Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Chapter 98 Change in Plans

Jacob didn't even talk like Jacob. Something had drastically changed,

he had grown . . . he stood taller, more intent than before.

Something that had been buried apparently had surfaced,

and he commanded respect from us all.

JacobPOV

The council had convened by the time I arrived. I stopped at the house to grab the chest plate and head dress that were given to me yesterday, knowing I would be expected to wear them to the meeting. It wasn't nearly as embarrassing as I thought it would have been, in fact, I felt comfortable in them . . . kind of like I belonged in them, like I belonged as the head of my tribe. I had never felt my father's presence more.

I walked into the lodge amid all the ceremony and traditions and took my place at the head of the hall. Sam was there, as were the tribal council members. Apparently the Cullens had elected to wait outside till they were called and I appreciated their attempt at keeping things calm by limiting their presence among the full tribe.

"Welcome to all and I want to make it clear before we start and anyone gets their expectations up . . . the matter of Sam Uley's betrayal has been delt with. His punishment is known to the pack and you can speak to them individually if you are interested or have questions. There will be no public display of punishing him and he is not at this time banished from either our presence, or the reservation. The question we are here to answer today is a completely separate issue."

I nodded for the Cullens to be asked to enter the lodge and approach the front. The mood in the room instantly became anxious as the vampires approached where I stood at the front of our tribe.

"My grandfather saw fit to enter into a treaty with the Cullen clan and his judgement has been proven over the years to have been sound in this matter. The Cullens have never given us any cause to believe that they have not been true to their word. Though they are vampires, they do indeed feed from animals, just as we do and have never harmed a human out of their need for blood."

The murmuring in the room grew and I had to raise my hand and gesture to them to be quiet.

"I have grown to know the Cullens well, especially Edward Cullen. They are respectable, upstanding members of the community in which they live now, as they always were when they resided here in Forks. The treaty between our two peoples has stood, intact for over 70 years until it was breached this month by one of our own."

"Carlisle Cullen has asked for an exception to our treaty. He asks that his family be allowed to change Bella Swan Cullen into a vampire and that this not be considered a breach of our treaty. His request comes as a result of Sam Uley's breaking the treaty between our two peoples, and the exception was requested in return for the Cullens not considering the treaty broken and attacking us on their own."

There was a wave of chatter and intakes of breath around the room. It was obvious that my tribe did not yet understand the Cullens. I stared straight into Carlisle's eyes and continued . . .

"This is not acceptable. There will be no eye for an eye where the treaty is concerned."

The gasps now came as unnecessary breaths taken in by the four Cullens that stood in front of me. They were not prepared for this and I had to have faith in them at this moment. There had been no time to discuss it beforehand.

"The only recourse available to the Cullen family, since we have broken the treaty, is to retaliate against us. I ask you, Carlisle Cullen . . . is that your intention?"

Carlisle looked stunned, like he had just been slapped or stabbed in the back. He obviously had not expected this and I could only hope his reaction would be what I thought.

"No. There will be no retaliation against the Quillette tribe, if our attacking any of you physically is what you mean. I asked only that we be granted . . ." I cut him off.

"I understand what you requested before and it has nothing to do with Sam Uley's breaking of the treaty between us. Again I ask you, will you retaliate against us because of his actions, or can we consider the treaty between us intact?"

"The treaty is intact as far as the Cullen family is concerned. There has been no problem between us for over 70 years and we desire peace," Carlisle said as he gestured to Emmett and Rosalie to hold their tongues. Even Esme looked like she could whip my ass for not allowing the exception that they wanted.

"Good. We will sign the treaty again, you and I, as an act of good faith," I said, motioning Carlisle to the table off to one side of the room.

I did not hesitate as I walked beside him at a distance that I would stand from any member of my tribe, much to the dismay of all present. I wanted them to see that there was no danger to us from them. Emmett glared at me with his arms crossed as he watched us both sign the document and return to our places facing each other at the head of the lodge.

"Now, about the request that the Cullen family has made that they be allowed to turn Bella Cullen. Request denied," I spoke slowly and with authority. "This tribe, and indeed the Cullen family, can not start a precedent of asking for exceptions to a treaty that we are each a part of."

Rosalie and Emmett were barely holding it together, sinking into the beginnings of a crouch and the edges of their lips curling back . . . but it was Esme that came unglued. "Jacob Black how could you! Can you deny them happiness just because she didn't choose you?"

"Quiet!." Sue and old Quilaterra demanded almost in unison. I had spoken with them earlier and we had all agreed.

"Charlie Swan, would you please come forward," I asked above the roar, effectively quieting all of them. Tribal members were ecstatic, they had obviously not wanted to grant anything to the Cullens and they certainly did not want a human turned into a vampire, regardless.

"You have made a request to this council privately. Would you voice it to us all now, please."

"Well, most of you know me. You know who I am. My daughter is married to Edward Cullen. She married him knowing what he was, and she just delivered him a son . . . my grandson. She deserves to be allowed to live with her family as his equal. She does not deserve to have to grow old and die, watching her husband and child remain forever young. Edward Cullen is a good husband to her, kind and gentle. The Cullens are good people. They may be vampires, but they are by no means the cold ones that your legends speak of, even you all have agreed to that. As her father, I am requesting that the Quilette tribe, and the Cullen family both allow an exception to the treaty between you. I ask that you allow Edward Cullen to make his wife immortal so that she can live with her family, and so that my grandson does not have to loose his mother," Charlie said, somewhat demanding.

I looked to Carlisle, "Carlisle Cullen, would you be willing to make this exception to our treaty as Chief Swan is requesting?"

Carlisle's face changed immediately, answering me loud and clear, "We would make the exception in this instance."

"Excellent," I answered as I watched Esme's face soften, understanding finally showing there.

"Then as Chief of this tribe, and with the elders consent and approval, I also make this exception to the treaty, as requested by Charles Swan on behalf of his daughter and grandson. Dr. Cullen, if you would once again sign the documents that the council has prepared," I gestured as I walked towards the table again.

"This document," I said as I held the paper high above my head, constitutes an agreement between the Quilette tribe and the Cullen family. We both agree to allow Edward Cullen to turn his wife, Isabella Swan Cullen, into a vampire so that she may live out her existence with her family, as requested by her father. This will not be considered by either of us as a breach of the treaty between our people and she will be protected by the treaty we have just signed, as will her son, Masen, and any other offspring that occur from their union. This request is granted as a favor to Charles Swan, in recognition of his years of service and dedication to this community."

We both signed and then we shook hands, much to the dismay of all the tribal members, with the exception of Sue. She ran to the table and hugged us both, as did Esme.

"You understand that I had to do it this way, right?" I asked Carlisle.

"I understand completely, Jacob, and thank you. I knew you had to have something in mind when you denied our request. I had faith in you," Carlisle told me, a smile on his face.

"Well, I was mad as hell, dog," Emmett shared, "But you came through in the end. Lucky for you I can hold my temper!"

We all laughed at that one as Rosalie smacked him on the shoulder.

There were handshakes all around and thanks from Charlie. I had to wonder, though, if Charlie was truly happy about the outcome, and his daughter becoming one of them . . .

I decided to tell Charlie and Carlisle about the part of Sam's punishment, community service really. The part that involved them. "Charlie, Sam will be over each week to maintain your yard for you, bushes, grass, leaves in the fall . . . that sort of thing." I told him.

He and Carlisle had similar questioning looks on their faces and both faces had eyebrows lifted in a questioning manner. It was funny, really, to see the similarities in their reactions.

"Part of what is required of Sam is for him to maintain your yard for you, whatever needs doing. He'll be there every week and I need to know if for some reason he doesn't show up," I told Charlie.

The Chief huffed a bit and insisted that he didn't need anyone to do his yard for him, something about him being perfectly capable of maintaining it himself. Carlisle put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, telling Charlie that it was for Sam's benefit so that he would remember humility and what he had done wrong.

"That's actually an excellent way for him to be reminded, Jacob. Well done," Carlisle told me.

"I'm really glad you think so, Carlisle. Sam is responsible for your yard as well, the area around the house and any of the estate that you decide needs maintenance," I told him as I tried to keep a straight face.

"Ha!" Charlie roared, "Now you have to take some of your own medicine Doc! What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right!"

Chief Swan was having a ball with this, at Carlisle's expense. He and the other Cullens just stared at me, kind of dumbfounded.

"Relax," I told them, "I know how bad we smell to you guys, he is only to do the outside of the house and the lawns. Nothing inside where his scent won't blow away in the wind!"

Carlisle nodded and Emmett broke out laughing, "You mean the dog is our new lawn service? For how long?"

"Permanently," I told him, which only made him laugh harder. "Emmett, don't antagonize him when he's there. In fact, I really wouldn't have made it a condition if I thought you guys would be staying there much."

"Not to worry, Jacob. We fly back to Highlands in a day or two and we have no intention of living here again while there are still people alive that remember us. It was time for us to move, I hardly look 30 and I was by all accounts pushing 40," Carlisle laughed. "At most, Bella and Edward might come for visits with the baby for him to see Charlie in the next few years, but Charlie will probably just fly to wherever we are.

The Cullens left the rez with Charlie and the entire tribe settled in for an evening of celebration. Apparently we were celebrating having a new Chief and it sounded like a good time till I realized I was the new chief! Rachael hugged me to her, and she and Sue together continued to tell me how proud they were of me and how glad they were to have me back. Paul even limped up to me and apologized for questioning my decisions. Huh. Wonder where the hell that came from . . .

~oooOooo~

EPOV

"I'm trying, Edward. I just can't see, to get a clear picture of which story works best. The truth is out, of course, but it always comes back to letting her make her own assumptions. There is only that," Alice fussed.

"I'm sorry, Alice. I don't mean to pressure you, it's just . . ."

"I know, brother. You really want those twins, or at least another child, and I wish I could be clearer with the visions. You know how quickly they change. I have seen the twins ever since we were in Florida, though, and they're still there . . . just as clearly as you see them now."

I did see them. Clearly . . . God, so clearly. They were sitting on a blanket with me as I laid there and played with them, a little girl so beautiful even though she looked like me, and the boy had his mom's face and dark hair but my eyes. A larger little boy that looked exactly like me was running wildly around the yard laughing and following a ball. It was just the same as she had seen and shown me months ago.

Alice went through a few different scenarios with everything from me telling Renee that we were a form of travelers from another planet to telling her that we were indeed products of genetic engineering from the second World War. In the end, it wasn't going to matter. I heard the conversation between Bella and her mom even before we left the room to head back downstairs, and the explanation was already in progress. I would just have to hope that Bella had it under control and that it worked out for the best.

"Well, I just don't understand why you can't explain, Bella. You know you can talk to me. I have always supported you and you're being with Edward. I just don't understand," Renee told her.

"Mom, just believe me on this. I have told you all I can. Masen is a very special young man, very like his father, and there are going to be some dramatic differences in him and other children. If you can just accept him as an individual with all his quirks, then I would love to have you visit often and get to know him," Bella pleaded.

"Bella, I just want the truth."

"Mom, if you can't just let it go then I can't be around you . . . and neither can Masen."

"BELLA!"

"I mean it. You have to just accept that yes, there is something quite different about him. Yes, I only carried him about four months and yes, he for all appearances, looks like a three month old already . . . well, except for his teeth, I guess babies don't usually get teeth till they are a year old or so, but . . ."

"Bella, you can't expect me to . . ."

"But she does expect you to abide by her wishes, Renee. And so do I," I told her as I entered the room and moved to stand behind the chair my wife was sitting in. Alice put down the pile of clothes she was carrying and sat beside Renee at the table.

"I would love for Masen to get to know you, Renee. Family is quite important to me as well as to your daughter . . . but you need to let this go. We can't tell you anything more. We can't answer all the questions about how and why, we can only tell you that if you can accept my son and I with all the little quirks you may notice, then we would love to have you as a part of our lives."

"But Edward . . ." Renee looked up at me and started to speak.

I knew where she was going with that, I read it in her mind. She wanted answers, wanted to know where I was from, how we had created Masen and what he would grow up to be. I thought a few answers might just jar her into agreeing with our need for her to let this go."

"Renee. I was Born in Chicago, Illinois, just like we told you when you first asked. Masen was created by Bella and I and our love for each other," I couldn't help smirking at my wife who was looking up at me, astounded, as I continued, "and we have every hope that he will grow up to be a healthy, strong young man that functions within our family. That's all we know, and all you need to know."

I watched as her jaw dropped and she held tightly to the coffee cup in her hands and froze like a statue - her mind trying to process what I had told her, wondering how I knew what she wanted to know in that exact order.

"Yes, Renee. I can read your mind," I told her, never breaking eye contact as her heart rate and her grip on the cup increased. Bella broke the uncomfortable silence in the room that even Alice had fallen victim to.

"Mom, we're leaving for a vacation in a few days. Europe. If you can accept that you love your son in law and new grandson in spite of any differences you may notice between them and others, you are welcome to come and visit us when we get back . . . but if you can't just accept what we're telling you and LET IT GO, then when we leave we won't be back and we will be out of your life," Bella said firmly but quietly, staring directly into Renee's shocked face.

"Bella . . ." it was almost a whisper from her lips.

"Bella, you can't mean that," she finally said loudly enough for my wife to hear her.

"I absolutely mean it, mom. I love you, I always will, but Edward and my son come first. I will protect them at all costs . . . including leaving and never contacting you again if I have to.

It was deadly quiet in the room, Bella and her mom were the only ones breathing and it was as though they were holding their breath, waiting for some imaginary axe to fall. The part that was the most ifasinating was that Renee's mind was as quiet as her voice. I had listened to the minds of humans for almost a century and though I had heard small points of silence from Renee before this was different. Minutes passed . . . nothing. Absolutely no thoughts.

What I wouldn't give to just be able to read my wife's thoughts for only a moment, just to see if her mind was as random, focused and guarded all rolled up into one like her mother's was.

"Fine."

It was the only word she said, and all she thought. I could actually feel the tension in my wife's shoulders where my palms rested while we waited for her to continue. My sister Alice sat expressionless, just staring at Renee.

"Fine. No more lies and no more hiding. I want to know my grandson just as he is, not as you're pretending him to be, understood?" she said as she stood and put her coffee cup in the sink. "Am I to understand that he really was born just two weeks ago? I just want to be sure of the facts up until now."

"Yes," I told her, "I delivered our son in the early morning hours of Friday, January 6th."

"And Masen was conceived in this house, after you were married and moved here, correct?"

"Yes," Bella answered, "Neither of those things were lies."

"But Masen has a full set of teeth and is completely capable of holding himself up and almost sitting alone, isn't he?"

"Yes, Renee. He learned to sit up yesterday, and he is very proud of himself. He won't be hiding his accomplishments anymore," I stated flatly, "It's too hard on him. He is only a tiny baby after all."

She looked like a cross between being pale from the information I had just verified and red hot from the anger that it had been hidden from her.

"Good. Now that we have a starting point for the truth, I'm going upstairs to change so that we can go shopping for those new clothes that Alice says you need. When I come down, there will be no more questions from me and I will keep all of this to myself, but there will be no more deception. You don't have to explain, and I won't ask . . . but no hiding anything about my grandson anymore," she said as she started towards the stairs. Just before she reached them, she turned and stared straight at me, her eyes boring into me with the intent in her face as she said, "I'll need to know where we are going on this vacation, though. I need to shop for me as well." She turned and walked up the stairs to her room.

"Edward?" Bella turned to look up at me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Alice flitted out of the room carrying the clothes she was going to donate to good will with her, at least one load of them, to put them in the car. I'm sure she left to avoid my wife as well.

"Edward?" Bella asked again, standing to face me as I stood with my hands in my pockets now, avoiding her eyes. I knew what she wanted to know and I had the answer for her . . . I just didn't want to tell her.

"Did she just say that she needed to shop for clothes to take on vacation with us?" Bella said incredulously.

"Yes. Yes she did, love."

"And is that what she meant? She thinks she is coming with us?"

"Yes, love. She has no intention to be parted from her grandson right now . . . she's afraid she won't see him again . . . or you," I told her, stepping closer and hugging her to me.

"But she doesn't even know where we're going!" Bella almost shouted.

"She doesn't care. She only wants to be with you and Masen for awhile longer."

"But . . . ," Bella stumbled on her words, "Is that even okay? For her to come with us I mean?"

"I'm not sure there is a choice," I chuckled. It was going to be a very interesting few weeks . . .

Authors note: Please don't forget to review! I am living in a floor to ceiling box lined home with no time to unpack until I get everything out of the old house and some repairs made so that, hopefully, someone will buy it from me! Encouragement needed! I'm about to invite all of my grandkids to come over and bring markers and crayons to draw on what amounts to cardboard walls (I can only see hallways and rooms lined with boxes). At least I would have some pretty decor to look at! lol

Send me some love and tell me what you think of this chapter, before we move on to Europe!