"We'll be back." Rosalie said, reaching up on her toes to kiss Emmett.
"Be safe." Edward smiled, and leaned down to kiss me. Rosalie pulled my arm and we left them to finish their football game in the backyard with the rest of the family. Even though it was going on 9am, they were in their 5th hour of playing, and didn't seem to be getting bored yet.
"I cant believe how much I missed my princess." Rosalie sighed once we got into Edwards Volvo.
"I know how you feel." I smiled over to her. I looked back in front of me and once the garage door was open I slammed my foot down on the gas petal, and we were off.
"No, go pick up Lyss first!" Rosalie tugged at my arm as I turned down Sue and Charlie's road.
"No way!"
"Why not?"
"Because this is my husband's car, I'm driving, and the Clearwater's house is closer. Need I say more?" I smirked at her.
"Come on, I don't want to be here." Rosalie huffed when I pulled into the driveway. I got out of the car and walked around towards the front door.
"So, your going to sit in the car like a child." I shook my head in disbelief.
"Yes, I don't want to see him."
I listened and heard 2 heartbeats inside, Charlie and Sue. I listened more hearing a strong heartbeat I placed as Leah's. Her heartbeat is strong, but not as strong as the rest of the packs. I smiled and closed my eyes when I heard the heartbeat I was looking for. My daughters thrumming hummingbird heart raced as she ran around the backyard. "Seth's not here." I informed her.
She jumped out of the car, her eyes wild with rage. "That dog!" She growled and spun towards the direction of Emily and Seth's house.
"Rose!" I called after her, but she was already gone.
"Is that her?" I heard Renesmee ask Leah.
Leah laughed, "Yes. I believe it is."
"Mom!" Renesmee called out. I heard her light footsteps as she ran around the side of the house. When she came into view she searched frantically for me.
"Over here." I walked out from behind the car. I turned quickly searching for Rosalie, but she was probably already threatening Seth.
"Your home!" Renesmee took off running towards me. She leaped into the air at the same time I reached out for her. I held her close to me as I walked into the house.
"I thought I heard the car pull in." Charlie smiled as he walked over to me. "Did you have fun?" He kissed my cheek then kissed Renesmee's.
"Yes it was a lot of fun."
"Why didn't you pick me up last night?" Renesmee asked me as she played with a strand of my hair.
"Well, we got home late. So we figured since you were already asleep that we'd come get you today." I told her.
"Well I wanted to come home last night." Renesmee wined.
"Relax, your going home today." I chuckled. "Were you a good girl?" I asked her just as Sue came out of the kitchen with a small baggie of cookies.
"She was a perfect angel." Sue said.
"Yeah, if you count an angel with devil horns." Leah snorted.
"Leah, isn't it time for you to go…" Sue glanced quickly at me then back to Leah, "Er, go patrolling?" I knew she was going to check in on Jacob. "Here, we made chocolate chip cookies. I saved some for Ness to take home and share with Alyssa."
"Thank you Sue." I knew I sounded distant because I was watching Leah walk out of the house. I put Renesmee down and pushed her towards Charlie. "I'll be right back."
"Your leaving again?" Renesmee easily got out of Charlie's grasp on her shoulders.
I pushed her back. "I need to ask Leah something." I turned quickly and caught Leah at the end of the driveway. "Leah wait a sec!"
She hadn't phased yet, so she turned to look at me. "Hurry up, if I don't phase around this time I will miss him. He only lets me check on him every few days."
"Where is he? How far away? Tell him I need to see him."
Leah shook her head. "No, Bella. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. The only reason I can get anything out of him is because if I ask him something in his wolf form he has no choice but to answer me. I'd hear it in his thoughts anyway. He's around. He wont strain too far from Renesmee. She's watched more closely than you think. He has to stay close in order to keep his pack in line. I cant do it all myself." Leah stepped out of her shoes, and I followed her into the woods.
"Please just tell him I miss him. I really want to see him again before we move. Tell him it's important to me. He can see Renesmee whenever he wants. Please let him know he doesn't have to hide in the shadows around her. She misses him too." I was almost begging.
"Bella, let him be." Leah ducked behind a bush, and it was ripped to shreds as the wolf took form.
"Leah!" I stood in front of her and she glared down at me. I grabbed the fur on both sides of her neck. She growled but didn't back away. "Jacob, I know you can hear me! We miss you, I miss you. Please come home." Leah whimpered and I knew Jacob was trying to make her move away from me. "Don't listen to him Leah! Jacob please just hear me out! We're not leaving for 7 more months. That's plenty of time for you to prepare yourself. Renesmee wants to see you." I knew it was hard for him to go against Renesmee's wishes. I had to try. Leah whimpered again and her head bowed, her nose touching the ground. "No, Jake." I whispered letting my hands drop. Leah shot an apologetic look before backing away. It seemed more like she was being dragged away. The Alpha has spoken and she had no choice but to obey him. I spun aggravated and snapped a tree in half.
"Bella?" Charlie reached for me, but I took Renesmee's hand and lead her towards the front door.
"Thank you for watching her. I'll see you later." I mumbled and dragged Renesmee out of the house.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Renesmee asked once the front door was closed behind us.
"Nothing for you to worry about. Lets go get Alyssa and Aunt Rosalie. I want to go home." I opened the back door for Renesmee to climb in. Luckily she didn't protest. She was quiet on the way to Emily and Sam's. I glanced at her every few seconds in the rearview mirror. She had her head resting on her fist as she stared out her window.
"Stay in the car please. I'm just going to get them, and we're leaving." Again Renesmee didn't protest like she usually does. I glanced back at her and her face was blank as she stared back at me. I reached back and touched her cheek. "I'm fine, I promise." I assured her before I got out of the car. I knocked on the door and Emily swung it open, rocking Jayden in her arms.
"Alyssa's out back with Sam and Seth. I think I heard Rosalie back there too." I kissed the top of Jayden's head.
"Thanks Em." I walked through the house and out the back door.
"Hey, Bella." Seth waved, grinning widely.
"Hi, Seth. Rose, leave him alone." I watched Rosalie as she clung to Alyssa.
"I'm not going to hurt him." Rosalie growled. "At least not with a child watching."
"Rosalie, stop wasting your time worrying about this. It's perfectly natural." Sam tried explaining to her. "She will have no idea until it's time for her to choose."
"I don't care. I don't want a werewolf as part of my family." She pulled Alyssa towards me and let her go when she ran over towards me. Alyssa wrapped her arms around my waist, and I hugged her back.
"Did you have fun?" I asked her.
"Yup! Where's Nessie?"
"She's waiting in the car. Go ahead in, we're right behind you." I watched her run around the house.
"Thank you Sam!" She called over her shoulder.
"Anytime, honey."
"Yes, thank you. Tell Emily I said bye." Rosalie smiled at Sam then glowered at Seth.
"Aunt Bella!" Alyssa ran as fast as she could towards me. "Renesmee's not in the car!" She said breathlessly. Rosalie quickly reached out and picked her up. Both our eyes searching for any sign of danger.
"Why would she listen to me?" I threw my hands in the air and ran towards the car. "Renesmee Carlie Cullen, get you tiny little butt back here, now!" I called out as soon as I reached the car. Her door was wide open. I didn't smell anything new. There was no sign of a struggle, no unfamiliar scent, just the smell of wolf. But that was nothing new considering where we were. "If you don't get over here I will go home and send your father out looking for you!" I waited again, but didn't hear her.
"Hold on, Bella." Sam growled. "I'll be right back." I watched Sam yank his shirt off as he dove into the trees.
"Get her in the car." I told Rosalie as I pointed to Alyssa. I didn't sense any danger, but I didn't want to chance it. Rosalie put Alyssa in the car and took the keys off the front seat locking it on her way back over to me. "Now why didn't I think of that." I didn't realize I needed to keep my daughter under lock and key, until now.
I was about to take out my cell phone and call Edward, but Sam walked out of the woods pulling his shirt back over his head. Behind him a wolf I knew well walked into view with Renesmee perched on his shoulders. Fire burned in my eyes, and I flew towards Jacob. "How dare you take her without my consent!" I leaped over Jacob and grabbed Renesmee on my way over him. Renesmee gasped at the sudden movement. I pulled her back so she was a good 2 yards away from Jacob.
"Mom." She whispered, her voice shaking. I released her arms, and turned my back on her.
"Get in the car." I was too mad to look at her.
"Sorry." She whispered. I looked over at Rosalie and she followed Renesmee. I unlocked the door and locked it again when Rosalie stepped neck to me, pressing the lock once more turning the alarm on.
"Don't you ever do anything like that again! If I don't rip you apart, her father will!" Jacob looked towards Sam and he stepped between Jacob and I. I stood up realizing I was in a crouch position.
"He didn't take her. He found her." Sam informed me.
"What?" I snapped.
"When I found Jacob, he told me he smelt Renesmee when he crossed her trail. He followed her when he didn't smell anyone with her. He found her and was bringing her back here."
"Oh." I looked down at the ground. "Sorry, Jake. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"Understandable." Sam answered for him. Jacob nudged his back, but he ignored him. "I would have reacted the same way if it was Jayden."
I looked up at Jacob. "Phase and talk to me." I pleaded.
"He wants to stay in his wolf form. He only showed up to bring her back." Sam obviously had this conversation with Jacob on their way back here. "I offered to take her back alone, but he wanted to make sure she got to you safe and sound." Sam added. Jacob backed towards the woods and turned his back on me.
"Jake, please." I reached out and my hand ran down his side.
"He's hurting, that's all." Sam placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
I nodded once, and locked my jaw. "If you excuse me I have to take my daughter home." Sam stepped out of my way and I stormed towards the car.
I got in the car and slammed my door. Both Renesmee and Alyssa jumped in their seats. The fire still burned red in my eyes. Without thinking I spun in my seat to glare at Renesmee. She cringed back in her seat. "What the hell were you thinking, going off like that on your own! Did you not realize the danger you could have put yourself in if Jacob didn't find you?" Renesmee looked down watching her hands as they fidgeted nervously in her lap. "Answer me!" I snapped at her. She dropped her chin lower, hiding her quivering bottom lip. I felt horrible for screaming at her, but she needs to realize the danger of being out like that on her own.
"No." Renesmee forced out, letting a sob out with her word.
"What happens if you had gotten lost? Remember what happened out on the cliff with Loretta?" I cringed at the witches name, but continued. "Danger comes out of nowhere, honey. You cant go wondering off like that."
"Nothing bad happened to me!" Renesmee's voice raised to a shriek.
"I can see I'm not going to get through to you." I sighed and turned around to start the car.
"Your telling daddy?" Renesmee's voice shook on the last word. "I wish something had taken me." Renesmee whispered too low to be talking to anyone.
"He going to be mad?" Alyssa whispered to Renesmee.
"Big yes. I'm as good as dead," Renesmee's voice got lower, "and my own mother is driving me to my fate."
"That's enough!" I growled. I heard Renesmee humph, and she turned her whole body away from me to look out the window. I moved the rearview mirror so I didn't have to see her pouting.
As soon as we pulled into the driveway Edward was waiting on the porch. His arms were tight across his chest. Renesmee swallowed loudly. Easy on her. She's already terrified. I met his gaze as I drove passed to the garage. He nodded once acknowledging that he heard me.
"Did you tell him?" Renesmee asked as she hesitated before getting out of the car. Before I could answer Edwards voice echoed through the garage.
"Miss Cullen." Edward's voice was cold.
"Take that as a yes." Renesmee stepped away from me. She took a deep breath when Edward walked into the garage, and let it out. "Hi dad."
Edward knelt down in front of her, "First off, welcome home." He kissed her cheek, and she sighed, relaxing. Edward read her thoughts and he shook his head. She stiffened again. "You and I are going to talk." He stood up and took her hand. Renesmee looked back at me. "No, she's not coming. She already said what she wanted to say to you. It's my turn now."
"I'm really good though. Mommy did enough yelling to last me a lifetime." Renesmee turned to walk into the house, but Edward grabbed her shoulders.
"She gave you the preview." Edward said as he guided her towards the woods. "We'll be back soon." Edward turned to look at me. I nodded and stood watching them disappear. I paced in the backyard until I found a boulder to sit on and wait until Edward and Renesmee came back.
"Bella?" I voice came from behind me. I jumped off the boulder, spinning towards the voice, and gasped.