Half & Half

Half & Half - Chapter 21

Half & Half

Chapter Twenty-One

  Back at the Cullen main house the family had gathered to discuss the events that have just happened; they would discuss and debate on what to do next so to best avoid falling into the rather obvious trap Adrianne and Kairisha have laid out for them. Or better yet, they would appear to be falling into their hands only to fox them and surprise them at the last possible window to victory, this was Carlisle’s ideal plan that Jacob could pick up as he padded to a stop, bending down on his front legs to let Renesmee gracefully climb off.

  Renesmee strode into the house hand-in-hand with Jacob as they cast their eyes over their rather tense-looking family. It was obvious to them that this was more complex than they first predicted, not the easy and typical revenge for lost mates that they assumed first of all. Bella walked over and hugged them both individually before with Jacob’s permission, taking her over to sit with her and Edward, giving her a break from the flood of back-to-back events happening each moment it seems.

  Jacob with a slight ‘follow me’ head gesture from Carlisle, trailed behind Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice and Esme as they departed up to his office to discuss what to do next. Renesmee was fragile in the sense of she was easily overwhelmed and taking a small break before telling her yet more news was the best way to ensure both her physical and mental health stayed intact.

    “Thank you all for coming” Carlisle said as Jacob closed the door behind him. “I know you all would like to retire for the night with your other halves but this matter cannot wait.”

    “What’re you going to do now Carlisle?” Jacob said as he sat down on the plush red leather L-shaped couch in one corner of the room.

    “Well, they showed us themselves for  a reason, they said it was so we know what we’re up against but we already knew that with Alice’s visions. If we can get her to see why they wanted us to see them within the next day, only then can we work out the next step. It seems small but since we don’t even know at this point how much time we have, it’s all we can do.” Carlisle looked up at Jacob.

  Jacob nodded, holding his tongue wanting to snap back at him for not being able to do more.

    “What about Seth? He’s been pretty much left out of this whole thing, I know we’re acting as normal but that’s going a bit too loose on his part.”

    “Quite right, I think two of us should go and guard him to make out like we’re nervous about his safety when we well know the pack can look after him as well as him himself. That way Alice can watch for their next move as well as why they visited and we can go from there also.”

  Jacob seemed content with this answer despite Carlisle’s previous suggestion, he rose to his feet.

    “Which two are going?”

    “Us” Emmett said as he and Rosalie stepped forward form the small gathering. “If Alice went her thoughts would be clouded by the wolf pack being around, it’s best we go despite the only disadvantage.”

    “The smell” Rosalie hisses through her teeth as she crosses her arms.

  Chuckling, Jacob smirked and nodded. “Well that’s how I feel when I’ve had to stay at the cottage on my own with Bella and Edward, can’t get away from the stink.”

  For once Rosalie seemed to smile in sharing the similar feelings Jacob did, her lips curling slightly up in the attempt at a mutual joke between the two who even to this day still had their little spats now and then, though now they were more playful than trying to score points against one another. Carlisle smiled faintly at the two’s half mutual bonding and he dismissed the group for the night, telling Alice on her way out with Jasper to keep a good eye on what they had discussed, before being left alone with Esme to cuddle and chat privately about stuff on their minds.

  Returning back downstairs Jacob could see that only Bella and Renesmee were left in the living room, Renesmee’s long wavy hair cascading down off of Bella’s knees as her head lay snugly on her lap. Bella heard him before he arrived but looking up only when he got there managed to keep Renesmee in her light sleep. She raised her finger to her lips warning him to be quiet as he came over, so she could explain.

    “What happened?” Jacob whispered as he crouched beside her.

    “She was exhausted, and a little upset your night was interrupted. Once she said how she felt she fell asleep from feeling so frustrated.”

  Jacob frowned, worried.

    “Will she be okay?

  Bella nodded with a soft smile.

    “Of course, she just needs a good night’s sleep. And so do you, you look dog tired.”

  Jacob smirked at her reference and he nodded.

    “I’ll be right here.” He said as he moved onto the smaller end of the second L-shaped couch in the building, snuggling down in the space given to him before falling asleep. Bella continuing to stroke her slumbering daughters’ hair as the noise machine started up its snoring chorus, going through the octave with each snore that followed.

  Edward came walking in after visiting the wolf pack on Jacob’s behalf, telling them on what had been decided as he could hear what went on upstairs. Even he wasn’t so heartless against Jacob not to give him some time off when clearly if he had taken another step from coming down from upstairs, he surely would have fallen unconscious left to sleep the night on the floor.

    “Is he staying here?” he quietly asks bella, sitting beside her, his arm draping across her shoulders.

  Bella nods and leans slightly into him.

    “Yes, he’s just as worried about her as we are, you know that.”

  Edward nods and looks down at their silent daughter.

    “She’s being so brave, she may not feel she shows it but she’s like you. So much.” He kisses Bella’s head as she returns his affections with a soft smile.

    “She’s like you too you know, more than you know.” she sneaks in a kiss before Jacob interrupts their midnight make-out with another ground-shaking loud snore, revenge on them for the other nights activities from the cottage.