This chapter is dedicated to decemberisforcynics, because you got water on your keyboard for me. Don't do it again, you'll ruin it. XD

All day Saturday Silas, was packing information into dad about Morris. We were going to be gone for nine of the ten break days.

Once he was positive his grandpa knew how to feed Morris correctly, he occupied his time choosing what clothes he wanted to bring to La Push.

Today was Monday, and the day dad dropped us off in front of Jacob's house. He was waiting and ambled over to get the two bags of clothes we had.

Dad smiled, "Have fun, you guys."

Jacob led us upstairs and plopped our stuff in his room. "You guys are sleeping in here. I'm on the couch." He smiled.

I frowned, "I can buy an air mattress, Jake."

He shook his head and promised, "It's fine, Bella."

Silas bounced onto the large bed, hugging the pillow and looking up at us with adorable eyes. "Are we playing on the beach today? I brought my swimsuit!"

Jacob smiled, "Sure, if you want to."

I frowned, remembering the last time Silas was in the water. I asked hesitantly, "Are you sure there will be no wind today?"

Jacob smirked, "We would be able to smell it."

Oh, right. Werewolf senses were heightened incredibly when they finish their transformation.

I smiled at Silas; "We can go to the beach today."

Jacob suggested, "Why don't we go now? There's really nothing else to do around here."

I couldn't think of a reason to stay home. It was warm outside now, it might get colder as it got darker. "You call the guys, I'll help him get ready."

I helped Silas change, and then put my own swimsuit on. I tossed one of Jake's old shirts on over it, and stepped into some shorts. I had to look decent, with my baby around!

I returned downstairs to find Jacob on the phone. He glanced at me when I entered the room. "Hey, Bella! Paul wants to go down to the cliffs. What do you say?"

I frowned. The cliffs?

His eyes widened when he saw me frown. He promised, "You and Silas will be safe."

Silas bounced onto the couch and agreed, "It's fun watching everyone jump off the cliffs."

I shrugged, "If that's where everyone is going. Silas, come on. We're going to the car."

He slipped his shoes on and followed me out to Jake's Rabbit. He buckled himself into the back, and a short while later Jacob joined us.

He pulled out of the driveway and smiled. "We're going to have fun. When he gets tired, we're all going to Quil's house for lunch."

I blinked in surprise. "Quil? Does he know about anything yet?"

Jacob shook his head. "Not yet. Old Quil invited us, though. He thinks it's going to be this weekend."

I glanced warily over my shoulder and asked, "Is that safe?"

Jacob smiled at me. "I'll keep you guys safe, don't worry. You just have to trust me, Bella."

I did trust him. I trusted him with my life, and Silas's life. I didn't need to tell him that. He must have seen the change in my eyes, because he smiled and looked back to the road.

It was not long after that everyone unloaded at the cliff side.

Jacob, holding Silas, asked me, "Are you still diving today?"

I blinked at him skeptically. "Who's going to be in the water with Silas?"

He didn't know Embry, and I didn't think he trusted Paul or Jared enough yet when he was already scared of the water.

Silas blinked at me like I was the confused one. "Daddy is! Who else?"

I frowned at Jacob. "I can't jump off alone!"

I'd probably have a heart attack. Even the lower cliffs were pretty high up. Jacob smiled and wrapped an arm around me, leading me up the hill towards the guys.

"You can go with one of them, if you want," he suggested with a shrug. I tried to weight those options. I didn't know Paul, I didn't consider myself close to Embry, and Jared probably wouldn't appreciate me clinging onto him like I was going to die.

Jacob took me to the higher cliffs and handed Silas to Jared. "Go wait for me by the rocks. Don't get in with him, okay?"

Jared nodded, and held Silas's hand as the two of them made their way towards the distant shore.

I peeked warily over the edge of the higher cliff. It had to be what, forty feet? I've fallen off of higher before…

I shivered in Jacob's arms and asked quietly, "Will you be waiting for me at the bottom?"

I could be brave and jump alone. Possibly. Probably. I'd done worse, that's for sure. If I had something to look forward to, it would make it easier.

Jacob looked deep into my eyes and promised, "I'll be waiting for you."

The intensity in his voice was frightening, but oddly romantic. My eyes watered a little bit- no huge shocker- and I laughed, smiling. "Go down there with Silas."

He smiled and ran down the hill. I tore my eyes away from them getting into the water and concentrated on the ominous cliff ahead of me.

I was wearing a loose shirt and shorts over my swimwear, because I didn't want to be too exposed with all these boys around. Should I take them off?

No, they wouldn't weight me down any. I took a deep breath and waited a while for Jacob to get into place. I heard his loud voice yell for me to come on down.

I shivered and frowned a little bit, trying not to think about how far down this was. I darted forward, with surprising balance for me, and rocked precariously on the edge of the cliff. Closing my eyes, I jumped right off.

Wind swirled all around me, encasing me in a warm little pocket of air as I sliced through the air.

Knowing that someone was going to catch me once I reached the bottom, knowing that I was absolutely safe because my Jacob was here for me, wiped away all fear I might have had.

I felt absolutely free.

A tiny smile spread across my wet face before I plunged into the water. It seemed cold at first, but my body almost instantly adjusted and I liked the warmth the sun gave to the first few feet.

With a strong kick, I tore above the surface. Water streamed from my eyes and I coughed once.

A warm arm pulled me against his chest and I smiled, looking up at Jacob. Silas was in his other arm and he squealed happily, "Mama, that was so cool!"

I laughed and moved some of his wet hair out of his eyes. "It was fun, too."

Silas asked, wide eyed, "Can I jump off?"

Jacob's body stiffened and he turned pale. He sounded totally playful, though, when he spoke. "Maybe you should learn how to swim first, buddy."

Silas looked adoringly at Jacob and asked, "Will you teach me how, daddy? You and mama?"

Jacob laughed, his rumbling chest sending vibrations through my arms. "Sure, sure! Why don't you go ask uncle Embry to show you the doggy paddle first?"

Embry heard that from his place of only a few meters away and came over to us. He collected Silas, and they worked their way towards the shallower water.

Jacob just held me, and kissed me gently. I smiled and set my head on his big shoulder.

It felt natural to be in his arms. It felt right in his arms. Was this how every imprintee felt? Knowing that the man holding them was meant for them? That the strongest force of the world, fate herself, chose him to be there for her?

A protector. A best friend. A lover. A mechanic.

Whatever I needed him to be, that's what he would be for me. Even before he imprinted, that's what he was to me. He was my everything- because Jasper had left me nothing.

A flicker of understanding, a blossom of knowledge, began to spread in my heart. I snapped my head up and looked right at Jacob, smiling at him.

He smiled, too, as always. "What's got you so happy, Bells?"

I wrapped my legs around his waist under the water, perfectly happy with just floating with him. He wouldn't complain about keeping me from sinking under. All this time Jacob had been my life jacket, it just took me this long to realize why.

"Jacob, I love you," I announced whole-heartedly. It was the most right thing I had said in a long time. The purest, truest, best sentence I thought I had uttered since the afternoon in the forest last September.

I could see something change inside of him. Before, his eyes had been bright and gentle. He was in let-me-fix-you mode. He was being safe with me, because that's what I needed him to be. Safe. I was fragile, risks could shatter me again.

The moment those four words left my mouth, his eyes changed. They got darker and more intense. They seemed to be glowing with trust, and emotion, and connection.

"Bella, I love you, too. Always." His voice was fierce, but not in a harsh way. He was promising me that he would never pull a Jasper and leave me. He was promising me he would be here for me, every step of every journey that I decided to take.

He was promising me him, and I could never ask for more then that.

I could never want anything else.

Today's recommendation is Stuck! written by Annilaia. It's an AH story of the Cullen kids meeting one another because of a tragic power outtage involving an elevator and text messaging. :D