⋅˚₊‧ ☾ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ♡‧₊˚

"What's going on?" I walked downstairs after changing Eli's diaper to see the family standing near the back door. They all stood there quietly, their bodies tense.

Esme approached me carefully, both of us watching Eli race to Emmett. "Jacob shifted in front of Charlie."

"He did what?!" I pushed past them all and strode onto the deck. "Jacob!" Edward scooted Bella to the side as I approached them. "You shifted in front of my Dad?"

"I found another option!" He defended himself.

"You exposed him to a world he doesn't need to be involved in! You've had plenty of dumb ideas but this takes the cake." I spat out. "Bella's a freaking newborn, do you think this was the best idea?"

"She does pretty well around you!" He threw his hands up.

"Barely!" I argued back.

"He's been in hell Clary. He'll be a lot happier with you two in his life."

"You don't think I know that! And don't try to spin this, you're being selfish. You just don't want us to leave! Did it ever occur to you that you could go with us? No! It probably didn't because you're too thick-headed to even think rationally!" I stepped closer to him and I could see him shaking in anger normally I would've backed off except I was just as angry as he was.

"Okay let's calm down a bit." I felt cold hands grip my waist as they pulled me back away from him.

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way." He replied calmly and I fought the urge to strangle him. "He'll be here in ten minutes."

"What!" Bella and I shouted in unison. I lunged for the wolf boy but Emmett held onto me tightly as he refrained me from moving.

"Okay, let's get you inside before you break something." Emmett chuckled.

"This isn't over Jacob." I glared at him as Emmett dragged me back inside. He ignored me and it only added to my anger.

"Jasper I don't think she needs your protection after all." I heard someone joke but I was too busy pacing back and forth angrily and anxiously to pay attention.

"Clary calm down." Emmett stood in my path and I glared at him as he tried to get me to stop pacing. I felt my mood shift suddenly and I turned to glare at Jasper who quickly looked away and acted like he hadn't done anything. I wanted to stay angry but unfortunately, Jasper's gift worked quickly and my tantrum was over.

"How do we even pass her off as human? And Eli? How do we explain him? What about Nesmee? This is so messed up. It's making my head hurt." I stepped forward and rested my head on Emmett's chest, closing my eyes in frustration.

"We'll figure it out," Emmett reassured me.

"Let's figure it out quickly. We only have a few minutes left." Carlisle announced and everyone went in different directions as we readied ourselves for my Dad to visit.

The atmosphere in the home had calmed down as we all sat together giving Bella lessons on how to act like a human. She was being taught how to sit, blink, and walk like a human and it made me feel slightly pathetic.

"Clary will be here to distract him mostly so he won't focus on you too much," Esme added. I exhaled softly and pushed my hair behind my shoulders as Bella forced herself to slouch.

"I think I got it." Bella stood up, her nerves setting in.

"Good. Everyone knows the story?" We all nodded. "He's here." The tension in the room grew thick again as we all glanced at each other nervously but there was no going back now.

"Good luck," Esme whispered to Bella with a smile as she, Alice, Rosalie, Dom, and Jasper left the room. Carlisle went to greet Charlie at the door and I turned to Emmett, panicked.

"Don't worry." His thumb smoothed out the wrinkles on my forehead and I chewed on my lip. "He's not nosy like you. He won't pry too much." I nodded and he kissed my forehead before pulling away and wrapping an arm around my waist as we waited for my Dad to walk in.

He walked into the living room and my eyes watered at the sight of him. That man had always been my rock and my heart broke as I thought about having to say goodbye to him. I guess I didn't know that Jacob exposed him to a world he was never meant to be a part of.

"Bella." He greeted her with one word.

"Hey, Dad." She greeted him softly. I couldn't hold myself back. I ran and flung myself at him and he caught me with a grunt.

"Hi, Dad." His arms wrapped around me tightly and I squeezed him back with the same amount of force. He didn't question why Bella didn't hug him, she never had before. He released me and I took a step back from him as he glanced from me to my sister.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked her.

"Never better." She replied. "Healthy as a horse."

I watched him glance at Jacob anxiously. "You don't turn into an animal too, do you?" I snorted and looked towards Jacob who was chuckling.

"She wishes she was that awesome," Jacob smirked.

"I'm not sure that's the word I would use." I retorted. It was silent for a moment and I saw Emmett share a look with Edward before they both nodded.

"We'll give you three some privacy," Edward announced and the four men left the room. Dad and I moved to sit on the couch beside Bella and he managed to sit next to her before I could squeeze in the middle. I shot her an apologetic smile and nodded slightly.

"Jake said that this was uh, necessary. What does that mean?" I looked down at my hands and waited for Bella to respond.

"I think it would be better if-"

"I want to know what happened to you," Dad stated. I knew he wasn't going to pry but he also wasn't leaving without some answers.

"I can't tell you," Bella told him.

"I think I deserve an explanation," Dad replied and I agreed but we couldn't give him one.

"I know you do but I can't tell you." She repeated herself.

"Oh come on!" We watched as he stood up and took a few steps away from us. He put his hands on his hips as he faced us again. "And no more going away!"

"Dad you're going to have to trust that for whatever reason, I'm okay. That has to be enough for you." Bella stood up too. I was the only one left sitting and it was like watching a tennis match the way my head was glancing from side to side. "Can you live with that?"

"Can I live with that?" He repeated softly. "Well, I don't know Bella." I felt my eyes water as his voice cracked. "I just watched a kid I've known his entire life turn into a very large dog and my daughter looks like my daughter but doesn't."

"Can you please just believe that I'll tell you anything that you need to know?"

"And I don't need to know this?" He clarified.

"No. Really you don't."

"Well." Dad sighed and I knew he was close to ending this conversation. "I'm not going to lose you again. I can't." My heart broke at his words.

"Well, then you won't. I promise." My jaw dropped slightly as Bella made a promise I knew she couldn't keep. It dropped even more as Dad embraced her and I watched anxiously as it lasted longer than it needed to.

"I missed you Bells. So much." She returned the sentiment as they pulled apart and I sighed in relief that she hadn't murdered him. I knew she wouldn't but she was a newborn and she was bound to snap soon enough.

"Hey, Charlie." Edward walked into the room carrying Renesmee. "This is Renesmee." They really should've picked a shorter name.

"Your niece?"

"Our daughter." Edward corrected him.

"Right. The adoption." Something seemed to click in his head as he suddenly turned to face me. I smiled sheepishly and stood up. "Speaking of babies."

"About that.." I trailed off nervously. "Remember that need-to-know basis thing you two just discussed?" He nodded warily. "Well, this applies there too."

"What's going on?"

"I gave birth to him. He came from me. He's not adopted or a distant nephew, he's mine. He's just growing faster than expected."

"What does that mean? Is he like Jacob?"

"No. He's not an animal." I shook my head. "He's just- He's different." I moved to stand beside him and I smiled shyly as I heard Emmett's footsteps followed by the sound of smaller ones. "Dad, this is Eli." I bent down and picked up Eli, carrying him over to where Dad stood. Dad stared at my boy in shock and I watched as Eli blinked and waved shyly at him. Dad seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and lit up.

"He looks just like you Clary." He reached out and rubbed his hand over Eli's head affectionately. Eli leaned into his touch and surprised me by reaching his arms out to my Dad. Dad's eyes watered as he held him and he quickly blinked away his tears before we could see. "He has your eyes." He beamed. "He's practically your twin."

"I know." I chuckled. "I was really happy about that too."

"How old is he? Technically speaking."

"Need to know Dad." I shook my head with a smile.

"Right." He nodded in understanding. Eli reached his arms out to me and Dad handed him back, his smile never leaving his face. "I knew I was going to be a Grandpa but I never expected both my girls to make me one at the same time." Bella and I shared a smirk, laughing lightly.

"So are we okay now?" Bella inquired.

"We're good." Dad nodded. "Just, no more surprises, okay?"

"Deal." I grinned. We both gave him one last hug and we walked him to the door. We stood in the driveway as he drove off, Eli waving his hand excitedly.

"Way to go Bella." A voice piped up behind us. I turned around and smiled widely at Emmett. He winked at me in return. "Never seen a newborn show that much restraint," Bella smirked smugly.

"I'm not even sure she is a newborn. She's so," Emmett smirked. "Tame."

"Emmett don't antagonize her. She's the strongest one in the house." Edward warned him.

"Yes let's not provoke the baby vamp, please," I begged him. He cracked his knuckles and snorted.

"Prove it." He smirked and I sighed loudly.

"Come on bub, let's go watch Daddy lose a fight."