Explanations

Jacob's POV

I take a deep breath and decide to start off slowly. It's more for my benefit than hers, "Nessie…"

Just like her mother, Nessie's always been good with weird. But this is a whole new level of weird. I don't want her to feel… pressured. I guess that's the word I'm looking for, because I don't want her to feel pressured into some kind of, I don't know, relationship, with me. Not to mention what her father would say if I, inadvertently, did that.

"Jake, what's wrong?" Her voice is full of worry, and I hate that I'm making her feel this way.

"Nothing's wrong, exactly." I'm quick to assure her. I'm looking down, avoiding her eyes, and I know she can tell something's up. Nessie's no idiot.

"Now, you're purposefully avoiding my question. What's wrong?" Dang she's good. I sigh reluctantly.

"I just… have something to tell you. Well, talk to you about. I just-I mean…" I'm not making sense, and I know it. I know she knows what imprinting is, but she doesn't know about…

"Jake. Look at me. Spit. It. Out." I fight a smile-this is so Nessie.

"You never were one for procrastination." I say more to myself than to her, but she hears, because she smiles.

"No, I'm not. So, I repeat: Spit. It. Out." Now I'm smiling at her as well.

"I just… don't know how to say what I want to say." I admit, feeling like a total wimp.

"Of course you don't." She sighs an exaggerated sigh. "You know it's a miracle that I'm speaking to you out loud right now, soooo… if you want this miracle to continue you should start contributing to the conversation." I smile at her very pointed bribe. If I want her to keep talking I guess I need to volunteer some information.

"Well, Ness, you know what imprinting is right?" Her expression says 'are you kidding me?'

"Yes," Then her expression changes, she looks suspicious, but excited.

"Ok, well I uh-IimprintedonyouNessie" My words tumble out with a breath of air. I'm never this wimpy, what's wrong with me?

I see her remain still, a small smile tugging at her lips. She doesn't seem shocked at all.

"Ness…" I move closer to her, and take her fragile hand in mine-pushing aside my feelings for the moment. "I know it's kind of… sudden for you, but you're seventeen now. Well, not actually, but-"

She doesn't let me finish the thought, "I know what you mean." The most comforting smile is on her beautiful face, and she nods a little, encouraging me to continue.

"Well, I just thought it was time you knew…" I shrug, "that I'm not going anywhere. You're kind of stuck with me, and I just thought you should know that." I sound repetitive, but I suppose that's the only way to describe imprinting. I shift uncomfortably on my feet.

"Jake…" She sounds… guilty, or sorry for me. Oh, no… no, no, no, no, no!

"I know, you might not feel the same way, or even understand this right now, but just know that I'm here for you ok Ness?" It almost kills me to say even that-I will always be more than 'here for her'.

Then she starts to cry.

"Nessie! Please, please don't cry. I'm sorry, I just-" There's nothing else I can do, or say. I've lost her. How could I lose her? That's the one thing I'm supposed-

"Shhhhh" She stops my thoughts quickly, resting her palm on my chest.

"What?" I'm thoroughly confused.

"I know you doofus." You know what!?

"You know…? What?" I'm just blurting out words like an idiot.

"I. Knew. This. Whole. Time." She speaks slowly, letting me absorb the words. Wait-she knew! My mouth falls open. "Wai-what?" I start to ask.

"Jake, I mean, come on. You know I'm not an idiot right?"

"Of course! You're the smartest person I know." I sound like a mental patient, but it's the only way to respond to Nessie-tell her what she needs to hear.

"So, you of all people should know I've had you all figured out."

"Yeah?" It's all I can do now to think clearly.

"Since I was five, well mentally anyways. Ever since you explained how Quil was attached to Claire. I remember thinking, 'it's just like me and my Jacob'."

"You knew." My tone is full of disbelief, but I'm fighting a smile at her words-'my Jacob'.

"Yesss." She sounds exasperated.

"Ok. Well, let's just see if I have this straight. You knew I imprinted on you-"

"And I'm just as connected to you as you are to me." That's more than I could ever have hoped for.

"But you still made me bumble through that confession. You know how embarrassing that was?" She's biting back her amusement at the memory. It makes me want to smile, because her smile is contagious, and I have to fight it.

"Yeah… that was mean. But you looked kind of adorable." She laughs, a light blush coloring her cheeks when she says 'kind of'. She thinks I'm adorable? That way?

"Kind of?" I tease her lightly. Then I reach down and throw her over my shoulder.

"JAKE!" She screeches, in her brilliant high-pitched voice. Then she slaps her hand to my neck, asking a question in her silent way. Where are we going? I hear the confusion, and wonder, and trust in her mental voice.

"Surprise Ness!" I laugh at her annoyance-I picked up on that in her mental tone as well.

I run until we get to the beach in La Push. I set her down, and she takes in the environment. Then she reaches for my face. I ignore my reaction to her touch, and listen to the memory she's showing me.

It is the first time I ever brought her here. I watch it, content, until the memory is complete.

Then I say, "You remember that?" I reconsider my question-she has perfect recall. "Ok, bad question. Perfect recall. Freaky vampire child." I tease.

"Half vampire child." She plays along.

"Freaky half vampire child." I allow.

"There you go." She praises me with a large smile.

"So, if you knew, about all this, the whole time, why didn't you tell me?" I demand, getting back to the topic at hand.

"Come on Jake, it's not like you wanted me to know about this. So, like a good 'imprintee', I played dumb."

Of course she did. She's amazing. "You're really special Renesmee."

"You too Jacob." She's smiling at me, an unreadable expression on her face.

"So, what now?" I'm not really sure where this leaves us.

She smiles deviously, and steps closer to me. "What do you think?" Her tone is daring, and happy.

I don't speak. She inches a little closer, and I remain silent. She looks at me, with that same exasperated expression, as if I was missing the point. She get even closer, and wraps her arms around waist, pulling me closer to her.

She tilts her face up to mine and breathes, "Figured it out yet?"

The little vixen has no idea what this is doing to my self-control. At this moment it has all but evaporated.

"I think so." I say, moving my lips down to kiss her.

As much as I want to dread her father's reaction to this, I can't help but be completely overjoyed at the moment. In this second, everything is just right.

Hey! So, originally it was just going to be that one-shot from Nessie, I swear! But now that I finished that I decided to do this little part of the same scene from Jacob's point of view. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think, it's important and it helps me fix my writing.

I was thinking of doing a Jake and Renesmee story when I finish my Hunger Games fanfic: "Rue's Story". Let me know if you are at all interested in that, please.

Thanks,

R&R