The Forever Promise

Chapter 4- A Dream is a Wish…

Song: Disney- A Dream is a Wish (Your Heart Makes) *cheesy, I know…but appropriate for Ness and Jake here*

Everyone tried to make the last days before the holiday happy for Nessie because it was her first one and all, but it was almost impossible without Alice’s infectious attitude and Jasper’s throwing of emotions out to everyone. They were missed, terribly. We tried to remain upbeat---for Ness.

Every night before we put Ness to bed, she would ask for them. I sat in the rocking chair in the big house, where we had been practically camping out, while Edward helped Nessie change into her pjs.

“But Daddy, if they aren’t here, how will I give them my presents?” she worried as she lifted her arms as he put on her nightshirt.

“It’s okay, lovely girl. When they get back, we can have Christmas with them all over again,” Edward assured her. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice the sadness in his voice.

“Oh Daddy! Really?” she squealed, obviously missing any unhappiness. “Momma! Come quick!”

Bella was in the room in a flash, faster than any vampire had ever run before, I think.

Edward and I just stood there, staring at the door as she skidded to a halt, leaving marks on the floor.

“Bat outta hell much, Bella?” I smirked.

“Nessie was screaming for me and I…” she trailed off as she noticed that Nessie was not hurt in any way but was instead jumping on her bed, cheering.

“Momma…I am excited because Daddy said that when Uncle Jazz and Auntie Alice get home, we can have Christmas AGAIN! I love Christmas!” She threw her arms above her head and continued bouncing on her bed. Good thing Esme didn’t get the waterbed.

Edward cleared his throat as he heard my thought. The three of us watched our little one have fun. She never doubted that Alice and Jasper would be back. That’s my girl!

“Coughmygirlcough,” Edward heard me again.

I laughed. “Ness, you never even had Christmas yet! How can you love it?”

“You told me that Christmas is to show love, and I love you all so much. So, Christmas is love, too! That’s why!” she rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at me. I giggled (yeah, not so masculine…I know).

Bella looked as if she were going to cry. “Christmas is love. You’re right, my silly girl. Now, off to bed because we are going to have a long day tomorrow. Remember, some visitors are coming!”

“But..but, Momma, I don’t want to see visitors!” She touched Bella’s cheek and stuck her lip out. Whatever she was showing Bella made Edward mad because he growled quietly.

“Yes, Renesmee. I think it would be fine for Jacob to stay with you tonight.” Bella glared at Edward.

“Wolf form, Dog, or else,” Edward threatened. I nodded soberly.

“Daddy, how will be rock me if he’s a wolf?” Nessie batted her eyes at her father. Bella smirked, and Edward sighed. No one could resist Ness’ charm.

“Fine, daughter mine. How can I resist you?” She bounced off the bed and into his arms.

“Thank you oh so much, Daddy! You are the bestest Daddy any girl ever ever had! Besides Grampie and Grandpa, of course, and Mr. Billy, too!”

“Okay, Ness. Let’s give your dad a break. Come here,” I said right after turning down her bed. She launched herself out of her father’s arms, spun in the air, and landed on her feet in the middle of her bed.

“Show off,” I muttered, loud enough for her to hear.

“You love it,” she challenged.

“We all love you, Renesmee, now to bed!” her mother ordered.

Bella kissed Ness’ forehead and walked over to the door. Edward made this mafia “I’ll be listening” motion with his fingers at me before being dragged out by Bella, her finger in his belt loop. I rolled my eyes, a bad habit I picked up from Ness, and sat down on her bed to tuck her in.

I felt a little hand on my arm. They won’t like me, she sniffed.

“How will you ever get to sleep if you are worrying?” I partially ignored her statement since I knew she was trying to get me to let her stay awake longer by talking about tomorrow.

They won’t. They’ll hate me, and someone will try and eat me!

“Ness, do you think your parents will let anyone eat you?” Now I rolled my eyes at her. “Lay down. Now.” I pointed to the spot in the middle and blinked at her.

You’d let them eat me…since all you do is side with Momma and Daddy about bedtime. Now she was baiting me.

“Renesmee, you know that I would rather die than let someone eat you. We already discussed this. I don’t want to make you cry like the last time, but I will not stay if you aren’t going to bed.” I tried to be firm, but even I knew I’d lose…like always.

“Fine,” she said out loud. “Maybe I’ll let them eat YOU!”

“RENESMEE!” Bella called from down the stairs.

“All right, all right, I’m going, Momma,” she sighed. “Stupid fantastical beast hearing…”

I suppressed a laugh because I knew she would be upset with me that I heard her. I loved when she used big words. They were so cute to hear coming out of a little girl. She laid down, snuggled into her special spot, and I covered her up to her chest. She lifted her arms out from under the covers and opened them up to me the way I saw her do to Emmett once.

“Please, Jakey? Daddy won’t know….” she smiled.

A soft growl came from the hallway, where I knew Edward was pacing, and then a whisper, “If you don’t get away from that room, I will let him sleep in there every night, shirtless, until this fiasco is over!”

Nessie and I both laughed, since we heard everything Bella had said, and I climbed on top of the covers. She grabbed the little wolf that my dad had given her once when we visited Charlie with Dad in tow. She loved it because she said it looked like me. She had named him “Scruffly” because she said he felt that way. Whatever that meant, I didn’t really know. I was just happy that the little wolf doll had made her happy. She could call him Jerk if she wanted to.

“Open your arms, Jakey, so Scruffly and I can come in!” she instructed me.

“Oh, okay. Like this?” I asked. I had never held her in bed before. I felt a little funny about it.

She scootched over and climbed into my arms, laying her head on my shoulder. She had one arm around Scruffly and one arm around my neck. I knew what she was doing. She was trying to solder herself to me so I couldn’t phase like Edward wanted. She was already starting to see day by day that I couldn’t refuse her without being in pain while doing so. She didn’t know what an imprint was, and she didn’t have to. All she knew was that when she begged, I listened. When she cried, I lost it. When she was happy, I was happy. She was too smart for her own good, this little maniac. Ah, and I loved her.

“You’re not acting comfy, Jake. Do you not like my bed?” Ness looked at me all concerned.

I feel like a criminal!

“Ness, your bed is great! I just think that maybe I should sit in the rocking chair and pull it really close to you like I do. Lying in bed with you is for your family,” I whispered the last part, hoping she wouldn’t hear.

I got up and pulled the rocking chair over to her bed. Turning to sit in the chair, I faced a very angry Nessie standing on her bed. I had never seen her look so mad in her short life. Made me think of how mad she would get at me as she grew up. When she found out I loved Bella once, found out that I didn’t love her before she was born, found out that her life would never be normal….

“Jacob Black, you are my family, too, whether you like it or not!” she screamed at me. Instinctively, I reached out to her, but she tossed Scruffly at me, started bawling, and threw herself down on the bed.

Help me….How could I explain to her why it wasn’t right for me to do that? Not that I would ever hurt her or do anything indecent. I just…didn’t feel right knowing that someday, I’d be marrying this little girl. It honestly made me cringe to think about it more often than not. Quil told me he tried hard not to think about Claire that way, too. He just didn’t look at any other girls that way, either.

Edward, this would be a great time for you to get your pale butt in here and help me….

I heard a chair move downstairs, a hiss of, “I’ll tell her why he can’t sleep in her bed!”, and then another hiss, “She is trying to get attention. Let it go, Edward.”

I watched as Ness cried, turning her curl-covered face to look at me every so often to make sure I was paying attention. I felt awful, but I knew she was putting on a great show. I leaned back in the rocking chair and folded my hands, knowing better than to interrupt her tantrum. What seemed like hours later, truly only minutes, her breathing slowed and her legs stopped kicking. I leaned over and brushed the curls from her face. The little turd had cried herself to sleep.

I covered her up and placed Scruffly next to her. As I did that, her open hand brushed my arm. I kept myself there, just wanting to be near her. Soon, pictures started to float by, faces and words, and I saw her dream. I stayed perfectly still, despite my awkward position, and watched her in awe. Bella had told me about Nessie’s dreams, and I knew about Edward watching Bella sleep when she was human. I thought he was a pansy, but now I realized how wonderful it was to do.

It was snowing outside, and I was in wolf form in the Cullen’s large backyard. Nessie was dressed in an deep purple gown and was watching me from her swing, but she looked different, older like a teenager. She was beautiful. Seth was with us, and we were making Ness laugh by jumping up and catching the snowflakes on our tongues. She was outside with us despite the fact that it looked like there were other teenagers in the house, dancing, eating, and having a great time. Her cheeks were tinged pink and she definitely had make-up on, no doubt Rosalie and Alice’s influence. She just kept staring at me. I walked behind a tree to phase to human form and was greeted by her smiling face. “Ness, you should be inside with your school friends!” I said. “I only want to be with you, Jake,” she responded as she wrapped her arms around my waist and put her cheek on my chest….

The scene flash-forwarded to another party. I was dressed in a tuxedo and was waiting in the Cullen’s decorated living room. All of our friends and family were there in gorgeous gowns and tuxes, too. She came downstairs with Edward and Bella, even older in this dream, wearing an ivory gown and practically ran into my arms. Flash-forward again to dancing together where she whispered to me, “I’ve always loved you, Jacob Black.” I kissed her cheek and whispered back, “I will follow you always, wherever you go, in this life or the next. I love you, Renesmee Cullen Black.”

I pulled my arm away quickly and with such force that Nessie shook and dumped her covers on the floor. How would she know to dream something like that? Did she even know what a wedding was? She must have heard Bella talking about her wedding or Alice or Blondie…she couldn’t just think of that by herself, could she? While I was worrying, her eyes fluttered open and scanned the room until she saw me, literally hiding in the corner of her room. She smiled and sighed, evidently happy that I was still there, but she looked troubled. I walked over to her bed, covered her back up her, and sat back in the rocking chair. I was still stunned.

“Jakey, why are you scared?” she asked me.

“I’m, I’m not scared, Ness. I just…I was upset that I made you cry before. And then I thought I heard a strange noise. Are you still mad at me?”

“No, I’m not mad, Jake. I’m just sleepy. Love you,” she said as her eyes closed.

I sat there and watched her, stunned that she dreamt of me like that. She was dreaming about us, on our wedding day. She wanted to marry me! I mean, I know she was really little, 3 months old in fact, but she obviously felt something for me. I couldn’t think about it anymore because it made me crazy and feel dirty at the same time. Seeing her in that gown and hearing me call her Renesmee Black gave me something to look forward to. I thought I heard a vicious growl coming from downstairs, but I ignored it for now. Her thoughts were not something I could control, and Edward would have to get over it. I was just as stunned as he was.

I couldn’t wait for Christmas to come, even more than she couldn’t wait. We just had to get through all the visitors first, I thought to myself.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Renesmee POV

My family sure came through on their promise. Beginning early in the morning, visitors began to arrive. I was so nervous because I had never met these people before, and I wasn’t sure they’d like me too much. Jake said he’d protect me, but I knew he wasn’t telling me everything. Momma and Daddy whispered to one another a lot and talked faster than my ears could understand. Then they would look at me and get sad. I didn’t like making everyone sad.

“This is all my fault,” I said out loud as Momma, Jakey, and I waited for Grampie Carlisle’s friends from Alaska to come. I remembered Auntie Alice telling Daddy that one of the Alaska sisters didn’t like me and that’s why the vampires from Italy were coming here.

My daddy walked around the corner just as Jakey and Momma both grabbed one of my hands. “No,” they all said, as if that would make me feel better. Momma told me I was special and that my family loved me more than anything.

“Do you love me more than anything, Jake?” I asked him, wanting to know if Momma was telling the truth.

Daddy didn’t like that question too much and went back to watching at the front door. Momma smiled and looked at Jake, almost daring him to say no. Jake looked like he had eaten rotten meat or something. His face was a little green. I giggled.

“Momma, is Jakey nervous, too? He looks like he’s going to get sick,” I whispered, hoping he didn’t hear me.

Momma laughed. “No, sweetie, he’s not going to get sick, but he is a little nervous about the visitors, too. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

“Well, do you love me or not?” I asked him.

“Do you have to ask me that question?” he asked back.

I thought for a minute. “I guess not,” I said. I put my face in Momma’s hair and squeezed her tightly. She kissed my forehead and whispered to me that Jake loved me almost as much as she and Daddy did. That made me a very happy girl. Before I could tell Jake what Momma said, we heard Daddy open the door. There was a new voice, a lady that I had never met. She must be Grampie’s friend, but I was still scared. I turned my head to make sure Jake was okay, and he winked at me. I giggled again and blew him a kiss. He caught it and put it on his cheek. Huh, I guess he does love me.

“I told you,” Momma smiled.

Daddy asked Momma to bring me out to meet our friends. There were three ladies and a man. The man and one lady had dark hair like Uncle Em and Auntie Alice, but the other two ladies had blonde hair like my Auntie Rosie, Grampie, and Uncle Jazz. I missed them all so much, and I showed Momma. She kissed my cheek.

The visitors were all upset when they looked at me, except for the dark-haired lady. I learned that her name was Ms. Carmen. She smiled at me and had kind eyes.

“You have eyes like my family!” I said aloud. Everyone laughed but still looked upset. Ms. Carmen told me that she wanted to hear my story, so I reached out my hand and touched her. I showed her Momma when she was different and there was blood everywhere. I showed her how Daddy and Jakey took me out of Momma and gave me to Auntie Rosie and how they made Momma get better. I hope that she could feel how much I loved my family. Ms. Carmen asked me if she could hold me, and I wanted to let her. I looked at Daddy who nodded and smiled. He was very happy that Ms. Carmen wanted to like me. Momma didn’t want to let me go, but when Ms. Carmen smiled at her, she relaxed. Ms. Carmen was cold like my family, and she had long hair. We sat down on the couch and she let me tell her stories. She spoke to me in Spanish, and I started to remember some words as she used them over and over. I really liked Ms. Carmen a lot. She called me bebe linda. I liked that nickname.

The grown-ups were all talking, and Ms. Carmen’s family let me tell them all the story of when I came out of Momma. After I showed them how much I loved Momma and Daddy, they hugged me and played with my hair. I could tell that they liked me because they were smiling and were happy.

I was sad when Daddy said more visitors were coming because I wanted to have Ms. Carmen tell me a story before my nap. She promised she would as she handed me over to Jake. She said she could tell that Jake needed a hug. He smiled and thanked her. I put my arms around Jake and squeezed him so tightly around his neck. He made a pretend choking sound so I’d let go. I laughed and kissed his nose. I showed him the swing outside with us in it. I wanted to take a nap out there, but he reminded me that more vampires were coming.

“You’re staying, right?” I asked him.

“You betcha, kiddo,” he responded. We sat down in Jake’s special chair in the living room, the one Auntie Rosie said no one would sit in because it smelled like wet dog. I noticed that none of Grampie’s friends would sit near it. It must smell silly to them, too. To me, it just smelled like Jake, and Jake smelled yummy.

Daddy must have heard me thinking because his eyes got all big like he was going to shout. Instead, he started asking Mr. Eleazar questions. I fell asleep in Jake’s arms. He was so comfy and safe. I couldn’t wait until Christmas so I could give him the present I made for him. It was the bestest present ever, and I worked so hard on it. I wanted Christmas to be special for everyone, and I hoped that my family was all home by then. I dreamt about Christmas over and over until I woke up, in Momma’s arms, with lots of vampires all around the big house. All these new vampires had red, beady eyes, and I was scared. They weren’t like Momma’s, they looked like icky blood that got on our clothes after we hunted.

I remembered how Jake was not happy about all these friends coming to visit, and I got all panicky thinking that maybe he left. He promised he wouldn’t, and Jake doesn’t ever break promises. I couldn’t see him, though. Momma felt me move and pulled me back to look at my face. I heard the grown-ups still talking and didn’t want to interrupt, so I put my hand to Momma’s face. I showed her a picture of Jake. She smiled and whispered to me.

“He had to talk to Leah and Seth so he phased outside. He told me to tell you that he will be back…and he loves you more than anything, even a big breakfast!”

Momma kissed my cheek and hugged me tightly. I was so happy that Jakey told Momma he loved me. He wouldn’t lie to her about me. I showed Momma that I was still sleepy and settled in to wait for Jake to get back. I hated to be without him. It made my heart hurt. I wondered if it made his heart hurt, too. Once he had my present, his heart wouldn’t have to hurt anymore when he had to go away from me for a little while. But he said he loved me more than big breakfast, and Jakey loved food so much. I told Momma that I was going to dream about Jake until he got back from being with Seth and Leah. She smiled and told me that was a great idea.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face thinking about my Jacob.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The weeks dragged on, and Christmas was only a few days away. Nessie and I spent a lot of time over Charlie’s house since Bella was going on unknown errands, and Charlie was upset that he hadn’t seen Ness in over a week. She loved going to see him because she got to learn all about Bella when she was little. This made Nessie so happy. Charlie knew that something was up with Ness, and I think he knew that she really was Bella and Edward’s daughter, but he kept quiet since he wanted to be able to watch her grow up. And she just kept growing. Every time we went to Charlie’s, Ness got some surprise, be it a little stuffed animal, a lollipop (which she loved), or a coloring book. Coloring was probably the one “kid-like” thing Nessie really enjoyed.

When Bella dropped us off, I knew that she was up to something. She looked shifty and scared, two looks that never boded well for us when she was human. I knew she was doing something, but she hadn’t mentioned it because it was likely that she wanted to keep Edward in the dark, too. I wonder if it had something to do with whatever she was looking up on the computer all the time. I noticed how she seemed glued to that thing, but I don’t think anyone else saw. I kept forgetting to ask her.

An even bigger surprise arrived one night right after we got home from Charlie’s. The rest of the Cullens, except Jasper and Alice sadly, came home right before the holiday. Blondie ran into the house, almost taking down the front door, in order to get to Nessie. She squealed when she saw everyone and kissed their cheeks over and over again. I was nice and let Blondie have Ness all day. I even let her and Emmett tuck Ness in and waited until Ness asked for me to go and say goodnight so I wouldn’t interrupt their bonding time.

“Thanks, Jake. Rosie and I just missed the little monster so much. I know it was hard for you to be away from her today,” Emmett shook my hand when I was waiting to kiss Ness goodnight.

“Dude, no problem. I know you are so important to her, too. I thought in the spirit of Christmas and all, I’d be nice and share her. Sharing is caring, after all.”

“Yep, sharing is caring…with everything but the clap, right, Jake?” Emmett guffawed, and it was infectious. I chuckled until I heard Nessie ask, “Auntie Rosie..what’s the clap?” We both started laughing so hard that tears streamed down our cheeks. Neither one of us saw two of those really high heels come flying at us through the door.

“I forgot…Nessie can hear pretty well, although not as well as we can. I need to watch my mouth…” Emmett pouted.

Blondie flew out of the room and grabbed us both by the ears. “I told her that it’s not nice to clap at someone if they fell or got hurt and that is what you meant. You two will go along with that, correct?”

We both nodded. I cleared my throat and said, “How many times will you wash your hands now because you touched me?”

She turned her face towards me and cackled at me. It was frightening. “In the spirit of Christmas and because my niece loves you for some reason or another, I thought I’d start giving you a break, Fido. I’ll only wash them 30 times instead of 50.” Emmett walked away laughing. Blondie turned back and did the last thing I ever expected her to do to me. She thanked me for letting her spend some time with Ness.

“I might not like you because you stink, but you love Renesmee. That means you have some good taste!” And then she smiled. And I smiled back.

Things got back to as normal as they could with all these people around. The Cullens were so happy to see the group they had convinced to help. Carlisle couldn’t thank his friends enough for helping his family. He made it a point to thank me every day, too, for standing beside them once again. Esme occupied herself by making Leah, Seth, and me huge meals every day, even asking Seth to bring some home to Charlie and my dad. I was starting to convince Ness to eat some people food. It was funny.

She had made pictures for all of the bloodsucker covens to bring home with them when they left, which would hopefully be soon. It was getting very tiring having them around, and it was really bothering all the wolves that they were hunting all over. It’s not like they were hunting game; these were the bloodsuckers that still ate humans. Even though some of them were actually quite nice, like the leader of the Irish coven Siobhan and the earth-mover in the Egyptian coven Benjamin, their eyes scared Nessie. For that, I didn’t like them as much as I could. And they killed innocents. Ugh.

Everyone basically ignored me for the most part unless I was playing with Nessie. Most of the bloodsuckers had become smitten by her, so they were always very aware of where she was and what she was doing. It should have made me happy that they all liked her so much, but it made me nervous. This whole thing did.

The covens had all agreed to witness for Nessie. They would stay at the house until the Volturi came and tell the Italian leeches that Nessie wasn’t one of those immortal children. They would show the leaders how they watched Ness grow and learn and how capable Bella and Edward were of being parents and teaching her control. I had been meeting with Sam every night after Ness fell asleep in order to give him updates. Without Alice, it was quite difficult for the Cullens to have a firm handle on when this was happening for sure. No one else there had visions like Shorty. She and Jasper were missed, not only for their talents but just the fact that the family was broken.

We had witnesses. That was a Christmas gift in itself.