"In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with." - Mac MacGuff, "Juno"

Choices and Decisions

"It happened that day at First Beach," Jake explained in a soft whisper. "That's when I first saw you...when I imprinted..."

"But, you told me that you saw me a few hours after I was born," I noted, touching a lock of his black hair. "You haven't always felt sickly weak before until a few months ago when I--"

Jacob cut me off by letting out a horrible swear. I pushed my head back with shock showing on my face. He never did anything like that in front of me. Jake's white teeth clenched together, sticking his fingers into my hips tightly. I gave out a painful whimper, biting my lips so I wouldn't scream. At the moment, Jake was positively frightening to be with and look at.

"The bastard!" yelled Jacob with utter madness. "He showed me the wrong baby!"

Jacob's fingers slipped from my hips. There was a small lerch in my stomach; I was being dropped to the ground. I landed hard on my backbone. A cry of pain escaped from my throat and out my mouth while some left over tears began to roll down my rosy cheeks. I tried to get up to run away from my werewolve again, fearing for my life for the second time that evening. Jake was shaking like before when he got angry, his whole body moving uncontrolably and wildly.

"Jake...?" I whispered. My voice cracked a little out of sheer terror. I needed to fix this, a-sap.

I thought maybe if I tried to sooth Jacob that he would calm himself down. I had to try, my life depended on it. I wasn't able to get up on my own. I needed to try hide the frightened edge of my voice.

"Jacob...? Don't...don't...please...does it matter?" I began in a lulling manner, trying to remain sane myself.

My poor Jacob looked down at me, regret in his eyes. His body shook less, his breathing slowly coming back to normal. Good. That was good. I continued to try and calm Jake down.

"I...I think this year was a good time for you to...to imprint on me. I mean, really...come on...maybe it was just meant for you to do it now..."

Jacob got better and better, it wasn't hard to tell. My job was close to being done, my results were going to be successful. Now only his breath was just uneven. I could fix that in a snap for sure. I gave my Jake an angel's smile. Daringly, I reached my hand out to his.

"I love you," I murmured, sweetly as I offered my slightly shaking hand.

Hesitantly, Jacob took my hand into his. Mine felt and looked so tiny compared to his huge one. I noted that Jacob's breathing was finally normal as his eyes locked with mine. The warmth of his giant hand felt comforting against the strong chill of the night time breeze.

"I...I..." Jacob stuttered in a whisper. Using his other hand, he touched my face. Jake gulped in his thoart. "I'm sorry, Cecilia...so sorry...I promise you that you'll never see me freak out like that ever again. I swear it," he added with a small growl.

And by the sound of Jake's voice, I knew that he meant his every word. His native face read a mix of regret and sorrow. It was hard to look at. Salty tears started to run down my cheeks once more. At the moment, I had no way of controlling them from escaping my pale eyelids. When Jake saw me soundlessly weeping, he looked even more regretful and sad. Gently, he wipped them away with his warm thumb. Like before, Jacob pressed his forehead to mine, closing his eyes. He started to whisper more apologizes so quietly that they were barely audible, gusts of his hot breath landing on my nose. With the tips of my fingers, I touched his bare chest lightly, trying to memorize the smooth skin texture.

"How hurt are you?" Jacob asked, still whispering. His dark eyes opened up again, looking straight into my emerald ones. They were regretful still. "Don't even think about sugar coating it for my sake."

I couldn't help but give out a snort.

"I think my gluteus maximus is broken," I snickered, softly.

Jacob didn't find this as funny as I did, however.

"Really?" he questioned, panicked.

"It just hurts a lot," I amended quite quickly. "It's far from being broken, don't worry. My ass will certainly recover in no time."

Jake let out a small sigh of relief, but his face was still concerned.

"You can rest a while at home."

I was then lifted up from the hard forest ground by my forearms. Before I knew it, I was being cradled like an infant by my troubled werewolve. I wrapped my arms around Jacob's neck, lying my head on his upper chest. I could hear his heartbeat thumping wildly. He needed to stop worrying, everything would be fine. Absentmindedly, I shushed his wild sounding heart. Jake chuckled a bit at my silly, child-like actions. He held me so closely that it was intimate. I enjoyed it, maybe a little too much. Jacob's warmth protected me against the night's cold chill, making me feel very comfortable as I snuggled against his broad chest. He walked slowly, taking his good time, probably enjoying having me in his arms himself.

When we got to Jacob's house, he placed me on the small couch, covering me up with a blanket. It wasn't as warm and comforting as Jake's toasty body, but it would do. I nestled my head against the pillow, inhaling it's slightly woodsy scent. Jacob sat himself on the floor near where my head laid, a visage of adoration planted on his face when he thought I couldn't see him. I blushed over that, lifting my eyes up to see his. At that moment, it reminded me of how Quil was looking at his Claire that first time I met them at the beach. You could really tell that he truly cared for her, that he loved her with all of his heart.

"How are you doing, Cee?" Jacob asked, quietly as we sat in the darkened room.

"Much better," I told him, sounding exhausted suddenly. I surprised myself by yawning. I covered my mouth. "Yourself?" I wondered out loud while ending my yawn.

"Same," Jake murmured, contently. He paused for a second, hesitantly bending over to touch my face. "I'm such an idiot for not telling you this already." Jacob smiled brightly at me, caressing my cheek with ease. "I love you, too."

My heart skipped a few beats as I gazed up at Jacob, studying his face as he told me those tender four words.

"So much," he added, so silently that it was difficult to hear.

Okay, I had to do it now. The time felt right. I steadied myself up, now sitting on the couch. The worn out blanket was now wrapped around my back and over my front. I took away Jake's hand that was on my face and instead laced my fingers with his.

"There's something I want to try."

Jacob got my drift in less than half a second.

"Me, too," my werewolve breathed. "Can...can I try first? That is...if you don't mind?"

Was it just me, or did Jake sound a little nervous?

I felt my cheeks flush, turning a shell-pink sort of color. Duh, of course he would want to try first. After all, he was the guy. Girls usually didn't make the first kiss move.

"Sure, sure," I mocked his quote, giving out a brief giggle.

Jacob grinned his Jacob-y grin at me for a moment. His native face then became serious and a bit hesitant as he leaned in toward me. With his free hand, he touched the nape of my neck, stroking his long fingers against it's smooth texture. I felt his hot breath on my face as he came closer. Anticipating the moment, Jacob looked me in the eyes. I stared back, not sure how my expression was. Hopefully I didn't look like an idiot with the bad case of lovesickness. Surely if I did Jake would tease me later...or maybe not. My werewolve's long, warm fingers moved from the back of my slender neck to my face, pulling me closer to him.

And finally, once his moist, warm lips pressed gently on mine, I swore that the sky was falling down on the two of us.