"Are you honestly sure about this, Seth?" I asked him as we made our way out to the front of the house and down the porch steps. "We don't know what she's capable of yet. And I can't see in her mind if she's going to attack or not... she might even be stronger than me." I said the last part mostly to myself but he still needed to listen to reason.

I'd never really thought about that, granted I had a lot on my mind lately, but I was only the strongest vampire around because I constantly had human blood in my muscles and tissues. Bella was fresh and new, could she be as strong as me? The other newborns weren't but they were at least a few days old, I didn't know if that made a difference.

I was Seth's only wall of defence in this plan, if she could over power me, she'd squash him like a bug.

"We need to be sure she can handle herself. No secret spilling yet, I just want to see if Nessie will be safe around her." He announced, not even turning around to look at the rest of us, his eyes scanning the forest.

"I really doubt she'll kill her own baby." I shrugged, glaring at Seth's back. I had no idea where the sweet boy had gone... I didn't like this side of him. He was being protective of his imprint, I understood that, but this plan was just brain-numbingly stupid.

He shot round to look at me, his eyes filled with fury and nostrils flared. "You don't know that!" He seethed, stomping towards me. 

Jake growled fiercely in warning, stepping in front of me as Jesse mirrored his actions, moving towards my left in his wolf form. Maybe it wasn't an imprint issue, maybe it was just a wolf trait to be protective of their own.

It was a shame for them that I didn't need their protection.

I pushed past Jacob and met Seth head on. Glaring up at his stranger-like face, I didn't show any sign of fear. "Alright, back down Seth, you may be bigger than me but I'm still stronger and older." I warned him, poking a finger into his chest.

His hard expression faltered immediately under my threatening glare, his faced softened and quickly became apologetic. "Right. Sorry."

Jacob stifled a laugh from behind me, one hand leaving the proximity of having his arms folded across his chest to cover his mouth. I looked back over my shoulder to smile at him. He mirrored it, giving me a childish, lopsided grin. "You can back off, Jess. Seth has learned his lesson." Jesse barked a laugh in return. Leah seemed to be inwardly grimacing, still on edge as always.

Soon enough Edward's thoughts crept into my mind, they were close, and from the state of Bella's torn up dress I could guess that she'd fun on her first hunt. "Prepare yourself, they're coming." I announced, nodding towards the section of the trees they were going to appear through.

Manly Seth was back, breathing harshly as he turned to face the trees. He reminded me of Jacob as he folded his arms and puffed out his chest... always trying to make themselves look bigger in front of who they were facing.

"Don't breathe," Edward's voice cautiously whispered to Bella.

I took a few steps back to stand with Jacob, his hands wrapping around my waist from behind. I wasn't sure if it was out of comfort or protectiveness but I settled back into him anyway. Jesse and Leah flanked us as we watched Seth stand at the line where the forest touched the lawn.

"Carefully, Seth," Edward said. Leah snarled in warning, she didn't want any harm to come to her baby brother. "Maybe this isn't the best way--"

"You think it would be better to let her near the baby first?" Seth interrupted and my eyes widened. Definitely a new kind of Seth. "It's safer to see how Bella does with me. I heal fast."

I watched through Edward's eyes as Bella glanced at his face anxiously; Edward seemed to think over it for a moment, and then his expression twisted from concern into nonchalance. He shrugged, and there was an undercurrent of hostility in his voice when he said, "It's your neck, I guess." Edward still wasn't entirely comfortable with the imprint, he liked the idea of Seth being knocked around a bit.

Leah's growl was furious this time. This was merely seconds away from going wrong.

Bella and Edward approached slowly, hand in hand, her alarming red eyes darting everywhere. They focused on each of us, as if she was seeing us for the first time again. Her eyes lingered on Jacob, her face unreadable... it was my turn to feel protective and possessive as I gripped his hands a little tighter.

"I gotta say it, Bells. You're a freak show." Jacob commented, the smirk clear in the way he spoke.

Bella grinned back, happy that their friendship had remained intact since her transformation.

Edward growled. "Watch yourself, mongrel."

My eyes flared as my own growl ripped through my chest. Jacob's grip tightened on me as Bella looked alarmingly between Edward and I. "No, Edward, he's right. The eyes are really something, aren't they?"

"Super-creepy. But it's not as bad as I thought it would be." Jake explained his thoughts, completely ignoring the tension between Edward and I. 

"Gee - thanks for the amazing compliment!" Bella's sarcasm was taken lightly as a chuckle escaped Jake's throat.

"You know what I mean. You still look like you - sort of. Maybe it's not the look so much as... you are Bella. I didn't think it would feel like you were still here." He smiled at her again without a trace of bitterness or resentment anywhere on his face. Then he chuckled and said, "Anyway, I guess we'll get used to the eyes soon enough." He said gesturing to the pack members surrounding us.

"You will?" Bella asked, confused. Jacob's presence she understood, but I could tell from her face she didn't understand why the rest of the pack were still here.

She looked to Edward quizzically, and then her eyes darted sideways as she remembered Seth's threatening stance.

"Thanks," Seth said to Edward. "I didn't know if you'd be able to keep it from her, promise or not. Usually, you just give her everything she wants."

Seth being so bold was still a shock and it shocked Bella too, she parted her lips to speak but Edward beat her to it.

"Maybe I'm hoping she'll get irritated and rip your head off," Edward suggested, it was strange seeing such close friends act in this way.

Seth snorted.

"What's going on? Why are you all keeping secrets from me?" Bella demanded, incredulous.

"I'll explain it to you later," Seth said self-consciously - like he didn't really plan on it. Then he changed the subject. "First, let's get this show on the road." His grin was a challenge now as he started slowly forward.

Leah whined in protest, slinking out from beside us to stand directly behind Seth. Jesse mirrored her actions, stopping just a few feet short of Leah, now all of them standing in front of us.

"Cool it, guys," Jacob said. "Stay out of this." He took my hand in his own and we moved around to the right of the rest of the pack, the same amount of distance between us and them and us and Bella and Edward.

The wolves didn't let up but they slowed their advance as Seth stopped a mere three feet away from Bella. I let go of Jacob's hand and moved forward myself, positioning my feet with one foot in front of the other, ready to charge forward if I had to shove Seth out of the way.

"C'mon, Bella. Do your worst." Seth grinned, opening his arms out to his sides, making himself look completely vulnerable.

Leah hissed.

Bella stood frozen, her eyebrows creased. She wasn't sure if she could control herself.

"I'm getting older here, Bella," Seth taunted. "Okay, not technically, but you get the idea. Go on, take a whiff."

"Hold on to me," Bella said to Edward, cringing back into his chest. His hands tightened on her arms. "Aria..." She couldn't bring her self to say it.

"I'm right here." I said soothingly, she knew I wouldn't let anything happen to Seth.

Nervously, Bella took a tiny breath in through her nose. Her nose twitched, it was entirely obvious she disliked the smell, she wasn't going to attack. She took another breath, absorbing everyone's scents and relaxed. "Huh. I can see what everyone's been going on about. You stink, guys."

Edward burst into laughter; his hands slipped from her shoulders to wrap around her waist.

Jacob's bellowing laughter sounded from behind me as I felt him step a little closer until I was wrapped up in his arms again. Seth's laughter mirrored Edward's and so did Jesse's weird bark of a laugh. Leah's response was expected, a low spark of a growl and a roll of her eyes before she retreated back into the forest. She'd had enough of vampires for today.

"Look who's talking," Seth said, theatrically plugging his nose. Seth's mood had lightened considerably, he was back to being the boy I remembered. If only for a brief moment.

"Okay, so I passed, right?" Bella said. "Now are you going to tell me what this big secret is?"

Seth's expression became very nervous. "It's nothing you need to worry about this second..."

Emmett chuckled from inside the house - a sound of anticipation. He couldn't wait for Bella to find out, he hoped for a fight. He loved violence a little too much.

Bella then became distracted with the goings on inside the house. There were seven sets of breathing lungs but only one tiny fluttering heart beat. Bella was eager to meet her daughter. "Renesmee," She whispered.

"Come and see," Edward murmured. "I know you can handle this."

"You'll help me?" Bella whispered through motionless lips.

"Of course I will."

"And Aria, Emmett and Jasper - just in case?" She pressed looking at me.

"We'll take care of you, Bella. Don't worry, we'll be ready. None of us would risk Renesmee. I think you'll be surprised at how entirely she's already wrapped us all around her little fingers. She'll be perfectly safe, no matter what." I reassured her with a warm smile.

There was a distinct difference between Renesmee and I's scents. She favoured humans more whereas I had the slightly sweeter smell of a vampire mixed with the earthy tones of the wolves. My smell wasn't appealing to Bella.

Bella took a step forward towards the house and then Seth was in her way, his face a mask of worry.

"Are you sure, Edward?" he demanded, his voice almost pleading. I'd never heard him speak to Edward that way. "I don't like this. Maybe she should wait—"

"You had your test, Seth." Edward grunted with annoyance.

Bella looked between them, entirely confused, not understanding why the best friends were acting like this.

"But—" Seth began.

"But nothing," Edward said, suddenly exasperated. "Bella needs to see our daughter. Get out of her way."

Seth shot Bella an odd, frantic look and then turned and nearly sprinted into the house ahead of all of us.

Edward growled and I heaved a heavy sigh. I focused myself to allow Jacob to read my thoughts. "He needs to reign it in, if you don't tell him to, I will."

"I can't do that. It's the bond." Jacob thought back, though, he was inwardly cringing at how demanding Seth was being.

"We'll see about that." Edward hissed inside his mind, Jacob hearing his thoughts too due to my transference. "Shall we?" Edward said, his voice gentle again.

Bella nodded nervously before motioning for Jacob and I to go ahead of them. Jacob took my hand tightly in his and led the way into the house.

We headed up the the stairs and into the lounge, the family waiting in a procession line, all sparkling eyes and smiles. Behind the expressions you could see in the way each family member had positioned themselves, they were ready to move into a defensive stance, ready to move to take Bella down.

Rosalie was several paces behind the rest of them, near the front door. She was alone until Seth joined her and then stood in front of her, closer than was normal. There was no sense of comfort in that closeness; both of them seemed to cringe from the proximity.

Jacob and I walked down the line, stopping just beside Seth and Rosalie, not wanting to block Renesmee from Bella's view like Seth was. Nessie was leaning out of Rosalie's arms, trying to peer around Seth.

"I was out just two days?" Bella gasped, disbelieving. Renesmee's growth, as expected, had surprised her.

Renesmee now looked to be around two to three months old. She had mastered being able to hold her head and chest up, she couldn't crawl yet, but she knew how to hold herself up on her hands. Her bronze ringlets now hung just past her shoulders, we couldn't bring ourselves to trim them yet.

Renesmee continued to reach for Bella, her little hands outstretched as she wriggled in Rosalie's arms. Her first memory of Bella was flickering through her mind, Bella's dull, half-dead face staring at her for the first time. She raised one hand, reaching in Bella's direction again, and then reached back to touch Rosalie's throat.

Rosalie patted the hand against her neck and murmured, "Yes, that's her." I smiled at Nessie's excitement.

Renesmee's eyes stayed locked on Bella's. Then she smiled at her. A brilliant flash of tiny, perfect white teeth.

Bella took a hesitant step toward her and we all moved into position.

Emmett and Jasper were right in front of her, shoulder to shoulder, hands ready. Edward gripped her from behind, fingers tight again on the tops of her arms. Carlisle and Esme moved to get Emmett's and Jasper's flanks, and Jake and I theirs, while Rosalie backed to the door, her arms clutching at Renesmee. Seth moved, too, keeping his protective stance in front of them.

Alice was the only one who held her place.

"Oh, give her some credit," she chided them. "She wasn't going to do anything. You'd want a closer look, too."

"I'm okay," Bella promised, patting Edward's hand on her arm. Then she hesitated and added, "Keep close, though, just in case."

Jasper's eyes were tight, focused. I knew he was taking in her emotional climate, and Bella worked on settling into a steady calm. Edward freed her arms as he read Jasper's assessment. But, though Jasper was getting it firsthand, he didn't seem as certain. I relaxed as well, realising I had been on receiving end on all this defensiveness before. I believed that Bella could handle herself.

When Ness heard Bella's voice, the too-aware child struggled in Rosalie's arms, reaching toward her. Her expression managed to look impatient.

"Jazz, Em, let us through. Bella's got this." Edward concluded confidently.

"Edward, the risk—" Jasper said.

"Minimal. Listen, Jasper - on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time—"

I heard Carlisle suck in a shocked breath. Esme's face was suddenly full of concern mingled with compassion. Jasper's eyes widened, but he nodded just a tiny bit, as if Edward's words answered some question in his head. Jacob and Seth's mouths screwed up into a disgusted grimace. Emmett shrugged. Rosalie seemed even less concerned than Emmett as she tried to hold on to the struggling child in her arms.

I, however, knew Edward was being over dramatic. Alice's expression told me that she was not fooled either. Though she was more focused and appalled by the fact that Bella had completely destroyed her dress more than anything else.

"Edward!" Carlisle chastened. "How could you be so irresponsible?"

"I know, Carlisle, I know. I was just plain stupid. I should have taken the time to make sure we were in a safe zone before I set her loose." Edward ignored my accusing glare and kept his eyes on Carlisle.

"Edward," Bella mumbled, embarrassed by the way they stared at her. It was like they were trying to see a brighter red in her eyes that I knew wasn't there.

"He's absolutely right to rebuke me, Bella," Edward said with a grin. "I made a huge mistake. The fact that you are stronger than anyone I've ever known doesn't change that."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Tasteful joke, Edward."

"What a waste of everyone's time." I added, folding my arms across my chest as Jacob looked at me in question.

"I wasn't making a joke. I was explaining to Jasper why I know Bella can handle this. It's not my fault everyone jumped to conclusions." Edward smirked.

"Wait," Jasper gasped. "She didn't hunt the humans?"

"She started to," Edward said, clearly enjoying himself. I could hear Bella's teeth grinding together. "She was entirely focused on the hunt."

"What happened?" Carlisle interjected. His eyes were suddenly bright, an amazed smile beginning to form on his face. It reminded me of before, when he'd wanted the details on Bella's transformation experience. The thrill of new information. The thrill of finding out more about Bella and I and how close out genetics truly were.

Edward leaned toward him, animated. "She heard me behind her and reacted defensively. As soon as my pursuit broke into her concentration, she snapped right out of it. She realised at once what was happening, and then... she held her breath and ran away."

"Whoa," Emmett murmured. "Seriously?"

"He's not telling it right," Bella muttered, more embarrassed than before. "He left out the part where I growled at him."

"Did ya get in a couple of good swipes?" Emmett asked eagerly.

"No! Of course not." She said, appalled.

"No, not really? You really didn't attack him?" He was upset.

"Emmett!" Bella protested.

"Aw, what a waste," Emmett groaned. "And here you are, the only other person who could take him  - since he can't get in your head to cheat - and you had a perfect excuse, too." He sighed. "Just want to see him against someone normal, Aria cheats too."

Bella glared at him frostily. "I would never."

"I don't cheat, Emmett... I'd like to remind you that during training I had my barrier up." I called from the back of the group. "You still lost then." I grinned to myself when he cursed under his breath.

Jasper's frown caught my attention next; he seemed even more disturbed than before.

Edward touched his fist lightly to Jasper's shoulder in a mock punch. "You see what I mean?"

"It's not natural," Jasper muttered.

He was disappointed for two reasons. One, he hated the fact that Bella and I had such amazing control straight from the get go, and two, he had hoped one of us would have been just as bad as he was at adapting. He still struggled, even now, he hated the fact he couldn't blend as well as his other siblings and now his new ones. He was envious of us.

"She could have turned on you - she's only hours old!" Esme scolded, putting her hand against her heart. "Oh, we should have gone with you."

"Esme, please--" Edward began but Bella and Renesmee's patience was wearing thin.

"Edward," Bella said, leaning around Jasper to see Ness better. "Please?"

Jasper's teeth were set; he didn't move.

"Jazz, they aren't anything you've seen before," Alice said quietly, referring to Bella and myself. "Trust me."

Their eyes met for a short second, and then Jasper nodded. He moved out of Bella's way, but put one hand on her shoulder and moved with her as she walked slowly forward.

I kept my position beside Rosalie, ready to be the last line of defence if Bella lost control. Jasper knew how a newborn fought and what every little movement meant but I was stronger (maybe), I could possibly hold her down whilst Rosalie got away.

Then Renesmee, struggling and reaching all this time while her expression got more and more irritated, let out a high, ringing wail. We had never heard her cry before. It wasn't a sound we were used to. We rushed forward, all of us but Bella who remained frozen near the entrance of the room.

I listened carefully, ignoring the worried and panicked inner thoughts of the other family members as I tried to single out Renesmee's.

"What's the matter? Is she hurt? What happened?" Seth boomed, reaching for Renesmee and Rosalie willingly handed her over to him.

"No, she's fine," I reassured him. She just wanted her mother, she just wanted Bella to hold her.

Renesmee showed Seth how she felt, touching her hand to his cheek before squirming around to stretch toward Bella again.

"See?" Rosalie told him. "She just wants Bella."

"She wants me?" Bella whispered. Renesmee's eyes stared impatiently at her.

Edward darted back to Bella's side. He put his hands lightly on her arms and urged her forward. "She's been waiting for you for almost three days," he told her.

When they were a few feet away I could sense and feel Seth's anxiousness. The heat was vibrating off of him, his hands shaking as he held Renesmee close to his chest. Inside his head, he was calm, which didn't make me worry about that fact he was clutching Renesmee, he was just being protective like always.

"Seth - I'm fine," Bella told him, the confusion clear in her voice. I understood her, why would a wolf want to be so close to a half vampire baby?

He frowned at her, eyes tight.

Renesmee whimpered eagerly and stretched, her little hands grasping into fists again and again. Bella reached for her, taking a hold of her small body to pull her baby against her chest. Seth let his long arms stretch so that Bella could cradle her, but he didn't let go. He shuddered a little when their skin made contact.

Renesmee looked up and smiled at Bella again, showing her square little teeth and two dimples. Then, she reached for Bella's face. Edward's hands tightened on Bella warily, anticipating her reaction to Renesmee's gift, or if it would even work.

Bella gasped at the memory that Renesmee showed her. Her first memory of Bella, the first time she saw her mother's face, her human face. It felt like so much had happened in the last two days, Bella's weakened human face seemed something of a distant recollection. A person we used to know.

Renesmee's hand dropped from her cheek. She smiled wider, dimpling again.

It was totally silent in the room but for the heartbeats.

"What... was... that?" Bella managed to choke out.

"What did you see?" Rosalie asked curiously, leaning around Seth, who seemed very much in the way and out of place at the moment, unlike Jacob who was standing behind me and out of the tight-knitted crowd. "What did she show you?"

"How?" Bella whispered, still completely in awe of her daughter.

"I told you it was hard to explain," Edward murmured in her ear. "But effective as means of communications go."

"What was it?" Seth asked.

"Um. Me. I think. But I looked terrible." Bella said, still not tearing her eyes from Renesmee's face.

"It was the only memory she had of you," Edward explained. "She's letting you know that she's made the connection, that she knows who you are."

"But how did she do that?" Bella asked again. Renesmee seemed unconcerned with her boggling eyes. She was smiling slightly and pulling on a lock of Bella's hair.

"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future? How does Aria do anything...?" Edward asked rhetorically, and then shrugged.

"She's gifted." Bella clarified.

"It's an interesting twist," Carlisle said to Edward before looking back to me. "Maybe its the gift that comes with being half vampire... though it seems Renesmee can get through the girls' barriers. Aria cannot get through to Bella."

"Interesting," Edward agreed. "I wonder--"

"I remember you, too," Bella told Renesmee quietly, not caring for to listen to the explanation.

"She's fine," Alice murmured to Jasper who was still on edge, hovering, not trusting Bella.

"Haven't we experimented enough for one day?" Seth asked suddenly, his voice a slightly higher pitch with stress. "Okay, Bella's doing great, but let's not push it." I could see this not ending well.

Bella glared at him with real irritation. Jasper shuffled uneasily next to her. We were all crowded so close that every tiny movement seemed very big. Jacob even straightened himself up behind me, moving himself closer to the group.

"What is your problem, Seth?" Bella demanded. She tugged lightly against his hold on Renesmee, and he just stepped closer to her. He was pressed right up to Bella, Renesmee touching both of their chests.

Edward hissed at him. "Just because I understand, it doesn't mean I won't throw you out, Seth. Bella's doing extraordinarily well. Don't ruin the moment for her."

"I'll help him toss you, dog," Rosalie promised, her voice seething. Jacob growled lowly then and I could hear Jesse and Leah stirring outside. This was quickly becoming very intense.

Bella glared at Seth's anxious half-angry expression. His eyes were locked on Renesmee's face. With everyone pressed together, he had to be touching at least six different vampires at the moment, and it didn't even seem to bug him, Bella noticed this.

Her face screwed with confusion and unanswered questions as she tried to figure it out, why he was so demanding and needy. Then her eyes flared up to his face. "No!" She gasped.

Jasper's teeth came together and Edward's arms wrapped around her chest like constricting boas. Seth had Renesmee out of her arms in the same second, and Bella did not try to hold on to her. She was ready for the snap and she wanted Renesmee out of the way.

"Rose," Bella said through her teeth, very slowly and precisely. "Take Renesmee."

Rosalie held her hands out, and Seth handed her daughter to her at once. Both of them backed away from Bella.

"Edward, I don't want to hurt you, so please let go of me." Oh. Shit.

He hesitated.

"Go stand in front of Renesmee," She suggested.

He deliberated, and then let her go.

Bella leaned into a hunting crouch and took two slow steps forward toward Seth.

"You didn't," She snarled at him. She couldn't possibly hurt him, he was only a boy of sixteen for crying out loud.

He backed away, palms up, trying to reason with her. "You know it's not something I can control." He shot me a pleading glance, there was nothing I could do for him in this moment. He had to explain it himself.

"You stupid mutt. How could you? My baby!" Bella snapped, bearing her teeth.

He backed out the front door now as she stalked him, half-running backward down the stairs. "It wasn't my idea, Bella!"

"I've held her all of one time, and already you think you have some moronic wolfy claim to her? She's mine!" She hissed, her eyes burning with hatred.

"I can share," he said pleadingly as he retreated across the lawn.

"Pay up," I heard Emmett say behind me and I scoffed, only he would bet against Bella keeping her cool. Alice ground her teeth together with annoyance at the prospect of losing, of course she couldn't see the outcome due to the wolves' influence.

"How dare you imprint on my baby? Have you lost your mind?" Bella seethed, still stalking towards him.

We raced out the door behind them, flooding the porch not wanting to get too close to Bella and her rage.

"It was involuntary!" he insisted, backing into the trees.

Then he wasn't alone. Jesse and Leah reappeared, flanking him on either side. Leah snapped at Bella, curling closer towards her little brother.

A fearsome snarl ripped through Bella's teeth back at her. Another thing to get used to.

Jacob pushed past all of us then, jogging down the steps. I caught his arm just in time. "What are you doing?" I hissed quietly through my teeth. He could get killed!

"I'm not standing for this." He gently shook me off and stopped a few metres behind Bella. "Bella, would you try to listen to him for just a second? Please?" Jacob begged. "Leah, back off," he added.

Leah curled her lip at Bella and didn't move. I fought with myself, unsure on whether I should join Jacob or not. I decided to move, stopping on the last porch step.

"Why should I listen?" Bella hissed. Her fury clouding everything else.

"Because you're the one who told me this. Do you remember? You said that we were all family now. We're friends Bella you have to let him explain."

She glared ferociously. "You think you'll be part of my family as my son-in-law!" She screeched at Seth. Her bell voice ripped through two octaves and still came out sounding like music.

Emmett laughed, I fought the urge to slap him.

"Stop her, Edward," Esme murmured. "She'll be unhappy if she hurts him."

"I won't let it go that far, Esme." I promised her, taking another step forward, hating it when Jacob mimicked me. Keeping the same amount of distance between us but he was closer to Bella.

"No!" Seth was insisting at the same time. "How can you even look at it that way? She's just a baby, for crying out loud!"

"That's my point!" Bella yelled.

"You know I don't think of her that way! Do you think Edward would have let me live this long if I did? All I want is for her to be safe and happy - is that so bad? So different from what you want?" He was shouting right back at her.

Beyond words, Bella shrieked a growl at him.

"Amazing, isn't she?" I heard Edward murmur.

"She hasn't gone for his throat even once," Carlisle agreed, sounding stunned.

"Fine, you win this one," Emmett said grudgingly.

Ignoring them and not entirely trusting Bella, I took another step forward, my feet silent on the grass.

"You're going to stay away from her," Bella hissed up at Seth.

"I can't do that!"

Through her teeth: "Try. Starting now."

"It's not possible. Do you remember how much you wanted me around three days ago? How comfortable and happy we were to be in each other's company? That's gone for you now, isn't it?" He stuttered it out, trying to get his point across as quickly as possible.

She glared, unsure.

"That was her," he told her.

"Run away while you still can," She threatened.

"C'mon, Bella! Nessie likes me, too," he insisted.

Bella froze. Her breathing stopped. She did not like that nickname one bit. I edged closer and so did Jacob... I just needed to get ahead of him without disturbing Bella.

"What... did you call her?"

Seth took a step farther back, managing to look sheepish. "Well," he mumbled, "that name you came up with is kind of a mouthful and-- "

"You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?" Bella screeched.

And then she lunged for him.

Jacob was there all too quickly, her path was disturbed, her attention on him instead of Seth. She caught him mid-air, his body just managing to finish phasing, before she wrapped her arms around his torso and flung his body into the nearest tree. The sharp snapping and cracking of bone and bark ricocheted through the air as Jacob's body slumped to the floor.

And then all I could see was red.

I charged at her, shoving her marble body into the dirt. She clearly didn't expect it as her body tumbled to the ground, though she recovered quickly. Bella got back on her feet and spun around to face me, her red eyes burning with fierce rage as she flew at me. Her form of attack was expected as that of a newborn, her hands out in front of her like claws, ready to go for my throat. Bella should have paid attention to the training those few months ago.

Ignoring the alarmed voices from the family, and the thoughts of Jacob telling me to stop, I dodged Bella's first attempt to grab me, whipping to the side out of her reach. She tried it again and I ducked in a swooping motion, catching her wrists in one hand I landed a heavy punch to the left side of her jaw.

Whilst dazed and in shock I allowed myself to hold one of her wrists in each hand, spinning them so I now had them against her back. She hissed and snarled with such fierceness, trying to free herself from my death grip. I kicked her legs out from beneath her, her body falling face first into the dirt as I put all my weight onto her back to hold her down. Then, with so much venom and anger in my voice I whispered into her ear: "Touch him like that again and I'll rip your throat out."

My threat froze her into the ground, and then suddenly everyone was around us.

"Well I guess we know who is the more superior newborn." Emmett bellowed, his laugh following.

"Now is not the time, Emmett." Carlisle chastised before turning to me. "Aria, that was incredibly stupid... though now I can see you didn't need any help at all. Bella are you okay?"

Bella nodded into the dirt.

"You're asking her if she's okay?" I spat, releasing her and as expected Edward rushed to her side. "Jake?"

The wolves were frozen in place as well. Jacob had risen to his feet during my fight with Bella, but he wasn't putting any weight on his front right leg. A growl rumbled deep within my chest and I turned back to Bella who was just getting to her feet.

"I'm sorry Jacob, I shouldn't have allowed it to go that far." Edward said guiltily as Bella just stared at Jacob, stunned into silence.

Jacob nodded once. "It's fine. I was just protecting my pack."

"I'm still sorry." Edward pressed as I felt myself starting to relax.

"Jacob, why don't you phase back and I'll get a look at you, that leg doesn't look so good." Carlisle offered, and Jacob nodded again, limping off into the trees.

There was a storage bin just a few feet into the trees filled with clothes for Leah and the boys to change into, it was Alice's idea and it had come in handy over the last few days. Jacob's pack followed after him, I toned them out not wanting to hear Leah's bitching... it would just make me want to rip Bella's head off again.

"Let's head inside and calm down shall we. I'll get lunch started." Esme offered, ushering us all inside.

Everyone filed along inside whilst I waited for the pack to return. To my surprise all of them had phased back, but I then realised it must have been the invitation of lunch that enticed them.

"Does it hurt?" I asked Jacob as he reached me, I tried not to cringe at the sight of the broken collarbone threatening to break though his skin.

"Not as bad as before." He did a half shrug but screwed his face up in pain when he realised he shouldn't have done that. He let out a heavy breath. "Doc, will set it, I'll be good as new by the end of the day." He said through clenched teeth.

"You really shouldn't have stepped in." Seth said guiltily.

"What? And let her rip your head off, I don't think so." Leah scoffed, glaring angrily at the house.

"I actually agree with Leah... Aria that was some bad-ass fighting you know." Jesse said proudly, punching the air a few times. "Seeing Bella like that will take some getting used to."

"I don't even remember it if I'm being honest. All I saw was red..." I trailed off not wanting to think about it. Hopefully that would be the only fight that we would ever have, and on the plus side, we knew I could overpower her.

Once we were inside Carlisle got to looking at the damage Bella had inflicted. Jacob had broken his shoulder and collarbone... it just fuelled my anger back up again.

"I'm so sorry, Jacob. I should have been closer." Edward apologised again, completely guilty.

"Jake, I—" Bella began again, trying to apologise.

She had pressed herself into the furthest corner of the room, staring out of the window at Seth who was playing with Renesmee just outside the house.

"Don't worry about it, Bella, I'm totally fine," Jake said at the same time that Edward said, "Bella, love, no one is judging you. You're doing so well."

"Someone's judging you." Emmett taunted from beside me. He was sat on the back of the couch, his feet on the cushions. I stood abruptly and shoved him back, his back colliding with the hardwood floor with a bang.

"Guys, please!" Esme called from the kitchen and I sighed, joining Carlisle and Jacob's side.

Carlisle secured another piece of the brace to Jacob's arm, and Jacob winced.

"Sorry, sorry!" Bella mumbled as she took a seat beside Jake on one of the couches.

"Don't freak, Bella," Jacob said, patting her knee with his good hand while Edward rubbed her arm from the other side. "I'll be back to normal in half an hour," he continued, still patting her knee. "Anyone would have done the same, what with Seth and Ness-- " He broke off mid-word and changed the subject quickly. "I mean, at least you didn't bite me or anything. That would've sucked."

"Watch out Jacob if things get too kinky in the bedroom with Aria." Emmett commented snidely, a huge grin on his face waiting for me to snap.

Jacob looked between Emmett and I silently, trying not to laugh.

I buried my face in my hands and breathed deeply, trying not to let Emmett's comments bring my temper back up. When I took my hands away from my face I could see that Bella was doing the same, but that was because of her shame. "I'm a bad person."

"Of course you aren't. I should have—" Edward started, he was getting on my last nerve with that as well.

"Stop that," Bella sighed.

"Lucky thing Ness - Renesmee's not venomous," Jake said after a second of awkward silence. "'Cause she bites Seth all the time."

Bella's hands dropped. "She does?"

"Sure. Whenever he and Rose don't get dinner in her mouth fast enough. Rose thinks it's pretty hilarious... Aria usually intervenes though, she knows when Renesmee is thinking about doing it." Jake explained with a half smile on his face.

It was true, she couldn't just go around biting people... though it was a little funny.

Bella stared at him, shocked.

"Well, Jake," Carlisle said, straightening up and stepping away from us. "I think that's as much as I can do. Try to not move for, oh, a few hours, I guess." Carlisle chuckled. "I wish treating humans were this instantaneously gratifying." He rested his hand for a moment on Jacob's black hair. "Stay still," he ordered, and then he disappeared down the hall on the other side of the house. I heard his office door close.

Esme served our lunch then; steak, roasted pepper and pearl barley salad. She really had a gift for cooking for someone that didn't even eat. She balanced the five full plates along her arms before setting them on the table. In no time the pack swarmed, leaving her a split second to pick up two of the plates and place them on the coffee table in front of Jacob and I.

"I can probably manage sitting still for a while," Jake agreed even though Carlisle was already gone. "Looks like you'll have to feed me, baby." He said with a smug grin, settling himself deeper into the couch.

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. "Yes, it looks that way doesn't it."

We tucked into our amazing lunch, everyone thanking Esme and making grateful noises with their mouths full. Esme beamed as she watched us, smiling happily... being a motherly figure was what she done best.

Bella got up from the couch then, Edward followed her to the back windows and took her hand. Rosalie and Seth were bickering as usual... he'd rather feed Renesmee than eat his own lunch. Rosalie was trying to guilt trip him by saying his lack of appetite was upsetting Esme.

"What's the matter, Bella?" Jasper asked quietly, he's observed she was stressing over something. "No one is angry with you" - a low snarl echoing from the dining table contradicted him, but he ignored it - "or even surprised, really. Well, I suppose we are surprised. Surprised Aria could take you down so easily without being about to read your mind... But, you did well. Better than anyone expects of you."

While he was speaking, the room became very calm. He was trying to ease the tension, though I was sure it took a great effort to control everyone's moods in the room.

"I was thinking about Charlie, actually." She admitted, chewing on her bottom lip - a human trait I guess she didn't forget.

Out front, the bickering cut off.

"Ah," Jasper murmured.

"We really have to leave, don't we?" Bella asked. "For a while, at the very least. Pretend we're in Atlanta or something."

I inwardly panicked, I knew that we would have to move eventually but not straight away. I didn't have to go, of course, but now that Renesmee was in the equation I didn't want to miss a thing, we didn't know how long we had with her and I didn't want to jeopardise that. Then there was Jacob, before he was willing to follow me anywhere... but now he had a pack, and he thought that this conversation only meant that Bella and Edward would be leaving. Not all of us.

Edward's gaze was locked on Bella's face, but she looked at Jasper. He was the one who answered her in a grave tone. "Yes. It's the only way to protect your father."

Bella brooded for a moment. "I'm going to miss him so much. I'll miss everyone here."

As I fed Jacob his last mouthful of steak, ignoring his satisfactory wink, the sound of movement on the front porch interrupted the calm atmosphere. I heard them get up, and then they were through the door. At exactly the same time, Carlisle came down the stairs with his hands full of his things - the measuring tape, and the scale.

Jasper darted to Bella's side, unsure as to what her reaction to finding out this fact about Renesmee would be. We all stopped what we were doing, wanting to hear the verdict.

"Must be six," Edward said.

"So?" Bella asked, her eyes locked on Rosalie, Seth, and Renesmee. They stood in the doorway, Renesmee in Rosalie's arms. Rose looked wary. Seth looked troubled. Renesmee looked beautiful and impatient.

"Time to measure Ness - er, Renesmee," Carlisle explained.

"Oh. You do this every day?" Bella asked.

"Four times a day," Carlisle corrected absently as he motioned the others toward the couch opposite us. Renesmee bored with this chore already, sighed.

"Four times? Every day? Why?"

"She's still growing quickly," Edward murmured to Bella, his voice quiet and strained. He squeezed her hand, and his other arm wrapped securely around her waist, needing the support.

Jacob gripped my hand with his good one tightly, we hated these parts of the day.

Renesmee's body was slightly longer. Just a little bit slimmer. Her face wasn't quite as round; it was more oval by one minute degree. Her ringlets hung a sixteenth of an inch lower down her shoulders. She stretched out helpfully in Rosalie's arms while Carlisle ran the tape measure down the length of her and then used it to circle her head. He took no notes; perfect recall.

Seth's arms were crossed as tightly over his chest, his heavy brows were mashed together into one line over his deep-set eyes.

She had matured from a single cell to a normal-sized baby in the course of a few weeks. She looked well on her way to being a toddler just days after her birth. It looked like Bella was coming to the conclusion in her head. "What do we do?" She whispered, horrified.

Edward's arms tightened. He understood exactly what she was asking. "I don't know."

"It's slowing," Seth muttered through his teeth.

"We'll need several more days of measurements to track the trend, Seth. I can't make any promises." Carlisle concluded emotionlessly.

"Yesterday she grew two inches. Today it's less."

"By a thirty-second of an inch, if my measurements are perfect," Carlisle said quietly.

"Be perfect, Doc," Seth said, making the words almost threatening. Rosalie stiffened.

"You know I'll do my best," Carlisle assured him.

Seth sighed. "Guess that's all I can ask."

Renesmee seemed irritated. She started to squirm and then reached her hand imperiously toward Rosalie. Rosalie leaned forward so that Renesmee could touch her face. After a second, Rose sighed.

"What does she want?" Seth demanded.

"Bella, of course," Rosalie told him. Then she looked at Bella. "How are you?"

"Worried," She admitted, and Edward squeezed her.

"We all are. But that's not what I meant."

"I'm in control," She promised.

Seth bit his lip but made no move to stop Rosalie as she offered Renesmee to Bella. Jasper and Edward hovered but allowed it. I could see how tense Rose was. I remained seated on the couch but waited on the edge of my seat, ready to bounce to my feet if had to.

Renesmee reached for Bella as she reached for her, a blinding smile lighting her face. Immediately, she put her hot little hand against Bella's cheek. She was remembering Bella charging Seth across the front lawn, remembering Jacob leaping between us. And then me taking Bella down... I wondered how Renesmee would act towards me after seeing me doing that to her mother.

I grinned when she held no resentment to me, she was just happy I had protected her precious Seth and her Uncle Jake, it made Jake and I happy that she saw him like that.

Edward chuckled, watching Renesmee's thoughts with me. And then all of us winced as we heard the crack of Jake's bones.

Renesmee smiled her brilliant smile, and her memory did not leave Seth through all the following mess. He was hers after all.

"Oh, wonderful," Bella groaned. "Perfect."

"It's just because he tastes better than the rest of us," Edward assured Bella, his voice stiff with his own annoyance.

"I told you she likes me, too," Seth teased from across the room, his eyes on Renesmee. His joking was halfhearted; the tense angle of his eyebrows had not relaxed.

Renesmee patted Bella's face impatiently, demanding her attention. Another memory: Rosalie pulling a brush gently through each of her curls. It felt nice.

Carlisle and his tape measure, knowing she had to stretch and be still. It was not interesting to her.

"It looks like she's going to give you a rundown of everything you missed," I commented from across the room.

Bella's nose wrinkled as she dumped the next one on her. The smell coming from her metal cup - hard enough not to be bitten through easily - enough to send Bella's throat burning.

I stood abruptly, blurring towards them but Renesmee was already out of her arms and Jasper had them pinned against her back. She was staring, surprised, at Edward's frightened face. "What did I do?"

Edward looked at Jasper behind her, and then at Bella again. "But she was remembering being thirsty," Edward muttered, his forehead pressing into lines. "She was remembering the taste of human blood."

Jasper's arms pulled Bella's tighter together. Bella still didn't fight it. "Yes," She agreed. "And?"

"Edward," I began placing my hand on his shoulder. "She's more like me than you think when it comes to resisting blood. Give her a chance."

Edward frowned at me for a second more, and then his expression loosened. He laughed once. "You're right Ari, it seems. The overreaction is mine this time. Jazz, let her go."

Once she was free, Edward handed Renesmee back to Bella.

"I can't understand," Jasper said. "I can't bear this."

I watched in surprise as Jasper strode out the back door. Pacing towards the river and bounding over it until he was out of sight.

Renesmee touched Bella's neck, repeating the scene of departure right back, like an instant replay, questioning what had just happened.

"He'll be back," Edward said. "He just needs a moment alone to readjust his perspective on life." There was a grin threatening at the corners of his mouth.

"Is he mad at me?" Bella asked quietly.

"No. Why would he be?" I answered this time.

"What's the matter with him, then?" She wondered, staring back to the point where he disappeared.

"He's upset with himself, not you, Bella. He's worrying about... self-fulfilling prophecy, I suppose you could say. He hoped at least one of us would be a typical newborn." I explained with a half smile.

"How so?" Carlisle asked before Bella could.

"He's wondering if the newborn madness is really as difficult as we've always thought, or if, with the right focus and attitude, anyone could do as well as Bella and even Aria, though the controls are slightly different in that case. Even now - perhaps he only has such difficulty because he believes it's natural and unavoidable. Maybe if he expected more of himself, he would rise to those expectations. You're making him question a lot of deep-rooted assumptions, girls." Edward explained.

"But that's unfair," Carlisle said. "Everyone is different; everyone has their own challenges. Perhaps what the girls are doing goes beyond the natural. Maybe this is another gift, so to speak."

"That's an interesting theory, and quite plausible," Edward said.

Wow, another gift? I had always hoped I was special and didn't need the blood, but really it was just super self control. If I didn't have that, then maybe I was supposed to drink blood.

I looked back at Jacob and from the way his face twisted up he figured this out too. He was disappointed, he wanted me to be a little more human.

"Have you ever seen an equivalent to self-control as a talent?" Edward asked Carlisle. "Do you really think that's a gift, or just a product of all her preparation and Aria's human side taking over? Just a coincidence they're almost the same?"

Carlisle shrugged, "it's slightly similar to what Siobhan has always been able to do, though she wouldn't call it a gift."

"Siobhan, your friend in that Irish coven?" Rosalie asked. "I wasn't aware that she did anything special. I thought it was Maggie who was talented in that bunch."

I had no idea who these people were, they'd never mentioned them around me or Bella before.

"Yes, Siobhan thinks the same. But she has this way of deciding her goals and then almost... willing them into reality. She considers it good planning, but I've always wondered if it was something more. When she included Maggie, for instance. Liam was very territorial, but Siobhan wanted it to work out, and so it did."

Edward, Carlisle, and Rosalie settled into chairs as they continued with the discussion. Seth sat next to Jacob, his eyes still protectively on Renesmee, looking bored. From the way his eyelids drooped, I was sure he'd be unconscious momentarily. Jacob didn't look far behind either.

I stayed put beside Bella, just watching and listening in to Renesmee's memories and thoughts as she projected them to Bella. Alice was the only family member that had been missing for most of the day, and Esme and Emmett had left shortly after lunch was served.

They were putting the finishing touches to the cottage they had restored for Bella and Edward and now Renesmee as well. It had been finished since before the wedding but due to the new addition and not knowing if Bella and Renesmee would even survive, they only had three days to decorate a room and fill it with baby furniture, clothes and supplies.

Renesmee's hand then fell away from Bella's face as she drifted to sleep - the backs of her eyelids were the pale lavender colour of thin clouds before the sunrise. Careful not to disturb her, Bella lifted that hand back to her skin and held it there curiously. At first there was nothing, and then, after a few minutes, a flickering of colours like a handful of butterflies were scattering from her thoughts.

"I do that with her as well." I commented quietly, smoothing a bit of hair off of Nessie's forehead.

"Where does she sleep?" Bella asked curiously, a doting smile on her lips.

"With me and Jacob mostly, in my arms or his when we go to bed. It stops them fighting over her. I'd never thought I'd see Jacob turn into a big softy over a baby." We laughed lightly together before I continued. "She also naps in Seth, Esme or Rosalie's arms."

Bella nodded, still smiling. I was a little disappointed, I supposed my alone time with Renesmee at night now had come to end.

"I could watch her dream forever." Bella whispered.

"Me too. So perfect." I admired her little face, she was indeed a true beauty.

Alice, Emmett, Jasper and Esme's thoughts began to filter into my mind, quickly becoming louder the closer they got. The cottage was complete it seemed.

"Finally," Edward sighed happily and turned to gaze out the window. It was deep, purply night outside, the perfect setting.

Alice came into view on the other side of the river. Alice swung back and forth from a branch like a trapeze artist, toes touching hands, before throwing her body into a graceful flat spin over the river. Esme made a more traditional leap, while Emmett charged right through the water, splashing water so far that splatters hit the back windows. Jasper followed after, his own efficient leap seeming understated, even subtle, after the others.

The huge grin stretching across Alice's face proved she was completely ecstatic that it had finished perfectly in time with Bella's awakening. I whirled back towards Jacob, shaking his good shoulder gently to wake him up. "Alice is back." He knew what I meant through the physical connection as well.

He nudged Seth awake before standing and stretching himself out, reaching his good and bad arm toward the ceiling. "Ah, healed up just in time. Thanks, Doc." He whisper yelled, careful not to wake Renesmee.

Alice skipped into the room ahead of everyone else, her hand stretched out in front of her and impatience making a nearly visible aura around her. In her palm was an everyday brass key with an oversized pink satin bow tied around it.

She held the key out for Bella, and Bella readjusted her arms around Renesmee so she could hold a spare hand out. Alice dropped the key into it.

"Happy birthday!" she squealed.

Bella rolled her eyes. "No one starts counting on the actual day of birth," Bella reminded her. "Your first birthday is at the year mark, Alice."

Her grin turned smug. "We're not celebrating your vampire birthday. Yet. It's September thirteenth, Bella. Happy nineteenth birthday!"

And then it dawned on me... I had been bitten exactly one year ago today.