A/N: Sorry this one took so long to get out. Its actually been written for a while, just had to edit. Promise I'll have the next one out sooner. And I want to thank everybody that responded to my last note, I think iv decided the direction. Enjoy!
It was a familiar feeling driving through La Push and into Forks. We decided to go to the bigger grocery store their, and climbed into my tesla.
"Is it a large list?" I ask, and he chuckles, handing it over to me. I glance at the contents and understand his amusement.
"Well that's alright. I never get to go food shopping anyways, usually grandma goes." I wonder then about the thing's iv never had to do. What will happen when Jake and I want are own place? Away from my family.
Scene's play out in my head of just us. Going food shopping, and doing laundry, cleaning on a lazy sunday. As simple as they sounded I couldn't wait for those day's.
"Ya, she fills up mine also, but it's pretty easy."
We listened the radio as we drove through, pulling up to the large building. It looked pretty uninteresting, people walking in and out, going about there daily buisness.
He parked and killed the engine, stepping out of the car and immediately over to my side. I knew I could of beaten him to it if I wanted, but he's been doing it for years, so I let him.
I grin as he opens my door and I step out. It's not raining suprisingly, but it's cold out and there are puddles scattered around the parking lot.
Im not suprised that people stare when we pass. Jacob is huge, with his russet tan and intimidating features. But what they don't know is how very gentle this man is with me, how careful and loving he is. It fills me with a sense of pride to have his hand in mine, and I squeeze it, giving him a small smile.
He grins, and pulls me closer, instead wrapping his arm over my shoulder tucking me into him. His side is hot against mine, and he presses a kiss to my head before he let's go.
"Ill grab a cart." He heads over to the long line of unoccupied shopping carts and comes back, pushing a slightly damp old carriage.
"Why don't you give me the list and you push. Iv been in here a couple times." I hand it over to him, and he starts to lead us in one direction.
We spend about an hour going up and down isles, getting everything on the list and some. I do my best to restrain him when it comes to the junk food, but he only laughs and tells me where going to need it.
We head to the registers and ring everything up, taking are full cart of food and heading back into the parking lot.
"Here, start the car and I'll load these in." He hands me the keys and opens the trunk. I roll my eyes at his 'manly' ways, but I know he doesn't mean anything by it, so I comply.
I start the car and watch him finish loading in the food, then push the cart to a return station and make his way back. He slides into the seat, giving me a happy smile.
"You seem really happy to be back?" I ask. I love being back, but I know I have to go home eventually, and it makes me sad that Jacob has to leave his family again.
"Of course I am, I was born and raised here." We pull out of the lot and start the ride home. I know he would never leave me, not even if I asked him to stay. Which I realize I couldn't do, but I could give him something at least.
"Maybe we can come back..After I graduated I mean." I say, not sure of what he'll think.
"You mean visit more?" His forehead creases alittle, thinking.
"No..I mean stay. Live here." I tell him, and for some reason I'm nervous. Maybe he's not ready to live with me?
"But your family wouldn't be able to come back." I knew this of course, they couldn't risk being seen.
"I know that." I look out the window, slightly embarrassed that I couldn't seem to make my point. I didn't want to move back with my family. I wanted to come back with him.
I was suprised when the car came to a stop, and I looked around. At the end of a long dirt driveway was a medium sized house. It looked to be build completely from wood, the slats horizontal and painted a faded grey. There was a pretty blue door, and besides it a small tall window, that didn't seem to match the rest. Under those where planters, with slightly dead looking marigolds.
I felt his large hand take mine, and I looked over to him. His expression was serious, and he looked troubled.
"Nessie, do you me-" His words where cut off by the bang of a door, and a child's squeal.
"Uncle Jake! Uncle Jake!"
We both looked up to see Dakota jump the three steps from the porch, landing on the ground easily and start running down the path.
"Later." His words were a promise, but I still felt worried. He let my hand go and quickly climbed out, just in time for Dakota to reach him, skidding to a halt. I saw Logan still on the porch, climbing carefully down them. The boy's were only two year's apart, Dakota being five and logan three, but they where both a handful.
I climbed out, walking around the car to where they were. Jake was crouched down, already invested in Dakota's ramblings.
"Boys, let them come inside first." I heard Emily call from the door, laughing at them. She looked happy, her eyes on her children and her crooked half smile gentle.
I remember seeing her as a child when I was two, physically around seven. I could not understanding how she could of gotten hurt. When Jake had tried to explain it only made me more confused.
"But she's Sam's imprint?" I had asked him.
"Yes, she is."
"Then why would he do that?" It didn't make sense to me.
"He didn't mean to Ness, when where young, as a wolf, are tempers are bad. It was an accident, and he regrets it everyday of his life."
"But Jake, you would never hurt me."
That was my logic, I was his imprint and he wouldn't hurt me. Of course back them I didn't fully understand what it would mean.
"Of course not hunny, but iv had alot of practice with my control. Sam was still very new to his life."
There's been very few times where iv been exposed to the wolves tempers. But growing up around them I saw the way they were quick to react.
My mind swam back into focus as logan finally caugh up to us, and I leaned down just in time for his little hands to circle my neck. I held him close and he laughed when I stood, his legs kicking into the empty air.
"Aunty!" He exclaimed. It always made me smile to her them call me that.
"Hey handsome." He leaned back, a huge grin on his face. He looked so much like Emily, his features almost an exact copy.
"Aunt Ness!" I saw Dakota step back from Jake, and turn my attention to him. He was almost the opposite, so much like Sam, except for Emily's eyes.
"Look at you, your so tall!" I watch him smile proudly and stretch onto his toes.
"Why don't you bring Ness to your mom so I can grab the groceries." Jake patts the top of his head, and he nodds enthusiastically taking my hand and trying to tow me forward.
I laugh and follow him, but take one glance back to Jake. His eyes are on me, and he winks before turning back to the car.
I follow him down the path and up the porch, where Emily has the front door open. She's laughing at the expression on her son's face, which I can assume is pretty demending. The boys always love Jake, and do almost anything he asks them to.
We finally reach her and he drops my hand, pleased with himself.
"Thank you." He grins, but quickly takes off back down the stairs, in Jake's directions.
"Ness!" She laughs before folding me into a hug, despite logan still perched onto my hip. I hug her back, missing her welcoming personality.
"Emily, its so good to see you. We missed everybody."
We make our way out of the doorway, but leave it open. She leads me into the kitchen, where I can see she already has numerous projects going on.
"Everybody's coming today, were all excited to see you both."
I feel logan squirm in my arm and lean down, letting him go and watch as he heads for the door.
"Where's Sam?" I take a seat at the table, and she joins me.
"He took the truck to Paul's and Embry's to pick up as many barbecues as he can. There's going to be alot of people here tonight. They didn't even open the shop today."
I look towards the door as I hear his footsteps. I see Dakota walk in first, holding two bags proudly in his hands. Logan walks in behind him, holding on bag to his little chest.
"Good Job boys!" Emily praises them, and then Jake walks in, about ten bags in both hands. Of course he makes it look effortless, and carefully places them on the ground.
"Oh Dear. I didn't make you buy those all did I?" The good side of her face turns down into a frown.
"I had a bit of trouble reining him in." I tell her. He smiled sheepishly.
"Do you want help cleaning them up Em?"
"Oh no no, I'll take care of them." She jumps up, getting into action. He takes her previously occupied seat beside me, and takes my hand.
"Is it alright if I go meet the guys? Sam called and said he could use my help loading some things. Apparently Embry and Quil won't shut up." It sounded just like them, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Of course not, I'm going to help here." He nodded and glanced once at Em, but she was unpacking bags. He leaned forward, his hand falling lightly to my waist and kissed me.
"Eww." I laughed against his lips when I heard Dakota's complaint and he pulled away, but he was smiling to. He stood, musing the boys hair on his way.
"Ill be back with the guys." He called out, and disappeared.
I stood, and catching Emily's knowing smile I couldn't help the light blush on my cheeks.
"What can I do to help?"
I helped unload the rest of the bags, and followed directions to get out various pots and pans. I was filling a large pot with water for macaroni salad when I heard her throat clear slightly.
"You know Ness, I just want to say how happy everybody is that you and Jake are finally together. We already consider you part of the family."
Her words moved me, and I hugged her while I faught back the tears trying to escape.
"Thank you Emily, that means alot." She gave me a sincere smile, before returning to the food.
About an hour later we had huge bowls of macaroni salad, potato salad, and egg salad prepared. My ears picked up the sound of two trucks, and my car.
"There back." I tell her, and watch as her face lights up, much the same as mine did.
We go outside and watch as all three vehicles pull in, one large grill on each truck bed. Sam and seth climb out of Sam's, and both start making there way over. I see embry and quil come out of the other, and because I always notice him I watch Jake slid smoothly out of mine.
"Ness, look at you!" I hear Sam exclaim as I'm scooped into his big hug. I can't help but laugh, it always amazed how quickly Sam took to me, always kind and freindly. He chuckles and sets me down, stepping over to Emily and wrapping both his arm's around her.
I take turns greeting everybody and gettings hugs, as I watch Jacob's face turn alittle more annoyed with every hug.
Finally I'm able to go to him, turning forward but leaning back into him. I feel my cheeks flush when he wraps his arms around me, resting his head ontop mine.
"Im really so happy to be here, I missed you all." I let my hand fall to his that's resting on my stomach.
I missed you.
I felt his hold tighen, and I know he was agreeing.
"Well there's still a few thing's to do inside, why don't you boy's start unloading the grills and get all of the chairs out of the shed."
I heard his sigh before he kissed my head, and giving me a small squeeze he stepped back. I missed his arms around me, but headed back inside with Emily.
She taught me how to marinate and cook wings in the oven, how to make pulled pork in a crockpot and make her most popular deviled eggs. It was fascinating to learn how easily she handled everything. She could cook, handle her boys and mediate everytime an argument broke out outside. I knew if I was able to be half as good as she was it would be a success.
"Em, I don't know how you can possibly handle this all at once. But you do it amazingly." She laughed, and told me years of practice.
My mind worked fast enough to concentrate on what she was teaching me, but also on Jacob outside. His heartbeat stronger then the others, his footsteps lighter. I heard him argue with Embry over where to put the table, giggled when he said if he didn't shut up and listen he would make him sit at the kids table all night in time out.
"S'not funny." I heard Embry grumble and I couldn't help but laugh again. Emily didn't seem to mind that I was laughing at something she couldn't hear, but she would understand.
"Keep laughing princess." He mumbled again, and I heard a low smack before another mumbled.
"Sorry."
I tried to pay more attention to inside then, I didn't want to get him in any more trouble, but it only lasted a couple minutes before I heard a very familiar exclaim.
"Fuck!"
I dropped what I was working on and was outside in second's. My eyes immediately fell to him, standing by the shed with a camp chair laying on the ground. He held his hand gingerly in his other palm and I panicked. Now rationally I knew he was probably alright, and he healed incredibley fast, but at the moment all I knew was my Jacob was hurt.
"What's wrong?" I asked, quickly making my way to him.
"Nothing I'm fine. Just cut my hand on a nail." I took his hand, inspecting it. It looked pretty deep, and blood was oozing quickly from the wound. I felt my vampire side react, taking in the scent of his fresh blood and making my throat burn.
"Come on, you need to clean it out." I pushed my thirst aside and started to lead him inside.
"Bathrooms down the hall." Emily called out as we made are way inside.
"Ness, its fine. Itll heel in a minute." But he followed me despite his protest. We found it and I set his palm into the sink, turning the water on to run over the cut skin.
"Hey, are you okay?" It was just a whisper, his palm still coverd. Me? He was the one hurt.
"Of course I am. I didn't cut myself." I told him, confused by his questions. His other hand came up to stroke my throat softly, and I understood then. My hand covered his, are fingers entangled.
Im fine. His eyes met mine, and he raises his brow.
Im alright, maybe we should go soon tho. I knew I didn't have any reason to be ashamed of myself, he would never allow it.
"Anytime you want baby." He leaned down, kissing me once and then took his hand out of the water, his palm sporting a faint pink scar.