A/N: First Twilight fic -bites nails- A fiction that doesn’t involve Zac Efron -bites nails harder- But since me luffs the Twilight series, I knew I had to give this a go!

To all my High School Musical fic readers, no, I haven’t forgotten them and updates will be delivered very shortly. To those finding me through the Twilight fandom… hi, I’m Holly! ;)

Please give honest reviews about this story; since it’s my first Twilight and have found it considerably more difficult than anything I’ve written for a fandom, I’d like to know how I’m faring.

I would like to give a big shout out and lots of love to Kelly (runninequalslife) for all her help with beta-ing and keeping me on the right track. Thank you, Kells! xx

Hope you enjoy, y’all. Holly xxx

“Can’t Fight The Devil” copyright hollybaggins; April 9th 2009

This is a derivate piece of fiction featuring characters copyrighted and trademarked by Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment. It is based upon Twilight by Stephenie Meyer;copyright 2005 by Atom Publishers, all rights reserved; New Moon by Stephenie Meyer;copyright 2007 by Atom Publishers, all rights reserved; Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer; copyright 2007 by Atom Publishers, all rights reserved; and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer; copyright 2008 by Atom Publishers, all rights reserved. It is also based upon Twilight, copyright 2008 by Summit Entertainment, all rights reserved.The author is not connected with nor is this work authorised by Atom Publishers and Summit Entertainment, or any other publishers or motion picture studios. This work is solely intended for posting on Fanfiction, for the benefit and enjoyment of its intended audience. No commercial or financial benefit accrues or is intended to accrue to the author as a result of said posting. Any unauthorised copying or redistribution of this work might subject the party responsible for such unauthorized copying or redistribution to legal action by the owners of the aforementioned copyrights and trademarks.

Can’t Fight The Devil

She was standing there by the broken tree,
Her hands were all twisted; she was pointing at me;
I was damned by the light coming out of her eyes;
She spoke with a voice that disrupted the sky.
She said, 'Come on over to the bitter shade,
I will wrap you in my arms and you'll know you've been saved'
Let me sign, let me sign, can't fight the devil so just let me sign.

- Let Me Sign by Robert Pattinson

Chapter One

Renesmee Carlie Cullen was, by most standards, not your average sixteen-month-old baby. Her rapid growth and ageing capabilities, along with her special preferred diet and extraordinary way of communicating were only three of the unlimited testaments to that fact. But brushing those facts aside, you were met with a seemingly normal (even if unnaturally beautiful) looking four-year-old who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, and like any other child at her visible age, was fascinated by absolutely anything and everything.

Her long bronze ringlets bounced playfully along the length of her back everytime her Uncle Emmett made her giggle. She was seated in his lap, her chocolate brown orbs gazing up at him in wonder and astonishment as he curled his fingers into the shape of a rabbits head and bounced it up and down in the air.

“…and Fred the Bunny wasn’t just a normal bunny-rabbit, oh no!” Emmett’s features feigned shocked and surprise as Renesmee gasped with wide eyes at the excitement lingering in his voice. “Fred the Bunny was a vampire bunny!”

Renesmee’s delicate hands gripped the front of Emmett’s shirt as he smirked at the reactions he was invoking in her. Making up pretend fairytales had almost become a hobby of his; just the sight of his beautiful niece’s face lighting up everytime he told another made up story made him overwhelmed with love for her - and secretly wish that he’d been able to have a child of his own; to have given Rosalie a child of their own.

Still, impossibility wasn’t something to focus on. It had been deemed impossible for Edward and Bella to conceive… but who could have known a vampire and a human could create a life together? Emmett knew there was no point in dwelling on any kind of hope that two vampires could. That was certain.

“And what does Fred eat, Uncle Emmett?” Renesmee’s grip on her uncle’s shirt tightened with anticipation. “Does he eat carrots like normal bunnies?”

Emmett grinned wickedly and continued to bounce his rabbit-shaped hand in the air just above Renesmee’s eye-line. “Oh no! Carrots are just yucky! Would you eat a carrot, Nessie?” At this question, Renesmee’s nose scrunched up. Emmett chuckled. “I thought not. Guess that’s another thing your daddy can cross off the list of human foods they want you to eat.”

“Yuck.” Renesmee shook her head, clearly not happy with the idea of a plate of carrots being thrust in front of her. Edward and Bella would just have to keep trying in their hopes of a semi-normal life for their daughter. “So what does Fred eat?”

“Hmm…” Emmett put on his best thinking face and furrowed his brows together. Renesmee was practically bouncing on his lap again in her excitement. “I think Fred the Bunny would eat… grizzly bears.”

Renesmee’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Like a big grizzly bear? Like you eat?”

“What can I say, Nessie? Fred the Bunny obviously has good taste.”

“But wouldn’t he get full-up? His tummy must get awful big and then it must really hurt. Last week, Jake and I caught three elks! And we got all full, didn’t we, Jake?” Renesmee extended her tiny arm over to poke Jacob in the bicep. Jacob, who had been sitting beside Emmett and Renesmee and quietly playing on Emmett’s Nintendo Wii, turned his face to the young half-vampire and smiled softly at her.

“We did, munchkin. And you beat me to it again.”

Looking beyond smug and proud of herself, Renesmee folded her arms tightly over her chest and glared back up at Emmett. “See? Now if Jacob and me can get full from three elk, how can Fred the Bunny eat a whole bear?”

“He’s…” Emmett struggled. “Magic.”

“Magic?”

“He got bitten by a unicorn in an enchanted forest and it gave him powers.”

Beside him, Jacob scoffed. “Your story was lame to begin with and now it’s a whole lot worse.”

“Sit down, dog.” Emmett nudged him and Jacob laughed at the joke insult.

“A unicorn?” Renesmee raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never even seen a unicorn. How can a unicorn exist?”

“Says the half-breed!” Emmett chuckled at her. “Don’t you want to hear about Fred the Bunny?”

“Yes. But I don’t believe the part about the unicorn.”

Emmett looked exasperated. “You’re just as stubborn as your dad! And that’s not a good thing either, Nessie! Now, you either believe that Fred the Bunny was bitten by a magical unicorn in an enchanted forest or I can take you in the kitchen and force feed you carrots. Your choice.”

“Fred the Bunny, please.” She grinned a twinkling grin. Emmett wondered just who on earth couldn’t fall for this child? He knew that it was Renesmee’s own charm and grace that had eventually swayed the Volturi a year or so previous. They had all been certain they were doomed to die; falling back on a plan that they weren’t even sure would work. But Renesmee’s bravery in standing up to Aro… to holding her own and showing him what she could do and highlighting her loving and harmless nature. Emmett was sure that no one on this earth - not even another vampire or any kind of creature would be able to look her in her beautiful eyes and think any kind of evil thought. Everything about her was to love - even her inherited temper tantrums and stubbornness from her father.

“Okay, so, enchanted forest, magical unicorn…” Emmett placed his fingers in the right position and again bounced them in the air mimicking his made-up character’s poise. “Fred the Bunny loved grizzly bears but he was a nice bunny-rabbit. He never hurt humans.”

“Like Grandpa Charlie?”

“Exactly like Grandpa Charlie,” Emmett smiled as his niece’s expression turned back to awe-struck. “It was part of Fred’s magic. He could hop really, really fast,” here, Emmett’s hand-hopping sped up as Renesmee’s eyes followed dutifully, “he could even fly…” Emmett stopped the hopping and swept his bunny-shaped hand through the air, causing Renesmee’s head to roll back and forth as she followed. “And sometimes, when he would just spend his days flying round and round and round… he’d look out for cute and annoying little half-breeds such as yourself…”

Renesmee’s eyes widened again, but not from anticipation. “Oh no, Uncle Emmett…”

“Oh yes, Nessie.” Emmett wiggled his eyebrows as she began to squirm in his lap. Most of his stories always ended up in the same fashion. “Fred the Bunny liked to hunt down cute and annoying little half-breeds… and guess what he did to them once he caught them…”

“Don’t you dare!” She spluttered as she tried in vain to get out of his tight grasp. “Jake, stop him!”

“Did you hear something, Emmett?” Jacob looked up in the air, feigning ignorance. “I was sure I heard something.”

“Sounded like a cute and annoying little half-breed to me,” Emmett answered distantly before facing his bunny-hand directly at Renesmee. “Uh oh… Fred the Bunny has spotted his prey.”

“Oh no, he hasn’t!” Renesmee wiggled her tiny body, kicking her legs and flailing her arms as Emmett’s grasp tightened on her and he swooped his hand down slowly towards her. “No! No! No!”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Emmett retorted. “It’s too late for mercy, Ness. Fred’s seen you now and he’s gonna do to you what he does to every cute and annoying half-breed he sees…”

“No!”

“Nessie…” he cooed. “Are you prepared for the Fred the Bunny tickle fest?”

“No!” She squealed, trying to reach out to Jacob who was more determined to keep his eyes on his game and not smile lovingly at her. But as much as she squealed and squirmed and tried to sink her teeth into her uncle’s wrist (something her parents would have immediately chastised her for), Emmett’s infectious laughter was just too determined and he spread his fingers wide as they came into contact with Renesmee’s stomach and he proceeded in tickling her to death. Her laughter and screams bounced off the walls - Carlisle often commented that it was Renesmee’s laugh that made the house suddenly seem so alive and so much more heavenly. He had admitted on more than one occasion that he’d originally believed it was Bella who completed their close-knit family. Now, he along with every other occupant of the household knew it was Renesmee that was that piece of their dead hearts they didn’t even know they were craving.

Upon hearing the commotion from the kitchen of the Cullen house, Rosalie and Esme walked into the main room and simultaneously smiled at the sight of Renesmee trying in vain to fight her childish uncle off her.

“Really, Emmett, she’s going to become immune to your tricks one day.” Esme shook her head slowly in amusement as Emmett quickly released Renesmee and she scurried out of his arms and towards her ever-loving grandma. “Just look at your hair now, Renesmee,” she tried to sound authoritive.

“It was him,” Renesmee answered darkly but with a playful grin still attached to her lips as she pointed at Emmett. “He can never finish a story properly. I don’t like his stories anymore; they’re all stupid. Unicorns don’t exist.”

“Hey!” Emmett sounded offended. “Up until you, Nessie Cullen, we didn’t even know you existed! Cut the unicorn some slack!”

Esme began to run her fingers affectionately through her granddaughter’s hair, placing the strands back carefully in the right places and perfecting the beautiful style that Emmett had managed to single-handedly destroy. Renesmee - much to Alice’s disgust - was never interested in her appearance, and she scowled as Esme straightened out her pale pink dress and white cardigan, pushing the tresses of hair behind her ear and making her look as though she hadn’t just walked through a bush backwards.

“So beautiful, Renesmee, so enchanting,” Esme cooed. Renesmee blushed a deep scarlet, just like her mother used to before she entered her life of immortality. “You’re getting prettier everyday.”

Not a child who’d willingly take compliments, Renesmee let out a choked giggle at her grandma and ran back over to Jacob, who was now so engrossed in his game against Emmett, he wasn’t paying attention to the death glares Rosalie was throwing in his direction. He’d accepted he’d never fight the impossible and get on her good side so knew he had no other option but to just have fun with it.

Renesmee squeezed herself between his legs and rested her tiny hands over his on the console hand controller, her eyes concentrating on the screen where Jacob was beating Emmett on yet another race of Mario Kart.

“Yes!” Jacob hollered as he crossed the finish line. “Beat that, leech!”

Emmett scoffed. “You were lucky, mongrel!”

As Emmett set up another race “for payback purposes”, Jacob scooped his arm beneath Renesmee and lifted her onto his lap so she was comfy before gesturing her control over the game. “You wanna pick out the car, Nessie? It’s really important. We’ve got to beat your Uncle Emmett again…”

“You really think teaching her mind-numbing games is going to help in her education?” Rosalie spat out from across the room. “I’d lost all hope with Emmett even before he was turned… but Nessie’s a baby. Edward’s baby, no less. You really think he’d be happy with this?”

Jacob’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Chill out, Blondie. Edward’s happy so long as Nessie’s happy.”

At his words, Renesmee lifted her hand and placed it delicately against Jacob’s jaw, showing him what she desired to know.

“Daddy’s uh…” Jacob looked around the room for some kind of help. “Daddy and momma are…”

“Creating the first earthquake in Forks’ history?” Emmett supplied with a wink.

“Spending quality time together,” Jacob filled in, nudging Emmett disapprovingly. “Why? Aren’t you having fun?”

“Lots,” Renesmee answered contentedly, focusing her eyes back on the television screen. Her concentration was broke again when the sound of Alice and Jasper entering the house filled her ears and she quickly scrambled away from Jacob to greet another set of aunt and uncle.

It was Jasper who scooped her into his arms; throwing her up in the air lightly and making her giggle caused a large smile to erupt on his features and no one could mistake the starry-eyed look in Alice’s eyes as he did so.

“Did you bring me anything?” Renesmee enquired, placing her hand against Jasper’s cheek and showing him exactly what she had in mind.

Jasper laughed heartily. “Not today, Ness. I think you’re too little right now to go for a mountain lion or two.”

“Good hunt?” Rosalie didn’t seem too interested in her own question as she sat herself besides Emmett and concentrated on pulling her hair out of the loose ponytail it had fallen into.

“It was good.” Alice floated through the room with graceful steps. “I out-hunted Jazz again.”

Jasper shook his head in amusement as he carried Renesmee back to the seating area. “Only because I’d been out hunting with Edward and Bella last week and wasn’t even thirsty…”

“Whatever,” Alice brushed her husband off with a chuckle. “It was fun but we had to cut it short.” Here, she paused and looked around the room. “Where are Edward and Bella?”

Rosalie put her file down with a surprised smile. “You didn’t see this day occurring? Oh, Alice! Even without your gift, anyone would be able to tell you they’ve spent the entire day at their cottage having raw, hot, passionate se-”

“Oi!” Emmett threw down his controller and placed his hands over Renesmee’s ears. “You can’t say sex in front of the b-a-b-y!” He hissed.

“Clever one, Emmett,” Rosalie shot back. “I’ll bear that one in mind for next time.”

“So, you were saying about having to cut the trip short, Alice…?” Esme spoke up. “Any reason in particular or does it concern those who aren’t with us?”

“Kind of. More Bella than any of us. I saw Carlisle. He’s made a decision about moving today.”

All eyes, particularly Jacob’s, turned to look at the pixie-looking vampire. Alice smiled a sweet and innocent smile as everybody began to get uncomfortable at the look on Jacob’s face.

Carlisle was unable to answer to Alice’s comment since he was at the hospital working for the remainder of the day, but despite this, the decision was only the inevitable. The family had talking about moving away from Forks before any of the residents got suspicious over their lack of ageing or thought up any more conspiracy theories about the weirdness the surrounded the Cullen’s; but even more drastic was Renesmee. She was sixteen months old, yet to look at she appeared to be three or four years. Having seemingly to have appeared out of nowhere, nobody was ever going to believe the truth - that she was Edward and Bella’s biological daughter. The pretence they’d put forward - that was she was Edward’s orphaned niece - wouldn’t hold up for much longer due to her swift growth and maturity.

They all knew it was going to happen soon. But it was Bella and Jacob who hadn’t let the idea of moving totally sink in.

“He wants to get us all together when he returns later this evening,” Alice continued. “He’s debating whether we should head up to Alaska and stay in Denali while we sort out permanent residence. I’m thinking maybe Canada…”

“Canada’s good,” Emmett shrugged his shoulders. “Haven’t done Canada in a few decades.”

“I’m excited about Denali,” Rosalie piped up. “We haven’t really spent much time with Tanya, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar since the Volturi were here. We do need to make a normal death-possibility-free visit; it‘s well overdue.”

Jasper merely nodded his head, trying to ease Jacob’s tension as best he could. Renesmee was still in his arms watching the events unfold before her.

Esme’s actions mirrored Jasper’s and she smiled an affectionate smile towards Jacob. He always wanted to damn the day he realised that vampires could be sweet and loving creatures too.

“I think this conversation is best set aside until Carlisle returns. Edward and Bella really need to be here too.”

“Bella’s gonna flip.” The grin on Emmett’s face couldn’t have been more obvious in regards to what he was thinking. Everybody in the entire room could picture the look on Bella’s face and subsequent desperate anger in order to pick out some rational idea in order to keep them where they were.

Jacob’s eyes remained transfixed on Alice, as if trying telepathically to tell her that this particular decision need not be made so hasty. He felt tied to La Push, Forks, and their surrounding areas because of the pack -- the pack of which he was technically the alpha, even though leadership had been passed to Sam Uley as the elder and wiser of the tribe. He couldn’t ignore the legends that were connected to his ancestors, couldn’t ignore the fact that he was part of something unique, something of great importance with an even greater purpose… He had been put on this world to protect, and therefore had to stay with his pack in order to fulfil this.

But he couldn’t bear to be apart from Renesmee. And it was as simple as that. Imprinting certainly had a strange effect on the lives of all those who fell under it, and Jacob was no different. But he also found, as strange as it was to himself, that he’d actually miss the Cullens. Every single one of them. And they were a family he’d once despised and once would never have thought twice to strike and kill.

“So, uhm…” Emmett broke the uncomfortable silence with a casual smirk. “Who’s gonna be brave and attempt to interrupt Eddie and Bells without losing any limbs?”

There was a small cough and a clearing of the throat that dulled the silence and Emmett boomed with laughter at the lack of response.

---

Isabella Cullen (nee Swan) felt as though she was finally getting used to this vampire deal. It was a little over a year since her change and she could safely say that now, with her eyes finally turning into that beautiful gold colour (even though it had happened so much faster with her than any other vampire on record), that she finally felt as though she fitted in.

Being a newborn supposedly had its troubles, but Bella had barely felt the weight of it. She’d been expecting years upon years of bloodlust for the unsuspecting and innocent humans and absolutely no recollection of her own human life beforehand. Edward had even expressed his fear of her losing her memory of him altogether, and then he’d have to convince her that he was her husband and that they were in love.

Thankfully, the first thing she appeared to want after waking up from her three days of torture was to kiss him. Just another rare and unique quality about Isabella Cullen.

She didn’t miss sleep as much as she thought she would. Now she just saw it as an annoyance, an inconvenience. She’d learnt that vampires did other things during the night whilst humans merely slept and these activities were more fun than anything else she’d experienced. Why waste those moments with sleep? Still, it didn’t hurt to have an entire day of privacy with your husband, and if that day could be spent in his arms making love on nearly every surface in your secluded and fairytale-esque cottage… well, Bella saw no cause to complain.

She pressed a small kiss on her Edward’s bare chest and grinned wickedly to herself. Had she still been human and breakable, she was certain she’d be in tatters all over the floor after the day they’d spent together.

Edward’s fingertips lightly swam through her long brunette tresses and she smiled at the familiar butterfly feeling that always emitted in her stomach whenever he touched her. He could always dazzle her without even knowing what he was doing.

“Something funny, Bella?” He enquired as he felt her lips turn upwards against his skin again. “Something you’d like to share?”

Bella furrowed her brows together and lifted her head so she could look at him as she rested her chin on his chest. “Are you sure you can’t read my mind? Or maybe I let my bubble loose again and you can hear everything and you just don’t want to tell me. Which is it, Edward?” She tried to look angry but her acting skills had never been good.

Edward just smiled and swept back the locks of her hair that had spilled over her shoulder, blocking the golden rays of the sun away from their sparkling skins. When diamonds encrusted her face again, he tilted his head upwards to place a teasing kiss on her nose. She was always nothing but beautiful to him.

“Neither, Love, I just know you too well - especially when you’re off in your own world and find something funny.”

Bella thought about his answer for a few moments, a tight smile on her features as she pondered his words. Trying to look as sly as possible, she scooted her body upwards and over his, catching his lips in a toe-curling kiss before placing her elbows on either side of his head, caging him in and offering him a delicious view of her body.

“Are you happy, Edward?” She ignored his look of surprise and rubbed her nose affectionately against his. “I know you love me and I know you love Renesmee… but are you happy? Like, really and truly happy with the way everything is?”

Edward looked beyond confused and a frown appeared on his forehead. Just as quickly as it appeared, Bella used her index finger to gently smooth out the creases and looked at him expectantly.

“Truly happy with how what is, Bella? How we are right now? The weather? Life in general? I don’t know what you mean.”

If she could still blush, she was sure she would. “Just… everything, I guess. You were never keen of the idea of me becoming a vampire; you just expected to keep me human and we’d carry on in love even when I became some old wrinkled lady until I finally died. This - how we are now - this never entered your head at any point. You never planned for this and now I just want to know… especially with my newborn status officially disappearing…” She drifted off with a small sigh. “I just want to know what you’re thinking now. Whether it’s better than what we thought it would be. Whether you’re happy with every single thing in our lives.”

“On the contrary, my love, when you were human, this is exactly the picture I’d been imagining. You and me, eternity together secured and blissful. The perfect wedding, the breathtaking married life… All that and more. And Renesmee is just a perfect miracle to make that picture all the more enthralling. Why on earth would you ever contemplate asking me that question?”

Bella shrugged, her eyes avoiding his piercing gaze. Edward’s hand came up onto her bare back and left electrifying pulses in their wake as they travelled idly back and forth over her perfected skin. “I was curious to know whether all this has lived up to expectation.”

“More than that, Bella; far more. If we were playing by the rules, you shouldn’t even by lying here with me. You should be too engrossed with your bloodlust to even think about me and you like this… We shouldn’t even have Nessie.” Bella let out a small growl at Edward’s use of their daughter’s nickname and he chuckled softly. “I’m just too happy at the fact that we’ve never played by those rules. If we had, I wouldn’t feel an ounce of the happiness I’m feeling now.”

Bella finally allowed herself to look up into his golden orbs. “If you’d played it right, we wouldn’t even be together.”

“I would have stayed in Denali indefinitely after that first day you started at Forks High. And I’d be even more miserable than I had been those previous eighty years of feeling alone. Again, I’m asking you, why would you ever think to ask such a ridiculous question?”

“Just a part of being Bella, I guess,” she responded with a shy smile. “I have to resort back to my old ways once in a while; keeping you on your toes is part of my job description.”

Edward scoffed. “Says who? Emmett? You’re the last person in the world who needs insecurities, love. The very last.”

Satisfied with his response, Bella’s smile only widened and she pressed her face to his when his grin matched hers. “I’ll never grow tired of this, Edward. Eternity will never be enough for us.” She kissed him hard before he could respond; her hands knotted themselves in the thickness of his bronze hair as she scooted up on her knees to straddle him erotically. As loud and tingling kisses were worshipped down the length of his neck, Edward let out a frustrated growl and clenched his fingers into the bed sheets.

“Emmett,” he growled again as Bella finally lifted her head from his chest. She frowned before allowing her ears to listen out for any movement occurring around the cottage. Finally hearing and sensing the ever-annoying Emmett Cullen, Bella let out her own growl of irritation.

“I swear, I’m gonna tear off all his limbs and hide them around the country so he can’t piece himself back together again. And vital organs are going to be buried fifty feet below sea level. Rosalie will be pissed for a few centuries, but it’s better than hearing them go at it at all hours of the night!”

“Says you, ‘Sis!” Emmett’s loud chuckle boomed from outside their bedroom window and Edward covered his face with his hands to try and block his brother’s thoughts from his mind. “How many hours has it been so far today? Haven’t you had enough of him yet?”

Bella gritted her teeth together and bared them, trying to sound aggressive when she growled towards the window. Emmett’s face appeared at the window, a wide grin on his face and his eyebrows wiggling suggestively, causing Edward to pick up the nearest pillow and fling it in his general direction.

“You know, you could have made yourselves look at least half decent for me. This whole picture we’ve got going on… it’s so not working for me.”

“Screw you, Emmett,” Bella shot at him, making sure the sheet securely covered both her and Edward’s modesty. “Today was supposed to be a day of privacy and you can’t even grant us that! Unless this interruption has some importance, I suggest you be on your way before I seriously rip you apart. I may not be a brand, spanking new newborn right now, but I bet I could still kick your ass!”

“Woah!” Emmett laughed, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I could be here on the most important interruption mission in the history of interruption sessions! What about young Nessie, huh? I could be here on official babysitting business!”

“There’s nothing wrong with Renesmee,” Edward said, sensing the sudden worry that captured Bella’s face in a heartbeat. “I would know if there was something wrong with Renesmee. Aside from Emmett possibly reducing her IQ level with nonsense, she’s fine.”

“I take offence at that, Eddie, I really do. Cutting me real deep there, and I came over to tell you both something. Alice had a vision and we were all talking but I figured it would be best if the family were together for the meeting. See? Aren’t I the caring vamp? But if you’re gonna start with the threats, I’ll just take my good deeds elsewhere!”

Bella narrowed her eyes suspiciously before looking over to Edward, who was staring at Emmett intently. Successfully reading his thoughts and suddenly feeling a sense of guilt towards his wife, he nodded his head and motioned for Emmett to leave so they could dress.

“Edward, what is it?” Bella blinked, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she watched Edward get out of bed and head towards their Chez-Alice closet. “What was Alice’s vision?”

Edward sighed as he dressed. “She saw Carlisle at the hospital, thinking about out evident move.” Here, Bella’s eyes widened considerably. “She saw him thinking about possible locations and the best time it would be to make our move… Everyone barring Carlisle are at the house discussing it and Emmett came over to get us to join them.”

“Moving?” Bella let out a breath. “Already?”

He felt her sadness, even without the need for her shield. “You knew it was going to happen sometime, love. We talked about it…” He couldn’t help the words choking at the back of his throat. She looked so forlorn, so saddened at the thought of leaving Forks and Edward’s self-loathing and constant need to take the blame surfaced, rearing its ugly head. Slowly, he walked back towards the bed and sat on the edge, gently pressing his fingertips to her jawline as a sign of comfort. “It was just another of the reasons I was so reluctant to have you changed, my love. I couldn’t bear the thought of taking you away from all your friends, from Charlie… and I still cannot bear it now. I’m sorry, but I thought you understood--”

“Edward,” Bella’s eyes shifted back to his, a light honey-gold colour lingering in them, taking over the vibrant red that had dominated them since she awoke from her transformation. “I do understand and I don’t regret a thing, okay? Promise me you understand that.”

There was a momentary pause. “I do.”

“I just need time to prepare for this. I always knew it wasn’t going to be easy and even though I’m living the life I dreamed of since falling for you, the thought of saying goodbye hasn’t got any easier. Especially since Charlie knows about us - well, to some extent, anyway. And Renesmee has really bonded with him…”

“We can come back and visit, you know,” Edward soothed, running his fingers through her hair. “As soon as we know where we’re settling, we can let Charlie know and he can visit anytime -- and we can go back occasionally, in secret, mind. But I just want you to know that it isn’t goodbye forever. I won’t let it be goodbye forever.”

Bella smiled softly and closed her eyes, letting her face fall delicately in the crook of his neck. “It’s not just Charlie, Edward. It’s this cottage. Our cottage. Apart from our meadow, it’s my favourite place in the world and I just don’t want to have to leave it. The memories we’ve made here…”

“…can be remembered forever and new ones can be made wherever we go from now on. And this place will always be here. And, again, visitation rights aren’t forbidden. It is our cottage, after all. It’ll continue to go on undiscovered; no one will ever taint what we’ve made here.”

“Hmm…” Bella sighed softly, calmed by his embrace. “I trust you.”

Edward smiled and placed a chaste kiss on top of his wife’s head. “You should dress, love. I can still hear Emmett’s thoughts from here and he’s getting really annoyed with us right now.”

“Good.”

The stubbornness in her tone only made him smile wider. “As much as I agree with the revenge you’re more than likely seeking right now, I think we should go. This is a really important decision for us all to make as a family.”

Bella sighed again. “I know; I’m sorry. I’ll be good.”

“I’d pick out an item of clothing Alice would approve of too. I can’t be doing with both Emmett and Alice nagging at us in one day.”

Bella rolled her eyes and disappeared into the closet. Edward knew she’d only pick out her usual jeans and plain t-shirt. When she walked back out in the outfit Edward had successfully predicted, he let out a loud chuckle at her bravery and stubborn nature. “I love you so much, Bella.” Her favourite crooked smile broke out as she sauntered towards him in her own seductive way, stepping in between his spread legs, placing her fingers in his hair and allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist. “You really have no sense of fear, do you?”

“You know it’s fun,” she grinned devilishly, placing a kiss in his bronze hair. “Come on. The lions are waiting. And for the record, Mr. Cullen, I love you too.”