AFTER BARELY MISSING OUR FLIGHT, WE FINALLY managed to arrive at Forks. To our surprise, the town was basked in sunshine despite the winter season. Prior to our arrival, Carlisle and Esme had warned us about Renesmee's unique appearance. Despite being born only three months ago, she already resembled a four-year-old child. This revelation left us in awe, as we realised that she could grow at an accelerated rate.

During the plane ride, my mind was consumed with thoughts of what the Cullen child would look like. Would she take after her mother Bella or her father Edward? Perhaps it would be a combination of both, but that seemed too good to be true.

As we approached the Cullen household on foot, we were greeted by a magnificent house that paled in comparison to our own mansion. Dad knocked on the front glass door, and we watched as Edward raced to answer it. His golden eyes were filled with desperation as he welcomed us inside. He was dressed in a clean white shirt and denim jeans, with his bronze hair styled in a quiff.

"Gabriel," he said in his silky voice. "I'm glad you're here."

"Whenever a friend is in need, we stand by them," Dad declared with a reassuring smile. "Do we have any other witnesses present?"

"So far, only the Denali Coven..."

"I presume they were aware of Irina's situation?" Joseph inquired, to which Edward gave a solemn nod.

"Edward, have they arrived?" Bella's voice echoed from the upper floor.

"Hi, Bella!" I chimed in, eager to welcome her.

"Please, do come in," Edward invited us, leading the way into the house.

As we ascended the stairs, my eyes wandered over to Bella, who was standing with a little girl in front of her. The child's innocent face was a stark contrast to Bella's now amber eyes, which watched us with a concerned stare. I couldn't quite place the room we had entered, but it seemed to be a living space of some sort. Bella's brown hair flowed more freely than I remembered from her human days, and her skin was as pale as mine. Yet, she still looked like the same Bella Swan I had known. Correction, Bella Cullen.

She was dressed in a dark grey-sleeved top and black leggings, a far cry from the frumpy clothes she used to wear. Life as a newborn must have been treating her well, until this moment.

"Hello," Bella greeted us, her voice unchanged.

I couldn't help but gasp at her appearance. "Wow, Bella. You look... the same. Except for the eyes."

"Thanks," she replied with a small smile. "And I see you have gold eyes now."

As I stood there, I heard a voice that was all too familiar. It was a Slavic accent, and it belonged to none other than Tanya. I turned my head and saw her coven, but Irina was nowhere to be found. My dad was busy greeting Eleazar and Carmen, but Tanya and her crew were staring at me expectantly.

"So, you're not going to greet us?" Tanya asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. I knew I should have said hello, but I was too busy staring at the little girl in front of me. She was the spitting image of Edward, with long bronze hair and chocolate brown eyes that reminded me of Bella's human days. She was dressed in a cute little purple dress with denim shorts and dark tights, and her turquoise welly boots completed the look.

I couldn't help but stare at her, trying to see if there was any hint of a vampire in her appearance. But she looked like any other three or four-year-old human child. It was hard to believe that she was half-vampire.

Carmen must have noticed my hesitation because she leaned over to Tanya and suggested that they let the Khotlers see the child up close before they started talking. I smiled at Tanya briefly before turning my attention back to the little girl. She looked up at me with those big brown eyes, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness wash over me.

I knew that I had to greet Tanya and her coven properly, but for now, all I could think about was this little girl in front of me. She was a miracle, a half-vampire child who looked so human that it was hard to believe she was anything but.

As I leaned in closer to the girl, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. I expected to hear the familiar thump-thump of a human heart, but what I heard was far from ordinary. It started off slow, almost hesitant, before picking up speed for a brief moment and then returning to its previous pace.

My eyes widened in amazement as I turned to my companions, unable to contain my excitement. "Did you hear that?" I exclaimed, a grin spreading across my face.

Joseph's voice came from behind me, his tone incredulous. "I heard it too, but vampires don't have heartbeats."

Mum chimed in, her voice filled with wonder. "I can feel her warmth," she said, her hand resting on the girl's arm.

Simon nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Me too. It's like she's alive, but not quite."

Edward, always the sceptic, spoke up. "You all are surprisingly calm about this," he observed.

Rhona, ever the voice of reason, replied calmly. "Well, Carlisle did tell us before we got here."

As we stood there, marvelling at the mystery before us, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. What secrets did this girl hold? And how would she change our lives forever?

As I stood there, my eyes fixated on the child before me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Her gaze was unwavering, her brown eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. Her lips were pursed, a thin line etched across her face as she studied me with a curious expression.

I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind. Was she trying to figure out who we were? Were we here for her parents? The questions swirled around in my head as I tried to make sense of the situation.

Finally, I mustered up the courage to speak. "So, you're... Renesmee?" I said her name slowly, trying to make sure I got it right.

To my surprise, the girl smiled at me, as if to confirm that I had indeed pronounced her name correctly. But before I could say anything else, a familiar voice interrupted.

"But you can call her Ness," Jacob Black said, striding into the room with a confidence that made my cold blood boil.

As my eyes shifted away from Renesmee, I caught sight of Jacob Black making his way through the living room. My teeth clenched together, my lips pursed tightly as a memory of him flooded my mind.

It was at the reception when it all went down. He despised Edward and all vampires, so why was he even here?

"Violet," Jacob began, his voice breaking through my thoughts. "I want to take this opportunity to apologize to you."

I looked at him, my confusion evident.

"It wasn't your fault that Victoria put you in that situation. I should have been more level-headed when you approached me. And after seeing Bella like this, I realized that she's still the same person. Except for the freaky eyes," he added with a chuckle.

Bella let out a small laugh, finding the humor in his words.

"I just want to say sorry to you," Jacob continued, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "Will you forgive me?"

I bit my lip, my gaze locked onto Jacob's dark brown eyes. I should have despised him months ago, but there was something about the sincerity in his voice that made me pause.

"Okay," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I forgive you."

A smile spread across Jacob's face, relief washing over him. And in that moment, I realised that forgiveness was a powerful thing.

Renesmee's delicate fingers hovered in the air, poised as if to strike my face. I couldn't help but flinch, but Bella's reassuring voice cut through my fear.

"Are you okay?" I asked the child, trying to keep my voice steady.

"That's how she communicates," Bella explained, her effortless grace as she lifted Renesmee into her arms leaving me in awe.

As Bella approached me, Renesmee's tiny hand remained outstretched, her palm hovering just inches from my cheek. And then, with a gentle touch, her fingers brushed against my skin, sending a jolt of electricity through my body...

Edward's lips curved upwards, a small trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. His obsidian eyes remained fixed ahead, but his expression was one of pure contentment.

"Renesmee," he chuckled, the sound of his voice akin to that of a proud father.

My gaze shifted to Bella, who lay motionless on what appeared to be a surgical table. Her body was battered and broken, her once vibrant brown eyes now sunken and lifeless. Her stomach was a mess of shredded flesh, the result of a brutal attack.

Despite her injuries, a weak smile graced her lips.

"Beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

I blinked, my eyes slowly adjusted to the scene before me. Renesmee, the half-human, half-vampire child, was cradled in Bella's arms once again. Her tiny hand was no longer pressed against my cheek, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss at its absence.

"What was that?" I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.

"That's her first memory," Bella replied, her voice soft and gentle.

"Her memory?" Rhona darted past me, her eyes fixed on the child. "Show me!"

Renesmee lifted her hand and placed it on Rhona's cheek. For a few fleeting seconds, the two of them were locked in a moment of pure connection. Then, just as quickly, Renesmee withdrew her hand.

Rhona's smile grew wider, and she turned to face the rest of us. "She's not immortal," she declared, her eyes shining with wonder. "She can show you her memory."

Joseph, always the sceptic, approached the child with caution. "I knew there was something about that kid," he muttered under his breath.

And then, one by one, Renesmee shared her memories with us. Each one was more vivid and breathtaking than the last, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the child's power.

As the memories unfolded, it became clear that Renesmee was not the immortal child that Irina had feared. She was something else entirely - a hybrid, with powers beyond our wildest dreams.