Hello dearies! I'll take just a minute to address those fabulous reviews from the last chapter...

dkjkaden: Oh no! I am waaaay too much of a "Jalice" fan to have Wes imprint on Alice! And yes, Rebecca's kids should have the ability to phase when they get older, we'll just have to see!

teamedward6011: Yay! Glad someone else was as interested about Alice as I am! I love (as you can probably tell) thinking more in depth about all the characters' back stories! Very glad you approve!

Brrpenguin: Thank you for the feedback! I did a little research actually, and discovered that Alice did some digging into her past during New Moon when the Cullens left Forks. She discovered she had a sister named Cynthia and a niece who still lived in Biloxi. Glad you like the Jake/Rebecca moments!

Lovetwilight: Good for you for figuring it out! Yeah, Jake was being a bit rude, but this chapter resolves a lot of that...

Also thanks to the Guest reviewer & YaleAceBella12 for the positive encouragement!

So here's ch.27! I hope I haven't lost too many of you throughout this long story & sporadic updates... Thanks if you are still reading! Remember, I LOVE hearing from you!

Chapter 27: Joy Cometh in the Morning

"Jake," Rachel called, running after her brother as well as she could for being as near as she was to the end of her pregnancy. "Jake stop!"

Jacob stopped at the edge of the woods and turned waiting for his sister.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked when she reached him. "This is your party y'know."

"I'm going for a run," he said softly.

"What in the world for?"

"Because if I stay in that house much longer, I know I'll regret it," he snapped. "I thought I could do this, Rach, but I can't!"

"Jacob she's our sister! She came all the way here for your wedding and you've barely said a word to her."

"What am I supposed to say? Huh?" he said, memories he'd kept hidden for so long rushing back. "Should I talk about all the good times we shared before she left? Maybe I'll start with her drinking and then dive right into all the days I went to school with sweatshirts on to cover the finger shaped bruises on my arms. Or when Dad asked me about the bleeding cut on my cheek or my black eye and I said I tripped or there was a bully at school. Do you know how many times I had to lie to Dad for her?"

Sadness weighed down Rachel's heart as she looked at her broken brother. She had no idea he was still hurting. "You never told him?"

"No. I made you swear not to tell anyone so why would I? I knew how bad he was suffering and I didn't want to cause him anymore pain. You saw how happy he was today when he saw her again. I can't take that from him."

"Jacob, I know she hurt you, but that was a very long time ago."

"Not for me," he whispered. He couldn't forget. Those memories haunted his dreams, and it drove him crazy that he could only dream about the dark times with his drunken abusive sister, and not the happier memories when they had all been a family before his mother died. "And it won't be for Wes either. You know how it works when we're wolves, Rach. We share a mind. Nothing's private. He's gonna feel my anger, witness every horrible memory I have of her. And I can't do a damn thing about it."

"You can forgive her," Rachel said quietly.

"Forgive her? You want me to forgive her?" he cried. "Rachel, you were there! You saw what she did to me and to Dad. How can I just forget all that?"

Rachel shook her head. "Not forget. I said forgive." She took Jacob's hand, burning hot and trembling. "At least talk to her, Jake. Please? I hate seeing my brother and my sister at odds with one another."

"I don't know, I..." he began, but was cut off by the death grip Rachel suddenly had on his hand.

"Oh my God," she gasped, the back pain she'd been having for the past couple of hours flared, snaking around her abdomen. She groaned, in pain and realization. "Jacob!"

"What is it?" Jacob asked, his anger at one sister immediately replaced by concern for the other. "What's wrong, Rach?"

"Contraction," she breathed. "The baby's coming!"

Jacob's heart beat picked up speed. "The baby's coming now?"

Rachel groaned again. "Yes now!"

"Ok," he said, his brain finally functioning again. "Hang on, Rach. Everything's gonna be ok."

Jacob scooped Rachel up in his arms and ran as quickly as he dared back to the house, mentally screaming for Edward the whole way. Before Jacob even made it to the porch, the front door was thrown open and Edward and Paul stood waiting. Well, Edward stood waiting. Paul came running out to meet them. "Rach," he sighed in relief as Jacob carefully transferred his sister into her husband's arms, "it's ok, Babe. I've got you. Thanks, Jake."

Jacob nodded and followed them inside, watching as Paul raced up the stairs into Carlisle's office. "She's gonna be ok, right?" Jacob asked.

"Yes. Her pregnancy is normal, Jacob, and so is the baby," Edward said, leading Jacob into the living room where everyone else waited. "She's in good hands. Carlisle has everything prepared, and Esme and Rebecca are up there with her."

Jacob nodded, knowing he would normally feel a hint of anger or resentment at hearing his sister's name, but Jasper was watching him carefully. And oddly enough, Cynthia was asleep on his lap. Before he could think to question it, Renesmee was beside him. She slipped her hand into his, and the world was suddenly a bit brighter. He sat down in a chair in the crowded living room, pulling Renesmee down on his lap. He needed her as close to him as possible. She was his strength when everything else was becoming too much to handle.

Renesmee kept a hold of his hand and he suddenly heard her sweet voice in his head. Are you ok? You've been really quiet all evening. He shrugged, deciding now was not the best time to unburden his troubles onto Renesmee. You know I'm here, whenever you want to talk.

Jacob leaned his head against her cheek and nodded. "Yeah, Ness. I know."

**J/N**

Jacob watched as the clock on the wall ticked to midnight. It was officially his wedding day. He looked down at Renesmee who had fallen asleep in his arms and smiled, placing a kiss on top of her head. After Bella had married Edward, he thought the hole in his heart would never go away. He could not escape the pain no matter how hard he tried. It had been slowly killing him, day after agonizing day. But then, the unthinkable had happened. Bella gave birth to Renesmee. His imprint. His true love. When he first looked into those big brown eyes, he felt whole again. She filled the hole in his chest and she had saved him in more ways than one throughout the years. She was the most amazing woman he had ever met. They were meant for each other, and he loved her more everyday, though sometimes that didn't seem possible. And in less than twenty-four hours, she would be his wife. Like Rosalie had said, he was the luckiest dog alive.

Before he even remembered falling asleep, Jacob was dreaming. Renesmee was in his arms and they were dancing around the room as music played softly in the background. He couldn't quite make out what song it was, exactly, but they could be dancing to the Hokey Pokey for all he cared. So long as Renesmee was with him, he was happy. She was so beautiful. Her brown eyes shone with love and her smile was breath-taking. Suddenly, the song changed, and someone tapped his shoulder. The voice he hadn't heard in years, but would never forget, asked, "May I cut in?"

Renesmee smiled and kissed his cheek before disappearing. Turning around, Jacob saw his mother in a formal dress standing before him. "Mom?" he whispered, hardly able to believe it.

"Hi Jake," Sarah Black smiled at her grown up son.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"It's your wedding, Jacob. How could I miss that?" she grinned.

"No, I mean," Jacob sighed, a sob forming in his throat as he looked at her. "Mom, you... you died."

"I know, baby," Sarah smiled sweetly, placing her hand lovingly against his cheek, "but in your heart, I am very much alive."

Jacob smiled. It was true. He'd never really been able to let her go. "Now," she said, "do I get to dance with my son?"

"Sure, sure," he chuckled, hooking his arm about her waist and grasping her hand. They began to sway to the music that still played softly.

Sarah Black smiled up at him. "My boy," she sighed. "You've grown up so fast, but I am very proud of the man you've become."

"Thanks, Mom. That really... it really means a lot," he nodded. "But what do you think about Renesmee?"

"Oh, she's just wonderful, Jake. I can see how much you love her, and she loves you just as much. I know you two will be just as happy as your father and I were."

"I hope so," he sighed. "He misses you so much, Mom. So does Rach, and I guess Becca does too, but I haven't really seen her since you..."

"Don't give up on her yet, Jacob. She still loves you, she just had to deal with things in her own way," Sarah reminded him. "But it is time my children were all together again. Why do you think I put the idea of inviting her into Renesmee's head in the first place?"

"That was you?"

"You didn't get this ornery because of your father's influence, Jacob," she laughed. It was a beautiful, comforting sound. One that Jacob hadn't heard in a very long time.

"I miss you, Mom," Jacob said, fighting the tears that burned his eyes. "I still have dreams about the... the accident. So many times I wish you could've been there to help me understand... I can't... I just can't let you go."

"Oh, sweetie," Sarah sighed, hugging her baby boy close to her. "I miss you too. But you're getting married! You have your own life to live. So think of me every now and then, smile, and move on. Be happy, Jake. That's all I've ever wanted."

Jacob nodded into her shoulder as tear after tear rolled down his cheeks. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too," she whispered. She rubbed his back as they swayed to the song that seemed to last forever. But as long as they'd been dancing, Jacob had never noticed the words until his mother started to sing them. Baby Mine, the song she sang to him as a child. He held her tighter as her soothing voice continued to sing. When the song ended, she kissed his cheek. "Now, go start your life. Take care of my new daughter-in-law, alright?"

"I will," he smiled.

"I love you."

As he watched her fade away, he smiled. "Love you too."

"Jacob? Jake, wake up!" Jacob opened his eyes to see Renesmee standing before him. She grinned from ear to ear. "Your nephew is here!"

Renesmee all but dragged him up the stairs and into Carlisle's office. Billy and the rest of the pack were already crowded into the small room, the huge stature of the spirit warriors further dwarfing the space. They parted to give their alpha room to approach the bed where Rachel held a tiny, sleeping bundle. "Jake," she whispered, a smile alighting her exhausted features.

"Hey Rach," he smiled back. "This him?"

She nodded. "William Joseph Lahote. Want to hold him, Uncle Jacob?"

Jacob couldn't help but laugh at his new title. He liked it more than he thought he would. "Sure, sure," he smiled.

Paul took his son from his wife and gently handed him to Jacob. "Drop him and, alpha or not, I swear I'll kill you."

Jacob smirked. "I think Rachel would beat you to it."

The new mother nodded. Jacob laughed, turning his attention to the little baby now in his arms. William yawned and snuggled deeper into the warmth of Jacob's chest. His heart swelled.

Renesmee stood beside him, gazing at the new baby in awe. "He's precious. Absolutely perfect," she cooed.

"Yeah, he is," he said softly, admiring his nephew and wishing, more than ever before, that his mother could be here. Remembering his dream, he looked up and saw Rebecca standing beside Billy's wheelchair, holding his hand. "Will you take him, Ness?" he asked, already handing William off to his almost-aunt. "I'll be right back."

Renesmee was lost in admiring the newest addition to the family, nodding absently. Jacob looked to Rebecca again, catching her gaze and wordlessly asking her to follow him out of the room.

They stood in the hallway, just staring at each other, unsure of what to say. Rebecca had been waiting, longing for this moment for years. So many times she had wanted to call, to visit, to apologize to Jacob for everything she had put him through. But she knew she had to let him make the first move. If she were to initiate it, he would pull away. Now, it seemed, he was finally ready to talk. She didn't expect forgiveness. She just wanted a second chance. "Jake, I..."

"No," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Becs, please. Let... let me go first." She nodded, biting her lower lip and waiting for him to continue. "I hated you for a long time. For what you did to me. For what you did to Dad. We were supposed to be a family. I needed you! And you... I'm still not sure if I can forgive you."

Tears burned her eyes. She longed to reach out to him, but knew she should keep her distance for now. "I know. I don't expect you to, Jake..."

"But," he said, his voice rough, "I miss my sister. Mom wouldn't... she wouldn't want this. I'm glad you came, Becca."

She was crying now. "I am too," she sniffed. She took a hesitant step towards him, and he met her halfway, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Oh Jake, I'm so sorry!"

"I know," he whispered, and she could feel his hot tears on her neck.

She pulled away, looking into his eyes and seeing the little boy she had once known. "I love you."

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I love you too."