*Edward and Bella*

As soon as Edward heard the front door close, signaling that Renesmee was on her way back to the cottage, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Well…that was far more interesting than I imagined…" He managed.

"Interesting hardly covers it." Bella stood from her chair and ventured to his side. Turning to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his face to rest against her stomach.

"Do you think she takes us seriously?" His voice was muffled by the fabric of her shirt. "I mean…more than she lets on?"

"Honey." Her hands found his face and lifted his chin upward so that their eyes met. "You think she doesn't?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure sometimes…she's hard to read, like you…and I get the feeling that she's a surface listener more often than not…and I'm not sure whether she takes the things we say with her."

Bella climbed into his lap and rested her forehead on his. "Edward, Ness is incredibly gifted…and smart, but she was right when she said that she's different. You've had a century to process your gifts, and learn how to use them…manage them. Renesmee is still very young. She hasn't had the time yet to figure out where to put the abundance of thoughts and emotions that are constantly floating around in her head. Even I struggle with that sometimes…having memories of my human life."

"True." He nodded. "But Ness isn't immortal yet...and I'm just not sure if—." He didn't finish the sentence.

Bella closed her eyes. "She's going to be able to handle it, Edward…all of it…even if we think it's too soon."

"To handle immortality?" he questioned her. "I think it's absolutely too soon for her to become immortal. There's so much she needs to learn."

"It's not up to us to decide when the moment comes…" her voice trailed. "It could happen anytime." She was silent for a few moments. "But, I think she'll accommodate immortality very well."

"I hope that she'll take after you." He admitted. "But I don't think that as a father, I'm ready for it to happen just yet."

"Let's not think about it for now." She stroked his hair and sighed. "We're going to have to find a way to deal with the situation with my mother."

Edward closed his eyes. "About that." He sighed. "Why on earth did you invite her to stay here in Forks? She's definitely suspicious now…after our glorious, spontaneous exit."

"What else could I do?" She looked at him. "All the information we needed on the phone was that Ness was missing…and we had a duty as her parents to find her. Furthermore, I wanted to try to act as human as possible!"

"She must have noticed the difference in you." He told her. "We aren't human, Bella…and though your IQ probably outnumbers your mother's, she's not an imbecile…I'm sure she's bombarding Charlie with questions...and I hope he's strong enough to resist."

"He's going to be fine." She reassured him. "I'm going to try to visit again tomorrow…if our daughter doesn't make disappearing a habit."

"Bella…we can't tell her."

Her expression became almost defiant. "I want her to know." She looked into his eyes, pleading for him to understand. "I don't want to lie to my mother…and I don't want to lie to Ness. Do you know how much it pains me to have lied to my mother for so long? Multiply that by ten. That's how much it hurts for me to lie to our daughter."

"Love." He ran the tips of his fingers down her arm and looked at her gently. "This is the life we have now…and our daughter is already struggling with who she is. Think about if we bring your mother into this…how difficult it will be for Renesmee to settle into existence as an immortal."

"I know." She said simply. "But I would like for her to have a relationship with her…like the one she has with Charlie. I think it's important."

"Charlie and your mother are entirely different when it comes to how they handle things." Edward went on. "You know that better than I do."

"Charlie's more laid back." She admitted. "But we'll never know how well my mother will deal with it unless we tell her."

"But are we willing to take that chance?" He sounded concerned. "For her to react badly and risk hurting Ness?"

Bella shook her head. "You're right." She linked her fingers with his. "I just wish there was an easier way."

"I know you do." He smiled a small, crooked smile. "Be patient." He turned his head upward and pressed his lips to hers for several long moments. As the kiss deepened, both of them felt a sense of urgency…a fill to a void that all day had gone unfilled. After today's events, they needed one another…

When the kiss broke, Bella's eyes were filled with intensity.

"Patience can wait…" Was all she managed, before grabbing his hand and heading up the stairs.