Here's a late Christmas present for my readers :)

My eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar room. It took a while to register where I was. I curled into a ball at the draft that was running over me and instinctively reached for Jacob.

When I didn't feel him, I sat up and looked around at the dim, lifeless room.

"Jake?" I whispered pitifully. Gathering the sheets around me I got up and walked the perimeter of the room. I sat down hard on the bed and pulled the sheets tighter to me.

A tear fell to my lap and I wiped it away hastily. Everything that had happened the night before was beginning to register and it felt like a huge weight was pressing in on me, suffocating me beneath.

The door knob turned slowly and I whipped my head around to face it. It swung open lazily, and revealed a very despondent looking Jacob.

"Jacob…" I whimpered. He ran to my side and gathered me in his arms. Immediately his sweet spicy warm scent soothed me. "I thought you had left me…"

"Never." He murmured into my hair.

"Where were you?" I asked, pressing my lips to his neck.

"The bank…" He pulled out an enormous wad of cash.

"What the hell is that?" I asked, bewildered.

"It's so we can live… for a few months anyways."

"But I thought we could go back to Forks…"

His shoulders slumped and he stuffed the cash into his pocket. "I just… I don't want you to get hurt again."

"Jacob… I would love to run away with you and never be seen again… but I would miss everyone too much. Let's go home."

When we rounded the corner to La Push, the sun was sinking below the horizon and the darkness was creeping in, the stars visible through a layer of thin, wispy clouds. The moon was merely a sliver, threatening to disappear at any moment.

I had been gone for almost two days now. I had stormed out before dinner and hadn't come back. I could already imagine my mother's frantic phone calls and the police combing the woods for Jacob and me.

Despite this, we had chosen to go to La Push first. There was a 50/50 chance that my parents would be THERE, plus, at this point, I was just buying myself time with Jacob before I was locked in my room like Rapunzel.

Jacob had phased back into a human about a mile back, and now we were just sort of sauntering down the road. He had a hot, heavy arm squeezed protectively around my shoulder and I had wrapped my arms around his waist. He was still on edge. The muscles in his face were rigid and his eyes stared straight ahead. I wanted desperately to ask him what he was thinking but instead I kept quiet, it felt like I would break the perfection of dusk if I made a sound.

As we got closer and closer I heard a rustle in the woods. I turned to face the noise and my gaze met a pair of golden-yellow eyes. Quil. There was only an ounce of light left in the sky, but I could make out his towering chocolate brown silhouette as well as Leah's glossy gray coat. I nudged Jake and he merely nodded, keeping his eyes focused forward.

"The others went ahead and told Billy and Sue we were back…"

That was good. They were sure to be worried. I half expected them to call my parents and have them there for our arrival. As we came onto pack lands Leah disappeared into the woods and as we approached the Black's property Quil also seemed to fade into the background. I couldn't wait to get inside. We had been out in the muggy heat all day and some air conditioning would be nice, but just as we were about to turn into the Black's driveway I saw something up the road. A familiar laugh sounded from the place where the road wound out of view and into the forest and I spotted two familiar faces as they walked slowly, looking at each other and smiling.

"Is that…" I trailed off and squinted into the darkness.

"Laurel?" Jacob answered. We picked up our pace and followed the shadowy couple into Jacob's house.

First I was smothered in a hug from Sue who after being assured a million times that I was alright, went into the kitchen to continue cooking.

"Laurel! What are you doing here?" I exclaimed. Her eyes widened and she pulled me into a hug.

"Ellie! Geez, I've been worried about you!"

"Why are you here?" I repeated slowly. I wasn't mad at all, it was just strange seeing someone from my 'other' life at the res. It was like my two separate worlds that weren't supposed to touch, were all of a sudden swirling together.

"Ummm… well I came looking for you and…" She trailed off and looked at Embry.

"And what?" I said suspiciously, looking back and forth between the two of them. Realization started to wash over me. "Ohhhhh…"

"Great." Jacob murmured.

"So… you know?" I asked her quietly.

She nodded slowly. "I'm kinda freaking out." I pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry I haven't been talking to you… I've been… busy." I nodded to Jacob.

"Understood." She shot me a meek smile. "But hopefully now… we'll get to hang out more?"

"Definitely." I smiled. "Unless I'm grounded for eternity. Which is very likely. Speaking of which, I should probably head back home in a few minutes… are you staying?"

She nodded and grinned at Embry. "Yeah, I think so."

I smiled and pulled Jacob out the door. When we were outside he stopped and shook free from my hand.

"Another one down." He muttered.

"Jacob… are you honestly freaking out about Embry imprinting?"

"Yes, Ellie, I am! Look at him. Look at the whole pack! They're all trucking along fine then BAM! they get hit with it. They don't know when, they don't know who. It just sneaks up and takes everything they knew away…"

I lowered my voice to ask the question I had been wondering all along. "Jake… how do you know you didn't imprint on me?"

He looked into my eyes intently. "Because… this is real. Not some binding folklore. I'm bound to you… but not in the way that I lose my sense of self… This is better. And I don't want to lose it."

I placed my hand on his cheek and he turned away.

He started walking briskly around the house. "Dammit Ellie! Why is this happening?" But I knew he wasn't really running from me. If he had been, he could have sprinted off and would never see me again.

"I can't believe you're still worried about imprinting on someone else, when I just almost got killed for the THIRD time in a row…" I snapped.

"I can protect you from vampires… but I can't protect you from myself…" He said firmly over his shoulder. As he picked up his pace, I slowed to a halt.

"Jacob. Stop. Will you just STOP? Stop." Tears burned hot in my eyes and rolled down my face.

He froze and took a deep breath before turning around to face me. His face was set into a grimace of pain and he looked older, harsher, than I had ever seen him, even right after the attack.

"Do you realize what you're doing?" I asked softly. "You're doing exactly what Edward did to Bella. Telling her they shouldn't be together for 'her own good'. I hope it doesn't take a suicide attempt to get you to realize we belong together. Separate we're just two really lost, really unhappy people. But together, we have everything. You need to be man enough to get over your fear, and just move on. With me. I'm here right now, and I'm not going anywhere. Because I physically cannot live without you. You may as well have imprinted on me because I feel like you're everything I need you to be. I can't let go of you like it's nothing. Not now, not ever." Tears rolled fiercely down my cheeks and I saw something break in Jacob.

The strangest look overcame his face as he walked slowly towards me. Like a billion emotions were flowing through him. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw one I recognized easily. I had seen it on Emily's face whenever she saw Sam. I had seen it on my parents faces whenever they saw each other. On Edward's face. On Bella's face. And I had felt it on my own whenever Jacob even remotely entered my mind. Love.

He tentatively cupped my face in his hands and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. He kissed me and all the broken pieces came back together. When we broke apart he pulled me to him, into the place where I fit perfectly against him.

"I love you."

We decided to walk back to my house instead of driving to give us more time together.

The mood was light. Much like when we had first met. I felt giddy. And Jacob was no longer tense.

That stupid goofy grin of his hadn't left his lips since we had finally resolved the whole imprinting thing. His hands were jabbed deep into his pockets and he was kind of walking over himself, looking down at his feet, thinking who knows what.

I shook my head in amusement and "accidentally" bumped my shoulder into his. He gently bumped me back and we continued back and forth for a few minutes before Jacob finally just wrapped his arms around me.

"What is with you?" I asked playfully.

"I'm just… relieved."

"Me too."

"This summer has been…"

"Crazy?"

"Amazing."

"That too."

My house finally came into view and I wilted a bit. Jacob squeezed my hand and pulled me out of the streetlight and into the shadow of a cluster of trees.

"Well Jacob Black, it was nice knowing you…" I whispered, giving him a half smile.

He laughed softly. "I'll come by tomorrow…"

"If they don't bar my windows shut…"

He grinned then kissed me gently. "Goodnight Ellie. I love you."

"I love you too." I placed a hand on his cheek and let him slip away into the darkness.

As I walked up the front steps, my heart was pounding. My parents were going to go mental when I told them the truth. Or part of the truth.

I stopped and turned around. I saw nothing but darkness. I needed him. But I had to do this alone. I couldn't have him standing there looking all goofy, just waiting for Mike to go ballistic and attempt to beat him up. So I turned back towards the door and walked up the last few steps.

My hands were shaking uncontrollably as I rang the doorbell. A shadow passed over the glass in the door a few seconds later and I heard the latch being undone. As the door swung open I heard a shriek and was mauled by my mother.

"…Ellie… oh God. Oh God oh God oh God. You're alive. Steve! She's here! She's here!"

Mom pulled away and looked at me properly. Tears were spilling from her eyes and her lower lip trembled as she ushered me inside the house.

Dad came running in from the kitchen and Mike came thundering down the stairs and before I knew it I was in a family hug. When they were all through hugging and crying, I was led into the living room and sat down on the couch. The three of them stood in front of me like they were about to start interrogating me, but all they did was stare.

Finally, Dad said, "Are you okay?"

I nodded adamantly. "Yes. 100%."

Mom let out a breath and told Dad to go call Charlie, that I was home.

"You look like hell." Mike said, plopping down in the armchair.

"Mike!" Mom hissed, rubbing her hands hastily over her dress.

"Mom, it's alright. I'm not going to explode if someone says something…"

She looked at me doubtfully, but finally sat down beside me. Dad came back in looking slightly confused and angry.

"I told Charlie… but apparently he already knew. Jacob's dad called him about an hour ago telling him that Jacob and Ellie had shown up at La Push."

Everyone's eyes were on me once more.

"I knew you were with that irresponsible idiot." Mike snapped.

"He's not irresponsible, and he's not an idiot… he actually went after me. We got in a fight and I drove off, but then my car broke down, so I just sort of started running through the woods. I didn't stop until I was good and lost. Jacob came looking for me and finally talked me into coming back home. But it took us awhile to find our way back. Jacob saved me. If he hadn't shown up, I would have died."

No one said anything.

Dad cleared his throat. "Well then… that's it?"

I nodded.

"Aren't you going to address the fact that you were supposed to be at Laurel's?"

Crap. I was so proud of myself for coming up with a logical excuse that actually showed Jacob in a positive light that I had totally iced over that little detail. "Oh yeah…"

"So… you've been at the reservation ALL those times you said you were at Laurel's?" Mom asked, an edge of bewilderment in her voice.

I sheepishly looked up at her. "Yes?"

"Oh Lord… Eleanor Kathleen Newton! I thought we raised you better! Traipsing off to some boy's house for most of the summer? And here I thought that you and Laurel were just catching up from the lost years… when really, you've been being promiscuous with some res boy!"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mike smirking and anger began to boil in my veins. "MOM! I was not being 'promiscuous'! I'm in love with Jacob. And La Push feels like home. We've never slept together! Call Sue, Jacob's stepmom and ask her yourself what we've been doing! I've been experiencing what it's like to be a teenager for once in my life… Unlike at that god awful 'gifted children's' boarding school! Did you even ask if I wanted to go there? No. You just assumed that since I was smart enough to get in, I must want terribly to attend. Well, guess what? I didn't want to go. I wasn't ready. So excuse me for wanting to live!" I stood up and stormed up to my room where I collapsed onto my bed in sobs.

I tried to analyze what had been said, but words didn't come. My head was empty. I was just… exhausted. I finally stopped crying and heard a creak from the floor board. I looked up and saw Mike standing there. He sat down beside me and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry El…"

"Sorry for what?" I asked, genuinely confused. As far as I was concerned, Mike hadn't done anything except for be a typical obnoxious, over protective brother.

"Everything. Being an asshole about Jacob. For not standing up for you when Janie was on her war path- well actually, just Janie in general. For not attempting to be a better older brother. And for saying you looked like hell just a few minutes ago… you don't, you look beautiful as usual."

I laughed through the tears that had started rolling down my face again. "You're lying about that last bit… but other than that… thank you. And I'm sorry as well. I should've been home more. A lot more. I just-"

"Couldn't stay away from him."

I nodded and bit my lip. "Yeah… and there's more to it… but I can't really explain."

"I know."

"What?"

"I know something strange is going on with the res kids… and then the Cullens. There's something not right about either group…"

I opened my mouth to say something but he stopped me.

"But I don't want to know… really, I don't. I'm just going to assume that whatever is going on at La Push is something tribal and that the Cullens are just… freaks."

"Fine with me!" I grinned.

We sat there for a minute not saying anything then Mike finally spoke.

"I approve, by the way."

"Of what?"

"Jacob."

"Really?"

"Yeah… he's a good guy. I mean, I would much rather you date him than a Cullen…" He shuddered and we both laughed. He stood up and started walking towards the door.

"Hey Mikey?"

"Hmmm?"

"You wanna go to the batting cages tomorrow?"

"If Mom and Dad allow you out of the house…" he smiled.

I couldn't help but smile too. "I love you Mike."

"I love you too little sis."

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I thought it would be nice to have a little warm fuzzy moment with Mike and Ellie there :) I hope you enjoy! I think there will only be one or two more chapters left :( Please review!

- Shelby :)