Maybe

He was waiting outside the door when I came out. He took my hand in his and guided me back to my bedroom. He sat down on the bed, and I sat next to him.

"Nessie" he said, again serious. "What happened to you? What did they do? Tell me everything"

And so I did. I told him about how I didn't hear the car arrive because of the music, and how the last thing I remembered was opening the door. I told him about waking up in the room, and about Joham.

" So he produced a story to get you out of the house, to get to me. He wouldn't have a chance if you were around, you are much too strong and he knew."

"It was a nightmare" Jacob looked down on our entwined hands. "I got to the police-station and no one knew what I was talking about. I got it then. That it was a trap, someone was after you. I phased and ran back – it would be faster than driving. But I was too late. You were gone. It smelled of human, three of them. But their smell disappeared when they got into the car, so I didn't know where to follow. I thought I would go mad. The pack came, and we split up. It was only luck that we crossed the scent again, at a gas station. We barely managed to track them down. If we hadn't been so many we wouldn't... I wouldn't..."

He stopped, not finishing the sentence. I squeezed his hand.

"But why?" Jacob continued. "Why did Joham do this? What was his goal?"

"He said I was unique." I said quietly. "One of a kind. He needed me to finish his project."

"Wasn't he trying to make a "new race" or something? Of half-vampires?" Jacob frowned.

"Yes"

"But you are already a half-vampire."

"I know that" I smiled.

"So what was he trying to do, collect you? It doesn't make sense" His voice was shaking.

"That's what I thought at first too" I said carefully, trying to phrase this right "But it wasn't like that exactly. Joham needed me in the...production... of that race"

He got it then. For one second he looked like if I'd just slapped him in the face, and then he started to tremble. His whole body was shaking and I realized he was on the edge of phasing. It would be dangerous for me if he did that with me this close; I was indeed half human. An image of Emilys scared face appeared in my mind. His figure was starting to get blurry around the edges. As quickly as I could I wrapped my arms around him and put my hand on the side of his head. NO, I thought. No no no no no. It didn't happen. No. It didn't happen. I sent this again and again. I let him inside my mind, and I knew he could see I meant it, that it was true. Slowly the trembling faded and he started to get control of himself.

I still held him tight to me, and I showed him everything Joham said about his son, about his plan. I carefully avoided the parts where he hit me, this was not the right time for that. Jacob seemed unable to speak. I held him close until only his hands were shaking. I leaned back and put his hands in mine, squeezing them. Jacob looked at me with wild eyes. His breath was shallow and uneven.

"Damn vampire" he whispered under his breath. "I thought... oh, I thought.." He looked down.

I didn't say anything, I just held his hands in mine, until they stopped trembling. I waited until his breath was back to normal, and laid back down on the bed.

"Thank you, Jacob. For finding me. I thought I'd never see you again"

He looked at me with desperate eyes.

"I thought I would never see you again either" he said earnest. He laid down beside me and wrapped his arm around me.

"We should call your parents" he reminded me quietly.

I closed my eyes. "Soon"

I felt him kiss my cheek. A warm feeling flooded through me, and I got an urge to kiss him back. So I did. I kissed him out of longing and appreciation, and he knew it. When I broke the kiss and opened my eyes, he continued to keep his eyes closed. He looked like if he was dreaming. For the first time today his face was not worried, angry or afraid. I stroke the features of his face gently with my fingertip.

"I think..." I started to say, stroking my finger over his cheekbone, " that I might..." I touched the edge of his lips, " quite possibly... love you. Maybe"

He opened his eyes then, and they were filled with wonder. I didn't meet his gaze, but studied my own hand on his face. He put a hand under my chin and lifted my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze. He looked at me for a couple of seconds, before the most beautiful smile spread on his face. He leaned down towards me and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"You know how I feel about you" he whispered. "You know I love you"

"I know"

His smile widened impossibly and hugged me tight. I rested my head by his neck and did not wish to be anywhere else in the whole wide world.

I must have fallen asleep again, because the next thing I knew was Jacob talking quietly on the phone with my dad. His arm were still under my head, and he was still laying beside me on the bed. I could hear everything¨my dad said as clearly as if he was standing there in the room with us.

"Is she still sleeping?"

"Yes. She's right here".

"We'll be there in about an hour, maybe less."

"Okay. We'll meet you by the main house. See you then"

They both hung up, and Jacob turned around to put his phone on the table beside the bed. When he laid back down he noticed I was awake.

"Did I wake you?"

"No"

"It was your dad again. They'll be here in about an hour."

I nodded. I did look forward to see them, but I didn't look forward to retell everything that had happened. It must have been obvious on my face what I was thinking, because Jakob squeezed my shoulder before he sat up, saying "It will go just fine, Nessie." He looked down at me with warm eyes, and I pushed myself up to sit next to him.

"Will the pack be there to?"

"I guess they'll show up, eventually." His face got more serious. "When things are done"

"Do you wish you were there with them?"

"No." he shook his head. "I mean, I'd like to be there and help, to get those assholes, clean things up..." He didn't finish his sentence, and I didn't ask what he meant by that either. He continued "But I won't leave you alone again. In fact, I don't think I'll ever let you out of my sight again."

The corner of his lips turned upwards in a little smile.

"Oh, I guess you'll be pretty sick of me if you're going to have to look at me all the time"

"I don't think so"

I rolled my eyes, and he laughed.

He held my gaze for a long time, and his face got serious again.

"Nessie, how did this happen?"

He carefully touched the bruises on my shoulder and arm. I carefully told him about how Joham held me down, not letting in too many details. Jacobs face darkened, and he traced his fingers over my bruises over and over again.

"Show me" he said, and I knew he meant my memories.

I hesitated

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean..." I thought back to only minutes before when he'd almost phased here in my bedroom. I had hoped he wouldn't ask for this. He took a deep breath.

"Yes. I'm sorry about before. It wont happen now. But I need to know everything that happened to you."

His eyes met mine, and I knew he would not negotiate.

I slowly lifted my hand to his face and slowed him how I'd gotten the bruise. He closed his eyes. When I was done I started to remove my hand but he held it there, wrapping his own hand over mine, holding it to his cheek. He opened his eyes, and I saw only determination.

"What about this?" he gently caressed the bruise on my left cheek. "Show me"

I did, and again he closed his eyes, still holding my hand to his cheek. When the memory was over he didn't open his eyes. He pressed my hand again.

"Show me the rest as well"

And I did, because I knew he would not give in until he'd seen it all. I studied his face carefully, to see how he reacted, but he just continued to keep his eyes closed.

"That's all" I said, when I'd shown him everything that had happened. "You know everything now".

He opened his eyes and looked at me with sad eyes. His eyes were blanc and he suddenly looked years older. He didn't speak; it didn't look like he was able to say anything at all. His hands were trembling again.

"I know I shouldn't have shown you that" I muttered, looking down.

"No" he said. "I'm glad you did. I needed to know".

I met his eyes; and he leaned down to brush his lips against my forehead.