hand；　and　his　other　arm　wrapped　securely　around　my　waist；　almost　as　if　he　needed　the　support。
  I　couldn't　take　my　eyes　off　Renesmee　to　check　his　expression。
  She　looked　perfect；　absolutely　healthy。　Her　skin　glowed　like　backlit　alabaster；　the　color　in　her　cheeks
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  was　rose　petals　against　it。　There　couldn't　be　anything　wrong　with　such　radiant　beauty。　Surely　there　could
  be　nothing　more　dangerous　in　her　life　than　her　mother。　Could　there？
  The　difference　between　the　child　I'd　given　birth　to　and　the　one　I'd　met　again　an　hour　ago　would　have
  been　obvious　to　anyone。　The　difference　between　Renesmee　an　hour　ago　and　Renesmee　now　was　subtler。
  Human　eyes　never　would　have　detected　it。　But　it　was　there。
  Her　body　was　slightly　longer。　Just　a　little　bit　slimmer。　Her　face　wasn't　quite　as　round；　it　was　more　oval　by
  one　minute　degree。　Her　ringlets　hung　a　sixteenth　of　an　inch　lower　down　her　shoulders。　She　stretched　out
  helpfully　in　Rosalie's　arms　while　Carlisle　ran　the　tape　measure　down　the　length　of　her　and　then　used　it　to
  circle　her　head。　He　took　no　notes；　perfect　recall。
  I　was　aware　that　Jacob's　arms　were　crossed　as　tightly　over　his　chest　as　Edward's　arms　were　locked
  around
  me。　His　heavy　brows　were　mashed　together　into　one　line　over　his　deep…set　eyes。
  She　had　matured　from　a　single　cell　to　a　normal…sized　baby　in　the　course　of　a　few　weeks。　She　looked
  well　on　her　way　to　being　a　toddler　just　days　after　her　birth。　If　this　rate　of　growth　held。。。
  My　vampire　mind　had　no　trouble　with　the　math。
  〃What　do　we　do？〃　I　whispered；　horrified。
  Edward's　arms　tightened。　He　understood　exactly　what　I　was　asking。　〃I　don't　know。〃
  〃It's　slowing；〃　Jacob　muttered　through　his　teeth。
  〃We'll　need　several　more　days　of　measurements　to　track　the　trend；　Jacob。　I　can't　make　any　promises。〃
  〃Yesterday　she　grew　two　inches。　Today　it's　less。〃
  〃By　a　thirty…second　of　an　inch；　if　my　measurements　are　perfect；〃　Carlisle　said　quietly。
  〃Be　perfect；　Doc；〃　Jacob　said；　making　the　words　almost　threatening。　Rosalie　stiffened。
  〃You　know　I'll　do　my　best；〃　Carlisle　assured　him。
  Jacob　sighed。　〃Guess　that's　all　I　can　ask。〃
  I　felt　irritated　again；　like　Jacob　was　stealing　my　lines—and　delivering　them　all　wrong。
  Renesmee　seemed　irritated；　too。　She　started　to　squirm　and　then　reached　her　hand　imperiously　toward
  Rosalie。　Rosalie　leaned　forward　so　that　Renesmee　could　touch　her　face。　After　a　second；　Rose　sighed。
  〃What　does　she　want？〃　Jacob　demanded；　taking　my　line　again。
  〃Bella；　of　course；〃　Rosalie　told　him；　and　her　words　made　my　insides　feel　a　little　warmer。　Then　she
  looked　at　me。　〃How　are　you？〃
  〃Worried；〃　I　admitted；　and　Edward　squeezed　me。
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  〃We　all　are。　But　that's　not　what　I　meant。〃
  〃I'm　in　control；〃　I　promised。　Thirstiness　was　way　down　the　list　right　now。　Besides；　Renesmee　smelled
  good　in　a　very　non…food　way。
  Jacob　bit　his　lip　but　made　no　move　to　stop　Rosalie　as　she　offered　Renesmee　to　me。　Jasper　and　Edward
  hovered　but　allowed　it。　I　could　see　how　tense　Rose　was；　and　I　wondered　how　the　room　felt　to　Jasper
  right　now。　Or　was　he　focusing　so　hard　on　me　that　he　couldn't　feel　the　others？
  Renesmee　reached　for　me　as　I　reached　for　her；　a　blinding　smile　lighting　her　face。　She　fit　so　easily　in　my
  arms；　like　they'd　been　shaped　just　for　her。　Immediately；　she　put　her　hot　little　hand　against　my　cheek。
  Though　I　was　prepared；　it　still　made　me　gasp　to　see　the　memory　like　a　vision　in　my　head。　So　bright　and
  colorful　but　also　completely　transparent。
  She　was　remembering　me　charging　Jacob　across　the　front　lawn；　remembering　Seth　leaping　between　us。
  She'd　seen　and　heard　it　all　with　perfect　clarity。　It　didn't　look　like　me；　this　graceful　predator　leaping　at　her
  prey　like　an　arrow　arcing　from　a　bow。　It　had　to　be　someone　else。　That　made　me　feel　a　very　small　bit　less
  guilty　as　Jacob　stood　there　defenselessly　with　his　hands　raised　in　front　of　him。　His　hands　did　not　tremble。
  Edward　chuckled；　watching　Renesmee's　thoughts　with　me。　And　then　we　both　winced　as　we　heard　the
  crack　of
  Seth's　bones。
  Renesmee　smiled　her　brilliant　smile；　and　her　memory　eyes　did　not　leave　Jacob　through　all　the　following
  mess。　I　tasted　a　new　flavor　to　the　memory—not　exactly　protective；　more　possessive—as　she　watched
  Jacob。　I　got　the　distinct　impression　that　she　was　glad　Seth　had　put　himself　in　front　of　my　spring。　She
  didn't　want　Jacob　hurt。　He　was　hers。
  〃Oh；　wonderful；'71　groaned。　〃Perfect。〃
  〃It's　just　because　he　tastes　better　than　the　rest　of　us；〃　Edward　assured　me；　voice　stiff　with　his　own
  annoyance。
  〃I　told　you　she　likes　me；　too；〃　Jacob　teased　from　across　the　room；　his　eyes　on　Renesmee。　His　joking
  was　halfhearted；　the　tense　angle　of　his　eyebrows　had　not　relaxed。
  Renesmee　patted　my　face　impatiently；　demanding　my　attention。　Another　memory：　Rosalie　pulling　a　brush
  gently　through　each　of　her　curls。　It　felt　nice。
  Carlisle　and　his　tape　measure；　knowing　she　had　to　stretch　and　be　still。　It　was　not　interesting　to　her。
  〃It　looks　like　she's　going　to　give　you　a　rundown　of　everything　you　missed；〃　Edward　commented　in　my
  ear。
  My　nose　wrinkled　as　she　dumped　the　next　one　on　me。　The　smell　coming　from　a　strange　metal　cup
  —hard　enough　not　to　be　bitten　through　easily—sent　a　flash　burn　through　my　throat。　Ouch。
  And　then　Renesmee　was　out　of　my　arms；　which　were　pinned　behind　my　back。　I　didn't　struggle　with
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  Jasper；　I　just　looked　at　Edward's　frightened　face。
  〃What　did　I　do？〃
  Edward　looked　at　Jasper　behind　me；　and　then　at　me　again。
  〃But　she　was　remembering　being　thirsty；〃　Edward　muttered；　his　forehead　pressing　into　lines。　〃She　was
  remembering　the　taste　of　human　blood。〃
  Jasper's　arms　pulled　mine　tighter　together。　Part　of　my　head　noted　that　this　wasn't　particularly
  uncomfortable；　let　alone　painful；　as　it　would　have　been　to　a　human。　It　was　just　annoying。　I　was　sure　I
  could　break　his　hold；　but　I　didn't　fight　it。
  〃Yes；〃　I　agreed。　〃And？〃
  Edward　frowned　at　me　for　a　second　more；　and　then　his　expression　loosened。　He　laughed　once。　〃And
  nothing　at　all；　it　seems。　The　overreaction　is　mine　this　time。　Jazz；　let　her　go。〃
  The　binding　hands　disappeared。　I　reached　out　for　Renesmee　as　soon　as　I　was　free。　Edward　handed　her
  to　me　without　hesitation。
  〃I　can't　understand；〃　Jasper　said。　〃I　can't　bear　this。〃
  I　watched　in　surprise　as　Jasper　strode　out　the　back　door。　Leah　moved　to　give　him　a　wide　margin　of
  space　as　he　paced　to　the　river　and　then　launched　himself　over　it　in　one　bound。
  Renesmee　touched　my　neck；　repeating　the　scene　of　departure　right　back；　like　an　instant　replay。　I　could
  feel　the　question　in　her　thought；　an　echo　of　mine。
  I　was　already　over　the　shock　of　her　odd　little　gift。　It　seemed　an　entirely　natural　part　of　her；　almost　to　be
  expected。　Maybe　now　that　I　was　part　of　the　supernatural　myself；　I　would　never　be　a　skeptic　again。
  But　what　was　wrong　with　Jasper？
  〃He'll　be　back；〃　Edward　said；　whether　to　me　or　Renesmee；　I　wasn't　sure。　〃He　just　needs　a　moment
  alone　to　readjust　his　perspective　on　life。〃　There　was　a　grin　threatening　at　the　corners　of　his　mouth。
  Another　human　memory—Edward　telling　me　that　Jasper　would　feel　better　about　himself　if　I　〃had　a　hard
  time　adjusting〃　to　being　a　vampire。　This　was　in　the　context　of　a　discussion　about　how　many　people　I
  would　kill　my　first　newborn　year。
  〃Is　he　mad　at　me？〃　I　asked　quietly。
  Edward's　eyes　widened。　〃No。　Why　would　he　be？〃
  〃What's　the　matter　with　him；　then？〃
  〃He's　upset　with　himself；　not　you；　Bella。　He's　worrying　about。。。　self…fulfilling　prophecy；　I　suppose　you
  could　say。〃
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  〃How　so？〃　Carlisle　asked　before　I　could。
  〃He's　wondering　if　the　newborn　madness　is　really　as　difficult　as　we've　always　thought；　or　if；　with　the　right
  focus　and　attitude；　anyone　could　do　as　well　as　Bella。　Even　now—perhaps　he　only　has　such　difficulty
  because　he　believes　it's　natural　and　unavoidable。　Maybe　if　he　expected　more　of　himself；　he　would　rise　to
  those　expectations。　You're　making　him　question　a　lot　of　deep…rooted　assumptions；　Bella。〃
  〃But　that's　unfair；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃Everyone　is　different；　everyone　has　their　own　challenges。　Perhaps　what
  Bella　is　doing　goes　beyond　the　natural。　Maybe　this　is　her　gift；　so　to　speak。〃
  I　froze　with　surprise。　Renesmee　felt　the　change；　and　touched　me。　She　remembered　the　last　second　of
  time　and　wondered　why。
  〃That