Eventually Eighteen

Welcome back fans of the Sweet Sixteen series. Inspiration has suddenly hit me so I'm going to run with it!

Prologue

Jake's POV

The dust mites swirled through the air once more as I entered the room. Bella sat beside my weak wife stroking her hand softly.

Bella didn't turn as I entered the room.

"Have you hunted?"

"No" was her quick reply. I looked at her deep set eyes, the black a strong contrast against her porcelain skin. I'd love that skin once, but now I loved the skin that laid beside her. Nessie laid still her chest heavily lightly as her lungs contracted and the venom worked it's magic.

"How long?" I asked swallowing. I told myself I'd still love her as a vampire, she'd still be my Nessie.

Bella looked at me for the first time.

"I don't know...she must be in so much pain." Her eyes instantly flickered back to the lifeless woman, I followed her gaze.

"What's it like?" I found myself asking the question I didn't think I wanted the answer too. Horrible? Burning? Wasn't that what Rosalie had said? 'It did no good to scream'?

"Burning. Like fire sweeping through your veins, of course it's painful. I've never felt pain quite like it in my life." She traced light patterns on Nessie's hand before Edward entered in which she looked to him.

She gave him a smile.

"Her heart isn't speeding up." He noted, his brows furrowing. "It's been three days."

He raised a hand to touch her head and I followed kneeling beside her head, her eyes flickered slightly and my eyes widened.

I gasped with shock and fell back shaking my head.

"Jacob?" Edward's voice sounded concerned as he watched me. I shook my head once more letting my eyes shut.

"Nothing."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know." Bella looked concerned too as I spoke, she shook her head and pointed towards the door.

"Go to sleep Jacob." I felt like a little boy being scolded even though Bella's voice was soft. Tame.

"No, you two go hunt. I'll go to bed when you get back. I want to spend some time with Nessie." I yawned towards the end and Bella looked unconvinced. Edward however nodded seeing how desperate Bella was to hunt.

"Ok, we'll be back in about an hour."

They left quickly and as the house became quiet, scarily quiet I wanted nothing more than to be with my Nessie. Laughing, maybe we'd visit our lagoon.

I took Nessie's hand again and listened close to her heart rate.

Edward was right, her heart was perfectly normal, maybe a little faster than my werewolf heartbeat.

Then her eyes fluttered again.

Now I definitely wasn't imagining that!

I lent my face towards her smelling her intently.

She didn't smell anything different.

"Boo."

I leapt back, my heart rate speeding up. I backed into a corner scared. Sitting upright on the medical bed was Nessie smiling at me.

I rubbed my eyes. I must be dreaming.

"Jake?" she asked swinging her long legs over the side, she approached me cautiously. Still I didn't move.

Her soft palm touched my face, it was still warm.

Her eyes were still that muddy brown, I could still hear her little heart.

Without a second thought my lips smashed onto hers.

And all I wanted to do was hold her close.