Chapter 18

Jacob's POV

New Intel

When Nessie pulls away I'm not exactly shocked, though I am unwilling to release her. I missed her today. I keep my arms wrapped around her waist in a loose hug, and I smile down at her. A small smile plays lightly on her lips and she says, "I have to call my parents."

"Alright. I was going to…" I'm watching her expression quickly morph into careful concentration, her eyes close and then within seconds her eyes snap back open.

"All done!" She says, in a sing-songy tone that reminds me a lot of Alice.

It takes me a second to realize what she's done. To say I'm shocked is an understatement. "Did you just…?"

"Yep. It's so much faster this way." Her shrug is so blasé that I can't help but smile.

"But this," I gesture at her head so she'll get my meaning. "Is only one way conversation."

"Wait for it…"

I raise my eyebrows at her and start to say something, but she cuts me off. "Just, wait. I'm not sure if they got it. If they did, however, they'll be calling soon."

"You do realize that if this works you can literally put your thoughts into anyone's head, anywhere around the world."

"I know. But I don't know if it works that far." Her smile is devious.

"That is just an assumtio-" The ringing of her cell phone cuts me off. My eyes widen, and hers do as well.

"Guess we're about to find out, aren't we?" She looks a little nervous, and she still doesn't reach for her iPhone.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. No one's judging you. Besides, what are the odds of this?" I grab her phone myself, without looking at the caller ID. "Renesmee Cullen's phone. May I ask who's calling?"

"Jacob Black. Why are you answering my daughter's phone?"

"Because it was ringing, and I'm withyour daughter-who can probably hear this, I might add. What's up?"

"You're kidding me, right?" This is Bella, who isn't nearly as uncomfortable with my and Nessie's new relationship. "She," I assume she's referring to her daughter, who is smiling at me, smug now, as if she'd known that her little trick was going to work. "Forced her thoughts into our heads."

"Well, I don't know about that, but she's here now if you'd like to talk to her."

"Put. Her. On. The. Phone." Edward's tone leaves little tone for question. Then again, he is on the other side of the world.

As I contemplate messing with Edward, Nessie utilizes her rarely used vampire speed to snatch the phone out of my hands.

"Hey dad," Her glare would be enough to terrify most men. "I take it you got my message."

I strain my ears, just enough to hear the words coming out of the phone. "Yes… nice job. How did you do that Renesmee?"

"Kate was helping me with projecting."

"Projecting?! Nessie I don't know a vampire in the world that can project that far." That's Bella's voice, and she's shocked, but as proud as any mother would be.

"You might be able to." Nessie's voice is thoughtful, but Bella just laughs.

"Not likely Nessie. Did you need us for something? Is everything ok?"

Nessie sighs, "Everything is perfect dad. I just wanted to see what the secret spy team dug up. Got anything good?"

I can hear Bella stifling a laugh on the other side of the phone. "Nothing really. Aro is being… unusually quiet. There's almost no talking going on in the city. It's not normal. I'm not sure who they have on their side, but whoever it is must have seen us coming. We're not planning on staying much longer. Right now we're just wasting time."

"Oh." Nessie's face has crumpled in confusion, and shock. "You haven't heard anything about the hybrid?"

"Nothing useful. Their thoughts are quiet, and even Aro isn't being diabolical at the moment. I've caught a flicker or two of what I think is the hybrid, but it's always too fast, or in someone's thoughts that I happen to not be focusing on at the moment. " Edward speaks questioningly, it's a tone I know well. He's doing the same thing that his daughter's doing at the moment: trying to figure out why things don't add up.

"Do you have an idea of the gender?"

"Not at all. It's too fuzzy. By the time I catch an errant thought it has already been shut down, so to speak. I almost think…" Edward trails off on the other end of the phone. "Can you put Jacob on for a second."

"Uh… sure, here." Nessie hands the phone to me and I take it, puzzled but willing to talk to him.

"Hey Edward. You required my… expertise?" On what, I have no clue but apparently Nessie wouldn't have understood it.

"Sure, lets call it that. I just realized that the way they're all acting-"

"Wait. We're talking about the Volturi right?"

"Yes. They're acting as if they've been ordered not to think about the hybrid. Though it is obviously carrying less force than a pack injunction would I think it acts the same way."

"You're saying that Aro gave the order, and they all suddenly did everything they could to not think about this hybrid?"

"In a way. Though, I'm not sure Aro is the one who put in the order."

"What do you mean?"

"I was thinking, what if Nessie had told us not to think about something? If it was really important to her? What would happen?"

"I'm assuming that we wouldn't think about it-if she really meant it when she said it." I'm ninety percent sure that we wouldn't think about it for Nessie's sake.

"That's what I was thinking too. If it was an order of sorts I doubt we'd be able to refuse."

"Much like an alpha's orders." I say finally understanding what Edward was getting at when talking to me.

"Exactly. My real question for you was about when Sam had forbidden you to tell Bella what you were."

"What about it?" I ask, remembering the day vaguely-as I assume Bella does as well considering it was when she was human, and seven or so years ago.

"She told me you said something along the lines of 'Do you remember all the stor-' before you literally couldn't say anything more. Is that right?"

"I guess so. I'm assuming Sam's order would have kept me from saying more."

"Exactly. That's why I think that this works in the same sort of way. That would explain why I only catch bits and pieces. By the time they have the thought the order, or request, stops it cold."

"It's a theory." I shrug, though Edward can't see it, Nessie can.

"I suppose. Put Nessie back on the phone."

I hand the phone to Nessie and she takes it with her signature smile.

"I heard most of that." She informs her father.

"That's good. I just wanted to say bye. You know how to reach us." I can hear the smile in his voice. He's as proud of her new found talent as Bella is.

"Alright, well… call me if you hear anything, or before you get on a plane. If I need you I'll just ram my thoughts into your heads." She says the last part of her sentence with a lighthearted tone, but they can't see the odd expression on her face. I can.

"Will do. Love you Renesmee."

"Love you too. Bye."

She clicks off the phone and turns to me, her expression confused, but also containing a new sense of knowledge.

"What is it Ness?"

"If the reason they can't hear anything is because…"

"Don't you dare leave me hanging." She chuckles.

"If the hybrid is commanding them then it must be wanting to come here under the radar as well. That makes me a little uneasy. Maybe it's part of it's talent-the whole command thing…

"Maybe it's not exact. Maybe its something like what Alice can do. I don't know. It's just a feeling."

"Nessie, there's lots of talents that could lead to your dad not hearing thoughts. It could be another shield, or maybe the Volturi just aren't that bright. You know, like not many thoughts in their heads."

This gets her to laugh, but she doesn't really look comforted. I know her mind is racing. "Ness, don't jump to conclusions. You never know it could just-"

"Jacob, that's what I do. I jump to conclusions-way to fast I might add, and you rationalize. It's why we're so great together." I don't point out that I really am not one for rationalizing. Apparently it's a side of me that only comes out with Nessie.

"Yeah," I scoff, but smile at her widely. "That's why we're so good together."

"Maybe not the whole reason, but its part of why we work out."

I sigh and nod, trying-and failing, to look offended.

"You're hungry." It's not a question, but then again, I can't remember the last time I heard the words 'you' and 'hungry' phrased in a question directed at me. Even then, if it was a question, it was simply a formality.

"You're tired." It's not a question either. I can tell she was heading to bed, even if it is still early.

She smirks at me. "I am. However I am also slightly hungry."

"Really?"

"Yep." She starts poking around in the fridge. "I think the best we have in the meat department is some ham. It's all yours."

She throws a plastic bag of sliced ham at me, and I take it. "Want some?" I highly doubt she will, but its rude not to offer.

She's pulling out a glass and filling it with milk. Then she goes under the kitchen sink where she pokes around for a few minutes before coming back out with a container of Chips Ahoy cookies. She smiles at me, "I'm good thanks."

She finishes her cookies quickly and turns to me. "I'm going to get ready for bed. Considering you're almost out of ham," I hadn't even noticed that I had almost finished up. "I assume you're ready for bed too."

I don't comment for a moment, and then I raise my eyebrows at her. "I'll be in my room."

"Ness, I can just sleep on the couch toni-" She cuts me off quickly.

"No objections. If you don't come, I'm not sleeping."

"Nessie, I'm sure you're going to sleep just fine if I sleep down here on the couch."

"Yes." Now I'm confused. "I probably would sleep just fine. The thing is if you don't come I'm not going to sleep. I'm going to stay awake all night. Tomorrow I will be tired and it will be all your fault." She's smirking at me and I just shake my head.

"Evil." That's all I say, but I can tell I'm smiling just a little.

"Yeah. Oh well. Totally worth it. Don't bail on me."

"Wouldn't dream of it. But I do have patrol in the morning."

"How early is 'the morning'?" She knows me too well.

"I take over with Quil at five I think."

"That's not too bad," She allows graciously. "I can get up then."

"Nessie you don't need to-" She cuts me off midsentence.

"Don't want to hear it. See you soon."

She flashes me a bright smile and scampers off down the hall. I lean back in my chair tossing the empty packet of ham in the trash. She really is something.

Fifteen minutes later I make my way upstairs, relatively ready to go to sleep. I knock on Nessie's door, not wanting to catch her off guard. "Come on in," Her voice is slightly muffled by the door, but I can tell just from her tone that she's smiling-if only slightly.

I open the door and walk in, only to find Renesmee with her back to the door facing her drawing desk.

"Hey," I smile at her, but she doesn't look up at me. She's intensely focused on something that's in her hands. "What you got there, Ness?"

"Mmmmm?" Her lack of response-real response makes me think she's not really paying attention. My guess is she's reading, probably the same book as last night.

I don't say anything; I just flop down on the bed, now watching her from the side. I still can't see what she's got in her hands, but I know that it's not that important as long as it's keeping her happy-for whatever reason.

I close my eyes, relaxing, and trying my hardest not to think about Edward's wrath when he gets back.

"Thank you." Nessie says suddenly.

"Nessie, it's not exactly a chore for me to stay with you."

"Well that's good to know. That's also not what I was referring to. What I meant was thank you for this." She smiles a little holding up something while climbing to sit beside me on the bed.

"What is that?" I ask peering at it. As soon as I finish the question I realize what I'm looking at. It's the braided version of the Quileute promise ring I gave Renesmee for her first Christmas. "Is that…?"

"Yes. It's exactly that." She smiles at me widely.

"You thanked me for that when you were little."

"I know. But I still love it, even if it is too small. And you can never thank someone for something special too many times."

"Alright. Then, you're welcome." I kiss her on the nose and she curls into my side, twisting the bracelet around her fingers.

"I love this bracelet. Always have. Always will." I smile at this.

"I might just have to get you one that fits."

"That'd be sweet. Oh, and I set the alarm clock. Is 4:30 ok?"

"Better than ok, but I'm not letting you get up that early."

"You have no choice. I am getting up with you. I have things to do. Paintings to finish. Vampires to welcome. Getting up early will only give me some time to myself while everyone's here. No one is expecting me to wake up so early."

"Whatever." I grumble, not really angry, but still being stubborn about this.

"Oh, Jake don't be stubborn. Getting up a little early isn't going to kill me."

"Are you sure? It could. What if you were so tired that you tripped and fell down the stairs, for example?"

"I'd catch myself mid-fall and turn it into a graceful cartwheel." She smirks at me.

Sounds exactly like something she'd do. "Fine." I sigh reluctantly.

"Thank you. Now I can sleep easily." She sighs into my side. "Good night Jacob."

"'Night Ness."

She rolls over and flicks off the lights then slides under the covers. She pulls a blanket over me as well, though I don't really need it, because my temperature is a constant. Hers is as well but she always sleeps under the covers, even when she's next to me. That's part of why I love her. She's always one hundred percent herself.

Hey guys! I can't tell you how sorry I am about the wait. It's been way to long since I last updated (over 15 days) and I apologize. If it buys me sympathy then I'll tell you I was sick for a little while there, so don't hate me. However, to make up for that, I plan on updating at least one more time tonight, as well as returning to update my other story ASAP. If you've been waiting for this I hope it was worth it, though I admit it was mostly a connector/filler chapter to lead us into the next one. I'm hoping you'll keep reading and reviewing because it means soooo much to me.

Thanks TONS (I'm not lying it makes me smile every time I get a review/new story favorite/new story follower.)