Breaking Dawn Read Along: Week 2

Welcome back!!

Chapter 22:

• On their way back from the woods, Bella asks Edward to tell her about their daughter. Edward describes their baby as unique and says that she possesses attributes from them both. Bella can't help feeling jealous that Edward knows the baby so well.
• Edward also tells Bella that Renesmee is warm-blooded, just a bit above human temperature and that her heartbeat is a little faster. He hints at her special ways of communicating, but doesn't elaborate.
• Bella also senses that there's some secret as to Jacob's relationship with the baby that Edward's keeping from her.
• Jacob volunteers to be the first human to face Bella to test if she's ready to see Renesmee. Jacob seems to accept the new Bella, launching right into their usual playful banter. "I gotta say it, Bells. You're a freak show" (22.58). Turning serious, he adds that she's still the Bella he knows, even though she looks a little different.
• Now that Bella has passed the test, she's allowed into the house. The whole family stands guard, as Bella approaches Rosalie, who's holding her baby.
• Bella is startled by her daughter's beauty, but she also realizes that the baby is twice the size of what she remembered. Upon seeing her mother, Renesmee reaches out to Bella. When the family still hesitates, Edward tells them about Bella's composure in the woods when they crossed a human scent. Everyone is stunned, especially Jasper.
• When Renesmee starts to cry for Bella, reaching for her, something clicks in Bella and she reacts as any mother would. She takes her daughter into her arms. Although Jacob allows Bella to hold her, he doesn't let go of the baby.
• When the baby touches Bella's face, Bella sees images of herself after giving birth to Renesmee. When the baby drops her hand from Bella's face, the images disappear. Edward explains that Renesmee can show her thoughts to others by touching their face. He believes that Renesmee was trying to show Bella that she knows Bella is her mother.
• Bella tells Renesmee that she remembers her too and kisses her gently on the forehead.
• Jacob cuts the reunion short by saying they have pushed Bella enough. Annoyed, Bella demands to know what his deal is with Renesmee. As she looks at him – an image of serenity as he's with the baby – it all falls into place. She realizes that Jacob has imprinted on her daughter.
• Bella snaps. Edward restrains her and orders Rosalie to take Renesmee from the room. Seth and Leah appear as wolves to protect Jacob. Jacob claims that there was nothing he could do and mentions, in his defense, that it was Bella who said that her family wasn't complete without him.
• Bella doesn't care. She tells him to leave immediately and to leave Renesmee alone. Jacob responds: "C'mon, Bells! Nessie likes me, too" (22.261).
• The fact that Jacob nicknamed her beloved daughter after the Loch Ness Monster puts Bella over the top. She lunges for Jacob's throat.

Chapter 23:

• Seth is hurt. We learn that he jumped in front of Bella as she attacked Jacob, ending up with a broken collarbone and shoulder in the process. Edward apologizes for Bella, but won't let her apologize for acting like a newborn. Carlisle patches up Seth, assuring Bella and Edward that he'll be fine in no time.
• Edward and Carlisle fill Bella in on what she missed during her transformation The feud with the werewolf pack has been resolved, as the number one rule in the pack states that no wolf can harm another wolf's imprint. That means that Renesmee is untouchable and will be protected by the wolves.
• Also, since Jacob, as the "rightful Alpha," allowed Bella's transformation, the treaty remains intact. It also turned out that the alphas of each pack (Sam and Jacob) can communicate with each other in wolf form, yet they can decide which thoughts they wish to share.
• As much as Bella is grateful to Jacob, she still has trouble accepting his relationship with Renesmee.
• With the werewolf issue resolved, Bella ponders the next one: Charlie. Charlie has been anxiously contacting the Cullens to find out about Bella's uncertain condition. The Cullens feel that the best thing to do is to move away for a while.
• Bella misses Charlie, though, and hopes that once she's in full control of her killer instincts, she'll be able to reunite with Charlie. She really doesn't want to leave Forks. She wonders how long could Jacob go without being near Renesmee.
• Watching Carlisle monitor Renesmee's rapid growth, Bella fears that if her daughter's growth continues like this, her life span will be very short. Jacob maintains that her growth is beginning to slow.
• Again, Renesmee reaches for Bella and Rosalie hands her over. Renesmee "shows" Bella her attack on Jacob. Bella realizes how possessive Renesmee feels toward Jacob.
• When Renesmee remembers drinking blood from a cup, Edward snatches Renesmee away from Bella and Jasper holds her back. It turns out, Edward feared the image of blood would trigger Bella's killer instinct. Surprise, surprise – it didn't. Jasper starts to question his own beliefs and experiences with newborns and his own thirst and self-control.
• Carlisle suggests that Bella's self-control might be a manifestation of her special gift. This instills hope in Bella that she might be able to see Charlie again, and soon.
• When Alice, Esme, Emmett, and Jasper return from hunting, they surprise Bella with a birthday party to celebrate her human birthday.

Chapter 24:

• Bella doesn't want to celebrate her birthday because she maintains that she transformed when she was still eighteen.
• Alice hands her a key and insists that she go to see the corresponding present. Edward gives her a key of his own, which Bella knows is for her "after car." Her irritation over presents makes Bella realize that, despite her transformation, she still feels like her old human self:
  
  It was a relief and revelation to discover how much of my essential core traits had come with me into this new body. (24.30)
• Alice leads Bella and Edward to a tiny stone cottage in the woods, surrounded a small rose garden. It's an image out of a fairytale:
  
  It was a place where anyone could believe magic existed. A place where you just expected Snow White to walk right in with her apple in hand, or a unicorn to stop and nibble at the rosebushes.(24.91)
• Alice explains that Esme renovated the place for them to have their own family home and privacy.
• Alice leaves Edward and Bella to enjoy their alone time. They both get to indulge in their togetherness without restrictions. When Bella asks Edward if he misses her humanness, he replies that she still feels the same way to him, only he doesn't have to deal with the torture of her human scent.
• As night turns to day, Bella still hasn't had enough of Edward. He tells her that none of her desires (for sex as well as the thirst for blood) ever fade; it's a matter of learning how to prioritize them.

So?  What are we thinking?  Bella's reaction to Jacob imprinting is one of my favorite things - mostly because we always kind of figured it'd be Edward who freaked the hell out, but it seems to be that he's dealt with it a bit better...or come to terms faster...or something. 

Poor Seth getting hurt.  I almost always feel bad for Seth, but he's adorable and that's probably why.

Poor Jasper, still questioning things.  I really do feel badly for him to.  Do you guys?

Is the after car going to make an appearance?  Since the before car didn't?

Soooo....who's ready to see the cabin??  First off I want to see it cause I always picture this adorable little cabin in the woods.  Second....vampire sex?!?!?!  Yes. Please. Let's hope they do it justice.

For next week we're reading: Breaking Dawn: Book 3 - Chapters 25-27.  

Summaries still found here.