DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY TWILIGHT CHARACTERS. THEY ALL BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER (THANK YOU VERY MUCH!).

This story will contain characters of my own making.

Though it's been written in many forms, I hope you can enjoy it anyway…

BLACK SUN

Chapter Seven

During the next few weeks, Jake and I prepared for our trip to Forks. We were both excited to see our families there again. My Grandma Renee and Grandpa Phil were coming in early, so we could spend time with them before the wedding. We were going to be arriving at the airport about the same time, so agreed to drive together to Forks. They would drop us off at the Cullen house where there'd be a car for us to use and they would keep the rental to get around. Just as well, the rental was a Ford Escort that Jake would consider much too slow.

We let Phil drive though Jacob had to scrunch a bit to fit behind the passenger seat. Thankfully the drive went smoothly and he soon was able to extricate himself, and gracefully to boot, in the driveway.

"We'll see you at Billy's for dinner, right?" I reminded my grandmother.

"Of course, Nessie. Phil won't forget, even if I do," she laughed at herself. I just shook my head and smiled. We waved goodbye and then took our bags into the house, which suddenly seemed extremely private.

I tried not to think of things that would get us into trouble, but just standing closely in the living room got my heart racing and my body tingling.

"Perhaps we should head over to see my dad," Jake wisely suggested.

"Right, your dad," I agreed.

We each took one bag with us to 'our' car, my dad's Aston Martin Vanquish. Jake seemed to forget about our intimacy issues being completely focused on the car. I could almost understand my mother's frustration with guys' obsessions with cars.

Billy must've heard the engine purring up the drive, because he was wheeling himself out to meet us as we came to a stop. Jacob jumped out, slid over the hood, and then opened my door. He got such a rush driving over.

"Hey, Billy," I called, and then bent down to give him a big hug. His arms squeezed tight around my waist.

"So good to see you two again. It's been too long," he managed to look elated with a shadow of the sadness of his words mixed in.

"Well, now we'll be much closer and visit more often, I promise," I cheered him.

"Sure, sure," he said not wanting to get too caught up in the emotions.

"Good to see you, Dad," Jacob slapped him on the shoulder, and then gave him a hug.

"You too, son. I can hardly believe you two are finally marrying," he shook his head. "There are lots of happy couples these days."

"Good to hear, Dad," Jake didn't seem too interested.

"What couples?" I asked.

"Seems that both packs have found their other halves," Billy answered.

"Other halves?" I laughed at how he described people falling in love.

He tilted his head, gave me a quizzical look, and then raised his eyebrows at Jake asking a question I couldn't fathom.

"What?" I had to ask.

"It's nothing," Jacob dismissed.

"Well, it's something," I stated the obvious.

"Jacob," Billy seemed to chastise, "You've never explained."

"There was never a need. She's always known everything."

"Not everything, son."

"Would you mind not talking about me like I'm not here! Explain what?" I looked Jacob in the eye.

"Okay," he guided me into the house to sit on the love seat. Billy remained outside to provide us some privacy.

Jacob paced back and forth a few times and then began, "You've known your whole life about the shape-shifting and the need for secrecy. You also know that the likes of your family are why we change."

"Yes, Jacob. Now tell me what I don't know."

"I'm getting to that," he was stalling, but I decided to just let him work it out and tell me in his own way. "Among the pack we can only reveal our secret to our 'soul mate', our 'other half'." He got down on his knees to look into my face, "Since the very first moment I looked into your eyes, I knew I had found my future."

"I was a baby, Jacob. Don't creep me out now," I cringed.

"Please, Ness, I didn't think of you then as I do now. All I wanted was for you to be happy and safe. I had to be near you to make sure that I could do all in my power to keep you that way."

I was confused. Did neither of us have a choice? I always felt like I did anyway. Did Jacob NEVER have a choice? Did he HAVE to be with me? I struggled with these questions, feeling like I took over his life and left him with no other options then to commit to marrying me.

"You know how I really feel Jacob. If you're marrying me only because you have to," I began, but he cut me off.

"No, no, no, Ness. I love you so much! This discovery is called imprinting. It's truly how we find our mates, our destinies. It's not an obligation. It's more like finding the true meaning of our existence."

I nodded trying to wrap my mind around this boggling concept. If all the pack was doing it and they were all happy couples like Billy said, I guess it's how it works. I was going to have Jacob, and if he wanted me as much as I wanted him, well okay then. Suddenly all the knowledge of everyone else came to mind.

"Does everyone know about this imprinting stuff?" I asked.

"Yes," Jacob said. "It's why the pack faced the Volturi with your family. Why your family invited Leah and I to move with you. Why your dad really understand our need to be together."

"Hmm…" I guess knowing my dad knew all Jacob's thoughts made me feel better. He wouldn't have agreed to the wedding if Jacob didn't really love me. "Is that why we can seem to say so much without really talking?" I wondered aloud.

"Probably," he answered still waiting for me to understand.

"Well, okay. I get it. You love me and I love you."

"Yes," he breathed out relieved to have it over.

"You could've told me sooner, you know."

"I thought about it, but it's hard to explain."

"I'm pretty smart, Jake."

"You're right. You're right. Forgive me?" he asked giving me his most pathetic look.

"Of course," I hugged him and gave him a quick kiss that still electrified us. "Go get Billy in her."

He jumped up. "On it," he said already opening the door.

Billy rolled in with a questioning look.

"It's okay, Billy," I promised. "I'll still marry your son," I giggled. He seemed to relax.

"Sue and Charlie are bringing dinner," he told us. "Now that you're here, maybe we can drive to their place a few nights this week."

"Sure, Dad. No problem," Jacob agreed, but seemed to be thinking of something. I'd have to ask him later.

We put our bags in Jake's old room, not that there was much room. I would get the bed and Jacob the couch, unless I went to stay with my grandfather, which seemed fairer. We'd talk about it after dinner.

Renee and Phil did make it for dinner. Sue's pot roast and vegetables were a hit.

Without question the 'adults' agreed with keeping us in separate homes for sleeping. Jake moaned about it, but agreed.

Jake decided to drive me to Charlie and Sue's house, so I chose to ask him what was bothering him about his dad.

"He's getting older and he's so alone," his concern really touched me. "I know Charlie and Sue are a great couple, but my dad was hoping she'd pick him. He believes she was his last shot at love."

"That's pretty silly to think. He can't be much older than my grandpa. He could find someone," I said, though I had no idea how or who.

"I guess, but I worry about him. Guess I get that from him," he half smiled.

We were at the house, so he walked me to the door and kissed me just a bit longer than normal for good night. "Just wanted to make sure you'd be thinking about me," he smirked.

"No doubt. You think about me then, too," I smirked back.

"Deal. Good night."

"Night, Jake."

"I love you," we said together.

He opened the door for me, called a good night to everyone and closed the door.

I hugged Charlie and Sue good night, exhausted after the long day, and made my way up to my mom's old room. Sue had obviously redecorated the room. The walls were a salmon color and the drapes a lighter shade of pink. The carpet was rose colored and very plush. A new desk with a new computer and DSL for internet was along the west wall. The bed set was pink, green and taupe in a geometric design. The bed looked very inviting so I climbed in, still in my jeans and sweater, too tired to care.

The smell of bacon and coffee greeted me in the morning. I stretched and reacclimated myself to my surroundings; Charlie and Sue's house, my mom's old bedroom. I sat up and rubbed my eyes awake. It was almost hard to believe I was really here. That my wedding was only a few weeks away.

I got up to shower and change, and then headed down for some breakfast. It was delicious.

"Did you sleep well?" Sue asked. Charlie had already left for the station where he was still the police chief.

"Very well. Thanks," I answered.

She smiled sweetly. "It's good to have you here. Your grandfather has been missing your mother greatly," she told me. "He's so delighted that you'll be living nearby again.

"We are, too. New Hampshire is beautiful, but I don't know, I think of this," I said putting my arms out, "is home. Maybe it's because I was born here and my first memories are from here. I don't know, but I'd live here forever if I could." I knew if I wasn't aging the forever part was easy enough, but the reality was something else. Keeping people unaware of all our immortality would be impossible.

I washed the dishes while Sue dried.

"So how have things been?" I asked. I had never talked to Sue very much, never really having the time to do so.

"Things are nice," she smiled. "I didn't know that I'd truly be happy again after Harry died, but Charlie has touched my heart and made it beat again."

"You've done the same for him, you know," I wasn't sure she realized that he had never been with anyone since my grandmother had left him and taken my mother with her.

"True," she agreed nodding.

"Does he still enjoy 'not knowing'?" I asked. 'Need to know only' was the motto around our secrets.

"It's difficult for me sometimes, I admit. I don't like to keep secrets," she said her brow creasing.

"It must be hard. I know I find it difficult to keep things secret, at least around my family. Of course, there are NO secrets around my father." I shook my head and Sue laughed quietly.

"I imagine not," she seemed preoccupied with a thought, so I kept quiet and waited for her to decide whether or not to share.

The phone rang breaking the silence. I answered, "Hello, Swan residence."

"Hey, Ness. Miss you," Jake greeted.

I smiled, "Miss you, too."

I watched as Sue drifted out of the kitchen to give me privacy.

"So what's up?" he asked.

"Not sure. Just had an amazing breakfast. Maybe we could go out for a run for lunch. We haven't really hunted in some time." It had been nearly a month, for me at least. My mouth watered thinking about a big kill, even if it would only be an elk or a deer.

"Sounds perfect to me," he must've been thinking the same thing. "After, Rachel and Paul invited us over to visit. Maybe, if we're not completely full we could eat dinner there," he chuckled.

"Sure, sure," I gave his signature answer and he laughed more.

"We've never seen Paul, Jr. Rachel's excited to show him off. He's already 8 months old and she says he's pulling himself up on everything. He'll be walking in no time."

"Sounds like a plan," I tried to picture him in my head. "I hope the poor kid looks more like Rachel than Paul," I joked.

"No kidding," Jake said sarcastically. "I'll be over in a few."

"See ya soon." I was glad I had dressed in jeans and a sturdy shirt. I wouldn't need to change for our hunting trip.

I joined Sue in the living room and had no sooner told her of our plans, when Jake was knocking on the door.

I opened it up and gasped as he grabbed me in a great big hug and spun me around. He really did miss me. Part of my dreams of him came back and I planted a big kiss on his mouth. He kissed me back greedily, but only for a moment.

"We're heading out for a while. I'll call, if we're staying at Rachel's for dinner."

"Have fun," Sue smiled. "Just be careful out there."

We drove to the end of the highway and then ran for a few miles. We caught the scent of a large herd of deer and Jacob disappeared to phase. I wondered if he'd ever stop doing that even after we were married. He was back in a flash and we hunted. I took down a medium sized buck and enjoyed a leisurely drink. By the time I finished Jacob had eaten two rather large ones.

He went back to phase and get dressed, then we walked to a nearby stream to wash up. There was a meadow nearby we used to go to, so we wandered there to enjoy the unusually warm and sunny day. The flowers were in bloom and their fragrance filled the air. A light breeze wafted across the tall grass and billowed Jacob's shirt that was only half buttoned.

I had to get closer to hold him and rest my face against his chest. Though I knew it would be dangerous to our pact of being 'careful', I couldn't resist. He eagerly welcomed me into his arms and held me close. I traced his muscles with my fingers and could feel him shiver under my touch. I smiled knowing how it made him feel and that I could make him feel that way.

"Oh, why do you have to drive me so crazy?" he moaned. He bent his head down and lifted my chin to kiss me. Our lips were soft and gentle, but hungry. The scent of our kills still fresh, didn't do much to slow the hunger either.

"Jake?" I worked around his kisses.

"Yes?" he managed.

"I don't think I want to wait any more," I grabbed him around the waist, so he couldn't escape.

He did pull his head up and shook it back and forth. "We have to Ness," he demanded, but not happily. "I will not do anything to upset Edward and Bella. You mean too much to me. It's only a few more weeks."

I lowered my face to hide my frustration.

"Don't be sad," he sounded so worried I had to face him.

"I'm not sad, just a little disappointed. I can't help what my body wants when we're together," I tried to explain.

"I completely understand," he remarked and I believed him. "Let's head over to see my nephew."

"Right. Good idea," I loosened my grip, gave him a quick kiss on his chest and grabbed his hand to start our way back to the car.