Book of Oneshots

Breaking Dawn

"Haven't we experimented enough for one day?"Jacob asked, his voice a slightly higher pitch with stress. "Okay, Bella's doing great, but let's not push it."

Bella glared at him, irritated. Jasper shuffled uneasily. They were all so close together that everyone could probably feel every little movement. I'd have a panic attack if I was in there. I was sitting on the back of the couch, leaning forward. I'd been trying to stay away from Renny anyway. I didn't know how to take care of babies—I barely knew how to take care of myself. I'd never really liked babies anyway.

"What is your problem, Jacob?" Bella demanded, tugging against his hold on Renny. Jake just moved closer, not taking his hands off of her, so that Renny was touching both of their chests. 

Edward hissed menacingly. Just because I understand it, doesn't mean I won't throw you out, Jacob. Bella's doing extraordinarily well. Don't ruin the moment for her."

"Moment ruined!: I called out from my spot across the room, causing Jacob to glare at me.

"I'll help him toss you, dog," Rosalie promised, her voice ice-cold. "I owe you a good kick in the gut."

Their relationship has always been hilarious to me, but I would love to see them go at it one day.

Bella glared at Jacob's anxious expression. He paid her no mind; he was gazing adoringly at his imprint. Bella's anger gradually faded into confusion, her brow furrowed. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she struggled to make sense of his behavior.

"No!" She gasped.

I grinned. This was going to be fun. 

Jasper's teeth clenched together harshly, and Edward wrapped his arms around Bella's chest. Jacob took Renesmee out of Bella's hands with no resistance. 

"Rose," Bella said through clenched teeth," take Renesmee."

Jake handed Renny to Rose immediately, and they both backed away from Bella. I leaned closer in anticipation. 

"Edward, I don't want to hurt you, so please let go of me."

"Shit, Jake," I muttered, grinning. "What the hell did you do, man?"

Edward struggled to hide a smile, still holding onto his wife."Go stand in front of Renesmee," Bella insisted.

He considered for a moment, then released her.

Bella leaned into a hunting crouch and took two slow, deliberate steps toward Jacob.

"You didn't," she snarled.

He backed away, palms up, trying to reason with her. "You know it's not something I can control."

"You stupid mutt! How could you? My baby!"

He backed out the front door and she stalked him, half running back down the stairs. "It wasn't my idea, Bella!"

He was right; he hadn't even wanted to imprint.

"I've held her all of one time, and you already think you have some moronic wolfy claim on her?"

Okay, that wasn't fair; imprinting wasn't moronic—it was legitimate.

"She's mine." Bella continued.

"I can share," Jacob pleaded as he retreated across the lawn.

"Pay up," Emmett said, nudging me as we all followed Bella outside.

"Wait, man!" I told him, not wanting to give up money that I didn't have.

"How dare you imprint on my baby? Have you lost your mind?"

That was taking it a bit far, I thought. It's not like we have a choice who we imprint on. 

"It was involuntary!" Jake insisted as backed into the trees, echoing my thoughts. 

Then, Seth and Leah came out of the forest, flanking Jake. Seth gazed at me.

"Hey, baby," I told him, making him stick out his tongue and wag his tail at me.

Leah snapped at Bella, who snarled right back at her.

"Bella, could you try to listen for just a second?" Please?" Jacob begged. "Leah, back off," he added. Leah lifted her lip and did not move. 

"Why should I listen?" Bell hissed, infuriated.

"Because you're the one who told me this. Do you remember? You said we belonged in each other's lives, right? That we were family. You said that was how you and I were supposed to be. So . . . now we are. It's what you wanted."

Bella glared at him "You think you'll be part of my family as my son-in-law!" She screeched, her voice ripping through two octaves.

Emmett and I laughed. She had a point there.

"Stop her, Edward," Esme murmured. "She'l be unhappy if she hurts him."

"He said it's fine," Edward replied, glancing at his mother, making no move to follow her advice.

"No!" Jacob insisted. "How can you even look at it that way? She's just a baby, for crying out loud!"

"That's my point!" Bella yelled.

"You know I don't think of her that way! Do you think Edward would have let me live this long if  I did? All I want is for her to be safe and happy—is that so bad? So different from what you want?" Jacob shouted back.

Beyond words, Bella shrieked a growl at him.

"Amazing, isn't she?" Edward murmured proudly.

"She hasn't gone for his throat even once," Carlisle agreed, stunned.

I looked at Emmett expectantly.

"Fine, you win this one," he said grudgingly, handing me twenty bucks, which I kissed and put in my pocket as I winked at him.

"You're going to stay away from her," Bella hissed up at Jacob.

"I can't do that."

Jake was right; if a wolf was away from their imprint for too long, they would become more or less catatonic, and probably die. I knew from experience.

"Try." Bella said through her teeth. "Starting now."

She couldn't be serious.

"It's not possible. Do you remember how much you wanted me around three days ago? How hard it was to be apart from each other? That's gone for you now, isn't it?"

"Long gone," Bella agreed, shaking her head.

"That was her." Jake said. From the very beginning. We had to be together, even then."

"Run away while you still can," Bella threatened.

"C'mon, Bells! Nessie likes me, too," he insisted.

Bella stopped breathing, causing everyone to freeze, alert.

"What . . . did you call her?"

Jake took another step back sheepishly. "Well," he mumbled, "that name you came up with is kind of a mouthful and—"

You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?" Bella screeched.

Damn, it was about to go down. 

Then, Bella lunged at Jacob.