3.

The sun shinning on my back startled me out of my dreamy state. Pulling my head out of the clouds, I surveyed the scene around me. John lay entwined in the sheet, one of his legs hanging of the side of the bed. My head was on his chest and I sat up quickly. What had happened?

And then everything came rushing back. John and I had made love last night. Panic flooded over and me and I quickly but carefully moved to examine his body. Bruises were beginning to bloom up all over his skin. I bit down hard on my lip in frustration. I had been so focused on not hurting him, but apparently I had done a terrible job. At least he was still alive, I thought, thought that didn't really calm me. I listened to his heavy breathing for a few minutes before glancing at the clock. I would be making breakfast around this time, but getting up and doing that seemed so trivial in the light of what had happened last night. John and I had had sex!

I wanted to scream it to the world, but the danger that I had put John in was dampening the happiness I wanted to feel. This was such a big breakthrough for us, but I didn't want to let myself fully enjoy it because I never wanted to hurt him. Reasoning in my head, I thought that if I let myself enjoy it too much, I would want it all the more next time and not be able to keep my head straight.

I pushed myself off the bed, shaking it in my hurry. I grabbed John's shirt off the floor and pulled it on, almost ashamed of my near-nakedness. John murmured something and rolled over. Slowly his eyes parted.

He smiled goofily at me. "Hello, beautiful." His hand moved to wipe some drool from his cheek and he groaned out in pain. In horror, I sprang unto the bed and helped him turn so he was lying on his back. "Oh my gosh, John, are you okay?"

He laughed. "Yeah, just sore is all. Quiet worrying."

I shook my head, hugging myself tight. "I was so worried that maybe I'd broken something."

He carefully moved all his limbs for me to prove he was intact. "Just bruises, which will heal in no time."

He rolled his head around on the pillow so he was looking at me. He laughed out loud. "Boy, that was great!" he nearly shouted.

"Shh!" I warned him, but I began to giggle. It had been amazing. "Better than the first time?"

He sat up slowly, nodding. "Ten times better."

I let out an unneeded sigh. Happiness bubbled up inside me.

"You want to do it again," John asked me as he playfully pulled me down on top of him.

"John!" I scolded him, but I couldn't help laughing.

His stomach began to growl just then, so I sat up. "Sounds like you need food. I think I could use some… nourishment myself."

John didn't seem put out by my last comment. He sat up and pulled on a pair of sweats. He began to get up but I pushed him back down. "Let me bring you breakfast in bed."

He started to protest, but I insisted. "It's the least I can do."

He nodded and leaned back against the wall. "Okay."

As I stood to walk out of the room, he pulled on my hand. "Thanks," he said with a smile.

I nodded, laughing softly. "Thank you," I whispered back.

After John finished his breakfast, I put on clean clothes and walked over to the main house. Renesme met me at the door. "Hello, Nessie," I said, mildly surprised.

"Dad… Edward told me you were coming," she greeted me. "They're going hunting, thought you might want go with."

"Who all is going?"

She looked around. "Well, everyone, I think." Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house. For a half-human, she was still extremely strong. "Dad!" she yelled, walking into the living room.

Emmett sat lounging on the long sofa, playing some sort of high speed chase game, while Rosalie sat curled up next to him reading a magazine. At Nessie's shrill cry, Emmett cringed and glanced at the slim girl through the corners of his eyes.

"Nessie," he growled softly. "Please. Inside voice. You know you can just think his name, right?"

She gave him a snobby look, sticking her tongue out at her uncle. She was about to say something witty when Edward glided down the stairs, followed by Bella.

"Hello, Lisa," he nodded to me.

"Hi. Hey, Bella."

Bella smiled at me, showing off her perfect teeth. I wondered for a moment if all vampires had perfect teeth or if she had always had them. A glint in Bella's eyes told me that Edward knew about John and I's little romp last night and had shared it with his bride. I saw Edward chuckle softly out of the corner of my eye. I blushed inwardly, but Bella just smiled at me.

"I assume that Nessie told you we're going hunting." I turned as Edward spoke.

I grinned, but Rosalie stole the words out of my mouth. Glancing over the top of her magazine, she rolled her eyes. "No need for you to assume, Eddie. Don't rub your talent in our faces, please."

Edward ignored her, turning to me. "Everyone is going. You haven't gone in a while, you should probably come with us."

I nodded in agreement, but asked my question before anyone else could say anything more. "But who will stay with John?"

Just then, one of the worst smells that a vampire could ever encounter wafted into the room. The front door burst open, and there in all his half-naked splendor stood Jacob Black.

I gagged silently, wishing I could have grown used to the scent by now, but it was as strong as it had been the first time I'd smelled it.

Nessie nearly flew into the wolf's arms. I heard her whisper something into his ear, to which he responded by laughing loudly, fully knowing all eyes were on them. Again Rose rolled her eyes, shutting her magazine in frustration.

"Shut it, wolf boy," she growled slowly.

But Jacob paid no attention to her. His full attention was on Renesme. Had I not understood their relationship, I might have been creeped out by the way the man stared at the woman like she was an angel. Well, no one could deny the girl was beautiful, but the love flowing from those two was like a waterfall of honey.

I turned to Edward, still wanting an answer to my question.

"Jacob and Nessie will be staying here. Hopefully they can make sure John is okay and not sit on the couch ogling each other all day."

Nessie looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Of course, Daddy. We're not as reckless as all that."

Jacob picked her up smoothly and placed her on the couch. "Where is the man anyways?"

I punched him in the arm. "His name is John. Please treat him like a human being."

Jacob looked at me, his eyes sparkling with humor. "He still is one, isn't he?"

I decided responding would only egg him on, so I stood completely still, a blank expression on my face.

Jacob pretended to shiver. "Okay, chillax. He'll be perfectly safe."

"Alright, then. Let's get going," Edward said.

I heard Esme's laughter from somewhere in the house and then I saw Carlisle's head pop out from the top of the stairs. "Everyone is going, Edward?"

In a few seconds, Carlisle and Esme were standing at the bottom of the stairs, hand in hand.

"Yes, everyone. Jacob and Renesme will stay here with John."

"Good idea," replied Carlisle, glancing at Jacob. "I trust you will behave yourself with my granddaughter."

"Chill, Carlisle. I've got this all covered."

I told everyone I was going to tell John of our plans. As I was walking out, I heard Jacob make some witty remark and heard the sound of a magazine hitting skin. Apparently Jacob had once again pushed Rose to her limits. I chuckled to myself.

With a knock on the bathroom door, I told John that all the Cullens were leaving to go hunting along with me and that Jacob and Nessie would stay here. He came out dressed in jeans and shirt.

"Okay," he replied. Pulling me against his chest, he kissed me on the lips. "I'll miss you."

"Mm, me too." I returned the kiss.

He smiled and followed me back to the Cullens' house. Jacob greeted him enthusiastically.

"You ready for a crazy, fun-filled day?"

"Jacob, please don't give my husband a heart-attack."

"Gosh, you vampies are so uptight sometimes."

"It's because we have better things to worry about than some wolf," Emmett retorted. I glanced at John, but he was ignoring the bantering going on.

"Okay, kids," Alice said jokingly, "let's pack up the comedy act and get moving."

No one needed any more encouragement. Jacob moved into his permanent spot next to Nessie, John picking up Emmett's controller and choosing a seat a little bit away from the two-love birds. I was glad no one had ever told him the true nature of their relationship and the fact that Jacob was a werewolf. With one last glance at my husband, I followed everyone else as they filed out the door. We broke into a full run the second the door was shut.