A New World
By Girldownunder
Chapter 18
Jake's P.O.V:
I had lay awake all the night before tossing and turning, I had not seen Jemma since the morning after Nath was born and I was having withdrawal symptoms.
I had gone to Paul and Rach the morning after, like I had planned and apologized, I don't think either of them expected it, but I know they appreciated the support. Paul was never a guy that you expected to imprint, he didn't think like a normal person, even before we phased, he only ever thinks of food, fucking and fighting. But I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and I know that he will try to make my sister happy, because of the imprint bond.
I had been looking for a job too. I decided I wanted to be a mechanic, I loved fixing cars and bikes, it's my thing… but I still want to finish school as well. I went to the 3 garages in the area and none of them are hiring or taking on apprentices. But old Wayne, that has his garage on the outskirts of La Push, the reason he wasn't hiring was because he wants to sell his garage in a year or two and he didn't want to take on an apprentice, even though he needed one. Maybe I can talk him into it… Even just a couple of days a week because when the Christmas break is over I am going to go and see about night school.
I felt so much happier in myself knowing where I want to go, instead of always wandering around lost, in my own little world.
I shook myself out of my daydream. The other reason I was up all night was because I couldn't decide what to get Jem for Christmas, which was tomorrow. I had asked Rachel, Leah, Kim and Emily and they had all suggested similar things like perfume and jewelry, but I didn't want to give her something brought from a store. I wanted something special.
I let Paul talk me into going shopping in Port Angeles; he brought Rach a necklace with a love heart pendant on it. Dad had given me some money and I did buy Jemma a bracelet, I spotted it and looked at it for ages, it was silver and instead of little links it had tiny little round balls attached to one another and it had a love heart that a bar slid through, so that it couldn't come off. I liked it because it's different, the lady at the store told me it was a toggle bracelet. But it still did not feel right.
I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. I could hear Rach and dad laughing in the lounge room, they were hanging decorations on the tree.
"Jacob, in here…" Dad called, I could tell it was more of a request than a statement.
"Morning." I yawned as I plopped down on the couch.
"Help us you lazy mutt." Rach said as she chucked some tinsel at me.
"Remember this one Jake?"
Dad was holding up an ornament of the nutcracker, I did remember it… Mum and I had brought it together, it was the last Christmas we all spent together.
I smiled and stood up as I gently grabbed it off him, I looked at it carefully before placing it on the tree. I patted dad's shoulder before I sat down again.
I was nodding off to sleep when a loud "Hellllooo" floated through from the kitchen. We all lifted our heads and Rachel started hopping up and down squealing.
"Rebecca!"
Bec appeared and we all bombarded her with hugs and kisses.
"Geez, if I had of known I would get this much love, I would of came home sooner." She laughed as she hugged dad tightly.
Dad was crying wiping his tears before the slipped down his cheeks.
The three of us nudged him and made jokes.
"It's been a long time since all my kids are under the same roof."
Rebecca's fiancé John walked into the lounge dragging a large suitcase behind him and he had a smaller carry on luggage flung across his shoulder.
"John! How are you brother?" I asked walking to him and shaking his hand.
"Yea good hey…can you guess which bag is your sisters?"
We laughed and I easily picked up Bec's luggage and took it to her room, John stared at me in disbelief and followed, chucking his bag on the bed.
"Are you on steroids Jake? Cause man you have grown."
I laughed and patted him on the back.
"Ha your just jealous I am bigger than you now." I joked as I walked back out to my sisters.
We spent the next couple of hours catching up and setting up all the Christmas decorations, it was so nice having all my family in the one room. We made lunch together and sat around the table listening to Bec fill us in on her life in Hawaii. And right on cue Paul walked in.
"Hey everyone."
Rachel stood up and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Dad and I scowled, even though we had accepted Paul, that didn't mean we had to like him because the kid was eating us out of house and home. He always arrived when there was food on the table and thank the spirits he smelt Bec here and actually put on a shirt before coming over.
After all the hellos were made and another place was made for Paul, we went back to catching up.
"So Jake…I hear you have a girlfriend, when do I meet her?" Bec asked.
"Tomorrow night, if you want to come to Christmas dinner at her parent place."
"Wow we are having family dinners at the parents place already…it must be serious."
Rebecca and John did not know about the pack or vampires, it was hard for Rach to keep it a secret but she was never here anyway, it was best she didn't know the truth about our legends.
"Yeah its serious…" I told her.
"Well we are definitely coming to dinner then, I need to give my sisterly approval on this girl."
"So did you find a present?" Rach asked.
I sighed and rubbed a hand through my hair.
"No…I still have the bracelet but I just wanted something with a bit more meaning."
"She will love the bracelet Jake, don't worry so much." Rach said punching my shoulder.
After we did the dishes Bec and John excused themselves and started getting ready for bed. Paul and Rach were sitting close on the couch watching a movie and my dad looked at them and shook his head.
"Well son I am going to bed."
"I have patrol at midnight…" I said quietly so Bec wouldn't hear.
Dad nodded and motioned for me to follow him, we came to his room and he nodded at the door for me to shut it.
"I have been thinking about your dilemma with the Christmas present and I wanted to give you something, I know your mum would have wanted Jemma to have it."
Dad went to a drawer and pulled out mums jewelry box, he pulled out a small dark blue pouch and handed it to me, I opened it up and tipped out a brooch onto my hand. The only reason I knew what this was is because mum used to wear it when she was going somewhere special. It was made up of intricate little silver swirls, with a large piece of native turquoise in the middle and then another piece of turquoise in a tear drop shape the dangled from the bottom.
"Dad I cannot accept it, the girls will want this."
"I have asked them already, as long as they get the others than this is okay, they agree that it is the perfect Christmas present for your future wife. And when the time is right, you can come to me and ask for these."
Dad pointed to mums engagement ring and wedding ring. I felt my eyes water and rushed to hug my dad.
"Thanks dad, this means a lot."
I couldn't use words and I didn't want to cry like a baby, so I pulled away from dad and patted him on the back and walked out.
I went to my room and lay down on my bed, it squeaked loudly as I did.
'Time for a new bed.'
I looked the brooch over in my hands and put it back in the pouch and placed it under my pillow. I would give Jem the bracelet for her birthday. I was excited for tomorrow but I set my alarm and closed my eyes hoping for one or 2 hours sleep before patrol. I dreamt of my mum that night, vivid, clear dreams of her and I playing in the yard, when I was a kid.
I felt panic when I woke up from my sleep, I am so worried that something might happen to Jemma and she will leave me too.
Jemma's P.O.V:
I heard the floorboards creak softly. I smiled and opened my eyes a little, peeking around my room. There in my bathroom was my wolf. I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair brushing it back into place. Jake turned on the tap and quickly brushed his teeth. I brought him a toothbrush the other day and put it in my bathroom, he had been pleasantly surprised. Jake had told me how he hated coming here after he had been patrolling, he always felt like he had dog breath.
He turned and looked at me his eyes widened and he smiled.
"Jem! I didn't hear you wake up, you are getting good baby, you are hanging out with me too much."
He bounded to the bed and pushed me back gently as he kissed me, my heart swelled in surprise, Jake was extra passionate this morning. He kissed me with an urgency and lust that I hadn't felt from him before. When he pulled away I turned my face into the crook of his neck and tried to catch my breath.
"Merry Christmas." Jake whispered in my ear, I could feel his smile.
"Merry Christmas to you too. It should be Christmas every day if I get those kind of kisses from you." I joked as I lay back down and propped myself up on my pillows.
Jake hopped in beside me and laid his head on my chest.
"Hey you're wearing a shirt?" I giggled, he never came off patrol wearing shirts.
"I dropped off my clothes and your present here on the porch last night, I didn't want to lose it."
"My present? Do I get to have this present?"
Jake sat up and reached into the pocket of his grey sweats, he pulled out a dark blue, velvet pouch. He went to hand it to me, but I put my hand up for him to wait as I bounded out of bed to my dresser and pulled open my top draw. I pulled out the little wrapped box and card and practically jumped back onto the bed. I had been so unsure of what to get Jake, I had agonized over it until my dad, of all people came to my rescue he suggested I call in a favour. My cousin makes jewelry for men back in Australia and I paid more for the postage to get it here on time then I did for the actual pendant but it was worth it.
I handed the present to Jake as he handed me the pouch.
"Now before you open it…I know you don't wear jewelry but I really hope you like it and if you don't I can always…"
"Shhhh…" Jake cut me off and then kissed me hard, taking my breath away again.
"I will love it no matter what, because you gave it to me. I just hope you like mine too"
I blushed and nodded looking down at the pouch in my hands, Jake had already started tearing into his package like an excited little kid. I loosened the strings on the pouch and peeked inside. I gasped when I saw the glistening silver. I tipped the brooch out onto my outstretched palm and gently traced the pattern of the silver with my finger.
"Its beautiful Jake…I love it."
Jake had stopped opening his present to look at me, his eyes were on the brooch.
"It was my mums, I wanted you to have something special and I couldn't decide so dad helped me out, I don't know, I felt proud that he trusted me enough to give you such a special thing, he knows how important you are to me. It was my mums favourite…I know brooches probably aren't really, you know cool these days, so you don't have to wear it…"
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I got up on my knees and wrapped my arms around Jake, kissing his cheeks. We hadn't said I love you to each other yet and in that moment I really wanted to tell him that I did.
"Jacob, I will treasure it forever and always, I love it. I promise…"
Jakes eyes lit up and he gave me that brilliant smile, I instantly felt warmer.
"Okay my turn…"
I sat back down and Jake went back to his present. He opened the little box, he was silent as he looked at it. My stomach dropped and I quickly went onto explain.
"It's a necklace and the pendant is the symbol for Aether the God of air and light. I…I chose it because Jacob when you're not near me I feel cold and dark almost, but as soon as you enter a room, you light it up and I mean that…"
Jacob cut me off and brushed his hand along my jaw I brought my hand up to pull his hand to my mouth, I placed a kiss on his knuckles and smiled.
He gently pulled the pendant from its box, I asked my cousin not to put it on a chain so he made a black leather chord for it.
"I love it Jem, I have never owned anything like this…"
Jake touched the pendant before slipping the chord over his head.
"How does it look?"
I smirked and got up on my knees again, I suddenly felt the urge to make love to him…it hit me like a ton of bricks. If my parents weren't downstairs I would have ripped my clothes off and begged him to take me.
"Hmmm that good hey?" Jake laughed huskily as he pulled me onto his lap.
I grabbed his shirt and was about to pull it up when he stopped me.
"Your parents are up…"
He started to lift me off him.
"No…stay?"
"I want to baby but I better be going…Bec got here yesterday, so all the family is home… I will be back tonight though okay and I am sleeping here with you…Even if your dad tries to shoot me."
I pouted and kissed him softly.
"Okay…I am holding you to that though Mr. Black!"
Jake laughed and quickly made his way to the window, he smiled at me before jumping out of it. I sighed and lay back down on the bed.
"Aghhh."
'I am turning into a nympho.'
I got up about an hour later and went downstairs; Bryce was not far behind me. We sat around the tree with mum and dad and opened our presents, just as we always did and mum made us a big breakfast.
About mid morning we went outside and Bryce and I made a snowman and snow angels and we laughed as mum took pictures of us being crazy for my grandparents. It was actually really nice to have a Christmas in the snow for once, I thought I would miss the warmth and getting to lounge around in the pool all day, but it wasn't so bad.
We had a simple lunch, I know Bryce and I were saving space in our bellies for dinner tonight. Mum and dad would be in the kitchen all afternoon preparing for it. We were doing roast pork and a baked ham and the sides and Charlie and Sue were bringing the turkey and Rach was bringing desserts. There were going to be a fair few people here and Bryce and I were in charge of setting up the dining room, which thankfully was big enough to house us all.
I knew that today Jake was pretty busy, he would have had breakfast at his house then lunch at Sam and Emily's. He told me that the last few years the pack had only spent Christmas with each other and some of the boys had been on patrol still. But this year Jake gave everyone the day off and encouraged them all to spend some time with their own families. I had called and texted him a few times today but he had not got back to me. For some reason I felt worried for him a few times today.
I looked at the dining room quite pleased with our efforts Bryce and I decided to watch a movie and relax until tonight. I laughed when Bryce appeared with a tray of cheese and biscuits for us to snack on and two glasses of rum and coke.
'How classy.'
"Rum and Coke? Eww B you know I hate rum and you are meant to have wine or champagne with cheese." I said sniffing the alcohol.
"Well we are not home Jem, so we need to at least have an Aussie drink okay!"
I just shook my head as I pressed play on the remote, I couldn't help but place my hand on my chest as I felt a pain near my heart, I had gotten the feeling a few times during the day…I asked mum about it and she had said it was heart burn. Weird…
Jacobs P.O.V:
I stared at my ceiling holding myself together, trying not to phase. I took deep breaths in…then out…in…then out…
My heart hurt, I was angry and sad at my dad and I never thought that would be possible. I couldn't help but to keep running over what happened in my head over and over again.
"Merry Christmas!" I shouted as I walked into the house to find Rach, Bec, John and dad sitting around the kitchen table.
"Where were you? We have been waiting for you to open presents!" Bec said trying to act cranky.
I walked up to her and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek and then Rach one. They giggled and pushed me away wiping their cheeks.
"You are in a good mood today." Rach said accusingly.
"Sure, sure all my family is under one roof, Jemma liked her present…Life is good."
I sat down and Rach spotted my pendant, the girls fussed over it and John just teased me saying I was a girl for having a necklace. But I liked it, I liked Jemma had picked it out for me.
Dad was pretty quite through all this and I looked at him trying to figure out what was wrong. He glanced at the clock above the stove and cleared his throat, waiting for our attention.
"I have something to tell you all and I hope to the spirits you will forgive me."
"God dad what is it?" Bec exclaimed.
"Are you okay?" Rach asked.
"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to get to it… I cheated on your mother a long time ago with a woman from the Makah Tribe."
Dad didn't need to go on for me; as soon as he said cheated I knew what he was going to say…I started vibrating. I tried to hold it together by holding onto the table. The girls had gasped but stayed silent and John was suddenly very interested in the floor.
"I told your mother straight away and she forgave me, Sarah was pregnant with Jake and we were happy. It was unforgivable of me but your mother managed to love me still."
Dad didn't look at us the whole time he spoke.
"Dad if mum forgave you then we do too…" Bec started and Rach nodded her head in agreement.
"There's more…the woman, she decided to move here and none of could figure out why she would do that. She went on to have a son and I always wondered if he might have been mine and it wasn't until a few years ago I found out he was. I hadn't planned on saying anything, but the boy wanted to know who his father is and he deserves that much. Last week I asked him over and told him. I have invited him here this morning to spend Christmas with us."
Bec and Rach stayed fairly calm but I stood up knocking my chair back onto the floor and pointed at my father.
"You are weak! All his life he wondered who his dad was, do you know what a screw up she is? Do you know what he went through? You never once stood up and helped him!"
"Embry? Its Embry isn't it dad?" Rachel said, she was crying now.
"What? All these years we treated him like Jakes annoying little friend when really, he was our brother?" Bec said throwing her fist onto the table.
"I hope you will all forgive me and I hope he can forgive me too…" Dad wheeled himself away, he was crying, but I didn't care enough to go after him.
Embry showed up not long after and we were all still reeling, Rebecca and Rachel were actually really great, even though they were sobbing they hugged him and told him it would be okay.
When Embry met my eyes, I saw the pain there, but I was too angry he didn't tell me last week. I nodded for him to follow me outside to the garage.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded.
"It wasn't my place to tell you and I knew how pissed you would be Jake, you idolize your dad and I did too. I always looked at him with you and wished he was my dad and I wished your mum were my mum. I never expected that he would really be my dad. I thought it was Sam's dad, my mum always flirted with him."
I sighed and sat down on the old couch.
"I am so fucking angry at him." I yelled wanting to destroy something.
"Me too." Embry sighed sitting down.
"Well Emb I guess we are brothers for real now…I always thought of you as a brother anyways but I am just mad that dad didn't step up and find out sooner."
Embry just nodded.
"Don't tell the pack yet Jake?"
"Yeah not today, we should try and have some kind of a decent day."
"Quil will be pissed." Embry laughed.
"Yeah I know..."
I sighed as we stood to walk back into the house, I couldn't help but wish Jemma was with me, I put my hand over my chest it hurt, I ached for her.
I sat up, sick of thinking about it. I threw on a pair of good jeans and a long sleeved black shirt and sat back down on my bed to put on my boots. I had gone to lunch at Emily and Sam's but it had been a blur…I hadn't even eaten much.
I told the girls and John I was going to Jemma's early and got in the rabbit and practically flew over there.
I pulled up and immediately noticed Leah and Bryce sitting on the porch steps. I smiled, they had a funny relationship, no one could work it out and as hard as I tried, Leah had gotten very good at blocking her thoughts.
"Merry Christmas." I said as I walked up to them.
"You too man." Bryce said smiling at me. Leah was quite as she studied me with her big brown eyes, I knew she wanted to ask me what was up.
"Jem inside?"
"Yeah she is helping mum."
As soon as I stepped inside, Jemma's scent hit me, I instantly felt better. I smirked as I watched her and Naomi dancing stupidly around the kitchen. Len was chuckling sitting at the table drinking a can of beer while he sharpened his carving knife.
"Merry Christmas." I said and they all stopped and looked at me.
"Merry Christmas Jacob." Naomi smiled as she gave me a hug.
Jemma walked up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek, I was surprised how hard it was for me to not break down then and there.
I sat down across from Len and he pushed an unopened beer at me and went back to sharpening. I smiled to myself, Len was a pretty quite man and I was glad I was on his good side because I think he is more dangerous then he lets on. I opened the beer and took a big sip. I looked over at Jemma who was bending over putting some bread rolls in the oven. She stood and gave me this look, I knew she knew how I was feeling.
"Well if you guys don't need us…we are going upstairs for a bit."
She didn't give them time to answer, because she grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the stairs.
As soon as she shut the door to her room she wrapped herself around me, holding me tight and I held onto her as hard as I could without hurting her.
"What's happened Jake? My chest has hurt on and off all day and I have been worried for you? I called and texted you and you didn't call me back?"
I lowered my mouth to near her ear.
"I wont say while Leah is near, tonight okay?"
I could tell she wasn't happy but she seemed to forget her annoyance when I lifted her off the ground and kissed her hard and long, trying to take my mind off today. We didn't let ourselves get too carried away, even though it was really hard.
I groaned and tried to ignore the hard on I had when Jem emerged from the bathroom in her red dress that clung to her tits and the material floated around her knees. She had on make up and her lips were red. I wanted her to wrap those red lips around my hard cock, but I pushed those thoughts away and tried to be civil.
I nearly lost control of my emotions when I stopped perving on her and noticed she had on my mother's brooch. My heart swelled.
'This girl knows exactly the right things to do to make everything okay.'
"What do you think? Leah and I went shopping…"
"You look good enough to eat." I growled pulling her into my lap and I lightly touched the brooch and kissed her hungrily.
Jem giggled and swatted at me as she stood up and slipped on some silver ballet flats. I felt kind of gay that I was starting to know the actual names of things she wore.
Her hair was in curls and it bounced down her back as we made our way down the stairs. I knew Charlie was here, I heard him arrive with Seth and Sue a few minutes before.
The house smelt mouthwatering good, I was starving and Naomi kept slapping my hand away when I tried to steal something from the kitchen. She kind of reminded me of my mum and I was happy that my imprints mum was a good woman.
I was surprised when Emily, Sam and Nathaniel showed up, I didn't realize Jemma had invited them. But I shouldn't have been, her and Emily were bonded now after Nath's big arrival into the world. The women all went gaga over him and Jemma had so many presents for him. I smiled and the wolf couldn't help but remind me to impregnate her.
Rachel, Paul, Rebecca, John and Dad arrived not long after Sam and Emily and I was relieved there was no awkwardness, luckily we are a tough family, I knew we would move on from dads big shock pretty quickly.
We were all about to sit down to eat when there was a knock on the door.
"I hope you guys don't mind but I invited Embry, his family wasn't doing anything tonight." Jemma said rushing to the door.
Dad and I looked at each other but didn't say anything. I watched as Jem opened the door and pulled Embry in for a big hug, Jemma didn't know it, but I think she had officially taken over Emily's role as pack mother.
I looked around at the assortment of people in Jem's house. Everyone was smiling and happy. It was a different type of gathering than what the boys and me were used to, I looked at each of them. We were dressed nicely for once, not that this was a formal dinner, but it was nice to do something different for a change.
Leah surprised all of us though, she was in a white dress that showed off her curves and she wore similar shoes to Jem. Jemma had put a little make up on her and Bryce couldn't keep his eyes or hands off her. Naomi kept giving him funny looks, which made me laugh. I knew she was concerned about the age difference, from what Jemma told me. Sue was quite pleased though that her daughter was finally not depressed anymore.
After dinner we all sat around laughing and having a few drinks. I saw Jemma go up to Sam and ask how he was coping. The pack all looked at them waiting for the answer.
"I am holding up Jem, I am not sleeping well but that could be cause my little man is more of a night owl."
Jemma laughed and cooed at Nath. Sam had been true to his word, he had stopped phasing the night Nath was born. It was getting harder as the days went on, we hoped that soon it would ease off for him but having Nathaniel made it worthwhile.
Not long after that everyone started to go home, I told dad I was staying here the night and kissed Bec and Rach good night. Embry left with them and Seth disappeared, I knew he was sneaking off to see Renesmee without his mum and Leah knowing.
Jemma and I said good night to everyone and went upstairs. I had been surprised when Len and Naomi said I could stay over, they really did think of Jemma as an adult and trusted her enough to let her make her own decisions.
Jemma pulled me into the bathroom and shut the door locking it behind us. She bent over and ran the bath, I loved how I didn't have to say a lot to Jemma for her to understand what I needed from her.
Jemma's naked back was against my chest and we just sat there in the water. I knew Jem was waiting for me to tell her about today and when I was ready I let it all out.
By the time I finished telling her, we had gotten out of the bath and were in bed. Jemma was crying silent tears.
"We are all okay Jem, you don't need to cry." I said wiping away her tears with my thumb.
"You know Jacob, I can feel your pain like its my own. You can't lie to me. Its okay to be vulnerable with me, you are not my Alpha."
"I don't want to be your Alpha." I said smiling, "I want to be your best friend, lover, boyfriend, husband anything but your Alpha."
"Good, because I want you to be those things for me too."
We didn't fool around like we usually did, I fell asleep before Jemma for the first time, that night I needed her to protect me…not the other way around.
AN- This was an extremely difficult chapter for me...ha I actually hated it by the time I finished it. So its a bit rough around the edges and I apologise for any mistakes. I struggled with the xmas present choices and how everyone would react to Embry. What do you guys think? Should they all forgive Billy easily? Some feedback would make my year at the moment...Pretty please... I would love to get to 20 reviews at least ;-)