Chapter 1

Rated M

Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer

Okay, if you read Hearts and Soul, I promised a BxJ HEA, so this is for you guys. This is going to be very similar and this is originally what I set out to write before the story shifted dramatically and ran on its own. It was kind of crazy actually.

Jacob smiled as he pulled on the highway to head back toward La Push. He, his wife and kids were returning after a week-long vacation to Mt. Hood in Oregon. They had had a great time camping as a family and he was relaxed.

He wasn't overly excited about a long drive with 2 young kids in the car. However, they had a built in DVD player for each of the kids and headphones so they didn't have to hear the Frozen soundtrack or Sponge Bob the entire way back either. Jacob leaned forward and turned on his playlist.

Danni reached over and clasped hands with her husband. She had needed a break from her hectic life as a teacher. She spent a ton of hours at school preparing lessons, reports and meeting with parents. It was both rewarding and exhausting. Spring Break could not have come sooner. A vacation was the perfect time to recharge. The only sad thing about it was heading back home and the vacation ending.

Staring out the window, watching the scenery pass them by, Danni was thinking about her upcoming 30th birthday. Time seemed to be flying by. Their son, Ryker, would be 7 years old this year and their daughter, Hope, would be 4. She and Jacob had celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary and it seemed like it had just happened yesterday.

"Watchya thinking about so hard over there?" Jacob asked, as he lightly squeezed his fingers to pull her attention from her daydream.

She turned and looked at his handsome face. It had only gotten better with age. His light scruff from a week without shaving was ruggedly sexy and his bright smile always made her smile with him. He raised his eyebrows at her indicating that she still hadn't answered his question. Danni giggled and looked out the passenger window to try to keep a straight face as she answered.

"Well, I was thinking about this really sexy man I know. I'd love if he decided to ravage me later. Only when my husband wasn't looking, of course," Danni slid her eyes toward Jacob and immediately burst into laughter.

"Hmm. Well, I was going to go check on the store when we got back, but I guess I'll have to stay home now to beat this guy's ass," he continued with the joke.

"I'm not sure anyone could beat him up. He's a big strong alpha male. Six foot four, all tight muscles. You might get hurt," she snickered.

"He does sound like a big guy. But I bet I could take him," he growled lightly.

"Daddy, you are big and strong!" Hope chimed in from the backseat.

"Uncle Paul says he could beat anybody up, so nobody better mess with him," Ryker added, clearly admiring his uncle.

Danni and Jacob burst into laughter at this comment. Paul was still as arrogant as ever. Although, he'd settled down over the years and he and Jacob were glad to have each other as family.

"Uncle Paul will learn to watch what he says one of these days, I think," Jacob responded. "But, I know for a fact, that I can take Uncle Paul."

"Mommy, can you start the movies, please?" Hope asked with politeness they both prayed would last forever.

Danni grabbed the two small remotes and started both movies. She chuckled as she watched the kids slip on their headphones and become engrossed in their shows. After a week in the wilderness, they deserved a little time to veg out. Hope was already humming songs that she knew were coming up, while Ryker was sitting calmly.

Reaching into her bag, Danni pulled out her tablet to start reading a novel she had wanted to read since summer vacation. She didn't really have time to read during vacation as they kept busy all day long. She'd had tremendous fun with the family, but now that they were in the car for hours on end, she could enjoy a little sappy romance time.

"Hey, you're forgetting something," Jacob said as he nudged her lightly.

She opened her glasses case and slipped the new readers on her face. The pink frames were fashionable but it was hard to get used to needing glasses. This aging thing wasn't getting any easier.

"Thanks, Jake," she said. It wasn't long before she was lost in her story, unaware of her surroundings. The book was a great one and she wished she could have read it sooner.

"Hello?" a hand waved in front of her face. She looked over to Jacob.

"What?" she asked.

"I've been saying your name over and over. Can you hear me? You're so engrossed in that book, you can't hear a word I'm saying," he said, without menace. [sidebar-true story, lol]

"I'm sorry! It's a good book. What's up?" she questioned, putting the tablet in her lap and giving Jacob her full attention.

"Hope's movie was over and she wanted you to put in a new one. I was wondering when and where you wanted to stop for lunch," he answered, and then smiled at her.

Danni reached into the bag right behind her seat and grabbed the DVD case. She unzipped it and asked her daughter what was next.

"Princess Sophia!" she cheered. Danni flipped through the sleeves and found the requested DVD. She replaced the movie and got it started for her daughter.

"The great thing about them watching so little TV is that when they can they love it," Jacob chortled.

"True, but they can entertain themselves too. They both like to draw and look at books, so they should be okay as long as we stop soon and stretch our legs," Danni said as she swiped her tablet back open to get back to her story.

She looked at Jacob and apologized. "Sorry, you know how it is once I go back to school though. I won't have time for reading stuff I want."

"I know. I just think it's funny how lost you can get in a story," Jacob turned his music up a little bit so he could enjoy something as well.

"Let's stop at a park or something on the other side of Portland," Danni suggested. "That way the kids can get out and run around before we get back in the car."

"Sounds good," Jacob said, as he began to thump his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song.

Danni smiled as she went back to her story. It was just getting to the good part, of course.