Title: Better Than a Soap Opera

Chapter: Countdown

Summary: Jacob recounts the ten moments that completely changed his life... Forever.

AN: Thanks to you, all my beautiful reviewers! Without you, this story wouldn't have been what it is. It's the fans that make everything wonderful for us writers, who keep us going. So, in dedication, I present the last pack member. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. I love you all!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight. That's all Stephenie Meyer. I just like the empty holes I can fill up with my imagination. :3 But, really, who doesn't find joy in fan fiction?

There were plenty of moments in Jacob's life that made him happy. He could really count them down ten to one. As the light of his life ran around him, he smiled to himself, big and wolfish and content, thinking them over.

Ten – The Day He Met Bella

He didn't remember much except for a spitfire girl, long brown hair trailing behind her as she ran away from him. He did remember the reason she was running was because his chubby, child hands had pulled up her skirt, revealing skinny legs, scabby knees, and Little Mermaid underwear. Afterwards, she had pushed him down into the gravel.

Nine – The Time Bella Came Back

She was just looking up him with her big, brown eyes, moving in closer to him, batting those lashes like she was the master of flirting—and the way he was thinking about her, how he wanted to press his lips to her beautiful ones and dive his fingers into her hair, see if it was even silkier against the sensitive flesh of his fingertips rather than on his tanned arm—and he knew that she could have him in any way she wanted.

No other girl had ever made him feel this way.

Eight – The Moment Bella Came To Him For Help

Jacob knew that her boyfriend had left her, knew by the dead look in her beautiful eyes that she wasn't over it. Still, he couldn't help but feel a deep and manly pride when she asked for him.

Seven – When He Joined The Pack

The pain ripped through his muscles, tore at his flesh, bent and cracked his bones into a shape that was no longer human. He howled, his human voice dying out until he was screaming nothing but silence... Then came the animal, the beast, the wolf's voice that erupted from his change vocal cords, and the ethereal sound filled his ears. Even though it was filled with agony and terror, Jacob couldn't help but admire his new sounds.

Welcome to the pack, the one he recognized as Sam whispered to him.

Jacob continued to convulse on the forest floor.

Six – When Edward Admitted He Needed His Help

Something dangerous was stalking Bella. Jacob knew this. Edward knew this.

It must have taken some serious guts for the leech to ask a wolf for help, but somehow, Jacob just couldn't help admiring the creep for asking for help. Because he couldn't trust anybody else with Bella's safety, even though Jacob had already proven himself completely reckless in his presence.

He still hated the way Edward sniffed indignantly at him and scowled when Jacob even tried to think something about giving Edward the tiniest bit of respect for his wise decision.

Five – When Bella Kissed Him Back

It was a distraction. She was being selfish. Bella was always so selfish. Selfish and beautiful, and Jacob just knew that this was how her lips were supposed to feel, how her mouth was supposed to taste as she opened herself up to him, realizing what he already knew.

Four – Nessie

No matter how many times Jacob had felt the previous imprints through their special connection, nothing could have ever prepared him for this moment. Couldn't prepare him as he stared into Bella's daughter's eyes as she opened them wide for him. His heart broke a million times over, healing just as quickly. Nothing could have ever prepared him for the fierce growl rising in himself, and for his wolf part of him selfishly screaming mine over and over in the most primal, innate way possible.

He was hers.

Three – Seth and Leah and Quil and Embry

He was alone at first, ready to sacrifice for Bella.

Then Seth came running after him, and Jacob was thankful for the company.

Then Leah arrived the next day, all sass and bitch, but Jacob could have hugged her tight for not abandoning her brother—or him. She bit his hind leg when she heard that.

When the official threat from the "demonic baby" was over, his two best friends, the two who had made reservation life completely tolerant and bearable were allowed to leave Sam for him. He met them halfway between their old lands and the Cullens' lands. Their reunion was filled with tight embraces, a few punches, and Embry's tears. Quil and Jacob would have never admitted their eyes had misted, too.

Two – "I Do"

The moment Nessie took his hand, her eyes big and beautiful and her own, Jacob knew that nothing else around him even mattered. It didn't matter that he was crying, and it didn't matter that Leah—his best "man"—was laughing at him from her place by his side. It didn't even matter that Emmett had somehow weaseled his way into becoming their minister (and Jacob didn't want to know who had put him up to taking the course).

All that mattered were two gorgeously spoken words from the only person who did matter to him at this moment. "I do."

One – Izzy

Officially, on paper, her name was Isabella Billie Black, but to the family, she was simply Izzy. Emmett tended to call his daughter "Dizzy", since she seemed to have inherited her grandmother's formerly clumsy ways. It made sense though, they all agreed. After all, Izzy was more human than any of them.

More human and more normal than any of them. She didn't age rapidly like her mother, didn't age slowly like her father, didn't stop aging like the Cullens. Izzy just was, and they loved her for it.

They loved the moment she began to take her first steps, chubby fists waving in laughter as they surrounded her, like she knew that they would. She was special like that, special and spoiled, the most loved baby that had ever been born.

Jacob didn't believe that anything more precious could exist than his daughter. He knew, as he watched her running around the yard, chasing her Uncle Seth, that she was more important than any of them.

Edward touched his shoulder, and Jacob glanced at his father-in-law and friend. "Now you know."

Jacob nodded in agreement, his eyes immediately going back to his beautiful daughter.