A/N: Thank you to all of the readers. Sorry for the delayed update. RL has kept me busy. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Also, thanks to my beta, Kay Cannon.

Disclaimer - I do not own any of these characters, they belong to our beloved is simply my story of Renesmee and Jacob.

Ch. 4

JPOV

Outcomes

I had hoped, wished, and even dreamt that this day would come. Although I had imprinted on Renesmee, there was no one hundred percent guarantee that she would love me back. I'd waited for this day as if my life depended on it. Honestly, my life had depended on this.

The Cullen's and I had agreed to let her sort her feelings out before we come clean about imprinting. We didn't want her to feel pressured or obligated to return that form of love. I would have waited as long as was needed: she was my everything. I'll confess, I'd often thought about what I would do or how I would react if Nessie had not returned the "intimate" feelings. Quite frankly, I never got far with those ponderings.

After the call about my dad's stroke, I considered the what ifs and worst possible scenarios. What if Renesmee realized I was a love sick puppy and was repulsed by me? Would she boot me to the corner? What would I have done? I'd like to think that I would have stayed, but a part of me knows I would have run as far away as was possible, to escape the pain. I couldn't take my dad's health status and Nessie's rejection in one lifetime. I might have come back one day, to check in on her, but my heart would forever be shattered.

"I know what you are thinking, Jacob Black." I knew that voice from anywhere. I called it the voice of reason. "Don't you dare run from something when you don't know the absolute outcome."

My back was towards the voice. I knew I couldn't face him – not now. I let out a small huff.

Of course you would be listening. You'd think that I would be used to this by now.

"My apologies. I don't mean to intrude on your thoughts, but when they involve my daughter and you running from her I can't exactly help it." His stern but soft voice filled my dark room.

I had just spoken to my sisters, who were back in La Push. My dad had suffered a mild stroke and the girls were at the hospital with him. I told them I would leave that night and meet them in the morning. I knew I hadn't, yet, spoken to Renesmee about my feelings but, in that moment, I felt as if my life was going to crash down onto of me. So, why not just run from it before it got worse? I didn't feel like talking and he knew that, but persisted.

"I can't imagine how you feel or what you are going through but I do know that you can't give up. I also know I'm not one to speak, to say the least, but I'm still learning from my mistakes and I live with the regret of them every day. There's no taking them back once they've been made. There's only a lifetime of making them up."

I'm not going to tell her. It's bad timing. I don't want to deal with rejection…not now, at least. The smooth voice was silent for a moment.

"Understandable." I could almost hear him nod. "Be patient, my brother. It's not my place to say anything but, I have a feeling she's going to come around sooner than you think." I whipped around, quickly, to face him.

"Don't put any ideas in her head, Edward. We agreed for this to be as natural as possible. As much as I want her to want me back, if she chooses for me to be only a friend to her, I'll have to accept it and be what she needs me to be." My voice came out harsher than I intended.

Edward shifted and placed his back against the door frame, propping his leg on the casing for support, and crossing his arms along his chest. His head rested back and he glared up at the ceiling.

"Are you coming back?"

I plan to. I need to go and visit my dad – take care of some business and all. Maybe once things settle down, I'll come back. I looked away. I didn't want to think of the possibility of not returning…of not seeing Nessie again, or for a while at least. Edward walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't give up," he whispered, barely loud enough to hear. Within a flash he was gone. I sat in silence, hanging my head in the dark.

I can't give up.

Looking back on that day, I realized I had Edward to thank. He had given me the nudge I needed before I left to see my father. He'd given a small glint of hope to cling to when things were going crazy. I hadn't even told Renesmee how I felt and I was ready to give up. I was a complete jackass!

None of that mattered anymore. She was in love with me and she knew the truth. What more could a guy ask for?

NPOV

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine."
Song of Solomon, 1. 1

We laid in the clearing for hours after Jacob and I professed our love to one another. I rested in his arms, listening to his heart beat. It was the most soothing sound known to mankind.

Jacob updated me about his visit to La Push: the pack and Billy's recent health status. I saddened that he left his father but he assured me that his health had improved and he was in good care.

I missed Billy and the pack, but I missed my grandfather, Charlie, the most. Jacob told me Charlie was doing extremely well and that he and Sue were as strong as ever. I knew I couldn't visit Forks as often as I'd like. However, I hoped that, since my growth spurts had stopped all together, I might have been able to visit him for a couple of hours, on occasion. Still, I could guess that my parents and Carlisle would suggest Charlie and Sue come here, instead.

Mental note to self: call grandfather for a visit.

I brought Jacob up to speed on the latest at the house, which was really nothing new except that Emmett took me mudding. He wasn't thrilled about the idea of me driving in the beast, but he didn't say much. That notwithstanding, I was pretty positive he'd take it up with Emm another day.

"Oh crap! I'm still muddy!" I gasped as I examined myself. "I'm sorry. It didn't even dawn on me till just now." A frown crept across my face. Jacob lifted my chin and met my gaze.

"You've never looked more beautiful than you do now my love." His lips met mine. My cheeks failed me and scarlet flushed my face. My heart, also, hammered in my chest with a forceful beat.

"I love you till the end," I said, in a breath.

"And what if there is no end?" Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Then I love you for eternity and beyond." I nuzzled into his neck as I spoke, inhaling his scent and planting tiny kisses on his collar bone. I could feel him smiling his goofy grin that I loved so much.

"Jake…there's something I am sort of curious about and I'd really appreciate it if you could finally fully explain everything to me." Jacob was silent for a moment, reflecting over what I had just asked of him, and then let out a low sigh.

"You are curious about the imprint thing, aren't you?"

"I know I'm your imprint, but what exactly does that mean? I'm not sure I totally understand. I mean, I've heard it before and I know you imprinted on me when I was just a baby, but why do you do that?" My eyes set upon his. Jacob returned my gaze and never let go.

"Well, keep in mind that neither I nor the others have ANY control over whom we imprint on. We do not do this by choice. It's something that happens naturally. It's like its nature's own form of love at first sight. It literally allows us find our soul mate and you are mine.

"I can speak from experience. All other connections are severed and it is only you that keeps me bounded to this Earth. I live and breathe for you. Everything I do is for you and nothing else matters beyond you." He paused. I searched my memory, trying to pin point exactly when Jacob could have imprinted on me. And then it dawned on me.

"You imprinted on me when I was a baby, didn't you? It was after my mother had me and you thought she was gone. Rose was holding me and you looked like a man that had accepted his fate. I remember you peering over her shoulder at me and something about your eyes had changed." I trailed off at the end. He nodded in confirmation.

"Except that you turned out to be my fate, Renesmee. The moment I finally laid eyes on you, my world seemed to turn inside out and everything faded except for you. That's an amazing memory you have there, kiddo." He chuckled.

"For one, I'm not a kiddo anymore. And two, of course I remember. I remember everything about you." I couldn't help but giggle. "Okay, I know you can't control it but, why do you imprint?"

"Ah, yeah… that." He suddenly became self conscious. "You see, it's been said that we imprint on someone who will give us the strongest off spring. Though, others say it's to make us become stronger wolves." Jacob started to fidget. I reached up and cupped his cheeks.

"And you don't believe in the first theory, do you?" His eyes squeezed shut.

"I honestly don't know, Nes. You are, after all, half blood sucker. Your body seems to be like there's. You know what Carlisle thinks: your body is now frozen." He shrugged. "I'm just not sure what to believe when it comes to theories and legends, anymore. You and I aren't even supposed to coexist and here we are, together and in love. Who knows what the future has in store for us? But, for now, can we just live in the moment and enjoy the present?"

My thoughts raced. I envisioned two russet skin toned toddlers running around in the forest; twins: a male and female. The sun danced upon their skin, showing a tiny hint of glisten but not enough for the human eye to spot. They had golden eyes and the female had long, curly hair while the male had long, wavy hair. They both, still, looked like Jacob.

"Nessie, don't. It's okay. You are more than enough for me." He tightened his grip around me and kissed my forehead. All I could do was nod my head in response. I will get to the bottom of this, I thought in another mental note.

"Okay, I'm your imprint. Is that why you stayed nearby this entire time?" I'd decided to changed the subject. He chuckled, loudly.

"Guilty as charged."

"Did I ever have a choice in loving you, or was it predestined?" I inquired.

"It's all free will. Although, no one has ever denied the amount of love we have to offer our imprint."

I paused for a moment, trying to find the best way to ask this next question. "When you imprinted on me – and you said it is nature's form of love at first sight and connecting soul mates – did you have romantic feelings for me, then?"

"Absolutely not." He stood his ground and sounded positive. "You see, we love our imprints the way they need us to love them; whether they need us as a friend, guardian, brother and or eventually lover, that's what we do for them. Honestly, I just want you happy. If you are happy, then my job is done." Jake let out a brief sigh.

"Happy doesn't even begin to describe what I feel, Jake. I feel like, for the first time, my life is going down the path it was meant to. I'm amazed by this feeling. I'm in love with my best friend and I couldn't ask for more."

"I second that." He released a heavy breath of relief.

As much as I didn't want to, I knew it was time to go home. As if Jacob was reading my mind, he rose and lifted me up. I grabbed his hand and we journeyed to the house.

"…Ready to face the music?" He smirked at me. I let out a fake sigh and then grinned.

"Absolutely."

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing!