I'd like to extend a very special thanks to Lina, xxangxx and Yumi Stern for their recent reviews. Although I am able to track "views" and "visitors" sometimes it's difficult not to feel like one is writing into the abyss. As a writer (unprofessional, of course) it is my hope that there are those out there that enjoy reading my fics as much as I enjoy writing them. It's a great motivator to keep going. Especially because it is so much easier just to sit around and do nothing but watch Netflix haha.

More daily updates to come.

Nessie's POV

Regret. So much regret. I rub my temples as I sit on some driftwood near the beach. The sun is just coming up over the hills and the sand on the beach is damp and packed down from last night's rain. My hangover from last nights overserving of wine kills and the sound of Quil's kids squealing as they run up and down the shore is not helping. Claire follows them. I can't believe that is little Claire. She is all grown up and so pretty. Quil and Seth and talking about something down near the water.

I hear the crunch of food steps. I look up to see Embry guiding River down to me, "she's here," he says.

"Mom. What are you doing here?" River smiles. I take his good hand and help him sit next to me. His other arm is in a sling. I hate seeing him like this.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," I touch his face, looking at the damage, "poor thing."

"Nessie… for your hangover," Embry says, handing me a sandwich wrapped in foil.

"Where'd this come from?" I ask, gratefully and take a bite. It's so warm and delicious… for human food, I'll have to hunt an elk later. "Oh my god," my eyes roll back, "what is this?"

"I just whipped it up inside when I went to get River. It's basically a grilled cheese with egg and fried onions," he smiles at my reaction, "kinda my hangover cure recipe.

"It's amazing, you should be a chef," I reply, taking another huge bite.

"Mom," River chuckles, "he is a chef."

"I'm a cook, pubs around here don't have chefs… there's a difference… mostly in salary," he mutters.

"I feel like I should tip you," I smile. I feel better already.

"I guess I wasn't invited to the party," Jacob says, joining us on the beach. I roll my eyes. He's so dramatic sometimes.

"I didn't see you inside," Embry says.

"Well, it looks like you got to see River. He's okay, as you can see. You can go now," Jake says, crossing his arms.

"Dad!" River scolds Jacob for his rudeness.

"I'm just gonna… yeah," Embry walks away from the family confrontation.

"Actually, I'm sticking around," I reply, holding the sandwich in my lap.

"What?" Jacob's voice is flat and his expression is grim.

"Yeah. You really inspired me," I smirk, "last night when you said that I was a bad mother."

"Dad!" River scolds again.

"No! It's alright, baby," I say, petting River's hair, admiring the slight red tint it has under the daylight even if it is gloomy, "your father was right. I haven't been the best mother. So, I'm going to stick around for a while."

"How long?" Jacob grits his teeth. I am rather enjoying his disposition.

"At least until the end of the summer. Maybe even the fall… It's lovely around here in the fall," I reply.

"Well… as nice as this news is… unfortunately, we don't have enough room for you," Jacob grins as though that is something I had ever considered.

"Oh, I would never intrude," I chuckle, "I called a realtor friend of mine last night. I'll be renting a cottage down the beach. Actually… I can see it from here," I point to a rather large oceanfront house.

"That's a cottage?" Jacob mutters, "typical Cullen, throwing all your money around," he continues under his breath.

"That's great, mom!" River grins.

I ignore Jacob's remark about it not being a cottage, "actually, I was thinking it'd be fun if you could stay with me, River."

"No. No, absolutely not. That is not going to happen," Jacob says assertively.

"Why not, dad?" River frowns.

"Yeah… why not, dad?" I shoot Jacob a smug look. When Jacob struggles to come up with a single reason I begin to list off the benefits, "the AC works, it's close to the beach so he'll be around kids his own age, like Misty. She'll be just a couple hundred yards away."

"Nessie, can I talk to you," Jacob says abruptly and yanks my arm, pulling me up from the driftwood where I sit. He drags me a few yards away from River, "what are you doing?"

"What?" I grin, taking another bite out of my sandwich. He scowls and smacks the grilled cheese out of my hand and into the sand, "hey!" I frown.

"You're using his affections for Misty to bribe him into staying with you," Jake accuses.

"I don't have to bribe him. He wants to stay with me," I reply.

"Yeah but if I say no then I'm the asshole keeping him from spending the summer close to the girl he's pining over," Jacob huffs.

"Seems that way, doesn't it," I reply. "Here's a concept… don't be an asshole," I suggest. "I'm his mother. I have a right to be with my son."

"You gave up those rights when you-" Jake begins but I cut him off.

"No. I gave up nothing. You made this an ultimatum. This is all on you," I reply sternly but still keep my voice down, "I did the best I could with the cards I was dealt. My daughter is travelling with her father for the rest of the summer which means I have a lot of time on my hands and I'd rather like to spend it with my son who, by the way, is old enough to make this decision on his own."

Jacob grits his teeth, "you know what… fine. Have it your way. It's been 16 years since I've had zero responsibility. Might be nice to see what life has been life for you for the rest of the summer," he says.

I don't bother to shoot back an insult. Jacob has no idea how I've been these past 16 years. Instead, I go back to my son, take him by the arm and walk with him down the beach so we can talk. Once we are far enough away I look back to see Jacob watching us from a distance. I turn my head back.

"I'm sorry about that… I don't want to come between you and your dad," I say truthfully.

"I think he gets this way because he loves you so much. It's easier to hate you and not be with you than to love you and not be with you," River says. "Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two?" he asks.

I consider it for a moment. "Someday," I reply, "it's complicated adult stuff."

"Was there… someone else?" River asks. I can tell from his voice he's been wondering this for a while.

"River, my darling, there is no one human being on this earth I have ever loved or ever will love as much as I love Jacob Black," I admit. Tears sting my eyes but I know that River won't know. He can't see them.

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