Jacob's Return
Jacob transformed back to human as he entered the Cullen property. He sensed immediately that something was wrong. Jacob ran into the house to see the family with Rosalie in the center of the group. He felt his stomach drop.
"What happened, Rosalie?" Jacob growled. Rosalie turned and glared at him.
"I gave that girl a piece of my mind!" Rosalie hissed smirking.
"Anne is gone!" Bella yelled at Rosalie.
"WHAT! I don't believe that! She promised me she would be careful! She promised me she would be in one piece when I got back! She promised me, damn it!" Jacob roared. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths, calming himself.
"I don't think she factored in Rosalie threatening to kill her and anyone who stood in her way if she didn't leave when she made you that promise…" Cynthia said quietly. Jacobs's eyes flew open.
"What did you do to her, Rose?" Emmett asked.
"She has tricked all of you! She doesn't belong here! She is not our responsibility! She is not our family! She…." Rosalie started but Renesmee interrupted her.
"She is our family, Aunt Rose. She may not be a blood relative, but neither is Jacob. I love her, Aunt Rose. I think the only person in the family who doesn't is you."
"But, Nessie, she stole Jacob from you…."
"No, she didn't. I never loved Jacob like that. He imprinted too soon. I don't think he loves me like that either. He might have, but not anymore. He loves Anne, and she loves him. I gave her permission to go after him last night." Renesmee explained.
"Rosalie, I get that you don't like humans. But what you did was uncalled for. She is part of our family now. Just as much as Cynthia, Sophi, Dog and Jacob are. We don't disrespect our family. We protect them. She never expressed any dislike for you or anyone else in the family. So now we have to go find her and bring her home. And when, not if when, we find her and she gets some sleep, you WILL apologize to her, Rosalie. No arguments! You said some things that really hurt her. Now you must sincerely apologize! Let's go!" Jasper said leading the way into the garage.
Jacob glared at Rosalie before following Jasper. The rest of the family followed Jacob silently. Carlisle, who was the last person in the garage, spoke with authority.
"We will split up and take the cars. From Anne's note I would say that she will not come back, willingly, on her own. Esme and I will take my car. Rosalie and Emmett, take the jeep. Jasper and Alice, the porche. Edward, Bella and Renesmee the Volvo. Cynthia, Sophi, and Dog, Bella's car. Jacob…"
"I will run. It will be easier for me to smell her if I run. I think you guys should take cell phones. Just in case one of us finds her, we can call the rest of the family. So the rest don't keep looking when one of us finds her." Jacob said as the family split into their groups.
"Good idea. But you should have one too, in case you are the one to find her." Bella said holding out her cell phone to Jacob.
"We will meet back here at dusk. If no one has found her by then, we will regroup and try again. We will find her. There are thirteen of us and one of her. Plus she can't have gone far. She is on foot with a bag and an iguana. So let's go find her." Carlisle said as the cars purred to life
Jacob took Bella's phone and turned away. Bella put her hand on Jacob's arm. Jacob turned back to Bella, forcing a smile. Bella smiled back and kissed Jacob's cheek softly.
"We will find her, Jake. I promise. We will find her and bring her home. What Rosalie did was not right. Anne is our family now. We WILL find her." Bella whispered before getting into the Volvo.
The cars all took off at once. Jacob took off running as the Volvo disappeared around the corner. Jacob could smell Anne's scent. She smelled different than the Cullens. She smelled… normal. Even Renesmee smelled too sweet to Jacob. Jacob followed Anne's scent to the highway.
Jacob ran left, off the highway as Anne had done hours before. Jacob ran into the forest off the highway. The rain pouring above Jacob had washed out Anne's scent. Jacob panicked slightly. He ran into the forest of trees, calling Anne's name. He searched the forest for two hours and was about to take a break when a green iguana with black and brown spots stepped into his path. The iguana bit him on the ankle. Jacob jumped a foot in the air and looked down. Jacob recognized Izzie, Anne's iguana.
"Where is she, Izzie? Where is Anne? Why am I talking to you? You can't talk back! Take me to Anne! Take me to Anne, NOW!" Jacob yelled. The iguana blinked up at Jacob and walked away.
Jacob growled quietly and followed Izzie into the trees. About a mile after Izzie found Jacob, Izzie disappeared. Jacob followed Izzie around the corner and saw Anne curled up in a tree, asleep. Jacob sighed in relief and started to climb the tree. Anne didn't stir as Jacob climbed towards her. Jacob pulled Anne's bag from the branch above her, and slung it over his shoulder. He then swung Anne up into his arms. He leapt from the tree and landed, hard on the wet ground below.
Anne did not wake as Jacob landed on the ground. However, she did snuggle closer to his bare chest. Jacob exhaled sharply as Anne curled up into his arms. Izzie ran up onto Jacob's shoulder. Jacob secured Anne's bag to his shoulder, then ran as fast as he could back to the Cullen house.
When he reached the house, he took Anne directly into the sitting area and laid her on the couch. Jacob pulled Anne's shoes off then sat beside her. Izzie crawled down Jacobs shoulder and onto Anne's stomach. Jacob wrapped his left arm around Anne's shoulder, rubbing it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Bella's phone with his right hand. He flipped the phone open and hit the number two. Jacob waited for someone to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" It was Edward.
"It's Jacob. I found Anne. She was in the forest off the highway. We are in the main house. Spread the word, will you? And where are the blankets in this house? Anne is freezing." Jacob said quickly, rubbing Anne's arm as he spoke.
"Thank God! We will be back soon. Esme keeps extra blankets and pillows in the cupboard under the stairs. See you soon. I will call the others." Edward said before hanging up.
Jacob shut the phone and set it on the coffee table. He kissed Anne's forehead and went over to the stairs. In the cupboard Jacob saw mounds of pillows and piles of blankets. Jacob pulled the thickest blanket and the plumpest pillow and went back to Anne. He picked Anne up in his arms and sat back down with the pillow on his legs, Anne's head on the pillow. Izzie curled up on Jacob's shoulder. Jacob pulled the blanket around Anne and kissed her hair.
Jacob heard the kitchen door open and close as some of the family got back. Anne opened her eyes slowly to see Jacob looking down at her. Anne's eyes widened. Jacob laughed. Anne reached up and felt Jacobs face. Jacob smiled and leaned into Anne's hand.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Anne croaked.
"No, you aren't. I am really here. You are at the Cullens and you are safe. However, I want to talk to you. You promised me that you would be safe. You promised me, when I left, that you would not wander off. I was in physical pain for those two hours that I didn't know where you went. I didn't know if you were hurt or even dead. I didn't know…" Jacob started but Anne put her finger over his mouth to stop him.
"I didn't mean to scare you, Jacob. Really, I didn't. It's just Rosalie was threatening to kill me and anyone who stood in her way if I didn't leave. I didn't want any of you to get hurt because of me. What would you have done if you were me, Jacob?" Anne asked taking her finger away from Jacobs's mouth and entwining her fingers with his.
"If I was you…. I would have yelled back at her. I might have left, too. But I would have told someone. Anyway, do you really think that the family would have let her kill you? Come on, Anne! I know that Carlisle and Esme can control her to some degree. Plus, Jasper could calm her down if he needs to. I love you, Anne. I don't want to lose you. Please don't do that again. I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I love you way too much to lose you." Jacob said kissing Anne's forehead.
Anne smiled "I love you too, Jacob. I missed you, too. I won't do that again, I swear. I want you to stay close to me. I love you. I realized that this week. It hurts me to be away from you. I love you, more then I should. It has only been a week. I should not love you this much after only a week. We don't really know each other. I don't know much about you, but I love you." Anne whispered looking down at the carpet.
Jacob put a finger under Anne's chin and made her look at him. He was beaming.
"I love you, Anne. More then you can or will ever know. I have never loved anyone this strongly. I thought I was in love with both Bella and Renesmee. But it never felt like this. I can't stand to be away from you. It hurts when I am. I feel physical pain when I am away from you. The past three days were the worst three days I have ever had. I love you, Anne Jones. I never want to be away from you." Jacob said kissing Anne's forehead softly.
At that moment the kitchen door slammed shut as the rest of the family returned. Jacob heard a scuffle and Rosalie came flying out of the kitchen, into the front room. She glared at whoever had pushed her. Jasper came into the room after Rosalie. He pointed to Anne, who curled closer to Jacob. Jacob glared at Rosalie as he petted Anne's hair. Rosalie glared back. Jasper kicked Rosalie's leg and she winced slightly.
"I am sorry, Anne. I was out of line. It was wrong of me to yell at you like that. I won't do it again. I am really, really, really sorry." Rosalie said through gritted teeth.
"Wow, Blondie, that almost sounded sincere. Now, go away. I am taking Anne back to her house." Jacob said scooping Anne and her bag into his arms and leaving the house.
Jacob took Anne back to her house and tucked her into her bed. Anne pulled the blankets up to her chin and Jacob lay beside her. Jacob put his arm around Anne, and she snuggled closer to him. Jacob inhaled sharply as Anne put her arm around his waist. Jacob leaned his cheek on Anne's head carefully. Anne sighed quietly and tightened her arm around Jacobs's waist. Jacob kissed the top of Anne's head, closing his eyes as he did so.
"I love you, Jacob." Anne whispered as she fell asleep.
"I love you, Anne. More than you will ever know. I love you more than my own life." Jacob murmured into Anne's hair. Jacob kissed Anne's cheek as he fell asleep as well.