Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer and do not own any of the Twilight Series characters; I'm just a fan having fun. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 31

Jacob's POV

Déjà Vu doesn't begin to explain it, but it's the only way I can. I felt like I was reliving the horrible events that took place five years ago. The Cullen house was quickly filled with leeches, the same smelly leeches that had graced us with their presence the last time we faced the Volturi. So needless to say, I stayed far far away from that place.

We spent the entire Wednesday afternoon at the clearing, the Cullens and my pack, practicing fight maneuvers and combinations with the help of Jasper's training. Just like five years ago, I had everything riding on my performance and everything to lose. Nessie's face was present every second of every moment of our short but hopefully effective training. I couldn't let the Volturi get their hands on her, I'd die first.

The tension was evident in everyone, even in the leeches who tend to keep a straight face. It was all a nightmare, my pack on the one hand was stressing out, having just suffered a great loss at the hands of the werewolves. The leeches were all still very much afraid of the Volturi. And Nessie, my Nessie, kept obsessing about the dream she'd had, convinced it was some sort of premonition.

"Morning". – The greeting was supposed to be cheerful, even though it came out of her in a sad tone. It was around 10am; we'd all gone hunting the night before, as to be strong for today, and had gotten to bed pretty late.

"Morning baby… did you sleep?"

Her eyes looked tired and her skin pale. I sat up on the bed and took her face in my hands.

"Yes."

"Ness…"

"Ok, fine, I didn't… but how could I? It's today already."

"Everything will be alright."

"How can you know that?"

"I don't know, but weren't you the one who said we needed to have hope?"

She closed her eyes and nodded, not completely convinced but close enough.

"You need to sleep baby… if… if this thing goes bad, I want you alert and strong."

"What for?"

"So you can run away… fast."

"No Jacob… please don't ask me to do that."

"I'm not asking… I'm telling."

"Jake…"

"Listen to me Nessie, you'll do as I say; if anything happens, you need to be the first one out of here; you already promised me you'd do this, after our first encounter with the werewolves."

"That was before… I… I can't."

"You can and you will. A promise is as promise, Ness."

She didn't answer and I knew not to push her, not when she looked so worn and tired. Every ounce of me wanted to run away, to take her and hide her so no one could ever get to her, disappear into the unknown and never be heard from again; but that wasn't the answer, that wasn't the courageous or even smart thing to do, because they'd find us, eventually. No, we needed to confront this, head on, win or lose.

"You have to sleep, ok?"

For some reason her eyes filled with tears, each one stabbing me straight through the heart.

"Come here." – I took her in my arms and lay back down, with her body resting on top of me. I wrapped my arms securely around her and kissed her sweet forehead, remembering how simple it used to be to comfort her when she was a child and hoping to do it the same way now. So I began humming her favorite Quileute lullaby as she settled more comfortably on me and began to breathe deeper and deeper until I knew she'd fallen asleep.

I had about a million things to do; we were supposed to get together with the Cullens again this morning to run through formations and last minute strategies, but somehow this seemed more important. So I also settled into the sheets and turned off my phone, closing my eyes and appreciating every second that I had Nessie in my arms; peaceful, content and alive.

Ness woke up around four, looking fairly refreshed and energetic. She stayed laying on top of me, running her fingers over the planes of my face and smiling at me, not her usual blissfully happy smile but still the most beautiful smile ever.

"How do you feel?"

"Rested and… optimistic."

"Good."

"Didn't you have to go keep practicing today?"

"No, I had to stay here."

She smiled again, this time wider, filling my heart with joy and love amidst the turmoil and anguish lurking around it.

"I'm surprised no one came looking for you."

"I'm sure they knew we needed some time together, alone."

"You don't want to go keep training?"

"I don't see how last minute training is going to make me any better than I already am… I'll just get tired and worn… what I need now is to be with you."

She pulled herself closer to my face and sweetly kissed me. I savored every drop of her, every second of her lips tangled with mine and every breath. Just one kiss from her was worth dying for; just one smile was worth fighting to the death for. I knew what I had to do, fight and keep fighting to keep the Volturi away from her, the only problem was, I was afraid. Not afraid of dying but afraid of failing.

Suddenly, she abruptly pulled away from me and I saw tears streaming down her cheeks, a response to my kissing that I hadn't quite seen before.

"What's wrong?"

"I… I can't let you go Jake… please don't make me… stay with me, let the others fight."

Her words came as a startling shock to me, because she had never been the kind to ask me for something like that. Bella maybe had been like that with Edward, but not my Nessie. She understood who and what I was, and was never the kind to get in the way of that. She had never once before asked me to step down from a fight.

I sat up making her sit up as well and began wiping away her tears.

"Nessie, you know I can't do that."

"Why not? Yes you can, let them handle it and stay with me, away from harm and danger."

"Ness, I can't ask my pack to risk their lives for us if I'm not even fighting alongside them."

"I don't care, give them the order, I know it's selfish, but I couldn't bear what happened to Emily."

"That's not going to happen, I promise."

"That's not something you can promise Jake."

"Listen to me Nessie, those things caught us off guard that time, this time we have a large group of freaking bloodsuckers, a pack of wolves and forsight."

"Yes, but this time the Volturi are here, with their entire guard! We're outnumbered!"

I could tell she was panicking now, something she hadn't done this whole time. I wasn't feeling too confident about that either, but racked my brain to find a rationalization to calm her.

"Ness… there's a reason why they made those things, they made them so they could do their dirty work for them… they won't openly fight with us for no good reason, that would completely bring down their credibility." – The second I heard myself say it, I believed it. Something in my gut told me that they would simply watch from the side lines, that this battle would be easier than imagined. Either that or I was being naive and overconfident.

Thankfully, my words seemed to soothe her, at least enough so that she stopped yelling and breathing hard.

"You think?" – Her voice came out small, almost a whisper.

"Yeah, I do."

She pressed her face to my neck, as if she was trying to hide there, and wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Ness…"

She looked up at me though watery eyes. I had a hard time speaking after seeing the look on her face, but pushed through.

"I need you to be brave ok? I need… I need you to keep yourself strong and hopeful and calm."

Immediately, as if I were giving her an alpha order, her features rearranged themselves and she blinked back the tears, breathing in and holding her breath as she calmed herself down. To this day, it was still amazing to me the effect I have on her, how one simple request of mine could turn her mood upside down.

She simply nodded and took my face in her hands, kissing me again. We kissed for the longest time, each one finding the strength to go through with this in each other's lips.

"Jake?" – She whispered, her voice soft, like a child's.

"Yes?"

"I don't know if this is a good idea… because you have to keep alert and all, but… "– She pulled back and searched my eyes. – "because this could be… the… the last time… I…"

I understood what she was asking; she was asking me to make love to her. For some reason, my stomach began to ache at the thought that maybe she was right, that maybe this would really be the last time. The idea was so unbearable and inconceivable that there was no way I could entertain it for more than two seconds. She continued searching my eyes for the answer, as if I'd be insane enough to pass it up like some moron athlete who wants to be clear-headed for a big game.

So because at the moment I really couldn't speak, I just nodded and pulled her face back toward mine. There was something urgent and desperate in the way we kissed, like we were both starving and were offered a meal, but had to eat it fast before it was taken away.

She was wearing a nightgown and no underwear, so I easily slipped it off her body and pulled her closer to me. At this point we'd gone from a sitting position to kneeling on the bed, one in front of the other. Her skin was so soft and warm that it was actually painful to feel it next to mine, like fire bolts striking me every time our bare skin touched. She ran her hands down the length of my torso all the way to my boxers, as I took hold of her back thighs and softly caressed them.

Somehow I was able to tear off my boxers and pulled her to me, taking a seating position on the bed, with my head supported on the frame, as she placed herself on top of me. She was so beautiful it was hard to look at her and not go berserk. Feeling her this close was always a shock, was always more than I could handle; I didn't deserve this happiness, didn't deserve to have the most amazing woman on the planet wanting me the way I want her and certainly didn't deserve to make love to her in this or any way. I smelled her hair as she pulled herself closer so I could better kiss her neck, becoming intoxicated by her delicious scent that always seemed to magnify itself when we made love.

She began to move against me, causing me to, as always, loose my grip on reality. I pulled back from her neck so I could see her; she smiled and ran her fingers through my hair, with her eyes fixed on mine, with nothing but pure love and adoration reflected on them. The sheer intensity of her stare was enough to crush me, but somehow it didn't; I remained there, in the blissful moment, completely aware of the greatness and magnitude of what I was living. There was no way in hell that I was letting anything happen to her, no way that any fucking leech would get its hands on her, no way that any harm or danger would touch her. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling as if I'd never be able to loosen my grip; good thing that for now I wouldn't have to.

We made love for who knows how long, but somehow, not long enough. When we were done, the pressure that had been oppressing my heart before came back again, reminding me that this could be it, that this could be the last time I got to have her this close.

Her skin was glowing with sweat as she rearranged herself so that she was lying beside me, with her arms wrapped around me and her eyes never leaving mine. I kissed her forehead, her eyes, her lips and cheeks, every surface of her perfect face, feeling how it spread into a smile underneath my lips as I did this.

"Thank you."

"What for?" – She looked amused at my words, an expression I hadn't seen in her since we found out about the Volturi attack, but had sorely missed.

"For this… for being alive… for choosing me… for loving me… for saving me."

"Jake…"

"Yes."

"Stay alive… please." – Without another word, she got up and threw her nightgown back on, sitting on the edge of the bed and not looking back at me. I knew she was silently crying, but before I could say something, comfort her, promise her I would, the house phone rang.

"Yeah?"

"Is your phone dead?"

"No, I turned it off, what do you want?"

"Get over here, it's almost time." – Emmett sounded serious, completely unlike him. Just the sound of his solemn tone gave me chills and filled me with dread. I looked over to Ness, who was looking back upon hearing her uncle on the other line; and even though there were tears in her eyes, she had a determined look on them, as if she'd found the strength to go through this, to let me go and allow me to fight. I took in a deep breath, letting the air full of her scent cleanse my body of all fears.

"Ok, we'll be right there."

Nessie's POV

We silently drove toward the big house. Neither one of us spoke. The sun was slowly descending as the sky began to fill with dark clouds. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was going to rain, but Aunt Alice hadn't seen rain in her vision, so I knew not to expect it.

We arrived and suddenly everything began to move in slow motion, like some sort of horrible dream. Outside the house were all my vampire friends and family and in the woods, just far enough so that the stink wouldn't offend them, Jacob's pack already in wolf form stood in formation.

The second we got out of the car, dad and Uncle Jasper approached Jacob. A wolf came out from the woods and stood next to him, facing my dad and uncle. From the wolf's form, color and smell, I knew it was Leah. Jacob casually dropped his hand and patted the top of her head, as if telling her to "be at ease", something she never was around vampires.

Mom came over and took my hand, her coolness reassuring me in a way only a mother's touch could, but still not enough to calm me.

"So what's going on?"

"We sent a reconnaissance team to scout the surroundings… they're almost here." – Dad didn't look scared at all, even though his voice was grave.

"So the plan stays the same?"

"Yes, the first group will ambush and kill the werewolves while the second will stand guard against the Volturi, if they make a move, we make a move."

"Ok… anything else we should go over?"

"Yes, tell your pack to avoid any movement or gesture that might acknowledge you as the alpha… we want to keep them guessing and therefore sidetrack them as much as possible, the confusion will help our strategy." – Uncle Jasper as always had his eye on the ball and was thinking like a true tactical warrior.

"Got it."

Suddenly, we all heard a howl in the distance and turned toward the forest, realizing they were here. My insides ached at the sound, knowing it was time.

Swiftly, the two groups formed. In the first one were half of Jacob's pack, Embry, Seth, Collin and Brady, including Jake himself; as well as a small group of vampires, Rosalie, Kate, Garret and Tanya.

On the second group there was Leah, Quil, Paul and Jared and the majority and rest of the vampires, including dad, grandpa, Jasper, Emmett and Alice, as well as the key ingredient, mom. This group was needed to be the strongest, considering in the event of a fight, they'd have to stand against the whole Volturi clan and their guard.

Grandma and Carmen decided to stay with me. Because the big house is so easily recognizable and is filled with vampire scent, I would be taken to Billy's cabin for more safety.

Before I knew what hit me, it was time to say goodbye. One by one, all my family and vampire friends said goodbye to me. It was all a haze of familiar faces, all of them telling me they loved me and would keep me safe, words that instead of comforting me made me want to throw up. After their goodbyes they all started moving toward the woods, leaving me alone with dad, mom and Jake.

Mom was the first one to step forward and tightly hug me.

"Renesmee… I love you more than life itself; you're my baby girl… I want you to know that I loved you from the first moment I felt you in me, that I'm immensely proud of you and that you are worth everything. Stay calm and trust us, because I know in my heart we'll come out victorious, I know it because fate has lead us to this place; until now everything has happened for a reason, the pieces of the puzzle have magically fit so that we could all find happiness, therefore I know that there's no way this was all done for nothing. Do you understand?"

"Yes momma… I love you, please be safe."

"I will… and I'll keep everyone else safe too."

Mom was designated to shield everyone, and when I say everyone, I don't just mean the group standing up to the Volturi, but also the one fighting the werewolves, in case any of the "gifted" Volturi tried anything against them.

She hugged me again and stepped aside so that dad could say goodbye.

"Stay safe Nessie… we'll come for you, I promise."

"Dad?" – I hugged him tighter but pulled my face back so I could make eye contact. I have no idea what my face looked like, because his features contorted like he was on the verge of tears, if he could cry.

"Dad… please… I… I beg you… take care of him." – I felt like I was begging for my life, which would be correct to say since Jacob's life is mine as well. I knew dad had to go keep watch of the Volturi, I knew that asking this of him meant he'd have to separate from mom to go fight with Jacob, I knew I was being unreasonable and changing tactics that were already set; but at that moment, with Jacob standing there and about to leave possibly to his death, I really didn't care. I didn't care if I was selfish or foolish or anything, I just wanted Jake back alive and well.

Dad looked over to mom with more than a little apprehension, but then turned to me and smiled. I could tell this pained him; walking away from protecting his love for protecting mine.

"I'll bring him back… I promise."

I looked over to Jake, thinking he'd protest at this, that he'd tell me not to change plans at the last minute, that he'd refuse to have dad protecting him like he was some sort of invalid, but he said nothing.

He was looking at the ground, his eyes far away. He was so caught up in his thoughts that apparently he'd heard nothing.

"We should catch up with the others." – Dad spoke out loud, bringing Jake out of his trance. When Jake looked up I was crushed by his expression, my insides twisted with anguish at the mere sight of his distraught face.

He silently nodded to dad and came over to me. Unlike dad, who's really good at keeping his emotions on check, Jacob always wears his heart on his sleeve and can let his emotions get the best of him. His entire body was shaking, something he'd mastered a long time ago when controlling his phasing, and something that told me he was losing it. I suddenly worried about his performance in the fight; I worried that he might be thinking of me and that that might distract him.

I held my breath once he got close enough. I couldn't bear to say goodbye to him, just couldn't. My eyes were already filling with tears and my heart was pounding out of my chest. He leaned down and hugged me, pressing me so tightly to his chest that he would have already killed me if I were completely human. I buried my face in his neck and breathed in his scent as he pressed me harder to him, clutching me tightly with his big strong hands. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, like a child who holds on to a parent when they're taken away. There was no way in hell anyone was prying me from his arms; here, everything felt safe and perfect, with his heat encircling me like a magical fortress, out there, there was only pain and loneliness.

I pulled back just enough so that I could see his face, and even though he looked absolutely broken, he was still the most beautiful man I'd ever see.

"We have to go." – Dad spoke softly but still made my entire body scream with refusal. Jacob frowned and let go of me a bit, almost pushing me away from him because of the grip I had on him, but still keeping his arms around me. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out, so instead of speaking, he simply gave me a kiss. His lips were shaking as he gave me the hardest most rushed and desperate kiss I'd ever experienced. He forcefully pulled back and with one look of resignation at my face, started to turn around to leave me… possibly… forever.

Jacob's POV

She was there, in my arms, with long tears streaming from her eyes and a look of plea in them.

"We have to go." – Edward's voice sounded like miles away, even though he was standing right behind me. I gathered all my strength and let go of her, feeling how she clung to my neck and hating myself for having to push her away.

I wanted to tell her that I loved her, that everything would be alright, that she was in the very core of me; so many things just bubbling inside of me, but I couldn't speak. I knew there wasn't time for me to get my voice back and be able to muster the words, so all I could do was kiss her. How do you condense an eternity of passion, longing and love into a 10 second kiss?

I almost had to rip myself away from her, otherwise I'd never be able to stop, and started to turn toward the forest, knowing that a minute longer and I wouldn't have the strength to leave.

I'd walked just a few steps when she ran toward me and got in front of me, and without a word, placed both hands on my face. She projected an idea she had in her mind about what our children would look like. We'd never discussed having kids before and weren't even sure we could have them, what with being freaks and all. But there it was; an image so clear it actually felt real. A little boy and a little girl, holding hands and running around the front of the house, playing in the sand. They both had dark tanned skin, with long black hair and Nessie's unmistakable eyes… twins.

I opened my eyes when she was done and realized I was fighting for much more than just keeping the two of us alive; I was fighting for our future. There was so much at stake but somehow, I wasn't as afraid anymore; Nessie´s dream was an injection of strength and courage. Magically I recovered my voice and pulled her face toward mine, pressing our foreheads together.

"Don't do anything stupid… I'll come back… I promise."

She nodded and I finally had to leave her. I turned on my heels and phased on the spot, sprinting and running as fast as I could into the forest, watching in front of me as Bella ran to the left and Edward to the right, to my side of the fight. I could feel Nessie's eyes on me as I reached Edwards side and disappeared into the forest.

"Can you hear my thoughts now?"

"Yes, Bella is now shielding us from them."

"You should be with her."

"Yes, I should… but I made my little girl a promise, one I can't break."

"Are you ready for this?" – I thought, as we reached the others, already formed and ready to strike.

"Always."

Even through my worry and nervousness, I was still able to think back "cocky leech", making him smile as we both halted in front of the others. Cocky or not, I was glad to have him by my side.

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