Edward POV:

Bella and I spent most of the day speaking to our family about the future. Renesmee was our miracle, but her presence certainly complicated things. We needed to move- that was no longer a question. But Carlisle made it abundantly clear that our typical façade would no longer work with our growing family and our ever-changing little girl. There were so many questions hanging over our heads: Would we need to conceal her completely to make this work? Could Bella and I pull off being working adults, fresh out of college? Would we function as one big family or two separate units? Jacob? One thing we could all agree on, was that Bella and I would not attend high school this time around. Monotony aside, neither of us could justify committing ourselves to eight hours every day. We would miss Renesmee's whole childhood-and we only had seven years.

With that decision out of the way, Bella and I would have to decide on college. I knew my wife-any time away from our daughter was going to be a resounding no. And I admit-I wasn't too fond of the idea myself. But we either had to fully participate in society or shield ourselves from the world completely. I wasn't sure I could ask my family to hide after everything they had sacrificed for me. For my family.

After a long day, the three of us retreated to the cottage.

"Mommy? Daddy? Can I talk to you?"

"Of course, baby,"

"Of course, love,"

Bella and I answered in perfect unison. Of course, she could talk to us. Always.

She plopped in front of us on Bella and my bed, her knees folded beneath her tiny frame. Though small, her eyes carried a determined wisdom that exceeded her years. Just like her mother. Just like me. Sighing in frustration, I watched the wheels turn over in her mind as she mulled over what she wanted to say.

"What's on your mind, little one," I asked, truly unaware what troubled her. She was getting a little too good at blocking me. If I were a normal father, and this was a normal situation, she would rob me of any ounce of sleep.

"Iwantyoutogotoschool," she blurted.

Wide-eyed, Bella and I gaped at our daughter.

"You want us to go to school?" Bella asked, her pain raw and undisguised.

"Not high school! Just college," she rambled.

"I mean if that's what you want, Mommy and I can certainly discuss it further," I said, my own pain seeping through every word. My thoughts spiraled down a dark path as the silence hung heavily between the three of us.

"Ugh I knew this would come out wrong" she said, slapping her hand against her forehead.

"I just…you guys are the best parents in the world. But I'll never get to go to school like a normal kid. My parents won't get to drop me off at school while they go to work. I won't get to learn something cool and come home and tell you guys all about It. I-"

"Want some normalcy," I finished for her. She looked down at her hands, and I pulled her into my lap, trying to soothe her.

"It's okay to want some independence, baby" Bella said, smoothing her hair.

"Well, I don't know if I can agree with that. In 30 years, maybe," I said-only somewhat kidding.

"Edward," my wife scolded, elbowing me in the ribs.

"What I mean to say, Ness, is that I want you to be happy. And if some normalcy, some…independence… is what you want. Then its settled. Mommy and I will go to college."

"Just for a little bit, though. Like, not all day, right?" she said, peering up at Bella and I with Bambi eyes.

"You think we could be away from you for a whole day?" Bella said, continuing to play with her bronze curls.

"Two hours a day tops," I said kissing her forehead.

"Good." She said, settling into our embrace.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"I'm still your little girl."

Yes, she was. Forever and always.


Renesmee fell asleep cradled between us; her soft snores muffled against my chest. I stared at her in wonderment, my heart so full of a love I never thought possible, a love so incomprehensible, it was difficult for even my vampire brain to process. As much as it scared me, how young she was to seek such independence, I was oddly proud of her. Bella and I taught her well. She was brave. She was resilient. She thought for herself. And she was brilliant in every sense of the word. More than that, I loved that she came to us, that she felt free to express her concerns. I had been inside enough minds throughout my century or so of this life to know that many parents did not have this luxury. Whether or not I was inside her head, Renesmee trusted Bella and me. She wanted to share everything with us, and I prayed to a God I had only just started to believe in, that we would never lose this rare bond. Still, it wasn't easy to hear that your child wanted to spend less time with you. Human or otherwise.

After I was sure she was in a deep sleep, I moved her back to her own room. Bella and I still had a lot to discuss.

"So, college, huh?" I sighed, climbing back into bed with my wife.

"It would seem so," she mused, her lip firmly trapped between teeth.

"Bella," I said, smoothing my thumb across her now-indented lip, "She just wants to be a kid. Nothing more.

"I know," She said, leaning into my touch, "It's just the thought of missing a single second of her childhood is… scary. We only get seven years, Edward. Seven. Then she's…" she didn't dare finish that sentence, but we both knew how it ended.

"Speaking of… what are we going to do about him?" Neither of us wanted to cause anyone unnecessary pain, but our daughter deserved some separation. More than that, she deserved exactly what she had just asked of Bella and me: she deserved to be a child. She deserved to grow up without a wolf breathing down her neck, waiting for her to fall in love with him. And when that time came, if that time came, I would be damned sure she had a choice.

"I don't want him living with us," she said venomously, "She's a baby. She's, our baby."

"I agree. He remains separate until she decides- if she decides- that he's, her future."

"But we also can't knowingly let him suffer," she reasoned, looking down at her hands.

"I won't have her grow up with him down the hall, Bella. That's out of the question."

"Not down the hall just…down the street? I don't know. Maybe we get him a place in the area where he can repair cars and live a separate life but visit when appropriate. That way he's close, but not too close."

That seemed…reasonable.

"I can't knowingly cause him pain again, Edward. I can't. But I also have a duty to protect our daughter."

"I know, love. I know," Pulling her tight, I accepted our fate. Jacob Black would be a part of our lives for as long as Renesmee wanted him to be, "We'll fill him in tomorrow."

"Do you think he'll be mad?" she asked softly.

"I don't know. And quite honestly, I don't care. I know about his pain more than anybody, and I sympathize. But Renesmee comes first. Always."

"Always." She agreed, settling onto my lap. I cradled her close to my chest, both relieved and exponentially more worried than I had been an hour ago. Relieved because we had made the decision. Worried, because now it was real. We were leaving.

Her bell-like laughter pulled me from my worry.

"Do I get to hear the joke?"

"I was just thinking that we will worry for the rest of eternity now that Renesmee is in the picture."

I joined her laughter, commiserating in the reality of her words.

"I haven't lived a day without worry since I met you Mrs. Cullen."

"Well, technically, Mr. Cullen, you haven't lived a day since 1918."

I rolled my eyes, "Touché."

She giggled.

"But you know what?" I asked, trailing hot kisses from the base of her neck towards her ear.

"What," she panted, her legs instinctually wrapping around my waist.

"The only thing I plan to worry about for the next six hours is how many times I can make you moan my name," My voice was husky in her ear as my name slipped from her lips.

"First and counting," I teased, sitting up to remove our clothing. It was going to be a long night.


JPOV

Wherever she went, I would follow. That's how imprinting works. I knew Bella understood that on some level, but Edward knew everything. Whether I liked it or not, the leech was always in my head. It was annoying most of the time, but he was the only one who understood why I needed to go with them. I would be nothing without her near me. Not in any sort of creepy way-I wasn't some perve and he knew that. But my life was now tied to hers. If she was happy, I was happy. If she was in pain, I was in pain. But its more than that. They may not like it, or maybe they're just in denial, but it's no different for Renesmee. If I was in pain, she was in pain. And I would be in so much pain if they were to leave me.

I went for a run after they took Ness back to the cottage. Partly to blow off some steam, but mainly I just needed to think. I knew that I could force Edward to hear my side of the story-he knew my thoughts were pure. Bella on the other hand… if she wasn't a pain in the ass before, she sure was now. Mom Bella was terrifying. When I was sure Ness had fallen asleep, I ran towards the cottage, determined to make them listen, to hear my point of view.

I waited in wolf from outside the front door and called to Edward. It would be way easier to start with Edward.

No answer. Hmm. Usually, he knew I was coming.

You can't ignore me, Edward. We're gonna have to talk about this at some point. Might as well be now.

Again, no one came to the door.

I know you guys don't want to have this conversation in front of her.

Damnit, Edward.

I made my way around the cottage, peaking into their windows. They couldn't just cut me out. It wasn't fair.

That's when I heard it. Heard her.

My best friend, screaming her husband's name.


EPOV

"Edward," she moaned, "I can't take much more of this. I need you inside of me."

I loved the sound of my name on her lips. And I especially loved when she moaned my name as she came apart for me. Tonight, I had counted eight from my oral ministrations alone-but I needn't ruin the moment with numbers. Lucky number nine would be with me inside of her.

My mouth left a fiery trail as I kissed my way up her body. When I reached her lips, I kept my mouth to myself.

"Roll onto your side, Love," I whispered.

She whimpered and did what she was told. When I had her where I wanted her, I slid home.

"Edward," she squeaked, shaking, and quivering around me.

I smirked to myself as she came undone. Number nine.

I loved this position. I loved the way I got to hold her close; my arms wrapped around her; her leg hooked over my hip. The way her body curved into mine, her plush bottom nestled into my pelvis. All the while, I had the freedom to whisper in her ear or kiss her lips, her neck, her jaw. My hands could wander towards the sacred place between her legs or pinch her nipples just the way she liked it. Or I could simply pull her so close to me that it would be impossible to decipher where I ended, and she began.

Rocking into her slowly, I brought my lips to hers and reached for her hand. Wordlessly, I told her I loved her. Wordlessly, I told her that I was sorry for the heartache I had caused her, not just last night, but for every night that she questioned how much our intimacy meant to me Wordlessly, I told her that everything would be okay. As our lips continued to dance, my hand glided towards her most sensitive spot.

Her head lolled when I reached my destination. She squeaked and moaned, letting me know she understood my wordless whisper. I felt her whole body begin to tremble in my arms, triggering the beginnings of my own ecstasy.

"Bella," I moaned, using every ounce of energy to keep my voice down.

"Edward," she shrieked, reaching back to tangle her fingers in my hair and pull my mouth back to hers.

As we came together, she lifted her shield, walking me through every ounce of pleasure she had felt over the last few hours- forgiving me, loving me, accepting me.

She rolled her hips in a mindless, uneven rhythm as we recovered under the shelter of her shield.

It would be impossible for two people to be closer than we were in this moment-intertwined mind, body, and soul. It felt like every wound between us had been healed and we were truly ready to move forward into the next chapter of our lives.

I was so wrapped up in her love, and she so absorbed in mine, that it took the sound of branches snapping and leaves crackling to realize Bella and I were no longer sharing a private moment.

Jacob Black was right outside my window. And he had just watched me make love to my wife.


JPOV

It may have been the worst thing I had ever done, but when I heard her, I walked closer. And when I saw her, coming apart in his arms… I didn't look away. At least, not right away. The truth is, I was curious. I had wanted Bella that way for so long, and I spent years fantasizing about my name on her lips. It's not like this made me want her again. In fact, in a weird way, it further proved to me that those two were always meant to be. But fuck if it didn't make me jealous.

I wouldn't get to love or be loved like that until…

Wow, maybe I really was the perve Blondie makes me out to be. But the way he held her. The way she continued to move her hips even after they were done. The way they couldn't take their eyes off each other as they continued to declare their love over and over and over again. That kind of love was years away for me- and that was if Renesmee chose me back. If she didn't, well then, I would never know the kind of bliss I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from.

"Edward." Bella lulled. The sound brought me back to reality.

Shit, I really had to get out of here before they caught me.

And I almost made it- if not for the damned trees. Screw Forks.


EPOV

"Edward, how much did he see," she said, pulling on her clothes.

"Enough for me to kill him," I growled, already dressed and ready to make good on my promise. Jacob was never my favorite person in the world, but this was crossing a line even I didn't think he was capable of.

"Oh my god," she cried, pulling her knees to her chest.

"How do you want me to handle this, love?" I asked, kneeling in front of her anguished form.

"I don't know," she choked, "I just feel so…dirty. And I hate that he was the one who made me feel this way."

"Oh Bella, I'm so sorry," I said, taking her face in my hands, "I should have been paying closer attention.

"Please don't apologize, right now, Edward," she said, getting up from her curled position on our bed, "You shouldn't have to pay attention to anyone but me when we're together like that. He's an adult who made a conscious decision to not only peek into our private time, but to not walk away when he realized what he saw." She sighed deeply and roughly yanked our drapes closed.

"You're right, love. I just know how violated I'm feeling right now. I only want to take that feeling away from you." I wrapped my arms around her as she stared at the sheer fabric- it wouldn't have done us any good whether we had remembered to close them in the first place, but it somehow gave us comfort to know that they were now closed.

She smiled slightly, leaning into my embrace, "I know you do, baby. I know you do. But you can't."

We held each other for a few moments like this, Bella holding me together just as much as I, her.

Edward, I know you two want nothing to do with me right now, but please let me explain.

"He's outside asking to speak to us, love. What do you want to do?" I whispered, tightening my grip around her.

She turned to face me, her golden eyes blazing with determined vengeance.

"Jacob," she called, knowing he could hear her just fine, "Meet us outside. In human form. You don't get to hide from us, now."

She raised her eyebrows at me to follow her as she made her way to front door.


JPOV

I honored their wishes and met them out front in human form, but the sight before me scared me shitless. They stood in front of me, both in baggy sweatpants and sweatshirts with their arms crossed tightly across their chests. Bella was fuming; her amber eyes, her Cullen eyes, glazed over in a rage I had only seem from her once before- the day we almost met death. Edward was equally as mad. But I saw something in his eyes that made me feel even more guilty- he looked… shy.

"Well, Jake this is your party. What do you want?" It was Bella who spoke first. Well, to say she simply "spoke" would be an understatement. Her words were laced with venom.

What did I want? What could I possibly say to make this better.

"There's nothing you can say that will erase this, Jacob." Edward. He sounded like he was in pain.

"And why do you think that is, Jacob?" He spat, "We let you into our lives, into our daughter's life. And in return you not only disrespected our privacy, but you violated us, Jacob. Do you get that?"

"I do, I do get that, and I am so incredibly sorry, to both of you." I really truly am, I added in my head.

"Well sorry doesn't cut it this time, Jake!" Bella yelled, "It would have been one thing to accidentally see, but then to stay. And to think Edward and I even remotely considered bringing you with us to New Hampshire."

"You were going to bring me with you?" Shit.

"We were, Jacob. Not down the hall from her, but down the street. We thought we would compromise. A compromise Bella was somehow convinced she owed you because of a history that you have now destroyed."

No, no, no. I couldn't lose Ness. I couldn't lose them. Not like this.

"I only came over tonight to convince you to let me come with you. Because our lives are tied together whether you two like it or not. And then…" how do I explain what happened next without getting myself into deeper shit…

"You're already there, Jacob so you might as well keep going." Edward was now just as venomous as Bella. He was getting impatient.

"Look. I'm not a perve. I swear. I was just so desperate for you guys to see where I was coming from, and when you didn't answer me, I thought you were ignoring me. I swear, I didn't stop to think that you two might be… busy," I was rambling, and I knew. Man, up Jacob. You just watched them have sex.

"And then I went looking for you and I heard, and then I saw, and I just. I realized how lonely I was, okay?" They looked at each other skeptically but let me continue.

"All I've wanted was to have the type of love that you guys have. My brothers have it. My sisters have it. My parents had it. And yeah, at one point I thought Bella and I could have it. And when I first realized, you were going to get to have her like that, it broke me. I thought I had lost that. And now Renesmee's in the picture, and…" A growl ripped through Edwards chest so violent and guttural. Suddenly, he lunged.

I let him tackle me to the ground, let him pin me to it so hard, I knew that I had made a dent in the dirt. I was man enough to know I deserved it. But I wasn't dumb enough to let him continue.

"Edward, let me finish!" Edward, I swear. Just let me finish. He got off me and drug me by the neck back to where Bella was standing.

"60 seconds, Jacob. Then I want you off my property and at least 100 miles away from my daughter."

"It wasn't like that, and you both know it. I was just thinking about how if Renesmee doesn't choose me in however many years, I will never know what that feels like to be loved the way you two lover each other. I wasn't jackin off to Bella or..." I couldn't look at them.

"It wasn't like that. I screwed up, Okay? And I'm really, really sorry."


EPOV

A week. Jacob was going to give us a week. Frankly, I could do without ever seeing him again. But my ever-forgiving wife convinced me to give Jacob a week. What would happen at the end of that week, I wasn't sure. But Bella and I needed to think. We needed space to heal, privately, from what had transpired. It had been an hour since Jacob left, and Bella and I had yet to utter a single word between us. Finally, I felt her stir beside me.

"Edward, what are you thinking," she asked.

"Isn't that my line," I teased, smirking at her with her favorite crooked smile.

"I'm serious," she said, poking at my side, "Something's bothering you."

Ah. Always so perceptive.

"I don't understand what a week is going to do," I said simply.

"Translation…you don't understand why I gave him another chance?"

I didn't want to her hurt, but I also didn't want to break my promise to stop hiding from her. The truth was, I didn't understand. I could quite literally kill him. Lonely or not, he watched us share the most intimate kind of love. My anger was far beyond him watching my naked wife come in my arms. While that was certainly enough to make me want to castrate the boy, what truly bothered me was that our intimacy made him think of my daughter. My daughter who was not even two years old. And if she were to choose someone else, he would forever blame her for his loneliness. It was a stark reality- to think that my daughter would either be with this man that I no longer trusted or carry the burden of his pain. There was no foreseeable future where I trusted him with my family again.

"No, I don't," I admitted truthfully, "I don't think this is something I can recover from, Bella."

"I don't know if I can, either" she agreed.

"Then why a week?"

"I guess I just didn't want to decide in the moment. If we still feel this way in the morning, or even three mornings from now, then we can be confident in our decision."

"And?" I challenged.

"And, what?" We both knew there was more.

"Bella, there's more. And we spent last night promising each other that being mates means we need to have the hard conversations. What else is bothering you, my love."

I reached up to take her face in my hands, but she looked away from my gaze. She was ashamed.

"It's okay, love," I whispered, stroking her hair, "I'm right here."

She reached for my hand.

"I think I still feel a little guilty."

"I'm not following."

She took a shaky breath, before meeting my eyes.

"I really did toy with him, Edward. I didn't mean to, but I did. And because I lead him on, he never tried to be happy without me. And now here we are again- I hold the key to his happiness and I'm about to take it all away. Again."

"Bella, this is not the same thing, and you know it. This is about our child."

"I know," she whispered.

"Bella, look at me."

Her big, amber eyes were anguished as they met mine.

"He knew, Bella. He was desperate and he fought like hell, but he wasn't blind. So please, love. Try to let go of this guilt."

"He knew?" she said meekly.

"Of course, he did. One of the things we both love about you is you wear your heart on your sleeve. And while neither of us could read your mind, well, we could read your body," she rolled her eyes at me, discontent with my slight jab at her acting skills. I smirked at her but continued.

"He could tell that your eyes glowed when you talked about me in a way they never did when you spoke of him. He saw how broken you were in my absence and how alive you were when I returned. He could feel how anxious you were to get back to me, even if you were enjoying your time on the reservation. He could smell your arousal when you left me, and noticed how it always seemed to dissipate when you were in his presence… I could go on, but trust me, Bella. He ignored each one of your cues. He was desperate, and he too, was confused about where he fit into your life. But he's clear now, and he realizes that you and I were always meant to be."

"Forever," she said.

"Forever," I agreed.