A new beginning

The phone call

Jake's POV

I haven't talked with Bella since last year. After Nessie disappeared, and I almost died protecting her, Carlisle saved me. I was unconscious for days, and when I woke up... Nessie was nowhere to be found. We looked everywhere. Had help from the vampires who helped during the Volturi war.

Carlisle and Edward even went to the Volturi, they didn't know anything. And Edward would have known if they were lying. I left La Push for two years, searching for her.

Bella and Edward did the same. We spoke weakly, but only about her and about leads we found. Which was mostly nothing.

After two years, I was at the end of my rope... I almost killed myself.

My sisters, my pack.. they were the ones who eventually pulled me back, giving me responsibility and a life, a purpose to live. It wasn't a very good life, I know that is not an option without Nessie, but I was leading my pack, I was needed in my community, so I got it together.

After that our conversations with Bella become a yearly event. Once a year she called, or I called her, we talked a few minutes about basically nothing, and then we hung up. I knew she was depressed, even though her vampire voice sounded beautiful. She was a shell of herself, and I never talked with Edward, so I didn't have any idea what state he was in.

I am pretty sure he still blames me, that they took her.

I understand, I blame myself too.

So this conversation will be a lot of fun for all of us.

I decided to facetime Bella, instead of just calling her like usual, while Nessie stood in front of me on the balcony. They will need evidence. After a few rings, Bella's face appeared on my screen. I used my front camera so she will see only me first. Even though she had stoic features now, she still seemed confused.

- Jacob? Why are you facetiming me instead of just calling? - her voice still freaked me out sometimes. It was so different from her human voice.

- Hi Bells. I want to show you something. Are you with Edward?

- Yes. - she looked up, probably at her husband and a moment later he appeared next to her. I haven't seen him in 14 years, and he still looked like a 17 year old. Which is of course logical, but for some reason I was still a little shocked.

- What do you want to show us? - his voice was still smooth like in the old times. I heard Nessie took a big breath. First time she had heard both of her parents' voices in such a long time. I gave her a reassuring smile, and then looked back to the camera.

- I found Nessie.

For a minute, they were both quiet.

- Is this a game? - Edward's voice became lethal.

- No, no of course not. I would never do that to you. I met her today. In the forest. She doesn't have any memories of you or me, or anyone. But it's her, I know. Even though she is grown up now. - I said rapidly. How can he think I would joke about this?

- My Renesmee? - Bella sounded choked up, even though she is not able to cry anymore. Nessie bit her lip and gave me a nod. I gave her the phone so they could see her.

- Hi. - she sounded so nervous.

- Impossible. - murmured Edward. - Honey, is that really you? - now he sounded emotional too. Never heard him being emotional.

- I guess. - she looked at me for support, and I gave her an encouraging nod.

- But I go by Vanessa, or Nessie. I don't remember anything before I was taken away... I am sorry.

- That is not your fault Ness. - I added. Her parents were still like statues while they kept looking at her.

- Okay. - she seemed awkward. - This is really weird. - I smiled and took back the phone.

- It is really her. We are in Forks, at your old house. I took her here to see if she remembers anything, but nothing so far.

- I have one memory. - she said hesitantly and I angled the phone so they could see both of us. Nessie looked into the camera right into Bella's eyes.

- I remember you, after I was born. You were still a human, you were holding me.. and you had brown eyes like... mine. I have that memory. - she spoke slowly, like she wasn't sure if she should share this.

- We missed you so much. - Bella said while smiling sadly. Both she and Edward kept looking at her for a few more minutes, before Edward spoke.

- Jacob, we will be there as soon as possible. Probably tomorrow morning.

- Okay.

And he ended the call. Nessie seemed shocked.

- What? They are coming here? I was okay with the phone call. Not meeting them.

- Nessie, I am sorry. But they missed you. They are worried about you, they kept looking for you for years... I don't think you can keep them away.

- They were looking for me? - she seemed surprised by that.

- Of course. We all were. For years. - I almost choked on the last sentence, remembering those dark days and years... I can't go there or I will freak her out. I took a deep breath.

- Listen, it's afternoon now. Let me take you to La push, I will show you the beach, we can have that drink. You can stay at my place.. You will have time to prepare for them until tomorrow morning.

She looked at me like she wasn't sure if it's a good idea. God I hope I wasn't coming off as a creep.

- I didn't mean staying at my place like that. - I said quickly. - I would never... I mean... I remember you as a child, I just want you to be safe and sound. I have a guest bedroom. I should have started with that.

She started to laugh.

- It's okay. First of all, I am not a child, even if you remember me as. And I usually don't have a problem with having a drink or staying at a place with a hot guy, but I am on a man-fast right now, and I know you didn't mean it like that. So let's go.

She started to walk back to the house, and I still stood there shocked. She doesn't have a problem with having a drink or staying with a guy? What does that mean? She has been with guys? And why is she on a man-fast? What does that mean? She has been with that many guys.. or... No, I should not go there.

She is a beautiful woman, but I don't need pictures of her with other guys in my head. It's messed up enough that my long-lost imprint, who was a sweet little girl, looks like a hot woman right now.

I shook my head and walked after her.