( outfit in
previous chapter )

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chapter two
promised.

"It's good to be back," Bella muttered back with a soft grin. Her eyes danced around the room, looking at all the smiling faces, but defensive stances. Her eyes looked down at Greyson in Carlisle's arms; another twitch of a smile coming to her face. Before she looked towards Rosalie's arms, and her smile fell as she made eye contact with her daughter. Shock overtook her features. "I was out just three days?"

Renesmee reaches outwardly towards her mother, before placing her hand on Rosalie's neck. The blonde smiled and nodded her head, "yes, that's her."

Bella, still staring at her daughter, took a mindless step forwards. Everyone jumped into action except Alice and Christina.

Emmett and Jasper were in front of Bella, blocking her view from her daughter. Edward's hands tightened around Bella's shoulders, keeping her in place. Seth had moved behind Emmett and Jasper, ready to spring if he needed to, while Carlisle remained next to Christina, noticing his wife's lack of movement with Annie in her arms. Rosalie and Jacob had moved close to the door, ready to run if needed.

This all happened within thirty seconds since Bella moved. She frowned back.

"Oh, give her some credit," Alice sighed, not moving from her relaxed position against the wall. "She wasn't going to do anything."

"She just wants to see her daughter," Christina agreed. "I remember that feeling from when I woke up too."

Bella nodded her head slowly. She took an inhale of breath, her eyes not wavering in the slightest of color. She knew that she could handle being around her daughter and new nephew. Even Annie smelled more like wolf than she did human. There was too many smells over powering the sweet scent of human, and none of them made her throat burn more than it already was.

"I'm okay," Bella promised, patting Edward's hands. She paused for a moment before muttered softly, "keep close, though, just in case."

No one moved at Bella's request; Jasper was in doubt, trying to read her emotions.

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

"Edward, the risk—"

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

Carlisle sucked in a surprised breath at Edward's words, while Christina's eyes softened. Jasper nodded in understanding, while Emmett shrugged besides him. Seth and Jacob had sad and disgusted faces on; and Rosalie and Alice weren't phased in the slightest.

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

"I know, Carlisle, I know," Edward nodded. "I should have taken the time to make sure we were in a safe zone before I set her lose."

"Don't forget, hot shot, I took a hiker down on your watch as well," Christina reminded as she bumped her hip against her husbands. "Shit happens." She quickly looked down at her daughter still in her arms. "Don't repeat that."

"Edward..."

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

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

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

"Wait," Jasper gasped, looking back up at Edward. "She didn't hurt the humans?"

"She started to," Edward explained. Bella narrowed her eyes to the ground as Edward was getting enjoyment out of the shock of everyone. "She was entirely focused on the hunt."

"What happened?" Carlisle asked, a bright smile lingering on his face. He was suddenly excited about the fact that Bella was able to refuse human blood mid-hunt. Christina had to admit that she was also interesting in know how she was able to do it.

"She heard me behind her, and got defensive. As soon as my pursuit broke into her concentration, she snapped right out of it. I've never seen anything equal her," Edward explained with a proud grin. "She realized what was happening at once, and then... she held her breath and ran away."

Christina hummed, proudly and also jealous. The mother was doing remarkably good as she was still a newborn herself, but she did take down a innocent human— and that haunted her. She only wished she had been able to snap out of it as well.

"Whoa," Emmett muttered. "Seriously?"

"He left out the part when I growled at him," Bella muttered softly. If she were a human, she would blush at the attention she had on her.

"Did you get a couple of good swipes?" Emmett asked excitedly making Christina chuckle and Carlisle scoff.

"Emmett..." Carlisle warned.

The burly vampire sighed at the lecture in Carlisle's voice, again making Christina giggle.

"Edward," Bella whispered, looking back to her daughter, who was again reaching out to her mother. "Please."

"Jazz, this isn't anything you've seen before," Alice spoke up with a knowingly glint in her eyes. "Trust me."

Jasper moved after he made eye contact with his wife. He nodded his head with a sigh, letting Bella pass him. Bella moved slowly, gaging how she felt with each step. It was going too slowly for Renesmee's liking as she let out a wail, still reaching forwards for her mother.

Everyone was quick to surround her, as Bella's feet were nailed to the floor from the cry of her daughter. Christina sighed as she placed Annie on the floor, who moved towards Seth who was still behind Bella. He immediately picked her up as she placed her head into his neck and watched.

Christina moved through the crowd of people, wondering if Renesmee was okay. "You guys are being ridiculous."

Jacob growled as the mother took Renesmee out of his arms.

"Shut it, pup," Christina snapped as she moved closer to Bella. Renesmee's hand lingering on Christina's neck in excitement. "She just wants her mother."

Bella's eyes widened as she looked down at her daughter. "She wants me?"

"Of course, she does," Christina muttered as she stopped right in front of Bella. Edward was back behind his wife with a smile gracing his face at his daughter.

"She's been waiting for you for three days," Edward commented.

"You have no idea how much she adores you," Christina smiled.

Bella stepped forwards again, keeping in mind at how Jacob was shaking next to Christina as Renesmee reaches outward for Bella. The new mother reached for her daughter, before cradling her in her arms with a grin gracing her face.

Jacob's hands reached out to grab the young girl if needed, but Christina snapped her teeth towards him, not liking the possessive attitude. "Knock it off, she's fine."

Renesmee reached up and blinded Bella with a touch of her hand to the face. Edward tightened his hold on Bella, just encase her reaction was bad towards their daughter's gift.

"What... was that?" Bella murmured as she broke out of her daughter's vision.

"What did you see?" Christina asked, with a knowing smile on her face.

"What did she show you?" Rosalie asked, looking around Jacob's shoulder to grin at the baby.

"She showed me that?" Bella asked, looking down at her daughter.

"I told you it was hard to explain," Edward chuckled. "But effective as means of communications go."

"What was it?" Jacob asked.

"Uh— me, I think. But I looked terrible," Bella explained.

"Well, I mean—" Christina cut off from Bella's mock glare. She smiled sheepishly.

"It was the only memory she had of you," Edward explained, his voice dark as he remembered the scare on the operation table. "She's letting you know that she's made the connection, that she knows who you are."

"But how did she do that?" Bella asked.

"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future?" Edward shrugged.

"How did I have a baby?" Christina asked as she grabbed Greyson out of Carlisle's arms. The two babies grinned at each other as they reached out and touched hands, Renesmee communicating with him.

Bella's mouth opened as she really looked at Greyson in Christina's arms. "He looks just like you," she whispered.

Christina shrugged with a smile. "I think he looks more like Carlisle— but I digress."

"Where's Annie?" Bella looked behind her and grinned at the six year old.

Annie wiggled in Seth's arms as she made eye contact with her aunt. Seth looked to the mother quickly, before getting a nod of her head. Her and Carlisle were right here and could protect her easily.

True to her words, Carlisle was quick to pick up Annie as she ran over to the group. The young girl smiled at her aunt, quickly noticing the difference from the last time she saw her.

"You're like Daddy and Uncle Edward now!" Annie giggled, making a smile come to Bella's face.

"Finally—"

"Haven't we experimented enough for one day?" Jacob interrupted, stepping closer to reach out to Renesmee. "Okay, Bella's doing great, but let's not push it."

Jasper shuffled closer with unease as Bella glared towards Jacob. Christina smirked towards Emmett over her shoulder making him lowly chuckle.

"What is your problem, Jacob?" She snapped.

"Just because I understand doesn't mean I won't throw you out, Jacob," Edward snapped as well. Christina just smirked down at Greyson, remembering when it was Annie instead of Renesmee.

Bella continued to stare deeply at Jacob as he looked down at Renesmee with worry. She hissed as it finally started to make sense. "No!"

Carlisle pushed Christina and Greyson behind him at Bella's snap. He had Annie tucked behind his legs, holding his arm out in front of her, blocking her from Bella's rage. Christina, although worried for the kids, was smirking towards Jacob knowing he was going to get it.

Jacob had gripped onto Renesmee at Bella's snap, as Edward wrapped his arms around Bella's chest; constricting her from moving.

"Rose," Bella muttered between clenched teeth. "Take Renesmee." The blonde was quick to grab onto the baby and stepped behind Emmett and Jasper. "Edward, I don't want to hurt you, so please let go of me."

Edward hesitated but nodded his head and walked in front of Rosalie. Bella was immediately in a crouch as Edward moved away, a growl exiting her throat. She took two steps forward, Jacob backing outside of the open back door with his hands up.

"You didn't," she snarled.

Christina excitedly handed Greyson over to Rosalie, as the blonde moved towards the couch away from the commotion. "Annie, stay inside with Rose."

Annie sighed but listened, sitting at the coffee table to finish her drawing.

Christina stood next to Carlisle and Emmett as they watched Bella stalk Jacob.

"You know it's not something I can control—"

"How could you?!"

"It wasn't my idea, Bella!" Jacob defended.

"She's a baby!" Bella pushed Jacob onto the ground, making him roll near the end of the property.

"It's not like that! You think Edward would let me live if it was?" Jacob pointed out, before pointing to Christina. "You think Christina would let Seth live?"

"Still debating it," Edward muttered, a crooked smirk on his face, thinking about the possibility.

Christina chuckled as she leaned against the banister.

"I held her once!" Bella snapped, still in her crouch. "And already you think you have some moronic wolfy claim to her? She's mine!"

Jacob whined lowly. "I can share."

"Pay up," Emmett muttered towards Edward. The new father sighed before handing both him and Christina a five dollar bill. Carlisle rolled his eyes at his wife.

A silver wolf popped out of the woods with a snarl as Bella backed Jacob to the tree line. A sandy colored wolf followed after her, stepping between her and Bella. He whined as he looked between the two arguing.

Bella snarled deeply back towards Leah, standing her ground.

"Cool it, Leah," Jacob waved her off, making her growl in response.

"You're gonna stay away from her," Bella snarled as she stepped closer to him again.

"You know I can't do that—"

Bella punched Jacob across the face, making him fall to the ground. Christina whistled lowly with a smirk. "That's my girl."

Carlisle sighed. "Don't encourage her," he muttered down to his wife before looking towards Edward. "Stop her before she does something she regrets."

Edward waved his father's concern off. "He said it's fine. She's amazing, right?"

"Gotta give it to her," Christina nodded. "She hasn't even gone for the throat once."

"Do you remember how much you wanted to be around me three days ago?" Jacob asked, dusting his jeans off as he stood back up to his full height. "That's gone now, right?"

Bella nodded once. "Long gone."

"Because it was her," Jacob explained. "From the beginning it was Nessie who wanted me there."

"Uh, oh..." Christina whistled as she stood back up, watching Bella's body shake at Jacob's words.

"Nessie?" She snapped. "You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness monster?!"

Bella lunged towards Jacob, rage filling her body. Seth jumped in the middle of the two, taking the injury as he got thrown into a tree, making Christina gasp. Bella immediately snapped out of her rage as she looked down at Seth.

"Seth, are you okay?" Jacob asked as Leah helped Seth stand back up.

He nodded his big head as Leah snarled towards Bella. He favored his left leg as the other one stayed up, clearly landing on it incorrectly.

"Seth, I'm so sorry," Bella gasped as she looked at the young wolf. He nodded his head at the newborn, knowing that it wasn't exactly her fault.

"He'll be alright," Jacob sighed as he turned back to Bella. "You know me better than anyone. All I want is for Ness—" He paused as he looked at Bella's glare return from the nickname. "Renesmee to be safe. Happy. Look, nothing ever made sense before. You. Me. Any of it. And now I understand why. This is the reason."

Bella sighed, letting go of the anger that set a fire in her veins. She was still wary of Jacob imprinting on her daughter. She didn't have to like it, but she could try and deal with it— until he stepped one foot out of line.

"Seth," Christina called out to the sandy wolf. "Come inside. I'll reset your shoulder."

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Ah poor Seth. He always gets the brute attacks 🥺