It felt like years that we sat there waiting. All pretending to watch the show that played on the television screen, but none of us really noticed the images. Our minds were far beyond the world of technology and soft couches. They were in a world that most people wouldn't believe existed. A world where vampires were real, and werewolves were nearly the equivalent of a normal person, compared to the previous. Yet it wasn't only our minds that were elsewhere, it was our hearts as well. Our precious hearts were held in the hands of three particular werewolves that were at this very moment fighting a particularly ferocious vampire. Whether our hearts or our minds would be returned to us, was still to be decided as we waited.

"Do you think this will be it? I mean, the last time they have to fight Sebastian?" Kim said softly, placing her now empty cup onto the coffee table beside her.

"I truly hope so," Emily said softly, her eyes frozen on the television screen, even though you could tell she wasn't really paying attention to what was on.

Then at that moment, we heard footsteps moving down the hall. The adults must be done discussing. I really hoped my mother was ok. This wasn't how I wanted her to find out the truth, but really, if it wasn't for this I probably would have never broken it to her.

Billy was the first to enter the room. He looked tired, but at peace as he took the seat Emily gave him, having stood up herself, reassuring him that she didn't want to sit right now.

Mrs. Clearwater was next, and she was just as sick looking as she was when she went in. She sat quietly beside Billy on a small loveseat.

My mother entered last, her usually bright complexion looking rather sallow. Her face was unreadable, but her brow was knitted in what appeared to be concentration as she took a seat next to Mrs. Clearwater.

"Is there any news?" Billy asked, but not looking as though he really expected anything, especially since his expression didn't change when we all shook our heads.

I then turned to my mother.

"Mom, are you ok?" I asked, placing a hand on her knee. She jumped slightly, but looked into my eyes, her gaze steady.

"Well, as good as I can be," she said, her voice raspy. She must have asked a lot of questions.

"I'm sorry for not telling you, but I was sure you wouldn't have believed me," I told her.

She nodded, "I probably wouldn't have."

"Do you now?"

She looked at me, her face slightly frightened, but her eyes were set, her decision made.

"Yes, I do."

"Does it bother you? Knowing the truth? Knowing I'm dating a… werewolf," I murmured. My mother flinched at the word werewolf, but that was the only sign, or movement she gave as she continued to look at me.

"Well, I wouldn't be a proper mother if that didn't disturb me a bit, but like I said at the beach, Jacob has been too much of a help to you for me to disapprove."

I couldn't help but smile at this, absolutely relieved that she accepted this. That it didn't change her opinion of Jacob.

"Thanks mom, it really means a lot," I told her, grasping her hand gently. She gave mine a squeeze, her grip firm.

"I know sweetheart, that's why I'm doing it," she said, a soft smile appearing on her lips.

Just then, the front door was flung open with a loud bang, and in rushed Brady and Collin carrying someone who was nearly unrecognizable under all the blood.

"Oh my god! What happened? Who is it?" Kim cried, jumping out of her seat, her face fearful.

"He was in the front of the chase after Sebastian, and when he caught up they fought for a while, but we didn't get to them in time. Sam ordered us to bring him back right away and the rest of them are still going after him," Brady said, as Emily ushered them over to the empty couch where they lay the person down.

"Who is it?" I asked, picking up that they didn't answer the question.

"Jacob," Collin said sadly, unable to look at me.

On any other occasion I would have screamed, or broke down in a fit of tears, but instead, I approached the couch slowly, nearly gagging at the large quantity of blood that covered his russet skin. I knelt down beside him and began cleaning the red mess, slowly revealing his unmistakable features. I could tell he was bad, but I didn't cry, and I didn't scream. I just continued to clean him in a sort of trance. I didn't want to believe that this had happened, that he was hurt this bad. The only thing that reassured me a bit, was the fact that his chest moved up and down still. It may be uneven, but he was still breathing, and his heart was still beating, for now, that was enough.

Everyone else hummed around us, asking what was happening, how it was going. I didn't care about that anymore, because my heart and my mind were both laying in front of me in a bloody mess. I no longer had strength to care about the rest. I knew I should, but I just couldn't bring myself to. Not when my very reason to keep living lay dieing in front of me.

"Has someone called Carlisle?" I heard Emily ask next to me as she helped me clean him.

"Yes, he should be here soon," Brady answered.

"Don't worry Drina, doctor Carlisle will know what to do, Jacob will be fine," Emily told me soothingly, stroking my hair.

Her small gesture of caring was the thing that set my precariously balanced emotions over the edge. I sank to the ground next the Jacob, tears beginning to poor down my face as I started to dry heave. Thankfully I hadn't eaten anything or Emily would have had to clean up my puke on top of Jacob's bloody form.

"Billy, clean Jacob, I need to get Drina out of here," Emily said swiftly, passing Billy her damp cloth as she gently pulled me to my feet and directed me, not easily I might add, to another room. I soon discovered it to be the bathroom when she positioned me in front of the toilet and held my hair back for me.

I was just about to tell her I had to nothing to barf up when of course my surprisingly empty stomach found something to empty out in the basin.

"Is she alright?" I heard my mother ask, her voice full of worry. I wanted to tell her I was fine, but when I opened my mouth my stomach brought on a new wave of nausea.

"It's probably just shock, once she's done puking I'm sure she'll get better," Emily said gently, twisting my long hair into braid so I wouldn't get it into anything.

"Ok, tell me if she needs me, or if you need anything. I'm going to help Billy," she said, then I heard her slowly walk back into the living room.

I was still crying and dry heaving over the toilet, but I was pretty sure my stomach was now officially empty, so Emily helped me up again and took me into her bedroom.

She sat us on the bed and simply held me.

At first, this small gesture brought on a new harsher bout of tears, but after what felt like nearly an hour my sobbing stilled and I lay silent against her chest as she stroked my hair.

"Are you alright?" She asked at last, breaking the silence.

"Should I tell you the truth?"

"Yes."

"Then no, not really," I responded.

"I know, and I'm sorry this had to happen again. I know what you're going through. I've had to deal with many near death experiences with Sam, and I know that it's not easy," she said, sounding older to me now than ever before.

"Are you ready to see him?" She asked softly. I thought about it, and just thinking of his mutilated body made silent tears drift down my face.

"No," I responded. Emily nodded, then became silent again as she rocked me back and forth like a small child. It was surprisingly soothing and I didn't object, even when she started to hum what sounded like a lullaby.

"You know, you'd be an amazing mother," I told her.

She chuckled quietly. "I've always wanted children. I hope Sam and I will be able to someday. I'd like that," she said fondly.

"I'd like children too, when I'm older of course," I told her.

"You'll be a great mother," she said.

"I hope so," I sighed, slowly sitting up and wiping my eyes with a handkerchief she handed me.

"I know you will. You've got such a big heart and so much love to give, and so does Jacob. Your children will be the luckiest in the world," she smiled.

I smiled too. "Yeah, thank you Emily. You really didn't need to do any of this, but you did."

"I may not have needed too, but I wanted too. I couldn't have just left you there, that's not in my nature."

"I know it's not, and I really appreciate that, because sometimes I find that I really need you," I told her.

She smiled again, giving me a hug. "And I'll be here whenever that happens," she promised.

"Thanks Emily. I think I should go back downstairs now. Dr. Cullen is probably here," I said, and we both stood up and went back into the living room.

Like I had guessed Dr. Cullen was bent over Jacob, his eyebrows knitted together as he cared for his wounds.

"What's the damage?" I asked, kneeling beside him.

He glanced at me, then up at Emily who nodded, obviously reassuring him that I wouldn't lose it.

"He has some severe internal bleeding, and quite a few of his ribs are broken. He's pretty cut up, but all of his limbs seem to be intact except for a sprained wrist which is nearly healed already," Carlisle told me gently. I'm sure he was giving me the gentler version of Jacobs prognosis, but it was enough to at least know the general idea. I wasn't really after specifics at the moment. Those would probably send me into another wave of hysterics.

"Will he be waking up soon?" I asked Carlisle as he did something to Jacobs chest which twitched in response.

"He would have if I hadn't given him any anesthetic, but no, he won't be waking until morning at the earliest," he told me. I nodded, turning my attention to Jacobs head that was now clean of blood, but there was a large bandage covering his right cheek.

I carefully leaned in, placing my lips next to his ear.

"You did everything you could baby, now take care of yourself. Get better…for me," I whispered, then grasped his surprisingly unblemished hand, and curled up against him, preparing for the long night ahead of us.

A.N. Man, you guys must love me right now! Two updates in a matter of days! Wooo! I'm totally on a roll! Hopefully it will keep going!! And as always, I truly hope you enjoyed it, and I would love if you left me a review, they really get me motivated to keep writing! Thank you!

~ Blue