A/N: I own nothing Twilight, that's all the genius known as Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 21 - Back to the Future

{Edward and Bella's Cottage}

It had been a couple months short of 3 years since the light of his life was born. Jacob was so proud how Nessie had grown over these three years, how much stronger she was getting both physically and mentally.

The Newborn attack was a defining moment in not only he and Nessie's relationship but also the pack. Rosalie became an integral part of the pack and the pack was running at an elite level now. No more Newborn attacks at least in the La Push area but Jacob had heard of some problems with Newborns in other tribes in different regions. Nothing to concerning yet, but enough to still be on alert for.

Jacob and Nessie had gotten even closer—if that was possible—since that attack and he knew their relationship had shifted once again. He was still her protector, her best friend, but Nessie was definitely no longer his little princess. Even though his feelings had definitely changed for her, they still were not at the level he knew hers were. Things they took for granted before, holding hands, a kiss, even I love you's had taken on different meanings than they did not even 6 months ago.

Nessie was growing pretty fast, the last two growth spurts definitely caught everyone off guard to to the point Carlisle determined she was physically way ahead of Nahuel's schedule. When Carlisle had inquired to Nahuel about this, the hybrid did say that between his sisters and himself, they all grew at different rates. But the one thing, the most important thing for Jacob, was the fact Nahuel reassured them, no matter the rate, they all stopped aging after 7 years when they reached full maturity.

Nessie's training was going a lot better. Nessie was able to progress in her training to the point where there was no holding back now. It was so intense sometimes that Jacob wondered how long he'd be able to train her without going into wolf form afterwards to heal.

As far as the Volturi, Alice was able to gather bits and pieces of Volturi activity but nothing that would cause alarm. For the first time in a while, there was actually a lull coming over the area.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, however one could look at it, the lull had caused Jacob to have time to ponder things, especially with this somewhat new phase of his relationship with Nessie. When Jacob pondered things, that's usually when nothing good happened.

There was something that had been bugging Jacob when he kept thinking back to what the Half-breed said at the Volturi Almost War. It had to do with the guy turning his aunt. How was that even possible? It had been a while, but he remembered back when Nessie had bitten him. Actually numerous times and never once did he feel any effects other than feeling pride for providing Nessie with the nourishment she needed. The explanation given of Nessie wasn't venomous sure didn't rule out the fact that some day she could become venomous. Unless the Nahuel guy had the Universal rule book on Hybrid female vampires, there was always a chance something different could happen. Nessie's increased abilities was a sign in itself that she wasn't your normal Hybrid.

The venomous thing had been eating away at him, but not enough to bother him until now. He was in his usual self spiraling mode because things were going just too great for him. Of course he figured something would have to ruin all the great moments and Nessie turning or flipping the switch to a full vampire was worrying him, especially now when she was in her teenage years.

Sure Nessie was half vampire now, but what happens if that becomes ¾ or God forbid, full on Vamp? Could that even happen? No one knew for sure and that's what worried him.

Jacob had tried to hide his concerns but of course Bella figured it out and that is what brought them to the current conversation in the living room of Bella's cottage. Edward was out with Carlisle, and Nessie was sleeping in her room. That left just Bella and Jacob to talk.

"So Jacob, what's your fear really about?" Bella was sitting on the couch next to her best friend. A lot of changes had been happening since… well since she was turned; caring about Jacob was not one of them. There was something weighing heavily on her friend and she wanted to do all she could to help him.

Jacob squirmed a bit on the couch, looking over to the room where Nessie was sleeping. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy talking with Bella—being this close to her—it was being this far from Nessie.

"Honestly Bella, I knew this imprint thing was powerful, but the bond... the connection I have with Nessie is like a million times more than the one I had with you."

Bella raised her eyebrows, really, a million times?

Jacob didn't even realize what he said. Not that he didn't care about Bella's feelings, it's just those feelings had completely changed from the love sick teenager he used to be. He instinctively grasped the necklace under his shirt, the one Nessie gave him for Christmas.

So much had happened over the past years and instead of grasping at the wonderfulness of those feelings, his self deprecating past was catching up to him and he was afraid of what that would mean, possibly losing that 'connection' with Nessie if she fully turned. He didn't know if it was even possible for Nessie to turn, but in the strange world they lived in, one could never know for sure.

"I don't know what I'd do if she ever became a full-fledged blood sucker—" Jacob caught himself at the use of those words. Although he didn't re-think his word choice because of Bella, he knew he shouldn't use that term in anyway describing Nessie. "I didn't mean that. I mean it scares me to think Nessie might become a true Vampire someday and lose her soul."

Bella pondered that for a minute. True no one could say for certain whether such a thing could happen. There was no blueprint for this type of thing. Even so, worse case, if Renesmee did fully turn, would that mean anything different for Renesmee and Jacob... probably not.

That really wasn't the problem though. It was the losing of the soul thing Jacob was talking about, similar to the worries Edward had and even Carlisle had. Bella remembered back when she first fell in love with Edward and the reluctance he had with turning her. It had a lot to do with this exact thing, losing your soul.

Bella had to wonder what exactly did a 'soul' mean to Jacob? After all, it wasn't like she was some cold-hearted soulless creature. She still felt love, lust, emotions—wouldn't that mean that she did have a soul?

Jacob could see Bella was thinking deeply about something, the longer than usual silence helping him to realize what he had just said about losing your soul. Jacob placed a hand over Bella's. "I know it's not that you're a soulless beast." Jacob winked at her, garnering a small smile from his friend. "But if Nessie and I's connection is a spiritual bonding of the soul, which is what I honestly believe. Well… if she becomes a full blown Vampire, that bond may be lost."

Now there were some things that made no sense in the world to Bella. She would never be able to explain them. But one thing that made the most sense in this world was that Renesmee and Jacob were not connected solely by a Quileute myth. No, as sure as she loved Edward, she knew the bond between her daughter and her best friend went much deeper than even that.

"Jacob, do you honestly believe your love for each other is only because you imprinted on her?" Bella remembered the conversation they had as Jacob was carrying her through the woods in an attempt to distract the Newborns. Jacob said back then that you could still love, just like Sam did towards Leah, regardless of the imprint. Of course his intention then was much different, but the concept still very much applied in this case, it wasn't just the imprinting that caused someone to love another.

Jacob had to ponder Bella's words for a moment. He never actually thought of it that way in regards to his feelings toward Nessie because just like breathing, his love for Nessie was just a necessary part of him to survive. Where before he may have always used the Imprint as a reason, maybe it went beyond that? Besides, although he would never say it, not wanting to come across egotistical, but from what Quill and Sam talk about imprinting in regards to the bond with their Imprintee, it was much more than that with Nessie.

Jacob remembered when the imprinting happened and how he has felt since that moment. He wasn't exactly sure how the imprinting initiates, but he vividly remembered connecting with Nessie the moment their eyes met, then the imprint happened. He never once felt forced to do anything. Maybe forced was too strong a word, but everything he did for Nessie felt like it was coming truly from his heart and not some mystical force. Still, he could never be sure.

"I… I honestly don't know if our bond with one another is based on the Imprint or something else." Jacob turned to Bella, not able to hide his concerns. "I mean I just always assumed everything was centered around the imprinting."

"Jacob you need to listen to me okay. This whole family knows what you mean to Renesmee." Bella reached over and took Jacob's hand in hers, thinking back to the projection Renesmee showed them and everything since. "What you two are capable of is beyond limits. That bond you two have is more than just the Imprint."

Deep in their own thoughts, Bella and Jacob never noticed the small crack in the door to Renesmee's room. They didn't notice Renesmee, deep in thoughts of her own.

"But if Nessie and I's connection is a spiritual bonding of the soul, which is what I honestly believe. Well… if she becomes a full blown Vampire, that bond may be lost."

Those words from Jacob kept playing over and over in her mind as she was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall with her knees pulled tightly up to her body. She knew her own law, Renesmee would never leave Jacob. But Jacob's law, the law of the Imprint was Jacob would never leave Renesmee. That was the imprint, that was what bound Jacob to her.

Renesmee's heart started pounding in her chest even faster than normal as a terrifying thought hit her. What if there wasn't an imprint anymore?

That was when the room started spinning and the lights danced around her as if she was looking through a camera lens as it was trying to focus. She closed her eyes as everything around her went deathly silent and she felt herself falling—falling into nothingness…

. . .

Renesmee was laying in her soft, inviting bed, taking in the feeling of warmth, the feeling of contentment. She felt complete—perfect if she had to admit.

She still had her eyes closed as she immediately felt… different. She tried to think, tried to focus her energy on what was so different.

Warmth, contentment, feeling complete, those were not new feelings to her. Those type of feelings were always present as long as Jacob was around; but for some reason those feelings felt clearer? It was so odd she thought as she took a deep breath, filling her nostrils with the inviting smells around her.

She remembered hearing the conversation between her mother and husband... 'Whoa, Husband?', did she really just think of Jacob as her husband? It was then—thinking of Jacob—that the strange feeling hit her—the one she felt not long ago talking to Jacob after they demonstrated her abilities to her mom. The same feeling she had been seeming to get more often than not, every time Jacob would do the littlest things.

Eyes still closed, she reached down near her stomach, where it seemed the feeling originated from, and that was when her eyes shot wide open, feeling the very large basketball sized bulge in her stomach.

"I wondered what you were doing honey." Jacob just smiled as he kissed his wife on the lips.

'Oh. My. Gosh. Jacob just kissed me on... the lips.' As if the giant bulge in her stomach wasn't enough, Jacob's lips on her practically shot her into another universe. She looked at Jacob. It was Jacob, but he was different. He looked… Peaceful?

Jacob, smiled his megawatt smile only reserved for the love of his life. "You doing okay sweetheart? The baby keep you up last night?" He placed his very large, yet very inviting hand over his wife's very pregnant stomach.

'Baby!' Renesmee shot up in bed, placing both hands on her stomach, over Jacobs. 'Baby? Jacob? Married?' What was happening? She freaked out only for a second, as she quickly embraced everything around her. She looked down over her body and realized she wasn't the young gangly teenager anymore… Her body resembled a full grown… woman. Her heart exploded with a warmth that felt ten times better than anything she felt before.

Jacob gave her a confused look. "Ness, what's wrong?"

Renesmee couldn't help the tears as she used their hands to rub circles on her stomach, feeling the tiny presence in there.. "Our baby, Jake?"

"Ummm, is there someone else you would have a baby with?" Jake smirked.

Renesmee quickly grabbed his hand, bringing it to her lips. "No Jake, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm so sorry." Renesmee started freaking out, why would she say something so stupid? She didn't mean it like that, Jake would only ever be the one to father her children. She paused, 'Father my children?' Where did she learn to speak like that?

Jake kissed her one more time. "Honey, its okay. You know I'm just kidding around." Jake studied her a little closer. He could see something was wrong and he had just the cure.

Jacob got out of bed, giving Nessie another kiss as the loss of him from her bed, looked to cause her distress. Jacob thought how odd, he hadn't seen her act this needy for him since she was younger. "I think I have the thing to cheer you up. They've been waiting for mommy to wake up."

Renesmee looked to Jacob, her eyes widening. "They?"

Jacob yelled to the other room. "Kids, moms awake."

Before Renesmee had time to process, a bundle of long straight black hair, long bronze curls, and short black hair came rushing in the room. "Mommy." They all yelled together as they jumped on the bed hugging their mom as if they hadn't seen her in years.

Renesmee had felt love before, obviously the strongest towards the man in the room, but what she felt for these children was way beyond that. It was like each one had their very own piece of her heart, and their mere presence filled her heart with an emotion so strong it was debilitating—in a good way.

She couldn't get enough of her children. Their mere presence feeding her with the love and happiness that she thought only Jacob could provide her. Their touches, their kisses, the 'I love you's' just completed her.

She gathered strength as she held her children close to her, looking up at Jacob. Her tears continued as she looked into the eyes of the man that gave this to her. She could see everything in his eyes. She was his wife, his lover, his partner, and now, the mother of his children. She could see a love in those eyes that she never wanted to look away from. A love stronger and deeper than what was always there when Jacob looked at her.

Through sobs, she whispered, "I love you Jacob."

"I love you to babe." Jake just stood in the doorway, leaning against the wall. He really had to find out what was wrong with Nessie. He knew usually she was like this with the children, minus the tears. She always treated them as if they were the greatest gift she had ever been given.

He looked at his two daughters and one of his sons. He smiled as they clung to their mother. This looked really familiar as they were only away from her for a few hours but they acted as if it was days. This was perfect, although a couple things were missing. He smiled as he smelled his other boys coming in from outside.

"Well, Nessie, I know there are a couple boys that would like to say hi to their mom too."

If what she had in this room wasn't enough to complete her, did Jacob just say she had two more sons? Is this even possible?

Her prayers were answered as she heard the scurrying down the hall as seconds later two medium sized wolf's came running in the room. Mom the wolf's linked with her as they jumped on the bed, licking her as they played with their brothers and sisters.

She had to admit seeing the wolves threw her but she had no doubt they were her and Jake's boys. Just like their daddy, she thought as she kissed each of them, hugging them tightly.

She never wanted this feeling to end, but she felt some force pulling at her. She quickly closed her eyes, no, she was not leaving, she would not leave this paradise no matter what. She would fight for this with everything she had.

"Nessie, its time."

Renesmee heard the power in her husband's voice as she slowly opened her eyes, looking into the bright blue glowing eyes of her husband.

—Fight for us mommy.

"—Don't ever give up on us mommy."

"—We love you mommy."

Renesmee heard and felt the words coming from her children.

She looked at each one of them now and each of their eyes were now glowing a bright blue. She wasn't scared at all, well at least not of her family. She could feel the power flowing from each one of her kids—her husband—into her. It was as if they knew she had to leave and they were making sure she remembered them, all of them.

It was the words of her husband that she heard next—the words that would give her the strength to carry on until all this could become a reality.

"Don't ever give up on us Nessie. Fight with everything you have for this."

She shook her head yes, feeling her eyes now also starting to glow. "I will Jake. I will fight for us."

"Love you Ness!"

It was the last thing she heard as the vision, the dream faded into darkness and she was back in her dark room in the cottage.

She wiped the tears falling from her reddened cheeks. She was almost hyperventilating from the vividness of what she just witnessed. She closed her eyes, praying that she could go back but then something occurred to her.

If this was a vision, or even a dream of the future then she knew she would have to work for it. Jake always said the things you want most you have to fight for. She knew that the easy way out would be to wish herself back to being a grown adult, married to Jake, with their kids. But Jake said 'Fight for Us. Never give up.' That meant that from this point on, that is exactly what she would do.

She decided right then and there that nothing, not the Volturi, not humans, not Vampires—nothing would keep her from this vision, especially a chance at turning completely into a Vampire and severing her and Jacob's bond. She would never let that happen. They were so close now to the finish line and she couldn't take a chance at losing him.

She would fight for her family, she would fight for her and Jake. This solidified her decision remembering what Jacob said. It was Jake and their family or it was nothing. Nothing would keep her from this.

The last thing she thought as she crawled back into her bed was family; her and Jacob's family, and how happy they would be. Its that thought that cemented her resolve in what was needed ahead.