5. Jacob's Story Part 2

Renesmee's party had nearly come to an end. The Cullen's were cleaning up and much of the packs had all ready lead.

All that remained were Charlie, Sue, Billy, Leah, Seth, Sam and Emily. Rosalie and Alice were inside taking care of Sam's twins. They all stood around outside with Jacob, Renesmee, Bella and Edward near the front of the house.

"So when are you all leaving," Charlie finally asked.

"Tomorrow," Bella replied, "Before dawn."

"Right, easier to travel," said Charlie. He shook his head unsure of what to say next. "You once told me you couldn't promise that you'd never leave. Guess I never thought it'd be this soon."

"I'm sorry dad," said Bella. "We've held off as long as we could and if there was any other way-,"

"Don't be," Charlie said to her, "Most kids leave the nest sooner or later I suppose. Keep in touch though will ya?"

"Promise," Bella said as she leaned in and hugged Charlie. "Love you, dad."

"Love you too, Bells. Always have, always will."

After they were done, Charlie looked at Edward and then smiled at his son-in-law and stuck out his hand. After seven years the hardness and bitter cold was something Charlie had semi-gotten used to from both his daughter and in-law's.

"You've been a good husband and an excellent father, more so than I ever really gave you credit for. Continue taking care of my girls, will ya, son?"

Edward smiled. Charlie had never referred to him as 'son' before. "You have my word," Edward said as he shook his father-in-law's hand.

Charlie then wrapped his arm around his wife, Sue.

"Be safe," was all Sue Clearwater-Swan said to them.

Bella smiled at her stepmom. Two years after the Winter Volturi Confrontation, which Charlie was still not aware of, Charlie had popped the question to Sue and they got married that fall as to avoid the heavy summer rains. Charlie never imagined getting re-married. He just figured he'd leave all that stuff to his ex-wife but being with Sue was surprisingly easy and comfortable.

Now he not only had a vampire daughter and in-laws but he also had one stepson who was half wolf. It still amazed Charlie at the families that had been incorporated into his life but he would not have exchanged it for anything. He'd never seen himself this happy before.

"We will," Bella said hugging her stepmother. "Thanks for being there for Charlie."

After saying goodbye to the others, Edward and Bella smiled at Jacob and Renesmee before going inside.

Charlie shook his head and smiled at Renesmee, "Can't believe my little Nessie is all ready seventeen," he said, "feels like I didn't get enough time."

"It feels that way for me too, grandpa. I'm sorry I grew up so fast."

"Not your fault. You come from a special family is all, nothing to apologize for."

Renesmee smiled and hugged Charlie, "Love you grandpa," she said to him.

Charlie hugged her back, "Love you too, Nessie, no matter what."

When they released Charlie motioned to Jacob, "Try not to rush it with this one okay?" he said to Renesmee, "I know you're old enough to date now but don't let Jacob influence you into anything you don't want to do."

Renesmee just smiled.

In the past seven years Charlie could not know much about the vampire history but he did learn about the Quileute's, even sitting in on town council meetings to learn the stories much like Bella had done when she was under Jacob and the pack's protection from Victoria.

As a result Charlie had even come to learn about imprinting mainly due to the necessity from Jacob's constant presence whenever they were at the Cullen house or whenever Renesmee went to visit Charlie and Sue. Wherever she went so did he.

Seven years ago Charlie had asked what Jacob's part was in all of this crazy stuff was but when Jacob was going to explain that it had stuff to do with werewolves Charlie decided he didn't want to know but then later on after two years it reached a point where Charlie couldn't stand not knowing and since it was a wolf secret and not a vampire one, Jacob felt okay in telling him.

Initially Charlie had flipped out much like Bella had but at least he hadn't tried to attack Jacob, not that it would have worked since Bella had once sprained her hand by punching him in the face but still.

Charlie may have wanted to pull his gun out, at least according to Edward later that night but he held back because the more he thought about the whole imprinting thing the more it started to make sense. Not only with Jacob and Renesmee but also how Charlie saw the other boys: Sam, Paul, and Quil could hardly distance themselves from their imprints unless it was council or wolf related business.

The only part Jacob had trouble explaining was why certain wolves imprinted on young children. Before Quil it had been part of the lore but many of the wolves saw it as a myth only.

But since neither Jacob nor Quil harbored any romantic feelings toward their imprints and acted strictly as older brothers, Charlie could find no fault in that.

"Don't worry Charlie," said Jacob, "We've got the rest of our lives, I'm willing to wait," he said as he smiled at Renesmee.

With their official goodbyes done, Charlie, Sue, and Leah left to say goodbye to the others before making their leave, leaving Seth with the group outside.

Renesmee had said goodbye to Sam and Emily and lastly to Billy. Seth did the same.

She then smiled and placed a hand on Jacob's arm, "Well be inside," she said talking about herself and Seth and Emily so that Jacob could have some sort of privacy with his father and once pack leader.

Once they were inside Billy looked at his son.

"Off to the real world now, hu, son," said Billy.

"If I could stay," Jacob began but Billy stopped him.

"You do what you have to son. It's your job now to protect not just Renesmee but the rest of the Cullen's as well. It's up to you boys to keep them safe. They're as much your family as your brothers are. Just know this will always be your home."

Jacob leaned down to hug his father.

"Love you old man."

"Love you too, son."

Once Jacob was standing Billy rolled himself inside.

Sam and Jacob remained in an awkward silence for a moment.

"You'll look out for Quil and my dad for me?" Jacob finally asked.

"I will," Sam replied.

"Thanks. Quil feels guilty that he can't leave, like he's being disloyal to the pack but we get it. Claire's not exactly old enough to leave on her own."

"My pack will look out for him, I promise."

Though Sam had given up being a wolf years ago, he still did consider it his pack and even those who still shifted considered it as much but with more freedom and less limitations since they were no longer connected to Sam's mind.

"Thanks." Jacob sighed, "These are your lands now."

"At least until you return," said Sam.

Jacob smiled slightly, "Sure, sure, who knows when that'll be."

"Doesn't matter, we'll concede these lands when you and the Cullen's return."

"I appreciate that."

Seven years since Jacob had left Sam's pack, since he had imprinted on Renesmee. On most days it still felt so recent.

The tension back then between the two packs and the Cullen's had been at its highest and most unpleasant- families literally being torn apart because of what they all feared. However the second Jacob laid eyes on Renesmee and she locked eyes with him, there was nothing to fear at all.

Since then with Jacob mainly living at the Cullen's, with the occasional nights in his old room at Billy's, both packs were free to come and go as they pleased.

Over the past seven years the only true animosity that remained, despite the growing friendship, was Sam still held a minor distain for what the vampires had turned him into but he had slowly stopped faulting them because had he not phased he never would have known that Emily was his true soul-mate and he never would have sired the sons he had now.

That's how Jared, Paul, Quil and Jacob saw it and Sam was slowly starting to come around to that way of thinking.

"Hey Sam, can I ask you a question?" Jacob asked. Sam nodded, "Do you think this is how things were always meant to be?"

Same considered the question for a minute, "You know before Emily I would have answered 'no' to that question. I hated you Jacob, I hated all of us, for what we turned into. We were monsters and after what I did to Emily, I was the worst one of them all. I don't hate the Cullen's anymore, or any of you. Had it not been them, it would mostly likely have been others. That's what we were designed for right? To protect our lands in ways mere mortals can't. So maybe my life would have turned out the same. I would still have Emily and my boys, it just would have happened some other way. So what's your answer to that question, Jacob?"

"Honestly I think the same. I think fate would have found a way and my fate never belonged to Bella, not romantically anyways and not even with Renesmee until she was old enough to decide on her own. Edward explained it to me once, what it was like for them to meet their mates. Me imprinting on Nessie it turns out wasn't a weird thing after all. Not only are we compatible on a chromosome level like Carlisle believes but the way they mate is similar to the way we do with our imprinting."

"How so?"

"Once they fall in love that feeling never goes away. So the way I see it, Nessie and I still would have ended up together since it's never been my intention to quit my wolf even before she was born. Before I imprinted and Bella had the baby and then became a vampire I was planning to hit the woods again and just living that life style so maybe had I come across Renesmee at some other time in that life I still would have imprinted on her regardless."

"You've grown into a wise man, Jacob, worthy of an Alpha status."

"Well I had a good role model to follow despite our different ways of leadership."

Sam stuck out his hand which Jacob shook, "Be well Jacob."

"You too, Sam."

"Hey," Renesmee said coming up to Jacob as he watched the Uley family leave.

Jacob turned to look at her and smiled, "Hey. So you ready for me to go talk to your dad yet?"

Renesmee bit her lip, "Yeah about that. I know what I told you earlier and would I be a complete flake if I decided that maybe we should wait on that?"

"Not at all, can I ask why?"

"Well it is my seventeenth birthday and I want my family to get used to the idea. And then I heard what you told grandpa Charlie and you were right, we do have the rest of our lives and it's not like either one of us will be aging any time soon. Maybe in a year or two we can really talk serious about moving forward with us. We don't have to rush anything and maybe that's a good thing since I didn't get to have a normal aging; now that was rushed. I'd like to take things slow if that's okay."

Jacob smiled again, "That's more than okay."

"But you'll still be here for me right? Even though we won't go there yet maybe we can be best friends. You no longer have to be my brother the way it's been between us."

"Best friend I can do but you do know we'll have to take on secret identities wherever we go like your family has done before."

Renesmee nodded, "I know. Back when I was ten my mom had you listed as my uncle, Jacob Wolfe and she had me listed as Vanessa Wolfe."

"Really, Bella never told me that."

Renesmee just shrugged, "but I think we're way too even for you to even be considered as my uncle."

"Well we'll think of something."

"So you're really okay with this?"

"I am more than okay with it, if it's what you really want."

"I'm sure of it this time."

"Come on," Jacob said offering his hand, "I'll walk you home. We both need a few hours of sleep before we leave in the morning."

"What about Seth?"

Both of them turned to the house where they could hear Seth in Edward's room snoring on the white couch.

"Guess we don't have to worry about him," Renesmee said answering her own question.

She then took Jacob's hand and let him lead her to the cottage where she then went inside and Jacob phased so that he could crash out near the front door as a wolf.