The man standing in front of me took me by utter surprise. His long hair was matted, obvious it hasn't been brushed in a very long time. His arms tight at his sides with his hands in fists. "Jacob." I sighed.
"I just wanted to make sure Nessie was ok." He stood straight, his chest pushed out. His posture reminded me of a soldier standing at attention. His eyes never met mine, they stared at something over my head.
"Edward has her. She'll be fine." I could only whisper.
"Bella." Emmett walked towards me cautiously.
"I'm fine, Emmett. Thank you." I waved my hand for him to back off. Jasper joined him as they stood at the far end of the yard.
"You didn't just come here to check on her." I took a step closer to Jacob.
"No." Jacob closed his eyes. When his breathing was normal, he opened them. "I miss you guys. I thought I could stay away, but I cant."
"You don't have to stay away." My voice was pleading with him. I closed the space between us in one quick stride and wrapped my arms tightly around him. Both of us stiffened from the difference in our body temperatures, but neither dared to push the other off. Jacob's arms relaxed as he brought them up to encircle me.
"I know I'm going to regret this when it's time for you to leave," Jacob took a deep breath, and let it out. "but it's something I can deal with. As long as you promise to let her go without a fight when it's time."
"I wont fight it, but I wont like it either. Also, as long as it's all her decision." I compromised.
"I can handle that." Jacob smiled against the top of my hair.
"Can I go save her from the wrath of her father?" Jacob asked letting his arms drop as he took a step towards the trees where Edward and Renesmee disappeared.
"No, let him talk to her. She's been quite a handful without you around." I shook my head.
Jacob chuckled. "Renesmee with be Renesmee. Too much like her mother."
"I am not that stubborn."
"Nope not at all. That's why you almost killed yourself just to hear your bloodsuckers voice, weren't you that stubborn girl that wouldn't let me close enough to you because you were desperately holding onto someone you thought would never come back, or how about your tantrum to get him to sit out with you during the newborn fight, or maybe the fact that Renesmee is here because of your stubbornness to not be a virgin when you became a vampire, or how about-"
I clapped my hand over his mouth, "Ok, I get it!"
"Just stating the obvious." Jacob shrugged. "That's the one thing I like best about her."
"Jacob!" Renesmee screamed when she came back into the yard. She was on Edwards back, both of them were smiling from something they were talking about. I was glad to see he wasn't too hard on her. Edward let go of her legs and she slid off his back. Before she could run Edward pulled her back and whispered something into her ear. "I know!" She said through her teeth.
I stepped aside giving her a clear path to Jacob. I staggered backwards a step not ready for the weight that was now wrapped around me. "Jacob's over there." I pulled at Renesmee's arms locked around my waist.
"I know." She mumbled against my shirt. She smiled my favorite smile, her brown eyes gleamed up at me. "I'm sorry mom, I promise I will never do that again. Ever."
"What did your father say to you?" I asked, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. Her arms stayed locked around me.
"Nothing much." She smirked. She glanced quickly over her shoulder at a fidgety Jacob.
"Go." I whispered and winked at her.
She spun around quickly and Jacob knelt on one knee. Renesmee smiled and burst into a sprint across the space between Jacob and I. He held his form as she slammed into him. "Don't ever leave me!" She cried out. Her voice mumbled against his neck.
"I'll be here, always." He whispered back to her.
"You were gone for a long time. Why didn't you stay and listen to us? We aren't leaving for a while still. Plus Aunt Alice saw mom's decision to come visit as soon as we get settled." Renesmee said as she looked into his eyes. Her hands tight on his broad shoulders.
"I'm sorry I didn't stop and listen. I was upset that you guys were leaving."
Renesmee rolled her eyes. "Well get over it! We're not leaving till June."
Jacob threw his head back as he laughed. "Yes ma'am." He stood up and Renesmee locked her arms around his neck so he had no choice but to pick her up.
"Well lets get inside." Edward motioned for Jacob to walk ahead of us. "There are a few people inside waiting to see you." He said to Renesmee. She put her head on Jacob's shoulder as they walked towards the house.
"What did you say to her out there?" I said too low for Jacob or Renesmee to hear me.
Edward reached down and threaded his fingers through mine.
"Well, there were a lot of tears, some yelling, a tantrum or two… all from her. I knew she needed to let go of some of the anger she had bottled up. I've been picking up hints in her thoughts that she was mad at us for Jacob's disappearance, but she didn't even know she was blaming us, so I didn't call her out on it. Not until today. She needed to yell and scream at one of us, and I wasn't about to let it be you."
"How did you get her to open up and let it all out like that?" I asked.
"Easy, I knelt in front of her and told her flat out that she wants to blame someone for Jacob, well she can blame me. She was taken back by that because she knows not to talk back to either one of us. So I started yelling at her telling her I was mad at her for walking away from you the way she did. She got upset with that, and I told her to start yelling back. She got even more angry when she yelled at me and I yelled back. She had to get it out one way or the other. I waited for her to calm herself down, and when she did she was ready to talk calmly." Edward smiled obviously extremely happy with himself. I couldn't help but laugh.
"You did good." I stopped him and he leaned down to kiss me.
"I'm home!" Renesmee yelled as soon as Jacob walked through the front door.
"Nessie!" Esme crooned as she walked out of the kitchen.
"There's my girl!" Carlisle walked down the stairs with a book in his hand.
"Welcome home squirt." Emmett said from the couch.
"I see you brought the dog in with you." Rosalie groaned. She got off the couch and walked upstairs.
Jacob leaned down to put Renesmee on the floor, but she clung to him like a monkey. "Er, Ness." Jacob, still bent over, let go of Renesmee and she hung with her arms and legs glued to his neck and waist. "You can let go now." He stood up straight.
"No way! You'll leave again if I let go of you." Renesmee shook her head fiercely, her curls swiping across Jacob's face. He reached up taking her head in his hands.
"I'm not going anywhere. Go say hi to everyone."
"Hi everyone!" Renesmee turned in Jacob's arms to wave.
"Not what I meant." Jacob smiled.
Renesmee wiggled and Jacob put her down. She tugged at his arm and he followed her. With one of her hands in Jacob's, she walked around the room hugging everyone.
"Alyssa, I think it's time for bed." Rosalie said after the movie was over. She was curled up in Emmett's lap on the recliner, already half asleep. She turned in Emmett's arms wrapping her arms around his neck, and he stood up to bring her upstairs.
"You too, nudger." I leaned down, poking her in her ribs. She was half asleep, her head on Edwards lap with her legs laying across Jacob's lap.
"Can Jakey tuck me in?" Renesmee looked up at Edward and he looked at me.
Say yes. He's fine with her. They haven't seen each other in a while. It will mean a lot to both of them.
"Yes, Jacob can tuck you in." Edward smiled down at Renesmee.
"Seriously?" Both Renesmee and Jacob said at the same time.
"Yes. Now go before I change my mind." Edward tickled Renesmee stomach and she got up. Standing on the couch she leaned forward wrapping her arms around my neck. She brought her left hand to my cheek.
I know you told him to say yes. You're the best mother in the entire world. She smiled up at me as she showed me her remembering the first time I held her after my first hunting trip. "I love you." She whispered, and pulled her hand away.
"I love you too, sweetheart." I kissed her forehead. "Bedtime."
"Right." She nodded, and Jacob stood up. He turned his back on her and she jumped on. Jacob turned to smile at Edward and I before turning to walk upstairs.
"Thank you, both of you." Jacob said when he came back down.
"I didn't do it for you." Edward said coldly.
"I know, but thank you for doing it for her."
"Are you staying the night?" I asked ignoring Edwards attitude.
"No, I think I should go check in with Leah and the rest of the pack. I'll be back before Renesmee wakes up." Jacob started walking towards the door and stopped, spinning back to look at us. "As long as that's ok with you guys."
"Yes, you know you are always welcome here." I said. Edward growled, but let it go. Jacob walked over to me and pulled me against him.
"Thanks Bells." He whispered.
"Good night Jacob." Edward grumbled.
"See ya." Jacob leaned to look passed me and smirked at Edward. He kissed my cheek, and Edward was at my side.
"Dog, you best get moving before I change my mind." Edward growled.
"Leave him alone." I snapped at Edward.
"It's ok Bells, I'll see you in a few hours. If Ness wakes up let her know I'll be back."
"I will." I told him.
"What was that all about?" Edward asked as soon as Jacob was out of sight.
"Lets just say, even though Renesmee is young, I know how she feels. I wont stand in the way of her feelings for Jacob. They've got a bond that nothing in this world can sever."
Edward pulled me towards our room and sat me on the bed. "How do you know how she feels?"
"You left me once remember." I said looking down and fidgeting with the comforter.
Edward placed his hand over mine, and hooked the other under my chin to make me look up at him. "Yes, I remember."
"Well, Renesmee didn't want to let Jacob out of her sight tonight because she feared he would disappear on her on soon as she turned her back. Just like when I saw you. I didn't want to let you out of my sight because I knew you were going to disappear as soon as you had the chance."
"I understand, but she's too young for all that." Edward moved our bodies so we were laying down.
"No she's not. She's plenty old enough to understand the pain of losing someone she loves. No she doesn't love him the way I loved you when you left, but it's the thought that counts."
"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."
"Why are you so against Jacob being around Renesmee?" I asked. I know I didn't really feel comfortable with the idea of him imprinting, but it was something I could deal with.
"Because when he's around her I feel like I'm losing her. She's growing up quickly and all too soon I know I will be letting her go for good. When Jacob's around, my little girl isn't my little girl anymore." Edward rolled away from me and stared up at the ceiling.
"Edward." I whispered and leaned over his chest to look into his eyes. "I had no idea you thought of it that way." I paused, but he didn't look at me. "Edward, she adores you. You are her father, that's something Jacob can never compete with. No matter what ties Jacob and Renesmee together, your tie to her is stronger than anything else. She's a part of you just as much as she's a part of me. Jacob would never try and step in our place. He wants her to be safe just as much as we want her safe."
"I know, it's silly really, but I cant help but think it." Edward sighed. He brought his hands down and held me closer to him.
"You see inside her head more than anyone else. Does she forget about you when he's around?"
"No. She constantly has both of us on her mind. I don't think there is a single second where she's not thinking about either of us." Edward smiled down at me.
"See, nothing to worry about." I stretched my neck and kissed him. He rolled over so he was on top of me.
"Mrs. Cullen, do you know how much I love you?" Edward asked against my neck.
"Not as much as I love you." I answered him giggling.
"Your wrong." He growled and his lips molded with mine eagerly.
"Prove it." I said against his lips. His hands moved quickly shredding our clothes.