Three weeks later, and we were home, a much longed for sight that now had a totally different meaning, because Dad ha managed to secure a well paying job in Port Angeles, meaning he would always be home to take care of me with Grams like it had been once upon a time before I became seriously ill. He had never been so happy in his life, and I had seen the glimmer of tears in his dark yet warm brown eyes as they watched me walk up to our home, a sterile mask over my mouth and nose, movements still unsteady with Jake helping me up the porch steps.

Grams and Dad had came home yesterday to make sure that it was absolutely, positively and thoroughly cleaned. Jake and I had stayed in Seattle, the boy who'd managed to worm his way into my heart staying by my side, myself cuddled carefully into him for his abnormal body heat as we watched the icy rain from the latest storm splatter against the glass window before Nurse Jean declared it was time for me to get some rest and he had to move his backside over to the cot bed beside me that they'd brought in to allow him to remain there with me.

I smiled behind my mask as I laid eyes on some of the pack and their significant others, most of them imprints, well, Paul being the only one who had brought someone who certainly wasn't his imprint, according to Jake. I recognised her from the charity event last year, her eyes travelling over me with disdain, like she couldn't bear to be here. Well, if she was going to have an attitude like that, I didn't want her here either.

Anna was the first to gently embrace me, Jake finally releasing me so I could accept a hug from both Anna, and Carrie, my oldest and closest friend pulling me into a tight yet still equally as careful embrace, pressing a kiss into my short tumble of black curls. I let out a soft breath. "I missed you Rie," I whispered, and I heard her let out a soft sob. "You're going to be alright, not one more death scare of scenario! You can go to college and get married and have a family of your own, and all because of this dude." She wept, accepting a one armed hug from my wolf.

Grams came in with my bag, Dad following behind with the shopping bags. "What would you say to some grilled food if I cook it on the porch?" Dad asked and I grinned widely. "Chicken steaks with Montgomery cheese inside?" I clarified and he grinned, nodding, Jake laughing when I let out a muffled cheer behind my mask.

(W*W)

I pushed my plate away from me, Jake placing it on my bedside table as we laid up in bed, watching Bridge to Terabithia with his arm around me. I had my mask off, the dreaded yet lifesaving thing laid neatly on my sterile cleaned cabinet. Jake smoothed his hand over my hair, and I looked up at him. "You know when you said you wanted to marry me one day, to have a family of our own, to grow old together, what if having a child of our own proves too risky for my health?" I questioned softly.

Jake lay back until we were laying face to face on our sides, his hand stroking over my bare skin that was visible through the short sleeves of my pyjama shirt. "Then we find a way around it," he murmured, a small grin on his face. "I'm thinking, for your eighteenth, we go out of town and celebrate." He suggested.

A small smile came to my face. "Like where would we go?" I asked and he grinned. "Dad owns a small cabin an hour from here, just on the outskirts of the Olympic National Park, about half an hour from Forks. What would you say to spending a week for your birthday there?"

That smile on my face widened and I nodded, unable to contain my excitement. "Absolutely! What would Grams and Dad say though?" I asked and he grinned widely. "Would it be bad if I already asked them?" He joked and I grinned wider, laughing softly as he captured my mouth in a gentle kiss, not wanting to get my heart going any faster than it already did. He pulled away after a moment. "I'm going to look forward to when I can kiss you again and not have to worry about your heart." He murmured.

I smiled softly, pressing another kiss to his lips before I tucked my head under his with a soft sigh. "Me too Jake, me too."