New Dawn

Chapter 1 Hints and Explanations

"Don't you just love children?" Alice sighed, her voice sounding like tinkling water. She had her round sunglasses on that made her look like she was going to Wilshire Boulevard in Hollywood. In fact, Alice Cullen would make all of the models jealous if she were to stride down Beverly Hills.

We were sitting on a white porch swing on my property—well, my new family's front porch in front of the cottage that was now Edward, Nessie and mine.

"I love this one." I pointed my pinky at Renesmee who was trotting after Jacob.

"Ah, I wish you would have had about a dozen of 'em," Alice crossed her leg and leaned back into her seat. She flicked her wrist at a fly and then wagged her finger at my Nessie. "You know, Bella there's always adoption. Since you and my brother are such good parents. In fact—" She swiveled her head to face me, twisting her body towards me.

I inched away, shaking my head. "Um, no. One's enough. In fact one's a handful. I don't need anymore."

"Pfff. Well I was going to say that there is a children's orphanage with the most adorable little ones that would just melt your heart." She waved her fingers in the air and sighed.

I didn't comment. My eyes drifted over to the lawn full of lush grass and lilies planted around the edges of the yard. I watched Renesmee dance with such grace that I swear I had to question whether or not this kid was even mine. At least she looked just like me.

"Hey, Nessie, that's not fair! You grew over night." Jake was trying to help my daughter perfect her speed, even though I watched the little girl nearly catch up to him. He jogged out of her grasp, but she sashayed directly beside him.

I pressed my lips together as little bitty Nessie tackled taller-than-a-basketball player Jake. "Alright…Alright, you got me. You win, ha ha, okay?" Jake tousled her curls. "'Sides, you always win."

"You got that right!" Nessie placed her hands on her tiny hips, as her little auburn curls bounced with her head as she swung it from side to side with attitude. I noticed that in the past week, she had more spunk than ever. She reminded me of Rosalie and myself blended into one person.

Speaking of which, I felt a familiar presence and heard the unmistakable footsteps heading our way. The footfalls were slow, perfectly paced, seeming choreographed like a dance routine. I could see the sun reflecting on the blonde hair of Rosalie Hale. My eyes roamed over to her as she appeared from the army of spruce trees. Her lips held a slight smirk, though her eyes were already on Nessie.

Our family had recently returned from our adventure in Denali, Alaska, where the Volturi had stalked myself and the Cullens. They had claimed that we had no choice but to join their league of gifted vampires. Giving us the ultimatum, either live with them in Italy...or be forced to reconsider, (I love the way they put these things)...we, the Cullens, had decided that we rather seek war with them.

We had won the battle with the help of Jake's pack. Edward had agreed to allow Jake to live with us, well, not in our cottage, but in the Cullen home once again. Esme and Carlisle didn't mind one bit.

Afterwards, Edward, my husband, had found out that I had really been in writhing pain during my gruesome transformation as a vampire, and so he had nearly gone insane. He could not get over the fact that I had burned with venom just to be with him for eternity, and I had convinced him that nothing could have helped me not suffer. Not even the strongest medicine.

As far as I knew, Edward was healed now of the horrible memory, and now, with Renesmee, we were back in Forks, relieved to be worry-free.

Jake's teethy grin faded when he sniffed the air and then rolled his eyes around with disappointment. "Ah, talk 'bout ruining a perfect morning." He tossed his hands in the air and then with a quick move, he gathered Renesmee in his arms.

"C'mere Nessie, why don't we go ask your mom if we can go for a walk, eh?"

"Don't you dare," said Rosalie, pausing next to the porch. She slit her eyes coolly and held her hip just like Renesmee had done. She shifted her weight to the side and glared ice cubes at Jake.

"See? I didn't even do anything and auntie Rose's already mad at me," Jake said to Nessie.

"She always is. Hi aunt Rose!" Nessie waved her pudgy fingers at the blonde, whose glacier eyes melted. A smile spread on her pink lips.

"Hi there." I looked up at Rosalie until she noticed me. "If you can steal her from Jake, be my guest." I nodded as I spoke.

"Thank you for your consent Bella," she replied.

Alice started cracking up, throwing her head in the air as she giggled. Her hair was smoothed down in a more sophisticated hairstyle as she held her chest.

"What's so funny?" I asked her. "Jake? Yeah I know he can be such a kid, in fact, I feel like I have another kid with him around."

Rosalie scoffed and folded her arms, darting an amused look in my direction. "Yeah. That's right. By the way Bella, I came to collect Nessie. Edward asked me to come and get her."

Alice was still shaking her head, too preoccupied to speak because she was laughing hysterically. She held her chest with her fingertips. "I can tell you why but I won't." Alice shot me a knowing look.

I cocked my head to the side and leaned over my legs. I was wearing a designer skirt and blouse that she had threatened for me to wear today. Something about top secret from my husband who was missing in action, and might I add, plotting something. I could tell because he was being extra quiet this morning, keeping his distance while claiming to be doing "guy things" with his brothers.

"Since when does Edward desire time away from me?" I asked Alice, shifting my eyes up to Rosalie, who shrugged in a dainty manner. She lifted one eyebrow. Of course she knew what was going on. I felt so left out. "He is up to something," I whispered.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm…" hummed Alice, pursing her lips.

Rosalie simply watched me, drumming her fingertips on her own arm.

"Who?" Renesmee heard me. Her round, brown eyes held mine. I smirked at my daughter.

"Daddy's planning something… I just don't know what." I spoke to her like an adult lately. I found the tact beneficial. She now resembled a three year old. She acted like a five year old, too.

Jacob was giving Rosalie a disgusted look, then he looked away like he had just seen a piece of a movie that would make him sick. His face brightened as he spun Nessie around on his hip in a circle. He started to walk towards the Cullen house, but Rosalie stomped her stiletto in the grass, puncturing a hole in it.

"Oh no you don't." Rosalie complained to Jake.

I bit my lip and caught Alice's eye. "You know what it is."

"Hmmm-hmmm, he'd hold an eternal grudge if I told you." Alice sang out loud, bouncing in the swing while she shook her head as if to ward off any further questions.

I turned to Rosalie. "Do you know?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "No I don't."

"Big thing or little thing?" I probed, ticking my eyes to Alice. She was pretending to be engrossed with my child and Jake. They were playing by the river bank, squealing and chattering to each other.

"You won't get it out of me Bella Cullen."

"Then I'm gonna go back inside and change into a pair of comfy jeans." I rose leisurely, but Alice grabbed my hand, jerking me back. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"No no no, uh uh, not having it," Alice countered, not letting go of me.

I heard Rosalie chuckle to herself.

"You know what? I'll just coax it out of my husband, that always seems to work." I turned on my heel as Alice let me go with an, "Alrightie then, but I wouldn't count on that working."

I tossed a look over my shoulder that said, 'I could get anything out of him if I try hard enough, so help me.' "I have power over him. Trust me." I winked at Alice, smiled sweetly at Rose and then walked gracefully towards my little girl.

"Oh is that what you call it?" Alice asked, her tone ascending in a higher note as she rose her voice.

"I'm getting to the bottom of this," I said confidently, as if the obstacle was an easy one to overcome.

"Get to the bottom of what?"

I came to a halt when I heard Edward's voice. He was wearing a light blue shirt and black trousers. He showed himself from the other side of a tall oak tree. He was smirking that slanted smile that I adored.

"Daddy, hi! Mommy says you have been up to planning something," sang Nessie.

"Hi sweetheart," said Edward dotingly. He reached to fan his hand over Nessie's mess of spirals.

Leave it to our child to say the darndest thing. I rubbed my fingers awkwardly on my forehead as I laughed silently to myself.

Jake was evaluating me with a look that expressed 'You're busted'. He wiggled his eyebrows at me and shook his head. "Hey Nessie, what'doo say we go raid the pantry?"

"Huh?" Nessie seemed to be confused.

"Well she is a vampire," Edward said to Jake with a silly look on his face. "Half at least."

"Ohhhh, I get it," said Nessie in her babylike voice. "Yummy! Wonder what granma got us this time!" It was so cute that I cracked a brilliant smile while watching Edward closely, formulating an attack plan in my mind to lure the secret out of him.

It would be like magic to butter up my husband. I found that getting my way, especially after I was a vampire, was so easy, I merely had to try anymore. I could snap my fingers and he'd succumb to me.

Edward traded a sly look with me at that moment. Shoot. He could read me already. I forgot. Stupid Bella. "Holy crow it's working," I teased Alice with a wink.

She turned up her nose as if shunning me. "Think what you like, but he won't buckle from this one."

"So were the last words of my sister." I winked at Rose, whose lips slanted up.

"Good thing someone has Edward under control, for heaven sake," Rose whispered to me.

Alice was looking at Rosalie, while blinking her eyes.

Good thing that Emmett wasn't here to make a circus out of these remarks. I cold already hear his booming laugh, in fact, he was laughing from the house. Guys.

Edward smiled to himself while acknowledging Jake with a movement of his chin. He slid another look at me and then hunched down to hug Nessie. "Be good girl, granpa is here."

"He is! Yay!!" Nessie bounced all around as did her springy curls.

"Think he wants to be alone with you?" Alice said, barely audibly.

"Would not be shocked," Rosalie commented.

"He I setting himself up that one," Alice said, letting out a defeated breathe.

I shook my head. "Mmm-hmm." I snorted a laugh.

"Pop tarts, Nessie, pop tarts." Jake said the last two words slowly like it was the reason for existence.

"Shhh!" Nessie put her fingertip to her mouth. "My parents are right here, you silly."

"Oh, oh yeah huh." Jake scooped her up and said, "Later!" To me and Edward, scurrying off across the river. Rosalie marched after us vigilantly, careful not to get stuck in the mud with her shoes.

Alice danced to my side. Beamed up at Edward and then gave him a look.

"That's so not nice, Alice. I know you're thinking something at him," I said, eyeing Edward, who wouldn't meet my gaze.

Alice booked it after the rest of the Cullens and Black as they turned into little specks towards the glass house.

I stepped into Edward's welcoming arms and hugged him, pressing my cheek to his neck.

He rubbed my back in a circular motion and I felt him press his nose in my hair.

"How are you feeling?" I whispered as I lifted my head to look up at him. He dipped his lips down to mine and kissed me possessively before answering my question.

"Cured, thanks to you." His lips were brushing against mine.

"Good," I murmured. "'Cuz if you need another healing session, feel free to tell me."

His fingers stroked my cheek. "I know that you think that I'm plotting something for you, but really…it's something small, yet I know that you will appreciate it very much."

I was allowing him to read my mind, as usual. The exercise had become as simple as thinking to myself, the way I stretched my mind's cage into an open door for him. His eyes burned into mine.

I reached to stroke his bronze hair, feeling like I was falling in love with him, just like the first day that I had realized I had fallen for him. The corners of my mouth lifted.

His mouth curled up too. "Aren't you going to beg me to tell you?"

I ran my fingers slowly down his jaw. "I wouldn't have to beg." I rolled my hip into him.

He snuffled a laugh which told me that I could win so much easier than I had thought. If he could blush, he would be right about now.

"You're right about that," he admitted with a deep exhalation. His fingers were in my hair as he moved his mouth over mine and then after we had shared another intimate kiss, he whispered, "Charlie is here."

"He is?" I gasped, feeling a surge of excitement course through me. "Why didn't you tell me?"

His thumb roamed over my temple. "That's the thing," he sighed. Our eyes held each other for a moment. "Your father…I think…suspects what we are."

"Wait….what? How?" My thoughts blended wildly in my brain, and Edward nodded as if reading every single one of them.

"He had a good idea before what we are…after the whole debacle of Jake exposing himself, but Chalrie wasn't certain. But now, I believe that he wants to hear the truth from you."

It took me a moment to gather my composure. I didn't want to admit anything to my dad. I stared at Edward and said, "So this is my surprise?"

He shook his head. "No." he answered, a little more upbeat. "No, it is something entirely different."

I moved my body into his. "Before we go inside and spill everything to my dad…mind telling me what it is?" I unleashed a very influential tactic onto him as my fingertips played with the opening of his shirt.

Edward's mouth spread evenly. "Why don't I just say that we are going somewhere. You, myself, and Nessie. Isn't that enough for now?"

"Now we are getting somewhere," I said as his eyes smoldered at my touch.

I was sliding my fingers underneath his shirt.

"Mind telling me where…?" He let out a long breath and then gave me a soft kiss. His mouth felt warm over mine, not like it used to, but I was getting used to it.

I searched his eyes as I brushed my leg up against his shins, suggesting that this would go further if he didn't speak up.

"Do you mind torturing me just a little bit more?" he pleaded as he kissed my neck. I tilted my chin upward and giggled at the gratifying sensation that made my body fall apart, like melting ice cream.

His hands appreciated my curves of my body. I kissed him long and hard and felt him mold me into his arms. I trialed my mouth down the length of his neck, while planting a moist kiss on his chest before I shimmied out of his grasp and stepped back, eyeing him with an appealing look. I seduced him as my hand traveled down his chest, lower and then I dropped my hand.

When his brow folded with disappointment and his mouth drooped, I shrugged.

"That's all you had to do, was tell me." I moved my hips and pressed my lips into a thin smile.

"Bella…." He warned me, as if what I was doing was going to cause him pain.

I arched my eyebrows and ran my fingertips through my hair. "Wow, this would be so much easier if you would just cooperate, and tell me where we're going before I quit punishing you. Know what I mean?"

Edward let out a sharp breath of exhaustion. He glanced heavenward and threw up his hands. "Alright, once again, you come out on top here." Edward chuckled as he moved towards me, his eyes burning with desire.

I put my hands behind my back as if warning him that I wouldn't touch him till he told me what I had begged to know. I meshed my lips together and then twisted my body back and forth, coaxing him, just like a little child who had a secret and wouldn't tell.

I was so tactfully cruel to him, but I knew deep down, he enjoyed my taunting games.

HE gathered me in his arms and I stood stiff, moving my head to the side but maintaining eye contact with him.

He laughed softly as he spoke. "Okay. I'll tell you." His palm pressed he small of my back to him. I moved like a rag doll, but didn't make an effort to hold him back.

"We are taking Renesmee to Florida, to meet your mother." Edward grinned widely as he revealed my surprise.

I inhaled quickly, feeling my chest swell with happiness and childlike excitement. My eyes expanded.

"Really?" I squealed and then threw my arms around his neck, cuddling my thin body to his. He folded his arms around me as I nestled my face into his neck, right under his chin.

As a reward I moved my fingertips through his hair and kissed him sensually. "I've always wanted her to meet Nessie."

"I do think she's ready for it, don't you?" He cupped my chin in his hand. I admired the light color of his eyes and nodded fervently.

"She is." I responded, eager to introduce Renee's granddaughter to Nessie for the first time. I couldn't wait. A rush of ecstatic energy washed over me, causing me to smile.

Edward nodded ardently. "Renee will be overcome with delight to see that we had a child. The only thing is, that we must say that we adopted."

I agreed with another bob of my head. No way would Renee believe that I gave birth to a three year old in two month's time. "Good idea." Dang you Alice, I thought angrily to myself. She had been dropping hints! Gee I wished I could be ore insightful when it came to my beloved sister. I would have to start paying closer attention to Alice and her little innuendoes.

Leave it to Alice. Why was I always the last person to know these things in my own life?

Edward was laughing.

I pouted as I looked into his eyes, feeling like I was going to take him, here and now.

"So we leave tonight," he said, looking at my lips, as his arm wound around my waist, trapping me. I could hear him saying to me already: "you and I had an agreement'. As in response, he nodded slowly.

I moved my mouth closer to his. "And we'll both be there to help her in case Nessie has to be watched, but I do think that it's time." I wove my fingernails up through his scalp and he sighed with pleasure as he kissed me hungrily.

"Now can we pick up where we left off?" He said in between passionate kisses.

I pushed myself into him as his hands moved downward over my thighs.

"I'd say you earned it," I gasped and then moaned as Edward squeezed me around himself. I responded by letting my fingers move down to his pants and closed my eyes as his hand touched me. This had to be short and sweet though because Charlie was still waiting for us; awaiting an explanation from me.

To be continued….

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