Revi POV

After returning to La Push my main concern was having everything return to normal, and enjoying life. Everyone else's concern was making me lay down, take it easy, be cautious, and essentially stop living.

It pissed me the hell off.

I understood I came close to being killed and worse. I understood my friends and family were worried about me, and merely wanted me safe. What I did not understand was who the hell they thought I was. I wasn't completely crazy, but I had never been overly cautious either. I believed in living life to the fullest, not hiding in a corner.

If we weren't going to run from the Volturi anymore, than we should live as normally as we could. Even if most of us are 'mythical' creatures. I thought we should live the lives we were fighting to protect. The ones the Volturi would rather take. After the basement, I knew I'd never take anything for granted again.

But since no one was allowing me to even take a run in the woods alone; I wasn't sure I'd have the chance to do anything.

I figured I'd give them time. After a bit they'd realize I was alright, and can take care of myself just fine.

I was wrong.

Six months I gave them. By November I was going insane. My birthday was just a few days away at the time I snapped. I had decided as a birthday present to me, I'd get my next tattoo. I decided it was time to get the tribal feather on the inside of my right arm. I told my father of this idea, and he agreed to sign off on it…..and accompany me.

Now don't get me wrong I love to be in the company of my family and friends. It's always enjoyable. But after six months I was ready to go out for a little while on my own. So I explained this.

"Dad I was thinking I'd go to Port Angeles alone. I haven't gone shopping by myself in a while, and I'd like to cruise an art gallery."

His gold eyes narrowed at me. "Revi…." I interrupted at the tone.

"Dad I'm going to be seventeen soon. In four days actually. It's the last year before my adulthood. I get that you've been worried, I really do, but you can't keep me this sheltered anymore."

He seemed to consider for a second and I thought I lost the first battle. Then he smiled and kissed my forehead. "I'm sorry. We haven't been very fair to you have we. I didn't realize we were acting like you were grounded."

"You were, a little. Within good reason, but it's been long enough Atticus."

"Alright, you're hereby let go. Now get out, I'm sick of looking at you."

I laughed and hugged him quickly, on my way to Port Angeles.

Of course just because I won the battle didn't mean I won the war.

As I got in my jeep I saw five shirtless muscular men walking towards the house. Usually, a girls dream come true. In my world, it's another road block.

"Hey dudes, can you back up I'm trying to leave here."

Jake shook a little, and Sam and Quil positioned themselves on each side of my car. Embry sat on my hood, and Paul stood in the back of the jeep. Surrounded. Drats.

Jake moved Quil aside long enough to climb into the passenger seat. "Hi there." He said cheerfully.

"Hey boyfriend." I tapped my hands on the wheel shaking my head.

"Where you going by yourself?"

"Port Angeles."

"That's a little far Rev."

"Not the way I drive." I slapped a hand on my chest. "Cullen, remember."

"I don't want you going off alone."

"I've done it tons of times. I'm a big girl now."

His expression told me humor wasn't working. So I went for the blunt.

"I may be your girlfriend Jacob, but you cannot tell me what to do."

"I'm aware of that, I'm just telling you I don't like it, I think it would be smarter if someone goes with you. Like Alice or me or well anyone."

"Emily?"

"Anyone more durable and able to defend you."

"I'm plenty durable you mutt, I could end you."

He raised a brow. "Maybe, but that doesn't make you indestructible."

Blunt wasn't working either. Time for the curve ball.

I lowered my lashes so they brushed the tops of my cheeks and bit the side of my lip. "Jacob, c'mon. Please." I breathed and when I looked up he swallowed roughly.

Paul pounded his fist on my back window. "Stay strong man!"

"Shut the fuck up Paul." I snapped. He just laughed. I looked back at Jake and he shook his head.

"Sorry babe, no dice."

That was it. The breaking point. Six months, and it came to this.

"Jacob Black, I love you, truly I do. And I am sorry for what you had to go through in Italy; I went through a lot to and its taken time to get over that. But if you don't get out of my Jeep and do whatever it is you werewolves do, while I go have some time to myself, I will not only rip my own hair out, but I will personally see to it that worrying about me will be the least of your concerns. My dad already cleared me going; I don't need permission from you." I waited for him to respond.

"Your Dad said you could!"

"That's all you got from that speech."

He got out of the car and yelled towards the house. "Edward, you traitor!"

My Dad poked his head out of the window. "Sorry kid, she had a point. Let her be."

I rolled my eyes and looked at Sam next to my door. "Can you move now?"

"You're gonna be careful right."

"Promise."

He nodded. "Stand down men, she can be trusted. Move out!"

Paul jumped down and walked past Sam. "Have fun hottie."

"Sure thing." I laughed.

Quil and Embry hesitated but I smiled at them. "You'll feel it if something happens and you can come running then, ok."

They smiled reassured. Jake was not.

"No Sam, c'mon what the hell."

Sam stepped over to Jake and mumbled something to him I couldn't hear. Jake met my curious eyes and sighed, nodding at Sam. He walked back to my jeep, leaning on the driver's door.

"I'm sorry. It just makes me crazy you being alone. Give me more time to work on that ok."

"Wow, what did he say to you?"

"That when he hurt Emily he did the same thing. He figured if he couldn't even trust himself with her he couldn't trust the rest of the world either. But he realized he was driving a wedge in between them by trying to cut her off from anything and everything. I don't want to do that to you."

"You haven't, there's no wedge."

He nodded and kissed me through the open window. "You have your phone right?"

"Yes, I'll call if I need you."

"Ok. I love you."

"You show me that every day." I smiled and touched his chin before turning my keys and starting the jeep. "I'll be home tonight."

Though driving away from Jake was always hard to do, I felt like me again. I felt like I had reclaimed my braveness and independence.

Hours later with a gift for Jake, and a new tattoo on my arm, I headed home. Though I had a slight panic attack earlier when a man touched my arm, asking if I knew where the restrooms were, I did fine on my own. I was surprised I still felt safe on my own.

When I got home I wasn't surprised to see Jake asleep on the living room floor, and my Dad watching TV.

"Hey sweetheart, let me see the arm."

"You didn't look in your special way?" I smiled crookedly.

"I respected your privacy for the most part. Alice had a vision of you freaking out a little bit so I checked in."

"I'm ok."

"So I see."

I showed him my arm and he nodded in approval.
"How many more of these do I have to endure seeing on my babies flesh?"

"One, the design I always draw. It's going on my ankle. I'm waiting a few years for that."

"Alright."

"You like my tattoos don't lie."

"At least none of them are of anything ridiculous. I like you neck one the best."

"Of course you do, you designed it." I winked at him and started poking Jake. He rolled over and opened one eye at me.

"Why do you hate me?"

"I don't I actually brought you something."

"I don't care."

"Aw now babe I think you lie. I have a nice cinnamon pretzel from Auntie Anne's in my hand here."

"Are you shitting me?"

"I shit you not."

"I love you."

"You hated me not one minute ago."

"I changed my mind."

I laughed as we went into the kitchen so Jake could eat. I got myself a glass of iced tea, and lifted my bandage to show Jake my tattoo.

"I like it."

"Thank you."

"So what else did you do?"

We talked about our days then and he sighed and took my hand when I told him about my anxiety attack. "Rev."

"I know."

"I hate that you get scared."

"It's sort of to be expected after everything. I really am doing better though, don't worry."

"Try and stop me." He held my hand in his against his cheek. I smiled at him.

"You make me better you know. I mean the whole family does, but it's you who makes it easier. I know you will be there no matter what to keep me safe."

"It's funny I know the same of you." He said with a smile and turned his lips into my hand he held against his cheek. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me Rev."

"It's funny I know the same of you." I smiled at him and he laughed.

"I know you're doing better with everything, and I'm very proud of you for that. You're stronger than I ever thought, and stronger than me too. I just want you to relax. We won the battle." He grinned, unknowingly repeating me from earlier. "We'll be ready for them next time.

I smiled for him so he'd thing I was relaxed, and leaned into his chest. His arms went around me and I felt him rest his head on the top of mine and sigh. Breathing him in I felt myself calm. Yet, my mind still thought, We may have won the battle but what happens when it's time for the war?

I opened my eyes to see my Dad leaning against the kitchen door, his eyes as concerned as mine. I mouthed 'I love you Daddy' to him and he smiled. Even if there were fears still present in all of us, we weren't about to let them get in our way. We would win, and we would live.

We had to.