A/N: Fluff, fluff, and more fluff. I felt like writing fluff, obviously. Don't hate, please. To all that reviewed/favorited THANK YOU! :)

PS: I haven't been doing this lately (I think I did it in the first chapter) but I disclaim. Everything belongs to SM, but my characters are mine and I like them so don't steal, please.

"I fell in love, in love with you suddenly. Now there's no place else I could be but here in your arms." -Hellogoodbye, Here In Your Arms

JPOV

Dude, you need to stop thinking about her, you're killing me, Paul thought.

Sorry, man. You know I can't help it.

Paul and I were running the midnight patrol and not being in bed next to Kim was... exhausting. That pulling sensation in my chest whenever I wasn't around her on top of running for six hours straight was tiring me out big time.

Alright, guys, head home and get some sleep, sorry I was late, Sam came to relieve us, thank God. I wasn't too upset though. I could see snippets of him and Emily fighting earlier threading through his every thought.

I headed straight for Kim's, not even stopping by my own house. I felt bad, not seeing my Mom or Dad, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I would feel if I didn't have my Kim next to me at night. I phased quickly and grabbed a pair of shorts that were under Kim's window. I jumped into the tree and opened her window noiselessly, sliding in easily and closing the window behind me.

I turned around, expecting her to be in bed, sleeping peacefully. But she wasn't. She was sitting against the headboard, knees drawn to her chest, dark eyes fixed directly on me. The bed was completely made; she hadn't slept at all since I had left at six after dinner.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Was my first question.

"Who are you, my father?" She snapped. I've seen her be nasty when she needed to be. But having it directed at me was another matter entirely.

"What's wrong?"

"You're late. You're not supposed to be late ever. Do you know how worried I was?" No, I hadn't realized she would be so upset about me being a total of fifteen minutes late.

"Why were you worried? And you never answered my question, why aren't you sleeping? Do you know how late it is? Don't act like you're not tired; I know you are," I rattled, off. I couldn't understand why she was worried or why she wasn't sleeping! I climbed into the bed next to her and attempted to kiss away what ever was worrying her but she wasn't having any of it.

"Jared Michael Taylor! Do not try to get away with that! You can't do that to me! I don't think you realize how many images of you bloody and dyeing with some...vampire over you have been running through my mind. I just...don't do that again, okay? Make sure you're on time, please." I hadn't realized the extent to which she worried about this."Yeah, okay. I'm sorry I made you worry. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't my fault."

"Whose fault was it?"

"Sam's...and Emily's, technically. They were fighting and he didn't want to leave whatever it was unresolved."

"Oh. Okay, turn around, I want to get my PJ's on." I noticed that she was fully clothed, pants, shoes, shirt and all. And that's when I felt absolutely horrible. Worse than horrible. She had been doing the school work of two, cooking for two, add worrying about me and she was sure to be exhausted.

"Come here," I told her as soon as she was done. She complied and walked over to where I was sitting on the edge of the bed. I wrapped my arms around her torso, feeling the muscles contract and her breathing hitch. I smiled into her shirt as she wrapped her arms around my neck, now standing between my legs.

"I'm sorry I scared you." I whispered.

"I forgive you. I hope you realize that if it were anyone but you I'd make them grovel for forgiveness and not talk to them for a week. But you are Jared and you have super ears so you know that my heart rate just about reached a deadly state and I can hardly breathe and that you are forgiven because you have that effect on me." God she was perfect.

"Yeah, I know you forgive me, but that doesn't mean I still don't feel bad." She untangled her arms from around my neck and threaded her hands into my hair. That sent every nerve there on fire and I had to hold back whatever was about to come out of my mouth. She held me solidly and brought her lips to mine in a sincere, light kiss. I wasn't having any of that so I deepened it and she responded immediately, parting her lips a little. I traced them both with my tongue and she pushed a little harder, the need to be close coloring every move. I pushed even harder and when she met me I just about lost it. I explored every part of her, reveling in the sweet, icy feeling around me. I had to pull back because I needed to breathe and rested my forehead on hers, my arms still securely around her waist. That was our first... really intimate kiss. Ususally it was just small pecks, little chaste snippits. This was a full on, mind blowing, kiss.

"That was..."

"Yeah, I know," I finished for her. And then I kissed her again. I couldn't help it. Really, I couldn't. I definitely just discovered my favorite pass time. Not that we had that much time to pass; it was already half past midnight and I could feel every kiss getting less and less enthusiastic.

"You need to go to bed," I whispered.

"Mhm, whatever you say," she said and then kissed me again. She wasn't going to give in that easily. If there was one thing I learned about her in the three weeks that we had been spending every waking moment possible together, it was that she was undeniably stubborn. About everything. Even if it didn't make sense and there was another way to do something, she stuck to her guns like superglue. It turned me on, regrettably. So when she didn't stop kissing me, I knew my battle was already lost.

She trailed her lips up my cheek and to my ear and whispered, "Okay, we can go to bed now."

"Yeah, that's probably in our best interest," I said back, taking advantage of her exposed neck and nuzzling it. That sent her heart rate flying again.

"Or not," was her response.

"Mhm, whatever you say." I copy-catted her reply earlier. She untangled her hands from my hair and ran them along my shoulders, leaving a trail of goosebumps along my skin. I breathed in heavily at the sensation and I could practically feel the smirk forming on her lips. Her hands were not tiny, small yes, but not tiny. And they were strong. They should have been ineffectual and cold, but hey were white hot against my skin and instantly began messaging away the knots and tension. She trailed them over my neck and back, kneading and rolling, easing away every worry.

"You're going to put me to sleep," I said groggily. It was true, she was relaxing me that much.

"Good, you need some sleep. You're working too hard. I'm going to have to call Sam and tell him to lay off."

"Mhm. You do that. You're very intimidating. All five-foot-three of you."

"Yep. I have this brand new whip I just bought. A crow bar on my side wouldn't hurt either. I'm very good at acquiring leverage."

"You probably have Paul and I on your side as well. We're both dead tired."

"Poor Paul doesn't even have anyone to rub his shoulders for him."

"Yeah he finds his tension release in... other ways." I left out the part about him screwing everything with a skirt and a pair of legs. She didn't need to know about that. Her hands became lighter, tired at the effort of battling with werewolf muscles. Her head dropped to my shoulder, my arms now the only thing holder her up. I didn't need to ask, I lifted her easily onto the bead and laid next to her. Encircling her body with my arms as her went around my neck as she placed her head on her favorite cushion - my chest.

It was perfect, that place, the one where we stayed in eachothers arms. We had many different ways of being comfortable. Sometimes she would have her head on my stomach, perpendicular to me. I liked it that way because I got to study her face more intricately. Sometimes she would just hold my hand while she slept a few feet away. I didn't like that one as much. Most of the time she was in my arms, one way or another, ending up tangled in each other. That was my favorite way to wake up - surrounded by everything Kim. In her arms, her embrace, her aura. It was like she had an orbit all of her own that I was so happily a part of.

The most accurate analogy I could come up with was the Sun and the Earth. She was my Sun, without her I couldn't exist. I was her earth, a part of her gravity and space but not necessary for her. I was lucky to have a Sun. She just got something to have floating around her. So that was why laying in her arms was my favorite place to be - I was completely captivated by her.

I wanted each and every one of them. The Bull Mastiff puppy with the tan fur and black face was calling to me. I was still holding onto the black, white, and brown Australian Sheppard, however. The spotted Great Dane was sleeping at my feet while I rubbed the Golden Retreiver's belly. I wanted all of them. I could only choose one, though. They were all big dogs, just like I needed. I wanted one that would protect her when I wasn't there. One that would be loyal yet low maintenance. It was tough, they all swarmed to me, begging to be part of my pack, their instincts telling them that I was Beta and to be not only respected but looked at for guidance. I had all of them in a frenzy to get out of their cages and into the play pen with me.

I only chose the big ones, the ones that would scare off any human threats. I liked the Great Dane, he was noble looking... too noble, though. The Australian Sheppard was too excited, though still one of my favoirtes. The Golden Retreiver needed a lot of attention from the moment I had stepped into the pen. The Mastiff had eyed me curiously, waiting and assesing and when he approved he had come over to be pet. I liked him, he was careful even at a young age. He was noblelooking like the Great Dane, lively yet not as playful as the Australian Sheppard or the Golden Retreiver. He was sitting a few feet away from me on his haunches, ears forward and tounge lolled out. Kim would like him, I decided. From the hour that I had been playing with the puppies, he was the one that was interested yet had kept his distance, just like Kim. He would know when to be a companion and when to be a silent guardian. He was the one.

I chose him, smiling as he settled comfortably into my arms and promptly fell asleep, very tired from all of that playing. I spent a good amount of money on toys, food, and other necessities. He stayed asleep the whole time, not stirring even when I brought him out of the comfort of the pet store, the only place he had known of for the past month and a half. He was bred in the pet store, his mother being one of the owners dogs. I met her, the Momma Dog. She reminded me of my mom, cool and collected. We bonded over a milk bone and called it a day.

The puppy didn't even open an eye as I switched him from my arms and into my lap in the drivers seat of my truck. I really hoped Kim wouldn't be upset, I hoped she knew why I was doing this; I didn't like her in that house alone. Kim was under the impression that I was patrolling but I got off early thanks to Sam making up his twenty minutes and more as a sorry for last night. It gave me a good two hours to get to Port Angeles and check out the pet store. I didn't expect to actually get one... I swear. I just like him a lot. I really hope Kim does too. She didn't get home until six today. She had a rough schedule on Saturdays, waking up early and working non-stop all day.

I had plans with her later but if I couldn't have her all to myself on my time off then I figured I could just follow her like a lost puppy - excuse the pun. I pulled up at my house. My mother's car was in the driveway which wasn't supposed to happen. I was just going to drop the puppy off, let him sleep in my bed for an hour and then come get him. But my mother had an uncanny talent for knowing when I'm up to something. It's made sneaking alcohol out of the house in my younger years very difficult.

I hopped out and made my way up the porch steps soundlessly. Those werewolf super-powers (yes, they are super-powers) were going to be put to good use today. I opened the door, still yet to make a sound. I checked to the left, then the right, feeling like a super-cool spy, and finally caught the sound of her humming somewhere outside in the garden. That was good. I could be in and out in thirty seconds.

I placed the puppy in my room, surrounding him in pillows and blankets before closing the door after one last peek. I spun on my heel and nearly jumped at the sight of my mother standing in front of me, hands on hips, foot tapping to the "You're Caught" song.

"Hey, Mom. How are you?" I said, kissing her on the cheek.

"What's in your room?"

"Well, that's great Mom! I'm good too. I've got to go, though. Werewolf stuff, nice seeing you, though. See ya!" I tried to sidestep her but she was faster, unbelievably. I guess it would have to do with the fact that she could usually guess my next move three seconds before I made it. Yeah, that got pretty annoying.

"Don't make me ask again, Jared." Her tone was deadly.

"There's nothing in my room, I was just...uh - replacing some clean clothes."

"Where are you doing laundry?" Mom still didn't know about the whole imprinting on Kim thing yet. It's not that I didn't want them to meet or anything... I just wasn't ready for that kind of stress... and I just hadn't gotten around to it.

"Mom, listen. Let me catch my breath. I barely know what's going on. All I can tell you is that I'm safe and someone is taking care of me. I need you to be patient for a little while so I can figure things out." That was the best I could do - ask her to wait and let her know that I was safe and sound. She sighed and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I miss you Jared; you're never home any more. And on top of your...problem, there's something else taking you away from me?"

"I'm sorry, Mom. Just a little while more, I swear." She was breaking my heart as I hugged her back. Literally driving a splinter right through the middle.

"Okay, just not much longer. I can't help but worry."

"I know." She let me go and kissed me on my forehead. "Be a good boy," she finished and walked back through the back doors. I very nearly teared up there and that is not cool. I shook off the depressed feeling with the thought of seeing Kim as I drove down to Split Tree. I had only been there once. Everyone knew there was a horse farm near first beach, everyone knew that is where the snobby upper-class La Push population went to hang out. We used to make fun of those people. But Kim was a part of them so there would be no making fun any more.

I pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of my truck. The pulling sensation was a good way to know where my Kim was but I didn't think it was proper to just waltz right in like I owned the place so I made my way over to an official looking building with a large, pofessionally decorated sign that read "Split Tree Farm" with the picture of one half a tree standing the other underlining the words. That was probably my best bet for someone who would know where Kim was.

I opened the door and was greeted with a "Hello, how may I help you?" immediately. The woman that asked was a tall blonde dressed in the same clothes Kim wore a lot.

"Uh, yeah. Do you know where I could find Kimberly Morgan?"

"Of course! She's a popular girl today. Go straight to the indoor arena, she should be on a big black horse." That put me on the defense. Who had been to see my Kim?

"Thank you," I said as I slipped out the door.

"Hey wait!" I turned as she called, "You might want to wait a while, she doesn't like anyone bothering her when she rides." Would she mined me?

"Okay, thank you." I followed the pull toward a massive wooden structure and located an entrance near the front, doing my best to stay out of sight and quiet. I lifted my head a little over a small door and peered into the dark arena. There was only one horse, a big black one with some white on it's nose and legs moving swiftly and delicately along the wall. There were mirrors everywhere along the wall and I briefly wondered their purpose before I caught sight of who was riding the big black horse.

Kim was atop the huge animal, eyes focused and narrowed, muscles taught and fluid at once. She didn't look like she was moving, her body so still and tight. I looked over the whole of her. She had her hair up in a helmet that made her face look severe. Her white polo shirt and immaculately clean attire was piercing in the dark arena. She was absolutely concentrated, putting all of her effort into something that I wasn't sure of just yet. She shifted her left hip forward a fraction of an inch that would take a werewolf's eyes to see and the horse moved into a different movement, this on more graceful and more comfortable looking. And then they were skipping around the ring. It was fluent and consistent with the movement of her hips, her arms moving only slightly with the horses as her legs remained glued to their spot. They skipped all around the arena, changing direction and circling in different places. Then the horse stopped from the skipping as Kim's arms stopped, neither one moving even a little. I wondered if she was even breathing she was so still.

And then she leaned forward, patted the horse on the neck and relaxed her body position, the horse relaxing with her. It was amazing how in-tuned they were. Every move Kim made the horse made a reciprocating action not a beat later.

"Good boy," she murmured and patted him on the neck again. They walked and her body started moving again. She placed her hands on her thighs and took a few deep breaths, wincing every time she inhaled. The pain written clear as day across her face was unnerving. She walked for a few more minutes, the horses deep breathing becoming more regular. She tightened her abdomen once earning an immediate halt from the horse as she dismounted and walked away, the big black horse following her like a puppy even though she wasn't leading him by anything. She approached the door and spotted me at once. Her cheeks turned a little red and it sent my heart flying in tune with hers as soon as she had spotted me.

"What are you doing here? I told you I'd be home at 6, am I late? I'm never late!"

"No, you're not late. I just... couldn't wait to see you," I stuttered out. Her presence made me unable to speak a lot.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to see you put on a beautiful show." She blushed a little darker and I felt a small bit of smugness at making her like that.

"Oh, that was nothing. I was just... I don't even know. I guess I was just playing around with Nova."

"So that's who this is? Supernova?"

"Yeah, this is him," she said fondly as she patted his neck admiringly. This was the one that was her friend; the one that she had built from scratch into a top competitor in the Pacific Northwest. He was on rest though, she had told me. I noticed the difference between this horse and the one that I had seen her ride the night of the bonfire, which we have taken to calling the Night of Disaster. He was taller, built more. Bigger and broader in a sense. The grey one was more lean and muscular. They both reflected Kim, however. She was quick and agile, as demonstrated in a game of flag football we played a few days ago with everyone at an end of school BBQ, like the grey one yet she held that elegant presence like this horse, Nova.

And now these thoughts had to stop. Comparing my Kim to her horses as she had explained them was a bit much, even for me. We walked into the barn and I watched her take all of her stuff off, clean Nova and kiss each of her horses on the nose before taking my hand and leading me out into the parking lot. It was nice to see her soft side more often. In school she was hard in determined with the work ethic of a queen bee and one hell of an attitude to go with it. She was only soft and gentile with these horses... and me. I liked that. The fact that I had some part of her reserved only for me was exciting.

We didn't talk a lot, preferring to convey important things through important words instead of meaningless conversation. Sometimes she felt like talking though, just shooting the breeze. Most of the time she was quiet and reserved but I liked it that way because trying to figure out what she was thinking about was fun, like a puzzle. She had a good poker face but her body language gave her away a lot. So as her hand gripped mine I focused on her shoulders, the way they were tight and tensed. Her legs moved stiffly and she looked uncomfortable. Something was bothering her, something she didn't want to tell me.

I didn't spot her car so we walked over to mine and she climbed in, her body still radiating a bothered aura. She was looking down at her nails, picking at the perfectly manicured squares with disdain. I lifted her chin with my finger and she looked up immediately.

"What's wrong, Kim?"

"Nothing," she answered without hesitation. I had tried with little success to rid her of that habit, of burying her feelings and letting them seep. She was too hard on the outside, too emotionless. She was a very passionate person, I knew. But she rarely ever showed that. I liked that side of her, however, and I got her mad a few times just to see it.

"Kim," I sighed, "please?"

"I just... I don't know, Jared. I chose to have my horses at Split Tree instead of some elite barn in Seattle because I don't like people judging me when I'm not perfect. I like going to horse shows because I know that I'm flawless, that I've mastered. I don't like it when someone important is shown the process. It's not usually pretty..." My heart swelled at the idea of me being an important person.

"But I wouldn't know either way and to me your the best rider to ever walk the face of the earth." She blushed at my sincere words and her posture relaxed a little. "You're perfect to me Kim, you know that right?"

"Yes. I don't know why, though."

"Because I am Jared and you are Kim and that's that." The imprint didn't matter to me. All that mattered was Kim. And me. So the simple equation was Jared + Kim = Perfection. She winced as her shoulders met the back of the seat, the relaxed position doing nothing to ease whatever pain she was in.

"What hurts?"

"Nothing," she answered again without hesitation.

"Kim!"

"Sorry! My back is killing me. I got launched off of Jazz a while ago and definitely did some damage." The thought of her falling that hard from something so high made me want to be sick. I controlled myself and asked if I could do anything before I took her to the emergency room. I constanly had to make sure I didn't overreact with her.

"No, I'm fine."

"I have something that will make you feel better, though," I said smirking. I had almost forgot about my little adventure this afternoon.

"Yeah, and what's that?"

"A surprise."

"I hate surprises." I had figured that.

"Yeah, well, this ones good."

"Mhm," she replied, resting her head on my shoulder. Her eyes drifted shut and as I pulled into my driveway and I told her not to open them. She made a noise of conformation and pressed her head against the seat as I got out of the truck. I ran into my house quickly and grabbed the puppy - who was still sleeping-and placed him in the back seat where Kim couldn't see him.

"Do I get to see my surprise yet?" She murmured.

"In a little while. How about I order pizza? You look tired," I said.

"No, I can cook. I can do it."

"I know you can but you don't have to and I don't want you to. You're tired.""Jared, I can cook," she said tightly. She didn't like when I asked her to slow down. She got hella stubborn and belligerent.

"I'm ordering pizza, end of conversation."

"Fine," she relented, which was both good and bad. Good meaning she wasn't angry. Bad meaning she was really exhausted. That reminded me, "Who came to see you today, the lady in that office thing told me you were busy today."

"Yeah, I rode Fiona and Jazz, then Finn, Corey, and Twister. Then some people came in for lessons, specifically requesting me. I think it's my dad's doing, him wanting me to 'branch out'," she said using air quotes. The answer put my mind at ease about people coming to see her.

I insisted on carrying her into the house to which she nearly took my head off. I did carry a bundle of blankets, she thought, into the house and told her to sit on the couch. She cooperated, albeit unhappily, and crossed her arms. I unsheathed the still sleeping puppy. Her eyes widened and she smiled.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"If you're thinking a puppy then yes," I said nervously. I was yet to guage her reaction. She had smiled, yes, but she also smiled when she was put into stressful situations. She gave a whole new meaning to 'Grin and Bear It'.

"Let me see him." I handed the soft little creature to Kim and he settled into her arms easily, nuzzling into her embrace and falling asleep once more.

"We don't have to keep him. I just don't like you alone and this is the best I can do without hiring a team of security personnel." She looked him over and smiled again.

"I've been meaning to get around to a new dog..." she trailed off. She pet the puppy affectionaltly on the head and he pushed himself a little closer.

"So is that good? Can we keep him?" I felt like a child that had found a stray.

"Yes. Thank you, Jared." I loved when she said my name like that. She sort of whispered it. She was smiling still, full on grinning now. "He's adorable," she murmmered. And then her eyebrows scrunched together in thought. "I don't have anything for him, though. No food, no toys, no place for him to sleep..."

"Taken care of. I just wanted you to say yes before I brought everything in." She smiled again and I kissed her forehead before running out of the house to gather all of the things I bought for our little puppy.

"What's his name, Jay?" I loved when she called me that. It felt personal.

"Doesn't have one. They called him 'Number One' at the pet store, if that helps."

"Well that won't do at all," she tutted and kissed the little puppy.

"Think of one while I set this up." I pulled two loads of stuff out of the back of my truck ranging from treats, food and supplements to toys, beds and a crate. I even bought a play pen. I watched her as I set up everything. She was thinking and stroking the puppy's soft pelt absentmindedly. It was beautiful. I was pathetic. She could be doing the chicken dance in a hamburger suit and she would still be beautiful...

I ordered two large pizza's for delivery before collapsing on the couch next to Kim who had not moved. She snuggled close to my side, making my stomach clench, and I fitted my arm around her.

"Maximus...Max," she said. I thought of the movie Gladiator. I liked it, though. I would like it if she wanted to name him Godzilla.

"Why Maximus?"

"Because Max is cute and when he's bad I can use his full name." I loved the way her mind worked.

"Max," I said and the puppy's ears perked forward. "I like it." She set Max in his two-hundred dollar bed in the three-hundred dollar pen and the simple act of watching her interact with such gentleness made it worth every penny.

We ate our pizza and promptly went to bed at eight on a Saturday night, seeing as how we were exhausted from being werewolves and imprints and all... She glanced at Max and then me briefly before grabbing him and leading the way up the stairs. We collapsed into bed and I automatically wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my head on her abdomen as Max rested on her chest, his head atop of mine. And it was perfect because there was no other place I'd rather be than with my Kim and our new addition.

A/N: I have a bull mastiff puppy named Tucker and he makes me feel safe at night when my parents aren't home. He's a big teddy bear... big being the key word. Kim loves animals so a dog will do her good :)