Shooting Stars Sequel to Rising Sun "After Breaking Dawn

8/2/2019 Shooting Stars Sequel to Rising Sun "After Breaking Dawn

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idonotownanythingStephenieMeyerownsthecarzctersandtootooownstheplothowyouenjoyit

Chapter1

Jake,"Imumbledgroggily,"Arewethereyet?"Iasked.Iheardhimchuckle.

"Justacouplemoreminutes,"hereassuredme.

"Couldn'ttheyfindanyticketstoPortAngelesinsteadofSeattle?"Iaskedrhetorically,gettingbacktosleepwhenIsmelledsomething"Jacob?""Yeah?"Icouldhearhimeat.Irolledmyeyesmentally.

"Whatareyoueating?"Iasked;Ididn'tthinkI'dsmelledthisscentbefore.

"Hotdogs.Why?"Iopenedmyeyestoseehimdrivingournewblueconvertible-agiftfromEmandRose-withonehandandstuffinghisfacewiththeother."Theyactuallysmellgood,"Icommented,surprised.Hestoppedchewing.

"Whoareyouandwhatdidyoudotomywife?"heasked.Ilaughedandrolledmyeyes.

"Givemesome,"Idemanded.HelookedatmelikeIhadgrownasecondhead."No,"hesimplyanswered,gettingbacktoeating.Iraisedaneyebrowathim.

"I'mhungry,Jacob."Mytonewasangry.Whywasn'thegivingmefood?

"Theyputsomeeggsforyou,too,"hesaid,leaningdownandgettingthelunchboxthey'dpackedforus,fastenoughthathewouldn'tbumpintoanothercaronthehighway.Iopenedthelunchboxandgrabbedaboiledegg.ButIjustdidn'tfeellikeeatingeggs.Whywouldn'theunderstand?

Tearswereforminginmyeyes,"Jacob!"Iwhined,"Iwanttoeathotdogs!Idon'twanttoeateggs!"

"Nessie?"Histonewasserious,"AreyoucryingbecauseIwon'tletyouhavesomehotdogs?Whichis,bytheway,becauseofyourreactiontothiskindoffood."Hewasastonished.

"Yes!"Ikeptcrying.Hehadadumbfoundedexpressiononhisface.

"What'swrong?"heasked,asifcautious.

"I.Want.Some.Hotdogs!"Igrowled.DidIreallygrowlatJake?OhmyGodtearsgotbackagain."I'msosorry!"Hepressedhispalmovermyforehead.


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"Jeeze,Ness!WhattheHelliswrongwithyou?"heasked,Ishrugged,"Here,"hehandedmeasandwich,"Don'tblameitonmewhenyouthrowup,"hemuttered.

"Thanks!"Igrinnedandateit.Ittastedsodifferentthanlasttimesodelicious.

Esmereallyknewhowtocook.

"We'rehere,"heannounced.Histonedidn'tcomebacktonormal.

Hegotoutofthecarandopenedthedoorforme,heldmyhandandledmetothemansion.I'dmissedmyfamilysomuch;Ihadn'tseentheminawholemonth!Theywereallwaitingatthedoor,butwithoutCarlisleandEsmeorAliceandRose.Iwasconfused;itwassunny.TheywereallsparklingundertheraysofthesunthatveryrarelyhitWashington.

"Hey!"Igreetedthem.Mommawasthefirsttopullmeinahug."I'vemissedyousomuch,"shewhisperedinmyear.Ihuggedherbackjustasurgently.

"I'vemissedyou,too."NextwasDaddy.

"Hey,"hebreathedinmyear."What'sgoingon?"hesuddenlyasked.Nothingthatyoushouldknowabout.

HeshudderedandIchuckled.

"Nessie?"Jaspercalled,hisfaceunreadable.

BeforeIcouldrespond,Emmettspoke,"I'mhuggingherfirst!"hedemandedasherantowardsmeandpulledmeintoahug.Then,allofasuddenhedidathingthathehadn'tdonesinceIwasakid.Heliftedmeupinhisarmsandswayedme

around.Igiggledhardbutthenfeltmystomachprotest."Em?"Imanagedtochoke."Putmedown"BeforeIthrowup.Please.

"Nope!"Hekeptswayingme.

"Emmett!"Iheldmystomach.

"Jeeze,Nessie!Waytokillthefun,"helaughedasheputmedown.Isighedinrelief;thatdisgustingfeelingwasgone."Yes,Jazz?"Ianswered.Hecameandhuggedme,too.

"Nothing;Ijustmissedyousomuch."Hmm

"Where'reAliceandRose?"Isuddenlyasked.Hepulledawayfromourhugandshrugged.IlookedatDaddyquestioningly."Surpriseshoppingtrip,"heexplained,shrugging,too.

"DoyouwanttoseeyourcottagenoworwouldyouliketowaitforCarlisleandEsmetocomebackfromtheirhuntingtrip?"MommaaskedmeandJake.


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"Iguesswecouldwait,gotoLaPushorsomething,'Kay,Ness?"Jakesuggested.Inoddedeagerly;I'dmissedeveryonethere,too.

Mommakissedmycheek,"Don'tbelate,"shewhisperedinmyear.IsmiledandwavedthemallGoodbye.Wedecidedtorunourwaythere;wehaven'truninawhile.Plus,Jakehasn'tphasedinawholemonth.

Iranalongthehugerussetwolfthatis,insomeweirdway,nowmyhusband.Butthewaytherejustseemedtoolong;IwasgettingtiredevenbeforeIcouldseethesmallhousesinthehorizon.That'swhatIgetfornotrunning.IfeltalittlejealousofJake;therehewas,runninglikehe'sjustbreathingsonormalsonatural.

Isnorted;Iwasafreakin'half-vampire.Vampiresdon'tlosetheirfitness.Itmustbemyhumanhalf.Ugh.Inabouthalfanhour,wewereatLaPush.Jakephasedbackandpulledonhispairofdesignerjeans-Alicethrewallhisotherjeans.

Hewrappedanarmaroundmyshoulder,"Welcomeback,Mrs.Black."HekissedmycheekandIsmiledathim.

"DidItellyouthatIloveyou,Mr.Black?"Iasked,kissinghim.

"Iguessyou'dhavetoremindme,"hesaidbetweenkisses.

"Youcameallthewayheretodothis?"WeheardSeth'samusedvoicesayfrombehind.Ichuckledandturnedaround."Hey,UncleSeth."CharlieandSue'sweddingwastwoweeksago,wemissedit.

"Hey,Ness."HeturnedhisheadtoJake,"Hey,Mr.Alpha.Icanseeyoufinallyphased,"hecommented.

"Where'sAmy?"Iasked.Heshrugged.

"Spendingqualitytimewithherfamily."Hesighed."Alothaschanged."HeandJakeexchangedameaningfullook.Wolfstuff.

"Iguesswecantalkaboutthatwhilepatrolling,"Jakebrokethesilence,"AretherestatSam's?"heasked.Sethnodded."Yeah,"hesaid.WewentthentoSamandEmily'ssmallbutbeautifulhouse.

"Nessie!"Emilyexclaimedasweentered.

"Hey,Emily,"Isaidbreathlessly;Iwasexhaustedbythen.

"Sitdown;youlookexhausted,"shepushedPaulfromthecouch.

"Hey!"heobjected.

"Food'sready,"shesaidkindly.Thatwasallittooktogethimtoruntothekitchen.Werolledoureyes.JakeandSamwerebusytalkingaboutthewholelastmonth.Apparently,nothinghadhappened.Good."There'snofoodinthere!"WeheardPaulfromthekitchen,wealllaughed.


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"Seriously,Paul,whenwouldyoustopbelievingthat?"Rachelaskedrhetoricallythennoticedmeonthecouch."Hey,sis."Igrinned.

"Hey,Rachel.How'veyoubeen?"Iasked,shiftingmyweightonthecouchtofaceherwhileEmilywenttoactuallypreparethefood.

"I'mgood,"shesaid,"Howwasyourhoneymoon?"sheasked,hergringettingwider.Ichuckled."Amazing,"Isaid,winkingather."Malaysiaisoverwhelming."

"Yeah,Ibet."

Imust'vefallenasleeponthecomfycouchbecausethenextthingIfeltwasJacob'shandstrokingmyhair."Nessie?"hesaid,wakingmeup."Doyouwanttogohome?IcanvisitBillyalone,youknow,"hemumbled.Iopenedmyeyestofinditwasdarkalready.

"No,I'mfine.Iwasjustalittletired"Imumbled,"IwanttogotoBilly!"Hechuckledatmyeagerness.

"Sure,sure.Comeon."HehelpedmeupandwewavedSamandEmilygoodbye.Wow.Imust'vebeenasleepforalongtimebecausenooneelsewasthere.

WewalkedourwaytheretoBilly's.

"Looksliketheoldmanisawake,"Jakecommented,glancingathiswatch.Itwasmidnight."AndwatchingTV,too,"hesaidaswegotclosertothedoor,hearing."Ididn'tknowBillywatchedDesperateHousewives."Jacobsnorted.

"Wow,"hesaid,unlockingthedoor.

But,tobothoursurprises,itwasn'tBillywatchingTV.ItwasRebecca."Rebecca?"Jakecalledasweentered,hiseyebrowsfurrowedinconfusion.

"Hey,Jake,"shesaid,lookingatus,"Hey,Nessie."Inoddedinherdirection,whileJacobwenttohersideandhuggedherquickly."Whyareyouhere?Imean,it'snotlikeIdon'tlikeitbut-"shecutmeoff.

"We'regettingadivorce."Oureyeswidened.

"WHAT?"Jacobexclaimed,"W-Whathappened?"Itseemedtoshakehimforaminute.

Igottothelivingroomandsatontheedgeofthecouch."Idon'twanttotalkaboutit,"shewhispered,lookingattheTV,"Notnowanyways."

"Didhehurtyou?"heaskedthroughgrittedteeth.

"No!It'snotlikethatLook,Jake,nowisreallynotthetime."Hesighedandkissedherforehead.


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"IsBillyasleep?"heasked.Shenodded.

"Yeah;abouthalfanhourago,"shesaid.

"Okay.I'llseeyoulater.NowIhavetogohome;Ineedtopatrol;I'malreadylate,"hesaid,gettingoffthecouch."Patrol?"webothfrozeonourwaytothedoor.Damn!Sheknowsnothingaboutthis!

"Uh-"hehesitated.Irolledmyeyes.

"Hecallscheckingoutthenewclosetspatrolling.Men,"Isighedmentallyinrelief,whileJacobwasfightingalaugh.Iheldhishand.Don'truinit!

Hekepthisfacestraight,Samstyle,andnoddedinagreement.Shechuckled.

"Tellmeaboutit."

Weleftrightthen.

"Thatwasclose,"Isighed,"'Ineedtopatrol'?"Iquoted,raisinganeyebrowa

thim.Hesmiledapologetically."I'mnotusedtobeingaroundpeoplewhoknownothing.EvenCharlieknows!"hewhisperedaswestartedwalkingtowardsthewoods.Igroaned.

"We'rerunningourwayhome?"

"Yeah,"itsoundedmorelikeaquestion;Inevercomplainedaboutrunning."I'mtired!"

"Ness,yousleptsixhoursthere!Youcan'tbetired!"Isighed.

"Okay,"Imutteredgrudgingly.Heheldmeshoulders.

"Areyousick?"heaskedthenseemedtoremembersomething,"Damn!Youhaven'thuntedinamonth!Ishould'veknown!"Weird;I'mnotthirsty.

"Maybe"Imumbled.Hesighed.

"We'llhuntfirstthinginthemorning,'Kay?"Inodded,"Let'sgohome."Heheldmeupbridalstyle.Igiggled."Okay."

IlovedthefeelingofthewindthroughmycurlsandthemuskyscentofthewoodsandJacob.Ileanedmoreonhischestandclosedmyeyes,enjoyingmytime.

"Hereweare,"hesaidgently,helpingmeonmyfeet.WestoodinfrontofthemassivecottagethatIhadseenamonthago,inmywedding.ThankGod,thewallsweren'tcream;IhatedthatcolorwhenIsawitwasthecolorofmyroominVolterra.Ishudderedatthememory.


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"Renesmee!"IheardEsmesay.Ismiledatherandhuggedher,followedbyCarlisle.

"Hey,"Isaid,shehuggedJake,too.

"I'vemissedyoutwo!"shecommented.Wechuckled."Comeon,let'sshowyouaroundthehouse,"Carlislesaid,gesturingtowardsthedoor.

Thefirstroom,theonethatheldtheceremony,wasthelivingroom.Thefurnishingwasmodern;therewereacouch,aloveseatandachair,allbrightred,contrastingwiththeoff-whitewalls.InthemiddleoftheroomwasahugeLCDTV,surroundedbypicturesofbothmyfamilyandJake's.Ourfamilynow.Thesecondroom,thebiggeronethatheldthereceptionwasthemasterbedroom.Thebedwashugeandgolden-plated.Therewasahugephotoofbothofusintheweddingwhileeatingthecake,rightabovethebed.Jakefounditfunnythentopaintmycheekwithchocolate.Itwasn'tthatmuchofadealwithmebutitwasdefinitelyaKodakmoment.Thecarpetswerepurple,goingperfectlywiththewalls.Fromthemasterbedroom,youcouldgotoourcloset,amassiveoneindeed,withallthedesignerclothesyoucouldeverimagine.Youcouldgotothemainbathroom,too.

And,andthatwasEmmett'slittletouch,therewasanotherfloorupstairswiththreerooms;oneguestroomandtwoemptyrooms.Iwonderedwhybutletitdrop.Plusakitchen.

"Wow,guys,it'sperfect!"Iexclaimed,huggingbothofthem."Thankyou!"Theychuckledandhuggedmeback."You'rewelcomesweetie."

"ThanksEsme,Carlisle,"Jacobsaid,"Thisistoomuch."

"NothingistoomuchforNessie,"Carlislesaid,rubbingmyback.Ismiled.

"Ithinkweshouldgonow,"Esmesaid,holdingCarlisle'shandandkissingmyforehead."Goodnight!"Theysaidastheygotout,shuttingthedoorbehindthem.

"Canyoubelieveit?It'sourhouse!Justyouandme"ImumbledasIgotintothemainbedroomandthrewmyselfonthebed,takingoffmyshoes."It'sstillhardtobelieve,"heagreedashegotbesidemeandkissedmycheek.Ihoppedonmykneesandheldhisfacebetweenmyhands.

"Iloveyou,Jake,"Iwhispered,"Now,gopatrolbecauseIwannasleep!"Hechuckled.

"Kickingmeoutalready?"Ilaughedandpushedhim.

"Comeon!Thesooneryougothesooneryoucome!"

Iwokeupthenextdayatseveralcalls.

"Nessie!"IheardAlice'shigh-pitchedvoicecallfromoutside.IgroanedbutrememberedthatI'dmissedher,too.SoIreluctantlysatup,noticingasnoringbutpeacefulJacobbesideme,notbotheringtopullthecoversinthefirstplace.Iwalkedonmytiptoestomycloset,carefulnottowakehimupandgrabbeda


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whiteskirtandaredtanktop;noonewasgoingtoseemehere,beinginwinterdidn'tmatteranymore.ExceptthatIfeltcold.Forthefirsttimeinherlife,RenesmeeCarlieBlackfeltcold.Weird.Igrabbedawhitejacketanywaysandslidintoapairofflats,goingtothelivingroom,whereAlicewaswaitingpatiently,flippingthroughamagazinethatsheclosedassoonassheheardmecoming.Whatwasthatabout?"Goodmorning,"shesaid,turningaroundandpullingmeintoaverytighthug,"Imissedyou,"shesaidinachild-likevoice.Isighed.

"Imissedyou,too!NowyouknowhowIfeelwhenJaspertakesyouonlonghoneymoons."Shechuckledandnodded.ThatwaswhenIheardJacobmumblesomethingangrily.Icouldhearhimgetdressedandhecameout,hisfacewet.

"'Mornin',Ness.'Mornin',Shorty,"hesaid,goingtowardsthedoor."Gonnabebackat4!Work!"heexplainedbeforeherushedoutside.IblinkedtwicebeforeIsmiled;JacobwouldalwaysbeJacob.Todaywashisfirstdayathisgarage.Hewassupposedtoworkfrom10to3:30andthensomeoneelsewouldtakethenightshift.Iwantedtogowithhimbuthe'dtoldmethatthefirstdaywouldbeallarrangementsandboringstuffandthat

hewouldtakemetomorrowtowatchhimwork;Ihadn'tseenhimworkoncarsforalotoftime.BeforeIcouldevengetbacktoAlice,Iheardmyphonevibrateonthenightstand.Iwentandgrabbedit.Textmessage.

Sorrywedidn'tgohuntingtoday.Justdon'tgoalone.LoveYou.

"Nessie!"Alicedemandedmyattention,"Where'retheclothesIgotyouforthehoneymoon?"sheasked."Um-Uh-Well,mostofthemwerekindadestroyedanywayssoIjustleftthemthere."Hereyeswidened.

"Howcouldyou?They'reFrench!"shepausedasecond,"JacobBlackisadeadman,"shesneered.Ichuckled."Whatwereyoushoppingforyesterdayanyway?"Iaskedcasually,headingtowardsthekitchenasshefollowed.

"Stuff,"shesimplyreplied.IrolledmyeyesasIopenedthefridge,grabbingabarofchocolate."Oh,Ididn'tknow!Ofcoursethey'restuff,Alice!Aren'twedonewiththesurprisesanyways?"Iasked.Shesmiledangelically.

"You'llknowsoonenough,"shesaid.Isighed."Whoelseknows?"Iasked,eatingthechocolate.Ugh;whatwasthat?Iglancedatitsname.Galaxy.Weird;I'dalwayslovedthat.

Jeeze.

Ireallyneedtohunt.

IleftthechocolateatthetableandsawAlicerollhereyes.


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"OnlyRose."Iraisedaneyebrowather.

"Daddydoesn'tknow?"Thatwouldbeweirderthanever.

"Nope;Iwanttoseethelookonhisfacewhenheknows!"Shewasbeaminglikeachildwithcandy,"Forreal,Imean."Ismiled."Comeon,let'sgettothemansion!"Shegrabbedmyhandandpulledmetowardsthewoods."Canyouwalkyourwaythere?"sheasked.IlookedatherlikeshewasspeakingChinese."Duh!"Shesmiled.

"Okay,then,let'sgetmoving."

Wewerewalkingexceptionallyslowtoday;likearunninghuman.Ididn'tobjectthough.

Weweretherein10minutes."Nessie!"Rosaliesaid,runningtowardsme."Imissedyou!"

"Imissedyou,too,Rose."Shepulledaway."Rose?"Icalled,whispering.

"Yes?"

"What'sthethingthatAlicewouldn'tletmeknowabout?"Iasked,givingherthebestpuppyeyesIcouldmuster.Shebeamed."Ican'ttellyou,"shesaid,stillsmiling."Butyou'llknowin-"Alicecutheroff.

"ROSALIE!"sheyelled.Isighed.

"Okay,okay.Iwon'task,"Iglancedaroundme,"Nowwhere'retherest?"Iasked,watchingtheemptyhouse.Well,Icouldn'thearthemeither."Hunting.AndEsmeisgardeninginthegarden,"Roseanswered.Ishrugged.

"Whenaretheycomingback?"

"Justintime,"Aliceanswered,rollinghereyes.Justintimeforwhat?Ihuffed;theywouldn'ttellme."Let'sgetinside,"Rosesuggested,exchangingameaningfulglancewithAlice.Irolledmyeyesandgottothelivingroom,flippingthroughthechannelsonTVwhenIsuddenlyfeltalumpinmythroat.Uh-oh.IthoughtIheardsomevoicesnearbybutIcouldn'tstopandlisten;Irushedtothebathroom,whichdoorwasopen.Jeeze!Couldn'ttheywarnme?

IthrewupinthetoiletandIfeltacoldhandholdmyhair.IlookedupandfoundoutitwasDaddy,thefastestofthemall.IfinishedafterIgoteverythingthatI'deatenyesterdayandthismorning.Igotup,pantingandwashedmymouth.Wow;theyhadmytoothbrush,too.I'mgonnakillyou,MaryAliceBrandon!

Ibrushedmyteethandsatdownonthefloor,exhausted."Alice!"Daddycalled,sittingdownbesideme,"Didyouknowthiswouldhappen?"


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heasked,nottakinghiseyesoffmyface,concerned."Stopsinginginyourhead!"heyelledather.Mommawasthereinasecond,handingmeaglassofwater.IdrankitasDaddycontinuedglaringatAlice.Whatwaswrongwithme?Ididn'tthrowupyesterday,thoughI'deatenhotdogs.

"Impossible,"Daddybreathed.What?What'simpossible?

"Notimpossible,Edward,"Rosaliereplied.IlookedatDaddy'sface.Hewasfrozen,concentratingreallyhardonsomething.Thenhisfacecrackedintoahalf-smileandhelookedatme.Iwasgivinghimoneofthe'WhattheHell'looks."SomeonecareexplainwhattheHellisgoingonhere?"Momma'spatiencewasup.

"IthoughtIwastheonlyonehere!What'swrong?"Emmettasked,irritated.

"Nothing'swrong,"Daddyanswered,"Renesmee's-"Alicecuthimoff."Pregnant!"Aliceannounced.Ifrozealongwiththeothers,exceptDaddy,AliceandRose.

Iwaswhat?

Pregnant?

Like

OhmyGod.

I'mpregnant!

"Don'tmesswithme,Alice.Really?"Iasked,tryingtowrapmymindaroundit."Yes!"sheconfirmed,hopping.

"OhmyGod,Renesmee!"Mommaexclaimed."Thisisgreat!"HerfacewasthehappiestthatI'deverseen,evenhappierthanmyweddingday.

Emmettwhimpered,"I'mtooyoungtobeagreat-uncle!"hecomplained.Ichuckled."Sethwouldbe,too,"Ireplied.Pregnant?Wow."IhavetocallJacob!"Idecided,tryingmybestnottosqueal.

"Sure,"Daddysaid,kissingmyforehead.Icouldtellhewashappy.ButIsohadtoseethelookonJacob'sface!

"Momma!"Icalledandgrabbedherhand,"We'regoingtoPortAngeles!"Shesmiledatmyenthusiasm.Iwasgoingtotellhertogetthecamerabutdecidedagainst

it;mygiftwasbetterthananyvideocameraeverinvented.WetookmynewbluePorscheandIdrove.Mommarolledhereyesatmyspeed.

"Canyoubelieveit?"Isaid,focusingontheroadasthewindflewthroughmyhair,"Imean,Iknewthiswasgoingtohappenbutnowit'srealit'sjustwow."Iwhisperedthelastpart,smiling.Iwasgoingtohaveababy!


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Itdoesn'tevensoundreal.

"Itisreal.OhGod,"shepaused,"Ilooktooyoungtobeagrandmother."Thenshelaughedabell-likelaugh,"Reneeisgoingtobeagreat-grandmotherandshethinksyou'resix!"IrolledmyeyesbutIgrimaced.GrandmaReneewastheonepersonofmyfamilythatIdon'tknowatall.Sheknowsshehasagranddaughterbutshethinkswe'reinCanada.Wehaven'tseenher,notwhileI'malive.Ireallywantedtomeetherandgettoknowher.ButDaddyandCarlislesaiditwouldbebestifsheseesmewhenI'mactuallytheageIlook.Isighed;stillabout10yearstogo.Maybeeven11."Thisway?"IaskedMommaasweenteredPortAngeles.Shenodded.

"Keepgoingthenturntotheleft,"sheinstructed.Ididasshesaid."Hereitis,"shepointedattheonlygaragethere.Iparkedthecarinthenearestspotandgotout,alongwithMomma.IwasgettingmorenervousandexcitedwitheverystepItook.

IwasgoingtotellJacob.

Chapter2

waitedinfrontoftheentranceofthesmallgarage,takinginacoupleofdeep

breaths.Mommalaughedatmy'stupidity';shetoldmethatJakewouldbemorethanexcited.Well,Iknewthat,too.Imean,justthelookonhisfacewhenIshowedhimmydreamacoupleofmonthsagowasenoughtoprovethat.ButIwasafraidhemightthinkwe'renotreadyyet.

"Nessie?"Iheardhimcomefrominside,hisfaceandhandswereactuallyblackfromGod-knows-whatandhewastryinginvaintoremoveitfromhishands.Hewasconfused,"Whatareyoudoinghere?"heasked.ThenhenoticedMomma."Hey,Bells.What'sgoingon?"heaskedsuspiciously,eyingMomma'sgrinandmynervousface."Um,Jake,Ihavesomethingreallyimportanttotellyou,"Isaid,gettingcalme

rbythesecond.IfIdidn'thavemysuper-senses,Iwould'veswornitwasJasper.

Hecamecloserandwasabouttoputahandonmycheekwhenhenoticeditwaspitch-blacksohedroppedittohisside.Ichuckled,"Issomethingwrong?"heasked,stillconfused."Nothing'swrong,"Ireassuredhim,"Well,hereitis,"Ipausedfordramaticeffects,hegavemeoneofthe'Don't-mess-with-me'looks,"I'mpregnant!"Isaidinonebreath,smiling.


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"Iwouldnever,ever,getusedtothosemoodswings,"IheardhimwhispertoMommaandshewastryingherbestnottosmile.

"Beingpregnantdoesn'trequirebeingdeaf!Icanhearyou!"Ipouted,mymoodgettingbetter,ratheramused.Heleanedcloserandkissedmybottomlip.Iwasrelievedasallthenervousnesssubsided.Isighedheavilyandgrabbedthechairhewassittingon,throwingmyselfatit.Helookedalarmed.

"Ar-"Mommacuthimoff.

"Jacob!"she,well,scolded.Hesmirkedather."Yes,Mom,"heteased;heknewshedoesn'tlikehimcallingherthat.Eventhoughshe'shismother-in-law,technically,shejustwasn'tusedtothat.

Shestuckhertongueoutathim.Whichwasweird.But,anyways,sheturnedherheadtome."Alicesentamessage,"shegulped,"We'reshopping,"sheannounced.Ishotherahorrifiedlook.

"Ple-"shecutmeoff.

"Justme,herandRose,"shesmiledkindlyandIletoutasighofrelief."I'mgonnagonow,doyouneedanything?"sheasked.Ishookmyhead."Youcantakethecarifyouwant,"Ioffered;Ididn'twanttogohomeagainthenanyways.Shenoddedandwalkedaway,wavingJakegoodbye.

Ibegantoseetheplacearoundme.

Thesmallplaceweweretalkinginnowwasmerelyareception,then,ifyouwalkpastthedeskyoucouldseethenow-empty"workingarea".Therewereacoupleofguysthere,re-arrangingsomestuffintheirplaces,Iguessed.IfeltselfconsciousasIrealizedthattheywereherethewholetimebutbrusheditoffwhen

Irememberedthatourconversationwasn'tloudenoughforthemtohear.Theywereobviouslynotwolves.Jacobturnedandcamebymyside,kneelingontheground.Ileanedmyelbowonmythighandrestedmyheadonmypalmthatourfaceswereinthesamelevel.Thechairwasprettyhigh.Andtothinkaboutitnow,prettyheavy,too.ProbablytoendureJacobsittingonit.Ichuckledatthethought."Thisisreal,"hewhispered,asiftohimself.Ismiledathim.

"Yeah,Iknow.Youscaredmeforasecondthere,y'know,"Icommented,pointingoutthetimeIthoughthewasn'texactlythrilledaboutourbaby.

Wow.

Itsoundssogood.

Hiseyebrowsknitinsheerconfusion.

"Why?"heasked,honestlyclueless.Isighed.

"Yousaiditwas'good',"Imadequotationmarksintheair,earningasmallsmilethatslowlyfaded.


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"And?"Iraisedaneyebrowathim.

"Youseriouslydon'tknow?"Heshookhishead,confusionneverleavinghisface."Well,whenyourwifetellsyoushe'spregnant,shekindaexpectsalittlemorethan'good',"Iansweredtruthfully.Hekissedmyforehead."Well,then,thisisawesomeperfect,"hewhispered,"Iloveyou."Ikissedhischeek.

"Iloveyou,too,"Iwhisperedthatwaswhensomeonecalledfrombehind.

"Mr.Black?"afemalevoiceasked.Ididn'tfeelcomfortableathervoice.Ipeekedoverhisshoulderashestoodupandturnedaround.Aboutaninchthickofmake-up,anditwasonly11:30Iguess.Herhairwasblack,maybetooblack,butwhatever.Shehelditupinamessyponytail.Shehadbrightgreeneyes,theonlythingIwassurewasn'tfakeaboutthewayshelooked.Shewaswearingatight-fittingwhiterainjacketthatwassoshortthatIcouldseeallherredbelt,andtipsofherredshirt,too.AlthoughIdidn'tlikeher,well,notherlooksanyway,IchuckledatthecommentsI'dhearfromAliceifshesawhershoes.

Stufflike"Idefinitelyneedtogivemoretothehomeless."Orjust"Ugh.""Yes?"Jacobanswered.Shesmiled.

"Isawtheadoutside,"shegesturedtowardsthedoor,"Yousaidyouneedanassistant?"sheasked.

"Yeah,"hesaidprofessionally,usinghisAlpha-voice.Ilovedit,"Doyouknowanythingaboutcars?"heasked."Justtheverybasics,"sheanswered,bitingherlip.

"Youdon'tneedtoanyways;you'ddothepaperwork.Iwasjustaskin',"hesaid

,shrugging."IjustneedacopyofyourID"hewaitedforaname."Morgan,MorganDean,"sheinformed,stretchingoutherhand.Heshookhersquicklyandturnedawaytothedeskgrabbingapaper.

"Here,"hehandedherthepaper,"IneedyourIDnumber,fullname,address,numberseverything."Sheturnedtothedeskandstartedwriting.Heturnedtomeagainwithabrand-newflashinggrinbutheraisedhiseyebrowandstretchedhisfingertostraightenafrownIwasn'tawareof."Isthatit?"Iasked,referringtothewholehe-employed-this-Morgan-pretty-instantlything.

Heshrugged,"Yeah,Iguess.Youshould'veseentheotheronethatappliedforitthismorning.Icouldswearshe'dburrymehereifshewantsto."Irolledmyeyes."Areyouawareofyourinhumanstrength?Andthat'sonlyinyourhumanform,"Iwhispered.Hesmiled.

"Shewasjusttooscary,"hesaidandleanedinfrontofme,"Doyouwanttogoout,celebrateorsomething?Embryiscominghereinafewminutesanyways,"heoffered.Iknew;EmbrywouldworkherewithJake'causeofsomesituationwithM


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r.Anderson,Mary'sfather.Ishrugged,"Maybe,"Imumbled,"I'mhungryanyways.AndIthinkIcanhandlehumanfoodnow,"Isaid.

"Didn'tyouhunt?"Ishookmyhead.Hismouthwasastraightline.

"Nessie,"hebreathed,"Youcan't-"Icuthimoff.

"I'mjustnotthirsty,"Isaid,"Probably'causeofthewholepregnancything?"Isaidsarcastically.Heplayfullyglaredatme."YouknowI'mstillnotusedtothat,"hesaid.ThenlittlemissMorgannudgedhisshoulder.Ididn'tknowheratallbutIsuppressedagrowl;Ididn'tlikehertouchinghim.Ugh;hereweremyhormonesagain.Itwasjustnormal.Itshouldn'tbotherme.Besides,hewasmyJacob.AndIwashisNessie.

Definitely.

"I'mdone,"sheannouncedandlookedatme.Shesmiled,butIwouldneedDaddytoconfirmitssincerity.WhydidIfeellikethattowardsher?Ishruggeditoff;shemightbeanicepersonsoIsmiledback.Jacobnoticedthisquickinteract

ionsohestartedtalking"MorganthisisNessie,mygirlfriend,"Isnortedmentally;Yeah,right.Wejustcouldn'tsaythatIwashiswifebecauseeverybodyhereknewthatIwas16.Theyjustblamedthewholedropping-out-of-high-schoolthingonthePetersonsituation.I'dbetBrad,StaceyandMattwouldn'tbelieveanyofthiscrap.Maryalreadyknewthetruth.IguessedIwouldhavetodealwiththemlater.But,rightnow,therestarekeepingthefaade;we'dneedtostaylivinghere,wouldn'twe?Ishookherhandquicklyandwebothmumbleda'hi'.Justnormal,Ness.Don'toverreact.

JacobBlack

Shewasright;foranAlpha,Iprettysuckatsurprisesofthistype.

Whatever.Icouldn'tbelievethiswasreal.She's-We're-Uh!It'stoomuch.Imean,wejustgotbackfromourhoneymoonyesterdayandtoday,shefindsoutshe'spregnantwithababythathappenstobeacombinationofbothhuman,vampireandwolf.OhGod.WillherpregnancybelikeBella's?Ifthebabyisstrongerthanherthen

No!

IfrozeonourwaytotheRabbitandNess,beingNess,noticed.

"What'swrong?"sheasked,concerned.Irelaxedmynow-shockedexpressionandsmiledather.Ijusthopeditdidn'tlookforced."Nothing;justthinking."Pleasedon'treadmymind.Pleasedon'treadmymind.

SheshruggedandIletoutasighofrelief,whichexposedme.Smooth,Jacob!


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Sheturnedtomeandtookmyfaceinhertinyhands,thatwerenowcoldforsomereasonYourhandsarecold.Ithoughtimmediately,honestlyconcerned.

Shedroppedthemandlookedlikeshe'salittleashamed.Why?

"It'scoldouthere,"shesaid,walkingtowardstheRabbit.Frankly,Iwasrelievedshedidn'treadmymindandknowaboutwhatIwasreallythinkingabout;Ididn'twanthertogetworriedorscared,notuntilI'msure.But"Sincewhendoesitmattertoyou?"Iasked,raisingmyeyebrowsandopeningthedoorforher.Sheslidinandshrugged.Igottotheothersideandgotin,startingtheengine.

"Iguesstoday?"shesaid,flexingherfingers."Idon'tlikeit,"shestatedtruthfully,"Itmakesmefeelmorehuman."Shedidn'tlikefeelingweak.Istrokedhercheekwithmyhandandleaneddowntokisshericylips.Wow;shewasfreezing.Iguessitiscoldoutthere;itisraining.AndIguessthatallshewaswearingunderthatcottonjacketwasmerelyatanktop.Theshortskirtdidn'thelpeither."It'sokay;youhaveapersonalheaterhere,"Isaid,pointingatmyself.Shechuckledandleanedonmyshoulder.Iwrappedanarmaroundherwhiletheotherwa

sonthesteeringwheel.Sherelaxedimmediately."Whereto?"sheaskedasIdrove.

"Idon'tknow.Wheredoyouwanttogo?"ThenIrememberedshedidn'teat."There'sthisMexicanrestauranthere,"Isuggested.Sheseemedtothinkaboutitforamoment."Okay,Iguess.It'snotlikeI'dknowthedifference,"shesaid.Ilaughed.

"Iguessyouwouldn't."Iplayedwithherbeautifulbronzecurls.Icouldn'tbelieveshewasmineforever.Reallyforever.

IfI'dknownthatduringthatroughtimewithBella,Iwould'vepleasantlyenduredit,waybetterthanIdid.

"Arewegoingtotelltheguystonight?"shesuddenlyasked,hertonewasn'tascasualasitshould'vebeen.Shit.Ihopedshehadn'theardme.Shewinced.

Iguessshedid.

"Yeah;maybethey'dcomeatourplace,"Isaid,shrugging.

"Okay,"shewhispered."Listen,Jake,it'sjustthatIdon'tlikewhatyouhadto

gothroughwithMomma."Itwasstillhardforher,thoughshe'dforgivenus,"Youwerehurt-"shewinced."-toomuch,"shefinished.Ikissedherforehead."I'mstillwonderingwhatIdidtodeserveyou,Ness,"IwhisperedasIparkedinfrontoftherestaurant.Shesmiledangelicallyandkissedme.Damn,thiswasHeaven.

Bythetimewepulledaway,wewerebothpanting,shemorethanmethough.Shegrinned,showingherpearlwhiteteeth.Nofangs.Ichuckledatthethought.


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"Let'sgetinside,"IsaidasIgotoutandopenedthedoorforher.Ikeptherascloseaspossible.Well,inpublicImean.Ididn'twanthertobecold.

Theplacewasslightlywarmerinthere.Thehostessshowedusourtable,earningafewglaresfromNessiewhichIcouldn'tpinpointtheirreason.Aw,wasshejealous?Why,though?Ishruggeditoff.

"So,whatwillyouorder?"Iasked,eyingthemenu.Shegavemea'Are-You-Stupid'glare.

"Anything;it'snotlikeIateanyofthisbefore,"sheansweredina'duh'tone.Ismiled."Fajita?"Isuggested.Shenodded.

Thewaitercamethenwithanotebookinhishand.

"Whatwouldyouliketodrink?"heasked,onlylookingatRenesmee.Iwantedtopunchhimintheface.WhatstoppedmewasNessie'shandonmine.Heignoredthatthough."I'lljusttakeacupofwater.Jake?"sheturnedherheadtome.

"Coke,"Isaid,mytonewasdeadly.Shewasdoingherbestnottochuckle.

Yourfaceishilarious.ShethoughtandIsmiled.Thewaiterdidn'tflinch.Irelaxedassoonasheleftandshebrokeintomusicallaughter.Icouldn'thelpbutchuckle.

"Look,"shewhisperedandstooduptoputherhandonmycheek.Sheshowedmeanimageofmyselfglaringatthewaiter.Ilaughedbutgotserious."NexttimeI'mreallypunchinghim,"Ithreatened.Sherolledhereyes.

"What'smyname?"sheasked.Istaredather."Justanswer,"shesaidsoftly.Ishrugged.

"RenesmeeCarlie-"shecutmeoff."Black,"shefinished,rollinghereyes."Comeon,Jake.It'sbeenamonth,"shesaid.Ismiled.

"Iknow,"Isaid,playingwithherring,"Ican'thelpit."Ishrugged,puttingonaninnocentface."So,"shestarted,changingthesubjectasthecokeandthewaterarrivedandhetookourorder,"DidyoutalktoRebecca?"sheasked.Isighed.

"Yeah..."Irememberedexactlywhathappened.Flashback

IwenttotalktoRebeccabeforephasing;IneededtoknowwhatwaswrongwiththisChase.Icouldn'thelpbutfeelhehadhurther.He'dpayforthat.

ShewasstillwatchingTVwhenIwent.Isatbesideheranddemandedtoknowwhathappened.Shesighed.


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"Look,Jake,"shestarted,"It'sjustthathe-Oh,God,"shewhined.

"Whathappened?"Iaskedforthethirdtimetonight.Shetookinasharpbreathandexplained."Idon'twanttobewithsomeonewhodoesn'tlikemyfamily,"shestatedsimply,avoidingeye-contact.Myeyeswidened.

"Whatdidhesay?"Iasked.

"It'snotimportant!"shehalf-yelled,cryingnow.Iheldherclose."Shh...It'sokay.I'llbitehisheadoffifyouwant,"Ioffered,tryingtolaughbutitdidn'tcomeoutright.Shechuckledbreathlesslythough.

"Naw;Ithinkthevasedidagoodjob,"shesaid.Thevase?"Whatvase?"

"Theonethatusedtobeinthekitchen,"sheshiftedherweight,"Tothinkaboutitit'sstillthere,justscatteredintotinylittlepiecesandinaplasticbag.Butstillthere,"shesaid.Ichuckled.

"Whydidyouthrowavaseathim?"Isuddenlyasked.

"He-"shetookinanothersharpbreath,"Itdoesn'tmatter."Hertonerangwithfinality."Whatareyoudoinghere?"sheasked,frowning,"Impressive;youleaveyourwifetosleepaloneonthefirstnightafteryourhoneymoon.Boy,you'redumb."Istuckmytongueoutatmybigsis.

"I'mgoingnowanyways.Tellmeifyouguysneedanything,"Isaid,alreadygettingout.

"Willdo."

EndFlashback

"Oh,"Nessiesaidaftershewatchedmyflashback;wewerestillholdinghands.WashergiftgettingstrongerorwasIimaginingstuff?"IhatedChaseanyways,"Isaid,takingasipofmycoke.Sheglaredatme.

"Shemust'velovedhim,y'know,"shesaid.Irolledmyeyes.

"Sure,sure,"Isaid,drinkingtherestofthecup."NotasmuchasIloveyou."Shesmiled."Iloveyoumore,"shesaid,ratherplayfully.

"Nope,"Ishookmyheaddefiantly.Shepouted.

"Youreallythinkso?"sheaskedinwhisper,leaningonthetableandgivingmeheroh-so-famouspuppyeyes.Foodsavedmefromansweringher.Thewaiterstartedtalkingagain...

"Doyouneedanythingelse?"heaskedher.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ifeltinvisible.


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"No,thanks,"Ianswered,suppressingagrowl.Heleftwithoutasecondglance."Eat,"Isaid.Shelookedatherplateandgulped.Maybeshewasafraiditwouldn'tworkoutforheraswellasthehotdogsdid.Sheunrolledhersetandgotoutthefork.Sheputthefirstforkfullinhermouth.Iencouragedhertogofurther.Bythethirdtimeshedroppedherforkandwinced.

"I'mpushingmyluck,"shesaid,gettingupandheadingtowardstherestroom.Ifollowedherthere,leavingenoughmoneyonthetablefortheorderincaseweneededtoleaveandgrabbingherbag.Ididn'tcareiftherewereanygirlsinthere,honestly,Ijustneededtomakesureshewasalright.

Goodthingthereweren'tany.

ShethrewupthelittleshehadeatenasIpushedherhairawayfromherfaceandwhined."Definitely...pushing...my...luck,"shepanted,washinghermouth.Ipattedherback.

"It'sokay;youwon'teatanythinglikethisagain,"Ipromised.Shesmiled.

"Thanks,"shebreathedandwegotout,directlytothecar."Didyou-"Icutheroff."Ipaid."Shesighed.

"Sorry.Youdidn'teatanything,didyou?"sheasked.Ishookmyhead.

"Maybeathome,"IsuggestedaswegotintheRabbit.Shegrimaced.

"Sorry,"shesaid.Isighed."Don'tbe;it'snotyourfault,"Ireassuredhergently,kissinghercheek.She

lookedatherfeetandsmiled.Acoupleofsecondslater,shegotoutofherjacket.Ilookedatherquestioningly.

"Yourheatcanwarmupthewholecountry,Jake."Sherolledhereyes.IsmiledproudlythenbeforeIputthekeyintheignitionInoticedsomething.

Itouchedthesmallbumpthatappearedfromunderhertighttanktop."Look,"Isaid.Shelookedatitandhereyeswidenedsomuchthatifwewereacartoon,itwouldexplode.I'msureminelookedjustthesame.

"Oh...My...God,"shewhisperedandthensmiledbrilliantlyandlookedupatme."See?Thisisourbaby!"sheexclaimed,hersmileplasteredonherface.

Ourbaby.Wow.

"Iknow,"Iwhispered,nudgingthebumpgently.Shegiggled."Iloveyou,bothofyou,"Ikissedherforehead.

"Weloveyou,too."


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Chapter3

Icouldn'tbelieveIwasshowingalready.Imean,Iknewthiswouldn'tbethemostnormalpregnancyeverbut,still,themaximumdurationIcould'vepossiblybeenpregnantwasamonth,onesinglemonth.DidthatmeanI'dgivebirthin,what,acoupleofmonths?Isthatevenpossible?

Isighed,knowingthatI'dhavetowaituntilIcouldaskCarlislelater,orAlice;sheknewIwaspregnant,maybeshesawthedateorsomething.

"We'rehome,"Jakeannounced,parkingthecar.Igotbackintomyjacketandgotout,stilllostinthought.We'dagreedthatwe'dgobackhomesohecouldeatthengotothemainhouse;Istillhadn'tspentenoughtimewithmyfamily.Then,later,thePackandtheimprintswouldcomeatourhousesowecouldtellthemthenews.Iwasextremelyexcited.JakerushedtothekitchenassoonaswewereinsideandIrolledmyeyesathim;he'dstillbethesameoldJacob.Ifollowedhimthereashestartedeatingcereals.Ifeltawful;Iwasthereasonhedidn'teattheFajitaearlier."Icouldmakeyousomehotdogs,"Iofferedbuthekepteating,eitherconcentratingonthefoodorthinkingdeeplyaboutsomething."Hotdogs?Jake?"hestilldidn'trespondsoItooktheplatefromhim.

"Hey!"heobjected,asecondlate.Hewasthinking,apparently.Irolledmyeyes.

"CanyouwaitacoupleofminutesandI'llmakeyousomehotdogs?Iknowthey'reyourfavorite,"Iofferedagain,givinghimthemostangelicsmileIcouldmuster.Hesmiled,butitwasforced,liketheonehehadwhenweweregettingoutofthegarage.Irememberedthenthathedidn'ttellmewhatwaswrong.

"What'sgoingon?"IaskedasIgotthehotdogsoutofthefreezerandputthewateronthestovetoboil.Heshiftedhisweightontheseat.

"Nothing,really."Ihateditwhenheliedtome;ithurtmorethananythingtofeellikehecouldn'ttrustmeenoughtotellmewhathewasthinking.Imean,IcanreadhismindbutIdidn't.Ijustshutoffthestoveandputthehotdogsbackinthefreezer,gettingout.Hegroaned."Nessie!"Ididn'tlookback;afraidmyexpressionwouldbetrayme.IfeltlikeIcouldcry.It'snotlikeIcouldusethebathroomexcusenow.

"I'mgoinghome."ItwaswhenIsaiditthatIrealizedhowwrongitsounded.Bu


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tIdidn'ttakeitback.

Hestoodinfrontofme,blockingmyway.Hisfacewashurt,too."Thisishome,Ness,"hewhispered.Isighed.

"Imeanthemainhouse.IwanttoseeCarlisle,"Isaid,truthfully;Ididwanttoseehim.Itwashisturntosigh.

"I'msorry,"heapologized,strokingmycheek."Ijusthadalotinmymind."Ismiledtriumphantlyandcrossedmyarmsovermychest."Whichare?"Idemanded,thoughIwasn'tthatannoyedanymore.SometimesIreallyhatedthefactthatIcouldn'tgetmadathim.Hesmiled.

"I'lltellyoulater,'Kay?"Isighedandnoddedashehuggedme."Doyoustillwanttogotothemainhouse?Carlislewouldn'tbetherenow.""Yeah;IwanttospendsometimewithDaddy,"Isaid,"Whenwilltheguyscome?"Iasked.

"Aroundseven,"heinformedmeandmystomachgrowled.Igrimaced;Ihadn'teatenanything."Aw,"hegroaned,"Youdidn'teatanythingtoday,didyou?"

"No."Ifeltlikealittlekidagain.

"Doyouwanttohunt?"heasked.Ithoughtaboutitforasecond.

"Okay,Iguess."Istillwasn'tthirstybuttheideawasn'tbadatall.Hetookmyhandandledmeoutside.Weranourwaytothemiddleoftheforest.HephasedandIbegantakinginthescentsandsceneryaroundme.Icouldn'tbelievehowmuchImissedthewoodshere,thebirdsandthelittlesquirrels.But,mostofall,themountainlionsandelks.

MymusclestensedasIfeltthevampireinmekickinandIsmelledalionnearby.Isprinted,fullspeedtowardsitbutthehugerussetwolf,AKAmyhusband,s

teppedinmywayandwhined.IrolledmyeyesatJacob."Iknowhowtotakecareofmyself."Henudgedmystomachever-so-gentlyandIcontinued,"AndSarah."Ididn'trealizethatIsaidthatuntilhehowled.Iputmyhandonthefurofhisheadandheardhimthink.'Sarah'?Whatmakesyousosure?

Idon'tknow-Ithought-Ijustsaidit.Ididn'tknowIdiduntilyouhowled,bytheway.ButIhavethatfeelingthatit'sagirl.

Doyouwantagirl?

Ismiledplayfully,enjoyingthethoughtaboutmylittlegirl,agirlthathadJake'seyes,silkyblackhairandskintone,too,tothinkaboutit.

Jake,thewolf,lickedmyfacewithhishugetongue.Ifakedagrossed-outexpressionashedid."Jake!"Iwhined.Hejustgavemehissuper-cutewolfygrin.

Iputmyhandbacktohischeek;Itookitawaywhenhestartedlickingmyface.


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Comeon,let'shunt.Ithought.

Adeer,okay?AndI'llhuntitdownfirst.Ihuffed.

"Seriously,Jake!"

"No,he'sright,"Daddysaidfrombehind.Igasped;Ididn'tsensehimthere.

"Icanstilltakecareof"Ipaused,"us,youknow,"Imumbled,crossingmyarmsovermychest.Hechuckled,"Iknowyoucan,sweetie,"hesaid,playingwithmycurls.Ismiled."Butyoucouldalwayseat,right?"hesaidsoftly."Bellamadesomeeggs."Iglaredatbothofthem.

"Thanksforyourtrust,"Imutteredangrily,walkingmywaytomyoldhome.Icouldfeelthemfollowingme.Jacobwasasecondlatethough;hechangedbacktohishumanform.

Daddygotbymyside,"We'reonlyworryingaboutyou,"hesaid.Iwould'veansweredhiminmyheadbutIwantedJacobtohear,too.

"IhavehuntedmyfirstdeerwhenIwasthreemonthsoldandlookedlikeafour-year-old."Andnow,I'mnearlysevenandIlooklikea17-year-oldandmarriedandyoudon'twantmetohunt."Youforgotoneimportantthing,"Daddysaid."You'repregnant."

"Whyareyoutwomakingahugedealoutofthis?"Iyelled,stoppingandturningtofacethem."Itdoesn'tmeanIcan'tperformmynormaltasks!Icanstillhunt.Icanstillwalk.IcanstilldowhateverIwanttodo!"Iobjected,"It'strueIgettiredmorequicklybutI'mstillthesame!"Icouldn'tbelieveIwasyellingatthembutIwastrulymad.Theybothstayedsilent,grimacing.Ikeptwaitingforanyofthemtospeak.

"Yougotcoldthismorning,"Jakepointedout.

"Itdoesn'tmeanI'mweakerthanbefore,"ImumbledbutIwasn'tthatconvinced.Whatdidthatmeananyways?"Let'sgettoCarlisle,"Daddysaid,takingmyhand,"He'sathomenow."IcouldfeelJake'swarmhandonmybacknow.Ifeltlikealittlekid,unabletotakecareofherselfandnowherfatheris-Uh.Thisisjustsofrustrating.Iwalkedsilently,mymouthinahardline,stilllikealittlekid.Bothofthemweretakingthistoanextreme.

Icouldn'tthinkofareasonwhytheywereactingsoweirdsoprotective.Imean,Iknowtheywerebothridiculouslyover-protectivebutthiswasovertheusual'limits'."Why?"Isuddenlyasked,"Whyareyoutwoactinglikethat?"Womengetpregnantallthetimeandthey'renotsofragile.

Theydidn'tanswer.Ohgreat.

Wegot'home'intenawfullylongminutes,partlybecauseofthewaywewereall


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inuncomfortablesilence,andpartlybecausewewerewalkinginhumanpace.Humanpace!DaddypushedtheglassdoorandIstormedinside,ignoringthewaywewerewalkingjustasecondago.Itfeltsogoodtobeabletomovenormally.

Ithrewmyselfonthecouchinthelivingroom.

"What'swrong?"Jasperasked,mutingtheTV.IjustshruggedandpointedatJakeandDaddy,whowerestandinginfrontofthedoor.DaddyandJasperexchangedalonglookandDaddynodded.Ihuffedinevenmorefrustration;apparently,everyonewasinonwhatwasgoingonexceptme."Nessie!"Emmettyelledfromupstairs,Icouldseehimsprintdownthestairstothelivingroom.Iimmediatelygrinnedandranintohim,hugginghim."Hey,kid,"hegreetedme.Ichuckled;Emmettcouldboostupyourmoodanyminute."Hey,Em-"heletmedown,"Where'retheothers?"Iasked.HewasabouttoanswerwhenJakecalledme.Isighedandwenttowherehewasstanding.

"Nessie,"hebreathed,"Weneedtotalkaboutthis."Youthink?"Sure,"Isaid,"Shoot."Hegrimaced.

"Come,"hesaidandtookmyhand,leadingmetothebackyard.It'snotliketheywouldn'tbelistening.Besides,theyknowanyway.Idecidedtogowithhimanyways."Tellme,"Idemanded,"Tellmewhat'swrong."Myvoicewasgettingsofter.Hesighedandranhishandthroughhishair.

"It'sjustthat-"hepausedonlytocurseunderhisbreath,"Justpromisemeyouwouldn'tfreakout."Ifrownedandnodded."Promise?"hepushed.Irolledmyeyes."Promise,Jake;Iwon'tfreakout.Justtellmewhatitis,"Isaid,slightlyafraiditwouldbesomenewdangerorsomething;ithadn'tbeenacoupleofmonths

sincetheVolturithing.

Heputhishandonmycheekandlookedinmyeyes.IwasabouttoforgetwhatIwasexpectinghimtosaybutImanaged."We'reafraidthatyourpregnancywouldbe...hard."Hechokedtheword,"SortalikeBella's."Itjusttookmeasecondtocomprehend.

LikeMomma's?

Oh.

AsIremember,thatinvolvedbrokenribs,sicknessand...well,aharddelivery.

SohardthatDaddyhadtoturnherintoavampirerightthen.Butvenom'seffectonmeislikeitseffectonJacob.Sothatwouldn'twork...Whatweretheythinkingabout?Todoaboutthis,ifitistrue,Imean.

IfeltblooddrainfrommyfaceasIrealizedwhattheywantedtodo.

"NO!"Iwhisperedinhorror.

"Youpromised,"Jakeremindedme,hiseyesfullofconcern.Ishookmyhead;Iw


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asn'tworriedbecauseofthat."It'snotwhatyouthink,"Iwhispered,avoidingeye-contact.Hefrownedinconcentration,"You'renot-Evenifitturnsoutlikethat...You-No!"Icouldn'tgetthewordsoutofmymouth.HisexpressionsuggestedthatheknewwhatIwastalkingabout.Theyweren'tgoingtotakemybabyawayfromme."Ness,"hebegan,"Youcan'tdothat-Youcan't-ifitis-"Icuthimoff.

"Whatpartof'NO'don'tyouunderstand,Jake?"Iasked,"YoucanspeakasmuchasyouwantbutI'mnotgettinganabortion.""Onlyifthisisgoingtohurtyou;youknowIwantthatasmuchasyoudo."Itwasobviousinhistonehowmuchithurthimtotalkaboutthat.Ifrownedandtookhishandsawayfrommyface.

"Itdoesn'tlooklikeyoudo,"Imuttered,myvoicehoarse;tearswerebeggingtobeletfree.Iwalkedaway,towardsmyhome.JacobBlack

IthurtlikeHelltoseeherwalkaway,hurtandevenmorestubbornthanBella;Bellahadaplantogetawayalivewiththis.Butwecouldn'tdothesamewithher;itwouldbeadeadend,eitherthevenomorthebabywouldkillher.

IfeltthecoldbreezehitmeasBellafollowedher,fullspeed.Shestoppedmid-wayandIcouldseehercryassheturnedtofaceBella...Icouldheartheirconversationfromhere...

"Renesmee,sweetie,we'renotevensureaboutthis.Maybeitwouldbebetterthan-"shecutheroff."ThanwhenyouwerepregnantwithmeandIwaskillingyou,"shecompleted,wincing,"Ialreadyknowthat,Mom-"Ouch;shenevercalledher'Mom',"-ButI'mfine,I'mmorethanfine,it'llallbeokay."Shesoundedlikeshewastryingtoconvinceherself.Bellasighed.

"Honey,weshouldgobacktothehouse;Carlisle'swaitingforusthere,"shereasoned,stretchingouthersuper-palehandforNessietotakebutshedidn't,shekeptcrossingherarmsoverherchest.Bellagrimacedanddroppedherhandtoherside.Theyendedupwalkingbesideeachother,inhumanpace,ofcourse.Iloathedtheideaofherhurtingmainlybecauseofme,shedidn'tdeservethat.Maybeifsheendedupwithahuman,itwould'vebeenbetter...forher.OnlynowIreallyknewhowEdwardfeltsixandahalfyearsago.

WhentheygottothehouseIfollowedthemsilently,thewholehousewassilentanyways.GoodthingEdwardmadeAlicegoonanothershoppingtripwithBlondie;

wedidn'twanthertoactaroundNessielikeshedidaroundBellawhenshewaspregnant.Carlislewaswaitinginhisoffice,whereeveryonewereheadingtowardsnow.Assoonaswewereinside,IgotbesideNessandheldherclose.Shedidn'tpullawayasIexpected,instead,sheleanedonmychest,waitingforCarlisletospeak."Willyouexcuseus?"hespoketoeveryonebutNessieandmyself.EdwardandBellashotherworriedlooksbeforetheyleftwiththeothers.Nessiehoppedonthe


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whitebedthere,swingingherlegsandtookoffherjacket.Isatonthewoodenchairashefrownedinconcentration,merelytouchingthesmallbumpwithhisicy-coldfingers.Iguessedthatwaswhyshegaspedfaintly."Themaximumyoucould'vebeenpregnantis-"webothcuthimoff.

"Amonth."

"But,Alicesaidthatyourduedate,or,tobemoreaccurate,thedateyou'dbegivingbirthinisin4monthsfromnow,"heinformedus.Ifrowned;fourmonths?"Eveniftherateisthatfast,youwouldn'tbeshowingnow,"heconcluded,moreliketalkingtohimself."Whatdoesthatmean?"Iaskedassheworeherjacketagain.Hesatdowninhischairandkeptsilentforamoment.

"Idon'tknow;that'sdoubletherateIwasexpecting,"hesaid.ThatwaswhenNessiespoke."Double?"sherepeated,"Twins?"shesuggestedandIcouldhearmyownheartloseitsrythmasherheartwaspoundingloudlyinexcitement.

Carlisleconsideredthatforamoment,"Ithinkthat'sthemost...logicalexplanation."IheardafewgaspsandIcouldn'tcomprehendanythinganymore.

Two?

Iwasworryingaboutoneandnowtwo?

Two!

HergrinwasthewidestIhadseeninawhileandshehuggedmesotightlythat,ifIwashuman,Iwouldchokeonmybreath.Inthebackofmyhead,Iwantedtohugherbackbutalotofthingswereonmymindnow...Wouldtheyhurther?

Let's,forawildsecond,assumetheywouldn't...

WouldIbeabletosupportthem?

TWOKIDS!

ONESHOT!

ButIhadtohaveananswerforthefirst,andmoreimportant,question..."WillitbelikeBella's?"Iaskedbluntly.Nessiesighedandpulledaway,sittingonanotherchair.Carlislewassmilingwhenheanswered.

"Idon'tthinkso."Webothletoutabreathwedidn'trealizewewereholding."Jacob,tothinkaboutittechnically,thebabieswouldbemostlyhuman;theywouldhavealittlevampireinthembutmostlyhuman.Thewolfgenekicksinwhentheyhitpuberty,"heexplained,"That'sifthey'reboys.IthinkLeahClearwaterismerelyanexception."IglancedatNessiewhostuckhertongueoutatme,earningasmallsmilefrommeandalaughfromhergrandfather."Two!"shesquealedandhuggedmeagain.Thistime,Ihuggedherbackjustasurgently.


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"Iknow,"Ibreathedandfelthertearssoakmyshirt.Ipattedherback,"Iloveyou,"Iwhisperedinherearandeveryoneelsestormedintotheroom.Bellawasthefirsttograbherfrommeandhugher.Theneveryoneelsefollowed.Edwardwasthelastthough."I'mhonestlyhappyforyou,Renesmee,"hewhisperedinherear.Hepausedasecondthenchuckled,"No,Ineverthoughtofthat,"heansweredhermentalquestion.

"Canwehaveasoccerteamnow?"Emmettaskedandweallbrokeintolaughter.WeweregoingdownstairswhenweheardShorty'shigh-pitchedchanting."We'rehome,"shesang.Yes,sang.Rosaliethrewthebagsontheground.

"Seriously,Alice,whydidwehavetogotoSeattleagain?"sheasked.Aliceshrugged.

"Iwantedsomenewjewelry,andIcouldn'tgoalone,couldI?"Blondierolledhereyesatthatthentheybotheyedallofusstandingtogetheronthestairs,watchingthemgoinside.NessierushedtoAliceandRosalieandhuggedthembothtogether."Two!"shesaid.

"Twowhat?"Blondieasked,confused.EvenFortune-Tellerdidn'tlooklikesheknewwhatwasgoingon.

"Twokids!"NessexplainedandIhadtolaughatherexcitement;shelookedsocute."Sothat'swhy..."Alicesaid,"That'swhyIsawmyselfbuyingtwotypicalquilts.IthoughtIwaslosingit."Weallchuckledlightlyatthat.

"Wow,Nessie,"Blondiebreathed,"Twopuppies,"shesaidandI,alongwithEdwardandBella,growled,whileNessiemerelyhitherarm."Rose!"Blondielaughed.

"I'mkidding;congratulations,sweetie."Good.

"Hey,Ness,"Icalled,sheturnedherheadtome,"Goeatthenwehavetogohome;it'sfive-thirtyalready.Shenoddedandheadedtothekitchen.Icouldsmelltheeggsbeingre-heated.Ifollowedherthere."Youmustbeprettyhungrybynow,"Iconcluded,"Youhaven'teatenanythingallday."

"Yep."Wasallshesaidasshetooktheeggsoutofthemicrowaveandstartedeatingthem.Shelookedlikeshehadn'teateninages.Ikeptwatchinghereat,thinkingabouthowcuteshelooks.Sherarelyevengotthathungry.

Ididn'twanttoeat,forthefirsttimeinmylife.Eventhoughthecerealsdidnothingatall,Ididn'tfeelhungry;allIcouldthinkaboutwasNessieandthe...kids.

Twokids.

Itstilldoesn'tmakesense.WeheadedhomerightaftershefinishedeatingandIthrewmybodyonthesofai


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nthelivingroomandshecameandsatonmylap.

"SorryIgotmadatyou,"sheapologized.Ismiledandkissedhercheek."S'Okay;Iunderstand."ThankGoditdidn'tturnoutthewaywethoughtitwould.Shegrinned.

"Canyoubelieveit?"shewhispered,playingwithmyhair,"We-Oh,"shepaused,frowning,"Thisblackthingyouhadinyourhandisonyourhair,"shepointedout.Ismiled."I'lltakeashowerlater,"Ipromised,"And,no,Ican'tbelieveiteither,"Iwhisperedagainstherneck.Shetookmyfaceinherhandsandkissedme.IfIdidn'treallyneedashower,Iwouldn'thavepulledaway."Comeon,"Ibreathed,"Gochange,wearsomethingheavier,andI'lltakeashowerthengogetBillyandRebecca,'Kay?"Shenoddedandgotoffme,headingtowardstheroom.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RenesmeeCullen

Icouldn'tbelievethiswastrue.TWINS!OhmyGod.

Thisisjustsoconfusing.

Iloveditanyways.TwokidswerewaymorethanwhatI'dwishedfor.IjusthopedIwouldbegoodenoughtoraisethemboth,withJake,ofcourse."Nessie?"Jakecalled.Igotoutoftheroominmygreenwoolentopandjeans.HewasfinallybackwithBillyandRebecca.ThePackwereontheirway,Iassumed.

"Hey,Billy,"Igreetedhim,ashehuggedme,givingbothofusasuspiciouslook."Whatareyoutwohiding?"heasked.Jakerolledhiseyes.IgreetedRebeccaafterwardandledthemtothelivingroom.

"NESSIE!"Sethcalledashestormedinside,notreallycaringaboutthecloseddoor;hejustopenedit.It'snotlikeanyofusminded;itwaspartofthe'brotherhood'thatcamewiththePack...justlikethat."Hey,Seth!"IgreetedhimandturnedtosearchforAmybutdidn'tfindher,"Where'sAmy?"Iasked.Hesighed.

"Home,"hesaid.IfrownedinconfusionbutJakecutmeoffbeforeIcouldevenspeak."Ness,whereisthejuice?"heaskedfromthekitchen.Irolledmyeyes.

"Wheredoyouthink?"Iaskedandgottohimthere,"Inthefridge,"Isaidina'duh'tone.Hesmiledandgotitout."Thanks,"hesaid.Ijustnodded.

Bythetimewegotout,wefoundthewholePackthere,Jakegreetedthemallandstoodbesideme,holdingmywaist.

"So?"Sethsaid,impatient.Wesmiled.


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IwassurprisedbyhowcalmJacobwaswhenhesaidthis."Renesmee'spregnant,"hesaidandkissedmyhair,"withtwins,"hecontinued.Billywasgrinningfromeartoear.

"Congratulations,kids,"hesaid,"ButI'mtooyoungtobeagrandfather."WealllaughedandIkissedhischeek."Ofcourseyouare,"Isaid.

"OhmyGod!"Emilyexclaimedandpulledmeintoahug,"Thisissogreat!"Ichuckledbutwasn'tabletoanswerbeforeMaryinterrupted.

"You-Thisis,"shestarted,hereyesglowing,"AWESOME!"shesaid.Ilaughedalittleastherestofthegirls,includingLeah,congratulatedme.TheguyswerewithJakebutIcouldsensesomethingwaswrongsoIpulledawayfromNina'shugandconcentrated."Collin!"Jakesuddenlygrowled,"Stopdoingthat,"hesaid,butnotasanorder;hewasn'tusinghisAlphavoice.

"Ican'tbelieveyou,Jacob!"heyelled,"YougotmarriedtoherandIdidn'tsayathing,infact,nobodydid.Butnow,you're-"Samcuthimoff."Heimprintedonher,Collin,evenyouknowwhatthatmeans,"hesaid.Collin's

eyeswerestillfixedonJacob's.

"They'releeches."Iwinced,"Andnow,whoknows,maybeinafewyearsthey'dbewolves.You-"Ifelttearsrolldownmycheekashesaidthosewords."Shutup,willyou?"Jacobyelled,nowusinghisAlphavoiceandhecouldn'thelpbutobeygrudgingly.IfeltEmilyrubmybacksoothingly.

"It'sokay,"shesaidwhichalarmedJake,heturnedhisheadtomeandrantomyside."I'msorryyouhadtohearthat,"hebreathed."Hewon't-"Icuthimoff.

"Idon'tblamehim,"Isaid.Ireallydidn't;wewerehismortalenemies,weren'twe?HeshotCollinanotherglareasheleft.

IsighedandturnedtoEmily,tryingtodistractmyself.

"Didyouguysknowthegenderyet?"Iasked,shesmiled.

"Aboy!"shewhisperedinmyear.Thengotbacktofaceme,"When'syourduedate?"sheasked.IrecalledCarlisle'sspeechfromearlier."Hesaidin4months,Idon'tknow,AliceknowsbutIhaven'taskedheraboutth

eexactdateyet,"Isaid.Hereyeswidened.

"OhmyGod!Metoo!"Shesaid,"Imean,nottheAlicepart,butI'mdueAugust."Ismiled."Great,"IsaidandturnedtoJakewhowasbusyplayingwithmycurls.

"Gogetthecookies,willyou?"IaskedinthesweetesttoneIcouldmuster.Hefrowned.


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"Whatcookies?"heasked."Esmemadesome..."Imumbledbut,ofcourse,everybodyheard.

SethandPaulwereinthekitchen.WeheardPaulsighinfrustration.

"Werearethey?"heaskedandweallbrokeintolaughter.Somepeoplejustneverchange.

Chapter4

ItactuallyhurttohearthosewordsfromCollin;hehatedmykids,myunbornkids.IcouldseeJacobwasn'tsothrilledaboutiteithersoIdecidedtoworkondistractingussoitwouldn'thurtthatbad.JakehadleftamomentagowithRebeccaandBillytogetthemhome,IwasleftwithSamandEmily.Everyoneelseleftearlier,too."So,"Emilystarted,"Thecookieswerereallygood.Esmereallyknowshowtocook."Ichuckled.

"Nothingtopsyourcookies,Emily,"IcommentedandSamlaughed.

"Yougotthatright,"hecommented.Sherolledhereyesandlookedatme."Theytendtobe,Idon'tknow,biased?"shesaid,referringtoallimprints.Ismiled.

"Tellmeaboutit,"Isaid,"Youknow,whenIwaslittle,ImadeJacobcoffeewithsaltinsteadofsugarandhedrankit,tellingmeitwasthebestturkishcoffeehehadevertasted."Wealllaughed.Iwantedtoteasehimthatdaybutapparently,he's"unteasable"."Didyounamehimyet?"Iaskedafteramomentofsilence,obviouslyreferringtotheirbaby.Shenodded,aproudsmileonherface.

"Afteralotofdiscussions,"shesaid,"And,Ireallymean'alot',"shepushed,"WedecidedtonamehimRandallorRandy,whichmeans'protectorwolf',"shesaid.Igrinned."Awesomechoice,"Icommented.

"Thanks,"theybothsaidinonebreath.ThatwaswhenJakeentered.Iwonderedhowwewouldchooseourbabies'names.OhGod,nowwe'dhavetochoose2boynamesandonegirlnameotherthanSarahRoseBlack.


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Ilovedthat.

"Hey,"hesaidthenleanedtokissmycheek,"Hey,Ness."Ijustmumbleda'Hey',toobusythinkingaboutthenamesissue.

"So,Iguessweshouldexcuseourselvesnow,"Samsaid,pattingEmily'sback.Shesighedandstoodup."Okay,then,"shesaid,"IguessI'llseeyoulater."Wenodded.

IglancedatJacobwhoseexpressionwasamixtureofworriedandstressed.IdecidedtospeakrightafterSamandEmilyleft."What'swrong?"Iasked.Pleasedon'tbetheCollinissue,pleasedon'tbetheCollinissue.Heshookhisheadandsatonthecouch,sighing.

"Becca,"hesaid.Ifrownedinconfusion;whatcouldhavehappenedtoher?Isatbesidehimonthecouch,crossingmylegsoverit,facinghim."What'swrongwithRebecca?"Iasked,hegrimaced.

"Sheneverknewanyofthis,"heexplained,"Sheshouldn'tknowanyofthis."Huh?

"Whatdoyoumean'this'?"AllIcouldthinkaboutwasthewholepregnancyissue.Andsheshouldknow.Sowhatwastheproblem?HeputhishandsoverhisfaceandIleanedclosertohimandputmineonhis.

"She-"hesaid,"Ihadtotellheraboutthewholeus-being-wolvesissueafterwhatCollinhadsaid,"hespathisname,"Heknewshedidn'tknow!"Heexclaimed.Myeyeswidened;thiswasthelastthingIexpected.Icouldonlyimaginehowshetookthe'news'ifJake'sreactionwaslikethat."Howdidshereact?"Ipushed,prayingitwouldn'tbebad.Heshookhisheadagain.

"Forsomeonewho'dknewaboutthelegends,"hestarted,"Notsowell,notwellatall.""Whathappened?"Iasked,hejustputmyhandonhischeekandrecalledwhathappened...

Flashback(Jacob'sPOV)

Collin'sadeaddog.ThoseweretheonlywordsIcoulddescribeanythingaboutitin;notonlydidheinsultmywife,mysoulmate,myimprintforHeaven'ssake!Healsoinsultedmychildren,andthatwasinexcusable."Hey,Jake?"Mysister,Rebecca,calledfromthebackseatofmyRabbit.Isnappe

dmyselfoutofmythoughtsimmediately,glancingatBillywhowassoundasleeprightbesideme.

"Yeah?"Ianswered,whispering,carefulenoughnottowakemyfather,westillhadacoupleofminutesuntilwereachedhome."WhatdidCollinmeanwhenhesaidthatyourkidsmightbewolvesinafewyears?"sheaskedandmyhandstensedonthesteeringwheel.Shewasthere.Sheknewnothing.Andshecaughtthat.


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Crap.IwastoofocusedonNessierightthenthatIforgotBeccaknewnothingaboutthis.

Doublecrap.

"Um-"Itriedtothinkandgetalogicalexplanationandgetawaywiththis.Buttherewasn'tany."Wolves".You'rewaymorethandeadnow,Collin."Whatisit,Jake?"sheaskedandIcouldswearIheardhervoicetrembleever-so-gently."Whatdidhemean?"sheasked.Iconcentratedtobeabletochoosetherightwords.

"Well,sis,doyouremembertheol'legends?"Iaskedher,tryingtosoundcasualbutfailedmiserably,"Theonesaboutourgreatgrandparentsandsuch?"

"Yeah."Itsoundedmorelikeaquestion.

"Well,they-uh-"Ipaused,"They'realltrue.Alltheguysyousawtoday,includingme-Yeah,wecantransformintohorse-sizedwolves.""JacobKindBlackyou'dbetterNOTbekiddingme,"shesaid,hervoicefarfromangry;shewasterrified.Wewerehomebythen.Istoppedthecarandglancedat

herface.

Therewasn'tanybloodthere,thatwasforsure.Icouldhearherheartbeatsuper-fastasshethrewherbackonthebackoftheseat."Hey,hey,"Iwhispered,"Don'tfreakout,'Kay?"Isaid,tryingtocalmherdown."We'rethesameus,youknow.Iwon'tgoallwolfonyou,"Itriedtojokebutitjustmadehermorescared.

Shecrossedherarmsoverherchestandseemedtoconcentrateonbreathing;herbreathswereforced.Ididn'tknowwhattodonow,itwasn'tlikeIcouldcallherimprintorsomething...orthatlameexcuseforahusbandwhoshe'sgettingadivorcefrominamatterofweeksorsomething.

Idecidedtogetbesideher,trytocomforther.

"Becca?"Icalledwhenshegazedintonothinginparticular,herbodyshakingever-so-slightly.Notourtypeofshakingthough.

"N-No,"shewhispered,stillnotlookingmyway.Herbreathwasn'tthatgood.IthoughtaboutwhattodoorwhattosayuntilIfinallydecidedtocallRachelandwakeupDad.AndIdid.ThelastthingIwantedisthatBeccawouldhaveapanicattack.Notsopretty.

"Whathappened?"Rachelexclaimed,lookingatBeccawhowasnowonthecouchin

ourhouse,Billytryingtotalktoherbutfailedasmuchaswedid.Paulwalkedbehindher,rubbinghiseyes,lookinglikehewould'vepreferredtostayathome,sleepingthen.Well,that'simportant,caveman!

"Itoldherabout,youknow,thewolfthing,"Iexplained.Paul'seyesshotopenandRachellookedatmelikesomesortofamoron.

"What.The.Hell,Jacob!"Rachelyelled.BillysnappedhiseyesfromRebeccatohisotherdaughter.


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"SheheardwhatCollinhadsaidtoday,"hedefended.

"Stupidkid,"Paulmuttered.Inoddedinagreement.Rachelsatnexttoheronthecouchanddidaswedid;triedtotalktoher."Hey,sis,"shewhispered,runningherhandsonherface,"S'Okay,"shesaid."Nothinghappened,right?"sheasked.Again,noresponse.Butherheartbeatwasgettingmoreeven.They'vealwaysbeensoclose."You'regoingtobeanaunt,isn'tthatawesome?"shesaid,grinning,"AlthoughIreallydidwanttohavekidsbeforethathugekidoverthere."Yeah,shepointedatme."Comeon,"sheurged,"I'llmakeyouhotchocolate,"shepersuaded,"Youusedtolikethatwhenwewerelittle."

Thatwaswhenwehadthefirstresponseoutofher;shechuckled,orsowethoughtshewantedto,itcameoutweird.

"'Kay,"shewhisperedandweallletoutasighofrelief.Iglancedatmyclock,12am,Ishouldgohomenow.EndFlashback(AndbacktoRenesmee'sPOV)

IgaspedasIremovedmyhandfromhischeek.Henodded,thegrimacestuckonhisface.

"EvenMarytookitmuchbetterthanthat,"hepointedout.Isighed."ButshehadEmbry,"Ireasoned.Hesnorted.

"AndBeccahasherfamily.Bigdeal,"hesaid.Ishrugged.

"Maybeit'ssortofanimprintthing?Imean,eventhelittleoneshandleditwell,"Idefended.Hesighedandsankdeeperintothecomfycouch."Maybe."Silence.

Silence.

Stillfreakin'silent.

"Areyouhungry?"Isuddenlyasked;IknewIwas.Heshookhishead.

"Don'tfeellikeIcouldeatanythingnow,"hereplied,"Whataboutyou?Aren'tyou,like,supposedtobeeatingforthreepeopleandallthat?"Irolledmyeyes."I'mhungrybutI'mnoteatingtriplethenormaljustbecauseofthat.It'sinsane,"Isaidandmanagedtogetasmilefromhim.

"Sure,sure,"hesaid,smirking,"I'llmakeyousomething.Wantsomehotdogs?"he

askedandIsmiled."Sure,I'llhelpyou,"Isaidbutheshookhishead.

"JustwatchsomeTVorsomething;Iwon'ttakelong,"hereasoned.

"But-"hecutmeoff.

"Nobuts,Nessie,justgetsomerest."IhuffedandopenedtheTVtofinditonESPN.


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"Emmett'sbeenhere,"Icommented,knowingperfectlywellthathecouldhearme.Helaughed.

"Why?"heasked.IjustraisedtheTVvolume.IknewhecouldhearitbutIwantedtoemphasizeonmypoint.Heletoutanotherlonglaugh.Irestedmyheadonthecouchanddriftedtopeacefulsleep.

ItwassopeacefulthatIdidn'tfeelanythinguntilJake'swormhandstrokedmycheek.Iopenedmyeyesandstretched,lettingoutayawn."'Mornin',sunshine,"hegreeted.IfrownedasIrecognizedtheoh-so-familiarcloudedsunfromthewindow.

"'Mornin',"Isaid,"Whathappened?LastthingsIrememberwereESPNandsmellingsomehotdogs,"Icommented.Helaughed,nowplayingwithmyhairwithonehand,theotherhandwasthrowncasuallyaroundmywaist."Youslept,"heexplainedandIrolledmyeyessohecontinued,"Ididtrytowakeyouup,butWorldWarIIIcouldhavebeengoingonandyouwouldn'tevenblink."Ichuckled,"ItwasgettingweirdbutIdecidednottocallCarlislewhenyouwerebreathingandbeatingevenly."Ismiledatmyoh-so-caringhusband.

"So,Iguesstherearesomehotdogsforme?"Iteased,knowingthattherewouldn'tbeawayonEarththerewasanycookedfood"leftover"whenJake'saround.Hehalf-smiled.

"Naw,"heanswered,knowingIwasteasing.Iglancedattheclockonthenightstand.9:45am."Doyoureallyhavetogotowork?"Iaskedandhelaughed.

"Yeah,sure,"hesaid,"Infact,Ishouldgetgoingnow;Morganandtheguyswouldbetherein15minutes."Morgan.Why,again,wasn'tIcomfortable?Whatever;itdidn'tmatter.

"Okay,"Imuttered,standingup."We'resonotstartingthiscrapnow!"Iyelled.Hegotbymyside,hisshirtalreadyinhishand.

"What?"heasked,worried.Igroaned."Morningsickness."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JacobBlack

"Youwereonfullspeed,thecarflippedontherightside,obviously,andcrashedintoatree?"Iasked,notreallybelievingwhatIjustheard.Thekidnodded

,"Andyou'restandingheretotell?"Ipushed.Herolledhiseyes."Canyou,orcan'tyoufixit?"heasked,impatient.Ilookedagainatthehalf-destroyed,over-expensiveJaguar.Interestingwaytostart.

"Sure,sure,"Isaid,"Butthatone'snotgonnabeeasy,"Iadded."Idon'treallycarehowmuchI'dhavetopay;S'Notmymoneyanyways,butyougottagetitdonebeforethe20th,"hesaid."NataliewouldkillmeifsheknewI'ddonethattohercar,"hemumbled,mostprobablytohimself.Ichuckled;hewa


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sabout17,soexcessivelyrich,apparently,andthecarwasn'tevenhis."Sure,"Isaid,again.Hegotouthiscard.Itsaid'NathanaelLeblanc'andhadhisnumbers.First17-year-oldwithabusinesscard.Andgotoutabout500dollars.

"Underpayment,"heexplainedandputhiswalletbackintotheback-pocketofhisjeans.IsmiledtomyselfandhandedMorganthestufftogetthepaperworkdone.And,withthat,heleft."500dollarsandaJaguarontheseconddayofwork.Dude,Iloveyou,"Embrycommented.Ifakedagrossed-outexpression.

"Weird,Embry.No,thanks."Helaughed.

"Uh,Marywouldbethrilled,"hecommentedsarcastically."Totally,"Iplayedalong.

"No,seriously,thisisgreat,"hesaid.Ijustnodded.

Therestofthedaypassedbyprettyfast;IwaseagertogohometoNessie.ButIhadtostopbyBilly'sfirst;IhadtocheckonRebecca;Ihaven'theardfromthemsinceyesterday.Itriedtoconvincemyselfthat'NoNewsIsGoodNews'bu

t'NoNews'hadalwaysbeenterriblenewstome.LikewhenNessiedisappeared,whenEmbryfirstphased,whenBellagotbackfromthehoneymoonanddidn'tcall,etc,etc.Igotthereinnotimeatall,parkinginfrontifmyold,small,redhouse.Well,notreallyminebutyouknowwhatImean.

Ofcourse,mebeingjustme,Igotinsidewithoutknockingonthedoor.IfoundRachelmid-waytothecouch,nibblingonasandwich.Herbeingherewasenoughreasontogetmemoreworried."Hey,Jay."Itjustsoundedlikethatbecauseshewasstilleating,"Boredalready?"sheaskedasifnothingwasgoingon.Iwasn'tbuyinganyofthis.

"Where'sshe?"Iasked.Sherolledhereyes."Inyourroom,takingalil'nap,"shesaid,"Seriously,bro,she'sfine.Shetalks,walks,eats,drinksandbreathes,"sheexplained,"Really,she'sjustalmostoverit."ShewassoundinglikePaulalready.OnewordcaughtmyattentionthoughandIfollowedhertothecouchasshesatonit."Almost?"Iasked.Isomehowfeltresponsibleforthis.Shesighed.

"She'snotfacingit,"sheexplained,"Shejustkeepssayingthatitain'ttrue,"sheadded,"And,frankly,itain'tthatgood;sheneedstofaceitsomeday,youknow?Whoknowswhatwouldhappennexttimeifanyoneslippedagain?Maybeit

'dbeworse."Inodded."Weshouldgetthisoverwith,"Imumbledbutloudenoughforhertohear.Shefrowned.

"Howso?"

"I'llphase."Hereyeswidened.

"WHAT?"shewhisper-yelled."No,notnow,"sherushed,"Givehersometimethen


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dowhatyouwant.""But-"shecutmeoff.

"Nobuts,lil'bro."Paulwasdefinitelyrubbingoffonher.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RenesmeeCullen

"Leavethefridgealone!"Emmettgroanedforthemillionthtime.Irolledmyeyesathim,eatingsomebread,whichIdiscovereddidn'tencouragethenastynauseousfeeling."It'snotlikeanyofyouwouldeatanyofthis,"Ireasoned.Daddychuckled.

"True,"hesaid,gettingbesideme."Whatdoyouhaveonyourmind?"heasked.Ijuststaredathim;EdwardAnthonyMasenCullen,myfather,theonlymanwhocanknowwhateveryou'rethinkingrightthenwithoutbeingsoclosetoyou,wasaskingmewhatIhadonmymind.AndIthoughtIhearditall.EspeciallythatIhadn'taskedMommatodothatforme.Shewasn'teventhereinthefirstplace."Huh?"HelookedevenmoreconfusedthanIwas.Whatwaswrong?

"Nothing'swrong.Ijustthink..."Hemumbledthelastpart,"Icouldn'thearyouforasecond."Ifrownedthenshrugged."Pregnant,"JasperandIsaidinonevoice.Hesmiled.

"Maybe,"hesaid,"So,whatdidyouhaveonyourmindbefore?Youseemedtoreallyconcentrateonit."Ismiledplayfully.

"Iwasthinkingaboutnames,actually,"Isaid,"Boynamesfirst,thenI'llhavetolookforanextragirlname,youknow?Toobadmyskinistoothickfortheultrasound."Hechuckledagain.

"Yes,"hesaid,"Andwhathaveyouthoughtof?"heasked.Iputthebreadaway

forasecondandgrinnedproudly.

"Well,I'veresearchedthismorningalittleandcameoutwithsome,"Istarted,"IthoughtmaybeColby,Jason,Ryan,Ethan,James-"Thethreeofthemcutmeoff.No,wait,theywerefour.Jacobgotback!"NO!"theyallsaid,"NotJames,"Daddyadded.IfrownedandhuggedJacobwhohadjustenteredthekitchen.

"Why?"Ipushed.Theyalltensed.

"Uh-Ness,"Jakestarted,"Maybeweshouldtellyouthislater."Icrossedmyarmsovermychestandraisedaneyebrowatthem.

"Okay,hereitis,'James'wasthenameofasadisticvampirewhousedtochaseyourmotherwhileshewashumanandEdwardkilledhim.Hecausedsomeproblemslater,too."EmmettwassayingthewordssofastthattherewasactuallyachanceIcouldn'tmakethemout.Ijuststared,mymouthwide-open,atthem."Notsocute,"Jacobsaidashenudgedmychin.Iclosedmymouth.

Iignoredhisstatement,"AndwhyonEarthamIonlyawareofthisnow?Whatelsehaven'tyoutoldme?"Iwaspractically,uh,yelling.Jacobflinchedatmyton


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e."Nessie,"Jasperwhisperedashesentawaveofcalmnessthroughme.Isighed,"Wedidn'tfeellikeyouneededtoknowthat."Icouldn'tbemadatthem.Icouldn'tdoanythingsoIjustraisedmyhandsasifinsurrender."Fine!"Isaid.Jacobjustwrappedanarmaroundme,holdingmecloser."Doyouwanttoheartherestofthenames?"

"Howmanyhaveyougot?"Emmettasked,theexpressiononhisfacewasfunny."Alot,"Ianswered,"There'realsoCaleb,Kevin,Evan,Owen,Alex,Tristan,Richard,Dakota,Julio-"Emmettsnorted.

"That'sthecombinationofRomeoandJuliet?Julio?"heaskedandIthrewaboxathim,hecaughtitreflexively."Shutup;Ilikeit,"Isaid.Jakewassuppressingalaugh;Icouldfeelit.Icontinuedanyways."AndMelvin.EachhasacertainmeaningthatIlike,"IfinishedexplainingthenlookedupatJake,"AndIthoughtmaybeThomasasamiddlename,whichmeanstwin.Istillhavealottothinkabout."JakesmiledandIhonestlyfeltlikeweweretheonlytwointheroom."Well?"Iasked."Iloveyou,"hejustsaid."Andyoustillhavetoexplainallthattome."

Chapter5

"So,"Jakesaid,glancingatthepaperinhishand,"Colbymeansdarkordarkhaired?"hesaidandInodded.Heshookhishead."Wedon'tknowthatforsure.Next,"hesaidandIsmiledathisseriousnessaswesatonourcomfyredcouch.InibbledonthehotdogswithtomatosauceIfinallygottotaste.HehadchosenhisfavoritesoutofthenamesIpickedandnowwe'retryingtotakeitdowntoonlytwonames."NextisEthan,whichmeansstrong,"Isaid,rememberingthenamewithoutreallyanytroubleatall.Hetookabiteofhishotdogsandnodded.

"Okay,it'sgood.Imean,ifwe'rehavingaboyhe'sgottabestrong,right?"heflexedhisbicepsandIrolledmyeyesbutagreed;boyswouldbewerewolves/shape-shiftersforsure,andstrongcomesinthatpackage.Besides,they'dhavesomevampireinthem."Thenthere'sKevinwhichmeansgentle,"Isaid.Herestedonthecouchandlookedattheceilingforamoment,thinking.

"Gentle?"herepeated."Naw."Ichuckled.


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"Whynot?Can'tguysbegentle?"Ileanedonhislapandlookedupathisface.Helookeddownatmewithahalf-smileandkissedme,slowandgentle."Justskipit,"heurgedandIsighed.Helookedatthelist."BothEvanandOwenmeanyoungfighter?"heaskedandInodded,myheadstillonhislap."Thenthey'rebothonthesafelist."Igroaned."Whydoesithavetoberelatedtofighting?They'dhavealifeoutsidepatrolling,youknow."Hechuckled.

"Ijustlikethem."Heshrugged.Irolledmyeyesonceagain.

"Thenthere'sAlex,whichmeansdefender,Dakota-"Hecutmeoff."Waitasec,isn'tthatagirl'sname?"heasked.Ishookmyhead.

"Worksforbothandmeansfriendorally,"Isaid,"AndfinallyMelvinwhichmeansleader."Henodded,frowninginconcentration."So,tosumitup,wehaveEthan,Evan,Owen,AlexandMelvin,"heconcludedandInodded.

"Nowallwehavetodois-"Hecutmeoff.

"Sleep,"hesaid,yawning,"I'mreallytiredandIneedtopatroltonight,"hereasonedIgotupandkissedhimchastely."Sure,"Isaid,gettingup."Whendoyouwanttogetup?"Iasked,notfeelingsleepyatall.Heshrugged.

"Idon'tknow,anhour,maybe?"hesaidandkissedmycheek."Youdon'twannasleep?"heasked.Ishookmyhead."Okaythen,I'll-"hewascutoffbythephoneringing.Ipickeditupandanswered."Hello?"Isaid.

"Nessie?"Sethanswered,"GivemeJakeplease,"hesaid,histoneurgent.IfrownedbutgavethephonetoJacobanywaysandlistenedtowhatSethhadtosay.

"WHAT?"heexclaimed,"I'monmyway."Hesnappedthephoneshut.Ilookedathimquestioningly."It'sAmy,"heexplainedanddidn'twaittoexplainmorebeforehestormedhiswayoutside.JacobBlack

ThewholethingwithAmywasunbelievable.Sethreallyruineditthistime.

God,Ihatethegirlgossipthing.Can'ttheyjutskeepeverythingtothemselves?

Thedealis,AmytoldYokishehas.andIquote,"Thebiggestcrush"onSeth.Ofcourse,Yokibeingthegirlsheis,shetoldBradywhocouldn'thelpbutthinkitonpatrol.Ugh.

Anyways,Amydidn'tknowmuchaboutimprinting,justtheverybasics,whichweallagreedtodowhilethey'restillkids.Sheknewnothingaboutthewholestagesthing.AndSeth,beingtheverysmartbeingheis,confrontedher.Theproblem


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is,obviously,shedidn'tneedhimthatwayjustyet;shewasn'treadyforthiskindofstuff.Therefore,Sethdidn'tfeelthatwayabouther.Yeah,Iknow.Majordrama.

Therestincludesarunningwolfoutsideherhouse,ateenagershuttingthedooronherself,afuriousmotherwhoknowsaboutthelegends,...etc.Thenormalcomeouts.

Well,thenewsflashis,Amycalledhercousinwho,verystupidlyifyouaskme,gaveheraridetoGod-knows-where.Andsheleftaletterbehind.Sincewhendid13-year-olds"needtimeforthemselves"?Gee.ThatonlyhappensinLaPushI'dguess.

Isighed,knowingthatwhateverIthinkwouldn'tmatterrightnow.Infact,itmightmakeitworse.IwasinLaPushinexactlytenminutes.Sethwaswaitingatthetreatyline,eaningonatreeandcrossinganarmoverhischestimpatiently."Didn'tcall?"Iasked.HeshookhisheadandInoticedhowhishandswereintightfists.

"Andshedoesn'tanswerherphone,"hefinished."Itriedfollowingherscentbu

tshewasinacar,Icouldn't."Igotbyhissideandsighed."Wheredoeshercousinlive?"Hecursedunderhisbreath.

"SomewhereinPortAngeles.Buthermothercalledhismotherandshesaidshedidn'tknowwherehewas;hedidn'tbringherhome,"heexplained."Sheleft,Jacob.Sheleftandit'smyentirefault.Ifitwasn'tformetellingher-"Icuthimoff."Hey!Notimeforregretnow.Trycallingheragain,shemightpickitupthistime.Didyoucallher,Seth?"Iasked.

"No,"headmittedandIrolledmyeyesandgavehimmyBlackBerry.Hedialedher

numberandbithisbottomlipashewaitedforhertoanswer.Afewsecondslater,shedid."Amy!"HeexclaimedandIcouldhearhercryingontheotherend."Whereareyou?"heaskedandputheronspeakerphone."Seattle,"sheblurtedoutandhismouthhungopen.

"WHAT?"heexclaimedthentriedtocalmhimselfdownashebegantoshake."Butwhy,Amy?Whydidyouleave?Don'tyouknow-"shecuthimoff."Whydoyouevencare?"Sheasked,"Itdoesn'tmatter.JusttellMomI'mokaybeforeourbatteriesdiefromallthosephonecalls,wedon'thaveanychargers."Hegrowled.

"WhydoIcare?"Heretorted,"Becauseyoumattertome-"Imouthedtohimnottotalkaboutthewolfissuebecauseshemightbeputtinghimonspeakerphone,too-"Because,Amy-"shecuthimoff."Iknowyouimprintedonme,Iknowyoucan'tbeawayfromme.ButI'mnotyours,Seth-Andyou-"shesobbed-"You'renotmine."Andwiththat,weheardthefamiliarbeep.

UnlikewhatIexpected,Sethdidn'tshakeanyharder,hejustslidintoasittingpositionandkeptgazing.Ibentdowntohislevelandshookhim...hard.


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"Don'tstartthisshit,"Ipracticallyorderedhim,"GotoherMomandtellherwhatjusthappened.Maybesheknowssomething.Howoldishercousinanyways?"Iasked.

"17,"hesaidandgrowledagain."Hetookher,"heconcluded."Andshe'snotcomingback,"hesaid,hisvoicemerelyawhisper."SETH!"Iyelled.Sorry,buddy,butyou'regonnaloseitifIdon'tsnapyououtofit."Justcomeon,let'sgotoherMomandseewhatwecando."A17-year-oldanda13-year-oldinacar,inSeattle...Thosejustdidn'tmakeagoodcombination.OhGod.

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RenesmeeCullen

PoorSeth.Amyhadn'tansweredanybody'sphonesincethatphonecallhemadeitwhenJacobwasaround.Theonlyreasonhedidn'tgorunningtoSeattleisthat,asJaketoldme,hereceivedanAlphaordernottofollowheranywheresincethisordealbegan.

Leahwasvery...compassionatewithherbrotherafterthisbegan,whichisyesterday.Ididn'texpectthat,honestly.But,apparently,thetieshehaswithherbrotherisstrongerthananything.JacobsaiditmayhavebeenbecauseSethwaskindoftheonlyonewhowas100%supportinghissisterafterSam'simprintingontheircousin,Emily.Iwishedmykidswouldhavethatkindofunbreakablebond.Speakingofwhich,wehadsettled,onlythismorning,ontheboysnamesifwedohavethem.

First,ColbyThomasBlack.Ithadaringofitsown.Plus,IconvincedJacob;Ilikedthename.And,second,ifwe'rehavingtwoboys,Melvin.Wedidn'tsettleonhismiddlenameyet.

Today,forachange,IwasspendingmydaywiththegirlsattheRez,thenIwasgoingshoppingformyown"pregnancyclothes"asAlicehadputthem,butafterLunch;CarlislesaidIneededmyfood.Ontheupside,Iwasgoinghuntingtomorrow!God,Imissedthetasteofbloodonmytongue...downmythroat-Jacobsnappedmeoutofmyreveriewithakiss."I'mgoingtowork,"heinformed,"Doyouneedanything?"HeaskedandIshookmyhead.Hesmiledandgrabbedhisphoneandkeys,headingtowardsthedoor."I'mgonnatakemyRabbit!"hesaid,"Don'trunyourwaytotheRez!"Hesaidinaslightlywarningtonebeforehegotout.Ichuckledathisseriousness.RachelwasbringingBeccatothiswholeGirls-Only-Beach-Partything.Shesaiditmighthelpbuttoldusall,verystrictly,nottotalkaboutanythingwolf-rel

ated.Orvampire-relatedforthatmatter.ShewasgettingbettersoshedecidedtopostponeJacob'sphasinguntilfurthernotice.Whichisifshestaysindenialforlong.Rachelseemedtoknowwhattodo.ItookmykeysandheadedtotheBlueconvertible,comfortableinmygreenballerinaflatsandmylight-woolenjacketontheregularpairofskinnyjeansthatIhadon.Iwantedtoputmake-uponbutwascutoffbythatawfulsicknesssoIdecidedagainstit.Itwasn'tsunnytoday,butnotrainyeither.Justthenormalclouds.Iwasonmy


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waytotheReservation,butstillnowherenearthetreatylinewhenIsawthefamiliarfigureapproach.Inoticedthathewasn'tinhisdarkcloak.Hewaswearingacasualsweatshirtonapairoffadedjeans.Hisdarkbrownhairarrangedinperfectspikes,tooperfectforahumantomake;Icouldtell.Hisabnormallypaleskinnotcontrastingwithcrimsonredeyesanymore.Hiseyeswereashadeofdarkbrown.Somethingthatconfusedmeevenfurther.IstoppedthecarafterIgotnearhimandmadesureitwasn'tinthemiddleofthehighway.Myheartpoundedhardinmychest,myinstinctstellingmetorunawayfromhimorcallDaddyorevenJacoborwhatever.ButIdidn't.Somethinginmetoldmethatitwasokay,justthechangedcolorofhiseyesmademerelaxalittlebit.IignoredmyprotestingheartbeatasIgotout.Hesmiled,leaningdownandkissingmyhandinagentlemanlystyle."MadameRenesmeenow,Iassume?"hecommentedashecheckedmyring.Ismiledbackpolitelyathimashegotup.

"Yes,Frederick.MmeBlacktobemoreaccurate,"Iansweredandhenoddedinunderstanding.But,whatwashedoingintheStates?Okay,andmoreimportantly,whyhere?Whatdidhewantfromme?Because,obviously,ifhewantedsomethingfromusasacoven,hewouldn'tbespeakingtome,theyoungesthybrid."I'mterriblysorryformyrudeness;cuttingyourwayandnotcomingtoyour...residenceformally.ButIknowaboutyourspouse,MonsieurBlack,andIthoughtI

wouldbemisunderstoodifIcamestraightlytoyou,"heexplained,"Moreover,IcouldnotbringmyselftogostraightlytoMonsieurCullen-"IthinkhemeantGrandpa-"afterthelittleincidentinVolterraacoupleofmonthsago,"hefinished,hiseyesapologetic.ItwasonlythenthatInoticedtheslightaccentinhisspeech.Plusthewhole'Monsieur'and'Madame'thing."It'sokay,Mr-"Ipaused,searchingforhislastnameinmyheadbutrememberedIdidn'tknow.Hesmiled.

"Jem'appelleFrederickHansel,"heintroduced,"I'msorryIcouldnotintroducemyselfproperlyearlier,"heapologized,"IassumeyouspeakFrench?"hesaid,"Whenyouwere...there,Icouldseeitinyourfacethatyouperfectlyunderstoodwhatthose...touristsweresaying,"hesaidandInodded."I'mhalf-French,hal

f-EnglishandIhavelivedmostofmylifeinmyfather'scountry,France,soitiseasierformetospeakFrench,"heexplainedandInoddedagain."Ofcourse."Thatexplainshisaccentandformality,"MonsieurHansel."So,whatdoyouwantnow?"Whatdidyouwantfromme,exactly?"Iaskedbluntly,feelingtheurgetositdownandrelax."Canwe,perhaps,takethistomoresuitablesetting?"hesuggested,"IwouldliketospeaktoyouandtheAutoroute(Highway)isnottheplacetodiscusssuchtopic."Inoddedandmotionedforhimtogetintothecar.Iwonderedwherethebestplacetotalkprivatelywouldbe.NottheRez,ofcourse,notwithavampire,anon-Cullen,withmeanyways.

Notanywherepublic,notdiscussingsomethingmyth-related.

NottheCullenmansion;Iknowacoupleofpeoplewhowouldn'treallyliketomeethimagain.Notafter"Italy".So,theonlythingIhadleftwashome.Ofcourse,Iforgotaboutonelittleveryimportantthing.Mypixieaunt.

And,ofcourse,mymind-readingfather.Oh,wait,AlicetookMommatogetsome"


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stuff"assheputthem.Shewouldn'ttellme.So,Ionlyhadhertodealwith.IdecidedtotextherquicklybeforeIbegandriving,andbeforeIevengotintothecarso"MonsieurHansel"wouldn'tseewhatIwrote.Don'ttellanyoneunlessit'sane-m-e-r-g-a-n-c-y.Okay?YouknowwhatImean.~Ness.

Islidintothecarandturnedthekeyintheignitionagain,headingbacktowardsthehouseusingthefirstU-TurnIsaw.Hestayedsilentalltheway.Afewsecondslater,Alicetextedmeback.Sure.Butyoucan'tkeepitforlong.Yourfuturedisappearsafteranhouranywaysowatchout.~Alice.

Myfuturedisappearsinanhour?Hmm.Oh,Jacob!Ihadtotellhim,eventhoughhewouldn'tbethrilledaboutit.Well,Iwasabouttocallhimwhenthephonedied.Notmyfault.IdecidedtocallhimassoonasIwashome.Ofcourse,Iwouldn'thavetoworryaboutfoodwhenitcametovampirevisitors.It'snotlikeIcouldofferhimahuman-Oh,wait...

"Haveyouchangedyour...diet?"Isuddenlyasked,myeyesfixedontheroadasIparkedandwegotout.

"Yes,actually.ThatwaswhatIwaswillingtospeaktoyouabout,"hesaidasIopenedthedoorandgotinside,alongwithhim,leavingitopen,"Ihavebeenabletostayonthatcertain...vegetariandietforaboutamonthnowbutI'mafraiditisgettingmuchharderbythesecond,"heexplained,notreallybotheringtositdownaswewereinthelivingroombutIdid;Iwastired,andhehadto,naturally,"Iwouldassumeyoudonotevenknowwhathumanbloodtasteslike,amIcorrect?"hesaidandIshookmyhead."No;Ihavedrankhumanbloodbefore."Muchtohisshock;hiseyeswidened."Butitwasalldonated.I'veneverhunteddownahuman,andneitherdidmostofmyfamily,"Isaid.WiththeexceptionsofDaddy,Jasper,andEmmettIthink.

"Butitishardertobearoundhumans,livingaslightlynormallife,whenyoutastethis...donatedblood,right?"hesaidandIshrugged.

"Iwouldn'tknowthatmuch,"Ianswered.God,ImissedthecasualtalkwithJacob;allthisformalityremindedmeofhowDaddyspeaks.It'snotlikeIdon'tloveDaddybutsometimestheformalityisalittlebittoomuch."IguessyouwouldhavetospeaktoCarlisleaboutthat,"Isaid.IwasabouttoaskhimhowheknewwhereIwas,asitsuddenlypoppedintomyheadbutIwascutoffbyDaddy.Wait,Daddy?Whendidhegethere?"IbelieveCarlisleisavailableinhisoffice,inthemansion,"Daddysaidfirmly,shootingmeaglareforasecondasFrederickstoodupandnodded.InoticedthatJasperandEmmettfollowedhim,justhalfasecondlatedueto,whatIass

umedwas,speeddifference."Ofcourse,"Fredericksaid,noddingtowardsJazzandEminrecognition.TheykepttheirexpressionsstraightbutIcouldseethatthiswasn'tjustgoingtopasseasily.

Well,whenitcomestotheCullens,itdoesn'tmatterifI'mnearly-fully-matureorifI'mmarriedandpregnantwithtwinsorifIdon'tlivewiththeminthesamehouseanymore.


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Myfatheranduncleswouldstillactwiththesameoldover-protectivenessaroundme.EspeciallyDaddy.

"Exactly,"hewhisperedinmyearandwaiteduntilJasperandEmmetttook,orrather"accompanied",Fredericktothemansion,outofhearingdistancebeforeheturnedtome."Wouldyoumindtoexplainwhywashehere?Withyou?Alone?"heasked,"Whenyouknowforsurethatwe'rejustacoupleofmilesaway,"hecontinued,"Andhehadn'tbeenvegetarianforlong,whatwithallthethreeheartbeatsnow.Areyoutryingtomakemelosethelastinchesofmysanity?BecauseIthinkIalreadydidwhenyourhusbandcalledsayingthathissisterwaswaitingforyouandyoudidn'tshowupandyourcellphoneisdead."Histonemademeflinch."YoumadeusallextremelyworriedthatIcalledAlice-"hesneeredhername,"Whotoldme,verycasually,thatFrederick,Caius'psychiciswithyouatyourhouse!"Hecontinued,"WhatwasIsupposedtothink?Whenshecouldn'tseeyourfutureanymore?"Isighed."Daddy,shecan'tseemyfuturemostofthetimebecauseofJacob,"Itriedtoreason,"AndI'msorryIdidthat,Ijustthoughtyouwouldn'tbeverywelcomingifIbroughthimtothemansion,"Isaid,"Andnothinghappened.Alicemostprobablycan'tseemyfuturenowbecauseJacob-"OhmyGod.Jacob.Ihadtocallhim.Daddysighedandleanedtokissmyforehead."Iswearyouandyourmotheraregoingtoprovethatvampirescouldhaveheartattacksafterall,"hewhisperedasIhuggedhim.Hepulledawayjusttogetout

hisphoneandgiveittome."Callhimbeforehecomeshere,too,"hesaidandItookitanddialedJacob'snumber.Heansweredimmediately."Didyoufindher?"heasked,histonefrantic,obviouslyexpectingDaddy.

"I'mfine,Jake,"Ianswered.Hesighedintothephone.

"Whathappened?"heasked,concernedbutalittlebitrelaxed."Um-Wehadsome-"Ipaused,"unexpectedvisitorwhometmeonmywaytotheRezandmycelldiedbeforeIcouldcallyou,"Isaid.

"Unexpectedvisitor?"hesaid,"Whatkindofunexpectedvisitor?"heasked.Dadd

ymotionedformetogivehimthephoneandIdid."Donotcomehererightnow,Jacob,"hewarnedbeforeheexplained,"It'sFrederickHansel,Caius'own'fortune-teller'."HeusedJake'swords.IcouldhearJacob's"WHAT"frommyplace."HeiswithCarlislenow,inthemainhouse,andRenesmeeisathome,"hesaid,"AndshewouldbegoingtotheReservationinafewsoyouwouldn'thavetoworry."Hepaused."Wewilldiscussthatwhenyoucomethisafternoon."Anotherpause,"Alright."Hehandedmethephone."Youowemeaverylong,verydetailedexplanation,Ness.Youknowthat?"Isighed.

"Ido,Jake."

Thisshouldn'tbeaproblem,right?


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Chapter6

Itriedmybesttodistractmyhalf-vampireheadfromthinkingaboutthewholeFrederickthing,well,notFrederickhimselfbuttheconsequencesofgettinghimhome,whileIwasaloneandpregnantwithtwins...etcetc.Thisisgettingboring;they'retakingthisover-protectivenessthingtoanextreme.IparkedmycarinfrontofBilly'sredhouse,sighingandgettingoutofitbutnotbeforeIlockeditandmadesureitwaslocked;lasttimeIbroughtmycararoundhereitwasn'tthatgood.IflinchedatAro'sgift'smemorybutmanagedtorecovermyexpressionbeforeIjoinedthegirlsatthebeach.Theyweresittinginaloose,half-circle.InoticedthatLeahwasn'tthere,probablywithherbrother.However,Rachel,Rebecca,Mary,Nina,Yoki,ClaireandK

imwerealreadythere.Rachelgotupwhenshesawmewithahalf-glareonherface."Wherehaveyoubeen?"SheaskedandIdebatedinmyheadwhetherornotIshouldtellher;Beccawasasafedistanceawayanyways.Idecidedtosaveitforlater;I'dhavetotellherallaboutthe'trip'toVolturitobeabletoexplainthesituationthoroughlytoher,eventhethingsmyfamilyandJacobdidn'tknowabout."Iwaslateandmycelldied,"Iexplained,smiling,"Sorry."Shesmiledbackandhuggedmequickly.

"S'Okay,"shereassured,"Nowcomejoinus!Emilywenttogetthesnacks,"shes

aidandpulledmetositrightbesideher,nexttoMarywhowaschattinganimatedlywithBecca.Igreetedthemallandtheygreetedmeback.Wespentthenexthourtalkingaboutseveral,random,totally-humantopics;likeTV,music,fashionandeven'boys'.ThoughwewerecarefulthatClairewaswithus,QuilwasabsolutelystrictwhenitcametoClaireandboys.Emilyhadtoldhimtoloosenupabit;thegirl'snine!Wejustkeptittoaminimum."Boyssuck,"Clairemuttered,crossingherarmsoverherchestasiftoconfirmit.Weallglancedateachother,Icouldseeweallhadnocluewherethiscamefrom.Emily,heraunt,decidedtospeakfirst."Whyareyousayingthat?"sheaskedseriously,"Yourcousinisgonnabeaboy,

youknow,"shelaughedandClairelaughedalong.

"Randy'sgonnabeagoodboy,"shesaid,innocently,whichconfusedusevenfurther."Didsomethinghappen,Claire?"Emilyaskedwhileweallstayedsilent.Clairejustlookedattheocean,herblackhairflowingassheremovedherbangsfromhereyes."DidQuildosomething?"EmilypushedwhichcaughtClaire'sattentionimmediately,shelookedatheraunt.


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"WhatdoesQuilhavetodowithanyofthis?"Shesaid,annoyed.Emilysighedandshrugged.

"Nothing,nothing,"shesaid,"So,areyougonnatellwhathappened?"

"Nope,"Clairesaidandshookherheaddefiantly."Anddon'ttellQuilaboutanyofthis,"shedemanded."Oh,yeah?"Emilysaid,"Why?"shetriedtoknowwhatwaswrongwithClairebutshegaveheran"I'm-not-that-stupid"look.Sherolledhereyesafterawhile.

"BecauseIdon'twanthimtoknow,"shesaid."Youdon'twantmetoknowwhat?"Quilappeared,literally,outofnowherealongwiththerestoftheguys,sansEmbry,SethandJake,ofcourse.

IcouldhearherheartloseitspaceandIwassurehecouldhearit,too."IthinkIsaidthiswasagirls-onlything,"Rachelmadesurehervoicewasheard,glancingatPaulwhonodded.

"Yeah,sorry,"hesaid,"We'regoingnow,"heannouncedandSamagreed.QuilsighedandjustruffledherhairbeforeheleftwiththemtowardsBilly's.

"ThanksRach,"shewhisperedinherearandfixedherhair.

Theneveryonegotintosmalltalks,eatingwhatwasleftofEmily'sburgers,whichIdiscoveredwerereallydelicious.

Awhileafter,Ninasaidshewantedtotalktome.Inoddedandgotuptojoinheracoupleoffeetawaytobeoutofhearingdistance."Um-Ness,I'msorryforwhathappenedtheotherdaywithCollin,"sheapologized,"Really,hedidn-"Icutheroff.

"No,no,it'sokay,"Ireassured,"Iexcusehim."Shegrimaced.ThenIrecalledwhatJakehadsaidaboutAmy...

"Nina,doesyoursisterknowwhereAmyisnow?"Isuddenlyasked,"SethisreallymessedupandJakewouldn'tstophimifhewantstofollowhertoSeattle."Hereyeswidened.

"Followherthere?"sherepeated,"Really?"Inodded."Yokipromisednottotell.""Soshedoesknow?"Isaid,shebitherlipbutnodded.Iassumedshedidn'ttellBradysheknew;hewould'vethoughtaboutitandJakeorSethwould'veknown.Ididn'tknowwhattodothenbutIhadtotellJacob.Wegotbacktothegirlsafterawhile.

"Nessie!"Marycalled,Ilookedatherquestioningly."Didyouguysknowthegendersyet?"sheasked.Shewasexcitedaboutthiswholething.

"No,"Ianswered,"Notyet."IjustaddedthelastpartforBecca'ssake."Let'sgetinsidenow,shallwe?"Rachelsaidafterawhile,"It'sgettingcoldhere."Itwas.Theyallnodded.

"Definitely,"shesaid,"Wouldn'twanttocatchacold,"shemurmured.


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JacobBlack

Iwasgoingcrazierbythesecond,wonderingwhatthispsychicwantedfromNessieandworryingabouther.Didsomethinghappen?DoestheVolturiwantsomethingfromheragain?Ishudderedatthethought.IknewforsureRenesmeewasnowwithmysistersandtheotherimprintsatthebeachbutIcouldn'thelpbutkeepthinkingaboutthatissuemnotexpectingwhatI'mgoinghometonow.

"Justdropit,Jake,"Embrysaid,closingthehoodoftheJaguarIhadopenedandjuststoodstaringat,"Youcan'tworklikethat."Ishookmyheadinanattempttoshakeawaythethoughtsbuttheywerestillthere."I'mjust-"Iwascutoffbythevibrationinmybackpocket.IsnatchedtheBlackBerryoutimmediatelyandopenedthetextmessageIhadreceived.ItwasfromRachel'sphone.

Hey.We'reatBilly's.YokiknowswhereAmyis,exactly.I'mheadinghomeinawhile.~Nessie.IjuststaredatthephoneuntilEmbrytookitfrommyhand.

SoYokiknewwhereAmywasanddidn'ttellanybody?Whatkindofmesseduplogicisthat?

Thegirlhadbeenwanderingaroundthestatefortwodaysnow.Andshewasthirteen!Whileherimprint/bestfriend/soulmatejustkeptlosingever

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