[BamaFan121s]

I noticed a hint of teasing return to his voice. “Well, right now Alice is working herself into a frenzy over the fact that you have not finished packing. And, I’m sure she’s going to have a few choice words over the wardrobe you’ve selected to take with you.”
I sighed again and released his hand, preparing to run again. “Oh I suppose I could humor her for one night. May as well get it over with.” With that we were running though the woods again towards the big white house.
After a long night of packing and unpacking and then repacking, Alice finally seemed satisfied with my wardrobe selections for our trip to Italy. I still didn’t see the point in packing not one, but two formal dresses, but it was easier to just appease her requests. The entire family had gone on a last minute hunt as our opportunities over the course of the next week were sure to be limited, given the customary diet of the vampires we would be visiting. We were scheduled to leave in just a few short hours, but there was one last difficult order of business that had to be attended to first.
Our normal daily routine was interrupted when Jacob arrived at the cottage before Renesme had even woken for the day. Edward opened the door for him before he had the chance to knock, having heard his mental anguish as he approached the house. He had to duck as he stepped in the small den to keep from hitting his head on the low exposed beams. His massive shoulders were hunched and he kept his eyes on the floor, his eyes unfocused and sad.
“Jake, you don’t look so good.” I said, tentatively. Truthfully, he looked absolutely horrible, more depressed than I’d ever seen him, which was no small task.
“I’ve come to see Renesme before you leave.” He spoke sullenly. “I figured I’d come down and wait for her to wake up, if that’s OK.”
“Of course Jacob. You are welcome here anytime.” Edward said, clapping him on the shoulder.
“I just don’t know what I’m going to do while you all are gone.” He heaved a heavy sigh.
“Jake, we’re only going to be gone for a week. We’ll be back before you know it. You haven’t spent much time with Billy lately and I know he misses you. And, you could work on your car.” I rubbed his forearm for a quick second before having to pull away from the blistering heat it radiated and hoped that suggesting his favorite hobby would lift his spirits. At least, it used to be his favorite hobby…before Renesme. He didn’t respond, he just shrugged and kept looking at the floor.
Luck was on Jacob’s side as Renesme woke up earlier than usual. As soon as she entered the den, her face lit up as she flew across the floor, throwing herself into Jacob’s arms. As she strained to wrap her arms around his neck, the forlorn mask that he wore melted away. After she was dressed and ready, the four of us headed back to the house where Jacob proceeded to cook her breakfast. She talked animatedly to him as they sat and ate together.
Edward and I loaded our luggage in the Carlisle’s car, trying to ignore Alice as we did. She was in a rather frantic state, trying to make sure that she had everything in order—passports, airline tickets, Italian Euro. She’d been planning for nearly a month and we all knew that she hadn’t forgotten anything, but it was easier to let her have her way than try to calm her. Even Jasper didn’t bother.
Once the cars were loaded, we headed to the airport. Jacob had insisted on riding with us, determined to spend every possible second with Renesme before our departure. After parking and checking in our luggage and endless waiting, they finally began calling for our flight to board. Edward had already used the full force of his dazzling eyes on the attendants at the desk to extend boarding for a few minutes. After the final boarding call was announced over the speaker for the second time, we couldn’t put off loading any further.
Jacob held Renesme on his lap, the two of them gazing intently at each other. Renesme had extended her tiny hand to lay it on Jacob’s cheek—her way of telling him good-bye. Huge tears rolled down both her cheeks and Jacob’s. It was truly heart breaking. I was on the verge of telling Edward that I had changed my mind, that I was staying here and the rest of the Cullens could go to Voltera without me, when Jacob stood up and walked over to Rosalie, placing a grief stricken Renesme in her arms. “You’ll take good care of her while you’re gone Blondie…” His voice broke several times as tears continued to roll down his russet cheeks.
Rosalie met Jacob’s worried stare, “Of course, Jacob.”
Jacob turned to me and placed his blistering palm against my face. “Take care Bells. I’ll see you when you get back.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to nod in return.
As he turned and walked away, Edward pulled gently on my hand. “Bella, we have to board now or we’ll be swimming to Italy.” I turned and filed onto the plane along with the rest of the Cullens. As we made our way onto the plane, I silently contemplated if my sudden angst over leaving was due to Jacob’s tearful scene, or due to my own nervousness about the trip that lay ahead of me. I quickly decided it was a mixture of both.
Our family members were the only ones traveling in first class. I took note of the remaining four, unclaimed seats and wondered if Alice had actually booked all of this particular section of the plane. Edward and I shared a row across from Alice and Jasper. Roslie, Emmett and Renesme sat in the row behind us. I settled back in my seat, trying to calm my nerves. For once, Edward let me sit in silence, not insisting to know what was on my mind. Ironically, I would have welcomed the distraction.
As the plane began it’s ascent into the clouds, Renesme excitedly peered out the window commenting to Rosalie with delight on the points of interest as they passed by us on the landscape below. Once the plane had risen below the clouds, she took turns replaying what she’s seen for each of us in turn. Eventually, the sky outside the plane began to darken and she settled into the seat between Emmett and Rosalie, yawning hugely and quickly drifting off to sleep.
A short while later, Edward moved back to talk to Carlisle. The moment he left his seat, Alice took his place. She studied my face briefly and slightly inclined her head to the side. “You’re still worried,” she surmised.
“Just a little nervous.” I admitted.
She placed her hand on mine. “Bella, what is it exactly you are nervous about?”
I inhaled deeply and considered her question for a minute. “I’m worried about what Aro will think when he sees some of our memories. In particular, the ones that include Jacob and Charlie.”
“Well, that’s completely understandable,” she said sympathetically, patting my hand reassuringly. “But you know, he won’t see anything that he hasn’t seen from Carlisle on his recent visits.”
“I know, but I can’t help worry just the same.” I inhaled deeply, pausing before I continued. I felt the tiniest bit of relief that Alice seemed willing to let me voice my concerns without passing them off as being unnecessary. “I’m also worried about what Carlisle said before…about Aro still being eager for you and me and Edward to join them. Regardless to how many changes they make, and to how open they are to a new line of rule they are… And I know that we can’t stay in Forks forever, but I can’t imagine that I’ll ever be comfortable enough to join them.”
Once I’d said it out loud, I felt better. Then another thought crossed my mind and I couldn’t resist laughing a little and taking the opportunity to give my favorite sister a hard time. “I mean think about it Alice…me, you and Edward, doomed to wear the same, boring gray cloaks for eternity. Can you imagine?”
I waited for the comment that was bound to evoke in Alice. And I waited. “Alice?” I turned to Alice, but I was not sure when she’d stopped listening to me. Her eyes were glazed over and her face was blank. “Alice?” I asked, waving my hand in front of her face. “Alice…I said can you picture the three of us wearing unsightly gray robes forever?”
Suddenly, Alice blinked and gasped. She grabbed my hand and turned to look at me. Her eyes were wide and fearful. The look on her perfect face was one of both confusion and terror. The words she slowly spoke to me next sent a chill to the center of my being. “Yes Bella…I can see that.”