A little bit of a flash back to the tent...

Chapter 2 – She Gets It From Her Mother

JPOV

I'm crouching down trying to light this damn fire, but can't concentrate on what I'm doing. I don't think I have been this excited for years. Finally some real alone time with my Nessie. Time to work out some things in my head. I know I see her every day, but we never really get any quality time. We are always either at her house surrounded by her huge and overbearing family of vamps, or we are at my house with Billy. Although Billy was cool with us hanging out there and didn't try to keep an eye on us, he was as in love with her as everyone else who knew her.

There is no denying that the girl had a very special power over everyone she met. Everyone who knows her just loves her. It's not her looks, although she is gorgeous. She is just like a magnet. She draws people in and they want to smile when she is near them. And when she smiles... Well, then people just melt.

It used to make me so jealous when she was a toddler. I mean, she was mine and all these other people are constantly trying to get close to her. But I guess I'm used to it now. I know that I'm her best friend in the world. For now at least. I hadn't really ever thought about maybe one day being more. I know I should have because she is my imprint and all, but I really just wanted to be her friend and be there for her.

That's why I was so shocked when Bella came to speak to me.

...

2 weeks ago

I was in my garage working on my latest project, an old battered truck just like the one Bella used to drive when she was... well, human. I figured that since Nessie is almost 16 physically that I could start teaching her to drive on the back roads around La Push. She would be safe in this old beast.

"Hey Jake! Whose is the truck? I love it!" I couldn't help but be happy to hear Bella had come to visit me. It's been over 5 years since we used to hang out in here every day and I really missed her sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I am well and truly over Bella, but I still love her as a friend. How could I not love the amazing woman who brought Nessie into my life?

"I thought you might like it Bells. I'm rebuilding it as a surprise for Nessie. I thought you guys might let me teach her to drive in it" I said, mentally crossing my fingers. I don't know why they would say no, but I crossed them just in case.

"No doubt my daughter has inherited enough of my awkwardness to need a truck like this to learn in" Bella laughed, and I let out the breath I had been holding. "You could take her out on the back roads where we used to ride the bikes. No bikes though Jake!" She was suddenly yelling at me in a panic.

"Bella, you really think I would let Nessie do the stupid things you used to do? I don't care how immortal she is, I would never take such a risk with her. You should know that! " I can't believe she still does not understand this hold her daughter has over me.

"Relax Jake. I know you wouldn't let her put herself at risk, I'm sorry. I'm just being a mother ok?" She replied, calming me down easily.

"Sure, sure." I replied "Don't worry Bells, we both know is a lot smarter than you ever were" I joked, and she play punched me in the arm.

She looked like she something to say, but seemed unsure of herself, so I just waited.

"So Jake, how are things with Nessie lately?" She asked at last with a little twinkle in her eye. How were things with Nessie? How did she think they were?

"Things are great of course Bella. You see her even more than I do so why are you asking me?" I was really confused with the direction this conversation was taking.

"It's nothing really Jake it's just..." She was struggling to go on so I waited. "How are things in your life Jake? Aside from Nessie? How's work? How's the pack going? What do you get up to when you're not with Nessie?"

"Things are good. The business is steady, the pack is great since there is no threats anymore, we just get to hang out and hunt. When I'm not with Nessie I..." Think about Nessie, where is she? What is she doing? Is she happy? What can I do to make her happy? My god I am pathetic! Is this what Bella is getting at? She thinks I need to get a life away from Nessie? I could feel my heart start to race and my breathing get heavy... Uh oh!

"Whoa Jake! Calm down! Where did you go in your head just now? Don't go phasing on me!" Bella pleaded, helping me to regain some of my control. When she saw me relax, she continued... "That's what I kind of thought actually, Jacob. You really love Nessie don't you?"

"Of course I do Bella. She is my imprint and I will always love her. You know that already"

Bella looked thoughtful. "Is that it though Jake? You don't love her like Sam loves Emily?"

W.T.F! I feel like my head is going to explode? Why Bella would be asking me these sorts of questions I had no idea. As her mother she should be hoping I would never think those sorts of things about her little girl, not put them in my head herself. And now she is laughing at me? I cannot believe it!

"Oh come on Jake! I know how this imprinting thing works. I'm not saying 'go claim my daughter', I just wondered if you'd considered it yet." She laughed. My jaw was still too busy on the floor to respond. "You know there are plenty of good looking boys at her school and you can't expect that they don't notice her. How are you going to feel when she starts dating? She is getting to that age now... well physically at least. Emotionally I think she's been there a while now..."

Damn it! Here I go again. I run out of the garage and rip my clothes of just in time before I phase. I hit the ground running and don't stop. When the hell did Nessie reach dating age? I'll kill him. I don't know who he is, but I will hunt him down and kill him before he can lay one finger on my Nessie.

As I run through the trees, I swear I can hear Bella still laughing at me.

NB: More teasing to come. Please review.