I woke up sometime later in Jacob's bed. Apparently I had slept through the rest of the day after my ordeal and judging by the moonlight streaming through the one tiny window it was night again.

Jacob lay facing me on his bed. His eyes were closed and he was breathing peacefully. Not wanting to wake him I slid slowly out of his bed only to have someone grab my wrist.

"Leaving so soon?"

I turned to see Jacob still lying peacefully (and half nakedly) in bed, only this time his dark eyes were open and watching me.

"I tried not to wake you up," I told him looking down at the carpet. Embarrassingly enough I was dressed only in one of Jacob's t-shirts. Sure it was long but I still felt slightly like a slut.

"Come back to bed," he pulled me back into bed with him never relinquishing the hold on my hand. We were soon settled, staring at each others faces in the slim shafts of moonlight.

If it weren't for the fact that his eyes were open he was so still that I would've thought he'd gone back to sleep. I bit my lip mulling over something to say. This was the first chance we'd had to talk since he'd brought me back from Seattle and I still wasn't sure what to say to him.

"Shall I tell you then…?" I trailed off.

He just looked at me.

"Jacob. I-- I never meant to hurt you. Maybe-- Maybe if you understand why I did what I did, that'll make it better. If not. . . Then I'll just leave. I'll tell you about--about Chicago. Okay?"

He brought our intertwined hands to his face and kissed the inside of my wrist. "I don't care anymore."

I started. "You don't care?"

His dark eyes bore into mine. "Nope. I don't care. Because yesterday, when I thought I'd lost you." He broke off and kissed my hand again. "I realized that I don't care about what you did back then. Because you're a different person now. Because I love you unconditionally."

I just looked at him. "I'm going to tell you anyways," I held a finger to his lips cutting off his protest, "but only because I want you to understand."

He nodded and so I continued.

"As you know my mother used to live here. In La Push. She ran away with a man she met when she was just nineteen and voila, I was born.

I don't really remember much when I was little, I do know that my dad left my mom and we were really poor. We moved around a lot, and Mom was…well even when I was little she was distant with me. Sure there were times when she was more like a loving mom, but for the most part, she was distant.

When I was twelve she met Him. Robert. They fell 'in love' and we moved in with him. Robert was wealthy-- he owned his own business. For a while everything was okay. I was ignored by Robert and my mom for the most part. When ever I made a stir or tried to attract attention I was bought off by gifts of money.

And then, things started to change." My expression darkened and became stony. Jacob ran his hand across my face.

"Robert started to say mean things to Mom. He threatened her a lot and yelled at her and called her names. But he never once touched her. Even when he was drunk, he never hit her. One day I came home from school late-- I had stayed after to work on a project. Mom was out, shopping probably and Robert was home drinking. A lot.

He screamed at me 'What was I doing home late?' and when I tried to reply he smacked me against the wall. I started to cry and he towered over me shouting about how I shouldn't cry and he hit me again. And again. And again. Until I stopped crying." My tone took on a dead sound and Jacob instinctively stiffened. He squeezed my hand encouragingly for me to go on.

I took a deep breath and continued. "After that he hit me a lot. Mostly on my back and stomach-- places people wouldn't see.

I told my mom about it finally but, she didn't believe me. She called me an ungrateful whore and said that if I told any more lies that she'd kick me out. I was thirteen when I first got drunk. It felt great because I wouldn't have to worry about Robert or Mom. The drinking, the drugs-- they made them go away. The abuse got worse and worse. Robert hit me, but he also hit Mom with his words. 'Why do you stay with him when he talks to you like that?' I asked her once. 'Because I love him.' was her idiotic reply.

And then, Mom had a heart attack. A fatal one. Robert didn't want me so I was sent to live here with Mrs. Costa. But before I went I swore to myself that I would stop. I wouldn't try to escape any more. And I failed last night," the tears were falling down my face now, "I messed up bad. I messed up so bad. I'm sorry Jacob. I swear, I will never never do that again. From now on, I won't run away."

Jacob smiled sadly and wiped the tears away with the back of his hand. He slid me across the bed, closer to him so that I was snuggled comfortably against his chest.

"Shhh," he whispered rubbing my back, "shhhh. It's over now. Thank you for telling me your story. I understand now."

He might've said more but I was lulled asleep by his warmth and love.

………………………………...

"Whoa. Jake, you are a pervert," Quil's voice cut through my dreams and I opened my eyes to find myself in a most uncompromising position.

I was in Jacob's bed, wearing only his t-shirt, snuggled against his naked chest with one of my legs thrown across the top of his waist. Jacob's arms were wrapped around me, one of his hands dangling dangerously close to my rather exposed bottom. Lacy underwear and all. All in all, it looked suspicious.

I groaned out loud. "Quil, God do you always break into peoples rooms?" I didn't even move from where I was. It was too early for this kind of crap. I mean, the sun wasn't even up yet.

"Only when he wants to see something good," Jacob growled at him. I closed my eyes and tried to get some more sleep.

"I was supposed to wake you up for the patrol. But I guess that's out of the question now," his voice sounded as though it was getting farther away, "Anyways. I'll take over for you tonight-- you know so you can finish up?"

I didn't need to hear the slam of the door to know that Jacob had probably given Quil a look to make him have a hasty retreat.

"Sorry about that," Jacob whispered in my ear, "but he's right you know. This position is well, slightly suggestive."

"Mhmmm," I murmured into his chest. I felt his warm laugh tickle my ear. "If you're so worried about it, why don't you move?"

"Because, I rather like sleeping with you this way."

"Damn right," I replied and fell asleep to the sound of Jacob's laughter.

………………………………...

Sorry about it being so short. But I've been rather sick for the past couple of days (darn immunization shots!) and I haven't the energy to make it longer. Also, I think that Jacob needs a bit of a love rival yes? So, I'm asking you guys to come up with the name of his rival. Be creative! Love you guys! XOXOXO.