when she was looking for her brother and when she was looking for me。 She alternated between anxious
glances and murderous glares。
I could hear Jacob and Rosalie outside on the front steps bickering quietly over whose turn it was to
feed Renesmee。 Their relationship was as antagonistic as ever； the only thing they agreed on now was
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that I should be kept away from my baby until I was one hundred percent recovered from my temper
tantrum。 Edward had disputed
their verdict； but I'd let it go。 I wanted to be sure； too。 I was worried； though； that my one hundred
percent sure and their one hundred percent sure might be very different things。
Other than their squabbling； Seth's slow breathing； and Leah's annoyed panting； it was very quiet。
Emmett； Alice； and Esme were hunting。 Jasper had stayed behind to watch me。 He stood unobtrusively
behind the newel post now； trying not to be obnoxious about it。
I took advantage of the calm to think of all the things Edward and Seth had told me while Carlisle
splinted Seth's arm。 I'd missed a whole lot while I was burning； and this was the first real chance to catch
up。
The main thing was the end of the feud with Sam's pack—which was why the others felt safe to come
and go as they pleased again。 The truce was stronger than ever。 Or more binding； depending on your
viewpoint； I imagined。
Binding； because the most absolute of all the pack's laws was that no wolf ever kill the object of another
wolfs imprinting。 The pain of such a thing would be intolerable for the whole pack。 The fault； whether
intended or accidental； could not be forgiven； the wolves involved would fight to the death—there was no
other option。 It had happened long ago； Seth told me； but only accidentally。 No wolf would ever
intentionally destroy a brother that way。
So Renesmee was untouchable because of the way Jacob now felt about her。 I tried to concentrate on
the relief of this fact rather than the chagrin； but it wasn't easy。 My mind had enough room to feel both
emotions intensely at the same time。
And Sam couldn't get mad about my transformation； either； because Jacob—speaking as the rightful
Alpha—had allowed it。 It rankled to realize over and over again how much I owed Jacob when I just
wanted to be mad at him。
I deliberately redirected my thoughts in order to control my emotions。 I considered another interesting
phenomenon； though the silence between the separate packs continued； Jacob and Sam had discovered
that Alphas could speak to each other while in their wolf form。 It wasn't the same as before； they couldn't
hear every thought the way they had prior to the split。 It was more like speaking aloud； Seth had said。
Sam could only hear the thoughts Jacob wanted to share； and vice versa。 They found they could
communicate over distance； too； now that they were talking to each other again。
They hadn't found all this out until Jacob had gone alone—over Seth's and Leah's objections—to explain
to Sam about Renesmee； it was the only time he'd left Renesmee since first laying eyes on her。
Once Sam had understood how absolutely everything had changed； he'd come back with Jacob to talk
to Carlisle。 They'd spoken in human form （Edward had refused to leave my side to translate）； and the
treaty had been renewed。 The friendly feeling of the relationship； however； might never be the same。
One big worry down。
But there was another that； though not as physically dangerous as an angry wolf pack； still seemed more
urgent to me。
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Charlie。
He'd spoken to Esme earlier this morning； but that hadn't kept him from calling again； twice； just a few
minutes
ago while Carlisle treated Seth。 Carlisle and Edward had let the phone ring。
What would be the right thing to tell him？ Were the Cullens right？ Was telling him that I'd died the best；
the kindest way？ Would I be able to lie still in a coffin while he and my mother cried over me？
tt didn't seem right to me。 But putting Charlie or Renee in danger of the Volturi's obsession with secrecy
was clearly out of the question。
There was still my idea—let Charlie see me； when I was ready for that； and let him make his own wrong
assumptions。 Technically； the vampire rules would remain unbroken。 Wouldn't it be better for Charlie if
he knew that I was alive—sort of—and happy？ Even if I was strange and different and probably
frighteningtohim？
My eyes； in particular； were much too frightening right now。 How long before my self…control and my
eye color were ready for Charlie？
〃What's the matter； Bella？〃 Jasper asked quietly； reading my growing tension。 〃No one is angry with
you〃—alow snarl from the riverside contradicted him； but he ignored it—〃or even surprised； really。 Well；
I suppose we are surprised。 Surprised that you were able to snap out of it so quickly。 You did well。
Better than anyone expects of you。〃
While he was speaking； the room became very calm。 Seth's breathing slipped into a low snore。 Ifelt
more peaceful； but I didn't forget my anxieties。
〃I was thinking about Charlie； actually。〃
Out front； the bickering cut off。
〃Ah；〃 Jasper murmured。
〃We really have to leave； don't we？〃 I asked。 〃For a while； at the very least。 Pretend we're in Atlanta or
something。〃
I could feel Edward's gaze locked on my face； but I looked at Jasper。 He was the one who answered
me in a grave tone。
〃Yes。 It's the only way to protect your father。〃
I brooded for a moment。 〃I'm going to miss him so much。 I'll miss everyone here。〃
Jacob；I thought； despite myself。 Though that yearning was both vanished and defined—and I was vastly
relieved that it was—he was still my friend。 Someone who knew the real me and accepted her。 Even as a
monster。
I thought about what Jacob had said； pleading with me before I'd attacked him。 You said we belonged
in each other's lives； right？ That we were family。 You said that was how you and I were supposed
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to be。 So。。。 now we are。 It's what you wanted。
But it didn't feel like how I'd wanted it。 Not exactly。 I remembered further back； to the fuzzy； weak
memories of my human life。 Back to the very hardest part to remember—the time without Edward； a
time so dark I'd tried to bury it in my head。 I couldn't get the words exactly right； I only remembered
wishing that Jacob were my brother so that we could love each other without any confusion or pain。
Family。 But I'd never factored a daughter into the equation。
I remembered a little later—one of the many times that I'd told Jacob goodbye—wondering aloud who
he would end up with； who would make his life right after what I'd done to it。 I had said something about
how whoever she was；
she wouldn't be good enough for him。
I snorted； and Edward raised one eyebrow questioningly。 I just shook my head at him。
But as much as I might miss my friend； I knew there was a bigger problem。 Had Sam or Jared or Quil
ever gone a whole day without seeing the objects of their fixations； Emily； Kim； and Claire？ Could they？
What would the separation from Renesmee do to Jacob？ Would it cause him pain？
There was still enough petty ire in my system to make me glad； not for his pain； but for the idea of having
Renesmee away from him。 How was I supposed to deal with having her belong to Jacob when she only
barely seemed to belong to me？
The sound of movement on the front porch interrupted my thoughts。 I heard them get up； and then they
were through the door。 At exactly the same time； Carlisle came down the stairs with his hands full of odd
things—a measuring tape； a scale。 Jasper darted to my side。 As if there was some signal I'd missed； even
Leah sat down outside and stared through the window with an expression like she was expecting
something that was both familiar and also totally uninteresting。
〃Must be six；〃 Edward said。
〃So？〃 I asked； my eyes locked on Rosalie； Jacob； and Renesmee。 They stood in the doorway；
Renesmee in Rosalie's arms。 Rose looked wary。 Jacob looked troubled。 Renesmee looked beautiful and
impatient。
〃Time to measure Ness—er； Renesmee；〃 Carlisle explained。
〃Oh。 You do this every day？〃
〃Four times a day；〃 Carlisle corrected absently as he motioned the others toward the couch。 I thought I
saw Renesmee sigh。
〃Four times？ Every day？ Why？〃
〃She's still growing quickly；〃 Edward murmured to me； his voice quiet and strained。 He squeezed my
hand； and his other arm wrapped securely around my waist； almost as if he needed the support。
I couldn't ta