Cold hands touched my face and neck softly. Someone's fingers pressed lightly against the inside of my right wrist. "She'll be fine." I heard my grandfather say. His voice was close, probably the one checking my pulse.
"What's wrong with her?" That was Derek's frantic voice. I should be the one worried about him. Not the other way around.
"Don't worry, Derek. She took in too much information at once. Bella used to do this to me all the time. She'll wake up when she's ready." I heard my dad's soft velvety voice.
"Ness, honey, I will never let anything happen to you. You're perfectly safe. I need you to open your eyes." Jacob whispered into my ear. I felt his warm hand replace the cold touch of my grandfather. He laced his fingers in mine and I gave a slight squeeze to let him know I heard him. "She squeezed my hand." He informed everyone. Then I felt his breath on my neck. "Open those beautiful brown eyes for me." He pleaded. It was hard to resist when he spoke like that.
My eyes fluttered then opened.
Jacob's hands were cradling my face and his smile was the first thing I saw. "That a girl." He sighed.
"I'm scared." I whispered. I knew it took everyone by surprise. I was not one to admit to something like that. My dad walked over to me, pulling my mom along with him. I'm guessing he's taking advantage of what little time they had left together by not letting her go. She didn't seem to mind. I rolled to my side giving him room to sit on the couch in front of me. He pulled my mom down on his lap.
"There is nothing for you to be scared of. No one is going to let anything happen to either of you."
"What about Alyssa? Is she coming too?" I asked and looked around the room until I found Aunt Rosalie.
She shook her head and took a deep breath before she spoke. "The volturi know nothing about her. As long as no one touches Aro, they will never know about her. She's going to La Push. She'll be safe there." Aunt Rosalie looked at her sister, looking for reassurance. Aunt Alice nodded in agreement. "They are only interested in Renesmee and Derek."
"Great," I groaned. "I'm such an idiot."
"No you're not. I got through the Volturi alive when Alice and I…" My mom trailed off and wrapped her arms around my dad's neck and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"You saw the Volturi when you were a human?" I asked.
"Yes," My dad hissed and held my mom tighter against his chest.
"Well, I hate to make this trip down memory lane short, but we need to move. I don't want Nessie anywhere near those freaks." Jacob growled.
"Maybe it would be better if I stayed with you guys. Yes, you need my shield more than Derek and Renesmee do. Jacob, Leah, and Quil are more than capable enough to hide their scents. Plus Renesmee's thoughts are safely hidden inside her head. They wont find them." My mom's bell voice broke in weird places, like she would be crying if her eyes were capable of tears. I would rather have her crying than see her like this. I knew she was torn. She wanted to be with me, to protect me, but it killed her to think of being away from my dad.
"We'll make it through this. They wont try anything. They're not here to fight." My dad told her.
My mom snorted. "The Volturi not here to fight, that would be a miracle. Edward, they strongly dislike our family. They will take advantage of me not being there to protect you from the witch twins." My mom growled at the thought of Jane and Alec. She really disliked them, especially Jane. She shrugged before she continued. "Besides, I'd like to use my newly grown shield and get my hands on Jane." A hiss escaped between my mom's clenched teeth. I watched wide-eyed as she swallowed back the venom in her mouth.
"Jane wont ever touch you." My dad growled.
"Mom," I cut in their conversation. Both my parents looked at me. "I think you should stay with your brothers and sisters. They need the protection more than we do." I looked into my dad's golden eyes and gulped. "Take Mom with you. I think three wolves can protect two innocent people. If," I paused to look up at my uncles. "You guys teach me how to defend myself." I ignored my dad's growl.
"You want them to teach you how to fight?" Derek asked wide-eyed.
I nodded and stood up to walk over to my uncles. They weren't looking at me, they were starring at my dad.
"No," My dad growled.
"Than you teach me." I folded my arms against my chest. My dad stood up and pushed my mom out of the way. She clutched at his arm to keep him from coming after me.
"I will not teach you. I refused to teach Bella and I will refuse to teach you. There is no need for you to learn. You have two wolf packs and eight vampires to protect you."
"Why is it so hard for you to teach me? Luke got through all of you. Look what happened there!" I hated to bring it up, but I had a point and he knew it. I pulled the neck of my shirt down so he could see the fading bruises. He quickly turned away, his hands balled up in tight fists.
"It's not a bad idea, bro. She should know how to defend herself." Uncle Emmett whispered.
"She knows enough." My dad growled.
I rolled my eyes. "I only know how to back away from danger, and beg for my life."
"I cant… I couldn't look at your mother as a target, it's remarkably harder for me to think of you like that."
"It's too late for any of that anyway." Aunt Alice picked up Alyssa's duffel bag and swung it over her shoulder. "I'll go pick up Alyssa from school."
Jacob looked at the clock on the wall. "Seth will be here within the hour to escort her."
"I don't like that idea." Aunt Rosalie hissed.
"It's the safest way. He's running here and they will fly back together." Jacob informed her.
"Rose, it's going to happen whether we like it or not. Right now who she falls in love with isn't our first priority." Uncle Emmett reminded her.
"You're right." She sighed and looked at me.
"So, I'm going with you." My mom stated.
"Carlisle?" My dad wrapped his arms around my mom and waited for his father to put in his two cents.
"I think she should come with us. We may need her more than Renesmee and Derek." My grandpa looked at me. "You ok with that? It is perfectly fine if you want your mother with you. We will all understand."
I did want my mom with me. I wanted both my parents with me, but I knew that was impossible. I was not about to admit to my entire family, and look like a baby in front of Jacob and Derek, that I wanted my Mommy and Daddy. I took a deep breath. "I will be fine without them." I bit my bottom lip to keep the lump in my throat from turning into a sob. I was a big girl now, I didn't need my mom holding my hand. Plus it would hurt both of them to be apart more then it would hurt me to be away from them. If something was to happen I would rather them be together.
"Sweetie," My dad walked away from my mom and knelt in front of me. "You don't have to be brave all the time. If you want Mom to be with you than that's perfectly fine. You may be the size of a fifteen-year-old, but you are still very young.
Please, take her with you. It's more important for you to be together. She needs to be able to shield all of you more than she needs to shield me. I know how much it's tearing at her to even think of being away from you. You need her more than I do. I knew if I spoke out loud I would burst into tears. I could keep my thoughts in better control than my voice.
My dad was silent for a moment then pulled me into his arms. He hugged me tightly. "Oh, Renesmee, my brave little girl." He crooned.
"What did she say?" My mom asked as she walked up behind him.
"She doesn't want us to be apart."
My mom smiled at me and placed her hands on my dad's shoulders and mouthed "Thank you," to me so he wouldn't here.
I flashed her visions of the both of them together, without me. Letting her know they were a united front before I was born. It's the way it has to be. I added. Her eyes refocused on me.
"How did I get blessed with such an amazing daughter?" My mom asked as she hugged me.
I chuckled. "I can't answer that. That was all you and Dad."
Everyone laughed despite the tension in the room.
Seth walked through the door and searched the room.
"Is she ok?" He asked and I knew he wasn't talking about me.
"Yes," Aunt Rosalie hissed. "Alice is picking her up from school. They should be back any minute."
"How about you, Ness?" He asked me.
"I'm fine." I breathed.
"Hey, Bells." Seth hugged her and walked to stand next to Jacob. They immediately started making plans. Supposedly Derek and I were flying with Jacob out West. Then we were meeting up with Leah and Quil and running the rest of the way. We were to hide out in one of the ritzy hotels in LA. This way it would be harder for the volturi to come after us if they wanted to. We were in a well populated place. Plus it was easy access to get out and for the three of them to run with Derek and I.
"Renesmee! I can't believe this!" Alyssa yelled as she burst through the front door. "Aunt Alice told me everything. Are you ok? Derek, I'm sorry you had to be brought into this mess, but it's cool that you finally know." She looked around the room at our worried family. "Oh," she gasped when her gaze rested on Seth.
If hearts could bulge from their eyes, like in the cartoons on TV, I'm sure they would. Great, that made both Claire and Alyssa now. Why wasn't I falling head over heels for Jacob? I already knew I loved him, maybe that was the problem. I've been around Jacob a lot. Maybe it wasn't going to hit me like that. Claire told me it just happened between her and Quil. Since I was going to have a lot of time with Quil I was going to try and get him away from Jacob to talk to him about it. I was now a witness of the love at first sight imprinting, but I didn't know how it worked when the imprintee grew up with the love for an older brother to her imprinter. This whole mess was more complicated than I thought.
"Alyssa," Seth spoke her name like he was worshipping a Goddess.
"Hi." She smiled widely at him.
"Ok, Alyssa, honey, we will come for you as soon as the coast is clear." Aunt Rosalie hugged Alyssa tightly.
"You keep my girl safe. To think it's come to this… I'm handing my daughter over to a werewolf for protection." Uncle Emmett rolled his eyes.
"I'm doing it too." My dad pointed out.
"What about my parents?" Derek asked.
"Already taken care of." Esme patted his back. "You're vacationing with us for Thanksgiving break. Jacob and Renesmee will go with you to pack your things. Please stick with that story if you want to keep them safe. I had told them that Renesmee was going through a rough time and had asked me if you could spend the vacation with her and the rest of our family. You're mother said it was fine."
"Wow, Mrs. Cullen, you're good."
We all said our goodbyes and I suddenly couldn't get my legs to carry me towards the front door. I couldn't walk away from my parents. This could be the last time I ever see them. Who knows what was going to happen.
"We will come for you." My mom's words were a promise and it was enough to get me to turn my back on them. As soon as I turned around, Jacob was there with his arm stretched out in front of him. I took his hand and his touch sent a shock of electricity up my arm, directly to my heart.