Title: Of Forever
Chapter: Part I
Author: Sleepybard
Rating: Overall NC-17
Pairing: Edward/Jacob, Edward/Bella
Warnings: Mild violence, language, sexual content, AU after New Moon, OOC (of course), imprint!fic (some people might be getting sick of these), drama
Author's Note: This is another imprint!fic, yes, but I tried to keep them as in character as possible (lol, Smeyer doesn't even do that). Please note, I'm taking a lot of creative license with these characters.
Thanks to the awesome heartdraco11 for the beta-ing

Summary: A feeling of deep longing, of an ache so profound in its nature, crippled me as I fell to the ground. I had no idea what happened or how long it lasted, but it seemed to never end, the feeling of unrequited affection.

Disclaimer: Twilight belongs solely to Stephanie Meyer. I am merely borrowing her characters for some creative, fan-based writing. No opinions or original characters or storyline in the following story in any way reflect her opinions.

Visit my profile for my Livejournal page, where all the art is available for this fic, as well as the NC-17 version of the fic.

Part I

By nighttime, it was raining. The clouds had completely covered the dark sky, mocking the inhabitants of the town. The only word to describe the feeling pervading throughout the house was dreary.

I was waiting on Dad to come home. He was over at Bella's again, watching the Sunday game with Charlie. It was late and I'd already eaten, but I didn't feel right sleeping without Dad returning home first.

I was idly flipping through the TV channels, not really paying attention to anything that was on . I had nothing else to do.

I fell asleep at some point. When I woke up, the digital clock was glowing 3:02. I knew Dad was home because I was covered with a blanket, the TV was switched off, as were the lights, and the blinds had been closed. Tired, I rubbed my face with my hands before standing and groggily making my way upstairs.

Though, as I lay on my bed, sleep eluded me. I stared at the ceiling for so long I wasn't sure how much time had passed by. Before I knew it, the sun was peeking up from the horizon. Rays of meager light filtered in through my bedroom window. I sighed as I realized I'd have to get ready for school soon.

The day passed by uneventfully. It wasn't as though there was much to happen anyway.

Dad left in the afternoon to do some errands, leaving me the house to myself once again. Rather than stay at home as I'd done the night before, I made my way to La Push beach. I'd found I could do a lot of thinking there, and no one would bother me. The weather was still drab, too bitingly cold for most people. With my intense body heat, it wasn't a problem for me. [AN: biologically speaking, this would in fact be the exact opposite. Having a high body temperature is much worse in cold weather and would not protect you in the slightest. If anything, it would only hasten the negative effects of the cold].

I sat in the wet sand in my wolf form. My thick fur protected me from the cold. Staring out at the lake, my thoughts turned to recent events. As much as I wanted to let everything go and move on, I had to accept that this wouldn't be happening until I'd found closure first.

Bella and the leech returning left me feeling both oddly happy and disappointed. I was glad Bella was back, but the stupid leech…

A snap sounded behind me and immediately I was on alert. I spun around, my teeth bared as I flattened my ears back threateningly.

"Calm down, mutt," I heard. I took a step forward.

Leech, I spat in my mind. I must have been truly engrossed in my thoughts to not have noticed his scent before, but now that I knew he was here, I couldn't believe I hadn't sensed him sooner.

What are you doing here? I asked him, not bothering to hide my distaste. Come out of the shadows, you freak.

"Look who's talking," he said, stepping out from his place behind the trees.

I froze.

I knew, even before the feeling had fully passed. There was no mistaking it. The way the trees and the stones and all sound muted away into nothing; the way I noticed every strand of his chestnut hair, every line marring his otherwise perfect skin; how the pallor of his face only served to enhance his unapproachable, stone like perfection. As far as I was away from him, I could sense his eyes, imagine the gold irises. He was, in that moment, my world…

"Fuck," I heard him say.

Oh no.

The spell was broken the moment he began backing away from me.

"Tell me you didn't," he all but whispered, staring at me. I didn't respond. It felt as though my heart had stopped. I was so utterly shocked, I couldn't think of anything adequate to reply with.

"Black, tell me you didn't!" This time he shouted. I took a step forward, though I was unsure why. He took a step back.

"Black-" I leapt before he could say another word.

One minute I was inching towards him, next thing I knew I was pouncing on him like a lion on a wounded gazelle in the Serengeti.

He fell backward with me looming over him. I didn't snarl or spit or bite at his face as I normally would have, as I normally wanted to. I simply stared down at him, looking at his face as though for the first time.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, nor why. As towering as I was over him, he could have easily pushed me away from him at any moment.

"Why?" he finally murmured. I couldn't answer him even if I'd known the answer.

The look in his eyes burned me. The beast inside me shuddered from his intense gaze.

I can't-I don't-

"Jacob," it was the first time he'd ever spoken my name. He whispered it so softly, the word fading into the wind almost before I caught it.

I phased back without thinking, uncaring that I was now kneeling above my sworn enemy completely naked. I moved away and sat back on my haunches, watching as Edward raised himself to his elbows.

"No one can know," I finally said. I'd hoped to speak firmly but there was unmistakable tremor to my voice.

"And how do you propose we maintain such a ruse? I am certain your packmates will be enlightened of the situation the moment you all shift."

"I can block my thoughts. I won't be able to hide what I've done but I- I can hide who." He turned away from me, and as much as I wanted not to, I couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that washed over me.

"You have no right to feel such," he said as he stood. "I do not, and will not, belong to you, Jacob Black."

"You're right." He had his back to me, but I sensed him stiffen at my words. "You may never belong to me, but I will always belong to you now." You're my imprint. The thought came before I could stop it.

And I knew he'd heard it.

***