Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all Twilight Saga and characters.

Renesmee

Leah had one more growth spurt before the baby arrived but this one was different. She couldn't stand the smell of blood and started craving sweets and meats. It was a particularly disturbing experience to watch her eat bacon and ham ice cream sundae. After about 8 and a half weeks of pregnancy, Leah went into labor. Grandpa was prepared with his new tools made from uncle Seth's and Jake's claws and teeth. Daddy had able to hear the baby's thoughts for the past 4 weeks so he was able to soothe the baby by talking to him or her. In the end we decided that I would be there to soothe the baby with calming images so that the baby wouldn't paralyze Leah while grandpa tried to get him or her out. Daddy was there as the backup doctor and grandma Sue and uncle Seth were there to support Leah.

"Ok everyone, you all know what you need to do. If anything goes wrong I want you to do as I say, no questions asked. So if I tell you to leave the room please do so as quickly as possible."

"We understand." Grandma Sue told him. She was a nurse so she knew that grandpa would do everything to save Leah.

"Let's begin."

Grandpa gave Leah a massive dose of localized anesthesia and we began. Leah couldn't feel anything which I was grateful for. Grandpa used both the wolf claw tools and the wolf teeth tools to cut through the placenta but the tools made from wolf tooth worked the best. It only took him a few minutes to introduce us to the newest member of the family. Daddy took the baby from grandpa for the examination. Grandpa quickly cleaned Leah's incision and closed it.

"Damn it Edward! Say something. Is he ok? Is she?" Like me, the baby didn't cry so Leah was getting anxious.

"He is perfect. Leah, meet your son." He told her with a smile and placed the clean baby boy in her arms.

"Oh my God..." She said with tears in her eyes. I was crying too as were grandma Sue and Seth. The little baby smiled at his mom, mesmerized by her. His hair was black like Leah's. He had her eyes. His nose and lips were slightly different, more like Levan. Other than that he looked exactly like Leah, he even had her smile.

"He loves you Leah. He's been anxious to meet you." Daddy told her. She looked at him and then at all of us.

"Thank you." She told us. Grandma Sue kissed her temple and touched her grandson's little hand.

"What are you going to name him?" Grandpa asked her.

"I don't know. I've only had one name in mind for a boy but I'm not sure..."

"She wants to name him after dad." Seth explained.

"Leah Clearwater! If you are suggesting that your father would be anything but proud to have his first grandson named after him..." Grandma Sue scolded quickly but uncle seth interrupted her to defend Leah.

"Ok ok. Geez mom let the woman name her own kid."

"Harry Lee Clearwater. What do you guys think?" She asked us.

"It's perfect." I told her. We heard a knock on the door and Jake popped his head through the door.

"Sooo. Can we come in now?"

"Come in knucklehead." Leah told him with a smile. It was a genuine smile, as if she was truly happy. I had never seen that smile before and I could tell by Jake's expression that he hadn't either. Jake, Emily, Embry, Eve, momma and grandpa Charlie all came in and took their places around the bed so that they could see the baby except for Emily. As usual, Emily stood back and watched from the sidelines.

"He's beautiful Leah. He looks just like you." Embry said. Leah was holding her son proudly.

"So what's his name?" Grandpa Charlie asked her. She looked at him smiling, still.

"Harry Lee Clearwater. I thought it would be nice to name him after dad."

"I think your dad would've loved that." Grandpa told her.

"Thanks Charlie."

"He really is beautiful Leah." Momma told her.

"Thanks Bella. Um... I guess you have two nephews now."

"And I'm loving every second if it. So is Alice by the way, so get ready."

"Great! Thanks for the heads up."

Leah finally spotted Emily when some of the other's started to leave so that the rest of the family could come in.

"Hey Em. Come meet your new nephew." Leah told her. Emily had tears forming in her eyes but they finally escaped by the time she reached the bed.

"He has your eyes and has uncle Harry's dimples."

"Yeah. They're cute on him."

"He'll be a little heartbreaker."

"He sure will."

"Leah. I'll let a few more guests in but I want you to get some rest after."

"Ok Doc." She said without any complaint. Grandpa looked amused before he let the others in. My vampire family came in along with Brady, Quill, and Anna. The room was full so Emily stepped out, I however, could not leave. Jake and I sat back staring at everyone ogling over Leah and Harry. Jake laughed when aunt Alice started bouncing because the clothes she got would look perfect on Harry.

"Well all I gotta say is that when it rains it pour around here so don't you start getting any ideas back there, ouch! Babe! That one hurt." Uncle Emmett complained. He was looking at Anna when he said it but he was also referring to me. Surprisingly I wasn't even remotely offended. His joke somehow brought an air of light to the otherwise dark situation.

"It was meant to hurt, you idiot! That little comment wasn't even remotely funny."

"I agree." Daddy growled at looked at me to make sure I was ok and then she smiled as if she found them comment amusing.

"I don't know aunt Rose, I thought it was pretty funny." I told them.

"See. I'm glad my niece gets me. That's why I love ya, honey." He winked at me.

"Mommy, when do I get to play with Harry." Chris asked Rosalie.

"He's still a little too young sweetie. Maybe after a few weeks." We all looked at each other and started laughing. Only in our world would a newborn baby be ready to play with a toddler in a few weeks.

"Leah. I'm getting a bath started for you in the next room and the bed is already made." Grandma told her.

"Thanks Esme. A bath sounds amazing."

"Good. You have one last round of guests, if your up for it."

"Sure." She said. Leah was a bit uncertain by her tone and by the sudden change in everyone's faces. They all stepped out and a few moments later an angry looking uncle Seth came in followed by Embry, Paul, Rachel, Jared, Kim, Emily and Sam. Emily had an apologetic look on her face. Leah held tighter to Harry. The boys stepped closer to see the baby but Sam and Emily stayed back.

"He's cute Leah." Rachel told her.

"Yea, that's cause he doesn't look like Seth. That would've sucked." Paul said. Jake stepped closer to the bed. I could feel his protectiveness for Leah. He was staring right at Sam who was staring at Harry.

"Are you just gonna stand there Uley or do you have something to say?" Leah asked him.

"He looks just like you." He told her. His face was uncertain and he had a hint of sadness in his eyes. Leah nodded. Sam stepped closer to the bed and so did Jake. Sam wasn't really paying attention to him. His eyes were focused on Harry as if he were seeing something that we were missing.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here before Leah, your... your baby is beautiful."

"Thanks Sam." He stared at the baby and Leah for another moment, then he turned and left the room.

"What was that about?" Paul asked Emily.

"I think he's coming around. I don't know. The past month has been tough on him and I'm afraid I haven't made it easy for him." She said, her face full of guilt.

"I say he deserves a swift kick in the ass if you ask me. All these boys do every once and a while." Rachel said.

"Yeah. Especially yours." Leah told her.

"Hey what did I do?!" Paul complained and we all started laughing. Grandpa came in at that moment with Eve. Eve was holding his hand and looking at everyone shyly again.

"Alright everyone. It's time for my patients to rest." Grandpa told us.

"I can take Harry downstairs, if you'd like." Emily told her. Leah smiled and handed Harry to Emily. She looked reluctant the entire time and Emily started laughing.

"I'll bring him right back to your room once you're done with your bath ok?"

"Thanks Em." Everyone headed out but I stayed behind to help Leah. Grandpa leaned closer to Eve and whispered something into her ear. Eve nodded and walked up to Leah.

"Would you like me to heal your C-Section?" She asked Leah. Leah nodded at her and grandpa came over to remove the clips. The wound was already healing. Eve placed her hand on Leah's belly and the wound completely healed right before our eyes.

"That was pretty awesome Eve. Thanks." Eve smiled at her proudly.

"How do you feel?" She asked her.

"I feel great actually. I'm tiered but I don't feel weak anymore." Grandpa came over to to Eve and held her to his side.

"Good job little one." They both stepped back so that Leah could sit up. She sat on the side of the bed. She was strong but she was tiered.

"I can carry you." Seth offered.

"Ha. I'm fine twerp. I just need a minute." Her head hung between her shoulders. I held out my hand to her. She looked at me for a moment and shook her head, but she took my hand and allowed me to help her up.

"Come on wonder woman. Let's get you in your bath." I told her. I guided her to the next room and onto the bathroom. Grandma Sue was already there waiting for her. Leah got undressed and went straight into her bath. She wasn't bothered by nudity so she had no problem with having me and grandma in there waiting for her to finish. Grandma told her about what happened downstairs when Sam first came in.

"I swear Leah that those boys were ready to kick him out. Embry and Seth both crossed their arms simultaneously and got the exact same expression on their faces. It would have been comical in any other situation. Sam looked apologetic enough so I told them to let him in. He said his peace so I let him see you. I hope you didn't mind."

"No, I don't mind. I just thought it was weird how he kept staring."

"Maybe he's finally coming to his senses."

"Maybe Emily finally whipped him to shape." I told them.

"Emily has really impressed me. I've always thought that I would never forgive her but after everything that happened, I finally think I can. I just don't care about what happened anymore. It seems insignificant compared to everything else we've been through."

"There's nothing like having a child to bring things into perspective. Makes you realize the things that really matter to you." Grandma told her.

"Yea. It does. I think I'm ready to get out of here and into that fancy bed. Mom, do you mind telling them to bring Harry in. I want to see him before I fall asleep."

"Of course, I'll be back." She left the bathroom and I helped Leah get out of the tub and into her pajamas. She went into the bedroom and got into the bed. Grandma Sue brought Harry in along with Seth and Jake. She handed him to Leah who looked at him adoringly again.

"It really does come at you instantly." She said as she gazed at him.

"What does?" Seth asked.

"What do you think, stupid?! The love that I feel for him. It's even stronger now than it was before. It kinda makes everything else pale in comparison." She said. Grandma sue had a glint of tear in her eye.

"It really does." Grandma told her. They both looked at each other exchanging some mother daughter understanding and then grandma Sue took Harry from Leah's arms. She kissed her daughters head.

"Sleep sweetheart. He'll be here when you wake up."

"Ok mom." She snuggled against her pillow and watched as we walked out. Only Seth stayed behind to keep her company. I couldn't help the feeling of relief knowing that both Leah and Harry were finally safe. It was over. Today was the beginning of a new life for all of us.

Jacob and I finally had a moment to ourselves. We decided to go to our field. I raced him through the trees and as soon as I got there I climbed up one of the highest trees to hide. He reaches the field and started to smell around to locate my scent. I could see his eyebrows furrow even from the distance. It was cute. I kept waiting for him to trail my scent into the trees but he did something I didn't expect. He stood perfectly still and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them he turned his head, looked directly at me and smiled. Now I was the one confused. He jogged to the tree and started climbing.

"How did you do that?" I asked him as soon as he sat next to me on the branch. His legs were on either side of the big branch so he had enough leverage to pull me closer to him.

"I told you. Our connection has gotten a lot stronger. I can sense you anywhere when I try hard enough."

"Well that's kinda stalkerish of you." I told him. He laughed.

"You don't know the half of it I'm gonna be keeping a very close eye on you from now on. I hope you don't mind."

"I never have." I told him and leaned against him to get closer.

"Sure, sure." He rested his forehead against my temple. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His arms were around my waist holding me securely to him. He looked at peace.

"Kiss me." I told him in a whisper. His head tilted a little and he looked at me amused.

"You accuse me of being a stalker and now you want me to kiss you."

"I'm a half vampire. I have weird taste."

He took my face into his hands and his lips touched mine. It was a chaste kiss at first but then his hands moved down my neck to around my back, angling me to a more comfortable position. This time I kissed him, taking his bottom lip captive. My hands found their way around his neck, using my strength to bring him closer to me, deepening the kiss. His lips were warm against mine. They were soft but strong and powerful. He tasted amazing and his scent engulfed me in a powerful trance as his kiss warmed and electrified every molecule inside me. It was as if I were addicted to the nectar they produced. I wanted to stay like that forever or at least longer than our last kiss. I was about to use my vampire strength to hold him tighter so that he couldn't break our kiss before I was ready. However, I was projecting so he heard my plan and gently pushed me away. He rested his head against my forehead this time while I pouted slightly. I didn't get a chance to kiss him properly, like I wanted to. Just like the first kiss, it was too short for my liking. I didn't get to use my tongue like people in movies but there would be plenty of time for that in the future.

"We need to have a talk about that." He told me. I could tell he was a little annoyed with me. I guess it wasn't fair that I was about to hold him captive.

"Sorry... When I kiss you I don't ever want to stop." He smiled.

"About that, I had a talk with your parents."

"Oh really? So what's the new edict?"

"Its ok actually. They trust me a lot more than I trust myself; I'll tell you that much. Your dad wants us to be happy but he also wants me to take it really slow. He said he actually wants my to set the pace and the boundaries of our relationship. So does your mom."

"Seriously. My own parents don't trust me?"

"Nope." He popped the 'p' making me smile. "We've both been through a lot, you more than anyone and I think they know that I will always protect you, even from yourself." I wasn't offended. I had been through a lot and I was still healing. My parents and Jacob always had my best interest at heart and I understood that.

"I'm still getting used to everything too. I don't feel 100% like myself so if you want to set the pace, I don't think that's going to be a problem."

"Thanks Ness. I think I'll need some time to get used to the idea of us."

"Is it because I look 14? You know that by January I'll probably be looking like a 16 year old right?" I really didn't understand this worry about my looks. My facial features made me look about 14 now but it was constantly changing as was my body. And its not like he looked that much older. He could pass for a 25 year old because of his massive body but his face held a boyish quality that on any other male figure would make him no older than 21.

"I know that but your physical age is not the only problem, Ness. It's hard to go from seeing you as my little girl to seeing you as my girl." I felt myself blush a bit.

"It really shouldn't be that hard. I might have been short but I haven't been a little girl for a while."

"You do know that your the age of a pre-schooler, right?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Haha. That may be true, smart ass, but I am not human. Humans don't even start to develop the ability to reason and think at the level that I did at birth until they're around 7 or 8 years old and their brains don't fully mature until they're 25. That's why they have so many milestones. They need all those experiences. I had the ability to remember, reason, process information, and even communicate from the womb. Unlike humans, I was born with a fully developed brain."

"So what? That still doesn't make you older."

"Of course it does! For the past four years, I've been able to process everything and think like an adult can. Humans don't have that ability because they don't even have a fully developed brain until they reach their mid-20s. So if you think about it, I am actually older than you." I grinned at him and wiggled my brows once. Jake laughed out loud throwing his head back. It was a healthy laugh that always made me smile.

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Ness. But younger or older you're still a high school girl and I am a grown man."

"I'm only pretending to be in high school. I could have asked my parents to enroll me in college just as easily."

"But you didn't because high school is a right of passage and I want you, no, I need you to have that experience. We are going to take this real slow. We can kiss but no making out, no dates other than hanging out how we normally do, and no trying to seduce me or anything like that." He narrowed his eyes at me and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I told you before Jake. I'm ok with slow. I just want us to be ok with feeling the way we do. I don't want you to feel like you are doing something wrong."

"I don't feel that way anymore. I didn't understand what I was feeling before and I was scared because, with the rest of my brothers it came so fast and so hard. They weren't in control and when it comes to you I have to feel like I'm in control. If I ever hurt you I..." I touched his cheek and he looked into my eyes.

"Stop. I know the difference now. You are simply not capable of that. You would never hurt me. What we have isn't about sex or anything else inappropriate. Its about this..." I placed my hand over his heart and I showed him some of my memories favorite memories. The way he looked at me at my birthday party. Dancing with him. Riding our bikes together. Cliff diving at LaPush beach. All those things that I treasured because he was my soul mate and I was his. That's what this was about. I removed my hand and he kissed my lips again softly.

"I didn't get that before. That's why I panicked but I get it now. I didn't notice it before because it was so slow and subtle but things have been changing between us since your birthday." I smiled glad that he was able to admit this.

"I blame your aunt and her stupid silver dress and then that white dress for your prom night. I've never seen you look so grown up and beautiful. I swear that I think she did that on purpose. Like that darn fairy waved a magic wand at you and made you change from a teenager to a young woman overnight!" I laughed out loud at his confession.

"More like she waved her magic credit card. I'm going to have to buy aunt Alice something really nice for Christmas this year."

"Me too." He said smiling.

"And Jacob?"

"Yeah?" He looked into my eyes and I was struck by all the love I saw in them.

"I love you." I told him. I had said that to him a thousand times but it was different this time and he understood. He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers, while still keeping eye contact with me, before he finally answered.

"I love you too."

Carlisle

The moment I saw that Leah's baby was a boy I began my experiments. It just didn't make any sense. Even if the sperm wasn't coated venom we know that male DNA carries the gene for venom. This is why only male hybrids are venomous and the female ones are not. I looked at Leah's blood samples and it reacted to venom as all wolves do. The venom killed the wolf cells without the reanimation that occurs with humans. The interesting reaction came when I tested venom on Harry's blood. It had no reaction. I became suspicious so I tested Renesmee and Nahuel's blood with venom and they also did not react. All I could conclude was that hybrids do not react to venom but it still didn't explain how DNA that carries venom was able to blend with wolf DNA. I tried a different approach. I took Jake and Leah's DNA and mixed it with my DNA instead of my venom. I expected the same thing that happened with my venom to happen with the DNA samples but it didn't. In fact, nothing happened. It seemed that vampire venom was different from vampire DNA were different.

"Interesting." I heard Edward's voice behind me. I barely noticed him coming in through the door.

"Do you see something that I haven't yet?" I asked my son.

"Felix had mentioned that Davy discovered sperm is different from venom."

"Sperm carries DNA through a physical connection. It may be what activates the DNA." He nodded.

"We may never be able to get a true experiment in a lab setting." He suggested. I thought about this too, but I still had to try.

"Perhaps you are right. However, do you mind if I used your DNA?"

"Of course not. I'll assist you."

We re-tested the experiment and something amazing happened. Edward's venom had the same effect as mine but his DNA did not. It was almost as if Edward's and the wolf DNA sample's neutralized each other and then they blended perfectly. I was shocked.

"I think it's safe to say that it's the DNA. Not the venom." This only brought more questions. What was different about Edward's DNA.

"Let's replicate this with the rest of the family." Edward came back a few moments later with the samples we needed. The venom experiments showed the same results. Wolf DNA was killed by the venom and hybrid DNA did not react. However, the DNA interactions were different. The Bella, Esme, Jasper, and Alice's DNA blended with the wold DNA but for Emmett and Rosalie there was no effect. We could have concluded that only the DNA of gifted vampires can blend with wolf DNA but the problem was Esme. Her DNA blended with the wolves'.

"Esme aside we can make the assumption that vampire gifts are at the DNA level."

"We've already suspected this. Bella and many other gifted vampires showed signs of their gifts when they were human."

"True but now we have a way to confirm it. All we need is a non-gifted vampire like you but whose DNA is likely to blend with a wolf's DNA like Esme."

"Who do have in mind?"

"Nahuel. Nahuel isn't gifted and he is only a half vampire so of all the non gifted vampires we know, his DNA is most likely to blend with wolf DNA because he is half human as well. If our hypothesis is true then the DNA should not blend but because he isn't gifted. But if its not true then it must have something to do with why Esme's DNA blended."

"Let us try."

We ran the experiments but it was no use. Nahuel's DNA blended with all the wolves' we tested just like Esme's. We even manipulated Nahuel's DNA to factor out his half human properties but it still blended with the wolves. I sighed, frustrated.

"Why don't we try again tomorrow? You don't have to come up with the answer tonight." Edward told me. I was tempted to leave it alone all together but I simply had to discover the answer.

"I have some sample DNA from some human's. I think I will try some control experiments and then I'll rest for tonight." Edward sighed and patted my shoulder.

"Ok. I'll help you." He smiled at me as if he knew that I would not be able to give up.

"Thank you, son."

We ran the experiments on a few human samples I got from the hospital and three of the imprints so that I could have control group of eight. Something amazing happened with my control group. All the imprint samples blended with both the vampire and the wolf DNA but only one of the hospital samples reacted the same, a young boy named Gabriel who came to the hospital with a broken leg. My son looked at me with the same look of confusion that I suspected I had.

"I think we need to look more closely at these DNA samples. There must be a common denominator that we're missing."

"Do we have the equipment to study the cells further?"

"Yes." I pulled out my equipment so that we could analyze the cells at a molecular level. We started with the human DNA looking at different aspects form shape and form of the cells to the genetic components to the mitochondrial DNA. This is where we made the greatest discovery in vampire history as well as the most dangerous one.

We found that the mitochondrial of every wolf, human, and vampire sample whose DNA positively blended shared a common ancestor which was present in the the mitochondrial DNA. To take it one step further, we even found that gifted vampires had a stronger presence to this common ancestor compared to Esme and Nahuel who were not gifted. We even tested Charlie and Renee because we knew that they both had potential to become gifted vampires since they produced a daughter that was gifted even as a human. We confirmed that both Charlie and Renee's bloodline that carried the common ancestor and Charlie's was the stronger carrier. This was why Edward had difficulty reading Charlie when he first met him but when the DNA was combined with Renee to conceive Bella it created a stronger DNA pattern. One that created a powerful vampire. In fact, Edward, Bella, and Nessie had the strongest connection to this ancestor. Nahuel shares a connection but it is weak, like Esme's this is why neither of them is gifted yet their DNA's still blended with the wolves'.

"This is why Eve is gifted even though her biological father was not. Ramon could detect the potential gift in the human women. If her mother had the potential to become a gifted vampire then she must have had this strong mitochondrial link. Her father could also have a weak link to this ancestor. I suspect that it is essential for the female to have this link to the ancestor in order to conceive a child It is possible that Joham does not have a link but the women he impregnated did. That is why he was able to conceive children with some women but not with others otherwise Joham would have hundreds of children." Edward concluded.

"Esme and Nahuel also have a link to this ancestor but it is weaker, that is why they are not gifted. Perhaps if both parents have a the common ancestor, then the child they concieve will be gifted, like Renesmee."

"To conceive a child yes but not necessarily to produce a gifted vampire hybrid. Nahuel is not gifted." He reminded me.

"No but for vampires, the stronger the link to this ancestor the better chances of being gifted. Esme's DNA blended but it took longer. Her link to this ancestor was weak, whereas, my DNA did not blend at all because I am not linked to this ancestor." I stopped for a moment as the graveness of our discovery hit me.

"Edward if the Volturi discover this." My voice was almost a whisper as I filled with dread.

"I know. They will have the missing link. All they would need is to test humans for this common ancestor through their mitochondrial DNA and they can conceive as many children as they desire or create as many gifted vampires as they need by testing how closely related they are to this ancestor."

"Every human with a strong link to this ancestor will be almost guaranteed to become a gifted vampire. Edward... They would be unstoppable. And the imprints would all be in danger. They all tested positive."

"Carlisle..." I looked into my son's terrified eyes as we both realized we had made a terrible mistake.

"No one can know of this, son. Aro can never touch you. You must prevent this at all cost. Not just to keep them from getting stronger but also to keep the imprints safe."

"I know dad. I know." I sat on my lab stool, suddenly exhausted.

"I'm so sorry son. If I had just stopped searching..."

"We had to know. For Leah and for our children but they can never know the truth. As for Aro, I will kill him before I ever let him know this."

"Edward..." I gasped. If Edward tried to take Aro, he would be killed. My son would be destroyed.

"We can't let him know, no matter the cost. You don't know what Aro is capable of but I do. I've seen his evil in Felix's mind. He showed me Aro's true nature and if the time comes, I will use this knowledge to expose him and bring him down. Felix gave me everything I need. If the opportunity ever arises, I will defeat him."

"Edward you know how I feel about you, my son. I trust you, but please, if it comes down to you and Aro let me do this for you instead." Aro was an ancient. He was a skilled warrior even without his brothers but he was never without Caius and Marcus. If Edward took him on he would have to fight all three. He would not succeed.

"I don't think it will ever come down to that. But I promise you that if it ever does I will let you kill him first." There was never any question in my mind about how I felt about any of my children but I was never a physically affectionate father. Over the years and with the arrival of my first granddaughter, I changed my ways so, when I felt the sudden urge to hold my first son, I took him in my arms with little hesitation. I loved him. And the thought of losing my son to Aro was overwhelming.

"I will be ok Carlisle. I promise." He said as I let him go. "And by the way..."

"Yes?"

"I love you too, dad."

A/N: I know that this last section with Carlisle is confusing but the genetic component of this scene is going to become very important in the next two installments of the immortal saga, so store it away for later and hopefully it will become crystal clear by immortal continuum. I know that you are all thinking 'WTF!' but as said before, there is usually a reason for my madness but if you find it too confusing feel free to PM me and I can explain more.