Chapter 9: Settling in

~Bella~

Early on a morning a few days after our encounter with the Children of the Night, our small plane touched down in Port Angeles. For a few days it would be the entire family staying at the big house. Already, Esme and Carlisle were there making sure everything was ready for the babies, mostly. The rest of us were capable of needing less, though I had a feeling there was much more. The babies were asleep as we got them settled in their seats of our rental car, and the other cars were on their way. For me the biggest change was not needing sleep, something I liked because there wasn't a need to rush with eight or nine extra hours that weren't there when I was human. My husband made sure that there was minimal contact with anyone human, and I was already proficient at holding my breath, even though it felt strange to me.

"It feels strange being back here, like we are visiting only I know we aren't," I said with that feeling of hate toward those who had driven us to this and let Edward take my hand as he drove toward Forks and our temporary home. There was a part of me that wanted to talk to Charlie, let him know we were here. If I did that we would be putting him in danger and that was not something I was willing to let happen. It was a quiet ride to the big house and when we arrived, Rosalie and Alice came out to greet us. I let my sisters take the babies and gathered the few things my husband left for me as he smirked at me before going inside. The house looked as though no one had ever left. Emmett was getting up flipping the TV off as he offered to take some of our things up to Edward's old room. With Edward and Emmett gone, I easily found Esme in the kitchen, joining her as she finished preparing things for Renesmee to eat once she was awake.

"Have you and Carlisle made any more arrangements?" I asked leaning against one of the counters.

"Yes, we will leave in a week to visit our friends in Denali. Past that we are unsure. Would you like to hunt with me?"

In a moment Edward was at my side, "Go on, I'll wait here in case she wakes up," he responded talking about our daughter who upset easily when we both left her.

After we kissed I let Esme lead the way going down to the river, watching as she jumped across. I mimicked her actions landing with ease beside her before we took off going through the trees until we caught the scent of a deer herd not far from us. Neither of us spoke as we sought out our prey and once I had finished off my third deer, I felt safe taking in a deep breath. "It's going to rain soon," I said able to smell the wetness of the air around me.

"I believe you are right. How are you two doing?" My mother-in-law asked as we walked at a more human pace back toward the house.

By then I had cleaned off and was proud that my shirt wasn't ripped and only slightly dirty. "We're managing. I'm still angry about having to leave, and afraid because of how much these wolves seem to know. At some point we need to, or I need to try and contact Jacob. Edward and I both agree that he needs to know we are back if he doesn't already."

Esme nodded remaining quiet for a few minutes, "How do you feel about talking to him?"

It was my turn to be silent, and I took in air that I really didn't need, "Apprehensive because its been such a long time since we have talked. He has someone to love now, but I'm not sure how he will react to us being back." After that we didn't say anything. As we approached the house I heard Edward's soft voice explaining to our daughter about where we were. It was easy for me to find them both snuggled in the big bed in Edward's own room. Once I was snuggled beside Renesmee she moved closer to me, yawning.

"Want my pillow," Renesmee whispered through another yawn. That was the one thing we hadn't thought to bring and I felt guilt wash over me. Renesmee shouldn't have to go through this, though living with a house full of vampires she would have to get used to being on the move. It wasn't something I had really thought of until now, how moving so often would affect her and Anthony. At first it wouldn't be easy, but with time I hoped she would adjust.

"She's asleep," Edward whispered, pulling me back to the present.

I eased her onto the mattress smiling as Edward placed a soft blanket over her. In my human days I would have needed to ask where Anthony was, but while approaching the house I smelled his sweet baby scent with Rosalie and Emmett in their room as they cooed and watched over him. It was amazing how someone so small could captivate us all, even Emmett. "What now?" I asked as I looked at my husband.

Edward shut his eyes, silent for a moment before they opened again. He came over to my side of the bed at the same time I heard footfall coming up the stairs. By the time I was on my feet, Esme was there and I already knew what was next. In my human life the memories of Edward saying how bad Jacob and his pack smelled to him hadn't really left me, and the smell was of earth and wet dog mixed with several others, but not like those of The Children of the Night. Outside it was just starting to drizzle as we walked out on the porch.

Jacob was standing near the edge of the forest wearing only a pair of cut off jeans and no shoes. He looked the same as the last time I saw him, only maybe happier, though at the same time tense. "Let me talk to him."

"Are you sure?" Edward asked, hesitantly.

I turned, looking into my husband's golden gaze, "I am. Jacob won't hurt me. If I need you, you will know." I answered confident of that. Edward stood regarding me for the briefest of moments before kissing me, nodding his head. I took a deep breath in, breathing in Edward's scent before turning and walking over to where Jacob stood. Already I was aware that other members of his pack with with him and watched as my friend gazed at me wearily. "Hi Jacob."

"Back for a vacation?" He asked, raising his left brow. His tone of voice sounded serious, though he did smirk, so I had hope this wouldn't be too bad an intro.

"We had to move. There are some things you need to be aware of," I said as I stopped a foot a way from him, holding my breath, he really did smell bad. Over the next few minutes I told him everything from the time I was human and our first house burned to the ground, until most recently. "It was like they knew I had changed. We don't know what this means, but the rest of the family is moving on to try and find some answers. Edward and I need to keep our children safe."

There was silence and tension in the air as Jacob took in everything I had to tell him. He moved from one foot to the other and I could hear the two other wolves as they wined. "Do you think it's your children they might be interested in? There have never been any legends which follow yours, I mean the birth of two half vampire half human children without the woman dying a horrible death," Jacob clarified.

"We have thought of that," I answered taking in a shallow breath, wincing at the smell coming from not only Jacob but the ones of his pack that I couldn't see.

"So what now?" He asked scratching the back of his head.

"We just wanted to warn you of the reason we are here. It won't be forever, and for now I don't want Charlie to know. We are risking a lot being here."

"Yeah you are, but I'll talk to Sam, see if he thinks helping you guys is a good idea. I guess you should be aware that he stepped down as Alpha and I'm now the leader for better or worse."

I wanted to know more, but my daughter's cries from inside the house had my attention. Jacob took his leave and Edward met me half way hugging me before we went in to take care of our little girl.

By mid afternoon, the rain had stopped. Renesmee was outside wearing a pair of violet colored boots and a matching raincoat as she walked around in the puddles left on the lawn by the rain. In my arms Anthony was drinking from his bottle trying to fight going to sleep. When he began to fuss, I stood up and once he was sucking at his bottle, I walked to the back of the house, standing by the window as I swayed with him. Edward had gone hunting with Carlisle and his brothers, leaving the rest of us at home. Somewhere in the house, Alice was humming while she flitted around arranging some new artwork Esme had purchased. My in-laws were talking about selling this place, and had been for a while now. Esme had talked about putting more walls up to make two rooms out of the family room, but had decided against it. My son finally lost his battle over sleep and after putting his bottle in the kitchen, I settled him against my shoulder listening for Renesmee.

When I didn't hear her right away I shut my eyes and hurried upstairs putting Anthony down in his crib in our room. My son remained asleep and I made it back downstairs and out the front door in less than a second. My hearing finally picked up on where my daughter was and a second later I was behind her as she knelt over something small. "What are you doing?"

"Hunt. I got him," My daughter said as I moved around her. In her hands she held a small brown rabbit. It was still alive and it's small heart thumped fast out of terror. Renesmee wasn't too far from the house and I had no idea what to tell her. "Do you know what to do?"

"Him not smell good."

"Perhaps you should let him go for now."

My daughter looked up at me before nodding once and setting the rabbit free. It moved slowly and I realized it was hurt. "Why don't you go find and Rose and see if she will fix you a sippy."

Before going away Renesmee gave me a kiss and skipped back toward the house. Once she was out of earshot, I scanned the area finding her rabbit hiding only a few feet away. It was easy for me to catch it and with one quick movement I snapped it's neck and drank what little blood the animal had to offer.

Back inside I found my baby working a puzzle and sat behind her smiling at Esme as she came and sat down in my lap. "Daddy say not big go hunting. I go do it, but it not easy."

"Maybe Daddy and I will talk about that," I whispered. Edward was very protective of both of our children, but maybe on this one thing, our daughter hunting, he wasn't right. We both worried how she would take watching an animal die, but today Renesmee seemed to be trying to prove that she was ready for such a thing.

When Edward got home, Renesmee was down for her nap, and Anthony was awake propped up against several pillows as he sat watching his Nanna as she made a tower for him out of some legos. I greeted my husband at the door and led him down the hall and in to Carlisle's office.

"She caught a rabbit?"

"All on her own. He didn't smell right to her, but I was thinking maybe it's time to let her go with us."

Edward sighed, shutting his eyes. "She's two," he gently reminded.

"She's half vampire and she went on instinct. We don't have to kill in front of her, but she seems ready."

My husband opened his eyes, "Let me try something first, will you agree to that?"

Not wanting to argue I nodded and we went back to the family room sitting down to play with our son.

~Edward~

Once Anthony was in bed for the night, and the rest of the family was occupied with travel plans, I carried Renesmee into the family room holding the DVD I'd picked up in Port Angeles just a few hours ago. It was part of my plan, to let her watch a nature program with animals going after one another in order to gage her reaction. I still wasn't convinced that taking her hunting was the right course of action, but maybe Bella had a point. After putting the DVD in the player, I sat down on the sofa settling Renesmee on my lap as Bella joined us handing our daughter a sippy cup.

The program showed some big cats stocking after a herd of Zebra. As they began to chase after them, Renesmee put her cup down and remained very still as the Lions took down a big Zebra. It was fairly graphic, more than I would have liked, but Renesmee didn't seem to mind as the show went on.

"Did you like that video?" Bella asked of our daughter once the program was over.

"Like big cats. Them got the stripe horsie."

"Yes they did," I answered kissing the top of my daughter's soft head. Bella leaned against us as Renesmee stayed on my lap turning my wedding band around on my finger as she thought about what she had seen.

"Me get big cat?"

"Hunt them?" Bella asked.

Renesmee nodded her response, and I could tell she was confused though not afraid.

"When you are older you might be able too," Bella answered seeming also unsure of how to handle this.

A moment later Renesmee had turned in my arms and got up on her knees facing me. "Daddy, I go hunt with you." Those words seemed so strange coming from someone so small. She wanted to go with us, and we couldn't deny what was instinct for her.

"Not today. Momma and I will think about taking you tomorrow to see how you do."

Bella and I would have to come up with a plan on how to handle that hunting trip and I already heard the thoughts from the rest of the family wanting to support us. "Right now it's bed time," I said lifting my daughter over my head. Renesmee laughed as I nibbled her tummy, continuing to giggle as I settled her on my shoulders. Together Bella and I headed upstairs to get her settled in for the evening, both ready to talk things through and figure our daughter's first hunting trip out.

~*~

AN: Hey everyone. I'm sorry for such a long pause again between chapters. Life full of stress and all that, but I finally got this chapter to a good point to post. I'm sorry it's so short, but hopefully the stress will work itself out and things won't be so bad. I had a request to have Renesmee hunt so this chapter is leading to that. Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter, and again to all those who added me to their various lists. I'm really glad you all are enjoying this. More soon hopefully.


~Ella~