Author's note: Thank you all so much for your amazing reviews on the previous chapter. I am so glad that I am taking my story in a direction you all seem to really appreciate and one that shows a plausible way these events could have occurred in canon. I am also happy that the maturity under which I wrote the previous chapter was appreciated by a few of you. This one will be as mature, and although slightly more detailed, I hope you will find it appropriate.
So once again I am nervous about this chapter- it's a big one because Ness finally finds out about imprinting and Jake's love for her. So please, please share your thoughts with me when you're done :)
Response to reviews:
Sweetie7smiled: Thank you so much for your review! I couldn't stop smiling when I saw it come up in my inbox, so thank you! I already replied to your review in a PM so I won't go through it all again, but I just wanted to say once again that I am thrilled you loved the chapter. I hope you like this one too! *Fingers crossed*.
Eruhin: I love how each of your reviews reflect precisely my favourite moments of my own chapters :) Your reviews are always amazing to read. Yes, I really wanted to flip the situation over so now Edward needs to trust Jacob with Renesmee. I am so glad you felt Edward's reaction was a reasonable one, where it still reflects his love for his daughter, without being overly protective. I really tried to make his reaction as reasonable as possible- he wouldn't want to ruin the moment for Ness. And I am relieved you felt it was realistic for her to realise her feelings quickly like that. And your review was thought provoking for me; I definitely agree that imprinting would have probably influenced her dream ie. The Fates were saying: 'Okay it's time for these two to move to the next stage of their lives together'. It's definitely a nice idea and I think that is the way it would work :) I really hope you enjoy this chapter and you feel I have done it justice. Please let me know!
Yoda11: Yes, you are so right, Ness is more mature, physically and mentally, than when she was as a child, so naturally her feelings/thoughts would tend more towards love rather than friendship :) I hope you enjoy this chapter and that it lives up to your expectations! Please let me know! I can't wait to hear from you :)
'Trust me'
Chapter 24- Forever
Jacob's POV
The closer I got to Ness' room, the more elated I felt. It took everything I had not to bound up the stairs and burst through the door; I was trying to stay cool, calm and collected. I don't know if I pulled it off externally, but inside, I definitely failed at being all three. Bella and Edward didn't say much on their way out, but by the looks on their faces, I could tell that there was hope for me- that now was the time to tell Ness what I, as well as the Cullens and my pack have known for so many years: that she is my imprint.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I paused to take a deep breath, which I succeeded in doing, though the ridiculously huge grin on my face didn't help matters. Shaking my head, I forced myself to be serious; I could have misinterpreted Bella and Edward's signals, not to mention that imprinting was a big deal and not something I could just blurt out. I needed to stay in control. So I took another breath, and then walked into Nessie's room, closing the door behind me.
My imprint was sitting on her bed, her large brown eyes wide as she stared at my face, and then at my arm. She leapt off the bed and rushed over to me. She stopped when she was a foot away and gently ran her hand over my damaged, bandaged wrist.
"Oh Daddy," she whispered, shaking her head. I couldn't tell if she was upset with, or for him.
"Nessie, I'm fine, I promise," I consoled her. She looked up at my face again, and I couldn't help but grin; I was so happy to finally see her after what happened that morning.
Ness returned my smile with one of her own before breaking eye contact with me to examine my other arm and the rest of my body by walking around me.
"Are you in pain? Is anything else broken?" she persisted, as if she was a little disappointed that Edward didn't tell her about my arm.
"It's just my wrist, Ness. Your father insisted on bandaging it up for me- now it looks worse than it actually is," I tried to convince her.
"What happened down there? I heard you yell, were you in pain?" she asked, concerned.
I felt my eye brows crease in confusion. "Didn't your father tell you why I yelled?"
Ness stared off into the distance, and I knew she was backtracking through her memories to see if he had. Eventually she shook her head.
"No, I just assumed that you were both arguing…" she trailed off. I could tell she wanted to say more, but then thought the better of it after having a moment to pause.
When I realised she wasn't going to continue, I explained:
"Well we weren't really arguing; it was more of a misunderstanding."
To put it mildly, I thought to myself.
At this, Nessie's eyes widened as she nodded her head absentmindedly; she knew what the misunderstanding was. Renesmee then focused back on my face, and I could see that she was worried… worried that I knew what the misunderstanding was. I decided to distract her from her anxiety, by answering her original question.
"I was in pain, but that's not why I yelled…" I clarified for her.
Ness nodded slowly, lost in thought. I would have given anything to know what she was thinking, but I didn't want to try and force it out of her.
Instead, I kept the conversation going; the sooner things were out in the open, the sooner I could hope to hear the words I'd only ever dreamed of hearing from Nessie.
"I- I suppose your dad told you what he saw?"
Ness nodded her head, but when she looked at my face, she froze, her own face paralysed as she slowly raised her hand to touch my skin.
Her worry was clear: Do you know what he saw?
I couldn't help it- I had to grin.
My response made Ness nervous and embarrassed; she looked away from me, blushing; it was very personal after all.
I used my good arm to keep her close to me; I couldn't let her go away feeling uncomfortable, not until she knew the truth.
"Hey, it's okay," I muttered gently to her, my fingers grazing over the top of her hand. "Let me tell you what happened," I suggested.
I went to move towards her bed to sit down like we always did, but she hardly moved she was so nervous. So I walked ahead of her and sat down. I watched her closely, studying her face. Yep, she was definitely scared, not of me but of what I might say- if she only knew how I felt.
"Come," I encouraged her, patting the space on my left, hoping she would unfreeze and sit down. I was a little sad that she was going through so much uncertainty when she had nothing to fear. I wished I could have erased her anxiety by speaking the simple truth: 'I have and will always love you,' but that would freak her out; being in love was very different to being loved and I didn't know exactly how she felt about me yet.
I reached out to Ness, my palm up. Eventually she placed her warm hand in mine and she showed me that she was scared- too afraid to say the words out loud. I pulled her gently towards me in an effort to comfort her, hoping she would follow my lead.
She did, and once she sat down beside me, however hesitantly, I wrapped my left arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards my chest. I decided to ignore her racing hear (as hard as that was) and got on with the story as fast as I could so I could get to the most important part: the moment where I could ease her fear and discomfort. I hated seeing her that way- so uncertain of how I felt about her and what I thought of her provocative dream.
"When your dad came home I was in the kitchen, so walked out to say 'hi'. He was standing still and very tense- you know how vampires do." Ness nodded. "I asked him what was happening, but he didn't answer- it's like I wasn't there. I tried to gain his attention by talking, waving my hands in front of his face, but nothing worked. I had no idea what was wrong with him. I then made the mistake of telling him I was me. The moment he heard my name, he grabbed my wrist and wouldn't let go. I called for your mum when I realised he wasn't going to release me. She got there fast and when she couldn't distract him, she ran upstairs to shield you to see if it would make a difference. It did, and Edward let go. But the moment he saw me, he pinned me up against the wall furious at me for whatever he thought I did. Your mum pulled him off me and together we managed to talk some sense into him, such as the fact that I had been standing next to him the entire time. Realising what he had done to my wrist, he tried to approach me, but I wouldn't let him until I knew exactly what had happened to him. That is when I yelled: 'What the hell was wrong with you?' And then you woke up I think."
"I woke up when he 'pinned' you against the wall. But it sounded more like he threw you," Ness pointed out, confused.
I nodded. "Yeah I guess you could say that. And yeah, Edward mentioned that you woke up before I yelled," I rectified, remembering what he told Bella and I.
"Are you okay?" she asked me worriedly as she walked around to examine my back.
"I'm fine Ness, don't fuss," I chuckled, turning around and then holding her hands in mine before she found the bruises on my back.
Nessie looked down at the delicate way I was holding her right hand with my damaged left one.
"I am so sorry he hurt you Jake- it was my fault," Ness mumbled, her voice so quiet it was as if she'd forgotten how to speak.
When I heard her words and saw the guilt on her face, I had to repress a sigh as my heart sank.
Of all the things she could have felt, blame and guilt are the ones she feels most.
Just like Bella and Edward, Ness often blamed herself for things that were not her fault. I hugged Ness to me as I whispered in her ear:
"I'm not one hundred percent sure what your dream was about, but no matter what it was, this was not your fault, Nessie."
"Well it wasn't Daddy's!" she protested as if I had to blame someone.
"I know Ness- I know," I reassured her quickly but calmly. "I saw the look on his face- he was terrified, angry, upset… he thought it was real- he made a mistake (which hardly ever happens to Edward). But if your dream was real, I wouldn't blame him for acting the way he did," I told Ness honestly.
Nessie looked at me horrified, and I was a little taken aback.
"I don't blame your father, Nessie!" I said defensively wondering if I had said something against Edward without realising it.
But Ness shook her head, her eyes staring into mine as she reached out to touch my hand.
The same fear I felt from her before was there as I felt it encompass me- it was not a nice feeling.
You know, she told me flatly, and then wondered how much I knew. Did Daddy tell you everything? She asked, not really believing her father would do such a thing after the conversation they had. It made me wonder what did happen between Edward and Ness- I could only hear snippets from downstairs.
I chuckled, I couldn't help it.
"He didn't tell me anything actually, but from the way he was talking, I eventually worked it out- well, I'm not one hundred percent sure," I clarified, to a horrified Ness. "But when I came up with an answer, your father did not deny my idea."
"And- and what was your idea?" Ness whispered so quietly I could hardly hear her, but her cheeks had gone pink and her heart was racing.
"Don't be nervous or embarrassed," I whispered soothingly to her, holding her hands in mine, bending over slightly so I could see into her eyes.
She looked up at me, her eyes cautious, and her face was completely still.
I thought it would be weird to say what I knew out loud, but once I started, it wasn't so bad, probably because what I was saying was something I hoped to happen one day.
"You had a dream about me- about us almost having sex… right?"
Ness nodded, her eyes studying me carefully as if waiting for me to pass judgment or say her dream was wrong or weird, but of course I didn't feel any of those things. She begun to bite her lip, her eyes still locked on mine and I knew she was thinking about something. I decided not to say anything and wait for her to speak.
Suddenly, Nessie's grip tightened around my hand; although her hands were small compared to mine, she was strong. I was about to ask what was wrong, but then I saw an image of us together on her bed… naked. I gasped at how vivid it was- no wonder Edward thought it was real. I don't look at myself in the mirror much, but I was almost certain that her image of me was ninety-nine percent accurate. And her body was so perfect, so beautiful, it rendered me speechless.
I felt my eyes widen; I was stunned into silence, but I wanted to see more. By this time my heart was pounding in anticipation as if I were watching a movie where I really wanted something to happen.
But I didn't see what I thought I would see; I saw and felt something far better. Ness and I were lying side by side on her bed, her naked body nestled up against mine, her small hands on my chest, my arms wrapped loosely around her. I could feel how content and happy she was lying in my arms. Her thoughts made it clear that she trusted me and wanted to share herself with me; that is what sex meant to her.
I closed my eyes and focused on what I could feel in my own heart and in hers. But when I did this, Renesmee stopped remembering her vivid dream, and replaced it with an image of what she could see- my face.
I don't know where my feelings came from, she clarified, apparently afraid that my sudden reflection meant that I disapproved of her dream.
Despite the myriad of emotions I was feeling, of which there were several, I could hear how desperate Nessie was to hear how I felt about the portion of dream she showed me. Although I opened my eyes to show her I was okay, I couldn't speak- I wanted to remember that moment forever in case, for whatever reason, it never became a reality for us. As I was trying to organise my own feelings, including my hopes for our future, my eyes glazed over with tears. Immediately I felt Nessie inch closer to me.
"Jake?" she whispered. I re-focused so my eyes were on her concerned ones. "I- I'm sorry," she whispered, bowing her head to avoid my gaze. "I didn't mean to shock you... that was a bit much, wasn't it? I should have warned you what I was planning to do. Don't feel bad if you don't like me the way I like you," she pleaded with me, clearly concerned by the tears that were slowly sliding down my face.
I extended my hand towards her so I could grab hers which were wringing incessantly in her lap.
"You did take me by surprise," I allowed, my eyes penetrating hers. I heard Ness whimper, her face pointing downwards again. "But," I trailed on, lifting her head up gently with my finger, "that doesn't mean I didn't like what I saw," I murmured.
God if she only knew.
"Oh..." Ness stared at me with her brown eyes wondering whether I was going to say anything else. But I was not going to lead her; I wanted to hear what she wanted just in case my feelings for her had somehow clouded my interpretation of her behaviour.
"Did you- did you want to be with me?" she stammered. I only had time to smile in response before she continued waffling. "Mom and Dad know how I feel and they are okay with us being together, but I know I'm much younger than you, so perhaps it will be weird for you? Maybe Quil and Embry and your dad may not approve? You don't have to answer straight away, I can-"
"Stop," I interrupted her, chuckling to myself because she was working herself up for nothing. If she had stopped talking for a second, I could have answered her, and then she wouldn't have to torture herself any longer!
"Stop," I whispered again, running my hand up and down her arm.
Ness forced herself to stay silent, her jaw dropped slightly as she glared at me with anticipation.
I gave Ness my best smile. "I would love to be with you."
And never have I said something that was so true.
I was expecting her to return my smile, leap up and wrap her arms around my neck, but instead my assertion was met with disbelief.
"Really?" she asked, and I could hear how much she doubted my words, no matter how genuine they sounded to her.
"Really," I replied simply.
Nessie's eyes tightened as she continued to watch me- her expression reminded me a lot of Edward.
"You have nothing else to say? No worries, or fears, or concerns about what the pack will say?" she asked gently as if she were trying to convince me that it was okay to have qualms. It amazed me to realise that the only person who would be surprised about my returning her love is her. So, I was starting to run out of reasons not to tell her about imprinting.
"Trust me," I asserted gently, "no one will have a problem."
Nessie's eyes widened. "They should," she blurted out, but then immediately began to blush with guilt that she felt others should have a problem with our relationship.
"But they don't; the only thing that matters is how you feel about it," I entreated Ness as I gently leaned towards her. "So, how do you feel about me?" I asked my voice shaking with anticipation and hope.
"I feel... I feel I want my dream to come true," she muttered, furiously blushing now, her eyes staring at the floor. I pulled her into a hug, her ear resting against my chest.
"I want that too," I whispered into her hair.
Together we sat in silence for a couple of minutes; I could tell Nessie was doing some intense thinking. Eventually she asked me:
"How long have you wanted to be with me?"
A few responses popped into my mind as I thought about her question. Naturally, my instinct was to say: 'since the day you were born', but that wasn't quite true. When she was a baby, all I really wanted was to be a part of her life, even as her friend. So when did I want her to be my girl friend? It eventually came to me.
"Since this morning; the moment I deduced from Edward what you were dreaming of, that's when I knew."
"So you only like me because I like you?" she tried to summarise, a hint of disappointment in her voice. To her, I suppose that's what it would sound like, but it was unbelievably far from the truth.
"No Nessie; it's simpler than that," I whispered, my chin resting on her head as I hugged her tightly to me. "I want whatever you want."
"But why?" she almost demanded, and I knew I needed to tell her about imprinting before she thought I was crazy. And yet, it almost upset me that she was so shocked given how much time we have spent together since she was born; surely she realised she was more than just a girl I enjoyed being with- that I was more than a good family friend? But then I remembered who Nessie's parents were- both Edward and Bella needed reassuring- needed evidence that they were loved by the other, because one felt guilt and shame for what they were, whilst the other felt unworthy of being loved by such a creature. But I didn't think Ness was insecure; I always thought her gift allowed her to be confident with herself because she was able to attract so many people to her. But at that time, she had the mental age of a teenager, so perhaps this was an adolescent thing?
Instead of answering her immediately, which was extremely difficult because the words: 'you are my imprint' were on the tip of my tongue, I gently moved her further up her bed so we could lie down properly; this was going to take a while to explain.
"Come here," I encouraged her, which she did without hesitation; she could sense I was about to answer her in detail. I hugged Ness to my side as we lay together on her bed, our backs up against the headboard. She laid her head on my shoulder as I ran my fingers up and down her arm.
"I want what you want because you are my imprint," I whispered to her, knowing full well that the word 'imprint' wouldn't mean much to her.
"I'm your imprint?" Ness repeated, moving off my shoulder to rest on her elbow so she could see my face.
"Yeah," I grinned, waiting for her to ask more questions.
"What- what does that even mean?"
"Well, it's a wolf thing-"
Ness' eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the way I was trying, but not really trying, to explain what she means to me. "So only wolves have imprints?"
"Only wolves can have imprints, but not all of them do," I clarified.
"Who else has an imprint?" Ness enquired; a question which surprised me; I was expecting her to ask me again what an imprint was, but somehow I had the feeling she already knew because of how she felt about me. Even so, I knew she'd be shocked when I answered her; clearly she didn't suspect how intertwined some of my pack members were to their partners.
"Oh uh… let's see," I paused, thinking. "Sam, Quil, Paul and Jared."
"Really? So would that mean that Emily is Sam's imprint, Claire is Quil's, Rachel is Paul's, and Kim is Jared's?"
"Yup!"
"And I'm yours?" she repeated, staring into my eyes. I returned her gaze, but then, feeling embarrassed, she turned shyly away from me and continued her pondering:
"Sam and Emily are married, Kim and Jared are engaged, Rachel and Paul live with your father, and Claire- she's only 8!" Renesmee asserted looking horrified.
"Imprinting doesn't take age into account," I informed her, laughing at her expression. I was half tempted to mention that she was only 6, but decided not to go there just yet.
"That must be hard for both families involved; it would be difficult to accept… Sam and Emily, Rachel and Paul, Kim and Jared are okay because their imprints are the same age as them, but us and Quil and Claire- you must have had a hard time convincing my parents…"
I laughed, I couldn't help it; her comment made me remember all those years ago when I was petrified Edward would try to bar me from seeing Ness, and when Bella was centimetres from tearing me apart. The convincing wasn't the hard part for them; it was accepting my feelings that was difficult.
"Actually, I was pretty lucky; your father's gift meant that I didn't have to convince him how strong imprinting is- he could hear it in my thoughts, and he knew enough about wolves by then to know that we cannot control who we imprint on."
Ness moved a little away from me so she could sit up on the bed cross-legged and gaze into my eyes. I could tell she was curious and very ready to hear all about it.
"Tell me how it all started, what was it like? How old was I?" the way she spoke it was as if imprinting was magic to her, and I suppose it was; I certainly wasn't going to deny it.
I chuckled. "Imprinting is like a 'love at first sight' thing. I imprinted on you the first time I saw your face," I murmured, as I reached out to touch Nessie's cheek. She placed her hands over mine, holding my hand to her skin. She closed her eyes and suddenly I could see what she was remembering: the first time she saw me from Rosalie's arms. Like all vampires, Ness had inherited the perfect memory trait. She fast forwarded through her recollections, vivid image, after vivid image until she stopped at one of Rosalie's face. She looked concerned, not staring at Nessie like I thought she would have been, but at whoever was holding her: me.
Thank you Bells.
Then Nessie remembered feeling my lips touch the top of her head. I relived the moment with her, as Ness remembered her baby self turning around in my arms so she could see my face. She was looking up at me, her little hands reaching up to point at the tears that were slowly tumbling down my face, urgently trying to touch my neck. Tears of joy- of unspeakable happiness was clear on my face.
To see that moment through Nessie's eyes reminded me how much her presence in my life has made me feel complete.
I'm not sad; I'm very happy…
Renesmee stopped remembering and removed her hands from mine. But I left my palm on her cheek as I opened my eyes. I knew my eyes were swimming in tears- they had been ever since Renesmee remembered turning around to look at me, but I wasn't expecting to feel Ness' tears on my fingers.
"That was the moment wasn't it? When you thanked Momma for fighting for me? You really were happy to see me," Ness said in wonder, her voice high with emotion.
I nodded wholeheartedly, as I ran my thumb along Ness' cheek wiping away her tears. "When you were born, I had witnessed so much- had been through so much. I was worried sick about Bella- I still loved her, and I wondered what all the pain was for. I had split off from my pack, and I was concerned your father would lose his mind with guilt and unimaginable hurt if Bella didn't make it."
Ness turned away from me, my hand falling from her face, and I realised too late that I'd said too much.
"Nessie," I gently spoke to her, reaching out to touch her hand. She turned back to look at me, her eyes still swimming in tears just like mine. "But the moment I saw your face, your eyes the exact colour of your mother's- eyes I already loved, and your smell so similar to your father's- the only vampire scent I associated with comfort, I knew immediately what it was all for, my life finally made sense. We all suffered so that you-"
"But that's horrible!" Nessie objected, interrupting me before I could say more.
"But you were so worth it, Ness and you still are," I gently spoke to her, bending down slightly so I could look her in the eye. When she didn't reply, apparently overwhelmed by how much joy she had given me and her parents, I pulled her into a one-armed hug to comfort her.
"I can't be worth all that, Jake," she whispered into my chest.
"Do you really believe that? Haven't you noticed the way your parents look at you?" I entreated her, and then moved my lips to kiss the top of her head. "They know, every second of their existence, that you were worth everything they went through, Nessie," I whispered, my lips still resting amongst her beautiful bronze curls.
"But they are my parents; they have to love me," she insisted pulling away from me to stare beseechingly into my eyes as if trying to make me understand how her parents' love was different from my own.
While I could not deny that my love for Nessie was different from her parents', the intensity our love was undeniably equal in that it is unconditional.
"I… you… Ness," I finally managed to blurt out, "you are my life. I will always love you," I told my imprint in a desperate attempt to convince her that she mean as much to me as she does to Bella and Edward. Much to my surprise, I felt a tear trickle down my face.
Nessie noticed with a start and moved closer to me, wanting to comfort me, but I pressed on, speaking with so much feeling I was afraid I would start to cry. "That moment you just remembered is one of the most important of my life; my reason for living is for you- to make sure you were happy, safe, and loved. I knew, from that moment on, that everything I did would be for you. To be a part of your life was all I wanted. It is beautiful, though a little scary too, to be so connected to someone without even truly knowing them- to need to see someone everyday, where every thought and feeling is about that person. My love for you is unconditional; you are my other half, my true love and all the other mushy stuff. It's all true- the fairytale comes true for some of us," I finished feeling really emotional, as I wiped my tears away.
Nessie was also moved by what I'd said, her lips trembled with feeling. I wrapped both my arms around her and pulled her close to me.
"I believe you," she whispered into my chest. "I'm sorry for upsetting you."
I exhaled slowly, feeling beyond relieved.
We sat in silence for a while, lost in our own thoughts.
"So Daddy knew all of this soon after I was born? He's known for the last 6 years?" Nessie confirmed with me, the amazement in her voice was unmistakable.
"That's right," I whispered into her hair.
"No wonder why he and Momma weren't surprised when I told them how I felt… they weren't even concerned about the age gap."
"Because they've had 6 years to get used to the idea," I replied nodding to reinforce her understanding.
"Do you think it was hard for them to accept how you felt about me?" Ness ventured timidly, afraid of what I would say.
"They knew, or at least, your father knew that all I wanted was to be a part of your life- nothing romantic, just to be with you. It was hard for them to share you with me, but it didn't take them long to realise that I would protect you with my life."
Ness nodded, and then leaned up on her elbow so she could see my face. "I remember the battle against the Volturi- I remember Momma and Daddy saying goodbye after placing me on your back. They trusted you then."
I nodded. "See? It didn't take them long."
"Perhaps this did all happen for a reason; our lives are pretty perfect," she thought out loud.
"I totally agree, Nessie."
Renesmee grinned at me, and then resumed her position next to me as she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Who else knows about imprinting? Does Grandpa Carlisle, Grandma Esme, and every one else at the big house know?"
"They all know," I replied nodding. "They have known ever since you were born. Your Aunt Rosalie and I used to fight over you, do you remember?"
Nessie laughed musically, running her finger up and down my arm as she reminisced. Next thing I knew, I saw myself and Rosalie scowling at each other, arguing over who would feed Ness and who would hold her.
Ness cringed.
"I'm sorry for biting you."
I kissed the top of her head, laughing quietly.
"It didn't hurt, and besides, we were the ones apologising; all we could think about was our own wants, rather than your needs. But let's face it; we were definitely fighting over someone special."
Ness pressed her face into my torso, clearly embarrassed. I ran my fingers through her bronze ringlets, as I said:
"And besides, it was in that moment that I realised how lucky I was; I could give you something no one else could: blood."
"Jake…" Nessie mumbled into my chest, clearly disgusted.
"Hey, it was cute back then, and don't discount it; it made me feel special," I asserted proudly and lovingly.
"Well, as long as you weren't disgusted by it…" Nessie trailed off sounding uncertain about whether it genuinely didn't bother me.
"I thought it would, but it wasn't. If I could give you something you needed, that's all that mattered to me, regardless of the costs."
"And that's why you've always been around? Why I see you everyday? You want to be here for me?"
"Yes, and because you are a part of me; my life has no meaning without you in it," I reminded her gently.
Nessie paused, her hand resting on my arm. Unintentionally, she remembered back to earlier that morning when she had woken up from her dream. I saw in her mind that she tried to imagine what life would be like without me; she couldn't imagine it either. Ness didn't talk to me about this memory of hers, and I decided not to bring it up- seeing it and hearing her thoughts was enough for me.
"I'm so glad Daddy didn't make you stay away all those years ago," she whispered, as she wrapped her arms around me.
"I am definitely grateful to him for not trying; it would have made life difficult for me and perhaps for you too. But having said that, Edward knew he couldn't actually keep me away from you; he wouldn't dare think of it because not only had I developed an attachment to you, but you already considered me a part of your family."
"Which you are," Ness insisted. "And…" I could see that Nessie was remembering something, her thoughts racing through her mind and mine for she had inched her fingers under my shirt. "The battle with the Volturi… Daddy called you his 'Son'."
I smiled at the memory of it; that moment was when I knew Edward had truly accepted the fact that Renesmee's fate and my own would be forever intertwined.
"Was it strange to hear him say that?" Nessie asked me, looking into my face trying to read my expression.
I shook my head slowly, a satisfied smile on my face. "No, it wasn't. Although he looks seventeen, he is technically old enough to be my great grandfather." Nessie laughed musically; it was strangely true. "In that moment when we felt that all was lost, and all I could think about was my grief, Edward's words were such a relief to me; to know I had his blessing, even in death, meant so much to me. But," I continued on quickly, fearing I had jumped the gun, "there's no rush, we can take it slow, it's completely up to you."
Nessie gave me a dazzling smile.
"I'll see how we go," she told me, and I had the sense she was teasing me by being vague, but I honestly didn't mind; I was still trying to process the fact that the next part of our life was just beginning.
Before I could reply, Ness asked, her lips pulled into a frown:
"How come no one told me about imprinting before? Why didn't you tell me how you felt?"
"Because your parents and I decided we didn't want my feelings to influence yours. I wanted you to make your own choice, without the pressure of knowing that you're my imprint," I explained to her.
"Are you- are you happy with that choice?" Ness asked me hesitantly.
I nodded energetically. "You have no idea how amazing it is to hear you say you want to be with me knowing that I didn't influence you in any way; this is what you want regardless of whether I loved you back or not. I have waited six years for this moment and I wouldn't change it for anything," I impressed upon my imprint as I held her small soft hands in mine. Nessie watched my thumbs run over the top of her hand, a small smile on her face.
"I didn't think dreams could be so powerful."
I chuckled. "Well yours was a very vivid one; just seeing those few seconds showed me, in the most amazing way possible, what our future could be like. There is nothing I wouldn't give to have that with you. Your dream showed me what I could have, and I truly hope we will some day."
Ness raised her head so she could gaze into my eyes, probably to see whether I was being genuine or not.
"You really do want to be with me," she stated in awe, never taking her eyes away from mine.
"More than anything," I murmured lovingly, our eyes remaining locked for what seemed like minutes, when it was really seconds.
It took everything I had not to lean forward and kiss Nessie, even on the cheek, and I wondered whether she was thinking along similar lines. If she was, she was purposefully hiding her wishes from me as our hands were touching. To distract myself, I lay down on Nessie's bed, pulling her gently down with me. We lay side by side in silence for a while, her head resting on my chest whilst I drew circles on her back.
I was wondering how long we had been talking for and was about to ask Ness if she was hungry when she said:
"I can't believe Daddy saw my dream."
I ran my hand along her arm to comfort her, breakfast completely forgotten.
"In a way, I'm glad he did. It was totally worth the broken wrist," I asserted in a joking way, holding up my bandaged arm. Then moving my good arm from under Ness, I sat up and removed the sling. Ness watched me with anticipation. When I was free from bandages, I flexed my hand and moved my wrist. It was as good as new.
I heard Ness breathe a sigh of relief.
I lay back down, giving Ness a smile on my way, then decided to answer her question properly.
"Edward seemed okay- he was more concerned about invading your privacy, and for hurting me, than anything else."
"I wish I was able to give him a bit of warning… the dream came out of nowhere- he must've been so shocked."
"I think 'livid' would be more accurate," I corrected her in a teasing way as I gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Ohhh," Ness whimpered with regret. "He's been waiting for 6 years to find out whether I see you that way, and then suddenly it's forced upon him in such a vivid and shocking way!"
"Oh Nessie," I soothed her. "You know he forgives you- all he wants is for you to be happy. But it's probably moments like this when he wished he didn't have a perfect memory."
"Oh gosh, I know," Ness groaned. "He will never forget it!"
"He told me he was seriously going to try," I laughed, knowing full well that it would be impossible.
"I've scarred my father for life!"
I continued to laugh; the situation was just too amusing to not find humour in it.
"I'm sure he'll get over it," I reassured her more seriously, and then continued on a slightly different path. "But at least I was able to reassure your father that your dream would not become a reality until the moment was right."
"Do you think Daddy thought you had lost patience waiting for me and decided to force yourself-"
"If he was thinking clearly, he would have known that I will never lose my patience when it comes to you. However, I think you are probably right- that is what he must've thought at the time. But Nessie, I promise to never do anything to harm or disrespect you. I am always happy to wait until you are ready."
"I trust you; I know you will never hurt me."
"You have no idea how true that is," I whispered just before kissing the top of Nessie's head.
Once I moved my lips from her hair, Ness sat up on her elbows as she stared at me with her large, gorgeous brown eyes.
"You've been with me everyday for the past six years, are you sure you're not going to get sick of me?" she teased, her usual confidence returning to her now, though I could see she was a little worried that imprinting might fade over time.
"I'm positive," I asserted. "No matter what you do, I will always want to be a part of your life, and will love you as much as I do now."
I saw Ness grin cheekily at me, and then she pursed her lips in contemplation, a soft 'hmmm' coming from her throat.
"Even if I did something really embarrassing like run to La Push and act like a chicken in front of your brothers and your dad?" Nessie joked as she leapt off her bed. I took her getting up to mean that she wanted to see Edward and Bella, and no doubt the rest of the Cullens, to share her happiness with them. To be honest, I couldn't wait to do the same, so I followed suit.
Standing so that we were on opposite sides of her bed, I leaned over and said:
"Even if you told my brothers that I just cried like a girl- multiple times," I stopped speaking just to relish in Nessie's beautiful laugh, "I would love you, as my friend or my partner, forever."
"Forever?" she echoed, her face serious now, and I could tell she was wondering if the literal sense of 'forever' was possible.
I nodded. "As long as I continue to phase, I will be immortal," I answered her silent question.
Nessie's eyes brightened, clearly thrilled that our life together does not have a foreseeable end; it will last for eternity.
"Now, are you sure you aren't going to get sick of me; don't you want some new friends? Perhaps some your own age?" I ventured, a grin plastered on my face, even though I knew I was possibly stepping into dangerous territory.
But Nessie didn't have to think about her answer.
"Nope, all I want is you… forever," she told me proudly, her eyes bright with happiness as she closed the gap between us by coming to my side of her bed. She stopped right in front of me, so we were only inches apart. Slowly, cautiously, Ness wrapped her arms around my neck, her beautiful brown eyes staring into mine. I knew what she wanted, so I bent down towards her. As I did so, my heart pounded like crazy inside my chest, I could barely control my anticipation. Eventually, after three agonising seconds, I felt her warm, smooth lips on my own. We kissed tenderly, nothing too passionate or forceful, but nice and gentle. It lasted for only a second but it was amazing: our first kiss.
All too soon, Ness pulled away from me, and I could see her looking eagerly at me as if to see how I would react to our kiss. The moment had rendered me speechless, and all I could do was laugh with indescribable glee. I thought Ness would wonder what was wrong with me, but instead, she joined in, her musical laughter filling the room.
I hugged her to me.
"Wow," I whispered into her ear. Ness giggled at my reaction as she hugged me tightly back. Our first kiss… I couldn't quite believe that things were finally happening for us; I had waited so long for this moment. It was strange to hear myself talk about forever, and even more amazing to hear Nessie speak of it when we had only just admitted our feelings to each other. And yet, the concept didn't scare her; it was what she wanted, and that was the most precious gift of all.
Slowly, Ness unwound her arms from my waist and gently took my hand in hers, her fingers interlocked with mine. Unspeakable happiness and joy filled me when I felt Nessie's joy at the prospect of telling her family what had happened, as she dragged me by the hand down the stairs.
As we ran to the white house, I could see images from Nessie's mind due to us holding hands. Her overwhelming happiness and excitement equalled my own, and that in itself was unbelievable to me. She was thinking about the kiss we just had, wondering when we would be able to share another precious moment like that one. She was wondering where we would go on our first date, and whether Aunt Alice was going to take her shopping for clothes. Her mind filled with anticipation as she pondered if there were other secrets I had that she didn't know about yet, and finally, she hoped that her family would be happy for her when she told them her amazing news.
And in that moment, I knew, like I have always known, that if she could be mine for even half of forever, I would be the luckiest guy on Earth.
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Author's note: As I alluded to in the previous chapter, I imagine Ness' dream as being a catalyst for her feelings- her unconscious mind telling her that she wants to be with Jake and to do something about it. From the reviews I have received from you all, I feel that most of you agree with me :) Yay!
Also, I hope you like the way I have characterised Renesmee; her personality obviously influenced her reaction to Jake's love. I don't envisage her normally being so unsure of herself, but like Bella with Edward, I see her finding it difficult to believe Jake could love her so unconditionally, so needed a bit of convincing, just like her parents did :)
In terms of imprinting being kept a secret, I envisage (given it was never really mentioned in the books) that by general consensus, imprints are not told they are the imprint of another until they themselves form a love interest in their wolf. And of course, as Ness was only young when Jake imprinted on her, no one would suggest a romantic relationship between them anyway unless they wanted to be shot by Edward! I imagine imprinting would be hard to keep a secret, but essentially no one had said the word 'imprint' within her ear shot and no one suggested Jake had a special relationship with her- he's just a pat of their family and was her primary source of amusement when she was young. So I hope this sounds plausible to you :)
Thanks so much for reading; I really hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter is called: 'Trust me' (I like to mirror the title of my story by naming one of the chapters after said title), and it takes place two years after this one. There will be a flashback in the coming chapter, but I can tell you now that I won't be showing any of Jake/Ness' dates or anything like that. I will explain my reasons for this at the end of the story. Four more chapters of 'Trust me' to go! I hope you're enjoying the journey :D Please remember to review, I so can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one! Thank you all so much! I will post up the next chapter on Saturday.