First, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed! It makes me so happy to know that y'all are enjoying the story! So I tried to be cool and include some actual Quileute words and phrases (yep, I researched the language and even downloaded the font on my computer) but it won't transfer over when I publish it. Bummer. So while I work on figuring that out, enjoy chapter 12!

Chapter 12: Hold On Tight

Renesmee and Jacob sat on their favorite spot of the LaPush beach. Jacob sat just behind her with his warm arms wrapped around her, shielding her from the brisk wind. Suddenly he jumped up and made his way to the trees.

"Jake," she called out to him, "what in the world are you doing?"

"I'll be right back," he grinned before disappearing into the forest. "I have a surprise for you."

Renesmee laughed at his excitement, and scooted closer to the water's edge to let the waves tickle her toes. She didn't know exactly how long she sat there, waiting for him to return. She lost track of time as she watched the clouds roll in and listened to the gentle crashing of the waves.

Then, something startled her and made her look back over her shoulder. From the dense forest came Jacob's alpha howl, loud and strong. She couldn't see him, but she could hear him, and she knew the rest of the pack would too. She got up and made her way to the woods. She followed his howl until it abruptly cut off. "Jacob!" she cried, running through the woods. And then she came upon them.

Jacob lay on the ground, doubled over in pain. Renesmee could only watch in horror as the platinum blonde vampire who had been kneeling over him stood and turned towards her. She smiled at Renesmee, and her brilliant red eyes shone brightly. "What have you done to him?" Renesmee sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The vampire just looked down at Jacob's lifeless body, and for the first time, Renesmee noticed the moon shaped scar on his neck. "No!" she screamed. "No, Jacob please! No!"

"Renesmee, sweetheart, wake up," Bella whispered urgently. "Wake up, Sweetie!"

With a gasp, Renesmee opened her eyes, and she was suddenly in her mother's arms in her bedroom. The forest and the horrible scene before her vanished. "Mom," she whispered hoarsely, but none the less urgently, "is Jacob alright?"

"Yes, of course he is," Bella soothed, wiping away her daughter's tears. "That was quite a nightmare you had wasn't it?"

Renesmee nodded, still shaking from the sheer horror of it.

"Would showing it to me help any?" Bella asked, willing to try anything if it would calm her daughter down. "Do you want me to go get Jasper? I'm sure they're near by..."

Renesmee shook her head no and Bella sighed. They had been alone in the house that night, Edward was hunting with Jasper and the rest of his siblings, when Renesmee had started screaming in her sleep. Bella remembered the horrible dreams she had had about Edward after the one time when he had left her, when going to sleep was even worse than being awake. And it now seemed like Renesmee was going through the same torture without Jacob. Except when that had happened, she had had Jacob to lean on, and her daughter had no one. Bella agreed with Edward that Renesmee and Jacob needed to take things slower, but now, holding her sobbing and heartbroken daughter in her arms, Bella realized that keeping them apart was no longer an option. Her daughter needed Jacob like she needed Edward.

"How about you call Jacob in the morning and ask him to come and get you?" Bella said, knowing she would probably regret not consulting her husband first, but right now, she was willing to do anything to make Renesmee's pain go away. "You two can spend some time down at LaPush."

"Mom you don't have to do that," Renesmee sighed. "I'll be alright."

"No, you won't. I know you, Renesmee," Bella said, holding her daughter close as if she could take her pain away from her and make it her own. "You won't be alright until you see him."

"You're right," Renesmee murmured, falling asleep quickly, cradled in her mothers arms. "Thanks Mom."

"Three hours, Renesmee, and that's it!" Bella called after her daughter that morning . She wished she could give them more time, but it just wasn't possible today. Edward would be home soon, and the last thing she needed was for him to return and find that their daughter was at the reservation without his knowledge.

"Sure, sure," Renesmee shouted, smiling at her use of Jacob's catch phrase, before she let the front door slam behind her. Three hours with Jacob after not seeing him for a week was absolute heaven! She gasped when she saw him standing outside, his arms crossed over his chest in his classic black tee shirt and jeans. He was so handsome. "Jake," she breathed.

He looked up at her and grinned. "Hey Beautiful!"

She smiled and ran into his arms, nearly knocking him over. She locked her arms around his neck. The nightmare from the previous night was still fresh in her mind, and she could not let go of him. She delighted in every strong heart beat from within his chest.

"You alright, Ness?" he asked.

"Fine," she whispered. "I just missed you so much."

Jacob smiled and kissed her head. "I missed you too, Honey."

"Let's go," she said, taking his hand. "I don't want to waste a minute of our three hours together."

"Sounds good to me," he smiled as they began the walk down to LaPush.

When they were about ten minutes away from the house, Jacob made his way over to a mess of branches, leaves and rocks in between some trees. He began tearing away at the twigs and brush. "What are you doing?" she laughed.

"Just a sec," he called. "I have a surprise for you!"

Renesmee froze as the familiar words rang in her ears. "No!" she gasped.

Jacob turned back to her, confused and concerned. "I thought you'd always wanted to ride my bike?"

She blinked and looked at him and the shiny black motorcycle beside him. "Oh," she breathed a sigh of relief. She blushed. She was being absolutely ridiculous. It was just a dream, and Jacob was fine. Renesmee kept her eyes glued to the bike. "Yeah, I have," she smiled. She had always admired it, and she had watched him work on it in fascination throughout the years. He looked gorgeous when he rode it, but she had never been allowed to touch it. Her parents did not approve of motorcycles, for reasons unknown to Renesmee.

"Are you coming?" he asked as he straddled the bike.

"Are you serious?" she cried. This was a big no no. If her parents found out, they'd kill her and Jacob for sure. Then Edward would probably crush the bike with his bare hands.

"Yeah," he said. "You said you didn't want to waste a minute, and this beats walking."

Renesmee stood for just a few seconds, contemplating the consequences of this decision. Then, Jacob kick started it, and it roared to life. He shot her a grin, and she ran over to him. She'd deal with her parents later.

"Hold on tight," he said, and she gladly did so, wrapping her arms securely around his waist.

"Hey Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Do me a favor?" she asked just before they took off.

"Anything Ness."

"Don't ever wipe that grin off your face!" she said, kissing his cheek.

"You got it, Honey," Jacob laughed, squeezing the clutch, and sending them racing through the forest.

When they arrived at his house, Jacob hopped off the bike, but Renesmee stayed put. "Am I going to the beach by myself?" he laughed.

"I want to keep riding," she said, and it was true. She really did want to take another ride, but she also wanted to avoid anything that had to do with that nightmare. Which meant no beach. "This may be the only time in my entire life that I get to ride it," she continued, pouting because she knew it would work.

"I doubt that. You and I are going to live forever together, remember?" he smirked, but her pout remained. Jacob's attempt to stay strong was wavering. They both knew he couldn't refuse her anything that would make her happy. That trait had gotten him in trouble with Bella and Edward on more than one occasion within the last seven years.

"Fine," she said, leaning over and placing her hands on the handle bars. "If you won't take me, I'll go by myself."

"You don't know how to drive it, Ness," he reminded her.

"Then I guess you'd better come," she teased. Jacob groaned lightheartedly and scooped her up in his arms. He got on the bike and then positioned her behind him.

"Happy?" he laughed, starting it up again.

"Very," she said, laughing with him.

"So where do you want to go?" he asked, squeezing the clutch as they sped off.

"I don't care. Just drive," she shouted over the roar of the motor.

Jacob smiled. He revved the engine and headed back into the forest. He knew exactly where he would take her.

As the trees raced past them, Renesmee let go of Jacob, tossing her arms in the air. She had never felt so free in her entire life. This must be what flying felt like. It was wonderful. In that moment, her entire world was Jacob and the motorcycle beneath her. No angry parents, overly concerned relatives, lies, or frightening fairy tales. Just her and Jacob. She threw her head back and howled.

Jacob laughed at her attempt. It was something in between a squeal and a high pitched howl. It was cute. "Do it with me, Jake! Please?" she begged.

He sighed and shook his head. He couldn't believe he was actually about to do this. Jacob threw his head back and howled. It rumbled deep from within his chest and echoed in the thick forest. Renesmee grinned as chills coursed throughout her body. It was a comforting sound. One that always mad her feel safe. She joined in with him, and they continued together until they were both laughing so hard they had to stop.