Sorry for such a slow to the point start lol I just like when stories build rather than just jump into the good stuff.

SM owns Twilight and its characters.

Chapter 3

Down the drive a Victorian-era home sat nestled against a line of trees, though I was certain Esme had replaced much of the original paneling, it's look-alike replacement would fool anyone. The house was an off white color, a long staircase led to a wrap-around porch and large front door. The yard was sprawling, green and had various flower arrangements scattered across it. The house was nothing like it's Forks successor, where our previous home had been open with windows covering almost every side this new house stood fortress-like with its exaggerated features. It was a bold move of Esme to chose such a style, this place looked exactly like the sort of home you'd expect vampires to dwell in. Off to the right was a smaller, yet just as dramatic, home; it seemed to be the equivalent to a modern-day 'in-law quarters'. The garage must be behind the house, I knew there was no way Rosalie and my father agreed to a home with no car storage.

"Wow, Esme it's beautiful! I love that you decided to go with its original look." Rosalie fawned over the house a bit more and Esme's face lit up.

"I agree, it's captured the late 1800s perfectly my dear." Carlisle added as he stood to admire his wife's hard work. No one had a bad thing to say, though I preferred modern homes to those of earlier eras it was hard to dislike anything Esme worked on, I knew the inside would be perfect.

"Well let's get inside and I'll show you all to your rooms!" The delight clear in her voice. It's no secret that Esme was beautiful, all vampires were, but people glowed differently when they spoke of things that touched their hearts, vampires included. It was impossible for even Jacob to not be excited to see what the inside held for us.

As predicted it was gorgeous, each room very distinct from the next. The first floor held the kitchen, living room, dining area, a bathroom, and an office room that both Carlisle and Jasper would share.

"Upstairs are all the bedrooms, on the right Rose and Em, and then Edward and Bella. The end of the hallway is Carlisle and I. On the left Ness, and then Alice and Jasper. There's a bathroom around the stairs just above here, and another right there." She pointed and everyone took off to check out their new rooms, Jacob and Seth just stood there confused. I began to wonder if I should have mentioned looking at houses to Jacob, I just assumed that they would live with us. Esme looked at them and smiled.

"I hope you don't think I forgot about you guys, I assumed you'd prefer a space away from the house." They had both gotten used to 'vampire stink' long ago but it was kind of her to take them into consideration in that way. "I converted the old garage into living quarters for you and Seth, here's the key. We can have another made in town." Seth took the key and ran off "Thanks Esme! I can't wait to see it. You coming Jake?." Jacob nodded and turned to follow, but Esme caught his arm.

"I know that it was a great hardship for you to leave your home Jacob, I hope you'll find this an acceptable placeholder for the time being. I didn't mean to separate you two from the family but I'd thought you might like some extra room for the pack or your family to come and visit sometime soon." She began to ramble. "I'll come and show you where everything is." Jacob just stared at her, again with the almost rude silence.

"Why don't you go up to your room darling, I'll just show the boys their house."

"I'd like to come if you don't mind, I'm curious to see the inside!" I chirped, but mostly I just wanted to be there to build Esme up incase the guys were less than thrilled.

Seth was already inside when we opened the door, I heard Jacob gasp and looked up to see what it was that caught his eye. Esme had brought their home to them, it was rustic and beautiful and exactly right for Seth and Jacob. "Dude! She even got a few things from La Push!" Seth turned to Esme with a small lamp from Sam and Emily's house in his hand "this is perfect! I was a little nervous moving away but man this reminds me of home more than home does!" We laughed and suddenly Jacob grabbed Esme by the shoulders and pulled her into him while whispering a soft thank you. She was surprised but hugged him back immediately. I hoped this would help ease his pain a little. He had been doing so well hiding it but in moments like this I knew it was still there.

I'd finally got around to seeing my room when the family went to check out the garage, I'll never understand the car people in this family, and apparently, neither would my mother because she walked into my room shaking her head

"Boys and their shiny, expensive toys."

"Hey, Rosalie's down there too! Did you manage to salvage any of the photos from dad's old house?"

"Oh yes! The photos were actually in pretty good condition, you look just like him as a child. I do wonder why he's never mentioned a whole house full of things before though." But I think we both knew it was because he still harbored some feelings about his human life. Just like Rosalie did, she was hesitant, to say in the least, about coming back to Rochester. I think what finally won her over was the fact that there weren't many places with limited sun that the family could go. The south was out, I think everyone was on the same page about Europe, a few of the other homes the family owned had been used to recenly, there was no sure way to know if any of the humans from then were still around. We could have bought another house but really why make it harder than it needed to be.

"I'm worried about Jacob mom, he says this was the right move but I'm not sure, he's just seemed so off."

"Jacob knows what he's doing Ness, you need to trust him." Ugh, the same generic answer from everyone. There really was no way around it, I'd get it all out of him after dinner, I'm done taking that cop-out answer.

We ordered some food in at Seth's request, I sat still watching Jake push food around his plate and occasionally take a bit. Everyone spent mealtime, or our mealtime, paying Esme more much deserved praise and mapping out prime spots for hunting and shopping. Alice and Rose were going out after dinner and wanted me and mom to go but that was a useless battle. The room cleared and so did my bravado. I'd start light.

"You all ready for college classes?" I asked, knowing he was because I sat and watched when dad helped him register. I was sad we'd be apart all day but knew there was no way he'd pass for a student at any high school.

"Yep" wow so much to say. and finally I couldn't take it anymore!

"Jacob what's wrong? You're just not yourself, I know you're trying but you just look miserable!" Still no reply.

"Why don't you just go home, I'll come back with you if it makes you feel better."

Then he laughed. He laughed.

"Would you relax! This has nothing to do with the move" I gave him a skeptical look "okay okay, yes I miss my home a small bit but that's not why I've been a little off."

Ah-ha, now we're getting somewhere, he's admitting to being off. I felt like a crumby detective on TV, grasping at anything he'd give me. I wasn't used to having to try and figure things out with him.

"Well then what is it? You're making me nervous, you usually tell me everything and you've been all weird lately."

"I'm not sad, I've just been lost in thought, we don't have the go go go pace anymore and it's time to really start planning out where I want life to go. Thinking about finances and education and a future. I had the garage in La Push but that was just a side hustle while I was still leading the pack, I spent so much time pushing everyone else to their future goals that I kind of forgot that I needed some too"

Well this took an unexpected turn. I'd never considered any of that. I mean I knew I'd go to college after my official high school graduation, even though I already knew most things academic wise. My dad would demand it. But I would need to start making my own money and so on.

"Your dad really put a lot of things into perspective for me and well I've been kinda lost in planning, I'm sorry it feels like I didn't want to be here. There's no place I'd rather be than with you, you know that Ness." He leaned into me wrapping me in his warm arms, I wasn't ready to drop this conversation just yet but he pressed his lips to mine and my eyes fluttered shut, the tension of the last few days fading. "You know" kiss "that I" kiss "would follow you" kiss "anywhere." And I did know that. I'd get the details of their conversation from my dad and just enjoy Jacob right now. We hadn't been wrapped up in each other like this in awhile.