2 Weeks Later

JPOV

Renesmee had barely spoken to me in the last 2 weeks, I don't know if her parents had given her the real reason why they were moving her away or not. I hoped that Edward and Bella hadn't. I wanted this to be as easy on her as possible, and me pushing her away at a time like this, was not going to go over well with her. I had tried to keep clear of the Cullen house after that dreadful day in the woods with Ness. I was trying to give her time to let it all soak in, give myself time too. There was just so much that I needed to do for myself before I could expect to take care of Nessie. I didn't even have a real job to speak of, I fixed cars part time, not enough to take care of a wife, or a family. I knew deep in my heart that if Nessie stayed she'd want those things..with me, and I couldn't build up to that with her around. I would be too consumed with her to worry about myself and what I needed. I honestly felt like an ass hole. I knew that part of me was being selfish for doing this, but I needed more time. Nessie needed more time, time to grow up, see the world, make her own decisions. Those decisions would be made for her if she stayed here. I felt like a coward, but I just wasn't ready for all that relationship stuff right now, Nessie was still a little girl to me..I couldn't see her as anything else, but I knew that very soon she would be a woman. A woman that was meant for me. We would fit together like puzzle pieces, the attraction would be breath taking, I would want her and only her...forever. But how could I have that and not have a good job...a house...some type of future. I'd spent the last 5 years taking care of Nessie, taking care of the pack...putting my own plans on hold. I didn't regret any of it, I wouldn't trade a day of being with Nessie for anything, but I had to make myself a better man for her. A man. I still didn't see myself as a man, just a big Indian kid. That had to change.

As I made my way in human form toward the Cullen house, I tried to push the pain away that was threatening to swallow me whole. I had told Edward and Bella last night when we talked not to let me stop them, even if I was crying and screaming, phasing or cussing...they had to take Nessie away. It was the only way. I neared their tiny cottage and I caught her scent on the breeze. Oranges and vanilla. The scent of comfort, the scent of home. I stepped from the forest and made my way to the small front door. I could hear her humming bird heart inside and I could tell that she'd been crying...I could almost smell her tears. Edward and Bella must be at the big house, I couldn't hear them inside. I gathered all my nerves, tucked my fractured heart away and knocked.

It only took her half a second to answer the door, with tears in her eyes, she threw herself into my arms, burying her face in my neck.

"Jacob" she cried..."I don't want to go!"

I pulled my fingers thru her thick curly hair.

"I know Nessie, I know you don't" My nose was buried in her reddish brown curls, trying to memorize her scent.

"Don't they understand? I can't leave Charlie...or you, or anyone" and she burst into full blown sobs.

I cradled her against me, rubbing my hands down her back trying to calm her, all the while burying my face in her hair, all the while trying to keep from crying.

"I know Ness, but this is what has to happen right now. I promise everything will be okay."

"But I've never been away from you Jacob, you're my best friend."

"We can still talk Ness..every day if you want" I said.

"It won't be the same Jake." and her face fell, I don't know how it was possible that she could look any sadder.

An hour later, after calming Ness down and helping her finish boxing up her 12 tons of books out of her room, we were making our way back to the main house for the grand farewell. I was doing better than I expected. I really did think this was for the best right now. I know that we had forever, a few years really couldn't make that much of a difference...I hoped.

"Jacob" I heard Bella's tearless sob from the main house as we crossed the back yard. Suddenly the back door opened and Bella was at my side, giving me a death hug.

"I'm going to miss you..s...s..so much" she sobbed. I let go of Nessie's hand and wrapped my arms around my best friend.

"Shhhh Bells, it's only for a little while, it'll be okay" She straitened away from me and looked towards Nessie who was once again fighting tears. "Oh Baby!" she cooed as she scooped Nessie up and pulled her to her chest.

It was too much, so I turned and walked toward the main house.

"Hello Jacob" Carlisle said as I entered, he walked toward me and shook my hand. "You take care of yourself and the pack, we'll make sure Renesmee is taken care of." As soon as he was gone Esme pulled me into a hug and handed me a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

"I'm going to miss you so much Jacob. I've enjoyed taking care of you and your brothers. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to one of my own." I knew where she was coming from. This was my family. Esme was the pack mom. Not a week went by that she didn't cook dinner for all of us, dote on us, clean up after us, smack us around when we got mouthy. I was going to miss her especially. The rest of the pack had come over this morning to say their goodbyes. They all felt like they were saying goodbye to not only friends, but an extended family. I let go of Esme and turned to see Emmett standing there with his head hanging. Ahhh, Emmett, my brother from another mother. The only vamp in the house that didn't hold back with the pack, there had been so many broken bones and ripped off limbs in the last 5 years that I had lost count. Em was always ready for a fight, and so was one of my pack brothers. We would spend hours on end playing video games, arm wrestling, daring each other to do stupid stuff, he was a big kid.

"Don't look so sad Emmett, you'll still have Seth." Seth was going with the Cullen's for a few reasons. One, I would feel better if there was a wolf to protect Nessie should she need it. Second, he'd gotten strangely close to Alice in the last 5 years. They really hit it off, she was the big sister he never got to have with Leah. He'd gotten very close to Alice and Jasper and had asked if he could go with them. Of course, everyone agreed that he should.

"Won't be the same dude" Emmett said. He walked over to me and gave me the customary one armed man hug. "Take care of yourself"

"You too Emmett" I said as he walked out the front door.

"Well, I for one, won't miss you dog" Rosalie said from behind me. " I can't wait to breath fresh air again. I might actually get the smell out of my clothes."

"I know you'll miss me Blondie...I'm too much fun" I winked at her.

She huffed, but then came over and gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

"Don't die or something stupid like that, I only tell you that for Nessie's sake"

"Sure, sure" I knew better, she cared.

I stood there in the empty living room, I could hear the others upstairs or out in the front yard preparing to leave. I could hear Alice's pixie steps coming down the stairs. She leaped into my arms.

"I'll miss you Jacob. Wear the clothes I bought you okay?" she was pleading with her eyes, my near constant state of undress really did bother her. "I'll do my best Alice" and I kissed her on the cheek before she went out the door.

Jasper's hand was on my shoulder shortly after that. "Take care Jacob" he said. Jasper was a man of few words. "You too Jazz" He shook my hand and then headed out to find Alice.

Edward was the last one down the stairs. I could see the pain in his eyes before I could hear it in his voice.

"How are you doing Jacob?" he asked

"I'm fine Edward, it's for the best." I replied simply

"We'll take good care of her for you"

"I know you will"

Nothing else needed to be said. We'd been over it too many times to count by now. They would take Nessie away for a while, let her live, let her breathe, they would come back when she was ready, however long that took. Part of me was hoping it wouldn't take very long...

The back door opened and Ness and Bella walked in. Bella walked over to me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Love you Jacob" she whispered as she walked out with Edward. Ness and I were alone then. There was so much that I wanted to say, but I didn't, I couldn't. I just stepped over to her and wrapped her in my arms again and planted one kiss on the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face in my chest. We stayed like that for a while. I was just memorizing everything about her, the scent, the softness of her hair, the warmth of her embrace. I was tattooing it on my memory, this would get me thru the dark days that lay ahead.

"I love you Ness"

"I love you too Jake" she smiled up at me. She was ready to go. She was eager for the change, and suddenly so was I. I took her hand and led her out to the front of the house where the rest of the Cullen's were waiting. I opened the door to Edwards Volvo, gave her one quick kiss on the forehead and put her in the car. "Talk to you soon Ness...goodbye."

"I'll call when we get there! Goodbye Jake" she smiled up at me and then shut the door. The Cullen's started pulling away and I stood there watching my world go down their driveway. She turned once more and smiled her huge beautiful smile at me and waved. She waved until the car disappeared around the corner.