Chapter 40

Little princess will grow up.

I had just started a bedroom sports session with Edward, when a disruptive element, which I had forgotten, decided to appear and ruin my libido... My desire to kill the game developers doubled the second that I see a window indicating a new quest… or more precisely two new quests.

"Main quest: Survival. Duration: next two months. Reward: Successful completion of the game and choice of your destination. Penalty: your death and the disappearance of all your loved ones in the game."

"Side quest: Convince Edward to accept your children's request. Duration: 10 hours. Reward: a grumpy or satisfied companion. Penalty: a decade of bad taste jokes. »

At what point is a grumpy companion a reward?... I suspected the developers of using marijuana, ultimately it may be LSD and these quests are their hallucinations... I barely have time to digest the quest windows that Eline calls us through the door. Edward and I both sigh before getting dressed, finally... once I've untied... put away the sports equipment...

" It's not fair ! You have mom all to yourself all night and you always have a smile when you wake up! »

I giggle and raise my head, caught by the high-pitched cry of my daughter arguing with her father. Today, Riley had expressed the wish to sleep in a room alone. His sister wasn't very happy about it. It seems that she is still begging her father to grant her request to sleep with Jacob.

A few hours ago, when she first presented the idea to him, I saw my imperturbable companion stutter for several dozen seconds.

I decide to intervene when I hear Eline slam the door to her father's room at the villa. I pass my daughter on the stairs, who looks at me with a pout. She perfectly understood that I was not as opposed to it as her father and begged me with her eyes to intercede on her behalf.

I stroke his head. She simply doesn't understand that her dad didn't grow up at the same time as the two of us and that morals have evolved a lot since then...

I knock gently on the door and my companion invites me in. When I enter the room, he is sitting at the end of the bed with his head in his hands. The poor thing looks upset. I put my arm around him and rest my head on his shoulder.

"You know she doesn't see the situation the way we do, sweetheart?

It's my baby... he replies, moaning.

Yes… forever… even when she is an adult…

What she's not… he blurted out, clicking his tongue.

She sees it as a sleepover with her best friend, I say calmly.

What worries me is more how Jacob sees it.

Have you heard anything disturbing in his thoughts?

No… he said after a few seconds.

So where is the problem ? »

He raises his head suddenly:

"It's not appropriate for a young girl…

To give one's virtue before marriage? A hundred years ago there was a French law that prohibited women from wearing pants.

Don't compare your situation with his!

For what ?! Because you're not my father? I reply.

I know it's not the beginning of the 20th century anymore.…

Edward... She's not asking you to approve of her relationship with him, just to have a friend by her side so she doesn't feel alone because of her brother's absence.

She could ask Alice or Esme.

But it's Jacob she needs. She feels safe by his side. And deep down, you know, she's right to trust him.

Maybe... he sighs.

He wants to protect her as much as you and I do. »

Taken by a sudden inspiration, I take a deep breath (even if it doesn't help much) and I concentrate on an exercise that I have been working on in secret. I hear Edward gasp. I visualize one of the last scenes of the Twilight films, the one which shows Renesmee as an adult and Jacob joined by Bella and Edward. I feel my companion trembling against me. I jump in surprise and release my shield.

"I thought I would never see your mental images again. Is it…

The film ? Yes… One of the last scenes.

So I ended up accepting it...

Oh… You still refuse to let him call you step-daddy! I respond with a smirk.

Obviously ! … Uh… My love?

Yes ?

Will you show me again?

If you agree to give Jacob a chance...

It's blackmail! Edward protests, falsely scandalized.

It's a negotiation! I reply, implacable.

I then demand compensation...

Of what nature? »

I narrow my eyes when I see his sly look, but I acquiesce to his request when he explains his conditions to me.

A few yoga positions later (yes, well... We didn't do a Twister, you understand), I was showing one of my childhood memories to Edward when a blue window indicating the success of my secondary quest appeared. before my eyes.

"Side quest completed. You have obtained a satisfied companion... What a cunning vixen you are! Intellect +2"

I would have been scarlet when reading the text, if I had still been human. But they lost it! I was castigating the developers internally when a gentle voice called out to me:

"So that was why you insisted so much… Little vixen…"

I looked at him half-scandalized, half-decomposed...

"I would have done it anyway!" But the penalty didn't inspire me...

I am still thinking of asking for compensatory allowances... Voluntary deception...

I offer you my worst adult shame… is that okay with you?

I am delighted to be able to reach an agreement with you, he replied, smiling.

I really feel like I'm being ripped off by everyone right now...

The weeks passed quickly. We all trained in small groups. Charlie, who had always gotten along well with the Quileutes, coordinated the wolves' movements with those of the vampires. His gift played a big role from what I understood.

If Charlie was the link between the two natural enemies, Jasper strategized. I practiced handling my shield every day. At first, Edward took a few shots of juice, but now I have perfect control over him. We kept Riley's gift a secret in the event of the defection of one of the less reliable witnesses (Amon, not to mention him).

And the confrontation loomed. Alice and I had predicted the day and place of the meeting. This is how we found ourselves in the largest clearing near the villa. I relived the film sequences through the stories of our new and oldest friends. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eline fall asleep in Jacob's arms. He met my gaze, then turned his eyes towards the tent and I nodded, understanding his intentions. He smiled at me before carrying my daughter to her sleeping bag.

I felt a pang of nostalgia as I realized it was almost over…for better or for worse…that was the only unknown.

"There's no point torturing yourself with questions you don't have the answers to, my darling," said a voice next to me.

Dad… I ask, biting my lip.

Yes, my daughter?

I'm afraid of making the wrong choices, of disappointing those who love me... I can no longer count on others to make choices for me.

It's called becoming an adult, my darling, he replies, taking me in his arms. »

After a long time, he released me, whispering:

"No matter what happens… Whatever your decisions… I will always support you… I will always be proud of you and I will always love you. Because only you can know what's best for you.

Thank you, dad, I sob against him. »

I feel myself being moved into another arm. By the smell, I can guess who it is. He doesn't need to tell me he agrees with what Charlie is saying. We stay against each other for long hours. When dawn breaks, the mist invades the green meadow. I raise my head and look at my comrades. Their gazes stare at the edge of the forest…

The moment of truth has come.