Sorry for the delay- I waited until I finished with this story to update. No more waiting for more chapters. I wont drone on! Enjoy

Chapter 25

Finally!

Jacob's POV

"Renesmee," I smile at her, relief filling my core as well as my eyes. A warm, stray tears flows down my cheek. "I've missed you so much."

Without any words, she places her slender frame against my body. Instantly, I wrap myself around her just as her scent intoxicates every single cell in my body. We seem to stand here in the middle of her house for an unknown length of time. After a moment, I feel her pull away and it's with great effort that I let her go. As I do though, she places a gentle palm against my cheek, sending me visions of love. I can't help but to beam down at her.

"I love you," I whisper back, my eyes still hazy from her love. "So much."

She doesn't respond as she steps back into my arms. Her warmth and scent are so comforting it's almost too good to be true. Her eyes hold so much warmth and compassion that I could spend a decade not moving from this spot and just gaze back at her.

A thought unwillingly filters into my subconscious and I have to ask "where are you?"

Once again she doesn't answer. She just smiles and places her head against my chest. I take it as a sign that she wants me to hold her, so I do. I always will. As I pull her close to me, I notice something. Something that sends me into alarm mode.

"The baby," I gasp, pushing her at arm's length. She's not pregnant anymore. "What happened to the baby?"

Instead of the concern I expected to see on her beautiful face, her smile never wavers as she touches me and tells me without words that she's okay. That everything is fine. For some reason, her carefree expression allows me to relax again. Why isn't she speaking? What is wrong?

With her hand still on my face, I feel the pad of her thumb move back and forth over my cheek. My sight goes into a dreamlike state as another vision fills my mind; one so powerful, I almost stop breathing.

There are trees everywhere; rushing by as if we were running. I don't like this vision. I want to pull away. Something about it sends my heart racing. The scents of the forest are almost overwhelming as everything continues to rush by at an unimaginable speed. Immediately confused, I try to understand what she's showing me, but I don't recognize the area. Why won't she just tell me? There is a sense of panic in the air as well as urgency. I feel a lump form in my throat as I imagine her feeling this panic, it's almost crippling. Just as her fear splinters through my heart, something comes into view. It's the one thing that is still in this blurry world; it's a sign.

Big Horn National Park

NO HUNTING AREA.

Violators will be held to the maximum

punishment of the law.

Big Horn? Where is that?

Just when I thought she would let me out of the vision, a pale, red-eyed vampire comes into view. My heartbeat suddenly doubles as I recognize the bloody eyed bastard chasing the only thing in this world I'd die for.

Bolting upright, I'm out of breath; my exhalation visibly coming out with the cold, morning air. I look around me, seeing all of the Cullen's and all the wolves that could stand to be near their mortal enemies. As my eyes swim over each individual, something honey colored catches my attention. Abruptly my eyes stop on Edward's. He's watching me closely, a strange emotion fixed upon his face. Sitting up, I try to recall exactly why I'm so out of breath. It must have been a dream or something.

Unzipping the navy blue sleeping bag from around my legs, I push it down and pull myself out, sweat having already collected on my brow. Ever since Alice had a vision of the other coven in the Northern Mountains of Wyoming, we've been searching the area for the past four days. It's officially been six long, brutal, and draining weeks since Nessie was abducted.

Yawning, I stand and stretch; finding little comfort that I actually feel asleep for the first time in a week. Seeing the sun barely peeking on the horizon, I look around once more; feeling Edward's eyes still on me.

When I catch him staring once again, he surprisingly doesn't look away.

"What," I ask, shrugging my shoulders.

I notice then that Bella's eyes are flicking between mine and Edward's. It's like she also knows something. Still, no one says anything.

"Well while you ignore me, I'm going to take a pis—"

"Jacob!" Bella snaps at my rudeness.

Oh yeah… I'm the rude one. I roll my eyes. Staring at someone and ignoring them when they question you is completely unrude, un-jerk-offness…? Hmmm… what's the word I'm looking for?

"Polite," Edward remarks, hearing my thoughts. I stop in my tracks on the way to relieve my bladder. I turn, my eyes demanding an explanation now. "When you get back."

Of course, always on their terms.

A few minutes later, as I'm walking back up to the campsite, I watch a few yawning wolves get up and shake off their fur. It's like they're all attuned to wake when I do. Just as Esme starts taking breakfast orders at the small fire in the center of our campsite, I remember why my mood is a little sour this morning and fix my eyes on my soon-to-be-father-in-law. Edward's scrutinizing eyes flash to mine in that instant.

I smirk, glad I could still get under his skin before remembering our current situation. I feel my face fall and prepare for the same suffocating feeling I do every morning, agony. Just as it slams into my chest I place my hand over my heart and try hard gasp for a breath. I have to stay strong for my pack, but this search is just taking us way too long. Clearing my head, I shake a little and begin walking once more.

"Jake, what do you want?" Esme asks, her sincere eyes looking me over. I see a trace of sorrow in the depths on her irises. I'm not sure if it's for me or for her family. They all have a reason to hurt just like I do.

"I'm not hungry, thanks."

Her lips move into a flat line. She doesn't like the fact that I don't eat very much; but, having an appetite isn't exactly on my list of things to do right now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Edward move from his seat on a dead tree and slide over; most likely giving me room to sit down. I wander over to the huge log and sit. Resting my elbows on my knees, I curiously look back at him.

"So, what's with the rude staring?" I asked flatly. I didn't appreciate being ignored and I was going to let him know it.

"I'm not just staring… I'm listening as well," he informs me quietly.

"Oh."

"It's just that when you were sleeping…"

I rocket my eyes to him and expect him to tell me I was dreaming about having sex with his daughter. That could have explained why I was out of breath… that could explain why he now has an I'm-going-to-kill-you-look on his face. I feel heat wash over my body as I give him an apologetic smile and force the appealing though out of my head.

"Don't worry; I try to stay out of your head if I can help it."

"Good," I growled back at his tone. I'm not in the mood for this.

There's an awkward and almost painful moment of silence. "You said her name."

I look back at him once again. "Whose? Renesmee's?"

He nods.

"Did I happen to say anything else?" I asked quietly. What if I had been dreaming about sex? It's not like I could help my dreams. What could he say if I was?

"Please don't mention that again." Edward said, a painful/disgusted expression taking over his stony face.

I shrugged the only apology he was going to get from me. His daughter was pregnant; how did he think that happened? A stork?

"Enough," he snapped, rubbing whatever mental picture I had given him out of his eyes.

I couldn't control the fact that my lips pulled into a half-grin. I always liked getting under that icy skin of his.

"Is that all?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took an unnecessary breath in. "No, that isn't all," he replied, somewhat annoyed by my attitude. I could care, I thought sarcastically. I had more important things to worry about; his daughter for one. "You… also said other things."

I waited for him to continue.

Looking a bit embarrassed he added, "When I heard you say my daughter's name, I grew curious." I sat straight up knowing exactly what he had done. He watched my damn dream. Would he ever learn to mind his own business? "Before you say anything, I heard the alarm in your voice. I couldn't ignore it. The dream you were having was… unusual. It was almost as if..." He paused for a brief moment and I could tell he was trying to find the right words to say. "As if she was trying to tell you something. But, I only caught the last part. Do you remember anything at all about your dream?"

I rested my elbows on my knees once more and stared down at the dead leaves on the ground. What had I been dreaming about? I couldn't recall any of it. Looking towards Edward, I wonder what he had seen that brought all this on.

"I saw Gideon," he replied to my unspoken question. "He was chasing after something or someone."

As soon as he said the fucking bloodsucker's name my memory kicked in. I remembered seeing Ness. She wasn't pregnant anymore, but she was okay. She told me she loved me and… God, I couldn't remember the rest. Think Jake, think! She told me she loved me and… No! She had shown me she loved me. Then, she wanted me to hold her. The memory of it was so clear now. I could almost still feel her perfect body pressed against mine.

Unable to fight it, I let out a harsh breath when the gut-wrenching pain of losing her pounded its way into my chest. Tears immediately stung my throat. I wish I could have stayed in my dream… where she was okay… and where she was safe in my arms.

I hadn't expected to feel a cold, comforting hand on my back. I knew it was Bella. She's the only one that had comforted me this way. She knew what it was like to feel this way. She knew what it was like have someone you love no longer in your life. It was an exhausted feeling. It took the color out of the world and the air out of your lungs. It left you feeling hollow and without purpose. I understood now what I couldn't understand then.

Ignoring the wetness trailing its way down my cheeks, I gasped for air. I felt like I was suffocating.

"Shhhh," Bella soothed.

"Jacob, I know this may not be the best time but I need to know if there was anything else. Who or why was Gideon chasing you?"

I wiped my hand over my face and sniffed trying to recall more of the dream. I had to do this. Closing my eyes, I tried to picture it once more.

We were standing in her tree house. She had showed me that she loved me and then… damn it!

"Fuck, I can't remember," I cursed myself for being an idiot.

"Just relax," Bella's musical voice sounded close to my ear. "Try to put yourself back into your dream."

"Maybe I can help?" Alice's presence hadn't startled me, I could smell and hear her getting closer while Bells was talking. She would know better than anyone how to recall a premonition… or whatever the hell it was she could do.

As I raised my eyes to look at hers, I could see determination I had been waiting to see in everyone's eyes. I didn't see sympathy this time. We all wanted to find her. And, unfortunately, I possibly held the key to where she may be. If only I could remember.

Renesmee's POV

"We've got to keep moving!" Benjamin snapped at his twin sister.

I winced at the loudness he brought with this anger. I was positive all this stress was not good for the baby. Not to mention the overwhelming exhaustion that was threatening to collapse my will to go on.

Even though I'd love nothing more than to snuggle up on my makeshift bed of leaves, I knew he was right. We had to keep moving. Gideon's clan didn't need to rest like I did; they were all vampires. They didn't need to take breaks. And the more breaks we took the more likely they would find us.

"She's done in," Gloria pointed a hand at me, indicating how awful I must look. "We can't keep pushing her. She can't handle all of this in her condition. She needs to rest."

Benjamin placed two angry fists on his hips and scowled at me. This had been a constant battle between the two of them and I hated being the cause of their argument. If we actually survived this, Benjamin would never forgive me. I could see the rage in his eyes when I caught him looking at me. I was the reason his world was so messed up right now. I'm sure he often wondered if I was even worth it.

"She could lose her baby, Ben. She could die if—"

"Enough!" He snarled, cutting her off. "One hour. That's it!" His glare slid over to me. "One hour… Make it count."

I didn't waste time arguing or watching him stomp off. I laid myself down on the forest floor not caring what bugs or other creatures were there to join me. I had missed my sleeping bag desperately. It made me realize now how lucky I was to have it before when I had selfishly wished for my bed. I hated that we had to leave our campsite so quickly. We barely had anything with us now.

On the cusp of sleep, I thought about what Gloria had said about needing rest. She was right. I knew a person would die from fatigue before they would die of starvation. It was a biological fact. A human needed sleep to survive; even half one's like me. And, if I died… so would my child. Shivering at the thought, I imagined being back in my big bed at home with the warmth of my wolf surrounding me. It was all I needed to force myself into an exhaustive slumber.

I felt like I had just fallen asleep when Gloria had gently awakened me. My head throbbed with such an awful pain I couldn't even begin to try to ignore it. It was its own way of begging for more sleep. I instantly regretted the nap. Exhaustion I could deal with, but exhaustion with a migraine was much worse.

Standing up awkwardly, I wiped off the wet leaves and dirt that had clung to my body before lingering longingly over my mid-section; rubbing my hands in small circles. I wish I could tell my baby that everything was going to be okay. That no matter what, I would fight to the death so it could live.

Looking up at Gloria, who was watching me closely, I regretted not being able to run as fast as her or her brother. Every day it was becoming more difficult ride to on their backs with my belly growing bigger. It was quickly transforming into an unavoidable obstacle. I knew deep down this couldn't go on for much longer.

I took one step in her direction and immediately froze, feeling something within. Gasping, I applied more pressure to my stomach, trying to understand the odd fluttering feeling in my tummy. Was it kicking? Is that what kicking felt like?

"What is it," she asked, smiling.

I realized that I, too, was grinning. In fact, I hadn't smiled in so long that it felt foreign to my face. Looking down at myself, I waited silently hoping to feel it again.

Just when I thought I had imagined it, I felt it once more. My smile widened. "It's kicking I think." I couldn't hide the wonder in my voice; I was speechless.

Gloria flew to my side in a millisecond. She smiled shyly and I knew she wanted to feel it. I wanted her too. I wanted someone to experience this amazing moment with me.

Grabbing her hand, I placed it directly where I felt the unfamiliar flittering.

The baby kicked harder at the contact and I jumped, surprise claiming all of my features.

"Oh my, it is kicking." If I hadn't heard the awe in Gloria's voice I could see it in her red stained eyes. In that instant I knew I could trust her with my life. After everything she has sacrificed for me, I don't know why it took me this long to realize that fact. "He's a feisty little thing, isn't he?"

He? Was it a boy? I'd like to think it was. I don't think I had admitted it aloud yet, but I wanted a miniature Jacob more than anything in this world. But, if I had a girl, I would be just as happy.

"Renesmee," Benjamin's calm voice cut through my happy little bubble and brought reality with him. My smile fell. In a time like this, how could I have let my guard down enough to feel such happiness? "We need to leave soon. Please be ready to go in two minutes. I will be down by the river filling the canteens for you. Meet me there when you are ready." Well, at least he was being somewhat nicer.

I nodded my head at him, unable to speak as he quickly darted away. He was a hard guy to talk to. His intelligence was obvious to anyone who took notice. His vocabulary was vast and without fault. He often criticized me for my "dreadful American way of speaking." And even without basic necessities, he was always coming up with different ways for me to survive. From making a bed out of leaves, to building a fire with nothing but two sticks and small string of twine. Also, we were always close to a water source of some kind as he insisted that I continuously stay hydrated. After all of this, I honestly couldn't help but be curious of him. He was a shield… like my mother. I often pondered what else they may have in common; but, so far, that seemed to be about it.

Needing to take care of my needs, I wandered off in the opposite direction of the river. It was really embarrassing having two strange vampires hear me relieve my bladder so frequently. My needs were much more pressing these days. Feeling foolish even thinking about it, I walked a little deeper into the forest, hoping I was more out of earshot than usual. Having the baby move so wildly inside of me was such a beautiful experience, but also a demanding one. I really needed some privacy.

A moment later, I was waddling as quickly as I could back to where I left Gloria; my two minutes were almost up and I didn't want to make Benjamin angrier with me. In fact, I was so worried about walking quickly, that I dropped a small roll of toilet paper that I thanked Gloria a million times for saving from the camp that day their coven found us. Cursing loudly, I bent over awkwardly to retrieve it.

Seeing my feet for the first time in the past few weeks was a funny thought to me. I giggled to myself while inspecting my swollen ankles. I wish I had a mirror to see exactly big I have gotten. I felt like a mountain. Well… maybe less like a mountain and more like Jabba the Hutt. Getting a gruesome visual in my head, I began walking once more.

I was relieved to see Gloria in my line of sight. She often baffled me with how still she could be. Unlike my family who had been so used to fidgeting because of wanting to blend in with the human world, Ben and Gloria could be comfortable staying in one position for days at a time.

Getting closer to her, I noticed her profile come better into view. She was looking at something intently. I cocked my head to the side, curious about her expression. She looked… odd.

Before I could even take another step in her direction, every hair on my body stood on end. I rubbed at my neck trying to chase away the gnawing feeling that someone was behind me. If someone were, I would have heard them or caught onto their scent at the very least. Gloria and Ben would have… Wait. Benjamin was by the river. And even though I could hear the river, I knew it was at least six hundred yards away.

Unable to take another step, I finally let my glance slide to whatever Gloria was intently looking at. That is when my concern turned into utter indescribable fear.

I couldn't hear Gloria say run, but I saw her mouth move. I saw the alarm in her eyes and my body immediately wanted to flee. I turned automatically; ready to run only to have icy, stone arms encircle me, trapping me in an inescapable vise grip.

The scream that left me was loud but was mute to my ears. The arms around me tightened in an instant, preventing my lungs from refilling with air. I held my breath while trying to kick with every ounce of strength my legs still had. My efforts were quickly thwarted as I was thrown so harshly on the ground that I bounced before landing on my back.

Blackness threated to take over. I almost gave into it. The rock I felt digging into my ribs was nothing compared to the way my lungs burned for more air. I was winded and breathless. Gasping was futile and pointless. No matter how hard I was trying, air continued to evade me.

"Did you really think you could keep this up forever?" A calm, evil voice filled my pounding ears. Although I was relieved that my hearing had returned, Gideon's voice instilled horror into my heart. "Honestly," he laughed "how long did you think this would continue? It was only a matter of time my dear."

Ignoring the now excruciating pain in my ribs, I placed two protective hands over my abdomen and resisted the urge to spit the blood that had formed in my mouth at him. It would have been my only defense as every inch of my body throbbed with pain.

He began circling around me, looking like he had finally gotten his prize. The satisfaction in his eyes fueled my anger. I made a vow to kill him.

"The others have been taken care of," a feminine voice came from somewhere. "She's ours. We must leave before the Cullen's find us."

Cullen's? Taken care of? What did that mean? Did they kill Benjamin and Gloria?

"Good, tie her up and blindfold her. Her family is too powerful. I don't want them getting any ideas. We'll leave for Italy tomorrow to make our deal with the Volturi. With bait such as this, they cannot deny me any longer. "

Italy? Tomorrow? Bait?

"Of course," the female agreed, her footsteps growing closer to me.

"Wait," Gideon commanded. "Give me a moment alone with her first. Go and join Matthew and Elizabeth. Leave the rope. I will be along in a moment."

Oh God. What was he going to do to me?

Once I could no longer hear the woman's footsteps, Gideon presence dominated the area around me. I tried to ball myself up to protect what I could, but I couldn't move. My ribs had to be broken.

I flinched as Gideon leaned down and cupped my face between his hands. I willed my eyes to stay locked onto his and spit out the blood in my mouth. With him so close, I had better aim. I hit my mark and prayed that he would lose his mind and go into a frenzy.

His burgundy eyes flared with thirst. I smiled over my small victory. He couldn't kill me… he needed me alive to take me to the Volturi.

"You naughty girl," he tsked calmly. He moved his hands down and surrounded my neck. "Do you know how easily I could kill you?" He warned before applying a little pressure.

I froze, fearing the worst, but his hands quickly lifted and continued to descend lower until they covered mine. NO! Not my baby!

"You have been a naughty girl. In more ways than one I see. What shall we do about that?"

I thought I had known what fear really was, but feeling it cripple me now, I realized I had only known what it felt like to be scared. I had never honestly known real fear.

Jacob's POV

"Blood!" someone yelled. "I smell blood!"

My heart fell into my stomach as I pushed my muscles harder and harder. We were close. I could smell Renesmee's sweet scent. But the other scents I smelled was what drove me faster. The coven had found her.

With Edward on my left, we led both coven and pack having been faster than the others. This would be an easy fight. This was a fight I'd been preparing for my whole life, I just hadn't known it. A fight that would protect my family; one I created. And I'd gladly rip each of their heads from their stone bodies and enjoy the way the charring flesh smelled as it burned. Yeah… I'd really enjoy that.

The look on Edward's face silenced my thoughts. Fear gripped his face, changing his features, almost aging him. I ran faster as did he.

What is it?

He shook his head, not divulging what he had heard before yelling to everyone: "Spread out!"

Within my head, I saw each wolf take their own path, naturally creating a circle around the area; the Cullen's did the same.

The other coven's scent was now overpowering my senses. The floral scent that had stayed in the back of my mind to remind me of my love's capturer now masked her scent.

We were close. This was it… finally.

Renesmee's POV

My body ached longingly for a breath. My broken ribs weren't allowing my lungs their request. No, instead, Gideon was having his fun and I was so close to praying for death.

Between kicking me in the sides and tossing me around like a rag doll, he would choke me until just before I would pass out. I knew I couldn't take much more. My body was ready to give up; especially when one of his kicks had made contact with my womb. I couldn't feel the connection with my baby any longer.

"When will you beg for my mercy? Maybe I should call your wolf. He would know what it was like for you to beg. Personally, I'd like to see it for myself."

"Go to hell," I seethed with what little breath I had.

"Gladly," he smiled menacingly as he looked down at me.

A noise I hadn't heard captured Gideon's attention and I watched with wide eyes as he morphed from a look of complete satisfaction to unexplainable horror. Confused, I raised my head in time to see a large russet wolf flying in the air, his ferocious growl registering loudly in my ears. My veins vibrated at the sight while my heart crashed against my broken ribs.

Seeing Jacob slam Gideon to the ground didn't make sense to my eyes. Was I hallucinating? Was he really here?

Grabbing the trunk of a tree near me, I pulled myself to it and tried sit up in the small clearing that seemed rare in this cluttered forest as wolf and vampire tumbled to the ground.

A second later they separated and sprang apart, wary of each other. Jake's attention was continuously diverted between Gideon and me as they snapped and snarled at each other.

"Nessie," my dad's voice was close but I couldn't see him.

"Dad?" I looked around tree and saw him headed directly for us, a rage-filled wrath threatening every ounce of his predator driven body. Relief flooded me. I wasn't hallucinating. My family was here. They found me. "Help—" I gasped for air, Jacob's name failing to leave my lips.

I glanced back at my wolf and willed myself to stand as his battle grew more brutal.

Knowing my father would be more worried about me than Jacob, I tried to project to him to help the right person. But when I looked towards him, he was in a battle of his own with Gideon's mate.

No! I tried to move once more, and once again my body failed me. I could only watch in horror as my father and my wolf fought for me. I knew if my dad was near, so was my mother. Where was she? My heart thudded painfully in my chest at the thought she may not be okay.

Just when I knew I didn't have the strength to move, I watched Gideon deftly jump over Jacob and encircled him in a way that I knew would end deadly.

"NO!" I heard my scream echo around me as I stood easily and flung myself in the air, landing quickly on top of Gideon's shoulders. I wrapped my legs around his throat and grabbed his head in my hands. I never wanted to kill a person in my life. But, this evil, twisted son of a bitch wasn't a person. And I wanted nothing more than him to die by my hands.

Summoning strength from within, I pulled with everything I had left inside of me. The sound of rock cracking caused more strength to flow into my arms. I could feel his head separating from his neck.

Gideon let go of Jacob. At first maybe that was all I had wanted, but now was a different story. I wanted to end him. His attack on Jacob, me, and my unborn child drove me further. With pain coursing through my body, I fought the blackness that wanted to surround me by yelling loudly as I pulled harder; satisfied by the noise of stone continuing to break. Gideon's hands struck at my legs with forceful blows before grabbing my thighs, determined to unlatch me and fling me off.

Jacob wasted no time in helping me. The last thing I saw before I dropped to the ground was Jacob's mouth opening wide before it came in contact with Gideon's torso.

A loud, metallic, scraping sound flooded my ears. Dropping to my knees on the forest floor, I stared at Gideon's cold head in my shaking hands; his eyes lifelessly still opened. The blackness I'd been fighting finally took over… and I went to it willingly.

No wait this time for the next chapter - read on! Sorry my life's been too hectic to update. And forgive any error- no beta :)

Thanks for staying with me all this time. Let me know what you think about Nessie's killing Gideon. I struggled with it a bit.