Sadly, I do not own the Twilight Universe. All credit for the fabulous novels and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. But I couldn't resist playing with the vampires and the werewolves for a little while. This is the first of my Twilight fanfiction series centered around Nessie and Jacob. Yes, some things are a bit different than they were in the books, but hey, that's what fanfiction is for, right? Constructive criticism is always appreciated! Read, review, and enjoy, my darlings!

Chapter 1: "I Love You, Renesmee"

"Jacob," Renesmee called, waving as she approached her friend on the beach of the LaPush reservation.

"Hey Nessie," he smiled, embracing her before they sat down on the cool sand.

"My mom said you had something to tell me?" she asked, looking up at him. Then she smiled, "It's been a long time since we used her as a go between, Jake."

"Yeah. I guess I just needed Bella's advice on this one," he said, almost more to himself than to her.

Renesmee studied his face. There was no hint of a smile on his lips, and in his eyes burned a passion that she seldom ever saw; the one that made her catch her breath whenever he looked at her. There was no sign of her happy- go- lucky Jacob that she knew so well. "What is it, Jake? Is something wrong?"

"No. No, everything's fine," he sighed. He laced his hot fingers through her icy ones, and stared at their hands as he continued, "Ness, you know I love you, right?"

"Of course," she laughed, Jacob's intensity making her a little bit nervous. "I love you too."

"No, I mean... well, maybe it will be easier if I just explain it like this," he sighed, searching for the right words. He met her gaze, and said, "The guys in my pack, there's a thing called imprinting, and it let's us know who our soul mates are as soon as we see them for the very first time."

"So you guys experience a love at first sight thing?"

"Yeah. Only it's a lot more powerful than they make it out to be in story books," he chuckled. "All that emotion that we feel for that one person, it's overwhelming. They become the most important thing in our lives. Gravity doesn't tie us to the earth anymore. She does," he said, lost in thought as he stared out into the water.

"Wow," she breathed.

"Yeah," he agreed, running his thumb over the back of her hand.

"Have you found her yet?" she asked quietly, not understanding why her heart suddenly beat even faster than it usually did.

"I think so. I used to think it was Bella, but after it happened, I realized my love for your mother was only half as powerful as what I felt for her," he said solemnly.

"Oh," Renesmee whispered, feeling as though she was being crushed by some unseen force. From her earliest memory, Jacob had always been right beside her. Was that all going to change now? Was some stranger going to come in and steal him? She knew it was completely selfish of her to think that way, but she couldn't help it. "Who is she?" she asked, though she already had a picture of the girl in her mind. It was probably some skinny, perfectly bronzed Native American woman, who made Renesmee look like a ghost with pink cheeks. She hated her already. Which is why his answer was so totally unexpected.

"You," he smiled, gazing at her with such adoration in his eyes, and he brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face. "It's you. From the moment I saw you, Nessie, I have loved you. There have been times when I thought I would die if I couldn't be with you. Then when I was with you, the effect was so overpowering, I couldn't breathe. I love you, Renesmee."

"Me?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oh Jake... Jacob, I have to go..."

"No! Nessie, please..."

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry," she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she backed away and fled from the beach and Jacob. She didn't stop running until she reached the Cullen household. She knew Jacob could run faster than her, but he let her go.

She entered the house and flopped down on the couch in the big white living room. She drew her knees up to her chest to stop the ache in her chest from leaving Jacob, the ache from hurting him.

At that moment, Bella entered the room. "Did you talk to Jacob?" she asked Renesmee as she sat down next to her daughter.

Renesmee groaned and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Honey?" Bella said, patting her shoulder. "I think this is something we should talk about."

Renesmee shook her head, still not looking at her mother. She and Bella had always been so close, but now, she wanted to be alone. Why, oh why, couldn't her mother just leave her alone so she could think? She needed just a moment alone to sort this all out in her head.

But Bella was getting tired of her daughter's attitude. "Renesmee Carlie Cullen," she said, using a warning tone that she had never had to use with Nessie before. "You stop this nonsense and talk to me."

"I ran!" Renesmee shouted. There. She was talking. "He told me he loved me and I ran!"

"Renesmee how could you? There could never be anyone better than Jacob Black, and you ran from him? I can only imagine how he feels right now..."

"I doubt I hurt him anymore than you did," Renesmee said, knowing it was a low blow. She had heard the stories about the weird rivalry and love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob. She also knew that her last remark would probably stun Bella into silence. She was right.

Bella shut her mouth and just sat there, unsure of what to do or say next. "Renesmee," Edward called from the bottom of the stair. Renesmee whipped her head around, and cringed. How long had he been standing there? She hadn't even heard him come in. "Come with me," he ordered.

She got up and followed her father upstairs into his old room. "Alright," he sighed. "What's going on? You've never spoken to your mother in such a way before."

Renesmee sank down onto the bed, and sighed. Talking with her father was just what she needed. With Edward, she could just talk things out. She could probably go on for hours, and he would still patiently listen to everything she had to say, only offering her his advice when he was sure she was through. "I didn't mean to yell at Mom. I just needed time to think, to take this all in. I'm so confused," she groaned, then all of her questions and worries began to flow as she got up and began pacing the room. Edward stood, arms folded across his chest, and listened to her rant with understanding eyes. "Why me?" she asked, incredulously. "He could have any girl he wants. Believe me, I've seen the way they look at him, actually, they drool over him when we're together. So why in the world does he love me? And since I was born? Doesn't that seem just a little odd? And why did he wait until now to tell me? How could he possibly be in love with me?" she asked again, still not able to wrap her head around it.

Edward smiled, remembering Bella asking the exact same question soon after they had fallen in love. When in reality, it was he who could not believe that she had fallen for him. He stepped in towards his daughter, deciding she was ready for his advice. She had thrown herself across her bed, and now lay face down on the plush comforter. He sat down next to her and rubbed small circles on her back as he spoke. His voice was like a lullaby and just the sound of it soothed her. "To my limited understanding," he began, "Jacob Black has loved you in different ways from the time you were born. First he loved you as a brother loves his sister. Believe me, if it had been anything other than that, he'd not be alive today. Then, as you got older, he loved you like one would love their very dearest friend. And now, when he thought you were ready, he allowed himself to love you as I love your mother."

Renesmee rolled over to look up at him, and nodded. Things were becoming clearer. But one thing remained a mystery. "But why me?"

"When you were born, I was so worried about your mother..."

"I remember the way she looked," Renesmee winced.

"I know. That was how you identified her the first time you saw her. Anyway, Jacob was distraught. He and Bella were always very close, but I think part of what drew him to her was that you would eventually come from her. Although he did not know it at the time. He thought Bella was going to die and, well, he had a much stronger temper then. But when he saw you..." Edward paused and shook his head at the powerful memory, "when he saw you, his anger abruptly faded. He described it as suddenly it wasn't gravity holding him to the Earth anymore..."

"It was me," Nessie answered softly. Suddenly a flood of memories rushed through her mind. She was in Rosalie's arms, and she saw Jacob, his face twisted in anger as he mad his way towards them. Then, his eyes met hers, and the smile that she loved so much broke over his face. "Oh Jake," she breathed, as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Edward gently brushed it away and said, "I've seen his thoughts, Renesmee. All he wants is for you to be happy, no matter what it may cost him. I think though, that with time, you will realize that you feel the same way about him as he does about you. I've seen the way your beautiful brown eyes light up when his name come up in a conversation. The way you cling to him when he's near, and how you can't stop talking about him after he leaves."

"I do love him," she said, hopping off the bed with a frustrated groan. "How could I have been so stupid? Of course I love him! I have to find him and..."

Renesmee's face suddenly fell, and she stopped in her tracks. Her eyes were full of horror and pain.

"What is it?" Edward asked, alarmed and irritated that he could not read her thoughts.

"Jacob's in trouble," she said, tears filling her eyes. "He's calling me. I can hear him!" Suddenly, she gasped and her knees buckled beneath her.

Edward knelt beside her, and asked with a panic stricken voice, "What's wrong?"

"He's hurt. Oh Dad, he's hurt! I have to go to him."

"Your mother and I will come with you," he said as they rushed downstairs.