Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer, I am just one of thousands of writers who has been inspired by her mesmerizing characters. I do not own any rights to the characters from the Twilight Saga.

Alone

"You're here," I said when I approached Jacob in the backyard. He was lying under a tree that was growing on the neighbor's side of the 20-foot hedge fence. The sunlight coming through the tree's long branches and lush leaves made interesting patterns across Jacob's face.

"Of course I am," he sat up. "Where else would I be?"

"I don't know," I sat down next to him, resting my head on his arm. "I was afraid…" I trailed into a whisper, hesitant to finish my thought.

"Afraid of what?" He pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around me.

"That you'd gone back to La Push..." I said softly.

He turned me by the shoulders so that I was looking at him.

"Why would you think that?" His already dark eyes darkened. "Renesmee, I could, would, never leave you."

"Well, I thought that after what happened today…"

"Nessie," he chuckled. "It's gonna take a lot more than some little delivery boy to drive me away. Face it, babe…you're stuck with me."

"Good to know," I chuckled. I turned back around so that my back rested on his chest, I could feel every breath he took. "But Jake," I said seriously. "Was what happened today really because of me making new friends…or just that this new friend happens to be a guy?" Jacob didn't answer for a few moments, and I wondered if he didn't hear me.

"To tell you the truth," he said finally. "I didn't think adjusting to life without your family was going to be this difficult. I mean, we've always relied on Alice and Edward to know if we were in any danger. But now…we're on our own."

"But that's what I want," I said. "I like having to trust my own instincts, and not knowing exactly what is going to happen."

"I know it is. Like I said…it's just really difficult. I'm just gonna have to get used to it," he kissed the top of my head. "Don't worry, nothing like today will ever happen again. Promise."

"Okay, good. I guess you're gonna have to trust me a little more, too, then," I sighed.

"Great," he said sarcastically. "Remember when you were younger and everyone made your decisions for you? Ah, those were the days." I turned on him and pulled him to the ground. He didn't put up a fight and let me pin him to the grass.

"Why do you always let me win," I asked lowering my face to his.

"Because I like the view," he looked down at my shirt and smirked.

"Ugh, Jacob Black," I laughed. "You are a dog." I leaned down further and touched the tip of my nose to his.

"Eh, you still love me," he chuckled and kissed my lips. I interrupted him by lithely flipping myself over so that we were cheek to cheek, our feet facing in opposite directions.

"You think we'll always be this happy," I asked him.

"I sure hope so…or else we really got ripped off on this whole imprinting business."

We lay in silence for several moments before I even realized how tired I was and drifted off to sleep. I found myself running through the forests of La Push with Jacob, in wolf form, at my side. At first it seemed as though we were running for fun, hunting, but when I looked over at Jacob he had a look of urgency in his eyes. He glanced behind us and sped up. I followed his eyes and saw that we were being chased by a dark figure.

The figure wore a heavy leather coat with a matching hat. The ensemble looked old but still had a hint of modernism. The figure's hat was pulled down low casting a dark shadow over his face. The only thing I could make out were his emerald eyes that glowed against the rest of the black and white palette my dreams usually possessed. The figure was quickly gaining on us and I pushed harder to get away. The figure began to fall behind at the same time Jacob was. I was creating distance between them at an alarming rate. It was then that I realized that I wasn't the one he was after. The figure was after Jacob. I stopped abruptly and turned to run back to Jacob. But he was gone along with the dark-cloaked figure. I frantically scanned the forest for any sign of life. Nothing. I was completely alone.

I could feel my heart stop beating. I clutched at my chest trying to start it up again. I felt the familiar small circle pressed against my skin. I tore the necklace off and held the ring in the palm of my head, I blinked once and it disintegrated. The dust that was left was blown away by the wind. I fell to the forest floor and the trees closed in around me before turning into water. I was submerged in the murky blue abyss gasping for air.

I woke with a start and shot up into a sitting position. It took me a few moments to realize I was still in the backyard. The sun was beginning to set and I was alone. I looked around for Jacob, but nothing. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I rocked myself back and forth trying to shake off the dream. I forced myself to keep from blinking afraid that if I closed them I would see the green-eyed figure capturing Jacob.

"Nessie, why are you crying," Jacob asked, his voice full of worry. I didn't even notice the tears that were flowing uncontrollably until Jacob was wiping them from my cheeks. He was kneeling in front of me, his hands cradling my face. I quickly threw my arms around his neck.

"Oh, Jake," I cried into his shoulder. "Where were you? I woke up and you were gone? Why did you leave me?"

"Ness, I didn't leave you," he stroked my hair. "I was just inside making dinner. I didn't want to bother you. Are you okay?"

I pulled away from him, the last of my tears falling. "I am now. I just had a really bad dream." I reached my palm up to his cheek to show him the cause of my angst.

"Oh, Nessie, you don't have to worry about anything like that. We're safe here." He pulled me up from the grass and started to lead me back to the house.

"I know," I sniffled. "It just really scared me, that's all."

*

For the rest of the night, through dinner and through my homework, all I could think about was the dream. It was the first time I ever really felt alone. Up until now I've had multiple lines of defense, nine layers to be exact, at my beck and call. Bella. Edward. Alice. Jasper. Rosalie. Emmett. Carlisle and Esme. And of course, Jacob. But now, Jacob was right, we were on our own. He was my only protection against anything and everything, even myself. I could never lose Jacob. The thought of living without him made me shudder.

"Can I ask you something," I said climbing into bed next to him.

"Anything," he said sitting in his usual manner, resting with his hands behind his head.

"What are you afraid of?" I nestled under the covers so that only my head was exposed.

"Spiders…oh, and bees," he said automatically.

"No really," I said ignoring his joke. "What's your biggest fear?"

He looked down at me and caught on to my seriousness. "Hm, your unhappiness."

"Is that all?"

"Well no, but it's one of the biggest ones."

"What's another one?"

"Losing you, of course," he slunk down so that we were face to face. "Why do you ask?"

"What would you do if…you ever did—lose me," I asked quietly.

"I don't know. It's not something I'm willing to let myself think about. Nessie, what's wrong? What's with the questions?" He reached out to push a lock of hair behind my ear.

"I was just thinking about that dream. It made me feel so alone," I could feel the tears welling.

"Love, you'll never be alone," he said soothingly.

"How do you know that?" I objected.

"Because I won't let that happen."

"But what if something, someone, comes between us. That neither of us can stop."

"I told you already, nothing can come between us. What we have is stronger than anything anyone else has. We're spiritually tied to each other. Forever."

He kissed my forehead before pressing hips lips to mine. I kissed him back determined to tie myself to him in a different way. He didn't resist. I pushed the heavy down comforter off of me and it fell onto the floor. I rolled over so that I straddled Jacob's waist. He sat up so that we were face to face and kissed me. I tangled my fingers in his shaggy hair, pressing my body to his. Then in one smooth maneuver Jacob wrapped his arms around my waist and rolled me onto the bed. He hovered over me, his eyes smoldering. Jacob lowered himself and made a trail down my stomach and back up again with his lips, his warm touch sent chills through my sleep cami. He then ran his lips from my collar bone and up my neck before settling on my lips. I clawed at his back and shoulders, thankful that I couldn't leave any permanent damage to his smooth skin. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to pass out.

"I love you," I said holding his face in my hands. I traced his lips with the tip of my tongue.

"I love you, more," he murmured.

"Forever?'

"Until our hearts stop beating," he sealed his promise by leaning in for the most passionate, heart stopping kiss we would ever share. The worries that had plagued me throughout the night began to slowly melt away. I was comforted by the thought that at least for tonight I wasn't alone.

"Jacob," I said breathless. "I want you."

"You have me," he murmured and kissed my neck.

"No, I want all of you."

"Nessie," he said softly. "I don't think that's a good idea. Not tonight at least."

"What? Why not?"

"I think we should talk to Carlisle first…"

"WHAT?! Oh, my god. Are you serious?" I shoved him off of me and sat up. "Here we are with everything getting serious and you want to talk to my grandfather? What's the matter with you?"

Jacob let out an exasperated sigh, "I only meant we don't know what could happen if we…go any further."

"You know what Jacob," I spat getting up from the bed. "For once I'd like you to be reckless with me." I bent down and reached for my blanket noticing Gavin's business card hiding under the bed. I descreetly shoved it into my sweat pants pocket before stomping out of the room. "Don't bother following me," I called back to Jacob.

I walked to the kitched and grabbed my cell phone from the kitchen counter then headed for the back yard. I sat under the same tree as the afternoon and wrapped the down comforter around me. Something made me turn Gavin's business card over, sure enough scrawled on the back was Gavin's cell phone number. When I was sure that Jacob hadn't followed me I sent a quick text message to the number. Meet me 10 minutes before the next class meeting. -Nessie I heard the backdoor to the house open and close quietly, I fumbled to delete the message from my Sent Box. I hit the 'okay' button just as I felt Jacob's presence next to me.