Chapter 14: Full Circle

Jacob crouched in the snow, watching closely. Renesmee had executed the plan perfectly, getting the car stuck at the perfect place. He knew James would take the bait - the psycho was looking for any excuse to off them both. The side of the road sloped upwards, allowing him a bird's eye view of James as he stalked up behind her. Jacob knew that Renesmee was aware of him; in the glow of the headlights, he could see her fidget and press her lips together like she did when she was nervous.

"That's right…" he murmured to himself.

Renesmee turned around, her eyes going wide as she focused on James. He spoke to her quietly, the tones of his nasty voice echoing slightly against their snowy setting.

"No," Renesmee said firmly. "You leave me alone!"

"I don't think that's an option now, do you?" he replied, stepping closer.

Jacob's skin crawled as James stalked towards Renesmee. There was something about his sickening voice that made him want to strangle him - especially when he was talking to her. When he had seen the footprints in the snow outside the window, he knew they had to do something and fast. His stomach turned a he realized James probably saw them last night on the floor in front of the fireplace….sick, he thought. Jacob felt himself tense as he watched Renesmee reach into her pocket. She pulled out the small gun, pointing it right at James.

"You aren't actually gonna use that now, are you?" he sneered.

"Don't try me," Jacob heard her say.

He narrowed his eyes, his finger itching against the trigger of his gun. He was ready; it was now or never. James leered at her for a second, before making a sudden lunge at her. A shot rang out, but it wasn't from Renesmee's gun.

Jacob cursed himself as he realized he had missed his target The bullet went into the side of the SUV, instead of James. Renesmee screamed as James swung at her, barely missing. She fired her gun, shrieking again as it kicked back and fell to the ground. He heard James yell out in pain. Jacob jumped up, running to the edge of the hill. He slid down the incline as fast as he could, landing on the road with a thump.

James turned around, his eyes wild. With a violent hiss, he took off running.

"Are you all right?" Jacob asked quickly, kneeling down.

Renesmee nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "Jacob—"

"I'll be right back! Stay here and wait for backup!" he said firmly, picking up her gun. He shoved it into her hands, before taking off after James.

"Jake, no!" he heard her call, but he was determined. He wanted to get that fucker more than anything, and he wasn't stopping now.

The cold air was sharp against his lungs as he ran as fast as he could through the snow. He couldn't see much in the darkness; the only light was that of the moon as it shined through the bare trees. His breaths were hard and labored as he tore through the wilderness in the direction of James.

Seconds became minutes, and soon, the minutes had become many. He was no closer to finding James than he was before! With a sigh of defeat, he made his way back up the hill toward Renesmee and the car.

A sudden scream made him take off in a run. Jacob raced through the snow, his muscles burning as they protested. Making his way through the woods, he circled back to the hill overlooking the road where he had hidden before. Skidding to a halt, he peered over the edge of the drop-off to see flashing red and blue colors and spotlights. He sighed in relief as he realized his plan had worked; backup had come.

James was standing in the middle of the road, still in the headlights of the SUV. The spotlights of the three police cars were on him, officers crouched behind their doors with guns up. Hearing Jacob's arrival, James turned around and looked up at him with a scornful gaze. With complete horror, Jacob realized he wasn't alone.

He had Renesmee.

"Let her go!" one of the cops called. "Police orders! Release the girl and put your hands up!"

But James ignored them.

"Do as they say!" Jacob called in an authoritative voice.

"Just in time," he sneered, pulling Renesmee around with him. He was holding her by her neck, the gun Jacob had given her pressed to her temple.

Renesmee met his eyes over the distance, her wild gaze pleading.

"We wanted to wait for you to show up. Wouldn't do me any good to kill her if you weren't here to watch."

"Let her go, or I'll shoot!" he called, pulling out his own gun. He took a step forward, steadying his grip.

James tightened his grip on Renesmee's throat, giving him a menacing nod. "Come any closer, and I'll end her."

"Jacob! No!" she called desperately. "Don't do it!"

"Let her go!"

An eerie silence settled over the scene as Jacob and James stared at one another. Jacob's hand shook on the trigger; he knew he had to act soon before James did something psychotic. He didn't know what a person that crazy was capable of. He needed to do something, and fast. James swayed slightly, Renesmee whimpering as the gun pressed against her head. Jacob swallowed, steadying his aim as he debated what to do. Renesmee was too close to him to risk taking the shot himself. He was a good shot, but not that good.

"You're all mine. Now boyfriend gets to watch you die," he said, pressing his mouth up against her ear.

Renesmee shivered visibly, closing her eyes with another quiet cry. James laughed viciously, looking back at Jacob.

I have to do something! his mind screamed.

Then, when he was most desperate for something – anything – to happen, Renesmee did the impossible. He watched as she took a deep breath and let her free hand reach into her pocket. Pulling out a small object, she used it to jab James square in the groin. He loosened his grip on her long enough to wince in misery and let her fall to the ground. Jacob watched with wide eyes as Renesmee flattened herself on the snow. A shot rang out in the darkness, and seconds later, James fell backwards into the snow.

Jacob exhaled shakily, unable to believe what had just happened. Renesmee had just stabbed James hard enough with something for someone to shoot him. He flew forward, careening down the hill and onto the snowy lane below. Renesmee looked up from her position face down in the snow, her tear streaked face panic stricken. She glanced behind herself, whimpering as she realized James was dead. The headlights were bright on the man's body, which was surrounded by red-streaked snow.

He looked over at the line of police vehicles in front of them, his jaw open. In the dim light, he watched as Charlie Swan lowered his rifle.

"Oh my God," he muttered, falling onto his knees. He pulled Renesmee up off the ground and against his chest.

"He…He's d-dead," she finally managed to stutter.

Jacob nodded, hugging her tightly against his body. "Yeah…he's dead."

Jacob barely noticed as people started to swarm around them. All he cared about was that Renesmee was safe and in his arms. Charlie rushed over to them, kneeling next to them.

"You kids all right?"

Nodding, Jacob tried to talk through the dry feeling in his throat. "Yeah, Chief. I think we're gonna be all right."

Renesmee turned, throwing her arms around her grandfather's neck. "Grandpa! Th-Thank you," she cried, hugging Charlie tightly.

Charlie met Jacob's eyes over her shoulder, giving him a nod. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat, Ness."

They stood up slowly, Renesmee looking away from James' lifeless body in the headlights of the car.

Jacob pulled her back against his chest. "It's over," he said softly.

X0x0x0x0x0x0x

They headed back to the local police station to give statements, both of them shocked that the whole ordeal was over. Jacob and Renesmee kept exchanging relieved looks as they talked to the police, neither one really able to believe what had just happened.

Charlie sipped his coffee, furrowing his eyebrows together in a frown. "I have to ask, Ness… What did you do to him that made him let you go so I could take that shot?"

Renesmee blushed, looking away as Jacob turned to look at her. "You know, I just remembered that. What did you stab him with?" Jacob asked.

Renesmee sighed in embarrassment. Charlie opened the folder in his hands, skimming through it. "This is the folder with all the photos of the evidence….there…wait, what is it?" he asked, glancing down at the picture.

Jacob frowned, reaching out to take it from his hand. He frowned at the picture of the evidence with confusion. "You carry a small…dull knife thing in your coat pocket?"

"No, silly. It's a nail file."

"A nail file?"

"Yes," she replied, yanking it back from him. "Well…you said I was a Princess, so…maybe I am, after all."

Jacob chuckled at her, shaking his head. He exchanged looks with Charlie, who simply shrugged.

"That's my Renesmee, I guess."

One month later…..

"Would you just relax?"

Jacob looked in the mirror above the fireplace, fidgeting with his shirt collar. He gave himself another once-over, frowning at his reflection. "I feel like I should be straightening something. Is something on me crooked?"

"That's for people who wear ties, ass," she laughed, walking up behind him. "Will you stop?"

Jacob glared at her in the mirror, savoring the feeling of his banter with Renesmee. She always knew what buttons to push on him, but he secretly loved it. And her.

"Should I have worn a tie?"

"Do you even own a tie?"

"Well…I think…"

"That doesn't count," she replied, pulling his arm to get him to turn around. He obliged, looking down at her with a churning stomach. There was something about meeting a girl's parents that had always set his nerves on edge; meeting Renesmee's parents made him want to puke up everything he'd eaten in the past week. He didn't think this would go well, but he was willing to do it. For her.

"You're nervous," she laughed matter of factly, gripping his arms. She brushed her hands down the front of him, her touch giving him goose bumps.

"I am not."

"Are too. Are you…are you sweating? You never sweat."

"I do when I work out."

"Well, I like that kind of sweat. But this is a nervous sweat. I've never seen you do that….ever."

"I'm a little on edge today, yes."

"Jake…"

"It's alright. I'll be fine. Just a little….out of practice at that. Been a long time since I met a girl's parents."

Renesmee paused, looking up at him with her eyes wide. "Why would you be nervous? You're a hero, you…you saved the day. What do you have to be nervous about?"

"Well, I've had their daughter just about ever which way-"

"Jacob!" she hissed, smacking his shoulder.

He flinched, flashing her a smile. "Hey now, I was just being honest!"

"Yeah, well could you leave that part out when they come by?"

"What should I talk about? My love of brown liquor and womanizing ways?"

"Yes, please tell them that," she chided. "Seriously though, you're nervous to meet my parents?"

He answered by rolling his eyes at her.

"Jake, stop. They're just coming by to say hello. They wanted to meet you."

"How much did you tell them?"

"Enough. Charlie told them mostly."

Renesmee sighed, taking in the sight of her truly nervous boyfriend. Getting shot at and taking on a psycho killer barely fazed him. But meeting her parents for the first time? He was absolutely beside himself with nerves.

They had been home barely a month from the mountain cabin. Renesmee doubted they had spent much more than a few hours apart since then. Jacob made a habit of stopping by her apartment or work when he was on duty, and he had been crashing at her apartment every night. Not that she was complaining; she either got to see Jacob in his police uniform, half naked, or naked.

I definitely prefer the latter, she thought with a smirk.

"So…do they know yet?"

"Know what?"

Jacob paused, looking around her apartment that was full of moving boxes. Jacob's things were littered around one corner of her living room, still waiting to find their place. He had officially moved in the last of it that morning.

"I think they'll know, Jake. It's all right... We're adults. Besides, I think the fact that you took a bullet for me pretty much sums up the idea that you'd do anything for me. What more can a dad want for his daughter? And I know my mom will think you're cute," she said, wrapping her arms around his torso. She rocked from side to side, giving him her best convincing smile. Jacob didn't seem like he bought it.

The entire time they had been home, he had been dreading meeting her parents and had made no secret of that. Renesmee had met his father and sisters, and there hadn't been a problem there; Billy had been completely smitten with her, and Renesmee got along well with his sisters. She knew he feared he wouldn't impress her parents as much as she had impressed his family.

"I just…what if I'm not fancy enough for them? Or rich? I'm just a cop, and your dad…you've explained what he does like twelve times to me, and I still don't get it, but whatever. I just know he makes like a zillion dollars".

"And that matters…why?"

"To a guy, it does. No one likes to date a girl that was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Sets the bar too high".

"That's silly."

"I just…I wish I had more to offer."

"Jacob," she pleaded, squeezing him against her, "you're everything I would ever need."

"How so?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

She pulled him closer, allowing him to rest his forehead against hers. "Well…" she replied slowly, "you're sweet. And caring. And you love your family. And you're brave, and useful, and…outdoorsy. And besides…you're not afraid to call me a brat and make me think about the silly things that come out of my mouth. I need a guy like that in my life. You know…keep me on my toes."

"So, in a nutshell, I boss you around and I know how to build a fire. So what?"

"That's not what I said!" she laughed, gently slapping his arm. Her hand gently touched his arm over his shirt, her fingertip easily seeking out the raised scar. Jacob had a raised mark where she had stitched him up from his bullet wound. "I meant that…that you know me, and you're still here. You not only fought for me, but…but you taught me how to fight for myself. I owe you a lot for that. I…I love you for that."

He smirked down at her, a smile dancing on his lips. "You really mean that?"

"Of course I do. Jake, I've…I've never meant anything more. Why…why are you smirking at me like that? Don't make fun of me right now. I'm vulnerable."

"Sure, sure," he chuckled, nodding. He leaned down, kissing her gently.

Renesmee let his warm lips mold flush against hers, moaning slightly as they deepened the kiss. One swipe of his warm tongue against her lips, and she was putty in his hands.

"Wait, wait," she said, pushing him back. "My parents will be here any second. And…why were you smirking at me like that?"

"Because," he said, gazing down at her. "I love you, too."

Renesmee gasped, her jaw falling open. "Y-You do? I…so that wasn't something I stupidly just blurted out?"

"Of course not. I think I've loved you for a long time."

"You're serious?"

"Of course. Nessie, I think I loved you since the first moment I called you Princess."

Well, I hope you all enjoyed my little AH fic about Jake and Nessie. I'm considering writing another one that is just AU this summer - would anyone care to read that? I'm just smitten writing this pairing, and I never want to stop! Drop me a line, let me know!

A big thank you to JenRar for beta-ing this fic for me. She originally agreed to do it when this fic was a 1shot, but it slowly became a full fledged story and she was an amazing sport about it.

Thank you for all the reviews and lovely alerts! Like I said, I do plan on writing more of this pairing, so add me to your alerts so you can see if I post anything else. The further I get on this AN I'm thinking I most likely will…*sigh*

Please review! Thank you everyone!