After Forever (a Twilight Saga fanfiction: 10 years after Breaking Dawn)

17 ∘ Frantic (EPOV)

September 20th, 2016

"Charlie's almost here. Are you sure about this? Once it's done, you can't take it back," I asked Bella. She finally made a decision. I didn't know if it was a good idea, but I would support her no matter what.

"It's... the only way." I was about to disagree, but she cut me off. "The only logical way. She'll never stop asking. And she'd never leave Forks without getting an answer. What else could we possibly tell her?" She looked at the door, waiting to see Charlie's cruiser pull up. "It's not the whole truth, but it's good enough. It has to be."

"Do you need me to do anything?"

"Just be there. That's all I need."

"Always," I murmured, and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

As if on cue, we heard the squeaking tires turn into our street. Bella froze, and I held her until Charlie's boots crunched their way up the pavement. I got to the front door just before he could raise his hand to ring the bell. I gestured for him to go ahead, then shut the door before following him upstairs to Bella. Everyone else filled the living room.

"Well? What's the verdict?" Charlie asked impatiently. "Bella?"

"I'm gonna tell her."

He tilted his head. "Wait. What? Tell her what, exactly?"

"Mostly what you know. Maybe that will be enough for her to calm down."

"You all think that's best?"

"Bella knows her better than us. It was her choice," Carlisle told him.

"And what if it isn't enough? What if she asks for more?"

"More than knowing her daughter is alive? I think that's all she'll care about right now. And if I'm wrong, we'll turn the conversation another way," Bella whispered.

I put my hand on Charlie's shoulder. "It'll be okay." He stared at me for a few seconds, worried. Then he nodded.

"I don't want Renesmee there. But I do want Jacob there. Where are they?"

"Exploring. I'll call him," I said.

"I'll stay here with Nessie," Esme suggested, then turned to the kitchen.

"Hey." Jacob answered on the second ring.

"How fast can you get home?"

"Maybe twenty minutes." His voice was so loud that everyone could hear him.

"Who is that?" I heard my daughter's soft voice call out.

"What about if you shifted?"

"About five. What's going on?"

"I'll leave you some clothes on the pathway. Hurry." I hung up.

Charlie looked disturbed. He never got used to Jacob turning into a wolf. His mind pictured Renesmee riding him like a horse, and I chuckled. She used to, but she's gotten a lot faster on her own lately. Charlie was startled by my laughter, then I shook my head at him. His widened eyes looked confused.

I went to sit by Bella on the couch. She questioned what just happened, but I shrugged. I'd tell her later.

Charlie was getting antsy. He worried about Renée's reaction, and about everyone's safety. I was going to reassure him, but Jacob and Renesmee boomed through the door. As part of his nature, he sensed around for danger, but didn't get anything.

"What the hell?" Why'd we rush over here? he thought.

"We're going to Charlie's. To talk to Renée." I stood up.

"Excuse me? No, we're not."

"Ness, you're staying here with your grandmother." I nodded my head toward the kitchen, and she went.

"Don't you ever think for a second I would allow anything that would jeopardize her safety." He closed the space between us. Even though he was taller than me, I didn't feel remotely threatened.

"I'm going to suggest that you take a step back, son."

"And what's gonna happen when they find out someone knows?" He couldn't say 'Volturi' in front of Charlie. "She's the most vulnerable part of this family, and will be the first one to be targeted. I won't let it happen. You're not telling anyone anything."

"I'll do whatever I want. If it involves my daughter, I'll be the one to make the decision. Not you. This is happening."

"Over my dead body."

"Try me."

"You think you're above everyone else. You always have. When are you gonna realize that you're-" I cut him off before he could say something so volatile in front of my daughter. I heard the loud cracks of his ribs when I threw him across the room. Along with one of Nessie's paintings.