A/N: First and foremost I must thank my reviewers and then the rest of my loyal readers. I love you guys. I know I've come to a line that probably most of you are uncomfortable with, yet you remain, and more than that I haven't received any hate mail yet… I imagine I may in the future, but to those of you who trust me with the story, and continue to read it, and 'give it a chance' and me a chance, I say thank you. I hope you continue to love the story and our characters as much as I love to write them.

**Quality Time**

It was later in the evening as Edward had put it, which only meant it was the middle of the night that Edward had returned to his rooms and found Bella with a book. Edward picked up the book he was most recently reading and sat opposite her on a similar leather couch in the chambers of their apartments. She spent many evenings this way, catching up for lost time, she once said. Edward still relished every moment he had with his bride, even though it had been several years since Bella had married him and changed into the vampire she was today.

"Bella," Edward whispered in the soft evening air. His voice carried gently over the space between them and greeted Bella's ears like a kiss.

She smiled, "Yes my love?", as her eyes lifted from the page and her eyelashes rose like curtains on a theater stage revealing her lovely eyes. They glowed like a honey golden sunset whenever he called her name like that, and only he could evoke that involuntary action from her eyes.

His lips spread in a smile that can only be described as his smile. He loved seeing her eyes flash golden red at the sound of his voice saying her name.

"Bella, would you do me a favor if I asked?" His question received the response he hoped for. He wouldn't have asked, but he wanted her to put the book down… The chances of that happening without a little bit of, shall we say, unfair persuasion, would be slim.

"Of course, what a silly question" Bella responded.

"Would you talk with me for a while?"

Bella chuckled. What was he up to this time?

She all but flew to his side closing the space between them with her ice cold body. She placed her face next to his with her lips close to his ear, "do you miss the sound of my voice?" she asked teasingly. He griped her waist and she let out a soft moan encouraging his action.

Edward smiled again and in a movement that was a blur to the human eye, he scooped her up and was out the glass door, onto the terrace and headed up the cliff side.

That was not the action she was encouraging and he knew it. Smiling, he flew up the rocks and cliffs to the thick forest that continued up the hillside, where the eagles called home. He slowed to stop at his favorite nearly unapproachable peak and rested Bella on her feet. Her eyes glowed with excitement. She loved when he was unpredictable.

The moon shone brightly overhead, so full of light it lit everything around them. Her beautiful hair was radiant in the moonlight. "Yes, I missed the sound of your voice." Edward answered her question from before, and chuckled lightly. He sat and pulled Bella into a sitting position with him and they gazed at the beautiful moonlit, starry sky.

"What were you reading?" he asked.

"I would have brought it with me, if I had thought of it, or had the chance." She said with pretend irritation.

"Well, I did." He said pulling the book out from his inside jacket pocket. "I love this book" he continued. "It's so much better out here though." He confessed. "I don't know how many times, I've read it."

Bella was mesmerized by her husband.

"Will you read to me?" he asked boyishly. Bella grinned and he knew he had her. He looked at her intently as she took the book from his hands, and wondered how she was so much of everything he had ever hoped for. How was so much happiness possible?

Bella began the reading at the page he had opened to, a poem that would soon become a favorite of hers too.

"Let Love clasp Grief lest both be drown'd, let darkness keep her raven gloss: Ah, sweeter to be drunk with loss, To dance with death, to beat the ground, Than that the victor Hours should scorn the long result of love and boast, 'Behold the man that loved and lost, but all he was is overworn.'"

Bella slowly put the book down in her lap, and looked up at Edward who was so intently staring at her face, her every expression, wishing he could see into her thoughts. "Let me in," he whispered. All his questions were answered as Bella reached up and put her hands behind Edward's head. Locked in his gaze, she deliberately and slowly pulled his head down toward hers. Lowering her lashes, their lips touched and Edward pulled her close. Every single time he kissed her, any doubt he ever held, whether or not she missed her old life, if she wished she had chosen differently, was answered with all the love she possessed for him. Bella hefted her shield away from her mind, as they lay tangled kissing while the book of Tennyson's works slid to the ground beside them.

As the sky lightened with the approaching sun, Jake sat on an armchair waiting for his children to wake. He had so much to think about he didn't even know where to begin, so he was thankful for the peaceful moment to just watch them.

"Daddy, you're going to give yourself a brain hemorrhage if you keep thinking so hard," Xenia said with muted laughter.

Jake smiled getting up and crossed the grand room to the canopied bed where his daughter slept like a princess. "How are you this morning, my pet?"

Xenia's eyes lit up as she smiled, "Happy to see you daddy. I'd ask how you are doing, but I can see plainly that you are upset."

"No, sweetie, I'm fine," he said pushing hair behind her ear. "You look like you've grown…" Jake said looking at her little form under the blanket.

"I grow every time I sleep daddy," she smiled she said climbing onto his lap. What's wrong daddy?

Jake stared into her big hazel eyes and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry baby…I've been absent haven't I?"

"A little, but it's alright… I know you're here," Xeni said laying her head against her father's heart.

"EJ doesn't though," he said looking across the room to the other bed where his son rested.

"He knows in his heart," Xen said smiling.

"That's not good enough," Jake said shifting her weight to pick her up. "Don't make excuses, for me. I'm going to try harder honey, I promise."

Josiah stirred when his father sat with his sister on his bed.

"Hey dad," Josiah said while rubbing his face.

"Hi son. Before anything, let me say sorry. I'm sorry for being so absent from you while you're growing up. I don't mean to make excuses so I won't. I will warn you, I don't know what to do… but from now on, I'll be here for you. For both you and your sister." Jake said eyeing his son carefully.

Josiah's mask of straight features broke into a grin and finally a smile.

"Tell you what," Jake said setting Xeni down on the bed, "do you want to go on a hunt with me… Just you and me?" he asked his son.

"You mean without Xeni?" Josiah asked frowning.

"Yea. Just us. It's not the end of the world, don't worry, you'll be back soon."

Josiah looked to Xenia unsure of what to say.

"Go ahead silly, it's not like you need my permission or something," she said with a giggle.

"And how 'bout you spend time with mommy," Jake said looking at his daughter.

Josiah chased after his father who had decided to run in his wolf form through the open country.

Jake took the open quiet time of running to collect himself in his mind and heart. The level of responsibility that he was going to have to take control of was never something he wanted to really have to deal with. But his days of freedom were all behind him now.

Hey Jake, stop worrying so much. He heard in his head.

Hey Seth, what's up? Jake asked.

Nothin, just running patrols with Embry. We're at the gulf, heading back.

Just talk to him Jake. Tell him the truth, that you don't have all the answers. He'll respect you for your honesty. Embry advised.

Yeah man, if you just show him who you are, it'll be fine. You're a great leader. Don't be afraid of that.

Thanks, guys. See you back at the house, whenever you get there. Jake said uncomfortably.

After running a few miles more, Jake happened upon an opening into some caves. Phasing back to human form, he waited for his son who was right behind him to catch up.

"What is this place?" Josiah asked.

"Dunno, never been here before," Jake said peering into the dark.

"Where are we?"

"I'm not sure exactly… maybe a few hundred miles out from the bay…" Jake said after a moment of smelling the air.

They walked in awkward silence from the mouth of the cave through the little clearing for a while before Jake spoke again.

"Look son, I'm not really good at this," he said kicking at a random rock on the ground, "so I'm probably going to sound like an idiot, but here goes."

Josiah looked at his father's pained, awkward expression and waited for him to speak.

"I'm not much of a father to you, and I'm sorry. I don't have all the answers…Hell, I don't even know how to approach some of the subjects, but…"

"It's alright dad, just say what you're thinking."

"Well, I want to know what's going on with you. You are dealing with a lot, and I want you to know that I care about what's going on… I mean, I see you and your sister are really close… I'm worried that you may be too close…"

"I'm not sure what you're getting at…" Josiah said matching his father's gaze toward his feet.

"You know the difference in relationships between a man and a woman and what your relationship with your sister right?"

"She loves me, I love her…"

"But what kind of love, son?"

"I would do anything for her, and she would do anything for me. Isn't that simply me loving her? Since when does love have labels?"

Jake rubbed his hand over his face and through his hair feeling that he should have brought Edward along…

"I know she has a different relationship with me than she has with Damian… if that's what you mean…" Josiah said, his countenance beginning to change. "They are part of each other in a way that's different than she and I…but our minds are…connected too. It's different…I don't know."

"That's part of it… but even still… it's different for another reason, their relationship isn't sexual… yet", Jake said trying to stress the difference, "but it will be eventually… your relationship with your sister will never be sexual." Jacob said looking his son in the eye.

"I know that." Josiah said between clinched teeth.

"Why are you angry?" Jake asked noticing his fist clinch.

"Damian doesn't understand her, or appreciate her… he doesn't deserve her at all!" he yelled. "He's a playboy, womanizing ass hole. He plays with her emotions for fun, I know it. I don't want to have sex with my sister…" he defended quickly, "I just want to love her, and I don't want her to be used…" he said pacing back and forth, "I… just… I… I don't know… I'm…"

"Josiah, are you alright?" Jake asked worrying about Josiah's temper.

"I don't know dad…" he whispered.

"Give me your wrist," Jake asked. Jake pressed his fingers to the inside of his wrist… his pulse was flying. "Oh god…" he mumbled stepping back. "Now son, listen to me… you have got to calm down," Jake said.

Josiah's trembling became obvious as his skin began to blur.

"Josiah, listen, something may be about to happen…" he said, but it was too late. EJ's form blurred violently and for the first time, he burst from his skin and vanished into thin air only leaving behind shreds of his clothing.

…

Xenia tapped on her mother's door after her father and brother left for their little outing.

"Mom?" Xen asked when she didn't hear a reply.

"Ummm?" Nessie mumbled.

"May I come in?"

"Of course sweetie," Nessie answered.

Xenia was surprised to find Rosalie sitting with Nessie on the bed. "Auntie!" she exclaimed leaping from the door to the bed in two bounds, "where have you been?"

"I've been around sweetie," she said getting up.

"Where're you going?" Nessie asked.

"To go see if Emmett is hungry…" Rose said walking away.

"Auntie," Xenia said jumping from the bed blocking her way, "tell me what's wrong… you've been distant for while now… are you mad with me?"

"No of course not baby…" Rosalie said with a sad smile.

"You know if you don't tell me, I will simply find out for myself," Xenia warned. Nessie concealed her smirk at her bossy daughter.

"I'm sorry love," Rosalie said stooping down onto one knee.

"Don't you dare lie to me," Xenia warned.

Rosalie swallowed venom down her throat before speaking; her pained expression glanced toward Renesmee.

Please don't make me say it Xeni, Rose pleaded.

Tell me, Xenia ordered.

I can't even think the words for you, baby… she thought, and convulsively swallowed again, I'm so ashamed…

Xenia's expression turned to confusion as she began to see clearly through Rosalie's mind everything that she couldn't bring herself to say. You're so blind with jealousy that you can't even stand being near me anymore? Do you hate us now? Do you hate the baby?

No! No, of course not… I just can't seem to control my jealousy... I know, I'm a terrible person… or whatever the hell I am now… Do you hate me now?

No! Xenia promised, I could never hate you. I love you. You've always been there for me and especially for Josiah. He loves you like a mother.

Rosalie's gaze dropped from Xenia's eyes to the floor in reproach. Some mother I'd be… to not even be able to handle the sight of those who have been as good as children to me…I'm so sorry, I know I've disappointed you honey.

Did you tell mommy?

I was going to try to explain to her why I've been away…she wanted to know…but I couldn't. Then you came in…

Xeni looked at her mother's confused expression from the silent seconds that had passed between them.

"I'll tell her for you…" Xen offered and pulled her by the hand back to the bed.

Xenia looked at her mother in her eyes and silently passed the words from her mind to her mother's mind. The knowledge pained Nessie, but in truth, she had already known.

"I know auntie," Nessie said, "I've known since I found realized I was pregnant again. I could see it in your face."

"I'm so sorry," Rosalie said dropping onto the side of the bed, catching Nessie in a cool, gentle embrace. "I'm horrible I know."

"No you're not," Nessie said, tears welling up over her eyes. "I wanted to wait to tell you this, but I'll tell you now…" she said with a ghost of a smile and a ray of hope in her eyes. "There is a way for you to have your own baby…"

Rosalie didn't quite understand what she said even though she understood the words perfectly. "What?" she asked in disbelief of what she'd heard.

Renesmee clasped her hands together pressing her fingers to her lips before speaking again. "It's not easy… in fact I imagine it to be very painful, but I've spoken to Edmond about it… if you're willing to be the first to try it, we'll go through it together."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked standing up from the bed.

"He has a theory about how I can carry a child for you… your child."