I'm going to have to apologize to my beta, Kate Pedroso, for bypassing her these last few chapters but I've been so excited to put up what I've written that I haven't been able to help myself. You, my readers, are amazing. I got so much imput from my last chapter that it made me smile for days. I'm so glad that his imprinting went over well with all of you. So...the story continues.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer and her wonderful Twilight series. Stephenie, I hope I did Jacob justice.

I rushed forward and caught her before she hit the floor, cradling her in my arms. Her eyes were only closed for a second and then they flew open. She reached out to right herself and tried to stand. I didn't want to, but I let her go and then took a step back toward the doorway, giving her space. My skin was tingling where it had touched hers.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so embarrassed," Eden said, her voice soft and sweet.

"Are you ok," Billy asked.

"Yes, it just got really warm in here all of a sudden," she said self-consciously. Her cheeks tinged pink and she put her hands to them, trying to hide it. Under her breath I heard her mutter, "I think I forgot to breathe."

"Well, it's a small kitchen. With all five of us in here, including two big guys, it doesn't take much to warm up quick. It happens," Emily said with a smile. She raised an eyebrow. "I think I've done it once too."

Eden nodded. She had regained her composure and smoothed her hair. "Well Mr. Black, I think we're done for the day."

He held up a hand. "Please, call me Billy."

"Alright then, Billy. Just remember to keep your dressing clean and stay off of that leg. I will be back tomorrow but if you need anything in the meantime just call our nurse line. Ok?"

All I could do was stare at her while she talked. She kept peeking at me out of the corner of her eye as she packed up her tools and put the rest of the supplies in a bag. When she took that bag to the bathroom I felt like I wanted to follow her. Sam laid a restraining hand on my shoulder and chuckled.

Eden returned and grabbed her bag of tools. "It was nice meeting all of you, except…" She turned towards me and extended her hand. "I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Eden Cross."

When I didn't immediately respond Billy spoke up, a smile stretched from ear to ear. "I'm sorry, Eden. Where are my manners? This is my son, Jacob."

When I continued to be silent Sam nudged me in the ribs and I automatically extended my hand and enveloped her small one within it. I willed myself to speak because the voice inside me was yelling for me to say something. "Hi." It was the best that I could manage at that point and it came out much deeper than normal. It seemed like my mouth had dried up.

Her breath hitched but she smiled. "It's very nice to meet you, Jacob." She let go and I had no choice but to do the same.

She waved to everyone, turned and left. I went to the window and watched her climb into her SUV and sit behind the wheel for a minute before pulling out of the driveway and down the road. All of a sudden it was like my mind and body were working together as one again and I plopped down in one of the kitchen chairs.

I looked at Billy, Sam, and Emily. "What the hell just happened?"

They all laughed. "You're a smart man, Jake. What do you think just happened," Sam asked.

I leaned my arms on the table and looked down. "Is it what I think it is?"

"Yup."

I buried my face in my arms on the table, not sure if I should be angry or happy. I suddenly felt exhausted, all the energy from the previous day was gone. "You all knew what was going to happen didn't you?"

"Sam did and he filled Emily and me in on it," Billy said happily. "Apparently, your craziness last night tipped him off."

My head popped up, looking at all of them. "You could have at least warned me," I accused. "Instead I stood here looking like an open-mouthed idiot."

"I asked him not to," Billy said.

I stared at him incredulously. "Why would you do something like that?"

"Because I thought if you knew what might happen, you wouldn't come home, that you wouldn't want to meet her. I know how you feel about imprinting, especially lately and I didn't want you to miss this chance at happiness, Jake."

I couldn't argue with that. If they had told me what would happen in Eden's presence, I'm not sure if I would have come home to meet her. Now what am I going to do?

"Jake, are you ok?" Emily sounded concerned. "Are you…unhappy about this?"

I paused."I didn't have any control over it, Emily. How am I supposed to feel about that?"

When no one said anything I got up and headed towards my room.

"Where you going," Billy asked.

"I'm going to go lay down for a bit." I felt drained and just wanted to get away from their happy faces for awhile. I closed the door to my room and flopped down on the bed, fully clothed. I tried to push away the thoughts screaming in my head and fell asleep.

I slept through the night, a deep dreamless sleep. Bright light was filtering through my window. A quick glance at the clock told me that it was late morning and that I had slept for more than twelve hours. I groaned and turned over on my stomach. I wasn't tired anymore but I didn't want to get up either. I knew what was waiting for me outside the door to my room…Reality.

I knew I couldn't hide out in my room forever though, my brothers would never allow that. I grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom to shower. I took my time, letting the warm water wash over me. However, the longer I stood in the shower, the louder the thoughts in my head became. I have to find something to do to distract me. I dried and dressed, unconsciously taking an extra second to look over myself in the mirror.

I could hear the TV on in the living room and found both Embry and Quil waiting for me. I stopped short, knowing they weren't here just to hang out.

"Hey guys, what's up," I asked wearily.

Quil just kept his mouth shut, looking to Embry to answer. "Not a whole lot. Just came by to hang out."

I gave him a look that said 'liar'. He rolled his eyes. "Ok, ok," he said cautiously. "Sam told us you might need to talk or something."

"Did he tell you what I might need to talk about?" My brows furrowed, it wasn't like Sam to share this kind of news.

This time it was Quil who answered. "No, but we figured it was something pretty heavy considering the look on his face."

I nodded and sat down. "Where's Billy?"

"Charlie came by. They are going to go out fishing."

I frowned. "The nurse will be by this afternoon, did he say when he'd be home?" My heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Eden again.

"No, but I'm sure he wouldn't blow it off," Embry said.

Quil perked up. "Ohhh, so tell us about the nurse. We had a bet, remember," he said, smiling at Embry. He looked back at me expectantly. "So…?"

I shifted in my seat. "Quil is up ten bucks." Embry immediately groaned.

"Sweeeeet," he said, jumping to his feet to taunt Embry. "Pay up, bro."

While he dug out his wallet, Embry continued. "So, what's she like?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Without realizing it I started fidgeting.

Quil and Embry looked at each other in confusion. "Something wrong," Quil asked.

"Or is she just so hot you want to keep her to yourself," Embry joked. When I growled loudly at the question, at them, they both looked really confused. "What the hell…"

My reaction to his comment was so unexpected that I felt ashamed of myself. These were my best friends but I couldn't help feeling protective and territorial. "I'm sorry. It's just…" I wasn't sure I was ready to tell them but I knew they'd find out sooner or later. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I imprinted."

I hadn't been looking at them when I said it so when there was no response I turned to look at them. Both wore masks of shock and Quil's mouth was hanging open.

"On the nurse," Embry asked in awe.

I nodded and Quil snapped out of his state. "Awesome! A nurse, that's hot." I couldn't help but laugh once before shaking my head and returning to my gloomy mood.

"Wait, wait. I'm confused," Embry said. "You just imprinted and you're acting all miserable. What the deal with that?"

I pushed up off the couch and started pacing, my usual habit when there was a lot on my mind or if I was nervous. "How should I feel about it? Tell me, please, because I don't know." I looked to Quil. "How did you feel about it when it happened?"

Quil looked thoughtful for a minute. "It was unexpected but I couldn't fight it. Honestly, I didn't want to and I know that I'll never ever regret it happening. It felt amazing that there was a huge question in my life that was answered. But then again, I didn't have all the angst going on in my life that you've had."

I nodded, thankful that part of him understood that it wasn't something I could completely accept right off the bat.

Embry didn't have that point of view to see from. "Don't you want it," he asked quietly.

I laughed once, harshly, and then shrugged. "What was wrong with what I had? Why couldn't this have happened sooner, with a person that I loved of my own will first? Why now?"

"Why not now?" Embry stood and came over to me. He put both hands on my shoulders and looked me right in the eye. "Maybe now is the best time for this to happen, Jake. Maybe she can help heal your heart, help you move on."

For some reason I reacted to that two-fold. A small part of me wanted his statement to be true, for Eden to be able to accept me and heal me, to move on in life and just be happy. The larger part of me couldn't let go of the anger at it all. "And what happens if she doesn't choose to be with me? Did you forget? She has a choice in it all, Embry." I was nearly yelling now. I threw Embry's hands off and stared out the window. "What if I'm not enough?"

"Are you crazy," Quil said, standing to join us. "You were made for each other, Jake. You're perfect for her, as she is for you."

All the thoughts that had been jumbled in my mind became clear and my resentment flowed. All my frustration in the matter peaking in front of my two best friends. I started to pace again. "I was perfect for Bella too. She knew it, I knew it, and it still didn't matter. She still left me. What makes this any different? Eden could choose not to be with me and then what would I do?"

The thought made me sick, it was the fear of rejection. I don't think I could handle that…again. A knot built itself up in my stomach and I could feel the bile rise in my throat.

Embry looked at me for a moment like he was not sure he should say what was on his mind. He started slowly. "Jake…I'm going to say something and you may not take it right at first but please hear me out." I steeled myself against it and nodded. "Maybe it's a good thing that Bella chose what she did."

I stopped in my tracks, beyond shocked. My eyes went wide with wonder of how my friend could say such a hurtful thing. He waved his hands in the air. "No, no. See I told you to listen. If Bella had chosen you and you ended up meeting Eden…imprinting… where would she be? She'd be in hell, just like Leah was and you saw what happened when that leech left her."

A picture of Bella entered my mind. It was the memory of how she looked that first day she came to visit after Edward had left. She had been broken, barely holding herself together from the hurt. Then came my memory of how she left me when she chose Edward. It felt like a good chunk of my heart tore again, just at the memory.

I wouldn't have wanted her to go through that. My shoulders fell and I sat down hard on the couch. It cracked under my weight but I didn't care. I simply laid my head in my hands.

"If you'd imprinted, you'd have left her. She might have had the leech in the background of it all, but you know Bella. Part of her would never let go of the guilt of choosing you over him and then going back to him afterwards. It would eat at her and she would never be happy, and you wouldn't be happy that you left her. And the leech wouldn't be happy because he was second fiddle." He chuckled at that last part. We all did.

"Maybe this is fate's way of making you all happy in the end," Quil said gently.

"I….I don't know if I'm ready for this right now." My hands shook as I said it and I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. I hung my head, embarrassed.

Quil sat on my right, Embry perched on the arm of the couch on my left side. Each of them laid a hand on my shoulder in support.

"I can't believe that you would be given this now, just to have it taken away," Embry said softly. "Just take it slow, Jake, for both your sakes. It will work out."

"What if...what if it doesn't come down to some 'happily ever after'?"

Embry gave a one-sided grin. "You won't know unless you try. Love is always a leap of faith, buddy. Or so I'm told."

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