Oh, hey! *skids into the room* I'm here, I'm here. I made it...and with another update! Please don't throw anything at me. This chapter was so hard to write because I was debating on how to write Jacob's POV but I ended up with my original idea. I think this story might be a thousand times steamier than TFT. But that's ok.

Sooooooo, there's a disclaimer here.

And please enjoy!

RPOV

The flames were smothering as they reached out for me. But I couldn't give in to the drug of smoke they tried to force down my throat into my lungs. There was someone I needed to find, and fast.

Coughing, I threw my arm over my nose, trying to breathe through the fabric of my shirt. Rafters were falling all around me. We didn't have much time before the small building collapsed on us.

The more I fought through the small area, the larger it seemed to become and everything started to look the same. Eventually, I just stopped in the middle of the room, looking around for some point of familiarity.

It was that moment that I actually did recognize the place: the cabin. And it was still burning. Somewhere in here Caden was on the floor, passed out. I had to find him. I had to get us both out of here. Something told me that this time, Jacob wouldn't be here to help us.

And with the thought of my soon-to-be husband, my dream shifted. It was like the entire world paused just long enough for the cabin to bleed away and the fire to become nonexistent. With the cabin gone though, I was left in the woods, in a clearing, that I had become familiar with months ago.

No! I wouldn't go through this again. I needed to wake up…right now.

But as that thought crossed my mind, a shadow flitted through the woods. My heart accelerated as I stepped over the fallen tree. For some sick reason, I felt compelled to follow the shadow, knowing what I would find on the other side.

I didn't know whether to expect the wolf or the man, but as soon as I stepped around the tree, I dropped to my knees. Know that I knew I was madly in love with Jacob, my entire world stopped the second I saw him lying in the dirt, his throat a gaping second mouth, and blood pooling under his head. Slowly and jerkily, I crawled to his lifeless body, his mother's ring glinting in the moonlight on my finger. My body was completely numb. I didn't feel anything. No cold, no twigs or rocks digging into my knees and palms. Nothing. My heart had stopped.

When I was leaning over him and found his eyes open, staring blankly at me, I started to scream. Angry at him for leaving me, I pounded a fist onto his chest and then another and another. My throat was raw. Tears were streaming down my face and onto his cold skin. And the pain that suddenly flooded me paralyzed me.

Taking a deep breath, I screamed, "JACOB!"

"Nessie," I heard in my ear, in his voice. "Nessie, stop."

That wasn't right. He was gone. I was staring at his broken body.

"Nessie!"

And then my world started to shake. I stopped sobbing long enough to pay attention. The forest I was in was starting to become hazy. That wasn't right. Fog couldn't roll this far into the woods.

Just as I was realizing this was a dream, the shadowy figure was stepping into the moonlight when my world shook again…

I flew up off the bed, my arms flailing, my mouth shouting out.

"Nessie! Nessie, baby, it's ok." Jacob's arms managed to pin mine to his chest as he moved, holding me against him. " Shhh, it's ok. I'm right here. It's me. It's Jacob."

He gently rocked me as I panted back into reality.

"Jacob?" I gasped out.

"Yeah, it's me. I got you. It wasn't real. I'm right here with you, where I belong." He stroked his hands up and down my bare back, soothing me.

I ran my hands over his bare chest, one stopping over his heart, feeling it come up to meet my palm as if that was what it was made to do. When I felt that beat was when the tears started. Replacing my hand with my ear, I cried as I listened to the strong beat of his heart and felt the warmth of his skin sink into me. I hadn't realized how cold I was. Now, I was shivering against him while he stroked my back and kissed my hair, rocking me.

"It's ok," he whispered. "I love you, and I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

When I calmed down enough, he crawled onto the bed, going around me to his spot all while keeping a hold of me. Lying down on his side, he pulled me to his chest.

"I'm sorry. I only left you for two minutes. I was about to get in the shower. If I'd known the nightmares were back I'd have tucked my shirt next to you. I'm so sorry, baby."

Scooting closer to him so that we were touching full frontal, I stroked his skin. "It's ok. I didn't know they were back either. This was the first one in months."

"Was it the same as your old ones?" he asked softly, still stroking my back.

"Kind of. This one had the cabin in it before it shifted to-," I had to swallow hard and take a deep breath. "To you in the clearing, dead." I buried my face in his chest. "Oh, Jacob, it was so much worse this time around. Now that I know how much in love with you I am-,"

"Shhh, it's ok. I am not going anywhere."

I clutched at him. "Jacob, you remember our promise, right?" I needed him to remember.

Looking me in the eye, he nodded. "I promise to always come back to you, to fight to get back to you. I made that promise then, and I intend to keep it always."

Sighing a breath of relief, I sunk into his body. He was still in his boxers and no shirt. My bare breasts pressed into him. It wasn't sexual now. It was comforting. I needed to be close to him, to feel the life flowing through his body, the heat of him seeping into me.

I felt him reach back toward the bedside table on his side of the bed. "What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna call Seth. We need to get the patrol shifts changed so that I can be there to sleep with you through the night. No more waking up without me."

Shaking my head, I tugged on his arm. "No, Jake. Don't do that. I need to learn to be without you. You have a job to do with the pack. You're their leader and they need you. Revolving your life and plans around me won't keep the peace."

He gave me a look. "Nessie, you have a job with them, too. Or have you forgotten that you're their alpha female? In order for you to be there for them, they need you alert. Therefore you need sleep, and you can't sleep without me beside you. So, I'm going to switch around the shifts, if that's quite alright with you. May I remind you that I am the alpha male. I can go over even your head."

Letting go of his arm, I ground my teeth. "Jerk," I muttered.

Chuckling, he leaned down to press his lips to mine. "Yes and this jerk loves you. Please let me take care of you. You'd do the same for me."

I sighed and he took that as "permission". He kissed me again. "Thank you, sweetie."

Rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but grin. "You're welcome, dear."

When Seth answered the phone and the boys started talking, I snuggled up to Jake's chest and fell into a doze to the sound of his voice.

JPOV

As the phone rang, I watched the top of her head worriedly. I don't think she really realized how nasty that nightmare was. Even the sound of the water pounding onto the shower floor wasn't loud enough to drown out the fact that I'd heard her heart stop. I also don't really think she realized how scared shitless I was.

I had to switch the shifts around. There was no way that I was letting Nessie go through this crap again, not without me by her side. Her heart stopping just did not rock my socks.

"Hey, man," he answered sleepily. "What's up? Everything going ok with Leila?"

"Yeah everything's cool, but look, I need you to do me a favor."

There was a rustle and Shelby's voice mumbling sleepily. Leaning up I looked at the clock. Yeah it was only eight-thirty in the morning. Oops.

"I'll be right back, baby," he said to her, sounding far away like he was holding the phone away from his mouth. She mumbled something and then he was back on the phone. "Sure, what's up?"

"Sorry, I forgot how early it was."

The sound of a door closing came through. "It's alright, man. You gonna tell me what favor you need?"

I gently stroked Nessie's bare back as she dozed against my chest. "Yeah, I need you to rearrange the patrol shifts. I'm not supposed to be working this weekend or I'd do it. Nessie made me promise."

"Sure, I'll do it. Any specifics I need to be aware of?"

"Yeah, take me off the early morning shift."

Water ran in the background, but it sounded like the sink not the toilet. "Sure. Wait-why?"

I wanted to groan and roll onto my back, but I didn't. Instead, I just scrubbed my face with my free hand.

"Those nightmares are back again, Seth. This one was bad."

"Tell me."

"Her heart stopped again. And she woke up swinging. Nearly took my eye out."

"Damn. Weren't you sleeping next to her?"

"Yeah, but I woke up early thinking I heard the baby. After I checked on Leila, I went to take a shower. Seth, I hadn't even stepped a foot into the shower before her heart stopped and she started screaming. Scared the hell outta me."

"I bet. Yeah, I'll change the patrol shifts, but you do know that you don't have to run shifts, Jake. There are enough of us. And we understand. You have a lot on your plate already. And I'm not telling you this because you want an out. I'm telling you because it's true. Even the wolves that were in Sam's pack follow you unquestioningly now. You're a good leader and they understand that you have to take care of your mate. And everybody else, too."

I sighed as Nessie cuddled closer to me, mumbling in her sleep. "Yeah, I know. I just feel like I'd be taking advantage of you guys if I do that."

He chuckled. "And that proves my point. You're a good leader who likes to get his hands dirty with his people, but seriously, take some time off. We can handle the patrols without you. It's been a while since you did your sweep of the rez."

"That's true. Ok, man, I'll think about it. Thanks."

"Not a problem. Get back to your woman."

That made me chuckle. "You do the same or she'll have my head for taking you away from her."

"Amen to that." There was definitely a smile on his face.

We hung up and all was quiet. Stretching up a little, I could see that Leila was still fast asleep. She'd be up and wailing soon though. Usually around nine or nine-thirty. She was like Sam and the rest of the wolves, always hungry.

"Mmm, go take your shower, Jake. I'll get up and get breakfast going," Nessie mumbled against my chest, her breath warm on my skin.

"We have at least another thirty minutes before the munchkin wakes up. Why don't you sleep?"

She shook her head and lifted up onto one elbow. Her bare breasts rubbed over me and I had to hold back a shiver. It wasn't hard because I was still worried about her.

She stroked her hand up over my chest and shoulder. "It's ok, Jake. I'm awake now."

"You sure?"

She did seem to look as if she'd gotten more rest in her five minute nap. The circles under her eyes weren't as deep and dark.

"Yeah, I'm good. I mean it was only for those few minutes that you weren't near me, right?"

I nodded, brushing her hair back away from her face.

She smiled and leaned into my hand. "Then I had all night to get some rest. I'm ok."

Shaking my head, I gave her a look. "No, you're not. It's not normal for people's hearts to stop in a nightmare, Nessie. Don't you get it? I can't lose you."

There must have been some intensity in my eyes and voice because her eyes softened. Leaning in, she pressed her lips to mine. Morning breath be damned, I needed her. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders as I deepened the kiss and pulled me down on top of her so that she was lying back on the bed. Her nails went into my scalp and I made that noise that she loved so much.

I did have a goal in mind when I'd deepened the kiss so I broke away from her lips and traveled over her jaw and down her neck. She moaned a little, and I caught her teeth biting down on her bottom lip. That just spurred me on because it was so sexy. Every other time I'd thought it was cute, but right now, in this moment, it was sexy. Her eyes were closed, that lip between her teeth, her breasts pressed to my chest, and her fingers digging into my hair.

Seeing her lost in the feeling just made me want to give her what she wanted, but I didn't. Instead, I savagely beat back my raging hormones and told them to shut up while I kissed my way down her chest to the spot over her heart.

"Nessie," I whispered.

"Hmmm?"

"I need this to keep beating," I said, looking up at her face. She opened her eyes to meet mine.

Catching my meaning, she nodded.

And I placed my lips back over her. Over the months that we'd been keeping up with the marks, they started staying around longer. There wasn't really any need to go back over hers, but I wanted to do it, to make a point. So gently, I sucked her skin between my teeth, softly working it against my tongue and lips.

"Jacob," she moaned softly, digging her nails into my hair. Her chest heaved with her panting breaths, rubbing her breasts against my chest and neck.

I growled against her skin, trying not to bite down too hard. I didn't want to hurt her. But I did bite down just a bit harder and her back bowed up off the bed. I'd promised myself not to take things too far, but I needed to taste her again. Still growling deep in my chest, I moved down just a few inches to wrap my lips around her breast, my tongue playing over and around her nipple. Her eyes were still closed so she hadn't seen me and her hips bucked up into my lower stomach. And kept them there. Her center was pressed to me with only her panties separating us so that I could feel the heat coming from her. That heat scorched me as I hardened below my waist.

This could escalate quickly.

Luckily, Leila woke up. Nessie's hips lowered back to the bed as I laughed into her chest. As one entity we fell back onto the bed with me on top of her. Her legs opened for me to lie between them and her hands stroked my hair as I pressed my face between the twin pillows of her breasts.

Gently, I kissed the swell in front of me. "I can't believe I was so nervous about these," I said.

And that made her laugh. She laughed and laughed until she cried. It was infectious. I started laughing, too, burying my face into her skin, and taking in the comforting smell of her. She smelled like home.

"Oh, Jacob. I love you. Didn't I tell you to just go with the flow?"

"I know, I know. You're always right."

She stroked my neck and shoulders. "Mhm, you should remember that." I felt her bend over me and place a kiss to the top of my head. "Come on, we gotta get Leila before she gets worse. And you need a shower."

Slowly, I propped myself up on my arms to stare down at her. She'd kept her arms wrapped around my shoulders and I had a clear view of her. I seriously couldn't believe that I'd been nervous about seeing her like this. It felt so natural, and she was so beautiful that I still couldn't believe that I'd lucked out this much.

And looking at her this way took me into the future in a way. I could so see us waking up like this, both of us wearing only the sheets with me propped over her. A passionate morning in bed, making love all day. I had no idea what it would feel like to make love to her, but I bet it would be unlike anything I'd ever felt.

Leaning down, I pressed my lips to hers. "I love you, Nessie. I'm really glad fate gave you to me."

She smiled at me. "I can't believe I got you. You're the most perfect man in the world."

I shook my head. "I'm pretty sure you're exaggerating, but I do know that you're perfect. Beyond perfect."

She giggled. "There's no such thing."

As she leaned up to kiss me, Leila gave another loud wail, pulling us apart.

Nessie sighed. "Time to get up."

One last kiss and I pulled away. I went to the closet to grab the robe and tossed it to her. She grinned, thanking me as she got out of bed. Standing in the doorway of the bathroom, I watched her, the way her body swayed as she moved, her hips and breasts moving sensuously. And that ass of hers as she bent down to get her bra off the floor.

Damn. My body reacted and I knew it was time to get in the shower.

Cranking the water as hot as it would go, I stripped off the boxers somewhat delicately since I was a bit sensitive. But as soon as I stepped in, I hissed. A bit sensitive was an understatement. That woman was dangerous to my health. And I felt like a creep because I knew that now that I'd taken another step to getting her completely naked, I had to get rid of this pressure or it would just build as I thought of her like that. Because, up here, away from Edward, I didn't have to control my thoughts. And my body could rampage out of control.

Without really thinking about it, my hand moved down my chest, stomach, and lower stomach. I actually fought with myself before I lost the battle with the need. I hadn't lied to Nessie when I'd told her that I wanted to stop doing this so much, but this was one time I had to in order to keep me sane. With a defeated sigh, I gripped myself and groaned.

Good god! How the hell did she do this to me? All I had to do was think about her underneath me, her breasts bare to my sight, and my stomach tightened to the point of pain. There was no being gentle with myself. I moved my hand back and forth quickly, my breathing picking up. Bracing an arm against the shower wall, I panted and picked up the speed, my grip tightening.

And then the image of her this morning, lost in the feeling, her lip between her teeth and her eyes closed came to me. In a huge rush, I spasmed hard as the release jerked in my hand, my stomach tightening. It went on for longer than it ever had before, probably because that image of her kept coming to my mind. I gritted my teeth so that I wouldn't shout like I wanted to. I slumped, my muscles going slack, as the pulses died down. My breathing was broken and panting at the same time.

When all was said and done, I practically had to peel my hand off myself. And I was so sensitive that I actually whimpered when the water hit me. My knuckles cracked as I spread out my hand. Geez, how hard was I gripping?

Trying to be easy, I quickly washed my body and scrubbed some soap into my hair. I also made sure to clean up the shower a little. This time had been a little rough. Now that I was done with that and more relaxed, I also felt a bit skeezy. I mean, I was able to jerk myself off but I couldn't make love to girl of my dreams? Seriously?

Shaking my head, I dried myself off, being careful below the waist. Wrapping the towel over my hips, I made my way through the room to the closet on the other side. But I didn't have to. Nessie had laid out some clothes for me before going up to Leila. It was my usual tattered jeans and a white ribbed tank. I was surprised she hadn't left boxers out. But she knew me. Unless I had to dress up, I'd just as soon go commando. Clothes were too constricting.

"Come on, sweetness. Let's go get you fed," I heard from across the bed. Nessie had slipped into the deep purple robe that I'd tossed her and had gone to get Leila. From the screen on the monitor, I could see the baby sitting on Nessie's hip. Her face was in a pout as if she were about to start crying again. Nessie reached up and did something over her mouth. When she pulled away I saw that she'd given Leila her pacifier.

I sighed. Man, seeing her with a baby made me want to see her with my child. I wanted to see her with a child on her hip and her belly swollen with another.

Her dream was becoming mine. And I had a feeling we'd be getting there soon enough.

Shelby POV

Seth was wrapped around me, his hands over my stomach, his stomach pressed into my back. I knew he was awake because he pressed a kiss to my shoulder. Tilting my head, my eyes met his.

"Good morning, baby," he whispered.

"Morning," I said with a sleepy smile.

Stretching, I arched my hips back into him, making him growl. In retaliation, he moved his hands over my body, touching every part of me. But when he hit my breasts, I hissed.

"Ow."

"What?" he demanded, instantly alert. "Did I hurt you?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm just sensitive for some reason."

"Hmm." He pressed another kiss to my shoulder. "Isn't that a side effect of-?"

Thinking about it, I nodded. "Yeah, but it could also mean my period."

"You haven't had any cramps, though."

Damn. He was right. I always got cramps at least a week before my period, but I'd never had breast pain before. His hands found my stomach again. And my hands found his. I was utterly terrified of what could be under our hands. But at the same time, I was seriously thinking about what Nessie and Seth had told me about not being my mother. They were right. The reason I was so terrified was that I was already in love with the possibility of carrying Seth's baby. Already in love with something that may or may not exist. But I did want it. A little Seth running around? I could totally handle that.

But if I was pregnant, I'd have to go see my dad. There was just no way that I could have a baby, his grandchild, and him not know about it. Hell, maybe he'd cleaned himself up. But one thing was for sure: he hadn't come looking for me. He knew damn well where I was, and yet I hadn't heard one peep out of him.

"You ok?" Seth asked quietly, bringing me out of my own head.

I nodded and smiled. "Yeah. I was just thinking about the possibility."

"I've been thinking about it, too."

"Really?" I asked as I rolled over onto my back.

He went up onto one elbow so that he could look down at me and brush my short hair out of my eyes. Rosalie had been cutting it for me so that I wouldn't have to pay for it. Even though the Cullens had given me a credit card, I had yet to use it. It made me squeegy just to know that I had it.

"Mhm."

"What have you been thinking about?"

Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "That if we are pregnant, we're going to need a place of our own. We can't ask the Cullens to house our family."

I stroked his face and neck. "I thought you were saving your money for something else?"

He shrugged. "Not really. I have what I want, what I need."

We smiled at each other at the same time.

"So what did Jake need this morning?"

Sighing, he flopped onto his back and slid an arm under me to bring me against his side. I laid my head on his chest.

"Nessie had another nightmare this morning when Jake went to take a shower. Scared the hell out of him when her heart stopped."

I leaned up on my elbow. "What? Is she ok?"

"Yeah, he managed to wake her up before she took one of his eyes out. But he wanted me to switch around the patrol shifts so that he could sleep with her throughout the morning. I got him to quit altogether so he could take care of more important business since there are enough of us to do patrols."

"What else does he have to do?"

Seth reached over to grip my thigh. He brought it up to rest it across his hips, my center pressed to his thigh. I shivered making him chuckle. But all he did was stroke his hand up and down my leg, more of a comforting gesture.

"He's got to go down to the rez and talk to people. He usually does it about once every two weeks to make sure that everybody's ok. That started after Christa joined the pack and he found out how badly she'd been abused." His other hand stroked my back and side, occasionally brushing against the side of my breast. "He's also gotta take care of Nessie. They need time together to get closer."

I nodded. "Ain't that the truth. I could feel the sexual tension through the f'n wall."

Seth laughed. "That's partially why Emily picked this weekend to give them Leila. She knew they'd take her up to the cabin so that she wouldn't interrupt us here at the house. They could spend time together when she was down for the count at nap time."

A sudden thought hit me. It was bright and happy…and the solution. I slapped Seth's chest excitedly. He winced and put his hand over the spot. Oops. I was stronger now than I was when I was a human.

I grinned. "Sorry, but I just got an idea."

"What? Tell me before you beat me to death."

Moving his hand, I kissed the spot that was red. Ok, I felt bad about that one. "I'm sorry, baby."

He stroked my face. "It's ok. Just tell me this grand idea."

"Are you listening, Edward?" I yelled. The piano started a moment later. Of course, he already knew what I was thinking. I turned back to Seth with a grin. "The cabin. That's it."

He arched a brow. "Huh?"

A moment later, the door to the room burst open. Seth jumped and grabbed the sheets to cover us up. We turned to find Alice standing in the doorway, grinning like an evil pixie.

"You are a genius!" she squealed. "Oh, and sorry for interrupting."

After I got my heart swallowed back into my chest, I grinned. "So you like it?"

"Me? I love it! Edward, though? Not too fond of it."

"Fond of what?" came another voice from behind Alice.

Bella stepped around her sister-in-law so that she could see us. Seth scowled, muttering something about a private room and place of our own. I smiled and gently smacked him. He glared at me and rubbed his chest again where I hit him a few minutes ago.

"Why don't we give Jacob and Nessie one of the cabins? I mean, we're all dying from the sexual tension pouring off them. And they're most comfortable with each other when they're up at the cabin. Every time they come back, they're calmer."

When Edward appeared behind Bella, Seth reached down for the comforter and pulled it up to my neck. I shot him a glare and pulled my arms out.

"They haven't gotten married yet. I am not ok with that," Edward said.

I gave him a look. "And yet you're perfectly ok that they sleep in the same bed, pressed against each other every night and that they give each other massive hickies to show off to everybody. Right. 'Cause that makes a hell of a lot of sense."

Bella reached back and patted his arm. "She has a point, love."

"Come on, it's perfect. We're all dying for them to get it on, or at least get some release with each other-,"

Edward clapped his hands over his ears. "I am not hearing this. I'm not hearing this. I am nothearing this."

I rolled my eyes. "It would be the perfect engagement present. And it would be romantic to give them the one that they got together in that night. Not to mention that it's safe and away from him," I said pointing at Edward. "It's just out of his 'hearing' range but close enough to get to them quickly if you need to. And they're comfy with each other there. Jacob can't make love to Edward's daughter in Edward's old room near Edward's wife whom Jacob once confessed to loving. That's just too weird. And it's Jacob with all the hang-ups whether they're married or not."

"She's got lots of valid points, Edward," Alice said. Then she grinned. "What happened to throwing in that white towel to Jacob?"

He gnashed his teeth together, but his eyes took all four of us in. Finally, he let out a defeated sigh.

"Fine. I suppose she has to leave the nest eventually."

All us women grinned at each other and Seth squeezed my waist.

"Edward," Bella said comfortingly. "We've talked about this. It's hard for both of us but we know that Jacob will take care of her and do right by her. Plus, they'd be making their nest just next door to ours. We'd still be together. It's not like she'd be moving away across the country."

He sighed and nodded. "I already said ok. I'll stand by it. It's just that she's my little girl."

"Yeah, but she's Jacob's woman, soon-to-be wife," I said with a shrug. "There's a line that's drawn now."

Edward took a deep breath and nodded. "Well, I suppose we should get to planning that surprise."

"Shelby, get up out of that bed. I plan to keep you busy until they come home tomorrow and you can take your test," Alice said with a big grin.

I had a strange feeling that Nessie's wedding and present weren't the only things she was planning as she glanced down toward my stomach.

Yay! I loved writing Shelby's POV only because I love her so much. Anywhozzle, you all know that your reviews are like crack for me even though I've never done drugs in my life. They just make me happy. :D Luv you guys! xoxoxoxoxoxo