shirtless, a towel draped around his shoulders, "Sup?"
"Did you borrow my recording of Embraceable You?"
Emmett grinned wolfishly, "Yeah. Rosalie wanted something different to listen to for, uh, when we uh...you know."
Edward's face scrunched painfully as he tried very hard to not hear Emmett's thoughts, "Next time, would you remember to put it back in the slipcover?" he asked, not making eye contact with his brother. "It was an original 1944 recording."
"Eh, I don't think there'll be a next time. It was little mellow for the uh…well, you know…"
"Yes. Yes, I know."
"I'm just sayin' there are times when you need some…"
Edward held up a hand quickly, "Thank you, Emmett. Um, thank you."
"Honestly, Edward, you'd think you were still a delicate, untouched flower the way you act sometimes," Emmett's voice was mocking.
"No, I just happen to have a little more self-control in front of my family. It's not like I don't know what you're referring to."
"Well, that's true, man. You and Bella…dude, the noises that used to come from that cottage…"
"Whoa, hey! Still standing right here!" Jacob protested, his cheeks flaming.
"Just be glad Bella's not home to hear you," Edward chuckled, pointing a finger warningly.
Emmett elbowed him and Edward shoved him back.
"Oh, you want to go, Miss Edwina? Let's go! Gimme your best shot!" Emmett said, moving into a boxer's stance.
Edward growled and pushed Emmett threw the open doorway into the yard.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I couldn't hear you… I think those panties you're wearing might be strangling your vocal chords!" Emmett taunted.
Edward made a running leap and the kitchen windows rattled slightly as he body slammed his brother, silencing him momentarily.
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Jacob was sure he was in hell. It was the only logical explanation. Where else on earth would he be sitting across from the kid who had managed to steal Renesmee's first kiss from him eating spaghetti and listening to some forty-eight year-old chain-smoker sing the karaoke to "Total Eclipse of the Heart"?
Of course, Nessie wouldn't be with him in hell looking so…so…well, Jacob could only stare at her when she spoke to him. All the things he normally had to say seemed to float away whenever she looked at him.
It was the first time he had been so conscious of her figure. Or had allowed himself the luxury of being conscious. And her closeness. The pure scent of her in his nose, on his skin. The sweet, clear sound of her laugh. Best of all, the look she gave him, long, adoring, trusting…Jacob changed his mind. Screw karaoke and screw Ed. This had to be heaven.
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Bella tried to push through the haze of distant human memory and imagine what cold had felt like. She couldn't. The strong sea breeze crossed her face and blew her dark locks out behind her. She knew it must be after eight o'clock but time seemed to have lost its previous significance. It just faded away completely…except when it came to Renesmee. Bella sighed and hugged herself, an old habit. Images of her baby daughter flowed freely through her mind. Her smell, her tiny baby hands reaching up to touch her parents' faces. The days that brought no change to her or Edward's appearance added weeks and months of growth to their child. It was incomprehensible.
She recalled something suddenly, a day from long ago. It seemed like an eternity had passed since that hour with Jacob when he had told her he loved her, had pressed his lips to hers, had begged her to leave Edward and be with him. How unbelievably different it all would have been. Bella bit her lip at the thought. She would not trade a millennium of this sadness and fear for even a second of that happiness she had found with Edward, with her beautiful, ever-changing Renesmee.
In a blurred half-second, Edward's arms were around her, his chin resting on the top of her head. Bella traced the lines of muscle and sinew in his forearm, marveling as always at his impossible beauty.
"I miss her," she said.
"So do I," he said simply.
"How cold do you think that water is right now? 35 degrees? 40?"
"Colder. Why?" Edward sounded amused.
"Join me for a swim?"
Edward smirked at the familiar reference, "Oh, I don't know. I'm shy."
"That wasn't a question." Bella pulled him towards the shoreline and Edward let her lead, laughing as she shed her clothing in the sand.
"Can't ever wait, can you?" he teased. "Bella Swan…so impatient."
"That's Mrs. Cullen to you," she retorted, tugging at his shirt.
"Alright, then, Mrs. Cullen," Edward gave her a crooked smile. "What is it, exactly, I can do for you?"
And Bella showed him.
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Renesmee knew she should have cared more about whatever it was Ed was saying. She knew she should remember the name of Ed's date. She knew she should stop finding excuses to touch Jacob during dinner. But like her grandfather was so quick to say, "Knowing and doing are very different things."
"Oh, are there any rolls left?" Renesmee said, leaning across Jacob to reach the bread basket. Again.
"No," Ed laughed. "You already ate the whole basket. I had no idea you liked carbohydrates so much."
"Or food, period," Jacob muttered.
Renesmee elbowed him. His large, warm hand grasped her arm under the table, pinning it firmly to her side. She shivered.
"Guess I'm just really hungry tonight," she said.
"Sure looks like it," Ed commented sarcastically, watching Renesmee push pasta around her plate in a circle.
"Yeah, well, I'm on a diet," Ed's date chimed in. Carissa, Renesmee thought. That's her name.
"A diet?" Jacob looked bored. "Why's that?"
"Omigod, have you seen my thighs? I want to lose at least ten pounds by winter break."
"Huh. That's funny. In the winter, I try to pack it on. Keeps me warm," Jacob patted his stomach and smiled lazily.
Carissa looked like she wasn't quite sure if she believed him, "O…kay…" She turned to Ed for explanation.
"So, Jacob," Ed said, his blue eyes tranquil. "Did you already graduate?"
"I got my GED last year."
"Cool."
"Yup," Jacob slurped up his fifth Dr. Pepper.
"And what do you do now?"
Jacob's eyes twinkled, "I guess you could say I'm in the watchdog business."
"Like security?"
"Something like that."
"My family hired Jacob to manage the security on our estate," Renesmee said, her finger twisting around the edge of Jacob's shirt. This was the story developed by Edward and Carlisle to explain Jacob's constant presence at the Cullen's.
"So is your family like…really rich?" Carissa's eyes grew interested.
Renesmee shrugged uncomfortably, "We're…okay."
"Your dad's the doctor, right?"
"My foster dad, yeah."
"My friend Sarah says he's like uber hot. Is that true?"
"Well, if your friend Sarah said it, it must be true," Jacob interrupted, throwing his arm over the back of the chairs. Renesmee leaned into the crook of his shoulder.
"And you're from Forks, too, right?" Ed asked, leaning forward.
"La Push, actually. The reservation."
"So you're like…an Indian?" Carissa asked, bluntly.
Renesmee choked on her soda.
"I'm Quileute, if that's what you mean."
"My friend Daniel is Cherokee," Carissa offered, expectantly.
"Uh huh…?"
"Do you know him?"
"Carissa," Ed whispered, embarrassed.
"Do I know your friend Daniel who is Cherokee?" Jacob repeated.
Ed cleared his throat, in an effort to change the subject, "So Nessie, do you play any sports? I mean, I know you run like an Olympian but do you like play anything?"
"Baseball."
"Really? I love baseball!"
"Yeah, I play with my family a lot."
"Nessie is amazing," Jacob said, looking down at her, smiling with a memory, "First time she hit a home run…it went so far…way out in the woods. It took forever for her dad to find it. 'Member that, Ness? That was the day you lost your last baby tooth."
Renesmee nodded, "Yeah, I remember."
"You guys have known each other a long time, huh?" Carissa asked.
"Since the day she was born," Jacob answered, raising his chin proudly. He and Ed made eye contact and the challenge was clear. Just try and take her away from me now.
Something in Ed's eyes told Jacob he was certainly going to try.
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Notes:
Eviefan: Thanks, yet again, for all the specific comments. Glad to know you're still curious about Darlene and Ed. They're going to play a large role in the next few chapters so keep me posted on what you think!
Rhyadawn: I have so much fun with Emmett and Jasper! I hope you like their role in this chapter, as well. Thanks so much for the review!
Nighttime writer: I definitely saw the puppy in Jacob writing the last chapter, lol. Hope you like the comedy in this new bit. Thanks for leaving such a nice review.
Beedee93: Hey, hope you got through the rest of the story! Thanks for leaving the review. Let me know what you think.
Two Hours' Traffic: Thanks for reviewing again! I always love to hear from you. Jasper is my favorite Cullen after Edward so it's nice to hear other people are enjoying him in this story. Let me know how you liked this chapter.
A fri3nd: What an awesome review! Thank you so much! Yeah, part of me definitely wanted to kill Ed off but he has a purpose to serve and we have to let him serve it. Sigh. But I would have loved to write a Jacob killing Ed scene…alas and alack. Hope this new chapter was worth lost sleep.
Littleclarestar: E and J continue to rock the house. They're garnering so much popularity with readers. They may need a spin-off story. I'm sorely tempted but I'll finish this one first. Thanks for another great review!
PheeCullen: Hmmm, I wonder…wink…and yay for the love triangle formula! Thanks, as ever, for reviewing and telling me what you think.
Amanda: Thanks so very, very much! Your compliment is sticking with me. I hope you like this new chapter.
Sasunaru-lover1029: Yeah, I thought it would be funny to stick some superstitious stuff like garlic in there. It's funny because the Meyer universe is so opposite the majority of vampire myth. Anyway, thanks for reviewing again! Hope you like this new chapter. It's longer than normal so that's good.
aPPle-FrEAk: Yeah, I'm just now hearing David Cook's music. I live in the middle of nowhere but I'm up visiting my parents for Christmas and I heard some of his songs on the radio. He's pretty good! Anyway, thanks for reviewing, just like you always do. Last chapter felt a little awkward to me but I'm excited about this one. And I even threw Rosalie in for good measure! Tell me what you think.
Sabs7: K, so I hope this fills up some time. I tried to pack a lot of stuff in so we'll see. Yeah, I thought the love triangle reversal was slightly ironic. I mean, at first, I was worried because SM does it in the books and I want to be semi-original. But I realized the reason it's in the books is because it's so completely archetypal and perfect. It creates conflict without anyone having to die. Well, most of the time. Heh. So thank you for reviewing again and again! You're wonderful!
Wintermoth: (cringing) Okay, okay, I updated! Don't kill me…(thank you)
Cullenloverforever101: Thanks for reviewing! Glad to know this story is different from a lot of others. As long as people are as entertained reading it as I am writing it, I'll continue. I hope you liked this chapter!
Kelol: Hey, hope you made it all the way through the story so far! Thanks for reviewing and letting me know what you think. And thanks for the compliment on grammar. I'm a stickler about that stuff. ;)
Hplexmark: HEE! Yay, I'm glad you liked it! I just love writing Emmett and Jasper. Hope this chapter made you smile. Thanks so much!
Ms. Jacob Black: K, glad it's still you. I hope this chapter was fun to read. Thanks for another sweet review!
Orioncat: Two awesome reviews – thank you very much! I hope you'll review and let me know if you liked Jasper and Emmett in this chapter or anything else for that matter.
Maddy: Yeah, I thought the "man-to-man" line was funny because they're vampires and a werewolf. Thanks for another review! Hope this one lived up to your expectations.
Settingsunrisingmoon: I know! Ed thinks his mother's crazy…heheh. Here's your soonish update! Thanks forever and ever!
PrincessxofxthexAsylum: So your comments influenced this chapter pretty heavily. First of all, lots of Emmett (and Jasper). Also, made sure Bella had some important scenes. I didn't want her to be left out and I missed her, too! We'll just have to wait and see on Ed but I'm taking your thoughts into consideration. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Got through this chapter with your help.
Redneckguitarlover91: Yeah, Ed is uh…cough…yeah. And if you don't love Jasper even more after this chapter, you don't have a soul. Lol. I was writing it and I couldn't stop laughing. So…hope you enjoy! Thanks, as always!
xxxVAMPIREKNIGHTxxx: Thanks so much! Love hearing from you – hope you like the chapter. :)
polyphany: Yay for another review from YOU! Thank you!
Karenaf92: Heh, hope you came back to read the new chapter. I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks so, so much!
steph7797: Thanks for reviewing, especially since you don't normally! I hope this chapter is good enough to hear from you again. Oh, and yeah, I totally noticed my notes were longer than the chapter…lol. Pretty weird. Enjoy!