Chapter Seventeen

Tanya watched as Eleazar pulled up to the pumps and got out. She could see Carmen, Kate and Garrett in the truck. Sighing softly she looked from them to Jesse. "Look, I get it. You had a life before me, and that's fine, because I did too. But you might have told me you had some crazy stalker ex-girlfriend running around. And the paintings. Why didn't you tell me about them before?"

Jesse stared out the front windshield while he tried to figure out an answer to her question. Finally, he spoke. "Tanya if I had told you when I met you that I had painted you years earlier... That your face has been in my head for decades even though I'd never met you, what would you have said?"

She was about to say something and stopped. Giving the question the serious consideration it deserved, she finally answered. "I probably wouldn't have believed that you had never met me. I would have thought you'd somehow followed me from Alaska. Especially after learning what you can do, I wouldn't have believed you'd only just found me." It was the God's honest truth.

He nodded slowly. Seeing in the rearview mirror that Eleazar was done, Jesse waved to them and started the car. He pulled slowly out of the parking space, and then out into traffic, Eleazar behind him. They were back on the road to Forks. "That's why I didn't tell you about the paintings. I admit it was stupid of me not to tell you later. As for Amanda, well, I also should have told you about that, and there is no excuse for me not doing so. Will you forgive me?"

Jesse didn't look at her. Tanya reached out slowly and took his hand in hers, softly stroking the skin on the inside of his wrist. "I would be stupid not to forgive you over this, when I took you back after leaving me for three months," she whispered. "I was just so... surprised. And jealous." She nearly choked on the confession that she had been jealous.

Jesse slanted his gaze to her. "Jealous? Of Amanda? Doll, you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me, inside and out. There is no competition between you and her. I would choose you every time. Amanda is selfish. She may not be a member of the Volturi, but she sure thinks like them sometimes."

Tanya only smiled at him, continuing her soft stroking of the inside of his wrist, but she didn't say anything else.

-

They arrived in Forks near dusk. Jesse parked in the driveway, with Eleazar pulling up behind him. Shutting off the cars, everyone climbed out. Kate and Carmen were talking excitedly about seeing Nessie again, and wondering just how big she had gotten since the wedding. Eleazar and Garrett shared a look that clearly said "Women." They didn't roll their eyes though, and Jesse had to give them both credit for that.

The door to the house opened, and Carlisle stood there, a smile on his face. Esme was beside him. Kate, Garrett, Carmen and Eleazar all went up and shook hands with the doctor and hugged his wife before going inside. Tanya started up the steps to the front porch as well, but paused when Jesse hesitated to follow her. She glanced back at him, and caught her breath. Standing in the fading twilight, he made a breathtaking picture standing next to his red Viper. He leaned against it, arms crossed. His dark hair fell down his forehead in an adorably messy way. The intensity in his golden gaze on her brought a tingle to Tanya's skin. She wished he could see himself, so that he could paint the scene.

Jesse caught her staring and gave her a grin before standing straight and walking to catch up with her on the stairs. When he reached her, he put his hand at the small of her back, a reassurance to her, or him? He wasn't sure, but it calmed him down. Together they met Carlisle and Esme at the door.

"Carlisle, Esme, this is Jesse. Jesse, Carlisle and Esme Cullen." Tanya made the introductions before she embraced both of them.

Jesse shook hands with Carlisle. "Nice to meet you. Tanya has told me nothing but good things about you and your family, Doctor."

Carlisle shook his hand and smiled. "Please, call me Carlisle. And thank you, Tanya," he said, winking to the blonde. "It's a pleasure to meet you Jesse," Carlisle said, returning his gaze back to Jesse.

"Jesse, it's so good to meet you. We've heard a lot about you," Esme said, putting her arms around him in a friendly hug.

Jesse returned her hug, though he looked a bit uncomfortable, and smiled down at her. "Thank you, it's so nice to meet you as well Mrs. Cullen."

"Oh please, Jesse, we're all family here. Esme."

Jesse chuckled. "Okay then, Esme it is. You have a beautiful home," he replied while taking a quick glance around the open space of the first floor.

Esme beamed. "Thank you! Come in and meet the rest of the family." She started tugging him toward where the rest of them had gathered. Jesse reached out and grabbed Tanya with his free hand as he was pulled away. They were led to the living room where Kate and Carmen were sitting on the floor playing with Nessie.

"This is Rosalie and Emmett," Tanya took over the introductions, pointing to a bored looking blonde and the brawny guy who's lap she was sitting on. Indicating the pixie and her tall mate next, Tanya said, "Alice and Jasper. And over there is Edward and his wife Bella," she gestured to the bronze haired boy and dark haired girl.

Jesse nodded to them each in turn and smiled. Just as Tanya was going to point out Renesmee, he heard a door open in the back of the house and the overwhelming stench of dog hit him. Instinctively he stepped in front of Tanya as the tall man came in, bare chested and barefoot, and only a ragged pair of sweat shorts on. Jesse took in the tall form of Jacob, and the other man sized him up as well. He'd drawn up short when he came across the unfamiliar scent.

A growl erupted both from Jesse's throat, and Jacob's, and Carlisle hurried to put himself between the two, even though a room already separated them. "Jesse, this is Jacob. He's a friend. Jacob, this is Jesse. He is one of our cousins from Alaska."

Tanya laid a hand on Jesse's shoulder. She had moved to his side. "Jacob has an... attachment to the family," she said quietly to him. She figured it best to explain everything at another point.

Jacob looked between Jesse and where Renesmee sat on the floor with Kate and Carmen, as if gaging the distance between him and the child. "He wasn't with them when Kate and Garrett got married. Are you sure you can trust him, Doc?" Jacob's voice and attitude were both surly.

Carlisle looked at Jacob with a patience born of more than three hundred years. "Of course I am sure, Jacob."

Jacob gave one more glance to the doctor before turning his gaze again to the young child. Even Jesse couldn't miss the way his gaze softened when it rested on Nessie. He raised a brow, but refrained from asking questions.

Edward looked up at Jesse and snickered. "I'm sure Tanya will explain it all to you later."

Blinking, Jesse turned his gaze to the bronze haired boy who had spoken.

"Didn't Tanya tell you about my gift?" He answered in response to the unspoken question.

"I think she forgot to mention that fact," Jesse replied as he turned his gaze back to Tanya. She had joined her sisters on the floor, playing a game of go fish with Nessie. Jacob was hovering nearby.

Alice came up to him then and reached for his hand. Though he felt the urge to yank it away, he let the tiny woman take it. She smiled up at him. "I think we have something to discuss, Jesse." With that, she pulled him away from the crowded room and toward the door.