Chapter 11: Head in the Sand

The next day the Denali coven arrived to stay with us as I was choking down my breakfast. My grandmother Esme had made me French toast and a fruit salad. It was repulsive, but I had to eat it Jake sat next to me staring intently at each forkful that disappeared into my mouth. “Why don’t you just set up surveillance cameras and save yourself the trouble, “I grumbled. He snorted and rolled his eyes, “Lovely I guess this is the beginning of the mood swings…” I shot him a murderous glare and was about to reply vulgarly when Tanya came running up to me and threw her arms around me. She was ecstatic at the news of the baby. I had guessed Aunt Alice told her, since she was the gossip maven of the family and truly couldn’t help herself. “Nessie, I cannot believe you are pregnant! Congratulations to both of you! I feel bad I didn’t bring anything I would have if I knew. Don’t worry I will get her something exquisite.” I smiled at her graciously as I tried to keep from vomiting my breakfast into her hair.
The rest of the day was spent in my grandparents spacious living room both covens in deep conversation about the Volturi situation. Everyone was spread out all over the room some in chairs or on the floor while others paced. I was hogging the coach with my back leaning against Jake’s chest as he absently played with my hair. Tanya was pacing furiously, “I know it was them Carlisle, I have also heard that Stefan has gone missing too.” Eleazer snorted, “the old fool has probably gotten himself lost somewhere out looking for Vladimir.” Carmen tsked at her mate, “Eleazer, be nice, that was a terrible thing to say,” she chided. Garrett laughed and Kate smacked him. "Shut it," she snarled. He stood at attention, "yes ma'am." I giggled at him and he winked at me. My grandfather cleared his throat, a sign that he was slightly unnerved by the latest development. His brow furrowed as he met my father’s disturbed gaze. “Now, Eleazer,” my father argued, “I agree with Tanya and my father. If it is them they are going to target each of us trying to weaken the greater whole so that we cannot rise up against them once more.” Tanya nodded appreciatively and leaned over my oblivious father provocatively purring, “Thank you Edward, at least there is one man with brains in this bunch.” My mother arched one of her perfect eyebrows in her direction. I giggled to myself. Over the summer my mother had disclosed some of her secret fears to me and made me swear that I would never repeat them. Tanya had an interest in my father long before my mother came around although my father had rebuffed her advances continually. He had chosen my mother, married her, they had me; and yet Tanya still had some feelings for him. It drove my mother crazy; she still seemed to view herself in her human form and thought that she couldn’t hold a candle to the pretty strawberry blonde vampire which was completely ridiculous. My mother was way more attractive in my opinion. My father looked at me in bemusement and I flinched as I realized that he had just overheard the secret I was supposed to keep for my mother. “Oops” I thought to myself. He smirked as he nodded politely to Tanya and then backed away and wrapped his arms around my mother pulling her closer as he smelled her hair and kissed her cheek. I giggled, “Nice save, dad.” I thought to myself. In response he twisted one corner of his lip up in a half smile to me. My mother’s overly observant eyes flashed back and forth from me to my father, “What is going on you two?” I cleared my throat, “Oh, um nothing… we were playing silent tic tac toe… I won again.” My mother rolled her eyes, “Can you both please focus, no more mental board games we are trying to have a family meeting here.” She turned to my father with a slightly amused smile, “I swear Edward sometimes you are like a child…” My father looked at me as if to say, “SILENT TIC TAC TOE??!!” I crossed my arms over my chest as I directed my silent thoughts to my father, “ Hmph! I didn’t see you coming up with anything brilliant,” I grumbled silently in my mind where I knew only he would hear me. “If you tell mom that I slipped and told you her secret I will teach Sarah to bite you.” I smiled widely at him and he shook his head in exasperation. My grandfather looked up at both of us, “Please, Renesmee, Edward we need everyone’s concentration regarding the matter at hand.” Jake flicked my arm, “You’re going to be a bad influence on the baby, behave.” I giggled but stopped as I noticed the look in my grandfather’s eyes, I had never seen him so serious before. I quietly sat up pulling my back from Jake and sitting in the couch properly so that I could pay attention as I draped my arms across my ever expanding mid section. My grandfather looked back to Tanya. “What does your coven suggest that we do about this? I do not relish the idea of a war.” Tanya strolled over to my grandfather and sat on the ground before him in one swift cat like movement. “Of course not Carlisle, nobody ants that. But enough is enough. We have lived for too many centuries under their tyranny.” She gestured towards me. “Don’t you want for your great grandchild to be able to grow up in a world without the Volturi.” My grandfather’s eyes seemed to drift far away as he placed his fingertips on the bridge of his nose briefly closing his eyes. “Yes, but I also want for my great grandchild to be able to have the chance to get to know her family…” he trailed off quietly. The whole room fell silent shocked by the looming truth that as unlikely as it was given our gifts there was still a chance that not everyone sitting with us would make it through a battle with the Volturi. I felt arms around me, “What?” I jumped as I realized it was Jake. His eyes were pools of worry, “Princess, you are shaking. Come here, it’s alright everything will be ok.” I felt my stomach lurching again; I couldn’t tell if it was from the food or just the overwhelming fear that consumed me at my grandfather’s words. Fear for my family and husband but most of all fear for my unborn child. The room began to spin and I stood up to run to the bathroom, but I was so dizzy and weak. My peripheral vision started to go and all of the alarmed shrieks of my name that were uttered by various family members sounded as though they were miles away. I began to fall over and Jake scooped me up and ran me upstairs. We got to the toilet just in time as my stomach heaved again and again. He held my hair back and whispered reassuringly as I leaned over the cool porcelain until my stomach was once more empty. I collapsed to the ground after and just lay there willing the room to stop being so off kilter. Jake picked me up, “I am telling your grandfather everything and that is final.” I swatted at him as I gasped, “No…please… he has too much to worry about. It was just nerves.” He growled at me furiously, “Renesmee you have not been able to keep food down for days. It is not good for you or our Sarah.” As I absorbed the truth of what he said I nodded my consent weakly, I would do anything to protect my precious angel baby. As Jake stood up to walk with me, my grandfather and parents were already in the doorway. “I heard the whole thing, Jake.” My grandfather told him with his hand up gesturing for him to not repeat himself. My mother stepped forward snarling at my husband, “Jake what the hell is wrong with you why didn’t you tell us.” I looked up weakly, “Mom, please it was my fault.” Her eyes flashed angrily as she ignored me and advanced on my husband whose arms were still wrapped tightly around me. I was thankful for that, because my mother wouldn’t attack him while I was in his arms. She locked her eyes on his, “You promised to keep her safe and I am holding you to it.” My father placed a hand on her shoulder as I looked at him pleadingly. “Bella, love she really has been begging Jake not to say anything, which by the way was stupid and cruel of you Renesmee…” My mother backed down and shot me an angry look. My grandfather stepped forward and took me into his arms. “Have you been able to keep anything down?” I shook my head miserably as I started to cry, but no tears came. He looked at me with a frown, “Renesmee you are dehydrated this is not good at all. I told you that you would have to tell me everything this is a high risk pregnancy we are trying to accomplish here.” I wailed even louder at the thought of my stupidity putting Sarah at risk. My grandfather obviously felt bad and the scolding abated and was replaced with his usual caring tone. “It’s alright child. I will run an IV to get you some fluids. I am also going to give you some medicine for nausea. Usually women don’t get this sick with pregnancy but it is not unheard of. Once we get you on the medicine we will try more food. Ok?” I nodded feebly as my grandfather went to his study to get my medication. My mother turned to Jake fiercely, “If anything happens to her so help me I will kill you.” She stalked out of the room furiously leaving my poor husband in shock. I turned to my father, “Daddy, you have to talk some sense into her, it is not Jake’s fault. He was just trying to keep me happy.” My father nodded, “I understand, although Jacob you really should have told one of us. Bella shouldn’t be blaming you like this her daughter DID get her stubborn streak from her after all. I will talk to her, but no more secrets about this pregnancy. It is infantile and dangerous Renesmee.” My father turned to me his eyes flickering in fury, “Are you listening to me Nessie, no more games. You tell your grandfather everything. Do you understand that MY baby girl and granddaughter are at risk if you don’t?” I gulped I rarely saw my father this scary I never got yelled at when I was little I was spoiled rotten by him so this was new, but I suppose I deserved it. “Yes daddy,” I whispered weakly, he winced at my condition and put his hands on my face as he said softly, “I love you, take care of yourself please…” I nodded and he walked away patting Jake on the shoulder as he exited the room. I looked to Jake and started crying again, he was at my side in an instant. “What is it sweetheart?” I pulled him down onto the bed with the strength of a child, it was pathetic I couldn't budge him. He crawled next to me and held onto me, “Don’t cry everything will be alright.” I continued to wail, “It’s all my fault….she’s…going…to…kill… you…” I trailed off sobbing hysterically. He chuckled, “Ness I’m not worried about your mother’s death threats I have received millions of them over the years. She is harmless.” His eyes became serious and he stared at me intently, “Besides I have nothing to worry about. You promised me that both you and Sarah would survive this, correct?” I nodded quickly for his benefit; but secretly I had my doubts.