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  I　tried　not　to　panic　as　I　froze　mid…breath。　My　eyes　were　the　only　things　that　moved；　wheeling　instinctively
  to　find　the　source　of　the　sound。
  Jacob　stood　at　the　line　where　the　forest　touched　the　Cullens'　lawn；　his　arms　folded　across　his　body；　his
  jaw　clenched　tight。　Invisible　in　the　woods　behind　him；　I　heard　now　two　larger　hearts；　and　the　faint　crush
  of　bracken　under　huge；　pacing　paws。
  〃Carefully；　Jacob；〃　Edward　said。　A　snarl　from　the　forest　echoed　the　concern　in　his　voice。　〃Maybe　this
  isn't　the　best　way—〃
  〃You　think　it　would　be　better　to　let　her　near　the　baby　first？〃　Jacob　interrupted。　〃It's　safer　to　see　how
  Bella　does　with　me。　I　heal　fast。〃
  This　was　a　test？　To　see　if　I　could　not　kill　Jacob　before　I　tried　to　not　kill　Renesmee？　I　felt　sick　in　the
  strangest　way—it　had　nothing　to　do　with　my　stomach；　only　my　mind。　Was　this　Edward's　idea？
  I　glanced　at　his　face　anxiously；　Edward　seemed　to　deliberate　for　a　moment；　and　then　his　expression
  twisted　from　concern　into　something　else。　He　shrugged；　and　there　was　an　undercurrent　of　hostility　in　his
  voice　when　he　said；　〃It's　your　neck；　I　guess。〃
  The　growl　from　the　forest　was　furious　this　time；　Leah；　I　had　no　doubt。
  What　was　with　Edward？　After　all　that　we'd　been　through；　shouldn't　he　have　been　able　to　feel　some
  kindness　for　my　best　friend？　I'd　thought—maybe　foolishly—that　Edward　was　sort　of　Jacob's　friend　now；
  too。　I　must　have　misread　them。
  But　what　was　Jacob　doing？　Why　would　he　offer　himself　as　a　test　to　protect　Renesmee？
  It　didn't　make　any　sense　to　me。　Even　if　our　friendship　had　survived。。。
  And　as　my　eyes　met　Jacob's　now；　I　thought　that　maybe　it　had。　He　still　looked　like　my　best　friend。　But　he
  wasn't　the　one　who　had　changed。　What　did　I　look　like　to　him？
  Then　he　smiled　his　familiar　smile；　the　smile　of　a　kindred　spirit；　and　I　was　sure　our　friendship　was　intact。　It
  was　just　like　before；　when　we　were　hanging　out　in　his　homemade　garage；　just　two　friends　killing　time。
  Easy　and　normal。
  Again；　I　noticed　that　the　strange　need　I'd　felt　for　him　before　I'd　changed　was　completely　gone。　He　was
  just　my　friend；　the　way　it　was　supposed　to　be。
  It　still　made　no　sense　what　he　was　doing　now；　though。　Was　he　really　so　selfless　that　he　would　try　to
  protect　me—with　his　own　life—from　doing　something　in　an　uncontrolled　split　second　that　I　would　regret
  in　agony　forever？　That　went　way　beyond　simply　tolerating　what　I　had　become；　or　miraculously　managing
  to　stay　my　friend。　Jacob　was　one　of　the　best　people　I　knew；　but　this　seemed　like　too　much　to　accept
  from　anyone。
  His　grin　widened；　and　he　shuddered　slightly。　〃I　gotta　say　it；　Bells。　You're　a　freak　show。〃
  I　grinned　back；　falling　easily　into　the　old　pattern。　This　was　a　side　of　him　I　understood。
  Edward　growled。　〃Watch　yourself；　mongrel。〃
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  The　wind　blew　from　behind　me　and　I　quickly　filled　my　lungs　with　the　safe　air　so　I　could　speak。　〃No；　he's
  right。　The　eyes　are　really　something；　aren't　they？〃
  〃Super…creepy。　But　it's　not　as　bad　as　I　thought　it　would　be。〃
  〃Gee—thanks　for　the　amazing　compliment！〃
  He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　You　still　look　like　you—sort　of。　Maybe　it's　not　the　look　so
  much　as。。。　you　are　Bella。　I　didn't　think　it　would　feel　like　you　were　still　here。〃　He　smiled　at　me　again
  without　a　trace　of　bitterness　or　resentment　anywhere　in　his　face。　Then　he　chuckled　and　said；　〃Anyway；　I
  guess　I'll　get　used　to　the　eyes　soon　enough。〃
  〃You　will？〃　I　asked；　confused。　It　was　wonderful　that　we　were　still　friends；　but　it　wasn't　like　we'd　be
  spending　much　time　together。
  The　strangest　look　crossed　his　face；　erasing　the　smile。　It　was　almost。。。　guilty？　Then　his　eyes　shifted　to
  Edward。
  〃Thanks；〃　he　said。　〃I　didn't　know　if　you'd　be　able　to　keep　it　from　her；　promise　or　not。　Usually；　you　just
  give　her　everything　she　wants。〃
  〃Maybe　I'm　hoping　she'll　get　irritated　and　rip　your　head　off；〃　Edward　suggested。
  Jacob　snorted。
  〃What's　going　on？　Are　you　two　keeping　secrets　from　me？〃　I　demanded；　incredulous。
  〃I'll　explain　later；〃　Jacob　said　self…consciously—like　he　didn't　really　plan　on　it。　Then　he　changed　the
  subject。　〃First；　let's　get　this　show　on　the　road。〃　His　grin　was　a　challenge　now　as　he　started　slowly
  forward。
  There　was　a　whine　of　protest　behind　him；　and　then　Leah's　gray　body　slid　out　of　the　trees　behind　him。
  The　taller；　sandy…colored　Seth　was　right　behind　her。
  〃Cool　it；　guys；〃　Jacob　said。　〃Stay　out　of　this。〃
  I　was　glad　they　didn't　listen　to　him　but　only　followed　after　him　a　little　more　slowly。
  The　wind　was　still　now；　it　wouldn't　blow　his　scent　away　from　me。
  He　got　close　enough　that　I　could　feel　the　heat　of　his　body　in　the　air　between　us。　My　throat　burned　in
  response。
  〃C'mon；　Bells。　Do　your　worst。〃
  Leah　hissed。
  I　didn't　want　to　breathe。　It　wasn't　right　to　take　such　dangerous　advantage　of　Jacob；　no　matter　if　he　was
  the　one　offering。　But　I　couldn't　get　away　from　the　logic。　How　else　could　I　be　sure　that　I　wouldn't　hurt
  Renesmee？
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  Tm　getting　older　here；　Bella；〃　Jacob　taunted。　〃Okay；　not　technically；　but　you　get　the　idea。　Go　on；　take　a
  whiff。〃
  〃Hold　on　to　me；〃　I　said　to　Edward；　cringing　back　into　his　chest。
  His　hands　tightened　on　my　arms。
  I　locked　my　muscles　in　place；　hoping　I　could　keep　them　frozen。　I　resolved　that　I　would　do　at　least　as
  well　as　I　had　on　the　hunt。　Worst…case　scenario；　I　would　stop　breathing　and　run　for　it。　Nervously；　I　took　a
  tiny　breath　in　through　my　nose；　braced　for　anything。
  It　hurt　a　little；　but　my　throat　was　already　burning　dully　anyway。　Jacob　didn't　smell　that　much　more　human
  than　the　mountain　lion。　There　was　an　animal　edge　to　his　blood　that　instantly　repelled。　Though　the　loud；
  wet　sound　of　his　heart　was　appealing；　the　scent　that　went　with　it　made　my　nose　wrinkle。　It　was　actually
  easier　with　the　smell　to　temper　my　reaction　to　the　sound　and　heat　of　his　pulsing　blood。
  I　took　another　breath　and　relaxed。　〃Huh。　I　can　see　what　everyone's　been　going　on　about。　You　stink；
  Jacob。〃
  Edward　burst　into　laughter；　his　hands　slipped　from　my　shoulders　to　wrap　around　my　waist。　Seth　barked
  a　low　chortle　in　harmony　with　Edward；　he　came　a　little　closer　while　Leah　retreated　several　paces。　And
  then　I　was　aware　of　another　audience　when　I　heard　Emmett's　low；　distinct　guffaw；　muffled　a　little　by　the
  glass　wall　between　us。
  〃Look　who's　talking；〃　Jacob　said；　theatrically　plugging　his　nose。　His　face　didn't　pucker　at　all　while
  Edward　embraced　me；　not　even　when　Edward　composed　himself　and　whispered　〃I　love　you〃　in　my　ear。
  Jacob　just　kept　grinning。　This　made　me　feel　hopeful　that　things　were　going　to　be　right　between　us；　the
  way　they　hadn't　been　for　so　long　now。　Maybe　now　I　could　truly　be　his　friend；　since　I　disgusted　him
  enough　physically　that　he　couldn't　love　me　the　same　way　as　before。　Maybe　that　was　all　that　was　needed。
  〃Okay；　so　I　passed；　right？〃　I　said。　〃Now　are　you　going　to　tell　me　what　this　big　secret　is？〃
  Jacob's　expression　became　very　nervous。　〃It's　nothing　you　need　to　worry　about　this　second___〃
  I　heard　Emmett　chuckle　again—a　sound　of　anticipation。
  I　would　have　pressed　my　point；　but　as　I　listened　to　Emmett；　I　heard　other　sounds；　too。　Seven　people
  breathing。　One　set　of　lungs　moving　more　rapidly　than　the　others。　Only　one　heart　fluttering　like　a　bird's
  wings；　light　and　quick。
  I　was　totally　diverted。　My　daughter　was　just　on　the　other　side　of　that　thin　wall　of　glass。　I　couldn't　see　her
  —the　light　bounced　off　the　reflective　windows　like　a　mirror。　I　could　only　see　myself；　looking　very
  strange—so　white　and　still—compared　to　Jacob。　Or；　compared　to　Edward；　looking　exactly　right。
  〃Renesmee；〃　I　whispered。　Stress　made　me　a　statue　again。　Renesmee　wasn't　going　to　smell　like　an　animal。
  Would　I　put　her　in　danger？
  〃Come　and　see；〃　Edward　murmured。　〃I　know　you　can　handle　this。〃
  〃You'll　help　me？〃　I　whispered　through　motionless　lips。
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  〃Of　course　I　will。〃
  〃And　Emmett　and　Jasper—just　in　case？〃
  〃We'll　take　care　of　you；　Bella。　Don't　worry；　we'll　be　ready。　None　of　us　would　risk　Renesmee。　I　think
  you'll　be　surprised　at　how　entirely　she's　already　wrapped　us　all　around　her　little　fingers。　She'll　be　perfectly
  safe；　no　matter　what。〃
  My　yearning　to　see　her；　to　understand　the　worship　in　his　voice；　broke　my　frozen　pose。　I　took　a　step
  forward。
  And　then　Jacob　was　in　my　way；　his　face　a　mask　of　worry。
  〃Are　you　sure；　bloodsucker？〃　he　demanded　of　Edward；　his　voice　almost　pleading。　I'd　never　heard　h