Aurora Bourealis

PG-13. (Some slight mature content)

This is going to be Renesmee's story, but I'm starting it from Bella's point of view so you all can get a better idea of how she is from the outside, to watch her growing up rather than feeling it, just yet. It works better that way for the direction I'm going to take the story in.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. My favorite author, Stephenie Meyer, does. Lucky her.

Chapter 1, Part 1.

The sky began to gradually lighten in the east, and I sighed and stroked Edward's hair. He lay with his head on my chest, as he had done so many times in the past to listen to the beat of my heart. We had been together all night, following the moment when I first was able to let him hear my thoughts. As the hours passed, I had lifted my mental shield time and time again as another treasured moment would make its way into my remembrance. Each time, the look of adoration and wonder in his eyes as he heard my mind's voice made my stone heart feel as though it would surely melt. Sometimes, though, the memory would kindle a flame of desire in his tawny eyes, and with a hungry kiss, we would be off again on another piece of our perfect forever.

I sighed, and patted his head. He looked up at me with a radiant smile.

"It's time we got … er… disconnected, don't you think?" I smiled. "Renesmee will be waking up soon and it wouldn't be too kosher for her to wander in and find us like this."

He chuckled and kissed the edge of my jaw. "I'd hear her thoughts if she was going to wake up, love. Don't worry. Besides, she did go to bed rather late last night, and there is the advantage of her being half human to add to her exhaustion from the other ordeals."

I knew he was referring to the Volturi and our near massacre by them. I shuddered.

He felt that. "Shh, my love," Edward whispered. "They will not hurt us again. Aro has seen your ability and your determination, and the strength of both were quite sufficient to put a damper on his usually ambitious spirit."

"I was just so horrified," I said, whispering too. "I was afraid that after everything had turned out so perfectly he was just going to come and ruin it all. Everything, Edward.

Everything I had ever dreamed or imagined… or even wasn't able to imagine. . . I . . . I . . ."

"Shh," he said again. He looked down into my eyes curiously, and slowly, the curiosity was replaced by a wicked, sly glint. His mouth curved upward into that irresistible crooked smile that I loved so much. "It seems I'm going to have to tamper with your memory—again," he breathed.

He brought his head down to the corner of my mouth and traced the contours of my lips with his tongue. My breath caught in my throat, and once again I waited for the reaction of my pulse thudding in my veins that would never happen again. That didn't mean that I was obsolete of feelings at all, however. Far from it. Every limb on my body tingled with the electricity that shot through it at his touch. His left hand came up and rested on my neck briefly before sliding down the curve of my shoulder and continuing down my arm. Our fingers intertwined when his hand reached mine. With his other hand he reached up and ran his fingers through my hair as he planted kisses in a steady line down my throat and over my collarbone. Our breaths came quicker as I stroked his bare back, sculpted with muscles that I could feel contract beneath my palm with each movement he made.

He brought his face back up to mine and grinned.

"What was it you were saying?" he asked playfully.

I responded by grabbing his head and pulling him back down to where I could press my lips against his. A chuckle escaped his throat just a split second before a groan of pleasure did. Our bodies began moving in unison again, and continued that way until the sun was well over the horizon.

Chapter 1, Part 2.

When the sun was shining brightly through the window, casting rays of golden light onto everything it touched, Edward looked up at me and smiled.

"I think it's time we took your earlier advice and 'disconnected'," he laughed quietly. Just then, I heard a rustling from the adjoining room and the quick heartbeat that had been the background to our night picked up speed.

"She's awake," I whispered. I was loath to leave him now, after what had just passed I was still hungry for more, but a small portion of my newly expanded mind whispered to me that I was a mother now and had responsibilities. I sighed and planted a quick kiss on his lips before easing myself away from him.

"I feel awfully dutiful," I complained. "Why did she have to wake up just when it was getting so good?" I rolled over and off the bed and picked up the sheet that had fallen to the ground during the night. Tossing it onto the bed, I sped into the closet Alice had so graciously made for me—I thought the word "graciously" with quite a bit of sarcasm—and sniffed the air in search of the familiar, comforting scent of denim. Ah, that's right. I remembered now the dresser Edward had pulled the jeans from that first night we spent in here. I made a beeline for it and opened the second drawer.

Wow. Jeans in every color imaginable greeted me from the inside. What was with Alice? Seriously, I couldn't picture myself in half the shades here. Electric purple? Neon green? This girl was too much. I muttered to myself about vampire fashionistas as I dug through the folds of denim in search of a more neutral hue. Edward was suddenly behind me, his arms snaked around my waist and his face nestled in the hollow between my throat and shoulder. His breath on my neck was beginning to drive me insane.

"Uh, Edward?" I faltered. "If you want to preserve the innocence of Nessie's eyes you had better not start with that right now." Already my breath was quickening and my stomach throbbed with desire.

He didn't respond, just slowly slid his nose up and down my throat twice, followed by a feather light kiss just under my ear. He blew lightly on it for a moment and then paused. I took advantage of the moment to focus on breathing in a normal pattern. "Edward," I gasped.

He chuckled and kissed my neck once more before releasing me and leaning against the dresser.

"You really shouldn't do that, you know," I accused him as soon as I had caught my breath.

"Do what? Dazzle you?" he asked with a grin. "No," I replied. "Electrocute me."

"Is that what it feels like to you? That doesn't sound too pleasant," he teased. I looked at him with a dubious expression before turning back to the task at hand. Finally! I grinned and pulled out a faded pair of blue jeans with rips in them. Leave it to Alice to be fashion conscious even in the simple thing of blue jeans… they had to have rips in the knees. Not exactly my first choice, but it wasn't like I had much of a selection, even within the extreme variety buried in my drawer. Whatever. They would have to do. I slipped into them and couldn't help admiring how comfortable they were despite the tears. They hugged my hips perfectly and…they made my butt look darn good, if I might say so myself. I chuckled to myself as I opened the third drawer and pulled out a pink, airy blouse with ruffles around the neckline that dipped low before ending in buttons that continued down my belly.

I pulled it on and twirled in front of Edward. He smiled approvingly. "You almost look better in that than you did a few minutes ago. . .hmmm."

He sauntered towards me and caught me around the waist again. Pulling me to him, he pressed his lips softly to mine and sighed. His lips parted, and I breathed in his delicious scent. That did me in. I reached up and twisted my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer as I tasted the lavender that permeated every inch of his mouth. Just then, a whimper snapped us both to attention.

"Renesmee," I whispered. "Darn."

We straightened up and it suddenly occurred to me that he was dressed in a white button down that hung over his jeans.

"When did you…" I began, but just shook my head.

"You are indeed quite unobservant when your attention is directed otherwise," he laughed. We headed out the door and down the hall to Renesmee's room where we could hear her strumming her fingers along the iron bars of her crib. Edward paused when we reached the door and swung it open so I could go inside first.

Renesmee looked up and her face lit up like a thousand sparklers. "Mommy!" she cried, reaching out to me with all her strength. Her fists opened and closed in excitement as I closed the distance between us. I bent down to scoop her up into my arms, meanwhile searching rather frantically to see what changes might have occurred during the night. I was terrified to miss anything, at the speed she was maturing with. Not many, I noted to my relief. Her bronze ringlets hung to the base of her back now, and she was the slightest bit slimmer than she had been yesterday. Her brown eyes gazed up at me, filled with love, and her cheeks were flushed a brilliant pink. She looked well rested, I decided.

Nessie pressed her palm against my cheek and a look of expectance passed over her small features. A picture of Jacob filled my mind, with her in his arms, and Rosalie approaching with a metal cup. I winced as the smell coming from the cup made itself painfully known in my throat. "Okay, Nessie," I said quickly. "Let's get you some breakfast." I turned to face Edward and she reached out for him with a radiant smile lighting up her face. Edward's expression softened beyond anything I had seen before as he reached out and took her. She pressed her hand to his cheek and he smiled. "I missed you too, Nessie," he said.

We headed out the door and passed through the living room on our way out. I paused again to admire the fireplace, which was my favorite part of the house… well, besides the bedroom. We walked out the door then and broke into a sprint instantly, trees and bushes flying past us at ridiculous speeds. I still hadn't gotten entirely used to the speed at which I was able to go. It was simply exhilarating.

In a matter of seconds we were at the large white house. The door swung open and in the frame stood a tall, dark shape that I immediately knew was Jacob. Renesmee knew too, apparently. She struggled in Edward's arms until he put her down with an expression torn between amusement and frustration. Amusement at her excitement and frustration at the fact that it was Jacob she wanted to go to, I assumed.

"Jakey!" she shouted as she dashed up the wooden steps. She jumped onto his shoulders in one lithe movement. I stopped, frozen in amazement. She was only the size of a three or four year old, and… had she really just jumped six feet and seven inches into the air?

Edward glanced over at me and burst out laughing at my expression.

"I was shocked, too, but your expression just ruined it for me," he guffawed.

"Is there another bear choking out there?" Emmett's voice boomed from inside the house.

I regained my sanity and started moving again. Stepping through the doorway, I saw everyone inside grinning from ear to ear as they watched Renesmee and Jacob. She was dancing in circles around him, at a speed that would have been too fast for human eyes to see. He was trying to catch her but wasn't having much luck with it. I felt a secret twinge of pleasure at that fact. Jacob wasn't as fast as my daughter. I smirked.

Renesmee broke off from her circles without breaking her speed one bit and flew over to Rosalie. She screeched to a stop and I imagined puffs of dust around her like in the cartoons. She pressed her palm to Rosalie's cheek and cocked her head to the side with an expression of obvious impatience. Carlisle laughed, as did Esme, Alice and Jasper.

Emmett roared from his spot on the couch. Rosalie smiled and gave her to Jacob to hold.

"Of course, my little queen," she gushed as she breezed off to the kitchen. She was back in a flash with the little metal cup, filled to the brim with a warm, thick red liquid that made my mouth water and my throat scorch. My muscles tensed and the venom flowed in my mouth. I quickly stopped my breath. Using what little air I had, I turned to Edward and spoke speedily.

"I think I need to hunt."

He looked into my eyes and nodded. I could see in his eyes that he echoed my sentiment.

They were growing perceptibly darker by the second. He threw a quick glance at Carlisle, who nodded understandingly. "Of course," Carlisle said. "Do as you must. It is the top priority that Bella must not harm Renesmee."

I offered him a quick, grateful smile, and we turned and dashed out the door.