"Oh, I feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the center of the earth again
I can feel it."

~Lightning Crashes by Live

a/n I'm heading out of the country soon and won't be able to post (or write) for a while. That's why I've been posting this story quicker lately. Also, there is happily ever after here, but things will get worse before they get better.

~o~

Nessie awakened with a smile on her face for the first time in a long while. She didn't feel disoriented, waking up in a somewhat new place; she knew exactly where she was and didn't want to be anywhere else. Feeling cold, she curled herself up in a little ball, taking all the covers with her as she did. The smell of Jacob's woodsy scent drifted all around her.

Missing the heat that permeated from his body, she reached outwards but didn't feel his presence. Nessie rolled over slowly, hoping to find him to touch him and pull him close. As Nessie moved, she hadn't realized how stiff her body had become overnight. She couldn't move her neck much, and her back ached more than it did yesterday. She chalked it up to a little whiplash that must have developed from her fall down the stairs.

She hadn't exactly been treating her body very well lately either, and that was something that scared her a little. Now that she was carrying a tiny life force, she had to make sure she took better care of herself. Knowing her body would loosen up as she got herself going made her feel a little better. Her focus soon turned to Jacob. Where could he have gone? Was he up and about? she wondered, feeling lonely without him.

She paused, listening to the quiet house. Her heart sank a little knowing that she might be alone. Then she spotted a note on Jacob's pillow that let her know he had gone, and for a moment she panicked, thinking the worst. But her fears were soon relieved when she saw a small, purple flower resting on top of the paper. It was then that she knew his note wouldn't be like hers.

Ness,

Had an early class today that I couldn't miss and didn't want to wake you. You need your rest. Be home after football practice. I'll get dinner.

My dad's already gone to the community center, so you have the house to yourself. Make yourself at home...breakfast is already on the table for you.

Jacob

P.S. Dad said you can stay with us until we can figure something out. He also said that I have to sleep on the couch...I'm still debating that one with him.

Don't forget, I love you.

She couldn't stop smiling and read the note repeatedly, loving his words more after every read through. For the first time in her life, she had no clue what the future would hold, and she wasn't scared or worried. Life would come one day at a time, and that's how she would face each day. She'd spent her whole life anxious about the little things, and now that she was pregnant, those little things didn't matter so much anymore. Her thumb and forefinger rubbed the locket that still hung around her neck, making her feel more sure of herself and ready to face what the uncertain future would hold.

She didn't dread leaving home, but she knew it wouldn't be easy, especially after letting her parents know about everything. She needed to call Rose to ask for help in getting some of her stuff from her room at her parent's house. She had no qualms about telling her father goodbye; it was her mother whom she would miss. A small pang hit her chest, thinking about how the two of them had just begun to heal. She hoped they could continue to get to know one another again. Maybe her mother and Grandpa Charlie could talk and forgive as well. They all needed to put the past behind them to heal. There would be a grandchild after all.

Nessie slipped on one of Jacob's t-shirts, so she wouldn't be running around naked in his house. Even though she was by herself, she still felt strange doing something like that. She needed to shower and let the hot water massage her aching muscles. They seemed to be crying out in pain when she decided to get up out of bed.

It took awhile for the hot water to kick in, so she shivered a while in the shower as she waited. If Jacob were here, his body would keep her warm. He never had a problem keeping her from freezing. As she watched the water fall, she couldn't help but think about how she had made love to Jacob in the shower before the break up and how amazing he felt in the middle of her emotional thunderstorm. Her eyes closed as she thought about the way he held her so tightly as she wrapped her body around his. She smiled her crooked smile, remembering how he felt when he finally filled her completely, ready to make love to her right then and there. That had to have been the night their baby was conceived.

The water soon turned warm, and she stepped in, letting it cascade down her body. Her hands travelled up the smoothness of her wet skin, imagining that night. A sigh escaped her lips as she remembered the way he felt and how his touches were sheer pleasure. Without thinking, a hand meandered to her breast, mimicking his hands. Although hers didn't compare to what his hands could do, she still continued to feel the softness of her breast. Her need for Jacob began to heighten, and she wondered how long he would be gone. The beginnings of pleasure were abruptly interrupted by a crippling pain.

"Owww! Ahhhh!," she screamed suddenly, taken aback by a cramp that made her double over. Her eyes widened as the pain shot through her, and she grasped for the side of the tub, so she wouldn't fall down. Deep calming breaths were her only way to keep from hyperventilating.

It didn't take long for the ache to go away, but her lustful thoughts of Jacob stopped and her need for him changed. She needed him here to take care of her, but she couldn't make him do that. She decided that she just needed to keep her activity at a minimum and rest for most of the day on the couch, watching any old movie that happened to be on. Nessie felt tired and knew Jacob would want her to take it easy. Getting over her injuries from yesterday wouldn't be simple

She gingerly moved about and dressed in her old pajamas, making her way to the kitchen. The only pain she felt at that moment came from the low rumble in her empty stomach. The note had said breakfast was ready for her, and she smiled broadly when she saw what Jacob had prepared.

Sitting on the table was a bowl full of Cocoa Puffs.

"What would I do without you, Jacob?" she whispered to herself, smiling at her special meal.

~~o~O~o~

The tiny desk bounced from the force of his knee that couldn't quit its nervous twitch. Each passing second proved slower than the last, and this history professor droned on and on in his monotone voice about the Ottoman Empire, which Jacob couldn't care less about.

He had to come to class because his scholarship required it. Passing grades and making his classes were a few things his coach was adamant on happening. Coach Rassmussen didn't like his players to get the reputation of being dumb jocks, especially not at a prestigious private university like U of F. If it weren't for those requirements, he wouldn't be here.

His thoughts on the subject matter were futile because all he could think about was Nessie, sleeping in his bed, and what he could be doing to her in that bed. He couldn't let his mind drift to that part too much because he really didn't want to walk around with a massive erection on campus; he already drew enough attention. He had to make it through another class and then practice. Calling her soon would be the only thing to help him get through the day.

Taking his gaze from the window, he suddenly noticed everyone in the class leaving. He'd missed the end of the lecture, too preoccupied with thoughts of her. Did she have any idea what she did to him?

His phone rang as soon as he stepped outside, but it wasn't the person he'd hoped it would be.

"Hey, Quil. What's up?" he answered, making his way across campus.

"Not much, bro. Um, I need to borrow some of your tools. Gotta fix something on Claire's car. I can't have her driving around with a brake problem, you know." Jacob took note of how grown up Quil sounded, taking care of someone other than himself. Claire had been the best thing to happen to that boy.

"Yeah. Go ahead. I haven't had time to be in the garage at home lately anyway, so borrow whatever you need."

"Thanks, man...hey, don't take this the wrong way, but the guys and I, um, w-well...w-we "

"Spit it out, dude," Jacob guffawed at his friend's stuttering.

"Shit...It's just that...We all miss seeing you around. Don't laugh at me telling you this, okay. I'll deny everything," Quil defended himself before Jacob could say anything in response.

Jacob knew his buddies missed him because he felt the same way. After Nessie left, he put all his time and energy into being at the shop, working over-time as much as he could. Then when he wasn't there, the gym became his second home. He trained hard in order to get ready for off-season football. Hanging out with his buddies fell by the wayside. Now that things were getting back to normal, he felt he could let himself have fun again.

"Tell me you'll come out with us this Friday. You know, the usual spot with the usual people and the usual bull shit and all the fuckery that goes along with it," Quil suggested.

"Sure, sure. I'll be there. I've got a lot to tell you, man," Jacob said in a hushed tone. Ness is back, pregnant, and living with me right now...But that conversation would have to be in another time and place. He couldn't tell his best friend on the phone how much his life had changed in twenty four hours. Glancing at his watch, he realized that he wouldn't have time to talk anyhow.

"Shit, I gotta get to my next class. I'm running a little late, but we'll catch up Friday." He hung up, picking up his stride.

He had no time to call Nessie now. He'd have to wait again.

~o~O~o~

Bang, bang, bang!

Nessie's tried to open her eyes, but sleep kept calling her back into dreamland.

Bang, bang, bang!

The intrusive noise kept pulling her from her dream of nothing in particular, but it was peaceful and happy; she didn't feel like leaving. The banging continued, and she soon began to open her eyes and wake up, knowing her dreams would have to wait. She glanced around the living room, listening for the offensive noise again. She saw a movie she didn't recognize on the TV, and the last thing she remembered was turning on The Quiet Man on the classic movie channel. She didn't even get to watch any of it, falling asleep early on.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Billy! Billy!"

Nessie heard a man's voice screaming from the outside. It didn't seem like whomever it was would go away, so she got up from the couch in an attempt to answer the door. A wave of nausea swept over her, and she choked back the need to throw up when she stood. Her back began to ache again, but she managed to make it across the floor going at a snail's pace.

She peeked through the diamond-shaped window in the old door and saw Quil pacing back and forth, ranting about not being able to get in the garage.

Nessie opened the door reluctantly, not sure how Jacob's best friend would take finding her here in his house. After what she'd done to Jacob, she knew all of his friends must hate her. Not wanting to be on the receiving end of that hate, she didn't want to let him in, but he seemed in desperate need of something.

The ranting abruptly stopped when he laid eyes upon the girl who answered the door.

"Um...Hi, Quil. How are you?" she asked timidly, trying not to show her shame On top of that, the nausea hadn't gone away yet, and she was having a hard time standing.

Jacob's friend stood unmoving, obviously dumbfounded over her presence.

"Wow! It's you," he said in amazement.

"Yep, it's me," she answered back, trying to smile. "Do you, uh, want to come in? Jacob's not here and neither is Billy."

"Well, I just needed to get in the garage, and the son-of-a-bi-, er, I mean son-of-a-gun locked it up on me."

Nessie laughed at his need to correct his cursing in front of her. She'd been around Jacob and his friends enough to know that swearing just happened, and she could never be offended by it. "He keeps the keys over-" Quil's words were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hey, babe! What's taking you so long?" an agitated Claire called out as she bounded up the steps, only to come screeching to a stop when she saw Nessie, standing in Jacob's house. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Nessie didn't know what to say. She knew she deserved anything Claire wanted to say to her because she'd been a shitty friend. No one deserved what she'd done, and she wouldn't blame Claire for chewing her ass out.

Claire stood behind Quil, glaring at her former best friend, and Nessie could feel the burn of her stare.

"I know you don't want to hear anything that I have to say, but I want to explain everything. Please come in and talk, Claire...please?" Nessie ending her plea as a question, wanting it to be Claire's decision to come in. If she could just get her friend to listen to her story, then maybe she wouldn't want to punch Nessie in the face.

"Why would I want to talk to you? You disappeared, not contacting anybody. Not even me. I thought we were friends. I can't even describe what you did to Jacob, so, um, no...don't think I'll be talking to your scrawny little ass right now."

Nessie looked back into the living room, hearing a happy tune from the old musical on the television, mocking her mood. She knew Claire was right, and she'd asked too much of her too soon. Hopefully Claire would let her back into her life soon.

"I know I deserved-" Nessie clenched the door because another debilitating cramp washed through her body. Her legs began to give out, but somehow she stumbled to Billy's easy chair.

The pain of Claire's animosity shot through her, but she knew what was happening wasn't just because of her friend's anger. She hunched over in the chair, grabbing her knees and resting her head on her lap. Her eyes clenched with the pain that wasn't subsiding. What was happening to her? She knew this wasn't good and feared for her baby.

Her mind flashed to the nights she drank herself into a stupor, trying to forget the loss of Jacob. She'd only done that a few times, but she had still drank, not knowing she was pregnant. Then she thought about all the weight she'd lost while she couldn't bring herself to eat. And then there was the sex, the hard, rough fucking they had on the porch. Could it hurt the baby? She didn't have a clue, and she'd never had to think about something like that before. Then she remembered her fall, her stupid, clumsy fall down the stairs at Aunt Alice's house, and she was suddenly frightened.

Quil forgot about getting the keys and knelt down by Nessie. She couldn't see him, but she could hear his breathing.

"Nessie! Nessie, are you okay?"

She could sense the fear in his voice over not knowing what was going on.

She then heard another set of reluctant footsteps come towards her.

"Nessie?" The airy voice of Claire drifted through the house.

"I just need to get to the bathroom. I think I just need to vomit, and I'll be okay." Her usual routine in the mornings consisted of being near the toilet just to make sure she wouldn't be too far away when the need to throw up came.

"Okay, I'm gonna help you up. Come on, babe, help me," he requested of Claire.

The threesome made their way to the bathroom where Nessie slumped to the floor, not feeling the cramp anymore but not feeling well either. Quil stood outside the door and turned away to give Nessie her privacy, but Claire disregarded the privacy thing, wanting to make sure her friend was okay.

"Nessie, what's going on?" Claire questioned, obviously concerned. It seemed that her anger had gone, and genuine concern filled her voice.

"I don't know...I'm scared." That was all she could say before she heard Claire's next words.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "Quil, go get Jacob."

"Why?"

"Don't ask me why. Just do it...now!" she ordered.

Nessie saw a fear in her friend's eyes when she looked up at Claire. She soon understood why she'd suddenly yelled at her boyfriend the way she had.

She could feel the warmth of the blood pool between her legs and saw Claire fall to the floor, taking Nessie's hand tightly in hers.

~o~O~o~

Please, please, please don't hate me. We're going to see the interaction between father and daughter in the next chapter, and what's happening to Nessie right now will play a huge role in how she deals with Edward.

I'm bracing for the rotten fruit you want to throw at me...Reviews makes me smile, even if you want to curse me out.