Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

I keep forgetting just how strong imprinting is supposed to be! My god, how do you even describe that stuff? lol. Anyway, thanks so much for the nice reviews. I appreciate them greatly. :)

Things pick up a lot starting in this chapter. More Edward and Bella in the next chapter, along with Jacob and Nessie too of course.

Please enjoy!

Divided Moon - CHAPTER 2

Renesmee's POV:

I took in a deep breath when I entered Alice's room. She was sitting in front of her mirror, her porcelain skin shimmering with the morning sun. She probably heard me come in, but I knew she hadn't seen it play out in her mind. It seemed like the older I got, and the more Jacob was around me, the more difficult my future was to see.

Her lofty glass-panel window was open, allowing the gentle breeze to flow inside. The violet curtains swept into the air in a slow motion that had me craving to wrap up in them. It reminded me of playing hide and seek with my Jacob. - Our sense of smell always betrayed our hideouts.

"Good morning, Nessie!" Alice greeted excitedly, and then gracefully stood to dance her way over to me. I couldn't help but smile. She was always so fluent, and yet she maintained such a childlike innocence that made her company a bit addictive.

"Hi Alice."

She was wearing slight heals. Since I was already a good inch or two shorter than her, I stood on my tip toes when she stopped in front of me. At that point we were eye level with one other, and I smiled.

She took one of my hands in both of hers, smiling widely as if she knew what I was there for before I opened my mouth. Either way, I allowed my thoughts to drip like a leaky faucet into her mind.

She pursed her lips, and stepped back as she observed me from head to toe. I made the most serious adult face I could, lifted chin and all, and she chuckled.

"I'd say you look about sixteen, Nessie. You're just small is all. Looking young is a good thing."

I smiled. "Thanks Alice." Jacob was sixteen when he stopped aging too. Though, his impressive height made him appear a bit older.

"That couldn't have been all you wanted though." The disappointment broke in her voice almost as much as it did with the pout of her pretty lips. Her eyes narrowed curiously for a moment. Even without her visions, she still seemed to have a sixth sense about me.

"It's not." I admitted, laughing a bit at her cute expression. "I want to pick out an outfit of my own."

"Oh!" Her grin quickly returned, "Well come on!" She led me by the hand to her closet, and opened it like we were entering into a grand ballroom.

Her particular closet never failed to amaze me. Piles and piles of beautiful attire lay neatly folded on the shelves, with even more layers hanging according to color on racks.

"You are welcome to whatever you want, little Nessie. And since you're just a little bit smaller than me, it wouldn't take but a second to clip things into place."

I gazed into her closet for a long time, eyes wide with wonder. How did she accumulate so much stuff? I began running my fingers over a few soft fabrics simply to indulge in the texture, from costly, smooth silks to simple denim.

"Actually," I tilted my head, and smiled, just waiting for the exact reaction I had predicted, "Would you mind taking me shopping Alice? Please?"

For about half a second, she paused... and then she lit up like a Christmas tree.

Jacob's POV:

"I don't want to talk about it."

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

My eyes closed in concentration. I was furious. Downright seething that neither Bella or Edward thought it was necessary to inform me of Nessie's little outing with Alice.

'She's in good hands.' They said. 'Alice will take good care of her.' They said.

I could strangle both of them!

Now I was stuck in La Push, barely maintaining human form with a few others from the pack. Waiting. If the sand between my toes could possibly be ground into smaller grains, I had done it.

"She'll be fine, Jake! Her skin is barely even breakable. How do you think Quil, Sam and I feel having actual human females to worry about?"

Jared had a point. Still, my head hurt, and my hands were shaking. I was worthless for anything but worry and rage until she was back home or, better yet, in La Push with me.

"It's too dangerous for someone like her. What if she touches someone's hand or something, and gives them one of her memories?" That was far from the worst thought in my head. "Or what if that smell in the woods belongs to something dangerous? You never know what's out there!"

I had already planned on recruiting Edward to make the hike with me to Westside in the morning. Something about that was so familiar, and revolting it made my muscles tighten all over my body.

"I think it's nice you're so worried about her." Seth said, shrugging his wide shoulders. "You love her. I wish I'd hurry up and imprint already. I don't even understand that kind of devotion yet."

I looked at him, noticing his gaze was locked on the ground as if he expected to be made fun of for his comment. Eh, I don't think any of us could do it, not even Embry.

"You sure you want this heartache?"

He nodded and smiled, "Absolutely."

I sighed out a growl of irritation, finally calming down a bit. I wouldn't change a damn thing either. It was purely disgusting.

Renesmee was my world, and everything else was like a black hole, barely even existent. My other half, my soul mate, the one.. All the things only fools were said to believe in, Nessie was the definition of that to me.

Even the scent of the ocean drew out little memories of us building the most sloppy, ridiculous sand castles you've ever seen - in the rain. She was still about half the size she was now, and had the time of her life playing in that mucky crap. I'd never heard someone giggle so much.

Unfortunately, my memories quickly took on a mind of their own. I started imagining Nessie full grown and in an itsy bitsy bikini. I was there with her, and we were making out like nobody's business on top of those terrible sand castles...

My hand dragged down my face, and I shook off that thought as quickly as my mind would allow. I think I need a mental evaluation.

"Earth to Jake!"

My eyes popped to the side to see Seth, Embry, Quil, and Jared staring at me. Seth was laughing, and the rest of them were grinning at me like I was an idiot.

"If you're busy fantasizing, we can come back later." Embry teased.

I had a sudden urge to rip out Quil's engine and launch it at my friend's head, but I dismissed it.

"Come on man." Jared interjected, punching Embry on the shoulder. "It's pretty potent stuff. Give the guy a break."

"Yeah. I guess I'll be dealing with the same thing when Claire is older. That's going to be so strange." Quil shrugged. He seemed completely content that she was still too young to pine over.

I envied him.

"Sorry man. You're just the easy target." Embry smacked my shoulder before leaning against Quil's truck at my side.

I felt my eyebrow raise threateningly as my eyes skimmed in his direction. "Sure, sure. No worries. I just can't wait until it's your turn." I mumbled.

I didn't care who teased me or whatever. I had a one track mind to love and protect Nessie, and that was all there was to it. Her happiness was mine, point blank. And she wasn't with me to protect at that moment so I was just going to have to be a bit feeble-minded for a while.

"Hey! Hey! Watch it!" Quil shrieked. "You guys are gonna tip my ride!"

Embry and I stood straight. Sure enough, the truck crashed back into the sand, bouncing on the wheel a bit before it was firmly planted back on the ground. Quil took in a deep breath of relief.

"Sorry Quil."

Sam came up from the bushes, a calm look on his face. I guessed nothing else had been found to connect to that revolting smell in the woods yet.

He yanked me aside before I even had the chance to acknowledge his presence.

"Let's walk."

I was taken back. What was up his sniff hole? I couldn't remember doing anything stupid recently.

"Emily is worried about you."

Emily?

"Why?"

"Because you do not smile unless Renesmee is around. You and Quil are special cases, having been imprinted with your future mates since they were very young. I thought, to make Emily happy, that I would talk to you about it."

I wondered if this was as uncomfortable for him as it was for me. Probably. But he'd already had a front seat to every humiliating thought passing my mind, so what the hell?

"It's not even like a hormone-driven lust or anything stupid like that. I just want... I dunno... to be a part of her I guess."

Sam laughed. Strange how I just realized he was usually only smiling or laughing when Emily was around too. My god, I was turning into Sam.

"It's much more than that though." He offered, understanding me perfectly.

I nodded and sighed heavily. "It's... It's like the world is literally tipped on it's scale to revolve around Renesmee. I feel like an overprotective big brother, or best friend gone overboard. Always have. If nothing else existed, I wouldn't care as long as she's okay."

"But?"

I cleared my throat, staring down at the tiny pebbles of sand beneath my bare feet. "But, I want to be... more."

"Obviously." He laughed again.

Sam was never much of a big talker.

"That's not even fair! You imprinted with Emily when she was already old enough for you to think of her romantically." I didn't mean to shout. Maybe I was a bit more frustrated than I realized. "How do you tell a girl you've cared for since infancy that you would rather be her lover than her big brother?"

Sam patted my back and shrugged his shoulders. "You let nature run it's course. What's the worst that could happen if Renesmee doesn't want to love you that way?"

I thought for a minute. The epiphany hit me like a brick to the head. Sam was absolutely right. The worst that would happen is things would continue like they are now, like they have always been. Sex wasn't the issue at all, it was something much deeper than that. A longing to be with Nessie in every possible way. That didn't mean that my world would crash if our relationship didn't progress the way I had hoped.

Nessie would still be okay. So I would still be okay.

There was a bit of relief that came with that realization, and I found myself chuckling from it. "I think we just had a brother moment."

He was smiling again as I fluttered my eyes at him. "Good, now go home."

"Home? Why?"

"You're father is having the pack over for dinner along with Charlie and Sue." He lunged his big hand into my back hard enough to make me stumble forward, "Renesmee is there waiting for you."

Renesmee's POV:

I could smell it. The scent was overpowering enough to make my eyes water. If it wouldn't be offensive, I probably would have squeezed my fingertips to my nostrils to block it out completely. Even then, I could taste it in the air when I inhaled through my mouth.

Dinner with Charlie, Sue and Billy was always quite challenging. Forcing down human food was just about as appealing as swallowing a mouth full of sand. Thankfully, Billy was understanding enough to coat my spaghetti in a special sort of sauce - meatless, pure, thick, slightly darker than Ragu.

"Thank you very much, Billy." I whispered while Charlie was too busy watching the game on TV to notice.

Of course, Grandpa Charlie would never see me drinking blood... that he was aware of.

Billy smiled widely, and wrapped his arm around my waist as he stirred the dark liquid - very few noodles - in a small bowl. I was petite enough to not have to lean down very much to return his embrace.

"You're quite welcome." He flicked his head back, motioning towards grandpa, "Better not give the old man a heart attack."

I nodded in agreement. Billy was so used to these strange occurrences with me around, not to mention the Protector's of La Push. Charlie and Sue were still on a need to know basis, though she knew much more about Werewolves than grandpa did. Giving birth to a pair of them, it was a bit more necessary.

I was still quite a mystery to them.

"Nessi! Did you hear that? Patriot's - three to one!"

I smiled from his excitement. Momma told me how much happier he'd seemed since I was born and him and Sue got together. His wife of four years now was reclining on the arm rest at his side, leaning her head against his shoulder similar to a newlywed human - or a vampire's mate.

He deserved happiness, and I adored how overwhelmingly contagious it was to see him that way.

I walked up behind him, amused by the way his hand flailed in the air after a touchdown. My hand cupped his cheek from behind the recliner, sending him nothing but an image the last game we watched together.

The Patriot's didn't win that one.

"No, no, no. This is their game. You'll see."

I stood in front of him, locking my hands behind my back and shrugging. I tried not to smile, but a grin peaked through my failed effort anyway.

Sue chuckled. She has seen this before.

"Ten bucks." I bargained.

His eyes narrowed, observing me closely, and he smirked. "Twelve."

"Fifteen."

"Twenty!"

"Deal!" My arm jetted forward, and he shook my hand without a seconds hesitation.

My mischievous smile must have given me away because he paused not a moment later, looking at me in disbelief that he had fallen for my bluff... again.

"You asked Alice didn't you?"

I nodded enthusiastically, and laughed. "Did you expect anything less?" I was astounded, really!

He smirked, attempting to ignore me now. "It could change. It could change."

Sue patted his back and sighed with a smile, "You keep telling yourself that, babe."

How soothing their presence was together. Poor grandpa. I wish I could show him what I really was.

I looked down, instead of watching the television. My fingers played against the intricate weaving of Jacob's 'promise ring' surrounding my wrist. To this day it fascinated me. I would ask him to teach me how to braid like that one day.

While attempting not to gag from the overwhelmingly unpleasant aroma surrounding me, something else caught my senses.

Jacob. He was here.

I glanced towards the door. It was barely five seconds later that it opened.

Jacob crossed through the kitchen and over to me with two big strides, grinning from ear to ear. I barely even got a chance to get a good look at him before I felt his arms surrounding both my shoulders and yanking me to him in a tight bear hug.

"Ah! Jacob! You're smothering me!" I laughed.

His lips touched my forehead, feeling almost as if they would blister human skin, and he smoothed my hair. It wasn't until then that I realized I hadn't seen him in almost 24 hours, and he looked absolutely ecstatic to see me as well. A bit relieved too.

"How's it going, Nessi?" He asked, paying only attention to me, as if everyone else in the house wasn't really even there.

I nodded twice.

"Hmm, well," His eyes trailed down from my head to my toes, inspecting my new wardrobe. "Heard you went shopping."

I nodded again, this time smiling excitedly. He would notice my new clothes.

My smile diminished the moment a wave of seriousness crossed his expression, and he took my cheeks in his hands. "You should have told me where you were going."

He didn't notice in the way I had hoped.

I ignored the ice in his tone - also ignoring my disappointment - and touched his cheek to tell him I was sorry. I should have told him first. It was sweet of him to worry.

After he nodded, I saw the slightest of smiles reappearing, and decided to change the subject immediately. "Charlie owes me twenty bucks!" I shot grandpa a smirk.

"Not yet kiddo!"

Jacob grunted in a way that I was sure to notice our conversation was nowhere near over. At the same time, though, he sighed and draped his arm around my shoulder. "You do look gorgeous, Nessie."

My smile hurt my cheeks.

Billy must have noticed my nose scrunching uncomfortably when he wheeled himself into the cramped living room a moment later. I had almost forgotten, I still hadn't escaped the dreadful smell of human food. "Why don't kids go do something more interesting? I want a bit of time alone with the adults here. I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

He was teasing both of us. Jacob rolled his eyes.

"You don't need any more help?" I asked.

He laughed, and I leaned over for him to whisper when he beckoned me with a wave of his finger. "Honey, you look as if you could be physically ill having to deal with this already. Now get!"

I obeyed without a fight.

Jacob was being yanked as far away from the kitchen as possible before I even had a chance to notice the surprised expression on his face. "Is it really that bad?" He laughed, watching as I closed his bedroom door to block us off from the rest of the house.

Very quickly I opened his window and leaned my face outside to take in the largest lung full of air that I could. "It's not very fun."

He relaxed on top of his bed, yawning deeply. "You're half human. I really just can't imagine regular food being as terrible as that."

"You're half canine, Jacob." I reasoned, and sat down beside him. "But I can't imagine you would lick up vomit if you caught the scent of it."

"... Wow... That's really disgusting. Very nice, Nessie."

"Thank you." I laughed. "He really would have a heart attack wouldn't he?"

Jacob turned to me, eyes narrowed in pure confusion. "Who? And why?"

"Charlie!" I laughed, remembering Jacob didn't have the mind reading skills like someone I knew, "Sorry, I was thinking about food. He probably wouldn't take my drinking blood very lightly I don't think."

Jacob shrugged and smiled. "He took everything else pretty well. It might surprise you how strong Charlie really is."

"I'd rather not risk it." I chuckled again.

"You're in a very good mood today." Jacob happily observed, entangling his long fingers with mine. "Everything is making you laugh."

"That's not fair, Jacob. I easily laugh at a lot of things!"

But he was right, as usual. I was in an exceptionally good mood. It was like I could feel something exciting approaching, and the giddiness it sent through my body made it almost impossible to stop smiling. I wasn't entirely sure why. However, sitting still wasn't much of an option either.

I stood, yanking Jacob off the bed with me. Suddenly though, his grip tightened against mine, pulling me back down, and over to the small couch by the TV.

Jacob's POV:

"Jeez Nessie. Sit still for two seconds. We need to talk."

My god, my palm would have been sweating if they had the right glands for it. I don't know if I've ever been so nervous in my life. I was impressed. A trip shopping with Alice and Nessie had come home with a simple white T-shirt - I hadn't seen the front yet - dark navy jeans, and a forest green hoodie. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, with a few strays framing her delicate face while the rest piled in soft ringlets down her back.

So simple, but so Nessie. My little mechanic/beauty queen/goddess.

"You're mad at me." She accused suddenly as her wide eyes focused painfully on mine.

I was lost immediately, shaking my head in utter refusal. "I'm not mad at you, Nessie. I just can't..." can't live without you. "I just want you to be careful, to be safe is all."

I said the words, but in actuality I was so anxious I had to stand up. Nessie watched me shift my weight back and forth on my feet. My arms crossed against my chest and I had to catch the growl bubbling in my throat before it erupted like a volcano. When my eyes shut, all I could visualize was the worst, most agonizing thing imaginable. My world without Nessie.

It was just a shopping trip for crying out loud!

But then I jumped, sucking in a deep breath of air. Her palm was pressed lightly against my cheek. Suddenly all I could see was her and Alice laughing, and throwing clothes in and out of dressing rooms. Then she walked out of the dressing room in the exact same outfit she was wearing now. Only, the zipper of her hoodie was down, and I could see the picture on the front of her white t-shirt. A large wolf, and a small girl with her arms draped around his neck as she rode his back.

I laughed, and pulled her hand away from my cheek. She was smiling at me when I opened my eyes again.

"Perfect, isn't it?!"

That irritated growl was back - only irritating because I couldn't possibly be mad anymore.

"Sure, sure. You little punk." I mumbled teasingly.

Nessie chuckled and plopped back down on the couch.

"Worry wart." Her hand patted the seat beside her so I sat.

"Big talk for such a tiny thing!" I teased, "You're talking a lot today."

She chuckled and sighed heavily. "Mostly to you. But I think Charlie was surprised that I was speaking to him earlier too."

"Why don't you talk as much to everyone else?" I knew the answer already, but I would ask anything at that moment to keep her talking.

"Comfort." She answered, her voice soft. "You make everything comfortable. I don't have to show you what I want for you to know."

Oh jesus, Nessie. I want you to show me!

"Can I ask you something, Jacob?" She was biting her lip nervously when her head tilted to me.

"Uh, maybe." My smile was meant to tease her again, and she punched my arm in response. Unfortunately it was more difficult to hide the fact that Nessie's punches actually had potential for pain. The bruise would last less than a minute thankfully.

"What happened to you... When you imprinted on, or with me, I mean? Did I imprint with you too, or were you the only one? I'm confused as to what I'm supposed to do."

I stared at her blankly for a second before I felt my eyes bulging from their sockets. Nessie's cocked her head to the side, waiting for her answers. Intimidation pulsed through me. How the heck did I not see that one coming?

"Uh, well, I uh..." I shoved the irritating black hairs behind my ears, fumbling around in my head for some way to explain. "You uh... You know how a baby bird 'imprints' on the first thing it sees? Kind of bonding with it more than it will bond with anything else in the world?"

She nodded in understanding, and a smile escaped her mouth. "I bond with you more than anything else, Jacob. Did I imprint with you too?"

I laughed, nervously scratching the back of my head. "Well maybe, I guess. You are pretty fond of your parents too Nessie."

"Almost everyone is fond of their parents, Jacob." She said, her eyes wide with interest, "Tell me what you felt though. And what you did."

Embarrassing!

"I stopped breathing." I answered truthfully, forcing myself to look her in the eyes. "I felt everything else in the world fade into the background until it was just you and me, Nessie. Like I was meant to be around you, protect you, lo-"

"Love me?" She finished for me, her eyes bright.

I chuckled once. "Yeah Nessie. You already know I love you."

"But there are different kinds of love." She pressed. "Does it change? Will it go away?"

I don't know why I found that so funny, but I burst into a sudden fit of laughter. Maybe because that was the most ridiculous thought to enter my mind in a long time. Will it go away?..

"Pft! Maybe if I die."

She jumped to her feet and glared at me, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

She was angry at me, and it was... very amusing.

"Come on Nessie," I grabbed for her hands but she jerked them away too quickly. "Sit back down." Watching her jolt back and forth, my voice cracked with laughter. It was more endearing than frustrating. I hadn't meant to upset her so bad.

It wasn't long before my laughter had caught up with her. Anyone could laugh and it would be as contagious to Nessie as if she had absolutely no immune system.

"Not fair! Stop it Jacob Black! I'm serious!" She demanded, pressing her lips into a fine line that was cracking with a smile, "I'm not going to laugh!" But, she had started giggling already.

"Nessie! Sit with me!" I pleaded through my slowly subsiding chuckles. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It wouldn't go away even if I did die. I swear!"

Finally, she smirked at me and sat, but her arms crossed in front of her chest angrily. "You are not going to die. Do you hear me, Jacob Black?"

I chuckled again, "Yes Mam." It's wasn't so much funny as it was adorable.

Everything slowly faded into complete silence. I could hear our breaths, fast and quiet.

She was perched up on her knees, able to lean with her head down on my shoulder that way. The scent of her silk hair was enough to make my eyes roll effortlessly into the back of my head.

I think I might actually go to hell when I die.

I couldn't control myself. My head tilted to the side, and I let my lips press against her warm cheek. I noticed something as I lingered there, my eyes parted just slightly.

Nessie had both lovely eyes closed softly, a warm smile spreading across her full lips. Usually she just giggled and kept doing whatever it was she was doing.

Not this time.

Instead, she was taking in what I was doing like a wine tester savoring the flavors soothing their pallet with the smallest of sips. I half expected her to sigh with contentment. She was definitely enjoying herself.

Oh, for the love of all that is holy. Now what do I do?

I pulled away, only to see her chocolate eyes flutter open, very slightly glazed. She wasn't looking at me at first. Instead, she was kind of blankly staring straight ahead.

My free hand fisted into the couch cushions at my side. I felt my fingers ripping holes into the fabric where I pressed too hard. I don't even think she noticed. I kept staring at her, waiting for something. I knew damn well what I was waiting for too. Instinct is a very powerful tool.

Her eyes trailed over, but she wasn't looking into mine. Rather, they focused on my mouth. A full line of long, black lashes curtained above her crimson cheeks. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. - A sure sign she was waiting for the exact same thing I was.

My breathing was shallow. This was it. Once that line was crossed this time, we wouldn't be going back to the way things were when she was just a kid.

Renesmee's POV:

'Kiss me, Jacob.' That's all I was thinking.

Perhaps he needed me to assure him that I wasn't a child anymore. Maybe I would have to be the one to move first. But I was frozen, still as stone. Even if I could prove that I was ready for this, was he ready?

'Kiss me, Jacob!'

I couldn't avert my eyes away from his mouth, especially when he quickly smoothed his tongue over both lips. He wanted to kiss me! I knew it!

My mouth parted, sucking in a gasp of air that I hadn't realized I had been holding. I felt his hand tighten on my shoulder instantly. He was so close now that his nose nudged mine. I didn't have the courage to raise my eyes to see if he was looking at my mouth now or not, but I felt it.

All these slow movements, both unsure and eager at the same time, was doing something strange to my body. I hadn't quite felt this before. The drumming of my heart blocked out all the voices in the kitchen. I could barely remember where I was, let alone who else was there other than my Jacob.

His shuttering breath was hot against my mouth. I felt a fingertip gliding lightly down my jawline, encouraging me to tilt my head slightly to the side. My eyes closed on their own accord, and his nose slipped beside mine.

'My Jacob... kiss me.'

I was on the verge of begging out loud when I felt the contours of his lips suddenly surrounding my own. It was brief, as if he were testing the temperature of water before diving in. His mouth was both soft, and fiercely hot. I sucked lightly against his lips when he did the same to me, and suddenly it was over. I opened my eyes slightly when I felt his absence.

He was staring at me, eyes wide.

All I could do was place my palm to his face, and pull him close to me again.

"Nessie." He breathed, dropping his gaze to my mouth again.

For a moment, my heart dropped from my chest. I was afraid he regretted kissing me.

But then, he dove... and so did I.

It was as if a timer had gone off, releasing an instant and overwhelming wave of passion in both of us.

His lips crushed mine so fiercely that I had to inhale a sharp breath through my nose. My arms flew around his neck, and I pulled him to me so his torso was flushed against mine. I couldn't get him close enough, no matter how hard my fingers dug into his muscled back.

This would have severely bruised a full human, but Jacob reacted eagerly. His hands were everywhere - the small of my back, my shoulders, my cheeks, my waist...

I followed him, imitating the movements of his lips as we kissed. Uncertainty was quickly discarded, replaced by a hunger so intense that I felt dizzy with it. I'd never felt anything so amazing and confusing all at once.

His fingers entangled in the hair at the back of my neck. I heard my breath shutter against his lips when we parted for just a moment. His nose nuzzled mine, only to be thrown back into the kiss half a second later.

"Dinner's ready!"

Billy's voice echoed loudly from the kitchen, making both of us jump back. I instantly sprang from my crouched position. When my dazed eyes were able to focus again, I found myself on the opposite ends of the couch. Jacob was fumbling around for the remote control to turn on the TV. He dropped it several times before his trembling hands were able to get a good grip.

"You uh.. Y-You owe Charlie t-twenty... uh... twenty bucks, my Nessie." His voice was broken, as he pointed to the TV, but he was smiling like I'd never seen before. A slight hint of embarrassment tilted his wide eyes, but mostly I saw absolute adoration in his expression.

I chuckled, feeling the flames of fire igniting my cheeks.

To be continued...

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