The Hand That Feeds

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters.

Alice sits frowning trying to piece together a series of images involving the Volturri and their guards. Everything is broken up, piece-meal and she can't seem to form into one cohesive vision. Minds are being changed too rapidly, the wolves are either directly involved or being discussed and her head is pounding. She only stops looking to go feed, to keep up her energy, long enough to try and learn more. The entire coven is depending on her even more now that Edward and Bella both have lost some of the most crucial talents that have managed to keep the family sustained for so long. The realization of this Chris and Abby's talents leaves Alice feeling a bit paranoid as well. As there is no doubt that the Volturri or the two rogue vampires may be back for her talent as well.

Edward sits at his piano watching his family continue on with their lives as if there is no impending danger. Rosalie sits on the couch, attempting to keep her mind occupied and off the current state of her daughter. Her leg bouncing anxiously in an act that seems more human than anything he's ever seen anyone within his family do. Emmett sits beside her, his arm draped carelessly over the back of the couch as the television remote sits in his palm and a blank expression upon his face. Carlisle and Esme have both been keeping busy, flitting from Renesmee's room to Alice to Rosalie and to Bella.

The silence is a welcomed break from the usual cacophony of noises that permanently invaded Edward's mind from the moment he woke up a vampire. However, Edward cannot help but frown at everyone around him, their expressions leaving him filled with a sense of confusion. He wants to know what they are all thinking. Are they worried about the Volturri coming? Do they believe that Jacob and the rest of the wolves will not stand beside them against this threat again? Do they hold him and Bella responsible for Renesmee's current state?

The people he has known the longest now seem like complete strangers to him. Their facial expressions are all brand new and it leaves him wondering have they always held these or has he just never bothered to pay them any attention? He's seen the dazed look on Alice's face and her 'chess' face but other than that…he's not seen Alice look frustrated or anything other than happy. The same goes for Emmett and Esme.

Even Jacob has become a mystery to him. The wolf having only been stopping by once a day to check on the status of Renesmee's healing. Carlisle and Esme have both invited him, to go upstairs and visit with his imprint but it has been an offer that Jacob has declined with an assured shake of his head. It pangs Edward not knowing what Jacob is thinking when he hears the progress or lack thereof involving his daughter's healing. Carlisle, Jasper and Rosalie have discussed that Jacob has some ulterior motive to checking up on Renesmee that has more to do with her attackers then any sort of emotional and relational attachment that he has or had with the girl.

It hasn't escaped his hearing of Emmett grumbling about how much easier it'd be to figure out what the wolves were up to if Edward could only pick their brains again. The statement being nothing more than a careless observation made by his brother but has settled uneasily within Edward. The realization that he has lost his greatest gift is a hard blow and to couple this along with the fact that all these years Edward has never really truly known his family and 'friends'. He's only picked out bits and pieces from their minds to see what they were up to, planning and scheming. The wonder and interest that Edward Cullen once held for Bella Swan is slowly starting to spread to all of those around him. Everyone he has come in contact with and will come in contact with will all become a mystery to him, individuals with their own unique personalities, thoughts, feelings and wit that may either amuse or offend him.

The realization both thrills and frightens him as his wife, Bella, walks into the house from her most recent hunt. The allure that Bella once held for him is now gone and will now be applied to every single person he comes in contact with. Bella was a breath of fresh air, offering up a rare moment of silence, a sense of solitude and conversations that left Edward always wondering what would transpire next. With that feeling gone…what does that leave them with?

Bella immediately notices the gaze of her husband once she walks into the house. He's always acknowledged her presence before anyone else in the house with Esme being a close second as it is more of her nature to greet anyone politely even if they only went into the next room and returned. However, the look is different this time. She can see the questioning, worrying and almost paranoid look upon his face. The look only adds on to her feelings of self-consciousness and building paranoia.

The last three days since the realization that she lost her powers along with Edward, Nessie was still something that was unknown until the poor girl woke up, has been very trying. Her loss not being as obvious to her as Edward's but still there's a sudden feeling of being vulnerable, naked and useless. Her gift kept her safe from Aro and Jane, the latter, without a doubt, being one of the most dangerous of the Volturri guards, and made her stand out and above the rest of the Cullens. She was free to think and say whatever she wanted within her own mind. Her thoughts were her own. They still were considering how Edward couldn't read them now but it was still something unnerving.

The fact that a gift that she was born with and found so late in life, to have it stolen from her leaves Bella feeling violated and exposed. It's a feeling she's not had to deal with since her days spent as a living being. With Alice drawn into herself trying to figure out the Volturri's next move and Emmett comforting Rosalie over Renesmee's slowly improving condition Bella finds herself feeling very alone and out of place. She has not been included in the talks of the Volturri's move, her contribution to such an event proving to be useless unless or until her power returns.

Edward offers her a weak and crooked smile as she sits down next to him on the piano chair, neither knowing exactly what to say to the other as some form of comfort or encouragement. Her eyes quickly glance around the room at the people have become the closest thing to a family, a complete family, she's ever had. Each couple in their own space, offering some form of silent reassurance that leaves Bella feeling envious of. How did they know just what to give their significant other? And how did she and Edward not know how to do the same towards the other?

Granted, Bella has never been one for offering up her condolences or easily empathizing with the pain of others. The problems of others always seemed to be such a trivial matter such as Jessica and Angela's boy troubles. Each girl telling Bella about Mike and Eric, respectively, with Jessica talking more so than anyone but Bella never expressed any interest in their troubles and flaked out of the conversation when she was asked for her opinion. Their 'boy problems' just paled in comparison to the issues that she was having with Edward which at the time was trying to figure out the mystery behind him. The only problems that Edward and Bella had between themselves were changing her and Jacob Black. With those two values out of the equation Bella felt certain that she'd and Edward would just always have the perfect relationship.

Taking one more look around Bella begins to finally see her 'family'. The warmth that she has grown accustomed to seems to be lacking. She'd like to place the blame for the change on the absence of Renesmee's presence and the inevitable threatening presence of the Volturri but she knows it's more than that. The warm and playful laughter is gone and the one person that seemed to be able to ease the tension was missing: Jacob.

Jacob had become a part of the Cullen family through his imprint and the realization brings about mixed emotions within Bella. Jacob had found himself a niche within the family without having to change anything about his self. Sure the imprint had made Jacob more tolerable of the vampire stink but he never felt the need to put on 'airs' for the family or pretend to be interested in something that he either had no clue or inkling about. He was still his own ball of sunshine that Bella always admired most about him. His sudden absence now makes her aware of the void that is left in her chest, a void that she's never had to truly experience until now.

I don't have Jacob anymore.

Bella's thoughts have been replaying the fight over and over again. Some people would probably think that the two were way overdue for an exchanging of words but Bella never believed it would happen to her. After all, it was her and her Jacob. Jacob could never say anything, intentionally, to hurt her feelings and it'd only take a matter of days for him to apologize but it was plainly obvious that Jacob had no intentions on apologizing. He truly meant every word that he said and was going to stand by them.

Had she truly mistreated and led him on so?

In her eyes she had clearly made it plain for all to see that she loved Edward and only Edward. Sure she needed Jacob too but only as a friend. Bella looks up at Alice but finding her sister-in-law wrapped up in a vision knows that she cannot speak to her about the matter of 'Bella Swan and Jacob Black'. Actually, none of the Cullens were people that she could discuss her relationship with Jacob as none of them truly saw her interact with him. The only ones who could weigh in were the rest of the wolves and none of them, with the exception of Seth, had ever been too keen on speaking to her for a prolonged period of time.

Bella find herself suddenly wishing that she had paid more attention to Jessica and Angela when the three of them were hanging out. That she shared more in their troubles because right now she could really use the advice of someone on how to repair her broken relationship with Jacob, if it should be repaired at all.

Truth is, Bella was ready to abandon everything, including Jacob, once she became a vampire to live happily forever after with Jacob. She can now easily blame her bleeding, beating heart for the attachment because nothing enraged her more after her transformation were: the news of Jacob imprinting on her daughter, Jacob's interference in reintroducing Charlie back into her life and the realization that instead of going up to Alaska that she'd have finish living out the beginning of her newborn days in Forks, WA.

But thanks to Jacob's 'aid' Bella was able to strengthen her already weakened bond with Charlie through Renesmee. He loved his granddaughter more than anything and was always willing to bend over backwards for her just to see her smile, at least in the beginning. But not even Charlie's love could stand the rapid pace at which Renesmee was aging and Bella's own frozen in time looks.

Bella had felt certain that now that she was beautiful, graceful and confident in herself that Charlie would want to be around her same as everyone else. That somehow he'd come out of his awkward shell that she inherited from him and want to become a permanent fixture within the Cullen home – Renee also. Maybe it was childish of Bella to think that now that her life was becoming perfect with her perfect, rich husband and best friend at her side, that the rest of her world fall into line; that her parents would learn that they truly still loved each other, would get back together and become vampires also to live forever with their only daughter and granddaughter.

However, it would seem that Charlie and Renee both had their own ideas. Sure Renee had married the baseball player and Charlie seemed to have had a thing going on with Sue but Bella just couldn't see how that life could be enough for the two of them. Phil was always working some part-time job and trying out for the 'big leagues' supporting her mother who still seemed unable to keep a steady and stable job. And Charlie would eventually have the added pressure of feeding not just himself but two shape shifting wolves in the form of Leah and Seth Clearwater; the former being less than likely to accept a handout from anyone who wasn't family and especially the father of a bloodsucking leech. But the two had chosen to live a life that was a constant struggle for the day-to-day necessities despite the warm and tempting offer made by their daughter.

Charlie and Sue's relationship didn't progress as Bella had originally expected for it to. At the time Bella had felt so certain that Sue and Charlie would become an item, leaving her free to leave him behind in good hands with Sue to feed and care for him and Leah desperately clinging to the first father figure that introduced himself to ease the pain of losing Harry. The girl seemed to be a 'Daddy's girl' and without having any prospects of developing a romantic relationship with anyone that seemed to be the next move for her.

Charlie had only said, 'Sue has her responsibilities and I have mine'. At the time Bella didn't know what that meant and asked Seth, who only said to go ask Leah. Bella had assumed that Seth was implying that Leah was the 'responsibilities' mentioned. The two girls had it out, a confrontation that was way overdue after Leah's vicious verbal assault on Bella's character when she pregnant. As it turned out, Seth had simply given Bella the brush off so that he could continue playing The Sims.

But Leah made it clear that not only was she the better arguer, stopping Bella cold with her sharp tongue, wit and 'facts' but that maybe if she 'acted more like an adult, maybe she'd be treated like one'. The comment stopping Bella cold as Leah explained that Sue and Charlie being together would mean that one of them would have to give something up; being Chief of Police of Elder on the Council.

Bella recalls her eyes widening in surprise at the news because she never imagined that the pair's relationship could be so complicated and involve more than just the two of them. Bella knows that Charlie has to live in Forks to keep the job he's spent his whole life working for and for Sue it would mean not only having to leave her two teenaged children behind but one of the most honored positions held within the tribe.

The loss wasn't worth the gain.

The words ring in Bella's head even now after so many years. Charlie and Sue held a fleeting interest in one another but it wasn't worth giving up what was the better part of their lives for.

Not everyone is willing to just throw everything away for what they 'think' is love. Leah had said before walking off leaving behind a shamed faced and embarrassed Bella Cullen.

Now more than ever Bella feels that she needs 'her' Jacob back. Loving Edward more wasn't supposed to mean that she'd lose Jacob. Jacob was the one key to everything that was her past, her family and some semblance of friendship. Jacob was the only one that has stuck by her side despite her mistreatment of him and who she could openly talk with and not fear having said something stupid or tripping and even when she did those things he made he feel good about herself. Looking over at the man next to her Bella feels the void of Jacob's presence even more so. The realization that Jacob loved her for her, never was becoming impatient with her clumsiness and his warm welcoming presence that seemed to invite everyone towards him and, inadvertently, her.

Before the thought can settle for another agonizing second longer, Bella is pulled out of her brooding thoughts with Esme's announcement that Nessie is awake.

Renesmee feels…grounded. She had never imagined anyone would ever hurt her. Sure maybe hurt those around her to get to her or protect her. After all, she's been raised and taught that she was special, a miracle, and a precious treasure – a princess. Yet, these two vampires had treated her like garbage, trash, something that was beneath them.

When she was finally alert it shocked and stunned her to see how much her appearance had changed. She was no longer beautiful, her eyes having lost their arrogance and confidence. She was…plain now after having had the 'glow' beaten out of her. There's a look in her eyes that screams that she's a frightened, anxious and sorrowful creature. It's a humbling feeling and a small part of her curses Esme for giving in to her demands for a mirror so that she could look at herself.

She's not had much more time to mull over her broken looks with the swollen eye, the busted lip and bruised covered cheeks. Her legs are probably an even worse state as she still has very limited movement in them but it could just be that Carlisle put them in a cast – she probably should've listened to him while he was explaining her current condition but she was too busy mourning her face to care. The entire room is now filled with her family and former loved one, Jacob Black.

Renesmee would love to be able to glare at Jacob Black, allowing the heat of her hurt and hatred consume him in a fire of guilt that will cause the large man to break down into a bout of tears, apologizes and whimpers of forgiveness and mercy. However, she seems to have lost the power to bring about any sort of emotion within her imprint outside of anger and disgust.

She had felt certain from the moment he stormed into the room, his hair blown wild from the mad dash from wherever he was to here, with a bit of foliage and sweat covering his muscular chest instead of a shirt and his eyes black with determination that it was all for her. He had rushed over to see and tend to her as is expected of an imprinted wolf. Instead, the interrogation had begun. She was coherent and able to speak softly although with some trouble thanks to the cotton that Carlisle had stuffed in her mouth but it was deemed more important that the family and wolves have answers about her attackers then her making a full recovery.

Taking a shaky breathe Renesmee finishes her tale of what happened with the two rogue vampires. It's all a lie but she cannot risk the dangers of everyone finding out the real reason behind her interaction with the vampires; a feat that would be next to impossible had Edward not lost his power.

"She's lying," Jacob growls out once Renesmee finishes her tale. The accusation both hurts and angers Renesmee and her parents but Jacob remains steadfast in his statement. Renesmee's eyes flit from Jacob's face to that of the few wolves standing behind him. It would seem that Jacob always held more confidence whenever the rest of the wolves were backing him up.

"Jacob, you can't be serious," Bella snarls out, narrowing her eyes at the man as her hands fist together.

"Bella is right, Jacob dear." Esme whispers softly trying to help ease the building tension. "Nessie has been through a very traumatic experience and to say that she's lying is just uncalled for."

"No, it's not because she's lying. You can all be blind to her so-called 'innocence' but we don't have the luxury of playing her games." Jacob growls out eyeing each vampire intently, challenging them to question him further on the matter.

"Jacob," Renesmee whimpers softly.

"I know you better than you know yourself." Jacob admits with a look of annoyance. "I've always known when you were lying but this is serious, Renesmee. This is no time for games otherwise you're putting all of our lives at risk. Your parents aren't so 'interesting' to the Volturri anymore and if you lost your ability too then so have you." Renesmee's eyes widen in shock at Jacob's words.

"Jake," Bella hisses quickly taking hold of Renesmee's hand and stroking it soothingly.

"Don't 'Jake' me," Jacob growls narrowing his eyes at Bella. "She's not a child anymore. She almost died and you all still want to sit up and caudle her? The dream and perfect life is over – for all of us. You may be fine with dying,"

"No one's going to die, Jake." Bella interrupts Jacob with a hard frown on her face. She wishes there was more conviction in her voice but even her words sounds weak, pathetic and half-hearted to her own ears.

"Oh, because what? You're going to find your friends, have them fight your battle for you?" Jacob sneers, his body starting to slowly tremble as the rest of the wolves in the room growl along with him. The idea of more vampires in the area is an unwelcomed thought that only reinforces the danger of the Volturri and will more than likely prompt the transformation of more boys and possibly a girl – more lives to be turned upside down.

"No, but," Bella begins become frustrated with Jacob's anger and cynicism. She finds herself missing the old Jacob, the imprinted Jacob that would happily leave Nessie in the dark while rallying the rest of the wolves together to protect his Nessie and Bells.

"The Volturri already know who your allies are. I don't think you realize how much the tables have turned." Sam states with a sigh and a sad shake of his head.

"Sadly, I believe that Jacob and Sam maybe right." Jasper offers up. "We did make a fool of the Volturri by making our stand the first time."

"But we didn't fight." Bella argues whipping around to face Jasper.

"True, but Aro knew that we all were prepared to fight. They won't make the same mistake of underestimating us again."

"So Nessie, sweetie," Esme coos softly with a sweet smile. Bella steps aside as Esme begins to gently stroke Renesmee's hair trying to coax the truth out of her young, impressionable and forgetful granddaughter. "Tell us what really happened."

Taking a deep breath Renesmee tells the story over again – the truth this time, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Under the caring and encouraging gaze of her parents and grandparents and the cold, hard and scrutinizing glare of the wolves Renesmee sees no other option then to share all of the information that she has. Jacob guiding the tale along as it progressed, his snarls and glares piercing Renesmee deeply whenever she tried to withhold or embellish on some facts of the story.

He truly does know me better than I know myself.

The realization brings tears to Renesmee's eyes as once the story is over Jacob stares at her in shock, the actual truth of her hand in the matter clearly upsetting him more than she could've imagined. The shock is quickly replaced with rage as first Sam and Seth share in a look of deep, dark hatred for the girl that dared to send two rogue vampires after the woman in their life that cared for unconditionally. Paul isn't too far behind as his body starts to tremble violently and is ordered outside by Jacob before he can phase inside the house. Jacob, himself, barely holding to his human form turns and directs his attention outside looking at the forest. Plainly a look of disgust and disdain was in his eyes, a look she's never imagined he would hold for her of all people.

Looking around for some form of comfort Renesmee is sorely disappointed to see a look of shock upon her own family faces. Suddenly she is consumed with a feeling of shame and regret as Esme, Rosalie and Bella look at her as if she was a strange – worse, a strange, uncaring and heartless monster.

"Honey, you d – didn't', you wouldn't." Esme breathes out, her eyes shining with tears of shame and disappointment that will never fall as she tries to correct her granddaughter's admission.

"I did," Renesmee admits. "She's ruined everything." Renesmee argues deciding that she has nothing else to lose at this point. If they wanted the truth so bad then they can have it. "If she had stayed and accepted her fate, duty, responsibility or whatever they want to call it then none of this would've happened. Jacob would still be in love with me."

"Yea but her leaving has really opened my eyes to what kind of person you really are." Jacob growls out angrily, his body shaking violently and is accompanied by the sound of bones audibly cracking and struggling to stay together.

"Please, Leah's a bitch," Renesmee snaps.

"She was hurt and angry." Jacob snaps back causing Renesmee to jump and wince in pain. "She didn't want to hurt anymore. She just wanted someone – anyone to understand her pain. But you – you're just a – a," Jacob's eyes narrow as he glares darkly at the girl before him. His teeth clench together, possibly the imprint preventing him from finishing the sentence but there is no doubt about his point that has been expressed to all present.

Renesmee Carlie Cullen is a real bitch.

She's made that clear by being cruel enough to send two vampires after a woman who left to find herself in the world and why? Jealousy.

"I can't even look at you." Jacob states with a deep frown, turning around and preparing to head towards the door. Sam and Seth both snarl their disgust and move to stand out in the hallway. "But I'm really not surprised. You've inherited your selfishness and all we did was feed it. Let's go." Jacob orders without sparing a look back and moving out the door.

"Jacob, please," Carlisle calls out making the wolves pause.

"Listen, the Volturri know of our existence and about the imprints as well. So, yes, we'll stand with you here too but afterwards we're done." Jacob states with strong conviction in his voice before walking out.

Renesmee sits stunned, looking at the space that Jacob had just previously occupied only a few seconds as her family begin discussing amongst themselves these strange new turn of events. Renesmee cannot recall ever seeing Jacob look so strong, confident, powerful, serious and hurt all at one time. Facing with the harsh reality that what she once held with her imprinted wolf maybe lost forever she cannot help but think that she was wrong to have carried on so – all of them. They had all, Cullens and imprints alike, grown accustomed to the wolves being their dogs: lapdogs, guard dogs, playful, loving and loyal companions. It would seem that it has really been the Cullens and imprints that have been biting the hand that feeds them and the wolves were no longer going to stand for it anymore.

A/N: Alright here goes the next update. Sorry if it's really broken up but my laptop froze on me twice and my wording maybe off as I tried to piece it back together from a slew of emotions that held onto for a fleeting moment.

But just to clarify a few things, my reasoning behind Bella and Renesmee's attitude for those fans is that the shy, quiet person who seemed to suffer from low self-esteem when she was younger and suddenly has the feeling that she has arrived won't stay that way. I know because a girl I went to elementary school changed…but it was after she got boobs. *shrugs shoulders* I don't get it because I was an early bloomer so I guess getting them in high school is a big deal but basically it's just the kind of attitude that most girls have.

Like me, if I get back down to my high school weight won't nobody be able tell me shit. I mean it! And I'm sure there's a few of y'all who would agree with me because there are just certain things that just put you over the moon and will make you so full of yourself that you'll seriously believe that your shit don't stank.

But that's it basically and I don't think Bella was just a bitch to Jacob either. Angela Weber did try to be her friend – genuinely but she blew ol' girl off just because she was suddenly hanging out with the rich kids. Can everyone say 'Golddigger'? *sings* I knew you could. =3

So but as mentioned earlier I…two more chapters outlined out so…they both need some fleshing out but plan to have chapter 26 up within a week.

As always thanks for the reviews, alerts and faves. Blackwater fans please don't hate me for the John and Leah moment. I mean, c'mon! If the shoe was on the other foot you'd not be able to resist that sexy Alpha. But to appease you all there will be a chance meeting between our fave Almighty Alpha and his Beautiful Beta. That's a promise!