Jacob and Joanna time here, folks! Angst and fluff! Enjoy!
"Feeling my hands start shaking
Hearing your voice I'm overjoyed
I'm sorry but I have no choice, you're only getting better
Maybe you have your reasons
Maybe you're scared, you're feeling down
Are you crying when there's no one around?
Oh then maybe, maybe if you hold me baby
Let me come over I would tell you secrets nobody knows
I can not overstate it, I will be overjoyed
That smile on your face like a summer
The way that your hand keeps touching mine
Let me be the one to make it right "
September 11th, 2006
"Breakfast is ready." Were the words that greeted Jacob as he woke up, back already protesting his upright sleeping position.
Joanna Swan stood over him, Bella's daughter in her arms. She was beautiful. They both were, actually. Joanna laughed, a sound that had Jacob completely distracted from everything else. She smiled at the baby, who was alarmingly larger than when he'd gone to sleep. "No, Pretty, you can't bite Jacob either."
The baby pouted.
Joanna looked down at Jacob, "You coming?"
"Huh?" He asked.
"Boys, they never pay attention," was directed to the baby. "Breakfast. Esme cooked. We were going to eat before I have to go home. Alice went and made it look like I'd come and gone already, but Charlie will be home from his shift and I need to make an appearance."
The tiny vampire in question came down the stairs with a bag of clothes that didn't smell like they'd touched a vampire's body, "Here, Jo. Your note told Charlie we hit up an early morning door buster sale. You're welcome!"
Joanna scowled at the vampire, but took the bag, "You totally just created an excuse to buy me clothes."
Alice grinned, "You're going to look amazing in them. I even put in a nice respectable pair of boots Charlie will appreciate."
"You are a mess." Joanna drawled, setting the bag down by what had to be her purse, which looked quite at home on the table by the door. As she moved across the room, it dawned on Jacob that she had spent more time than he'd thought with the Cullens. The urge to get his imprint away from vampires was strong, but she seemed so at home.
He finally stood up when Joanna settled into a chair at the table and started fixing a plate while Rosalie sat next to her with the baby. "I'm not sure why you guys thought she'd like formula anyway. She's got a nice set of teeth already." Joanna admonished, carefully cutting a tiny bite out of an over easy egg, just enough to get both runny yolk and mostly cooked white. Joanna turned her attention to the baby as Jacob took the seat on her other side. "Here, Renesmee, try this. Chew it though, like this." Joanna let Rosalie feed the morsel to the baby while she modeled chewing with her own bite of egg.
Jacob was sure the baby would choke. Babies didn't eat real food, but then the thing swallowed and smiled with a mouth full of teeth. Terrifying. Only a sharp glare from Joanna kept him from yanking her away when the baby reached one hand to her face.
Joanna leaned in so Renesmee could reach, and smiled a few seconds after they made contact. "Ha!" Joanna exclaimed, eyes darting up to general location of the room where Bella's human life had ended, where Edward still kept his vigil, "I told you she'd like eggs!" She turned those vivid blue eyes back to the baby, "Your momma likes- liked- eggs, especially when you were in her tummy."
Rosalie gave the most fond expression Jacob had seen ever grace her stony face, "Alright, Jo. You win that bet. Now eat before your breakfast gets cold."
Joanna mocked her in a singsongy voice. Mocked a vampire. Jacob was floored that all Rosalie did was smile and start feeding the baby tiny bites of egg. Joanna turned to her own meal, but hesitated before taking another bite. "Are you going to eat?"
The confident woman that had been sitting next to him was suddenly gone. Joanna eyed him almost warily, expectant. "Uh, Yeah." Jacob almost threw the fork across the room in his hurry to pick it up. She was at home with these vampires, but not with him. He needed to adapt sooner rather than later.
Esme Cullen looked near bursting with joy as she watched the three eat, talking with Joanna about similar food items they could have the baby try. Joanna didn't speak to Jacob again as they ate, but she ended up with her leg barely grazing his knee.
Jacob followed her out the door when she went to leave, heading to the truck he'd repaired for Bella. "You like the truck?" He asked, because it was the only thing that came to mind that wasn't absolutely supernatural. It seemed weird to bring imprinting up, like it would dispel the essence of humanity she had brought to the Cullen house.
Joanna smiled at him, nodding, "Yeah, I'm almost as fond of it as Bella is." She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time all morning, and gasped. Before he could ask what was wrong, she said with a soft expression on her face, "Your eyes are incredible."
"Yours are stunning." He rushed in reply, "Blue suits you."
She laughed a bit, "I'd look even more like Bells if my eyes were brown. Although, that's going to change now too."
A delicate silence stretched between them, but Jacob had to break it before he exploded, "You were incredible last night."
She arched an eyebrow at him, "How so? Was it being covered in blood? Screaming like a maniac? Running my legs off? Being your imprint? Falling asleep in the middle of the woods? Telling you how pretty you are?"
Jacob smiled at her, and laughed softly, "Not many people would have the guts to challenge a pack of wolves, even less a pack of werewolves. It was brave."
Joanna seemed startled by his answer, and then instantly her eyebrows furrowed in thought, "Does this imprinting thing make everything I do instantly okay with you?"
Jacob thought for a moment before he replied, "No. You sitting in a house full of vampires sets my teeth on edge, but if it makes you happy, I'll get over it."
"That's..." She trailed off, trying to sort her thoughts, but one thing kept resurfacing. For months she'd fought almost hourly to keep her shit together, a constant tension under her skin, but when Jacob was near...stillness. Her soul seemed satisfied, and panic hadn't greeted her all morning. Sure, he'd startled her right after she'd woken up, but...anyone else and her soul would have been halfway across the country or some shit. He made her feel normal. "I've never been in a real relationship."
He gave her another one of those dazzling smiles, "Well, I haven't really either. I mean, Bella only really ever had eyes for Edward." He grimaced, "I wasn't going to mention that."
Joanna laughed, "Oh, I know. Bella has spent the last few months bemoaning your absence. I know all about how she broke her hand."
A blush was barely visible on his dark skin, "Not my finest moment." He shook his head as if clearing a memory from it. "You were heading home."
She wasn't ready to be done with him though, "You know, I could use some company."
He opened the driver's door for her in response, "Your chariot."
They both laughed as she eased herself in the the truck, her legs aching from her midnight sprint. Jacob was in the other door faster than humanly possible. And it didn't startle Joanna at all. Not even when they closed the doors. The ride was quiet, but Jacob littered it with anecdotes about the scenery. Joanna was busy thinking.
Pulling up outside Charlie's, Joanna turned to face Jacob. "I don't know what to do, Jacob."
"About what?" He gazed at her with a face that mixed worry and confusion, and she wanted desperately to kiss him, despite the realizations she'd come too.
Joanna smiled sadly at him, "I have never had a normal life. I'm not sure how much you know, but...I have had choices made for me for a decade and a half. I don't want to do that to someone else." Because the root of the matter was, she'd already chosen him. Twelve hours, maybe a bit more, and the beautiful creature next to her was more important than anyone she didn't share blood with. The need to protect his sweet boyishness outweighed the selfish desire to keep him. She would ruin him. Such a dirty whore could never taint him, not even if he asked sweetly.
Jacob shook his head, "This can be whatever you need..."
"No." Joanna cut him off, "I am a big girl. I'll be okay. I know imprinting isn't always sexual or romantic, at least not at first, Bella told me about the young girls." The thought of grown men following girls around had left a bad taste in her mouth, but Bella had managed to convince her they weren't perverts. Barely. It had been their most tense conversation, and her sister had obviously left stuff out, "She never mentioned that it took away your free will. I can't have that power over someone. It's not right."
"It's in my nature, Joanna. I knew this would happen someday, when the right person came along." Jacob argued.
"I'm not right!" Joanna yelled, vacillating between angry and sad faster than her body could keep up with. Tears welled in her eyes regardless, and her voice shook, "I don't deserve that kind of faith. I was a whore, Jacob. I am not a good person. I am not pure, sweet Bella. I can't go back and change it, but I can keep the darkness to myself."
Jacob cupped one of her cheeks in his hot hand, wiping a tear away, "You are not a bad person. I want to kill anyone who has ever hurt you, who's ever done something to make you feel this way, but you deserve someone to share the darkness with."
"I can't." Joanna whispered, "You should stay away from me."
"I can't." Jacob argued, looking sick.
"Jacob…Jake," Joanna started, "I am ruined."
She started to get out of the truck, but Jacob caught her arm. "Please, Jo, don't send me away."
Joanna glanced back and wished she hadn't. He'd caught her, the piteous look on his face, the way his hand held her wrist loosely enough that she knew she could break away but knew he didn't want her to. "Fuck." She was out of her depth. He didn't scare her, his presence didn't send her into a spiral of terror, but she was just so damned bad for him. She was older, two years if she remembered right. He was barely fucking legal and she had seen and done too much. More than he could probably even imagine. He had to understand that she was a bad idea. "I'm no good for you, Jake. I am no good for anyone."
He skimmed his hand up her arm, her skin turning to gooseflesh under his warm touch. Joanna closed her eyes and tried to turn her brain off and focus on the feeling of his hand on her body, fingers trailing up her neck, his thumb brushing over the faded scar that remained on her cheek, then his whole hand cupping her chin. "How could you ever think that?" He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers, his skin warning away the cool air seeping in through the cracked door, "I've known you for half a day, and that's enough to know that's not true. You are brave, witty, kind, you love your family, and you make awful words sound beautiful. Anyone would be lucky to have you. I intend for that person to be me. I'm not strong enough to see someone else touch you like this. Kiss you."'
And he did. He kissed her, gentle and sweet. Jacob surrounded her, and she didn't mind at all. He obviously didn't really know what he was doing, but he made up for it with enthusiasm once he realized she wasn't pulling away or trying to punch him. He was so warm. She'd been told that werewolves ran hot, had felt Jacob enough in the last few hours to know that for sure, but with his lips on hers, he seemed to burn even hotter. Joanna had frequently gone cold when she'd been with men, but that would never be an issue with Jacob, she already knew that. He would keep her warm.
She eased herself closer, straddling one of his muscled thighs, and put a hand in his soft short hair, angling his head a bit so she could deepen the kiss. So focused on how good he felt, Joanna was not at all prepared when he jerked back. Panic spiked for a second, and she was very sure she'd done something wrong. "Charlie." Jacob whispered, eyes wide.
Panic eased, but then she was just confused, "What?"
"Charlie." Jacob repeated, and jerked his chin towards the road…where Charlie's cruiser was rolling down the street.
"Oh." Joanna gasped, "Shit!" Then she took in his rigid posture and the way he was staring at the roof of the car. She couldn't help but giggle, "Oh, Jake. We definitely don't have time to take care of that. Come on, just think of something gross. You'll be fine, but you'd better hurry!" Joanna left him there, sitting in the front of Bella's truck, with an unfortunate yet impressive hard-on in his woefully unprepared shorts.
Charlie parked behind the truck, eyes narrowed at her, already suspicious, "Morning, Jo."
Joanna grinned at him, hoping she looked at least somewhat put together. "Daddy!" She yelled, grimacing at her own shrill tone as she threw her arms around his neck.
He held her for a second, but pulled back when the truck door closed, "Jacob?"
"The truck was making a weird sound when we were out shopping. Alice knew Jacob knows it inside and out, so we called him." Joanna turned around to fix Jacob with a reassuring smile, and almost lost the facade with how guilty he looked. She bit her lower lip, "Did you get it figured out?"
He hesitated a second longer than was preferable before bobbing his head, "Yeah, yeah, should be good to go. I'll head out now. My, uh, bike is over there. I've got a meeting with Sam soon." He looked like he'd rather put his hand in a garbage disposal than leave, but he started walking towards the trees.
"Jacob!" Charlie called, a hand on Joanna's shoulder. Jacob looked just as nervous as she felt.
"Yes, sir?" Jacob choked out.
"It's good to see you. I know Billy is glad you're home." Charlie said in a friendly tone that gained a harsher edge with his next words, "Next time you visit, come inside."
Jacob swallowed once, hard. Charlie was not stupid. "Of course, sir." He dared look at Joanna again, "Bye, Joanna."
Joanna and Charlie stood until Jacob had completely disappeared. When she looked up at her dad, he was grinning, "Always liked that kid."
He was not stupid at all, "Dad!"
Charlie shrugged, "He's a good kid. Respectful. Has some marketable skills. He why you've been so cagey these last few weeks?"
Shit, she hated lying to him, but no reasonable person would understand her making out with a boy she'd known for less than a day that she didn't intend to have a one night stand with. It would be better to go with it. "Uh, yeah. We haven't told Bella."
Charlie gave her shoulder a tiny shake, "He being a gentleman? I know you've…"
Joanna rushed to stop him, "Woah, Daddy, yup, he's a gentleman. Very respectful. No need to worry on that front."
Then Charlie looked a bit concerned, "JoJo, your sister put that kid through hell. I love you, but Billy is my best friend. He might not speak to me if both my girls hurt his boy."
Damn, every day Joanna found another reason to love him. He was the best dad, supportive, protective, but he was a good man too. Joanna kissed his cheek, "I'm not planning on it." And she wasn't. She was already missing Jacob, which was insane. She was nuts, obviously.
Charlie nodded, and followed her into the house, "That's enough for today. You eat lunch yet?"
Joanna sat with Charlie while he ate, feeling awful about the reality that he was losing Bella for real. He lived in a different world, and while Joanna could probably see her sister again someday, Charlie would lose his younger daughter in two days, just when he'd finally had both of them again. And he had no idea.
Jacob was waiting for her when she made it up to her room. Joanna just shook her head at him, not at all concerned that he was there, "It really is a wonder how Bella managed to stay a virgin for so long. You and Edward certainly spent enough time in here." His face flushed, and she found herself determined to make him look like that as often as possible. He was adorable. It would have been so much easier to resist if he'd been hideous. "Thought you were leaving?"
He smiled at her, "I didn't want to leave yet."
Joanna sighed at him, "I am still a terrible idea."
Jacob crossed the room from his perch inside the window, and brushed some strands of hair out of her eyes, "You don't hate me though."
She really tried not to smile at him, but he had firmly wedged himself into her heart, "No, I don't."
"You don't hate kissing me either." He declared, looking far too pleased with himself.
Joanna shook her head, "No, Jacob." She reached up and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, staring into his dark eyes, "You are the first man I've ever actually wanted to kiss again."
That same damned boyish grin broke out across his face, and he radiated joy, "Good. I think I need practice."
She shrugged, playing coy, "I mean…I wasn't going to say anything." He definitely took her words as a challenge, and they spent a long while just kissing and smiling. Until he really did have to leave to talk to Sam about…everything. Joanna called to check in on Bella and Renesmee, and Rosalie gladly filled her in on how perfect their shared niece was. Joanna changed clothes after hanging up, and pulled the curtains closed. It was late afternoon, but she planned on getting up early. She tucked herself into bed, a smile on her face.
Chapter title and lyrics from 'Overjoyed' by Matchbox Twenty.
Coming up next: A Jacob/Sam altercation leads to some much steamier Jacob/Joanna times!
Let me know what you think! I'm in love with your reviews!
-Jenn