A/N: well, here it is! Chapter 9 with all the answers! A short chapter, but still very important nonetheless. Just a forewarning, I changed the rating on the story back to M, because I'm feeling some intimacy in the next few chapters… might want to keep an eye out ;)

Chapter 9- Beginnings

BPOV

I drove down to Billy's the next morning with a frown on my face and a scheme in my mind. I was going to see Jake today no matter what.

Since it seemed to work pretty well last time, I pulled down the side of the driveway on the grass. No need to alert Billy. He might call the Almighty Sam.

I snuck around the back of the house to the front porch, carefully peering through the window. Jake's door was shut, and from what I could see, it was just Billy at the table.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

Billy answered the door, his face hardening when he saw me. "Bella. We told you not to come here. "

Swallowing my hesitation at mouthing off to Billy, my dad's best friend, but seeing Jake was more important. I steeled myself.

"Listen, Billy, I need to see him. Jake has never not called me, and I'm getting this awful feeling that he's being involuntarily kept away from me." My voice started to rise. "He loves me, Billy. And I love him. It's not fair to either of us to keep him away."

Billy planted himself firmly between me and the open door. "I know you might think he has feelings for you, but Jake is a young guy. Maybe he got caught up in the heat of the moment. The bottom line is, we all know it's for the best if you just stay away. Have a good day, Bella."

He started to push the door closed, but I stopped it with my hand. "I'm not just imagining things, Billy. He told me he loved me. And I'm seeing him."

I started opening the door again, and Billy's face turned an ugly purple color. "I don't care what he said to you, you're NOT SEEING HIM!" I had never seen him angry like this, and it only served to incense me more.

"To hell with you, Billy! Our families might be close, but Jake and I are more than close. If he didn't want to see me, you should have put him on the goddamn phone so he could tell me. Now get the HELL out of my way!" I pushed him aside roughly, causing his wheels to screech against the hardwood floor. I ran across the kitchen before he could call Sam or whoever, upending a few chairs in the process.

If I make it to Jake's room, it will all be okay. He'll protect me. My mind was racing wildly.

I threw open the door with a crash, and saw Jake rise out of his bed. He swayed where he was standing, and all of a sudden I was captured by his hypnotic gaze. The background noise faded away, and the only thing I cared about on the earth was the gorgeous man standing in front of me.

I stared at him like I'd never seen him before. His beautiful hair was all cut off, so short it was almost a buzz, and his chest was bulging out much farther than I remembered. I was so captivated by this beautiful man standing in front of me that I didn't realize anyone was behind me until it was almost too late.

"BELLA!" Sam's voice rang out from the kitchen. "Get away from him RIGHT NOW!"

In response, I ran straight into Jake's arms. As his warmth surrounded me, tears started to silently roll down my cheeks. I knew that his arms were where I was supposed to be, and I would fight everyone on the reservation to stay there if I had to.

Sam came crashing through the door. "Jake, what did I tell you?"

The pure nerve of this asshole made me come up with a thousand retorts, but before I could voice any of them, Jake pulled me to one side, holding me with one arm and held the other one out like a shield. "Stop, Sam." His voice was calm but deep and husky. "She's it."

Sam's furious expression suddenly turned doubtful. "Jake.. I know you love her, but.."

What is going on here? I reveled in the sensation of being all wrapped up in Jake, but I had no idea what they were talking about. Are they scientifically evaluating how much Jake loves me?

Jake stayed in the same position, guarding me. "Sam.. the world stopped turning."

Sam froze, a dumbfounded expression on his face. I stood there dumbly, waiting, as a grin slowly spread over Sam's face. "Well, Bella.. welcome to the family!" He motioned to Billy. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about."

I had no idea what had just happened, but as Billy and Sam left the room grinning, Jacob spun me around. "You're going to be spending a lot more time with me, Bells" His husky whisper made my head spin.

"I wouldn't want anything else." I melted against him, and we sunk back onto the bed.

Good things come to those who wait. I smiled against his chest, drifting off to a comfortable sleep for the first time since I could remember. The questions could wait until later. Right now, I am happy.


JPOV

The door flew open with a crash. Bella stood there, her hair flying around her face. I stood up, and that's when the world came to a screaming halt.

I might have thought that I went deaf, but I could hear myself and Bella breathing. I could even hear the beating of our hearts. The rhythms mingled together and sped up, and then suddenly, there was just one heartbeat. Our heartbeat.

She stared back at me, and I noticed every detail about her as if I had never seen my best friend before. I memorized each strand of hair, the exact shade of her eyes, the perfect shape of her lips, the gentle curve of her breast. If I had any talent, at that moment I could have closed my eyes and painted an exact picture of her. I knew everything about her.

She broke the spell, running into my arms. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her tears on my chest, and a single tear rolled down my cheek as well. Mine forever.

The volume was suddenly turned up on my life, and I noticed Sam was standing in the doorway yelling at me. I knew why, but I turned, shielding the one thing that mattered from the anger pouring in. I held my arm up to stop Sam.

"Stop, Sam." I searched for the words to explain. "She's it."

I saw the doubt flicker in his eyes. "Jake.. I know you love her.."

I cut him off with a shake of my head. "Sam.. the world stopped turning."

Comprehension dawned on Sam's face, and I could tell in an instant he believed me. As I stood there holding the love of my life, he started to smile. "Well, Bella, welcome to the family!" Casting a sideways look at my dad, they left the room.

Knowing how confused Bella was and how little I wanted to explain right at this moment, I spun her around to face me. "You're going to be spending a lot more time with me, Bells." My voice was rough with emotion. I winced inwardly. You need to crank up the seduction, buddy. She's yours for life.

She sighed softly, falling into me. We laid back on the bed, and although I had just gotten up, I felt an overwhelming urge to take a nap with this beautiful girl.

She curled up against my side, almost immediately falling asleep. I watched her sleep, brushing a stray hair out of her face. Stroking the side of her face softly, I felt a stab of sympathy for Leah.

She could never compete with this.

I smiled, pushing that thought to the back of my mind. All that mattered was right in front of me.

She inhaled suddenly, then smiled. "Jacob, my Jacob" she murmured softly in her sleep. She wrapped her arm around me, still deeply asleep.

I laid my cheek against her head and allowed myself to drift off.

No matter what happens in the future, this is a definite. And if I have her, everything will be alright.


A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I wanted to give the imprinting the respect it deserved like I said before, there will probably be some little baby lemons in the coming chapters, so ye be warned ;) Keep reviewing, I love it!