Chapter5

(Edward)

I heard him coming, long before he crashed through the door.

They would never even consider it he thought, and why would they? She is just a little girl; she has forever to be the women I need her to be. They will hate me as much as I hate myself for wanting her the way this way so soon. I have no right to do this, to her. Turn around. Turn around. Turn around! We already agreed when we would tell her, so why am I even asking? Turn around.

He stopped running when he saw the cottage from a distance, starring.

I can't do this. I can't ask them for this. I can't take anything else away from her. She won't be ready .So selfish.

I marveled at my wife (the title still excited me), she was enjoying her newfound talent while I listened in on Jacobs's thoughts. I continued to play in synchronization with Bella, enjoying the smile in her eyes, smiling to see her enthusiasm for something I loved almost as much as I loved her. I continued playing, nonchalantly, not wanting to concern Bella for no reason if Jake decided to turn around. I was hoping he would, I was hoping he wouldn't interrupt the moment I was having with my wife.

I was suddenly seeing my daughter through Jacob's eyes. I groaned at his recollection, the feeling of her in his arms this morning, the sound of her laugh, the cool of her skin. I couldn't say I was surprised, I knew this was coming. I just listened,

Stop, stop feeling guilty. Since when do you feel guilty for feeling your feelings? There's nothing wrong with wanting to a relationship with your soul mate. Suck it up, stop being a pansy.

He perked up, and walked faster now, his enthusiasm shrinking when he thought of what could go wrong. Me and Bella not approving, Renesmee not wanting him, "Blondie" convincing Nessie that Jacob was nothing but a worthless house pet, Ness getting upset with him over lying about the imprintation for so long. He scolded himself, Stop worrying! You're acting like an Edward! Just do it, stop thinking so much, just run. Go get her.

I chuckled at his comparison. Though I kept playing, I was already in deliberation.

On one hand, how dare he want to have a romantic relationship with her when she was so young? We had already had this discussion with Bella and Carlisle the first week she was born. We would go with the plan, telling her two years after her last growth, witch hadn't even come yet. His feelings be damned, I couldn't allow him corrupt my baby so soon, could I?

On the other hand, Jacob had been so patient. He really wished that she didn't grow up as fast as she did, and if anybody knew that it was me. He really was feeling guilty for these feelings he had, as he should. I don't think he would exactly be corrupting her anyways. I knew he would be more respectful than anybody else she would ever meet. I knew he couldn't help wanting to be truthful with her. I could empathize.

I looked at my life; I didn't have to look far. My other half was sitting right next to me. I glanced at her with peripheral vision. She was smiling to herself with more radiance than a sunrise, more excitement than a blushing bride on her wedding day. Her fingers danced over the keys with enthusiasm. And suddenly, I couldn't be upset, or even disappointed with Jacob for wanting a future he knew was rightfully his. How could I blame him for wanting to start his life as soon as possible? I knew that nothing felt better in the world than when Bella knew the truth about what I was, and wanted me anyways. I couldn't look at the angel next to me and honestly not understand what Jacob was going through.

I knew he had the best of intentions, I knew that he unconditionally loved Nessie; I knew that he was the best person for her; I knew that I would not be able to deny him his request. More so, I knew that I would be happy to give him what he ran her looking for. If I somehow deserved to have this much happiness in my life, to experience the love I have experienced, then the least I could do is give Jacob his happy ending. He deserved to be loved, to be taken care of for a change. I would not deny him of his fate.

I knew Bella would feel the same way. Renesmee would want to know the truth; she would want to make her own decision.

With that, Jacob barged into the living room, throwing himself at the couch, his face hid in his hands. He was in agony.

Bella ran to his side immediately, concerned beyond belief. I knew she was trying to think of the last time she saw Jacob this upset, let alone, the last time she saw Jacob with tears in his eyes. She simply waited for him to talk, witch was very unlike her. I decided I would just make it easier for him.

"Jacob…" I said. disappointed that my voice didn't portray the authoritative father I was going for.

He interjected. "You guys, just hear me out," he plead, taking a breath to continue. I held out my hand.

"You don't need to explain Jacob. I am fully aware of the feelings you have for Ness, and there is nothing wrong with it." He looked at me, flabbergasted. I continued. "You love her, and I understand that you would want the same feelings in return. She is already more mature than any of us give her credit for." He held the expression. "However, it is her decision weather or not she is comfortable with a different type of relationship with you. Just because you want her, doesn't necessarily mean she will want you. That is between you and her." He nodded, obviously more thankful than he wanted to explain in any detail.

"Edw…Edward, thank you. Thank you so much," he stammered. I nodded my head once.

"I'm not finished Jacob." He waited for me to finish, gulping.

"I swear on all that is good and holy, if you harm her in any way, shape, or form." I paused for dramatic effect. "I will have your tail mounted above my fireplace with pride." He let out a nervous laugh.

"No need to worry chief. I wouldn't dream of it." He got up, beaming, to shake my hand. I returned his smile. Jacob…My son?

"NO!?" We both stopped, dead in our tracks when we heard Bella shriek in horror at the top of her lungs from beside the couch, she was standing now, her hands balled up in fists at her sides. For once in all my years of knowing Bella, I had forgotten she was in the room. Jacobs face was a mixture of confusion and anger. We both starred at her, concerned, waiting for her to explain the outburst. Her eyes seared us from the inside out. She was livid.

"So I don't get a say in this at all?!" She barked, obviously to me. "Just because your okay with him taking away her innocence doesn't mean I am Edward. It's not just your decision to make. You don't get to go speaking for both of us all the time! You don't make my decisions Edward." She was shouting at me, or singing rather, with all volume imaginable. I didn't have a rebuttal; I could count the times on one hand that Bella had raised her voice to me like this before.

"Bella," I knew I had no right to okay Jacobs request without consulting her first, and I knew I needed to apologize. I was used to calming Bella when she was this upset. I hadn't a clue how to consol her when it was me she was upset with. I didn't continue, I just stuttered, like an idiot. She rolled her eyes at me before turning to Jacob, redirecting her fury. God spee Jacob, God spee.

"If you think you're about to sweep that girl off of her feet, think again." She glared him down. If he wasn't a werewolf, I am almost certain that her lazar eyes would have fried his organs. "She is a baby. She has been on this earth for 6 fucking years Jacob." I hated that I loved when Bella cursed like that, my wife, the hard ass. I was shamefully aroused. But thankfully, her ongoing rant ruined it for me quickly.

"You don't get to take her now just because she's developed physically for your pleasure. She is too young. End of discussion."

Jake tried to protest, but was struck down with a shriek that would have called every animal in the forest to her command.

"Shut up! Don't tell that's not what this is about! I know you Jacob Black. I know you better than you know yourself, and I am not about to have you work your crazy doggy voodoo on my daughter. So you might as well just forget about it. You're not touching her." Silence. Jacob and Bella stared each other down, while I stood in the background, now, obviously, an innocent bystander. Jacobs face had turned from repentant to downright pissed off, while Bella's perfect features remained constant with her temper. Jacob cut the tension.

"You have the nerve," Pause. "To tell me that you think I have come here, just so I can take advantage of her body?" He snarled.

"That is what I know Jacob. I know you came her, just so you can take advantage of her body." She hissed, balling her fists tighter, if that were possible.

To my dismay, Jacobs face softened, he looked at his feet.

"I'm surprised you think that low of me Bella." Bella stared, untainted by his words and shuffled past us, to her room.

"Get out Jacob." She said briskly.

He spun in fury "You can't keep me from her," he stated. She twisted to face him.

"Actually, I can. And that is exactly what I plan on doing." She strode confidently to our room, and slammed the door, sending a lightning bolt of splintered wood through the center.

We stood, gaping at the door, lost for words. Of all the outcomes I am sure he was expecting to come from this conversation that most defiantly was not one of them. I felt Jacobs's eyes on me, begging for some help. I looked back at him with wide eyes. He was shaking with rage; it wouldn't be long until spontaneous combustion would take hold of him.

"You. You go" I stuttered. "I'll talk to her. But you probably shouldn't come back tonight, just incase. Let her calm down, she's probably already feeling guilty for talking to you like that," there was a crash from the bedroom, in response to my last statement. I looked at the bedroom door before looking at Jacob, and cocking my head toward the front door, urging him to leave. He turned and walked slowly out the door.

"Jake," I stopped him before he was off the porch. He turned to me, his eyes full of extreme anxiety. "Don't worry, she will come around." He nodded heavily before bolting into the woods. He grew 4 feet and a tail before disappearing into the foliage.

I closed the door, and turned to the other, separated by the physical evidence of my loving wife's wrath. I figured it was not yet time to face the music. I would let her cool down for awhile. So I crossed my way over to the piano and settled myself in as I began to play her lullaby. I knew that right now, this was the definition of tacky and cliché, but I didn't really know what else I could do for her. So I played. I played with all the emotion in my body. My mind was racing with memories of my Bella and I when I went through her lullaby twice. I got up, and was at the door in a millisecond. I softly knocked twice.

"Love? Can I come in?" I asked my voice tender. I wasn't expecting an answer so I knocked again, before opening the door, to find Bella sitting in the middle of our bed with her chin setting on her knees, her arms wrapped around herself protectively.

I chuckled. "Where's the bomb?" She acted as if I wasn't in the room. I walked over to the bed, and sat directly in front of her, holding her eye contact with every move I made. I put my chin on my knees, and wrapped my arms protectively around my knees. She stared. I huffed as I reached to the foot of the bed and grabbed a white sheet. I draped it over her, then over myself, before sitting back in the exact position I was in before. The white sheet still let in light, so I could still see the way her eyes didn't budge as I teased her. I kept the sheet over top of us and my arms around my legs as I spoke.

"Come on love, lets get this over with then," I pleaded.

"Get what over with?" She spat.

"Our fight, I wanna teach you Nessies lullaby before she comes home."

"There's nothing to fight about Edward,"

"Aren't you upset with me?" I asked, not unraveling my arms.

"Obviously," she didn't drop eye contact.

"Well, then there's something to fight about. Come on then love, do your dirtiest. I'm ready." I closed my eyes, wrinkling my face, wrapping my arms more tightly around myself. When she didn't begin her rant, I opened one eye suspiciously. Her head was between her knees. I chuckled, dropping my position and pulling the sheet off of us. I scooted myself closer to her, running my fingertips on the sides of her thighs, kissing the hop of her head. She looked up at me, her face full of disappointment. My heart fell.

"Edward, why would do that? You undermined my judgment and didn't think twice when you decided it was okay for you to speak for me. I'm not okay with them going out and doing god knows what together. She is just so young. I know he loves her, but he is just so stupid sometimes. He's not like you Edward, he doesn't think. He doesn't think about the consequences. He doesn't know the difference from right and wrong when he's in the moment. How do we know that they won't make a mistake?" She didn't break her gaze on me as she spoke.

"I'm not comfortable with them going off together making stupid decisions when she doesn't even know what she wants yet." She was talking a million miles an hour; I could do nothing but listen.

"Sure, he had good intentions now, but when they start actually having a real relationship Edward. We of all people should know what its like to want something physical with a person, but unable to have it. What if the first time you were tempted you gave in? Well, Jacob doesn't understand the meaning of the word tempt Edward, he never lets it get that far.

"I want to wait until she's grown up enough to know how to make conscious decisions like that. Jacob is hard to resist, and she is going to need a few more years experience. It's a brainless proposal and I am livid you told him it was okay without asking me first. So, there."

She took a deep breath, and looked into my eyes, waiting for a response. I needed a minute, to gather my response, to explain to her why Jacob needed this chance. If it was half as good as her reasoning, then she might just understand. I dropped my position, scooting closer to her, putting my arms around her shoulders. I made my voice as gentle as I could while our bodies became one.

"First and foremost, I was utterly wrong of me to give Jacob and answer without consulting you first. I understand that your opinion is just as, if not more important, than my own. I understand why you care upset with me when it comes to me making your decisions, and I vow to you it will not happen for the rest of our existence. We are a team, and that's how we will remain. I sincerely apologize." I pursed my lips, waiting for her forgiveness. She kissed my nose instead. I took my face in her hands, increasing the intensity in my eyes.

"Now, we are going to have to talk about this situation with Jacob and our daughter." Her expression turned cold.

"Love, I truly understand your points. I understand why you object to their being together. But I need you to also understand mine, and then we can make an informed decision together. But banning Jacob from Nessie won't do anybody any good, especially them."

I was holding the whole weight of her head in my hands, her eyes still locked on mine. I pressed my forehead to hers, and began to explain to her the only way I knew how.

"Bella, you, sweetheart, are the best gift that anybody could have given me and more. You have brought warmth, beauty and happiness into my life without lifting a finger. You know what all of my imperfections are, and you still decided to love me, despite all the obstacles we have faced. You have fixed me; and I would be terrified to have to imagine what my life would be like today without you in it. Because of you, I have everything that I never even knew I needed. You have made life worth living and I will try my hardest to thank you for that, every second, of everyday, for the rest of our lives. The love I feel for you Bella shakes me to my core, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

By the end of my speech her face was hot under my hands. The gold of her eyes was inflamed, she was absolutely breathtaking. I would have given almost anything for her to drop her shield in this moment, to hear her thoughts. But I wasn't about to stop and ask.

I was thankful that she couldn't cry, because I knew the tears that would have been streaming down her face right now, if she were human, would have distracted me from the actual reason I was telling her this. I ran my fingers over her cheek before continuing.

"Bella, I didn't think that it was possible for anybody to love another person as much as I love you." I paused, letting her brace herself, "But, my dear. That boy loves our Renesmee more than I thought possible. I understand his intentions, witch are nothing but the best for her, and I am confident that he would never do anything to harm her, or make her feel taken advantage of. He needs her to be happy almost as much as he needs himself to be happy. He feels horribly for having romantic feelings for her ahead of schedule, he wants her to have a childhood just as much as we do. He is being more careful with her than he needs, or wants to be, and if anybody knows this, it's me Bella. Do you honestly think I would have been okay with this if I knew it would bring them anything but joy? Or if I knew he wanted merely her body? He wants to be the one to make her happy. He doesn't want to have to lie to her. He wants to start their life together. I don't see anything wrong with his feelings." Her expression didn't change.

"Bella, I know that you just want her to be okay, you want that as much as I do. But I also know that Jacob will do nothing but good things for her. She has never really been a child Bella, she is already grown up. It's not fair to withhold things from her that she would have wanted to know, she deserves nothing but the truth. Even as her parents, it's still not our decision who she spends her time with. But if it was, I couldn't pick a better person for her. He truly loves her Bella, with his whole heart." I kissed her forehead.

"They deserve to experience the same type of love that we experience every day. They deserve to be this happy. And that is exactly what they will be. She deserves to have the words I just said to you, said to her, in every way possible." I kissed her nose.

"I swear to you that there is not reason to worry. There is no reason not to trust Jacob. You should now focus your energy on being happy for your daughter, for having somebody who adores her almost as much as I adore you, love."

She threw her arms around my neck, and the dry sobs broke free. She cried into my neck while I pulled her into my lap, shushing her gently, smoothing her hair in attempt to calm her down. Her kisses were urgent, trailing from my ear to my lips. She cupped my face in her hands.

"I hate it when you're right," she whispered against my lips.

I smiled, against hers.

"It gives me quite a thrill," I chuckled, moving my lips from her lips to her chin, trailing to her neck, then eventually to her shoulder.

"Jacob must hate me, I had no right to-" I stopped her.

"You have every right, you are a concerned mother, and you acted as any other mother would have. Don't feel guilty for being honest." I stated matter-of-factly.

She sighed with a smile. "Do you really think they will be like us?" Her musical tone could have flown me above the clouds.

"Love, if they are a fraction of as happy as we are, I cannot even imagine the nausea that the both of us have in store."

She gigged, lying back on the bed, pulling me with her.

"Does this mean than Jacob no longer has to abide by a restraining order?" I teased.

"No, Jacob no longer has a restraining order. Not that he would have really done much "abiding" anyways."

I sighed. "Don't worry love. They were made for each other."

She looked up at me, her eyes full of an emotion I didn't quite recognize.

"Thank you," she sighed as she laid her head on my chest, kissing my stomach. I stroked her hair.

"For?"

"For making me understand; for dealing with my craziness. For knowing what's best for me when I don't know what's best for me; for loving me unconditionally; for existing." Her voice cracked at the last one. My heart would have turned to puddy if it was beating.

"No love. Thank you."

We lay together, who cared how long, intertwined, finding heaven in each others arms.