Chapter 57

Carlisle found Edward sitting up against a tree by one of the many streams in Forks. The look he had on his face was one that Carlisle hadn't seen for awhile. He looked mopey and mad.

"Edward," he started, "You're a great father. You want what's best for Renesme."

He shook his head, "She seems too young for all this Carlisle. I didn't get sixteen years to prepare for it."

"I know. I can't imagine what you must be feeling about the situation," he admitted, "But you must know that Jacob will respect Renesme. He will want what's best for her."

Edward looked up toward him, "You know, I do know that. I fully believe that, it's just... I don't know. I can't help but look at her and see the little Renesme that she was not too long ago."

"It's an amazing thing, and I guess our kind sort of break every rule of what's considered humanly possible," Carlisle told him, "But I feel bad that you haven't gotten the proper time to enjoy each stage of her life."

"It's hard," Edward admitted, "I don't know if I'm wrong or right."

"I don't think there is a real wrong or right. Think of how everything started and ended up for you and Bella."

He smiled and ran through their escapes in his mind. He thought of how everything was truly alright for them at the moment, and that for now his biggest concern was that his daughter was falling in love. Compared to the hurdles in their past, this one would probably end up being another fairytale, leaving both Renesme and Jacob as happy as he and Bella. It was just a hard thing that any father, he thought, would have to deal with.

Carlisle grinned, glad that he could at least put a small smile on Edward's face.

"I guess there is no way to keep her from going through with it," he said finally, "And I guess if Alice and Rosalie don't think it's a bad idea, then, it could be okay."

"I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, either," Carlisle confessed, "I think it will be similar to you and Bella. You enjoyed each other's company so much and progressed through the stages of your relationship as both of you were ready. I think Jacob and Renesme will simply continue to enjoy each other's company, as the two of you did."

"You know," Edward said with a laugh, "I think it'd be much easier to accept if we had a boy."

Carlisle smiled, "But boys are a handful in their own right. Believe me."

"I know," he let out a sigh and looked at his father figure, "Now what? What do I do from here?"

"Gather your thoughts and calmly go talk to her."

"But what do I say?"

"Just tell her that you just care about her, and how much you love her," Carlisle said, "And as her father, it's just hard watching her grow up so fast."

"And when she asks me about Jacob?"

"Just advise her. Relate it to your own experience. Tell her how much you and Bella had to go through, and how long it took for you to get where you are now."

Edward thought for a second, "I guess we never really told her about our own love story."

"So, tell her. That way the two of you will be able to see through each other's eyes a little better."

He tossed a stick to the side that he had been twirling in his fingers and stood up. Carlisle waited for a moment, and Edward finally approached him with his hand outstretched.

Carlisle pulled him by his hand toward him and gave his son a hug instead. "Everything will be fine, Edward."

"Thank you, Carlisle."

"You had to help me see the light with Masen a few times, before and after he came into this world," he told him, "We're a family. We help each other."

"Was Bella upset with me?"

Carlisle shook his head, "No. She's going through this process for the first time like you are. She understands."

Edward nodded and looked around, folding his arms over his chest.

"Come back to the house. Talk to Renesme."

Renesme was sitting comfortably flipping through stations on the television when Edward and Carlisle returned. He knew from her thoughts that Bella and Esme had already sat down and spoke with her. She seemed to be content with whatever they had said. Now, she was aware that he had come home and frustration lingered in her mind. He noticed her fingers curled a little tighter around the remote.

"Nessy," Edward started, attempting to keep it light by using her nick name.

She turned to him, letting the tension she was feeling drop slightly due to the tone of his voice, "Yeah?"

Carlisle patted him on the back, "I'll let you two talk." He exited the room and Edward approached his daughter.

"Mom talked to me," she told him.

"I know," he nodded.

"Of course you do," Renesme tried to keep from rolling her eyes.

"Look, I don't mean to be so invasive," he admitted with honesty she believed, "I sometimes feel this is more of a curse than a gift - the abiity to read minds. I really wish I could pick and choose who it works on," he laughed to himself briefly.

"I know," she agreed, "It's not your fault. I just, I don't know..."

"I'm sorry I went off the way I did in front of everyone," he told her, "This is all very new to me. I mean just a few months ago, you didn't have these feelings. You weren't ready to date boys."

Renesme shook her head, "Not boys, Dad. Jacob."

He nodded, "Yes, I know."

"And I know what you mean. Mom said the same thing when you left before. I guess we're not the typical family where it takes the normal amount of time to go through the stages of life."

"I just love you. I want you to do what's best for you. Because like you said, we're not the typical family," he smiled, "We do have a lifetime."

Renesme nodded.

"Did Mom ever tell you how we met? And all of the things we went through before we ended up where we are now."

"Somewhat, yes," Renesme said, "I mean she told me how you met, and about your wedding."

Edward smiled, "Well, let me tell you the whole story." He sat with Renesme and went through the years of events that lead them to the happiness that they were finally able to enjoy; from biology class, to James, to Victoria, the multiple run-ins with the Volturi and how they became friends with the wolves, "And the entire reason why the treaty was truly broken, or resolved I think is a better term, is because of you."

Renesme smiled, enjoying the details of her parents' past. "Was it all worth it?"

He nodded, "Yes."

She smiled, "I want to have that same feeling. I want to have a happy ending that never really ends."

They sat staring at each other before Edward held his arms out, "Come here."

Renesme hugged him tightly.

"I just want you to be safe, and happy, and not rush through your life, as much as possible anyway."

"I know. I really do. But I want you to trust that I will be safe and happy if things work out with Jacob. If he feels the same about me."

Edward looked at her, "Okay, but the last part, about the rushing..."

"I'm not going to rush through anything. I just want the opportunity to just tell Jacob, to see if there's a chance for some kind of future."

Edward already knew this wasn't just a possibility, but a certainty that Jacob would respond as Renesme hoped. He knew they would be together and he also knew that Jacob would fully protect her.

"I'll obey any rules you set. Curfews, time limits..."

He smiled, which caused Renesme to smile back.

"No rushing."

She continued to smile, "No rushing."

Upstairs, Esme sat with an extra ear in Edward and Renesme's direction. She sat contently and shushed Carlisle every time he tried to talk or distract her. When their conversation finally ended, she sat with a pleased smile on her face.

Carlisle smirked at her, "Give them their privacy."

She smiled and kissed him several times, "I just had to make sure that our son and granddaughter were fine."

"You were spying on them," he said, letting his face linger only an inch from her face. He continued to smile.

"I'm bad, I know," Esme didn't lose eye contact with him, and he loved the challenge, continuing to stare back. Both of their eyes burned black.

Carlisle decided to tease her with a long kiss. When he parted from her, she looked surprised but smiled and tried to pull him back to her. He ran a hand through her hair, "We need to hunt."

She smiled and shook her head.

"I'm bad, I know." He teased.

They left through the window to hunt. Esme found herself feeling relaxed and happy now that the current conflicts had been resolved.