Yes, I know it's been a really long time since I've updated but the next couple of chapters will come quickly! Enjoy!
I ran back with a heavy heart. It must have showed all over my face.
"What is it love?" Edward gently inquired as we sped through the forest. Rather than answer I pulled my shield aside, allowing him to follow my train of thoughts.
How long could we do this? I knew that Renesmee and Jake had to be together, but how long could we ask the wolves to stand by while their sworn enemies flocked to the area? Why did I feel like there was something else happening that was just beyond my grasp?
I jumped over logs, through the greenery and approached the Cullen's house. Holding hands we slowed down and walked through the front door. Carlisle and Esme sat reading in the living room.
"Where's Renesmee?" The words flew off my lips.
"She wanted to go hunting" Carlisle said gently.
"Alone?" Edward said quickly, overlapping Carlisle's words. I turned to leave again.
"It seemed like she needed some space" Esme said gently.
"Don't you think…" I started.
"Why don't you give her some time" Carlisle replied softly. "She is already facing massive physical and emotional change, in addition to dealing with uncertain emotions for Jacob and the pain he must be feeling."
I hesitated, allowing my mind to quickly turn over hundreds of situations and possibilities.
"It can't be easy for her, love" Edward said, quietly enough for only me to hear. "It certainly was not easy for me to see you go through pain or…figure out things when I fell in love."
I turned to look at him, molten gold in his eyes, and nodded sadly. It was true, there was only so much we could do to help her get through the pain she was facing.
I sighed. "Ok, let's go back to the cottage to wait for her. No, wait" I stopped myself, turning to Carlisle and Esme. "Carlisle, I wanted to get your perspective on something."
I told him about our discussion with Sam, my reservations about bringing more vampires into the area, and the growing feeling that I was missing something in the equation. I told him the decision I had been coming to, the conviction that our family should change location, not just for the wolves' sake, but for our own as well.
"Well, I completely understand your unease, Bella" Carlisle said pensively. "We'll have to talk to Jacob about this, as it is his allegiance that will be stretched by being away from the pack."
"Of course," I replied. "Though it will be difficult in the condition that Jake's dad is in right now. We could never ask him to leave in the middle of this."
"Why don't you go check on Billy, but please do call he needs my assistance," Carlisle urged gently. "I know they prefer me not to work on him with so many of the tribe present, but I want to do all I can to ease his pain." Carlisle looked from Esme to Edward. "In the meantime we'll call a family meeting about the possibility of moving."
Edward pulled me to him, tilting my face up to kiss me gently before murmuring, "I'll be here if you need me." He gazed deeply into my eyes and I felt the stirrings of desire before the logical side of my brain pulled me back to the situation at hand and I turned to go to Jake. I sped through the forest alone this time, stopping at the border to wait for my 'escort'.
"Hey, Leah," I called out into the forest. "I know you don't want me here, but I was hoping I could come and see Billy. I really want to see if he's okay." My voice cracked with emotion. I heard her loping through the woods toward me. "Thank you."
A slight shimmer sifted the air as she phased back to her human self. "Don't thank me yet," she said, gruffly. "You haven't seen Billy. He's…in much worse shape than he seems to think." I could tell that through her tough façade, she was just as worried about Billy as I was. "Come on, let's go on foot."
Tense as our relationship always was, she had developed a grudging friendship with me, especially now that we were technically step-sisters.
Billy was much worse than Jake or any of the rest of the tribe was willing to admit. As soon as I walked into the nearly silent house, I heard the weakness of Billy's heartbeat, the ragged breaths he took as he struggled against the pain. I called Carlisle as soon as Jake would let me.
After doing a cursory check with an increasingly serious expression on his face, Carlisle convinced Jake to take Billy to a hospital.
"Billy has advanced stomach cancer" Carlisle explained slowly to Jake after running a few tests. "It must have been hurting him for months, maybe even years." He sighed slowly, "I'm sorry Jake, but his condition is too advanced to treat. We can keep him comfortable and give him drugs so he doesn't feel pain, but…" Carlisle trailed off, sorrow etched into his flawless face.
"How long?" Jake said roughly.
Carlisle hesitated, taking a deep breath and letting out slowly before answering quietly, "A few days, maybe a week. I'm so sorry Jacob."
Jacob crumpled at his words, staggering until I helped guide him to a seat, Carlisle's words seeming to wound him physically.