Authors Note: All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. I am SO sorry for the enormous hold-up, I really am. I read a fic that went where I was planning on going, and at first I couldn't write because it felt like I was copying, and then after a while I realized that that particular path was something almost everyone doing Nessie & Jacob stories took. So I had to find a new direction, and it took me some time. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

beta: Lacrema

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Chapter 12

Jacob

She was singing softly where she sat, riding on my back. It wasn't a particular song, just random words and melodies mixed together. The tone of her voice alone would have told me how happy and relieved she was, even without the hand that never really stopped relaying her feelings straight into my head.

I knew my pack (it was still strange to think of them as mine) was basking in the lighter mood I was emitting. Leah had informed me that she was very relieved to not have to cry over Nessie leaving her for college anymore. I rolled my eyes as I thought about the biggest bitch in the pack. Everyone thought she would change, become softer when she imprinted, but she was still Leah. Just not sulking over Sam anymore.

We passed the bramble of bushes where I had picked up my imprint and the pack's latest cub just half an hour ago, and was a bit proud at how well Nessie had done. I had observed the two of them through Embry, and been amazed at how Mandy related to my imprint, and that Nessie accepted it. She never liked children, I guess she couldn't really relate to them. She always did prefer the company of grown ups, much because her mind worked so differently.

I could feel Collin in the back of my head, sulking a bit that his actions had hurt Mandy, but also because he wouldn't get to see her tonight. That couple would be interesting to watch.

But Mandy ending up a werewolf posted another issue within the pack. Who was her father? Just like with Embry, no one knew. Well, I bet her mom knew, but she never told anyone. She took a long vacation one year, when Embry stayed with Quil, and not too long after she came home it was evident she was pregnant. The rumor was that she had met some charming guy and taken the opportunity to have another kid before it was too late. Now the situation was a bit tense, to say the least. It felt a bit far fetched that she had tracked down Sam's dad, when no one knew where he was, and hooked up with him. That left Harry and my dad. Ugh.

As we crossed the border, I sensed some of the wolves draw closer to it, to be as close as possible if there would be any trouble.

I was fairly sure there would be trouble, but not the kind they'd need to rescue me from. Well, if Blondie decided to chop my head off for not speaking to Nessie, then I might need assistance...

I noticed how the girl on my back became less and less relaxed the closer we got to her parents' cottage, and the singing had stopped a while ago. I wished I could just phase and comfort her, but my sweats hadn't fared well from living in the woods for a week, and I had lost them when the leather cord broke. We'd be in enough trouble without me being naked.


Nessie

Jacob was trotting along at a pace no swifter than slow walking. Not that I had anything to complain about, I was finally spending time with him, but it would have been nice if he would have phased so we could talk.

I wasn't sure how to explain to my parents about Mandy without breaking her trust. Even if every werewolf in La Push knew her inside out, it felt like what she had told me was private. Then again, not telling them about it would drive them to even worse conclusions about me and Jacob, I was sure of it. Especially considering what we were up to the last time we were left alone together.

I buried my fingers deep in his fur and sighed a little. I could see his ears angling backwards and could imagine the questioning look on his face.

"It's nothing... I'm just trying to come up with some way to explain my absence. I don't really know why I'm so anxious, it's not like I was out partying all night."

He relaxed his ears. I loved how the wolves' ears gave them away half the time, in a way that their faces didn't. I rocked a little in my seat as he climbed a particular rocky path, and I got that rumbling that always reminded me of a cat's purr. Voicing that opinion had earned me a smack on the head from Leah when I was 4. Jacob more or less banned her from the pack for that, but agreed that they did not purr! I snickered a little at the memory, and the ears came to life once more. It just made me giggle harder.

"'S nothin'... just... funny... me'mry..." I had a hard time speaking, I was giggling so hard now. I just couldn't show him what I said-- at the top of my mind was the image of the pack, all rolled up in sunny spots like cats, purring.

About the time I was able to breathe without catching on my giggles, we entered the meadow where my parents' cottage laid, surrounded by mist like in a fairytale. I wasn't sure when I had started seeing it as theirs, instead of my home, but the fact remained. My home was wherever Jacob was.

Mom was sitting on the bench outside the front door, looking displeased.

"You're late." It was just a statement of fact, not in any way betraying any emotion. Oops. Usually she was at least irritated. Wonder how dad would be? Wonder if she would still shield our minds? She stood up and walked inside, leaving the door open for us to follow.

I slid off of Jacob's broad back reluctantly. After a week apart I didn't wanna leave his side even for the seconds it would take him to phase and come inside. I gave my mount a final scratch between the eyes and entered the hallway. Realizing that he followed without phasing made me a bit curious and also annoyed. I missed his voice. Knowing where all serious discussions in this house took place, I entered the kitchen, cautious to see how my father was taking my long absence. Oddly enough, he was smiling.

"Am I so frightening, Jacob, that you don't dare to come in human shape? Or is it Bella," Dad tilted his head towards Mom who stood in the corner, glaring a little on us all, "that's spooked you so? I'll give you that, her temper is not something to play with."

Jacob frowned and then tilted his head towards his hind leg. I realized that none of his legs had their usual apparel of sweats, and it dawned on me why he hadn't phased. As it hit me, I felt the blood rise in my face.

"Oh. I'll go see if we have any of Emmett's old clothes here still." Mom flitted out of the room, almost like she was running from the situation.

Dad turned his gaze towards me. It was piercing. "So, care to enlighten me on why Jacob has no clothes?" His voice was tired.

"I don't have a clue. He just picked me up less than an hour ago, to bring me home. I was wondering why he didn't just phase myself." It sounded thin, even though it was the truth.

"Is that so?" He now turned his questioning on Jacob, which was just silly considering the fact that Jacob couldn't very well answer him while still a wolf, and apparently Mom wasn't upset enough to lift her protection of our thoughts. That made me warm inside.

"I found some jeans that might fit. They might be a bit short, though. I left them in Nessie's room; you can go there and change. I believe she has some of your old t-shirts as well. I'm sure you'll find them by the reek, she won't let us wash them." I felt my face go even redder. Thanks, Mom.

Jacob just bowed his head, clumsily turned around in the kitchen and strolled towards my room. I was wondering if he would leave the door open when he closed it with a flick of his tail. Not thirty seconds later it re-opened and he came out in all of his glory, naked chest and all.

"Jacob," my mom sighed, "I didn't say that about the t-shirts just to be polite."

"Sorry, Bella, I checked them out and they were all too small." He didn't seem sorry at all as he winked at me. "And to answer your previous question," now he turned to my dad, "I lost my pants somewhere in the woods when the cord snapped and I was moping too much to care. I'm pretty sure you're aware that I've been acting like a three-year-old this last week, sulking 'cos I didn't get my way."

"About that," Dad started to speak, but I didn't let him finish.

"Jacob graduated High School! He got in to Washington State." I was sure they could see how proud I was. I wasn't sure which I was prouder about really, me getting in to Harvard on my own, or Jacob graduating. But I was leaning towards the latter.

My parents' expressions both changed in an instant, going from surprised, to happy before they switched to realization, and then concern. I nodded.

"I think you know that means I'm not going to Harvard, not this time, at least. Sorry." I was fairly sure I didn't look sorry at all.

"Oh, well... this was... unexpected. We'll need to talk some more about what this means for the family." Dad was absentminded as he spoke, probably thinking through all the consequences this would have.

"Congratulations, Jacob!" For the first time tonight, Mom's face broke into a genuine smile, and she walked over to give my Jacob a hug.

"Of course, how rude of me. Congratulations, Jacob!" My dad joined her after shaking his head a little, probably scolding himself for the delay.

When the little hugging ceremony was over, Jacob sat down at the table and my parents returned to their spots, with the only difference being that Mom had stopped glaring.

"About this night. Nessie was helping one of our younglings-- cubs, if you will-- with some issues she had. Now, don't give me that look." Dad's eyebrows had curled together and Mom's mouth had pulled up into a silent snarl. "Mandy can't phase unless she's very provoked, and in the state she was, there was never any danger. I kept tabs on the situation from the second the pack was aware Nessie was around. This is a very young girl, struggling immensely with coming to terms with herself. And the rest of the girls are much older, and she doesn't really feel any connection to them yet. But she remember playing with Nessie, and she knows how Nessie grew, so they have had similar experiences. Don't be mad at her. I am actually very proud of how carefully she handled this situation, when I'm sure all she wanted was to tell the silly little child to stop sobbing, and go look for me-- which was why she came down to La Push in the first place."

I didn't tell him that the thought of being so rude never crossed my mind. He was telling my parents what had happened, without me having to worry about giving away too much, because I knew he spoke only about what the gathered pack knew and had concluded after my meeting with her. I looked at my parents, who seemed to relax ever so slightly.

"I have never seen a werewolf able to phase when it was crying so hard it could hardly breathe, have you?" I knew my parents probably hadn't seen all too many phasings altogether (Jacob excluded, he could phase just about anytime he wanted to, no matter his mood). They slowly shook their heads.

"I think I'll go see her again in a few days, if that's OK. I'm sorry it got so late, I just lost track of time." I pleaded a little with my eyes as I said the last part.

"You just had us so worried," my mom explained. Dad gave her a sidelong look. "OK, I thought Jacob might have upset you so much you ran away, or that he had been angry and hurt you or..." her voice trailed off, and I got to my feet and rounded the table to give her a tight hug. She smelled a bit of my Jacob, and suddenly my heart was aching for him, though he was just a few feet away.

"It's OK, Mom, I love you even though you have serious issues in trusting peoples abilities to come out of things alright." I turned to Dad. "Now, if I could get some time alone with my boyfriend," I felt the blood rise on my face as I said the word, "I think we have a few things to talk about as well." Jacob just nodded.

"OK, we'll be here in the kitchen, reading, in case you want to use the living room." Dad pointed towards the books on the table. They obviously didn't trust us to be alone alone. Good call, I guess.

"I think we'll be in my room, thank you." I grabbed my imprint's hand and led the way.

I heard mom call after us, "Leave the door open!" I laughed as we walked into my room. Like a closed door would make any difference when your parents had super smell and even better hearing. And if they suspected we were up to something, I didn't doubt for a second that the shield that protected us would lift instantaneously.

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AN: Sorry this is more of a filler than you hoped for, but I felt a need to tie together some loose ends before moving on. I hope you liked it, and please, let me know what you think, good or bad.