Chapter 8.
I felt the comforter over my body and Edward's hand stroking my back. I cuddled deeper into his chest and sighed.
"Good morning." He said. I looked up at his face and tilted my head to the side.
"Morning?" I asked. I looked out the windows, the sun had not risen yet.
He laughed. "It's 3:30. In past experiences my line would be 'go back to sleep', but that can't really apply anymore."
I laughed, looking up into his charcoal eyes. "Do you want to go hunt?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbow.
"Do you, love?" He asked, kissing me on my forehead.
"Hmm." I contemplated. "I think that would be nice."
He nodded and shifted his weight under me. "But what about Renesmee?" I asked, "What if she wakes up and gets scared because we aren't here."
"I can listen for her." He answered, referring to monitoring her mind. He slipped out of bed wearing only his flannel, plaid pajama pants, which I was wearing the top to. I spread myself out across my bed and kicked the blanket off of me with a feeling of freedom. I stretched my muscles and rolled my head over to look at Edward. I pouted my lips and patted the bed next to me. Edward gave a dramatic sigh and climbed back into bed. He hovered over me for a few moments, waiting for me to make the next move. I rolled my eyes and pulled him down on top of me. That was all the encouragement he needed.
I tangled my hand in his hair and hooked my other thumb into the waist band of his pants. His hands were roaming under my shirt but abruptly froze. Moments later I heard a creak from the room over.
Edward abruptly rolled off of me and threw the comforter over me. The comforter settled just as the door began opening. Edward's arm was behind my head and I was curled up onto his shoulder.
"Hi, Sweetheart." I greeted Renesmee, "Is everything okay? It three in the morning?"
She shook her head sleepily and came to sit between me and Edward. "I had a nightmare." She explained, "I was in the forest with Jacob and then he howled but I couldn't find him…then I woke up." I searched her face to see if she had any traces of fear left over. She placed her hand on my cheek and showed me her night mare.
She was in a forest, her and Jacob were hunting, and she heard him howl. She went to go find him, but he wasn't there. I could feel her fear and anxiety, her nervousness for Jacob.
Edward reached down and scooped her up. Her head took the spot mine used to occupy as she curled into his shoulder. I began tracing light circles on her back like Edward used to do to me after I had a nightmare. Edward then began humming a song. It wasn't her lullaby, it was a new song. I could feel her body relax as she drifted off into sleep. Soon her heart beat slowed, and her breathing evened out.
I smiled to Edward and lay back onto my pillow. If anybody else had interrupted Edward and me, I would have been very upset, but Renesmee's interruption made me happy. Every second I spent with her only made my life better, happier. She was a joy of my life I had never even dreamed of having.
Edward brushed his fingers across my cheekbone. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you, more." I teased. He just rolled his eyes.
Renesmee woke up and was a bouncing, ball of energy. She could not sit still. She was jumping on our bed, skipping down the hallway, and leaping over the pond outside.
"I knew we shouldn't have told her that her party was today." Edward said under his breath. I only laughed in reply. I was determined to get Alice's approval.
She had been working so hard on these parties for the past month, I wanted to do something to make her happy. Although it pained me to spend so much time agonizing over which clothes to wear, I knew it was for a good cause. I flipped through garment bags and drawers at vampire speed. Edward walked around our massive closet at human speed, watching me.
"Here, let me help." He offered scrounging through my dresser. I lightly slapped his hand,
"No. I'm going to get this." I said stubbornly, tucking my bangs behind my ear.
I finally found a dress I thought would be nice. The brown, orange, and tan patterns on the dress looked like they had been painted on. They appeared to be in a brush stroke pattern. It had spaghetti straps and, although it wouldn't be too cold for me, I found an orange sweater to go with it.
I slipped the dress on over my head and stuffed my arms through the sweater. Searching for shoes, I saw a pair of knee high, brown, suede boots. Honestly, this closet was full. It was massive, but Alice had no problem filling it with new clothes every few months.
"Good?" I asked Edward, worried about the little fashion sense I had.
"Everything looks great on you." Edward complimented, reaching for my hand.
"Okay…Lets go!" Renesmee instructed.
"Renesmee, are you sure you don't want to get something to eat?" Edward asked on our run back to the house.
Renesmee gave Edward a terribly sarcastic glance before darting ahead, running full speed. Edward and I were running at vampire speeds but taking it slow.
Reaching the large open space next to the house, I saw what Alice had been planning. There was a massive, white party tent set up on the yard. I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Did you know?" I asked Edward. He nodded sheepishly.
I couldn't believe Alice would go all out. I could see Alice's petite body under the tent. She was drawing on a huge clipboard, covered with sheets of paper, lists, and phone numbers. I ran over to her.
"Really, Alice? A tent?" I asked.
"Do you like it?" She asked, beaming. "Don't you just feel so…royal under here?"
"Like a princess." I answered her. She pouted, slightly upset by my sarcastic remark before her eyes lit up. She was taking in my outfit.
"Bella…" She breathed, amazed. "Your outfit is great! Did you actually put this together?"
"Mhm." I nodded proudly, ignoring her blatant comment towards my fashion ability. She held her clipboard, poster board, party planner in one arm and extended the other. She wrapped me into a tight hug.
"I'm so proud!" She exclaimed before walking off into the house. I looked around the tent; there was a long table on the side towards the house, a step ladder on the other side, and a photo station set up on the side near the forest. She really had everything planned out perfectly. No matter how dark it was, she could turn on the lights in the house to be able to see whatever was going on the table. If Emmett lifted you up on the step ladder you would be able to reach the top of the tent. Also, the lights and camera station were facing the right way to use the forest as the backdrop.
"You do look even more beautiful than usual, if that is even possible." Edward whispered into my ear. I felt something touch right at the base of my neck, and his fingers on the back of my neck. I looked down and fingered the necklace he had just put on me. It had two charms on it, a key and a heart locket. It was made out of gold.
I hadn't taken a breath since I felt it against my neck. I didn't say anything.
Edward dropped his fingers from the back of my neck and rested his hands on my shoulders.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
I spun quickly in his arms and tackled him to the ground. I slammed my lips against his and pushed every inch of my body as close to his as possible.
Nestling my head into his shoulder, I whispered, "I love it." I could feel his smile against the skin on my neck.
"Wow." I heard Emmett's loud voice from inside the house. A moment later the voice came from right behind me. "This is great." He said. Then there was a bright flash of light and a clicking noise.
A growl rumbled low in Edward's chest as I deftly maneuvered myself off of him, while standing up, in one fluid motion.
Emmett was holding a small, silver digital camera in his enormous hands. I knew that with a flick of his fingers the camera could be a small pile of metallic dust.
"Awww. Emmett, did Alice buy you a present?" I said in a baby voice.
"Yes." He mimicked back, sneering at me.
"No she didn't." Edward said, "It was Renesmee's present from Esme."
The benefits of having a mind reader as a husband. I thought, removing my shield. I saw Edward smile.
"Emmett, I suggest you leave before I bring up some of the rendezvous I have seen in your mind between you and Rose." Edward suggested. He generally didn't use his mind reading as a threat, even though it was.
Emmett's face was priceless. He gasped once before darting back into the house. Edward chuckled and pulled me towards the house.
Alice was sitting in the living room. I could hear Esme in the kitchen. I walked over to the couch and sat next to Alice, careful not to jostle her in the least. She was sketching out a picture.
"Alice, why is Esme in the kitchen?" I asked her. Edward sat at my feet, leaning on my knees.
"She's making a cake." Alice answered matter-of-factly, drawing with light strokes on the page.
"A cake? But none of us-" I was cut off by Edward.
"Alice says that Jacob and Seth are coming. Also that it is a birthday party, there will be cake. Whether the guests eat or not." He smiled up at me. It was just like Alice to have a monstrosity of a cake for a party of people who won't eat it. I giggled.
Alice's body stiffened for a few moments and then relaxed. "Esme, don't use that sugar." Alice called to Esme in the kitchen.
"Alice, at Renesmee's party. Well, other party…what did you see when she first came in?"
"Oh, I saw Renee and Phil getting lost." She explained. "I asked Jacob to show them the way back to the hotel." I nodded slowly, I was glad she did that. I would have felt terrible if they got lost.
"Alice, do you want us to do something?" Edward asked.
"No, I still haven't decided on a color scheme yet." She said nonchalantly. I was shocked. The party would be starting in less than twenty four hours. This wasn't like Alice at all. "I liked the flower theme, but no other flowers are as pretty as roses…" She trailed off.
"Daisies, tulips, lilacs, sunflowers, lilies…" I began listing flowers. Abruptly Alice sat up and turned her head to face me.
"Lilies." She murmured.
"They aren't in season, Alice." Edward pointed out.
"Yes, they are." Alice said.
"No, Alice, they aren't." I backed Edward up. A slow smile crept across Alice's face.
"I didn't say they had to be in season here." She stated, smiling at Edward. Edward groaned.
Please review! This chapter isn't interesting, I know. I really just needed a filler chapter. I couldn't just jump from party to party. Well, I could, but I didn't want to. I'm writing another one right now so it will be up soon. Please, Review!!
*To the anonymous reviewer Ben: Thank you so so so much for your reviews. They made me feel great and actually inspired me to continue writing into this next chapter. Also, I don't know exactly how I can email you. If you want to give me your email address I could. Or, if you want, you can join on fanfiction. You don't have to publish anything, you can just read. That way you can get email alerts whenever Roaming the Horizon, or any other stories you like, get updated. Thank you so much to all the other reviewers as well. Especially BellaandI1andthesame and Dakka, your multiple reviews make me so happy.