I planned on this story being longer, continuing on for a few more chapters.

But as I wrote this, I realized I was writing the end. This was it, where after all these years for us, where we find our two lovers.

It's been wonderful writing for you, and reading your comments and sharing my joys and sorrows with you. We've been together for five long years. You saw me begin nervously in middle school, and here I am in a college dining hall in the wee hours of the night.

Thank you for growing with me, and giving me the courage to grow as a writer.

And I hope you enjoy this final installment.

-ooo-

A Few Days Later

Jacob still didn't know what to do. Every time he wanted to tell Carlisle, to shout it with joy or to cry it out, something stopped him. Worse, he knew what that something was.

A part of him worried that Carlisle would leave him. He would go back to Esme, explain what had happened, and of course she would take him back. It was Carlisle, after all. Or maybe that was his imprint talking, and Esme would leave him. Then Carlisle would be miserable, and that was even worse.

"…-cob…Jacob, are you alright?" The voice dragged him from his thoughts and zeroed in on his lover's concerned face. "Jacob?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," he lied.

Carlisle's concern fell into some sort of sadness. "It's about what Sam told you, isn't it?"

A pause, before Jacob admitted, "Yeah."

"I wish you'd tell me. It's not like you to keep secrets." Then a chilled hand touched the werewolf's cheek, stroking it soothingly. They were spending the night at the cabin. Carlisle probably thought it would cheer him up. He wished it did.

"I just don't know how to tell you," he said, "When I figure it out, I promise you'll know." He put his hand over Carlisle's, and moved the palm so he could press kisses there. He knew it hurt the doctor, and that hurt him just as much. But there was no way to say it, no way to explain…

Instead, he tugged his lover down to the rug with him. He held Carlisle in his arms, facing him, pressing soft kisses along his neck.

"Jacob," the vampire murmured, "I was reading…"

"I wasn't listening, remember?" He bit the skin hard, enough to get a reaction from the man. A small moan graced his ears, so he licked the spot and bit again. The moan was louder, and then that comforting and cold hand was on Jacob's thigh. It moved up and up until the wolf growled.

"You'll acclimate soon enough," Carlisle teased.

Jacob smiled into his neck before reaching around to grope his mate's ass. "Never."

Several Hours Later

The two lovers were sprawled on the same rug, Jacob panting and sweating enough for the both of them. He'd been so rough, so passionate; he was probably trying to work out his troubles. Not that it worked.

"You never rode me like that before," Carlisle said, "I might actually ache in the morning." He was smiling at the younger man, and those upturned lips nearly made Jacob hard all over again. The blond leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Why the sudden change?"

"Was it bad?" Chocolate eyes searched gold for hesitance, for concern. Instead he found love there, nothing but love. Maybe, just maybe, it would be okay if he told Carlisle. He could choose him after all.

"Carlisle kissed him. "No, I enjoyed it. I always enjoy making love to you…I just wanted to know what inspired it. Maybe I could inspire it in you again next time." His smile became playful, and so very enticing.

Jacob found himself devouring the blond all over again, tasting his mouth as if for the first time, exploring his body like uncharted territory. Knowing this was his mate, the person he was meant to spend the rest of his life with, seemed to shower his vision in new light. Every inch of Carlisle was a new type of perfection, every word and every quirk, like the work of da Vinci.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered against those chilled lips.

The doctor laughed softly. "What?"

"That's why it was different. I think I finally realized how beautiful you are." He must have been showing his lovesick expression, because he was yanked in close for another kiss. Hands tugged through his hair, down his back, forcing him to grind against the vampire.

"Jacob," Carlisle finally groaned, "Oh Jacob."

The werewolf rutted against him. "I love you."

"I love you too." Carlisle bit his lip then, silencing those heavenly moans. But Jacob didn't try to stop him, didn't try to take this any further. His hips stopped after a while, and he simply held Carlisle in his arms.

This was the man he would spend the rest of his life with, whether he was wanted or not. With the way those honey hues seemed to smile at him, though, he had a feeling he was wanted.

"Carlisle?" He pressed his face into the crook of his lover's neck, taking in the scent he'd come to adore and cherish.

"Yes, love?"

Hands kept him close, stroked his hair, letting him melt against the vampire. Jacob dragged a breath into his lungs. So he could never have kids, so what. He didn't need to start a family, he had everything he needed right here in his arms.

"I can't have kids."

For a long while, the only sound after that was his heart slamming in his chest.

Eventually, those cold hands pulled him closer, held him tighter. "Jacob," Carlisle said, "We couldn't have children anyway."

Jacob could hear the smile in his mate's voice, and that just brought the threat of tears even faster. He was so worried about not having a family, about his good doctor realizing what that could mean…

But the first thought was that?

That they would be together forever?

He could've fallen in love with him all over again.

"I love you," he choked out. "I love you so much, Carlisle. I-I imprinted on you, because I'm infertile and-"

"You what?" Carlisle pushed him away, enough to look into those young eyes. "You imprinted on me?"

The werewolf still managed to hold back those tears in his eyes when he took this sight in. His lover looked startled, scared. Oh god. Oh god no, Sam was right. He shouldn't have said anything.

He managed to croak out a "yes," though, despite his every desire to go back in time and keep his mouth shut.

Much to his horror and expectation, Carlisle pulled away further and even stood up. He paced a bit before he went to put his pants on. But Jacob was frozen in place.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"I don't know, I…I should go home." He looked back to Jacob finally, and saw the heartbreak he'd put there.

"I thought you were home." And then he felt himself die, naked and alone on that rug. He should have kept it to himself; of course Carlisle would panic. He'd leave, and Jacob would never hold him or kiss him again, never see that sunbeam smile…

The doctor came over to him after a while, hesitantly kneeling beside him. "Jacob."

"You're gonna leave me, aren't you?" Maybe it was the hopelessness in his voice or maybe it was pity, but he was pulled into the blond's arms. He embraced Carlisle, expecting it to be the last time he could feel his cold skin, feel it bite against his own burning 108°F. If this was it, then he would hold on as long as he could.

"Jacob, why would anyone leave the sunshine?" Carlisle muttered.

He glanced up. "What?"

"You make me so happy, love. With you I feel alive again, like the sun itself is coursing through my veins. Jacob, you are the most radiant, most loving being I have ever had the privilege of knowing because you are the sun to a storm. How could I go back to winter when you've shown me the spring?"

"If this goodbye is supposed to make me feel better…"

Carlisle cupped his face and brought him close until their foreheads pressed together. "You startled me. You told me you had imprinted on me, and everything that meant swarmed me and…and I was vulnerable for a moment."

"You were about to leave me naked and broken," Jacob complained, "Doesn't get more vulnerable than that."

"Hush, Jacob, just…hush. I was afraid, confused, overwhelmed. But seeing you here, knowing how much you love me and how much I love you, there isn't a chance in the world I would leave. Whatever we do, whatever happens, we're in this together. I promise."

Words clogged Jacob's throat, but he hardly needed them now. Instead, he leaned in and kissed Carlisle with all the love he could – kissed him until those lips he loved turned up into an ever-endearing smile.

They would have to tell the other Cullens, and Jacob's dad, and figure out where to live and how to adapt and…

And as long as Carlisle gave him those sunbeam smiles for the rest of their lives, nothing else seemed to matter.