Bella's POV

Looking back, I should've known things were going too well. Edward was back and he still loved me; even though it hadn't come the way or time I'd wanted it to, I was a vampire and would be with him for eternity. My thirst and behavior were anything but those of a typical newborn. I was well on the road to having everything I wanted. I'd begun to think everything was going to be fine, that nothing was going to happen to take away my greatest wish.

And then one of my greatest fears had come true.

~*~FC~*~

Nine Hours Earlier

"They'll be here in a few hours," Edward said, as if everyone in the room hadn't been able to hear every sound on the other end of the phone. Even without our vampire hearing, Jacob's voice tended to boom loudly if he wasn't careful. He'd been out patrolling when Edward called, so he'd felt no need to keep his voice down, apparently.

"I think that's our cue to take our leave," Eleazar said, smiling gently as he looked over at his wife.

Carmen had been sitting at the table with Esme, looking through home décor magazines. She was thinking of redesigning some of the rooms in their Denali home, and Esme had been more than happy to help her plan.

"Yes," Carmen agreed, moving into the living room and resting her hand on his shoulder. She smiled apologetically at me and said, "I know they're your friends, but I'm still not comfortable around them."

"They're an...acquired taste," Edward commented pleasantly.

"Taste?" Emmett perked up from him position in front of the big screen TV, where he and Jasper were engaged in some sort of crazy battle of the ages with robots and guns and aliens—or something to that effect. "When did you taste the wolves, Eddie, and why wasn't I invited?"

I rolled my eyes, but chuckled in spite of myself when Edward reached over and smacked the back of Emmett's head, before turning back to Carmen and Eleazar.

"Thank you both for coming," I said seriously. "It helped. Hearing your thoughts and opinions, I mean."

It was true. Eleazar had been around a long time and had seen as much or more than Carlisle. With his gift of being able to see the talents in others, he'd helped figure out why and how I might be able to keep my daughter. I owed him more than words could express for that.

"You are a lucky young woman, Isabella," Carmen murmured warmly, wrapping me in a motherly embrace. "We look forward to hearing of your progress."

The pair said their goodbyes to the rest of the family and then moved quickly to the vehicle they'd rented to make the journey back to the airport in Seattle. Carlisle and Esme stood on the front porch, waving goodbye as the car disappeared down the drive.

"Would you like to hunt before Jacob and Seth get here, love?" Edward asked quietly.

I nodded. I knew that would help me feel more in control, even if I didn't truly need to feed. It hadn't yet been twenty-four hours since I'd last taken down a large deer, but just making sure I was completely stuffed to the gills—so to speak—helped me feel calmer when it came to problems we were facing.

Edward took my hand once we'd cleared the back door, and we began the slow walk to the woods, knowing there was no rush.

After we had each fed on a single deer and buried the remains, Edward found a fallen tree and sat down, pulling me onto his lap.

"What are you thinking?" he asked quietly as he traced my features lightly with his fingertip.

I knew it bothered him that he still couldn't read my mind, so I tried to open up as much as possible when he asked. "I know this is the next step in everything, but what if Sue says no?" I worried my bottom lip with my teeth until Edward gently pulled it loose. "I can't fault her if she doesn't want to agree, but what will we do if she doesn't?"

Edward was quiet a moment and then shrugged. "I'm not sure, Bella. As of this morning, Alice's vision was still steady, so either Sue agrees, or we find another way."

I nodded. I knew that, of course, but it still worried me.

Edward opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it before anything came out. I waited, knowing if he had something to say, he would say it. After he'd done it two more times, my curiosity got the better of me.

"What?" I asked, turning to face him more. "Edward?"

He closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened, I could almost see the worry and pain in them. "You know that even if you are able to hold Lizzie, we can't stay here in Forks, right? Your appearance is too different, and even with the shield, you're still a newborn. I think everyone would be more comfortable if we moved somewhere more...remote for a while."

At his words, it was like I could feel my still heart clench in my chest. Was he telling me I couldn't have Lizzie in my life, even if I were okay to be around her? If that was the case, why were we going through all this? Why get my hopes up, only to have to crush me later?

"Isabella, calm down," Edward's soft voice said firmly. "I don't know what's running through your mind, but please, love, calm down."

It took me a moment, but then I realized that in my panic, I'd wrapped my arms around my torso and was rocking back and forth in his lap, panting heavily. My eyes were stinging with venom that wouldn't fall.

"Please, Bella," he murmured. "Tell me what you were thinking?"

Aloud, I quickly ran through the questions that had been in my head, still holding myself together with my arms, as if I could protect myself from his answer.

"Oh, Bella..." He sighed, pulling me tight against his chest and shaking his head. "That wasn't what I meant. I'm sorry I didn't explain better. Of course it's something we'll need to sit down and talk about—the two of us, as well as the rest of the family—but when we move, if Alice's vision has stayed true and you're unaffected by Lizzie's scent, you'll be able to take her with you, if that's what you want to do. I don't want to take her away from you, Bella. No one does. I promise you with all I am that we're going to do everything in our power to make it so you can raise your daughter." He paused, a hand on my chin gently raising my face so I had to look at him. "So we can raise your daughter."

I swallowed hard, feeling the ball of dread that had taken up residence in my chest beginning to dissipate. "So we can raise her," I agreed quietly, nodding. After a few moments, I asked the other question that had been rolling around in my head. "What about Charlie?"

I could see him thinking over the question—whether deciding what to tell me or realizing he didn't have an answer himself, I didn't know.

Finally, he shook his head and sighed. "I don't know, love. According to the laws of our kind, we can't tell him."

I started to interrupt, but he stopped me with another shake of his head. "I know, Bella. If everything goes okay with Lizzie, I don't see how we can keep it from him. It's something we need to talk to Carlisle about, I think."

"Yeah," I sighed, just as Edward's phone buzzed from his pocket.

He pulled it out and checked the message. "We need to get back. The wolves will be at the house in fourteen minutes."

Nodding, I kissed him quickly, taking one last minute for just ourselves.

Cupping my face gently, Edward pressed his forehead to mine. "It'll work out, Bella. I promise."

~*~FC~*~

After a heavily detailed talk with Sue on the phone and Jake by my side, it'd been decided that I would go over later that day—after two o'clock, since up until then, the sun would be out—accompanied by not only Edward and Emmett, but both Jake and Seth, as well. Sue had been hesitant about letting me come over. She knew I'd been testing my reaction to her scent, as well as Charlie's and Lizzie's, but she didn't know we'd been in the house to do it. Jake and Seth had known, but we'd avoided telling Sue so she wouldn't worry.

Alice had tried to argue that having the wolves there would interfere with her visions, but that had been Sue's stipulation—no wolves, no visit. Edward had finally made the decision to go over with the wolves and had then asked Alice to look for our futures that night or the next day. She'd been able to see us the next day, so we'd decided that it was as good a guarantee as we could get at the moment.

Jake and Seth had gone back to the reservation, but were going to meet us outside Charlie's house in a few minutes, as soon as the clouds rolled in. The rest of the family, as well as a few more of the wolves, would follow and position themselves around the house—sentries, of sorts. That would mean Carlisle was nearby if Sue had any questions, and if either Sue or I needed him, Jasper was close enough to help calm us down.

When Alice gave us the okay, we ran through the woods, keeping to the shadows provided by the trees until it was safe.

"The wolves are here," Edward murmured several minutes later. "Everyone's in wolf form except Jake and Seth."

Not long after that, I began to smell them. There was definitely a distinctive...odor from the wolves. I'd never smelled anything wrong with them as a human, of course, so it'd come as a shock to smell Jake the first time after my change. I blocked out the smell—just shut it away in my mind—so I could concentrate on what we were there to do.

"Hey, Bells," Jake said, coming through the trees with Seth.

"Bella!" Seth was the first to reach me, pulling me in for a big hug. He was so hot—temperature-wise—and so big that it was hard to believe he was the same person as the scrawny little kid I'd first met when I moved to Forks.

His enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself smiling and relaxing a bit.

"Hey, guys," I said, smiling at them both.

"Ready to do this?" Jake asked, looking at the three of us as Seth walked casually up to the back door, knocked once, and entered the house.

I slid my hand into Edward's, and Emmett put his hand lightly on my shoulder. Swallowing, I nodded and answered, "As ready as I'll ever be."

We crossed the backyard quickly, knowing the chances of anyone seeing me were slim, but not willing to risk it. Jake went in first, followed by Emmett and then me, with Edward not half a step behind me.

I'd heard Sue's heart beating from outside, of course, but that far from her and away from most of her scent, I'd been able to put it out of my head. In the same room with her, though, I had to work harder at it. The moment Emmett stepped into the room, her heart beat a little faster. Then when I entered, it skipped a beat and was pounding so hard that I was honestly a little worried for her. Her fear and worry had her blood pumping faster; adrenaline was coursing through her as her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. It was the ideal situation to tempt a vampire's predatory instincts.

Emmett must have realized it as well because he fell into step beside me and clamped a hand on my shoulder, making sure I didn't go after her.

Sue was sitting in Charlie's recliner, her back ramrod straight, hands clenched nervously in her lap. Seth was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder, while Jake was leaning casually against the wall on the other side of the room, near the stairs. They both gave me worried smiles as Emmett and Edward led me to the couch across from the recliner.

I realized I'd quit breathing the moment we'd walked in. As soon as I was settled beside Edward on the couch, with Emmett behind me, I allowed myself to take a small breath, feeling my throat flame at the first scent of Sue's blood. Edward's hand tightened on mine, and no one made a sound as I quickly locked back the bloodlust that had spiked sharply.

"I'm okay," I said in a voice Sue couldn't hear. Then I looked over at the beautiful, strong, and scared Native American woman sitting near me and smiled. "Hi, Sue. Thank you for agreeing to see me."

For the next hour, we sat and talked. Sue caught me up on Charlie and Lizzie, and Edward explained in more detail about Eleazar believing me to be a shield and the theory of familial blood. Everyone—including Sue—relaxed over the course of the hour. Even I felt more in control than I'd thought I might be.

"Wh-What are your plans now?" Sue asked hesitantly. "With Charlie and Lizzie, I mean."

"We, uh..." I looked at Edward, not sure I could answer Sue's question without falling apart.

Luckily, he understood and squeezed my hand, turning to Sue. "We've only just begun to discuss the future," he said softly. "A lot depends on Alice's vision and whether or not Bella is able to be around Lizzie."

Sue nodded. "That—"

Whatever Sue had been planning to say was lost to me as I heard a change in Lizzie's heartbeat and breathing in the room upstairs. My whole body was instantly in tune with my daughter's. She was waking up.

"Lizzie," I gasped at Edward. "I want to see her. I want to hold her."

A commotion drew my attention, and I turned to see that Sue had gotten to her feet, her eyes wide and fear written across her face.

"I won't let you do that, Bella," she said, crossing quickly to the stairs and standing in front of them. "I don't like the idea of you being in the same room with her."

I felt rage unlike anything I'd ever felt before boil up in my veins, and before she could blink, I was in front of her, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"You won't let me do that?" I seethed. "Where do you get off telling me what I can and can't do with my daughter?"

I could hear the growl in my voice. Jake and Seth were suddenly between us, protecting her from me, while Edward and Emmett held me back. I shook them off, hissing at them to let me go, that I wasn't going to attack her.

"She's my daughter!" I cried protectively, the plea in my voice obvious even with my anger and my hurt.

"I just don't think it's a good idea," Sue said bravely, raising her chin.

I closed my eyes and fought to control my temper before speaking again. "I've been in the room with her already, Sue, and I wasn't tempted in the least. You heard Edward speak about the familial blood keeping Lizzie from being something that smells like food. I've sat here for an hour with you—a human—and been fine." The fight went out of my body, and I relaxed some, which in turn allowed everyone around me to relax a little, as well. "I appreciate you looking out for my baby, I really do. But she's just that: my daughter. You do not have the authority to tell me I cannot see her or hold her. That is a decision I alone will make, after speaking to Edward and the other Cullens."

"Mom," Seth said calmly, turning to her, "let Bells do her thing. She's all good, right?" he continued, looking at me over his shoulder and smiling.

I took a deep breath, ignoring the burn in my throat from Sue's near presence, and nodded. "I apologize for scaring you, Sue. It seems my temper is a bit short-fused at the moment...but I would rather die ten times over than ever hurt Lizzie. As a mother, you should understand that."

Something unspoken, but true passed between us then; I could see it in her eyes as they met mine. She accepted my apology with a nod and moved away, still somewhat hesitantly, from the stairs.

Just before I stepped up, I paused and said, "Rose, Esme, would you come in, please?"

From beside me, Emmett froze, and then, as if he'd figured out why I'd called them in, he suddenly closed his eyes and smiled, looking almost grateful.

"Yes, Bella?" Rose asked from across the room.

I looked back, and the two of them were standing in the doorway to the living room. Rose's hands were tucked into her back pockets as she looked warily around the room. Esme just looked like she was beaming.

"Would you like to come upstairs with me and meet my daughter?" I asked them quietly. I knew how much both of them had wanted children and how much Esme still mourned the loss of her son. Being able to share this moment with them was something I could give to them.

They looked stunned, but immediately nodded and moved toward us.

Jake and Seth moved away from the stairs; Seth had his arm around Sue's shoulder, and he guided her gently to the couch. Emmett touched Rose's cheek tenderly and then moved away as well.

Edward looked lost—almost hurt—and I realized he thought I'd meant for them to come upstairs with only me, not the two of us. When I took his hand and stepped up, pulling him with me, I looked back to see the relief flash across his face, and then there was nothing left but love in his expression.

By the time we silently opened the door to my bedroom, Lizzie was wide awake. I could tell from the sounds she was making that she was working herself up to cry, and I wasn't sure my heart could take that. I hurried over to the crib, the three Cullens on my heels, and gazed down at my daughter. Her face was screwed up in a scowl, her lips pursed, and she'd kicked her legs free of the blanket in her frustration. I leaned forward, itching to pick her up.

"Gently, Bella," Edward murmured. "Just like we talked about."

I remembered our conversation a few days ago, when he'd had me practice holding the silliest of things: uncooked eggs, a loaf of bread, a fragile light bulb...a stray kitten—Emmett's idea, of course. Edward had helped me temper my touch so I knew I wouldn't hurt her when the time came.

Nodding, I slid my hands under Lizzie's little body, carefully supporting her head, and picked her up, holding my breath in concentration.

Rose suddenly put a thick, folded blanket in my arms. "To help keep her comfortable," she murmured, even as she looked down at Lizzie.

"Thank you," I whispered.

Once Lizzie was settled in my arms, protected from the cold hardness of my body by the blanket, I let my gaze settle on my daughter. She was looking up at me, her eyes focusing as much as a two-month-old's could. She looked tiny, but my new vampire vision let me see every inch of perfection she was. From her green eyes, shaped just like mine, to the slightly upturned nose, the blue veins showing through her thin, fragile skin, and the soft tuft of brown hair on the top of her head...she was even more beautiful than I could've imagined.

Apparently, Esme agreed. "She's beautiful, Bella," she said quietly.

I didn't know how long I stood there, watching my baby girl watch me. It was like she knew who I was, like she remembered me, even with the changes my body had been through. Her heart was fast, like a butterfly's wings, so light and fluttery. I ran a finger gently down her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, and though it was so much cooler than she was, she didn't flinch from my touch.

When she flailed her arms and grasped onto my finger, I choked out a sob, wishing for not the first time since I'd woken as a vampire that I could actually shed a tear.

Edward, Rose, and Esme all had a hand on me, trying to give me strength and comfort, I was sure.

Suddenly, Edward stiffened, pulling me from my thoughts of the future. "Charlie's almost home. Bella, we need to go. Now."

Unconsciously, my grip on Lizzie tightened, startling her and making her cry out in protest.

"Oh, God," I gasped, my stomach lurching. "Take her, please!"

I'd hurt her, I just knew it. I'd done the one thing I'd been so very worried about.

Suddenly, Jake appeared in the doorway. "I'll take her, Bells," he said gently, reaching for the baby.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I nodded, not opening them until Edward had led me out of the room. Then I raced down the stairs and out the door, outrunning everyone but Edward, who ran quietly beside me out into the darkness of the trees.