I do not—for the what? Millionth plus two time?—own any of Stephanie Meyer's work, solely the plot and some new characters in this story.

*************************Bella****************************************

Change.

An end and a beginning all at once, green to white, warm to cold, blue to gray skies, a passing of life into death, and then all over again, an infinite cycle. It seemed only fitting, almost ironic, that Billy's funeral take place in autumn, when leaves changed color and dried, crinkling as they fell to the ground, their ultimate destination amidst an era of thriving life and vigor.

Watching him as he lay in his coffin, the memory of Chief Black came to mind, stronger than many of my other blurry human memories, and I couldn't help but think nothing different of the man.

Strong. Leader. Proud. Loyal. Honest. Good.

Everyone was there, the Quiluete's, Charlie, and even the rest of my family. And for once, no one disputed the presence of vampires across imaginary boundaries. This was a moment of the greater power at work, one neither vampire nor wolf could alter or influence. It was a truth we shared and had to live with.

There were few tears, and I think most of them—the ones who could cry anyway—knew it unnecessary. Like their beloved chief, they remained strong. Even Jake, undoubtedly the most devastated of us all, put on a resolute face and accepted the truth of nature's course. When I looked at him I was reminded very much of his father. Billy would be proud of his son.

Charlie cried.

I did my best to comfort him, but I couldn't blame him. Billy had been, after all, Charlie's best friend for many, many years. Nessie remained by his side, her own tear-stained face set determinedly nonetheless. In her other hand, she held firmly to Jake.

It was a sad reality. Reality …

Immortality makes us take so many things for granted. Billy's death was just the beginning, too. Who would be next? Charlie? Renee? Angela? Mike?

A slap in the face, that's what it was. There is no such thing as a perfect life, even when you're potentially indestructible, amazingly beautiful, and virtually eternal. We all knew this, of course, but I suppose even vampires and shape-shifters can forget what it is to be human. Yes, we were immortal and forever, but powerless against greater forces.

Forces of real life. Even in the mythical world, there is no such thing as everlasting, not when we're living in the real world.

Time aided my best friend. Jake was hurting, as stoic a front as he portrayed, and it was all we could do but watch and wait. He healed slowly and silently, two months passing in a blur of inanimate hours of restlessness, an anxious Nessie waiting patiently for her fiancé to bounce back, and a tense wolf-pack checking in at the Cullens more usual than they ever had in the past. Nessie seemed to be the only one to make him smile nowadays; get him to say more than two sentences. The rest of us couldn't find much to say that we hadn't said already, even me. Nessie was undeterred.

She never left his side.

I could see how much deeper their relationship was getting as each day passed. And as much as I hated to admit, as terrified as it sounded, there was one thing I knew for sure.

My daughter was grown-up.

And in love. Unconditionally.

Looking at Edward I knew it would be the same—at least—for Nessie with Jake. And even though the thought of losing my little girl frightened the immortality out of me, I knew she would be ok. Jake was the best man for her, and she was even better for him. Ironic that I'd once thought no girl would ever be good enough for my best friend.

They say beginnings are a fresh start, something to look at positively. And even though I knew everything would be ok, the fact remained that my baby was leaving the nest we'd all so carefully detailed for her, from the moment she opened her beautiful, brown eyes to the moment she'd walked in announcing her engagement.

An ending and a new beginning; autumn really is the season of contradiction … funny how you can be so sad yet happy sometimes …

***********************Nessie*********************************

"Two more weeks, Ness, what's two more weeks?" Jake asked for the millionth time. As sensitive as I'd been with him since Billy's sudden death, this was an issue I was not going to budge on.

"Two more weeks that daddy will hold against us. Seriously, Jake, we should have just told him since the moment we found out. That night—"

"But Nessie, sweetheart, we're getting married in two weeks!" he exclaimed.

I looked at my worried fiancé—the word still sent shivers up my spine—and felt the recent familiar pang of guilt. The happiest moment of our lives was soon to come and yet there was the inevitable despair of loss foggy in the atmosphere.

Losing Billy had been a shock for us all, and it was a wonder Jake managed to smile at all. It pained me to see him so hurt and solemn. With time it had healed somewhat, however, no amount of time could amount to the loss of a loved one. If either of my parents somehow died…

I shuddered to even think of it.

"I know, Jake," I answered calmly, "but think about it. Can you really keep it out of thought much longer?"

Jake frowned. "Ness, we've held our own for this long. I'm pretty sure we can last another couple of wee—"

I raised an eyebrow at him and pointed at myself. "Well, unfortunately, I can't hide it that easily. And anyway daddy suspects something already, I can tell. Haven't you noticed—"

"Ssssh!" Jake immediately pounced on me and covered my mouth. It was almost comical. With my hands firmly over his shoulders I rolled my eyes and continued.

Daddy can still hear us if he's close by, silly. But don't worry, Carlisle promised me he wouldn't be around for another several hours.

Jake almost fell over.

"Y-you told C-Carlisle?"

Now it was my turn to frown. "Jake," I said matter-of-factly, "who better than Carlisle? And besides, this is Carlisle, the epitome of self-control. He wouldn't just let daddy know that we—"

"Don't say it!"

I rolled my eyes but managed a smile.

Jake, listen to you.

He smiled back this time, which resulted in a sigh of relief on my part. The smiles were starting to come back these days. Given our current circumstance, this was definitely a good thing.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly, running his broad hands through his hair as he settled his deep gaze into my own. It was amazing the flutter my heart still raged into with these moments.

"You're not going to back down on this, are you?" he asked me carefully.

I smiled at him and shook my head side to side. Nope.

"And you want to tell him today?"

"Yes."

"This afternoon."

"Correct."

"Right after they come from hunting?"

"Better to get them on a full stomach."

"Yeah, because we all know how much more optimistic Edward is after he's eaten—wait, them?"

I frowned at him. Surely telling daddy meant mom too …

"As in, tell Bella too?"

"Well, duh? She is my mom, you know, and—"

He released his hold on me and flopped over to the couch, muttering incoherently beneath his breath. Seriously, even with my enhanced hearing I could make no sense of it. After a moment of jibberish he finally looked up at me with a tortured expression.

"Nessie, do you want your parents to kill me?"

I laughed and joined him with an exasperated huff. "No, of course not. And I wouldn't worry too much about mom, she did the same thing—"

"After they got married." Jake interjected with a raised eyebrow. I dismissed the comment with a wave of my hand.

"Well, only because daddy's super old and traditional and stuff. We're living in a new generation! No need to do things old school—"

"Nessie!" Jake was holding my elbows now, his worried expression sending a pang of guilt down to my core.

"Are you really that worried?" I asked in a small voice. He didn't answer right away, and so I hurriedly continued through touch.

Because I know you're still hurting from your dad, and if it's a matter of your sanity I wouldn't want to—

"No, no, no," he quickly responded. "That's not it, Ness. I mean, of course I'm still sad, but … well, let's just say someone very special has helped me get through it all. And she still is."

"Oh, Jake." I instinctively pulled him into my embrace, hugging him tightly and reveling in his comforting fortress. We were just so perfect for each other it was ridiculous.

Not that I minded, of course.

"And I always will, you know that." I told him, kissing him briefly on the cheek. We gazed into each other's eyes for a few seconds, a hobby we'd acquired and practiced often. Even partially broken, my Jake was still the most beautiful creature in existence…

"So," he spoke into the silence, "how are we going to tell them?"

My face erupted into a broad smile and I threw myself once again into his waiting arms. "Oh, Jake! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He rubbed my back and squeezed me, nuzzling into my hair as he continued in a huskier voice. "Ah, come on, now. You know I can't say no to you."

I giggled. I know, but … are you sure? If you really don't want to—

"Nessie," he pulled back, "I don't regret what we did that night. Believe me," his eyes travelled back two months ago to a magical night of twisted sheets and gleaming perspiration, "that's one thing I'm going to thoroughly abuse once we tie the knot—"

I smacked him playfully. "Hey!"

He feigned hurt. "With your consent, of course," he laughed. His face turned serious again. "But anyway, I don't regret anything. And if these are the consequences, then what choice do I have but to face them head on, right?"

I swept in for another kiss before pulling back and surveying my perfection with admiration. "Jacob Black, I think we both just grew up a little bit more just now. Thanks for backing me up on this. I just know it's the right thing to do. Don't worry, I'll do most of the talking. Daddy can't kill me—"

"Renesmee Cullen!"

We both looked up in surprise with the new arrival. My thoughts began to flee in panic with the look on my aunt's face.

Uh oh…

I folded myself into a more appropriate position on the couch and turned a dazzling smile in my aunt's direction. "Hi, Alice, what—"

She narrowed her eyes at me and cut me off. "Don't you 'hi, Alice' me, young lady. I just had a blurred vision followed by a very, very, very angry Edward. And from the sound of your little conversation just now, you're hiding something. Spill."

I looked to Jake for an answer, but his beet red complexion gave away my reflected lack of a response and humiliation. How much had she heard? Wait, was she—

"Were you eavesdropping?" I accused, in hopes of turning the finger. Alice was no bait, however, and she only pursued her investigation by attacking Jake.

"Jacob," she said briskly, "what are you going to tell Edward today?"

Jake looked horrified.

"Alice," I begged in a softer voice, "please don't say anything just yet. It was kind of a 'in the moment' action and we never thought I'd be capable, that is we'd be able to—well anyway, we still have to figure out how to tell him, you can be there too if you'd like, just—"

"OH MY GOD!"

We both froze as Alice suddenly jumped into the air with her epiphany and pointed an accusing finger at the both of us.

"DON'T TELL ME YOU ACTUALLY—AND THEN YOU—AND EDWARD HASN'T FOUND OUT—AND—"

"Alice!" I hissed. "Please, keep it down!"

She immediately fell silent and smiled widely. I grimaced. Great, she has one of those 'just imagine the possibilities' smiles…

"So then it's true, isn't it? And let me guess, you're—"

"Alice!" this time we both hissed at her.

She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Relax, relax. I'll make sure not to think about it. That is, if what I'm thinking is right at all. You could give me a yes or no answer, you know, a simple—"

I glared at her.

"Geez! Ok, ok, ok," she pouted, turning her nose into the air as she stalked out of the room. "Just remember, though," she called out as she exited, "I get to hear the news at the same time as Edward and Bella!"

I groaned into my hands and fell limply onto Jake's lap. He chuckled. "Well, I guess we really don't have a choice now," he said.

I turned over so that I was laying my head on his lap. "I know … The things we do for love, huh?"

He smiled down at me and leaned forward to place a kiss on my nose and then my lips. "No, not just for love, for each other."

I rolled my eyes. "Did anyone ever tell you how corny you can be sometimes?"

He laughed softly and began to weave his fingers through my hair in a calming manner. I almost purred.

That feels so good …

He arched an eyebrow. "Don't get too relaxed now, Ness. Remember, we still have to think of how we're going to tell your parents … and Alice, I guess."

Ugh, I know… Well, whatever happens, just remember you still got me and I got you, ok?

He bent his knees so that our faces were within centimeters apart. "And you said I was the corny one."

I giggled barely before soft skin met mine in a delicious crushing of folded lips.

Might as well enjoy this happy time as long as I could. One thing was for sure: even if mom did accept our latest confession, daddy was not going to be happy…