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Chapter 2

The Hunt

I was lying down in the middle of our bed, splayed out on my stomach, ankles crossed, reading a novel when he walked back into the cottage. I had smelled all three of them when they were still a long way off, the breeze mingling earth and forest with their own essence, but I smiled – knowing they would be home soon.

"I ran ahead." He said simply, the corner of his mouth turned into a smile, as he bent down to plant a chaste kiss on my cheek. I pouted, but only for a moment, knowing the reasons behind his fortitude.

"How did she do?" I asked, and he responded, both knowing what the answer was before the question was even asked. Renesme excelled at everything, just like her father.

"Wonderful. She is a natural, but it was a little tense. Jacob was a wreck the whole time. His mind flashed to so many worst case scenarios. I was almost nervous." Edward sat on the bed chuckling and pushed my loose curls out of my eyes.

"Bella? How do you read with all that hair in your face?" he asked. I rolled my eyes in response.

"What? I can't ask you a question?" he was teasing me, now rubbing my cheek with the side of his hand his amber eyes glistening.

"Just tell me you like my hair tied up versus pretending you don't know with my eyesight I could read this book through a waterfall and do fine." My tone was measured, but as I leaned into his fingers caressing my cheek we both quieted waiting for the stragglers.

Jacob bounded in the door, his graying temples still a shock to me. Renesme was right behind, and I smiled hugely at both of them, walking up to hug them both, first as one, and then separately.

"Hello Hummingbird." Renesme looked at me, squarely in the eyes, and her chocolate eyes danced at our private nickname as she grinned. "Dad says you're a natural. As if I expected anything else. "I said.

Renesme hugged me again, and said quietly into my neck, "Yeah, Mom. I can do it. But it doesn't mean I have to like it."

I loved that she still cuddled with me and whispered secrets, knowing full well both her father and husband could hear her perfectly. As touching as the moment was, I laughed a little, and Renesme looked up at me, clearly hurt.

"Sweetheart, not you too! I am not laughing at you. I promise." I pulled her close again and looked at Edward over his shoulder. His eyes were laughing with mine, although no other part of his face gave him away. He didn't have to be a mind reader to know what I was thinking – she sounds just like me when she's unhappy.

Jacob was, in many ways, still the teenager I knew in my youth. He was well over one hundred, but when in human form, looked to be in his early sixties. He chimed in to break the tension. "Come on you two. Break it up. Nessie, we need to get going if you are going to be ready for the family tonight. "Jacob smiled knowingly at Edward.

Nessie reached up and touched my face briefly, and communicated her silent complaints. There were many more today than usual, but she ended her show with the image of a large pink heat, almost comical in its cartoon likeness and size, her symbol for I love you.

"I love you too. See you tonight." I kissed her cheek as she took Jacob's hand to go.

The door closed and Edward and I waited several minutes before we spoke. He was holding up one finger to me, asking me to wait, while he listened to something far away. I was instantly tense, but we melted the tension with a smile, shaking his head to let me know it was nothing to worry about.

"They ok? " I asked him, knowing he was reading either Renesme or Jacob's thoughts as they left.

"Yes. She is anxious about all of Jacob's new requirements. She thinks he's overreacting. He's anxious she doesn't take him seriously. They are just both really …scared. "Edward answered as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

"I am worried about them. Jacob has lived longer than the rest of the Quileute pack by almost fifty years. She has to realize that being with her is the only reason he's still here." I said. The gene that made Jacob shift into a wolf seemed to activate when vampires were around and slowed the aging process.

Luckily for all of us, the gene didn't differentiate between half vampires and full fledged vampires. His constant presence in Renesme's life, and eventual marriage for the last seventy years, had literally kept him alive by slowing the aging process.

Edward kissed the side of my neck. "I know, love. And so does she. But she can't bear the thought of being without him. She's still trying to grasp the idea of it, and I am sure it's hard to think of losing him when he seems relatively healthy now. "

"I know. It's hard for me to think about. Jacob has been a part of us for so long now. I can't imagine what any of us will do without him. But, my heart breaks for Renesme." I turned to hug Edward, both knowing the undercurrent of the conversation – our daughter was about to face what we ourselves could not handle – separation.

"It will work out. I don't know how. But we will be there for her and help them both through this." Edward hugged me tighter and I squeezed back.