A/N - I've officially changed the rating of this story to M, for anyone who's curious! thanks for reading, xx.

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"And then take what you need to take, what's yours is mine

And then just give all you want of it to some new thing"

- Mothers, Daughter

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Jacob jerked the Rabbit into the driveway, cutting the engine as Ivy and I raced out.

Sam was waiting on the porch, his arms crossed against his chest. He whispered something to Jacob, nodding towards the woods, and then glancing at Ivy and I.

His eyes were sad, his mind seemed disoriented. I prayed that everything would go alright tomorrow and ushered Ivy towards our bedroom, pulling our bags out of the closet.

"We're going on a trip, you and me." I told her, trying to think of some quick, easy excuse. "While we're there, you're going to focus on your powers."

She grinned then, packing her bag more eagerly. Gently, I pressed her to pack for longer than just the weekend - nothing was definite anymore, and I didn't want us stuck on the outskirts of Sekiu, Washington wearing last week's pajamas.

To further my story about us going there to practice witchcraft, I packed our prayer candles and some herbs, things that would back me up. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to practice while we were there, anyways. Just in case something happened.

Despite being assured the vampires didn't want us, didn't know we existed, and they were after that Bella girl, I had a bad feeling about this trip. I told myself it was nerves, I was frightened something might happen to Jacob or Sam or even Emily, who was staying in town for the fight.

I would say extra prayers for them tonight, and every night while I was gone.

If I was in a good mood, I'd even say prayers for Bella - it sounded like she needed them.

Ivy was deciding which nightgown was warmest when there was a knock on the door to the sunroom. Jacob stood in the doorway, his jaw tightly set, clearly holding back his emotions.

"You almost ready to go?" He said, his voice low and pained. He felt the same way about this as I did.

"Almost," I smiled. "Finish packing, Ivy, I'm going to say goodbye to Jacob."

I opened the back door of the sunroom, stepping onto the concrete porch outside. Jacob took off his jacket, wrapping it around me. I protested, but he refused to take it back.

"You never brought a coat, Serena. Take it with you, you need it more than I do."

I was exhausted from fighting with him tonight, exhausted from everything that had happened tonight, and did nothing but nod, trying hard to hold back my own tears.

"I have a bad feeling about this," I sighed, leaning in close and wrapping my arms around him. He held me to him, and even through the huge jacket I could feel his massive hands on my back.

"I'll be okay," He nodded, laying his head atop mine.

"I know you will. Besides, if you aren't, I'll know. I can feel it, can't I? Or does that only work one way?"

"I'm hoping we won't have to find out," Jacob sighed. "This isn't for long, Rena, but it doesn't make it any easier. Every inch of me is fighting the separation, begging me to stay with you. I shouldn't be defending this place, I should be protecting you and Ivy."

"Shifting is a gift, just like witchcraft." I said, telling him the same thing I told Ivy years ago. "We have these gifts for a reason. I don't know what mine is, but yours is to protect La Push, and the people in it. You can't misuse your abilities, especially not for selfish reasons."

"You sound like Sam," He scoffed.

"We are related," I rolled my eyes, pulling his face down to mine for a long kiss.

Even his tongue was warm, hot like a fireplace poker, as it slithered between my lips. He reached a hand down, squeezing at my butt and pulling me flat against him. I could feel his excitement, his erection poking at the zipper of his jeans, waiting to be let out, but I knew this wasn't the time.

"I'm not fucking you on the back porch of Sam's house while my sister's a room away." I told him gently, untangling my fingers from his hair.

"It wouldn't be fucking," He said, his own breath hot against my ear. "It would be making love."

I smiled, trying not to blush.

"Whatever you want to call it, not tonight. We have to go, Jacob."

I sighed, shutting my eyes tightly, breathing in his smell - like a forest after the rain, same as always. I would carry that with me as I went.

Ivy poked her head out the door then, giggling at our embrace.

"I want to say goodbye too," She pouted, running at Jacob as soon as he pulled away from me.

He caught her up in his arms, wrapping them so tightly around my little sister that I feared he might squish her. She sighed, giggling a little.

"I'll be back soon Jake, okay?" She smiled, patting him lightly on the back.

He really was avoiding tears now, trying to fight the instinct to come with Ivy and me. The imprint was what made him not want to leave my side, but it was pure love that made him not want to leave Ivy.

"C'mon," I said after a few more minutes, holding out my arms to take her from him. It was getting late and Sekiu was a long drive. "We need to go, Ivy."

"You said I was too big to be carried," she pouted as I held her.

"I'm making an exception," I said, trying to hide how much effort it took. Seeing this, Jacob took our bags out to the Wagoneer.

I carried Ivy out to the car, propped up on my hip, and placed her in the passenger seat. Emily appeared behind me, Ivy's coat in hand.

She kissed Ivy on the cheek, then moved aside to let Sam say goodbye. She turned to me.

"You take care of my niece, you hear?" She teased, pulling me in for a hug. "Take care of her and Ivy will take care of you."

"Who am I going to cook with at four in the morning?" I said, fighting back tears.

"Please honey, if you're lucky you won't have to cook at all this weekend. I, however, have my work cut out for me. Those boys are going to be starving after the fight."

"She's right," Sam smiled, practically pushing his fiancee out of the way so he could hug me as well. "Take it easy for the next few days, try not to break any bones or cry too hard because Jacob will be in Sekiu in a heartbeat."

"I'll try," I assured him, hugging him back just as tightly. "Thank you, Sam, for everything that you've done for me these last couple of weeks. I really, really owe you one."

"We're family," He shook his head. "You don't owe me anything but love."

I smiled, kissing Emily on the cheek and then walking over to the drivers side of the car. I shut the door, noticing Jacob watching from the house, too emotionally exhausted to come any closer, and I waved to him. We'd said our goodbyes earlier, privately, Sam and Emily knew that.

Then I turned up the radio, just enough to keep me awake and keep Ivy asleep, and I drove off towards Sekiu.