I might as well have not been in class at all. I didn't pay attention to the professors at all. My focus was completely on Jacob. Of course he insisted that we go to all of my classes. He was right; at least if I showed up they'd think I was making an effort.

When my last class let out I couldn't help but notice the sadness that glazed over Jacob's eyes. I was determined to make this last as long as possible even if I was just prolonging the pain that was coming.

We spent an amazing night together. I started out innocent enough with a bowl of popcorn and a movie. I just couldn't seem to keep my hands off of him. I was glad that no one decided to check on us at all that night; though I think they heard we were doing just fine…

The morning came too quickly. Jacob was in the kitchen, making breakfast. I leaned against the door jam and watched him gracefully make his way around. When he noticed me his smile grew wide.

"I was going to surprise you." He said. "Breakfast in bed."

"You're too good for me."

"You got it backwards." He smiled then took a deep breath. "Edward called me this morning."

I stiffened. "What did he say?"

"I have to leave a little sooner than expected."

It was like someone stabbed me in the stomach.

"How much sooner?"

"Tomorrow."

This was too much, too soon. I didn't realize that Jacob had come over to me, holding my under my elbow. I'd nearly fallen over when he spoken the word. I was wrapped in his arms in an instant, tears pouring from my eyes. Jacob picked me up easily and placed me on the countertop. I buried my face in the crick of his neck.

"I'm sorry, Katie." He said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"You can't leave me." I cried.

"I have to." He took my face in his hands and kissed my forehead, then my nose then my lips. "I don't want to hurt you. I love you more than anything in the world, Katie."

"You tell me you love me… then you leave me. I can't live without you."

"Oh, baby." He held me tighter. "I promise you'll be OK. It's not as long as you think. And I'll call you all the time, I'll write to you. I'll do whatever you want."

"I want you to stay." I said looking up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry." The sadness in his eyes was unfathomable. "Look, can we just be happy today? Forget that I'm leaving tomorrow, I want you to smile and laugh and… just be happy with me."

I nodded, wiping my eyes. I would give it my best shot at least but keeping the fact that we would be apart for so long out of my mind was proving to be more difficult than he thought. I couldn't breathe when it crossed my mind. We spent the day doing the things we normally did. First we went for a run. He took me to a beautiful meadow. I was beyond words when I Changed and saw him sitting in the middle of the tall grass and swaying flowers on a blanket sprawled with all my favorite foods. I had to control myself to keep from crying. He handed me a t-shirt from the picnic basket and I sat as I pulled it on.

"Did you plan this?" I asked him.

"I sort of called in a favor to Edward and Bella." He shrugged. "They want our time together to be well spent."

"That sounds just like Edward."

"They feel partly responsible for what's happening." He said. "I've told them it has nothing to do with them but…"

"Why do they feel responsible?"

"Well, they're the ones who brought them here in the first place. It was a while back but the Volturi never forgot about us werewolves. We fought really well against the newborns and when the Volturi found out about it… it was all downhill from there."

"What newborns?"

"I don't want to waste our time talking about that bull. Ask Edward and Bella one day, they'll explain."

I would; I was certainly curious enough now.

We enjoyed the food and company for a good hour before I caught a scent on the wind. Jacob tensed when he smelled it. Sam was nearby.

"Wait here." Jacob said.

"No need." Sam stood at the edge of the forest. "I'm not here to start anything."

"Sam. How's things?"

"Fine. Would you care to explain this whole vampire guard thing to me; and what it means for our agreement?"

"I'm going to Italy to work for the Volturi."

"The bloodsuckers we almost fought?"

"Yeah, them."

"And what about Katie? Is she going with you?"

"No, she'll stay here and finish school, just like we agreed; only now I won't be around."

"Wait, what was this agreement?" I interrupted.

Jacob sighed.

"Jacob told me he'd be leaving his post of Alpha as soon as you finished college. He said he would be moving to New York."

"Jake…" I looked at him. He never said anything like this to me.

"I can't stay like this forever." He said to me. "I want to be with you."

"But you don't have to give everything up…" I said.

"Yeah, I do." He said quietly, the looked back at Sam. "There really isn't any change. I just won't be here."

"And what does that mean for her protection? Who's going to look after her while you're gone?"

"She has the Cullen's and her pack."

"Her pack is coming back?"

"No. Her brother is here and another wolf they sent to protect her against the mutts that come after her."

"So I'll have more of these wolves to deal with?" Sam asked.

"I really hope not." Jacob said sincerely.

"Jacob, I know what it is to Imprint and I know you want to do what's best for Katie… but I have to say I don't agree with you leaving her like this."

"They might try to hurt her if I don't do what they want." Jacob said. "I can't let anything happen to her."

"I'm just saying…" Sam said. "And in your absence I'll do my best to try and keep her safe for you as well."

"Thank you Sam."

"You'd do the same for me." Sam looked down at me with an empathetic eye. He seemed to know the pain.

"I'll do my best to keep the mutts off the Reservation." I put in.

"Don't worry yourself. We can take care of your kind easily enough."

I nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Sam." Jacob shook his hand firmly. "You don't know how grateful I am."

"Yes, I do."

Sam instantly Changed and ran back into the woods. Jacob took my hand and led me back to the center of the field. I hoped there would be no more interruptions. I just wanted to spend my time with Jacob without worrying about someone walking in on us. Somehow I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

"We should be getting back." Jacob said as we laid on the blanket staring into the pink sky.

"I don't want to."

"You have to go to sleep, you have class in the morning."

"Do you honestly think I'm going to be sleeping at all tonight?" I asked him.

"No, not really." He smirked.

"You're a smart man." I said snuggling closer into him.

"I just thought that we should be getting back to your house… or my house…" He had a hinting tone to his voice.

"What do we need a house for?" I rolled on top of him and kissed him lightly.

"We aren't the only shape shifters around here."

"I think we'll be alright. I'm sure you have Edward on high alert, no doubt he's keeping tabs on me."

"You know I won't leave you unprotected for a second."

"Don't tell me you have Bella in on this too."

"…We do have a few things to talk about before I leave."

I almost slid off of him but he caught me in time.

"Later." I said.

"Anything for you, baby."

I smiled and kissed him. "Anything?"

"I'd give you the world if I could."

I kissed him again; more deeply this time. The temperature rose a few degrees in a matter of seconds. Jacob grazed his fingers up my back, sending chills up my spine and rolled to his side sending me to the ground. I didn't mind. He held himself above me and kissed down my neck and chest. I pulled him back up to my mouth and gathered the ends of his shirt, pulling it over his head. He was so perfect in every way. We were perfect together.

"I love you, Katie." His breath fanned across my ear. My lips found his again.

Everything seemed to melt around us. His body was like fire on mine; his hands sent waves of heat over every inch they touched. I didn't hold back at all this time. If this was going to be my last time with Jacob for who knows how long, then I wasn't going to waste a second of it. I worshiped every inch of him and he did the same to me. I didn't want to forget anything about him. I would always remember the taste of his skin, the shape of his lips, the passion I felt when our eyes locked. I would die if I ever forgot.

I didn't know I'd fallen asleep. When I roused again I was no longer surrounded by Jacob's warmth, sending me into a panic. I sat up, still in the middle of the meadow, covered only by a heavy blanket. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. The mere thought flared a burning in my throat. I couldn't bare it. I quickly Changed and searched for Jacob's scent on the ground. I followed it back to the Cullen's house. Inside Jacob sat with Edward in the dining room. I heaved a sigh of relief as Bella walked in with a bathrobe for me. Jacob strode over to me and put his arms around me, planting a kiss on my forehead. Edward looked at me, he knew the panic I was in before seeing Jacob.

"I didn't know you'd be awake. I wouldn't have left so early." Jacob said. "I needed to discuss a few things with Edward."

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like who goes to class with you."

"I need a baby sitter while you're gone?"

"I'm not willing to risk anything." He said stroking my cheek. "There will always be someone with you."

I didn't want to argue. I put my head on his chest, only wanting to spend this time in his arms, as close to him as I could get. I would deal with my "watchers" when they came.

Edward looked at me with amuse but behind it I could see a sadness. I didn't consider that anyone else was going to be affected by Jacob's leaving the way that I was. But the truth was that these people were his friends, practically family. They were going to miss him as much as I was.

"I don't want you to do anything rash while I'm gone." Jacob continued. "Be careful. Think about everything before you do it."

"Jacob," Edward started, "I think we can skip the lecture. Take Katie to your house, we'll see you in a few hours."

A few hours? Was that all we had left? I cursed myself for falling asleep and missing that time with him.

We Changed but didn't go back to his apartment right away. It was nice to at least have this time. We took the long way around, through the woods and mountains before ending up at Jacob's a couple hours later. The both of us fell on to the couch. I snuggled up close to him.

"We have to talk about a few things." Jacob said.

"I don't want to. Edward will explain everything later."

"You can't just pretend like this isn't going to happen, Katie."

"I'm not." I said. "I just don't want to waste our time talking about it."

"You need to know what's happening."

"I know what's happening. You're leaving me."

"Please don't put it that way. You know I'll never leave you. I'm just-."

"Going away for a while?" I interrupted. "Yeah, I got that."

"I wish you would just understand."

"Understand what, that there are things more important to you than me? I get it Jake. I know there are things that you have to put ahead of us."

"That's not it at all." He said harshly. "I love you more than anything, Katie. I'm doing this so we can be together without worrying about these vampires appearing one day out of the blue and taking you away from me so that I do what they want."

"Don't you think they would have done it already if they were going to in the first place?"

"No." Jacob shook his head. "They don't work like that. The Volturi aren't going to just risk losing face right away. They'll take every other avenue before making themselves look bad."

"I have to be honest Jake I wouldn't put it past a vampire to kidnap someone to get what they want."

He sighed. I was obviously upsetting him. This was something I was overly passionate about, I guess. Who wouldn't fight till the end for the person they loved?

"I promise this won't be as long as you think. Focus on school. Make a life for yourself and when I get back we'll pick up where we left off." He said. "If you'll still have me."

"If I'll still have you?" I scoffed. "It's not like I have a choice."

"You have a choice." He said pointedly. "If you don't want to be with me I'll respect that. I would never force myself on you."

"Jake, there's no forcing involved. I love you."

He smiled. "Edward and Bella are enrolling as transfer students. You'll always be under Bella's protection."

I sighed. "Jake…"

"I don't care if you don't like it. I won't take the risk." He said. "Carlisle is looking for a bigger house. Leah and Seth will be living with you."

"That works out for Logan."

"Edward and Bells will be close by and the Cullens will be in Forks, like always. Alice is going to keep an eye on the Volturi as much as she can. I don't know how much she'll be able to see with me there."

It didn't make me feel at all better that we were all going to be completely blind now. It distantly occurred to me that with Jacob, the Volturi had the upper hand. I felt the tears welling in my eyes again.

"Don't cry, Katie. I'll be back before you know it."

"I can't even imagine being without you." I cried. "I don't know how I'll do this. It's a long time Jake."

"I know." He seemed to be feeling the same pain as I was. "I'll stay away as long as I have to so long as you're protected from them."

"Don't say things like that." I said seriously. "You're leaving for three years… that's it."

"Right." He smiled weakly. "Three years."

It already seemed an eternity away. Jacob's telephone rang, making me jump. Since when was I jumpy? He answered it quickly. I heard Edward's voice carry over the line. It was time to go. My throat closed up with the burn of tears again. Jacob took me in his arms after hanging up the receiver and embraced me tightly. I didn't want it to end. We stood there for five agonizingly short minutes just holding each other until a light knock sounded through the door. I still didn't let go. I don't know how long it was before Jacob pulled away from me slightly to kiss me again, one last time. It wasn't long enough. Our lips locked together for such a short amount of time it seemed like just a peck.

"I love you more than anything, Katherine."

"Jacob." I whispered his name, waiting for his lips to take mine again.

"I'll call you as soon as I can. I don't know how long it will be though."

"Find a payphone the second you get into the airport." I said. "I'll be waiting."

"I don't want you to be waiting for me Katie… live your life, I'll be the same when I come back."

"But I won't be. I'll be different."

"And I'll love you even more." He said. "No matter what, Katie I will always love you. Forever."

I nodded not wanting to think about what was happening next but unable not to. He kissed me again and when I opened my eyes again he was gone. The apartment was emptier than it had ever been and so was I.

It was only a few hours until I heard from anyone else. Edward came into Jacob's apartment late in the night Of course he knew I was still awake. I hadn't slept a wink. I just zoned in front of the television, not really watching it but enjoying the mindlessness. Numbness seemed to be the only place that I was comfortable.

"Are you alright?" He asked me.

"Yeah." I lied.

"Don't lie to yourself." He said. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Put me in a coma for the next three years."

"Look, I know what it's like to leave the person you love more than anything. I think you can trust me when I say Jacob is hurting as much as you are."

"That doesn't make me feel better." I mumbled, Jacob's pain didn't make mine any less.

"I know that."

Of course you do.

"I'm just saying it so you know, you're not alone in this." He smiled to himself "you're actually giving me insight into what I did to Bella all those year ago. She won't let me in on the pain that I caused her but… seeing you like this clues me in on what she must have been feeling."

You're welcome.

He sighed. I was obviously frustrating him. He was trying to be sympathetic and I was brushing him off. But I didn't need someone to sit next to me telling that they were sorry and knew how I felt; I just wanted it to stop, plain and simple. Edward left me to wallow in my self pity. At least I had that.