Again, I don't own any of these characters. Enjoy!


The scenery of Alberta, Canada flashed by as we left Banff National Park toward Calgary in the dwindling cloudy light. Renesmee dozed in the backseat of our car, a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid we got for the trip. I smiled to myself thinking of this 'little' parting gift from the whole family, and approved by Jacob. He wanted Renesmee to be comfortable for all the time in the car, but had to meet our pre-conditions. Edward wanted to drive fast, and I just wanted something where we wouldn't have to stop for gas every few hours. Plus, why not help the environment all that we could? We were the ones that would be facing the effects several hundred years from now!

Edward turned to me, smiling my favorite crooked smile, "It was nice to see the Denali family again. Looks like their family is growing too."

I smiled thinking of our visit. "It was good to see them," I frowned, a twinge of jealously entering my mind. "Though it seemed like Tanya still…thinks of you."

He chuckled quietly at my jealousy for a match he claims never to have interest in. "She has never meant anything to me other than a fellow sister. Though I was sad to see their continued grief for Irina." He glanced back at Renesmee. "She's tired out from trying to be a vampire all the time. We should stop soon and get a room so she can sleep properly."

I nodded my agreement. I had almost forgotten what it meant for excitement to tire me. We pulled the car off to the highway into a city. I was amused to look at the sign:

Medicine Hat

Population: 60,000

"Canada's Sunniest City"

I raised an eyebrow at Edward "Canada's 'sunniest city'? Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Don't worry, I'll give Alice a call later to see the weather. If it doesn't look good, we'll just leave at dawn." He picked up my hand and kissed it gently "We'll be fine."

I was still on edge from the visit. It was wonderful to see Garrett with amber eyes, comfortable and happy with Kate and his new family, though he still had some difficulty with the 'vegetarian' diet. However, they had raised other concerns in my mind.

As Renesmee slept in another room a few nights ago, we sat around their dining room table, Carmen and Eleazar, Kate and Garrett, and Tanya, who sat closer to Edward than I felt comfortable.

"We have heard rumors," Carmen started. "Some nomads who have come through this part, interested in our way of life have told us of the rumblings in the vampire circles. They speak of your intention to overthrow the Volturi and establish a new order of life. Some seem interested, others angry."

"Carmen," Edward countered, "We never intended to directly challenge the Voluturi. If they hadn't threatened our child, we would still remain out of focus."

"Maybe, maybe not." Eleazar replied, glancing back at the bedroom where Renesmee slept soundly. "Your family has a great concentration of powers. You also have very strong allies in the wolves, as well as Carlisle's connections within the vampire world. This rising power in America cannot long be ignored by the Volturi. Though they might not have the power now, we have seen that they will not be stopped from protecting their 'rule' even without the façade of leadership, though it pains me to say it." Eleazar was still having difficulty thinking of the Volturi as the 'bad guys' since he was once one of them. In the mean time, my fears had risen exponentially though Edward downplayed the threat.

Ignorant to my train of thought, Edward interrupted my reverie, "we're here, love." I looked up to see a non-descript hotel. "I'll go check us into a room." He leaned over and kissed me gently before getting out of the car with practiced slowness, careful not to attract unnecessary attention. I sighed, pushing the memory from my head and got out to open the back door, gently waking Renesmee.

She was grumpy from her nap and not hungry since we hunted in the national park earlier in the day. We went straight up to the room, though it was still early. Renesemee, after quickly calling Jake to check-in that we were all ok, fell into bed, barely bothering to change clothing. Edward smiled at her sleeping form and took my hand, leading me out into the main room of our suite. I closed the door gently and turned to see him inches from my face. He took my face in his hands, kissing me softly.

"We'll face the rumors," he said. Evidently he had been paying more attention to me in the car than I thought. "I talked to Carlisle while you put Nessie to sleep. He was interested, but didn't seem overly worried. We're both sure that it is just a passing rumor that time will end. Alice has been looking into the decisions of the Voluturi and, aside from a recent acquisition, they haven't made any choice related to us."

"A recent acquisition?" Fear strained through my voice. Edward looked into my eyes, still able to dazzle me after two years of marriage.

"Stop being afraid that some catastrophic thing is about to happen!" He said with humor coloring his voice. "The Volturi normally make adjustments every few years. They might add another member if they find a vampire with a more potent power than members of their current guard, or if they want to try out someone's addition to the guard to see what they could contribute. It is the way the guard has become so strong over the past 1500 years!" He took me in his arms, as always a calming force.

"I'm just worried, Edward." I said weakly.

"I know," he replied. "But I can think of much better things to occupy your mind tonight than needless fears about the Volturi."

"Our daughter is in the other room!" I said through a clenched jaw.

"And soundly asleep" he replied solumly. "Dreaming of mountains and lakes, moose and grizzlies. And one very annoying wolf" he added, frowning.

"Come on, Jake has been very good. He's only run to check on us once!" I joked, surprised when he had suddenly appeared at the Denali coven's door after we had been gone only three days.

"I'm impressed actually" Edward responded. He hurried on as my eyebrow raised. Could Edward actually be coming to accept Jake's future role in our family? "I just mean that it seems like his connection to Nessie has become more attuned as we go further away. Like yesterday when she was sad yesterday that we had to leave the Denali coven. He called right away because he knew something was wrong. Its an interesting phenomenon to watch, how the imprinter reacts to his object being far away."

"Well I think he's doing a great job. I'm glad that we can at least take away the pressure from Renesmee for a little while" I replied. In the few weeks leading up to our trip, Edward had read that Renesmee's thoughts became more and more uncertain regarding Jake. He was a friend to be sure and she didn't have many of those, but was there something else she should be feeling? She kept wondering if she should see Jake the way that I explained my connection to Edward.

I sighed as Edward hugged me tighter. "Leave it for now, love" he urged me. "Renesmee is safe with us and a psychic looking out her. There are more pressing issues on my mind." He smirked, softly kissing my lips and then becoming more and more intense as we made our way to the couch.

For more details on what came next in Bella and Edward's night, go to my more 'mature' FanFiction "Burning Rain: The Addition", Chapter 2.