New Rise - Book 4

Chapter 17

The next couple weeks had passed by without incident, which was nice because my family and myself had nothing to worry about. The only thing that kept me on edge was Jacob and how he was getting along in the Volturi clan. My worries was that he wouldn't listen and end up getting himself killed.

Like planned, during the weekend, Nicholi and I went on the first of several dates. We decided it was better to toss out Alice's schedule and do our own thing. Every date since the first consisted of picnics in the flower garden talking about our past and our life's stories.

Today was different though, because we were talking about the future.

"Where do you plan to be in life in five years?" He asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. I hadn't really thought about that being the unexpected troubles that always came to my family. Though now that Jacob had made that sacrifice the road to my future was promised and clear.

"I don't know. I guess I'm used to living in the moment." I turned my head as I flushed from embarrassment. "What about you?"

"I'd love to have a wife and maybe a child or two."

I felt my heart stutter. "You want kids?"

He nodded.

The warm air blew around us causing my hair to whisp at my face.

I wasn't even sure I wanted to get married let alone have a child. Of course having lived as long as he had he wants to move forward in his life.

"I'm not sure I want kids." I admitted to him.

"At all?"

I silently shrugged my shoulders. "I haven't exactly been an adult long enough to think about those kinds of things. Truthfully you are the first person I've ever pursued."

He nodded his head. "I see. Your time will come."

I hoped so. If I never wanted kids maybe he wouldn't want to be with me anymore. After all we were courting and if I didn't seem like the ideal type of wife he wanted our session would end very fast.

The sun rose slightly higher into the sky signaling noontime. I closed my eyes as the rays fell onto me smiled. Very slowly I laid back onto the grass and allowed it to take over me.

"The sun is nice yes?" Nicholi chuckled as I heard him laid beside me.

I sighed. "It feels amazing. It's like a warm blanket drifting over me."

I felt Nicholi's hands in my hair and he began playing with it. The feeling of his fingers massaging my scalp was bliss.

He moved into a sitting position and then pulled my head onto his lap before he continued. The only noise in our silence was the rustle of the trees as the wind blew around us. Until he began humming.

"I could get used to this." I grinned.

I felt his finger trace along my bottom lip and then my top lip before the touch returned back to my hair.

"My mother and I went into town the other day and saw...." he paused.

I thought maybe he was thinking but after ten seconds my curiosity grew and I opened my eyes to look up at him.

"What did you see?"

His lips pressed into a hard line before he quickly shook his head. "It's nothing." He ran his fingers over the lids of my eyes. "Relax and enjoy the sunshine."

My forehead scrunched into several stress lines as he tried to avoid the subject. He proceeded to run his fingers along my forehead in an attempt to smooth out the lines.

"Stop that." I murmered.

"You first."

I sighed opening my eyes to look up at him again.

"I should go and start dinner if we plan on eating anytime soon." I rose up and got to my feet before I headed to the side door that led into the living room.

In the kitchen I began pulling out the ingrediants for enchilada's. Nicholi joined me and went to work on cutting up the vegetables for a stir fry. Enchilada's and a veggie stir fry, you couldn't beat that.

"So," I began I tossed some boneless chicken into a large pot of water to boil. "What were you going to tell me in the garden?" There was no way I was going to let this go.

He peered over his shoulder at me as I pulled out a pan and began throwing the cut up vegetables in it before putting it on low.

"My mother and I went into town and she saw a dress that she thought would look good on you."

"Okay, so why the chase?" I asked curious to why he didn't want to tell me in the first place.

"It was a wedding dress." he chuckled nervously. "My mother is overly excited about our courtship. She and my father believe you will make a wonderful bride and a spectacular wife and Queen."

I had been taking a drink of water when he said Queen and ended up choking and spitting my water all over the floor.

"Queen.... no. I'm sorry but I cannot, simply cannot be a Queen." I coughed.

Nicholi rubbed my shoulders soothingly. "Don't worry about that, it's not legit my parents are just old fashion when it comes to their ruling. They didn't ever have children before myself so they are anxious to do the throne ascending ceremony for me."

"So I don't have to rule the country or anything of that sort?"

Nicholi shook his head which reassured me and calmed me completely.

"You scared me for a second." I turned to the frying pan and began seasoning the vegetables before flipping them turning the heat on medium.

"The closest you will ever get to ruling is taking over my heart dearest Renesmee." He pulled me before him, took my hand and placed it over his heart. There I could feel it pounding wildly against his chest as if it was trying to break free. "Ah, but it seems like you have already gone and done that." He smiled.

Very carefully I reached out for his free hand and placed it on my chest above my heart and closed my eyes. "As you have done to me."

"Let our hearts stop and be as one together; let our hearts stop and beat as one forever."

I felt my face heat up as I opened my eyes. "It's a strange feeling, being here with you."

His lips parted slowly and his brows furrowed. "But why?"

"Because I have had so much hurt in the past yet when I am with you I feel good, better, perfect."

"As do I," He took my hands into his and kissed them before grinning. " Miss Cullen you are an unbelievable comfort of grace, wonder, inspiration, a soul deep connection for which I will forever be grateful."

I smiled.

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

Before I could respond the smoke detector came on pulling our attention in other directions. I turned around quickly to spy smoke billowing from the over cooked vegetables.

"Here, allow me." Nicholi said as he flipped on the fan, turned the water in the sink on and moved the pan into the water.

I groaned as I slumped against the counter. Dinner was ruined.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention." I frowned.

Nicholi pulled me into a hug. "It's alright we still have the main course." He pressed his lips to my forehead.

I smiled and relaxed my head against his chest.

"For now." I chuckled.

He nuzzled into my neck tickling me. My laughter rang out in a high alto causing a crystal vase on the counter to shatter.

I froze and looked at him before making a goofy expression.

"You have excellent vocals." He winked.

"Yeah, I have a tendancy to break things when I laugh."

Nicholi shook his head. "As long as you are happy then break away."

I looked in his eyes just as the light hit them and watched the blue ignite in a beautiful glimmer.

"You have beautiful eyes." I smiled.

I could feel the sweet scent of his breath on my face as he moved closer to me. It was like there was static building up between us.

I took a deep breath to steady my mind and stepped back away from him. "I should check the chicken." I walked past him to where the chicken had been boiling and turned the stove off before I drained the water from the chicken. Then I got to work on shredding it.

"Here let me help." Nicholi said as he joined my side and began shredding.

"Do you mind finishing up dinner while I go and clean up for dinner?"

He looked up at me and grinned. "Are we going to make this a formal sit down?"

"Do you want it to be?"

"Sure, why not. It'll give me a reason to dress up and I will finally get to see you in a dress."

"You've seen me in a dress before."

"Not an evening gown."

I laughed. "Of course and there is a reason for that, it's called I don't own one."

"Yet.... you don't have an evening gown yet." He wink and then drew his phone from his pocket before dialing a number. "Hello, mum?"

Oh great he was calling his mom to ask for a dress. I didn't know how to feel about this but if we were to continue with our dinner plans in an air of formality I'd need a dress.