"No. No way!" Bella shook her head fiercely and then shot a glance at the smug smile on her seventeen-year-old husband's face. "No, this doesn't count. I stopped ageing three days ago. I am eighteen forever."

"Whatever," Alice said, dismissing Bella's protest with a quick shrug. "We're celebrating anyway, so suck it up."

Bella sighed. There was rarely a point to arguing with Alice. Her grin got impossibly wider as she read the doubt in Bella's eyes.

"Are you ready to open your present?" Alice sang.

"Presents," Edward corrected, and he pulled another key - this one longer and silver with a less flashy blue bow - from his pocket.

"Mine first," Alice said, and then stuck her tongue out, foreseeing his answer.

"Mine is closer."

"But look at how she's dressed!" Alice's words were almost a moan. "It's been killing me all day. That is clearly the priority. I know - I'll play you for it," Alice suggested. "Rock, paper, scissors."

Jasper chuckled and Edward sighed.

"Why you don't you just tell me who wins?" Edward said unbothered by her games.

Alice beamed. "I do. Excellent."

"It's probably better that I wait for morning, anyway." Edward smiled crookedly at Bella and then nodded to Jake, who looked like he had other things on his mind than Bella's presents as he stared at me. Just as I was about to check his mind Edward distracted me. "I think it might be more fun if Jacob was here for the big reveal, don't you agree? So that someone there is able to express the right level of enthusiasm?"

If Jacob was here? Where was he going? I raised an eyebrow in question and he shook his head dismissing it.

"Yay," Alice sang. "Bella, give Ness - Renesmee to someone else."

Bella turned to me. "Aria, do you want her?" I grinned happily, rubbing my hands together excitedly before stepping towards Bella, my arms now outstretched.

"Oh no, not you." Alice said quickly and Bella and I froze, our heads whipping to the side to look at Alice.

"What? Why?" I snapped angrily, I'd hardly had anytime with her today and Alice wasn't going to take it away from me.

"Because it's Seth's turn." She stumbled out and I growled.

"Like hell it is!" I seethed, glaring at Seth, warning him with my eyes not to take a step closer.

"Blue," Jake's use of my old nickname instantly brought me out of my simmering - soon to be boiling - rage. "I thought we could take a night off of babysitting." He tried to feign innocence but from the gleam in his eyes it looked like he had other things planned. I looked down at the ground as my cheeks flamed red. Emmett let out one loud burst of laughter.

Alice sighed. "Can someone just take the baby!" She was growing impatient.

Edward laughed while Rosalie took Renesmee expertly in her arms. Alice shoved the key in Bella's hand, then grabbed her elbow and steered her toward the back door. "Let's go, let's go," she trilled.

"Is it outside?" Bella asked curiously.

"Sort of," Alice said, pushing her forward.

"Enjoy your gift," Rosalie said. "It's from all of us. Esme especially."

"Aren't you coming, too?" Bella asked, realising the rest of us hadn't moved.

"We'll give you a chance to appreciate it alone," Rosalie said. "You can tell us about it... later."

Emmett guffawed and then they were gone. He turned to Jacob and I then. "Remember Jake, watch out for those teeth!" Emmett taunted, slapping Jacob on the back before he stalked out of the room. His shoulders still shaking with laughter.

Looking up at Jacob's face meekly I wasn't surprised to see him smiling down at me. He was giving me the special smile I knew and loved and it took him all but one stride to cross the gap that was separating us. He cupped my cheek in his warm hand and I leant into it, savouring the moment.

"Let's get out of here." He leaned down to whisper into my ear before pressing a sweet kiss below it.

"Okay." I whispered back, the blush had returned and the warm feeling that I hadn't felt for so long settled itself in the pit of my stomach.

He took my hand, walking us briskly down the stairs and out of the back door, and as soon as we hit the trees, he spun me around and swung me up and over his shoulder. "Jake," I giggled. "Where are we going?"

His ran his hand over my ass before giving it a light tap. "It's a surprise."

Of course as soon as he thought about it I didn't have time to bring my barrier back up not to ruin it for myself. A flicker of a candlelit dinner in the middle of the forest danced through his mind but was quickly interrupted by a much dirtier thought... and then many more quickly followed...

The blush spread across my cheeks again and I was so happy that he couldn't see my face. There was a clear need there inside his mind, and I couldn't help myself as the prospect of being with him in that way was going to happen again very soon.

It had been almost a month since we had last had sex, of course with all the distractions going on we hadn't even thought about it. But, yeah, if Bella and Edward were running off to get some tonight, why couldn't Jake and I?

Just as Jacob was swooping me back down over his shoulder I put my barrier back up. I wanted to enjoy everything firsthand.

Jake and I held contact as he gripped my waist, lowering me until my tiptoes touched the floor. "I've missed you." He breathed, lowering his head to kiss the side of my neck.

I couldn't help myself as I let out a light moan. "I missed you too." Wrapping my arms around his neck I pulled myself closer to him, pressing my body against his, letting him know I wanted this just as much as him.

Dinner could wait.

He leant back, looking deeply into my eyes with his dark ones before he pressed his lips against mine. It was slow at first, romantic. We were enjoying the missed feeling of just being able to kiss one another like this.

After a few glorious minutes his kisses grew stronger and his grip on me got tighter. I chuckled into the kiss as his fingertips brushed over my ribs and he took the chance due to the broken kiss to lift me into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as we continued our lust-fuelled kisses.

He began to walk forward, my weight clinging to him not effecting him at all, as he neared the blankets and tea light candles that I'm sure he had help setting up. Lowering his body gently, my back softly hit the blanket covered floor, my head resting against a fluffy cushion.

His mouth began to travel south, peppering kisses over my jaw and neck, going lower until he reached the neckline of my t-shirt. He told me with his eyes he wanted it off and I sat up slightly so I could slip it up and over my head. He took a handful of one of breasts, squeezing and my back arched up into his body.

He ground into me, pressing his length against where I needed him most, pushing me back down against the floor. My breath became ragged as he continued his movements, still kissing over the tops of breasts as I held his head against them. "Jake, stop teasing." I moaned against his shoulder.

He sat up, smiling devilishly as he reached up and took his own shirt off before coming down to reconnect our lips again, his tongue slipping into my mouth. I reached down between us to unbuckle his belt and then pushed down his jeans and boxers with my bare feet - when we left the house he hadn't even given me time to put shoes on.

I moaned into his mouth as he began to pull my leggings down, my excitement and need setting me on fire. Next he disposed of my bra and wasted no time in taking one of my hardened nipples into his mouth. "Oh god, you have no idea how good that feels."

I felt close already and he'd hardly touched me... I guess I really did need this.

He began his work on my other breast, one of his hands coming down to literally rip my panties off before grabbing my thigh and holding it against him. Once my leg was around him he reached down between us and pinched my clit, causing me to scream out into the night as I dug my nails into his back. He rubbed me in small circles as he repeated what he had done to my other breast. "Jacob, don't you dare stop."

I couldn't believe that I was close already but it just felt so good that I couldn't help it. As he flicked his tongue against my nipple, he plunged two fingers into me and it pushed me over the edge.

I gasped his name as I came, my body trembling as I gripped onto him, my breaths falling out of me in short gasps. When my body stilled he pulled his fingers out of me and smirked to himself as he licked my juices off of them.

Alright, now it was my turn.

I put my hand on his chest and pushed him so he was laying on his back. I straddled him, a mischievous smile playing at my lips as I raised myself ready to slip down onto him. "Wait!" He choked out, sitting up to meet me as he reached out for his discarded pants.

"What are you— oh!" When I saw what he pulled out of one of the back pockets of his jeans I fell silent. I didn't have the heart to tell him, as he ripped the foil packet open with his teeth, that he didn't need it. That it was a pointless thing, but I didn't want to ruin the moment.

He rolled it down his length and then kissed my lips sweetly before gripping my hips to lift me up, only to slide me back down onto him. I cleared my mind, not wanting to let the condom distract me, and started to rock my hips back and forth slowly. "Baby, that feels so good!" He groaned, falling back into the blankets as I leant forward to put my hands on his chest.

"You feel good." I whispered breathlessly as I began to bounce.

He grabbed my ass and moaned as he stared at my breasts as they moved and I couldn't help but laugh at him. I watched him watch me as he then began to run his hands up and down my back, sending shivers down my spine and making my hips move a lot sharper.

I closed my eyes, getting lost in the moment as I moved, my breath coming out in pants. He sat up then, hitting me at a new angle as his hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing against my parted lips. I opened my eyes and smiled at him. "I love you," he breathed, mirroring my smile.

"I love you. So much." I gripped onto his shoulders, holding myself tight against him as he began to thrust up into me.

I let him take control, moaning uncontrollably as I held onto him as tightly as I could. "That's it Ari, I want you to cum on me." He words sent me into overdrive, pushing me over the edge as I let go, my body writhing in his arms as he finished as well.

Our panting breaths swirled together as I rested my head on his shoulder. "I never thought we'd do that in the middle of the forest." I giggled before pressing my lips against the side of his neck.

He smoothed his hands over my hair and I looked up at him and pressed my lips against his. "Didn't you?" He asked, laughing himself. "I've had many fantasies about you and I out here."

"Did I live up to your expectations?" I wondered, running my hands through the hair on the back of his head.

"You more than exceeded them." He grinned, lifting me off of his lap.

I felt strangely empty as he left me, it was like when we were together like that everything was just perfect. We were one and nothing could change that.

Jacob cleaned himself up, disposing of the condom in a spare brown paper bag. "Tell me," I began, rolling onto my stomach as I watched him start to unpack the small picnic basket. "How many of those did you bring?" I eyed the brown paper bag so he knew what I was asking about in particular.

"Let's just say I have enough to last us all night." The smirk was back and when he saw my eyes widen he went back to emptying out the basket.

I guess he did have the whole night planned out, I was just hoping that no wolves or hunting family members were going to run through this part of the forest during their own nightly activities.

"Well I suggest you better hurry up and get that dinner ready, we have a lot of making up for lost time to do." I advised, winking at him when he looked over his shoulder at me.

"Yes we do."

* * *

I felt like a jellyfish.

Each step I took was like pure torture. Who would have thought that my muscles could become this exhausted? I had fought in a battle for God's sake!

We had sex five times and I had lost count of the amount of times Jacob had made me climax. But, I wasn't tired, I just couldn't walk like a normal human being.

I was walking back to the house in my jeans and Jake's oversized T-shirt. Unfortunately there was an incident involving my T-shirt, bra, and an open flame. It was dealt with immediately... ish... I just hoped that Alice wouldn't care I had sacrificed those few items of my wardrobe.

"Awh baby, why don't we have a bath when we get back? Sort out those Bambi legs." He suggested, he was laughing but he was proud he had inflicted this kind of pain on me.

Jake swooped me up into his arms. "Nope! No way! You aren't coming near me for a good few hours." I threatened, looking ahead as the house was just coming into view.

"Oh, so I only have to wait a few hours before we can go again?" He commented, the stupid smirk still on his face.

"You wished." I tapped the side of his face condescendingly. I think I actually needed a few days to recover from last night...

The back door to the house was open and Jacob set me down once we made it through the door, though I wished he would have carried me up the first flight of stairs at least. From the scents in the air I could tell everyone was home apart from the new parents and Renesmee was awake too, her erratic, excited heartbeat was thumping lightly through the house.

When we got to the middle floor and my eyes fell on Renesmee I completely forgot about my aching pain. She was different, but not so much. A little longer again, her proportions drifting from babyish to childlike. Her hair was longer by a quarter inch, the curls bouncing like springs with every movement. I walked (well tried to) over to my little niece/cousin and scooped her up into my arms. She smiled excitedly, both her chubby little hands patting my cheeks, showing me her dreams she remembered from her sleep, mostly filled with butterflies, Seth and Bella.

"Did you break something, Aria?" Emmett's deep voice asked, faking concern. I glared at him, daring him to utter another word, though, of course he did. "I'm sure it all went to plan Jacob, well done!" His booming laughter then followed, leading Renesmee to ask me why he was laughing, replaying Emmett's words in her head.

"You're unbelievable." I growled at him. "She can understand you!"

"She doesn't know what it means though." He defended, his laughter dying down.

"That doesn't matter Emmett, you have to be careful what you say around her." Esme scolded, warning him with her motherly look.

"Alright my little one," I said to Renesmee holding her close to my chest. "Why don't you go say hi to Uncle Jake, I'm going to go have a bath." She nodded happily, her greedy little arms outstretched towards Jake. I gave him a pointed look, warning him to not join me in the bath.

He bounced her in his arms a bit and she beamed with delight before showing him her dreams as well. "Hey where is Seth?" Jake asked, as he rocked from side to side... god, he looked good with a baby in his arms.

"Sleeping down the hall." Alice grumbled, she wanted her bedroom back.

"Well, I'll be back in a bit." I breezed out of the room as fast as I could hoping that it wouldn't affect my legs as much. It helped a little, I guessed I'd have to be a full vampire for the day...

* * *

After my bath I felt rejuvenated and I wasn't surprised to find my outfit for the day already laid out across my bed, accessories and all. Alice had given me an oversized fluffy, black turtle neck jumper, a dusty pink mini skirt and some thigh high black, suede boots. I was truly dressed as a Cullen today.

I whirled down the stairs once I was ready, excited to spend more time with my little gift twin but was surprised to find Jake gone and Nessie playing with a pile of cutlery. "What's going on?" I asked taking a seat on the arm of the couch.

"Wait!" Alice burst out excitedly. "Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the outfit?"

She was ignored, Emmett's scoff and eye roll suited my inner emotions perfectly. I got back to asking my questions. "Where's Jake? It sounds like Seth is gone too."

"Jacob woke him up to go for a run. I don't know, I don't really listen to the mutts." Rosalie explained, waving her hand around, physically showing her lack of compassion towards the wolves that helped save us all. "Renesmee is also playing with spoons because she needs a distraction. She's been asking for Bella."

Renesmee was sat in the middle of the floor, crushing and bending the cutlery in her own hands, it was amazing to watch because she didn't even know her own strength. Edward's thoughts entered my mind and soon enough they were sneaking up the stairs to surprise their daughter. As soon as Ness spied Bella in the hall, she chucked the spoon on the floor - where it left a divot in the wood - and pointed in Bella's direction imperiously.

We laughed at her excitement and Bella was into the room before the laughter had barely begun, bounding across the room and scooping her up from the floor in the same second. They smiled widely at each other.

Renesmee patted her cheek. Bella winced. She was hungry again.

"How long has she been up?" Bella asked as Edward disappeared through the kitchen doorway.

"Not long," Rose said. "We would have called you soon. She's been asking for you - demanding might be a better description. Esme sacrificed her second-best silver service to keep the little monster entertained." Rose smiled at Renesmee with so much gloating affection that the criticism was entirely weightless. "We didn't want to... er, bother you."

Rosalie bit her lip and looked away, trying not to laugh. I could feel Emmett's silent laughter behind me, sending vibrations through the foundations of the house.

Bella kept her chin high, just like I did. "We'll get your room set up right away," Bella said to Renesmee. "You'll like the cottage. It's magic." Bella looked up at Esme. "Thank you, Esme. So much. It's absolutely perfect."

Before Esme could respond, Emmett was laughing again - it wasn't silent this time.

"So it's still standing?" he managed to get out between his snickers. "I would've thought you two had knocked it to rubble by now. What were you doing last night? Discussing the national debt?" He howled with laughter. "At least this one came back a little dishevelled." He pointed at me as I tried to keep my cheeks from flushing with embarrassment.

"Where're the wolves today?" Bella decided to ignore him as well much to my joy.

"Jacob and Seth took off a little while ago," Rosalie told Bella, going over the scene in her head. She hadn't done that when I asked.

"What were they so upset about?" I asked as I watched Edward come back into the room with Renesmee's cup.

Just from Jacobs's expression I could see the anger settling there, a sadness in his eyes... how had I missed that? He was in such a good mood this morning.

Bella handed Renesmee over to Rosalie. She was holding her breath so I guessed that she still couldn't deal.

"I don't know - or care," Rosalie grumbled, but she answered my question more fully. "Jacob was playing with Renesmee and then he just jumped to his feet without any kind of trigger - that I noticed, anyway - and stormed out, waking Seth just before he left. Was glad to be rid of them. The more time they spend here, the less chance there is that we'll ever get the smell out."

"Rose," Esme chided gently.

Rosalie flipped her hair as I gritted my teeth. "I suppose it doesn't matter. We won't be here that much longer."

"Please, Jacob follows Aria around like a lost puppy. He'd come with us." Alice pointed out and Rosalie groaned irritably. "Pun intended, of course." Alice said with a smirk playing on her lips."

"I still say we should go straight to New Hampshire and get things set up," Emmett said, obviously continuing an earlier conversation and ignoring Alice's remark. "Bella's already registered at Dartmouth. Doesn't look like it will take her all that long to be able to handle school." He turned to look at Bella with a teasing grin. "I'm sure you'll ace your classes... apparently there's nothing interesting for you to do at night besides study."

Rosalie giggled.

Then Edward growled - an abrupt, shocking rasp of sound - and the blackest fury rolled across his expression like storm clouds. Before any of us could respond, Alice was on her feet. I listened harder wanting in on the problem.

"What are they doing? What are them dogs doing that has erased my schedule for the entire day? I can't see anything! No!" Alice shot Bella a tortured glance. "Look at you! You need me to show you how to use your closet."

And then I saw it all through Jacob and Seth's minds and I gasped in horror. "They talked to Uncle Charlie. They think he is following after them. Coming here. Today." I choked out, looking at Bella in alarm. How stupid and selfish could they be?! All because Jacob didn't want me to leave! Even sucking Seth into his plan as well just so he could be close to Renesmee. Selfish, selfish boys!

Alice said a word that sounded very odd in her trilling, lady-like voice, and then she blurred into motion, flying out the backdoor.

"They told Charlie?" Bella gasped. "But - don't they understand? How could they do that? No!"

Edward spoke through his teeth. "They're on their way in now."

It must have started raining farther east. Jacob came through the door shaking his wet hair like a dog, flipping droplets on the carpet and the couch where they made little round gray spots on the white. His teeth glinted against his dark lips; his eyes were bright and excited. He walked with jerky movements, like he was all hyped-up about destroying my uncle's life.

"Hey, guys," he greeted us, grinning. He got to me and I stood stoic as he lifted me into his arms and spun me around. My expression fierce as he set me back down.

It was perfectly silent and he didn't seem to notice.

Jesse, Leah and Seth slipped in behind him. Jesse and Leah looked equally pissed, with Seth carrying the same smile as Jake.

Imbeciles.

"Rose," Bella said, holding her arms out. Wordlessly, Rosalie handed her Renesmee. Bella pressed her close to her motionless heart, holding her like a talisman against rash behaviour.

Ness was very still, watching and listening.

"Charlie'll be here soon," Jacob said to me casually. "Just a heads-up. I assume Alice is getting Bella sunglasses or something?"

"You assume way too much," I spit through my teeth. "What. Have. You. Done?"

Jacob's smile wavered, but he was still too wound up to answer seriously. "Blondie and Emmett were talking this morning going on and on about you all moving cross-country. Charlie was the biggest issue there, right? Well, problem solved."

"Do you even realise what you've done? The danger you've put him in?" I spat, slapping him across his chest. "How could you do this? And you too!" I spat pointing at Seth.

Jake snorted. "I didn't put him in danger. But, Bella, you've got some kind of supernatural self-control, right? Not as good as mind reading, if you ask me. Much less exciting."

Edward moved then, darting across the room to get in Jacob's face, sliding me over to the side of them. Though he was half a head shorter than Jacob, Jacob leaned away from his staggering anger as if Edward towered over him.

"That's just a theory, mongrel," he snarled. "You think we should test it out on Charlie? Did you consider the physical pain you're putting Bella through, even if she can resist? Or the emotional pain if she doesn't? I suppose what happens to Bella no longer concerns you!" He spit the last word.

Edward's words finally cut through Jacob's strangely electric mood. His mouth dropped into a frown but it was Seth that answered: "Bella will be in pain?"

"Like you've shoved a white-hot branding iron down her throat!" Edward seethed and Bella flinched.

"I didn't know that," Seth whispered.

"Then perhaps you should have asked first," Edward growled back through his teeth.

"You would have stopped us." Seth said quietly, guiltily.

"You should have been stopped--"

"This isn't about me," Bella interrupted. She stood very still, keeping her hold on Renesmee. "This is about Charlie. How could you put him in danger this way? Do you realise it's death or vampire life for him now, too?" Bella's voice trembled with the tears her eyes could no longer shed.

Jacob was still troubled by Edward's accusations, but Bella's didn't seem to bother him. "Relax, Bella. I didn't tell him anything you weren't planning to tell him."

"But he's coming here!"

"Yeah, that's the idea. Wasn't the whole point to let him 'make the wrong assumptions' thing your plan? I think I provided a very nice red herring, if I do say so myself."

I watched in his mind as he and Seth rushed over to Charlie's place and phased in front of him. "Are you completely insane!" I spat, shoving him back a few paces. "Do you not know how to keep your mouth shut? Sorry Bella, but this is the second outsider you have spilled our family secret to and now you've told him about this half of it all as well! Do you not think, Jake?" I stressed, letting my head fall into my hands.

"I didn't tell him anything about you. Not really. I told him about me. Well, show is probably a better verb." He had the audacity to laugh.

"He phased in front of Charlie," Edward hissed, explaining my outburst to everyone else.

Bella whispered, "You what?"

"He's brave. Brave as you are. Didn't pass out or throw up or anything." I thought back to the first time Bella had seen Jake phase, brave wasn't exactly the word I would have used. Images of her dropping to the floor and putting her head between her legs swept across my mind. "I gotta say, I was impressed. You should've seen his face when we started taking our clothes off, though. Priceless," Jacob chortled.

"You absolute moron! You could have given him a heart attack!" Bella hissed.

"Charlie's fine. He's tough. If you'd give this just a minute, you'll see that I did you a favour here."

"You have half of that, Jacob." Bella's voice was flat and steely. "You have thirty seconds to tell us every single word before I give Renesmee to Rosalie and rip your miserable head off." I turned to her sharply, my eyes narrowing, I couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. She had the decency to flinch at me though, I didn't know if that comforted me or not.

"Jeez, Bells. You didn't used to be so melodramatic. Is that a vampire thing?" He smiled, knowing for a fact that I wouldn't let it get that far... but she did have a point.

"Twenty-six seconds."

Jacob rolled his eyes and flopped into the nearest chair. "So I knocked on Charlie's door this morning with Seth and asked him to come for a walk with us. He was confused, but when I told him it was about you and that you were back in town, he followed us out to the woods. I told him you weren't sick anymore, and that things were a little weird, but good. He was about to take off to see you, but I told him we had to show him something first. And then we phased." Jacob shrugged.

"I want every word, you monsters."

"Well, you said I only had thirty seconds - okay, okay." Our expressions must have convinced him that we weren't in the mood for teasing. "Lemme see... we phased back and got dressed, and then after he started breathing again, I said something like, 'Charlie, you don't live in the world you thought you lived in. The good news is, nothing has changed - except that now you know. Life'll go on the same way it always has. You can go right back to pretending that you don't believe any of this.' 

"It took him a minute to get his head together, and then he wanted to know what was really going on with you, with the whole rare-disease thing. I told him that you had been sick, but you were fine now - it was just that you'd had to change a little bit in the process of getting better. He wanted to know what I meant by 'change,' and I told him that you looked a lot more like Esme now than you looked like Renee. Just like how Aria did." 

Edward hissed while Bella and I stared in horror; this was headed in a dangerous direction. 

"After a few minutes, he asked, real quietly, if you guys turned into an animal, too. And I said, 'They wish they were that cool!'" Jacob chuckled. 

Rosalie made a noise of disgust. 

"I started to tell him more about werewolves, but I didn't even get the whole word out - Charlie cut me off and said he'd 'rather not know the specifics.' Then he asked if you'd known what you were getting yourself into when you married Edward, and I said, 'Sure, she's known all about this for years, since she first came to Forks.' He didn't like that very much. I let him rant till he got it out of his system. After he got calmed down, he just wanted two things. He wanted to see you, and I said it would be better if he gave us a head start to explain." 

Bella inhaled deeply. "What was the other thing he wanted?" 

Jacob smiled. "You'll like this. His main request is that he be told as little as possible about all of this. If it's not absolutely essential for him to know something, then keep it to yourself. Need to know, only." 

"I can handle that part." Bella concluded. 

"Other than that, he'd just like to pretend things are normal." Jacob's smile turned smug; he must suspect that Bella would be starting to feel the first faint stirrings of gratitude about now. 

"What did you tell him about Renesmee?" Bella struggled to maintain the razor edge in her voice, fighting the reluctant appreciation. 

Seth spoke proudly then. "Oh yeah. So, we told him that you and Edward had inherited a new little mouth to feed." He glanced at Edward. "She's your orphaned ward - like Bruce Wayne." Seth snorted. "I didn't think you'd mind me lying. That's all part of the game, right?" Edward didn't respond in any way, so Seth went on. "Charlie was way past being shocked at this point, but he did ask if you were adopting her. 'Like a daughter? Like I'm sort of a grandfather?' were his exact words. We told him yes. 'Congrats, Gramps, and all of that. He even smiled a little." 

"But she's changing so fast," Bella whispered. 

"I told him that she was more special than all of us put together," Seth said in a soft voice. He stood and walked right up to Bella. Renesmee reached out to him, but Bella hugged her more tightly to her. "I told him, 'Trust me, you don't want to know about this. But if you can ignore all the strange parts, you're going to be amazed. She's the most wonderful person in the whole world.' And then I told him that if he could deal with that, you all would stick around for a while, and he would have a chance to get to know her. But that if it was too much for him, you would leave. He said as long as no one forced too much information on him, he'd deal." 

Seth stared at her with half a smile, waiting. 

"I'm not going to say thank you," Bella told him. "To either of you. You're still putting Charlie at a huge risk." 

"I am sorry about it hurting you. We didn't know it was like that. Bella, things are different with all of us now, but you'll always be my best friend. Seth and I can still be a part of this family without losing the things we care about the most." He smiled his very most Jacob-y smile. "Still friends?" 

Bella took a deep breath and shifted Renesmee's weight to one arm. "If I don't kill Charlie tonight, I'll consider forgiving you for this." 

"When you don't kill Charlie tonight, you'll owe me huge." 

Bella rolled her eyes. 

"You're still stupid." I mumbled from across the room, my arms folded across my chest. "Just wait until our dads hear about this." 

Jacob crossed the room and stopped in front of me. A drop of water from his hair fell down the gap between us. "I couldn't let you leave." I opened my mouth to ask him how he knew about that, but it seemed he was the mind reader for the moment. "I overheard Rosalie say you had planned to leave with them because of Renesmee and I couldn't have that. I know its selfish but I'm an alpha now, you've wanted that for a while now, but I couldn't just abandon my pack when I've just found it." I had to admit it, he made sense. 

He reached forward and cupped both sides of my face in his warm hands. "You're still stupid." I repeated, fighting the urge to smile at him and his stupid, but beautiful, face. 

"I know. But I love you." He leaned down to sweetly press his lips against mine. 

"Mhmm." I hummed, teasing him as I turned back to the rest of the room. 

Alice raced back through the door then, her hands full and her expression promising violence. 

"You, you, you, and you," she snapped, glaring at the werewolves. "If you must stay, get over in the corner and commit to being there for a while. I need to see. Bella, you'd better give them the baby, too. You'll need your arms free, anyway." 

Seth grinned in triumph. 

"Take her," Bella whispered, sliding Renesmee into Seth's arms. 

He nodded, concern wrinkling his forehead. He gestured to the others, and they all went to the far corner of the room. Seth and Jake slouched on the floor at once, but Leah shook her head and pursed her lips. 

"Am I allowed to leave?" she griped, clearly still angry at Jake and Seth for doing what they've done. 

"Of course," Jake said. 

"We better go tell the council what you've done, you know, just in case Uncle Charlie says something before you can explain." Jesse offered, itching to get out the room. I knew he was using that as an excuse just so he could go back home again... to talk to Scarlett. 

"Stay east so you don't cross Charlie's path," Alice added. 

Leah didn't look at Alice; she ducked out the back door and stomped into the bushes to phase. Jesse followed after her after giving Renesmee a pat on the head goodbye. 

Edward was back at Bella's side, stroking her face. "You can do this. I know you can. I'll help you; we all will." 

She met Edward's eyes with panic screaming from her face. 

"If I didn't believe you could handle it, we'd disappear today. This very minute. But you can. And you'll be happier if you can have Charlie in your life." 

Bella tried to slow her breathing. 

Alice held out her hand. There was a small white box on her palm. "These will irritate your eyes - they won't hurt, but they'll cloud your vision. It's annoying. They also won't match your old colour, but it's still better than bright red, right?" 

She flipped the contact box into the air and Bella caught it. "When did you...?" 

"Before you left on the honeymoon. I was prepared for several possible futures." 

Bella nodded and opened the container. "Let me help." I offered, moving across the room to kneel in front of Bella. I took the little box and placed the first contact onto the end of my finger. I took the little brown quarter-sphere and pressed it, concave side in, to her eye. "You'll be able to tell when they need replacing, it's like you can feel the venom dissolving them." I explained, standing to my feet again when I was done. 

Her eyes now looked a burgundy colour, I supposed that if my eyes were fully red, they would have looked lilac when I put my contacts in. 

Bella blinked. "I see what you mean," She murmured, still blinking up at me. "How do I look?" 

Edward smiled. "Gorgeous. Of course - " 

"Yes, yes, she always looks gorgeous," Alice finished his thought impatiently. "It's better than red, but that's the highest commendation I can give. Muddy brown. Your brown was much prettier. Keep in mind that those won't last forever - they'll dissolve in a few hours. So, if Charlie stays longer than that, you'll have to excuse yourself to replace them. Which is a good idea anyway, because humans need bathroom breaks." She shook her head. "Esme, give her a few pointers on acting human while I stock the powder room with contacts." 

"How long do I have?" Esme asked just as Alice whipped out of the room and whirled back in half a second later. 

"Charlie will be here in five minutes. Keep it simple." She explained quickly before turning to me, handing me a similar looking box to the one she gave Bella. "Just to play it safe, he hasn't seen the gold in your eyes yet. We don't want to surprise him too much." 

Esme and I nodded once, and she came to take Bella's hand as I opened the box to put the disgusting contacts back in that I had been free of for just over a month and the recognisable film interrupted my sight again. I could see through it, of course, but I could also see the texture of the thin screen. My eye kept focusing on the microscopic scratches and warped sections. 

"The main thing is not to sit too still or move too fast," Esme told Bella. 

"Sit down if he does," Emmett interjected. "Humans don't like to just stand there." 

"Let your eyes wander every thirty seconds or so," I added. "Humans don't stare at one thing for too long." That was one of my bad habits, I was too concentrated on looking at every tiny detail in the beginning. 

"Cross your legs for about five minutes, then switch to crossing your ankles for the next five," Rosalie said. 

Bella nodded once at each suggestion. 

"And blink at least three times a minute," Emmett said. He frowned, then darted to where the television remote sat on the end table. He flipped the TV on to a college football game and nodded to himself. 

"Move your hands, too. Brush your hair back or pretend to scratch something," Jasper said. 

"I said Esme" Alice complained as she returned. "You'll overwhelm her." 

"No, I think I got it all," Bella said. "Sit, look around, blink, fidget." 

"Right," Esme approved. She hugged Bella's shoulders. 

Jasper frowned. "You'll be holding your breath as much as possible, but you need to move your shoulders a little to make it look like you're breathing." 

Bella inhaled once and then nodded again. 

Edward hugged her on her free side. "You can do this," he repeated, murmuring the encouragement in her ear. 

"Two minutes," Alice said. "Maybe you should start out already on the couch. You've been sick, after all. That way he won't have to see you move right at first." 

Alice pulled Bella to the sofa. Bella tried to move slowly, to make her limbs clumsier. Alice rolled her eyes, Bella just looked robotic.  

"Seth, I need Renesmee," Bella said. 

Seth frowned, unmoving. 

Alice shook her head. "Bella, that doesn't help me see." 

"But I need her. She keeps me calm." The edge of panic in Bella's voice was unmistakable. 

"Fine," Alice groaned. "Hold her as still as you can, and I'll try to see around her." She sighed wearily, like she'd been asked to work overtime on a holiday. Seth sighed, too, but brought Renesmee to her, and then retreated quickly from Alice's glare. 

Edward took a seat beside Bella and put his arms around them both. He leaned forward and looked Renesmee very seriously in the eyes. 

"Renesmee, someone special is coming to see you and your mother," he said in a solemn voice. She looked back at him with clear, grave eyes. "But he's not like us, or even like Seth and Jacob. We have to be very careful with him. You shouldn't tell him things the way you tell us." 

Renesmee touched his face, asking if that's what he meant. 

"Exactly," he said. "And he's going to make you thirsty. But you mustn't bite him. He won't heal like Seth." 

"Can she understand you?" Bella whispered. 

"She understands. You'll be careful, won't you, Renesmee? You'll help us?" He asked her hopefully, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 

Renesmee touched him again and I laughed at her question. 

"No, I don't care if you bite Seth. That's fine." 

Seth and Jacob chuckled. 

"Maybe you should leave, Seth, Jacob," Edward said coldly, glaring in his direction. Edward hadn't forgiven them because he knew that no matter what happened now, Bella was going to be hurting. 

"We told Charlie we'd be here," Jacob said. "He needs the moral support." 

"Moral support," Edward scoffed. "As far as Charlie knows, you're the most repulsive monster of us all." 

"Repulsive?" Jake protested, and then he laughed quietly to himself. 

I heard the tyres turn off the highway onto the quiet, damp earth of the Cullens' drive, and Bella's breathing spiked again. 

"Well done, Bella," Jasper whispered in approval, noticing she was trying to calm herself without his help. 

Edward tightened his arm over her shoulders. "You're sure?" She asked him. 

"Positive. You can do anything." He smiled and kissed her, a little too heavily for the current situation. 

Jasper felt her mood change. "Er, Edward, you might not want to distract her like that right now. She needs to be able to focus." 

Edward pulled away. "Oops," he said. 

Bella laughed. "Later." 

"Focus, Bella," Jasper urged. 

"Right." 

"Bella." I guess she got lost in her own thoughts again. 

"Sorry, Jasper." 

Emmett laughed. 

The sound of Uncle Charlie's cruiser got closer and closer. The car pulled in front of the house and idled for a few seconds. I wondered if Uncle Charlie was as nervous as we were. Then the engine cut off, and a door slammed. Three steps across the grass, and then eight echoing thuds against the wooden stairs. Four more echoing footsteps across the porch. Then silence. 

Charlie took two deep breaths and then knocked on the door.