Grace went to the mailbox, and quickly took the mail out. She was lucky being home everyday. He never saw the mail, except what she left on the table.

Thankfully he didn't hit her on her face again after the phone call last month. Instead he stuck to pinches, punches, and slaps on the rest of her. Besides the anger, and the derogatory comments about her weight, which meant she now had to wake up with him at 3 am every day to run five miles. And gosh help her if she didn't run the whole time.

Her face lit up with a smile, seeing the letter in her hands. Her only one solace was her aunt. And her dreams. She kept dreaming of the ocean, of forests and men in wolves skin. She wrote her aunt about it, and got the response of her Quileute ancestors' stories.

Now they were chatting about the bakery. The phone calls still happened every week, but this allowed more communication that he didn't know about.

Grace smiled, and went into the house to cook dinner, knowing the padlock she just installed on her bedroom door would lead for another yelling match when he got home.

The waves crashed on the rocks. Cool morning air tickled the nose. The sun was barely rising over the horizon, and some mist came off the sea. Jake had seen it all, but while he laid down in the forest, this morning seemed more beautiful than before.

Grace was running along the shore. Dressed in leggings, tennis shoes, and a lavender fleece jacket, she ran down the beach. Jake could smell her scent from the trees, and hear the pounding of her heart as she ran. He had helped her clean the night before, learning that she had learned baking from her mom. Her dad was a construction worker at a local business, and her mom gave her all of her grandmother's recipes, and taught her to bake and cook.

Jake told her about his memory of helping his mom make cookies. Sarah made chocolate chip cookies every Saturday for as long as he could remember. That after her funeral, the first Saturday was the hardest because there was no more baking. The twins didn't want to, and Billy was still mourning. Jake had felt so depressed that he took the old wooden spoon his mom use to mix the dough with to his room. He couldn't part with it, and to this day, that spoon had never been used in the Black family kitchen.

His ears perked up when Grace's feet stopped. Jake lifted his head and saw that Grace had sat on the sand. She crossed her legs, and faced the ocean. He growled lowly, knowing the red head could come by the sea while his imprint was meditating.

Like hell that leech would come near her.

Jared laughed from his patrol on the other side of La Push.

Come on Jake. It's time for school.

Another growl came from Jake's chest.

I'll get there when she's home.

Jared shook his head, and bounded off towards home. For some reason he was anxious today.

Jake watched Grace, ensuring her safety all the way through her meditation, to her run back to her home. Happy his imprint was home and safe, Jake turned to try not to be too late for school.

Grace unzipped her jacket, all sweaty yet feeling revived. She had felt a need to run this morning, regardless that she usually runs on Sundays. Today as she meditated on the beach, she had felt like she was being watched. Not in a creepy way, but in an oddly comforting way. Like she had some sort of body guard. Grace shrugged, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, she flipped the sign on the front door to state the store was open.

Running to the back, Grace raced to pull on her sweater and apron. Being sweaty was not how she wanted to start her work day, but she set a time to open and refused to be late. Tying the knot on the apron the front door bell rang as the phone started to ring.

Grace raced to the front of the store, almost cussing out loud because Kim didn't start her shift till after school, she smiled at Mrs. Littlesea as she picked up the phone.

"Just one moment, I'll be right with you." Grace said as she put the phone to her ear. "Luna Bakery, how may I help you?"

"Grace."

Her heart stopped.

No.

"Oh Gracie."

Feeling the blood drain from her face, Grace slammed the phone down on the hook. Taking a deep breath she turned to the customers. Mrs. Littlesea looked concerned.

"Grace, are you alright?"

Trying to calm her pounding heart, Grace nodded.

She was safe.

This wasn't like then.

She was stronger now.

She was safe.

"I went for a run, and then a wrong number. Guess I'm not cut-out for phone service." Grace laughed, then smiled. "More fruit turnovers today? I know that Colin loves the cherry-cinnamon, I made them fresh this morning."

Jake moved the bowls of food from the counter to the table. Meals were a bit bland in the Black house. But since Jake couldn't cook very well, and Billy had a special diet, this was what was had. Jake mulled over his thoughts, thinking about Grace all day. Granted she rarely left his mind, but talking with her, and learning about her past just confused him.

"Dad?"

Billy looked up, peering at his son. Jake seemed to have gotten larger in the last day. He had been more animated, and Billy had worried about Jake wasting away waiting for Bella.

"Yes Jake?"

"What do you know about Grace Rivers?"

Billy's eyebrows raised. Grace? His son was asking about Grace? The cookies and brownies of the last two days hit him. He had met Grace.

"I think until the time is right that Jacob should not be made aware of Grace Rivers."

Old Quil's voice floated through his head. "What about her Jake?"

Jake pushed some of the food around his plate, before bringing it up to his mouth.

"I imprinted on her."

Billy's fork dropped. This was not what he expected. His heart pounded, he didn't hear Jake's concerned voice. Memories of Grace went through his heat. Joy's pleas for her niece, the council's agreement that she belonged here. Grace's battered face, Old Quil's face as he told him about her sense.

"Dad? Dad! Do we need to go to the hospital?"

Billy snapped back into the present, stared at his son. His heart was filling with joy as he placed his hands on Jake's face.

"Jacob. I am happy for you as long as the imprint makes you happy. I have worried too long about this burden you bear. I'm sorry I got overwhelmed."

Jake knelt in front of his dad, his dark eyes staring at the mirror image of his own. "I don't know how I feel about Grace."

"What do you mean?"

The shifter shrugged. "She's beautiful, caring, warm and strong. There is something else there though that concerns me. Like she is afraid of something." Jake looked at his hands. "I can't be something that she is afraid of."

Billy covered his son's worrying hands with his own. "Jacob Black." He looked up at him, making Billy smile. "You have the heart of your mother. Her upbeat attitude and her giving nature."

Jake huffed. "I'm just as stubborn and strong willed as you though."

The chief laughed and nodded. "Yes. Your mother had the back bone of steel too. Not a terrible trait to inherit. But what I am trying to say is, that maybe with the imprint it is more of guiding hand then a forced love. You obviously care for Grace and based on the sweets you have brought home the last two nights the caring might be mutual." Billy patted the hot hands of his teenage son. "Love doesn't happen overnight, not even with an imprint. You are what she needs, but she is also what you need. Let that and the spirits guide you two. It all happens for a reason."

Jake nodded, and slowly smiled. "Her chocolate chip cookies are good."

Billy's eyes filled with tears, remembering his Sarah and the ritual. Swallowing past the lump in his throat he regarded his son. "Saturday morning good?"

Jake nodded, standing up from the floor, his heart feeling lighter. "I'm sure of it."

Hello!

I know I did some throwback references with Billy. I may do some flashback scenes later, I have a whole timeline and everything from based on the books and where I want this to go.

I hope you have enjoyed!

If not, go to another Fic that is more your cup of tea.