The flight home was long but peaceful and relaxed as a feeling of safety washed through her the moment their private plane had taken off. The only sounds were heard in the first few minutes after takeoff while Jake complained and cursed as Carlisle reset his broken arm. By that time Jake's wounds had stopped bleeding and had been shallow enough that they were already beginning to heal thank to the accelerated healing from his shifter side. Emmett had spent a good twenty minutes making jokes at Jake's expense for his curses of pain when she'd hardly made any while Carlisle examined her shoulder and hand. But when Carlisle was finished and Jake returned to his seat next to hers everything turned quite. Everyone was at peace and able to relax.

For Scarlett the intense emotional state over the past few days finally began to wear on her. As it became too difficult to keep her eyes open much longer she found herself leaning comfortably against Jake's uninjured shoulder and quickly drifting into a deep sleep. Even in sleep she knew Jake was there holding her, she could feel his warmth, his gentleness and smell the scent woodsy scent that was so uniquely his.

Scarlett didn't know how long she was asleep but by the time she begun to awaken from the recuperating sleep she realized that she wasn't wear she'd last known herself to be. The first thing she realized was that there was no steady movement from the plane followed by the realization that she was now tucked in her own familiar comfortable bed. Stretching her stiff muscles Scarlett lifted herself from the bed. The memories came back, the memories of her horror spent at the Voltouri and Jake comforting her on the way home. Although she knew he wasn't there in the room with her Scarlett couldn't help but glance around the room hoping that Jake would be there. Instead she found a simply piece of paper laying on her nightstand beside the bed.

Picking it up she read over the rough hand. Scarlett felt a new relief reading that the pack had finally managed to hunt down and destroy Victoria. Having Victoria gone would mean more peace for herself and the pack, for Jake. The short letter also informed her that he'd be back as soon as possible after he and the pack finished up some last minute patrols to make sure Victoria hadn't caused any more problems before they found her.

Still sore from the rough treatment of being thrown against a wall and manhandled by Demetri Scarlett slowly made her way over to the window. It was a rare beautiful blue skies and sun day. Do doubt the Cullens would be keeping to themselves today. What better way to work out the kinks in her muscles than a walk? With the thought in mind Scarlett moved about the room putting on new clothes and shoes. Ready she paused for a moment before leaving the room to grab her bag that held her sketch book and the rest of her drawing supplies. It would be good to relax and draw again without worry.

Jake tracked Scarlett down at the beach. Once he'd returned to her house to find her gone taking notice of her missing drawing supplies he'd known where to find her. Drawing was a love of hers and she'd find someplace she loved to draw. He'd already been to the clearing where they'd all played as kids and figured she'd be at her personal place on the beach. He should've known that she wouldn't wait around in the house even after what she'd been through with Victoria and the Voltouri. It had been wishful thinking to think that she would stay put. Yet, looking at her now he couldn't bring himself to reprimand her, partly because she was no longer in danger but also because she looked so at peace and happy looking out at the waves as she sat drawing on the beach. Her smile was her hands expertly moved across the white page before her was one of contentment, of peace and happiness. The tiredness and worry were gone.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Jake asked making his presence known.

Scarlett laughed immediately recognizing his presence. Turning she watched him approach to sit on the sandy beach beside her his bare feet taking no notice of the coolness of the water that lapped at them.

"I figured since I wasn't on lockdown anymore that a walk wouldn't hurt," Scarlett replied her smile bright as she laughed. "You never said in your note that I couldn't. If you didn't want me to you should've said so," she told him in her best attempt at seriousness. "Not that I would've listened," she finished unable to keep the serious façade.

Scarlett turned to look at him her clear green eyes locking with his. Jake thought she saw everything with such beautiful eyes, as if they could look straight into his soul and see everything that he felt. He felt the same looking at her now. He could see who she was on the inside, beautiful, kind, gentle and loyal. But for all of that she'd suffered through so much in her life. She'd come face to face with so much sorrow, she'd lost so much but had dealt with it in her own way. Even as a child she'd had to bare more than she should've had to. It was amazing that after so much difficulty, lose and sadness that she could become the person she was today. Sure she was arrogant and perhaps a little too independent for her own good but he loved that about her. He loved everything about her even if she was driving him crazy.

Looking at her now he saw she'd dressed into clean clothes, a pair of jeans with a simple purple tank top layered with a yellow tank top while she'd left her hair to hang down around her shoulders in long choppy waves. He heard himself growl as his eyes came to rest on the bruises marring her face. He hadn't seen her be hit other than getting thrown against the wall just as he and the Cullens had arrived. While he hadn't seen what had happened to her face he was certain he'd known what'd happened.

"He hit you," he spoke softly his hand moving to gently stroke her bruised cheek.

"Don't worry," Scarlett answered simply welcoming his touch. Smiling she continued, "I hit him first."

Unable to help himself Jake chuckled. Only Scarlett would've attempted to hit a vampire, knowing it would be useless, but she had also never been one to give up without a fight.

"My little idiot," he spoke in a husky chuckle.

Suddenly Scarlett found herself being pulled into Jake's arms sending her sketch book to slid from her lap forgotten. As he held her against him she knew Jake was being mindful of her bruised body and she found herself wishing she had his same healing abilities. Not that she had been as wounded as he had but the aches and bruises were still rather annoying, even more so when she wanted nothing more than for Jake to fully hold her without worry of causing harm. However, being held in his arms now any thought of her aches and pains faded away to the back of her mind. All there was his smell and his arms enfolding her. All there was, was Jake.

Scarlett lifted her head from where it rested on his broad shoulder looking up once more into his eyes.

"I am sorry I got you involved in this world. It's my fault the Voltouri and Victoria came after you," Jake gently whispered against her ear.

Scarlett snapped up just barely missing Jake's nose as she did so to glare up at him in both anger and confusion. But when she met his sad brown eyes the anger faded. She should've known that Jake would feel responsible for all that had happened. Sighing she pulled herself to sit comfortably in Jake's lap as both a means of being closer to him and to keep him from running. She cradled his face in her hands bringing him to meet her gaze and keep it there.

"Jake, nothing is your fault," she told him gently her words filled with sincerity and the hope that he would hear it. "True, I never expected to end up in such a world--- of vampires and werewolves. But I don't care about any of that. I can get even more strange and dangerous and I still wouldn't care. It's your world. I want to be with you Jake--- you're my world and so I am part of your world," she told him her smile huge as she leaned up to kiss him soundly on the lips. It took barely a few moments for Jake to return the kiss just as passionately. "You'll have to deal with that," Scarlett chuckled pulling away for only a moment to whisper it against his lips.

The kiss started off softly but quickly began to grow more passionate. Scarlett had practically plastered herself against Jake sending him backwards into the sand as she laid over him. Her hands raked through his shaggy hair while Jake kept a firm grip around her waist. It was as if fire was coursing through them. Neither wanted to stop but soon the need for air became too strong to ignore.

"I'll be protecting you--- forever," Jake whispered huskily placing a single kiss on her lips.

"You don't have to," Scarlett told him resting her head against her chest still not ready to get up.

"You're right. I don't have to," Jake replied sitting up causing Scarlett to sigh. "But I want to."

Looking into Jake's eyes Scarlett felt her heart skip a pleasant beat. He was telling the truth. In his eyes she saw all the love she could ever hope for someone to feel for her glowing in them. Jake was all she could ever hope for--- all she ever wanted, even as a little girl. Scarlett didn't even think before she was moving on her own her heart sending her into action over her. Her arms once more wound themselves around Jake's neck pulling him close. Kneeling before him in the sand so that she could be level with him as he continued to sit she pulled him close until their faces were only mere centimeters apart.

"I love you," she told him her voice filled with the intense emotions as if her heart was over flowing with them, too full of love and happiness to hold it all inside. "You were always my dream. You're my dream come true."

As happy as she was Scarlett never even took notice of the happy tears that had made their way to the corner of her eyes. All of her attention was focus on Jake.

The words reached Jake's ears bringing a near devilish smile to his lips. Before Scarlett even knew what was happening Jake was jumping to his feet pulling her right along with him. Her feet never even had the chance to touch the ground as he pulled her up to lock his lips against her in another passionate kiss. However, this time he controlled himself enough to be able to pull away. As much as he wanted to spend his entire life kissing her he had something of his own to tell her.

"I love you," he spoke against her lips his eyes looking into hers. "I always did. You were always my dream too. I am sorry I did tell you back then."

Scarlett felt as if her heart had suddenly taken flight at the words he whispered gently against her lips. She felt as if she was walking on air. She was certain that if Jake was to release her she find herself falling on her ass as her legs were now little more than jelly beneath her. She knew it wasn't a dream because her dream had finally become reality.

Kissing him once more she had one last thing to tell him, something he needed to hear--- something he needed to know.

"Jake," she whispered leaning away just enough to look him in the eye considering she could pull away with Jake still holding her with ease keeping her feet from touching the ground. "For years I felt so locked away," her voice caught from the emotion. "After all the bad I felt lost. But you set me free, you freed me Jake. You freed my heart."

Scarlett let the tears flow freely now unable to hold them back, not wanting to. She felt so free for the first time in years and it was all because of her love for Jake and his love for her.

Jake stood in silence for a brief moment looking into Scarlett's eyes with shock. In them he saw the truth. When she'd returned to La Push he'd seen the weariness of the hardships that had weighted heavily on her reflected in them. Now all he saw was happiness and love.

"I love you," he repeated before meeting her lips with his once again.

They were just two people, no matter how strange their lives could be, they were just two people whose hearts were free. Free to love.

The End.

PLEASE READ AN:

Thanks for reading the fic! I hope you enjoyed it. Please REVIEW my final chapter! I'd love to know what you thought.

I have a question for my readers--- have you read or watched the Vampire Diaries? For starters if not I highly recommend it! Even if you didn't like Twilight I still would. I am getting some great ideas for a DamonXOC fic and I am so excited about it so I might start writing that one next. Also my ideas are more developed for it then my ideas for my other two. But I still might do all three at once but switch on and off between chapters. My VD fic will just be for starters and get a little more along until I can more fully develop my other ideas. I want to know if you've read or watched it before. Let me know and if not I suggest you at least start watching (surprisingly I like the show better).

PLEASE check out these videos to meet one of my all time favorite vampire boys EVER. It'll help give you an idea of what my next story will be about. PLUS ITS JUST FUN TO WATCH!!

.com/watch?v=LR4yki9rRko

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As a treat here's a look at my ideas for my next three stories. Just some REALLY watered down details. Hope they tickle your fancy! I still expect reviews for this chapter!!

Beautiful Darkness (Damon and OC)

She never thought she'd see him again. It had been years since their paths crossed, since she'd lost her heart to him. Once she thought she'd seen something more in him than the darkness but then he left. Now returning to her old childhood home of Mystic Falls where her ancestors originated Summer Hathaway finds that she's not the only one whose returned home. Damon has as well. Can she deny what she thought long since dead in her heart? Can he forget the past to see and accept what's before him? Damon could never understand why Summer accepted what he was. When he first met her it was to use the powers she possessed from her witch ancestry but he quickly found himself drawn to her for something else. While both want to deny everything, they are forced together to bring an end to the bloodshed brought about by the towns people who have become aware of the return of vampires to their town. Now as their ancestors did in the past they seek to ride their town of their presence--- to destroy them. Damon is shocked to find that he wants to protect Summer, something he's never wanted to do before. But both soon discover that so much more is afoot then a band of angry townspeople.

Moonlight Wishes (Jasper and OC)

Her past was dark. She'd seen more than anyone should see, knew more of a world few others could ever comprehend, she accepted that and she pushed it away to live her life. Returning to Forks at the request of her uncle Charlie, Harper Vale seeks to pull her cousin out of her depression. Listening intently to Bella's tales of the Cullen family she can't dismiss the missing details she notices in them. Intrigues she goes to the abandoned Cullen house only to find that it's not as abandoned as she thought. She never thought she'd be faced with a man like Jasper. She never thought she'd be pulled back into that world or be able to see light where she'd always seen dark. "You're destiny will find you. You must stay." That was the message that Alice had left him with before leaving with the rest of their family. But Jasper never expected to find himself faced with a girl like Harper. Together they'll have to fight the darkness from their pasts. They'll find that they can't walk away from love, from fate.

Break Me Down (Reid and OC) p.s. this is a really crap description…my ideas for this one aren't as developed as the other two.

Fay Sinclair was a blank slate. She had no memories of her family, her home or herself before being found wandering the streets. All she could remember was the name Fay and so it became her name. All she had possess was a pendant and a ring on a silver chain. Once there'd been a book she'd clutched in her hands but that disappeared. Her life had always been strange, ever since she could remember. She'd always been different. Her mind was always a constant whirl of emotions--- not hers. She could feel the emotions of others around her, an annoying and sometimes painful experience. Yet, she learned to live with it. But even she can't run from her past, from the darkness that follows hers forever. But will her memories once reawakened destroy her? When she finds herself moving to Ipswich and attending Spencer Academy Fay finds herself surprised by one Reid Garwin. He's everything she should hate, arrogant and sexy, the definition of trouble. But she feels drawn to him and his friends--- even more so they seem to accept her strange behavior when she's overcome by the emotions. Can she deny the strange connection she feels with the Sons, the feelings that Reid seems to illicit in her?

Reid saw the new girl and was instantly drawn to her, she was beautiful, different and somewhat strange. But he could see there was something more to her. Her refusals only made him more determined to be with her, but what happens when he finds himself feeling something he's never felt before for a girl. When he and the Sons feel a familiar darkness upon her arrival Reid makes it his mission to protect her. What is the darkness haunting them? What connection does Fay have with the Covenant?

SORRY it was so long. REVIEW