The next morning, I woke up early, as I usually did. The sun was just barely starting to rise in my window. I looked up to see Jacob standing in the doorway. The sadness on his expression melted me. There was no way I could stay mad at him for very long. He walked over and sat next to me on the bed. I looked into his eyes and there was a silence between us for a while. I lifted my head and wrapped a hand around his head. I pulled him to me and kissed his lips. This was my way of telling him that I wasn't mad at him anymore and that I forgave him. His lips were hesitant against mine. I pulled away and whispered, "Jake, it's okay, really. I'm sorry I got mad at you."

"Don't apologize, Ness; that only makes me feel worse."

I sighed. "Please don't be sad, Jacob. Let's forget about yesterday, okay? Please?" I begged him. I didn't want Jacob to sulk about this. I just wanted it to disappear completely. Jake just nodded in response. "Jake," I said and when he looked up at me, I continued in a low, smooth voice, "kiss me."

Something triggered a smirk in Jake and he leaned forward, letting his lips take control. It was a sweet kiss, gentle. Nothing about it suggested anything more than a kiss. Jacob's hand gently pressed to my cheek, caressing the skin there with his thumb. Against my lips, he whispered, "Renesmee, I love you more than anything, and the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. You-" he hesitated for a moment. I was patient with him, allowing him a moment to gather his words. "You would have told me to stop, right? If I... was hurting you?"

I nodded slowly, my voice just as slow. "Jacob, I just don't want to make a mistake. I'm just afraid that..." My words trailed off and Jacob's face turned concerned. He pushed a stray curl of my hair back behind my ear.

"Afraid of what, sweetheart?" he asked. When I still remained quiet, he continued, "Please, Nessie, you can tell me anything."

I'd always had a hard time admitting things like this to Jake. "I'm just afraid that if... we did, then... it could mess us up. Throw us out of balance or something. I just don't want things to change, Jake."

Jacob sighed and replied. "They will change, Nessie, for the better."

"What makes you so sure of that, Jake?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

He shrugged. "I just feel it. From what I've heard from friends, sex-"

I interrupted him with my hands upraised, palms facing him. "Jake! Okay, okay, don't say that again!"

He chuckled, amused. He knew what was bothering me. "Then what would you like me to call it, Ness?"

"Anything but the s word," I groaned, crossing my legs as I sat upright on the bed.

"Anyway," he continued, "I've heard that it brings people closer than ever. And that's what I'm hoping for us, Nessie. I want to be as close to the true you as I can possibly be." The words took me by surprise. They were so authentic and romantic, almost. I wasn't sure what to say for a moment, so Jake went on. "But, I understand that your not ready. And I'm willing to wait for you, Renesmee."

"Thank you, Jacob," I murmured.

[Bella's PoV]

I relaxed when I heard Jake say those words. That's what I'd been waiting for. I'm willing to wait for you, Renesmee. I wasn't usually one to eavesdrop, that was always Edward's job, but I had wanted to make sure that Renesmee wasn't being pressured into anything. After hearing those words from Jacob, I distracted my attention, knowing that there was no need for me to continue to listen to my daughter's personal conversations. I knew that Edward must have been listening, too. He seemed more relaxed beside me. The arm that was wrapped around me seemed less tense. I just hoped that Renesmee would forgive him soon. I knew she would, but it was killing Edward to know that he and his daughter, whom he'd always been so close with, were drifting apart more and more as she grew older.