I'd like to thank my fab betas, Whitlocked & Angelz1114577 as always, and my co-bloggers over at Twi-sted Edbrella, Nikki & Dani, for their suggestions, willing ears and encouragement.

All aboard! It's Nessie's turn to ride the rollercoaster!

Disclaimer: The characters & back story are owned by Stephenie Meyer, no copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 16

Nessie PoV

As Nahuel and I had made our way back along the shoreline, we'd spotted Emmett on board the small powerboat that he and Rose kept moored right next to the house. He waved as he saw us approaching and called out when we were close enough to hear.

"Hey!" he yelled. "You guys want to come for a ride?"

Nahuel looked down at me, his eyes hopeful. We hadn't really left the house much since we got here, and he was obviously eager to do something different. I shook my head and noticed the look of disappointment that crossed his face.

"But you should," I said to him quickly, not wanting him to miss out. "You'd enjoy it, I know you would." He looked away at the boat and then down at me again, his face full of concern and I knew that he was torn. I smiled up at him in an attempt to reassure him. "Really, Nahuel, I'll be fine. I'm going to go and tell Rosalie that I want to go home."

I felt excited at the thought of it now; at being back in familiar surroundings – and familiar arms. I couldn't wait to tell Jake, he was going to be thrilled. Suddenly, in a stark contrast to my mental image of Jake, Nahuel's face fell further for a split second at the reminder.

"You're sure, Ayun?" He gestured to the boat, but was looking directly into my eyes. I could tell he still wasn't convinced that I would be ok.

"Yes!" I smiled and pushed him gently in the direction of the small jetty that extended out over the water. His face brightened a little and he smiled back at me, holding eye contact as he walked backward a couple of steps, before turning and heading for the boat. I watched as Emmett said something to him and pointed to the rope that moored the boat. He unwound it efficiently and tossed it to Emmett before he jumped aboard. Emmett turned the key, the engine roared noisily to life and they sped away, Nahuel waving to me as they disappeared into the distance.

I headed for the house, looking up to see Rosalie standing on the covered terrace, watching me. She smiled and waved down to me and I waved back. I climbed the few steps onto the lower deck, crossed it and then climbed the small staircase up to the terrace where Rose had settled onto one of the steamer chairs that faced the waterfront. Her eyes followed me as I walked over and sat down in the neighbouring chair. I lifted my legs up and stretched them out in front of me as I laid my arms on those of the chair. I rested my head back and then turned it to the side to face her. She looked a little shocked when she examined me at close proximity, although she quickly regained her composure and forced a thin smile. I could only assume that my face was still a mess from all the crying.

"Are you ok, Ness?"

I moved my head slightly in a nodding motion.

"Rose, I'm ready to go home. I need to see Jake."

"Ready to see him, or ready to forgive him?" she asked me. I laughed slightly and turned my head back toward the water.

"Really, what's to forgive? I can't blame him for running out when he saw Nahuel when he should have seen himself." I turned back to face Rose again and raised my eyebrows. "And we've got past the dream-spying before, more than once. Maybe he learned his lesson this time," I laughed.

"So everything should be back to normal between you two again?"

My smile faded, and I sighed. I slid my legs to the side and placed my feet on the floor, pushing myself off of the chair. I took a couple of steps over to the railings, then turned to face Rosalie, leaning back on the cool metal, my hands gripping the top rail on either side of my hips.

"I don't know, Rose. I want it to be, badly, but I'm not sure about this whole possessiveness thing that he's got going on right now." Rose looked at me with sympathy etched onto her flawless face.

"We belong together, I know that, but I don't belong to him. I can't stand him acting so jealous, Rose. He's got no reason to and I hate it! The only thing that's going to make me leave him is his irrational fear that I will."

Rosalie was silent, looking lost in her own thoughts. A long moment passed before she spoke.

"Nessie," she began, tentatively. "Maybe he has his reasons for feeling the way he does."

I scoffed loudly as I looked over at Rose. She looked unhappy now.

"Oh, please. Rosalie, my Mom has known Jake forever, we know everything about him. Trust me; we'd know if there was something that had happened to him that was bad enough to make him act like this." I turned, unfairly exasperated with my aunt's suggestion. My eyes fixed on a point in the distance, but I wasn't really seeing anything.

We were both silent for a while. Rosalie was the first to break it.

"Things seem to have got off to a good start with Nahuel."

I wondered how much she'd picked up from watching us together this week, and felt a blush creeping slowly into my cheeks. I didn't turn; too embarrassed to look at Rose in case she recognised my discomfort.

"Uh, yeah. He's nice." I dipped my head, letting my hair fall forward.

"Nice?" Rose giggled softly. I looked up and allowed myself to smile.

"Ok," I relented. "He's more than nice." I became aware that the pitch of my voice had risen slightly and I sounded a little excited.

I suddenly remembered Nahuel's gift, still in my pocket. I reached in and pulled the pouch out.

"He gave me this." I passed the pouch across and she reached to take it from me, examining it closely before she opened it and pulled out the silver object that was inside.

I could tell that she was surprised by the gift by the way that she was looking at it and handling it. I patiently explained it to her, the things it represented and Nahuel's reasons for giving it to me. Eventually, Rose placed the jewellery back in the pouch and handed it back to me. I wrapped my fingers around it to take it from her, but she didn't let go. I raised my eyes to hers and she was looking at me seriously.

"Nessie, have things gone beyond friendship with Nahuel?"

A small, sad smile formed on my lips and I shook my head.

"No," I replied, my voice quiet. She released the pouch to me and I took it from her, keeping hold of it, rather than returning it to my pocket.

"You look regretful about that," she observed astutely. I stood awkwardly, looking down at my hands, where I turned the pouch over and over.

"Yeah, well, maybe in another lifetime," I sighed.

Rose got up form the chair and pulled me into an embrace against her cold, hard skin. I hugged her back.

"You're sure about your decision, honey?" she asked softly, her mouth close to my ear. I pulled away a little and her hands slid down, stopping to hold gently onto the tops of my arms. We stood facing each other.

"I love Jake," I told her, my voice thick with emotion. "Nahuel draws me to him in a way that I don't notice much of anything else that's going on, but I suddenly realised that there's part of me missing. Every day I've been apart from Jake, a bit more of me has worn away, Rose. I hadn't even realised that I was fraying until the hole appeared. I need to be back home with him." I stopped, trying to think of a way to explain. "It's like when your stomach grumbles. Then when you notice it, you're suddenly ravenous and you wonder how the hell you hadn't noticed the hunger building sooner."

A wistful look crossed my aunt's face at the human analogy, the closest example I'd been able to think of to explain how I was feeling. She nodded and a small, sympathetic smile touched her lips as I continued.

"The love that Jake and I have goes beyond any emotions I could describe. It's more natural - fundamental. The jolts I get from Nahuel, I thought when I felt them in the beginning that maybe that was something that Jake and I were lacking, but I realise now that it's just a different type of relationship. This is bigger than feelings and desires; I can literally feel the pull back to Jake. It's like we're attached with an elastic cord that's been tightening, trying to pull us back together. There's something instinctual about being with Jake, something innate. It's just…." I exhaled, trying to think of more fantastic words to describe our relationship. I gave up; sometimes one simple word said more than ten elaborate ones. "Right. He completes me." I smiled. As I'd spoken the words aloud, it felt as though a warm, golden light had been seeping gently outwards from my chest to fill my whole body, continuing to spread out from my skin as I acknowledged to my aunt exactly what Jake and I had. I felt as though I were basking in it.

Rosalie looked at me, the expression on her face full of wonder. She took a hand from where it was still holding onto my arm and placed it to my cheek, not quite touching the skin. When she spoke, her voice was an awed whisper.

"Nessie, you're glowing. I can see it, it's…." she cut off, looking up and I could tell that she was checking to see if there was some sunlight that had impossibly penetrated the completely shaded terrace, to cause the strange effect on my skin. Finding nothing to support this theory, she looked back to me and I watched as the awe faded. It was replaced by a look of acceptance, as she allowed the idea that the strength of the feeling behind my words had caused the strange effect. She moved her hand slightly now so that it rested against my skin. Instead of her icy touch cooling my skin as it usually did, I felt my own glow warming hers.

I'd never seen my aunt like this before, she was usually unshakeable. I smiled wider, partly in amusement at Rose, and partly at the excitement of going home to see Jake.

"Rose, I need to go call Jake," I giggled, the euphoria threatening to bubble over into hysteria if I didn't break the tension quickly. She lifted her hand away and still speechless, she nodded. She was smiling happily at me; as always her own level of happiness was in a direct correlation with mine.

I stepped toward the French doors back into the house. "I'll call him from my room, and then I'm going to have a soak in the bathtub." The luxury was one I'd taken to indulging in daily since arriving at Rose's house, their bathtub was an extravagant extra her and Emmett had had installed when they bought the place. It was double sized with a Jacuzzi fitted, a far cry from the tub back home, which even I had a hard time stretching out in, let alone Jake with his long legs. The thought of Jake, naked and wet, was enough to propel me through the doors, fast enough that I didn't even hear Rose's response. I was already pulling my cell from my pocket before I'd even got to the bottom of the stairs.

I closed my bedroom door behind me, although I wasn't quite sure why. In a house with vampires and their exceptional hearing, very little was ever private.

I dropped onto the edge of the bed, the steady warmth of the glow on my skin managing to somehow keep me calm as I pressed the speed-dial for Jake. It had barely rung before he answered.

"Ness!" His pure joy at my call was embodied in his voice. I pictured the smile that I knew was plastered all over his face and I couldn't help smiling too.

"Hey Jake," I replied. "How are you?"

"About a hundred times better for hearing your voice, Ness," he told me. I smiled but then was suddenly unsure. His initial reaction to my call had been positive, but what if he didn't want me back after everything. "I, uh, I mean, if it's ok with you, I'd like to come home." I nibbled nervously on my lip as I waited for his response.

"Ok? You have to ask?" He laughed, a deep, husky laugh and I giggled as relief washed through me. "I'll come get you now, I was just finishing up at work---"

Panic had risen in me as he spoke. There was no way he could come here, he couldn't see Nahuel.

"NO!" I screeched, a kneejerk reaction to what he was suggesting.

"Oh. Uh, ok." He sounded wounded and I felt a pang of guilt. Maybe this wasn't all going to heal as simply as I'd naively thought. I sighed. Thinking quickly I tried backing up and soothing his hurt feelings.

"Sorry Jake, I just meant no, there's no need. Rose & Emmett are going to run me back tomorrow and call in on everyone; it's been a while since Emmett visited. That's all." He was silent for a moment before he responded.

"No, don't worry, I understand." I could still hear the hurt in his voice and I winced. I wondered how I managed to keep hurting him when I felt as strongly as I'd revealed to Rosalie earlier? Slowly, as I thought about it, the warmth crept slowly back through my body, flushing the cold regret and guilt out as it spread. I smiled again at the thought of reuniting with him.

"Aw, Jake, please don't feel bad about it. I can't wait to get home and see you. I've missed you like crazy!"

"Really?" I heard the hope in his voice.

"Uh-huh. Did you miss me?" He made a snorting sound.

"Ness, you have no idea just how much I've missed you. I've never been apart from you for so long and I never want to be again, it's been hell." His voice was tinged with sadness and I ached to hold him, to soothe it away. He spoke again, his voice a little brighter. "I can't wait to see you honey. You make sure that Rosalie drives, she's faster than Emmett!" I laughed quietly; he was right about my aunt.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah. Tomorrow. Love you." My heart jumped in my chest when he said it, pushing an extra wave of the glow out as it did so, so that my skin felt even hotter than usual.

"I love you too, Jake."

I pressed the button to end the call and flopped back onto the bed, clutching my cell to my chest and sighing happily. This time tomorrow… I let a few thoughts run through my head on what our reunion might be like after all of the strong emotions and the physical separation. I thought carefully about what I'd like to do to Jake, and in turn, what I couldn't wait for him to do to me. My skin was growing hotter still when I forced myself to stop – if this carried on I was in danger of grabbing a set of keys and setting off for home right now. Not a bad idea, I mused, but not really fair to Nahuel. I smiled fondly as I thought of my new friend. Although I wasn't sure that telling Jake about the time I'd spent with Nahuel was a good idea, I was eager to continue my friendship with him. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to explain it to Jake though, and what worried me more was whether he'd be able to control his jealous side. I sighed as I pushed myself off the bed, grabbed my wash stuff and headed for the bathroom.

****

Back in my room I was feeling relaxed as I pulled on a clean pair of grey yoga pants and a t-shirt. I unravelled the towel that was piled up on top of my head and rubbed my hair, and then finally I pulled a wide-toothed comb through my wet curls. I'd been in the bath for close to an hour and a half, long enough to have had to top the hot water up more than once, and long enough to crave a drink, my throat was dry despite the steamy atmosphere in the bathroom.

I left my bedroom, leaving the door ajar as I was planning on coming straight back to dry my hair. As I passed the open bathroom door, I noticed that I'd forgotten to pull the plug out. I made a mental note to do it on my way back. My feet were silent on the thick carpet as I walked the length of the landing to the stairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard Rosalie's muted voice and paused. I wasn't able to make out her words, but I could tell by the pattern of her speech that she was having a conversation. I couldn't hear anybody else speaking and was intrigued by the hushed tone of her voice; it was as though she was deliberately trying to avoid being overheard.

I tiptoed down the stairs, my bare feet making no sound on the smooth, solid wood of the staircase. As I rounded a bend, about four steps from the bottom, I caught a glimpse of Rosalie, her back to me as she stood in the kitchen, looking out of the window as she held her cell to her ear. I backed up a step quickly, pressing myself to the handrail on the left so she wouldn't see me if she turned. I was close enough to hear her clearly now, as she spoke into the handset.

"No. I know…listen to me, Edward…" My ears pricked as I heard her speak my father's name and a small feeling of unease began slowly uncoiling in my stomach. From how she was speaking it was obvious to me that they were disagreeing about something, and that he had a lot to say on the issue. She was silent, listening, for several moments. "We talked at length this afternoon," my eyes narrowed as I realised that they were discussing me. "Yes, I know all of that..." Rosalie sighed, a quiet, yet exasperated sound. "I know she loves him, it's obvious. When she was talking about him she was glowing, literally glowing, I've never seen anything like it before. But here's the thing Edward, Jake's screwing it up for himself with his goddamn insecurities. Yes…" She made further noises to show she was listening to whatever my father was saying to her. I relaxed a little, knowing that this was more about Jake than me, that Rose was just letting my parents know about my worries.

When Rose spoke again, her voice was quieter than before. "I'm sorry, but I don't agree…yes, well, I have my own opinion on that, I think….give me a moment Edward, I just want to check…" I heard her heels start to cross the wooden floor in my direction. I made an effort to stay silent as I softly ran back up the stairs, tucking myself around the corner at the top. Her footsteps stopped and I held my breath as she listened. After a moment, she was apparently satisfied and I heard her walk away again. I exhaled and was thankful that my heart rate hadn't increased enough to alert her to anything being amiss upstairs.

I crept back down again to my original position. Rose was speaking quietly back into the phone.

"Yeah, still in the bath. Yes…ok, enough Edward. I know my niece and I know how much this thing is affecting her. I mean it, the possessiveness might be understandable to us, but try and see it from Ness's point of view, she's dealing with all of this shit from Jake and as far as she's concerned it's irrational." I frowned as I tried to make sense of her words. I'd either misunderstood her words, or she'd just basically stated that everybody else knew the reasons behind Jake's jealousy issues.

"I don't care what you agreed Edward, this is going to be an ongoing problem if Ness isn't allowed to understand where it all stems from."

And with her next words, my world collapsed.

"You've got to tell her about Jake loving Bella."

A/N – Uh-oh, Jake's on his way over because he found out about Nahuel, and now Nessie knows about Jake & Bella! Eeeek! ;o)

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